Nice multi-tasking apps for Android 2014

Nice multi-tasking apps for Android 2014

Placing down roots in Berlin after six years of touring is a significant step for Kris Carlon, who has spent extra time living out of a tent lately than sitting at a desk.

Kris comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent writing on art and culture in Australia and other places he has lived. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since.

The more we use our devices the more we switch between apps endlessly, sometimes only for a second or two before switching back. We already have some nice multitasking tools on devices like the LG G2 and Samsung 's Multi-Window and ToolBox features. I thought I'd put together a list of my favorite apps for multitasking, app switching and just generally being more efficient on my Android.© AndroidPIT

Multitasking

Multitasking, is as the name implies, a multitasking tool for Android. You set up the app as a swipeable sidebar menu, just like the navigation drawer, that will appear on any screen. Once open, you have a list of useful 'app' functions to choose from that will then appear as floating windows. You can open multiple windows at once and choose from a wide selection, including video player, calculator, calendar, browser, file explorer, compass and plenty more. The only condition is that you're not able to use your personal apps, just the ones supplied by the Multitasking app (but these work fine). It comes with popup ads (not in the Pro version) but these can be blocked by using AdBlock Plus.

Multitasking offers plenty of in-app features and multiple window options. / © AndroidPIT/OryonCorp

HoverChat

HoverChat, formerly known as Ninja SMS, is a popular and super simple SMS/MMS app that does much the same as Chat Heads in Facebook's app do: when a message comes in, a little bubble will pop up with your contact's pretty face in it to alert you to the message. You can either tap the bubble to read the message there and then, whatever you're doing, and reply, or you can drag the bubble around to continue what you were doing and answer it a little later, or just dismiss it completely. The same kind of functionality is available for your instant messengers too: from Viber and WhatsApp to Facebook and KakaoTalk.

HoverChat notifies you of messages but lets you carry on with whatever you were doing. / © AndroidPIT/Ninja Apps

Edge: Quick Actions

This is more of an app switching tool than a multitasking tool, but it's so handy that i feel like I'm multitasking whenever I use it because I'm saving so much time. Edge is an ever-ready sidebar that pops up and displays your most recently opened apps, along with a handy bunch of stock options like Wi-Fi, data connectivity, Bluetooth, vibrate and so on. While you can get these via the recent apps button and Quick Settings, the combination of both in a minimal little popup is perfect for me. If you're using this app as well as Multitasking, you'll may need to put their activation areas on opposite sides of your screen, depending on how big the activation area is and your particular usage habits.

Edge can be positioned anywhere and shows you recent apps and handy settings. / © AndroidPIT/Reactiv Studios

Honorable mention: Link Bubble

I'm also a huge fan of Link Bubble. This isn't really a multitasking app but it's a great efficiency tool. Basically, Link Bubble lets you load hyperlinks in the background and continue with what you were doing until your link is ready. When browsing in Chrome, Google+, Twitter, whatever, when you tap a link a little bubble pops up and starts loading the linked page. You can then keep reading until it is ready, rather than sitting there looking at a white page while it loads. Once you start using Link Bubble, you'll wonder how you ever put up with the old method for so long. The free version supports one app and one bubble at a time, but the pro version supports all of your apps and unlimited bubbles.

Are you using any of those apps already? What different multitasking instruments do you utilize?

Posted by: http://gosspot.com/

Writted by: totor

View the Original article

Deckset Creates Great Looking Presentations from Any Markdown File

Mac: PowerPoint and Keynote have been the main presentation tools for most people for a long while, but if you're looking for a simpler alternative, Deckset makes things a bit simpler by building presentations based on Markdown files.

Instead of using a visual format to design a presentation, Deckset lets you just type it out in Markdown using a regular old text editor. When you're done, open that file in Deckset and it's automatically turned into a presentation. You can pick from a number of themes, color palettes, and add images to spice things up. That's it. It's incredibly simple, but that's also the point. Deckset isn't really a replacement for something like PowerPoint. Instead, it's a tool for people who don't really want to mess around with visuals and would prefer to just present their ideas in a simple way.

Deckset ($19.99)

View the Original article

Put Bright Stickers on the Camera for Great Baby Photos

S

Getting your baby to look at the camera lens, or at your smartphone's camera, isn't easy. Reader Sidin Vadukut shares a great tip to divert your toddler's gaze where you want it while keeping your hands free to take a photo.

