Droid Life

HTC "Double Exposure" Event Live Blog (With Live Video)!

Kellen — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:51:15 +0000

HTC kicks off the first of two major press events this week in New York City with their "Double Exposure" gathering that goes down this afternoon at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern). The event, which our boy Dave is in attendance at, is likely to showcase a new model of the One (M8) that may feature a 13MP Duo Camera setup. Outside of that, HTC appears to be ready to enter the GoPro camera arena with a device called the REcamera. The REcamera already has a dedicated website, which gave us official images of the submarine-inspired shooter. We aren't expecting the HTC Nexus 9 to make an appearance, but you just never know. Rumors peg October 15 or 16 as the unveiling of that device, so it would be surprising if Google allows HTC to spoil the anticipation ahead of time. Maybe we'll get a mention or a teaser...something. So again, we have a man on the scene for the festivities afterwards, which we hope means hands-on time with new phones or this new camera. HTC is live streaming the event (video below), so we can all watch along as things unfold. A live blog has been included as well, because we love sharing opinions in real-time.

[responsive_vid]

Google Opens Pre-orders for Movies on Google Play

Tim — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 10:16:32 +0000

Starting today, Google has opened up a pre-order system for blockbuster movies on Google Play, allowing users to buy their favorite new movies before they are available. Once the movie is released, it will be automatically added to your library and your credit card will be charged. As for which movies users can now pre-order, there is Gone Girl, The Maze Runner, The Equalizer, Guardians of the Galaxy, Lucy, and whole ton of other titles that are not yet publicly available for purchase. Follow the link below to start reserving your digital copies. Play Link

Backdrop Comes to Chromecast, Allows You to Customize the Art Shown on Your TV

Kellen — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:43:57 +0000

Google announced a new feature for Chromecast this morning, called Backdrop. With Backdrop, users can finally customize the art displayed on their TVs through a Chromecast dongle. Items from your Google+ albums, the Google Cultural Institute, satellite pictures, and more can be streamed when you aren't watching videos. Here are the items that you can customize your TV screen with:

Your favorite photo albums from Google+
Amazing artwork from galleries and museums around the world via the Google Cultural Institute
News and lifestyle images from The New York Times, The Guardian, Saveur and more (U.S. only)
Satellite imagery of some of the hardest-to-reach places on Earth from Google Maps
and even more beautiful photos from the Google+ community

In order to access Backdrop, you will need the latest version of the Chromecast app on Android or iOS, which is rolling out starting today. Once installed, you can swipe out the left-side menu, find the option for "Backdrop," and then begin selecting the sources for your photos. Play Link | APK Download (Cheers Julio!)

Via: Chrome Blog

Report: Google to Bring Application Trials to Google Play

Tim — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:36:06 +0000

According to sources of The Information, Google will soon look to implement an application trials system through Google Play, allowing users to essentially preview applications without needing to use precious amounts of data. As console and PC gamers may know, many titles have demos or previews, which make the purchase process easier for those who want to know exactly what they are buying. If a user plays through a preview, likes what they see, they will be more inclined to make the purchase. The overall goal from Google is to make more people buy applications through Google Play. While a feature such as App Previews would have been a good announcement for this year's Google I/O, as consumers, we can't be upset about this. There is limited information as to when this new feature may launch or how much effort will need to be put in by developers, but do you think this is a good idea? As more information is made available, we will update you.

Via: The Information (Subscription)

Nokia's HERE Maps Launches in Beta for Select Samsung Hardware Through Apps Store

Tim — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:47:07 +0000

Select Samsung device owners have a new maps application to choose from this morning, as Nokia's own HERE app has launched in beta through the Apps Store. Having a beta of HERE leaked already, we found that Nokia's entry into the maps world for Android has been rather well done, as it offers one big feature that we wish Google Maps did much better, that being a true Offline Mode. While Google does allow you to cache a selected area of a map to your phone, the map is essentially useless, as no navigation or searches can be performed with the map. For all helpful features, you need a data connection. With HERE, any map you download is still fully searchable, navigable with turn-by-turn directions, and complete with 3D renderings of buildings. As stated, the application is still in Beta through the Apps Store, downloadable only by a handful of Samsung devices including the Galaxy S5, but it is still a decent option that you might want to check out. Samsung Apps Link

[responsive_vid]

Via: 360 HERE

HTC Exec Says Nexus 9 is New "Commitment" to Tablet Market

Kellen — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 07:42:34 +0000

According to Jack Tong, HTC's president of North Asia, the Nexus 9 represents HTC's "commitment" to returning to the tablet market after having abandoned it for three years. That's significant because, well, the tablet hasn't been officially acknowledged or mentioned by almost anyone outside of NVIDIA through legal documents. Focus Taiwan is reporting the news, suggesting that Tong announced the company's plans for the tablet at a press briefing in New York. Tong did not mention anything else from what we can tell, but Focus Taiwan mentions a potential launch date of October 16, which is next Thursday. The tablet recently cruised through the FCC, so it would shock us to see the tablet arrive within the next couple of weeks. Keep in mind that we should also see Android L at that time as well. The next few weeks should be awesome, assuming you love Android.

Via: Focus Taiwan | G for Games

Risk-like Game Age of Civilizations Available on Google Play for $1.89

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 15:50:00 +0000

For fans of the old school classic board game Risk, you may find yourself enjoying a new game to hit Google Play called Age of Civilizations. In the game, you play as the leader of your country, with the main objective of the game being to take over the known world using your forces. However, beware of spreading your forces to thinly. Other countries are waiting to invade your turf, and if you cannot control your capital city for more than 3 turns, you will lose everything. While the game to me seems rather complex and sort of snoozy, there are plenty of people who enjoy the real-time strategy aspect of games like Risk, so this mobile title should be right up your alley. The game lacks awesome 3D graphics and action-packed gameplay, but sometimes, games that flex your brain power are the best. Age of Civilizations is available for just $1.89 through Google Play. Play Link

Question of the Day: What Don't You Like About Your Current Phone?

Kellen — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 15:34:01 +0000

Odd question, right? You all paid good money for the phone you currently own, so one would assume that you probably like almost every aspect of it. But let's be honest - do you really? I would imagine after spending each day with your current phone, that there may at least be one thing you wish was better or could be changed. For example, do you wish your Galaxy S5 didn't have that obnoxious fake metal frame around it? Or do you wish the HTC One (M8) wasn't so damn slippery or that HTC had not stuck with their 4MP gimmick this year? Maybe you wish that Motorola had used a bigger battery in this year's Moto X? How awesome would the LG G3's QHD display have been if it wasn't a first-gen, first to the market product? Those are the things that come to mind for us. So you tell us - if there was one (or more) things about your current phone that you don't like or would change, what would it be?

Deal: Only a Few Hours Left to Grab $39 LithiumCard Power Bank

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 14:42:41 +0000

With this sale ending in one day, you don't have much time to scoop up a wallet-sized LithiumCard from the folks at LinearFlux. Originally an Indiegogo campaign, this little power bank fits right into your wallet, allowing you to "hypercharge" your devices in no time at all. The bank is in the shape of a credit card, so for men, it should fit neatly into oversized wallets. And ladies, the bank should easily be able to find a home in your purse or tote bag. Featuring either a lightning cable or microUSB charging cables, both Android and iOS users can find a use for the LithiumCard, which retails at $55. However, until the sale ends tomorrow, you can grab one for $39.99, 27% off of the retail price. For highlighted features and the video from the product's Indiegogo campaign, look below.

Features

HyperCharging capabilities. Up to 2 amps of charging power
All inclusive cable design, Flip out the USB charging and lightning cable
Simultaneous charging capabilities to charge the LithiumCard and your device if necessary
Comes with NanoStik pad to keep the charger stuck to your device if your wallet doesn’t work
1200mAh of capacity
Ultra-thin credit card design

Deal Link

[responsive_vid]

Moto X (2nd Gen): 25+ Tips and Tricks

Kellen — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:57:10 +0000

Sorry this took so long to make, but our Moto X (2nd gen) 25+ tips and tricks video is ready! For those new to the 25+ Tips and Tricks series, just know that this is our way of showing you how to get the most from your brand new flagship smartphone. We rattle off at least 25 tips and tricks that involve anything from the quickest way to launch the camera of your phone to fully controlling it with your voice. In the case of the Moto X (2nd gen), there is a lot of voice involved. Beyond the voice actions, we give you a full set of tricks for Moto Display, how to set up a Trusted Device, a way to let your display stay awake as you look at it, and more. Anything else you would like to see from this year's Moto X?

[responsive_vid]

HTC Cancels Plan to Launch Wearable in 2014

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:17:34 +0000

Smartwatch rumors out of HTC can be postponed for the time being, as HTC USA's president Jason Mackenzie has confirmed to re/code that the wearable device the company has in fact been working on is simply not ready for the public. HTC's Drew Bamford, who heads the company's Creative Labs team working on wearables, spoke on the current smartwatch market, stating that current offerings from competitors are not up to snuff for consumers.

We’ve seen a lot of general purpose wearables come to market. There’s not a strong reason to wear one every day. When we come to market with our product we want to make sure the product has a strong point of view and there is a really compelling reason to strap it on your wrist. We think the strategy we were working on will get us there, but we want to take our time and get it right. We honestly don’t think anyone has gotten it right.

The wearable situation over at HTC has been a doozy. For starters, an alleged image of the device was leaked this past July in a design promo video from the company, which the company quickly denied. On September 5, a report claimed HTC cancelled any wearable plans altogether, then a separate report spoke of an Android Wear-powered device coming later in 2015. Whatever HTC is doing, they sure can't seem to keep it under wraps very well.

Via: re/code

Tower Dwellers Reminds Us of Clash of Clans, Minus $99 IAPs

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 12:32:52 +0000

If you watch TV from time to time, you have likely seen a commercial for Clash of Clans. In fact, I don't think I have seen more commercials for a mobile game than I have for that particular title, and it does seem rather popular on Google Play. However, after playing for about 15 minutes, I just could not get into it with so many in-app purchase (IAP) requests. With a new game called Tower Dwellers from Noodlecake Studios, known for their publishing of Super Stickman Golf, Wayward Souls, and Punch Quest, the title looks to strip the genre of the constant bombardment of requests for your cash. In the game, you play as a commander of forces who must take back his homeland. Strategically using your forces as well as magic spells, you set out to reclaim your home in epic battles against an evolving enemy. Unlike Clash, you can choose which territory you would like to conquer next, dependent on which upgrades it will unlock. The choice is yours. The game costs $3.99, but for that price, the game promises no IAPs and the artwork appears to be very well done. Go give it a try. Play Link ($3.99)

[responsive_vid]

Facebook Reportedly Readies Anonymous Chat Application

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 11:24:38 +0000

According to two sources briefed on the company's plan who spoke to The New York Time, Facebook is readying its own anonymous chat application. To combat the likes of Whisper and Secret, Facebook's application would allow users to share and chat privately, not tied to their actual FB account for the world to see. Facebook's own Mark Zuckerberg stated earlier this year that the company would not be afraid to move away from real-name applications. Zuck stated in an interview with Bloomberg, "I definitely think we're at the point where we don't need to keep on only doing real identity things. If you're always under the pressure of real identity, I think that is somewhat of a burden." Sources claim the application is to launch in the coming weeks, but there is no word if it would be an iOS-only application at launch. From our experience with Facebook's me-too applications, such as Slingshot, they are usually quite poor, lack features, and are simply an attempt to gain share in a market which they could not buy their way into. When and if this new anonymous chat applications launches, we will be sure to inform you.

Via: NYT | Gizmodo

ZTE Announces Grand X Max for Cricket, Big Display and Battery for Cheap

Kyle — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:39:07 +0000

Looking for a big, inexpensive smartphone on a prepaid plan? ZTE's new 6-inch, $200 off-contract Grand X Max might suit you. This morning, the China-based company announced that its newest handset is heading exclusively to Cricket here in the US. With the exception of the battery, which has an impressive 3,200mAh capacity and slots into a compatible Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0 socket, the Grand X Max is rather unremarkable. Despite the device's size, the screen is 720p, and a lowly Snapdragon 400 and 1GB handle computing. In terms of other internals, the Grand X Max sports a 1MP front-facing and 8MP rear-facing camera, 8GB of storage, microSD card slot, and will ship with a lightly skinned version of Android 4.4. It is scheduled to go on sale October 10.

ZTE Grand™ X Max Debuts at Cricket Wireless

Quad-core processor and 6” high definition screen gives Fall TV fanatics something to smile about
Atlanta, GA., October 7, 2014 – Cricket Wireless announces the launch of its second phablet, the ZTE Grand X Max. Priced at $199.99 with activation, the ZTE Grand X Max will be available in Cricket stores nationwide and online starting October 10th. Whether you’re an on-the-go mom, a super social user, a business user, or a value seeker wanting the advantages of a larger smartphone, this is the device for you. “As phablets continue to grow in popularity, the ZTE Grand X Max is designed with the needs of our customers in mind, particularly, customers who rely on one device to bridge their work and social life,” said Andy Smoak, head of product for Cricket Wireless. “With Cricket’s reliable nationwide 4G network covering more than 98% of the population, customers can stream video and watch their favorite shows.” Just in time for the fall TV season, the ZTE Grand X Max comes equipped with a 6” high definition screen and a quad-core processor that delivers a powerful streaming experience, allowing users to watch football or their favorite prime time television series on-the-go with ease. The phablet also comes pre-loaded with Peel Smart Remote, the ultimate entertainment companion that personalizes TV recommendations based on viewing habits and can be paired with your home entertainment system or mobile device. In addition, users will have access to other useful apps like Kindle, Evernote and Kingsoft Office, along with many more in the Google Play Store. Other features are:

Large battery & faster charging with Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 1.0 for less time charging and more time doing

Up to 8 GB internal storage and additional memory up to 32GB via microSD

Dual cameras: 8 MP auto-focus camera with LED flash and HD video /1MP front facing camera for selfies and video chat

A Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 1.2 GHz quad-core processor for faster productivity, content streaming and gaming

Android 4.4 OS with the tools to help keep your mobile life organized

HTC Desire 612 to Launch Through Verizon on October 9

Tim — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:14:08 +0000

Set to release October 9, Verizon announced its upcoming offering of the Desire 612 from HTC to the public this morning. The phone is far from a flagship device, buy anyone who opts for the free-on-contract route will now have this fine piece of hardware as an option. The Desire 612 features a 4.7" HD display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 8GB of storage, microSD slot, "XLTE" connectivity, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 2,040mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4+ out of the box. Not only do you have decent specifications, but the Desire 612 also comes outfitted with BoomSound speakers, leaving you with no excuse not to stomp the yard. As mentioned, the device launches through Verizon on Oct. 9 for free on a new contract. Select customers may also qualify for Verizon Edge.

Via: Verizon

Plastc Tries to Convince You Why Credit Cards are Still a Good Idea

Kyle — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:30:46 +0000

Apple and Google may be betting on NFC as the future of consolidated payment, but ubiquity is far from guaranteed; many, many businesses need to upgrade their point-of-sale terminals, which could take years. That is why startups like Coin have looked to capitalize on the nascent wallet-slimming trend with stop gap solutions that have been, more often than not, more trouble than they were worth. Plastc is the newest kid on the block, and its feature list almost reads like a blow-by-blow response to Coin's many shortcomings. It contains an e-ink touchscreen which toggles automatically via a brightness sensor and is capable of displaying your signature, photo ID, and barcodes; it has a re-writable NFC/RFID chip for use with access systems; it supports chip and pin (EMV) terminals; and it has wireless charging mat. Impressively, Plastc plans to launch with seven partner banks - American Express, Bank of America, Chase, Charles Schwab, Citi, US Bank, and Wells Fargo - and support both iOS and Android from day one. The only problem? The company doesn't have a functioning prototype. Oh, and the card will cost $155 and have a 30-day battery life. Ouch. Few will deny Plastc is technically superior to Coin and other competing solutions. Chip and PIN will become standard in the United States by late next year, as millions of locations upgrade their payment terminals to avoid future liability for fraudulent purchases. A barcode display is essential for gift and loyalty card use, as is RFID for security cards. But the fact of the matter is, many people believe products like Coin and Plastc are solutions in search of a problem. The debut of Apple Pay, and Coin's recent travails, may only strengthen those convictions. Plastc is available for pre-order now. The company is shooting to ship the first units next summer.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Plastc | BGR

Cyanogenmod 11S 38R Rolling Out to the OnePlus One, Improved Touchscreen Responsiveness and RAW Recording in Tow

Kyle — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:39:14 +0000

Say what you will about OnePlus's sales tactics, but it is tough to deny that the One is a stellar phone for an incredibly low off-contract price. The hardware is solid, to be sure, but it is thanks to a customized version of Cyanogenmod that the smartphone really shines. And the team behind the firmware is not resting on their laurels; an update that began rolling out earlier today, CM 11S 38R, includes notable feature additions and a litany of much-needed fixes. The highlights are improved touchscreen responsiveness, a tweaked lockscreen UI, the ability to take photos in RAW format, and high bitrate (24 bit, 96/192kHz in FLAC, ALAC, WAV) audio playback. Here is a full list of improvements.

What's New

Added method for users to report bugs directly to Cyanogen.
Added pause button during video recording.
Improved battery life.
Fixed issues with camera exposure compensation stuck in ‘auto’.
Fixed issues with ‘4G Preferred’ option not connecting to 3G data.
Fixed issues with delay in torch activation.
Fixed issues with unresponsive screen requiring reboot.
Fixed issues with static in speaker when changing volume while headset plugged in.
Fixed issues with rotation not triggering when rotated slowly.
Fixed issues with Quiet Hours / system UI causing battery drain on last day of month.
Fixed issues with camera not starting when LED torch is already on.
Fixed issues with Bluetooth volume low on connection.

Lucky One owners can expect an OTA notification soon. As for the rest of us, perhaps there will soon be a way to buy one without having to secure an invitation - or maybe we will just have to wait until next year.

Via: OnePlus

Mystery Motorola Device Stops by FCC, is It Really the Nexus 6? (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:07:27 +0000

A mystery Motorola device showed up at the FCC today (ID IHDT56PK2), a phone that is starring in a bunch of documents that we are still browsing through to hopefully find specifics on what it might be. Engadget seems to think that it is the Nexus 6, but we haven't found anything yet that really leads us to believe that this is it. It could be - we aren't saying that this isn't it. Here is what we know so far. (We will be updating this post as we have more.) The device sports the exact same (seriously, exact same to the one-hundredth of a millimeter) dimensions as the DROID TURBO (aka "QUARK") that is the new DROID on its way to Verizon. From what we know, the DROID TURBO will have a 5.5-inch QHD display, with capacitive navigation buttons sitting just below the display. It seems odd that the new Nexus would match those exact dimensions if it were to use a 5.92-inch display with on-screen buttons. Then again, maybe those on-screen buttons take the display from 5.5-inches to 5.92-inches. That could very well be the case here. I am still a little surprised to see the height and width of the phones match up so perfectly, though. Outside of the size details, we know that this particular phone sports LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 and GSM bands of 850, 1700, and 1900. That looks like an AT&T phone to me, not a global-ready multi-band beast that Google typically puts out when it releases a Nexus phone.

The device also has Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and 802.11ac WiFi. As of now, this looks to me like the DROID TURBO that has potentially been rebranded for AT&T. A Moto Maxx name has surfaced here or there over the past couple of months; maybe that's what we are looking at. Update: This phone has the exact same battery as the TURBO, model number EQ40. Keep in mind that we still do not have confirmation on the size of that battery, but last year's DROID MAXX used a battery under model number EU40, suggesting that the EQ40 is of similar size. We are seeing support for Motorola's Turbo Charger and wireless charging as well. Update 2: As was pointed out in the comments and on Android Face, the documents actually say that this is basically the equivalent of the DROID TURBO. In fact, they specifically reference the DROID TURBO FCC filing, noting that this is both electrically and mostly physically equivalent, including in design and topology, electrical components, physical layout, factory tuning, and physical characteristics. Will update as we have more.

Via: FCC | Engadget

Cheers Tom!

Google Voice MMS Expands to Nearly 100 North American Carriers - AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile Included

Kellen — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:58:37 +0000

Google Voice team member, Alex Wiesen, took to Google+ this afternoon to announce that they have expanded MMS support to nearly 100 North American carriers as of today, a group that includes Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. If you use Google Voice on a regular basis, you know how big of a deal this is, as you have likely missed out on picture messages from friends at some point. As Wiesen points out, with this new carrier support, you can say "goodbye to FOMO (fear of missing out)." Well, most of you can. Wiesen didn't offer up a full list of those 100 carriers for us to browse through, but since he specifically noted that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint are involved, that leads us to believe that Verizon is not. He also ran a "P.S." at the end of his announcement that seemed like a subtle ribbing of Verizon for not participating, saying "p.s. If you’re a carrier, and you want to enable MMS support for Google Voice, please let us know. We’re big fans of text messaging interoperability." Go send some MMS messages and let us know how it goes!

Via: +Alex Wiesen

Unlocked Moto G (2014) Now Available Through Best Buy in Black and White for $179

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 16:14:58 +0000

Folks looking to scoop up the new Moto G from Motorola have a new place to do so this week, that being Best Buy. Priced at the same amount as it is on Motorola's website, you can buy the Unlocked Moto G (2014) in either White or Black for $179.99. The new Moto G sports a 5" HD display, front-facing speakers, microSD slot, Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 2,070mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4+. The device can be bought online and shipped to you, but it also looks available for in-store pickup today in certain locations. Have at it. Best Buy Links: Black ($179) | White ($179)

Cheers Jacob!

Obscure Launched on Google Play, Take Back Photos You Regret Sending

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:10:32 +0000

A new app called Obscure has hit Google Play, one which claims it is better than Snapchat and Instagram. Obscure is a messaging / photo sharing application, which allows users to send messages and photos back and forth between friends and family. The main difference between Obscure and other apps that handle messages and pictures is that photos you share through Obscure can be deleted from both devices by the sender. For example, you can send a picture through Instagram for your friend to see, but if you would rather them not see the photo anymore, you can't revoke their access to it through the application. With Obscure, users can apply filters and goofy glasses, send the photo, then delete it before anyone has a chance to laugh at you. For extra security, the app also disables users to take screenshots of the photos, but who knows if someone will be able to find a work around for that feature. The app is free to download and use, so if your Snapchat and Instagram accounts need another companion app, check it out. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Report: HTC Desire Eye Specs Leaked, Packs 13MP Camera and Removable Battery

Kyle — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 14:30:48 +0000

Mere hours after HTC released a teaser image of what is presumed to be the HTC EYE, two new entries in the the Indian import-export database Zauba have revealed more information about the manufacturer's upcoming smartphones, the Desire Eye and One (M8) Eye. First, let's go over the Desire Eye. Should specifications reported by @upleaks last week prove correct, the handset's defining feature will be a 13-megapixel front-facing shooter with dual LED flash. The Desire Eye will also be paired with the same 13-megapixel rear-facing camera as its pricier cousin. Internally, it packs a Snapdragon 801 SoC, 2GB, 2400mAh removable battery and 32GB of storage. It also sports a 5.2-inch Full HD display and IPX7-compliant design. Regarding the One (M8) Eye, the database leak provided no more than confirmation of its existence. We have not heard any contradiction of earlier reports that the handset will be identical to the One (M8) save for upgraded, 13-megapixel Duo Camera setup. Most likely, we will find out for sure what HTC has up its sleeve on October 8 in NYC.

Via: @upleaks | HTC Family

Giveaway: Win a Moto Hint From Droid Life

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:55:52 +0000

You may have seen the Moto Hint hands-on we posted last Friday, from which we came away quite impressed with Motorola's little in-ear Bluetooth headset. If you too were impressed, here is your chance to get one for completely free, courtesy of your favorite Android site. The Moto Hint we are giving away comes in Brown Leather, and will sync with any Android device, but works best with the new Moto X. With the Moto X, owners can control their devices completely hands-free with voice commands. Any other Android device will work too, but features will be a tad limited. Regardless of which phone you own, it is a nice piece of hardware, so let's get it on. Ready to win?

Contest

Prize 1 (one) Moto Hint in Brown Leather. How to Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner We will randomly select our winner tomorrow (Oct. 7) at 12pm Pacific.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 24

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:58:34 +0000

There is always quite a bit to talk about during this time of year, as we continue to approach the launch of a new Nexus smartphone, and even a new Nexus tablet from Google. However, Google is not the only company readying products, as Samsung and HTC are also set to launch new devices in the US, with the Note 4 from Sammy and possible One (M8) EYE from HTC. During our Q&A Sessions, this is the time you, the reader, can ask us anything that might be on your mind that has to do with Android, Google, carriers, or anything else that strikes your fancy. For example, do we think the recently leaked photos of the Nexus 9 are appealing? Will the Galaxy Note 4 be worth the wait? Is Google and Motorola's Shamu device way too big? On Friday, we will compile a list of our favorite questions, then let the team have at them. Until then, shoot your questions below in the comments section. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

LG Set to Release G Watch R in Korea Next Week

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:24:19 +0000

The G Watch R, LG's first attempt at a circular Android Wear smartwatch, is set to become widely available at South Korea retailers next week on October 14, according to LG. Although, as reported by two separate South Korean publications, a few retailers may see it as early as October 13. With a launch taking place in LG's home country this soon, residents of the rest of the world may not have too much longer to wait either. It was previously reported by the Wall Street Journal that LG plans to release the smartwatch globally sometime in October, but no exact date has been released. The G Watch R and its full circle display has been highly hyped here in the states and is set to take on Motorola's Moto 360 and its apparent success. Anyone still holding out for the G Watch R?

Via: ZDNet Korea | ETNews | LG

HTC Teases New One (M8) Variant, Set for Unveiling on October 8

Kyle — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 11:21:27 +0000

If two sources had not already leaked the details of HTC's refreshed One (M8), we might have found the teaser posted by HTC's Twitter account somewhat enigmatic. Instead, we consider it formal acknowledgment of the so-called M8 EYE's existence, or possibly another device altogether. The M8 EYE is reportedly identical to the One (M8), save for an upgraded camera. The new variant ups the rear-facing shooter's megapixel count to 13, while retaining HTC's infamous Duo Camera configuration. However, in the teaser video HTC has posted, while the device morphs in front of your eyes, it almost appears as if there is a larger device as well. Could this be a sign that HTC might unveil a new One Max? Or is this HTC just playing with us? As it stands right now in the rumor mill, the M8 EYE is reported ship with Android 4.4+ and Sense 6 out of the box, which is on par with most One (M8) variants. October 8 should be interesting. Alongside the reported M8 EYE, HTC is expected to reveal the REcamera, a compact sports camera. We will bring you the news from the event as it happens.

Via: @HTCUSA

Samsung Recaps Galaxy Note 4 S Pen Features in New Video

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 10:38:45 +0000

Samsung released a video this morning, detailing a few highlights of the S Pen found with the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. In the video, three key features are noted, those being Smart Select's Capture and Share, Smart Select's Link to Related Apps, and Photo Note. These features are not exactly new to the Note 4, but Samsung continues to refine their software offerings on each hardware update they release. With Capture and Share, users can highlight specific photos and text into one grouped folder, then share that folder through email or Hangouts with other parties. With Link to Related App, users can highlight specific data inside of one app, a date and location for example, then share that data through the Calendar app, allowing you to make plans even quicker than before. Finally, Photo Note will let you snap pictures of notes, say on a white board, and then convert that photo into an editable document. The example they provide in the video is quite smooth, and may actually be something you will use if you decide to pick one up. Will you be picking up the Galaxy Note 4 this month?

Face for Wear App Exits Beta Onto Google Play, Brings More Custom Faces for Android Wear

Tim — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 09:33:04 +0000

A new app for lovers of custom watch faces on Android Wear called Face for Wear hit Google Play recently, one which allows users to download custom face packs, and also distribute their own creations through the app. Using the application seems to be quite easy. As you browse through the selection of Face Packs, you can determine which ones you enjoy, then simply push it right to your smartwatch. Making your own face is also simplistic. After downloading the existing template, you set your images and defaults, and can then publish your creations right to Google Play for others to download and share. While the app may seem like a late comer to the game of applications fighting for your attention, we will never turn away another place to find awesome watch faces. The app costs $1.99 on Google Play, but promises no ads or future IAPs. We can get behind that. Play Link ($1.99)

Via: Face for Wear

Deal: Unlocked GSM Moto X (1st Gen) for $249 Through eBay, Galaxy S4 Active for $299

Kellen — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 09:05:49 +0000

At $249.99, today's deal on last year's Moto X is a steal. Sure, the device may be over a year old, but take a look at what AT&T announced this morning - last year's Moto G LTE for $199 at full retail. This original Moto X still tops the Moto G in every single category and is arguably better than a lot of 2014's phones. It has a better display than the Moto G, better camera, better overall design, and was at one time, a flagship phone that we dubbed the best Android phone of 2013. In today's deal over at eBay, you can grab the GSM unlocked version (XT1053) in brand new condition, with no carrier branding, in either black or white for $249. The device supports both T-Mobile and AT&T bands of GSM and LTE, so you should have no trouble connecting it. The deal also includes free shipping. On a related note, the Galaxy S4 Active can also be picked up for as little as $299. Another great deal. eBay Link (Moto X) | eBay Link (Galaxy S4 Active)

HTC Nexus 9 Potentially Makes First Appearance in Plastic Body, Stops Off at FCC

Kellen — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 08:01:33 +0000

Is that the first picture of the HTC Nexus 9? According to leaker @upleaks, it might very well be the "T1," which is one of the codenames for the device ("flounder" is the other). Appearing on Twitter within the last day, along with a note that the device may not sport the all-metal design that HTC has become known for over the last couple of years, this looks like early renders and matches the description of previous leaks. The device still maintains previous Nexus styling, along with the rumored 4:3, square-like form factor. The device is said to be a prototype, so take that into account. On a related note, the Nexus 9 may have stopped off at the FCC on Friday as well. A device, made by HTC under the ID NM80P82100, with that same square-ish 4:3 design, is seeking approval with Bluetooth, NFC, and 802.11ac WiFi. Not much else was revealed in the filing, but that silhouette unmistakable. As a recap, the HTC Nexus 9 is confirmed to run NVIDIA's Tegra K1 chipset and was originally expected in Q3. However, that time frame has clearly slipped as we are already five days in Q4. Other reports claim that the specs will include an 8.9-inch display, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB of storage, 8MP camera with OIS, 3MP front camera, and stereo front speakers. We still do not have a firm launch time frame fro the device, but are sort of expecting it by the end of October or early November, along with the release of Android L. HTC is hosting an event in New York this Wednesday, but the device is unlikely to be on hand.

Via: @upleaks [2] | FCC

Original Moto G LTE Arrives at AT&T October 10

Kellen — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 07:16:11 +0000

The original Moto G LTE, not to be confused with the Moto G that Motorola announced a month ago, will be available at AT&T starting October 10. The device will run $199 with no annual contract, $79.99 with a 1-year contract, or as low as $7.50 per month with an AT&T Next plan. Again, this is not the new Moto G, this is the original that was announced in November 2013, only now it has LTE on board. As a recap, the original Moto G sports a 4.5-inch HD display (720p), quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 2,070mAh battery, 5MP camera, and runs a "pure" Android experience. It does not have Moto Display or Moto Voice, but does have access to add-ons like Moto Assist. This is the phone that became Motorola's best selling smartphone of all time within a few months. October 10 is the day if you want to buy one through AT&T.

[responsive_vid]

Via: AT&T

Moto Hint Overview and Tour

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:36:00 +0000

The Moto Hint, Motorola's discreet little Bluetooth nub, has finally arrived for us to take for a full spin. After getting to check out the Bluetooth earbud during the press festivities for the Moto X (2nd gen) launch, we have been dying to get a real unit in house for real testing on our own. That time has come. As a recap, the Moto Hint is a Bluetooth earbud that when paired to your phone, allows you to not only take and make calls, but also completely control your phone (assuming you have a new Moto X). Thanks to the power of Moto Voice in the Moto X, the Moto Hint (that's a lot of Moto) works voice action magic without the need to ever touch your phone or even have it near. You could put your phone in a bag, but still listen to turn-by-turn directions, play music from your favorite band, check recent notifications, find answers to trivia questions, decide if you need to wear a coat today, call the car dealer to make an appointment, or find out the time. It's actually pretty cool. In the video below, we will walk you through an overview of the features (battery life, charging, price, colors, etc.) before diving into the voice action sequences. Be sure to check it out and then drop any questions in the comments.

[responsive_vid]

Nexus 7 (2013) LTE Gets OTA Update to Android 4.4.4 Build KTU84P

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:06:48 +0000

A day after Google posted up the Android 4.4.4 (KTU84P) factory image for the Nexus 7 (2013) "mobile," the device is receiving an update over-the-air to the build. The update is tiny (2.4MB), as you would expect, but does finally bring the device up to the most current version of Android, right along side its brothers, the Nexus 4, 5, 7 (2012), and 10.

Deal: Moto X (2nd Gen) Available at Amazon for $49.99 in Black, $69.99 in Leather or Bamboo

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 14:51:11 +0000

If you are looking for the best deal on the Verizon or AT&T Moto X (2nd gen) and are willing to sign a 2-year contract, Amazon is your place. The black resin version is available for either carrier at $49.99 on-contract, which is $50 less than you would pay directly. If you want Bamboo, the Verizon unit is currently $79.99, a $20 discount. If you want Leather or Bamboo on AT&T, Amazon has them listed for $69.99, which is a $50 discount. Keep in mind that in our guide on how to upgrade at Verizon and keep unlimited data, we mention that some have had success using Amazon for discounted phones while keeping unlimited. Of course, you need to proceed with caution there. Amazon Links (Verizon): Moto X, Black Resin ($49.99) | Moto X, White Bamboo ($79.99) Amazon Links (AT&T): Moto X, AT&T, Black Resin ($49.99) | Moto X, Leather ($69.99) | Moto X, White Bamboo ($69.99)

Cheers Kyle!

Google Now is Reminding People to Register to Vote

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 12:33:33 +0000

At some point today, Google started show a voter registration card in Google Now to Pennsylvania residents. The card appears to be showing just because of the user's location, not because they had previously searched for "voter registration" or about an upcoming election in the state. At least one reader said they have not searched for anything politically-related on Google "in a long time" and that they certainly haven't searched for "voter registration" since they first voted back in 1998. They also asked around at work to see if other co-workers were being presented a similar card, and sure enough, they were. As you can see in the card, Google is telling users when the deadline to register is to vote, but also when the upcoming Pennsylvania general election takes place. There are buttons for checking registration status and registering to vote as well. Anyone outside of Pennsylvania seeing a similar card?

Cheers Nick and @RobTheIc0n!

Google+ Update Polishes Up the UI With More Material Design

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:36:10 +0000

Google+ received a minor update (4.6.0.76908267) on Android this morning, flush new Material Design tweaks. From what we can tell, there aren't any new major features, but the app is certainly more polished than ever as we approach an Android L launch. If you compare this new G+ to the old, you will see changes to the post button (now red), polish in menus, a simpler Photos layout, and a general flattening of all the things. We have the .apk below in case the update hasn't arrived on your device through Google Play. Play Link | Download Link

Cheers +Braden Nida!

iPhone 6 Review

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 10:37:46 +0000

In short, the iPhone 6 is not the phone for me. Shocker, right? I spent the last two weeks with the iPhone 6 by my side out of both curiosity and to become even more familiar with Android's biggest competitor. I have seen all that iOS 8 has to offer (at least at this point). I have experienced Apple's finest. I have experienced Apple's vision for Android. Yes, I just said that. If there are two conclusions that I can take from this experience, it's that I now understand why millions upon millions of people want this phone each year, but also that I am still confused at the obsessive, often times obnoxious, need for all-things-Apple, especially involving the iPhone. This is a nice phone, don't get me wrong. However, this is not something to obsess over or to use as a prop to help you look down upon people who don't own one. The iPhone is not a status symbol. You should not stand in lines for days to own one. It's a really good smartphone - it just isn't the best smartphone. It certainly isn't running the best mobile OS. Here are some final thoughts to put this experiment to bed.

Before we get going, understand that this isn't an iPhone 6 review in the traditional sense. We aren't an Apple site, so we aren't going to start reviewing iPhones. Instead, these are some thoughts on the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 from someone who lives Android day-to-day, but spent the last few weeks with nothing but an iPhone. The sections in here will be comparisons to Android, what I like and don't like about the iPhone 6 and iOS 8, and why, ultimately, Android is still what I prefer in a smartphone.

Initial impressions

[responsive_vid vid_url="ZDb7VjXXxgM"]

Phone design

If I'm being honest, I have to admit that I tend to like most of the hardware design decisions that Apple makes with many of its products. I love the cylindrical style of the new Mac Pro, the sleek metal and now seemingly iconic design of the Macbook, and can even acknowledge that the iPhone 5 was gorgeous. With that said, the iPhone 6 is probably the ugliest, worst designed product that Apple has released in, well, years. Let me explain why. First of all, the rounded edges surrounding its body, coupled with its aluminum exterior make it incredibly slippery. Thankfully, the phone is on the smaller side when compared to flagship Android phones in 2014, so you can mostly get a full-handed grip on it. The iPhone 5 had a squared off metallic design, with the edges acting as gripping points, something a phone this size should always have. This is the same issue I had with the HTC One (M8), which also saw the flat edges from its predecessor removed in favor of a fully rounded body, a move that has little benefit other than for the company who made it to have bragging rights and for it to look extra pretty in pictures. Second, Apple sacrificed all sorts of things just so they could say that the iPhone 6 is incredibly thin. For example, the camera on the backside of the device protrudes out from the phone's shell. This is a terrible design decision for a number of reasons, most importantly though, because now your $650+ phone has an always exposed camera lens that will take the brunt of every collision. It also doesn't allow the phone to lay fully flat and is the first piece of your phone that contacts any surface it is laid on. It is asking to be scratched.

But beyond the camera bulge, why is this phone this tall? To keep the iPhone 6 at an insanely thin 6.9mm and include their standard home button, Apple had to flatten it out, a move we wish they would have reconsidered. If you compare the iPhone 6 to the Xperia Z3 Compact, Galaxy Alpha, and last year's Moto X, all of which sport the same size display (around 4.7-inch) as the iPhone 6, you might be shocked to see them sitting next to each other. Take a look at our comparison of the three on video. You would probably think that the iPhone 6 has a bigger display, but it doesn't. The dimensions on the iPhone 6 are comparable to the new Moto X, yet it houses a 5.2-inch display. The Z3 Compact and old Moto X are almost 10mm shorter; all of those phones mentioned are not as wide. Finally, the backside of the iPhone 6, with its plastic lines and matching top/bottom panels is simply put, terrible to look at. From the first leaks we saw months ago, I kept saying to myself, "Apple can't possible release a phone with that ugly of a backside." And then they did. At least the previous iPhones that packed in panels offered some contrast with glass or different colors. The new iPhone just looks like Apple was trying to keep the familiarity of their previous designs and ended up settling because they wanted a unibody rounded frame instead.

If there is one design decision I will give Apple credit for, though, it would be in the rounded edges of the display. Like you will see on the new Moto X or the older Nexus 4, the iPhone 6's display has been rounded off at all of its edges, which presents your finger with the softest swiping experience you can find. It also gives off the appearance that the display is floating, depending on which angle your eye takes to it. In the end, to say that I came away disappointed in the design of the iPhone 6 would be a gross understatement.

Camera

There are two things I'm going to miss when I leave the iPhone 6 world and get back to Android - the camera and this phone's battery life. I will get to the battery life in a second, so first, let's talk about an amazing camera experience. If I were to describe the iPhone 6's camera in two words, they would be "versatile" and "consistent." Whenever I needed a shot taken, the camera was ready and more than capable. It's also insanely fast in any lighting situation. While the camera only weighs in at 8MP, that is plenty of resolution for most. 16MP or 20MP just seems like overkill in a smartphone, especially if the smartphone can barely push quality in all those pixels. As far as the camera UI goes, the iPhone 6 has the features and modes you need all at a swipe or tap away. It's simple, that's for sure. There are no manual settings that I can find, so if you want a deeper camera experience, you will have to download a 3rd party app. But if you just want to pull your phone out of the box, shoot quality photos, slow motion videos, or squared-off Instagram-ready shots, you can do that with ease.

As far as actual results are concerned, I can tell you that I am more than satisfied with the photos I was able to take. While I didn't find myself in the ultimate photo situations during the last two weeks, every picture I took still seemed to come out as I had hoped. The iPhone 6's camera shoots in a traditional 4:3, captures natural looking photos that aren't overblown with saturation or high contrast or over-processing, and generally need little retouching depending on your needs. I just always had confidence in the iPhone 6's camera, which is something I can't always say with many of the latest and greatest Android phones. That's not to say that the iPhone 6 dominates all Android phones, I just feel like the camera has been fine-tuned to offer you a very consistent experience.

Battery life

The iPhone 6 sports an 1,810mAh battery that lasts all-day and then some. The new Moto X features a 2,300mAh battery, which Android users claim is "small," and can't last for more than 16 hours with typical use. I would imagine that Apple's iOS deserves the credit here for maximizing such a small battery, likely at the expense of the fully-featured user experience we get on Android, but man, it has been a pleasure to use a phone that doesn't look like a DROID MAXX and can still last beyond the night. In two weeks with the iPhone 6, it warned me once that I was below 20% or so and should think about finding a charger. Once. In my two weeks testing the Moto X, I needed a charger every night by 9PM.

Display

The resolution on the iPhone 6 is an odd one (1134x750), but I don't think anyone in the world would complain at having to look at it on a daily basis. Apple has used an IPS LED display with a pixel density of 326ppi, a number that doesn't match the top Android phones of the moment. It may not need to, though, because it's gorgeous to look at. When Android phones jumped to 1080p, a few of us sort of realized that they had gone too far and that there were few benefits at that high of a resolution. Now, that has become the norm or base, while other manufacturers like Samsung and LG are exploring QHD. At 750p, which is a slightly higher-resolution than the Galaxy Alpha or Xperia Z3 Compact's 720p resolution, you still aren't going to see pixels with your naked eye. Apple has calibrated the iPhone 6's display almost perfectly as well, with as close as you will get to purely accurate colors, though it may show whites as being slightly cooler at times. I will gladly take cooler whites than the yellow, warm ones we see on devices like the new Moto X. The iPhone 6's brightness level is also almost unmatched on each end of the spectrum, from ultra bright to extra dim. I would also argue in Apple's favor that the lower resolution has aided in the excellent battery life of the phone. With fewer pixels to push, you have less strain on that smallish 1,810mAh battery. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, the display has a cascading effect around its edges, which helps deliver a softer finger feel as you swipe across it thousands of times per day. This also leads to a floating effect, where you feel as if the display is as close to the top of the glass as is possible. Apple did a great job with this display.

Macros for fun.

Apps and the Appstore

Apple bloggers will tell you all day, every day that the Appstore is far superior to Google Play. Is it? I haven't seen anything in the past two weeks to prove that point. For one, the app selection is almost identical these days. Apple enthusiasts will tell you different, of course, but as of right now, I have two apps on my iPhone 6 that aren't available on Android: Instagram's Hyperlapse and Tiny Wings (because Tim made me). No other apps that are iOS exclusives have found their way on to my phone, because I'm not sure that many exist. And here is problem two, when you talk about iOS and apps - the Appstore is a disaster. I talked about this the other night on the DL Show, but try searching for something like "best Twitter app" on both the Appstore and Google Play. On the Apple Appstore, you get Tweetbot as the top result, which is actually a popular Twitter app, but that's the only one. The rest of the listings (in order) are an image framing app for Instagram, a game that looks like a kid's Park Tycoon knock-off, an emoji app, another Instagram photo FX app, and a VPN service. Seriously, those are your options when searching for "best Twitter app." Google Play, on the other hand, gives me more Twitter apps than I can even count.

It doesn't stop there. The top charts section, I have been told by iOS users, isn't worth looking at because it is easily manipulated. I was also told that the featured app collections on the main Appstore page are worth looking at, but Apple only updates those on Thursdays or something like that. There is an explore section, which in theory could be useful, except there are so many categories and sub-categories that it might take you hours to find a new app that is worth installing. Google Play curates apps based on my friends' likes and ratings and what I already have installed, but also puts together all sorts of lists of apps in a variety of categories from the newest to the most recently updated. If I want to find a new app on Google Play, or search for one, it's as easy as doing a Google search. Or, I could take to each section where there are additional curated lists that aren't buried behind categories and sub-categories. As I mentioned above, Apple enthusiasts like to talk about how much better the app selection is on iOS, except that doesn't mean a thing if you can't find those exclusive apps. The only way to find new and useful apps that I can figure, is if you start reading Apple enthusiast sites. I think I'll pass.

Using iOS 8 - the part where things get ugly.

If you read everything up until this point, your takeaway could be that I actually don't mind the iPhone 6, thanks to its incredible camera, stellar battery life, and gorgeous display. Outside of a poor Appstore experience and what I would consider to be the ugliest iPhone in years, the whole package isn't actually all that bad. But again, that would be the takeaway if you only read up until now. At this point, we are going to switch the focus and dive into iOS 8 for a bit. In other words, this is where it becomes clear that Android is still the smartphone operating system for me. Performance The iPhone 6, thanks to its 64-bit chipset, is a little powerhouse. The phone doesn't stutter, apps load instantly, gaming is a joy, multi-tasking works as Apple expects it to, the camera loads within a split second, and even the Touch ID recognition of your fingerprint happens quicker than you would expect. If you look around the web at iPhone 6 reviews that include benchmarks, you will consistently see the 6 ranked towards the top in almost all categories when compared to other smartphones. The iPhone 6 is efficient, yet powerful. Goodbye, silos...eventually. Before iOS 8, your apps couldn't talk to each other. If you have used an Android phone for more than five minutes, you know how big of a flaw that is. In Android, you can share anything to just about any app at any time from within any app. It's amazing. In iOS 8, things should change for the better, thanks to the introduction of Extensions, which is an option that developers can build into their apps so that they can talk to other apps. For example, if you were looking at a photo in the iPhone's Photos app, but wanted to edit it in Afterlight, you can now choose Afterlight as an editing option from within the Photos app. Previously, you would have had to exit the Photos app, open Afterlight, find the photo you wanted to edit, and then edit it. Another example would be sharing a web page. Going forward, assuming developers build in the functionality, you could share a web page and have it save to Pocket or send it through Mailbox as an email.

At this point, this functionality just isn't there for most apps. Since the idea behind Extensions is so new and iOS 8 has only been available for a couple of weeks, we are still waiting for developers to add in support to their apps. As the days go by, we are seeing more and more apps gain sharing, widgets, etc., but it's going to take time. As I have been testing the iPhone 6, this has been a major pain point. For example, I use Feedly as an RSS reader and often email stories to myself. Unfortunately, Mailbox hasn't built in sharing and I refuse to use iOS's Mail app, so from within Feedly, I have no way to email a story out of the app. Again, things like this should be fixed over time, it's just that this whole idea of sharing between apps has been a staple on Android from day one, that dealing with the slow rollout of support has been frustrating. I need a back button. As you know, the iPhone only has a single navigation button - the physical circle home button at the bottom of the device. After having used Android for so many years, I truly have missed the back button. While Android's back button has a mind of its own at times, it is more handy than I think most Android people realize. Like, let's say I'm in Instagram and find a link in a profile that I tap which takes me into Chrome. Well, the iPhone will only let me choose Safari, because...silos. Anyway, the link takes me into a browser on both devices. I then decide I have seen enough and want to quickly jump back into Instagram. On Android, a simple tap on the back button would take me immediately back to Instagram. On the iPhone, I have to double tap the home button to bring up the recent apps menu, hope that iOS quickly pulls up Instagram in a recent apps card menu since it was the app I last used, wait for the animation to finish, and then tap on Instagram. Inefficient much?

To be fair, iOS does utilize this nifty gesture where you can swipe from the left side of the display to quickly jump back a screen. It has been very handy to use and I almost wish that Android would adopt it. Unfortunately, this back swipe only works within apps - you can't use it as a back button to jump back and forth between apps. Maybe some day. The app jukebox. There is no better way to describe the way iOS works than by calling it an App Jukebox. Android runs more like a traditional computer in that you have an accessible file system, real multi-tasking, apps that run outside of silos and can talk to one another, and almost unlimited access, assuming you know what you are doing. Apple doesn't want anything to do with a scheme like that. Apple wants iOS to be an app facilitator, nothing more. The OS forces you to run an app to do this, another app to do that, and another app to do one more thing. Up until iOS 8, they didn't talk to each other, you just went from one app, back home, and then to another. While we now have Extensions on iOS, the idea of running a specific app to do this or that still stands. You load your home screen, find an app, tap its little icon, close that app, find another, tap it, close it, tap it, close it, tap it. With Android, there are apps that work within other apps or on-top of apps or next to apps. You have multi-tasking apps that can be accessed with a swipe, widgets that live on your home screen that do more than just display information, the ability to run multiple apps at a time in a multi-window environment, perform a quick task with a floating app on top of your current app, and maybe more importantly, life outside of the stock suite of apps that the operating system's creator has forced upon you. I am overwhelmed by settings...within Settings. I talked about this in my "first impressions" video above, but the Settings situation on iOS is completely out of control. Rather than allow apps to host their own settings within themselves, Apple has decided that all settings will be controlled from a central Settings application. If you have a few dozen apps installed, your settings panel becomes overwhelming. Each app has its own settings menu within Settings, but it also has its own section within the Notifications section within Settings. Facebook has a settings menu within its settings menu within the Settings app. This is not a joke.

The settings situation gets worse when you include notifications in the conversation. Notifications are also handled individually per app through their own settings section within Settings. But so you know, you have to decide if you want each individual app to access all areas of your device, how many notifications to show, and how they should appear as they roll in. Again, you have to do this for each individual application. The Settings app is also where you do things like set a wallpaper, turn on "Shake to shuffle" in the Music app, tell Apple Maps how loud the navigation volume should be, and add a second account to Twitter. You cannot do any of these things outside of the Settings app. I'm not making this stuff up. Notifications Speaking of notifications, they are both good and bad. As I mentioned above, the notifications settings within the Notifications menu within Settings, isn't my favorite setup. You have to choose within each app's notifications settings if you want banners, no notifications, or pop-up alerts. You also need to choose if the app can even send you notifications, play sounds, show on the lock screen, and how many notifications you want to show in Notification Center. For the most part you really only need to tweak these settings once and can then forget about them, but the initial process is a bit much. Once you start receiving notifications, you may find that you need to go back in and re-tweak to get each app notifying you in just the right-but-not-over-the-top way, which again, is incredibly time consuming. Similar to what I said in the Extensions section, the future for notifications is quite bright, we're just not fully there yet. For example, apps will soon be actionable from the lock screen or as badges that show up at the top of your screen, but we need developers to build in that functionality. Again, it's a waiting game for now.

My problems with iOS notifications are that they are everywhere, but they also do not seem to sync properly and you never know if or when they may hang around or leave as they should. This could be something that developers could yet again address, but for example, if I have already dealt with Mailbox items on my computer, I shouldn't see notifications for those old emails on my iPhone that were dealt with hours ago. Same thing with my Dropcam notifications and "likes" from people on Instagram. But almost every time I pick up my iPhone 6, I have old notifications that I have already dealt with somewhere else. Another issue arises when you dismiss a notification for later because you have to remember to check back for that notification. What I mean, is that there are no notification icons in the status bar that are constant reminders of items that need to be dealt with. On Android, while it may look cluttered and nasty at times, you have a status bar that constantly lets you know that you have pending notifications. On iOS, that isn't the case - you have to swipe down your notification shade to see them or hope they are on your lock screen the next time you wake your phone. I will say that I like how iOS groups notifications from the same app together in sections, with an option to clear all notifications from that app only. This is incredibly useful if you want your Instagram notifications gone, but want to see email or Hangouts notifications for a while as a reminder. WTF, sound controls? I don't think anything about the iPhone 6 has been more maddening than trying to figure out volume controls. Apple has a Sounds section in Settings (of course they do), but it does very little. As you can see from the screenshot above in the Settings section, there is a single volume slider that controls both the ringer and alerts. The problem is, that it lies. I can turn my volume as low as it will go before going to silent and yet Hangouts messages still try to blow my eardrums out because they couldn't care less what my system volume settings are. I have had this phone for two weeks and still cannot figure out how to adjust volume in Hangouts. How is that possible? Meanwhile, Android has separate sliders for media, alarms, and calls/notifications. Android devices also listen when you set them at a certain volume.

No personalization. We like to host "Show us your home screens!" posts on a regular basis. Those days are used to show off the custom works of art that our readers have been able to construct on the home screen of their Android phone. They are without a doubt some of our most entertaining and popular posts. If we ran something similar on an iPhone site, it would be the most boring feature of the year, every time. There is no personalization with an iPhone outside of the wallpaper that appears on your home and lock screens. I feel like with this iPhone, I'm using someone else's phone and that I can't actually make it my own. The only controls I have are how many apps I want in a folder, how many folders I want on a screen, and the arrangement of those folders and their surrounding apps. I guess I can add and remove apps from pages too, and maybe even place a widget on the notification shade or change the whopping four icons that sit in a dock at the bottom of the screen. There are no options for you to customize - this is Apple's vision of a phone and they don't allow you to change it. It is, as I mentioned earlier, an app jukebox. Things that are great. I know that I just spent all of that time talking about the things that I find difficult to deal with, but there are some good things going on in iOS 8. For one, if you are invested in Apple's ecosystem, you have some amazing device-to-device sharing tools. Not only that, but your computer can become an extension of your phone, thanks to additions in Max OS X "Yosemite." Now, I happen to be running Yosemite on my Mac Pro, so I can do things like answer incoming calls on my computer (like you can do in Hangouts already), send web pages directly to my computer from the iPhone 6, send files instantly and make them available, or have all photos taken automatically backed up and ready in iPhoto within seconds. There are apps and features like this on Android as well, but Apple makes them incredibly easy to use in iOS 8. I should also point out that if your core group of friends and family all use iPhones, I would imagine that iMessage (or whatever it's called these days) would be a great messaging app. I do not personally know many iPhone users, so I haven't even touched the app.

The Little Things

Touch ID is great. Apple's use of a fingerprint scanner in the home button of the iPhone is actually pretty great. It doesn't require a swipe, only that you set your finger there for a second. You can use it to unlock your phone, pay for things, and authenticate without needing to type a password. It works almost flawlessly. This is not that gimmicky swipe fingerprint scanner that Samsung continues to try and use - this is a legitimate fingerprint scanner that works practically every time you use it, no matter which part of your fingerprint is touching it.
Lightning cable is too. Apple uses a proprietary charging cable (Lightning) that blows away the micro USB cable that all of our Android phones use, because of one thing - it's reversible. When I go to bed at night and plug-in this iPhone 6, I no longer have to worry about which way the cable is facing. I grab it, plug it in through the dark and go to bed.
Call quality, not so much. I rarely mention call quality in reviews because most phones these days all sound great. With that said, the iPhone 6 actually stood out to me as having poor audio quality when on a call. Not only does the volume not get loud enough, but conversations often sounded tinny or robotic.
Bing all the things. If you want to perform a quick search on an iPhone, you can do so through a simple swipe-down when on your home screen. Once swiped, a search box appears that allows you to search for anything that is on your mind. In iOS 8, you can now do more than just perform web searches; you can search for apps, contacts, movie listings, wikipedia, and more. The idea and implementation are quite useful, except for one thing - the search uses Bing instead of Google. Have you tried searching for anything on Bing lately? Save yourself, it's still not any good in 2014. Edit: I have been informed that you can change the search setting to use Google instead of Bing. Probably one of the 8,000 settings I missed.

Gallery

Wrap-up

My experience with the iPhone 6 ends like I expected it to. The phone was impressive in battery life, camera, display, and performance categories, but I was ultimately left frustrated by the intricacies of iOS 8 that differ from Android. From Settings and Notifications handling to the silos that still exist while developers get their apps ready for Extensions to that damn physical home button. It's obvious that Apple has created an experience that they feel is the best for everyone, except they forgot about the tinkerers of the world and those of us who want ultimate control, who want to customize a phone's experience, and who don't want to be told that their phone should be used a certain way. The iPhone 6 and iOS are consistent - they just aren't consistently what I want. On to the Xperia Z3 Compact.

Deal: Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB on Sale for $129 From NewEgg

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:25:20 +0000

NewEgg's eBay shop is hosting a deal today on the Nexus 7 (2013) with 16GB of storage that is one of the lowest prices you will see. At $129 for a "manufacturer refurbished" unit, you probably won't find a better deal than this on last year's Nexus tablet. Actually, you may not see many more of these deals with the Nexus 9 close to release - we would imagine that resellers are going to do whatever they can to blast through remaining inventory on last year's model, if they haven't already. eBay Link

Motorola Welcomes the Fall With a New Moto X Boot Animation

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:20:33 +0000

Be sure to reboot your Moto X this morning if you like seeing newly released boot animations from Motorola. The 2014 Fall boot sequence is hitting devices as I type this. Well, it's hitting the original Moto X, I haven't been able to check the new Moto X yet. Let us know if you see it!

Cheers Michael!

New Moto X Now Available From US Cellular for $99

Kellen — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 07:45:56 +0000

While Sprint and T-Mobile have seemingly passed on the new Moto X (2nd gen), US Cellular is willing to add this year's flagship from Motorola to their line-up. As of today, you can buy the Moto X in black for $99 with new 2-year contract. Later in October, US Cellular will also make the black leather and bamboo backs available at a price of $149 on-contract. I probably don't need to tell you about the new Moto X, since you have likely already read our review. You have, right? If not, just know that this phone is up there with the best of the year because of its in-hand feel, use of premium materials (dat leather, tho), and mostly stock Android that has been beefed up in all the right ways through Motorola's suite of "Moto" software. The only issue we had with the new Moto X was its mid-range battery life that typically emptied between 14 and 16 hours of use. On US Cellular and need a new phone? This is one to put on your shortlist.

U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHES MOTO X™

Device upgrades include 5.2-inch screen

CHICAGO (October 3, 2014) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) announces that the all-new Moto X is now available for customers at uscellular.com and in retail stores. Moto X is available in black at $99.99 with a two-year contract. Moto X will also be available with a black leather or bamboo back for $149.99 with a two-year contract starting in late October. Qualified customers will be able to add any of the models to their Shared Connect plan and get them for $0 down using U.S. Cellular’s equipment installment option

“We’re excited our customers will be able to get the upgraded Motorola experience which has features and tools to help you simplify and enhance your life,” said Joe Settimi, Vice President of Marketing for U.S. Cellular. “The new Moto X empowers you to enjoy life on the go with additions including the updated voice control and 13MP camera all on our best-in-class network, ensuring you stay organized and productive.”

Designed with a sense of style and balance, the Moto X incorporates the use of genuine wood and leather and is equipped with the latest version of the pure Android experience along with quick access to the latest updates. With the Moto Voice, the Moto X’s enhanced voice control lets you select a custom prompt, and use your voice to do just about anything.

From the curved metal that frames the vivid 5.2-inch Full HD display with durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the all-new Moto X weighs only 144 grams and has a 13 megapixel camera with Quick Capture and LED Flash. Moto X includes 16GB of onboard memory.

Highlighted Features:

Do more using just your voice. Moto X responds to your voice, without you having to touch it. Create your own voice prompt, ask questions, or even post your status to Facebook.

Adapts to you, not the other way around. Your Moto X knows whether you’re in a car, in a meeting, or at home, and adapts its behavior and the information it gives you accordingly.

Interact naturally. Respond to your Moto X with simple gestures—without having to touch the phone. Simply wave your hand above the phone to silence calls or alarms. Or launch the camera with just two flicks of your wrist.

With U.S. Cellular’s $0 down equipment installment option (for qualified customers), customers pay tax on the Moto X at the point of sale, and then make 24 monthly payments of $20 that are conveniently added to their wireless bill for the black version ($21.67 per month for the black leather and bamboo versions). Customers can upgrade this device in as little as 12 months if they trade it in for an updated model, and they can also choose to pay off the full balance of their device anytime they want.

Currently 90 percent of U.S. Cellular customers are covered by a 4G LTE network, and more than 93 percent of customers will have 4G LTE speeds by the end of 2014.

4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

Top 5 Android Apps: September 2014

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:23:56 +0000

During the month of September, many notable apps made their way onto Google Play, so we think our Top 5 Android Apps list is the perfect time to highlight them, only to make sure their releases did not fly under your radar. This past month, our attention was fixed on Material Design aesthetics, Amazon's release of Prime Instant Video for Android (finally!), and an app made specifically for one of reddit's most popular features. Below are the Top 5 Android Apps for the month of September.

1. Weather Timeline (Play Link: $0.99) "Material Design all the things!" It is a motto we have been living by here at DL, and anytime a new app hits Google Play or receives an update to include Material Design aesthetics, we can't help but fall in love. Weather Timeline, which shows off many of Google's new design guidelines, offers users a new way to look at a weather forecast. While your basic 5 day forecast is available, users can also "time travel" into the future or past, allowing you to see what the weather will be like years from now, or to search through databases to see what weather was like years ago. It is a great feature for weather fans. The app only costs $0.99 with no additional IAPs. 2. Amazon Prime Instant Video (Play Link: Free) If you are an Amazon Prime member, then there is no reason you should not already have Prime Instant Video installed. With the app, you can remotely access Amazon's massive library of films and TV shows, watchable instantly no matter where you are, as long as you have a data connection. The app took what feels like years to finally hit Google Play, so go take advantage of it. Usage of the app is free, as long as you have a Prime membership.

3. Horizon (Play Link: Free) Personally, and I mean this lightheartedly, anyone that shoots a video in portrait mode deserves a heavy slap on the wrist. It's a unspoken no-no. When uploading videos to the web that were taken in portrait mode, the watching experience is quite poor. But don't worry, an app called Horizon is here to fix that. If you have a habit of recording your videos in portrait mode, you can continue to do so, and Horizon will automatically crop them to landscape mode, just like magic. All you have to do is remember to shoot your videos using Horizon. The app is free to use on Google Play.

[responsive_vid]

4. reddit's Ask Me Anything (Play Link: Free) One of reddit's most popular features, called Ask me Anything or AMA for short, now has its very own application on Google Play. With an AMA, celebrities and other people of status go onto the service and answer questions that are submitted by users. Obama has done it and many company reps do it to answer questions about upcoming products. It is a great way to interact with people who would normally be quite hard to get a hold of. The app is completely free to use and downloadable right now through Google Play. 5. Noyze Volume Panel (Play Link: Free) For those who enjoy tweaking every little aspect of their devices, Noyze Volume Panel will give you complete control over the look of your phone's volume settings. With preinstalled themes, users can set different looks to the volume panel, complete with customized volume sliders and buttons. The app also allows you to purchase additional themes and customize them to however you see fit. If the look of your sliders is annoying or you just want to change them, the app is your golden opportunity. While it is free to download, the additional themes are through IAPs, but are never priced more than a dollar or two. Quite worth it if a change of scenery is what you need.

Top 5 Android Games: September 2014

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 13:32:51 +0000

September has come and gone this year, but to recap the month, there are a few great games that were published during those 30 days. Gameloft continued its streak of pumping out well-developed driving games, while indie developers gave us an indie smash hit focused on goats. In the list, which is not in any order of importance or awesomeness, we highlight five games that had the most impact on ourselves as Android gamers. We try not too give to much love to any one genre of game, so there is a racing game, two platformer games, an open world game, and a survival game. In this list, there is at least one title you should enjoy. Below is our list of the Top 5 Android Games for the month of September.

1. Asphalt Overdrive (Play Link: Free) Gameloft is back at it with the release of Asphalt Overdrive onto Android. In the game, which is set in a modern adaptation of the 80s, you race sexy import cars that were the cream of the crop back in the day, including the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa. Much like Gameloft's other racing titles, it won't be the most realistic game you have ever played, but at the speed you travel in the environments they set you in, you will come to find out that it is better off being a bit more cartoonish. The game is free to download through Google Play, but does feature IAPs for more cars to purchase in-game.

[responsive_vid]

2. Hellraid: The Escape (Play Link: $2.99) For lovers of games where you must work your way through countless challenges in order to escape an evil place, Hellraid: The Escape is the ultimate game for you. Set in an evil sorcerer's dungeon, you must fight your way through Hell, defeating demons, figuring out difficult puzzles, and trying not to lose your lunch over the horrible acts of torture you witness. The game is sort of dark, but for a few of you, that's probably a bonus. The app costs $2.99 in Google Play and features no in-app purchases or pay-to-win elements.

[responsive_vid vid_url="tvBZk9C1gfo"]

3. Oscura: Second Shadow (Play Link: $3.51 ) A sequel to the original Oscura which launched for Android years ago, the developers show their visionary growth in Oscura: Second Shadow. The game is a platformer, based on a rodent hero who must overcome the darkness in his land. While there are plenty of evil-looking baddies, you must make sure not to fight them, as any encounter will leave you dead. Instead, use your time-warping skills to out maneuver them, reaching the end of levels with as many light crystals as you can gather. The game costs $3.51 in Google Play, a good price for this well developed title.

[responsive_vid vid_url="Z1j7f9mhW-U"]

4. Goat Simulator (Play Link: $4.99) As a viral smash hit title, Goat Simulator puts you in the hooves of a crazy goat, bent on destroying the world. However, we aren't talking world domination here. Instead, we are talking about causing car accidents, blowing up houses and gas stations, while causing as much mayhem as possible with our eerily stretchable tongue. The game is a serious trip for animal lovers. Priced at $4.99, the game promises you hours of crazy antics while playing as an adorable goat.

[responsive_vid vid_url="dvWGLcdI8o8"]

5. Unmechanical (Play Link: $2.99) Another platformer to launch onto Google Play this past month is Unmechanical. In this title, you play as a little helicopter robot who must solve puzzles made from various machinery inside of a living world. You must collect certain pieces such as fuses, light sources, and gears to overcome the obstacles that await you. Set in a well-designed world coupled with cool music, Unmechanical is a great game for kids and adults. Priced at $2.99, you can't go wrong here.

[responsive_vid vid_url="CIisRBxwXak"]

SEGA Brings Hulkamania to Crazy Taxi City Rush, Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:30:13 +0000

An update has rolled out to Crazy Taxi City Rush on Google Play, which brings arguably the most iconic wrestling hero of all time to the game, Mr. Hulk Hogan. Starting today, users can hire Hulk to operate taxis, driving down the streets of cities, hoping to get passengers to their destinations in a timely manner. For the next month, the game will feature plenty of Hulk-related challenges, as well as additional Hulk inspired content, such as a Hulkamaniac Tank, Hulkster race car, and much more. To top it off, players that record and share in-game videos will be entered for a chance to win real Hulk Hogan autographed prizes. Now that could be awesome. Go check out the update, brother! Play Link

Report: Cyanogen Inc. Turns Down Acquisition Attempt by Google, Seeks $1 Billion Valuation

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:04:15 +0000

According to a report from The Information, Google's own Sundar Pichai, the overseer of all things Android and Chrome, met with Cyanogen Inc. executives recently, and was turned down after expressing interest in a complete acquisition. Ultimately, in theory, a buyout by Google would protect the company's control of the Android ecosystem, as Cyanogen's home-brewed version of Android is potentially the first real threat to ship on phones that Google has encountered. With this news, Cyanogen is now discussing a Series C round of funding with a few major tech firms and late-stage investors, seeking a valuation close to $1 billion. As many of you may know, Cyanogen is built from Android source code, with layers upon layers of custom code placed on top. These changes allow for users to highly customize the look and feel of the OS. For example, users running Cyanogen can place custom skins on the OS and also increase a device's security thanks to additional settings. There are countless developers that contribute their code to make Cyanogen a better alternative to vanilla Android, which is provided straight from Google as open source. Cyanogen has told potential investors that it has a deal in place to bring its custom version of the Android OS to India through a manufacturer called Micromax. Alongside Samsung, Micromax currently holds almost as much share of the smartphone market in India, making this deal a very large step to get Cyanogen into the hands of millions of more people. Lastly, the report claims that Cyanogen should be wary of modifying Android too much. During the process, the company must continue to follow Google's compatibility requirements which ensure third-party applications will work on their devices. If those requirements are not met, devices will not be licensed to run Google's services, such as Google Play and other Google applications. With Google approaching Cyanogen for a deal, and being turned down, we could be in for a big change to the company's approach to Android. Will Cyanogen continue on its path to only customize and distribute their version of Android, or will they look to make additional partnerships with various companies to completely rid Google from the picture - much like Amazon did with their forking of Android or Samsung has with Tizen. Share your thoughts below.

Via: The Information (Subscription)

Chrome Beta Play Listing Shows New Android L Status Icons, New Material Design Keyboard Skin

Kellen — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:08:44 +0000

An update was pushed to Chrome Beta on Android this morning, but the real story here might be the new screenshots that Google included alongside it. The screenshots are clearly taken from a tablet running Android L, only this build of Android L has some noticeable tweaks that we are not currently found in the Android L preview. If you look closely, you will see new status icons in the notification bar, one being the WiFi icon which lacks separators for WiFi signal and is instead just a solid indicator. The font also seems to have shrunken, something noted by Myce earlier in the week. Better yet, we are finally seeing the new grey/lighter skin for the Android L keyboard in the wild. Previously, we had only seen this new keyboard in Material Design mock-ups, but this appears to be a keyboard that is baked in and ready for action. On a related note, you will see matching screenshots in the Chrome Beta listing from a phone, but the phone is not running this newer build. See anything else that we are missing?

Play Link

Cheers blakjakdavy!

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Torn Down by iFixit, Contains Remnants of Waterproof Design

Kyle — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:00:30 +0000

What secrets lie sandwiched between the metal of Samsung's Galaxy Alpha? iFixit, having exhaustively documented its teardown of the so-called iPhone killer, can definitively tell us. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Alpha, there is not much more than meets the eye. The handset's straight lines and chamfered edges are polarizing, and its specs - a 720p display, 2GB of RAM, 12-megapixel camera, and 1860 mAh battery - are rather intriguing. Additionally, iFixit measured the Alpha 0.2 millimeters thinner than the iPhone 6, which I suppose is an accomplishment of some sort. The teardown crew found little of note, but did unexpectedly uncover hallmark signs of waterproofing. Despite a layered motherboard design and rubber gasket around the headphone jack, the Alpha is not water resistant - iFixit speculates Samsung encountered an engineering problem and decided not to pursue IP67 certification. A pity. In terms of "repairability," the Galaxy Alpha scored a 5 out of 10. Liberal amounts of adhesive and components concealed beneath the display could make fixes difficult, the team concluded. Rather than attempt a teardown ourselves, we will take their word for it.

Via: iFixit

Deal: The Ultimate Android Photography Kit, Complete With Tripod and Shutter Remote for $29

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 10:30:51 +0000

Folks who can't seem to stop snapping shots with their smartphones may benefit quite handsomely from a new deal that is taking place in the DL Deals Store. Today, you can order the Ultimate Android Photography Kit, which comes standard with a portable flexible tripod and Bluetooth-powered remote shutter button. While I admit the name of the deal comes off as rather ostentatious, priced at just $29, this is quite a steal for the included hardware. The tripod can be hooked up to almost any smartphone, which is then placable on virtually any surface thanks to its flexible legs. They can be wrapped around poles, stood straight up, or hung upside down for more intense photo shoots. As for the Bluetooth remote shutter button called Shuttie, it syncs to any Bluetooth capable device, allowing users to be far away from their phone and still snap pictures. The battery is listed as having 6 months of life, capable of working up to 30ft away from your device. Just think of the neat shots that are capable thanks to Shuttie. For more information on the deal, follow the link below. Deal Link

Video: iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy Alpha vs. Xperia Z3 Compact

Kellen — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 10:00:14 +0000

We are in the process of wrapping up final thoughts on the iPhone 6, but while it's still in hand and on our minds, we wanted to compare it to a couple of interesting Android devices that are doing the opposite of today's smartphone trend - going smaller. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Sony Xperia Z3 Compact carry flagship-level specs, but weigh in with smaller bodies and slightly lower-resolution displays, which just so happen to match up nicely to the new iPhone. Funny how Apple went bigger by using a 4.7-inch display, yet these Android phones are technically "small" with their 4.7-inch and 4.6-inch displays. In the video below, you will see how the size of the new iPhone compares to not only the Galaxy Alpha and Z3 Compact, but also to last year's Moto X, since it carries a 4.7-inch display as well. Apple's new iPhone is certainly considered by all to be a flagship-type device, but with similar specs in these Android phones, I get the feeling that most are struggling to consider them true flagships. It's an interesting area to examine. Standards set on each side of the table collide here. Feel free to take a look to see how the "small" high-end devices stack up to the "big" new iPhone 6.

[responsive_vid]

NVIDIA and Honda Debut Tegra-powered Android Infotainment System

Tim — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 09:19:54 +0000

NVIDIA and Honda announced a partnership this week, one which will have Tegra processors in 2015 models of Honda in Europe starting next year. To clarify, this is not Android Auto, which Google detailed at Google I/O this year, but is instead Honda's software technology powered by NVIDIA silicon. The Tegra processor will power an infotainment system which runs Android 4.0.4, complete with GPS, touchscreen with fingertip input, rear-view camera, the Honda App Center, in-car phone system, and much more. Think of it as a slightly dumbed down Android tablet that sits in your car's dash. With the Honda App Center, drivers can download and install a few of their favorite media apps for music or podcast listening. In addition, the home screen can be customized for a personalized driving experience. According to the press material, this system will be standard equipment on the new 2015 models of the Civic, Civic Tourer and CR-V available in Europe early next year.

Via: NVIDIA

Unlocking Xperia Z3 Compact Bootloader Worsens Low-Light Camera Performance, May Affect Other Apps

Kyle — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 08:45:34 +0000

The message from most smartphone manufacturers seems abundantly clear - bootloaders are better locked. Even OEMs which ship so-called developer devices seem to do all that they can to dissuade the average user from flashing unauthorized firmware, whether by posting scary disclaimers or disavowing all responsibility for damage. Sony, it seems, has adopted a far harsher tactic for those who bravely unlock the Xperia Z3 Compact's bootloader, which is to degrade the user experience. First noted by Google+ users and later confirmed by a Sony representative, the Z3 Compact uses proprietary, DRM-protected image processing which ceases to function once the bootloader has been unlocked. The result is inferior low-light camera performance. Worse still, a few XDA users are reporting that other preloaded apps and features, such as Bravia Engine, Miracast, MirrorLink, and Sony Entertainment Media, also become inoperable after unlock. Here is the statement from a Sony representative.

While the heavy-handed approach to bootloader unlocking is a cardinal development sin in and of itself, far worse is Sony's apparent failure to disclose it. Nowhere on the company's development website is it mentioned that unlocking the Xperia Z3 Compact's bootloader will adversely affect its usability. Obviously, Sony is setting a terrible precedent with the Xperia Z3 Compact. We can only hope developer pressure forces the company to reverse course sooner, rather than later.

Via: +Magnus Sandin | XDA

Android L for the Galaxy S5 Gets an 8-Minute Video Preview

Kellen — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 08:16:46 +0000

Curious as to how ~~ugly~~ interesting TouchWiz would make Google's Android L? We now know, thanks to an 8-minute video preview of Android L running on the Galaxy S5, courtesy of SamMobile. The video shows an early build running on the SM-G900F model of the GS5, filled with well, much of the same TouchWiz you already see on a daily basis. Samsung has taken on the new Android L lock screen, revamped the notification shade, and re-skinned a whole bunch of Samsung pre-loaded apps (and damn, there are a lot of them), but that seems to be about it. You will notice that their 1999-inspired icon theme, stock clock, and home screen layout have not changed. And look, it's not that Samsung needed to completely re-do all that it knows and has had success with, but couldn't we get a fresh start with Android L? Maybe we will in a stable release. The leaked build is not being made available as it is apparently too buggy and laggy for daily use. Wait, lag in TouchWiz? Never! Might as well just release it if lag is an issue - Galaxy owners know lag all too well with their stable Kit Kat builds. To see the Android L action, check out the video below, just make sure you put headphones on or click the "mute" button. Actually, just click "mute." Enjoy!

[responsive_vid]

Via: SamMobile

Google Play Newsstand Receives Shiny New Material Design Makeover (Updated: APK Available)

Kellen — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 07:50:18 +0000

Google Play Newsstand - not to be confused with the newly revamped Google News and Weather - received an update this morning (or will soon) that brings in a touch of Material Design, along with a new magazine reading experience. As a refresher, Newsstand is the app that combined Play Magazines and Currents into what should be the ultimate news consuming experience. The app originally showed off all sorts of new design highlights from the Android design team, but this new update takes it to another level. In this latest redesign, you will see Material Design at its finest. The transitions are buttery smooth, but also contain animations from panel to panel like the rippling effect that will be everywhere in Material Design. Imagery is bigger and more prominent, cards seem to float and create layers above other content, and touches almost feel as if they are doing more than just pressing a link. And by the way, I know all of this, because this redesign has been on iOS for weeks. Ugh. Edit: I lied. This isn't even close to being as nice as the iOS version. There are no ripples. There are no Material Design card and floating animations. It just has new, smoother transitions and bigger imagery. Ugh x2. The new magazine layout introduces a list of articles that you can easily toggle through, so your days of skimming through the full magazine to find something to read are over. The rollout should happen over the next week. Play Link Update: Here is the .apk if you want to sideload it. [Download Link] Cheers Chris!

Via: Official Android Blog

DROID MAXX Drops to "Free" at Verizon, Bring on the DROID Turbo

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:30:00 +0000

Real 2-day battery life can now be had at Verizon for free with a new 2-year contract, thanks to a price drop of the DROID MAXX. The phone was previously listed at around $50 on-contract, but with the DROID Turbo headed to Big Red in the very near future, it's probably time for them to blaze through remaining inventory. The DROID MAXX, for those who need a refresher, is a lot like last year's Moto X, which we dubbed "phone of the year." It's differences include massive 2-day battery life, a KEVLAR-style exterior, and capacitive navigation buttons. Other than that, the device uses all of the same features we love so much about the original Moto X, including Active Display and Touchless Control. If you don't need to have the newest of the new and want a solid phone that has battery life for days, this isn't a bad deal. The DROID MAXX also runs $499 off-contract.

Via: Verizon

Cheers @PittVigPTS!

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Unboxing (AT&T)

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 16:50:34 +0000

When Samsung first introduced the Galaxy Alpha back in August, we weren't exactly sure what to make of it. Was Samsung trying to take on the iPhone by using premium materials like metal? Was Samsung trying to set a new standard for their design going forward? Were they trying to enter Sony's "Compact" arena, where you have a smaller device that still packs mostly high-end specs? They may have been trying to do a little of all that. We have the newly announced AT&T variant in house for a bit, so as we tend to do with all devices that interest us, we have gone ahead and unboxed it on camera. After spending a few minutes of time with the Galaxy Alpha, it's easy to jump immediately to, "Wow, this is Samsung finest work yet." The size of the phone in hand, the use of metal in the frame, and the edge-to-edge display, all seem like they work perfectly together to make an amazing little phone. Of course "little" this phone is not, but when you compare it to the other flagship phones on the market, it certainly feels that way. The Galaxy Alpha still packs a 4.7-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, and a 12MP camera. Those, by today's standards, match up to the other flagships around, outside of the lowered resolution, unless you are comparing it to the iPhone 6 or Z3 Compact. This is an interesting little package, one that I wasn't expecting to like so much. We'll have more thoughts on the Galaxy Alpha over the coming days, but first, let's get this unboxing out of the way.

