Droid Life

Google I/O Incoming

Kellen — Fri, 13 May 2016 18:54:46 +0000

On today's episode of the Droid Life Show, we'll dive into the latest in Android, which means taking a look at the new Moto leaks from earlier in the week. Motorola and Lenovo may be struggling to stay in our good graces at the moment, but their new products could be something special. After that we'll run through most recent Google I/O rumors, since that event kicks off next week and also chat about the new Instagram, Google's Gboard iOS app, and more! Join us at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM 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 and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Thinking Out Loud: Why Can't Google OnHub Become Google's Amazon Echo or "Chirp"

Kellen — Fri, 13 May 2016 15:33:10 +0000

There has been a lot of talk recently about Google making an Amazon Echo-like device that may or may not be shown off at Google I/O. But what if the devices already exist and can be purchased today? Confused? I'm talking about Google OnHub routers, of course, devices that have been shrouded in mystery since launching within the past year. It seems that a software update is all that would be needed for these devices to instantly become the Amazon Echo competitor the media can't stop talking about. Let me explain. As a recap, Google released two devices recently under a new OnHub brand. We still don't really know what OnHub is other than a line of products that Google is calling a "better, faster router," for the time being. Of course, the devices have branding on them that reads "built for Google On," because they are likely supposed to be a part of a bigger "Google On" ecosystem than just routers that hasn't arrived yet. These first two OnHub products are indeed WiFi routers, though, but they have the potential to be so much more, which Google keeps admitting to but won't quite deliver on. In fact, the listings for each product (one made by ASUS and another by TP-LINK) say that they "keep getting better," because they include "next-generation technologies, and, over time, will support a growing number of smart devices." Except, we're almost a year into this OnHub thing and there aren't any other smart devices that play with them. Well, I wouldn't be shocked if Nest's products can, Google just isn't telling us that they do. These are routers with dual-core processors that are Weave (Google's IoT communications layer), 802.15.4, and Bluetooth Smart ready. They have speakers, quite large ones actually. They also have ambient lights, proximity sensors, and designs that are just begging you to put them in the open, on a shelf, so that you not only improve wireless performance, but they look pretty in the process (like an Amazon Echo). The only thing I'm not sure about is whether or not they have microphones, since iFixit didn't note one in their teardown of the TP-LINK router and neither specs list for the OnHub devices call for one.

But you are seeing the vision here, right? Google already has two devices that are setup to be an Amazon Echo. They have all of the technologies inside them for Google's future smart home products (and current Nest products) to talk to one another, speakers for talking back to you, and pretty designs so that you'll leave them in the open. We're just waiting for Google to turn all of that fun on and make it a reality. With talk of Google potentially showing off a project under codename "Chirp" at Google I/O next week, but no product supposed to be there with it, you have to wonder if that can be taken as a play on words. Because if "Chirp," which is thought to be the smarts (or the Alexa) to Google's home hub, all it needs is to be loaded on OnHub hardware.

Sprint Offering 12 Months of Amazon Prime for Better Choice XXL Customers

Tim — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:25:19 +0000

For potential Sprint customers who purchase a Better Choice XXL plan, which is 40GB to share across multiple lines, Sprint is tossing in 12 months of Amazon Prime ($99 value). This promotion is available to new customers, as well as customers who upgrade to the Better Choice XXL plan. Monthly, this plan costs $100/month. As displayed in Sprint's graphic below, that price is in addition to $20 per device for line access on non-discounted handsets, or $10 per device for line access from tablets/MBB (mobile broadband) devices. The Better Choice XXL plan also comes with no worries of overages. Any line that goes over its allotted amount will be kicked down to 2G speeds, although, the amount of data in technically unlimited. If that does not suit your streaming needs, which it probably won't, Sprint offers an auto data buy-up option, charging customers $15 per GB of high-speed data. Anyway, if you do decide to grab this Amazon Prime membership through Sprint, here's how it works. Customers can sign up for Better Choice XXL via phone, web, or in-store, then following activation, you will receive a text with an activation link. Once your Prime membership activation is complete, you can begin to enjoy the benefits. If going this route does not interest you, instead, Sprint can charge you $10.99 monthly for Amazon Prime as a plan add-on.

Via: Sprint

Original DROID Turbo Gets an Update That Isn't Marshmallow

Kellen — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:56:55 +0000

Verizon's original DROID Turbo is receiving an update today that includes the "latest" Android security patches and call performance improvements. It is not an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, in case you were wondering. I mention that because this phone is supposedly still getting the update to Android M, at least, that's what Motorola's support page for it says. Well, they aren't 100% behind it with an accompanying note about it being upgraded "pending partner support." In other words, if Verizon doesn't want to help, they aren't about to care either. That may sound exceptionally harsh and critical, but the Turbo not getting Marshmallow ever wouldn't shock anyone who owns a DROID MAXX, Ultra, or Mini. We'll let you know if anything changes. For now, grab that new update and at least secure yourselves.

Via: Verizon

Samsung Charm Counts Your Steps and Notifies of Incoming Calls, Messages

Tim — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:50:59 +0000

Launched in select markets and maybe soon in the US, the Samsung Charm is a simplistic tracker and smartphone notification extension. Instead of looking like a obnoxious piece of tech, the Charm is designed to look like a piece of jewelry, coming in either Gold, Black, or Rose Quartz. When paired with the S-Health application via Bluetooth, the Charm will track a user's daily activity, such as steps, distance covered, and calories burned. Even when not synced with a device, the Charm's built-in memory will store that information for later syncing. Featuring a LED, the Charm can notify the wearer of incoming calls, messages, or any app that you allow to push notifications to the wearable via the Charm by Samsung application. Notifications are also available for charging, connectivity status, and battery level. According to Samsung, the Charm features a "17mAh" lithium-ion battery, which is supposed to last 14 days on a single charge. 17mAh could be a slight typo, but that's the information Samsung made available. Listed on Samsung's French consumer site, the device is priced at about $45 (US), which is a solid deal. Again, the Charm is not yet available for the US, but Samsung states it is working to bring it to more regions soon.

Via: Samsung

DEAL: Nest Thermostat (3rd Gen) is $199 Today at eBay ($50 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:21:40 +0000

The newest version of the Nest Thermostat (that would be the 3rd gen model) has dropped to just $199.99 today at eBay in a daily deal, a $50 discount. Not only is that a hell of a deal on a smart home product that I personally cannot live without, but it's worth noting that Nest products are almost never discounted. To see the newest Nest at $50 off is worth running to. As a recap, the Nest Thermostat wants to automate your home and its temperature. It can be controlled via app, but it also learns your patterns and activities to know when to adjust for the perfect cooling or heating. It works with IFTTT, Amazon Echo, and only gets smarter and more useful by the week. Nest even tries to save you money each month on your power bill, though I can't say that over the years I have noticed a major impact. I'll let others who own one weigh in on that front. Again, $50 is a discount we rarely see, so if a smart home thermostat is something you have been considering, now is the time to jump on it. eBay Link

Mortal Kombat X Updated for First Anniversary, Brings New Characters and Blood Ruby Currency

Tim — Fri, 13 May 2016 08:42:48 +0000

Mortal Kombat X is celebrating its first anniversary on mobile, bringing new features and characters to those who still play the title. For Android and iOS, the update offers an "expanded roster," which includes Kold War Scorpion, Kobu Jutsu Tanya, Bone Shaper Shinnok, and more. In addition, the game now offers a Blood Ruby currency in Faction Wars, which are rewarded for Leaderboard placement and for completing Battle Rating Milestones. To really kick off the one year anniversary, the game is gifting a support card to all players, the Fujin's Blessing card. I can't tell you what it does, but it's probably pretty sweet. The card can be used while attempting to complete brand new Character Challenges that have been included in the update. Check out the one year anniversary trailer, then grab the update by following the Google Play link below. Play Link

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Dark Sky Weather App Arrives on Android With a Subscription Model That Few are Happy About

Kellen — Fri, 13 May 2016 08:12:31 +0000

Dark Sky launched on Android this week to the delight of weather obsessed former iOS users who made their way to the intelligent side of mobile. While the app isn't exactly a beacon of Material Design newness, it's very much like its Apple-originated counterpart and should be familiar to fans. With that said, the pricing model isn't like it is on iOS and is rubbing Android users the wrong way. The weather app, like the popular iOS version, includes down-to-the-minute "hyperlocal" rain forecasts, the advanced notifications, and "accurate" 24-hour and 7-day forecasts. It has the beautiful maps too. It's very much built to be like the iOS version, only now for Android too, which the team behind it says has always been the number one request. Oh, there are widgets as well, because this is Android, dammit, and we love widgets. So what's up with the pricing that is irritating our Android brethren? On iOS, you can buy Dark Sky with a one-time payment of $3.99. That payment gets you full access to the app, with those timely notifications and the other benefits that make Dark Sky such a good app. On Android, Dark Sky has decided to conduct an "experiment." Mmmm, experiments almost always mean something you won't like, right? The experiment is to offer a free version of Dark Sky that acts like a standard weather app you could download in 100 different places from 100 different developers. To unlock the good features (like the notifications, alerts, minute-by-minute forecasts, and widgets), you'll need to pay a yearly $2.99 subscription. See the problem here for Android users? According to the early reviews of Dark Sky, people aren't exactly happy about having to keep paying $2.99 per year for access to the same app and services that iOS users get to pay a one-time $3.99 fee for. Seriously, go take a look at the reviews. As of right now, 1-star reviews are dominating the listing and almost all reference the pricing model or "experiment."

Of course, I have some thoughts on this idea. In Dark Sky's blog post to announce the arrival on Android, they make mention of finally being able to create an Android app because they grew their resources to the point where they can do it "right" and also continue to support it going forward. In other words, this is probably a small outfit who doesn't have a couple of hundred million in the bank and 100 employees to make their weather app always awesome. In order to survive and continue to support both iOS and Android, and add new features, getting paid going forward on a continual basis is probably crucial. Now, I know that people hate this idea of having to continually pay for something when we have all been trained to pay for apps once, own them for life, and expect forever and ever support and new features. Honestly, that may not be fair or sustainable to a lot of developers. You may recall Action Launcher creator Chris Lacy charging everyone again for Action Launcher 3 and people freaking out a bit. He stood by his decision because like many of you, the dude needs to feed his family and providing a lifetime worth of updates and new features on an app that isn't producing new money is probably not a reality. Does it suck that the Android app is different from the iOS version in terms of how you pay for it? Yeah, I get that. But maybe we all need to think about how our favorite apps can continue to receive support and the idea that a one-off payment isn't going to cut in any longer. I don't know the company structure or size of Dark Sky, so this isn't me sticking up for their "experiment," this is just a conversation over all paid apps that we probably need to start talking about. And now my morning chat with myself is over, feel free to check out Dark Sky. Play Link

Via: Forecast.io

Cheers Chuck!

LG Action CAM is World's First Action Camera With LTE

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 15:25:27 +0000

LG has a new "Friend" device in its ecosystem, this time being the world's first action camera capable of connecting to a 4G LTE network. Called the Action CAM, this camera is made for those who seek adventure, featuring a 12.3MP sensor capable of shooting at 60fps in FHD and 30fps in UHD. More notably, the LTE connectivity is not tethered by a smartphone, meaning that when you are out on the track recording your awesome motorcycle videos, they can be simultaneously streamed to YouTube Live or whichever service livestreaming is supported. At this time, LG has not confirmed which carriers will be available at launch, but our hope is to see it available on as many US carriers as possible (no LTE bands were provided in the press release). During livestreaming, a feed of HD at 30fps is the max resolution and frame rate that the device can output, being powered by 2GB of RAM and an unknown processor. Furthermore, sometime after launch, remote access will also be available, allowing owners to set up the Action CAM as a CCTV. Whether you are on 3G or LTE, you can watch whatever your camera is capturing, perfect for monitoring your home while you are away. Lastly, the camera features an IP67 rating, which means you can go surfing with it or into your backyard pool. LG has not yet provided an official launch date for the Action CAM. We also don't know a price, but our guess is that it won't be cheap. Maybe $399? Below is the complete list of specifications. Specifications

Camera: 1/2.3-inch 12.3MP / 1.55 x 1.55㎛pixels
Connectivity: LTE / 3G / Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / USB Type-C 2.0 / Bluetooth 4.1
Video Recording: UHD 30fps / FHD 60fps / HD 120fps
Video Live Streaming: HD 30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM / 4GB ROM (OS only) / microSD (up to 2TB)
Size: 35 x 35 x 77.9mm
Weight: 95g
Battery: 1,400mAh
Others: IP67 / GPS / Accelerometer / Gyroscope
Color: Light Gray

Via: LG

Evernote and Google Drive Get Better Integration With Rich Previews

Kellen — Thu, 12 May 2016 14:23:40 +0000

This morning, Google and Evernote co-announced that Google Drive has been integrated into Evernote with thumbnail previews and a much richer viewing experience when its documents are included in notes. That's a fancy way of saying that you can access Drive files from within Evernote and then see them as more than just a link. The video above details the new integration, which if interested in, can be utilized today on Android and through Chrome. The experience adds a Drive icon to the toolbar of Evernote which launches a view of your Drive files when tapped. Once attached to a note, you'll get previews in some instances (like with photos) and then see buttons in others. To give Google Drive integration in Evernote a test, head over to this page.

Via: Google Drive Blog | Evernote

Possible Next-Gen NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet Drops by FCC

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 14:03:06 +0000

Thanks to the FCC, we have learned that NVIDIA is working on a new tablet (product number: P2290W), possibly a follow-up to the SHIELD Tablet and SHIELD Tablet K1. While many details remain confidential due to NVIDIA's successful filing of the Request for Confidentiality slip, we have learned a few things by digging through the hundred plus page reports, available for all to see on the FCC website. First, the dimensions of the tablet are 8.58" (L), 4.84" (W), 0.31" (H), it weighs 350 grams, and it featured a 5,100mAh battery at the time of testing. Furthermore, it features dual-band WiFi connectivity, and also features a microUSB port; not USB Type-C. As you could probably guess, the tablet features Bluetooth LE connectivity, too. For specs, that's all we know at this time, with no specifics being mentioned regarding display size, processor, or amount of RAM. Keep in mind, FCC filings are never a sure thing, meaning it could be a while until we see this product, if ever. Two years ago, a SHIELD Portable-like controller device entered the FCC, which many thought was a SHIELD 2. Now, with it being 2016 and NVIDIA going full steam with Android TV set-top boxes, we will probably never know. Time to share your wish list. If NVIDIA is working on a SHIELD Tablet sequel, a true sequel that is, what would you want to see from it? For me, I'd like an 8" display, Tegra X1, 4GB of RAM, Android N, and a big ol' battery. Yup, that's what I want.

Via: FCC | liliputing

#TBT: Instagram Now Available for Android, iOS Users Lose Their Sh*t

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 12:18:51 +0000

Back in April of 2012, big things happened. The walled city of Instagram was no longer exclusive to those with an iPhone, and let me tell you, existing citizens of that city were not too happy. In fact, many folks took to social media to decry Instagram's support of Android. One comment posted to Twitter reads, "Instagram is now available for Android phones. Now I'm going to be forced to see what poor people eat for dinner." Interestingly enough, at the exact same time, many Android users didn't understand the hype surrounding the release. Even on this site, one reader said, "I don't care about lame, overused, and utterly useless photo filters." Oh, good sir, Instagram is so much more than just photo filters, and only 4 years later are we really seeing how big Instagram has become. Remember, Facebook thought Instagram was worth $1 billion back in 2012, and only a couple of years later in 2014, Citigroup valued Instagram at $35 billion. Now, in 2016, the service only seems to keep growing and adding new features. Pretty good for a service that only lets you add filters to photos and share them, right? Let's take a moment to reflect on a few of the comments made when the app launched for Android.

Anyone wanna bet on how many of these people rock an Android phone now? Statistically speaking, at least a few of them probably do. As the years have passed, I'd say iOS users have become a bit friendlier towards Android users on Instagram, especially since Android isn't known as the budget-friendly, shitty camera quality OS anymore. We have expensive phones, too, you know! Oh, and did I mention, Droid Life is on Instagram? Yeah, you best go follow!

Poll: Do You Still Buy Music?

Kellen — Thu, 12 May 2016 11:55:10 +0000

Pretty simple question, right? If you are wondering about the timing, it's because the internet media fumbled and slobbered all over itself yesterday when a report surfaced suggesting that Apple was going to kill off paid music downloads within the next couple of years. Why would Apple do that, you ask? I think it's pretty obvious that subscription streaming is the future, or at the very least, these tech companies are going to try to keep convincing you that it is. Apple has already called the report "not true," but that doesn't mean it isn't an interesting idea. Ideas like this, though, are only that if the world has stopped buying music (sales are in decline) and is instead turning to streaming services exclusively. Then again, maybe Apple doesn't care if you still buy music because they see more money in the long-run with you subscribing to streaming services. And that brings us back to our poll for the day - do you still buy music? Do you pay for albums online or by physical copies of them? Have you given up buying music and have instead attached yourself to a subscription streaming service like Google Play Music or Apple Music? Do you both buy and pay for streaming? Feel free to answer the simple yes/no question before taking to the comments to explain. [poll id="405"]

Giveaway: Win a NVIDIA SHIELD 500GB Prize Pack to Celebrate Launch of Ultimate Chicken Horse

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 10:53:53 +0000

To help kick off the launch of Ultimate Chicken Horse on Google Play for NVIDIA SHIELD, we have partnered with NVIDIA to give away an awesome prize package. Included is a 500GB NVIDIA SHIELD, 3 bonus SHIELD Controllers, and a redemption code for Ultimate Chicken Horse on Google Play. Seriously, if you have wanted a SHIELD, this is the ultimate bundle right here. Ultimate Chicken Horse is the one of the best ways to play with friends on SHIELD. Supporting up to four players, players customize platformer levels with obstacles set to destroy their opponents, such as arrows and buzzsaws. The first player to cross the finish line, without taking too much damage, wins the game. With countless numbers of different blocks to add into a level, the amount of customization is insane. Watch this launch trailer for a good understanding of what you and your friends are getting into. Enough talk, let's give this stuff away.

Contest

Prizes One winner will receive a NVIDIA SHIELD (comes with 1 SHIELD Controller), 3 SHIELD Controllers, and redemption code for Ultimate Chicken Horse. How to Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner Our winner will be selected on Monday (5/16) at 10am PST.

Video: Quick Look at Google's New Gboard Keyboard for iOS

Kellen — Thu, 12 May 2016 10:13:49 +0000

Google released an iOS-only app today called Gboard, a keyboard replacement that does one thing no other keyboard currently does - put the power of Google Search inside of every single app. To say that we are a bit jealous of iOS users right now would probably be an understatement, because this idea of having Google inside of a keyboard is brilliant. Sure, the app or feature will more than likely come to Android at some point, but we don't know when. For now, this is another case of iOS users having all the fun. Since I still happen to have an iPhone 6 lying around these parts, I decided to take Gboard for a spin and share with you the beauty of such a feature. Not to put an additional downer on your day, but yeah, it's pretty awesome. In the video below, you'll see how easily you can share restaurant info, sports scores, funny new YouTube videos, definitions of words, and of course, all the fire emoji one can handle. Check it out.

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Ultimate Chicken Horse Available for NVIDIA SHIELD, Priced at $10

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 09:50:12 +0000

Get ready for a party, as the official launch of Ultimate Chicken Horse has commenced on Google Play for the NVIDIA SHIELD. Designed as a party game, with the title supporting up to 4 players at once, the goal is to reach the end of a level without getting destroyed by various in-level obstacles. The twist is, you design the levels. If a level is made too easy, points are not distributed. However, if your level features plenty of saws, arrows, and other deadly devices, you score many points. Be the first to cross the finish line without taking too much damage and you win. The game combines fun mechanics, such as wall jumping and bouncing, with an easy-to-master set of controls. So easy that anyone can get in on the action. Additionally, the game has an upbeat soundtrack, sure to get the blood flowing while you attempt to dodge arrows. Currently, there are 9 different levels to play with, but more are sure to come. Even with just the 9 levels, though, there are countless amounts of blocks to customize levels with. At this time, the only thing truly lacking is online multiplayer. We don't know if that is coming, but it would be a huge plus. Priced at $9.99 on Google Play, the game is definitely fun if you have multiple SHIELD Controllers, and a few friends. Even if you only have one extra controller and your significant other, you will still have plenty of fun. Worst case scenario, if you don't have a SHIELD, don't worry, we may be cooking something up with NVIDIA to help you with that. Play Link ($9.99)

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NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet Updated With Android 6.0.1, Vulkan API, Lots of Fixes

Tim — Thu, 12 May 2016 08:38:09 +0000

An update for the SHIELD Tablet (not SHIELD Tablet K1), is rolling out from NVIDIA this morning. Inside, the SHIELD Tablet is getting updated to Android 6.0.1, which brings the Vulkan API (better access to graphics hardware for gaming), adds USB MIDI support, improved WiFi connectivity, and support for Android Doze. Also listed on NVIDIA's website, the SHIELD Tablet is getting fixes for the compass functionality, Gamepad Mapper issues, Doom 3 HDMI output, and issues with moving apps to an SD card. If you own a SHIELD Tablet, it is likely that the update is already available for your device. If you don't see a notification yet, head into your Settings menu and manually pull it. See the entire changelog below. What's New

Supports the new Vulkan API for high-efficiency access to SHIELD’s graphics hardware
Adds Android 6.0.1 changes a. Repositioned Navigation Buttons in Landscape mode & Updated Emojis b. Double Tap Power Button to launch SHIELD Camera app c. Do Not Disturb Until Next Alarm
Support for Android Doze mode & additional power optimizations
Adds USB MIDI support
Adds memory compression enhancement
Improved Wi-Fi connectivity when waking from sleep
Fixed Compass functionality
Fixed Gamepad Mapper issues
Fixed issues with moving apps to SD card
Fixed Doom 3 HDMI output issue
Repositioned Lasso Capture icons in landscape mode
Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level March 1, 2016
Overall stability and security enhancements

Via: NVIDIA

Google's Gboard is an Awesome New Keyboard for iOS That's Probably Coming to Android

Kellen — Thu, 12 May 2016 08:11:08 +0000

Brace yourselves, because you are about to see something really cool that you are going to want on your phone today, only it's not coming today and is an iOS exclusive at the moment. Don't ask me why, just know that Google likes to torture us and this is the latest example. Say hello, to Gboard for iOS! What is Gboard? Well, you could watch the video and it'll tell you. If you don't have time for videos, let me try to explain. Gboard is a new keyboard for iOS that works like any keyboard when it comes to the typing part, or gesture swiping of words. Where it really shines is in this addition of a Google button in its top left corner. That Google button allows you to perform Google searches from within the keyboard and your current app, so that you can then include those Google searches in conversations, without ever leaving your current app. That make any sense? Think of it like this. You are in Hangouts or WhatsApp or iMessage or Gmail or any other app, and you are talking to someone about a lunch spot or a new movie trailer or you want to share your upcoming flight or hotel reservation details. You can search for those items within the keyboard by tapping the Google button, and then tapping on those search results to get them to appear in the conversation you are having or email you are typing.

Mind blown? Yeah, mine too. You can also search for emoji, share GIFs, and almost any other search item that Google can come up with. And then you can include them in your conversations. About that iOS exclusivity. Over on the Gboard listing at Product Hunt, a number of people asked Google why this wasn't on Android and Bri Connelly, who works on "product @ Google," said that they are "Working on the best way to bring the same functionality to Android right now!" So yeah, it may come to Android at some point! In fact, that sounds like it will come to Android, we just don't know when that will be.

That's Gboard and we all want it on Android yesterday. UPDATE: We fired up our iPhone 6 and took Gboard for a spin!

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Via: Google Blog

Verizon Makes 6GB for $60 Prepaid Plan Permanent, Adds Unlimited Calling to Mexico and Canada

Kellen — Thu, 12 May 2016 07:50:07 +0000

Back in February, Verizon announced a promotion for its prepaid line that bumped up data in two plans without the prices moving. Today, Verizon tells us that those numbers (both price and data) will become permanent on May 15, plus they will add in unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada on one of them. Going forward (at least for the time being), Verizon's prepaid plans include a $30 WiFi only option (includes unlimited talk and text), along with $45 and $60 plans that offer 2GB or 5GB of data, respectively. Through those last two options, if you sign-up for autopay, Verizon will kick in another 1GB of data per month at no extra cost. So at $45, with autopay, you could have 3GB of high-speed data per month, or at $60, with autopay, you could have 6GB of high-speed data per month. On top of the bonus data, all three of Verizon's prepaid plans include unlimited text to Mexico and Canada. Starting May 15, the $60 plan will also get unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada at no extra charge. So you'll see headlines today suggesting that Verizon is now giving you more data at no extra cost and that their prepaid plans are changing, but that's not actually true. They started these two plans with these prices and data buckets back in February and are now making the pricing and data permanent, while adding unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico on the $60 plan. Make sense?

Via: Verizon

Report: Google's Amazon Echo-Like Device is Codenamed Chirp, Possible Google I/O Tease to Take Place

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 16:14:16 +0000

Back in late March, a report surfaced that stated Google was working on an Amazon Echo-like device. Not many details were known at the time, but really, how much info does one need? The Amazon Echo is a pretty straightforward device. You speak to it, it listens. It can play music from Amazon Prime Music, can create shopping lists for you, and even works with Nest, if you own a smart thermostat. Now, picture all of that stuff, but built by Google for use with Google's multitude of services. According to sources of re/code, the device's internal codename at Google is Chirp. Working like Google Now does on your smartphone, a user could say, "OK, Google" and the device will await your command. We expect Chirp would do virtually everything Echo can do, such as play music from Play Music, read books aloud from Play Books, create calendar events that are synced with your Google Calendar app, and give you a breakdown of top news stories from sites you frequent. It is also reported that Chirp will look similar to an OnHub WiFi router. Sadly, the same sources claim that Chirp is not expected to be launched during this year's Google I/O, which takes place next week in Mountain View, CA. However, it is expected that the device will be teased on stage during the keynote, with launch set for later this year. Is Chirp shaping up to be something you want inside of your home?

Via: re/code

Google Calendar on Android Can Automatically Add Passcodes for Conference Calls

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 16:06:16 +0000

Conference call crusaders, Google Calendar just became your best friend. Through an update to the Google Calendar app on Android, passcodes can now be automatically added to conference phone numbers, decreasing your chances of punching an incorrect code and having to call back. The passcodes are found by Google Calendar from the location or notes field in the calendar event you are calling from, so be sure that information is included going forward. If it is, a tap on the conference call number from within an event will ask if you want Google to call with or without the code. How handy. Play Link

Via: Google Apps Updates

Poll: Do You Like the Instagram Redesign?

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 15:49:12 +0000

It's no secret, the Internet's inhabitants are not too thrilled with Instagram's new icon. Yeah, it's sorta bright and obnoxious, but what about the revamped UI? Do people like that? Well, let's find out. Earlier this morning, Instagram made official changes to the UI, switching from its long-standing blue-hue look, to a white and black (monochromatic) aesthetic. To me, it's a nice touch. It allows photos to pop a bit more. Surprisingly, I haven't seen any change.org petitions going up to have IG reinstate the old UI, so that's a good sign. Share your feelings on the icon and new UI down below.

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Google Photos Update Introduces Commenting in Shared Albums

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 14:58:17 +0000

Sharing albums and photos are a big part of what makes Google Photos such a great product. You don't have to jump through a bunch of hoops to share single photos or bigger albums like you do in other services. All you really need to do is just tap the share button in the app and then push the auto-copied link it generates to your recipient(s). Honestly, it's one of the best things Google has done in years. But Google Photos can still improve and Google is doing so today by adding new features to albums that are shared. In the latest update to Google Photos (v1.20), Google has added in commenting to photos and albums that are shared. That means the people you are sharing photos with can comment on them without ever leaving the app. That's pretty cool, right? Along with commenting, Google is also providing "smart suggestions" that could make for good additions to a shared album. If someone sends you an album of a birthday party that you were at recently, Google will dig through your photos and see if you took any from the party before asking if you'd like to add them. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

Via: +Google Photos

WhatsApp Intros Desktop App, Available for Windows and Mac

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 14:55:36 +0000

Calling all WhatsApp users, a desktop app for the service is now available on Windows and Mac. Standalone from the web client and mobile version of WhatsApp, the desktop app behaves the exact same way as the online version does, with the exception that you don't need your browser open. In usage, you still have all of your contacts readily available, and don't worry, all of your conversations are still encrypted. According to WhatsApp, the desktop app is simply an extension from your smartphone. All of the same conversations will be available. Additionally, when you send messages from the desktop, you will see them instantly pop up on your smartphone, no delay.

Because the app runs natively on your desktop, you'll have support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.

The desktop app is available to users on Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+. Downloads are available here.

Via: WhatsApp

YouTube Testing Native Sharing, Threads of Videos and Conversations With Friends

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 13:23:18 +0000

Rolling out to a very limited amount of users, YouTube is testing a messaging and sharing feature from directly within the YouTube app on Android. With this feature, called Native Sharing, users can share YouTube videos to other YouTube users, without the need of leaving the app itself. For example, if you have a friend who you share YouTube videos with constantly, you both can start a thread to share videos in, as well as discuss them, all inside of the YouTube app. This feature will be housed inside of a new tab, located in the YouTube app. It will sit directly between your subscriptions and profile tab on the home page. If you have a group of friends you want to share videos and commentary with, you can add multiple individuals to a single thread. The sharing aspect is handled the same exact way it is shared normally, with a popup window sliding in from the bottom of your screen. Once you have the contact chosen, hit send, and away it goes into your thread. As previously stated, this feature is available to a small group of YouTube users, but if you happen to be selected, you can actually invite friends to partake in Native Sharing with you. This should help increase the number of users quite rapidly. To invite friends, simply begin a new thread with their Google account selected. As for me, I don't have any update for the YouTube app, so it's hard to say how exactly YouTube is choosing its participants. Either look for an update on Google Play, or open your YouTube app and see if the new Sharing tab is there. If you have it, you're a very lucky duck. Do you think Native Sharing and conversation threads will influence you to share more videos with your friends?

Via: Wired | reddit

Sunrise, the Calendar App I Already Miss Dearly, Shuts Down August 31

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 12:28:57 +0000

Yeah, I know, that was the perfect opportunity to toss out some lame sun setting joke, but I spared you. Instead, just know this - Sunrise, the really, really good calendar app that Microsoft bought back in 2015 before deciding to kill it off in an attempt to sucker you into using its Outlook app (which I understand is a solid app, but do not care because its existence means the death of Sunrise), will fully shutdown on August 31 and completely stop working. The Sunrise team, which is probably awesome even as Microsoft employees, penned a blog post today to talk about the end. It's heartfelt, but ultimately talks about bringing Sunrise's life to a close because they aren't supporting it at all anymore. That includes not providing bug fixes. Rather than abandon Sunrise and turn your beautiful memories of it into terrible, "YOU SHOULD UPDATE THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE" ratings on Google Play, it's best to just let it go. I probably won't ever let Microsoft live this down and will complain about it every time another calendar app comes out, but you should let it go. Goodbye, dear friend, Sunrise.

Via: Sunrise

Google's Awesome Tap to Translate Available Inside 3rd-Party Applications

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 11:18:38 +0000

Thanks to an update for Google Translate, translating text from within 3rd-party applications just became a total breeze. Instead of copying and pasting the foreign text into the standalone Translate app, simply "Tap to Translate," directly from within whichever app you are using. For example, if you are texting with someone in WhatsApp and they are speaking German, you can tap the Translate icon inside of the WhatsApp settings to translate the text. You can then even translate your own words and reply to them in German. The GIF image above details this process. This feature works for all of Google's 103 supported languages, and even better, you don't need a data connection to use it. If you know that you will be using a particular language frequently, you can download a language package for offline use. Previously, these language packages were massive, but with Google working a bit of magic, they were able to shrink the packages by 90 percent. That means they won't crowd up your valuable onboard storage. And yes, audio is available for all of your translations, just as it is in the official Translate app. For those in need, the Translate app is also receiving Word Lens in Chinese. Supporting both simplified and traditional Chinese, Word Lens allows the user to translate signs from a given language to and from English. With Word Lens in Chinese, Google states it is supported on menus, signs, packages, or other printed text. For a straightforward look at how this works, watch the video below. If you are ready to give all of this a try, you will need to wait for Google to roll the update out, which will be over the next couple of days. Play Link

[responsive_vid]

Via: Google

Android VR Headset Said to Launch at Google I/O, be "Better" Than Gear VR

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 11:05:05 +0000

With Google I/O quickly approaching, we've been wondering how Google planned to surprise us. With Android N already alive and in preview 2, it wasn't going to be with that, though we may still get a preview 3 next week. With the current line-up of Nexus devices still fresh enough, we aren't expecting to see 2016 models yet either. So what could the big reveal be, if there is one? According to Peter Rojas of Gizmodo, Engadget, and various other tech venture fame, citing multiple sources, it'll be with Android VR. Rojas took to Twitter this morning to say that "Android VR will definitely be announced next week" and that it will be "better than Gear VR." He also noted that this is a stand-alone device that runs off of a smartphone, like the Samsung Gear VR, so don't expect it to be close to the Vive and Oculus experiences. Here are the tweets:

We aren't sure what prompted the mention from Rojas, but a redditor form yesterday did see a mention of "AndroidVR" in a list of release notes for the latest Unreal Engine preview. That could just mean that Unreal Engine is creating some sort of Android related VR product, but after the notes were called into focus, they quickly changed them, removing any mention of "AndroidVR." Keep in mind that this isn't the first time we have heard about Google making a Gear VR competitor. A report back in February suggested the same, telling us to expect it later this year, along with native Android VR software built-in to Android. That report also mentioned that it might be an upgrade over Gear VR with "better sensors, lenses, and a more solid plastic casing." As a VR hater who has come around to appreciating the technology (Vive addict here), this is pretty exciting news if Google can do this right, build out a legitimate Gear VR competitor, and figure out how to get content creators on board. Because in the end, VR is only as good as the content available. Ooh, Google I/O is shaping up nicely.

Via: @PeterRojas | reddit

Unlocked HTC 10 Now Working on Verizon, But There are Prerequisites

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 09:45:35 +0000

We have attempted to throw an active Verizon SIM into the unlocked model of the HTC 10, but it doesn't work. This really shouldn't shock anyone, even though the device features the necessary radios to run on Big Red's network. However, with S-OFF and root achieved for the HTC 10, the good folks at XDA have released a fix for this issue, meaning anyone with an unlocked HTC 10 can now get their device working on Verizon. After all, in our opinion, this is truly what unlocked should mean. In order to begin this process, you will need S-OFF and root on your HTC 10. To do so, look over the instructions here. Before you get started, though, please note that attempting these types of actions can cause your device to behave unexpectedly. If you feel comfortable doing this, proceed. As a refresher, S-OFF equates to security off, which allows HTC device owners to modify any partition on the device, and changes will not be reset once a reboot takes place. When a device is S-ON, changes are not permanent. For a deeper understanding of S-ON and S-OFF, read this. Now, it is stated in the instructions that you will need S-OFF and keep S-OFF during your usage of this radio. If that works for you, then really, all that is needed is a single flash of a radio.img via adb. The file is available on XDA from the via link below. For those of you with experience in adb and flashing files, this process will be extremely straightforward. Once the flash is completed, you will select the "CDMA/EvDOGSM/WCDMA/LTE Auto" option from within the secret radio menu. This menu is accessed by inputting *#*#4636#*#* into your dialer and dialing. At this time, advanced calling features are not yet available, but according to the team behind this, they can later be added once available for the device. If you happen to have an unlocked HTC, and want it to work on Verizon's LTE, this is your chance.

Via: XDA

Cheers Rashad!

Buy a HTC 10 From T-Mobile Starting May 18, Receive Free Rapid Charger and Ice View Case

Tim — Wed, 11 May 2016 08:30:14 +0000

Between May 18 and May 24, customers who purchase a HTC 10 from T-Mobile will receive a free HTC Rapid Charger and Ice View case. That's a total of $85 in free goodies. According to T-Mobile, the Magenta-colored carrier is, "the only place to enjoy the HTC 10 with its powerful HTC BoomSound HiFi speakers and OIS on the front and rear cameras – the way they were meant to be used – unrestricted and untamed." While this statement is completely false (you can enjoy those things no matter where you buy the HTC 10), the company cites its Music Freedom and Binge On services, which allows customers to stream music and video from select services without the used data counting towards your monthly allotment. For pricing, you can purchase the HTC 10 for $0 down and $28.34 over 24 months ($680 FRP) on an interest-free financing option. Again, this deal kicks off on May 18 (next Wednesday) and runs through May 24.

Via: T-Mobile

DEAL: Brand New Nexus 5 at Woot Today for $149.99

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 08:20:48 +0000

Google's Nexus 5, a phone so loved they re-created it in modern form as the Nexus 5X, can be purchased today at Woot.com for a ridiculously low price of $149.99. The best part? These are brand new Nexus 5s. I don't know how that's possible, but I'm not about to complain about a 2.5-year old darling of a phone available to fans or those in dire need of an affordable, yet still awesome phone, in new condition. The listing says that this is the D820 model, which is the North America variant that works perfectly on AT&T or T-Mobile or a variant of GSM prepaid outfits. This phone will not work on Sprint or Verizon. As a reminder, this phone is still (for now) being supported by Google and runs the latest version of Android Marshmallow. Better hurry! WOOT Link

Cheers Matthew!

Instagram Gets New Icon, Simpler Layout in Latest Update (Updated: It's Live!)

Kellen — Wed, 11 May 2016 07:16:35 +0000

Instagram's non-flat, retro camera icon that seems about six years beyond its prime, has been replaced this morning by a new app icon and a refreshed design. That's right, we have a new Instagram icon! The new icon is an updated take on the original icon, only in rainbow gradient form. Honestly, it's pretty bad! But hey, I'm no designer and I think (Maybe. Hopefully. Please do me right.) I'll be able to live with whatever most icon designs interpret this as through their own creations. (Stock?) Rainbow gradient, folks, rainbow gradient. As for the app refresh, the UI elements are now mostly black and white, likely as a way to put the focus on your colorful photos. We saw this UI in testing on a handful of devices over the past couple of weeks, but it's now official as the Instagram layout. There are also smaller buttons along the bottom of the app for navigating, again, to get you fully immersed in the app and photos. The location of UI elements all remain the same, though. Thoughts? Play Link UPDATE: The update is now live and can be grabbed from Google Play or sideloaded here.

Via: Instagram

Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files)

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 16:24:44 +0000

You know how we often spend days hunting down the over-the-air (OTA) .zip files for Nexus updates to try and get you updates faster than Google sends them? We may not need to do that any longer because Google started posting the files today. I'm not kidding - the .zip OTA files are now up on the Google Developers site, right next to the factory images. Google includes instructions for flashing these .zip files, which include using a bit of adb and the "adb sideload" command. We also have instructions for it here. At this time, they are only populating the page with recent update files (Android 6.0.1) for the Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, and Nexus Player. Pretty sweet, though, right? Nexus OTA Image Link

Report: Samsung to Implement "Focus" Communication Hub Into Galaxy Note 6

Tim — Tue, 10 May 2016 14:18:24 +0000

According to the latest from SamMobile, Samsung will look to implement a feature called Samsung Focus into the Galaxy Note 6, a communication hub of sorts, similar to BlackBerry Hub. Hub is a one-stop shop for different email services, social networks and texting services, allowing users to do most of their communication via a single application. That is Samsung's goal with Focus, reportedly. Claimed by SamMobile, Focus will focus on email, calendar events, handle contacts, and memos. It's possible that Focus could simply replace all of Samsung's general applications that handle these tasks, but that seems unlikely. As an example of usage, a user could log into various social networks from Focus, such as Facebook and Twitter, and handle all of the communication from the Focus hub. In addition, you could manage different email accounts from Focus, handling all incoming and outgoing messages from the same inbox. Same could be said for instant messages and texts. From what SamMobile has seen so far, the app appears to be designed rather well, borrowing heavily from Google's Material Design. For consumers, that's a good thing. Upon opening the app, your daily schedule will be listed, along with dedicated pages for contacts and memos. As previously stated, it would be your go-to app for communication and networking. With Samsung reportedly set to launch Focus with the Galaxy Note 6, it is currently unknown if it will be brought to past Samsung devices, but it is somewhat expected to at least make it available to Galaxy S7 models. While it's nothing new that Samsung wants to create yet another app, if Focus might rid the Galaxy Note 6 of other Samsung apps, that would be most welcomed. Here in the US, Google provides most of its popular apps (Calendar, Messenger, etc.) on Google Play these days, so doubling up with Samsung apps is just overboard. Are you interested in Focus?

Via: SamMobile

Hey, Remember Google Now on Tap? Oh, Well, Here is a Video on How It Works

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 12:29:32 +0000

Maybe Google read the comments of this thread of ours or maybe they plan to give it another go at Google I/O next week, but the latest video from the Google YouTube channel is all about Google Now on Tap and how it works. Did you forget about it or have you yet to find an occasion where you needed it? This video could help give you some motivation. Also, is anyone else wondering why they are referring to Android Marshmallow as just Android M? Is that a new thing going forward? Did I miss that memo?

NVIDIA and Bethesda Launch Fallout 4 Live Wallpaper, Filled With Bobbleheads

Tim — Tue, 10 May 2016 12:14:23 +0000

Fallout 4. It's super legit. For fans of the franchise, NVIDIA has teamed up with the creators, Bethesda, launching a live wallpaper app of all things to Google Play. The Fallout 4 Live Wallpaper features an assortment of bobbleheads from the Fallout game, allowing users to deck out their home screen with their favorites. The overall animations you will see are very basic, with the bobbleheads sitting on top of a table. When you swipe through your screens, the lighting and positioning will change, but the bobbleheads don't move. In the settings of the app, you can choose five specific bobbleheads to show off, or you can have the app randomize which bobbleheads are shown. According to the app's description, there are 20 Fallout 4 bobbleheads to choose from, including Sneak, Melee, Luck, and Agility. Live wallpapers haven't really been relevant for the past few years, but since this is Fallout 4, they just received a violent shove back into relevancy. You can download the app right now on Google Play for free. Play Link

Jeff Koons Nexus Live Cases are Now Available for $40, and Here's How to Make a Balloon Swan

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 10:35:24 +0000

The Jeff Koons designed Nexus Live Cases that Google began teasing yesterday are now available for purchase on the Google Store. Priced at $40, you will find three different limited edition cases, all of which are individually numbered. Not familiar with Jeff Koons? I know nothing of him either, but Google calls him "one of the world's greatest living artists" who is best known for his "Gazing Ball" series, where he re-creates previous masterpiece paintings and then places a large blue gazing ball in front of them. He also does public sculptures and created a special live wallpaper for these cases that is built from Koons' favorite moments from the Swan Lake ballet. The three cases are called Diana, Mailbox, and Bust, include the NFC button on the back like other Live Cases, feature that live wallpaper I just mentioned of the Swan Lake ballet, and will allow you to receive "exclusive digital artwork created by the artist and sent directly to your phone." If none of that interests you, well, how about a tutorial from Koons on how to make a balloon swan? Google Store Link

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Giveaway: Win 1 of 8 $25 Google Play Promo Codes, Just Because

Tim — Tue, 10 May 2016 10:20:10 +0000

We are feeling good today, so let's give away a few Google Play promo codes. These codes will allow the eight different winners to purchase whatever they might want on Google Play, including apps, games, movies, books, music, or whatever. It's your money, do what you please. We have $200 worth of codes up for grabs, split up in $25 increments. That is a total of eight winners. On Thursday (5/12) at 10am PST, we will choose our eight winners via Rafflecopter. Let's do this.

Contest

Prizes Eight (8) individuals will win one (1) of eight (8) $25 Google Play promo codes. The codes are redeemable via Google Play's desktop site or via a mobile device in the Google Play app. How to Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway Winners We will contact our winners via email with their $25 code. Please see this list here to make sure you live in a country where Google Play credit is supported. If you do, you are free to enter.

FCC and FTC Want to Figure Out Why Security Updates Take so Long to Get to You

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:24:19 +0000

Because security is always of the utmost importance, but maybe even more so today on mobile because we all have a smartphone and use it for everything we do, the FCC wants to figure out why it's taking carriers and manufacturers such a long time to get you updates, namely security patches. Yesterday, through a press release, the FCC announced that it is partnering with the FTC to open an inquiry into mobile device security updates. The basic idea here is that they want carriers and manufacturers to tell them their process for updating, to see what can be improved. The announcement from the FCC name-drops Stagefright as an example, a vulnerability that really had the potential to be a disaster for many people, but has since been patched a number of times by Google. Stagefright was such a big deal during much of last year that companies like Google, Samsung, and LG all promised monthly security patches to try and protect users going forward. Unfortunately, not everyone got on board with the monthly schedule and there could be millions of vulnerable people still to date with older devices that are no longer supported by OEMs or carriers. The FCC sent letters carriers with questions about the processes for "reviewing and releasing security updates for mobile devices." They want to know things like, if the carrier faces issues or hurdles in releasing updates, if there are hurdles getting users to install new updates, if carriers know if updates have been installed, and if security vulnerabilities in mobile devices pose threats to their networks. They also want to know all of the parties involved in getting an update ready and pushed out, how this process works differently from one operating system to the next, and when do carriers cut off security patch support for devices. I can't help but applaud the FCC for probing carriers over security updates, but will say that many of them have become quite good at getting out the monthly patches that start with Google and then carry on through companies like Samsung, LG and HTC. Thankfully, the FTC says that it is going after eight phone manufacturers (Apple, Blackberry, Google, HTC, LG, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, and Samsung) to find out similar information. That's a good thing, because there are certainly a couple that need to get with the program. All parties have 45 days to respond to the FCC and FTC, so it could be a while before we know anything, including findings, thoughts, and if there are going to be recommendations for improving the entire process.

Via: FCC (PDF) | FTC (PDF)

Unlocked HTC 10 Receiving Update, Brings More Camera Tweaks and System Improvements

Tim — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:17:05 +0000

An update for the unlocked HTC 10, labeled as 1.53.617.5, is rolling out to those in the US. While it doesn't include Android N or anything fancy like that, it does include a few very important performance tweaks. As listed in the changelog, users can expect an improved camera experience (seriously, the camera needs a big boost in speed), enhanced WiFi stability, as well as system stability improvements. Once updated, the overall phone should behave and perform better, which is always a good update in our book. The update, which is available to pull right now in the US, weighs in at nearly 400MB. Get yourself on WiFi and grab it.

Samsung Introduces 256GB MicroSD Card, Available in June for $250

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 07:41:35 +0000

Just picked up a discounted 200GB microSD card for that shiny new flagship of yours? Samsung thinks you should have waited. The Korean electronics giant introduced a mega-card today, with 256GB of capacity and read/write speeds of 95MB/s and 90MB/s. It's a beast of a little card. The card, which goes on sale in June for $249.99, is likely releasing now because Samsung's Gear 360 camera is also making the rounds. As you can imagine, those 360-degree video files aren't going to be small, so if you are interested in one, a card with 256GB of storage is probably going to be worth the investment. In fact, Samsung mentions specifically that this new 256GB card will be great for "graphic intensive multimedia like virtual reality and gaming" and 4K video recording. Need some numbers? At 256GB, you could store 55,200 photos, 12 hours of 4K video, 33 hours of full HD video, and 23,500 MP3 files. The card is waterproof (IPX7), temperature-proof, x-ray-proof, and magnetic-proof. All the proofs, guys. Samsung says that this new 256GB card comes with a limited 10-year warranty in more than 50 countries, including the US, China, and Europe.

Via: Samsung

Verizon's LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are All Getting Updates

Kellen — Tue, 10 May 2016 07:12:44 +0000

Last night, Verizon approved updates for the LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ and finally provided changelogs and software versions for each this morning. The updates are minor, as you would expect, but do tweak a few things while bringing security patches. The G5, as the newer of the three, is getting an update to software version VS98712A that includes UI tweaks to Visual Voice Mail, a change to the way airplane mode can be enabled when a secure lock is present, and data displaying of Microsoft Exchange Active Server use. The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are each getting software version VRU2BPD4, which does indeed include the latest Android security patches, along with a change that allows you to answer video calls as if they were voice-only calls. To grab each update, head into some variation of Settings>About phone or Settings>Software updates.

Via: Verizon [2] [3]

DEAL: This 32GB Sony MicroSD Card is Just $9

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 15:17:53 +0000

$9 for a 32GB microSD card from Sony seems like a really good price for an item that will double the storage of your 32GB phone, right? You can pick one up right now from Amazon (with Prime shipping). If 32GB isn't enough space, the 128GB card from Sony is also down to just $33.49. Amazon Link

Question of the Day: What Do You Like or Dislike so Far About the Moto Leaks?

Tim — Mon, 09 May 2016 15:01:57 +0000

We have seen a ton of opinions flying around today regarding the leaks on upcoming devices from Motorola. If you somehow missed it, this morning, we got potential specs for a couple of new devices from Moto, as well as multiple digital renders of the phones. Turns out, the renders match that of a prototype device we saw in December and completely shrugged off, thinking it was just a really bad Photoshop job. I mean, really, it looks like a Moto 360 (1st Gen) glued onto the backside of the phone. It's pretty funny how things turn out. Anyway, with rumors of modularity and possible specs floating around, we want to know your opinion. Does an ultra-thin Moto device with 2,600mAh battery and QHD display interest you? What about the hockey puck camera component? Maybe the most potentially upsetting design choice is the removal of the Moto dimple on the backside, which would have been the perfect spot for a fingerprint reader. Share your like and dislikes below.

PayPal is Done Protecting the Crowdfunded Garbage You Keep Backing

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 13:34:43 +0000

Backing items on crowdfunded sites is almost always a pretty bad idea. That's not to say that there haven't been some good ideas and products come through your favorite host - like Kickstarter or Indiegogo - over the years, but the true success stories are few and far between. In many situations, products are delivered late, arrive as something far inferior to what you expected, or never materialize at all, leaving you wondering if you'll even get your money back. Because of the uncertainty and risk, PayPal has decided that it is no longer willing to protect your funds if they are used to back crowdfunded items. Through a policy update sent out to PayPal members over the weekend, changes highlighted in section 13.3, which is a list of items "ineligible" for Purchase Protection, PayPal has added in "Payments on crowdfunding platforms." That means that if some crowdfunded yahoo tricks you into a fresh bottle of snake oil, PayPal doesn't want to hear you come-a-crying for money back. The new policy update also makes gambling and anything purchased from a government agency "ineligible."

Via: PayPal | Gizmodo

Watch: Grab Your VR Headset and Watch This Tornado Chase

Tim — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:56:29 +0000

I don't typically watch YouTube videos worthy of sharing on this site, but with the popularity of VR (Virtual Reality) going on, I might as well share this one. Over the weekend, a tornado touched down in Colorado, and thanks to the support of 360-degree video on YouTube, those who go out and chase storms can now put viewers right in the middle of all of the action. This video does just that. Posted to the AccuWeather channel, a 360-camera (~~model unknown~~ 360fly camera) is placed on the top of a vehicle which is in pursuit of the tornado. At one point, the tornado is directly in front of the vehicle's path, and a bit later, the occupants (and other pursuing vehicle passengers), get out and begin to take pictures of the magnificent site. Seriously, the pure destructive power of these occurrences hardly take away from their beauty. If you have a Cardboard viewer, Gear VR, or something along those lines, give this video a watch. Definitely worth the 8 minutes. If you don't have a headset, don't worry. Using your mouse, drag the video to an angle you want to watch and get right up in that tornado with the storm chasers. I usually talk plenty of smack on 360-degree cameras and VR in general, but for this purpose alone, the tech is so worth it. Update: According to the Chaser Central account on Twitter, the camera used to capture this video is a 360fly camera.

Google and Jeff Koons to Partner to Create Limited Live Cases for Nexus Devices

Tim — Mon, 09 May 2016 11:42:02 +0000

Set to be revealed tomorrow on May 10, Google is partnering with Jeff Koons to create Live Cases for Nexus phones. If you did not already know, Jeff Koons is an American artist, known time-to-time for working with pop culture subjects. On Twitter and Instagram, a few musical artists have been hyping the hashtag "KoonsXGoogle," which is in direct reference to the soon to be unveiled collaboration. So, which artists can we expect new Live Cases from? If the artists hyping the collab are any indication, we can possibly expect a few from Bono, Lady Gaga, and other big-time names. If you will recall, Google did a similar project with Skrillex when they sold cases for the Nexus 6. A landing page has been posted to the Google Store for this collab, but no designs or official list of artists has been made available. Tomorrow, May 10, we will know what exactly is going on. Google Store Link

Report: Specs and Modules for Moto's New Device Line-Up Emerge

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 10:06:26 +0000

According to details sent to VentureBeat from sources, we should expect two phones from Lenovo and Motorola in the near future (the two seen in this post), two phones that will also be some of the first in the industry to tackle modularity. Currently dubbed (and these better be codenames because they are awful names) Vertex and Vector Thin, but should be sold under the Moto or Moto X brand, each phone will be able to expand capabilities through a suite of modules called "Amps." Each phone should have solid internals as well, along with almost unbelievable thinness. In terms of specs, the higher-end Vector Thin (pictured above) is said to feature a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 32GB internal storage and either 3GB or 4GB RAM, likely depending on market. We should see a 16MP camera with both laser-assisted and phase detection autofocus, 2600mAh battery, and a body that is 5.2mm thick (!). The Vertex (pictured below) will also feature a 5.5-inch display, but with a Full HD resolution instead. It should also get models with either 16GB storage and 2GB RAM or 32GB storage and 3GB RAM, along with a Snapdragon 625 (octa-core) processor, and 13MP camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. It's battery is thought to have a 3500mAh capacity and will squeeze into a 7mm thick frame. While those specs sound on-par with other flagships, it's the modular aspect of each that is going to make headlines. According to this report, the rear-situated pins you see in the image below will indeed, as we suggested earlier, be used as a connector to add on "Amps" or modules. Moto and Lenovo are purportedly set to release six at launch, including a colored back plate that ships with the phones. We could also see modules that introduce stereo speakers, battery pack, camera grip, pico projector, and a rugged cover with wide angle lens attachment. With these attachments lying across the back of the phone, they could help reduce the exposed portion of the large camera puck and maybe even aid in hand feel, which might be an issue if these phones really are 5.2mm and 7mm thick. Because of the pin connectors, the module experience here could actually be something to get excited about, unlike the implementation that LG has gone with through the G5. As you all know, LG tried to go modular by utilizing the phone's removable battery compartment, which may have limited the convenience and point of a modular phone. Pins allow for quick attachment or unattachment and might also make for a more flexible module platform that 3rd party developers could easily adapt to. Consider the fact that a similar solution is powering Project Ara and you have to wonder if other developers aren't lining up with Lenovo already. Don't be shocked if we see a DROID Turbo 3 and DROID MAXX 3 that are nothing but re-branded Vector Thin and Vertex exclusives for Verizon. With modules like these apparently ready for launch, any new interest?

