Nowadays, it’s taken for granted that user reviews are a terrible metric for quality. Everything from restaurant reviews on Yelp to product reviews on Amazon can easily be faked, driving up (or down) aggregate review scores. When it comes to the Google Play Store, these fake reviews can play a huge role in the success of any given app. Due to the way Google’s algorithm works, there’s a big incentive for developers to turn to the dark side, even if it means their app could be removed from the platform — or worse, a massive fine from the FTC.

It has not been long ago since the Android 2.3 Gingerbread firmware update for the Samsung Captivate was released, and now an Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich custom ROM for the Captivate is finally available. However, this ICS firmware for the Captivate is unofficial and Samsung Electronics has left us with no clue on when the official ICS update will be coming. Many users have already experienced Ice Cream Sandwich on their devices (mostly through custom ROMs), but many have still yet to try it on their devices.

The Bluetooth LC3 audio codec greatly improves efficiency and benefits SBC streaming. Update, September 22, 2020: This article was updated to mark the official release of Bluetooth LE Audio and address more detailed specifications. Bluetooth SIG announced the official release of Bluetooth LE Audio, which will allow audio companies to revert back to standardized practices rather than create proprietary audio codecs. The new Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3) offers better audio quality and efficiency than SBC, so you can enjoy extended battery life from supported products.

Not everyone is looking to spend the big bucks on the latest and greatest, and now, OEMs are showing a lot more interest in conquering the mid-range smartphone market. Leading the way is the great HTC Desire 816. HTC’s commitment to great design and build quality continues with this “premium mid-range” offering, that also offers decent specifications, a beautiful large display, and most importantly, an affordable price tag. However, as we’ve seen with even more premium smartphones, users may run into some issues along the way while using this device.

Since we inevitably keep talking about malware in the Android ecosystem, and since we have already told you a bunch of times that Android 4.2 comes with some enhanced anti-malware security features, it’s time to look at Google’s official explanation regarding one of the new Google Play security protections that has been built into the new OS version, app verification. Those features were confirmed once Android 4.2 was announced, and can be taken advantage of right away by any Android 4.

Looking for a good speaker? Kickstarter is featuring one of the coolest ones we have seen in a while. They call it Belle, and it may become the life of your parties. Other featured Crowdfunding projects: There are plenty of great Bluetooth speaker options out there, but Belle. It is a powerful on its own, featuring a couple 2-inch full range speakers and a 5-inch subwoofer. Especially praised for its bass response, this speaker can make your world vibrate with frequencies as low as 30 Hz.

Google has updated its dedicated Wallpapers app with a feast of new images and you can get them on any Android phone running 4.1 Jelly Bean and up (though certain functionality will require a later version). The Google team itself chooses which wallpapers appear, so you can expect a certain level of quality and variety. As well as fairly typical landscapes and geometric shape images, there are some fascinating shots of astral phenomena and some mind-expanding artworks.

For its price point, it's impressive just how few compromises are involved with the Honor 7X. When I learned I’d be writing reviews for Android Authority, I was super excited at the prospect of being sent technology to test. As a tech nerd, this seemed like the perfect scenario. What I didn’t quite realize is that it would often mean having to ditch the device I chose to buy for a while, in order to live with something that may perhaps be more of a budget choice.

Google Google Stadia is building all kinds of hype. It was mentioned by many developers and publishers at E3 and its catalog of games grows every week. Stadia seems a little too good to be true. You pay $69 for a controller and then you can stream games at 4k and 60FPS for $9.99 a month. It has the potential to disrupt an already massive gaming industry in a lot of ways.

While we get to see some fantastic Android devices each and every day, rarely do we come across one that offers multiple unique capabilities in a single package. The Sprint LivePro, manufactured by ZTE, is one such device. First announced back in January during CES 2014 and officially launched by Sprint in July, the LivePro is an Android device that can be used as an external battery bank, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a projector.