Android Archives - Memeburn

‘Judy’ malware found on Google Play Store puts 36.5m users at risk
By Andy Walker: Editor on 29 May, 2017
Just when you thought that WannaCry would be the last of the big malware attacks to plague 2017, a new breed of nasty has appeared on the Google Play Store. And its name is Judy. According to a report published by security company CheckPoint, Judy "is an auto-clicking adware which was found on 41 apps developed by a Korean company". The malware gets its name from the usual (and rather adorable) protagonist of the games fronting the malware. In one particular case, users can "create delicious food with Judy". Sounds yum. Cleverly bypassing Google Play's security measures by masquerading behind a legitimate app,...
BBM CEO: we can be ‘one of the two’ top chat apps in South Africa
By Andy Walker: Editor on 22 May, 2017
Remember BBM? That once iconic acronym stood for BlackBerry Messenger, one of the world's most used chat apps. But that legacy has long since come and gone. During BlackBerry's torrid few years in the early 2010s, the company sold the app's development rights to Indonesian-based company Creative Media Works (owned by Emtek). It's a complicated situation for the non-informed consumer still plodding away on older BlackBerry devices, but essentially, the new Android and iOS app is not the BBM you once knew. That doesn't mean much has changed though. It's still a chat app, and BBM CEO Matthew Talbot is adamant that the...

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Weekly Round Up Podcast #106: Google I/O & WannaCry ransomware
By Julia Breakey on 19 May, 2017
This week, the trusty Hadlee Simons hosts Andy Walker and Stephen Timm. To start us off, Andy talks about WannaCry, the worldwide attack involving ransomware that targeted over 230 000 computers. The Windows attack even managed to hit the UK's National Health Service. The team then discuss General Motors pulling out of South Africa, and other international locations. Isuzu will be taking over GM’s light commercial vehicle manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth. Over on Ventureburn, Stephen talks about the GEM report that significantly fewer South Africans believe they have either the opportunity or the capability to start their own business. The report also...
Android O is killing Google’s blob emoji (and replacing that adorable kitty)
By Andy Walker: Editor on 18 May, 2017
Google might've announced a slew of updates to its products yesterday, but its most important development was mostly swept under the rug. The company's derpy emoji, which featured anthropomorphous blobs wearing emotionless faces, will finally be replaced by more expressive figures. This is all part of Android O's -- Google's upcoming mobile operating system -- support of Emoji 5.0, part of Unicode 10.0. According to Emojipedia, there are also a number of new emoji heading to the OS, including a mage, a face that's enjoying a good vomit, and of course a face with a hand over its mouth. If those...

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6 great podcast apps for Android you should download
By Hadlee Simons on 3 May, 2017
Podcasts have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity recently, with the likes of Serial and other notable shows responsible for the reinvigorated industry. There are loads of podcast apps out there, especially on Google's platform, which has only recently implemented native podcast support via Play Music. Which clients are worth downloading though? We've got a few you should consider -- but do let us know about your favourite apps. Podcast Republic My go-to app, Podcast Republic has recently received a visual overhaul, bringing the design in line with the extensive feature list. Podcast Republic delivers the expected podcast search functionality (by genre, top charts, search), offline...
The ultimate guide to building apps in 2017
By Hendri Lategan on 24 April, 2017
This article is, more than anything, about user experience. Whether it’s an app, a website or something in between, your mobile platform of choice represents an unprecedented opportunity for you to connect to your customers no matter where they are. Connection follows us everywhere we go and permeates every second of our day. However, earning your time and engagement with the millions of mobile users in the market today, means creating an experience that will add true value to the their lives. I’ve long believed that in order to extract value from your consumers you need to create value first. Engagement...

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Google and Android partners reach patent peace
By Julia Breakey on 4 April, 2017
Google and other major Android partners have joined an agreement that grants each other royalty-free patent licensing on all Android and Google Applications preinstalled on devices that meet Android’s compatibility requirements. The Android Networked Cross-License -- dubbed PAX, the Latin word for peace -- is meant to open the doors to innovation and healthy competition in an industry that doesn't benefit from patent wars. "This community-driven clearinghouse operations developed together with our Android partners," writes Google's VP of business and for Android and Google Play, Jamie Rosenberg, "ensures that innovation and consumer choice—not patent threats—will continue to be key drivers of our Android ecosystem." Android...