Via: VentureBeat

Sorta NSFW: Yes, the Fingerprint Reader on Your Phone Can Recognize Things Other Than Fingers, Like Your Penis

Tim — Mon, 09 May 2016 09:45:07 +0000

Over the weekend, a bored and curious reddit user decided to test various body parts on the fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S7, seeing if it would recognize something other than just a fingertip. Not too surprisingly, a few interesting parts of the human anatomy do indeed function just fine on the fingerprint reader. Let's take a look at the findings. Stated by the reddit user, "Tonight, I discovered that you can successfully register and unlock a Galaxy S7 with a penis as a fingerprint." That's right. This individual decided to test if he could register his penis as a fingerprint. Lo and behold, it worked. Will this application be usable in daily life while out on the town? I sincerely hope not. If I ever see someone using their junk to unlock a cellphone, we will have problems. After comments poured in on reddit, the OP decided to test more body parts, which lead me to come up with different titles for this article. The first title I had was, "You Won't Believe Which Testicle This Guy Used to Unlock His Phone." To save you from the clickbait, it was his left testicle. Yes, your Galaxy S7 can recognize the skin on your testicular sack (aka scrotum). Fantastic. According to the OP, while the left testicle was registered, he had a hard time using the testicle to unlock the phone. I can't imagine why. It's entirely possible that the skin on the sack doesn't have enough grooves or uniqueness for the scanner to work properly. Thanks to these scientific findings, we have also learned that left and right nipples, elbows, and pinkie toes should work, too. Pray you never find yourself bored enough to test these things on your own phone.

Via: reddit

On June 9, Lenovo Will Show Off New Moto Products and First Project Tango Phone

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 08:32:40 +0000

The new Moto and DROID phones we shared with you this morning will likely be unveiled on June 9 at Lenovo Tech World. On Friday, we received an invite to the 1-day conference from Lenovo and it does indeed say to expect new products from both Lenovo and Moto, along with the launch of the first Project Tango smartphone. Details are scarce, but the invite (and the Tech World site) both state that we will get to "watch Moto transform mobile in a snap." That could be something camera-related, but it more than likely is in reference to modularity and "snapping" items onto those pins on the back of the phones we saw from earlier. It's tough to say what kinds of modules you could attach to the back of the lower portion of a phone, but it could be things like a better external speaker, battery pack, or camera grip, similar to what we saw with the LG G5.

Other teasers for the conference mention new products that will "make your life better...connect your world...let you do more...help you realize your dreams." Those are lofty, fluffy descriptors, so I wouldn't put too much into them. I think the focus here is on Project Tango finally becoming a reality in phone form and new Moto phones bringing forth the modular mojo. With the Project Tango phone, I don't know that we have a clear understanding of whether or not Lenovo plans to make this some sort of consumer device. The technology is about room scaling and mapping, motion detection, and depth measuring, but maybe they'll surprise us with the ultimate VR-creating, virtual gaming, live experience that we can't live without. Excited yet? There will be a live stream on June 9 for all to see, plus we'll be in attendance.

[responsive_vid]

Via: Lenovo

EDIT: Confused Project Tango with Project Ara and have edited post to fix. NOTE: The opening remark probably shouldn't include DROID, since we know those are typically shown off at their own events and probably won't be at the Lenovo conference. It was included in that line because the new Moto phones we saw are identical to the new DROID phone, thus the reason I grouped them. While we may not see a phone with DROID branding, the phones we will see will eventually come out with that DROID branding. You get that, though.

6-Month Old DROID MAXX 2 Finally Receives First Update, Which is Marshmallow

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 08:02:59 +0000

The DROID MAXX 2, a phone that has been vulnerable to at least 6 months worth security exploits since it was first introduced because of Motorola and Verizon's failures to apply any of the patches from Google, received its first update over the weekend to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Hooray for security! The update will arrive on MAXX 2 owner's phones in two parts, first as software version 23.44.3 before the important part (the Marshmallow part) shows up as 24.64.4. After updating, the MAXX 2 will get access to Google Now on Tap and Doze Mode (for better battery life), see better app permissions controls, utilize adoptable storage with an SD card, and more. It's a big update, one that should have shipped on the phone from day 1. To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. Anyone see the update yet?

Via: Verizon

New 2016 Moto X, Motorola DROID Phones Surface and Look Mighty Familiar (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 09 May 2016 07:21:19 +0000

Alright, so remember back in December when a photo surfaced of a supposed Motorola phone we dubbed the Franken-iPhLumia360 (that’s pronounced eye-floom-ee-uh-360)? It was of a phone so distant in design from Motorola's previous efforts that we stated something that didn't seem all that outlandish at the time - that we were going to be beyond shocked if it was on any level real. Welp, it might be real! Check out all of these fabulous new renders that were posted by the folks at hellomotoHK over the weekend that look identical to that phone. My, oh my. So what are we looking at? Well, there is a lot to talk about here. First, the phone up top has both DROID branding and Verizon's new check mark, so we are just assuming that it is the next Turbo or some new DROID phone that you shouldn't buy if you like software updates or security. The phones pictured below look almost identical, but lack the Verizon and DROID marks and could very well be the next Moto X (2016). In terms of style, these phones look thin, really thin. They have fingerprint sensors situated on their bottom (HUGE) chins, lower IR sensors next to them to activate Moto Display, rear-facing speakers (EDIT: or are those contact pins?), and metal-ish looking exteriors. The fronts also have cameras with accompanying flashes and potentially more robust Moto Display capabilities, with options for wallpapers and/or colored widgets. There are a variety of designs at play here, so it doesn't seem like Moto Maker is going anywhere, even with the drastic changes from last year's Moto X Pure Edition to what we are seeing in these new images. We have white or black fronts, along with white, gold accented, and multi-colored backs. I'm going to guess there will be even more, though I'm not sure if the leather or nylon backs can return with this design.

Each phone has a bulging disc camera setup that seems to be taking a playful approach to the Moto 360's famous flat tire. I don't even think we can call this a "hump" as it really does just look like a hockey puck slapped onto the back of a phone, ignoring any thought of a non-wobbly table presence. Obviously, the camera isn't a dual setup like we have seen from Huawei and LG recently, but does appear to have a flash and a couple of other sensors, potentially a laser autofocus system. As for other highlights, the bottom USB port seems to have some sort of cut-out on the backside. Is that something to keep an eye on or just an odd design choice? Tough to tell. Also, check out the terrible volume/power button situation. Ugh. Remember when HTC thought it was a good idea to put volume in two separate buttons and located them right up against the power button? Yeah, well, apparently Motorola didn't get the memo on "How to Fail in Smartphone Button Setups" and is going that route here. Good luck ever figuring out which is which on the fly, in the most important of times.

See, there is a lot going on here. I'm still trying to take it all in on whether or not I like the new design or dislike it. There is a lot to like, but also plenty to raise an eyebrow or two at. Like, the lovable Moto dimple is gone and a fingerprint sensor has been placed on the front chin. For years and years and years, we have talked about the dimple being the perfect spot for a fingerprint reader and likely was going to be at some point, yet here it is gone and switched. I, obviously, hate that button setup and am not excited about a puck hump thingy on the backside. But the phone does look thin, appears to have an improved Moto Display experience, and Moto Maker will be back. EDIT: As some have noted, that may not be a rear-speaker and could be contact pins. Does that mean a dock or other accessories? Will the new Moto X be modular? Brain now in overdrive. Also, the DROID phone does look to just have a speaker in place of the pins. UPDATE: The new Moto phone will be shown off on June 9 at Lenovo Tech World. We'll be there. UPDATE 2: Potential specs and module details arrive. Man. Thoughts?

Via: +hellomotoHK

HTC Nexus?

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 18:53:42 +0000

We took last week off from the Droid Life Show to recover from weeks and weeks of smartphone reviews in a row, but are back this week to catch up before we get to Google I/O. So on this episode (108), we'll walk through the latest Nexus rumors involving HTC and a couple of codenames. We'll also talk about why we think it's a mistake to buy DROID phones at Verizon, check in on your Galaxy S7 after two months, talk must-have smartphone features, and share initial impressions of the Huawei P9. Join us at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM 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 and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Don't Miss These Android Stories: May 6, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 15:38:39 +0000

Before you head into the weekend or as you consume the weekend, we have the top stories of the week for you below to catch up on. That's right, we love you so much, we left out all of the fluff to help you gobble up all of the stuff that actually matters. You will find the latest episode of the DL Show, check in on how everyone's S7 and S7 Edge are holding up after two months, see why the LG G5 is still a decent option, and deal with our thoughts on the Huawei P9. Other stories include highlights of the new Google Keyboard 5.0, Galaxy S7 Active, new Samsung Pay banks, and LG's new button-less fingerprint reader. Enjoy!

WATCH: Droid Life Show Episode 108 | Subscribe
Question: How is your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge holding up?
LG G5: 5 reasons it's still worth buying!
Video: Huawei P9 in house!
Google Keyboard 5.0 is out and has tons of new features
May's Android security update is out
This is probably the Galaxy S7 Active on its way to AT&T
Poll: Which of these smartphone features can you not live without?
You should probably sign-up for Google Opinion Rewards
Question: Do you own a fitness band or tracker?
T-Mobile unlimited plans are here to stay, for now
Netflix: App now has cellular data controls
Not a shocker: People care about Android updates.
39 banks and credit unions gained Samsung Pay support this week
Verizon lit up a bunch of new XLTE markets this week
LG announced a button-less fingerprint reader that can hide beneath displays

Pallet Jack is my current favorite beer.

Google Opinion Rewards, an App You Better Have Installed if You Like Free Money, Got an Update Today

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 15:11:34 +0000

One of our favorite apps of all time, Google Opinion Rewards, received an update today, which means we have an excuse to talk about it and remind you that using it is a probably a good thing. The update introduces availability to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, in case you were wondering, along with a slightly different UI that may even have been a server-side switch. What is Google Opinion Rewards? It's an app that wants to give you free money (in the form of Google Play credits) to spend by asking you to answer short 1-4 or 5 question surveys. It probably - because it's tied to Google and your Google accounts - knows far too much about you and may creep you out with some surveys, especially the location-based ones, but it's worth it for most of us who don't mind a little Google stalking. In a few years worth of surveys, between two accounts, I've totaled over $50 in Play credits. Some of our readers have hit much higher numbers than that. See for yourself. The surveys are often very short, some even only a question or two long. I typically get surveys that are based on places I have visited in the past, asking if I would rate the place. Some people see surveys related to upcoming or future products as well. It's also kind of fun to see how much you get paid for each short questionnaire. So yeah, if you don't mind feeding Google and its advertisers even more of your life's info to earn some free credits, be sure to download this. Play Link

WhatsApp Update With Quick Reply, Other Features Exits Beta

Tim — Fri, 06 May 2016 14:56:07 +0000

Back in late March, the beta for WhatsApp received a sizable update, one that included quick reply from notifications, wallpapers for chats and multiple contact selection. At last, that update is now rolling out to everyone, exiting the beta stage. As previously stated, this update includes a quick reply feature, allowing users to rapidly reply to incoming messages directly from the notification pulldown. Additionally, users now have a few color choices to choose from to revamp the look of their chat windows, as well as quickly add photos or video from your camera roll by tapping the quick camera button. For those who want to get in on the WhatsApp beta action, you can sign yourself up right here. Simply click, "Become Tester," then download from Google Play. Super easy. Here's the complete changelog. What's New

Reply to new messages right from notifications
Tapping the quick camera button in a chat lets you pick a photo or video from your camera roll
Pick from a set of solid colors for your chat wallpaper
Quickly archive, delete, or mute multiple chats at once. Just tap and hold a chat in the chats tab and tap on other chats to select them.
Format text in your messages by surrounding your text with special characters: *bold*, _italics_, or ~strikethrough~

Play Link

DEAL: All Samsung Gear S2 Models are $50 Off at Best Buy and Amazon

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:27:24 +0000

Need a smartwatch? How about one of Samsung's Gear S2 models? As of today, the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic have been discounted by $50 at Best Buy and Amazon. And we are talking about all models, including the new platinum and rose gold Classics. At a $50 discount, you can get into the regular Gear S2 for $249, the Classic for $299, or the platinum and rose gold Classic versions for $399. Months ago, when the Gear S2 was first released, I spent a good amount of time with it to see if it could become my smartwatch of choice. While I prefer Android Wear devices to Samsung's wearables, there is no denying the attractive hardware here, really cool rotating bezel, and somewhat robust software experience. If anything, the Gear S2 is a solid alternative to Android Wear. Amazon Link | Best Buy Link

Question of the Day: How is Your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge Holding Up?

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 10:50:42 +0000

We are closing in on the two month anniversary - if you can believe that - of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge launch. That means you have all had a substantial amount of daily usage to weigh in on whether or not you made the right decision in buying one. You have spent days and nights, dates and couch surfing sessions, travel and backyard BBQs, all with the S7 or S7 Edge by your side. At this point, you probably should have done it all. So now it's time to share your thoughts. Has your phone maintained day one or week one performance? Is battery life good or bad or just OK? Are you satisfied with the camera? Has Samsung's TouchWiz lived up to its "jank" reputation of slowing down a high-end phone after just a short amount of time? How has the glass held up on the front and back? How is your Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge holding up?

LG G5 and V10 Certified for Enterprise and Military Use

Tim — Fri, 06 May 2016 08:53:11 +0000

Thanks to LG's Guarded Access to Enterprise -- better known as GATE -- the G5 and V10 have been certified for use in fields that require top-notch security, enterprise and military. Certified by the U.S. National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP, for short), both devices meet the international standards for security in corporate environments. LG GATE offers enhanced platform, network, and application security that allows for "secure, reliable" access to enterprise data. Developed in 2013, GATE's promise is to provide a variety of security solutions, such as anti-hacking, on top of mobile device management. Featuring layered security components, corporate data is safeguarded, but no system performance is compromised. More simply, your sensitive data is kept very safe, but your smartphone won't feel sluggish while jumping through the various security hoops. On top of GATE, both G5 and V10 feature Google's Android for Work, which separates work apps from personal apps. Android for Work is primarily managed by a corporation's IT sector, but it allows for users to have work profiles associated with a smartphone that offers enhanced security when using specific applications. Android for Work features default encryption and enhanced SELinux security enforcement. The NIAP certification is recognized by 25 Common Criteria member countries, including Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UK. Long gone are the days where all government peeps rocked BackBerry devices.

Via: LG

Check It Out, This Could be the Galaxy S7 Active on Its Way to AT&T

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 08:26:45 +0000

A little over a month ago, we talked about the idea of there being a Samsung Galaxy S7 Active, not only because Samsung mentioned the device in a listing for one of their apps, but because this is a long-running line of exclusive phones for AT&T that makes a lot of sense. It's a pretty brilliant product idea (super high-end rugged phone) that should live on, even if we do all hate the fact that you can't get it outside of a single carrier. Today, thanks to a leak out of a Vietnamese Samsung-focused site, we get what might be our first look at the phone. As you probably expected, it's rugged as hell and has all the camo a rugged person could ask for. Like last year's Galaxy S6 Active (our review) and phones before it, we see a similar design with hefty exterior padding, camo back plate, separate "Action" button above the volume rocker, and that three-button setup on the front, all of which are physical. There is certainly a good amount of thickness here, but that's also not new, as the Active line tends to sport larger batteries than its leaner cousins and needs padding for when you drop hammers on it or run it over with dump trucks. Other than that, there isn't much to see.

I think we are all still assuming that this phone will carry identical specs to the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, meaning QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel camera, IP68 water/dust resistance, etc. On top of that, the phone should be shock resistance as well. Is this a phone on your radar?

Via: SamsungVN

Verizon Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Get Updates With Various "Improvements"

Kellen — Fri, 06 May 2016 07:19:13 +0000

Verizon approved an update this morning for its variants of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge as software version VRU2APD2. The update includes both security patches and "improvements to various settings and features." None of those improvements seems to be of the headline variety, but they are worth being aware of. Verizon and Samsung added a reminder as you open or close the SIM tray to make sure it isn't left open, you know, for water resistance reasons. They made it "easier" to check individual app performance, added clearer instructions for turning on/off Always on Display, tossed in a "Roaming" title for dual clocks in different time zones, fixed some bugs, and got rid of those silly multiple SD card pop-up notifications. Specific to the S7 Edge, the Calendar Edge panel also now shows a quick glance of upcoming events and their location info. To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates.

Via: Verizon [2]

#TBT: It Won't Happen, But a New Sony Xperia PLAY Would be Cool

Tim — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:08:19 +0000

At a time when mobile gaming was starting to get a real feel for itself, with new games launching all of the time on the Android Market (before it was Google Play), Sony introduced the Xperia PLAY at MWC in Barcelona. It was essentially a mobile PlayStation. Good idea, right? The device launched on Verizon in the spring of 2011, but never really caught fire. It featured a 4" display, 1GHz processor capable of producing 60FPS, 5MP camera, and ran Android 2.3. In 2011 speak, that isn't all that bad. Imagine if Sony produced something like this in 2016? A PlayStation phone with QHD display, quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and the ability to stream Fallout 4 directly from your PlayStation 4 console at home. That would be dope. There are various workarounds to get Sony's current Remote Play app working on basically any Android phone, but I'm talking about something official. An Xperia PLAY for 2016. Given Sony's current stance in the smartphone market, it's a safe bet we will never see this happen, but as a gamer, one can dream. Did anyone here own the Xperia PLAY? If so, share your memories, fond or not-so-fond, below in the comments.

Video: Huawei P9 - A Week With the New Flagship

Kellen — Thu, 05 May 2016 13:20:21 +0000

For the better part of the last week, I have had the Huawei P9 in house for testing. That may sound odd, since we don't typically give much coverage to phones that will never arrive in the US, but with Huawei seemingly on the verge of making a big splash here, we wanted to see what their non-Nexus flagships are like. We wanted to see if their Android skin is as bad as its reputation, if the hardware is as good (or better) than that of the 6P, and also begin to familiarize ourselves with the world's new number 3 phone manufacturer. The video below will walk you through all of this, but to summarize, I'll just say this - the software is worse than expected, but the hardware might be the best I've held this year. Sure, the design of the Huawei P9 is somewhat iPhone-esque, but it also has its own personality with mixture of glass and metal, dual camera setup, and combination of colors. The build and design are superb, as is the in-hand feel, size, and placement of buttons. Honestly, I would argue that this phone is more of a joy to hold than the Galaxy S7. Call me crazy! There is some magic here and I now wish more than ever that Huawei was building another Nexus. Unfortunately for that beautiful body, there are major problems here that all stem from Huawei's insanely terrible Android skin. I believe it's called EMUI and this is version 4.1. Outside of the fact that it looks like an iOS knock-off, my major beef (which makes this an unusable Android experience) is how it handles notifications. Or maybe that's better put - how it doesn't handle notifications. In fact, this phone is so poor with notifications that even iPhone users would be shaking their heads at whatever Huawei has cooked up here.

From the lack of notification access on the lock screen (you can't even pull the notification bar down) to the timeline layout and the lack of standard Android icons in the status bar, it's a disaster. It took me an hour and a chat with a Huawei employee to get notifications to even show on the lock screen in any way. That meant tweaking power settings and permissions and I don't even know what else, all on an individual app basis. It's so bad, I installed a 3rd party lock screen for the first time in like 5 years. But this skin is also such an aggressive service killer, probably in the name of extending battery life, that it often just breaks everything you spent hours setting up. Take LastPass for example, an app that needs system notification access to work properly. This phone, every hour or so, just kills that access and then leaves LastPass as a non-working service. It keeps doing the same to that 3rd party lock screen app I mentioned as well. If you can somehow ignore the software (and you won't be able to), I do think most would really enjoy the hardware. Plus, the dual camera setup is capable of taking some lovely pictures, especially that monochrome shooter. In the end, I can't help but be mostly excited over Huawei making strides here in the US, but man, they need to clean up this software. They certainly know how to do hardware already.

[responsive_vid]

DEAL: Buy a Galaxy S7 From Costco, Get a Free 32" Samsung HDTV

Tim — Thu, 05 May 2016 13:14:43 +0000

How's this for a deal? For a limited time, if you walk into your local Costco and activate a Galaxy S7 on Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile with a device payment plan, you will also walk out with a Samsung-made 32" HD television. Not too shabby, right? In addition to the television, Costco is also bundling in a $25 Costco Cash card, as well as a Member Exclusive 5,200mAh portable battery. Seriously, Costco is raining down goodies for those that purchase this really good smartphone. The only real downside to this deal is the carrier device payment plan. We are not exactly fans of that option, but if purchasing a $600+ smartphone at full retail just isn't in the cards for you, this is a solid option. Not only are you getting a new phone for a decently low monthly rate, but you are also getting a new TV for the bedroom, $25 to spend however you see fit inside of Costco, and a portable battery. That's pretty good. This promotion is limited to in-store shoppers, so gather your Costco card, prepare for yummy churros, and take advantage of it.

Via: Costco

T-Mobile Reportedly Content With Offering Unlimited Data Plan

Tim — Thu, 05 May 2016 10:55:02 +0000

Back in November of 2015, T-Mobile raised the price of its unlimited data plan, alongside the announcements of UnCarrier X. With a price increase of $15, bringing the monthly total to $90 for unlimited data, talk and text, T-Mobile also threw in a larger bucket of data for those who want to tether. According to analysts from Jefferies, a financial analyst firm, T-Mobile management is happy with where the company sits currently, and does not view itself as a "price discounter." With the introduction of Binge On and Music Freedom, T-Mobile has apparently not seen much strain on its network, even from those with an active unlimited plan. Binge On is the feature that allows customers to stream video from select services on the T-Mobile network without incurring any data charges. While T-Mobile can still be one of the only major carriers in the US to actively promote an unlimited plan, Binge On is automatically turned on once a line is activated. Only manually turning the feature off will deactivate it. Essentially, T-Mobile is offering an unlimited plan and charging you $90 a month for it, but customers aren't exactly taking complete advantage of it. As stated by T-Mobile's COO, Michael Sievert, "We're really proud to be able to offer unlimited. We've got the network that has the capacity and we don't have any plans to change the fact that we offer unlimited." Continuing, Sievert says, "Keep in mind that offering unlimited has become much more network efficient since the launch of Binge On because the vast majority of our unlimited customers keep their Binge On control activated for a number of reasons, including the speed and reliability of the rest of their data." For T-Mobile, all of this adds up to delivering these unlimited data plans with much better network efficiency. According to T-Mobile's CTO, Neville Ray, Binge On has reduced overall network traffic by 10 percent. For customers with unlimited on T-Mobile, be sure you check your monthly bill to see just how much data you are using. If you really don't need unlimited, then you shouldn't be paying for it. Binge On and Music Freedom are available to all T-Mobile customers, so if a bulk of your usage comes from Netflix and YouTube, you might as well be paying less each month.

Via: Fierce Wireless

Samsung Confirms Wireless Gear IconX Buds, Gear Fit 2 on S Health Site

Kellen — Thu, 05 May 2016 09:18:08 +0000

Last week, we saw the first photos of two new Samsung wearables dubbed Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX. Neither has been announced, but Samsung did us a favor and confirmed each device by listing them as available supported accessories for their S Health app. The S Health website that outed each doesn't list any details for either device, but we do get official press images. As you can see from the image up top of the Gear IconX, these are indeed wireless earbuds that should make haters of standard Bluetooth bud wires incredibly happy. I, for one, cannot wait to give these a shot during workouts. And the Gear Fit 2, assuming it is anything like the original Gear Fit, should be an improved fitness band/tracker. The image below, along with the listing on the S Health site, show a device that seems to have grown in width and presence on the wrist. That probably means we'll get a bigger, better display and GPS unit inside. While that's all good, here's to hoping Samsung improves the overall experience over the first Fit, which was not exactly a device we would ever recommend.

Anyone interested in either device?

Via: Samsung | Mobile Bulgaria

Rockstar Games Hosting Sale on Many Titles Via Google Play

Tim — Thu, 05 May 2016 09:07:22 +0000

For a limited time, you can pick up six different games from Rockstar on Google Play, all marked down from their original pricing. If you are a big Grand Theft Auto fan, Rockstar has all of the GTA titles marked down, including Vice City for $3, San Andreas for $4, and GTA III for $3. If GTA isn't your thing, Max Payne is also on sale for $2. All of these titles have been optimized to work on touchscreen devices, and having played most of them myself, I can vouch for their awesomeness. Vice City looks and sounds incredible, while CJ rolling around in a low-rider through the streets of Los Santos never gets old. Take a look at the complete list of sales below. Games on Sale

Have at 'em!

HTC 10 Now Available at Verizon

Tim — Thu, 05 May 2016 08:37:18 +0000

Starting right now, anyone can walk into a Verizon store or head online and purchase the HTC 10. No more pre-orders. Announced on April 12, with pre-orders kicked off on the same day via the HTC online store, folks who pre-ordered through Verizon had to wait until April 29, and shipments followed earlier this week. As listed on Verizon's website, the HTC 10 will cost you $0 down (for qualified buyers), followed by 24 months of $22.83 device payments. For customers "working on your credit," you will owe an estimated $220 down, plus about $14/month for 24 months of device payments. Current customers also have a 2-year contract option where the phone would cost $199. Right now, Verizon and HTC are offering $100 off of the phone, bringing its full retail price to $548. Once this promotion ends on May 9, it goes up to $648. Note, if you purchase the phone on HTC's website, the price is listed at $699. If you have not already, check out our HTC 10 review here. Note: Edited for pricing clarification. Verizon Link

Netflix Now Offers Cellular Data Controls for Quality

Kellen — Thu, 05 May 2016 08:14:45 +0000

After admitting that it had been purposely throttling the hell out of video streams to AT&T and Verizon customers without their knowledge as a way to save them from themselves and the overpriced, data lame plans they had been forced into in recent years, Netflix is now ready to let those customers control their own fate. Through simultaneous blog posts and app updates released this morning, Netflix customers across the globe can control cellular data usage on a number of levels. Out of the box, Netflix is set to an "Automatic" setting, which sets the quality of Netflix streams to usage of about 1GB of data per 3 hours streamed (600kb/s). Netflix says that this setting "balances good video quality with lower data usage" while helping you avoid crushing the monthly data bucket that greedy US carriers give you. If you have a large data bucket and aren't worried about hitting your cap, you can also choose from Low, Medium, High, and Unlimited settings. At Low, you will use about 1GB per 4 hours. At Medium, you are looking at about 1GB per 2 hours. At High, the quality is high enough to run you through 1GB in 1 hour. And at Unlimited, Netflix is only going to warn you that an unlimited data plan is probably required here. Keep in mind that you can also restrict the app to an Off setting that only lets you watch Netflix on WiFi. To tweak all of this, head into the Netflix app, swipe out the side menu, jump into App Settings, and then look for the "Cellular Data Usage" section. The app update is rolling out now, but if you aren't seeing it, feel free to grab the .apk below for sideloading. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

Via: Netflix

Question of the Day: Do You Own a Fitness Band, Tracker, or Wearable?

Kellen — Thu, 05 May 2016 07:27:36 +0000

Yesterday, Fitbit reported earnings that beat analysts expectations while announcing that the wearable company sold close to 5 million devices. Sure, their stock is getting hammered today because their outlook isn't great, but with those kinds of sales figures, it's clear that people are still very much interested in tracking fitness, steps, running, sleep, etc. So, because we haven't ever asked this question, it's time to ask if any of you own or plan to own a fitness tracker of some kind. As long-time readers will know, I have worn one for years, mostly because I have this odd idea in the back of my mind that the data will some day come in handy. I don't necessarily wear one because I think it's going to motivate me to workout. No, I am certainly aware of what it takes to get my blogger ass in shape. But I like seeing the numbers and the sleep tracking, and am hopeful that it'll all give some insight into my later-in-life health. Fitness bands are also the best alarms ever. What about you, though? Are you wearing a fitness band or tracker of some sort? If so, which one? Also if so, why? Are you doing it for motivation to get in shape? Do you just like seeing the numbers in a fancy fitness tracking app? Let us know!

Swipe for Facebook App Returns After Facebook-Imposed Restriction

Tim — Wed, 04 May 2016 14:56:16 +0000

After temporarily removing his app from Google Play, the developer behind a 3rd-party Facebook app, called Swipe for Facebook, recently shared an experience he had with Facebook and the reason for the removal. Apparently, Facebook was not too happy with the app's icon (pictured here), as well as the usage of the word "Facebook" in the app's name, but failed to mention these specifics when it sent a startling email to the developer. The email indicated that unless certain "violations" were corrected, the app would be marked as restricted. Restricted means users of the app would be unable to access the Facebook servers to sign in. However, Facebook did not clarify which violations the developer had made, and according to the developer, Facebook did not respond to his initial reply regarding the violations until two days afterwards. By this time, it was already too late. Before the developer knew what exactly was in violation, Facebook restricted the app. With that being done, anyone who downloaded the app from Google Play (free or paid version), would be unable to access Facebook. Given this is a Facebook app, that's a major bump in the road. In order to stop any potential bleeding and negative reviews, the developer had to pull the app from Google Play until the issue was resolved. Thankfully for fans of this developer, he seems to know a few things about Facebook workarounds, and was able to republish the application sans the Facebook SDK. With the update available, users are again able to log into Facebook and use the app as they normally would. With the developer going through what seems to be a massive amount of trouble to make his app compliant with Facebook's developer terms, Facebook finally replied to the developer. As it turns out, Facebook had an issue with the app's icon, name, and app description. According to Facebook, the "for Facebook" infringes on their IP. In order to resolve all issues, the developer ultimately had to remove Swipe for Facebook from his Facebook Developer Console, meaning any platform policies from the Developer Platform no longer apply. Long story short, crisis averted. Being a user of Swipe for Facebook, it is really too bad from our perspective that developers are sometimes forced to go to such great lengths to offer their creations. Yes, developers must follow the rules, but saying an app is, "for Facebook" in the name does not seem too infringing to me. In my opinion, the Swipe for Facebook app offers a much cleaner, faster Facebook experience than the official Facebook app has ever done. Maybe this is something Facebook takes offense to. Swipe for Facebook offers themes, better navigation, as well as a heavy dose of updates to include useful features. Most importantly, Swipe for Facebook is much more snappy than the official Facebook app, making it a win-win for my personal FB needs. If you are one of the few that is not completely sick of Facebook, I recommend you check it out on Google Play and show the developer some love. After sharing his horror story on reddit for all to see, I think he deserves a bit. Play Links: Free | Paid ($2.85)

Via: reddit

HTC Says That HTC 10 Pre-Orders are Now Shipping - has Yours?

Kellen — Wed, 04 May 2016 14:03:24 +0000

According to HTC's US Twitter account, pre-orders for the HTC 10 have begun to ship in the order that they were received on HTC's site. In other words, this is the unlocked HTC 10 sold through htc.com, not the pre-ordered Verizon model, which may have begun to ship as well within the past 24 hours. The unit we ordered certainly has not shipped yet. Has yours? On a related note, our HTC 10 review is now complete in case you were still trying to decide if you should buy the HTC 10. If your pre-order has shipped, you should probably check out the first 10 things you should do and this tips and tricks video. https://twitter.com/HTCUSA/status/727943379523407872

Google Voice Just Received an Update!

Kellen — Wed, 04 May 2016 12:49:14 +0000

But it seems to be nothing other than bug fixes. The icon hasn't changed nor has the UI. It's still ugly and retro and in need of some love. It is v0.4.7.10, though, which is a bump up from 0.4.7.7. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

Dumb Article Says No One Cares About Android Updates

Kellen — Wed, 04 May 2016 11:33:40 +0000

Each month, Google updates the Android distribution numbers to show developers which versions of Android are the most popular and help them prioritize compatibility of their apps. But because media exists and there are clicks to be had, each month's update is used and spun for a headline, like in this dumb article written for ZDNet, which suggests that no one on this Earth cares about Android updates because there is slow adoption of the newest version. In this case, Marshmallow is the target because it sits on just 7.5% of Android devices some six months after release. The dumb article, which is dumb, compares that to the adoption of iOS 9 and its 84% install mark. Funny, but that comparison only makes sense seven years later to someone with a lack of understanding of the subject or because they like to write dumb articles. In this case, I think we can check both boxes. So why is it, according to ZDNet, that no one cares about Android updates? Well, here is the list from the article.

Android users don't care about updates (even security updates)
The hardware makers only care about selling new phones
The carriers only care about contracts
Developers only want to sell apps
Google only seems to care about new device activations

OK, so the first item isn't exactly a "why," but more of a broad, unsubstantiated statement. The theory here is that you and I don't care about new versions of Android or updates (including those of the security type) because in order to get them, we have to buy a new phone or own a Nexus. That, of course, is false. First, you and I do care about security updates, as do carriers, manufacturers, and Google. All of us combined, after a handful of security scares that made headlines for weeks, have been able to help to push out monthly security patches from Google to OEMs and carriers, on to us. Not everyone is on board, but some of the worst players on this update team - Samsung and Verizon - have managed to keep up quite well with monthly schedules. You see, security is important to many, but it wouldn't have been if users, like you and I, didn't tell all those involved that is. And in the end, security is important to everyone anyway, whether they are vocal about it or not. Even if a user doesn't know that there are monthly security patches, you better believe that they are expecting to be kept safe. Do you ask car manufacturers if they have the most up-to-date air bags in their new cars? Probably not, you just assume so. As for the idea that you need to buy new phones to get new versions of Android, well, feel free to talk to HTC, LG, and many Motorola phone owners about that. In fact, Samsung even manages to update most of its flagship phones within six months. Since most of you buy a phone that lasts for two years, I'm not exactly sure why you would need to buy a new phone just to get an update. Outside of that argument fitting the agenda of this dumb article, which is dumb, simple math sure seems to calculate that into you getting multiple updates to new Android versions in the time you own your current phone. Hmmm. Are they as timely as we all want them to be? Obviously not. We would all rather have them yesterday, but that's also how Android works, remember? This isn't a top-to-bottom setup like Apple has, where they control the software and hardware and also don't have any outside parties to involve. Android is open source and given to OEMs to customize to their liking. There are levels to this. There are different parties involved with different ideas on what an Android phone is and should be, which includes the amount of software support. There are billions of devices in the wild from small to large manufacturers. Android isn't iOS and it was never supposed to be, even if the media continues after all this time to try and compare the two. Back to that list, though. So hardware makers apparently only care about selling new phones instead of updating the software. Shocker...hardware company who makes money off of hardware, wants to make more money off of hardware. On the flip side, tell that thought to Apple because they are a hardware manufacturer who really, really, really cares about selling new phones, yet they also provide updates for phones that are years and years old. You see, companies update phones, often times up to two years if they are a flagship, because it keeps customers happy. What do happy customers do? They buy new phones in around two years from the same companies when it's time to buy a new phone! Dear, ZDNet, Google "customer retention strategy." Bullet three references carriers only caring about getting you into new contracts and thus the reason for software updates to not carry any importance in their eyes. Honestly, I see absolutely zero connection between the two, but there is also a mention in the article about new versions of Android making it difficult for carriers to load up their own bloatware on phones. That's a load of garbage because it's assuming that it's difficult for the My Verizon or AT&T Navigator app to receive an update to work with the next version of Android. And it's not. Not only that, but this argument is a hilarious counter to a previously introduced ZDNet argument that OEMs want to sell phones and carriers only care about contracts. In other words, the new phones that manufacturers want to sell come with new Android and carriers are OK figuring out how to get their bloatware updated and working there, but are not interested in then doing the same, for their just barely, slightly older line-up of phones, which they likely still sell. Are we all about selling and contracts or not? This has a lot to do with bullet four, though, which suggests that developers hate new versions of Android because they have to then support those new versions in their apps, which may be creating more "fragmentation." Have we not heard of Google Play Services? Here, because doing research is difficult, is a link to it. As you can see there, the entire point is that Google Play Services "makes it faster for your users to receive updates and easier for you to integrate the newest that Google has to offer." But that's even outside of the fact that the maturity of Android has made continued support easier because the giant platform leaps just don't happen anymore. In the past, as Android was becoming a polished mobile operating system, the jumps from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich did indeed leave many in the past with no path to upgrade or extra work for developers. But those days are long gone. And look, if developers "only want to sell apps," don't you think they won't mind putting in the work to add new features, let alone making sure their apps are supported? Or are we degrading Android app developers now to incompetent, lazy sloths who thought they could make an app, sell millions of it, and then leave it for dead? I mean, come on. I reached out to ~~two~~ three developers this morning who all told me the same thing, which was that getting an app to work on the next version of Android takes almost zero work. They then ~~both~~ all said that the only work involves making sure your app looks great and incorporates new features, if there are any. And why would they do that? Oh, you know, because like ZDNet suggests, they might want to sell an app or two. Finally, that last bullet about Google only caring about new activations is frankly, quite short-sighted, lazy, and unfair. Does Google care about having billions upon billions of Android devices in the wild to try and turn those into cash? Of course. But saying that Google only cares about activations ignores everything I just laid out, including the difference in approach to Android vs. iOS, monthly security patches, and the importance of Google Play Services to help developers stay up-to-date. But let's not forget that Google also introduced Android previews of new versions in recent years to get new versions in the hands of developers and manufacturers as early as possible. How is that Google not caring? But guys, no one gives a sh*t.

Google I/O App Updated for 2016, Start Planning Your Sessions

Tim — Wed, 04 May 2016 10:56:46 +0000

The official Google I/O application has been updated for the 2016 conference, allowing all attendees to begin planning their sessions while mobile. The Google I/O 2016 schedule has been available for a couple of weeks now, but with the app receiving the update, it's a sign we are inching even closer to seeing what Google has been cooking down in Mountain View. Not only can you see an overview of all things taking place during Google I/O, but a map will also detail how Google plans on using the Shoreline Amphitheater for all of these sessions. As you will see, Google has quite the space to utilize, and given this is Google we are talking about, we are sure the event will be well laid out. If you plan on attending I/O, or just want to feel like you are a part of the action, check it out. Play Link

Play Movies Now Supports Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound on Android TV

Tim — Wed, 04 May 2016 10:39:04 +0000

Google Play announced via its Twitter account this morning that Play Movies and TV now supports Dolby Digital Plus surround sound on Android TV and Roku devices. To put it very simply, any movie you rent or purchase from Google Play should now offer a better audio experience, something which is great for those of you who use a nice home theater setup in your crib. From what Google indicates, users won't need to do anything and the change is automatic. As for which devices will support this upgrade, it would seem that any Android TV device, whether it is built into your TV or via a set-top box, will support Dolby Digital Plus. This includes the SHIELD Android TV and Nexus Player. Go rent Star Wars and enjoy that sound.

Play Movies now support @Dolby Digital Plus surround sound on Android TV & Roku!
— Google Play (@GooglePlay) May 4, 2016

DEAL: Buy a Nextbit Robin for $299 ($100 Off) Through Amazon

Tim — Wed, 04 May 2016 09:14:41 +0000

For a limited time, you can pick up a Robin smartphone from Amazon for $100 off its usual price of $399. This brings the sale price to just $299. For a refresh, the Robin features 5.2" 1080p display, Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 13MP rear-facing camera, fingerprint reader embedded in the power button, front-facing speakers, USB Type-C, LTE connectivity on AT&T and T-Mobile, 32GB of onboard storage (100GB of online storage), and runs the Nextbit OS over Android 6.0.1. After the latest update for Robin, the performance has seen a bit of a boost, and the camera software has also been upgraded. Most likely, Nextbit will continue to offer updates to owners going into the future. If the Robin's design has caught your eye, check it out. Amazon Link

Timely Little Google Play Pop-Up Tells Users That "The Force Awakens" is Available for Rent

Kellen — Wed, 04 May 2016 08:34:55 +0000

Anyone else seeing these cute little pop-ups inside Google Play with a notice that "The Force Awakens" is available for rent? Of course, the timing makes sense since today is May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, but Google could do this for other movies, TV shows, or apps, presumably. At least one of our readers is seeing them, but neither of our Google Play stores are showing the fun. We are all running v6.4.12.C. Anyone else?

Samsung Pay Adds Support for 39 Additional Banks

Tim — Wed, 04 May 2016 08:32:57 +0000

Samsung Pay announced the support of 39 additional banks via the application this week, continuing to bring the mobile payments solution to more Galaxy device owners in the US. For a few of the bigger names included, there is CHROME Credit Union, Corning Credit Union, Los Angeles Federal, Vantage Credit Union, and many more. As an important note, even with these banks and Samsung announcing support for Samsung Pay, it may take a day or two for you to be able to activate an account. If you continue to get errors when attempting to sign up, just be patient. Here's the entire new list of supported banks. Newly Supported Institutions

Achieva
Alcoa Tenn Federal Credit Union
American Heritage Federal Credit Union
Bangor Savings Bank
Bridgewater Savings
CSE Federal Credit Union
Christian Community Credit Union
Chrome Federal Credit Union
Community First Credit Union
Cornerstone National Bank
Corning Credit Union
Desert Schools Federal Credit Union
Financial Partners Credit Union
1st Financial Federal Credit Union
First South Financial
General Electric Credit Union
Gorham Savings Bank
Great Lakes Credit Union
Hastings City Bank
Haven Savings Bank
Heritage Family Credit Union
INOVA Federal Credit Union
Keesler Federal Credit Union
Kern Federal Credit Union
Los Angeles Federal Credit Union
Montgomery County EFCU
Mutual Security Credit Union
Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
Pacific Marine Credit Union
Point Loma Credit Union
Point West Credit Union
PrimeTrust Financial Federal Credit Union
Provident Credit Union
SEFCU
St. Landry Bank & Trust Company
Summit Community Bank
Truity Credit Union
University Federal Credit Union
Vantage Credit Union

AppSales Update to 5.0 Brings New Design, New Features for Discovering Deals

Kellen — Tue, 03 May 2016 15:43:24 +0000

AppSales, an app we use quite often to share with you the best deals on apps and games, received a big update to version 5.0 this week. Other than the fresh Material Design coat of paint, the app welcomes in new sections and better deal discovery, which ultimately is the point of AppSales. According to the changelog sent over to us by the developer, the new AppSales does indeed grab a "modern" Material Design makeover. That means sh*tloads of white space (kidding! sort of) and other fun. As far as new features go, there is a new "Latest Discount" section (which should be self explanatory), extended price history on apps (premium users only), search functionality, improved sale detection, support for regional sales, and a change from Google+ sign-in to just Google. The update is live now, so head on over to Google Play to grab it. Play Link

Poll: Which Smartphone Feature Can You Not Live Without?

Tim — Tue, 03 May 2016 15:01:48 +0000

Many awesome features are being built into smartphones these days, and when you find a smartphone with all of them, you have hit the jackpot. At this time, no phone features exactly every feature under the sun, but we are getting close. For example, Samsung has been able to create IP68 rated phones that don't sacrifice design, but lack USB Type-C and decent speakers. The HTC 10 features great external speakers and USB Type-C, but lacks any real water protection. The point is, of all of the special features that are being incorporated into smartphones, which one can you not live without? For me, I might have to go with either the fingerprint reader or water resistance. Both are pretty great, but I suppose if I was splitting hairs, I would go with the fingerprint reader. There is just too much convenience there. Vote, then share your opinion in the comments section.

[poll id="403"]

DEAL: Moto X Pure Edition Starting at $299

Tim — Tue, 03 May 2016 13:47:08 +0000

Those in need of a new phone can pick up a Moto X Pure Edition from Motorola, starting at just $299. That's a good drop from its original launch price of $399. For the $299 price, you can customize your very own smartphone on Moto Maker, with plenty of back color options to choose from, as well as accent colors. If colored soft-touch plastic is not your style, you can opt to spend an extra $25 for a real-wood or leather back. According to Moto Maker, Motorola still has plenty of options to choose from, including tan, black, and red leather. For wood, Moto has bamboo, walnut, ebony, and charcoal ash. All of the original options. The price for a fully decked out Moto X Pure Edition, with wood (or leather) and the max amount of storage (64GB) is $425. That's pretty solid. Do note, the Moto X Pure Edition is an unlocked phone with all bands needed to work on pretty much all major US carriers. That includes, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Have at it. Moto Link

Android Distribution Updated for May 2016 - Marshmallow Climbs to 7.5%

Kellen — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:16:49 +0000

Google updated the Android distribution numbers today for the month of May, showing Marshmallow continuing its steady climb, while the rest of the Android versions in the wild stay mostly the same. As of May 2, Android 6.0 Marshmallow sits on 7.5% of devices, which is up from 4.6% in April. On a non-increasing front, Lollipop dropped to 35.6% (from 35.8%), KitKat to 32.5% (from 33.4%), Jelly Bean to 20.1% (from 22.3%), Ice Cream Sandwich to 2.0% (from 2.2%), and Gingerbread to 2.2% (from 2.6%). Froyo remained at 0.1%. You can see last month's numbers here.

Via: Android Developers

5 Reasons the LG G5 is Worth Buying

Kellen — Tue, 03 May 2016 11:23:33 +0000

The LG G5, even as a flagship device that might not make our top 3 smartphones of moment, is still a very good phone for 2016. It's not the best, no, but it does have some things going for it that make it a compelling option. In our G5 review, we talked about it all. We talked about the camera setup, fingerprint reader, battery life, swappable battery situation, modules (or lack thereof), design, and performance. We talked about why the G5, overall, is a solid phone and pointed out areas that need improving. But if you want the straight-to-the-point reasons why this may still be a phone to consider, we have that for you below. These are 5 reasons the LG G5 is still worth buying.

1. The wide-angle camera is pretty fun.

Play with the LG G5's wide angle camera for 5 minutes and tell me you don't want one in your next phone. It's pretty fun! Even just flipping between the standard 16MP shooter and 8MP wide-angle camera is a blast, because you can see how much more of a scene you can capture. In the camera section of our review, we tried to show you just that, so be sure to swing over there for a look. Some may call a 135-degree camera in a smartphone a gimmick, but it's not. This camera is capable of capturing an entire view that your eyes can barely take in. It gives you an extra tool as a mobile photog that few others have. It gives you some artistic freedom even if you aren't an artist. And it may even let you snap the photo that all of your friends share, the photo the grabbed it all and then some. Honestly, I hope other manufacturers start considering a second shooter that can capture the scene like LG's G5.

2. Hey, removable batteries are convenient.

I have never been a big, "I can't live without a removable battery!" guy, but having the option is incredibly convenient. With the G5, you get that convenience in one of the last phones to include swappable batteries. And actually, if you are the type that would say what I just said above, you can just stop reading now and go buy the G5. You don't have another choice in phones. I found, during my review period, that I never had to plug the G5 into an outlet and enjoyed every damn second of it. Because I always had a spare battery charged and ready, whenever the battery on my G5 did get anywhere near find-an-outlet levels, I just swapped for a fresh one. Sure, I had to power off the phone to do so, but within a few seconds I was back up and running and free from cables and plugs and wasting time. Removable batteries may not be a feature I list as one that I can't live without, but I get it, I get why some are still praising the heck out of LG for maintaining the idea.

3. There are few smoother performing phones than this one.

When HTC announced the HTC 10, they bragged about the touch latency and performance of the phone, calling it the fastest version of Android. I hate to break it to them, but that title may still be with LG and the G5. LG first shocked me in the performance department with the V10 and managed to up that here. I'm not sure I can even express how buttery smooth the G5 is. And that's kind of surprising, since LG blasts one of the most notoriously gross skins atop Android. Somehow, though, LG has managed to fine-tune this thing so well that after jumping back to the Galaxy S7 post-G5 review, I started to miss the butter. The G5 is one of those phones that when your finger is on the screen and you are swiping, it also seems to swipe faster than you can keep up with. It's sensitive like an iPhone. Maybe even more sensitive. You touch and - Boom! - things open. It games with the best of them, thanks to the Snapdragon 820. The battery life is good enough. Apps open instantly. The app switcher does too. Transitions between this all shows no signs of jank. And even the fingerprint reader unlocks swiftly without the press of a button. Yep, this as good as it gets in the performance department, folks.

4. SD card support is here.

LG has long-been a supporter of the microSD card and nothing changes here with the G5. LG says that the phone supports up to 2TB of space, so you should really consider taking advantage, especially since the phone only comes with 32GB out of the box. 32GB, is of course, not even what you get to use out of the box because all of the system apps and skin take up a good chunk. Just buy this 128GB card and never worry about storage again. LG isn't the only one doing SD cards, but this is still a solid selling point. Companies like Google and Apple still hate the SD card.

5. There may be a future filled with modules. Maybe.

This last reason is a bit of a tricky one. You see, LG is pushing the G5 as one of the first modular phones. That's cool! Right? Yeah, in a futuristic, this-may-be-super-cool one day, type of way. The G5, unfortunately, isn't quite the modular wonder we want, but if anything, it could help set us up for a future that's filled with modularity. For now, the G5 (depending on your country) has two modules that can either aid in photography (a camera grip) or take your audio experience to the next level (a DAC). Those two choices don't strike me as mass-market or mass-appeal options and may not be for any of you. So the thought here is that there is a chance that more modules will arrive down the road to make your G5 even more awesome. If they don't, well, hopefully that means the G6 will get a flood of them. See, what I mean about this being a tricky one?

Considering another phone? Feel free to take a look back at 5 reasons to buy other phones, like the Galaxy S7, Nexus 6P, or LG V10 in previous installments of this ongoing series.

Open Source PieMessage Brings iMessage to Android, Thanks to Mac Middleman

Tim — Tue, 03 May 2016 11:18:02 +0000

An open source project called PieMessage has hit GitHub, with the creator (Eric, a long-time DL reader) looking for help from other developers to get this app finished and published. PieMessage looks to bridge the gap between Android and Apple's iMessage, which is actually quite a large gap. As it stands today, many Android folk attempting to send texts to iMessage users encounter many issues, and the same goes for those who leave iOS and switch over to Android. The transition from one OS to the other is quite funky, and if you look around, there are countless forum posts and support tickets opened up with people trying to "fix" iMessage. This is where PieMessage comes in. Using a Mac middleman that acts as a server, PieMessage can seamlessly send and receive iMessage texts from iPhones. As you see in the video below, the developer has the proof of concept and basic app completed, but there are additional features/fixes he wants to build in before it sees the main stage. This is a call to developers, please help this man create the perfect iMessage app for Android. We all want it, badly. GitHub Link

[responsive_vid]

Cheers Eric!

Twitter Overhauls the Connect Tab, Shows Improved Recommendations

Tim — Tue, 03 May 2016 09:22:04 +0000

Starting this week, users of the standard Twitter app will be treated to an overhauled Connect tab, which is the tab used for finding new people to follow. Usually, Twitter recommends a few brands for you to follow, as well as people you might interact with on the service. According to Twitter, folks should begin to see better recommendations following an update to the app. Not only should the recommendations be a bit better, but profile text will also be accompanied with the standard name and profile picture, giving you a better understanding of why you are seeing these users as recommended. For example, if you follow a certain sports team, you might be recommended to follow that team's press core, giving you more insider info on that team. Twitter states that it will continue to deliver recommendations based on tweets you like, accounts you follow, popular accounts in your specific area, current events taking place in the world, and other variables. This updated tab is rolling out in an update for both Android and iOS. Play Link

Via: Twitter

T-Mobile LG G3 Receiving H63120b "Marshmallow" Update

Tim — Tue, 03 May 2016 08:35:41 +0000

The G3 from LG on T-Mobile is in the process of receiving an update, one which we ever so slightly thought might never come. Official as of this morning, T-Mobile is pushing out Marshmallow (software version H63120b) to the G3, which should make any remaining G3 owners quite happy. With Marshmallow, G3 owners will be introduced to Doze for better battery performance, Google's Now on Tap for quicker search, comprehensive app permissions, better control over notifications, and probably tons of bug squashing. According to T-Mobile, the G3 will also feature WiFi Calling improvements. This update began making the rounds late last week, but as of today, T-Mobile made it official. If you have yet to see it hit your G3, it's rolling out via OTA.

Via: T-Mobile

DEAL: Amazon Fire TV Drops to $85 Today ($15 Off)

Kellen — Tue, 03 May 2016 08:28:45 +0000

The Amazon Fire TV, a streaming media box that is also one of the few pieces of Amazon hardware worth owning, has been discounted today to $84.99, down from its usual $100 price. I say that this is one of the few, because the Fire TV offers great value for the price, while helping turn your TV into a smart one. With the Fire TV, you get not only the box that connects to your TV, but you also get Amazon's voice remote that now has access to Alexa. Yep, that's the same Alexa that powers the Amazon Echo and lets you ask for the weather or sports scores or shout out commands like, "Alexa, play Prince all day every day!" The Fire TV also supports 4K, thanks to a recent update, and still gives you access to your favorite media services like Netflix, ESPN, AMC, HBO Now, etc. You can play games on the Fire TV as well. Amazon Link

Wrestling Fans, The Rock Clock is Your New Alarm Clock App

Tim — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:01:04 +0000

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, known for his glorious past in wrestling and portrayal of the Tooth Fairy in a movie sharing the same name, now has an alarm clock app on Google Play. Called The Rock Clock, this basic alarm app asks you to provide a project -- or goal of some kind -- followed by a date at which you want to complete it. For example, I could set a goal to finish this post by next week, then set a time of 7am for the app to wake me up each morning. And that's it. Besides just waking you up in the morning, The Rock Clock offers new alarm tones for you to wake up to, including a few even sung by The Rock himself. Additionally, if you want wake up at the same time as The Rock, you can set the Rock Time. Rock Time means your alarm will go off at the exact time The Rock has his alarm go off. And let me tell you, it's early. According to the app, he has his alarm currently set for 4:15am. Thanks, but no thanks. Not only can you wake up with Dwayne, but The Rock also sends out video messages to users of the app. These messages will likely be motivational in nature, maybe even featuring a few curse words here and there. That'd be badass. The app is completely free to download and there are zero in-app purchases. Give it a go if you can't get enough Rock in your life. Play Link

Cheers Rashad!

DEAL: Huawei Watch is $100-$150 Off at Most Retailers

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 15:07:34 +0000

The Huawei Watch, an Android Wear smartwatch that is about as good as it gets for the current crop, has been discounted by either $100 or $150 depending on the model. Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg are all selling the watch with heavy discounts. The base model, which has a stainless steel case and leather strap, has dropped from $350 to $250 for a limited time. The same goes for the black stainless steel, stainless steel with mesh bracelet, and the all stainless with classic steel bracelet. Those have all been discounted by a solid $100. But, if you want some gold in your life, Huawei is shaving off $150 for the all gold with metal bracelet and the gold model with leather bracelet. Be sure to read our Huawei Watch review if you have not already. Huawei Watch Links: Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg

eBay Receives Update on Android, Includes Navigation and Design Changes

Tim — Mon, 02 May 2016 13:47:25 +0000

In September of 2015, eBay launched a redesigned app for Android, and for the most part, it seems to be fairing pretty well with Android users. However, more can always be done, so eBay is releasing yet another big update for Android, as well as iOS, bringing more of a native feel for the application. According to eBay, the update is soaked in Material Design, offering changes to navigation, utility, and design. As stated by eBay, this update will, "restore some of the favorite features from previous apps, as requested by users over the past months." Listed on the changelog, the biggest changes will be optimization across different devices for the same eBay experience regardless of whether you are on a tablet or smartphone, a better managing of items you are selling, and a beefed up personalization effort. What's New

Navigation: With this update, users will be able to easily navigate throughout the app with the simplified horizontal navigation bar on iOS and navigation drawer on Android.
Users will see more of their recent Search history.
Utility Optimization across mobile and tablet screens for a seamless experience across devices.
Selling remains a one-stop-shop destination. We will continue to innovate in this area, improving how users can start new listings, complete drafts, and easily manage all their selling activity on active, sold and unsold items.
Related Items leverage eBay’s structured data, allowing users to discover similar items closely related to what they’re currently viewing.
Personalization draws on data and insights to continue to enhance the user experience; users will see relevant and tailored items, specifically based on their shopping behavior.
Design and Speed: A faster experience making it easier for users to find what you want. With the move to Material Design, Android users can look forward to a more intuitive experience.