[responsive_vid]

Bulkypix Publishes Nimble Squiggles to Google Play, on Sale for $1.19

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:53:29 +0000

From the game studio Bulkypix, who are responsible for a ton of great games on Google Play such as Dead Effect and Type:Rider, comes a new title called Nimble Squiggles. In this game, you play as a glob of something-or-other, trying to escape a word of puzzles comprised of gears and twists. Using your finger, you swipe and guide your little characters to the end of each level, making sure they aren't destroyed on their way there. On your way to the end, you will come across labyrinths full of spikes, bombs, traps, and saw blades. The levels are quite deadly, so please proceed with caution. The game is available for a special launch price, listed at just $1.19. If you are interested, you might want to snatch it up before the price goes up. Play Link ($1.19)

[responsive_vid]

Deal: Pre-order Pocket-sized Karma Go LTE Hotspot for $99

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:15:41 +0000

For a limited time, folks who have been itching for a more portable data solution can pre-order the upcoming Karma Go LTE hotspot. Set to be priced at $150, but available for $99 through a pre-order promotion, Karma Go allows users to pay for the data they use, sort of like a pay-as-you-go hotspot plan. Users pay a set price per GB of data they consume, with the hotspot itself feeding off an available LTE connection in the area. Should LTE not be available at the moment, the system falls back to a 3G CDMA connection. For a more detailed look at where connectivity is offered, please see here. With the hotspot itself connected to a network, up to 8 devices can feed from its connection, allowing you and all of your friends to get in on the action. For example, if you take a few clients out to lunch, but also need to make sure all of you can stay connected to the outside world, just bring your Karma Go with you. After paying the $99 to pre-order, Karma Go has no subscription fees, no contracts, and no hidden fees. The company seems quite adamant on making sure customers are completely aware of what they are buying, not to blindside them with additional costs down the road of ownership. If you are interested, take a peek at a few of its features down below, followed by a link to buy one for yourself.

Features

Nationwide coverage – Connect anywhere in the US with LTE and a fallback to 3GCDMA
Ultra-fast LTE data – 6-8 Mbps downloads, with peaks up to 25 Mbps
WiFi to share – Connect up to 8 devices at once, and earn 100MB of free data when you share your connection with others.
Pay-as-you-go data – $9.90-$14/GB. No contracts. No subscriptions. No hidden fees.
Lightweight & Compact – At 2.6" wide, 2.6" high, 0.5" deep, and weighing in at 2.1 oz, Karma fits right into your pocket and is small enough to take with you everywhere you go.

Deal Link

[responsive_vid]

This is the Nexus 6 in Black and White (in renders).

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:47:58 +0000

Well, these images are creations that are based off of information we have received, just like every other "leak" you have seen over the last couple of weeks. With that said, we have confidence in presenting these in-house made renders of what we believe the Nexus 6, made by Motorola, will look like from the back in both white and black. You have seen front renderings a couple of times now, but nothing like this from the back. From what we know, there will be two color options initially, both white and black. And yes, the device will look exactly like the Moto X (2nd gen), only bigger. As can be seen in each image, the power and volume buttons have indeed been moved down the body ever-so-slightly, to make for easier use with the larger frame. You can also see that a vertically running "Nexus" logo will grace the back, just under the Motorola logo, something that was either hidden or not yet included in last week's showing of the device next to an LG G3. A report from last week that showed a similar mock-up was confused on the design of the back, and whether or not the Motorola dimple/logo would be present. While things can always change last minute, we are confident that the Motorola dimple/logo will be present, though its background could be a darker shade of grey depending on model. We don't currently have anything new to report on specs, other than we have heard similar details to previous reports. We also do not have any new launch details to share at this time. Thoughts?

Big props to Sir Dave Kover for the creations. Update: Tweaked title. Apologies, ~~stuffy~~ internet goers who have an insane addiction to all things Nexus 6, we weren't trying to clickbait you. Update 2: Here is a front render as well.

Eric Schmidt Says He Currently Uses the "Motorola RAZR X," What?

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:08:32 +0000

In an interview with The Canadian Press to promote his new book about Google and to announce a $1.5 million grant to Actua, Google's Eric Schmidt talked through a number of wide ranging topics. Of course, we tend to focus on the mobile or Android-related stuff that Big "E" mentions from time to time, something he graced us with yet again. The interviewer asked Schmidt what his current phone was because Canadians like to talk about Blackberry still, and Schmidt has been a fan of Blackberry for years. While Eric admitted that he still carries around a Blackberry, he noted that his current phone is the "Motorola Razr X." Umm, what? As you and I know, that phone doesn't exist. So, there are two ways we could take this - 1) Eric Schmidt just outed the name of a yet-to-be-released phone from Motorola or; 2) Someone in this conversation is confused. I would lean towards the latter. Motorola has already announced the new Moto X (2nd gen), a phone that happens to be a follow-up to the original Moto X, which was a phone that Eric Schmidt proudly showed off to the world before it was announced last year. He was also a big part of press day for last year's Moto X. The chances of Schmidt using the new Moto X are probably pretty high. Also, we know that the next phone coming from Motorola will be the DROID TURBO, followed by the Nexus 6. We know nothing of a phone called the "Razr X." Again, probably some confusion either on Schmidt's part as he continues on a never-ending book tour or by the interviewer who was probably taking notes on a Blackberry.

Via: Montreal Gazette

BREAKING: Verizon Cancels Plans for Network Optimization of Unlimited Data Users

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:59:46 +0000

That title says just about all you need to know. Verizon has informed us that they are canceling plans to move forward with Network Optimization of unlimited data customers. In other words, Verizon is not going to slow down the data connection of customers with unlimited data plans who fall in the top 5% of the carrier's data users. Instead, Verizon is going to focus on delivering exceptional mobile service to every customer, while continuing to work with industry players to make sure that you and I are receiving "world-class" mobile service. The statement Verizon provided to us can be read in full below.

Verizon is committed to providing its customers with an unparalleled mobile network experience. At a time of ever-increasing mobile broadband data usage, we not only take pride in the way we manage our network resources, but also take seriously our responsibility to deliver exceptional mobile service to every customer. We’ve greatly valued the ongoing dialogue over the past several months concerning network optimization and we’ve decided not to move forward with the planned implementation of network optimization for 4G LTE customers on unlimited plans. Exceptional network service will always be our priority and we remain committed to working closely with industry stakeholders to manage broadband issues so that American consumers get the world-class mobile service they expect and value.

Verizon originally planned to go live with Network Optimization starting today.

Well, that should bring some relief to a number of you.

Dropbox Finally Adds Support for SD Card File Transfers

Kyle — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:17:11 +0000

Despite Google's obstinacy on the matter, a whopping 63% of our readers made it clear in our July poll that they considered SD card support an important factor in deciding on smartphones. That's a pretty large number of people, one which Dropbox is apparently happy to accommodate. The company announced today an update that will bring an option to export files straight to SD cards. Migrating files to and from SD cards is as easy as tapping the "Quick Action" button, selecting "More," "Export," and then "Save to Device." If the SD card doesn't appear as a destination device, choosing the menu within the "Save to" screen, navigating to "Settings," and selecting the "Display advanced devices" option should fix things. As if it were not rather obvious, the Dropbox team points out that SD cards are ideal for offline use. Travelers who frequent locales without reliable or affordable connections could certainly benefit, as can those with restrictive data caps. The update is rolling out to the Play Store today. Beta testers can download it now. Play Link

Via: Dropbox

This is What a Whale Looks Like in Hand, Yes, the Nexus 6

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:49:13 +0000

Is that the Nexus 6 aka "Shamu" aka Willy-has-been-freed aka your-hand-needs-to-grow-in-the-next-month-if-you-like-Nexus-phones, in the wild? It could very well be. We see a similar form factor to the new Moto X, which the new Nexus is largely based off of. We see what appears to be an Android L "back" button. We have lowered volume and power buttons on the side. It looks huge (or does it?). Or maybe this person has small hands. You tell us.

Via: Android Police

New Games Added to Humble Bundle 8, Mikey Hooks, Zombie Gunship, and More

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:38:50 +0000

Only one week ago, Humble Bundle 8 was published to the web, and in true Humble fashion, more games have been added this morning. Humble Bundle 8 already featured a few awesome games, such as EPOCH 2, Doodle God, Doodle Devil, and Wave Wave, but for anyone who pays over the average price, more games are now yours. As for what games are new, Humble Bundle went in and added in the original EPOCH, Mikey Hooks, and Zombie Gunship. To access these games, folks only need to fork out $3.76. Not even $4 for all of these great games. Follow the link below to buy the games and help a few great causes. Humble Bundle Link

Wunderlist Gains Dropbox Integration, Attach Files to Your To-Do List

Kyle — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:00:50 +0000

Wunderlist, the great cross-platform note-taking app we have written about in the past, is gaining what every application in its category should - better cloud storage integration. Today, the team announced an updated version of Wunderlist with support for Dropbox. What sorts of features does the union of the two services enable? File attachment to agendas for one, plus easier ways to share Dropbox files within itemized lists. That is an appreciable improvement over the old system, which limited file pairing to fewer sources. In addition, full syncing capability has made the jump, meaning changes made to any document within Wunderlist will reflect immediately in Dropbox. Wunderlist with Dropbox is rolling out now on Android and the web. The iPad and iPhone app will see it within the next few days.

Via: Wunderlist

Android 4.4.4 (KTU84P) Factory Image Finally Available for Nexus 7 (2013) LTE

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 10:31:26 +0000

Android 4.4.4 (KTU84P) factory images were released for almost all current Nexus devices back in June, with the Nexus 7 (2013) "mobile" being the only device left out of the fun. Here we are three months later and the factory images and binaries have finally been posted for the device. Feel free to grab them at the link below.

Via: Google Developers

Hellraid: The Escape Lands on Google Play for $2.99

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 10:25:30 +0000

In a new game to hit Google Play called Hellraid: The Escape, you must escape the clutches of an evil sorcerer who is hellbent (pun intended) on sending you down to the most torturous layers of Hell. The game is an Escape game, where you must search through torture chambers to find items and clues, solve sadistic puzzles, and escape from being captured by Hell's many demons and guards. Hellraid utilizes Unreal Engine 3 technology, meaning graphics for the title are quite well detailed, with blood everywhere and extremely dark environments for you to explore. The game only costs $3 with the developer clearly stating in the app's description that there are no IAPs and no pay-to-win elements. That makes it worth the $3 right there. As a note, don't base your buying decision on the game's in-store rating. At first, a bug was preventing players from opening the game, but an update has been issued and the problem has been resolved. Expect its rating to reflect this issue for the time being until people change their ratings. Now, go escape from Hell. Play Link ($2.99)

[responsive_vid]

Verizon Joins the Party, Doubles Data on MORE Everything Plans Without Upping Prices

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 10:01:30 +0000

With almost every other major US carrier announcing some sort of double data promotion within the last month (Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile), we were starting to wonder if Verizon was going to completely ignore the trend and instead stick to their current set of MORE Everything plans that are really looking overpriced at the moment. It appears as if they are joining the party after all. In a blog post this morning, Verizon has announced that many of their MORE Everything plans are seeing double the data with no price hikes for a limited time. The list of data plan changes can be seen below, with most seeing double their current buckets. For example, the 20GB plan now has 40GB of data for $150, same as the 30GB, 40GB, and 50GB plans which are now 60GB ($225), 80GB ($300), and 100GB ($375), respectively. Plans not seeing a full double data match are the 12GB (jumping to 15GB) and 16GB plans (jumping to 30GB). The promotion kicks off tomorrow, October 2, and ends October 31. In other words, you have about a month to sign-up for the new plans if you want the extra data. Verizon doesn't mention an expiration on these new double data buckets, but I would imagine they are good for the life of a contract.

Via: Verizon

Does the Moto 360 Really Have Dramatically Better Battery Life Now? Yes.

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 09:38:21 +0000

On Monday morning, Moto 360 owners couldn't help but take to the internet to talk about the "dramatic" increases they were now seeing with their smartwatches thanks to an update that rolled out to the masses on Friday. Even Tim pinged me that morning to mention that the 360 was a "bossy little watch now" because of the battery life he had witnessed over the weekend. After posting about the potentially amazing news, our comments filled up with others who were experiencing similarly extended single-life charges. Some were even considering switching Ambient Mode back on. Seriously. With that thought in mind, we decided to test the Moto 360 for a couple of days with Ambient Mode on, because well, Ambient Mode is just that much cooler. While there isn't much of a reason to leave your watch's display on at all times other than to no longer have to rely on the watch recognizing that you want to see it with wrist movement, the thought of being able to run the watch with it's display on at all times and have it last a day, something that wasn't previously possible, is kind of exciting. So what did we find? In two days of testing with Ambient Mode turned "on," I was able to take my Moto 360 off the charger in the morning and carry on for a full 13 hours before it warned me about an impending battery death. And keep in mind that I was trying to use the 360 as much as possible, to really put it through its paces. I was pushing notifications left and right, responding to Hangouts messages with my voice every chance I could get, and making sure I looked at as many cards as possible before swiping them away. On day 2, I even put the 360 through a factory reset mid-day because I needed to attach it to a new phone. As you can see in the two photos below, which are both after around 13 hours of use, I still had enough juice left that I could have potentially gone for another hour or two. So we are talking 13-15 hours of use with Ambient Mode on after the update, whereas we were only seeing 10-12 before. Tim saw similar results in his tests. Over the weekend, with Ambient Mode still "off," he went two days without having to charge his Moto 360. On Monday night, with Ambient Mode "on," he ran his Moto 360 from 9AM to 11PM and had 5% battery remaining. While I haven't had a chance to test with Ambient Mode "off," many are reporting two-day battery life. Many. This update appears to be a massive success. Hopefully, you were able to get in on yesterday's Moto 360 re-stock.

Google Play Now Listing In-app Purchase Price Ranges and Developer Addresses

Tim — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:41:38 +0000

This week, users of Google Play will have new information to look over when browsing applications and games on Google's mobile marketplace. As readers are pointing out, Google has begun publishing in-app purchase price ranges in an app's description, as well as mandating that developers provide physical addresses to appear on app listings that feature a purchase price or IAPs. When these changes were being made, indie developers were not happy about the addition of their physical addresses hitting the web for all to see. Unlike big app development companies, many indie app makers work right out of their home, meaning people will be seeing their physical home address and not one which leads to a corporate office. If you could imagine, that is somewhat scary if you take into account how insane people get over their Candy Crush and Flappy Bird games. Unfortunately, reports claim that Google's move is in direct response to a court decision made in Europe that was put in place to protect mobile consumers who buy applications. In the court's eyes, developers need to be more accountable for the software they sell to users. However, Google has offered no official word or statement on why exactly these changes were placed in the developer console. There are countless threads on developer forums and reddit, hoping to find a loophole so developers will not need to post their home addresses, such as a PO Box or listing the post office as their physical address. As of right now, it appears no real fix has been found for the situation. Developers have 30 days to list a physical address before Google takes action on their account. Besides that depressing matter, Google is also listing in-app price ranges, detailing just how much you can spend inside of an application. To us, this is a great idea, just so users can see how ridiculous a few companies are with their IAPs. Please, no one should spend $99 on Candy Crush or $50 on Kitten Taxi. It's ridiculous to my eyes. Go donate to charity instead. Do you think Google should force developers to display their physical address? Does that seem fair?

HTC REcamera Stops by FCC With Bluetooth and WiFi

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:31:51 +0000

Next week, at a press event in NYC, HTC is going to announce the REcamera, a GoPro like camera companion for your smartphone that is waterproof and will probably be sold as the ultimate selfie machine, because companies are still clinging to the selfie craze. Don't believe me? Just look at the official images pulled from the REcamera's official launch website. The device, as is typically the case before any product gets announced, stopped by the FCC this week. As you can see in the image above, we have a tube-shaped device with FCC labeling on the bottom. The tube-shaped design matches up exactly to the official images we have already seen that show off a camera built from submarine parts (OK, I made that last part up). The FCC docs also confirm Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi (802.11b/g/n) on-board, so this little guy should have no problems pairing with your phone for instant sharing of those previously mentioned submarine selfies (quick, someone trademark that). Other than that, the filing mentions specifically that this is a "companion camera" under the brand name "RE." This is the REcamera.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Unboxing

Kellen — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:47:40 +0000

Sony may not have a presence at all in the US mobile market anymore, but within the last year, they really grabbed my attention thanks to their introduction of the Compact series. While other manufacturers continue to release flagship phones followed by mini, low-spec, just-because-it's-small-it-has-to-be-cheap, variations of those flagships, Sony is taking the opposite approach. They first introduced the Xperia Z1 Compact as the still-powerful-but-not-oversized version of the flagship, Xperia Z1, earlier in 2014. It was a solid little phone with high-end specs that I tested for a good month or so before moving onto the heavy-hitters released by Samsung and HTC for the year. But then just over a month ago, Sony came back with the Xperia Z3 Compact, the compact, yet equally as powerful and impressive version of their newest flagship, the Xperia Z3. Don't call it a "mini." This is by all means a flagship phone packed into the body of a much smaller device than we are used to seeing. As a fan of the original Compact, I couldn't help myself and picked up the new one too. Sony should be applauded for what they have done here. The Xperia Z3 Compact runs a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, has 2GB RAM, a 2,600mAh battery, 4.6-inch HD display (1280x720), 20.7MP camera, is waterproof and dust tight, and features Android 4.4.4 with Sony's skin atop. As far as the size goes, the phone is the exact same size as the original Xperia Z1 Compact, yet manages to be thinner, but with a bigger battery and display. It feels amazing in hand. I'm just getting started with the device, hence the unboxing below, but we will hopefully have much more on the Z3 Compact over the coming weeks. If you are like me and want a phone that isn't oversized yet still packs a punch and could go toe-to-toe with any phone, this might be the phone of your dreams. You just need to start lobbying Sony to get it here.

[responsive_vid]

Ping, From the Makers of Secret, is a Weird Aggregator App of Sorts

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:39:57 +0000

A new app called Ping from the makers of Secret has hit Google Play, but unlike Secret, I have yet to figure out its exact purpose. Ping is labeled as an aggregator of sorts. Upon opening, you select certain topics you want to be notified on. For example, there is "this day in history, tech talk, trending news, and daily fortune cookies." To say the app is minimal is an understatement. With nothing but a black background and grey text which lights to different colors as your scroll through, my assumption is that you will be pinged whenever a story hits the web about a topic you select. The developers don't offer any type of explanation in Google Play, so without using the app for too long myself, it is a bit hard to describe. It is free to download, thank goodness, so go check it out and see if you can fit another aggregator in your life. Maybe after a bit of time it will prove its worth to us. Ping has a YouTube video which we have thrown down below, but don't bother watching, it's 11 seconds of absolute nothing. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Reminder: Enter to Win Your Share of $1,000 in Google Play Credit

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:00:39 +0000

Today is the last day to enter for the chance to win your share of $1,000 in Google Play credit that is up for grabs through the Droid Life Deals store. To be more specific, one grand prize winner will receive $150 in gift cards, the runner-up gets $100, and 15 others will see $50 cards. Entering could not be more easy. Once logged in to the store itself, there are multiple options for you to choose from to enter. You can like us on Facebook, tweet about the giveaway, share it on G+, or any of the other choices listed. It's free Google Play credit, so why not? Details of the contest can be found below.

The $1000 Google Play Store Giveaway

It’s your time to access all that the Google Play Store has to offer! Now you can purchase any of the awesome games, apps, movies, music, books and devices you want with this incredible Google Play Giveaway. What You Win:

Grand Prize Winner Receives $150 Of Google Play Store Credit
Runner-up Receives $100 Of Google Play Store Credit
15 Other Winners Will Receive $50 Of Google Play Store Credit

Giveaway Details:

The Big Winner, Runner-up and 15 Others will be selected on 9/30/2014
The more you spread the word, the better the chance you’ll have of winning! #GPSGWIN
Be sure to register with a valid email address so we can contact you if you win
Limit one registration per person – registering more than one email address will result in disqualification from this giveaway

Enter the Contest

Deal: 3 Years of VPN Unlimited Premium for $19

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:37:36 +0000

Need an encrypted data connection for <-insert variety of reasons both questionable and legitimate->, be sure to check out the deal we have running in our Deals shop for VPN Unlimited. You can grab a 3-year premium plan for just $19, which is 70% off the suggested retail price. A VPN connection allows you to "unblock restricted web content, protect your WiFi connection on public networks, secure your online activity, and bypass some ISP restrictions, possibly even increasing your regular Internet speed." Below, you will find the full list of features:

Secure Public WiFi Connection – No matter where you are or what network you’re using, when you connect to VPN Unlimited server, your data and activities are 100% safe
Protect Online Activities – Hackers are no longer a problem because your internet activity and all data remains hidden and encrypted
Unlimited Traffic Bandwidth – VPN Unlimited doesn’t limit your traffic bandwidth, so there’s no need to worry about your data usage
Unlimited Connection Speed – VPN Unlimited provides you with a high-speed connection
Connect to Territory-Restricted Web Resources – Connect to a VPN Unlimited server in the country of your choice and get access to all local web sites, meaning you can be in China and access US websites no problem
Select the server in the country you want – VPN Unlimited provides a growing selection of servers in the most popular countries with the most demanded web resources
Prevent Interceptions of Data – Encrypts your data right on your electronic device, using the powerful encrypting algorithms
Access VPN Service From Any Device – Pay once and use VPN Unlimited on apps for iPhone, iPod and iPad as well as Macs, PCs, and even Linux

The VPN Unlimited Premium deal includes activation on 5 devices, which could be a combination of your computers and mobile devices. There is a companion app for Android or iOS, plus future updates to the service as well. Deal Link [FAQ]

This Galaxy Note Edge Infographic Attempts to Sell You on Its Slanted Gimmick

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:14:11 +0000

I think it's safe to say that Samsung created the Galaxy Note Edge so that they could stand in a demo room and go, "Check it out, we bent a smartphone display and it still works!" The problem with creating a "look what we did!" product, people like me (or any other skeptical tech fan) want to know what the point is. Samsung, in a massive infographic posted to their corporate blog, is trying to explain how an angled, secondary display could be useful. The infographic, which can be seen below, points out that the slanted display can be used to showcase frequently used apps that can be accessed from anywhere. You can also check notifications without being interrupted while you take in a flick or some other full-screen task, see ticker information for select apps (news, weather, sports, etc.), launch actions like the voice recorder or a timer, and even measure physical objects by telling the "edge" to become a ruler. Maybe more importantly, though, Samsung will let you doodle on the edge to help express yourself (not a joke, they think this is a reason to own the Edge). But is any of that useful enough that I would be willing to accept the awkwardness of holding a phone that has a slanted display on the edge that either my thumb or fingers would sit? Is any developer in their right mind ever going to actually create an app that can be used on a device with a slanted edge that is likely just a showcase for Samsung's bendable displays? Does having a slanted mini-display on a phone justify what could be an insanely large price, a price that is likely only attached to the device because it uses a tech that Samsung is dying to find an actual use for (remember the Galaxy Round?)? I don't think so. But hey, this is a nice infographic. OK, that's a lie, this infographic could have been reduced by 50% if its creator took out all that unused black space.

Via: Samsung Tomorrow

Nokia's HERE Maps Application Leaked Online

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 13:56:57 +0000

Is Google Maps just not cutting it for you anymore? Well, no worries, because a very unlikely company is here to try and help, that being Nokia. The company's proprietary map application, called HERE, has leaked onto the web, working perfectly for any Android device running Android 4.0+, as long as its not Samsung hardware. The app features a fantastic offline mode (I would say even better than Google's), downloadable maps to store onto your device, turn-by-turn navigation, 3D mapping of cities, plus a whole lot more. One very nifty feature is a "Speed limit warning," which will go off if you happen to be breaking the road's posted speed limit. Who knows, you might just have to send a letter to Nokia thanking them for saving you from a speeding ticket sometime. The app is currently labeled as a Beta, but from what I can tell on my LG G3, it works quite flawlessly. To install, simply download from the link below, choose whether or not to login to a Nokia HERE account, and then start mapping. Download Link

Via: Android Police | El Androide Libre

Tuesday Poll: SMS in Hangouts or Separate SMS App?

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:50:45 +0000

Google introduced SMS to Hangouts back in November of last year, a move that seemed to pave the way for users to be able to specify a default SMS app in Android 4.4 and give us the option to use a single app for all messaging. For someone like me, who rarely sends text messages because I have fully adopted Hangouts messaging instead, the integration of SMS into Hangouts has been beyond helpful. Gone are the days that I need to manage conversations in multiple apps. I can now carry on the few text message (SMS) conversations I have going in Hangouts, right next to my Hangouts conversations. But after talking with friends and family who were somewhat forced into using Hangouts as their default SMS over the last year, whether that happened through an update or as an out-of-the-box experience, I get the feeling that not everyone is excited as I am about the integration. For example, a friend of my wife's missed a half-dozen Hangouts messages that my wife sent her the other day because she said she "didn't like Hangouts and turned it off." Why that is, I do not know. But she isn't the only one. So I'm curious - are you using Hangouts as your all-in-one messaging platform with SMS integration or are you using a separate SMS app? If you are using a separate SMS app, which one and why? [poll id="332"]

Google Announces Drive for Education, Truly Unlimited Storage and More

Kyle — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:08:40 +0000

Google, facing mounting pressure from Dropbox, Microsoft, and Apple, is seeking ways to make its cloud storage solutions more appealing. The search giant focused on enterprise needs earlier this year, but pivoted its attention today towards students with the announcement of Drive for Education. Billed as a "free bookbag for the 21st century," Drive for Education features a truly unlimited amount of storage. Yep, you read that right - unlimited storage. Plus, individual files up to 5TB in size are supported, which should make transferring centillion-page term papers a breeze. Enhanced auditing with file activity tracking is also coming, plus Google Apps Vault, a tool that facilitates compliance with any data retention laws that might apply to public institutions. Google says all Google Apps for Education customers can expect the enhancements "soon." No ETA more specific than that, unfortunately.

Via: Google for Work

Moto 360 in Both Black or Stone In-Stock Through Motorola's Store

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:16:16 +0000

The Moto 360 is back in-stock through Motorola's store in either black or stone. We don't know for how long (limited quantities available again), so if you are at all interested, act fast. As a reminder, the latest update appears to dramatically increase battery life, in case that was one of your concerns. We will have more to report on that tomorrow, but after a full day of testing, we would tend to agree that it does help. Our Moto 360 review is also available should you need further convincing. Motorola Link

SHIELD Tablet Receiving Update, Features Improved Touch Performance and Enhanced SHIELD Hub

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:05:37 +0000

Hot on the heels of the LTE variant's availability this morning, NVIDIA announced a new update for SHIELD Tablet owners, one which brings an enhanced SHIELD Hub feature, improved touch performance, and a new Network Test capability. In addition, users have access to a customizable "My Android Game" and "My Media Apps" section, as well as the ability to share News items from within the SHIELD app. If you own a SHIELD Tablet, you should see the update hit your device soon.

What's New

Enhanced SHIELD Hub Features
Network Test capability
User Customizable ‘My Android Games’ and ‘My Media Apps’
Share ‘News’ items, swipe between articles
Improved Touch Performance
Misc. Stability and Localization Improvements

Via: NVIDIA

Pebble Price Cut to $99 and Steel to $199, Activity and Sleep Tracking Added

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:49:37 +0000

Pebble announced big news today, starting with the lowering of prices for its devices, bringing the original Pebble to just $99, with Pebble Steel now at $199. In addition to lowering prices, Pebble also announced the addition of two new features, activity and sleep tracking. With new apps from companies such as Jawbone, Misfit, and Swim.com, users can now track specific activities they partake in, leading to a healthier you. On top of that, Pebble has added in interface tweaks to make accessing certain features easier. With Quick Launch, users can set shortcuts from a watch face to access apps more quickly. Over time, you should notice yourself navigating throughout your smartwatch a bit quicker. Full firmware changelog is listed below.

What's New

NEW: Activity. Activity tracking apps (e.g. Jawbone, Misfit, Swim.com) for Pebble now work seamlessly in the background. View installed Activity apps and toggle preferences in the Pebble Settings menu. An Activity icon is visible within Pebble menus when a compatible app is installed and running.
NEW: Quick Launch. Set shortcuts from a watchface to your favorite Pebble apps with a long press of the Up or Down buttons. Enable Quick Launch and set app shortcuts in the Pebble Settings menu.
Battery icon is now persistent within Pebble menus.
Select button once again dismisses notifications when paired with an Android device or iOS device on iOS 7 or lower. iOS 8 users get notificaion dismissal for both Pebble and the paired device when pressing Select.
Bug fixes and improvements.

Play Link

Via: Pebble

LG G3 Launching on US Cellular in October

Kyle — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:46:05 +0000

The DL staff concurs that the LG G3 is one of the best, if not the best, Android phones on the market, so any news that more people will have the option to buy one is good news. Today, U.S. Cellular announced that the handset will launch on its network in October. The LG G3 will be available in U.S. Cellular stores and online. Qualifying Shared Connect subscribers will be able to purchase it $0 down on a 24-month payment plan. If you are looking to upgrade, and U.S. Cellular is a must, then the LG G3 is a logical choice. Devices worth waiting for, like the Xperia Z3 and Nexus 6, might not make it to the carrier right away. That should not bother you, though. The G3's stunning display, tasteful UI, and outstanding camera should keep any device envy at bay for a good long while.

U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHING LG G3

Stunningly Powerful 5.5-inch Quad HD Display Smartphone - Available Next Month from U.S. Cellular
CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2014) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and LG Electronics have announced that the 4G LTE™ LG G3 smartphone will be available in stores and online starting in October. The LG G3 is the first Quad HD smartphone available for purchase in the United States and is widely recognized as one of the year’s best smartphones. Qualified customers will be able to add it to their Shared Connect plan and get it for $0 down using U.S. Cellular’s equipment installment option. Customers who purchase the LG G3 from U.S. Cellular receive a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty and a network that covers them wherever they want to go. Currently 90 percent of U.S. Cellular customers are covered by a 4G LTE network, and more than 93 percent of customers will have 4G LTE speeds by the end of 2014. “We are excited for our customers to get the LG G3 experience and see how its features can simplify and enhance their lives,” said Joe Settimi, vice president of products, pricing and innovation for U.S. Cellular. “Whether you are taking high-quality pictures of your kids, using multiple applications to get your work done or simply browsing the web, the LG G3 on our best-in-class network is a powerful smartphone that keeps you organized and more productive.” The LG G3 raised the bar in the flagship smartphone category with the first 5.5" Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display available in the U.S. That, powered with a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 801 Quad-Core Processor, transforms the smartphone visual experience with clearer resolution than most televisions, bringing photos, videos and games to life. Plus, downloading videos, music, apps and documents is blazing fast over a 4G LTE network. The 13 megapixel rear camera with Laser Auto Focus takes fast action photos even in low light. The Gesture Shutter feature on the 2.1 front-facing camera allows for better selfies and group photos by letting people start a 3-second countdown by simply raising their hand and making a fist. These photos and videos can be stored on 32 GB of internal memory (up to 24GB usable), or through a microSD slot that supports cards up to 2TB. “Touted as one of the best phones of 2014, the LG G3 on a 4G LTE[1] network brings speed, power and performance to U.S. Cellular customers looking for a superior smartphone experience,” said Morris Lee, senior vice president and head of North American sales and marketing, LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A Inc. With U.S. Cellular’s $0 down equipment installment option (for qualified customers), customers pay tax on the LG G3 at the point of sale, and then make 24 monthly payments that are conveniently added to their wireless bill. Customers can upgrade this device in as little as 12 months if they trade it in for an updated model, and they can also choose to pay off the full balance of their device anytime they want. New Equipment Installment Contract, Shared Connect Plan and credit approval required. Financing terms are zero down, zero APR; 24 monthly payments. 4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. See uscellular.com for details. About U.S. Cellular U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed network. Currently, nearly 90 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds, and more than 93 percent will have access by the end of 2014. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp. About LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc. LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the U.S. sales subsidiary of LG Electronics USA Inc., a global innovator and trend leader in the global mobile communications industry. LG is driving the evolution of mobile forward with its highly competitive core technologies in the areas of display, battery and camera optics and strategic partnerships with noted industry leaders. LG’s consumer-centric products ― including the flagship premium G Series models ― incorporate unique, ergonomic designs and intuitive UX features that enhance the user experience. The company remains committed to leading consumers into the era of convergence, maximizing inter-device connectivity between smartphones, tablets and a wide range of home and portable electronics products. For more information, please visit www.LG.com.

Deal: 2 Free Months of Hulu Plus With the Purchase of a Chromecast

Kyle — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 09:12:51 +0000

Beginning October 1, running through the end of the year, purchasers of Chromecast dongles can get two free months of Hulu Plus. That represents a savings of about $16. Deals aside, Google's venerable streaming dongle continues to impress as more and more apps add casting capabilities. A couple of notable holdouts gained support a few weeks ago and the Slingbox app added it recently, too. Future additions are essentially a guarantee as Google continues to support developers who wish to add Chromecast support. In my humble opinion, there is not a set-top device on the market with more developer interest than Chromecast right now. That alone should justify the $35 asking price. Promotions like these are just icing on the cake. The deal will go live tomorrow. Chromecast Link

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet 32GB + LTE Now Available for Purchase, Priced at $399

Tim — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:34:50 +0000

Starting today, folks can head on over to NVIDIA's website and purchase a SHIELD Tablet (review here)with 4G LTE for $399. Previously, the WiFi-only model was available for purchase with 16GB, but the newest variant features a bit more storage with 32GB, plus the added connectivity. The device is certified to run on AT&T's LTE network, but it is unlocked, meaning it will work on more than 70 carriers worldwide. The device features an 8" 1080p display, Tegra K1 processor, 2GB of RAM, stylus, access to GRID Beta (gaming platform), 5MP front and rear-facing cameras, and runs Android 4.4+. After having the SHIELD Tablet and SHIELD Controller over this period of time, I still use the device everyday as my nightstand tablet. About twice a week, I use it in Console Mode and hook it up via HDMI to my HDTV in the living room and game using GRID Beta. For the price, it comes with exceptional versatility, so I still recommend the device. You can buy one or do more research by following the link below. NVIDIA Store Link

Moto X "Pure Edition" to Gain Additional LTE Band Support in Update

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:25:44 +0000

Shortly after Motorola made the new Moto X (2nd gen) official, along with the "Pure Edition," we posted up the full list of specs for the device, including supported LTE bands. At the time, Motorola grouped together the XT1095 and XT1097 on their own specs page, which are the model numbers for the AT&T and "Pure Edition" GSM Unlocked units, respectively. They showed that each device would support LTE bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 17, and 29, which is awesome news for those who were already eyeing the "Pure Edition." Since the "Pure Edition" offers the best Moto X experience, with no bloatware or carrier branding, but will also receive updates the quickest of any model, this is surely the phone to consider if you don't mind paying the full $499 off-contract price. And then a couple of days after posting those official specs, Motorola switched things up on an LTE band front. On their official specs page, they separated the XT1095 and XT1097, while also reducing the supported bands on the XT1097, which is the "Pure Edition." If you cruise over to that page now, you will see that Motorola lists only LTE bands 2, 4 and 17 as being supported by the "Pure Edition." Potential buyers of the "Pure Edition" weren't excited by the move, as you can imagine, taking to Motorola's forums looking for answers. A potentially positive answer was given this morning by Moto's forums manager, who said that they are now "planning to enable bands 3, 5, and 7" on the device via a software update. While he couldn't confirm timing, that certainly sounds like the decision has already been made to do the right thing. So, if you were considering the "Pure Edition" or already bought one, know that your device will gain additional LTE band support in the future.

Via: Motorola Forums

Cheers Patrick!

Pushbullet Introduces Channels, Automatic Alerts Across Devices From Your Favorite Things

Kellen — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 07:36:43 +0000

Our friends over at Pushbullet released yet another new and amazing feature this morning for their cross-platform notification/sharing/do-all-the-things service, called Channels. You could think of Channels a bit like IFTTT's automation, in that they help to automatically alert you to things you care the most about, across all of your devices, at the same time. Channels are subscribe-able notification feeds that channel owners can push alerts through. Make sense? For example, you could subscribe to the Droid Life news channel, to receive alerts on your devices the minute a new story goes live. Or maybe you just want to be alerted to new Droid Life reviews or video uploads - those could be individual channels to subscribe to as well. You can even create your own Channels through the Pushbullet site. Channels are awesome through Pushbullet because if you receive alerts through a subscribed channel, you will see the alert on all devices. But then once you check that alert on one device, it will disappear on the others since you have already checked it. Remember, Pushbullet syncs across multiple devices. You can check out Pushbullet Channels here. To create your own, head over to the Pushbullet site, login, tap on your profile icon (top right), and then select "My Channels." Here are some DL Channels to get you started:

Via: Pushbullet

Project Ara to Run Modified Android L, Will Feature Hot Swappable Modules

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 16:28:49 +0000

With commercial availability of Project Ara slated for early 2015, more information has gone public this week through Phonebloks, a bit of which may be very exciting for fans who have been following along with the platform's development news and were curious about swapping modules in and out. If under a rock is where you have been making your bed for the past year, know that Project Ara is Google's (and a team of other companies) platform to bring a modular smartphone to market. In essence, it is a smartphone comprised of swappable parts, made from various companies who specialize in their particular fields of technology. Paul Eremenko, a lead at Project Ara, states that many pieces of the device, besides the CPU and display, will be hot swappable. This means that users will be able to pick and choose which parts they want on their phone, swapping them out, even while the phone is running; no reboot necessary. No specifics were given in terms of which exact modules will be hot swappable, but our guess would be for camera, speakers, and maybe a few other non-essential hardware peripherals. In addition, it is stated that Project Ara will run a modified build of Android L, made in collaboration with Linaro. Linaro likely sounds familiar, since they made huge waves back in 2012 when it was shown that with their tweaks, they could boost Android OS performance by 100%. The second Ara developers conference is set to take place in December, so keep your eyes peeled for a lot more Project Ara news in the coming months.

Via: PhoneBloks

Cosmos Browser Launches Onto Google Play, Browse the Web With Zero Data Connection

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:47:38 +0000

In a bind? Need access to a certain website, but have no mobile data? Usually, this would be a major issue, but now with a new app called Cosmos Browser, as long as you can send and receive a text message, you can browse the web. Well, let me reiterate - you can browse a very limited version of the web. Before I go on, let me make clear that this app is still in the early stages of development, and your experience might differ than what is expected. If you come across a bug, report it to the developer. Upon installing Cosmos, users open the application, then type in a valid URL for a website. At that time, a text is sent from your device to a remote server, which packages the website into an openable zip file that is then delivered back to you on your phone via a text message. After that process is complete, the Cosmos intercepts the incoming message, unpackages the website, then displays it for your viewing pleasure. Not that the page looks all that pleasurable when compared to what we are used to seeing, but if for some reason you really need to see a web page, this is an option for you. The app and service is completely free to use, and as stated, it is an early beta. Expect things to break. However, this app is a great proof of concept, and we recommend you check it out, if not to just bug test it for the developer. Play Link

Puntastic Galaxy Note 4 Promo Noteo Published by Samsung

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:00:49 +0000

A new video from Samsung is here to highlight the Galaxy Note 4, without actually highlighting the phone whatsoever. In the video, named Note Pun Intended, two best friends and one of their girlfriends attempt to twist everything they say to include a Note pun. At first, the girlfriend thinks the game is stupid, as is customary for girlfriends to think. Then, after what seems like months, she catches on and becomes the master of puns. Also included is a bit of fantastic dialogue between the two roommates and a bartender/barista, one roommate landing a hottie at a bar using Note puns, and plenty of smack talking on the basketball court. At first the video is somewhat enjoyable, then mildly painful, then back to being funny near the end. The video is below for your viewing pleasure.

[responsive_vid]

Verizon Unlimited Data Customers, You Have One Day Left Before Throttling Begins

Kellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:25:50 +0000

After tomorrow, if you are a Verizon customer with unlimited data and an LTE phone, you could be throttled. Starting October 1, Verizon could slow your data speeds to help relieve strain on a cell site, assuming you tick the boxes on a set of pre-determined criteria from their updated Network Optimization policy. This policy used to cover unlimited data users on 3G-only phones, but moves into LTE territory for the first time next month, because you have "no incentive" not to try and destroy all Verizon cell sites. So how do you know if you qualify for throttling? Well, you have to meet all of the criteria listed below while attempting to use data on a congested or under "heavy demand" cell site. Just to be clear, throttling shouldn't happen once you leave the cell site that is under stress, but could pick back up again if you were to attach to another congested cell site for up to two billing cycles. This is how you qualify for Network Optimization:

Top 5% of data users (you use 4.7GB of data per month or more)
Enrolled on an unlimited data plan or feature
Have fulfilled your minimum contract term
Are attempting to use data on a cell site that is experiencing high demand

I should point out that if you are on a MORE Everything plan (tiered or shared data plan), you will never be throttled, even if you use more data than an unlimited customer and are on a congested cell site. Seriously, you could be a 20GB MORE Everything plan owner and use that 20GB every single month, yet still never see slower speeds like an unlimited data customer who uses 4.8GB of data per month. Verizon likes it that you pay more for data and aren't some freeloading unlimited outcast who poses a massive, hypothetical threat to their network, so they will give you a pass (last part might have been slightly exaggerated). Again, the new Network Optimization policy goes into effect on October 1. You can read our exclusive report on the new Network Optimization policy here. Verizon's official info is here.

Google Broadens Rollout of Fullscreen Ads for In-App Advertising

Kyle — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:31:24 +0000

While any form of in-app advertising is annoying to a degree, the economic realities of mobile development basically necessitate it. That is fine, and I have no trouble supporting a reputable developer's livelihood by putting up with a unobtrusive banner ad, but a few of the new ad units Google revealed today might be a bit harder to stomach. The worst of the ad types is an interstitial which takes up your smartphone's entire display. Previously limited to games and the official YouTube app, Google's TrueView unit lets advertisers feature (thankfully skippable) video content. It will soon roll out to all apps that are a part of AdMob, Google's mobile ad network. Less egregious additions to marketers' arsenal are the mobile lightbox engagement ad, which can contain expandable videos, slideshows, maps, and Anchor, which is a banner ad that persists at the bottom of your screen as you scroll. Neither default to a full screen view. While certain apps lend themselves better to formats like TrueView and Anchor than others, there comes a point when you would happily pay to remove them. I think options for donation at least give altruistic users who cannot stand advertisements the opportunity to support developers they appreciate, rather than simply disable the ads with blocking tools.

Via: Advertising Age

Deal: Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 16GB for $379.99

Kyle — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:00:20 +0000

If you do not anticipate a certain 9-inch tablet will suit your fancy, you could do worse than Samsung's Galaxy Tab S 10.5. Normally priced a bit above most Android tablets, a refurbished 16GB in Titanium Bronze model is on sale at eBay for $379.99, or 30% off retail ($549.99). The specs are respectable. The Tab S 10.5" sports a 2560 x 1600 Super AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Octa 5420 processor, 3GB of RAM, stereo speakers, an 8MP rear-facing camera, 2.1MP front-facing camera, and a microSD slot. It is powered by a 7900 mAh non-removable battery, which Samsung rates up to 9 hours of use. If you are in the market for a larger tablet, and are not averse to factory reconditioned electronics, the deal is a good one. eBay Link

Google Divulges Android Auto Info, Developers Restricted to Prebuilt Interfaces

Kyle — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:35:01 +0000

We have not heard much about Android Auto, Google's first big foray into in-vehicle software, since Google I/O this past June. During the keynote, Google demonstrated what Auto could do - make using your smartphone safer with a dashboard designed around glanceable information, voice commands, and simple gestures. Today, Google divulged a bit more about what users and developers can expect when the Android Auto SDK lands sometime this fall. Like Android Wear, Android Auto is essentially a spiffed-up remote control for your smartphone. Acting as a "dumb" terminal, Auto simply routes data and graphics such as music playback controls, notifications, navigation, and Google Now cards from and to your handset. Apps coded to take advantage will, in lieu of voice, be selectable from a scrollable list.

In the interest of safety, Google is working on Auto with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and implementing features like "night mode" to reduce the potential for distraction. In addition, Auto's development environment is quite restrictive; design can only be done within the confines of pre-installed software like the media app. Even voice actions are predefined and apps can only tap into existing commands, not add new ones themselves. Of course, Google only revealed a snippet of the Auto experience this week. We are expecting many more details once the development tools ship in a few months' time.

Via: Android Auto | ArsTechnica

IMAGE

Brain Wars Available on Google Play, Rank Your Brain Power Alongside Friends

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:03:41 +0000

A game called Brain Wars is available in Google Play this week, one which will pit you against friends and strangers across the world. The game is based on quick brain challenges, sectioned into different categories, such as memory, speed, calculation, and observation. The overall point is to see just which categories your brain reigns triumphant. In each round, there are three challenges. Whoever scores the highest on each challenge after the three games wins. Afterwards, the game calculates your score, then displays a graph of your strengths and weaknesses. There is a rating system built into the game, which makes sure you only play people who are on your same rank. I will say, much like QuizUp, I do not take loss very well. After a couple of games, where I was still trying to figure out how to play the various puzzles, I was on a losing streak. While it did not do very well for my self confidence, the game also allows you to practice and train before you take on real opponents. To help give you a slight advantage by not going in blind, I recommend the training. The game is free to play, so if you are up for a brain challenge, go check it out. Play Link

Streamable Adobe Photoshop Arrives for Chromebooks

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:38:59 +0000

Chromebook users now have a new program to play with, one with quite a prestige, Adobe Photoshop. Google announced a partnership with Adobe this morning, which will bring the photo editing software to Chrome OS users who currently hold a Creative Cloud membership. The software is streamed via a data connection to Chrome OS, allowing a user's work to be synced directly to Adobe's cloud for access remotely or at your desktop. Access is quite limited to begin with, with the software only being available to U.S.-based Adobe education customers with a paid Creative Cloud membership. Over time, access will be opened to additional customers. Looking forward to using this?

Via: Google Chrome

Motorola Quickly Sells Out of Verizon Moto X on Moto Maker (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:17:02 +0000

Shortly after the new Moto X (2nd gen) went on sale for Verizon customers through Moto Maker, readers of ours were quick to point out that the 32GB option was gone within a few minutes. Now that the weekend is over with, it appears as if Motorola is completely sold out of all Verizon variants through their customization site. If you wanted to buy a Moto X for Verizon and customize it through Moto Maker, you can no longer do so. The site only mentions that "Verizon Moto X phones are currently out of stock" and that you can sign-up for updates on future availability. They gave no dates or time estimates. You can still purchase the Moto X directly from Verizon, but Big Red currently only sells the Black plastic or Bamboo variants - there is no customization involved. The AT&T model is still in stock with either 16GB or 32GB of storage, even after being made available for pre-order weeks ago. I don't know that anyone should look at this situation as if Motorola sold millions of phones in a weekend. I think we are probably looking at Motorola only having a conservative amount of inventory available. While I would love to see the Moto X become a success for Motorola in the way that the Moto G and E have, we have a ways to go to get there. Update: Annnnnnd, now Verizon models are all back in stock. Maybe it was just a glitch? It sure didn't seem like, but hey, order all the custom Verizon Moto Xs you need!

Via: Motorola

Cheers David!

OnePlus Confirms Next Smartphone Coming "Q2 or Q3" of 2015

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 09:45:32 +0000

During an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on reddit, two staffers from OnePlus have confirmed that the next rendition of the One, the OnePlus Two, "should" launch in either Q2 or Q3 of 2015. Not only did the staff discuss a release time frame, but they even gave an extremely brief glimpse into the thought process of the upcoming phone's design. Led off by a redditor's claim that many users find the One too large, OnePlus was asked if they were going to launch a smaller device. The staffer's reply may make a few of you quite happy.

We've seen a lot of people asking for a smaller device, and want to let everyone know that we hear you. We're thinking about it.

In addition to possible design and a release time frame, OnePlus gave insight into upcoming OTAs, talked about hopes for better customer service, and stated they are currently testing products in other categories besides phones, such as tablets and smartwatches. To see if your questions have already been answered, check the AMA thread via the link below.

Via: reddit

Sony Posts Two Marketing Videos for Xperia Z3, Highlights Photography

Tim — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 08:50:33 +0000

Two promotional videos were published by Sony this morning, showcasing the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. The videos speak highly of the phones' rear-facing camera, claiming each is a smartphone that is serious about photography. The commercials are quite cool, too. In the night, they lit up a few snowboarders and had them cruise down the hill, while a man snapped photos with the phone. It probably won't be the type of scenery you photograph when the Xperia Z3 lands in the States, but again, it does look very nice. Both videos are watchable below. If you were wondering, the song used in these spots is called Nightcall, performed by London Grammar. If it sounds familiar to you, that might be because the original song by Kavinsky is played in the opening scene of Drive. A Smartphone Serious About Photography

[responsive_vid]

Gliding Lights

[responsive_vid vid_url="31kVmY3PcRY"]

Via: Sony

DROID TURBO Stops by GFXBench - Shows 5.2-inch QHD Display, 20MP Camera, Snapdragon 805, 3GB RAM

Kellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 08:08:07 +0000

It is starting to feel like Motorola and Verizon are on the verge of announcing the DROID TURBO at any moment. After last week's leak of the back panel, a stop off at the FCC, and sources of ours becoming increasingly familiar with the device, we now have a benchmark through GFXBench that lists out a set of specs that have regularly been associated with the next DROID. In short, it sounds like a beast. According to a GFXBench listing, we are looking at a phone with a 5.2-inch QHD (2560x1440) display, 2.65GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, Adreno 420 GPU, 3GB RAM, 20~MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and Android 4.4.4. The device will also likely carry 32GB of storage out of the box, though the device benchmarked here had around 21GB available. Thanks to info that we found in the phone's FCC listing, it should also sport a DROID MAXX-like battery, support Motorola's Turbo Charger, and maybe even wireless charging. The phone will be slightly bigger than the new Moto X, partly because of its bigger battery, but also because it will have capacitive navigation buttons. If you love the look of KEVLAR patterns on the back of a phone, this might be the phone to consider as we close in on the end of 2014.

Via: GFXBench

Cheers Justin!

Moto 360 Update Said to "Dramatically" Increase Battery Life

Kellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 07:39:32 +0000

Last week, Motorola began rolling out a software update to the Moto 360 as build 1.0.1.1448224, an update that was officially listed as nothing more than a Bluetooth connectivity fixer and bug squasher. But now that the update has been on devices in the wild for a full weekend, are we starting to learn that this may have been much more than just a connectivity improver and bug blaster? It could be a battery saver or optimizer too. Maybe better put, this could be a reason to consider buying one if you had concerns previously about battery life. According to a rolling, weekend-long thread over at reddit that is filled with first-hand accounts of newly lengthened battery life post update, some are seeing as much as 30% extra battery life at the end of a day compared to what they were averaging pre-update. The thread's creator claims that he was left with 70% battery after using the device for 14 hours, which normally would have left him around 40%. Another started a day with 88% and still had 30% left in the tank when their 360 went back on the charger at night. Some are even considering giving Ambient Mode another run. Here is maybe the strongest quote of them all:

I can attest, I've never seen a software update improve battery life this much before, it's incredible. Not only that but any bit of stutter/lag was also fixed along with connectivity issues.

We aren't sure what Motorola did, but this could be a much bigger update (or at least more important) than they are letting on. We will begin our testing of the new update today and will hopefully report back within the next couple of days. Yes, that will include a day with Ambient Mode on. Others with a Moto 360, how has battery life been since the update?

Via: reddit

Cheers Jigga_Z and DBenson!

AT&T Offers Double Data on Plans From 15GB to 50GB for Same Price

Kellen — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 07:06:15 +0000

AT&T, essentially admitting that the insanely high prices that carriers have been charging you for tiered data over the last couples of years was highway robbery, is now offering double the data on its plans that range from 15GB to 50GB for the same price...for life. That's right, if you pay for a 15GB plan, you can now get 30GB of data for the exact same price for as long as you want - there is no expiration. Same thing goes for 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, and 50GB plans; all have been doubled without a price adjustment. For $130 per month (plus the line access charges), you can have 30GB of data to gobble up per month on up to 10 lines. Or, you could up to 40GB ($150), 60GB ($225), 80GB ($300), and 100GB ($375) at the prices you have been paying. To help celebrate the move, AT&T is offering customers who activate a new line a $100 bill credit (for a limited time). The new double data plans have to be signed-up for by October 31. After that, the data buckets will likely return to their original sizes. If you are AT&T, this is a no-brainer. Get your double data.

Via: AT&T

Clinched MLB Postseason Berth

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:41:06 +0000

This past Wednesday night, Episode 69 of The Droid Life Show solidified its berth into the MLB playoffs. How we did it, we have no idea. Regardless, we will take on all teams who try to stop us from making it to the World Series. In Android-related news, we actually had quite a few things to cover this past week, including our final thoughts on the new Moto X and Moto 360, as well as our take on all of the new Nexus 9 rumors that have popped up. Other topics of discussion included the reported death of Android Silver, Kellen's iPhone 6 impressions, the latest rumors on the DROID Turbo, AT&T's offering of the Galaxy Alpha from Samsung, and Amazon's announcement of numerous new Kindle tablets that no one can now remember. Want to join in on the fun? We are live Wednesday evenings at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern).

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/26/2014

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:15:42 +0000

Another eventful week has come to a close here at DL, filled with juicy Nexus rumors and even iPhone 6 impressions. According to the latest rumors, HTC will soon launch its Nexus 9 tablet, while Motorola readies its "Shamu" phone, the Nexus 6 for release as well. If you enjoy Nexus news, this was your week. Beyond Nexus rumors, which there are always plenty of, Kellen delivered his thoughts on the iPhone 6 (which everyone clearly loved), we wrote up our top favorite Android Wear custom watch faces, a photo of a back panel for the DROID Turbo reportedly leaked, plus a whole lot more. Seriously, if you were on vacation or something, then you have a lot of catching up to do. Here are the week's highlights in case you missed anything.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 69 [Subscribe]
Video: Moto 360 vs. LG G Watch.
How to: Upgrade phones at Verizon and keep unlimited data.
Our top custom Android Wear watch face picks.
Kellen's initial impressions of the iPhone 6. Yes, we're serious.
Is this our first look at Motorola's Nexus 6 aka Shamu?
HTC Nexus 9 reported to launch soon.
HTC readies new One (M8) variant with 13MP shooter.
Google demands more Google from device manufacturers.
DROID Turbo back panel reportedly photographed.
Large number of new Moto X orders delayed.
Verizon's 2nd Gen Moto X is now available.
HTC's upcoming GoPro competitor device gets detailed.
Update rolling out to Moto 360.
AT&T can't control itself, prices off-contract Galaxy Note 4 at $826.
Samsung Gear S to release on all major US carriers this Fall.
AT&T launches Samsung Galaxy Alpha onto its network.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Friday App Sales: Chainsaw Warrior, Osmos HD, Ku: Shroud of the Morrigan, and More

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:51:14 +0000

Friday is here once again, which gives us the perfect time to gather the current app and game sales taking place on Google Play. This week, a few well-known titles are up for discounted prices, including Osmos HD, Pirates and Traders: Gold, Chainsaw Warrior, and Ku: Shroud of the Morrigan. It may not be the biggest list of sales, but it is still full of great applications.

Friday app sales

Field Recorder ($2.79)
Push to Kindle ($0.99)
MIXTRAX App ($1.99)
Chainsaw Warrior ($2.44)
Osmos HD ($0.99)
WorldCard Mobile ($0.99)
Tunable: Tuner, Metronome, Rec ($0.99)
Ku: Shroud of the Morrigan ($1.28)
Pirates and Traders: Gold ($2.99)
Servers Ultimate Pro ($3.99)

Go support those hard working devs!

ICE Features Real-time Strategy Gameplay With Ant-like Minions

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:04:44 +0000

We came across a game this afternoon on Google Play, filled with bright colors, sporting the name ICE. The game is a real-time strategy title, which resembles another popular game called Auralux. In the game, you command units of ant-like starships, forcing them to capture enemy and neutral bases. When you capture all of the bases, you win. If you lose all of the bases, you lose. For a better look at the gameplay, view the trailer below. The game is free to download, however, inside the app you will find ads and a limited map experience. With a single IAP, you can play on larger maps (means more bases to capture) and see no more ads. If ads bug you, then this IAP will be useful. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Just Dance Now Lands on Google Play, Time to Get Your Groove On

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:56:15 +0000

Ubisoft Entertainment launched Just Dance Now, one of the more popular video game titles of the last few years, right onto Google Play for Android devices this week. In these games, which are much like an at-home Dance Dance Revolution, players must dance to the moves that are displayed on a TV, using a Kinect or Wii remote to track body movements. Once downloaded onto your Android device, the game needs a display hooked up to the Internet to work, acting as your screen to show you which moves you need to pull off. Your phone then acts as the motion tracker. The game features plenty of today's biggest radio hits, meaning you can get down pretty hardcore with your dance moves. If anything, it could be fun for your kids to try out and get some exercise in. Just Dance Now is free to download from Google Play. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Vine Updated With New Settings and Capture Buttons

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:10:40 +0000

Vine, an app you stopped using once Instagram introduced videos, received an update today via Google Play for Android devices. Inside the update, new capture screen settings are included for those who still use the service, making it easier to upload your previously recorded work. The new settings include a button to access videos already in your gallery for uploading, an undo last recording button, and a flashlight button for recording in low light areas. Full and official changelog can be viewed below.

What's New

We’ve unlocked something new: new camera tools that offer additional, more advanced ways to edit your videos, and you can import existing videos from your phone. In the capture screen:

A new button on the bottom left to access your camera roll
Preview videos of any length, and trim them to 6 seconds or less
Upload a single video, or mix and match to tell a story!
Undo last recording
Flashlight for recording in low light

In the edit screen:

Duplicate a clip, or trim a clip

Play Link

Report: HTC to Release "M8_EYE," Features 13MP Rear-facing Camera

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:30:57 +0000

According to two separate Twitter leakers, HTC is set to launch a new variant of the One (M8), internally called the M8_EYE, complete with a 13MP rear-facing shooter and Duo Camera setup. From what the leakers state, the phone should feature all of the M8's same specifications, except for its new shooter. In addition, the phone will run Android 4.4+ with Sense 6 out of the box, just like the current M8 offering from HTC. As for when, it is reported that HTC will announce and release this device in October, which is literally right around the corner. Slated to have an event on October 8 for its Recamera in New York City, could HTC also unveil a new handset alongside it? Should HTC release a One (M8) with 13MP shooter and Duo Camera setup, are you grabbing one?

Via: @LlabTooFeR | @upleaks

You are Not Alone: "Large Number" of Moto X Pre-Orders are Delayed (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:00:32 +0000

Yesterday, you may have noticed on Twitter that we asked for feedback from those who had pre-ordered the new Moto X. We asked about your Moto Maker order status, which type of back you had chosen, and if it had shipped yet. We were curious because the order we placed minutes after the pre-order period opened up had not yet shipped, while a handful of readers had already received their units ordered around the same time. According to the feedback we got from you all, it seemed as if order shipments were pretty hit or miss. Some had received theirs, while others' were in the same boat as us. As it turns out, there is a large enough pool of delayed pre-orders that Motorola customer support sent us an email acknowledging the delay without us even inquiring. Here is the email we received late last night:

Hi Kellen, We've coordinated with our facility regarding the shipment of your order. We are getting a large number of orders causing some delays but we are doing our best to have your package delivered to you as soon as possible. We apologize for this inconvenience but please be assured that working on your issue. We'll keep you posted for any update regarding this and please expect a call back from one of our representative within 24 hours. Thank you!

It's tough to tell what has caused the delay, but Motorola has contracted a new factory in China to handle Moto Maker orders. It could be that they are still working out the initial kinks. We should also point out that as of this morning, Moto Maker orders that opt for the white front panel are backordered up to four weeks. Of course, we ordered a white front on our custom "Pure Edition" device. If we hear more, we will be sure to pass the info along. In the mean time, feel free to let us know in the comments the status of your order. Be sure to include the front and back panel configuration, storage amount, and if it has shipped or not. Update: Semi-related, but others are noticing that Motorola won't even let them backorder 32GB models. They are being asked to change the configuration to 16GB instead. Not a good start.

Update 2: Motorola has now called and left me a voicemail with clarification on the situation. It's not good news, that's for sure. According to Motorola customer support, the earliest my order will ship is within two weeks. Two weeks to go, on an order that was placed two weeks ago and within minutes of the pre-order being available. To make up for the delay, they will also send over a $25-off coupon code for my next purchase, a code that can be used on phones or accessories. Woof. Update 3: Here is the foll0w-up email to the follow-up call which was a follow-up to the initial delay email.

Deal: NES30 Bluetooth Controller Will Take You Back to the 80s for $29

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 10:03:13 +0000

With a growing number of games supporting Bluetooth controllers on Google Play, it may be time to invest in a piece of hardware that will take your mobile game playing to the next level. And with so many options on the market, it may be best to go with a shape you are already familiar with, which is why we recommend checking out the NES30 Bluetooth Controller. As you can see, it is shaped exactly like an old NES controller, which should make you feel right at home again on the couch in your pajamas back in the 80s. Given the advancement in games, the controller does feature a few more control buttons than the original, but its shape and feel stays true. It features X, Y, B, A buttons, full directional pad, left and right triggers on top, 20+ hours of gameplay between charging, multiple platform compatibility, programable keys, and a microUSB port for charging. The controller is priced at just $29.99 right through our new Deals store, complete with free shipping, so go check it out. Update: This deal has sold out! Deal Link

LG's KizON Kid's Tracker Smartwatch With Verizon 3G Stops by FCC

Kellen — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 09:52:06 +0000

LG smartwatch! With Verizon 3G! At the FCC! Unannounced! What does LG have up their sleeves?! G Watch R variant with connectivity?! Something we have never seen before!? Oh. My. God. That's been the reaction this morning across the interwebs as an unannounced LG smartwatch (LG-VC100) with Verizon 3G connectivity popped up at the FCC. Thing is, it's just the KizON kid tracker that LG unveiled back in July. Look at the size and shape of the FCC label image below compared to the on-wrist look above. That rounded, rectangular shape and 3G connectivity all point towards this being the KizON on its way to the US. Oh, the dimensions, according to the FCC weigh in at 57.7x35.5mm (which is huge, by the way). LG's official spec list for the KizON say the watch is 55.2x34.7mm. Yep, this is the KizON, a kid's tracker. To read more about the KizON, check out LG's announcement.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Angry Birds Transformers Gameplay Trailer Released, Looks Better Than Expected

Tim — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 09:00:02 +0000

The official gameplay trailer for Angry Birds Transformers has been released by Rovio, with the game now available to those who live in New Zealand and Finland. Unfortunately for us Android users who live in America, the game is not set to hit Google Play until October 30, but at least this trailer gives us something to look forward to. In all honesty, the trailer actually gives me hope for this game. It is not your typical AB title, and instead of being stagnant and launching birds, you are a running/driving transformer bot that gets to shoot cannons at large Piggy towers. Much more action should be seen in this title. My only concern is that your bots can be upgraded in the game (as shown in the video), leading to Rovio easily finding a way to cram IAPs down your throat. And if the game requires you to have "energy" to make a run, meaning you can't play as much as you want without paying, then the game is doomed. Don't screw this up, Rovio.

Via: Angry Birds Transformers

Report: Google Requires More Google From Manufacturers, Because Android has Evolved and Google Apps are Still King

Kellen — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 08:33:02 +0000

A report out of The Information this morning suggests that Google's revamped MADA (Mobile Application Distribution Agreement) for 2014 - the agreement that manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, or Lenovo sign in order to add Google's suite of apps to their Android phones - has changed significantly, requiring more Google-iness than ever. Manufacturers aren't mad or happy, but they have acknowledged that Google is tightening up the requirements and asking more from them in order to carry Google's apps, more importantly, Google Play. According to this report, Google is increasing the number of Google apps that must be pre-installed on a device by as many as 20, including placing them on the home screen with the Google Search bar at the top and a "Google" folder that houses many of their apps. If you bought an Android device in 2014, you have likely already experienced this setup. The new MADA also reportedly requires manufacturers to implement "OK Google" as a hotword to wake the phone and complete a search, assuming the phone's capabilities allow hotword detection. Well, Motorola's new Moto X allows you to customize your hotword, so maybe they got out of this requirement thanks to their still-somewhat-close ties to Google or Google made an exception or they negotiated out of the requirement. The new agreement requires manufacturers to make Google Search easily accessible with the swipe-up from the home button, a feature that you have already experienced through phones that have on-screen navigation buttons. During boot-up, the phone should display either a Google trademark or mention the phone runs Android ("Powered by Android").

Finally, if manufacturers or carriers want a cut of the revenue generated by Google from Search or Play, they have to sign agreements that stop them from pre-installing other search apps like Bing. Big players like Samsung are said to have an agreement like this, whereas other smaller companies do not. I'm sure the media will spin this new report towards "Google is more anal than ever with Android!" or "Google forces even more Google on manufacturers!" or "Android isn't so open after all!" I don't necessarily look at the situation at that angle. Instead, this is Google recognizing that Android has evolved (think the swipe-up on home to access Search requirement) and that Google Play is a major asset that partners want/need access to. Their other apps are important as well (Gmail, Maps, etc.), and phones are mostly useless without them (we're looking at you, Amazon products), so Google is taking advantage of that. Fault them or not, they are in the power position because companies need access to their suite of apps in order to be successful. With that said, are these requirements really that terrible? No. On an "open" note - Google's apps are not open. Android is. Anyone can use Android as they please for free. But if you want to use Google's suite of apps, which again, aren't a part of the "open" Android, there are agreements involved. Let's not get the two confused.

Via: The Information

Moto Maker Now Available for Verizon's Moto X (2nd Gen)

Kellen — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 07:48:12 +0000

The new Moto X (2nd gen) became available last night through Verizon, an hour or so before the clock flipped the day to September 26. We pointed it out, but also noted that Moto Maker was not available just yet. If you were hoping to customize a new Moto X or make one with a leather back, you had some more waiting to do. That wait is now over. If you cruise through Motorola's store, choose the Moto X (2nd gen), customize it, and then click the "Buy" button, you will see Verizon listed as a carrier option. Your choices for Moto Maker are no different than those that are available for AT&T. You still get the 4 new Leather backs, 4 Natural options, and the other 17 or so plastic colors. You can up the storage to 32GB, add branding to the back, customize a boot-up phrase, and more. Have fun! Motorola Link *Note - Motorola's site says that phones made with white fronts are on back-order and will ship within four weeks.

Moto X (2nd Gen) Now Available From Verizon for $99

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 20:45:21 +0000

The date is September 26 (well almost), and the Moto X (2nd generation) is available from Verizon, only a day later than sources of ours from two months ago told us to expect it. The device is available for $99 with a new 2-year contract, $24.99 per month on Verizon Edge, or $499 at full retail for the black plastic back. Verizon is currently listing the black plastic or white Bamboo models as available directly from them, but we are expecting to see Moto Maker integration before long, likely at some point later in the day. The Bamboo model carries a bit of a price premium. The new Moto X is an improvement over last year's model in almost every way possible. The phone has an upgraded 1080p display, better camera, new premium leather options for its back plate, a metal frame, and additional features added into the Moto suite of software. The battery life hasn't been all that impressive, but if you don't need a phone to last 20 hours on a single charge or are near a charger in the late afternoon, this is a great option. Be sure to read our Moto X (2nd gen) review if you haven't already. Update: Moto Maker is now live as well. Verizon Link

Don't Play This Game, but Maybe Check it Out Anyway

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 16:17:00 +0000

We found a new puzzler game of sorts thanks to the trending section over in Google Play, a game called Don't Play This Game. Of course, with a title like that, I had to download it. Priced at $0.99, the game features curiously weird puzzles, with the main goal being to either spell out Don't Play This Game or figuring out weird color combinations. At first, the game is very easy to follow and figure out, but as you get further into it, a few of puzzles are quite difficult to grasp at first glance. Like anything else, you will hopefully figure it out eventually, though. With only 45 puzzles, we do wish there was a bit more content for our dollar, but a game like this should not be too hard to update with new puzzles. Keep 'em coming, developer. Go check it out for only $1 on Google Play. Play Link ($0.99)

AT&T Sends Minor Update Out to Galaxy S4 Active

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 14:24:19 +0000

A minor update is being pushed out to the Galaxy S4 Active on AT&T, build number I537UCUCNH3, filled with fixes for network connectivity and security patches. In the official changelog posted on AT&T's support site, the company notes that connectivity improvements related to receiving calls and text messaging, a single security patch, and a few updated Google applications are included. Beyond those additions, the update is rather small. Go grab it.

Via: AT&T

Verizon Issues Update to DROID DNA, Brings Security Fixes and More

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:30:07 +0000

An update is headed out to owners of the DROID DNA on Verizon, which brings security fixes and resolution for "device root vulnerability." On top of those fixes, HTC and Verizon added in improved Miracast functionality, improved Softcard functionality, and an updated WiFi connection status indicator. The last DNA update to rollout was back in April for Android 4.4, which means users should also see a few fixes for various items that came with that. Take a look below at Verizon's PDF which details the full changelog.

Via: Verizon

So, is This Motorola's "Shamu" Nexus Looking All Sorts of Massive Next to a G3?

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:04:43 +0000

Umm, I don't know if it is. Either way, the phone pictured is a massive Moto X-looking phone next to the LG G3, which is already a massive phone, and absolutely stomping all over it. Is this the Motorola Nexus aka "Shamu" aka Nexus 6 aka Whale Wars aka Free Willy aka please-don't-make-this-Google-it's-too-freaking-massive? You tell us. Edit: Apparently, the photo showed up in our comments and Android Police's at some point this morning. The anonymous "Guest" claims that it is coming to Verizon. Interesting, to say the least. I still don't know what to make of it.

How to: Upgrade Phones at Verizon and Keep Unlimited Data

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:20:08 +0000

Continuing to hold on to your unlimited data plan at Verizon is becoming increasingly more difficult, assuming you want to upgrade to a new phone at some point. The options to upgrade are disappearing quicker than we can count, but there are still a handful of ways for you to pick up a new phone and keep living life without data caps. Unfortunately, the options that include discounted phones or reasonable monthly payments are either incredibly limited now or gone altogether. If you want to upgrade and keep unlimited data, your best bet is to pay full retail in most cases. Since we haven't talked about the methods for keeping unlimited data on Verizon in a while, we wanted to do that today. Many of you are considering your next phone as we head into a busy holiday season, so knowing your options can't hurt the situation. By our count, there are six methods for keeping unlimited data. Here they are.

Method 1 - Buy a phone at full retail

Pretty simple, right? If you want to keep unlimited data at Verizon, the cleanest way to do so is by paying the full retail price for a phone. Verizon will sell phones to you at full prices without asking you to change anything with your service. You can do this in stores or online. During the checkout process, you should see your $29.99 unlimited data plan listed throughout. Buying phones at full retail isn't cheap, with most flagship phones carrying prices around $600, but it is the legitimate way to do it.

Method 2 - Steal an upgraded phone from another smartphone line.

Stealing an upgraded phone works exactly like the name suggests. If you have another smartphone line on your Verizon account that has an upgrade available, you can upgrade that line to a new phone, and then simply take the new phone to use on your unlimited data line. Let me explain that further. When you steal an upgrade, you are essentially upgrading another line so that you receive discounted pricing on a phone, while also signing a new contract on that other line. You are doing this because Verizon forces you off of unlimited data and onto a tiered data plan if you take an upgrade and discounted pricing. If you upgrade another line, your line remains unaffected and continues to keep unlimited data. Just understand that you are forcing that other line into a tiered data plan. Thankfully, Verizon uses SIM cards to activate service on phones, so all you need to do is take that new phone from the other smartphone line and swap in the SIM that is attached to your unlimited data line to use it without having to change anything about your line of service. This is probably the method that most will use because it allows you to buy a new phone without paying full retail.

Method 3 - Steal an upgraded phone from a non-smartphone line.

This method is very similar to method 2, and actually works under the same idea. The basics are this - you upgrade a non-smartphone line to a smartphone to receive discounted pricing, before taking the new phone and using it on your unlimited data line. The only difference here, is that if you upgrade a non-smartphone line as of August 24, you are forced to turn it into a smartphone line for the life of a contract (2 years). Before August 24, customers could upgrade that non-smartphone line to a smartphone, move the new phone over to an unlimited line, and then downgrade the non-smartphone line back to a non-smartphone. It was a loophole that many used, but Verizon has since closed it.

Method 4 - Add a line, buy a discounted phone, move phone over to an unlimited line.

This isn't exactly the best method on the planet, as it adds additional cost to your monthly bill, but yes, you could in theory (if you really wanted to) add a line of service to your account to save unlimited data. By adding a new smartphone line to secure discounted pricing on a phone, you could then swap over the new phone to your unlimited data line, just like in method 2 and 3. But again, you are adding on an additional line of service that you will need to pay for for 2 years. Since you are adding a smartphone line, you will pay smartphone line pricing on that line for 2 years. Is that really worth it?

Method 5 - Transfer your upgrade to another line, steal the new phone.

Update: This method may no longer work as the transfer not only extends the contract of your unlimited line, but it may also force you into a different data plan since you are technically using the upgrade on your unlimited line. I have heard that it works from some, but that it doesn't from many others, including Verizon reps. If you try it, just keep an eye on the plans on all lines as you go through the process, especially your unlimited line. If Verizon's site or a rep mentions that you need to give up your unlimited data plan, call it off. Verizon will allow you to transfer upgrades between accounts. This comes in handy for this method should your unlimited data line happen to have an upgrade available. Since you know that if you use that upgrade on your unlimited data line you will lose your unlimited data, you can work-around it by transferring your upgrade to another line on your account. Once you transfer the upgrade to another line on your account, take to method 2 or 3 to upgrade and bring the new phone back over to the promised land of unlimited data.

Method 6 - Upgrade through a 3rd party, use current SIM.

Before we dive into this method, understand that I have not tried it and cannot confirm that it works, but there are countless stories across the internet that this has provided success for months. In other words, you will have to trust the internet with this one. It may be an option for those without multiple lines and upgrades that can be transferred around, though. The basics are this - upgrade through BestBuy.com (Amazon and Costco.com may also work), swap in your current SIM before ever turning the new phone on, and you should be able to keep unlimited data. To be more specific, the method requires that you follow an exact set of steps in order to keep unlimited data. This is how it would go, assuming Best Buy and Verizon don't figure out how to close this down before long. This is technically a loophole, which they have shown no mercy to in the past.

Purchase a new phone through BestBuy.com (Amazon and Costco.com may work as well).
During the process, Best Buy may notify you that your unlimited data plan is no longer available, but you should still see an option to keep your existing data plan. Be sure to choose this option. Amazon may force you to choose a 2GB $30 plan.
Ship the phone to your house - do not choose to ship to a store or buy a phone in a store. This is important because of the activation process.
When your phone arrives, DO NOT TURN IT ON.
Before ever turning your new phone on, pull out the SIM card that is pre-installed.
When you are ready to fire it up for the first time, insert your old SIM from your old phone.
Turn the phone on, enjoy your new phone with your unlimited data.

This method works because the new SIM card pre-installed in your new phone is the card carrying the change in data plans from unlimited to tiered. If you never activate that SIM and instead continue using your current SIM, then Verizon's systems still think you have unlimited data or that you have simply activated a new phone on your current line and current SIM. From what I have been told, Verizon doesn't allow 3rd party retailers to pre-provision SIM cards, so that's why the changes don't come across until after the phone is booted for the first time with the new SIM. If you never let that process happen by inserting your old SIM, you can see how this leads to the loophole. Again, I cannot personally confirm that this works, but people have been upgrading this way for months. It is a loophole, so it likely won't be around forever. It is also semi-risky. Who knows how Verizon will react to this upgrade method in the future or if they will patch it before we know that it has been closed and someone loses unlimited data. Approach at your own risk. If you want to keep up on the latest with this method, hit up this 500-page Slickdeals thread.

And those are your methods for upgrading at Verizon and keeping unlimited data. Most aren't great options, but they do work. If this list changes, we will do our best to update it over time.

Android Reportedly Lacks Necessary APIs to Bring Instagram's Hyperlapse to Platform

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 11:52:19 +0000

While Instagram continues to improve on its new sidekick app Hyperlapse for iOS devices, they have now spoken about the app's future on Android. If you had hopes to see Hyperlapse come to Android in the near future, prepare to be saddened. According to a brief statement made to The Verge, Instagram states that Android currently lacks "prerequisite APIs" necessary to run Hyperlapse on Google's mobile OS. In short, until Google makes these APIs available, Android users will remain out in the cold. Here is the full statement, albeit rather short and vague.

We hope to bring Hyperlapse to Android in the future. Unfortunately, the requisite APIs are not currently available on Android.

As for which APIs Instagram needs to make the app work, Hyperlapse needs specific data from the video decoder at a newly specified rate to create the hyperlapse effect. As of right now, Google's built-in camera software does not offer this. For more technical analysis of what is needed, you can read Instagram's developer blog here. So, for the time being, we wait.

