App developers can't hide! Apps with in-app purchases must reveal home address

Google is making changes to Play Store policy so developers will have to publicly display an address if their apps cost money or feature in-app purchases. Starting 30 September, it will be mandatory to show a physical address or apps risk being remove from the store.

Developers will soon need to provide their address details in Google Play. / © ANDROIDPIT

A message appeared in the developer console explaining that an address needs to be provided and that it will be visible to anyone browsing Google Play:

Add a physical contact address Beginning September 30, 2014, you need to add a physical address to your Settings page. After you've added an address, it will be available on your app's detail page to all users on Google Play. If your physical address changes, make sure to update your information on your Settings page.

If you have paid apps or apps with in-app purchases, it's mandatory to provide a physical address where you can be contacted. If you don't provide a physical address on your account, it may result in your apps being removed from the Play Store.

This will make it much easier for customers to get in touch with a developer if necessary, and it is not the only change that is on the cards. The developer of GoneMAD Music Player contacted Google for confirmation about the new address policy. The email response not only confirms this, but also explains that the price of in-apps purchases and subscriptions associated with an app must be displayed:

We will display the price ranges for apps that offer in-app purchases and/or subscriptions on the app's store listing page.

Is this a move you're happy with? Will you be sending fan or hate mail to a developer soon?

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

Best Chromecast apps for Android

With the release of Chromecast in a many countries, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the Android apps that you can use with this mighty dongle. While the Play Store has a bunch available, they’re not always listed in the most useful or intuitive way. Here’s a few of our favorites Chromecast apps for Android.

Cast content to your TV and enjoy it on the big screen. © Iaroslav Neliubov/Shutterstock/AndroidPIT

• What is Chromecast? Google’s brilliant streaming device explained


• Google Chromecast review: stream media from your Android to your TV

Hulu Plus

Hulu, like Netflix, is a great TV and movie watching service where you can watch unlimited amounts of either on your Android smartphone or tablet for 7.99 USD per month. It’s received high acclaim for offering a great selection and the latest episodes for your favorite shows. A great thing about Hulu Plus is that it allows you to cast whatever you are watching to your TV using Chromecast, as well as Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.

Watch an unlimited amount of movies and TV shows with Hulu Plus. / © Hulu

Hulu Plus INSTALL

• Google Chromecast tips and tricks: get the most out of streaming media

Google Play Movies and TV

Google Play Movies & TV is a great way to buy and even rent movies and TV shows on your Android device. TV shows are only available in the USA, UK, Japan, Canada and Australia for the time being. The app also supports Chromecast so you can watch whatever you’ve purchased in the comfort of your living room on your TV.

Buy and rent videos to cast onto your TV with your Chromecast dongle. / © Google

Google Play Movies & TV INSTALL

Pandora

Streaming music is a great way to discover new artists, songs and even new genres. The online radio service lets you personalize up to 100 different radio stations, as well as discover those made up by others, and genre stations created by the developers of Pandora. In addition to music, you can listen to comedy programs. Make sure you are using Wi-Fi when using Pandora, as opposed to Wi-Fi, however if you are at home, you are likely to be using the first option anyway. With Chromecast support, you can have play, control and customize your radio stations right on your TV.

Control and enjoy Pandora on your living room TV.  / © Pandora

Pandora® internet radio INSTALL

• Best Chromecast alternatives

Plex

Plex is a personal multimedia app that lets you to stream your videos, music, photos and home movies to your Android phone from your computer which is running Plex Media Server. You can organize, easily browse through and then enjoy it on any connected device, enriches your media. It allows for media syncing from your phone, as well as from Google Drive, Dropbox and other cloud storage services, so that you can view this on your phone even when offline. And now it goes a step further with Chromecast support: you can enjoy the services Plex has to offer on your HDTV. The media server itself is free, but the mobile app will run you $4.99 on the Play Store.

Sync, organize and view your media with Plex.  / © Plex, Inc.