This update is rolling out now to Google Play for Android, as well as the Apps Store for iOS devices. Play Link

Via: eBay

Beme, the Video Sharing App From Casey Neistat, is Now on Android

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 12:56:22 +0000

Casey Neistat, the popular YouTuber who does daily vlog-like entries of the highest quality that are more often than not very entertaining to watch, released his Beme app today on Android for the first time. Initially launching as an iOS exclusive in beta, the app has received a bundle of improvements today while arriving on the good side of mobile. What is Beme? As the title mentions, Beme is another social video sharing service. Beme differs from others in that it wants you to capture real, in-the-moment type of shots that you don't have much control over. That sounds odd (the control part), but the point here is that you could potentially create some fun clips of your day or life by not worrying about filters and editing and framing. Instead, by just shooting whatever is on the other side of your camera before sharing without touching any of it up, you get that "realness." Make sense? To use Beme, you need to sign-up (obviously), but the video shooting part is probably something new to you. To start capturing, all you do is open the app and the hold your phone up to your chest and it begins recording. You don't have a viewfinder to see what you are shooting, since Beme is trying to just capture whatever you are looking at. To end recording, simply pull your phone away from your body. In reality, all you are doing is covering up the top sensors of your phone to get it to record, so the body pinning of your phone isn't necessarily necessary - a finger covering that area would work as well. Once done recording, the app automatically shares the clip to your friends and followers on Beme, to which they can then respond. You should be able to discover other feeds and find videos from all over the world, as well. But yeah, it's another video sharing app. It is free. Play Link

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Google Keyboard 5.0 Arrives With Lots of Awesomeness, Download It Now

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 12:32:44 +0000

Oooooooh, a big ol' Google Keyboard just showed up today as v5.0 and it is packed full of awesomeness. We're talking about keyboard height adjustments, borders around keys, one-handed mode, new gestures, and some new layouts when in the number and symbol layout, that includes a flip to a dial pad. To get to most of the new settings, you'll need to jump into the Google Keyboard app. From there, you will find options for borders on keys and one-handed modes under "Preferences." All of those details are pretty self-explanatory, right? Outside of those tweaks and normal gesture typing, Google also added in the ability to swipe from the delete key to the left to highlight anywhere from one word to entire sentences in a text box. To try this out, type out two or three words, press the delete key and then continue swiping over to the left and you should see as each word is highlighted one by one. To delete, just lift up.

The other gesture is much simpler and its a way to use the spacebar as a cursor adjustor. By sliding your finger across the spacebar, you can specifically place the cursor anywhere in a line of text or even in a word. If you have not yet figured out how to get into the one-handed keyboard, a long-press on the comma should do it. And finally, if you jump into the number and symbol screen, you will find both standard and keypad style layouts and quick emoji shortcuts where you would typically see predictions. To update to the new version, feel to grab it through Google Play. If you aren't seeing the update there, we have the .apk for you below as v5.0.18.121010836. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

Cheers Jonathan!

Verizon Lit Up Many New XLTE Markets This Week

Tim — Mon, 02 May 2016 11:39:34 +0000

Verizon announced the lighting up of new XLTE markets in the US this week, bringing its total XLTE offering to nearly 500 markets. Included this week are towns in Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, as well as many others. If you are a Verizon customer running on 4G LTE, then it's likely you might already be on XLTE. To put it simply, XLTE is deployed spectrum to help bolster the carrier's LTE offering in any given market. XLTE offers better speeds and up to double the bandwidth in high data traffic areas. Furthermore, many devices sold on Verizon's network already work with the XLTE deployment, so customers don't need to worry about receiving the benefit. For a look at the latest towns added this week, look below. New Markets

Alpena, MI
Ironwood, MI
Lewiston-Auburn, ME
McCook, NE
Oneonta, NY
Petoskey, MI
Pottsville-Frackville, PA
Roseburg, OR
Tupelo-Corinth, MS
Vicksburg, MS
Victoria, TX
Waterville/Augusta, ME
Wausau/Rhinelander, WI

Via: Verizon

Report: Galaxy Note 6 Will Feature USB Type-C

Tim — Mon, 02 May 2016 10:37:07 +0000

According to the latest exclusive from SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 6 from Samsung will in fact feature USB Type-C -- no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It was previously reported from the Wall Street Journal that the Galaxy S7 would feature a Type-C port, but as you can see, that did not happen. As for why Samsung is one of the last major OEMs to adopt Type-C, it is speculated that the company was not yet ready to toss away all of the Gear VR units it had created with microUSB connections due to a new port. Instead, Samsung would wait until its next big release to introduce not only USB Type-C for its phones, but for its virtual reality platform, too. At this time, it is still unknown if Samsung will adopt USB 3.1 or an older standard, but we do hope Samsung opts for 3.1. This move would then allow for Power Delivery 2.0 (faster battery charging), plus the ability to carry HDMI and Display Port video signals. Before we all start cheering, let me be clear. We have heard these types of reports before. We hear them, get excited, then something else happens. It's the way this industry works. For now, we will remain optimistic, but won't hold our breath. Additionally, do note that SamMobile still believes that the Galaxy Note 6 might come with an iris scanner. Now that is a feature to get hyped over.

Via: SamMobile

May's Android Security Update Kicks Off Today With Factory Images

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 10:27:04 +0000

Google just posted factory images for May's Android security update. Devices receiving the update so far include the Pixel C (MXC89F), Nexus 6P (MTC19T), Nexus 5X (MCT19T), Nexus 6 (MMB30G and MOB30I), Nexus Player (MOB30G), Nexus 9 WiFi and LTE (MOB30G), Nexus 5 (MOB30H), and Nexus 7 (2013) WiFi and LTE (MOB30J). You can grab each image at the link below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. Factory Image Link UPDATE: Notes from the May security bulletin are now live, should you want to know exactly what was patched.

Updates Coming to Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on T-Mobile Aim to Fix Power and Volume Bugs (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 10:16:28 +0000

An update out to the T-Mobile models of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge today that not only includes "various system improvements," but should fix power and volume key issues, assuming you were having them. Each update will arrive as software version UVU2APD7 and weigh it at roughly 164MB. To check to see if the updates are available to be pulled, head into Settings>About device>Download updates manually. UPDATE: The update is now live, a day later, and includes a FM Radio function.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

Huawei Watch Elegant ($449) and Jewel ($549) Available in the US

Tim — Mon, 02 May 2016 09:05:24 +0000

Huawei has two new Watch styles available this week in the US, the Jewel and the Elegant. These models were shown off during this year's CES, but were said to launch during Q1. While they are arriving just a tad late in the US, they are here now at multiple online retailers, in all of their shiny glory. According to the product listings, the Jewel and Elegant differ only in appearance from the first lineup of Huawei Watch models. They pack a Snapdragon 400, scratch-resistant two-layer Sapphire crystal, 1.4" AMOLED display, 316L cold-forged stainless steel body, 4GB of internal memory, heart rate monitor, and 300mAh battery. As for differences between the Elegant and Jewel, the Jewel -- being the $100 more expensive model -- features 68 Swarovski Zirconia encircling the face. That's a whole lot of bling bling. Again, there are multiple places to purchase these two variants. If you are interested in picking one of these up, follow one of the links below. Purchase Links: Best Buy | Newegg | B&H Photo

DEAL: Anker's SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker is Just $29.99 Today at Amazon ($50 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 08:57:24 +0000

We don't typically write up Bluetooth speaker deals because everyone seems to make Bluetooth speakers these days, many of which are good enough to pick up and toss around the yard or house on weekends for mobile tunes. But today, Amazon is running a daily deal on the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth speaker, a speaker that is often thought of as one of the best for the price. Today, for $29.99 ($50 off), the SoundCore Bluetooth speaker can be yours in one of three colors: black, blue, or red. This speaker carries 24-hour battery life, an 18-month warranty, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and "superior sound quality" with "less than 1% total harmonic distortion." It currently holds a 4.6 rating on Amazon with well over 700 reviews. Amazon Link

Motorola Begins Teasing New Phone With Better Camera, Battery, Security, Performance

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 07:38:05 +0000

A new Motorola phone is "coming soon," according to Motorola India's Twitter account. Within the past week, this specific account began teasing an upcoming phone that should have improved battery life, security/privacy, performance, and a "better" camera. We are mostly assuming that this is a new Moto G, likely the 4th gen model, after the phone supposedly leaked within recent weeks. News outlets out of India are also suggesting that Motorola has an event planned for May 17 in New Delhi to announce a new phone. Through a series of tweets, the Motorola account is taking a playful approach to missing persons, who have apparently gone missing because their phones all lack the features I mentioned above. Like this girl below, she went missing after clicking on a blurry groupfie. Yes, Motorola just said "groupfie." https://twitter.com/Moto_IND/status/725636670670917632 Or in this instance, we have what appears to be a 30 year old man who is "22" and whose father still snoops on his phone and found all of the porn he has consumed recently. This new phone will protect all of his dirty little secrets, but probably won't get him out of his parent's house until he's 40. https://twitter.com/Moto_IND/status/726039664868610048 And this guy was going to propose to his girlfriend via text message...wow. https://twitter.com/Moto_IND/status/726357958603345922 We aren't sure why Motorola is setting this all up for a launch of out India instead of throughout the rest of the world, but as we learn more, we will do our best to share it.

LG Just Created a Button-Less Fingerprint Sensor That Hides Under a Display

Kellen — Mon, 02 May 2016 07:14:43 +0000

To talk about LG's latest innovation, we should turn to Apple's brodog-in-Chief, Phil Schiller, to a time when he dropped the quote, "Can't innovate anymore, my ass." Schiller was referencing the company's trashcan-shaped Mac Pro computer, but we are using it in reference to LG's new fingerprint sensor that lives underneath a phone's display and can be read without the need for a dedicated button. Yes, your mind is wandering into the proper place - LG's new fingerprint reader will hide just below the glass on your next phone's display, potentially leading to even cleaner, buttonless smartphone designs. LG announced the new fingerprint reader last night, stating that this new sensor "gives the freedom of the smartphone design and even enhances the user-friendly function." What they are saying is that this isn't the typical "button type" design, which should allow manufacturers to focus on additional features, like water resistance and a sleeker design. LG also said that the fingerprint recognition area "can be indicated by various patterns up to design of the complete product." In order to implement this new under-glass fingerprint sensor, LG says they are creating a furrow of 0.3mm thick under the bottom portion of a phone's glass panel before using a proprietary adhesive to get it to stick. You can see a sample of it above, where we have a display panel and a fingerprint sensor that can't be seen, outside of the connector for it, which would be embedded within a phone anyway. LG says that this new fingerprint sensor has a 0.002% false acceptance rate (FAR), the rate at which it incorrectly recognizes someone else's biometric information "as that of the user." The press release for this new fingerprint sensor does not mention when we could see this in a phone, but LG typically announces new products like this when they are ready to manufacture them. Pretty cool, right?

Via: LG

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: April 29, 2016

Tim — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:38:07 +0000

Another week in the books here at DL. This week was filled with a lot of good news, highlighted by Rick Osterloh's joining of Google to oversee the Nexus program. Also filed under the "good" section of this week, Fenix (the Twitter client) did not vanish forever due to running out of tokens, and instead, Twitter appears to be working better with developers to keep issues such as this from happening. Also happening, we posted up a guide to buying your first unlocked smartphone, gave you five good reasons to purchase a HTC 10, provided an overview of Google's new MODE Android Wear watch bands, talked about possible HTC Nexus device, and much more. Don't miss this week's highlights.

DL Q&A Sessions: Volume 39 Answers
Guide: Buying an unlocked smartphone.
Quick Look: Google Live Case for the Nexus 6P.
Here's 5 reasons the HTC 10 is worth buying.
Rick Osterloh joins Google to oversee Nexus program.
Android Wear: Google intros MODE watch bands for snappier replacing.
Fenix vanished, then reappeared.
DROID: If you care about updates, stay away from the DROID brand.
Nexus: Reported HTC Nexus details hit the web.
Customers file large against Motorola over warranty servicing.
HTC 10: HTC 10 pre-orders now up through Verizon.
Nexus 9 no longer for sale on Google Store.
Netflix will soon offer Google Play billing.
Robin updated to Android 6.0.1 with camera and performance boosts.
Minecraft Gear VR Edition launched for Gear VR owners.
Details leak regarding Google Trips app.

Go, Blazers!

DEAL: Unlocked Galaxy S7 Edge Drops to $628.99 at eBay

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:37:29 +0000

So, earlier today, we shared a deal on an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 that was available over on eBay for just $559. That's still a hell of a deal, but now we have a Galaxy S7 Edge, a phone that is arguably superior and a fan favorite around these parts, in the same unlocked capacity, for just $628.99. Come on, that's just not fair. This phone is well over $700 at US carriers and is inching close to $800 at some. With this unlocked S7 Edge (SM-G935F), you are looking at the same situation as the unlocked S7 (SM-G930F), which means Exynos processor instead of the Snapdragon 820, no Samsung Pay, and connectivity on T-Mobile and AT&T only. Other than that, this is a great option for those looking for a deal on the best phone of 2016. This deal also includes free shipping, plus all three colors (black, gold, and silver) seem to still be available. eBay Link

Cheers Scott!

Friday App Sales: Star Wars: KOTOR, Star Wars: TCS, House of Hell, and More

Tim — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:33:26 +0000

In case you are not a Portland Blazers fan or plan on watching all of the baseball action scheduled for this weekend (Go Giants!), might we interest you in a few new apps and games? Each week, Google Play has a ton of applications on sale, ranging widely in genre. This week, there are a few Star Wars titles (KOTOR, LEGO Star Wars, and others), The Forest of Doom, House of Hell, and Battlestation: Harbinger. If those don't strike you as cool, there is Fitness Point Pro for $2, Trial of the Clone for $1, Island of the Lizard King (not related to Jim Morrison, sadly), Blood of the Zombies, and many more. Check out the massive list below. Friday App Sales

Starship Traveler ($0.99)
The Forest of Doom ($0.99)
Vampire Boyfriends ($0.99)
Fitness Point Pro ($1.99)
My Game Collection Premium ($0.99)
The Forgotten Spell ($0.99)
Trial of the Clone ($0.99)
House of Hell ($0.99)
Island of the Lizard King ($0.99)
Caverns of the Snow Witch ($0.99)
GA 1: An Assassin in Orlandes ($0.99)
Blood of the Zombies ($0.99)
Star Wars: KOTOR ($2.99)
Star Wars Pinball 4 ($0.10)
LEGO Star Wars: TCS ($0.99)
Star Knight ($0.99)
Battlestation: Harbringer ($1.99)

Go grab a few games for this weekend.

AT&T Galaxy S6 is Next in Line for Marshmallow Update

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:15:37 +0000

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S6 on AT&T is the next of its 2015 flagships to receive the update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. After updating most of its other carrier variants, AT&T getting in on the action all but rounds out the S6s. The update will arrive as software version G920AUCU3CPC2. Thanks to Marshmallow, users will be able to use Google Now on Tap, see longer battery life through Doze, and enjoy finer controls over app permissions. Samsung's support site is the spot carrying this news of Marshmallow rolling out as early as yesterday, while AT&T's support page for the S6 doesn't mention anything rolling out yet. We also aren't sure when the Galaxy S6 Edge on AT&T will receive the update, but it shouldn't be far off. To check for Marshmallow on your AT&T S6, head into Settings>System>About device>Software update>Check for updates.

Via: Samsung

DEAL: Unlocked Galaxy S7 is Just $559 at eBay

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:16:45 +0000

During launch week, you could buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 for $599, a hell of a deal at the time. Here we are a month later and that same phone can now be had for $559. At most US carriers, you are looking at close to $700 for this phone, so you can see right there that this phone is being sold at a substantial discount. This is the model (SM-G930F) that I own and use on a daily basis. It's an international unit that runs an Exynos octa-core, which most across the internet would agree crushes the Snapdragon 820 variant, both in terms of performance and battery life. It's the version that we wish Samsung would have released in the US. Other than the processor switch, this is the same great Galaxy S7 that you know. This particular unit will work without a hiccup on T-Mobile or AT&T and is a GSM phone (no Verizon or Sprint here). As for downsides, just know that Samsung Pay is not currently supported on these international units. Samsung seems to have blocked Samsung Pay by model number, from what I can tell, rather than by location or SIM. These units may get access to Samsung Pay once it launches in select countries later this year (like the UK), but there is no guarantee. The deal includes free shipping. eBay Link UPDATE: If you would prefer to own the Galaxy S7 Edge, the unlocked model of that is now available at eBay for a ridiculously low price of $628.99. Plus, they have all of the colors at this moment.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 39 Answers

Tim — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:02:38 +0000

On Monday, we posted up Volume 39 of the Droid Life Q&A Sessions, looking directly at you to submit questions. As always, you didn't disappoint. We received tons of a great questions, ranging in multiple subjects. We were asked about the Nexus 6P, our current thoughts on Android N, which fitness devices we love, and even our predictions for the Portland Trail Blazers. With Google I/O coming up and Motorola probably launching a device or two, 2016 is about to heat up. Much like you, we are looking forward to it. Fingers crossed for a blazin' rest of the year. Take a look at our answers below. Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim.

After seeing the G5's lack of Modules, what modules would you want in a modular phone?

K: I feel like there are much more innovative thinkers than me who could answer this, but it could be cool to see some sort of speaker attachment to turn your phone into a great external speaker for occasions where you don't want to also carry around another Bluetooth speaker. It could be cool to add some sort of secondary display like the YotaPhone had that shows real details and is touch sensitive. T: I would be all about an external speaker. I would use that thing all of the time. LG sorta has one for the G5, but it's unavailable in the US. Beyond audio, I would also like to see more development towards a camera attachment, but not one that only adds a dedicated shutter button and T/W wheel. Talk about boring and uninspired.

Looking to buy a smaller (~5") phone for my wife, who's joining the 21st century and finally getting a smartphone. Any suggestions?

K: There aren't many. The Xperia Z5 Compact is an option, but it's just not that great of a phone. iPhone 6s heh. T: Nexus 5X seems like it'd be a good choice. Pure Android, no funny business. Good camera, and the overall performance has gotten better thanks to updates.

What's your favorite fitness device?

K: Almost all of them suck, unfortunately. I wore Jawbone's garbage trackers for years, am wearing Fitbit's giant Alta thing now and don't like it, and use my TAG Connected for runs and don't like it either because like all Android Wear watches, it's battery life is trash. My favorite individual thing is probably my Jaybird X2 headphones. They sound great and last a long time. T: Even when I'm doing fitness stuff, playing sports and what have you, I don't use anything. For some odd reason, I don't really care to track my steps, calories, BPM, or anything like that. Just doesn't interest me as a consumer.

What are your thoughts so far on Android N?

K: I wish I could spend more time with it, but it seems to be pretty buggy still. I'd try and say that I'm excited for multi window, but I never used multi window on any other phone regularly. The new notifications with quick reply look great. So ummm, yeah it's cool, but doesn't exactly seem to be anything ultra special at the moment. T: We are only on DP2 of Android N, and as of right now, I would say, "so far, so good." The UI for the notification pulldown is a little iffy, but if that gets straightened out, I am excited for its release. It seems to be a very comprehensive update for the OS. As of today, though, it's pretty plain and borderline boring. Bring on the public launch!

What hardware or software feature would you like to see get implemented for the next big jump in smartphone camera quality?

K: I mean, how much better can we get? I guess we can start bumping up resolution again while keeping the pixels bigger. I do think that we'll continue to see dual cameras too, because with the limits in smartphone thickness, two cameras do allow for some fun things, like wide-angle shooting or monochrome goodness. But these ideas are still pretty new and need to mature. T: In my opinion, it's not the hardware or camera software that needs to be upgraded, but it is the services that we share our photos to. For example, when I post a picture to Instagram or Twitter, I don't want to be losing quality. IG has definitely come a long way since the days when they were jacking up our resolution, but I still think there is a long ways to go. At this point, I don't know how much more is really necessary to make mobile photography any better. I won't say we're at a pinnacle or anything, but we're pretty damn close, right? I guess the only next step would be 3D cameras. Everyone wants that.

Will Project ARA ever see the light of day?

K: Probably not. I just don't think that the interest is there any longer since we are years and years late on any type of release. I always thought it was a cool concept, but didn't make much sense for hardware manufacturers to get behind in the long run. The support and cost involved has to be huge. But, Ara did lead the way to phones like the G5, which are attempting to make modularity main stream for the first time. So there's at least that. T: While I love the concept, I don't see it coming to market anytime too soon. And even if it does, it will likely be met with the same issues the G5 has - too few modules. You need tons of developers and hardware makers combining resources to build a platform on modularity, and right now, we are not seeing that. I believe Toshiba is currently leading the charge on modular goodies, but even with that big name in the game, we are a long ways off.

Is the Nexus 6P still the best all around bang for your buck smartphone?

K: Probably, yeah, if you like big ass monster phones. But at sub-$500 on most days, thanks to deals, I'm not really sure how it isn't always in the top 3 choices. It's stock Android, gets updates, has a nice design and great build, and super good camera. Not much to hate on there. T: If you don't mind the size, the price and specs are still suitable for daily driving, no doubt. I love that phone. Even if you were to argue against the Nexus 6P, it's easily in any blog's Top 3 Android phones list. It's that good. Just thinking about it makes me excited for what we might see from Google this year.

What will Apple need to do to make the iPhone 7 your daily phone?

K: They can't do anything to make that happen. Apple has made really good phones for a long time and I still have absolutely zero interest in owning one for daily use. I typically don't like the design of iPhones and absolutely think that iOS is a garbage operating system. And that's not just me speaking as an Android elitist. iOS is just so walled off still and not at all friendly to someone who considers themselves as even somewhat of a power user. IT STILL DOESN'T HAVE A F*CKING FILE SYSTEM OR MANAGER. IN 2016. Ugh. T: I really wanted to test drive the iPhone 6 for a while and even review it, but Kellen snatched that opportunity from me. Maybe I can do the iPhone 7. We'll see. The phone will likely be thin, have a Retina display, newer processor, and better camera. It's always the same thing, just with updated specs. I'm sure it will be a fine phone, but I don't see myself dropping Android anytime soon, especially with all of the money I have invested in apps and stuff.

How do you feel about the Blazers' Playoffs chances now with impactful injuries on opposing teams?

K: For once, the Blazers aren't the injured team and getting taken advantage of. It feels weird. I certainly feel for the teams that are now injured and about to be bounced by the Blazers, but I can't help but also think, "Man, finally it's not Portland." That said, the Warriors sans-Curry can still take out the Blazers, probably in 5 or 6. As fun as the Blazers can be, the Warriors are next-level good. T: I foresee the Blazers making it to round 2, meeting up with the Warriors, and possibly taking the series. But even if that happens, which seems unlikely, the Spurs or OKC would annihilate us. We don't have the depth (weapons) needed to go to the Finals. We have a ton of heart, but even with the amount of drive, I don't see us winning a championship this year. To see all of the past Q&A Sessions, look here.

Unlocked HTC 10 Orders Begin Shipping Next Week

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:36:44 +0000

With HTC 10 pre-orders through Verizon shipping and arriving next week, those of us who pre-ordered the unlocked model a couple of weeks ago have been starting to wonder if Big Red's early exclusive would push us aside as well. According to HTC's Jeff Gordon, that shouldn't be the case and unlocked pre-orders should ship next week as well. In response to a couple of HTC fans on Twitter who asked about pre-order shipments, Gordon carried on a somewhat evasive conversation about early May shipments and credit card confirmations going out (which we have yet to receive on any front) before finally committing to "unlocked HTC 10 begins shipping in the US next week." One thing I should point out is the fact that HTC uses a company called Digital River to handle distribution of their online ordering system. I mention them because they made quite a mess out of the HTC Vive launch a few weeks back. The mess included credit card payments being canceled moments before shipments were supposed to start and HTC offering very little help in the matter because they don't seem to work all that closely with Digital River. They had no way to check on the status of your order or when it would ship or anything useful. Hopefully, that doesn't happen this time around. Either way, take that, Verizon early exclusive garbage.

Via: @urbanstrata

Cheers Bert!

HTC Mother's Day Deals Include Pink One M9 for $399, Garnet One A9 for $389

Tim — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 08:41:25 +0000

HTC is hosting a Mother's Day promotion through its online store, valid from this morning until May 8 (Mother's Day). If your mom is in need of a new smartphone, HTC has three different choices for you to select from. For mothers that enjoy pink, there is a Pink One M9 (unlocked) for $399, down from its usual price of $649. For something a bit lighter in-hand, there are two One A9 models to choose from, a Sprint variant and an unlocked variant - both priced at $389. Both models are the Deep Garnet color. The One A9 is typically priced at $499, making the deal good for more than $100 off. If its Father's Day you are looking to shop for, HTC details that it will have a promotion in time for that holiday, too. Be on the lookout for that. Go make your momma proud. HTC Link

Sprint Gets the HTC 10 on May 13

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 06:48:03 +0000

Remember how Verizon said that they had nabbed some sort of exclusive on the HTC 10 which would allow them to be the first to sell the phone in the US? Well, that came true. They opened up pre-orders this morning and will deliver the phone on May 5. But what about the other couple of carriers planning to sell the phone - when are they getting it? For now, we know that Sprint will sell the HTC 10 on May 13, a full week after Big Red. According to a press release from Sprint, on May 13, you will be able to buy the HTC 10 for $26 per month for 24 months ($624 in total payments). Sprint didn't reveal which color(s) would be available, but we're hoping it's more than just the silver that Verizon is offering. We have yet to hear from T-Mobile and will update this post once we do. As a reminder, AT&T passed on the HTC 10 and will not be selling it.

Via: Sprint

HTC 10 Now Up for Pre-Order at Verizon for $100 Off

Kellen — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 06:36:14 +0000

Verizon told us to expect pre-orders for the HTC 10 to open up on April 29 and they have delivered. HTC's latest flagship, though only in silver, can now be pre-ordered with a limited-time $100 discount. As of this morning, Verizon has priced the HTC 10 at $22.83 per month with a 24-month device payment plan or $648 at full retail. To see the $100 discount I just referenced, you will need to sign-up for the 24 monthly payments ($547.92 will be your total). If you buy the phone out right, Verizon has no deal for you. Be sure to read our HTC 10 review for the full details on HTC's best device in years. Or you could read the 5 reasons we think the HTC 10 is worth buying, check out a bunch of tips and tricks for it, and browse through all sorts of photo samples from the camera. Verizon expects pre-orders to be delivered by May 5. Verizon Link

BBM Video Beta Hits Android in US and Canada, Global Launch Scheduled for July

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:59:57 +0000

BlackBerry announced today that it is bringing BBM Video to Android and iOS, but before that happens, the company is hosting a beta for the feature. Naturally. This beta will last until July-ish, when BlackBerry says the feature should launch globally. During this testing phase, BB will monitor performance, gather feedback, and all of that good stuff. For those in the US and Canada, simply update your BBM to test out the feature. Once you update, you will notice BBM Video is much like any other video messaging service, such as Skype or Hangouts. To get started, tap on a contact and the video icon to initiate a video call. Both parties taking place in the call will need the required hardware, as well as have access to this feature. That means, for the time being, only US and Canada friends can video chat with each other. BBM peeps, go check it out.

Via: BlackBerry

Apple Music on Android Gets Music Videos, Family Membership Sign-Ups

Kellen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 15:48:38 +0000

Apple Music, the music service from that hardware company who just posted its first revenue decline in 13 years, received an update today! The update includes video music support, you know, for when Drizzy drops that new exclusive album with accompanying videos. You'll also now be able to sign-up or upgrade to family membership in the app, something that was previously only available on the iOS app or iTunes software. Anyone here an Apple Music subscriber? I can't fault you for being one, but if you answer "yes," we may giggle at you a bit. Play Link

Details and Screenshots of Google Trips App Hit the Web

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 14:33:21 +0000

Only a few days ago, Google was sending out invites to select members of its Local Guides program, hoping to find a few good people to test out an upcoming travel application. Since this is the Internet, many details, and even screenshots of the app, have made its way online. According to Android World out of the Netherlands, the app is called Google Trips. The app is essentially a trip organizer/planner, helping you keep track of all information pertaining to your trip. This includes any reservations you have, things to do in the place you are traveling to, and much more. To do this, it is possible that the Google Trips app will only need permission to access your Gmail account, then it can pool all of your travel data automatically without needing the user to plug in any details. Detailed in the screenshots, upon arrival, Google Trips will give you the 411 on getting around your destination. This information comes from the public transit systems that service the city. For example, if you fly into San Francisco, CA, Google will notify you about BART or where to grab a taxi. As we see written, these do not appear to be just automated details. Instead, the information is very detailed, as if an Local Guide (someone who deeply knows the area), wrote it for Google. This could be why Google was only reaching out to Local Guides (Rank 2+) to test out the application. In addition to getting around your vacation spot, you can read detailed write-ups of where to eat, things to do and see, get an overview of all reservations associated with the trips (dinners, activity bookings), and other "Need to Know" tidbits. Again, it's possible that much of the information provided in this app has been tapped from Google's large Local Guides resource. At this time, we still don't know of any public launch, but the testing is taking place. We have Google I/O next month, so maybe we will see it soon? Take a look at the screenshots below.

Does this look like an application you might be interested in?

Via: Android World

Quick Deal: Triple Your Phone's Storage for $18 With This 64GB SD Card

Kellen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 14:09:24 +0000

If you don't own a Nexus phone, there is a good chance that your device has a microSD card slot available for expandable storage. Assuming you have yet to take advantage of the almost-daily deals involving microSD cards at places like Amazon, here is another. For just $17.99, you can triple the storage on your phone with a 64GB SanDisk Ultra microSD card, since your current device likely has 32GB of internal storage. Prime shipping is there, plus the card comes with an adapter for plugging into a computer. Amazon Link

#TBT: 8Pen Keyboard Wants to Reinvent the Way You Type

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 12:50:23 +0000

We all know what a keyboard looks like and how it operates. It's been the same experience for decades, but a few years ago, the makers of the 8Pen keyboard app looked to drastically change everything you knew about typing on your smartphone. The app launched with a very futuristic look, which had many in the Android community excited, but as people began to download and attempt to use it, we all quickly learned how impossible that was going to be. To this day, I still have no idea how 8Pen works. Using swipes and gestures, you essentially draw what you are attempting to write. I tried for days to figure out how to master it, but unfortunately, I went back to Swype after many failed attempts. According to the 8Pen website, the developers have gone back to the drawing board, and for those interested in an update on 8Pen, you can follow them on Twitter. Sadly, the last time the company tweeted was in October of 2013. So, yeah, 8Pen is dead.

Former Motorola Boss, Rick Osterloh, Heads to Google to Oversee Nexus Program, Other Hardware

Kellen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:47:28 +0000

According to a report out of Recode, it didn't take long for former Motorola boss, Rick Osterloh, to find a sweet new gig. Osterloh, after fleeing Motorola just last month, has landed at Google as a new senior vice president who will head up a new hardware division that aims to unify the company's many projects, including Chromecast, OnHub, ATAP, Glass, Chromebooks, and yes, Nexus devices. Google has apparently confirmed the addition of Osterloh. According to Recode, Osterloh will work on Nexus hardware development alongside Android SVP Hirsohi Lockheimer, who may focus a bit more going forward on software and platform development. He'll also take over the lead on Chromecast hardware duties, Chromebook and Pixel devices, OnHub routers, ATAP (the whacky stuff that Google makes), and Google Glass (or just "Glass"). But wait, isn't Nest boss Tony Fadell overseeing Glass? He was, but with Osterloh at the helm, Fadell will reportedly stay attached only as an "advisor." While I don't know Rick personally, I do get the feeling that he is well-liked in the industry after having dealt with him and Motorola over the years. Not that Google hasn't been equally as enjoyable to work with, but with Osterloh on board, I'd imagine things can only get better for both media relations and on a product front that will eventually end with devices in your hands. Dance, Rick, dance.

Via: Recode

NFL Sunday Ticket Subscribers No Longer Need "Max" Upgrade for Out of Market Streaming

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:17:01 +0000

Previously, subscribers of DIRECTV's NFL Sunday Ticket needed a "MAX" upgrade to stream every out of market game. As of today, that is changing. Announced by AT&T this morning, "Customers will no longer need to upgrade to NFL Sunday Ticket MAX when they subscribe to Sunday Ticket in its 22nd season." With this announcement, anyone who subscribes to DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket package will be able to stream every live out-of-market regular season game every Sunday afternoon. AT&T details that streaming of Sunday Ticket went up 35% last year, and this move should help increase those numbers even more so. With these changes, it should be known that MAX is not going anywhere. Sunday Ticket MAX includes the regular package features, plus premium services, like the Red Zone channel and the Fantasy Zone channel. These services are available on TV and for mobile device streaming. The NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 8.

Via: AT&T

Google's OnHub Router Now Supports IFTTT

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 10:14:16 +0000

The OnHub router now supports IFTTT, making your smart WiFi router even more useful during day-to-day life. IFTTT is based on recipes, which are commands to be followed by the service whenever a particular action occurs. As a basic example, when you connect your mobile device to OnHub, a Philips Hue light turns on. Pretty neat, right? For a few more examples, OnHub details that users could be notified any time a loved one connects or disconnects to the WiFi at home, prioritize certain devices as soon as they connect, or control different devices (speakers, phones, tablets, etc.) and connect them to other products and services that support IFTTT. It seems that the possibilities are quite endless, meaning recipe creation should be quite fun. To see the basic recipes that have already been created which you can use, look here. In celebration of this launch, Google and IFTTT are hosting a little challenge. The details are below. To sum it up, tweet your OnHub recipe, and if it's good enough, you could win a few awesome prizes.

What can you do with OnHub and IFTTT? Over the next four weeks, IFTTT is hosting a challenge. Tweet your OnHub Recipe suggestions to @IFTTT on Twitter and you could win a whole bundle of free gadgets, including a new OnHub, WeMo switches, Nest cams, and more.

Via: OnHub

Fenix Returns to Google Play After Twitter Helps "Fix the Issue" (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:18:52 +0000

This morning, Fenix, the popular Twitter app on Android that hit Twitter's ridiculous token/user limit, returned to Google Play. That seemed odd to us since the removal was likely a part of a realization that the developer shouldn't be selling an app to users who weren't ever going to be able to login. So we reached out to the developer and he responded with a somewhat cryptic Tweet that is certainly interesting, especially to other 3rd party developers worried about Twitter's limit. In response to us asking if the return was due to the fact that Twitter gave him more tokens or "just because," Matteo Villa said that he had "been in contact with the Twitter team and they've helped to fix the issue." When probed further, Villa said that he was not able to provide any additional details. Of course, our brains are now zooming. Does that mean that Twitter did indeed lift the token limit on Fenix? Did it give Fenix an additional 100K? Are they about to do something similar for all 3rd party developers? Does this mean Falcon Pro and others who reached the limit years ago can rise from the ashes? We'll see what we can find out. We've reached out to Twitter. https://twitter.com/mttvll/status/725716154405257216 UPDATE: What we know now is that this may be one of the first examples of Twitter being more developer friendly again. When Jack Dorsey returned as CEO last year, he made it clear that developers were going to be a big focus. While Twitter still has their policies in place about 3rd party apps not mimicking the "mainstream Twitter consumer client experience," they also left some room in their API limits for giving some apps a pass or the opportunity to work with Twitter to gain "permission" for things like, additional tokens above the 100K limit. In this instance, we have confirmed that Fenix has what it needs in order to continue on as one of the better 3rd party Twitter apps into the foreseeable future. So if you were hesitant to buy into Fenix, you should no longer be worried.

Angry Birds Action! Hits Google Play, Right in Time For the Blockbuster Movie

Tim — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 08:47:44 +0000

When it comes to Hollywood and the scores of crap they regularly push, an Angry Birds movie might possibly be the single most original thought to ever leave Tinseltown. End sarcasm. Hitting theaters in May, Rovio has been hyping Angry Birds Action! inside of Google Play for the past couple of weeks. And while having a new Angry Birds game is already awesome enough, much more importantly, players can unlock Piggy Island to watch an "exclusive" clip from the upcoming movie. As for gameplay, Angry Birds Action! is not a throwback to when the franchise was any good. Instead, it's a game based off of the movie characters, including Red, Chuck, and Bomb. Instead of a platformer slingshot type of game, you are met by a pinball layout, with the player shooting characters at various objects to break them. It's the same overall feel as the OG Angry Birds games, but definitely different in terms of looks. Players can also scan round badges they find to access new content, such as mini games, power ups for the game, and more. According to the app listing, these "BirdCodes" can be found all over, like at movie theaters, on Angry Birds toys, and other locations. Each code grants a different piece of content for the game. As previously mentioned, this entire game is essentially a commercial for the Angry Birds movie. Not only does the game build hype for the movie, but if you go watch the movie in theaters, then open the game when the end credits roll, you can unlock a whole new area to explore in the game, as well as an exclusive movie clip. While the grown-ups here may find this lame, your kids will love it. As a well known boy once said, "A crummy commercial? Son of a b*tch!" Play Link

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Google Photos Update Introduces Redesigned Search, Customizable Movies

Kellen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 08:24:11 +0000

Starting today, an update will rollout to Google Photos on Android (v1.19) that will bring forth a "redesigned" search experience, customizable movies, the ability to edit device folders that you have created, and manage the photos on your SD cards. That sounds like a solid update to me! In the new search, Google is ditching the floating action button and instead introducing a dedicated search bar at the top. This removes a step, since you had to press the FAB previously, before getting to the search screen, which then required another tap in the search box to begin a search. Now, all you need to do is tap in the top search box and search, right from the main screen. With customizable movies, the new Google Photos is letting users tweak the automatically created movies that the service provides, by giving you control over music and the photos/videos selected. And finally, Google Photos will let you rename or delete device folders that you have created and also manage the photos on SD cards, which means adding new folders or copying and moving photos. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

Via: +Google Photos

Motorola Customers File $5 Million Lawsuit Over Warranty Servicing Issues (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:06:04 +0000

In recent weeks, Motorola's customer service and warranty claims departments have taken a beating from the readers of this site and elsewhere around the internet for their failures to issue timely warranty placements of the company's flagship products. It doesn't take long to find horror stories related to warranty claims of the Moto X Pure Edition or Moto 360 because, according to Motorola, the company's US repair center is currently "not up to our standard of excellence." Motorola even "deeply" apologized for the mess. But apologies can only get you so far in this world, especially when you are dealing with angry customers who have been thrown into the customer service blender for weeks and weeks on end without resolution. According to TrustedReviews, a $5 million class-action lawsuit has now been filed against Motorola over allegations of poor customer service. The complaint was filed on April 21 for “unfair, unscrupulous, immoral, and oppressive” business practices and claims that Motorola owes "thousands of people" compensation. The lawsuits states that Motorola violated its express warranty, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and the Fair Business Act, while also being "unjustly enriched." In other words, Motorola hasn't kept up its end of the warranty bargain it made with customers. As for a timeline of what happens now, TrustReviews says that all parties need to meet in court and a court needs to decide of there should be a jury trial. If it doesn't go to trial, a resolution could still be worked out, but it could be months and months before anyone sees compensation, assuming they are entitled to any. In the end, I think the important takeaway is that companies do need to be held accountable when they are drastically inconveniencing customers. UPDATE: Motorola issued us this statement today.

Motorola has a long history of providing exceptional products and services to its customers. We are aware of the lawsuit, and are investigating the claims, which we believe to be without merit. If any consumer has an issue with a Motorola product, we ask them to contact customer service at 888-355-8422. We are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Via: TrustReviews

Nexus 9 Removed From Google Store, No One Notices

Tim — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:07:26 +0000

The HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet has been removed from the Google Store, leaving only the Pixel C tablet available for purchase to potential Android slate shoppers. After months of discounts and "Hot Deals" from HTC, Google is clearing its shelves, possibly for something new, but maybe, for nothing at all. The Nexus 9 led us to ponder the tablet ecosystem as a whole with regard to the Android OS, as no particular build of Android has given way to a "ah-ha" moment for developers. Yes, Android tablets have their place and can be useful from time to time, but with no growing library of tablet-exclusive apps (like you see for Apple's iPad), there does not seem to be any commercial demand for Android tablets. Even the Pixel C, which is a gorgeous device, comes off as pretty damn boring in daily usage. At this time, when it comes specifically to Android and tablets, Android N is our best hope to make these devices exciting. With the potential to see multi-window support come native to the OS, developers can do plenty of nifty things with that. Regardless of your opinion on the Nexus 9, it's gone. Probably forever. If you need one, you can find one on Amazon, starting at $320.

Samsung Pay Arriving in New Countries This Year, Gains ATM Cash Withdrawal Support in Korea

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:44:06 +0000

During today's keynote of the Samsung Developer Conference, the Korean electronics giant had some major announcement to share surrounding Samsung Pay. The news involves being able to withdraw cash from ATMs using the mobile payment service and which additional countries will (finally) gain access later this year. For Samsung Pay users in Korea who happen to use Woori Bank, you will now be able to withdraw cash at ATMs. That's huge news, though Samsung wouldn't share any other information about other future markets or supported banks. But still, if mobile payment systems are going to be the future, they need to be able to do everything your cards can and that includes getting you access to cash. As for the rollout to new countries, Samsung said to expect Samsung Pay to hit Australia, Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Spain, and the UK later this year. That's excellent news for those of us with unlocked Galaxy S7s who can't access Samsung Pay, even in the US. Of course, that's also great news for those of you who live in those countries.

Via: CNET

Minecraft Now Available for Samsung Gear VR, Priced at $6.99

Tim — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:06:33 +0000

For anyone who owns a Gear VR and compatible smartphone, Minecraft Gear VR is now available from the Oculus Store. Priced at $6.99, Minecraft Gear VR brings the same experience as Minecraft: Pocket Edition, but this time, you can be inside the world that you create. Both a survival and creative mode is available for playing, but more importantly, multiplayer is completely supported. Using a paired gaming controller, you can bash mobs who wish to destroy you, build castles, mine deep into the world, or do whatever it is you do during your Minecraft sessions. As previously stated, everything that is available in the Pocket Edition of Minecraft is available on Gear VR, which includes skins and different playing modes. However, there are two different viewing modes for those on Gear VR. One, which Oculus says is a bit more comfortable, is a theater mode. With this, you are sitting in a virtual Minecraft room, playing the game on a wooden TV. The other is a bit more immersive, which delivers a more FPS aesthetic. Both are highlighted in the trailer video below. You can find the Minecraft Gear VR app in the Oculus Store, priced at $6.99. If you are looking for a gaming controller to interact with the game, Oculus suggests the StratusXL for $60. For those who may condescendingly ask, yes, Minecraft is still a thing and yes, it's still very popular. No, you are not cool for hating Minecraft.

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Via: Mojang

HTC Double Nexus Bonanza Rumors Pick Up Steam With Codenames Surfacing, Potential Benchmark

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:38:37 +0000

Back in January, an "often-reliable leakster" over at Weibo suggested that HTC has been given the green light by Google to make not only one of the next Nexus phones, but two. Fast forward to today, through months of weak speculation on that idea coming true, and we get a tweet from @evleaks along with a post by Android Police that may add some validity to HTC becoming King of Nexus for the next year. Here is what we know. according to these two. There are currently two Android N devices being built by HTC for Google under internal codenames or model numbers of M1 and S1. That bit comes from @evleaks, who doesn't specifically say that these are Nexus devices, but we will go ahead and assume that they are. After all, if Google is asking someone to build it a device, it tends to be for the Nexus program. With that bit of information in the wild, Android Police then chimed in with word from sources indicating that M1 and S1 might actually stand for the official codenames of each, Marlin and Sailfish. Call it a coincidence if you want, but the fact that they had names of "Marlin" and "Sailfish" in their pocket and @evleaks tossed out "M1" and "S1" seems like more to me. As a reminder, Google almost always refers to its Nexus products by aquatic names. The Nexus 4 was Mako, Nexus 5 was Hammerhead, Galaxy Nexus was Maguro, Nexus 10 was Mantaray, Nexus 6 was Shamu, Nexus 6P was Angler, and the Nexus 5X was Bullhead. There are others, but you get the point. Marlin and Sailfish would fit in that naming scheme quite well. A reference to "Marlin" in an AOSP Gerrit was found back in March and this benchmark surfaced a few weeks ago. The benchmark, which refers to the phone's motherboard as "marlin," indicates that the phone will run a quad-core Qualcomm product (likely the Snapdragon 820) and have 4GB RAM. Yes, the page lists the phone as a "Nexus 6P," but you and I both know that the 6P has 3GB RAM and an octa-core Snapdragon 810 on board.

As for Sailfish, well, we don't have any public mentions of it at this time, so there is always a chance Google goes with another aquatic animal under an S name. For now, we'll stick with the latest report, which pegs it as Sailfish. We already know how Tim feels about HTC making the next Nexus (or two). I think I tend to agree that HTC, as long as it builds at least one of the phones as well as it did the HTC 10, would be a fine partner for this year's program. Know anything about this year's Nexus phones? Hit us up.

Via: @evleaks | Android Police | @rquandt

Samsung Gear 360 to Release April 29 in Select Countries, No Pricing Yet

Tim — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:44:26 +0000

For those looking to get into a bit of VR content creation, Samsung announced during this morning's keynote presentation at the Samsung Developers Conference, the Gear 360 camera will go on sale beginning April 29 in select countries. Oddly enough, with that date being only two days away, Samsung gave no specifics as to which countries would be able to purchase it. Furthermore, no pricing was made available. As Samsung states, sales will be online-only at first, and will branch out to additional territories in the coming months. As more details are made available, we will keep you updated. Any guesses on a price? I'm leaning towards $149. That seems like a sweet spot.

LG G5 Getting Update That Finally Adds "Home & App Drawer" Home Screen Option

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:25:16 +0000

As we approached the LG G5 launch a few backs, LG received quite a bit of criticism over its choice to leave out an app drawer on the phone. Before the phone was ever released, they made it clear to us that they had heard the cries and released a UX 5.0 overview video that detailed a soon-to-be-included new addition to the phone's Home selector called "Home & app drawer," which of course, was a traditional home screen and app drawer combo. This was LG's way of saying, "We heard you. Please shut up. We'll fix it very soon." Then the phone launched and the "Home & app drawer" option was still missing, even as a number of media outlets erroneously reported that it was available through LG's SmartWorld app. The app drawer being pointed to there was from the UX 4.0 software that was released for previous LG phones, not the G5. Sure, it worked and re-introduced an LG-made app drawer and home screen setup, but it wasn't the UX 5.0 version we were promised. Today, the real update has arrived.

If you own an LG G5, jump into Settings>About phone>Update Center>App Updates and you may find the option available for download. At least one reader of ours saw the update on his international unlocked model, but we also found it on a T-Mobile unit. Within this App Updates screen, you should see updates for the new "Home & app drawer" along with the "Home selector," which lets you chose this new home screen layout. Actually, when you tap the home button on the phone after installing these, you should be prompted to choose a default home screen, including the new "Home & app drawer" option. Everyone happy?

Cheers Eric!

RIP, Chrome's "Merge Tabs," Feature Removed in Chrome Beta 51

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:50:12 +0000

Chrome Beta 51 just showed up on Android and it killed off that never-quite-implemented-correctly "Merge Tabs" feature that was introduced back with the launch of Lollipop. The death of tab merging first showed up in Chrome Dev a few weeks back, but now that it has made its way through to Beta, I think it's safe to say that it is probably on the way out for good. For those not familiar with "Merge Tabs," we have to take you back a couple of years, to a time where Google thought that you wanted every single open tab in Chrome merged into your recent apps screen. That meant that if you had 5 or 8 or 15 tabs open, they were all intertwined with your apps, making a disaster of your app switcher screen and also making it insanely more difficult than it needed to be to switch between tabs. If you had "Merge Tabs" turned on, it also killed off the tab count button and ability to swipe across the action bar in Chrome to switch between tabs. It was awful, for the most part. But really, all Google needed to do was let your tabs merge, while keeping the swiping and tab count button in the action bar and it wouldn't have been that bad. But they never did that for some reason and now appear to be ready to abandon the idea.

Chrome Beta 50 vs. 51

And to show you that merging of the tabs is now 100% gone, here is my HTC 10 before updating to v51. You can see I had it merged with three tabs open, all of which were showing in my app switcher. Then, post update, Google took those tabs out of the app switcher and stuck them back in Chrome, plus it then told me where I could find the tabs because merging is gone. Sad face?

RIP, "merge tabs." You were unused by many and likely won't be missed. Play Link

Cheers @X0MBY!

Google Calendar's New "Find a Time" Feature Makes Meeting Creation a Breeze

Tim — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:29:48 +0000

According to Google, creating a meeting between multiple people is still in a pain in the rear. You have to double check everyone's calendar to make sure they are free, and then sending the actual invites can be time consuming. With the new Find a Time feature in the Calendar app, scheduling a meeting that works with everyone's schedule is made very simple, even if one party is in a different time zone. Limited to those using Google Apps for Work and Google Apps for Education, as sharing schedules is the norm in some lines of work, Find a Time works to locate the best possible time for a meeting where everyone is free. If there is no free time, Calendar will look to see which conflicting meetings can most easily be rescheduled. Specifically, Find a Time only suggests a time -- the user is still in control of which time they want to schedule a meeting. If you happen to manage someone else's schedule, you can also make meetings on their behalf. The app is being updated right now on Google Play, but again, make note that this feature is only available to Google Apps for Work and Google Apps for Education users. Play Link

Via: Gmail

If You Care About Software Updates or Security, Stop Buying Motorola DROID Phones

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:12:36 +0000

Here's a pro tip on a Wednesday - stop buying Motorola and Verizon's exclusive DROID phones if you care at all about software updates or security. I say that because Motorola and Verizon don't seem to care about keeping them up-to-date, even as Google and the rest of the Android industry are at least doing their best to provide timely security patches. Not only are owners of these phones missing out on new features, but they are susceptible to non-patched security vulnerabilities that most phones are protected from. Marketed as the ultimate flagships when they launch, the DROID brand of phones have become laughing stocks in terms of support. At this point, we are well beyond blaming Motorola's thinned out support staff and Verizon's notoriously slow update approval or testing process. This is borderline offensive and should deter you from even considering a Turbo 3 or whatever robotic name these two cook up and sell you on later this year. Aside from the fact that the Turbo 2 (and original Turbo) were solid phones with great battery life and unique features like a shatterproof display, they are typically some of the last phones to receive the latest and greatest (including protection) from Google. Take the Turbo 2 as a shining example. In stores on October 29 of last year, after three botched attempts at releasing Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Motorola and Verizon finally produced the update for all customers today. Google originally released stable Android 6.0 on October 5 after a number of previews. So not only did the Turbo 2 launch with year-old software, even though Marshmallow had been available for almost a month as a stable build, it then took Motorola and Verizon 6 months to finally update it to that version of Android, which again, had been out for almost a month before it hit stores.

Want a worse example? Look at 2014's original DROID Turbo, which hit store shelves on October 30 with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, weeks after Android 5.0 Lollipop was announced and just days before it was made available via stable channel, didn't receive the update to Lollipop until July of 2015. That's 8 months later for a phone dubbed as a flagship. Hold on, though, I think I can even top that one. The DROID MAXX 2, the budget-friendly DROID that launched alongside the Turbo 2 at the end of last year, has yet to receive any sort of software update. Think about that for a second. A phone that is 6 months old, has never received a single update. Forget the fact that almost all phones launch with bugs that need squashing, that means it not only hasn't received the update to Marshmallow, but it hasn't seen a single security patch. Google releases security patches every single month to address often scary security vulnerabilities. Samsung, a company who is almost as bad as Motorola has become at updating phones, still manages to at least push out monthly patches. Verizon and Moto with their DROIDs, almost never. Oh, and get this. The DROID MAXX 2's Marshmallow status page on Motorola's site only says that it will receive the update to Android 6.0 "pending partner support." That doesn't exactly sound like a promise or guarantee any longer. Look at this.

And I haven't even touched on the fact that Motorola and Verizon completely abandoned a promised Lollipop update for 2013's DROID ULTRA, MAXX, and Mini. As you can see, this isn't a new situation, but it is one that seems to be getting worse. Maybe that's a sign of the (probably overdue) impending death of the DROID brand or maybe it's just another reason to avoid carrier exclusives. If anything, it's 100% reason enough to avoid buying the next DROID, if there is one.

Nextbit Robin Updated to Android 6.0.1, Offers Better Processor and Camera Performance

Tim — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:03:33 +0000

This morning, Nextbit announced the availability of a large update for Robin, bringing Android 6.0.1 to all owners. This Marshmallow update includes the April security patch, as well as the expanded emoji library for all of your texting needs. Also inside of the update, the Robin will also feature an overhauled camera app, bringing a much faster experience, resulting in "better pictures." This was accomplished by tuning the camera's software. Additionally, Nextbit states that processor tuning was done, which should lead to better battery life and performance. To top it off, Nextbit announced a new set of AIAIAI headphones, created specifically to be paired with the Robin. The headphones are a TMA-2 model, offering a fully sealed titanium coated S03 speaker unit, H03 nylon headband, and E04 over-ear PU leather earpads. Priced at $225, the headphones are not cheap, costing only $175 less than the Robin itself, but Nextbit and AIAIAI claim that the quality of the audio experience will speak for itself. Take a look at the complete changelog, then if you are interested in the headphones, follow the link below. What's New

Marshmallow 6.0.1, including the April security patch and of course the expanded emoji set.
Additional processor tuning bringing you better battery life and better performance.
New camera tuning and a completely overhauled camera app for faster (much faster), better pictures.
All new sound tuning at the driver level by Arkamys. Now Robin sounds clearer both through the built-in dual speakers and the headset jack - even when you have the volume cranked up.

Headphones Link ($225)

Via: Nextbit

If Your DROID Turbo 2 has Yet to Receive Marshmallow, It's Now Arriving

Kellen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 08:12:57 +0000

After a couple of pump-fakes, a spin move, and a timeout or two, in between commercial breaks and a power outage, Motorola and Verizon are finally (maybe, but we think for real) pushing out the Marshmallow update to the DROID Turbo 2 for those who have still not seen the update after all these months. And even if you have, you will still probably get this latest update. The update was approved last week on April 20. We tweeted about it, though most of you seem to have seen the update within the last day or so. The update will arrive as build 24.14.12, which is ever so slightly newer than the previous Marshmallow updates of 24.14.10 and 24.14.11. Cleary, there was a bug or two to fix in the lead up to this latest version. If you aren't already on Marshmallow, the update will hit your phone in two parts, with build 23.31.24 as part 1. Once you have that, you will then get 24.14.12. I feel like we have written about the Turbo 2 and its Marshmallow update more times than I can even count and so hopefully this is it. And I hate to start this rainy Wednesday on a low note, but man, if there is a Turbo 3 this year, I don't know that anyone should consider it if software updates mean anything to them. The original Turbo's Lollipop update took about 8 months too long to show up and now the Turbo 2's Marshmallow update took about as long. For a Verizon exclusive flagship, that's completely unacceptable. To check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates.

Via: +David Schuster | Verizon

Photos Detail Reported Samsung Gear Fit 2, Wireless IconX Earbuds

Tim — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:47:46 +0000

Samsung has apparently heard the cries of its customers, and before long, we may have a sequel to the Gear Fit smartband. Reportedly called the Gear Fit 2, this smartband will likely track your day-to-day outings by tracking steps, calories burned and more. As we can see in the photos, it heavily resembles the original Gear Fit, but given its small size, there is not much else to see. According to Venture Beat, the Gear Fit 2 will feature a 1.84" Super AMOLED display, as well as GPS tracking. A bit more interesting are the Samsung-made IconX wireless earbuds. These Bluetooth earbuds are reported to be completely wireless, even featuring 4GB of internal storage to allow for the storing of songs. Controlling the earbuds is said to be by touching specific parts of the bud. The carrying case for the buds is said to double as a charging station, which is a nice piece of design. As of right now, there are no pricing or release details to report, but if anything is made available, we will keep you up to date. Was anyone here asking for a new Gear Fit?