Via: The Verge

Deal: Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB on Sale for $159 From eBay

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 10:30:34 +0000

Update: The Nexus 7 (2013) deal has returned, once again. With a new Nexus 9 tablet on the horizon, we may not see deals like this for much longer. Still haven't picked up the Nexus 7 (2013) after the countless deals that we have shared? Well, here is another one. Today's deal includes the 32GB variant for $159.99, which is more than $100 off the original retail price. The device is "manufacture refurbished," but you know what that means by now - the manufacturer has had a chance to work out defects or kinks. Not much else to say with this one; you have seen this deal countless times. eBay Link

Weather Timeline is a Weather App Inspired by Material Design

Kyle — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 10:15:36 +0000

In my opinion, weather apps should be as simple and straightforward as possible. Sure, animations and transitions are nice, but a glanceable, no-frills experience - interfaces uncluttered by auxiliary information - is even better. Weather Timeline, a new forecast app inspired by Material Design, nails the paradigm of which I speak. A weather app should, first and foremost, provide immediate access to the data you most commonly seek - temperature and conditions. Weather Timeline checks that box, listing locations you save in block elements which change color depending on precipitation. Tapping on an element pulls up the extended forecast, which, true to the app's name, is arranged like a timeline. Each component, such as hourly, daily, and weekly weather, is connected by lines or arranged adjacently, which look quite slick. Weather alerts are embedded inline. The app is tactfully embellished with Material Design touches, like the "add locations" button and the search bar transition. But design is not the only headlining feature. Weather Timeline's "time machine" forecast is an almanac of sorts, allowing you to search historical weather records or glance at forecasts projected years in advance. A DeLorean appropriately animates as you search. Weather timeline is not free, but I think developers that give aesthetics the attention they deserve should be supported. It's $1 in Google Play. Play Link ($0.99)

Gameloft Launches Asphalt Overdrive, Ryan Gosling's Favorite Racing Game

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 10:00:43 +0000

Gameloft has a new title on Google Play this week, one which should have Ryan Gosling's character from Drive quite excited. The game is called Asphalt Overdrive, set right on the streets of "modern 80s" Southern California. While the gameplay looks like your typical Gameloft action-packed racing variety, the soundtrack is what gained my attention. Infused with fast-paced techno and house beats, you will race down the streets in brightly colored Lamborghinis and Ferraris, hoping to avoid cops in their souped-up muscle cars. The game is free to download, but beware to pay extortion prices for a few packs of cars. At least, that's how Gameloft usually handles themselves in these racing games. Drive fans, go check it out and report back to me. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Amazon Giving Away $135 Worth of Apps and Games Through Appstore

Tim — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 09:30:51 +0000

Every now and then, I am coaxed into downloading the Amazon Appstore, given that Amazon has a tendency to ball out and give away loads of free applications at any given moment. This week, they are handing out $135 worth of apps for completely free, and a few of the titles are absolutely worth the hassle of downloading their mobile marketplace. In this pack of apps, which are free for just a limited time, you can have Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Riptide GP2, Threes, OfficeSuite Professional 7 ($15 value), Another World, and a whole lot of others. Usually I would not think to bug you about free apps on Amazon, but you should not miss out on these. Go grab 'em. Links: Amazon Appstore Download | Amazon Link

New Moto X With Moto Maker Officially Arrives Tomorrow at Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 09:10:43 +0000

The new Moto X is officially arriving tomorrow, September 26, at Verizon. The Moto X (2nd generation) will run $99 on new 2-year contract with 16GB of storage. Verizon didn't state the off-contract price, but Motorola announced at the beginning of September that it would cost just $499, a full $100 cheaper than most other flagships. Moto Maker customizations will also be available if you don't want one of the stock models sold directly from Verizon. Be sure to read our Moto X (2nd gen) review if you haven't already.

Via: Verizon

NVIDIA Shield Portable Receives Update, Bug Fixes in Tow

Kyle — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 08:46:26 +0000

As you would hope for a device that launched more than a year ago, NVIDIA's Shield Portable offers a fairly stable experience out of the box. That does not mean it is beyond reproach, however. To nix a few nagging issues, NVIDIA's rolling out Update 92 to owners, which addresses inconsistent GameStream performance, as well as problems with auto rotate. The update, measuring in at a hefty 480.9MB, consists solely of bug fixes. Especially welcome are the tweaks to GameStream, which should fix the "intermittent" problems some users were experiencing. In addition, the auto-rotate screen feature has been fixed and gyroscope responsiveness improved in games. Finally, the update addresses an odd bug that rendered the Twitch shortcut on the homescreen inaccessible. To install the update manually, navigate to Settings > About > System updates. Otherwise, patiently await an OTA notification.

Via: NVIDIA

Motorola Just Randomly Released the Moto 360 in "Stone" at Best Buy (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 08:15:38 +0000

Motorola released its smartwatch, the Moto 360, on September 5 in two colors: black on black and silver with a special launch edition, grey suede. Today, a new option has arrived with little mention from the Chicago-based company. If you cruise through the Best Buy link below, you will see that "Stone Leather" is now a choice. In even better news, this model is in stock for purchase. Having trouble trying to figure out how those colors could be different? Take a look at the images below. We put the "Stone" option on the left, "Gray" on the right. It appears to be a slightly lighter color of grey. "Stone" is available for $249.99, just like the black and silver models. Best Buy Link

Update: Here is a comparison of the two colors in the real world - Gray on the left here, Stone on the right.

Update 2: Motorola is now only selling Black and Stone. The Gray launch edition appears to be retired.

Cheers Donald, Oscar, and Kyle!

The Droid Life Show: Episode 69

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 22:48:02 +0000

The Droid Life Show episode 69 is live tonight at 6PM Pacific! On tonight's episode, the crew will talk about our review and final thoughts on the Moto X (2nd gen), Moto 360 review, the jank that lives inside Android Wear, Hangouts and Google Voice merging, gauge interest in the HTC Nexus 9, share the latest on the DROID TURBO, and the fact that we have an iPhone 6 in house. The Galaxy Note 4 is also doing its pre-order thing, plus the Galaxy Alpha is coming to the US. We have a lot to discuss, so be sure to join us. We are live tonight at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below.

Report: Motorola Nexus Will Look Like the Whale Version of the Moto X

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 19:47:15 +0000

According to the folks over at 9to5Google, they have information that confirms previous confirmations of previous confirmations that may or may not involve benchmarks on a potentially massive, whale-sized phone made by Motorola for Google that may or may not carry the Nexus brand. Follow that? Yeah, that's what we are working with tonight. This report suggests that Motorola, as we have heard a handful of other times, has teamed up with Google to produce the "Shamu," a 5.92-inch device that is deserving of its codename. The phone will essentially look like a blown-up version of the new Moto X, only the power and volume buttons will move down the side towards the middle to make for easier hot, press action. The 5.92-inch display will weigh in with a QHD resolution of 2560x1440. We could see a 3,200mAh battery, 13MP camera, Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB of storage as well. The 9to5Google crew offered up an in-house-made mock-up (pictured below), which is said to represent a device that may or may not have been seen by someone at some time. As you will see from the mock-up, the phone lacks Nexus and Motorola branding, so who knows what we are really dealing with here. The name could be Nexus 6 or Nexus X, according to rumors. There also may be two models. Seriously, no one knows. Thoughts?

Via: 9to5Google

Cheers Nate, for the Shamu photo!

Oscura: Second Shadow is a Dark Platformer, Priced at $3.51

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:06:21 +0000

I came across a platformer game on Google Play this afternoon, filled with what looked like dark environments and demonic creatures. Naturally, I was intrigued. The game is called Oscura: Second Shadow, a sequel to the original Oscura, filled with gorgeously unlit mechanical scenery, shown off only by a single light from your glowing hand. In the game, you play as a rodent-like creature that must search through countless levels for glowing gears and light crystals. These crystals will fill your power bar, which is used to slow down time and your enemies. As for your opponents, they are very creepy dark evil creatures, resembling bats and even mammals with antlers attached to their heads. How many crystals and gears you end a level with, that is what determines your score at the end. The obvious objective is to try to collect as much as possible. The only real challenge is navigating such a dark world, as well as the fact that you cannot hurt the baddies, at least from what I can tell. The only way to survive is to not fight them. With smooth controls and wicked gameplay, the game is certainly worth the $3.51 current asking price on Google Play. Play Link ($3.51)

[responsive_vid]

HTC's GoPro Camera Gets Teased in New Video (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 14:01:20 +0000

HTC posted a teaser video this afternoon for a product that will be unveiled on October 8 at a press event in NYC. The video (at least to us) seems to hint over and over at a camera rather than a phone. We say that in part because a report from a couple of weeks ago suggested that HTC was getting into the GoPro market, but also because at one point in the video, two women are seen setting the device down on a tablet to snap a photo, something not easily done with a phone. The device is waterproof and can also shoot slow-motion video. Neat. The video posting mentions that we should all visit REcamera.com on October 8. Thoughts?

[responsive_vid]

Update: Here is a potential picture of the device pulled from the video.

Update 2: HTC also just opened up this Twitter account and Tweeted this.

Update 3: Here it is. This is the REcamera. (via)

Motorola Starts Pulling the Plug on the Original Moto X

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:42:00 +0000

The Moto X (1st gen aka "the OG") is in the process of being killed off by Motorola. If you cruise over to the Motorola online shop, you will no longer be able to purchase or design the original Moto X through Moto Maker. The only models we are seeing as still available are the Verizon and GSM developer editions, but I would venture to guess that they won't be around much longer either. The new Moto X (2nd gen) launches at the end of this week, so the move isn't really all that surprising. In place of a "Design yours" button, the Moto X (1st gen) landing page now says the following: (Pssst...we just announced the all new Moto X, which we hope you will love even more. Click here for details) R.I.P. old friend. Be sure to read our Moto X (2nd gen) review if you haven't already.

Via: Motorola

Cheers venkat!

Google Rolls Out Airfare Price Notifier for Google Now

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:54:30 +0000

Flight shoppers who use Google's flight finder service online can now track prices right through Google Now, helping you to land the lowest price for airfare. If you search a flight online, Google will automatically notify you if the flight's price drops at any given time, which should help save you money in the long run. This feature should show up automatically for users, and no update through Google Play is needed for the Google Search app.

Via: +Google

Humble Mobile Bundle 8 Arrives, Pay $5 or More and Get 6 Games Plus Premium Title EPOCH.2

Kyle — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:22:52 +0000

Is it time for a new Humble Bundle, the popular pay-what-you-will game collection for charity, already? Apparently so. Mere weeks after the introduction of iteration 7, a new bundle of apps have appeared. This time around, it features Tentacle Wars, Doodle God, Doodle Devil, and Wave Wave in the first tier, Little Big Adventure and Tower Madness 2 in the second, and EPOCH.2 in the third. Any donation will unlock the first tier of games, while the second tier requires a gift amount higher than the average ($3.14, as of the time of writing). EPOCH.2 is $5, minimum. As always, the Humble team promises the addition of new games soon. Humble Bundle Link

Via: Humble Mobile Bundle

Minor Build Update Rolling Out to Moto 360, Might Improve Performance (Updated)

Kyle — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:42:55 +0000

It may not be Android Wear 2.0, but a few Moto 360 users on XDA and reddit over the past week have reported being prompted to download and install a firmware update. The update retains the software version of the older firmware, 4.4W.1, but bumps the Android Wear number up to 1.0.1.1448224 (previously 1.0.1.1387258) and the build number to KGW42R (previously KGW42N). So far, those who have installed the update are reporting better performance - most notably, more fluid and responsive Google Now cards - but no major changes to behavior or UI. Basically, it sounds like a bug-squashing and optimization release. The update seems to be rolling out gradually. We have not tried this method and do not necessarily condone it, but one user successfully forced the update by resetting his Moto 360 and reinstalling Motorola Connect and the Android Wear app. Any Moto 360 users running the new software? Update: Motorola has released an official changelog. As we suspected, it isn't earth-shattering:

Bluetooth connectivity - Improved Bluetooth connectivity between the watch and phone to reduce momentary disconnects experienced by some users
Charging notification - Added a message to confirm that Moto 360 is charging in cases when its battery is fully depleted
Bug fixes - implemented bug fixes and other system optimizations

The company says the update will continue to roll out in phases over the next few days.

Via: XDA | Reddit | Motorola

Deal: $24 for Feather Buds Bluetooth Earbuds

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:09:28 +0000

Within the last year, I switched to wireless Bluetooth earbuds for workouts and can tell you that I will never go back to wired. There is a freedom you get when no wires are attached to your phone and you need to move, whether that be in a workout capacity or just traveling from one place to another. The problem with wireless Bluetooth earbuds is that most aren't cheap. I currently use Jaybird Bluebuds X, which carry a price well over $100. They are great, but if you don't feel like forking out that kind of cash for a set of buds that you may only use in certain situations, but still want to test the Bluetooth earbuds water, think about the current deal we have running in the DL Deals shop. You can pick-up the Feather Buds for $24.99. They have a "noise canceling outer shell," are tangle-free, and feature "crystal clear" sound at a range of up to 30 feet. They also have a built-in microphone, so you can take calls at any time. Again, if you want to see if Bluetooth earbuds are for you, this isn't a bad option to consider at that price. Deal Link

Disney Announces Star Wars: Galactic Defense, Continues to Milk Money Cow

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:01:56 +0000

The Star Wars franchise is very important to many people. Over the last decade or so, the story has become more cartoonish and kid appropriate, even though the original trilogy never dealt with situations that I would find inappropriate for younger audiences. Nevertheless, as we all expected, Disney is not about to let their $4 billion investment go to waste, taking no time at all to pump out countless games from different game studios, and of course, Star Wars: Episode VII. The newest game teased for a later-this-year release is Star Wars: Galactic Defense. The gameplay sounds much like the other Star Wars game that just released, Star Wars: Defender, where you are tasked with building and protecting towers. Sounds original. Here is the official "About" for the title.

Experience the Star Wars universe as an elite tower defense force in the free mobile game Star Wars: Galactic Defense. This game propels the traditional tower defense genre into a galaxy far, far away by seamlessly blending iconic characters, adrenaline-fueled battles, and strategic gameplay into an exciting one of a kind mobile experience.

The game is set to release later this year, free to download for Android and iOS devices, but I can assure you that there will be IAPs galore inside. I would also like to apologize if this post sounds like I'm crying. I'm not, but with complete control over one of the best franchises ever created (it's okay if you disagree), I feel as though Disney could spare an extra dollar or two to come up with an original idea other than another "defender" game.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Star Wars

AT&T Intros GoPhone for Your Wireless Home Phone and Internet

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:43:20 +0000

If using a prepaid service for your home phone and home Internet connection sounds like a good idea, AT&T introduced new GoPhone plans this morning that should make complete sense to you. Much like their prepaid wireless phone service, AT&T is offering the same tiered pricing service for home phones and Internet, but there is an interesting twist for those who sign up. Usually, when someone has a home phone, that is exactly what it is - the phone and its number is attached to their house, unusable if you go on vacation or anywhere else. With AT&T's GoPhone home phone service, customers can take their home phone device, a router, anywhere they go. Users must purchase the device from AT&T for the home phone, currently priced at $69.99 thanks to a special promotion price, then must pay a monthly fee of either $60 for 5GB of Internet data or $80 for 10GB. Once you determine how much data you want, users automatically receive unlimited nationwide calling. Before signing up, we would recommend taking a peek at how much data you use through your current ISP. For me, and many other "tech enthusiasts," you might be surprised how quickly you an gobble up 5GB.

Via: AT&T

Galaxy Note 4 Full Retail Pricing is Out of Control at AT&T

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:18:49 +0000

AT&T thinks you are a sucker. Either that, or they want to discourage you from even considering the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 off-contract. At $825.99 with "no annual contract," AT&T will sell you Samsung's latest oversized device, the same oversized device that Verizon is asking $699 for. Or that T-Mobile is asking $749 for. They all have the same storage, display, processor, and camera. There are no differences other than the branding on the back. Oh, well maybe you could just go for the AT&T Next pricing, which sits at $34.42 per month, a full $0.57 lower than Verizon's monthly Edge option? Except that AT&T's monthly payment plan runs 24 months and Verizon's runs just 20? Ugh. Seriously, what the hell, AT&T?

Amazon Intros #AmazonWishList Hashtag to Twitter, Adds Items Right to Your Wish List

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:26:41 +0000

Back in May, Amazon teamed with Twitter to introduce a new hashtag system, one which would instantly add a purchasable item from your Twitter feed into your shopping cart on Amazon. While I personally have not seen much adoption of this service, Amazon has introduced a new hashtag for shoppers this morning, one which seems much more practical for users. While skimming your timeline, you may happen across a neat gadget or gift idea that features an Amazon product link - starting today, users can simply reply with #AmazonWishList, which will add the item directly to your wish list on Amazon's site. When you are ready to go back and purchase it, it will be waiting for you. Shall you be using this feature on your own account?

Via: Amazon

Samsung Gear S is Coming to the Big Four This Fall

Kellen — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:01:31 +0000

The Samsung Gear S, Samsung's curved smartwatch that wants to be a stand-alone phone, is officially coming to the US "this Fall." No pricing or an exact release date has been announced by anyone involved, but we do know that Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile will all sell it. If that's not enough news and you need Gear S in your life sooner, you can stop by 1 of 125 different AT&T retail stores starting Friday, September 26, to get a look (list of stores). As a recap, the Samsung Gear S sports a 2.0-inch curved Super AMOLED display (360x480), 1.0GHz dual-core processor, IP67 dust and water resistance, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, 300mAh battery, and runs Tizen (full specs). So no, this is not an Android Wear product, meaning it will likely only work with Samsung's Galaxy line of phones, just like the rest of their wearables. The unique feature of the Gear S is its connectivity. Through a 3G/2G embedded radio, the device can take calls, send texts, and stay connected to your social feeds at all times without being paired to your phone. The Gear S really wants to be a phone, on your wrist. I don't know if any of us need or want such connectivity, but it's here. The Gear S is one of the first Android wearables to get official Nike+ integration. It also has a home button. A home button. As we learn more, we will be sure to pass it along.

Via: Samsung | ATT

Video: Moto 360 vs. LG G Watch

Kellen — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:00:10 +0000

Even though we have already reviewed both the Moto 360 (review) and LG G Watch (review), we have yet to do a full comparison of their specs, design, and performance on video. Since these are arguably the two Android Wear watches to consider at this time (sorry, Gear Live), thanks to either their price (G Watch at $179) or premium circular build (Moto 360), we are finally doing that today. This isn't a video that will talk battery life or viewing in sunlight, since we did that in each of those reviews, but we will instead focus on the design when compared next to one another, and also the performance of each when thrown through a variety of tasks. In this clip, you will see each device run through a series of voice actions, all of which seem to struggle at times thanks to the beta-ness that is Android Wear. It's hit or miss from one command to the next between each wearable. That can't be user error, right? Overall, these watches perform on a mostly equal level. Now, that could change with updates to Android Wear that make it more reliable, so for now I would argue that you can't go wrong with either watch, you just need to decide which one looks better. Down the road, though, the newer processor in the G Watch could give it a major performance edge. How has your Android Wear experience been with either of these watches?

[responsive_vid]

WhoSampled Released for Android, Brings Music Discovery for Remix Lovers

Tim — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:30:04 +0000

Does song discovery interest you? If so, you should be happy to learn that WhoSampled has just hit Google Play, allowing users to go through decades of music DNA. With the service, users can go through their favorite tracks to see if other artists have sampled the music or have even made remixes of the songs, all listenable right through the app and a YouTube API. For example, if I have a bunch of Daft Punk in my library, the application will recognize the music, then show me the songs from history which Daft Punk sampled. The main goal is help users find more music that they will enjoy and share with others. The app features charts you can search through for various categories such as samples, remixes, and covers. With such a deep library, you can get lost in WhoSampled. The app is completely free to download, so if you love music, go check it out. Play Link

Deal: Name-Your-Own-Price Code Bundle Could Turn You Into a Beast Developer

Kellen — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:19:25 +0000

Over at the DL Deals site, we currently have a Name-Your-Own-Price bundle of courses that should help the future developers in the building hone their skills. The pack isn't directly Android-related, as it instead focuses most of its efforts on web development, but the languages between the two are often interchangeable. With a set of courses like this, any developer should be interested. The bundle is a lot like the Humble Bundle we featured earlier in that you get to decide how much you think the included courses are worth. You have to spend more than $1, but not much more. By simply paying more than $1, you get a select set of courses geared toward web development. However, if you spend more than the average pay-what-you-want price (currently $14.97), you get every course, including some bonuses. Again, this works just like a Humble Bundle. Charities are also involved, including Child's Play, World Wildlife Fund, and Creative Commons. 10% of your purchase will go towards whichever charity you choose. So what's included in the bundle? You'll get lifetime access to 8 actionable online courses, 826 total lectures, and more than 80 hours of content "that will have you coding like a pro in no time." Deal Link

Platform Puzzler Unmechanical, Launched to Google Play for $2.99

Tim — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:06:32 +0000

A new game has hit Google Play this week, that being another breakout iOS success, titled Unmechanical. In this game, you play as a little helicopter who looks to solve puzzles throughout a living and breathing platform world. There are over 30 levels to solve, and if the game looks fun for your kids, then you will be happy to know there is absolutely no violence inside. In short, it's completely kiddy safe. As for gameplay, you must use gears, light sources, fuses, and more items to solve the game's puzzles. With a mixture of well-done 3D graphics and a rocking soundtrack, this puzzler should definitely be on your list of games to check out. Play Link ($2.99)

[responsive_vid]

Humble Bundle 11 Brings Great Games for an Awesome Cause

Tim — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:48:23 +0000

A new Humble Bundle is available for mobile gamers, packed with great titles for low prices. Not only do you get great games, but when purchasing a bundle, you can select how much of your purchase price goes to the game's developers, select charities, and a tip to the Humble Bundle service. Included in this bundle are a few awesome titles, such as Thomas Was Alone, Cubemen, Cubemen 2, and Bridge Constructor Playground. While those games are fine and dandy, it is the titles you unlock by paying more than the average of $5.08 that are really awesome, which are Small World 2, Blackwell 1: Legacy, Blackwell 2: Unbound, Blackwell 3:Convergence, and more to follow. If you happen to pay more than $11, however, you also unlock Surgeon Simulator and Anomaly Defenders. All of these games only for $11. Not bad at all, right? If you want a few great games for a low price, while also helping out a few charities, check out Humble Bundle 11 by following the link below. Humble Bundle Link

[responsive_vid]

Top Custom Watch Faces for Android Wear

Tim — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:29:17 +0000

Creation of watch faces for Android Wear is booming right now, even though Google has yet to release an official API for their development. Regardless, much like in Jurassic Park, developers will find a way. And for that, we would like to thank them. We have compiled a showcase for a few of our favorite watch faces that are currently available for the Moto 360. While this list is somewhat short considering the hundreds of different choices out there, we hope this post can serve as reference for anyone who would like to go beyond the stock faces that Motorola and Google provide out of the box. There are three main applications we use to peruse the options made available from developers/designers who put their work out for the public to download. These applications are Facer, Android Wear Faces Creator, and WearFaces. Each app curates a select few watch faces, then lets you go about and discover other options on your own. In addition, a couple of them even allow you to import your own images to create your very own watch faces. In WearFaces, for example, a few choices are made available only through IAP, so if spending money is not something you are looking to do, your options will remain somewhat limited in a couple of the applications. However, most of the apps shown below are free to use, so have some fun. As a note, to send watch faces to your smartwatch through Facer and WearFaces, you will need the aforementioned apps installed, the watch face's zip file (given through the applications), a file manager such as ES File Explorer, and then to simply follow the instructions inside of the application. All it requires is a quick unzip of the files into the app's main directory through the file manager, then a sync from the app to the watch. It might sound complicated, but once you do it a couple of times, you will be a pro. Take a look below at a few of the options we have installed below. If you like what you see, feel free to download the apps via the links to Google Play that are provided.

Facer for Android Wear ($0.99)

Mondaine Face Breitling (zip file) modotech

Android Wear Faces Creator

Radiance Move Form

Beautiful Watches - WearFaces

Titanium Chromium If you have your own fancy watch face that we did not feature here, feel free to leave links/pictures in the comments below.

Microsoft Announces Wireless Display Adapter, a Miracast Receiver

Kyle — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 09:50:54 +0000

Miracast never really caught on; the standard seems to have lost what little ground it had to simpler solutions, like Chromecast mirroring, but it has its niche in environments with flaky Wi-Fi connections and programs which require low latency. The only problem? Finding an inexpensive, reliable receiver. Luckily for those in the market, Microsoft unveiled an option today. Microsoft's Wireless Display Adapter, which looks sort of like a blockier Chromecast, is a USB-powered Miracast receiver which connects to any television, monitor, or projector via HDMI. It's a no-frills device, meaning any smartphone, tablet, or computer which supports Miracast can pair with the receiver, and then mirror content on the connect display. The best part? It's only $60. That may be a bit more than Chromecast, but it's a relative steal for a device with applications in enterprise. The Wireless Display Adapter goes on sale in October. It should be compatible with most smartphones and tablets running Android 4.2.1 or newer.

Via: Microsoft

HTC Scribble Application Now Available on Google Play

Kyle — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 09:25:39 +0000

For OEMs like HTC, chief among the benefits of hosting apps on Google Play are faster updates. Traversing the lengthy and unpredictable path toward OTA approval is obviously undesirable if the enhancements are minor, which is probably why HTC continues to decouple applications from its firmware. The latest to receive the treatment is HTC Scribble, a digital scrapbook app. Scribble is fairly self-explanatory. It's a virtual sketchpad, basically - you can add photos, text, lists, and illustrations to pages, plus calendar events and reminders. For artistic types or those who prefer to write in their own handwriting, Scribble supports stylus input. As you would expect, the app is incompatible with non-HTC devices. If Scribble came preloaded on your smartphone, though, expect to see an update notification soon. Play Link

Cheers @Ma7moodHD!

Plex Pass Prices are Increasing on September 29 for New Subscribers

Tim — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:58:41 +0000

Plex announced this week that an increased price for a subscription to their Plex Pass service would be implemented, but if you are already signed up, don't worry about your current price changing. However, if you sign up on or after September 29, be prepared for a slight increase in monthly and annual fees, plus an insanely large jump in price for a lifetime membership fee. For those unfamiliar, Plex is basically a media manager of your locally stored files, making them streamable via a number of different platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac, and select set-top boxes for your TV. With Plex Pass, you get additional and early features for a monthly, annual, or lifetime membership. Here is a layout for the new pricing.

Monthly Plex Pass subscriptions will increase from $3.99 to $4.99 per month.
Annual Plex Pass subscriptions will increase from $29.99 to $39.99 per year.
Lifetime Plex Passes will increase from $74.99 to $149.99.

While the monthly pass and annual pass are not too big of a jump, the doubling of a Lifetime Plex pass seems rather harsh. However, on the bright side for anyone who decides to pay that price following September 29, Plex states that it has a lot of premium features on the way. Are you a current Plex Pass subscriber or were you thinking about signing up? How will this announcement affect your decision?

Via: Plex [Features]

Deal: Unlocked AT&T Galaxy S5 in Black, White, or Gold for $429

Kellen — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:37:30 +0000

Even though it has been available for months, longer than most 2014 flagship phones, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is still a force to be reckoned with. With its industry-leading Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 801 processor, and great camera, the Galaxy S5 still stands up nicely to other top-tier devices introduced over the last couple of months. If you haven't been moved by the new Moto X or LG G3, and the Galaxy S5 has remained on your radar, today may be the day to consider pulling the trigger on one. A current eBay daily deal has the AT&T version (SM-G900A) in black, white, or gold with 16GB of storage for just $429.99. That's off-contract of course. The device's description says that it is unlocked and should work on both AT&T and T-Mobile. It does appear to be missing one of T-Mobile's GSM bands, though, so your best bet would be to attach it to AT&T to get full LTE and GSM connectivity. The seller claims that the devices in this deal are customer or carrier returns, but remain in new condition with all accessories. Free expedited shipping is included. eBay Link

Samsung Intros Power Sharing Cable, Charge Devices Using Your Phone's Battery

Kyle — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:24:15 +0000

Battery life is not exactly a strong suit of smartwatches currently on the market. Their limited power capacity can be especially problematic if you find yourself away from a charger for more than a day or longer. While devices with longer-lasting battery tech will take a bit more R&D, Samsung has developed a solution in the interim - the Power Sharing cable. As the name implies, the Power Sharing cable lets you siphon juice from a smartphone to charge a peripheral gadget, like a smartwatch. Lest you worry about your smartphone's battery, the amount of transferred power is customizable via the accompanying Power Sharing app which is downloadable through Google Play. The cord retails for $19.99, and is capable of charging any micro USB device. Officially, you will need one of the supported Samsung Galaxy devices - the Galaxy S 5, Galaxy Tab S 10.5, Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Avant, or Galaxy Note - to use the requisite Power Sharing app, at least until intrepid developers port it to other devices (no guarantees). Google Play Link | Power Sharing Cable

Via: Samsung

DROID Turbo Back Panel Allegedly Leaks, Looks Bulletproof-Robotic-Bike-Chase-Explosion-Ready

Kellen — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 07:26:22 +0000

The DROID TURBO is coming to Verizon, likely very soon. We know that it will support Motorola's Turbo Charger, sport a DROID MAXX-like battery, maybe even wireless charging, and attempt to hide under the codename "quark" in a body that is only slightly larger than the new Moto X. Rumors suggest it will have a QHD display, 3GB RAM, and Snapdragon 805 processor, which would make it Motorola's most powerful and next-gen phone in years. Thanks to the folks at HellomotoHK, we may now know what its back panel will look like as well. Posted to their Facebook page, the HK crew has given us the back panel of a device that looks very DROID-y. The woven, KEVLAR-style from previous DROID devices can't be unseen, neither can the massive "DROID" logo situated under Verizon's own branding. The camera sits centered at the top, flanked by dual-LED flashes. The back looks round and bubbly, even more-so than last year's MAXX, which is situated next to the panel for reference. This is by no means official proof that this is what the DROID TURBO will look like, but I would be surprised if this isn't it. On a related note, from what we have seen, the front of the phone phone will also look very much like last year's MAXX, meaning capacitive navigation buttons again, along with a front-facing camera that is centered at the top of the display. A massive speaker grill will run along the top of the panel. Thoughts?

Via: HelloMotoHK Facebook

T-Mobile Moto X Finally Gets Android 4.4.4

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 17:18:48 +0000

The T-Mobile variant of the original Moto X, which is a lot like this year's "Pure Edition," is finally receiving its update to Android 4.4.4. We aren't sure what took Motorola so long to push this update out, since the Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint models have all had it for some time (update details), but that's the situation. With the T-Mobile variant being controlled by Motorola as an unlocked device, you would have figured that it should be first to receive new software. Either way, the update started as a soak at the end of last week and may be rolling now to all. To check for it, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. The update is version 213.44.1.

Cheers Scott!

iPhone 6 First Impressions - Yes, Really.

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 16:17:58 +0000

For years, we have debated whether or not we should do an iPhone review of some sort. And for years, we always decided against it for one reason or another. But this year, with iOS 8 reinventing all of our favorite Android features, along with a reinvention of the big phone ("bigger than bigger," people) through the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, we thought that it was finally time. So yes, we have an iPhone 6 and we are going to review it. Before we dive into all things iPhone 6, I want to make one thing clear - we are not going to bombard you with iPhone 6 stories unless you ask for them. We are an Android site after all, so the last thing we want to do is annoy you with stories about Android's biggest competitor. In the end, we really just want to take some extra time with the competition to really get to know the competition. That's it. To begin our coverage, I wanted to put together my initial thoughts on the device after having it in hand throughout the weekend as my daily device. This shiny little toy showed up Friday and has been by my side ever since. You will hear more in the video below, but basically, you have a phone with a great camera, beautiful display, amazing battery life, and solid performance, that is hampered by the incredibly inefficient ways that iOS forces you to work. From attempting to manage notifications to the odd way that it decides how loud volumes are to the lack of Android's back button, I can tell you that I appreciate Android more and more every day. While I have few major complaints about the phone thus far (because Apple really has made iOS closer to Android than ever), it has just become more apparent as time goes on that Android is a far superior and advanced mobile operating system - at least in the ways that I need to use it. So, here we go. Below are my first impressions of the iPhone 6. I tried to keep it short, but there is so much to say.

[responsive_vid]

Samsung Details Galaxy Mega 2 for Overseas, 6" HD Display and 8MP Rear-facing Camera

Tim — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:38:39 +0000

Teased as a follow up device to last year's Galaxy Mega 5.8, Samsung's newest Galaxy Mega 2 has finally been made official this week, packing a big screen and a few not-so-big specifications. To start it off, the Galaxy Mega 2 features a 6" HD display (1280 x 720), quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz (most likely an Exynos chipset), 1.5GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing shooter, 2.1MP front-facing shooter, 16GB of internal memory (expandable with microSD), and runs Android 4.4 with Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz software on top. As for if and when the device might be made available in the States, AT&T did have the original Galaxy Mega hit its network last year, but there is no official word yet if the Galaxy Mega 2 will hit our shores. If it does come to the US, would you be ready to pack a 6" device in your pocket?

Via: Phone Arena | Samsung

SunShine Bootloader Unlock Tool Released for Moto X, DROID Family

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 14:28:42 +0000

TeamAndIRC released their SunShine bootloader unlock for the original Moto X and the DROID family from last year (MAXX, ULTRA, and Mini), this afternoon. The unlock tool comes in the form of an .apk that is sideloaded onto your Motorola device of choice. Once installed and paid for ($25 per device), a quick run through of a compatibility check followed by an approval or two is all that it takes before your phone is unlocked. In case you are new to this, just understand that unlocking your bootloader completely voids your warranty. An unlocked bootloader does allow you to gain more control over your device, though, so if you have a tinkering spirit, this may be something to look into. In order to use SunShine with your Motorola devices, you should already be rooted. The app will try to gain temporary root for you if you are not rooted, but does warn that it may be unstable. Currently supported devices according to the SunShine site:

Motorola Moto X, Droid Maxx/Ultra/Mini (Android 4.4.3 on all, 4.4.4 on some)
Motorola G (Android 4.4.3 and below only at this time)
HTC One Mini M4
HTC One M7
HTC One M8
HTC One E8
HTC J Butteryfly
HTC One X (Evita)
Other HTC devices (Try it, SunShine will let you know if it can work!)

We have not tested this ourselves, so we will simply direct you to the links below for full details, warnings, etc. Please read everything before proceeding. Links: SunShine | XDA

[responsive_vid]

Report: Apple to Shut Down Beats Music

Tim — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:59:59 +0000

"When I listened to theirs [Beats Music] for a while, I feel completely different ... it's hard to describe." This is what Tim Cook said about Beats Music in an interview with Charlie Rose just 10 days ago on September 12. Now, as TechCrunch reports via five separate sources from inside of the company, Apple is set to shut down the music service indefinitely. It may not be the biggest surprise ever, as there was always a question as to how Beats Music fit into Apple's portfolio of offerings. With the large acquisition of Beats settled at $3 billion, Apple also had its eyes set on the hardware and packaging side of the business (the side that actually returned a profit), as well as Beats' talented founders, including Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. In the interview linked below, Cook also notes his fondness of the teams of people behind the brand itself. As of right now, no exact time frame has been set on when the streaming service's doors will close. As you can see in the interview below, Tim Cook seems rather impressed by Beats Music. Why would he then turn around and shut it down? Is it to work the curation feature into iTunes Radio, bringing a more unified branding effort to market, which Apple is well known for? We shall see.

[responsive_vid]

Via: TechCrunch

Google Play Listings Will Soon List Out In-App Purchase Prices

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 13:36:50 +0000

I think it's safe to say that the freemium application model can be a bit frustrating at times. While we love free apps, the idea that you never know what kinds of in-app purchases will be semi-forced upon you shortly after installation isn't exactly exciting. Wouldn't it be much more helpful if Google or developers told us in-app purchase prices up front, that way we knew exactly what we were about to get ourselvecs into? The Google Play store is about to, actually. According to a developer console announcement that popped up over the weekend, Google informed developers that beginning September 30, all apps "offering in-app purchases to users will have an 'in-app purchases' price range displayed on their detail page." Price ranges will include both in-app products and subscriptions. Thank you, Google.

Comments in Android Source Code Reference Android "M"

Kyle — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:32:16 +0000

Android L may be nigh upon us, hopefully accompanied by a few new Nexus devices, but work has reportedly already begun on the version to follow. Spotted first by myce, two commit comments in the Android source code reference an "M" release. Neither note is particularly indicative of what we can expect from "M" - one refers to an experimental feature of the Android debugging tool Logcat, and the other a method of data exchange, but notably, they are the first mentions of a version of Android beyond L we have seen. Of course, the commenters may have written "M" merely as a placeholder for a yet-to-be-determined name, just as we have currently with Android "L." Still, it's a logical choice - "M" would fit with the alphabetical scheme Google has followed since Cupcake. The only question? Google's choice of dessert codename. We suggest Marshmallow.

Via: myce

Monday Poll: Interested in the HTC Nexus 9?

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:16:04 +0000

Google, in collaboration with HTC and NVIDIA, is about to release the Nexus 9 tablet ("very soon"). This will be the first tablet released by Google in over a year, with the Nexus 7 (2013) being the last. It should sport close to a 9-inch high-res display, NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, maybe even an all-metal HTC One (M8)-like design, and Android L. If Google's previous tablet efforts are anything to go by, it will likely be a solid tablet at a reasonable price. But are you interested? There are countless Android tablets available these days, many at sub $200 price tags. Do you want a high-end all-metal HTC-made Nexus tablet? Do you want a tablet at all? I would venture to guess that many of you already own a tablet, so is a new Nexus tablet something worth considering as a replacement? Do you own an oversized smartphone and not see a need for a tablet? I can tell you that the DL staff is more interested to see what Google can bring in the form of a new Nexus phone than a tablet. But what about you? [poll id="331"]

SALT Card, a New Keyless Entry Method for Smartphones Available on Kickstarter

Tim — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 10:46:31 +0000

A Kickstarter project, just like any other project on the crowd-funding site, hopes to speed up your day by allowing you to keep your phone secure, while also accessing it more quickly when you have security options enabled. With the SALT card, which is in the shape of a credit card, users will no longer need to enter their pin or pass codes while within 10ft. of the card, as the device and card wirelessly sync thanks to Bluetooth technology. To partner with SALT, an Android app will also be made available, allowing you to locate your wallet or purse via a map should you ever lose them while out on the town. Not only can you locate your lost items with the app, but users can set usage limitations for applications when your card is not near the device. These apps can be selected through the partnered SALT application. In addition, the company states that SALT's battery life is approximately 1 year, and is easily manageable, given its credit card shape. Interested? Check out the Kickstarter campaign video below, then if you are ready to back the project, follow the link below. Backing amounts start at just $10 for a SALT card.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Kickstarter

Hacked, From the Maker of Falcon for Twitter, Enters Beta

Tim — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 09:38:47 +0000

A new game is on its way to Google Play, titled Hacked, but first is making the rounds through the beta process for select testers. The game is being developed by two gentleman, one of which is responsible for the 3rd-party Twitter client known as Falcon, Joaquim Vergès. The game itself, which is labeled as the world's first mobile coding application, will be geared more towards developers and tech fanatics than your average Angry Birds gamer. From the preview video provided, players will be dealing with actual development vernacular, as they "write code" to help save the world as a new FBI employee. It looks pretty intense, if defeating cyber terrorists is something you are into. Want to be a part of the action? Join the Beta here.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Hacked App

HTC Nexus 9 is Arriving "Soon," According to Two Reports

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 07:26:08 +0000

Thanks to legal documents posted by NVIDIA that detail reasons for their upcoming patent lawsuit with Samsung and Qualcomm, we know that Google and HTC have teamed up to produce the HTC Nexus 9 tablet running a Tegra K1 processor. Those documents have since been edited to leave out any mention of the tablet, but of course, we still have proof here. This morning, two new reports out of the Wall Street Journal and The Verge again confirm the tablet's existence and that it should be here very soon. Speaking with sources close to the matter, the WSJ mentions that engineers from HTC have been flying back and forth from Mountain View to Taiwan in recent months to work with Google on getting the project ready. As you know, Google works closely with its Nexus manufacturers as it readies both new hardware and the software that it runs. No other details were mentioned, but it is expected that the Nexus 9 will debut with the public launch of Android L. Most of us expect that to happen in October, even if NVIDIA's legal documents said "third quarter." Anyone think that Google will do an online unveiling again out of no where, with no press event?

Via: Wall Street Journal | The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Alpha is Headed to AT&T in Three Colors for $199

Kellen — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 06:55:51 +0000

This morning, AT&T posted a new video to their YouTube channel, introducing the Samsung Galaxy Alpha into their lineup of smartphones. The odd thing is, the video is sort of out there by itself without a formal announcement with pricing or availability details. It's tough to tell if the video was supposed to have been made public or not, but either way, we caught it and should see official details before long. As of now, the Galaxy Alpha on AT&T sounds just the Galaxy Alpha that you were introduced to back in August (specs). You have the all-metal exterior, which is Samsung's new design direction that aims to bring a more premium feel to its hardware. You also have the 4.7-inch HD Super AMOLED (1280x720) display, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 32GB of storage, 12MP rear camera, 2.1MP front camera, heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner, Ultra Power Saving Mode, etc. The Galaxy Alpha will be available in black, white and gold. Once we have pricing and availability, we will update this post. Update: The Galaxy Alpha will be available on September 26 and in AT&T stores for $199 on-contract or $612.99 at full retail. If you choose a monthly payment plan through AT&T Next 18 or 12, you are looking at $25.55 or $30.65 per month, respectively.

[responsive_vid]

Via: AT&T

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/19/2014

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:00:41 +0000

Another week has come and gone, but it has left us with a lot to look back and reflect on. If you were standing in line this morning for an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, you may have missed a few of the top stories, so be sure to catch up on all of the Android hotness that took place this week, just in case. This week was highlighted by the posting of our Moto X (2nd gen.) and Moto 360 reviews, as well as Microsoft's announcement for the purchase of Minecraft for $2.5 billion. In addition, Punit Soni announced he would be departing Motorola, we learned that the new Moto X won't make its way to Sprint, and we reported that WiFi calling will make its way to Verizon's network sometime next year. Here are the highlights should you have missed any of the action.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Welcome, iPhone Users and iOS Developers, to Fragmentation.

Kellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:53:03 +0000

Lulz. https://twitter.com/gruber/status/513071331915878400 https://twitter.com/saschasegan/status/513070929594023936 https://twitter.com/zpower/status/513071867109052416 https://twitter.com/grahamwetzler/status/513045517702811648 https://twitter.com/phiero/status/513080138854977536 https://twitter.com/DenZhadanov/status/513051769421975552 https://twitter.com/whargrove/status/513011229120397312 https://twitter.com/JoshHighland/status/513072545365753856 https://twitter.com/evansio/status/513079005478944768 https://twitter.com/King_Eazzy/status/513078928731549696 https://twitter.com/isrob/status/513071984713142272 https://twitter.com/AnthonyCWaldron/status/513077414659100672 And I quit.

IMAGE

Friday App Sales: Pirates and Traders: Gold, Wayward Souls, Little Stars for Little Wars 2, and More

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:08:29 +0000

It's Friday, which means it is that time of the week where we round up the current deals taking place on Google Play for you to enjoy over the glorious weekend. This week, games such as Pirates and Traders: Gold (it just so happens to be Talk Like a Pirate Day), Wayward Souls, and Little Stars for Little Wars are currently on sale, all of which can lead to tons of fun if you end up not having any plans this weekend. If you are interested in checking out a few apps and games, the list is below. Friday app sales

Lost in Paradise ($0.99)
Little Stars for Little Wars 2 ($0.99)
Pirates and Traders: Gold ($2.99)
Jimi Guitar ($1.99)
Wayward Souls ($1.99)
Autumn Dynasty - RTS ($2.99)
Archos Video Player ($0.99)
TOI: Beyond the Iron Wall ($0.99)
TOI: Fallen Knight ($0.99)
Assassin's Creed Pirates (Free)
ProCapture ($0.99)
ScanBizCards Premium ($0.99)
Pocket Stables ($1.20)
Servers Ultimate Pro ($3.99)
Light Meter Tools ($1.99)

Go support those developers.

Friday Poll: Buying the New Moto X?

Kellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:39:50 +0000

Not that the release of our review should mean that you can finally decide whether or not you are buying the new Moto X, but we would love to know your thoughts after reading not only ours, but others' as well. The Moto X review units have been in the hands of press for a couple of weeks, which means several outlets have weighed in. Some are calling it the best Android phone ever made, others are calling it a solid option. We think it fits somewhere in the middle of those two categories, as a device that is better than last year's Moto X, but still needs improvements in a couple of key areas. So, when the Moto X finally arrives (more than likely before the end of the month), are you buying one? [poll id="330"]

Horizon App Forces Horizontal Video Using Gyroscope Data

Kyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:50:24 +0000

No matter how unviewable the results, it seems a growing number of people have an inexplicable proclivity to shooting portrait video on their smartphone. Whatever the reason (One-handed operation? Technical ignorance?), it's a horrible practice that the developer of video app Horizon is trying desperately to stop. A worthy cause, indeed. Horizon is a clever application that relies on your device's gyroscope to force horizontal orientation when recording video. Regardless of whether you hold your smartphone vertically, diagonally, or somewhere in-between, the result is contiguous widescreen. Horizon even compensates for changes in orientation - you can (within reason) twist and turn your device without measurably impacting the quality of the final video. Settings are a bit barebones, at the moment. Depending on your device's hardware, you can shoot in VGA, HD and Full HD resolutions. Three leveling modes varying in corrective aggressiveness are available, plus video quality options for reducing file size. Horizon is currently free on Google Play. To the repeat offenders out there, please consider using it next time you try to film a concert. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Android L Will Enable Full-Disk Encryption By Default

Kyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:09:09 +0000

In a laudable move, Google will enable full-disk encryption in Android L by default. That's according to comments made by a company spokesperson to the Washington Post yesterday, which conspicuously followed an open letter penned by Apple's Tim Cook touting, among other iOS 8 privacy features and policies, whole device encryption. In theory, full-disk encryption obfuscates the data contained within device memory until a passcode or PIN is entered. Essentially, it makes encrypted tablets and smartphones useless to parties who would otherwise use software tools to work around lock screen protections, like law enforcement. Some may note that whole device encryption has been available on Android since 3.0 Honeycomb, and that Google's decision to enable it by default is simply reactionary. I can't disagree, but I would argue the trend is a positive one - if the impact on battery and performance is minimal, why not work to better secure the devices on which we constantly rely? Android L's release is set for sometime soon, so be prepared for a more secure device once you get the update.

Via: Washington Post

Contest: Win a Moto 360 From Droid Life (Day 5 of 5)!

Kellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:19:38 +0000

Day 5! The final chance to win! No need for an introduction at this point, since we have already given away four Moto 360s. So here we go. It is the same deal as the first ~~three~~ four days - simply fill out however many entries you would like in the Rafflecopter widget below, sit back in your chair, and wait for Monday morning at 9:00am Pacific to see if you are winning a brand new Moto 360 in silver/grey. Let's do this (again, again, again, again).

Contest

Day 5 Prize: 1 (one) Moto 360 in silver/grey. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: Our winner will be chosen at random, Monday morning, September 22, at 9:00AM Pacific.

Star Wars: Commander Released to Google Play, Choose Your Side of the Force

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:10:01 +0000

In the new Star Wars: Commander game, published by Disney onto Google Play, you must choose to fight for either the Rebel Alliance or team with Darth Vader and the Empire. Even though you just enlisted, no matter what side you choose, you are made a commander of an entire army. To relate the gameplay to another popular title, it is much like Clash of Clans, but Star Wars themed. You must choose your battle strategy wisely, then lead your forces into battle against opposing forces, capturing enemy bases and destroying whatever weapons they have. Thankfully, this game is based on the first trilogy, so no Jar Jar Binks should be seen. If you enjoy battle strategy games, this should be right up your alley. The game is free to download from Google Play, but does feature IAPs. Make sure you have in-app purchases locked if you let your kids play. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Noyze Volume Panel Brings Custom Level Controls With No Root Required

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:45:49 +0000

If bringing a custom touch to your volume controls has been on your mind, you may want to check out Noyze Volume Panel. With Noyze, which is basically an Xposed module made available with no root, free to download on Google Play, users can set a new place to control their volume, instead of the regular pop-up panel you would see on most Android devices. Once enabled, there are a few custom themes to choose from, which include sliders on the top of your notification bar (pictured above), as well as floating panels that feature multiple sound controls. Heck, you can even choose to make it look like the ringer setting you would find on an iOS device. Not only can you change a theme, but you can also change the color of the sliders. With an IAP, users are given additional access to even more settings and themes. As mentioned, the app is free to download, so if you enjoy tinkering with the look and feel of your Android device, feel free to give it a try. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Samsung Galaxy Alpha "A5" Shown Off in Leaked Photos

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:30:09 +0000

Photos of yet another upcoming Samsung device leaked this morning, courtesy of SamMobile. The pictures show off the latest device in the A series from the Samsung, being the Galaxy Alpha A5. The phone is much like its big brother, the Galaxy Alpha, but will instead be marketed as a mid-range device, featuring specs that make it suitable for that category. The device is reported to feature a 5" HD Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 400 processor, 13MP rear-facing camera, 2,330mAh battery, 16GB of storage expandable with microSD, and runs Android 4.4+ with TouchWiz on top. As for the hardware, the source of the photos claims that the phone is comprised of something other than metal or plastic, but does feel cold to the touch. For phone hardware, it is hard to place an exact guess on what exactly that material could be, but Samsung ultimately wants to offer a premium feel, while still staying low on cost to produce. No word yet as to when we can expect to see the Alpha A5 launch, but when it does, would you be interested?

Via: SamMobile

Moto X Review (2nd Generation)

Kellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Last year's Moto X earned "Top Android Phone of 2013" honors from our staff even though it had some pretty major flaws. With its below-average 720p display and mostly-terrible camera, the overall package still bested the rest of smartphones in the game, thanks to its perfect size, Moto Maker customizations, and incredible software add-ons from Motorola. So what happens when Motorola takes what it created from last year's best Android phone and tries to improve it in all areas, especially those two we just mentioned? You get the Moto X (2nd generation). With generation two, Motorola has gone with a bigger 1080p display, because that's what their research showed that people want. They also tossed in a 13MP camera, premium metal frame, and added options like Leather to Moto Maker, but managed to keep a phone that looks and acts very similar to last year's model. So did Motorola get it right again? Let's find out. This is our Moto X (2nd generation) review.

The Good

Design I absolutely love the design of the new Moto X. Aside from it growing in size because of its 5.2-inch display and Motorola tossing in a really awkward-looking "M" logo on the back that looks like a button or a token for an arcade game, there is nothing I would change about the appearance. It fits perfectly in your hand, just like last year's model did, thanks to special care taken by Motorola. If you go with a leather back, it feels soft and pillowy in hand. The metal frame makes the device both look and feel very high-end, something that couldn't be said on the original. Even the massive, clear camera ring and housing is growing on me at this point. The glass on the front of the device cascades around all edges, so as you swipe across it, your finger feels nothing but smooth bliss. The buttons on the side of the device are perfectly placed, with the power button now having texture to help you separate it from the volume rocker. The speakers looked a bit awkward at first, but now I see that they are extensions of the design used in the side buttons and actually fit the whole scheme very well, especially with their slight sparkle. Last year, I told everyone to give the Moto X a shot because it felt so amazing in hand. If you read nothing else in the review after this, then please, at least listen to me again and get this phone in hand for a couple of minutes. It truly feels better than any other phone released this year.

Moto Maker When Motorola released Moto Maker for the original Moto X as a service that would let you customize the entire look of your phone without any additional cost, our minds were a little blown. The fact that they were shipping those custom made phones out to customers in under a week's time, was off the charts awesome. But when news spread that Motorola would be closing the plant that gave Moto Maker its start, we were worried that our days of customizing phones had come to an end. And then Motorola assured us that nothing was changing, because they had opened a new plant in China to help take over the process. Moto Maker lives on and it's better than ever. The new Moto Maker offers 25 different back finishes, including four all-new Leather options sourced from Horween, a tannery based out of Chicago. Four Natural backs return, along with another 17 colors that were systematically chosen by Motorola based on a number of factors. They actually have a special team member that's job is to pick the perfect colors for things like Moto Maker.

Moto Maker also brings back storage options of 16GB or 32GB, along with black or white front panels which are surrounded by either dark grey metal or lighter silver metal, respectively. There are 10 trim colors, specially made cases to help show off your design, boot-up messages, engraving, pre-set matching wallpapers, and an option to choose which color charger is included. It was the coolest smartphone tool last year, yet only managed to get even cooler this year. I don't know how well the Leather backs will hold up over a 2-year contract, but I would strongly recommend considering one. The review unit I have features a black leather back panel and it is phenomenal feeling. It seems to get prettier by the day, with the little nicks and scuffs that day-to-day wear brings. Again, two years with a phone made of soft leather could be a disaster, yet I can say that I went ahead and pulled the trigger on one as a personal daily device because I'm that excited about it. Hardware Motorola really had to deal with backlash from vocal tech enthusiasts last year when they put out the Moto X at $199 on-contract with a 720p display and a two-year old Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor that they claimed to have customized. You see, by the time the new Moto X launched, we had already seen a number of phones with 1080p displays and next-gen quad-core processors. But Motorola stood by their decision to go with a customized chipset and lower-resolution display, which we later confirmed performed as good as the rest of the phones in its category. So what was their move this time around? Well, they listened to those vocal tech enthusiasts and mostly beefed up the new Moto X to current standards. They included a bigger 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED display, a current-gen quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, and bumped up the camera to a 13MP Sony sensor. Motorola then ditched the plastics for a metal frame around the phone, added premium Leather as an option for the back, moved the speaker around to the front, and tossed in some extra infrared sensors to help add to its Moto Display experience.

Unfortunately, Motorola left out a micro SD slot, so you are stuck with either 16GB or 32GB of storage with no option to expand upon that. The speaker setup on the front is also a bit deceiving, as it appears to be a dual-speaker setup, when in reality is only a single speaker located at the bottom. The top speaker is only used during calls rather than to make a stereo sound experience come to life on the device. One could argue that the 2,300mAh battery is a little small as well. Overall, Motorola mostly got it all right this time around. We have a high-resolution 1080p display that grew to 5.2-inches, a potentially better camera, faster processor, and premium materials. Performance Performance on the new Moto X is as good as it gets for an Android phone. The touch responsiveness is excellent, the camera fires up instantly when you need it to, there isn't a stutter to be found when cruising through the UI, the app switcher works quickly, the display lights up before you even realize you need it to, and jumping in and out of apps or games happens as fast as you would hope from a phone in 2014. Motorola didn't put a 2-year old processor in this year's phone, instead opting for a current Snapdragon 801, the same processor found in the One (M8), Galaxy S5, and G3. But when you take a Snapdragon 801 and let it shine without suffocating it through custom Android skins like all of those other manufacturers have done, you get the best performance of any Android phone this year.

Software We love Motorola's approach to software. They give you stock Android first (with the Google Now Launcher this time), but then add-on a bunch of really useful software features that complement the experience. Motorola's mindset behind software is to not ruin the good thing that stock Android has going - they just want to include features that you can use alongside it that no one else is doing. The Moto X's best features are back again this year as a rebranded Moto app. Touchless Control is now Moto Voice, Active Display is now Moto Display, Assist is still Assist, and then we have a new player in the group called Moto Actions.

Moto Voice has been given so many new features that I'm not sure I can list them all. First, it will now let you customize its launch phrase. "OK, Google Now" is out, in is almost anything you can think of. Mine has changed every couple of days, but currently, in order to interact with my phone, I simply say, "Wake up Moto X." From there, a whole bunch of new commands are at my disposal, from being able to post to Facebook to taking a selfie to saying "Goodnight" to put your phone into sleep mode. You can ask for your data usage, ask "What's up?" to hear your current notification situation, or pull up the YouTube app and your favorite artist. With the first Moto X, I didn't use Touchless Control all that much, but with this new version, I find myself using Moto Voice several times per day. Moto Display is still without a doubt my favorite software feature on any phone, ever. Getting rid of the useless notification light in favor of lighting up a minimal amount of pixels on your display to show you real information has been an incredible game changer. This time around, Motorola improved Moto Display by allowing you to interact with up to three notifications at once instead of just one. You can swipe into individual apps or swipe to the left or right to quiet the screen again, plus you have more control over what's displayed this year as well.

Moto Assist hasn't improved all that much in terms of new features, but you will find new settings in Driving and Meeting modes. As someone who works out of a home office, I don't find all that many uses for Assist outside of the Sleeping function, but I could see how this could be a powerful tool for those on the go or in and out of meetings. For those new to Assist, think of it as an automated service that changes settings on your phone depending on if you are driving, sleeping, in a meeting, or at home. It can talk to you or play music if it senses you are driving, turn off all interruptions when in a meeting, or completely silence your phone when it knows you are sleeping. This is all done automatically, by the way. Moto Actions are the new option to the group and use the new infrared sensors housed in the front of the display. With Moto Actions you can wave over the top of your phone during an incoming call to silence it and also watch as Moto Display lights up when your hand approaches the device. Last year's Quick Capture twisting motion is technically a part of Moto Actions as well. Software Updates should come often and quick if last year's Motorola line-up is anything to go by. Motorola was one of the fastest in the industry to update to the latest versions of Android throughout last year, something we doubt will change in 2014. Don't be surprised that when Android L goes public, if Motorola is ready to update the new Moto X within a couple of weeks. Also, all of the Moto suite of apps that we just talked about have been added/updated on Google Play and will only continue to get better throughout the Moto X's life. Display As I mentioned in the "Hardware" section, Motorola's decision to go with a 720p AMOLED panel in last year's Moto X wasn't exactly praised. But this year, they have corrected their mistake by putting in a 1080p AMOLED panel that measures 5.2-inches. This is a solid display. The colors are extra punchy, the contrast is probably over-the-top, and viewing angles are excellent. It is also very responsive to touch, something that Android devices have struggled with for years as they attempt to get on par with Apple's touch mojo. After looking at a macro of the display (see below), it appears as if Motorola is using a diamond pixel arrangement, similar to what Samsung has used for the last couple of years in its Galaxy lines. Technically, you could call it PenTile, but we gave up complaining about PenTile displays a couple of years ago when the pixel-per-inch count went through the roof. The display may not be quite as crystal clear and color correct as Samsung's panel, but it gets the job done without fuss. As you scroll, the display reacts swiftly to your touch and text renders perfectly and without blur. Keep in mind that Motorola has also specifically chosen an AMOLED panel in the device to use with Moto Display, so that they can select which pixels light up without having to light up the entire display, a move that should help with battery consumption.

As you can see in our comparisons above, the new Moto X panel comes off quite warm when you compare it to the LCDs used in the LG G3 and HTC One (M8), along with the Super AMOLED used in the Galaxy S5. It's actually about as warm as the original Moto X (that slightly orange-ish/yellow-ish tint), which if I'm being honest, bothered me after a while last year. So far, though, the AMOLED panel on the new Moto X is pretty great. I didn't actually notice how warm it was until I took these pictures.

Macros for fun.

Price Motorola is pricing the new Moto X to try and undercut the rest of the players in the game. This is their flagship phone, however, they are pricing it at $99 with a 2-year contract or $499 at full retail for the 16GB model. Other flagship smartphones typically retail for $199 and $599, even with similar specs. For example, the Galaxy S5 still lists for $199 on-contract, but is similar to the Moto X with its 5.1-inch 1080p AMOLED display, 2GB RAM, Snapdragon 801 processor, and 16MP camera. Plus, the new Moto X looks and feels a hell of a lot better in hand than Samsung's latest. Will the lower price move the Moto X in 2014? That's tough to say. Most tech reviewers fell in love with last year's model, but Motorola still couldn't sell very many. Maybe the initial price cut will help. Then again, does Motorola even have a marketing budget anymore now that Google is trying to send them off to Lenovo? I guess we'll find out soon enough. Accessories Motorola is one of the few companies trying to not only innovate through their phones, but also through the accessories they sell alongside them. With the Moto X, Motorola is introducing the Hint, a discreet Bluetooth ear piece that allows you to completely control your phone without having to touch it. For example, you could leave your phone in your purse or bag, but still talk to and interact with it through the Hint. The Hint is an interesting accessory because it can barely be seen when worn. This isn't one of those terrifyingly silly Bluetooth headsets that Barry Watkins wears with his suit as he stops off at the sandwich shop for lunch. The Hint isn't the only accessory that Motorola is bringing along for the ride. They are also introducing the Turbo Charger, which can give the Moto X up to 8 hours of battery life within 15 minutes. The charger takes advantage of Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0. It works the fastest when your phone is almost completely depleted, by offering up a bunch of juice initially before slowing down as your battery fills up. Finally, Motorola is already selling the Power Pack Micro, a power bank that gives you juice while on the go, but also acts as a key fob of sorts when paired to your phone.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Camera Is it safe to say that the "camera" section of every single Moto X (2nd gen) review has been the most anticipated of the year? After last year's disaster of a camera in the original Moto X, Motorola had no choice but to do something completely different this time around. They have done that in some form by at least going with a Sony sensor in favor of the Omnivision sensors they have used for years. They also tossed in a dual-LED ring flash that is supposed to bring in much softer, more natural light when taking photos with the flash on (wait, people use the flash?). So, what's the verdict? Well, the camera is capable. It isn't terrible. That's an improvement, right? In fact, unlike with last year's Moto X, I am actually not ashamed to post pictures to Instagram that were taken with the new model, if that means anything to anyone. With great lighting, it can take pretty solid pictures, just like most smartphone cameras. In low light, it's not the best - again, like most smartphone cameras. With that said, the low light performance on the new Moto X is probably closer to "bad" than "good," especially when you compare it to the G3 or Galaxy S5. In daylight, though, I would put its photos up against photos taken from most of today's top tier phones. Here are our sample photos that have only been resized to fit this post better. You will find the full resolution photos linked below that, for those who really want to dive in.

Full resolution: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

While testing, mostly in Chicago, I took a bunch of cityscape and building photos that turned out really well when looked at on a smaller screen (like a phone) or on a social network. Blow up the photos and you will most definitely notice the noise and the less-than-sharp lines, probably due to too much processing. The colors captured seem to be quite accurate to my eye, but every so often come off a little muted. It's kind of a mixed bag with the camera, which is why we placed it here. Some photos I really like, others I would re-shoot if I had the chance. Like last year, your photos will look just fine with great lighting or in an outdoor situation (where most of your photos are likely taken). Come inside or find poorly lit areas and you may not love the results. It is definitely a step up, both in speed and picture quality, but I wouldn't say that it is all that close to the total package you are getting with the Galaxy S5 or LG G3. As for the camera UI, the experience mimics last year's model, but adds the option to choose between 4:3 (13MP) and 16:9 (9.7MP) resolutions. Motorola also tossed in 4K video recording. They kept the super minimal UI, though, along with the double-wrist-twist Quick Capture camera gesture. Focusing can be a bit finicky at times, so I would recommend going with the drag-to-focus option. Overall, the camera on the new Moto X is perfectly fine for most shooting situations, it just isn't stellar. I would have loved to see stellar, but then again, an improvement over last year's camera experience is at least that, an improvement.

Battery Life Earlier in the week, I told you that battery life on the new Moto X wasn't great. I advised that you buy a Turbo Charger just in case, because there is a good chance you will need some extra juice before you go to bed each night. After factory resetting my phone and testing the device for another three days leading up to this review, I still feel the same way. The Moto X battery clocks in at 2,300mAh, which is by all means pretty small for a 2014 flagship and it shows in my results. The new Moto X is quite capable of pushing through 14-16 hours of use each day, but maybe not much more than that. I have been through at least a half-dozen other flagship phones this year that all provide much more life out of a single charge than the Moto X. It will get you from the moment you wake up in the morning until you arrive home from work in the evening, but don't expect it to have much left as you sit back and relax on your couch before heading off to bed or out on the town for a nightcap.

Motorola decided that it would rather make a phone that remained slim and felt great in your hand instead of tossing in an all-day battery. While I love the feel of this device in hand, it really would have been fun to see Motorola construct a great feeling phone that also killed it in the battery department. I guess we'll have to wait for that kind of battery life in the new DROID that they are making in partnership with Verizon. Availability The new Moto X will launch around September 26 here in the US. AT&T and Verizon will both carry the phone at that time, but it appears that T-Mobile and Sprint have decided against it. Motorola confirmed via Twitter that there won't be a Sprint model, and if you want a T-Mobile version, you have to fork out the full $499 asking price for the "Pure Edition" since there isn't a T-Mo edition available on contract. AT&T also seems to have nabbed early Moto Maker exclusivity again, at least up until the official launch day. These moves are all pretty unfortunate unless you are on AT&T. If you aren't, then you may not be able to buy the phone for your carrier at all or you may have to wait before you can customize the phone with Moto Maker. I know that Motorola is selling millions of Moto Gs and Es, while the X hasn't moved as well as they would have hoped, but limiting the availability of your flagship phone is never a good thing. "Pure Edition" or Developer Editions With last year's Moto X, Motorola gave us two Developer Editions, one built for Verizon's CDMA network and another that was unlocked for GSM fans. This year, they ditched the Verizon model and are instead only offering one developer-friendly phone, the "Pure Edition." This phone comes SIM unlocked with support on both AT&T and T-Mobile, won't contain any carrier bloatware or branding, will receive software updates before any other Moto X, and also has an unlockable bootloader for those who like to tinker a bit with their phones. This is the Moto X to get if you aren't on Verizon and don't mind paying full retail. But we are dinging Motorola a bit here because of the decision to go away from a Verizon model. While we understand that they likely only sold them in limited quantities and probably found that getting the phone approved for Verizon's network wasn't worth the cost or hassle, the choice would have been nice. Hacker-friendly phones on Verizon are hard to come by these days.

No SD Card / Wireless Charging There aren't any things wrong with the new Moto X that I would call "deal breakers," but there are a couple of items missing that I certainly wish it had. For one, the Moto X needs a micro SD card slot. All other manufacturers put SD card slots in their flagships this year (Galaxy S5, One (M8), G3, and Xperia Z3 all have them) except Motorola. Motorola even put one in the Moto G because that's what their research showed that people want, yet they left it out of the X. Since Motorola is starting the Moto X with 16GB of storage, I would advise that you fork out the extra cash for the extra storage bump to 32GB. 16GB of storage in 2014 is just not enough, even with cloud storage. Second, wireless charging would be a great addition. Again, not a deal breaker, but since many of us have already invested in wireless chargers because we own devices like the Nexus 5, it would have been a welcomed feature.

The Not-so-Good

No Sprint I don't have Sprint service, and I wouldn't advise anyone switch from their current wireless provider to it, but even I can admit that it's unfortunate that Motorola is not releasing a Moto X on the Now Network. This is a great phone that Sprint customers will never have the option of choosing. That's too bad.

Videos

Unboxing

[responsive_vid vid_url="EyEnhfgu7K8"]

Software Tour

[responsive_vid vid_url="-aMLbBwJhUA"]

vs. Moto X (1st generation)

[responsive_vid vid_url="7mMrANKM2H4"]

Gallery

The Verdict

Is the new Moto X the best Android phone of 2014? That depends on what you need from a phone. If you want the best feeling phone of any 2014 flagship, one that can be customized to your liking, that still sports a 1080p display and powerful Snapdragon 801 processor, receives updates to new versions of Android faster than any other phone outside of a Nexus, and performs flawlessly through stock Android while managing to perform tasks no other Android phone is capable of thanks to a Moto suite of apps, then yes, it might be the best Android phone of the year. If the best phone of 2014 needs to have the best smartphone camera, a 20+ hour battery life, and availability on Sprint, then no, this is not the phone of the year. For me, the new Moto X could be the phone that replaces the LG G3 in my pocket on a daily basis. The performance, feel of the phone, and Moto suite are as good as ever. The camera is improved over last year's phone, as is the display. The only real issue I personally have, is that the battery life isn't as good as I would like. Hopefully, a Turbo Charger can fix that concern. If it can, then this is the Android phone I'll be sticking with.

Galaxy Note 4 Now Available for Pre-Order From Verizon and AT&T

Kellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:47:33 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is now up for pre-order from the two biggest wireless carriers in the US. Both Verizon and AT&T went live with pre-orders late last night, so if you are ready to become one with the newest version of Samsung's oversized phone, the time is now. Well, sort of now. This is just a pre-order, which means you won't get your phone until October 17. But you get that already. I'll stop rambling. The links for each are below. Verizon appears to only be selling the black version at this time, whereas AT&T is offering either black or white. The on-contract price remains $299, like all previous Notes. If you choose a different payment route, things get a little wonky depending on which carrier you choose. Verizon will get you into the Galaxy Note 4 for $34.99 per month for 20 months if you choose their Edge payment plan, or $699 if you want to buy it up front. AT&T has two payment plans available of $34.42 per month or $41.30, with the difference in price happening because of upgrade times. If you want to buy the Note 4 at full retail from AT&T, they are currently listing it at $825.99. That, is insane. Don't forget to catch up on Galaxy Note 4 news if you have not already. Here is how it compares to the new iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung's official introduction video, and our hands-on. Links: Verizon Pre-order | AT&T Pre-order

Cheers Mike and John!

Question of the Day: Has Hardware Design Reached a Plateau?

Tim — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:04:56 +0000

In a recent discussion posted online between Vodafone and Warren Saunders, Sony's UK and Ireland Sales Director, Saunders talks about the new Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. Early in the talks, Saunders states that when it comes down to a buyer deciding between the larger Xperia Z3 and the smaller Z3 Compact, it's simply, "a choice thing." With almost identical internal specs, the question is, do buyers want a big phone or a not-so-big phone? But more importantly, and the actual reason for this post, is that Saunders alludes to one very important theory within this discussion. To him, it appears that hardware/design innovations have essentially reached a plateau, and companies like Sony, will begin to focus more on a cohesive package across multiple devices. He continues with, "It’s all about how we can offer a much more in-depth and immersive level of service. In terms of software, we wanted to bring all of the Sony hallmarks together in one cohesive package. There’s the camera, which leverages knowhow from our digital imaging lenses that are used across the world. There’s the Sony display panel technology with the TRILUMINOS screen." Taking a step back and looking at many of the flagship products offered from today's top device manufacturers, it would appear that each company has basically reached its peak in terms of hardware design offerings. For example, while minor tweaks have been made, the past few Galaxy devices from Samsung have basically looked the same, plus HTC seems quite happy with the appearance of their M series of One devices, with last year's One (M7) looking very similar to this year's One (M8). The point is, each company seems content with their own individual design language. Does this mean that we, as consumers, should no longer expect major design revamps from the top OEMs? Should we only look forward to what new software these companies will bake into the operating systems they run? If this year was any telling as to smartphone "innovations," then where do we go from here? We already have insanely-powered smartphones with crazy-high resolutions, capable of running complex software, followed by us only being disappointed that our phones are dying every night because battery technology is still trying to catch up. Below in the comments, feel free to share your thoughts on whether you think innovation in hardware and device design has reached a plateau. If you feel it has not, please share your ideas on what you might think is the next big step for mobile devices.

AT&T Ships Out Update to Galaxy S4, Stays on Android 4.4.2

Tim — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:56:11 +0000

The Galaxy S4 on AT&T is receiving an update this week, build number I337UCUFNI1, but unfortunately it is not Android 4.4.4 or include any forward-facing new features. However, the update does feature connectivity improvements related to receiving calls and text messaging. To top it off, AT&T states a security patch is inside of the update, as well as updated Google apps. That's about it. What's New

Connectivity improvements related to receiving calls and text messaging
Security patch
Updated Google apps

Via: AT&T

Samsung Launches $200 Guaranteed Total Trade-in Program for Galaxy Note 4

Tim — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:00:17 +0000

Starting tomorrow through October 17, which is the official launch date for the Galaxy Note 4, anyone who pre-orders Samsung's latest device through any carrier or retailer is eligible for a guaranteed $200 total trade-in value on almost any working smartphone. The process to receive your cash, which is listed on a new launch page from Samsung, looks somewhat difficult, but should not be over the heads of anyone who has ever filled out a mail-in rebate. It is essentially the same thing. Here is how it works. First, you will need to pre-order the Note 4 between 9/19 and 10/16 through any carrier or retailer. Following that, Samsung simply states "trade in any working smartphone." Then, on October 10, head back to Samsung's promo site to submit your purchase and trade-in information. At that time, you will also provide your name, mailing address, and date of birth. Continuing, you will enter your device's IMEI and WiFi Mac address. These are the numbers that make your phone different from anyone else's. Finally, you will upload both trade-in and purchase receipts for Samsung's validation. Once everything is settled, you will receive a check in the mail. Your main question may be, but what if my phone is not worth $200? Samsung states that they are spotting the difference, with a minimum of $10, to reach that $200 trade-in value. Pretty nice of them to do, right? If you were going to purchase the Galaxy Note 4, and have no use for the phone you are currently using, then taking advantage of this deal is not a bad idea. However, if you have a newer phone still, one which is worth more than $200, there are probably better options.

Via: Samsung

Cheers Jay P.!

5 Fresh Icon Packs: Alos, Sawyer, Etched, Balx, and Tenuix

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:50:20 +0000

Within days of posting our last "5 fresh icon packs" feature, another 10 or so quickly popped up on our radar to be featured in the next round-up. I feel like I say this almost every time, but icon designers just keep getting better and better even though you would figure that ideas from this scene would plateau or stall for a while. Thankfully, that hasn't even come close to happening, which is evidenced by the five packs we have to feature today. We have packs that carry a vintage vibe, others that put a better spin on Apple's flat iOS theme, and even one that puts to use the floating circle button from Google's Material Design. If you can't find a pack in this round-up to slap on your phone, then I'm not sure you have any taste.

Alos

This icon pack utilizes the flat trend of the day, but does so with "stock" colors and and square icons with rounded corners. It reminds me a bit of iOS' new design guidelines, but with an Android flair that is unmistakable. The colors aren't that Easter-y lightness, but are instead the tones you expect to see from within you favorite Google apps. They are clean, include enough detail to represent apps, and should sit nicely atop almost any wallpaper. Alos has over 2,300 HD icons, that awesome clock widget, 31 HD wallpapers, icon masking, Muzei support, and will work with almost all of the top launchers (Nova, Apex, Aviate, GO, Action, etc.) This is the pack currently on my Moto X (pictured above). Play Link ($0.99)

Sawyer

This is one of my favorite icon sets of the past year, without a doubt. Sawyer brings home a true vintage feel with its textured backplate and striping, but still remains somewhat modern with the crisp edges of its icon identifiers. Speaking of icon identifiers - these truly pop, thanks to subtle shading that also allows each icon to have some dimension without being another long-shadow pack. There are 755 "handmade" icons in the pack, 37 amazing wallpapers (seriously, you need these in your life), Muzei support, and should work with most of the top launchers. This is the current pack on my LG G3. Play Link ($0.99)

Etched Material Design

Need more Material Design in your life? With Etched, you can bring the Material Design button icon to your home screen and app drawer. This icon pack is incredibly simple, with use of stock Android colors and white icon identifiers, but that's sort of why it's so brilliant. It should work with almost any setup, especially muted wallpapers that need some color in their day. There are over 400 "hand crafted" icons in the pack, icon masking, three wallpapers, and support with your favorite launchers (Nova, Apex, Holo, GO, and ADW). Play Link (free)

Balx

Balx is our long-shadow entry of the day, because well, long-shadows still look pretty awesome on icons. With Balx, you are getting rounded icons, bold colors, shadows, and "defined dimension" around the icon identifiers. If you are a fan of the long-shadow, this would be a great addition to your collection. Balx includes over 1,900 HD icons, 68 wallpapers, Muzei support, Behang support, 16 docks, (for Nova), and works with the top launchers. Play Link ($1.89)

Tenuix

I mentioned previously that Alos avoided the Easter-y color palette, whereas Tenuix fully embraces it. The designer is calling it a "delicate" palette of colors, which I agree is much lighter than the stock colors we often see. It's kind of refreshing actually. Each icon is round, with a white border surrounding the icon design. You will see soft purples, blues, and greens, which might be a great move as many of us head into a dark and dreary Fall/Winter. There are over 800 icons in the pack, 22 HD wallpapers, icon masking, and will work with many of your favorite launchers. Play Link ($1.81)

You can see all of our past icon coverage here. If you have new icon packs that you would like to see featured, be sure to drop us a tip.

Deal: Lithium Card is a Wallet-Sized Power Bank for $39

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:50:24 +0000

Power banks or battery packs are something that we think most people should own. You don't need to own a big 15,000mAh pack, by any means, but you never know when you might need some extra juice to power your phone in a pinch. A power bank like the Lithium Card, which is currently discounted on our DL Deals site and was an Indiegogo sensation, is a great option for those without a big budget or a lot of room. The Lithium Card is a wallet-sized (5 credit cards thick) battery pack that holds 1,200mAh of power and can charge up to 1% of battery per minute. That may not be enough to get you a full battery refill, but some times you only need just enough to get you through the rest of a day. To see reviews, comments, and specs for the Lithium Card, hit up the deal link below. Deal Link

[responsive_vid]

Ten iOS 8 Features Your Apple Friends Are Freaking Out About

Ron — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:28:55 +0000

Below are the top ten features your friends who use iOS devices are probably freaking out about at the moment. Maybe some of them simply cannot believe how revolutionary iOS 8 is, but hopefully they recognize that a lot of iOS 8 is just Apple catching up to Google and features its Android platform has had for years. On the other hand, some of these improvements would be great to have on Android.

1. Widgets That's right, you can now add widgets right onto your iOS home screen... Oh wait, just in Notification Center. But it's still an improvement. Apple actually introduced widgets and Notification Center all the way back in iOS 5, then sort of removed them in iOS 7, but now they're back with a vengeance (and third party developer support). To add a widget from an app, simply pull down Notification Center, tap Edit at the bottom of the display, and then select the widget and order you want it to appear. 2. Real-Time Dictation Sure, iOS has had dictation as far back as iOS 5 with the introduction of Siri, but it was only as fast as your data connection (which at the time was 3G or HSPA unless you happened to be on WiFi). Your words were sent up to Apple's servers, processed, and then read back to you or typed out onto the screen. With iOS 8, dictation is rendered on the device instantly, like Android users have enjoyed since a little release called Ice Cream Sandwich.

3. App Extensions App extensions are arguably the most important addition to iOS 8. Up until iOS 8 apps were divided into silos so that they could not access each other's data. This placed a huge limitation on what developers could do and how apps could communicate to each other. Apple slowly integrated some sharing with the share sheet in iOS 6, but the functionality was limited to built in third party apps like Twitter and Facebook. Now, apps can send extensions of themselves into other apps, which allows an app like 1Password to integrate with Safari directly. Extensions has enabled a whole new class of app on iOS and we're just beginning to see what developers will do it with. While Android apps have been able to share data with each other through intents for years, Android still doesn't have a way to securely inject part of one app into another like extensions.

4. Interactive Notifications 2012 is calling and it wants to know what iOS users think of Interactive Notifications (or Expandable Notifications as Google likes to put it). iOS users can now interact with notifications on the lock screen and in Notification Center. My favorite instance of this is when I receive a new text message notification; pulling down on the notification brings up the keyboard to allow me to type a response without opening the Messages app. Developers can determine what kind of actions to show users just like on Android.

5. Third-Party Keyboards Fleksy, Minimuum, SwiftKey, Swype, and others are all finally available on iOS. Most of the keyboards look similar or identical to their Android counterparts. Third party keyboards don't allow access to voice dictation, but emoji are still intact. I personally still prefer the stock keyboard, but SwiftKey works the best for me of the keyboards we've seen so far.

6. Details in Messages The Messages app now includes a Details screen for each conversation. From Details you can instantly view the location of any contact who uses Find My Friends, share your location for a period of time, send your current location, mute a thread, leave a group message, and view all media that has been sent and received in the thread. Basically, the Details screen has brought the Messages app closer to parity with other messaging apps like Hangouts, WhatsApp, and Line while exceeding the incumbents in some areas. 7. iCloud Drive Starting with iOS 8 users can opt into iCloud Drive. iCloud Drive is essentially a clone of Dropbox, One Drive, and Google Drive. It won't be available on OS X until Yosemite drops, so users should probably wait to upgrade from iCloud proper if they use any applications that sync using iCloud on the Mac. Pricing for iCloud Drive is relatively competitive (5 GB free, 20 GB for $0.99/month, 200 GB for $3.99/month, 500 GB for $9.99/month, and 1 TB for $19.99/month), although the free tier remains small for iCloud backups and data storage. 8. Ephemeral Media Attachments Speaking of a lack of space, Apple has also set the default behavior in the Messages app to delete pictures and videos in order to save space on devices. It's fairly easy for an iPhone to lose 1 GB or more to media-heavy messaging threads, so now attachments will automatically delete unless the user taps the keep button. Apple has also added the options to snap a picture, record a video, or send a voice message with the swipe of a finger. 9. Time Lapse and Timer Remember when Microsoft revealed their brand new video stabilization technology and then a few weeks later Instagram dropped Hyperlapse (a product instead of a demo)? Apple has now integrated a time lapse option into the camera app. Perhaps even more importantly, Apple finally added a timer in the camera app so people don't have to use third party apps like Camera+ just to take a family picture. No capture upon detecting a smile, though. That's the sort of thing that iOS users have to wait another few years for.

