Android Police

Be careful what you wish for when it comes to system updates. You might get what you want, but not when you want it. Pop quiz for the smartphone manufacturers out there, and the U.S. operators that approve their over-the-air updates: Which of the following times are OK to automatically apply a system update? First thing in the morning, when you're just getting caught up on the night's emails. Lunchtime, because what else would you need your phone for. After dinner, when you should be reading yourself to sleep with a nice book. When driving down the highway at 80 mph, phone plugged in to Android Auto. The answer, of course, is NONE OF THE ABOVE. But that's what folks have been dealing with this week as both AT&T and T-Mobile pushed out system updates for the LG G4. We've always had a bit of a conflicted relationship with firmware updates, of course. On one hand, Android as a platform wasn't designed for there to be one update to rule them all....

A new software update for the Amazon Echo adds more IFTTT support for the connected speaker. Amazon keeps adding features to its Amazon Echo connected speaker with a regular series of software updates. Today, the company emailed owners of the device informing them that it has added more support for IFTTT (IF This Then That) trigger actions. The Amazon Echo added support for IFTTT recipes in May, and this new update now allows the speaker to trigger IFTTT actions when owners ask for sports scores and schedules The update also allows users to trigger an action based on a song request. For example. such an action will allow the song to be shared on Facebook or Twitter. The Amazon Echo is currently priced at $199, with Amazon Prime members able to get it for a discount of $149. However, the company is still selling the speaker on an invite-only basis.

Settings is an app that we rely on more than almost any other. You can replace a launcher if you don't like it, but the Settings app that came on your phone is the one you've got. Settings is not an app the average user leisurely scrolls through while they're waiting for the bus. You get in, change what you need to, and get out. Settings is also an app that doesn't change that radically, either. Even for all of Samsung's UI tweaks, they left the Settings on the Samsung Galaxy S6 in one big list with some quick links at the top. Settings is the dependable old road you can take home, even while the rest of the neighborhood changes. The LG G4 turned that trusty old road into an ever-changing desert. Here's how to get back to the road you know. Just look at that scrolling. That horrible, horrible scrolling. Settings are broken up into different sections between Tab view and List view. Battery and power saving is under Device in List view, but wa...

It's your chance to win one of 100 I Am Cardboard version 2.0 viewers. You've heard about Google's new version of the Google Cardboard viewer, seen the cool things you can dowith one, and learned where you can buy one. Wouldn't it be cool to win one? The folks at I Am Cardboard have graciously offered up 100 of their awesome version 2.0 viewers, and we want to give you a chance to win one. These viewers are 100-percent "Google Cardboard certified" and are easy to pair and use with any Android phone up to 6-inches, or any iPhone. They're also easy to put together and use so you'll be virtual reality-ing in no time. Get ready to immerse yourself and see why people are genuinely excited over Cardboard and how the platform is growing. To enter, just fill out the entry form below. We'll give everyone a week, then pick the winners. Look for the announcement soon after. Good luck!

Reports suggesting a new Galaxy S6 variant is in the works leave us with more questions than answers. All the same, a 5.7-inch 'GS6 Plus' remains an intriguing possibility. Remember how Samsung was supposed to release the Galaxy S5 Prime last year, but then didn't? And then how  that  device was supposed to have turned into the Galaxy F, which in turn vanished like a startled vampire around the time the Galaxy Note 4 debuted? Well, twelve months on, it's time for another white whale of a Samsung super-flagship. Say hello to the rumored Galaxy S6 Plus (or Galaxy S6 edge Plus, depending on which rumors you're reading) supposedly hitting sometime this quarter with a bigger screen and S6 edge-style dual edge displays. Rumors are rumors, and should be treated as such in the absence of any firm evidence. Nevertheless, the prospect of a "plus" model Samsung flagship so soon after the vanilla GS6's launch — and indeed so  close to t...

There are flagship Android phones and then there are luxury Android phones. The Vertu Signature Touch is the latter, and you'll pay for the privileges that come with it. The quick take Made of premium materials with a solid design, the Vertu Signature Touch is an impressive piece of hardware with some cool services to back it up. But it's hobbled by inconsistent performance that hurts the value proposition. THE GOOD Sapphire screen, titanium and leather body One-touch concierge access Nearly stock Android THE BAD Frequent lagging glitches Still a normal smartphone inside Poor camera performance 5.71 in 145mm 2.72 in 69mm 0.42 in 10.65mm Display: 4.7-inch HD display 1920x1080 resolution (473ppi) Sapphire crystal cover Camera: 16MP, Hasselblad certified 2.1MP front-facing camera Battery: 2275 mAh battery 15 hours talk time, 380 hours standby Qi wireless charging Chips: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor Quad-core 2.3GHz 2GB R...