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Wikileaks reveals CIA malware for Android, iOS, Samsung TVs
By Hadlee Simons on 8 March, 2017
Whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks has published its latest cache of documents, revealing CIA malware that focuses on Android, iOS devices and smart TVs. Additionally, the documents also show that the CIA has its sights set on vehicle control systems. According to a summary by Wikileaks, Apple's mobile platform was a massive target for the agency. "Despite iPhone's minority share (14.5%) of the global smart phone market in 2016, a specialised unit in the CIA's Mobile Development Branch produces malware to infest, control and exfiltrate data from iPhones and other Apple products running iOS, such as iPads. CIA's arsenal includes numerous local and remote 'zero days' developed...
Google Assistant hits Android 6.0, 7.0 devices
By Hadlee Simons on 3 March, 2017
The Google Assistant is essentially a supercharged take on Google Now, delivering reminders, answers to more specific questions and more. It was initially limited to the Pixel handsets, Android Wear 2.0 and Google's speakers, but now, Google has launched the tool for recent Android smartphones. As of yesterday (2 March), Google has been pushing the service to devices with Marshmallow or Nougat, the web colossus confirmed on its blog. "Your Google Assistant helps you get more done, in your world. And starting today, it's rolling out to Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow devices with Google Play Services. To get started, touch...
Skype’s new preview beta adds a touch of Snapchat
By Andy Walker: Editor on 17 February, 2017
Remember Skype? The video conferencing tool is a product we haven't covered in a while, and that's largely because its feature set hasn't changed radically since Microsoft bought it from eBay in 2011. But that's about to change, at least judging by this week's news. Skype's mobile app, available on Android and iOS, is set to receive a number of updates to bring it in line with the other instant messaging apps of this world. Skype Chat will now boast a "Find Panel" which will allow users to "easily find and share links, news, sports results, restaurants, the weather, videos and more...
Disable Facebook autoplay videos on all platforms: a how-to guide
By Andy Walker: Editor on 15 February, 2017
Few things are more annoying than runaway videos on your devices thanks to Facebook autoplay. You can be mindlessly scrolling through your timeline one minute, and the next, some rando in a chicken suit starts dancing on your screen. No one wants that. Thankfully, this system, along with audio accompaniment, is coming to mobile devices too! But did you know that you can switch off the Facebook autoplay system entirely? Absolutely. And here's how you can do just that on Desktop, Android, and iOS. Desktop On Facebook's desktop website, you'll need to navigate to the top right of the site's headline bar and click...
15 must-have Android apps under 15MB [Tech Savvy SA]
By Hadlee Simons on 14 February, 2017
Tech Savvy SA is a series of articles on Gearburn and Memeburn that aim to deliver useful, locally relevant advice to the average South African. Mobile data isn't super cheap in South Africa, but that doesn't mean you should skimp out on quality app downloads though. We've sifted through the Google Play Store, delivering 15 useful Android apps that weigh in at 15MBs or under. Pocket Weighing in at roughly 12MBs, Pocket (formerly Read It later) is arguably the best solution of its kind on the Google Play Store. The app allows users to save articles for later reading, delivering offline reading functionality in the process....
Weekly Round Up Podcast #94: UberEATS expansion, Android Wear updates & more
By Staff Reporter on 10 February, 2017
Welcome to Weekly Roundup, our podcast discussing the latest tech trends, innovation and news from the last few days. In this week's edition, Hadlee Simons plays host to Andy Walker and Graham van der Made. This time we discuss the PS4 Pro's so-called Boost Mode and how it will affect supported titles. Sticking with Gearburn, we also touch on Ubisoft's recent Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands beta. We also take a look at the latest Android Wear 2.0 update coming to smartwatches this year. Android Wear 2.0 will also see the introduction of new smartwatches to South Africa Moving onto Meme matters, we...
Google, H&M wants your phone to design your next dress
By Andy Walker: Editor on 7 February, 2017
While our favourite garments aren't as unique as we believe them to be, how we combine these pieces defines our individual style. But can style be determined by the likes of technology? That's what Google and H&M hope to discover. The Android app, designed by both Mountain View and H&M's Ivyrevel fashion house, wants to use your daily habits to design a bespoke dress for your needs. At the heart of the app is Google's Awareness API, which "enables apps to be aware of all aspects of a user's environment" through a device's available sensors. Google and H&M's new Android app will...
Dropbox Paper is for creatives with too many files
By Andy Walker: Editor on 31 January, 2017
Cloud storage service Dropbox is hoping to modify its company description slightly with its latest product. It's called Dropbox Paper, and it's effectively the company's Google Docs competitor. While, yes, it is yet another online office collaboration tool, the company's Todd Jackson claims that it's so much more than that. "More than a doc, Dropbox Paper is a flexible workspace that brings people and ideas together," he explains. "With Paper, teams can create, review, revise, manage, and organise -- all in shared documents." Google Docs, but for creatives? Largely based on the principle that one basket is good enough for all your office's creative...