10. Spotlight Enhancements Imagine having the power of Google Now in the palm of your hand. Wow, a lot of you are really good at imagining. Oh, you just have an Android phone with Android 4.1 or newer? Well aren't you fancy. iOS 8 (and Yosemite) now feature some much needed enhancements to Spotlight search. If I search for Guardians of the Galaxy on my phone Spotlight will now show me movie times, the beginning of a Wikipedia article, the album (which is really good by the way) or let me search the web and Wikipedia. Spotlight will also search through my emails, notes, and other data repositories to try and find what I'm looking for. The main reason this exists, of course, is to circumvent Google and lower their revenue on iOS. There are, of course, plenty of other new things about iOS 8 that I didn't cover (like third party access to Touch ID and multitouch gestures on the iPad randomly turning off), but this should get you up to speed with most of the things you're tired of hearing about. If you're wondering what the staff thinks about the rest of Apple's announcements (as well as some, gasp, Android related news), be sure to check out last week's Droid Life Show.

The New Moto X Won't Be Available On Sprint

Kyle — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:41:43 +0000

There's an unfortunate reason Motorola omitted mention of a Sprint variant during the new Moto X's unveiling: it doesn't exist. The company took to Twitter today to confirm that, indeed, the new Moto X won't be available on the Now Network. If Sprint is to blame, the news comes as a bit of a surprise considering the litheness with which Sprint has responded to encroaching competitors in recent weeks. Since the ouster of Dan Hesse last month, the carrier has introduced compelling new data plans and a flexible new trade-in program to counter dwindling subscribers. That T-Mobile is carrying the new Moto X purely in an "unofficial" capacity - it's directing customers to buy the unlocked, international model - would've given Sprint a leg up on the nearest challenger. Of course, the ball may rest in Motorola's court. It's entirely possible the company decided to cede Moto Maker exclusivity to AT&T and Verizon, leaving Sprint at a severe marketing disadvantage. Whatever the case may be, today is a sad day for Motorola fans on Sprint.

Via: @Motorola

Contest: Win a Moto 360 From Droid Life (Day 4 of 5)!

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:06:42 +0000

Day 4! Our first three Moto 360 contests in our week of giveaways have been insane. Each grabbed well over 23,000 entries, which is mind-bogglingly tough to comprehend. We aren't complaining, though - it just shows how awesome the DL community is. But you knew that. With that said, it's time for day 4's giveaway! As a reminder, we are giving away a Moto 360 each day of this week, meaning that in total, you have 5 chances to win a new Android Wear device from Droid Life. Yes, we still love you like that. It is the same deal as the first three days - simply fill out however many entries you would like in the Rafflecopter widget below, sit back in your chair, and wait for tomorrow morning at 8:30am Pacific to see if you are winning a brand new Moto 360 in black. Let's do this (again, again, again).

Contest

Day 4 Prize: 1 (one) Moto 360 in black. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: Our winner will be chosen at random, tomorrow morning, September 19, at 8:30AM Pacific.

1 Billion Android Phones Have Shipped With Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:45:57 +0000

Qualcomm is currently hosting their Uplinq conference down in San Francisco, where the keynote is happening live as I type this. Tim is on hand during the keynote, where CEO Steve Mollenkopf just announced that over one billion Android phones have shipped running their Snapdragon chipsets. That, my friends, is a ton of phones. Years ago, when Android was just taking off, we had multiple chipset players in the game, from Texas Instruments' and their OMAP to NVIDIA's Tegra to Qualcomm's Snapdragon and of course, Samsung's Exynos (previously called Hummingbird). Now, the majority of phones all ship with Qualcomm processors and modems. Samsung still pushes its Exynos line overseas, but the rest of the players have either given up or never been able to make a big splash. Texas Instruments stepped away from phones and tablets a couple of years back, while NVIDIA was too late to the LTE game to get its processors in phones. They have done OK at times in the tablet game, and have signed on to power the new HTC Nexus 9 tablet, but their focus seems to have ultimately shifted out of the phones for now. Qualcomm remains the leader, a title they likely won't give up any time soon. 1 billion. Woof.

Verizon Expands XLTE to 22 New Markets

Kyle — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:00:34 +0000

Wireless congestion is a problem in cities - concrete and steel, unforgiving topography, and a countless number of competing access points congeal to absolutely decimate your data rate. That's why Verizon, under the XLTE moniker, continues to deploy LTE (band 4) service on the AWS spectrum in a growing number of municipalities. Today, the carrier announced the addition of 22 unspecified markets, which Big Red says pushes the total number of urban areas with XLTE to over 400. Verizon promises areas with AWS coverage up to double the bandwidth in ideal conditions, and that's largely been observed. The only drawback? A supported smartphone or tablet is required to take advantage (here's a list of devices that contain requisite chipsets). We've contacted Verizon for a list of the new markets. We'll addend the post once we receive it. Update: Here is the list.

Blytheville, AR
Burlington, IA
Sterling, IL
Sterling, IL
Ft. Dodge, IA
Hilo, Hawaii
Pierre, SD
Jacksonville, NC
Joplin, MO
Lihue, HI
Manitowoc, WI
Centralia, IL
Ocala, FL
Pine Bluff, AR
Pittsburg-Parsons, KS
Ponca City, OK
Port Angeles, WA
Sedalia, MO
Somerset, KY
Willmar-Marshall, MN
Worthington, MN
Zanesville, OH

Via: Verizon Wireless

OnePlus One Announces Pre-Order System, Actually Calls Invite System a "Blessing"

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 08:20:49 +0000

OnePlus, a company that has had quite the rocky start since announcing its first smartphone (our review), opened up an official blog today to share happenings in the company. One of their first posts talks about a brand new pre-order system, the next step in offering their fans a chance to order the OnePlus One. The post talks about OnePlus as a young company that has decided to forego hardware margins, meaning they need to be careful with how many devices they produce. The idea sort of goes like this - if you aren't making money from your product, then you better produce the perfect amount or you will quickly be sitting on a massive loss if you have product lying around that isn't selling. Thus the reason they have been so conservative with their initial invite system, a system they actually called a "blessing." I'm not kidding - the company is actually happy with a system that has been universally panned by every single person in the tech industry, both consumers and media. But back to the original topic at hand, this new pre-order system. During a "limited time" window, you will be able to place an order for a OnePlus One. If OnePlus has devices in stock, they will ship your order immediately. If they run out, they will tell you their "best approximation" for when it will ship. They hope to launch this pre-order in October. Once we have more details, we will be sure to pass them along.

Via: OnePlus

Cheers Koung!

Report: DROID Turbo Arrives Next Month on Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 07:55:09 +0000

According to a report out of CNET, Motorola and Verizon will introduce the DROID TURBO in October. The report also mentions that Motorola and Verizon have decided to release just one new DROID model, rather than the three that we have seen each of the last two years. What do we know about the DROID TURBO? Well, its codename is "QUARK," as confirmed to us by both a source and the FCC. The device will likely sport a large DROID MAXX-like battery (model EQ40) and wireless charging. We have confirmed that it will be able to take advantage of Motorola's Turbo Charger, which can give the new Moto X up to 8 hours of juice in just 15 minutes. The new DROID will be slightly larger than the new Moto X, but that could be because it doesn't have on-screen navigation buttons. A previous report suggested that the device will carry a QHD display (2560x1440), 3GB RAM, and Snapdragon 805 processor. Source of ours have mentioned similar info to us. There is also a chance that Motorola and Verizon release the device shortly after Android L goes public, so that they can be one of the first to update to it. Test devices are currently running Android 4.4.4. Interested at all in the new DROID? If the device can carry similar battery life to the DROID MAXX, but also have next-gen specs (QHD and Snapdragon 805), this could be a serious contender. Here's to hoping that Motorola and Verizon ditch the gimmicky Kevlar, robotic design.

Via: CNET

Galaxy Note 4 Pre-Orders Start Tomorrow, Available October 17

Kellen — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 07:06:10 +0000

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus officially arrive tomorrow. Oh, you don't care? OK, good, because Samsung announced this morning that the Galaxy Note 4 goes up for pre-order tomorrow as well. Carriers are weighing too, with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all confirming that you can pre-order the phone through their stores in the morning. The device is expected to arrive in stores on October 17. Verizon will go live with pre-orders at 12:01AM Pacific tonight at a price of $299 on-contract. At that price, you are looking at 32GB of internal storage, a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 16MP rear camera with OIS, 3.7MP front camera for selfie snapping, 3,220mAh battery, and a brand new S Pen. (Edit: Verizon has corrected their pre-order time which is 12:01AM Pacific, 3:00AM Eastern). AT&T's pre-order situation is basically identical to that. The device goes up for pre-order tomorrow at $299 on-contract. If you decide for AT&T Next, the company's payment plan for phones, you are looking at either $34.42 or $41.30 per month in either AT&T Next 18 or AT&T Next 12, respectively. T-Mobile, for whatever reason, isn't opening up pre-orders until September 24 at 9:00AM Pacific. If that's not good enough, you can at least sign-up today to be the "first to know when pre-orders open." We are ~~still waiting for Sprint to mention pre-orders~~, but the device will at least be available on the 17th of October. Update: Sprint pre-orders begin September 26.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Samsung

Amazon Announces New Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, a New Flagship Tablet for $379

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:35:39 +0000

Along with the new Kindle Fire HD, Amazon also announced the new Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 tonight, which is clearly the flagship amongst the group. As a flagship tablet, the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 sports an 8.9-inch (2560x1600, 339ppi) display with "30% more pixels than the iPad Air," 2.5GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, Adreno 420 GPU, 8MP rear camera, HD front camera, Dolby Atmos audio (a first for tablets), 802.11ac MIMO WiFi (4G LTE optional), and runs Amazon's Fire OS "Sangria," the newest fork of Android, which has all sorts of new software add-ons. Amazon claims that this new HDX 8.9 is 20% lighter than the iPad Air. Amazon is also making a new Fire Keyboard available for purchase, a keyboard that weighs just 7oz and is 4.8mm thin. It runs $59.99. The device starts at $379 for the WiFi model with 16GB and is available for pre-order today, with shipping expected to start in October. The LTE version with 32GB of storage starts at $529. Amazon Links: Fire HDX 8.9 - 16GB WiFi ($379) | Fire HDX 8.9 - 32GB LTE ($529) | Fire Keyboard ($59.99)

Via: Amazon

Amazon Announces New Kindle Fire HD 6 and 7, "Most Powerful Tablet Under $100"

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:20:30 +0000

Amazon unveiled a whole new suite of Kindle Fire tablets this evening, starting with the all new Kindle Fire HD 6 and 7, which have a starting price of $99. The devices come in a variety of "fun" colors and run Amazons Fire OS 4 "Sangria," which as you know, is a fork of Android. The devices sport "powerful" specs for their price, with their numerical names hinting at screen sizes. You are looking at 6-inch (1280x800, 252ppi) and 7-inch (1280x800, 216ppi) tablets with 1.5GHz quad-core processors, front and rear cameras, "pocketable" designs, Gorilla Glass, Dolby surround sound audio, and a whole bunch of custom Amazon software features. The devices are available for pre-order starting this minute. The Fire HD 6 is priced at $99 for the 8GB model, $119 for the 16GB. The Fire HD 7 is priced at $139 for the 8GB model, $159 for the 16GB. Both tablets are expected to begin shipping in October. Amazon Links: Fire HD 6 - 8GB ($99) | Fire HD 7 - 8GB ($139)

Via: Amazon

This Tip Will Extend the Battery Life of Your Moto 360

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:33:30 +0000

Done using your Moto 360? Cover the display with your hand to turn the screen off rather than waiting for it to timeout. Enjoy the extra battery life. That is all. Oh, be sure to check out our full Moto 360 review.

Deal: Fundamentals of Android Programming for $19, It's Time to Build Your Own Apps

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:59:35 +0000

Interested in creating your own apps? Don't you want to be the person responsible for the next Flappy Bird or Goat Simulator? Thanks to a deal currently running in the Droid Life Deals section, you could be well on your way. For just $19 (regularly $99), you could learn and master the fundamentals of Android programming. The program helps you learn to use all of the tools needed to make your own apps. It features 9.5 hours of content and over 105 lectures, including a video course. Topics include app components and APIs, creating a user interface, adding animations, and more.

Over 105 lectures and 9.5 hours of content
Learn The Skills Required To Build Apps For Android
No Programming Knowledge Required
Highly Detailed – Covers Everything You Need To Know
Receive A Certificate Of Completion

Deal Link

Starbucks Updates Official App With Digital Tipping and Shake to Pay Feature

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:54:13 +0000

A new update is rolling out to users of the official Starbucks application on Android. In the update, which is now available through Google Play, users can digitally tip baristas, thanks to an added prompt that will appear 2 hours after your Starbucks visit. If you always felt bad about not being able to tip with your Starbucks card, now you won't need to feel guilty anymore. In addition to tipping, a new Shake to Pay feature has been baked in, which will allow users to shake the phone once they have opened the app, automatically bringing up their favorite card to use for purchases. This feature will certainly help cut back on the time it takes to fumble through the app. Finally, it appears that a couple of widgets have been added into the app, allowing you to quickly access the Starbucks app right from your home screen. Man, could they make this app anymore convenient?

What's New

Digital Tipping (U.S. company-operated stores): Leave a digital tip up to two hours after your Starbucks Card purchase. Shake to Pay: For added convenience, simply shake your device to display your favorite Starbucks Card.
Rewards List on Payment Screen: See all available rewards and offers on your barcode screen. Now highly visible at time of payment.
Integrated History: See your account history in a single view.
Widget: Choose from 1x2, 1x3 or 1x4 widget for your home screen.

Play Link

Beach Buggy Racing Hits Google Play, Optimized for Tegra-powered Devices

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:15:52 +0000

A new game from the makers of Beach Buggy Blitz hit Google Play today, a sequel of sorts, titled Beach Buggy Racing. The first game was geared more towards single player action, where players would race through sand dunes and volcanoes, hoping to collect enough coins and power-ups to upgrade characters and vehicles. In this new title, racing against other real-person opponents is the name of the game, bringing a completely new level of difficulty to the franchise. In essence, think of it like Mario Kart, where users can use power-ups against each other, ultimately trying to win the race to earn enough coins to continuously upgrade their car. The game features a ton of different vehicles to choose from, teams of drivers to collect, gorgeous levels to race on, and full Google Play Services integration for racing with your buddies. The game is free to download, but does feature IAPs. These IAPs are used to upgrade your car quicker, but don't worry, you do not need to pay to win. All you need are your driving skills. Go check it out. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

OnePlus Cancels StyleSwap Covers for the One

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:01:37 +0000

OnePlus One owners, I hope you weren't still waiting for StyleSwap covers to arrive, like the Bamboo cover pictured above that OnePlus unveiled back in July. The company announced this afternoon through its forums that they are officially calling off the StyleSwap project. Due to "technical difficulties" in mass producing the Bamboo cover, along with a terribly designed back cover removal process that puts your phone at risk of damage, StyleSwap covers are no more. OnePlus did mention that they have a limited stock of Bamboo covers that will be available at some point. Bets on an invite system to buy one? They are also still looking into releasing limited edition One phones with either kevlar or denim backs. In the next version of the phone (called the OnePlus 2), OnePlus will make sure they can produce high quality StyleSwap covers and allow you to replace them without damaging your phone. Sequel!

Via: OnePlus Forums

Humble Mobile Bundle 7 Adds Soda Drinker Pro, Alpha Wave, and Swordigo

Kyle — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 12:32:35 +0000

At last count, the 7th Humble Bundle for mobile offered six games for your diversionary pleasure. Three new additions make it nine: Soda Drinker Pro, Alpha Wave, and Swordigo. For the uninitiated, the Humble Mobile is a super cool way for developers to earn a few bucks and reward philanthropy. Donations are divided into two tiers: the first three games can be unlocked with any amount, while the entire bundle requires more than the average ($4.08 at the time of publication). Interested? Head over to the Humble Bundle website to donate and download. Humble Bundle Link

Verizon Plans to Introduce Wi-Fi Calling Sometime Next Year, Doesn't See It As a Priority

Kyle — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 12:05:46 +0000

Depending on where you live, Wi-Fi calling may be more a necessity than an added benefit. Verizon, however, feels differently. Speaking at a telecommunications conference sponsored by Bank of America, Verizon Wireless CFO Fran Shammo told attendees that while Verizon plans to launch Wi-Fi calling in the middle of next year, it isn't and never was a "top priority" for the carrier. For comparison's sake, that's roughly in line with AT&T, which also intends to begin offering Wi-Fi calling sometime next year. Shammo said the robustness of Verizon's 3G CDMA network precluded the need to roll out Wi-Fi calling at an earlier time. He added that ensuring consistently high quality of call service presented a challenge - in fact, Verizon still has to do "some technological work" to finalize it, Shammo said. Shammo's comments come at an interesting time. T-Mobile heavily emphasized Wi-Fi calling at an "Uncarrier" event last week, when it announced a plan to provide subscribers ASUS-made routers free of charge. T-Mobile is also the only carrier which supported Wi-Fi calling on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at launch. For its part, Sprint supports Wi-Fi calling on a number of Android devices. So, are you upset, or is Wi-Fi calling really that big a deal?

Via: Fierce Wireless

Dropcam Update Allows It to Work With Nest and Nest Protect

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:55:40 +0000

An update released last night to Dropcam's Android app allows for the IP cam to work with Nest and Nest Protect in an automated fashion that you might find incredibly useful. By connecting your Dropcam devices to Nest or Nest Protect, you could have your Dropcam automatically turn on as you set your Nest away and leave for the day. You could also have Dropcam turn on, record, and update your activity feed if a Nest Protect were to detect smoke or CO. Kind of cool, right? To setup this functionality, open the Dropcam app, swipe out its side menu, and choose to connect with Nest. To then control the automated features, open the settings for each of your cameras and look for the "Nest Home + Away" option. The rest of the update includes an enhanced camera setup, bug fixes, and improved usability. What's New

New setting enables Dropcam to work with the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Enhanced camera setup
Improved usability
Bug fixes

Play Link

Sling App Gains Support for Chromecast

Kyle — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 10:46:44 +0000

A growing number of TV providers are publishing apps for watching live and recorded content outside the home, but arbitrary viewing restrictions and intractable UIs make many of them an exercise in futility. That's why for that purpose a lot of people rely on products from Sling Media, which seamlessly beam the video and audio from your cable box to the internet. And, starting today, there's another reason to consider them: the Slingplayer app for smartphones now supports Chromecast. Owners of the Slingbox M1, 350, or Sling TV/500 can cast content to any Chromecast on the same network as their smartphone, just the same as any other app which supports casting. While Sling apps for set-top boxes have been around a while, the convenience and portability of Chromecast has the potential to extend Slingplayer's reach. I think it's a boon for travel - so long as you have a reliable connection, browsing channels from home on a hotel or condo TV is as easy as plugging Chromecast into a television and completing the setup process, at least in theory. That's pretty sweet. Tablet support isn't present, but Sling Media says it's coming "soon." You can grab Slingplayer from Google Play for $14.99. Play Link

Via: Sling Media

HTC Gallery App Updated, New Duo Camera Effects for One (M8)

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 10:30:40 +0000

A new update is available for HTC Gallery users, but if you don't own a device sporting HTC's Duo Camera setup (anyone but One M8 owners here in the US), then the update will do you little good. In the update, HTC adds in new Duo Effects for Seasons and Foregrounder in the application, as well as a new Typography setting in the Seasons edit mode. For all other users, HTC lists "improvements." So that's good news. Go get it. Play Link

Contest: Win a Moto 360 From Droid Life (Day 3 of 5)!

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 10:00:14 +0000

Our first two Moto 360 contests in our week of giveaways have been insane. Each grabbed well over 20,000 entries, which is mind-bogglingly tough to comprehend. We aren't complaining, though - it just shows how awesome the DL community is. But you knew that. With that said, it's time for day 3! As a reminder, we are giving away a Moto 360 each day of this week, meaning that in total, you have 5 chances to win a new Android Wear device from Droid Life. Yes, we still love you like that. It is the same deal as the first two days - simply fill out however many entries you would like in the Rafflecopter widget below, sit back in your chair, and wait for tomorrow morning at 8:30am Pacific to see if you are winning a brand new Moto 360 in silver/grey. Let's do this (again, again).

Contest

Day 3 Prize: 1 (one) Moto 360 in silver/grey. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: Our winner will be chosen at random, tomorrow morning, September 18, at 8:30AM Pacific.

Punit Soni Packs Bags, Departs Role as VP of Product Management at Motorola

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:37:11 +0000

Punit Soni, who came to Motorola as a VP of Product Management over from Google, announced today through his Google+ page that he is departing the company. In the message, he takes a moment to look back on his time with Motorola, going over a few of his favorite memories, as well as speaking about his first time on Motorola's campus in Illinois. With the help of Punit, who was injected into the company from Google while they owned it, Motorola came back to life in the eyes of many consumers. During his time there, the company launched the Moto X, rebuilt its software stacks, and launched its most successful smartphone ever, the Moto G. Soni was also very involved with Motorola fans on Google+, often answering questions about future software updates or talking about the company's decisions involving things like developer editions of phones. As for what the future holds, Punit gives no mention to his plans. In the comments of his post, he states that he will still be around, followed by a reassuring smiley face. Best of luck on your next endeavor, Punit. We hope to see you back at Google sometime soon.

Via: +Punit Soni

Goat Simulator Launches Through Google Play, Priced at $4.99

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:48:29 +0000

After being teased back in August, the day is finally here, and Goat Simulator is now available to all through Google Play. In Goat Simulator, priced at $4.99, which is quite reasonable for the title, you play as a renegade goat set on destruction. Using an open world, you must cause as much havoc as possible, whether it is crashing cars, breaking buildings, or anything else your mind can come up with. After downloading, you may find that the game is not polished as nicely as possible, but that's exactly the point. All software bugs, except crash bugs, have been left in the game according to the developer because, "they're hilarious." Take a peak at the game features and you will see that you should go into this game with an open mind. Features

You can be a goat
Get points for wrecking stuff - brag to your friends that you're the alpha goat
MILLIONS OF BUGS! We're only eliminating the crash-bugs, everything else is hilarious
In-game physics that spazz out all the time
Seriously look at that goat's neck
You can be a goat

Again, the game costs $5 through Google Play with no IAPs, so go check it out. Play Link ($4.99)

[responsive_vid]

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Tab S 10.5 Launch on AT&T

Tim — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:30:32 +0000

Two of Samsung's finest hardware offerings in the tablet category are coming to AT&T, the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and Galaxy Tab S 8.4. Both tablets will launch with 4G LTE connectivity, naturally, and will start at $429 for the Tab S 8.4 and $529 for the Tab S 10.5 on-contract. The Tab S units both feature a Super AMOLED display, Exynos 5 octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, plenty of Samsung software, and both run Android 4.4+. We were on-hand at Samsung's New York event where the company launched the devices, so be sure to check out our coverage right here. When I say they might be Samsung's best tablets, I mean it. The tablets are available through AT&T's website starting today, so if you are interested, go check them out.

Via: AT&T

T-Mobile's Personal CellSpot and GoGo In-Flight Texting Now Available

Kellen — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:25:57 +0000

T-Mobile's newly announced Personal CellSpot at-home router is now available to Simple Choice customers who want to have a a "personal T-Mobile tower" in their house. The device, like any router, is used to help boost a signal, only this router helps give you full T-Mobile service when you may lack it. According to T-Mobile, 57% of American wireless users say they "often" drop calls when at home. The Personal CellSpot is here to fix that. The Personal CellSpot is listed on T-Mo's site for $99, but the company is letting Simple Choice customers with a broadband connection and a WiFi calling ready phone, get one for free with a $25 deposit. Oh, the CellSpot can also replace your existing router or team up with it. To order a Personal CellSpot, stop by a T-Mobile store or call customer care. On a semi-Uncarrier-related note, T-Mobile's new Gogo in-flight texting service is now live as well. When on a flight with Gogo in-flight WiFi, customers can send and receive unlimited text and picture messages, along with visual voicemail for free.

Via: T-Mobile

Misfit Announces the Misfit Flash, a $50 Fitness Tracker

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:13:13 +0000

Misfit, the makers of the Misfit Shine, announced today a new addition to their growing line of wearables - the Misfit Flash. The Flash is a lot like the Shine, only made of plastic instead of metal, but is still focused on your fitness and sleep. It comes in seven unique colors, including funky Fuchsia and lemon-lime Zest, and will retail for just $49.99 when it arrives in October at retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Amazon. For those new to Misfit wearables, just know that they were one of the original crowd-funded wearables, only they actually saw success a lot like Pebble did. They initially launched with a companion app on iOS, but soon gave in and put out a similar (although not as awesome) app on Android. The tracker is a token-like disk, that can either be attached to any part of your body or clothing with a clip, or worn as a fitness band around your wrist. When active, Misfit devices track calories burned, steps taken, distance travelled, and sleep quality/duration. The company promotes them as being great for walking, swimming, tennis, cycling, basketball, and other sporty activities. They contain a battery that lasts for up to 6 months, so you don't have to worry about charging, only swapping out batteries twice per year. The Flash is water proof up to 30 meters as well. For a fitness tracker, you could certainly do worse than the Misfit Shine or Flash. You can pre-order the Misfit Flash here.

Google Play Services Updated to Version 6.1, Brings API Improvements for Drive and Fit

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:57:07 +0000

Google is pushing Version 6.1 of Google Play Services to users this afternoon, but don't expect anything too crazy in the update. As for what is new, Google lists updated APIs for Drive and Fit, which also brings additional support for developers looking to test our their fitness devices through Android Wear. In addition to changes in Drive and Fit, Google also packed a few updates into Analytics, which is geared towards publishers that actually use that service. It is not so much for average Joe consumers, as evidenced by the following breakdown of what's new for the service.

By including support for Enhanced Ecommerce in Google Tag Manager with the latest release of Google Play services, we are supercharging your ability to regularly update and manage tags on mobile apps more easily, so that you can consistently measure product impressions, shopping funnel events, and more.

In true Google fashion, this update is rolling out slowly over the next couple of days, so do not fret if you do not see it listed in Google Play quite yet.

Via: Google

Deal: Factory Unlocked HTC One (M8) 32GB for Only $389.99

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:55:30 +0000

For a limited time, you can purchase a refurbished, factory unlocked One (M8) from HTC through eBay, priced at just $389.99. The One (M8) is still one of our favorite phones of the year, so if you have been thinking about purchasing a phone off-contract, this deal would be one to take advantage of. These models feature 5" Full HD displays, 32GB of storage, HTC's duo camera setup, Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, and run Android 4.4+ with Sense 6 on top. As for compatibility, unlocked variants will work with GSM carriers here in the States, but AT&T would be your best bet for connectivity. Sometimes T-Mobile service can be spotty with HTC's unlocked units. As mentioned, if you are in the market, the One (M8) is still a solid choice. eBay Link

Microsoft Brings Android Wear Support to OneNote, "Okay Google, Take a Note"

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:10:19 +0000

Microsoft's OneNote application has been updated with Android Wear support, but interestingly enough, Microsoft's team of Android developers were unable to throw in this capability into the existing OneNote app on Google Play, and instead, have launched a standalone app called OneNote for Android Wear. With this extension installed, users of an Android Wear smartwatch can simply speak "Okay Google, take a note," then state whatever note they would like to take. This note is then saved to the OneNote application, which is synced with your Office account. While Android Wear support is awesome, not having to produce a standalone application for the function would have been a bit more neat. Play Link

Via: Microsoft Office Blog

Google Play Version 5.0 Detailed, Looks Very Materialistic

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:37:13 +0000

Thanks to the folks over at Android Police, this could be our first up-and-close look at the upcoming version 5.0 update for Google Play on Android. In the update, Google looks to outfit its mobile app store with its recently announced Material Design aesthetics, which were a highlight at this year's Google I/O in San Francisco. In terms of what looks new, the only real change is the huge amount of bright colors Google is throwing into the top of categories. As it is right now on most Android devices running Google Play, the top bar is colored in, but each separated category is set to a gray backdrop. With this update, even the categories are receiving the bright-color treatment. With another update that was quite recent, Google began reworking the layout of listings, but this upcoming update does not appear to be too much in the retooling department. While minor changes will be present, it seems as though a few color tweaks are really what is in store for users. However, we won't know exactly what to expect until Google drops the update. One major change that might come in this update is a more comprehensive restoration process for devices. From what examined strings of code show, users may be able to restore phones and tablets on a per-device basis. In layman's, if you use both Android phones and tablets, you will be able to restore a select profile which features the apps + data you would want on those individual devices, not just a general hodgepodge of apps you have previously downloaded. In the long run, it should make for the restoring of phones and tablets much easier for users. As of right now, there is no time frame for this update to be released, but with it being detailed so highly, it should be soon. Ready for the materialing of all things?

Via: Android Police

Report: Android Silver Program Placed on Hold

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:44:01 +0000

Android Silver, Google's rumored high-end device brand that would bring pure Google experiences to the main stream and in carrier stores, has been put on hold, according to The Information. With the departure of Nikesh Arora from Google, one of the program's leads, the future of Android Silver is in doubt, especially with Google now pushing Android One across the globe. According to this report, the Android Silver program received "mixed reactions" from potential partners, who would have had to give concessions to Google in exchange for a marketing push. Google heads from within also doubted that the program could succeed, even if they saw a need to enter the high-end market in order to attract those dedicated to Apple's glitz and glamour. Android Silver was also rumored to be replacing the Nexus program at one point, something that Google has denied as they prepare to launch an HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet in the coming weeks. Thoughts?

Via: The Information (subscription)

Moto 360 Review

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:30:57 +0000

Motorola's Android Wear watch, the Moto 360, is without a doubt the most anticipated wearable of 2014. There is good reason for that, of course. Thanks to its classic, round design, stainless steel body, and leather accessories, there aren't any other smartwatches that can come close to the overall package promised. Motorola took their sweet time getting it ready for retail after initially unveiling it in March, but the device is now available for purchase. Early reviews showed concern over battery life, limited quantities have been available for purchase, and Apple just got done unveiling their own watch, so we can imagine that you want our thoughts. Trust me when I say that there are plenty to share. This is our Moto 360 review.

Design and Materials

The Moto 360 is without a doubt the most beautiful smartwatch on the planet. Actually, there isn't even a close second in my opinion, and that's with both the newly unveiled Apple Watch and LG G Watch R included in the conversation. Motorola tried to create a classic-looking timepiece that you would be proud to wear on your wrist as a watch, but that also manages to perform tasks as a smart device. They have succeeded and then some. The round display, along with premium build quality and materials combine to make a device that most probably wouldn't believe is a smartwatch unless you told them. Smartwatches haven't ever looked this good. Pebble tried and failed to create a normal-looking watch with the Steel. Samsung has made...things. Others too. This is the first - and so far from what I have seen, only - smartwatch I would consider wearing on a daily basis.

Motorola is using stainless steel in the watch's case and clasp, along with leather watch bands made by Horween, a company based out of Chicago that also makes NFL footballs. The face is glass, but protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and shouldn't scratch. There is a bit of plastic on the under side, yet you wouldn't notice, especially since that's the portion of the device that sits on your wrist. Speaking of the watch on your wrist - it's actually a really nice size. There were worries early on that the device would be far too big for most, but on my slim wrists, I do not feel like this watch is too big. It's not small by any means, but it's also not huge. Motorola worked really hard to create a watch that sits perfectly on a human's wrist, along with one that also uses proper materials to conform to it without showcasing gaps. When wearing the 360, it feels like you are wearing a premium watch, not a heavy or clunky smartwatch.

If there is one blemish on the 360's design, you could argue that it's the black area (known as the dreaded "black bar") located at the bottom of the round display that sort of makes it not fully round when lit up. As we have mentioned on a number of occasions, this area houses the ambient light sensor, and was needed in order for the device to have such little bezel. If Motorola decided to make the display fully round without this area, the device would have had a sizable bezel around the entire display (like this), something I'm glad they chose not to do. We have heard people claim that they can't "unsee" it, but I can tell you that in the almost-two-weeks I have spent with the watch on my wrist, not once has it bothered me. When you hear Motorola talk about the 360, you can't help but sense the amount of time and careful thought that was put into its exterior and interior to get it right. I think it's safe to say that they did.

Display

Motorola chose to put a 1.56-inch round LCD display in the Moto 360 that is protected by Gorilla Glass, a bold move that really took engineering expertise in order to achieve. Thanks to that previously mentioned "black bar," the display runs edge-to-edge without bezel, with a slight chamfer to blend it into the stainless steel body. Depending on how you look at the 360, the display almost appears as if it floats. It's very cool. The round display is indeed the star of this show. The display resolution is somewhat low at 320x290 (205ppi), but no different than other watches of today. Pixels can be seen in text here or there, plus there is this rainbow-like effect towards the chamfer when you have a white screen up that is not exactly pretty or a "feature." Colors are bright and clear, and the display overall gets the job done. This is a round 320x290, first-of-its-kind type of display we are talking about here. You aren't supposed to be analyzing pixels in photos or looking for precise lines and image detail - it's a 1.56-inch display on a watch. In sunlight, I found the Moto 360 to perform quite well, as long as you have a white watch face showing. You may recall our frustration with the G Watch, in that it was completely unusable when outdoors. That is not the case with the 360. I would call it a good first effort, but will hope that future round smartwatch displays can improve, assuming they won't destroy battery life.

Battery Life

What about battery life, though? I shared some thoughts on battery life a week ago, and those thoughts have not changed. The Moto 360 has two display modes - Ambient Screen on or off. If you keep Ambient Screen on, your device will stay awake, dimly lit, all day long, so that you can quickly glance at it from any angle to check the time, just like a normal watch. The battery (320mAh) and processor (an ancient TI OMAP 3) together are not good enough for the device to last for more than 10-12 hours with this mode on. I would advise you leave it off. If you leave Ambient Screen off, your watch will last you all day, from the moment you wake up and take it off the charger until you take it off at night and go to bed. With Ambient Screen off, not once has the Moto 360 died on me in a day and left me stranded with a dead device on my wrist. On most days, I take the watch off, check the battery percentage remaining and typically see at least 15%. So here is the deal. As with any smartwatch, you need to learn how to optimize it. A smartwatch isn't supposed to replace your smartphone. It's supposed to be an extension of it, to help you quickly view information before deciding if it needs more attention (which would mean pulling your phone out). A smartwatch is there for quick voice replies to texts or messages, seeing calendar appointments or new emails as they roll in, navigation here or there, and some fitness tracking. It is supposed to help you efficiently manage your time with your phone, to help you decide if items need action now or later. If you approach your smartwatch in that manner, you will get all-day battery.

Other Android Wear watches currently have better battery life than the Moto 360, there is no denying that. But in the end, they aren't seeing 2-3 day battery life either. While the 360 may see 20-25 hours of use and need charging at night, others need nightly charges as well if you want to see them last throughout the next day. So in the end, all Android Wear watches need nightly charges. Is battery life on the Moto 360 bad? No. Is it great? No. It really is somewhere in the middle, but again, it will last you a full day without worry.

Performance

The Moto 360 is powered by a TI OMAP 3 processor, which is the same processor used in 2010's DROID 2 and Motorola's previous smartwatch, the MOTOACTV. It's old, slow, and power hungry. We still aren't sure why Motorola decided to use this tired old processor to power their beautiful smartwatch when everyone else in the game is using a modern day Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, but I can't help but mention how disappointing that fact is. The Moto 360 doesn't need to do much, yet you will often find stuttering in the UI when swiping or scrolling between cards and activating voice actions. It doesn't lag all of the time, but the lag is real. The "jank," as Tim would put it, is real. If you were rating performance on the 360, you could probably put it somewhere in the middle, bordering on semi-bad. That's not to say that the 360 is ever unusable, because again, it doesn't need to do much other than show cards, allow you to swipe between them, and be prepared for voice actions. The 360 just isn't as fluid as one would like from a smart device in 2014. I guess chipsets from 2010 aren't ready to leave 2010 behind.

Android Wear

The Moto 360 runs Android Wear, Google's platform for wearable devices. At this stage in the game, Android Wear is still very young and needs time to grow. The idea behind Android Wear is this - your watch can provide you with important information just when you need it. The information isn't supposed to include great detail, it's supposed to be glance-able. It can take voice actions and give you feedback or complete actions through them, track fitness goals, and will eventually include added functionality when your favorite app developers build out compatibility. This is one of those software platforms that should get better over time, assuming developers can figure out the best ways to take advantage of a screen on your wrist. Google claims there are over 1,000 apps that have already added in Android Wear compatibility. You can see many of them here. Apps like Runkeeper show current fitness activities on your watch, you can request car rides through services like Lyft, send messages through Whatsapp, get notifications from Trello, automate ideas with IFTTT, get boarding passes from Delta and American Airlines on your wrist, manage your golf round, and even remotely snap photos. This is a new area for the tech world, one we still don't full have a grasp on, if you ask me. But as we start to decide how we want to use our smartwatches, Android Wear should follow along and become incredibly powerful. At least I hope that's how it works. If you want to see Android Wear in action, be sure to check out our LG G Watch review.

Wireless Charging

I can't thank Motorola enough for making the Moto 360 Qi compatible. Previous smartwatch attempts from others typically use awkward attachments or charging PINs with docks in order to re-charge, but Motorola went super simple. All you need to do is set your device into the Qi wireless charging cradle that is included with purchase to charge it. That's it. There are no cords, no ports, and no attachments that you will lose. All you have to do is drop the device into the cradle and it will charge, fully within an hour. Oh, and since it's Qi compatible, you can set the watch on almost any other Qi wireless charger that you may already own. It is glorious.

Heartrate Monitor

Motorola included an optical heart rate monitor in the Moto 360. It attempts to take check your heart rate, probably better than other watches. I still couldn't tell you how accurate it is. For example, I ran 6 miles on Sunday, yet the 360 clocked my heart rate at around 60bpm when I was finished, then 120, then 60, then who knows. The Moto 360 wants to help you stay active throughout a day by telling the percentage you are active in a day, which it should be given credit for. At this time, though, I'm not sure you should rely on it. Expect it to get better over time as Motorola issues updates to it.

Price and Availability

The Moto 360 is $249.99 and available at Motorola's store, Best Buy stores and online, and Google Play. So far - at least at the time of this review - the device is hard to come by. It sold out immediately when the first batch went up for sale and has stopped off at Best Buy and Google Play sparingly over the last couple of weeks. Motorola is going to re-stock today in limited quantities, but we have yet to hear when they expect to stabilize inventory and make the watch easily accessible. At $250, I would call the Moto 360 priced about right. Motorola is pricing the device slightly above the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live, but you could see their reasoning when you think about the premium materials (stainless steel and leather) being used.

Black or Silver, Leather and Metal Bands

The Moto 360 comes in two colors - black with a black leather watch band or silver with a grey suede leather watch band. Color preferences are obviously a personal thing, but if you ask me, the silver with grey suede leather is the best of the two. The silver stainless steel in the device casing and clasp offers a subtle contrast to the grey leather that really allows the device to have some personality and act as a fashion item. The black version is just that - all black. It's not ugly, it's just the more un-assuming model. I would also add that the grey suede leather band on the silver model is a much thicker cut of leather that will likely last longer than the flimsy black leather band included with the black model. In the coming months, Motorola will release new leather band options, along with stainless steel bands. The stainless steel bands will run $79.99; the leather bands will run $29.99. The metal bands will be available in either black or silver, whereas the leather options should grow over time.

Compatibility

The Moto 360, like all Android Wear devices, works with Android phones running 4.3 or higher. Approximately one third of all Android devices run Android 4.3, including almost every device released within the last year. If you have a modern smartphone, you should be covered.

Video

Unboxing

[responsive_vid vid_url="IxVrLgP2iNw"]

Software Tour

[responsive_vid vid_url="NOHWdesr54U"]

Final Thoughts

I have worn a lot of smartwatches over the last couple of years, none of them get this kind of positive attention. I was at a wedding reception this last weekend and at least three people said, "That's a really cool watch." Never once did that happen with the G Watch or Pebble or Galaxy Gear or Qualcomm Toq or Sony's Smartwatch 2. Most people see those glowing, wrinkle their forward with confusion, and then move on. With the Moto 360, they actually find themselves interested. They want to know what that beautiful device is on my wrist. Motorola tried to create a classic timepiece with style and class, and they have done that. As a watch alone, the Moto 360 wins. On a smartwatch front, the Moto 360 is still in its infancy, like all smartwatches powered by Google's Android Wear. For now, it handles notifications well, showing them better than any other smartwatch, thanks to its round display. More apps will build in functionality and the platform will evolve. Battery life could be better, but it will get you through a day. Performance could be better too, but it's not bad enough that it will frustrate you. Overall, this is a smartwatch that should only get smarter and more efficient. The Moto 360 is the smartwatch to buy if you have decided that you need a smartwatch in your life at this moment.

Kitten Taxi, a Bank Robbing Getaway Driver Shoot 'em Up Game

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:00:21 +0000

Over in the trending section of apps on Google Play, I ran across a game called Kitten Taxi. After reading a few reviews, which were mostly positive, I decided to give it a whirl, considering my admiration of cats. In the game, which is drawn up like a cartoon, you play as a getaway car-driving cat, who must help his bank robbery accomplice shoot up police cars, while also driving through tunnels collecting coins. The more coins you collect, on top of cops you destroy, the more upgrades you can purchase for your guns and vehicle. Navigating your vehicle is quite easy, too. All you do is drag your finger left to right, steering your kitty friends over ammo boxes and bombs to help you beat up big boss police vehicles. Considering the price of the game, which is completely free, I highly recommend Kitten Taxi. Unless for some reason you hate cats. Then I suggest you avoid it. But then again, maybe you should stop hating cats. Below is a bit of actual gameplay footage for you to enjoy. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Motorola Publishes Three New Moto X Commercials, Touts Style and Performance

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:20:35 +0000

Motorola, having just opened new Moto X pre-orders this morning, published three commercials to its YouTube channel, which show off the device's listening capability, as well as its new 13MP rear-facing camera. In the commercials, Motorola is not afraid to show off their updated Moto Voice and Moto Assist applications, which further help users interact with their devices simply by using their voice. For example, when you are driving in your whip, Moto Assist will be aware that you are behind the wheel and automatically read text messages out loud, then allow you to reply by a simply command. In addition to the added voice benefits of the new Moto X, the phone's upgraded 13MP rear-facing camera will allow users to quickly snapshot all of those important moments, including your friend's skateboarding tricks. Once you flick your wrist, the camera takes multiple photos before and after you touch the display to shoot, allowing you to choose the best shot from the bunch. You can watch all of the new commercials below.

[responsive_vid]

[responsive_vid vid_url="z2fIC6clc9Y"]

WATCH Disney, Twitch, iHeartRadio, and DramaFever Gain Support for Chromecast

Kyle — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:00:37 +0000

A few notable apps today are gaining compatibility with Chromecast, Google's venerable streaming media dongle. First up, WATCH Disney, WATCH Disney Junior and WATCH Disney XD apps are now cast-able, with a caveat - most content is locked behind a TV provider sign-in page, so you will need a cable or satellite subscription to take full advantage. Still, a few clips are available for free. Twitch is the second blockbuster addition. Welcome is the ability to cast from the web, quite useful when mobile devices are out of reach. Finally, iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's streaming platform for music, news, and weather, as well as DramaFever, an on-demand TV service, have added support. To take advantage of the new casting abilities, update or download the apps via the links below. Play Links: WATCH Disney | Twitch | iHeartRadio | DramaFever

Via: Google

Google Maps Engine Lite Becomes My Maps, Gains Upgrade Option for Old My Maps Creations

Kyle — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:45:42 +0000

Last year in March, Google introduced Maps Engine Lite, a free and publicly available version of the search giant's custom map creation tools for enterprise. It stood alone from Google's My Maps, a simpler service, but the company promised the two services would eventually merge. A few months more than a year to the day, Google has finally delivered on that pledge. Somewhat confusingly, Maps Engine Lite has been rebranded as My Maps, but retains all of its functionality - you can still share and add pictures, custom icons, and descriptions to maps. Other than a new icon and the ability for users of the classic My Maps to upgrade their old creations, the web and mobile app have not changed. The benefits of upgrading maps created in the older My Maps editor are many, Google avers. The new and improved My Maps lets you import spreadsheets, embed images and YouTube videos, and more easily organize locations and routes. Of course, you don't have much of a choice - all classic maps will apparently upgrade automatically by the end of this year. My Maps is in the play store and online. Play Link

Via: Google

Shipping Estimates: New Moto X by September 26, Moto Hint by October 3, Turbo Charger This Thursday

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:15:25 +0000

If you are interested in picking up any of the new Motorola products that went up for pre-order today, we wanted to confirm their shipping estimates, now that we have orders in. As a recap, the new Moto X (2nd gen), Moto Hint, and Turbo Charger are all now available for purchase. At this time, the Moto X is only available as a "Pure Edition" GSM unlocked model or through AT&T. If you buy at full retail, the starting price for the Moto X is $499 for 16GB of storage, but can go up depending on the options you choose. You can customize it with over 20 different backs, accents, and other options on Moto Maker, including 4 Leather and 4 Natural back panels. The Natural and Leather backs carry a premium of $25. If you jump from 16GB to 32GB of storage, you will pay an extra $50. Verizon will make their version available at a later date, likely around September 25. The Moto Hint, Motorola's discreet Bluetooth ear piece that allows you to control your phone without touching it, comes in 6 different colors, including leathers and woods. It runs $149.99. The Turbo Charger is Motorola's Moto X accessory that can charge your 2nd generation X to 8 hours of juice in just 15 minutes. The phone's battery has to be severely depleted in order to see that fast of action, though, as it utilizes Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 service. Shipping estimates:

Moto X (2nd gen): September 26
Moto Hint: October 3
Turbo Charger: September 18

Contest: Win a Moto 360 From Droid Life (Day 2 of 5)!

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:00:45 +0000

With over 26,000 entries in yesterday's Moto 360 giveaway, it has become quite apparent that folks are interested in this device. So, without further ado, let's give another one away to a lucky winner. As a reminder, we are giving away a Moto 360 each day of this week, meaning that in total, you have 5 chances to win a new Android Wear device from Droid Life. You know, because we love you like that. It is the same deal as yesterday; simply fill out however many entries you would like in the Rafflecopter below, sit back in your chair, and wait for tomorrow morning at 8:30am Pacific to see if you are winning a brand new Moto 360 in Black. Let's do this.

Contest

Day 2 Prize: 1 (one) Moto 360 in black. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: Our winner will be chosen at random, tomorrow morning, September 17, at 8:30AM Pacific.

FYI: Moto X "Pure Edition" Works on Both AT&T and T-Mobile LTE

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:33:21 +0000

We just placed our order for the Moto X "Pure Edition" and wanted to make sure one thing was clear - it does indeed work on both AT&T and T-Mobile 4G LTE networks. The device ships "unlocked," which means you can take it to either carrier without interference, you will simply need a SIM card and service from one or the other. Also, be aware that the "Pure Edition" arrives without carrier bloatware, does not have carrier branding, has an unlockable bootloader (for the tinkerers in the building), and will receive updates before any other Moto X (2nd gen) variant because it's not tied to a carrier and Motorola can do with it as they please. If you plan to buy a new Moto X at full retail, this is the one to get (unless you are with Verizon, then you are out of luck). You can customize it with Moto Maker as well, in case you were wondering.

Moto X (2nd Gen), Turbo Charger, and Hint Now Available for Pre-Order From Motorola, 360 Back in Stock

Kellen — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:54:28 +0000

Like it said it would do, Motorola has gone ahead and made the new Moto X (2nd generation) available for pre-order this morning. Customers can choose either the AT&T version or the "Pure Edition," which is an unlocked GSM model (this is the version to buy). The device is joined by the Moto Hint, Motorola's new discreet Bluetooth ear bud, and the Turbo Charger, an accessory that can charge a depleted battery to 8 hours worth of juice in about 15 minutes. Motorola has also re-stocked the Moto 360 in limited quantities. We will have reviews of all products shortly. Stick with us! Motorola Links: Moto X | Moto Hint ($149.99) | Turbo Charger ($34.99) | Moto 360 Update 9:05AM: Moto X still not available like it was supposed to be, neither is the Moto 360. The Hint and Turbo Charger technically are available. Update 9:12AM: Moto 360 in stock in both colors! Moto X too! Update 9:41AM: Jump from 16GB to 32GB will cost you $50. Wood or Leather backs will add $25 to the price as well. Update 9:42AM: Shipping estimates - 9/26 for Moto X, 10/3 for Moto Hint, 9/18 for Turbo Charger.

Adobe Launches E-Signature Service EchoSign to Android Through Google Play

Kyle — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:45:19 +0000

In news that is sure to delight enterprise users, Adobe has brought EchoSign, its e-signature service, to Android. E-signature services, which enjoy wide use in the corporate world, help to expedite the signing of legal documents by providing the means to serve them on electronic devices. EchoSign, which was acquired by Adobe in 2011 and previously exclusive to iOS on mobile, integrates with Reader, Acrobat, Google Drive, Box, SharePoint, Salesforce, and Evernote to let you manage and monitor real-time pending documents. Signatures, which can be performed with either a finger or stylus, are transmitted using "enterprise-strength" security. If you would like to give it a test drive, EchoSign is now live on Google Play. The app itself is free, but service is not - pricing starts at $14.95 per month. EchoSign is the second Adobe app to migrate from iOS in recent months. Although the company's support of Android could rightly be described as tepid, hopefully the move is indicative of a change in philosophy. Note: From what we see in Google Play, compatibility is quite limited for this application, but we assume this is only a brief mix up on Adobe's side. If you would like to download this app, keep checking back on Google Play to see if they have corrected this error. Update: Adobe reached out to us to confirm compatibility, noting that "there was indeed an issue in Google Play this morning, which made EchoSign not searchable from mobile phones. The issue has since been resolved and now Adobe EchoSign is searchable and downloadable for anyone with a tablet or smartphone with a screen 4.5’’ or larger." Play Link

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet in 32GB and 4G LTE Now Available for Pre-order, Priced at $399

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:29:07 +0000

After posting our review of the SHIELD Tablet from NVIDIA, a few of you stated that you would be waiting for availability of the 32GB model that comes with 4G LTE connectivity. Well, the day is finally here, and the next variant of the SHIELD Tablet is now available for pre-order. According to NVIDIA's press release, SHIELD Tablet is completely certified to run on AT&T's network, but there is no direct mention of T-Mobile or any other GSM network. Additionally, AT&T customers can receive a $100 bill credit when they activate their SHIELD Tablet on a qualifying plan through an AT&T store or by calling the company's 1-800 number. The 32GB + 4G LTE model is priced at just $399, which is still a fantastic deal considering the amount of bang you are getting for your buck. Not only can you play games Tegra-optimized games from Google Play with no problem, but with the SHIELD Controller (sold separately for $60), you will have access to NVIDIA's GRID Beta, its cloud-based gaming platform. Through there, you can access free PC game titles, which for me, is a solid reason why I still use the SHIELD Tablet to this very day. Finally, NVIDIA took this time to announce three new Tegra titles for their devices - Beach Buggy Racing, Broadsword, and BombSquad. The press release states that these titles are coming soon, and undoubtedly, you will probably see us write them up once they are available through Google Play. If this was the model you were waiting for, have at it.

Via: NVIDIA

Moto X (2nd Generation) Now Up for Pre-Order at AT&T in Black, Bamboo, or Leather

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 21:39:50 +0000

Tomorrow at 12PM Eastern, Motorola is going to put the AT&T and GSM (unlocked) models of the new Moto X (2nd generation) up for pre-order through their own store. If you can't wait until then, feel free to cruise over to AT&T's site right now, as they have the device up for pre-order in "Black Resin," "Bamboo," or "Black Leather." As expected, the device runs $99 with new 2-year contract. In not-so-expected news, the full retail price is listed as $526, which is higher than the $499 price that Motorola gave us during the phone's unveiling. Keep in mind that Motorola should have Moto Maker options available tomorrow, meaning you will be able to customize the new Moto X to your liking. If you order from AT&T, you are getting a pre-made device in the three colors mentioned above. AT&T Link

Cheers Tony!

AT&T Confirms Release of LG G3 Vigor on Its 4G LTE Network

Tim — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:31:04 +0000

AT&T announced a new device for its network this afternoon, the G3 Vigor from LG. The G3 Vigor is much likes its big brother, minus a few of the top-tier specs. If you will recall, LG announced the G3 Beat not too long ago, and basically, the G3 Vigor is simply a rebranded Beat. AT&T has yet to announce official specs, but given its G3 Beat DNA, its safe to assume this device will feature a Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 2,530mAh battery, and run Android 4.4+. AT&T was unable to announce availability or pricing of the device, claiming that info will come at a later date. We will keep you posted for those interested.

Via: AT&T

Moto Voice Arrives for OG Moto X, Last Year's DROIDs

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:53:05 +0000

Moto Voice, the rebranded Touchless Control that arrived with the new Moto X, updated today for the original Moto X and last year's DROID family. The changelog simply states that Moto Voice is now "supported" on the DROID ULTRA, Mini, MAXX, and Moto X (1st generation). The update also supposedly brings support for the Moto 360, though we are showing that as having been included last week. The update should be live - go grab it! Play Link

Cheers DJ, Aaron, Damian, and Vaporware!

This Flag in Chrome Will Show You Search Results Without the Need to Hit Enter

Tim — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:58:48 +0000

A flag for Chrome, recently showcased by OMG! Chrome, should have many quiz and trivia fanatics praising Google once enabled. When the flag is turned on, users can receive answers to many basic inquiries right through the auto search results, which are the auto-fill results you see when typing in a question. If you use this feature, you will find that many answers are quite simplistic, given that there is not much room for Google to display a lengthy answer. For example, the best questions would be those that have to do with weather, celebrity birthdays, Obama's height, etc. Nothing too fancy. To enable, follow the instructions below.

Go to chrome://flags in a new tab
Find the ‘Answers in Suggest’ flag
Tap on the drop down box
Set it to ‘Enabled’
Restart browser and enjoy.

A screenshot of what to expect once enabled is show below.

Via: OMG! Chrome

Shazam Integrates Google Play, Lets You Buy or Stream Music from Google

Kyle — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:08:45 +0000

Upset that Shazam only interfaced with Rdio, Beats, and Spotify for the longest time? Being an Android fan, you are probably an avid fan of Google Play, and rest assured you weren't the only one peeved. But rant and rave no longer, fellow users, because Shazam has finally integrated Google Play. To leverage Google Play through Shazam, simply ID a song and tap the drop down menu for buying options. If you are a Google Play All Access subscriber, you will be able to stream the song immediately. If not, you will be taken to a billing screen to access the song. Shazam is available for download through Google Play, so if no Google support was holding you back, go grab it now. Play Link

Via: Shazam

Photos of Nexus 9 Keyboard Reportedly Emerge Thanks to Certification

Kyle — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 12:35:56 +0000

Murmurings of a keyboard case for the upcoming HTC-made Nexus 9 may have finally come to bear, as photos of what seem to be the accessory, emerged online following certification by the NCC (the Taiwanese equivalent of the FCC). The keyboard itself is unremarkable - it's presumably Bluetooth and charges via USB - but its dimensions, somewhere around 30 x 85 mm, lend credence to rumblings of a 4:3 aspect ratio we heard back in June. For those who need a refresher, the Nexus 9 is reportedly a beast of a tablet, sporting a "zero-gap aluminum" exterior and packing a Tegra K1 processor, 8.9-inch (2048x1440) display, stereo speakers, and a main camera with OIS. Some publications have the Nexus 9 pegged for an October release, but that doesn't jibe with NVIDIA's internal projections. Considering the tablet is expected to launch with Android L, software may be the holdup , which could mean an indeterminable wait.

Via: Android Police | Chinese VR-Zone

If You Plan to Buy a New Moto X, Buy a Turbo Charger Just in Case.

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 12:10:20 +0000

Over the weekend, Motorola announced that the new Moto X would go up for pre-order on Tuesday, along with their Turbo Charger, a device that utilizes Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology to give the new X up to 8 hours of battery power within 15 minutes. If you plan to buy the new Moto X, fork out the extra $35 for the Turbo Charger. Just do. And I don't say that because I think it's a cool accessory (even if it is). No, I say that because the battery life on this phone is average, and you never know when you are going to need another 8 hours of juice in a day. I hate to bring semi-bad news like this on a Monday, but after testing the new Moto X for over a week now, I don't have any other word to bring on a battery life front. I can't explain why the battery life on this phone is so average (bordering below average), outside of the fact that it has a 1080p display and a smallish 2,300mAh battery. Competing devices all have bigger batteries, but you would hope that Motorola has worked some magic to extend that life (they claim that they have). Last year's Moto X had average battery life as well, so then again, maybe this shouldn't be a shocker. Here are my results from the past week with a new Moto X running on AT&T's network.

My first two days of battery usage are below, both represent the first two days of use period. On the left, is the day following my initial unboxing; on the right is the day after, which included a full day of tinkering while cruising around Chicago after Motorola's unveiling of the phone. As you can see, neither day is impressive, with the phone basically begging for a charger before I could even hit the 15-hour mark. The days featured nothing but 4G LTE connectivity.

Once I returned home to Portland, I began mixed testing of LTE and WiFi. Unfortunately, the results seemed to stay about the same. On some days, I was able to stretch the Moto X out to 15+ hours of battery life, while others were asking for a charger at 5PM.

And here are the last two days that I remembered to screenshot battery life, both of which were frustrating days, to say the least. Each day, I had errands to take care of, runs to go on, or parties to attend around town, so because I was monitoring battery life, felt I was forced to charge my phone long before I normally would like to. In the image on the left, you can see where after 2+ hours of screen-on time, I grabbed a charger to make sure the phone would last through the night, yet it was only 4PM. In the image on the right, you are looking at close to 7 hours of use (which included a 6 mile run with GPS tracking, about 50 minutes of time) and around 37% battery left. Since I was headed out of town, I plugged the phone in during my drive to make sure I wasn't left stranded without a working phone later on in the evening.

As of this morning, I have been awake for all of 2 hours with the phone mostly sitting idle (22 minutes of screen-on time) on WiFi, and I am already down to 86%. I can also tell you that for the first time all year, during testing of a flagship phone, that I have had to find a charger each night while relaxing on the couch at 10 or 11PM. That never happened during my G3 testing; it also only happens on rare occasions with my wife's Nexus 5. That's just not good enough for a phone in 2014. My expectations with a 2014 flagship phone are that I can unplug in the morning and not need to plug-in again until I go to bed. My setup and usage, I would argue, are pretty normal. Keep in mind that I work out of my home office, so I am in front of a computer all day without the need to constantly check my phone. I certainly try to use it more often than normal during testing for a review, but I am also testing out the Moto 360 at this time, which you would think would take some stress off of the Moto X. I get tons of email and Hangouts messages, check Instagram a few times in a day, check Feedly when away from my computer, use theScore for sports news, and often use my phone for music while running on the treadmill. Again, nothing wild. I don't game at all. I don't make many calls. Also, I know that early reviews have almost all mentioned that battery life is acceptable and so this report looks like somewhat of an outlier. I'm simply sharing my experience from two different cities, with a mix of WiFi and LTE, and what I would consider to be average, not heavy use. So back to the original point of the post - buy a Turbo Charger if you plan on picking up the new Moto X. Everything else about this phone is awesome (with an acceptable camera along for the ride) and I don't think you will regret the choice. I would just want a Turbo Charger on hand in case it's 5PM and it's looking like I'm going to need some extra juice to get me through the night, but only have a couple of minutes to do so. Assuming your battery life is low enough, you could grab end-of-day battery life within a few minutes. Then again, maybe 15-17 hours of usage is all you need in a day.

Daily Deal: TowerMadness Game, a 3D Tower Defense Title for Free

Tim — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:45:32 +0000

A new free download is available through our Deals store, an app called TowerMadness. For fans of tower defense titles, who also enjoy a bit of 3D graphics, it's a must have. In the game, you build up your defenses to stop evil aliens from kidnapping your adorable 3D sheep. You have blasters, flamethrowers, and plenty of other weapons to help you stop the never ending horde of aliens. To download, all you need to do is login to the Deals store (email or Facebook account), claim the freebie, share the deal through one of your social network sites (you can share privately if you want), then simply download to your Android device. Go check it out. Droid Life Deals Link

[responsive_vid]

Verizon VoLTE and Advanced Calling 1.0 Now Live, Place HD Voice Calls on the Galaxy S5 or G2

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:28:40 +0000

Verizon officially launched Advanced Calling 1.0 this morning, which is an odd way of saying that their VoLTE and HD Voice services are now live. Talk about over-branding. Anyways, Advanced Calling 1.0 is Verizon's suite of calling features for Voice over LTE (VoLTE) that includes HD Voice calls and Video Calling. The software suite comes as a part of an over-the-air (OTA) update for devices, with the Galaxy S5 and LG G2 currently sitting as the only two supported. You can find all of the launch details at this report. Advanced Calling 1.0 is a free add-on for your line of service, as can be seen in the opt-in screen below. Once added, nothing else on your account changes, so no, Verizon won't be using Advancing Calling to try and squeeze you out of your unlimited data. With Advanced Calling 1.0 on your device, you will be able to place HD Voice calls, 1-way or 2-way video calls, use voice and data services at the same time (not new for Android users), and participate in 6-way conference calls. All of this takes place in the stock dialer and contacts apps on your phone, you won't need to use a new 3rd party app, like Google is asking us to do with the Hangouts Dialer. This is the future of voice calling, we just need more devices to gain support.

To opt-in to the service, you will need the latest firmware installed on your Galaxy S5 or LG G2. The updates rolled out last week (G2 update, Galaxy S5 update), so if you own either device, be sure to check to make sure you are current. Once you are updated, head over to the Advanced Calling 1.0 page on Verizon's site and click the big "Get Advanced Calling 1.0" button to add it to your account. From there, make sure the option is enabled on your phone, which will be found in Settings>More networks>Mobile networks>VoLTE Call on the Galaxy S5, and in a similar location on the G2.

With your phone updated, Advanced Calling 1.0 added to your account, and VoLTE enabled, you are ready to place a call. HD Voice and VoLTE Video Calling can only occur between devices equipped to handle such a feat. In other words, at this time, you will only be able to place HD Voice or VoLTE Video Calls between friends who own either a Galaxy S5 and the G2 - both parties have to have one of these two phones. And don't forget that you have to be in a VoLTE area (which should be almost anywhere that Verizon has 4G LTE). When getting ready to call, you can see in Contacts>Groups a new group called "Video Calling" that lists out everyone capable of handling an HD Voice or VoLTE Video Call with you. Should you place a call to someone in that group, your contact and in-call screens will look as they do above, with quick buttons for toggling on or off video modes, including one-way camera. As we see new devices gain support, we will be sure to pass the info along.

Via: @VZWnews | Verizon [FAQ, Details]

Get a $50 Coupon for an Off-contract Moto X (2014) With Valid .edu Email Address

Kyle — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 10:52:44 +0000

Motorola's new Moto X is comparatively inexpensive for a flagship smartphone off contract, but courtesy of a new promotion, those with university and college associations will be able to shave a few more bucks off of the purchase price. A valid .edu e-mail address and the completion of a simple form will entitle you to a $50 coupon for the new Moto X, no catch. That brings the total for a new Moto X down to $449.99, which for comparison's sake is slightly less than an off-contract LG G3 with the included extra battery and charging cradle ($529.99 + $70 value). Tough choice. Motorola's deal is restricted to off-contract pricing. We are assuming this offer is time-limited, but the company has not posted an explicit end date yet. If you are looking to take advantage, best be safe and sign up soon.

Via: Motorola

Cheers Jigga_Z and Robert!

Verizon Grants Early Upgrades for Customers With November 15 or Earlier Dates

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 09:56:54 +0000

Because of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Verizon may have changed your upgrade date to a full two months earlier than you were expecting. According to a handful of sources, Verizon has made upgrades available immediately to customers with upgrade dates showing on or before November 15. If you don't want a new iPhone, don't worry, as Verizon is making any phone in their current line-up available to upgrades if you meet the November 15 requirement. You could go with the LG G3 (review), Galaxy S5 (review), or even wait a couple of weeks for the new Moto X or Galaxy Note 4. Feel free to check your account to confirm.

It's Official, Microsoft Acquires Makers of Minecraft for $2.5 Billion

Tim — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 09:39:26 +0000

Made official early this morning, Microsoft is set to purchase Mojang, the makers of Minecraft, for a smooth $2.5 billion dollars. In Minecraft, a survival sandbox game, players must forge and build whatever they see in their imaginations, using blocks that they collect with pickaxes, axes, shovels, and swords. Over the course of just a few years, Minecraft has grown from a small community of players to an entire marketing machine, complete with versions available on many platforms, as well as merchandise in Target and countless other retailers. Since 2009, Minecraft has seen 100 million+ downloads on PC alone, with nearly 2 billion hours played on the Xbox 360. In terms of popularity, not many recent games stack up to Minecraft. In a blog post, Mojang states its top founders, Notch, Carl, and Jakob are leaving the team. However, in a bit of eerie news, the team does not exactly provide information as to what the future holds for the game. Instead, the team remains optimistic that nothing will change, but can't exactly come out and say that everything will be peaches and cream. Mojang states, "We don’t know specific plans for Minecraft’s future yet, but we do know that everyone involved wants the community to grow and become even more amazing than it’s ever been. Stopping players making cool stuff is not in anyone’s interests." While that may sound fine and dandy, another passage hints that with Microsoft gaining complete control, Mojang can do little to shape the future of the title. "There’s no reason for the development, sales, and support of the PC/Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, iOS, and Android versions of Minecraft to stop. Of course, Microsoft can’t make decisions for other companies or predict the choices that they might make in the future." On a personal level, this news is somewhat saddening. I began playing Minecraft when it was still an early beta, purchasing a key for $20 back in the day. The game was very different, and at first, was kinda boring. Thanks to countless updates, on top of a younger generation now playing, the game has evolved into a culture of its own. To see it purchased for $2.5 billion, with its founders giving up complete control to the corporate folks at Microsoft, I might go as far as to say that this game is officially dead to me. What is your take? Do you think Minecraft will continue to grow and dominate the Twitch livestreams? Will its user base feel somewhat turned off by its new owners? Share your opinions below.

Via: Microsoft | Mojang

Contest: Win a Moto 360 From Droid Life (Day 1 of 5)!

Kellen — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 09:17:04 +0000

We teased this last week on Twitter, but should you not follow us there, welcome to the week of Moto 360 giveaways here on Droid Life. We have five of them to give away - one for each day. We know how hard the Moto 360 is to come by, so we wanted to make sure a handful of you could walk away with one without having to fight the online ordering process, or more importantly, pay the $250 price tag. We have three silver/grey models and two all-black units to give away. There are no sponsors. This is just pure giveaway action for the DL community. We really do love you this much. Each contest will run for a full day, with each day's winner being chosen the following morning. Rafflecopter is powering the entire process as usual, because it gives you multiple ways to enter and also lets us pick winners with ease. As a reminder, you can enter each way listed in the widget or pick and choose the options that work best (easiest) for you. You don't have to do them all, but the more you do, the better your chances (technically) are of winning. Ready?

Contest

Day 1 Prize: 1 (one) Moto 360 in silver. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: Our winner will be chosen at random, tomorrow morning, September 16, at 8:30AM Pacific.

Google Launches Android One Initiative, for the Next 5 Billion People Without a Smartphone

Tim — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:45:48 +0000

Back at Google I/O, Google announced an upcoming initiative titled Android One. Its purpose, albeit an aggressive one, is to get a smartphone into the hands of every human on Earth, allowing everyone on this planet the same access to the Internet's full resources of information. This week, Google has officially launched the platform, complete with affordable hardware and carrier partnerships based in India, with even more to come in the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) by the end of the year. To us, the phones may not exactly impress with their specs, but if you have never had the opportunity to even touch a smartphone before in your life, then it could easily change the world as you know it. After conversion, these Android One devices are priced at about $100 off-contract, featuring 3G/4G radios, expandable memory slots, dual-SIMs in select markets, front and rear-facing cameras, and run Android 4.4+. Google also states that Android One devices will be some of the first to receive the update to Android L, as well. On top of Android One's open availability and affordable pricing, Google looks to ensure that once the device is in the hands of a user, they will be able to utilize the phone to their full advantage. To do so, Google is teaming up with overseas carriers to make sure that each software update that the phone receives for six months after purchase does not count towards the user's phone bill. In addition, Google is allowing for 200MB of free app downloads from Google Play each month, showing that not only does the company want people to have access to the technology, but also the power to tap into it. Android One is certainly a powerful initiative, one which we hope betters the lives of many in this world.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Google

New Moto X on AT&T and "Pure Edition" Pre-Orders Start Tuesday - Moto Hint, Turbo Charger Too

Kellen — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:23:12 +0000

Motorola announced this morning that the new Moto X - both the AT&T and "Pure Edition" models - will be available on pre-order starting Tuesday, September 16, along with the new Moto Hint and Turbo Charger. Moto will also re-stock the Moto 360, though it will again be available in limited quantities. Shipping dates will vary depending on the product you order will be provided at checkout, according to Motorola. The new Moto X runs $99 on-contract or $499 at full retail, which Motorola is hoping attracts buyers as a price around $100 less than other flagships. The AT&T model is a carrier-tied phone, not unlike any other carrier-tied phone. The "Pure Edition" on the other hand, is the unlocked GSM model without carrier ties, that also comes with an unlockable bootloader. The Moto hint, Motorola's discreet Bluetooth ear piece, is $149. The Turbo Charger, which can charge a new Moto X to 8 hours worth of juice in just 15 minutes time, carries a price of $34.99. All devices will be available at 12PM Eastern, 9AM Pacific. No details were given on the Verizon model or Moto Maker access (edit: Moto's site says "build" a new Moto X on Tuesday, so Moto Maker should be a part of it), but we are assuming that Moto Maker will be a part of the deal on Tuesday. We were told back in August by sources that the Verizon Moto X would launch on September 25. Here are some specifics from Motorola's announcement:

Moto X for AT&T - Order the AT&T version of the new Moto X starting on Tuesday. Moto X - Pure Edition - The off-contract Moto X is available SIM unlocked and with an unlockable bootloader for $499.99 USD. Moto Hint - Our discreet wireless earbud gives you complete control of your phone and allows you to access everything you need by just using your voice. It will be available for $149.99 USD. Motorola Turbo Charger - Our fastest charger ever takes just 15 minutes on the latest Moto phones to get up to 8 more hours of battery life. It will be available for $34.99 USD. Learn more.

Ready to order?

Via: Motorola

Tip: Send SMS and MMS in Gmail or the Chrome Hangouts Extension Using Your Google Voice Number

Kellen — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:55:17 +0000

With the Google Voice and Hangouts merger in full swing (again), most of you who use a combination of the service are now noticing an added benefit - SMS and MMS through both Gmail and the Chrome extension for Hangouts. If you have a Google Voice number that has now been associated with Hangouts, you can choose to send an SMS to contacts, assuming you have attached a number to their contact information. It's pretty simple to do really, again, as long as you have a Google Voice number attached to Hangouts. Open your list of contacts in either Gmail or the Hangouts extension and start a new conversation with someone. If they have a phone number attached to their name, you should see an option for "SMS" at the top of the conversation box, up next to the Video, Call, and People icons. Click on that, choose a phone number to send to, and Hangouts will open a new conversation window with that contact to start an SMS thread. From here, you can send both regular SMS messages or MMS (multimedia). Hangouts is also smart enough to keep up with these conversations across all devices, so you should see these SMS threads on mobile and desktop. You can grab the Hangouts extension for Chrome here.

Cheers Phil, Bill, Sam, Jeremy, Lenny, Nathan, Jigga_Z, Jason, Brian, Paul, Michael, Ian, Kevin, Stephen and the other dozen of you!

We Will Help You Decide Which iPhone to Get

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 21:26:30 +0000

This past Wednesday evening, the DL crew came together for Episode 68 of The Droid Life Show. In this episode, we cover all of the past two week's announcements, which include Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy Note 4, Motorola's announcement of the new Moto X and Moto 360, finished off by Apple's showcasing of the new iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple Watch. There was so much to talk about, we hardly made our way down our list of topics, but don't worry, next week we will catch up on everything else, including Sony's announcements, our top apps and games of the month, plus a whole lot more.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/12/2014

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:39:14 +0000

It was Apple's week this week, in which the company unveiled its upcoming iPhone devices and the new Apple Watch. Besides all of the Cupertino news, the DL crew got together for Episode 68 of The Droid Life Show, and we also got confirmation from NVIDIA legal documents that HTC does have a Nexus 9 device on the way. On top of that action, HTC has an event scheduled for October 8 in NYC, Google began its epic merger of Hangouts and Google Voice, we launched our new Deals store, the DROID "Quark" stopped by the FCC, and Dell unveiled a tablet we are actually interested in. Here are the highlights if you missed them.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Deal: Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB on Sale for $159 With Free Shipping

Kellen — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:07:15 +0000

Still haven't picked up the Nexus 7 (2013) after the countless deals that we have shared? Well, here is another one. Today's deal includes the 32GB variant for $159.99, which is more than $100 off the original retail price. The device is "manufacture refurbished," but you know what that means by now - the manufacturer has had a chance to work out defects or kinks. Not much else to say with this one; you have seen this deal countless times. Your time is running out, though, as Google is close to giving us the new HTC Nexus 9. eBay Link

Google Play Music Update Brings Back Public Playlists

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:43:30 +0000

An update is rolling out to Google Play Music this afternoon, one which brings back a feature that was once available, then removed. The feature is public playlists through All Access, which was made available for a very limited time back in August. Now, the feature is back, and hopefully it is here to stay. With this feature, users can head into the Playlists section of the All Access application, then simply search for a group, song, or genre. If you scroll down in the results, you will see a section for playlists from public users. In these playlists, you will find lists of songs that will perfectly suit your needs. The update is rolling out to everyone on Google Play, so go grab it. Play Link

Square Enix Launches Dragon Quest to Google Play, Priced at Only $2.99

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:11:30 +0000

A game from Square Enix hit Google Play this week, an absolute classic called Dragon Quest. In this title, which should have you traveling back in time to the 1980s, you play as a hero that is about to set upon an epic RPG journey of magic and terrifying creatures. Although, keep in mind, graphics were a bit limited back in the day, so the gameplay may not be as exhilarating as it once seemed. The game's controls have been reworked to perform perfectly on touch displays, and the soundtrack also seems to have been remastered for its release. As for the actual story, you play as multiple characters that search through towns and other various environments, upgrading weapons and hunting down baddies. If you enjoy classic RPG titles, Square Enix has your back. There are no exact launch trailers, but in the video below, you can see exactly what you will get for your $2.99. Play Link ($2.99)

[responsive_vid]

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 23 Answers

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:29:34 +0000

This past Monday, we opened up Volume 23 of the Droid Life Q&A Sessions. With Motorola, Samsung, and even Apple unveiling new products, all of you had great questions for us. The questions ranged from which OEM is doing the best this year, all the way down to which OEM is doing the worst. Of course, readers are also curious about upcoming Nexus devices as well, and so are we. Down below, we also cover our thoughts on Motorola's handling of the Moto 360 launch. A few may say they botched it, but it seems that we differ slightly in opinion on that subject. For all of the answers to your questions, look right below.

What OEM do you think has made the most positive progress this year?

Kellen: LG. They have the respect of the hardcore tech community finally, and they even seem to be gaining some traction with regular consumers too. By all means, the LG G3 is a success. People also seem to be excited about the G Watch R, as ugly as it is, so yeah, LG is doing great things. Tim: For smartphones, LG has really done a great job with the G3. I see plenty of marketing for the device, and people on the street can even recognize the phone when I am using it. For wearables, Motorola has made some big moves, releasing arguably the best looking smartwatch available. Each company, Motorola and LG, deserve some recognition for their contributions this year. Ron: We've seen mostly incremental changes from every OEM. I think Sony deserves recognition for making a smaller version of a flagship that matches the larger model spec for spec. I think Motorola deserves recognition for making an attractive smart watch. I think Samsung deserves recognition for proving they're still willing to throw anything out there without regard for its use case or viability as a product (the Edge).

What OEM do you feel has regressed the most?

Kellen: HTC continues to disappoint. The HTC One (M8) is a decent device, but HTC for some reason didn’t realize that last year’s UltraPixel gimmick needed to go. They are now reportedly entering the GoPro camera market, likely as yet another last ditch effort to keep from folding. Who knows what they are doing anymore, but whatever it is, isn’t working. Tim: Well, if there is one company that didn't quite meet the hype, I would nominate OnePlus. What a bust. For whoever got their OnePlus One, I hope you like it, because there are plenty of people who are either still trying to get an invite to even buy one or have completely boycotted and given up on them forever by now. It could have been great, but a failure to meet "demand" really hurt them in the end. And don't forget all of the marketing/contest mishaps which took place. Nightmare. Ron: I don't think anyone regressed so much as they stayed the same or made slight improvements. We didn't see regressions, but we also didn't see massive innovation this year. We saw plenty of good phones, but nothing that was show stopping.

What do you think is the current state of Android Wear devices? Is it a good time to buy one, or hold out for another few months?

Kellen: Buying the first generation of a new product is always a bit risky. The current options are the Moto 360, G Watch and Gear Live, all of which are pretty solid. The problem with the platform so far is the software. Android Wear is still basically in beta, so it lacks functionality and can be a bit buggy. It should only get better, though, and Google has promised a bunch of updates over the coming months. The devices themselves aren’t bad. Tim: As much as I could argue against my own point, Android Wear is a fledgling platform. It's a baby bird, just waiting to be pushed out of the nest by its mommy bird, hoping its wings are strong enough to carry it to wherever it may go. While Ron would argue with me, it is going to be very important for Google to help incubate developers in creating awesome apps for Android Wear. While Google has released a great skeleton, it will be up to developers and OEMs to really make Android Wear desirable. For now, it isn't quite there. However, when you have a device like the Moto 360, which is completely sexy, then it almost makes up for the fact that it really doesn't do anything in the productivity section. Ron: It depends on why you want a smart watch. If you want something that gives you notifications, get one. If you want something with some fitness tracking solutions, get one. If you want something that changes the way you interact with your world and transforms your wrist into a new computing space, wait, or consider the fact that that will probably never happen. The smart watch is not here to replace the phone.

What does Samsung need to do with the Galaxy S6 to regain some of the momentum they have lost over the past couple of years?

