Andronicles

Google Photos is a great online backup service where you can store your photos and videos. The best thing about this service is that you get to enjoy free unlimited storage as long as you allow Google Photos to keep them in High quality. That means Google will set your photos size to 16 megapixels and videos at 1080p. Don't worry, you can still save your photos and videos at Original quality — the quality at which they were taken.  After you set up your account, you will be able to have your pictures and videos sent to the cloud, and then access them from any phone, tablet, or PC, as well as on the web. If you don't know how to backup your photos and videos to Google photos, then read the step-by-step guide below to get started. How to Backup your Photos and Videos to Google Photos  Open the Google Photos app. Tap on the three horizontal lines at the top left of the screen. Tap Settings . Select Backup & sync . If the Back up & sync is turned off, switch it on.  M...

Since WhatsApp came up with their privacy rules, many users seeking more freedom and privacy migrated to other rival messaging services and one of such services is Telegram.  Telegram provides end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls and optional end-to-end encrypted "secret" chats. You can send text and voice messages, make voice and video calls, and share an unlimited number of images, documents (2 GB per file), user locations, animated stickers, contacts, and audio files. Telegram is one of the most popular apps today with over 500 million active users and a billion downloads. If you are among those who migrated from WhatsApp to Telegram but don't know how to take your chats with you, then the simple steps below will be able to help you. Mind you, you won't be able to take all your chats at the same time. You will have to do that one at a time.  Enter the WhatsApp. Open a chat.  Hit the 3-dot menu at the top right.  Tap More . Tap Export Chat . When the Share m...

For some years now, Windows users have been running Android apps on their PC thanks to emulators like Bluestacks. Now a new report coming in says that Microsoft plans to add Android app support to Windows 10 in 2021. What this mean is that you will no longer need make use of an emulator to run Android apps. Rather, you will be able to run the apps directly from your Windows computer.  There is no word on how Microsoft plan to do it but it seems that Android apps would be coming via the Microsoft Store. Still many Android apps require Google Play Services support, and there is no evidence yet if Microsoft plans to offer it.  Nevertheless, having Android apps on the Windows 10 stable will be a welcome development, especially in light of MacOS getting support for iPad and iPhone apps. 

Wow, Pokemon GO sure seem to be enjoying the best year yet! According to app data site, Sensor Tower, the mobile game in which you used your cell phone's camera to hunt for and catch the virtual playful, titular monsters called Pokemon in the real world has made an estimated $1 billion in player spending so far.  The report notes that though the game earned $832 million in 2016 the year it was launched, sales declined the next year but it has steadily continued to rise ever since and this year saw an increase in player spending thanks to the pandemic which forced people in lockdown to show more interest in mobile games.  Another thing that had an impact on Pokemon Go success is temporary update the publisher Niantic made to the game. The game was adapted in way that will make it work better for stay-at-homes. For example, there is a mode in which you could hunt for Pokemon in the confines of your own home.  Since Pokémon Go was launched in 2016, it has now raked in around...

Baby Shark, the popular children's rhyme performed by the South Korean education company Pinkfong, has becomes YouTube's most-watched video of all time. The song drew 7.04 billion views to surpass the previous record holder Despacito, the Latin pop smash by singer Luis Fonsi. Baby Shark is a kiddie rhyme song featuring a family of sharks that hunt school of fish which escape to safety. The song is believed to have originated from a campfire song or chant during summer camps in the 1970s. Some sources have mentioned traditional myths as a basis, while others think it was possibly developed by camp counselors inspired by the Steven Spielberg 1975 smash hit Jaws. It became a campfire song where each member of a family of sharks is introduced with different hand motions.  There are different versions of the song that includes having the sharks hunting fish, eating a sailor, or killing people, who then go to heaven. There are also international versions - including the French Bebe R...

Some time ago, Google announced that Google Play Music will no longer be available. Instead users were urged to move to the YouTube Music app and to transfer their music library there.  Already some users are seeing that the Google Play Music is no longer available both on the app itself and the website. If you don't want to lose the music you purchased through Google Play Music or the music you uploaded to the app, you should download it quickly. This will especially be required if you don't want to transfer to YouTube Music. You also have the option to delete your recommendations history or to just delete your music library if you want to start from scratch. Right now, the Google Play Music is still on the process of shutting down and once it's complete, all unsaved data will be automatically deleted. So if you haven't transferred your music and other files or downloaded and backed them up, now is the time to do so before it is too late. 

  Sony confirmed in a blog post that popular apps, Disney Plus, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube and Twitch, will be on the new PlayStation 5 console at the November 12th launch.  You’ll also be able to use the console to access other popular streaming services, such as, Crunchyroll and Apple TV.  Sony also says that more streaming apps, such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, MyCanal and Peacock, were coming to PS5 but did not give a timeframe for when they would be available. The company also showed a new look PS5 Media remote which includes dedicated launch buttons for Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify. The remote will be launch alongside the PS5 on November 12th, but it is not included with the console.  With the inclusion of four dedicated launch buttons to some of the more popular streaming apps, and the recently unveiled system interface, including a separate home screen for entertainment apps,  we can see that the next-gen console is more than just for gamin...

