Droid Life

Android N: A Quick Video Tour (Part 1)

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:38:41 +0000

So yeah, Android N is now official and available as a first developer preview for all of you to take for a spin if you live life on the wild side. You'll find the factory images for it here, along with a pretty detailed look at the major changes here. Still not ready to go there? That's OK too, because we have a 2-part video series on the way to show you what's new and if you should even consider putting this on your devices. In this first part, we take a look at the biggest upfront changes, like how the new notifications look and are handled. We also dive into the new quick settings shade, show you the new and improved settings menu, and of course, take Multi Window for an official spin. Let us know what you think about Android N! UPDATE: The part 2 tour can be found at this post.

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Here's Everything New in Android N Developer Preview

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:20:54 +0000

The Android N Developer Preview is available for flashing, but before you dive into it head first, let's take a look at everything Google has included and changed. You may have already seen a few of the big things, like native Multi-Window support and Notification enhancements, but inside of the Android N code, Google has included many new APIs for developers to get dirty with, updates for the Doze feature, and so much more. There are a ton of changes, so without droning on too much, let's get to it. Here is everything new in the Android N Developer Preview.

Multi-Window Support Beginning with Android N, Google's OS will natively support Multi-Window, the ability for apps to displayed in a split-screen environment. On the developer side, implementing this change is incredibly easy. On the user side, the benefits can be felt greatly. Much like you see on Samsung devices, users can have multiple applications open simultaneously (side-by-side or one-above-the-other), allowing for better productivity. For example, Google Maps can be open on one side and Gmail on the other. The feature will be usable on both Android tablets and smartphones. For Android TV users, Google details, "activities can also go into picture-in-picture mode on devices like TVs, and is a great feature for apps that play video; be sure to set 'android:supportsPictureInPicture' to true to take advantage of this."

Notification Enhancements Google is reworking the Android notification system to put emphasis on a hero image and avatar. This means that whenever a notification is accompanied with an image, such as a profile picture, you will be able to tell who it is very easily. On top of that, Android N intros Bundled Notifications, much like wee see with Android Wear. Allowing the system to group messages together, it provides a cleaner more readable experience for users. For real-time communication apps, the Android system will now support inline replies, allowing for quicker responses whenever you receive a message. This change has already been somewhat implemented into Hangouts, but instead of a popup window for replying, the reply will be done via the notification shade itself. See the middle and right image below for an example of what this looks like.

Doze On The Go... Introduced in Android 6.0, Doze essentially kills the ability for apps to access CPU and network activity when a device is idle. With Android N, Google is taking Doze one step further, providing a similar set of restrictions for when the device is in your pocket or sitting on your desk and unplugged. Adding this feature for Doze should increase the life of your device throughout your normal daily routine. According to Google, a short time after the screen turns off while the device is on battery, Doze restricts network access and defers jobs and syncs. Once a user awakes the device or plugs it into a charger, Doze is turned off. For developers, enhancing their apps to better suit Doze seems easy enough, but for detailed developer information, see here. Enhanced Quick Settings Tiles Google is bringing changes to the Quick Settings tiles, providing more space and making them easier to customize. On Android N, a paginated view is included, allowing users to have many more settings available on a whim as ever before. For users who wish to customize the placement of the tiles, it's as easy as dragging and dropping a tile where you want it to go. For developers, they can even create special shortcuts to appear as a quick settings tile, but Google stresses that these tiles should not just be a shortcut to launching an application. Google writes, "Quick Settings tiles are reserved for controls or actions that are either urgently required or frequently used, and should not be used as shortcuts to launching an app."

Data Saver For anyone on a limited data plan, Data Saver might be a tool in Android N you find yourself using often. The idea is straightforward enough - when you are running low on mobile data, flip it on, and it limits the amount of data any app uses at a system level. When enabled, Data Saver signals apps to use less data in the foreground wherever possible, whether that is by limiting bit rate for streaming, reducing image quality, and deferring optimistic precaching. Under the Data Saver option in Settings, users will specify which apps they want limited, such as Facebook, Instagram, or any other data-hungry applications.

Android TV Recording In Android N, the ability to record and playback content from Android TV input services via new recording APIs for developers has been added. Google details, "Building on top of existing time-shifting APIs, TV input services can control what channel data can be recorded, how recorded sessions are saved, and manage user interaction with recorded content." Much More

Accessibility enhancements - Android N now offers Vision Settings directly on the Welcome screen for new device setup. This makes it much easier for users to discover and configure accessibility features on their devices, including magnification gesture, font size, display size, and TalkBack.
Number-blocking - Android N now supports number-blocking in the platform and provides a framework API to let service providers maintain a blocked-number list. The default SMS app, the default phone app, and provider apps can read from and write to the blocked-number list. The list is not accessible to other apps.
Call Screening - Android N allows the default phone app to screen incoming calls. Three options will appear to users on Android N; Reject the incoming call, Do not allow the call to the call log, Do not show the user a notification for the call.
Direct Boot - Direct boot improves device startup times and lets registered apps have limited functionality even after an unexpected reboot. For example, if an encrypted device reboots while the user is sleeping, registered alarms, messages and incoming calls can now continue notify the user as normal. This also means accessibility services can also be available immediately after a restart.
Project Svelte Background Optimizations - Project Svelte is an ongoing effort to minimize RAM use by system and apps across the range of Android devices in the ecosystem. In Android N, Project Svelte is focused on optimizing the way apps run in the background.

For Google's complete rundown of everything new in Android N, follow the link below. EDIT: Here is our quick video tour of some of the big changes.

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Via: Google

Download: Android N Developer Preview Factory Images (1st Preview)

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:16:53 +0000

As you now know, Google surprised the hell out of us this morning with the announcement of the Android N Developer Preview. We are still two months from Google I/O, but Google is clearly ready for developers to start diving into this latest build of Android. Because we know that so many of you are going to flash this, even if it is a developer preview that no one recommends you flash to a daily device, we thought we'd give you the tools to do so. Below, you'll find the link to the factory images for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus 9 LTE, Nexus Player, and Pixel C, along with instructions on how to flash them. Good luck!

Nexus 5X
Nexus 6
Nexus 6P
Nexus 9
Nexus 9 LTE
Nexus Player
Pixel C

Instructions for flashing factory images found here. EDIT: Here is our quick video tour of some of the big changes.

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Via: Android

Android N Developer Preview Available Today, Months Ahead of Google I/O

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 09:55:32 +0000

Straight out of left field, Google announced that it will make the Android N Developer Preview available to the public this morning, shattering any previous notion we had that it would be released at this year's Google I/O in May. The Android N Developer Preview is available for a wide range of devices, and unlike previous years, it appears Google is even offering an OTA update for the build to those possibly uncomfortable flashing the images via a few command lines. Detailed by Arstechnica, major changes are in store for Android N's public release. As shown in screenshots provided by Google, native multi-window support is official for both smartphones and tablets. Accessing the feature is not quite clear, but once Android N is up and running, the route to enabling it will likely be discovered. Additionally, it appears previous leaks were spot on, with system toggles being moved directly above notifications. To access all system toggles, tap on the arrow in the top right.

Behind the scenes, Google did plenty of tweaking to the software, including enhancements for the Doze feature, enabling it to run not only when the device is stationary for long periods of time, but whenever the display is turned off. We assume Doze will not be as aggressive in terms of shutting off connectivity during these periods, but again, we will need a bit of hands-on time to see it in action. Google also tweaked Project Svelte, allowing the Android OS to run smoothly on lower specced devices. You can expect we will be flashing and detailing any and all changes on our own devices here shortly. As for compatible devices, the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Pixel C, Nexus Player, and General Mobile 4G (Android One device) can take part in the preview. Google stresses that these builds, as always, are not meant to be daily driver material. They are barebones, stripped of many features that you might need throughout a day. With that said, it is best to flash these images to a secondary device you might have, or leave them alone entirely. But hey, I'm not stopping you. Download: OTA Sign-up | Android N Images

Via: Google | Arstechnica (unpublished)

T-Mobile Offering Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge BOGO Promo

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 09:50:04 +0000

For those interested, T-Mobile is offering a BOGO (buy one, get one) deal on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. For a limited time, and when you meet all of the requirements, you can purchase either of Samsung's latest devices, then receive a prepaid MasterCard card holding the amount of a second device straight from T-Mobile. The requirements are pretty straightforward. Basically, the second device you purchase will need to be activated on a new line under the same account as the first. Additionally, both devices will need to be purchased under a Equipment Installment Plan (EIP). At the time of purchase, all taxes and fees will need to be paid for both devices. In order to receive the credit, both lines must be kept in good standing, meaning you should make sure your bill is paid in a timely manner, including the EIP. Within 30 days of purchasing the second device, submit your rebate redemption at www.t-mobile.com/promotions. Within 8 weeks of submission, you will receive your rebate as a prepaid MasterCard card in the mail. That money can then be used to pay off the second device. As you can see, the device is by no means completely free, and a few payments will need to be made. To get started, follow the link below, or head into your local T-Mobile retail location. T-Mobile Link

Via: T-Mobile

Google Wants You to Book Vacations From Your Phone With Destinations on Google

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 07:50:19 +0000

Because Google is seeing an increase in vacation-related searches from mobile devices these days and also wants to help you kill time while standing in line at the coffee shop, they created a new tool called Destinations on Google, that is a one-stop vacation planner. A simple search for a location (continent, country, or state) ending in "destination" or "vacation" takes you into a mobile-friendly vacation browsing experience. Destinations uses a mix of Google Flights and the now defunct Hotel Search to help you find flight and hotel prices "instantly." Google says that this should eliminate the need to open multiple tabs and may even let you just sit back and scroll through the options. You can customize your vacation searches by style, with keywords attached, like "spain surfing" or "colorado skiing." Google will take that info and try to suggest spots that better fit you dream vacation. You can also browse flexibly or by weather through "Flexible Dates" and "Explore" filters and tabs. Finally, once you have decided on a trip, Google will show you pricing for the next six months, so you hit that budget. So yeah, it's time do a search for "oregon beer vacation" and come join me for a pint.

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Via: Google Blog

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Unboxing!

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:00:17 +0000

Apologies for the delay on this, but we have finally run through a Galaxy S7 Edge unboxing. I know, we should have done this a week ago. However, the regular S7 just needed some lovin' for a while and now the S7 Edge will get the same. As you can tell from that top image, we have the T-1000 model of the Galaxy S7 Edge, which is officially known as Silver Titanium. It is, without a doubt, the sexiest phone I have ever laid eyes upon. Wow, Samsung, this is absolutely stunning. It's like looking into a mobile phone shaped puddle of beautiful liquid metal. Man. I don't need to run through specs, do I? You can find those here. If you want, you can also compare this to our Galaxy S7 unboxing, then see what 10 things we think you should do upon setting up your S7, and then...ahh the hell with it. Just watch this video and get ready for a review.

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Tuesday Poll: What is Your Typical Screen on Time in a Day?

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:47:39 +0000

In October of 2014, we asked our community what their typical Screen on Time (SoT) was in a day. Most folks had anywhere between 2-4 hours in a day, with the majority of those people seeing 2-3 hours. That's about what we at DL see on an average day, but your times will vary greatly depending on how often you use your device. Given we are on our phones all day long playing with apps and shooting pictures, we never expect to see crazy-good battery life. However, there's always someone out there who seems to get 7 hours of SoT with two days usage, and to you, fine sir, we say, "Liar, liar, pants on fire." To check this stat, head into the Settings menu on your device. Find the Battery option, click it, then proceed to click on Screen. Underneath the graph which shows your battery drainage over the course of the day, you will see that option. For those running Marshmallow, you will not only see a metric for Time On, but also one for Computed Power Use. This details how much of your phone's battery the display has consumed in a period of time. For those on earlier versions of Android, you will only see Time On. So, check that, then shoot your numbers down below. We are very curious to see if a year and a half, on top of new versions of Android, has made any difference when it comes to daily battery life.

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Video: Galaxy S7 vs. Nexus 6P vs. Moto X Pure vs. Galaxy Note 5

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:49:34 +0000

At the end of 2015, we told you our thoughts on the three best Android phones you could buy. Those three phones, hands down, were the Nexus 6P, Galaxy Note 5, and Moto X Pure Edition. Since we're only a couple of months into 2016, we were curious how those three match-up to the newest kid on the block, the Galaxy S7. Do they compare favorably in terms of specs? How far have we gone to get to the Galaxy S7? Or have we gone that far at all? What about features and cameras and build quality and design? Has Samsung really improved that much in just a few months since releasing the Note 5? All good questions, many of which we have some thoughts on in the video below. During this 15-minute clip (sorry about the length!), we walk through the Galaxy S7 and how it matches up to those three phones. We show you size comparisons, how each fits in the hand, talk specs, and ultimately, if you should upgrade from any to this new Galaxy.

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AT&T Extends BOGO Promotion to Include Galaxy S7

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:38:02 +0000

AT&T's ongoing buy-one-get-one free promotion now incorporates Samsung's latest flagship device, the Galaxy S7. As AT&T states in a press release, anyone who purchases a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge can receive a free Galaxy S7 via monthly credits. To claim this offer, the first Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge must be purchased on a new line or as an upgrade. If that's fine with you, then the second phone must be activated on a new line through AT&T's Next 24 program. Both phones will need to be activated on a qualifying plan, such as a Mobile Share Value plan, which starts at $70/month. After three bill cycles or less, you will begin to receive up to $695 spread out over 30 monthly bill credits. At the time of sale, taxes for both devices will need to be paid. According to AT&T, after $695 in credits, a Galaxy S7 will be free or the credits may be applied towards the purchase of an S7 edge. For more detailed info into that process, you will want to contact AT&T. If you have already purchased the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, and meet all of the criteria listed above, AT&T can retroactively apply credits to the account for a second Galaxy S7. Again, contacting AT&T should be your first action if you wish to take advantage of this promo.

Via: AT&T

Nexus 5X is Getting Its Jank-Fixing Update

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:28:52 +0000

During our Nexus 5X review, we were pretty upfront about the fact that we felt the phone struggled mightily in the performance department. We're talking a serious amount of slow down, lag, and even jank, throughout a day that often required multiple reboots. It was a shocking discovery, since most Nexus phones typically offer one of the smoothest Android experiences on the planet, but our worries were backed up by numerous comments from our readers. We wondered how long it would take before Google would address the issues, assuming they could even be fixed. As it turns out, they can be! Orrin, a Nexus Community Manager, took to reddit today to announce that the Nexus 5X's March update will include not only the new March security patches, but also "bug fixes that will improve overall stability, connectivity, and performance." Yes, this is the jank fixer we have been waiting for. Since there were two factory image posted yesterday, you are probably wondering which you need to use. Orrin says that the "majority of the world," including those with a 5X on major US carriers, will use build MHC19J. The update will rollout slowly over the coming days, but if you want to get rid of your phone's lag today, feel free to jump on that factory image. Instructions for flashing images can be found here.

Via: reddit

iFixIt Tears Down a Galaxy S7, Receives Very Poor Repairability Score

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:03:36 +0000

Each time a new flagship device hits the market, you better believe the good folks at iFixIt will tear it down, then report on how repairable that device is. According to iFixIt's latest teardown, DIYers won't be too happy with the Galaxy S7 from Samsung, as it received a miserable 3 out of 10 repairability score. This simply means that most folks should not attempt any self repairs should any damage be inflicted on the device. As stated in the teardown, the inability to easily replace key components is what makes the Galaxy S7 receive such a low score. If you break the screen, you're screwed. If your microUSB port stops working, you're screwed. Basically, if anything breaks at all, the process of opening up the device and replacing parts will create a serious headache for any normal consumer. With that said, unless you are a pro, leave the repairs to a professional. For comparison's sake, the Nexus 6P received a 2 out of 10, and the Galaxy S6 Edge from last year received a 3 out of 10. However, we can still bask in the inner glory of the Galaxy S7, with its Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 12MP Dual Pixel rear-facing camera, and 3,000mAh battery. Check out a few of the photos below to see what makes the Galaxy S7 tick. To see the complete teardown from beginning to end, check out iFixIt's site for all of the nitty gritty details.

Via: iFixIt

Deal: Get Two Chromecast Audio Dongles for $55, Down From $70

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:31:48 +0000

For a limited time on the Google Store, you can save $15 when you purchase two Chromecast Audio dongles, bringing the total price to $55 down from $70. Google's Chromecast Audio, a dongle that turns any speaker setup into a WiFi-ready audio system, launched side-by-side to the Chromecast (2nd Gen), and has seen quite a bit of usage in our own homes. Back in December, the dongle received an update that included multi-room streaming, as well as high-res audio support. Much like the original Chromecast, we expect the Chromecast Audio will continue to receive updates and support into the foreseeable future. The discount is applied automatically when you add the devices to your cart. Google Store Link

Android Distribution Updated for March 2016: Marshmallow on the Rise

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:22:22 +0000

Google updated its Android distribution numbers for the month of March, showing slight growth in the Marshmallow department. After just barely eclipsing 1% in February, we saw a jump to 2.3% this month. While I'm sure the world of Android fans would love to see that at 30 or 40%, that's just not how Android works. As for the rest of the numbers, Lollipop has jumped to 36.1% (up from 34.1%), while the rest of the Android versions dropped. Kit Kat is down to 34.3%, Jelly Bean to 22.3%, Ice Cream Sandwich to 2.3%, and Gingerbread to 2.6%. You can see last month's numbers here.

Via: Android Developers

DROID Turbo 2 Marshmallow Update has Really, Actually, For Real This Time, Bro, Started!

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 09:36:05 +0000

Look! I promise that we aren't making this up for the third time in three weeks. The DROID Turbo 2 Marshmallow update really has started! All you need to do is head into Settings>System update>Check for system update. The update, which is a two-part update, should be available to all. Additional details for the update can be found here.

Cheers BIG CAT#7 and @mhoff91!

Google I/O 2016 Registration is Now Open!

Kellen — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 09:08:01 +0000

It's time to put your name in the hat for Google I/O 2016! Registration is now open for all and will remain open until March 10 at 5PM Pacific. As a reminder, I/O costs $900 for general attendees and $300 for academic tickets. The registration process is essentially a lottery, where you fill out a form to submit your chance for entry, then sit back and wait until March 10 when Google decides who gets to go. To fill out the lottery entry form, head over to the Google I/O site.

Watch: This is Sony's Take on Android 6.0 "Marshmallow"

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 08:55:49 +0000

Sony uploaded a video to its YouTube channel this week, detailing what Xperia folks can expect once their devices are updated to Android 6.0 "Marshmallow." When and if the update comes to your phone, Sony has turned everything white, and included many of the important features that come native inside of Marshmallow. These features include enhanced app permissions and easier media sharing between friends. In addition to native changes, Sony has worked in a few of their own, such as real-time camera adjustments when taking photos, a swipe to switch camera shooting modes, sticker packs for your texting apps, and a much better text editing solution (Marshmallow native feature). Sony provides no detail into which devices would receive this update along with the video, but that information was made available back in late 2015. At this time, global Xperia Z5 are reportedly receiving the Marshmallow update, but the Sony situation here in the US is pretty much a cluster at this point. If an update is something you don't want to wait for, the Xperia X lineup of devices will ship with Marshmallow, which is likely the quickest way for you to run Marshmallow on a Sony device. All you Xperia Z owners out there in the US, want to place a friendly wager on when this update might hit your device? Q3? Q4? 2017?

Galaxy S7: 9 Things That Drive Me Nuts

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:41:04 +0000

In recent years, we have spent a whole heck of a lot of time talking about the reasons we love certain phones and why you should buy them. We do that because we're positive people for the most part and would rather spend our time focusing on the good stuff that are a part of a phone or watch package rather than the bad. But that doesn't mean we don't run into things that drive us nuts and irritate us to no end. So, because I just can't help myself sometimes and wanted to have a little fun, I thought we'd give the other side a try to kick off the 2016 smartphone season by taking a look at the things the Galaxy S7 does that make me want to punch a wall. These are the things I can't stand about the phone. Now, keep in mind that this post is by no means a thorough review or in any way me telling you not to buy it. As of today, I'm really enjoying the Galaxy S7 and will probably give it mostly incredibly positive remarks in our upcoming review. Instead, think of this as me pointing out the pain points involving TouchWiz, design ideas that Samsung continues to stick to, etc., many of which I can live with but that need a good scolding. That make sense? Alright, you ready?

1. My lord, the fingerprints. During my unboxing video of the Galaxy S7, I mentioned that I chose the gold version over the black because I was afraid that the black would be a fingerprint monster that would take my Greasy Smear OCD over the top. While I still think the gold version shows them less prominently, the phone needs to be wiped constantly. As someone who records a lot of video with this phone as the star, man, it's become a problem. 2. Samsung, your buttons are still in the wrong places. BACK GOES ON THE LEFT. APP SWITCHER GOES ON THE RIGHT. WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT.

3. Listen to me the first time, app drawer. With Samsung's TouchWiz, the app drawer is arranged out of the box as if a 5-year old were in charge. There are folders you didn't ask for at the front of it, folders which remove the apps contained within them from the actual app drawer list of apps (WHY?), making it impossible to find them unless you go into the obnoxious folders you didn't ask for. Outside of disastrous decisions like that, the app drawer is also almost always not in alphabetical order. Why that is, I cannot explain for the life of me. Doesn't it make sense that if you open an app drawer, you'll be able to find things faster if they are in some sort of order, typically one that runs A-Z? Samsung doesn't think so. In order to get it alphabetically sorted, you have to hit this little A-Z button, then confirm that you indeed do want to "save" it that way, as if you are doing it wrong.

But get this. Every time you install a new app or remove one, the f*cking thing doesn't re-sort alphabetically. Nope. It puts the newly installed at the back of the drawer, which is the furthest place away from where you probably attempted to find it. And if you were to uninstall one, it just leaves a blank space instead of pushing all of the apps up one slot. So then if you want everything back to normal, you have to hit the A-Z button again to re-sort, manually. AND SAVE IT. Wtf, Samsung? 4. App drawer button location. I don't have a baby thumb. I also don't have a 1-inch thumb. Asking me to press this dotted-white button to get to all of my apps gives me a hand cramp every single time. Put the button in the center where my thumb casually rests without effort. At the very least, let me move the damn thing.

5. The folder situation is a mess. I try not to be the most anal of all, but I do like to keep a clean home screen and folder setup. Samsung, well, it's just trying to give me a headache at this point. Look at this mess of a folder situation.

Why is there a "+" button there at all times? I don't want that there. There could be an app there! Not only that, but it's throwing off my balance in some crazy sort of way because I have 3 apps in two rows and only 2 in another...along with this stupid "+" button. Also, if I were to put another app there, look at what happens.

GAH.

Now I have a new line that needs more apps in order to have balance. BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE APPS TO PUT IN THIS FOLDER. I hate you, folder Samsung creation employee. I do. 6. "Just Once" > Default by default. A couple of versions of Android a-go, Google introduced better management over default apps and app linking. The idea was that someone might send you an Instagram link in Hangouts. Sometimes you want to open it inside of the Instagram app, but other times you may just want to quickly load it through Chrome. The beauty is that you, the owner of the phone, gets to decide how that works. You could hit the "Just once" button to choose on each occasion which app should open the link or hit the "Make default" button to choose an app that would always complete the task.

With Samsung, we've gone straight to #DEFAULT4LYFE. If you are given choices between multiple apps to open a link or complete a task, you better make sure your 1st choice is the right one, because Samsung will set that sonofa to default even if you didn't tell it to. And if you want to remove that default, you need to dig through 8,000 of their settings to find and clear it. 7. Horizontal scrolling sucks. In the share menu, widget picker, and app drawer, Samsung has gone with paginated horizontal scrolling. There was a brief moment in time where we liked this action, but once you go back to a free-scrolling vertical experience that can get you from A to Z with a single flick, you'll never go back. Just don't expect that type of efficiency on the Galaxy S7. Nope, it's thumb flipping gymnastics here. Flip. Turn. Flip. Turn. Flip. Turn. "Oh hey, I'm finally at the end of my 16 pages of apps to find that newly installed guy!" 8. Bottom-firing speakers get blocked, a lot. I game and watch videos on my phones here and there, but wouldn't consider myself to be a heavy consumer of either. With that said, I find that I have to go well out of my way to not block the single rear-firing speaker on the Galaxy S7. At times, I find myself cranking the volume to 11 before realizing that I wasn't having volume issues, I was having finger block issues. Look at this placement when in landscape - how do you avoid not placing your finger squarely over that speaker grill?

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9. LED lights should not show in Do Not Disturb mode. Imagine this. Your phone's Do Not Disturb mode is set to come on automatically around 10:30PM at night and you hit the sack around 11PM. Things are quiet, the room is dark, you've pulled the blankets up to your chin, the whiskey in your belly is making you plenty warm, and your phone is lying on your night stand, lookin' hella comfy with its always-on display active. Seriously, bruh, you look good on my night stand, dancing pixels, telling me the time. RIP, traditional alarm clocks, S7 always-on has risen.Then at 5AM, when all the go-getter PR people on the east coast start firing off emails about products Indiegogo would be ashamed to carry, that little blue notification LED lights up. But wait? Aren't we in DND mode? How is it possible that I'm now awake at 5AM, thanks to the aqua colored needle pulsing into my eye (That's, like, a metaphor for the blue LED...which is now a needle...virtually stabbing me...you got that? Yay!) over and over and over and over.

That's because the LED notification light is not a part of DND mode. Nope! It's in the display settings, but it stands alone. So even though DND is turned to on, your Galaxy S7 will still pulse all of the notifications that come in throughout the night and into the morning. I don't even know what to say to the person who made that decision...

Alright then, complaining session over. Back to the fun tomorrow. If I can get this needle out of my eye.

Deal: Samsung 128GB Class 10 MicroSD Card for $40 on Amazon

Tim — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:15:08 +0000

Are you getting your hands on a brand new phone this week? Maybe a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge? If that's the case, or you are in need of a mobile storage upgrade for any other phone, microSD cards from Samsung are on sale through Amazon, with a 128GB Class 10 card priced at just $40. Down from its usual price of $98, that's quite the deal. Currently, a comparable card from SanDisk is priced at $50, so if you have no brand loyalty, the Samsung card will serve your needs well. Both the Samsung and SanDisk feature the same peak transfer speed of 48MB/s, and all are virtually indestructible unless a hammer is involved. As listed in the product descriptions, the microSD cards are waterproof, X-ray proof, temperature proof, and magnetic proof. Is 128GB too much storage for you? If so, Samsung's 64GB card can be purchased for under $20, and a 32GB card is priced at only $10. Either way, you're getting a good deal for additional mobile storage. Have at it. Deal Link

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 38

Tim — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 12:46:44 +0000

We have a Galaxy S7 in-house, Galaxy S7 Edge should arrive any day, and we've gotten a few good looks at the HTC 10. With all of that, there's so much to talk about. The DL Q&A Sessions are your chance to ask us anything that might be on your mind, whether it's Android related, or anything else entirely. For those contemplating a Galaxy S7 purchase, you can ask us anything about that device, or maybe you want to look ahead at what to expect from HTC and LG. We still have a bit before G5 pre-orders go up, but we have handled the device and can tell you a few things if you want to know. We could even talk Google I/O. Registration is right around the corner, after all. This Friday, we will go through your questions and do our best to answer as many as we can. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Sign-Up for Project Fi, Get a Nexus 5X for $199

Tim — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:50:14 +0000

For a limited time, those who activate a line on Project Fi will receive $150 off the retail price of a Nexus 5X, bringing the total for a 16GB model down to just $199, and 32GB to $249. Project Fi will allow you to pay for the device however you see fit, whether that's via monthly payments or outright. For those who want to purchase the device from Google Store outright, then take it to Project Fi, the difference will automatically carry over to the payment method used when you purchased the phone. As long as you use the same Google account for Project Fi that you used when purchasing the device, no action on your part will need to be taken to receive the automatic refund. If you do take advantage of this promotion, be sure that you activate the device on Project Fi within 30 days, or Google will take out the $150 to the match the retail price of the phone. This deal is valid until April 7, so if a new Nexus on Google's MVNO sounds delightful to you, follow the link below. Sign-Up

Via: Project Fi

DEAL: Nest's Thermostat (3rd Gen), Which is Almost Never Discounted, is Discounted $50 Today

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:02:57 +0000

Nest's newest Thermostat, the 3rd gen model with bigger display, is discounted for the day by $50 over at eBay to $199.99. That's a big deal and worth considering because Nest products are almost never discounted. I think we saw a deal around Black Friday, but other than that, this is just not a line of products that ever sees many price drops. It has been a few years since I reviewed the Nest Thermostat (2nd gen), but I can say that it's still on my wall and still one of the best purchases I have ever made. I don't know that we take advantage of all of the energy savings it provides. However, the convenience of controlling it from anywhere at any time has made a smart thermostat something I'll never be able to live without. It's also about to start working with Amazon Echo and Alexa! The deal at eBay is through a highly rated seller and includes free shipping. eBay Link

Project Fi No Longer Requires Invite, Open to All With Supported Phone

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 10:38:32 +0000

Project Fi, Google's previously invite-only prepaid wireless service that takes advantage of both T-Mobile and Sprint networks, is now open to the public. Of course, you'll still need a supported phone, but this means you will no longer need to request an invite to sign-up. Yay! As a recap on Project Fi, this is Google's take on wireless service, where they ask you to only pay for what you have used. You start off by paying $20 for unlimited talk and text, then add 1GB per $10 depending on how much data you think you will use in a month. The cool thing here is that Google only charges you for the data you use, so if you were to pay for 3GB ($30) of data for this month and only use 1.5GB, they'll take the $15 you didn't spend and apply it to your next month of service. Neat, right? For Fi's network, Google is using both T-Mobile and Sprint's networks, but they also attempt to attach you to as many public WiFi hotspots as they can. This allows you to (in theory) always have a rock-solid connection no matter where you are. You can text and place calls over WiFi, seamlessly transition from WiFi to network, etc. The service also comes with a really slick app and solid support from within. Now, about the phones that are supported. At this time, only the original Nexus 6, along with the new Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X work with Project Fi. If you don't own one of those three phones, you can't join in on the fun. But hey, no more invites! You can sign-up for Project Fi here.

Via: Android

March's Android Security Update Kicks Off Today With Factory Images (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 10:29:24 +0000

This month's Android security update will start rolling out shortly, now that factory images for the update have been posted by Google. At this time, ~~the Nexus 6P is missing a new image~~, but we have files for the Pixel C (MXC14G), Nexus 5X (MMB29V and MHC19J), Nexus 6 (MMB29V), Nexus Player (MMB29V), Nexus 9 (MMB29V), Nexus 5 (MMB29V), Nexus 7 (2013, MMB29V), and Nexus 10 (LMY49H). As you can see, we are sticking to Android 6.0.1 for all devices, along with the Nexus 10 on 5.1.1. Once we have the full security bulletin, we'll be sure to update this post. Factory images from Google can be found here. If you need helping flashing factory images, you can find instructions here. UPDATE: For full details on the security fixes in this month's security bulletin, you'll find them here. UPDATE 2: The Nexus 6P's MMB29V file has now been added. UPDATE 3: Google just added another image for the Nexus 6P as build MHC19I.

Facebook Messenger Update With Material Design Available to All

Tim — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:38:57 +0000

For anyone not a part of the Messenger beta program from Facebook, your app should receive an update today that includes a revamped UI. Featuring flashes of Material Design, the updated Messenger app is cleaner, and gives off an actual sense that it was created for Android users. Facebook does a poor job at explaining the changes, not even listing a changelog for the update on Google Play, but from what I can tell you with experience, users can change up the color theme of individual threads, change 'Like' icons to pieces of poo or other emoji, and set nicknames for individuals inside of a chat. Additionally, a new floating action bubble can start new threads easily. If you would like to get these types of updates before the general public, sign up for the Messenger beta through Google Play here. The update should be live now, but if you don't see it yet, expect it soon. Play Link

Via: @davidmarcus

HTC 10 Could Arrive April 19, and Here are More Pictures of It

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:13:55 +0000

At the end of last week, we all tried to settle into HTC's new flagship being called the "HTC 10" instead of the "HTC One M10." We also got a good look at it from all angles for the first time and learned a bunch of its specs. Today, we think we might have a date for it to arrive or be announced or something along those lines, and that date is April 19. If you were looking at a calendar, you might notice that April 19 seems like an eternity away. It sort of is, especially when you consider the fact that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are officially out this Friday and the LG G5 is also supposed to be out in early April. That's a tough situation there for HTC with its biggest competitors pushing phones into customers' hands before they have even had a chance to show theirs off. Here's to hoping the ultra-late arrival means they'll make it available for purchase on that day and ship immediately. Either way, we should know more before long on those launch plans. For now, how about we look at additional colors of the HTC 10.

That looks like charcoal and black, silver and black, silver and white, and gold and white options. Do they all look like iPhones? Eh, only the front does to me. The back is most definitely HTC's style. Can you hold out on a new phone purchase until mid-April?

Via: @evleaks | GSMArena

Best Buy is Fulfilling Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Pre-Orders Today, Verizon's Start Shipping

Kellen — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 06:25:03 +0000

March 11 was supposed to be launch day for Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, but it's pretty clear at this point that those who pre-ordered from just about everywhere will have their phones plenty early. T-Mobile kicked it everything off by shipping pre-orders almost two weeks early and then AT&T and Sprint turned it into a full-blown trend a few days later. Now, Best Buy seems to have been given the go-ahead to fulfill pre-orders, while Verizon orders started shipping as early as yesterday. Best Buy sources of ours told us that Best Buy will end their pre-order today (and that appears to be the case, since pre-orders online now say "in-store only") and start filling pre-orders right away, assuming they receive stock. A whole bunch of users over at reddit seem to have received their pre-order pickup confirmations with dates as early as March 7 (today), so be on the lookout. In even better news, we're told that if Best Buy stores have any left over stock after all pre-orders are taken care of, they'll open up those remaining units for sale. So, if you didn't pre-order yet want a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge today, it may be worth stopping by or calling your local Best Buy to check and see if they have any devices for sale. For those who pre-ordered from Verizon, we're also seeing waves of emails in our inbox suggesting that your pre-orders are shipping. It's tough to tell if any of those have actually made it onto a truck or if only the packing slips were created, but this is all at least a sign that orders should be at your doorsteps before this Friday. Seems like a good year for Galaxy pre-orders.

Cheers n, Brian, Kyle, Michael, Wade, Erik, and 919CnynCrvr!

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: March 4, 2016

Tim — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 15:23:14 +0000

Another week in the books at DL. Like a few of you out there, we received our Galaxy S7 from T-Mobile this week, so as you may have guessed, we spent plenty of time playing with it and re-familiarizing ourselves with TouchWiz. Sure, we wish this phone had stock Android, but it's still a fantastic device. Beyond Galaxy S7 fun, we received our first good look at the HTC 10, pondered the future changes in Android N, and celebrated the collaboration between the Amazon Echo and Nest thermostat. For those possibly hoping to attend Google I/O this year, mark March 8 down on your calendars. That date is when registration opens, and if it's going to be anything like previous years, getting in won't be easy. Prepare your credit cards, folks. If you missed any of it, all of the biggest Android stories are linked below.

Video: Galaxy S7 unboxing and tour.
A look at the Galaxy S7's Motion Photo feature.
Galaxy S7: Yes, you can move apps to SD on the Galaxy S7.
Here are the first ten things you do with the Galaxy S7.
HTC: Our first look at the HTC 10.
LG: Company posts another look at the G5.
HTC One A9 won't receive support from Verizon.
Android N: Here's what we might expect from Android N.
Google intros yet another mobile payments app.
Galaxy S7 always-on display is a decent first attempt.
If you pre-ordered the Galaxy S7, claim your free Gear VR.
Huawei: Huawei Watch receiving Marshmallow.
Samsung reportedly in talks to purchase Tidal.
Google: Google I/O registration opens March 8.
HTC Vive pre-orders are up for $799.
Finally, Amazon Echo and Nest work together.
Samsung Pay gains Wells Fargo support.

Have a great weekend, friends.

Deal: proXPN VPN Premium Lifetime Subscription for $39

Tim — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:29:07 +0000

For those in need of a more secure web browsing experience, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to proXPN on the DL Deals Store, a VPN service that helps protect your identity while surfing the web. Users of proXPN receive unlimited traffic bandwidth, as well as secured WiFi connections with masked IP addresses even when on public networks. Additional features include encrypted browsing with a 512-bit Encryption Tunnel using a 2048-bit encryption key, as well as PPTP or OpenVPN encryption options. proXPN supports mobile device users, plus comes with VPN Guard, which allows you to select which programs should automatically shut down if your proXPN VPN connection drops. If you need a VPN service, follow the link below. Features

Unlimited traffic bandwidth
Fast worldwide access to proXPN’s full service network
Secure Wi-Fi connection w/ a masked IP address, even on public networks
Encrypted browsing w/ a 512-bit Encryption Tunnel utilizing a 2048-bit Encryption Key
PPTP or OpenVPN encryption options
Mobile device support
VPN Guard, which allows you to select which programs should automatically shut down if your proXPN VPN connection drops
Easy setup & use
World-class technical support

Deal Link

Poll: Does Your Phone Have Marshmallow Yet?

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:37:56 +0000

According to last month's Android distribution numbers from Google, only about 1.2% of you are running Android 6.0+ on your phones. With Marshmallow having been out since October, that seems like a pretty low percentage. But then you consider the fact that previews of Android M were available as early as last May and you really have to wonder what the hell all these manufacturers are doing and why they are taking this long to update phones. Today, we would, in the simplest of ways (a yes or no poll) like to know if your phone is currently running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. You can tell us which phone you own as well, in the comments, if you'd like. Ready? [poll id="393"]

HTC One A9 Won't Gain Verizon Support After All

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:25:11 +0000

When the HTC One A9 was first unveiled, HTC announced that the phone was equipped to work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint networks out of the box, but hoped to also gain support for Verizon's network with a future software update. This was noteworthy, for sure, because the phone was essentially a non-CDMA phone that was going to work on Big Red's CDMA-heavy network. How was that going to be possible? Well, partly because of the modem included in the phone, but also because it was essentially going to be a LTE-only device. Unfortunately for unlocked phone hopefuls who were envisioning a future of LTE-only madness on the horizon, we have bad news to report - HTC will not be adding in support for Verizon to the One A9. According to HTC, they tested and tested, but in the end are unable to bring support for Big Red's network. Here is the official statement:

HTC is committed to providing the best experience for all of our device owners. Following extensive testing, we are unable to support the Verizon network with the Unlocked HTC One A9. For individuals on the Verizon network that ordered the Unlocked HTC One A9 on HTC.com, we will refund his/her order and provide a 20% discount on any current HTC phone or future phones launching through Dec. 31, 2016. Individuals may contact HTC Care at 1-888-216-4736. We regret any inconvenience.

If you placed an order with the intention of hooking up a One A9 to Verizon, you will be eligible for a refund and a 20% discount on any current or future HTC phone launching through December 2016.

OnePlus 2 Update Rolling Out With RAW Support in Camera, Bug Fixes

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:51:04 +0000

The OnePlus 2, a phone without NFC, is receiving an update this week to OxygenOS v2.2.1. The update includes RAW support in the camera, along with a bunch of fixes for things like Bluetooth, roaming issues, some sort of "corruption issue" in the camera, etc. A security patch has also been included. Here is the full list of changes.

RAW support in OnePlus Camera
Bluetooth compatibility improvement
Ultra SIM compatibility improvement
GMS 3.0 upgrade
Improvement for roaming issues
Fix for occasional image corruption issue in OnePlus Camera
Security patch update
Romanian language support

Hi.

Via: OnePlus

All of These Top Apps are Under $1 on Google Play Right Now

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 10:17:59 +0000

That deal on Nova Launcher from earlier in the week that we pointed out is apparently part of a much bigger sale going on through Google Play. To celebrate "Play Days," Google has discounted a whole bunch of top apps to under $1 (read: $0.99) for a limited time. Apps like Nova Launcher ($4.99) are included, but you'll also find Runtastic's Road Bike Pro ($4.99), ad-free Weather & Clock Widget ($2.99), FlightTrack 5 ($4.99), Smart Launcher Pro 3 ($2.90), Poweramp Full ($3.99), and Today Calendar Pro ($2.99?). Yep, this is a deal you probably don't want to miss out on. Just with the apps I pointed out above you are saving almost $15. And trust me, there are others, including games, music editors, photo editors, camera apps, a PDF scanner, and more. Play Link

Verizon's HTC One M8 Should Get Marshmallow on Monday

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:49:20 +0000

On Monday, the HTC One M8 from Verizon should receive an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Both Verizon and HTC's Mo Versi say so, so hopefully it happens on time and skips the DROID Turbo 2's confusing path. Not to hijack the M8's dance party here, but the Turbo 2 Marshmallow update was supposed to start rolling out on March 1, yet we have no confirmed updates from anyone a solid three days later. Anyways, if the One M8's Marshmallow update, with Doze, Google Now on Tap, and better volume controls, shows up on March 7, we'll be sure to let you know. https://twitter.com/moversi/status/705562421344120832

50% Off Google Play Movie Rental With This Promo Code

Tim — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:36:41 +0000

If you want to relax this weekend, kick back and watch a movie, you can redeem the following promo code on Google Play for 50% off of a movie rental. From what I can tell, any movie you can currently rent is available for the promo, although, Google does a good job at collecting a few newer releases you might be interested in. Click the link below to redeem the code. Play Link

DEAL: Verizon Fast Charge Bundle Features Samsung Fast Wireless Charger, Battery Pack, Car Charger for $99 ($85 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:17:29 +0000

If you are pre-ordering a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, or you own a Galaxy Note 5, Verizon currently has a fast charging accessory bundle on pre-order that you may want to take a look at. The bundle includes a Samsung fast wireless charger, Samsung 10200mAh battery pack, and a car charger with "fast charge technology" for just $99.99. I know that $100 for a bundle of accessories doesn't seem cheap, but when you start to add up the parts individually, you are actually saving quite a bit of cash. The Samsung fast wireless charger is the new version that lays flat or can be propped up as a phone stand and costs $70 by itself. The 10200mAh battery pack is also the newest from Samsung that features fast charging and is $80 by itself. The car charger, well, it appears to be some sort of 3rd party deal that Verizon slapped their logo on. It'll probably push a fast enough current through your S7, though, assuming it doesn't blow it up. Overall, Verizon claims the savings here are around $85. Even if you don't care about the cheap car charger, you are still saving $50 off the official Samsung products. This is technically a pre-order for the bundle with shipping happening on or around March 11. Verizon Bundle Link

Cheers Evan!

HTC's Next Flagship Apparently Dubbed "HTC 10," and Here are a Bunch of Pictures of It

Kellen — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 07:27:16 +0000

You know how HTC has been teasing their next flagship device on Twitter with a hashtag of #powerof10? I think it's fair to say that most of us thought that was pointing to the name of the phone being "One M10," after HTC spent three years going M7, M8, and M9. As it turns out, HTC may drop the "One M" moniker and go with a much simpler "HTC 10," according to both @onleaks and @evleaks. HTC dropping the "One M" naming scheme is probably a good idea. For one, it never did really catch on the same way Samsung's "Galaxy S" naming series has. It always felt like HTC didn't know what to do to distinguish One phones from one year to the next and so they just tossed the codename for each onto the back-end, sometimes with parenthesis and sometimes without. And second, the "One M" series certainly hasn't been any sort of success, so now is probably a good time to abandon it. Alright, so with name potentially out of the way, let's talk about what the phone looks like. The image at the top of this post arrives courtesy of @evleaks, who seems to be having a friendly "who can reveal more" battle going on at the moment with @onleaks over the HTC 10. The images are official press renders, showing all angles of the phone from front to back, side, and top to bottom. There are no surprises now in terms of the HTC 10's appearance. Does it actually look like an iPhone 6, now that it has been fully revealed? I actually don't really think so. It looks like a new version of their long-standing One M series, only with a home button/fingerprint reader and massive double chamfer. It's clean, sort of industrial, and not bad looking at all. We aren't talking ground-breaking new design, but it could be a winner, assuming HTC can figure out how to put a camera in a phone. Thanks to the image above and the three below (these are from @onleaks), we also now know that the phone will come in silver or black, contain capacitive back and app switcher buttons on each side of the physical home button, a bottom-facing speaker, and USB Type-C port.

According to @onleaks, a "prototype" of the phone has a 5.15-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor with Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB RAM, 12MP camera, and USB Type-C port (pictured). As you can tell from the images, BoomSound (dual front speakers) is gone and Sense may have a slightly newer design. Well, then. What are we thinking about this phone now?

Via: @evleaks [2] | @onleaks [2]

Verizon's Galaxy Note 5 is Getting Its Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 22:14:22 +0000

Would you look at that - Verizon's variant of the Galaxy Note 5 is the first from Samsung to get Marshmallow here in the US. Not only that, but it's also getting updated to Android 6.0.1, build MMB29K, the newest version of Android. The update is scheduled to begin rollout on March 4 as software version VRU2BPB2, so if you aren't able to pull it this evening, try not to stress. To check, head into Settings>About Device>Software updates>Check for Updates. According to Verizon's changelog, the update includes support for Google Now on Tap, Doze, WiFi Calling, Live Broadcast improvements, and a bunch of UI tweaks (like new icons) to bring the software in line with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The full list of changes can be viewed at the source link below. How exciting. Let us know if you see that update! And let's hope this one rolls out faster than the Turbo 2's update.

Via: Verizon

Question of the Day: Do You Have Smart Home Products?

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 16:23:31 +0000

This morning, shortly after Amazon announced two new Alexa-powered devices to help them extend their smart home assistant presence to more places and in new forms, the folks at Nest finally came around to announcing that their products were now working with Amazon's. It was a big day for the smart home, because we are starting to see where Amazon could become a central hub leader for controlling everything in your home, from thermostats and lights to music, appliances, and beyond. As someone who can't help but buy smart this or that when I probably don't need it, I'm excited to see a company emerge as a potential leader. For so long, I feel like my smart home setup is a patched together oddball line-up that all requires stand-alone apps for each piece, but with Amazon potentially becoming the centerpiece, now that it has Nest on board, I'm excited. That's not because I'm some Amazon fanboy, but because I'd rather have one control than five or six. And that leads us into today's question - do you have any smart home products? If so, which ones? Are you satisfied? Is one of them an Amazon Echo? I ask because I'm now curious if you were as excited about today's news as I am or if you are still in a wait-and-see approach when it comes to outfitting your house with technology. It's not like the smart home or its related products are all that mature yet, but I do feel like we have taken some huge steps towards leaving what has been a multi-year beta period for most of it. Would love to hear about your smart home setups.

DEAL: SanDisk's 200GB MicroSD Card is Still Just $79.50 on Amazon

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:14:27 +0000

The SanDisk 200GB microSD card, a card that originally retailed for around $250, seems like it is always on sale at prices that only get lower with each deal. For example, the 200GB class 10 card that Amazon sells, has been on sale at a ridiculously low $79.50 price for a good week now, plus it comes with Prime shipping. I can't help but point out the deal again because a whole bunch of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge pre-orders are shipping early and throughout the next week. Of course, this card is a perfect match for those phones since they mark the return of the SD slot to Samsung phones, but they also just so happen to hold a maximum of 200GB of extra storage. Oh, the 128GB class 10 card from SanDisk also seems to be deeply discount at just under $50. Amazon Links: 200GB SanDisk ($79.50) | 128GB SanDisk ($49.94)

Pre-Order a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge? Claim Your Free Gear VR Right Now

Tim — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:59:45 +0000

The claims website for the free Gear VR headset Samsung coupled with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge is now live. In case you didn't know, Samsung is pairing each pre-order of its latest devices with a free Gear VR headset, and is even throwing in a 6-game bundle for your enjoyment. Looking over the claims process briefly, Samsung asks which carrier or retailer you pre-ordered through, then lists which extra goodies you will receive. For example, those who pre-ordered through T-Mobile will not only receive the Gear VR, but will also get a free year of Netflix. If you ordered through Verizon, Big Red is offering either a Gear VR headset, or a Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch if you agree to additional contractual terms. Other than that, claiming your headset should be easy enough. Provide an IMEI, date of purchase, WiFi MAC address, and a few other misc. things. Click the link below to get started. Claim Free Gear VR Here

Cheers Lewissd!

#TBT: Google Unveils Galaxy S4 With "Nexus User Experience"

Tim — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:52:42 +0000

It was everything we ever wanted - a high-end smartphone from one of the world's biggest Android OEMs, without the crapware known as the younger version of TouchWiz. At Google I/O in 2013, Google announced the first two models in the Google Play Edition lineup of devices, the Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Edition. Priced at $649, coming with an unlockable bootloader, unlocked LTE support on T-Mobile and AT&T, the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition was actually pretty sweet. However, as we know now, the GPE lineup didn't take off too well, and is no longer a thing. But, before it departed this world, we got GPE devices from Sony, LG, Samsung, and HTC. Thanks to what Google did, every time a new phone comes out with less-than-stellar OEM software, we wish they would bring back the GPE program. Check out this unboxing of the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition.

[responsive_vid]

Galaxy S7 Always-On Display is a Decent First Attempt

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:14:17 +0000

Like the LG G5, Samsung's Galaxy S7 features an always-on display mode that relieves you of having to press buttons or pick up your phone numerous times throughout the day to do something as simple as check the time or date. We love the idea of always-on displays or similar functionality like Motorola's Moto Display that was introduced over three years ago. These types of features essentially kill off simple tasks that you once needed to complete multiple times per day. If that's not innovation, I don't know what is. So we thought we would take a look at Samsung's take on an always-on display because they seem quite proud of the implementation. How does it work? Can it be customized? Are there other uses outside of checking time, date, and battery percentage? How does it compare to Motorola and Google's similar features? With always-on display, Samsung is harnessing the power of the Super AMOLED display they used in the S7, which allows them to light up individual pixels as needed. When you see the clock or calendar lit up when your phone has been locked and the screen is mostly black, only the pixels you see are being powered, rather than the entire display. This allows Samsung to enable an always-on display for an entire day instead of completely killing your battery in a matter of hours.

In terms of options, Samsung is letting you tweak some settings with their always-on display (found in Settings>Display>Always-on display). For example, there are seven different clock combos to choose from, two different calendar modes, and even a couple of image-only styles. The clock allows for select background images as well, but that's pretty much it. Actually, I shouldn't say "that's it" since Samsung is currently the only phone manufacturer allowing you to tweak an always-on feature - both Motorola and Google give you one setup.

The always-on displays of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are capable of showing some notifications that you have pending. Unfortunately, these notifications only show for Samsung's suite of apps like the dialer and text messaging app. If you were hoping to see notifications for Hangouts or Gmail or Inbox or Google Calendar, you are out of luck. And that, is where this implementation is severely lacking.

If you look at the image above, which shows the Moto X Pure Edition and Nexus 6P on each side of the S7, you can see the major difference between each phone's implementation of the idea. The Galaxy S7 is only showing a couple of notification icons for missed calls and text messages, while the other phones are showing additional icons for Hangouts, Inbox, and even my Nest cameras. Had the Moto X or 6P also received a call, they would show that as well. The 6P and Moto X also allow you to interact with notifications that come in, while the S7's always-on display doesn't allow for any interaction. Tapping, swiping, or touching the S7's always-on display returns nothing. In order to get into missed notifications, you have to then press the home or lock buttons, which then fully wakes the phone. Where the S7 stands out over those two is in the fact that it is always-on. All you need to do to kick it on and keep it on, is lock your phone. The Moto X requires a wave over the display or a notification to arrive before it displays information. The Nexus 6P needs either a notification to arrive or a full pick-up-and-tilt by you. For doing something as simple as checking the time or battery percentage, I think it's obvious that the Galaxy S7 is king here. But if you were looking for a full-blown interactive always-on setup, you get a better experience with the other two phones. Obviously, Samsung can improve this by at least showing notification icons for other apps that aren't their own. We don't know if or when they will do that, but their first versions of multi-window and Edge display were severely lacking in this department as well, yet did get better over time. To see an even deeper look at all of the settings and how the Galaxy S7's always-on display compares to these two phones, check out the video below.

[responsive_vid]

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Arrives in Your Home on April 1

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:36:36 +0000

If you have yet to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters...wait, you've all seen it by now, right? No? Leave work this very minute and go see the damn thing. It's amazing and should be experienced at least once in theaters by all. Then again, if you have been putting it off this long, I would imagine that you won't listen to me and will instead continue disappointing humanity. So humanity disappointers, you don't have that long to wait before you can see it at home because it arrives April 1. During a Disney shareholder meeting this morning, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that The Force Awakens arrives on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 1. It then hits store shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on April 5. Here are the Blu-ray and DVD boxes.

These first releases will include all sorts of bonus features, like a full length documentary about the film, cast members waxing poetic about their first day, the magic behind the movie's creatures, deleted scenes, and more. You can see the full list of bonuses at the source link below. Along with all of that bonus footage, select retailers will offer additional exclusives. For example, Target's (pre-order) Blu-ray combo pack comes in exclusive packaging and has an added 20 minutes of bonus content. The Walmart version has exclusive BB-8 packaging and a trading disc. The Best Buy version (pre-order) has exclusive SteelBook packaging. To see images of those packages, hit up the source link as well. Or, you could always pre-order from Amazon or Google Play.

Via: Star Wars

Deal: Aukey 20,000mAh Power Bank for $25, Dual Port Wall Charger for $4.99

Tim — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:25:36 +0000

For a limited time on Amazon, you can pick up Aukey's latest, the 20,000mAh Power Bank with AiPower Adaptive Charging for just $24.99, down from its usual price of $45. If you haven't heard of AiPower Adaptive Charging, it's pretty sweet. The technology automatically detects the connected device and provides maximum charge current according to device's chipset, delivering the fastest charging speed possible for the device. This means that whether you have a Galaxy S6 or iPhone, you should always have a fast charge. To spice up the device, Aukey built in a flashlight, which can be activated by pressing the Power button for 3 seconds. In terms of specs, the bank features Lightning and micro USB inputs, DC 5V 2A input when using a 2A charger, and comes with a micro USB Cable in the packaging. If you don't need something portable, Aukey is also offering a deal on its Dual Port wall charging adapter. Regularly listed at over $20, you can grab it for $4.99. The adapter also features AiPower technology, although, it states that Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 is not supported. As for compatibility, pretty much all Android devices and iPhones are supported. To get the most savings, you will need the following coupon codes. At checkout on Amazon, plug them in and save a few bucks. Amazon Links: 20,000mAh Power Bank (Coupon: W62238B6) | 12W Dual Port Wall Charger (Coupon: GUFCZD46)

At Last, Amazon Echo and Nest Thermostat Work Together

Tim — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:25:20 +0000

Owners of a Nest learning thermostat and Amazon Echo can now pair the two, finally bringing the two smart objects together at last. Assuming you own both, to enable the Nest functionality on Echo, simply open up the Alexa app on your smartphone and switch on the Nest skill. Once completed, you can provide Alexa with verbal commands on how hot or cold you would like your home to be. Beyond asking for specific hot and cold temps, users can be provided with humidity feedback, as well as get a little fancy by speaking to Alexa, "Tell the thermostat that I'm too hot." The commands are quite basic right now, but if you also partake in IFTTT, you can also set somewhat fancier Alexa commands. For example, when you come down from your night's snooze in the morning, you can say, "Alexa, good morning" and she will signal to Nest to kick on the heat. At this time, there are over 50 recipes to choose from on IFTTT for Nest and Echo partnering. According to the Nest team, the first official collaboration is set to begin in a couple of weeks, so if you don't see the Nest skill in your Alexa app quite yet, patience. This has been a long time coming.

Via: Nest

Amazon Makes Echo Smaller and Portable With Echo Dot and Tap

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:20:17 +0000

This morning, Amazon tripled its Alexa-ready devices with the announcement of two new products, the Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Tap. The Echo Dot is very much just a smaller version of the original Echo, while the Tap is a portable Bluetooth version, made for on-the-go or around-the-house-moving tune listening and task completing. With the new Echo Dot, Amazon has taken the style and shape of the original Echo and shrunk it down into puck form. The Echo Dot has a speaker, but it's not necessarily supposed to be used for music on its own. Instead, Amazon is hoping that you'll attach it to other speakers (via Bluetooth or included cable) to bring the power of Alexa to other products. Amazon is also positioning Echo Dot as a room companion that gives you Alexa's voice controls over lights, alarms, thermostats, timers, etc., without the bulk of the bigger Echo. The Echo Dot is priced at $89.99, is an exclusive to Prime members, and can only be purchased at this time through an Amazon Echo. You need to say to your Echo, "Alexa, order an Echo Dot." Seriously, that's the only way you can order one. The Amazon Tap is very much a full-blown speaker, only it's portable. It charges via included cradle, but once charged, you should see up to 9 hours of music playback. Like the original Echo, it features 360º omni-directional audio, improves constantly via over-the-air updates, and harnesses all of the power of Alexa, when connected to WiFi. When you aren't on WiFi, it turns into a Bluetooth speaker in tube form. The Amazon Tap is available for pre-order today at $129.99 and ships March 31. Amazon Links: Echo Dot | Amazon Tap

Via: Amazon

Blackberry Priv Now Available From Verizon for a Whole Lot of Money

Kellen — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 07:38:31 +0000

The Blackberry Priv, the first from the former smartphone king to run Android, is now available at Verizon. The phone went up for sale last night, but Verizon made it all official this morning. If you are interested, the Priv will set you back $30 per month on a payment plan or $720 at full retail. At that price, we're in the Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6s Plus range, yet I don't know that I would consider this phone to be anywhere near those levels. Thankfully, that's for you to decide, Priv future owner. We reviewed the Priv a few months back and came away impressed with portions of the phone, including the display, hardware, keyboard, and minimal, stock-like software. We weren't exactly impressed by the camera or battery life, though Blackberry has issued a number of updates to address those concerns in recent months. Verizon Link

Via: Verizon

Galaxy S7: First 10 Things You Should Do

Kellen — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:22:37 +0000

I know that March 11 is still over a week away and that most of you don't have your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge yet, but that won't stop us from doing our best to prepare you for the day that you do. With that in mind, we think there are 10 items to consider tweaking on your phone once your S7 arrives and you complete the setup process after pulling it out of the box (or if you carrier ships your new phone early). These are the types of tweaks that can extend your storage, make your phone more convenient and secure at the same time, let you sleep easier at night, and change the look of Samsung's TouchWiz. Below, you'll find the simple list of items, but if you want the full explanation for each, I highly recommend catching the video at the end of this post. Either way, here are the first 10 things to considering doing to your Galaxy S7.

1. Toss in a microSD card Why? Because Samsung brought back the SD slot to this year's Galaxy line and is giving you the opportunity to up your storage by 200GB. By adding in an SD card, you can really increase the amount of photos, videos, music, and apps that your phone can handle over the next couple of years. If you are confused as to where the SD card slot is located, be sure to check out this post. 2. Switch camera storage to SD card You will more than likely be prompted to switch over to storing photos taken to your microSD card once it has been inserted, but you may want to double check to make sure that it stuck. If you don't switch your storage preference to the SD card, the chances of you filling up the S7's 32GB of internal storage fairly quickly are pretty high. 12MP photos are big photos that can take up a lot of storage. Plus, if you start shooting video in 4K or taking advantage of Motion Photos, that 32GB (which is really 24GB out of the box) isn't going to last long. 3. Make sure camera Quick Launch is on Samsung's double-tap-on-home shortcut to launch the camera is still one of the best quick launch camera actions around. On the Galaxy S7, it seems to be faster than ever and so you are going to want this enabled. It should be enabled out of the box, but if you perform a quick double-tap and nothing happens, head into the camera app, open settings, and find the shortcut "Quick Launch." 4. Setup fingerprints for multiple fingers During the S7's setup process, it will ask you to setup a fingerprint or two to help secure your phone. My suggestion is that you setup four fingers: your two thumbs and your two index fingers. With this setup, you can quickly unlock your phone while in either hand, but also use a finger to unlock it if it's lying on a table.

5. Turn on Always-on Display Always-on Display is one of Samsung's new features that keeps a portion of the screen lit up at all times to show you the time, date, battery percentage, and select notifications. This is a feature that all phones should have, because it allows us the freedom to not have to touch our phone the dozens of times per day that we currently do to do something as simple as check the time. On my S7 it was disabled out of the box. In order to enable it, head into your phone's Display settings and look for "Always-on Display." 6. Disable all the bloatware you don't need Depending on the carrier model of your Galaxy S7, you may have more bloatware (pre-installed apps) than others. The T-Mobile variants of the S7 and S7 Edge do not come with much, but expect the AT&T and Verizon versions to include upwards of 20 apps that you want no part of. The quickest way to disable or uninstall these is to open the app drawer, hit the "Edit" button in the top right corner, and then start tapping on the "-" icons over each app. 7. Clean-up home screens Similar to the bloatware situation, there is a good chance your home screen setup out of the box will be full of garbage you'd rather not see. A simple long press on your home screens takes you into a zoomed out view where you can delete full pages if you want, or you can zoom it back in to grab individual items. That zoomed-out view also lets you quickly turn off the Flipboard panel to your home screen's far left.

8. Customize your favorite settings In the settings menu, Samsung allows you to pin up to 9 of your most-used settings for quick access. This is one of my favorite TouchWiz features, as I'm the type to jump into various system settings (Battery, Display, Storage, Applications Manager, etc.) throughout a day. All you need to do is open your settings, tap the "Edit" button in the top right, and then go about selecting your favorites. 9. Setup Do Not Disturb mode I'm a huge fan of Do Not Disturb mode. I'd recommend setting it up, if anything, for night time, when you probably want a good night's rest without being interrupted by notifications. Mine is setup to kick on at 11:45PM every night and turn off at 6:00AM the following morning. I allow calls from my favorites list to sneak through, along with alarms, but not much else. You can customize all of this of course, through the "Sounds and vibration" menu in settings. 10. Checkout some themes With last year's Galaxy line, Samsung opened up TouchWiz to themers, which gave its customers the opportunity to really change the overall look of the software experience. If you aren't a fan of Samsung's stock TouchWiz color scheme or icon set, a theme could really freshen things up. There are free and paid themes, and they all seem to tweak items including the notification shade, dialer, settings menu, etc. To access themes, you'll find an option in the settings menu, but also as a shortcut after long-pressing on your home screen. Let us know if you find any good ones!

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

No Hands, Ma: Google Intros Hands Free Mobile Payment App, Piloting in South Bay

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:10:26 +0000

Google is launching a pilot program for a new mobile payments solution, separate from Android Pay, called Hands Free. Available to residents of the South Bay (Bay Area, California), Hands Free allows you to pay for goods at select retailers without ever touching your phone. The process is quite easy. In a store or restaurant you will get your goods, walk up to the cashier, then state to the person behind the counter, "I'll pay with Google." At that time, the cashier will confirm your identity via photograph and name initials thanks to a connection over Bluetooth to your smartphone and the Hands Free app, then you are on your way. A receipt will be sent to your phone to help you keep track of your transactions. To make things even more Minority Report-like, get a load of what Google claims in its blog post for Hands Free.

At select stores, we’re also in the early stages of experimenting with visual identification so that you can breeze through checkout even faster. This process uses an in-store camera to automatically confirm your identity based on your Hands Free profile picture. All images captured by the Hands Free camera are deleted immediately.

Borderline creepy, yet awesome, right? Even though the pilot is extremely limited at this time, anyone can download the app and setup their account. You will need to have a credit card on file from Android Pay or Google Wallet, and you will also need to provide a photograph of yourself. You can also request the service in your area, but who knows how long that will take. Usually, another mobile payment solution is the last thing I'd say the world needs, but this sounds pretty sweet and futuristic. Play Link

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Via: Google Commerce

Latest HTC One M10 Teaser Talks Good Kind of Obsession

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:26:50 +0000

HTC posted a new teaser for the #powerof10 campaign, which we are assuming is the company's hype machine for the upcoming One M10. In the teaser, the company states they are obsessed with what they are working on, staying up till the wee hours of the night to make it just right for everyone. While there is no shot of the device or anything like that, do know that it is reported HTC will launch the device in May. Even though HTC has yet to give us anything solid, we have seen various leaked photos of the phone. Take a look, then share your reaction below.

We’re obsessed… in a good way. #powerof10 https://t.co/V7JoL1T094 https://t.co/EDRlGWoWEG
— HTC UK (@HTC_UK) March 2, 2016

Google Photos Update Includes Bottom Navigation Bar, Collections Renamed to Albums

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:13:22 +0000

An incoming update for Google Photos should bring better navigation, as well as a slightly different look for Android users. Once updated, users will notice a navigation bar on the bottom side of the app, with shortcuts for Albums, Assistant, and Photos. This bar should allow for quicker discovery of what you are looking for. Also, the Collections feature is being renamed to Albums, featuring a new scrolling carousel on top with easy access to your shared albums, people, places, things, animations, collages, movies, and device folders. Google Photos version 1.15 is hitting Google Play starting today, so grab the update when you see it. For iOS users, Google states that this update will be coming soon. Play Link

Via: Google Photos

This Icon Pack is Hot: Glim

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:25:20 +0000

It's a new year full of new phones, which means you need new hotness in your life. Trust me on this. To piggy back on the Nova Launcher Prime sale going on, I want to introduce you to Glim. I saw a few comments on the Nova sale post asking which icon pack I was using, so here you go. Glim is a great take on flat icons, but still delivers a colorful punch and unique twist to app icons. The pack, which costs $2.79 on Google Play, features 2,500+ icons to choose from, with tons of alternative colors for those who have a certain theme in mind. The pack features dynamic Calendar support, a "smart" icon request tool, as well as cloud-based wallpapers that support Muzei. For the most part, a few of the popular app icons appear to be the same, but when looking closely, each has a flat and minimal feel. When using Nova, I disable the app icon labels, then increase the size which really makes them pop on my home screen. The Glim app, where you can browse through all of the icons, is built very well. Upon opening, you can slide through tabs, check the app's changelog for what icons have been added, and view all of the wallpapers that come with the pack. Check out a few of the screenshots below, then follow the Google Play link to get the latest hotness. Play Link ($2.79)

Quick Look: Galaxy S7 Motion Photo, a Simpler Take on Apple's Live Photos

Kellen — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:53:46 +0000

We're not even 24 hours into our full Samsung Galaxy S7 coverage, yet we've already unboxed it, talked about how it handles app storage with SD cards, and showed you just how careful you need to be when inserting your nano SIM and expandable storage. Up next, we're taking a look at the phone's Motion Photo feature, which Samsung hasn't exactly been bragging about, likely because everyone in the media will refer to it as a copy of Apple's Live Photos. Is it? No. Let's not forget that HTC was doing a Live Photo experience years before Apple sniffed it, so I'd just say that this is Samsung's take on that whole idea. What is Galaxy S7 Motion Photo? It's a pretty simple idea that could extend the photo taking experience for you not only in the moment, but by creating better memories going forward. A Motion Photo is a photo that includes a few seconds of video taken before you press the shutter button. What you get is a short clip that encapsulates the before-footage leading right up until the photo is taken. Motion Photos give you the opportunity to catch those funny faces or other candid moments that a still frame can't. How does it differ from Apple's Live Photos? For one, it only captures a few seconds of video before, whereas Live Photos captures footage both before and after. With Live Photos, you view them by using the iPhone 6s's 3D Touch, while Samsung just gives you a shortcut to the Motion Photo. Apple even allows you to put Live Photos on the iPhone's lock screen. They aren't opposites by any means, but they certainly aren't identical either.

In order to turn on Motion Photo, you'll find an option in the phone's camera app under settings. Mine was turned off out of the box, so if you want to use Motion Photo, be sure to double check that it's enabled. Just keep in mind that when you capture a few seconds of video footage with every photo you take, you are going to use up a lot of storage space in a short amount of time. You may want to use this in non-everyday situations or at the very least, make sure you are storing photos on a big ol' microSD card. To find out more about Motion Photo and see in action, check out the clip below.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Deal: Moto X Pure Edition 64GB for $399, Plus $25 B&H Gift Card

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:51:52 +0000

B&H Photo and Video is offering a deal on the Moto X Pure Edition, by taking $100 off of the 64GB model and bringing the price down to $399. In addition to the $100 off, B&H is also throwing in a gift card to its site to the tune of $25. Three models of the Moto X Pure Edition are available to purchase - Black back with Black accents, White with Gold accents, and White with Bamboo back. Each is priced at $399, and each is 64GB. And to be clear, these are brand new phones, not refurbished or anything like that. If the MXPE suits your fancy, with its stock Android experience and solid camera performance, hit that link below. B&H Link

DEAL: Grab Nova Launcher Prime for Only $0.99 Right Now

Tim — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:54:26 +0000

A sale on Google Play can net you Nova Launcher Prime at a largely discounted price of only $0.99. Usually priced at $4.99, Nova Launcher Prime unlocks certain features in the Nova Launcher app, bringing additional customization and feature enhancements straight to your Home screen. If you take a poll here on DL or go to any Android forum, you will find that many folks enjoy Nova's level of customization, and to this day, it still receives timely updates bringing new features. Anytime you see a Show Off Your Home Screen post, you better believe there is plenty of Nova action taking place. If you have yet to try Nova, now is a good time to do so. Simply follow the Google Play link below, purchase Prime, then also download the Nova Launcher app. From there, it's up to you to customize it how you see fit. Who here is already using Nova? Play Link

Inserting SIM and MicroSD Card in Your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge

Kellen — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:25:09 +0000

With the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung brought back the microSD card slot to much delight. While they may have skipped on Android 6.0's Adoptable Storage, there may not be that big of an issue, because they are still allowing you to move apps over to an inserted SD card and take advantage of cards up to 200GB. Since many of you may be coming to the S7 or S7 Edge from a previous Galaxy device and haven't seen Samsung's newest implementation of an SD card slot, we thought we'd share that with you today. If you are coming from a Moto X Pure Edition, you'll know how this works, but what Samsung has done here is turn the SIM tray of the phone into a microSD tray as well. The SIM tray (and the S7 takes a nano SIM) is located at the top of the phone and can be ejected by using the included SIM tool that Samsung left in the box with all of the phone's guides. All you have to do is slot the tool into the pin-hole for the tray, apply a bit of pressure, and it will pop right out. Now, once you have the SIM tray out, you'll notice there are two slots: one is for your nano SIM and the other is for a microSD card. In the video below, you'll see exactly where to put each, but you'll also see how delicate and careful you need to be when doing so, especially as you slide the tray back into the phone. This isn't a difficult process, but again, just be careful.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Samsung Pay Adds Wells Fargo Debit and Credit Cards

Kellen — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:02:00 +0000

Yes, I know that the picture above shows Samsung Pay open on a Galaxy Note 5 with a US Bank card ready for use and that this post is about Wells Fargo. I'm sorry, I don't bank with Wells Fargo and can't provide you with that level of an experience here. But still, this is big news, so ignore that image! Wells Fargo is now on Samsung Pay! Samsung pinged us this morning with the news, noting that by adding Wells Fargo to Samsung Pay, the mobile payment service supports debit and credit cards from 70 banks and credit unions, which they say covers "70 percent of the US credit and debit card market." I think it's still safe to say that Samsung Pay is by far the best mobile payment system available today, even if it is limited to Samsung's phones. By adding Wells Fargo, I can't even imagine how many new users will now sign-up and start using it. For a list of supported banks, head over to Samsung's site here. Is your bank or credit card supported?

Via: Samsung

Galaxy S7 System Uses Up 8GB Out of the Box, but You can Move Apps to SD

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:37:16 +0000

Remember that big stink that was made about Samsung not allowing for Android 6.0 Marshmallow's Adoptable Storage feature? Well, this is right here is why people threw a bit of a fit. Out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy S7 uses up 8GB of the phone's 32GB for system apps and TouchWiz and whatever else Samsung has pre-loaded. That's a quarter of all of your internal storage, to put it another way. That's...not good. As you can see from the image above, before I even completed setup on my Galaxy S7 (we unboxed it here!), I was down to around half of my 32GB storage available. In actuality, the image shows that I've used under 16GB total, but I'm still installing apps and have already jumped past the halfway mark and now have around 15GB left to use. If I were a typical smartphone owner who keeps a phone for two years, 15GB isn't leaving me much space to install apps to. People were complaining about the lack of adoptable storage, because they assumed that heavy app-installers would quickly run out of space to install more apps. If you look at my situation, that could easily happen. However, after digging around in the storage settings of the Galaxy S7, I noticed that Samsung is still allowing you to move apps to SD cards, just like they have done in the past. Take a look.

I ran through this process with a number of apps that I installed through Google Play that weren't system apps. From games to airline apps to Google Analytics - they all let me move them to my 200GB SD. If I ripped the SD card out, it took away all of those apps and said they were tied to the SD card. That's somewhat surprising, since the Moto X Pure Edition doesn't allow you to do that. See for yourself here.

So, Samsung may be using up 8GB of space for system apps and services, but they are still letting you move apps to an SD card to free up space on the internal partition. That's a good sign, especially since you can put in up to 200GB SD cards in the S7 or S7 Edge. And now might be a good time to buy this 200GB SanDisk microSD from Amazon. Feeling better about the storage situation?

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Samsung Galaxy S7 Unboxing!

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:22:28 +0000

To kick off what we are expecting to be one heck of a 2016 smartphone season, we have the Samsung Galaxy S7 in house and in-hand, ready for us to attack it. We'll be doing everything we can to this device to hopefully help all of us (yes, we're always on the hunt for our next smartphone too) decide if this, its edge-filled brother, the LG G5, or something else, will be our next smartphone. As a quick recap, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge arrive officially on March 11, but you can pre-order them today from all of the major carriers. If you do choose to pre-order, there is a good chance that your phone will arrive well before March 11. Just ask some of our readers. For the next several weeks, we'll dive into the phone's specs, software, performance, battery life, how it compares to the other flagships available today, and again, help you decide if it should be your next phone. If you want a recap of the specs, you'll find that here. If you want to see our initial impressions of the phone during the launch party, you can see those here. Alright, are you ready to get into this? This is our Galaxy S7 unboxing.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Moto G (2nd Gen) Getting Marshmallow Update Right Now in US

Tim — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:06:47 +0000

The last time we spoke specifically about the Moto G (2nd Gen), it was when Motorola announced back in October that a Marshmallow update would eventually be made available for the device. Now, in March of 2016, the time has come for owners of the Moto G (2nd Gen) in the US to install the update. In the changelog listed on Motorola's website, the company details the many changes that users should expect to see. These changes include App Standby, comprehensive App Permissions, Adoptable Storage via microSD cards, enhanced notification settings, Google's Now on Tap, edited volume controls, and more. In addition to changes for the Android OS in general, Moto is also baking in changes and even removing services on their end. This includes enhancements for Moto Assist, the removal of Motorola Migrate, as well as the removal of Motorola Alert. If you wish to continue using Motorola Alert after the update is applied, you can download it from Google Play. The update is rolling out now, so be on the lookout for a notification to install it.

Via: Motorola

Cheers John, Joshua, and everyone else!

DEALS: Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge for $399, LG Watch Urbane for $179

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:50:20 +0000

Since I appear to have been moments late on sharing that Jaybird Bluebuds X deal from earlier, here are three other solid deals worth considering today. You can grab last year's Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F) or Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925V) with 32GB storage for as little as $399, or the LG Watch Urbane for just $179, all from eBay. The Galaxy S6 that's on sale is an international unlocked GSM unit, so it will work without a hiccup on T-Mobile or AT&T. The S6 Edge is Verizon's version, so you should stick with using it on Verizon's network if you care about an LTE connection. Otherwise, you could get some connectivity on AT&T without LTE. The Watch Urbane is the Watch Urbane, an LG watch that is mostly ugly, but should perform well still and would be a good first Android Wear device at this price (here is our review). All three deals include free shipping. eBay Links:

Samsung Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F) - $399.99 + free standard shipping
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925V) - $399.99 + free economy shipping
LG Watch Urbane - $179.99 + free standard shipping

Marshmallow Update Hitting Huawei Watch Today

Tim — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:45:56 +0000

After a bit of waiting on the part of owners, Huawei is shipping out the Android Wear 1.4 update, labeled as MEC23L (Marshmallow), to the Huawei Watch. This update will bring speaker functionality, as well as the ability to place and receive phone calls while the device is synced to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Additional features inside of the update are new wrist gestures, plus added support for additional messaging applications when using your voice to dictate messages. All of the info you need on what to expect can be read here. This update has been in testing since late December, but as we creep into March, no doubt many owners have been eager for their devices to receive it. According to Huawei's community forum, the update is set to begin rolling out via OTA today, so if you own this smartwatch, be on the lookout for the update later today, or sometime this week. Let us know if you receive it, and in the meantime, check out our hands-on with the Marshmallow update below.

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Via: Huawei

DEAL: Jaybird Original Bluebuds X Just $72 at Amazon Today (Updated: Gone)

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:01:09 +0000

Jaybird's Bluebuds X, arguably one of the most popular sets of sport Bluetooth headphones of all time, are currently available on Amazon through a lightning deal for just $72. These headphones originally retailed for around $170, but have dropped a lot in price in recent years as new models have been introduced. This is the original pair of X headphones from Jaybird that have since been replaced by the X2 and soon-to-be-released X3. They still offer pretty incredible sound quality for sport Bluetooth buds, 8 hours of play time, controls over your phone, and a bunch of adjustable pieces to help you get the best fit. As a long-time user of Jaybird X products, I'd highly recommend considering this deal if you are in the market for some of the best Bluetooth headphones money can buy at a reasonably low price, even if these are the original model that have been replaced. I've used the X and X2, and will likely upgrade again to the X3 once they come out. The quality and sound with this line is unmatched, in my opinion. UPDATE: Ugh, it looks like they already sold out at $72. I refreshed just before posting and thought it was at 22% claimed. Sorry, folks. Amazon Link

Google I/O 2016 Site Goes Live, Registration Lottery Begins March 8

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:38:11 +0000

Ready for Google I/O 2016 at its new location in Mountain View? Google has opened up the 2016 site with information about the festivities, including when you can register and how much it will cost you. As far as registration goes, Google is once again doing a lottery of sorts. On March 8 at 9AM PST, they will open registration that closes on March 10 at 5PM PST. During that time, you'll need to sign in with your Google account and complete a required registration application. In previous years, you needed a credit card to do so, but Google hasn't mentioned that this time, as far as I can tell. On March 10, once the registration period closes, Google will randomly select applicants and notify them via email. So how much will I/O cost you? General admission tickets are $900 and academic tickets are $300. The updated I/O 2016 site doesn't dive into how the event will work on May 18-20, now that the keynote is taking place at the Shoreline Amphitheater, but Google is now referring to this as a "developer festival." That could be fun. More info at the Google I/O site.

Chevy Dealers Offering Android Auto Update Free of Charge to Compatible Vehicles

Tim — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:32:25 +0000

Chevy vehicle owners with the necessary hardware in the dash can head into a Chevy dealership to receive the Android Auto software update. According to Chevy, the carmaker will reach out to vehicle owners who meet the requirements, and for those lucky few, the update will be completely free of charge and take about 30 minutes to complete. For those curious, in order to meet the requirements for the update, you will need an eight-inch MyLink system installed in your vehicle. Chevy models with the seven-inch MyLink system already include both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, so no update is required for you. "We are working with our dealers to make the software update as quick and easy as possible to minimize any inconvenience to our owners,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet. Chevy owners, you ready for Android Auto?

Via: Chevy

Blackberry Priv Camera, Keyboard, and Launcher Apps Receive Updates

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:14:29 +0000

Blackberry, today, is pushing a bunch of updates to key apps on its Android phone, the Priv. Updates include improvements to the phone's camera, keyboard, and launcher apps, most of which were likely based on user feedback. In the camera, Blackberry is adding in "smooth" 120fps slow motion video capture, while addressing stability and performance improvements. With the keyboard, predictive typing is learning new tricks and the physical keyboard's fine cursor control is improved. Finally, the app launcher has a new default view for apps, there is a new "flick" action for removing application shortcuts, and overlays throughout are improved. Below, you'll find details for each app, in Blackberry's own words. Camera

Users can capture smooth slow motion video with PRIV’s camera that’s up to four times slower. The Slow Motion function can be accessed through the camera’s “Mode” button, and captures video at 120 fps which plays back smoothly at 30 fps. Audio is not enabled for slow-motion video at this time.
General stability and performance improvements.

Keyboard

PRIV’s prediction engine now processes a user’s email and social messages to better understand the user’s typing style and provide a better out-of-box experience.
Predictive typing can now learn words with numbers.
Option to have the keyboard suggest names from a user’s contacts during email creation.
Fine Cursor Control mode on the physical keyboard now features an enhanced cursor locator along with on-screen arrows for easier positioning and control.
Holding down ‘delete’ for two seconds now deletes on a word-by-word basis, making it easier to stop on single words.
Tapping a key on the physical keyboard more accurately places the focus cursor on screen.

