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[Q] How to deal with user profiles on Android tablet?

An Android smartphone is personal (like your wallet). My Android phone goes where I go, it's mine, I don't pass it around or keep at least one eyeball locked on it if I do. It's like an expensive watch which I protect physically.
While I'm waiting for my Adam tablet I keep wondering: How will I manage it? A tablet really seems more of a family device. I'll pass it around, it may spend most of its time in the living room, like a magazine or a book, ready to be picked up by everyone: Kids, in-laws, visitors.
Chances are, I'll leave it at home to be torn apart by kids and wife, when I drive to work: I already carry my smartphone and my laptop. I might take it along for a business trip, just like a book or a DVD, but when I leave the hotel room for lunch, it will be left behind, while my smartphone will tag along, hopefully sync'ed with all the latest restaurant and sight-seeing info, street map data and e-mails I just collected on the tablet before leaving.
There are issues of personalization, privacy and data/application synchronisation and I wonder what the Android philosophy is in these cases:
1. Do they support the notion of user profiles, preferences, private data, credentials, so regular users of an Android device can have their "own" view on it? While I would want to show off my cool new gadget to just about everyone, I wouldn't want them to browse my e-mails or flip through my browser bookmarks.
2. Is there any idea on synchronizing more than just a minimal set of data manually between an Android smartphone and an Android tablet? Perhaps with a cloud as intermediary?
3. Can private data be encrypted and protected? Actually I'd want the tabelt to detect the presense of my smartphone and serve as a smartphone extender when it does. It could mean things like easy-lock up (unless somebody else is using the device), automatic sync'ing or auto-mounting smartphone storage/data/applications. It should still open up, when my smartphone is not present, using perhaps a somewhat more extensive authentication procedure. But without some kind of authentication all my personal data must be safe and encrypted from any prying eye.

there's a how to
There are instructions on how to set up encrypted user profiles. I'm using it on my Nook Color. xda-developers won't let me post the link because I'm a new member. Go to LTRConsulting dot com and click on the howto link.

try the app switchme

Apps My wife wants

Hi There!
My wife, a doctor who is still studying, is wondering if there is a way she can use her new android phone to take better quality notes at lectures. Previously she was using a WM65 with Word, and taking text notes, but it was not possible or very difficult to add diagrams, or highlight important words, or draw arrows to particular things. Is there a great quality app that handles taking notes easier? Happy to pay.
Secondly, she has a forerunner watch which won't download her running data such as the track she ran, average speed, etc. Can she use her phone for that data collection and find a nice app to transfer it to her PC to view in a usable format?
We are also lastly looking for a cross platform (Windows 7, Android) shopping list application. Happy to pay, but would prefer one off cost. Needs to be simple and able to be shared across 3 devices nicely.

I think Evernote could do the first and last thing, taking notes, with schemes (maybe, not sure) and make a shopping list, which is cross platform, since you make an account on Evernote's site, and you have the Windows' program and the Android application to keep track, and it's off cost up to a certain storage
Hope I've been of help, just look for Evernote on google!