Plex for Android INSTALL

VEVO

VEVO is your music video service so you can watch the latest and best that artists are making. You’ll be the first to know when a new video is out, discover new and upcoming genres and artists, create your own playlists and share these with your friends. Of course, with Chormecast support you can get an even bigger and badder experience on your TV.

VEVO lets you check out the latest music videos and then cast them to your TV. / © VEVO

Vevo - Watch HD Music Videos INSTALL

BBC iPlayer

For our UK audiences, the BBC iPlayer app is one of the best you can use if you have bought yourself a Chromecast dongle. The app lets you watch live TV, and download the latest programs. The app could use fixer-upper we must admit with quite a few users complaining, but for the most part, this is a great app that you can now cast right on your TV.

/ © Media Applications Technologies for the BBC

BBC iPlayer INSTALL

AllCast

One of the most popular apps currently available for Chromecast is AllCast. It can easily cast content from your mobile device straight to your device, including music, videos, and photos. AllCast supports numerous formats, including Roku, Apple TV, and the Xbox 360/ One. There is a free version that you can use to try out AllCast, however it has limits on the video length you can play. The premium version is available for $4.99.

 Get content from your mobile device can cast it, this includes music, videos, and photos. / © ClockworkMod

AllCast INSTALL

MyCastScreen

Chromecast comes with a default home screen, the one that rotates through stock photos and displays the time in the corner. If you’re looking for something with a little bit more functionality, check out MyCastScreen. The app itself costs $0.99, but it lets your cast cards with the time and date, local weather and traffic information, as well as news headlines. While it is still pretty new, the developer is promising more options and customization on the way.

The time and date, local weather, traffic information and news with MyCastScreen. / © musicalbigfoot

MyCastScreen INSTALL

DayFrame

Want to be able to turn your television into a giant slideshow while entertaining? With DayFrame, you can cycle through your favorite social media photos and have them displayed on your television. The app connects to a bunch of different social media services, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, among others. Not only can you search your own photos, but you can also have it choose a bunch of random topics of your choosing.  The app itself is free, but shows a small logo at the top of the screen. In order to get rid of it, you’ll need to upgrade to the Prime version for $0.99.

Rotate through your favorite social media photos and have them displayed on your TV. / © cloud.tv

Dayframe (Chromecast Photos) INSTALL

GamingCast

For $1.99, you can bring some classic games to your television while using Chromecast and your mobile device. Choose from Snake, Pong, Xonix, or Tetris and try it out for yourself on your giant screen. While the selection is rather limited now, the developer has promised to bring more classic titles to the app in the near future.

Play Snake at a whole new level. / © Eli Sherer

GamingCast (for Chromecast) INSTALL

Cast Store

If you’re looking for other types of apps available for Chromecast, make sure to check out the Cast Store. It brings a bunch of apps together in easy to find categories, so that you don’t have to search high and low in the Google Play Store.

Find out about all the different apps to use with Chromecast. / © GoKo

Cast Store for Chromecast INSTALL

What apps do you enjoy using with your Chromecast dongle?

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

Best Android smartphone for photographers: our top five

Almost every smartphone owner takes an occasional picture with their handset, but these portable devices are increasingly being used as the primary tool for taking snaps. A high quality camera may not be a necessity for everybody when deciding on a new smartphone, but if you happen to be interested, we've got you covered with our list of best Android smartphones for the mobile photographer! ​

The Sony Xperia Z2 (pictured) features one of the best camera sensor currently available on Android. / © ANDROIDPIT

HTC One (M8): bright and unique

HTC took a lot of criticism for the use of its "ultra pixel technology" in its HTC One series. "Only a marketing ploy," "subpar picture quality with little detail," "poor implementation of a good idea" etc. Perfect, HTC's camera is not, but the HTC one (M8) makes some important arguments. The dual-camera setup, combined with the ultra pixel technology, does result in fewer details when pictures are magnified. However, it produces noticeably stronger light, making pictures taken in low-light conditions look far superior (and less noisy) than most of the competition.