App Launcher

Default view for apps now separated into Recent, Personal, and Work.
While in overview mode, the “home” panel can be set to any available panel, and panels can be deleted by pressing down on them for several seconds.
Can now flick to remove application shortcuts from the home screen.
Pop-up widgets now enabled by default.
Improved overlays to provide users with more information on app locations, launcher settings, pop-up widgets, and the productivity tab.
Apps installed on the SD card will be grayed out if the card is removed to let the user know it’s still around but inaccessible.

Play Links: Blackberry Launcher | Blackberry Keyboard | Blackberry Camera

Via: Blackberry

Fenix Update Includes Ability to Search and Share GIFs

Tim — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:01:06 +0000

An update for Fenix, a popular 3rd-party Twitter app, includes support for quickly adding GIFs to your tweets and direct messages. This inclusion comes shortly after Twitter added the same functionality, and exactly like Twitter, this feature is powered by Giphy. As a basic rundown, when you begin to compose a tweet, you will see a button for adding a GIF. GIFs are broken down into categories, making the process of finding the exact one you need much easier. Once you select a GIF, it will be added to your tweet, ready to be shared with the world. To celebrate this, update the Fenix app, then get to GIF'ing. Play Link

SoundHound's Hound Personal Assistant Leaves Beta, Open to All

Kellen — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 07:42:26 +0000

Hound, the personal assistant app that launched last June out of music search service SoundHound, has moved out of its beta phase and is available to all on Google Play. I don't know that the beta was all that difficult to be a part of it, seeing as the app has over 100K downloads on Google Play, but it's now really easy to get into. What is Hound and what does it do? It's a bit like Google Now and Google's voice actions, only in a stand-alone app. Like with Google, Hound lets you ask it questions, then follow up those questions to dive deeper into subjects as if you were speaking to it naturally. You can have Hound find you hotels and restaurants and check the stock market and search for music or play interactive games. You can also find out the weather and what the day looks like tomorrow, harness the power of Yelp, pull up navigation and directions, book through Uber, make phone calls and send text messages, and use a calculator, all with your voice. It's a lot like your typical personal assistant type of app, but it's pretty fast and has a clean UI. Launching with "OK, Hound" also works well. Hound is free to use, so if you were looking for a stand-alone assistant type of app, now is your chance to give it a look. Play Link

About That Google Maps Video With the Missing App Drawer...

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:18:09 +0000

UPDATE 2/29: Google reached out to confirm to us that this Google Maps video is an inaccurate (read: bad mock-up as we suggested below) version of their UI and that this is not a hint or preview of what's to come, as has been rumored over the previous couple of weeks.

Yesterday, Google posted a tweet through the Google Maps Twitter account that has Android enthusiasts going a big nuts, all because the video included shows a Nexus 6P without an app drawer. Seriously, lots of people are freaking out because this phone doesn't have an app drawer. I don't know that I'm ready to freak out just yet without knowing the full story, but it is worth talking about. First of all, here is the tweet that's to blame for this weekend's fun. https://twitter.com/googlemaps/status/703235681976332288?s=09 If you blink during the first 2 seconds, you'll miss it. See it? If not, just look at the image at the top of this post. Why are people making a big deal of this? For a couple of reasons. First, it has been rumored off and on for a couple of months that the next version of Android may not have an app drawer. Assuming this video isn't just a bad mock-up that wasn't meant to confuse the world, yet is, then we could be looking into the future here. Second, Android has had an app drawer since day one, so potentially killing it off in favor of Apple's really shitty app jukebox approach where all of your installed apps get spammed onto home screens, is a big deal. It would be terrible, if I'm being honest. The app drawer has always provided a form of organization that was used to easily jump into specific apps. In fact, the app drawer that arrived around the time of Marshmallow, that included recently used apps at the top, search, vertical scrolling, and quick scrolling between letters is an awesome implementation of the app drawer. Is that what we're seeing here, a disappearance of the app drawer? Since we get to view a screen on a phone without an app drawer icon for all of 2 seconds, we really have no idea what the full story is here. But for fun, let's say that this isn't just a bad Google mock-up and is pointing to what's to come. What we are seeing is the Google Now Launcher up and running with only icons in the home screen's dock for phone, contacts, and camera. If you have used the GNL, you know that the app drawer icon can't be moved or removed - it's locked to the dock at all times. Does that mean that an update is coming to the GNL and Android that will leave us Apple's incredibly shitty app jukebox approach? We don't know. If Google is killing the app drawer as we know it, hopefully, they have something else in store that will help you quickly get to the apps you need without just scrolling through pages of apps on your home screen or by forcing you into foldering it all up. Maybe the app experience will become contextual or based on favorites or most used or recently used. Maybe there will be a swipe-out panel of some sort. There better be something, dammit. We are not iOS users.

It's also worth noting that this home screen setup is showing a Google app icon with the word "Search" underneath it. I don't know about your phone, but mine sure doesn't say "Search" under the Google app, it says "Google." Consider the idea that this maybe isn't pointing towards Android N at all and is just a preview of an update to the Google Now Launcher and Google app. What do you think?

Screenshot Mockups Detail Notification Shade and Quick Settings in Android N

Tim — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:05:11 +0000

Google is likely to introduce Android N at this year's Google I/O, but since when have Android users ever been patient? In the latest mockups produced by Android Police, based on information provided by sources, these screenshots might be what Android N looks like when released. According to what those who made these mockups have seen, Google will bring back quick toggles in the notification shade. There appear to be toggles for WiFi, Cellular, Battery, Notifications, Flashlight, and a dropdown button to unveil all of your system toggles. Below these quick toggles are your notifications. If these screenshots are close to what we can expect, Google is removing the card effect, leaving a very thin line in between your different notifications. The Clear All button is still present on the bottom righthand side. As for the settings panel, when you likely drag down twice or by tapping the dropdown arrow, you access settings for Airplane Mode, GPS, Bluetooth, and everything else. This same look is essentially what we already have with Marshmallow. The quick settings toggles above the notifications is pretty much like older versions of Android, such as Gingerbread. They are quite usable, but we do hope that in the public version of Android N, Google finds a way to better break up the look. Maybe by implementing better borders or with the use of shadows. As for the complete toggle pulldown, it looks nearly identical to Marshmallow, with the exception of the "page dots" on the bottom. Apparently, you will be able to have plenty more toggles than what you can fit on one page. You might notice, one of the screenshots shows off an app drawer. As far as folks familiar with the matter are concerned, Android N will have an app drawer. As stated, Google will unveil Android N at Google I/O in May. That's pretty darn soon. Take a look over the screenshots, then share your thoughts below.

Via: Android Police

Waze Announces Version 4.0 With New, Cleaner Design

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:23:44 +0000

Through an upload to the Waze YouTube channel, the community-based traffic service announced version 4.0 for its Android app. This version leaked out of an alpha group a few weeks back, so you may have heard of this version already. If not, this is what's new. According to Waze, we'll see a "new, cleaner design for easier navigation, reporting and sharing." That means you'll see a minimized number of steps for navigation, items like map, menus, and road reporting, designed for higher visibility and clarity, plus less clutter overall. Waze users will also see brighter buttons and color-coded pins to round out this "head to toe" revamping. Waze didn't announce when the update would be rolling out to all, but I'd imagine it'll be soon. We will let you know when that happens. Play Link

Google Now Selling Cardboard and Other VR Headsets on Google Store

Tim — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:02:43 +0000

From Cardboard and the Mattel View-Master VR headset, to the latest Google Tech C1-Glass VR Viewer headset, the Google Store now has everything you need for virtual reality. Starting at $15, users can pick up a Google Cardboard headset, which is your standard hands-on VR experience. Google thinks its cutting you a deal if you buy two Cardboard headsets, pricing them at $25 for the pair. The View-Master from Mattel is priced at $29.99, while the Google Tech C1-Glass VR Viewer is priced at the same $14.99 as Cardboard. While the name sounds fancy, it looks anything but. Featuring plastic, and no type of strap for your head, this unit needs to be held up to your face, which at times makes it hard to really immerse your brain into the believability of VR. If you don't mind that, though, then it's another design for you to try out. Hit the link below to check out all of Google's current options. If Google's options don't suit you, Google also lists a ton of 3rd-party folk who sell products made to work with Cardboard. You can view those makers here. Google Store Link

Watch: Samsung's "Why?" Commercial Featuring Weezy and Other Celebs

Tim — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:51:21 +0000

If you caught the Oscars last night, you might have seen Samsung's latest commercial for the Galaxy S7. Featuring celebrities and kitties, Samsung details the big features of the device, including water resistance and expandable storage, as well as the ability to use it for virtual reality. Samsung spared zero expense for the piece, with appearances from many celebrities. Off the top of my head, Samsung included Lil' Wayne, Wesley Snipes, James Harden, Doc Rivers, and William H. Macy. It was star studded, indeed. For a commercial, it's rather enjoyable. However, it doesn't come close to topping the latest Android piece.

DEAL: Moto G (3rd Gen) 16GB Drops to $199 at Motorola for Limited Time

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:30:43 +0000

The Moto G (3rd gen), a phone that at its price point is almost impossible to beat, is now cheaper than ever, thanks to a short-term deal over at Motorola's store. From today through March 7, you can buy the Moto G (3rd gen) for $199 without a contract. The deal includes the 16GB version that has 2GB RAM and normally carriers a price of $220. So yeah, you get a $20 discount. We reviewed the 3rd gen G and told you to run to Motorola's site as fast as your little virtual legs can go and buy it if your budget is $200. It's a heck of a value that features top notch performance, excellent battery life, and custom options through Moto Maker. Even after almost a year, it still should be a solid budget option, unless you have another $70 or so to push towards a Nexus 5X. Ooh, decisions. Motorola Link

Report: Samsung in Talks to Acquire Jay Z's TIDAL

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:19:05 +0000

According to a source of the New York Post, Samsung may be in talks to acquire TIDAL, the Jay Z-owned music streaming service for ~~spoiled~~ musicians, by ~~spoiled~~ musicians. The source didn't offer much from what we can tell, but did say that after being in on-and-off again talks with TIDAL, "Samsung is re-engaging; they are working on something really big, and they're keeping it very quiet in case it leaks." Sooooo, that could mean a partnership or acquisition or free Rihanna t-shirts for company executives or vacay with Jay and Bey, chillin' on a big yacht. In other words, we have no idea, but that's the word on the NY Post's streets. Does an acquisition of TIDAL even make sense for Samsung? Possibly. You may recall the 2013 release of Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, where Samsung essentially bought 1 million copies that it handed out for free to its Galaxy phone owners. Samsung recently did something similar with Rihanna's new album. Rihanna, of course, is signed to Jay Z's Roc Nation record label. Samsung clearly has a good relationship with Jay Z and that relationship could help put the two even closer together with an acquisition of TIDAL. Still, does a friendly relationship mean you should buy a friend's potentially lukewarm music service? No, unless you are Samsung and think that owning a major music streaming service is a way to bolster your brand, add to the Galaxy experience, and compete with Apple and Google's own music streaming services. Remember, Samsung has Milk Music, which is arguably a solid music option for quick-listening, but it isn't exactly a full-blown streaming service. Everyone involved declined comment (shocker). On a related note, Complex is reporting that TIDAL may be delinquent on some royalties payments to artists only a year after it re-launched as the streaming service that would take care of artists and pay them the highest royalties of any other streaming service. That's certainly not a good look when you friends at Samsung may be considering buying you out.

Via: New York Post | Complex

Fallout Shelter Update to Bring Item Crafting, Dweller Customization, and More

Tim — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:36:30 +0000

An upcoming update for Fallout Shelter is bringing a lot of new features, a few of which should add plenty of exciting gameplay opportunities. The big change - item crafting. Junk, exactly like the kind you would find in Fallout 4, can be used to craft new armor and weapons. Dwellers exploring the Wasteland with a high level of Luck can find junk, and you will be able to receive junk from Lunchboxes. To craft items from the junk, two rooms have been added into the game; Weapon and Armor crafting rooms. Also included in the update is the ability to customize the look of every dweller inside of your vault. This can be done be creating a Barbershop. Also in the realm of customization, new outfits and weapons have also been added into Lunchboxes. Fallout Shelter is also including new pets for your dwellers, so be on the lookout for parrots, plus new cats and dogs. Additionally, new pet bonuses have been added. The update is set to rollout to iOS and Android devices later this week. What's New

Turn worthless junk into useful items! Introducing… crafting!
New Rooms! Build the new Weapon and Armor crafting rooms and use them to create your own items in game!
Lunchboxes now contain a bonus 5th card: Junk! Trust us – it’s more useful than it sounds. Lucky wasteland explorers may also find junk on their adventures.
Take the Overseer role to the next level. Build the new Barbershop and customize the look of any Dweller.
Keep up with the latest fashions! Find new Outfits and Weapons straight from Fallout 4 in lunchboxes, or craft them yourself!
Because four-legged companions bring overwhelming happiness, we’ve added new Dogs and Cats, and are introducing… Parrots! Plus, new Pet bonuses!
Time of day is now properly reflected. Because authentic Vault simulation is our #1 goal!

Play Link

Via: Bethesda

LG Posts Minute-Long Look at G5 in Gold, Details Features Again

Tim — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 09:12:30 +0000

We still have half of a month to go before pre-orders begin for the LG G5, but that doesn't mean you still can't get a little hyped up for the device. In a new video posted to YouTube, LG gives a detailed look at the features and look of the G5 in Gold, which in my opinion, might be the best looking color offered of the device. During the minute-long video, LG shows off the modular design, in addition to the accessories that are available so far. If you don't already know, there is the LG CAM Plus and HiFi Plus with B&O Play. We did a walkthrough with each of these accessories at a recent LG press event, so you can read up on those here. LG also highlights features like the Always-On display, Friends Manager (which is the accessory management tool), and has their green fat cat play with the Rolling Ball accessory. March 18 is coming up. Will you be pre-ordering?

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DROID Turbo 2 Marshmallow Update Starts Tomorrow, We Think for Real This Time

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:05:17 +0000

On February 12, Verizon posted information to its DROID Turbo 2 support pages suggesting that the phone was set to receive the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Within a couple of hours, they pulled that info as if someone had pulled the trigger on that information a bit early. Then on Friday, a number of our readers notified us that they were taking part in a soak test for the update through Motorola's Feedback Network, which is typically a sign that we are actually close to an update rollout. Today, Verizon has once again posted details of the update, along with a March 1 date of availability. The update should rollout in two parts. The first will arrive as software version 23.31.24, before the big dog 24.14.10 shows up. It's the second update that takes you to Marshmallow. Assuming nothing bad happens in the next 24 hours, we should start seeing the update hit non-soak testers tomorrow. If our readers start seeing those updates, we'll be sure to let you know. In the mean time, feel free to head into Settings>Software updates to check.

Via: Verizon

Android's New "Rock, Paper, Scissors" Commercial is Another Great Spot

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 07:35:08 +0000

Who is doing commercials better than Google at this point? Oh, and look at this Tweet that relates to this commercial. See any Android N hints? https://twitter.com/Android/status/704162215721439233

HTC Vive Now Up for Pre-Order

Kellen — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 07:08:44 +0000

Ready to step into the world of room-takeover VR? The HTC Vive is now up for pre-order (we think, but HTC's site is dying). For $799 (plus $30 in shipping), you get the newest version of the HTC Vive headset (consumer edition), two wireless VR controllers, room scale movement sensors, and two VR titles. Just remember that for that price, you don't get the powerful PC required to power the Vive. So, not only do you need to spend $800 (plus $30 in shipping) for the headset, controllers, and sensors, but you'll need a Windows PC to push pixels to it or have to buy one. HTC has some recommendations here, which include this $1000 machine from HP. Orders will ship to the US in April. Ready to pre-order? Hit that link below. HTC VIVE LINK

Shipping Notices Arrive for T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Pre-Orders

Kellen — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 13:23:48 +0000

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge opened up earlier in the week across the US at all major carriers on February 23. Both phones are expected to arrive by March 11, which Samsung has dubbed as the official launch day. But since we have seen pre-orders ship early in the past, we have been on the lookout for early shipping notices, especially from those through T-Mobile. You may recall last year's pre-order period where T-Mobile shipped their orders almost two weeks early. Well, folks, it looks like that may be happening again. A couple of our readers, along with a handful at reddit, have received "It's on the way!" emails from T-Mobile, which means that orders are about to ship. At this time, we don't know that any orders have actually made their way onto a truck, but if notices are going out, T-Mobile's overnight deliveries could be upon us. Just keep in mind that shipping notices could mean that a label has been created and that these orders won't physically ship for a while. Then again, look at what happened last year. Anyone else receive a shipping notice?

Cheers Scott and @RIGGSMAGIC!

This Google Maps Video Shows Android Without an App Drawer and People are Freaking Out (Updated)

Kellen — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 12:56:54 +0000

UPDATE 2/29: Google reached out to confirm to us our initial thoughts, that this Google Maps video is an inaccurate (read: bad mock-up as we suggested below) version of their UI and that this is not a hint or preview of what's to come, as has been rumored over the previous couple of weeks.

Let's Talk S7 and G5

Kellen — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:08:24 +0000

On today's episode of the Droid Life Show, we're talking LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 (S7 Edge too) for a good hour or so. These are the biggest phones of 2016 (thus far), so since we've spent time with them all and I'd imagine you are all considering one of the three as your next phone, we'd love to share our thoughts. Of course, reviews will arrive shortly, but pre-orders are already up for the taking. If we wrap on those three phones, we'll have the usual updates on general Android news and maybe even an app or two. Join us at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern) for the fun. If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well, along with an IRC chat. Also, we’ll be chatting through the YouTube feed too.

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: February 26, 2016

Tim — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 15:41:08 +0000

It was a big week in Android, but you should probably already know that. With MWC taking place, Samsung announced the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, and LG announced the G5. We were fortunate to get hands-on time with all of the phones, with videos of each encounter available for viewing. Beyond Galaxy S7 and LG G5 news, we might have gotten our first look at Android N thanks to the Android development team, Verizon has begun field testing its 5G network, NVIDIA started rolling out Marshmallow to the SHIELD Android TV, and HTC started teasing the One M10 on Twitter. As you will see from the recap list of Android news, this week was bonkers. If you missed any of it, all of the biggest Android stories are linked below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 103 [Subscribe]
Video: Galaxy S7 Tour | Galaxy S7 Edge Tour
Video: LG G5 Tour
Video: Galaxy S7 vs. Galaxy S6 vs. Galaxy S5.
Video: LG G5 vs. LG G4 vs. LG G3.
The Galaxy S7 is definitely water resistant.
Everything you need to know about Galaxy S7 availability.
Verizon begins field testing 5G network.
Pre-Orders: Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge pre-orders went up this week.
LG G5 pre-orders go live on March 18 at Best Buy.
This might be our first look at Android N.
Google: Expect another "standard" in mobile messaging.
Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have microSD, but skip Adoptable Storage.
NVIDIA: Marshmallow rolling out to SHIELD Android TV.
Here's why the LG G5 should be your next phone.
Here's why the Galaxy S7 should be your next phone.
One M10: HTC beings teasing the One M10 on Twitter.
Quick Look: Carved wood case for the Nexus 6P.
Samsung announced 256GB UFS 2.0 mobile storage.
LG: Don't expect a Nexus from us in 2016.
DisplayMate says the Galaxy S7 has the best mobile display.
OnePlus: OnePlus 3 said to launch before end of Q2.
Huawei and Leica announced a smartphone photography partnership.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Friday App Sales: DuckTales Remastered, Castle of Illusion, eRadar HD, and More

Tim — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:05:47 +0000

It's Friday, meaning you may need a few new apps and games to spend your time on. Luckily for you, there are a ton of apps currently on sale through Google Play. A few of the highlights are Disney's Castle of Illusion and DuckTales: Remastered, as well as the Fresh icon pack that we claimed is "hot" not too long ago. Other titles on sale include Ballistic SE, multiple Toca titles, JoyJoy, Fast Burst Camera, Dungeon Raid, and plenty more. Check out the full list below. Friday App Sales

Ballistic SE ($0.99)
Bombcats: Special Edition ($0.99)
Fireball SE ($0.99)
Fluid SE ($0.99)
Inferno 2 ($0.99)
Super Crossfighter ($0.99)
Inferno+ ($0.99)
JoyJoy ($0.99)
Slydris ($0.99)
Toca Builders ($0.99)
Toca Pet Doctor ($0.99)
Toca Nature ($0.99)
Calls Blacklist PRO ($0.99)
Doomdark's Revenge ($1.49)
Fast Burst Camera ($0.99)
Dungeon Raid ($0.99)
eRadar HD ($0.99)
Fresh - Icon Pack ($0.99)
Castle of Illusion ($4.99)
DuckTales: Remastered ($4.99)

Go support those developers!

DEAL: Nexus 5X 16GB is Just $269 Today at eBay ($80 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 10:45:09 +0000

Wow, you can buy the Nexus 5X with 16GB of storage for just $269 over at eBay today. The deal is running through a daily deal, so don't expect it to last long. The Nexus 5X may not be the flagship Nexus that the 6P is, but it's still a very capable Android phone that will see updates faster than almost any other phone and should only get better as Google pushes bug fixes to it. To read up on all there is to know about the 5X, our review can be found here. The deal includes a couple of colors (for now) along with free expedited shipping. eBay Link

Latest Inbox Update is All About the Snooze

Tim — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:57:44 +0000

An update is rolling out to Inbox, filled with useful tweaks for the Snooze functionality inside of the app. Once updated, users will be able to select between two new snooze times, Later This Week and This Weekend. With these times added in, this should cut down on time spent choosing custom snooze times for your email. Additionally, exactly like how you choose a preferred morning time to receive email, you can select which days are your weekend. For example, if your weekend falls on a Thursday and Friday, you can select that option. If you only want to receive the email on a Sunday, you can choose that option. Google states that these changes will roll out over the next week on Android. Play Link

Via: Gmail Blog

TAG Heuer Connected is Available Again for Purchase Online

Kellen — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:50:06 +0000

Back in December, TAG Heuer announced that its luxury smartwatch, the Connected, was in such high demand that they were not only upping production, they were also killing off online sales to let stores have first crack at inventory. I don't think it's a stretch to say that we were all a bit shocked by this news, but hey, that's good news for the smartwatch industry, especially those considering entering the luxury smartwatch segment. Today, though, the TAG Heuer Connected has returned to TAG's online shop. Either demand has cooled or they've finally caught up on production, so for those with $1,500 to spend on a smartwatch that TAG Heuer already admits will be outdated in two years, you can buy without ever having held the device in hand or on wrist. TAG will even toss in free "regular" shipping, just not overnight or expedited on that $1,500 purchase. If you really are interested in the Connected, which I still think is about the best Android Wear watch on the market in terms of fit and performance (just maybe not overall value), you should read our TAG Heuer Connected review. TAG Heuer Link

Facebook Live Rolling Out to Android Over Next Week

Tim — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:43:52 +0000

Facebook announced that it is bringing Facebook Live to Android users in the US over the next week. With Facebook Live, users can stream live video when they are chilling at home or out and about, allowing friends and family to watch the video right from their News Feed. In a way, think of it like Periscope, with the exception that it is not a standalone app and is a feature built-in to the main FB app. When you are ready to start a live recording, tap on the "What's on your mind?" section at the top of News Feed. You will then see a Live Video icon. Before you begin, you can choose your audience, as well as type out a description of the video. When streaming, you will see in real time who is watching, and can also respond to incoming comments from viewers. Again, just like Periscope. When you are all done, the video will be saved to your Timeline, which you can then delete or keep forever. As soon as this feature goes live on Android devices, we will let you FB fanatics know.

Via: Facebook

Galaxy S7 Gets Android 6.0.1's Emoji, Skinned Like Only Samsung Can

Kellen — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:18:49 +0000

With Samsung releasing the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge running Marshmallow, each phone gets to take advantage of the new emoji that arrived as a part of the Android 6.0.1 update. That means that Samsung had to create new emoji that represents all of those new to Android items, because Samsung doesn't just use Google's version of emoji, they like to express each through their own take. And that, of course, means we get some weird versions. In general, the new emoji include a lion head, unicorn, chipmunk, turkey, taco, burrito, popcorn, middle finger hand, and upside down smiley. It's most of what you thought you were going to get. But because this is Samsung, stuff like this happens to the eye-roll face.

Is that a sideways looking smirk? I don't know...how...that...represents an eye-roll. Samsung also didn't include any of the flags, so your country pride is forever diminished while on your S7 or S7 Edge. But the weirdest of all, is the fact that they skipped out on emoji modifiers for diverse skin tones and just made everyone white...except for the police officer and dancer, who are black. OK, then!

Below is a video of the emoji. You'll find the full details at the source link. Also, these emoji will come to the rest of Samsung's phone that receive Android 6.0.1.

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Via: Emojipedia

Question of the Day: Do You Use Google Now on Tap?

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:12:04 +0000

At Google I/O last year, one of the highlights of the entire show was without a doubt the demo for Google Now on Tap. During the brief performance, if you will, Google showed that Google Now had grown into an on demand-like service that was capable of doing more than just anticipating your day. Instead, Google Now had grown to be able to analyze a current screen and then provide relevant information in a matter of seconds. What kinds of information? For one, it can read an email asking about a restaurant or movie suggestion before providing you with shortcuts to IMDB or Flixster or OpenTable or Yelp. It can bring up more information about a person mentioned in a text message. It is also able to understand vague questions based on current conditions, like it could tell you the lead singer of the band whose song is playing, simply by asking, "Who's the lead singer?" Google Now on Tap is a Marshmallow-only feature, so at this time, there aren't a lot of people with access to it. With that said, for those who do have access to it, we're curious if any of you are using it. Can you share some examples of when or why you brought it up? Are you using it daily or is more of a here or there type of action? Is it now a feature you can't live without? Or are you like me, and have yet to use it in a real world situation?

Wake Up to the Radio or YouTube Videos With PocketBell Alarm Clock

Tim — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:43:44 +0000

PocketBell, a radio alarm clock, may be my new favorite thing. For years it seems, I used Timely, then after that team "joined" Google, I used the stock Android alarm app. It works fine, but if you might be looking for something a bit more fancy, PocketBell is for you. When setting an alarm, you can choose what type of audio you want to be awoken to. You can set it as a standard alarm ringer that is already installed on your phone, a music file you have, radio station, or even a YouTube video. If you look at the header image above, you can see I set a Droid Life Show episode as an example of this feature. If the buzzers and ringers that come with your phone suck, this app is your answer. Going beyond different buzzers, PocketBell has a ton of different settings to capture the perfect alarm clock settings for each person. Listed in the app are settings for Bluetooth speakers, WiFi connectivity, energy savings, acoustic feedback, night mode, as well as motion control. Seriously, for an alarm clock app, PocketBell has it all. The app is free to download on Google Play, but a Pro version is available for $1.99. The Pro version enables the ability to set snooze schedules and unlimited alarm durations. Check it out. Play Link

Moto X Pure Edition Receives Update With Security Patches

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:34:28 +0000

If you own the Moto X Pure Edition, feel free to jump into your Settings menu and check for an update in the About phone section. You should one there in the form of system version 24.201.3, which is still Android 6.0, but does include February 1, 2016 security patches. The update is just over 6MB in size. As far as we know, that's it for the update. Should we find new goodies, we'll be sure to update this post.

Cheers Chris and Chris!

Microsoft Kills Astoria, Its Android-to-Windows App Porting Tool

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:57:59 +0000

At last year's Build conference, Microsoft announced four ways for application developers to bring their apps over to Windows 10. They called them the four "Bridges," which included tools for porting over apps on the web, Win32, iOS, and Android. For whatever reason, since that initial announcement, rumors and other signs from Microsoft have pointed to the Android bridge - codenamed "Astoria" - being killed off in favor of the iOS bridge - codenamed "Islandwood." Today, Microsoft confirmed that "Astoria" is indeed dead. Why would they kill off their Android Bridge? According to Microsoft, "feedback" told them that having two Bridge technologies to bring code over to Windows from mobile operating systems was "unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing." Hah, seriously? So instead of supporting the largest mobile operating system on the planet, Microsoft chose the next in line. To add insult to injury, Microsoft has suggested to Android developers that they should "look at the iOS Bridge" as another solution. I wonder how Microsoft would feel if someone cancelled Windows apps tools and instead told them to look at the tools for OSX apps instead? I'm sure that would go over real well. Either way, there are still tools available for Android developers to use to bring their apps to Windows 10. Microsoft bought Xamarin, a cross-platform tool for building apps for Windows, iOS, and Android. Microsoft is suggesting it as an alternative as well.

Via: Microsoft | Arstechnica

DEALS: $15 Off Amazon Fire TV, $14 Bluetooth Ear Buds, and Aukey's Line-Up of QC 2.0 Products

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:39:12 +0000

On most days, Amazon's rolling list of daily deals includes few tech-related products that are worth looking at. If you dig hard enough, you'll typically find a decent discount on a charger or TV or pair of headphones, they just don't typically show up in bundles. Today, though, the retailer has a bunch that may be worth a glance if you are interested in spending some cash on gadgets. If you want to take your non-smart TV and make it somewhat smart, you can pick-up Amazon's own Fire TV for $15 off. That discount is on either the regular Fire TV or the Fire TV Gaming Edition, which includes a gamepad, 32GB microSD card, and two games. As for other deals, TaoTronics' Bluetooth sport headphones (ear buds) are down to just $13.99. While these aren't going to be on the quality level of something like a Jaybird product, they would make for a decent low-priced Bluetooth headset for on-the-go travels or the sweat-filled workout. They have a 4-star rating with almost 1,600 reviews. Finally, Aukey's line of Quick Charge 2.0 products has all been steeply discounted. You can grab a single port wall charger with QC 2.0 for $9.49, 5-port QC 2.0 charging station for $17.99, or a 4-port QC 2.0 car charger for $9.99. Amazon Links:

Amazon Fire TV - $84.99 ($15 off)
Amazon Fire TV Game Edition - $124.99 ($15 off)
TaoTronics Bluetooth Sport Earphones - $13.99 ($56 off)
Aukey Single Port Quick Charge 2.0 Wall Charger - $9.49 ($30.50 off)
Aukey 5-Port Quick Charge 2.0 Charging Station - $17.99 ($42 off)
Aukey 4-Port Quick Charge 2.0 Car Charger - $9.99 ($25 off)

Giveaway: Win a Carved Wood Case for the Nexus 6P or Galaxy S6 Edge+

Tim — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:20:18 +0000

We just showcased two cases from Carved, and now, it's time to give them away. We have two cases, one for the Nexus 6P and one for the Galaxy S6 Edge+. These cases are not yet available for purchase and won't be for a couple of months, according to Carved, so if you win one, you will have something pretty exclusive and special. Legit, right? These cases will be priced at around $50, which is pretty steep for a smartphone case. However, for that price, you are getting a unique piece of art that doubles as protection for your phone. It's a win-win. Let's get to it.

Giveaway

Prizes

One (1) Nexus 6P Carved case.
One (1) Galaxy S6 Edge+ Carved case.

How to Enter Since we only have one case for the Nexus 6P and one for the Galaxy S6 Edge+, please only enter if you own one of these devices. a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners We will choose our winners tomorrow (February 26) at 10am Pacific.

#TBT: That Time TAG Heuer Made a Smartphone

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:36:40 +0000

The marketing pitch was something along the lines of, "When Swiss watchmaking heritage meets avant-garde technology." And then TAG Heuer introduced a phone with a a 3.5-inch display (800x480), 256MB RAM, 8GB storage, 5MP camera, and Android 2.2 at a price of $6,700. With those specs, I don't think we could have been further from "avant-garde." I think we called it the "world's most unneeded piece of Android technology." Ahhhh, vision. One of you owns this, I know it. Show us the proof.

Quick Look: Carved Wood Cases Offer Unique, Earthy Protection for Your Phone

Tim — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:57:48 +0000

Carved, a company out of Indiana, is creating cases for smartphones, but these are not your average plastic covers or skins. Using real wood and a mixture of colored resin swirls, Carved is able to produce true pieces of art that not only protect your phone, but look fantastic while doing it. The Satellite Series (pictured above and below), accentuates the knots and burls in the wood, creating a unique look with each case. Since real wood is being used, in addition to the fact that they are all hand made right here in the good ol' US of A, no two cases are the same. Carved also offers a variety of different wood traveler case options for Android devices, as well as full wood cases and wood skins for iPhone owners. As for the casing itself, besides the beautiful backside, the siding is a hardened gel-type material, complete with textured siding for added grip. Button usage is not hindered at all while the case is on, and thanks to raises on the side, differentiating the buttons for Power and Volume is made easy. The case does add quite a bit of thickness, but for anyone who uses a case daily on their phone, you will be used to that. Taking a look around the phone, no ports, microphones, or buttons are covered up, so the device and its features should all act normally. If you have a device with a fingerprint reader, such as the Nexus 6P, a cutout is made for your finger to access it. Right now, Carved's device selection is somewhat limited, offering cases for a range of Samsung Galaxy devices (Galaxy S6, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6 Edge, etc.), plus protection for a gang of Nexus devices. We were sent two cases to share our opinion on, one for the Nexus 6P and one for the Galaxy S6 Edge+. At this time, the Carved website does not showcase these options, but we expect that it will soon. For pricing, this Satellite Series starts at $49 all the way to $54, depending on the style of wood you want. The one I was sent is the Richie style, priced at $49. Again, Carved offers a wide variety of options for Android, as well as the ability to send in custom designs for them to create. If you wouldn't mind getting your hands on one of these cases, particularly the ones I have, be on the lookout for a giveaway shortly. You can check our Carved's full range of cases and skins on their website.

Assassin's Creed Identity to Launch on Android This Spring

Tim — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:08:49 +0000

Launched this morning for iOS, Assassin's Creed Identity will soon make its way to Android this Spring. Developed by a Ubisoft game studio, Assassin's Creed Identity brings the classic Assassin's Creed parkour gameplay to mobile devices, with the game's story taking place during the Italian Renaissance. Injected with action-RPG elements, players will customize their own Assassin, then embark on a mission to solve a mystery known as The Mystery of The Crows. You will travel to settings such as Santa Croce in Firenze and the Colosseum in Roma. As you continue to play and complete objectives, your Assassin will level up and grow from novice to a hooded bad ass. On iOS the game is priced at $4.99, and right now, Ubisoft has not given an official price for the Android version. As soon as it hits Google Play, we will let you know.

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Is This Our First Look at Android N?

Tim — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:29:36 +0000

Two screenshots provided in an Android Developers blog post that details Support Library 23.2 may be showing us our first look at Android N. At first glance, not much has changed from Android 6.0 "Marshmallow," but what you will see is an added Hamburger button on the left top hand side of a Settings page. Hamburger buttons are a shortcut that brings out a sliding menu usually filled with categories, and in this context, is probably being used to quickly access the entirety of the Settings menu for access to them within a settings page. In short, it's Settingsception. In the post Google did not state whether we are looking at Android N or just a developer build of Marshmallow, but Android Police has confirmed that this is what Settings will look like on Android N. Considering we already have a back button that would bring us to the complete list of settings, it's not quite clear how the Hamburger will quickly benefit users, with the exception of somewhat quicker settings menu navigation. Google I/O is coming up in May, so we don't have too much longer to wait to find out. Thoughts?

Via: Android Developers | Android Police

Huawei and Leica Partnership to Create "Reinvention of Smartphone Photography"

Kellen — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 08:17:56 +0000

Well now, do we have some camera news for you this morning that I don't that any of us saw coming. Huawei, current darling of Android enthusiasts thanks to their product of the Nexus 6P, has teamed with "iconic" premium camera manufacturer, Leica, to "create a powerhouse in the reinvention of smartphone photography." This could be huge news. For those not familiar with Leica, just know that their cameras are insanely expensive, yet also really good. They are a German outfit who uses "world-class optical lenses" and creates luxury cameras with what really is an iconic design that features their "red dot" branding. As someone who has never owned (and probably never will) a Leica camera and isn't a photog, I can't explain the desire to own one, but people lust after these things. If you want to see a review of their Leica Q, along with a bunch of beautiful photography, check out this review. What does this mean for Huawei and their smartphones? Neither company has necessarily announced a new product, but Leica's hope is to "introduce its proven optical expertise into a new product segment and to unlock exciting business areas in the field of mobile devices." Huawei is getting even more poetic in stating that with this partnership they are "combining innovation and design, enhancing the user experience and continuing to inspire amazing advancement in human technology through exceptional premium imaging quality." In other words, expect Leica to help design, consult on, and possibly brand the next camera in Huawei's upcoming flagship phones.

Huawei and Leica Camera Announce Long-term Technology Partnership for the Reinvention of Smartphone Photography
LONDON, February 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the smartphone and photographic worlds come together to create a premium visual world renaissance Today Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) and Leica Camera AG are delighted to announce the start of a strategic partnership, a co-operation with shared premium ambitions and spirit, which will see both technology and photography brands combining their shared ethos in a long-term commitment to the art of craftsmanship, meticulous engineering and the spirit of winning collaboration, to create a powerhouse in the reinvention of smartphone photography. In 2012, Huawei became the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer and was the first Chinese company to sell more than 100 million mobile phones in one year in 2015. The first Chinese brand to appear on the prestigious Interbrand Best Global Brands list in 2014, Huawei soared to number 88 in 2015 whilst launching the globally critically acclaimed Huawei Watch and Huawei P8. In 2016, Huawei looks to build on its success with Leica Camera: a mutually beneficial collaboration with the most iconic name in the photographic world to bring joint superior excellence to consumers. For over 100 years, premium iconic camera manufacturer Leica Camera has been creating lightweight cameras favoured by street photographer pioneers and world-class optical lenses, fulfilling the passions of its community. With ingenious optical engineering and formidable craftsmanship, Leica cameras, recognisable by their 'red dot' branding, are German engineering at its best, and continue to attract new generations of consumers who aspire to achieve "the Leica look" and own these masterpieces of design. In addition to making precision-crafted masterpieces, Leica supports prominent photographers and emerging new talent around the world. Richard Yu, CEO of the Huawei Consumer BG said: "We choose our partners carefully, and with this extraordinary collaboration we are offering our wide customer base and consumers the best elements of two expert brands in harmony: combining innovation and design, enhancing the user experience and continuing to inspire amazing advancement in human technology through exceptional premium imaging quality. Leica is a legend in the world of photography; we believe no other manufacturer has revolutionised the industry as much as them. We, Huawei, take the utmost pride in exceptional quality and Leica is in a class of its own in its sector." Oliver Kaltner, CEO of Leica Camera AG said: "The strategic alliance between Huawei and Leica Camera demonstrates the desire of two rapidly growing and globally active brands to continuously push the envelope of the technologically possible. In addition to innovative strength and premium standards, our two companies are united by the commitment to uncompromising quality. The technology partnership with Huawei offers Leica Camera an excellent opportunity to introduce its proven optical expertise into a new product segment and to unlock exciting business areas in the field of mobile devices. Smartphones make a very important contribution to the world of photography and open an important door for Leica to new target groups and fields of application." "The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of innovation, highest precision and craftsmanship. I'm pleased and convinced that the traditional German medium-sized company Leica Camera will bring its values and comprehensive expertise in optical engineering to the long-term partnership with Huawei in order to achieve the best possible imaging results in the field of smartphone photography - and to take it to the next level of quality", emphasizes Dr Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman of the supervisory board of Leica Camera AG. More details on the culmination of Huawei and Leica's partnership, which will span research and development, design, co-engineering, user experience, marketing and retail distribution, will be shared as the partnership continues.
###

Samsung Announces 256GB UFS 2.0 Mobile Storage Just Days After Galaxy S7

Kellen — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 15:45:17 +0000

This afternoon, Samsung unveiled the mobile industry's first 256GB UFS 2.0 internal storage chip for high-end devices, including smartphones. That's awesome news...except for the fact that it comes three days after the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge were announced, both of which do not include this new 256GB chip. I don't want to kill the announcement with my confusion over the timing, so let's talk about what this new chip means. Last year, around the time that Samsung announced the Galaxy S6, they also announced that they would be moving to UFS 2.0 storage solutions because it was not only the "future" of mobile storage, it was faster than the standard eMMC storage that most smartphones had been using for years. UFS 2.0 storage is faster at both reading and writing to storage, and can read and write at the same time. At the time of the Galaxy S6 unveiling, Samsung announced that it had created the industry's first 128GB UFS 2.0 chip, which of course, was then made available in a Galaxy S6 variant. With this new 256GB UFS 2.0 chip, Samsung says that it is capable of handling read speeds of up to 850MB/s and write speeds of up to 260MB/s. Those read speeds are "nearly twice as fast" as your typical solid state drive (SSD) used in PCs and the write speeds are three times as fast as high-end microSD cards. In just a year since announcing their 128GB UFS 2.0 chip, Samsung says that they have doubled the capacity and speed. This new chip is smaller than an external microSD card, which Samsung says gives "greater flexibility to smartphone designers." So why not include this chip in the Galaxy S7? Honestly, I don't know. Samsung seems to have limited storage in this year's Galaxy S line to 32GB and 64GB models, so the timing of this is quite odd. Does this mean we'll get a Galaxy Note 6 with 256GB of storage? Will they introduce a 256GB S7 later on down the road? Do they have something else planned to use this chip in, like a media player? Again, we don't know. But damn, that's a lot of internal storage and whole load of speed.

Via: Samsung

Link Bubble Officially Rebranded to Brave, Includes Ad Blocking and Tracker Protection

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 15:29:48 +0000

Launched simultaneously across multiple platforms, the Brave browser application is now available for download on Android. As users of Link Bubble will notice, their app has been rebranded to Brave, since Link Bubble was sold off back in August, 2015. The buyers were not publicly named, but it was known that it was a startup in stealth mode. Now that everything is official and released, let's go over what Brave offers. The app is a browser that loads webpages in the background. For example, if you are browsing Twitter and click a link, the webpage will load inside of a popup bubble that appears. Once loading is complete, you can tap on the bubble and it will expand, showing the complete webpage. In addition to being a basic bubble browser, Brave blocks ads that are seen as intrusive or track a viewer's history, which can be good for those who are cautious about their Internet browsing. When first announced, it was stated that these ads would be replaced with "clean" ads, the profits of which would still go to the site owners. At this time, after a bit of looking around, it appears the app is only blocking ads, not replacing them. Inside of the settings for Brave, users can choose between different themes for the app, specify domain redirects (a certain site always opens in Chrome or whatever browser you want), a color toolbar, and more. The app offers many settings for the savvy, such as HTTPS Everywhere, Tracking Mode Protection, Reading Mode, and Reading Mode and Wear. The app is free to download from Google Play. Play Link

Don't Expect Another LG Nexus This Year

Kellen — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:17:40 +0000

In 2015, Google wanted to bring back an updated take on what is arguably the most popular Nexus phone of all time when they partnered with LG for the Nexus 5X. The phone features upgraded specs over LG's original Nexus 5, yet it is still available at a relatively similar low price. While none of us know how well the Nexus 5X has done in terms of sales or if Google considers it a success, LG is already telling the world not to expect a version 3 for 2016. During a brief conversation with CNET at MWC, an LG spokesperson said that the Korean electronics giant is taking a break from the Nexus program to "focus on its own brand." LG is supposedly "totally happy" with its relationship surrounding Google and the Nexus program, building a Nexus phone requires a lot of resources that may be better spent/utilized on their own phones, like the G5. LG wasn't up for commenting on how well the Nexus 5X has performed, but I'd imagine it's no where near the success of the Nexus 6P. In our review, we grew frustrated over its performance issues and have heard similar stories from dozens of readers. Most Nexus fans seem to have opted to toss out the extra $100 or so to get into the 6P. Let's also not forget that the 5X started out at $379 yet has already been reduced numerous times to as low as $299 on the Google Store. Are you sad to see LG step away from Nexus consideration or would you like to see them come back and do a high-end Nexus?

Via: CNET

Use Your Voice to Type, Edit, and Format Inside Google Docs

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:44:41 +0000

Users of Google Docs can now utilize their voice to not only dictate what they want written, but can comprehensively edit and format documents. Any editing or formatting feature available in docs can be commanded with your voice, such as heading settings, alignment settings, bullet lists, numbered lists, and more. For example, if making a grocery list or recipe, you can say "make a bullet list, add 1/2 cup of olives," followed by "new line" and "new paragraph," as well as pick up anywhere on the page simply by stating which word you want to continue from. The video accompanied with the announcement does a fantastic job at detailing what all you can do with the feature. Check out video, then try it for yourself. Play Link

Via: Google Docs

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Accessories Include Snap-On Keyboard, Camera Lenses, and More

Kellen — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:32:12 +0000

As is always the case whenever Samsung announces new phones, this year's line-up for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge includes a massive list of official accessories. From snap-on keyboards, new battery packs, and jewelry, to an angled fast wireless charger, handful of cases, and a couple of swappable camera lenses, I don't know that Samsung has missed a category. Here are a few of the items you'll see over the coming months. Battery packs and chargers Samsung has new battery packs with larger capacity and fast charging, but is also improving their fast wireless charger. The battery packs will weigh in with 5100mAh and 10200mAh capacities and fast charging. The new fast wireless charger is still fast, but it now includes a hinge or stand so that it can sit landscape (flat on a table) or portrait (propped up).

Jewelry / step tracker Samsung is introducing a couple of smart bands that look like jewelry. They are a part of a "Charm" line that is capable of sending you notifications and tracking steps. They feature 17mAh batterys that are capable of lasting for up to 18 days and include LEDs for notifications. Take a look at this gems.

Cases Of course, it wouldn't be a Samsung product launch without a variety of cases and case types to choose from. We'll see a new LED View Cover with LED display and controls via touch interface, Clear View Cover (image at top of post), S View Cover, and leather or TPU traditional cases.

Keyboard and camera lenses On a slightly different note, Samsung is for the first time (at least to my knowledge) introducing swappable camera lens that attach over the top of the Galaxy S7's camera. Accessories like these have been around for years from 3rd party outfits, but these are coming directly from Samsung. They will be available as either Telephoto or Wide Angle lenses. Finally, Samsung is bringing back the Blackberry-style keyboard cover we saw with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ for those who need that physical typing experience. I don't know that the keyboard for last year's phones was widely available, so we'll see what happens with this one.

Of course, Samsung hasn't offered information on pricing or availability for any of this at this time. I wouldn't be shocked if only half of this stuff ever actually makes it to market, but at least we know what Samsung is capable of and is working on. Will you pick up any accessories for your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge?

Via: Samsung

OnePlus 3 Expected to Launch Before End of Q2

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:26:51 +0000

Recently disclosed to CNET in an exclusive interview, founder and director of OnePlus, Carl Pei, says that the OnePlus 3 is expected to launch before the end of Q2 this year. While Pei offered no exact detail into what fans of OnePlus can expect from the device, he did mention that he hopes the OnePlus 3 will captivate users the same way the original OnePlus One did with a "new design." When asked about the invitation system, OnePlus' pride and joy, Pei declined to comment on whether it would be implemented for the launch of the OnePlus, although, he did state the company expects to offer a "better buying process" to everyone. Furthermore, Pei claims that the US will be very important to OnePlus in 2016. Last year, the company launched the OnePlus X for many global markets, although, the device lacked specific LTE bands to allow it to work properly in the US. If OnePlus intends to take the US market seriously, inclusion of these bands will be necessary. Another feature not included in the OnePlus 2 or OnePlus X was NFC. OnePlus claimed that users did not want the feature, so instead of building it in, they left it out, which meant anyone hoping to perform mobile payments via Android Pay were unable to do so. Again, with Pei stating that the US market is important to OnePlus, NFC should be included. Q2 in 2016 is set to end on Thursday, June 30. Mark your calendars, OnePlus fans.

Via: CNET

RIP: Sony Confirms Xperia Z Line of Phones is Dead

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:14:15 +0000

Earlier this week, Sony announced a new lineup of Xperia X devices that would hit the US. More interestingly, the company confirmed this morning that the Xperia Z line of devices is now no more. In a statement, Sony states that the Xperia Z line has "reached its culmination" and that the Xperia X line represents a "new chapter" of the company's product strategy. The latest devices in the Xperia Z line, the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact just arrived in the US earlier this month, so for those who purchased either of those phones, we do hope Sony intends to support them into the foreseeable future. Here is the complete statement from Sony provided to Xperia Blog.

The Xperia Z line has reached its culmination – Xperia X series represents a new chapter and evolution of our product strategy. Whilst the Xperia Z series was all about bringing the best of Sony’s advanced technologies to smartphones, Xperia X series is based on bringing smart, adaptive Sony user experiences across camera, battery performance and hardware / software design.

Considering the Xperia Z line was not the most widely available lineup of devices in the US, it's okay if this news does not affect you very much. There is a passionate group of Sony Xperia fans, and for them, this news may be sad. Don't worry, though, as Sony has the new Xperia X line coming to the US and it might be easier to acquire them over the Xperia Z devices, but that remains to be seen.

Via: Xperia Blog

HTC Teases One M10 on Twitter, Shows Off a Lot of Chamfer

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 10:14:04 +0000

HTC has begun the teasing process for its next flagship device, likely to be named the One M10. On Twitter, a photo of what appears to be the outside edge of a device is provided, along with the hashtag, "powerof10." Power of 10 is probably a hint at the device's name, One M10. As we see in the photo, this phone appears to have big chamfered edges, just like the leaked image (via) we saw from last week that we didn't write up because we thought it was too ugly to be true. The photo does not provide an abundant amount of info, but it does somewhat resemble another reported photo of the device that we first saw earlier this month. HTC gave no additional details, such as press event time or anything like that, but this tweet means we are getting close. Ready for chamfered everything?

#powerof10 pic.twitter.com/KiKyX4ycuI
— HTC (@htc) February 24, 2016

Gmail on Android Gets Rich Text Formatting, Instant RSVP to Calendar Invites

Kellen — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 10:09:20 +0000

The Gmail Android app is receiving an update this week that introduces two new features that after using, will probably make you wish were around years ago. Those new features are rich text formatting and instant RSVPs to calendar invites. With rich text formatting, you'll be able to bold, italicize, underline, color, and highlight text in an email without having to leave the Gmail app. In the image above, you can see the new rich text formatting bar that lives just above the keyboard, at the bottom of an email draft. As for instant RSVPs, if you use Google Calendar or Microsoft Exchange, you'll start to see boxes appear in emails with options of "Yes," "Maybe," and "No" when you receive a calendar invite. The boxes will also include snapshots of your schedule, so you can respond without opening up another app. Play Link | Download Link (v6.0.115234454)

Via: Gmail Blog

Facebook Reactions Combines All Possible Human Emotions Into a Few Emoji

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:16:30 +0000

First entered into testing last year in October, Reactions from Facebook is now available globally for all to use. Basically, instead of liking or commenting on a post through your phone or desktop computer, users scrolling through a timeline can include additional emoji to better express themselves. The only problem, you better hope your emotions can be best summed up by one of only six usable emoji. To use the feature on desktop, hover over the "like" button on any post. When hovering, six emoji will pop up and be animated. Available emoji are Like, Love, Haha, Sad, Angry, and Wow. On mobile, long press the like button and the same options will hover and animate themselves. Reactions is cute, but not exactly revolutionary. Using a keyboard on your phone you can already insert any emoji you want to express yourself with. Besides, none of these emoji are wearing sunglasses or flipping the bird. We all know those are the best emoji. The change is already live on desktop and is rolling out to mobile users now. Play Link

Via: Facebook

Why the LG G5 Should be Your Next Phone

Kellen — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:49:17 +0000

Immediately after both Samsung and LG unveiled their next flagship phones this past weekend, the discussion began - which of the three (if any) are you going to buy? We tossed out polls asking not only that question, but why you might be passing on all three as well. You've given your reasons why or why not, so now it's our turn. Tim and I decided to tackle each side of the Korean match-up. As you can tell by the title of this post, I've got LG and he has Samsung. In the post below, you'll find a handful of reasons why the LG G5 just might be the phone for you, even after Samsung took time out this week to unveil two amazing phones. You see, the G5, at least in my opinion, matches up quite nicely to the new Galaxy S7, maybe even besting it in a few areas. This is why the LG G5 should be your next phone. It'll probably get faster updates For many of you, this is reason enough to skip on Samsung's new phones. The LG G5, assuming LG keeps up with what they have done with the G4, will more than likely get the next version of Android (Android N) weeks if not months before the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. Samsung just barely started pushing Android 6.0 Marshmallow to some of its global devices from 2015 and hasn't even sniffed a US carrier-attached phone. LG's G4 saw Marshmallow internationally in Poland back in October and then through Sprint in December before hitting every major US carrier, including Verizon, by early February. Even the 2-year old G3 has received Marshmallow on a handful of carriers. Again, Samsung has failed to push Marshmallow to any of its US devices at this time, including the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S5, and Note 4. Samsung could change how they push updates, but they've never been good at it. LG, which was once terrible at updating phones, has gotten much better in recent years. So if you want Android N within a couple of months of release, the G5 should get you there faster than Samsung will. Removable battery While Samsung may have included bigger batteries in the Galaxy S7 (3000mAh) and S7 Edge (3600mAh), LG stuck to what it has done for years and that's going the removable route. The battery capacity weighs in at 2800mAh, so it's not that far off from the regular Galaxy S7, yet should you drop to day-ending levels of juice, you can always swap in a full battery and be on about your day. That means less time on a charger and more time for balling out on the town with your bad-ass metal self. Oh, and if swappable batteries isn't your thing, the LG G5 also supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0, which means you could grab up to 80% charge in just 35 minutes with a capable charger. The bottom line is that the LG G5 has a big enough battery for most, but it offers the flexibility heavy hitters require.

It's modular, man! With the G5, LG tried to make a phone that can get even better over time. They built a modular phone that sees expansion and new features via removable battery slot. For now, LG is pushing out a camera grip and a Hi-Fi audio DAC, but should hardware partners see the potential, that list could grow and we could see some really cool innovations around the G5. Today, the options to expand the functionality of the G5 are geared towards camera enthusiasts and audiophiles. The camera grip turns the G5 into a point-and-shoot style camera, with zoom controls, shutter, and video record button, all while making it much more easy to handle. It also adds an additional 1200mAh of battery. As for the DAC, we're talking about giving G5 users the ultimate audio experience by upscaling audio played to 32-bit. What other phone can do that? Dual cameras Because two is always better than one, right? OK, not always, but with the G5, LG tossed in two cameras to give you the opportunity to never miss a shot, or at the very least, know that you can adjust more than anyone else to get the right shot. The G5 has a 16MP standard camera that will take incredible shots on its own, but LG also tossed in an 8MP wide-angle (135-degree) shooter for those tight shots or those that include an area most cameras will struggle to capture. The cameras are aided by laser autofocus and enough manual controls to get even the most advanced photog feeling steamy. It's not a fingerprint magnet I spent a solid hour with the Galaxy S7 this week and needed to wipe off the fingerprints more times than I care to remember. While fingerprint issues don't seem like reason enough to skip a phone, some of us would rather own a phone with equally as impressive specs that doesn't require a t-shirt wiping every couple of minutes. The LG G5 sports a full metal body that feels great, looks great, and isn't a smudgefest. It's also likely to be more durable than the S7, which features glass on both the front and back. Sure, it has an arguably ugly dual-camera hump on its backside, but it won't gross out your friends when you hand it to them to take a quick pic of you posing in your latest sneaker pick-up.

Why the Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge Should be Your Next Phone

Tim — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:46:55 +0000

For those possibly on the fence after this weekend's flagship announcements from LG and Samsung, allow me to make the decision a bit easier for you. Buy a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge. Oh, you want a few reasons why? No problem, I handle that. In every sense of the word, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are an improvement over last year's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. They both include bigger batteries, water resistance, expandable storage, enhanced cameras, and countless other features that, as Samsung perfectly puts it, makes them the ultimate Galaxy devices. If you are weighing your options still, please read on. If you'd rather have reasons the G5 should be your next phone, you'll find those here. Bigger Battery Looking back on the Galaxy S6, it was a fantastic device in terms of overall specs and design, but no one can deny that it had its issues. For one, the battery capacity was too low at 2,550mAh. In our testing, we were lucky to go a solid morning to night without having to charge near the early part of an evening or late afternoon. As people who rely heavily on our mobile phones, this is no good. This year, Samsung not only brought back a similar, sexy design, but upped the battery to a full 3,000mAh. If that can't get us through a day, then something is wrong. Expandable Storage Beyond a larger battery, fans of expandable storage will be jumping for joy with the addition of microSD support in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, a feature Samsung used to be very proud of in the Galaxy lineup. For whatever reason, maybe it was a size issue or they just wanted to make more money on offering different storage tiers, this was removed on the Galaxy S6. Samsung apparently heard the cries of many and opted to bring it back for 2016. With that said, for us in the US, only a 32GB model will be available for purchase through carriers, and microSD storage cannot be used as Adoptable Storage, meaning you can't store app and game data on a microSD card. This does limit the usefulness of expandable storage. However, a microSD card can still be used to store your UHD 4K video and high resolution photographs, in addition to any data files you may need while mobile. Water Resistant Without a doubt, the 2014's Galaxy S5 may go down as one of the ugliest Galaxy phones ever created, but on the bright side, it offered water resistance to those who are prone to water damage. You could dunk it in a glass of water to show off to your friends, or you could read the news while showering - not that I highly recommend it. The point is, a feature that was actually cool was removed for the Galaxy S6, since Samsung wanted to redesign the phone from top to bottom. This included removing those hideous port covers on the bottom of the Galaxy S5. We ended up with a much better looking device in the Galaxy S6, but alas, it was not water resistant. In 2016, Samsung is bringing it back, but now rated at IP68, you can submerge the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 for 30 minutes in 5ft. of water. That means you can snap underwater shots in the pool, take your sexy Snapchat shower pics, or get it dirty and wet while cooking in the kitchen. The best part is that Samsung was able to bring this IP68 rating to consumers without sacrificing the fantastic work they did at designing a great looking smartphone. Dual Pixel Camera As we expected, Samsung continues to deliver an uncompromising mobile photography experience in 2016. Yes, it's true, the megapixel count is smaller on the Galaxy S7 than on the Galaxy S6 and even LG G5, but don't let that number fool you. The Sony camera module being used in addition to Dual Pixel technology will allow for faster auto focus, brighter, and more crispy images in low light settings. Featuring an aperture of f/1.7 on both the front and back-facing camera, the sensors will bring in more light to shine on the enlarged pixels, which will ultimately offer better photos all around. During our short testing period, we were snapping shots off left and right with the quickness, marveling at how fast the device was able to focus on objects. Needless to say, as soon as we get this device in-house, we will perform a comprehensive camera review. ... And More Really? You want more? Ok then. The Galaxy S7 also features an always-on Super AMOLED QHD display, Vulkan APIs for an enhanced gaming experience that consumes less battery, Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with 4GB of RAM, fast wired and wireless charging capabilities, support for Samsung Pay, fingerprint reader, and plenty more. Oh, and did I mention that the Galaxy S7 Edge comes in Silver? Hotness. If you feel inclined, pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are live right now. If you want the LG G5, you will be waiting until mid-March to get a pre-order in. Ouch.

Verizon's Xperia Z3v and Xperia Z2 Tablet Both Get Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:18:23 +0000

Owners of the Sony Xperia Z3v and Xperia Z2 Tablet should be on the lookout for an update over the coming days. Verizon posted changelogs of updates for each device, stating that they should each be receiving Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Honestly, I haven't kept up with either, but a couple of quick searches on the Google machine suggest that the Xperia Z3v is just now receiving Lollipop with this update and never did see 5.0, 5.0.1, or 5.0.2. Is that correct? If so, woof. This Android 5.1.1 update for the Xperia Z3v will arrive as software version 23.4.B.0.319. The update will introduce HD Voice to the phone, the "latest" in Android security patches, new setup wizard, "lots of new visual themes," floating action buttons everywhere, new volume controls, an updated Sony UI, enhanced lock screen, and more Verizon app integration. As for the Z2 Tablet, we are looking at software version 23.4.B.0.319, which has to be a typo because that's what the Z3v is getting. In fact, the whole changelog for this device seems off, with mentions of Android 5.0.2 and 5.1.1 and the same software as the Z3v. Weird. Let us know if you see the update?

Via: Verizon [2]

DisplayMate: Galaxy S7 has the "Best Smartphone Display"

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:01:08 +0000

In recent years, Samsung has become the king of smartphone displays, according to display guru, Dr. Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate. If you look back around the time of the Galaxy S4 and Note 3, you could start to see the evolution of AMOLED panels paying off and how they were finally catching up to LCD displays. But starting with the Galaxy S5, Samsung jumped beyond its competitors who use LCD displays and is now really only competing with itself. After the S5 took the crown, we then saw the Note 4, S6, and Note 5 all grab the honors for best ever smartphone display. With the Galaxy S7, Samsung has once again outdone itself. According to DisplayMate's recent display shootout, the Galaxy S7 is now the "Best Smartphone Display" of them all. The shootout mentions that from the S6 to the S7, Samsung "significantly" improved most of the display performance metrics that are measured. They somehow managed to increase maximum brightness by 24% and also "significantly" improved contrast and a "contrast rating for high ambient light." DisplayMate even says that the S7 "leapfrogs" the Galaxy Note 5, which up until today was the current display champion. The Galaxy S7 matched and even exceeded the Note 5 in some categories, which is a big deal since Samsung was able to do this in a smaller 5.1-inch panel that would require scaled down components to the Note 5's 5.7-inch display. In this latest shootout, the Galaxy S7 matched or broke records for Highest Absolute Color Accuracy, Highest Peak Brightness, Highest Contrast Rating in Ambient Light, Highest Screen Resolution, Highest Contrast Ratio, and Smallest Brightness Variation With View Angle. In other words, it's awesome. We can't wait to spend countless hours with the Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge) to be able to take in all of those beautiful pixels and decide for ourselves just how great the latest Super AMOLED panels from Samsung really are.

Via: DisplayMate

Question of the Day: Why Aren't You Buying the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or LG G5?

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:06:24 +0000

We ran a poll recently, asking which new flagship device you planned on picking up. Somewhat surprisingly, out of nearly 7,000 voters, the majority (50%) of folks say they are not buying any of them. This could likely be due to the fact that most people here are happy with the Nexus 6P or whatever phone they have, but besides wanting to keep your current phone, is there a specific reason you don't want the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or LG G5? Is there not enough innovation or maybe a particular feature you want is absent? Maybe Google impressed you so much last year that you are cool waiting until late 2016 to see what the next Nexus phone will be like, or you just really can't stand Samsung's TouchWiz UI and whatever LG is calling their UI these days? Regardless of the reason, let us know in the comments below why you won't be picking up any new device from Samsung or LG.

Galaxy S7 and LG G5 Have SD Card Slots, but Skip Android 6.0's Adoptable Storage

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:09:42 +0000

Within the last two days, we have seen both Samsung and LG unveil some really, really cool smartphones for 2016. Samsung gave us the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, and LG showed off the G5. Samsung's phones will be here in a couple of weeks, while LG seems to need some more time to get everything buttoned up. All three phones are about as next-gen as you can get in terms of technology, thanks to their Snapdragon 820 processors, QHD displays, innovative camera experiences, and more. But there is one area that has already turned away potential buyers - handling of expandable storage via microSD slot. As you know, Samsung ditched the microSD slot last year, but decided to bring it back this year with support for up to 200GB of additional space. LG never ditched the SD slot and has brought it back for the G5 with support up to 2TB (!). While we are all excited to see SD support in both, each company has decided against using a feature that could really enhance the storage experience. We're talking, of course, about Android 6.0 Marshmallow's new Adoptable Storage. What is Adoptable Storage, you ask? With Adoptable Storage, Android is allowing the system to "adopt" an inserted microSD card to give you one big block of storage space that is formatted and encrypted to your phone. When adopted, your phone treats the storage (after it runs a benchmark to determine if it is fast enough to keep up) like it would internal storage, which means it can "safely store both apps and private data for all users." This is what your storage situation would look like before adopting an SD card and then after.

Before adopted vs. After adopted

What are the benefits of Adoptable Storage? There are few, but most importantly, by adding an SD card's capacity to your phone, so that it is adopted and recognized in the same as internal storage, you are giving yourself the opportunity to greatly expand your phone's internal storage. You can then install more apps than ever. If you don't adopt an SD card in Android 6.0, you can't do that. You'll still be able to keep all of your photos and videos and music collection on your SD card like you have in the past, but the apps are out. If you consider phones like the G5 or Galaxy S7 potentially using up a whole lot of internal storage to house all of their bloatware and bloated skins on top of Android, your space for app installation isn't exactly large. The other piece I would point out is that adopting is much more secure than not adopting. With an adopted card, your phone encrypts it so that only that phone can use it. If someone were to steal your SD card and slap it into another phone, they wouldn't get very far as it won't mount. With a non-adopted SD card, anyone with an SD card slot can access the contents of your SD card. What's the big deal with Samsung and LG not allowing for Adoptable Storage? I just touched on it, but the basic argument is that since all three of the phones are essentially only launching with 32GB of storage in the US, your internal storage is limited to just that without Adoptable Storage being active. LG and Samsung have used up quite a bit of internal storage in the past for their bloatware, pre-loaded apps, and skin, so it's safe to assume that we will be stuck with a similar situation here. For example, the Galaxy S6 last year used up almost 10GB of space out of the box, before you ever installed a thing. If you owned the 32GB model, you were left with around 23GB of space to use for apps. Why would LG and Samsung do this? At this time, they are giving off the impression that they are worried about Adoptable Storage being confusing, scary, and maybe not all that user friendly (Or maybe customers just don't want it.). They are more than likely worried that a customer will use Adoptable Storage, not knowing exactly what they are getting themselves into, and then yanking out an SD card and really screwing things up on their phone. That's a valid concern, of course. But is it the correct move to just fully disable the option all together? We tend to lean towards it always being best to give people options or the ability to choose for themselves rather than just limiting them. NOTE: As some of have pointed it, though Samsung hasn't said anything along these lines, another reason for not including Adoptable Storage could have to do with read/write speeds of SD cards. Internal storage is typically much faster than SD cards and Samsung or LG could be worried about there being a performance hit. Time for you to make a decision. You have lived without the option for adoptable storage up until Android 6.0 Marshmallow, so this is all pretty new territory for most of us. In the past, all we wanted was an SD card to store things like photos, videos, and music. But now that we can take that a step further, this thought of Samsung and LG denying us is a bit unsettling, especially since you can't go out and buy say, a 128GB G5 or S7.

Sony's New Xperia X Phones are Coming to the US

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:57:45 +0000

Yesterday, to kick off the opening of the show floor at MWC, Sony announced three new phones for its Xperia line, the Xperia XA, Xperia X, and Xperia X Performance. To be honest, we initially looked the other way as they were being announced, because Sony doesn't typically care about bringing any of its new phones to the US. After all, flagships like the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact only arrived here a few weeks ago, yet were announced months and months ago. But today, Sony is trying to pass along word that they are indeed bringing this new Xperia X line to the US and that they hope to do so in a big way, for once. So, let's talk about this new line of phones. The Xperia X Performance is the higher-end of the three phones. It features a 5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage (with SD slot), and 2700mAh battery. It sports Sony's latest 23MP Exmor sensor that was built "in close collaboration" with Sony's Alpha camera engineers and features Predictive Hybrid Autofocus. Finally, it uses curved glass and a metal body, while still looking very much like a Sony phone. The Xperia X is the mid-tier of this new X series, although it very much is on the same level as the X Performance outside of its use of a Snapdragon 650 instead of the 820. It uses the same camera, same display, curved glass, metal body, and RAM. It does have a slightly smaller 2620mAh battery, though. The XA is the low-end model of the three and Sony isn't providing many details on it, outside of its 5-inch display, MediaTek processor, and minimal design. At this time, it's not even listed on their US site next to the X and X Performance.

Speaking with CNET, Sony's head of North American marketing say that this year "represents a new chapter" for the company and that they are "committed to coming to the US" with these new Xperia X phones. They aren't likely to take them to carriers, though, so expect to see them at places like Amazon, sold directly to you as unlocked phones. That also then means that they will probably only work on GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Interested? If so, we'll be sure to keep you posted on when/if they launch here.

Video

Xperia X Performance [responsive_vid vid_url="HRwBDRtRfQ8"] Xperia X [responsive_vid vid_url="AtUBeFiWi8Q"] Xperia XA [responsive_vid vid_url="d6hllDE7VJg"]

Sony Xperia X and Xperia X Performance Specs

[table id=28 /]

Via: Sony | CNET

LG G5 Pre-Order Begins March 18 at Best Buy

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:56:18 +0000

According to Best Buy, the LG G5 will go up for pre-order on March 18, a week after the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are publicly available on all carriers in the US. At this time, all major carriers have confirmed that they will carry the device, although, no exact date or pricing has been made available yet. If you have yet to make up your mind on which device you should pick up, maybe our hands-on video with the G5 would be helpful. For those leaning towards the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, these first look videos (Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge) are perfect for you. On a related note, pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge went live this morning. Did you pick one up or are you waiting for the G5?

Via: Best Buy

DEAL: Aukey Quick Charge 3.0 Car Charger for $14, Wall Charger for $15

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:15:20 +0000

Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 was announced last year, but the company said that it wouldn't arrive until 2016 as a part of its Snapdragon 820 package. Now that we are in 2016 and devices like the LG G5 have Snapdragon 820 processors with QC 3.0, it's time to start upgrading your chargers to those that support the new fast charging technology. Today, we have two products from Aukey that should take care of quick charging in your car and at home. For $13.99, you can grab Aukey's Quick Charge 3.0 car charger with coupon code below. That's a solid $6 discount. For $14.99, you can add QC 3.0 charging to any wall with Aukey's QC 3.0 wall charger. That's a $5 discount. Amazon Links:

Aukey QC 3.0 Car Charger (Code: KUTGGMWI)
Aukey WC 3.0 Wall Charger (Code: TS8778MR)

To recap Quick Charge 3.0, be sure to check out this post.

Join the WhatsApp Beta for Android

Tim — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 08:53:29 +0000

WhatsApp, the messaging service with 1 billion monthly users, now has a beta program available to Android users. Downloadable via Google Play, joining does not appear to be limited or private, with all a potential tester needing to do is enter from a particular testing group link. The only changes remarked by WhatsApp beta users so far are bug fixes and improvements, but usually, beta users are first to see exciting new features that may be rolled out to the public after testing. As an example, multiple account support on Instagram was teased to beta users for a few weeks before it was available to everyone. The only downside to Google Play beta builds is the lack of changelogs. From our experience, developers don't tend to bother posting changelogs or any real info when pushing updates. As a user, that can be frustrating. While the thought of having features before others is always enticing, do realize that these builds are beta, and may not perform the way you would like. The only way to ensure you have a good experience is to remain on the stable, public release builds. However, if tinkering and sending in bug reports to help WhatsApp sounds like a good time to you, have at it. To download, click the link below, select "Become a tester," then reinstall the app on your device from Google Play. Make sure any previous version of WhatsApp is uninstalled from your device to ensure you are running the beta. Let us know what you think if you give it a whirl. Play Link

Via: reddit

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Pre-Orders Now Live!

Kellen — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:41:51 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are now available for pre-order at just about every damn carrier you can think of. Each device is certainly available at all of the big players. If you are considering either, we have links for you below, along with pricing and details for each carrier that includes information on the bonuses that all are offering. Should you pre-order, you'll at the very least, land yourself a free Gear VR and 6-game bundle, but some of the carriers have thrown in extra goodies to sweeten the deal. Ready to pre-order?

AT&T

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing:

Galaxy S7 starts at $23.17/month or $694 full retail.
Galaxy S7 Edge starts at $26.50/month or $794 full retail.

Deal:

Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Gear VR plus 6-game VR game bundle.
Buy any Galaxy phone and get a Galaxy Tab4 8.0 for free on 2-year agreement.

VERIZON

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing:

Galaxy S7 is $28.00/month or $672 full retail.
Galaxy S7 Edge is $33.00/month or $792 full retail.

Deal:

Buy a S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Samsung Gear S2 or Gear VR with 6-game bundle.
Buy a S7, S7 Edge, Turbo 2, or Maxx 2, get a $100 bill credit.

T-MOBILE

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing:

Galaxy S7 is $27.92/month or $669.99 full retail.
Galaxy S7 Edge is $32.50/month or $779.99 full retail.

Deal:

Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Gear VR plus 6-game VR game bundle.
Buy S7 or S7 Edge get entire year of Netflix free ($100+ value)

SPRINT

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing:

Galaxy S7 is $25.99/month on lease, $27.09/month on installments, $649.99 full retail.
Galaxy S7 Edge is $30.50/month on lease, $31.25/month on installments, $749.99 full retail.

Deal:

Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get 50% off another S7 or S7 Edge.
Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Gear VR plus 6-game VR game bundle.

BEST BUY

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing: Differs per carrier, but Best Buy does sell the Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint models for each. Deal:

Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Gear VR plus 6-game VR game bundle.
Best Buy is also including a free 64GB microSD card.

TARGET

PRE-ORDER LINKS: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge Pricing: Differs per carrier, but Target does sell the Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint models for each. Deal:

Buy S7 or S7 Edge and get a free Gear VR plus 6-game VR game bundle.
Target is also including a $100 Target gift card with purchase.

Google is Making Another New Android Messaging Client That Should Become the Standard

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:15:16 +0000

Ever heard of RCS? It stands for Rich Communications Services and is the future of messaging on mobile. AT&T and T-Mobile are already using RCS for their own messaging services, but Google and a bunch of global carriers announced today that they are going to work together to make a standard RCS client on Android. Yes, that means Google is making another messaging app for Android. With RCS, you get features like "group chat, high-res photo sharing, read receipts, and more," which really just means that old school, feature-less SMS text messaging will be put to bed, finally. Google, along with América Móvil, Bharti Airtel Ltd, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Globe Telecom, KPN, Millicom, MTN, Orange, PLAY, Smart Communications, Sprint, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, Telstra, TIM, Turkcell, VimpelCom, Vodafone, the GSMA, have announced an agreement that will make RCS adoption more important today than ever and that they plan to accelerate the availability of it using a universal client. Google will build the Android RCS client, which will allow for a "consistent and interoperable messaging experience between all Android devices and across all operators worldwide, as well as ease interoperability testing between networks and significantly reduce time to market." The announcement didn't include a specific time frame, but it sounds like it'll happen sooner than later. EDIT: The initial post didn't include mention of Google's Jibe platform, which is what the new RCS client will be built off of. Back in September of 2015, Google acquired Jibe to help create the Android RCS client to be used across carriers around the globe. With Jibe, Google hopes to "easily launch and manage RCS services," while bringing single-connection RCS services to everyone. We don't know that the app will be called "Jibe" or "Messenger," though, only that Jibe will power the Android RCS client.

Via: GSMA | The Verge

Vulkan APIs on Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Means Better, Longer Gaming Sessions

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:59:54 +0000

Thanks to the inclusion of the Vulkan APIs, which we have discussed previously when it was first announced Google intended to bring them to Android, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will bring a much better gaming experience than any smartphone previously. To sum it up, Vulkan is a next-generation graphics API. It grants app developers more explicit control over scene rendering, providing direct control over GPU acceleration for maximized performance. Vulkan's specific role is the handling of 3D graphics, then distributing the workload over among multiple CPUs. With a firm control over the graphics, your CPU intensive games can be played not only better, but for longer. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are the first smartphones to offer this currently, but Samsung did not stop there. Pre-installed on the devices is an app called Game Launcher. Instead of opening a game via the app icon as you normally would, open up Game Launcher, choose whether you want to block specific app notifications or enable Game Tools, and then open your game via the selection inside of Game Launcher. When enabled, Game Launcher brings specific tools to your disposal, such as the ability to record gameplay, lock the Recent and Back keys to keep you from accidentally backing out of the game and losing your place, take screenshots, scores and rankings, and more. Users can also specify power-saving options. The below video gives a great overview of what Game Launcher does on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. If you don't plan on picking up a Galaxy S7, don't worry, Vulkan will likely be making its way to many more smartphones hitting the market this year.

Via: Samsung

Samsung Gear S2 Classic Verizon and AT&T Pre-Order Starts Tomorrow, Priced at $399

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 13:02:15 +0000

Those looking to pick up the Gear S2 Classic from Samsung can pre-order the smartwatch through Verizon or AT&T starting tomorrow, February 23. On Verizon, the Gear S2 Classic can be purchased outright for $399, or on a 2-year agreement for $349.99. Customers can add the watch to their existing Verizon plan for an extra $5 a month. Through AT&T, pricing on an installment plan is set at $17.50 a month, with no off-contract pricing information currently available. Both carriers will have the Stainless Steel and Black Leather option available to customers, and there is no word on whether either carrier intends to offer the Rose Gold model. When tomorrow comes, will you be picking one up?

Via: Verizon | AT&T

Video: Galaxy S7 vs. Galaxy S6 vs. Galaxy S5

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:49:51 +0000

After taking quick looks at both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, we had some time today to throw down the 2-year old Galaxy S5 and 1-year old Galaxy S6 next to the new S7 to see what has changed. We didn't go incredibly in depth, but this should give you an idea as to how far we have come in just two short years. For the most part, Samsung is saying that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are the combination of years worth of experience building phones and listening to customers. With these new phones, they are putting it all together, which means not only beautiful design, but features upon features upon features. With the S5, Samsung had SD card storage and water resistance in a phone that wasn't ever going to win a design award. With the S6, we didn't see the SD card slot or water resistance, but we got what was arguably the best looking phone from any manufacturer in some time. Now with the S7, we have all of those put together into the ultimate premium smartphone.

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Hey Look, the Galaxy S7 Edge Sitting in a Watery Fountain

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:36:48 +0000

What's that, you wanted water resistance in the next Galaxy? Samsung has given it to you at an IP68 rating for both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. At IP68, the phones are dust tight and can be fully immersed in water for a short amount of time. That means you can drop them in a shallow pool, bath tub, or toilet, and even wash them off under a faucet if they were to get filthy. That's certainly a big change from last year's S6 line-up to this year's S7 line-up. To show all of that off, we tossed an S7 Edge into a fountain during a hands-on meeting today with Samsung...just because. Well, because phones working in a puddle of water look neat.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge First Look and Tour!

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:19:18 +0000

The Galaxy S7 Edge is now official from Samsung, and we have a first look and tour video for you to watch. At a separate press event in San Francisco, a Samsung rep gave us an overview of all of the new features and functionality of the device, then let us have our way with the device for an hour. Our first impressions are what you might have guessed -- this phone is awesome. Featuring a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED QHD display and rear-facing 12MP Dual Pixel camera, as well as added features like IP68 water resistance and microSD support, Samsung claims that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are the "ultimate" Galaxy devices. Additional specs can be read on this post. The phone runs Android 6.0.1 at launch with a recolored version of TouchWiz on top. When swiping through the device, snapping photos and playing with different apps, the performance from the Snapdragon 820 processor seems stellar. Our hope is that performance stays this way. Another concern from last year's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge is battery life. The Galaxy S7 Edge features a 3,600 mAh battery, larger than the Galaxy S6 Edge's 2,600 mAh, so that issue is likely addressed. Watch the first look video below, then share your thoughts in the comments. Note: Check out our Galaxy S7 first look here.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 First Look and Tour!

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:57:43 +0000

Yesterday, we sat back and watched as Samsung unveiled its new flagships, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. We wrote up the specs, shared official intro videos, and told you when and where you can buy each. Today, we spent some time with each and boy, do we have some videos to share. Up first, we have a first look and tour of the regular Galaxy S7. As you know, this is the smaller of the two devices that only differs in its display size/edging (5.1-inch vs. 5.5-inch) and battery capacity (3000mAh vs. 3600mAh). Otherwise, you still get the Quad HD Super AMOLED display, 4GB RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel camera, IP68 water resistance, microSD card slot, and Android 6.0.1. I'll just say this about this phone - if you were a fan of the Galaxy S6, you are going to love every ounce of this phone. It feels better in hand, thanks to its backside rounding, but should also give you peace of mind about things like battery life, storage, and if you were to drop it in a toilet. Samsung basically took everything that was missing from the S6 and tossed it into the S7. This might not look like a major upgrade, but once you start talking about the changes, you realize that it is. In the video below, I was able to take the black model for a spin. I think you'll be pleased to know that it is indeed a pure black, not a faux black that was actually dark blue, like last year's model. It really is a stunner. I can't wait for review units. NOTE: Check out our Galaxy S7 Edge first look here.

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Marshmallow Update Rolling Out to NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:34:01 +0000

As teased during CES in January, NVIDIA is rolling out Marshmallow to owners of the SHIELD Android TV starting today. Inside, Marshmallow includes the ability to turn an SD card into encrypted internal storage for additional apps and games on the set-top box, as well as enhanced Home screen customization options. While Marshmallow itself brings many changes, NVIDIA worked in quite the changelog from their end. Once updated, users will have the added benefit of the Vulkan API for high-efficiency access to SHIELD’s graphics hardware, improved color support for YUV 4:2:0 video playback, an option to set 1080p 60Hz resolution on Ultra HDTVs, and you can now access the power menu on the Home screen by holding the Back button. For those purchasing a SHIELD after this update rolls out to all units, setting up your box will be insanely simple. Instead of typing in account info and passwords on SHIELD, all you need to say is, "Ok Google, set up my device," from your smartphone. At that time, your account info will automatically be beamed directly to your new Android TV. Fancy, right? The update is rolling out right now, so when you get home after work tonight, grab it.