Via: Venture Beat

Buying an Unlocked Smartphone

Kellen — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 14:37:14 +0000

I buy a lot of unlocked smartphones. In fact, as I type this, in front of me, there are eight smartphones on my desk and every single one of them is "unlocked." Why do I buy them, you ask? For a number reasons, all of which I mentioned in this lengthy piece written about a year ago. The basics are this, though - they give me flexibility to test different networks, they often get faster software updates than carrier phones, they tend to be less expensive, and have far fewer bloatware apps than their relatives who are attached to carriers. They are the phones I will continue to choose time and time again. With that in mind, I get the feeling that many of you are still confused as to what an unlocked smartphone is and may even need help in buying one. So today, let's take a few minutes to talk through some of the things to look for when buying an unlocked smartphone.

What is an unlocked smartphone?

An unlocked phone is a phone that is not locked to a particular carrier or network and is somewhat of a free spirit that can come and go from networks as it pleases. The idea here is that most smartphones tend to have the ability to connect to a number of different wireless networks and their accompanying wireless bands (frequencies they use to talk to wireless devices). If a phone is "unlocked," it should be able to connect to different bands and networks and jump between each without hassle. If a phone is "locked," then that means it has been locked or limited to connecting to specific networks or bands. Phones sold through carriers (like AT&T or T-Mobile) are often sold as "locked" and will only work on AT&T or T-Mobile's networks unless you follow a bunch of guidelines from each carrier in order to get them "unlocked." Samples of unlocked phones would include Google's Nexus phones (like the 6P and 5X), the Blackberry Priv if bought directly from Blackberry, or the HTC 10 if bought directly from HTC. These phones do not have specific carrier ties and are capable of connecting to a variety of different networks. You may also hear unlocked phones referred to as "SIM unlocked" or "SIM free." That's in reference to the phone being sold without a SIM card. Why do you need a SIM card? Well, a SIM card allows you to communicate with a wireless network. When you buy a prepaid SIM card from Walmart or walk into a carrier store to setup service, the SIM card is what gets you connected.

How do I know if a phone will work on a particular network?

Ahhh yes, wireless bands and compatibility, what is arguably the most important piece to buying an unlocked phone. After all, you shouldn't buy an unlocked phone unless you know that it will work with your carrier of choice. Let's see if we can't help you figure that out. There are a bunch of things to look at here, but the majority of all questions can be answered with our US wireless carrier bands cheat sheet, which is also included below. Take a look. [table id=27 /] Still confused? When buying an unlocked phone, you need to know which carriers it can work on. That cheat sheet above does so in about the simplest way. To use it, you first find a phone that you might want to buy. In that phone's listing (probably in the specs section), you will want to find mentions of network compatibility, wireless bands, wireless frequencies, and anything else related to GSM, UMTS, HSPA, CDMA, and LTE. Because if you can find mentions of any of these things, there is a good chance you can take the information there and match it up to this cheat sheet to see if the phone works. Take a look at Google's listing for the Nexus 6P. Thankfully, Google says at the bottom of its network list that the 6P is an "unlocked phone and works on major carrier networks." But if it didn't say that, you could at least look at each bullet point in that section to decide if it works on the network for you.

Let's say you want to take the Nexus 6P to Verizon. Well, you can see here that it supports CDMA bands/frequencies 0 and 1, along with LTE bands 2, 4, and 13. So, yep, it'll work on Verizon! Now, here is an example of an "unlocked" Galaxy S7 Edge over at eBay that's up for sale. If you wanted to use this on Verizon, you can see right away that it doesn't mention "CDMA" anywhere and can then rule it out as a possible option. But if you wanted to use it on AT&T, you can match up with the cheat sheet the fact that it supports GSM/HSPA 850 and 1900, along with LTE bands 2, 4, 12, and 17.

Make sense now?

Where should I buy unlocked phones from?

Another good question that thankfully has a bunch of answers. Unlocked phones can be purchased all over the place! Many are often cheaper than what carriers will sell you a phone for, too. For example, I bought an unlocked Galaxy S7 the week it launched for $599 as an unlocked phone. That's almost $100 cheaper than most US carriers were selling it for at full retail. For general unlocked phone browsing, the best places to look are eBay's daily deals section for phones, Amazon's unlocked phones section, B&H Photo, Expansys USA, and Best Buy. eBay and Amazon almost always have the best pricing, but those others are reputable enough to take a look at for special deals. Of course, all of Google's phones are unlocked, so the Google Store is a good place to go. Motorola sells unlocked phones through it's online store as well, as does HTC and Blackberry.

How do I sign-up for service with an unlocked phone?

If you already have active service with a carrier or prepaid outfit, you may not need to sign-up for anything. If you bought an unlocked phone and it is compatible with your current network and you have an active SIM card from your old phone, all you will need to do is slap that SIM card in your newly purchased unlocked phone and be on about your way. That's the beauty of unlocked phones! But let's say you are starting fresh. With an unlocked phone, you are going to look for plans through carriers that involve BYOD (bring your own device) or are prepaid. Unlocked phones and prepaid plans are often synonymous with one another, but some carriers will allow you to bring over an unlocked phone and sign-up for non-prepaid service. At this point, almost all of the major carriers offer some sort of BYOD or prepaid plan. Verizon does. AT&T does. T-Mobile does. And let's not forget that there are dozens of prepaid services out there, like Cricket, MetroPCS, Tracfone, Ting, and Republic Wireless, to choose from. You need to find the carrier that gets you the best coverage or the best value, or hopefully, some combination of both. Once you decide and have verified that your phone works with their network (cheat sheet to the rescue again!), you sign-up and order a SIM kit, because again, you need a SIM card in order for your phone to communicate with a wireless network. When you SIM card arrives, most include instructions on how to get your phone up and running.

What are the downsides to buying an unlocked phone?

Honestly, I don't think there are many, but here are a few things to keep in mind. When you buy an unlocked phone, you aren't necessarily going to get much carrier support. Sure, you may find a service rep that will help you dial in the APN settings to get the phone attached to their network, but they won't be there for hardware issues since they didn't sell you the phone. That means if your phone does have an issue, you can't just walk into AT&T or Verizon or T-Mobile stores and expect their service reps to make things right. That then means you will need to take up any issues through the online support of the phone's manufacturer, which can certainly be a hit or miss situation depending on who made the phone. You will need to read up on the warranty for the phone you are buying. That Galaxy S7 Edge listing I referenced above says that the phone comes with a 12-month Samsung warranty, but there isn't a guarantee that all will. You want to make sure there is a warranty there should you run into issues down the road. Finally, unlocked phones often have quirks because they are often times imported from other parts of the world. You may turn on a Galaxy S7 for the first time and see a greeting in a language you cannot understand. The "4G LTE" icon you are used to seeing on carrier-tied phones might say "4G" or "LTE" and look basic. You may find that your phone is missing apps or services that carrier-branded phones have (like Samsung Pay on imported Galaxy S6 and S7 phones).

Questions?

If you have other questions, feel free to shoot those below and we'll do our best to answer them!

Watch: 8 Minutes of Leaked Pokémon GO Beta Gameplay

Tim — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:38:29 +0000

Pokémon GO, the highly anticipated augmented reality game from Niantic Labs, is reported to launch this summer, but beta gameplay footage has made its way online ahead of schedule. In this 8-minute long video, we see a beginning trainer capture his first Pokémon, battle them, and how a player interacts with the world around him to find new Pokémon.

As you will notice, a player can choose to utilize their smartphone's camera to see a Pokémon creature on a real-life backdrop or can use the app's built-in landscape. The gameplay does not change, regardless of which option you prefer. Using your phone's camera will likely drain just a bit more juice than if you choose not to. From what I can see, Niantic has stuck with the original lineup of Pokémon characters, leaving out the endless amount of expansion creatures. As someone who grew up collecting and trading the original series of cards, that excites me. Rest assured that once we have official release date for Pokémon GO from Niantic, we will inform you. Check out the beta footage before it is removed.

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Google Introducing 6-Second "Bumper" Ads to YouTube, Like Cute Little Haikus of Video Ads

Kellen — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 12:30:04 +0000

Because you watch a ton of "snackable" video on your smartphones, Google is introducing a new ad format for advertisers to use on YouTube that only lasts 6 seconds. These new ad styles are called "Bumper" ads and Google is hoping that advertisers will use them to get creative in showing you commercials in between video binges. Google envisions a world where advertisers can use these 6-second Bumper ads like "little haikus of video ads," or by cutting up longer ads into short parts that equal a whole as users watch video after video. I know that advertising talk isn't exactly interesting to most of us, since we would rather do without ads, but I'm just curious if a 6-second spot before a video is something that would offend or annoy you less. Would you be more inclined to sit through 6 seconds of advertising if that's all it took to get you to your intended content? Bumpers will arrive in May.

Via: Inside AdWords

YouTube App Refreshes Home Screen, Updated Recommendation System

Tim — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 11:10:09 +0000

Beginning today, users on Android and iOS will be treated to an updated Home screen experience when opening the YouTube app. While the overall layout does not appear to be changing drastically, users should notice larger video thumbnails while looking through search tabs, and YouTube details that its recommendation system has received a boost in intelligence. According to YouTube, the updated recommendation system is based on "deep neural network" technology, which means it can find patterns automatically to keep learning and improving as it continues to work. To put it more simply, if you watch a lot of baseball videos, you will see more baseball videos. As it is right now, users will always seem similar videos in the recommendations list, but a lot of that content might be years old. With this new system, YouTube's goal is that recommended content will be much more fresh (newer). These changes are rolling out right now for all mobile users.

Via: YouTube

Google Introduces Snap-And-Go MODE Watch Bands for Android Wear

Kellen — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:00:06 +0000

Google introduced MODE watch bands for Android Wear today, as an attempt to make swapping watch bands easier than ever on not only your smartwatch, but your regular timepiece as well. MODE watch bands include a snap-and-go mechanism that allows you to swap styles in a matter of seconds, without the need for a tool or awkward sideways slide. The MODE bands will come in either silicone ($49.99) or leather ($59.99), with each having a variety of color and size options. In total, there are 16 color variations and 4 sizes (16mm, 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm) made by Hadley Roma. How do they work? The idea here is about as straight forward as it gets. On the under side of MODE bands, you have a hook, of sorts, that wraps over the top of a watch's spring bar. Once in place, a metal slider is pushed to close off and secure the band in place. If that doesn't make sense, here are a couple of images that are pretty self explanatory.

See it? Hook the band over a spring bar and then push the slider to close it off. It's that simple. With the purchase of a MODE watch band, you also get a set of spring bars that better fit with the bands and a spring bar tool. So there is a bit of setup required initially, just to remove your old watch band, spring bars, and get the new spring bars in place, but once you have done that, you can get on with your swapping without hesitation. Google says that other OEMs can adopt the MODE snap-and-go mechanism, as long as they source it from Google authorized vendors, pass a reliability test, and follow their brand guidelines. If anyone is interested, that could mean watch bands from luxury good makers to indie watch band start-ups or smartphone OEMs. You can buy MODE watch bands today from the Google Store, Amazon, and Best Buy.

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Coming Soon: Pay for Netflix Subscription With Google Play Billing

Tim — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 09:08:01 +0000

Listed as coming soon, users of Netflix will be able to pay for their subscription via Google Play billing, just as you would for Google Play Music or Google Play movie rentals. While this change will likely not affect current users, anyone who downloads Netflix from Google Play and wants to begin a subscription, this change will be quite convenient. In order to offer Google Play billing to potential customers, Netflix requires a new app permission, which is the reason for its latest app update. However, once updated, you won't notice any specific billing changes. No word is provided as to when exactly Google Play billing will be offered. In order to get ready for this update, if you want to start paying for Netflix from inside Google Play, go update your Netflix app. What's New

Bug fixes
Coming soon: Subscribe for Netflix via Google Play Billing (new permission required).

Play Link

BlackBerry Priv's Marshmallow Update Exits Beta, Available to Carrier Variants Starting May 3

Tim — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 07:56:19 +0000

Over the course of April, BlackBerry has been beta testing its Marshmallow update for the Priv. As of this morning, beta testing is complete, with BlackBerry announcing availability of the Marshmallow update for all Priv owners, with exception to those with a carrier variant. According to BlackBerry, carrier variants will begin to see Marshmallow starting May 3. Shown in BlackBerry's blog regarding the update, the changelog is quite large, including Doze, App Standby, an updated BlackBerry launcher, new emoji, updated keyboard gestures, clearer notification settings, and much more. To view the entire list of changes, follow the via link below or watch BlackBerry's overview video. BlackBerry states that the update is available starting right now for those who purchased through ShopBlackBerry.com. And again, don't forget, carrier variants should begin to see the update on May 3. Go get that Marshmallow.

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Via: BlackBerry

Withings Acquired by Nokia

Kellen — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 07:42:11 +0000

This morning, Nokia announced that it had acquired Withings, maker of a variety of popular connected home and health accessories. You may know Withings for their smart WiFi scales, baby monitors, and "smart" watches, but they also make blood pressure monitors, thermometers, baby scales, and odd-but-kind-of-neat alarm clock/light thingies. The acquisition allows Nokia to continue a push into the connected health market, which is "rapidly growing." Withings and its line of products will, of course, be at the center of this approach, which is to become the "world leader in the connected health market." The press release for the acquisition did not mention if any major changes will come once this has been completed. The purchase price was EUR 170 million, though.

Via: Withings (PDF)

Quick Look: Google's Live Cases for the Nexus 6P

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:14:49 +0000

Last week, Google announced new customizable cases for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6 called Live Cases. At $35, these cases are by no means inexpensive, so we decided to pick one up to see if there is any chance you should even consider purchasing one. Live Cases come in two styles that include either maps of any location in the world or imagery chosen by the you, the customer. Depending on the case, you could further customize the look of the map or image with a handful of designs, shapes, and colors. Each case also includes an NFC button on the back, along with an accompanying app to program that button as a shortcut for doing things like launching the camera or turning WiFi on and off. Each case's app comes with a live wallpaper of constantly changing maps depending on your location, or a slideshow, as well. We went with the Maps version because it seemed like not only a really cool concept, but a case we wouldn't get sick of in a couple of weeks, either. In case you were wondering, this particular case is a map of Whitefish, MT, my home town.

Should you buy a Live Case? Ummm, sure, if you like cool looking cases with custom imagery or maps and don't have a budget. The cases are a semi-hard plastic that certainly fit well on the phones they are supported by, They aren't exactly the most premium cases I've ever touched, but they do fit well and the imagery came through nicely. In fact, I really like the look of the case and the fact that it's a one-of-a-kind item that has a bit of special meaning behind it. I'm just not sure it was worth $35, though. Again, the case fits nicely on my Nexus 6P and doesn't even add that much thickness to an already large phone, but at $35, you could pick up a number of cases from Amazon and still walk away with enough money for a case of beer. Those cases won't have custom imagery, of course. I should point out that the NFC button is either broken on mine or is hell to get to work. It doesn't have any sort of clicking sensation at all and takes far too hard of a press to activate whatever it has been programmed to do. Once the phone has been unlocked and you give it a good squeeze, it will launch the camera or turn the flashlight on, but man, the amount of pressure needed here isn't worth the hassle. So again, should you buy the Live Cases from Google? Probably not, unless you really, really, really need a custom case and have a bunch of money sitting around to blow.

Lifeline Series of Games on Sale for $0.10 a Pop

Tim — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 14:50:44 +0000

The Lifeline series, published onto Google Play by 3 Minute Games, is available on sale for only $0.10 a pop, bringing the price for the entire 3-game series to just $0.30. Lifeline games are branching story games, where choices you make affect the outcome of characters. Played in real time, you utilize incoming notifications to help make decisions on what your character will do next. If you are too busy to play, just follow the notifications when time suits you. Beware, though, as each choice can mean life or death. Once complete, players can go back in time, seeing how a different choice could bring about a different outcome. Each game is rated very well on Google Play, and according to the reviews, the stories are pretty remarkable. Follow the links below to take advantage of this pricing. Play Links: Lifeline | Lifeline 2 | Lifeline: Silent Night

MetroPCS Launches Updated Pricing For Family Plans, Limited Time Only

Tim — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:58:03 +0000

For a limited time, those who are looking to get multiple lines on the same plan can do so through MetroPCS, as the company announced updated pricing for its family lineup. Starting today, you can get 2 lines with unlimited talk, text, data, and 6GB of 4G LTE high-speed data for just $60. Any line after the first two is an additional $30 a month, up to five lines on the same plan as long as you port at least one number from another carrier. If you don't port a line, you will only receive 3GB of high-speed data. As always, "what you see is what you pay" on MetroPCS. All pricing includes regulatory fees and taxes. MetroPCS runs on T-Mobile's network, so if you were trying to figure out if MetroPCS has you covered, check T-Mobile's coverage maps. This offer is open to new and existing customers starting today.

Via: T-Mobile

Poll: Using Official Twitter App or Something Else?

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:48:15 +0000

Now that Fenix, one of the better 3rd party Twitter apps, is more than likely dead after reaching Twitter's 100K token limit, today seems like the perfect day to ask you all how you go about consuming the Tweets. Have you given up buying Twitter apps that will one day be left for dead and instead gone with the official Twitter app? Or, are you still doing your part in supporting awesome 3rd party developers who continue to make better apps than Twitter can? In the poll below, let us know which way your Twitter life has taken you. As a follow-up, head into the comments to let us know why you gave up and stuck with the official Twitter app or which 3rd party apps you are all using. Go! [poll id="402"]

DEAL: Moto 360 Sport is Just $199 Right Now ($100 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 12:33:29 +0000

On the hunt for an Android Wear device with GPS that would be great as a smartwatch and fitness pal? The GPS-enabled Moto 360 Sport is a solid option, but even more so today because of deals across the internet for the white or "flame" models. As of right now, you can grab the white or flame versions for $100 off, which means either watch is just $199. Amazon and Best Buy both have the $100 off deal, but if you want an even better deal, B&H Photo is doing the $100 off while tossing in a $50 B&H Photo gift card. Tim reviewed the Moto 360 Sport a couple of months ago and had mostly good things to say about it. He liked the design, loved the AnyLight display, and thought battery life was fine. He even recommended the white and flame over the black model that he reviewed. So, here you go.

Deal Links

Amazon: White | Flame ($199)
Best Buy: White | Flame ($199)
B&H Photo: White | Flame ($199 + $50 gift card)

Gmail App Receives Complete Exchange Support

Tim — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 12:25:33 +0000

For all users of Gmail, Microsoft's Exchange is now supported for dual delivery mail flow, meaning you will see both your Gmail and Exchange emails all in the same inbox. This makes the entire emailing process much more simplified for users of both services. Whether you are using a Google Apps or Exchange account, the Gmail app can handle both services, so from now on, Gmail will be your go-to email app. Don't use any "Email" app that might be installed on your device. If you are already using one, you can easily sync your Exchange account through Gmail with a few simple steps. Google is rolling the update out to Google Play now. Be on the lookout. Play Link

Via: Google

5 Reasons the HTC 10 is Worth Buying

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:10:28 +0000

Not interested in reading through every single word from our detailed HTC 10 review and would instead just like us to tell you five quick reasons why this latest flagship from a VR company is worth your money? OK, cool, we can do that. Actually, it should be really easy to do since this is a really, really solid phone from HTC. Things like the design, clean software approach, potential for quickly released future updates, a solid camera, and an impressive audio experience all come to mind as reasons this phone is worth your money. Here we go! These are the 5 reasons the HTC 10 is worth buying.

1. This is an Android skin to like.

In my HTC 10 review, which you may or may not have read, I talked about HTC being a new hero for those who like stock-ish Android, but may not want to buy a Nexus. I said that because HTC has cleaned up their Sense skin so much that it stays out of your way until you need it. Sure, the app drawer, home screen setup, and lock screen are certainly HTC, but the notification shade and settings menus are quite stock-like. And let's not forget that HTC has actually built-in useful software features to expand the leaner experience, like Motion Launch Gestures, power saving modes, an audio tuner and display profiles. Not only has HTC cut most of the fat from Sense, they also took out duplicate apps and are giving you many of Google's as defaults (Gmail, Photos, etc.). If you buy the unlocked HTC 10, the first time you open the app drawer, try not to be shocked at the lack of apps in there. HTC didn't mess around by getting rid of the fluff and leaving you with just the right stuff.

2. Audio nerds, brace yourselves.

I'm no audio guru, but there is some magic at play with the HTC 10 and a good pair of headphones connected to it. We're talking crystal clear audio, balanced mids, deep lows, and highs that are just supremely high. I'm just kidding, I have no idea what any of that means because again, I'm not an audio nerd. If you are, though, this is a phone built for you. HTC received a Hi-Res audio certification for it from Japan Audio Society, is amplifying the tunes that come through the headphone jack through a 24-bit DAC, and even continued the dual-speaker theme of HTC's previous flagships by including both a tweeter and a woofer. This is a serious audio machine that also happens to be a smartphone.

3. The camera is pretty good!

Starting with the HTC One M7 and onward, HTC's cameras haven't exactly been OK. HTC went the gimmick route instead of trying to put the best possible camera available at the time into their flagship phones. With the HTC 10, they are changing that and have included a 12MP shooter with OIS that is very capable. You can see a whole bunch of pictures that I took with the HTC 10 here, but my general takeaway from this shooter is that it'll be just fine in most situations. It's not the fastest on the planet (that's the Galaxy S7), has some quirks (like its autofocus system and launch shortcut), and produced some somewhat dull shots at times. Yet still, this is a camera that is miles ahead of anything HTC tried before it and can at least sit at the table with the other big dogs on the block. It also should get better and better over time.

4. All-metal prettiness.

I don't know that I'm the biggest fan of all-metal phones like the HTC 10, but there is no denying the craftsmanship here. This phone is about as well-built as it gets. There aren't creaks or squishy, moving parts anywhere. The glass and metal blend together perfectly. The buttons are very clicky. And even the love-it-or-hate-it mega chamfer around the backside has an appeal while helping with phone grip. For fans of metal phones, I don't know that you will find a better option. There is a good amount of weight here, it isn't slippery like all-metal phones of the past, and you'll probably feel good about the purchase when holding it, because it does indeed feel like a premium smartphone.

5. Because you like timely software updates.

We don't normally tell people to buy phones on "It'll probably happen!" With HTC, we feel pretty good about their recent track record in pushing out timely software updates. In other words, we don't have some sort of confirmation that HTC will be good at pushing updates to the 10, but what we do know is that they were to the One A9 and One M9, plus they are still doing pretty good with the One M8. They seem to be set on giving you updates in a hurry because they know you want them. Companies like Samsung don't care. Motorola may not care anymore either. HTC, though, they do and that's awesome. You deserve timely updates when you spend hundreds of dollars on a phone. You aren't just buying hardware - you are buying a software support system as well. Don't be shocked if you get the update to Android N on your HTC 10 shortly after Google pushes the update to its Nexus devices. In fact, I'd almost bet that it will be the first non-Nexus to get Android N. Anyone want to bet against that?

Considering another phone? Feel free to take a look back at 5 reasons to buy other phones, like the Galaxy S7, Nexus 6P, or LG V10 in previous installments of this ongoing series.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 39

Tim — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 10:43:04 +0000

We are back again for another round of the DL Q&A Sessions, this time for Volume 39. The Q&A Sessions is your chance to ask the DL staff whatever you would like, whether it is Android-related or any other topic. To get your brain juices flowing, we could discuss our latest round of device reviews, what has us excited for Google I/O next month, or even talk about sports. We love sports. It's entirely up to you. These posts are also a very good time to chat with us in the comments, as we read every single comment that comes in. If you have post suggestions or maybe want to rage at us for how much we are paid by every company to post positive things (sarcasm), now would be the time. 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.

This (Free) Icon Pack is Hot: Saturate

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:52:45 +0000

Funny you mention it, Felix, because I just so happened to spend some time this weekend looking for a new icon pack to give me a fresh home setup. So, yeah, we have a new icon pack that is indeed hot and worth a look, if anything because it's free. Mmmm free. Today's icon pack is called Saturate. I don't know why, since the listing says that there are "strong splashes of color" in some places, yet then "desaturated" in others, but we'll go with it, because it's nice. The pack features almost 1,500 icons with 150+ matching wallpapers, icons to support Marshmallow's settings shortcuts, dynamic calendars, a matching clock widget, all sorts of icon alternatives, and built-in launcher support for your favorites. Did I mention you get all of that for free? Yep. Sure, there are ads, but we're talking about all of those goodies for free. The overall design of the pack is obviously a take on Google's stock Material Design icons for Android, only with a yellowish, orangish, warm tint to it all. There are plenty of greys as well, along with other colors, but the warmth is really what stands out to my eye. Give it a shot and let us know what you think! Play Link

Tip: Not Seeing Podcasts in Google Play Music App? Hit the Refresh Button.

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:40:25 +0000

If you have yet to see the Podcasts section show up in your Google Play Music app, a simple tap on the "Refresh" button in settings should force it to arrive. Seriously, just pop into your app, slide out the side navigation menu, tap on Settings and then "Refresh" and you should then see the option for Podcasts just under Music Library. This same trick worked for the family plan when it arrived as well. If that trick doesn't work, then maybe you need to update your Google Play Music app first. You can grab the newest version here (v6.7.2712Z.2783167). Also, have you subscribed to the Droid Life Show through Google Play Music, yet? You can right here.

Chase Mobile App Updated With Fingerprint Support

Tim — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:33:07 +0000

The Chase Mobile banking application received an update this week, bringing support for many to use their smartphone's built-in fingerprint reader to log into the app, instead of using a name and password. While this news will be glorious for quite a few, Chase details on the app listing that not all fingerprint readers are support, and users will need to be on Android 6.0+ to take advantage of the feature. According to the changelog, logging in with your fingerprint is pretty much all you can do, and other features may require you to use a password for further account protection. Go grab that update. What's New

Use fingerprint sign in to log in. Your device must use Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow) or higher. Certain features will still require that you enter your password.
Please note that due to different implementations of Android fingerprint by device manufacturers, this feature will not be available for all devices.

Play Link

Cheers fritz and Jeremy!

Fenix Reaches Twitter's Ridiculous Token Limit, Disappears From Google Play (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:10:35 +0000

Fenix, one of the best 3rd party Twitter apps on Android, appears to have hit Twitter's ridiculous token limit and is now gone from Google Play. Over the weekend, a user tweeted at the official Fenix account while looking for help after seeing a message that made reference to Fenix being unable to authenticate more users. Fenix's owner replied with the bad news on the limit, along with a refund offer. What is the Twitter token limit? Years ago, Twitter decided that 3rd party developers, the same developers who make better apps for their own service than they can, developers who are more than likely helping to expand the platform to new users, were bad for Twitter. So they put a 100K token limit on them. A token is essentially a single user, so that means these 3rd party Twitter apps are limited to around that number of users. Once they hit that limit, they can no longer take on new users, which probably means that the app is dead or will be dead very shortly. It's got to be pretty tough for a developer to continue to support an app that no longer makes it money. Falcon Pro was one of the first to hit the limit in 2013. Make sense? So Fenix has apparently hit the 100k limit, which sucks for everyone, because the app is one of the best. With that said, we knew this day would come. Investing in a Twitter app is a pretty bad idea for most people, because if the app is good enough to get your dollar, it's probably, eventually, going to be good enough for another 100K dollars and users and will see its fate. Almost a year ago, a report surfaced suggesting that Twitter may re-think the token limit, but nothing has happened or changed on that front. Remember, this is a mega-company that still doesn't really know what it's doing, even after all these years of tweaking, supposed fine-tuning, and feature introduction. It's struggling to make money and grow its user base, investors seem to hate it, and new people won't come to it because it's confusing to use and there are other options for sharing your life and witty comments with that all of your friends probably use. The developer of Fenix didn't say that he was pulling the app from Google Play, but that seems to be the case. The app should be listed here and isn't (at least on my end). The developer's page doesn't list it either. If you previously bought Fenix, you should still own a token and should be able to use it going forward. Is it too early for a "RIP, Fenix?" UPDATE: Fenix has been pulled by the developer from Google Play.

Google Play Store and Android Apps are Probably Coming Soon to Chromebooks

Kellen — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 07:25:08 +0000

"Choose from over a million apps and games on Google Play to install and use on your Chromebook," says a screenshot shared to reddit over the weekend. Think about that for a second. All of the Android apps you have been running on your phones and tablets for years, now running on Google's other desktop-like operating system that has always been a tough sell to many of us because of its lack of functionality. Would you be interested in a Chromebook if it ran all of your favorite apps? Google hasn't announced this functionality, but it does make a lot of sense. In recent months (years?), rumors of Chrome OS and Android merging have been everywhere, even if they are so different in terms of focus that I don't know how much sense a merge like that really makes. But this move, Android apps running on Chrome OS the way it is, makes a hell of a lot of sense, at least to me. Instead of merging Chrome OS and Android and just having a single platform, you could keep the dead-simple browser-focused experience of Chrome OS that makes it good, but then allow users to introduce additional functionality through a real app ecosystem, not just an extension catalog. Your favorite photo editors from Android could come over (like LightRoom!). So could your favorite Twitter apps and package trackers and controllers for your LED lights and reddit apps, of course. The image at the top of this list post is showing up on a handful of devices, but users are claiming that nothing is live yet or there isn't a way to access Google Play just yet. There are source code mentions for it too. It's clearly, a thing. Oh, and Google I/O arrives in less than a month, so we could/should/likely will know something very, very soon. What do you think? Would you be interested in a Chromebook if it ran Android apps?

Via: reddit

HTC 10 Review is Here

Kellen — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:13:15 +0000

On episode 107 of the Droid Life Show, we'll talk through our final thoughts on the HTC 10, now that our review is out. In case you haven't read that, just know that we are quite high on the 10 and have plenty to say. We'll also talk Google I/O with the schedule out, podcasts in Google Play Music, and the rest of this week's big Android news. Join us at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM 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 and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Subscribe | Google Play | iTunes | Stitcher | Show Page

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Don't Miss These Android Stories: April 22, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:00:07 +0000

To wrap up the week at Droid Life, we just got done publishing our HTC 10 review and also sat down to discuss it on the DL Show. To say that we are impressed with HTC's new phone is probably somewhat of an understatement. They did a pretty fantastic job all-around this year and deserve a slow clap. Outside of that in-depth look, this week, we reflected on a month with the Galaxy S7 Edge, talked about the G5's modules being a proof of concept, saw podcasts hit Google Play Music, and began playing Exploding Kittens obsessively. It was a fun week, though you can tell things are slowing as flagship releases pass and we await the arrival of Google I/O. The week that was can be found below. Well, the highlights can.

RIP, Prince.

JXD S192, a Portable Gaming Console Powered by NVIDIA, Available for Pre-Order in the UK

Tim — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:42:01 +0000

"What the heck is this thing?" That's what I said when I first laid eyes on the JXD S192. Now up for pre-order in the UK, priced at a little over $300, the JXD looks to offer a complete console gaming experience, while also being entirely portable. Much like NVIDIA's SHIELD Portable, the JXD S192 features a built in controller and display, complete with joysticks, D-pad, triggers, and bumpers. Powered by a Tegra K1 processor (not Tegra X1) and 2GB of RAM, this gaming unit has a 7" "retina" display, Bluetooth for wireless headphones, dual speakers, 10,000mAh battery, and comes preloaded with 18 different types of game console formats. According to the product listing, the formats include PS1, MAME, Dreamcast, N64, NeoGeo, Atari, NES, SNES, Gameboy, and many more. The device also has access to Google Play for all of your standard Android apps and games. If you like in the UK, and plan on picking one up, please let me know what you think. I might try to get my hands on one. Funstock Retro Link

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Opinion: The LG G5 is No More Than a Proof of Concept

Tim — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 11:06:00 +0000

LG went big this year with the G5 flagship in introducing a modular design, a concept that many in the Android world have been excited about, thanks to similar efforts such as Project Ara. Unfortunately for LG, and essentially anyone who decides to purchase this phone, LG forgot one major aspect of making a modular phone -- the actual modules. When first announced, it was thought, at least here in the US, that consumers would be able to purchase two different modules for the phone. There is a CAM module, bringing a dedicated shutter button and T/W wheel for increased camera control (plus an increase in battery), as well as a B&O DAC for those concerned with high-grade audio from a smartphone. However, as it turns out, only the CAM module has been made available for pre-order in the US, priced at $70. As for the B&O DAC module, it does not appear it will see a release in the US anytime soon. With LG launching a modular phone, with only one module, potential buyers need to accept the notion that the G5 is, at this point in time, nothing more than a proof of concept. Kellen touched heavily on this point during his LG G5 review. Only recently did LG open a Software Development Kit (SDK) and Hardware Development Kit (HDK) to developers, allowing 3rd-parties to create and release modules built specifically with the G5 in mind. While this is a good step forward in making more modules available to consumers, the timing aspect is all wrong. Realistically, by the time it would take for hardware makers to design, produce, and release a working module for the G5, this phone might be old news. These 3rd-party companies would also need to project how popular the G5 might be, risking resources to create a module that might not even sell when released. Let me be clear. This is not a dig at LG or the G5, but the company should not have released a proof of concept to the masses, hoping to see it catch on like wild fire. To me, LG should have held off for another year or more, working with other companies to create better modules for this device. Maybe open up these SDK and HDKs to developers last year, giving them a reasonable amount of time to create something in anticipation for the phone's release. Think for a moment, what good is having a modular phone if there are no modules for it? Yes, I can swap out my battery whenever I want, whoop-de-do! Let's be honest, you do not need a modular design for that. Now, to reiterate, I do not hate the G5. The design, and more importantly, the concept that it is, excites me. I want a modular phone. The idea of hot-swapping modules, mixing and matching parts as we see done with Project Ara, is totally cool. However, when it comes to the G5, and LG's apparent lack of foresight in this regard, I am disappointed.

Google Play Music Goes Purple Today to Honor Prince

Kellen — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:56:32 +0000

The dude will be missed. What a musician, entertainer, artist, genius. His catalog can also be found on Google Play Music here.

HTC 10 Review

Kellen — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:20:02 +0000

With the HTC 10, I get the feeling that HTC is looking for a fresh start. They are coming off of years in a row of bad smartphones, but seem to have a renewed vision or outlook now that they are a VR company. That's only part-joke there, by the way, because I really do get the feeling that this has become a VR company who also makes phones. Just look at the lack of a big splashy press event, commercials, or other promotion for the phone outside of handing it off to a bunch of tech blogs and tweeting about their findings. And that's not a bad thing, because HTC probably needed their focus adjusted into something other than the tough-to-compete-in smartphone market, in order to get back to making good phones again. The HTC 10, without spoiling too much, is without a doubt a really good phone. We'll dive into all of the details below, but HTC, with the 10, has done almost all of the things we look for in a smartphone, right. They trimmed up the software experience, will probably deliver updates to it faster than anyone else, built a phone that looks and feels equally as good, included almost all of the top tier specs, and even managed to deliver a very solid camera experience. Let's get into it. This is our HTC 10 review.

The Good

Design The design of the HTC 10 isn't new at all, but that doesn't mean it isn't very good. If you have followed the tale of HTC since the beginning of their switch to metal phones, then you should be able to see a lot of the One M7 in this phone. In fact, from the back, they look almost identical outside of the giant chamfer running around the 10's outer edge. Fans of all-metal phones will more than likely love what HTC has done here. In hand, you feel like you spent money on something substantial, something potentially worth hundreds of dollars, almost like you made an investment. It's solid. There aren't squishy or moving parts. There aren't sharp edges. There aren't sticky, cheap-feeling textures or primer applied to the back. What you have is a blasted, soft-touch metal with a finely machined chamfer, that not only looks premium, but aids in grip and is a constant reminder to you of the quality and time that HTC has introduced here. The glass on the front blends into the unibody metal. You get that modern, yet industrial feel, especially with the shine off of that chamfer that glistens with every slight angle. By all accounts, this is a very pretty phone.

HTC even improved the button experience on the side of the phone for adjusting volume and locking or waking. Unlike last year's One M9, you can actually tell which button you are pressing each time. While I wish the power button was above the volume, the texture added by HTC to it at least lets you quickly find the proper button when needed. I'm not a huge fan of the button arrangement on the bottom chin, where HTC used a capacitive fingerprint reader that doubles as a home button, sandwiched between capacitive back and app switcher buttons. HTC did get the order of the buttons correct, but they are all so close to the bottom of the device that I often found I was tapping multiple times above the back button before adjusting my grip to get it to work. With that giant black area at the bottom of the phone, I would have liked to have seen HTC center all of the buttons vertically to make the ergonomics work better. This is a minor complaint, though, and probably something I could get used to over time. Overall, the design of the HTC 10 is quite good, even if it doesn't feel new. This is an evolutionary change from the original One M device, one that we wish would have come two years ago. Still, you can't deny the craftsmanship here, which shows that HTC still can design a phone with the best of them. I would even go as far as to say that when it comes to an all-metal phone, HTC does 'em best. Software I'm starting to feel like HTC is our new Motorola from a few years back - Google's Motorola. Remember when Motorola ditched their Android skin and started giving us a "pure" Android experience with subtle enhancements on top, while updating devices faster than anyone else? That's what HTC is doing these days. Man, is it refreshing and soooooo welcomed. After spending the past couple of months with the Galaxy S7 and G5, two phones that are filled to the brim with skins, bloatware, and other nonsensical garbage, this phone almost feels like it's a bit boring or bare bones, only in a really, really good way. HTC is still giving us their Sense skin on top of Android, but you can't really tell for the most part unless you look at the lock screen, app drawer, and home screen settings. Sense is there, don't get me wrong, but it's not everywhere. The notification and quick tiles pull-down just looks like stock Android. The settings area, also pretty much just looks like stock Android, if not in a different order.

Then you have HTC's apps for making calls or sending text messages nestled into an app drawer that doesn't have many other HTC apps. With this phone, HTC decided to lean things up by not including their own calendar and mail apps, because they know you can (and will) just use Google's, which need to be pre-loaded on the phone anyway, thanks to Google's Android agreement. So when you set up your phone, you don't have to choose a calendar app or mail app - you just get to use the calendar and mail apps that are there. HTC also built in a theme store and engine, so you can really customize the look like you can on most phones these days. HTC's theme app is a bit better than others, though, because they let you choose a wallpaper to base your theme on, which then brings up icons or colors or system colors that match up nicely, giving you the ultimate custom skin. There are pre-loaded icon packs and wallpapers and themes as well, but creating something unique depending on a wallpaper is a nice touch.

Then you have the add-ons I mentioned above that make Sense still a worthwhile skin to not hate. I'm talking about the motion launch gestures from the lock screen, that let you get into the phone or camera, or just wake the phone, without having to touch a button. Even Blinkfeed could be a decent, dead-simple news reader or social media aggregator for some. And of course, we appreciate the power saver settings, some of the camera tricks like Zoe, ability to tweak display color profiles, and take advantage of Marshmallow's adoptable storage, a setting that both LG and Samsung decided against. If you have been on the hunt for a manufacturer who can take the place of Motorola and the "pure" Android experience, now that Lenovo has helped turn them into the manufacturer most likely to be avoided, HTC is a solid choice. Sense is lighter than ever, plus the slimdown of apps and unnecessary software add-ons has HTC in position to really win back the Android enthusiast crowd.

HTC's Update Track Record With all of that software praise in mind, don't rest yet, because we have even more coming. You know how important Android updates are, right? From the latest monthly security patches to the big releases, like Android Marshmallow and soon-to-be-released Android N, they all have their own levels of importance. Yet here we are a good 7 or 8 years into this whole Android thing and manufacturers are still terrible at updating phones in a timely manner. Well, outside of HTC. HTC has (if you can believe it) become somewhat of a bright spot in this never-ending saga to get updates to you in a hurry. HTC was one of the quickest to get Marshmallow out to its newest devices, including those tied to carriers. With their last release, the One A9, they guaranteed updates within 15 days of Google releasing them to Nexus phones and have mostly kept up. They may not have made such a promise with the HTC 10, but the chances of them updating it quicker than most manufacturers is pretty high. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if the 10 is the first non-Nexus to get Android N when it goes stable later this year. How is it that HTC can do all of this? For a couple of reasons. They have fewer phones than someone like Samsung, so they have less work to do to get updates out. They also seem to work closely with Google and more than likely have built Sense to be easily updatable at this point. And finally, if you buy "unlocked" phones from them, there isn't carrier interference to deal with, so HTC can essentially update their devices whenever they want. Sure, they still sell carrier-tied phones and those won't get updates as quickly, but HTC has also shown that it has improved on that process in recent years as well. Want quick Android updates? Buy a Nexus or....I can't believe I'm saying this...an HTC flagship.

Performance Thanks to the leaner Sense skin I just waxed poetic about, and its Snapdragon 820 with 4GB RAM, the HTC 10 is a smooth performer. Not that we weren't expecting a 2016 flagship phone to be smooth and fast, but HTC has clearly done some work here to get the 10 as buttery as can be. HTC is claiming to have improved the touch latency over the One M9 by 50% and app launch time by double. Those are two pretty important areas, since you want your smartphone to track your finger as quickly and accurately as possible, but you also want your apps to load in a hurry. I can't say that I have necessarily noticed a difference in these areas over the Galaxy S7 or G5. However, the fact that HTC is still focusing on responsiveness and app loading shows you that they care about the little things in a smartphone experience that you may not notice until you go elsewhere. Speakers and Audio The HTC 10 has been "engineered for audiophiles," according to their marketing materials. I, unfortunately for those who came here looking for a complete audio review of the 10, am not an audiophile. Here's what I know. The HTC 10 is "certified" by Japan Audio Society for Hi-Res audio, includes a 24-bit DAC, and a high performance headset amplifier. I also know that with a pair of quality headphones plugged in, the sound produced here is pretty awesome. I'm not about to talk highs and lows and mids and soundstages and whatever else you audiophiles talk about, but I appreciate the ability to setup custom sound profiles and the really clean audio that pulsates my ears with a good pair of over-ears on. Listening to music on the 10 with headphones on is addicting - you'll want more. Yeah, the headphone experience here is quite impressive, even to me, a guy who has yet to nerd-out on audio. Even I can give HTC a thumbs up here. As for the external speaker situation, I feel torn. I loved the dual front-facing stereo speaker systems that HTC used in the past and do not love the separated tweeter and woofer system they have here on the 10. That's not me saying I don't love having two speakers in a phone, it's just that I don't get the immersive experience when playing games or watching video like I do with a stereo setup. HTC's speakers here are still better than what other 2016 flagships have put out, but that's not saying much, since most gave us single bottom-firing tinny tin tins.

SD Card Slot Yep, there is a microSD card slot in the HTC 10, like there was in the HTC One M9 and there is in the Galaxy S7, LG G5, and Moto X Pure Edition. At this point, only Google is avoiding expandable storage. With the HTC 10, you get 32GB of internal space to use, so tossing in a microSD card is something you will want to do from day one. The phone technically supports up to 2TB cards, which don't exist. Just go out a buy a 128GB card or 200GB card and call it a day. Make the investment today and take the card with you from phone to phone, since it'll be tough to fill up that much storage. You can find 128GB cards for as little as $30 these days. As an added bonus, HTC is allowing users to take advantage of Android Marshmallow's adoptable storage feature. That means you can turn your SD card into an encrypted system-style bundle of storage to give you one one big block of storage to use, instead of the separated internal and external partitions you are used to. This has both benefits and drawbacks, so we aren't going to recommend you do it unless you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Still, HTC is allowing this to happen, while Samsung and LG killed it, probably because they think they need to save you from yourself. Uh Oh Protection HTC's Uh Oh Protection is one of those benefits you probably won't appreciate until you need to use it, which is why it's such a big deal. Protections, which are more than just warranties, are the types of features that you often don't know you need until it's too late. Thankfully, HTC includes Uh Oh Protection and all of its benefits for free when you purchase a phone through HTC.com. That's right, from what we can tell, you only get Uh Oh Protection when you buy the HTC 10 through HTC's site. It is what it is, I guess. What is Uh Oh Protection? Within the first 12 months of owning the HTC 10, you can replace the phone for a broken screen or because of water damage for free, one time. HTC will send you a phone the next day if you are willing to place a $599 hold on your credit card, or you can send the damaged phone back without the hold and get your replacement within two days. They used to let you switch between carriers one time, as well, without cost, but that piece of Uh Oh Protection seems to have been killed off, unfortunately. But look, the screen replacement and water damage protections are a big deal. I know that not everyone drops their phones and cracks screens or dunks them in oceans, but people do and it's almost always at a time when we are lacking cash flow. With this protection, HTC is taking care of their customers in a way that almost no one else does.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Camera The HTC 10 has the best camera we have seen in an HTC phone in years, if not ever. Normally, that would be something a company can brag about, but HTC has put so many terrible cameras in its phones for so many years in a row that it's not exactly something to run around rah-rahing over. The 12MP "UltraPixel 2" camera with 1.55 micron pixels being used here is the same one that Google put in the Nexus 6P. That means this is a proven winner, since the 6P has one of our favorite cameras of all time. HTC's implementation of it is also a step above, thanks to included optical image stabilization (OIS), which Google told us they didn't need and were wrong about. HTC gets a number of things right here, largely in part to their nicely designed camera software. You have your standard shutter and video capture buttons on the right side with shortcuts to gallery and selfie mode. On the left side, you have shortcuts to flash and HDR controls sandwiching a slideout menu that gets you into Pro, Zoe, and Panorama modes. You'll find controls for Hyperlapse and Slow motion video modes too, along with settings that include grid application, switching storage to SD card, etc. The camera app is super clean and easily one of my favorites.

As for the results, I'd have to say that the camera here is solid and can take a decent picture. The photos I took all seem to be muted in terms of color reproduction, which some would refer to as being more "natural." I don't know that I would lean that way, because I like the vibrant photos that come out of the Galaxy S7 and G5 over these often dull pictures from the 10. With that said, that's a personal preference and I fully understand that your eye may prefer what the 10 can produce. Outside of the dullness, the laser autofocus system here is hit or miss (and shows this obnoxious message all of the time). Sometimes it's fast and other times it is far too slow. Sometimes the touch-to-focus makes sense and works on the first try, but then others it never seems to get out of being locked, causing you to miss your shot. The camera loading time isn't great either, especially when you compare it to those other two phones I just mentioned. HTC included a double-swipe-down gesture on the lock screen that launches the camera, but it's just not quick enough. In low-light, the camera is capable of capturing tons of light and a nice photo, assuming that object isn't moving at all.

Oh, I didn't mention the front-facing camera and that's because I never do in reviews. But, HTC put optical image stabilization (OIS) in it, which is supposedly a first for smartphones. Honestly, I don't care. If you are a selfie machine, aka part of the downfall of society and Instagram, then maybe you do. The OIS should help your selfies be the bestest selfies ever, OK. Moving on. Overall, the camera on the HTC 10 is solid, like I said above. It's not my favorite camera in the current crop of flagships, but it's not one that will cause you to question your purchase, should you decide to buy the 10. I think you will get plenty of good photos in many situations, plus HTC should be able to continually improve some of the areas I just complained about. Below, you will find a handful of photos taken with the HTC 10. Many of these were featured in this post from a week ago. You will find full resolution files at that post as well.

Battery Life HTC is telling the world to expect 2-day battery life with the HTC 10. Haha..ha. No. That's not happening today or tomorrow or two years from now when unicorn dust is found in the Lochness Monster's vacation home in the Bermuda Triangle and scientists tie it to battery optimization. Does the HTC 10 have decent battery life? Yeah, it does. But come on, HTC, 2-day battery life?

So here are my numbers. I'm averaging right around 14-16 hours on a single charge with around 3 hours of screen on time. That's not bad at all! In fact, that's better than both the Snapdragon 820-powered LG G5 and Galaxy S7. I've taken the HTC 10 on runs with GPS enabled, listened to music, let my son dominate some LEGO Duplo games, and even done my fair share of YouTube binging over the past couple of weeks and never have I really been worried about battery life. This phone is borderline being really good in battery life, but again, you can't brag about 2-day battery life and not even get to the 36 hour mark. As an added bonus, the HTC 10 has a USB Type-C port and supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0. Should you run into a situation during a day where you need to charge up in a hurry and get back to staring at your phone for 6 hours, you can do so in a short few minutes. Specs HTC has always been good about loading up their flagship phones with the newest specs available. With the HTC 10, they once again came through on most fronts by including a Snapdragon 820 processor, 12MP (1.55μm pixels) camera with OIS, 5MP front camera with OIS, 32GB storage with microSD support, 4GB RAM, 3000mAh battery, 5.2-inch Quad HD Super LCD 5 display, BoomSound speakers, USB Type-C port with Quick Charge 3.0, and Android 6.0 under their Sense skin. The 10 isn't ticking every box, though, because it's missing any sort of water resistance. Well, it has an IP53 rating, which is basically nothing more than a warning to keep all water droplets away. It also doesn't have wireless charging, if that's something you care about, or one of the best displays in a flagship phone. Like the G5, HTC is close here to putting it all in a phone, but it fails in some of the areas that Samsung still managed to cover and top the charts with. Some of these aren't deal-breaker type of omissions and normally we wouldn't even ding HTC for leaving them out, that is unless you start looking at the 10's $700 price and realize that Samsung did it all and then some for cheaper. Display On the HTC 10, HTC used a 5.2-inch Quad HD Super LCD 5 display. The display is quite a bit better than what LG used in the G5, but overall, not as good as what Samsung put in the Galaxy S7. I'm starting to think that AMOLED panels are lapping LCD panels at this point. I know there are arguments for using one over the other, but outside of saving a few bucks, I don't know that you will ever convince me that LCD displays are a better choice than AMOLEDs these days. With the HTC 10's display, you will find pretty accurate colors out of the box, along with options for tweaking the display to better appeal to your particular eye. They include both Vivid and sRGB modes, plus sliders inside of each mode to make the display "warmer" or "colder." I really appreciate settings like these, because I often don't like the way displays are tuned by manufacturers and like to get them setup for me.

Where the HTC 10 display loses points is in brightness, viewing angles, and outdoor viewing with sunlight present. The brightness and viewing angle issues (if you can call them that) can be seen above. The panel here just doesn't get quite bright enough when compared to Samsung's display and starts turning a brownish color when you get away from looking at it straight on. But really, the biggest issue here are the HTC 10's struggles in sunlight. Like the G5, this LCD panel is not good at all in outdoor settings where the sun is involved. I once again took the HTC 10 out for a photoshoot with the S7 in-hand and found that I was squinting and tilting to see the 10, yet the S7 was as clear as ever. HTC wins points for color accuracy and customizability with the 10's LCD panel, but loses some for those issues I just mentioned. It's a decent Quad display.

The Not-so-Good

No Water Resistance The day before I picked up my HTC 10 review unit, I was enjoying a beer in a New York City bar while watching NBA basketball and just so happened to spill said beer across the counter. My Galaxy S7 was sitting next to it and got soaked in hop heaven. Just after the waitress handed me some paper towels to help clean up my mess, she grabbed my phone and started trying to dry it off first, probably because she thought it needed saving. I told her to stop, because the phone was water resistant and that also meant "beer resistant." Fast forward 24 hours to when the HTC 10 replaced my S7 and that same beer being spilled would have been a disaster. It wasn't until I picked up this year's Samsung flagship that I realized I don't want to live without IP67 or IP68 resistance in a phone ever again. Since dropping it for G5 and HTC 10 review periods, it's now an area I worry about and don't want to. I now have to think about keeping phones like the HTC 10 away from dinner prep in the kitchen, the baths my son takes, ultra wet days here in the northwest, and beer. I know that HTC isn't the only one to have left out water resistance and they have their Uh Oh Protection, but they should be dinged for passing on it, just like LG was.

Pricing I know that HTC isn't a company who can charge $350 for its flagship phone and survive by squeezing out pennies in profit off of each device. They aren't Xiaomi or OnePlus. But at $700, I honestly think they have priced themselves out of consideration for most people. As I mentioned above in the "Specs" section, this phone costs more than both the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7, two phones that arguably offer much more stuff. Sure, HTC was/is handing out a $100 discount to $599, but they should have started pricing there from the beginning, instead of trying to trick customers into thinking they were now getting a special deal. There is a pretty good chance that their few carrier partners - like Verizon - will offer the phone at less than $700 and introduce monthly payment options to help make the cost more reasonable. But again, the Galaxy S7 is sitting at around the same price with more features and has a greater brand recognition over HTC. It just feels like HTC missed an opportunity once again to show that their phone is great and affordable. Availability Speaking of carriers, HTC is going to have a tough time selling many of these phones without the help of AT&T. As of today, the only carrier partners in the US for the HTC 10 are Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. That means the #2 wireless carrier in this country, a country that HTC desperately needs to do well in, passed on the 10. We don't know why, but unless something changes between now and the early May launch, your only option for using the 10 on AT&T is by purchasing the $700 unlocked version through HTC's website. Outside of the lack of carrier support, we should also point out that the launch of the 10 seems a bit slow and confusing, similarly to LG's launch of the G5. HTC announced the 10 on April 12 and said it would be out at some point in May. They won't tell us a specific date, but now Verizon is announcing to the world that its customers will be the first to get it. So not only are we missing AT&T in this equation, Verizon seems to have worked out some sort of exclusive over T-Mobile and Sprint to deliver the phone first. Does that mean weeks before those other two or days? We don't know. What we do know is that the 10 isn't off to a great start in terms of pricing and availability.

Other Notes

Call quality: Like with the G5 and S7, I’ve placed and received a handful of calls on the 10 and had no issues. 2016 phones make and take calls. They also sound just fine. Shocker.
No wireless charging: HTC probably could have worked out some trickery with Qualcomm to include wireless charging in the HTC 10, but didn't and that's no surprise. Their all-metal flagships never include wireless charging and so none of us should have expected it here. HTC seems to be on the same page as Google over wireless charging these days, which means they aren't including it because they think fast wired charging is a better option.
Fast charging: Like the G5, the HTC 10 has fast charging and fully supports Qualcomm’s new Quick Charge 3.0 tech through its USB Type-C port. Fast charging is awesome, but you knew that already.
Fingerprint sensor: If I were to rank fingerprint sensors from this year's flagships, HTC would probably tie LG for 2nd best, behind only Samsung and the Galaxy S7. The fingerprint sensor is of the capacitive type, so you only need to rest your finger on it in order for the phone to read and then unlock. It's fast, but not mind-blowingly fast. It rarely errors and almost always reads, it's just not ultra quick to do so.

Video

First look and tour

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Tips and tricks

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vs. Galaxy S7 and G5

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First 10 things to do

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Pictures

The Verdict

HTC has created a really, really nice smartphone in the HTC 10. It's well designed, certainly well made, features a trimmed down software experience that we should all appreciate and beg other manufacturers to emulate, has solid battery life, and even takes pictures in most situations that you'll be satisfied with. Outside of not having water resistance and an affordable price, this is one of those phones you should consider buying if you are in the market right now. Is the HTC 10 the best phone you can buy today? In my opinion, it falls just short of what Samsung has created with the Galaxy S7, but is a leap above the LG G5. If you buy an HTC 10, I think you will love it. I think you will love the software approach and I know you will love it when Android N and other major software updates arrive on your phone before your friends' Galaxy phones. Good job, HTC.

AT&T's LG V10 Receiving Marshmallow Update

Tim — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 08:52:22 +0000

Owners of the LG V10 on AT&T are beginning to receive the update to Marshmallow, allowing these good people to access Doze, Now on Tap, added control over notifications, and a more comprehensive app permissions experience. At this time, AT&T has not yet updated their support site with all of the details, such as file size or version number, but we will update this post once that information is live. Verizon's V10 received this update in March, and the T-Mobile variant got it earlier this month. If you own this device on AT&T, let us know if you have received it and how much you are enjoying the Marshmallow goodness. Note: AT&T's support site has yet to detail the update to Marshmallow, but should be updated soon.

Via: AT&T

Cheers Rodney!

