A Samsung Galaxy sound wo n’t go to sleep as long as you ’re staring at the sieve . An LG Optimus handset lets you lead apps in tiny window on top of the desktop , while Motorola RAZR equipment can do key tasks allot to a docket . Some call the proliferation of usance features Android fragmentation , but I call them institution , as OEMs are lend functionality faster than you may say Google .
Fortunately , you do n’t postulate to grease one’s palms a exceptional brand of telephone set to get an enhanced Android experience . A number of third - company apps available through the Play store can replicate the honorable custom features that Samsung , LG , HTC and Motorola have to provide .
OEMs ’ near - illimitable chance with Android is one of the platform ’s biggest draws , but with each manufacturing business offer a unlike set of function , it can also be one of its biggest thwarting . Laptop Mag ’s Avram Piltch explainshow you’re able to keep your phone of choice without sacrifice any of Android ’s most sought after feature .
LG QSlide/Samsung Pop-Up Play Alternatives
Even as Microsoft tries to hide the actual windows in the latest reading of its Windows operating system of rules , LG ’s QSlide feature film allow you put one or two small window on top of your work running the web internet browser , video actor , memo calendar or calculator apps . Samsung ’s Pop - Up sport does the same thing , but only for video .
Alternative Apps : http://blog.laptopmag.com / samsung - lg - and … While not as attractive as QSlide or pop music - up frolic , Android has a slew of third - political party swim apps that will put window on top of your oeuvre . Floating browser app Fluxis a re - sizable web browser app in a windowpane that has tabs and can be activated from the telling draftsman . Super Videoplays local video files in a windowpane whileFloating YouTubeplays streaming videos .
Floating Mail and float Chatpromise the power to put email or IMs on top of your work , but neither appwas able to get in touch to our accounts . AirCalcprovides a floating calculator , all over with a see - through cover . regrettably , none of these floating apps grant you to set its transparency like the LG and Samsung resolution do .
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LG QuickMemo/Samsung S Pen Easy Clip Alternative
Both LG and Samsung allow for the ability to take screenshots , draw on them with your style or finger and share them . LG ’s QuickMemo stands out , because it rent you scribble a preeminence on top of the screen ( ex : ample : “ purchase Milk River ” ) and keep them there even as you remain to use your screen background and apps below .
Alternative App : Floating Draw lets you scribble on your screen and either relieve the result as an image file or leave your draftsmanship as a level on top of the filmdom as you carry on to use your phone . When run , the liberal app invest a small penitentiary image in the low right turning point of your blind . Just tap it , and you ’re ready to scribble .
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LG QTranslator Alternative
Ever wish you had a universal translator like the one Captain Kirk uses ? While not capable to decrypt Klingon , LG ’s QTranslator app can convert foreign language write to English ( or your aboriginal tongue ) in real- fourth dimension via the gadget ’s photographic camera . So when you ’re staring at that all - Mandarin bill of fare , you just point your hind end - facing electron lens at the page and English — language translations come out next to the Hanzi characters . While Google Translate can bring home the bacon translations of foreign authorship , it requires you to take a still look-alike and foreground the text edition you need rather than work in actual - clock time as you move your earpiece around .
Alternative App : CamDictionaryalso allows you to translate words in real- fourth dimension , just by rolling your phone over them . Available in a loose trial version that unlocks more vocabulary features for $ 1.99 , the app also has several downloadable offline dictionary that can interpret text even when you do n’t have an Internet connection . We tested CamDictionary by run it over the Hanzi graphic symbol in a Formosan - lyric textbook and found the displacement quick and exact .
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Samsung Smart Stay Alternatives
Do n’t you hate it when you ’re read something intently on your sound and short the screen turns black and goes to eternal rest because you have n’t tapped the glass in a while ? Samsung ’s Smart Stay feature uses your phone ’s webcam to determine that you ’re still staring at the projection screen and reset its timeout . fortuitously , you do n’t call for a Samsung phone to get this functionality .
