Best calendar apps for Android: 7 to keep you organized

The stock Android calendar isn't the prettiest or most practical of things. While it'll 'do the job', there are plenty of calendar apps out there that go much further, presenting your life's events in a way that looks great, and which helps you keep better control of everything you have planned. Here areAndroidPIT’s picks for the best calendar apps for Android.

aCalendar

This one has been around for a long time, and has evolved beautifully over the years. It has plenty of customization and organization options, allows you to set recurrent events, and uses the tech behind Android's native calendar to sync across different apps and email addresses. It has a fine selection of widgets too - letting you view calendar events by day, week or month directly on your Android homescreen. The app is free (and ad-free), though you can get the paid version for 2.99 USD for extra features like 'Busy' notifications and extra information such as public holidays. There are, however, plenty of calendars (like Google Calendar) which offer these features for free, so we recommend sticking with the free version.

Google Calendar

Unlike many of Google's productivity apps, Calendar doesn't come pre-installed on many Android devices, so you'd be forgiven for confusing your device's default calendar app for it. Once you start using Google Calendar though, the differences become apparent as it's the most beautifully designed app out there. It's not only easy to use (Google recently brought back the classic 'whole month' overview), but has neat little touches. For example, if you're going for drinks, then a little doodle of a drink will appear in that entry, or if you have an email for a flight in the Inbox app, then you can set it to automatically appear in Calendar.

Cal

The aptly named Cal pairs with sister app Any.Do to manage tasks. Like most calendar apps, it syncs with Google Calendar and Exchange.

The widget feature allows you to glance at your calendar quickly, without opening the app. Interestingly, it offers integration with Waze, Uber and Google Maps to help you navigate to your many appointments. Cal runs on Android 4.0 and up.

Jorte

Jorte Calendar and Organizer is trending right now, perhaps as more Android users catch on to its usefulness. Compared to its competitors, Jorte is easy to navigate and has an intuitive set-up. The app also offers themes to customize the look of your calendar.

The Jorte team seems on top of customer service and often replies to complaints on Google Play. Jorte's countdown feature is a nice bonus; allowing you to efficiently count the days to a big event. Jorte runs on Android 2.1 and up.

Calendar

Sunrise makes countless “must have” apps lists and it’s not hard to see why. Sunrise has been updated for Material Design and looks pretty snazzy. Like the other apps mentioned, Sunrise syncs with Google Calendar and Exchange. The fact that Sunrise was acquired in early 2015 by Microsoft speaks for the app's success, and the purchase means that there are likely big changes coming to the app in the near future.

DigiCal Calendar and Widgets

DigiCal Calendar and Widgets is perhaps the simplest calendar app on this list. Like Sunrise, it often makes top lists for Android calendars. It has six different lock-screen widgets, letting you see important events without even unlocking your phone. It's also received integration with Google Now, and has plenty of customization options, such as the one picture below which is a night mode that's both easy on your eyes and your battery. Like its competitors, DigiCal syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook and Exchange.

Coletto

Now, for something totally different. If you frequently exclaim “kawaii!” or dress like a Harajuku girl, Coletto may be for you.This Japanese app works as a dayplanner and diary. It’s obviously aimed at the girliest of girls (though boys are welcome to try it), and is very simply to use, with dragging motions letting you move events between different days on your calendar. The style is an acquired taste, but well over a million people on the Play Store can't be wrong... can they?What Android calendar apps do you use? What features do you look for in a calendar app?

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Posted at 12:47 AM |  by Unknown

New Android phones to get excited about in 2015

We've already seen some great smartphone releases in 2015, with the Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4, HTC One M9 and Huawei P8 already gracing many people's palms. But the year is far from over and there's plenty more to come from the big manufacturers, as well as some possible surprises from up-and-comers. Read on for a list of the phones that AndroidPIT's most excited about seeing in 2015.




The next Nexus - Nexus 5 2015 ?

Google’s silly naming convention means we have no idea what the next Nexus will be called – the successor to the Nexus 6 can’t be the Nexus 7 – because Google used that two years ago for its 7-inch tablet, and some pundits believe Google will dump the brand completely in 2015. Who knows though, it could very well be the Nexus 6 2015.