#TBT: Verizon Teases DROID With "iDon't" TV Commercial, Piques Much Curiosity

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:32:20 +0000

When I first saw the above "iDon't" commercial on TV, if memory serves me right, I was rocking a LG Voyager. At that time, I knew I didn't care for iPhones, not necessarily because I didn't like the phones or couldn't afford one, but there was something about the iPhone culture I did not personally align with. It seemed fake, shallow, and plastic. So, when I kept hearing "DROOOID" in my head, curious as ever as to what it even meant, I ended up doing a bit of research. The commercial I saw was for the Motorola DROID that was to launch on Verizon. It ran Android, had a full keyboard, and wasn't an iPhone. Needless to say, I fell in love without ever laying an eye on the thing. Once I finally bought the phone, I wanted to learn as much as I could about Android, Motorola, and smartphone apps, so I did more research. That additional research led me to the early days of Droid Life, which at the time was just Kellen writing up posts about his DROID as often as he could, while still working a 9-5 day job. Some of you know how my story played out from there, but I'm curious to hear if any of you share a similar Android beginning. Before this commercial ever aired, I was completely oblivious to the existence of Android. Were you, too? DROOOID!

DEAL: Jonathan Adler Special Edition Moto X Pure Edition Now Just $299 ($175 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:29:57 +0000

The special edition Moto X Pure Edition, which was designed by Jonathan Adler (No idea who that is either...), is now just $299 from Motorola. That's a solid $175 discount on a phone that was probably meant to be a limited run, sell-them-quick-through-hype, type of phone. Since that must not have gone to plan, you can grab one for super cheap! $299 (down from $475) is a heck of a deal, assuming you don't mind the wild designs. These versions come with 32GB of storage, which is double the storage of the normal Moto Maker-made 16GB models. Those run $399 on most days, with the 32GB versions jumping up another $50 to $449. See, this is a pretty good deal! We aren't sure how long the deal runs or if it's just until they finally sell out of them, but you may want to act somewhat quickly. Motorola Link

And the Nominees Are: Google Announces First-Ever Google Play Awards

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:48:12 +0000

Google I/O will feature a new celebration of developers this year, with Google's announcement of the Google Play Awards. These awards will be given out to developers in several different categories, such as Standout Startup, Best Families App, and Best Use of Google Play Game Services. Interestingly enough, Google already has its nominees, selected by a "panel of experts on the Google Play team," and the public's voice appears to have no say in who will win. It's all up to Google. A few of the nominees include Alto's Adventure (woot!) for Standout Indie, Todoist for Best Use of Material Design, and This War of Mine for Most Innovative. Looking over the list, there are a couple interesting choices by Google. One that sticks out to me is Vevo being nominated for Best Use of Material Design. C'mon, Google, there has to be a better choice. A winners ceremony will be held next month at Google I/O. How exciting. Go over the complete list of nominees and categories below, then share your thoughts on who you think should go home with the win. Categories and Nominees

Via: Android Developers

Google I/O 2016 Schedule is Live, Time to Start Planning

Kellen — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:18:04 +0000

The Google I/O 2016 schedule is now live on the I/O site, which means it's time to see what Google has in store for this year's developers conference. It also means that we get to see how this whole "developer festival" will be structured and the sessions located. As a reminder, this year's Google I/O is moving out of downtown San Francisco's Moscone Center and down to Google's home in Mountain View. The keynote and sessions will all take place at the Shoreline Amphitheater, an outdoor venue that is basically across the street from Google's campus. Google is also expanding this year's I/O to three days, something they haven't done since 2013. From what we can tell, Google is setting up multiple stages at the Shoreline Amphitheater to host the various sessions. The keynote will take place in the amphitheater itself, likely on the main stage, but then Google will setup at least 10 separate stages throughout the grounds for breakout sessions. Google says that the initial 100+ technical talks are on the schedule, but there will be more than 200 in the end. In the past, Google has livestreamed a good portion of the sessions from I/O, because tickets are limited and they know that not everyone can attend. This year, though, we are only seeing two events listed as being livestreamed, the keynote and the "What's new in Android" session. That should change as we get closer to I/O. Keep in mind that they will host them all on YouTube after Google I/O. So far, after a quick browse through the sessions, we are seeing more Android than any single person can probably handle. From the "What's new in Android" session, to those covering Material Design improvements, Project Tango, image compression, gaming, slimming down APK size, using Nearby, Android Auto, and VR, there is a bit of something for everyone. To check out the entire schedule and start planning for the events that interest you, head over to the Google I/O site.

Leica, Huawei Release Joint Statement on "Co-Engineering" of Huawei P9

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 11:11:27 +0000

Earlier this week, it was reported by us, plus a handful of other online publications, that Leica's actual involvement in co-engineering the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus was somewhat misrepresented to potential consumers. Shortly after that story was published, Huawei released an in-depth statement, refuting any idea that Leica was not heavily involved in the development (aka "co-engineering") process. Now, Leica and Huawei have released a much larger joint statement, detailing everything that Leica did during the process. In this statement, Leica explains that the camera module inside of the P9 series, and the "achievable picture quality," is the result of the intensive technological collaboration between Huawei and Leica. Furthermore, the company's joint objective was to achieve the "best possible image results and optical imaging performance," in order to provide consumers with the best possible picture quality. As you read the statement, a clear picture is drawn that Leica and Huawei did in fact work on the modules together. Detailing this information from the beginning could have mitigated this situation entirely. Read Huawei and Leica's full statement below.

Leica and Huawei co-engineered P9 camera module
[Düsseldorf, Germany, Düsseldorf – 21 April 2016] - In February, Huawei and Leica announced a long-term strategic partnership. The camera function is the most used smartphone application and our aim is to bring it up to the high standards demanded by the Leica product philosophy. Leica brings to the cooperation their expertise gathered from decades of experience in optical engineering and optical design. The collaboration between Huawei and Leica aims to deliver the best possible picture quality in the smartphone segment. Both companies have been working closely to co-engineer Huawei’s recently launched premium smartphone - the P9 - based on innovation and excellent craftsmanship. The camera module of the P9 series and the achievable picture quality is the result of the intensive technological collaboration between Huawei and Leica. Leica has been deeply involved in the development of the camera-module of the P9 and P9 Plus. Our joint objective was to achieve the best possible image results and optical imaging performance in order to provide consumers in the smartphone photography segment with the best possible picture quality. The result raises smartphone photography to an entirely new level. Our co-engineering is deeply embedded in the product and Leica’s contribution has involved:

Collaborative development, evaluation and optimization of optical design (lens calculation) in compliance with Leica standards.

Collaborative development of the mechanical construction of the camera module to reduce stray light effects (“ghost and flare”).

Definition of imaging quality in terms of color rendition/color fidelity, white balance, stray light reduction (“ghost & flare effects”), exposure precision, dynamic range, sharpness and noise characteristics.

Processing of image data with the aid of long-standing Leica optical and signal processing expertise

Definition of the most stringent common quality standards and production requirements for serial production by Huawei to ensure consistently high quality.

Leica’s globally recognized expertise is based to a large extent on the ability to guarantee the narrowest tolerances on the market. This justifiable claim to excellence is naturally also an integral component of the technology partnership and is implemented in Huawei’s production processes of the P9 camera module to ensure uncompromising quality.

Google is Inviting People to Test a New Travel Assistant App

Kellen — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:28:03 +0000

Google is on the verge of introducing a new travel assistant app, according to their Local Guides program, which began inviting members to test the app this morning. The new app will arrive on Android and iOS and could go into public testing through Local Guides quite soon (next week to be exact), as invitees were asked to respond with interest in testing before Monday. What could the new app be? That's tough to tell. My guess is that it could take on some form of Inbox's "Trips" feature, where it uses your inbox and the emails related to trips you have on the horizon to help you manage the entire process of traveling. With "Trips" in Inbox, Google attempts to intelligently bundle together any emails that look to be relevant to an upcoming trip, but then also use those emails to give you easily accessible info on check-in times, flight status, etc. Taking "Trips" from Inbox and making it into a stand-alone app makes sense since not everyone is exactly down with Inbox's approach to email. A stand-alone app could allow Gmail and other users to take advantage of this technology as well. We were also invited through the Local Guides program and filled out a survey about our upcoming travel plans in hopes of being able to test the new app. If we get invited and aren't required to sign something scary, we'll be sure to share whatever we can. Anyone else see the invite?

Cheers N and S!

Android N (DP2) Now Available for the Sony Xperia Z3

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:12:21 +0000

The Android N Developer Preview 2 (DP2) is available for flashing on the Xperia Z3 from Sony, starting today. Announced by the Android Developers group on Google+, Sony has been working close with Google to offer this opportunity to Xperia owners, granting them very early access to Android N. In fact, this is the first time any device other than one directly from Google (Nexus, Pixel, etc), has received access to an official Developer Preview. If you own an Xperia Z3, you will need to manually flash the Android N software onto your phone, then once that is complete, you will continue to receive OTA updates directly from Sony for Android N. Flashing instructions and more specific details on that can be found on Sony's website. Sony has a good history of things like this, announcing back in October (when Marshmallow was still new and awesome) that it would allow 10,000 Xperia Z3 owners to beta test Android 6.0. Sony, keep up the good. Xperia Z3 owners interested, follow the link. Sony Download Site

Via: +Android Developers

BlackBerry Priv Marshmallow Beta Update Rolling Out, T-Mobile Customers Next in Line

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:53:17 +0000

Earlier this month, BlackBerry announced a private beta group for select Priv owners who wanted to run the latest and greatest Android version before anyone else. Starting right now, an update for this beta is rolling out to those use signed up using a phone purchased from BlackBerry's online store, and within the next 24 hours, those with a Priv through T-Mobile will receive their updates to take part in the Marshmallow action. For those of you on T-Mobile, once your Marshmallow beta invite is received, you can download the update, then provide feedback to BlackBerry on any major issues you might come across. Do we have any beta testers here? If so, tell us what other Priv owners can expect once they receive Marshmallow.

@BlackBerry #PRIVMarshmallowBeta check for an update as we have set you up with another build. @TMobile registrants: invites coming in 24h
— Nathan Webster (@NathanWebsterBB) April 21, 2016

Sh*t Just Got Real, Crossy Road Now Supports Online Multiplayer

Tim — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 08:47:59 +0000

Crossy Road, the game everyone was playing many months ago, received an update this week that brings online multiplayer support via WiFi. Yes, my article title is correct, sh*t just got real. With the update, up to four players can connect to a single lobby, bringing a new type of action to the Crossy Road universe. When playing multiplayer, the objective of Crossy Road is the same - who can make it the furthest without getting nailed by a car, drowning in a creek, getting swooped up by eagle, or hit by a train. While the overall appearance at first is quite competitive, players can actually revive one another, which will allow your squad of misfit animal characters to reach top spots on the worldwide leaderboard. The update is available right now on Google Play. Grab your friends and get in on this action. Play Link

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Corning Can Now Print High Quality Photos Onto Gorilla Glass

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:59:15 +0000

Corning announced Vibrant Gorilla Glass this week, offering device manufacturers another way to help distinguish their designs from the pack. With Vibrant, Corning can print high-quality, multi-color images directly onto Gorilla Glass, giving devices a more custom appearance. For example, on the backside of the Galaxy S7, a water drop could be printed onto the glass, but more realistically, logos and device model names could also be printed. Corning claims that the process is scalable enough to allow for personalized smartphones. This means anyone who wants to pay a little extra might have the opportunity to receive a custom one-off smartphone. As consumers, that's what gets us excited. Allowing pet owners to print a photo pf their cat directly onto their device's glass would be sweet. According to Corning, product samples are on their way to customers (OEMs) around the globe, meaning we could see Vibrant Gorilla Glass sometime in the near future. Here's a brief overview of Vibrant taken from the press release.

Device manufacturers today are looking for new ways to differentiate their products, without compromising important features such as durability and clarity. Vibrant Corning Gorilla Glass provides a new opportunity for customized decoration and commercial branding and is one of several valuable product enhancements that leverage Corning’s core capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Do you think any OEMs will use this from Corning?

Via: Corning | Engadget

Video: 20+ HTC 10 Tips and Tricks

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:50:52 +0000

HTC and their handful of carrier partners still won't share with us the exact launch date of the HTC 10, so at this point, we are really just putting it all out there in preparation for that day should it come without warning. We have taken tours, told you the first 10 things you should do, compared it to the Galaxy S7 and G5, and even fired off a bunch of camera shots from the phone. You should know almost all there is to know about this phone at this point. Well, our full review will dive into the rest, but you probably already know enough to form some solid opinions as you continue to wait. With that in mind, there is one or two remaining videos to do to wrap this all up. The first is our 20+ tips and tricks video, which will take you through an in-depth look at how you can get the most of your device. In this video, we walk through some of the items from that "first 10 things you should do" video, but then take it a step further by diving into screen pinning and exiting, using Zoe and Pro camera modes, quickly adding your apps to folders, Smart Lock, and why you should ditch HTC's really terrible stock keyboard. Here we go - 20+ HTC 10 tips and tricks!

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Motorola Confirms Delays in Warranty Exchanges, Apologizes, is Working on Solutions

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:34:45 +0000

Last week, we highlighted an unpleasant situation involving warranty exchanges of Motorola products and how people were being left without phones and watches for months when they were told initially it would be just days. We asked at the time that you share your Motorola warranty stories, in part because we wanted you to have an outlet to voice your frustrations (if you had any), but also because this site, depending on the topic, does have some influence from time to time. What I'm saying is that by having hundreds of you share horror stories in this public arena, we may get Motorola to wake up and at the very least, acknowledge that they have some serious issues on their hands that need to be addressed. Today, Motorola reached out with a statement confirming that their US repair center is experiencing delays. Motorola even admitted that this whole mess is not up to their standards and "deeply apologize" for the inconvenience. They don't currently have an overnight solution in place to fix all your issues, but they did say that they are working to "identify and implement" some. Here is the full statement.

We're experiencing delays at our US repair center that is influencing repair times for some customers. We know how important it is for you to get your phone back as quickly as possible so we’re working hard to identify and implement solutions. We are dedicated to the highest quality service and this is not up to our standard of excellence. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused. If you are currently having an issue with warranty fulfillment, please contact us at 888-355-8422. We are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Here's to hoping they can tidy this up in a hurry. The post-purchase service agreement with customers is often the most important because not every product you or I buy is going to be perfect for the time you own it. When those times come where we need servicing or repairs, we want to know that the company who sold us the product can be counted on.

DEAL: Moto 360 (1st Gen) is Just $89.99 Today at eBay

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:04:18 +0000

I don't know that I would recommend that just anyone rush out and buy the original Moto 360 these days, now that the watch is closing in on its 2-year anniversary, but if you have been curious about smartwatches and their supposed usefulness, and are ready to dive in with little investment, we have a deal for you today. For just $89.99, you can buy the Moto 360 (1st gen) over at eBay. $90! With free shipping! Keep in mind that the original Moto 360 launched with pretty dated specs (namely the processor), so in 2016, it's going to struggle some. With that said, it's still arguably the best looking smartwatch ever released and will still work with your current phone. It's also just $89.99...which, again, is nuts. The seller has all sorts of combinations available, including those on leather or metal bands. He says that they are in "new other" condition, which could just mean that they won't ship to you in original packaging. Or it could mean something else. Either way, something to consider. eBay Link

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: One Month Later

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 14:23:50 +0000

Our review of the Galaxy S7 Edge has been up for a little while now, and having used the device for a solid month at this point, I feel as if I should share my final take on the device before I get something else in my hands. Unsurprisingly to many, I'm sure, the Galaxy S7 Edge is still my vote for the top device released so far in 2016. It's pretty early in the year after all, but from what I have seen thus far, I don't think the LG G5 or HTC 10 have what it takes to overcome everything the Galaxy S7 Edge offers. Over the course of this month, I have been very happy with the phone's overall performance, and thanks to an update that recently came from T-Mobile and Samsung (I have an unbranded T-Mobile variant), my battery life has even gotten better from what I experienced during my review period. While I was usually hitting the hay with about 10-15% of juice left at the end of each day, I am easily seeing 30-35% battery left come bed time. For me, this is quite adequate. Other high notes from this past month include the Galaxy S7 Edge's camera, IP68 water resistance, and theming software Samsung baked into the phone. Usually, one of my main gripes with Samsung phones is the UI and color palette choice, but with themes, all of that is changeable and I can get pretty darn close to a stock Marshmallow look if I try hard enough. In addition, I have been using Nova Launcher to strengthen my customization options. For real, if you don't use Nova, you're doing Android wrong. As for the previously mentioned camera experience, the aspects I notice most are the speed of the shutter and the time to focus. When switching between subjects inside of a shot, the phone is very quick to focus, and as soon as it is focused, I can begin shooting instantaneously. There is hardly pause between shots, which makes shooting my fast-paced dogs very easy. When they are running around the yard, I want to be able to capture those silly faces they make, and when you have a phone that can snap shots back-to-back in rapid succession, it makes life so much easier. I continue to rate the camera experience on the Galaxy S7 Edge as the top of what Android has to offer. Let's also get back to water resistance. While it may seem that IP68 is a trend we just recently started hyping, I can't say enough good things about it. Now, when a new phone is announced, if it doesn't have this feature, I almost feel ripped off. If Samsung is able to build a device of this standard, while making it resistant to tons of water and solid ingress, then why don't other OEMs? My point is mostly directed at HTC. The HTC 10 is a damn good looking smartphone, but really, they couldn't give that thing IP68? Or even IP67? As it stands, the HTC 10 has very little water resistance, so little that you really wouldn't even want to splash water on it. For HTC to charge $700 off the bat for the 10, higher water and dust resistance would have been appreciated. Now that I have a phone that I can do whatever with, like completely use when it's raining outside or in the kitchen when I am making dinner with no fear of it getting ruined by spilling something, I don't want to lose that added experience. As an example, I have been watching baseball with my Galaxy S7 Edge on the counter, all while rinsing off salad leaves and veggies. Then, with my hands still wet, I can move the phone out of the way. No worries at all. As a consumer, that added peace of mind is great. With all of the good stuff out of the way, let's talk about what I don't like and my fears of having this device in the future. As we all know, Samsung and carriers have not been the best about delivering updates. Yes, they are getting better, but it's still nowhere near Nexus levels. You think because the Galaxy S7 Edge is the "new" phone, Samsung is magically going to send updates more quickly? Please. The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 were once considered new phones and look at them, only recently receiving updates to Marshmallow. As someone who relies on having the latest and greatest software from Google, that is purely unacceptable. Not too long ago, HTC began promising 90-day update windows for when new versions of Android launched. 90 days isn't too bad, but to this day, Samsung or LG have been nowhere near a timeline like HTC promises. When it comes to the update game, you just can't trust these companies to deliver the goods in a timely manner. Sure, you might see a few updates quickly, but in the long run, you will be left behind like every other flagship buyer before you. Prediction time: The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge won't receive Android N until November or December, at the earliest. With Android N release scheduled for "Q3," bet your bottom dollar that you won't see an official update for these phones until months after that. Lastly, my only real gripe would be the single speaker on the bottom of the phone. It's placement is bad. The sound is weak. The overall external audio experience on the phone leaves much to be desired. It's shallow, tinny, and lacks any sort of audio depth. The fact that I constantly need to cup my hand over the speaker to hear it is definitely a downside. And there you have it, my month with the Galaxy S7 Edge in a nutshell. The performance, battery, and camera are still fantastic, but I fear Samsung will screw me when it comes to updates. As it stands right now, if I had to stick to one phone for this year, it would be the Galaxy S7 Edge. It delivers everything I need and then some. If you own the Galaxy S7 Edge, please feel free to share your ups and downs with the phone in the comments section. Do you agree with my assessment?

In Celebration of 4/20, Slickwraps Offering Hemp Wraps (42% Off Code Too)

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:33:28 +0000

For today only, in celebration of April 20 (4/20 aka National Weed Day aka Be Like Snoop Dogg Day), Slickwraps is offering hemp wraps for select devices. For smartphones, the price appears to be consistent at $25, while wraps for a MacBook will cost you an additional $5 at $30. The hemp wraps are exactly what you would find from other wraps from Slickwraps, with the exception of the real look and feel of hemp, of course. According to Slickwraps' product listing, these wraps will offer dust and scratch protection for your precious smartphone, while also including the same 3M adhesive found on all of their other wraps. As for which devices you can purchase a hemp wrap for, Slickwraps has the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, LG G5, and tons of iPhones models available, just to name a few. Again, these wraps are available today only. Update: Slickwraps is also hosting a 42% off sale. Use the code "420" at checkout on anything. Slickwraps Link

Google Keep Also Gets Quick Link Storing in Latest Update, Hashtags, Slight Redesign

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:39:55 +0000

You know how we just told you that Inbox was getting a sweet new link storing feature? So is Google Keep. According to a blog post from Google on the Docs Blog, Keep is getting a similarly quick-share option for links both in Chrome (new extension!) and in the Android app. Not only that, but you will now be able to organize with hashtags too. The new Keep Chrome extension works a lot like the new Inbox extension. Once installed (link below), you tap on a Keep extension shortcut that then launches into a new note with that link attached. From within the new note window, you can add tags, type out additional notes, or trash it all. On Android, sharing links is as easy as hitting the "Share" button, just like it now is on Inbox. Tap the "Share" button from within an app and you can create a new note with that link without actually leaving the app. Nice, right?

The new Keep lets you quickly organize your notes by using hashtags from within the note to create labels. Instead of applying labels the old fashioned way (create one, then apply it), you can now type out hashtags to help you better organize and then find notes. Typing them will show you a list of already-created tags, but also allow you to create one.

Finally, the Android app has be re-organized a bit to group items together and take them out of the toolbar at the top. You'll now see buttons on each side of a new bottom navigation bar, with shortcuts on the left for adding images or drawings, along with one on the right for changing labels, colors, collaborators, and deleting. You can grab the update below through the Play store or sideload it with the included .apk file. Play Link (APK Link, v3.3.157.0) | Chrome Extension

Via: Google Docs Blog

Exploding Kittens, Kickstarter's Most-Funded Game, Now Available for Android

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:24:40 +0000

Kickstarter's most-funded game, Exploding Kittens, is now available for download from Google Play. Priced at $1.99, Exploding Kittens is a multiplayer card game that has been redeveloped for mobile devices. On mobile, you can play online with strangers from across the world, or you can choose to play offline with friends. The game supports 2-5 players. The game is essentially a kitty version of Russian Roulette. Players draw cards until they draw an Exploding Kitten. If that is done, the player is dead and can no longer play. However, if that player has a defense card, such as a Catnip Sandwich or Laser Pointer, that player continues. All of the other cards in the deck are used to move, mitigate, or avoid the Exploding Kittens. Artwork for Kitten Explosion has been done entirely by The Oatmeal, and this digital version of the game also features expansion packs for new cards, kitties, and gameplay action. If having a blast with your friends seems like good old fashioned fun, give it a try. Play Link ($1.99)

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Google's Inbox Gets Three Awesome New Features Today, Including Link Storing

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 10:49:10 +0000

Google's Inbox, my personal email app of choice, is getting three really cool new features today that continue to make it difficult for its users to ever look at another email app again. The new features involve better calendar event tracking, a way to preview newsletters you often click through, and a new "Save to Inbox" option for storing links (!) you find across the web. In the calendar portion of this latest feature add, Google is letting Inbox gather emails from events together, sort of like they do with Trips, to let you see what has changed over the course of the event's life. A simple tap on an event should then take you into the overview of happenings. With newsletter previews, Inbox can show you a short list of the items you might click through before taking you into a more picturesque preview with shortcuts to articles you may want to read. And finally, Google has added a new "Save to Inbox" option for sending links to yourself. You know why this is awesome, right? How many times have you been cruising the web and wanted to send yourself a link to be viewed on your computer or later? This fixes that problem. Now, with the latest Inbox, when you are reading something and decide you want it emailed or stored, a tap on the share button and then Inbox will give you a choice to "Save to Inbox." On a system level, Inbox can even tell if you have a link copied at the moment and will ask if you want to save it when you enter the app. Those saved items are available in the slideout menu in the Inbox app under a new "Saved" bundle. To take this all a step further, Google is also introducing a new Inbox Chrome extension that allows you to either save a link directly to Inbox or fire it off in an email. How sweet is that?

Play Link | Chrome Extension

Via: Gmail Blog

Samsung Announces Gear S2 Band Adapter to Allow for Quicker Style Swaps

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 09:20:16 +0000

To help owners of the Gear S2 change up their style more quickly, Samsung announced the Band Adapter this morning, opening up the door for better watch strap swapping. As it is, the Gear S2 features a proprietary clipping mechanism that attaches the watch straps to the body of the watch. With this Band Adapter, you can attach standard 20mm watch straps, like the ones available for the Gear S2 Classic or any other strap you might have laying around the house. Coming in either Dark Gray or Silver, users will simply remove the original band on the Gear S2, then attach the Gear S2 Band Adapter. Once attached, any standard 20mm strap is attachable via the pin process. This means you can use watch straps from Amazon, Etsy, or wherever else you may be buying watch straps. At this time, the Band Adapter is now yet available in the US, but according to Samsung, its availability is rolling out to more countries over time. If you really need one, you will need to import it from either Germany, Singapore or South Africa.

Via: Samsung

GIPHY App Updates on Android With All the Sharing

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 09:01:00 +0000

GIPHY released an update to its Android app today that makes it more than just a Facebook Messenger sharing service. With the update, GIPHY is now free from its Messenger kennel and ready for you to bark your favorites everywhere, even in Hangouts. The update is rolling out slowly, though, so if you still have the "GIPHY for Messenger" version and aren't seeing an update, go yell at GIPHY. If you are just installing today, well, you may very well get the new share-friendly version. I would be in that boat, that glorious, glorious boat. Confused at what GIPHY is? It's a massive GIF-filled service that is categorized for easy GIF finding, but also has the new hotness that is trending at the moment. You want this app, I'm thinking. Your internet will be much more fun with it. Trust me. Play Link

Galaxy S7 Now Comes in the Color You Have Always Dreamed Of

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 08:19:51 +0000

Pink. A Galaxy S7 in pink.

Try to deny it. Tim isn't. I'm pretty sure he is pre-ordering today, from Korea, where it is debuting. Actually, I think the real story here is the fact that Samsung is admitting that it's pink, something Apple refuses to do with its "rose gold." GTFO, Apple, your "rose gold" is pinker than Samsung's pink. Look at this.

Galaxy S7 in pink vs. iPhone 6s in "rose gold"

We do not know if this ~~rose gold~~ pink Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge will arrive in the US. It's OK to MJ cry to that thought.

Via: Samsung

Google Already Lets You Play Podcasts From Within the Google App

Kellen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 07:57:37 +0000

With podcasts launching in Google Play Music earlier this week, Google is already making it easier than ever to find and play them. Google is issuing a (behind-the-scenes) update to the Google App today that will allow for the finding and playing of podcasts without ever having to open Play Music. To find and play a podcast in the Google App, all you need to do is search for one, like "Droid Life Show," and the results should return a list of our most recent episodes. You can then tap the "play" button from the search results to play specifics episodes, which will then open a set of controls at the bottom of the screen, including play/pause, rewind and fast-forward. Google says that you will also be able to browse the web on your phone or turn the screen off while you listen without killing audio. The update should begin rolling out today on Android. EDIT: I just ran a search for "droid life show" and it is already popping up with listings. It looks like an actual app update may not be needed after all, even though Google's blog posts says "today's update." Play Link

Via: Inside Search

Google Camera App From Android N Developer Preview Rolling Out on Google Play

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 15:32:38 +0000

If you happen to use the Google Camera app from Google Play, which would be anyone here with a Nexus device or anyone who downloaded it to use over their device's built-in OEM camera app, you will be happy to learn that the Google Camera app on Google Play now matches that of the camera app found inside of the Android N Developer Preview. Specifically, it is version 3.2, and inside, it has a few tweaks that mobile photography fans are sure to get a kick out of. Once updated from Google Play, the Google Camera application allows for users to capture stills while shooting raw video, with a shutter button added in for the quick capture feature. These still shots are saved to your Photos/Gallery app for later viewing. Also, the slow motion feature is no longer a video mode easily accessible, and instead, has been moved to the pullout menu. Accessing slow motion now requires a bit more work, but Google must have decided not enough people were using it. To top all of this off, Google has created a revamped shutter button, and there is also a new icon for switching between front and rear-facing cameras. Version 3.2 is rolling out to Google Play right now, so if you rock Google Camera on your Nexus device or any other phone, go grab it. Play Link

Via: Android Police

Poll: What's Your Keyboard App of Choice?

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:53:34 +0000

We wrote up the big changes for the Chrooma Keyboard app this morning, and inside of that post, I declared that Chrooma was currently my favorite keyboard app for Android. What can I say, I really enjoy the pretty colors. Thankfully, we write about a platform that is all about choice. There are probably hundreds of different keyboard apps to choose from on Google Play, but in reality, there are probably only a handful that receive enormous amounts of downloads and everyday usage. On Android, our choices are as follows: SwiftKey, Google Keyboard, Fleksy, Swype, Chrooma, and usually whatever keyboard app is built into the device when you first turned it on. If folks are actually using the stock keyboard app on their phone I will be a little worried, but maybe this poll can help them find a better option. If you happen to use a different keyboard app than the ones listed, let us know about it down below.

[poll id="401"]

Leica's Involvement in the Huawei P9's Camera Called Into Question (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:59:44 +0000

When announced, Huawei's P9 smartphone was pretty exciting, thanks to its "co-engineered" with Leica labeling and marketing. For anyone in the photography field, knowing that Leica's legendary reputation was being placed alongside a Chinese manufactured smartphone is pretty huge, especially with phrases like, "reinvent smartphone photography" and "Leica dual lenses" being tossed on all of Huawei's promotional material. At the time of announcement, Huawei explicitly stated that the camera experience has a whole was co-engineered with Leica, leading customers to assume that the camera-maker had some sort of hand in the creation of the modules. Come to find out, that is not exactly the case. Thanks to recent information clarified by Huawei and written by multiple outlets from across the globe, the origins of the camera hardware inside of the P9 and P9 Plus have been traced to Sunny Optical, a Chinese smartphone camera manufacturer. In fact, Sunny Optical is the world's largest mobile phone camera module supplier, according to My Drivers. As it turns out, Leica had virtually zero input on the overall camera itself, but instead, lent certification for the module, providing no actual help in the development or production of the optics. On Huawei's website, it is stated (under a dropdown banner, mind you) that the phones have a Leica co-engineered "Picture Quality Algorithm" baked in, and that's it from what I can find. To sum it up, no, these are not Leica lenses. At the end of the day, Leica had very little involvement at all (Update: See Huawei's response and clarification below), and really, this was purely a marketing move by Huawei to help sell phones. Is it a big deal? No, not exactly, but I do feel that there is quite a bit of misrepresentation going on here, and from a consumer standpoint, that is not right. When you say "co-engineered" and "Leica dual lenses" directly on your company's product page, it's false. Instead of leaning on Leica's name to sell people a phone, Huawei should have been more straightforward with what it was offering. According to many who have taken shots on the P9 and P9 Plus, they supposedly have fantastic cameras, so why the gimmicks? Update #2: Huawei and Leica have released a joint statement concerning this issue. Update: Huawei has reached out directly with a statement, providing a clearer picture of Leica's exact involvement with regard to "co-engineering" the P9 and P9 Plus. According to the statement, Leica has been "deeply involved," in the development of these phones, ranging from work on the optical design, imaging quality, and mechanical construction of the camera module.

The P9 and P9 Plus were co-engineered between Huawei and Leica. This is the first collaboration between the two companies following a long-term partnership that was announced in February. From the very beginning, Leica has been deeply involved in the development of these devices. There has been significant technological collaboration between Huawei and Leica around many aspects of the camera, including optical design, imaging quality, image data processing, optimization, and the mechanical construction of the camera module to the graphic user interface. The devices meet Leica’s highest imaging quality standards.

Edit: Post title changed to better represent the story.

Via: My Drivers | DP Review

Cheers Marc!

How Many Android Applications Does Google Check Every Day for Malware?

Kellen — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:13:35 +0000

6 billion.

That's according to Google's latest "Android Security 2015 Annual Report." The report arrives for the second year in a row as a way for Google to explain to you just how secure Android really is, especially as more and more scheming anti-virus and security outlets, along with Apple bloggers, tell you otherwise. The report is also done so that Google can tell you exactly how it takes on malware and other security issues, including using machine learning to "detect potentially harmful behavior." In 2015 alone, Google says that it protected users from malware and Potentially Harmful Apps (PHA) by "checking over 6 billion installed applications per day." That means they also scanned some 400 million devices per day. They also reduced the probability of you installing a PHA from Google Play by over 40% and reduced some other important numbers like PHAs who attempt to collect data from 40% to 0.08%, spyware from 60% to 0.02%, and hostile downloaders from 50% to 0.01%. Google says that PHAs were installed on less than 0.15% of devices that only get apps from Google Play, which is yet another reason as to why you should never go pirate apps from dirty ass third party sites or app stores. In this year's security report, Google reminds us about Android 6.0 Marshmallow and the new security features including in there, like full disk encryption requirements, more control over app permissions, the new verified boot system, status on your Android security patch level in the about tab of settings, etc. The report also has fun flow charts like this:

You can view the full 49-page report here. If anything, I'd recommend scrolling through it. Google shows all of the different on-device protections built into Android, how they constantly verify apps, and then dives into trends and changes from 2014 to 2015. It's pretty interesting info.

Video: Unofficial Hardware Tour Provided for Moto G (4th Gen) (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 10:06:44 +0000

We recently got what could have been our first look at the Moto G (4th Gen), but now, a very unofficial video is taking us on a complete hardware tour. During the video, we get to see the device's frontside, backside, and even a size comparison between it and what appears to be a Moto G (3rd Gen). The overall look of the phone appears to match up very well with those first images we saw, but most notably, there is no fingerprint reader on the frontside bottom chin. This phone is likely an early prototype, meaning Motorola didn't build in that addition, but it is sort of strange to see different multiple prototype variants floating around. The only other info we can dissect from this video is that Motorola looks to be including either Moto Display or Google's own Ambient Display software on the device. That's the software which allows the display to light up when the phone is moved to show the time and a minimal amount of notifications. Other than that, Motorola's signature vertical camera setup is still there, and the Moto dimple is also visible. The audio has been muted on the video, probably because someone does not want to get in trouble, but at least the quality of the video is decent enough and not shaky. Thoughts?

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UPDATE: There is a good chance that the phone in the video is an early prototype without the fingerprint scanner. Here is a video shared by @evleaks that shows the phone with fingerprint scanner included. It's also a much-more-official-looking render.

Via: +hellomotoHK

Cheers Geoffrey!

Chrooma Keyboard Now Free of Google Play, Updated With Loads of New Features

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 08:45:12 +0000

Chrooma Keyboard, our absolute favorite 3rd-party keyboard app on Google Play, is now free for all people of the world. First launched with a price of $1.49, the developers have switched to a free model, providing a wider audience a chance to try out the keyboard's unique features. For those who already purchased the app, don't freak out, the developers have built in a way for your to restore your purchase and log into the app, meaning you aren't losing out on any features or updates. To do this, update the app, go through the entirety of the setup process to make sure you are logged in properly, then slide out the hamburger menu and hit "Restore Purchases." All features will then be made available to you. If you happened to purchase this app in the past 24 hours for its full price, your upgrade will be carried over automatically, so don't start thinking you somehow got ripped off. As for what's new, beyond the free pricing(!), the settings for the app have been completely reworked, multi-language support is added in, new color styles are available for your viewing pleasure, and a new prediction algorithm will offer a better predicting experience. Additionally, for those looking to help beta test this app, you can join this Google+ community, then download the beta via Google Play. Betas are awesome. Check out the changelog, then go download it. What's New

App is now free
Brand new settings app
Multilanguage
New color styles
New prediction algorithm
Preference synchronization

Play Link

DEAL: Amazon Echo and Tap Discounted 15% Today Only

Kellen — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 08:00:40 +0000

At one point, I probably would have told you that while cool and a fun party toy, the Amazon Echo wasn't really worth all that it was cracked up to be. After all, it's only a decent Bluetooth speaker, doesn't have access to Google Play Music through Alexa, and does a lot of the things the phone in your hand does, only slower because you have to talk to it. But within the past year, Amazon put its foot on the gas pedal in terms of adding features to Amazon Echo and is turning it into the future hub of your home. Today, Amazon Echo (which is controlled by Alexa) does more things than I can even keep track of. From controlling a number of different LED smart lights to giving you kid health advice through KidsMD, or finally getting access to Nest and telling you if you need to put gas in your car, this has become an incredibly useful household tool. You can even order pizza through Domino's or request an Uber. Thankfully, as an Echo owner, you will receive an email from Amazon each week detailing the new goodies. You can also see the list of capabilities here. For today only, Amazon is discounting Amazon Echo (and the portable Amazon Tap version) by 15% to celebrate the fact that they were voted most reputable company in the US. At 15% off, you are looking at discounts of $26 for the Echo and almost $19 for the Tap. Amazon Links: Amazon Echo ($153.71) | Amazon Tap ($111.01)

Google Analytics App Gets Massive Update to v3.0 With New Icon, Material Design

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:37:20 +0000

Google Analytics, an invaluable app for website owners that never seems to get the attention it deserves, received a major update today on Android. Not only is it a big Material Design overhaul, but Google is throwing in enough orange to rival Google Play Music, alongside a new logo and icon. The update, overall, is much cleaner and less grey than the previous version. Google has added a quick stat sharing action to info screens as well. Yes, there is lots of white space, but the boxes with your data, like real-time traffic, overall sessions, users, etc., all take up less space for the most part. With that said, Google has taken out all of the dropdown lists from the slideout menu and tossed everything into swipe-able boxes in each category page and box. I don't know if I love that idea yet, to be honest. I guess once I get used to it, it could be OK, but I'm so used to years of that slideout menu. We'll see. As I mentioned in the intro, a new icon and logo accompany the update. I didn't notice at first, but when I went to find Analytics in a home screen folder, I couldn't and that's because Google is completely replacing the app as far as I can tell. Here is that icon:

You can grab the update on Google Play or sideload it with the .apk below. Play Link | Download Link (.apk)

A Bunch of Photos Taken With the HTC 10

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:05:57 +0000

We have already spent an exhausting amount of time taking a look at the HTC 10, through first impressions videos, tutorials on the first 10 things you should do with the phone, and epic 20-minute comparisons to the other flagships of the moment. That isn't necessarily out of the norm, since that's typically the treatment we give to flagship phones around these parts, we just don't typically do it for the products released by VR companies. Kidding! In all seriousness, HTC has put forth their best phone in years and it deserves the time, even from your supposed resident HTC haters. Yes, I guess that's us. What has us caught up with this year's HTC 10 is over whether or not the camera is any good. That's the sticking point because HTC hasn't put a camera in a phone since, well, the One X? Maybe the original Incredible? We all know that they can put lots of metal into the shape of what the world has dubbed a "premium" phone and can do sound with the best of them and are appeasing Android enthusiasts by slimming the hell out of their Sense skin, but will they ever again be able to put a camera into a phone that isn't a gimmick or disaster? I'm starting to think so with the HTC 10. We will have a deeper analysis of the photos this camera is capable of taking when we push out our full review later this week, but for now we wanted to simply share a whole bunch of pictures taken with our review unit. There are lots of outdoor shots, since the weather has been incredible in Portland for the past few days. You will also see some indoor shots, a low-light range of photos with the light decreasing through each, and some macros, because we love burger and toy macros. So far, I have to say that I am mostly impressed by what this camera is capable of. Of course, HTC has no excuse here because this is more than likely the same camera used in the Nexus 6P, a camera we love dearly and is a proven winner. My only real issues right now have to do with the speed of the camera launching, its finicky focusing, slowness to shoot in low lights, and the dulling it does of some colorful photos. But in most situations, I don't know that those issues have outweighed the overall experience, which is pretty solid. Just please, don't cover the damn laser in the autofocus system or you'll be welcomed over and over and over again by this annoying message. Onto the photos! If you want to download the full resolution files, you can grab the .zip here.

Deal: Moto 360 Sport in Black for $236, Down From $299

Tim — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 14:33:59 +0000

For who knows how long, interested folks can grab a Moto 360 Sport from Amazon for just $236, down from its usual price of $299. At this time, only the Black model appears to be on sale, with no price drop available for the Red or White models. The Moto 360 Sport is an Android Wear smartwatch geared towards the more active crowd, complete with heart rate monitoring, step tracking, and calorie tracking. After having reviewed the Moto 360 Sport, I concluded that the display and overall quality of the watch was good, but at $299, it was a tough sell. With this sale price of $236, that's a much better bargain. To take advantage of this dropping in price, follow the link below. Amazon Link

Verizon HTC 10 Pre-Orders Start April 29

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 12:28:43 +0000

Verizon reached out moments ago to let us know that they will be opening up pre-orders of the HTC 10 on April 29. They didn't give us any other information outside of that, other than that they plan to host "exclusive" in-store previews on the 29th for those interested in getting the phone in-hand before pulling the trigger. As for pricing and all that, well, we should have that tomorrow. Verizon says that they have a full press release planned, but they didn't have that for us today. So, here is their statement.

Verizon will start preorders for the HTC 10 on April 29. In addition, Verizon Wireless stores will host exclusive in-store previews on April 29 to give consumers and media a hands-on look at the HTC 10. Verizon will be the first wireless carrier to offer the HTC 10.

Ready to pre-order? Oh, and if not, our full review will be up this week to help out with that decision.

YouTube Launches Spatial Audio for On-Demand Videos, 360-Degree Live Streaming

Tim — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 12:15:37 +0000

Announced this week, YouTube is bringing support for 360-degree live streams, as well as spatial audio for on-demand videos. With support for 360-degree live streams, viewers will be able to wear their VR headsets and watch events in real-time, whether it be flagship unveilings, concerts, or the theater. To celebrate this, YouTube has been streaming videos from Coachella, viewable on YouTube with a Cardboard viewer or any other VR headset you have. Not only will live streams in a full 360 degrees be viewable, but spatial audio brings a more immersive experience for everyone. Spatial audio is essentially how we hear the world around us in everyday situations. When you hear a sound, you can usually tell which direction it came from and how far away it is. With support for spatial audio in VR on YouTube, creators can deliver a better environment for creating experiences. YouTube has created a playlist to highlight spatial audio support. Naturally, to best experience spatial audio, a user may want to be wearing a good set of headphones to absorb all of the sounds as they were meant to be heard. If you have your VR headset ready to rock, all of these changes are now live on YouTube.

Via: YouTube

DEAL: Nexus 5X Back on eBay for Just $239.99 ($110 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 10:50:26 +0000

Another laughably low price is back and attached to the Nexus 5X over at eBay today. For just $239.99, you can own one of Google's newest smartphones and get on with your Android N or update-first-having self. In case you were wondering, that's a solid $110 discount before even factoring in the free shipping. Like the deal a couple of weeks back, this 16GB Nexus 5X is the Euro model H791. That's worth noting because even though it will still work in the US - on T-Mobile and AT&T - it won't have the universal connectivity on Verizon and Sprint as well. You can read our Nexus 5X review here. eBay Link

Podcasts Launch on Google Play Music Today!

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 10:27:54 +0000

NPR was right! Google Play Music Podcasts are now live today on the web before rolling out slowly to Android. I don't know what else to say other than, podcasts are now available. You all know what podcasts are, right? We have one! You can subscribe to The Droid Life Show right here. With podcasts on Google Play Music, you can search for your favorite shows, hopefully discover new ones from the podcasts page, subscribe to them all, and receive notifications when new episodes arrive. Yep, it's just like any podcast service, only now it's integrated into Google Play Music. To browse podcasts on the web, hit up this link. At this time, podcasts are only available in the US and Canada. Have fun!

Via: Android Blog

SHIELD Android TV Receives 3.1 Update, Includes Game Optimizations and Mouse Navigation

Tim — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:46:28 +0000

The SHIELD Android TV set-top box from NVIDIA is receiving its Upgrade 3.1 update this week, bringing with it new optimizations for recently released game titles, as well as the March security update for Marshmallow. A few of the games affected by the optimizations are Super Mega Baseball, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Real Racing 3. Additionally, new GeForce NOW games are also seeing support for optimizations, like LEGO: Jurassic World, SOMA, and Sleeping Dogs. A software tweak baked into the update will bring mouse support for the right stick on the SHIELD Controller, usable inside of select applications. For example, those using Chrome can scroll around with a mouse button, instead of using the left stick to click on individual cells. To sum up the mouse, it should allow for better navigation inside many applications. The update also tweaks Marshmallow functionality and brings stability improvements, such as external USB drive detection, FTP write access, HDMI-CEC, idle and sleep stability, and SD card formatting. All of these changes are now live for your SHIELD Android TV.

Via: NVIDIA

Samsung Pay Gains Support for TD Bank and Regions Bank

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:27:42 +0000

Samsung Pay added two more banks to its growing list, this morning, bringing its total to 130 and "over 75% of the US debit and credit card market." The two new financial institutions are TD Bank and Regions Bank. Samsung also noted in a press release that it has added 60 Visa and MasterCard banks and credit unions since early March. Is your bank or credit union supported by Samsung Pay?

Via: Samsung

LG Sets Up "Friends" Store to Help You Find and Buy G5 Modules and Accessories

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 08:49:33 +0000

As much as we try to continue to ignore the fact that LG insists on calling its accessory line-up for the G5, "Friends," they just keep throwing it (and that stupid green cat) in our faces. In the latest installment of "Look at our really weird advertising for Friends of the LG G5," LG is introducing us to the LG Friends website, which will feature all of the "Friends" you can handle, assuming they are even available in your country. If interested, you must be a carpenter who loves pink phones and dog collar headphones, a hollywood C-level actress with an audio addiction, grandmother with shaky hands, a discount Britney Spears on a VR trip, or the tiniest James Bond ever, who is so small that LG's Rolling Bot becomes a volleyball when held instead of the softball that it actually is. This site will feature not only the current line-up of Friends, but will eventually feature modules and accessories from third party developers. You will be able to use the site to see which retailers near you have stock of specific items, as well. Picked up any of the G5 "Friends" yet? LG Friends Link

Photo: Possible Shots of Moto G (4th Gen) Posted Online

Tim — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 08:34:09 +0000

According to France's No Where Else, the below images may be our first look at the upcoming Moto G (4th Gen) for 2016. As you will note, on the frontside bottom chin, the phone appears to sport a squared-off fingerprint reader, similar to earlier intel that was provided by Evan Blass. Going over the front and back, the device appears to be rather plain, but does feature Motorola's vertical camera setup along the backside, including the camera sensor itself, LED flash, and a set of sensors. Also on the backside, you can clearly see the Moto logo dimple, which would have been the perfect spot for an integrated fingerprint reader. Instead, Moto has taken away the dual-front facing speaker appearance (only one was an actual speaker for listening to audio externally) and opted to slap on a square-ish fingerprint reader, which is an added bonus for a phone that is sure to be priced very competitively. With only these two shots to look at, there is not much else to go on at this time. We don't know when Motorola/Lenovo intends to announce this phone, and we also don't know if it will be made available for customization through Moto Maker. Last year's Moto G (3rd Gen) was available for customization, so we do hope Motorola will look to continue that tradition. Take a look over the photos, then share your take below.

Via: No Where Else

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ Get Marshmallow Updates

Kellen — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 06:53:01 +0000

The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ on T-Mobile are receiving updates to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow this morning. Maybe I should include a "finally" in there, since T-Mo owners of these phones feel like they have been left well behind typically slower carriers like Verizon who have already pushed out updates to each phone. Both the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ will receive software version UVU2DPD1, with file sizes weighing in at 1.38GB and 1.34GB, respectively. Through the Marshmallow updates, users will be able to use Google Now on Tap, see longer battery life through Doze, and enjoy finer controls over app permissions. The Edge+ will also grab a bunch of new Edge features that should make it finally useful. To check for each update, head into Settings>About device>Software update.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

Video: HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 20:48:41 +0000

So, here is a somewhat ridiculously lengthy video to take you into the weekend and kill a good 20 minutes of your life, assuming you have no plans and don't mind killing 20 minutes of your life. This afternoon, I spent some time (a lot of time) talking on camera about the HTC 10 and how it compares to the other two flagship phones of the moment, the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7. After some overlooked issues with the original video, the version I feel comfortable publishing is now live for you to take a look at. In this clip, I talk through the differences between the three devices, which areas strike me as being better from one to the next, and if there is one or two I would recommend you take a look at. Because this is - again - a ridiculously lengthy video, I'll give you a spoiler by saying, the G5 doesn't exactly crack the top 2. We'll have a full review of the HTC 10 along shortly, but for now, grab a drink and snack and take it all in.

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HTC 10 is Here!

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 19:15:21 +0000

On episode 106 of the DL Show, we'll be talking a lot about the HTC 10 now that it is official and in house and has been in hand for the majority of the week. We will also share some final thoughts on the G5 with review complete, and of course, the rest of the big Android news will make an appearance as well! Join us at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM 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 and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Don't Miss These Android Stories: April 15, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:15:52 +0000

Another big week is in the books here at Droid Life. The HTC 10 was unveiled, we went hands-on with it a couple of times, and you still told us that you aren't buying it, even if it is a really good smartphone. Hell, even AT&T doesn't want any part of it. Yikes. Outside of that fun, we got the Developer Preview 2 of Android N and dove into its minor changes. We also talked about Motorola's struggles at replacing devices under warranty, looked at Google's new Live Cases for Nexus phones, and took some time to chat during DL Show episode 106. Don't miss a thing!

WATCH: DL Show Episode 106 | Subscribe
HTC 10: First impressions and tour!
HTC 10: First 10 things you should do
Specs Comparison: HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5
Don't take the HTC 10 in the shower
AT&T has passed on the HTC 10 and won't sell it
Opinion: HTC should make the next Nexus phone
Android N: What's new? | What else is new, though?
Android N: Factory Images | OTA .zip files
Motorola's warranty replacement situation is a disaster right now
DEAL: Get $50 off the Nexus 6P right now
Google introduces "Live Cases" for Nexus phones
Google Play Music Podcasts could be here on Monday
"Goals" now a part of Google Calendar
Logitech acquired popular sport Bluetooth earbud maker, Jaybird
Free: 2GB of data from Verizon for using Android Pay
"Save to Google" Chrome extension is a must have, I think
Sneakerheads, time to download StockX and see the collection value
JBL is making USB Type-C headphones!
Poll: Are you buying the HTC 10?
Question: Why don't you care about HTC anymore?

Blazers in 5.

Friday App Sales: ISS Detector Pro, Machinarium, EPOCH 2, and More

Tim — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:40:38 +0000

Yes, it's Friday already, meaning it's time to go over the latest apps and game sales available on Google Play. Currently on sale, folks can grab a few classics, such as Machinarium for only $2.49, EPOCH and EPOCH 2 for $0.99 each, or go a bit bigger with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance for $14.99. There are other deals taking place that aren't on Google Play, available through NVIDIA's GeForce NOW game streaming service. For example, you can grab Mad Max for 66% off, The Wold Among Us for 50% off, and Super Mega Baseball for 50% off. Lots of good deals. You can find all of them here. Check out the full list of apps on sale through Google Play below. Friday App Sales

Atomus HD ($0.99)
Airline Tycoon Deluxe ($3.37)
Machinarium ($2.49)
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ($14.99)
Twin Moons ($0.99)
How to Tie a Tie Pro ($1.99)
Epic War TD 2 ($0.10)
Framelapse Pro ($1.99)
EPOCH ($0.99)
EPOCH 2 ($0.99)
Jet Scanner Scan-to-PDF ($0.99)
ISS Detector Pro ($1.50)

Go support those developers!

DEAL: Get $50 Off Nexus 6P, Now Starting at $449

Tim — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:51:50 +0000

For a limited time, specifically April 15 through May 6, folks can purchase a Nexus 6P through many online retailers at $50 off of the usual price. Regularly priced at $499 for the 32GB model, you can now purchase the phone starting at $449, with the $50 promo applying to any of the available storage options. At this time, four online retailers are listing the $50 discount, including Google Store, Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy. Depending on where you want to buy the device, you have plenty of options. If you are asking yourself if the Nexus 6P is worth the purchase, I would argue yes, absolutely. The phone performs very well, the camera is still exceptional, and the overall Android experience is very tasty on this Nexus device. If you are in the market for a 6P, follow one of the links below. Links: Google Store | Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg

Motorola's Warranty and Replacement Service is Taking a Beating Right Now, Got a Story to Share? (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 10:12:40 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, this reddit thread picked up a whole bunch of steam after the original poster shared his story on how he believes Motorola's customer service has become a disaster within recent months. He links to forum threads and customer complaint sites to show that he is not alone and even gets a bunch of redditors to weigh in with similar stories. The basics of the whole fiasco are that Motorola, depending on the device, isn't able to issue warranty replacements and are leaving people without phones and watches for months at a time. That's not a good look. It's 2016 and most of us can't go hours without our phones let alone days or weeks or months. Now, we often hesitate about reporting on these types of stories, because customer complaint boards are just that - customer complaint boards. When people are satisfied with products, they aren't going to spend time on complaint boards telling the world how great companies are. When they have a complaint, you know they will be there within minutes to express their frustration. These places almost always show companies in a bad light. With that said, something feels different about this situation. I've spent a good deal of time (more than any human should) this morning looking through complaint boards and Motorola's own forums trying to look for patterns or see if there is a serious issue here. I'll just say this - it doesn't take long to see that Motorola customers are flooding to multiple areas of the internet to voice their frustrations over warranty returns and replacements. Now, so you know, I also took a look at Samsung, LG, and HTC boards to see if they are filled with similar-styled complaints. They aren't. The complaint boards from those companies are all over the place with issues, but they often deal with lower-end phones or 2-year old phones that people are now having issues with. That's not to say that those aren't valid complaints, but if you spend 2 minutes looking at Motorola-related complaints, you see almost nothing but issues with their new products, namely the Moto X Pure Edition and the lack of replacements. Our inbox has also seen a couple of emails from our readers who have dealt with issues getting replacements, like this one from Ryan J.:

I have had the absolute worst customer service experience and have chronicled most of it. Just got off the phone with their "Repair Escalation Team" and they literally have NO devices to swap out for my exchange supposedly.

Others in the reddit thread are sharing similar stories, where they have spent hours on the phone with Motorola, only to be told that they simply do not have phones available at this time, but that they hope to within a few days. Those days keep turning into weeks and then into months. Here is someone whose replacement took more than 70 days. Here is another that has been going on for a month or more. This one called it "purgatory" and said that at least two replacements were broken phones when they arrived. I don't know Motorola's situation, obviously, but not having phones available for replacement in their warranty program is not exactly acceptable. Sending out broken phones as replacements is even worse. If you have a Motorola support story, we would love to hear it - both good and bad. Keep in mind that this isn't a post created to attack Motorola. But we do think we have one of the strongest and loyalist Motorola communities on the planet here and probably have a number of readers who could shed some light on this potentially unfortunate situation. Let's hear it. UPDATE: Motorola has issued us the following statement. In it, they confirm the delays, apologize, and mention how they are working to implement solutions. They even admitted that "this is not up to our standard of excellence."