Kellen: That’s a really tough question. I don’t even know what they are doing wrong - people just have more options now. I think Samsung took the world by storm as the logical choice next to Apple, created the Note out of no where alongside the Galaxy S line, and then peaked. Like Apple, everyone must fall at some point. They’ll be fine, but they may not see that wild success ever again that they once had. The market is too saturated and there are too many other quality players now. Tim: Cut the sh*t, Samsung. Rip out 50%+ of your bloatware, and get back to designing better hardware. Drop the damn Home button while you are at it. The rest of the Android OEMs realize Google doesn't want to see it, so open your eyes. Sure, it sells, but that's because people don't have a choice. They see so much marketing for the Galaxy, so they feel like there must not be a better choice. It's kind of unfair in that sense to consumers. I just want to see better designs and less bloat. Is that so hard? Ron: They need to improve their hardware and software design to get journalists on board, they need to have good low cost phones to keep the majority of their customers happy, and they need to work on their advertising to keep the high end interested in a Galaxy. Saying you were there first isn't going to deter people from switching to an iPhone; saying you still have things the iPhone doesn't (and that people actually want to have) is compelling.

A lot of people seem upset at how Motorola has handled the launch of the Moto 360. What is your impression of this situation? As tech consumers, what are reasonable expectations for us to have?

Kellen: The only problem I see is that they didn’t have enough available at launch. In two weeks when they catch up on inventory, we’ll all forget about everything. Tim: People should have seen that coming. After months of hype, people wanted the watch. Unfortunately, Moto couldn't handle the demand. But don't worry, more units are inbound. If you weren't quick on the draw, you have to be patient. That's how it works. Just ask anyone who waits in line for an iPhone 6, then gets turned away because the store only had so many units. It happens every year. Ron: They pre-announced the Moto 360 by months, ostensibly to get more watches into production, and then had inventory issues. I don't think it's unreasonable to say that Motorola underestimated demand, but I do think it's unfair to say that they ruined their chance. Most everyone still agrees that the 360 is the best smart watch to get right now, so people will get it if they want it when they can.

What's on your favorite Google Music playlist?

Kellen: I create 2-3 month long rolling playlists that I constantly add to. Right now, my playlist is loaded up with Wiz Khalifa’s new album, PartyNextDoor, Schoolboy Q, and randomly, Mike Stud. Tim: I enjoy just starting up radio stations and letting them play out. I have a few bands I like to start with, being Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Gojira, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, and the list goes on. Ron: I don't use Google Music, but I've been listening to The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack (Awesome Mix Vol 1) and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift a lot.

What was the most exciting thing announced in tech for you this month?

Kellen: Everything Apple just did. Because after all these years of hate by Apple and their fankids, our thoughts on bigger phones, higher-res displays, and wearables were right. This was Apple admitting that they were wrong again and again. Piss off, Apple. Tim: As much as I enjoyed covering Apple's announcements, I think this month was highlighted by the Moto 360 and new Moto X. The 360 is what I have been waiting on forever, and I'm excited to at some point get my hands on a customized Moto X. Gimme gimme, Moto. Ron: It wasn't announced per say, but I'm very excited to see how Extensions make iOS more functional like Android has been.

Which video games, console or mobile, are you looking most forward to?

Kellen: I’ll let the others answer this. My life is filled with a 10 month old, so I have no time to even breath, let alone think of games. Tim: OMG. There is only one game I am keeping track of - Alien: Isolation. It. Looks. Amazing. Ron: I'm very interested in Destiny, but I probably won't play it for a long time since that would require buying an Xbox One and a new TV.

What can we expect from the next Nexus phone?

Kellen: Everything surrounding the next Nexus is a bunch of wild rumor and speculation. I would tend to lean towards the reports of “shamu” being real, though, so a large oversized phone would’t shock me. I don’t think Google is going to give us two Nexus phones - just a tablet from HTC and a whale of a phone from Motorola come early November or late October. Tim: Just like every year, I am guessing we can expect bumps in the specs, but with talk of Motorola's Shamu Nexus, I am a little scared of what might come. Is it really going to be massive? 6"? Please, Google, don't do it. From the leaks we have seen so far, it is looking like the Nexus 9 and a mystery Shamu Nexus is what we are getting. Ron: I wouldn't expect it to be game changing. I would expect more of what we've seen from Google for the past 2 years: Nice looking phones with flaws that make the X, One, S5, Z3, and G3 seem more appealing.

Deal: Limefuel Lite 15,000mAh Dual USB Power Pack for $34.99

Kellen — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:15:09 +0000

Over in our newly unveiled Droid Life Deals section, we wanted to point out a current deal for the Limefuel Lite 15,000mAh battery pack, which can be had for just $34.99 (36% off). The deal is only good through the weekend, ending on Monday, September 15. The Limefuel Lite 15,000mAh battery pack that can charge your tablets a couple of times on a single charge, or your phones even more. For example, the LG G3 sports a 3,000mAh battery, which means the Limefuel Lite could give you close to five full charges while on the go. The pack also features s digital display to show you exactly how much juice is left, along with two USB ports, so that you can charge two devices simultaneously. I own a handful of portable battery packs like this for traveling or on days when I may be out of the house for an extended period of time. Even though today's devices all carry serious batteries, you just never know when you might need some extra juice. Deal Link

Motorola's Unlocked Moto X Will be Called the "Pure Edition"

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 11:41:15 +0000

According to The Verge, Motorola's upcoming unbranded and unlocked variant of the new Moto X will be called the Pure Edition. Not only will Motorola sell the Pure Edition directly to consumers through its own web portal, but users can rest assured in knowing that these pure devices will ship with no bloatware in sight. It's Motorola's pure Android experience. Even with the name known, we still don't have a release date. As soon as more is known, you can bet that we will let you know. Is the Pure Edition the Moto X you are waiting for?

Via: The Verge

Contest: Win a MINI JAMBOX From AT&T and Droid Life!

Kellen — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:56:34 +0000

To celebrate a recent price drop to $99 (from $130), AT&T has partnered with us to give away a brand new MINI JAMBOX to one of our fabulous readers. For those new to the MINI JAMBOX, just know that it's a smaller version of Jawbone's popular JAMBOX series of Bluetooth speakers. It lasts for up to 10 hours on a single charge, is pocketable, works as a speakerphone for calls, comes in a variety of fashionable colors, and still gives off "rich, crisp, three-dimensional sound." Better yet, Jawbone recently released an update called Multi Play that allows users to connect two MINI JAMBOX speakers together for simultaneous sound domination. To pick up a MINI JAMBOX today, head over to AT&T's site and check out the variety of colors available. After that, jump below for contest deals on how you can win one!

Contest

Prize: 1 (one) MINI JAMBOX from AT&T. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: On Monday, September 15, we will choose our winner at random at 10AM Pacific.

Three Great Android Wear Apps: WearFaces, Knock, and Panic

Tim — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:33:31 +0000

With the Moto 360 now available, we are sure there are plenty new Android Wear users in the building, so we wanted to share a few apps that we thought you might find useful. Of course, many of the first things you will want to download are custom watch faces, so we have that covered, but we also wanted to showcase a couple of utility applications, two of which you may not have thought to try out on your own. Below, see our list of a few apps which we think you might enjoy on your Android Wear smartwatch.

WearFaces Custom watch faces are very important for smartwatch owners. They allow us to customize the look of our timepiece, which makes us feel like an individual inside of a large group. While Google has been hesitant for some odd reason to release an official API for developers to begin creating watch faces, extensions do exist, which allow developers to still create and upload watch faces for users to download. One app in particular, WearFaces, takes the community aspect we know and love about Android, and allows users to download and select user-made watch faces from online. The app couldn't be more easy to use. Once you open the app, you can hit "Download WearFaces Packs" and from this online gallery, you can choose which watch face you would like to sport. Once the zip containing the watch face elements is downloaded, simply "Import WearFaces pack," then hit "Send to Wear." Once you have sent the watch face to your smartwatch, you select the custom face using Android Wear's built-in watch face selector. As I mentioned, it is very easy. The app is completely free to download, so go grab it immediately. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Knock According to research, 70% of calls made are status calls. Meaning, more times than not, you are calling someone to find out if your plans are still on for that evening or you are calling to make sure your friend is safe and sound. With an app called Knock, you can make sure that person replies to your message without having to directly call them. Allow me to give you an example. If you and your girlfriend have Knock installed on your phones, instead of calling them, you can send each other knocks. When you send a knock, it looks like a phone call on the other person's screen, but they have options to send a short pre-determined response back, or they can choose to pick up and talk on the phone with you. The company states quite elegantly, "Knock is the urgency of a call, but the convenience of a message." With Knock on your Android Wear device, you can respond to knocks even more quickly, given that you won't need to pull out your device to reply to your friend, wife, etc. The app is free to use, downloadable right from Google Play. Play Link

[responsive_vid vid_url="t_1i1Wa15iE"]

Panic The next app, Panic, is one that could actually save you from danger, should the need for it ever arise. When Panic is installed on Android Wear, if you ever find yourself in danger, you can program the app to send a pre-determined text message to someone on your ICOE contacts list, all from your wrist. Once you program a message and number for it t be sent to, whenever you hit the big red panic button on your watch, that text will be sent out. Sometimes, people may not have a chance to reach into their pocket or purse to pull out their phone in case they are in danger, so the Panic app could come in handy if that situation does happen. Let's just hope it never does. The app costs just $1.18 through Google Play. Play Link ($1.18)

If you have any Android Wear apps you would like to suggest, please email us or write them down in the comments below. I am sure we would all appreciate that.

HTC Reportedly Developing Waterproof Camera to Compete with GoPro, Others

Kyle — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 09:00:56 +0000

According to Bloomberg, HTC is poised to enter the ruggedized camera market with a device designed to compete with products like the GoPro 3. The shooter, described by someone familiar with the device as "tube-shaped," will reportedly be waterproof and feature a 16-megapixel sensor and ultra-wide lens. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios will facilitate connectivity between the camera, with both iOS and Android devices supported, plus a dedicated app may be available at launch. The device may be unveiled as early as early as HTC's Double Exposure event on October 8, at which the company is also expected to reveal a so-called selfie smartphone. Bloomberg postulates HTC is searching for new sources of revenue after ceding a large share of the handset market to competitors. Strange as it may sound, cameras for extreme sports may turn out to be quite a profitable new product category for the electronics maker - GoPro raised $427 million in a June IPO. We will hopefully learn more in October.

Via: Bloomberg

And Then the Google Voice Merger With Hangouts Began...Again. (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:36:26 +0000

Last night, we told you not to stress about the merging of Hangouts and Google Voice because Google had reverted all of the early adopters anyway. Well, this morning, a number of our readers are once again being prompted to go ahead and bring SMS and Voicemails over from Voice into Hangouts. Yep, the merger is back on. We are not seeing the prompt on our end, so this is - as is almost always the case with Google - a slow rollout. We tried clearing data and stopping Hangouts, but that hasn't helped activate the prompt to merge. Patience will be key today. If you are prompted to merge Google Voice with Hangouts, be sure to hit up this post on using Voicemail in Hangouts and this one on sending MMS. Also, if you discover a trick to force this merger pop-up sooner, be sure to drop that in the comments.

Update: I didn't see the prompt to merge, but in Hangouts settings, under the account associated with my Google Voice number, I am now seeing options to merge. Once I check those boxes, the Google Voice app shows that I have opted-in to the merge. Feel free to check.

Cheers Steven, Thoms, and Kevin!

Motorola's New DROID "QUARK" Stops by FCC on Its Way to Verizon - Wireless Charging, Turbo Charger

Kellen — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:22:35 +0000

Back in mid-August, we caught wind of a device from Motorola under the codename "quark" that appeared to be on its way to Verizon. The device was thought to have incredible specs, thanks to a benchmark, which showed a QHD screen resolution (2560x1440), Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor clocked at 2.65GHz, Adreno 420 GPU, 3GB RAM, and Android 4.4.4. I can confirm this morning that the device is indeed real, is headed to Verizon, likely as the next DROID, and may have some extra tricks up its sleeves that we had not yet heard, at least according to recently filed FCC documents. So here is what we know as of today. A Motorola device under FCC ID IHDT56PK1 popped up last night. The device sports all of Verizon's wireless bands, from CDMA2000 to LTE bands 4 and 13. It also includes global roaming GSM bands of 850 and 1900, like all Big Red phones do these days. To fully confirm that this is the "quark," though, look no further than the image below, which lays out the product's features and specifications. In the software version section, it clearly states "5821.0.463.QUARK_VERIZON.EN.US." Yep, this is the new Motorola device headed for Verizon.

As you would expect, it also features WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. After digging through additional documents, we also found mention of Motorola's new Turbo Charger, which can fill up the new Moto X with 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. The mention of Turbo Charger is significant because the @DroidLanding account that reactivated last week, has been spitting teasers for a new DROID phone, one that will include faster charging. A potential device name of "DROID TURBO" has also been tossed around in rumors. We even saw a mention of a wireless charger setup, so there is a good chance that this new DROID will also feature wireless charging, something the new Moto X lacks.

We should also point out that this new DROID "quark" is slightly bigger than the new Moto X. The device's measurements show that it is 73.33mm wide and 143.49mm tall, with a diagonal corner-to-corner measurement of 154.49mm. The new Moto X is 72.6mm wide and 140.36mm tall, with a diagonal corner-to-corner measurement of 149.34mm. On a battery front, the device sports a battery with a model number of EQ40. For reference, the original DROID MAXX used a battery of EU40, which weighed in at 3,500mAh. This is looking more and more like the new DROID MAXX. The FCC documents do not list out the processor, RAM, or camera. There you have it. The new DROID "quark" is on the way.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Thursday Poll: Should a Smartwatch be Round or Square?

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 16:34:14 +0000

Square or round? That seems to be the debate about smartwatches in 2014. Motorola decided long ago that they were ditching the rectangular smartwatch design for something closer to a traditional, circular time piece with the Moto 360. We have even seen LG already jump to the idea as well, with the G Watch R. But then you have Samsung sticking with square (semi-curved square, to be correct) throughout their half-dozen or so watch releases. And of course, Apple went square with the Apple Watch in this week's unveiling. We are curious which you prefer? Clearly, you think the Moto 360 is the best looking watch of the bunch, according to our latest poll, but that could be because of the overall design. Maybe you could buy into a square watch if it looked amazing. You tell us - square or round? [poll id="329"]

Spider-Man Unlimited Now on Google Play, an Endless Runner for the Non Arachnophobic

Tim — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:59:15 +0000

There is a new Spider-Man game available on Google Play this week, titled Spider-Man Unlimited. The game is essentially an endless runner, a la Temple Run, but there are plenty of features that will keep your mind from becoming bored with the action. In Unlimited, you play as Spider-Man, who of course must save the city from evil doers. While you fly from tall buildings to skyscrapers and run atop roofs, you must collect coins and go through epic boss battles to continue on in a complete story mode full of missions. As you play on, you can use other characters besides Spider-Man, and also upgrade characters to help you beat up baddies even more effectively. The look of the game is the real draw, though. If you are aware of the Borderlands series on consoles, the animation style will look familiar, as the same thick black outlines for characters and scenery is utilized. This style helps everything stand out from each other, allowing you to see all of the action taking place. If you love yourself some Spider-Man, go check it out on Google Play, free to download. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

$1,000 in Google Play Gift Cards Up for Grabs

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:48:10 +0000

This morning, we announced the brand new Deals section of DL, a spot where you can find discounts on bundles of apps, accessories, and other tech-related products. If you haven't already, be sure to cruise over there and browse around to see if anything fits your current needs. Might I suggest the Android section, where you will find a name-your-price bundle of games and a discounted shower speaker (who doesn't need a shower speaker?). If none of that stands out, then I wanted to at least point out that you will find a Google Play gift card giveaway with $1,000 in prizes. The grand prize will receive $150 in gift cards, the runner-up gets $100, and 15 others will see $50 cards. Details of the contest can be found below.

The $1000 Google Play Store Giveaway

Grand Prize Winner Receives $150 Of Google Play Store Credit
Runner-up Receives $100 Of Google Play Store Credit
15 Other Winners Will Receive $50 Of Google Play Store Credit

Giveaway Details:

The Big Winner, Runner-up and 15 Others will be selected on 9/30/2014
The more you spread the word, the better the chance you’ll have of winning! #GPSGWIN
Be sure to register with a valid email address so we can contact you if you win
Limit one registration per person – registering more than one email address will result in disqualification from this giveaway

Enter the Contest

Cricket Increases Data Amounts for Basic, Smart, and Pro Plans

Tim — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:11:14 +0000

Today, Cricket announced small, but major changes for its customers using Basic, Smart, and Pro plans on the network. The carrier has decided to up the amount of data allotted to each plan, resulting in even more high-speed action for customers while on the go. To be more specific, the Basic Plan was set at 500MB for $40, Smart Plan was 2.5GB at $50, and Pro Plan was 5GB for $60. Today, these numbers go up to 1GB for the Basic Plan, 3GB for Smart Plan users, and 10GB for the Plan Plan. The prices, however, remain the same. In addition, do note that each plan features a $5 Auto Pay Credit for those who wish to enroll in that, making your bill even cheaper. These changes go into effect on September, but Cricket states it will only last for a limited time. Curious if your home and workspace are covered by Cricket's network? Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T, meaning that if you get AT&T coverage where you are, you will be able to receive Cricket. For more info, check out Cricket's website. Note: For those who need to know about Cricket's high-speed claims, read the following. From Cricket's FAQ. "The new Cricket provides 4G LTE download speeds of up to 8Mbps, great coverage, and network quality to deliver a first-class wireless experience for value-conscious customers in the no-annual-contract space."

Via: Cricket

Don't Stress if You Didn't Get Asked to Merge Hangouts and Google Voice

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:15:05 +0000

Yesterday, we talked a lot about the new Hangouts update that added in the ability to make voice calls. We also talked even more about how the service had finally merged with Google Voice. At least we thought it had. The night before the Hangouts update arrived, a number of users (us included) received a message in Hangouts and Google Voice, asking us to merge our experiences together. So, we did. Voicemails started arriving in Hangouts, as did our texting experience with a Google Voice number, along with semi-MMS support. It was a glorious time. Unfortunately, most of the world didn't receive that "merge" message, so they were stuck with the separated experiences. If it makes you feel any better, know that the early merge adopters have all been reverted back, according to Google. As you can see in the image above from my phone, I am no longer seeing the Google Voice options that I was so excited about from yesterday. Google's Alex Wiesen had this to say on Google+:

If you were one of the handful of people who saw the opt-in from the old Hangouts app last night, you've been reverted back to GV in preparation for the update. Don't worry, you'll be able to switch back soon.

In other words, Google reverted those back who merged early to prepare for a full rollout, or something along those lines. That's probably a good thing actually, since my merge experience included all sorts of force closes and an odd double-dialer experience when receiving phone calls. We are close, though. Hang in there, it's still coming.

Groupon Hosts Deal on Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 and 12.2, Starting at $299

Tim — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:58:18 +0000

Groupon is currently hosting a deal on a few Samsung tablets, most notably the Galaxy Tab Pro lineup of high-end slates. They have four models in total on sale, starting at just $299 up to only $379.99. The tablets are manufacturer refurbished, but do come with a 90-day warranty through Samsung. The devices for sale are the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 in White and Black, as well as the larger Tab Pro 12.2 in White and Black. Specs include high-res LCD displays, 8MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, microSD card slot, and run Android 4.4+. If a Sammy tablet is on your shopping list, hit up the Groupon link below. Groupon Link

Evernote and Vine Among First Android Apps Coming to Chromebooks

Tim — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:00:18 +0000

Google announced the first set of Android apps making their way to Chrome OS this morning, those being Vine, Duolingo, Evernote, and Sight Words. At Google I/O, the company announced they would be working with select developers to bring Android apps to Chromebooks, allowing users to have a few of their favorite apps always with them. With Android apps running though Google's "App Runtime for Chrome," users get the full Android app experience on their Chromebook, even without a data connection. However, from what I can see, the Vine app won't work very well without a data connection. If you would like to see your favorite app make its way to a Chromebook, you can tell Google which one you want right here.

Via: Google

Verizon LG G2 Receives Update to Get It Ready for VoLTE Launch

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:41:14 +0000

The LG G2 on Verizon is receiving an update today (version VS98025B) that prepares it for the company's VoLTE launch, which should happen any day now. Verizon told us back at the end of August that we should expect the service to go live within the "coming weeks." It has certainly been a couple of weeks. We exclusively reported that the LG G2 would be one of the first VoLTE devices, so the update arriving now makes perfect sense. So what's in the update? The update includes Advanced Calling 1.0, which is the blanket name for HD Voice and in-call Video Calling that comes with VoLTE. Once Advanced Calling is on your phone, and you are in a VoLTE area, you can place HD Voice calls to others on Verizon's network who meet VoLTE requirements (own either a G2 or Galaxy S5, are in a VoLTE area, and have Advanced Calling) and quickly flip between video or non-video modes.

Full Changelog

THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED:

Autocorrect functions properly when '?is selected
Cancelled meetings can now be removed from calendar
Mobile Hotspot UI prompt to connect corrected
Fixed assisted dialing for international numbers
Prepare your device for the new Advanced Calling 1.0 feature coming soon from Verizon.

GMS UPDATES:

Chrome : v31.0.1650.59 > v34.0.1847.114
Gmail : v4.7.1 > v4.7.2
Google Search : v3.1.24.941712 > v3.3.12.1106182
Google Settings : v4.0.34 > v4.3.25
Google+ (Google Plus) : v4.2.4.58179886 > v4.3.1.63038142
Google Maps : v7.5.0 > v7.7.0
Google Play Books : v3.1.23 > v3.1.33
Google Play Games : v1.1.04 > v1.5.08
Google Play Movies & TV : v3.0.25 > v3.1.22
Google Play Music : v5.3.1317M.940995 > v5.4.1413N.1048534
Google Play Store : v4.5.10 > v4.6.17
Google Voice Search : v3.1.24.941712 > v3.3.12.1106182
Google Play Newsstand : v3.0.1 v3.2.0
YouTube : v5.3.28 > v5.5.27
Google Drive : v1.2.484.18 > v1.2.563.31
Google Photos : v4.2.4.58179886 > v4.3.1.63038142
Google TTS Engine : v2.4.3.864779 > v3.0.11.1070024

APPLICATION UPDATES:

Upgrade to SSO v3.1.19
Upgrade to Cloud v13.5.30.18.2
Upgrade to CaNID v2.5.11_2859
Upgrade to ISIS Wallet v2.01.00-build.15.30
Upgraded VVM : v3.0.3 > v3.1.13.1
Alarm Clock : v4.2.13 > v4.2.20
Contacts : v4.11.19.2 > v4.11.51
Help : v4.4.204 > v4.4.234
LG IME : v4.4.22 > v4.4.34
LG Email : v6.30.28 > v6.30.53
LG Home : v4.3.7 > v4.3.35
Music : v4.5.15 > v4.5.24
Weather : v4.1.8.1 > v4.2.28
Vu Talk was removed

To learn all there is to know about Verizon's VoLTE launch, hit up our report. Also, I would imagine that the update to Verizon's Galaxy S5 from yesterday brought similar Advanced Calling 1.0 features.

Cheers Ghery and Daniel!

Google Divorces Hangouts From Google+, No G+ Account Needed for Multi-Way Calls

Kyle — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:00:50 +0000

In yet another sign that Google is drawing back the reach of its social network Google+, the company delivered on a promised update that drops the profile requirement for Hangouts. On desktop and mobile, Google Apps account users and those without a Google+ account can now start and join Hangouts calls of up to 15 people. In addition, video calls feature calendar integration - they can be added, changed, or joined from a Google Calendar entry. What does the news mean for Google+? Lately, Google has been taciturn on the subject. The network escaped mention during this year's Google I/O keynote, and rumblings suggest that the company plans to divorce from it more services, like Photos, in the future. Still, Google+ is hardly dead - it continues to receive new features and improvements. If anything, Google is treating it a little more pragmatically, which I think is a positive step. To start a Hangout, visit g.co/hangout.

Via: Google

Dell Venue 8 7840 is the First Dell Tablet You Want

Tim — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 10:40:03 +0000

During an Intel developer conference in San Francisco this week, Intel showed off an upcoming Dell tablet, the Venue 8 7840. From the devices we have seen from Dell in the past, we get the sense that the company was going to only focus on entry-level Android slates, shipping them with low resolution displays and older versions of Android on board. Now, with the Venue 8 7840, it appears that Dell might take a shot at the top-tier tablets on the market. Gizmodo went hands-on with the upcoming tablet, which features a 8.4" (2560 x 1600) OLED panel, Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 8MP rear-facing camera with a few tricks up its sleeve, measures in at only 6.4mm thin, and runs Android 4.4+. As for the camera tricks I mentioned, Dell and Intel have placed three cameras on the tablet, allowing it to triangulate distance of objects as well as take measurements inside of photos. For example, if you need to find out the dimensions of your Ferrari (photographed below), you can do so with Dell's upcoming tablet. On top of triangulation, the cameras are able to perform Lytro-like tricks, which allows users to go back into their gallery after a photo is taken, and then refocus to any point in a picture. Photography on a tablet is usually mocked here in the US, but given that this tablet is capable of performing a few cool tricks, people won't be able to judge you. The tablet won't be available until late this year, but if you are interested, be prepared for a price tag that justifies these specs.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Gizmodo

Introducing the Droid Life Deals Store! Save 10% With This Launch Code!

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 10:20:40 +0000

This morning, we have a new addition to announce to the site that we think you will find great value in over the coming months and years - it's a new Droid Life Deals section that will constantly evolve and grow, as our never ending need for discounted things increases. For years, we have had an accessory store attached to the site, but as we have come to realize that many of you care more about bundled software deals and flash sales on accessories, a Deals section seemed like it would be a great add-on to the site. So, Droid Life Deals was born! Our goal is to bring exclusive deals on the hottest Android and tech gear/gadgets, accessories, and software. Obviously, we want the focus to be on things you can use with your Android devices, but there are other general tech goodies spread throughout the store. For example, you can find a Galaxy S5 wireless charger for $39, or a 15,000mAh battery pack for $35. There are bundles for the future programmers in the building who want to start making their own apps, free games, Bluetooth shower speakers, and more. There is quite the range of offerings, actually. We will promote the best deals here and there as we see fit on the front page of the site and through social media accounts. Don't worry, we won't spam - we know you know where to look for deals. If you want to cruise around the store, there is a dedicated "Deals" link at the top of the site. You will also find access through a widget over in the right sidebar (coming soon). To celebrate the launch, we are offering up a 10% coupon code for the first week of purchases. At checkout, simply use the code DROIDLIFE and you should see the price reduced on your order.

------------------------

If the store looks familiar, that's because it is being powered by StackSocial, a company that specializes in bringing deals to the web. They have been in the game doing Mac-related promos for some time, but want to bring their deal-making expertise over to the Android side of things as well. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you have purchased something from one of their stores in the past. To help our deals section continue to evolve into products that you would regularly consider buying, StackSocial and the DL team only ask that you share opinions with us. That could be at the bottom of this post or on future deals. The best way for us to continue to offer items of value, is to have your input.

HTC Decouples Another System App, Adds Sense 6 Lock Screen to Google Play

Kyle — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 10:10:11 +0000

HTC began separating apps from its firmware a bit ago, but it's been a few months since we have seen any continuation of that trend. Today, the company gave the Sense 6 lock screen the decoupling treatment, adding an entry for it to Google Play. It predictably isn't compatible for any device that isn't running Sense 6. For those who own one that is, note that the lock screen requires a reboot after install. The only change seems to be a mechanism to prevent unintentional factory resets, but the migration to the Play Store is welcomed - it means future updates will come faster without the need for new firmware, which can take months. HTC One M8 and M7 owners should be prompted to update at any moment. Play Link

Moto 360 in Both Black and Silver Back in Stock on Best Buy!

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:37:37 +0000

Go! Go! Go! Best Buy Link Update 10:16AM: Silver and Grey model sold out. Update 10:53AM: Black and Black model sold out too.

Cheers Kimberly!

Android 4.4.3 Update With Extreme Power Saving Rolling Out to HTC One (M8) on Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:26:42 +0000

The Android 4.4.3 update for Verizon's HTC One (M8) is finally rolling out to users, with Extreme Power Saving Mode in tow. The update was originally supposed to start showing up on phones yesterday, but a slight delay pushed it until today. You all survived, right? The update weighs in at 673.5MB, according to at least one reader who has already seen it. Along with EPS, the device has improved hotspot and Bluetooth connectivity. HTC and Verizon also tossed in a Google Security patch - I think you know what that means. In terms of bug fixing, the camera app is more stable, as are LED notifications. Oh, Verizon also mentions in their changelog that a "device root vulnerability issue has been resolved." To check for the update, head into Settings>Phone Update>Check for Update>Download Now.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Jim!

Deal: 16GB Nexus 7 (2013) Plus Free Leather Case on Sale for $129 Today Through eBay

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:03:43 +0000

Note: This deal was posted back in mid August, but it has returned at the same price and with the same leather case. $129 isn't a bad deal. We don't know if Google will ever release another Nexus 7 tablet. In fact, the only rumors of a new Nexus tablet center around an HTC-made device with a metal body and an 8.9-inch display. So if you plan to buy a Nexus 7, like last year's model, you are quickly running out of time. Google has sold out of almost all versions of the Nexus 7 (2013) through Google Play without re-stocking them for weeks. The only two available are the 32GB LTE model in black or the 16GB WiFi-only version, both of which go in and out of stock on the daily. If the 16GB WiFi-only version is of interest, hit up eBay's daily deal today. You can grab a "manufacturer refurbished" 16GB Nexus 7 (2013) for $129, but that also includes a free leather case and free standard shipping. The device retailed brand new for $229. Not a bad deal. eBay Link

Report: HTC Android Wear Smartwatch Coming 2015

Kyle — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 08:50:29 +0000

Smartwatches are poised to become a billion-dollar market by analyst estimations, so maybe it was premature to assume HTC was throwing in the towel so soon. CNET reports that contrary to an earlier report, the Taiwan-based manufacturer is in the process of refining a smartwatch and has plans for a 2015 launch. HTC is striving to differentiate its produce from prototypical devices already on the market. According to sources familiar with the smartwatch, "elements of design" and "features that consumers will more immediately gravitate toward" will be key selling points when it debuts next year. Reportedly, it will run an altered version of Android Wear that may include proprietary features and software. HTC faces an uphill battle. Offerings from a bevy of manufacturers - LG, Sony, Samsung, Motorola, and more - would compete squarely with the company's device. And with a 2015 release date, HTC may be forced to contend for mindshare in the shadow of the Apple Watch, a task that may prove difficult. Anyone excited to see what HTC's planning?

Via: CNET

Samsung Pokes at Apple's Failed Live Stream, Welcomes Them to the Big Phone Bandwagon

Kellen — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:26:22 +0000

Last night, during our recording of the DL Show episode 68, Samsung unleashed six new ads, which of course, were centered around Apple's recent announcements. The ads aren't all great, but the first two below are actually silly enough to watch, just to see Samsung poke at Apple for their failed live stream of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus event and remind them that large phones have been around for two years. The commercials all star faux Apple Geniuses that are borderline hipster. They encounter issues throughout with their Apple products, issues that they wouldn't have if they were using a Galaxy Note 4. At least that's the theme here. I think the best part about these ads, is seeing the Apple apologist media tell the world how terrible they are, even if they are spot on.

[responsive_vid]

[responsive_vid vid_url="yUnlnopG_Xs"]

[responsive_vid vid_url="vPqVYyes0PM"]

[responsive_vid vid_url="9YA_ocaqTlw"]

[responsive_vid vid_url="rask0SaAFJ8"]

[responsive_vid vid_url="bpv5_SPrk_w"]

The Droid Life Show: Episode 68

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 23:25:02 +0000

The Droid Life Show returns tonight for episode 68, with a focus on the last two weeks of announcements from the likes of Motorola, Samsung, and Apple. If you were looking for a show filled with scorching topics, this would be it. We'll likely start the night off with talk of Motorola's new happenings - the Moto X, Moto 360, and more. From there, we will catch you up on Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 unveiling, before diving into Apple's reinvention of well, everything. The top apps and games of the moment should make appearances as well, plus you never know what LG is going to announce while we are on air. We are live tonight at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below.

5 Million Passwords Possibly Associated With Gmail Accounts Leaked

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:40:31 +0000

According to a report which surfaced today, roughly 5 million passwords associated with Gmail accounts, or at least passwords that were once tied to Gmail accounts, have been leaked online. Coming out of Russia, it has been found that many of the passwords are either old passwords, or are actually passwords associated with other accounts for the same user. For example, instead of the password being tied to your Gmail, it could actually be to your old Yahoo or Pokemon Creed account. Yes, Pokemon Creed is a real thing. Now, it should be noted that this leak does not appear to be due to a breach of Gmail's security. Instead, this is likely a dump of year's worth of phishing, and if your information was in this leak, then we recommend that you stop filling out shady emails that might hit your spam folder from the IRS and the FBI. In fact, to take it one step further, maybe look into Google's 2-step authentication? It is always better to be safe than sorry. To see if your account has been hijacked, you can use this online tool to do so.

Via: Life Hacker

Humble Mobile Bundle 7 Released, Pay More Than $3.70 to Receive 7 Games

Kyle — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:48:34 +0000

It's that time again, the Humble Bundle, a for-pay collection of apps that help to fund developers and charities, has refreshed its mobile collection. The first tier features The Tiny Bang Story, Color Zen Premium, and Heroes of Loot. As always, there is no donation minimum; any amount you feel comfortable paying will net the three titles, and benefit their makers and charitable organizations in the process. Included in the second tier is Kingdom Rush Frontiers, Horn, and Sorcery!, with the promise of additional games to come. For those unfamiliar with the process, these "premium" apps require a gift higher than the average donation to unlock. In other words, buying the second and first tiers will require spending, at this moment in time, at least $3.70. Considering the cause and price, that's an excellent value. Humble Bundle Link

[responsive_vid]

Via: Humble Mobile Bundle

T-Mobile Un-carrier 7.0, Brings Gogo In-flight Texting Partnership and Next-gen WiFi Calling

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:19:56 +0000

Down in San Francisco, T-Mobile hosted Un-carrier 7.0 today, making a few announcements which are sure to have many T-Mo customers, and even non T-Mo customers a bit excited. For starters, the carrier announced its next generation of WiFi calling. To put it simply, T-Mobile states that for every single customer, a WiFi connection is now a T-Mobile cell tower. When moving through the town or within your home, T-Mobile customers, as long as there is an active data connection they can hook up to, can make and receive calls via WiFi. No more black holes in your home. In addition, T-Mobile announced Personal CellSpot, a router device that can be hooked up in your home, enabling you to have even better cell service no matter where you are. From what we saw, the router is made by ASUS, and can actually replace your existing WiFi router or run right alongside it. If you have T-Mobile, but experience poor service, you can request a Personal CellSpot for completely free, minus the $25 refundable hardware deposit. Pre-paid customers can also request a Personal CellSpot, priced at just $99. To top it off, T-Mobile announced an exclusive partnership with Gogo, the company that offers in-flight WiFi service on 8,000 flights in the US a day. When you are a T-Mobile customer, you can text any number in the world (SMS, MMS, video message) as much as you want, for absolutely free while at 30,000 feet. To connect, all you need to do is connect to Gogo through its captcha security service. Once connected, you can text all you like. All of these changes go into effect on September 17, including the free Personal CellSpot and Gogo free texting services. For more information, check the full press release below.

T-Mobile Launches Un-carrier 7.0 Un-leashes Wi-Fi Worldwide

Enables every T-Mobile customer and smartphone to call and text over any Wi-Fi connection for seamless coverage where no carrier network reaches – even at 30,000 feet

Unveils T-Mobile Personal CellSpot for personal coverage wherever customers choose
San Francisco, California – September 10, 2014 – Get ready for a whole new way to think about mobile coverage. T-Mobile (NYSE: TMUS) today rewrote the rules of wireless again with Un-carrier 7.0 “Wi-Fi Un-leashed,” breaking several major announcements that together deliver coverage where no cellular network has gone before. With every major smartphone maker adopting it, Wi-Fi calling and texting has reached a tipping point, and T-Mobile is getting 100% behind it as only the Un-carrier can – to deliver unprecedented coverage to its customers to places where no cellular network can reach. With Wi-Fi Un-leashed, T-Mobile announced that it’s lighting up Wi-Fi calling and texting for every Simple Choice customer on every new smartphone it sells. Now 100% of new smartphones in T-Mobile stores will be Wi-Fi calling and texting capable, and 100% of T-Mobile customers will be able to get a Wi-Fi calling and texting capable smartphone if they don’t already have one. To make it easier for customers to take advantage of these new capabilities, T-Mobile is opening an exclusive enrollment window in JUMP!, the Un-carrier’s revolutionary upgrade program, so customers can immediately upgrade to a new Wi-Fi calling ready smartphone. “Wi-Fi Un-leashed is a game changer. This is like adding millions of towers to our network in a single day,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “The difference between us and the traditional carriers is that they’ll do everything they can to make more money off you. We’ll do everything we can to solve your problems, and today, that’s about uniting Wi-Fi with our data strong network for unprecedented coverage.” In contrast to the carriers, who lock customers inside walled-off, proprietary networks to monetize them, T-Mobile has taken a typically disruptive Un-carrier approach with “Wi-Fi Un-leashed” by tapping every available technology to deliver coverage in places unreachable by any cellular network – and by making it incredibly simple. There’s no app to install or separate IDs to remember. Just use your phone. In addition to enabling T-Mobile customers to use any public or private Wi-Fi connection they can access like a T-Mobile tower for calling and texting, the Un-carrier has rolled out next-generation Wi-Fi calling and texting on its network. This new technology is designed to deliver high-quality HD voice, fast call setup times, fewer dropped calls and seamless voice coverage between T-Mobile’s nationwide Voice over LTE (VoLTE) network and Wi-Fi with compatible smartphones. With Wi-Fi Un-leashed, all T-Mobile customers can also make free Wi-Fi calls to the United States from anywhere outside the country – all using their existing T-Mobile number with no app to install and no additional IDs or numbers to manage – wherever they have Wi-Fi. Full-Bars Personal Coverage Wherever You Choose In a classic Un-carrier move, T-Mobile introduced another radically simple idea−give customers the power and freedom to personalize their coverage wherever they choose. The Un-carrier unveiled the T-Mobile Personal CellSpot, a new device that enables everyone to put the capabilities of a personal T-Mobile tower in their house. With 57% of American wireless users saying they often drop calls in and around their home, the Personal CellSpot delivers a full-bars T-Mobile experience − in your basement workshop, small business or anywhere else you have broadband – using state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology. What’s more, it can completely replace your existing Wi-Fi router or operate right alongside it. And, the T-Mobile Personal CellSpot comes with unique patent-pending technology that prioritizes voice calls for crystal clear HD voice. Starting September 17th, every Simple Choice customer with a broadband connection and a Wi-Fi-calling ready smartphone can get a T-Mobile Personal CellSpot completely free of charge with a $25 refundable deposit. The only thing left to do is decide where you want your personal full-bars T-Mobile experience. “For years, the big phone company utilities have told you where you can and can’t have coverage. And wherever their networks can’t reach, you’re SOL,” said Legere. “With T-Mobile Personal CellSpot, we’re putting an end to that old way of thinking. Now, you can decide wherever you want your own T-Mobile tower− giving you amazing full-bars experience where no carrier network has reached before.” Coverage at 30,000 Feet In a closely related move, T-Mobile extended “Wi-Fi Un-leashed” to the skies through an exclusive, new partnership with Gogo, the world’s leading in-flight connectivity service. Through the partnership, T-Mobile customers will be able to send and receive unlimited text and picture messages, and even get visual voicemail, on any Gogo-equipped flight on U.S.-based airlines – that’s more than 75% of domestic flights carrying close to 300 million people last year. And again this new service is absolutely free to all customers of the Un-carrier. Starting September 17, just enable Gogo in-flight texting once, then you can message just about anyone from anywhere you’ve got Gogo. See www.t-mobile.com/gogophones for steps to enable Gogo in-flight texting and a list of compatible smartphones.

Via: T-Mobile

Android Distribution Updated for September 2014 - Kit Kat Closes in on 25%

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:42:41 +0000

The Android team updated the platform's distribution numbers today for the month of September, showing continued growth in Kit Kat (Android 4.4+). The newest version of Android now sits at 24.5%, up from 20.9% in August. The rest of the versions of Android have all declined - Jelly Bean (53.8% from 54.2%), Ice Cream Sandwich (9.6% from 10.6%), Gingerbread (11.4% from 13.6%), and Froyo (0.7%). Last month's numbers can be found here.

Via: Android Developers

HTC Hosting "Double Exposure" Event on October 8

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:30:50 +0000

HTC just invited press to a special event titled "Double Exposure" that is taking place on October 8 in New York City. Dirty details of the topic at hand were not included, so we are left to speculate. The press invite shows two women holding an HTC One (M8), potentially taking a selfie, along with a couple of green boxes. Of course, that phone has been out for months and is unlikely to be featured again. Are we getting a new phone or the new HTC Nexus 9 that NVIDIA confirmed in legal documents? Tough to tell, but it is about time for HTC to give us something for the holidays. Thoughts?

NVIDIA Confirms Existence of HTC Nexus 9 in Own Legal Documents, Launch Expected in Q3

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:02:45 +0000

Rumors of an HTC-made Nexus device have been floating around for a little while, but thanks to the keen eyes over at Bright Side of News, the existence of the Nexus 9 and its release timeframe is basically now confirmed. Stated within NVIDIA's own legal filings, documents which pertain to the company's upcoming legal battle with Qualcomm and Samsung over GPU technology patents, the company specifically names the new Nexus device, claiming it will be powered by a Tegra K1 processor, expected to see release in Q3 of this year. The previous rumors also suggested that the Tegra K1 would power the upcoming tablet, but with NVIDIA stating it themselves, we no longer have to rely on rumors for that information. Given that we are now in Q3 of 2014, it appears we won't have much longer to wait until Google unveils what they have been working on. With a new Nexus tablet, we can also expect a full version of Android L ready for the masses, as well as, and hopefully, a new Nexus smartphone at some point. All we can really say is, thanks, NVIDIA.

Via: Bright Side of News | NVIDIA

Visa Token, A Credit Card Obfuscation Service, May Come to Android in 2015

Kyle — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:45:35 +0000

At least one feature of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus isn't nearly as novel as Apple would have you believe. The biggest selling point (pun intended) of Apple Pay, a part of which relies on NFC to handle transactions in brick-and-mortar stores, is ostensibly its security measures. At its press conference yesterday, Apple touted Pay's obfuscation, which involves generating payment "tokens" - out-of-sequence strings meaningless to any would-be hacker - by randomizing your credit card numbers. As it turns out, though, Apple isn't actually handling the conversion; at least one payment processor, Visa, will rely on a proprietary service to generate tokens. Token, the platform which Visa announced yesterday, does what the name implies; it generates tokens from Visa debit and credit cards. Like Apple Pay, tokens can be used in lieu of plastic for contact-less payment, but also online. Of potential interest to Android users is Visa's plans for Token. While Apple Pay will retain exclusivity through the end of this year, Visa intends to bring Token to other platforms. Presumably, that includes Android and others. So, if you own a Visa card, and have been thus far too paranoid to start paying for things with virtual wallets, Token may be of some comfort when it arrives sometime in 2015.

Via: Visa | Engadget

Cheers Tony!

Play Store Refund Window Increased to 2 Hours for Paid Apps and Games

Kyle — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:23:04 +0000

Google Play’s 15-minute refund window on paid apps and games has been a source of frustration for many users, and while workarounds existed, the official policy remained the same. Thankfully, it’s changing for the better. Today, apps and games can now be returned within two hours for a full refund. Observant users may note that this has been unofficial policy for a while, as Google apparently began testing a longer refund window last month, but the company has finally inked the new policy. The news should be especially welcome to those who download large games from the Play Store. While it may not be as lenient as the 24-hour window retired in 2010, it’s an improvement. Here’s hoping Google reaches better middle ground in the future. Now, go buy some apps. And if you like them, feel free not to test this new policy.

Via: Google Play

How to: Setup Google Voice Voicemails in Hangouts

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:11:52 +0000

This morning's Hangouts update on Android finally began the process of merging Hangouts with Google Voice, something Voice users have been waiting well over a year for. We know that not everyone has seen the prompt to initiate the merge process, but for those who have (and those who will soon), we wanted to make sure you got everything setup correctly after the fact. Since you likely still have Google Voice installed (you may not be able to uninstall it all yet), there are a couple of boxes here and there that need to be checked or unchecked to get this whole situation in order. Once you have merged, the following should help you get Hangouts working properly with your voicemails from Google Voice.

Instructions

1. Enter the Hangouts app (v2.3 apk download), and jump into Settings. 2. Choose the account that is associated with your Google Voice number. 3. Scroll down to the section for "Google Voice" - should also see your GV number listed. 4. Make sure the box is checked for "Messages - Show SMS & voicemail in hangouts."

*There are other settings for SMS and voicemail in there, feel free to customize your personal experience.

5. Now, back out and open up your Google Voice app. 6. Jump into Settings. 7. Choose the option for "Sync and notifications." 8. Uncheck the box for "Voicemail notifications

*This removes GV notifications, so that you are only seeing them in Hangouts. You don't want double notifications do you?

9. You are now ready to check your voicemails in Hangouts. As far as I know, Google is not importing old voicemails, so you will only see the new ones as they arrive going forward. Once you see get a new voicemail, you will see it appear just like any other message in your list of conversations. Tap on that message, look to see if Google transcribed it, and then feel free to play it either through the earpiece or external speaker.

Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 210 and Snapdragon 208, Allows Even the Cheapest Smartphones to Benefit From 4G LTE

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:47:54 +0000

Last night, Qualcomm announced two new processors, one of which will bring 4G LTE connectivity to even the cheapest of smartphones. The Snapdragon 210, the first of its class, features integrated multimode 3G/4G LTE Advanced and LTE Dual SIM for entry-level smartphones and tablets. What this means, essentially, is that low-cost smartphone manufacturers should be able to feature 4G LTE in their devices, while still keeping a low price to produce. The Snapdragon 210 features the Adreno 300 series GPU, capable of running a HD display, 8MP shooter, Bluetooth 4.0+, as well as 1080p video playback. The Snapdragon 208, however, is made for regions where 3G is still more prevalent, so it features 3G-only connectivity. As for specs, the Snapdragon 208 runs dual-core chips, and is capable of running qHD resolution displays. With this announcement, it should be safe to say that even BLU doesn't have an excuse not to include 4G LTE on their devices moving forward. For the longest time, their lineup seemed great for budget-minded buyers, but the lack of LTE always held people back. With Qualcomm pushing for even the lowest tier of smartphones to run LTE, this is a good move for all consumers out there.

Via: Qualcomm

Galaxy Note 3, HTC One (M8) and One (M7) Also Receiving Updates on T-Mobile

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:30:59 +0000

Updates are rolling out on T-Mobile's network this morning, as it was reported earlier today that the Galaxy S4 and LG G3 was receiving a bump in firmware. Now, two HTC devices, the One (M8) and One (M7), as well as Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 are being updated, coming with "enhancements" for WiFi Calling. T-Mobile's official changelog site states that One (M7) is also receiving a bump to Android 4.4.3, but that is the only thing currently listed. Sure, these are not the largest updates we've seen, but updates are always good. Galaxy Note 3, One (M8), and One (M7) owners on T-Mo, go grab it.

Via: T-Mobile [2] [3]

MMS Now a Part of Google Voice...Hangouts...Sort Of

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:12:23 +0000

Now that Google Voice and Hangouts have merged, we are starting to dive in and see how things have changed and if new features have been added. The first thing we tested was sending a text through Hangouts using our Google Voice number. After that went through just fine, it was time to see how MMS messages work. For those new, Google Voice has never really built-in MMS (multimedia messages) capabilities, outside of a carrier partnership here or there that allowed them to arrive as emails. In today's update, though, MMS is fully working, though it is still a bit different than a normal MMS message. As you can see in the series of screenshots at the top, I sent a screenshot (.png) file from my phone with the new Hangouts app over to a number using the old Hangouts app. The image shows that it sent as it normally would if I were in a Hangouts message, only it did so via "SMS." On the recipient end, you can see that the image arrived as a URL that can be clicked for viewing. So yep, MMS or multimedia messages do indeed work, Google is just uploading them at some point in the process and then sharing them as a URL to the person on the other end of your conversation. Good stuff, right? To see this kind of integration, you have to officially "migrate" your Google Voice with Hangouts. To grab the new Hangouts v2.3 .apk, hit up this post. Update: Here is how to setup your voicemails to show in Hangouts and also not see double notifications.

Google Brings Free Voice Calls to Hangouts on Android, New Hangouts Dialer App

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 08:28:39 +0000

Last night, we were prompted to merge Google Voice with Hangouts, which we assumed meant that the day of Hangouts becoming the app we always wanted, was here. Google confirmed as much this morning, announcing that free voice calls are now a part of Hangouts on Android, the web, and iOS. They also introduced a new dialer application for Hangouts that should aid in the call making process. Hangouts calls are free when you call other Hangouts users and when you call to the US or Canada. International rates are also low, just like they have been in Google Voice. The update for Hangouts will start arriving today (.apk below). The new Hangouts Dialer is already available for download through Google Play, linked below. Play Links: Hangouts | Hangouts Dialer Download Link: Hangouts v2.3 (.apk) Update: MMS through Google Voice numbers now technically works! Update 2: Here is how to setup your voicemails to show in Hangouts and also not see double notifications.

Via: Google Blog

T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Gets Update to Android 4.4.4 With WiFi Calling Enhancements

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 08:00:54 +0000

Joining the LG G3's update party this morning on T-Mobile is the Galaxy S4. The 2013 flagship from Samsung is seeing a bump to Android 4.4.4 that includes enhancements to WiFi calling. That's it. The build weighs in as M919UVUFNH7 and is around 403MB in size, according to T-Mo's support site. To check for the update, head into Settings>More>About device>Software update.

Via: T-Mobile

T-Mobile LG G3 Receiving 154MB Update (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:03:49 +0000

T-Mobile's variant of the LG G3 started receiving an update (D85110m) last night that weighs in at 154MB. The update, at least for now, is mostly a mystery. T-Mo has yet to post a changelog to their support area, so until that happens, we will have to rely on your word. Seeing anything new? As we find official word, we will update this post. Update: T-Mobile has posted a changelog. So far, we are only seeing enhancements to WiFi calling. To check for the update, head into Settings>About Phone>Update center>System updates>Check now.

Cheers Alan, David, Xavier, Brian, Saul, @Photobrat_78, @JustinWoodman, and Mark!

Did the Merging of Google Voice and Hangouts on Android Just Begin?

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:31:58 +0000

Tough to tell exactly what's going on at this specific moment in time, but a number of our readers (me included), are seeing a "Migrate Google Voice to Hangouts" message in Hangouts on Android. The box is a familiar prompt that was discovered as a debugging option a couple of months back, but at the time, it didn't work. Tonight, it appears to be semi-working. Once I clicked "Turn it on!" and placed a call to myself to leave a voicemail through Google Voice, I did indeed receive a notification in Hangouts for that message from Google Voice. Unfortunately, the message came through as "Unable to transcribe message," and is basically worthless. It's almost as if a switch has been flipped, but maybe not fully flipped. Is the migration finally happening? Hit up the comments with your current situation, as in, if you use Google Voice. Update: Also received the prompt in the web Google Voice portal. It's happening!

Update 2: It seems beyond broken. Google Voice messages are certainly coming through Hangouts now, with "GV" attached to them, but the numbers aren't being picked up in my contacts, and I also can't reply to anyone. Update 3: It's officially happening. All the details, including the .apk can be found here! Update 4: Here is how to setup your voicemails to show in Hangouts and also not see double notifications.

Cheers Anthony, Brett and Haley!

New DROID Phone Being Teased With Support for Motorola's Turbo Charger

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 18:50:58 +0000

A potentially on-the-horizon DROID phone being teased by the recently awakened @DroidLanding Twitter account will apparently support Motorola's new Turbo Charger. At least that's what today's cryptic Tweet leads us to believe. The Tweet is short and sweet, but does mention that "fast charging is a big deal," so that's why Motorola "made it a bigger deal." The account finishes with hashtag #waitforit. If you missed our coverage from last week of the new Turbo Charger for the Moto X, just know that you can grab up to 8 hours of battery power by charging with it for just 15 minutes. As of last week's Moto X announcement, the new Moto X is the only phone of Motorola's that can take advantage of this new charger. However, it would make sense for Motorola to produce other devices that are compatible with it, including new DROID-branded phones headed for Verizon. Motorola and Verizon have yet to even set a date for new DROIDs, but after Motorola took over the exclusive on the name for Big Red last year, we would be shocked if we didn't see follow-ups to the DROID MAXX and Mini. Expect them to be mostly based off of the new Moto X, only with silly in-your-face names that incorporate multiple Xs and patterned KEVLAR.

Via: @DroidLanding

Verizon Pushing Android 4.4.4 Update to Samsung Galaxy S5 (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:56:02 +0000

An update is being pushed out to owners of the Galaxy S5 from Samsung on Verizon's network, one which includes a bump up to Android 4.4.4. Unfortunately, Verizon has yet to update its official page where it displays changelogs, so besides the bump in Android version, what else is exactly included is still unknown. S5 owners, what do you got for us? Update: We are still without a changelog, but I am now assuming that this is to prepare the phone for VoLTE. The LG G2 update from 9/11 includes Advanced Calling 1.0 and is joining the Galaxy S5 with Verizon's VoLTE launch.

Update 9/16: Verizon finally posted the changelog today. As we expected, this update gets the phone ready for VoLTE with Advanced Calling 1.0. The full changelog is below.

Via: XDA

Cheers Matthew!

Apple Watch Sounds Like It has 1-Day Battery Life to Me, Just Like Most Smartwatches

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:55:30 +0000

Apple announced the Apple Watch today, a device that won't actually arrive until some time in early 2015. Even though it isn't going to be available for months, Apple still showed off the device's potential features, design, different models, and an estimated price, which will start at $349. But for those in the Android game who have been interested in Android Wear and smartwatches in general, there was one piece to today's presentation that was of interest - expected battery life. Of course, that information never did arrive, nor has it appeared on Apple's own dedicated website section for the Watch. Well, not directly, but Apple has hinted at it a couple of times. Android Wear watches, at least so far, have struggled to get more than a full day of use before needing to be charged. We have talked off and on about smartwatch battery life expections for weeks, especially now that the Moto 360 is available, suggesting that they need to be lessoned thanks to the technology involved here. Yet for whatever reason, tech enthusiasts had decided that Apple would unveil a watch that goes well beyond a day, maybe even three or four without needing to be charged. As unrealistic as that sounds, this is the world we live in. Expectations for Apple to change the game are always there, even if they haven't for years. I hate to break it to you, but from what we have heard and seen from Apple today, it certainly doesn't appear as if they have reinvented battery tech for watches with the Apple Watch. First, the Apple Watch site mentions that the display on the device is "extremely energy efficient, critical for a device you wear throughout the day." Not multiple days, just "the day." During their keynote, they talked about the Watch as "an all-day fitness tracker and a highly advanced sports watch in a single device." Tim Cook also said that it has been designed "so that it's simple to charge at night," to be "warn all day," and for "usage of Apple Watch through the day." Again, there wasn't a single mention of multiple days, something that you would expect Apple to brag about if they had managed to accomplish such a feat, especially knowing the competition hasn't been able to figure it out. But as we talked about yesterday, a device with a full-color touch display powered by a battery that is a quarter of the size of the battery in your phone shouldn't be expected to last more than a day. Again, your phone, with its massive battery can barely get through an entire day. Now, Apple has months to continue to work on the Apple Watch, so they will likely find a way to suck every last ounce out of the battery tucked inside. (Anyone else notice the abundance of black in their watch interface?) Still, expecting their first take on a watch to compete with the Pebbles of the world, isn't realistic.

Via: Apple

Verizon Pushing Minor Update to DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD (Updated: RAZR M Too)

Tim — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:42:49 +0000

A minor update is being pushed to owners of the RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD on Verizon, version number 182.46.15. The update is quite small, with only two things being listed on the official changelog released by Verizon. Included in the update is "improved" Google security, as well as improvements to the standard messaging application found on the device. No further details are listed, so while it is rather vague, it's something. If you own either of these devices, be on the lookout this week. Update: RAZR M is receiving the same update today.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Terry and Steve!

Tuesday Poll: Better Looking Watch - Apple Watch, Moto 360, or G Watch R?

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:16:19 +0000

Apple is a company known for design. Almost all of their products are largely thought to be beautiful combinations of modern and industrial design. So as we waited to see them unveil the Apple Watch this morning, I think it's safe to say that we expected the design of the device to blow our minds. But did it? The Apple Watch is a bubbly little thing, with a sapphire display, rounded edges, and swappable watch straps that come in a variety of materials and textures. It comes in a sport model made of aluminum, standard model wrapped in stainless steel, and an "Edition" version with 18K gold. It even has a "Digital Crown" as both a functional and design highlight. But in the end, the watch still sports a square face with all sorts of bezel that looks a lot like all of the previous smartwatches we have seen from Samsung. Then you have the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R, two devices that have really tried to emulate a traditional watch experience, but with smart functionality built in. They are beautifully designed time pieces, not just smartwatches. So you tell us, which is the better looking watch? [poll id="328"]

Motorola Comments on Moto 360 Battery Size Fiasco

Tim — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:33:10 +0000

This morning, a complete teardown of the Moto 360 was posted by the folks over at iFixIt. While usually nothing too exciting comes from a hardware teardown, Motorola found themselves in a bit of PR hot water, as it was uncovered that the Moto 360's battery only shows a capacity of 300mAh, not 320mAh as advertised by the company. What ensued was outcry from consumers on Moto's social channels, as customers were quite upset by the company's disinformation about the battery. As most of us know, battery life has been one of the Moto 360's biggest pain points for most "reviewers" of the device, so the fact that Motorola possibly threw in a smaller battery than the one they advertised had people up in arms. Come to find out, the Internet, as it does on occasion, overreacted to a choice Motorola made with regard to which battery capacity they would display on the device's power cell during the manufacturing process. Below, Motorola's comment on the issue can be read below.

The typical battery capacity for Moto 360 is 320mAh and the minimum is 300mAh. In the mobile industry, sometimes both the minimum and typical capacity is listed on the battery, with the typical capacity quoted as the official battery size. Both figures are included on the batteries of our Moto X, Moto E and Moto G devices. In the case of smaller devices, we aren’t always able to list both figures. For Moto 360, we only had room for one figure and choose to list the minimal capacity of the battery. We see how this can be confusing and we will look into ways to add the typical capacity as well in the future.

So, as you can see, Motorola seems to have a perfectly reasonable answer to why only 300mAh is displayed on the Moto 360's battery. Looking at the picture of the battery itself (this post's header image), it appears there is plenty of room for the additional metric to be printed, but we just don't feel like questioning Motorola's decision when it comes to the manufacturing of hardware. We have gone over the Moto 360's battery life in detail already, but still have yet to deliver our full review. Be on the lookout for that soon.

Via: Computer World

Comparison: iPhone 6 and Plus vs. Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy Note 4 vs. Moto X vs. G3 vs. One (M8)

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:36:44 +0000

Apple is done showing off the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (official names), so we slapped their available specs into a chart below to show how they stack up against Android's current flagship devices. The new Moto X and Galaxy Note 4 are as new as these new Apple devices, but the Galaxy S5, LG G3, and One (M8) are veterans at this point. Still, Android devices have pushed the limits of specs for years now, often upgrading specs here and there throughout the year with new models. Apple still only gives us one (now two) phone(s) per year, but every so often, comes out swinging with a major upgrade, like they did last year with their 64-bit processor. In the chart below, you will see Apple's new storage scheme (they are skipping 32GB), the new bigger displays and their resolutions, inclusion of new chips like NFC, and the weight and size measurements of devices that are now on the same level as you favorite Android phones. You have to admit that it feels a little odd to have Apple in our oversized phone neighborhood, but the move shouldn't surprise anyone. Thoughts?

*Note: If we find official specs for the battery and RAM, we will update this post. Update: Processor, RAM, and battery info from Gizmodo.

Sprint "Strikes Back," Announces Tweaked Trade-in Program with Options for In-store and Account Credit

Kyle — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:14:32 +0000

Are trade-in deals the next exciting front in the carrier wars? Judging by recent developments, it appears so. In response to T-Mobile's improved trade-in program, Sprint announced a reworking of its own policies today. The changes read like counterpoints to each of T-Mobile's trade-in shortcomings. Sprint notes it allows customers to trade-in up to three phones per line and five in a calendar year, while T-Mobile restricts subscribers to one trade-in per line. While T-Mobile requires the purchase of a new device with trade-in, Sprint states it will now offer instant in-store credit and up to $300 for eligible devices, towards either the purchase of a new phone or account credit. While the improvements may not be compelling enough to encourage anyone to jump ship from another carrier, trading in an old smartphone for a "free" accessory or a reduced monthly bill doesn't sound like such a bad deal for current subscribers. Sure, eBay and Swappa are always an option, but sometimes the convenience of a same-day sale is worth sacrificing a few potential dollars.

Via: Sprint

LG G Watch Drops to $179 Through Google Play on Apple Watch Day

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:50:25 +0000

The LG G Watch dropped to $179 through Google Play today in both black and white, just as Apple was showing off their new Apple Watch. Nice timing. If you want a current watch platform that was built as a companion to your phone, not a device arriving in 2015 that is bloated with a smartphone-like experience, then by all means, check out the G Watch. The $50 discount runs through September 23. Play Link

Android 4.4.4 Rolling Out to Xperia Z, ZL, ZR, and Tablet Z, Battery and Performance Improvements in Tow

Kyle — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 09:00:19 +0000

Sony may have unveiled a menagerie of new devices at IFA in Berlin last week, but that doesn't mean its older tablets and smartphones are bound for obsolescence just yet. This morning, Sony support announced that an update to Android 4.4.4 has begun rolling out to the Xperia Z, ZL, ZR, and Tablet Z worldwide. Among other improvements, the new firmware (version 10.5.1.A.0.283) brings better battery and performance optimizations. Here's a complete changelog:

Upgrade to Android 4.4.4
Better battery performance in some background applications
Email stability and performance enhanced
General improvements to MMS, Calendar, WiFi, Contacts, and More
All of our latest bug fixes and enhancements

Own one of the aforementioned devices? Expect an update notification over the next few days, assuming the initial rollout goes smoothly.

Via: Xperia Blog

LG Offers Extra Battery and Battery Cradle for G3 Purchases Today Through Sept.22

Tim — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:26:28 +0000

Thanks to a new promo, if you purchase a LG G3 today through September 22, LG is throwing in an extra battery and battery charging cradle. The deal looks to be valid if you purchase your G3 through any of the top four carriers in the US, or if you decide to purchase it through another retailer, such as Amazon and Best Buy. Once you have your device, all you need to do is send a request form to LG, detailing your name, shipping address, IMEI number, and how you heard about the promotion. Seems easy enough. Extra batteries currently go for about $30 on Amazon, while cradles are priced at around $40. If you just so happened to be in the market for a G3, you don't want to turn down this promo deal at all.

Via: LG

iFixit Tears Down the Moto 360 (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 07:55:23 +0000

The Moto 360 has been torn down! I'm not sure why I am showing excitement over that fact, but hey, round things do not come around often in this world of square displays, chipsets, and boards. So, yeah! Moto 360 teardown! The team at iFixit took on the task, as they always do, showing how easy or uneasy it would be to repair a Moto 360 should yours run into problems. In the case of the 360, it isn't exactly easy, scoring 3 out of 10. Translation - you probably shouldn't try to repair your Moto 360. Let the professionals do it. In the teardown, we also get a look at the parts associated with the device. There is of course the OMAP 3 processor, which we are still scratching our heads over. Why not the Snapdragon 400, Motorola? It's at least not 4 years old, and is also incredibly power efficient. For reference, the TI OMAP3630 is the same processor used in the DROID 2 and also Motorola's previous watch attempt, the MOTOACTV. So the jokes about Motorola deciding to use a bunch of unused OMAP processors lying around in a back room, are probably not unfounded. In a weird unveiling, the iFixit crew noticed that the battery weighs in at 300mAh, yet the official specs claim that it should be 320mAh. Not sure what to make of that. Update: Motorola has released the following statement, claiming there simply wasn't enough room to print the capacity range of the Moto 360's battery, which is technically 300-320mAh. The rest is typical teardown stuff. Feel free to go check it out.

Via: iFixit

Apple iPhone 6 Live Blog!

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 07:16:51 +0000

New iPhone(s) day. There may be two of them - 4.7" and 5.5" models. iOS 8 day. It will launch out of beta to the world. iWatch day (or whatever you want to call it). It may be here, but with an expected arrival of 2015. Today is Apple's Fall event, one that takes place in early September almost every single year. It should be glorious, as are all Apple events. No, it will be amazing, great, beautiful, better, extraordinary, phenomenal, wonderful, gorgeous, magnificent, exciting, amazingly remarkable, incredible, advanced, and magical. Yes, all of that. As you know, we are an Android site, but following along with Apple's happenings is something we enjoy. Not only because we love technology in general, but also because we find these things extremely comical. Inventions will happen. Many of them. Slides will be shown that skew the truth. Thankfully, our blinders won't be on. We can't wait. Live blogs of Apple's events have become tradition around here. Feel free to grab a cold one with us, put a smile on, and prepare for it all. Apple's event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). It will be streamed at Apple's site for the world to see here. You probably need Safari or an Apple device in order to watch it, because, Apple. Below, our live blog with live commentary will be rolling. Let's do this.

Amazon Prime Instant Video FINALLY Comes to Android After All These Years

Kellen — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 06:29:07 +0000

I know that today is Apple's big day, but in even bigger news (at least to Android fans), Amazon has released a Prime Instant Video client to the world's biggest smartphone platform. Check the calendar - not April 1, right? It's hard to believe. For years, Amazon has kept Prime video from Android users outside of their own Kindle lineup. Who knows the reason, but that reason has come to pass. For those new to the service, Amazon Prime Instant Video is an extension of your Amazon Prime subscription. This is Amazon's Netflix, if you will. It's on-demand video, streamed in high quality through your mobile devices or other media streaming products. Amazon has access to HBO, movies, new and old movies, etc. You can watch many for free with your Prime subscription, but also rent or purchase some titles. It's a solid service that should have been here years ago for Android users. To get Amazon Prime Instant Video up and running, you will need to install or update the Amazon store on your device through Google Play. Once you have done that, open the app, and then cruise into the video section. Once you find something to play, Amazon will then direct you within the app to install the Instant Video add-on, which will show up as a stand-alone app in your app drawer. The app basically comes through as a sideloaded app from the Amazon Appstore. It's tricky, and kind of sneaky. If you don't want to go through all of that, then simply update the Amazon store through Google Play, then grab the Instant Video .apk below and sideload it. Links: Amazon App (Play store) | Prime Instant Video (.apk)

AT&T Will Carry the Moto 360 at Some Point Too

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 17:07:35 +0000

Like Verizon, AT&T will also carry the Moto 360 at some point in the future. Announced this evening via AT&T's pressroom, the carrier confirmed that they will add the circular smartwatch to their "industry-leading" portfolio of devices. Pricing and availability will be announced later, though, so don't expect to pre-order today like you currently can through Verizon. I would image that they will offer some sort of bundle type deal or discount when purchased with a smartphone. On a related note, someone probably jumped the gun at Verizon with their listing of the metal Moto 360 with a ship date of November 11. That page has now been pulled.

Via: AT&T

Verizon HTC One (M8) Update to Android 4.4.3 With EPS Coming September 10

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 15:25:08 +0000

Today on Twitter, HTC's VP of Product Management announced that owners of the One (M8) on Verizon should see an update on September 10, one which brings an Android update, as well as new features. In addition to a bump to Android 4.4.3, HTC is also deploying its Extreme Power Saving mode in the update, which allows One (M8) owners to squeeze all of the juice they can out of their dying phones. As mentioned, be on the lookout for the update on September 10.

Via: @moversi

Google I/O Attendees, Your Moto 360 has Shipped.

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:44:43 +0000

Google I/O attendees, according to an email we just received from the I/O team, your Moto 360 has officially shipped. In the email, you should also have a tracking number to keep up with its status as it makes its way to your doorstep. The email does not say which color attendees will receive. I did track mine, though, and FedEx is telling me to expect it by this Wednesday, September 10. Check those inboxes!

Sprint's Galaxy Note 3 Should See Android 4.4.4 Build VPUCNH7 Any Day, Here is the Changelog

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:38:10 +0000

According to Samsung's support page for the Sprint Galaxy Note 3, an update to Android 4.4.4 is approaching. The support page, which detailed the update as build N900PVPUCNH7, briefly appeared before seemingly being removed moments later. Thankfully, we caught it and have the info for you below. The Samsung page initially said that the update went live on 9/5, an update that included a bump to Android 4.4.4, the HD Voice icon, international WiFi calling support, Knox 2.0, and more. We checked Sprint's support page for the Note 3 to see if anything had changed there, but it still shows that the last update arrived on April 2. Be on the lookout for the update. Update: The Samsung support page is now live again, showing that the update began rolling out on 9/5. Here is the full changelog:

Android 4.4.4
HD voice Icon support
International Wi-Fi Calling support
Google Security Patches
Knox 2.0
Kids Mode

Via: Samsung

Download: Galaxy Note 4 Wallpapers

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:20:25 +0000

The Galaxy Note 4 was officially unveiled by Samsung at a global press event last week, so as is the case shortly after these get-togethers, the wallpapers from the device are now in the wild. As you know thanks to our coverage, the Note 4 features a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display, so the wallpapers are quite large, weighing in at 2560x2560. Not only are they large, but Samsung has opted for a few very bright choices, likely wanting to show off the capabilities of their new Super AMOLED panel. Needless to say, the wallpapers do look nice. Below, a sample of the compete set is featured, resized to 1000x1000. If you would like the full QHD resolution files, you can download the zip file containing them below. Download Link [mirror] Sample

CubicTour is a Puzzler Set in Space, Filled With Colorful Cubes That Need Spinning

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 13:50:44 +0000

Strolling through the endless lists on Google Play, we found a new puzzler title that we would like to share, titled CubicTour. In the game, which is split up into sections of multiple cubes, you twist and spin different pieces, matching them with the preview piece on the top of the display. If you go past the preview piece without having the correct sequence, you crash and burn. At first the game is extremely easy, but as the levels go deeper, it becomes insanely tricky to figure out the right sequence of twists and spins you must use to get the pieces to align properly. It's somewhat frustrating at first, but definitely not impossible. What makes the little bit of frustration completely bearable is the setting, which appears to be deep space, plus the game's simple background music. The video below will accurately more portray what you are in for if you download the title. The game is free to download from Google Play, and from what we can see, there are no IAPs. Grab it. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Thoughts on Moto 360 Battery Life

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 13:30:45 +0000

Thanks to a handful of initial reviews from select press that surfaced close to last Friday's embargo time, everyone thinks the Moto 360 has terrible battery life. Forget the fact that these reviewers couldn't possibly have given the device thorough testing on its battery in the 12 hours (some less) that they had the watch in hand, but after having one on wrist for four days now, I think I can safely say that battery life is no where near as terrible as it was made to sound. Let's talk about the Moto 360 and some battery-related items.

Our test results.

In my talk this morning about using the Moto 360 with Ambient Screen mode both on or off, I mentioned that I saw 13 hours of use with the mode on and around 14-16 hours (with 30% battery still remaining) with it off. What I didn't mention in that post was the fact that the 13-hour day with Ambient Screen mode on was our initial testing and unboxing day. I was able to squeeze 13 hours out of the 360 on its first charge after having pulled it straight out of the box, charging it to max, and then proceeding to put it through a series of tests and videos. Clearly, we need to do more testing with Ambient Screen mode on, as that could improve. As far as using the watch with Ambient Screen mode off, we are talking 4.5% use per hour in my testing. If you calculate that out, you could get anywhere from 20-24 hours of use out of a single charge. I don't know about you, but I'm not awake for 20 hours in a day, because I like to sleep at night. So let's say you are awake for 16-18 hours per day, the Moto 360 should in theory, last you for a full day before needing the charger when you go to bed. You tell me if that's good enough.

Why should the 360 or any smartwatch last more than a day?

With that last thought in mind, I'm wondering if we all shouldn't re-set expectations for smartwatch battery life. Should it really be considered reasonable to expect a smartwatch with a color display to last for multiple days on a single charge? Your phone doesn't last for more than a day in most cases, yet it has a battery 3-4 times the size of smartwatches like the 360 or G Watch. Sure, a phone does a lot more, but with a watch we are still talking about a computer that needs juice to power a full-color touch display, WiFi, Bluetooth, and other sensors. In the end, both are powered by the same terrible battery tech that hasn't evolved in years, yet everyone has expectations set different because we are talking about watches. When you go to bed at night, what's wrong with having to charge your watch next to your phone? Months ago, I would have told you that this idea sounds like something I wouldn't want to be a part of, but I'm starting to realize that this is just the way it's going to work if I want to own a smartwatch (it's a lot like accepting the fact that all phones going forward will be huge and impossible to use with one hand). Thankfully, the Moto 360 doesn't need a special adapter to charge, comes with its own Qi wireless charger, and can be set down on any other Qi charger to re-charge its battery. It doesn't get much more convenient than that. Maybe we have the Pebble to blame, since its e-paper display can last for a week without needing to be charged. Just keep in mind that the Pebble looks like, well like this. The Moto 360 and future LG watches look like finely tuned traditional time pieces that most humans would enjoy wearing.

Set your watch up for you, manage notifications.

If you want to extend the battery life of your smartwatch, there is one thing you should consider - minimizing its screen-on time by properly managing notifications. The display is going to gulp battery juice faster than anything when it is on, so you need to figure out a setup that can extend life. This starts by telling the Android Wear app which notifications should be allowed to come through in a day. Out of the box, your watch may receive it all (or most of it), since Google is still working on ways to make notification handling properly automated. Thankfully, you can manually add apps that you don't want to see notifications from. For example, I don't need to see every single notification from Trello, reddit is fun, and my Jawbone UP app. But, I do need to see them from Hangouts and Mailbox and my Dropcam. See where I am going here? Android Wear should be configured to give you the important info you need now that can be handled with a quick glance or voice command. If the notification is going to require all sorts of interaction, it may be better left only to your phone and outside of your smartwatch. Your watch is probably best served as an organized and customized extension of your phone, not an extension with a bunch of garbage thrown at it without your input. That type of setup is both overwhelming and an inefficient way of spending your time. Keep your watch in order, set it up efficiently, and your battery life should improve.

Final thoughts.

In the end, I think you need to ask yourself if charging an additional device alongside your phone at night is something you are willing to accept. Because until battery tech improves, this is the way it's going to be. You cannot expect a device with a beautiful, full color touch display and a 320mAh or 400mAh battery to last for days on end. If you can accept that fact, then the next step is to learn your watch, figure out how you want to interact with it, and then set it up properly. A properly used watch shouldn't have a problem lasting you throughout a full day.

Twitter Experiments with Embedded "Buy Now" Button, Lets You Purchase Stuff Directly from Tweets

Kyle — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:48:45 +0000

Admit it, you have spotted a cool product in a tweet from the endless stream you scroll through every day, and thought to yourself, "Wouldn't it be great if there was a 'Buy' button?" Well, Twitter's got your back. In yet another attempt to monetize its growing audience, the social media mogul is experimenting with embedded buttons that let you purchase goods straight from the source. Although, this is not just a referral link. The "Buy now" button, which is currently limited to a handful of retailers and musicians, can be used by organizations, companies, and individuals to sell merchandise directly to followers. From a user perspective, the transaction is dead simple - you need only provide shipping and payment information, which can be saved after use. Presumably, Twitter takes an unspecified cut. Assuming the feature isn't abused, it could certainly save a few minutes. Twitter thinks it's especially useful for groups who sell merchandise, and I couldn't agree more, as some musical groups have way less functional websites than others. Expect to see "Buy now" buttons in your feed sometime soon.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Twitter

Your Current Qi Wireless Charger Should Work Just Fine With the Moto 360

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:03:21 +0000

Own a Qi wireless charging pad? Have a Moto 360 on the way? Awesome! You already own a spare charger for your brand new smartwatch. We knew this would be the case, thanks to an FCC filing for the charger that popped up back in June, but we went ahead and confirmed as much now that we are home from Chicago. So if you have a couple of these charging pads spread between your house or office because you own a Qi-ready phone, then you should have no problem keeping your 360 charged if you happen to decide that Ambient Screen mode is for you.

These Were the Early Moto 360 Prototypes, Thankfully They Didn't Make the Cut

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:17:30 +0000

Motorola has been working on the Moto 360 for a really long time. We learned of an early prototype of the device as far back as last summer under the codename "Gem," even seeing behind the scenes pictures of it as a watch that looked like a mix between a wannabe smart device and a Nike+ running watch. It was black, rubber, included buttons, and had a square face. It looked like all of the other smartwatches that no one seems to be all that excited about. But this Spring, Motorola unveiled the Moto 360, a round-faced smartwatch that was built as a beautiful watch first, smart device second. We have been testing it since last week and so far, are really enjoying it, thanks to its premium build and decent 1-day battery life. By all means, this is still the Android Wear watch to consider if you are in the market for one. Last week, though, Motorola took us on a tour of their Moto 360 labs in Chicago, putting on display a bunch of prototypes that (thankfully) never made the cut. As you can see from the images above and below, Motorola was once far from where we are today with the 360.

The original devices are surrounded by large amounts of bezel, square displays with rounded edges, and rubber watch bands that look far from premium. They all just sort of look like the Samsung Gear Live or Gear 2s of the world, only with a more retro-look. But even when Motorola decided that they would go fully-round, there were hurdles to overcome. Motorola had to decide if they wanted bezel or no bezel on their round display. They decided for the latter, which took their device from the left to the right in the image below. That also meant that they would have to introduce the "black bar" on the bottom of the display, so that they could include an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the watch's brightness setting. Which would you rather have?

Motorola talked to us about all of the engineering magic they had to work through in order to make this device a reality. Part of that story is told through the exploded image we took here. The round 360 sports a large 1.56-inch display, 320mAh battery, heart rate sensor, and TI OMAP processor, all of which are likely not round.