Recent speculation suggests that Huawei will be at the helm of Google's next 2015 flagship, which would make sense for Google’s reach in China, and the company is already well-versed in producing quality hardware at attractive prices. Intriguingly, a Google video touting Project Fi revealed a mystery phone that many thought could be the next Nexus. The phone looks virtually bezel-less, and seems to have a similar design to the Nexus 5. Could this be the Nexus 5 2015? We hope so.

Xiaomi Mi5

Though it’s not sure that western markets are going to be able to get their hands on this one, we do know that Xiaomi is keen to enter the US market in the near future. This would suit us fine, because the Xiaomi Mi5 could be one of the best devices to ever be released on Android.

Rumors suggest the Mi5 will feature a bezel-less design, a 5.2-inch QHD display, and an octa-core Snapdragon 810 chipset with either 3GB or 4GB RAM. These fine specs could be rounded off by a 16MP camera and 3000mAh battery. It's early days yet, but we're excited already.

Project Ara

Project Ara won't produce a flagship. More intriguingly, it'll let you create your own phone, with your design, your preferred hardware and software features, and built to your own specifications. It will be unique to you, and this is why your phone might be the Android phone to get excited about in 2015.

We already got a glimpse at some of the capabilities of Project Ara - with unique components like a night-vision camera module - and the range of design opportunities that Project Ara presents are extremely exciting. Consider this: typical smartphone manufacturers can't include components to appeal to "niche" user interests because they are built to attract as wide a demographic as possible. It's not built for you, it's built for everyone. Project Ara is going to change this. What are you into? What do you want to see from a smartphone? Project Ara will let you create your own answers to these questions.
Project Ara: everything you need to know

Oppo Find 9

Chinese manufacturer Oppo brought a fantastic phablet to the Android table last year with the Find 7. It's no easy task to compete with the other names that dominate Android, but Oppo is doing just that, and we fully expect a Find 9 to appear later this year to take Oppo's intrepid journey into smartphone manufacturing to the next level.

Details on the Find 9 are a little thin at the moment, but early signs indicate Oppo could be pursuing a bezel-less design like the Sharp Aquos Crystal for the Find 9, on a square device bearing little semblance to the Find 7. Rumors suggest it could also feature a 5.5-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset, and 4GB RAM, so it should be powerful as well as pretty.

Sony Xperia Z4 / Z4 Ultra

The Xperia Z4 had a surprisingly muted release in Japan in mid-April. It looked like a decent handset, following a similar design philosophy to its predecessor while kitting out the internals with a Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset and shaving a few decimals of a millimetre off in thickness. It's still waterproof too, though this time there is no unwieldy flap covering the microUSB port.

In truth, the model that's being released in Japan didn't excite us too much either, but we're intrigued by rumors of an Xperia Z4 Ultra being in the works, which could pack a 5.5-inch QHD display, along with a metallic slate design.

There is a lot of speculation right now about what form the Xperia Z4 will take when it appears in the west - (Ultra version, compact, improved specs?) - so we're excited what it offers when it hopefully makes an appearance at IFA 2015 in September
Sony Xperia Z4 release date, news, specs and rumors

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Thanks to the iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung no longer has the premium phablet market to itself - even though it created that market when everybody else was still mocking the idea of big-screened phones. That means the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 needs to be something special - a true Android phone to get excited about.

Rumors suggest an Ultra HD 4K display and a camera with up to 55 megapixels, although that resolution is possible rather than definite so far - if Sony’s sticking to 21 MP the presence of a higher resolution sensor in the Note 5 might be a gimmick rather than a great leap forward. In light of the success of Samsung's in-house Exynos chipset in the Galaxy S6, there are big question marks over whether Samsung would go back to a Qulacomm Snapdragon for the Note 5.If Samsung chooses to go with an Exynos - which we think is more likely - then that could spell the end of Samsung's relationship with Qualcomm for flagship phones.

