Welcome to Currently Techie

Written by Currently Techie Announcements

This is a website all about tech, all the time.

Lance (youtube, website) and Joey (youtube, website) run this website. Together we aim to bring you the latest in technology news and updates.

We both write articles, so please look for an author name, if the article starts to become opinionated (EG: Joey loves Apple… I hate Apple).

We are both very excited to see where this project of ours will go, and hopefully one day it will be an awesome place for your technology news.

Maybe even set this as your homepage? < Sorry about that.

Thanks for reading!

–Joey and Lance

🙂

Android N factory images are ready to install

Written by Lance Nickel

If you happen to own a Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, and 9, or you happen to own a Pixel C, you are in luck.

Today, Google released the developer version of Android N. You can download if you are a developer via their developer website. This is actually a surprise, because Google usually releases these previews during their I/O keynote, but that is not coming for another few months.

Some new features that developers are able to play around with (and make their apps compatible with) are some new native split screen technology. They also have a new notification system that they can take advantage of, as well as quick replies from the notifications.

Of course, with all of the updates, they will have performance improvements in this version, and this time were are expecting to see some new battery saving features.

For most people, the [soon to be released] beta program will be the easiest method. This method will install this version like any over the air (OTA) update. For those of you who like to use a computer to flash your phone, that is already up and available for download.

header image thanks to Google (Android)

How to turn your old PC into a Chromebook (for free)

Written by Lance Nickel

The funny part about the cloud computing era is that the top of the line new notebooks (Chromebooks at least) tend to be less powerful than an older PC. That is because everything is handled by the servers that you use your products with.

No need for storage, Google Drive has that covered. No need for fast processors, server end coding has that covered.

This company called Neverware created an installer that dual boots your old PC or Mac with Chromium OS. Because these systems are lightweight, they will run this without a problem. Most likely faster than most modern Chromebooks. These are meant for applications in school buildings with older computers, and usually not the budget to replace them.

But, this company also offers a free download to anybody who stumbles upon their website. Which means that anybody can turn their old computers into a Chromebook.

The software works off a version of Chrome OS called Chromium. It is an open source version of Google Chrome OS, and is run by Google and many other people. Since it is open source, you can use it without an extra cost, you can modify it without any ramifications, and you can surely share it with your friends.

This is perfect for somebody who wants a basic operating system for their older computers just to do email or some other things without paying for a new one.

And where it can really shine is in the developer market. People can download it for free and get a feel for the Chrome OS environment in an almost carbon copy of Chrome OS.

header image thanks to TechRadar

Marshmallow comes to the Verizon Note 5

Written by Lance Nickel

Verizon’s variant of the Note 5 was the first from Samsung to get the update in the US. And to make it even better, it has been updated to 6.0.1 build MMB29K, the latest version.

The updated started to roll out on March 4 as version VRU2BPB2, so if you can’t get it tonight, do not worry. To check for the update, go to settings, tap About Device > Software Updates > Check for Updates.

Verizon’s changlog has some new features such as Google Now on Tap, Doze, WiFi Calling, Live Broadcast improvements, and some UI tweaks to make it look more like the recently released Galaxy S7.

https://youtu.be/cL6XykstOHs

5 Things Apple Released in 2015 THAT SUCKED

Written by Joey Peters

1. iPad Pro – The iPad Pro was a fail. It’s a huge iPad pretty much. It’s actually a very good tablet and with a huge screen, it’s great if you need the screen real estate. The reason it’s a fail, it’s running IOS instead of OS X. This would have been the perfect opportunity for Apple to make an iPad fun OS X just like what Microsoft is doing with their Surface. The iPad Pro actually has some decent specks. I et you that Apple would have sold a LOT more iPad Pro’s if they would run OS X. It would just be really awesome to run Final Cut Pro X on an iPad. It would kinda be like an ultimate portable machine. I would pay $800 for an iPad that’s running IOS but I wouldn’t pay $800 for a bigger version of an iPad that’s running IOS.

2. The Apple Pencil – The Apple Pencil is kinda interesting because it’s actually a very well thought out product. It’s a decent “pencil.” It does amazing things like using force touch and fine precision to draw or type. One of the flaws it has is, when you need to charge it, you stick it out of the side of the iPad which is a big hazard because it can snap off if it hits something and then there goes $100 down they drain. And did I mention the price? It’s is $100 which is very overpriced because you can buy a stylist for $1. Yes I know, you won’t get the force touch feature, but you’re saving $99.

3. Apple Magic Mouse 2 – The Magic Mouse 2 is Apple’s mouse that they send with their iMacs. On the original mouse, it is battery powered. On Apple’s version 2 of the mouse, it has a rechargeable internal battery. So of course you have to charge it. Thats where Apple failed on it. You charge it on the bottom. That means you can’t use it when you are charging it. I know Apple wants to keep the clean, simple look on all of their products and don’t get me wrong, the Magic Mouse 2 looks really good. They could have made the charging port in the front where a wired mouse would have the wire coming out of it. That would actually look good considering that’s what regular wired mouses look like. I know that charging it for a small amount of time will get you a lot of time to use it but it is just really weird flipping your mouse over to charge it.