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Via: NVIDIA

Poll: Buying the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or LG G5?

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:13:49 +0000

In the market for a new smartphone in 2016? If so, you might be facing a relatively tough decision, as both Samsung and LG announced quite the lineup of devices at MWC this year. From LG, the G5 is the company's first dive into an all-metal unibody design, featuring an always-on 5.3" QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, USB Type-C, modular design, and expandable storage with support up to 2TB. On the Samsung side, the Galaxy S7 features a 5.1" Super AMOLED QHD display with an always-on feature, also powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM. Samsung added in expandable storage with support up to 200GB, enhanced its rear-facing camera sensor with an aperture of f/1.7, plopped in a larger 3,000 mAh battery, and even added in IP68 water and dust resistance. The Galaxy S7 Edge received all of the same upgrades, but now features a 5.5" QHD display. Like I said, your smartphone purchase decision may not be too easy this year.

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SanDisk Intros 3x Faster UHS-II MicroSD Cards, USB Type-C Flash Drive

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:02:21 +0000

This morning, SanDisk, maker of all things flash storage, announced a couple of new products that should outfit your next flagship smartphone quite nicely. For one, they are introducing a new Extreme Pro microSD card with 128GB and 64GB options that can produce transfer speeds at up to 3X current cards. On the other hand, they are also introducing a USB Type-C ready flash drive at 128GB. With the new Extreme Pro UHS-II microSD cards, SanDisk says it can deliver transfer speeds of up to 275MB/s. Most UHS-I cards currently do 90MB/s for comparison's sake. So yeah, that's pretty fast. SanDisk will release the new Extreme Pro in Q2 of this year with pricing at $179.99 (64GB) and $299 (128GB).

If your phone doesn't have a microSD slot (Nexus owners!), but you have a modern phone with a USB Type-C port and would like to expand its storage, this new flash drive from SanDisk is for you. It features USB 3.1 performance of up to 150MB/s and a retractable tip. The new USB Type-C flash drive will come in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB flavors, with prices of $19.99, $29.99, $49.99 and $79.99, respectively. It's actually available now at Amazon if you are interested.

Via: SanDisk [2]

Adobe's Lightroom 2.0 for Android Features In-App Camera That Shoots DNG

Tim — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 08:27:42 +0000

Lightroom 2.0 for Android is now available for download on Google Play. Inside, Adobe has implemented an in-app camera with the ability to capture images in DNG raw format, usable only if your smartphone is capable of shooting in raw. If it is, then users can easily edit photos once snapped inside of the app, as well as choose from existing presets created by the Lightroom team. Additionally, new tools have been added, such as a Dehaze tool that adjusts the level of haze and fog in images, plus an enhancement to Split Toning. To provide a more complete control over the tonality and contrast inside of an image, a Point mode for the Curve tool has also been added. The changelog is quite lengthy, so give it a quick look below, then follow the Google Play link to grab the update. What's New

An in-app camera, supporting the capture of images in DNG raw format
Shoot-through presets, also available within the in-app camera, enabling previewing and capturing images with a series of built-in presets providing non-destructive editing
Dehaze tool to adjust haze and fog in an image
Split Toning enhancement, enabling the addition of a color cast to the highlights and shadows of an image, creating a uniquely stylized color image or replicating the look and feel of a traditional toned black and white image
Target Adjustment Tool functionality in the Color/B&W editing tool, providing direct, on-image editing controls
Point mode in Curve tool providing complete control over the tonality and contrast of an image
Enhanced sharing with one-tap access to Adobe Premiere Clip for crafting video stories.

Play Link

Via: Adobe

Verizon 5G Field Testing has Begun

Kellen — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 08:24:06 +0000

To kick off the week of MWC, Verizon announced this morning that they have begun pretty serious field tests for 5G, the next evolution in wireless connectivity. With 5G, as we have mentioned in the past, the goal is to push wireless connections that can handle multiple gigabits per second speeds and insanely low single-millisecond latency. Verizon also hopes that 5G will be able to handle "exponentially more connected devices" at a time. As of today, Verizon has been working with partners like Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Samsung Electronics America, and Qualcomm on early field tests. They are using Verizon's network backbone to test in both outdoor and indoor environments, which includes both residential and commercial buildings. In the video above, you'll see some of those environments and how these partners are testing. From home internet connections with multiple 4K videos streaming on multiple TVs, to mobile internet at gigabit speeds, to business offices carrying strong signals while processing heavy loads, 5G sure looks fun. So when will we move beyond just field testing? It's going to be a while, but Verizon did say they hope to start implementing 5G technologies in 2017.

Via: Verizon

Galaxy S7 Gets Rounder Icons, Icon Masking for Your Non-Samsung Apps

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:50:12 +0000

We're still pouring over all things Samsung Galaxy S7 at the moment, since our hands-on time won't come until tomorrow, but we found something that icon enthusiasts may appreciate in the latest version of Samsung's TouchWiz. Not only has Samsung rounded off all of the icons for its stock apps (they are calling the shape "squircle"), they are also icon masking the rest of your apps to help match their appearances. What is icon masking? Think about the icons on your phone for a second. How many come in different shapes and sizes, some without backgrounds, others situated on a square or rounded button? If you are an OCD type, it probably drives you nuts that they don't all carry the same shape, size, and background. To help fix that, Samsung is adding in icon masking, which takes your apps' icons that don't match their theme and then attempts to enhance them by placing each on a similarly shaped rounded square. Look at the images above and below for examples of the Galaxy S6 icons vs. those on the Galaxy S7.

S6 (left) vs. S7 (right)

See how Samsung is taking the Instagram icon, shrinking it a bit and then slapping it on a soft, squircle grey icon? That would be icon masking. Samsung isn't forcing this change on you, but instead are offering up a "icon customization" function that makes it all happen.

IMAGE

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Samsung Intros Gear 360 Camera for Virtual Reality Enthusiasts

Tim — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:46:46 +0000

If you are looking into content creation for virtual reality, or maybe you want to begin capturing all of your family's memories in a full 360-degrees, Samsung announced the Gear 360 today at MWC. The device records video and audio in a complete 360-degrees, allowing those with a Gear VR to feel as if they are right in the room with you when you are celebrating Christmas morning or seeing your child walk for the first time. Featuring two CMOS 15-megapixel fisheye cameras (3840x1920), the Gear 360 sees everything taking place inside of a room, then makes that video available on Gear VR. Users of a supported Galaxy smartphone can also watch video in real-time as it is captured on the Gear 360. Videos captured can even be shared to supported social networks, services from Google such as Maps and Street View, and much more. Samsung states that the Gear 360 will be available for purchase starting Q2, but there is no word on pricing just yet. Check out the full list of specs below. Specs

Two CMOS 15 megapixel fisheye cameras (Bright Lens F2.0)
DRIMe5s Image Processor
Dual Lens 3840x1920 (30fps) video
Dual Lens 30MP (7776x3888) images
MicroSD card (Up to 128GB)
0.5” (72 x 32) PMOLE display
IP53 Certified Dust and Water Resistant
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), WiFi Direct, Bluetooth v4.1, NFC, USB 2.0
153g (including battery) weight
1,350mAh Li-ion battery

Via: Samsung

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Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Availability at US Carriers

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:04:12 +0000

That didn't take long. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge were announced moments ago, yet here we are with all sorts of details on availability and a release date from US carriers. Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, Cricket, and T-Mobile have all weighed in already. Below, you'll find the details on when you'll be able to buy the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge.

AT&T

Pre-orders open at AT&T on February 23. The phone arrives on March 11 in stores.

Galaxy S7 32GB will cost $23.17 per month when purchased through AT&T Next 24.
Galaxy S7 edge 32GB will cost $26.50 per month when purchased through AT&T Next 24.

AT&T will sell both phones in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum. The S7 Edge will also come in Silver Titanium. AT&T Galaxy S7 pre-orders will happen here; S7 Edge pre-orders here.

Verizon

Pre-orders open at Verizon on February 23 at 8AM Eastern. The phone arrives on March 11 in stores.

Galaxy S7 will be available for $28 per month for 24 months ($672 retail price)
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge will be $33 per month for 24 months ($792 retail price)

Verizon will sell both phones in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum. The S7 Edge will also come in Silver Titanium. Verizon Galaxy S7 pre-orders will happen here; S7 Edge pre-orders here.

T-Mobile

Pre-orders open at T-Mobile on February 23. T-Mobile did not mention an in-store date, but would imagine it's March 11.

Galaxy S7 will cost $0 down and $27.92/23 months + $27.83 for the 24^th month (FRP: $669.99)
Galaxy S7 with JUMP! on Demand will be $0 upfront and $28/month
Galaxy S7 Edge will cost $0 down and $32.50/23 months + $32.39 for the 24^th month (FPR: $779.99)
Galaxy S7 Edge with JUMP! on Demand will be $0 upfront and $32.50/month

T-Mobile will sell both phones in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum. The S7 Edge will also come in Silver Titanium. T-Mobile Galaxy S7 / S7 pre-orders will happen here here.

Sprint

Pre-orders open at Sprint on February 23. The phone arrives on March 11 in stores. Sprint is running two pricing models for the S7 / S7 Edge launch. One is for a Galay Forever program that will let you upgrade to future Galaxy smartphones after 12 monthly lease payments. The other is a more traditional installment billing plan. They are also doing a buy one, get one half-off deal. Galaxy Forever

Samsung Galaxy S7 - $25.99 per month for 24 months with upgrade available after 12 payments, get a second one for $12.99 per month for 24 months after a $13.00 service credit and with upgrade available after 12 payments
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge – $30.50 per month for 24 months with upgrade available after 12 payments, get a second one for just $15.25 per month for 24 months after $15.25 service credit and with upgrade available after 12 payments

Installment Billing

Samsung Galaxy S7 - $27.09 per month for 24 months, get a second one for just $13.54 per month for 24 months after a $13.55 service credit
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge – $31.25 per month for 24 months, get a second one for just $15.62 per month for 24 months after a $15.63 service credit

Sprint pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge will happen here.

Cricket

Cricket announced that they will carry the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, but they aren't ready to reveal pricing or dates.

Best Buy

Pre-orders open at Best Buy on February 23. The phone arrives on March 11 in stores. If you pre-order, Best Buy will not only toss in the free Gear VR, but a 64GB microSD card as well. If you want to get your hands on either phone before March 11, Best Buy stores will have them on February 24.

Via: AT&T | Cricket | T-Mobile | Verizon | Sprint | Best Buy

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Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge vs. LG G5

Tim — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:58:47 +0000

With all of the phones from Samsung and LG now official, let's take a look at the specs of the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and G5 side-by-side. Without a doubt, each phone defines the high-end and premium tags, featuring top-tier processing power, advanced camera sensors, and much more. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge both feature bigger batteries than the LG G5, although, LG tapped the cool factor of modular design, and included USB Type-C. Samsung brought IP68 water and dust resistance to their flagships, as well as adding back the microSD slot for up to 200GB of extra storage. On the other hand, the G5 also features expandable storage, but goes all the way to 2TB. Yes, as a consumer, your choice for the next smartphone you buy will be tough. For a complete spec breakdown, look below. [table id=25 /]

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Official: Pre-Order the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge and Get a Free Gear VR Bundle

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:34:47 +0000

Remember that rumor about pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge including a free Gear VR? It's true - pre-orders do include a free Gear VR bundle with six games at a value of $150. The pre-order kicks off February 23. Once it goes live, we'll be sure to let you know. You will be able to pre-order at Samsung's site.

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Video: Here is the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:22:50 +0000

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are announced and we have all of the details, it's time to welcome these new flagships to this world. Here is the intro video as provided by Samsung. You can view the full specs here. Our hands-on coverage will start tomorrow. You won't want to miss it.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge Specs (Official)

Tim — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:14:42 +0000

After all of the leaks and reports, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are official. As the knowledgable Android user you are, you are probably wondering what the official specs look like. Below, we have each one detailed in graphs. As a quick recap, for the Galaxy S7, you are looking at a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, starting point of 32GB built-in storage with microSD support up to 200GB, 3000mAh non-removable battery, 12MP rear-facing camera with OIS, front 5MP shooter, fingerprint sensor, microUSB port, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow underneath Samsung's latest iteration of TouchWiz. The Galaxy S7 Edge features all of the same hardware specifications, but with a larger 5.5" Quad HD Super AMOLED display. Do you think Samsung left anything out? It sure doesn't seem that way. [table id=26 /]

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Samsung Announces Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, Available March 11

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:06:51 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are now official! Most of the details for each have leaked over past few weeks, but that doesn't mean we can't clarify it all. So, we have a "refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality, and unparalleled connectivity" over last year's phones. With the regular Galaxy S7, you get a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, Exynos Octa-core or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor depending on the market, 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage plus microSD support up to 200GB, Dual Pixel 12MP camera (f/1.7) with Smart OIS, 5MP (f/1.7) front camera, 3000mAh battery, fast wired and wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The Galaxy S7 Edge isn't much different, but it does have the bigger 5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display with dual edges and a bigger 3600mAh battery. The rest is the same. What else is new, though? Well, the cameras are Dual Pixel, which Samsung says should provide brighter and sharper images in low light. Because they shoot in bigger pixels and with a brighter lens with a wider aperture, along with a faster shutter speed, you shouldn't miss a shot. Samsung also added an always-on display, so you don't have to touch your phone to get the time or see if you have missed calls/notifications. As you probably noticed from the short specs list, Samsung brought back the microSD card with support up to 200GB cards and water and dust resistance at IP68. Each phone will be available in black, silver, white, and gold. (Full Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge specs.) Samsung says that the S7 and S7 Edge will be available starting in mid-March, but carriers in the US are announcing March 11 as the day. Pre-orders will open on February 23. Here is all of the Galaxy S7 release date info.

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GALLERY

INTRO

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PRESS RELEASE

Samsung Unveils Next Generation Smartphones at the Core of its Connected Galaxy Experience February 22, 2016

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge couple sleek design with powerful performance including advanced camera features, water resistance, and external memory
BARCELONA – February 21, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd today announced the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Created for today's consumer lifestyle, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences. “We believe in a world that is brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun. We strive to deliver on that vision with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by marrying elegant design with functionality and providing a seamless mobile experience,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible.” Advanced Camera: High Quality Images No Matter the Time of Day or Location Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge introduce the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone, delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. Thanks to the revolutionary Dual Pixel technology, brighter lens with wider aperture, and bigger pixel, the camera has a faster shutter speed and a more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions. Motion Panorama, a new camera mode, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos, giving the user a completely immersive visual experience. Refined Design and Function The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal – all in a sleek design with durability and ergonomic curves for a comfortable grip. From work to play, the device’s new Always-On Display, gives users a simplified, zero touch experience where they don’t need to worry about missing a call or important notification. Without compromising design, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both have increased utility with IP68 water and dust resistance. Edge UX, the advanced edge experience available on Galaxy S7 edge, provides convenience and increased efficiency by creating easy shortcuts to users’ most loved functions such as email, selfie mode, panorama mode or third party applications. Enhanced Performance: From Charging to Gaming Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology. Additionally, the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage and in some select countries, the tray can be used with a dual SIM card. Samsung also made significant hardware and software updates to optimize gaming performance on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The powerful processer and bigger battery capacity ensure longer playing time, and the internal cooling system keeps the device from overheating. Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers, allows users to manage battery consumption and minimize notifications. Additionally, users can record their gaming experience or share their screen to play with others. Paired with Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Vulkan API gives users the ability to play high-performance graphic games with lower battery consumption. The Galaxy Experience Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences. Whether it’s the seamless connection between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge and the new Gear S2 Classic to monitor fitness, or connecting with Gear VR to “travel” the world – Samsung redefines what’s possible for the mobile experience and beyond. Beyond the phone, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge users can also get the best mobile payment service with Samsung Pay; it’s secure, easy-to-use and accepted almost anywhere. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, making mobile payments available to more merchants and consumers than ever before. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting mid-March 2016.

HTC Vive Consumer Edition Pre-Orders Start February 29 for $799

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 08:25:05 +0000

To kick of MWC, HTC announced today that its VR offering, the HTC Vive, goes up for pre-order at 10AM Eastern on February 29 for $799. That price equates to a "complete VR solution," including two wireless VR controllers, room scale movement sensors, Vive headset (HMD), and two VR titles. HTC expects full commercial availability to start in early April. The HTC Vive Consumer Edition has "refreshed branding," an updated (more comfortable) head strap, and new phone functionality. With Vive Phone Services, you can be engulfed in a world of VR, yet still stay connected to events happening on your phone. You will be able to receive and respond to calls and text messages, but also send replies and see upcoming calendar items from within the headset. As a reminder, the $799 does not include the ultra-powerful PC that you will need to power Vive. HTC isn't saying exactly what you'll need, but if it's anywhere near the range of Oculus Rift, you could be buying or putting together a computer from $1,000 up to $2,000. Ready to pre-order?

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HTC AND VALVE BRING VIRTUAL REALITY TO LIFE WITH UNVEILING OF VIVE CONSUMER EDITION

HTC reveals complete Vive system at Mobile World Congress, available for pre-order from 29th February 2016
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 21, 2016 – HTC, a pioneer in innovative, smart technologies, in partnership with Valve®, today unveiled the consumer edition of its ViveTM virtual reality system. Continuing to build upon the Vive’s exhaustive list of features, this complete Vive system, powered by Steam®VR, introduces yet another new technological innovation – Vive Phone Services – once again setting a new standard in virtual reality. Enabling you to stay connected to the real world, without exiting the virtual world, Vive Phone Services demonstrates the ability to combine both realities without losing touch of either. By allowing you to receive and respond to both incoming and missed calls, get text messages and send quick replies and check upcoming calendar invites directly through the headset, it creates a hybrid reality opening up a whole new world of possibilities for both consumers and businesses. Taking Vive one step further, with refreshed branding and an updated headstrap, the Vive consumer edition builds upon the innovative features that were introduced into the Vive Pre. These include updated wireless controllers with haptic feedback and dual stage triggers, a front facing camera that blends physical elements into the virtual world, a redesigned headstrap that offers greater stability and balance and an improved visual system with brighter displays to give a deeper sense of immersion. Priced at US$799, for a limited time the consumer edition will also ship with two fully-fledged VR experiences to get you started in the VR world:

Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, by Owlchemy Labs: In a firmly tongue-in-cheek world where robots have replaced all human jobs, step into the ‘Job Simulator’ to learn what it was like ‘to job’.

Fantastic Contraption, by Northway Games in collaboration with Radial Games: Imagine walking around a grassy island floating in the sky, building a machine the size of a horse with your own hands, and then watching it roll out into the world.

But it’s not just about gaming. In addition to these launch titles, HTC is working with developers to foster the creation of content that spans multiple sectors including entertainment, retail, education, design, healthcare and automotive. “From the beginning, Vive has been at the forefront of virtual reality, with HTC pioneering several ground breaking technologies,” comments Cher Wang, chairwoman and CEO, HTC. “Since announcing Vive this time last year, we have worked tirelessly with Valve to deliver the best VR experience on the market, winning multiple awards and receiving critical acclaim from media, consumers and the industry. With the Vive consumer edition we are now able to realize our ultimate vision; bringing Vive into homes around the globe so that people can experience immersive virtual reality in a away that fires the imagination and truly changes the world.” Pricing, Updates and Availability The Vive consumer edition will be available to pre-order from 29th February, with pre-order fulfilment and full commercial availability starting in early April. Priced at US$799, the Vive is the first complete VR solution, including two wireless VR controllers, room scale movement sensors, and an HMD featuring a built in camera and phone, plus the two VR titles. The integration of SteamVR into the bundle ensures that all Vive equipment is kept up-to-date with the latest features.

Live Chat: Samsung "Unpacked" Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge MWC 2016

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 08:00:09 +0000

LG is done for the day, so all focus now moves onto Samsung. During today's "Unpacked" event at MWC 2016, we should see two new phones, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Leaks for each have been steady, but there still seems to be a bit of mystery as we try to piece this all together. Samsung is livestreaming the event on YouTube and we have included the video feed for you below. We also included a live chat, so we can discuss the fun as it unfolds. As a reminder, Samsung is also streaming the entire event in VR, but you'll need an app for that. You can grab the Unpacked 360 View app on Google Play here. This event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). Ready?

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LG G5 Availability at US Carriers

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:40:14 +0000

On LG G5 Day, it only makes sense that US carriers start weighing in with their plans for the device. For whatever reason, everyone is being quite tip-lipped about a potential launch date, so don't expect this phone to launch within the next couple of weeks. We wouldn't be surprised if it didn't show up until some time in April. Still, we'll update this post as we have info from each carrier. At this time, AT&T says they have have plans to carry the phone, but won't announce details on pricing or a date until later. They are expecting to carry the LG CAM Plus, 360 CAM, 360 VR, and 360 Sound Bluetooth speaker as well. Verizon says to expect the G5 in the "Spring" and that they will sell the Silver and Titan colors, along with "select" companion device modules and accessories. Sprint has announced plans for the device, but nothing in terms of date or price. They also plan to sell the 360 CAM. T-Mobile didn't have a special press release, but they confirmed to us that they will carry the G5 and will announce pricing and availability later.

Via: AT&T | Verizon | Sprint

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

LG has a Rolling Bot Robot for Home Monitoring, Cat Torturing

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:20:55 +0000

Along with all of LG's other announcements from today surrounding the G5, they also announced the LG Rolling Bot. Think a bit of BB-8 from Star Wars, only as a reality and a home monitoring system. With LG Rolling Bot, you get a WiFi-connected ball that is slightly larger than a softball that can be remotely controlled from anywhere. The Rolling Bot connects to your home WiFi, so even when away, you can monitor your house by rolling the Bot around (controlled via app). All of the monitoring happens through an embedded 8MP camera that is capable of capturing both images and video. It has microphones on board too, so you can have conversations with your pets. Speaking of pets, the Rolling Bot has a pet mode for ~~torturing~~ teasing your animals. The Rolling Bot has an IR blaster in it too, so if you have appliances with IR sensors, you could turn them off or on remotely. That's kind of cool, right? LG hasn't told us when to expect the Rolling Bot, so it may be a while. We were able to see a demo of the Bot in action, though it was only a rough prototype.

Video: LG G5 vs. G4 vs. G3

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:02:21 +0000

I mention this in the hands-on comparison video of the LG G5 vs. G4 vs. G3 below, but I'll say it again here - you just don't see phones make this big of jumps from one year to the next very often anymore. LG should be applauded for what they have accomplished over the last 10 or so months to get to the G5. The G5, by all means, is a massive upgrade over the G4, which was a very good phone in its own right. From the G4 to the G5, we have gone from a cheapish plastic build with questionably sourced "leather," to a phone that is so perfectly put together in an all-metal unibody casing. The processor isn't Qualcomm's 2nd tier and is instead the true flagship Snapdragon 820. It has all of the RAM you could ask for (4GB), a fingerprint reader, buttons in correct places, dual cameras that may be more than just a gimmick, potential for modular expansion, and a next-gen QHD LCD that has an always-on display. It just doesn't get much better than this. The G5 also looks almost nothing like the G4 and to me, resembles the G3 more than anything. Obviously, it's a massive upgrade over the G3 as well, but when you set all of these phones side-by-side, you might think the G4 is some random outlier of a phone. That's not me dogging on the G4, it's just that the G5 is in so many ways different. Below, you'll find a quick comparison clip of the G5 to the G4 and G3. We'll go more in-depth later on, but for now, tell me what you think. Is the G5 a big enough upgrade?

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LG's G5 Gets Modular With Camera Grip and Hi-Fi Audio DAC

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:01:38 +0000

Not only is the LG G5 the first all-metal phone from LG, it also may be one of the world's first modular phones. When we're talking modular, we are referring to the fact that LG has created a phone that could support additional modules for expanding its capabilities. The first two that LG is introducing with the G5 are the LG CAM Plus and the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY. LG CAM Plus If you want to transform your smartphone - the G5 in this situation - into something that could be mistaken for a point and shoot camera, the LG CAM Plus is something worth looking at. With the CAM Plus, you get a camera grip that slides into the phone's "magic" slot where the battery is housed, not only adding grip and a more camera-like ergonomic feel to your G5, but it adds some buttons and battery capacity as well. As you'll see in the images below, the grip has a zoom wheel, shutter button, video record button, and an LED indicator. You can quickly launch the camera at anytime with the press of a button and hopefully take pictures in a more comfortable, point-and-shoot style. Outside of all of that, as I mentioned, the grip does add 1200mAh of additional battery juice. When attached, the extra battery will continue to fuel up your G5's 2800mAh battery.

LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY Maybe turning your smartphone into a point-and-shoot isn't your thing, so you'd rather your phone turn into the ultimate audio player. With the Hi-Fi Plus, LG has worked with B&O PLAY to create a DAC audio player that includes 32-bit Hi- Fi DAC upsampling technology and 32-bit 384KHz high-definition audio playback. The LG Hi-Fi Plus can be used as a module with the G5 or as a stand-alone DAC for any computer or smartphone. As of now, those are the two modules that LG is introducing with the G5, but I get the feeling we could see more throughout the rest of the year.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

LG is Ready for VR with the LG 360 VR and 360 CAM

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:01:13 +0000

It seems odd that LG has yet to dive into the world of virtual reality (VR), doesn't it? Everyone else is doing it, from Samsung to Google and HTC, so why the slow movement from LG? I don't know the answer to that, but with the LG G5, they are fully onboard with VR. This morning, LG announced two VR-ready products, the LG 360 VR and the LG 360 CAM. LG 360 VR With the LG 360 VR, LG is taking on VR quite differently than Samsung and its Gear VR. Instead of using a headset to house the smartphone, LG has instead created a lightweight headset with two lenses that is powered via USB Type-C cable attached to the G5. At this time, the 360 VR is exclusive to the G5, probably because it's one of the few devices to support Type-C. LG claims that the unit is a third as heavy as competing VR goggles at just 118g, but still delivers a resolution of 639ppi, which is like a simulation of a 130-inch TV. I spent a few minutes with a non-working unit and can really only report back that the unit is nice and minimal in terms of design, and is also very lightweight. I can't wait to take it for a spin to see if this experience can top Samsung's Gear VR. LG 360 CAM Along with the 360 VR, LG is introducing a compact camera that is capable of shooting 360-degree imagery, including 2K video. The camera is equipped with two 13MP 200-degree wide angle cameras, 4GB storage (with microSD expansion), and a 1200mAh battery. You can connect it to the G5 to shoot content, including video with 5.1 surround sound, thanks to three microphones on the unit. LG is not only allowing you to view the content through the 360 VR, but also upload it to Google Street View and YouTube 360. To see a quick look at our hands-on time with the 360 VR, take a look at the short clip below.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

LG G5 First Look and Tour!

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:00:31 +0000

The LG G5 is now 100% official, which you are well aware of if you have attempted to take in the massive amount of content we just blasted out related to it. But news and press releases aside, I actually had the opportunity to spend some time with the G5 for more than a couple of minutes, not on a rushed show room floor, and figured you might want to hear all about it. This is our first look and tour of the LG G5. The LG G5 is without a doubt the most premium feeling phone that LG has ever built. It's all metal, is a joy to hold in hand, and isn't trying to offend anyone with its clean and minimal appearance. Sure, it has a bulky dual-camera setup on its rear-upper and may be a bit boring to some, but overall, I can't think of another device that is this simple, outside of the Nexus 5X or 6P. As someone who can appreciate a minimal experience, this phone is right up my alley.

In my initial session with the G5, I thought it performed well, jumped in and out of apps, was buttery smooth while transitioning, and has a camera that I am dying to get more time with. Of course, this was an early unit that may or may not have final software and certainly hasn't been put through the daily grind the way we will take it through during a review period. Still, LG's UI was hiccup-less. Speaking of the UI...I just don't know what to say. It's very much like LG's UI has been for years, though they are claiming it's new. They might have re-skinned some items here and there, but the biggest change is the lack of an app drawer. Without an app drawer, you get the experience of an iPhone or a handful of Chinese Android devices, where life on your home screen is what I like to call the "App jukebox" experience. I hate it. It can be fixed with a 3rd party launcher. As for the modular stuff, I find it very interesting and can't wait to see where LG can take the idea in new directions to really expand the G5's capabilities. Right now, I personally, don't have use for a camera grip or DAC, so I'll pass on those. I'll definitely be keeping a close eye on this all throughout the rest of the year, though. Overall, I have to admit that I walked out of the room thinking, "This is my next phone." Those thoughts could change once I get my hands on Samsung's latest and greatest within the next 24 hours, but right now, because of what LG did with the size and build of the G5, it's going to be a tough phone to beat.

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

LG G5 is Official With Modular Metal Body, 5.3-Inch QHD Always-On Display, Snapdragon 820 and More

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:00:17 +0000

It's official - the LG G5 is here. After months of hype, LG took the stage today in Barcelona to unveil its flagship "G" phone for 2016. The phone, because leaks are such a part of this world these days, is in many ways what you expected. I think it's safe to say that LG also has some tricks up their sleeves with this device as well, though, which has us pretty excited for the year to come. With the LG G5, you are getting a metal uni-body design with slideout battery drawer that makes this one of the first modular phones. We say "modular" because that battery drawer will allow LG to add-on accessories or expand the capabilities of the phone. As of today, they plan to do that with a camera module and Hi-Fi audio DAC. More on that here. As for the phone, along with the all-metal body, we get a 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum display (2560x1440x 554ppi), Snapdragon 820 processor (quad-core, 64-bit), Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage with microSD support up to 2TB, 2800mAh (removable) battery, 8MP front camera, dual rear cameras of 16MP and 8MP, fingerprint reader, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow underneath LG's latest skin. The phone supports LTE, has a USB Type-C port, Quick Charge 3.0, and is just 7.7mm thick. Yes, LG did move the volume rocker back to the side of the phone, but did keep the power button/fingerprint reader on the back. (Full specs)

The display, as was previously announced, is indeed always-on. Since this is an LCD, you are probably wondering how LG accomplished this? LG says that they "redesigned the display driver IC memory and power management function so that the display’s backlight only illuminates one small part of the overall display." By doing so, the always-on display only uses 0.8% of the battery per hour while remaining on. The always-on display shows time, date, and battery status and sits in the upper-middle portion of the screen. With this phone, LG seems to have really listened to customer feedback. For the first time from LG, we got an all-metal body, but the removable battery remains, along with expandable storage. They also shrunk the display slightly, to make for a better in-hand experience, because customers told them that 5.5-inches might have been ever so slightly too big. LG hasn't given us a launch date, only that they hope to launch simultaneously across the globe. You'll want to watch our hands-on video to be able to fully take in the LG G5 experience. The massive press release announcing all of LG's latest and greatest can be found below.

VIDEO

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

PRESS RELEASE

LG DEBUTS THE G5, ITS FIRST EVER MODULAR SMARTPHONE

LG’s Newest Idea Revealed At Mobile World Congress 2016 Complete With Friends
BARCELONA, Feb. 21, 2016 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled its highly anticipated LG G5 smartphone, a brand new design with not only a sleek, metal uni-body featuring a Slide-out Battery and a Modular Type design that gives a greater smartphone experience. Complete with LG Friends, a collection of companion devices, the G5 can be transformed into a digital camera, Hi-Fi player and more. Encased in a sleek metal aluminum body and Slide-out Battery to easily swap out a depleted battery for a fully charged one in seconds, the LG G5 surpasses the visual experience of its predecessor, the LG G4. First, the G5’s 135-degree wide angle lens lets you choose between standard or wide angle lens to get more in the shot. Second, the Always-on Display makes notifications just a glance away with the time, date and more available anytime without waking the G5. Third, the 3D Arc Glass featured in the smartphone’s 5.3-inch display creates a gentle curve and a smooth colorful metal surface through an advanced microdizing process which takes anodized aluminum to a whole new level. Furthermore, the insulative antenna is invisibly integrated into the body without disrupting the seamless look of the metal uni-body. LG designers took the metal body concept one step further by adding a Shiny Cut edge for added contrast and better “hand-feel”. LG’s First Modular Type Smartphone LG’s innovative Modular Type design gives the LG G5 the ability to transform into a digital camera, Hi-Fi player and more all while keeping its traditional removable battery in a full metal uni-body design for the first time ever. LG CAM Plus The LG CAM Plus is a versatile camera module that can be attached through the battery slot to deliver a comfortable grip and convenient control of a standalone camera. The LG CAM Plus provides physical buttons for power, shutter, record, zoom, LED indicator and comfortable grip. It also offers intuitive auto focus and exposure lock, features usually found on standalone digital cameras. When attached to the LG G5, it provides an additional battery capacity of 1,200mAh to allow for longer shooting times for more fun and enjoyment. LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY The LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY is an innovative portable Hi-Fi DAC audio player developed in collaboration with B&O PLAY to meet the needs of those who seek to enjoy top-notch sounds that have traditionally only been available through high-end audio devices. LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY stands out for its simple yet elegant Scandinavian design as well as premium sound technology. In addition to the 32-bit Hi- Fi DAC upsampling technology first introduced on the LG V10, LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY also supports 32-bit 384KHz high-definition audio playback. LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY can be used either as a module with the LG G5 or as a separate Hi-Fi DAC by connecting to any smartphone or PC. Extreme Wide Angle Lens and Advanced UX Reflecting LG’s longstanding reputation as a leader in smartphone cameras, the LG G5 has two cameras on the rear: one with a standard 78-degree lens and another with a 135- degree wide angle lens, the widest available in any smartphone. The 135-degree lens on the LG G5 offers a viewing angle that is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone cameras and 15 degrees wider than the human eye’s field of view. The wide angle lens makes it easier for users to capture more landscape, taller buildings or larger groups without having to position oneself further from the subject. The LG G5 features a collection of powerful photo effects including Pop-out Picture, Film Effect and Auto Shot. Pop-out Picture combines images taken by the standard and wide angle lens to create a picture-in-a-frame effect. Film Effect can apply nine different film emulators to an image while Auto Shot is an enhanced camera UX which automatically captures the perfect selfie shot when a face is recognized. Always-on Display for Enhanced Convenience The 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum display on the LG G5 offers an Always-on feature, the first on a main smartphone display. The concept of the Always-on Display was first introduced in the LG V10 as the Second Screen and now that feature has evolved on to the main display to show the time, date and battery status continuously even when the G5 is in sleep mode. This means that you can always see the time at a glance, even during important meetings or when your hands are full. To minimize power consumption, LG redesigned the display driver IC memory and power management function so that the display’s backlight only illuminates one small part of the overall display. Thanks to this technology, the Always-on Display requires only 0.8 percent of the battery’s full capacity per hour to operate. With consumers turning on their smartphones up to 150 times a day mostly to just check the time, the G5’s Always-on Display will make a notable difference in the life of the battery over the course of the day. Another advanced display feature in the LG G5 is Daylight Mode, which gives the G5 exceptional outdoor visibility beyond that of current auto brightness technology. Daylight Mode detects surrounding light conditions and instantaneously increases or decreses the brightness of the display, up to 850 nits. Even before your eyes have adjusted to the different lighting conditions, the G5 will be ready. Diverse Range of Companion Devices With the G5, LG is introducing a paradigm-shifting smartphone ecosystem — the LG Playground. With this, LG aims to strengthen the ties with its partners and introduce various devices and supporting programs to fully maximize the LG Playground. As part of the ecosystem, LG is introducing a wide range of companion devices, aptly called LG Friends, to deliver fun while providing a new mobile experience far beyond traditional smartphone boundaries. LG 360 VR The LG 360 VR is a VR goggle that can be connected with the G5 via a dedicated cable and works exclusively with the G5 to simulate a 130-inch TV viewed from two meters away. It has a stylish design that is foldable so that users can easily carry and watch VR content anytime, anywhere. Unlike other VR devices that require a smartphones to be inserted in the device, the LG 360 VR weighs only 118g (4.16 ounces) and is just onethird as heavy as competing VR goggles while delivering a resolutaion of 639 ppi. The device is compatible with 360-degree images and videos captured with LG 360 CAM as well as all Google Cardboard content. LG 360 CAM The LG 360 CAM is a compact 360-degree angle camera equipped with two 13MP 200- degree wide angle cameras, 1,200mAh battery and 4GB internal memory, which can be supplemented by a microSD card. The LG 360 CAM can be easily connected to the LG G5 allowing users to create 360-degree content. The LG 360 CAM provides 2K video and 5.1 surround channel recording on three microphones to help users effortlessly create high-quality 360-degree contents. Thanks to the partnership with Google, images taken with the 360 CAM can be uploaded to Google Street View and YouTube360, adding the fun of sharing creative contents with others. The images will also be available to view on the LG 360 VR or other smartphones or devices that are capable of 360-degree content. LG Rolling Bot The LG Rolling Bot is a companion device that rolls like a ball while capturing images and videos with its embedded 8MP camera. Not just a toy, the LG Rolling Bot can be used as a monitoring system for the home, pet care companion as well as a remote controller for compatible home appliances. With an IP camera connectable via Wi-Fi, users can remotely monitor the interior of their homes with the LG G5 via live streaming. LG Tone Platinum The LG TONE Platinum (model HBS-1100), the latest in the LG TONE Series, is a Bluetooth headset that has earned the Harman Kardon® Platinum grade for its superior sound quality. With a Balanced Armature design for minimum distortion, LG Tone PlatinumTM delivers exceptionally sharp and clean sound. What’s more, it is the world’s first Bluetooth headset equipped with aptX™ HDcodec, delivering lossless 24-bit audio for sound that is unrivaled in a wireless device. H3 by B&O PLAY H3 by B&O PLAY is a set of active noise cancelling high-end earphones that is compatible with the high-quality sound of the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY. Designed for audiophiles as well as anyone who considers audio performance a top-priority in a smartphone, H3 by B&O PLAY works with all Android smartphones. LG Smart Controller The LG Smart Controller allows users to easily control certain drones. With the LG Smart Controller, users can check the video stream from the drone through the LG G5 in real time and control the unmanned aircraft with the LG Smart Controller joystick. LG Friends Manager Only available in the LG G5, Friends Manager is the hub application that allows the G5 to connect with LG Friends with minimal fuss and effort. LG Friends Manager automatically detects nearby LG Friends and connects quickly and easily in three simple steps, eliminating much of the hassle of pairing devices. More Performance, More Efficiency The LG G5 offers many other innovations designed to revolutionize today’s mobile lifestyle, such as: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 Processor The LG G5 is equipped with the powerful yet energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor that offers advanced features such as 64-bit performance, Adreno 530 graphics and lower-power Hexagon DSP as well as Qualcomm Spectra™ 14-bit dual image signal processors (ISPs) designed to deliver high resolution DSLR-quality images and additional power savings. The Snapdragon 820 processor also has an integrated X12 LTE modem that supports Category 12 download speeds of up to 600 Mbps and LTE Category 13 uplink speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Compared to the previous Snapdragon 810, Qualcomm Technologies’ most advanced CPU architecture offers double the speed and power savings. Adreno 530 graphics demonstrate up to 40 percent faster graphics performance and up to 40 percent more power efficiency. Snapdragon 820 supports 4K capture and playback at four times more than the resolution of 1080p, enabling users to watch and capture their daily moments in stunning detail and clarity. The processor is also optimized for VR, generating quality pixels and life-like colors to deliver the ultimate VR experience to G5 users. aptX™ HD: 24-bit Hi-Fi Wireless Audio The LG G5 is equipped with aptX HD, an enhanced codec that supports 24-bit sound over Bluetooth, delivering rich and clear sound over wireless connections without any loss. When paired with the LG TONE Platinum, users can experience superb quality Hi- Fi audio that sounds amazingly close to the original source. Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 The LG G5 offers Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 for incredibly fast charging. By employing an intelligent algorithm, Quick Charge 3.0 is 27 percent faster and 45 percent more efficient than the previous generation. Low Power Location Estimation (LPLE) Technology The LG G5 has excellent battery life, thanks to the Low Power Location Estimation technology. This solution enhances the battery efficiency by as much as 41.9 percent byimproving the power consumption related to location-based apps. “The new LG G5 will encourage owners to rediscover the true joy of a mobile life,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The G5 and LG Friends are the result of many experts inside LG asking themselves if it was still possible to be innovative and unique in the smartphone space. I think once customers spend a little time with the LG G5, their answer will be a resounding YES.” Full LG G5 specs.
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LG G5 Specs (Official)

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:00:09 +0000

Now that the LG G5 is official and you have (hopefully) watched our detailed hands-on video of it, you are probably wondering what the official specs look like. Below, we've detailed them all for you in a fancy little table. As a quick recap, you are looking at a 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum display (2560x1440, 554ppi), Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage with microSD support up to 2TB, 2800mAh removable battery, dual rear cameras of 16MP and 8MP, front 8MP shooter, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow underneath LG's latest skin. The body of the G5 is now metal as well, though you won't see that mentioned in the table. Did LG leave anything out? It doesn't seem like they did.

LG G5 Specs (Official)

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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Live Chat: LG G5 Unveiling at MWC 2016!

Kellen — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 04:00:27 +0000

Ready for a wild Sunday? Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 kicks off this morning with LG announcing the G5 before Samsung takes the stage a little bit later. It's going to be a long, long day for some us, but for the rest of you, I hope you can sit back and enjoy the festivities. We are about to see two Korean heavyweights square off in a way we haven't seen before. The LG G5 unveiling will go down at 5AM Pacific (8AM Eastern). Below, you'll find a live embed of the video stream from Barcelona, along with a live chat, so that we can talk about the happenings as they unfold. Also, you'll want to stick tight, as we'll have more G5 coverage than you'll know what to do with. Ready?

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Don’t Miss These Android Stories: February 19, 2016

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:41:44 +0000

We are on the eve of MWC, where Samsung and LG will take the stage to unveil their respective flagship devices. Leading up to this Sunday, we have seen a ton of leaks on the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5, and even the One M10 from HTC. It's been a crazy week, to say the least. Beyond device leaks, Apple stood up against the FBI, Motorola announced it will not send out Lollipop updates for the DROID Ultra, Maxx and Mini, Nextbit's Robin was made available for purchase, and we took a stroll down memory lane with a hands-on video of Android 2.2 running on the "OG" DROID. Good times, indeed. If you missed any of it, all of the biggest Android stories are linked below.

We'll catch you on Sunday for all of the MWC excitement, folks.

Chromium Bug Tracker Points to Possible "Morning Reads" Feature for Chrome

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:56:34 +0000

According to references for "zine" and "morning reads" inside of Chromium, the open source project on which Chrome is built, we could be seeing a fancy new feature come to Chrome hopefully in the near future. Right now, the references are from bug tracking indexes, which detail a morning gathering of top news you may be interested in. To put it simply, when you wake up in the morning, Chrome could offer you a basic overview of news that you may be interested in reading from across the web. Below is a list of "possible improvements" that are listed for the feature inside of Chromium. According to what is written, Morning Reads could feature specific fetch times, fetch times depending on battery charge amount, the ability to swipe certain stories away, and more. Some possible improvements, roughly from simple to advanced:

Fetch only during certain times of day (e.g. between 6 AM and 9 AM, for *morning* reads).
Vary the frequency based on charging state (e.g. every 30 mins while charging, every 2 hours otherwise, all only if on an unmetered connection).
Possibly coalesce with other wake-up events (service worker background sync) - if Chrome is being started anyway, the extra cost is much lower.
Have fancy prediction for when the user is likely to visit the NTP, and fetch an update just before that.

No official word from Google has been made on this possible feature, and since it's still being worked on, we could be a ways away from any type of release. If Chrome offered a Morning Reads feature, would you take advantage?

Via: myce

Yikes: DROID Ultra, Maxx, and Mini Won't Even Get Lollipop Now

Kellen — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:07:45 +0000

In July of 2013, days before Motorola was set to announce the original Moto X, the company was somehow persuaded by Verizon to announce a brand new DROID line. That line of phones included the DROID Ultra, MAXX, and Mini, all of which were very similar to the Moto X, only they came with the typical DROID experience of over-the-top branding and marketing. They were, by all means, flagship phones for their time that most figured would see the typical two years worth of updates. For the most part, that happened. Motorola and Verizon issued update after update to each for a solid year before Google released Android 5.0 Lollipop. Shortly after Google made Lollipop official, Motorola was quick to announce which of its phones would be updated to it. That list, as you can imagine, included the Ultra, MAXX, and Mini and was posted in October 2014. Months went by and Motorola failed to release the 5.0 update to its DROID line, but said in January of 2015 that it was all happening "soon." Fast forward to today and owners of those DROID phones from 2013 still do not have Lollipop. According to Motorola's David Schuster, they'll never see it. In a post to his Google+ account today, Schuster has apologized to owners of the Ultra, MAXX, and Mini, noting that they understand "how important software updates are to our customers." He then says that they are "unable to provide the upgrade" to Lollipop, but that they have an offer for owners of these phones to try and make the situation slightly better. The offer is for discounts on the DROID Turbo 2 or MAXX 2. Motorola is offering a $100 discount on the Turbo 2 and $50 off of the MAXX 2, should you be interested. To access those discounts, head over to Motorola's site. At this point, I don't think anyone should be shocked by this news. After all, these phones are more than two years old and are a full two major OS updates behind (Remember, Marshmallow has been out for months already.). The only thing that really shocks me is why they waited this long to make this announcement. Folks, this is what happens when you get bought by other companies who don't care about past products or relationships with customers. Support staff are cut, teams are reduced, and companies like Motorola are left without the manpower to take care of the people who bought into their word years ago. It's sad and unfortunate.

Via: +David Schuster

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 37 Answers

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 12:57:47 +0000

We are back with our answers for Volume 37 of the DL Q&A Sessions. Earlier this week, we asked you to send in questions before this weekend's MWC, and you didn't disappoint. We received great questions about Moto's future under Lenovo, and which OEM design department we would want to consult for. Beyond tech, we talk basketball Finals predictions, Kanye's latest album, and which non-tech related bet we would make if given the opportunity. As mentioned, MWC is only a couple of days away, so be on the lookout for yet another Q&A Session once we have had enough time to soak everything in from LG and Samsung over the next week. Without further ado, let's get to it. Reminder: K is Kellen and T is Tim.

What do you expect to see from Motorola's flagship this year, under Lenovo's watch?

K: Motorola has had 3 years in a row of really, really good phones that were some of our favorites. But I'm starting to feel like everyone else is taking chances and doing really big things to push the envelope. I know that Motorola will try to hover at a lower price point, which means they'll have to cut something here or there, yet I wish they wouldn't. I kind of want Moto to take a chance - I just don't know that they will. T: I don't believe folks should expect anything too different this year. Moto has a proven brand and device lineup, so it's my belief that we can expect more of the same; good hardware, basic Android OS, customization, and low price. It is a formula that is working well for them, and unless Lenovo doesn't care to see Moto fail, they will keep it that way. I have high hopes for another great device from Moto in 2016.

If you had to bet your future on one tech and one non-tech company, which two would you choose?

K: The easy answers are Apple and Nike. Each has such a massive advantage over competitors in terms of the money they make and profits they roll in. But beyond that, they also have this brand recognition that no one else has or may ever have. Nike is cool. Apple is cool. And they have both been cool for so long and so solidly, that I just don't know how you could go wrong there. T: For tech, "hoverboards" with wheels or portable DVD players. Can't go wrong, right? Jokes aside, in the tech space, you would be crazy not to go with Google or Apple. Both companies appear to be at the top of their game right now, although, Google and Alphabet could be doing better to articulate what is actually taking place to the public with regard to its corporate structuring. For example, I spoke with many friends who are not in the tech space and they had the notion that Google bought a company called Alphabet and was combining resources. Little things like that would be helpful. As for non-tech bets, I guess Disney or the Star Wars brand if I could.

If offered a position as a design consultant with any phone manufacturer, which would you choose and why? Also, what would be your first recommendation?

K: Samsung or LG because they both have so much going for them. They also have enough power to really push the industry forward by trying new things or implementing new tech. But I would start with their Android skins and throw them in the garbage. The single things that seem to hold back these companies from being beloved by techies like us, is their terrible, bloated software experiences. T: Give me 5 minutes alone in a locked room with Samsung or LG's UI design team and I'll solve all of the jank-related issues. Rip it all out, trash it, start from the ground up. We need useful features, but absolutely nothing that will hinder speed and performance. In fact, our goal going forward will be to speed up Android, not slow it down. As for hardware design, I don't know if I would be the best person for the job, as I would have everyone remake the One X from HTC.

Which OEM releases the “Dud of the Year” (phone/tablet/smartwatch)?

K: I would leans towards HTC because they are so irrelevant at this point, but the One M10 is probably going to be a really good phone. It's hard to make a dud in 2016. Maybe whatever Lenovo pushes Motorola into making? Assuming it's not at all in line with the previous years of Moto phones. T: It's still February, but I suppose if I had to throw someone under the bus without even giving them a shot, it would be Google and any attempt they pursue to create an Android tablet. Sorry, I love Google, but dislike Android tablets.

What did you think of The Life of Pablo?

K: I've basically had Waves, FML, Real Friends, and Wolves playing in order, on repeat for the entire week. The rest of the album is pretty sub-par, but these four tracks are so fire. T: Kanye, as a human being, makes me ill. His music is alright lately, but his ego is repulsive. I refuse to use Tidal, so until he releases it via any other means, it shall go unheard by my ears.

What function, app or hardware should smartwatches receive, to really catch on?

K: I don't know that there is one. With that said, I think voice dictation could certainly improve with speed and accuracy, so that you don't just end up pulling your phone our instead of using your watch. In fact, voice dictation across Android needs to improve. I never use it, because it fails way too often on every single device I own. Either that, or I just don't have the patience for how slow it is. T: I am pleased to announce that it is not my job to solve this issue, and for that, I am extremely grateful. As of right now, the only useful thing for smartwatches to do is track fitness. Beyond that, I haven't got a clue. If you could easily walk into a store and pay for goods using your watch (on Android Wear), or maybe do a fist bump for information (kinda like Razer Nabu), we might get close to something truly useful. As of right now, I think they look cool, but don't serve too much of a purpose besides telling the time and having to be charged on a daily basis.

What can Google do to overcome the mentality that Android is less user-friendly than iOS?

K: Do people still believe that? My thought is that as computers and smartphones have become more and more embedded in our lives, people have gotten smarter with how they use them. Android is no longer anymore complicated than iOS and I think because iOS has copied all of Android's features to become more complicated, iOS users are getting smarter. Since they are getting smarter, transitioning to Android won't be difficult at all. The hard part now is to give people a real reason to switch. T: If people believe that notion, it's sad. If you ask me, with Apple's inclusion of this no-no force touch or whatever it's called, that OS has only become more of a confusing mess for those who are not tech savvy. Android seems pretty straightforward, but that's because I have used it for years. When I was using the iPhone 6 for a bit, I was genuinely lost on how to share things between apps. Come to find out, you can't even do it like you can on Android. At first, both operating systems have a learning curve, but give it a week or two and you can master either one. As for the question, I think it's up to the users and not the companies to solve this issue or stigma.

Now that All-Star Weekend is over, who do you see going to the NBA Finals and winning?

K: Part of me keeps thinking the Spurs could beat the Warriors, but then I wake up from that silly ass dream, shaking my head and say, "Don't be dumb, Kellen, the Dubs might sweep the entire playoffs." T: With all of the weak moves we saw in the trade deadline, Warriors have this one in the bag, as long as everyone stays healthy. I don't see anyone cracking the code to beating them anytime too soon. And the '96 Bulls season win record? Crushed. Destroyed. Erased. Which does make me sad.

DEAL: 128GB Verizon Galaxy S6 Edge for $499

Kellen — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 12:16:54 +0000

On Sunday, Samsung is going to announce their next flagship, the Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge). It may even go on sale by March 11. But what if you need a new phone yet don't want to shell out full price for this year's new hotness? Maybe you have a limited budget and are fine with last year's Samsung flagship (all of which are still great phones, by the way). Well, take a look at the deal today on Verizon's Galaxy S6 Edge with 128GB of storage. Thanks to a discount at eBay, you can own this version for just $499. If you were to buy the Galaxy S6 Edge with 128GB from Verizon today, it would cost you $900. Nine hundred dollars. So yeah, the top of the line S6 Edge is available right now at a $400 discount. That's a pretty damn good deal. This is the Verizon model, though, so it will work best on Verizon's network. The listing claims that it is GSM unlocked, but you won't get LTE outside of spotty band 4 on T-Mobile or AT&T. Our Galaxy S6 Edge review can be found here. eBay Link

Here's a Great Look at the Front and Back of the LG G5

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 11:06:52 +0000

Leading up to LG's big announcement this Sunday, we have yet another look at the G5. Posted by @evleaks and then deleted due to Internet negativity, this is a clean shot of what we can expect hardware wise from LG. It shows the dual rear-facing cameras, fingerprint reader, and very simplistic frontside. Earlier, we saw LG's "Magic Slot," which is where folks will take out and put in a fresh battery. We also wrote about a reseller site from Dubai that posted two photos of the hardware. The overall picture of the G5 is coming together quite nicely, but we still have yet to see details on the software. Share your thoughts, negative or positive, down below in the comments.

Via: @evleaks (deleted)

Giveaway: We Have 50 Minima Pro Live Wallpaper Codes Up for Grabs!

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 10:45:35 +0000

In December of 2014, we showed you Minima Pro, a live wallpaper that we really, really enjoyed. The app allows users to create there own theme, as well as choose between plenty of pre-defined themes. Recently, an update was pushed out to Minima that lets users browse through user-created themes for wallpapers, bringing hundreds of different options right to your home screen. To celebrate this update, we have been gifted 50 promo codes to the Pro version of the Minima app from the developer, and we are ready to give them away to our readers. Entering the giveaway is extremely simple, as we are using the Rafflecopter platform to make it fair and straightforward. You can check out the app and the update by following the Google Play link. However, if you would like a chance at receiving the app for free and saving a couple of bucks, follow the instructions below. Play Link

How to win a promo code.

To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter widget instructions below, which is basically going to tell you to leave a comment about Minima Pro. So you have two steps here. You need to enter information into Rafflecopter, because this is how we’ll choose our winners. Then, after doing so, jump below and leave a comment about Minima Pro. If you don’t do the Rafflecopter portion and instead just leave a comment, you won’t be entered. I apologize if that sounds difficult, but the widget makes it really easy for us to pick winners. We’ll choose our winners on Tuesday at 10am Pacific. Ready? Go! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Poll: Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, or LG G5?

Kellen — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 09:25:01 +0000

In two days, we'll be able to stop posting leaks and tell you all of the official details of the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and LG G5. At this point, you are probably as sick of the leaks as we are, but try to hang in there. These phones leak like crazy for a reason - they are each a big, big deal. These are the flagships from Samsung and LG to take us into 2016. These phones set the standard for Android for the year ahead and are typically each company's best selling line of products. With that in mind, which of the three are you most excited about at this point? Have you seen enough from Samsung to upgrade from the Galaxy S6? Have you seen enough from LG to upgrade from the G4? Have seen enough from either to get you to switch manufacturers? Or, are you planning on sticking with what you've got until something else comes along later in year? In the poll below, tell us which you would choose or are leaning towards before all things become official. [poll id="391"]

Latest Samsung Galaxy S7 Leaks (Updating...)

Tim — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 09:06:00 +0000

As we inch closer to the Sunday and the unveiling of the Galaxy S7, the leaks are flowing steadily. This post right here will continue to be updated with all of the latest intel we gather from across the web leading up to the big day.

Galaxy S7 vs. S7 Edge Size Comparison In one of the latest photos, we see the Galaxy S7 sitting right next to a Galaxy S7 Edge, giving us a good idea at how much larger the Edge is over the regular S7. We know from past reports that the Galaxy S7 could feature a display size of 5.1", while the Galaxy S7 Edge could feature a slightly curved 5.5" display. By simply looking at the photo, it doesn't seem that the S7 Edge is all that much larger than the Galaxy S7, but it is a bit taller. To compare, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ features a display size of 5.7". If you were planning on picking up one of these phones, which would it be?

Spec Rundown From Promotional Poster We have seen many reports and even a benchmark claiming what specs of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge would be. However, leaked promotional material for the Galaxy S7 seems pretty solid, and according to the specifications listed, the Galaxy S7 will feature a 5.1" Quad HD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, Android 6.0 "Marshmallow" (with TouchWiz), 32GB of onboard storage, 12MP rear-facing camera, support for microSD, and 3,000mAh battery. It also lists that the Galaxy S7 Edge will feature a 3,600mAh battery. Both devices should also include IP67 water resistance. Frankly, the Galaxy S7 sounds like a beast, and if these specs don't excite you at least a little bit, I'm worried for you.

Want your Galaxy S7 3 days early? According to banners reportedly being distributed to UK carriers, you may be able to get your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge up to three days early just by pre-ordering. That could be worth signing up early for, assuming you are the type who has little patience (like us). We have seen other reports suggest you may get a free Gear VR with pre-order, so we could be talking about early phones and freebies. Not bad, right?

Here is a boat load of official renders of each phone.

Updating still...

Via: SamMobile [2] [3] | uSwitch

LG G5 MWC Unveiling Will be Livestreamed Too

Kellen — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 08:09:20 +0000

Yesterday, Samsung announced that it will livestream its Galaxy S7 event at MWC in virtual reality and that everyone could participate in the headache inducing fun. Today, LG announced that it will stream their G5 event as well, just not in VR. The event kicks off on Sunday, February 21, at 8AM Eastern (5AM Pacific). If you are in Barcelona, that's 2PM local time. To catch the livestream, you can head over to LG Mobile's Korean channel, but we'll likely have an embed for you on Sunday morning.

Here is the LG G5's Magic Slot With Battery

Kellen — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 07:42:34 +0000

In a sea of similarly shaped and styled smartphones, how does one standout in 2016? LG seems to be thinking that a modular approach might be the key with the soon-to-be-announced G5. In recent days, we have seen a lot of rumored heat surrounding the phone's supposed "magic slot." This magic slot is thought to house the phone's battery, but could also double as a way to expand the phones audio and photography capabilities. This morning, we believe we have our first look at exactly how this "magic slot" may look with the phone's standard battery attached. Thanks to a Weibo user who posted the image below, we get what appears to be the retail box for an extra battery for the G5. On the box, there is a picture of a battery attached to a bottom housing that looks like it would be the portion of a magic slot that slides into a phone. The battery also says "G5" right in the center of it. If this is indeed the G5's battery and magic slot, you can start to visualize how this will all work. You eject the bottom portion of the phone, swap out a dead battery for a full battery, pop it back in, and go on about your day. Or, if we're talking the "magic" portion of this all, you could attach one of these yellow batteries to an accessory add-on that could expand the phone's capabilities.

This is actually a pretty cool idea should you be interested in tinkering or adding on features to your phone with accessories. Or maybe you are just excited about a swappable battery still being a thing in 2016.

Via: Weibo | Engadget

LG and B&O PLAY Team Up for High-Quality Sound Experience on G5

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:31:02 +0000

This evening, LG and Bang & Olufsen announced that they have teamed up to enhance the audio experience on the upcoming LG G5. The experience is being implemented by B&O PLAY (an arm of Bang & Olufsen), though neither company is saying exactly how this will work outside of it involving "a new type of contemporary products" being involved. A report yesterday suggested that B&O PLAY worked with LG to create a DAC called the LG Hi-Fi Plus that attaches to the phone via rumored magic expansion slot. It should improve the audio experience on the device, but also as it routes tunes through other connected products, like a speaker. Thankfully, we are only days way from this all clearing up.

LG AND B&O PLAY COLLABORATE TO ENHANCE AUDIO EXPERIENCE ON NEW SMARTPHONE

Leading Premium Audio Company B&O PLAY to Bring Renowned Signature Sound and Acoustic Performance to LG’s Latest Smartphone
SEOUL, Feb. 19, 2016 ― LG Electronics (LG) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with premium audio firm B&O PLAY to offer its smartphone users an enhanced high-quality audio experience. Firmly grounded in 90 years of audio and design excellence, craftsmanship and product innovation from Bang & Olufsen, B&O PLAY interprets the same values for a new type of contemporary products aimed at quality and design-conscious customers perfectly fitting the continued establishment of LG as the undisputed leader in smartphone audio. The two companies have been working closely together on the new LG G5 to ensure the best sound experience to the customers. LG will be the first company to offer the powerful Hi-Fi audio features co-designed by B&O PLAY. “We are very excited to work with LG. With LG’s dedication to premium smartphones, the collaboration gives us the opportunity to bring B&O PLAY’s acoustic excellence to an even broader customer base,” said Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, President of B&O PLAY. “B&O PLAY appeals to music lovers who want the best available products on the market. They are uncompromisingly innovative, without boundaries and constantly on the go and they expect the same from the headphones as well as the mobile devices they choose, so this is a perfect match.” Having already broken new ground in smartphone audio, LG plans to continue its collaboration with B&O PLAY in order to enhance the competitiveness of its smartphone audio experience further. “By collaborating with B&O PLAY, we believe we can meet and surpass the heightened expectations of consumers seeking the next generation of enhanced audio experiences on their smartphones,” said Juno Cho, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our collaboration with B&O PLAY has proven mutually beneficial and LG will continue to work with other leading companies in a variety of different industries in order to set new standards for innovation in the premium smartphone market.” While its collaboration with B&O PLAY is a recent development, LG has a long history of integrating high-quality audio in its premium smartphones and the most recent - the V10 - is just one of many smartphones to earn praise for its best-in-class audio capabilities.
# # #

Samsung Will Unveil the Galaxy S7 in Virtual Reality

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:47:50 +0000

We understand that you are probably getting a little sick and tired of us going on and on about the Galaxy S7, but hey, it's a big deal. This Sunday, Samsung intends to unveil the latest Galaxy lineup at MWC, and to make it an even more special occasion, you can stream the whole thing in virtual reality. Yes, just what you wanted and needed. To do this, you will need a Samsung device, as well as a Gear VR that supports said device. To download, head into the Oculus Store and download Unpacked 360 View. On Sunday, once the event starts up, open the app, attach the Gear VR headset to your beautiful face, and enjoy. For those who couldn't care less about VR, you can watch the stream via desktop right here on Sunday, or download the same Unpacked 360 View app from Google Play. This app is not limited to Samsung devices, so everyone can enjoy the festivities. The same goes for mobile Android viewers as it does Gear VR viewers. When the event kicks off on Sunday, open up the app, then choose which angle you want to watch the show from. Anyway, see you on Sunday, folks! Play Link

Via: Samsung

This is the "HTC One M10 in White."

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:44:46 +0000

I'm not going to call it an iPhone clone. I'm not going to call it an iPhone clone. I'm not going to call it an iPhone clone. I'm not going to call it an iPhone clone. Here is the ~~iPhone clone~~ HTC One M10, in white. https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/700441970423025664

Verizon Dominates RootMetrics Latest Report and T-Mobile is Mad, Bro

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:23:38 +0000

Earlier in the week, we started getting notified by US wireless carriers that RootMetrics, an independent mobile analytics firm, was about to release its latest report that ranked Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile based on their 2015 end of year performance. On one hand, we had Verizon prepping us with news about their big win for the 5th consecutive report. On the other hand, we had T-Mobile in full conspiracy, damage control mode, releasing statements from CEO John Legere the minute the report went public. Boy, these are always fun times. For those not familiar with RootMetrics, just know that they are one of a handful of groups who test US wireless carrier performance and then share with the world their results. They claim to be independent, though I think it's clear that John Legere isn't a believer in that idea being true. In their latest report, they performed almost 4 million tests, drove over 200,000 miles, tested 6,607 indoor facilities, and attempted to cover 100% of the population in doing so. They release two reports per year, one to show performance for the first half of the year, followed by another for the second half of the year. Their reports are quite exhaustive, though very detailed and open in how they came to their results. Verizon has topped their rankings for five consecutive reports, including this one. In the reports, they show state by state performance, which carriers top each, who dominates metro areas, and also who ranks the best in areas like overall performance, network reliability, network speed, data performance, call performance, and text performance. Here are some general numbers from the report:

For first place rankings of overall performance, network reliability, network speed, data performance, call performance, and text performance in the US, Verizon topped each category. One could read that as Big Red being the best in every single category that most people care about in terms of network performance. AT&T did tie them for texting performance, though, so it's not a clean sweep.
At the individual state level, Verizon gathered up 272 first place finishes for those same categories, while AT&T came in at a distance second with 110. Sprint and T-Mobile each grabbed 36 and 9, respectively.
In metro areas, Verizon piled up another 597 first place votes, while AT&T grabbed 424. Sprint and T-Mobile each captured 212 and 209, respectively.

Verizon's spin:

Big Red says this win wasn't an accident because they have invested more than $111 billion in their network since 2000 and $11.7 billion, alone, in 2015. All of this is the "result of a sustained, ongoing investment in never settling for anything less than the best network for its customers."
Those billions spent went towards expanded XLTE coverage, expanding into additional rural areas, and handling increased traffic with the use of new small-cell systems.
Verizon is clearly thrilled with RootMetrics' results.

T-Mobile's reaction:

I think it's safe to say that John Legere appreciates the work of RootMetrics as much as he does the EFF. In a statement to the press, Legere thinks that RootMetrics should be "banned as an independent source" for network testing because they have "manipulated their testing of the T-Mobile network" and their results are "worthless" because they may be up to seven months old.
Legere also asked if T-Mobile needs to start paying RootMetrics "millions like the other carriers to get them to stop deliberately turning off significant portions of our network and skewing results during their drive tests." Yikes. See what I mean?
In his statement, Legere then tossed out a bunch of "flaws" and "facts" about this report to try and poke holes through it. For one, RootMetrics admitted that they turned off T-Mobile's Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) during its testing of calls. They didn't exactly provide a great reason for doing so, only that they plan to test it for the next report. As Legere points out, T-Mobile's VoLTE handles roughly 50% of their customers' calls, so that actually does seem like a bit of mistake on RootMetrics part to not test this feature.
Legere then goes on to point out that the data may be old and that their testing for all networks doesn't seem to be the same or with the same devices. While I would agree that there should be some standards set (which I would imagine RootMetrics actually tries to use in almost all situations), the argument about the data being old is just a part of reports like this. This is a 2nd half of 2015 report, so yes, it includes data dating back seven months ago. That's pretty obvious. When the 1H report comes out for 2016, it will also include data up to seven months old. Any fool understands that. The point is that even if it is seven months old, this is what the data showed for that period of time. The next report will show if T-Mobile has made a bunch of changes between now and then, which they claim to have done.

Look, I don't get too invested in these reports, but if anything, they should just be more motivation from all carriers to continue to make their networks better. Both Verizon and T-Mobile claim that they are still heavily investing in theirs which is nothing but good news for you and I. You can read the full report for yourself at RootMetrics' site.

Play Games Intros Gamer ID, Unique Gaming Persona for All Mobile Players

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:02:46 +0000

When you hop onto your PC, PS4, or Xbox One, you are no longer yourself - you are a destroyer of worlds, killer of zombies, pwner of newbs, vault dweller in search of his/her son, or whatever type of character you want to play as. The point is, you usually play these games under an alias when online, not your real name. Because of this, Google is introducing Gamer ID for Play Games. With this, mobile gamers can create unique gaming personas when playing on their phones, so wherever you may be with your phone, you can always be Zardoz, a mortal man sent to teach an enslaved people about sex and freedom. Once this feature rolls out to all users, you will be able to create a unique ID, choose from many different profile photos, and then share your achievements with the world of friends you have accumulated. If you so choose, profiles can also be kept private, in case you feel bad about showing off your high scores to everyone.

Furthermore, this same announcement comes coupled with the auto sign-in feature that was detailed not so long ago. With it, when downloading new games onto a phone, you will only be asked to sign-in once, which gets you playing your games much quicker than as it is right now. Google states that Gamer ID will be rolling out to all users in the coming weeks. To claim your ID before anyone else snatches it, be sure to update the Google Play Games app. Play Link

Via: Android

Sprint Introduces "Better Choice" Plans to Compete With Verizon's S, M, L, XL Offerings

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:06:40 +0000

This morning, Sprint announced a new line of plans called Better Choice that they are pushing as being a better value than Verizon's "The Verizon Plan." They come in S, M, L, XL, and XXL size packages, which of course, all offer more data at lesser prices than Big Red's similar line. The plans look something like this:

S: 3GB for $30
M: 6GB for $45
L: 12GB for $60
XL: 24GB for $80
XXL: 40GB for $100

Don't forget that each line you attach to these plans will cost $20, but that line access does include unlimited talk and text. Sprint will also let you go over your data allotment by throttling you down to 2G speeds. If you don't want 2G speeds, you can add-on extra data each month for $15 per GB. The plans go live tomorrow, Friday, February 19.

I would attempt to add more on whether or not these are good plans, but honestly, I can't keep up with the number of Sprint changes to plans that are introduced each week.

Via: Sprint

New Photos of Galaxy S7 Edge Confirm Samsung Hates USB Type-C

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:12:55 +0000

We as Android users are always hoping for the best when it comes to new phones. We want the newest processor, best camera, and any other so-called innovative tech that companies can toss into a smartphone. Let's face it, we are optimists, pure and simple. Last year, it was reported and somewhat expected that Samsung would incorporate USB Type-C into the Galaxy Note 5. As leaks began to happen, then as we saw at launch, Samsung decided to hold off on releasing a phone with USB Type-C, for whatever reason. Maybe they were still working out a few kinks, figuring out how to utilize Fast Charging with Type-C. It was a disappointment, but with that said, it's not a stretch to say that many of us were hoping to see Samsung bring USB Type-C to the next Galaxy, the Galaxy S7. We are now only a couple of days away from its unveiling, and sadly, it appears Samsung is still not ready to deliver USB Type-C on its Android devices. USB Type-C delivers the ability to plug in your data/power cable upside or downside; there is no right way. Apple has been doing this for years now with its Lightning port. Last year, Google made two Nexus smartphones and even a Pixel tablet featuring USB Type-C. It should even be noted that LG is expected to feature Type-C on the G5. But still, no love from Samsung. In the below images, the photo taker delivers a very clear image of the bottom side on the Galaxy S7 Edge. We can clearly see a microUSB port, shattering any hopes we had for USB Type-C. While this is not the end of the world, it seems strange that a company always talking about innovation and trying new things is still stuck using microUSB. C'mon, Samsung.

Via: @stagueve | Weibo

Samsung Gear S2 Classic With 3G/4G Coming to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:32:54 +0000

Samsung's Gear S2 Classic will soon be available as a 3G/4G model at carriers in the US including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The device should arrive as early as March 11. With a 3G/4G connected experience (4G is HSPA+ in this situation, not LTE), the Gear S2 Classic is capable of carrying on text conversations, receiving/placing calls, sending/receiving emails, and being prompted with other notifications, all without a phone nearby. The watch has an embedded SIM that allows it to stay connected to networks as a stand-alone device. Each carrier will likely charge an arm and a leg for the device or force you into some sort of contract to give it service. At this time, none of the carriers have provided pricing. However, it should arrive shortly, since March 11 is only a few weeks away. As a recap, the Gear S2 Classic is the classicly-styled smartwatch from Samsung that runs their Tizen OS. It sports a 1.2-inch Circular Super AMOLED display (360x360), dual core processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, IP68 dust and water resistance, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, and a 300mAh battery that can last from 2-3 days.

Via: Samsung | AT&T | T-Mobile | Verizon

#TBT: Hands-on Overview of Android 2.2 on the "OG" DROID

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:29:54 +0000

#TBT allows us to dive into old content, reflecting on our roots as Android enthusiasts. Looking through our old videos, we must re-share the two videos below. These were our first hands-on videos with Android 2.2 "Froyo" on the original Motorola DROID on Verizon. Words like "overclocked" and "ROM" are tossed around, which is somewhat comical considering we don't exactly discuss that type of Android hackery anymore. Thanks to SetCPU (which used to be all the rage back in the day), this "OG" DROID was clocked at a whopping 900MHz, and even with that, you can still see how stuttery and jankified the OS was. We sure have come a long way. Please, share any fond memories you might have with overclocking and custom ROMs below in the comments. Part 1

[responsive_vid]

Part 2

[responsive_vid vid_url="1O4d16zgsEQ"]

On Encryption, Apple, the FBI, and You

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:19:39 +0000

I may be an outlier in a world full of tech talking heads, many of which who really, really love to listen to themselves talk, but I don't have a hot take on the current situation involving Apple, the FBI, encryption, what other players in tech have or have not said on the matter, and what all of those combined mean for you. That's not because I don't care, it's just not an area of life that I have ever really put much focus or effort into. Is that me burying my head in the sand? I don't think so. The world is full of controversies and this is one, at least at the moment, I just don't have much to offer on. So, if that disappoints you, I apologize. With that said, you need to know what's going on in case you need to take a stand, make choices about the products you use now and in the future, and whether or not there is anything you can do. Confused at what the f*ck I'm talking about? Let's catch up!

On December 2, 2015, two pieces of absolute human garbage walked into a building in San Bernardino, CA and killed 14 people, while seriously injuring 22 others. These two, who I don't care to acknowledge by name because they don't deserve that reward, have terrorist ties or were at the very least, inspired by terrorist groups. The two were killed within hours of the attack, leaving the FBI with an investigation into why they could perform such a terrible act. During the investigation, the FBI obtained a phone from one of the attackers and thinks that it may contain critical information leading up to the terrorist attack. That phone is an iPhone 5c. Since it is an Apple product, it is encrypted and the FBI has no way of getting inside of it. Because that is the case, they asked Apple to help them do so. Apple declined. Shortly after Apple declined, a federal judge ordered them to cooperate. Apple opposed that order. In an open letter to customers, Apple CEO Tim Cook laid out his company's reasons for not helping the FBI. The entire letter is worth your time, but the basics are as follows. The FBI, for the most part, wants a backdoor into iOS. They want Apple to create a special version of iOS that allows them to brute force their way into the iPhone 5c that they obtained in this investigation. Apple argues that by doing so, they are opening up a "dangerous precedent" that could allow for any iPhone in someone's physical possession to be unlocked. Their reasoning? Because once you create a key or backdoor, it is "only as secure as the protections around it." In other words, because it exists and could unlock your phone, your neighbor's phone, my phone, and everyone else's phone, it poses a serious risk. There is no guarantee that the FBI or Apple or anyone else that is supposedly using this backdoor for a single use, could keep it safe enough. Outside of the idea of an unlock, key, or backdoor being in existence, you also have to consider the fact that this won't be the only time the FBI comes calling. While they'll tell you and I that this is a one-time thing, you and I also aren't that dumb. You give someone an opportunity today, they'll probably come back tomorrow. So we're now talking about not only the FBI needing this backdoor today, but then the government potentially asking for more tomorrow and the following day and month and so on. That could mean, as Cook states, the government extending "this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge." I'll let that soak in for a second. Of course, today, we're talking about iPhones. Should the FBI be given this sort of access, we'll likely be talking about Android phones, your computers, and everything else that you probably want kept secret in life, as well. While Apple has penned this letter to customers, as far as I know, they still need to officially respond to the federal judge's order. They have a couple of days still to do that and likely will shortly. At this point, we don't know how this will all shake out, but once Apple tells a judge "No," things should heat up quickly. Until then, you have some time to form an opinion on the matter. If you need help finding out all of the facts, you could read this NPR article. You should also know that WhatsApp's CEO and founder is backing Tim Cook. Google's Sundar Pichai says, through a series of tweets, that allowing for hacking of customer devices and data could "be a troubling precedent." This article on Gizmodo is also a quick read on why this whole situation matters to you. So that's where we stand with a topic that is quite important to the future of security and encryption on your personal computing devices, as well as government overreach. As we learn more and this all shakes out, we'll be sure to keep you updated.

Video: Samsung Shares a Brief History Lesson in "Unpacking Samsung"

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 09:40:37 +0000

As we near the unveiling of the Galaxy S7 on Sunday, Samsung is going through a period of reflection, which is good timing as it happens to also be #TBT. In a video called "Unpacking Samsung," the company quickly shows off the devices from past years, dating all of the way back to 1988 and the SH-100 mobile phone. The video details the excitement surrounding the company's first wristwatch phone, MP3 phone, the world's smallest TV phone, going all of the way to the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S5, and Galaxy S6 Edge. Read Samsung's complete description.

From the release of the SH-100 mobile phone in 1988 to the first wristwatch phone. The World’s smallest TV phone to our first MP3 phone. We introduced the S Pen with the Galaxy Note series and paved the way for Phablets. We’ve even climbed mountains to make the first 3G call from Everest. Gone underwater to test the ability of the Galaxy S5 and curved glass to create the first dual edge screen smartphone. Wherever there’s a barrier, we see it as an invitation to go further, together. Who knows where progress will take us.

No doubt, this video is a great piece of marketing, but as smartphone and Android fans, it is a testament that Samsung has long been at the forefront of our industry, pushing the boundaries for consumer betterment. With that said, at the end of the day, TouchWiz still kinda sucks.

PayPal App Gets Major Redesign, Simplified Features, More

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:56:44 +0000

The PayPal app received a major redesign this morning that takes it from an outdated, often confusing mobile payment experience, to a slick, modern, and easy to use application. PayPal claims that the new experience is supposed to "make it simpler and more personal for you to move and manage your money." After using it for a few minutes, I would tend to think they succeeded. In the old app, in order to see something as basic as your balance, you had to swipe out a sidebar and jump into the activities or wallet sections of the app. In other words, it required a swipe, some taps, and a loading period in order to view your balance, a core piece to PayPal in general. With the new app, your balance is at the top of the front page, so you always know how much money you have available. How this hasn't always been the case is beyond me, but hey, we're there now! The new app makes it incredibly easy to send or request money from the start page, see recent activity, and pay for items in stores. PayPal also fine-tuned fingerprint authentication in Android, shows separated account activity by pending and completed, and gives you access to the friends you send money to the most. I don't rave about app updates often, but this is one that was sorely needed. So far, it seems like PayPal did a great job at putting the right pieces in the right places. Play Link

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Via: PayPal

Nextbit Robin Now Available to Purchase for $399, Ships in Two Weeks

Tim — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:34:16 +0000

Robin, the cloud-centric smartphone from Nextbit, is now available for purchase. Amazingly, unlike any other device of its kind (you know, the semi crowdfunded kind), the Robin was not met with numerous delays or involved in any drama. Instead, Nextbit gave a target to customers, then actually delivered a product in that timeframe. For that reason alone, credit shall be awarded. Priced at $399, Robin is not your average smart device. Instead of relying solely on built-in storage, Robin utilizes the cloud to load and offload non-used applications from your device. As each day goes by, the phone learns which apps you use the most, freeing up onboard storage whenever it can. It's a new way of solving a problem that never quite existed (or has it?), unless you are the kind of person who refuses to purchase a device with anything more than 16GB of storage. As for specs, Robin features a 5.2" 1080p display, Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 13MP rear-facing camera, 32GB of onboard storage (plus 100GB of online storage), dual front-facing speakers, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, Nextbit OS built off of Android, and comes unlocked with LTE connectivity. Carrier compatibility is currently listed for AT&T, T-Mobile, and International markets. Check out Nextbit's "Getting started with Robin" video, and if you feel the need to buy one, follow the link below. So, are you contemplating the idea of picking one up? Robin Link

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Thursday Poll: Have You Ever Run Out of Storage on a Phone?

Kellen — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:17:10 +0000

Today, you'll see a lot of talk about cloud storage and phones, mostly in reference to Nexbit's Robin smartphone, as the first wave of reviews for it are out. You can also purchase it as of today for $399, though we are told they have limited quantities. For those not familiar, the Nextbit Robin thinks we all have a storage problem. To deal with that, they have created a solution that auto-manages the storage on your phone, so that if you are running low, they will backup items you rarely use to the cloud to free up space without you doing any of the leg work. It's an interesting idea, assuming anyone actually has storage problems. Personally, I don't get it. For one, most phones these days have SD card slots that allow for expansion, often up to 2TB. In a two year period, that seems like plenty of storage, especially when you combine it with the 16GB or 32GB the phone has internally. SD cards also don't require you to backup anything to a cloud, restore it, or deal with security issues that could surround that entire process. I get why people buy phones because of their cameras, displays, speakers, processors, designs, and operating systems, but I don't know that anyone in my 6+ years of doing this, has ever said, "Man, I really wish I had a smart-cloud backup solution on my phone because I'm always out of space." So you tell me, have you ever run out of storage on a phone? If so, does it happen often? [poll id="390"]

You Can Preregister for Nintendo's Miitomo Communications App

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 16:05:23 +0000

Preregistration for Nintendo's upcoming Miitomo app is now live. In case you want to save your username for the service, now is the time to do so. If you have zero idea what Miitomo is, I don't blame you. Announced late last year, Miitomo is the first of many mobile apps that Nintendo is creating. While we expect a few games to come from the company, the first app, Miitomo, is a communications app that uses digital Mii characters (like you would see on Wii) to let users interact with one another. Nintendo states that the app will be free to download, although, there will be in-app purchases. There is no info on what the IAPs will be used for, but it's possible they could grant access to additional outfits for your Mii or things of that nature. To register, make sure you have a Nintendo account, which can be created here. Once complete, follow the preregistration link below to get started. It should only take a couple of minutes to complete. As soon as Miitomo is available on Google Play, we shall let you know. Preregister Link

Via: My.Nintendo

Deal: Star Wars "Vader" Portable 2600mAh Power Bank for $23

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 15:35:07 +0000

Thought you saw Star Wars everything already? Think again. Available for $23 on the DL Deals Store, this Star Wars Portable Power Bank gives your smartphone the Force, as well as juice whenever you may need it throughout a day. Featuring 2,600mAh of power, the Darth Vader power bank offers owners the ability to portably charge a smartphone or tablet via microUSB or Lightning adapter. If you are a member of the Light side, an R2-D2 model is also available, you Rebel scum. Check out all of the features below, then follow the link to pick it up. Features

Micro USB cable & Lightning adapter included
4 LED lights to indicate charge level
2600mAh rechargeable battery
Lightweight, portable design
Awesome Darth Vader design

Deal Link

Question of the Day: Are You Excited About Motorola's 2016?