If you want to take good pictures of babies, but find it hard to get them to look at you properly, stick bright stickers on the back of your phone. My wife figured this out, and now she (the baby) looks approximately at the lens opening. Ish.

You don't want to have gooey residue on the back of your device either, so it might be best to put a screen guard first and apply the sticker on that. Screen guards come off easily without leaving your gadget sticky.

Thanks @sidin!

View the Original article

Phrasebook PRO: great offline phrasebook for travellers

Features & Use

Phrasebook PRO requires no registration and has a very clean user interface. After starting the app, you can select which languages ​​you want to download and save for offline use. There are 17 languages ​​to date, such as Chinese, Swedish, Arabic, Indonesian and Greek.

With one tap, the respective language is downloaded. The language pack can be stored either on the internal memory, SD card or a USB memory. There are also four different servers which can be used for the download, however we advise downloading the package when connected to a WiFi network.

© AndroidPIT

The dictionaries are sorted into different topics and you’ll find something for almost every situation, in order to be able to apply the right vocabulary. There are basic and general phrases, to special institutions, to numbers, food and weather vocabulary. It is surprisingly extensive. You are able to scroll through the individual categories in the list view or check out a more detailed view on the left and right.

Tap to open a phrase that will be read out loud to you. In addition to country specific writing, a transcription will also appear to help in the case of exotic languages, which also serves as a great help in pronouncing the sentence correctly. Phrases that are particularly important can be stored in the favorites section by ticking off the star icon. One features that I think they did a standup job on is that the voice output is done with the correct mother tongue and correct emphasis.

Another features that they’ve done masterfully is the search function. As you type, a list of all of the phrases found on the app will appear. If you have multiple results, you can have these read out one at a time. This can be started with or without a translation on the playlist. The pauses between phrases can also be extended as needed, while source and target language are easily reversed with the flag icon.

© AndroidPIT

Favorites are also sorted into categories which, for a better overview, can be minimized. The Playlist option is also available here, while the source language can be optionally changed in the settings, which allows you to compare translations between all other languages, including English, ​​in the Phrasebook. Automatic voice playback can also be disabled.

The app is definitely sufficient in terms of having a wide scope. When traveling, you will likely be able to manage with the existing repertoire. Phrasebook PRO works with ready-made sentences and phrases, but should not be confused with a dictionary. There were times when a few words and phrases seemed to be lacking. For example, the number vocab after the 22 increased only in increments of 10. Especially when paying, a complete list would have been helpful here. Business vocabulary isn’t very developed either. With regards to food, more local dishes would be an extra bonus, but this could be a bit of a problem when trying to translate country/culture-specific dishes into 16 different languages.

 © AndroidPIT

Screen & Controls

Phrasebook PRO has a very pleasant and well-structured user interface. All areas of the app are clearly arranged and easily accessible, not to mention offer controls that are very intuitive. For those who have downloaded the correct language before going abroad, the app will come in very useful with its off-line mode, where you don’t need to use up data volume unnecessarily.

The app is well balanced: it has all the key phrases, yet is not overwhelming or cluttered. Unfortunately, there’s no landscape mode.

Speed & Stability

During the test period, the app was stable and there were no crashes. Downloading individual language packs only took a little when on a WiFi network.

Price/Performance Ratio

Phrasebook PRO is one of the more expensive apps at 5.99 USD. Given the ease of use and the sufficient speech content that can be used offline, the price is justified in my opinion. You can also download the phrasebook for a particular language at a price of 1.99 USD. There is also a free demo version for every language with less content.

Final Verdict

With the Phrasebook PRO, travelers get a useful phrase book, which can be conveniently used offline. If you want to delve deeper into a local language , you might still need to get yourself an appropriate dictionary. The app covers essential basic formulations and thanks to the different categories, you would be able to cope in a foreign country. A particularly positive element is the native language implementation of the speech. The clean user interface also provides for a pleasant user experience. Overall, the app is recommended and suitable for frequent flyers and all travelers.

View the Original article

Extra Laptop Storage, A Great Motorola Modem, $20 Off Kindles [Deals]

S

Whether you want to expand your laptop's storage, give your laptop a few more port options, or just save a few bucks on your monthly internet bill, there are some great deals available today. Enjoy!

---

If your ISP charges you a modem rental fee, you drop what you're doing immediately and buy a Motorola SB6141. You can pick one up today on Newegg for $82, which is a decent price on its own, but you can bundle it with a free router if you know the proper promo code. I should note that the router is $15 by itself, so if you own something nicer, you might not have any use for it, but you could always sell it for a few bucks on Craigslist. Just put the modem in your cart, add the code, and the router will be added automatically.