Google Calendar for Android and iOS is rolling out with Tasks integration.  Back in April 2018, Google released the standalone Tasks app for Android and iOS. Since then, Task has been only limited to the web version of the Google Calendar. Now Tasks can be created and viewed on Google Calendar for Android and iOS apps without the need to download the standalone Tasks app.  If you want to give it a try by adding a task, simply tap on the Create button in the bottom-right corner and select Task. Next fill in the details, and save it. You can add a title and description, and even change the gmail account linked, if required. The tasks you create can be found in the side panel for Google Calendar and the Tasks app. Every tasks you add to your calendar will be automatically synced across mobile and desktop. A task can be removed by marking it as complete or by deleting it. You can also hide tasks by turning off Tasks under My Calendars.  This new feature is already rolling out...

If you have a mobile phone, then you've probably come across the Xender app. Almost everyone with an Android phone is sure to have heard or make use of this popular app.  For those who are still ignorant, Xender is a file sharing application that enables users to send and receive files like videos, documents, apps, photos from friends and family. You can transfer files between two phones via WiFi connection.  Apart from being a file-sharing app, Xender can also be used to convert video to mp3 audio. This is one of the features that was added a little while ago. You can use this feature to convert videos to audio within the Xender app without the need of a video converting app.  So how can one convert videos to audio? Below is a simple step by step guide on how to do it.  How to convert video to mp3 1. First, make sure your Xender has the converting feature in it. If not, update the app to the latest version by downloading it from the play store.  2. Launch the X...

Renowned best-selling author, Stephen King, announced on February 1 that he is quiting Facebook. The reason he gave was that he was uncomfortable with the "flood of false information allowed in its political advertising". The author also took aim at Facebook's inability to protect users privacy. King who is well-known for his scary novels made the announcement on Twitter, where he has 5.6 million followers. His tweet has already generated more than 250,000 likes. However, the novelist decision to leave Facebook does not mean that he is quitting the social network altogether. Users can still follow him and his dog Molly on Twitter. Below is the tweet written by King. I'm quitting Facebook. Not comfortable with the flood of false information that's allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in its ability to protect its users' privacy. Follow me (and Molly, aka The Thing of Evil) on Twitter, if you like. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) Step...

The most popular messaging app, WhatsApp, is soon going to get dark mode as the feature is now available on its latest beta version.  Until now, the dark theme can only be gotten on the web version by using third-party apps.  Those already signed up for the WhatsApp beta testing program on Android should automatically get the dark theme update. But if you are not signed in, you can always join the program to get the feature.  To get dark mode on WhatsApp for Android, you need to first download the app and then follow the 3 simple steps below.  ° Tap on the 3 dot menu in the upper right corner of the WhatsApp, and choose Settings from the drop down menu.  ° Navigate down and choose Chats.  ° Under the display submenu, you will see Theme, tap on it and then select  Dark.  Your WhatsApp will now be displaying the dark mode.  Facebook who owns WhatsApp has already released a dark theme for its Facebook Mess...

MTN in partnership with Opera has just introduced a new data plan for users of Opera browsers and News apps to enjoy more browsing experience. This is coming after the 50MB daily free browsing promo they had offered late last year to surf the web using Opera mini and Opera news apps. Like the 50MB free browsing promo, the new data plans can only used for browsing, you can't use it for streaming and downloading otherwise you will be charged from your regular data plan. The data plans offers the same amount of MBs the regular data plans offers but at a cheaper rate. It can only be used on Opera Mini and Opera News. How To Subscribe To Opera Data Plans The bundles comes in three different plans, which are daily, weekly and monthly plans. Below are the full list of plans being offered along with screenshots. Daily 25MB for N20 - Valid for 1 Day Weekly 100MB for N50 - Valid for 7 Days Monthly 300MB for N100 - Valid for 30 days To subscribe, simply dial *13...

WhatsApp is the most popular app in the world, yet it can often be slow to add new features that are popular. Few months after iOS received fingerprint unlocking for its WhatsApp, the feature is now officially available on the Android version in the latest stable build 2.19.221. Fingerprint unlock is an extra security measure to protect your account. The feature require users to provide a fingerprint before they can be granted access to an app. So if by chance someone were to access your phone, they would not be able to open the app. Moreover, WhatsApp fingerprint unlock uses the same fingerprint you use to unlock your phone. When you update your WhatsApp with the latest version, open it and navigate to the app’s settings. Click on Account, and then Privacy. Here you will see WhatsApp’s new fingerprint lock option. If you don't see it, you could try deleting and reinstalling the app. But do make sure you first back up your chats! Once you have the option, toggle the setting. ...