Again, we have come a long way over the last year to get to the retail-ready Moto 360. I think it's safe to say that the Moto 360 will help pave the way for future smartwatches from all companies that will look a lot more like traditional time pieces, which is a good thing.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 23

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 09:37:04 +0000

What better time to host a Q&A Session than following one of the busiest weeks of the year. We have new devices from Motorola, Samsung, ASUS, Sony, and more, so we figure you beautiful folks might have questions about them. And of course, the only announcement we have left to look forward to in 2014 is that of Nexus caliber from Google. During Q&A sessions, this your opportunity to ask the DL staff anything you can come up with, pertaining to Android, Android devices, companies, or maybe even something a little off-topic. NFL week 1 outcomes, anyone? On Friday, we will compile a list of our favorite questions, then let the team have at them. Until then, shoot your questions below in the comments section. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

T-Mobile Now Guarantees Highest Trade-in Values for Used Devices

Tim — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:49:08 +0000

As many of you might know, thanks to last week's insanity, US consumers are about to have a few new choices when it comes to which smartphone they would like to tote around in their pockets all day. There is the Galaxy Note 4, new Moto X, as well as a new iPhone(s). According to T-Mobile, the difference in final cost will lie heavily on the trade-in value of your current phone, and with its newest marketing campaign, T-Mo is now guaranteeing the highest trade-in values for used devices. Stated in the press release, Americans need not worry about which carrier they choose to do business with, as T-Mobile ensures that as long as it is being compared to Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T, T-Mobile can beat its prices. T-Mobile CEO John Legere stated, "We’re going to see some of the most phenomenal devices ever in the coming months, and that means a whole lot of Americans trading-in their devices and upgrading. For years, the big carriers have been ripping off their customers with low-ball trade-in values, so we’re putting an end to that and guaranteeing we’ll give customers what they deserve − the best value in the industry." This trade-in deal begins September 17 and is for a "limited time" only. T-Mobile announced a press event in San Francisco on September 10, the day following Apple's upcoming iPhone announcement. If you ask me, it appears that if you want the next iPhone(s), mark September 17 on your calendar. Does trade-in value play a part in your decision to upgrade devices or switch carriers?

Via: T-Mobile

Amazon Fire Phone Drops to 99 Cents After Just Over a Month

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:31:02 +0000

Amazon's Fire Phone went on sale July 25 for $199 on-contract or $649 at full retail. The device hasn't even been available for a full two months yet the company announced today that it has discounted the 32GB model to $0.99 on-contract and $449 at full retail. Reports of the device being a flop circulated almost immediately after it became available, something that didn't surprise us at all. The device is filled with decent-but-not-high-end specs in many areas and is basically a hand-held Amazon store with a few gimmicky features. In fact, the best part of the Fire Phone is arguably the free year of Prime you get when purchasing one. At least it went a month and a half before Amazon and AT&T threw in the towel. The HTC First aka "Facebook phone" didn't even make it a month before its price was cut to a dollar. Amazon Link

Via: Amazon

Moto 360: To Ambient Screen Mode or Not to Ambient Screen Mode?

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 08:16:34 +0000

If you were lucky enough to buy a Moto 360 from the initial batch on Friday before they sold out, then you are probably due to receive your watch within the next day or so. Shortly after you first power it on, set it up through the Android Wear companion app, and then choose which notifications you would like to buzz through to your wrist, there is one critically important system setting you need to decide on leaving off or turning on. That setting is Ambient Screen Mode. What is Ambient Screen Mode? Well, the setting does one thing when turned "on" - it leaves your Moto 360 display on in a dimly-lit, almost-always on mode when you aren't using it. In other words, with Ambient Screen turned on, your watch face stays on to help your 360 look and act much more like a normal watch would. The idea here as that every time you glance at your watch, it should already be showing the watch face, so that you have to rely less on the sensors inside trying to figure out if your wrist movement should turn the display on or not. As you can imagine, this mode drains the battery significantly faster than with Ambient Screen mode turned to "off." With Ambient Screen mode "on," the device's screen turns dim (but still on) within a few seconds, but then may stay dimly lit for an extended period of time. I tried to time a full timeout to black with Ambient Screen on and was over 5 minutes of screen-on before a notification cruised through and ruined my test. Think if your phone's display stayed on for more than 5 minutes at a time after uses? How long would you expect it to last in a day? With the mode "off," your watch's display goes fully black and off within seconds. You can find the option in Settings. Yes, you will be warned about it potentially destroying battery life. So the decision is this - turn Ambient Screen "on" and enjoy a watch that acts and looks a lot more like a traditional watch would, or leave it "off" and enjoy more-than-a-day battery life.

The Ambient Screen setting is turned off by default out of the box. That's probably a good thing. In my testing thus far, I was able to kill my Moto 360 completely (as in it completely powered off) in about 13 hours of use with Ambient Screen turned to "on." That's not good enough. If you were to take your 360 off its charger in the morning, go to work, use it throughout the day, and then arrive home roughly 12 hours later, your 360 would be on its last ounces of juice. If you decide to go out for the evening, your 360 more than likely won't make it through the night. With Ambient Screen turned to "off" I have had much more respectable results. In two full days of using the mode "off" I haven't had to worry about the watch turning into a useless-but-fancy black screen before I turn in for the night. One night, I was at around 28% after 14 hours of use. The other, I was sitting at about 34% after about 16 hours of use. The only real drawback to having Ambient Screen turned to "off" is the fact that you have to rely on Motorola's sensor magic to recognize every time you twist your wrist to look at your watch. Motorola has done a solid job of tuning the device to turn the screen on with the correct wrist gesture, but it's not 100% perfect. There are times where you will still need to tap the screen or press the side button in order to turn the display on. That's not a deal breaker by any means if you want your watch to last throughout a full day. Again, the choice is yours. Do you want all-day battery life or potentially, much less?

Verizon Opens Pre-Order for Metal Moto 360, Ships November 11 for $299

Kellen — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 06:44:20 +0000

On Friday, Motorola made details and a release date official for their smartwatch, the Moto 360. At the time, they would only provide a specific launch date for the model with a leather band, noting that the all metal band/watch combo would not be available until later this Fall. Priced at $299 for the watch/band combo, or $79.99 for a stand-alone band that could be swapped in for a leather strap, many were interested in this version only. Without a specific date from Moto, most were wondering how much longer we would be waiting. Would we see the metal Moto 360 in a couple of weeks or would it be much closer to the first day of Winter? Verizon seems to think they will be ready to ship by November 11. Apologies for not sharing this earlier (been traveling for days), but Verizon posted this date as early as Saturday morning, maybe even Friday night. I think it's pretty clear that they were given an estimate by Motorola out of the gate and are attempting to hold them to it. Keep in mind that Verizon is also listing 10/27 as a release date for the Moto 360 with a leather band, so November 11 could simply be the day that Big Red is allowed to sell it. We could see the metal version even earlier through Motorola, Best Buy or Google Play, the original batch of retailers. We will keep you posted. Update: Verizon has pulled their listing for the metal Moto 360. Whoops.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Adam, George, and Jason!

Motorola: No Developer Edition Moto X for Verizon This Time Around

Kellen — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 20:58:56 +0000

According to Motorola's Punit Soni, there won't be a Moto X Developer Edition for Verizon this time around. He didn't elaborate as to why when asked about it, only responding with, "Unfortunately no" and "Sorry guys." Read into those responses however you will, but the "unfortunately" strikes me as if there would be developer editions for all if he had his choice. Last year, Motorola released both Verizon and GSM (unlocked) Moto X Developer Editions, which ends up covering most users. If you were with a GSM carrier, you could go with the unlocked version, while the CDMA fans in the building had the Verizon model to fall back on. These units were branded with "DEVELOPER EDITION" across their lower back, but also carried a special two-tone black.white color combo. For those new, these "Developer Edition" units contain unlockable bootloaders, so if you are the tinkering type who likes to flash custom firmware to your device, these were your choices. Both HTC and Samsung have also joined in on the developer edition craze over the last year or so, though, only Samsung puts out Verizon-ready editions. If Motorola is also now passing on Verizon developer models, that doesn't leave many choices for members of Team Verizon.

Via: +Shane Barone

Cheers Sean!

Random Google 7-inch "Tablet" Shows Up at FCC With NVIDIA Chip, Tiny LG Battery

Kellen — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 15:54:28 +0000

While we were busy flying around the country last week, checking out the new goodies from Samsung and Motorola, a reader of ours noticed that a "7-inch tablet" that is "powered by NVIDIA Tegra" and running an LG battery, stopped by the FCC under Google's ID. The device is odd, to say the least. The device falls under FCC ID A4R-NX74751, in case you want to go digging through the listing. It features some sort of NVIDIA Tegra chip, global roaming with LTE (bands 2, 4, 5, 7, and 17), and an LG-made battery that only weighs in at 2,480mAh. So what is it? Well, your guess is as good as ours. Maybe it is really a phone instead of a tablet? That battery is so small for a tablet. For example, the current Nexus 7 (2013) has a 3,950mAh battery and the brand new Moto X has a 2,300mAh battery. How could Google, LG and NVIDIA team up to produce a tablet that has a battery with 2/3 of the capacity of the previous Nexus 7? The whole situation is odd and we really aren't sure what to make of it. We'll see what else we can dig up. In the mean time, feel free to weigh in.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/5/2015

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:36:20 +0000

Talk about an insane week in the world of Android. We have a load of new devices to talk about for the remainder of the year, and we still have a new Nexus and version of Android to look forward to from Google. But enough of looking to the future. For now, let's reflect on what we have at this moment, that being the new Moto X and Moto 360 from Motorola, as well as the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge from Samsung. Kellen and I both travelled across the country this week to go hands-on with these devices, so there are plenty of videos and posts to bring you up to speed in case you missed any of the action. To top it all off, we also have new devices from Sony, ASUS, and the Droid Landing Twitter account started tweeting again. Do we have new DROIDs on the way? Here are the highlights in case you missed anything.

Unboxing and hands-on: Moto X (2014)
Unboxing and hands-on: Moto 360
Unboxing and hands-on: Neptune Pine
Hands-on: Galaxy Note 4
Hands-on: Galaxy Note Edge
Video: Moto X (2013) vs. Moto X (2014)
Comparison: Moto X vs. LG G3 vs. Galaxy S5 vs. One (M8) vs. Nexus 5
Samsung announces the Gear VR headset.
Motorola intros the Hint, its new bluetooth earpiece.
ASUS unveils the ZenWatch.
HTC reportedly cancels smartwatch plans.
Google Glass hits Google Play for $1500.
Sony unveils the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact.
Sony Xperia Z3 reportedly coming to Verizon as Xperia Z3v.
Droid Landing Twitter account awakens.

Have a great weekend, folks! And don't forget, we are giving away a LG G Watch over the weekend.

Motorola Connect App Updated, Brings Exclusive Watch Face Customization for Moto 360

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:00:44 +0000

An update is rolling out this afternoon through Google Play for Motorola Connect, the app which allows compatible device owners to sync all of their accessories and PCs up in one single place. The update, which seems geared towards new owners of the Moto 360, allows you to create exclusive watch faces by tweaking color settings found on the preinstalled faces. Once you have a new look you enjoy, you can send it straight to your watch for showing off purposes. In addition, Connect now lets you find your devices on a map, just in case you happened to lose it while out on the town. Finally, Connect now also supports the Power Pack Micro 1500, Motorola's portable power solution. Below is the full changelog. What's New

Connect now supports Moto 360 and Powerpack Micro 1500
Customize Motorola exclusive watch faces
Find your device on a map
Battery reminders to ensure your Powerpack is charged

Play Link

Friday Poll: Did You Buy a Moto 360?

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:42:46 +0000

The Moto 360 was made available this morning, but as a few of you found out, supplies didn't last long. The smartwatch was made available through three online sources (Google Play, Moto.com, and Best Buy), but it seemed that within only 30 minutes or so, they were all sold out. Motorola claims they are working very hard to replenish stock through all channels, but no word on how long that may take. With so much hype placed around the Moto 360, the fact that it sold out in such little time was hardly surprising, but we do hope Motorola hustles up and makes more stock available soon. Were you lucky enough to score one this morning?

[poll id="327"]

HomeTube Launched to Google Play, a Kid-friendly YouTube Video Launcher

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:58:56 +0000

Chris Lacy, the developer behind apps such as Link Bubble and Action Launcher, released a new application called HomeTube to Google Play this morning. The app is essentially a launcher for children, where parents can program "safe" categories for kids to browse through on YouTube. When first downloaded, a preselected assortment of categories are available (Spider Man cartoons, Superman flying, The Wiggles song), but for the price of $0.99, the parent can select their own categories to choose for the child. As stated, the app is free to download, but to edit any categories, a one-time purchase of $0.99 must be made. If you have kids that love browsing YouTube, but you want to make sure they don't stumble upon anything inappropriate while using your phone, check it out. Play Link

Neptune Pine Unboxing and Hands-on

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:27:44 +0000

If you happen to follow DL or myself on Twitter, then you might have seen this post coming. After more than a year, Neptune's vision for a smartwatch, the Neptune Pine, is finally in our possession. After receiving a healthy amount of funding on Kickstarter, the Pine is now rolling out to backers all across the country, and we have been fortunate enough to score one for review purposes. If you are unfamiliar, Pine is a completely standalone device, capable of full function without the need for pairing with your smartphone. Thanks to its built-in cellular radios, the Pine is able to connect to 3G and HSPA+ GSM networks, running a full build of Android 4.1. It has access to Google Play, and is best summed up by calling it a complete smartphone experience, condensed to fit on your wrist. For specs, the Pine is packing a 2.4" QVGA display (320 x 240) with Gorilla Glass, Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 512MB of RAM, 16/32GB of storage options available, 5MP rear-facing camera, VGA front-facing camera, LED flash on both sides, 810mAh battery, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, and runs Android 4.1. As you might see in the video, I came across a few software bugs, but it's possible that more bug squashing may need to be done in future updates. If a Neptune Pine interests you, feel free to check out Neptune's website. The Pine currently starts at $349.99. Below, we have a full gallery and hands-on video. Gallery

Unboxing and hands-on

[responsive_vid]

Moto's Punit Soni: Moto X (2013) Will Continue to Receive Updates "As Long as the Hardware Allows It"

Kyle — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:25:41 +0000

Think your old Moto X or Moto G is looking a bit long in the tooth? There may be a bit of incentive to hang onto your last-generation handset. In reference to the capabilities of Motorola's new/refreshed quartet of devices, Vice President of Product Management Punit Soni wrote in a post on Google+, "as long as the Hardware [sic] allows it [...] all that software will come to our existing users too." Thankfully, we are already seeing evidence of this. Earlier today, the Moto G and Moto E received support for Home and Driving modes via an update to Motorola's Contextual Services app. Considering the expanded voice functionality of the new Moto X relies on a dedicated listening chip, similar to the one found in last year's model, a retroactive upgrade is definitely within the realm of possibility. So, no need to list your old Moto X/G on eBay quite yet.

Via: +Punit Soni

Report: HTC Cancels Plans for Smartwatch

Kyle — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 12:55:36 +0000

According to a new report from Pocket-Lint, HTC has canceled development of its smartwatch, images of which may have leaked a few weeks ago in a promotional video. Rising costs associated in creating the device played a part, the publication reports, as did a failure to sufficiently differentiate the watch from the competition. Rumors suggested that the smartwatch was a remodeled Qualcomm Toq running a custom UI. It's possible that the Mirasol display, a technology that uses colored e-ink, proved too cost-prohibitive to mass produce affordably. An alternative explanation? The competition. The Moto 360 has seen an unprecedented level of demand, while Apple is widely expected to unveil a smartwatch of its own next week. All things considered, HTC's R&D money is probably better spent elsewhere, at least for the time being. Saddened by this news at all?

Via: Pocket-lint

Google Glass and Accessories Now Available on Google Play, Still $1,500

Kyle — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 12:25:09 +0000

Google Glass is here ... sort of. Today, Google made the Explorer Edition of Glass and a full run of accessories available for purchase through Google Play. In addition to five colors of Glass - black, red, white, brown, and blue - frames, shades, and earbuds are present. Glass, of course, comes with a complimentary frame or shade. Before you get too excited, the transition from invitation system to storefront had no effect on Glass's price, which remains $1500. And the change doesn't necessarily indicate plans a much broader launch - the model for sale on Google Play is explicitly the Explorer Edition, not the presumed consumer variant that will inevitably launch for a more palatable price at some point. Still, it's a positive step. Anyone planning to plunk down $1,500 for a pair? Play Link

Google Details Upcoming Updates for Android Wear, 3rd-party Watch Face Support Included

Kyle — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 12:05:11 +0000

Have a G Watch or Gear Live lying around, or manage to nab shiny new a Moto 360? Well, if you do/did, then you have something to look forward to. David Singleton, Engineering Director of Android Wear, took to Google's official blog this afternoon to formally announce two major updates coming to the nascent wearable platform before the end of this year. Joggers will appreciate the first of two planned upgrades, which will bring offline music playback and GPS support to Android Wear. Devices with built-in GPS will gain support at the OS level, while all Android Wear watches with sufficient storage will be able to store and play music over headphones via Bluetooth. The second update will enable a feature that probably should have been present at launch; downloadable watch faces. While developers have already begun to distribute custom watch faces for Wear devices via Google Play, those efforts tap into an unpublished API that Google has warned may behave unexpectedly when the finalized version is released. Singleton didn't give a more specific timeframe for either update, but at least we all have something to anticipate now.

Via: Google

Chart: Moto X vs. LG G3 vs. Galaxy S5 vs. One (M8) vs. Nexus 5

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:35:44 +0000

We are fully into testing the new Moto X, with hopes of having a review up within a week or so, but before we get there, we wanted to do one last comparison that has become standard around these parts. Since the new Moto is a flagship that matches up quite nicely to the other flagships introduced this year from Samsung, LG, and HTC, we put together our standard comparison chart that matches each device up, spec-by-spec, to give you a general feel for their under-the-hood capabilities. This is by no means the full story of the Moto X or its competitors (Galaxy S5, G3, One (M8), and even the Nexus 5), but this certainly shows the industry standard for the first half of 2014. Everyone has a Snapdragon 801 on board and at least 2GB of RAM. From there, the cameras are all over the board, as are the Android skins (or lack thereof). The display types and sizes vary as well. Each device is similar, yet extremely different at the same time, which is 100% a good thing. Here is the full comparison.

Reminder: Motorola Hosting Q&A and "First Look" for New Products, Kicks Off at 11:30am Pacific

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:21:31 +0000

As a quick reminder, Motorola is hosting a special presentation through Google Hangouts, showcasing its newest line of products, as well as including a viewer Q&A during the session. Motorola unveiled a few new products early this morning, including the Moto 360, new Moto X, new Moto G, and the Motorola Hint. We have complete hands-on and unboxing videos for each device, so be sure to check those out. If you have any questions for Moto, or you just want to hear more about these products from the people who made them, be sure to tune in at 11:30am Pacific.

[responsive_vid]

Via: +Motorola Mobility

Contest: Win a LG G Watch or 1 of 30 Slickwraps G Watch Covers (Update: Winners Picked)

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:01:27 +0000

To take a minor break from the Moto excitement, we have partnered with Slickwraps, the makers of many custom skins for an assortment of Android devices, to give away a LG G Watch, plus 30 Slickwraps skins for the device. If you own a G Watch, today is your lucky day. One person will walk away with a brand new Android Wear-powered G Watch, while thirty other winners will win a Slickwraps skin designed for the G Watch, one which can be selected from an assortment of different options that can be previewed on their website. We have added a ton of ways to enter through Rafflecopter, so go get those entries in before the giveaway ends next Monday morning at 10am Pacific.

Contest

Update: Congrats to our grand prize winner, Brian S! Congrats to our 30 other runner-up winners, too! Prizes

Grand Prize: 1 (one) LG G Watch + 30 assorted Slickwraps
Runner-up Prizes: 30 (thirty) G Watch Slickwraps skins

How to Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners On Monday morning (Sept. 8) at 10am Pacific, we will select our winners and email them.

Cheers to Slickwraps for hosting the prizes for this giveaway.

Motorola Touchless Control Rebranded to Moto Voice

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:15:14 +0000

Motorola rebranded Touchless Control this week, changing it to Moto Voice. Touchless Control was one of our favorite things on the old Moto X, which allowed users to only use their voice to complete tasks. For example, a user could say, "Okay Google Now, what's the weather?" Then, without touching your phone, Google Search would ping back the results. Now, the service is called Moto Voice, and the rebranding will make its way to all devices that are compatible with the service. As for the changelog posted on Google Play, these changes are currently only for the new Moto X, but Motorola's Punit Soni claims that these features will soon be made available for last year's models, too, as long as their hardware supports them.

What's New

Customize your own launch phrase to make Moto Voice respond only to you
Voice command support for YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp
Turn on Talk to Me and other Moto modes through voice commands
Support for Moto Hint and Moto 360
User experience improvements and bug fixes

Play Link

Motorola's Turbo Charger Will Give Your New Moto X 8 Hours of Battery in 15 Minutes

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:50:20 +0000

We mentioned this yesterday in our Moto X write-up, but wanted to make sure none of you missed it. Motorola created a Turbo Charger that will be sold separately (also as an add-on in Moto Maker) from the new Moto X, but it's something you will likely want to buy. Why, you ask? Because in just 15 minutes of time, the Turbo Charger can give you 8 hours of battery life. Think about that. Game changer? Certainly seems like it to me. The Turbo Charger isn't available yet, but once it goes live, you will be able to buy it here. It will cost $34.99.

Difference Between the Moto 360 Black and Silver Models

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:34:02 +0000

The Moto 360 is sort of available right now through Motorola's site, Best Buy and Google Play. Buying one may be tough, though, as the inventory seems to be pretty limited for this first round (or none of these retailers have their sh*t together yet). As you decide whether or not you want to buy one, we want to clear up some confusion that readers have pinged us with. We are talking colors of each watch. "Which one is black and which one is silver?" you keep asking. As you can see in the image above of both, the black version comes with a black leather strap. It's basically the black/black model. If you want the light silver look, you need to get the version with the grey leather strap. This is the silver/grey model. Edit: As a reminder, if you want the silver watch with a black band, you will have the opportunity to buy additional leather bands this "Fall" for $29.99. That help?

Moto 360 is Now Available for Purchase

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:05:58 +0000

Finally, after months of waiting, the Moto 360 is now purchasable online. Motorola announced that the Moto 360 would be available through Best Buy, Google Play. and Motorola's own store online, so if you have been waiting patiently, you may now go purchase your smartwatch. For those of you who would like to see the device first, Motorola stated that select Best Buy locations would have the device in-store, but make sure to contact your local store before heading on over. As sites go live, we will update this post with more links. Purchase

Best Buy Links: Black Leather | Grey Leather ($249.99)
Google Play ($249.99)
Motorola Store ($249.99)
Verizon Links: Leather Bands ($249.99) | Metal Bands ($299.99)

If you want to wait until they hit stores, Best Buy announced today that the Moto 360 will be available in-store on September 14. Picking one up?

Motorola Contextual Services and Assist Apps Updated, Home and Driving Mode Made Available to Moto E and G

Tim — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:47:31 +0000

Two of Motorola's apps found in Google Play received updates this morning, bringing added support for Home and Driving modes to the Moto G and Moto E. Contextual Services is the app that essentially powers the Motorola Assist and Touchless Control (aka Moto Voice) applications, so if you happen to own a Moto G and Moto E, these updates will be a necessity to you. With the update, Moto G and Moto E owners will find new two features, being the Home and Driving modes. With Home mode, your device is aware that you are home, and will read out incoming messages so you don't have to be bothered by picking up your device. With Driving mode, the phones will now recognize when it is not safe for you to be handling your phone, and will read messages out loud, sparing you from using one your hands while driving. In addition, users can then use speech-to-text software to reply to messages while in Driving mode. As mentioned, if you do own one of these phones, we recommend grabbing the updates. Play Links: Contextual Services | Assist

Video: New Moto X (2nd Gen) vs. Old Moto X

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:00:44 +0000

Owners of the 1st generation Moto X are probably all asking themselves today, "Should I upgrade to the new Moto X?" That's a great question, one that we hope to have an answer for within the next week or so as we put together a full review. Until then, all we can do to help you get to a solution is continue to fill up your day with new Moto X coverage. The phone (our unboxing) isn't launching on US carriers for a few more weeks (closer to the end of September), so thankfully, you have plenty of time to figure this out. Below, we take you on a quick hardware tour of the outsides of each phone, show how much bigger the new is than the old, and run through differences in specs (full specs) and a bit of software. Let us know if you have any other questions.

[responsive_vid]

AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular All Confirm Plans to Carry New Moto X

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:06:14 +0000

We still do not have a specific launch day for the new Moto X, but AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular have all confirmed their plans to carry the device. Motorola told us in press briefings yesterday that AT&T and Verizon were the only two participating in Moto Maker (along with an unlocked GSM model), but the rest of the carrier situation remained a mystery. According to AT&T, they will carry the device, along with the Moto Hint, with pricing and availability coming at a later date. Verizon said to expect availability within the "coming weeks." We were told by sources that Verizon's variant would launch on September 25. US Cellular confirmed to us that they will begin selling the new Moto X this month.

Via: AT&T | Verizon

Tip: Setup a Moto 360 as a Bluetooth Trusted Device on Your Moto X

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 06:55:56 +0000

If you end up buying a Moto 360 (unboxing and tour) today, and also plan on wearing it daily, you may want to consider setting it up as a Trusted Device with your phone. With a Trusted Device, your phone can have a PIN or password attached to its lock screen, but rarely ask you to provide it since it knows you have a "trusted device" near. Basically, with a Trusted Device (could be your car or another smartwatch), you are telling your phone that if this specific device is connected to Bluetooth and near, I shouldn't need to enter my PIN or password every time I access my phone. But, should I leave my phone behind at say a bar or the gym, it would be nice to have it protected should someone pick it up and try to access its contents. Make sense? *Note - Motorola has built-in Trusted Devices as a Bluetooth feature, so devices like the original Moto X or last year's DROIDs can take advantage. Other device manufacturers likely haven't jumped on board, so depending on your phone, this may not be an option. You will know by step 3 if you can set this up.

Instructions

1. Make sure that your Moto 360 is paired with your phone. 2. Open Settings>Security. 3. Tap on the option for "Trusted Devices." 4. Enter your PIN or pattern. 5. Turn on Trusted Devices with the top right slider. 6. You should now see your Moto 360 listed as a paired device. 7. Check the box next to it to make it a trusted device. 8. Your phone will now remain unlocked as long as your Moto 360 is near and paired.

Motorola's PowerPack Micro Gives You Juice on the Go, and Can Find Your Keys

Kellen — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 06:26:53 +0000

This morning's announcements from Motorola were about more than just devices. Motorola is really into building accessories that have more functionality than they traditionally have. Take the PowerPack Micro for example. At $39.99, the PowerPack micro doubles as a portable charger and a key finder. The PowerPack holds 1,500mAh in juice, so you can get a solid charge while on the go, but it's small enough that you could keep it on a keychain. With it attached to your keychain and paired to phone via app, you can use one or the other to find the other. The PowerPack Micro comes in a variety of colors and will be available soon through Motorola's store.

New Moto X (2014) Unboxing and Hands-on

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:03:27 +0000

Today, well, is kind of a crazy day if you are a Motorola fan. Not only did we get a brand new Moto X (specs) and official details on the Moto 360, but we also got a new Moto G, news of a sweet Bluetooth ear piece, and a bunch of other accessories. We have separate posts for all of that goodness, which you should definitely dig through, but for now, we are focused on showing you what to expect with the new Moto X. We have a leather back. We have a full HD display. We have a current-gen, bad boy processor. We have an upgraded 13MP camera. We have a premium metal frame. We still have Moto Maker. Motorola didn't hold back at all with the new Moto X. This new version of last year's phone of the year, is as good on paper as any other flagship, only it costs about $100 less. Ready to see what you are getting?

Unboxing

[responsive_vid]

Software Tour

[responsive_vid vid_url="-aMLbBwJhUA"]

Moto 360 Unboxing and Hands-on Tour

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:03:16 +0000

Can you believe it? The Moto 360 is now available for sale (or will be later today) through Motorola's site, Google Play, and Best Buy for $249. It feels like we have been waiting forever for this to arrive (we sort of have been), but now that one is officially in house, it's time to put it to work. We have the all-black version on-hand, so we gave it a quick unboxing and then overview/software tour. We wanted to show you how Android Wear looks and works on a circular device, what you get in the box (spoiler: a wireless charger!), and some of the special features for the 360, like its heart rate monitoring. Ready for some 360 action?

Unboxing

[responsive_vid]

Hands-on Tour

[responsive_vid vid_url="NOHWdesr54U"]

New Moto X (2nd Gen) Specs

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:02:53 +0000

The new Moto X is now official, we have gone hands-on with it, unboxed it, and even compared it to the old Moto X on video. But some of you may still want the full list of specs like we usually provide, to help give you the full under-the-hood story. As a quick recap, the new Moto X features a 5.2-inch Full HD AMOLED display, 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 2,300mAh battery, Android 4.4.4, and a body that is just 9.9mm thick. The rest of the details can be found below.

Specs

Display: 5.2-inch Full HD AMOLED with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (1920x1080, 423ppi)
Processor: 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801; Adreno 330 GPU
Memory: 16GB or 32GB internal storage; no micro SD slot
RAM: 2GB
Cameras: 13MP rear camera (f2.25, 4K video); 2MP front camera
Battery: 2,300mAh
Water repellent: Yes
Ports: Micro USB; 3.5mm headphone
Connectivity: 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.0
Audio: Front-facing speakers
Dimensions: 140.8 x 72.4 x 9.9mm
Other: NFC, GPS, GLONASS, 4 microphones, metal frame
Weight: 144g
Network: GSM, CDMA, LTE

Network Connectivity by Model

Moto X - Pure Edition (GSM Unlocked with T-Mobile SIM - XT1095): GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1700 (AWS), 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (02, 04, 17) AT&T (XT1097): GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1700 (AWS), 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 17) Verizon (XT1096): GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) CDMA (850, 1900 MHz) 4G LTE (02, 03, 04, 07, 13)

New Moto G (2nd Gen) Specs

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:02:43 +0000

With Motorola making the new Moto G official, we can share all of the dirty details, including all of its under-the-hood specifications. While the Moto G may not be insanely popular here in the US, overseas markets can't seem to get enough of this phone, making it one of Motorola's most successful devices in its history. As a recap, the new Moto G features a 5" HD display (720p), Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 2,070mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+ connectivity on select carriers, runs Android 4.4.4, and is priced at only $179. The rest of the details can be seen below.

Specs

Display: 5.0” 720p HD 720x1280 IPS, 294 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 305 450MHz GPU
Memory: Single SIM - 8GB & 16GB versions; Dual SIM; 8GB & 16GB versions; Dual SIM DTV - 16GB
RAM: 1GB
Cameras: 8MP rear camera (4X digital zoom, Auto HDR); 2MP front camera
Battery: 2,070 mAh
Water repellent: Yes
Ports: Micro USB; 3.5mm headphone
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0
Audio: Front-facing speakers
Dimensions: Width: 70.7mm, Height: 141.5mm, Curve: 6.0-11.0mm
Other: GPS, GLONASS, Digital DTV Brazil Only
Weight: 149 grams
Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+ (up to 21.1 Mbps downlink / 5.76 Mbps uplink)

Network Connectivity by Model

US GSM Model: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 1700 (AWS), 1900 MHz) Global GSM Model: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)

New Moto G (2014) Unboxing

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:02:03 +0000

The original Moto G quickly became Motorola's best selling smartphone of all time, thanks to a combination of solid specs and unbeatable price. So what do you do for a follow-up to that type of success? You build a similar phone, yet upgrade it in all of the areas that current users requested. Motorola has done that with the new Moto G by putting a bigger 5-inch display in it, 8MP camera, front facing speakers, and a micro SD slot. The swappable back covers are still available, as is the stock Android experience, so current owners of the device who are looking to upgrade should be excited. At $179, this is still an incredible deal. Here is a quick unboxing to show you the new Moto G.

[responsive_vid]

Motorola Announces the Hint, a Tiny Bluetooth Earpiece That is Kind of Cool

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:01:00 +0000

The fourth piece of today's bundle of announcements from Motorola was indeed a Bluetooth ear piece. This isn't an ordinary Bluetooth headset, though, this is a discreet earbud that allows you to perform tasks on your phone and then listen as they play back while being performed. This is the Moto Hint. When paired with your new Moto X, you could ask the Hint for today's forecast, have it read messages aloud, or pull-up turn-by-turn navigation, all without ever touching your phone. Motorola showed us a demo of the device paired with a Moto X that was tucked into a bag. Think about cyclists or a person commuting or even This thing really is tiny. You can barely tell that people are wearing it, depending on the color or material they choose. There are at least five colors to choose from that we saw - a bamboo, dark leather, brown leather, light fabric, and dark fabric. The Hint also charges through a nifty little carrying case. The carrying case can hold up to two charges for the Hint while you are on the go, but then takes a standard micro USB cable once it is empty. The Hint can last for around three hours on a single charge, but with the carrying cases additional two charges, you could wear the Hint throughout a day. Moto Hint will be available at Motorola's site and select retailers in the US for $149.99 later this fall. It will expand to other regions in time for the holidays.

[responsive_vid]

Motorola Announces the New Moto X, Available This Month for $99

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:00:59 +0000

There she is - the new Moto X. Not the Moto X+1 or the Moto X2 or the Moto X (insert random codename), this is simply, the new Moto X (2nd generation if we are getting really technical). It's official and will be available soon, as in, this month from a variety of carriers and as an unlocked device. At a price of $99 on 2-year contract or $499 at full retail, Motorola has created a high-end phone that they are offering at a price around $100 lower than competitors. The new Moto X has been beefed up in a variety of ways over its predecessor, so let's talk about it before getting into the hands-on and unboxing stuff. Specs In terms of specs, the new Moto X has been upgraded in all of the places that we complained about from the first version. The screen is now 1080p, the frame of the phone is metal and premium, the battery is slightly bigger, and the processor is a current-gen Snapdragon 801, not a 2-year old hacked-together Moto chipset. The camera has been bumped up to 13MP, though it will take further testing over the next few days to decide if it is improved or not. Motorola really did take the design and awesomeness from the first Moto X, a device we called deemed the phone of the year in 2013, and tried to make it overall better. To see the full list of specs, head over to this post. Moto Maker Yes, you will be able to order a custom phone once again this year. Moto Maker is back and available from day 1, but only through Verizon and AT&T. As of now, Motorola has not confirmed that there will be a Sprint version for Moto Maker. There will be an unlocked GSM model, though, which means if you want a T-Mobile custom Moto X, you can have one. Moto Maker has more options than ever, with 25 different backs to choose from, including leather that has been sourced from Horween, a tannery based out of Chicago that also makes official NFL footballs and the bands for the Moto 360. There are 17 colored backs, 4 leathers, and 4 woods to choose from. You can also choose from 10 accent colors, either a white (with silver frame) or black (with dark metal frame) front, engraving, storage size (16GB or 32GB), special wallpapers, and a personal power-on greeting. With the Texas Moto Maker plant closing by the end of the year, you are probably wondering where your phone will be made? Well, it's happening in a factory in China. Since Motorola continues to expand Moto Maker availability to new countries, they needed more capacity, thus the reason for the China factory to be born. They are still expecting orders to arrive in under a week, which is pretty remarkable.

Software Features (Moto Display, Voice, Actions, and Assist) Motorola has done their best to improve upon the best software features from the original Moto X - I'm talking Active Display, Touchless Control, and Moto Assist. They rebranded Active Display and Touchless Control to Moto Display and Moto Voice, respectively, making them a part of a new Moto app suite. With Moto Voice, you can now customize your launch phrase to be something other than "OK, Google Now." You can access third party apps through it as well, like posting status updates to Facebook, opening YouTube, or sending messages in WhatsApp. Motorola even built in commands to tell your device "goodnight" or "good morning," which would turn either sleep mode on or off. Motorola Display is basically the same as Active Display, it just has a new name; same thing with Moto Assist. Moto Actions take advantage of the IR sensors on the front of the device, which allow you to wave your hand over your phone to mute calls or wake the Active Display to show time or notifications. To see all of the new software features in action, be sure to hit up our hands-on tour. Turbo Charger Motorola will let you purchase a special charger as an accessory for your new Moto X, one that I plan to buy on day one if it's available. It's called a Turbo or Super Charger. By using the Turbo Charger, you can give your Moto X 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes time. Think about that for a second. 15 minutes - 8 hours of use. That's almost game changer territory. Camera Motorola tossed in a 13MP camera that shoots 4K video, but only time will tell if it can actually shoot a decent still here and there. They outfitted the shooter with a ring flash that should introduce softer, more natural light when in use, but again, we still don't know if this thing can produce quality pictures or not. The camera in the original Moto X was its biggest downfall - here's to hoping that isn't the case again this time around. Motorola has tossed in a couple of new tricks, most notably a feature that tries offer up a better still than the one you may have captured. For example, if the Moto X determines that there was too much motion in your photo, it may suggest another that it took at the same time. For those curious, quick capture camera (aka the double=wrist twist) is back again.

Availability Again, the new Moto X will be available this month at carriers like AT&T and Verizon, along with an unlocked GSM model sold through Motorola's site. We are waiting for official word on specifics from individual carriers and will be sure to share that info as we have it. Pricing The Moto X will run $99 on 2-year contract or $499 at full retail. Who wants one? More: Moto X specs | Moto X unboxing and hands-on tour

[responsive_vid]

Moto 360 Official at $249, Available Today

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:00:50 +0000

If you want the Moto 360 - have been waiting impatiently for Motorola's round smartwatch - today is your day. The circular Android wearable is official and available at 12PM Eastern, 9AM Pacific (Yes, as in today, September 5.) from a variety of retailers. Motorola's store, Google Play, BestBuy.com and select Best Buy stores will all sell the Moto 360 at $249. The "classically-designed, modern timepiece" comes in either black with a black leather band or in silver with a special grey-suede leather band. Metal and other bands will be available later this Fall - the metal bands will cost $79.99 on their own. If you wait and buy the Moto 360 with a metal band, the device will run you $299 as a package. Additional leather bands will retail for $29.99. The device doesn't have all that many surprises, thanks to the Best Buy leak we saw a couple of weeks back and our previous hands-on from Google I/O. The device sports a 1.56" round LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3, TI OMAP 3 processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, wireless charging, and a dust and water resistance rating of IP67. The battery, is 320mAh and will last about a day, according to Motorola. If you were hoping for some extra special battery magic, it's not happening. Thankfully, the device wirelessly charges through an included charging stand, but yeah, same deal as the other Android Wear watches in terms of battery.

The full list of specs can be found here. Our unboxing and hands-on of the device are both here. Are you buying? *Note - we will be sure to share links as they go live at each retailer.

[responsive_vid]

New Moto G is Official and Available Today for $179

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:00:43 +0000

Alongside the new Moto X and Moto 360, Motorola also introduced a new version of the Moto G today. The Moto G, for those not familiar, is Motorola's best selling smartphone of all time, and is also basically the reason that this embargo on all of these new products is happening this late in the US. You see, Motorola knows where its winner is selling, so they are announcing all of this just in time for the rest of the world (the people who are buying the Moto G) to see it in prime time. The new Moto G aims to address issues in four areas that previous owners made obvious to Motorola: display, micro SD slot, speakers, and camera. In hopes of appealing to current and future Moto G owners, Motorola went ahead and tossed in a larger 5-inch display, added front-facing speakers, a micro SD card slot (supports up to 32GB cards), and upgraded the camera to 8MP. They kept the rest of the experience very similar, thanks to the swappable back covers for personalization, the stock Android UI, and the price.

[responsive_vid]

The new Moto G is available today for $179 (HSPA model) through Motorola's website and at a number of additional US retailers. Globally, the Moto G is available in India, France, UK, Brazil, Spain, and on motorola.de in Germany. By end of year, the new Moto G will be available in more than a dozen countries and through several carrier partners around the world. In case you were curious about updates, just know that Motorola has already guaranteed an upgrade to Android L for this phone. The full list of Moto G specs can be found here. To see us unbox it, hit up this post.

Moto 360 Official Specs

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:00:32 +0000

Finally, the day many of you have been waiting for - the Moto 360 is now available for purchase. Having been completely unveiled this morning, we can share the detailed specifications for the device, which will hopefully still have a few of you clamoring to go buy one. As a quick recap, the Moto 360 features a 1.56" backlit LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3, Texas Instruments OMAP 3 processor, 512MB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, a heart rate monitor, 320mAh battery, and runs Google's Android Wear wearable operating system. The device is currently sold through various online retailers for $249. For a more detailed rundown of the specs, look below.

Specs

Compatibility: Smartphones running Android 4.3 or higher (check compatibility at g.co/WearCheck)
Operating system: Android Wear
Display: 1.56” 320 x 290, 205ppi; Backlit LCD; Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Dimensions: 46mm diameter by 11.5mm high
Weight: Leather band model: 49 grams
Battery: 320mAh; Wireless charging with charging dock included
Processor: TI OMAP 3
Memory: 4GB internal storage
RAM: 512MB RAM
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Sensors: Pedometer, Optical heart rate monitor (PPG)
Water resistance: Yes, IP67 2
Other: Single physical button; Vibration motor; Dual microphones

More: Moto 360 announcement | Moto 360 unboxing and hands-on

LG G Watch R Release Date Reportedly Set for October (Updated)

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:25:39 +0000

If the Moto 360 is not the round watch of your dreams, and you are leaning more towards the G Watch R from LG, you may want to mark October 14 down on your calendar. According to the Wall Street Journal, who spoke with LG during IFA, the G Watch R will launch mid-October in select markets, with a still-unknown price. LG made the G Watch R official last week on Wednesday, so holding off availability till October 14 may seem hurtful to potential sales, but the company may have felt pressured to announce the device before it was ready for shipping given the hype surrounding the Moto 360. Not only did LG show off its circular wearable, as even Samsung got in on the fun with the Gear S last week, but it features more of a curved design, rather than a circular display. If the G Watch R was on your watch list, do you think you can wait until mid October for it? Update: The WSJ clarified that they meant "October 2014," not October 14th, specifically.

Via: Wall Street Journal

The Room Three Slated for Spring of 2015 Release on Android

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:55:35 +0000

This may not be the most exciting news, but if you are a fan of The Room series (we totally are), then you will be happy to hear that the next title, called The Room 3, will be available for Android devices in the Spring of 2015. The Room series are puzzle games, focused on one protagonist who is attempting to unlock a mysterious disappearance. Using your big brain, you must work through countless puzzles in an attempt to solve the mystery. If you have yet to play The Room or The Room Two, I recommend you go download those games as soon as possible from Google Play, just to make sure you are all caught up on the series before next year rolls around. Play Links: The Room ($0.99) | The Room Two ($2.99)

Via: Fireproof Games

Verizon HTC One (M7) Receiving Update, Brings Android 4.4.3 and Extreme Power Saving Mode

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:10:21 +0000

An update is currently rolling out to owners of the One (M7) from HTC on Verizon's network, one which brings an updated version of Android, as well as a feature quite a few of you might have been asking for. The update will upgrade your phone to Android 4.4.3, as well as bring HTC's Extreme Power Saving mode, which will help users suck every ounce of juice out of their depleting batteries. We have multiple readers reporting the update is hitting their devices, so if you own a One (M7), be on the lookout.

Cheers Steve and Ed!

Motorola Readies Product Unveiling at 1AM Central, Live Stream Tomorrow

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:39:33 +0000

As you all know, Motorola is hosting press today in Chicago to show off new products (all would be hinted at in the image above). What has become clear throughout the day, though, is that we didn't mention enough times that this isn't a live streaming type of thing, it's just a press gathering. In other words, it isn't/wasn't something that could be watched or live blogged. With that said, Motorola announced this afternoon on Twitter that you should get ready for an unveiling this evening, at 1AM Central, which is 2AM Eastern (11PM Pacific). Moto plans to "start unveiling the new portfolio of Moto products" at that time. They are also hosting a Q&A live stream tomorrow at 2:30PM Eastern (11:30AM Pacific) where they will show off the new goodies. That's about all I can say, but there are plenty of items mentioned above that should tell you when to expect news. Hang with us! The live stream for tomorrow is embedded below.

[responsive_vid]

Via: @Motorola [2]

HP Announces Two Chromebooks, One is Powered by a Tegra K1 Processor

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:07:30 +0000

Two new Chromebook devices have been announced from HP, with one of them, the 14" HP Chromebook, sporting an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor. There are two models, one with an 11" display and the larger with a 14" display, both priced at under $300. As for hardware and design, both feature bright colors, as well as come running Google's Chrome OS, naturally. According to HP, the larger tablet also features a "free 4G data package," which could be handy should WiFi be hard to come by. HP hopes to have the 11" model available for purchase by October 5 for $279, while the larger model, featuring the Tegra K1, will be available October 22 for $299. Are you rocking a Chromebook? Do you love it?

Via: HP

Cat Phones Announces the Cat S50, A Ruggedized Phone Built for Harsh Environments

Kyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 11:03:31 +0000

Ruggedized smartphones may fill a niche, but apparently a rather profitable one. That's why Cat Phones is following up the B15 with the Cat S50, a smartphone designed to survive the harshest and most unforgiving of environments (i.e., very hard rocks and a lot of water). The S50 is IP67 certified dustproof and waterproof, and can be used with wet fingers. It also features scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3 shielding a 4.7-inch display (resolution unspecified), a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and front-facing speakers. It's 4G LTE compatible, as you'd hope. The Cat S50 will ship running Android 4.4., and the software adornments seem minimal. It will, however, come preloaded with the Cat Phones app store a curated selection of 1,000 applications. Presumably, all will install via the Play Store. The Cat S50 will be available in "a range of colors," including Forest and Slate, when it launches this year. It'll be priced at 499 USD.

4th September 2014 — Cat Phones today announces the launch of the Cat® S50, a rugged, high-end 4G smartphone designed specifically to be used outdoors and in challenging environments, making it the perfect partner for extreme sports and outdoor working. The S50 is waterproof and the screen can be used even with wet fingers. It's scratch-resistant, dustproof and can withstand more than just a few bumps and scrapes. It also has a quad core (1.2Ghz) processor running the latest version of Android (KitKat) with access to Google Play meaning there is no compromise between performance and protection. "Choosing a mobile phone suitable for outdoor pursuits has often meant making a compromise on either the functionality or the level of protection," says Oliver Schulte, CEO of Cat Phones. "Not so with the S50, which offers all of the features of a high-end smartphone with the level of protection and durability that you'd expect from the Cat brand." Whether it's being used on the slopes, on a bike, up a mountain or on a building site, the S50 copes with anything that's thrown at it. No matter if it's wet, cold, dusty or dirty, nothing compromises the S50's high-end smartphone performance…not even a drop onto concrete. The S50 is also the first Cat phone to be launched pre-loaded with the Cat Phones App Store of over 1000 hand picked apps. The curated collection - which includes both well known and widely used apps such as Skype and Endomondo to smaller niche but equally useful ones like CHECD - means Cat phone users don't need to trawl through the 1.2 million apps on Google Play to find the one they want. The 1000 apps most relevant to their work and play are now one click away in the Cat Phones App Store. Adds Schulte: "An active or outdoor lifestyle requires phones to be taken into environments that they're not designed for. At Cat Phones we recognized the need for a mobile that was built to be a true companion to these activities and environments rather than being hidden away in a bag or wrapped up in a rucksack. The S50 is a phone that can always be at the centre of the action." Complementing the durable design features, the S50 boasts performance enhancing audio technology for unparalleled sound performance developed by Waves, a recipient of a Technical GRAMMY Award®. This provides a better listening experienceeven outdoors,for everything from playing games, watching movies, listening to music or using online voice communication. Following on from the best-selling Cat B15Q rugged handset, the S50 boasts a faster processor, bigger screen, improved standby-time and improved imaging and connectivity capabilities including an 8MP camera and 4G compatibility. It is available in a range of colors including Forest and Slate, each one encased in shock absorbent rubber and will be priced at 499 USD / 479 Euros. S50 Specs Android™ (4.4) KitKat Waterproof with wet-finger tracking IP67 certified dustproof Mil Spec 810G Scratch resistant 4.7" Shatter resistant Gorilla® glass 3 8MP camera with flash and HD video 4G LTE 16Hrs of talk-time 8GB storage. Micro SD card support up to 64GB For further information please visit www.catphones.com Attendees at IFA are invited to visit the Cat phones booth 109, Hall 4.2 for a hands on experience with the new S50 device ahead of it hitting the shops.

Sony Says 2K Displays Are Not Worth the Trouble

Kyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 10:20:36 +0000

Disappointed Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia Z3, doesn't sport a 2K display? There's a philosophical reason for that. Speaking to TrustedReview's Luke Johnson in an interview, Calum MacDougall explained why Sony believes that screens with resolutions higher than 1080p are more trouble than they're worth. The first problem with 2K smartphone displays, MacDougall maintained, is that they're often too small to benefit from the increased pixel count. "It is relatively difficult for the human eye to discern the difference between 2K and Full HD," he said. "We see from the user experience point of view that the differences are minimal." Secondly, MacDougall posited that ultra-high resolution displays aren't worth the battery hit. He said, "We don't believe the trade-off between having a 2K screen and battery consumption is the right trade-off for a consumer." While MacDougall's first point arguably has merit - smaller 2K screens convey very little benefit, especially when held at arm's length - the battery argument could be a point of contention. As we noted in our review of LG's G3, the battery life is respectable despite the inclusion of a sizeable 2K display. Of course, depending on the expertise of the manufacturer, mileage probably varies, which may've been MacDougall's point. Do you agree with Sony's decision to stick with 1080p for the Xperia Z3?

Via: TrustedReviews

Android-Powered Printer, Anyone? Samsung Announces New MultiXpress Series (Updated)

Kyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:50:17 +0000

If you thought the Edge took the cake as far as exercises in impracticality go, you haven't seen Samsung's Smart MultiXpress printer series. Versatility is the name of the game, apparently. Billed as the world's 1st printer powered by Android, MultiXpress printers feature a 10-inch touchscreen with haptic feedback for printing directly from on-device software like web browsers, email clients, and mapping applications. Preview, edit, and annotation functions are also built in for convenience, though whether using these apps is advantageous to, say, a PC is certainly up for debate. Hardware-wise, the MultiXpress series features a dual-core CPU and contains NFC hardware for "easy" printing from smartphones and tablets, plus authentication capabilities for enterprise. As you'd expect, the printers plug into Samsung's printing platforms and cloud solutions for business. My take? I'm definitely disappointed the MultiXpress printers aren't IP67 certified dust- and water-resistant. Also, Samsung somehow managed to omit the most important detail from its press release: whether or not the bootloader is unlocked. I can't wait to see the devs at XDA tackle these babies. Update: Samsung PR reached to clarify that the MultiXpress series isn't IP67 certified because the product "is for indoor use only and does not need to receive those certifications." (I guess that explains it.) Also, the bootloader is locked, ostensibly to prevent "hacking." Good to know.

Via: Samsung

Huawei Unveils the Ascend Mate 7, the Follow-up to Everyone's Favorite Phablet

Kyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:15:09 +0000

Devices that blur the line between a smartphone and tablet have been a huge hit internationally, so it's no surprise that Huawei's monster Ascend Mate was successful enough to warrant a sequel. Unveiled at IFA, the 6-inch Ascend Mate 7 is an improvement upon the first in every way. It features a 1080p display and 4100mAh battery, for starters, "single touch" fingerprint sensor, LTE Cat6 connectivity, incredibly thin bezel, and a thickness of merely 7.9mm. Perhaps the upgrade Huawei touted the most, however, was the octo-core processor. It's not a true CPU with eight cores, but instead, it is two sets of four cores in big.LITTLE configuration; four A7 cores clocked at 1.3 GHz kick in for lighter tasks, while the remaining 1.8 GHz A15 activate for processor-intensive apps. As far as the camera is concerned, it packs a 13-megapixel f/2.0 camera with a Sony sensor, and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter with a "industry-leading 5P non-spherical lens," which Huawei claims cuts down on distortion. In terms of software, the Ascend Mate sports Huawei's EMUI 3.0 atop Android 4.4. The Ascend Mate 7 will be available in two configurations when it launches in Europe during Q3: a 16GB model with 2GB of RAM, and a 32GB model that bumps up the RAM to 3GB. The variants will retail for 499 and 599 Euros, respectively. A full press release can be gone over by your own eyes below. Anyone pumped for this leviathan of a phone?

Berlin, Germany, September 4, 2014: Huawei today launched Ascend Mate7 at Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) 2014, featuring a big 6-inch screen with FHD display for enhanced entertainment viewing, a slimmer 7.9mm body for increased comfort, a more powerful octa-core chipset for superior performance, and a longer-lasting 4100 mAh battery. With new single-touch fingerprint technology and EMUI 3.0, Ascend Mate7 dials up the mobile experience to make it easier for users to live life to the fullest. Ascend Mate7 is the latest big-screen smartphone from Huawei as it showcased its big ambitions as the number three smartphone vendor in the world. "Today marks the arrival of our fastest and most compelling big-screen smartphone experience for consumers. It's a symbol of our relentless commitment to 'Make it Possible' for people everywhere to enjoy our premium quality products," said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. "Huawei Ascend Mate7 actually leads the big-screen pack with smarter performance, impressive power efficiency, and outstanding convenience with its superior single-touch fingerprint technology." Smart Performance Boasting octa-core architecture, Ascend Mate7 has an intelligent Huawei Kirin 925 processor made up of four large A15 1.8 GHz and four small A7 1.3 GHz chipsets which are activated in different configurations depending on the power needs of a specific app or function so the smartphone can be smarter with power management. Ascend Mate7 saves up to 50% of the battery by automatically using smaller A7 cores to power standard apps that consumers use at least 80% of the time, and kicking in the larger A15 during high-performance use such as gaming. The processor will also automatically activate additional cores when it detects that 85% to 95% of a single core's processing capability is being used. Ascend Mate7 is possibly the market's first 6-inch smartphone with instant single-touch fingerprint access to put an end to password fatigue. It enables users to unlock the phone at least 80% faster than devices that use a slower sweeping recognition option. Located on the back of the handset and measuring 9.16mm x 9.16mm, the reader supports up to five sets of different fingerprint records which can be allocated to normal and guest modes, so a user can switch modes to enhance protection when securing private folders, applications, or payment information. It has a higher 508PPI ratio for enhanced reader accuracy so there's no need to swipe repeatedly before being able to unlock the device – even with wet fingers or under light rain conditions. ARM TrustZone also stores encrypted data of the fingerprint within the chipset for better protection by SecureOS, and prevents direct access by third-parties. Featuring the fastest LTE Cat6 connectivity with download speeds of up to 300 Mbps, Ascend Mate7 enables HD movies to be downloaded in less than 30 seconds. Running on a high density 4100 mAh Li-Polymer battery, Ascend Mate7 managed to fit a huge battery in the slim body for more than two days of non-stop normal use. With Huawei's proprietary power-saving technology, Ascend Mate7 provides three power saving modes – normal, smart, and ultra power saving. Style and Substance A rare find for smartphones of this size, Ascend Mate7 is made up of more than 95% metal and features an interior structure made of a strong aluminum alloy for superior heat reduction. At only 7.9mm slim and weighing 185g, it has an ergonomically curved back for easier operation with just one hand and an ultra-narrow 2.9mm bezel that delivers a compelling screen-to-body ratio of 83%. Ascend Mate7 comes in three chic colors, moonlight silver, obsidian black and amber gold. With a 6-inch FHD in-cell LTPS display that consumes less power and JDI Nega-NEO technology for an impressive 1500:1 high contrast ratio, Ascend Mate7 delivers incredibly sharp images. It has a 13MP rear-facing camera to capture better party photos in low lighting with Sony's 4th generation BSI sensor and f/2.0 aperture. In addition, the 5MP front-facing camera adopts the industry-leading 5P non-spherical lens for higher definition and less image distortion. Intuitive Simplicity Ascend Mate7 will launch with EMUI 3.0, the new version of Huawei's intuitive user interface that makes it easier to operate with one hand and features a brand new look across the entire software interface. The new timeline design is used extensively throughout for enhanced consistency and usability across various apps. In addition, it actively addresses daily needs intuitively through practical and visually appealing design details, such as the convergence of key smartphone functions call, contact, and messaging, that can now be easily switched between with a single horizontal swipe. Availability and Accessories The recommended retail price of standard Huawei Ascend Mate7 (2GB RAM and 16GB ROM) is 499 euros, while that of the premium Huawei Ascend Mate7 (3GB RAM and 32GB ROM) is 599 euros. It will be available in more than 30 countries/territories including mainland China, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain from Q3 2014, with other markets to follow. Accessories include the new UltimoPower Active Noise Cancelling Earphones that reduce noise by 15-30db and features for the first time, a self-charging internal battery when connected to a smartphone and two hours of use when connected to other devices, as well as leather cases and a charging stand that converts the smartphone into a digital photo frame.

Evernote Receives Update to Version 6, Material Design in Tow

Kyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 08:29:48 +0000

The parade of Material Design updates continues with Evernote, which just received a major revision on Google Play. Version 6 of the venerable note-taking app includes a bevy of new features, a few of which the Evernote team highlighted in a blog post this morning. A majority of the UI has been refreshed. The search screen has been redesigned - terms are can be refined by notebook, tag, and location - the note editor simplified, a new camera mode implemented, and handwriting support enhanced. Adopting one of the paradigms of Material Design, a floating New Note button has been added to the lower right-hand corner, from which you can create a text, photo, audio, or handwriting clip, to name a few. Tapping it triggers a delightful "sprint out" animation that I could watch for hours. Seriously, it's that awesome. Navigation has been simplified - tabs for your notebooks, tags, and shortcuts have been added the sliding drawer, plus a button for switching between work and personal notebooks for Evernote Business users. Sharing is also easier, too - when you're in a notebook, you need only tap the person button and select the folks you wish to grant access. New functionality, web clipping, makes its debut on Android in the update. Leveraging it requires navigating to the page you want to save, accessing the share menu, and choosing Evernote from the list of apps. Itching to try out the new Evernote? It's live in the Play Store now. Play Link

Report: Sony Xperia Z3 Headed to Verizon as Xperia Z3v

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:52:53 +0000

Sony unveiled its newest flagship yesterday at IFA, the Xperia Z3, bound for T-Mobile here in the US. However, according to a report from PC Mag, the device will also hit Verizon's network as the Xperia Z3v in the near future. Thanks to leaked documents which were unreleased by PC Mag, the Xperia Z3v is shown with Verizon logos on its backside, as well as a list of apps that will come preloaded on the device, such as the Amazon Appstore, Kindle app, and Amazon Music. As far as specs, the Xperia Z3v should come with the same Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 5.2" 1080p display as the T-Mobile variant. Of course, it should be noted that this would be Sony and Verizon's first smartphone partnership since the Xperia Play device, which launched all the way back in 2011. If the Xperia Z3 does in fact come to Verizon as the Xperia Z3v, are you interested?

Via: PC Mag

Nest Protect Software Update 2.0 Rolling Out, Brings Steam Check and More

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:23:59 +0000

As Nest states in its newest blog post, the old school smoke detector that sits on your ceiling has not been improved on in years, but when you have a Protect unit from Nest, it automatically receives software updates that makes it as smart and safe as possible. In the newest software update, labeled 2.0, the Nest Protect receives a few updated features, such as Steam Check, Safety History, What To Do 2.0, Pathlight Controls, and more. With Steam Check, Nest Protect can now better recognize steam for steam, and smoke for smoke. To regular smoke detectors, the two are hard to tell apart, but with new algorithms (cheers, Google) and its built-in humidity sensor, Protect can better distinguish between the two, cutting down on false alarms. In addition, What To Do 2.0 will help you and your family judge what is best to do in case of an emergency. If an emergency alarm goes off, a specialized message can be sent to your phone, complete with phone numbers for contacts who you may need to reach in the event of an emergency. For full details on the update, head on over to Nest's blog.

Via: Nest

Here is Samsung's Official Galaxy Note 4 Introduction Video

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:55:28 +0000

If yesterday's coverage of the Galaxy Note 4 didn't wet your whistle quite enough, Samsung released an official introduction video for the device, showcasing all of the Note 4's software features, as well as its design and hardware. Included in the highlight reel are recaps of the Galaxy Note 4's multitasking ability, its stunning 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display, as well as shots of the new S-Pen in action. We had a bit of hands-on time with Samsung's latest yesterday morning, so be sure to check out those videos as well. From what you have seen so far, is the Galaxy Note 4 your next?

Rovio Launches Angry Birds Stella, Full of New Birds With New Tricks

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:33:59 +0000

A new Angry Birds game is available from Rovio today, titled Angry Birds Stella. The game, much like all past AB titles, has you smashing through Piggies and their weak defenses in an attempt to protect your home from the Bad Princess. In this title, Stella (the main bird character) and her team of misfit birds harness a ton of new super powers, all of which must be mastered in order to beat the game and its 120+ levels. Angry Birds Stella is free to download, but naturally, there are plenty of IAPs to choose from. If you end up playing the game, feel free to let us know what you think of it in the comments section below. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

reddit's Official Ask Me Anything App Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:04:41 +0000

A new app is available through Google Play for all of you fantastic reddit residents out there, the official Ask Me Anything app. During an AMA, celebrities, politicians, business folk, or anyone of importance offers you a chance to ask them anything you would like, as they respond to comments made through the site. AMA is one of reddit's most popular features, and now, you can download an official app for it. The app appears to be quite well developed. On the home page, you can scroll through the newest AMAs, while also going back in time, browsing through reddit's most popular AMAs, such as Barack Obama and Bill Gates. Once you log in to reddit through the application, you can post questions on any AMA, as well as receive notifications when a particular AMA is trending on the site. If you can't get enough AMA, you need this app. Play Link

HTC Unveils the Desire 820, Features Snapdragon 615 With 64-bit Support

Tim — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 05:38:30 +0000

HTC unveiled a new device early this morning, the Desire 820, showcasing it to media at IFA in Berlin, Germany. Separating it from the competition, the Desire 820 features Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, complete with 64-bit support and big.LITTLE architecture. Besides being one of the first phones to pack full 64-bit support, even though that feature won't really matter until Google pushes Android L to the general public, the Desire 820 is geared towards the mid to high range market, featuring a 5.5" HD display, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear-facing shooter, 8MP front-facing shooter, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE connectivity, 2,600mAh battery, and running Android 4.4+. HTC states that the Desire 820 will be available in select regions sometime "later in the fall," but no exact date or pricing was made available. In our opinion, once Android L is available for the mainstream, this could be a nice little device.

Via: HTC

Reminder: DL NFL Eliminator Challenge is Open, First Game is Tonight!

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 05:11:45 +0000

As a quick reminder, be sure to go sign-up for the DL NFL Eliminator Challenge! The first NFL game of the season is tonight, and you won't want to miss out on week 1's pick. For those not familiar, just know that this is the simplest NFL contest you can be a part of that only requires you to pick the winner of a single game each week of the season. If you come away as the top dog, you get a phone of choice, purchased by DL. All the info you need to get signed up can be found at this post.

Chrome Stable for Android Gets Its Material Design Update

Kellen — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 04:56:10 +0000

Google Chrome stable for Android received an update to build 37.0.2062.117, which will forever be known as the app's initial Material Design update. This is a similar update to the version released to Chrome Beta back in July. With Material Design helping its looks, you will see new animations while opening the menu or tapping in the Google Search box on a new tab page. You will see a lot more white, new Incognito page, and more. Everything has been simplified in appearance, yet still has the full Chrome feature list. The update isn't just about Material Design, though, as Google also introduced multi-account Google sign-in as you browse the web. Each time you visit a Google site and you have a Google account attached to your phone, Google should automatically sign you in. You can grab the .apk below for sideloading if you are not seeing the update yet through Google Play. What's new

Signing in to Chrome signs you in to your favorite Google sites.
Updated look and feel with elements of Material Design.
Lots of bug fixes and performance improvements!

Play Link | Download Link

Via: Chrome Releases

Sony Reveals QX1 and QX30 Lens Attachements for Smartphones

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:15:18 +0000

Refreshed Xperia smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches aren't all Sony announced at IFA. As predicted, the company revealed the QX1 and QX30, the successors to its QX100 and QX10 attachable camera accessories for smartphones. The QX1's rumored specifications proved largely on point, as the QX1 features an E-mount for interchanging lenses and a 10.1 megapixel APS-C size Exmor CMOS sensor. The QX30, on the other hand, was somewhat unexpected, featuring a 21-megapixel zoom lens with up to 30x magnification. Not bad for a snap-on shooter. As with their predecessors, the QX1 and QX30 are controlled through Sony's PlayMemories application via Wi-Fi direct. Photos can be stored either locally on a microSD card, or transferred to the connected smartphone. Neither lens comes cheap, though. The QX1 mount is up for pre-order through Sony's store for $399.99 (not including lenses), and the QX30 will launch on October 8 for $349.99. However, at those prices, photo dilettantes might want to consider something more substantial.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Sony

ASUS Refreshes MeMo Pad 7 With Intel Processor and 1080p Display

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:44:13 +0000

At IFA today, Asus took the opportunity not only to introduce the company's first Android Wear smartwatch, but also a MeMo Pad 7 with upgraded specs. The unveiled tablet is quite a departure from the Pad 7's last refresh, which was at Computex in January. The processor has been switched to a 64-bit Atom chip, the display has been upgraded to 1080p, and RAM has been doubled to 2GB. The front-facing camera is now 2-megapixels, plus the new tablet is quite a bit thinner and lighter at 8.3mm thick and 269g, respectively. The MeMo Pad 7 will debut in Burgundy Red, Champagne Gold, and Gentle Black at some point in the near future. The WiFi version (details of the LTE variant haven't yet been announced) is expected to cost 199 euro, or roughly $260. That's a lot more expensive than the last entrant in the Pad 7 line, but higher-end hardware doesn't come cheap. Thoughts?

[responsive_vid]

Via: Asus

Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact Specs

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:31:57 +0000

This morning, Sony unleashed two devices at IFA, the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. Much like we saw last year, Sony has its main flagship in the Xperia Z3, but wanted to bring a smaller version with respectable specs, that being the Xperia Z3 Compact. As a recap for both devices, the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact both feature Sony TRILUMINOS displays, Qualcomm-made Snapdragon processors, Sony-produced 20.7MP rear-facing cameras, 4G LTE connectivity, NFC, microSD slots, and run Android 4.4+ out of the box.

Specs

Xperia Z3

Network GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G) UMTS HSPA (3G) LTE (4G) (not available in all markets) AP Snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core Adreno 330 GPU Display 5.2" Full HD display (1920x1080 pixels) TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine OS Android 4.4 (KitKat) Camera Rear Facing: 20. 7 Mega pixel camera with auto focus Front Facing: 2.2 Mega pixel camera 8x digital zoom ISO 3200 maximum in manual mode Sony Exmor RS for mobile image sensor 4K video recording Front-facing camera, HD 1080p for video chat and 2.2 MP for camera capture Pulsed LED flash SteadyShot™ – video stabilisation, Superior Auto – automatic scene selection, HDR for photos and videos, Burst mode, Social live, Image stabilizer, Geotagging – add location info to your photos, Object tracking – lock focus on a specific object, Red-eye reduction Video Video capture, supported file formats: 3GPP, MP4 Video playback, supported file formats: 3GPP, MP4, Matroska, AVI, Xvid, WebM Audio 3GPP, MP4, ADTS, AMR, DSF, DSDIFF, FLAC, Matroska, SMF, XMF, Mobile XMF, OTA, RTTTL, RTX, iMelody, MP3, WAV, OGG, ASF Additional Features 3.5 mm audio jack with Digital Noise Canceling (DNC) DLNA Certified NFC GLONASS Native USB tethering Synchronisation via Exchange ActiveSync, Facebook, Google and SyncML Google Mobile Services Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot GPS / GLONASS / Baidu NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP microUSB v2.0 (MHL 3), USB On-the-go, USB Host Sensor Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Memory 3 GB RAM Up to 16 GB flash memory Up to 128 GB microSD (card slot, SDXC supported) Dimension 146.5 x 72 x 7.3 mm - 152 grams Battery 3100 mAh Talk time: up to 19 hours Standby time: up to 740 hours Music listening time: up to 120 hours Video playback time: up to 10 hours

Xperia Z3 Compact

Network GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G) UMTS HSPA (3G) LTE (4G) (not available in all markets) AP Snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core Adreno 330 GPU Display 4.6" display (1280x720 pixels) TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine OS Android 4.4 (KitKat) Camera Rear Facing: 20. 7 Mega pixel camera with auto focus Front Facing: 2.2 Mega pixel camera 8x digital zoom ISO 12800 maximum in manual mode Sony Exmor RS™ for mobile image sensor HD video recording (1080p) Front-facing camera, HD 1080p for video chat and 2.2 MP for camera capture Pulsed LED flash SteadyShot™ – video stabilization, Superior Auto – automatic scene selection, HDR for photos and films, Burst mode, Social live Image stabiliser, Geotagging – add location info to your photos, Object tracking – lock focus on a specific object, Red-eye reduction Video Image capture, supported file format: JPEG Image playback, supported file formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP Video capture, supported file formats: 3GPP, MP4 Video playback, supported file formats: 3GPP, MP4, Matroska, AVI, Xvid, WebM Audio Audio playback, supported formats: MP3, 3GPP, MP4, SMF, WAV, OTA, Ogg vorbis Audio recording, supported formats: 3GPP, MP4, AMR Additional Features 3.5 mm audio jack with Digital Noise Canceling (DNC) DLNA Certified Stereo speakers Native USB tethering Synchronisation via Exchange ActiveSync, Facebook, Google and SyncML Google Mobile Services Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot A-GPS / GLONASS / Baidu NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP, LE, apt-X microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go, USB Host Sensor Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass Memory 2GB RAM Up to 16 GB flash memory Up to 128 GB microSD (card slot, SDXC supported) Dimension 127.3 x 64.9 x 8.6 mm - 129 grams Battery 2600 mAh Talk time: up to 14 hours Standby time: up to 920 hours Music listening time: Up to 110 hours Video playback time: Up to 10 hours

Google Play Now Offers A One-Time Free Replacement if You Damage Your Nexus 5 (Updated)

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:55:52 +0000

If you like to live dangerously (i.e., without a smartphone cover or insurance), breaking your handset's screen can sometimes be a terrible disaster. Getting a low-cost replacement can prove challenging depending on the company and carrier, but Google's apparently sympathetic to the travails of careless owners. According to reports, Nexus 5 owners who ordered their devices from the Play Store are now eligible to receive one replacement free of charge, should their device accrue damage of any kind. Slightly more flexible than Motorola's replacement program, the new policy appears to be without exemption, meaning whether your Nexus 5 ended up at the bottom of stairs or in a lake, you're covered. Looking to take advantage? You need only call Google Play customer service and arrange to ship back your damaged device. Google will place a hold on one of the payment methods associated with your account, but it will be removed after the damaged Nexus 5 is received. The addition of Google makes three companies - Motorola, HTC, and Google - that now offer free replacements for damaged smartphones. We can only hope this is a trend that continues down the road. Update: Readers are reporting varying levels of success initiating the replacement process. We have reached out to Google PR for the exact details of the reported program.

Via: +Joshua D.

ISIS Wallet Rebranded to Softcard, Gets New Logo

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:30:36 +0000

Industry trade shows like IFA have a tendency of burying less bombastic news. For that reason, you may not have heard that the carrier-formed payment collective, formerly referred to as Isis, has undergone a rebranding, and will henceforth be known as Softcard. The change was necessitated, of course, by the emergence of the violent Islamist group in the Middle East, whose translated English name is often shortened to the acronym ISIS. Other than a name change and new logo, much remains the same - in fact, the smartphone app will retain the Isis brand until an updated version is released "in the next few weeks." So much for a major relaunch. Anybody still use ISIS/Softcard?

Via: Softcard

Lenovo Unveils the Tab S8, an Intel-Powered $199 Mid-range Tablet

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:01:13 +0000

While Sony and Samsung managed to dominate this morning's headlines, that doesn't mean other electronics behemoths have come to IFA without new gadgets to show. For its part, Lenovo unveiled the Tab S8, an Intel-powered tablet that runs Android. The S8 is, in a phrase, respectable for a $199 device. Kept chugging by an Intel Atom Z3745 processor in lieu of the usual ARM silicon, a first for Lenovo, the tablet sports an 8-inch (1920x1200) display and 2GB of RAM. A 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera should satisfy selfie addicts, while silly people who snap photos with tablets will appreciate the f2.2 8-megapixel rear shooter. Storage is a non-expandable 16GB, and the tablet measures a thin 0.31 inches and weighs 0.65 pounds. Battery capacity is an impressive 4390mAh, which Lenovo said should translate to 7 hours with Wi-Fi and cellular usage. The S8 will initially launch in black, white, blue, and yellow. A variant with cellular connectivity is expected to debut globally, but Lenovo made no mention of partnerships with US carriers. Bet on seeing the WiFi model at your local electronics retailer sometime soon.

Via: Lenovo

T-Mobile Will Exclusively Carry the Xperia Z3 in the United States

Kyle — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:54:21 +0000

At long last, a flagship Sony handset is bound for American shores. Announced this morning following the IFA presser, T-Mobile will soon carry the Xperia Z3 in the United States. Timed closely with other territories, customers will be able to order it "this fall" online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Unfortunately for customers of other carriers, broader availability does not seem likely at this point - following the buyout of Ericson in 2012, Sony has approached the US phone market languidly, at best. While this morning's announcement is a positive development, the company is still tepid to bring more devices stateside: absent from T-Mobile's news blast was any mention of the Xperia Z3 Compact. Considering the historical circumstances, however - the Z2 never made it to a major US carrier - we should probably be thankful, albeit begrudgingly. T-Mobile didn't lay out pricing, but at the very least expect to pony up a few Banjamins for the Xperia Z3.

Via: T-Mobile

Temple Run VR Announced for Samsung Gear VR Headset

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:44:34 +0000

With Samsung announcing the Gear VR, folks already want to know which games will be playable on the headset device. Today, it was announced that a special edition of Temple Run, titled Temple Run VR, will be available at Gear VR's launch, allowing folks to get their fix of the endless runner title in a very new way. When played, the game will feel much more like a first-person game, rather than an third person type of runner. Our guess is that when you tilt your head, you can change the direction of your runner, as well as look around the world that Imagni has created. Keith Shepherd, co-founder of Imangi Studios, spoke on the partnership and had the following to say.

We are incredibly excited to be a part of this revolution in gaming, and we jumped at the opportunity to work with Samsung and Oculus to make Temple Run VR. Virtual reality opens up a whole new world of possibilities for us to create amazing experiences. We've truly been able to transport players to another world and let them viscerally feel the thrill of the chase.

With no date set for Gear VR's release, we can't report exactly when the game will launch, but it will be sometime this year. Stoked?

Sony Announces SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3

Dave — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:13:21 +0000

Sony has announced the release of two new products to bolster its SmartWear Experience lineup. The SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3 are both designed to improve, as well as enrich your life. Both products are able to communicate with Sony's Lifelog, an app which aims to track and store your ever-waking moments. Beyond tracking your fitness goals, the Android app seeks to understand and create stories based on moments of your life. Coming later in 2014, there will be a web interface and open API, allowing more experiences and personalization opportunities. SmartBand Talk has a curved, always-on 1.4" e-paper display, offering a quick glance at the time or notifications. This lifelogger provides call handling for when your phone is out of reach, with the ability to talk to and hear your caller. The band is waterproof (IP68 rated) and will come in two styles intially, Black and White. More colors should be available later in the year. SmartWatch 3 is Sony's latest generation SmartWatch, designed specifically for the latest Android Wear updates. The watch includes a 1.6” 320×320 TFT LCD Transflective display with a stainless steel back panel. The watch is waterproof (IP68) and charges via microUSB. With built-in 4GB of storage, music can be stored on the device so that you can leave your smartphone at home during a run. It will be available in Classic (Black) and Sport (Lime) editions, with extra color straps available in Pink and White after launch. What do you think? Do either of these fit your needs? Let us know in the comments section below.

Via: Sony Mobile

Sony Announces Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:34:47 +0000

Moving away from Samsung for a bit, Sony also launched two new devices at IFA this afternoon, the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact. The Xperia Z3 is the company's newest flagship device, bringing top tier specifications along with Sony's well-known hardware design. The Xperia Z3 features a 5.2" Full HD TRILUMINOS display, 20.7MP rear-facing camera, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, microSD, 16GB or 32GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.0, IP 65/68 rating (water and dust resistant), 3,100mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4+. No exact pricing or availability has been released, but the device is set to launch through T-Mobile here in the US. As for the Xperia Z3 Compact, Sony continues it trend of releasing smaller devices, while still delivering good specs. The Z3 Compact features a 4.6" HD display, Snapdragon quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 20.7MP rear-facing camera, IP 65/68 rating, Bluetooth 4.0, microSD, NFC, and also runs Android 4.4+ out of the box. A full gallery for both devices can be seen below, as well as a video for the Xperia Z3. Once final pricing and availability is released, we will let you know. Any T-Mobile customers anxiously awaiting this phone?

Gallery

Xperia Z3

Xperia Z3 Compact

Video

[responsive_vid]

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Hands-on

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:17:50 +0000

Not only did Samsung announce its newest large-sized Galaxy Note 4 flagship this morning, but the company also unveiled the Galaxy Note Edge. The Edge is much like your usual Note product, with a large 5.6" display, but it brings additional screen real estate with an added curved edge on its right side. With the curved edge, owners can add in application shortcuts, Twitter feeds, stocks, sports scores and much more through a dedicated settings menu. An SDK has also been made available for developers who wish to take advantage of the added space. Besides its odd shape, the device features a quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 5.6" QHD display, 16MP rear-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, 3,000mAh battery, microSD slot, 32GB or 64GB of storage, and runs Android 4.4.4. From my very brief moment with the device, I find it hard to imagine Samsung has major plans for this device, except for saying, "Look what we did with our display technology." Adding a constant Twitter feed to my phone doesn't seem necessary, and the same goes for the app shortcuts. There is nothing wrong with traditional shortcuts, so putting them on the side of the phone seems rather odd to me. We shall see how this phone does if Samsung decides to put in a marketing effort. If you have any questions, please shoot them below. Gallery

Video

[responsive_vid]

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Hands-on

Tim — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:07:24 +0000

The Galaxy Note 4 from Samsung is official, bringing with it a 5.7" Super AMOLED QHD display, 16MP rear-facing camera, and Snapdragon 805 processor. The device doesn't bring too much in terms of new features, but does seem like a rather refined effort over the Galaxy Note 3. The Note 4 features a fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, 3GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, a ton of TouchWiz software baked in, S-Pen, and runs Android 4.4.4 out of the box. Having only spent about 10 minutes with the device, I can say that it seemed rather snappy, the camera performed well, and the display is simply stunning. We are very excited to get a review unit in-house as soon as possible. Check out our hands-on gallery and video below. Gallery

Video

[responsive_vid]

AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon Announce Plans to Carry Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:55:10 +0000

All of the major US carriers have already weighed in with the preliminary plans for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and (believe it or not) Galaxy Note Edge. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile will all carry both devices this Fall, with most saying specifically, October. Verizon said through Twitter that both phones are coming this fall - a sign-up page for updates has been posted here. AT&T said that it will be "among the first" to offer each device, but no other details were given. Sprint said that it will carry both Note variants, but provided little else. T-Mobile said to expect the Galaxy Note 4 in October and the Galaxy Note Edge later this Fall. Finally, US Cellular noted that it will carry the Galaxy Note 4 in October. On a related note, Sprint, Verizon and AT&T will carry the Samsung Gear VR.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Specs

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:37:40 +0000

Not only did Samsung announce the Galaxy Note 4 today, but they also unveiled its odd cousin, the Galaxy Note Edge. Well, is it a cousin or a half-brother-from-another-mother-in-law? It's a weird phone, let's just say that. The Galaxy Note Edge is equipped with all of the Galaxy Note 4's specs, but it includes a slant on the right side of its display for showing ticker-style information or notifications or apps. I seriously cannot see why anyone would want this "feature" in a phone, but hey, Samsung thinks that it is neat. Most of me just thinks this is another Galaxy Round, where Samsung is trying to show off bendable or flexible displays or something. With that said, carriers are already jumping on board with it. Here are the full details.