Kellen — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 14:51:07 +0000

Within the last couple of weeks, you told us what you thought about LG and HTC at the moment, how they could win you over, and if their next phones are even on your radar. Today, we move onto Motorola and ask that you share with us your thoughts on whether or not 2016 could be an exciting year for the Lenovo-owned smartphone maker. In recent months, the future of Motorola hasn't necessarily been called into question, but I think it's quite obvious that some major changes are on the horizon after an up and down year. We've seen reports about Motorola completely dying as brand, yet they aren't in reality. We have seen reports suggest that Lenovo will do ridiculous things like kill off the Moto G line, yet they aren't doing anything close to that. We have seen Lenovo talking about the next in the Moto line, a phone that will be "More innovative, more attractive." We have seen them cut off phones after just a year and turn into one of the worst at updating their phone line after being one of the best. We have seen them create one of the best smartphones of the past year (here are reasons to buy one), along with the best Android Wear watch. See? It's been a year of good, bad, and confusing for Motorola. For 2016, I have to admit that I'm sort of envisioning much of the same. I wouldn't be shocked if we got a 3rd gen version of the Moto 360 and a new Moto line, including an X and G. But I'm wondering if any of it can match what Samsung, LG, and HTC are about to throw at us? Not that Motorola has been boring in recent years, it's just that everyone else seems to be really kicking things up a notch. Is Motorola, now that Lenovo is in complete control, ready to do the same? Will this be an exciting year for Motorola or one where we drop an, "Ugh, Lenovo?"

Google Express Now Delivers Fresh Groceries in Very Select Regions

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:54:14 +0000

I know, going out and buying your own toilet paper can be a pain at times, or maybe you just are not physically able to, but if that's the case, Google is working to bring everything you need in the home directly to your doorstep with Google Express. The program has been live in parts of the US, including Chicago and NYC, and now for a few users in even more select areas of San Francisco and Los Angeles, Google is offering the ability to have fresh produce and meats delivered right to your home for a small fee. Starting at delivery charges of $2.99 for members and $4.99 for everyone else, Express will pick up whatever groceries you need, including veggies, meats, fish, or anything else that might need to be kept cold en route to your home. Do you live in a delivery area and are not signed up? If so, the price of membership is currently $10/month, or $95/year. For those who signup before 2017, you will receive the first three months of membership free, and can cancel at anytime. If you live in one of the pilot coverage areas shown below, you can order your fresh groceries right now via Google Express.

Via: Google Commerce

Update to Verizon's Hum Car Adapter Should Help Teens Love Their Parents Even More

Kellen — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:46:39 +0000

Verizon has this car adapter called Hum, for those not familiar, that is a lot like Automatic, in that it can turn "almost any car into something smarter." Hum can tell you about the health of your vehicle, give you maintenance reminders, access to a mechanics hotline, help with roadside/emergency assistance, and make it easier to find parked or stolen cars. It costs $15 per month, includes an adapter (obd reader), separate speaker, and an app. We're writing about it today because Verizon is pushing a big update to the unit that makes Hum the worst thing to ever happen to a teenager, but one that will surely help parents keep track of the family. The update is specifically being billed as a way for parents to keep track of teen drivers, thanks to boundary alerts, speed alerts, vehicle location tracking, and driving history. As all of those things suggest, you can imagine how fun (that's sarcasm) it will be for your teens to know that their every single move is constantly being watched by mommy or daddy. Here are the details of each new feature, according to Verizon:

Boundary alerts: allowing subscribers to establish boundaries for their vehicle and receive a notification when the vehicle enters or exits the area. Subscribers can set multiple boundary areas tied to specific days and times.
Speed alerts: the ability to select a maximum speed limit and receive alerts when the vehicle exceeds that limit. The account owner can also choose to have alerts sent to multiple family members and be notified via app, text or email.
Vehicle location: map-based tracking of the vehicle's location, speed and travel direction, allowing subscribers to view the past five requested locations.
Driving history: key trip-based driving information to track driving efficiency, including duration, start and end times, idle times and max/avg. speeds. The driving history can be accessed by day, week month or year.

If you want to sign-up for Hum, you can find it here. If you are already a Hum user, you can grab the latest app update here.

Via: Verizon

Twitter Intros GIF Search to Your Timeline and Direct Messages

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 12:22:31 +0000

Lovers of the almighty GIF will be grateful of Twitter's new GIF Search feature, allowing users to search through a vast library of GIFs for usage in tweets and direct messages. From now on, you will never need to have all of your GIFs downloaded and saved somewhere safe for use at just the right time. This feature, according to Twitter, will be available to users across all platforms over the coming weeks. To use it, when composing a tweet, a new icon will appears next to the gallery icon. Powered by GIPHY and Riffsy, you can insert any GIF that you can find on their servers. The same goes for Direct Messages, as the same functionality applies for private correspondences, too. Be on the lookout for this added feature, which should be live soon for everyone.

The GIFs are coming! Get ready to search and send GIFs in Tweets and Direct Messages: https://t.co/uk75stt1zN pic.twitter.com/1dDD1B4CW2
— Twitter (@twitter) February 17, 2016

Via: Twitter

Samsung Tweet Suggests Galaxy S7 Will be Waterproof

Kellen — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 11:46:43 +0000

This morning, Samsung Mobile's official Twitter account tossed out a batch of tweets that all hinted at upcoming features for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, both of which will be announced on February 21 in Barcelona. The tweets covered topics like capturing "every angle" of a moment, changing your "idea of what a camera can do," and maybe more importantly, "what your phone can handle." Those first two quoted items are in reference to the camera being used in each phone, a camera that we expect to shoot at 12MP and may very well be similar to the sensor used in the Nexus 6P and 5X. That third idea, though, is accompanied by a short video of a girl dropping her phone in a pool. So if we're talking about what a phone can handle, then this video (at least to me) is suggesting that whatever shows up on February 21, will be able to handle a pool drop, aka being submerged in water. https://twitter.com/SamsungMobile/status/699941426038083585 The timing of this clip is actually quite funny. Yesterday, a video surfaced on Samsung's Indonesia YouTube channel that the internet took as some sort of proof that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge would be waterproof. How did they come to that conclusion, you ask? Because the video, which pretty obviously (to us) showed a Galaxy S6 Edge+, also showed the phone getting rained on during a "dramatization" of a woman about to shoot an arrow at a target. For whatever reason, the internet, as the internet always does, just assumed the phone in the clip was an S7 Edge and that rain on a phone means waterproofing. Silly, I know. You can watch that video here. Either way, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have long-been-rumored to have IP67 water resistance and this latest tweet from Samsung essentially confirms that.

Vimeo Updates Android App to Include Chromecast Support

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 11:01:41 +0000

After much wait, Vimeo updated its Android app this week, bringing with it... Chromecast support! The last time we discussed Vimeo and Chromecast together was all the way back in mid 2013, but as Vimeo states, "late is better than never." You see, Vimeo was one of the first companies to openly embrace the idea of Chromecast, but for some odd reason, it has taken years to actually implement the feature for users. That all changes today. In addition to now having the ability to cast your videos from Video directly to an HDTV, Vimeo details that they have fixed a big list of bugs and crashing issues that plagued the app. Thanks to this update, we may see Vimeo's app rating in Google Play pick up, but that's not exactly our primary concern. If you use Vimeo, go forth and grab the update and get to casting those videos. Play Link

Gmailify Your Existing Yahoo or Outlook Email Account, Get All of Gmail's Bells and Whistles

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 10:13:55 +0000

Beginning today, users of a Yahoo or Outlook/Hotmail email account can Gmailify their existing email, without losing their precious email address. The process is extraordinarily simple. Sign into your email from within the Gmail app, then hit the "Gmailify" button. In doing so, you essentially turn your email into a Gmail account, which brings all the benefits that a normal Gmail user would have, such as spam protection, inbox organization, and more. Once your old email has been linked to Gmail, the Gmail account will start working to protect you from spam, help you organize your messy inbox, and after you Gmailify, you will even receive Google Now cards based on your email, just as if you were using a standard Gmail address. Of course, if you are not happy with the Gmailify experience, you can always go back to the way things were and unlink your account, all with the click of a button. Google states they are working to bring additional email providers into the fold, but for now, it is limited to Yahoo and Outlook/Hotmail. This feature is available starting right now through the Gmail app. Play Link

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Via: Gmail

Samsung Highlights Software Changes in Marshmallow, Has Yet to Update Any US Devices

Tim — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:34:47 +0000

Samsung Galaxy device owners in the US, you must be getting awfully tired of not running the latest version of the Android OS. On the bright side, we might getting very close to a North American release, as Samsung is not only beginning to highlight what changes you will see once your device has received the update to Marshmallow, but also started shipping the update out to unlocked international models earlier this week. While none of it appears to be groundbreaking, Samsung continues to add "value" as it sees fit in the form of in-house software. Here is what you can expect to see on your device after you have installed Marshmallow. Included with the update to Marshmallow is Internet 4.0 and Cross App. Internet 4.0 will bolster the mobile web browsing experience for those who use Samsung's own web browser. New features for the Internet app include a Secret Mode (exactly like Chrome's Incognito mode), allowing users to browse the web anonymously, without leaving behind a trail of information. Secret Mode is governed by fingerprint authentication, meaning only the true device owner can view sensitive material, even when in protected mode. Any new bookmarks or saved pages can be stored while in Secret Mode, but will be saved in a separate area from the unprotected pages, all secured by your fingerprint.

Cross App will boost productivity while you are inside one of Samsung's proprietary apps, such as Messaging. For example, if you are in a chat window and need to send a photo, you will now have the ability to quickly access your gallery of photos from straight within the Messaging application. If you need to shoot a new photo, you can do that as well, all without leaving your original app. Essentially, Cross App should bring users a more fluid experience, allowing the usability of different apps from within just one app. As another example, if you need to browse a URL a friend sent through Messaging, you can use a built-in browser, or even view multimedia that they have sent. This all means that you will no longer need to open a specific app to complete a certain task.

As noted earlier, no Samsung device on a US carrier has received an update to Marshmallow. However, with Samsung doing these highlights and shipping it out to unlocked models, we must be close. At least, I hope we are.

Via: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S Fingerprin7 Shown in Brief Video, SD Card Slot Too

Kellen — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 08:54:46 +0000

At this point, I think I've seen about enough blurry cam photos of the black Samsung Galaxy S7. Unfortunately for me, I can't imagine we'll stop seeing them any time soon knowing that the phone will be official in four days. I would assume that more and more people have it in their hands at this point, many of which probably don't care about the life-ending NDA Samsung required them to sign in order to acquire it. And that brings us to today's leak, which is only important because it's of the phone on video for the first time. Oh, we also get what appears to be confirmation of a SIM slot that is capable of housing a microSD card as well. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a sh*tload of fingerprints on a phone you have seen in a similar, unofficial and unflattering setting more times than you needed to. Ready?

And here is that video.

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So the phone that is featured here has some sort of screen protector on each side, which is the reason for all of the fingerprints. At least, we are hoping that's the case and that the real finish on the body of the phone won't attract grease on this level of grossness. As for the SIM tray, yep, that is indeed a microSD slot in there as well, so that's good news. The rest of this leak is a bit wishy-washy in terms of specs. It claims that the battery is just 2800mAh instead of 3000mAh. We're still betting on 3000mAh, though. The leak also isn't sure if we'll get IP68 or IP67 water resistance, but they are on board with every other leak that suggests a 12MP camera, Android 6.0 out of the box, and no USB Type-C. Hey, so, I can't wait for the next terrible picture of a phone that will more than likely be quite beautiful in person. (/s)

Via: Android Authority

Qualcomm Basically Confirms Snapdragon 820 for LG G5

Kellen — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 08:08:54 +0000

With MWC days away, not only have leaks turned into fully gushing cracks in the foundation, but we're also starting to get official confirmations and really, really, not-so-subtle hints as to what we can expect from the next round of flagship phones. In today's bit of news, Qualcomm hasn't essentially confirmed that the LG G5 will run their new Snapdragon 820 processor. Why do we say that? Take a look at the Tweet below. Qualcomm mentions that there will be a "whole new way to play" with LG and the Snapdragon 820 on February 21. That's all important, because we know that on February 21, LG plans to announce something around the concept of playing. We also know that the LG G5 is coming on that day. Yes, that is official. Oh, and the robot that Qualcomm used, is featured in LG G5 promos. So yeah, I'd say the Snapdragon 820 is confirmed for the G5. This information certainly isn't shocking to anyone who has been following the story of the G5, but hey, we like it when things become really, real. https://twitter.com/Qualcomm/status/699971575064498181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

AT&T Promo Nets Up to $650 if You Switch From Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 14:45:11 +0000

For those who may be looking to switch to AT&T from a competing carrier, Big Blue is offering a promotion that could net you up to $650 in credits. There are quite a few steps in order to get the full credit amount, so let's get started. First, you will need to be switching from Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile, and have a smartphone that you are able to trade-in. You will need to head into an AT&T retailer or do this online, starting by purchasing a new phone through AT&T Next. Then, activate the device on an eligible plan, port your current phone number to AT&T, and then trade-in your current smartphone. This promo can be doubled with the other AT&T deal that allows new customers to buy one LG or Samsung smartphone and get one free. Details on that promo can be viewed here. A full set of details can be viewed below. Details

Purchase a new smartphone on AT&T Next, activate a new line of qualified postpaid wireless service with AT&T, and port your number from Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile.
Trade-in your current eligible smartphone (minimum $10 value) online or in our stores and receive either AT&T store credit or an AT&T Promotion Card in the amount of your trade-in value.
Submit the final statement from your previous carrier online.
Receive an AT&T promotion Visa pre-paid gift card in the amount of the early termination fee or device balance owed on your final bill minus your trade-in value.
Receive total credits of up to $650.

Via: AT&T

DEAL: SanDisk 200GB MicroSD Card Drops to $90

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:41:08 +0000

Yesterday, we reminded you that it might be time to stock up on microSD cards, since we are less than a week away from hearing about this year's flagships, all of which are expected to support expandable storage. If you held out from yesterday's deal, you have another chance today at even more storage. The SanDisk 200GB microSD card has dropped to $89.95 for the day, which as far as we can tell, is the lowest price yet. The 200GB card from SanDisk arrived at last year's MWC with a retail price of around $240. In less than a year, we have seen the price drop regularly to around the $100 mark. But again, $90 is the lowest to date and shouldn't be slept on if you need this much expandable storage. Amazon Link

Reseller Listing From Dubai Provides Best Shots of LG G5 Yet

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 12:33:16 +0000

A listing on a reseller site out of Dubai has provided a few unique, close and personal photos of the LG G5. Until today, we have seen the device in various cases and a dummy box, but this is the first time we have seen the phone sans all hardware protection. Listed as an import from the US ahead of official launch, the price was set at AED 2,500, which converts to nearly $700 in the US. Since then, the listing is not available, although, a cached version of it can still be viewed on the web. Thankfully, before it was gone forever, someone was able to snag all of the photos and place them on imgur for our viewing pleasure. As we can see from the two photos, the G5 features the dual rear-facing cameras we expected, as well as a fingerprint reader. However, as already detailed, the volume rocker has been moved to the side of the phone. As for the front side, there is not much to detail except for the apparent lack of a secondary ticker display, which was previously reported to be featured. It should be noted LG has stated that the G5 will feature an always-on display, basically dispelling any notion that we should expect a secondary display for this functionality.

In the photo that shows the backside, we can make out what appears to be a button of some kind near the bottom portion on the side. If the reports of a modular G5 are to be believed, then this could be the button that releases the battery compartment from the device, allowing folks to replace the battery as they see fit. Photos are not always the best means of portraying a smartphone's build quality, but this G5 does appear to feature an aluminum casing, and not plastic as we have seen from LG in the past. So far, many of the reports we have heard about LG producing a very premium device for 2016 appear to be accurate. Do these images make you more excited for the G5?

Via: dubizzle (cached) | imgur

Question of the Day: Have You Ever Used Bloatware? Which Apps and Why?

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 12:19:38 +0000

After reading the announcement from HTC and Keeper about a partnership that will be used to add more pre-loaded apps to your next phone, it got me wondering - do any of you use any of the bloatware on your phones? We talk a lot of trash about bloatware because more often than not, the 3rd party apps that manufacturers and carriers are including are, well, trash. These are apps like CityID, Caller Name ID, Whitepages, Yellowpages, random kids games, 3rd rate office suites, and all of the carrier-owned apps like VZ or AT&T Navigator and poorly done cloud apps. In most situations, I doubt that these would be the apps you decide to install after browsing Google Play. Most lack features, have 3rd-rate UIs, and are no where near being better alternatives than options like Google Maps or Dropbox. But carriers and manufacturers continue to push them, because there must be big money involved in bloatware. The other reason we all hate bloatware is because for years, until Google stepped up and added app disabling, you couldn't remove these apps. Instead, they sat there in your app drawers, taking up space and storage, potentially killing your battery life, and maybe even hurting the performance of your phone. Bloatware suck. So tell us, have you ever used any of the bloatware on your phone(s)? If so, which apps and why? What was it that grabbed your attention and turned you away from disabling?

This New Android "Monotune" Commercial is Quite Good

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:39:17 +0000

And it was also accompanied by these Tweets, which could be quite confusing without context. https://twitter.com/Android/status/699405334297866240 https://twitter.com/Android/status/699397783783137280 https://twitter.com/Android/status/699409541599891456 If you still aren't getting it, be sure to watch the making of video below.

[responsive_vid]

LG Bringing Stylus 2 to MWC, Features 5.7" HD Display and Marshmallow

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:25:01 +0000

Set to be unveiled at MWC next week, the Stylus 2 from LG is a sequel to last year's G4 Stylus. As a budget-friendly phablet device, the Stylus 2 features a 5.7" HD In-Cell Touch display, along with a built-in stylus for all of your multitasking needs. Other specs include a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 13MP rear-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, 3,000mAh battery, and Marshmallow at launch. LG's big work on this device was spent on the software, and it is quite reminiscent of Samsung's Note software. For example, when you remove the stylus from the device, a popup of shortcuts appears for easy access to note taking and other functionality. In addition, the device will warn you if you begin to move while the stylus bay is empty. This should prevent you from misplacing the stylus. Noticeably thinner and lighter than the G4 Stylus, the Stylus 2 weighs in at only 145 grams, measuring at 155 x 79.6 x 7.4mm. For a device of this size, featuring a full stylus, 7.4mm is pretty thin. To compare, the Galaxy Note 5 has a thickness of 7.6mm. As for availability, the device will be shown off at MWC next week, although, we have no word on whether we will see it launched in the US. It does feature LTE connectivity, but if LG treats the Stylus 2 like it did the G4 Stylus, we probably won't see it at all in the States. Check out the full specs below. Specs

Display: 5.7-inch HD In-Cell Touch (1280 x 720)
Chipset: 1.2GHz Quad-Core
Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP
Memory: 1.5GB LPDDR3 RAM / 16GB ROM / MicroSD
Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)
Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Size: 155 x 79.6 x 7.4mm
Weight: 145g
Network: LTE / HSPA+ / GSM
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0
Colors: Titan / White / Brown

Via: LG

HTC Partners With Keeper to Add New Bloatware to Future Phones

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:21:21 +0000

This morning, HTC and Keeper Security announced a new partnership that will allow the password locker company to pre-install their Keeper app on your newly purchased Android device. If you are at all like me, you just read that as "HTC has partnered with Keeper to pre-load more bloatware on your new phone." By pre-loading Keeper, HTC is giving their customers a chance to get in on the password locker game, which means prompts to save passwords, create stronger ones, or autofill forms. It also means that your passwords are all stored in one place and are accessible from anywhere. Password lockers are actually quite useful (I use LastPass multiple times per day and love it), assuming you don't mind a 3rd party outfit having every single one of your passwords kept behind supposed lock and key. In today's announcement, HTC also says that when a customer with a Keeper-loaded device opens a website or app, they will be prompted to sign up for Keeper. Hopefully, for everyone's sake, that only happens once and isn't a prompt that continually shows up. Look, password lockers like Keeper are quite useful to those interested in them, but bloatware is bloatware. And bloatware that prompts you to use it isn't something anyone is asking for. I don't mind partnerships between manufacturers and app developers - they just better make it clean (allow uninstalls) and not spammy. Play Link

Via: Digital Journal

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 37

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:32:27 +0000

We are opening up Volume 37 of the DL Q&A Sessions, on the eve of MWC 2016. With many things in store, this will be your last chance to ask us whatever you may want to know about what we can expect from Samsung, LG, Sony, and maybe HTC. Thankfully, there has been no shortage of intel on both the LG G5 and Galaxy S7, so really, all we're waiting for are both companies to make the official announcements this upcoming Sunday. If your mind is not entirely on Android this week, we could also discuss the felony robbery that took place on Saturday night during the NBA dunk contest. In my view, there is absolutely no way that Aaron Gordon did not deserve the crowning. Judges, you blew it. Of course, you can ask us anything else that might be on your mind, too. This Friday, we will go through your questions and do our best to answer as many as we can. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Verizon's 2GB of Bonus Data Per Month for Life Promo is Back Again

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 09:37:03 +0000

Back in December, Verizon ran a promo that would land you an extra 2GB of bonus data per month per line for life. All you needed to do to get the 24GB of extra data each year was sign-up or be on an XL or XXL plan and then upgrade to or activate a new phone. Today, that promo returns for a limited time. As a recap, the deal works something like this. Sign-up for an XL (12GB for $80) or XXL (18GB for $100) plan, then upgrade to or activate a new phone. For each line that you do so, you'll receive an extra 2GB of bonus data per month. If you have a family of four and they all upgrade to new phones on an XL or XXL plan, you'll then get an extra 8GB of data per month or 96GB per year for life. The data is also shareable across your family plan. You can read more details about the promo at Verizon's site.

Via: Verizon

Video: Samsung Mobile President Shares His Vision for Galaxy S7 and 2016

Tim — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 09:06:12 +0000

Samsung's new President of Mobile Communications, Dongjin Koh, sat down with Samsung Newsroom to go over his vision for the Galaxy S7, as well as what fans can expect in the mobile department from the company in 2016. Sadly, even though the name Galaxy S7 is mentioned in the video, Koh was pretty tightlipped in terms of specific features or upcoming products. However, he does deliver a decent broad picture with regard to Samsung's continuation to innovate in the mobile space, claiming that Samsung is not afraid to be "adventurous." When asked what customers can expect from the Galaxy brand, Koh states that Samsung has not accepted imposed limits, and that they do not fear the unknown. The Galaxy brand will continue to move forward, trying new things and inventions. To highlight Samsung's lack of fear, Koh brings up the Galaxy Note line, which opened up the "phablet" market. "We have done the same again with the dual edge experience of the Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone." The mobile vision will remain the same, and Samsung will continue to deliver a unique mobile experience for its users. In closing, Koh hopes that anyone who lays hands on the Galaxy S7 will provide feedback. We are only one week away from the unveiling of the Galaxy S7 at MWC. We have been seeing leaks left and right, with likely more to come. Are you excited for this lineup of phones?

[responsive_vid]

Via: Samsung

This Llama Just Unboxed the Galaxy S7

Kellen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 07:49:52 +0000

Ready to see the first Samsung Galaxy S7 unboxing? This llama, whose name is Kuzco, has you covered. He event attempts to re-create what he saw. Yes, the llama does all of that. Damn. Hell of a painting, llama.

Via: Samsung

Verizon's LG G4, G3, and HTC One M9 are Probably Getting Marshmallow Tomorrow (Updated: Yep!)

Kellen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 19:25:43 +0000

Today, Verizon updated its "Advanced Devices Software Updates" list, showing that the LG G4, G3, and HTC One M9 are all scheduled to receive updates tomorrow, February 16. For whatever reason, they didn't actually update any of the individual support pages for each device (maybe because it's still the 15th), so (officially) we don't necessarily know what the updates are for. My guess - they are all Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Well, the updates for the G4 and One M9 should be Marshmallow. I say that for a couple of reasons. One, because HTC's Mo Versi took to Twitter at the end of last week to announce that the Marshmallow update for the One M9 on Big Red had received "approval" and would begin on February 16. I mean, it doesn't get much more real than that, right? On the other hand, LG has been rolling out Marshmallow updates to almost every single carrier variant of the G4, outside of Verizon's. In other words, Verizon's G4 is the last man standing and seemingly, should be ready for Android 6.0. If it isn't Marshmallow tomorrow, then, lord save us. As for the LG G3, it could be anything, including a security update. With that said, a handful of Verizon LG G3 owners did receive the update to Marshmallow back in January, so we know that Verizon is at least testing it and may be close to pushing it out. I'm not necessarily a betting man, but it wouldn't shock me to see Big Red make G3 owners happy tomorrow. Verizon phone owners, get ready for Android 6.0. We'll keep you posted if/when Verizon gives us updated release notes for each phone tomorrow. UPDATE: Yep, all three are receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The G4 will jump to software version VS98624C, G3 to VS98546A, and the One M9 to 3.37.605.7. Follow the source links below to get all of the details for each device. Verizon Links: LG G4 | LG G3 | HTC One M9

DEAL: PNY 128GB SD Card Just $29.99 Today

Kellen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:48:43 +0000

At the beginning of next week, you will have at least three new flagship phones to consider buying, all of which are expected to have microSD card support. We're talking about LG's G5 and Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, of course, so now may be the time to get into a high capacity card if the price is right. Thanks to a deal running today for PNY storage on Amazon, the time may indeed be right. For just $29.99, you can grab a "High Performance" 128GB microSD card (60Mb/s). If you want more speed, PNY "Turbo Performance" cards are also discounted (90Mb/s) heavily. The 32GB card is just $9.99 and the 64GB card is $18.98. Amazon Links: 128GB High Performance | 64GB/32GB Turbo Performance

Cheers Daistaar!

Here are the Newest Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Pictures

Kellen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:11:54 +0000

Over the weekend, with just a week to go until Samsung unveils each at Mobile World Congress (MWC), new press renders of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge leaked out, giving us looks at the set of colors we expect to see in stores. Thanks to pictures from @evleaks of each, we are seeing silver, gold, and black models of the S7 Edge, along with black and gold models of the regular S7. The images show both front and backs of each phone, though they don't necessarily reveal new features. In the end, these phones are going to look a heck of a lot like the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, only with rounder bodies that hold bigger batteries. The black version may also be black instead of the deep blue we got last year. The internals, of course, will be quite different from last year. You can read about the specs of each here. Here they are:

Via: @evleaks [2]

Samsung Details New Galaxy Edge Functionality That Comes With Marshmallow

Kellen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 07:56:32 +0000

Samsung says to expect Android 6.0 Marshmallow to start rolling out to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in select areas on February 15. While they didn't provide much in the way of details for each update (new features, which models, etc.), they did announce a bunch of enhancements for the the S6 Edge and its Edge display. After the update users will be able to swipe out a wider, 550px panel for viewing more Edge content. That's essentially doubling the panel's width, allowing you to take in bigger score updates for sports, stock updates, and news stories. Samsung is also adding up to 9 panels in the apps and contacts Edge displays (from just 2), doubling the apps panel from 5 to 10 apps, and is including a task panel (for creating calendar events, sending emails, adding alarms, etc.).

Samsung added in a new tools panel with ruler, compass, and flashlight, plus they are letting you customize the Edge handle, which is the tab on the edge of the display that swiped to give you access to Edge content. The new handle can be resized, moved, and turned transparent.

Again, all of these new features will be a part of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. We are expecting them to be a part of the Galaxy S7 Edge's list of features as well.

Via: Samsung

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Marshmallow Update Starts Rolling Out

Kellen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 07:40:15 +0000

It's almost as if Samsung listens to the DL Show. After complaining about Samsung's lack of communication when it comes to the status of updates for their phones, the Korean electronics giant pushed out a press release this morning to announce that the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will begin to receive the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow today, February 15. What does that mean for your phone, you are probably wondering? Samsung says that "separate announcements on details of OS updates schedule for each market according to market situation and carriers’ requirements." In other words, we could see unlocked international variants receive the update starting February 15, but carrier models could be a while. Samsung will announce more specific times as updates are ready. In terms of new features, the only specific items that Samsung is sharing relate to the S6 Edge's display. The update will introduce a handful of enhancements to the Edge display We saw mentions of the new functionality on a Samsung' developer page a few weeks back, but weren't sure if these would arrive before the S7 Edge or not. You can read more about the new Edge functionality here.

Via: Samsung [2]

LG Introduces X Cam and X Screen Smartphones

Kellen — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 17:14:06 +0000

This evening, LG announced a new "X series" line of phones that offers an affordable smartphone package with a single "exceptional" feature. The thought is that someone may not have a big budget, but they might want a great camera or great display experience. The X series and its two first phones, the X Cam and X Screen, aim to do that. With the X Cam, you are getting a phone with mid-range specs, yet it has a dual-camera experience on the back. The cameras are 13MP and 5MP shooters, which combine to make what LG is calling the "most advanced camera experience in a mass-tier smartphone." The phone also sports a 5.2-inch FHD display, 2GB RAM, octa-core processor, front 8MP camera, 2520mAh battery, 16GB internal storage, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Not bad, right? With the X Screen, you are getting a phone with similarly mid-range specs, but you also get a secondary always-on screen, just like we saw with the LG V10. The phone's main display weighs in at 4.93-inches and is HD (720p), plus it has a 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The X series will arrive in Asia, Europe and Latin America within the next month.

LG TO DEBUT “SPECIALIST” X SERIES SMARTPHONES AT MWC 2016

X cam and X screen Offer Key Premium Features Without the Premium Price
SEOUL, Feb. 15, 2016 ― Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, LG Electronics (LG) will bring to Mobile World Congress 2016 a new series of smartphones developed to offer customers a unique user experience by offering one exceptional feature at a price that rivals mid-range smartphones. The first two models in the X series ― X cam and X screen ― will debut at MWC in Barcelona on February 22. The X cam and X screen are designed for customers who do not want or need all the bells and whistles that come with today’s high-end phones but still desire a great camera or advanced display. The X cam sports dual cameras on the rear and delivers one of the most advanced camera experience in a mass-tier smartphone. Thanks to LG’s seamless 3D Bending Glass, the X cam features an elegant curved finish on the front and with a profile of only 5.2mm, the device is extremely comfortable to hold in the hand. And unlike other boxy and heavier mid-range phones, the X cam tips the scale at only 118g. The other model, appropriately named X screen, is equipped with an “Always-on” Second Screen which until now has only been available on LG’s premium V10. The Second Screen sits above the main 4.93-inch HD In-cell Touch display and makes multi-tasking a cinch on the X screen. With the 1.76 inch Second Screen, users can easily access frequently used apps, answer calls without interrupting the current activity or just play music. The Second Screen also lets users check time, date, battery status and other notifications without ever having to turn on the phone. What’s more, the X screen offers a stylish, sleek look with its crystal-clear glass fiber exterior and clean lines. “Everyone has a favorite smartphone feature,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “At LG, we think there’s room for devices that do one thing very well and that customers shouldn’t have to pay for features that they don’t want. At the end of the day, we’re committed to offering consumers more choices.” LG’s X series will debut in key markets in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting next month. Visitors to MWC can see the new X series for themselves at LG’s booth in Hall 3 of Fira Gran Via from February 22-25. X cam Key Specifications:*

Display: 5.2-inch FHD In-cell Touch

Chipset: 1.14GHz Octa-Core

Camera: Rear 13MP and 5MP / Front 8MP

Memory: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM

Battery: 2,520mAh

Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Size: 147.5 x 73.6 x 5.2mm~6.9mm

Network: LTE

Colors: Titan Silver / White / Gold / Pink Gold

X screen Key Specifications:*

Display: Main) 4.93-inch HD In-cell Touch Secondary) 1.76-inch LCD (520 x 80)

Chipset: 1.2GHz Quad-Core

Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP

Memory: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM

Battery: 2,300mAh

Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Size: 142.6 x 71.8 x 7.1mm

Network: LTE

Colors: Black / White / Pink Gold

* Specifications/Features may vary depending on the market.
# # #

Don't Miss These Android Stories: February 13, 2016

Kellen — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 06:44:32 +0000

We are only a week away from pure craziness, did you realize that? I'm talking about the kick-off to MWC, of course, where Samsung and LG will go head-to-head to see who can make the next big flagship phone. Our gut tells us that both will make amazing phones, but you have to admit that it is kind of fun to see them really duke it out this year. In the lead-up to that showdown, the leaks have begun to pour in. Because they will only continue on through next week, you should probably catch up on the latest. I say that because we may see pre-orders open up the minute these new phones are announced next week and if you want one or all of them, you might want to pull the trigger right away to take advantage of promos and freebies. Time to see what happened this week! All of the biggest Android stories are linked below.

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DEAL: Moto X (2nd Gen) on AT&T or Verizon Just $99 at Best Buy

Kellen — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 06:23:47 +0000

Through a daily deal, Best Buy is selling off whatever it has left of the Moto X (2nd gen) on Verizon or AT&T. And when I say "selling off," that means they have dropped the price to an absurdly low $99 off-contract price. Sure, the phone is over a year old, won't be supported by Motorola or AT&T or Verizon any longer (which means no Marshmallow), but at $99, this could be a decent option in a pinch. Dropped your phone recently and don't have $600 for a new one? Have a teen that needs a first phone? Maybe your non-techie family member is upgrading to a smartphone but doesn't want to go all-in? Whatever the case, dropping $100 on a Moto X isn't a terrible idea. At this time, Best Buy seems to have sold through their online inventory, so you may have to check stores in order to take advantage. Let us know if you find any in stock anywhere. Best Buy Links: AT&T Moto X (2nd Gen) | Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen)

Cheers Jeff and Lucas!

February Recap

Kellen — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:57:40 +0000

On today's episode of the Droid Life Show, we'll do another recap of the latest in leaks and news surrounding the upcoming flagships from Samsung, LG, and HTC. This week, we got all sorts of pictures and new details of the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, G5, and One M10 that we'd like to talk about. Things are heating up! Once we wrap the recap, it's onto rumors of Google getting serious about VR, Android Wear's Marshmallow update, and more. Join us at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern) for the fun. If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well, along with an IRC chat. Also, we’ll be chatting through the YouTube feed too.

Friday App Sales: Lara Croft GO, This War of Mine, Liberty City Stories, and More

Tim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:05:43 +0000

There is a large list of apps and games on sale through Google Play this week, highlighted by the inclusion of Lara Croft GO, This War of Mine, and GTA: Liberty City Stories. Lara Croft GO can be purchased for only $0.99, This War of Mine for $4.99, and GTA: Liberty City Stories has a launch sale price of $3.99. Other applications on sale include Astro Pro (the file manager app), ShadowGun, The Tiny Bang Story, eWeather HD, and EnbornX. There is quite the list, so take a look below and follow the links if any of them interest you. Friday App Sales

eWeather HD, Radar, Alerts ($1.99)
The Tiny Bang Story ($1.49)
Sacra Terra: Kiss of Death ($1.99)
Dark Strokes 2 ($1.49)
This War of Mine ($4.99)
Samurai II: Vengeance ($1.99)
ShadowGun ($1.99)
GTA: Liberty City Stories ($3.99)
Twilight Pro Unlock ($0.99)
Thrive Island - Survival ($0.99)
Windward ($3.30)
Lara Croft GO ($0.99)
Blockwick 2 ($2.99)
EnbornX ($1.03)
ASTRO Pro ($2.99)

Go support those developers.

Google is Retiring Picasa, Time to Switch to Google Photos

Kellen — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 14:56:15 +0000

If you are still using Google's Picasa photo service, it's almost (finally) time to say goodbye. I know, breaking up with this dinosaur of a photo service will be tough, just like it was when your wife recently pried your fingers off of that Windows Vista machine, sold your Tango and Cash VHS for $0.50 in last weekend's garage sale, and bought you new t-shirts that had sleeves on them. I promise, though, it'll be OK. Google announced today that they will be retiring Picasa over the "coming months" as they continue to focus their efforts on Google Photos. With that said, Google knows that a "great deal of care has gone into managing your photos and videos using Picasa," and so they plan to do this retirement "right," by taking their time and giving you options for accessing your content. Going forward, Google is hoping that you will move over to Google Photos, which is actually a pretty awesome photo service. In fact, all of your Picasa photos are already in Google Photos, just waiting for you to enjoy them there. However, if you aren't quite ready to make that move, Google says that they will be "creating a new place for you to access your Picasa Web Albums data." At this new location, you will be able to view, download, and delete albums, but you won't be able to create new ones or edit them. If you are a Picasa desktop application user, understand that Google will no longer be supporting it. They aren't killing it off, in case you want to continue using it, but know that it won't receive future updates. See, it's time to switch over. You can download Google Photos here.

Via: Google Photos Blog

AT&T Offers BOGO Smartphone Promo for Valentine's Day

Tim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 12:00:32 +0000

AT&T has a BOGO smartphone promo for Valentine's Day, offering new and existing customers the chance to buy one of the carrier's top smartphones, along with a second one for free. Phones listed by AT&T as eligible for the promo are "top phones" from Samsung and LG. To take advantage, both phones must be purchased through AT&T NEXT. The first phone can be added to a new line or as an upgrade to an existing plan. The second phone must be added to a new line and purchased on NEXT 24. Once done, starting up to 3 bill cycles, you will receive up to $650 in 30 monthly bill credits. View the full details below. Details

Available to new and existing customers
Both phones must be purchased on AT&T Next: The first phone can be a new line or an upgrade. The second phone must be a new line and purchased on AT&T Next 24.
Add both phones to a qualified plan, like Mobile Share Value, for as low as $70 a month for two phones.
Starting in up to 3 bill cycles you will receive up to $650 in 30 monthly bill credits.

This promotion is live right now through AT&T website, or you can head into an AT&T retail shop. AT&T Link

DROID Turbo 2 Receiving Update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:29:55 +0000

Verizon began pushing an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow today to the DROID Turbo 2. After first showing up in a soak test and then to employee units in December, we're sort of surprised it took this long to go public to customers. But hey, it's here! To recap, the upgrade to Marshmallow includes access to Now on Tap, Doze mode, app standby, better app permissions controls, external storage being used as internal storage, simpler do not disturb settings, better volume controls, and Direct Share to contacts. Motorola and Verizon also killed Ambient Display, since Motorola would rather you use their far superior option, Moto Display. They built in new functions to Moto Assist as well, plus they integrated Attentive Display into Moto Actions. You can read all about the update at the source link below, but in the end we are looking at build 24.14.9. To try and pull the update, head into Settings>System updates. Update 12:30PM: For some reason, Verizon pulled the Turbo 2 software update page with the Marshmallow details. We aren't sure why, but we'll keep an eye on it. UPDATE FEBRUARY 29: The update is back on. It should rollout on March 1.

Via: Verizon

T-Mobile One M9 Marshmallow OTA Rolling Out February 16

Tim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:16:15 +0000

According to HTC's Mo Versi, One M9 owners on T-Mobile will receive an OTA update for Marshmallow beginning February 16. After receiving technical approval, Android 6.0 will bring many features to the One M9 on T-Mobile, including the standard Doze, comprehensive app permissions, and Now on Tap features. Back in December, owners of the unlocked One M9 received Marshmallow, and while the One M9 is receiving decent software support, owners of the One M8 on various carriers are flocking to Twitter, hoping to get an answer to their questions of when they might see Marshmallow. As HTC continues to announce updates for devices, we will keep you informed. As for One M9 owners on T-Mo, be on the lookout.

Happy Friday! Good news for T-Mobile HTC One (M9) owners! We've received technical approval on Marshmallow, with the OTA to start on 2/16.
— Mo Versi (@moversi) February 12, 2016

Via: @moversi

ASICS Will Acquire Runkeeper

Kellen — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:22:31 +0000

Runkeeper, the popular running app on Android and iOS that I seem to use over all others, will no longer be an independent service. ASICS, maker of legitimate running shoes that aren't always the best looking (Yes, I'm a sneaker snob.), is acquiring them. Runkeeper announced the news via blog post this morning, noting how "big" the news is and that they are "proud and excited." Good job, Runkeeper team. By partnering with ASICS, Runkeeper will "carry on" as a product and the company hopes that they can "move even faster" going forward. In other words, they will have the resources of ASICS helping them continue to build one of the best running apps on the market. In the end, this really is probably a good thing for Runkeeper users, because it likely means that the app will surely live on and only get better. The apps will get new features, hopefully faster, have a stable team in place to update them, and this could also mean a potential expansion into hardware or other connected products (Smart shoes, anyone?). And look, ASICS is respected running company that needs to attach itself to the tech side of running now that everyone else seems to have. What better company to do that with than Runkeeper? And that's that.

Via: Runkeeper

AT&T Reveals 5G Roadmap, Details What Customers Can Expect From Such Speed

Tim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:31:56 +0000

In the grand scheme of things, 4G LTE is still relatively young, but in the world of consumer electronics, which moves very quickly, it is time we start looking towards the future. AT&T announced a basic roadmap for 5G deployment this morning, detailing that AT&T Labs has been working on the technology for years, filing many patents associated with it. According to AT&T, when all is said and done, field testing for 5G will likely begin in Austin, TX before the end of 2016. Before field testing can begin, AT&T will start collaborating with Intel and Ericsson on 5G solutions in Q2 of this year. Following that, outdoor tests and trials will commence this summer. The trials to take place will guide AT&T's standards contributions, then, "set the stage for widespread commercial and mobile availability once technology standards for 5G are established." Using the power of imagination, go back to a time when 4G LTE was first launched. Once the flip was switched on, we were downloading apps, music, and TV shows exceptionally fast. It was a joyous time. With 5G technology, we will experience that sense of joy all over again. According to AT&T, the company expects to deliver speeds 10 to 100 times faster than today's average 4G LTE speed. Instead of speeds being measured in megabits, we will measure them in gigabits. Claimed by AT&T, at one gigabit a second, a customer could download an entire TV show in less than 3 seconds. Last year, Verizon announced that it too was entering filed testing for 5G this year. For consumers, who don't exactly need to care about how this technology is rolled out, all we know is that we want it and we want it now. It looks like 2017 might be a good year for smartphones, if all goes well.

Via: AT&T

Google Play Music Gift Subscriptions Listed at 50% Off For V-Day

Tim — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:00:01 +0000

For a limited time, you can give the gift of Google Play Music at a discounted price. At 50% off each tier of subscriptions, there are three options to choose from: 1 month for $5, 3 months for $15, and 6 months for $30. When purchasing, all you will need is the email address of the person you want to gift the subscription to. You will enter who the gift is from, add a lovely message, then pay for it. Once sent, the recipient will open the email and add the subscription to their Google account. Give the gift of music this weekend. Play Music Link

Video: Android 6.0.1 Android Wear Gestures and Features Tour!

Kellen — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:55:24 +0000

Give Motorola credit - they are pushing out this Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update to their Moto 360 line faster than anyone else, from what we can tell. As of the end of yesterday, the update seemed to be widely available on all of their watches, including the 1st gen, 2nd gen, and Moto 360 Sport. Because it's so readily available, we grabbed it for each variant, updated, and took it for a spin on video to show off what's new. After all, this is quite the big update, with new gestures, Doze, app permission controls, and more. If you went ahead and updated and are looking for the full of release notes, you can find those here. In the video below, we walk through most of that, though. We take you through manual time and date setting, handling permissions on a per app basis, how Doze should work, and of course, a look at navigating Android Wear with all of its new gestures. Take a look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xZr0-_QvJA

Question of the Day: How can HTC Win You Over?

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:23:28 +0000

Today's question we are going to keep simpler than ever. Instead of talking about how sad of story HTC has been over the past few years, with miss upon miss in the high-end flagship realm, I really just want to know how (or if) they can win you back over. In the end, HTC is one of the few manufacturers who really seems to want to do right by customers. They offer free screen replacement programs, unlockable bootloaders, have really toned down their Sense skin, and are making promises to update devices faster than anyone outside of Google. HTC wants you back, they really do. Are you loving what you have heard about the HTC One M10? Will that phone do it? Do you need something more? Maybe something that doesn't resemble an iPhone? What can HTC do to win you over?

#TBT: Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" Preview Video

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:17:30 +0000

Ah, yes, Honeycomb. It was short lived, but when it launched on the Motorola XOOM tablet, we probably all thought it was the bee's knees. Share your fond memories of Honeycomb below, if you have any.

Vevo Launches Revamped, Personally Curated Android App

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:00:46 +0000

Vevo, the one stop shop for millennials to get their fix of the latest from Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, released an updated Android application this morning. Inside, users will find a sleek UI, updated with a more personal discovery method for music you might enjoy. Upon opening the updated app, users will select artists they enjoy and want to discover more music from. This same idea has been used countless times, so it should seem very similar. Once done, you can still find and watch thousands of music videos, all in high definition. On top of the new features, users will still have the ability to create playlists and share music they really enjoy. These changes are already live on Google Play, so head on over to check them out. Play Link

Via: Vevo

HTC One M10 May Use the Same 12MP Camera as the Nexus 6P, but With OIS

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:40:09 +0000

When Google announced the Nexus 6P and 5X at an event in San Francisco back in September of last year, they talked a lot about the camera that they put inside of each, calling it the "best all-around" they had ever used. One of the major focuses was on the fact that the camera was capturing 1.55 micron pixels, which meant that it could capture more light on bigger pixels and thus the reason optical image stabilization (OIS) was left out. However, during that event to announce each phone, they wouldn't come right out and specify the model of the camera, but we knew at the time that it was a 12.3MP Sony sensor that Google claimed was originally built for point-and-shoot cameras. Shortly after the festivities, we learned that they were using the Sony IMX377. I bring all of this up because according to a long-standing HTC leaker, it may be the same sensor that HTC uses in the upcoming One M10 or "Perfume." In a Tweet posted this morning, @LlabTooFeR suggests that HTC is going with a main camera on the One M10 that is a 12MP Sony IMX377 that captures 1.55 micron pixels, has laser autofocus, phase detection autofocus, and optical image stabilization.

Previous rumors hinted at HTC using a 12MP shooter, though they plan to brand it with their UltraPixel marketing term. But in reality, it makes sense for HTC to use Sony's sensor that is also in the 6P and 5X. After all, the HTC One M7 and M8 both used 4MP or UltraPixel cameras that captured 2 micron pixels. HTC, one could argue, pioneered the idea of capturing more light with bigger pixels in smartphones a few years ago, they just sort of failed in their implementation, because photos at a 4MP resolution are simply too small for most uses. With Sony creating a 12MP shooter that does exactly that only at a larger resolution, why not take advantage of it? Is this good or bad news, you may be asking? I would consider it to be good news. Google's Nexus 6P (and 5X) takes fantastic photos. Take a look at our 6P and 5X camera bonanza and see for yourselves. If HTC can fine-tune this beast for their own hardware, we could be in for a treat and see HTC fix a problem area that has plagued their flagships for a good three years in a row. We are supposedly going to find out by early May.

Via: @LlabTooFeR [2]

Samsung Gear S2 Update Adds New Watch Face, Apps, Emoji in Keyboard, More

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:13:12 +0000

An update is rolling out to the Samsung Gear S2 this week, one that weighs in at around 91MB. The update arrives as software version R720XXU2BPA4, includes new apps for World Clock, ESPN, and News Briefing, but also adds new Mendini watch faces, search function in Contacts, screen time out setting, unread indicator, emoji entering from within the keyboard, and an alert when Bluetooth has been disconnected. If you own the Gear S2, feel free to open the Samsung Gear app to initiate the process. If you aren't prompted right away, head into Settings>About Gear>Update Gear software and tap on Update now. Not only will you receive the update for the watch, but you may see an update to the Gear app as well. Go get 'em.

Cheers Saleh!

Google+ 7.2.0 Update Brings Faster Web Browsing, Search History

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:27:28 +0000

Still rocking Google+? If so, a big update is rolling out for the Android app, one which includes 29 bug fixes, addressed accessibility issues, and a strengthened web browsing experience. As detailed by Googler Luke Wroblewski, the app now utilizes Chrome custom tabs to preload web sites when they are linked to inside of a Google+ post. This allows web sites to load much faster. Not only will speeds be increased, but other features like saved passwords, autofill, and Tap to Search are also available in custom tabs. Additional features listed in the changelog include search history and autocomplete, as well as the ability to tap on a "bottom bar" to scroll to the top of Collections, Communities, and Notifications. What's New

29 bugs fixed
10 accessibility issues addressed
Faster and safer browsing of Web sites (info below)
Search history and autocomplete
Tap on the bottom bar to scroll to the top of Collections, Communities, and Notifications

Play Link

Via: +Luke Wroblewski

Kanye West is Streaming Yeezy Season 3 and His New Album on TIDAL Right Now (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:13:48 +0000

Kanye West is an interesting character, one could say. He offends a lot of people. Says really ridiculous sh*t. Changes albums titles far too often. And is, maybe surprisingly, pretty damn successful outside of hip hop (mostly in fashion and shoes). Today, he's showing all sides of him with the reveal of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line, but also by letting the public hear his new album, "The Life of Pablo," for the first time. Hate him or love him, he's hard to ignore. Unfortunately, you can only watch and listen to any of this on TIDAL, the music service that is by musicians, for musicians, or something. Jay-Z owns it - at least I think he still does - and the point of it (at least this is how we're being sold on it) is to push higher-quality streaming audio over other streaming services. It's also supposed to make us feel bad for musicians who have already made hundreds of millions of dollars in their careers. Anyways, if you care about Kanye West happenings, like his clothing line or new album, you can sign-up for TIDAL and see it all right now. I've got it up and running on my Moto X Pure Edition right now, though the stream is struggling. Actually, the stream seems more stable on my phone than computer. TIDAL offers a free trial, but will then charge you $9.99 per month. My plan, since I have no use for TIDAL, is to cancel via Paypal the minute this thing wraps up. Yep. UPDATE 1:40PM: It has started, finally. UPDATE 4:20PM: It looks like TIDAL is letting you stream playback of the event, which might be worth doing since the live stream was a disaster and was unwatchable because of buffering. Play Link

Google Also Said to be Working on a Stand-Alone VR Headset

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:52:53 +0000

Earlier in the week, Financial Times reported that Google was working on a new virtual reality (VR) headset that would be comparable to Samsung's Gear VR. In other words, it would be an upgraded unit over their current Cardboard apparatus that is used for low-end levels of VR fun. In a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Google is said to not only be making that new, "more advanced" version of Cardboard, but they are working on a stand-alone VR headset as well, one that won't require a computer, smartphone, or game console to function. Say what? As you are probably aware, Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR both rely on a smartphone in order to present a VR experience. Each device is quite different, but the principle is the same - you slide a compatible smartphone into the unit, attach or press it to your head so that your eyes can see into it, and begin to enjoy. If Google is going to make a stand-alone version, we're talking about an all-in-one VR and computing experience. Details of this stand-alone unit are (obviously) scarce, but the WSJ reports that it should feature a screen, high-powered processors, and outward-facing cameras. Google may also have chosen to use chips or sensors from a company called Movidius, who specializes in using cameras to track the motion of your head. When asked for comment, Movidius would only admit that it works with "many" companies on VR. Today's report claims that one source wouldn't be shocked to see the unit arrive this year, while another says it's still too early in development for a date. They even went on to suggest that Google "could decide not to release it." As for the new Cardboard, sources suggest that Google may bring it to Google I/O in May. That wouldn't be a surprise, especially knowing that both reports surrounding the unit have said that Google is working on building some form of VR into Android. Google I/O is when new versions of Android are first shown as previews, so a new VR experience built-in should be accompanied by hardware, one would think.

My initial reaction to this news of a stand-alone VR unit is, damn, how expensive and heavy is that going to be? If this is an all-in-one device, it needs to house everything, from the screen, cameras, and processor, to storage (or is a cloud computing device?) and the actual housing for all of that. As this article from the WSJ points it, this could potentially be a first of its kind approach to VR. My brain reads that as "A really expensive approach to VR." After that, I can't help but wonder how you are going to get content to it if it isn't requiring a smartphone or PC or console? Or are we talking about it utilizing a wireless connection to one of those three? Either way, it needs a content platform in order to exist, so how can it not rely on some form of one of those types of devices? Someone feel free to fill me in here. Do you need Google to become a major VR player?

Via: Wall Street Journal

GTA: Liberty City Stories Hits Google Play, Currently Priced at $3.99

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:35:37 +0000

Rockstar published GTA: Liberty City Stories this morning onto Google Play, bringing mobile gamers a chance to experience the same great game, but this time, on Android. In the game's description, Rockstar explains that the studio has streamlined and shortened missions to deliver a better mobile experience, while better graphics and touchscreen controls have been also been integrated. If you have not played the game before, Liberty City Stories follows the plot of Toni Cipriani, a former wise guy for the Leone family. With Liberty City spiraling out of control thanks to drug trafficking and corrupt politicians, it's up to Toni to destroy anyone who stands in his way of bringing Liberty City completely under Leone family control. For a limited time, the game is listed at 40% off, so if you want to go in on a bit of GTA madness, now would be the time to pick it up. Play Link ($3.99)

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Instagram Soon to Bring View Counter for Videos

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:43:41 +0000

Over the coming weeks, users of Instagram will begin to see view counts on videos, providing exact feedback to those who upload videos how many people are watching the content. When the change takes place, view counts can be seen on the bottom section of an upload, right where "likes" used to be. Those who either upload the video or view the video can still see exactly who likes the video by clicking on the counter. Instagram states that view counts are one of the many ways videos are going to get better in 2016, hinting that more goodies could be in store for Instagram fans. Play Link

Via: Instagram

Evleaks: One M10 Release Set for Week of May 9, HTC "Watch" in April

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:54:23 +0000

According to Evan Blass, aka evleaks, HTC's upcoming One M10 flagship device is scheduled to launch in the US the week of May 9. This is the first solid date that we have heard regarding the One M10, with the only other intel suggesting that HTC was holding off until after MWC to unveil the phone. In addition to a possible release date for the One M10, Blass states that HTC may also intend to launch a "watch" before the end of April. Unfortunately, no other details were provided, so anything else would be complete speculation. Interesting enough, this is not the first time the company has been rumored to launch a smartwatch. All the way back in July of 2014, HTC released a "behind the scenes" video, which briefly showed off a designer working on what appeared to be a smartwatch. Given that it is 2016, and no watch ever came to fruition, we figured HTC had ditched those plans. We know that HTC has been working in the fitness wearable game alongside Under Armour, but this could be the first actual attempt from HTC to launch an Android Wear device, putting themselves up against the likes of Motorola, Huawei, and LG. So far, we have one credible image of the One M10 floating around. As we get closer to an unveiling, it is a safe assumption that more leaks will take place. Is it possible that HTC is working on an Android Wear device? Would you be interested in it?

Via: @evleaks

Edit: Post originally said March for the watch when it should have said April.

Snapdragon Wear is Qualcomm's New Longer Lasting Wearable Chip, LG Promises to Use It

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:39:01 +0000

Qualcomm is ready to power the next generation of wearables with their new Snapdragon Wear platform and Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset. Through a press release this morning, the San Diego based company announced that their new 2100 chipset will help manufacturers release wearables (like smartwatches) with "sleek designs, long battery life, smart sensing, and always-connected experiences." The Snapdragon Wear 2100 will arrive in two versions - tethered (Bluetooth and WiFi) and connected (4G LTE and 3G). That means we'll not only see WiFi-only models, but those powered by wireless radios as well, to give you connectivity without a phone nearby. As for the stats and improvements, the Wear 2100 is 30% smaller than the Snapdragon 400, which has become the standard wearable chipset for Android Wear devices. The new 2100 uses 25% lower power than the 400, as well, so you should be able to kill a day and then some depending on a watch's battery capacity. The 2100 will also include smarter sensors and a next-gen LTE modem, plus low power WiFi and Bluetooth. So far, LG has confirmed plans to use the Snapdragon Wear 2100 in future products "later this year." Qualcomm says that "Snapdragon Wear 2100 and other products" within the Snapdragon Wear platform "are available today," though they must be referring to those running Snapdragon 400 chips. Because as far as I know, a Snapdragon Wear 2100 powered device does not currently exist.

Via: Qualcomm

Report: Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Pre-Orders Live February 21, Comes With Free Gear VR

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 09:38:10 +0000

According to a report from Android World, the same day that Samsung intends to unveil the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge at MWC on February 21, the company will also open up a pre-order for the devices. Not only could folks be able to pre-order the device, but Samsung is throwing in an additional incentive to purchase the phone. Claimed by a source, Samsung will include a free Gear VR headset with the pre-order of a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. According to the report, this pre-order special will be available February 21 through March 10. Also claimed by the source, Samsung intends to launch three colors of the phones in a 32GB model. This was specifically stated to be for the Netherlands, not necessarily North America. The source gave no specifics on the colors, though, it might be safe to assume they are Black, White, and Silver. If Samsung does in fact launch a pre-order for either device on February 21, will you be picking one up? Still waiting to see if the device is worth it?

Via: Android World

Samsung Gear S2 Classic in Rose Gold and Platinum Arrive in the US Tomorrow for $449

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 09:18:52 +0000

The Samsung Gear S2 Classic in Rose Gold and Platinum will hit US stores starting tomorrow, February 12, for $449.99, according to Samsung. The companies announced US availability this morning, stating that you'll be able to buy each from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Macy's, and Samsung.com. This higher-end version of the S2 Classic was originally announced at CES, where we gave you a quick photo tour. It then launched in China a few weeks later and is now ready for the US. As a recap, the Gear S2 Classic is every bit a member of the Gear S2 family, except that it carries a more traditional timepiece aesthetic, hence the "Classic" moniker. These two new models are finished in either 18K rose gold or platinum, which is why you are paying a $100 premium over the original Gear S2 Classic. These devices also feature Samsung's fun-to-use and quite innovative rotating bezel, Tizen operating system, and beautiful 1.2-inch circular Super AMOLED display. They include 1.0GHz dual-core processors, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, IP68 dust and water resistance, WiFi, NFC (for mobile payments at some point), wireless charging, and a 250mAh battery that can last a good two days.

Via: Samsung

Alto's Adventure Now Available for Android Devices

Tim — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 08:29:18 +0000

Without any further ado, Alto's Adventure is now live on Google Play for all Android folk to download. This game, which became a very popular title on iOS, brings a lighthearted coolness that only llamas and snowboarding down the side of a mountain can provide. You play as a resident in a small mountain village. After your llamas escape, you are tasked with bringing them back. As you board down the mountain, you collect llamas and coins for points. These points can be turned in at the local trader for "cool" items. When boarding, you will come across many jumps to do backflips and rails to grind. The more tricks you perform and land, the faster and further down you will go. Overall, the gameplay is simplistic, but coupled with relaxing tunes and great looking graphics, it is no wonder this game became so popular among iPhone users. The game is free to download on Google Play, but does offer IAPs. Go grab it. Play Link

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Moto 360 (1st Gen) Marshmallow Update Seems to be Widely Rolling Out (Update: 2nd Gen and Sport Too)

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 08:12:19 +0000

Yesterday, we shared with you the release notes for the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update that is scheduled to arrive on all Moto 360 variants within the next few weeks. Today, those may come in handy, as the update seems to be pretty widely rolling out to the Moto 360 (1st gen). Why we aren't seeing it also hit the 2nd gen and Sport models is beyond me, but such is life some times. It'll get here. The update is indeed Android 6.0.1 software build MEC23I, to be exact, and should contain new goodness like additional language support, Doze mode, screen dimming, controls over app permissions, manual date and time setting, Bluetooth headset audio improvements, and a bunch of new wrist gestures. Update: My original Moto 360 has received the update now as well. It does appear to be available to a much wider audience at the moment. Update 4:27PM: We were able to pull the update to our all of our Moto 360 (2nd gen) and Sport watches too. Looks like Motorola got it done this time around! Let us know if you are seeing the update! Note: As you'll see in the comments, your phone does not need to be running Marshmallow in order to receive Marshmallow on your watch.

Cheers Thomas, James, Alex, @zippyzapparo, and everyone else!

AT&T Will Give You a Month of Free GoPhone Service for Switching Over

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 07:30:33 +0000

Still haven't made the jump to prepaid or AT&T's surprisingly value-friendly GoPhone service? Starting February 15, if you sign-up for GoPhone, AT&T will give you a second month of service for free. Depending on the plan you sign-up for, that could be a $60 savings. AT&T says that the process is simple and only requires that you switch your number over to GoPhone and then fund a $45 or $60 plan. As AT&T also points out in today's announcement, their GoPhone service requires "no annual contract, no credit check, and runs on AT&T's nationwide 4G LTE network." As a reminder, if you sign-up for autopay, AT&T slashes $5 off your bill each month. For example, I pay for the $60 plan, but really only pay $55 each month for 5GB of 4G LTE data, plus unlimited talk and text. The $45 plan could drop to $40 per month with autopay, plus it has 2GB of high-speed data. AT&T also seems to continue to bump up the data bucket every so often without raising the price. You can sign-up for AT&T GoPhone here. The offer ends on March 31.

Via: AT&T

Here is the LG G5 in Hand, Which LG Hilariously Refers to as "Rumored"

Kellen — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 07:13:27 +0000

Last night, because that's when LG likes to announce details about its upcoming flagship phone, we got to see our first look at the LG G5 in hand. The appearance came via announcement for the G5's new Touch-Enabled Quick Cover, a cover that has a mesh front panel that allows for interaction. The Quick Cover will be available at some point after the phone is announced, likely along with a handful of other accessories. The cover, thanks to that mesh outer, enables a user to accept or decline calls and snooze their alarms over and over again without having to pick up the phone and open it. See that picture above? Oooooh, mesh. Anyways, because Quick Covers are covers, we care more about LG's hilarious press release and the fact that we can see a fake human hand holding the G5. We also have another shot of the phone below, though it of course, has a cover on it.

In terms of size, without knowing how big that fake hand is, it's hard to tell how big the phone truly is. With that said, it certainly doesn't look like a tank of a phone. In the past couple of years, LG has settled into a 5.5-inch display sweet spot, with shrinking bezels, curvature to cases, and a pretty damn good in-hand feel. This phone appears to be no different. As for the hilarious press release, you can view it below, but it's filled with "Here is a case for a smartphone that does not officially exist." Seriously, it says that. LG speaks to the G5 as the "yet-to-be-announced" phone and phone "that does not officially exist" and "rumored LG G5." You can't make this stuff up. Have they not seen the handful of their own teasers and social media posts that all call this phone the LG G5 and mention that February 21 is LG G5 Day. Silly. So silly. At least we know that LG has a sense of humor.

INTRODUCING TOUCH-ENABLED QUICK COVER FOR YET-TO-BE-ANNOUNCED LG G5

Introducing a Case for a Smartphone That Does Not Officially Exist
SEOUL, Feb. 11, 2016 ― LG Electronics (LG) took the wraps off a new version of its Quick Cover case, designed specifically for LG’s next generation flagship smartphone, LG G5, which does not yet exist. Known as a company ahead of the times, LG took this characterization to heart by revealing the existence of the accessory before the actual product. The latest LG Quick Cover offers the advantages of previous Quick Covers but with even more features. The touch function, recently introduced on the K10’s Quick Cover View, is now available on the G5 Quick Cover’s semitransparent mesh cover. It enables users to take calls and control alarm settings without opening the case for the ultimate in convenience. Users of the case can check the time, date and notifications on the Always-on Display of the yet unseen LG G5 even with the cover closed. LG also incorporated a unique film with a glossy metallic finish to enhance the smooth and luxurious look and feel of the cover for maximum consistency with the speculative LG G5. The Quick Cover for LG G5 will be on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain from February 22-25. Visitors to MWC are encouraged to stop by LG’s booth in Hall 3 of Fira Gran Via to see the LG Quick Cover and the rumored LG G5 for themselves.
# # #

Lost in Harmony Game Perfectly Mixes Music and Movement

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:01:17 +0000

A game called Lost in Harmony has been making the rounds on Google Play, adding up many positive reviews, with the game now currently sitting at a 4.6 star rating. The story follows what appear to be two young lovers, riding a skateboard down many different roads. As you travel down these roads, you come across different obstacles you must steer away from, and if you time your musical taps correctly, the more points you will score. The game is entirely based on musical rhythm, so being able to hear it is very important. Because of this, headphones are recommended when you first start the game. While traveling through different sections of a chapter, the music changes, sometimes going down or up in tempo. As for the obstacles, given you are on a road, you will be passed by cars, motorcycles, and futuristic buggies. Naturally, the further you progress in a chapter, the more difficult avoiding obstacles becomes. While the gameplay is certainly neat, the shining aspect of this title are the graphics and music. The music is by no means original, although, alongside the gameplay, it can be a lot of fun to listen to. It's very climactic. Lost in Harmony is completely free to download, however, players can purchase the full game as an IAP. The complete game is priced at $3.99. Check out the trailer below, and if you think you have the rhythm needed, go check it out. Play Link

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Question of the Day: How can the LG G5 Win You Over?

Kellen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:28:55 +0000

Rather than attempting to keep the LG G5 a secret, LG is taking to their social channels to slowly tease their new flagship phone. So far we know the name and when it will be announced, that some of its features might be playful, and the fact that it will have an always-on display. Don't be shocked if LG continues to tease the G5 feature-by-feature over the next week and a half as we inch closer to its unveiling. My guess is that they'll subtly announce dual cameras, a new premium design, and maybe even something about the slideout battery. I don't want to put them in the same category as OnePlus, but in a way, this is kind of a trollout of features. Either way, it's exciting to say the least. We're curious about something, though - will all of this stuff be enough to grab your attention? Last year wasn't a particularly good year for LG in terms of their mobile business. Most reports had the G4 lagging behind expectations and their earnings for mobile certainly took a hit. That's not to say that the G4 was a bad phone, it just may not have stood out as a meaningful alternative to whatever Samsung cooked up. In 2016, we expect the LG G5 to be quite good. There should be a metal body and a stunning display and a top tier processor and removable storage and a slideout battery and LG's take on a dual-camera setup and more. But is "quite good" good enough? What do you need to see from LG to ditch your Nexus or Samsung Galaxy or Motorola phone? How can the LG G5 win you over?

Deal: MOS Cable Organizer for $12, Plus Free Shipping

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:26:56 +0000

Available for only $12, you can pick up a MOS Cable Organizer from the DL Deals Store. This is down from its usual price of $25. This deal also includes free shipping. The MOS Cable Organizer allows owners to keep cables, earbuds, flash drives, and additional magnetic items all in one place. This prevents yourself from losing important items such as these. The capsule features a scratch-resistant finish, and with the added benefit of a micro suction-padded bottom, you can attach it stealthily to your workspace. If you suffer from a messy and tangled desk, then the MOS Cable Organizer could do the trick quite nicely for you. If interested, follow the link below. Features

Keep your cables, earbuds, flash drives & other magnetic items in place
Enjoy an elegant & minimalistic triangular design that complements any decor
Take advantage of a scratch-resistant finish
Secure to your desk using a microsuction-padded bottom
Mount to a wall w/ the mounting circle to hold your cables vertically
Use the included magnetic cable ties to give stubborn cables an extra stick
Keep your workspace or living area clear & organized

Deal Link

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Facer Now Free to Download, Includes Garfield and Other Brand Watch Faces

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:04:31 +0000

Facer, the app that lets you browse a ton of different watch faces for Android Wear devices, received a massive update this week on Google Play. Facer 2.0 features many brand partner watch faces, including a few from Garfield, American Dad, and Ghostbusters. Not only are new watch faces available, but the app is completely free to download, dropping its original $0.99 price. If folks can't find a watch face they are looking for, even though there are thousands, Facer allows you to create you your very own through a new website located here. Through the site, users can create custom watch faces for any number of watches, then publish them for usage. The site has many walkthroughs and tutorials to help you get started, as well as designs to inspire you.

The Facer 2.0 update and the Face Creator website are live now, so head on over to Google Play and grab it. Play Link

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Here are the Release Notes for Moto 360 1st Gen, 2nd Gen, and Sport Marshmallow Updates

Kellen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:48:19 +0000

Last week, Google announced that a major update was coming to all Android Wear watches over the next few weeks. The update is Marshmallow, even though Google doesn't seem to want to refer to it as such. Inside, Google told us to expect speaker support, additional voice controls over messaging apps, and a bunch of new gestures. Unfortunately for Moto 360 users, the speaker support won't be included because none of the 360 variants have external speakers. However, the updates are big and we have release notes for all 360 models below. Yes, even the original Moto 360 (1st gen) is getting the update very soon. The update for all Moto 360 models, according to Motorola, will include support for new languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Polish, Dutch, and Thai), Android 6.0's Doze mode, screen dimming, control of app permissions, those previously mentioned new gestures, manual date and time setting, Bluetooth headset audio improvements, and other bug fixes. With the Moto 360 (2nd gen), in addition to all of that fun, users will see Moto Body Running, which gives you the opportunity to track a run indoors, like on a treadmill. The 2nd gen 360 also should see performance improvements, like a fix for the "30 fps display issue that occurred when the watch exited the always-on screen mode." Here are a couple of the new features in Motorola's own words that you should take note of: Doze mode: Doze mode is a new smart feature that helps to preserve your watch’s battery life: it recognizes when your Moto 360 is idle and automatically goes into a deep sleep state. How does it work? When your watch is not charging and not in use, Doze mode shuts down unnecessary background processes to optimize power. App permissions: Now you have more control over what you share with your apps. With the new permissions model, you can modify the permissions granted to apps at any time from the settings menu. To modify permissions for an app: 1) Swipe left on the watch face, then scroll down and tap Settings> Permissions. 2) Select the app you want to adjust, you will see the list of permissions for that app. 3) Tap a permission to disable/enable it. New wrist gestures:

See more details or take action on a card: hold your arm in front of you and push down quickly, then bring your arm back slowly.
Go back on a card: hold your arm in front of you and quickly pivot up, then bring it back slowly to the original position.
Open the apps menu: on the watch face, hold your arm in front of you and push down quickly, then bring it back slowly to the original position.
Pull down settings: on the watch face, slowly turn wrist away from you then flick back towards you.
Exit to watch face: hold your arm in front of you and shake your wrist quickly.

To get the full scoop on each new feature or change, hit up the individual links below. Motorola Links: Moto 360 (1st Gen) | Moto 360 (2nd Gen) | Moto 360 Sport

First Batch of YouTube Red Originals Now Available for Viewing

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:56:11 +0000

YouTube launched its first batch of YouTube Red Originals this morning, a set of movies and shows that can only be viewed if you are subscribed to YouTube Red. Taking a few of its most popular creators, YouTube set out to take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon, offering original content that can only be viewed in one place. However, with the first batch of shows and movies, don't expect to see anything on par with House of Cards or Orange is the New Black. Available right now are two shows and two movies. The shows are A Trip to Unicorn Island, and Scare PewDiePie, starring none other than PewDiePie. The premise for this show, which should somehow be a warcrime, is as follows.

In this reality-adventure series from the creator and executive producers of "The Walking Dead" at Skybound Entertainment and Maker Studios, experience thrills, chills and laughter as PewDiePie encounters terrifying situations inspired by his favorite video games.

God help us. The two movies are Dance Camp from AwesomenessTV, and Lazer Team from Rooster Teeth. After watching five minutes of Lazer Team, I wanted to claw my eyes out. This might be a good indicator of what to expect from YouTube in the future. As for the premise, I can give it to you simply. Four small-town losers, one of which had to wear a helmet in school, become champions of Earth thanks to a special suit of power armor made by the US Army. Such original. Much wow. YouTube states that this first batch is only the beginning of much more original content to come in 2016. You can check out all of the YouTube Red Original content by following the link below. YouTube Red Originals

Via: YouTube

DEAL: Moto X Pure Edition 32GB is $375 at Amazon ($75 Off)

Kellen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:40:31 +0000

The Moto X Pure Edition, Motorola's flagship for 2015, is currently on sale in preconfigured form with 32GB of storage at Amazon for just $374.99. That's a solid $75 discount on a phone we still have in our top 3 of best Android phones you should buy today. The newest Moto X starts at a price of $399 on most days, but that's only with 16GB of storage. If you take today's deal, you are doubling the storage and still getting a price cut from the base model. If you want to take advantage of this deal, you won't get Moto Maker customization. What you are getting is either the white model, which has a white front and back with gold frame, or the black model, which has a black front and back with dark metal frame. Again, these are the preconfigured models. The white and bamboo Moto X Pure Edition with 32GB is also on sale, but because of the bamboo, it will run you an extra $25 at $399. The device includes Prime shipping for those subscribed to Amazon Prime. Amazon Link

Cheers Scott!

Twitter Intros "Best Tweets First" Feature, Brings Top Tweets to Forefront

Tim — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 08:44:23 +0000

A new feature is hitting Twitter, one which brings important tweets you may have missed directly to the top of your timeline. If you are a Twitter user that follows hundreds or even thousands of people, you probably miss a whole ton of interesting tweets. With the "Show me the best Tweets first" feature turned on, Twitter will automatically populate the top of your timeline with the best tweets from the folks you follow. This feature, once available on your device, will be found in your settings menu, and will need to be turned on by the user. Once enabled, when you open up the Twitter application, top tweets will be shown in the regular reverse chronological order, just as all other tweets are. Twitter claims that when this feature is in use, it ups the amount of retweets and tweets people send out. This is good to create conversation and interaction between users, according to Twitter. Twitter states that the feature will go live for all users over the next few weeks.

Via: Twitter

Here is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in Silver. It's Hot.

Kellen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 07:42:45 +0000

After seeing leaked in-hand images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in black, I think it's safe to say that most of you thought it looked a bit cheap and weren't all that impressed. I'd tend to agree, that those first images didn't do the phone any justice. I would imagine that it will look much more premium in person, rather than through a semi-blurry cam quick shot, though you just never know. What I do know is that the S7 Edge in silver might change all of our minds. Take a look at this press image that @evleaks shared last night. I know, I know, this is just a press image and a real unit could look much different. However, if you saw the Galaxy Note 5 in silver, you are probably drooling at the idea of owning this phone in this color. Well, assuming Samsung actually releases it, since they didn't necessarily do that with the Note 5 that was on display during its announcement. To get a feel for this color on a Samsung phone, I highly suggest that you watch Tim's Note 5 hands-on - it's all silver, all the time.

What else does this image tell us? Not much. We once again get a look at the curved edge, but also the slight curve to the top and bottom of the phone. Since we are also expecting the back to curve at all sides, it's looking more and more like this S7 Edge will be quite bubbly. I don't yet know how I feel about a bubbly phone, but it could be a pleasure to hold if anything. Just please, don't let it wobble while sitting on a desk. No wobbles, Samsung. Thoughts?

Via: @evleaks

LG G5 Will Have an Always-On Display

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 18:26:42 +0000

Been wondering what LG would do to make the G5 standout when they stand on stage and announce it on February 21? Outside of the phone's dual cameras, slideout battery, USB Type-C port, and premium build, it looks they are also planning to give it an always-on display. Through a GIF posted to the company's Facebook page this evening, we get to see a glimpse of the always-on action. The GIF below mentions the fact that the G5 will "Never go asleep while others do," and that the G5 is "Always ON." It shows a bunch of competitor phones all turning off as they sit still, but the G5 keeps a portion of its display always on to show you the time, notifications pending, date, etc.

You may recall that the LG V10 had a similar feature thanks to its secondary ticker display. In fact, I raved about it in my review. This, though, appears to be an area smack in the middle of the main display rather than a ticker. Does that mean AMOLED? Does that mean another trick? I don't know but I'm excited. Always-on or Moto Display style features are some of my favorite in the history of Android phones. They allow you to see the time, notifications, and more, all without having to touch your phone. It's one of those simple ideas that can help take a phone over the top. With LG able to accomplish this, they are adding simple functionality that really is also really powerful. In a race filled with amazing phones, the little features are what can make the ultimate difference and help customers choose one over another.

Via: Facebook

Cheers MechaStark!

DEALS: Nexus 5 32GB for $140, DROID Turbo for $170

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:48:11 +0000

Need a phone at the moment, maybe one that is a temporary placeholder as we wait for phones like the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 to arrive? Today, there are two phone deals worth looking at. The first is for the Nexus 5 with 32GB storage that can be had for just $140 over at eBay. The second is for Verizon's DROID Turbo that can be had for as little as $170 over at Groupon. Each phone is refurbished, so they aren't new. But again, they could be great placeholders for someone in-between phones or who may have broken their current phone and can't fork out another $500-$600 at the moment for a new one. The Nexus 5 is the original and will work on T-Mobile and AT&T here in the US. The DROID Turbo will work on Verizon (of course), but should also see GSM HSPA+ support on AT&T. If you want the full LTE experience, though, you really will want to stick to Verizon. To get the DROID Turbo for $170, use coupon code "EXTRA15" at checkout. Links: Nexus 5 32GB ($140, eBay) | DROID Turbo ($170, Groupon)

Marshmallow Rolling Out to AT&T LG G4 and Sprint One M9

Tim — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:22:36 +0000

LG G4 owners on AT&T and One M9 owners on Sprint should see the update to Android 6.0 this week, as detailed by both carriers. For the G4, the update is labeled as software version H81020n, weighing nearly 1GB in file size. For the One M9, Sprint labels the current version as 3.41.651.4. Regardless of the device, Marshmallow should bring many exciting features for Android owners, such as Doze, comprehensive app permissions, Now on Tap, App Standby, Do Not Disturb settings, and much more. Both updates should appear as OTA updates this week, but if you do not receive a notification, you can attempt to begin the process by checking for an update through your settings menu. Go grab those updates.

Via: AT&T | Sprint

Question of the Day: What Kinds of Accessories do You Buy for Your Phones?

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:28:28 +0000

When you buy a new smartphone, not only do you get to enjoy a brand new phone with new features and a new camera and a new gorgeous display, you also get to think about the kinds of accessories you might want to pick up alongside it. That could mean cases, skins, stands, screen protectors, wireless chargers (if supported), fast chargers, SD cards, cables, battery packs, headphones, etc. While the accessory market has evolved over the years from exclusive, device-specific products to products that mostly work universally from one phone to the next (unless you are a Google Nexus phone), I think we still tend to want to outfit our new phone with something extra. In today's question of the day, we want to know what kinds of accessories you buy for your phones? What are the best Android accessories that you seem to pick up with each new pick-up? We know that a number of you buy cases, but are you also picking up fresh SD cards or battery packs or quick chargers? If so, which brands are you going with?

Final Fantasy IX Available on Google Play, Priced at $17

Tim — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:18:56 +0000

As teased in late December, Square Enix has released Final Fantasy IX, a game that should bring back fond memories for those who played the same title back in the day on the OG PlayStation. Much like past releases for modern platforms, Square Enix has changed and updated a few features, including high-definition graphics, newly added achievements, auto-save, a high speed mode, and several game boosting features. The story for FFIX goes a little something like this. Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. However, what they did not know is that the princess wanted to escape the castle anyway. Coupled with unusual circumstances, the princess and her personal guard, Steiner, team up with Zidane and take off for an "incredible journey." As a note, the file size for this game is no joke. It is listed at roughly 4GB, with 8GB of storage needed to download it. The initial download from Google Play is 1.4GB, so make sure to have plenty of available storage before attempting to download. Have at it. Play Link ($16.99)

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Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 Gets an Amazon Bloatware-Killing Update

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:47:35 +0000

Our inbox has made it clear to us that a number of you still own the Galaxy Note 4 on Verizon and were prompted to update yesterday afternoon. The update, which is arriving as build VRU2BPA1, is still Android 5.1.1, but does include the latest in security patches, an upgrade to Samsung Knox, and kills off the Amazon Appstore and Amazon Widgets. Hooray for limited term bloatware contracts! And that's it. It's not Marshmallow and probably won't be for a while because you know who this phone is attached to. Good times in the land of slow as hell updates because carriers like ~~you to buy new phones instead of update them~~ to "test" things. The update is live, so feel free to grab it by going int o Settings>System updates and "Check for new software update."