We're experiencing delays at our US repair center that is influencing repair times for some customers. We know how important it is for you to get your phone back as quickly as possible so we’re working hard to identify and implement solutions. We are dedicated to the highest quality service and this is not up to our standard of excellence. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused. If you are currently having an issue with warranty fulfillment, please contact us at 888-355-8422. We are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Opinion: After Seeing the HTC 10, Maybe HTC Should Make This Year's Nexus

Tim — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 10:02:26 +0000

If Nexus rumors are your life, you will already know that reports have been circulating, claiming that HTC has be chosen by Google to create this year's Nexus device. In those reports, it was even written that HTC would make not just one, but two Nexus devices for 2016. When these reports first surfaced, I thought to myself, "Crap, guess I won't be buying any Nexus phones this year." To me, HTC's past attempt at a Nexus device, the Nexus 9 tablet, was one of the more underwhelming tablet experiences I have had. It's just boring. Looking back at it, I wouldn't necessarily say it was HTC's fault, but Android in general is ridiculously shallow on tablets. However, with the latest software tweaks we have seen from Android N, maybe that will change soon. My point is, HTC might be making this year's Nexus device, and after seeing the HTC 10, I don't think I'm as disappointed as I was when the rumor first hit the street. Let me explain why. The HTC 10 is a fine looking device, better than what I initially expected from the company. Yeah, it's got sh*t tons of chamfer and other little things I would change, but overall, it's a handsome phone. I was thinking, what if this year's Nexus device was designed loosely on the HTC 10, maybe covered in a soft-touch coating like on the Nexus 5 from a few years ago? That would feel lovely, right? Then, we move that fingerprint reader to the backside (where it belongs, thank you very much), bring back on-screen buttons, and you've got yourself one fine looking Nexus device. Beyond a couple of gripes, which are the capacitive buttons, fingerprint reader placement, and usage of a LCD panel instead of AMOLED, the HTC 10 is a solid phone. All of these things are changes Google could make in partnership with HTC to create an awesome experience for the launch of Android N. With the release of the HTC 10, the company has proven, at least to me, that they still know how to make a good smartphone. Yes, the past couple of years have been very lackluster and some feel that the 10 should have been released years ago, but the fact is, it's released now, just in time to inspire Google to create something magical. As long as Google and HTC can work together on making the camera and accompanying software as good as it is on the Nexus 6P or better, and possibly tweak a few other hardware components to bring the MSRP to something a but more reachable for the masses, say $549, then that's a winner in my book. HTC, this is your time to shine. Don't let us down.

You Can Now Share Motion Photos as Video on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Tim — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 08:39:42 +0000

Apparently included in the latest updates for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, but going completely unnoticed due to the feature not being all that exciting in the first place, those who snap Motion Photos can now share the clips as video files, instead of just a single still shot. As it is reported, those who attempted to previously share Motion Photos were only able to share the last piece of the video, which is the shot you see as the thumbnail inside of your gallery. We did a story on Motion Photos when the Galaxy S7 was new, concluding that while the feature was neat for certain situations, the potential hog of valuable storage space it would become outweighed any actual value as a feature. Yes, Motion Photo is cool, but not exactly necessary. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Samsung should have made it an add-on feature for the camera app, downloadable from the Galaxy Apps store. Anyway, with the files now sharable as video, you can upload your clip in its entirety to social media services, such as Instagram and Facebook, or you can still choose to only share the single still image from the end. At times, Motion Photo can capture those happy moments directly before a photo is taken, leading to more candid experiences. If you recently received the big software update for the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, try it out. And if you still have yet to test out Motion Photo, give it a shot.

Via: SamMobile

Cricket Introduces $70 Unlimited Plan, Will Give T-Mobile Switchers $100 Bill Credit

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 08:12:28 +0000

Cricket Wireless, the prepaid arm of AT&T, is targeting T-Mobile customers with its newest wireless plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and data for just $70 per month. That price can drop lower, though, down to $65 if you sign-up for autopay alongside it. Cricket will also give T-Mobile switchers $100 bill credit for coming on over. What's the catch, you ask? There isn't much of one, assuming you understand Cricket. The biggest drawback to their service is the fact that they cap your data speeds at 8Mbps down. You will never see speeds higher than that. Are you OK with that? If so, and you think that's fast enough, Cricket is a solid option, especially for the price. Remember, Cricket runs on AT&T's network, so you get all of that nationwide connectivity that AT&T customers would get. That's part of the sell here to T-Mobile customers, since T-Mobile is still known as having an inferior network to AT&T and Verizon. It's certainly gotten better in recent years, but T-Mobile has a ways to go. The new unlimited plan from Cricket is live on April 17 (this Sunday). And in case you were wondering, T-Mobile's unlimited plan costs $95 these days after a couple of recent price increases.

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Via: Cricket

NPR Says Google Play Music Podcasts Arrive Monday

Kellen — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 07:33:32 +0000

According to an NPR email that has gone out to its partners, we should be seeing (or is it hearing?) Google Play Music Podcasts arrive on Monday, April 18. While I think it's safe to say that we are all a little hesitant to mark it on our calendars, this seems much more official than Bill Simmons spouting off to Twitter. This is NPR, after all, sharing with who knows how many partners, Google's plan to release podcasts. The point of this email is to let their partners know how they can prepare for the launch and probably isn't something they would casually, softly, throw out there. So what does this mean for you and I? Podcasts on Monday! Yay! Hopefully. Google first announced that podcasts would join the Google Play Music family back in October of last year and even let publishers (like us!) sign-up for the service. Our DL Show has been ready for launch from that day and so we can't wait for this to finally happen because you will have another option for subscribing to not only us, but you other favorite shows as well. Here is a piece of the NPR email:

We'll let you know if any pieces start moving Monday morning.

Via: Android Police

#TBT: When PenTile Displays Were King.

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:29:38 +0000

Take yourself back to 2011 for a moment and answer me this - remember PenTile displays? If you do, I'm sure you already have a headache just thinking about the years upon years of companies like Motorola using the technology in their phones, likely in an attempt to cut costs while upping resolution. From jagged lines and blurred scrolling with ghosting to greens showing as browns and web pages not even being able to render text properly, it was hard out here for a phone with a PenTile panel, especially the original Atrix, DROID X2, Bionic, RAZR, Galaxy Nexus, and Galaxy S3. Just look at that image at the top of this post. And no, we aren't talking about the low pixel count - we are talking about the lack of fully straight lines, the hatching, and the Android green that is a light brown. Or better yet, look at this image below, where the X2 can't display text properly because it's RGBW pixels have no idea what the hell they are doing. Mmhmmm.

Of course, as display technology has improved and resolutions have skyrocketed to the Quad HD realm, odd pixel arrangements (like Samsung's diamond pixels) have become less of an issue. But man, for a while there, we were often praying for LCD displays in phones because all of the early AMOLED panels used a PenTile Matrix and were trash. Here is a comparison shot we took of (in order) the Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound, and DROID RAZR. The only LCD panel is the Rezound, if that wasn't obvious. As a reminder, the G-Nex and Rezound were two of the first HD (720p) displays and so the Nexus display wasn't necessarily the worst because of the pixel count, even with its PenTile arrangement. However, I don't think anyone can go back to that time and claim that it was one of the best either.

But again, our world has improved and now AMOLED panels have become the best on the planet, at least according to display testing experts. We also tend to favor AMOLED panels over LCDs, as LCDs in some of the best flagships in recent years haven't matched up well (like the G5). Here is that diamond arrangement from Samsung that I referenced, seen here on a Galaxy S7. Yes, Samsung is still using this weird setup, yet their displays keep topping each other for best in the business. I'm sure there is some other technology at play here, but at one time, all we could complain about was pixel arrangement.

Anyone want to take it back to 2011? No?

That Was Quick: Nova Launcher Beta Updated With Android N "DP2" Folders

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:50:37 +0000

With yesterday's launch of Developer Preview 2 for Android N, Google introduced a new look for folders. While it's nothing too innovative, the developer behind Nova Launcher has spared no time in bringing the new look to his app, allowing anyone and everyone part of the beta to experience the new folders for themselves. To sum up the change, the folder will show corners or edges of your app icons, depending on how many apps you have in a folder. The header image above is from the Android N DP2 build, but that's exactly what the folders inside of the updated Nova Launcher beta look like. Once you are updated, headed into the Nova Launcher settings under Folders. Where you can choose the layout of folders is where you will find the "Android N" option. To download this new look, make sure you are signed up for the beta. You can opt-in by following the link below. Once opted in, simply download Nova Launcher from Google Play and enjoy. Beta Opt-In | Play Link

Via: +Kevin Barry

Instagram Doubles Down on Videos in the Explore Tab

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:32:08 +0000

Instagram is introducing a revamped Explore section this week, one which highlights more videos instead of plain ol' photography. When you go to the Explore section, you will find personalized channel called "Videos You Might Like," which collects videos from across the Instagram community. From here, you can better tune the Explore tab to show videos on topics you are more interested in. The more time that goes by, the more algorithmically curated your experience will become. When browsing through the section, users can find entire channels that are dedicated to topics you like, such as cars, food, landscapes, and more. Instagram states that even with these changes, the overall Explore experience won't change at all. It's still your go-to section for finding quality content from people or brands that you may want to follow. If you happen to see something you don't like, you can press the "..." menu button and hit, "See Fewer Posts Like This." This update is rolling out to all users on iOS and Android starting today. To make sure you are running the latest version, this version number is 7.20. Also, now would be a good time for us to hype our @droid_life Instagram account. Follow us because it's awesome! Play Link

Via: Instagram

HTC 10: First 10 Things You Should Do

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:04:55 +0000

The first wave of HTC 10 reviews are popping up from HTC's favorite media outlets, so my guess is that you are finalizing thoughts on whether or not you should pre-order the phone for a May arrival. If you have seen enough and are planning to buy, you can head over to HTC's site to do so. If you haven't, then we have much more coverage on the way to help you make that decision. First up, we have the first 10 things you should do if you do end up owning the HTC 10. These are simple ideas, like tossing in an SD card and taking advantage of Marshmallow's adoptable storage (Yep, the 10 supports it out of the box!), learning HTC's motion launch gestures, getting Power Saver modes setup properly, the app drawer sorted in a non-infuriating way, and using HTC's really cool custom theme engine. Thankfully, because HTC has really slimmed down the software experience on the 10, you should be all setup and ready to go within a couple of minutes. In fact, making this list wasn't easy, because HTC is leaving almost everything up to the owner of the phone, rather than forcing unwanted features and bloatware down their throats. Stay tuned, as we'll have a camera comparison and tips and tricks over the next few days. For now, here are the first 10 things you should do with the HTC 10.

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Verizon Will Give You 2GB of Free Data for Using Android Pay

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:57:43 +0000

Verizon just announced a new promo that can land you up to 2GB of free data if you use Android Pay. It's not straight forward, so let me try to explain this before you all go out and rush to Trader Joe's to get in on the freebie action. According to Verizon, you can get 1GB of free data by tapping to pay with Android Pay in supported stores. If you continue using Android Pay, Verizon will give you another free 1GB on the third tap. In other words, you need to use Android Pay three times in order to get 2GB of free data. With me so far? The 2GB of free data is good for two billing cycles, so this isn't something you can stash away for years, nor is it an ongoing free 2GB. It's a one-time promo where you can get up to 2GB to use within two billing cycles. Still with me? In the fine print of the promo, Verizon explains that the promotion is offered "only to Verizon postpaid consumer subscribers with The Verizon Plan or The MORE Everything Plan." So you have to be involved in one of those tiers of plans, otherwise you shouldn't waste your time looking for free data. The deal ends on 6/14/16 and you must redeem your 2GB by 7/13/16.

Via: Verizon

Yo, Sneakerheads, StockX App Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:10:21 +0000

For all you sneakerheads, the official StockX app is now available on Google Play, bringing an end to the short-lived iOS exclusivity period. If you love buying sneakers, collecting sneakers, or just admire the sneaker culture, then you should already be aware of what StockX is. If you are not, allow me to give a brief backstory. Before StockX was launched, many of those who bought and sold sneakers would head to Campless, a website that provided analytical data to help determine the actual market value of any sneaker. This real-time data was collected by researching and pulling in sales data from eBay. Campless has since evolved into StockX, which is essentially a stock market for shoes and shoes alone. With it, sneakerheads can track the value of their entire collection, watch the up and down trends of select brands, a particular set of kicks, and much more. Now, with the Android app available on Google Play, you can do all of this sneaker market tracking while on the go. For example, if you are meeting up with a buddy who is selling the latest pair of Jordan kicks, you can offer him a fair market value, instead of paying the original deadstock price or whatever crazy markup amount he is asking for. "No, hypebeast, I'm not paying $800 for OVOs, are you insane?" Going beyond just tracking shoe prices, owners of deadstock (unworn, completely brand new) shoes can list their shoes for sale. To do this, you set an "Ask," which is the price you would like to receive. If a buyer's Bid matches the Ask, the shoes are sold and shipped. To get further details on buying and selling through StockX, I suggest you download the app or view the website. The app is completely free to use, and seriously, if you have a collection of shoes, it's a fantastic app that tells you exactly how much money you have wasted on articles of clothing that go on your feet and touch the dirty ground. Play Link

Google Drive Delivers Inline Uploads, Upload Progress Bar

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 11:18:04 +0000

An update is shipping out for the Drive app from Google, bringing better inline uploads for making sure your files go exactly where you want them to. As it was before this update, whenever you would upload a file, the file would head into an Uploads folder inside of your Drive. Now, the file will be found in whichever folder you uploaded the file, meaning better organization. On top of better destinations for files, users will also see a more clear upload progress bar inside of the Drive application. Before, you could see a progress bar in the notification shade, but now, you will now see exactly how long your upload is going to take. This update is rolling out right now on Google Play. Play Link

Via: Google

Super Meat Boy Hits Google Play for NVIDIA SHIELD TV, Priced at $15

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:09:05 +0000

It's funny, back in early 2012 is when we first began to hear rumors that Super Meat Boy would launch for Android, and here we are a little over four years later with the official title finally making its way to Google Play. Thanks to the folks at NVIDIA, Super Meat Boy is launching exclusively for the SHIELD Android TV set-top box, bringing the pixelated platformer to the masses for the price of $14.99. If you are looking for a premise, it's sort of an odd one. Super Meat Boy (a little cube of meat) is out to save his girlfriend who is entirely wrapped in bandages, from an evil tux-wearing fetus inside of a jar. Yeah, it's odd, but thankfully, anyone playing this game knows it's not about the storyline. Gameplay is essentially what you would find on classic NES titles, requiring ultra-fast reflexes and dexterity. With the added benefit of the SHIELD Controller, though, you should be able to master the movements quickly enough. And trust me, that skill will come in handy when you go up against the boss battles. Priced at $14.99, there is no doubt you are paying a premium, but the game is filled with 300+ single player levels, tons of epic boss fights, a level editor, "unlockable secrets," warp zones, and secret characters. Lots of fun to be had. Go check it out right now. Update: The game appears to be playable on the SHIELD Tablet, too. Woot woot. Play Link ($14.99)

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Google Introduces "Live Cases" for Nexus Devices, Custom Cases Made to Order

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:30:01 +0000

Google just launched a new accessory for its Nexus line-up called Live Cases. The cases, as the name suggests, are one-of-a-kind cases created by you with custom imagery or your favorite Maps locations. The cases can then be matched up with "companion live wallpapers" to fully enhance the experience. As of right now, the Live Cases are available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6 and can be customized with your own photo or one from Google Maps. Each case will cost you $35. Not only are the cases customizable from an appearance standpoint, but they also include a shortcut button that allows you to launch your favorite apps in a hurry, like the camera or phone or Hangouts. You can even set the button to launch places of interest around you or activate the accompanying live wallpaper.

A for the customizations, the whole tool is quite impressive. With the Maps option, you set a location anywhere in the world before lining it up just the way you want it to appear on the case. From there, you can choose from various styles and color schemes that can help you create some striking case setups. After your color scheme is set, Google then lets you decide between a matte or glossy finish (available "soon"). You can start designing your own at the link below. Orders will ship in 4-6 days for free. Google Store Link

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Verizon Hosting National Trade-In Event, Receive Up to $300 for Your Current Phone

Tim — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:09:21 +0000

Verizon is hosting a "national trade-in event" right now, giving existing customers and potential customers the opportunity to get that new phone they have had their eye on. During this event, Verizon is granting up to $300 of trade-in value on select devices when you buy a Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, DROID Turbo 2, or iPhone 6S on a device payment plan. To take advantage of this national event, all you need to do is walk into a Verizon store to receive on-the-spot credit for your trade-in, or visit Verizon's trade-in program page on its website. When trading your device in, the customer can choose whether to have the credit applied as a down payment for the new device, applied as an account credit for your plan, or can receive the value on a gift card. The decision will be yours. If you do upgrade your device, Verizon is also throwing in three months of HBO NOW for free, just in time for the new season of Game of Thrones. This promo kicks off today, so if that LG G5 or Galaxy S7 is calling your name, head into Verizon and pick one up.

Via: Verizon

"Save to Google" Chrome Extension Makes Organizing the Web Easy

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 08:57:53 +0000

Back in December, Google introduced a new way to organize the images you find while searching through Google's image search. By quickly selecting images, you were able to create collections and tags of the things you happen to search for that you may need access to down the road. Today, this idea is growing up some with the release of a new "Save to Google" Chrome extension that lets you easily save items from the web and store them in Google's new "Saved" site. The idea is very similar to that initial image search save, but this includes links and images that are all organized by tags. So instead of collections, you now have tags in a column next to recent saves. You also still have mobile access, can add notes to saved items, multiple tags, and even edit everything after the fact. It's pretty bare bones at the moment, but that may also be the point. "Save to Google" is supposed to be a dead simple way to save your internet life and get back to it later. With the Chrome extension, you'll get a yellow star icon in your browser that when clicked, lets you save the page, change the title or image, and add a tag or four. Once saved, the items are immediately available on desktop or mobile. To access and organize all of your saved stuff, head to google.com/save from desktop or mobile and you'll get full control over items and tags from either. At this time, I'm not finding a way to save links via mobile, but that could change eventually with an update to Chrome. For now, you can do the majority of your saving on desktop and then get back to it on mobile. "Save to Google" Chrome Extension

Via: OMG Chrome

Google is Now Providing OTA .Zip Links for Android N Previews

Kellen — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 07:56:37 +0000

Yesterday morning, Google pushed out the first major Android N Developer Preview update by giving us the Developer Preview 2 (DP2). Initially, we found the factory images for thew new DP2 and shared them, but we were slightly disappointed to not be able to pull an over-the-air (OTA) update at the same time. Remember, when the first Android N preview went live, you could pull the OTA immediately if you signed up for the new Android Beta Program. While I'm seeing the update for DP2 this morning on my Nexus 5X, we thought we should point out that Google is now sharing the .zip files for immediate sideloading should the update not be appearing for you. Check it out. We have links for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel C, and Android One.

Nexus 5X (NPC91K)
Nexus 6 (NPC91K)
Nexus 6P (NPC91K)
Nexus 9 WiFi (NPC91K)
Nexus 9 LTE (NPC91K)
Pixel C (NPC91K)
Android One (NPC91K)

Why would you rather have a .zip file than the image, you ask? Well, a .zip file update is a lot like if you received the update over-the-air, which is often the simpler way. Now, you still need to do an adb command or two, but you don't have to flash multiple files like you often would with a factory image or unlock the bootloader on your phone. All you really need to know how to do is get your phone into recovery mode and then apply the "adb sideload" commands. Overall, this is much simpler. You can find instructions and the files at this Android N support site. We also have some older instructions here that may help if you run into issues.

What Else is New in Android N Developer Preview 2? (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:49:19 +0000

Every time Google announces a new developer preview or major update to Android, like they did today with the Android N Developer Preview 2, they include additional changes that don't make it into their blog posts or changelogs. We are talking about things like the subtle changes to the UI, which could be new buttons, a changed icon or two, or an adjustment to something as minuscule as the folder icon. We haven't had a ton of time with the Android N Developer Preview 2, but in the short few minutes, these are some of the things we have stumbled onto. Also, as we find more (or you tell us about additional changes), we will be sure to continue to update this post. Here we go. New folder icons! ZOMG. Honestly, I don't get the excitement, but hey, new folder icons!

What's a bigger deal to nerds than new folder icons? A "Clear All" button in the app switcher! LOOK. AT. THIS.

I didn't mention this yet, but Google is now showing the build number in the Android Beta Program quick tile. As you can see above, the new Developer Preview 2 tile says "Android Beta Program N (NPC91K)" whereas the original preview just said "Android Beta" or "Android Beta Program." Speaking of tiles, a Calculator quick tile or toggle or...app shortcut? I thought Google said that toggles "should not be used as shortcuts to launching an app." Whatever. Do you, Google.

And here are some of the new emoji.

But Google actually tweaked more than just those. They also straightened out all of the cartoonish yellow heads, so that none turn to the side anymore and made changes to the old people. The ghost is new as well.

Fancy new camera app, as well, along with picture taking during videos! (Cheers person!)

UPDATE 1: This new feature is a tweak to home screen adjustments when you grab an icon from the app drawer or on a home screen with a long press, or if you move a widget. What we are getting is a "Remove" option on the top, along with an "App info" option on the bottom. And again, this pops up for both widgets and apps, so you can always quickly get into the app info screen. This is likely just a Google App / Google Now Launcher feature, but it's only available when running the new Android N DP2.

UPDATE 2: It looks like we'll all soon be able to set individual lock and home screen wallpapers! (via)

UPDATE 3: Google is now providing OTA .zip files for Android N Previews! That's awesome for those of us who don't want to wait for OTAs to show and forgot to unlock bootloaders. UPDATE 4: Replying to notifications, now a part of a secure lock screen! (Cheers TrugyRN!)

Anything else?

Video: HTC 10 First Look!

Kellen — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:14:37 +0000

After yesterday's barrage of posts, there probably isn't much you don't know about the HTC 10, but since picking one up last night and spending the past 24 hours or so with it, it feels like time to talk about some initial thoughts. Or if anything, at least share a recap of specs and design and other basics before we get to the full review. Now, normally I would run through some thoughts here, outside of a video, but because I ended up putting together a lengthy 14-minute clip of my general first impressions, I think I'm going the lazy route this time around and pointing you below. I know, I know, not all of you like watching long ass rambling videos from me. So if you don't feel like watching, stay tuned until tomorrow, where we can share some real thoughts and actual testing. For now, here is a first look at the HTC 10!

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Snapchat to Roll Out Moving Emoji Stickers for Your Videos

Tim — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 13:37:41 +0000

This week, Snapchat will roll out a dynamic emoji feature that will allow users to place a live emoji on top of objects, people, or animals, giving a cartoonish vibe to your videos. For example, you could place a crying emoji on top of your own face, and the emoji will reshape and move right alongside your own face, as if it were a mask. Users will be able to place multiple emoji on different objects, and can also use the standard static emoji for entertainment purposes. Additionally, it is reported that the emoji stickers can even interact with static emoji, providing your creative imagination endless possibilities. Here's one example of this flippin' adorable feature.

The update is rolling out this week to Android users via Google Play, while those on iOS will get it "shortly." Play Link

Via: Mashable

Deal: LG Selling Replacement Batteries and Charging Cradles for $15, Bundles for $20

Tim — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 11:59:37 +0000

For a limited time on LG's website, the company is hosting a promotion on replacement batteries and charging cradles for the LG G3, G4, and V10. With the promo, owners of these devices can pick up replacement batteries for $15, as well as charging cradles for said batteries at the same $15 price. If you bundle a charging cradle and replacement battery for the V10 or G4, LG is only charging $20 for the couple, which isn't bad at all. Whether you only need a replacement battery or a charging cradle, simply add the item to your cart for the promo price to kick in. If you want to bundle a charging cradle and replacement battery, make sure both are added to your cart, at which point the discount will be automatically applied. From what we can see, domestic shipping is completely free, with delivery times placed between 5-7 days. If you need your batteries quicker, there is an expensive overnight option. Any G3, G4, or V10 owners in need? Deal Link

Cheers Thanassi!

Google Releases Android N Developer Preview 2, Build NPC91K

Kellen — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:50:28 +0000

To make this Wednesday an extra fun Wednesday, Google has gone ahead and released the Android N Developer Preview 2 (DP2) as build NPC91K for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel C, and General Mobile 4G (Android One). After pushing out the first Android N Developer Preview a month ago, this new preview contains fixes that you pointed out to Google along with a solid list of new stuff. As for what's new, Google says that they have fully deployed "Vulkan (a new 3D rendering API), Emoji Unicode 9 for more human-like designs, UI shortcuts to help users get to what they need faster, as well as performance improvements ." Here is the full list, according to Google:

Vulkan: Vulkan is a new 3D rendering API which we’ve helped to develop as a member of Khronos, geared at providing explicit, low-overhead GPU (Graphics Processor Unit) control to developers and offers a significant boost in performance for draw-call heavy applications. Vulkan’s reduction of CPU overhead allows some synthetic benchmarks to see as much as 10 times the draw-call throughput on a single core as compared to OpenGL ES. Combined with a threading-friendly API design which allows multiple cores to be used in parallel with high efficiency, this offers a significant boost in performance for draw-call heavy applications. With Android N, we’ve made Vulkan a part of the platform; you can try it out on supported devices running Developer Preview 2.
Launcher shortcuts: Now, apps can define shortcuts which users can expose in the launcher to help them perform actions quicker. These shortcuts contain an Intent into specific points within your app (like sending a message to your best friend, navigating home in a mapping app, or playing the next episode of a TV show in a media app).
Emoji Unicode 9 support: We are introducing a new emoji design for people emoji that moves away from our generic look in favor of a more human-looking design. If you’re a keyboard or messaging app developer, you should start incorporating these emoji into your apps. The update also introduces support for skin tone variations and Unicode 9 glyphs, like the bacon, selfie and face palm. You can dynamically check for the new emoji characters using Paint.hasGlyph().
Multi-Window: You can now specify a separate minimum height and minimum width for an activity. In addition, several API names have been slightly changed.
API changes: This update includes API changes as we continue to refine features such as multi-window support (you can now specify a separate minimum height and minimum width for an activity), notifications, and others. For details, take a look at the diff reports available in the downloadable API reference package.

Here are some of the issues that have been fixed:

Can’t connect to hidden SSID or non-broadcast Wi-Fi. (bug 203116)
Microphone mute state persists across activities. (bug 205922)
Changing multi-window focus pauses YouTube. (bug 203424)
Direct Reply may close open activity. (bug 204411)
Various stability fixes.

Here are some device specific issues you should expect to see in DP2:

Seed: Data connection fails when device is switched from slot 1 to slot 2 SIM.
Ryu: Unable to toggle Voice Search "Always On" option.
Shamu: Camera pictures in portrait orientation are corrupted, except for HDR+ photos.
Fugu: Playback of Netflix HD content is known to fail on Nexus Player; Any application that relies on dynamic video resolution changes may fail on Nexus Player; Any application that use the VP9 video codec may fail on Nexus Player.

As a reminder, you can get the update over-the-air (OTA) through the new Android Beta program or you can manually flash the new images like you have done for years. You'll find the new images here. For instructions on how to manually flash a factory image, hit up this post.

Via: Android Developers Blog

Download: Android N Developer Preview 2 (DP2) Factory Images

Tim — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:43:32 +0000

Google just released Developer Preview 2 (DP2) for Android N, and inside, the Android team has baked in plenty of changes, as well as fixes from last month's preview. Once the latest NPC91K build of Android N is booted, developers will find system-wide support for the Vulkan 3D rendering API, enhanced launcher shortcuts, and changes for the Multi-Window experience. Remember, this is still a developer preview and not intended for daily driver use. Users may experience slowdowns, jank, and unwanted device behavior from time to time. If you don't mind any of that, have at it. To download the newest builds of Android N, follow the links below. If you have yet to begin this process and are feeling froggy today, follow our instructions here. If flashing the old fashioned way isn't your cup of tea, don't forget about the Android Beta program, too.

Nexus 5X
Nexus 6
Nexus 6P
Nexus 9
Nexus 9 LTE
Nexus Player
General Mobile 4G (Android One)
Pixel C

Note: DP2 builds are not yet available for the Nexus Player. UPDATE: If you don't want to flash an image and have yet to see the over-the-air update arrive, we should point out that Google is now posting the OTA .zip files for sideloading. You can grab them here.

Via: Google [2]

Alpha Test Minecraft: Realms, a Cross-Platform Multiplayer Experience

Tim — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:48:16 +0000

Ahead of official launch, which isn't even scheduled yet, users can alpha test the upcoming Minecraft: Realms game, an actual cross-platform multiplayer experience for fans of Minecraft. At launch, Minecraft: Realms will allow players on iOS, Android, PC, and Windows 10 editions of Minecraft (Xbox One) to be in the same world simultaneously, bringing that teamwork spirit that was so popular when Minecraft first launched for PC way back in the day. Minecraft: Realms is a simple addition to the existing Minecraft: Pocket Edition application found on Google Play, but once you are signed up for the alpha testing period, a new portion of the app will be available to you. Basically, Microsoft wants you, the player, to play the game, then report back your findings. You can find bugs, offer UI suggestions, or anything else. It's an alpha, so you can expect many things to change before the game's public launch. In order to enter the alpha, there is one requirement -- you must have a Xbox Live login. If you already play public games on Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you are ready to go. If you don't have one, don't worry, they are free and quick to create. Once you are signed up, use your credentials to log into Minecraft: Realms. If you already have a Xbox login, simply follow the alpha link below to opt-in, then download the Pocket Edition app from Google Play. Happy gaming! Alpha Link | Play Link

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 Updated With Android 6.0.1, Support for Vulkan API

Tim — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 08:43:09 +0000

An update for the SHIELD Tablet K1 from NVIDIA is rolling out, which includes a bump up to Android 6.0.1, in addition to many other things. A sweet feature for gamers is also included, being support of the Vulkan API for high-efficiency access to the SHIELD's graphics hardware. Also listed on the changelog, support for Android's Doze mode is baked inside, USB MIDI support, a memory compression enhancement, improved WiFi connectivity when waking from sleep, a fix for issues when movings apps to your SD card, and much more. This update is rolling out right now, so keep your eyes peeled for it. Take a look at the complete changelog below. What's New

Supports the new Vulkan API for high-efficiency access to SHIELD’s graphics hardware
Adds Android 6.0.1 changes
Support for Android Doze mode & additional power optimizations
Adds USB MIDI support
Adds memory compression enhancement
Improved Wi-Fi connectivity when waking from sleep
Fixed Compass functionality
Fixed Gamepad Mapper issues
Fixed issues with moving apps to SD card
Fixed Doom 3 HDMI output issue
Repositioned Lasso Capture icons in landscape mode
Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level March 1, 2016
Overall stability and security enhancements

Via: NVIDIA

Google Introduces "Goals" to Calendar

Kellen — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 07:36:09 +0000

Through an update arriving on Android and iOS today, Google is introducing "Goals" to Google Calendar. What are Goals? For now, they seem to be Google's attempt at helping you workout more or learn a new skill by integrating your exercise and other goals into the app that runs your life - your calendar. With Goals, you tell Google what you want to do more of, like workout or go for a run or find time for yoga. Once you specify to Google Calendar what the new goal is, you answer questions to help Calendar find time in your busy schedule. You can see in the GIFs below how this all works, where you add a goal, which could be workout more in the evening a couple of times per week, and Google then slots in potential workout times where you have openings. You can defer them, mark them as complete, or even schedule items over top. Google says that Calendar will get smarter over time with your goals, as well.

Again, the update to Calendar with Goals included should start rolling out as early as today. Play Link

Via: Google [2]

Moto X (2nd Gen) on Verizon Gets an Update That Sure as Hell Isn't Marshmallow

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 18:13:47 +0000

The Moto X (2nd Gen) on Verizon or AT&T aren't getting Marshmallow. So when you see an update pop-up, like many are today on Verizon, don't get excited. Don't ever get excited again. It's only going to be security updates that tease your inner white fluffy, sweet mass. Remember, Motorola disowned you without as much as a "Sorry, bruh." Today's update to the Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen) is a security patch that will bring your software version up to 23.201.2. Your phone will be more secure, but it sure as hell won't be on Android 6.0, even though it's barely a year old and was supposed to be a flagship. ~~Excitement~~.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Robert, Nick, John, and everyone else!

Logitech Acquires Jaybird

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:46:50 +0000

This afternoon, Logitech announced that it has acquired popular sport Bluetooth headphone maker, Jaybird, to the tune of $95 million. Logitech will pay Jaybird $50 million in cash, but then they are including a $45 million earn-out, depending on how sales of Jaybird's products continue over the next couple of years. By buying Jaybird, Logitech is showing that it is taking audio more serious than ever. With Jaybird on board, they now own one of the best sport Bluetooth headphone makers and arguably the best Bluetooth speaker maker in Ultimate Ears (UE), who you may know from the UE Boom line. Logitech tells us that Jaybird will remain a separate brand. All parties expect the acquisition to close in the coming weeks.

Via: Logitech

Facebook Aims to Make Android Apps Smaller, Faster by Open-Sourcing ReDex

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:30:15 +0000

Back in November of 2015, Facebook launched the first ReDex-optimized version of the official Facebook application for Android. At the time, the Facebook app was 25% smaller and featured up to 30% faster start times. For those unaware, ReDex is Facebook's home-brewed tool to reduce the size of Android applications. Today, during the company's F8 conference, the company announced that it is making the ReDex tool open source for all Android developers, hopefully leading the way to smaller and more efficient applications. New optimizations, which will be highlighted in ReDex when it hits open source, arrange code more efficiently on disk and improve memory, as well as CPU usage. The benefits of this are most noteworthy on older devices with less memory than the latest flagship phones. In addition, ReDex has a fast build process, meaning optimizations can be tested and tweaked in real time, allowing developers to iterate and push updates quickly. Developers are welcome to try out ReDex on their own creations by using the code found directly on GitHub starting today. Have at it, developers. GitHub Link

Via: Facebook

Periscope Beta Testing Sketching Feature for Streamers

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:09:25 +0000

According to at least a couple of users, Periscope is working on a Sketching feature for those who stream via the service, granting the ability to draw on top of the video that is being streamed to viewers. Sort of like what you would find on Snapchat, streamers can draw simple shapes or draw attention to a specific object by highlighting it with a circle. Detailed in a demo of the feature in beta, users can choose from three primary colors, or use a dropper feature to use a color from inside of a stream. Once something is drawn, it fades after a few seconds, meaning it will be handy mostly to highlight things. In a statement provided to The Next Web, the Periscope team at Twitter states that this feature is being tested among a small group, and should be released sometime in the next few weeks for all users. If you want to be sure you get the update, make sure the Periscope app is installed and up to date on your smartphone. Play Link

Via: The Next Web

LG to Open Up Modular Design for Developers With SDKs and HDKs

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 12:04:51 +0000

This Friday, on April 15 in San Francisco, LG plans to host its fourth annual developer conference, inviting developer's to create modules for the LG G5 flagship smartphone. During the conference, developers will learn how to better create apps and hardware designed specifically for the G5's modular design, with LG announcing the launch of new SDKs (software development kit) and HDKs (hardware development kit). If developers create and release their own "friends" for the G5, LG is building an online retail space for developers to showcase their accessories. This will help highlight the latest and greatest toys that are compatible with the G5. This site is not quite live yet, but will be on April 18. The Friday evening event during the conference will be emceed by Mario Tapia, along with keynote talks from LG executives and technical demos. In addition, developers will learn to create their very own camera control applications for the 360 CAM and 360 VR headset. If you attend, there is sure to be plenty of hands-on time with devices. And who knows, maybe LG will even give you some free stuff. If you are a developer and would like to attend the conference in San Francisco, you can register here.

Via: LG

DEAL: Save $100 on the HTC 10 With This Code

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 11:08:03 +0000

Hopefully, you didn't already pre-order the HTC 10 because we have a code that will save you $100 on your order. We can't help but think that HTC priced this phone just a bit high and were hoping that some sort of promotion would come around to knock a few bucks off the total. I can't say that I thought it would happen this quickly, though. If you head over to HTC's site and add the 10 to your cart, simply input code "HTC1008" in the "Promotions" box at the bottom of the cart page and the $100 should automatically come off, leaving you with a $599 bill. Ready? Go! HTC Link

Cheers Chris!

JBL Reflect Aware C Earphones Were Made for Phones With USB Type-C

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:19:50 +0000

A new set of noise-canceling earphones from JBL, called the Reflect Aware C, draw power and audio directly from a USB Type-C port, like the one found on the HTC 10. At this time, JBL has not announced availability or pricing, but they are listed on HTC's website in a Black or White option. The 14.88mm driver earphones are sweat proof and come with ergonomic ear tips, making them perfect for gym and outdoor activities. Additionally, the noise-canceling is adjustable, and the earphones feature an in-line remote with volume rocker and microphone. With the USB Type-C support, these earphones should work on other devices, such as the Nexus 6P and LG G5. But again, JBL has not made any pricing or release information public at this time. Will these be an insta-buy for you? HTC Link

Specs Comparison: HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 vs. G5 vs. Nexus 6P

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 09:23:15 +0000

How does the new HTC 10 match-up to the best on Android? As we mentioned earlier, the HTC 10 is packed fully of almost all of the specs we want to see in a 2016 flagship, like the current Snapdragon processor, 4GB RAM, camera with bigger micron pixels, fingerprint reader, and a large capacity battery. But can all of that stand-up to Samsung's new flagships, like the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, or the LG G5? What about up against Google's high-end Nexus 6P? Let's find out. Here is a quick comparison of each phone's specs. [table id=31 /]

HTC 10 Features IP53 Rating, Meaning Don't Take a Shower With It

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 09:00:29 +0000

If you intended to take shower selfies or snap a few pictures of your kids while underwater in the pool this summer, I would hold off on that. According to HTC's online comms manager, Jeff Gordon, the HTC 10 features an IP53 certification, making it very unfriendly to water and instances of dust ingress. To sum up what a rating of IP53 technically means, the first digit, 5, relates to solids. In this case, the 5 means that the HTC 10 does not completely protect from the ingress of dust, although, no amount of dust should be able to enter the device that would cause unwanted operation of the phone. For example, you could place the phone on a dusty tabletop and be just fine. However, I would suggest not placing the HTC 10 in a bed of sand. The second number, 3, represents liquids. With a 3 rating, the HTC 10 is protected from spraying water at any angle up to 60° from the vertical. To be clear, we are talking a spray of water, not splash of water. In other words, a light misting or steamy bathroom after a hot shower should be just fine. Anything past that and your phone may cease to operate. While the HTC 10 won't come close to delivering the same protection from the elements as a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, it does beat out the LG G5, which has no known IP rating.

Via: @urbanstrata

HTC 10 Supports Apple's AirPlay

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 07:52:19 +0000

Here's an interesting little fact about the new HTC 10 - it supports Apple's AirPlay. It may even be the first Android to do so. What's AirPlay? It's like Google Cast, only for iOS devices. In other words, AirPlay is the technology from Apple that lets you stream music or video from your device through an Apple TV or AirPlay-enabled speaker. There are apps on Google Play that will let you stream content through AirPlay devices already, but HTC has essentially licensed the software and built it in natively to the 10. That's pretty cool news if you happen to have a house filled with Apple TVs and other iOS devices. Any chance we'll see other Android manufacturers do the same? Would you like to see others do it?

Via: Engadget

Tuesday Poll: Are You Buying the HTC 10?

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 06:51:11 +0000

Now that it's official, we just have to ask - are you buying the HTC 10? With a set of premium specs that mostly match up to what others have used in 2016 flagships, along with a focus on high-res audio, a 12MP camera with bigger 1.55 micron pixels, slimmed down software experience that we wish others would adopt, and supposedly best-in-class battery life, there is a lot to like here in the HTC 10. But we can't overlook the quite high $699 price tag, the lack of AT&T availability, and May launch that seems so late. We'll have one in hand shortly to weigh in with our own thoughts, but now it's time for you to tell us if this is your next phone. [poll id="400"]

AT&T Won't Sell the HTC 10

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 06:02:22 +0000

In HTC's press release for the HTC 10, you probably noticed that AT&T wasn't listed as one of the carriers expected to sell the phone. That's because AT&T isn't selling the HTC 10. Yes, you are reading that correctly - the 2nd biggest wireless carrier in the US isn't selling HTC's 2016 flagship phone. According to a statement sent to TechnoBuffalo from HTC, HTC is telling AT&T customers to buy the unlocked model through HTC's own website. That, of course, means paying the full $700 price and not having the opportunity to buy it with a monthly payment plan. Well, HTC is offering financing with 0% interest for 12 months, so you do have that option. This is a strange move from AT&T and not a good thing at all for HTC. You may recall the original HTC One (M7) and the lack of its presence at Verizon for months likely leading to it struggling to be a big hit. I can't imagine that AT&T customers who were interested aren't going to just skip this phone completely and go with another option that is readily available at their local AT&T store. Yikes.

Via: TechnoBuffalo

Watch: HTC Takes Us on a Tour of the HTC 10

Tim — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 05:33:23 +0000

While we woke up early expecting to watch a livestream unveiling of the all-new HTC 10, HTC had something a bit less exciting in mind. Instead of a normal unveiling event as one might expect from a smartphone company looking to hype their latest and greatest piece of tech, HTC posted all of the 10's details to its website, as well as a couple of introduction videos on YouTube. That's it. Nothing fancy. Here's our new phone, take it or leave it. One could argue that HTC could have used the livestream hype to build publicity around the new phone, but maybe HTC doesn't care about getting as many people as possible excited about the 10. Oh well. The HTC 10 features a 5.2" QHD LCD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 12MP rear-facing camera with OIS, 5MP front-facing camera, 3,000mAh battery, BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition, USB Type-C, 32GB/64GB storage configurations in addition to microSD support, and runs Android 6.0+ with Sense 8 built on top. To help acquaint you to the phone, HTC's Nigel Newby-House takes us on an in-depth hardware and software tour in a 10 minute-long video posted to YouTube. We get to see the phone's minimalistic design and build, as well as what software improvements HTC has made over the One M9. In the video, HTC's die-hard fan club also get to describe their first reactions to the phone, with one fan claiming, "I thought it was really pretty." Below, get your fill of the HTC 10, available for pre-order starting today. Introduction

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Announcement

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HTC Announces the HTC 10, Available for Pre-Order at $699

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 05:25:14 +0000

This morning, HTC went ahead and announced the HTC 10. The phone, is a lot of what we expected, but probably in a good way. HTC seems to have done a lot of good with the HTC 10, even if they made the phone official without any sort of press event. So what is there to know? Well, you can see the full specs here, but they look something like this: 5.2-inch QHD LCD display, 4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage with microSD slot, Snapdragon 820 processor, 12MP UltraPixel rear camera (f/1.8, 1.55um), full-metal body, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, BoomSound speakers, and Android 6.0 under HTC's newest Sense skin. HTC is really pushing the new design, which they say they created through customer feedback. The phone supports hi-res audio as well, is said to launch apps faster than any phone, and has a new "Freestyle" home page layout that really gives you control over your phone without the typical grid. HTC will sell the HTC 10 at Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile, but you can buy an unlocked model directly from them that works on T-Mobile and AT&T. The HTC 10 is available for pre-order right now at htc.com, but won't arrive until May. If you want to pre-order, you are looking at a price of $699.

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Press Release

HTC’S NEW FLAGSHIP: SCULPTED TO PERFECTION

Power of 10: HTC’s engineering excellence delivers obsessive craftsmanship, unparalleled performance and imaging leadership

Seattle - April 12, 2016 – HTC has today unveiled what it has been working on behind closed doors for the last 12 months with the launch of its latest smartphone. With customer feedback an integral part of the development process combined with an obsessive attention to detail, the HTC 10 delivers everything that you would want from a flagship device. Playing to the Power of 10 - symbolizing greatness and independence but also that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts - this newest addition to the HTC phone family combines a world-class camera with gold-standard audio, bold new metal unibody design and unparalleled performance. Designed to Perfection Inspired by light and sculpted to perfection, the HTC 10 employs a new approach to design where bold contours are carved out of solid metal. Capturing the light beautifully, the chamfered edges boast a slimmer, more slender look with its full-glass front merging seamlessly into the metal body. Passionate about the small details, it’s not just the materials that come under scrutiny when we create a new handset. With the HTC 10, our design teams worked tirelessly to build a phone where even the power button has been beautifully crafted, where the speakers deliver a sleeker look and better sound quality and where the fingerprint sensor recognizes your finger from almost any angle. It is also important that we got the build absolutely right. Mercilessly engineered to handle everyday knocks, bumps and scratches, the HTC 10 was subjected to over 168 hours of extreme temperature tests, ranging from a freezing -20’C to a scorching 60’C; and over 10,000 drop, bend, scratch and corrosion tests. World-class camera! With HTC 10 we’ve delivered what we believe to be the best smartphone camera available on the market today. With the world’s first optically stabilized, larger aperture f/1.8 lenses on both the front and rear cameras, new larger sensors, 12 million of our new generation UltraPixels (1.55um per pixel), faster laser autofocus powering the main camera and a wide angle lens and screen flash on the front UltraSelfieTM camera, this smartphone delivers brilliantly sharp, low light and high-resolution photos whether behind or in front of the lens. With the camera designed to launch in as little as 0.6 seconds, and a 2nd generation laser autofocus that gives you focused shots faster, it’s quick enough to even work in burst mode. All the settings are also conveniently located at your fingertips with Pro Mode still offering advanced options for more experienced photographers, including RAW format functionality. Boasting a DxOMark score of 88*, this is one of the highest camera quality scores of any smartphone to date and is the result of tens of thousands of hours spent fine tuning each element to deliver world-class photos and videos. Best in sight, best in sound But it’s not just the imaging that puts this smartphone at the top of its game - the HTC 10 combines vivid 4K video with the world’s first stereo, 24-bit, Hi-Res audio recording – capturing 256 times more detail than standard recordings across twice the frequency range and enabling you to bring to life your recorded content as if you were actually there in person. Built for audiophiles, the HTC 10 is certified for Hi-Res audio and has been designed to make music sound the way that the artist intended. A headphone amp that delivers two times the power of a conventional headphone amp, the ability to upscale from 16-bit to 24-bit audio and high performance digital to analogue conversion combine beautifully to produce ten times lower distortion than other devices on the market, delivering an all round audio performance that cannot be beaten. Everyone hears things differently, which is why the HTC 10’s all-new Personal Audio Profile system enhances your audio experience even further. By creating a unique profile that is tuned to your individual hearing, it dynamically adjusts specific sound frequencies to each ear, allowing you to hear music the way that the artist intended. Re-engineered HTC BoomSound™ Hi-Fi edition speakers feature the same separated tweeter and woofer design as leading acoustic systems and combine with a dedicated amplifier on each speaker, adding to the experience and delivering sound clarity unprecedented on a smartphone. Performance at its Best Whilst the HTC 10 nails it on the hardware, we have also delivered what we believe to be best-in-class software by focusing on getting the fundamentals right. With apps that launch twice as fast and that perform to the highest standard and a next generation quad HD display that is 30% more colourful, creating a true cinematic feel, and that is 50% more responsive to touch than its predecessor, even the smallest and fastest of finger movements track perfectly. This attention to detail doesn’t stop there! With security high on people’s agendas, we have created a fingerprint scanner, which unlocks in a lightning fast 0.2 seconds and which has been algorithmically designed to recognise you faster and more accurately over time. Engineered from the inside out to last longer, the HTC 10 boasts the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with enhanced 4G LTE. Each device also comes with Boost+ which is designed to make your phone faster, to consume less power and to provide effective security and applications management features. This includes smart boost, which automatically optimizes your memory; a game battery booster, which uses less battery during gameplay; and a new PowerBotics system, which auto detects and shuts down apps that use excessive power – improving battery life by 30% and delivering up to two days charge. Not only does Boost+ optimize performance, making it easier to launch apps, but its App Lock function also adds a new layer of security by enabling you to lock any app you choose, whilst App Manager provides an instant fix for when an app isn’t behaving. The HTC 10 also includes the latest in-box quick charge 3.0 Rapid Charger with improved thermal management that can charge the battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes – ideal for people who find their phone running low on juice before the end of the working day. Controlled by You! By reducing the number of duplicative and pre-loaded apps and bloatware and integrating the best of both HTC and Google, we have created a more streamlined phone that enables you to decide what you want on your handset. With HTC’s specially created new Freestyle Layout, you no longer have an on-screen grid that dictates the layout. Instead you can get creative by dragging icons, stickers and widgets anywhere you like. Layer them, group them, link stickers to apps or get rid of screen icons altogether, the choice is yours. The latest version of HTC Themes also provides you with access to thousands of professional looking themes that each come with their own icons, backgrounds and sounds so you can customize your phone based on your own personal style. Accessories and availability To further streamline your experience, the HTC 10 offers an all-new Ice View case with a semi-transparent and highly versatile single front-cover case. So when that next call or message comes in, when you need to skip a track or snap that perfect shot, you can do it without opening your smartphone’s case. It’s simplicity without sacrificing protection. The HTC 10 will come in two variants with different Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processors to cater for different market needs. They will both offer the same design, audio, camera and display, with a similar software experience and battery life. In the U.S., the HTC 10 will come with the Snapdragon 820 processor. In the U.S., HTC 10 will be available across multiple wireless providers including Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile, which will announce colors, availability and pricing. In addition, HTC will be offering an Unlocked edition on www.HTC.com, which will be compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks and will be available for pre-orders beginning today, April 12, with shipping in early May. The Unlocked edition from HTC.com comes in Glacier Silver and Carbon Gray, and costs $699. It also comes with UH OH Protection, which includes one replacement at no charge within the first 12 months of ownership for a cracked screen or water damage.

HTC 10 Specs (Official)

Kellen — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:58:13 +0000

What did HTC put in the HTC 10 to make it a phone worth considering? Quite a bit actually. The phone features all of the specs you hope to see from a 2016 flagship, like a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4GB RAM, microSD slot, 12MP camera with f/1.8 lens and 1.55 micron pixels, the ultimate selfie camera, a metal body, fast fingerprint scanner, 3000mAh battery with quick charging, USB Type-C port, and Android Marshmallow. See, it's sort of got it all. Is all of that enough to help HTC return to smartphone glory? Well, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge still exist, so it isn't going to be easy. So far, though, HTC seems to be doing the right things with the 10, other than with the price, which weighs in at $699. More to come!

HTC 10 Specs (official)

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OnePlus One Begins to Receive CyanogenMod 13.0 (Marshmallow) Update

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:46:33 +0000

Owners of the OnePlus One should be seeing Marshmallow hit their devices this week, with OnePlus announcing the rollout late last week. Inside, CyanogenMod 13.0, based on Android 6.0+ Marshmallow, brings many features that OnePlus One folk have been waiting months for, such as Doze, Now on Tap, enhanced app permissions, and much more. According to OnePlus, the rollout will be taking place in waves, so if this device is your daily driver, don't be concerned if you have yet to see it. You should have the update within the next week or so. The CM team took to their blog to highlight all of the changes, and the list is rather long, just as you might expect a jump from Lollipop to Marshmallow to be. On top of the goodies Google baked in, there are plenty of CyanogenMod tweaks in addition, such as status bar settings, lockscreen settings, and more. If you rock the OnePlus One, be on the lookout.

Via: OnePlus | CyanogenMod

Share Dropbox Files Directly Inside of Facebook Messenger

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:15:05 +0000

Starting this week, users of Facebook Messenger and Dropbox can begin to share files stored on Dropbox directly within the Messenger app, no longer needing users to share files from inside of the Dropbox app. From Dropbox, a user can share videos, pictures, and even GIF images. To access this function, while inside of a Messenger thread on your mobile device, hit the More button. Once pressed, you will see a Dropbox setting which will then allow for the syncing of data between the services. From here, simply select which file you want shared. If you are attempting to share a data file, such a Word document, the recipient can open the file inside of the Dropbox app. All other files, like multimedia, can be viewed normally inside of Messenger, which is a very nice touch. To get started, you will need Messenger and the updated Dropbox app, available today on Google Play. Follow the links below to make sure you are all updated. Play Links: Dropbox | Messenger

Via: Dropbox | Facebook

Google's Voice Access App Allows for Complete Control With Just Your Voice

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:59:49 +0000

In an effort to improve access to technology for those with disabilities, Google is upgrading its set of accessibility tools available across multiple platforms. The largest of which, at least in our opinion, is the availability of a new Voice Access app on Google Play. Currently downloadable via a beta, Voice Access allows users to control all aspects of their smartphone by speaking simple commands. You can swipe across your screen, open apps, and send messages all by using your voice. When enabled, Voice Access assigns all objects on a screen with a number. A user can then simply command the phone to open a select app, perform a certain function, or swipe through any app using their voice. Any app is supported, making it perfect for those who can't use their hands as others normally would. To enable Voice Access once this app is installed, you can head into the Accessibility menu in the settings menu. Once enabled, all actions can be controlled by your voice. To disable the feature, head to the same menu. It should also be noted that many phones already offer a feature like Voice Access, but are not quite as advanced. In addition to this new app, Google previously introduced voice dictation for its Google Docs app on desktop computers, as well as launched a better desktop reader for Chromebook laptops. To try out Voice Access on your own phone, signup for the beta by clicking the link below, then downloading it directly from Google Play. Beta Link | Play Link

Via: Google

Question of the Day: Why Don't You Care About HTC Anymore?

Kellen — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:42:46 +0000

We're on the eve of HTC announcing their next phone, a phone we all expect to be called the HTC 10, at least according to this leaked promo video. We have seen leaked imagery, leaked press renders, leaked specs, and shared the wallpapers from the device within the past month or so, because HTC isn't exactly the best when it comes to keeping future products a secret. But that isn't what we want to talk about today. We want to talk about why very few of you seem to care about HTC these days. Why do I say that, you ask? Just go look through every single HTC 10 post we have written in recent months - they are all filled with comments from you about the possibility of HTC's imminent death. Sure, there are a few comments from HTC's biggest fans, about how they think the 10 will be a winner and why they thought previous One M devices were great, but there aren't many. Even after HTC has given us a number of great phones over the years (DROID Incredible and EVO), helped usher the world into metal phones, and is getting better and better about software updates, it's rare to see anyone get excited about HTC's next in line. I can't help but think that is unfortunate, especially as smartphone manufacturers outside of Apple and Samsung seem to be struggling each quarter. So tell us, why don't you care about HTC anymore? Is it because of the One M series not living up to your expectations? Is it a software update or experience issue? Are you mad that they are switching focus to VR and the Vive? Are you just sick of them dancing around camera experiences with gimmicks? Do you hate iPhone clones that much? What is it? With the HTC 10 arriving tomorrow, let's talk about this in the comments.

DEAL: Big Discounts on Aukey Quick Charge 3.0 Chargers With These Codes

Kellen — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 11:58:33 +0000

Aukey, one of the leaders and early adopters in Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 technology, has handed us a few coupon codes for extra discounts on some of their best selling products to share. They are currently handing out additional price drops on their 2-port QC 3.0 car charger, single port wall charger, and 2-port wall charger. With these new discounts, you can get into a QC 3.0 charger for as little as $12.99. With Quick Charge 3.0, like with QC 2.0, you get excellent charging speeds that dramatically reduce the time you need to stay connected to a charger. Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology really is one of those game-changing technologies because battery technology still hasn't caught up to our non-stop, always-moving lives. We've talked ad nauseam, but it's one of those newish techs worth investing in if you haven't already. At this time the LG G5 supports QC 3.0, but we are expecting the HTC 10 too as well. You'll find links and codes below. Amazon Links:

AUKEY 36W Dual Qualcomm 3.0 2-Port Universal Car Charger - $16.99
Coupon code: BKP6KT7F
AUKEY Universal Qualcomm Certified 3.0 USB Wall Charger - $12.99
Coupon code: CLHMALK4
AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 2-Port USB Wall Charger - $18.99
Coupon code: SF34A77W

Fenix Developer Releases Quote, a Feedly Alternative App

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:51:29 +0000

The developer behind Fenix, a very popular 3rd-party Twitter app, released another app to Google Play this week, one which looks to replace your Feedly app. Quote, available for free on Google Play, enhances the Feedly experience with vast sync options, settable themes, and much more. As listed in the app's description on Google Play, users will have a full screen reading experience, gesture navigation, Readability support, offline caching for images and articles, and a search RSS feature. Additional features can be unlocked via a single IAP, which grants access to an ad-free experience, multiple account support, and additional themes. If you happen to use Feedly, and are familiar with how good Fenix is, then you know what to expect from Quote. Fenix continues to receive timely updates to bring new features, so expect the developer to treat Quote the same. If a RSS reader is how you partake in DL's content, then by all means, check out Quote. Play Link

AT&T Introduces Comcast-Like Triple Play for TV, Internet, Wireless

Kellen — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:41:37 +0000

I'm sure you saw this coming, but AT&T, now that it has merged with DIRECTV and really, really, really, really wants you to subscribe to all the things (just boot up a G5 for the first time on AT&T), is offering up a "triple play" for its services, just like Comcast has been doing for years. The idea is that as you bundle (I shutter every time I hear that word now.) you begin to save money. AT&T says that customers can save up to 40% on all services if they bundle into a triple play. That means signing up for DIRECTV SELECT with a guaranteed $50 per month price for two years "when you add it to an eligible new or existing AT&T service, like wireless or home internet." That price includes the equipment coverage as well, since that cost has been built into the price. Interested in a triple play from yet another cable company? To learn more, hit up that source link below.