We’d like to see wireless charging and two-day battery life too. The latest word on the grapevine suggests that the Note 5 could come with a dual-edge design, which we wouldn't mind one bit - if it's not too expensive.
Galaxy Note 5 news and rumors

OnePlus Two

Some firms could teach Google a thing or two about sensible names - the next OnePlus handset is almost certainly going to be called the OnePlus Two. After a split with Cyanogen Inc, OnePlus is going it alone and has already developed a new OS, Oxygen OS, for its second device. Here are the differences you should know about between Cyanogen OS and Oyxgen OS.

The now-familiar blend of great hardware and provocative marketing is likely to continue, and the device, currently codenamed Lettuce, should pack a 64-bit Snapdragon and Lollipop for a very good price. Count on OnePlus's invite-only purchase system to return also.
OnePlus Two release date, specs, news and rumors

Motorola Moto X 2015

The Moto X (2014) is a great phone at a great price, and we’re hoping the 2015 version addresses some of its weaknesses: the rubbish battery, the mediocre camera, the just-OK screen and the lack of stereo speakers and microSD slot. But will that be enough to keep Moto at the top of the table?

Which Android phone are you most looking forward to in 2015?

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Posted at 12:40 AM |  by Unknown

Lenovo's new 'Yoga' tablets run Android and Windows, one has a built-in projector

Lenovo's original, kickstand-toting Yoga Tablet was kind of a flop, thanks to a poor display, sluggish performance and heavily skinned version of Android. (Naming Ashton Kutcher as a "product engineer" probably didn't help either.) Not to be deterred, the company is going all in: Lenovo just announced new versions of the Yoga Tablet, including a big-screen model with a built-in projector, and two that run Windows (it's also still available with Android). Starting with that weird projector edition, called the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, it's not the first gadget we've seen with a built-in lamp, but it's the first we've seen in quite some time. In this case, what we have this time around is a 13-inch Android tablet with a 2,560 x 1,440 screen sharp enough to play movies on its own, though you could also use the in-built Pico projector to create a 50-inch image on the wall.
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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 hands-on

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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

Speaking of the sort, the tablet is about as flexible as other Yoga tablets, which is to say it has a rotating hinge that doubles as a kickstand. Here, though, there's also an option to hang it from a wall while you project, if that's somehow more convenient than standing it upright. On the inside, the tablet makes use of an Intel Atom processor, helped by 2GB of RAM. There's also an 8-megapixel rear camera, along with dual 1.5-watt speakers a 5-watt JBL subwoofer. For storage, you get 32 gigs built in, along with a microSD card capable of supporting cards as large as 64GB. The battery, meanwhile, which is built into the hinge, is rated for up to 15 hours of runtime. So is something this innovative worth a second look? Depends: How do you feel about spending $500-plus on your next tablet? We'll give you a few weeks to think on that -- this won't actually go on sale until the end of the month.
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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

If you're just fine with a regular tablet, thank you very much, the refreshed Yoga Tablet 2 still comes in 8- and 10-inch sizes, just like the last version. Now, though, it's available with either Android 4.4 or Windows 8.1. All told, this is a pretty iterative upgrade -- the design is fundamentally the same -- though there are nonetheless a few welcome spec bumps. For starters, Lenovo upgraded from a MediaTek processor to an Intel Atom chip, which should hopefully address those performance issues. Two, all of the tablets in the series, even the 8-inch models, now have 1,920 x 1,200 screens, a step up from the 1,280 x 800 on the last-gen models. Additionally, the kickstand is said to be sturdier on the 10-inch model, while all of the models now have that same new "Hang" mode as the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. Finally, there's a 4G option for all the Android models, along with the 10-inch Windows version.
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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2









If you do buy one of the Windows configurations, you'll also get a free one-year subscription to Office 365. Unfortunately, Lenovo didn't make many changes to the Android version, which is to say it still runs a heavily skinned version of KitKat. In particular, Lenovo's take on Android is so heavy-handed, that it's actually more like iOS in some ways -- there isn't even an app drawer! Just all your apps, hanging out on the various home screens. In any case, if you are interested in the Android version, that's available today starting at $250 for the 8-inch model and $300 for the 10-incher. The two Windows models will arrive throughout the fall, with the 10-inch model going on sale later this month for $400, and the 8-inch edition landing in November for $300.