Via: Verizon

Cheers Jeremy, Jim, Sean, and everyone else!

HTC Hot Deal: 40% Off Nexus 9, 40% Off Accessories

Tim — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:52:06 +0000

Today, HTC is back with another Hot Deal, this time focusing on the Nexus 9 tablet, as well as a whole range of accessories for nearly any device they currently sell. With this deal, you can snag 40% off a couple models of the Nexus 9, as well as save 40% off select accessories. To run it down for you, HTC currently has two models of the Nexus 9 on sale, the 32GB WiFi and 32GB WiFi + LTE. With this sale, the price of the 32GB WiFi drops to $287.40 from $479, while the 32GB WiFi + LTE drops to $359.40 from $599. Included with the purchase of the WiFi + LTE model is a free Logitech Bluetooth keyboard, which sweetens the deal a bit. As for accessories, when searching for what's available for the One M9 or A9, there are plenty of covers, chargers, earbuds, and a ton of other items, all marked down substantially. Follow the link below to check it out. HTC Hot Deal Link

Galaxy S7 Edge Will Have a 3600mAh Battery, According to FCC

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:44:53 +0000

Yesterday, a new batch of FCC filings popped up for new models of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. These appear to be the Korean and international variants (FCC ID is A3LSMG935KOR), which likely only differ slightly (like in band support) from the batch of US models that cruised through last week. We typically wouldn't take a second look through new filings, but depending on who is doing the testing, we often see minor differences in how things are reported. Because of those differences, there tend to be slip-ups that reveal new information. In the new Galaxy S7 Edge listings, the FCC label document has confirmed to us the battery size for Samsung's new curved edge phone. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the regular S7. As you can see in the screenshot below that was taken from the S7 Edge's label document, below the FCC ID and battery level, you get a "Battery capacity" that reads 3600mAh. That capacity lines up with past rumors. Since those rumors are correct, you might want to expect the other rumor about the regular Galaxy S7 having a 3000mAh battery to be true as well. In terms of capacity, 3600mAh is quite large. Last year's Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5 topped out at 3000mAh, the Nexus 6P had 3450mAh of juice, and the DROID Turbo 2 clocked in at 3760mAh. It seems as if Samsung listened to our complaints about battery life last year and is attempting to address the problem.

Via: FCC [2] | SamMobile

Nike SNKRS App Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:36:37 +0000

Nike, true believers that iOS is the one sole operating system for the general populace, finally released its SNKRS app onto Google Play this week after being available for Apple users back in May, 2015. For those who lineup or wake up early every Saturday and hop onto the computer to score the latest pair of fresh kicks, the SNKRS app can now handle all of your mobile shopping needs. The app is quite simplistic and easy to use. Upon booting up, you log into your Nike+ account, which should already have your billing and shipping info, then you browse Nike's vast line of products. Users can search upcoming releases, as well as past releases. If you find a shoe you like, click on it, select a size, and purchase. At first launch, Nike requests that you input your favorite kind of kicks, which can help speed up the discovery process. For example, if you are a fan of Kobe, KD, Jordan, and Prestos, SNKRS will show you what's available in those categories first. It's a nice touch. If you fancy yourself a sneakerhead, there is no way you don't download this app immediately. Have at it. Play Link

Via: @Nike

Samsung Galaxy S7 Wallpapers Leak, Available for Download

Kellen — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 07:58:49 +0000

Thanks to a forum member who goes by the nick JK Shine (get it?) over at SamMobile, we supposedly have the wallpapers for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. There are 13 in total and they certainly look a lot like Galaxy S wallpapers we have seen in the past. They all feature those sort of swooping brush stroke, sea-ish, futuristic jellyfish designs that we have grown accustomed to with Samsung phones. They also tossed in a couple of Material Design friendly options. And yes, the wallpaper you are seeing in the renders above, that hilariously looks like a "6" even though these phones are of the S7 line, is included. Assuming you are a fan of Samsung wallpapers (I personally am not), you can grab them all at the source link below or here.

Via: SamMobile [2]

DEALS: Choetech Wireless Charging Pad for $18, Tronsmart Charging Station for $24

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 16:06:14 +0000

There are new deals available on Amazon from Choetech and Tronsmart, with the added help of coupon codes directly from the manufacturers. For a limited time, you can pick up a Choetech wireless charging pad for only $18, perfect for use on any supported smartphone or tablet, such as the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5. Also available is a bundle set from Choetech, which includes a fast wireless charging pad, as well as a Quick Charge 2.0 fast adapter for only $29. Available from Tronsmart is a Titan 10A/90W 5-port USB charging station, complete with Quick Charge 2.0. This unit, with the coupon code, is priced at only $24, down from nearly $40. Take a look at all of the deals available below. Choetech

FAST Charge Wireless Charging Pad ($18) - Code: QFUG5KDC
Wireless Charger with Smart Lighting Sensor ($15) - Code: QL79F5YI
Stadium Qi 3-Coils Wide Charging Area Wireless Charging Pad White ($19) - Code: 383DEP2X
Iron Stand 3-Coil QI Wireless Charging Pad + 2 Amps Power Adapter ($27) - Code: ZNJUGMOI
Bundle: Fast Wireless Charging Pad + QC2.0 Fast Adapter Charger Fast Wireless Pad ($29) - Code: Y68L36HG

Tronsmart Note: To utilize these coupon codes, be sure to select Geekbuying as the vendor on Amazon.

Titan 10A/90W 5-Port USB Charger Charging Station with Quick Charge 2.0 ($24) - Code: USBTITAN
6 Pack Micro Golden USB Cables ($8) - Code: 6USBCORD

Free Storage: Complete Google Security Checkup for 2016 and Get 2GB of Drive Storage

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:26:18 +0000

To celebrate Safer Internet Day 2016, Google is once again giving away 2GB in Google Drive storage if you run through their short Google Security Checkup. They did this security checkup last year and you all seemed to take advantage of it. After all, why wouldn't you? It only takes a couple of minutes to complete and gets you free goodies. What is the Google Security Checkup? It's a short survey, if you will, that helps you review important settings in your Google account to make sure all is secure. You are asked to complete your recovery information, should you ever get locked out of your account or in case Google needs to contact you about suspicious activity. Google also asks for you to check out the connected devices that have access to your account, which gives you the opportunity to easily remove anything that is old or shouldn't have had access in the first place. And finally, the security checkup lets you quickly see which apps, websites, and devices connected to your account have this or that permission access. Once you complete the 3-step survey, you should see the screen above which confirms that you will soon receive the free 2GB storage. To run through the Google Security Checkup, hit up this link.

MLG Launches Official GameBattles App for Android

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:03:08 +0000

If you take part in GameBattles, the place for any member of the Major League Gaming community to compete, a new app for Android will be your one-stop shop for all things competitive. For those unfamiliar, GameBattles allow anyone to take part in highly competitive games on a number of different titles, such as Call of Duty, Halo, FIFA, Madden, and many more. Basically, if playing public matches is too easy for you and your squad, you will want to get into GameBattles and have a chance at winning real money with your skills. With the GameBattles app, players can track all of their MLG stats, including wins and losses, plus keep track of their current team and roster. The GameBattles app tracks all of your matches, and you can go back and look at them individually, just like on the MLG website. In addition, users can also view upcoming matches directly from within the app. Once a match is complete, you can also submit a win or loss for your record, which can be much more convenient than doing it on your desktop computer. If you are all about the eSports, go grab the app now and I will see you online. Play Link

Question of the Day: What is the Perfect Smartphone Display Size?

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 14:23:51 +0000

From 2011 through much of last year, we seemed to debate time and time again about what the perfect display size was. We went from 4.3-inch displays being referred to as "hummers" to 5.5-inch displays and beyond as becoming somewhat commonplace. Thankfully, a number of smartphone manufacturers seem to have settled in a bit on what they consider to be optimal, so the argument has died down some. Samsung and its Galaxy S line are hovering around the 5.1-inch mark these days, the Note line has settled into 5.7-inches, LG seems to like 5.5-inches for its G phones, and HTC has taken a liking to 5-inches for its M series. So here is a question for the day. Now that we are starting to know what to expect in terms of size from each OEM, what is the perfect smartphone display size? Which manufacturer is getting it right, at least in your opinion? Are there still plenty of sub-5-inch fans out here, are you OK with right-around-5-inches, or do you prefer something much larger? I can say that within the last year, I've sort of given up on the idea of owning a smaller phone. Shocking, I know, since I championed small phones for years and mocked all of the whales in existence. But even I can admit that you can get used to a bigger phone after using it for a while. I can also admit that consuming media on a larger-screened device is quite enjoyable. Sure, I'd love for the Galaxy S7 and its 5.1-inch display to woo me, but if Samsung hasn't addressed the battery issues of last year's model, I'll pass. Because that's another thing that I am loving about bigger phones - they have bigger batteries too. What do you think? What is the perfect smartphone display size?

We Might Only be Two Years Away From Week-Long Battery Life for Phones

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 14:09:58 +0000

According to a report from Bloomberg, smartphone users may see a major upgrade in smartphone battery technology over the next couple of years. In the world of mobile devices, while displays are getting more pixels and processors are getting faster, battery tech has fallen behind. It seems that the only way to see decent battery life from devices would be to throw in large amounts of capacity, or just don't use your phone all that much. However, thanks to an investment of $7.5 million from an unnamed smartphone maker, the UK's Intelligent Energy is working to change all of this. Known for utilizing the power of hydrogen in London's black cabs, Intelligent Energy will be tasked with developing a fuel cell small enough to be embedded in mobile phones. Using technology that converts hydrogen into electricity, the goal is to bring week-long battery life to smartphone owners. In an interview, Intelligent Energy's CEO Henri Winand stated that if all goes well, we could expect to see this battery technology being deployed within two years, although, it would first be seen in regions without access to large power grids, as those people would benefit from the technology much more. In what was thought to be a rather stagnant industry, it seems that smartphone batteries might finally see a bit of innovation.

Via: Bloomberg

Official: Instagram Multi-Account Support Arrives for Android

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:42:25 +0000

After making a brief appearance in November and quickly being removed, then reappearing in the latest beta update, multi-account support for Instagram is now here to stay for Android users. With this feature, those with multiple Instagram accounts can switch back and forth between them with ease. Before this feature, a user with multiple accounts would have to sign out and sign in repeatedly to manage both. To add a secondary account, head into the settings menu of the Instagram app. Near the bottom, you will see an option to "add account." Fill in your credentials and you are done. To switch between accounts after the update, simply click your profile's name on the profile page to go between them. It's very simple, very manageable. As a note, this update appears to be behind the scenes, meaning you may not see an update on Google Play for it. Instagram states that the feature is rolling out now and over the course of this week If you don't see this feature pop up, kill the app on your phone and then restart it. It might appear after that. Update: Instagram states that in order to use this feature, you will need to be running version 7.15. Play Link

Via: Instagram

Best Android Phones on AT&T: February 2016

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:10:26 +0000

At the end of January, we shared with you the best Android phones you could walk into a Verizon store and buy. Some of you agreed with our picks, while others disagreed and pointed out that there are far better phones that work on Verizon, even if they aren't sold there. While we agree that the Nexus 6P and Moto X Pure Edition would likely be on each list for each carrier, they aren't sold at Verizon stores and thus were left out. Same goes for today's list, which is a short list of the best Android phones on AT&T. The list of phones below are those that can actually be purchased at an AT&T store, not those that could technically work if you knew how and where to buy one. So, we've got three options for you below, two of which are/were unique to AT&T at one time or another. Ready? Note: This post focuses on the Android phones you can buy at AT&T. This post isn’t touching on the unlocked options out there, like the Nexus 6P or Moto X Pure Edition. We know those fully work on AT&T, but they aren’t sold at AT&T stores.

The Best: Galaxy Note 5

Like on the list for Verizon, the Galaxy Note 5 from Samsung tops the list of phones you can buy at AT&T. This is one of those phones that really doesn't have a fault. You could nitpick a bit and say that the lack of SD storage or water resistance is a big deal, but outside of those two minor details, the Note 5 absolutely nails everything else. We're talking about the best mobile display on the planet, great performance, great battery life, an insanely good camera, a beautiful design, great in-hand feel, and both wireless and wired fast charging. Oh, and Samsung also includes their S Pen, almost like a bonus accessory that only seems to get leaps and bounds better with each release. As I mentioned in the Note 5 section on the Verizon list, our biggest gripe with this phone is the lack of updates for it. We are almost into mid-February and it still doesn't have Android 6.0 Marshmallow. We are starting to see it show up on the AT&T model in limited beta forms, but that's just not good enough. This is the 2nd half flagship of 2015 from Samsung and yet here we are some four months removed from the release of Marshmallow, still running Lollipop. To get the full scoop on the Galaxy Note 5, be sure to read our review. You can currently buy the Note 5 from AT&T for around $25 per month or $739 at full retail. The Note 5 is an expensive phone, no doubt, but it truly is a phone worth almost every penny.

The Runner-up: Galaxy S6 Active

The Galaxy S6 Active is a bad ass phone. We rarely see "tough" phones like the Active sporting top tier specs, but this phone absolutely has it all. In a way, it is a Galaxy S6 in a protective shell, so you get the awesome camera, solid performance, and RAM, yet you don't have to worry about scratching its metal and glass prettiness. You can drop it, spill beer on it, sweat all over it, rub it in the dirt, and it'll keep on running. It also has a massive 3500mAh battery inside, which in my time with it, proved to be an enormous amount of juice that I just couldn't kill in a day. Unfortunately, the S6 Active is an exclusive to AT&T and that's a shame, because this is a phone that would be a great option for many in need of a high-end "tough" phone. However, if you are reading this list, you probably don't care that this is only available on AT&T and might even take some pride in knowing you have a phone that isn't available to just anyone. To get the full scoop on the Galaxy S6 Active, be sure to read our review. The Galaxy S6 Active is currently available from AT&T for around $20 per month or $594 at full retail. This phone isn't a bad buy at those prices, but you have to remember that the Galaxy S7 is arriving within the next month or so, which means we could see an S7 Active. If you are considering the S6 Active, I would wait a month or two to see how that all unfolds.

Another Option: Blackberry Priv

If for some reason you want nothing to do with the best phones on AT&T, those being the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Active, then you could always go wild and choose the Blackberry Priv, the keyboard-toting offspring from the one-time king of smartphones. In our review, we didn't exactly rave about the Priv as being one of the best Android phones available, but it is there, serving a purpose for those who want to re-live their days with a physical keyboard. Blackberry has shown that it wants to update the phone regularly, the keyboard actually has some useful features built into it, the display is solid, it is well designed, and is about the only option for those missing their Blackberry keyboards. Blackberry needs to find a way to improve the camera and battery life, though. In those two departments, Blackberry is severely lagging behind the competition, making this a tough sell. Then again, if you are even entertaining the Priv, it's probably because of the keyboard and so cameras and battery life may not even be of concern. To get the full scoop on the Blackberry Priv, be sure to read our review. You can currently buy the Blackberry Priv from AT&T for about $25 per month or $739 at full retail. In my opinion, this phone isn't worth as much as a Galaxy Note 5. I hope we see this phone discounted deeply within the next couple of months to make it more appealing.

What do you think? If you had to buy an Android phone on AT&T today, which would you choose?

Report: Google is Going to Release a Gear VR-like Headset, Android VR Technology

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 10:19:39 +0000

Whether or not virtual reality (VR) is the next tablet frontier, the tech world has fully embraced it as their next focus. Now that the wearable craze (Wait, was there a wearable craze?) has slowed, companies like Samsung and HTC are pushing VR as hard as their little budgets can. According to Financial Times, Google is also ready to fully jump into VR both on hardware and software levels, which means they are graduating from Cardboard, their little inexpensively made VR viewer. In today's report, FT suggests that Google is currently working on their next VR headset that should be ready for release some time later this year. This headset won't be another Cardboard, but will instead be along the lines of Samsung's Gear VR, with "better sensors, lenses, and a more solid plastic casing." We're talking about a VR headset with a slot for housing almost any smartphone. Not only that, but Google is said to have a new "Android VR technology" to show alongside it. According to sources of FT, the Android VR software will be built "directly into its Android smartphone operating system," which is a big deal. Instead of releasing a stand-alone app that relays the VR experience, Google may bake VR into Android. FT suggests that this move could help in reducing lag experienced in many of the current VR headsets on the market. As someone who has yet to see a reason for VR to be widely adopted, this move is one that certainly helps push VR to a more accessible level. Right now, you have Samsung with its Gear VR that only works with select Samsung phones, followed by the soon-to-be-released wave of PC-powered VR solutions (Oculus and Vive). With Google moving fully into VR through a Gear VR-like option, that could give you and I (who don't own Galaxy phones) a real opportunity to test the waters and see if VR is for us. I still don't know if it will be, but if Google has a headset that works mostly universally and is building out native Android support for VR, the ecosystem and developer support for it might finally grab our attention. Do you give a sh*t about VR?

Via: Financial Times

Next-Gen Samsung S-Pen Could Double as Stand, According to Patent Application

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:59:28 +0000

According to a patent application from Q3 of 2015, detailed by Patently Mobile, the next generation of Samsung's S-Pen stylus could double as a stand for a smartphone. As shown in illustrations that go along with the application, they show a stylus with a joint in the midsection, allowing users to bend it and hold a smartphone up when on a flat surface. The details on how it works seem pretty straightforward. When you want to use the S-Pen as a stand, you will pull the stylus out halfway, then bend it to whichever position you need it. When done, unbend it and either slip it back inside of the device, or pull it out and get a bit of writing done. Using an internal locking mechanism, folks won't need to worry about the S Pen slipping or sliding while the stand is in use. While it is not stated anywhere, an S-Pen with this functionality would pair nicely with the Galaxy Note 6, would it not? For more images, please follow the via link below.

Via: Patently Mobile

OnePlus 2 Price Dropped to $349, Still Available Without Invite

Tim — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 08:39:08 +0000

In case you forgot about OnePlus, the company is hoping that a $40 price decrease is enough to get you remembering. The price of the OnePlus 2 (64GB) is now listed at $349, down from its original price of $389. Originally, one of the difficult aspects of buying a OnePlus device was the invite system, but as you may recall, OP has done away with the invite system for the OnePlus 2, so you can go ahead and purchase this device as you would any other phone, which is borderline innovative for OP. If you happened to purchase the OnePlus 2 in the past 15 days, you should expect to see a refund from OnePlus soon, which is a classy move on their part. Additionally, with Valentine's Day right around the corner, OP will gift you a free cover with the purchase of a new device, OnePlus X included. OnePlus is also offering free shipping on orders of $100+. If the OnePlus 2 would be a good gift for someone you love, you can follow the below link to pick one up. OnePlus Store Link

Via: OnePlus

Galaxy S7 Appears in the Wild, in Hand (Updated: Another Image!)

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 08:31:45 +0000

We kick off this beautiful Monday morning, where none of you are hungover from the Super Bowl, showing you what may be the first in-hand picture of the Samsung Galaxy S7. The image comes to us courtesy of ReviewDao, who seems to have stumbled upon a photo of the device in the hand of a person on Facebook who enjoys an apple or two as they test out unreleased phones. Yummy. So what are we seeing? The image is of the phone's backside, which does indeed look a lot like the leaked press render of the phone's backside that we saw a week ago. We are seeing a dark, blackish color, curved paneling on each side of the device, and a flush camera housing next to the flash and heartrate sensor. The image has been edited to conceal the IMEI and other information that could out the leaker, but "32GB" was left untouched. Previous rumors suggested that we should see both 32GB and 64GB models of the new Galaxy. What else? Well, not only are the sides rounded like we saw on the Galaxy Note 5's backside, but the curves seem to roam around the entire border of the phone. The top and bottom portions are slightly curved as well, which could really aide in hand comfortability. Of course, we also have a metal frame, similar to last year's Galaxy S6.

I hate to say this, but this image isn't exactly screaming "Premium!" to me. I don't know if it's the poor image quality (it probably is), the all-black color scheme, or the gloss that has to be the ultimate fingerprint magnet, but it looks a little cheap-ish. My guess is that it will feel really nice in-hand thanks to all those curves, so I'm hoping that it looks better in-person as well. Your thoughts? UPDATE: Here is another picture of the front of the phone, though this is of the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Via: ReviewDao | Nowhereelse

Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact Now Available in the US

Kellen — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 07:52:03 +0000

Sony's latest flagship phones, the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact, are now available for purchase, officially, in the US. After being announced back in September, these phones looked like potential winners from Sony, but as is always the case, their availability has made them a tough option to even consider at this point. What I mean is that Sony always does this (delaying their phones to the US for months) and it's really too bad, because they can make a good phone, a really good phone. As a recap, the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact are flagship level phones, with 23MP cameras, Snapdragon 810 processors, 3GB and 2GB RAM, long lasting batteries (2900mAh and 2700mAh), water resistance, and an Android skin that seems to be getting better with age. They also feature sleek, minimal designs that come in a handful of odd, yet sort of refreshing colors. They do not feature fingerprint readers here in the US. We don't know why, but Sony removed them. You can checkout their full specs here. If you are interested in the Xperia Z5, which is the bigger of the two and includes a 1080p display, you are looking at spending $599 through Amazon at the moment. If you want the smaller Z5 Compact, that will run you $499 at Amazon. I hate to be that guy, but that's a heck of a lot of money to be spending on phones that are months and months old and aren't nearly as good as phones like the Nexus 6P, Moto X Pure Edition, or Galaxy Note 5. And those first two can be had for much cheaper than the regular Z5 - hundreds cheaper. But hey, if you love Sony and have active service on AT&T or T-Mobile (because those are the two networks these phones work on), you finally have a chance to buy one of these two phones legitimately. Then again, if you care about either of these phones, my guess is that you would have imported them from overseas by now. Amazon Links: Xperia Z5 | Xperia Z5 Compact

Via: Sony

February Catch Up

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 20:45:17 +0000

Now that episode 100 of the Droid Life Show is out of the way, it's time to get back to your regularly scheduled programming, which means catching up on the latest in Android news. We haven't had a news-related show in a few weeks, so as you probably predicted, we have a lot to catch up on. In recent weeks, we have seen the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge rumors paint a pretty vivid picture of what we can expect on February 21, plus LG confirmed the G5, and HTC leaks are finally showing up. It'll be a packed show that you won't want to miss. Join us at 2PM Pacific (5PM Eastern) for the fun. If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well, along with an IRC chat. Also, we’ll be chatting through the YouTube feed too.

Don't Miss These Android Stories: February 5, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 16:14:59 +0000

So, what happened this week? A lot actually. We ran through both episode 100 and 101 of the DL Show. We gave away a Nexus 6P in gold, $500 in Google Play credit, a bunch of promo codes for Chrooma keyboard, and more. We saw backside photos of the Galaxy S7, know now that the LG G5 is officially coming at MWC, and that HTC is building another iPhone clone. We are also getting Marshmallow on Android Wear, more data in Verizon prepaid, and podcasts in Google Play Music (finally). It was another big week as we inch closer to MWC on February 21. Catch up now!

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Question of the Day: Who You Got in Super Bowl 50?

Tim — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 15:43:49 +0000

Today's question is pretty straightforward. Who you got in this year's Super Bowl? This year, we have the Denver Broncos going up against the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara, CA. Both teams feature pretty exciting offensives and defenses, so we could be in for either a very exciting, or very boring game, depending on how you look at it. From the historical standpoint, this will likely be Peyton Manning's last game as an NFL quarterback, and Super Bowl 50 could be the first of many to come appearances in a Super Bowl for the young Cam Newton. As for me, my fictitious money is on Carolina, 28-17. So, who you got this Sunday?

3 Reasons the Huawei Watch is Worth Buying

Tim — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:53:25 +0000

Marshmallow is rolling out to Android Wear devices, and if there is one device that really shines after the update, it is the Huawei Watch. Already a fantastic smartwatch, the Huawei Watch is only getting better, as the good folks at Huawei stated that they worked closely with Google to ensure that this smartwatch would not be outdated anytime soon. Inside the latest Android Wear update is support for external speakers, which the Huawei Watch does indeed feature. That means that you can now listen to music, take calls, and much more all from your wrist using this device. If you are still in the market for an Android Wear device, we present you with three reasons the Huawei Watch is worth buying.

1. Plenty of Style Options to Choose From

Much like the Moto 360 (2nd Gen), albeit not nearly as good, the Huawei Watch is available in many different options for whatever your outfit may be that day. While there are plenty of watches geared for working out and fitness, the Huawei Watch is unapologetically designed for those who are fashion-first. It's a premium looking and feeling device, so when you wear it, Huawei intends on you feeling like a million bucks. The standard (cheapest) option available is the Stainless Steel and Black Leather watch combo. This retails currently for $349 on Huawei's website. However, for those feeling a bit more flashy, an all Rose Gold Plated option is available for $799 on Huawei's store. In the middle you have Silver Mesh for $399, as well as an all Black look, retailing for $449 through the Google Store. For affordability, the Huawei Watch will receive no awards, but the quality is absolutely top notch, that I can say. If these prices still seem a bit steep, I would recommend the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) from Moto Maker. Starting at $299, you can buy a really good smartwatch, plus customize it a bit for not much more money.

2. It's Made With the Future in Mind

As stated in the opening, Huawei worked closely with Google to ensure that they were creating a smartwatch that would not become outdated within a year or two. A true example of this, before the inclusion was widely known, Huawei built in a speaker for audio feedback, something that Android Wear did not support at the time. As of this week (months after the device's launch), the Marshmallow update for Android Wear is rolling out, and baked inside is speaker support. Thanks to this foresight, anyone rocking a Huawei Watch can listen to music, take calls, and hear reminders all from the wrist. This is something that not all Android Wear devices from 2015 can claim, but Huawei can. The specs inside of the Huawei Watch should also keep up just fine for the future of Android Wear. At this time, we don't expect anything too extravagant coming in terms of software, so the device's Snapdragon 400 processor and 512MB of RAM should maintain a well performing smartwatch with no problem. Also included on the device is a heart rate monitor, in case throwing on a silicone band and using it for workouts is something you desire, as well as a 300mAh battery. According to Huawei, the battery should last two days, given you turn off the always-on display feature. I will say, one feature that is lacking that we wish was included is a GPS sensor. While it is not necessary, it certainly would have added a bit more value to particular buyers.

3. The Display is Stunning

Let's be real, for the second year in a row, Motorola has provided us with a flat tire. Yes, there is a logical and reasonable explanation for it (ambient light sensor), but does it not throw off the design of a circular watch? In my opinion, it does to some degree. For the most part, I can live with it, but that is where the Huawei Watch comes into light. Featuring a completely circular AMOLED display (with no flat tire), its resolution is 400 x 400, allowing digital hands to look crisp, as well as providing users with more intricate watch faces. The more pixels you have, the less blocky and pixelated things will appear on the display, which allows the Huawei Watch to provide the best watch faces to buyers. There are 40 pre-installed faces included, meaning there is easily something that everyone can appreciate. There are analog faces, completely digital, and everything in between. For comparison, the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) display features a resolution of 360 x 325. Not only that, but it is a backlit LCD, so in terms of colors and saturation, the AMOLED on the Huawei Watch is able to deliver a much more enticing viewing experience. If you need a bit more information on the Huawei Watch, check out our complete review.

DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $279 at eBay Today ($20 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:09:01 +0000

The price slashing in recent weeks of the Nexus 5X has become a bit comical at this point. The phone, which was released in October of last year, started out at $379 for 16GB of storage. After a temporary Black Friday discount, we have since seen a permanent discount by Google to $349, followed by another potentially temporary discount for Valentine's Day to $299. So within a matter of months, Google and its retail partners have decided that you should be able to join the Nexus family for under $300. Actually, if you act fast, you can buy it for even cheaper through a daily deal over at eBay. If you are cool with 16GB of storage, you can grab the Nexus 5X for just $279.99. That price also includes the free expedited shipping. If you need to any last minute details confirmed about this phone before pulling the trigger, be sure to read our Nexus 5X review. eBay Link

Verizon go90 Update Lets Post-Paid Customers Stream Without Using Their Data

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:30:52 +0000

Verizon's go90 app received an update this week that makes it more acceptable to use by its post-paid customers (those not on prepaid). The update enhances the follow/unfollow feature, makes the streaming experience faster, and allows for previews of NBA games, but more importantly, no longer counts against data plans. In v1.4 of go90, Verizon is allowing post-paid customers to stream for free on 4G LTE connections. That means all the shows, live concerts, and sports you can handle from go90. Verizon is saying that other activity within go90, like downloading, commenting, clipping, and sharing videos does count against data plans. In order to experience the benefits, be sure to update today. Play Link

Cheers Erik, Marqus, and C!

If This is the HTC One M10, It's Their Most Unapologetic iPhone Clone to Date

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:48:19 +0000

Now that we are a couple of months into 2016, it's probably time for HTC to release a new flagship phone. In the past, they have targeted Mobile World Congress (MWC) as a launching point for their One M series, though rumors up to this point have suggested that HTC may wait until after that big event and do something outside of the craziness. If that's the case, then they better have something extraordinary to show off. After last year's disappointment, the One M9, HTC needs a real winner for the first time in years. According to leaker @evleaks, the new HTC flagship, largely thought to be dubbed One M10, may take on the design language of the HTC One A9. As you all know, the One A9 was HTC's first stab at an iPhone clone, a practice typically reserved for bottom feeding knock-off brands. If the latest picture from @evleaks that arrived today is of the new phone, then well, HTC is showing no signs of abandoning their decision to embarrass themselves as an iPhone clone maker. Is that harsh? Yes, it was meant to be. This is HTC we're talking about - they are better than this. They are not an iPhone clone company. Here is the latest picture from Evan (@evleaks), which he attached to his story on the purported details of the HTC flagship.

My lord. Come on, HTC. Oh, what's that HTC blind apologist, you aren't seeing the iPhone resemblance and are considering tossing out some incorrect argument about, "Apple is the one who copies HTC! HTC did it first!" Take a look at the comparison below of this supposed HTC phone to my iPhone 6. Then tell me this isn't a blatant iPhone knock-off.

I have no other words. Is this the real deal? Evan has been correct in the past more times than we can probably count when it comes to leaks. But he also showed us this phone last year, which was supposed to be the HTC One M9. That image turned out to be not-so-correct. In other words, before we fully jump on HTC for the phone above, take this for what it is at the moment, just a purported leak. And, thoughts?

Via: @evleaks

Order an Uber or Domino's Pizza Through Amazon Echo

Tim — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:33:42 +0000

New skills are arriving for Amazon Echo to make it even more useful, even after the latest update that brought support for Spotify. Starting now, users of Alexa can order both an Uber ride, or even a pizza from Domino's. Doing so is simple enough, just say, "Alexa, ask Uber to get me a car," or, "Alexa, open Domino's and place my Easy Order." For Uber, once you have started the process, you can track the car's whereabouts by asking Alexa where your Uber is, and can even cancel your ride request by asking Alexa to do so. On the Domino's side of things, users can track their pizza orders by asking Alexa once an order is placed. To do all of this properly, you will need a Domino's profile from their website, complete with payment information, your address, and an Easy Order pie. These changes are now live for Echo.

Via: Uber | Amazon

How Does Two Day Battery Life on the Galaxy S7 Sound? (Updated: HaHa No)

Tim — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 09:09:47 +0000

According to industry insider Eldar Murtazin, who has a history of somewhat credible reports, as well as total nonsense, the Galaxy S7 should feature decent battery life. Unlike last year's Galaxy S6, which seemingly needed to be constantly charged, a preview unit in his possession has been getting him through two days of usage, which is good for potential buyers. Tweeted out by Murtazin, he has been using a Galaxy S7 on 75% brightness, with no WiFi and 3GB used via dual LTE SIMs. As shown on the screenshots, he got two days and four hours of usage (3% remaining), with the low battery drain portions indicating Marshmallow's Doze feature in full effect during the night. However, in the small portion of usage we can see, it shows the display ranking in at number one with 24%, followed by Twitter at 9%. This is not a bad thing, but it leads me to believe that Murtazin is using his device a bit differently than others would. Screen-on time is placed at 4 hours and 32 minutes, which is not bad, but for 2 days, I would expect to see a bit more SoT. I know we have a few readers out there who always claim to have 5 or even 6 hours of SoT, so it will be interesting to see if Eldar is not using his phone too much, or Samsung really did improve on battery life. We still have a bit to go before folks will have this device in their hands, and it is also unclear what the capacity of the battery is at this point. Even though there is no good leak claiming a size, it is reported that the battery size is 3,000mAh for the Galaxy S7, and 3,500mAh for the Galaxy S7 Edge. What do you think? Can these screenshots be believed? https://twitter.com/eldarmurtazin/status/694838777378906112 UPDATE: As the always polite, overly positive, subtly opinionated, and genuinely caring, David Ruddock over at Android Police points out, Eldar Murtazin wasn't actually referencing the Galaxy S7 at all in his screenshots. In fact, if you have time to read through the 70 or so Tweets (in Russian) that Eldar posts each day (which clearly not many of us do), you would know that he was talking about another Samsung phone that none of us will ever care about instead of the Galaxy S7. Basically, what I'm saying, is that you can move on and forget that this ever happened. https://twitter.com/eldarmurtazin/status/695147513771196416

Via: @eldarmurtazin

Edited and updated by Kellen!

Samsung Pay Update V1.6.61 Gets It Ready for Marshmallow

Kellen — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:05:36 +0000

Samsung is pushing a new update to Samsung Pay this morning that gets the mobile payment service ready for incoming device updates to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The update showed up on my AT&T Galaxy Note 5, which has recently seen a beta test kick off for Android 6.0. In this latest version, Samsung Pay is jumping up to build v1.6.61. According to the changelog, the update does two things: enhance the UI and performance, and make it "M OS compatible." To grab the update on your phone, open the Samsung Pay app. If you aren't prompted immediately to update, you can head into More>Settings>About Samsung Pay, and update from there. Samsung says that you will need to update by February 16th to "avoid any service interruptions." Hopefully, this means that Android 6.0 is arriving momentarily.

Cheers @xrob772!

Marshmallow Update Available for T-Mobile LG G4 Through LG-Bridge Desktop Software (Updated)

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 15:29:32 +0000

According to multiple users on reddit, a Marshmallow update for the LG G4 on T-Mobile is available for downloading through LG's desktop software called Bridge. For those looking to simply do the update via OTA, it does not appear to be quite ready for rollout. However, using LG-Bridge seems easy enough, so if you need Marshmallow in a hurry, you can now do so. Labeled as version H81120I, the notes on the update are rather scarce from T-Mobile, although, users should expect to see all of the usual Android 6.0 features, such as Doze, improved permissions for applications and much more. Thanks to a user on reddit, anyone who has not yet used LG-Bridge software can view a complete set of instructions on how to get this update up and running. The process seems rather straightforward, at least in terms of using PC software to update your smartphone. Follow the via links below to get yourself started, G4 owners. UPDATE: The update is now available over-the-air, according to T-Mobile.

Via: reddit [2]

This Promo Codes App is a Sweet Way to Get Paid Apps for Free

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:35:44 +0000

How's this for a sweet idea? Thanks to the introduction of promo codes for paid apps on Google Play, a new app, appropriately named Promo Codes, gives users one chance a day to receive a promo code good for redemption on a paid app in Google Play. Let's explain a bit how this works. Each day, an app will be featured on Promo Codes. Inside of the app, a user can hit "I'm Feeling Lucky." At that time, you will either win a promo code to download that featured app for free, or you won't win. If you don't win, you will be redirected to that app's page on Google Play so you can check it out anyway. You can then buy it if you so choose. If you do win, the promo code is copied to your device's clipboard, then on Google Play, you can redeem that code by pasting it into the redemption portion of the purchasing process. So, what apps can you win? As of right now, the list is relatively short, but as more developers choose to take part, the list will grow. Right now, there is the chance to win Nova Launcher Prime, Franco Kernel Updater, Focus, Cinnamon, Today Calendar Pro, Relay for Reddit Pro, and others. I went ahead and downloaded the app myself, just to see what the fuss was about, and wouldn't you know, I won a promo code for Today Calendar Pro. If you want the chance to win a few free apps, this is a no-brainer. Grab it by following the Google Play link below. Play Link

Question of the Day: What Do You Like About Your Android Wear Watch?

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:20:58 +0000

Within the next couple of weeks, Google will push a sizable update to Android Wear watches that introduces more voice messaging options, additional gesture controls, and speaker support for devices with external speakers. The update is the latest in an attempt to add on functionality to wrist-worn computers and hopefully sell you and I on why we need them. That right there, brings us to today's question. What do you like about your Android Wear watch? In the past, I've talked about my frustrating experiences with them, but many of you own and enjoy a smartwatch. Some are still using the original Moto 360 and loving every minute of it. Rather than listen to me complain about their lack of need for existence other than to further distract humans from real social interaction, I'd love for an entire post to be about what it is that makes smartwatches good. What are you using them the most for? How have they made your life better or easier? What is it about your Android Wear device that keeps it on your wrist every day? Was there a specific moment or feature or use that made you say, "OK, I need this in my life"?

Comcast May Purchase Wireless Spectrum in Upcoming FCC Auction

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:21:08 +0000

Stated by Comcast executives during an earnings call that took place yesterday, the company will be filing with the FCC to be part of its upcoming spectrum auction, scheduled for March 29. At that time, the FCC will transfer spectrum licenses in the 600MHz range from broadcast TV to wireless service. "If the price is right," said Comcast CFO Mike Cavanagh, the company would like to purchase wireless spectrum licenses. While the idea of Comcast getting into the wireless carrier game sounds like something from the darkest part of your nightmares, Comcast's CEO Brian Roberts states that a licensing would really only be justified if the company can do something "creative" in the future with the spectrum.

Our definition of broadband is totally different today than it was five years ago for what you get as a consumer, and I think that goes back into whether we can do something creative in the future, whether that's involving spectrum or Wi-Fi or some of the existing relationships we've got.

For wireless-first companies, such as T-Mobile, the prospect of purchasing low-band spectrum is rather important, as it gives them an opportunity to improve their network and compete against the likes of Verizon and AT&T. By no means did Comcast state that they will throw down any amount to purchase the licenses, but it is an interesting notion that Comcast may want a piece of the wireless pie. With AT&T offering DirecTV packages alongside wireless packages now, Comcast could possibly be thinking along the same lines. However, during the earnings call, no specific intent was shown. Wrapping up, Roberts said, "It's a free option, if you will, to get a paddle and see what the values are and how much capacity. It's not clear exactly what's for sale and all that has to be determined, but you have to make this decision now and so we're making it."

Via: Arstechnica

Snapseed Update Adds a Couple of Automatic Features, SD Card Installs

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 12:53:54 +0000

Google's Snapseed, a quality photo editing app that was added to Google's line-up back in 2012 via acquisition, received an update this week that tries to simplify your photo edits by automatically adjusting or placing items. It's also much more stable and should make saving items a much more reliable process. In terms of the automatic actions, the update allows for Lens Blur to automatically detect a face and center around it. Snapseed now also attempts to auto-straighten when there is a horizon in a photo. Google added in the ability to install the app to external SD cards as well. The update is live on Google Play.

WHAT'S NEW

Lens Blur: automatic face detection and blur placement
Auto-Straighten: automatically adjust to the horizon
Improved in-filter help
Ability to install Snapseed on external SD card

Play Link

Via: +Snapseed

Multi-Account Support Reappears in Latest Instagram Beta Update

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:38:29 +0000

Inside of the newest update for the Instagram beta app straight from Google Play, multi-account support has reappeared. For Android users, this is big news, as this feature first appeared in November of last year, then quickly vanished without a trace. According to Latergramme, the iOS version is also sporadically offering multi-account support, which means we could be close to an official release of this feature in the near future. If you are in the beta, head over to Google Play and update your Instagram app. To see if you have access to the feature, go into the settings menu, then scroll down to see an option for "Add Account." If you have a secondary IG account, enter in the credentials, then you are all set. For a detailed walkthrough of multi-account support on Instagram, watch the below video we posted in November when it first appeared. Go update that beta if you are signed up. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Latest Textra SMS Update is All About the Emoji

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:15:39 +0000

Inside the latest update to Textra SMS, now available on Google Play, users will find a wide variety of features specifically catered to fans of emoji. For folks on Kit Kat and Lollipop, you will now have access to over 1600 different emoji, which should be enough for expressing your feelings through an icon. Additionally, skin tone emoji are included, allowing folks to move away from yellow-colored faces entirely. Also included is the ability to select which set of emoji you want to use. For example, if you are on a Samsung device and don't care for the OEM's emoji selection, you can choose between the standard Android emoji or your system's emoji. A new style, called Emoji One, is also included for your usage. For those who use emoji on Twitter, a new set of emoji are available for tweeting, too. Check out the complete changelog below, then hit up the Google Play link to grab the update. What's New

World First: For Android style emoji we now provide all the latest (1600+) emojis even on older KitKat & Lollipop phones
World First: For Android style emoji we have added diversity (skin tone) emojis
For phones that have manufacturer (e.g. Samsung) styled emoji, you can now choose to use the latest Android emojis instead
Added a new style called Emoji One
For Twitter style emojis we now support all the latest emojis.
Bug fixes

Play Link

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Hit FCC

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 10:33:14 +0000

Once Samsung announce the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in Barcelona on February 21, the world will be anxiously awaiting their arrival for purchase at local retailers and carriers. Early reports suggest that March 11 could be the day that Samsung's new flagships arrive in stores, but before that happens, we need to see pieces fall into place - like each stop off at the FCC for approval. Today, that happened. According to FCC documents for Samsung devices under model numbers SM-G930 and SM-G935, we should be all set for launch. As a reminder, the Galaxy S7 is SM-G930 and the S7 Edge is SM-G935. The FCC IDs for each are A3LSMG930US and A3LSMG935US, respectively. The documents show us the general shape of each, along with the fact that each will have an FCC ID planted on their lower backsides. Why Samsung didn't go the software FCC ID route is beyond me, but they didn't.

The documents are giving us confirmation on device models as well, showing specific model numbers for each carrier variant. The different carrier numbers are as follows: SM-G930A (AT&T), SM-G930V (Verizon), SM-G930P (Sprint), SM-G930T (T-Mobile), and SM-G930R4 (US Cellular). The filing for each is for a general Galaxy S7/S7 Edge model of A3LSMG930US/A3LSMG935US, with each carrier model included. I don't know if that means we are looking at a single Galaxy S7/S7 Edge unit that works universally everywhere, but that carriers will choose to limit, or what. The nice thing is, we have all of the information for all carrier variants together. For example, here is a look at the supported LTE bands, for those curious. The documents included show LTE band 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 30, and 41. I don't know where AT&T's band 17 is, as it doesn't appear in any document at this time.

The rest of the documents don't offer any other details that we didn't already know or expect. With that said, there is a test report that mentions a micro SD card and a battery model that we are looking into at the moment. If you feel like diving through some FCC docs, we have links below.

Via: FCC [2] | TimesNews

Instagram Intros 60 Second Ads Just in Time for Super Bowl 50

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 10:20:03 +0000

Right in time for the biggest day of the year for advertisers, Instagram has introduced 60 second ads. Yay. As you all know, Super Bowl ads are the best part of this upcoming Sunday, and to help brands spread awareness, Instagram is now allowing them to fill your mind with even longer ads, all viewable from your smart device. A couple of brands you will see utilizing this new feature will be T-Mobile and Warner Bros, who will be hyping an upcoming film called How to Be Single. T-Mobile will be using the additional time to expand on its commercial with Drake. For those in the UK, you can expect to see a 60 second ad from Guinness. The below ad is from T-Mobile, and if I am being honest, it's actually sorta funny.

A video posted by tmobile (@tmobile) on Feb 3, 2016 at 8:37am PST

Via: AdWeek

Bing Updated for Android, Includes Gas Prices and Price Comparisons

Tim — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:31:39 +0000

The Bing app for Android is receiving an update this week, bringing with it a few familiar features you may already be using through Google Search and Google Maps. However, if you do use Bing, you can now benefit from price comparisons on products from Amazon, Target, and other online retailers, as well as gas prices powered by GasBuddy. When searching for products to do a price comparison, Bing will pull info from sources such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart to make sure you are getting the best deal. To start a comparison, the Bing app's search menu will show a barcode scanner with a camera icon. Select that, snap a shot of the product's barcode, then get to comparing. As long as those products are sold through those retailers, they will be there. As you should already know, a feature similar to this has long been available through Google Search, with Google pulling information from eBay, too. The second part of the update, which may be rather useful if downloading a dedicated app or using Google Maps or Google Search takes too long, is the ability to search local gasoline prices. Powered by GasBuddy, when you want to find the cheapest gas around you, simply search for gas. Results will appears for stations, and when one is selected, you can choose to navigate to it. This update is available now on Google Play. Play Link

Via: Bing

Android Wear Update Incoming: Will Introduce New Gestures, Speaker Support, More

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:12:34 +0000

An update for Android Wear was announced this morning by Google and will start to rollout to all watches over the "next few weeks." The update will introduce expanded functionality to items like voice actions and gestures, but will also activate the speaker (for those with speakers) that has been hidden for months inside of select devices. Back in March of last year, Google first introduced gestures to Android Wear that allowed you to flip between cards without touching a thing. In this update, new gestures will allow you to pull down the settings shade, open the app menu, return to home, cancel actions before they complete, and perform other actions on cards. Details of these gestures were first revealed in November. As for new voice action support, Google is giving you more options for sending messages with your voice through apps like Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp. All you'll need to say is, "OK, Google, send a Hangouts message to Kellen: Let's get beer now." and it'll send that message to me through Hangouts. Finally, because some Android Wear watches were built with hidden speakers in them that you didn't know about, this update makes those active. With an active speaker, you get the power to make and take calls from your watch when connected over to Bluetooth to your phone, plus you can listen to audio/video messages. The current watches on the market with speakers are the Huawei Watch and ASUS ZenWatch 2. Again, the update should hit all Android Wear devices within the next few weeks.

Via: Android Blog

Amazon Echo Gains Spotify Support

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:46:31 +0000

Amazon Echo, the cylindrical speaker tube that some of us have in our kitchens to keep time on Shake'N Bake chicken, now works with Spotify. If you are a Spotify Premium subscriber and own an Echo, you can tell it to play any playlist, artist, or genre in Spotify's catalog. Also, Echo also supports Spotify Connect, which means you can jump from your Echo listening experience to the Spotify app without missing a beat. "Hey, Alexa, play Taylor Swift on Spotify." Nope. The Amazon Echo is currently available from Amazon for $179.

Via: Amazon

#TBT: Android Timeline to the Nexus One

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:01:20 +0000

Memories. Brought up on yesterday's episode 100 of the DL Show.

Verizon Ups Data on Prepaid Plans to Bases of 2GB and 5GB

Kellen — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 07:37:04 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced that its prepaid plans are getting more data without a price hike, a move that seems to be a common occurrence with US wireless carriers as of late. Both AT&T and T-Mobile upped their buckets within the past month while keeping their prices the same. This change lines Verizon's offerings up with what AT&T just did. With Verizon prepaid, your options are now $45 for 2GB of data or $60 for 5GB of data per month. Those numbers are up from 1GB and 3GB, respectively. Keep in mind that you can get even more data through Verizon by signing up for auto-pay each month. If you schedule automatic payments with Big Red's prepaid, they'll toss in an extra 1GB of bonus data per month. With auto-pay, you then jump those plans to 3GB for $45 and 6GB for $60. As a reminder, Verizon's prepaid plans also included unlimited talk and text. You can sign-up for Verizon prepaid here.

Via: Verizon

100th Episode

Kellen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 19:22:49 +0000

Today is the day! After putting it off for what seems like a solid couple of months, we are finally sitting down for the official episode 100 of the Droid Life Show. It might have taken us a good 3 or so years to get here, but we made it and sometimes, that's all that matters...or something. On today's episode, we probably won't talk much about current affairs. While the Galaxy S7 and G5 are around the corner and quite exciting, we thought we would instead use episode 100 to reminisce a bit about Android and the past 6+ years of Droid Life's existence. Seriously, we've been around for that long! The show will feature Tim and I, along with Ron (probably for the last time). We'll talk about our favorite Android phones and moments or OS updates, random travel memories, and more. Along with the show, we are celebrating the occasion with some giveaways as well. How does a gold Nexus 6P sound? Yep, you could win one of those. We also have a few hundred dollars in Google Play credits to hand out too. Exciting, right? To enter to win, we'll update this post right around show time with Rafflecopter widgets that will give you instructions. Join us at 2PM Pacific (5PM Eastern) for the fun.

CONTEST INFO

To celebrate episode 100 of the DL Show, we're not only give away a 64GB gold Nexus 6P, but we also have $500 in Google Play credit to disperse to the DL community. To enter, we have two Rafflecopter widgets for you below. One gets you entered to win the Nexus 6P and the other gets you entered to win the Google Play credit. I encourage you to enter both, because yeah, you could walk away with a phone and credit, theoretically. Prizes:

1 (one) Nexus 6P in gold and with 64GB storage to 1 (one) winner.
20 (twenty) winners will receive $25 Google Play credits. That's a total of $500 in Play credits being dispersed.

How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners: On Friday, February 5, at 2PM Pacific, we'll choose our winners and email them to arrange ways for them to receive their prizes.

DEAL: Buy Chromecast or Chromecast Audio From Best Buy, Get a $10 Gift Card

Tim — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:47:33 +0000

For a limited time, when you purchase a Chromecast or Chromecast Audio through Best Buy's website, Best Buy will throw in a free $10 gift card for use however you see fit. Right now, the Chromecast and Chromecast Audio is priced at $35 on Best Buy's website. Noted in the deal's small print, this promo is not available for in-store pick-up, and the gift card will ship separately from the Chromecast device. Naturally, the gift card will need to be used on a future purchase, not on the Chromecast purchase. If interested, follow the Best Buy link below. Best Buy Link

LG G5 Confirmed for February 21 Unveiling

Kellen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:21:15 +0000

The LG G5 is coming to MWC on February 21. LG confirmed that the device will arrive in a couple of weeks, along with the name, through a Tweet posted to their official Twitter account this afternoon. The Tweet is accompanied by three images that all show off the number "5" in some form, along with the hashtag #LGG5. We knew that LG was hosting a major press event at the conference and assumed that this phone would be the star. I guess we no longer have to assume. So far, LG has been able to keep the G5 behind locked doors and few leaks have sprung. However, we did manage to share some images of the G5 stuck inside of a dummy box that was meant to preserve its true appearance. We do know that it'll have dual cameras, though, along with a metal body, USB Type-C port, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and volume rocker moved back to the side of the phone. How exciting. UPDATE: I won't claim to understand this at all, but LG also posted this to their social blog.

Question of the Day: What Was the Last App You Paid For?

Tim — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:15:34 +0000

I would likely be shocked to see just how much I have spent inside of Google Play, whether it is on apps, games, movies, or whatever, but I'm sure the amount is quite substantial. You can head into Google Play and check out all of your recent activity, however, you would have to do the math yourself and add up all of your expenses to come to a total. Who has time for that nonsense? Instead, we want to know what your last app purchase was. Was it a standalone utility app? Game? Maybe even a $0.99 in-app purchase? As for me, the last app I purchased was the Chrooma Keyboard. So far, I love it. I asked Kellen what app was his last purchase, and his was also Chrooma. I guess that means you should go check that keyboard out. Tell us down below, what was the last app you purchased?

Google Safe Browsing Now Protects You From Those Shady, Fake "Download" Buttons

Kellen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:26:22 +0000

Google's Safe Browsing team is continuously looking for ways to protect your browsing experience from creepy bad guys on the internet. As recently as December, they announced that their technologies now protect hundreds of millions of users who have chosen Chrome for Android as their browser of choice. They are also attempting to warn users before they enter a website that may be mimicking a trusted entity or that will try and get you to do something like share a password. In the latest update from the Safe Browsing team, Google announced that websites with social engineering that could lead you into doing something you probably don't want to do, like clicking a deceptive button or ad, will be flagged and show warnings before you enter them. Some examples would be like the image below, that looks like a download or play button, but is really a nasty ad that probably activates a pop-under and who knows what other kinds of garbage. These buttons are all over the web, especially on sites that make a living by offering up downloadable or streamed content. The goal of them is to trick you into clicking them because you think they will initiate a download or start a stream of the content on the page.

Here is another example. In this image, a sneaky ad or script is trying to trick you into updating software on your device. Of course, if you click on that, you could initiate the download of spyware or a virus or be re-directed to a spammy ad page for some garbage product you would never buy.

Google plans to show the warning that you are seeing at the top of this post before you enter sites like this. As someone who spends all day, every day on the internet, I am now fully expecting to see these warnings everywhere. And that's a good thing. Deceptively dirty ads like fake download buttons have been a nuisance for too long.

Via: Google Online Security

Alto's Adventure Hits Android for Free on February 11

Tim — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:27:07 +0000

After quite the wait, Alto's Adventure will arrive on Google Play this February 11. Not only is this great news, but the game will be free to download, instead of costing a couple of bucks as it does on iOS. Apparently, Android has a bit of a problem with piracy, so in a move to ensure that everyone gains access to the game legitimately, Alto's Adventure will be free to download, but also come with "opt-in bonuses" to make sure the developers are receiving their fair compensation. Do note, the developers state that the core gameplay will be unhindered by the free price tag. Alto's Adventure is described as an endless snowboarding odyssey, one which has players rescuing runaway llamas, outwitting mountain elders, and grinding rooftops. As you fly across the beautiful skies, you will collect stars, unlock new characters, and be soothed by a wonderful soundtrack. The game's arrival for Android was first teased in September of last year, so we have been waiting every so patiently for its release. Finally, the time has arrived. Once the game is live, we will let you know.

[responsive_vid]

Via: The Verge

This Android-Powered Bathroom Mirror is Dope

Tim — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:05:47 +0000

After searching the market with no success, a Googler set out to make a futuristic mirror for his bathroom. Using easy-to-acquire components, he built a mirror that could display local weather, news headlines, and the time. In the future, he hopes to be able to display anything that has a Google Now card. As for the construction, a two-way mirror was used, display panel, controller board, plus a bunch of random components to fuse it all together. For the UI, select Android APIs were utilized, and powering the unit, is a Amazon Fire TV Stick. At first, the Googler experimented with a Chromecast, followed by a Nexus Player, but for now, a Fire TV Stick is being used. Naturally, there is no how-to for this project quite yet, but possibly in the future. Given this is a Googler we are talking about, we would love to see this project made into something a bit more obtainable for your average consumer. Below, check out the photo of how it looks in the bathroom, followed by a "Behind the Curtain" photo which shows off all of the hardware inside. Sign me up as someone who wants this very badly.

Via: Medium

T-Mobile Promo Gets You 4 Lines of Unlimited LTE for $150

Kellen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:18:31 +0000

This morning, OpenSignal released a new report that T-Mobile is quite excited about, because it mentions their network as "closing the gap with Verizon." That's a big deal because Verizon's network is almost always at the top of the charts when we think of the best network in the wireless business. To celebrate this gap closing news, T-Mobile is kicking off a new family promo that gets a family of four onto unlimited LTE data lines for $150 per month. The plan is similar to the one T-Mobile has opened up a couple of times now that gives families of four 10GB of data per line for $120. With this unlimited LTE plan, T-Mobile is charging you $50 per line for the first three lines and then giving you the fourth for free. It's really that simple. Of course, T-Mobile still offers the 10GB per line for $120 deal as well, in case you don't need unlimited. Also, keep in mind that you can combine this new family plan with T-Mobile's half off smartphone event. T-Mobile says that in order to qualify for this promo, there are "no number port-ins, no trade-ins, and no need to purchase a new phone." The deal is open to new and existing customers. More on this new T-Mobile Unlimited deal, head over to T-Mo's site.

Via: T-Mobile

AT&T Galaxy Note 5 Gets Marshmallow Beta, This is What It Looks Like

Tim — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:12:17 +0000

For those tired of the same ol' blue theme from Samsung, reported screenshots taken after the update to Marshmallow on the Galaxy Note 5 show quite the change up to the theme of the UI quite a bit. As of today, with the device running Lollipop, Samsung's stock theme is blue and sort of neon yellowish, but after the update, that blue will change to grey, and the yellow will change to blue. At least, that is if these screenshots are to be believed. According to Phone Probe, a Galaxy Note 5 owner on AT&T who is part of a very small test group received the update to Marshmallow, and then detailed what all changed after the update. Listed as build number N920AUCU2BPB1, on top of the UI changes, Samsung likely baked in Marshmallow's top features, such as Doze, additional app permissions, and the user claims the phone feels more snappy overall. While the new theme looks pretty snazzy, it appears TouchWiz as a whole has not changed. There are still icon themes that don't match anything from Google, and Samsung still has many preloaded apps onboard. The file size for the Marshmallow update is listed at 1355MB, or 1.3GB. If you are a Galaxy Note 5 owner, the latest intel we have is that Samsung is shooting to release the Marshmallow update some time this month. Once more concrete info is known, we will update you. Check out the screenshots, then leave your impressions in the comments below.

Via: Phone Probe

Cheers Tony!

Swiftkey Confirms That It Will Join Microsoft, Android and iOS Apps Will Live On

Kellen — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:44:41 +0000

This morning, both Swiftkey and Microsoft confirmed yesterday's last-minute, late-breaking, blockbuster news concerning the two joining forces. And yep, it's official - Swiftkey has been acquired by Microsoft. In short blog posts to Swiftkey and Microsoft blogs, the two talk about the predictive technology behind the popular keyboard, how many keystrokes it has saved, that many companies rely on it, and that this is a match made in heaven. More importantly, Swiftkey confirms that its Android and iOS keyboard apps will live on and be free. They didn't mention this as some sort of temporary thing, either. This doesn't sound like Microsoft's Sunrise acquisition, where the goal all along was to kill the best calendar app on the planet and fold it into an email app most of us would prefer not to use. Nope, this sounds like Swiftkey as a stand-alone keyboard app is here to stay. Feeling better now?

Via: Swiftkey | Microsoft

ZAGG, King of Mall Kiosks, Acquires Mophie, King of Those Ugly iPhone Battery Cases

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:54:47 +0000

ZAGG, maker of all sorts of mobile accessories, but who is probably best known for its InvisibleShield screen protectors and empty mall kiosks, has acquired Mophie, a company who specializes in battery pack cases that everyone you know with an iPhone uses. They are both bigwigs in the accessory game, so yeah, this is pretty big news. ZAGG is posturing this as a "merger," but this is an acquisition of Mophie, with ZAGG forking out $100 million. Going forward, ZAGG and Mophie hope that this will allow them to create "numerous opportunities to drive revenue growth and increase profitability." It probably also helps secure their dominance in their respective arenas, which are screen protection and battery packs. Bigger deal - this acquisition or Microsoft buying Swiftkey?

Via: ZAGG

SwiftKey Reportedly Acquired by Microsoft for $250 Million (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:50:44 +0000

Reportedly set to be announced later this week, Microsoft will acquire SwiftKey, the predictive keyboard powered by AI, for a whopping $250 million. The co-founders of the keyboard app, Jon Reynolds and Ben Medlock, are set to make upwards of $30 million when the deal finalizes, according to sources familiar with Microsoft's plan. Over the past year, Microsoft has been gobbling up popular apps, such as Wunderlist and Sunrise Calendar, all to help bolster its mobile offerings. As the deal is not yet official, we do not know Microsoft's exact intentions with SwiftKey, but given its huge popularity, it's hard to image MS plans to just shut it down and integrate its tech into Microsoft's. Instead, for the time being, SwiftKey will probably operate as normal, and maybe down the road we could see a shutdown. Until the dust settles, nothing is confirmed. Do you use SwiftKey? Does this news excite or disappoint you? UPDATE: Swiftkey and Microsoft made the news official this morning.

Via: Financial Times

Question of the Day: What's Keeping You With Your Current Wireless Carrier?

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:30:55 +0000

Every time we share news about a wireless carrier (whether it be good or bad), the comment section fills up with conversations about which is the best or why this one is better than that one or why they are all terrible. We typically get a bunch of, "Glad I left them when I did!" comments, as well. Because of those almost-always-entertaining conversations, our question of the day will be to ask you what it is that's keeping you with your current wireless carrier. What is the best wireless carrier? You all seem to have very specific, well-informed (or at least passionate) reasons for sticking with one over another, so this is your opportunity to share it all in one place. Is it all about network? Is it price-related? Does one carrier have better phone choices over another? Do you just hate this carrier less than the rest? Feel free to drop those thoughts below.

TRI's Turing Phone Will No Longer Ship With Android OS, Comes With SailFish OS Instead

Tim — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:06:08 +0000

Are you sitting down? Good, because you are about to receive a bit of shocking news. Yet another delay has struck the Turing Phone. Hyped as a phone with ultra security, made of Liquidmorphium, will probably never launch at this point, even though TRI, the company behind the phone, would like you to think otherwise. TRI has sent out a letter to those who pre-ordered, claiming that they are shooting to launch the device in April, pushed from their previous target of March, but there is also something else... The phone won't run Android anymore, either. Stated by TRI, "We can now confirm that TRI has chosen to drop Android and use Jolla’s Sailfish OS. Sailfish OS is now running perfectly on the Turing Phone and we have started the final OS software testing phase." TRI goes on to claim that SailFish OS blazes on the Snapdragon 801, an outdated processor that should not be shipped on a device that costs north of $600. TRI also states that the Turing Phone will come with an "Android application store" if you need to download any important Android apps to the device. To go along with this mess, TRI says that they are hosting a Turing Developers Conference in Q2 of this year. No word on when or where exactly this "developers conference" is taking place. To recap all of this, in case you have not been paying attention, the Turing Phone went live for pre-order in September of last year. Orders were supposed to ship in time for Christmas. Nothing happened. Those who pre-ordered were left wondering what happened. On Facebook, TRI stated shipments were being pushed to March, and that anyone who pre-ordered would receive a free upgrade. Now, shipments are expected in April, TRI is just now getting to software testing, and the SailFish OS is distributed by a company that doesn't even have enough money to refund people who purchased its dead Jolla Tablet. This is a bad situation. If you pre-ordered this device, honestly, I implore that you cancel your order immediately and pray TRI refunds your money in a timely manner. TRI should be held accountable for claiming that the Turing Phone would ship with the Android OS and then taking people's hard-earned money. And now, after all of these delays, you are receiving SailFish with an "Android application store" to download your apps. In my eyes, this is unacceptable. When you gave TRI your money, you expected to have a Turing Phone running Android in your hands by Christmas time. Now, you might see a phone running a completely different OS in April, and that's if there are not anymore delays, which there probably will be. Cancel your order, get a refund, and wipe your hands of this disaster. And remember, backing a crowdfunded phone is almost always a terrible idea. Here is the complete letter to Turing Phone pre-orderers.

Dear Turing Fans, You will be pleased to know that we have ironed out the final development tasks before we deliver the Turing Phone to your hands. We fully expect the Turing Phone to be delivered in the month of April 2016. Many of you have asked numerous times through our Facebook fan page as well as emailed us about our OS development. We can now confirm that TRI has chosen to drop Android and use Jolla’s Sailfish OS. Sailfish OS is now running perfectly on the Turing Phone and we have started the final OS software testing phase. Sailfish OS runs exceptionally fast on the Turing. You will not have to worry about performance issues with Turing’s Snapdragon 801 because Sailfish OS has been optimized to run fast on your Turing Phone. The Turing Phone will still be able to run Android Apps on the Sailfish OS without issue. An Android application store will be available for you to download your favorite apps. The Sailfish OS is an evolved continuation of the Linux MeeGo OS previously developed by an alliance of Nokia and Intel. MeeGo mobile software platform was created through the merging of Moblin and the Maemo OS originally developed by Nokia. This essentially means you have one of the world’s fastest mobile device running the fastest mobile OS with the capability of running your favorite apps in a secure environment. TRI will also be hosting its first Turing Developers Conference (TDC) during Q2 2016. We can’t wait to get the phones out to your hands. Thank you so much for your continued patience and support for the Turing Project. Turing Phone Team | Turing Robotic Industries

Via: Android Police

Best Buy Deals: $25 BBY Gift Card With Nexus 6P, $50 Nexus Player, $20 Off Google OnHub Router

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:16:44 +0000

Best Buy is hosting three solid deals today on three products I seem to use almost every day. I'm referring to the Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and the TP-Link Google OnHub router. Last week, Best Buy slashed the gold model of the Nexus 6P by $50, but they are now including a free $25 Best Buy gift card with purchase. So not only are you seeing the discount, you then have another $25 to turn around and spend on something else from BBY. Not bad, not bad. Along with the 6P offer, you'll find the Nexus Player down to $49.99 ($50 discount). It's been to this price point time and time again, likely in a move to kill off the remaining inventory of it. By no means is the Nexus Player the most high-end Android TV box, but if you don't have a budget for the NVIDIA Shield Android TV and want something more robust than a Chromecast, it's a decent option at this price. Finally, the TP-Link Google OnHub router is down to $179 ($20 off) for a short time. I recently made the switch to this particular OnHub and must say that my wireless home setup hasn't missed a step. Its range is solid and it includes access to the Google OnHub app, which has come in handy more than a couple of times when I need to reboot the router, test a connection, or give priority access to a device. It also has cool lights. Mmm, cool lights. All of these deals include free shipping. Best Buy Links: Nexus 6P (Gold) | Nexus Player | TP-Link Google OnHub Router

Samsung Developer Site Confirms Galaxy S7 Edge, Mentions Android N

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:02:40 +0000

On February 21, we know that Samsung will show off "The Next Galaxy." While their latest teaser for that event only mentions "Galaxy" in a singular form, we are fully expecting there to be two devices starring in their presentation. The first device should be the Galaxy S7 and the second should be a slightly bigger Galaxy S7 Edge, which is basically the new version of the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Want some confirmation of that happening? Look no further than Samsung's own developer site, under the Look SDK section where you'll find feature listing for their Edge devices. The image below shows "S7 Edge" mentioned twice next to "S6 Edge" and "S6 EdgePlus." Umm, yeah, I'd say that confirms the phone's existence. There is another mention lower in the page that talks about the S7 Edge and its "M OS," in case you needed more. I'm going to take a wild guess here and suggest that is in reference to Android Marshmallow.

Beyond the confirmation, this page also appears to be giving us a sneak peek of a new feature that is coming to not only the Galaxy S7 Edge, but the S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ as well. In the box for "Wide type" and "Edge Single Plus," we are seeing a wider panel that you should be accessible via swipe out when using one of those three Edge devices. You can see here that we are getting bigger sports scores, stock updates, system status (battery %, RAM, storage usage, and security), and a compass mode. That's neat. OK, as the title suggests, we may have even more. On the same Look SDK page, Samsung suggests that a bunch of features for devices like the Note 3, Note 4, Note Edge, Note Pro line, and other Note tablets will go away once Android N arrives. Below, you'll notice that AirButton, SmartClip, and WritingBuddy will all be "deprecated in N." One could take this to mean that Android N will feature new stylus support or something along those lines, but since there isn't mention of the Note 5 at all, which is Samsung's newest S Pen device, I think this is more of Samsung admitting that these older features will die for good with Android N. That really just means that they won't support them anymore and may even phase them out from these devices.

That's a whole bunch of hype in one developer page.

Via: Samsung | reddit

Flyperlink Brings Floating Web Browsing to Your Android Device

Tim — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:27:09 +0000

Flyperlink, an app available for download on Google Play, brings Chat Head-like web browsing straight to your phone. When skimming through links on your device, whether it be on Twitter or through Google Now, Flyperlink can pop up these webpages in individual bubbles, viewable and moveable for your convenience. After initial setup, Flyperlink runs in the background until you click on a web link. At that point, you will decide which app you want to open a link with - Chrome, Flyperlink, or any other browser you may have installed. If Flyperlink is selected, you can then choose to open the link with Flyperlink just once, or always. When Flyperlink chosen, a bubble will appear that you can expand and minimize, and the bubble can be moved to wherever you would like, in case it is getting in your way. When you are done with a website, simply drag the bubble to the trash icon at the bottom of your screen. Bubbles can also be customized, with size, position, toolbar position, and JavaScript browsing available for changing. However, many of the tweaks you can perform are limited to the Plus version, available as an in-purchase for just $0.99. If you want to get down on a bit of bubble browsing, follow the link below. Play Link

Via: reddit

Bill Simmons Says Podcasts are Coming to Google Play Music This Month (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:12:31 +0000

Back in October of last year, Google announced that podcasts would soon join the line-up of offerings on Google Play Music. October seems like a hell of a long time ago, so as you can imagine, many of us have been itching for some news on when they might actually arrive. According to former ESPN and Grantland talking head, Bill Simmons, we should see podcasts show up this month (as in, February). Today, Simmons, who has a popular podcast called the "Bill Simmons Podcast," announced that he has some 27 million "listens" in just 4 months of existence. Of course, he hit those numbers in such a short amount of time after years of successful podcasting while with ESPN. Not that you care unless you are a sports nut who appreciates Simmons' often wild takes on sports and homerism of all things Boston, but many of you are probably wondering who Bill Simmons is and why you should care what he says about podcasts coming to Google Play. In short, the dude is a big time podcaster and would probably know. So, assuming Simmons is correct, we should finally see podcasts come to Google Play Music this month. That's awesome news, especially for those of you looking to keep up with the Droid Life Show. We are signed up and ready for launch there.

(We went with the image embed here because he'll likely delete the Tweet in 5..4..3..)

UPDATE: Yep, he deleted it alright. But because we expected that to happen, you can see it above still.

Via: @BillSimmons

Android Distribution Updated for February 2016: Hey, Marshmallow Hits 1%!

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:58:17 +0000

Google updated its Android distribution numbers this morning for the month of February, showing minor adoption of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. In fact, Android 6.0 jumped from just 0.7% the month prior to 1.2%. That seems, at least to me, like pretty slow movement to the newest version of Android after almost four months of it being available. And when consider the fact that Android 6.0 was released as developer previews as early as last May, you have to wonder what is taking the world so long to update to it. The rest of the Android landscape hasn't changed all that much from January until now. Lollipop now sits at 34.1% of the pie, up from 32.6%. Everyone else is (and should be) dropping, like KitKat to 35.5% (from 36.1%), Jelly Bean to 23.9% (from 24.7%), Ice Cream Sandwich to 2.5% (from 2.7%), Gingerbread to 2.7% (from 3.0%), and Froyo to 0.1% (from 0.2%). You can see last month's numbers here.

Via: Android

Report: Gear 360 VR Camera to Launch Alongside Galaxy S7

Tim — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:04:11 +0000

According to the latest from SamMobile, Samsung will introduce the Gear 360 VR Camera alongside the Galaxy S7 next month at MWC. The Gear 360, a compact spherical camera, will allow users to shoot live video in full a 360 degrees, which can then be viewed on the Gear VR and shared with the world. Likely based off of Samsung's Project Beyond (video below), the Gear 360 brings VR content creation to the masses, and it is reported that Samsung may price this device quite competitively. The device is said to feature its own internal battery, so no power cords will need to be connected during usage, and while shooting, your basic camera settings will be available for usage, such as exposure, ISO, and white balance controls. To give you a few examples of usage, you can set the Gear 360 onto a tripod on your next nature hike, capture a scene in complete 360 degrees, and then enjoy that moment over and over through virtual reality. The same could be done during your next holiday family get-together, a trip to the beach, or any other lovely scene that you might want to relive again. No exact pricing or release information is currently known, but if Samsung plans to unveil the Gear 360 alongside the Galaxy S7, we assume it may see a launch around the same time, too. If priced at say, $149 or $199, would you be interested in creating a bit of VR content?

[responsive_vid]

Via: SamMobile

T-Mobile's Super Bowl Ad Suggests Other Carriers Would Ruin Drake's Hotline Bling

Kellen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:25:33 +0000

This is T-Mobile's Super Bowl ad, starring Aubrey Drake Graham. It suggests that the other carriers of the world would try to ruin the dancing magic that is Hotline Bling, because other "wireless carriers ruin everything." Yeah, so, it's actually not a very good commercial. Hey, grumpy Kellen is back today! Hi, everyone!

Google Search Makes It Easy to Follow Primary Results, Find Candidate Stances on Political Issues

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:08:30 +0000

If you plan to keep tabs on the current primary election situation or want to quickly find out where candidates stand on certain issues, Google Search has your back. Thanks to Search on mobile, you can easily find statements and quotes on hot topics or policies (search for things like: "hillary clinton economic policies") or get general information about a single candidate and their stances (just search for: "ted cruz" or "bernie sanders") without diving into the hundreds of political websites out there vying for your attention at the moment. If the results are all you care about because you already know all there is to know from each candidate, then to turn to Google as they keep up with primaries and results through a simple, "primary results" search. That search will return the election schedule, but also "live" results and a tally of how many delegates each nominee has received.

Have fun tonight, Iowa.

Via: Inside Search

Deal: All-Weather Bluetooth Precision Speaker for $45, Free Shipping

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:54:53 +0000

Currently available at a discounted price, the All-Weather Bluetooth Precision Speaker can be purchased on the DL Deals Store for $45, down from $70, plus free shipping. This speaker is not only portable, with the ability to be wirelessly connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth technology, but its construction brings intense protection from drops and water damage (IPX6 rating). Wrapped with a high-quality silicon case, this speaker would be perfect for an outdoor lifestyle, including working outside or even camping. Check out all of the features below, then follow the link if you are interested. Features

Includes precision-tuned 2.1 channel speakers
Allows for hands-free calls w/ MIC function
Wrapped w/ a high-quality silicon case
Perfect for the active outdoor lifestyle w/ water-resistant IPX6 rating
Plays for about 8.5 hours per charge
Designed to be lightweight & portable

Deal Link

Gmail Also has Over 1 Billion Active Users Per Month

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:03:51 +0000

Oh, what's up, WhatsApp? You thought a billion users was something? How about over a billion active users? That's what Gmail has each month, according to Google's Sundar Pichai. Pichai broke the news during the company's Q4 2015 earnings call, which took place a little over an hour ago. The call also acted as a moment for Google to talk shop about the big quarter it just had before overtaking Apple as the world's most valuable public company (probably temporarily) in after hours trading. Yeah, it's a good day to be a part of Google. And here is a cute video to celebrate the occasion with. https://twitter.com/gmail/status/694290964559429632

1 Billion People Are Using WhatsApp Each Month, 1 in 7 People Globally

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:42:54 +0000

WhatsApp, the global messaging and calling service, has reached one billion monthly users. In early 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook, and now, just two years later, they have reached this landmark. In a blog post to announce this occasion, WhatsApp states, "...as we celebrate this achievement, our focus remains the same. Every day, our team continues to work to improve WhatsApp's speed, reliability, security and simplicity." So, while WhatsApp is proud of this achievement, the company's goals remain the same. Over the years, the WhatsApp app for Android has been receiving helpful updates, including one with the Material Design UI, and other features. Are you one of the one billion users?

Via: WhatsApp

Simple Brilliance: I Wish Every Phone had the Moto X Pure Edition's Front IR Sensors

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:24:30 +0000

Those two little dots to the left and right of the Moto X Pure Edition's front speaker are the reason I recently made a switch to it as my go-to device. As cliche as this is going to sound, sometimes it really is the little things that can sway a major decision and get someone like me, who will still tell you that the Nexus 6P is the best Android phone you can buy, to move away from it. As many of you know, we have entered into this sort-of plateau period in smartphones, where just about everyone has a phone that you would be happy to own for a couple of years. However, choosing between them has become more difficult than ever because they are all so similar or all do all of the key things so well. When everyone has a really good phone, how do you choose the right phone for you? Well, sites like ours try to help by putting together lists like this one or spelling out 5 reasons to own the top devices. For me, it always ends up being the really little things that - many of which I figure out later on down the road - are the difference makers. For example, as I just admitted, have switched to the Moto X Pure Edition for the time being. Why? Because of those two front dots on the lower end of the phone. Those, in case you weren't familiar, are IR sensors. They really only have a single purpose, as far as I can tell, and that's to tell the phone's screen to light up or not when something interrupts their current beam (such technical). That right there is reason enough for me to use this phone on the daily and wish that all other phones would adopt them. I already know that the phone's camera is good enough and that the design is to my liking, as is the performance and overall Android experience. But with the IR sensors, I'm also getting one of those convenience features that makes a couple of things that I do more often in a day than any human should probably do, so easy to do. That's the key here. You see, throughout the day while sitting at my desk, I need to look at my phone and quickly check the time or see if I have notifications that need tending to. I also like to quickly check the time while running on the treadmill or when getting my son's lunch ready or playing with his train set or to see if it really is 3AM just after my Persian cats have finished hacking up the latest fir ball in the middle of the night. We're talking about a hands-free experience when checking the time or for notifications dozens and dozens of times per day. Thanks to these IR sensors, I get to do that with the wave of my hand.

See. I don't have to pick-up my phone or press a button. All I have to do is wave my hand about five or six inches above that front portion where the two dots are and it lights up enough of the screen to tell me the time and if I have work to do. Wave. Time. Wave. Notifications. Wave. Back to sipping beer. Wave. Back to putting off cleaning up fir ball barf for a few hours. From experience with the past two Moto X phones, the addition of these little sensors doesn't seem to have had any substantial impact on battery life. Motorola tossed them in, likely in some sort of ultra-low power capacity to add to the functionality of Moto Display. The Moto X Pure Edition has solid battery life and that's with these IR sensors completely activated with Moto Display. Why hasn't anyone else adopted them yet? I don't know. Maybe they don't realize the benefit here or maybe they don't want to add-on any extra cost. We've talked about Moto Display ad nauseam, but maybe the rest of the world isn't listening to our reasoning for loving it so. Google tried to emulate Moto Display a bit with their Ambient Display, except that after spending time with both Nexus phones and the Moto X line, it's immediately apparent which take is the best. Ambient Display only works as a notification comes in or as you pick up the device. Well, in theory that's how it works. The Nexus 6P's Ambient Display almost never wakes properly when picked up. And Ambient Display has been a disaster when in pocket on every Nexus device I've used that has it enabled. You also can't activate it with a wave. EDIT: As some have pointed out, the Galaxy Note 5 has its own take on this, but it's buried deep in accessibility settings and you probably wouldn't have known about it unless someone showed it to you. It's called "Gesture wake up" and it functions in a way like Moto Display. When enabled, you have to wave over the top display sensors and it lights up the entire display. So it's not a similar low power alternative, but it is an alternative if you own a Note 5. EDIT 2: The OnePlus X has this as well, along with Google's Ambient Display. If you jump into Settings>Display, you should see an option for Proximity Wake and Ambient. Like the Note 5, the waving portion only works when waving over the top of the phone. This wasn't meant to be a post about my weird love for the Moto X Pure Edition because of a couple of dots, even though it sort of came out that way. The point I'm trying to make is that in a time where phones are all so similar and are having difficulty standing out from one another, it really can come down to the simple things. Some times, it may even take a while before you realize them. For me, checking notifications and the time is something I do over and over and over again in a day. With two little IR sensors on the bottom of this phone, that task is no longer much of a task and is instead a quick wave of the hand that then allows me to get back to enjoying more important things in life. That wave of the hand has been enough to get me to switch phones.

HTC Hosting Two Hot Deals This Week, 60% Off RE Camera and Free Headset With One A9 Purchase

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:25:50 +0000

In celebration of Groundhog's Day, HTC is hosting two Hot Deals this week, instead of the usual one. On Tuesday, tomorrow, if you purchase a One A9, you will receive a free Jabra headset. On Wednesday, you can score 60% off a RE Camera. Each deal starts at 12:01am Eastern and will last until midnight Pacific each day. There are no product details for the Jabra headset included with the One A9 purchase, but that information should be made available once the deal is live. As for the RE Camera deal, 60% off of the original $200 price will be $120, bringing your grand total to $80 for the device. To get in on the action, head to HTC's online store here starting tomorrow.

Question of the Day: What Do You Hope Samsung Changed From Galaxy S6 to S7?

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:02:12 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S7 will be announced on February 21 in Barcelona. So far, from what we have seen from leaks, this year's Galaxy S will look very similar in size and style to last year's Galaxy S6. I don't know that I would consider that to be a bad thing, since Samsung happened to make one of the most beautiful line-ups of smartphones ever last year. Actually, you could take that a step further and say that they made not only some of the best looking phones ever released, but they should be considered some of the best all-around as well. Come on, how can you not love the Note 5? With that said, the Galaxy S6 had its issues - namely with battery life. I think I'm still in a bit of shock as to how bad the battery life on that phone was. Also, even though Samsung greatly improved the software experience on the S6, it wasn't exactly something we would prefer to use for a 2-year period. There were serious lag issues for a while, the icons are still...ugly, and there are so many settings and Samsung-created apps that most of us could live without. Let's not forget that the back of the S6 has a camera hump, there wasn't SD storage or waterproofing, and that single bottom-facing speaker is far too easy to cover. With the Galaxy S7 just around the corner and leaks pouring in from all angles, let's talk about what you were hoping Samsung would do this year. What were you hoping to see change from the S6 to the S7 (or S7 Edge)?