• HTC One M8 camera test: this is how good the camera really is

Despite only housing a 4 MP sensor, the HTC one (M8) performs brilliantly in certain conditions. / © AndroidPIT 

The HTC One (M8) lets you manually change values ​​such as shutter speed, white balance, sharpness level and the ISO value in the camera menu, as well as offering a simple way to store presets. All of the setting combinations that you make can be conveniently saved and then switched as you view photos - allowing you to tinker with your own photo filters.

Sony Xperia Z2: high resolution and good software

There is a solid reason to favor the Sony Xperia Z2 over others on our list: it has the highest resolution camera at 20.7 megapixels. It's a figure bettered by none of the other established manufacturers in the Android sector, and means the Xperia Z2 is capable of some seriously impressive shots. Sony is already an expert in the field of digital photography, and the Z2 comes with numerous, sophisticated software features like the continuous shooting mode "Timeshift Burst" or the infinitely adjustable focal length (which changes the focus of the foreground and background objects). Instead of attempting a "less is more" approach to pixel density like HTC, Sony has gone all out with a high-definition camera which is more than capable of getting great shots.

• Post-focus/lens blur: Galaxy S5 vs Xperia Z2 vs One (M8) vs Google Cam

The background blur can be adjusted on the Xperia Z2. / © ANDROIDPIT

Samsung Galaxy S5: Best all-rounder

The Galaxy S5 is, in short, the best overall package for photos with an Android smartphone. Although Samsung's software capabilities sometimes means the photos look better after some processing, making up for some of the visual artifacts in the initial picture, the average photographer will probably look at the S5 as the best camera. It's fast, with an accurate focus, and maximum resolution of 16 megapixels in the 16: 9 format. The HDR mode comes with real-time preview and blur effect, with which one can achieve the look of a professional SLR smartphone photos.

• Samsung Galaxy S5 camera: the best features for quality pictures [Video]

The camera interface of the Galaxy S5. / © ANDROIDPIT

Oppo Find 7: Not just for specialists

To see the real benefit of the Oppo Find 7 you have to expand your horizons. The camera produces decent pictures and satisfactory recordings, but it also brings with it a special feature: the Oppo Find 7 can take pictures in RAW format. RAW files are, as the name suggested, uncompressed data files, which means they are primed editing on a PC with professional programs after they have been taken. The advantage of this is that, while a JPEG is already compressed and processed by the camera software, a RAW file is open for the photographer to get the best from the image. White balance, exposure, saturation, contrast and brightness levels can be adjusted much more effectively by an expert.

• Oppo Find 7 vs the competition: Galaxy S5, Xperia Z2, HTC One (M8), LG G3

The camera of Oppos Find 7 offers some interesting options not just limited to experts. / © ANDROIDPIT

In addition, the Find 7 photos can be taken with a super-resolution of around 50 megapixels! With only a 13 MP camera, this is a software trick of course, but the results, for those looking for incredibly fine detail, are fantastic. If you are somebody who likes large format prints and want to hang your photos on the wall, the Find 7 may be your best bet.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom: the smart camera

The Galaxy K Zoom is the successor to the Galaxy S4 Zoom, another attempt by Samsung at creating a smartphone/camera hybrid, rather than a smartphone with a camera. It is the only Android handset to feature an optical zoom, capable of zooming-in on details without sacificing quality like with a digital zoom. Also, the K zoom brings a 20.7 megapixels sensor, and Xenon flash instead of the usual, and significantly duller LED light. It's definitely one to check out for camera enthusiasts.

© Samsung

There you go, those are our top picks. If you want some further reading, check out our best Android camera app article to discover some other cool ways to improve your snaps. What is your favorite smartphone for taking pictures?

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

Why clearing recent apps is a waste of time and task killers don't work

The second of these two statements is pretty much accepted as common knowledge by anyone even passingly familiar with how app caches and RAM work in Android, but the first statement is not as commonly understood. This is why the developer of Greenify, a great app you can use to hibernate apps that have a tendency to stay up past their bedtime, decided to clear things up.