Specs

Network 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) or 4G(LTE Cat 6 300/50Mbps) *May differ by country and carrier. AP 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor Display 5.6 inch (141.9mm) Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440 + 160) OS Android 4.4 (KitKat) Camera Rear Facing: 16 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Smart OIS Front Facing: 3.7 Mega pixel camera with f1.9 Rear Facing Camera : HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty face, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot&More, Dual Camera Front Facing Camera : Selfie, Wide Selfie Video Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, Recording & Playback: up to UHD Audio Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊) (＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support S Pen Optimized Features Air Command: Action Memo, Screen Write, Image Clip, Smart Select, S Note, Snap Note, Direct Pen Input Additional Features Multi Window Ultra Power Saving Mode Voice Recorder (Normal Mode, Interview Mode, Meeting Mode, Voice Memo) Download Booster S Health 3.5 Dynamic Lock Screen Briefing Edge screen UX : Revolving Interaction, Immersive apps(Camera, Video, S Note), Ticker board, Express me, Quick Tools, Night Clock, etc Google Mobile Services Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube Connectivity WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) MIMO PCIe GPS / GLONASS / Beidou NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.1 (BLE, ANT+) IR LED (Remote Control), USB2.0, MHL 3.0 Sensor Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB, IR-LED Proximity, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Finger Scanner, UV, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO2 (Dependent on market) Memory 32/ 64 GB Internal memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB) 3GB RAM Dimension 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3mm, 174g Battery Standard battery, Li-ion 3,000 mAh, Fast Charging (Adaptive Fast Charging & QC2.0)

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Specs

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:30:38 +0000

Samsung has officially announced the new Galaxy Note 4. The device, as expected, is a nice bump in terms of hardware specs from the old, but as always, we like to put down those official numbers on paper to give you a clean look. As a quick recap, the Note 4 features a 5.7-inch QHD display, 2.7GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage with micro SD expansion, 3,220mAh battery, 16MP rear camera with OIS, 3.7MP front camera for all those selfies, and is all in a metal-framed body that is just 8.5mm thick.

Specs

Network 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) or 4G (LTE Cat 6 300/50Mbps) * May differ by country and carrier AP 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor 1.9 GHz Octa-Core (1.9GHz Quad + 1.3GHz Quad-Core) Processor *May differ by country and carrier Display 5.7 inch (143.9mm) Quad HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440) OS Android 4.4 (KitKat) Camera Rear Facing: 16 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Smart OIS Front Facing: 3.7 Mega pixel camera with f1.9 Rear Facing Camera : HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty face, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More, Dual Camera Front Facing Camera: Selfie, Wide Selfie Video Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8 Recording & Playback: up to UHD Audio Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊) (＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support S Pen Optimized Features Air Command (Action Memo, Smart Select, Image Clip, Screen Write) S Note, Snap Note, Direct Pen Input Additional Features Multi Window Ultra Power Saving Mode Voice Recorder (Normal Mode, Interview Mode, Meeting Mode, Voice Memo) Download Booster S Health 3.5 Dynamic Lock Screen Briefing Google Mobile Services Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube Connectivity WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) MIMO PCIe GPS / GLONASS / Baidu NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.1 (BLE,ANT+) IR LED (Remote Control), USB2.0, MHL 3.0 Sensor Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB,IR-LED Proximity, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Finger Scanner, UV, Heart Rate Monitoring, SpO2 (Dependent on market) Memory 32 GB Internal memory ＋ micro SD slot (up to 64GB) 3GB RAM Dimension 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm, 176g Battery Standard battery, Li-ion 3,220mAh, Fast Charging (Adaptive Fast Charging & QC2.0)

Watch Sony's IFA 2014 Live Stream!

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:16:43 +0000

Now that Samsung has wrapped up with its IFA press conference, where we saw them unveil a bunch of new products like the Galaxy Note 4, it's time to look at who has next. Sony would be up, with what we are expecting to be announcements for the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact, along with a smart wearable that features an e-ink display. We have an embed below so that you can watch it live along with us! Think we will see any surprises? Is there any chance whatsoever that Sony will bring their new flagship devices to the US out of the gate instead of six months down the road? Let's find out.

Samsung Announces Gear VR, Their Virtual Headset

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:19:13 +0000

Samsung, during it's Galaxy Note 4 keynote, has announced the Gear VR, a virtual headset that has been leaked a few times over the past month. The Gear VR will connect exclusively to the Galaxy Note 4 (not compatible with any other device), allowing users to immerse themselves in games, concert footage, movie scenes, and much more. Samsung partnered with Oculus, the makers of Rift, to create the overall hardware and experience users will have with the Gear VR. As for operation, once you stick your Note 4 in the headset, a specialized UI will appear, showing the user options for what they would like to do, such as play games or open apps. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Samsung did not mention too many apps or games that are compatible, but it was announced that a specialized rendition of Temple Run would be available upon release. Our guess is that most content downloadable for the Gear VR will be available through either Google Play, Samsung Apps, or the Oculus Store. As for pricing and availability, details are still unknown except for "this year" and "select carriers." Specs and full press release below.

Press Release

Samsung Explores the World of Mobile Virtual Reality with Gear VR

Samsung and Oculus collaborate to create an immersive new dimension of mobile life with the first widely available mobile VR headset optimized for Galaxy Note 4
Berlin, Germany – September 3, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced the next generation in wearable technology, the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, enabling users to fully immerse themselves in a cinematic virtual reality environment. Powered by Oculus technology, the Samsung Gear VR delivers a completely new way to experience and consume mobile content. It continues Samsung’s leadership in the wearable category through innovative technology and compelling design to expand the definition of mobile life. The result of a deep and integrated partnership with Oculus, a Facebook company and a leader in virtual reality technology, the Samsung Gear VR creates an immersive mobile virtual reality experience that the industry has never seen before. “The Samsung Gear VR goes far beyond expectations of how mobile technology can be used to consume content, and is a powerful representation of the progressive innovation of the Gear series,” said JK Shin, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We are pleased to have partnered with Oculus VR to bring this incredibly immersive mobile content experience to consumers.” "We are thrilled to reveal the Gear VR Innovator Edition, a state-of-the-art mobile VR experience powered by Oculus," said John Carmack, CTO of Oculus. "The deep technical partnership with Samsung has enabled us to create a virtual reality headset with world class resolution and performance, all on a completely mobile platform." The Samsung Gear VR delivers an unrivaled viewing experience with the 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display of the Galaxy Note 4 providing stunning and engaging visuals at a mobile-leading resolution. With the Gear VR Innovator Edition, users can sit in the best seat of a theater, can be on-stage of a performance with full 360 3D video, and can enjoy gaming like it’s never been seen before - inside the stunning worlds where imagination becomes reality. Samsung’s industry leading Super AMOLED display technology and cutting-edge Oculus-driven technologies fuse to create an experience that surprises and delights – all on a mobile device. Built with soft, flexible cushioning and lightweight materials, the Samsung Gear VR is comfortable to wear. It is completely wireless, so users can be fully engaged in virtual worlds without being tethered to a computer. With a robust selection of optimized virtual reality content from a wide range of top-tier creators, users will be able to enjoy a wide range of film, gaming, 360 degree video, and educational/experiential content.

Specs

Samsung Announces the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note "Edge"

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:15:30 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 keynote is still going and the phone is official! Samsung has also announced the Galaxy Note "Edge," a device with a potentially gimmicky slanted edge to it. The Galaxy Note 4 will be available come October; the Galaxy Note Edge will arrive eventually in select markets.

Galaxy Note 4 Details

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is mostly what we expected from the few early benchmarks and small handful of leaks images. It looks just like a Galaxy Note, but is upgraded in the display, both cameras, and according to Samsung, in TouchWiz. In case you wondering, it does feature the same metal frame that we saw first introduced with the Galaxy Alpha. It also uses a soft-textured back cover to offer "incredible comfort that makes it easy to control with one hand." The device does indeed feature a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 2.7GHz quad-core processor (Snapdragon 805?), 16MP rear camera with Smart OIS, 3.7MP front camera for selfies, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, micro SD slot, 3,220mAh battery with fast charging, heart rate monitor, Android 4.4, and is just 8.5mm thick. Samsung also improved the S Pen by introducing a "much more authentic pen experience." Air Command has been re-done with new features, like Smart Select, which allows users to create and collect content, then easily piece it together. Samsung is claiming that it has done a bunch to TouchWiz to improve the experience, but to us, it looks a lot like the same old TouchWiz. Multi Window has been improved, and the app switcher takes on the card like UI from Android L. We'll have more in our hands-on.

Galaxy Note Edge Details

The Galaxy Note Edge is as I suspected, the latest gimmick from Samsung. The device features a 5.6-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display with a slanted edge. Actually, the rest of the specs are almost identical to the Galaxy Note 4, but again, it has this really awkward slant on the right side of its display. The slanted edge display provides users with "a new way access information, engage with their mobile device, and express their personality and tastes." The Edge gives you quick access to frequently used apps, alerts and device functionality, even when you have a cover on the device that is closed. You can receive notifications on the slant as well. Seriously, those are the benefits. That's it. Samsung is hoping that developers add additional functionality, but I doubt we will see much movement there. Update: The official details are now in. We have included press releases, images, and specs below.

Gallery

Galaxy Note 4

Galaxy Note Edge

Press Release

Samsung Introduces the Latest in its Iconic Note Series - The Galaxy Note 4, and Showcases Next Generation Display with Galaxy Note Edge
September 3, 2014
Offering a new dimension to Samsung’s unique Note culture, the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge strengthen Samsung’s category leadership with the most progressive mobile devices on the market
Berlin, Germany – September 3, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the expansion of its flagship Galaxy Note series with the new Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge. Blending an evolved S Pen with a superior viewing experience, the Galaxy Note 4 provides users with the most unique and powerful mobile experience on the market. “The Galaxy Note series signaled extraordinary innovation within the technology industry. Its larger screen size and iconic S Pen technology launched a new standard in smartphone culture,” said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics. “With the introduction of the Galaxy Note series, we brought the age-old culture of the pen and notepad into the digital world. The new Galaxy Note 4 introduces the most refined Note experience to-date by combining all the latest technology that users expect from the Galaxy series.” Powerful Performance that Matters the Most to You The Galaxy Note 4 embraces Samsung’s heritage of an unrivaled Galaxy mobile experience. Its extraordinary 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560x1440) Super AMOLED display reproduces clearer and more vivid images with deep contrast, better viewing angles, and response times as fast as a millionth of a second, providing a tremendous viewing experience. Due to its large screen, the refined Multi Window feature is able to maximize the user’s experience providing them with the key to easier multi-tasking. Users can choose how they access their applications with full, split or pop-up screens, and easily change the size and positioning of apps on the screen with one intuitive swipe. The Galaxy Note 4 also sports an advanced camera system that is able to reproduce brighter and clearer images. The device is equipped with a 16 megapixel rear-facing camera featuring a Smart Optical Image Stabilizer that counter-balances camera shake and automatically extends exposure time in dark settings. In addition, a 3.7 megapixel front-facing camera with f1.9 offers a default 90 degree shooting angle and up to 120 degree wide angle so users can take the best group shots with friends. The Galaxy Note 4‘s wide selection of enhanced essential features enable users to get even more from their mobile device. With the Fast Charging feature and Ultra Power Saving Mode, the Galaxy Note 4 charges faster and ensures that users don’t run out of power when they need it most. The Galaxy Note 4 comes equipped with multiple microphones and an improved speaker phone for better noise cancellation when speaking in loud environments. A built-in Voice Recorder offers eight different directional voice tagging and a selective playback capability that allows users to isolate and listen to specific voices in a group conversation. The Galaxy Note 4 also offers an improved Fingerprint Scanner, to secure personal data and the world’s first UV sensor in a mobile device. S Pen and S Note for Everyday Tasks Making everyday tasks much faster and easier, the Galaxy Note 4’s S Pen has been specifically evolved to serve as the primary tool that users go to for common, everyday mobile device use. This new S Pen offers a much more authentic pen experience, with a more natural brush effect that perfectly emulates writing on paper with a fountain or calligraphy pen. The S Pen also introduces a more user-friendly Air Command functionality along with other intuitive features such as Action Memo, Screen Write, Image Clip and Smart Select that allow users to create and collect content with ease. A new Smart Select feature enables users to easily piece together content from different origins, and share it with ease. The Galaxy Note 4 also provides users with a choice of multiple, seamless note-taking methods integrated with Samsung’s S Note application that allows everyday tasks to get done faster and more easily. In addition to typing and writing, the innovative Snap Note feature allows users to take a picture of their notes on a paper or a classroom board, and then quickly and easily convert to the S Note. They can also further unleash their creativity by jotting down their thoughts quickly with the Voice Memo. Premium Yet Functional Design The Galaxy Note 4 introduces a new sleek and stylish Galaxy design language. The device features a premium metal frame with fluid curvature that seamlessly blends with the device display. The Galaxy Note 4’s 2.5D glass screen, inherited from the Galaxy S3, offers extra protection while perfectly complementing the device’s rich viewing experience. A soft-textured back cover provides incredible comfort that makes it easy to control with one hand. The device not only looks beautiful, but offers a superior grip and enhanced durability. Introducing Galaxy Note Edge Samsung’s relentless pursuit of the best in innovation through the optimization of mobile technology and the user experience has led to the debut of the innovative and unique Galaxy Note Edge. Taking the Galaxy Note experience to the next level, the Note Edge provides users with a new way to access information, engage with their mobile device, and express their personality and tastes. The Galaxy Note Edge’s unique curved Edge screen provides quick access to frequently used apps, alerts and device functionality – even when the cover is closed – all with the swipe of a thumb. Users can also receive notifications directly on the Edge Screen while watching videos without disturbing their viewing. The Galaxy Note 4 will be available in "Charcoal Black," "Frost White," "Bronze Gold,” and “Blossom Pink” in global markets starting in October and the Galaxy Note Edge will be available in “Charcoal Black” and “Frost White” in select markets through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce and carriers later this year.

Specs

Galaxy Note 4

Galaxy Note Edge

Verizon's New Moto X Stops by FCC With Codename "Victara," Android 4.4.3

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:05:06 +0000

Verizon's variant of the new Moto X (Moto X+1) cruised through the FCC last night under the codename "victara," a name we saw back in June. The device measures in at the same size as the AT&T/GSM model we saw hit the FCC last week, so even though the listing doesn't say "Moto X," we would be surprised if this isn't it. Plus, Motorola is set to unveil the device in a day, so we like the timing. The listing doesn't give us a ton of new info, although, we are still digging through it. So far, we are seeing support for Verizon's CDMA2000, along with LTE 13 and 4. The device, like almost all Verizon phones these days, has global GSM roaming on bands 850 and 1900. The listing does mention specifically the codename of "victara," which I just mentioned, while also confirming the device for Verizon with Android 4.4.3 on board. We are also seeing a mention of the MSM8974BP as the chipset powering the device, which is a Qualcomm Snapdragon model number. The question now is, which one? Is this the Snapdragon 800 or the 801? The Snapdragon 800 falls under the general model number of MSM8974, but the 801 is the MSM8974AC. This could be another custom job by Motorola and Qualcomm, just like we saw with the Moto X from last year. If we can confirm which, we will. More info as we have it.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Asus Announces the ZenWatch, Designed to "Start With People"

Kellen — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 05:41:45 +0000

Hours ago, to kick off IFA, ASUS went ahead and made their first Android Wear device official, the ZenWatch. Teased for weeks, the ZenWatch works with any device running Android 4.3+, features premium materials, includes a semi-curved AMOLED display, and follows ASUS' design philosophy of "Start with People." It's actually a pretty stylish looking smartwatch, but does feature a square display, unlike the Moto 360 and new LG G Watch R. As for specs, you are looking at a 1.63-inch AMOLED display (320x320) with curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 1.4Wh battery, IP55 water resistance, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android Wear. The device comes with a brown leather strap that accents the silver and rose gold layering of the main body. ASUS is talking up features for the device that include remote camera, call muting, automatic phone unlocking, and presentation control, all available thanks to the companion app. The device is also a capable "wellness manager," thanks to step and calorie counting, activity and heart rate monitoring, and a way to measure relaxation. Availability and pricing were not mentioned in ASUS' press materials. Once we have those, we will update this post.

Highlights

Fine Watch Craftsmanship

Exquisitely-crafted using premium materials
Sophisticated design enhanced by rose gold color layering
Genuine stitched-leather watchband and quick-release clasp design
100+ combination watch face choices to fit your mood and personality
Vivid AMOLED display and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Smart Companion

Seamless ASUS ZenUI integration and enhanced functionality
Automatically unlock your phone with ASUS ZenWatch
Tap Tap and Find My Phone helps you locate your phone instantly if misplaced
Simply cover ASUS ZenWatch with your hand to mute an incoming call
ASUS Remote Camera frees users to take photos from creative angles where the viewfinder would be difficult to see.
Presentation Control enables ZenWatch to be used as a remote control and time manager when giving a business presentation or lecture

Wellness manager

Monitor and track a range of health-related statistics with the ASUS Wellness app
Measures steps taken, calories burned, activity duration, heart rate, exercise intensity and relaxation level
View an easy-to-understand relaxation score based on relaxation-level measurements

Gallery

Video

[responsive_vid]

[responsive_vid vid_url="ttGns0zZKs4"]

Press Release

First ASUS wearable device powered by Android Wear unveiled, along with innovative and stylish new additions to the Zenbook, EeeBook and MeMO Pad families
Berlin, Germany (3rd September, 2014) — ASUS Corporate Vice President Eric Chen, accompanied by ASUS Design Center Vice President Mitch Yang and ASUS Senior Product Director Derek Yu, today went on stage at a pre-IFA 2014 event held at the Classic Remise to announce the company’s latest lineup of innovations, including ASUS ZenWatch, the company’s first wearable device produced in partnership with Google. In his opening remarks, Mr. Chen covered the company’s evolution from a small motherboard company, founded in 1989, to a leading global technology company 25 years later. Mr. Chen went on to highlight the recent success of the company’s ZenFone smartphone range, which has enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and consumer recognition in all launch territories to date. “The success of ZenFone reflects our desire to create the most extraordinary phone that can empower everyone,” said Mr. Chen, adding: “It is our great pleasure to announce that the LTE version of ZenFone will be available in Europe during the fourth quarter of this year.” Derek Yu then took the stage to unveil a full range of innovative new products designed to empower mobile lifestyles, including Zenbook UX305, the world’s thinnest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop; the chic, compact and colorful EeeBook X205; and MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C), the latest and most stylish addition to the highly-successful MeMO Pad family of Android tablets. Mr. Yu concluded with the announcement of the ProSieben Entertainment Pad, an exclusive 8-inch tablet based on MeMO Pad 8, which is being launched in Germany in partnership with ProSieben* and Intel. Rounding off the event, Mitch Yang offered an insightful look at the design process responsible for the ASUS ZenWatch, explaining how the final product was inspired by the ASUS user-centric ‘design thinking’ philosophy. ASUS ZenWatch, the perfect smart companion ASUS ZenWatch is the first wearable device from ASUS, powered by Android Wear and featuring a version of the ASUS ZenUI user interface developed specifically for ZenWatch. This exquisitely-crafted and slim device pairs seamlessly with a smartphone running Android™ 4.3 or higher to provide relevant and useful information when it is needed most, and also to serve as a personal wellness manager in conjunction with the ASUS ZenUI Wellness app. Explaining the design philosophy of the ZenWatch concept, Mitch Yang said “Our design philosophy is Start with People. We want to deliver a seamless digital experience for everyone to enjoy. With our ZenWatch, you will always be connected to everything that matters in your life.” ZenWatch brings the luxury tradition of fine watchmaking to Android Wear, with an elegant, detail-focused design and use of high-quality materials. It is designed for supreme comfort, with a soft genuine stitched-leather strap and quick-release clasp. The 2.5D curved glass increases usability with a smooth and responsive touch experience. ZenWatch comes with a selection of instantly-changeable software watch faces, allowing users to customize ZenWatch easily to match their style. ZenWatch is much more than a sophisticated timepiece. With a range of practical smart features, including Watch Unlock, Tap Tap, Remote Camera, Cover to Mute, Find My Phone and Presentation Control, ZenWatch is the perfect smart companion. Its seamless integration with ASUS ZenUI adds even more functionality for owners of ASUS smartphones, letting users enjoy enhanced versions of exclusive ASUS ZenUI apps such as What’s Next and Do It Later. Thanks to its integrated 9-axis sensor, ZenWatch is also a fully-featured wellness manager. The companion ASUS ZenUI Wellness app lets users monitor and track a range of wellness statistics including steps taken, calories burned, activity duration, heart rate, exercise intensity and relaxation level. Users can set and monitor personal fitness goals with ease, and see their progress at a glance. ZenWatch raises the bar on what users should expect from wearable devices, showcasing the power of the ASUS ‘design thinking’ philosophy and ushering in a new era of true luxury and sophistication. Zenbook UX305, the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop The beautifully-crafted all-aluminum Zenbook UX305 Ultrabook™ is the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch QHD+ laptop, measuring just 12.3mm thin. Its subtle and refined shape incorporates the DNA of the classic Zenbook, featuring an elegantly-tapered wedge design that has smooth and comfortable edges with diamond-cut metallic highlights. Continuing the long-established Zenbook tradition of combining performance with luxury, this gorgeous ultraportable — which weighs only 1.2kg — is powered by the new Intel® Core™ M processor for seamless multitasking, and features a lightning-fast up to 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). The crisp, vibrant and stunningly-detailed 13.3-inch display has an up to QHD+ resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels. Available in a sophisticated new Obsidian Stone color with Zenbook’s signature spun-metal finish, or a silky-smooth Ceramic Alloy shade, Zenbook UX305 is the ultimate ultraportable laptop for discerning users. EeeBook X205, chic and compact EeeBook X205 is an affordable, chic and compact 11.6-inch laptop that weighs less than 1kg and is designed for on-the-go students and young professionals. Powered by Windows 8.1 with Bing — for maximum application compatibility — EeeBook X205 offers users a convenient smartphone-like experience, thanks to its use of Connected Standby technology. Connected Standby enables almost-instant resume from sleep mode and gives users an enhanced internet experience, as they are always connected to all their social apps and email — even when X205 is in standby mode. Available in four distinctive colors — black, white, gold and red — EeeBook X205 is designed with smooth curves and tactile surfaces to make it the ideal take-anywhere laptop. MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C), pure elegance With a design inspired by stylish clutch bags and wallets, MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C) is not only a thin and light 7-inch Android tablet powered by an Intel Atom 64-bit quad-core processor, but also an everyday fashion essential. Thanks to its narrow bezel, ME572C is just 8.3mm thin and weighs only 269g, making it supremely comfortable to hold in one hand. The crisp and vibrant Full HD IPS display has a pixel density of 323 pixels per inch and wide 178-degree viewing angles, plus ASUS TruVivid and ASUS Splendid technology for enhanced clarity, brightness and accurate color reproduction. Available in a range of three sophisticated colors — Burgundy Red, Champagne Gold and Gentle Black — with subtly-textured finishes, ME572C can match any user’s style. ME572C features the beautiful, intuitive and exclusive ASUS ZenUI interface that makes complicated things easy. As well as a Wi-Fi-only version, the ME572 Series is also available in a 4G LTE version (ME572CL), powered by an Intel XMM™ 7160 LTE modem that provides fast connectivity for high-speed web browsing, streaming video and music. Introducing the exclusive ProSieben Entertainment Pad Also announced today, in partnership with ProSieben* and Intel, was the ProSieben Entertainment Pad, an 8-inch tablet that will be available exclusively to customers in Germany. The ProSieben Entertainment Pad comes complete with a high-value package of exclusive services, discount vouchers and a range of attractive special offers. *ProSieben is one of the largest media corporations in Europe. Where to find ASUS at IFA 2014 The ASUS Media Lounge is located at Berliner Freiheit, Berliner Freiheit 2, 10785 Berlin, and will be open to media between 9:00am to 7:00pm on the 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th September, 2014. AVAILABILITY & PRICING For details of the availability of ASUS products, please contact your local ASUS representative.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Live Blog!

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:54:10 +0000

IFA kicks off in just a couple of hours, with Samsung highlighting the day 1 festivities through a 3-city Unpacked event. They are unveiling the Galaxy Note 4, there is no denying that. Each Fall, Samsung brings us a new device in the oversized-phone-we're-basically-in-tablet-territory category that they created years ago. The device is currently rumored to carry a 5.7-inch QHD display, metal casing with chamfered edges, Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB or 4GB RAM, 16MP camera, and a brand new S Pen. We would be shocked if Samsung didn't use its standard physical home button setup, with recent apps and back flanking it, as well. By all means, this will be another flagship device that will make Note cult members proud. Tim will be on hand for the happenings in New York City, bright and early at 9:00AM Eastern (6:00AM Pacific). We will have a live stream embedded below for all to watch, along with a live blog so that you can read our thoughts in real time. Join us tomorrow morning! [responsive_vid]

HTC Doubles Free Google Drive Storage Offer to 100GB for One (M8) and One Max

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 18:46:42 +0000

This evening, owners of the HTC One (M8) and One Max should see an email from Google, informing them that the free Google Drive storage they received upon activating their device has now been doubled to 100GB. Nothing needs to be done on the user side of things - Google will go ahead and add the storage to your account automatically. HTC is doubling the amount from 50GB for each device for the remainder of the offer's promotional period. This Google Drive offer that came with select HTC devices needs to be redeemed by January 1, 2016, and is good for around two years. After that, the user can decide to purchase back additional storage. Understand that if a user decides not to buy more storage, that their files are still safe, they just may not be able to add any new files should they sit above a certain quota. Here is a full list of devices from HTC that now have access to Google Drive offers:

New HTC One (M8) (+100GB for two years)
HTC Desire 816, HTC Desire 610 (+100GB for two years)
HTC One max (+100GB for two years)
When upgrade to HTC Sense 5+ and Sense 6 becomes available on certain 2013 HTC models, including HTC One, HTC Butterfly S, HTC One Mini and HTC Desire 601. (+25GB for two years)
According to HTC's Advantage site, the One Remix has a similar 100GB for two years deal.

More: Google Support

Here is Sony's Xperia Z3 in Copper, Plus a Smartband With Curved E-ink Display

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:44:23 +0000

IFA press events don't kick off for at least a few more hours, but the leaks of official press images and specs are starting to flow. The folks over at Xperia Blog managed to grab press images of the new Sony Xperia Z3 in copper, along with a fitness or smartband that appears to have an e-ink display. Both products should be unveiled by Sony, which is hosting an event at 7AM Pacific, tomorrow. The Xperia Z3 is largely thought to be a minor improvement over the Xperia Z2. The device's specs are currently rumored to include a Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.5GHz, 5.2-inch 1080p display, 3GB RAM, 20.7MP camera, 16GB internal storage, micro SD slot, and feature a body that is just 7.5mm thick. Sony may also toss in special sound enhancement in the form of Digital Sound Enhancement Engine. It's no slouch, just not much of an improvement over the previous model. As can be seen by the images in this post, the new Xperia flagship could come in black and white, but also in copper and a terrible looking green. On a related note, the woman in the image below is wearing a smartband or fitness band of some sort with an e-ink display. E-ink displays, like the one used in the Pebble, allow devices to continually show information on a display while only sipping battery. Unlike the Gear Fit or other wearables with full color displays, there is a chance that this device could last for days without needing to be charged. The Xperia Blog is referring to this product as the Smartband Talk. Should Sony finally release a flagship in a timely manner here in the States, would you consider the Xperia Z3?

Via: Xperia Blog

Verizon HTC One (M7) Gets Android 4.4.3 This Week, Includes Extreme Power Saving Mode

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:20:51 +0000

According to HTC's Mo Versi, the One (M7) on Verizon is scheduled to receive Android 4.4.3 this week, along with Extreme Power Saving Mode. I can't help but wonder if he actually meant the HTC One (M8), but he has yet to correct the Tweet. We will just have to go with it. I bring that up because the One (M8) for Verizon was supposed to get Android 4.4.3 in the middle of August, but HTC said it had been delayed until September. Seems odd that the original One would see the update first, but hey, it's happened before...maybe. The update plugs security holes, optimizes all sorts of goodies, and again, brings Extreme Power Saving Mode, a feature that can extend the life of your almost-drained-battery for hours. Check out the update list for AT&T's One (M8) here.

Via: @moversi

Tuesday Poll: Product You are Most Excited for This Week?

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:36:44 +0000

One of the biggest weeks in tech has arrived, thanks to IFA in Berlin and a separate event being held by Motorola where they are preparing to announce a handful of new products. It is going to get wild around these parts starting early tomorrow morning. Asus has a press event in the very early hours, where we should see the official unveiling of the ZenWatch. After that, Samsung will do its Galaxy Note 4 song and dance, followed by additional events for Sony and some other companies. Then once Thursday rolls around, the world will focus on Motorola and the new Moto X and Moto G, along with details on the Moto 360. LG will also be showing off their new G Watch R, round smartwatch, during IFA. Again, things are going to get nutty, but awesome. We want to know which announcement or product you are most excited about. Will it be the new Note? Are you hoping to hear Sony confirm US availability for their next flagship? Or do you really just care about Motorola's new line of products? Let us know! [poll id="326"]

Images of Sony QX1 Emerge, Android-Powered Smartphone Accessory with Interchangeable Lenses

Kyle — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:10:15 +0000

Given Sony's film pedigree, it's a bit surprising the company hasn't released more Android-powered shooter accessories - it's mostly stuck to conservative offerings like the QX10 and QX100. Luckily, the QX1, an interesting take on smartphone attachments, is right around the corner. Uniquely, the QX1 packs an E-mount for interchangeable lens support. In terms of accoutrements, it appears from the pictures to pack the Exmor APC-S sensor and built-in flash. That flexibility comes at a price. QX1 will reportedly retail for 300 euro body only, 450 euro bundled with a 16-50mm lens. That places it firmly higher than Nikon and Canon's Android-powered DSLRs and somewhere between Samsung's lower- and higher-end Galaxy Cameras, which is quite a premium for removable lenses. Still, considering the cost of good glass, some will surely consider the QX1 a bargain. Sony will formally unveil it tomorrow at IFA in Berlin.

Via: SonyAlpha | Xperia Blog

@DroidLanding is Back: Prepare for Either a New DROID Phone or Terrible App

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:44:06 +0000

The @DroidLanding Twitter account, an official and verified Twitter personality that has been used to unveil new DROID phones, apps and contests in the past, reactivated this afternoon. Well, it at least notified us that reactivation is "fast approaching," which really means that something new is about to arrive with the DROID named attached to it. What could it be? Motorola, as you know, is hosting press on Thursday to show off the new Moto X and Moto G, while also giving us official launch details for the Moto 360. None of those products is branded with the name "DROID," though. What we haven't yet heard about is a follow-up or family of follow-up devices to last year's DROID range, which included the DROID MAXX, ULTRA, and Mini. That seems odd, since Verizon is still very invested in the DROID brand, announcing last year that Motorola has the exclusive on the name going forward. Maybe a new line of DROID devices is on the way? Keep in mind that the last time @DroidLanding activated, all we got was a terrible augmented reality, robot wars type of app that none of us used or cared about for more than a couple of minutes. What I'm trying to say is that this new reactivation could be something or absolutely nothing. The timing, with Moto's event and IFA kicking off, seems to give off a feeling that this is at least something. For those new, @DroidLanding has used Droid Life to help spread word of contests on a few occasions. One involved a safe, another the R2-D2 Droid, and the most recent featured my handle in the DROID AR app. We will certainly keep an eye on this latest movement.

Via: @DroidLanding

Cheers Adam!

Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact Images and Specifications Leak Ahead of Press Conference

Kyle — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 11:55:21 +0000

IFA is nearly in full swing, and leaks are starting to spring up left and right. Earlier today, Ausdroid and Xperia Blog uncovered images of Sony's upcoming Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3. Sony appears to be bucking the trend again with the Xperia Z3 Compact, packing respectable specs in a smaller body. The handset - pictured in black, orange, white, and green - will reportedly sport a 720p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 2600mAh, and a 20.7MP camera. That's almost spec-for-spec with the flagship Xperia, a welcome development. The Z3 image managed to capture a specification sheet attached to the back of the smartphone. Assuming it's accurate, the Z3 is substantively similar to the Z2, at least as far as internals are concerned. Dust and water resistance were a given, but Z3 apparently also retains the same 1080p screen, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 20-megapixel camera as its predecessor. What's changed, then? Sony managed to engineer a slightly smaller frame (7.5mm), but at the expense of power capacity - 3100mAh, a little less than the Z2's battery. On the software front, Sony's Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE HX) will apply post-processing effects to "upscale" any sound source, while STAMINA mode will stretch battery life to a purported two days. Sony's press conference is tomorrow. Barring any last-minute leaks, we expect to learn launch details, such as pricing and availability, at that time.

Via: Ausdroid | Xperia Blog

ASUS ZenWatch Launch Slated for October, Cost Less Than $199

Tim — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 11:35:41 +0000

ASUS has been teasing its upcoming smartwatch, the ZenWatch, for the past couple of weeks, but we should finally see it unveiled this week during IFA. Speaking with press recently, ASUS' CEO Jerry Shen, claims the device will go on sale globally starting in October, priced somewhere below $199. While not much is known in terms of special features, it is pretty much confirmed the watch will run Android Wear, while also utilizing the wearable OS' voice recognition software. Beyond that, which every other Android Wear device has, the sub-$200 price could be the difference maker that ASUS hopes will motivate consumers into choosing the ZenWatch over the Moto 360 or LG G Watch R. Tough task, for sure. ASUS has an event planned during IFA on September 3, so be on the lookout for the ZenWatch unveiling.

Via: Focus Taiwan

Upcoming Gionee Elfie S5.1 Set to be World's Slimmest Smartphone at 5.1mm

Tim — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:49:59 +0000

A new device from China-based Gionee is set go after the "world's slimmest smartphone" title, coined the Elfie S5.1. Not yet official, but once made public by Gionee, the Elfie will feature a body just 5.1mm thick, which is ridiculously thin when compared to other phones such as the One (M8) (9.4mm) and LG G3 (8.9mm). As for other specifications, the device features a 4.8" 720p display, Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, and a few other specs you might expect from a mid-range handset. While the device will likely never end up on any of the US carriers, if by chance it did, could you see yourself rocking the world's thinnest phone? As for me, I get the feeling I would find a way to snap it right in half by accident. How thin is too thin?

Via: CNMO | GSM Arena

Contest: Win a 64GB Sandstone Black OnePlus One From Droid Life! (Winner Picked)

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:41:55 +0000

Not only are we giving away $300 in Google Play gift cards this week to the wonderful DL community, but we also have a spare OnePlus One in Sandstone Black to hand out. This is the 64GB model that most are interested in, and the same one that I had a chance to review a month or so ago. We decided to give one away since OnePlus is ridiculously behind on their availability estimates. In fact, you still can't buy a OnePlus One without an invite, even though OnePlus had initially expected to make them widely available by the end of June. In case you weren't keeping track, we are now in September. It's a mess, to say the least. Aside from all of the drama that this company can't seem to avoid, the phone is still one of the best of 2014. As of today, I would put it up there with the LG G3 as the best of the year, ahead of both the HTC One (M8) and Galaxy S5. It's combination of high-end specs, build quality, and incredibly low price make for one hell of a desirable smartphone. Who wants it?

Contest

Prize: 1 (one) OnePlus One in Sandstone Black, with 64GB of storage. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: We will randomly choose our winner on Friday, September 5, at 8AM Pacific.

Swarovski Unveils Crystal-Adorned Strap for the Samsung Gear S

Kyle — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:07:27 +0000

As the Galaxy S5 before it, Samsung's recently announced Gear S smartwatch is receiving the Swarovski treatment. For those looking for a "chic" and "fashionable" wristband to compliment the comparatively bland Gear S, there's the newest addition to the "Swarovski for Samsung" collection: the Gear S Strap. Composed of Swarovski's Crystal Fine Mesh and adorned with cut crystals, it's the ultimate in luxury (or ostentation, depending on your perspective). The Gear S Strap will be available for purchase through Samsung's online storefront and experience stores beginning in October. Swarovski coyly teases that additional back covers for "Samsung's next flagship device" will launch at that time, in addition. So, anyone interested in picking up an crystal-plated band?

Via: Samsung

Reddit Launching Dedicated App for AMAs Later This Week

Kyle — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:44:43 +0000

Soon, you won't have to join Reddit to access one of the social bookmarking site's most popular features. Ask Me Anything (often colloquially shortened to "AMA"), an opportunity for users to collectively interview people of note, will soon have a dedicated application on Android. The app is being programmed in house by the company's development team, which recently saw a swell of new hires. It's designed to make AMAs simpler to read and interact with - a browsable list of popular and recent AMAs, each with a brief description of the interviewee, will populate the home screen. Should you choose, the app will also notify you of trending and upcoming AMAs. In the absence of an official Reddit app - the company released an application in 2011 on iOS but quickly delisted after complaints of instability - third parties have largely filled the gap. Reddit's intention isn't necessarily to compete with developers who use its API, but the company is looking for ways to turn a profit on what has been a money-losing venture for years; despite more than 133 unique visit Despite the company's long-term ambitions to nail monetization, the app will be freely available and without advertising, at least initially. Reddit anticipates a launch later this week on Android. The app is already available on iOS.

Via: Variety

Contest: $300 in Google Play Gift Cards Up for Grabs, 10 Winners, 24 Hours!

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:21:00 +0000

If you follow us on Twitter (you are following us, right?), then you likely saw our teases over the weekend for two upcoming contests. Well, we didn't exactly tease - we more or less told you exactly what to expect. Today, we are giving away a OnePlus One and a whole bunch of Google Play gift cards in separate contests. As you can tell by the image above and the title, this is the Google Play gift card contest, with a total prize value at $300. That's right, because we love you, we are handing out $300 in gift cards to 10 DL readers (two $50 cards, eight $25 cards). We are giving these away, like always, because you have given us the opportunity to. That's how we do things around here. We just want to thank you for the support as we head into one of the busiest weeks of the year. The contest is as simple as ever and is powered by Rafflecopter, since it makes entering and choosing winners a breeze. You can enter one way or multiple ways, but the more items you complete in the widget below, the better your odds are of winning. We will choose our 10 winners tomorrow morning. Get to it!

Contest

Prizes: Ten (10) Google Play gift cards up for grabs for 10 winners. Two (2) are worth $50, the other eight (8) are worth $25. Winners: We will choose our winners at random tomorrow, September 3, at 8AM Pacific.

Android Wear Receiving Update This Week, Several This Year - Will Soon Pair With Bluetooth Headsets, Support GPS

Kellen — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 07:08:59 +0000

Two members of the Android team - engineering director David Singleton and VP of engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer - sat down with CNET this week for a quick Q&A about the current and future status of Android Wear, the company's wearables platform, likely because we are about to see a handful of new devices running it this week at IFA. In the chat, both Singleton and Lockheimer talk updates that are direct from Google, new use cases, and most importantly, new features that we will see very soon. In terms of updates, the Android team plans to push out "several" before the end of the year, with one coming this week. We aren't sure what will be highlighted in this week's update other than improved navigation and voice actions, but at some point this year (my guess is this week), we will see Android Wear be able to pair with Bluetooth headsets, so that in theory, you could load up music on your watch, take off for a run, and listen to music without your phone (or wires). The Android team will also introduce GPS support for watches that have the correct GPS hardware inside. If you were to take off for that previously mentioned run without your phone, thanks to GPS, your data will be tracked and saved for syncing once you return home and your watch can be re-connected to data. Finally, the watch face API could be here sooner than you think. David Singleton mentioned that we could start to see watch faces that include hiking or running info, sports scores, or even stock information in real time, very soon. In case you missed our coverage on this during the Android Wear launch, these updates will come directly from Google. The Android team has full control over Android Wear updates, because for one, the platform is so new that they want to be able to iterate faster than they would with a phone OS. There is also less at stake and less players involved, so the quicker they can improve Android Wear, the better (and easier). To read the full Q&A, hit up the source link below.

Via: CNET [Q&A]

Deal: LG G Watch in White or Black is $179 at Best Buy, $50 Off

Kellen — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:16:31 +0000

Best Buy slashed the price of the LG G Watch by $50 this weekend, dropping it to $179 in either black or white. That right there, is a pretty good deal for one of the original Android Wear devices, which originally retailed for $229. In fact, it still is $229 through Google Play. We reviewed the G Watch and came away interested in the future of Android Wear as a platform, but were a little bored with the device's design. Also, keep in mind that LG just announced their new premium round version of the G Watch, the G Watch R, which should put this device to shame. But, if you want in on the Android Wear game, this is the best deal in town. Best Buy Links: G Watch (black) | G Watch (white)

Your Labor Day Plans Now Include the Droid Life Show

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 20:54:53 +0000

The crew joined forces once again this week for episode 67 of the DL Show, focusing on next week more than anything, since a handful of companies have products to unveil. For those not familiar with this time of year, we are talking IFA in Berlin, a major tech conference that always leads us into the fall season. Samsung, LG, Asus, and Sony all have products to announce during the conference, plus Motorola is doing their own thing as well, here in the States. Topics on this week's show include a recap of the latest on the Moto X+1 and Moto 360. We also watched as LG unveiled their new round smartwatch, the G Watch R, live on air. Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 launch, news out of the Cyanogen camp, plenty of carrier moves (Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all had recent announcements), and a list of top apps and games from the last two weeks, all made the show.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 8/29/2014

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:00:30 +0000

This week may have seemed hectic at times, but it was nothing in comparison to what next week will bring. With IFA taking place over in Europe, and the DL crew traveling cross country to Chicago and New York City for separate press events, it is going to be a very busy week. On the bright side, however, that means we will be offering up all of the latest news as soon as it drops, including coverage on Samsung's Galaxy Note 4, Motorola's next flagship phone, and the Moto 360. This week was highlighted by LG and Samsung unveiling two new smartwatches, slated for arrival later this year in the US. In addition, Amazon bought Twitch for nearly $1 billion, ASUS teased the ZenWatch (unveiling coming next week), the new Moto G was reportedly pictured, and a mystery Moto device stopped off at the FCC on its way to AT&T. If you missed any of the action, take a look below for the highlights.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 67 [Subscribe]
Enter: The DL NFL Eliminator Challenge.
LG announces the G Watch R, its circular smartwatch.
Samsung announces the Gear S, its curved smartwatch.
Galaxy Note 4 QHD wallpaper leaked.
Here are Verizon's VoLTE launch details.
Comparison: Moto 360 vs. G Watch R vs. Gear S.
Google reported to be working on delivery drones.
New Moto G reportedly photographed.
This is the new Motorola Skip.
ASUS teases more of the upcoming ZenWatch.
New Motorola device stops by FCC on its way to AT&T.
A good read on Motorola's entire history.
Cyanogen Inc. working on "something really cool."
German press release pegs G Watch R price around €299.
Apple set to invent oversized phones on September 9.
Amazon bought Twitch.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, folks!

Run Forrest Run, an Endless Runner Based on Forrest Gump

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:00:11 +0000

Finally, an endless runner based on a story I know and love. If we have any fans of Forrest Gump here - everyone should raise their hand - you might want to check out a new game on Google Play called Run Forrest Run. In the game, which will remind you of any other endless runner game available, you play as Forrest Gump as he runs his way through Alabama and Route 66. Collecting coins while running helps you upgrade Forrest, which will allow you to run further in the game. It is definitely a cartoony type of runner, but should bring a smile to anyone who loves that classic film. Run Forrest Run is free to download from Google Play. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Sprint Announces the HTC One (E8) for Its Network, $0 Down Through Easy Pay

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:14:49 +0000

A new device is available today from Sprint, the HTC-made One (E8). The E8 is much like the One (M8), minus the premium metallic hardware. Instead, the E8 is a mid to high-range device featuring a good-looking polyurethane exterior, with specs that might surprise you given the phone's $0 down through Sprint's Easy Pay pricing deal. Specs include a 5" Full HD display, 13MP rear-facing shooter, Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, 4G LTE, 5MP front-facing camera, 2,600mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4+ with Sense 6 on top. As mentioned, the device is available right now through Sprint's website, again, priced through Easy Pay at $0 (plus 24 payments) or $99 on-contract. What do you think of the One (E8)? Is it a decent choice for anyone not looking to sport a metal device such as the (M8)?

Via: Sprint

Deep Under the Sky Takes You on a Psychedelic Trip to Venus

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:00:20 +0000

For the adventurers among us, how do you fancy a trip to Venus? Sounds intense, right? With the new game Deep Under the Sky, you can head to Venus, but you are in for one seriously trippy ride. In the game, you play as a jelly fish-like creature who intends to take over the planet by shooting spores, then exploding them onto other weird creatures. There is only one button in the game, which controls your movements, your spore's rockets, and then a self destruct of the rockets. To tell you the truth, it is a really weird game, but it looks absolutely mesmerizing. Most of the game is dark, but filled with the bright colors of unique creatures and explosions. The game has a relaxing soundtrack set to 80+ levels of challenging physics puzzles, so this one should keep you busy for a while. Go check it out. Play Link ($2.99)

[responsive_vid]

Friday App Sales: Dragon Quest VIII, Wave Wave, Metal Slug Series, and More

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:24:29 +0000

A massive list of apps and games are currently on sale over at Google Play, so this long three day weekend is the perfect time to splurge. Included in today's list is the Metal Slug series of games, a ton of Cartoon Network titles, as well as Wave Wave, a creepily addictive game that will have you smashing your phone in no time. In addition to these games, make sure you check out this weeks Humble Bundle, which is another great place to pick up games for cheap. Not only are you getting an excellent deal on games, but you are also helping a good cause. Who can say no to that? Check out the full list of games on sale below.

Friday app sales

Servers Ultimate Pro ($3.99)
Math Helper ($1.99)
Dragon Quest VIII ($14.99)
Wave Wave ($0.99)
Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock ($0.99)
Mobile Doc Scanner ($0.99)
Light Meter Tools ($1.99)
Samurai Showdown II ($0.99)
Metal Slug X ($0.99)
Metal Slug 3 ($0.99)
Metal Slug 2 ($0.99)
Metal Slug ($0.99)
The King of Fighters-A 2012 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters-A ’98 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters ’97 ($0.99)
Apex Launcher Pro ($1.99)
The Great Prank War ($0.99)
Best Park in the Universe ($0.99)
Calling All Mixels ($0.99)
Powerpuff Girls: Defenders ($0.99)
Ghost Toasters – Regular Show ($0.99)
Card Wars – Adventure Time ($0.99)
Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake ($0.99)
Swype Keyboard ($0.99)

Go support those hungry developers.

Top 5 Android Games: August 2014

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 11:21:39 +0000

August has been a fantastic month to be a gamer on Android, with a few big-time titles seeing their release onto Google Play. PC gamers were treated to a couple of Steam titles making their way to Android, which allows them to get out from behind the desk and play those games wherever they see fit. For those who might be curious, you don't have to worry about seeing Swing Copters on this list, as that game might get my vote for worst game of the century. Below are the Top 5 Android Games for August of 2014.

1. Five Nights at Freddy's (Play Link: $2.99) This official port of a horror survival game was recently pushed to Google Play, making sure you can pee your pants whenever you have your phone near you. In the game, you play as a night time watch guard in a children's pizza party shack, but watch out for robots dressed as lovable stuffed animals. If they see you at night, you're dead. The game has garnered a huge following of YouTubers who post their reactions while playing the game. And for only $2.99, if you enjoy horror titles, you can't go wrong with this pickup.

[responsive_vid vid_url="tn9baUJDu0g"]

2. ALONE... (Play Link: $2.49) ALONE... puts you in the cockpit of a rocket ship, blasting its way through space debris. The main goal of the game is make it as far as you can without crashing into rocks, and let me tell you, it is not an easy task. However, the further you go, the more cool stuff you get to unlock through the game. The title features a well-developed aesthetic, as well as an excellent soundtrack for speeding through space. While the controls may take a couple of deaths to get used to, the $2.49 price tag is well justified.

[responsive_vid vid_url="49g6Wq7w2-4"]

3. Unpossible (Play Link: $1.99) Unpossible reminds me a lot of Impossible Road, but with less impossible. In the game, you zoom down a dark track, filled with changing obstacles. As you progress down the track, things start going faster, making it much harder to react to what is coming next. The game has a real TRON look to it, with a dark landscape coupled with neon-bright lights coming from all angles. It's quite pretty, actually. For only $1.99, this game can easily eat up your free time as you try to get further and further down the track.

[responsive_vid]

4. Surgeon Simulator (Play Link: $5.99) In Surgeon Simulator, one of my all-time favorite comedic games, you play as a surgeon who must perform some of the most intense operations right out of med school. What adds to its comedic value are the controls, which are nearly impossible to figure out. Using a mixture of swipes, tapes, and pinches, you control tools that will bash your patient's organs, crack their bones, and potentially save their life at the same time. While it does have a steep price of $5.99, this highly-developed title demands every penny of that $6.

[responsive_vid vid_url="43K_iBHrY2Q"]

5. Kapsula (Play Link: $1.99) Possibly the most frustrating of the five titles listed this month, Kapsula is quite the challenge. In the game, you play as a small capsule that zooms down a road. While driving, you connect to other capsules, but must find a way to disconnect yourself from the other capsules you pick up before crashing into obstacles. You can smash them into the same-colored capsules, or bash them into a same-colored wall. However, if it's not the same color, you blow up and have to start all over. The game costs only $1.99, so I highly recommend it as a time waster.

[responsive_vid vid_url="Qf3JrXetiIc"]

Chrome Beta for Android Update Finally Brings Back Number Count for Tabs

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:53:59 +0000

Remember when Google introduced a Material Design make-over to Chrome Beta back in July? The update was pretty awesome for the most part. But for the purists (or detail obsessive types), a certain minor-yet-critical feature was missing - a tab count on the tab shortcut button. You know, the little button next to the top menu that tells you how many tabs you currently have open? For whatever reason, in the July update, the button became an empty box without that ever-so-useful tab count. Well, as of last night's update, it's back! The rest of the update addresses various stability and performance issues, according to Google. Play Link

AT&T Offers $100 Bill Credit When Activating New Line Through Next Program

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:20:35 +0000

From now until September 30, customers who activate a new line of service through AT&T's Next program will receive a $100 bill credit. With Next, customers are told that device envy is a thing of the past, as those who are enrolled can upgrade to the newest smartphones without fear of an upgrade fee or activation fee. AT&T Next is offered in two different plans, the Next 12 (a 20-month installment plan) or Next 18 (a 24-month installment plan). Each plan offers the same benefits, with no annual contract and zero money down for your device purchases. If this sounds like a good deal to you, go grab that free $100 credit.

Via: AT&T

Deal: Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB for $169 From eBay, $100 Off

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:24:49 +0000

Once again, eBay is hosting a deal for the Nexus 7 (2013) with 32GB of storage at a price that no one will be able to beat. At $169.99, you are looking at a $100 discount from the retail price that Google charges. In the end, though, you will save more than $100, since this deal includes free shipping. The tablet is "manufacturer refurbished," so no, it is not brand new. But as we have said countless times through posts like this, refurbishing isn't always a bad thing. eBay Link

Google Chrome Beta for Desktops Introduces Easier Multi-user Switching

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:15:14 +0000

For desktop users, Chrome Beta is receiving an update this week, one which will allow users to switch between accounts signed into Chrome more easily. There is a new button labeled You in top right hand corner, and through that, you can add accounts while also switching to a Guest account. With Guest accounts, all activity done through Chrome is deleted once the session is ended, meaning you won't have to manually wipe your browser data after your friends are done browsing the web. The Beta is available for most desktop users at this moment, so go give it a try.

Via: Google Chrome Blog

Google has Been Working on Delivery Drones for Two Years, This is Project Wing

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:49:18 +0000

Yesterday, in a surprise unveiling, Google introduced the world to Project Wing, a Google [x] initiative that aims to put drones to work delivering anything from consumer goods to products needed for relief efforts in isolated areas. If it sounds a lot like Amazon's Prime Air drone service, that's because it is. Project Wing has been in the works for two years without public knowledge. Google has been testing its drones down in Australia, where the company claims there are much more "progressive" regulations surrounding drone use. In other words, they can test away without much interference while they work to convince the US that delivery drones should be a thing. Google is mostly selling their drones on being able to deliver goods in disaster relief situations. The idea is that a constant wave of drones could deliver medicine or batteries or any other helpful product to an area that may be difficult to reach by conventional vehicle. The drones can take off and land without a runway, and are pre-programmed with a destination that allows them to fly automatically without someone controlling them remotely. As can be seen in the video, the current drones have the ability to lower packages to the ground securely. Of course, Google also mentioned that these could eventually deliver consumer goods as well, just like Amazon plans to do. Google continues to expand its Shopping Express service, which drone delivery could easily be tied into, assuming they could ever get government approval for their use. Drones are obviously a hot topic in this country, but would you be interested at all in having either Google or Amazon deliver things via drone to your doorstep?

[responsive_vid]

Via: BBC

Samsung Details Nike+ Running App Designed for Gear S

Tim — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 08:28:51 +0000

The Nike+ Running app is available for most Android devices through Google Play, but if you were not aware, Samsung's newest smartwatch, the Gear S, does not have access to Google Play. Instead, Samsung has partnered with Nike to create and preinstall the Nike+ Running app on all Tizen-based Gear S units, allowing buyers to benefit from the platform's features. Nike+ Running can track a user's run using the watch's built-in GPS, coach them along the way with motivational messages, and can also act as a standalone music player with your favorite workout playlists. Above all else, Nike Fuel points are earned through the app during workouts, which is your way of showing friends how cool you are once you have reached your daily goal. No mention was made if Nike+ Running will be made available for all Samsung devices with access to Samsung App Store, such as the Tizen-based Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, but we feel that would be a good move for both Samsung and Nike. Are you waiting for the Gear S?

Via: Samsung

Motorola and Sol Republic Have a New Bluetooth, Jambox-Like Speaker to Announce (Updated: DECK HD)

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:49:47 +0000

Last year, Motorola unveiled all sorts of special Sol Republic audio products alongside the Moto X. From color-matched MotoMaker ear buds (for free) to the Deck Bluetooth speaker, there were plenty of options to help you live out your audio dreams. According to an FCC filing for a new "Sol Republic x Motorola" product, it looks like Motorola will repeat last year's audio offerings with the inclusion of an even bigger Bluetooth speaker. The listing details a Bluetooth speaker that measures 153x60x55mm, which is somewhere in between a Jambox and Samsung's Level Box speaker. An FCC filing arriving today, could mean that we will see this new speaker alongside the Moto X at next week's launch in Chicago. Update: According to a Bluetooth SIG filing, the new Sol Republic speaker will be called the DECK HD.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Mystery Motorola Device Stops by FCC, Likely New Moto X Headed for AT&T

Kellen — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:11:56 +0000

An FCC filing for a device made by Motorola and with AT&T written all over it (in terms of connectivity) has arrived, a device that we can only assume is the next Moto X (or Moto X+1). The device falls under FCC ID IHDT56QA1 and is linked below in case you want to look through the documents yourself. Why do we think this is the new Moto X headed for AT&T? Well, it sports all of AT&T's bands, from GSM (850/1900) to LTE (2, 4, 5, 7, 17). And that's almost all that we have to go on, since this filing actually hides other details of the device. The thing is - what other device could it be? Motorola is going to unveil the new Moto X next week in Chicago, so an FCC filing for the phone ahead of time only makes sense. The image above gives us measurements as well, numbers that point to a device that is similarly sized to the Galaxy S5. The FCC measurements indicate that this Motorola phone is 140x72.6mm - the Galaxy S5 is 142x72.5mm. The new Moto X is expected to sport a 5.2-inch display, with much less bezel than the GS5, which would certainly put them around the same size, even with a slightly larger display on the new Moto. Edit: Since many are assuming that the FCC's measurement of 149mm across the display screen means a 5.9-inch display on the phone, I'll have to stop you there. Keep in mind that the LG G3 has a 5.5-inch display with minimal bezel, yet it measures 146.3x74.6mm. There is no way that the new Moto X can measure 140x72.6mm, yet have a display that is .4-inches bigger than the LG G3. It's just not possible. The FCC filing is likely just misrepresenting the situation here a bit by putting "display screen" on the image to indicate that this is the front of the phone. These measurements are for the entire phone, not just the display. We should point out that the FCC label and model number appears to be located on the bottom of the phone, something we can confirm as being true for the new Moto X. Information we have received from sources leads us to believe that the back of the new Moto X will be clean, without FCC markings. Other variants of the device for other carriers have yet to appear. Once those do, we will be sure to pass that info along.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Good Read: History of Motorola - From Marty Cooper to the OG DROID and Sanjay to Today

Kellen — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 16:02:44 +0000

If you were looking for a solid article that covers the history of Motorola from its glorious days of inventing the first mobile phone to its eventual fall, rise again thanks to the original DROID, to its landslide decline again before being sold to Google and then to Lenovo, Chicago Magazine has you covered. In a piece released at the beginning of the week, the story of one of America's most innovative companies is detailed from the good times to the bad. We're talking from its founding days in 1928 as Galvin Manufacturing Corp to its current up-in-the-air status with a Lenovo acquisition looming over their new downtown Chicago headquarters. You should really go read the full article if Motorola's history interests you at all, but for the sake of saving a bit of time and grabbing your attention, we have pulled out a couple of excerpts on events that stood out to us, starting in the 70s. The introduction of the first phone by Marty Cooper:

Of all Motorola’s inventions, none were as transformative as the cell phone. A request from Orlando Wilson, Chicago’s police chief from 1960 to 1967, provided the impetus. Violent crime in the city was surging. Wilson wanted his patrol officers out of their cars and on foot, but he didn’t want them on the street without a way to stay connected. Cooper, among others, envisioned a solution: a handheld phone that functioned on a wireless cellular network. Bob Galvin realized that the market for such a device could extend well beyond law enforcement. So he committed $100 million to developing it. In 1973, Cooper made his first call—to a rival at AT&T’s Bell Labs—on a boot-size prototype.

On the massive success that Motorola once had in the cellphone business, before being lapped by Nokia:

Indeed, thanks largely to its still-growing cellular business, in 1994 Motorola rose to 23rd on the Fortune 500 list of the nation’s biggest public companies, with revenues of $22 billion and profits of nearly $2 billion. By 1994, 60 percent of the mobile phones sold in the United States were Motorolas, with the wireless business making up nearly 65 percent of the company’s revenues. But Motorola was about to fall off a cliff. Because Finnish rival Nokia had wisely retooled for digital, by the time Gary Tooker’s four-year run as CEO ended in 1997, Nokia had surpassed Motorola as the world’s largest mobile phone maker. It had become a newly powerful competitor in building networks, too. Nokia would remain the world’s largest maker of mobile phones by volume—if not by revenue—for the next 15 years.

On Motorola essentially teaching Steve Jobs how to make the ultimate smartphone:

Meanwhile, in arguably one of the worst decisions ever made by a major corporate CEO, Zander struck a deal with his Silicon Valley friend Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple. Together their companies created a Motorola iTunes phone, the first phone connected to Apple’s music store. “We can’t think of a more natural partnership than this one with Apple,” Zander said at the time. Named the Rokr, the phone launched in the fall of 2005. Jobs, who introduced it, called it “an iPod Shuffle right on your phone.” Zander says he believed that by working with Apple, Motorola could become cool again. But much as it had taught the Chinese to compete with it years before, Motorola was teaching one of the most creative, competitive, and consumer-savvy companies of all time how to make a phone.

On choosing Android for the original DROID:

The presentation, held in early 2009, grew heated. One top Motorola executive declared that choosing Android over Windows Mobile was madness. Google’s system wasn’t ready for prime time, he argued, whereas Microsoft was one of the most powerful software companies in the world. Jha would not budge. Motorola’s board faced two options: go with Jha’s recommendation or shut down the mobile phone business altogether. By a vote of 4 to 3, the board members chose the former. Quickly, Arshad handpicked a team of 200 in-house engineers to work closely with a Google team led by Andy Rubin, who had created the Android system. “They wanted Motorola to be successful and to prove everyone wrong,” says Arshad. “To save the company.”

The article goes on and on, so this is just a taste. It's good stuff, again, especially if you are interested at all in the history of Motorola. To read the whole article, head over to Chicago Magazine.

Cheers Robert!

ESPN SportsCenter App Updated in Google Play, Features More LeBron and Manziel

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:32:00 +0000

Ah, SportsCenter, your one-stop-shop for everything LeBron and Johnny Football. ESPN updated its flagship program's Android app today, bringing quite a few new features, none of which actually have anything to do with LeBron or Manziel. Included in the update are improved NFL and college football game pages, one-click radio streaming, alerts for news as it happens, and an updated calendar feature for quick access to previous or future day's events. After taking a look at the full changelog below, head on over to Google Play to grab the update.

What's New

Your Favorite teams are now grouped at the top of SC scores
Improved NFL and College Football game pages.
Introducing On-Air. One click radio streaming or dive into WatchESPN
Alerts now take you directly to stories & videos
Updated calendar for quick access to previous and future days
Support for Spanish Alerts
Tweaks to the interface

Play Link

Motorola Goofs Up Moto 360 Giveaway, Sends Congratulations to Many Unhappy Entrants

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:28:15 +0000

Yesterday, it was announced via Twitter and Facebook that Motorola was to hold a giveaway for the Moto 360 via the Yo app. All you had to do was add Motorola on Yo, send a Yo at them, then wait during a specific period this afternoon for them to Yo you back. Before the giveaway went live, it was stated that only 20 people would win the Moto 360, but thanks to what we are assuming is some type of minor goof, it appears that hundreds of entrants, if not more, were sent links saying they had won the Moto 360 (pictured above). I personally received a Yo back from Motorola, taking me to a site that claimed I had won a Moto 360. After entering my email address, the site said all 360s had been claimed and I had lost. But wait, I thought it said I won? Unfortunately, for everyone who received this message, there was probably a bit of a foul up in the wording of the entry page. While it did say "you won," it probably should have read "you have a chance to win." Once an official comment on the mishap comes from Motorola, we will update the post. Did you fall victim to Motorola? Let us know below.

NVIDIA Pushing OTA Update to SHIELD Tablet, Improves WiFi Stability and More

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:02:15 +0000

Today, NVIDIA is pushing out an OTA update to owners of the SHIELD Tablet. In the update, NVIDIA includes WiFi stability improvements, improved camera performance, an NVIDIA Prism toggle, and much more. Also included are ShadowPlay performance optimizations, stability improvements to SHIELD Hub and Gamestream, followed by audio optimizations and other misc. stability improvements. That is a whole lot of optimizations and improvements. See full changelog below.

Changelog

Improved WiFi stability in certain scenarios
Improved camera performance
NVIDIA PRISM feature toggle
Stability improvements to SHIELD Hub and Gamestream
ShadowPlay performance optimizations
Localization improvements
Audio optimizations
Misc. stability improvements

Own a SHIELD? Head into your Settings menu to begin the install process if you have not yet been prompted to do so.

Via: NVIDIA

Thursday Poll: Which Streaming Music Service Do You Use?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:26:12 +0000

A paid subscription to Google Play Music is something I generally believe that I can't live without going forward. I use it every single day. I listen to music streamed from the service while working, while in the car, if I'm cooking, and while I workout. I am constantly streaming music. My playlists change often. New music enters my rotation regularly (that I don't have to pay extra for). And I often find throwback tunes to my wilder and much younger days that bring a smile to my face today. Streaming music services like Google Play are awesome. Which brings us to today's poll. Are you using a streaming music service? If so, which one? There are countless services to choose from at this point. In fact, I narrowed the list down to what I would consider to be the nine most popular, half of which I myself haven't even been able to try. From Google Music to iTunes Radio to Beats Music to Spotify, you have so many options that all offer somewhat different experiences. As I mentioned above, Google Play Music works for me, but there may be another service that fits your needs. Let us know - which streaming music service do you use? [poll id="325"]

Official Port of Five Nights at Freddy's Lands on Google Play for $2.99

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:27:29 +0000

Ready to be spooked? An official port of Five Nights at Freddy's has landed on Google Play, priced at just $2.99. For those who may not have heard of this game, it's a new survival horror game that is also available on Steam, taking place inside of a kid-oriented pizza restaurant. Think Chuck E. Cheese, but with a lot more demonic possession taking place. During the day, the pizza shop is filled with laughter and happiness, but come night time, the place is filled with extremely creepy robots dressed as adorable animals, all of whom would like nothing more than to destroy you. You play as the shop's night watch security guard, in charge of making sure nothing takes place at night. However, given that the robots need to move around the shop freely at night, or else their motors would lock up, you soon find that not only are these robots freely moving around, but they are hunting you. You must survive your night shift without getting attacked, using the shop's video surveillance system and conserving your precious power allotment. Without going on and on about the game, head on over to Google Play and check it out. Please note, the developer notes that it takes quite a toll on your processor, so they recommend using a newer flagship device, preferably anything with 2GB+ of RAM. Play Link ($2.99)

[responsive_vid]

German Press Release Pegs LG G Watch R Price at €299

Kyle — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:39:08 +0000

Price may end up being the most significant differentiator between the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch R, if the company's German press release is anything to go by. According to LG's PR department, the G Watch R will retail for €299, which is equivalent to around $400 US. That's not all. LG also pegged a firm release date for European territories - October. When the G Watch R eventually reaches American shores, don't expect the price to be quite so high; VAT and tax rates often inflate the value of electronics sold in Europe, but even considering $400 a ballpark estimate, it seems fairly unlikely the G Watch R will retail for less than the Moto 360's rumored price of $249. Future smartwatch owners, will the G Watch R's price point influence your decision one way or another?

Via: LG | Android Police

September 9 is Officially New iPhone(s) Day

Kellen — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:05:47 +0000

Apple sent invites out to their select group of press this morning, confirming that September 9 is the day for things to be (re)invented. If you haven't been keeping up with rumors, Apple pundits are expecting there to be two iPhones (iPhone 6), one with a 4.7-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch. Rumors as of yesterday also seem to believe that Apple's first take on a smartwatch (iWatch) will be a part of the festivities. The whole event will undoubtedly be amazing, great, beautiful, better, extraordinary, phenomenal, wonderful, gorgeous, magnificent, exciting, amazingly remarkable, incredible, advanced, and magical. Of course, Apple's event is only a week after Motorola, LG, Samsung, Asus, and Sony show off their new goodies. It should be a fun month.

Via: Engadget

OneDrive Receives Minor Update, Brings PIN Protection and Business Sign-In

Kyle — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:00:08 +0000

As far as cloud storage goes, you could do worse than OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive). Sure, it isn't Drive or Dropbox, but if you are inextricably tied to the Windows ecosystem, it certainly gets the job done. That isn't to say it could not use a few improvements, though, something of which Microsoft is aware. Until today's update, the only way to accomplish switching from your business to personal account was signing out of one and into the other, but now the app fully integrates OneDrive for Business. Unrelated new features let you set a PIN code and access OneDrive using Android's native file selection menu. OneDrive is available as a free download on Google Play. Play Link

Via: Engadget

ALONE... is the Asteroid-dodging Sci-fi Game You Were Looking For

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:36:58 +0000

A new game is now available for all of our sci-fi fans here, one which puts you in the driver seat of a blasting rocket ship in space. The game is called ALONE..., and is not as easy as it may look. In the game, you use either your right or left finger to change the ship's course through a ton of asteroid debris that is falling all around you. If you crash into the rocks, you die. The objective is to get as far as you can, which allows you to unlock new areas in the game. Priced at only $2.47, the game features a pretty sweet soundtrack for whoever might enjoy club beats. Definitely check it out. Play Link ($2.47)

[responsive_vid]

Comparison: LG G Watch R vs. Moto 360 vs. Samsung Gear S

Kellen — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:13:27 +0000

Last night, the tech industry was treated to two new smartwatches from LG and Samsung, the G Watch R and Gear S. Both will go head-to-head with the Moto 360, a watch that is easily the most anticipated in the history of smartwatches, thanks to its round display. It's a good time to be a smartwatch watcher. We aren't sure what has taken Motorola so long to release the 360 or provide us with official details on its features, but in that time, LG managed to create and unveil their own round watch, while Samsung attempted to do the same. The Moto 360 should still hit store shelves before either of those, though, so we wanted to put it up against the other two, to help you decide if it is still the watch for you (most of you are saying it is) or if waiting it out is the better option. We have official info on both the G Watch R and Gear S, along with plenty of details on the Moto 360 through a premature Best Buy listing, just enough to for a quick comparison chart. Certain items are obviously missing, because each manufacturer has either withheld certain specifics from us or still hasn't made it all official. Speaking of official, keep in mind that the Moto 360 information was again, taken from the Best Buy leak, so things could/may change.

Verizon Quietly Launches the Motorola Luge, a Rebranded RAZR M for Prepaid

Kellen — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:44:27 +0000

Months ago, sources of ours told us that Verizon had plans to launch a device called the Motorola Luge, which was nothing but a rebranded DROID RAZR M aimed at their prepaid service. Today, that phone has arrived. When I say that this is a rebranded DROID RAZR M, I'm not kidding. This is the RAZR M, only with a new name. Verizon and Motorola didn't even remove the kevlar backing, they just changed the name. Also, their support pages list both devices, since they are, well, the same thing. As a recap, the ~~RAZR M~~ Luge sports a 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2,000mAh battery, 8GB storage, micro SD slot, Android 4.4.2, and can connect to Big Red's LTE network. Also, this is the RAZR M from two years ago, when Verizon introduced the RAZR HD. This is a two-year old phone that was mid-range when it first became available. You can grab the Luge for $299 at full retail or $199 with prepaid service.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Tony!

Wipeout 2 Launched to Google Play, the Big Balls are Back

Tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:26:38 +0000

A new game is available on Google Play this morning, Wipeout 2. The game is based on the popular TV series on ABC of the same name, where real contestants (not actors) attempt to make their way through crazy obstacles. The main idea is that they will wipe out on the course, making for excellent television. In Wipeout 2, players choose a character to take through the courses. When completing courses, you earn XP, which can be put towards upgrades for your character. You can make him/her faster, have better air control, better slide, and improved recovery time after bad falls. There is no real story to the game, but beating the obstacles will prove itself a challenge for you. It is supposed to be quite hard. The game is free to download, but do expect to see a few IAPs from time to time. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Sony Teases #XperiaDetails Ahead of IFA Press Conference

Kyle — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:21:39 +0000

Next week is IFA in Berlin, which means a deluge of unveilings is nearly upon us. Of course, in vying for media attention, a few companies have jumped the gun, but others - such as Sony - apparently prefer to retain an element of surprise. A specific example? The new teaser video released this morning, which subtly hints at features we can expect in the manufacturer's as-yet unrevealed devices. A jogger? Painted fingernails? Underwater shots? In addition to a Snapdragon 805 processor and 20.7MP rear-facing camera, sounds like fitness software, color options, and a water-resistant body are shoe-ins for the next Xperia. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Darn you, cryptic Sony. Intrigued? The press conference is September 3.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Sony

The Droid Life Show: Episode 67

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:05:41 +0000

IFA kicks off in Berlin next week, so if it hasn't already been made obvious by the countless teasers popping up from major companies, it's going to be a busy time. Samsung, LG, Asus, and Motorola all have something planned for next week, whether that be to announce new phones or wearables - some are even doing both. We will be on hand at Samsung and Motorola's events, but there will be plenty of other goodies to talk about. So on tonight's episode, we will do our best to catch you up on the past two weeks of teasers, talk about expectations for next week, and more. We are live tonight at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below.

Wednesday Poll: LG G Watch R or Moto 360?

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 19:41:16 +0000

Now that the LG G Watch R, LG's new round smartwatch (pictured above), is official, we can't help but ask for your opinions on it. More importantly, we want to know how you think it stacks up to Motorola's yet-to-be-fully-revealed Moto 360. Both are made of premium materials (stainless steel and leather), both look much more desirable than the rest of the Android smartwatches on the market, and both look like real watches first, smartwatches second. The G Watch R packs in a P-OLED display and will arrive in Q4. The Moto 360 carries an edge-to-edge, almost infinity-like display, coupled with stainless and chamfered edges, but should be here much sooner than Q4. As of tonight, with the unveiling of the G Watch R, which one are you leaning towards? [poll id="324"]

LG G Watch R Specs

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 19:32:33 +0000

With the LG G Watch R now official, the newest circular smartwatch on the block, you probably want to know exactly what's inside. To lay it out for you in the cleanest way possible, here are the official specs, straight from LG. Like the Moto 360, LG is aiming for a premium watch experience here. The device is made up of stainless steel and calf skin leather, a P-OLED display, is water resistant, and runs Android Wear. It may only come in black, but the foundation has been laid for LG to release additional colors.

Specs

Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400
Display: 1.3-inch P-OLED Display (320 x 320)
Memory: 4GB eMMC / 512MB RAM
Battery: 410mAh
Operating System: Android Wear™ (compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above)
Sensors: 9-Axis (Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG
Color: Black
Materials: Stainless Steel frame; interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap
Other: Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)

Samsung Announces the Gear S Smartwatch, Curved Design and Tizen-based OS

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 19:30:24 +0000

Hot off the heels of LG's G Watch R announcement, Samsung released full details of an upcoming curved wearable of their own, the Gear S. The watch, unlike the G Watch R and Moto 360, is powered by Tizen, much like the other wearable devices Samsung released alongside the Galaxy S5. The Gear S features a curved 2.0" Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1GHz processor, Samsung Gear Apps support, a freakin' Home button, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 3G connectivity, Bluetooth, and a 300mAh battery. While no pricing has been made available, Samsung states the watch will be made available globally beginning in October. Below is the full list of specifications and device gallery.

Samsung Gear S Enhances the Smart Wearable Experience

The Gear S offers a beautiful curved design combined with 3G connectivity on the wrist
Seoul, Korea – [August 28, 2014] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Samsung Gear S, the next generation smart wearable device that expands the smartphone experience to the wrist. The new Samsung Gear S delivers an up-to-date smart wearable experience with 3G connectivity and wearable optimized features to meet the evolving needs of consumers. “Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & mobile communication at Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime.” Designed with an elegant, curved Super AMOLED display and flexible band, the Samsung Gear S fits comfortably on user’s wrist. Through 3G connectivity, the Samsung Gear S offers a new, powerful wearable experience and gives consumers the freedom to live their life on the go. Industry-Leading Curved Super AMOLED Display The Samsung Gear S features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display, providing a richer view with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface. It allows users to read messages and notifications at a single glance with features such as conversation view and condensed font. The Samsung Gear S’s chic, curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist, while its customizable screen options and changeable straps empower users to express their own taste and style. Truly Connected Experience The Samsung Gear S extends its communication capabilities to include 3G as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to stay informed with seamless notifications from social networks, calendars and applications even when away from their phone. It lets users to instantly reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or utilize enhanced S voice functionality to ensure tasks can be completed immediately. Finally, with the Samsung Gear S, people can seamlessly make and receive calls directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones. The Samsung Gear S allows consumers to control how they want to connect, switching easily between 3G and Bluetooth connections, and automatically synchronizing information when paired to a smartphone. Extended Features & Applications The Samsung Gear S provides easy access to relevant information through essential widgets and combined notification boards. Its powerful features include turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation provided by HERE, a 24-hour news and views service from The Financial Times ‘fastFT’, works together with advanced-reading technology from Spritz, and the ability to see and respond to important social notifications instantly with Facebook. Together, these features allow users to be live and actionable while on the go. The Samsung Gear S is also a perfect health and fitness companion with more enhanced multi-sensors, built-in GPS, and robust S Health features. In addition, applications such as Nike+ Running allow users to track their runs and stay motivated while on the move, without their smartphone. Also announced today with the Samsung Gear S is the new Samsung Gear Circle. When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands in style through a Bluetooth connection. It features a magnetic lock which clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications. Both the Samsung Gear S and the Gear Circle will be available in global markets in phases through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce websites and via carriers beginning October.

LG Officially Announces the G Watch R, It's Round Watch With a Plastic OLED Display

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 19:19:34 +0000

LG hasn't wasted any time in announcing their brand new round smartwatch, the G Watch R, a device that sports a circular Plastic OLED display and surprisingly premium build materials. This is far from the cheap plastic square we saw when LG announced the original G Watch just a couple of months ago. The new G Watch R sports a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED display (320x320), 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 410mAh battery, IP67 dust and water resistant rating, and runs Android Wear. The device is made of a durable stainless steel frame, along with an interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap, giving it "an air of modern prestige. LG is calling this the first circular Plastic OLED display that uses 100% of its watch face, which is them taking another shot at the Moto 360. Can someone tell them that the "30" is upside down? The G Watch R (what a name) will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. No pricing was announced, but if you are attending IFA in Berlin next week, it will be on display for your viewing pleasure.

LG READYING SNEAK PEEK OF NEW G WATCH R AT IFA 2014

New Android Wearable First to Feature Full Circle P-OLED Display
SEOUL, Aug. 28, 2014 — Following the June release of one of the first-to-market wearable device powered by Android Wear™, LG Electronics (LG) is quickly expanding its wearable product offerings with the unveiling a new Android Wear device — the LG G Watch R at IFA 2014 in Berlin next week. The LG G Watch R is the world’s first watch-style wearable device to feature a circular Plastic OLED (P-OLED) display and utilizes 100 percent of its watch face. The most eye-catching feature of the LG G Watch R is its 1.3-inch full circle P-OLED display that produces stunning image clarity even under bright sunlight and superb clarity when viewed from any angle. Powered by a powerful 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, the LG G Watch R offers 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM and a durable 410mAh battery. This Android Wear device will effortlessly run all compatible apps available in the Google Play Store and with an Ingress Protection Rating of IP67, the LG G Watch R is designed to run for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. With Android Wear™ at its core, the LG G Watch R delivers essential and relevant information exactly at the right time and place through voice recognition notifications. With a suite of LG health and fitness apps, users can also monitor their heartbeats with the support of the embedded photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. And the smart notifications provide users with important reminders of missed calls and messages, upcoming meetings, events, and local weather forecasts. With an artisanal elegance, the LG G Watch R boasts a refined aesthetic that is reminiscent of traditional timepieces. Replete with a circular watch face, this elegantly crafted Android wearable has classic curves encased in a strong, durable stainless steel frame and carries a suite of watch faces that are accessible with a simple touch of the display. Its interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap also complements its overall aesthetic, giving it an air of modern prestige. “What we’ve noticed in the year of the wearable is that this is a category that can’t be compared to smartphones and tablets,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Wearables are also accessories and consumers will want more than one to choose from. So we wanted to complement the modern design of the original G Watch with the classic look of the G Watch R. Customers can’t go wrong with either device.” The LG G Watch R will be available in key markets early in the fourth quarter of 2014. Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA can see LG G Watch R up close in Hall 11.2 of Messe Berlin from September 5-10. Key Specifications: ￭ Chipset: 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 ￭ Display: 1.3-inch P-OLED Display (320 x 320) ￭ Memory: 4GB eMMC / 512MB RAM ￭ Battery: 410mAh ￭ Operating System: Android Wear™ (compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 and above) ￭ Sensors: 9-Axis (Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG ￭ Color: Black ￭ Other: Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)

Nova Launcher Version 3.1 Leaves Beta, Now Available for All

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 14:40:01 +0000

Late last week, an update was pushed out to beta testers of Nova Launcher, and today, the changes that there were made for the beta group are now available in the newest public release for all to download. In the update, new drawer transition animations are available, but out of the list, we highly recommend the circle animation (gif below). In addition, App Drawer Search is included, which allows users to quickly find apps without scrolling through the drawer. By default it shows your recently installed and updated apps from Google Play, meaning you don't even need to remember their names. Anyone can head on into Google Play and grab the update right now. Play Link

Here is the QHD-Ready Stock Wallpaper for the Galaxy Note 4

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 14:00:31 +0000

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 4 next Wednesday, but if you want a taste of the device now, the folks at SamMobile have you covered. Posted this afternoon in its full QHD resolution (2560x2560) and 17MB self, the stock Note 4 wallpaper is now available for download. It's colorful, brings back memories of past Note devices, and is huge. This 'paper would make a good home screen filler on almost any device you own, including a high-res tablet. Feel free to download the full .png file here. A less intense .jpg version can be found below.