Sign-Up for T-Mobile Prepaid Plan, Receive Free Smartphone in Form of $50 Mail-in Rebate

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:20:06 +0000

Starting Wednesday, February 3, those who sign up for a T-Mobile prepaid plan will receive a $50 mail-in rebate, good for use on a smartphone. This rebate essentially nets you a select smartphone for free, which is never a bad thing. There are currently three prepaid options available at T-Mobile: Simply Prepaid, Simple Choice Prepaid, and Simple Choice No Credit. The cheapest, being the Simply Prepaid, starts at $40/month for unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of high-speed data. Phones available for this promotion are the Coolpad Rogue, ZTE Obsidian, LG Leon, and Samsung Core Prime. In addition, those who activate a second line (no number port required) using the Simple Choice No Credit option, will receive another $50 rebate to redeem. Again, this promotion begins Wednesday, February 3. Check out T-Mobile's prepaid device options here.

February Android 6.0.1 Security Update is Ready, Factory Images Posted (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:11:05 +0000

It's February, so that means it is time for Google to push out this month's security update to Nexus devices. Already this morning, we are seeing factory images posted for the Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus Player, Nexus 9 (WiFi and LTE), Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013, WiFi and Mobile), and Nexus 10. The updates are rolling out as Android 6.0.1 build MXB48T for the Pixel C, MMB29U for the Nexus Player, MMB29R for the Nexus 9, and MMB29Q for the Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, 5, and Nexus 7 (2013). The Nexus 10 is getting build LMY49G of Android 5.1.1. That should mean that over-the-air (OTA) updates will be here shortly. To grab the factory image file for your device, head over to Google's site. Here are instructions for flashing a factory image. UPDATE: Details on this month's security bulletin have been posted here. UPDATE 2: Almost all of the OTA update files can be found here.

GIVEAWAY: We Have 50 Promo Codes for Chrooma Keyboard to Hand Out! (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:31:53 +0000

Last week, we told you about this newish keyboard called Chrooma Keyboard. The keyboard stood out to us because it mimics the Google Keyboard, yet adds to the brilliance of Google's keyboard by deploying an adaptive coloring scheme feature that automatically adjusts the color of the keyboard to the app you are currently using. It's a fun trick that makes your typing experience that much more entertaining. Outside of the color changing, Chrooma Keyboard also excels because you can add a permanent number row, adjust the keyboard's size, and even allow it to adjust the color to a night mode when lighting is dim. It's a really cool, yet simple keyboard. Today, we are doing just that. After sharing our thoughts on Chrooma, the team behind it asked if we wanted to giveaway 50 promo codes for it to the Droid Life community. We, of course, said of course! Also, be sure to stop by the Chrooma Keyboard Google+ community for the latest on the keyboard's happenings. Play Link ($1.49)

How to win a promo code.

To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter widget instructions below, which is basically going to tell you to visit the Chrooma G+ page and then leave a comment about your likes or dislikes with your current keyboard. So you have a few steps here. You need to enter information into Rafflecopter, because this is how we’ll choose our winners. Then, after doing so, jump through to their G+ page for support or if you have feature suggestions before leaving a comment below. If you don’t do the Rafflecopter portion and instead just leave a comment, you won’t be entered. I apologize if that sounds difficult, but the widget makes it really easy for us to pick winners. We’ll choose our winners tomorrow at 9:30AM Pacific. Ready? Go! UPDATED: Winners have been picked and codes emailed! Check those spam folders if you don't see the email. a Rafflecopter giveaway

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet Receives Marshmallow, Updated Features in Upgrade 4.0 (Updated)

Tim — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:53:17 +0000

Upgrade 4.0 for the SHIELD Tablet from NVIDIA is rolling out to owners, bringing Android 6.0 Marshmallow with it. In late December, Marshmallow was made available for the SHIELD Tablet K1, and for whatever reason, NVIDIA had to hold off on making the update available for the SHIELD Tablet. In terms of the features made available through Upgrade 4.0, it is a very important update, as it contains Adoptable Storage, UI upgrades, and power consumption improvements. More specifically, Upgrade 4.0 includes an updated SHIELD Camera app, featuring a UI inspired by Material Design and real-time HD Image Effects, as well as improvements for WiFi connectivity, and improved customization of the tablet's UI. The highlight feature is Adoptable Storage. With it, users can integrate the microSD with the internal storage, giving you a ton of additional space to store apps and files. Once an update is live on NVIDIA's servers, devices are quick to receive it, so you should already see a notification to install the update. If you don't, you can manually check for the update from within the settings menu. For those with a microSD card already installed, please read the important note from NVIDIA below.

Important: If you are currently using a MicroSD card in this SHIELD Tablet:

In Android 6.0 there are changes to how expanded storage works. After this upgrade, there will be 2 ways to setup the MicroSD card, please read carefully - Portable Storage: This option will not delete data from the SD card, Internal Storage: This option wipes all data from the SD card. If you are currently storing data the SD card, please make sure it is first backed up.

NVIDIA recommends to back up the MicroSD card prior to downloading this update.

Go grab that update. Update: Owners of the SHIELD Tablet K1, don't worry, NVIDIA didn't forget about you. NVIDIA is also shipping out an update for the K1, including the following fixes and improvements.

Optimized behavior of legacy apps that lead to instances of increased power consumption
Improvements to Wi-Fi connectivity
Fixed crashes in Performance, Power, and Display settings
Fixed crashes in Gamepad Mapper
Fixed Doom 3 not launching
Added back SHIELD controller touch pad functionality
Added support for Stylus Lasso Capture functionality
Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level January 2016
Fixes to App Optimization feature

This update is also live right now.

Via: NVIDIA

Here is the Back View of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:05:32 +0000

To finish off last week, @evleaks gave us the first press images of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The images showed the front designs of each phone. Then, over the weekend, Samsung announced that they would take the stage at MWC in Barcelona on February 21 to announce "The Next Galaxy," which we are expecting to be the two devices leaked on Friday. Today, we're getting a look at the backsides. Thanks again to @evleaks, we are seeing devices that look quite similar to last year's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge+. I'd also argue that they have taken some design cues from the Galaxy Note 5, which had a curved backside that really helped the phone sit comfortably in your hand. Other than the potentially curved back, the camera housing appears to be flusher to the back than it was last year, though that's really tough to tell from a render like this. To the right of the camera housing, we have a flash and heart rate sensor, followed by "SAMSUNG" and "Galaxy S7" or "Galaxy S7 edge" branding below. The corners of each device seem to be slightly rounder than last year, but really, the phones aren't going to be very different in overall design. That tends to happen a year after we see a major redesign like we did in 2015. Apple does the same thing with its regular and "S" lines. https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/694182148505468928/photo/1 Here is a quick comparison of the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge to last year's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge+.

Galaxy S6/S6 Edge+ vs Galaxy S7/S7 Edge

Thoughts?

Report: Google to Take Top-To-Bottom "Apple-Like" Control Over Nexus Line

Kellen — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 07:46:43 +0000

Ever since the launch of the Nexus 6P and 5X at the end of 2015, we have begun to see this narrative arise suggesting that Google needs to stop partnering with companies like LG, Samsung, HTC, and Huawei to build its Nexus devices and instead take the Apple approach, where they handle everything from top to bottom and simply contract out companies to help build devices. That essentially means going the Pixel route, where we see products like the Pixel C that were designed and essentially, manufactured, by Google. In other words, Google takes control over everything from the software to hardware design to make a tablet or computer (or phone) that is 100% Google. Sure, they are sourcing chipsets and RAM and displays and all of that, plus they need someone to physically build everything, but they aren't asking someone like LG or HTC to add their name to it. While this "Apple-like" control over the Nexus program seems to be the opposite of what the Nexus program was designed for, a report out of The Information this morning, suggests that's what Google plans to do going forward. According to this report, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his crew has told "colleagues and outsiders" that the company will take greater control over Nexus smartphones. No time frame for when that will happen was mentioned in any form during this report, nor were there any other real details, so we don't have much to go on other than that bit about Pichai informing "colleagues and outsiders." The report continues with mention of HTC potentially still hustling to try and build this year's Nexus phone(s), but that insiders at HTC aren't exactly thrilled that Google may want tighter control that wouldn't include HTC's name in any way. Then again, HTC could be the last partner before Google switches to a Google-only branded Nexus line later on. Of course, the argument surrounding this move has to do with Apple. According to sources of The Information, Google wants more control, because it wants to compete at the high-end with Apple and is worried that Apple will continue to try and squeeze Google's money-making opportunities out of the iPhone, which again, controls the high-end of the smartphone market. So, putting tons of money into the niche Nexus program is going to fix that? OK. Some other bullets from the report suggest that Googlers weren't happy that the newest Nexus phones weren't sold through carriers and that Nexus phones typically carry "high price points." Honestly, I don't know that I can get on board with either of those statements. I don't think Google likes partnering with carriers. They attempted it last year with the Nexus 6 and the phone was largely thought to be their worst selling Nexus in years. Do I even need to bring up the Galaxy Nexus fiasco? The Nexus line also has never really been sold at "high price points" outside of the Nexus 6. The Nexus 6P, at $499, is quite the bargain actually. Anyways. So who knows what this all means in the end. If Google wants to reduce the partner participation of companies like LG or Huawei or HTC for its Nexus line, I guess it is what it is. We all know that Nexus phones will never be household items until Google puts some marketing dollars behind them. Will a top-to-bottom approach finally push them to do that?

Via: The Information (subscription)

Samsung Makes It Official, Galaxy S7 is Coming February 21

Kellen — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 16:19:05 +0000

Well, this teaser just went live on a Sunday (Thanks, Samsung!). The Galaxy S7 will be here February 21 in Barcelona. Or the "Next Galaxy." We'll more than likely see the Galaxy S7 Edge as well because that's how Samsung is rolling at this point. We caught our first looks at each phone just prior to the weekend kicking off. To see the first Galaxy S7 images, jump to this post. For the latest on Galaxy S7 specs, head to this post. Keep in mind that February 21 will be the unveiling day. March 11 should be the in-store launch. Everyone see the 7? Samsung will stream the event live for all to see on their YouTube channel at 7PM CET, which is 10AM Pacific, 1PM Eastern on Sunday, February 21.

Don't Miss These Android Stories: January 29, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 15:29:36 +0000

You can tell that we are getting closer and closer to MWC, because the leaks are springing from every surface of the internet. This week, we got our first look at the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5 (in a dummy box), and heard full specs for the HTC One M10. Outside of the leak fun, we also got Hangouts 7.0, saw prices drop for the Nexus 5X and 6P, and watched T-Mobile make a whole bunch of tweaks to services. The week was packed, but it'll only get busier over the coming weeks. Be sure to catch-up now so that you can keep up as we hit the end of February, where everything will be really nuts.

Galaxy S7 Pictures: Our first look at the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
Here are Galaxy S7 specs for the AT&T model.
Galaxy S7 should arrive for purchase on March 11.
LG G5: Our exclusive first pictures of the device...in a dummy box.
Download: Hangouts v7.0 with quick reply!
Question: Why Android?
The best Android phones you can buy at Verizon.
Deal: Nexus 5X drops to $299 everywhere. Nexus 6P in gold is $50 off.
T-Mobile JUMP! will see a price adjustment both up and down on March 1.
T-Mobile made Binge On easier to turn off.
T-Mobile's prepaid plans are getting a nice bump in data at no extra charge.
Moto 360 Sport: 3 reasons it is worth buying.
LG G Pay may just be a universal credit card.
LG will also launch 2 flagship phones this year, which is no surprise.
HTC One M10: This phone actually sounds pretty awesome.
It might be a lot like the One A9, though.
Motorola's next phone will be "More innovative, more attractive."
Hot Icons: Material Cards are worth a look.
Question: Do you worry about Android security?
ParcelTrack is my favorite new package tracking app.
Chrooma keyboard is a colorful, fun take on the Google keyboard.
RIP: Google My Tracks is going away.
Question: Do you use a case on your phone?
Inbox by Gmail gets even smarter search and quick cards.
Dual cameras are apparently making a comeback in 2016.

Can't wait to watch the Pro Bowl this weekend...err, what?

T-Mobile JUMP! Prices Increase for Some on March 1, Drop for Others

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 14:32:37 +0000

On March 1, customers participating in T-Mobile's JUMP! upgrade program that currently costs $10 per month will either see a $2 dollar increase per month or a $1 reduction. According to letters being sent to JUMP! participants, T-Mobile is making the adjustments after they "evaluated" their Premium Handset Protection that is included in the JUMP! monthly fee. Going forward, T-Mobile will rank phones on a 1-5 tier level. That tier level will determine how much your monthly JUMP! price will be. For example, if you own a tier 1, 2, or 3 phone, your JUMP! price will be $9 per month. If you own a tier 4 or 5 phone, your JUMP! price will be $12 per month. T-Mobile is determining tier level based on the device value and how much the deductible for it would be. Tier 1 phones have deductibles in the $20 range, whereas tier 5 phones are at $175. Phones like the Galaxy Note 5 and iPhone 6s are tier 5. You can see a copy of the letter below.

Along with the changes to JUMP! pricing, Premium Handset Protection (PHP) will change similarly. Currently, PHP runs $8 for everyone, but the price of it will change to $7 per month for tier 1-3 phones and jump to $10 per month for tier 4 and 5 phones. Again, this all goes live on March 1.

Cheers Cory!

Our First Look at the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge? (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:27:55 +0000

Hi there, pretty pictures. We haven't yet met, but I do believe you are the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge? Leaker @evleaks just posted the image you are seeing below without comment other than a link to an article he had previously written that details Samsung's new phones. While he isn't saying it directly, we have to assume that these are press renders of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Below, we have what should be the regular Galaxy S7 on the left, followed by the Galaxy S7 Edge on the right. Yes, they are different sizes. At one point, we were operating under rumors that there may be three phones: the regular S7, an S7 Edge the size of the regular S6, and then a bigger S7 Edge+. Within the last week, those rumors cooled and we are now expecting just two phones called the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Make sense? So what are we seeing? It should be obvious that the overall design language here is almost identical to last year's S6 and S6 Edge+. The only real differences standing out to me at the moment, are potentially slightly less bezel in the new models, a bigger front facing camera, and a more rectangular home button. The color also appears to be black, rather than the deep blue we saw last year. We should also point out that the date of Sunday, February 21 is on the lock screen of both. That's significant because that is press day at MWC, where we expect Samsung to unveil each.

This isn't to scale, but here is a comparison of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ to these renders from @evleaks. S6 on the left and S7 on the right.

Thoughts? UPDATE: Evan posted another new image over at VentureBeat, which we've included below.

UPDATE 2: We now have pictures of their backsides.

Via: @evleaks

This Icon Pack is Hot: Material Cards

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 12:59:23 +0000

In our last episode of "This icon pack is hot," I made an off-handed comment about the world not needing anymore Material Design inspired icon packs. For the most part, I still stand by that comment, because seriously, there are so many icon packs that are some variation of Google's icons, only they differ by offering a tweaked color scheme or palette or vibe. Where we need to see Material Design put to use is in packs like the one we are featuring day. This is Material Cards. With Material Cards, you get an icon set that is technically in "beta." I don't know what that means, other than it only has 640 icons instead of the few thousand you see from others. The overall look takes in some Material Design cues with its color scheme and attempts at creating subtle depth through shadows. The icons are also very minimal and will remind you of their true Google-inspired counterparts. They remain unique, though, because of their squatty rectangular shape. With Material Cards, it's as if you are looking at Google's own icon ideas, only they have been pressed into card form. It's a fresh take on Material icons, but should also satisfy those of us who like to see icons all of the same shape. The pack also includes a set of wallpapers that are unique in their own right. Most are flattened, Material takes on the backs of popular phones. You'll find wallpapers for the Nexus 6P, that actually look like a flattened Nexus 6P. The same goes for the OnePlus 2, G4, Moto X Pure Edition, and V10. Play Link ($0.99)

DEAL: 128GB MicroSD Cards are as Cheap as $33 These Days

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:14:42 +0000

You would think that after being in this industry for almost 7 years now, that seeing accessories like 128GB microSD cards drop to $33 wouldn't amaze me so much, but it still does when you consider how quickly everything moves. At the beginning of 2014, SanDisk introduced one of the first 128GB microSD cards to the world. It was insanely expensive out of the gate, so expensive that we called a price drop to $120 a "deal." Today, companies like Silicon Power are selling class 10, UHS-1 128GB cards for $32.99 with Prime shipping. That's so nuts. You can even grab their 64GB cards for under $15. In that two years, we saw companies ditch SD card slots and then adopt them and then ditch them and then adopt them again. This year, we're pretty sure is an adoption year again, with Samsung (reportedly) bringing them back, plus LG will likely keep theirs as well. Now would be the time to stock up on storage, assuming you plan to pick-up one of these new flagships out of Korea. Amazon Link

Question of the Day: Do You Worry About Android Security?

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 08:51:21 +0000

Security is an important topic in today's mobile heavy world. It's starting to feel as if we are almost always under some form of attack from this or that spyware or virus or backdoor. Well, security companies are certainly trying to make us believe that, especially those who have attached their livelihood to Android. This isn't me completely dismissing potential threats on Android, it's just that most of these "67% of Android users at risk!" types of headline-grabbing reports almost always contain a big asterisk that involves some form of, "This doesn't concern you if you install everything through Google Play." In other words, if you own a legitimate Android phone that has Google services and aren't installing pirated apps through scary-as-hell 3rd party app stores, you are fine. But look, security threats can be real. After all, when you become this widely distributed as an "open" platform through so many different manufacturers and channels, you do sort of open yourself up to security issues. Even Google has started issuing monthly security patches to make sure Android is as up-to-date as is possible and some manufacturers have even joined their crusade. With that in mind, I'd like to see where you all stand on Android security. Is this something you are at all concerned about? Are you installing some form of a security app (like an anti-virus app) on your devices? Do you understand that sticking to Google Play protects you almost all of the time? Below, you'll find a short poll, but I'd really like to hear thoughts in general on Android security in the comments. [poll id="389"]

GIVEAWAY: We Have 50 Promo Codes for Backdrops Pro Up for Grabs! (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 07:24:48 +0000

Waaaaay back in October, we featured an app called Backdrops, a wallpaper app with a Material Design focus that was pushing out daily 'papers, collections, the ability to share your own with the app's community, and an incredibly clean appearance. It's a really nice wallpaper app. This week, the team behind it released a big update that introduces Google sign-in, so you can now sync your favorites across all of your devices. This is one of those features that multi-device owners will surely appreciate. While unrelated in content form, this was my reason for switching to ParcelTrack for package tracking. Device sync is a big deal, especially as many of us migrate from device to device, whether that's between personal devices only or work and personal. To celebrate this big update, Backdrops reached out to offer the DL crew 50 promo codes for their Pro version. The Pro price was at one time $1.99, so we're here to save you a couple of bucks. Play Link

How to win a promo code.

To enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter widget instructions below, which is basically going to tell you to leave a comment about Backdrops. So you have two steps here. You need to enter information into Rafflecopter, because this is how we'll choose our winners. Then, after doing so, jump below and leave a comment about Backdrops and why you are interested in it. If you don't do the Rafflecopter portion and instead just leave a comment, you won't be entered. I apologize if that sounds difficult, but the widget makes it really easy for us to pick winners. We'll choose our winners later today at 2PM Pacific. Ready? Go! UPDATE: Winners picked and codes emailed! Check those inboxes. a Rafflecopter giveaway

ParcelTrack is My New Favorite Package Tracker on Android

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:35:29 +0000

For a solid year, I was attached to AfterShip for all of my package tracking needs. Recently, after reaching out to its development team and hearing the developer tell me they had no plans to add account syncing between multiple devices, I gave up on it and went looking for a better option. You see, I change devices all of the time, often within a day. I can't have a single phone doing all of my package tracking - I need syncing. Earlier this week, I ran through a handful of options and even paid for many of their pro versions to get the full experience. Only one seems to be worth paying for and that app is ParcelTrack. This app, at least in my first few days with it, is awesome. For one, ParcelTrack is feature packed with options like quick swipe gestures on entries for archiving or deleting, pull-to-refresh, auto carrier detection and auto detection when your clipboard has a copied tracking number, a delivery forecast, barcode scanning, a widget, and support with many of the major shipping carriers, including all of the big dogs in the US. What makes this my app of choice is its other features, like synchronization between multiple devices, push notifications that aren't incredibly late, a dedicated email address that you can forward tracking emails to, and a super slick and clean UI. ParcelTrack does feature a premium set of features, many of which I just named. In order to unlock them all, it'll cost you $1.99, but only on a single device. Their Google Play listing will tell you which ones are a part of that package. If you don't need them, you can use it completely free. Package tracking freaks, you need to check this one out if you haven't already. Play Link

Chrooma Keyboard is Like a Colorful, Feature-Filled Version of the Google Keyboard

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:46:02 +0000

Earlier today, a keyboard was dropped off in our inbox that has us pretty excited about a potential change away from the stock Google Keyboard. The keyboard is called Chrooma and it's basically a form of the Google Keyboard we always wanted or at least kept hoping Google would build. In other words, it has a couple of features we wish Google would implement, along with a couple of really cool ideas that give your typing experience a boost of color. If you are looking for flashy slideout menus and predictive emoji and themes and all of that jazz, similar to what you would find in Swiftkey, you won't get that here. What you get with Chrooma is a very similar experience to the Google Keyboard. As someone who has found comfort in Google's keyboard over all others, this is right up my alley. Chrooma stands out to me because not only do I get that Google Keyboard experience that I like so much, but I also get a couple of really important settings to play with. For one, I can add a number row! Because that takes up a massive amount of screen real estate, Chrooma also built a scale, where you can drop down the size of your keyboard in 10% increments. Where Chrooma really shines, though, is in its adaptive color management. Confused by that idea? Let me attempt to explain. Chrooma is using this smart color system, where it matches up the color of the keyboard to whatever app you are using. For example, in Hangouts, you get a green keyboard that matches up to the color of Hangouts. In Gmail, it's shows up as red. In Keep, it's yellow. Make sense? And it does this all automatically as you jump between each without a hiccup.

If you don't like the adaptive color changing, that's OK too. You can set a custom color for each app that you use or turn off the adaptive coloring altogether and go back to one of the standard Material Light or Dark themes. Need another couple of reasons to try Chrooma? Night Mode and a palette style. In Night Mode, Chrooma recognizes "low illumination" and then adjusts the color of the keyboard to a darker shade so as to not blind you at night. With palette styling, Chrooma lays out a palette of colors on your keyboard, in case you need separation between lines and don't want to look at so many solid colors all day. You can see both in action below.

How does it type, you are probably wondering? As I mentioned earlier, the whole experience reminds a lot of the Google keyboard, from the way it types out letters, gestures words, and looks. I've just begun testing it, but so far am pretty impressed. Play Link ($1.49)

NVIDIA Hosting SHIELD Winter Game Sale, Save Up to 75% Off Select Games

Tim — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:20:54 +0000

For anyone using a SHIELD device, including a SHIELD Android TV or SHIELD Tablet, the holiday deals don't appear to be over quite yet. Today, NVIDIA announced the SHIELD Winter Game Sale, available on both Google Play, as well as GeForce NOW. To sum it up, select LEGO titles are 75% off through GeForce NOW (Marvel Super Heroes, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings), and on Google Play, you can save 50% on Hotline Miami titles, Titan Souls, OlliOlli, and Luftrausers. The sale is live right now, ending January 31. Here's the complete list of what is currently on sale.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (GeForce NOW 75% off)
LEGO The Hobbit (GeForce NOW 75% off)
LEGO The Lord of the Rings (GeForce NOW 75% off)
Hotline Miami 1 (Android 50% off)
Hotline Miami 2 (Android 50% off)
Titan Souls (Android 50% off)
OlliOlli (Android 50% off)
Luftrausers (Android 50% off)

Moto Valentine's Deals: Free Leather Watch Bands, Moto G Shells, and Discounts on Adler Designed Moto X

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:46:59 +0000

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Motorola is handing out discounts on some of its most popular products. From today through February 16, you can buy the Moto G, Moto 360 (2nd gen), or Jonathan Adler designed Moto X Pure Edition and either receive freebies or discounts. The three deals are as follows:

Buy Moto G (16GB) and get two free shells.
Moto X Pure Edition designed by Jonathan Adler is now $399 (drops from $474).
Order Moto 360 (2nd gen) with a metal band and get a leather band free.

You can shop all of the deals at Motorola's online shop.

LG G Pay "White Card" Could be a Credit Card Like Coin

Tim — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:48:41 +0000

Reports of G Pay, LG's mobile payments solution, surfaced in October of last year, but according to the latest intel, we could see the launch take place at MWC next month. G Pay will materialize into what LG is calling the White Card, a mobile credit card-sized payment tool. If you have ever heard of Coin, this is essentially what White Card will be. With it, users will securely load up all of their banking payment info, and then use White Card to pay at any merchant via a swipe, or even withdrawal money from ATMs. Using a liquid crystal display, users will scroll through which payment form they would like to use at any given retailer. If you have a rewards card at a certain store, you can upload it and use that form of payment. White Card is reported to launch with support for credit card, debit cards, loyalty cards, and more. When not in use, users can simply lock White Card, and given its size matching that of a regular credit card, the device can be stored inside of a wallet or purse.

As for US availability, not much is known. At this time, LG appears to be targeting consumers in South Korea, gaining card partners in that specific region. With announcement and launch reported to take place at MWC, we should know all of the details relatively soon. If LG's White Card makes it to the US, is this something you could see yourself using? Having personally attempted to use Coin, I can tell you that these platforms are often a complete pain in the rear, rather than a convenience. My fingers are crossed that LG has been able to solve many of the bugs associated with this type of payment solution.

Via: ETNews

Verizon Expands 15% Service Discount to Military Members With No Minimum Requirement

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:29:25 +0000

Today, Verizon announced an expanded discount program that gives discounts on wireless service and accessory purchases to active, former, and retired members of the military, without a minimum plan requirement. According to Verizon, members of the military are eligible to receive a 15% discount on a postpaid monthly wireless service (so, not prepaid), but this time around there is no "minimum plan requirement." Verizon says that they plan to automatically apply this discount to more than 100,000 eligible accounts that they have identified as current and former military men and women. If these men and women also want to pick-up accessories for their Verizon products, there will be 25% discounts on "select" chargers, cases, and extended batteries, along with a 12% discount on some calling features, like International Travel to Mexico and Canada, HUM by Verizon, and Tech Coach. To find out how you can get signed-up for the discounts, head over to this Verizon page.

Via: Verizon

EDIT: Verizon's press release wasn't at all clear, so we've updated the post to make it more accurate. Verizon has had a discount program, but it now doesn't require a minimum plan as of today. They are also expanding it to more members of the military.

Swiftkey Update Brings Android 6.0.1's New Emoji, Like This One ?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:50:04 +0000

Back in December, Swiftkey Beta received an update that included access to the new emoji introduced in Android 6.0.1. Today, the stable or "market" channel of Swiftkey received the update with access to them as well. What else is in the update? Nothing that we know of. Swiftkey may have fixed some bugs, but this update is really all about emoji access. What's that, you aren't seeing the middle finger emoji in the title, the new poop emoji, or champagne or burritos or flags? Yeah, well, that's because you probably aren't on Android 6.0.1. In order to see and use the new emoji, you have to be on a phone that is running Android 6.0.1. Since there are all of five phones that I can think of that are on the newest build, you can probably move along now. ????

Via: Swiftkey

HTC One M10 Reported to Feature QHD AMOLED Display, 12 UltraPixel Camera With Laser Focus

Tim — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:48:28 +0000

According to the latest report, HTC will release its most advanced smartphone in 2016, claimed by one source who has spent time with a prototype. Stated by the source, the One M10 features a 5.1" QHD display, which is reported to look like the AMOLED variety, and will also feature a 12 UltraPixel camera with assisted laser focus on its backside. At 12 UltraPixels, users should not only have larger pixels to capture more light in low-light settings, but the resolution of photos will be greater, meaning added detail for all shots you take. Previously, HTC's UltraPixel did not make a great first impression, as the 4MP resolution was not great enough to stand it up against the best of Samsung or LG. This change should help tackle that issue. As for software, the One M10 is said to ship running Android 6.0.1, with Sense 8.0 UI on top. To go along with software enhancements, HTC is placing a fingerprint home button on the bottom frontside, just as we saw with the One A9. This matches previous reports stating that the One M10's design would be taking a few design cues from the A9. Internally, the report goes on to claim most of the same we have already heard or expected; the One M10 will have a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, possible microSD slot for expandable storage, and 32GB of onboard storage. One missing feature, which will surely upset those hardcore HTC fans, is the lack of BoomSound speakers. For years, the audio was a highlight on One devices, but in 2016, HTC appears to be moving away from delivering heavy bass tones from dual front-facing speakers. This choice is probably attributed to HTC's desire to create a slimmer, shorter device. And possibly, it could mean we shouldn't expect a HTC "black bar" on the frontside. The source claims that HTC will indeed not be showing off the One M10 at MWC next month, and instead, will hold a separate event later this year. Are these specs painting the picture of a device you might want to own?

Via: Venture Beat

Question of the Day: Why Android?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:26:26 +0000

Bringing them big questions today, eh? Yes, yes, we are. In all semi-seriousness, it's time to talk about it (again). I can't remember the last time (or if ever) we talked about this subject, but I'd love to hear some specific (or general) thoughts on why you have chosen Android as your mobile operating system. This isn't meant to be a "Down with Apple!" post; we're genuinely curious in 2016 why you continue to stick with Android. While Android has evolved over the years, iOS has as well, even adopting plenty of early Android features that once made this the easy operating system of choice for many of us. Is it about control, still? Is it the "openness" to everything (like apps talking to each other and a file manager)? Is it about choice? Is it because you just flat out love HTC or Samsung or Motorola or LG? Is it because you need the best Google app experiences (sans Hangouts of course)? Or maybe, you really just do despise all that is Apple? Let's hear it.

Motorola's Next Phone Arrives in July, Will be “More Innovative, More Attractive”

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:13:11 +0000

So, here we have a fun little quote that we can run a couple of ways with. Lenovo chief Yuanqing Yang said in an interview to the Wall Street Journal that he still thinks that there is room for growth for smartphones in emerging markets, but that he also intends to leverage his Motorola ownership to penetrate the smartphone market in the US. He said that his company will release a phone this July to the US that will be "more innovative, more attractive." Oooh, a phone that is more innovative and more attractive. On one hand, because of the context surrounding it, that quote almost seems to be in reference to his previous comments about emerging-market growth. Obviously, the US is not an emerging market, but we have certainly seen a push for the types of phones typically introduced in emerging markets, being released in the US. Take the Moto G for example, or ASUS and BLU phones. Is Yang saying that they have a "more innovative, more attractive" lower-end phone for the US that will arrive in July? Probably not. He's probably referencing the Moto line, which is their only flagship phone line going forward. So if he is talking about the Moto line and a phone that is coming out in July, what could be "more innovative, more attractive" than what is already on the market? Or that they have done previously? Well, they could use a fingerprint reader for one. Maybe they have more Moto app features lined up? An even better camera than what they put in this past year's Moto X? As for being more attractive, that's all a matter of taste and opinion, but the Moto X line of phones has been one of the better looking for years now. Is Yang hinting at a new design language? Are we talking an even broader range of material choices in Moto Maker? Look at that. A tiny, 4-word quote just got me to write over 300 words. You tell us, what would you like to see in a "more innovative, more attractive" Moto phone for 2016?

Via: Wall Street Journal

Yahoo App Also Gets Update, Aims to Make Finding News Easier

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:29:14 +0000

Yahoo Mail isn't the only Yahoo app to get a big update today. The Yahoo app is also getting a sizable update that is aimed at helping you "find, consume, and engage around the news, content and video you care about." The update also wants to make it easier for you to join in on conversations surrounding news items and follow the latest in developer stories. A bulk of these changes seem to be happening in Yahoo for the web, where you'll be able to read multiple articles without having to open a bunch of individual tabs. You'll see editors' picks, relevant content, related stories by clicking a heart icon, and be able to click through to read more. It's one of those situations where the more you read, the more tailored to you the experience becomes. As for the conversation piece to all of this, Yahoo has made comments surface directly in-line, so it's easier than ever to share your ~~trolling~~ thoughts with the world. Because, you know, we all asked for opinions about the Earth being flat to be shared even easier. Grab the update today, Yahoo news fans. Play Link

Via: Yahoo

You Can Now Customize Swipe Actions in Yahoo Mail, Use Actionable Notifications

Tim — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:08:44 +0000

An update for Yahoo Mail hit Google Play this morning, bringing an Inbox-like feature that will allow users to more quickly organize their email inbox. Upon loading it up, users will see the added ability to add custom actions for swiping gestures, such as archive, delete, move to, and others. This update goes hand-in-hand with a previous update that brought the swiping actions. These custom actions make organization a breeze, given you no longer need to dive into each email to send them to their correct folder or place. If it's trash, give it a swipe to the right. If you want to mark an email as read, give it a swipe to the left. All actions are customizable, so it's left to the user what you would like Yahoo Mail to do. In addition to swiping actions, newly expandable notifications from Yahoo Mail will also show customizable options, such as giving an email a star or immediately archiving it. Again, these actions are completely changeable depending on what you need them to perform. If you rock Yahoo Mail, go grab the update. Play Link

Via: Yahoo

RIP: Google My Tracks is Shutting Down April 30

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 07:51:56 +0000

Another Google app bites the dust. My Tracks, Google's outdoor mapping and tracking app that has somewhere between 10M and 50M installs, is shutting down on April 30, so that Google can focus their mapping efforts elsewhere. As you can imagine, this news hasn't been taken well by My Tracks users. For an outdoor tracking app, it used to be one of the best, since it was able to track accurately without destroying your battery. In recent months, reviews haven't been kind to My Tracks, likely because Google had dropped support. Today's news only sort of reinforces that thought. Here is the statement from Google on why it will be shut down:

After April 30, 2016, My Tracks will no longer be available. We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause My Tracks users. We’ve made the tough decision to invest our efforts into other, more wide-reaching, mapping projects. Below are some resources to help you manage or export your data and find other apps to continue tracking your activities.

If you were a My Tracks users and want to export your data, Google has a couple of options for you that can be found at the source link below. Google is also providing applications that could be good alternatives, like Google Fit, Strava, Endomondo, Map My Run, Map My Hike, GPS Logger for Android, and GPX Viewer. RIP, My Tracks.

Via: Google Support

T-Mobile Adds New Services to Binge On, Makes It Easier to Turn Off

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 07:18:07 +0000

T-Mobile announced that a handful of new services have joined their Binge On video streaming program, this morning, but in doing so, also attempted to provide more of the same narrative as they did during the embarrassing, combative outburst CEO John Legere paraded around earlier in the month in support of it. This time, though, they want you to know that their customers think it's the greatest thing ever. Of course, that's never been our problem with Binge On, but Legere refuses to acknowledge that and address any of the real concerns people have with it. Outside of the customer survey information, they are also giving customers easier ways to turn Binge On on or off. The new services joining Binge On are Amazon Video, Fox News, Univision NOW, and WWE Network. You'll notice that YouTube is still not a part of the fun. Like with the rest of the partnered Binge On video services, you can now watch video from all four of those services without the streams counting against your data bucket. Of course, the video will be throttled to 480p. As for the news surrounding T-Mobile's customers showing support, this is what T-Mobile is sharing from data they have collected and a survey they took of Binge On users:

Customers with limited high-speed data who qualify for free Binge On streaming are watching more than twice as many hours per day from free services than before.
One major video service, included in the list of services that stream without eating up your data, is seeing a 79% jump in daily viewers.
Another major video service, not yet included in the Binge On list of free services, is seeing customers watch 33% more hours than before, thanks to Binge On optimization providing up to 3x more video from their data plan
Since launching Binge On, T-Mobile customers have streamed 34 petabytes for free. That’s 34 million gigabytes – the equivalent of more than 109 million episodes of Game of Thrones at DVD quality (480p)!
92% of T-Mobile customers surveyed said they’ll watch more video with Binge On, and 93% said they like the idea of having all video optimized to DVD quality so they can watch 3x more using the same amount of high-speed data. And, interestingly, 69% of customers with the old carriers said they’d expect to have to pay extra for Binge On.

So people are consuming more video than ever now that they have Binge On. Except, wasn't John Legere worried about people not knowing about Binge On, and so that's why they turned it on for all customers (including those on unlimited plans) by default, making it an opt-out service? Ugh, I don't want to go down that road again. You guys know how I feel about Binge On and the way it was implemented. All of that aside, T-Mobile is making it easier than ever to turn on or off. To do so via dialer, you "Just dial #BNG# (#264#) and hit send to check your settings, #BOF# (#263#) to turn it off and #BON# (#266#) to turn on Binge On." If the dialer trick doesn't seem to be working, T-Mobile has also added a shortcut to Binge On settings in your plan details box on the opening page of your My T-Mobile account. They also updated their My T-Mobile app to make it easier, though that update will roll out slowly to Android users. Tell us - are you watching more video than ever because of Binge On?

Via: T-Mobile

3 Reasons the Moto 360 Sport is Worth Buying

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:58:57 +0000

We have been spreading reasons why you should buy the top Android smartphones on the market, but starting today, we are shifting our focusing to smartwatches and will kick things off with the Moto 360 Sport. Released earlier this month, the Moto 360 Sport is Motorola's hybrid device, created to meld both fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality into a usable, easy to understand device. Having recently reviewed it, I came away very impressed with its ability to track my fitness routines, while also giving me the info I need that comes directly from my smartphone. This includes email alerts, Hangouts notifications, as well as Google Maps info when I am busy driving myself around town. The Moto 360 Sport is the first true attempt at combining everything you need from a fitness tracker and baking it into an Android Wear smartwatch, so again, if you have not yet checked it out, read our full review. If you already went through the review, or just don't have time, here are three reasons why the Moto 360 Sport is a good buy for you.

1. It's a smartwatch that handles fitness very well.

From the first watch face you see when booting up the Moto 360 Sport, you can tell this thing was meant to be your fitness companion. On this watch face, which is the one I used primarily during the time of my review, you can quickly access information on your steps taken, calories burned, and heart activity. Looking to the photo above, you will see a "Start" button. When pressed, you can begin a quick workout, and the watch will begin taking its measurements of calories burned, GPS data, and steps. All of this same functionality can be opened up through an app, in case using this watch face does not suit you. Once a workout is complete, you can head into the Moto Body application that can be downloaded onto any Android device via Google Play. Inside, you can analyze all of the data the watch recorded, including the route via GPS, calories, heart activity, etc. In addition, the watch will start you off with "daily goals." These goals are by no means for Olympic athletes, but perfect for your everyday Joe Schmo. To start, the daily goal for steps is set at 10,000, which seems to be rather common on fitness trackers. For healthy heart activity, the watch wants users to complete a solid hour of activity, just to make sure you get that blood circulating well throughout the body. When you reach these goals, a little vibration will go off, alerting you to a successful day of activity. At this point, you can then binge on nachos and beer. For a more detailed breakdown on the fitness side of this smartwatch, read our complete review.

2. AnyLight Hybrid display.

First introduced on the Moto 360 Sport, the AnyLight Hybrid display allows users to view their smartwatch in virtually any setting, and this was confirmed by myself after spending a few weeks with the device, even taking it with me to Las Vegas for CES. Whether it is direct sunlight or dimly lit rooms, the Moto 360 Sport offers one of the best smartwatch viewing experiences I have had. The technology is two panels - one regular LCD that you will find in other smartwatches, in addition to a special front-lit reflective display. When combined, this panel allows real contrast to be seen by the eye, even when you are out on a run during a sunny day. If you compared this to a regular Moto 360, the difference would be almost immediate, as the Moto 360, as with other Android Wear watches, do not fair too favorably in direct lighting. In my review, I claimed that I wish every Android Wear smartwatch featured this type of display, as there is something about it that is pleasing to the eyes. Maybe its the lack of glare or the lack of blinding brightness needed when outdoors, but AnyLight Hybrid kicks major butt.

3. Comfort during usage.

Given that if you intend on purchasing this device, you will probably be using it for outdoor and physical activities. I have worn every Android Wear watch to my knowledge, and if I was ranking them on comfort alone, the Moto 360 Sport would easily be in my top three, alongside the Moto 360 (1st Gen) and Huawei Watch. However, none of these other watches are made with complete fitness in mind, so when it comes to the gym, you only have one real option in the realm of Android Wear. The silicone band on this watch offers great stretch, which I found to be the true reason for its comfort. After a few wears and you find the perfect fit, the device's bands almost mold onto the wrist, allowing for that perfect fit every time. The same can be said for genuine leather bands, and to see that from silicone, it is promising. In my review, I note that these bands can be especially sticky, never ceasing to pick up dog hair and random dust particles. To counter this, I find myself wiping my watch down every now and then, which will likely be common if you tend to be sweating on it at the gym. Remember, folks, always wipe down your equipment, including your smartwatch. And don't worry, this thing is sweat, water, and dust resistant. If any of these reasons have made you a believer, the Moto 360 Sport is priced at $299 on Motorola's website.

DEAL: This Quick Charge 2.0 Car Charger is Just $5.99

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:43:08 +0000

Here's a crazy good deal for those of you on the hunt for a car charger with Quick Charge 2.0 support. Choetech is currently selling their 2-port car charger for just $5.99 with coupon code. The unit typically retails for $13.99, so you are looking at a solid $8 discount to just a few bucks. While it is 2-port, only 1 of the ports is QC 2.0 equipped. The other port is an adaptive fast charger that should still get the job done fairly quickly. Amazon Link To get the deal, use code "725N2G9D" at checkout. Amazon Prime shipping is included.

DL MEGA CASE GIVEAWAY: We've Got 80 Cases That You Need to Take Off Our Hands

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:19:10 +0000

Ummm, so, apparently you guys really like cases. What do you say we give away a bunch of the cases we have lying around the Droid Life offices to those that are in need of one? I just counted out a box full and I'm coming up with at least 80 that you need to take off my hands. Seriously, you can see them all in the image above. Right now, I have a pile of cases lying in my office for phones like the Galaxy S6 and Edge (+ too), Note 5 and 4, LG G3 and G4, Nexus 6 and 5, and HTC One M9. I even have a couple of random cases, like an Incipio battery pack case for the original Moto X, an Alto leather case for the iPhone 6, and car charger/shell combo fo the Blackberry Priv. The cases you'll find in this giveaway are from your favorite case brands too, like Spigen and Ringke, but you'll find some official Nexus cases as well. Some have been briefly reviewed or fondled for a few minutes, but most are brand new and have never been out of the box. I hope if you win one and it has been touched by a finger or two, you won't mind. After all, it's a free case. So what do you say? Who wants a free case?

This is how to enter to win a free case.

In order to get one, we are going to try and keep this dead simple. Below, you'll find a link to a Google Form (survey) that you will need to fill out. The survey will ask which phone you own (so we can get you the correct case) and what your shipping info is. It will also require you to login with a Google account. You can only submit a response once that way, so make sure you submit one for the correct phone. Because we have so many cases to giveaway, this is the most efficient way for us to do this. If you don't feel comfortable filling out this private survey whose results only I have access to, I fully understand. If you don't feel like submitting a response with a Google account, I also understand. But that's how this is going down, because again, we want this to be simple in the end, so that we can easily choose winners and get them shipped out. Obviously, we have 80 or so cases, but there could be more than 80 entries. Not everyone will win. If you win, you'll know because you'll receive a case in the mail. If you receive nothing, then you didn't win. We'll do our best to mail all cases out within the next week. Once the survey and giveaway are over with (meaning we sent all cases out), I'm deleting the survey responses. I have no need for your addresses other than to giveaway some cases that are taking up space in my office. All good? Click the link below and fill out the simple survey in order to enter for a chance to win. EDIT: This is a US only giveaway. Sorry, forgot to say that initially. UPDATE: SURVEY CLOSED. We had some 2,500 entries in less than 24 hours. Thanks all! If you win, you'll receive a case soon!

LINK TO SURVEY

Mobile Comments Arrive for Google Docs, Slides and Sheets

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:34:01 +0000

App updates are rolling out, allowing users of Google Slides, Sheets, and Docs to add comments while on mobile devices. Previously, commenting was exclusive to desktop folk, but now, anyone who is a part of a file can chip in their two cents, regardless of what device they are using. To add a comment, hit the drop down menu in any file, and you will see a comment button under "Insert." Tap that button, then you are all set to make any comments you need. Google thought it would be cute to share a story about how impactful comments from mobile can be, so view the company's promo video below, highlighting a zucchini chocolate cake. Play Links: Docs | Sheets | Slides

[responsive_vid]

Via: Google

T-Mobile Prepaid Plans Upgraded With More Data, No Price Hike

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 11:21:12 +0000

T-Mobile prepaid plans have always been a heck of a value, but within the past couple of days, they made them even better. We're talking about the addition of more data, yet no price hikes to go with them. For a couple of the plans, the added high-speed data is significant. Their prices are staying the same at $40, $50, and $60 levels, but the data is going up to 3GB, 5GB, and 10GB, respectively. Previously, the $40 plan had 1GB, the $50 plan had 3GB, and the $60 plan had 5GB. So you can see that each is gaining a lot with little else changing. Don't forget that each also includes unlimited talk and text, plus these plans get access to music unlimited and "Data Maximizer," which are weird terms for T-Mobile's Music Freedom and Binge On. (Edit: Data Maximizer may actually still use your data, but it downgrades or throttles video. You may want to turn this off.) You can checkout the new T-Mobile prepaid plans here.

Via: Tmonews

Question of the Day: Do You Use a Case on Your Phone? What Kind?

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:19:51 +0000

Smartphones can be quite the investment, so of course, folks want to protect them. There are hundreds of different cases for your smartphone on the market, so how is one supposed to choose the right option? Should they choose one that doesn't make the device too bulky? Is added bulk okay as long as it protects your device from all of the elements of life? We at DL, as we have probably said many times before, do not use cases on our phones. We want to enjoy the look and feel of our phones, which is usually hidden by any case we would choose. Options such as a Toast cover can take your metal and glass phone and turn it into something you would find on the forest moon of Endor. Others, like TPU cases, can be bulky and simply feel cheap at times. Of course, there are also premium thin cases (like the ones from Spigen), heavy duty protective options, and skins that you can apply directly to your phone for low level protection. With all of that being said, the question of the day is, do you use a case on your smartphone? And if so, which case are you using and why? Is protecting your device more important that admiring its looks on a daily basis? Or maybe you just like the way a particular case looks? Share your take on cases below.

Google Play Reviews Get "Thumbs Up" Button for Quick Positive Feedback

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:06:55 +0000

Google made the slightest of tweaks to the Google Play store reviews section this week that will make it easier for you to tell the developer that someone has said something you appreciate about their app, but a little harder for you to tell a developer that a review is nothing but spam. As you can see in the image above, we now have a little "thumbs up" icon next to a mini action overflow (read: menu) button. As you run through reviews of an app and you see one or two or ten that you find helpful, a little tap on that "thumbs up" button will go a long way, likely in how reviews show in the app's listing. If you see reviews that you consider to be spam, well, that's where you will find the flag as "Spam" option tucked inside that little menu. It's a small change, but it does away with the thumbs up/down button and makes it easier to share which reviews you find useful.

T-Mobile Hosting BOGO Half-Off Smartphone Event

Tim — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 08:52:47 +0000

Starting today, T-Mobile Simple Choice customers can upgrade their lines, thanks to a buy one, get one half-off promotion. For a limited time, customers can purchase any of the high-end smartphones that T-Mobile sells, then receive half-off of a smartphone of equal or lesser value, from the same manufacturer. For example, if you purchase a Galaxy S6, you get a second Galaxy S6 for 50% off. The same goes for the iPhone, Galaxy Note 5, LG G4, among others. To pay for these devices, they will be financed through your plan, leaving you with monthly charges to your bill. However, while the first device will be the usual price of around $25, the second device will only cost as low as $12.08 per month. For a Galaxy S6 32GB, that's a savings of nearly $290 over 24 months for qualified buyers. Additionally, to take advantage of this promo, no trade-ins are required, and as part of the promotion, families and businesses can get up to six smartphones at half price. If interested, follow the T-Mo link below. T-Mobile Link

Via: T-Mobile

AT&T Galaxy S7 Shows Up at Geekbench With Snapdragon 820, 4GB RAM, Android 6.0.1

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 08:28:46 +0000

With less than a month to go before Samsung unveils the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge at MWC in Barcelona, new details are surfacing almost daily. Take today for example, where the phone under model number SM-G930A showed up at benchmarking site Geekbench with a couple of scores and a handful of specs we were curious about. As a reminder, SM-G930 has long been referred to as the model number for the Galaxy S7. Once you start attaching letters to the end, that's when you get specific carry or regional models. In this situation, the "A" stands for AT&T. The Verizon version will be SM-G930V, Sprint will be SM-G930P, and T-Mobile will more than likely be SM-G930T. While we're on the subject, the Galaxy S7 Edge will fall under SM-G935 generally speaking, with end letters, again, pointing to specific carrier or regional models. Back to the benchmark - we are seeing the AT&T version that appears to be running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. We know that from this benchmark because the processor is listed as a Qualcomm chipset that is quad-core. We can also see the motherboard listed as "MSM8996." If you have been following the Snapdragon 820 saga, then you will know that MSM8996 is indeed the part number for the 820 and that this is Qualcomm's first custom, 64-bit quad-core chip. We don't know if all of the US carrier variants will use the Snapdragon 820, but it would be surprising. In the past, we have seen Samsung use Exynos chipsets in international markets, yet use Qualcomm processors here in the US. They didn't last year, but that's because they skipped Qualcomm altogether. As for other info from this benchmark, we are seeing listings for 4GB RAM and Android 6.0.1.

Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy?

Via: Geekbench | GforGames

Hangouts 7.0 Pops Up, Introduces Quick Reply and Save to Home Screen

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 16:17:48 +0000

Oh boy, a big Hangouts update is arriving on Android! It's version 7.0.113001250 and it includes quick reply! I don't know why I'm acting so excited, since this is still Hangouts we're talking about, but this feature has been needed for far too long. It's great to finally see it as it makes quickly replying to a conversation so easy and simple without interrupting what you are doing. Remember, Google Messenger received this functionality almost a year ago. Anyways, the update started rolling out earlier today and one lucky dude grabbed it and uploaded the APK file for us to enjoy. We have that for you below. Outside of quick reply (where you get to quickly reply through notifications on top of your current screen), you will now see an option tucked inside of the conversations menu that allows you to save the conversation to your home screen. As you can see in the screenshot below, I easily created an entire folder of conversations on my home screen. How useful is that? The rest of the update includes minor UI tweaks that only the purest Material Design freak will notice. Enjoy! Play Link | Download Link (APK)

Via: reddit | APK Mirror | Android Police

Best Android Phones on Verizon: January 2016

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:47:53 +0000

I don't know that I can count on one hand, the times that we have been asked to give our opinion on which is the best phone for this carrier or that network. So, like we have done in the past with these types of questions that pop up time and time again, we thought we'd just start talking openly about the topic on regular intervals. And since many of you are still attached to Verizon, possibly even holding onto an unlimited data plan, we'll start there before making our way through the rest of the major carriers. Now, our answers will change as the year progresses and new devices arrive, but we need to start somewhere and so we decided January would be the best time to get this going. What we have for you below are the three best Android phones we think you can buy today on Verizon. Ready? Note: This post focuses on the Android phones you can buy at Verizon. This post isn't touching on the unlocked options out there, like the Nexus 6P or Moto X Pure Edition. We know those fully work on Verizon, but they aren't sold at Verizon stores.

The Best: Galaxy Note 5

This shouldn't shock anyone. In our end of 2015 round-up on the best Android phone you could buy, we raved about the Galaxy Note 5, even though it came in just below the Nexus 6P. But just because it didn't top our list, doesn't mean that we wouldn't swap a 6P for a Note 5 and not feel just as good about life. You see, with the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung has ticked almost all of the boxes one could ask for in a smartphone. They put the best display and camera the world has ever seen in a smartphone. They also gave us a beautiful glass and metal body that fits perfectly in the hand, even though it's a large device. They tossed in an improved S Pen, included a big enough battery to get you through almost any day, and utilized never-before-seen features like fast wireless charging. And let's not forget that the Note 5 is one of a handful of phones that can take advantage of Samsung Pay, which is far and away the best mobile payment system on the planet. The Galaxy Note 5 has few issues, but if you want a big one, it would be its lack of timely software updates. We are almost into February and this phone still doesn't have Android 6.0 Marshmallow. We also don't know when that will come. That's unfortunate, because this phone could get even better with the behind-the-scenes improvements from Google's latest version of Android. To get the full scoop on the Galaxy Note 5, be sure to read our review. As of today, you can pick-up the Galaxy Note 5 from Verizon for around $29 per month or $696 at full retail. By no means is this phone cheap or attempting to compete with the value phones of the world, but when you look at all of the tech and high-end finishes that Samsung included, you can understand why it carries a premium price. This is one of those phones that seems worthy of its high price, and that's not something I say often. With the Galaxy S7 arriving within the next couple of months, it's tough to say if the Note 5 will remain here. Honestly, though, I wouldn't be shocked if it does.

The Runner-up: DROID Turbo 2

The DROID Turbo 2 is one of those phones that has a lot going for it (insane battery life and performance, shatterproof display, good camera, SD card slot, and Moto Maker), but it doesn't quite nail it all. That's not to say that you won't be 100% satisfied with it, it's just that it lags a bit in overall experience when you compare it to the Galaxy Note 5. We tend to really like the Turbo 2 because of its "pure" Android experience that has given it (along with Motorola optimizations) one of the fastest and smoothest performance experiences in any phone I have ever used. This phone just screams without lag. But it also really does have a shatterproof display. Seriously, you cannot crack this thing. That's due in part to the plastic elements that make up its ShatterShield technology, but it truly is the phone for those with clumsy hands. Outside of those two features, we can't help but praise Motorola for the work they have done with cameras this year, and that includes the Turbo 2. They should also be praised for the high-end specs of this phone, inclusion of a microSD slot, the massive 3760mAh battery tucked inside, and the options in Moto Maker to let you customize a phone. The Turbo 2 does have its issues, though. The display, while shatterproof, isn't exactly the best looking display on the planet. The design of the phone is also quite middle-of-the-road, at least when considering the white model (buy the black one if you decide you want the Turbo 2). This phone doesn't have a fingerprint reader and is loaded up with awful amounts of bloatware from Verizon. We also don't know when it will see the update to Marshmallow, since Verizon is typically horrendous when it comes to updating its flagship phones in a timely manner. To see an in-depth view of the Turbo 2, be sure to read our review. The DROID Turbo 2 can currently be purchased from Verizon, with Moto Maker customization, at a starting price of $26 per month or $624 at full retail. Like the Note 5, this isn't a value buy here. Instead, this is a high-end phone with mostly top-of-the-line finishes that command a steep price. To choose this over the Note 5, I think someone would have to be looking for insane battery life, coupled with a stock Android experience. Otherwise, spend the extra few bucks per month on the Note.

Edit: Original post said Turbo 2 doesn't have wireless charging when it fact it does.

Another Option: LG V10

If neither of those phones is doing it for you, maybe because you don't trust Samsung or Motorola, you may want to consider something completely different in the LG V10. I clowned on this phone a bit when it was first announced, but ended up really liking it for the most part during my review period. The LG V10 has a really incredible, big and beautiful display that I wasn't expecting to see. It has a really unique design with steel bars running up its sides that I appreciate, especially after looking at so many similar phones on a daily basis. I also found the performance to be quite good, which is saying something for an LG phone, and the battery life to be up there with the best of them. LG even did some nice things with the gimmicky secondary display on the V10. I think where the LG V10 trails those other two is in things like the software and camera departments. LG has always had one of the worst takes on Android and nothing changes here. But outside of that, the camera just isn't as good as the shooters from Samsung and Motorola. The phone is insanely large as well, and completely unmanageable with one hand. Look, if you want a tough phone, with an SD card slot and removable battery, and a really unique design, the V10 might just be the phone for you. Just remember that the software, camera, and size could all be an issue. Be sure to read our full LG V10 review if you haven't already. You can currently buy the LG V10 from Verizon for $28 per month or $672 at full retail. That seems a bit steep to me and I would actually recommend you sit tight before jumping quickly at the V10. The LG G5 should be here within the next two months and should top this phone in almost every category. That likely means we'll see discounts arrive to the V10, dropping it to a more reasonable price point.

What do you think? If you had to buy an Android phone on Verizon today, which would you choose?

Snapchat for Android Update Includes Reverse Video Filter

Tim — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 15:44:15 +0000

A recent update to Snapchat has brought yet another filter for you to have a bit of fun with. Late last year, Snapchat brought the ability to speed up and slow down video, but now, Android folks can send videos that are reversed, leaving the door wide open for a lot of creepy and cool clips. After recording a video as you normally would, you can swipe left and right through the various filters. Do this until you come across the three arrows pointing to the left. When selected, the recorded video will be played backwards, which can then be sent to your Snapchat friends. After testing it out myself, it works fantastically. I was able to recreate the famed Freddie Mercury line, "another one bites the dust" backward, and yeah, it sorta sounds naughty. Now, take the left hand path and make your own little Stairway to Heaven video. Play Link

Nexus 5X Now Priced at $299 Through Google Store (Updated: Amazon Too)

Tim — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:21:04 +0000

Earlier this month, we saw Google drop the price of the Nexus 5X from its original $379 price to $349, but today, Google has dropped the price once more, now sitting it right at $299. We don't exactly know why the Nexus 5X keeps seeing price drops, but it is entirely possible that the phone is not selling that well. Its larger sibling, the Nexus 6P, does seem to be much more popular among the folks who would purchase Nexus devices. However, with the Nexus 5X now priced at $299, it's a crazy good deal for anyone looking to purchase a relatively cheap vanilla Android smartphone that will receive direct Google support into the foreseeable future. If you need actual reasons to purchase this phone, here are five of them. Now, if only Google would consider dropping the Nexus 6P to $399, we would all be in business. Google Link UPDATE: Amazon has also dropped the price to $299.

Check Out Tap'n Slide on Google Play, Free to Play With No IAPs

Tim — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:56:38 +0000

Google Play, and any app store for that matter, is probably filled with tons of yet-to-be-discovered app and gaming gems. The latest to be discovered, which was first published in late 2015, is Tap'n Slide. The game is very reminiscent of Crossy Road, or the classic Frogger game, but instead of going side to side and backward, you can only go forward. To master the game, you must time your block's slide perfectly, or you will run into the black blocks that glide horizontally across the screen. Along your journey forward, you must collect red blocks, which give you points. As you slide more and collect more blocks, the points you gain can be used on different color themes for the game. Naturally, the farther you slide, the harder the game becomes with an increase to the size of the obstacles. For a free game, likely done by a one-person team, the controls are rather responsive, and thanks to easy accomplishments, you can really boost your Play Games achievement ranking in no time at all. Within my first 100 slides, I had already gained 10,000 XP on Play Games. As stated in the title, the game is completely free to download on Google Play, and features no ads or IAPs. In 2016, this is somewhat of a rarity. While the gameplay is somewhat repetitious, it's done well, and for that, I think you should go check it out. Play Link

HTC One M10 "Perfume" Might be a Lot Like the One A9

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:46:46 +0000

Leaker @evleaks posted an exciting note to Twitter last night for those interested in HTC's next flagship, largely thought to be called the One M10. He Tweeted a short "It's ALIVE," along with the image you'll see below that calls out the phone's codename. He then followed that Tweet up with one suggesting that the One A9 might have served as inspiration for the M10. In the image below, you can see that most has been blurred out, but Evan did leave the carrier, model number, and codename in the clear. While we aren't sure of this image's origin, it does look as if we should expect the One M10 to show up at AT&T at some point, under the codename "Perfume" and model number HTC 2PS650. A quick search for that model number brings up a server log that shows the phone likely being testing in the wild around January 20 and running Android 6.0.1 build MMB29M. That is the latest version of Android.

As for the reference to the One A9, Evan could be referencing the design language of the phone. In other words, we could be in for another iPhone clone from HTC. Obviously, one should expect upgraded internals, like a Snapdragon 820 and a QHD display, but we could (and should) see a fingerprint sensor located at the home button location on the front chin, plus a combination of metals and glass. I don't expect HTC to take any chances this year. Don't be shocked if this is much of the same from the past couple of years. If the HTC One M10 is just a more powerful One A9, are you going to be satisfied?

Via: @evleaks [2]

HTC Hot Deals are Back, Save Up to 30% When You Spend $650

Tim — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 09:27:34 +0000

The Hot Deals from HTC are back, this time, saving you more money when you buy more. For this deal, HTC is offering a percentage of savings when you purchase something through their online store. For example, if you buy a RE Camera, you save 15%. If you buy a One M9, you save 30%. To be exact, when you make a purchase of $150 (RE Camera is priced at $199), you will save 15%. If you spend $500 (price of the One A9), you save 20%. For those who spend $650 (price of One M9), you save 30%. Details

Save 30% when you spend $650
Save 20% when you spend $500
Save 15% when you spend $150

The sale just went live, and runs until January 26 (tonight) at 11:59 p.m. PT. HTC Link

LG Plans to Launch Two Flagship Phones in 2016

Tim — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 08:52:29 +0000

LG announced its quarterly and annual earnings this morning, but more important than the financial mumbo jumbo, the company gave a bit of insight into its smartphone agenda for 2016. In the earnings report, with a portion dedicated to the LG Mobile Communications Company, LG declares it saw a 12 percent increase in sales over the previous quarter, and shipped a total of 15.3 million LG smartphones in Q4. Over the entire year of 2015, LG shipped 59.7 million devices, an increase from 59.1 million in 2014. The real news, though, is LG states that the company will release, "two new flagship models and a more cost-competitive value chain," to improve profitability in the new year.

The smartphone marketplace is expected to be increasingly competitive in 2016 due to anticipated premium models from competitors and further price competition within the mass tier space. The introduction of two new flagship models and a more cost-competitive value chain is expected to improve profitability in 2016.

We can safely assume that one of the devices this portion refers to is the LG G5, set to be announced at MWC next month. In addition, we could also see a sequel to the V10, which a lot of people in the US seem to enjoy. In our eyes, if LG starts investing more in premium hardware, but most importantly, trims down its skin and gets back to delivering an experience that matters to consumers, the company could really benefit in 2016. Are you ready for two flagships from LG in 2016?

Via: LG

Inbox on Android Gets Improved Search With Quick Cards for Orders, Flights, Bills, and More

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 08:18:14 +0000

Inbox is still my email app of choice, not only because it makes managing my email so much easier and more efficient, but it keeps getting sweet new features. Today, Google says that search inside of Inbox will be smarter than ever, bringing you results in a hurry, with quick cards for many searches. Now, when you want the status of a package or order, details on a dinner reservation or hotel confirmation, or your frequent flyer number, you can do short searches for those (ex: "delta frequent flyer" or "dinner reservation") and Inbox will do its best to return results in the form of a mini or quick card that will present the info asked for or give you links to see related info that is specific to the completed search. See the GIF below for a bunch of examples from Google.

Along with the quick cards, Inbox will also start to show a "Top results" section after a search has been completed that attempts to order results by their relevance. Below that section, you will then find your normal, in order by date, results. Google hasn't said if this is all coming in an update to the app or via server-side switch. My guess is this will all just start happening within the next few days. Let us know if you are seeing the new cards! Play Link

Via: Gmail Blog

DEAL: Nexus 6P in Gold is $50 Off at Best Buy (Updated: Google Store Too)

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 07:38:13 +0000

For what I can only imagine is a limited time, Best Buy has slashed the price of the Nexus 6P in gold by $50. That means the 32GB version is $449 and the 64GB version is $499. Those are Black Friday level prices for a phone that we still consider to be the best Android phone you can buy today. This gold model isn't any different from the white, aluminium, or graphite models, other than the fact that it has a gold paint job. At one point, it was a Japan exclusive, but at CES, Huawei and Google announced that it had reach wider availability. In the US, that means it can be purchased through the Google Store or at Best Buy. Be sure to read our review of the Nexus 6P if you haven't already, and then get you some gold. Links: Best Buy | Google Store UPDATE: The $50 off promo has extended into the Google Store.

[responsive_vid]

Cheers Trevor!

Marshmallow Updates for Galaxy S6 Variants, Galaxy Note 5 Reportedly Pushed Until February or March

Tim — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:27:25 +0000

According to latest leak of information, Marshmallow updates for a string of Samsung Galaxy devices have been delayed, pushed back about a month to even two months. It was first reported in November that Android 6.0 updates would hit devices such as the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ in late December, but as we stroll into late January, updates in the US have yet to take place. As seen in a portion of the leaked document, all devices have been pushed back rather significantly, with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ now listed as receiving the updates some time in February. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have also been delayed, now listed as February/March. As for the Galaxy S5, that device is now listed to receive Marshmallow in March/April, instead of "awaiting approval" as it did in November, which is a good thing. Now, while all of this may sound sad, Samsung has never been one to open up on its update process. If anything, they are the least transparent Android OEM on the planet in this department. But you know, we can't blame Samsung for this. They make a ton of phones that are available on hundreds of carriers around the globe, making the update situation rather complex. And when we say a Samsung software update has been "delayed," we can't exactly expect an apology from Samsung, as the company has never promised or guaranteed any type of update timeline. All we as consumers can go on are leaks such as this one. If you are awaiting your Marshmallow update, it appears you will have to hold on a bit longer.

Via: MobiPicker

DEAL: Nexus 5X 16GB for $299, 32GB for $349 (Plus $20 Visa Gift Card, Free Shipping Included)

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:18:25 +0000

If you took advantage of Friday's Nexus 5X deal that featured Google's littler Nexus for $312, I apologize, because today, we have an even better deal. BuyDig (via eBay) is currently selling the Nexus 5X with 16GB of storage for $299 and the 32GB model for $349. Those are the lowest prices we have seen to date. Hold on, though, it gets even better. By purchasing either of the versions, you will also receive a $20 VISA gift card, just because. The VISA gift cards will take 6-8 weeks to arrive, but I can't imagine you'll have a problem with that. BuyDig is selling each as brand new phones. This is model LG-H790, which is the US or North American version and will work on all of our carriers. You can read our review of it here. Free shipping is included. eBay Links: Nexus 5X 16GB ($299) | Nexus 5X 32GB ($349)

Cheers Scott!

These USB Type-C Adapters are Benson Leung Approved

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:03:18 +0000

If you own one of the new Nexus devices, the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P, you are probably slowly settling into the idea of USB Type-C. Many of you may have picked up an additional charger or cable here or there through a variety of deals featured on this site, but if you have yet to because you still own a whole bunch of microUSB chargers from old phones that are still in working order, maybe it's time to put those back to work. Maybe it's time to pick-up some USB Type-C adapters. Thanks to Googler Benson Leung, who has been fighting the spec compliant USB Type-C fight for us all, we have a pretty healthy list of adapters that are the safe to use with your older microUSB chargers. It's probably safe to say that these are the best USB Type-C adapters around. What is a USB Type-C adapter? It's a little nub or tip that attaches to a microUSB cable to, for the most part, turn it into a USB Type-C cable. The idea here is to buy an adapter that can be placed over the top of the microUSB tip of your old cables to turn them into working USB Type-C chargers for your new Nexus phones or future phones that will likely support USB Type-C. With a simple adapter attached, you no longer have to buy a full-blown Type-C charger. If you haven't been following Benson's growing list of USB Type-C reviews on Amazon, then hopefully the list below will help you out. Amazon Links:

Tronsmart Type-C to MicroUSB (review) - $7.49 (2-Pack)
Xiaomi Type-C to MicroUSB (review) - $8.99 (1-Pack)
Mobkits Type-C to MicroUSB (review) - $6.99 (1-Pack)
Pushingbest Type-C to MicroUSB (review) - $5.99 (1-Pack)
Neckteck Type-C to MicroUSB (review) - $7.99 (1-Pack)

Gear S2 Classic in 18K Rose Gold and Platinum Availability Begins Today in China, Not Yet for US

Tim — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 13:42:41 +0000

Samsung announced that the Gear S2 Classic in 18K Rose Gold and Platinum are available starting today, although, buyers in the US will have to wait a little bit longer to get hands-on with the new colors. For now, these two models of the Tizen-powered smartwatch are only available in China, with additional regions getting them a little later in 2016. We spent a bit of hands-on time with the latest models of the Gear S2 Classic at CES in January, concluding that besides a shell made out of either 18K Rose Gold or Platinum, it's the same Gear S2 Classic watch that is already available to buyers in the US. In addition to the changes made to the exterior of the Gear S2 Classic, Samsung has also loaded these units up with Peanuts watch faces, as well as additional app support from services such as ESPN, CNN, eBay, and Uber. For more information on the Gear S2 Classic, check out our hands-on with the smartwatch at CES. When exact availability for the US is announced, we will update you if you are interested in this timepiece.

Via: Samsung

Spotify Brings Videos and Podcasts to Android App This Week

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 13:38:44 +0000

Back in May, Spotify announced that it would soon introduce videos and podcasts to its streaming service line-up, though they weren't exactly willing to provide a proper launch date at that time. Today, their VP of product, Shiva Rajaraman, told the Wall Street Journal that an update for Android would include these new features this week. At least one reddit user is already seeing new the Shows and Podcasts sections, though the rollout for them could happen slowly. I, for one, am not seeing these new sections quite yet, even though Google Play is showing that a new update arrive on Android today. Spotify has teamed up with companies like ESPN, Comedy Central, BBC, and Vice for content. On their newly updated website, they envision a world where you catch up on news video during your commute, get some "giggles" in during lunch, and checkout a story before going off to bed. They also hope that podcasts will be a much welcomed addition to your daily tune line-up. Spotify hasn't exactly announced timing for the update outside of a mention to the WSJ, so if you aren't seeing these new sections quite yet, it shouldn't be much longer. The iOS version with videos and podcasts should be here next week. Tell us, though - were you looking for another video platform outside of YouTube and the variety of other services? Does having a music service that doubles as a video service sound promising to you? Play Link

Via: Wall Street Journal

Google Play Games Permissions are Changing, Here are the Details

Tim — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 11:49:28 +0000

If you play games on your smartphone or tablet that utilize syncing with Play Games, you should note upcoming changes that are taking place. Thankfully for users, these changes are the kind that greatly benefit players, and should positively change your experience when you first start up a gaming application. As announced today, Google is switching up the Play Games permissions, hoping to limit the amount of time gamers have to spend granting permissions and syncing their Google profile. Once these changes take place, here's what you should expect to see, or rather, not see. Upon rollout of these changes, players will be prompted to sign-in only once per Google account, instead of being prompted once per game. So, instead of opening a new game and going through the permissions screen, your new games will automatically sign in, as long as you have already signed into your account on that device. Even better, Google will no longer require your account to be "upgraded" to Google+ to use Play Games services, and will allow any Google user to take advantage of Play Games' leaderboards and achievements. If you would rather sign into each game individually, instead of automatically, you can disable this feature in the Play Game app's settings. Google notes that developers won't likely need to change anything on their end, and in the long run, this will be a much easier process for anyone who enjoys downloading new games and quickly get to the playing. However, if the developer uses specific Google+ features to make something work in their game, a few changes will be needed, but it's nothing major. If you are a developer, be sure to read the Android team's complete writeup of the changes.

Via: Android Developers

GIVEAWAY: Win 1 of 30 Tronsmart Titan 5-Port Quick Charge 2.0 Hubs! (Discount Code Too!)

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 11:33:00 +0000

At the end of last week, we wrote up a quick review on Tronsmart's Titan 5-Port Quick Charge 2.0 Hub. It's one of those products that doesn't really have any major flaws to talk about because all it wants to do is simultaneously charge five of your devices really, really fast. And it does that at a pretty affordable price. To follow-up the review, we have a bunch to give away to you, thanks to the folks over at Tronsmart. In fact, we have 30 of them to hand out internationally. Typically, our giveaways are US-only because it's just easier. However, Tronsmart insists on doing it internationally by also picking up the shipping tab. Pretty sweet, right? If you don't want to deal with the contest, we also have a new coupon code for the Titan from Tronsmart for you to use today. The code is "5USBPORT" and it will save you $14 off the normal price, if you choose GeekBuying as the vendor over at Amazon. [Amazon Link] Ready?

Giveaway

Prizes: 30 (thirty) Tronsmart Titan How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners: This Sunday, January 31, at 12:00PM Pacific, we'll choose our 30 winners and forward them on to Tronsmart for prize dispensing.

OxygenOS 2.2.0 Rolling Out to OnePlus X Starting Today

Tim — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 10:24:59 +0000

An update is headed out to the OnePlus X, labeled as OxygenOS 2.2.0. Inside, folks will find a Manual Mode for the camera application, Save to SD Card option for the camera app, in addition to security patches and general bug fixes. Also listed in the changelog is a USSD bug fix for owners in India, OTA app upgrade, and dual SIM preferences have been added back into the system settings. OnePlus states that the update is headed out right now, but if you don't see it immediately, "be patient." What's New

Manual mode for Camera App
Save to SD card option in Camera App
USSD bug fix for India
Added dual SIM preferences back in system settings
OTA App upgrade
Security patches
General bug fixes and optimizations

Via: OnePlus

Years After 3D Phones and the HTC One M8 Failed, Samsung and LG Think the World is Ready for Dual Cameras

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:49:56 +0000

I can't say that I have read a single comment on Droid Life within the past couple of years asking for the return of dual cameras on the backs of phones, but they are coming, at least according to a report out of ETnews. Apparently, wide-angle, focus-adjusting, and 3D photography, along with a future full of iris scanning, are the next hotness in mobile tech and suppliers of smartphone parts are beginning to prepare for a competition. According to ETnews, the LG G5 will be one of the first flagship phones to ship with a dual camera setup. That idea certainly matches up to an exclusive set of photos we received over the weekend that shows the G5 locked inside of a dummy box. Our pictures show the rear side of the phone with dual camera lenses on each side of a flash. Other reports have also claimed that the G5 will have dual cameras as well, plus we have case manufacturers showing imagery that supports this idea. LG won't be the only company to get into dual cameras, though. This report suggests that Samsung will begin to mass produce dual camera modules this year as well, in hopes of selling them to a number of smartphone manufacturers because manufacturers are "choosing dual cameras one after the other." ETnews isn't suggesting that a Galaxy phone will have dual cameras at any point in the near future, just that Samsung will produce modules for other phone makers, many of which will be in China. This report makes the claim that because smartphone cameras have peaked in terms of quality, smartphone makers will look to introduce new features, like being able to measure depth with two cameras. Two cameras also could help with wide-angle photography, more 3D fun, and eventually, iris scanner. That sound familiar? The same thing happened years ago with 3D phones, but more recently, with HTC and the One M8. HTC introduced gimmicky dual cameras to the One M8, one of which was used to measure depth and allow users to refocus photos after the fact and do some other really dodgy effects. The idea was somewhat interesting, except for the fact that HTC still thought 4MP photos were good enough at the time. It also didn't help that companies like Samsung and Sony were able to reproduce post-focusing with software. With LG gearing up for dual cameras in the G5, I can't imagine the effect will be much different than what HTC did. All we'll get this time around, unless LG has a really useful trick up its sleeve that we aren't yet realizing, is higher resolution photos of the same old gimmick. Does anyone really want that? Honestly, I'd rather LG spend time cleaning up its poorly executed software interface. Who wants dual cameras? Maybe that shouldn't be a question, since it sounds like we may not have a choice in the near future.

Via: ETnews

Alleged Photos Show Off Upcoming Galaxy S7 From Samsung

Tim — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:02:38 +0000

In the latest development in the Galaxy saga, alleged photos of the Galaxy S7 have hit the web, detailing what we might expect from Samsung in the year 2016. As far as we know, these are the first reported images of the phone, taken straight from what appear to be a cleanroom in one of Samsung's testing facilities. Upon inspection of the photo, we see a device, inside of a grey protective box. On the top and bottom portion of the phone, we see plenty of bezel, and there appears to be quite a bit of black surrounding the display itself. There is a white sticker covering up what is likely a Samsung logo on top, and on the bottom, we have capacitive buttons and a physical home button. Speaking on the design, the phone appears to be rather rectangular, not as bubbly and curved as last year's Galaxy S6. However, this could simply be the grey case playing a trick on the eyes. We won't know exactly what to expect in the shape department until a few more photos are made available. The last photo is a run of camera modules for the phone, labeled as SM-G930F. That model number matches up with what is reported to be assigned to the Galaxy S7. Beyond the device, the best part of this photo is what device was used to shoot it. As we can clearly view in the reflection, someone working in a Samsung cleanroom owns a HTC One, which is classic. Share your thoughts below.

Via: GSM Arena

Report: Galaxy S7 Coming to US on March 11

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 08:15:51 +0000

Would you be OK with Samsung releasing the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge on March 11, here in the US? According to @evleaks, that's what we're looking at. March 11 means we could see an incredibly quick turn-around from the time Samsung announces each phone until they hit stores. MWC, the conference that Samsung is expected to make each of the new phones official, starts February 22. Samsung, assuming they do use the event to announce the new Galaxy devices, will likely do so on February 21. So if March 11 is correct, that's a 3 week window for pre-orders to open and then stock to arrive in stores. How exciting. https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/690630250561150976

This is Probably the LG G5 in a Dummy Box (Updated)

Kellen — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 08:10:09 +0000

I know, right, what's with the question mark? Do we know or do we not know? Honestly, it's almost impossible to tell. So this is what we have and I'll let you decide. A source sent over the set of pictures you are seeing below, claiming that we are looking at an LG prototype. It could be the LG G5, which we are expecting to see at MWC in a month, or it could be something else. It's obvious that we are looking at a "NOT FOR SALE" phone that has been placed in a dummy box to hide its identity as it goes through testing. There are no LG markers, but that doesn't mean it isn't an LG phone. I say that because just over a month ago, a now "deleted" user on reddit, opened up a thread to say that he had an LG G5 in a dummy box, ran through a list of specs, and then peaced out without us ever hearing from him again. He also posted this picture. That small picture looks very close to the pictures we have below, plus he said that the phone has dual rear cameras of 16MP and 8MP. If you take a look at the picture of the backside that we have, you will also see a dual camera setup. Not only that, but the design here matches up very nicely to previous mock-ups done by CNET, who claims to have seen the actual device. According to that report, the back of the phone features a camera housing with this shape, along with a fingerprint reader just below it. An additional report by VentureBeat suggests that the G5 will have dual cameras as well. Camera housing aside, the rest of these pictures match up to other previous reports on the G5, including that reddit thread. We are seeing a volume rocker taken from the back and moved to the left side, the SIM and SD card tray on the lower right side, and a USB Type-C port on the bottom next to a single speaker.

You tell me - is this the LG G5? Update: Based on additional information we have received, I believe this is the LG G5 in a dummy box that is meant to conceal its identity. Title has been tweaked to reflect this. Update 2: Not that we ever really get excited about the cases we see on Amazon, but some of the cases popping up for the LG G5 are matching up exactly to the images we have here. Here are two of them. You can see the top dual camera setup, along with the fingerprint reader and placement of volume buttons.

Update 3: ETnews has also reported this morning that they are expecting dual cameras in the LG G5.

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: January 22, 2016

Tim — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 16:08:04 +0000

We are another week into 2016, and we are inching that much closer to the goodness that is sure to come at MWC in February. Over the course of this week, we heard a few interesting tidbits. First, it was reported this week that HTC is to make two Nexus smartphones in 2016, which already has us pretty much flabbergasted. Could 2016 be the year of HTC's triumphant return? Next, Verizon introduced FreeBee Data, a sponsored data program, which leads us to believe that Verizon was not very happy about T-Mobile receiving so much flack recently and wanted to get in on the angry mob action. Nobody puts Verizon in a corner. Other news includes Oracle claiming Google has made a revenue of $31 billion off of Android, we don't think Saygus will ever ship the V2, and HTC may be holding off release of the One M10 until LG and Samsung dominate MWC. If you missed any of this excitement, please take a moment to catch up on everything.

Next week, be on the lookout for Episode 100 of the Droid Life Show. It's sure to be very special.