It may be tempting to ''close all'' but you won't really get the performance boost you want. © ANDROIDPIT

To give you the super simple explanation (which we've covered in greater depth before), when you launch an app it gets stored in random access memory. When you close it, it stays in your RAM so that if you launch it again it will launch must faster. When you force close or swipe away an app in the recent apps list, you effectively clear out that cached app and the next time you launch it, it will be like you're doing it from a fresh boot. This means it takes longer and requires more system resources.

• Best apps for monitoring system performance on Android.

Depending on how into your RAM and CPU usage you are, there's lots of tools available. © AndroidPIT/Pavel Petrov

Now, when you have a recent apps list that's 20 apps long then it makes perfect sense to clear away the ''one-off'' apps that you opened once and probably won't open again in the near future. This clears up RAM for other tasks and, on a practical level, you probably don't need those apps stored in memory anyway. In this instance, swiping away unused apps can be a useful way to free up some additional RAM for other tasks. But clearing all of your recent apps creates slow down later on.

• 3 apps to boost Android system performance.

Some RAM managers only clear out the least used apps in your recent apps list. © ANDROIDPIT

The same thing goes for task killers and RAM boosters, which simply kill everything: cached apps and background processes. The same problem arises when you launch the app again. If you've cleared it from memory it takes longer to launch, and if you've killed background processes they usually just start up again after a short period of time. So for freeing up RAM in the short term these are perfectly fine, but as a general remedy for improving performance they are nothing more than a panacea.

• How to stop Android apps from running in the background.

The Android OS gives you all kinds of data that lets you assess how demadning your apps are. © AndroidPIT

If you know how these tools work then using them is fine, but most people don't quite get the mechanics of how caches work and why they are actually a good thing. Take Android L's ART (Android Run Time), for example: by pre-compiling apps once and keeping them stored in RAM, you'll notice significant increases in app launches and responsiveness. This is a good thing, and there are several reasons why Google is making ART the default runtime in the next version of Android.

• 3 things you didn't know about ART.

This is also why the dev behind Greenify, Oasis Feng, decided to illuminate us with the following pearls of wisdom:

Swiping away apps from recent tasks frequently is not a good practice, since it reduces the efficiency of process cache mechanism in Android, thus impact the performance of your device.

Swiping away apps from recent tasks kills the process of those apps, thus prevent them from being cached in memory. When you launch them later, it takes longer time and much more CPU cycles to create the process and re-initialize the app runtime.

Clearing recent tasks does free much memory, at the expense of later performance and battery consumption for launching those apps again. So if you have a device with 2G RAM, it gains no benefits in practice.

Greenify INSTALL

Coming from a developer involved with an app that is very well recognized for managing your apps, background processes and processor consumption, you can assume he knows what he's talking about. So, the moral of the story is this: clearing everything from the recent apps list is a waste of time unless you seriously need every inch of RAM available right there and then. Clearing out apps you're not going to switch between regularly however, is perfectly fine. So, your frequently used apps can stay and everything else can be killed with fire. Simple.

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

Samsung Galaxy Alpha price and availability [updated: now available in the UK]

Samsung recently announced its latest iteration in the Samsung Galaxy series, the Galaxy Alpha, with octa-core processor, 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display and metal frame. Naturally, consumers are eager to learn the price and availability of this iPhone-like handset. Here’s what we have. Update: In the UK, the Galaxy Alpha is now available via Vodafone, EE, Carphone Warehouse and Three. See below for the offers.

• Take a look at everything that happened at IFA 2014

The sleek new Galaxy Alpha. / © Samsung

While there is no news yet on North American pricing and availability just yet (all you Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile users will have to wait), we do have some details for the UK. The Galaxy Alpha has an off-contract price of £549.

Galaxy Alpha UK pricing and availability

Vodafone has now commenced offering the Galaxy Alpha for free to customers on a 38.50 GBP per month contract. You can pay 199 GBP up front if you want their cheapest contract of 26.50 GBP per month. Vodafone previously confirmed that it will distribute the device in all of the current colors (Dazzling White, Frosted Gold, Charcoal Black and Sleek Silver), although right now I can't see the gold version on the site.

• Pick up a Galaxy Alpha from Vodafone.