Motorola SB6141 Modem with Free Router | $82 with Promo Code EMCPGHP48

---

Open Box Apple Airport Extreme | $130 With Promo Code SPRING14

---

S

The SSDs you find in modern laptops are fast, but still a little smaller than most of us would like. If you own a Mac, this handy adapter set will let you use any MicroSD card to add some extra storage via your SD card slot, without an unsightly piece of plastic sticking half an inch outside of your computer. The pack comes with three adapters, so you can even share with your friends and family.

You will need a MicroSD card to go with this, but Amazon has a good price today on this 64GB Transcend model.

Apotop SmartSuit MicroSD Adapter for Macbook Air/Pro/Retina | $17

---

S

This dock transforms one Thunderbolt port into an ethernet port, HDMI, three USB 3.0s, two 3.5mm audio jacks, another Thunderbolt port, all for an all-time-low $165 today. Crucially, it even includes a Thunderbolt cable to get you started, which normally goes for $40 on its own.

StarTech Thunderbolt Laptop Docking Station | $165

---

S

Today on Amazon, you can take $20 off a Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite, bringing prices down to just $49 and $99, respectively.

Note: You don't have to trade in an old e-reader to get the discount. It's available to everyone.

$20 off Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite

---

S

If anything in your house takes batteries, you should have a supply of Eneloop rechargeables handy. This 2-pack of AAs will supplement your collection, and even comes with spacers that let you use them in any pesky gadgets that take D batteries.

If you don't have any Eneloops yet, we recommend starting with the Eneloop Power Pack, which is backordered by a few weeks, but available today for an all-time low $34.

Eneloop AA 2-Pack with D Spacers | $7

Eneloop Power Pack | $34

---

S

Never be stuck without a spare USB port while traveling again.

Mpow 4 Port USB Wall Charger | $14 With Promo Code UC30MPOW

---

S

At less than $.50 per piece, this is a great deal for anyone who needs some new tools. My favorite part is the easy-to-read size labeling.

Craftsman 94 pc. Easy-To-Read Mechanics Tool Set | $40

---

S

Chuck your drawer full of old, slow flash drives and upgrade to USB 3.0 on the cheap today, courtesy of Staples and Amazon.

---

S

Outdoor lovers won't have to worry about keeping their gadgets juiced up with this solar charging pack, available for $75 today from Woot. Even if you don't think you'll need your phone while camping, having a basically unlimited power supply should bring you peace of mind if something were to go wrong and you needed to contact the outside world.

Goal Zero Portable Solar Power Essentials Kit | $75

---

S

In addition to looking like something out of TRON, these MEElectronics headphones sound great too, if the 4.8 star review average is any indication.

If earbuds are more your style. Best Buy has a great sale on SOL REPUBLIC Ampe buds, today only.

MEElectronics Atlas Orion On-Ear Headphones | $55

SOL REPUBLIC - Amps In-Ear Headphones | $30

---

S

The Panasonic Arc 4 finished second in Gizmodo's ranking of the best electric razor, and today represents a rare chance to score it for under $100 on Amazon. The step-up Arc 5 model is also on sale today, and adds an extra blade, multi-flex pivoting head, and an automatic cleaning and charging system.

---

Apps

iOS

Android

Windows Phone

Phones and Tablets

Computers

Displays

Input

Networking

Sound

PC Parts

Storage

Power

Headphones

Home Theater

TVs and Projectors

Media Players

Home

Fitness

Tools

Photography

Apparel

Books

Entertainment

Gaming

Inventory

---

Follow us for the best deals on the internet, curated for @lifehacker readers.

— Lifehacker Deals (@LifehackerDeals) December 10, 2013

Get in touch with me on Twitter or by emailing shep@gawker.

— Shep McAllister (@shepmcallister) December 10, 2013

This post is brought to you by the Commerce Team, a dedicated group of deal hunters and product enthusiasts. We operate independently of Editorial to bring you the best bargains every day, share our favorite products with you, and ask you about yours. When you buy something we recommend, we may also get a small share of the sale. We welcome your questions and want your feedback.

Related

The Best Electric Razor

Electric razors have always had a bit of a bum rap, derided for being louder and less efficient than a "real" blade. But today, electric… Read…

View the Original article