Android Tricks For Newbies

Perhaps you purchased your
new Android phone because
you’re really into the latest
wireless technology, or
perhaps you purchased it
because you’ve been admiring
new phone covers on Etsy
(totally adorbs, btw). Either
way, we hope our top 10
Android tricks help you
uncover new functionality in
your smartphone.
1
Access a hidden menu
We’re not sure why you’d need
a hidden menu, but if you enjoy
living your life in the shadows
and the dark of the night, read
up on how to create and access
a hidden menu from your home
screen. You’ll be able to keep
both spies and perhaps your
children out of your secret
ploys.
2
Easy Phone Sync
If you think of Apple’s iOS and
Google’s Android system as
mortal enemies, consider the
Easy Phone Sync a skilled
mediator between the two. If
your desktop has iTunes and you
want those songs on your
Android phone, download the
Easy Phone Sync so the systems
can talk to one another and
share data.
3
Near Field Communication
If your Android has Near Field
Communication (NFC)
functionality, you can use your
phone to swipe a “tag” you
create on an electronic device.
Swiping the tag will tell the
device to do whatever it is that
you have pre-programmed it to
do, like turn on the lights in
your house or fire up your
Jacuzzi.
4
Swype keyboard
If you have a strange index
finger twitch, or perhaps bulky
fingers that are constantly
causing your keyboard to
autocorrect improperly, the
Swype app will allow you to text
or search without ever having to
pick your finger up from the
keyboard. Utilizing Swype will
reduce your autocorrect
embarrassment and risks of
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, all in
one easy download.
5
Widgets
We love widgets. Mostly, we
love saying the word
“widgets.” But widgets are
actually pretty cool, too. They
allow users to check out lots of
important information in one
spot on the home screen, like
news, weather and traffic. Here
is Techland’s list of the best
Android widgets for 2013.
6
Control phone from
computer
The AirDroid app is amazing. It
allows you to send text messages
through your phone from your
desktop computer. It also allows
you to locate your phone from
your desktop, and move all your
data to and from your phone.
7
Talk to text
Please don’t be the person that
drives and texts at the same
time. Really, there is no need to
do something so dangerous. Just
hit the microphone button when
your keyboard is open for
texting or searching, and
Android’s powerful voice
technology will do a pretty
bang-up job of understanding
you.
8
Utilize Dropbox
Consider the Dropbox app as a
Cloud system for all your
devices. Although you can
always back up your files on
your Google Drive account,
Dropbox adds a layer of
functionality to the process. If
you use Dropbox on your
Android phone, all of your
uploaded files become available
on all of your devices, and many
users find the interface easier to
navigate than Google Drive.
9
Get organized
As of April 2013, the Android
operating system boasted over
800,000 apps in its app
marketplace, Google Play. Even
if you’re not app-happy, it’s
probably a smart idea to
organize the apps you use by
type so that you can easily find
what you need on your phone.
The Android operating system
allows users to create folders
for their apps. Check out this
tutorial for information about
how to create folders.
10
Use Maps offline
Nothing
is as
irritating
as
looking
up
directions on Google Maps and
then running into difficulties
with internet connection once
you’re already en route. Next
time you look up directions,
click on the button “Make
Available Offline” so you can use
your map regardless of
connectivity.
Hit The Thanks Button If I Helped You

which one is the trick part?
all i get throu the text is just explanation about the app
but i guess it might help for noob thou,