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Posted at 6:21 AM |  by Unknown

G Flex 2, ZenFone 2, Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Top 10 smartphones 2015

Already we've seen big name companies including Samsung, LG and Asus unveil new flagship smartphones designed to entice buyers away from the stream of, still impressive, handsets that arrived in 2014.

In fact, the influx of new hardware, combined with the sea of rumours surrounding many, as yet unconfirmed handsets, such as the next iPhone, have justifiably left many people baffled what is available, what's on the horizon and what's currently fiction.

Here to help we've created a definitive top 10 list of the biggest smartphones currently available of confirmed for release this year.

10) LG G Flex 2
Display technology is an increasingly competitive area in the world of smartphones. Traditionally companies have worked to dominate the space by improving their displays' resolution, colour balance and brightness levels.

LG however has chosen to take a different tactic over the last year and has instead been working to push its curved display technology to the masses.

This started in 2012 when LG unveiled the G Flex and continued at CES 2015 when the Korean firm unveiled its follow up curved smartphone, the G Flex 2.

The G Flex 2's standout feature is its" flexible" 5.5in, 1080p, OLED display, which according to LG is 30 percent more durable and crack proof than its predecessor and can absorbs impacts when it hits a hard surface.

Add to this the G Flex 2's octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and Android 5.0 Lollipop mobile operating system and LG's latest handset is on paperone of the most advanced smartphones ever seen.

9) Asus ZenFone 2
Asus unveiled its first Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphone, the ZenFone 2, at CES 2015. While the use of Lollipop, which more upgrades to Android than can easily be counted, is pretty awesome, Asus has done a stellar job loading the ZenFone 2 with a wealth of top end hardware.

Chief of these are the ZenFone 2's 13MP rear camera with an f/2.0 wide-aperture lens, Optical Image Stabilsation (OIS) and a 5MP PixelMaster front camera.

PixelMaster is a custom technology designed to improve the ZenFone's imaging performance by adjusting the pixel size and image-processing algorithms to "improve low light performance by 400 percent" and "enhance noise reduction and colour contrast by up to 200 percent".

The ZenFone 2 will also feature an upgraded camera application that allows the manual adjustment of settings like ISO and shutter speed.

The combination of imaging tech and software mean the ZenFone 2 may be one of the best options for avid photographers come its release later this year.




8. Nexus 6

With the Nexus 6 finally unveiled we have to say this is one of the few instances where the run up rumours didn't do the device justice.

Built by Motorola, the Nexus 6 is on paper one of the finest Google flagships ever made and features an impressive array of hardware and software features.

One of the biggest of these is its completely reworked aluminium design. This is a big deal as, while we were fans of the Nexus 5's unassuming design, we found its polycarbonate frame slightly flimsy and the device could break or pick up marks when subjected to even the smallest of bumps.

Even better, within its metallic frame the Nexus 6 houses some pretty top-end components. Chief of these are a sizeable 6in quad HD display, powerful quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 13MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation.

This combined with the added allure of Google's latest Android 5.0 Lollipop OS, with Samsung Knox integration and a reworked 'Material design, makes the Nexus 6 one of the best smartphones currently available.


7. HTC One M8
Taiwanese firm HTC is probably the only company in the world that is as focused on design as Apple. As a result it's no surprise its 2014 flagship smartphone, the One M8, is one of the best looking and designed smartphones currently available.

Even better, underneath the One M8's robust, but elegant metal chassis lies a wealth of top end components. HTC's loaded the M8 with a high power Snapdragon 801 processor, high resolution 5in, 1080x1920, 441ppi, Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen and Duo camera technology.

Duo Camera is a new technology that lets One M8's 4.1MP Ultrapixel rear camera capture spatial information using a second supporting camera sensor. This lets users manually adjust the point of focus and create a depth-of-field effect on a captured image.

The technology also lets the One M8 know the distance of objects in the shot and use the information to selectively ignore items in the foreground when applying filters and make it a great choice for any blogger looking to get creative when shooting photos with their smartphone.




6. Blackphone
Since news of the PRISM spying campaign broke, privacy has been at the forefront of many people's minds. The scandal has made people more concerned than ever about what happens to their data.