Backing a Crowdfunded Smartphone is a Terrible Idea. [Opinion]

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 15:39:36 +0000

If there is one, almost guaranteed to be terrible, financial decision you could make in tech today, it would be by backing a crowdfunded smartphone. That includes those from random companies you have never heard of that open up "pre-orders" for break-through devices that have features never seen before. We're, of course, talking about the campaigns run by companies like Saygus, Turing, Comet, and maybe even Nextbit, to a certain extent. Why would I tell you to automatically back away from what could be the next big thing? For a number of reasons. First of all, making smartphones is really hard to do. I don't mean to pick on Nextbit, because they are close to shipping one of their models on time and are (for now) the only legitimate crowdfunded phone I have seen to date, but even their Robin phone is experiencing delays and this is a start-up that is lead by a number of high-profile industry veterans who know what they are doing. Nextbit announced today that their CDMA variant will ship a couple of months later than their GSM model because they got overly excited when their campaign for the Robin was funded, saw how many people wanted to have CDMA connectivity, and then made a promise to deliver it. They are just now realizing that CDMA certification takes a really long time and have decided to come out now and announce a delay. You can also look to companies like Yota, who were attempting to bring their already-manufactured Yota Phone 2 to the US. They received ample funding, but then eventually pulled the plug after running into issues and realizing it just wasn't worth the effort. And don't forget about the Ubuntu Edge phone. This was a phone whose creators realized that making phones is expensive and hard, so they opened up a campaign that needed $21M. They never received full funding and abandoned the project. If you look around at other recent crowdfunded or pre-order smartphones, the situation is much, much worse. Most of these companies, like Saygus and Turing, have made it clear to us that they either have no idea what it takes to make a smartphone or they are a complete scam. These companies announced pre-orders and campaigns to get funding, then showed up to every single tech conference they could use your money for, yet have passed shipping targets, one after another, with little communication.

Saygus was originally supposed to ship their V-Squared phone last March. That never happened, to no one's surprise, but it was the passing of shipping date after shipping date, a questionable Indiegogo campaign, and misleading Tweets about shipment preparation that have moved this company and its phone into scam territory. Their latest reason for shipping delays claims to be because they can't seem to come to agreement with a Chinese phone manufacturer and have supposedly started their own engineering team to build a phone that is closing in on being a year late. At this point, it would shock me to see this phone ever ship to anyone. Their communication with their backers has been abysmal and the speed at which they are offering refunds is constantly being called into question. As for Turing, well, they launched in similar fashion to Saygus by announcing a phone that was available for pre-order and was supposedly ready to ship by X-mas of 2015. Again, to no one's surprise, the phone didn't ship and still hasn't. They showed the phone to a handful of press early on, but the phone has almost slipped back into being vaporware at this point. Their communication with pre-orderees has also been awful. They have taken to Facebook here and there to announce that they will be announcing news shortly, yet rarely do. At this point, the phone is said to have a March shipping date, though no one should believe it. Turing also announced a bunch of free upgrades to those who pre-ordered, likely to retain them in this ongoing saga. We reached out to Turing for comment on their phone's status and have yet to hear back after almost a week.

Update 2/2/2016: After publishing this piece, Turing has since pulled the ol' switcheroo on its early pre-orderees and is delaying the phone until April, so that they can make the switch from Android to Jolla's Sailfish OS. In other words, they took pre-order money from people expecting an Android phone and are now just going to switch to a non-Android OS without permission. This switch means no access to Google Play or any of Google's apps. The Turing phone is a scam. If you backed it, I hope it's not too late to get a refund.

Outside of making phones, you should be avoiding most of these crowdfunded or pre-order phones because many of these are outright scams. While Saygus and Turing have shown the world physical products that exist on some level and could ship one day, there are "companies" like Comet that were created to rob ignorant customers and lead them on for months, before disappearing into a foreign abyss after taking their cash.

Last year, we wrote about the Comet phone, calling out the fact that it was a completely fake product that would never exist. We even joked about how surprised we were that it didn't launch on Indiegogo instead of Kickstarter, since Indiegogo allows you to setup flexible funding accounts where you take people's cash without your product ever seeing full funding. Sure enough, after we wrote up our story, they launched on Indiegogo and even received their $100,000+ in funding. What's really scary about campaigns like this, is after receiving full funding on Indiegogo, their page turns into a storefront where they can continue to take money from people. This scam product is closing in on $200,000. In recent weeks, Comet has told backers to spread the word about their phone through social and friend channels in hopes of adding to their pile of cash. They are promising free add-ons of other products once they hit stretch goals, all the while begging for backers to share, but anyone with half a brain knows they won't ever get them, because this phone won't ever be real. Take for example this video that was posted this week of said Comet phone (Edit: Comet pulled the video, of course). It supposedly shows "prototypes" booting up, yet any semi-knowledgeable Android fan knows that these are two different phones, one of which belongs to HTC, and the other that certainly isn't a prototype. All Comet did was flash a new boot animation on each to try and trick the novice techie into thinking they have a fully booting phone.

[responsive_vid]

That's not all, though. The company is made up of a rag-tag mix of people with random Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and shady Search Engine Optimization (SEO) backgrounds, almost none of which, outside of a "Chief Public Relations Officer," live in the US. But get this, this company, who thinks that it only takes $100,000 to build a "first" of its kind smartphone, also is claiming that the phone will be manufactured in the US. Even Motorola, who was owned by Google, couldn't succeed at assembling a phone in the US, let alone fully manufacturing one.

Consider this too. If we throw all of the that drama out the window, the bottom line is that most of these phones just aren't worth the money if/when they show up on your doorstep. Because of delays and the slow-moving smartphone making process that most of these newly formed companies aren't familiar with, crowd funded phones often are out of date and behind the times when they are finished and ready for you. While companies like Samsung, LG, and even HTC, are introducing new phones every six months with the latest and greatest tech, there is a good chance that your crowd funded phone is a whole cycle behind. That means an older processor, older camera module, slower RAM or storage, and software that their small teams probably won't be able to support. The lesson here is that if the industry veterans are experiencing delays, how on Earth do these off-brand, no-name companies ever think we should believe that they can deliver even an ounce of what they are promising in a timely manner? You shouldn't believe them. You just shouldn't. You sure as hell shouldn't spend your money on them. We have yet to see a success story come from a crowdfunded or pre-ordered phone. Every single one that I can think of has experienced a delay of some sort. And look, starting a new company and trying to create something truly unique is hard. I get that. The problem is, customers spend their hard earned money on these products, many of which are nothing but funnels to the pocket of a scam artist.

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EDIT made to consider the phones themselves being out of date and spec by the time they arrive.

Quick Review: Tronsmart Titan 5-Port Quick Charge 2.0 Hub

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:48:17 +0000

I'm guessing that your household is a lot like mine - there are multiple people in it, all of which have smartphones and tablets and other gadgets that need to be charged on a regular basis. With products like the Tronsmart Titan, you get a 5-port hub that can charge them all simultaneously. Not only that, but it can charge many of them quickly, since it has been equipped with Quick Charge 2.0 support in all ports. The folks at Tronsmart sent us over a Titan to review and so we took them up on it. After all, we feature a number of their products when they see discounts and figured we should probably get even closer to one of their most popular. This is our quick Tronsmart Titan review.

So what is there to say about a charger? Well, I would want to know things like: What are the specs? Does it charge devices properly? Does it have Quick Charge support? Does it get hot? How big is it? Is it priced well? Does it work with Google's new Nexus phones? Let's tackle those individually.

What are its specs? The Tronsmart Titan pushes a total of 90 Watts through its five ports, with 18W dedicated to each. It can charge at 5V/2A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A. All of its ports are also "smart" ports that help protect against over-current, overcharging, and overheating. Tronsmart says that they are using the "latest 2 in 1 charging chip," to help each port decide whether or not to use Quick Charge 2.0 or not.
Speaking of Quick Charge 2.0. Yes, the Titan supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 in all 5 of its ports. That means you can charge 5 Quick Charge 2.0 enabled devices at the same time and see fast results on each. That's a big deal, as many charging hubs only have 1 or 2 dedicated QC 2.0 ports.
How quickly does it charge a phone? In three separate charges of a Moto X Pure Edition, I was able to get full charges from around 15% in around an hour or hour and ten minutes. The Moto X Pure Edition sports a 3000mAh battery, so that's not bad. The early surge charge that I saw in the lower percentages got me to 50% within 25-30 minutes.
Does it quick charge the new Nexus phones? Nope. I plugged in a Nexus 6P and saw no rapid charging whatsoever. The Nexus phones need 5V/3A current and this does not supply that. It'll charge the new Nexus phones, but not quickly. In the single charge I did of a Nexus 6P that was at 17% when plugged in, it took 1.5 hours to get up to 75%.
Does it charge properly? Pretty important question. In my testing - yes, it does charge properly. What I mean by that is I didn't notice my Nexus 6P or Moto X Pure Edition getting overly hot, nor has the charger done any damage to them after a number of cycles. It just charges them like it should. Thanks to the Titan's 5 ports, it does so at the same time, along with whatever smartwatch I have laying around at the moment, and my wife's phone.
How big is it? The official measurements are 6.26 x 3.31 x 1.13 inches. It's not huge or ugly by any means, but it's a decent sized black box that is going to sit on a desk or counter or other area that you frequent for charging devices. You'll need some space for it, for sure.
What's wrong with it? I really just have one gripe and that would be the included power cable. It is way too short. I'm the type that likes to bury cables and hide hubs like this out of sight, but that was almost impossible because of the short 3-foot AC power cable. It's a pretty standard 125V/7A AC power cord, so you could replace it with a 6-foot or longer cord for under $10, but that's an additional cost.
It also doesn't come with USB cables. You probably have a bunch of these lying around, so Tronsmart isn't including any additional USB cables in the box, likely to keep the cost down. You need to use your own. Deal with it.
What about the price - good or bad? The Tronsmart Titan can be had at Amazon for around $38. If you are patient, you should be able to find it for much cheaper, since Tronsmart is constantly running deals on it for well under $30. Most single Quick Charge 2.0 chargers run anywhere from $10-15, but here you are getting 5 in a single hub. At just shy of $40, I don't think the Titan is overpriced by any means. Like I said, if $40 sounds too high, just be patient and wait for that next coupon code.

Some pictures:

Here is a quick video overview as well:

[responsive_vid]

If you want to buy a Tronsmart Titan 5-Port, you can grab them at Amazon.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 36 Answers

Tim — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:55:32 +0000

As we stated on Monday, we skipped answers for Volume 35 of the Q&A Sessions due to the holidays, but now we are back, bringing you answers to both Volume 35 and Volume 36. Needless to say, there are a ton of answers for you below. Topics this week include Nexus devices in 2016, speculation on the Moto 360 (3rd Gen), Super Bowl 50 predictions, talk about Star Wars, and if HTC will even make it past 2016. We read through all of your questions from the past couple of weeks, so take a look below and see if your question was answered. Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim, and R is Ron.

Is 2016 a make-or-break year for HTC?

K: HTC seems like a proud company that will fight to the last dollar to try and make a comeback. I keep thinking the end is near with each passing month and yet, here they are, hawking mid-range phones as if they are flagships, and crossing fingers that VR will save them. So I don't know that 2016 is make or break. I think it'll be more of the same. They'll struggle to sell many phones, but continue to hitch their trailer to VR. If anything, I wouldn't be shocked to see HTC try and slowly move away from phones. T: This may sound mean, but I didn't think HTC was even going to make it this far. If anything, I was expecting an acquisition in 2015, but that never came. It seems that they will continue their push until all of the funds are gone, and at that point, they will probably still find a way to stay afloat. If the One M10 is a flop, which is entirely possible with it going up against the Galaxy S7 lineup and G5, I could see HTC pivoting towards VR more so than ever. To be clear, I don't want HTC to go away, I always enjoyed their phones, but the One M8 and One M9 were hot garbage in most departments. Fingers crossed for a kickass One M10. R: I think it'll be another year where they release a phone that only their diehard fans will buy as they continue their slow decline into bankruptcy or selling.

What is your favorite text messaging app on Android?

K: What's a text message? T: I use Hangouts for all of my messaging needs, even though Hangouts is pretty janky lately. R: I like Google Messenger a lot. I think it looks nice and works well. In fact I wish Hangouts was more like it.

Do you feel that the Android smartphone market is oversaturated?

K: Not really. There are choices, but most phones still have an identity that helps them stand on their own. I'm sure investors and manufacturers probably think it is, because none of them can make any money. But for consumers, you have more choices of great phones than ever. T: There are a ton of different phones, but I wouldn't define the market as oversaturated. From the consumer standpoint, it can be good and bad, as someone who does not follow all of the blogs can easily get lost in the mix, but if you are an informed buyer, then you know what is good and what you should stay away from. Because of this, I suggest that you recommend Droid Life to all of your friends and family, just to be sure everyone is informed on the best devices. R: Yes and no. It's oversaturated with a lot of phones that are essentially the same, but I think there's also still room for someone to do something really different with hardware if they wanted to.

Who do you want to see make the Nexus in 2016?

K: I doubt they will, but I wouldn't mind Samsung getting another crack at it. Their designs have come so far and were so refreshingly premium in 2015, that I'd love to see stock Android on their hardware. Think about another Samsung phone with on-screen buttons, stock Android with fast updates, and that metal and glass body. Oh boy. T: My bet is on Huawei, but I would like to see Samsung or HTC, I guess. A Nexus phone could really help pull HTC from the dumps, I think. And Samsung, its hardware has been stellar as of late, so couple that with vanilla Android and you are golden. R: I think Huawei did a really great job. I wouldn't mind seeing them do something again.

Super Bowl. What are your predictions?

K: Wouldn't mind seeing Peyton go out with another ring. Otherwise, I guess the Cardinals would be fine. But it'll probably be Brady vs. Newton and I'll just do something else on that day. T: The Panthers vs. Cardinals game is the Super Bowl for me. Whichever team from that game wins, they will also win the actual Super Bowl against the Patriots. To clarify, I have either the Cards or Panthers winning Super Bowl 50 against the New England Patriots. R: Owlcats all the way.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens. What are your thoughts?

K: It's one of the few movies I've seen in recent years where I left and immediately had like 20 questions that needed answers. And I don't say that in a bad way, because I know those answers will come. I think that's what's so exciting about it. We basically just got teased on what could end up being some really fun shit. I also need to see it again...like now. T: Man, what a movie. For me, it completely and almost effortlessly encapsulated the magic that is the original Star Wars trilogy. It was funny, cute, and at times, totally bad ass. The effects were portrayed very well, and like everyone else, I must see it many more times before its digital and hardcopy release. I can't wait to see how Darth Jar Jar plays into this plot! If anyone wants to listen to an hour-long podcast of me ranting about Star Wars, just let me know, as I'd be happy to oblige. R: I loved it. Were there flaws? Sure, but I think the overall strategy of placing new characters in familiar themes was great. I can't remember the last time I was excited to see the next Star Wars movie. The Force Awakens helped establish that the galaxy is different and the same in all kinds of ways, but I'm most excited to see these new characters grow and transform.

What do you expect from the Moto 360 (3rd Gen)?

K: Hopefully that stupid flat tire goes away. Otherwise, at this point, do we really need one? Until we get some new tech that will help batteries last longer or make smartwatches smarter, I just don't see the need for an upgrade. All Motorola did with the new 360 was add modern internals and polish the design. Nothing else really changed. And this current version should still be plenty fast and good for the next year and beyond. T: I expect a flat tire. If it wasn't gone for 2nd Gen, there's no way they remove it for 3rd Gen. As for design or anything like that, I don't expect much to change. Moto, in my eyes, have made the best looking Android Wear watches, so hopefully that design team wasn't fired due to the Lenovo acquisition. Darn you, Google. R: Probably more of the same unless Lenovo wants to really change things up. I'd love to see a fully round display instead of the flat tire, but aside from that I think Moto has one of the best, if not the best, looking Android Wear watches. Obviously I'd love to see Wear itself improve, but that's not in Lenovo's hands.

Why are you so against Android tablets?

K: They just don't fit into my life whatsoever. My phone has a big enough screen to consume everything in one hand. If I want to read, I'll grab a real book. If I want to watch a movie, I'll use my TV. If I want to game, I'll use my phone with its big screen or a console. A tablet sure as hell isn't powerful enough to take the place of my computer or laptop. I just don't understand the point of them. The only thing I use them for, is to watch movies on long flights. T: Why are you not against Android tablets? C'mon, they suck! Yes, in certain situations, like on a long drive or a plane ride they can be useful, but at home, they serve basically very little purpose. I can do all of these things on my phone, and really, there are no special apps for tablets that are must have. They seem to be very under-supported from developers, which is probably my main gripe. iPads have a ton of exclusive apps that all seem pretty useful, but on Android, we got nada, zilch, zero, no sweet tablet apps. If you know of an app that should only be used on a tablet, please, let me know in the comments. R: I'm not against them myself. I think if someone wants to use a small Android tablet for reading and browsing the web and games that's fine. Even a big tablet is ok, but a lot of apps aren't optimized for that larger size.

Should we have lower expectations of Moto in 2016?

K: Yes. This year could be a disaster, unfortunately. I hate to say that, but Lenovo has fully taken over and we just don't know what that means yet. They fired a bunch of Motorola's important staff to try and make things more efficient. I've heard from employees who wish to remain anonymous, and they don't have great things to say. The people they have worked with for years and developed products with are gone and were hired immediately by competitors. It doesn't sound like they can keep up with software updates and are sick of hearing about it, knowing that the cuts are the reasons for all of our recent complaints. It's sad, honestly. It makes me angry at Google, heh. T: If you were somehow hoping that Lenovo's acquisition would somehow help Moto, you got another thing coming. While I don't expect the brand to completely fade in quality or offerings, I also don't expect the company's phones to somehow be any more or any less magical than what we have already seen. They provide good hardware, stock Android, and that will unlikely change due to Lenovo's involvement. But to answer your question, no, I don't think you should lower your expectations any more than they might already be. At one point, Motorola was producing awesome smartphones on American soil, and now, that's all gone. If you are not already upset, then nothing Lenovo can do will make it any worse. R: Lower than we've already had? Moto has consistently come out with a phone with decent design, good minimal software, and a terrible to mediocre camera. I've never been impressed with Lenovo's phone offerings, so I can't say I have high hopes for good changes for Moto.

What is your all-time favorite Google product?

K: Probably Gmail, even though I don't use it anymore (I use Inbox, which is made by the Gmail team). But it truly revolutionized email. It's so much smarter and better than every other email service by miles. It also continues to improve with Labs features. What would we do without Gmail? T: Google Search has to be the correct answer, right? I enjoy many of their products. I love Gmail, YouTube, Search, Android, and the list goes on. But I think the top product they have is and always will be Google Search. R: Search. It changed the world in more ways than we often realize. Check out all of the past DL Q&A Sessions here.

Nextbit: CDMA Robin Shipments Delayed a Couple of Months

Tim — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 10:54:10 +0000

Nextbit is pushing back the shipping date of the Robin smartphone for CDMA networks, the company announced through its Kickstarter page. In an update to backers, the company admits it was being a bit, "optimistic," and "got a little carried away," in the excitement of a successful campaign. The CDMA Robin was previously estimated to ship to backers in February, but now, Nextbit states that April is more realistic. While the company has no concrete date set, as there are a "number of factors outside our control," Nextbit claims that they will keep all backers informed on what is taking place. To put the situation simply, Nextbit was not planning to create a CDMA Robin until they saw demand for it through the Kickstarter. As we all know, testing and receiving certification for a device to operate on Verizon's (and Sprint's) network is not the easiest task, and can take quite a bit of time. The late start on development, in addition to the required certification is essentially what went wrong. However, with Nextbit claiming it should only be a two month delay, that's still better than what we have seen from companies such as Saygus. If you pre-ordered the Robin for CDMA through Kickstarter, please feel free to vent your frustrations below in the comment section. Here is the message to all backers.

You want the future to be here already. You want your Robin today. We feel the same way. We know CDMA backers want to know when their Robins will arrive. We wanted to wait until we could give you an exact date, but we can’t wait anymore. The CDMA Robin wasn’t in development until we saw your response on Kickstarter, and we got a little carried away in the excitement of the campaign. When we estimated we would deliver CDMA Robin in February, we were being optimistic. Now that we’ve gone through development and are working out the testing schedule, we think April is more realistic. We don’t know exactly when in April as there are still a number of factors outside our control. We will keep you up to date, as we get more and more information. We know this isn’t the type of news you want to hear and we’re sorry. We’d love to tell you all the Robins would ship in February like we planned, or at least give you an exact date. Stay true, Rebels. We are gonna do this.

Via: Kickstarter

DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $312 Today at eBay ($37 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:21:27 +0000

Through a daily deal running over at eBay, you can grab the Nexus 5X with 16GB of storage for just $312. Even after Google's recent price reduction on their littler Nexus to $349, you are still seeing a solid $37 savings here. Oh, and free expedited shipping is included as well. For those not familiar, the Nexus 5X is a return of sorts for the original Nexus 5, which many consider to be the best Nexus phone ever released. LG manufactured it for Google, it features a similar design to the original and a similar build, but it has a greatly improved camera and a fingerprint reader. It's a solid smallish phone, that may suffer from a performance hiccup here or there. That's something we're still hoping Google can figure out at some point. If you are willing to deal with that unknown, today is the day to pull the trigger. You can read our Nexus 5X review here. eBay Link

Google Play's 75% Off Any Movie Rental is Back

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 08:31:38 +0000

Back in December, Google handed out 75% off codes to everyone to try and get them to rent a movie on Google Play. If you missed out, you now have a second chance, as Google opened up the "75% off any one movie rental" promo again last night. To claim, all you need to do is open up Google Play, jump through to the Entertainment (on app) or Movies & TV sections, and hunt for the red banner that tells you about the 75% off deal. Click the banner, tap "Continue" in the prompt that shows, and then be on your way to renting at a discounted rate. Google Play Link

Cheers Marco!

Oracle: Google Has Generated $31 Billion in Revenue From Android

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:12:30 +0000

According to court documents made public this week by Oracle, Google has made a ton of cash from the Android mobile operating system. In total, taken from what Google says is information from confidential and internal financial documents, a revenue of $31 billion has been posted, with profit at $22 billion. This money stems mainly from advertisements seen on Android devices, as well as money made from Google Play. This information was made available in Oracle's ongoing court battle with Google, with Oracle claiming Google used Java software without paying for it to develop Android. Google is urging a San Francisco federal judge to redact and seal portions of the public transcript from last week’s hearing where this information was made public. Google makes the claim that, "non-public financial data is highly sensitive, and public disclosure could have significant negative effects on Google’s business." Oracle is currently seeking $1 billion in damages from Google. How these exact figures were conjured up is currently unknown, but if they are even semi-close to being correct, Android is a very profitable business for Google, one which they have been fighting to protect for five years now from Oracle. At the end of the day, we as consumers don't really need to care about how much Google is making from Android, just as long as they continue to support and innovate with the OS.

Via: Bloomberg

Is HTC Going to Wait Until After MWC to Unveil Next Flagship?

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:45:17 +0000

The smartphone business is a pretty easy one to figure out in terms of release cycles and the timing of events to show off new products. We know that Apple has WWDC and a Fall event to show off new products, that Nexus phones arrive around November, that Samsung takes the stage at both MWC and IFA with Galaxy S and Note lines, respectively, and that HTC will bring us a new One device towards the end of February or in March. We not only know that this is when these companies will release products because we have history on our side, but we also typically see a series of leaks lead up to their unveilings. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S7 rumors are everywhere at this point. We're basically just waiting for the invite to show up to formally confirm what we already know. And you can't help but recall the hilarity surrounding the past couple of HTC One launches, where we essentially saw full reviews of devices before HTC had ever officially announced them. Remember this kid? Of course you do. That brings me back to the title, which involves HTC possibly skipping MWC this year and throwing everyone for a loop. Is HTC going to wait until after MWC to announce their next flagship, potentially called the One M10? Let's talk about this. First, we have reports out of China suggesting that a variety of sources throughout "China Taiwan Forum" have claimed that HTC won't have a presence at MWC next month. They are suggesting that early prototypes couldn't cut it and that HTC is revising the phone before making it official. Because of those revisions, it won't be ready for MWC and will instead be the focus of a stand-alone event before going on sale in April. Rumors peg the phone as having a 3000mAh battery, Snapdragon 820 processor (maybe a MediaTek in some areas), 23MP camera, Android 6.0.1, Sense 8, and a front-situated fingerprint reader (woof). Specs and rumors aside, HTC not showing up to MWC in any sort of meaningful way wouldn't shock us at this this point. Unless HTC has figured out how to keep a secret - and they have given us no reason to believe they have - then the complete absence of any legitimate rumor or picture leads one to believe that late March could be more accurate. If we look at last year, we figured out the name of the HTC One M9 and the fact that it was coming to Verizon before the end of December 2014. We then saw a full hands-on gallery of it in mid-January, just days after HTC announced their MWC event. As for the One M8, well, the first leak of its backside was in November of 2013, yet the phone wasn't announced until the end of March. Even the original One M7 and One A9 leaked plenty early. The point is, HTC is terrible at controlling leaks. Again, unless something has changed on that front, an MWC absence wouldn't shock us. If that's the case, then the question becomes, do we think HTC has enough pull in this industry for anyone to care about a stand-alone event? We'll care, obviously, but will the rest of the world - the people who HTC needs badly to buy their phones. Or is everyone going to still be fixated on whatever LG and Samsung showed off weeks before at the biggest mobile conference on the planet?

Deal: Pay What You Want for the Complete 2016 Coder Bundle

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:23:15 +0000

It's a new year, making it the perfect opportunity to learn a few new skills, if improving upon yourself is something you are into. On the DL Deals Store, you can pay what you want for Complete 2016 Coder Bundle, featuring almost 200 hours of programming content that could help you create the next best thing the Interwebz has ever seen. If you pay more than the average, which currently sits at just over $12, you will gain access to 10 courses, including Android Marshmallow Development Tutorial, a Guide to Building Apps and Products, Ruby Programming courses, and so much more. Even if you intend to developer for Apple's range of products, you are covered on that front, too. Each course is valued at $199+, bringing the combined bundle value to nearly $2,000. For the price of $12, this is not too bad. If you choose to pay less than the average, you will receive two of the ten available courses - Android development and Ruby Programming. If you want to code in 2016, start by clocking the link below. Deal Link

Sprint Offering Up to $200 for Trade-Ins Toward Purchase of LG G4

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 13:39:47 +0000

Over the course of this weekend, Sprint will offer up to $200 in trade-in value of any smartphone to use towards the purchase of the LG G4. The promo can be used by new and existing customers who activate or upgrade to the G4, and the promo will cease on Monday, January 25. As for which phones are acceptable trade-ins, Sprint does not give a detailed list, but they do state "any smartphone." We will have to assume this would include any relatively recent Samsung device, Apple device, Motorola, and HTC smartphones. For those on another carrier who were contemplating a switch to Sprint, the carrier would like to remind you that it offers no-hassle switching, with up to $650 in American Express Rewards credit to cover the fees of current carrier contract breakage. Now, is the G4 worth buying at this time? No, not exactly. The LG G5 is reportedly scheduled to be shown off next month at this year's MWC, so if a LG phone is on the wish list, we would recommend you wait for that. But hey, if the G4 is something you want, here's a chance to get one for relatively cheap. Again, the promo kicks off tomorrow and ends Monday, January 25.

Via: Sprint

Verizon: Haha, No, We're Not Bringing Unlimited Data Back

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 13:35:38 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, AT&T grabbed a bunch of headlines when it re-introduced an unlimited data plan that has limited availability. Today, following Verizon's quarterly earnings call, the company's CFO Fran "ShamWow" Shammo was asked by CNET if they planned to bring back their own unlimited data offering. Shammo wasted no breath in saying, "At this point, we are not going to entertain unlimited." Not even going to entertain it! After posting better than expected Q4 numbers, I can't say I blame Verizon for sticking with what's (clearly) working at this point. During a year where T-Mobile, Sprint, and even AT&T to some extent, took swing after swing at Big Red with promotion after promotion, Verizon still managed to add customers and post solid numbers. Maybe network is the most important thing after all, even if access to it does come with a hefty cost?

Via: CNET

Poll: Do You Use a Fingerprint to Unlock Your Phone?

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 12:46:41 +0000

Yesterday, we asked if you are all using a secure lock screen after reading a report that said 1 in 3 Android users go without one. Our results turned up with slightly better numbers, showing that 77% of you utilize some form of a secure lock screen. That means about 1 in 4 aren't, which isn't amazing news, but is certainly not as bad as 1 in 3. Today, we want to see which percentage of you who are using a secure lock screen, are unlocking with a fingerprint reader. More and more phones seem to be including fingerprint readers at this point, which to us, is a good sign. I say that because a number of you mentioned yesterday that you probably wouldn't use a secure lock screen if Android Pay didn't force you to, but also that it hasn't been that big of an issue thanks to your fingerprint readers. Bring on more fingerprint readers! Secure lock screens are a good thing. So tell us, are you unlocking your phone with a fingerprint? [poll id="388"]

Brave Browser App Looks to Block Intrusive Ads, Replaces With Clean Ads to Help Content Creators

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 11:53:44 +0000

A new Internet browsing application is about to the hit the streets, called Brave, aimed at combating intrusive ads that slow down your mobile browsing experience. If you have ever been the victim of slow load speeds on websites, it's most likely that ads are the culprit. With Brave, ads that slow your load speed will be replaced by ads that are "clean," meaning that the site owners will still get paid, but your browsing experience won't be greatly hindered. When you first load up a webpage, a site using ad technology that tracks you can place cookies and other miscellaneous content onto your browser, which in turn, allows an ad to show things relative to what you have been looking at online. For example, if you browse Amazon, then head to another website, you might see an ad for whatever it was you were looking for on Amazon. This is nothing new, but for anyone not looking to be tracked constantly on the web, Brave wants to solve this problem, while also not hurting content creators. According to Brave, "Up to a whopping 60% of page load time is caused by the underlying ad technology that loads into various places each time you hit a page on your favorite news site. And 20% of this is time spent on loading things that are trying to learn more about you." To help combat this issue, the Brave browser strips all of the non essential data away, leaving only the true content you want. However, doing so does not hurt the sites you know and love. Instead of being a straight ad-blocker, Brave replaces those intrusive ads with clean (no tracker, pixel watcher) ads, and users can decide to go ad-free (payment) on the sites they truly want to support. It's a win for users, and a win for content creators. The app has yet to launch, but is completely open source, with the Android version viewable on GitHub right here. A beta for multiple platforms is available, but currently, there is a waitlist. If this app interests you, you can sign-up for the beta on the Brave website.

Via: Brave

Official Kickstarter App Finally, Finally Launches for Android

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 10:11:20 +0000

On the verge of being almost too late, Kickstarter has launched an official Android application onto Google Play. I say almost too late because, you know, Kickstarter is sorta lame these days, am I right? Back in the day, a few interesting ideas would pop up here and there, but now it's nothing but folks looking to fund food carts and PC games. But hey, that's just my opinion. Anyway, if you don't already know, Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that has been helping people fund their ideas that a traditional bank or investor would never touch. Over the years, Kickstarter has given us a few cool products, but it has also given us a ton of crap. And now, finally, an Android app can navigate you through the world of crowdfunding. With the app, you can browse the latest projects available for funding, Editor's Picks, search through individual project categories, login to check the projects you have backed, and also keep up with the folks you follow on the service. The app seems stable enough, built with a few Android touches, but really, this app seems to be a couple years late to me. I recall my buddy showing off the Kickstarter app a few years ago on his iPhone, so I don't know why Android development took so long. Hey, maybe they should have made a Kickstarter to help fund the developers. If you want to browse the latest and greatest ideas to hit Kickstarter, follow the Google Play link below. Play Link

This is the New Google Weather, and It's Awesome

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:21:25 +0000

A new weather experience is coming to your Android phone today, and I think you are really going to enjoy it. The new experience is arriving through a Google app update that hit our phones, though that could be initially through the beta channel before it arrives everywhere. Either way, it's coming very soon to you all. In the new weather experience, by asking Google what the weather is like, or by typing in "weather" into the Google search bar, you not only get a beautiful and more colorful opening card, you also get more information than ever. You'll now see detailed hourly weather conditions, if there is a chance of rain, get weather alerts, a detailed 10-day forecast, UV index, sunrise and sunset times, and much more. Google even added in the ability to save locations for quick weather updates. After performing a search for a location's weather, you should see a little "Add" prompt at the bottom of the screen. The Google app update hit our phones as v5.8.50.19 this morning. Be sure to check for an update! Play Link NOTE: If you aren't seeing the update and want to sideload, you can grab the arm64 version at this link (v5.8.50.19.arm64).

Via: Inside Search

Facebook Announces Sports Stadium, a Dedicated Sports Experience Not Yet Available for Android

Tim — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:01:18 +0000

This morning, Facebook announced that it is launching Sports Stadium, an experience catered entirely to fans of sports all across the globe. Available starting today for iOS users in the US who want to watch real-time updates of the American football games taking place over the weekend, Facebook states that they will soon rollout compatibility for additional platforms and for other sports, such as soccer and basketball. So, what exactly is Sports Stadium? It is a place on Facebook that is dedicated entirely to sports that can be enjoyed alongside your friends. You can get real-time updates on games, play-by-play stats, comments from friends on specific plays, commentary from experts, and much more. Think of each game as an event you are invited to. Instead of all of that information being posted to your timeline, you would instead find it all in a dedicated section, allowing you and the buddies to curse the refs and argue what a "catch" in the NFL actually means on a week-by-week basis. For now, the service only supports American football, but as mentioned, more sports will come soon. For us Android folk, we will have to wait until Facebook is ready to grace us with Sports Stadium. If you do use iOS, you can search for games using the search tab inside of the Facebook app, and as the platform grows, additional ways to find the games you want will be made available.

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Via: Facebook

Please Ignore: Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Cases are All Over Amazon Already With April 1 Release Dates

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 08:30:36 +0000

Our favorite time of the year! (That's sarcasm, by the way.) Before our inbox fills up with, "ZOMG Galaxy S7 cases, with April 1 release dates!" and our RSS apps are blowing up with "MASSIVE GALAXY S7 LEAK" stories, we thought we'd jump out in front of this one. Yes, case makers are already taking to Amazon with their products that will support the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Should you look into any of this as a leak or hot tip as to what you can expect from Samsung in the next month or so? No, not really. This happens every year. Case makers put out cases to support upcoming products to jump into headlines (Hey, it worked again!), but also to start working on those search rankings and fill up on hype-based pre-orders. You see, case makers get every single little measurement about upcoming phones because they need to be able to build precisely designed and measured cases that are available at launch. These companies actually do sort of know, at least in terms of shape and look, what to expect from new phones like the Galaxy S7. And so they put up listings for cases that are mocked up to look in a way like what we might see. They typically use imagery from past phones or from renders made from fan sites to fill up their case mock-ups and get fankids excited. Most of the time (unless you get full-blown CAD recreations of leaked schematics), these case postings show us nothing because case makers can't exactly out products ahead of time or they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. They need access to early dimensions and designs. If not, well, they are then months behind their competitors. Soooooo, yes, you'll see Galaxy S7 cases all over the place from now until the phone is announced (likely at MWC next month). Try not to get too excited. Try not to buy into the headlines. Wait, why are you still reading through here? I told you to "Please ignore." Amazon Links: Spigen Cases | GOOSPERY Cases

A Couple of Verizon LG G3 Owners Received Marshmallow Last Night

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 07:06:42 +0000

Last night, a couple of lucky LG G3 owners on Verizon received a fluffy white treat by way of software update. The update appears to be Android 6.0 Marshmallow and software version 46A or VS98546A. At this time, Verizon hasn't said anything about an official rollout, nor have they updated their software page for the G3. We also can't tell how many owners of this phone (assuming there are many left) actually received the update. The first reports of it arriving were last night around 7PM Pacific, but we aren't seeing any new reports this morning. It could be that the update slipped out to a few and is still very much in testing. So what's new? Users should see Google Now on Tap, new impressions controls, Doze battery management, and easier text selection. Outside of those features, we won't know until we get the update and see a more thorough walkthrough than the handful of screenshots floating about. G3 owners on Verizon, seeing an update?

Via: XDA | reddit

UberEats Will Soon Bring Food Delivery to a City Near You

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:22:38 +0000

According to the Wall Street Journal, Uber is preparing to launch a full-scale food delivery service called UberEats in a number of cities in the coming weeks. If we look at the dedicated UberEats website that already exists and lists out the participating cities, it seems as if Uber is going to expand their current UberEats lunch-time service to include dinner. The WSJ also says that we should expect a dedicated UberEats app. The hope for Uber is to use the massive amount of drivers they have that take passengers around cities to turn them into food or goods delivery drivers as well. Uber drivers will be able to decide if they want to deliver food or not. When UberEats fully launches, Uber will expand the hours to 10AM-10PM and hope that deliveries will take place within 30 to 40 minutes. Their systems will attempt to predict when food will be available for pickup before locating a driver that is close by who may want to deliver it. Should multiple UberEats orders come in from a similar restaurant or area, Uber will attempt to bundle orders together for a single driver. Delivery fees on UberEats will run about $5 in most cities, though they could vary. The previous UberEats lunch-time service will be re-branded as Instant Delivery and still exist. At this time, Uber lists Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and Washington, DC as UberEats participants. During the full-scale launch, we should see the US cities participate, as well as Toronto, who has been testing it for some time. How many of you have considered/used a food delivery service?

Via: Wall Street Journal

AT&T Holding BOGO Smartphone Promo for Business Customers, Free Gear S2 for Consumer Galaxy Phone Buyers

Tim — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:26:33 +0000

Business customers on AT&T can take advantage of a BOGO offer from the carrier, granting them a chance to purchase two phones for the price of one. In order to take advantage, both smartphones must be purchased on AT&T Next, the carrier's installment plan, and in addition, you must activate both smartphones with a qualified service plan (voice and data). To cover the cost of the second device, AT&T will issue $650 in bill credits over 30 months, with the customer only needing to pay the tax on each phone at the time of purchase. As for the devices available, AT&T lists the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Active and iPhone on the website, but we are sure other smartphones are covered by the promo. If you are not a business customer, don't worry, AT&T has something special for regular consumer accounts, too. For those who purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone through AT&T Next, you will receive a free Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch accompanied by a 2-year service agreement, or a free Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 LTE tablet. As long as you sign an agreement through AT&T Next, you are qualified for either freebie you want. For all of the details, follow the source link below.

Via: AT&T

Deal: Grab a CHOE USB Type-C Charger, Type-C Cables at Discounted Prices With These Coupon Codes

Tim — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:43:34 +0000

For a limited time on Amazon, you can purchase a CHOE charger and cables at a discounted price, thanks to the use of coupon codes. The chargers and cables are USB Type-C, perfect for those who own a Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, or for those who want to stockpile for the inevitable release of additional phones with Type-C ports. As for options, there are a ton. You can receive a discount on the charging adapter itself, individual cables, or you purchase a bundle that includes the adapter and cable. In the cable department, you can choose the length you would like, ranging from 6.6ft to 9.9ft. The bundle includes a 3.3ft cable. To take advantage of these prices, all you need are the following coupon codes.

USB Type-C Adapter - $12.99 with code ZCU2CZDC
USB Type C Bundle - $11.99 with code SLK7DSFC
A-C cable (6.6ft) - $6.99 with code L3JGFC9V
C-C cable (6.6ft) - $6.99 with code B3JCFC9D
A-C cable (9.9ft) - $7.99 with code WTZ35GDZ
C-C cable (9.9ft) - $7.99 with code A8EPELJF

Amazon Links: USB Type-C Charger ($12.99) | Type-C Cables ($6.99-$7.99) | Bundle ($11.99)

Poll: Do You Use a Secure Lock Screen?

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:03:36 +0000

Earlier today, I caught wind of a recently published report from Duo Labs that talked about the state of Android device security and the usage numbers surrounding things like secure lock screens. The report - which of course is from a security company - claims that about 1 in 3 Android users don't use a secure lock screen, which is a pretty terrible percentage when you consider that their data showed that only 1 in 20 Apple users go without some form of security up front. Because I'm always curious how numbers like these compare to the crew here at Droid Life, we thought we would straight up ask you guys. Do you use some form of a secure lock screen? The stock options in Android are PIN, password, pattern, swipe, and none. The poll below doesn't include fingerprint unlocking, because well, fingerprint unlocking is a secondary add-on to the lock screen you have to set. We'll probably do another poll tomorrow asking about fingerprint usage. Edit: We switched to a "Yes" or "No" poll and will let you all specify in the comments how you are unlocking. We did this because the stock secure lock options are PIN, password, pattern, swipe, and none. But some phones, like Samsung phones, actually offer Fingerprint in that area, even though fingerprint is basically an add-on to a secure lock screen. We'll still probably do another poll tomorrow asking for fingerprint usage. Also, we totaled up the the number of votes we had for specific secure locks and tossed them into the "Yes" vote below. The numbers are accurate, but in case you were wondering where they came from. So, do you use a secure lock screen?

[poll id="387"]

AppLock Brings Nexus Imprint Security to Any App of Your Choosing

Tim — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:45:40 +0000

If you are looking to bolster the security on your Android device, and have a device that features Nexus Imprint (Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P), you can utilize AppLock, an app that will place a fingerprint barrier between the outside world and your precious data. When installed and enabled, users can go through their entire list of applications on a device, and then choose which apps will be secured using Nexus Imprint. For example, if you want Hangouts, Facebook and Instagram secured, simply enable only those apps. When enabled, and you attempt to open these apps, you will be met by a simple, blue lockscreen. To unlock, place your finger on the fingerprint reader to gain access. This allows you, and only you, to access these applications. If you plan on using the apps often, and don't feel like unlocking them each time, you can place a temporary unlock on all apps, meaning the lockscreen won't pop up each time you open them. Overall, if you have sensitive data on your phone, this app is a great way to help secure that data even if your usual lockscreen is somehow bypassed. The only downside I see at this time is the non-existence of an in-app purchase to remove the annoying banner ad you see inside of the app and on the lockscreen. It does not impede functionality, but it looks bad. In the future, we hope that the developer will either release a paid version with no ads, or will include an in-app purchase to remove them. Other than that, it works flawlessly for me. If you have a device that features Nexus Imprint, go check it out. Play Link

Deal: Power Your Device Using the Sun With This 30,000mAh Solar Charger, $45

Tim — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:47:24 +0000

For those looking to power their smart devices off the grid, you can use this Solar 30,000mAh Battery Pack, available through the DL Deals Store for just $45. Regularly priced at $99, this battery pack will not only power your smartphone and tablet using the sun's rays, but it also features a utility flashlight, perfect for those camping trips with the kids who are surgically attached to their smartphone. Features for this battery pack include an ultra-thin aluminum alloy shell, LED power indicator, over-charge protection to protect your phone's battery, and a very compact and mobile design. Check the full feature list below, then follow the link if you want some of that sweet solar energy juice. Features

Charges your mobile device w/ the power of the sun
Saves resources by using natural power
Extends the battery life w/ over-charge protection
Made w/ ultra-thin, light aluminum alloy shell
Indicates your battery’s life w/ LED power indicator
Charges w/ a built-in 30000mAh high-capacity rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Travels anywhere due to its compact design
Shines a light w/ the built-in flashlight

Deal Link

Here are the New TAG Heuer Connected Ambassador Watch Faces From Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady, and More

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:43:21 +0000

At CES, TAG Heuer announced an update to its Connected app on Android that would introduce the first wave of custom watch faces from the company's ambassadors. Those ambassadors include the likes of Tom Brady, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jeremy Lin, G.E.M., David Guetta, Kai Lenny, Jessica Korda, and more. Since we happen to have a TAG Heuer Connected in house (our review), we fired up the app to see what was in store. What we found are about what you would expect - a bunch of watch faces from the ambassadors that will please ultra-fans of each, but won't necessarily work for someone who just wants a clean, no non-sense watch face. Maybe we'll get more of those in the next update, eh, TAG? Either way, here they all are.

Tom Brady

Cristiano Ronaldo

David Guetta

Jessica Korda

Jeremy Lin

Giancarlo Stanton

Kei Nishikori

G.E.M.

Kai Lenny

The Nervo Sisters

Jean-Claude Biver

The app is "exclusive" to the TAG Heuer Connected, which means the new watch faces are as well. If you happen to own the Connected, be sure to update your Connected app today. Play Link

MetroPCS Looks to Poach Sprint Customers, Offers Up to 50% Off Your Monthly Bill

Tim — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:55:06 +0000

MetroPCS wants to bring over Sprint's customers, hoping that half off of their monthly bill will convince them to make the switch. When and if you do make a switch, MetroPCS details that you will get two lines with 2GB of 4G LTE data per line for $50 a month, which includes unlimited data, talk, and text. The MetroPCS network runs on T-Mobile's 4G LTE towers, so essentially, you will be making a switch to T-Mobile's coverage area. This is something to keep in mind if you are currently a customer on Sprint, wanting to make sure that if you do switch, you will have service where you live. It is noted that the 50% only applies to Sprint customers who are using a two-line + 2GB plan, and not all plans will save you half off of your monthly bill.

All you have to do is switch any current Sprint, Virgin Mobile or Boost number to MetroPCS to save anywhere from 22% to 50% off Sprint’s current Family Share Pack pricing when switching one or two lines. A customer switching one line of Unlimited LTE service would save 22% over Sprint’s current pricing, while a customer with two lines with 2GB of LTE data would save 50%.

This promotion kicks off tomorrow and will run through April 4, 2016.

Via: MetroPCS

DEAL: Verizon Hosting BOGO 50% on DROID Turbo 2 and Maxx 2

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:03:16 +0000

Verizon kicked off a new deal this morning that includes their newest DROID phones. The deal is a buy one, get one (BOGO) 50% mix-and-match sort of thing, where you could buy the DROID Turbo 2 and get half off another Turbo 2 or the DROID Maxx 2. You could also buy a Maxx 2 and get 50% off another Maxx 2. See, mix-and-match. The deal requires you to sign-up for a payment plan on each device, from what I can tell. For example, you could lock into a DROID Turbo 2 at $26 per month, then add a second Turbo 2 for just $13 per month. The Maxx 2 is $16 per month at full price and just $8 when coupled in the deal. We've reviewed both the Turbo 2 and Maxx 2, so if you are considering either phone be sure to read those. The Turbo 2 is easily one of our favorites of 2015, thanks to its incredible battery life, great camera, and shatterproof design. The Maxx 2, well, isn't going to win any awards, but if you need an affordable device that brings Motorola's style and software to the table, it's an option. Verizon Link

The Saygus V2...You Already Asked for a Refund, Right?

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:30:32 +0000

The Saygus V2 or V-Squared is back in the news this week, unfortunately. I don't really have much to say about it, other than we met with them at CES and came away shaking our heads at the disaster that they have become since announcing their phone at last year's CES. Honestly, we didn't bother reporting on our meeting because we sort of decided to not even talk about this laughable company following their shady as hell Indiegogo campaign and 2-day, slap-in-the-face-to-backers, VIP party at E3 this past June. Not only that, but their main broseph, Chad Sayers, wasn't around at the time we stopped by their booth and their lone PR rep wasn't willing to just open up about how bad the past year has been. But yesterday, they took to Twitter to basically say what they told us at CES, along with some other details. The main takeaway is that the phone is supposed to ship in Q1. It won't, but that's the new timeline. Rather then spend much time on this, here is a bulleted list of what's going on for those who for some reason, have not canceled and asked for a refund.

Again, they "think" they are going to ship in Q1. They won't, but they have put together some sort of in-house engineering team to build it themselves. Hah, OK.
Oh, they are also already blaming the Chinese New Year for a delay that hasn't happened yet.
They will have some new version built for the Sundance Film Festival, because, you know, Saygus likes to party at events unrelated to smartphones!
They are still trying to convince people that the Snapdragon 801 is worth using. It's 2 years old at this point and not worth using.
They say it'll have Marshmallow, but that's unlikely. Actually, they Tweeted that the latest prototype was "fresh off the plane" and running Marshmallow at CES, but it wasn't. It was running Lollipop and had zero Google apps installed.
It's "washable!" Whatever.
They won't have their "newest" fingerprint scanners ready until early February. But again, they "think" they will ship Q1.
They are making a new phone that they hope to release later this year - towards the holiday season. At least that's what they told us at CES.
They will apparently give you 50% off the new phone if you keep your order and don't ask for a refund.
Why have you not asked for a refund yet?
Some are still waiting for refunds that were requested in September.

You should read everything through their Twitter account - it's amusing as hell. I honestly don't know if we'll ever talk about this company again.

Iron Maiden RPG, Legacy of the Beast, Hits Mobile This Summer

Tim — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 14:52:22 +0000

Iron Maiden, the one and only, is set to license their name for an upcoming RPG title that will launch in the summer of 2016. According to the dedicated website for Legacy of the Beast, you will battle as Eddie (Maiden's undead mascot), set to the tunes of Iron Maiden. As for a plot, the description goes a little something like this. A mysterious force has shattered Eddie’s soul and scattered it about. As the player, you will travel through time and space, collecting the pieces as you encounter a gang of dramatic and engaging characters. The game will include unheard live recordings, in addition to music that spans Maiden's entire career. As stated on the website, the game is free-to-play. As soon as this game launches, we will let you know.

Via: Iron Maiden Legacy

Latest Humble Mobile Bundle Features Titles From Bandai Namco

Tim — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:09:42 +0000

Humble Bundle, the easiest way to get a group of games for the lowest price, while also helping out a charity, has a new list of games up for grabs. Supporting the Save the Children charity, Humble Bundle is offering a gang of Bandai Namco games, all for the price of what you want to give. At this time, the price you need to pay to unlock all of the games is just $4.80, netting you a total of 6 games, plus more to come. The games included are Crush the Castle, Pac-Man Kart Rally, Flight Control, Pac-Man Championship Edition, Puzzle Quest 2, Ridge Racer Slipstream. If you pay an even $5, you also unlock Pac-Man CE DX. If you pay under the average, you will receive the first three games previously mentioned. At checkout, you can decide the portioning of the funds, allowing you to choose where your money will go - to developers, the charity, or a Humble tip. Follow the link below to get in on the Pac-Man gaming. Humble Bundle Link

DEALS: $15 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, 10400mAh Portable Battery, All the USB Type-C Cables, $150 Off Watch Urbane

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:24:34 +0000

Deals, deals, deals. We're always on the hunt for deals. Today, we've got a pretty serious list from some of the regular crew featured here on DL, which includes names like Aukey, Anker, iOrange-E, and LG. We have everything below from portable battery packs with Quick Charge 2.0 to IPX4 rated Bluetooth speakers to USB Type-C cables and the Watch Urbane with a $150 discount. Some have codes, almost all should have Amazon Prime shipping, and most are for a limited time. Amazon Deal Links:

Aukey 10400mAh Portable Battery w/ Quick Charge 2.0 - $16.99 w/ code "VGSWDBJT" - ($3 off)
Aukey Rugged Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (Yellow) - $14.99 w/ code "J95FUXF9" - ($10 off)
Aukey Rugged Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (Black) - $14.99 w/ code "J95FUXF9" - ($10 off)
Anker 10050 "World's Smallest 10000mAh" Portable Charger w/ Quick Charge 2.0 - $24.99
iOrange-E USB Type-C to USB Type-C 6ft cable (Silver) - $10.99 w/ code "IOSQL6KB" - ($4 off)
iOrange-E USB Type-C to A 1ft cable (Silver/Gold/Grey) - $6.99 w/ code "MPOZFH4Z" - ($5 off)
iOrange-E USB Type-C to A 3.3ft cable (Gold) - $7.99 w/ code "X2FA67L2" - ($5 off)
iOrange-E USB Type-C to A 6ft cable (Assorted colors) - $8.99 w/ code "DC5KNAHA" - ($4 off)
iOrange-E USB Type-C to A 10ft cable (Gold/Silver) - $8.99 w/ code "4N782S69" - ($8 off)
LG Watch Urbane (Silver or Gold) - $199 - ($150 off)
Photive Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - $39.95 ($90 off)

Poll: Who do You Want to Make the Next Nexus?

Tim — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:21:21 +0000

It's only January, but already, Nexus rumors for 2016 are getting interesting. In the latest rumor, it is said that HTC will create two Nexus smartphones in partnership with Google, bringing the company right back to the forefront of the Android community. In 2015, we received two Nexus smartphones, one from LG and one from Huawei, which allowed US consumers to really embrace what Huawei, as an Android OEM, is capable of. If we gave all OEMs a fair shot, it seems that 2016 should be Samsung or HTC's year to show off what they can do with vanilla Android. However, that's not how the Nexus program works. If it was up to you, who would you want to create the Nexus smartphone for 2016? [poll id="386"]

Pocket Casts Updated With Improved Search, Emoji, and Much More

Tim — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:42:20 +0000

For all of you podcast fans, a massive update has hit Pocket Casts, one which brings improved search functionality, emoji support for titles and podcast descriptions, and Marshmallow permissions. Once updated, listeners can use "OK Google" to start up a podcast by saying, "Listen to podcast name in Pocket Casts," or even, "Listen to playlist name in Pocket Casts." This should allow for quicker firing up of The Droid Life Show, which is always a good thing. Also included is faster unsubscribing from podcasts, landscape video player fixes, a sync issue for starred shows, and much more. Here is just a smidgen of the changelog.

Marshmallow Auto Backup feature added so if you have app backups turned on (System Settings app -> Backup & reset) it will backup your Pocket Casts settings and database so after restoring a phone your app should look a lot more like it did.
Switched to Marshmallow permissions. We now only have one permission that requires user approval, the storage permission. The app will only ask for permission for this if you change your storage location to a custom folder.
Stats page data is now included in your sync account so if you reinstall they aren’t lost. The stats page is now a summary of stats across all your devices.
Improved switching to a custom location so it picks up any existing episode files in the new location.
Improved the search for podcast interface.
Improved voice control. Give these a try after you have said “OK Google” “Listen to PODCAST NAME in Pocket Casts” “Listen to PLAYLIST NAME in Pocket Casts” “Listen to Up Next in Pocket Casts”

If you have yet to try Pocket Casts, allow our friend Ron to explain how awesome it is. This quote is snagged from his Google Play review of the app. "Look no further. This is the best podcast app for Android, no questions asked." That says it all right there, folks. Play Link

Via: Shifty Jelly

Starbucks Adds Spotify Integration to App - Let's You Discover, Save, "Love" Tunes

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:14:29 +0000

This morning, Starbucks announced a pretty major partnership with Spotify, one that will get more users into Spotify, but will also satisfy music curiosity needs of its regular customers. In the new Starbucks app, customers will be able to see what songs are currently playing in stores, see others that have been recently played, quickly create Starbucks-related playlists of the tunes just heard, checkout curated lists from Starbucks, checkout feature artists, and tell the Starbucks music team how much they "love" them. The experience of Starbucks and Spotify begins today at over 7,500 Starbucks stores. Play Link

Via: Starbucks

BlackBerry Priv Launches Onto T-Mobile January 26

Tim — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:35:27 +0000

The BlackBerry Priv is making its way to T-Mobile, available beginning January 26 for $0 down through JUMP! On Demand. After a solid amount of time with the Priv only available through AT&T, the Priv has been receiving updates here and there, focusing on the rear-facing camera and software features. The device should receive just as much love on T-Mobile, so if a QWERTY keyboard is something you have been missing, now is the time. For qualified buyers, if JUMP! On Demand does not sound good, you can also choose T-Mobile's interest free financing, which will have you pay $0 down, plus $30 for 24 months. That brings the device total to $720. The device will be available in-store and online, so you shouldn't have too much of an issue finding it. Check out our complete Priv review here.

Via: T-Mobile

Verizon Introduces FreeBee Data, a Sponsored Data Program...

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:20:44 +0000

Verizon hates the idea of net neutrality because, well, money. You already knew that, though. But let's say for some reason, if you didn't know that, maybe their new program will finally hammer that idea home. It's called FreeBee Data and it's a sponsored data service aimed at creating ~~fast~~ paid-for lanes or bundles of content by marketers and businesses for you to consume at no charge. How does this work for businesses and marketers? FreeBee Data will arrive this month with two models. The first is called FreeBee Data 360, where businesses and marketers can offer up paid-for content for you to consume that is charged to them by Verizon on per gigabyte basis. The other is a cost-per-click model, where if you click on certain items or stream video or audio or download apps, the data used won't count against you and Verizon will charge the businesses and marketers who have sponsored it based on "clicks." If you are a business or marketer, you can sign-up to be a part of the beta program of FreeBee Data 360 today. On January 25, the cost-per-click version of FreeBee Data arrives in a separate beta program. More info here. How does this work for consumers? For now, nothing will really change. Verizon will stick a "bee" icon (see below) next to content around the web that has been paid for. If you tap on that content, view it, watch it, or consume it in any way and are a Verizon post-paid consumer, it will not count against your data. At this time, the only content available is from Hearst Magazines, AOL, and GAMEDAY. I'd imagine there will be more before long.

Why does this suck? Because this is potentially the beginning of something bad, especially when talking net neutrality. By allowing companies to pay Verizon for their content to be seen, we're talking about companies potentially jumping to the front of the list or front of the page to get their content seen by you first. That's a bad, bad, bad thing for the world and the open internet. You see, not everyone can pay for their product or news outlet or app to be seen because they aren't a multi-billion company. So in a world where eyes and data are bought by the big dogs, where does that leave the small guy who can't afford to buy you? You can see where this could go. At this time, Verizon is - for obvious reasons - not talking about content showing first or faster when it has been paid for. They are just talking about paid-for content that doesn't count against your data bucket. Hopefully, it stays that way and this will all just be some marketing, wannabe-money-maker that few will buy into and will disappear before long. (Hah, right.)

Via: Verizon

HTC to Make Two Nexus Smartphones in 2016, According to User on Weibo

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:33:35 +0000

Stated in a post onto Weibo from a reported "often-reliable leakster," it is rumored that HTC will partner with Google to create two Nexus smartphones for 2016, just as we saw last year with the LG-made Nexus 5X and Huawei-made Nexus 6P. However, instead of two separate OEMs making the two phones, it will be on HTC's shoulders alone to deliver the goods. According to the rumor, the HTC Nexus devices will feature different display sizes - one with a 5" display and the other with a 5.5" display. No other specs were listed, but we can safely assume any new Nexus smartphones will run the next version of Android, which has yet to be announced. HTC is no stranger to the Nexus program, as they were the OEM to create the first Nexus device quite a few years ago. Most recently, HTC manufactured the Nexus 9 tablet, a device with mixed reviews. January is pretty early to hear about Nexus rumors, but as big fans of the program, and even bigger fans of last year's Nexus 6P, we are eager to see what Google might have cooking up for 2016. Speaking honestly, we sort of hoped Huawei would get another shot in 2016, but if Google is ready to switch it up yet again, we are genuinely curious if HTC can mount a comeback through the Nexus program. If HTC is in fact to make two Nexus phones in 2016, does this news excite or disappoint you?

Via: Gadgetz Arena | Weibo

Deal: Get a 5-Year Subscription to ZenVPN for $25

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 13:43:14 +0000

Available on the DL Deals Store, you can purchase a 5-year subscription to ZenVPN, a service that allows its users to browse the web anonymously and safely. Featuring 32 servers spread across the globe, ZenVPN encrypts all user traffic during usage, making sure that all information transferred is not logged. Features include continued access to BitTorrent connections (as some VPNs get blocked), top-notch connectivity thanks to "meticulous" network allocation, and easy download and installation with zero configurations needed from the user. Check out all of the features below, and if interested, follow the link below. Features

Enjoy uninterrupted Internet surfing—ZenVPN stays out of your way as it runs
Easily download & install the service w/ zero configuration
Enjoy top-notch connectivity thanks to meticulous network allocation
Encrypt all your traffic, all the time
Make sure your online activity isn’t recorded (no logs!)
Join a global network of 32 locations & growing
Don’t get blocked from BitTorrent connections (like w/ other VPNs)

Deal Link

Google Photos Introduces Quick Shortcut to Jump From Camera to Photos

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 12:39:30 +0000

Google Photos, either through an update we didn't notice or because of a slow server-side rollout, received a feature over the weekend that allows you to add shortcuts to photos taken in your camera that can launch you into Google Photos. That make sense? Let me me explain. The new feature is showing up in the Assistant panel of the Google Photos app. It looks like the card in the image we featured above and below. See it? The idea is pretty simple here, in that it allows you to quickly jump into Google Photos after a picture is taken instead of the gallery app that is likely set as the default for your phone, assuming you aren't using a Nexus. When you tell Google Photos to "Add shortcut," you'll then have controls for it in Google Photos' settings. It's basically a toggle for on or off. With it toggled on, all you need to do is open your phone's camera app, snap a picture, and that recently snapped photo will show as a floating icon over your camera UI as a shortcut to the picture you just took. It will open in Google Photos. Get it now? This is what it looks like:

I'm currently on Photos v1.12.0.111999620. Play Link

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 36

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 11:21:04 +0000

Back in late December, we ran Volume 35 of the DL Q&A Sessions, but with the list of holidays and then CES, we decided to hold off on posting our answers. Now that we have time to relax and go through all of the questions, we are going to go ahead and post up Volume 36, and will include our answers to Volume 35, making for a massive Answers post for this upcoming Friday. The Q&A Sessions are a time to ask the DL staff anything Android-related that may be on your mind, but it's not limited to just Android. We can talk NFL postseason, MWC speculations, Force Awakens theories, or anything else that may be on your mind. Don't be shy. On Friday, be on the lookout for a ton of answers. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

DEAL: 92% Off XtremeGuard Tempered Glass Screen Protectors

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 10:35:14 +0000

I can't say that I've touched a screen protector in some time, but there is certainly a market and audience for them. If we were to recommend something, at least in the past, we always suggested tempered glass protectors, because of their quality, touch feel, and hardness (8-9H). Should something like that - a screen protector - still interest you, XtremeGuard is hosting an incredible deal on them at the moment. By adding two to your cart and inputting the code "92OFF," you'll get exactly as the coupon suggests, 92% off. Take a look at my screenshot below to see the kinds of savings we're talking about. I added two $30 Spartan Tempered Glass Screen protectors, and should I buy them, will only pay $4.80. We're seeing protectors for phones like the Turbo 2, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Galaxy S6, Note 5, Note 4, Galaxy S6 Active, OnePlus 2, Xperia Z5, iPhone 6 and 6s, and a bunch of iPads. Your best bet for finding your particular phone is to search for them in the big search box on XtremeGuard's site. XtremeGuard Link

Cheers Mike!

Upcoming Fitness-Focused Samsung Wearable Detailed in Photos

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 10:27:14 +0000

It would appear Samsung is preparing yet another wearable for the global market, one more targeted to fitness tracking enthusiasts, according to a leaked set of photos. Much like the Gear S2, the SM-R150 is equipped with a round display with the same rotating bezel. However, at least from what the leaked pictures show, you can detach the body of the watch from the straps and place it on your clothing during workouts or running if you choose. Reported to possibly feature Samsung's new Bio Processor, the wearable appears to be able to count repetitions (reps) in a workout, as well as liquid intake. Detailed in one of the photos, the Body Equalizer looks to display weight data, fat data, and even waist measurements. At this time, there is no information regarding a price, but if Samsung decides to make it a pure activity/fitness tracker, leaving out more of the smartwatch features (notifications, phone calls), it could launch with a lower price tag, making it a good competitor to devices from Garmin and Fitbit. With MWC coming up, it's possible this device could see an unveiling, or at least a tease.

Via: SamMobile

DEAL: Grab an Original Nexus 5 32GB for $189

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 10:14:53 +0000

Yeah, yeah, it's really old at this point, but look, the original Nexus 5 is still being supported by Google. It also runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow pretty flawlessly. This is an Android icon, without a doubt. And you can still own one today, supposedly in "new" condition. Through a deal over at eBay, you can pick-up the white Nexus 5 with 32GB of storage for just $189.99. Are there better values out there? I honestly don't know that there are. Sure, the camera isn't great, but the performance, feel in hand, and overall design of this phone are still almost unmatched. The deal includes free shipping. eBay Link

OnePlus Now Offers Free Shipping on Orders of $100 or More

Tim — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 08:51:08 +0000

Announced this morning, OnePlus is now offering free standard shipping on orders of $100 or more. Whether it's a phone being shipped or an assortment of accessories priced at $100, all shipments will be free. According to OnePlus, a change such as this will certainly eat into their bottom line, but if they are, "to survive in this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it business we need to be able to offer our users the level of service they’ve come to expect when shopping online." For those not in the US, here are the thresholds you need to meet for free shipping.

CAD: 150
EUR: 100
CZK: 2500
DKK: 700
HUF: 30000
PLN: 400
SEK: 850
GBP: 60
HKD: 800

Shall you be taking advantage of this offer from OnePlus?

Via: OnePlus

Sony has Plans for MWC as Well, Announces Press Event

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 08:24:46 +0000

Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicks off in just over a month in Barcelona. We already know that LG is hosting an event and that Samsung will likely do the same to unveil the Galaxy S7. But what about the others in the game? HTC? Sony? This morning, Sony confirmed that it has plans of some sort set aside for the big mobile conference through an invite sent to specific news outlets. The invite (seen below) doesn't tease a thing, other than there will be plenty of #SonyMWC hashtagging. Could we see a new flagship Xperia phone? That sort of seems unlikely, considering the fact that Sony just announced the Xperia Z5 line in September. So if not a new Xperia phone, then what? Great question! Feel free to drop those predictions below.

Via: XperiaBlog

WhatsApp Ditches Subscription Model, Now 100% Free

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 07:46:36 +0000

WhatsApp, the global messaging phenomenon, announced today that it will no longer charge subscription fees for use of its apps. That means WhatsApp will be 100% free going forward. In the past, WhatsApp was free to most for the first year of service after sign-up. Once that year long period ended, you needed to pay a $0.99 annual subscription to keep the service going. That's going away because many of WhatsApp's users don't have a credit card and the company is afraid that they'll lose these users who can't pay the $1 per year to keep it going. So does that mean ads are coming? WhatsApp says no, but that they will be testing partnerships with businesses and organizations that "you want to hear from." That could mean flight notifications in WhatsApp or a bank communicating with you about fraudulent charges on an account. At least, those are the two examples they have provided to us. Using WhatsApp? Thoughts?

Via: WhatsApp

Don't Miss These Android Stories: January 15, 2016

Tim — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:50:24 +0000

With CES behind us, we now look forward to February and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Rumors and reports are already spreading like a wildfire, claiming that LG will go head-to-head against Samsung with the G5, and Samsung will be there showing off three (count 'em 1, 2, 3) Galaxy smartphones for the market. On top of MWC rumors, we took time to post our complete Moto 360 Sport review, Google announced dates for the 2016 Google I/O conference, we learned that HTC Vive could cost a whopping $1500 at launch, and Sony decided that the US doesn't need fingerprint readers on Xperia devices. If you don't have time for reading all of this news, catch up using our podcast.

Luke Skywalker is Rey's father.

Poll: Which Android OEM are You Most Excited for in 2016?

Tim — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 13:56:41 +0000

2016 is heating up to be a big year for many Android OEMs, and with the apparent success of the Nexus 6P, we have yet another manufacturer being praised by US consumers, that OEM being Huawei. We already know Samsung (Galaxy S7), LG (G5), and HTC (One M10) are cooking up their 2016 flagship devices for launch pretty soon, with Motorola and Huawei possibly to follow along soon after. With that said, we will be keeping our eye on Motorola, as Lenovo's true plans were recently misreported, and some thought that the company was doing away with their best-selling smartphone. Thankfully, that's not the case. HTC is also an OEM to keep track of, as basically, they desperately need a winner in 2016. So, let us know which Android OEM you are most excited about in 2016, then share your reason why down in the comments. [poll id="385"]

Friday App Sales: Metal Slug, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown II, More

Tim — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 11:57:12 +0000

Not planning on watching football this weekend? Don't feel like building that stupid IKEA coffee table you paid $149 for? Don't worry, there are apps and games available on Google Play to take up your precious time. For a limited time, and at a discounted price, you can pick up a few Metal Slug titles for just $0.99 a piece, or grab The Secret of Grisly Manor for $0.99. If a fighter is something you want, you can grab Samurai Shodown II for $0.99, or a few King of Fighters titles at $0.99 a pop. Check the full list below. Friday App Sales

European War 3 ($1.28)
The Secret of Grisly Manor ($0.99)
Knights of Pen & Paper ($2.91)
Palmary Weather Premium ($1.98)
Samurai Shodown II ($0.99)
The King of Fighters-A 2012 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters '97 ($0.99)
The King of Fighters '98 ($0.99)
Metal Slug 2 ($0.99)
Garou: Mark of the Wolves ($0.99)
Fatal Fury Special ($0.99)
Metal Slug 3 ($0.99)
Battery Widget Reborn ($0.99)
Make Your Clock Widget Pro ($0.99)
To Do Log ($1.49)

Go support them developers.

DEAL: 2-Pack of SanDisk 128GB MicroSD Cards for $89

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 11:16:47 +0000

Rumors are pointing towards the Galaxy S7 having a microSD slot, so if you are planning to make it your next phone (even though you know nothing official about it), it's time to stock up on expandable storage. Today, in a deal running over at eBay, you can pick-up a 2-pack of SanDisk 128GB microSD cards for just $89.99. These cards, by themselves, used to carry price tags of $100 or more. In recent weeks, we have seen the everyday price come down, with the current individual card price at Amazon hovering right around the $50 mark. Should you take this deal because you plan on loading up a couple of phones with expandable storage, you are saving $10 or so. Oh, free shipping is included. eBay Link

OK, Then: No Fingerprint Sensors for Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact in the US

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:58:22 +0000

Yesterday, Sony announced that its current flagships, the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact, would be coming to the US on February 7. We assumed that these unlocked GSM versions of the phones they released elsewhere months ago were exactly the same as when originally introduced. Boy were we wrong. According to The Verge, who received a clarification later yesterday afternoon from Sony, each phone will be missing fingerprint sensors. Why would Sony do that, you ask? They aren't saying. Our educated guess is that the removal is because the fingerprint sensors aren't any good. My wife, in fact, has been using the Xperia Z5 Compact for a couple of months now and has stopped using the fingerprint sensor because it misfires more than it unlocks her phone in a timely manner. She's basically given up on it and instead relies on a pattern or Android's Smart Lock. So, come February 7, you can pay $499 (Z5 Compact) or $599 (Z5) for Sony's current flagships, months later than the rest of the world got them, sans a very important feature.

Via: The Verge

Android Pay Rewards "Tap 10" Could Land You a Free Chromecast, Songs on Google Play Music

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:31:27 +0000

Google launched a new promo this morning for Android Pay that could land you a bunch of free stuff, including songs on Google Play Music and a Chromecast. The promo is called "Tap 10" and involves paying for items with Android Pay, hence the "Tap" portion of the name. The idea is pretty simple - the more you tap and pay, the more free stuff you get. If you tap and pay once, you get to pick a free song from Google Play music. At your 2nd tap, you get another. Same thing at your 6th tap. If you continue to tap and pay for the next month and hit the 10 mark, Google will give you a free Chromecast. Yes, a free Chromecast dongle. The Chromecast will be redeemed via promo code on the Google Store, in case you were wondering. The promo is open now and runs through February 29, so you have some time to put in that Android Pay work. The rest of the terms and conditions can be found here. On a side note, we aren't yet seeing this promo in our Android Pay app. I'd imagine this is a part of the update that is rolling out this week, so if you get it, feel free to open Android Pay and see. If you don't normally use Android Pay and are now considering it just to receive a free Chromecast, you might want to wait until you see the promo show up in the Android Pay app. According to a reader who sent us the info, the Android Pay Rewards is showing up as a card in your list of cards that when tapped, brings up the UI you can see in the screenshots below with details on the promotion. Now, get to tapping!

Cheers Jonny D, Josh, and Jeff!

LG Ready to Take on Samsung, Likely to Launch G5 at MWC Against Galaxy S7

Tim — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:18:35 +0000

According to an LG executive who spoke this morning, the company is ready to take Samsung on head-to-head in 2016. Last year, the LG G4 launch was, "delayed months after release," of Samsung's Galaxy S6, in attempt to not be outshone if launched side by side. At this year's MWC, we will likely see Samsung unveil the Galaxy S7 (and possibly additional variants), right alongside the LG G5. There has been no shortage in leaks and rumors for devices from both companies, but if the reports are true, LG may have a true competitor to Samsung's top shelf Galaxy lineup. The latest reports claim that the LG G5 will feature an all-metal design, Snapdragon 820 processor, and will meld the best qualities of the G4 and V10 together, creating some type of super smartphone. Of course, you know Samsung will also be presenting a good smartphone, with the Galaxy S7 rumored to feature water resistance, microSD slot, a camera with an insane aperture of f/1.7, and Snapdragon 820 processor as well. Over the past few years, companies have been smart to not stack device launches on top of each other, which can lead to disappointing sales if one is clearly better than the other. However, if LG feels as though they can take Samsung down a peg or two, and eat into the Galaxy S7 sales, this should be an exciting MWC. The LG press event is already scheduled for the day before MWC in Barcelona (Feb. 21), so mark that calendar.

Via: Korea Times

Android Developers Can Now Issues Promo Codes for Paid Apps or In-App Purchases

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:24:47 +0000

Have you ever wondered why you never saw developers hand out special promo codes for their paid apps through giveaways on Twitter or sites like this one? That's because up until yesterday, they couldn't. That has all changed now, though. In a message posted to developer consoles, Google is informing Android developers that they can now hand out promo codes for paid apps or in-app purchases on Google Play. At this time, Google seems to be limiting the number that can be used per quarter, so don't expect a developer to run a 24-hour code that is free for thousands upon thousands of people to use. Instead, Google is limiting the number of promo codes to 500 per quarter. That number seems to be a pretty hard cap too. Developers get 500 total per quarter, which could be a combination of promo codes for paid apps and in-app codes. For example, a developer could hand out 250 paid app codes and another 250 in-app purchase codes. Or that could be 100 promo codes for five different in-app products and nothing else. As for you and I, nothing changes on our end except for the fact that we can now redeem promo codes for apps or in-app purchases within Google Play. That's awesome! To redeem one, you'll do so from within the seem "Redeem" box you would a Google Play credit code. Developers can find more details about how to set up promotions and use promo codes through their developer console or at this link.

Moto 360 Sport Review

Tim — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:21:38 +0000

We already named the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) the best Android Wear device you could buy in 2015, but it's 2016 now, and Motorola has a new device for those who enjoy going for runs and hitting the gym. Recently released, the Moto 360 Sport has fitness on the mind, complete with a bunch of sensors to help collect data for all of your calorie and step tracking needs. While Motorola has been somewhat dominating the Android Wear game with practically priced, fashion-friendly smartwatches, can the Moto 360 Sport, priced at $299, get folks who are interested in Fitbits and fancy step counters to dive all of the way into the world of Android Wear? This is our Moto 360 Sport review.

Design

Speaking generally, I admire the look of the Moto 360 Sport. It's simplistic, minimal, and straightforward. As a wearable focused heavily on fitness, the body feels very comfortable on the wrist, thanks to a very stretchy rubber watch band. Since you will likely be doing a lot of moving with this thing, it's good to know that there are not many pieces to it, and you can't change the watch band whenever you want, so you don't really have to worry about any piece of it breaking or snapping off during a heavy workout. To add a bit of flare, the bezel has been texturized, but it's not too flashy, primarily drawing one's eye to the large full-color display. We have the Black model of the device, instead of Flame or White, which draws even more attention to the display and not the strap. For those who don't mind being walked up to and asked what you are wearing, I might recommend the Flame or White model more than the Black, as we come to my main serious gripe with this device - the straps are serious lint, hair, crap magnets. As you wear the watch, you will find that no matter what you do, the straps will attract all sorts of debris, whether it's your dog/cat's hair, material from your clothes, dead skin, or just general dust. After wearing the device for a few solid weeks, my unit seems littered with crap, and no matter how much I wipe it clean and try to rub it away, it seems that I can't get it back to how it looked out of the box. For someone who likes clean things, this is an issue. With the watch all dirty, I don't even want to show it off to someone, and as a lover of timepieces, hiding my dirty, lint-covered watch is not something I am proud of. In my opinion, Motorola needs to go back to the drawing board in terms of material and treatment process to get these straps picking up less dust and lint. To me, that would be necessary. On the other hand, I can appreciate someone's argument, saying that a watch for workouts, the gym, and triathlons doesn't need to be clean all of the time. That's cool, but really, I don't want my watch attracting dust and lint, that's all.

Fitness

The Moto 360 Sport offers a wide range of feedback for those who will use this device as a tool during workouts. To start, Moto created a custom watch face that displays calories burned, steps walked, heart activity, and stopwatch. From here, you can press "Start" directly on the watch face, which leads to a quick start for any run you are about to take. As for the actual software, inside of Moto Body, you can check your current pace, workout duration, and distance traveled. Users can activate Motorola's 5-zone data tracker, which allows for easier time tracking of warm-ups and the best calorie burning times. Once your run has complete, Moto Body delivers a summary that includes duration, distance traveled, average pace, best pace, average heart BPM, max BPM, calories burned, calories burned per minute, and how you performed during each zone of the 5-stage process. Once you have used the watch for a few days to a week, you can ask the software to analyze the data. All of this data can be tracked either on the watch, or on the Moto Body app through your smartphone.

The watch also creates its own goals for you, such as steps walked. At this time, I cannot find a place to change this, so it's always set to 10,000 steps in a day. To me, it seems that you should be able to customize these goals, like you can with other systems. For me, who is somewhat active, I could crush 15,000 steps in a day, and I would rather have my goal set to that, so I don't have to keep an eye on the tracker once I've surpassed Moto's own goal. If folks are looking for a more comprehensive look into what apps are available for runners and workout enthusiasts on Android Wear, you don't have to go far. On Google Play, apps are available from Runkeeper, Runtastic, HealthTap, and countless others. As Android Wear becomes more mature, we will likely see a massive influx of apps available for the platform, from many different fitness companies. One last note that I appreciated, is the ability to share the data to accumulate to other applications, such as Fitbit, Under Armour, and Strava. I don't personally use any of those, but anyone who is testing out a Fitbit alongside a Moto 360 Sport, this is good for comparing notes.

GPS

Given that Moto 360 Sport is one of the first Android Wear smartwatches to feature complete GPS integration, let's talk about it briefly. First of all, it's extremely accurate. As seen in the screenshots below, this is a 1-mile dog walk that my canine companions and I recently completed, for example purposes only. As we started (top center dot headed east), you can see that we had to cross the street due to the presence of other dogs. As we rounded the corner, we went off into the field just a bit because we had to smell a few trees and bushes. Right near the end of 1 mile marker, we juked up the road just a bit, then headed back on the same course, which is well marked on the map. To note, this is all from the watch's GPS data, as I had left my phone inside at home. To my eyes, this is pretty much a perfect representation of exactly where we walked, so for those of you who need GPS data on your runs and dog walks, you can rely on the data provided from the watch and leave your smartphone at home.

As for GPS usage and its affects on the battery life, the week before CES, I took the smartwatch on a few jogs around the neighborhood, totaling about 45 minutes to an hour of GPS usage on each run. I had a fully-charged watch each time I left the house, and once I returned, I was at about 70-80% when I returned. During these runs, I would have the display set to always-on, just so I could keep track of my distance traveled and burned calories more easily. By always-on, I don't mean full color, but that the display doesn't completely turn off, showing a monotone readout of my data instead. I'm sure if you would set the display to not save energy, you could burn through your battery much quicker. Along these lines, for example, if you are doing a marathon and need your watch tracking you with GPS for a couple of hours, you should not run into any problems in terms of battery life, as long as you have your display on the proper settings and brightness.

Battery Life

Like any other Android Wear device, I was not blown away by the battery life, as I did see normal performance. My battery would get me through a typical day of normal to heavy usage, with charging done each night. In the first week of usage, I was sometimes able to get through a day and a half, but if I didn't want to have the watch on its charger in the middle of the day, I found that I needed to charge the watch nightly. If you are someone who is already used to this process it's not a big deal. And it's not like charging this device is difficult. Thanks to wireless charging, simply place the watch on the dock and off it goes; nothing crazy. One thing I will say, and this goes for all Android Wear watches, but considering how small of a battery they all have, you would think they could charge a bit quicker, right? Sure, a few hours isn't terrible, but I would like to see Quick Charging incorporated somehow into these devices and chargers. If I could get a full day's charge from 30 minutes of charging, using these watches would be much easier.

Performance

Much like many of the other Android Wear devices from 2015, the Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor is holding up well, along with its 512MB of RAM. In addition, thanks to the work Google has done with the Android Wear OS, performance is smooth across the board. When compared to the performance I see on the Moto 360 (2nd Gen), I would say it's nearly identical. Not much stalling between swipes, hiccups, or anything that I would attribute as "jank." When going for runs, you don't have to worry about it locking up or freezing for whatever reason. A+ in terms of performance.

Specs

The Moto 360 Sport features a 1.73" AnyLight Hybrid display (360 x 325 resolution), Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 300mAh battery, dual digital mics, heart rate monitor, pedometer, GPS, Altimeter, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. On the downside, with Android Wear gaining support for audio feedback, this smartwatch, even though made for fitness, is not exactly future proof. One of those nifty features of smartwatches is the ability to take and place phone calls, and that feature will likely never be supported on a device that features no external speaker. As I said, this watch was not designed for all of that, but with a $299 price, don't you think it should? I mean, if I have a smartwatch, regardless of what it's geared for, the ability to take a call should just be there. This is no major deal if you don't like the idea of talking to your watch, but this may both other potential buyers, or current owners who had hoped for this feature to be turned on via a future software update.