[Q] Android M has arrived: here's what you need to know

The Android M developer preview was launched today at Google I/O 2015 in San Francisco. Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of products at Google, introduced the conference and said that the company had "gone back to basics" with the new version of Android. While Android Lollipop introduced a brand new design and aesthetic, Android M is bringing some much-needed stability and usability improvements, which might not be as immediately arresting, but may prove to be significant long-term additions.
Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, followed Pichai on stage to outline six of the major new features you can expect to see in Android M.
Which phones will get the Android M update first?
1. App permissions
First up, app permissions. As had previously been speculated, app permissions have been overhauled in Android M, with users now being able to choose to accept or deny individual permissions as they see fit. Permissions have also been simplified.
Permissions will now be requested the first time you try to use a feature, not at the point of installation. "You don't have to agree to permissions that don't make sense to you," Burke said, and used WhatsApp to give an example of how this works.
If you want to record a voice message, WhatsApp will prompt you with a one-time request for permission to use your mic: if you still wish to give it access and record the message, you can, but you don't have to. Android M is giving users greater control of the information apps can access, and this is a truly positive step forward for Android.
You can modify the permissions granted to apps at a later date in your Settings, or you can view permissions by type and see which apps have that permission granted. It's all about giving the user complete control over their Android.
2. Web experience
Google has been exploring trends in the way web content is consumed to provide a better user-experience when interacting with websites and apps. "Chrome Custom Tabs is a new feature that gives developers a way to harness all of Chrome's capabilities, while still keeping control of the look and feel of the experience," said Burke.
Chrome Custom Tabs will allow apps to open a customized Chrome window on top of the active app, instead of launching the Chrome app separately. This will provide a faster and more intuitive user-experience when navigating between apps and the web.
Chrome Custom Tabs supports automatic sign-in, saved passwords, autofill, and multi-process security to assist the integration of the app and web experience. So, for example, a Pinterest custom tab will have a Pinterest share button embedded in it, can include custom overflow menu options and doesn't require the Pinterest developers to build their own web browser.
3. Fingerprint support
Google will "standardize support" for fingerprint scanners on phones running Android M. The new functionality will allow fingerprint scanners to be used not only to unlock phones, but to make purchases shopping in real-life or within Play Store apps.
Of course, your device will need a hardware fingerprint scanner to begin with, but with Google's full support, expect to see these appear on many more devices in the future.
4. Mobile payments
Android Pay is Google's new mobile payments system designed to make the checkout process easier and faster. Google is aiming to provide "simplicity, security, and choice," with Android Pay, allowing you to use your existing credit cards to pay for products in more than 700,000 stores in the US.
Compatible with any device housing NFC capabilities (and running 4.4 KitKat or above), the Android Pay platform is being supported by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, as well as carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Google's response to Apple pay is here.
5. App links
"When a user selects a weblink from somewhere, Android doesn't know whether to show it in a web-browser, or some other app that claims support for the link," this was the problem facing the Google developers before Android M.
You may be familiar with the "Open with" dialogue box which appears when you try to open a link within an app on Android. You might be asked if you want to open a link with YouTube, or with Chrome, for example.
App links are being changed in M so that Android has a greater awareness of which apps can open content directly, instead of stopping users every time with the dialog box. If you tap a Twitter link in an email, for example, the Twitter app will open automatically instead of prompting you to ask if you want to use Twitter to view it.
This is almost a blink-and-you'll-miss-it improvement, but it's representative of Google's attention to detail: Android M is probably going to feel more usable without the user ever understanding why.
6. Power and charging
Android M makes use of a new function known as Doze to improve device standby time. By using motion detectors, Android will recognize when devices haven’t been interacted with for a while, such as when a person is asleep or a device has been left on a table, to reduce background processes.
Burke said that Google tested two Nexus 9 devices, one running Lollipop and one running the Android M preview, and learned that M will provide up to two-times longer standby time. Even in Doze mode, your Android can still start alarms or notify you of priority notifications.
Android M also supports USB Type-C which provides faster charging, and lets users charge other devices with their phone.
Android M release date
The Android M Developer Preview is available today for Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, and the final version is due to launch in Q3, 2015.
What else is in new in Android M?
Auto Backup and Restore for Apps
Possibly the most interesting aspect of Android M not discussed in Google’s I/O keynote speech was Android Auto Backup and Restore for Apps. This feature will be used in conjunction with Google Drive to automatically backup app data and settings with a file size of 25 MB or less.
These backups occur no more than once per day, and run only when the device is idle and connected to Wi-Fi and power. The uploaded data does not count towards your Google Drive storage quota, and is encrypted.
If you lose your device or delete the app, your previous progress will be restored the next time you install it, and it even works with apps which are side-loaded or accessed through a third-party app store.
New app drawer
One of the most immediately noticeable visual changes to Android M is the new app drawer. This now scrolls vertically instead of horizontally, and is held against a white background, rather than a muted shade of your homepage wallpaper. Across the top of the menu you will see your four most recently used apps, and down the left-hand side are the letters of the alphabet.
Android M RAM manager
Google has introduced a new RAM manager to Android M with the aim of providing users with more accurate and comprehensible information regarding the maximum and average RAM usage of apps.
The menu can be found in Settings > Apps > Options (three dots button) > Advanced > Memory. Though it's a little hard to navigate to, the page offers a far clearer insight into app demands, and the overall effect they will have on your device.
With a reading of an individual app's RAM consumption, as well as how often it is running in the background, users will be able to better determine which apps should be removed in endless bid to increase device performance and battery life.
Android M even includes a simple bar at the top of the page displaying the current performance status of a person's handset; if it says "good performance", you're likely running an efficient set of apps.
Adoptable Storage Devices
Though Google has in the past tried to step away from external storage use (the reason why none of its Nexus devices house a microSD card slot), it appears that Android M is striking a compromise.
Adoptable Storage Devices is Google's new storage feature which essentially takes an external storage source (such as an SD card or USB drive) and formats it like an internal storage space. This means that app and personal data can be moved freely between a devices internal storage and its "adopted" storage source.
Adopted storage devices are wrapped in a layer of encryption to soothe security concerns and both microSD cards and USB OTG drives are currently supported.
Google Now
Google Now has been improved upon once again in Android M. Focusing on three key ares: being aware of different contexts, providing answers and helping you take action, Google Now is now smarter than ever.
Google Now's context awareness understand over 100 million different places, so when you ask ''How far is it to there?'' Google Now know exactly which ''there'' you're referring to. This awareness is compounded by Google's Knowledge Graph, which understands one billion different entities, from sports teams to gas stations, TV shows to recipes.
Google Now is also rolling out a pilot program called ''Now on Tap'' with 100 popular apps. Now on Tap provides Google Now-like content right where you are, without having to leave the app you're in. So if you're in Spotify and say ''Ok Google, what is his real name?'' Now on Tap will know you're talking about the musician you're listening to and provide search results right there an then.
The same goes for content in emails. If someone asks you a question about a restaurant and to not forget something on your way home, Now on Tap can automatically pop up a restaurant card with Maps info, Yelp, OpenTable and the dialer, as well as offer to set a reminder for whatever it was you were supposed to not forget.
Google Chrome
Chrome is also leaner and faster than ever before. Initially revamped with Android One devices in mind, where stable and speedy internet connections are not always possible, Chrome's new optimizations are set to arrive for everyone.
Chrome is now aware of network strength and can modify what you see as a result. For example, if your connection is bad, you might see colored squares rather than preview images in Search results. Optimized web pages will load four times faster and use 80 percent fewer bytes. You'll also see a memory usage reduction of up to 80 MB. Chrome will also support offline mode.
Google Photos
As expected, Google pulled the wraps off its new Google Photos service. Previously a part of Google+, Google Photos is now standalone photo and video storage and sharing service that provides unlimited free storage for up to 16 MP photos and 1080p video. That is seriously impressive.
The Google Photos service stores high-quality compressed versions of your photos and movies but doesn't store anything on your device, so you can search through thousands of photos at high speed and without bogging your device down with gigabytes of photos.
Popular features like Auto-Awesome and Stories are a key highlight, accessible through a new Assistant feature, which will automatically suggest creative uses of your images and footage. Through simple pinch gestures you can see tiled images for particular days, weeks, months or even years and then zoom right back in at any point you like.
Google Photos is also powerful for search, as you'd expect. You can search by People, Places, Things and Types, which are all automatically created, and you can drill down in each of those categories to see, for example, every picture you have of a particular person, all without ever tagging them.
Sharing is also a breeze. You don't even need you contacts to have the Google Photos app. You can simply share a link that they can view in Chrome. If they are logged in they can easily download an entire album in seconds.
Are you impressed by what Google has been up to in Android M? What would you have liked to have seen?