Carphone Warehouse also has all the same three colors (minus gold), plus an exclusive blue model. Carphone Warehouse have the Galaxy Alpha for zero pounds upfront on a 33 GBP per month contract with O2, or for 34.50 GBP on Vodafone itself.

• Head to Carphone Warehouse for an exclusive blue Galaxy Alpha.

EE is also stocking the Galaxy Alpha, but only in black or white. The cheapest you can get an Alpha with EE is 19 GBP up front on a 45.99 GBP per month plan. A 35.99 GBP per month planwith 1 GB of included data will set you back 69.99 GBP up front.

• Pick up a Galaxy Alpha from EE.

Three will let you have a Galaxy Alpha for 49 GBP upfront on a 28 GBP per month contract. You can also pay zero upront and jump on a 33 GBP per month plan for two years.

• Grab a Galaxy Alpha via Three.

A look at the four Galaxy Alpha colors. / © Samsung

Galaxy Alpha US pricing and availability

We know that the Galaxy Alpha will be making its way to the US and will definitely appear on both the AT*T and T-Mobile networks, but we still don't have any confirmations.

Though it's had its fair share of criticism, in our hands on Samsung Galaxy Alpha review we found the handset to be rather impressive, and worthy of the Galaxy name.

Will you be buying the Galaxy Alpha when it is released in your territory?

 

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

How to open SIM card slot if you don't have a SIM tool

SIM tools - those little metal things you occasionally get with a new phone - are like four leaf clovers: supposedly they're all over the place but do you know anyone that actually has one? Fortunately for me, and you, I've MacGyvered my way into the SIM card tray and microSD card slot many a time. Here's five ways to open the SIM card slot without a SIM tool. I'm using a Nexus 5 but it'll work for any phone, assuming you don't just remove a flap or pop off the back cover!

There's lots of ways to get your SIM or microSD card tray out. © AndroidPIT

Earring

If you're a lady or have a lady friend, this might be the closest thing at hand to get you into your SIM tray. Pretty much any earring will work, and even if it doesn't you might just make yourself a new friend.

• Check out a roundup of our best Android for Beginners articles.

Earrings are the easiest and most common DIY SIM tray tool around. © ANDROIDPIT

Paper clip

Probably the next most common thing if you happen to work in an office. Beware the fat plastic coated paperclips, but pretty much any small paper clip will get your SIM tray ejected. And when you're done you can use it to attach various bits of paper together.

• Want to know how to downgrade apps to older versions on Android?

Pretty much any small paper clip can open your SIM tray or micrSD card slot. © ANDROIDPIT

Needle

If you repair socks and pants as much as I do (you don't want to know) then you'll have a needle floating around the house somewhere. Just use the not-pointy end in the SIM eject hole and press down on the edge of a table. I'd advise you not to try this using your hand.

• How to automatically delete old text messages on Android.

Use something other than your hand to push the needle into your phone.© ANDROIDPIT

Thumb tack/staple

Another ubiquitous object around the home and office is the thumb tack. There's many shapes and sizes but pretty much all of them are capable of opening your SIM tray. If you're thinking outside the box then you've probably realized that you could also use a staple.

• 10 tips for shooting better video on your smartphone.

Thumb tacks and staples are also good SIM tool ejector thingies. © ANDROIDPIT

Mechanical pencil

Not the most common thing (a bunch of AndroidPIT editors had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for a mechanical pencil) but if you have one its perfect for popping open your SIM tray. Just be careful because the lead likes to break. Of course, there's lots of other alternatives too, including a toothpick, safety pin or basically any other pointy thing you have laying around.

• Want to know what an APK file is and how to install them?

Mechanical pencil lead breaks easy, but if you're careful it'll work. © ANDROIDPIT

Do you have any other secret SIM tools to share?

 

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com

Best Android tablets: 10 of the best to buy in 2014

A few weeks back, our news pages were graced with the best Android phones of 2014, and now it’s time to turn to the big boys: here are what we consider to be the best Android tablets that you can buy in 2014.