4. Apple Watch Dock – Apple released their own Apple Watch dock for there Apple Watches. You know Apple by making a product that looks awesome but still has its functionality. The reason why it’s a fail, they made it look really weird. It looks like a smoke detector. I have a whole video on the Apple Watch Dock explaining 5 reasons why you shouldn’t buy it. It also looks like it was really cheaply made like you can pick it up and it would break. But really, it’s an Apple Watch Dock, do you really need one? It’s basically a way to look cool.

5. iPhone Battery Case – So Apple took their first crack at a battery case and it left a lot of questions. First of all, the huge hump on the back. I don’t know what in the world Apple was thinking when they designed it like that. Another reason why it’s bad, it’s over priced and $100 and anybody else see a trend? Apple likes pricing things at $100. It’s not like the battery is horrible. It gives one full extra charge and that’s okay for a battery. The part that really sucks is well the design and when you are plug it into your phone it automatically starts charging your phone. There’s no on and off switch and I think that ruins your battery.

Apple’s First iPhone Battery Case | WHAT WAS APPLE THINKING

Written by Joey Peters

Okay, battery cases are awesome and I have nothing against them. So you know it was probably like a regular day at Apple and someone had the idea of making a battery case. Everyone was probably like, “WOW THATS A GREAT IDEA, LET’S MAKE AN OVERPRICED BATTERY CASE!” After that they were probably like, “Oh Crap, we don’t have anyone to design it. How will we ever design it? OH YEAH, LET’S JUST GO OUTSIDE AND PICK THE FIRST PERSON THAT WALKS BY TO DESIGN IT!”

That’s probably not what they did, I was just exaggerating. But seriously, this case looks horrible. I really don’t know what they were thinking when they put the battery in the middle of the case and just made it a hump. It looks like the case ate an iPod 4. The least thing they could do is make it so the back would be flush with the rest of the phone case. I don’t know what’s going on with Apple this year. First the iPad Pro that is on IOS instead of OS X. Second, They made it so you can charge the Apple pencil by sticking it out of the side of the iPad Pro. Third, They made it so you have to charge your Apple Magic Mouse 2 on the bottom. Fourth, Apple made the Apple Watch dock look like a freaking Smoke Detector. And now this. Good job Apple, that’s five things I can think off the top of my head that went wrong this year and I will have a video coming soon of five things Apple did right and five things Apple did wrong so subscribe it you don’t want to miss it. This case does not give you an option to set it on charge when you want it to. When you plug it into the case, it starts charging immediately and personally I don’t like that because I believe charging and unplugging and charging it again and unplugging it again will destroy your iPhone’s battery over time. The charging LED is in the case which is stupid because if you can’t see it then why even put it in there. They do make up for it by putting the charge indicator in the Notification Center which I guess is good. Would I buy it? NOOOOOOO, you can get a lot more for your money buy buying a Mophie battery case because they have been doing it for years now and they are the best at doing it. The battery itself can produce 25 extra hours of battery for your phone which is about one full charge. The design is so horrible and with a price tag coming in at $99 you do not need to buy this unless you are super duper deep into the Apple ecosystem.

 

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy The Apple Watch Dock

Written by Joey Peters

1. The price is outrageous. You’re basically paying for a $80 charger when they have already supplied you with one. Are you seriously going to buy this instead of just a regular charger? It may look cool but it is totally unnecessary but then if you’re rich, and you have the money for it, you buy it because you have nothing else to spend your money on. I’m not going to go over to a friends house and be like, “WOW, You have the Apple Watch Dock!” It might be cool in theory but I don’t see very many buying an overpriced charger (even though people do it all the time).

2. One reason why you should never buy the new Apple Watch dock is that it looks just so weird. When it is sitting there on your nightstand, it looks like some kind of panic button for your security system, or like a nightstand smoke detector. I know that Apple is known for their “space age” design, but this is a little weird. It is also WAY to large. Half of the space is not used, because the watch only sits on half of the side of the circle.

3. The competition out there against Apple is huge. Everyone wants to be like them because they have a lot of money. Tons of people are buying iPhones everyday. Lots of companies have already have sold docks for the Apple Watch for a long time. Apple just released their “official” dock and people trust Apple so why would you buy a third party dock when Apple has one of their own. It’s all about the money. I’m surprised nobody has made a knock off Apple Pencil.

4. Apple really does love themselves. Just look at iOS. You can’t even set a default browser. So you are forced to open links in that safari thingy. Same with the dock. Apple will sell this dock exclusively at Apple stores, and not even mention the 3rd party docks and chargers. This thing will probably be the only Apple Watch charger that people know exist. And, like mentioned before, that’s just more money going into the pile, and more money that is leaving your pockets.

5. Okay, take a good hard look at it. Do you notice anything? If you haven’t noticed yet, then you need to get some glasses, and if you already have glasses, then you need to get even stronger ones. The operation of this thing is really weird. It might be clean and simple but it’s still is a weird Apple product. Now don’t get me wrong, this is good looking but weird at the same time. The way you can flip up the charger thing looks like it can get damaged pretty easily. Looks like you can just snap it right off if you put it in a weird position, and uh oh, there goes your $80.