Via: AT&T

Motorola Taps Legendary Graffiti Artist to Create Limited Edition Moto X Pure Edition

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:34:03 +0000

Motorola recently had Futura (aka Futura 2000), a pioneer graffiti artist, create 30 limited edition Moto X Pure Edition devices. Inside of an art studio, Futura personally sprayed 30 Moto X Pure phones, which Motorola later sold. To hype the project, Motorola created a brief video, which details the process of the phones being sprayed. During the length of the video, Futura talks about the history of his career, as well as the positives of Motorola allowing for the personal customization of devices. While he does not specifically mention Moto Maker, we get the sense that is what he was referring to. Whether this video represents Moto's past efforts in creating a better personalization process, or we can expect even more extravagant attempts at phone customization, the phones that Futura sprays look pretty incredible. While this is very cool, it's a bummer Motorola never gave anyone the heads-up that they would be selling these devices. At least give me a chance, Moto.

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Video: HTC 10 Unveiling Clip Hits the Web Early

Tim — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:41:31 +0000

HTC intends to officially unveil the HTC 10 tomorrow morning, but the Internet has unofficially beaten them to the punch. In a leaked unveiling video posted to YouTube, we get to see the HTC 10 from all angles, including the endless amounts of chamfer that surrounds the entire phone's backside. To sum it up, this is likely the clip that will be played during tomorrow's online unveiling for the phone. What we see in the video is a rectangular box shaved into the shape of a smartphone. Then, thanks to laser effects, we see the chamfered backside get cut, followed by the HTC logo getting etched in. We get a complete hardware wraparound tour, complete with a look at the bottom-facing BoomSound speaker and USB Type-C port, reported 5.1" QHD display, volume rocker, textured power button, rear-facing UltraPixel camera, and the fingerprint reader slash home button on the bottom chin of the phone. Overall, the phone looks rather handsome. Thanks to previous leaks, we know the specs should be right on par with the Galaxy S7, minus IP68 water and dust resistance. We can expect the Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, super high-res display, and a great camera experience. The only downside, at least from my perspective, is that HTC decided to swap dual front-facing speakers for a fingerprint reader and capacitive buttons. Not the best decision in my book, but we shall see what the masses think when the company announces the phone tomorrow. Tomorrow, April 12, is the big day. Raise your hand if you are excited.

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T-Mobile Begins Pushing Marshmallow Update to Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Kellen — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 07:02:43 +0000

This morning, T-Mobile began pushing the update for Android 6.0 Marshmallow to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, satisfying the hundreds of you who have been complaining non-stop in our Twitter feed after every post we make about every other carrier's S6 and S6 Edge getting Marshmallow. Granted, I can't say I blame you for complaining, since T-Mobile is typically much quicker than the rest and this time struggled to get a major update out to the masses. So complainers, complainers that we love, today is your day. Once updated, both S6 and S6 Edge owners will be able to use Google Now on Tap, see longer battery life through Doze, and enjoy finer controls over app permissions. The S6 Edge will also grab a bunch of new Edge features that take it from useless single-paneled Edge, to 2-wide beast software. Well, they at least make it useful. Both the regular Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are seeing software version UVU3EPD1 with the update. The update may be live already, so to check, head into Settings>About device>Software update.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

Verizon Galaxy S6 Edge+ Gets Marshmallow Update, Note 5 Gets WiFi Improvements

Kellen — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 06:47:04 +0000

With the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5 on Verizon all receiving the update to Marshmallow within the past month, we were starting to wonder if the Galaxy S6 Edge+ had been forgotten about. Well, it hasn't been. Just prior to the weekend, Verizon approved the update to Android 6.0.1 for the bigger-edged S6, along with another update for the Note 5 that should improve WiFi connections. In the S6 Edge+ Marshmallow update, you'll get a bunch of Edge software tweaks with new panels that are extra wide and easier to access (more here), plus 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 update will arrive as software version VRU2BPC2.

As for Verizon Galaxy Note 5, a new update will include improvements to "WiFi connectivity on Marshmallow," including fixes for trouble connecting to the internet, frequent data disconnections, and problems loading files or web pages. The Note 5 update will arrive as software version VRU2BPC2. To check for each update, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for Updates.

Via: Verizon [2]

Cheers Erik and Gary!

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: April 8, 2016

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:57:22 +0000

Another week in the books here at DL, highlighted by the posting of our LG G5 review. If you have not read it yet, be sure to do so. On top of reviews, we covered potential Galaxy Note 6 news, got another look at the HTC 10 ahead of next week's unveiling, learned about BlackBerry's Android plan for 2016, and may have gotten our first look at Motorola's flagship for the new year. Other news consisted of us reminding all T-Mobile customers that they can claim their free season of MLB TV Premium from the carrier, oohing and ahhing over the new Google Play icons, and LG refuting any type of reporting that the G5 features a plastic body. Look below if you missed any of the goodies from this week.

Review: LG G5.
First 10 things you should do on the LG G5.
Motorola: Possibly our first look at Motorola's 2016 flagship.
Galaxy Note 6 likely to feature IP68 rating, may come with iris scanner.
HTC 10: Another look at the upcoming HTC 10.
T-Mobile: Customers, claim your free season of MLB TV Premium.
Branches of Google Play apps get app icon updates.
Download: A sample of HTC 10 wallpapers.
Big updates rolled out for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on T-Mobile.
Huawei unveils the P9 and P9 Plus.
LG: The G5 is not plastic, yo.
Nova Launcher beta updated with Night Mode, configurable search bar.
reddit finally has an official Android app.
BlackBerry: Company confirms two mid-range Android phones for 2016.
Marshmallow update for LG V10 on T-Mobile coming next week.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Here's Another Look at the HTC 10 in White Ahead of Next Week's Unveiling

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:08:18 +0000

HTC is scheduled to unveil the HTC 10 on April 12. That's next week, Tuesday to be specific. Before that happens, though, here is yet another leaked photo of the device in White. With this image, we get a great close-up of the Sense 8 user interface we expect to see on the phone when launched, as well as a look at the fingerprint reader on the frontside. From what we can tell, it's essentially the same reader that is built into the One A9, which is a solid reader. And yes, the capacitive buttons are there, too. This is by no means our first look at the phone, as we have seen plenty of images and leaked press renders ahead of this. For the past few weeks, HTC has been teasing the "power of 10," with the company highlighting what we can expect from the phone's camera, BoomSound, and performance. According to the latest benchmark posted online, we can expect the HTC 10 to come equipped with a 5.1" QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 12MP rear-facing UltraPixel camera, 5MP front-facing camera with a bit of special selfie tech built-in, and Android 6.0+. The unveiling event kicks off at 8am EST on April 12 online for your streaming pleasure. For all you west coast peeps, that's 5am.

Via: @ngaibbdd123

T-Mobile to Ship Marshmallow Update to LG V10 Next Week

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 13:22:59 +0000

According to T-Mobile's Des Smith, owners of the LG V10 should see their Marshmallow update begin to rollout next week. To compare, Verizon sent out Marshmallow for the V10 back in March, and AT&T still has yet to release any intel regarding an update. The V10 was released in October, and since then, owners have had to endure Lollipop. With the update to Android 6.0+, users will benefit from comprehensive app permissions, Google's Now on Tap, Doze for improved battery life, more control over notifications, as well as plenty of bug fixes. Naturally, T-Mobile customers who don't own the V10, instead owning some other device that has yet to be updated to Marshmallow, are upset. This includes the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6, and Galaxy Note 4. According to Des, the V10 is, "the first one comin' out of the chute!" Everyone else waiting for Marshmallow will need to hang in there.

Guess who should start seeing #Android #Marshmallow next week! #LGV10 ???#tmobile pic.twitter.com/jRR7cuUjzU
— Des (@askdes) April 8, 2016

Friday App Sales: SunVox, Minecraft: Story Mode, Sky Gamblers, and More

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:47:47 +0000

For those in need of a few new apps and games to keep them busy over the weekend, take a look at the latest sales going on over at Google Play. For a limited time, you can save on SunVox ($2.99), Minecraft: Story Mode ($0.49), or better control your device's volumes with Volume Control + for just $0.99. Additionally, folks can grab Knights of Pen and Paper 2 for $3, TA: Little Red Riding Hood for only $1 (this game is really good), plus the Doom and Destiny series for $1 a pop. Here's the full list of apps currently on sale through Google Play. Friday App Sales

SunVox ($2.99)
Minecraft: Story Mode ($0.49)
Volume Control + ($0.99)
TA: Little Red Riding Hood ($0.99)
Doom and Destiny ($0.99)
Doom and Destiny Advanced ($0.99)
Knights of Pen and Paper 2 ($2.99)
I-Doser Premium ($0.99)
House of Hell ($1.98)
Starship Traveller ($1.98)
The Forest of Doom ($1.98)
Blood of the Zombies ($1.98)
Caverns of the Snow Witch ($1.99)
Island of the Lizard King ($1.98)
To Be Or Not To Be ($1.99)
Twomon USB - USB Monitor ($4.33)
TwomonAir - Dualmonitor Remote ($3.90)
Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders ($0.99)

Go support those developers.

BlackBerry Plans to Launch Two Mid-Range Devices in 2016

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 10:57:51 +0000

In a recent interview, BlackBerry CEO John Chen, confirmed that the smartphone maker would look to introduce two mid-range smartphones in 2016. Previously, if BlackBerry would focus on high-end or mid-range smartphones in 2016 was unclear, but Chen states that the Priv was simply priced too high for enterprise customers. “A lot of enterprise customers have said to us, ‘I want to buy your phone but $700 is a little too steep for me. I’m more interested in a $400 device’," Chen told The National. With that being said, a focus on getting prices between $300-$400 could likely be what's to come. According to Chen, one smartphone will feature a full touchscreen experience, while the other will feature a physical keyboard. At this time, Chen has not provided any further details, such as timeline for launch or actual pricing considerations. The BlackBerry Priv launched with a price of $720 in the US, which is certainly a high-end flagship price. However, while the Priv was BlackBerry's flagship, it did not compete alongside other Android flagship devices in terms of features. While the company's focus on Android security was noted, there was not enough to draw in the amount of customers BlackBerry was hoping to see. If BlackBerry releases a $350 Android smartphone, much like the Priv in design, would you be more interested?

Via: The National

Verizon Customers Who Ordered a Galaxy S7 and Want Your Gear S2 or Gear VR, You're In for a Wait

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 10:00:44 +0000

Back when the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge was still up for pre-order and launched through Verizon, the carrier was offering a free Gear VR headset or Gear S2 smartwatch to select purchasers via a promotion. Now that the deal is over and folks are cashing in on the promotion, Samsung has been overwhelmed by the amount of takers, and is now sending out emails regarding when folks should expect their smartwatch. As stated in the email being sent out to those whose claimed the promotion, folks may be waiting until May or even further into the summer season for their smartwatch or VR headset to arrive. That's quite the wait. The same is also being said on Samsung's promo website. Here is what Samsung is saying.

Due to the high level of interest in the Gear VR promotion, delivery times for Gear VR and Gear S2 are now extending into May and potentially Summer 2016. You have the choice of submitting for the Gear VR or Gear S2 on delayed shipment or a $100 coupon code towards a purchase of any product category on Samsung.com.

For those not wanting to wait, it appears Samsung is willing to offer a $100 coupon code for usage on its website, which is good for the impatient. Did you receive this email from Samsung?

Via: Samsung Promotions

Cheers Yoji!

Report: Galaxy Note 6 to Feature IP68 Water Resistance, May Include Iris Scanner

Tim — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 08:15:40 +0000

According to the latest report from SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 6 from Samsung will likely feature the same IP68 rating for water and dust resistance as the Galaxy S7. This news should not come as too much of a shock, as water resistance appears to be quite popular among buyers of Samsung's latest devices. More interestingly, though, intel dug up by another source, GalaxyClub, claims Samsung is working to include an iris scanner in the Galaxy Note 6, too. Let it be known, we have been discussing Samsung's potential to place an iris scanner in the Galaxy lineup since the Galaxy S5 in 2013. Every new year, it seems that a rumor pops up about the inclusion of ocular-based identification technologies, and yet, nothing ever seems to come of it. However, intel suggests that Samsung's R&D department recently received a large shipment of "IRIS CAM (Parts for Samsung Mobile)," leading some in the industry to assume they must be for the Galaxy Note 6. While the addition of an iris scanner would be quite fancy, we won't hold our breath. Additional details surrounding the Galaxy Note 6 are limited at this time, though, the device is reported to feature a 5.8" display and potentially up to 6GB of RAM. Yes, 6GB. There is also a rumor floating around that claims we may see Android N shipped on the device, but that we find hard to believe if industry analysts are correct in predicting Samsung will announce the device in June of this year. While we are busy arguing on where OEMs should place fingerprint readers on our phones, Samsung is ready to bring out Minority Report-like tech in 2016. Are you ready for it?

Via: SamMobile | GalaxyClub

Poll: Where Should Fingerprint Readers be Placed? Front, Back, or Side?

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 16:04:48 +0000

With Android OEMs placing fingerprint readers all over the place on various phones, such as on the back with the Nexus 6P, on the front with the Galaxy S7, and even on the side like we see with the Robin and devices from Sony, it's time we settled this debate once and for all. Now, of course, everyone has their own opinion on where they want their fingerprint reader. Some like it on the back for easy access with your index finger while you are holding the device. Others like it on the front for when your device is laying on a table. We are even seeing them embedded in the power button that is on the side of a few devices, a placement that I have seen few people cheer for. So, you decide, where the heck should fingerprint readers be placed?

[poll id="399"]

LG G5 Review

Kellen — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:09:33 +0000

After Samsung finally took design seriously in 2015 by incorporating copious amounts of glass and metal into phones like the Galaxy S6, they left LG as one of the last major phone companies to still produce all-plastic flagships. LG caught some flack for it with the launch of the G4, so for 2016, they introduced the G5 as their first all-metal phone. Along with the metal body, LG managed to keep their popular removable battery feature while attempting to usher in an era of modularity through phones, by offering up modules that could potentially add-on functionality on the fly. The idea could mean big things in the future, but the G5 and its couple of modules are here now. In other words, we are going to judge them today. LG also went with a dual-camera setup to give its users more flexibility when taking photos, a move that may have led to a questionable design. I'll say this, though, you've got to give it up to LG in the risk department because they certainly took some this time around. Did they pay off? Let's find out. This is our LG G5 review.

The Good

Specs LG did a pretty good job at ticking most of the boxes when it comes to specs on the G5. It has a 5.3-inch QHD IPS LCD display, 4GB DDR4 RAM, 32GB internal storage with microSD slot for expansion (up to 2TB), Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, removable 2800mAh battery with fast charging, dual rear cameras at 16MP and 8MP, front camera at 8MP, all-metal body, USB Type-C port, and Android 6.0.1 underneath LG's newest skin. Sure, the phone is missing water resistance and wireless charging, but not much else. This is certainly a modern flagship that should last you through a contract or payment plan up to two years. With future software updates helping get the most out of its internals, the G5 should only get better and better over time. The G5 may not have the best specs in the business, but they are good enough to compete. Performance Like the V10 before it, the G5 excels in the performance department. No, I'm not talking about benchmarks, since we don't run benchmarks. I'm talking, in-hand, real-world performance - the G5 is a smooth operator. This is one of those phones that swiftly glides anywhere you take it. The phone jumps in and out of apps, games, and streams video with the best of them. The performance of this phone is an area I haven't had one second thought about or maybe better put, there hasn't been one instance where I thought I needed a reboot or full app-close due to lag or stuttering. The only reboots this phone gets are from battery swaps when I need a fresh battery. Thanks to all of that RAM (4GB) and the Snapdragon 820, LG has fine-tuned the G5 to be one of the more memorable phones to use because of how easily it is to get things done. As a phone reviewer, you can often tell almost immediately if a phone is going to have its issues (like the Nexus 5X), but I'm not worried about the future of the G5 at all. If there was one area to nitpick, it would be with the camera launch. Some days, the double-tap-to-launch on the volume down button to open the camera works incredibly quickly, just like the quick launch on the Galaxy S7 does, but then others, it takes an extra couple of seconds to focus the first time before you can snap a photo. This isn't a dealbreaker scenario, I just wish it was more consistent because when it's working properly, it's just as fast as Samsung's implementation.

Pricing and Availability At many carriers the G5 is priced appropriately, which is roughly $50 lower than the Galaxy S7. I say "appropriately," because it's missing a couple of the S7's features (water resistance and wireless charging) and also doesn't have quite the polish of Samsung's newest. Outside of the ridiculous pricing that AT&T has adopted in recent years, you could almost call the G5 "reasonable" compared to some flagships. If you buy this phone at US Cellular, without a contract, you are paying just $585. At Verizon, the G5 can be had for as little as $624. Not bad, right? As for availability, the LG G5, like all major phones these days, can be purchased from all of the major carriers in a variety of colors today. AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular are selling four different color variants (silver, titan, pink, and gold), while Verizon and T-Mobile are offering just two. Still, you have choice with the G5 and that's worth something. Removable Battery LG has been pushing this removable battery thing as a major selling point for years, even as its competitors have run from the idea. I, for one, haven't exactly given a sh*t about removable batteries for years and so I've never really looked at this as being a big deal. What I'm trying to say is that I have never made a phone buying decision based on whether or not I can swap a battery when needed. I care about design and cameras and software experiences and accessory options and fast charging before swapping. With that said, it is an incredibly handy option if you do own a phone with removable batteries. In my time with the G5, I can't help but admit how convenient it has been to simply swap out a low battery for a fresh, full one at the end of the work day to kill any thoughts on whether or not I'll make it through the night. It has also freed me up from having to plug in a phone in the early evening when I need a quick top off. In fact, I haven't really plugged the G5 into a charger in about a week because I constantly have a full, spare battery charged up and ready to go at all times.

I can certainly understand why someone would want a removable battery. I'm envisioning the type of person who is hard on their phone, but doesn't always have a charger ready. If you are that type of person, the G5 is probably for you, since it's really the only flagship doing the removable battery thing these days. Just keep in mind that popping the battery out from the phone takes some getting used to and is actually sort of scary. Once you pop the battery module out from the phone to swap batteries, LG tells you to pull the battery from the middle of the module towards the outside to get it separated (instructions). Every time I do it, because of the spine-tingling cracking or clicking noise that exudes from the process, I'm shocked that the little hooks that hold it in place haven't broken. Seriously, it's not a good situation and I'm worried that these batteries won't hold up for years worth of swaps. SD Card Slot As has been the case for years, LG is once again including a microSD card slot. This time, they are bragging about 2TB expansion, even though 2TB cards don't really exist. Still, you can toss in a 200GB or 128GB card and likely never need to worry about storage again. Since the G5 only has 32GB of internal storage, you are going to want to invest in an SD card. After setting up my G5 with my 80 or so standard apps, I quickly cut that 32GB in half and was thankful to have an SD card on hand. And remember, that's after setup, not after taking hundreds of photos over a year or two span. I know that cloud storage is all the rage these days, but a high-capacity SD card in your G5 will let you not have to worry so much about storage management. Camera(s) On the G5, LG decided that this would be a good year to introduce a dual camera setup, a tech setup that hasn't exactly had much success in the past. LG isn't try to do post focusing gimmicks, though, they are instead hoping to give users the ability to shoot new angles and capture moments that no other camera can. Because they went with a traditional 16MP shooter alongside a wide-angle (135-degree) 8MP shooter, they certainly accomplished that. The LG G5 is capable of capturing some pretty cool photos, even if the wide angle shots are a bit low in the resolution department. Before we get to the massive amount of samples, let's talk about the camera software. Once again, LG is giving you all the controls you could want in a camera experience. You have ratio choices, full manual controls (ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance, etc.), simple or auto modes, picture-in-picture modes, multi-view shooting with all three cameras, panorama modes, time-lapse and slow-mo features, and more. You could spend a heck of a lot of time in the G5's camera just learning and tweaking and testing. For me, at least for this review, I stuck with auto, because that's what most of you will likely shoot in.

In my results, I would say that I came away mostly impressed with what the G5 could do. You can see a whole bunch of shots below, where I went from indoors and martinis to outdoors and pink flowers. I tried to capture low-light, good light, daylight, and even a night shot or two. The G5's camera is somewhat flexible, but I wouldn't say that it excels in low light. I don't know why that is, but there is a comparison of low light at the bottom of this section to the Galaxy S7 and you can see that Samsung's camera dominates the G5. In the rest of the comparison shots I took, though, especially the ones in daylight, my findings are that the cameras are pretty equal. Below, I tried to show you the differences between the two cameras on the G5 in a handful of situations. What you will see are shots with the 16MP shooter followed by the same shot, from the same place with the 8MP wide-angle camera. Depending on the setting you are in, you can really do some fun things.

And here are those low light comparisons I mentioned above. This was in my studio where I slowly opened a door and took three shots from the same position with the G5 and the S7. The S7 shots are impressive, to say the least, while the G5 struggled quite a bit in the darkest setting.

LG G5 (above) vs. Galaxy S7 (below)

Overall, I think the camera on the G5 is a winner. It's fast most of the time and has all of the controls and features you could ask for in a modern smartphone to help you take pretty amazing photos, but then it has this really cool wide-angle camera for those moments where you want to shoot something a little different. Or maybe you just want to snap a photo that no one else in your group can.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Modules The LG G5 is attempting to be the first consumer-ready modular phone. By being modular, it has the potential to expand functionality through hardware add-ons, which LG is doing by offering up a camera grip that doubles as a battery pack and through a B&O DAC for high-end audiophiles to get giddy over. The idea of a modular phone is pretty exciting, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that the LG G5 is nothing but a proof of concept at this stage in the modular game. LG is giving us a look at what the future of modularity could mean, only the G5's current offerings aren't compelling enough for me (or you, for that matter) to get excited about. LG's camera grip and DAC are two products that really aren't for everyone. The camera grip doesn't turn your smartphone into a point-and-shoot, since it doesn't enhance the image sensors or processing or sharpness or any other thing outside of letting you press a physical button or spin a wheel to take a picture. The functionality there is super limited and seems to have a single meaningful use, which is giving the G5 extra battery life. As for the DAC, well, unless you are an audiophile who cares about the crispiest audio, you probably couldn't care less about it. With a modular phone, I want to see modules that actually enhance the images I take or that can add-on a powerful external speaker or secondary display or maybe even just give me better battery life without being a bulky camera grip. And that's the thing with the G5 - we don't know if any of this will come or if there will ever be new modules to use. At this time, LG is giving us a DAC and camera grip, but they aren't saying if there are other modules in the pipeline to get really excited about. For now, I think we should applaud LG for introducing a modular phone concept and hope that with the G6 we get the real goods.

Design Since seeing the LG G5 in early leaks, then during a pre-briefing before the phone was made official, and then taking in the reaction to it in recent weeks, I have been pretty torn on the design. I don't think it offends me, but it's also not at the level of polish as Samsung's latest or the Nexus 6P, or even the Moto X Pure Edition. LG has done some nice things here, like use metals and move the volume rocker back to its proper side-rail location. The phone feels pretty great in hand too, at least in terms of size and roundedness. By no means is the G5 oversized or difficult to use with a single hand. It's also not too rough around the edges, outside of where the button is to eject the bottom battery module. In the few weeks that I have used the pink, titan, and silver versions of the G5, I have never once thought, "Man, this is one ugly dude!" But I haven't looked at the G5 and said, "What a beauty," either. Obviously, the dual camera hump on the backside isn't exactly a shining moment of design innovation. You can do two cameras tastefully, just look at the new Huawei P9. There are ways to do humps better too, right, Nexus 6P? My guess is that LG will really re-work the camera area next year, if they even keep the dual sensor setup. But yeah, a rounded hump block in the middle of a phone's rear that doesn't blend at all into the phone's body is not what any of us were looking for.

And then you have the issue that LG has already vehemently denied and attempted to clear up, which is the semi-controversy that brewed over the phone's thick coating of primer on the back cover. The phone is indeed made of metal, but the back cover, with all of that primer and paint atop the aluminum, feels like plastic. When you pick-up the Nexus 6P, you know right away that the phone is made of metal. You know the same with any of HTC's flagships. You know it with the iPhone. With the G5, I think it's safe to say that most, without knowing, would assume the phone is plastic. The frame of the phone is undeniably metal, but the backside, where your hand is constantly resting, doesn't come off as premium or metallic. Is that a major fault? Eh, not really, it just doesn't give off that ultra-premium feel we all seem to be looking for. The G5's new metal body and design probably could have used another round of polishing and tweaking. Most smartphone manufacturers are really settling in to their own high-end design languages at this point, and LG will get there before long, we just may be a year away from it. The G5, like with its modularity, is showing us that we aren't quite there yet.

Battery Life Battery life on the LG G5 hasn't been an issue for me. It may not have rockstar battery life, like the Exynos version of the Galaxy S7 or the S7 Edge or Droid Turbo 2, but it'll be acceptable for most. And again, you can always swap out a dead battery for a fresh one later in the day if you are having battery troubles. In my testing, I was typically seeing between 2-3 hours of screen on time and 13 or more hours of use before I was really looking for that fully charged battery to exchange with. So that's waking up at 6AM and not needing a new battery or a top off until 7PM or 8PM at night. While I would rather go to bed without ever charging up, this is pretty typical usage for me and not really an area of concern.

Thanks to that previously mentioned removable battery and the fact that the phone supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, you really shouldn't have issues with battery on this phone. If you do drain one mid-day, toss in a new battery or find a charger. You can immediately (with a new battery) get yourself to 100% or at the very least, grab hours worth of use in just a few minutes by plugging your phone in. Software The UX 5.0 skin that LG is pushing this time around is LG's best, though that may not be saying much. LG has always struggled to produce a good looking and well-functioning software experience, but they did tone things down a bit this time around and I don't think this year's approach will offend you. Outside of the lack of an app drawer on the home screen (which should offend you), LG has lightened things up with a light grey and light teal theme, made the notification experience not such a frustrating experience, and as I mentioned in the performance section, has really come through in terms of how smooth the G5 runs with this software at the helm.

LG is also doing little to overdo the software feature set. To me, that's actually a good thing. They took away their really poorly done multi window feature and either killed QSlide or hid it depending on the model, yet added in a truly convenient feature in Always-On Display. They kept shortcuts for launching into the camera or Capture+ and Knock Code and double-tap-to-wake, all of which are highly useful. They even let you fully customize the notification shade from having too many options to just the bare minimum. Outside of that stuff, it's really just a skinned version of Android, where LG is letting Android do most of the work without any added fluff. Sure, it's no where near stock Android, but the overall experience is light enough, assuming you don't mind the style that LG has given.

About that no app drawer situation, though. I don't want to harp on this too much, but LG went ahead and killed the app drawer on this phone and pretty quickly realized that it was a mistake to do so. Just before the phone launched, they released a video hinting at that changing in a software update later on down the road, but for now at least, the main LG home launcher does not have an app drawer. I recently wrote a piece telling you not to worry about it, because there are dozens of amazing launchers on Google Play that you should be using instead. Seriously, stop caring about LG's home launcher and just go download another one. Did LG screw up? Yes. Is a launcher not having an app drawer a reason to skip the G5? Hell no. Just get one from Google Play that works for you. In the end, the software on the G5 isn't really an issue. LG isn't doing anything here to change the game, but they also aren't doing anything overly offensive. It's a skin, and while we'd prefer stock Android or the approach that Motorola takes, you'll be fine with what LG has given you here.

The Not-so-Good

Display The 5.3-inch QHD IPS Quantum LCD display on the G5 is pretty average, if not borderline not-so-good. In the quick comparison to other flagships below you can really see just how washed out it makes everything with the brightness cranked up. Just look at the Droid Life pink in the tab bar compared to any of the other three phones. On the G5, it's not even close to the pink we're looking for and is instead a paler version. It also carries this odd green tint on top of whites, so much so that I feel like it's tricking my eye into seeing browns in the other displays. And it's like this on all of the G5 units I have on hand, which includes AT&T, T-Mobile, and pre-production units.

Unlike some phones, the G5 doesn't include any other display modes (at least that I could find), so you can't exactly tweak the colors or contrast or any other setting in order to get a better picture out of it. That's too bad, since the display and its quality tends to be one of the most important aspects to a phone. In bright outdoor lighting, the G5's display is pretty tough to see as well and really struggles. During a recent photoshoot outing in the surprisingly-sunny Portland area, I took both Galaxy S7 and G5 out for comparison shots, and that's when I realized how bad the G5 is in sunlight. The Galaxy S7's display came through crisp and clear when snapping pictures, while the G5 forced me to squint to see what I was shooting, making it difficult to know if the shots were framed correctly or if the pictures were any good. Maybe LG can fine-tune this a bit with software updates. As of right now, though, the display here isn't even as good as the lower-end LCD that Motorola put in the Moto X Pure Edition. No Water Resistance I'm not one to fault most manufacturers for not including water resistance, but with the Galaxy S7 keeping its beautiful design from the S6 and now featuring IP68 resistance without compromise, I feel like all phones should feature some form of protection from the elements. I don't need them all to be as resistant as Samsung's new devices, but let's at least throw in some splash resistance (like Motorola has done). Water resistance is one of those features you don't know you need until it's too late. It's also one of those features that gives you a sense of extra security, even though you may never need to use it. After coming from the Galaxy S7, I now feel a bit naked or vulnerable every time I get near water with the G5, and that means multiple times per week (if not days), thanks to baths for my son, doing dishes, or because the weather is getting better and the outdoor opportunities have increased. Maybe next year will be the year. Maybe LG needed one year to first introduce a metal body and then next year they'll find a way to weatherproof. But as I said in the opening, we're judging this phone now, not based on what LG might do.

Other Notes

Call quality: I've placed and received a handful of calls on the G5 and had no issues. Plus, with carriers now upping their voice services, like T-Mobile's Enhanced Voice Services, the G5 really shines in this department.
No wireless charging: I don't like it that LG didn't include wireless charging in the G5, but it's not something I'm going to stress about knowing that I have fast charging and the option to swap batteries. They probably left it out due to the fact that they went with an all-metal design. Not only that, but LG has never really been a big wireless charging-focused smartphone maker, outside of a couple of its Verizon models.
Fast charging: Yep, the G5 has fast charging and fully supports Qualcomm's new Quick Charge 3.0 tech. It's actually one of the first to do so.
Fingerprint sensor: The fingerprint sensor on the G5 is a solid fingerprint sensor. It works in a capacitive like sense, which means you don't have to press a button in order to use it. All you need to do to unlock with the fingerprint sensor is pick up your phone and set your finger atop the power button. It's not quite the best fingerprint sensor I have used (that title probably goes to the Nexus 6P), but it's damn close.
Bottom speaker: The single bottom-firing speaker on the G5 isn't great, just like the singe bottom-firing speaker on the Galaxy S7 isn't great, but this is what you are stuck with. Phones, to me, aren't supposed to be audio machines that can rival Bluetooth speakers. However, once you use a phone with dual speakers, accepting the G5 or S7's single speaker into your life is a tough pill to swallow.
IR blaster: Hey, the G5 has an IR blaster! I've never used it, but our comment threads have made it clear that a number of you do and were pissed that Samsung took IR blasters out of their new phones. So, IR blaster fans, the G5 has one!

Video

Unboxing

[responsive_vid vid_url="8IvH4SAX1Xw"]

Tour

[responsive_vid vid_url="r5-IMCplHNE"]

First 10 Things to Do

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vs. Galaxy S7

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Pictures

The Verdict

The LG G5 is a really good phone, overall, just not the best phone at the moment. LG is introducing some interesting ideas with it, like modules and dual cameras, but the module status at the moment is pretty weak and uninteresting, while the dual camera setup creates some new use cases at the sacrifice of an appealing design. Maybe in a year LG will dial all of that in, improve the camera design or setup, and offer modules that more of us can get behind. Would I buy the LG G5 today? If the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge didn't exist, I'd consider it, but since those two are here (and have been here), I don't know that the G5 would really even be on my radar. The G5 doesn't best either of those phones in any situation, outside of timely potential future software updates and having a removable battery. If those two things are must-haves, then the G5 could be for you.

Buy the LG G5: AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | Sprint | US Cellular

Facebook Messenger Update Brings Usernames, Links, and Messenger Codes

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:34:05 +0000

With an update set to rollout today to all users, Facebook's Messenger app will offer the ability for you to create your very own username on the service. This username can then be used for others to more easily find you, rather than searching by name. For example, if you love cats and beer, your username can be BuzzedKitty. The choice of username will be up to you. In addition to your very own username, the Messenger team is implementing Messenger Codes, which can be used sorta like how Snapchat uses codes. If you and a group of friends are hanging out, you can share your specific Messenger codes to add each other on the service. The same can be done if you are at a convention for work, or any other place that you might want to add new users on the service. Codes are circular and embeddable into emails, websites, business cards, or anywhere else you want people to see it. It is 100% unique to your account. Facebook is also rolling out these changes for businesses, making it easier and more personal when you chat with a brand or business on Facebook. For example, brands can pre-write a welcome message to those who are about to send a message through Messenger. Be on the lookout for an update to your Messenger app through Google Play. Play Link

Via: Facebook

Photo: Is This Our First Look at Motorola's 2016 Flagship?

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 13:12:03 +0000

A photo published by a reputable source for all things Motorola may be providing our first look at what is in store from the Lenovo subsidiary in 2016. As we can see in the shot, it's a smartphone with the trademarked "M" logo in the top corner, the same marking we have seen countless times in previous leaks surrounding Motorola devices. The photo appears to have been taken during a commute on a subway train or bus, with the owner working diligently on a laptop computer, unaware that his smartphone and actions are being photographed. If I had to take a guess, this photo was taken in Chicago, where Motorola's HQ is currently based in the US. We can also see a scene from a movie or TV show, featuring an actress I am unfamiliar with, but that's beside the point. More importantly, maybe even most importantly, a fingerprint reader appears to be placed on the bottom chin, sitting awfully close to what appears to be a USB Type-C charging port. We can also make out what looks to be a front-facing speaker grille, as well as a front-facing camera. That's really all we can gather from the shot.

Now, it's been said by past Moto execs that the well-known "dimple" on the backside of Motorola phones was originally intended to be for a fingerprint reader, so if in fact the company has decided to move it to the front, like it is on the Galaxy S7 and upcoming HTC 10, that's a shame. In our view, having the reader on the backside is a much nicer experience, thanks to the ease of using your index (pointer) finger to do the unlocking, such as it is on the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. This is our first actual discussion on what to expect from the Moto team in 2016, so please, now is the time to share your hopes and dreams about what we might expect from Lenotorola or Motovo or whatever you want to call it.

Via: +hellomotoHK

Cheers Geoffrey!

Microsoft Adds Facebook, Evernote, Wunderlist Connections to Outlook, Thanks to Sunrise

Kellen — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:23:39 +0000

The Outlook app on Android and iOS is finally getting the new app integration that we knew was coming, thanks to Microsoft's acquisition of Sunrise, the best damn calendar app on the planet that Microsoft is killing. In the next version of Outlook, you'll be able to connect to Evernote, Facebook, and Wunderlist accounts, making your Outlook calendar a place for managing multiple apps and tasks. If you used Sunrise at all in the past, this integration will be familiar. If you are new, well, this is the basic idea. With an integration or "Calendar App," you connect Outlook to other apps, like Evernote, Facebook, and Wunderlist. Once connected, you can see things like Wunderlist or Evernote items with due dates in your calendar, but you can see other to-dos with a simple touch. With Facebook connected, your Facebook events will appear on your calendar, but are also shortcuts to the events in the Facebook app. This is what your Outlook calendar menu will look like with integrations:

These integrations were the reason I loved Sunrise so much and was so mad when Microsoft announced that they were killing it off. If you use a lot of apps that all have events or due dates as a part of their experiences, Sunrise was an app that could bring them all under one house. Now, Outlook is doing it. Maybe it's time to take a closer look at Microsoft's all-in-one app.

Via: Office Blog

#TBT: Facebook Unveils the HTC First, No One Buys It

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 11:43:53 +0000

On April 3 of 2013, I went hands-on with the HTC First, also known as the Facebook Phone. For complete transparency, I wasn't actually allowed to hold the phone because the software was still in development, but a very nice Facebook employee held it for me and took me on a hardware tour. Little did I know at the time, April 3 would also be the last I ever saw of the HTC First, as once it was announced, hardly a single soul, relative to the smartphone market as a whole, decided to purchase it. Launched with a price of $99 on-contract, no one bought this thing, even with a few big tech sites giving it decently scoring reviews. Fast forward not even a month, when AT&T, the only carrier in the US to offer the phone, slashed the price to $0.99 on-contract. This was the first sign that literally no one wanted this thing. A few days after the price cut, a report made the rounds claiming fewer than 15,000 units of the device had been sold since launch, which, when compared to flagships on the market, is peanuts. That's actually less than peanuts, but I'm being nice. The one sweet thing the HTC First gave the world is Chat Heads. Chat Heads for FB Messenger rule. Did anyone here pick up the HTC First? No judgement, just curious. Below, check out my "hands-on" with the HTC First.

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Verizon Offers 3 Months of HBO NOW When You Switch or Upgrade

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 10:10:56 +0000

For those who make the switch to Verizon, upgrade a device on an existing plan, or activate a new line, Big Red is handing out free three months of HBO NOW, the service's monthly subscription plan for lovers of TV and hit movies. HBO NOW is usable on mobile devices, desktop computers, Android TV boxes, and other means, but in order to receive this deal, you will have to jump through Verizon's various hoops. In order to be eligible for this promotion, you will need to upgrade or activate a new line on a smartphone or device payment plan, or a tablet with a 2-year activation or device payment plan. If you happen to upgrade or activate a new device on a Verizon XL Plan or larger, as well as choose a device payment option, you will receive 2GB of monthly "bonus data" for each new or upgraded line. If making the switch to Verizon is your course of action, you can receive up to $650 to pay off your old phone or contract when you trade in your existing device. While T-Mobile hands out a free season of MLB TV Premium to all of its customers (still going on, by the way), Verizon is locking you into a device payment plan or 2-year activation for three months of Game of Thrones. Meh.

Via: Verizon

T-Mobile Unveils New Plan, Two Lines (6GB Each) for $80 a Month

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 08:40:13 +0000

T-Mobile is looking to cook things up this Spring Break, announcing a new plan for couples or those who only need a pair of lines. Starting tomorrow, interested parties can get a 2-line plan for $80, featuring 12GB of data (6GB for each line, no sharing), unlimited talk, text, plus complete access to Music Freedom and Binge On. In addition to the 2-line plan, for a limited time, any new or existing T-Mobile customer -- regardless of credit -- can walk away with a new phone for $0 down. As of right now, the only phone available for this deal is the LG K7, and coming soon, the Galaxy Core Prime from Samsung. Below is T-Mobile's graphic that breaks down the latest plan offered. Naturally, they compare it to Verizon's, a company that is known for charging higher prices for its services, but also delivering coverage in many areas that T-Mobile does not. When it comes to choosing a carrier that is right for you, always go with the one that delivers the best service in your area. Again, this plan goes live tomorrow at T-Mobile stores and online.

Via: T-Mobile

Official Reddit App Now Available on Android

Kellen — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 08:22:09 +0000

The official reddit app is now available on Android for all to use. After hanging in beta for a couple of months, the app hit Google Play last night for those looking for something outside of the dozens of third party reddit apps. As a dedicated Relay Pro user, I can't help but think this official app is quite limited, bare bones, and disappointing. Not that I was hoping this app would be the best reddit app on the planet, but it lacks settings controls, is sort of difficult to navigate, and definitely needs some work. But hey, give it a go! Oh, if you download and use it, you'll get three months of free Reddit gold. Play Link

Deal: $69 for One Year Subscriptions to Wunderlist, LastPass, Pocket, and More

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:51:59 +0000

Through the Productivity Pack, offered exclusively from the companies involved, buyers can get premium one-year subscriptions to six different services, in addition to a 12-week digital subscription to The New York Times for only $69.99. Premium subscription services are being offered for the following services: Wunderlist, LastPass, Pocket, UberConference, Quip, and Do. Each service offers something different for your productivity needs. Let's go over them, just so everyone is on the same page. Wunderlist is a go-to list application for grocery shopping or travel plans. LastPass is a very popular password locker app for multiple platforms. Pocket allows users to save articles for later reading. UberConference is a fantastic conference call and e-meeting platform. Quip is made for teams to organize, document articles, and complete tasks together more efficiently. And, lastly, Do helps you run more productive meetings. If you total the cost of yearly subscriptions for these services, it would regularly cost $487. With this pack, you are getting all of it for the low price of $70. To take advantage, follow the link below. Productivity Pack Link

Via: Pocket

Telltale's Minecraft: Story Mode is on Sale for Just $0.49

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 14:23:43 +0000

For a limited time on Google Play, you can pick up Minecraft: Story Mode, published and created by Telltale Games, for only $0.49. Typically priced at $4.99, this is quite a deal for fans of Minecraft and Telltale. In this game, you play as a team of Minecraft realm dwellers, tasked with saving your world from dark, magical powers. You will travel across the land all of the way to the Nether in your quest to make your home safe again from the Ender Dragon. All five parts of this episodic series are available for multiple platforms, and your $0.49 purchase unlocks the first chapter. Once you are completed with that, you can purchase a season pass or each chapter individually via an IAP. The game is playable on basically any device, but most notably, is compatible with Android TV and supported controllers, such as SHIELD TV with the SHIELD Controller. Good luck on your quest! Play Link

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Facebook Live Adds Support for Groups and Events, Viewer Reactions

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:06:44 +0000

Facebook announced changes for Facebook Live today, changes that will affect those who broadcast their own happenings, as well as those who are viewing the broadcast. Starting now, users inside of Groups and Events can begin live broadcasts for members to view, but for viewers, they have been given new ways to express themselves while watching. To do this, Facebook is including Reactions for viewers, which are those six icons that sum up the entire range of human emotion you see on your News Feed. For example, you can Love a live broadcast, say, "Wow" with a emoji, or express sadness with the teardrop emoji. Thanks to another addition, broadcasters can include live filters for their videos, as well as watch a replay of broadcast comments, in case they happened to miss a particular one during the stream. Facebook claims that they will also add the ability to draw and doodle on top of live broadcasts in the future. If you are ready to get down on a bit of live broadcast, make sure your FB app is updated from Google Play. Play Link

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Via: Facebook

These Motorola "Moto Dojo" Commercials are Actually Pretty Funny

Kellen — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:01:28 +0000

I honestly don't even know which phones Motorola is trying to promote with these new "Moto Dojo" commercials - probably the Moto X Pure and Moto G - but they are at least entertaining, something that I don't think most of us would say about LG's Statham-filled G5 commercials. And hey, they also don't star Ashton Kutcher, so there's that too. The spots star some random, un-athletic and uncoordinated white dude with a taped on mustache who takes his karate seriously. Each commercial features this guy doing things to a Motorola phone that highlights a specific feature (Moto Display, Actions, Voice, etc.), only in a really awkward dojo setting, with cat pictures on the wood-paneled wall. Who doesn't love a good karate spoof?

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HTC Teases HTC 10 Camera in Latest Video

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 11:54:09 +0000

HTC is back at it today, refueling the hypetrain for the HTC 10. Still scheduled to be unveiled on April 12, the latest teaser covers the company's desire to deliver a high-end camera experience. As shown in the video, we should expect the UltraPixel camera to deliver optical image stabilization, as well as support for shooting high-res 4K video. During the video, a few still shots are shown, but it's hard to determine if they are actual samples taken with the upcoming phone. They could easily be samples from any camera with perfect lighting conditions. HTC does not state what the shots were taken with, though, they do look exceptionally good. Of importance, note the numerous usage of the number "10" in this photo, taken from the video. Oh my gosh, HTC 10 name confirmed?

DEAL: Nexus 5X 16GB is Just $229 Today at eBay ($120 Off)

Kellen — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 11:02:41 +0000

The Nexus 5X, the smaller new Nexus from Google that lives on the affordable side, is available today at eBay for a ridiculously low price of $229. That's $120 off, by the way. This particular phone is version H791, which is actually the international or euro version, so that means you probably can't use this phone on Verizon or Sprint. It's essentially an unlocked GSM phone, with all supported bands for T-Mobile and AT&T. Sorry, CDMA folks. Still, if you want a Nexus and are on AT&T or T-Mobile, talk about a hell of a deal. eBay Link

T-Mobile is First US Carrier to Deploy Enhanced Voice Services

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 10:52:03 +0000

Announced today, T-Mobile is the first US carrier to deploy Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) across its network, bringing a much improved voice experience to all of the network's users (with supported devices). As an added bonus, for those on T-Mobile who tend to call friends and family who are not on T-Mobile, the patent-pending deployment of EVS benefits customers even if the person on the other end of the line does not have an EVS-capable device. This means that regardless of who you call, as long as you have a EVS compatible smartphone on T-Mobile, your calls should sound better than crystal clear. T-Mobile details that EVS brings three key ingredients to customers: EVS improves voice call reliability, provides even higher-fidelity calls than HD Voice, and lastly, EVS delivers these features more of the time and in more places. Essentially, if you make a call on T-Mobile's network going forward, it should sound superb, and the rare case of when a call is dropped on the LTE network, should happen even less frequently. Customers looking to use EVS can do so on the new LG G5, as well as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, which received updates for EVS this week. According to T-Mobile, they intend to have seven smartphones working with EVS by year's end. But really, who talks on the phone these days?

Via: T-Mobile

Cricket Wireless Expands Distribution to Over 1,000 Best Buy Locations

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:58:14 +0000

Cricket is partnering with Best Buy to bring the prepaid carrier's devices and plans to more than 1,000 Best Buy retail locations, bringing Cricket's total amount of retail locations to more than 10,000 in the US. Cricket is a fast-growing prepaid carrier, and according to the company's press release, partnering with Best Buy is a "perfect fit." If you are unfamiliar with Cricket and have not seen one of its TV commercials with the little green monster thing, know that its plans are as low as $35 a month, with the inclusion of a $5 auto-pay credit. To get unlimited text and calls in the US, Canada, and Mexico, those plans starts at $50 a month. At this time, customers interested in Cricket can buy the ZTE Fanfare or HTC Desire 625 through Cricket's monthly plan at any Best Buy location, or bring over one of their own compatible devices. As for which devices are compatible, any phone featuring LTE radios necessary for AT&T's LTE network will be required, as Cricket is a subsidiary of AT&T. To sum it up, any unlocked GSM phone will work fine on the network. As stated by Cricket, the company will continue to add devices to its Best Buy lineup over the next couple of months.

Via: Cricket

Huawei Unveils the Flagship P9 and P9 Plus With Leica Co-Engineered Dual Camera

Kellen — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:18:50 +0000

This morning, at an event in London, Huawei announced two new P-series flagship smartphones, the P9 and P9 Plus. Neither will make its way to the US any time soon (probably never), but since they are the new 2016 flagships from a company aiming to take on Samsung and Apple (and may be able to do it), the phones are worth talking about, especially since they were also co-engineered with Leica, the German camera expert. With the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus, you are getting aerospace-class aluminum bodies with metal polishing, 5.2-inch and 5.5-inch 1080p displays, Huawei-made Kirin 955 (64-bit) processors, 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB storage (depending on model of each), 3000mAh and 3400mAh batteries (with fast charging), fingerprint sensor, 12MP dual cameras (monochrome and RGB), 8MP front cameras, and Android 6.0 underneath Huawei's EMUI 4.1. In terms of specs, outside of having a QHD display, they have all that you could ask for in a flagship phone. In the camera department, where Huawei co-engineered each phone's dual camera with Leica, you get two shooters, one RGB and one monochrome, to deliver better low light imagery, better contrast, and "superior detail."You can even shoot individually with the monochrome camera to take stunning black and white photos that aren't enhanced by a filter - they are actually taken in black and white. The processing on the phone is working some magic between the two cameras to create a camera performance that Huawei says destroys both the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s Plus. The phone begins shipping April 16 all over the globe, just not in the US. We'll see what we can do to get a hold of one, though.

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Press Release

New Huawei Flagship Device Combines Groundbreaking Innovations and Exceptional Design, Setting a New Standard in Smartphone Photography
London – April 6, 2016 – Today at an exclusive launch event at London’s Battersea Evolution, Huawei Consumer Business Group unveiled the much anticipated Huawei P9 and P9 Plus. Created in collaboration with Leica, the dual-lens P9 sets a new standard in smartphone photography. The Huawei P9 is the first smartphone co-engineered with the global iconic brand, Leica Camera AG. The P9’s dual-lens camera takes smartphone photography to the next level, allowing people to capture both vivid colors and striking black and white images. Huawei’s new B3 Talkband wearable wristband also made its global debut. A groundbreaking moment for event guests included a first look at an exclusive trailer of the new Huawei P9 TV commercial starring Henry Cavill and Scarlett Johansson, Global Product Ambassadors for the Huawei P9 series. Showcasing the connection between two global stars in Shanghai and Hollywood, the trailer symbolizes the partnership between Huawei and Leica and the intersection of color and black and white. Cavill was joined at the P9 launch by iconic photographers Mary McCartney and David Guttenfelder from National Geographic as well as BBC Global News CEO Jim Egan, Condé Nast Chairman and Chief Executive Jonathan Newhouse, Vogue China Publisher Anita Chang and Huawei UK Board Members Sir Andrew Cahn and Dame Helen Alexander. “Huawei is excited to give P9 users the best smartphone photography experience by leveraging the unrivalled capabilities of Leica, the leader in the world of imaging for more than 100 years,” said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Consumers around the world use their smartphones to take billions of pictures each year, making photography critical to user experience. P9 users can now capture images with unmatched clarity, richness and authenticity, with a masterfully designed and powerful smartphone that looks and feels incredible.” Reinventing Smartphone Photography Integrating the design values and engineering excellence of Huawei and Leica in a smartphone photography system co-engineered by the two companies, the P9 brings together best-in-class hardware and software, from optical lenses, to sensors, to image processing algorithms, empowering users to capture the highest-quality images. Key to the P9’s superlative imaging capabilities is a dual-camera design that fully unleashes the power of Leica’s optical lenses, renowned for precision and attention to detail, and subject to the industry’s most stringent quality screening requirements. The RGB camera on the P9 specializes in capturing color, while the monochrome camera is outstanding at acquiring picture detail. The two rear cameras of the P9 work in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and color. The P9 truly excels in low-light conditions, as the dual-camera design guarantees more light and detail can be captured. Each picture taken by the P9 carries the unique emotional resonance and timelessness that are the hallmarks of Leica, as users may choose between three film modes: Standard, Vivid Colors and Smooth Colors, depending on their personal preferences. With meticulous calibration of the P9’s camera parameters, each film mode faithfully renders the authentic color and style of Leica. By selecting the monochrome mode, P9 users can use their devices as a true monochrome camera to capture powerful and evocative black and white images of superior quality. Deploying Huawei’s Hybrid Focus technology, the P9 captures images with superior speed, accuracy and stability. The P9 supports camera focusing based on three methodologies – laser, depth calculation and contrast – and automatically selects the one that yields the best result in any given environment. The wide-aperture photography feature on the P9 allows users to experiment with innovative visual effects to create unique images and content. The P9 makes it easy to adjust the camera aperture to create bokeh and other depth-of-field effects, while keeping the main object in sharp focus. “Leica and Huawei share an uncompromising commitment to imaging excellence, and our partnership will put outstanding photography into the hands of more consumers around the world,” said Oliver Kaltner, CEO, Leica Camera AG. “We are deepening our collaboration to give users a more optimal smartphone photography experience.” Taking Industrial Design to a Higher Level The P9 is a masterpiece of state-of the-art industrial design, with the same minimalist design DNA as earlier products in Huawei’s acclaimed flagship P-series of premium smartphones. Each P9 device is a perfect construct of superior-grade 2.5D glass and an aerospace-class aluminum, with diamond-cut edges rounded out by carefully balanced curvatures. The 64GB version of the P9 comes in a stunning and unique Haze Gold finish, setting new industry standards in industrial design, with the use of techniques including brushed hairlines and metal polishing at micron-level precision to create a translucent metal surface. Additionally, the Ceramic White version of the P9 is smoother than the painted bodywork of premium cars, reflecting and refracting light to present different shades of awe-inspiring colors as ambient conditions change. Power and Performance The P9 is equipped with the power, connectivity and speed that today’s high-end smartphone user expects from Huawei. With a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the P9 is powered by the new Kirin 955 2.5GHz 64- bit ARM-based processor for leading-class mobile performance. The 3,000mAh high-density battery offers P9 users outstanding mobility and battery life. Huawei is also unveiling the P9 Plus, featuring a 5.5-inch Press Touch display and a larger 3,400mAh battery. The P9 Plus also offers dual-IC Rapid Charge, giving users six hours of talk time after a 10-minute charge. Leveraging Huawei’s industry-leading capabilities in telecommunications, the P9 and P9 Plus offer unrivaled new features including a virtual-triple-antenna architecture, designed for users who need robust and seamless connectivity to cellular and Wi-Fi networks to fully harness the power of the mobile Internet no matter where they are in the world. The P9 and P9 Plus also protect users’ privacy and information security with Huawei’s world-leading biometric fingerprint recognition technology. The enhanced fingerprint sensor allows users to personalize and safeguard their devices by significantly lowering the possibility of fraudulent or accidental device access, while also ensuring users can quickly and securely access their smartphone. Pricing:

P9: 3GB + 32 GB €599; 4GB + 64 GB €649

P9 Plus: 4GB + 64 GB €749

Available beginning April 16, first wave launch markets include:

Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

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AT&T Wastes No Time Matching Verizon's New $20 Upgrade Fee

Kellen — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:57:59 +0000

On Monday, Verizon introduced a new "upgrade fee" for those customers who buy new phones on device payment plans or at full retail. We spent a good handful of hours over the past week trashing all over the fee, because it seems like an incredibly slick move for a major wireless carrier who is always on the cutting edge when it comes to bleeding you dry at every angle. Of course, Verizon isn't the only carrier with an upgrade fee - both AT&T and Sprint have them as well. Speaking of AT&T, their upgrade fee was set at $15 just last August, but now that Verizon has gone with a $20 price point, they are wasting no time in matching the greed. That's right, as of today, AT&T now has a $20 upgrade fee in place, because why not. We're talking two days after Verizon pushed theirs live. How awesome. The new fees are as follows, according to AT&T's recently updated fee page:

Activation and upgrade fees for smartphones with AT&T Next - Activation and upgrade fees are $20 per smartphone added or upgraded with AT&T Next.
Activation fees for installment agreements and bring your own devices - The fee is $20.
Activation and upgrade fees for two year agreement - Fees are $45. Note: Two year agreements are available only on select devices.

Going forward, if you buy a phone on AT&T Next or bring your own device, AT&T will charge you an extra $20.