Instagram has placed a ban on all augmented reality (AR) filters that mimic effects of cosmetic surgery, in which people look like they have had lip injections, fillers or a facelift. Instagram deem such face-changing filters to be harmful to people's mental health, saying that the site is supposed "to be a positive experience for people." "While we're re-evaluating our policies, we will remove all effects from the [effects] gallery associated with plastic surgery, stop further approval of new effects like this and remove current effects if they're reported to us," says an Instagram spokesman. Researchers have already noted that face-changing filters can make people feel worse about the way they look, which can drive them into depression. In February, Instagram decided to remove all graphic images of self-harm from the platform, following the death of  a 14-year-old girl who killed herself in 2017 after viewing graphic images of self-harm on the si...

Google has now released the lightweight version of its search app, Google Go, to all Android users worldwide. Originally, Google Go was first launched back in 2017, but was only available to selected countries. The app was primarily designed for users in emerging markets who make use of low-end Android devices with modest hardware on unstable mobile data connection. As with many other lightweight apps, such as, Facebook lite, Google Go is a smaller version of the standard Google app, weighing just 7MB and using much less RAM than the usual Google app. The app is also capable of saving data which Google claims can be up to 40%. This is really perfect for any device with a smaller amount of internal storage, or just for those who want to closely monitor their memory and storage usage. Google has built many lightweight apps such as Google Maps Go, YouTube Go, Google Assistant Go, Files Go, Gmail Go and Gallery Go. Google Go app is now available for download on the Google Play Sto...

Google has been rolling out a new version of Android Auto since late last month. Android Auto was designed to connect an Android mobile device to a car. The new Android Auto app comes with a new look and feel when plugged it into a car. Users are supposed to be notified whenever an update arrives, but some Android users are yet to receive a notification for the update. So in this post, you will learn a trick on how to manually force an update of Android Auto app on your mobile if don't want to keep waiting for Google to automatically update yours. How to Manually Force an Update of Android Auto  First check to see if you’re eligible for an update by opening the Android Auto app on your phone. Tap the hamburger icon in the upper-left corner. Tap on Settings. At the top of the screen, look for an item which should be an option to “Try the new Android Auto.” Enable it, and you should have the brand-new version of Android Auto the next time you plug your phone into you...

Microsoft has created an SMS Organizer app that’s designed to replace the SMS text-messaging app in Android users' phones. Developed by Microsoft Garage project in India, SMS Organizer help users organize their SMS messages by categorizing SMS promotional offers and reminders, block senders, star SMS messages, and archive older messages. The app makes use of machine learning to automatically sort messages and organize them into separate folders. Microsoft’s SMS Organizer app can also be used offline. You'll be able to automatically back up messages to Google Drive and restore them when moving to a new device. But the app will only support SMS messages, not MMS ones. With over 150 apps published by different Microsoft teams in the Google Play Store, the new SMS Organizer for Android is another example of the company’s commitment towards building Android communities with its app. Microsoft SMS Organizer was originally released in India last year. After archiving a millio...

Last year, Facebook started rolling out dark mode feature for its Messenger app. Now it has been reported that the social media giant is working on bringing a dark mode theme for its Facebook for Android app. In recent times, there has been an increasing demand for dark mode themes and for good reasons. Apps with darker backgrounds are easier on the eyes, especially at night, than ones with bright themes. The feature can also help conserve and extend smartphones' battery life. So it is not surprising that many developers have either included dark mode for their apps' UI or are at least working on one. Microsoft and Google are among the big players that have already introduced dark mode features on its various apps. It's even one of the main highlights coming to Google's next mobile operating system, Android Q. And now it looks like Facebook too is about to join the band. Engineer, Jane Manchun Wong, discovered the dark mode in the Facebook app and shared a sc...

Instagram has pulled off US marketing company Hyp3r from its platform after it was accused of violating users' privacy by illegally collecting their data. Business Insider had investigated Hyp3r and found that it was scraping profiles, copying photos and siphoning off data that was supposed to be deleted after 24 hours. According to the investigation, Hyp3r had been gathering data from one million Instagram posts a month to build up a detailed profiles of millions of users, that included photos, users background and information about where they lived, worked and travelled as well as what they were interested in. In the wake of the accusation, Instagram took action by kicking out Hyp3r from its site and revoking its "Facebook Marketing Partner" status. But in response, Hyp3r maintain that it complied with privacy regulations and the terms of service for the social networks it targeted. Hyp3r boss Carlos Garcia told Business Insider that they "do not view any co...

With over 2 billion users monthly, Android is the most popular operating system in the world. Its popularity is boosted by the fact that it’s open source which allow phone makers to customize the look and features of their Android devices. Unlike Android, Apple’s iOS not open and adaptable for customization. And not many people can acquire an Apple iPhone since it is often very expensive. So with the help of some apps, launchers, and other tips and tricks, some of them have resort to integrating the User Interface (UI) of iOS into their Android devices to experience the look and feel of iPhone. This article will introduce you to a new launcher that will enable you to experience the latest version of Apple’s operating system, iOS 13, on your Android devices. The launcher is called “Launcher OS 13” and it’s developed by Luu Tinh Developers. Rather than overwrite your previously saved articles, Launcher iOS 13 will mask the icons, menus and other components to make i...