So secure communications specialist Silent Circle teamed up with hardware engineers at Geeksphone to create a new snoop-busting Blackphone. The Blackphone will run using a heavily customised, security-focused version of Android, codenamed PrivatOS.

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption protocol creator and Silent Circle president Phil Zimmermann has lent his support to the phone and promised it will let users securely send and receive data. This all adds up to mean the Blackphone is one of the best choices available for any privacy conscious smartphone buyer.

5. Sony Xperia Z3
Sony continued its rapid-release strategy at the IFA trade show in Berlin at the start of September 2014 when it unveiled its latest Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone.

The firm announced the Z3 a mere six months after its predecessor, the Xperia Z2, and while it doesn't offer huge improvements Sony has made a few important changes.

For starters the Xperia Z3 is thinner than the Xperia Z2 and will run using a more current version of Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.

Add to this its stellar 5.2in Full HD screen, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 20.7MP rear-facing camera and we can't help but be impressed by the Sony Xperia Z3




4. Nokia Lumia 930
Microsoft made a big deal about Windows Phone 8.1, listing it as the first "enterprise-ready" version of its mobile OS, when it first arrived in the UK.

Having thoroughly tested Windows Phone 8.1 during our full review, we can understand why. Featuring advanced security and productivity features, such as a new Word Flow Keyboard, and mobile device-management support plus all the inherently great mobile applications seen on previous Windows Phone versions, Windows Phone 8.1 is truly fit for business.

As a result it's no surprise the Lumia 930 – which, as well as running on Windows Phone 8.1 also features top-end hardware, including the Finnish firm's hallowed PureView imaging technology – is one of the best phones currently available.

3. The iPhone 6 Plus
Apple claimed for years that users didn’t want big-screen smartphones and there was no need for a handset to have a display any bigger than 4inches. However, given the popularity of big screens in other ecosystems, such as Android and Windows Phone, it’s become increasingly clear this is a false hypothesis.

Finally aware of this, Apple this year unveiled its first-ever phablet, theiPhone 6 Plus. Featuring a sizeable 1920x1080, 401ppi Retina HD display the iPhone 6 Plus is the first ever handset to bring all the inherent benefits of iOS 8 to the big screen.

As an added incentive Apple’s actually optimised its latest iOS 8 mobile operating system to work better on the iPhone 6 Plus’s display. For example, the iPhone 6 Plus's Messaging and Mail apps have a special two-tier horizontal user interface and separate keyboard


2. Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung handsets' releases always come with a lot of fanfare. Luckily this year the fuss was justified and Samsung unveiled what in our mind is its most innovative smartphone to date, the Galaxy S5.

Featuring a rugged, water and dust proof IP-certified design and wealth of top end components, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and upgraded 16MP rear camera, there is a lot to like about the Galaxy S5 from a hardware perspective.

However, the Galaxy S5's charms don't stop there. Samsung's also added custom fingerprint scanner and Knox security services to the phone.

The fingerprint scanner lets users set the Galaxy S5 to only unlock when the user has proven their identity using it. Knox is a sandboxing feature based on NSA technology that lets users set up work and personal areas on the phone. The work side is password protected and encrypts any data stored on it, ensuring it should remain safe should the Galaxy S5 be lost or stolen.

The combination of top end tech and robust security make the Galaxy S5 one of the best Android smartphones currently available to businesses.

1. iPhone 6

Apple launched its iPhone 5S last September, and according to its own sales stats the handset was another winner. Apple managed to shift nine million iPhone 5S and 5C devices in the first three days of availability.

One year on the firm looks set to continue its success with its latestiPhone 6 smartphone. Unveiled in September the iPhone 6 is in many people’s eyes, including us here at V3, Apple’s most interesting smartphone to date.

Featuring a completely new curvaceous metal design, super-fast A8 processor Apple claims is 25 percent faster than the previous-generation A7 and sizeable 4.7in, 1334x750, 326ppi Retina HD display, coupled with Californian firm’s latest iOS 8 mobile operating system the iPhone 6 is the best smartphone currently available.

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Posted at 7:03 PM |  by Unknown