Alternative : SmartStay Ex , a free app , cater the same functionality , with more option than Samsung crack . Where Samsung just has a check box in the Android display setting menu to enable its Smart Stay , the SmartStay Ex app lets you decide how oftentimes the app looks for your face and how many times it must fail to see your mug before permit the organization sleep . I peculiarly like the ikon SmartStay Ex place in the position Browning automatic rifle , which exchange color to show you whether it has detected your face . A Pro version gives you even more option .
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LG Vu Talk Alternative
LG ’s Vu Talk feature countenance you share a common whiteboard with your call married person so , as you ’re lecture , you’re able to be drawing things on the same pageboy . alas , in ordering for Vu Talk to work , your friend must also have an LG phone that comes with the software package .
alternate : SyncSpaceprovides a material - clip digital whiteboard you may use to draw together with multiple Android or iOS users . Unfortunately , unlike Vu Talk , this devoid app does n’t stomach partake in picture or maps .
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HTC People Widget Alternatives
One of the more attractive features of HTC ’s sensation UI is its optional People Widget , which displays societal updates from your friends right on your desktop . While not quite as upright looking at , there are several free choice in the Google Play Market .
alternative : Taptuallows you to make customs duty convenience with streams from Facebook , Twitter and various news feeds . BlingBoardalso provide an attractive 4×4 widget with Twitter , Facebook and Gmail updates along with missed margin call and SMS messages .
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LG Live Zoom Alternative
Even the large telephone only provide between 5 and 6 column inch of screen for watching HD motion picture . So what if you want to get a closer flavor at the skier slaloming down the middle of the display rather than seeing the whole plenty ? LG ’s Live Zoom feature get you abstract - to - zoom in on offline video recording just like you may for Wweb pages and photos .
Alternatives : BSPlayer Freealso lets you pinch- to- zoom in and out on offline videos . Like Super Video , the free app can also float its video musician on top of other apps . The app even supports gesture control and screenshot capture from within a video .
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Samsung S Beam Alternatives
mechanical man 4 and above devices with NFC ( Nnear Ffield Ccommunications ) chips have a feature holler Android ray , which allows users to transfer contact , photos and other small pieces of data just by intercept the backs of their devices together . However , Samsung ’s S Beam feature improves on standard Android Beam by sending the data point over Wi - Fi verbatim rather than Bluetooth , which make file cabinet transfers as much as 10 times quicker .
alternate : While not quite as mere to use as S Beam , a few third - party utilities exist that will let you use Wi - Fi Direct to send files from one equipment to another . We tried a number of these and none work automatically when you tap the backs of machine together , but they will act upon from the Android Share carte provided both parties are guide the same app . Two apps we seek successfully werej4velin ’s WiFi DirectandBilly Lam ’s Send ! .
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Motorola Smart Actions Alternatives
Motorola Mobility may not get any love from Google , but we ’ve always been fond of the Smart Actions phone automation app Moto put on its RAZR phones . Using Smart Actions , we ’ve been able to configure our phone to automatically go into tacit mode when we ’re in a meeting or stop synchronise data point at night when we require to save data .
choice : For $ 3.99,PhoneWeaverisn’t quite as attractive or intuitive as Smart Actions – its interface for creating tasks looks very basic – but it does allow you to schedule changes to your phone based on your calendar , time of day or location . The slightly more expensiveTaskercosts $ 6.49 and supports 200 unlike actions , with a much more attractive UI .
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Samsung Motion Gesture Alternatives
There ’s nothing more frustrative than seek to give ear up your ringing smartphone rapidly while everyone in the way stares at you disapprovingly . Fortunately , Samsung provides an easy way to deny an incoming call by just flipping the phone over to hush up it . Other Samsung movement let in Direct Call , which start dialing the phone number of a contact as soon as you raise the speech sound to your ear .
Alternatives : Flip Silentis a very mere free app that hush up your clone as before long as you flip your phone over in either direction . Easy Answer , which is also free , provides a host of other move ascendancy features , include the power to do the telephone by lift it to your ear . However , if you need to silence a call in Easy Answer , you ’ll have to rock the phone rather than plough it over .
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republish with permission fromLaptop Mag.Laptopmag.combrings you in - profundity reviews of the hot mobile products , the latest tech newsworthiness , helpful how - to advice , and expert analytic thinking of the a la mode tech trend .
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