Via: SamMobile

Motorola Hosts Moto 360 Giveaway Via Yo App, Mentions $249 Price Again

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:45:20 +0000

Next week, Motorola is set to announce availability and official pricing for the Moto 360, but before that takes place, the Chicago-based company is holding a contest via the silly "Yo" app, available for both iOS and Android devices. With Yo, you add friends (and now companies apparently), and send a "Yo" message. That's it. No other text or images are allowed. Just "Yo." Once you add "MOTOROLA" as a contact in the Yo app, during the promotional period (August 27 at 3:05pm CT to August 28 at 3:01pm CT), you must send a Yo to your Motorola contact. 20 eligible entrants will be selected to possibly win a Moto 360 smartwatch. Easy enough, right? We should also note, that under the Prizes section of the official rules for the contest, the ARV (average retail value) is listed once again at $249. A previous contest also marked the value at $249, but Motorola denied that claim, stating it was only for tax purposes and should not be interpreted as the 360's suggested retail value. However, we also saw the Moto 360 pop up on Best Buy's website for $249, so that price may stick when it is announced next week. Official rules and how to enter can be found here. To download Yo, grab it from Google Play here.

2014 DL NFL Eliminator Challenge is Open! Winner Once Again Takes Home a Phone of Choice

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:22:07 +0000

It's back! Our yearly DL NFL Eliminator Challenge is now open and ready for entries. This is our 4th year hosting this challenge, which is a way to share our love of sports with the DL community, but also reward one of you with a phone of choice. So yes, we are once again giving away a phone valued at up to $650 to the winner. For those new to NFL eliminator challenges, they work like this. You pick one winner each week out of all of the games being played. If your team wins, you move on to the next week. Just keep in mind that you can only choose a team one time per season, so there is some strategy involved. With that said, by no means are these challenges as intense as fantasy football or weekly pick'em challenges. This is the simplest form of an NFL challenge you can participate in. The season kicks off next Thursday, so you will want to sign-up now. We will try our best to remind you throughout the next week to sign-up, though. There is no cost to you, yet you can win a phone of choice. Ready to sign-up?

Join the group: Droid Life Eliminator Password: droidlife Simple rules for those new to eliminator challenges: 1. Join the league up above. Create an entry for yourself. Get ready to pick winners. 2. Since this is an eliminator challenge, you only have to pick 1 winner each week. 3. Remember though, that you only get to use a team one time and cannot pick them to win again. 4. If you choose correctly each week, you continue to advance. 5. If you choose incorrectly, you are out. There are no mulligans in football or this league. 6. If that didn’t make sense, check out the full “How to Play” rules here. 7. If we run into a tiebreaker, we will decide a winner based on these rules. Prize: Once again, we are giving away a phone valued at up to $650 to the winner. Once week 17 wraps and the winner is picked, we’ll contact them through their ESPN account to verify everything. Then, it’s up to them to choose a phone. Reminders: We’ll try to remind folks to make their picks each week, but cannot guarantee that we’ll remember. If we do though, it will be on Twitter, so be sure to follow us there. Week 1 starts next Thursday, with the first game between the Packers and Seahawks on September 4. Good luck!

Sega-Themed Humble Mobile Bundle Adds Sonic CD, Happy Sonic! Live Wallpaper

Kyle — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:40:32 +0000

Have a penchant for hedgehogs with an inexplicable attraction to gold rings? You will be very interested to learn that the Sega-themed Humble Bundle has gained a few bonus Sonic titles for those who give more than the average amount, currently sitting at $3.85. Sega has generously donated to the catalog Sonic CD and Happy Sonic! Live Wallpaper, which retail on the Play Store for $2.99 and $.99, respectively. Sonic CD is a remake of the titular game for the Sega Genesis, while Happy Sonic! is a live wallpaper that features a tickleable (seriously) Sonic on a polka-dotted background. Solid additions, I'd say. If you still have yet to grab this Bundle, go get it. Humble Bundle Link

HTC Launches Desire 510, an Affordable Handset With 4G LTE

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:25:35 +0000

HTC announced a new phone this morning for US customers, the Desire 510. The phone is set to be an affordable option for those who still want access to a fast data connection through 4G LTE and will be available through select carriers in America. The specs won't wow you, but they are not supposed to. HTC is looking to head into war in the mid-range battlefield with Motorola it seems, as Moto has gotten a leg up on competition with last year's release of the Moto G. The Desire 510 will be available globally, but no word on when exactly or for how much. On the bright side, we love seeing better phones coming out at affordable ranges. Nothing wrong with options. Nothing at all.

Specs

4.7" FWVGA display
Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor
1GB of RAM
8GB of storage
5MP rear-facing camera
0.3MP front-facing camera
4G LTE connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0
2,100mAh battery
Android 4.4+ coupled with Sense

Via: HTC

Dropbox Simplifies Offerings, Reduces Pricing, Introduces New Features

Kyle — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:28:14 +0000

As anyone who has paid for Dropbox storage can tell you, the cloud company has not exactly been competitive when it comes to pricing, at least comparatively. With the abnegation of an incumbent, Dropbox has left its expensive tiers unchanged in recent months, while competitors like Google and Amazon have drastically undercut them. Historically, the service has defended its pricing, arguing the included features more than justify the added cost. If this morning's announcement is any indication, though, the 300 million+ user service is starting to feel the heat. The biggest news is Dropbox's consolidation of the Pro plan into a single, 1 TB offering for $9.99 a month. That brings the cost in line with a comparable Google Drive plan, and makes it a whole lot cheaper than Amazon, which offers the same amount of storage for $500 a year. The company also revealed a few new features for Pro users. Refined sharing controls allow users to create passwords for shared links, set shared links to expire after a specified amount of time, and fine-tune viewing permissions for shared folders. Remote wipe, another addition, allows you to delete Dropbox files stored on a stolen device without removing them from cloud storage. The cheaper Pro plan launches today, with the new features set to go live over the next few days for current subscribers. If there is a takeaway from today's news, it's that competition is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Via: Dropbox

AT&T HTC One (M8) Update to Android 4.4.3 Rolling Out Now

Kyle — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:51:18 +0000

Not-so-hot on the heels of the firmware rollouts to T-Mobile and Sprint HTC One (M8) variants earlier summer, the AT&T-branded model is finally receiving OTA love in the form of an update to Android 4.4.3, plus an additional few application updates and optimizations. The changelog isn't too exciting, unfortunately, unless "security fixes" really float your boat. Still, who can say no to free updates?

Changelog

Android 4.4.3
Security fixes
Wi-Fi fixes
Bluetooth fixes
Mobile network fixes
Camera app update
Gallery (Image Match)
Settings (Power History)
HTC Sync Manager
Boomsound optimization
Extreme Power Saving Mode optimization
Motion Launch optimization
Quick Setting optimization

With the AT&T M8 fully up to date, that leaves the Verizon version. Sadly, Big Red subscribers won't get their fix until mid-September - an earlier release was delayed for unspecified reasons.

Via: @jetleigh

AT&T 4G LTE Lit Up in New Markets, From Arizona to Georgia

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:19:02 +0000

AT&T has launched a good-sized list of new 4G LTE markets this week, ranging all the way from Arizona to Virginia. Their total should be greater than 600 markets now, putting them even ahead of Verizon in terms of overall amount. Even though AT&T has a few more markets, Verizon is getting ready to launch nationwide VoLTE on its network, but AT&T's VoLTE is only available in select markets as of this moment. To see if your city has been graced with AT&T's LTE, look below.

New Markets

Kingman, AZ
Bullhead City, AZ
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Lynchburg, VA
Harrisonburg, VA
Enterprise, AL
Ozark, AL
Cornelia, GA
Toccoa, GA
Douglas, GA
Rutland VT
Canon City, CO

Via: AT&T

T-Mobile Doubles Number of Music Freedom Services, Google Play Music Coming Eventually

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:06:12 +0000

T-Mobile announced this morning that it has doubled the number of streaming music services available through its Music Freedom movement. Also, the winner of its social voting poll, where customers told T-Mobile the music service they would most like to see included in the service, has concluded. Google Play Music ran away with the vote by gobbling up almost 750,000 votes. The new services include AccuRadio, Black Planet, Grooveshark, Radio Paradise, Rdio, and Songza. The previous list included Pandora, iHeart Radio, iTunes Radio, Rhapsody, Spotify, Slacker, and Milk Music. If you use any of these services, T-Mobile will not count the data they use against your data plan. As far as Google Play Music goes, now that it has won the fan vote, T-Mobile would only say that along with its win, we should see it added to the list "later this year."

Via: T-Mobile

Cyanogen Inc. Working on "Something Really Cool" With Ex Google, HTC and Apple Employees

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 09:23:44 +0000

"Something really cool" is getting worked on, as announced by Cyanogen Inc. and Nextbit, a not-so-new startup focused entirely on mobile devices and cloud computing. Nextbit's team is comprised of former Google (original Android team engineers), Dropbox, Amazon, and Apple employees, and last night, the company announced they are to bring on former HTC Senior VP Scott Croyle as Vice President of Design and Product. While the something really cool is quite an unknown, Cyanogen posted to Google+ that they are looking for alpha testers, aka people who are willing to wipe their devices to try out whatever it is they are working on. Purely speculation, but with Nextbit's heavy focus on hardware and design, coupled with Cyanogen building a custom OS for it, we could be looking at the makings of a new US-based OnePlus-type device. The only type of explanation or peek into what Nextbit is working on comes from their CEO, Tom Moss. In the press release, he states, "As an industry, we’re really just getting started with mobile. At Nextbit, we are building a world class engineering team to tackle big technical problems. We know Scott [Croyle] is the right person to guarantee that all the technology we build focuses on creating unique mobile experiences for users.” If down the road we can expect some type of device from this team, would you be looking forward to it?

Via: Engadget | +Cyanogen Inc. | Nextbit

Pushbullet Now Lets You Reply to Text Messages on Your Computer With Any Text App

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 09:08:49 +0000

Thanks to an update that was pushed out this morning, Pushbullet will now let you reply to text messages directly from your computer. Previously, the Pusbullet team enabled this feature if you were using EvolveSMS, but to take it a step further, and to grab all of their users, they have enabled this for all texting apps. In order to get the new texting feature to work, all you need to do is install the latest update through Google Play (should be live) and make sure you have the Chrome extension installed. It should just automatically work then. Once a text message comes in, you will see a pop-up on your computer (like the one below) with a reply button. Hit reply, type your message, and then hit enter to send it off. As a Google Voice user, I can confirm that it does indeed work.

Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Via: Pushbullet

ASUS Reveals Name for Upcoming Smartwatch in New Teaser Video

Tim — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:28:12 +0000

It is officially the week of teases, as ASUS continues the trend, this time revealing an official name for its upcoming smartwatch, the ZenWatch. In a brief 30+ second teaser video, ASUS shows off a bit of the watch's design and overall profile, but we still have yet to see the watch's face turned on. Most signs point to this watch being an Android Wear device, but technically, that has not yet been confirmed. It is rumored that the ZenWatch will be incredibly affordable, landing in the $99-$149 range. However, with such a low price, we hope ASUS delivers on the quality we would expect. After all, it does sport the "Zen" moniker, much like the company's premium line of Ultrabook PCs. The company is set to unveil the ZenWatch on September 3 in Berlin, Germany during IFA. You can watch the ASUS' livestream right here when that day rolls around next week.

[responsive_vid]

LG G Watch Round Stops at FCC as Model LG-W110

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:13:55 +0000

At the beginning of this week, a new smartwatch from LG with a round face was nothing more than a rumor that was somewhat difficult to believe. Fast forward to today and we have both video and image teasers from LG for a watch that is indeed round and will be officially unveiled at IFA next week. It's name could be G Watch R or R Watch or something completely different, but it is coming. To make matters even more official, the watch has already stopped by the FCC under model number LG-W110. As can be seen in the image above, the "smartwatch" is round. The actual FCC filing doesn't tell us much, though, other than that it will support WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. There are mentions of the watch being charged through a charging cradle under model number SDT-330. That should sound familiar, since the charging cradle used to power the current G Watch is SDT-310. The current G Watch's cradle isn't exactly wireless charging, but it's close. The current model powers up via charging pins, although, LG has had some issues with them corroding in some cases. On a related note, the original G Watch falls under model number LG-W100. This is looking more and more like a quick follow-up!

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

LG's New Round G Watch Gets Another Teaser, Watch Almost Fully in View

Kellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:48:03 +0000

LG posted a new image of their round G Watch to Facebook late last night, an image that tries its best to hide the actual watch without really hiding it. I say that because the image is of the watch surrounded by dark, but with a bright light shining over its shoulder that attempts to distract us from the prize. Thankfully, a little tweaking in any image editing program lets you see the watch in full form, for the most part. We have done that for you below. The rest of the teaser mentions that "smart comes full circle" at the end of next week at IFA in Berlin. The image doesn't necessarily tell us anything new, but we can see that this new watch could sport a sizable amount of bezel when compared to the Moto 360. We can see the dial on the right side again, along with a strap that looks a lot like the strap on the current G Watch (not a good thing, by the way). Here's to hoping LG hasn't just created a G-Shock for Android Wear. We want premium, LG. After seeing the original teaser, where LG took a shot at the Moto 360, and now this, what are your new thoughts?

Via: Facebook

Verizon VoLTE Launch Details: Advanced Calling 1.0, Devices, Video Call Billing, and More

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:12:57 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced that it would launch VoLTE and HD Voice nationwide within the coming weeks. They also pinged us later in the day with clarification on how HD Voice calls would be treated compared to regular voice calls (in short: the same). As the evening has progressed, we have continued to learn additional details about Big Red's full VoLTE launch, including the two devices that will be able to take advantage out of the gate, specifics on Advanced Calling 1.0, how both Video and HD Voice calls are billed, and what happens when a customer hands-off from WiFi to LTE. Before we get into the specifics, below is a carefully crafted chart that compares Verizon's VoLTE and HD Voice service to the other major players in the game, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. As you can see, the big sell here for Big Red is video calling as a part of the service, something none of the others are currently offering.

With that out of the way, let's talk details.

Advanced Calling 1.0

Verizon is using the name Advanced Calling 1.0 to describe the package of HD Voice and Video Calling. From what I can tell, a customer will need to add Advanced Calling 1.0 to their service in order to place either type of call, assuming they have a compatible device. That may require them to update their phone as well. What I do not know yet, is if Verizon plans to charge a fee for this add-on or if it will be free of charge. I do know that customers will be able to find self-serve options for adding Advanced Calling 1.0 in their account through My Verizon or they can talk to a Verizon rep. Once Advanced Calling 1.0 has been activated on your device, you will find an option for "VoLTE Call" under Settings>Mobile Networks on your phone. Toggling this on or off turns Advanced Calling 1.0 on or off.

Verizon will update this Advanced Calling 1.0 page as we get closer to launch. You will be able to visit that to get started.

Devices

According to information passed along to us, Verizon will have two devices ready for VoLTE go-live, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G2. There are all sorts of other devices that will be updated over time to work with VoLTE and HD Voice, but those are the first. On a related note, there are accessories like wired or Bluetooth headsets that will work with HD Voice calls, but they need to specifically say that they support it.

Billing

As we mentioned earlier in the day, HD Voice calls are treated just like traditional calls. If you participate in an HD Voice call, it will count against your minute bucket, unless you have unlimited talk through your plan. No data charges apply when placing an HD Voice call. As for video calls, things are much different. When you place a video call over VoLTE, the audio portion is actually billed as a traditional voice call, but the video portion is billed as data. According to Verizon, a user could consume 6-8MB of data per minute during a video call. In other words, if you were on a video call for around two hours, it could use up to 1GB of data. Video calls placed over WiFi do not count against your data plan.

Placing Calls (HD Voice and Video)

With Advanced Calling 1.0 active on a VoLTE-ready device, placing a call is as simple as placing a traditional call. A customer would place a call through a contact, recent call, or dialer, just like they always have. The only difference is that the call quality should be much, much better, hence the name "HD Voice." If you would like to place a video call over LTE, Advanced Calling 1.0 will automatically create a group in your contacts with others who have video calling capabilities. So instead of trying to figure out who you can video chat with over LTE, Verizon will attempt to bundle them in a group.

Other Notes:

If you are on an HD Voice call (or Video Call through Advanced Calling 1.0) and leave a 4G LTE area, you will drop the call. According to Verizon, there is no mid-call hand-off to CDMA.
Video Calls can be handed off to WiFi and back to LTE. With a Video Call taking place over WiFi, customers should see a special icon indicating as much.

If you have any questions about HD Voice or VoLTE, be sure to drop them in the comments.

Cheers O!

"Dude, I Want a Note 4."

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:23:10 +0000

If there was any confusion surrounding the potential name of Samsung's new Galaxy Note device, a new series of videos uploaded to YouTube today by the Korean manufacturer all but settles it. At the end of three of four new clips that feature individuals sharing their stories of daily Note usage, the participants mention that a the new "Note 4" is coming out. While that isn't Samsung saying specifically that the phone will be called the Galaxy Note 4, they probably wouldn't allow this many people to call it the "Note 4" in their advertisements unless that was going to be the name. We included one of the four clips. If you don't feel like hearing about Mark's Love Note, jump to the 1:00 mark to hear the Note 4 references. We will be on hand next week for the Galaxy Note 4 unveiling in NYC.

AT&T Appoints Glenn Lurie as New President and CEO of AT&T Mobility

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 15:23:53 +0000

Today, AT&T has appointed Glenn Lurie as the new president and CEO of its AT&T Mobility business. Lurie, who has served as president of AT&T Mobility's Emerging Enterprises and Partnerships business, will take over for former Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega. For anyone who might be worried about never seeing de la Vega again, don't fret, as he is staying on at AT&T as its CEO of Mobile & Business Solutions Group. Whether you know his name or this is your first time hearing it, there is no doubt you know of his past work, as Lurie is somewhat of a rockstar over at AT&T. With his guidance, AT&T was able to snatch up an exclusivity deal with Apple to be the only US carrier to sell the original iPhone back in 2007. Without Lurie, who knows what might have been during that time in the mobile industry. With Sprint also gaining a new CEO recently, three of the top four US carriers, including T-Mobile, have relatively fresh blood manning the wheel of these powerhouses. It should be an interesting next few months as these carriers go to battle for your money.

Via: Fierce Wireless

HD Voice Calls on Verizon Treated Just Like Traditional Calls

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:26:47 +0000

Shortly after Verizon announced this morning that it would launch VoLTE and HD Voice over the coming weeks, a number of readers took to the comments with questions. The most common question surrounded HD Voice and minutes, more precisely, if an HD Voice call would count as data or minutes. Verizon reached out this afternoon to help clarify, stating that HD Voice calls will be treated the same as traditional voice calls are. If you are on an old grandfathered plan that doesn't include unlimited talk, you will have to watch your minute usage when on HD Voice calls, just like you do now. If you have a MORE Everything or Single Line plan with unlimited talk and text, then you wouldn't need to worry about it. Hope that helps.

BitTorrent Sync App Updated With Sharable Links, Redesigned UX

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:04:55 +0000

BitTorrent Sync, a multi-platform and multi-user service that allows users to sync files across the entire web, pushed an update to its Android app today, bringing a few hefty features in tow. In the update, which is now live on Google Play, users can generate sharable links to folders that can be shared with other people to access your files. In addition, an overhauled backup functionality will allow you to backup any folder on your Android device, just in case your originals somehow get corrupted or lost. Finally, besides new features, the app received an updated interface, which should help users increase productivity while on the go. With the new interface, users can easily share folders with other people, all without need for the cloud.

What's New

Enhanced security with optional approval process.
Enhanced backup functionality allows you to back up any folder on your Android device.
Updated user interface allows you to easily share a folder of stuff with other people, all without using the cloud.
Easily share folders via HTTPS link, email, or QR code.
Additional product enhancements and optimizations.

Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Two New Chromecast-able Apps, NPR One and Watch ABC

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 13:13:41 +0000

According to the official Google Chrome Twitter handle, two more services have added in Chromecast functionality as of late, those being NPR One and Watch ABC. With the updated apps, users can cast the service's content straight to the big screen in their living room, such as NPR One's radio channels, as well as select shows from the Watch ABC app. Since its launch, the Chromecast has become quite the little content curator. If you still have yet to grab one, you better get on that. For a Google-made list of compatible apps for Chromecast, check here. Play Links: NPR One | Watch ABC

Via: @GoogleChrome

Cheers Joffe!

Tuesday Poll: How Important is It That Your Phone has a Great Camera?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:54:59 +0000

The camera in your phone, oh how it has changed over the years. Cameras in phones used to be there as a last minute, only-shooter-you-had-on-you option for snapping a rare picture. The quality of that picture was never any good, until recent years. Now, we test the heck out of phone cameras, compare them from one phone to the next, and often times find ourselves considering passing on phones if their cameras aren't up to par with the competition. Samsung, LG, and Apple seem to have taken a sizable lead in terms of quality smartphone cameras, while Sony is hanging around, trying from phone-to-phone to join them. HTC is there as well, but they decided two years ago to ditch a traditional camera setup in favor of the ultimate gimmick that can't really be taken seriously. Then you have Motorola, a company that continues to innovate with software and hardware, yet hasn't put a good camera in a phone since, well, we can't even remember the last time. We know that DL readers buy phones from all of the manufacturers just mentioned, so it's clear that some of you are fine buying phones that don't offer the best camera experience. And that leads us to today's poll question - how important is it that your phone has a great camera? [poll id="323"]

Swing Copters Receives Update, Should Make Game Playable

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:30:32 +0000

Were you one of the people who downloaded Swing Copters on day one, only to find out it was the hardest game ever released, then immediately uninstall it? Well, if you are interested, you may want to give it another try today, as the game's well-known developer, Dong Nguyen, has released an update which attempts to make the game a bit more playable. In the update, when you begin an attempt, you have a bit more breathing room with your copter before you reach the first set of mallets and platforms. This should help you stabilize your copter's navigation controls, which are some of the more sensitive controls ever created for an Android game. What's funny, is that even after re-downloading this awful game, I still can't get past 2. Taking myself as a pretty hardcore gamer, I am both embarrassed and infuriated. So far, this guide is the only legit way I have found to beat this game. Play Link

"Name Your Own Price" for Great Bundle of Games Through StackSocial

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 10:57:05 +0000

There is a new place to grab bundle deals on Android games this morning, that being StackSocial, a website dedicated to finding and hosting the best deals on the web. This morning, the website announced a new promotion for Android game lovers, offering seven titles on a "name your own price" platform, while also offering to donate a portion of the proceeds to certain charities. As for the games offered in the bundle, if you pay more than the average price, currently sitting at $4.20, you can score Zombie Gunship, Incredipede, Bad Hotel, Waking Mars, Rebuild, Syder Arcade HD, and Savant - Ascent. If you purchased these games individually through Google Play, you would be looking at about $16 worth of titles. Unlike Humble Bundle, where buyers can choose what percentage of the money goes to a charity, StackSocial is automatically taking 10% of all purchases and donating to a charity of your choose, out of three preselected organizations - World Wildlife Fund, Creative Commons, and Child's Play. As we always do, we highly recommend grabbing these bundle deals. Not only do you get awesome games for a steeply discounted price, but you can help a great cause at the same time. StackSocial Link

Changes to Google Glass TOS Suggest Progress Toward Price Reduction, Official Launch

Kyle — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 10:25:51 +0000

Android Wear devices may have stolen the spotlight for now, but that does not mean Google Glass, the search giant's other platform based around glance-able information, is not inching closer towards a palatable price and retail launch. Evidence of progress comes in the form of recently made changes to the Google Glass Terms of Service (TOS), which Glass Almanac astutely observed and highlighted.

Specifically, the newer TOS adds a "Prices and Taxes" section, which mentions a mechanism for requesting a refund on the difference should Google discount Glass within 30 days of a customer's purchase. It also mentions "promotional offers," indicating sales on the hardware are within the realm of possibility. Somewhat revealingly, any and all references to "beta" have been purged, a measure of Glass' maturity. That does not necessarily mean a release is around the corner - 2014 seems like a stretch this late in the year - but it is a good indicator that Glass is nearing finalization. Can't wait to buy your very own face computer? There's hope for sometime next year, for sure.

Via: Glass Almanac

Google News and Weather App Gets Random, Massive Overhaul

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:58:23 +0000

Google News and Weather, remember that app? No? Don't get down on yourself if you know nothing of this app, a news and weather distributor that was a part of the stock Android experience, yet hasn't seen an update in years. Today, though, it has risen from the dead with a massive update from Google. The update turns News and Weather into a modern app, with slideout navigation and a fair amount of Material Design stylings. Once installed (or updated), you will find a minimal app that resembles both Google Now and Google's desktop news site. There is plenty of white and grey, but you get the card-like, sectioned experience to see separation between weather and various news topics. You can expand items like the weather box to see more info (for multiple cities), swipe between pages to get to new topics, and add personalization by signing in with your Google account (or multiple accounts). By all means, this is a great update. Some on our team are seeing the app available, while others aren't. If you aren't able to see it yet, feel free to grab the .apk file from below. Play Link | Download Link (apk)

Asus Posts Teaser Sketches of Smartwatch Ahead of IFA Unveiling

Kyle — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:25:54 +0000

Not to be outdone by Motorola and LG, Asus is continuing to tease its first foray into the wearable market. Ahead of its September 3 unveiling at IFA in Berlin, Asus on Facebook this morning posted two images of its prototypical smartwatch, a sort of rectangular device with rounded edges and what looks to be an interchangeable wristband. Other than the unique shape, Asus has hinted that the smartwatch will use gesture controls and sports an AMOLED display. According to some reports, the company plans to attack the budget sector by pricing it quite competitively - the device will reportedly retail between $99 and $149. For those of you who haven't committed to buying a wearable, will the lower price point factor into your buying decision?

Via: Asus [2]

Report: Amazon Struggles With Fire Phone, No More Than 35,000 Units Sold

Tim — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:00:17 +0000

According to The Guardian, who has compiled and analyzed data from both comScore and Chitika, Amazon is struggling to push the Fire Phone to US consumers, having sold no more 35,000 units since its release. The phone has been available through Amazon and AT&T (exclusively) since July 25, priced at $199 and $299 on-contract, or $649 for full retail. Using comScore data, which tracks monthly data on US smartphone users, from the date of release up to this point, then figuring in Chitika data which pegs the Fire Phone at 0.015% of its ad network traffic, The Guardian was able to deduce that Amazon has sold no more than 35,000 units. The number, which does not exactly surprise anyone here at DL, might come as a surprise to anyone else who constantly sees Amazon's commercials on TV for the Fire Phone. After all, "it comes with Amazon Prime." When first announced, we noticed right off the bat that the device would lack Google Play Services, so for anyone who would want most of their favorite Android apps, they would be left out in the cold. Do we have any owners of the Fire Phone here? If you do own one, feel free to tell us what you like and dislike about it. Would you recommend it to your friends and family? Is a free year of Amazon Prime worth it?

Via: The Guardian

T-Mobile "Doubles" Data When Adding $10 Tablet, Expands Family Plan

Kyle — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:31:21 +0000

T-Mobile's free data program has long been the carrier's most attractive tablet offering, but the company apparently wants to convert a few of those freeloaders to postpaid subscribers. To incentivize the switch, T-Mobile is expanding its Simple Choice offerings with tablet additions that match your smartphone data limit. With the reworked tablet plan, an additional $10 a month will net you the same amount of data reserved for your smartphone, up to 5 GB. T-Mobile says that works out to 10.2 GB of "total LTE data" with a $70 Simple Choice plan (5 GB + 5 GB + 200 MB), but there's a pretty huge caveat: that extra data is "reserved" for your tablet - your smartphone's data limit won't change. Bummer. Still, the carrier rightly points out that its competitors offer nothing as comparably inexpensive - the closest Sprint comes is 4GB of data for $75. T-Mobile says the add-on will be made available starting September 3. On a related note, T-Mobile is also expanding its family plan. Subscribes can now add up to 10 lines for just $10 per line after the 2nd subscriber. Previously, this T-Mobile family plan was limited to five lines. The new family plan goes live tomorrow, August 27.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

New Moto G Reportedly Appears in Full Form

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:19:27 +0000

On September 4, Motorola is going to show off not only a new Moto X, but a new Moto G as well. Don't believe us? Go back and look at their press invite again, which clearly shows a phone with the letter "G" centered on its display. Thanks to the folks over at HelloMotoHK, we may have one of our first looks (pictured above) at the new mid-range device. According to their images and information, the new Moto G will support dual-SIM (international variant) and microSD cards, along with swappable back covers, just like the original. We could also get an upgraded 5-inch HD display, 8MP rear camera, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, and the dual-front speakers that were first introduced on the Moto E. The new Moto G is currently living under the codename "Titan" and model number XT1069. This phone may not be for the Android heavy hitters, but there is no denying the original's popularity. Thanks to the Moto G and Moto E, Motorola has seen some success in recent quarters. Priced unbelievably well, both phones are selling well in both prepaid and emerging markets. Expect much of the same from the new Moto G.

Via: HelloMotoHK (Facebook)

VoLTE and HD Voice Arrive at Verizon in "Coming Weeks"

Kellen — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 06:59:39 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced that it is almost ready to finally unleash VoLTE (voice-over-LTE) and HD Voice upon its customers. In fact, customers should expect to begin using VoLTE and HD Voice "in the coming weeks," as opposed to months. Verizon didn't mention as much in their press release, but this almost seems early. Back in May, they announced that both services would be here in the "next few months" or "later this year," leaving us to wonder if that meant end of summer or early winter. Clearly, they meant summer. So what is HD Voice and VoLTE, and how can you use it? All of the details aren't completely available yet, but we do know a few things. First of all, VoLTE and HD Voice work side-by-side together for the most part. Voice-over-LTE allows you to place high-definition, better-sounding calls (HD Voice) over your data connection, but also quickly jump on or off of a video chat with the person on the other end, as well. Verizon is calling this first attempt at HD Voice calls "Advanced Calling 1.0," which is a fancy way of saying that we are about to see what it's like to seamlessly experience both HD Voice and video calls as if they were a native part of your regular calling experience. Yes, your dialer will soon have a video option. We should point out that in order for you to use VoLTE and place HD Voice calls you will need to be in a Verizon 4G LTE area and make sure that both parties are using a VoLTE-enabled phone. VoLTE will be enabled on devices through software updates once the service is live. Verizon is still expecting to launch their VoLTE and HD Voice services nationwide. Update: A number of readers asked how Verizon would treat HD Voice calls and if they would count towards data or minutes. The short answer - they will be treated just like traditional calls, according to Verizon.

Via: Verizon

LG G3 Stylus is Now Official, Will Debut Its Mid-Range Self at IFA

Kellen — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 19:00:13 +0000

The LG G3 Stylus, a device that LG accidentally unveiled a couple of weeks ago at the end of a promo video, is now official and will finally make a public appearance next week at IFA. Initially, most thought the G3 Stylus was a Galaxy Note competitor, but the world quickly realized that it was more like the LG G Vista that is available at Verizon, a mid-range yet oversized phone. The G3 Stylus sports a 5.5-inch qHD display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, micro SD card slot, 13MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 3,000mAh battery, and 3G connectivity. As the name suggests, the G3 Stylus also includes a stylus that LG is calling the Rubberdium stylus pen. This special pen is said to be comfortable in any hand and perfect for "endless jotting, doodling, and sketching with precision." LG loaded the G3 Stylus with a handful of apps that can take advantage of the Rubberdium-ness. The G3 Stylus carries much of the G3's software suite as well, including QuickMemo+, Dual Window, Smart Keyboard, Gesture Shot, and Knock Code. LG will begin selling the G3 Stylus in Brazil in September, followed by countries in Asia, Middle East, and Africa. In other words, this phone is not coming to the US, ever.

LG G3 STYLUS TO DEBUT AT IFA BERLIN

Latest G3 Variant Offers Large Display and Stylus-enabled User Experience at Exceptional Price
SEOUL, Aug. 26, 2014 ― Following the recently introduced G3 Beat and G Vista, LG Electronics (LG) today announced another new device with DNA borrowed from the acclaimed LG G3. The LG G3 Stylus is a pen-enabled smartphone that offers a large display and many of the premium user experience (UX) features of the G3 all in a fairly-priced package. The G3 Stylus comes equipped with an expansive 5.5-inch qHD display and boasts the same Floating Arc tapered edges, thin bezels and metallic skin design first introduced in the LG G3. The proprietary RubberdiumTM stylus pen feels comfortable in any hand and is perfect for effortless jotting, doodling and sketching with precision. Pre-loaded programs and apps for both productivity and entertainment also lets users seamlessly switch between work and play. In a category all its own, the LG G3 Stylus offers users many of the smart, simple yet premium features of the LG G3 at a fair price without compromising quality. The device is equipped with LG’s proven 13MP camera that carries over many of the UX features from the G3, such as Touch & Shoot, Gesture Shot, and Front Camera Light. With its large capacity 3,000mAh removable battery, LG G3 Stylus owners can be confident of an extended multimedia experience. Key features that make users enjoy more the G3 Stylus include:

QuickMemo+ combines Quickmemo, Memo and Notebook apps for simple content capture and sharing.

Dual Window divides the expansive screen into two separate windows for easy and effective multitasking.

Smart Keyboard intuitively adjusts to users’ typing patterns for faster input with fewer mistakes, reducing errors by up to 75 percent.

Touch & Shoot lets users simply touch anywhere on the display to focus and shoot, reducing a two-step process to just one.

Gesture Shot allows users to take easy selfies by simply opening and closing one’s hand in front of the lens to start a three-second countdown before the shutter is triggered.

Knock CodeTM unlocks the device in one easy step with a personalized “knock” pattern for both convenience and security.

“With its exceptional hardware and exceptional price that can’t be beat, the LG G3 Stylus is in a category all by itself,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The LG G3 Stylus is the perfect tool for consumers who don’t want to be bogged down carrying a laptop, tablet and smartphone. It gets things done and lets you have fun while doing without having to compromise on quality, style or user experience.” LG will roll out the G3 Stylus in 3G markets starting in Brazil in September followed by countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa and CIS. Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA are encouraged to come see the LG G3 Stylus for themselves at LG’s booth in Hall 11.2 of Messe Berlin. Key Specifications:

Chipset: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core

Display: 5.5-inch qHD IPS (960 x 540)

Memory: 8 GB / 1 GB RAM / MicroSD slot

Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 1.3MP

Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)

Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Size: 149.3 x 75.9 x 10.2mm

Weight: 163g

Network: 3G

Colors: Black / White / Gold

Other: Stylus Pen

# # #

California Smartphone Kill Switch Bill Signed Into Law, Goes Into Effect on July 1 of 2015

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:32:56 +0000

Starting July 1, 2015, smartphones sold in the state of California will be required to be sold with theoretical "kill switch" software baked in. Thanks to the bill, which was signed into law today, buyers who have their phones stolen will be able to remotely render their device unusable, with the ultimate goal being to help drastically cut down on theft of smart devices. Many companies who make the software found on devices, such as Apple and Google (Android Device Manager), have already begun this process for consumers, and in addition, a large group of manufacturers and US carriers have pledged to make smartphones harder to steal as part of a voluntary commitment with the CTIA. The following excerpt was taken from the bill, SB-962, which lays out pretty well the exact details of the new law.

Any smartphone that is manufactured on or after July 1, 2015, and sold in California after that date, shall include a technological solution at the time of sale, to be provided by the manufacturer or operating system provider, that, once initiated and successfully communicated to the smartphone, can render the essential features of the smartphone inoperable to an unauthorized user when the smartphone is not in the possession of an authorized user. The smartphone shall, during the initial device setup process, prompt an authorized user to enable the technological solution. The technological solution shall be reversible, so that if an authorized user obtains possession of the smartphone after the essential features of the smartphone have been rendered inoperable, the operation of those essential features can be restored by an authorized user. A technological solution may consist of software, hardware, or a combination of both software and hardware, and when enabled, shall be able to withstand a hard reset or operating system downgrade and shall prevent reactivation of the smartphone on a wireless network except by an authorized user.

Via: The Verge | The Office of Edmund Brown Jr.

HTC Teases 64-bit Octa-core Smartphone, Could Just be Mid-tier Snapdragon 615

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:50:02 +0000

HTC has posted a small teaser on a Chinese microblogging website, claiming to be working on a 64-bit octa-core-powered smartphone. Included with the tease is a glimpse of a phone we have not yet seen, but may actually end up being only a mid-range device. Given HTC does not make their own processors, we have to assume they are referring to a Qualcomm-made chip; likely the Snapdragon 615, which is a 64-bit octa-core processor that is to be featured in the upcoming Desire 820. For anyone hoping it was going to be a beastly Snapdragon 810, which is also a 64-bit octa-core (but yielding much greater power over the 615), it would be too early to start talks of a One (M9) with a Snapdragon 810, only for the simple fact that HTC clearly has a device ready to manufacture (pictured below). Given that a mid-range phone isn't much fun to argue over, tell us down below what you might like to see in the One (M9) aka HTC's 2015 flagship device. QHD? Snapdragon 808 or 810? 3GB+ of RAM? A decent camera? Let us know.

Via: Weibo

Monday Poll: Which OEM Would You Rather Purchase a Round Smartwatch From?

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:30:09 +0000

2014 was looking like the year of smartwatches thanks to Android Wear's unveiling, but now OEMs are trying to make it the year of round smartwatches. The first and only notable smartwatch was the Moto 360 from Motorola, but new info from LG and Samsung has them both looking to introduce round watches in the upcoming future. Given that consumers will now have multiple choices in this space, we would like to know which OEM you would prefer to give your hard earned money to. While we know exactly what to expect from Motorola's premium smartwatch offering, LG and Samsung's are a bit of mystery, but might feature a tad more plastic when compared to the Moto 360. Below in the comments, feel free to give us an idea as to how you chose between the three OEMs.

[poll id="322"]

Official: Amazon is Buying Twitch

Kellen — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:01:02 +0000

Amazon is officially buying Twitch, according to a press release just sent out by the company. The deal includes Amazon acquiring all outstanding shares of Twitch for "approximately" $970 million in cash. Amazon hopes to close the deal in the second half of this year. The future of Twitch should not concern its loyal users, at least according to Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, who said that they "look forward to learning from them [Twitch] and helping them move even faster to build new services for the online gaming community." Twitch CEO Emmett Shear also said in the announcement that "Being a part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world."

Amazon.com to Acquire Twitch
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2014-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Twitch Interactive, Inc., the leading live video platform for gamers. In July, more than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch produced by more than 1 million broadcasters, including individual gamers, pro players, publishers, developers, media outlets, conventions and stadium-filling esports organizations. “Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.” “Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.” Twitch launched in June 2011 to focus exclusively on live video for gamers. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Twitch’s shareholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Twitch for approximately $970 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.

Update: Here is the statement from Twitch--

Today, I’m pleased to announce we’ve been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. We’re keeping most everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch. I personally want to thank you, each and every member of the Twitch community, for what you’ve created. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you for sticking with us through growing pains and stumbles. Thank you for bringing your very best to us and sharing it with the world. Thank you, from a group of gamers who never dreamed they’d get to help shape the face of the industry that we love so much. It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us.

Via: Amazon

Samsung Reportedly Working on Circular Smartwatch of Its Own

Kyle — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:26:06 +0000

As if there were not enough already, LG and Motorola are not the only companies with plans to release circle-shaped smartwatches. The SIM-enabled Gear 2 Solo, expected to debut alongside the Galaxy Note 4 at next week's Unpacked, will retain the conventional geometry of its predecessors, but Samsung's newest, unannounced Gear - a model reportedly under development - is reportedly circular, according to a SamMobile source familiar with the company's plans. Although virtually everything about the device is seemingly in flux, SamMobile's source was unable to confirm the smartwatch's release date or even operating system, but news of Samsung designing circular compliment to its existing Gear line wouldn't come as a huge surprise. Anecdotally, the Moto 360 is the year's most anticipated smartwatch, largely in part to its premium materials and deferential design. In a few months' time, Samsung may attempt to replicate Motorola's putative success with a circular wristwatch of its own.

Via: SamMobile

Forget Google, Amazon Buying Twitch Streaming Service for More Than $1 Billion (Updated)

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:25:30 +0000

Update: It's official - Amazon is buying Twitch for $970 million. According to two sources of The Information, as well as a source of the Wall Street Journal, Google is no longer set to acquire Twitch, the livestream network for roughly $1 billion. Instead, Amazon is now the buyer, reportedly all set to sign the paperwork and announce the deal as early as today. The deal is reported to be worth more than $1 billion, as Amazon will look to take Google's YouTube as well as Netflix head-on once the deal is made. Twitch has been the go-to site for gamers as of late, perfect for streamers who enjoy pasting a feed of themselves playing the latest video game titles. There is no information available as to why Google backed out of the deal, but speculation leads to the theory that if Google purchased Twitch, there would no longer be any type of real competition in the livestream business. If this story pans out, and Amazon does indeed purchase Twitch for more than $1 billion, you will surely hear about it once publicly announced.

Via: The Information (Subscription) | WSJ (Subscription)

Secret Updated in Google Play, Brings "Yes or No" Polls

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:45:55 +0000

A new update for Secret is available, one which will have you now answering poll questions inside of your feed. In the update, once you start crafting a new secret to share with all of your friends, you can add in a yes or no poll, which could make things very interesting moving forward. In addition to the poll, users can now add photos to their secrets from Flickr, which make your secrets stand out from the rest. To top it all off, Secret has added in plenty of bug fixes, as well as "improved measure" for your safety. Go grab the update and start sharing those secrets.

What's New

Turn any secret into a Yes or No question and see responses from your friends
Add beautiful backgrounds from Flickr to your secrets
Improved measures for your safety
Bug fixes and substantial performance improvements

Play Link

Grab One Free Year of LastPass Premium, the Last Password You Have to Remember

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:00:08 +0000

If you are the type to always forget that certain password to that certain website, there are services available which can help you store this type of sensitive information, while also making sure it is incredibly protected at the same time. For a limited time, users of LastPass, a service which creates super strong passwords then stores them for you, can grab a year free of LastPass Premium through AppSumo. While the service is already cross platform, LastPass Premium allows users to access their LastPass info on all of their mobile devices. This includes Android, iOS, Windows, BlackBerry, and more. To claim your free year of LastPass Premium, follow the link below and follow the instructions. AppSumo Link

[responsive_vid]

This is the New Motorola Skip, a Full-Blown Key Fob That Keeps Your Phone Unlocked When Near

Kellen — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 09:30:42 +0000

Last year, along with the launch of the Moto X, Motorola introduced an accessory called the Skip (our review). The Skip was an attachable NFC clip that would allow you to skip the unlock PIN or pattern on your device with a simple touch. It really only had that one use. Motorola handed out the Skip for free to those who placed early Moto X orders, but it later retailed for around $20 (now $10). As a follow-up, Motorola is on the verge of releasing a new version of the Skip, this time in the form of a Bluetooth-equipped key fob that has more uses than tap-to-unlock via NFC. The new Motorola Skip has three major uses, according to its user manual. First, the key fob can be used to find your keys, should you attach it to your key ring. Using a companion app on your phone that pairs to the Skip via Bluetooth, you can touch a button that will make the Skip beep or even bring up its last known location via map. Second, the new Skip can also be used in the other direction, to find your phone through a double tap on the Skip's lone button. Finally, if you have the Skip paired to your phone and lying nearby, it will allow you to quickly unlock your phone by bypassing a pattern or PIN. If you leave the new Skip behind, your phone should then return to its locked state. The idea is that when you are in a secure area with your keys around, you shouldn't need to enter a pattern or PIN every time you want to use your phone. But let's say you leave your phone behind some where without the Skip, your device will lock back down. No information has been made available in terms of pricing or availability. If I were a betting man, I would bet that we will see this new Skip by September 4, when Motorola unveils the new Moto X and Moto G.

Via: FCC

Cheers Justin!

Samsung Releases Another Teaser for Galaxy Note 4 Ahead of Next Week's Unveiling

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 09:10:39 +0000

Just as they did last week, Samsung continues its teasing of the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 with another brief promo video posted to YouTube. In this video, which is much like last week's, Samsung continues to sell S-Pen as the phone's defining feature. In fact, to Samsung, the S-Pen is as notable of an invention as the pen itself, which just goes to show how in love Samsung is with the little stylus. Of course, none of these teasers actually show off the new Galaxy Note 4. We will need to wait for next week to roll around for any of that action.

Unlimited Work-Around Gone: Upgrading at Verizon Requires 2-year Data Package as of Yesterday

Kellen — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 08:36:55 +0000

Back on August 10, we reported that Verizon was about to close a loophole that many of us had used over the last couple of years to upgrade to new phones at discounted prices while still keeping unlimited data. As of yesterday, that loophole is officially closed. The loophole used to work like this. A customer looking to upgrade would use a feature phone line to upgrade to a smartphone at a discounted rate, which means a data package would be temporarily added. The customer would then switch that newly upgraded phone over to their unlimited line (allowing them to keep unlimited data) and then cancel the data package from the feature phone line that they just upgraded on. The feature phone line would return to its previous state (likely $9.99 per month) and the unlimited line would now have a new phone that was purchased at a discounted rate without killing off their unlimited data. This loophole also used to work for customers who decided to add a line to upgrade, but would then cancel the data package on that new line. Verizon understood that this was a loophole, so they are now requiring smartphone upgrades to keep data packages (minimum of 2GB $30) for the length of a contract, which is typically two years. In other words, if you were to try and upgrade a feature phone line temporarily in the situation we described above, Verizon will no longer allow you to cancel the data package. Since you are using the upgrade on that feature phone line to purchase a smartphone, Verizon expects you to pay for data for two years as if you were keeping the smartphone on that line, even if you don't. As you can see in the image below, which I just grabbed while testing out an upgrade from a feature phone line I have attached to my account, the loophole has been closed. Verizon offered up this "mandatory disclosure" which states that by upgrading my feature phone line, I would be required to keep a data package.

Edit: As was noted in the comments, you still have a couple of options for upgrading and keeping unlimited data. First, you can buy a phone at full retail. Second, you can steal an upgrade from a line that already has a data package. This really only closes the loophole where people were upgrading and then canceling data packages.

Sony Slips, Shows Off Unannounced Tablet and Smartwatch in Promo on Facebook

Tim — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 08:25:49 +0000

With IFA kicking off next week, the week before is usually packed with unintentional leaks. The newest leak is from Sony, who may have accidentally shown off two upcoming products in one promo that was placed on its Facebook page. In the promo, which looks to have been taken down by now, a man sitting poolside is pictured using an unknown tablet, while also wearing an unknown smartwatch. The smartwatch, could either be an upcoming SmartWatch-branded device, or even better, Sony's first Android Wear-powered smartwatch. The design, to us, gives off a Samsung vibe, especially in the clasp region of the bands. As for the tablet, the only upcoming device rumored from Sony that could match this description is the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Much like other Sony-made tablets, it should be water resistant, meaning the gentleman who is holding it by the pool isn't being completely irresponsible. In terms of specs, the Tablet Compact might come with a 7-8" 1080p display and Snapdragon processor, but not much else is known at this time. Thankfully, as previously noted, IFA starts next week, and many of our unanswered questions will be satisfied.

Via: Xperia Blog | Android Central

T-Mobile Adds 2GB $45 Simple Starter Plan to Line-up

Kellen — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 07:55:56 +0000

T-Mobile added a new option to its Simple Starter plan line-up today that quadruples the original plan's data bucket from 500MB to 2GB of LTE data per month. The new plan is a limited time offer that runs $45 per month, which is just $5 more than the 500MB offering. So yes, for $5 more, you can get 2GB of data along with unlimited talk and text. With the Simple Starter plan, there are no overages and no annual contracts. The new plan is available September 3.

Via: T-Mobile

Coin Finally Apologizes to Backers After Attempting to Sweep Delay News Under the Rug

Kellen — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 09:38:21 +0000

As a crowd-funded project, what's the best way to completely piss off your hundreds of thousands of backers over night after having given them nothing but positive vibes for almost a year, even when you are days from launching your product? Well, you do what Coin did. On Friday, Coin - the credit card to replace all cards - did something pretty ball-less. Only a week after telling its backers that it would start shipping their Coin credit cards by August 28 and that everything was on-schedule and awesome, a series of news stories showed up detailing a number of massive changes to the program that none of their backers knew anything about. This is more than likely how it went down. Coin, realizing it had to make massive changes to its product rollout to make it more stable, have time to work out manufacturing issues, and get a larger group of people out in the wild to beta test, decided that instead of telling its backers first about the news, that it would try and mislead or avoid the truth when it issued statements to select press outlets. So that's what Coin did. They hand-picked select media outlets, briefed them on the situation (even offered up a chance to speak with the head of Coin for quotes), showed some demos, and sold them on the changes without actually telling any of them that there was a delay. Don't believe me? Go back to Friday and find the early stories about the news surrounding Coin. People get to beta test! A launch is here! Yay, for Coin backers! It was as if this was the plan all along or that major changes to the program were nothing but a minor hiccup. None of these stories mentions a delay or the fact that no one in the Coin backer group had any idea that this was going on. In fairness to these outlets, they probably had no idea what was really going on (how could they know?), and were simply taking the carefully crafted news that Coin's press team was feeding them. But then backers started receiving "Claim Your Coin" emails with the new details about a previously unannounced beta program, paying for another Coin at a later date, and a push to 2015 for the "Gold Standard" edition. We got ours as well. There was never once a mention of a delay. People freaked out. We called Coin out on their bullsh*t. People got angrier. Some began organizing to file a class action suit. And then finally, Coin apologized, a full day later. And that's where we stand now. Coin is sorry that it didn't let its backers know first, you know, the people that are actually making their product a reality. That would be the same group of people that had been told nothing but positive things for months. To make up for the mistake, Coin will now open up the beta to 15,000 people instead of 10,000 people, but also run it at no cost to backers. Yes, in case you missed it, they initially planned to charge backers to pay for this expanded beta test. They will still issue you a refund if you don't feel like waiting or testing. Here is the letter being issued to backers.

Dear Coin Backers, First and foremost, we want to apologize to each and every one of you. We are building Coin for you and are extremely disappointed with ourselves that we made some of you unhappy with us. We want to earn your trust again. We apologize for our lack of transparency and clarity in our communications to you. You, as our valuable backers, should have been the first to know about all product updates. We honestly thought we could make our timeline. We were overly optimistic. The San Francisco Bay Area Coin Beta made it evident that we should conduct a larger nationwide Coin Beta. We need your help with testing nationwide, but realize that this is not a cost for you to bear. Therefore, we will run a nationwide Coin Beta for no cost to Coin Beta Backers ($0) and increase the number of Coin Beta devices by 50% to 15,000. We’ll do our best to grow this number over time. To clarify, your spot in the Coin Beta program is determined by your pre-order date, regardless of whether you opt-in with the iOS or Android app. We feel responsible to the commitment each of you has given to us by backing Coin and so we haven’t spent even one dollar of the crowd funding campaign. All our efforts and production has been supported by equity dollars. Coin Beta was a hard decision but important step as we want to deliver the device we all expect and nothing less. Getting Coin to work with thousands of different card readers of different makes, models and regions is not easy and that’s why we need the help of an extended beta team. We are truly sorry that the first generation Coin is not ready when we said it would. Our team has been working hard day/night and weekends since May 2012 in an attempt to deliver Coin to you on time and while we are close, we are not at the finish line. We have achieved ~0.84 mm form factor with e-ink screen and bluetooth low energy. We even found a button that has a tactile touch so you can feel feedback every time you press the button on Coin. Coin swipes successfully in 85% of the locations we visit. Our hardware team is focused on the remaining 15%. With Coin Beta, we will validate compatibility nationwide and improve usability. Meanwhile, we’ll keep a focus on growing our manufacturing capabilities and are confident that we will deliver high-quality first generation Coins to you all. We promise to do better with our transparency and updates to backers. We promise to keep working hard to deliver you a great product. We value your honest feedback, good or bad; and we are always listening. Sincerely, Kanishk and the whole Coin team PS - We appreciate your patience and support, but if you would like to cancel, we will promptly issue a refund to you. Please email help@onlycoin.com with your order number. We hope to earn your trust again in the future.

LG Will Unveil a Round Smartwatch at IFA, Takes Dig at Moto 360 in Teaser

Kellen — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 08:35:59 +0000

Rumors of a new LG smartwatch making its debut at IFA in Berlin over the first week of September popped up a week ago. Those are no longer rumors, as LG unveiled an official teaser this morning for its latest smartwatch that will indeed be shown off at IFA. And guess what? It will be a round smartwatch. Call it the G Watch R or G Watch Round or whatever you feel like, one thing is certain - the Moto 360 now has a competitor in the round smartwatch space. The quick clip talks about rounding the corners and bends, feeling the gap, and making the perfect circle, as it animates a square into a circle that eventually overlays watch faces onto a watch. We went frame-by-frame to capture the clearest image (up top) they show us of the watch, though it is indeed a rough render. Assuming their teaser was meant to show this, you could probably assume that the watch will take this sort of form. The watch certainly comes off a lot more classically designed than other smartwatches. You have a traditional housing with a dial/button on the right side. There is no mistaking that this is a watch and not a futuristic-black-box-calculator-1992-look-at-me-I'm-a-nerd-thingy on your wrist should you wear one. At least, according to this teaser.

[responsive_vid]

After seeing this, a couple of quick thoughts immediately come to mind. First, I am all for another round watch to compete with the Moto 360. With that said, make it premium, LG, make it premium. If this new round watch is as bland and plasticy as the current G Watch, only in round form, I will not be interested. We know the Moto 360 is made up of stainless steel and premium leather, so even though LG is going round, it has to go big. Second, did anyone else catch the little dig at the Moto 360 in the video below? For months, people have complained about the small black bar that takes up space at the bottom of the Moto 360's round race, even calling it not fully round. We know that an ambient light sensor is housed there, so it has a specific reason for existing, but again, many can't un-see it. LG, in this video, goes extra slow-mo during their rounding animation to show them erasing that bottom area ("feel the gap" it says - assuming they meant "fill") and making the "perfect circle." I giggled. Good job, LG.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 8/22/2014

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 16:00:52 +0000

We are wrapping up another week here at DL, but big things are looming, as we are now only one week away from the beginning of September. With September comes a ton of announcements, highlighted by those set to be made by Samsung, Motorola, and a few others. It should be an intense month for Android lovers. This week, we learned a lot more about the Moto 360, and might have even found out its price thanks to a screw up over at Best Buy. How does $249 sound? In addition, HTC's reported "Flounder" Nexus device received WiFi certification, we compare leaked renders of the new Moto X+1 to last year's Moto X, and finally, Swing Copters made its way to Google Play. Here are the highlights just in case you missed anything.

Have a fantastic weekend, folks!

Add Motorola XT1112 to the List of Possible "Shamu" Devices

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:25:23 +0000

A Motorola device under the codename "shamu" is largely thought to be the next Nexus device from Google. With that bit of information made public through a couple of reports, tech enthusiasts are doing anything in their power to try and find mentions or appearances of the device, because well, Nexus remains a huge deal in the Android world. With that in mind, feel free to add a Motorola phone under the model number XT1112 to your list of possible "shamu" devices. The model number appeared this week through Zauba, an import/export tracking system in India that has been both correct and wrong in the past at helping us track down future devices. In other words, add the number to the list, but don't invest deeply in it. The listing does have a description of "SHAMU PHONES (PROTOTYPE) (FOR DEMO PURPOSE) MOTOROLA XT1112," so yes, it does actually mention "shamu." Again, accept it as a potential piece to the puzzle and nothing more. As of today, we have more Motorola model numbers to keep track of than I think we can even actually keep track of. We have XT1063/XT1068/XT1069 (all new Moto G variants), XT1096 (Verizon Moto X+1), XT1097 (GSM Moto X+1), XT1254 (reports suggest a new flagship DROID), and XT1112. Got that all straight?

Via: Zauba | Gizmobic

Nova Launcher Beta Updated With New Drawer Animations, App Drawer Search Additions

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:44:08 +0000

The beta group for Nova Launcher received an update for their launcher application today, one which brings new app drawer animations, as well as a few important bug fixes. Detailed in the GIF image below, users can choose between a few nifty drawer animations, such as a circular opening, slide up motion, and others. To highlight the fixes, users were previously unable to manually change the app drawer icon on their home screen, but thanks to the update, this issue has been fixed. And here I was, thinking it was only me having the problem.

What's New

Drawer transitions (Circle reveal, slide up, zoom, fade). Settings - Drawer - Transition Animation. Circle reveal not compatible with all devices.
App Drawer Search, shows recently installed and updated apps without search query
Fix inability to manually changing app drawer icon

Play Link You are absolutely dying to be a part of the Nova Launcher beta community, we know. Don't worry, though, because you can join too! Head on over to the Google+ community, add yourself, opt-in to the beta program on Google Play, then download the beta apk from Google Play. It's so easy, a caveman could do it.

Via: +Kevin Barry

HTC "Flounder" Nexus Tablet Gets Wi-Fi Certified

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:11:45 +0000

The HTC "Flounder" or "Volantis," whichever you prefer, is more than likely the new Nexus tablet from Google. Both codenames, which reference the same device (yes, Google gives all Nexus devices two names), have appeared a handful of times in official Android changelogs and also in detailed rumors. Thanks to a Wi-Fi Alliance certificate that went unnoticed on August 15, we have another sighting to add to the list. The Wi-Fi certificate clearly shows that a device made by "HTC Corporation," that is a tablet, runs "aosp" Android L, and carries firmware that references "flounder" is the real deal. There aren't many other details in this listing, other than a mention of the model numbers 0P8210000, 0P8220000, and 0P8230000. The first number isn't new, but again, matches up to previous leaks. You have to wonder now if three separate SKUs means multiple colors and/or multiple storage sizes. Previous Nexus devices have all had multiple colors and/or storage options, so that wouldn't be a shocker either. Get ready.

Via: Wi-Fi Alliance (PDF)

Cheers Justin!

Friday App Sales: Hitman GO, the Metal Slug Series, Apex Launcher Pro, and More

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 13:30:16 +0000

There is a new massive list of app and game sales taking place over on Google Play, so any plans you might have had for this weekend just went right out the window. So sorry about that. Anyway, it appears as if the entire Metal Slug series of Android games are on sale for just $1, followed by the very popular Hitman GO for only $1.99. To follow it up, kovdev's Nox icon pack (a personal favorite) is priced at just $0.99, while a huge lineup of Cartoon Network games is also priced at only a dollar. For the full list of apps, plus links to Google Play to take advantage of the deals, look below.

Friday app sales

Nox Icon Pack ($0.99)
Samurai Showdown II ($0.99)
Metal Slug X ($0.99)
Metal Slug 3 ($0.99)
Metal Slug 2 ($0.99)
Metal Slug ($0.99)
The King of Fighters-A 2012 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters-A '98 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters '97 ($0.99)
Hitman GO ($1.99)
EMPIRE: Deck Building Strategy ($0.99)
Apex Launcher Pro ($1.99)
The Great Prank War ($0.99)
Best Park in the Universe ($0.99)
Calling All Mixels ($0.99)
Powerpuff Girls: Defenders ($0.99)
Ghost Toasters - Regular Show ($0.99)
Card Wars - Adventure Time ($0.99)
Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake ($0.99)
Swype Keyboard ($0.99)
EPOCH 2 ($0.99)
Air Control ($0.99)
Dragon, Fly! Full ($0.99)

Go grab 'em!

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 22 Answers

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:51:34 +0000

On Monday, we asked our lovely community to submit questions for Volume 22 of the Droid Life Q&A Sessions. It looks like many people are curious about our take on custom ROMs these days, as well as when an Android phone deserves to be upgraded. On top of Android-related inquiries, people are curious about what we could do to get Ron off of his iPhone addiction, as well as the DL Staff's current favorite burger and beer combo at this moment. We have selected a few of our favorite questions, so take a look below at this volume's answers. Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim, and R is Ron.

What are the must have items for next year's flagships?

K: A phone that isn’t huge, that actually has a really amazing camera, and a battery that legitimately lasts for more than a day. Phones these days are plenty powerful, have awesome displays, and more than enough RAM to perform like mini-computers, but those other three areas continue to be pain points from one phone to the next. T: I am still pretty content with 1080p displays, but QHD panels would be nice to see on most of the flagships coming out. As for everything else, I need processors and RAM counts that will make sure I don't experience any lagging during gaming or anything else. Finally, but probably the most importantly, since most flagships will undoubtedly come with everything I already mentioned, I want a a really good camera. And not just on one phone, but all of the phones. R: I think the big thing for me is to have a flagship with no software lag and an amazing camera. The best flagships today are still compromising in those areas for some reason (the G3 perhaps being the exception).

Do you guys still root and put custom ROMs on your phones?

K: I tend to keep my Nexus devices rooted and unlocked, but that’s it. Most of the phones I own are for review or test purposes or to receive OTA updates, so rooting and installing ROMs becomes somewhat difficult. We need phones in a stock state to be able to tell you what’s going on with them. Plus, I switch devices so much that it would just be a pain to try and keep up with all of those different ROM communities. T: I have not flashed a custom ROM in what feels like years. I guess the last time I actually flashed anything custom was on the Galaxy Nexus. Looking back, that was a while ago. Now, I make sure all of my phones and tablets can receive OTA updates, since it's important for this job. And even if I was to flash custom ROMs still, I usually don't find them to be as useful as they used to be. Stock Android treats me well, so I don't see any need in fixing something which isn't broke. R: Nope. I'm happy with the Moto X with stock software. I still customize it, but ROMs aren't necessary anymore for the kind of customization they used to afford.

What impact do you see iOS 8 and a large-screen iPhone having on the Android ecosystem?

K: A large-screen iPhone is a huge deal. For years, Android phones have captured our hearts because of their size, which allows for a better experience consuming media. If you create an iPhone that matches big Android phones, I could actually see a number of people switching. Then you add in iOS8 and Continuity and you have a real winning combination. Android as an operating system doesn’t have much to worry about overall because it’s just so widely adopted, but Apple may have its biggest iPhone launch ever if it introduces a bigger version. T: Honestly, I couldn't be more excited to see some change come out of Cupertino. Apple has been stuck on that 4" display for too long, and if people are going to continuously buy into iOS, they might as well as enjoy it on bigger screens. Trust me, when larger iPhones come out, nothing about the software will change. The only difference will be a few extra icons, and people enjoying their content on bigger displays. I think a 5" iPhone could look really good, considering they keep the resolution high and the body super slim. I'm excited. R: It depends on the resolution and aspect ratio. If they show more data like the iPhone 5 did over the 4S then it might influence Google and Android OEMs to work on how apps are displayed, but if it just makes everything the same ratio, but bigger then it will have the same issues that Android has had with larger displays and probably have little to no influence.

What is your favorite burger/beer combo now?

K: Back in April, I mentioned the Franklin burger from Distilled in NYC. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of my favorite. My mouth still waters every time I think about it. But, I did eat the Havarti Horseradish burger in my home town of Whitefish, MT at the Craggy Range a couple of months ago, and it was to die for. Havarti cheese, smoked bacon, horseradish sauce. Pair that with a Cold Smoke from Kettlehouse Brewing and you have an amazing combo. T: I eat burgers. A lot of burgers. Pin-pointing a favorite at any given time is very hard when you eat as many burgers as I do. However, I will try my best. There are two burgers that come to mind right now, those being the Yakuza Burger from a place called Yakuza here in Portland, and the Franklin Burger from Distilled NY in New York City. These two burgers, coupled with a good refreshing brew, are my favorites to date. But, just for the record, my favorite burger with a Diet Coke would be a Double Whopper with no cheese, plus bacon, minus pickles from Burger King. And that you can get anywhere in this great nation of ours. God bless America. And burgers. R: Same as before. Original burger from Slater's 50/50 and Hanger 24.

How long do you stick with one particular phone before switching to another?

K: Depends on how frequently a new flagship phone comes out. Earlier in the year, I went from the One (M8) to the Galaxy S5 to the Xperia Z2 to the OnePlus to the Nexus 5 here or there, all within a short time. Now, I’m pretty hooked on the G3, but I get the feeling that is about to change with the new Moto X arriving in two weeks. T: Usually I will stick with a phone until the next big phone comes out. For example, I will rock the G3 until the Motorola X+1 or Galaxy Note 4 hits my desk, and then depending on if I like them or not, I will either go back to the G3 or stick with one of them. From what I know so far, the Motorola flagship definitely has my attention the most right now. R: I live in the works of two year contracts just like everyone else. A big part of my learning to be satisfied with what I have has been learning to love used devices. I can remember that my first iPod had a large scratch on the front of it, which for some might make it seem less desirable, but for me it made it easily identifiable. I like that my 5c has scuffs here and there. It's being used and loved on and that's part of what makes it mine.

What determines a worthy upgrade for a phone?

K: Depends on what’s important to you or what is driving you nuts about your current phone. Sick of not getting updates fast enough? Upgrade to a Nexus. Sick of a terrible skin and want the best user experience? Upgrade to a Motorola phone. Want the best display or camera? Buy a Samsung device. Want the newest in smartphone tech? Buy an LG phone. T: Whenever a next-gen phone comes out, for example the Galaxy S5 over the Galaxy S4, the most important thing to me is software optimizations, camera enhancements, and hardware changes. If those things have been improved over the previous year's model, then by all means, upgrade that phone. However, using that same example, the only thing the Galaxy S5 has over the S4 is the camera. Other than that, the Galaxy S4 has a better feel in-hand, and its performance seems much better than the Galaxy S5. To me, the GS5 did not warrant an upgrade over the S4. But of course, that's just me. The Galaxy Note 4 over the Note 3 on the other hand, could be a completely different story. On September 3, we will know! R: If you're on a 2 year contract cycle pretty much anything new should be upgrade-worthy. The big things is just deciding what compromises you want to make.

What would it take to get Ron to ditch his iOS devices?

K: Hah, nothing. Ever. T: Maybe if Tiny Wings came to Android we could finally sway him. But that's never happening. R: It would take an Android device with a great camera, insanely fast software, all the iOS apps that I love that aren't available on Android still, and services like iMessage to be available on Android. Some of those will happen eventually, but certainly not all of them. The long and short of it is that I'm very happy using iOS, but I'm also happy to recommend Android phones to friends and family when appropriate. Friends don't let friends use Windows Phone, though.

Question of the Day: What is Your Morning Android Routine?

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:20:04 +0000

This morning, the official Android Twitter account posted a question to its followers that we loved so much, we decided to steal it. Well, sort of. They asked, "After you've hit snooze for the last time, what's the first thing you use your #Android phone for in the morning?" Our question has been tweaked slightly, asking for your typical Android routine in the morning, but they are similar. We want to know what apps you use before anything else or how you get ready for the day with technology, that type of thing. I can tell you that before I get out of bed, I turn off the previous night's sleep activity tracking on my newly acquired Jawbone UP24 and make sure it syncs. Then, I swipe down the notification pull-down on my phone to see what kind of a mess I have to clean up, which then leads into a jump through to my inbox. From there, I tend to cruise into Feedly to check for news we have yet to be tipped about and then Google Now for weather info or upcoming calendar appointments, before finishing off with non-worked-related Instagram and sports updates. Once that is all done, it's off to the coffee maker. So what is yours like? When you wake up in the morning, roll over and grab your smartphone, what is the first thing (or things) you do? What does your morning routine look like on an Android device?

Unpossible Racing Game is Impossible Road Meets TRON

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:39:45 +0000

There are particular visual cues that remind me of things I have seen before, especially when it comes to movies and art in general. The newest game to catch my eye on Google Play, titled Unpossible, throws you right into a fast-paced world that looks straight out of TRON. In the game, you move down a rotating path, avoiding large obstacles, while also twisting yourself around a track. As you progress in a level, the speed gets faster and the objects get much larger. The overall objective is to see just how far you can make it down the road. For anyone who has played Impossible Road, it is much like that game, but not nearly as hard. This game could actually be mastered, unlike Impossible Road that takes not only skill, but luck too. The game costs $1.99 on Google Play, and for fans of racing games or Impossible Road-like titles, definitely check it out. Play Link ($1.99)

[responsive_vid]

Coin is Already Delaying Its Release, Will Only Let 10,000 Backers Beta Test Until Spring 2015

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:14:38 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, Coin - the credit card to replace all credit cards - told us that it was ready to ship to backers and that its companion Android app would arrive by September 25, about a month after the iOS app. Today, things have changed drastically, with Coin announcing to a small group that it has essentially delayed the product as it works out kinks, manufacturing issues, and most importantly, gets card swipes up from its current 85% success rate. Coin will now only invite 10,000 people to test what they are calling "Coin Beta." The rest of its thousands and thousands (potentially in the hundreds of thousands) of backers will have to wait until Spring 2015 to get the "Gold Standard" edition, almost a year after it was promised. If you are lucky enough to get an invite to the Coin Beta (Edit: we got ours ~~we weren't~~), then you have a choice. You can either opt-in and be a part of an exclusive group or decide to wait until Spring 2015. The Coin Beta has some definite drawbacks at this time. First, Coin is only seeing an 85% success rate, so there is a chance that you will swipe Coin to purchase something and see that embarrassing credit card failure note. The beta also does not include the "Left-Behind Alert," an option that notifies Coin owners via phone if they leave their credit behind at a table or point of purchase. The beta is only available to US consumers as well. The Gold Standard edition should have Left-Behind Alerts and will hopefully work more than 85% of the time. If you were a backer of Coin, then you are already realizing the issues that come with crowd-funding products. The creators of Coin have now admitted that they can't deliver their product until almost a year after initially promised. That's a big deal, and should leave you not only frustrated, but worried about the future of this company.

Cheers Stephen!

OnePlus "Summer Shots" Contest Now Live, 10,000 Invites Up for Grabs

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:30:38 +0000

Another day, another way to score a OnePlus One invite. Thankfully for the population of the Internet, there should be no way for this contest to get out of control like the last one, as this time, OnePlus only wants you to share a picture of your summertime happiness. To enter, folks are submitting pictures on Instagram of their summer activities, followed by a couple of hashtags. OnePlus is giving out 10,000 invites to purchase the One, so if you hurry, there is a really good chance you can land an invite. If scoring a OnePlus One invite is still on your bucket list, check out the full rules and details below. Best of luck.

Contest

Dear friends, The end of summer is slowly creeping upon us and we want to see what you’ve been up to! We’re calling on OnePlus fans to send in their best pictures from this past summer for our Summer Shots Contest. Beaches, sunsets, mountains, or just a barbecue in the backyard - we want to see how you’ve been spending the past couple of months! All you'll need to do is post a photo to Instagram or choose from a few alternate actions and you could win one of 10,000 invites. That’s right, 10,000. There are also 100 t-shirts up for grabs so enter quick! Here’s how you enter:

Post a photo taken this summer with hashtags #summershots and #oneplus on Instagram (or, alternatively, do any of the other social actions listed here)
Sit back and check out entries from other OnePlus fans

Rules & Information:

The contest will be open for four days starting at on August 22nd at 6:00AM EST (11:00AM GMT) until August 25th at 6:00AM EST (11:00AM GMT)
Pictures must be original and not heavily modified (check the FAQ below for more info)
Winners will be selected randomly and contacted on August 27th

Via: OnePlus

Cheers Matt!

Brazilian Retailer Outs Moto X+1 in Leather, Bamboo, and Black - New Moto G Also

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:15:04 +0000

Brazilian retailer, Livraria Logos, the same site that outed the entire set of specs and press shots for the Moto E a couple of days early, has once again posted early info for Motorola products. As a reminder, this site also posted up Moto X+1 specs extremely early, only to take them down shortly after we noticed them. So what are they giving us today? First, their Moto X+1 listings have returned with a smaller set of specs, model numbers, and potential materials used as backplates on the device. Also, we are seeing a Motorola device under the familiar name of "Titan" reappear, a device that is more than likely the new Moto G that Motorola will unveil on September 4 along with the new Moto X. There are now three Moto X+1 listings on this retailer's site. The three listings represent three different material backs that Motorola could use when it launches its next-gen phone. First, we have black ("preto") and bamboo ("bambu"), two options we saw yesterday in new press renders. The third listing is named "couro," which translates to leather, a material that has been rumored as an option a couple of times now. The listings also show a model number of XT1097, which has been seen on a number of occasions in benchmarks. The site is listing specs that include a 5.2-inch HD display, 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 13MP camera, 16GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, and Android 4.4.4, as well. Those specs match-up, for the most part, to a variety of benchmarks. We have seen both 13MP and 12MP cameras, along with 2.2GHz and 2.5GHz processors. As for the "Titan," which we believe is the new Moto G, we are seeing a model number of XT1069, a 5-inch HD display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 8MP camera, 16GB internal storage, 1GB RAM, and Android 4.4.4. The device also has dual-SIM support, which would make sense for a global budget-friendly phone like the Moto G. Are you ready for a leather-backed phone? I am.

Via: Livraria Logos

Cheers Neems!

Deal: Factory Reconditioned Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB on Sale for $129.99

Tim — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:30:18 +0000

A deal is currently taking place over on Woot!, one which will have you scoring a Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB WiFi-only tablet for just $129.99. In comparison to the price this device had at first, which was $229, you are saving yourself $100. Not a bad little deal at all. The tablets are factory reconditioned, but do come with a 90-day warranty straight from ASUS, so the "used" condition should not scare you away from a good deal. It's a Nexus tablet, after all. If a new tablet has been on your shopping list, go check it out on Woot. Woot Link

Samsung Thinks You Need to Handwrite Things More in New Teaser for Galaxy Note 4

Kellen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:24:10 +0000

That's right, Samsung is bringing back penmanship or cursive or hand cramps with the Galaxy Note 4 when it is unveiled on September 3. At least that's what this teaser is suggesting. Can't say that I was expecting a highlight on handwriting as a selling point, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, eh, Samsung?

Images: Old Moto X vs. New Moto X+1

Kellen — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:01:43 +0000

Thanks to a parting gift from @evleaks, we may have the cleanest look yet at the new Moto X (aka Moto X+1). The image he shared shows the Moto X on its way to Verizon in both black and white/wood variants, with big camera sensors and a possible button/sensor that also houses a Motorola logo on the back. The images also show a screen that may have even less bezel than last year's model, at least on the top and bottom of the device, even with dual front-facing speakers. Since we have such clean images that appear to be official press renders, we decided to match them up next to last year's Moto X. We took both black and white press images from the 2013 model, scaled them to be the same height as the new one, and then set them side-by-side on canvasses. Now, we don't know the exact dimensions of the new Moto X, so take these for what they are - a simple comparison for the sake of comparison (Edit: No, they are not to scale.). The new model could be taller and wider for all we know. Overall, the design hasn't changed much, but there are some differences. Here are some thoughts:

You can certainly see the obvious - dual front-facing speakers on the new model. What's interesting, is that the new model almost seems to have less top and bottom bezel even with those speakers.
Speaking of speakers, with the dual front-facing speakers now featured, you won't find a speaker on the rear.
On the back, at least for the black model, Motorola has gone with a change in texture for the new Moto X (smooth matte), though we could still see the dimply texture as a MotoMaker option.
The camera setup is obviously different as well, with the new model housing a dual-flash in a ring around the sensor, whereas the old model has a single LED flash located below.
The front of the white Moto X+1 is showing us what appear to be added sensors in all four corners. Are those there for some sort of gesture or are they decorative? I have a feeling Motorola may have a trick up its sleeve there. For those thinking one is an LED notification light, keep in mind that Motorola uses Active Display, so they don't need a notification light.
Finally, the Motorola logo dimple is completely different, in a way that I don't think any of us can explain.

Thoughts?

WeTransfer Service Launches Android App, Easily Share 10GB of Files Online With Anyone

Tim — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:55:15 +0000

There are plenty of services on the web that allow users to transfer documents online to other users, but not many are as easy and painless as WeTransfer. Today, the service has launched its very own Android application onto Google Play, allowing members to make transferring files even easier while on the go. The service is extremely simple to use. Once you create an account, you simply select which files you would like to share from your phone - photos, videos, etc - and then enter an email address where you want the files sent. On the other side, when someone receives the email, they are directed by a link where they can download the shared files. Having used the desktop service before, I can vouch that it is very easy to use. There are also a couple of nifty features that make it stand apart from the desktop client, thanks to your phone's touchscreen. For example, you can long tap on a photo or video to preview it, double finger swipe to scroll between months in your gallery, or even three finger swipe to go all of the way to the end of your gallery. The Android app is free to download, so go check it out if you love sharing moments with your friends. Play Link

Here is the New Moto X for Verizon in Two Press Renders

Kellen — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:48:18 +0000

As a retirement gift, @evleaks just Tweeted the image above, which is likely a set of press renders for the new Moto X (or Moto X+1) that is headed for Verizon. Two variants of the device are shown, one as an all-black base model, the other as a white and wood combo, something that you would see on the original Moto X if it were made through MotoMaker. It looks exactly like the last leak we saw, which showed a device with a wood back, centered Motorola logo/button, big camera housing, and metal trim. The device looks a lot like the original Moto X, but takes on the front speakers from the Moto E, plus as I just mentioned, has a new Motorola logo in the center that looks as if it doubles as a button or sensor of some type. The display remains mostly edge-to-edge and is rumored at this time to weigh in at 5.2-inches. Evan didn't include any other details with the image, so we are left with questions about the specs. Also, what are those bottom dot-like sensors that can be seen on the white version? This is the Verizon model, though, which is quite obvious thanks to the lower-level rear branding. UPDATE: Here is a side-by-side comparison of the old Moto X to this new model. What do you think?