First off, if you're going to copy & paste something from another Android site, it helps to at least give credit to the original writer of the article (I have supplied a link to the original article below). Second, please post in the correct forum. The Apps & Games forum is the wrong place for this sort of post.
http://www.androidpit.com/android-m-release-date-news-features-name
Thread closed.

Ideas for mobile app

So, I'm in an interface design class and one of the more appealing options for an assignment was to make an application for mobile (we've been given 7 weeks to complete it but need to do at least 500 words of development discussion a week even if I somehow finish before then). I'm both glad this was one of the options as I've wanted to make something for a while now (though I seem to have misplaced my idea list) and a little nervous.
Right now I'm thinking something simple, does anyone have any ideas? This week will primarily be research for the professors journal requirements I think.

I will be happy to answer you
However there is no limit of app ideas, but in a simplest way if you are at the learning stage then I would like to recommend you to create an app with simple functionality with simple UI. Some of the examples I want to suggest here is chat application, book reviews, music app, photo sharing etc

Have you ever done one of these murder mystery dinners? They are pretty great, but usually limited to the one box / set of cards you buy. Maybe there is some benefit in bringing this game to the phone / tablet where you have GPS, camera, etc.?

What would I need in order to make a music or video player, or a chat application?
Sharing data sounds tricky.
Murder Mystery sounds interesting, however as it's a game sounds like I'd have to make a ton more assets to make it worthwhile.
One of the other ideas I had was to make a heartrate monitor with in-built journal. I know several of the monitors on the app store charge for the journaling feature. Alas I know not much about how they function other than they use the camera to measure the pulse in your finger.

PHONE-A-TAXI is an exclusive app that may be used in the event of being stranded. With GPS technology, it would detect the nearest taxi rank for whoever has subscribed to the service. To operate this app, one must telephone the taxi company in order to charter a taxi from the person’s exact location, and send it straight to the passenger.
How you would make money?
The app would be free for consumers but, in order to absorb the marketing costs, the developer could charge taxi firms a monthly subscription fee. They could also utilize the existence of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. to promote the app to potential consumers. The bigger the client base, the more you can charge the taxi firm annually, which would also be beneficial to the taxi company.