Display

Going back to the AnyLight Hybrid display, I love it. The display is very viewable in any lighting I found myself in, including direct indoor and outdoor lighting, and when compared to other devices, it gets exceptionally bright when you need it to. If running outdoors and in sunlight concerns you, don't worry about it, you will be able to read this watch. The technology itself is two panels, one regular LCD that you will find in other smartwatches, in addition to a special front-lit reflective display. When combined, it allows you to view your watch stats in any type of lighting, and naturally, Motorola's software and ambient light sensor will help determine the best lighting for your smartwatch. This is the first Android Wear device to feature an AnyLight Hybrid display, and if you ask me, I wouldn't mind seeing this on more smartwatches in the future.

Software

Beyond the extra fitness goodies Motorola built in, this is your standard Android Wear OS, nothing special. The watch has the ability to display incoming notifications when synced with your smartphone, and can also take voice commands for sending texts, getting directions, and beginning a phone call that can be completed on your smartphone. The Android Wear OS has come a long ways, even in its short existence, but I still think it lacks that one truly unique feature that would allow me to embrace it over my smartphone. I can still pick up my phone and do everything I need to do with it. If I am in a setting where looking at my phone is rude, then you better believe that looking at my watch could be considered just as rude. And please, it's not like I'm dining with the Queen of England anytime soon. If someone gets offended I'm looking at my phone too much, I'll tell them to bugger off. I need my Twitter and Instagram. Don't get me wrong, I think smartwatches are cool, and they certainly make more sense in the fitness industry than they do in the telecommunication industry at this point, it's just that I am still waiting for Android Wear to blow me away. Maybe it isn't supposed to.

Availability, Price, and Value

At this time, the Moto 360 Sport is available directly from Motorola, Verizon, and on the Google Store. Priced at $299, folks can opt for the Black, White, or Flame model. Now, is this watch worth $300? For those who intend on using this device for strictly fitness, it's entirely possible that you can do better for that price. Although, for $299, you are getting the benefit of a complete smartwatch, one that is capable of reading your heart rate and tracking steps, as well as notifying you of email and phone calls. Look at any other fitness trackers and you will be pressed to find one that does fitness just as well as it does at being smart. Yes, tracking brands such as Garmin and TomTom have a great history of helping you during workouts, but neither offer an Android Wear smartwatch at this time. Now, would I mind to see the Moto 360 Sport at about $249, instead of $299? Absolutely not. In fact, I think that would bring in a larger crowd of fitness-minded folks who might buy into the Android Wear platform, going beyond just wanting a pedometer and calorie counter. If everyone who owned a Fitbit bought into Android Wear, and saw that it can provide data from your daily activities, in addition to providing notifications and hands-free controls, the wearable platform could really take off as a whole. While many Android Wear smartwatches are still priced high, folks looking for Christmas and birthday gifts will opt for the $99-$149 fitness options. For those of you who are looking purely for a workout companion, and don't need notifications going off while you work out, there are countless options on the market. The Moto 360 Sport, however, is a fantastic blend of fitness tracking and social connectivity.

Video

Unboxing and Hands-on

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Final Thoughts

The Moto 360 Sport offers the best take on what a fitness-friendly Android Wear smartwatch should be, however, it misses in just a few places. First, the price seems pretty darn high. If Motorola had priced this device at $199 or $249, I could see people flocking to this over the competition (any Fitbit model, Garmin Vivofit, Jawbone fitness tracker, etc.), but that's not the case. Undoubtedly, I bet we could see a price drop in the coming months to maybe half a year into 2016, and you'll be able to snag this thing for a much more affordable price. At $199, this device would be an insta-buy, with the fitness tracking, Android Wear, and compatibility with iOS. On the bright side, there are quite a few positives with the device as it is today: It can track your fitness data (which is the "in" thing right now), get all of the same benefits from Android Wear as any other smartwatch on the market, and runs on any smartphone that supports Android Wear, including iOS. If you take your fitness semi-seriously, want Android Wear, and don't mind non-changeable silicone bands, the Moto 360 Sport should treat you just fine.

This Icon Pack is Hot: IMMATERIALIS

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:16:07 +0000

Now this is a cool icon pack that is completely different from anything we have featured in recent memory. It's called IMMATERIALIS and it's brought to us by sikebo, the designer of Materialistic, another of our favorite icon packs. With IMMATERIALIS (last time I'm capitalizing it all), you get some 3,000+ square icons with rounded corners that are all 192x192 and carry dark grey tones in some form. They are highlighted by familiar icon imagery, toned down pops of color, and a sort of matte finish. I think what I appreciate so much about them, is they aren't just another free floating, "Material" set. Honestly, how many more of those do we need? You won't really find traditional color schemes here, so some of the options for apps like Chrome, may take some getting used to. But that's part of the fun of a new icon pack, isn't it? There are plenty of icon alternatives and different colorways for many of the popular apps, though, especially the Google standards, should you want something more familiar. You get 89 HD wallpapers as well (like this fabulous deer paper), icon masking for those not included in the pack, searching, Muzei support, compatibility with all of you favorite launchers, and a request tool. The dashboard app for it is also top notch and filled with Material tasties. Immaterialis runs $0.99 on Google Play. Play Link

FYI: Google Tips and Tricks Portal Keeps Growing, is Worth a Bookmark

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:04:49 +0000

I believe this whole Google tips and tricks thing started back in April of last year, but either way, it's worth checking out and a bookmark if you haven't done so already. Haven't seen it yet? Well, Google is up to 154 tips for getting the most out of their products at this point (they add new ones all the time). And since most of you use Google products... If you want specific Android tips and tricks, you'll find lists for getting the most out of your new device, along with another 34 specific to our favorite mobile operating system. The tips can be anything from quickly opening apps with your voice to locking up your phone from bad guys to control your smart home and texting hands-free. A lot of these are pretty basic stuff, many of which you'll find in our Android Beginners' Guide, but it does continue to grow. Plus, if you need tips for Google Play, Gmail, Chromecast, Google Drive, Translate, or Hangouts, you'll find those as well. See all of Google's tips and tricks here.

Netflix to Crack Down on Proxy and "Unblocker" Users in Non-Supported Regions

Tim — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:34:12 +0000

Even with Netflix opening its service to 190 countries as of last week, it appears that the company must still take steps to protect the content it distributes from those who do not live in a supported region. For those who do not live in a territory where Netflix is offered, which used to be a very long list, some would use proxies and "unblockers" to trick Netflix's servers into thinking the user was based somewhere else in the world, preferably one that allows for Netflix streaming. In the coming weeks, Netflix states that it is cracking down on these users, and will evolve its proxy detection to make sure those users are unable to watch content. While Netflix users who utilize the service through regular means should not notice any change in streaming, those who attempt to use proxies and unblockers will find that they cannot access the Netflix service. At this time, Netflix has not dove into complete technical specifics for what is changing to catch the proxy users, but rest assured, Netflix will, "continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location." Proxy users, you best watch out.

Via: Netflix

DEAL: Nexus 5X 32GB for $379 at eBay ($20 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 09:38:53 +0000

Google just dropped the price of the Nexus 5X by $30 earlier this week, yet a seller on eBay is already under cutting them. Through a daily deal, you can grab the 32GB Nexus 5X in any of the three colors (black, white, or blue) for $379. That's a solid $20 discount off of Google's recently reduced price on the 32GB version. The deal also includes free expedited shipping. If you don't yet know all there is to know about the Nexus 5X, be sure to read our review. eBay Link

Dashlane 4 Brings Major Update to Android, iOS, Desktop

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 09:16:51 +0000

Dashlane, one of the highest rated password lockers, received a major update today to version 4.0 on all of its platforms. That includes overhauls to iOS, desktop applications, and of course, Android. The new experience brings "beautiful, consistent design" across all apps, but it appears as if the Dashlane crew also tried to stay true to the individual platform design languages. The update also introduces five new languages, fixes fingerprint activation on Android, includes at least 618 new international banks for payment options, and more. Here are some additional redesign highlights, according to Dashlane:

Menu Upgrades – New list/grid views, sorting options, improved button and header labeling mean it’s easier than ever to manage personal information and data within Dashlane. No matter where you use Dashlane your credential display, as well as the ability to add, find, and edit your data will remain the same.
Enhanced Search – Dashlane added new ‘Quick Actions’ from the in-app search field that enables users to more easily find data within Dashlane. No more clicking and scrolling; users can just execute a search to get what they need.
Password Changer – Dashlane added support for 300 additional websites to its industry-leading automatic Password Changer to bring the total number of compatible sites to over 500.
More Payment Options – Over 250 new international banks, credit cards, and financial institutions are now available with Dashlane Payments.
Easy Onboarding – When a new user signs up for Dashlane they will have an even smoother time getting started as new and improved account creation walkthrough screens will guide them through the process. Additionally, Dashlane has added ‘Hot Spots’ throughout the app that guide new users through critical functionalities, such as Passwords, Secure Notes, and Security Dashboard.
Secure Sharing and Emergency Contacts – Dashlane pioneered the concept of emergency password access on its desktop app in 2014, and continues to lead the market by providing password sharing and emergency contact setting on mobile devices anytime, anywhere.

If you still haven't found yourself in the password locker arena, Dashlane is certainly worth a look. Play Link

Via: Dashlane

Deal: Amazon Prime Membership to Cost Only $73 This Weekend

Tim — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 09:04:44 +0000

In celebration of Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle win at the Golden Globes, folks who don't already have an Amazon Prime membership will be able to pick one up at a discounted price this weekend. Usually priced at $99 for a year, starting at 9pm PT on Friday, a year of Prime will only cost $73. The promo ends at 11:59pm local time on Sunday night. With Prime, members gain access to free two-day shipping on many items on sale through Amazon, Prime Photos, Prime Music, Prime Video, and Kindle Owners' Lending Library. For anyone who does a ton of shopping through Amazon, and who wants access to a bit of exclusive TV shows through Prime Video, it's a great deal. Here's a pro tip. If you already have Prime, but say your membership is soon to expire, you can actually purchase one of these discounted memberships as a gift, then save it for yourself when your current membership expires. In addition to this deal, Amazon is making Seasons 1 and 2 available for free to anyone who wants to watch it, starting at 9pm on Friday night, Prime membership or not. I have never watched Mozart in the Jungle, but if it's good enough to net me a savings on Prime, then it must be awesome. Amazon Prime Sign-up

Via: Amazon

Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact Coming to US on February 7 (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 08:28:28 +0000

Sony announced this morning that its latest flagships, the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact, will arrive in the US on February 7. After releasing months ago in Europe, Sony has decided to release each Stateside as GSM unlocked phones, so there isn't a carrier tie-in here. If you want them, well, you'll have to pay full price. Before you know the prices, prepare from price points well above that of the Nexus 5X and Moto X Pure Edition. Ready? The Xperia Z5 will run $599 unlocked, while the Z5 Compact will drop in at $499. As a recap, both phones run a Snapdragon 810 processor, have 23MP cameras, ~~fingerprint sensors~~, support high-res audio, run Android 5.1 with Sony's skin on top, and are waterproof (IP65) and dust tight (IP68). The regular Z5 has a 5.2-inch FHD (1080p) display and 3GB RAM, along with a 2900mAh "2 day" battery. The Z5 Compact is much smaller and has a 4.6-inch HD (720p) display, 2GB RAM, and a "2 day" 2600mAh battery. UPDATE: Sony told The Verge that the US variants of each phone will not contain fingerprint sensors. To see the full specs for each, you'll find a comparison chart here. I spent a good week or so with the Xperia Z5 Compact back in October, as the Compact line from Sony has always been one of my favorites. This time, though, it didn't do much for me. I can't tell if that's because my tastes have changed and I actually prefer bigger phones or if Sony just didn't get this one right. Either way, I'll probably jump back on it now that it's coming to the US to give you some more definitive thoughts before February 7. And with that in mind, is anyone interested in hearing more about the regular Z5, or is that $599 price and a 4-month late launch turning you off? You can check each out at Sony's store. You'll be able to buy each phone at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H.

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Pocket Mortys Hits Google Play, Kinda Like Pokémon, but Mortys

Tim — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 15:03:10 +0000

Available on Google Play, you can pick up Adult Swim's latest creation for mobile devices, Pocket Mortys. Pretty much a spoof on Pokémon, the game features 70 different Mortys for you to capture, train, and use against baddies, which you will find as you walk around different multiverse levels. Throughout the game, you will be greeted by well-known characters from the series, such as Bird Person and Mr. Meeseeks. Much like Pokémon, when you train your Mortys, they will level up, and grow to do more damage on bad guys. In addition to the main plot, the game is filled with countless side quests to fill up an usual amount of spare time you might have. Are there in-app purchases? You better believe it. Other notes on the game include non-compatibility with devices powered by an Intel Atom chip. The developers are currently working on a fix, in case you have a device affected by this. Go check it out. Play Link

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Google Maps Gets "Driving" Mode to Give You Suggestions on When to Drive

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 14:26:37 +0000

Google is pushing out a pretty decent new feature to Google Maps this week, called Driving mode. The mode attempts to help you decide if now would be a good time to leave for home or to the gym or to other favorite destinations or to stay put. It provides quick overviews on ETAs, traffic updates, etc. The new Driving option can be found in the slideout menu in Google Maps or you can create a shortcut to it on your home screen, as it will show up as an option in your home screen widget picker after updating to the newest version of Maps. With Driving mode up and running, you get what appears as a navigation overview-like UI that will give you suggestions for travel based on the time of day or week. A lot of this is driven off of your location history, so if you don't mind Google knowing that sort of thing, logging into Google Maps is a good idea. The update appears to be rolling out slowly as version 9.19. Play Link

Via: Google Lat Long

DEAL: These Active Bluetooth Earbuds are Just $29.99

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 13:35:32 +0000

It's a new year, so I can imagine that plenty of you are thinking about goals that might include getting your ass back in shape after spending the holiday season consuming heavy winter ales, cheese platters, and massive amounts of Grandma's party mix. No? Just me? OK, ignore my booze and party mix-filled past couple of months for a minute. Let's say (as a general example), there is the slightest chance that you are the type to set health goals for a new year, you might want to workout a bit here or there with some tunes, consider today's DL for the MMOVE Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds that only costs $29.99. Most high-end Bluetooth earbuds will cost you close to $200. That's a lot of cash to fork out for something you are going to sweat all over and that you might lose on a jog or post-race or on a bench at the gym or at the bar post-workout. Doesn't $30 sound much more reasonable? Here is a list of features:

Wear them while you workout thanks to the sweatproof, durable design
Keep track of the battery status w/ the on-screen indicator
Get maximum comfort w/ a choice of sizes & types of hooks
Enjoy clear, isolated sound w/ CVC® 6.0 Noise Reduction
Listen for up to 6 hours without recharging
Control volume & song choice, take or reject calls & more w/ on-ear controls
Connect 2 devices simultaneously, like your MP3 player for music & phone to take calls!

Deal Link

Google+ 7.0.0 Update for Android Improves Viewing Experience, Search

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 12:20:39 +0000

Along with November's big Google+ overhaul came a bunch of nagging new issues that the social service's most faithful users were eager to see fixed or tweaked. It may have taken a couple of months, but an update to the Android version of G+ is ready to address some. For one, the bottom tab bar will now hide when scrolling. We're talking about that odd new permanent bar at the bottom of your feed with buttons for Home, Collections, Communities, and Notifications. Yeah, that weird black thing that doesn't seem to follow any Google design guideline. It hides! The update also allows for the app to remember you position when you return back to it, display autocomplete suggestions when you search, and at least 69 other bug fixes. The full list of changes:

69 bugs fixed
14 accessibility issues addressed
Automatically hide the bottom tab bar when scrolling (note: not on Notifications screen yet)
The home stream now remembers your position when you return to it (after going to a different screen like Notifications)
Search now displays autocomplete suggestions as you type
If you have no Collections or Communities visible on your profile, we include a prompt for you to add one

The update is to version 7.0.0 and will begin rolling out over the next couple of days. Play Link

Via: +Luke Wroblewski

Pushbullet Brings Picture Messages (MMS) From Desktop and Improved SMS Reliability

Tim — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 11:06:12 +0000

This morning, Pushbullet announced "the last missing feature" for users, MMS support. Once updated on all of your platforms (Android, Windows, Chrome extension), sending picture messages should be just as easy doing it on any other messaging service. On a desktop, you simply drag and drop an image into a chat window or use the paperclip icon for attachments. Do note, Pushbullet requires your device to run Android 5.0+ in order for this feature to work properly. In addition to MMS support for computers, Pushbullet states they have added improved SMS reliability. In order to do so, the company have rebuilt their texting system. "We now reliably sync outgoing text messages with your phone, ensuring that your messages will reliably send as soon as possible (even if they can’t be sent immediately)." If your smartphone is offline, or if there is another reason your device can't speak to the Pushbullet servers, the text remains queued and gets sent out as soon as possible. Updates for the Android app, Chrome extension, and Windows desktop app are rolling out automatically, so be on the lookout. To grab the Android update, follow the Google Play link below. Play Link

Via: Pushbullet

Report: LG G5 to Feature Modular Design With Slideout Battery, Snapdragon 820, Fingerprint Reader

Tim — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:19:37 +0000

As claimed in the latest report out of Korea, the G5 from LG will feature quite a change in terms of overall design, according to an eyewitness. As reported, it is said that the G5 will feature a somewhat modular design, with a slide-out removable battery fitting inside of a pullout drawer on the bottom side of the smartphone. To remove the battery, it appears that a user will simply pull the drawer out and replace the battery if needed, although, the phone will charge normally as any other device via a port on the bottom. In addition to this possible change, it appears LG may move away from rear-facing volume keys on this year's flagship, placing the volume up and volume down buttons on the side of the device instead. The power button will still be located on the backside, but more interestingly, it is reported that the home button will also double as a fingerprint reader for unlocking the device and using mobile payments. Other reported specifications include a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, "dual cameras" (likely a reference to front and back-facing cameras, as well as an all-metal design and build. At this time, some believed that LG intends to introduce this smartphone at MWC in February, although, that would be a bit early with regard to normality. Usually, LG launches their G flagships for the US in the April, May, June timeline. However, with all rumors indicating that Samsung is also launching the Galaxy S7 a bit early, then all major Android OEMs may look to hit the market with their 2016 offerings a bit early. The below render is based on an "eyewitness account," according to CNET Korea.

Via: CNET Korea

Leak Suggests Three Galaxy S7 Models: S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Edge+

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 08:05:14 +0000

For weeks, we have been operating under the assumption that there will be two new Galaxy S7 models to kick off Samsung's 2016 campaign in mobile. We assumed those were the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, similar to last year's launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. According to a new leak from @evleaks, we should get those two, but we also may get a third in the Galaxy S7 Edge+. Evan posted a tiny sampling of an image to his Twitter account of what appears to be marketing material or a snippet from a potential landing page for the three phones when they go live. It lists all three in order of "Galaxy S7 | S7 edge | S7 edge+." He didn't include any further commentary with the screenshot, other than that he is surprised that there will be three and that this "does explain a lot." I think that's in reference to this ongoing argument over the S7 Edge having a 5.1-inch or 5.5-inch screen. Previous leaks have told us to expect either a 5.1-inch display in the Edge for this year or a bigger, 5.5-inch screen. If what Evan is showing us is a preview of what's to come, we might get both. While it feels a bit overkill, having options is never a bad thing. I think what's throwing some of us, is the fact that Samsung released the S6 and regular S6 Edge with 5.1-inch displays last year to start 2015, then waited until its Galaxy Note launch to also introduce the bigger S6 Edge+. To deviate from that timeline seems odd, but also makes sense at the same time, since the S7 Edge+ would be an S7 variant, not a Note. Should this pan out, which would you lean? Regular S7, S7 Edge, or S7 Edge+? https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/687015019494662144

Google App Re-Introduces "Allow Rotation" to Home Screens, Auto Tweaks Icon Sizes

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 07:40:16 +0000

Back in the Android M Developer Preview 2, Google briefly enabled an option in the Google App's settings of "Allow rotation," which gave phones the ability to rotate home screens into landscape, assuming they were also using the Google Now Launcher. Then, in Preview 3 and up until last night, it disappeared. In last night's update, though, the option returned in a Google App update that is rolling out to all (edit: maybe just beta members). If you want to enable it, because you are interested in living in a world of auto rotations that includes your home screen, just long press on your home screen, tap "Settings," and you should now see the "Allow rotation" toggle under the "Home screen" section. Once enabled, you should be able to do this.

Cute. On a related note, the latest update also seems to be adjusting icon sizes in and around the GNL for some apps, just not all. Take a look at these two screenshots taken before the latest Google App update and then right after. Look at the Diaro, eBay, ESPN, Flixster, Forest, Foursquare, and Grubhub icons - all are now smaller. Of course, Google's oversized icons didn't shrink with them, so I'm not exactly sure what the goal was here. Maybe Google will let us know at some point.

(Before update, left | Post update, right.)

The update should be live now, so jump into Google Play below to grab it. EDIT: This may be a part of the beta. Feel free to join the beta group here. Play Link

Cheers Marco, Evan, and Thomas!

Late as Hell CES 2016 Recap

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:05:07 +0000

Since CES was last week, and we almost always have a blast that needs to be shared, we figured even if this is about 5 days late, it's time for a CES recap show from Tim and I. Look, we know that CES is 99.9% boring from an Android standpoint these days, but that doesn't mean there aren't other tech stories to share, our personal experience stories to share, and all that jazz. Today, we're doing our special CES 2016 show where we'll talk about Binge On drama (it started at CES!), Motorola branding news, all the VR happenings (because we tried a lot of it), the new wave of smartwatches, what we did for our annual CES dinner, if we ran into any random celebrities (sorry, no Dennis Rodman this year), and more. Join us at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern) for the fun. And no, this doesn't count as episode 100.

Tuesday Poll: Interested in VR on Any Level?

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:11:34 +0000

Tim and I just wrapped up our special CES 2016 edition of the Droid Life Show, where we talked about a bunch of takeaways from the conference, including our thoughts on VR. We strapped on HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in their newest forms. They were cool. Were they completely mind blowing experiences that will forever change our lives? Eh, not really. Again, they were very cool and we both see how under the right circumstances (read: with the right game and powerful enough setup) VR could be a hell of a time; I just don't think we have sipped enough of that hype Kool-Aid surrounding each. That sort of brings me to today's poll. We're - obviously - interested to see where VR goes on at least some level. There is a mobile tie-in, thanks to Samsung with Gear VR, but even the PC-powered versions like Vive and Oculus have at least captured our attention after demoing them. What about you? Has all of the overblown VR hype caught your attention? Are you interested in any implementation, whether that be in conjunction with your phone or as a full-blown room-required gaming experience? Let us know. Feel free to explain why. [poll id="384"]

Deal: Don't Want Android Wear? Grab a Martian Notifier for Only $36

Tim — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:14:56 +0000

Martian, a company we recently checked out during this year's CES, makes semi-smart wearable devices that provide functions for those who don't need a full blown Android Wear smartwatch. Priced at just $36, down from $130, the Martian Notifier syncs up to your smartphone via Bluetooth, then displays notifications and other select information right on your wrist. With the Martian Notifier, wearers can snap pictures on a smartphone with a remote trigger on the device, easily find your lost phone by tapping a menu to call it, receive alerts when you are walking away from your smartphone, and assign custom vibration alerts for different apps. Below, check out the full feature list, then follow the link below to pick one up. Features

Get push notifications from any of hundreds of apps
Assign custom vibration alerts
Snap pictures using a remote trigger
Set up to 5 individual or recurring alarms
Receive alerts when you’re walking away from your phone
Easily find your phone by tapping a menu to call it
Access a digital world clock
Quickly check local weather conditions

Deal Link

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LG Sends Out Invites for MWC Where "Play Begins" on February 21

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:33:30 +0000

MWC, an electronics show with an actual mobile focus that has been the chosen platform for the big dogs to unveil real-deal phones for the past few years, kicks off on February 22 in Barcelona. We expect companies like Samsung to show off the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, and HTC to show off their next flagship, but LG is sending out invites before their rivals can announce any plans. This afternoon, LG pinged select media with invites for an event that will take place on February 21, the day before MWC. The invite doesn't provide much, but does say that "Play begins." on that day. Will we get the LG G5? That seems unlikely, since LG typically waits until April or May to announce the new "G" flagship, but you never know. Will we get some sort of audio-focused phone or product? Maybe. Something gaming-focused? Maybe. This is actually all sort of a surprise. Any guesses?

Via: Pocket-Lint

No, Motorola Isn't Killing the Moto G, Its Best Selling Smartphone

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:57:21 +0000

Last night, a report out of China's Sina that included an interview with Lenovo's Chen Xudong, the head of the company's mobile business, went through a really fun media cycle that took a whole bunch of translation completely out of context and then turned it all into an embarrassing display of journalism. The interview was pretty wide-ranging, covering topics like the recent change in branding direction of Lenovo and Motorola, Google Play services returning to China, use of fingerprint scanners in upcoming phones, a change in the UI approach to Motorola phones, and the death of the Moto G and E. We'll talk about many of those in a minute, but let's first start with that last mention of the death of Motorola's best selling smartphone of all time, the Moto G. I read the report from Sina a good three or four times and still don't know where this idea came from. But some took talk of no more sub-5-inch phones and Lenovo's Vibe brand becoming the company's mid-tier line as the death of the Moto G. At least I'm assuming that's what happened because otherwise, I see absolutely no reference at all to the Moto G and Moto E being mentioned as entering retirement. In fact, there is a roughly translated reference to the Moto G being very popular in Latin America, but hey, "Death of Moto G" works. Either way, we reached out to Motorola to get some clarification on not only the Moto G and E line, but also on some other topics (thus the reason we haven't reported on any of it yet). They reached out to The Verge instead, confirming exactly what we assumed, that the Moto G (which again, is the company's best selling smartphone of all time) and Moto E will continue to live on. Their words were, "Although we are simplifying the combined Motorola and [Lenovo] portfolio, we have no plans to retire Moto G, our most successful smartphone, or Moto E." UPDATE: Full statement to us has been provided by Motorola. We included it below. As for the rest of list of tidbits mentioned above, I'll start first with the UI change. The interview - which again is incredibly roughly translated to English - says something about the "original Vibe UI and Motorola native Android UI will next year (in China) into a new UI." It seems as if some have taken that to mean that Motorola will ditch their pure Android experience in favor of a heavily Lenovo-based, Vibe-like UI. Although, that translation doesn't say that at all and instead says they'll likely manipulate their Vibe UI to be more like the Moto UI...IN CHINA. This was one of the points we asked Motorola for clarification on, so we'll update this if we do hear back. In other news, Chen Xudong said that we should expect fingerprint scanners in all of this year's phones, including those from Motorola. He also mentioned that they expect Google and Google Play Services to return to China in 2016.

Statement from Motorola:

Chen Xudong's remarks to Chinese media have been misunderstood. Although we are simplifying the combined Motorola and Vibe portfolio, we have no plans to retire Moto G, our most successful smartphone, or Moto E. We will focus on the Moto and Vibe product brands moving forward, with each brand having its own purpose and target audiences. Together they enable us to give smartphone users all around the world the power to choose the device that’s best for them. Moto will be our innovative trendsetting brand. Vibe will be our mass-market challenger brand. The brands will overlap in some price points and key geographies, but with different brand identities, features experiences and designs. The product brands are meant to be complementary and address multiple target audiences and ends of the product price spectrum.

Via: The Verge | Sina

Nexus 5X Drops to $349 at Google Store

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:38:59 +0000

This morning, Google dropped the price of the Nexus 5X to $349. This sounds like a somewhat permanent change as well, as the announcement on Google+ states that it "now" starts at $349, not "temporarily" or something of that nature. At $349, instead of the original $379, you are looking at a solid $30 discount. And at $349, you have a heck of a deal to consider should you have a sub-$400 budget for a smartphone at the moment. In my opinion, I'd still suggest you go Moto X Pure Edition (review) if your budget tops out at $400. But if you must have Nexus because of updates and all the love in the world for Google, the 5X could serve you well. It does have a really good camera. Here are five other reasons to buy it as well. Be sure to read our Nexus 5X review if you have any questions. Google Store Link

Report: HTC Vive Could Cost $1500 at Launch

Tim — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:28:44 +0000

We already know that HTC intends to launch Vive, its VR system, in early April. We also know HTC's CEO said pre-orders are going up on February 29. Yet, even with all of that, we still have no confirmed information on how much Vive will cost, or exactly what someone needs inside of their computer at home to make it run smoothly at 90 frames-per-second. However, the latest report out of Taiwan may have spilled the beans on pricing, and if you were hoping for a somewhat reasonable pricing scheme from HTC, you may be gravely disappointed. According to Focus Taiwan, who cites foreign brokerages, the Vive VR System from HTC could launch with a price tag of $1500, pricing itself way above the competition. To compare, Oculus Rift, the closest thing to Vive, will cost $599 and is available for pre-order right now. If the price does in fact stay at $1500, let's discuss why this may be. It is still unclear what will come with the Vive package, at least in terms of hardware. At this point, custom Oculus controllers for Oculus Rift won't be available until later in 2016, but HTC could market Vive as a complete package, including the headset, a set of two controllers, and a standalone motion sensor for whatever room you install Vive in. As we found out at CES, for complete motion tracking, you will need two sensors, but if you intend to only use Vive while sitting, you will need just one sensor. If you opt for Rift, they ship a Xbox One controller, sensor, remote, and cables with the $599 package. In addition, Vive will also come shipped with integration to SteamVR, granting gamers access to the latest titles as soon as they are made available on the service. Does this access cost a few hundred dollars extra? I wouldn't think so. Before we go raising pitchforks and lighting torches, we will need to wait for HTC to confirm its pricing decision. If the report is true, is $1500 simply too expensive for Vive to penetrate the ever-growing VR market? I would say so. For anyone looking to get deep into VR, Rift is essentially the same machine, at a much lower cost. Yes, Vive has a few perks (front-facing camera, for example), but the overall experience won't differ enough to justify a price increase of over two times that of Rift. Keep in mind, your computer probably can't even run VR in its current shape, so be ready to buy a new graphics card when the time comes.

Via: G for Games | Focus Taiwan

Edited title to "could" as the body of our article and the source article states.

Moto 360 Sport Now Available at Google Store Too for $299

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:44:30 +0000

The Moto 360 Sport went on sale in the US last week through both Motorola's online shop and Amazon. Today, Motorola's new sport-ready watch joined the list of Android Wear watches at the Google Store as well. For the same $299 price, you can order the Moto 360 Sport from Google, in case you (for some reason) had issue ordering from those other two outlets. Google Store Link

LG G4 on US Cellular Getting Android 6.0 Marshmallow Update

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:38:23 +0000

LG, surprisingly, has been one of the quicker OEMs to push out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to its flagship phone from early 2015. The LG G4 on Sprint saw the update a few weeks ago and now the US Cellular variant is joining it. While we wish we were sharing this same news on the AT&T and Verizon variants, we're just not there yet. If you have the US Cellular model, though, you should see the update this week if you haven't already. A source of ours who tipped us to the update said it was supposed to start yesterday. The LG G4 on US Cellular is model US-991, for those keeping track. The update is rolling out as US99120b. Let us know if you see it!

Deal: Google-Approved iOrange-E USB Type-C Cables on Sale Via Amazon With These Coupon Codes

Tim — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:19:37 +0000

In early November, a Googler took to Google+ to list a few of the "spec compliant" USB Type-C cables available on Amazon. While there were plenty of cables they did not recommend for usage, cables from iOrange-E were high on the compliant list, and for a limited time, you can grab a few at a discounted price on Amazon, thanks to these coupon codes. There are three cables on sale, a 1 foot, 6.6 foot, and 10 foot cable. With codes applied, the 1ft cable runs $8, the 6.6ft costs $9, and the 10ft cable will run you just $10. Each cable is eligible for Prime shipping, so once purchased, you can receive them in a very timely manner. To claim, hit the links below, add them to your cart, and then enter in the cable's respective coupon code. Amazon Links: 1ft Cable (Code: OZIWJRGS) | 6ft Cable (Code: BUE2SL39) | 10ft Cable (Code: OYDTW5TH)

Google I/O 2016 Dates Set - May 18-20 in Mountain View

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:39:56 +0000

Google I/O 2016 dates are now set. How does May 18-20 sound? I don't know why I just asked that, because those are the actual dates and it doesn't really matter what you think. Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent out a Tweet this morning confirming the date for your calendars, but also mentioned that they are taking the show to Mountain View and the Shoreline Amphitheatre. "More details soon." https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/686963501219233792

Verizon Open Enrollment for 2nd Chance Device Protection Now Live

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:35:10 +0000

Each year, as Verizon opens up open enrollment for device protection, we try to let you know, just in case you have decided well after purchasing a device that you might want to get some insurance on it. As you probably guessed, that time is now. Well, it opened yesterday and runs through March 10, so you do have some time to decide. What is open enrollment? As Verizon puts it, this is a "2nd chance for device protection." In other words, if you declined insurance at the point of sale, but have now decided that you want protection in case of a drop or other disaster, you can now add on insurance. You still have the same options as always - Extended Warranty, Wireless Phone Protection, or Total Equipment Coverage (TEC).

Extended Warranty ($3.00 per month): Get a free replacement device for mechanical or electrical defects after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Asurion Wireless Phone Protection ($7.15 per month for smartphones; $5.00 per month for tablets): Cover your device against loss, theft or accidental damage, including water damage.
Total Equipment Coverage ($9.00 per month for smartphones; $7.00 per month for tablets): Protect your device against loss, theft, accidental damage and defects after the manufacturer’s warranty expires (combines Verizon Wireless’ Extended Warranty with Asurion’s Wireless Phone Protection).

If you choose TEC, here are the costs associated with it outside of the monthly fee.

Again, you have until March 10 to decide. Hit up the link below to enroll. Verizon Link

DEAL: Enpass Password Manager is Free Today Only ($9.99 Off)

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 08:46:46 +0000

I'm still fairly new to the password locker game, but after becoming a LastPass subscriber last year, I can't imagine life without one. Today, if you would like to get into using a password locker or manager without the typical associated cost (subscription or hefty one-time fee), we have a pretty stellar deal for you from Enpass Password Manager that is only available for the next 24 hours. Normally priced at $9.99 for mobile access, you can setup an account with Enpass today on mobile for free and never pay again. That's a heck of a deal. Keep in mind that this attaches to your Google account of choice, as well, so should you jump between devices later on, you can restore without worry. Also, the desktop version of Enpass is and will continue to be free, but the mobile access is the portion with the $9.99 fee. So yeah, sign-up today and get in for free. As for features, you get the following with Enpass (plus more):

Available For All Major Desktop And Smartphone Platforms
Built-in Browser To Fill Login Details
Military grade encryption- Enpass secures your data by SQLCIPHER which istransparent and open-source AES-256 encryption to ensure highestlevel of security. All protection mechanism is done locally (offline)at your device.
Strong password generator- Built-in password generator lets you create strong and unique passwords for logins.
Auto-locking-Automatically locks itself when not in use or device is lost.
Works with Fingerprints.
Backup/Restore over WiFi.
Folder support.

The deal is live now. All you need to do is install the app, create a master password, choose a Google account, and accept the free license. Play Link

Cheers Vikram!

Facebook Mentions Hits Android, an App for Verified Public Figures

Tim — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 08:38:36 +0000

Facebook Mentions, an app made solely for those with verified public figures pages (celebs), is now available for Android. With the app, celebrities and other verified personalities can more easily share the happenings in their life, including live video feeds, status updates, and trending stories all in one single place. As stated on the Facebook website, verified public figure pages can belong to musicians, actors, journalists, athletes, and political folk. If you have a verified page, and want access to Mentions, you can sign up here. Again, unless you are a verified public figure, then the app itself is virtually useless. Even if you own a verified business page, it still won't work, according to Facebook's signup page. And since we all know celebrities use iOS exclusively, then this launch might almost be a waste of time. If we do have any celebs here, go check it out. Play Link

DEAL: Just $249 for Nexus 6 32GB, $299 for 64GB

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 18:04:52 +0000

Didn't take advantage of the waves of Nexus 6 deals that popped up prior to the holiday shopping season? That's cool, only because you still have a chance to land one at a ridiculously low price. Amazon is selling the 32GB model (both white or blue variants) for $249 and the 64GB model for $299. Again, as I've said a half-dozen times - this phone originally retailed for $649. And yes, it's still a heck of a phone, especially at that price. It has the latest version of Android before all other non-Nexus phones and will continue to for a long time to come. Amazon Link

Galaxy S7 Edge Reportedly Hits AnTuTu, Shows 12MP Camera and 5.1" QHD Display

Tim — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:10:42 +0000

As we push steadily into 2016, the info on upcoming flagship devices from Samsung is beginning to heat up, and if the latest info from AnTuTu is to be believed, then we may have a few specs for the upcoming Galaxy S7 Edge. According to the spec benchmark, the device could feature a 5.1" QHD display (which differs from a previous report that stated a size of 5.5"), Snapdragon 820 processor, along with other reported features such as water resistance and an SD card slot. In addition to possible display size and processor to be used, the AnTuTu info claims that the device will feature 4GB of RAM, along with a 12MP rear-facing camera. But wait, only 12MP, you ask? The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge featured a 16MP shooter, so the drop in megapixels may be a downer to some, however, a drop in megapixels may not mean an exact drop in picture quality, just overall resolution. It was previously reported that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge would have a camera with an aperture of f/1.7, so folks should not be alarmed yet. The last little bit of info concerns the OS, but it's no shocker - the latest devices from Samsung will all run Marshmallow. No surprise there. What is your take on a possible megapixel downgrade? As long as the quality of images produced is not hindered, are you okay with that move by Samsung?

Via: SamMobile

DEAL: ExoMount Car Dock is Just $19.99

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:08:56 +0000

The ExoMount Touch car mount has been slashed to just $19.99 in the DL Deals store. That’s roughly $10 off the full price or about $5-9 cheaper than you will find it at Amazon. That’s a solid deal for those of you looking at car mounts for your oversized smartphones. Why the ExoMount Touch? It can mount to just about any surface (flat, smooth, textured, curved, or rounded) thanks to its super strong suction. Once attached to your dash or other surface, the ExoMount quickly grabs a hold of your phone without the need to press a button. All you have to do is press it against the mount and the non-slip arms/pads will grab it. To release, you need a finger to loosen its grab, giving you true 1-handed access to your phone. The ExoMount is also washable, has a swivel head, and should work with just about any phone, including oversized big boys like the Note 5 or Nexus 6P. Deal Link

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Ugh, John Legere is Back Explaining Binge On Again, Apologizing, Dodging, and Probably Holding Back the F Word

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 15:03:10 +0000

Last week, T-Mobile CEO John Legere acted a fool after the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) called out his Binge On service for throttling all video data and potentially threatening net neutrality rules. He basically pulled out the, "Who the f*ck are you?" card, as if the EFF has some hidden agenda, is below him, and because no one is allowed to talk to King Legere that way. It was embarrassing, if I'm being honest. It was embarrassing because the EFF is one of the few good organizations out there that stands up for sites like this one and for consumers against companies who want to do terrible things. Today, probably after the entire PR department of T-Mobile told Legere to shut the f*ck for a minute before he does massive damage to the company's reputation and recent success, Magenta released a "Open Letter to Consumers about Binge On" that is penned by Legere. It is mostly a re-hashing of what he said last week, though it lacks the expletives and attacks on organizations aimed at doing good. In short, Legere is still praising Binge On as a product that wants to do nothing but good and isn't trying to violate any net neutrality rules because it's "free" and can be turned on or off. He apologized to the EFF. He also, at least on paper, is still completely oblivious to the fact that the original arguments against Binge On, the ones that got this whole firestorm cooking, are still out there needing answers. Here's the deal - and I hope this is the last time we have to write about this. The general basis or idea of Binge On isn't a bad one. In fact, it's quite good for most consumers who have limited pots of data and would like to conserve them. Dropping the quality of video down to 480p ("DVD quality") on phones to conserve data isn't the worst idea I've heard, depending on how it is implemented. But that's the thing. The implementation here is pretty much garbage. For one, T-Mobile shouldn't have turned on Binge On for everyone without asking. Forget John Legere telling you that they wanted all of T-Mobile's customers to experience it right away without hassle; that argument is bullshit and doing so was the wrong thing to do. If people want to deal with lower quality video, that should be a choice they get to select, not have T-Mobile select it for them. We like opt-in services, John, not opt-out. In his argument, he tosses out the idea that people may not have known to turn it on and experience the benefit. Same goes the other way, my friend. People could go for months with throttled video that they didn't ask for, before realizing that there still is a world with HD quality. Second, T-Mobile needs to stop throttling services that are not official partners of Binge On. Remember YouTube throwing that fit a couple of weeks ago, about T-Mobile throttling their video quality without their permission? Yeah, T-Mobile shouldn't be doing that. T-Mobile shouldn't be doing that to anyone unless they give them permission to. You know why? Because it hurts the experience on those services and the first place customers will turn to bitch about it, is the apps themselves, not T-Mobile. Again, the goal of trying to save some data for people by giving them the option to degrade (or throttle) the quality of video isn't the worst idea I've ever heard. But for Binge On to get out of headlines, it needs some pretty serious tweaks. How about, giving us the ability to turn it on or off for individual services? How about not even giving the option to unlimited users who don't need it? How about, not burying the switch for it in a My Profile setting, a place that makes absolutely no sense for it to be? In other words, how about making it easier to turn off or on? How about, just admitting that your shit isn't perfect, John, and that you will make it right? It might go a long way.

Via: T-Mobile

The Room Three, Now Available on Android for $4.99

Tim — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:17:12 +0000

It has been nearly two years since the launch of The Room Two, and now, finally, The Room Three is available for Android devices through Google Play. Exactly like the first two The Room games, The Room Three will have you scratching your head in an attempt to solve the game's puzzles. Scattered throughout a variety of different rooms and levels, puzzle boxes are the main antagonist in this series, while there is still an overall plot happening simultaneously. The Room Three brings enriched graphics and detail to the series, and you can expect the difficulty of a few puzzles to be rather mind numbing. There was a point in The Room Two where I almost completely gave up and never played the game again, that is, until I ran off to YouTube in search of help. The Room Three is priced at $4.99, which is the standard price when The Room titles launch. However, if $5 seems a bit steep, the developers tend to offer discounts on their titles from time to time, so don't despair. And seriously, if you haven't played The Room, or The Room Two, go pick those up before trying The Room 3. Is it a requirement? No, but they are all awesome. Play Link

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DEAL: Amazon Discounts on Aukey, Tronsmart QC 2.0 Products, MicroSD Cards and Power Banks Too

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 12:51:04 +0000

We were stumbling around Amazon earlier today, looking for deals that you could throw cash at, now that you have likely all returned back to work following the holidays. Because, if we're being honest, focusing on work after that couple of week stretch is nearly impossible and your mind probably still wants to buy gadgets and things that people refused to buy you for X-Mas. So here you go. We have microSD cards up to 128GB in capacity as low as $34.99, along with a bunch of power-related products from Aukey, Anker, and Tronsmart. From desktop chargers with Quick Charge 2.0 to massive power banks, you've got options below. Amazon Links:

PNY 128GB microSD card - $34.99
Samsung 64GB EVO Class 10 microSD - $21.99
Tronsmart Titan 5-Port Desktop Charger - $23.99 (after code 5USBPORT)
Aukey 18W Single Port QC 2.0 Wall Charger - $6.49 (after code V4R8BK3J)
Anker 13000mAh Portable Charger - $24.99 (after code WRS5DIQV)

Official Bootloader Unlock Comes to Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen), Could Open Way to Marshmallow

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:39:36 +0000

Motorola will not update the Moto X (2nd gen) on AT&T or Verizon to Marshmallow. Since Motorola has gone completely silent on this decision, we don't really know where to place the blame. My guess is that there are a couple of reasons. One, Motorola doesn't have the resources anymore to support either and is instead focusing on the "Pure Edition" unlocked model which they control completely. And two, they don't want to deal with the "partner" side of it, which means they don't want to go through the ridiculously lengthy and possibly, mostly unnecessary "testing" process from AT&T and Verizon in order to get the update out to you. Unfair or not, that's the situation we are in. With that in mind, something is brewing in the bootloader unlock community that may be a way to Marshmallow on some level, at least for the Verizon variant of the Moto X (2nd gen). A whole bunch of Verizon Moto X (2nd gen) users noticed that the official bootloader unlock tool on Motorola's site is now producing unlock codes for the carrier-tied phone, something that hasn't been the case until recently. To confirm, I just walked through the process without a hiccup and now have a bootloader unlocked Verizon Moto X (2nd gen) of my own. The picture above is of the phone. (Note: My VZW Moto X was on Android 4.4.4 at the time of unlock, so I don't think it matters which version of Android you are running.) How does this relate to Marshmallow? Well, folks over at XDA, after unlocking the bootloader, are working on ways to either "convert" their Moto X (2nd gen) phones over to the Pure Edition, which is already running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, or flash something like CM13 (a custom ROM, but still Marshmallow). By converting over, at least in theory, you could then trick Motorola's servers into sending you the official Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. There are issues here in that the Pure Edition is a GSM phone and the Moto X on Verizon is CDMA. Early attempts to make a run at this process have come up empty (with soft-bricks included). The CM13 route could be the best bet, though that is still to be determined. Either way, a bootloader unlock on this phone gives it new life after it was abandoned just a year in. This is all just happening as I type this, so if you own the Verizon variant of the Moto X (2nd gen), you may want to follow-up in all of the threads we have listed below. I would be shocked if there isn't a solution before long.

Via: Motorola | XDA [2] [3]

Cheers Matthew and Asad!

Report: Amazon to Launch Portable Version of Amazon Echo

Tim — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:58:05 +0000

According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon has developed and is set to launch a more affordable, portable version of Amazon Echo in the coming weeks. Reportedly shaped like a Beats Pill portable speaker, but able to stand vertically, the portable model of Echo will not feature always-listening software, so as to cut back on power usage. To interact, users will need to press a button in order to give voice commands to Alexa. The idea of a portable Echo would be for users to either carry one with them at all times, or to have multiple units - one for around the home, one for the office, car, etc. Given the portability aspect, users will need to charge the device via a dedicated dock. Speaking on the design, sources state it will fit in a user's hand comfortably, possible resembling the size and shape of a beer can. The standard Echo seems to be popular among owners, at least according to the Amazon reviews. People like the provided weather overviews, listening to Prime Music, and adding items to their shopping list. On top of that, Amazon is constantly adding new features to Echo. No mention of a price was reported, but really, how much could Amazon charge for this? $50? $99? If I have to press a button to interact, and need to charge it every now and then, why would I not use my phone for these tasks? What's your take on it?

Via: Wall Street Journal [Subscription]

Android Wear Joins Twitter.

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:41:13 +0000

Android Wear is now on Twitter, folks. That means all the hot and heavy Wear news you can handle from a single account. To stay up to date on all of the latest in Android-powered smartwatches, this account is probably worth a follow. Not that you won't get your news from us as well, but you know, Twitter or something. You can follow Android Wear on Twitter at @AndroidWear.

Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 Gets Android 5.1.1, a Version of Android Introduced 9 Months Ago

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:21:57 +0000

Verizon, as of this morning, is pushing out an update of Android 5.1.1 to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. In case you were wondering, Android 5.1.1 was first introduced by Google in April of last year, some 9 months ago. The update drops in as build LMY47X and software version VRU2BOK3, for those keeping track. Verizon isn't providing much in terms of details on the update, but it does include upgrades to Samsung Knox and removes Amazon's appstore and Amazon widgets. Yay, right? To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Steve, Justin V, Jason, Jim, and everyone else!

HTC Vive Pre-Order Reportedly Confirmed for February 29

Tim — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:09:29 +0000

After a full week of demos at CES, HTC's CEO, Cher Wang, has confirmed to Telegraph that the Vive VR System will go up for pre-order on February 29. It was previously announced that a general launch is set for April 1, but even with this information, there is still a lot we don't know, such as pricing and complete technical requirements. We were finally able to get our hands on Vive after months of hype from tech media, and while the experience was very cool, I didn't leave with the notion that I needed it in my house anytime too soon. They say the future of gaming is VR, and it most certainly might be, but only for a few. According to NVIDIA, only one single percent of the world's computers are capable of handling the power needed by these next-gen VR systems, so unless a large group of people in the world plan on upgrading to $1,000+ machines soon, 2016 may still not be the year VR takes the world over. For those with no intention on upgrading machines solely for VR purposes, there are other options coming from PlayStation and Oculus, as well as the already available Google Cardboard and Samsung's Gear VR. HTC has yet to announce the exact technical requirements for Vive, but we have learned you will need a very powerful graphics card, such as an option from NVIDIA, to have it run at a smooth 90 frames per second. Is Vive on your list of purchases for 2016?

Via: Telegraph

TAG Heuer to Introduce New Connected Watch Faces From Tom Brady, Other Ambassadors on January 20

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:29:35 +0000

During CES, there is all sorts of fun that happens behind closed doors, in "exclusive" or private settings, most of which is never meant to go public. Last week, though, we attended a private event by the folks at TAG Heuer, who were there to make an announcement involving their Connected smartwatch, an announcement that is now public. On January 20, the luxury watchmaker will introduce new watch faces via Android app, all of which were made in partnership with their brand ambassadors. Through a collaboration with Tom Brady, Jeremy Lin, and Giancarlo Stanton, we'll see at least three new watch faces in a new TAG Heuer app that will hit the Play store later this month. Each watch face is "not only personalized and exclusive, but also contains cues to their individual sports universe." This is what they look like.

TAG says to expect more from other ambassadors in the "coming months." Have you read our TAG Heuer Connected review? You should.

TAG Heuer, presenting an exclusive and groundbreaking collaboration with its Ambassadors, unveils the first personalized watch faces for its “TAG Heuer Connected” watch at CES Las Vegas 2016.
Las Vegas, United States – 7 January 2016 – Today, as an advance preview symbolically at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show), the most important trade fair and expo dedicated to technological innovation in consumer electronics, TAG Heuer unveiled the first fruits of a collaboration with brand sports ambassadors Tom Brady, Jeremy Lin and Giancarlo Stanton that is as exclusive as it is groundbreaking. Each in his own way, these four stars of the world of sports in the US, and TAG Heuer Brand Ambassadors became involved in the adventure that is the “TAG Heuer Connected” watch and designed a watch face which is not only personalized and exclusive, but also contains cues to their individual sports universe. These first personalized original watch faces were exclusively developed for the TAG Heuer Connected watch and will be available as of January 20th through the TAG Heuer app on the Google Play Store. Watch this space, we will be unveiling new ambassador-designed watch faces in the coming months.

AT&T Introduces New Unlimited Data Plan for Those With DIRECTV or U-Verse

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 07:55:04 +0000

Did you ever think Verizon or AT&T would re-introduce unlimited data to this wireless world of ours? I can't say that I saw it coming this soon, but AT&T is the first of the two to decide that overpricing the hell out of data for years was probably unnecessary. This morning, AT&T announced the "New Unlimited Plan" for AT&T customers who also "have or add" DIRECTV or U-Verse TV. The new plan is available beginning tomorrow, January 12. Yes, that is the important qualification here. This unlimited plan isn't for everyone - it's only for those who also plan to use one of AT&T's cable services too. So as long as you already have or plan to add DIRECTV service, or AT&T U-Verse, into your monthly billing schedule, you can ignore this and move on with your day. If you do use (or plan to) one of those TV services, then read on! The AT&T unlimited data plan starts at $100 per month. The break down there is a $60 fee for the data and another $40 for the device access. If you add one additional lines, you are looking at just $40 more per line. For now, AT&T is tossing in the fourth line for free, so you could have a family of four on AT&T's new unlimited plan for $180 per month (before taxes and all that jazz). It is my understanding that you can add more than four lines, but only the fourth is free. The plan includes unlimited "video streaming, data, talk, and text," in case you were wondering. Here is a breakdown of the base plan, plus additional potential costs, depending on the devices you add:

AT&T UNLIMITED PLAN
Device Type	Monthly Access Fee Per Device
1^st Smartphone	$100
Additional Smartphones	+ $40 (Fourth line free after bill credit)
Tablets	+ $40 (or $10 for 1GB)
Watches	+ $10
Basic/messaging phones	+ $25
Select connected devices	+ $10

Pricing includes $60 per month plan charge plus per device access charge.

What are the catches? Well, we're still talking with sources, but we know these things.

You get at least 22GB of high speed data per line. After you hit the 22GB mark, AT&T "may" throttle you for the remainder of a billing cycle "during periods of network congestion."
I mentioned this above, but a "eligible" TV service is required. AT&T will give customers who sign-up 60 days to get their "eligible" TV service in order or they will automatically remove them from the unlimited plan.
As a bonus, AT&T is giving a $10 discount per month for those who combine their wireless and DIRECTV/U-Verse bills.
UPDATE: Tethering is not included and is not offered as a part of this plan.
UPDATE 2: As some have noted, the $180 for four lines doesn't include the cost of installment payments on phones. So you are really looking at $180 plus whatever the totals is for all of the monthly payments on all of the phones you have. Say those are $20 per line, you could add on another $80 per month, plus the cost of your cable subscription through DIRECTV or U-Verse.

Finally, here is a competitive pricing breakdown that AT&T is pushing.

Interested?

Via: AT&T

2016 NFL Postseason Games Will be Available for Mobile Device Viewing

Tim — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:07:14 +0000

Announced today, those who are mobile and not attached to a couch will be able to catch all of the 2016 NFL Postseason action, thanks to the availability of live streams from all the major networks. Given that all games go through varying networks, and the NFL and Verizon have a distribution deal, you will need to be sure you can access the following apps and websites from your tablet or smartphone to catch the gridiron action. For those on Verizon, the NFL Mobile application will grant you access to all of the games, in addition to Super Bowl 50. For anyone not on Verizon, accessing games via CBS, ESPN, NBC, and FOX can be done directly from their respective websites or available applications. Here are all of the nitty gritty details for each provider.

CBS: CBS Sports will stream all of its AFC Playoff game coverage along with the exclusive broadcast of Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, February 7. PC and tablet access will be available at CBSSports.com, and fans can also tune into CBS Sports on Xbox One, Apple TV, Roku players and Roku TV models, and Chromecast, as well as Windows 10, iPad and Android tablets. In addition, all CBS postseason games will be available via the NFL on Xbox One experience. CBS AFC Playoff games include this Saturday’s Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Wild Card game (8:15 PM ET), both AFC Divisional Playoff games (Saturday, January 16 at 4:35 PM ET and Sunday, January 17 at 4:40 PM ET), and the AFC Championship game (Sunday, January 24 at 3:05 PM ET).
FOX: FOX NFL Playoff games will be available via FOX Sports GO to customers of participating pay-TV providers on PCs, tablets, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. FOX games include this Sunday’s Green Bay at Washington Wild Card game (4:40 PM ET), a Divisional Playoff game (Sunday, January 17 at 4:40 PM ET), and the NFC Championship game (Sunday, January 24 at 6:40 PM ET).
NBC: NBC NFL Playoff games will be available via NBC Sports Live Extra on PCs, tablets, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. NBC games include this Sunday’s Seattle at Minnesota Wild Card game (1:05 PM ET) and a Divisional Playoff Game (Saturday, January 16 at 8:15 PM ET).
ESPN: This Saturday’s ESPN and ABC simulcast of the Kansas City at Houston Wild Card game (4:35 PM ET) as well as ESPN’s telecast of the 2016 Pro Bowl presented by USAA (Sunday, January 31 at 7:00 PM ET) will be available digitally via WatchESPN across platforms.
Fans may visit NFL.com/watch-nfl-games-online for availability of each game each week of the Playoffs.

So, who's going all of the way this year? Panthers? Patriots? 49....err, never mind.

Via: NFL

US Cellular Offers 6GB Data for $40 in New Promo

Kellen — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 11:34:15 +0000

To kick off the new year, US Cellular has launched a new promo that gets you 6GB of data for just $40. They are also offering up to $300 in credit for those who switch and other discounts on monthly device connection charges. The 6GB for $40 is pretty straight forward from what I can tell. At $40, US Cellular is $20 cheaper than Verizon, so that's something. As for the $300 credit, we are looking at a $150 promotional card at the point of sale, followed by another $150 promo card that is mailed later, for those who are new, port a number over, and trade in a phone. Finally, if you add on a tablet, US Cellular is cutting the connection charge in half, so you would only pay $5 per month. Additional details can be found below.

U.S. CELLULAR KICKS OFF 2016 WITH 6 GB FOR $40 PLAN AND UP TO A $300 CREDIT FOR SWITCHERS
CHICAGO (Jan. 8, 2016) – New and current U.S. Cellular customers will have another reason to celebrate the new year by taking advantage of the latest deals the national wireless carrier launched today. Beginning today in stores and online, customers can receive 6 GB of data for only $40 per month, and all new lines of service are eligible for a $150 promotional card at the point of sale. Customers who port in their number and trade in their device will receive an additional $150 promotional card by mail. “To kick off 2016 in style, we wanted to offer customers a unique and value-packed plan so they can get the most out of their smartphones, tablets and other connected devices,” said Joe Settimi, vice president of marketing for U.S. Cellular. “By offering an additional $300 incentive to switch to us, we are inviting everyone to enjoy the benefits of a high-quality network with nationwide coverage and to experience a wireless carrier that truly cares about its customers.” U.S. Cellular is also offering 50 percent off the monthly device connection charges on select connected devices. With this discount, tablets can be added to a Shared Connect plan for only $5 per month, Home Phone for $10 per month, and the Router + Home Phone for $15 per month, making it easy to share data on multiple devices. This provides more ways to stay connected to people who matter most and access important information quickly and easily. In addition to the deals mentioned above, if a current customer refers a friend to U.S. Cellular, and the friend chooses to activate a smartphone on a Shared Connect plan, they both will receive $50. Data and Switcher Offer requires Retail Installment Contract, Shared Connect Plan, $25 Act. Fee, Device Protection+ and Smartphone trade-in. $300 = $150 Promo Card instantly at point of sale + $150 Promo Card via mail within 6–8 weeks. U.S. Cellular® Promo Cards issued by MetaBank,® Member FDIC. Valid for purchase in-store or online. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. See uscellular.com for details. 4G LTE service may be provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Other restrictions apply.

Lenovo, Google Announce First Consumer-Ready Device With Project Tango

Tim — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 10:09:40 +0000

Lenovo, in partnership with Google, announced that they are set to release the first consumer-ready device that will feature Project Tango, Google's software/hardware solution that displays digital data on top of the physical world through a smart device. The device will be powered by a Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, and to celebrate its arrival, Google is looking for creative developers to enter into an app incubator. For those unfamiliar with what Project Tango is and does, it is a mixture of additional exterior sensors and cameras that allows users to map their environments. As an example of what this device is capable of, Lowe's created an app that allows users to virtually place a fridge or other appliance in their home to see how it will fit, featuring exact dimensions. There are many applications for the technology, and for that very reason, Google is looking to help developers get started on their great ideas for the platform. “To break new ground in today’s hypercompetitive smartphone and tablet industries, we must take innovation risks – it’s the only way to truly change the way people use mobile technology,” says Chen Xudong, senior vice president and president, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo. “Together with Google we’re breaking down silos by working across mobile hardware and software. Turning our shared vision into reality will create a more holistic product experience that captures the imagination of today’s consumer.” The Project Tango enabled device is set to launch this summer.

Via: Google

Here's My Takeaway From Trying HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

Tim — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 09:22:58 +0000

One of the hot topics at CES this year is virtual reality. d d d d

Elvis Presley's 30 #1 Hits is Free on Google Play

Kellen — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 09:12:53 +0000

Happy birthday, Elvis. At least that's what Google is saying today to honor the King, with a gifting of his 30 #1 Hits album. Yep, you can grab Elvis' biggest singles in a 30-track album for nothing at all, as Google is handing out Elvis Presley: 30 #1 Hits for free for a limited time. Hit up the link below. Play Link

RIP, Motorola. Well, Sort Of. (Updated: Statement From Motorola)

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 13:22:40 +0000

The Motorola brand name will soon be phased out by Lenovo, as the company tries to unify its phone products under one name. Lenovo will be the company name on Motorola phones in the very near future, according to Motorola COO Rick Osterloh, who spoke with CNET here at CES. It'll be a slow phaseout, but don't be shocked if the next Moto flagship doesn't say "Motorola" anywhere on it. Lenovo plans to continue using the Moto line of products as its high-end offerings, so you could still have devices called Moto X or Moto G, but they'll be Moto X by Lenovo now. CNET reports that phones will start showing the blue Lenovo logo, but that the Motorola "M" batwing will still be used as well. So the entire image of Motorola won't be gone, just the name. Wait, are those tears? Are you crying? It's OK, we are too. UPDATE: Here is the official statement from Motorola on this naming situation.

Motorola Mobility continues to exist as a Lenovo company and is the engineering and design engine for all of our mobile products. However, for our product branding we will utilize a dual brand strategy across smartphone and wearables going forward using Moto and Vibe globally. "Motorola" hasn't been used on our products since the launch of the original Moto X in 2013.

UPDATE 2: Here is the full statement on the changes.

As we work closer together, Motorola and Lenovo are aiming to streamline our overall product portfolio and focus on two product sub-brands -- Moto and Vibe (known as Le Meng in China). In the last day or so, many articles and blog posts have focused on the fact that as part of these plans, the “Motorola” company brand will become less central to our marketing. We want to add a little context that was missing from these reports. First, and most importantly, Motorola Mobility isn’t going away. In fact, just last August Motorola Mobility assumed a much more central role in Lenovo’s smartphone business. As a wholly owned subsidiary, we remain the engineering, design and manufacturing engine for all of the Mobile Business Group’s smartphones and wearables. Motorola’s engineering heritage is hugely important to this effort, and that isn’t going to change. But brands do have to evolve, and ours has been evolving for some time. Over the years, we have made font and color changes, and more recently we made the strategic decision to focus on “Moto” as our primary product brand. “Moto” is synonymous with Motorola, and it conveys the Motorola brand to consumers in a contemporary and engaging way. That wasn't the only thing that evolved -- the iconic batwing was static blue or red for many years, and we made it fun and colorful. That symbol, which has come to represent the “Moto” brand, continues to play a prominent role, and will remain on our products and in our marketing. Now, as we have to think more holistically about our entire smartphone portfolio, we’ve made the decision to focus our marketing efforts on “Moto” and “Vibe” as our hero smartphone product brands globally. At the same time we are not abandoning the iconic Motorola brand. Although it will not be the focus of our marketing, it will continue to be used on packaging and elsewhere, so as to ensure that the rich history and association is never lost. The legacy and the goodwill associated with the Motorola brand will also live on through our licensees. We also will now use the Lenovo brand to the fullest as we participate in one of the most competitive businesses in the world. Lenovo was recognized last October as one of Interbrand’s top 100 global brands. We are one of the few technology companies that can offer people a complete PC + tablet + smartphone experience and we see that as a major competitive advantage. This latest move is all about where we focus our brand marketing efforts in the future. That will be on our two hero smartphone brands: Moto and Vibe, with the Lenovo corporate brand tying all of our consumer and commercial products together more holistically. The Motorola legacy is near and dear to us as product designers, engineers and Motorola employees, and clearly it’s important to many of you who have had long relationships with us. We plan to continue it under our parent company, Lenovo.

Via: CNET

How to: Turn Off T-Mobile's Binge On

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 12:53:44 +0000

T-Mobile and John Legere aren't having a very good day. Everyone has reacted to his reaction to accusations that their Binge On service has some pretty serious flaws. Hot takes are everywhere. It's hella hot in the hot take department right now. If you aren't hot-taking T-Mobile's Binge On, then you probably should be. But don't come with that weak hot take-ness. You need to bring extra heat to your hotter than hot, hot take of John Legere's hot take. This post, however, isn't a hot take. This is something simpler. This is a quick guide on how to turn off T-Mobile Binge On and move on with life. Why would you want to turn off Binge On? Well, maybe you don't want to watch 480p video. Maybe your data bucket is rarely used up and you don't want T-Mobile to throttle the quality of the clips you watch on your phone. Maybe, just maybe, you like seeing YouTube videos on your QHD phone in 1080p or higher. Or maybe, you have unlimited data. Did you know that T-Mobile turned on Binge On even if you have unlimited data? Now you know. Ready?

Turn off from a browser:

Sign-in to your account at T-Mobile's site.
Once signed in, click on the "Profile" button in the top right corner. If you are on mobile, you'll need to tap the menu button in the top right corner, then "Profile."
Open "Media Settings."
Binge On should be sitting at the top of this section. Tap the toggle to "OFF."

Turn off from the My Account app:

Open the My Account app.
Tap Account Info.
Tap Plans & Services.
Tap Add/Change Services.
Under Binge On, toggle the button to "OFF."
Tap "Continue."

Turn off from the dialer of your phone:

Dial #BOF# (#263#) and hit send to turn off Binge On.
Dial #BNG# (#264#) and hit send to check your settings.
Dial #BON# (#266#) to turn on Binge On.

There. Now, no more throttling or downgrading or optimizing or whatever the hell else we are calling it.

LastPass 4.0 Arrives on Android and It's a Big Update

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:02:55 +0000

LastPass introduced version 4.0 of its password vault this week. It's a huge update that brings a new UI to the web and mobile apps, but it also includes new features that allow you to give access to your passwords where needed (like in an emergency setting), and improvements in auto-filling. Below, you'll find the quick and easy list of what's new.

A new look and feel, featuring a more visual vault experience with big icons, simpler navigation, and bolder colors.
Emergency Access for the peace of mind that trusted friends and family can manage your data in case of an emergency.
A new Sharing Center that offers one, central location to easily manage shared passwords in a secure, encrypted way, including Shared Folders for Premium and Enterprise users.
Improvements to automatic filling in Chrome, as well as better site matching when filling into apps.
Updated appearance, with large icons and Material Design tweaks.
Plus lots of behind-the-scenes improvements for better speed, performance, and security.

In the new look, at least on Android, you get both the new experience with "big" icons, a simpler navigation, and bolder colors, but LastPass is also tossing in some Material Design touches here and there. It's very visually appealing now, something that couldn't exactly be said about LastPass on Android in the past. As for the Emergency Access and Sharing Center, these are features that allow you to give access to your passwords if that's something you find useful. Emergency Access allows you to give someone access in the event of an emergency, or say, if you forgot to pay a bill and your wife needs to, but doesn't have your account password. You can limit this by time and a number of other factors. With Sharing Center, you can manage shared passwords, give and take access, and keep track of everything through folders. The update is a big one and should be rolling out to all soon. Play Link

Via: LastPass

Razer Intros Nabu Watch at CES, a Fitness-Focused Wearable

Tim — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:02:29 +0000

Not to be confused with a smartwatch, but rather a watch that is smart, Razer announced the Nabu Watch at CES in Las Vegas this week. Available later this month starting at $149 through Razer's retail channels, the Nabu Watch focuses heavily on fitness, as well as simple notifications while linked up to your smartphone. With a 12-month battery life thanks to a replaceable coin cell battery, the Nabu Watch features essentially two wearables in one. It has a digital watch display along with all of the necessary features (alarms, timers, stopwatch), on top of the features available from the original Nabu wearable. When synced to a smartphone, the Nabu Watch allows for discreet notifications, fitness tracking, and watch-to-watch communication. Razer has a Nabu app available on Google Play for usage with their wearables. With the app, users can control and manage all of the wearable's utility and fitness features. Unlike last year's Nabu announcement, beta release, and final launch, the Nabu Watch is available for purchase later this month, priced at $149. A special edition, called the Nabu Watch Forged Edition, is priced at $199 and is available this week, featuring stainless steel physical buttons, plus a "premium black finish."

Via: Razer [2]

New Balance to Launch Android Wear Device Designed by Runners

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:32:41 +0000

New Balance is ready to get into the age of digital sport, tracking, and community. Through an announcement at CES, New Balance states that it is opening up the New Balance Digital Sport division "dedicated exclusively to connecting consumers with the technology they desire to improve their athletic performance." The first product from this new division will be an Android Wear smartwatch designed "for runners by runners." This new division sounds in a way similar to what Nike has done with its Nike+ platform and Run Club initiative. New Balance Digital Sport will create a running club, work with partners (Intel, Google, Strava and Zepp) to integrate their technology into shoes or apparel, and attempt to create an entire ecosystem for getting in shape, digitally. As for that Android Wear watch, it'll be powered by Google (obviously) and Intel. It'll have a GPS embedded and allow runners to take music on the go with them, which means no need for a phone on body during workouts. Other than that, no other details have been provided in terms of specs or price or feature set, but New Balance is hoping to launch the device by the holiday shopping season of this year. After the smartwatch launches at the end of this year, New Balance will try and push additional products in 2017 and 2018. Interested in a New Balance Android Wear watch?

Via: New Balance

Moto 360 Sport Available Now for $299 From Motorola, Verizon (Updated: Google Store Too)

Tim — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:21:02 +0000

Feeling active this new year? If so, the Moto 360 Sport is now available for purchase from Motorola and Verizon, priced at $299. Featuring sweat resistance, GPS sensors, and heart rate monitor, the Moto 360 Sport will be great for those who want an Android Wear workout partner. The watch sports a 1.37-inch LCD display with AnyLight Hybrid tech, which is a display that should look good in both indoor and outdoor lighting. It runs a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and has 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and 300mAh battery. Below, check out our hands-on video, and be on the lookout for our complete review. Purchase Links: Motorola | Verizon UPDATE: Now available from the Google Store too. [Google Store Link]

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T-Mobile Adds 14 Services to Binge On, Responds to "Throttling" Concerns

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:53:36 +0000

This morning, T-Mobile and its CEO, John Legere, had a whole bunch things to say about their Binge On video service. Not only did they announce a handful of new partners for Binge On, but Legere also addressed all of the recent "throttling" talk surrounding their "optimized" video streams. Before we get into the throttling fun, the list of new partners includes A&E, Lifetime, HISTORY, PlayStation Vue, Tennis Channel Anywhere, FuboTV, Kidoodle TV, Curiosity Stream, Fandor, Newsy, ODK Media, Lifetime Movie Club, and FYI. There should be 14 in total that went live today, which brings Binge On's partner list up to 38. OK, now to the interesting stuff. A couple of weeks ago, YouTube and Google reached out to the Wall Street Journal because they had concerns about T-Mobile's Binge On. Their claim was that T-Mobile was throttling or downgrading all video traffic on their network, not just for services that were participating in Binge On. YouTube, in case you were wondering, is not participating and was seeing their videos play at the lower 480p Binge On rate by default, almost as if they were a partner. T-Mobile didn't exactly respond to these accusations in a timely manner. Instead, their PR teams talked to sites like ours to clarify that they didn't believe this was throttling and that it was more like optimizing. Then to start this week, the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) released a report that suggested Binge On was 100% throttling and that the FCC should launch an investigation into it because they believe there might be net neutrality issues. Well, this report and the headlines it grabbed were finally enough to get John Legere to respond. In the video below, you can hear what he has to say.

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His basic argument is that this is a great service for a lot of people, because it doesn't use up their data bucket and it doesn't cost anyone anything. Legere doesn't see how anyone can complain about it. He also mentions that people can turn this off whenever they want. And look, if you try and see it in its simplest terms, which is how Legere tries to explain it, then yeah, it does seem like a great service. Here's the problem, though. If YouTube (or any other video service) doesn't want their service to be a part of Binge On, then T-Mobile shouldn't be downgrading anything played on YouTube. Plain and simple. Outside of that, understand that Binge On is turned on by default, so some people may not know that all of their video streaming is being downgraded to "DVD" quality of 480p. That's an issue because, well, most of us feel that services like Binge On should be "opt-in" not "opt-out." Customers should choose out of the gate if they want to participate in something like this. Again, I don't think anyone is arguing with John Legere that video being streamed at a lower quality for free, isn't normally a bad thing. But in the end, T-Mobile shouldn't get to decide and be the gatekeeper in an "opt-out" scenario.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

Quick Look: New Samsung Gear S2 Classic Models, Rose Gold and Platinum

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 16:27:05 +0000

Looking for big Android news at this year's CES? You won't find any. What we are seeing are previously announced Android or wearable related products being given new life with new colors and finishes and price tags. For example, here we have the Samsung Gear S2 Classic in two new finishes of 18K rose gold and platinum. Nothing is different from these over the original Gear S2 Classic except for the finishes, but hey, here they are anyway. Both are quite beautiful in person, in case you aren't impressed by the set of pictures we have for you below. And yes, that rotating bezel still feels as good as ever. Samsung didn't announce pricing for these, but the original Gear S2 Classic retails for $350. With 18K rose gold and platinum touching these cases, I'd imagine they'll be more than $350. You should be able to buy both come February.

Quick Look: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch

Tim — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 16:26:31 +0000

We dropped by the Casio booth at CES today, where the company's newest connected device was proudly on display, the Smart Outdoor Watch. Powered by Android Wear, the Smart Outdoor Watch is designed for those who need to be outdoors exploring nature, whether it be for camping, hiking, fishing, or any other outdoor activity. As for first impressions, considering how large the body is, the watch was surprisingly light. The overall design reminds me somewhat of a G-Shock, and of course, is quite large looking on my wrist. The watch comes preloaded with a ton of watch faces, as well as features that will help you out in the wild, such as a pressure sensor and fully functional compass. At the 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions are dedicated buttons for certain functionalities. You can access your step counter, additional apps, and compass by pressing these buttons. The buttons are made large enough so that a user who is wearing gloves can still easily access them, which is a nice touch. Below, check out our gallery of hands-on photos. If you are ready to take this device out into the woods with you, it launches in April for $499.

Quick Look: New Huawei Watches, the Elegant and Jewel

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:45:16 +0000

After cruising around the Huawei booth and spending time with the company's new tablet, we also snapped a few pics of their new Huawei Watch models, the Elegant and Jewel. Created with a feminine flair "for ladies," the Jewel and Elegant feature slimmer bands, sparklier curved cases with rose gold, and new watch faces, along with the premium specs of the original Huawei Watch. Nothing else is all that different from the original, so really, just think of these as slimmer and trimmer alternatives to the more masculine model. Well, and don't forget that the Jewel has actual Swarovski crystals in it. Boom. Both watches are set to launch during Q1 of 2016, with the Elegant priced at $499 and the Jewel priced at $599.

Elegant

Jewel

T-Mobile to Sell BlackBerry Priv on January 26, LG K7 Coming Soon (Updated)

Tim — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:27:29 +0000

T-Mobile's John Legere announced availability of the BlackBerry Priv for the carrier this morning, stating that BlackBerry's Android device will become available on January 26. At this time, exact pricing is unknown, but the Priv is not the only new device coming to T-Mobile. Update: Blackberry confirmed that the Priv is coming to not only T-Mobile, but Verizon and Sprint as well. In addition to the Priv, one of LG's latest, the K7, is also set to hit T-Mobile "soon." The K7 was announced by LG at CES this week, and should be an affordable, entry-level device for all budgets. For those on T-Mobile, and who need a dedicated keyboard on their smartphone, the Priv is coming. As pricing and exact details are announced, we will update you.

Via: @JohnLegere

Quick Look: Huawei MediaPad M2 10

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 13:26:41 +0000

Huawei announced the MediaPad M2 10 yesterday, so we stopped by their booth here at CES to spend a bit of time with it. It should arrive in the US during Q1 as a WiFi-only unit priced near $349, though Huawei tells us the pricing information we saw yesterday could change before launch. As a recap the MediaPad M2 10 sports a 10-inch 1920×1200 IPS LCD display, 2GHz Kirin 930 octa-core processor, 2GB or 3GB RAM depending on the model, 16GB or 64GB storage depending on the model, microSD slot, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, 6660mAh battery, and a body that is just 7.35mm thick. We - obviously- only spent a few minutes of time with it, but the Kirin processor seems plenty fast as does the UI. Huawei does use a pretty heavy iOS-like skin on top of Android, though, so that's something one would have to get used to should they jump into this tablet. But you'll find multi-window, massive amounts of customizable settings (like swiping to move the navigation buttons around), all of Google's apps, fingerprint reader, advanced audio, and a really solid build. Oh, some markets will also get a stylus, like the one seen above. Overall, the MediaPad M2 10 seems like it could be a really great tablet. Of course, you need to be the type who finds a tablet useful to care, but should you fall into that category, and assuming the price locks in close to what was mentioned yesterday, this could be a steal.

Letv's Le Max Pro is First to Feature the Snapdragon 820

Tim — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 10:27:14 +0000

The Snapdragon 820 processor from Qualcomm is now in the wild, available first on the Letv Le Max Pro smartphone. Not only will buyers benefit from increased processing speeds of Qualcomm's latest silicon, but the Le Max Pro also features Snapdragon Sense ID, the mobile industry’s first comprehensive ultrasonic-based fingerprint biometric solution. Snapdragon Sense ID now includes a liveness detection feature, which helps to ensure that an actual finger is being used for biometric authentication, making it quite difficult to spoof the tech. The Le Max Pro is the first commercial device to ship with this feature baked inside. According to Jun Liang, chief operating officer at Letv, “Letv has already established itself as one of the world’s top innovators and our decision to include the Snapdragon 820 processor in these new devices demonstrates our commitment to creating and delivering the best technology available to our customers,” As for the Snapdragon 820, we have already gone over its features in details, but the highlights are X12 LTE modem, Adreno 530 GPU, Kyro CPU, and Quick Charge 3.0 compatibility. Although, the Le Max Pro comes with Quick Charge 2.0 support. For US consumers, the Le Max Pro will not be available for purchase, but with it now being 2016, we can expect a range of new devices to launch with the processor inside.

Via: Letv

Verizon to Sell Moto 360 Sport for $299 Starting Tomorrow

Tim — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 09:31:54 +0000

For those looking to pick up a Moto 360 Sport when it launches in the US tomorrow, you can add Verizon to the list of retailers who will be carrying it. Priced at $299, the Moto 360 Sport has a GPS sensor, and is designed for those who enjoy being active with runs, workouts, and being outdoors in general. Featuring an all rubber uni-body, if you were worried about getting sweat on your metal links or Horween leather straps, this is the Android Wear smartwatch for you. We have been using the Moto 360 Sport during our time in Las Vegas for CES, and so far, it's running great during all of the walking and running around. Be on the lookout for our complete review soon. In the meantime, you can watch our unboxing and hands-on here. Tomorrow, the smartwatch will be available through Verizon online only, priced at $299, available in Black, White, and Red (Flame).

Via: Verizon

Huawei's Honor 5X is an All-Metal Steal at $199

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 09:25:56 +0000

Huawei's offshoot or e-brand, honor, announced the honor 5X last night to end press day at CES. The phone, even as one from a slightly lesser known brand, is well worth a look if you are in need of a new phone and have a strict budget. At just $199, with availability hitting Amazon and Newegg today (shipping on January 31), you can't really go wrong here it doesn't seem. The honor 5X sports a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (with microSD slot), 3000mAh battery, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, fingerprint reader, and Android 5.1 with Huawei's EMUI skin. It also has full LTE compatibility with AT&T and T-Mobile. Again, you get all that for $199. As for the design, this is an all-metal phone that also has a ceramic coating. It comes in gold, grey, and silver, and feels quite premium in hand. Interested? Hit up the links below. Links: Amazon | Newegg

Google Announces New Android TV and Cast Speaker Partners, Multi-Room for Cast Speakers

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 08:26:29 +0000

With doors opening for CES this morning, another wave of announcements has hit our inbox, one of which is from Google. In the post, Google announced new partners for its Android TV and Google Cast audio/speakers products that should deliver options later in 2016. For Android TV, you can already buy TVs with the Android smart fun from Sony, Sharp, and Philips. Later in the year, Arcelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL, and Bang & Olufsen will sell Android TVs too. With Google Cast audio and speakers, we'll soon see B&O Play, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer, and Raumfeld join Sony and LG with Cast-ready products. Alongside news of the new partners, Google also announced that Google Cast speakers will soon get the multi-room playback that Chromecast Audio received back in December. With multi-room playback, you can play the same song on multiple speakers located in different rooms of your house.

Via: Android Blog

AT&T Confirms: GoPhone Prepaid Buckets Increasing to 5GB and 2GB

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 08:09:07 +0000

UPDATE 1/6: AT&T reached out and confirmed the changes to us. The only difference is the new plans and upgraded data bucket amounts will be live on January 8, not January 6 as we originally reported.

Tomorrow, AT&T will introduce some changes to their prepaid plans that include more data without a price hike, according to sources of ours. The $60 GoPhone prepaid plan from AT&T will jump from 4GB of high-speed data per month to 5GB. The $45 GoPhone prepaid plan is jumping from 1.5GB of high-speed data per month to 2GB. If these changes are like the data bucket increases we have seen in the past, you should be automatically jumped up to the new amount on your next billing cycle following the change. On a related note, the $0.10 per minute prepaid talk plan is jumping up to $0.25 per minute. If you are currently using the $0.10 plan, you will be able to keep it for now. Again, the changes should be announced tomorrow, January 6.