What is the best Android tablet of 2014? / © ANDROIDPIT

Just like smartphones, tablets allow you to play games, watch videos, listen to music, and do work-related/productivity type things, all with the advantage of a bigger screen. When considering which tablet you should buy, there are a lot of things to keep in mind, like CPU and RAM (for an idea of how slick the performance will be), weight, features, and more!

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014). / © Samsung

Design, power and portability: these three deciding factors are the reasons why the Samsung jewel has landed at the top of our tablet food chain. It measures less than 8 mm thick, can run any game or app your heart desires, and most importantly, has a great feature called "multi-window" which lets you have up to 4 of them open at time. Once you get your hands on the Note 10.1, you’ll notice that it comes with the S Pen, which great for writing and many other extra functions. Now, imagine being able to enjoy all of this on a 10.1-inch screen!

Display	10.1-inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels, Super Clear LCD
Processor	WLAN/3G: Octa-core, 1.9 GHz / LTE: Quad-core, 2.3 GHz
RAM/Interal Memory	3 GB / 16/32/64 GB + microSD
Camera	8 MP (rear), 2 MP (front)
Connectivty	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, GPS
Dimensions	243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9 mm
Weight	540 g (Wi-Fi) / 535 g (3G) / 547 g (LTE)
Battery	8220 mAh
Operating System	Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Verdict

The Galaxy Note Pro is the best the world of Android tablets has to offer at the moment. This, however, comes at a price, and what a price it is! If you consider that most of today's mobile technology has been crammed into one singular device, you’d understand why Samsung charges such big bucks: its Note-specific functions (S Pen, Air Gesture, etc), connectivity, performance, and portability puts this tablet in direct competition with laptops.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 with its cover/keyboard. / © Samsung

The first place runner up is another large Samsung tablet: it comes with the same powerful performance, and even more space for content, with the disadvantage of a slight loss in sharpness and portability. Want a keyboard? No problem! Samsung has included a physical Bluetooth keyboard that can be used as a cover or support base.

Display	12.2-inch Super Clear LCD, 2560x1600
Dimensions and weight	295.6 x 204 x 7.95 mm, 750 g
Internal storage	32GB/64GB + microSD slot up to 64 GB
Memory	3 GB RAM
Processor	Quad-core 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 800 (LTE), quad-core 1.9 GHz Exynos 5420
Battery	9,500 mAh
Cameras	8 MP + LED (back); 2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 3.0 port with microUSB 2.0 compatibility, NFC, GPS
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz UI

Verdict

You won’t feel like you are missing out on anything with the Note Pro 12.2: in addition to its many features, it has a huge visual impact thanks to the big screen (multi-window mode is also available here). But there are also some disadvantages, one of which is due to it weighing 215 grams more (than the Note 10.1) and of course its large size, This makes handling a bit more cumbersome than the 10.1 inch model. In addition, the cover, included keyboard, and 64 GB of memory make the price even less inviting. That being said, there’s also a 32GB version which seems slightly more accessible.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5. / © Samsung

First and foremost, this tablet deserves massive props because of its sleek design which combines slick plastic with luxurious and unique copper edges. The Galaxy Tab S, besides being the lightest 10-inch tablet produced by Samsung, has hardware which ensures top-class performance. You’ll be able to run resource-hungry applications with minimal delay. But all of this is peanuts next to what really took our breath away: the Tab S series were bestowed with seriously incredible Super AMOLED screens, which according to DisplayMate, one of the most reliable sources when it comes to screen quality, is the best tablet on the market. This was concluded after considering multiple aspects, including color fidelity.

• Samsung Galaxy Note vs Pro vs Tab S: which tablet should I buy?

Display	10.5-inch Super AMOLED 2560x1600 (288ppi)
Dimensions and weight	177.3 x 247.3 x 6.6 mm, 467 g
Internal storage	16 GB/ 32GB + microSD slot up to 128 GB
Memory	3 GB RAM
Processor	Exynos 5 Octa 5420 Cortex A15 / Cortex A7, 1.6 GHz Octa Core
Battery	7,900 mAh
Cameras	8 MP (rear); 2.1 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 port
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz UI

Verdict

The new series of Samsung tablets revisits what was offered in the Tab Pro series: what came out of it was less powerful hardware offset by their incredible new Super AMOLED display. All of this, combined with its incredible lightness and unique design land the Tab S 10.5 in third place on the tablet podium.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 review.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. / © Samsung

The 8.4-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab offers the same amount of features you’d get on the larger version, the only differences are related to the dimensions. Before you buy this device, you’d have to consider why you are buying it: pleasure? work? something else?

Display	8.4-inch Super AMOLED 2560x1600 (~359ppi)
Dimensions and weight	212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm, 294 g
Internal storage	16 GB/ 32GB + microSD slot up to 128 GB
Memory	3 GB RAM
Processor	Exynos 5 Octa 5420 Cortex A15 / Cortex A7, 1.6 GHz Octa Core
Battery	7,900 mAh
Cameras	8 MP (rear); 2.1 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 port
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz UI

Verdict

Samsung can really be proud of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, they’ve succeeded in making the lightest and thinnest tablet in its history. With the same resolution as the larger model, a high number of pixels has been distributed on the smaller screen, which greatly increases the sharpness (359 ppi). The only disadvantage is its battery capacity, which is decidedly low in comparison to the other tablets listed above. However, the number of milliampere, as well as battery life, are within the standards of other 8.4-inch devices (especially when considering the low energy consumption of the Super AMOLED screen).

5. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet

Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet. / © Sony

Sony cracks the otherwise Samsung-laden list: The Sony Xperia Z2 immediately draws attention with high class OmniBalnce design which ensures for perfect weight distribution and incredible thinness (just 6.4 mm), enabling it to become the world's thinnest tablet. Also, Sony’s been pretty on the ball with making waterproof devices: the Tablet Z2 has IP58 certification which makes it resistant to dust and water. Lastly, its hardware specifications are hard to beat, and provide for a fluid user experience.

• Best Android phones under $200

Display	10.1-inch, IPS, 1920 x 1200 pixels
Dimensions and weight	212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm, 294 g
Internal storage	16GB + microSD
Memory	3 GB RAM
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, Quad-Core, 2.3 GHz
Battery	6,000 mAh
Cameras	8.1 MP (rear); 2.1 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	LTE, UMTS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, MHL 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-F
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4 KitKat with Xperia UI

Verdict

Despite the lower screen resolution and battery capacity compared to other tablets in the list, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 achieved fifth position thanks to its beautiful looks and water-friendliness. Moreover, its performance is amazing, seeing as it has the second fastest Qualcomm processors to-date, the Snapdragon 801 (the Note 4 has the latest processor with a Snapdragon 805).

Read our hands on Sony Xperia Z2 tablet review.

6. Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2. / © Samsung

After our little Sony glitch, the list is back on track with yet another superb Samsung tablet: the ‘’older’’ generation of the Tab series. This tablet was only released mere months before the newer ones, and thus is much more attractive when it comes to price, which has fallen drastically since the newer arrivals. The Tab Pro exists in three versions boasting different screen sizes: 12.2, 10.1 and 8.4-inch. The 12.2-inch version comes with 1 GB of RAM more than its siblings, and also increased battery capacity, but otherwise the hardware is the same.

Display	12.2-inch, Super clear LCD capacitive touchscreen 2560 x 1600 pixels (~247 ppi)
Dimensions and weight	295.6 x 204 x 8 mm, 732 g
Internal storage	32/64 GB + microSD up to 64 GB
Memory	3 GB RAM
Processor	Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
Battery	9500 mAh
Cameras	8 MP (rear); 2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Infrared, Micro USB 3.0, GPS
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4 KitKat

7. Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1. / © Samsung

Display	10.1-inch, Super clear LCD capacitive touchscreen 2560 x 1600 pixels (~299 ppi)
Dimensions and weight	243.1 x 171.4 x 7.3 mm, 469 g
Internal storage	16/32 GB + microSD up to 64 GB
Memory	2 GB RAM
Processor	Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
Battery	8220 mAh
Cameras	8 MP (rear); 2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Infrared, Micro USB 2.0,
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4 KitKat

Verdict

Except for increased RAM and battery capacity, the Tab Pro 10.1 and 8.4 devices are identical to the 12.2-inch version in all but the dimensions and they all offer excellent performance. Though it does come with a super sharp LCD screen, it’s no match for the Super AMOLED Tab S display, which is why it’s landed further down our list.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 review.

8. Nvidia Tegra Note 7

Nvidia Tegra Note 7. / © Nvidia

This is a great tablet for users who want a device for high performance gaming. When comparing the Tegra Note to other tablets in its class, there is no competition when it comes to cost / benefit. When taking a look at the tech specs below, you can see they’re actually quite good, this thanks to a partnership between Nvidia and the EVGA.

• Best Android tablets under 200 USD

Display	7-inch, IPS LCD, 1,280x800 pixels, (216 ppi)
Dimensions and weight	199 x 119 x 9.6 mm, 320 g
Internal storage	16 GB + microSD up to 32 GB
Memory	2 GB RAM
Processor	Nvidia Tegra 4, Quad-Core, Cortex-A15 CPU and 72-core GeForce GPU
Battery	4100 mAh
Cameras	5 MP (rear); 2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB 2.0, GPS
Operating system and UI	Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Verdict

This gadget is excellent. It has hardware which keeps up with the times, and allows you to play any game in the Play Store, regardless of how demanding it is. You’ll never have the frustration of not being able to download your favorite game and be restricted by hardware capacity. In addition, you won’t need to turn off other apps to stop a game from crashing. The Nvidia Tegra Note 7 tablet is a very attractive buy.

9. LG G Pad 8.3

LG G Pad 8.3. / © LG

The LG G Pad 8.3 has an aluminum casing making it an ergonomic tablet which is a pleasure to touch, and definitely feels unique amid the plastic centric industry. The LG G Pad was released in 2013, but still offers features and performance that deserves respect.

Display	8.3-inch LCD, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 283 ppi
Dimensions and weight	216.8 mm x 126.5 mm x 8.3 mm, 338 g
Internal storage	16 GB + microSD
Memory	2 GB RAM
Processor	Snapdragon 600 Quad-Core 1.7 GHz
Battery	4,600 mAh
Cameras	5 MP (rear); 2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, QPair
Operating system and UI	Android 4.4.2 + Optimus UI

Verdict

Though the tablet is a tad older than the others mentioned above, the LG G Pad 8.3 is a great choice within the huge plethora of current Android tablets. Its main disadvantage is the screen resolution, which is somewhat low for 8.3 inches. This means a lower pixel density and less than perfect clarity. But you might not be too bothered when you consider its great price.

Read our Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 vs LG G Pad 8.3 comparison.

10. Google Nexus 7

Google Nexus 7. / © Google

Thought we'd forgotten about the Nexus 7? It’s been placed in last position because of the older tech specs, but there’s no beating the price/performance ratio this Google tablet has to offer.

Display	7-inch, IPS LCD, 1,920x1,200 pixels, 323 ppi
Dimensions and weight	200 x 114 x 8.7 mm, 290 g
Internal storage	16/32 GB, not expandable
Memory	2 GB RAM
Processor	Quad-core, Snapdragon S4 Pro, 1.5 GHz
Battery	3950 mAh
Cameras	5 MP (rear); 1.2 MP (front)
Connectivity and networks	LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
Operating system and UI	Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Verdict

The Google Nexus 7 was built by Asus in 2013, and you can definitely feel its age. Its processor performance is one of the lowest on the list, nonetheless it’s still a fluid device. Another disadvantage is the absence of a microSD slot. As for the positive side of this device, it has a nice Full HD resolution, which is a good choice for its 7-inch screen size, resulting in tight pixel density and high detail sharpness. Portability is great thanks to its small size, and the price has dropped considerably since its launch.

• Nexus 7 (2013) review


• Nexus 7 tips and tricks


• How to make your Nexus 7 awesome again

What do you think of our list? Which device did we miss?

 

Source fromhttp://www.androidpit.com