Via: AT&T

iFixIt Tears Down the LG G5, Receives Very High Repairability Score

Tim — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:38:26 +0000

The good folks at iFixIt released their teardown of the LG G5 this morning, much to the excitement of those who enjoy breaking down and rebuilding little pieces of mobile tech. As you might imagine, thanks to LG's new modular design, iFixIt had a pretty easy time dismantling the G5, with most of the phone being held together by a few screws, clips, and minimal adhesive. Not only that, but disassembling the device does not equate to shattering the display or other key components, which is a major plus over the Galaxy S7 and Nexus 6P. For those into conspiracy theories, you can rest assured that the LG G5 is made of a fancy aluminum with a specialized coating. However, the front cover that features the LG logo is plastic, held on by whopping amounts of adhesive, while the back cover is metal. During the entirety of the teardown, iFixIt continued to praise the modular design LG implemented, making the entire process quick and painless. During dissection, iFixIt also learned that the G5's name is Alice, thanks to text printed onto the LG-made cable for the display. With a repairability score of 8 out of 10, the G5 utterly destroys the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in the hardware tinkering department, and also demolishes the 2 out of 10 Nexus 6P. If you fancy yourself a DIY fixer of smartphones, the LG G5 might be the phone for you. As noted by iFixIt, the only downside to the G5 in the repair department is if the LCD or glass breaks. If that happens, you are looking at a complete fused display assembly replacement. Check out the complete teardown and analysis on iFixIt's website.

Via: iFixIt

Verizon LG G5 Gets First Update to Improve WiFi Calling

Kellen — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 07:21:41 +0000

Verizon's LG G5 is getting its first update this week as software version VS98711A. The update appears to be minor, according to Verizon, with only WiFi Calling enhancements being the focus. To grab the update, which at least one reader has told us is live, head into Settings>About Phone>Software updates>Check for Update>Download Now.

Via: Verizon

Cheers Carlton!

Straight Talk Introduces $55 Plan With 10GB Data

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 18:55:15 +0000

Straight Talk, arguably the most popular prepaid wireless solution, introduced a new $55 plan this month that gives customers 10GB of high-speed data to use each month, on top of unlimited talk and text. The most popular Straight Talk plan has been the $45 option with 5GB of data, so for just $10 more, you are doubling your data. The plan can be signed-up for at the link below, which will walk you through the Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) process. For those who haven't been following Straight Talk for some time, they basically accept almost all phones at this point, thus the need for this tool. They have SIM cards for both GSM and CDMA networks, so you can access AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon's networks. Again, to get signed-up, head to the link below and take it all in, step by step, to see if your phone will work and decide which SIM you'll need. As always, Straight Talk SIMs cost $0.99. This new plan matches up nicely with Cricket's $60 10GB plan that can be reduced to $55 with autopay. The big difference here is that you get the $55 price and your choice of network. If you have continued to use Straight Talk over the years, feel free to drop into the comments to answers questions. It's been some time since I had a Straight Talk SIM in a phone, so I'm curious as to how your download and upload speeds have been holding up. Straight Talk Link

Cheers Bob!

Deals: Latest HTC Hot Deal Offers Discounts on One A9, Nexus 9, and More

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:55:18 +0000

For today only, HTC is offering discounts on five of its devices, directly from its website. As listed, folks can grab a One M9 for $399 (any carrier, even the Developer model), One A9 for $389, Desire 626 for $149, or even get a Nexus 9 tablet for up to 40% off. In addition to tablets and smartphones, HTC is also offering its RE Camera at 60% off, bringing the grand total for the hand-held shooter to $80. As for HTC's Hot Deals, this is the first time to our memory that they have offered this many devices at a discount at the same time. With that said, we must remind you, the company is about to announce its next flagship on April 12. That might explain it. Here's the complete rundown. Deals

HTC One M9 for $399.
HTC One A9 for $389.
HTC Desire 626 Series for $149.
RE Camera 60% off.
Nexus 9 up to 40% off.

If any of these deals interest you, head on over to HTC website to take advantage. Hot Deal Link

WhatsApp Now Features End-to-End Encryption for All Calls and Messages

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:29:36 +0000

Announced today, WhatsApp has completed work on end-to-end encryption for all of its services, allowing users to chat and call in complete privacy. With this security upgrade in place, all messages sent, calls made, and photos shared will be completely encrypted. This also includes encryption for group chats, too. The move to implement end-to-end encryption is straightforward enough. The only people who should have access to your messages are you and the person you send them to. End of discussion. WhatsApp does well at explaining this stance in its announcement.

The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us. End-to-end encryption helps make communication via WhatsApp private – sort of like a face-to-face conversation.

This change is available to all WhatsApp users who update their apps via Google Play, or whichever app store you downloaded WhatsApp from. For the sake of your personal privacy, update that app as soon as possible. Once done, you can go back to chatting and calling as you normally would. Play Link

Via: WhatsApp

Tuesday Poll: Do You Even Mobile Pay, Bro?

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:21:10 +0000

We are in the fourth month of 2016 and mobile payments still aren't really that main stream. Sure, Apple finally jumped on board with Apple Pay and adoption has picked up some, but I still don't see the majority of people at grocery stores or movies or the mall or at sports arenas tapping to pay. When I do it, I still feel like everyone is looking at me like, "Ummm, what are you doing, sir?" Maybe I shouldn't have expected mobile payments to be a bigger deal by now. Then again, Google Wallet with NFC payments did launch back in September of 2011. That was well over four years ago! That's a long time and yet, it doesn't really seem like most people are ready to give mobile payments a full-time go. Is it because they are confusing to use? Is it because we don't have enough retailers supporting them? Are there too many mobile payment systems to choose from? Unfortunately, I do not have the answer. But what we do want to figure out today is whether or not any of you have used a mobile payment system - ever. It could be Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, or that terrible carrier thing called Isis, that Google eventually bought. From there, feel free to tell us if you use it regularly or why you have yet to take the plunge. Ready? Go. [poll id="398"]

Deal: $20 Off NVIDIA SHIELD TV 16GB ($179), $50 Off SHIELD TV Pro ($249)

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 13:22:30 +0000

The SHIELD TV from NVIDIA is currently on sale, with the savings changing slightly depending on which model you choose. Regularly, the 16GB model of the Android TV-powered set-top box is priced at $199, while the SHIELD Pro model (500GB), is priced at $299. With these deal in effect, you only pay $179 for the 16GB model and $249 for the Pro model. As a fan and daily user of my SHIELD TV, I can attest to its worth. Now that the box is running Marshmallow, performance is silky smooth, support for an ever-growing library of games is top notch, and allowing myself to unplug my aging Chromecast (1st Gen) HDMI dongle has been clutch. Regardless of which model you purchase, each SHIELD TV comes with a SHIELD Controller. If you would rather use a SHIELD Remote, that will be a separate purchase. Additionally, a SHIELD Stand is also a separate purchase, but I do recommend a stand. To our knowledge, there are currently three spots online you can take advantage of this deal - either through Amazon's website allowing you to use your Prime account for ultra-fast shipping, through NVIDIA's website which also offers pretty fast shipping, or Best Buy. The choice is yours. Amazon Link | NVIDIA Link | Best Buy Link

Download: HTC 10 Wallpapers

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 11:54:00 +0000

We are still a few days away from HTC's unveiling of the HTC 10, but since when has that ever stopped the Android community from getting their hands on the goodies? In the latest release of intel, a well known HTC leaker has published a gathering of wallpapers that will be included on the HTC 10. In my own personal opinion, they are way better than anything you will ever find on Samsung device, so here's your chance to rock them before the phone is even announced. As of right now, a total of 13 wallpapers have been leaked, but there may be more down the road. A few are quite similar to what we have seen from HTC in the past, but a lot of the wallpapers bring a bit of new flavor. They are sized largely at 2880 x 2560 for very high resolution displays, making them perfect for any device rocking a QHD panel. To get the full resolution files on your own device, use the download link below, extract the wallpapers, then apply them on your smartphone. Download Link

Via: @LlabTooFeR

Android Distribution Updated for April 2016: Marshmallow Closes in on 5%

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 11:26:07 +0000

The new Android distribution numbers are in for April 2016, with Marshmallow showing slow, but steady signs of growth. From last month to this month, Android 6.0 has jumped 2.3% to 4.6%. I know, I know, it's been months since Marshmallow was released and this looks really bad, but it feels like we're getting somewhere, especially now that Samsung has started updating many of its phones to Android 6.0.1. As for the rest of the numbers, everyone else dropped, like Lollipop to 35.8% from 36.1%, KitKat to 33.4% from 34.3%, Jelly Bean to 21.3% from 22.3%, and ICS to 2.2% from 2.3%. Last month's numbers can be seen here.

Via: Android Developers

You Can Now Direct Message Tweets From Your Timeline

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 10:58:46 +0000

Want to spark up a private convo regarding a tweet you see on your Twitter timeline? Thanks to the addition of a new, little message icon, users on Twitter can privately share any public tweet directly to a friend, then discuss it behind closed doors. To do this, any tweet you see after you have updated your Twitter app (Android and iOS), should feature a little message icon. When you tap that icon, you will see a list of contacts on Twitter that you can private message. Typically, you will need to follow that user and that user will need to follow you. Once you select your contact, the tweet will be embedded inside of a message, which you can then add your own commentary to. This change is rolling out today, available via the Twitter app update on Google Play. Play Link

Via: Twitter

Google Calendar for the Web Gets Reminders Too

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 10:20:56 +0000

Back in December, Google introduced Reminders to Google Calendar on Android. By doing so, Google was making reminders a cross-platform, cross-app to-do list-like feature that could be managed from multiple places (Calendar, Inbox, Keep, and the Google App). It was a feature that Calendar addicts had been waiting years for, so today's news that Reminders will now be available to Google Calendar on the web are so welcomed. Google says that Reminders should be here this week and should show up when your account gets the green light. Like on Android, Reminders will stick around if they aren't completed, work across the apps I just mentioned, and will sync with mobile. To see if your Google Calendar account is live with Reminders, click on your calendar to create an event. If live, you'll see an option at the top of the pop-up box for "Reminder," right next to "Event."

Via: Gmail Blog

Nova Launcher Beta Updated With Night Mode, Bug Fixes

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 09:54:18 +0000

The beta for Nova Launcher received an update this week, bringing with it a new Night Mode feature, improved search bar configuration, as well as fixes for bugs. The Night Mode feature can be turned on manually whenever you want it, or can be set by time. For example, once it's 8PM, the feature can turn on automatically, and once 7AM rolls around, it turns off. Night Mode essentially turns all white objects, such as the search bar and app drawer, to black, making them easier on the eyes when in low lighting. In addition to Night Mode, which was previously released as a "Holo Mode" April Fools' joke, the developer lists "improved search bar configuration." This means, inside of Settings, you can better configure the look of the search bar. You can now change the color manually and the logo that appears. If you are reading this, kicking yourself for not already being a part of the Nova Launcher beta, don't worry. You can easily opt into the beta here on Google Play. It may take a couple of hours for your beta opt-in to be processed, but one it is, you are free to download the beta app directly from Google Play. What's New

Night Mode
Improved search bar configuration
Bug fixes

Play Link

Via: +Kevin Barry

Latest HTC Teaser Video Talks "Best BoomSound Yet"

Tim — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 08:48:38 +0000

Ahead of the April 12 announcement, HTC posted yet another teaser onto YouTube this week for the HTC 10, this time detailing what's labeled as the "best BoomSound yet." According to the video, HTC has been tweaking BoomSound, which should bring all of the joy associated with needle drops, live guitar solos, warm tubes amps, and face melting drum solos. From the latest photos we have seen of the HTC 10, it is still relatively unclear if the device will sport dual front-facing speakers, although, HTC's own teaser imagery (shown above as the header image), hints at possible dual speakers. One thing we do know, as the company has done in the past, HTC will more than likely include tweaked BoomSound audio software for when users are wearing headphones. HTC has a solid history of providing great audio experiences in its smartphones, so we expect 2016 to deliver the same. We're one week away, folks.

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T-Mobile Adds More Services to Music Freedom and Binge On Like Amazon Music and Video, ESPN Radio

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 08:33:27 +0000

T-Mobile announced new additions to its Music Freedom and Binge On services today, bringing the combined list to over 100 services. They also spent another press release telling us how much people watch and listen to videos and music now that they have Binge On and Music Freedom, because after the firestorm of insults that came out of their CEO's mouth at the end of 2015 when Google and the EFF questioned each, they are still trying to justify to the world that you should not be questioning such success. As for the new services, Music Freedom is getting Amazon Music, Chilltrax, ESPN Radio, OHIO.FM, PreDanz and Uforia. Binge On, on the other hand, is getting Dailymotion, EPIX, OVGuide, OWNZONES, Viki, YipTV,120 Sports, Nickelodeon, Spike, and TV Land. Again, the total number of services has eclipsed the 100 mark. That's a whole lot of music and video services to use that won't count against your data bucket. As a reminder, both Music Freedom and Binge On are free to T-Mobile customers.

Via: T-Mobile

DEAL: PNY 128GB MicroSD Card is Just $29.99 at Amazon

Kellen — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 07:49:04 +0000

For a limited time, PNY 128GB microSD cards can be had from Amazon for just $29.99. As far as I can tell, this is the lowest price we have seen yet. The cards will work in your new Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, or LG G5, along with any other SD card-supported phone in recent memory (like the Moto X Pure Edition). With transfer speeds at up to 60MB/s, you should have no trouble moving files to and from your phone, you just may not want to use Marshmallow's adoptable storage with one of these. The item is a part of Amazon Prime. Amazon Link

LG G5: First 10 Things You Should Do

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 18:45:22 +0000

When you buy a new phone, like the LG G5, you are excited about your future ahead, but you may also be somewhat overwhelmed at all that is new, especially if it has been a couple of years since you last upgraded. For example, coming from an HTC One M7 or Galaxy S4 to a G5 is a major leap forward. The skin LG uses is different, the features they include have changed dramatically, Marshmallow is a thing, and there are fingerprint sensors involved in all sorts of Android areas now. To help you get started with your new G5, we thought we'd follow up one of our most popular Galaxy S7 posts with a similar set of tips on the first 10 things you should do. You'll notice that the 10 items are quite similar to those on the S7 and that's because phone manufacturers are really building very similar phones these days, only with slight differences here and there. So let's do this - here are the first 10 things you should do with your LG G5.

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1. Toss in a microSD card Because the LG G5 is limited to just 32GB of onboard storage and you will fill that up quickly once you start loading up apps and taking 16MP or 8MP pictures, you should toss in a microSD card immediately. The G5 supports up to 2TB cards, but those don't exactly exist. Feel free to dive into a 200GB or 128GB card, if you don't want to have to swap out cards in the next couple of years. Both can be had for under $60 at Amazon if you look on the right day. Like, here is a 128GB PNY card for $30 at the time of this post. To access the G5's microSD slot, pop out the phone's SIM card tray that is located on the right side panel. Once opened up, you will see where the SD card and its unique shape sit. Insert, push the tray back in, and be sure to tell your G5's camera to store pictures on the card. 2. Setup fingerprints for multiple fingers The LG G5 has a fingerprint sensor on top of its power button, which is situated on the back of the phone. It's a really good fingerprint sensor that can read your finger quite quickly, especially since it can read in a capacitive like way, without the need to press a button. You should set up a couple of fingers, like your two index fingers to start, because then you can keep a secure lock screen in place, but still unlock your phone in either hand within seconds. The fingerprint settings are located in the main settings menu under "Fingerprints & security."

3. Setup Knock Code too Since the fingerprint sensor of the G5 is located on the back of the phone, it becomes hard to unlock the phone when it's sitting on a desk, unless you take advantage of LG's Knock Code software. With Knock Code, you can tap out a pattern on the lock screen to unlock the phone without ever picking it up or touching a button. You'll find the setup for Knock Code in "Lock screen" settings, which takes you through the steps, but the basics are that you need to tap six times in at least 3 of 4 quadrants on the phone to get it secure enough. Once in place, along with your fingerprints, you'll have a pretty convenient and secure phone. 4. Learn the quick launch buttons and double-tap-to-wake A couple of years ago, LG realized that items like the volume buttons on a smartphone can be used as shortcuts to perform other tasks when the phone is sitting idle. For one, you can double tap the volume up button to get into their Capture+ screen, which is a handy way to jot down a quick note or phone number or million dollar idea. You can also double tap the volume down button to launch the camera, so that you will never miss an opportunity to capture a meaningful moment. But LG's biggest software addition continues to be its double-tap-to-wake action on the screen. A simple double tap wakes your phone, while another double tap puts it back to sleep. This may not seem like a big deal, but once you use an LG phone for an extended period of time, you'll wish that every single phone had this included. It's brilliant, actually, since we often just want to take a look at a clock, notifications or battery status without fully picking up a phone. 5. Turn on always-on display With the LG G5, like the Galaxy S7, you get a feature called Always-On Display. It's another of those simple new features that really makes a lot of sense in the efficiency department. By having an always-on display, you can check the time, date, and see if you have notifications without ever touching your phone. It could save you hundreds of unlocks in a day, something we probably all need help with. LG's always-on display can be found in Display settings and is likely turned off out of the box, so be sure to turn it on. LG doesn't think it'll destroy your battery life in a day and I would tend to agree after testing the phone for a few weeks now. 6. Install a new launcher I don't typically tell you to install a 3rd party home launcher on your new phone, because it's probably worth testing out the launcher that a manufacturer has included. After all, they should know their software the best and have probably tailored the launcher experience to take advantage of their phone's features. However, the LG home experience is so bad right now, since the launcher doesn't even have an app drawer, that we can't help but tell you to go try something available on Google Play. Try Google's launcher or Nova or Action, anything but what LG has included. I've already written an entire post on the subject and even gave you a bunch of examples of launchers that are worth a look, so be sure to read that post if you need to know more.

7. Disable bloatware If you bought an LG G5 from a carrier, you'll have some bloatware to disable. T-Mobile isn't including a ton, but AT&T has gone next-level with crap. From DirecTV spam and backup apps, you may just want to take the phone back within minutes of that first boot because of AT&T's greed and LG's failure to standup to it. Try to contain yourself, though, as a disable feature on Android will help you hide a lot of this stuff going forward and will get you the phone experience you wish carriers would let you have out of the box. To disable apps, head into Settings>Apps to find the apps you want to kill off. Once you find one, tap on it and then look for the "Disable" button. 8. Customize your quick toggles The notification and quick toggles shade on the LG G5 can be fully customized to your liking. I highly suggest you take a minute to get it setup the way you think will be the most efficient. For me, that's by turning off the volume slider, screen and file sharing buttons, moving the quick toggles around so that WiFi, Bluetooth, Rotation, DND, and Flashlight are always available, and moving out options for Capture+ and Data. Obviously, your setup may be quite different, but that's the beauty here. LG gives you options, but also lets you decide what should be where. To get into the edit screen for the notification shade, pull it down and look for the button in the top right of the screen next to the settings button. Depending on the G5 model, it's either a pencil icon and a 3-dotted icon with arrows. Tap on it to enable box checking/unchecking and icon drag-and-dropping. 9. Setup a Smart setting or two On the G5, LG included a feature called "Smart setting" that is a lot like Motorola's Moto Actions (RIP). The thought here is that you can set your phone to automate tasks depending on where you are or what you are doing. For example, you could have your phone turn Bluetooth on and the volume up as you leave home or turn WiFi on and sound setting to "vibrate" when you return. You could also launch Google Play Music when you insert headphones or tell the phone to open Runkeeper the minute your running watch is connected over Bluetooth device. You'll find these options all under "Smart settings" in the main settings menu. 10. Charge up a spare battery Part of the reason you bought an LG G5 is for the removable battery, right? Well, make sure you always have one charged up. While I can't necessarily say that I've missed having a phone with a removable battery, in my last few days of testing, I can't help but admit that it sure is convenient, having a fully charged battery ready to go at the end of the day when I'm around 30% and know that I may not make it through the night. Instead of finding a charger and attaching myself to a cable for an hour, all I need to do with the G5 is swap out the battery and get back to enjoying life without cords. If you bought an LG G5 already, then be sure to claim your free extra battery and battery cradle at this LG site.

Buy the LG G5: AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | Sprint | US Cellular

3 Android Games Worth Owning: Alto's Adventure, Lost in Harmony, and One More Dash

Tim — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:57:56 +0000

It's only early April, but already, plenty of new games have been hitting Google Play, swooping mobile gamers up out of their daily lives, placing them in fantastical realms of imagination, wonder, and excitement. Being quite the fan of mobile gaming, as well as console gaming, it has been a real joy watching many premium titles be made available for mobile devices, lifting up the entire Android platform as a whole. Whether you are an intense player with a game controller accessory, or maybe just a porcelain throne warrior looking for 10 minutes of enjoyment, there is something for everyone on Google Play. The latest three games I have compiled land right in the middle for everyone. As a fan of more intense titles, Alto's Adventure has been a real treat or me, as it's the perfect mix of challenge and relaxation. Nothing beats carving down a mountainside. In addition, One More Dash will give the compulsive crowd something to cheer about, while Lost in Harmony is made for those who might want to escape for 30 minutes to an hour. Regardless of your play style, one of these three titles should suit you. Here are 3 Android games worth owning.

Alto's Adventure Easily my favorite release of 2016, Alto's Adventure is probably as close as I will ever be to having Tiny Wings for Android. In this game, you play a snowboarder racing down a mountainside, all while collecting escaped llamas and outrunning mountain elders. As you race, you collect coins, used for the purchasing of power ups. These power ups will help you survive for longer during your runs. When you complete challenges (3 challenges per level), you get closer to unlocking new characters. To unlock a new character, you must complete 10 levels, equating to 30 challenges. Each character has their own set of abilities, whether it be better speed, faster flips, and higher bounces. Once you reach level 50, which I did not too long ago, you unlock your very own mountain elder who contains all the abilities of the previous characters. Essentially, he's the greatest snowboarder of all time. Sorry, Ross Powers. Alto's Adventure is completely free to download, and the in-app purchases it features are completely useless. I highly recommend you stay away from those. However, as a pro tip, if you die during your run, you can watch an ad video for 15 seconds, then respawn at that same position. When attempting to complete challenges and go for long distances, this can be extremely clutch. Play Link

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Lost in Harmony Back in February, I discovered Lost in Harmony. On Google Play, it already had thousands on downloads and a high rating, so I was excited to see what the apparent hype was all about. Let me tell you, if you enjoy listening to good tunes and getting into a rhythm while playing a mobile game, there is no better title than Lost in Harmony. At first, the gameplay is quite simple. You tap on the screen when instructed to, while also trying to evade oncoming cars that are attempting to mow you down. Mind you, all of this is being done while you are on a skateboard with a girl riding on your back. Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Is it a lot of fun? Totally. With that said, the way that the gameplay syncs with the accompanying music does wonders for the imagination, as you go from one scenic level to another. The better you time your taps and evasions, the better everything syncs and the longer you will survive on that skateboard. The game is free to download, although, the initial download from Google Play is just a short portion of the game. Via an in-app purchase, the complete title can be purchased for $3.99. Play Link

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One More Dash From the same studio that gave us One More Line, One More Dash is a relatively explosive sequel to the original. While One More Line can be somewhat slow-paced at times, depending on how you play, One More Dash is all about the utilization of rhythm and timing. As you tap your ball forward to new rings, evading obstacles and spinning spikes, you are in a race against your incoming death. The overall objective is the same: get your little ball as far as it can go, competing against your friends to see who can go the furthest. One More Line also had a killer little soundtrack, and thankfully, so does One More Dash. Being just as addictive as the first, I highly recommend this time killer. You can grab it for free on Google Play. Play Link

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Know of a game better than these? Please, share them below.

Reminder: Verizon's $20 Upgrade Fee Went Live Today

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:48:22 +0000

Just a quick reminder, but because today is April 4 and the go-live date for Verizon's latest fee introduction, be prepared going forward to pay an extra $20 when you buy a new phone at Verizon with a device payment plan or at full retail. This is Verizon's new "upgrade fee" that was confirmed last week. Because Verizon was looking for help covering their "increased support costs associated with customers switching devices," you now get to pay extra for the right to pay them for a phone. Just know that Verizon isn't the only carrier with an asinine upgrade fee - both Sprint ($36) and AT&T ($15) have them as well. What a world we live in.

Via: Verizon

Huawei P9 to Come Equipped With Dual Leica Shooters

Tim — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:36:56 +0000

In late February, Huawei and Leica announced a partnership that would reinvent smartphone photography. Details were scarce by what was exactly meant, since smartphone photography has already matured by leaps over the years, but with the latest leak of a render for the Huawei-made P9, it appears that the reinvention of smartphone photography equates to dual rear-facing cameras. As shown in the below render, we have the upcoming Huawei P9, complete with Leica branding and two rear-facing cameras (Leica co-developed sensors, presumably). To compare the design to another device you might be familiar with, it's extremely similar to the Nexus 6P. At this time, no exact specifications are known for the P9, though rumors suggest the device will feature a 5.2" 1080p display, 3GB of RAM, 3,000mAh battery, plus the 12MP dual rear-facing shooter setup that should support OIS. Most folks probably already know our stance on dual camera setups, but to sum it up, we don't think it adds much benefit for users. For example, Samsung has long had a few of the best cameras available on a smartphone, and they only need to use one sensor. Even the Huawei-made Nexus 6P delivers stunning camera work with just a single camera. What's your take on the dual camera setup?

Via: cnBeta

Android Auto Available in 18 New Countries

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 12:10:39 +0000

Seeing a flag for your country in the tweet below? Then you now have access to Android Auto. Enjoy. https://twitter.com/Android/status/717064192361148416

Google Play App Icons are Getting Updated for a More "Consistent Look"

Tim — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:42:57 +0000

Announced today, Google is updating specific app icons to bring a more "consistent look" for the Play platform, with the Google Play button getting centerstage. As shown off on the Android blog, we should expect to see changes for Play Store, Play Movies, Play Music, Play Games, Play Books, and Play Newsstand. To be clear, these changes will only affect the major Google apps that are associated with Google Play. That means we won't see a new icon for Google Voice, Hangouts, Google+, Google Calendar, Gmail, or anything like that. These changes are for the apps specifically associated with the branches of Google Play. For a little bit of a comparison, the old look for the majority of the changing icons are shown in the image below, while the incoming icons are shown in the header image above. Google states that the new icons will come within the next few days, and rollout will continue over the next few weeks. Take a look at the new icons, then share your first impressions below. As for me, I like them quite a bit.

Via: Android

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

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:30:41 +0000

This morning, Google kicked off the release of April's security patch by pushing out factory images of the update for supported Nexus devices. As of right now, we are seeing new images for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus Player, Nexus 9 (WiFi and LTE), Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013, WiFi and LTE), and Nexus 10. Nexus 6P and 5X are seeing Android 6.0.1, build "MHC19Q," while the Nexus 6, Nexus 9 (LTE), Nexus 7 (2013, LTE), and Nexus 5 are getting "MMB29X." The Nexus Player, Nexus 9 (WiFi), and Nexus 7 (2013, WiF) are getting "MOB30D." In addition, the Nexus 10 is seeing Android 5.1.1 "LMY49J." You can grab each image at the link below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. Factory Image Link UPDATE: The April 2016 Nexus security bulletin is now available, should you be curious as to what was patched this month.

Beta Access Available to BlackBerry Priv Owners for Marshmallow Testing

Tim — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 09:28:55 +0000

If you are the owner of a BlackBerry Priv and are tired of waiting for the Marshmallow update, BlackBerry has opened up beta access for a handful of owners, allowing testers to get their hands on software updates well ahead of public rollout. In the latest stage of the beta program, BlackBerry is granting access to Marshmallow, the upcoming update for the Priv that includes Android 6.0+, as well as additional privacy tweaks that will make your Priv's data more safe than ever. BlackBerry jests in its announcement, "It’s no wonder that so many are calling for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, as it adds some great, new features to Android." Well, no crap, BlackBerry. Once updated to Marshmallow, users gain access to Now on Tap, Doze, comprehensive app permissions, streamlined settings, auto backup for apps, and much more. Additionally, BlackBerry details that owners will gain access to future security updates, before they rollout via the monthly security updates. In order to gain access, BlackBerry notes that folks who purchased their Priv through Amazon, Carphone Warehouse, and BlackBerry's website will be the first to get accepted into the program. For those who purchased the Priv through a carrier, you will not be accepted immediately. Also, there is limited space, so if you are interested, you better follow that link below quickly. To take part in the Zone program, sign-up here.

Via: BlackBerry

T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Get Big Updates Today

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:52:59 +0000

On your T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, feel free to jump through to Settings>About phone>Download updates manually, to check for an update, because you should have one waiting for you. Each phone is getting an update today that enhances voice services, updates Samsung Pay, optimizes battery, and improves overall performance. The updates are rolling out as software version UVU2APC8 for both phones, though they do weigh in differently depending on the model. The regular Galaxy S7 is seeing a 215MB update, while the S7 Edge is getting an update at around 146MB. The full changelogs look like this (which we combined from T-Mobile's support site and the pop-up for the update):

Enhanced voice services
Samsung Pay updates
Various system improvements
The stability of Recording video has been improved
Overall device performance has been improved
Battery life has been optimized
The security of your device has been improved
Device stability improvements, bug fixes

Again, the updates are live now, so go grab them!

Via: T-Mobile [2]

Reminder: T-Mobile Customers, Claim Your Free Season of MLB TV Premium

Tim — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:48:15 +0000

It was announced by T-Mobile last month that the company would be providing a free season of MLB TV Premium to all customers who choose to claim the promo. As a reminder to all baseball fans, you can claim your free season right now, directly from T-Mobile's website. To do so, you will need to navigate to the redemption website while connected to T-Mobile's network (not WiFi), and simply register for a MLB account. If you already have a MLB account, all you need to do is sign in. Once registered, the process happens automatically and there is nothing else to do. You will receive an email to confirm your account is active. In order to watch your baseball on the go, download the MLB At Bat app, then sign into your MLB account. Once logged in, you will see a message stating that all Premium features have been unlocked. And yes, you can use this account to watch the games on a desktop computer, or cast the games from your mobile device to your HDTV using Chromecast or Android TV. The last time we wrote about this, I confirmed via a T-Mobile rep that all plans were supported, including prepaid accounts. I used my own prepaid plan last night to redeem, and I can 100% confirm, prepaid plans are supported. As long as you are connected to T-Mobile's network, you should have no issue taking advantage of this promo. Total time to complete the redemption process is about 3 minutes. Enjoy that free baseball, folks! Redemption Link

Via: T-Mobile

LG Refutes "Erroneous" Reporting of the G5 Being Plastic

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 08:30:39 +0000

The LG G5 is supposed to be LG's first all-metal, unibody phone. It is, of course, but because a guy on YouTube who likes to break Nexus 6Ps for a living, scratched a G5 a bit with a razor blade after mistaking the phone for plastic and found a whole fat layer of non-metal, sh*t sort of hit the fan over whether or not the G5 really is metal. Again, it is metal, and LG has issued a response to the "erroneous" reporting over it not being metal. In the statement, LG says that the G5 is "composed of a special aluminum alloy, LM201." They have a patent pending on it, by the way. When holding a G5, you may be feeling something other than metal, though, because LG is coating the entire phone with primer to insulate and enhance the surface of it. After adding primer, they put on a "pigment layer" that has "tiny metal particles" in it and probably then change the color to grey, titan, pink, and gold. The primer is the cause for the "erroneous" reporting, according to LG. LG says in the statement that if you scratched the hell out of the top layer, you'll find the primer and probably think it's plastic instead of metal. In other words, the G5 is made of metal, but LG put a thick layer of primer and paint on it that might feel a lot like plastic. Actually, the back panel does feel a lot like plastic. I have the titan, silver, and pink versions all on my desk at the moment and none feel like they are metal. I know they are, because the sides definitely feel like metal, but the backsides just don't feel like it. The back has a soft-touch matte-like finish that comes no where close to the metal back of the Nexus 6P, which most certainly feels like a hunk of metal in hand. The G5 is light and...plasticky...so I could see how someone could mistake it for not being metal. But again, LG say it's metal. Special aluminum alloy, to be exact.

STATEMENT REGARDING MATERIAL USED IN LG G5 UNI-BODY
Contrary to erroneous reports online that the LG G5 body is composed of plastic, LG would like to state unequivocally that the uni-body casing of the G5 is composed of a special aluminum alloy, LM201 (Feb. 2016 patent pending). LM201 was developed by LG in partnership with the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology for use in high-end sports cars, aircraft and consumer electronic pducts where durability, rigidity and lightness are required. As a die-cast metal, LM201 was determined to be most appropriate material to accommodate the curves of the G5. After the die-casting is complete, the insulating antenna slit is applied directly to the aluminum casing followed by a coating of primer which provides additional insulation and enhances the surface profile for the “microdizing” process, where pigment containing tiny metal particles is applied directly to the primer to provide a smooth and durable finish. While both anodized aluminum and microdized aluminum will scratch if enough pressure is applied, in the case of the G5 the gray primer beneath the pigment layer may be mistaken for plastic when the coloring is scratched off. We want to reassure our customers that the uni-body of the LG G5 is advanced aluminum alloy, not plastic.

Via: LG

Your Retail LG G5 Doesn't Have a Launcher With App Drawer, So Download One That Does

Kellen — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 07:52:58 +0000

The LG G5 doesn't have a home launcher with an app drawer and it's kind of a big deal, for some. Kind of. An Android phone without an app drawer, in a way, is a phone without a soul since the app drawer has been a standard on Android from day 1. Taking the app drawer away is like taking the bench away from a basketball team and forcing everyone to stand in whatever arrangement they happen to fall into on the side of the court (or on it, in this case), throughout the stands and maybe into the concourse. Could your team survive without one? Yeah, probably. But is life a hell of a lot easier and simpler, if everyone can sit down, off to the side, in the order you choose, in an easily accessible manner, so that the court and playing surface is there for all of the action to take place? Yep. [In case you aren't a fan of basketball and missed that whole deal, I'm talking about the bench as your app drawer, where you can select players (apps) to put in play, something that would be much easier to do if they were tucked off to the side in an app drawer, in the order you have chosen. The court then becomes your home screen setup, with moving pieces (widgets), the apps you use frequently (like the starting 5), etc. Get it?] And look, LG says that we should expect the launcher to return in LG UX 5.0 for the G5, but that hasn't exactly happened yet. We are expecting some sort of update at some point to bring it, only it hasn't arrived. In a video detailing UX 5.0 that showed up just before launch (April 1), LG made a point to show the world that they had listened and were bringing the option back, for those who hate an app jukebox experience. The option is supposed to be in Home settings under an option called "Home & app drawer," only it isn't there on any retail unit as of today. If for some reason, you want to use an LG launcher with an app drawer today, you can download the UX 4.0 launcher from LG SmartWorld, which is their 3rd party app store, like Samsung's Galaxy Apps. It'll get you an app drawer, with horizontal scrolling experience and a couple of other features not found in the app drawer-less experience on the G5 out of the box. Again, that's if you are the type of person who likes pain, a hell of a lot of software pain, and must use an LG home launcher. Anyways, we've made enough stink about this situation already, because it's actually quite silly since there are a handful of really great 3rd party home launchers on Android that should probably be using anyway. You should download a 3rd party home launcher. Let me say that again.

YOU SHOULD JUST DOWNLOAD A 3RD PARTY HOME LAUNCHER.

Why? Because there are so many damn options out there, all of which are better than whatever LG will cook up or let you install from their app store on your G5. Honestly, I don't know why you would want an LG launcher when there are app developers out here who specialize in making launchers - the best launchers, that have stood the test of time, continuously get better, and have app drawers. Or maybe you don't want an app drawer! Funny, most of these launchers will let you take that away too, except they aren't terrible like LG's app drawer-less experience, in that you can organize your hundred+ apps in less than three hours. Need some suggestions? Hey, good, because we have some!

Google Now Launcher: This is Google's dead simple launcher that is now included with Nexus devices. It's slim, fast, and gives you easy access to Google Now. It's a great launcher if you don't need a bunch of bells and whistles. It's free too!
Nova Launcher (Prime): This is the Droid Life favorite and has been for years because it just keeps getting better and better and better. It's pretty advanced if you need it to be, but will also just get the job done out of the box. There is a paid version too, so you may want to test drive the free for a bit before making that investment.
Action Launcher 3: Another favorite around the Android community, this launcher is also packed full of features, is always getting pretty big updates with new features, and is run by a developer who seems to care about the finer details.
Arrow Launcher: This one is made by Microsoft. I have no idea if it's any good, but see, there are lots of options!
Smart Launcher 3: Another launcher I have never used, but it's been downloaded over 10M times and has a 4.5-star rating. That means it's probably good and unique and powerful and certainly better than whatever LG will put on your phone. Give it a try!

Over the weekend, we have seen a handful of emails come through our inbox with disappointment over the fact that there isn't an app drawer on the G5. People are even taking the G5 back in favor of the Galaxy S7 because of it. That's kind of nuts! Taking a phone back over an app drawer, when you can download one for free in like 2 minutes! Folks, this is Android, and part of what makes it so great is that you can make your phone yours without spending a dime and without the permission of the manufacturer. I'm not going to tell you to stop complaining about LG's decision to ditch the app drawer, because it's a bad one, but let's not get too wild with this one. This is a problem you should have fixed anyway, even if they had included an app drawer.

LG G5 Day!

Kellen — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 19:33:46 +0000

On this return episode of the Droid Life Show, we'll recap the latest on the LG G5, since we have had one in house for a couple of weeks now and it is also in stores. After that, we will share our mostly-final thoughts on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, now that our reviews have been posted. Finally, we'll wrap up with any other hot Android topics from the past couple of weeks. Join us at 1:30PM Pacific (4:30PM 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 and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Subscribe | iTunes | Stitcher | Show Page

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Don’t Miss These Android Stories: April 1, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 15:12:20 +0000

Now that the LG G5 is available for purchase, we are finding ourselves in this sort of in-between time for smartphone launches and news. That doesn't mean things have slowed, of course, only that we get to breathe a bit between now and the launch of the HTC 10 and the kickoff of Google I/O, both of which are only a short few weeks away. Over the last week, we unboxed the G5, saw the death of the Google Wallet Card, learned even more about the HTC 10, and confirmed with Verizon that more fees are on the way. We also just wrapped up episode 105 of the DL Show. Be sure to catch up!

Don't be fooled.

Deal: ExoMount Touch Air Vent Car Mount for $17, Free Shipping

Tim — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 15:03:12 +0000

Thanks to the ExoMount Air Vent on sale in the DL Deals Store, you won't need to store your precious smartphone in your car's cup holder anymore. Priced at only $17, down from its usual price of $25, this car mount makes setting up your device extremely simple with only one touch needed to get the job done. And thanks to 360˚ rotation and swivel, the mount should allow for nearly any viewing angle, no matter the model of vehicle. Inside the mount, non-slip rubber grips will ensure your phone does not go flying whenever you have to hit the brakes, too. The mount is also good for the office. If you attach a thick credit card, you can use the mount on your desk, making it a 2-for-1 accessory. If this car mount is of interest to you, grab it by following the link down below. Features

Mount your phone to your air vent w/ just 1 touch
View your phone in any orientation w/ 360˚ rotation & swivel
Keep your phone stable w/ non-slip rubber grip
Use w/ smartphones, MP3 players & more
Pop in a thick card to use it as a phone stand on your desk

Deal Link

Verizon is Raising Unlimited Data Prices by $20 on May 15 for Some

Kellen — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:13:13 +0000

On November 15 of last year, Verizon raised unlimited data plan pricing by $20, from $29.99 to $49.99. According to sources of ours, that was only "phase 1" of Big Red's plan to price unlimited data users out of their plans and features and into a tiered option. We still have two more phases to go, with the next starting next month. "Phase 2" will kick off on May 15 as a similar $20 increase to what we saw in November for lines that are out of contract that weren't affected by the initial November 15 price increase. The specific details are that Verizon is "increasing the price of other data features with unlimited allowances $20 per month for lines that are out of contract." Think unlimited hotspot or an older legacy plan that weren't hit the first time around. Keep in mind that this isn't an additional $20 on top of the $20 you saw for your data plan in November; at least that is our understanding. In other words, your unlimited data plan isn't going up $40 since November, just that initial $20. If you want to know if you are affected this time around, feel free to contact Verizon - their service reps are already up-to-speed on this latest change and can tell you. Why the change? Because there is an increased demand for data these days, largely driven by video streaming and application use, according to Verizon. Verizon does think that the price is still a great value, even at a $20 increase from what many of you have been paying for years. Verizon will begin telling customers the news on their next billing cycle beginning April 1 (today). But again, the price increase won't go into effect until May 15, or on your next billing cycle following that date. Also, a "phase 3" is in the works, so expect another change of some sort in the future. We are also aware that today is April Fools' Day. This is not an April Fools' prank, as Verizon has notified their employees of the change and told them to brace for "objections from customers." We reached out to Verizon for comment and clarification and they said, "This fee isn’t new - we announced it in November. As you may imagine, it takes time to apply it to all accounts currently on unlimited data plans."

Saygus V2 was Supposed to Have Shipped by Yesterday...

Kellen — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:06:59 +0000

Guys, I have failed you. I had already forgotten about the Saygus V2 and the fact that it was supposed to ship by March 31, at the latest, and missed out on the latest round of excuses and random circuit board chatter that came across Twitter yesterday from the company. Thankfully, Android Police saw one of our favorite crowdfunded disasters continue to unfold at the last minute and has reminded us to get back to talking about it with an update! First things first, though, and that's that we told you this thing would never ship by the end of Q1. Saygus even said in January that Q1 was what they "think" is accurate, which isn't exactly a fist-pounding-the-desk definitive answer. These guys have no idea what they are doing, still, a year and a half later. So here's the news! In a series of tweets yesterday, Saygus has informed us that they have completed work on circuit boards (not the phone, just circuit boards), did something with an SMT (whatever the f*ck that is), have not finished final software testing or sent anything to the FCC for certification or approval, and will be providing weekly updates going forward (don't bet on that either). They did manage to party it up at MWC, though, so that's good. It wouldn't be Saygus if they weren't wasting time at trade shows, showing off a phone that was supposed to ship a year ago, and partying. Oh, we got these photos too! Oooooooh...

Ahhhhh...

Mmmhmmmm...

Chocolate...

In probably the most telling tweet of all, Saygus apologized for the delays, because they "didn't anticipate any." Think about that statement for a second. This is a company who was supposed to ship a phone last March, delayed it, changed shipping dates to May before delaying again, and then disappeared for six months because of delay after delay after delay, until showing up at CES to tell people about their delays, only to again announce yesterday, that they are delayed. But Saygus has the balls to say they "didn't anticipate any" delays. They invented the f*cking word! I give up. Remember what we said, backing a crowdfunded smartphone is a terrible idea.

LG G5 Now Available at Your Favorite US Carriers

Kellen — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 08:37:54 +0000

It's LG G5 day! I know that doesn't ring as loudly as it did on Galaxy S7 day, but the G5 is still a big phone, a big deal, and worth your consideration now that it is available for purchase and in stores. We've unboxed one, done a non-unboxing and tour, compared it to the S7, and given you our seven favorite features. We have actually talked a lot about it leading up until today. So if you have seen enough and are ready to purchase the G5 before our review is up (which should arrive next week), you will find all of the links below to your US carrier of choice. Carrier Links:

AT&T LG G5 (silver, titan, gold, or pink) - starting at $22.97/month or $688.99 at full retail
Verizon LG G5 (silver or titan) - starting at $26.00/month or $624.00 at full retail
T-Mobile LG G5 (silver or gold) - starting at $26.25/month or $629.99 at full retail
Sprint LG G5 (silver, titan, gold, or pink) - starting at $24.00/month or $576.00 at full retail
US Cellular LG G5 (silver, titan, gold, or pink) - starting at $26.50/month or $584.99 at full retail

Promos: All of the carriers are offering some form of a freebie when you buy the LG G5, with specific carriers doubling down with extra goodies. Each carrier is at the very least, participating in LG's free battery and battery charging cradle promotion. AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular are only doing that promo. T-Mobile, on the other hand, is also giving away a free LG 360 CAMERA. Verizon, if you pre-ordered, is doing the same, but only if you pre-ordered. You can redeem promo offers here.

LG Publishes Silly Jason Statham Commercial for G5

Tim — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 08:35:45 +0000

The latest commercial from LG will leave you completely exhausted of Jason Statham, as the action flick actor appears roughly 1,000 times in the TV spot for the now-available G5. There is old lady Statham, little baby Statham, stuntman Statham, waiter Statham, bank robber Statham, and oh so many more. During the commercial, we see the G5's modular design going to good use, and even the G5's "friends" tag along for the ride. There are cameos from the 360 VR headset, as well as the wannabe BB-8 LG Rolling Ball pet toy. Watch it, enjoy it, and remember that Statham will likely kill you with his pinky finger if you speak ill of it. Did you pick up your LG G5 today?

Verizon's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Marshmallow Updates Start Tomorrow (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:04:37 +0000

Starting tomorrow, the Verizon variants of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will begin receiving their updates to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Verizon posted support documents for each phone's update this evening, but dated availability as beginning April 1. The update will arrive as software version VRU4CPC2 for each phone, along with Android build MMB29K, which is Android 6.0.1. Once updated, the S6 and S6 Edge will be able to experience Google Now on Tap, longer battery life through Doze, and finer controls over app permissions. Verizon and Samsung have also improved live broadcasts, added a search button to the app drawer, tweaked the notifications panel, made WiFi Calling improvements, and pre-loaded Big Red's Go90 video service.

To check for the updates in the morning, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for updates. Let us know once you see the updates go live! UPDATE: The update went live on Friday for most people, so be sure to try and pull it if you haven't already.

Via: Verizon [2]

Deal: Aukey Wireless Charging Pad for $12, 10,400mAh Portable Battery for $15

Tim — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:41:19 +0000

Over on Amazon, you can pick up a few charging accessories from Aukey, discounted with the help of a couple promo codes. On sale for $12 is the company's wireless charging pad, compatible with the latest devices from Samsung, LG, and even the Nexus devices that support the feature. The charger uses the Qi Standard, meaning any device that supports that standard will be compatible. On the other hand, if you need a bit of mobile juice, Aukey is also selling the 10,400mAh portable battery for $15. This portable power bank will provide days of charge for your phone with that much capacity. The power bank features support for Quick Charge 2.0, allowing you charge your devices very quickly. Thanks to built-in safeguards, your devices will be protected against over-current, overcharging, and overheating. In order to take advantage of these prices, simply add the items you want to your cart on Amazon, then plug in the coupon codes provided below. Amazon Links: Wireless Charging Pad (Code: VA2NRJDZ)| 10,400mAh Portable Battery (Code: HAP8IYBO)

#TBT: When Verizon Wanted to Charge You $2 to Pay Your Own Bill

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:18:37 +0000

If you thought today's confirmation from Verizon over their plans to charge you an extra $20 for the right to buy a new phone from them was off-putting, let me take you back to 2011, where the same company considered adding a special "convenience" fee onto your bill each month that was eventually abandoned after a massive online uproar. What was the "convenience" fee all about, you ask? Well, Verizon thought you should pay an extra $2 each time you paid your bill at the end of the month. Why? I can't give you an answer to that with a straight face, especially knowing that it was referred to as the "convenience" fee, but my best guess is that there are fees involved in processing bill payments and Verizon thought you should be responsible for those going forward. Verizon wanted to charge you an extra $2 if you paid your monthly bill by phone or on My Verizon. We're not talking late fees or for any other reason where you should be penalized, they just wanted you to pay extra if you were the type to manually pay your bill each month. However, if you signed up for Autopay, that $2 fee was waived. Ohhhh, that must be the "convenience" portion.

Of course, Verizon eventually killed the fee before it was ever added to a customer's bill. We try not to brag too much around here (there are other sites in this field that do enough of that already), but Verizon killed the fee within two days of us breaking the news on their plans. See, sometimes we are capable of doing good in this world.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Available for SHIELD Android TV at $15

Tim — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:04:53 +0000

For owners of a SHIELD Android TV from NVIDIA, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is available for purchase on Google Play, priced at $14.99. The latest addition to the Borderlands franchise is not the same FPS you might expect, but instead, is an RPG shooter featuring new character classes, vehicles, and weapons. The Pre-Sequel covers the story of Handsome Jack, a man trying to do good, only to end up lusting for power, fortune, and infamy. During this story, you travel across to different worlds, including one of Pandora's moons in a low-gravity gaming experience. Playable characters include four new vault hunters, each with their own set of unique skills. In addition, players will even have a chance to suit up at Claptrap. As you progress, upgrading your character will be necessary via the skill branch. The game also features cloud saves, dynamic co-op gameplay, a gazillion weapons to use against opponents, and much more. Priced at $15, the game is available right now on Google Play. Play Link ($14.99)

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Google Confirms End of Google Wallet Card on June 30

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:47:34 +0000

Monday's report of the Google Wallet Card reaching end-of-life status is now confirmed. Moments ago, Google sent out emails to Google Wallet Card owners, notifying them of the June 30 stoppage, which will result in their physical Wallet Card no longer working. Google notes that the Google Wallet Card will work up until June 30, but that users won't be able to load any new money on it after May 1. If another user sends you money after May 1, you'll still see that cash, though. If you loved your Google Wallet Card and need a new option, Google has teamed up with American Express Serve and Simple to offer customers who switch a special bonus. Wallet Card owners who switch to Serve will get a $20 gift after a third direct deposit of $500 or more. Simple seems to just be handing you $20 for signing up. More info on the bonuses can be found here.

20 Customer Responses to Verizon's New $20 Upgrade Fee

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:06:02 +0000

You've heard the news. On Monday, April 4, Verizon is planning to tack on another probably-non-necessary $20 fee because it's expensive when people give them money. I almost can't type that with a straight face, but I don't know any other way to put it. What am I referring to? The new $20 upgrade fee that Verizon will charge customers who buy phones on a monthly payment plan, through Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program, or at full retail, without any sort of agreement. In other words, if your phone costs $650, you'll pay $670 for it. Jesus. I seriously can't type this stuff without spitting up. I'm going to stop now and instead direct your attention to our readers reactions to ideas like this, many of which are Verizon customers. In just the short amount of time since the news broke, this is what 20 of the best, immediate responses were to Verizon's $20.

Because paying to pay is a thing.

Verizon may have been wearing white Vans today.

https://twitter.com/TankRizzo/status/715603984912883713

Charging extra fees to customers without a contract, probably good for the customer retention numbers. /s

https://twitter.com/TheDS/status/715590049010614273

SIM swapping is expensive, guys.

Shhhhh, don't tell them their prices are "cheaper."

https://twitter.com/r_mr07/status/715589697138003968

It's OK, Verizon, I'm sure your sales staff needed a lighter load.

Some support the change...wait.

Some just liked the presentation.

Final straw?

https://twitter.com/SecureRob/status/715601036853940226

Validation.

Or maybe Lowell just needed a new aquatic toy.

Welp.

Samsung Updates Samsung+ App for Superb Customer Service

Tim — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:31:37 +0000

One of the benefits of purchasing an iPhone is that you know there is always someone who can take a look at your device in-person at an Apple store. Samsung, or any other Android OEM at this time, does not currently offer that level of customer service, but the company is hoping to change that with an update to the Samsung+ app. Samsung has offered desktop support in the form of live chat and email, as well as phone support, but there has not been much face-to-face support, which many customers benefit from. Thanks to changes rolling out for the Samsung+ app, available on Google Play, Galaxy device owners in need of help will have access to one-on-one help from actual Samsung representatives. With the Samsung+ app version 3.0, users can quickly access a video chat option to troubleshoot issues, but not only that, you can grant access to the Samsung rep to control your device from their remote location. This is essentially TeamViewer, but for phones. Additionally, a Device Diagnostics feature will run tests to check the health of your phone's battery, security, and data. If asking Samsung for help is not your cup of tea, the app has a built-in FAQ of answers to many popular questions. If you think your problem is pretty basic, it is likely the answer is already placed inside of the app for you to find. Version 3.0 is rolling out right now to Google Play. If you own a Samsung device, you should have it installed. Play Link

Via: Samsung

Nintendo's Miitomo Social App Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:27:43 +0000

Nintendo's Miitomo app is available on Google Play, bringing the fun of building your own Mii directly to your smartphone. Once a Mii character is built, you can socialize your Mii with your friend's Mii, sharing photos and even asking questions. To get started, you need a Nintendo account, then link your account to the Miitomo app. Once linked, you will begin to create your Mii. To do so, snap a quick selfie, and the app will generate a basic Mii character for you. You can then further customize your character to make it look just like yourself. Once your character is all set, it's time to socialize. In order to socialize, you will need friends. If Miitomo is an app you want to have fun with, you better get your friends to sign up. Now, I don't expect anyone over the age of 18 to enjoy this app, but if you are a younger person, the app could be fun. Your Mii character will ask you questions, and answers will be shared to your friends. When you answer questions, you earn coins. These coins can be used to buy new clothes and other goodies. The app is completely free to use, but there are IAPs for purchasing more coins and basic items. Play Link

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Verizon Plans to Add $20 Upgrade Fee to Off-Contract and Device Payment Phone Purchases

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:15:48 +0000

According to a leaked document obtained by MacRumors, Verizon is going to introduce a new upgrade fee on April 4 for device payment plans, full retail upgrades, annual upgrades, and the iPhone Upgrade Plan at Apple Stores. The fee will be $20 for each situation because Verizon needs "help" covering "increasing support costs associated with customers switching their devices." Before April 4, the only fees you had to pay when getting a new phone at Verizon were during initial sign-up or when signing a new 2-year contract. If you bought a phone on a payment plan or at full retail, they spared you the activation or upgrade expense. Spared you...hah. But now, even if you buy a phone at full retail at a Verizon store, which means spending around $650 on a new phone, Verizon is going to slap you with an extra $20 fee because apparently, people like to switch devices on a regularly basis, and that is expensive...to Verizon. Another way of putting that is, they are charging you $20 extra because their automated systems need to automate an IMEI switch on your account that is automatic when you, yourself, put your currently activated SIM in your new phone and sit back as the automatic process completes. For comparison's sake, AT&T charges $15 for upgrade fees, Sprint (according to Verizon's document) charges $30, and T-Mobile doesn't charge a thing.

At this point, the best way to avoid paying the upgrade fee is by buying phones anywhere but at a Verizon store. If you buy a phone outside of their walls, you won't be charged the $20, since you fall into the "Customer Provided Equipment" category, or BYOD. We've reached out to Verizon looking for confirmation and will update this post. UPDATE: Verizon confirms that the new fee is coming April 4 and has issued this statement to us.

“The upgrade fee helps cover our increased support costs associated with customers switching devices. Customers can pay the charge when they upgrade, bill it to their account or trade in an old device to offset the cost. The fee for upgrading on device payment is still half of the two-year contract upgrade fee.”

UPDATE 2: We've gathered some of your best responses to the news in a single post here.

Via: MacRumors

Sprint Offers Amazon Prime Add-on for an Extra $11 a Month

Tim — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 08:52:47 +0000

Sprint is offering an Amazon Prime add-on to any current wireless plan, costing an extra $10.99 a month for those interested. When enabled on a plan, users can immediately gain the benefit of Prime, including free 2-day shipping on many items, access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and much more. Interestingly, when doing the math, 12 months of this Amazon Prime add-on will cost you $132 annually, while an annual subscription to Amazon Prime directly purchased from Amazon is priced at $99. That's a little over $30 extra you would be paying. It is possible that many customers can't afford the upfront cost of $99, and would instead want to receive the benefits of Prime on a monthly payment basis. But again, in the long run, you are actually paying more and receiving no extra benefits if you buy it through Sprint. If you are on Sprint and would like to take advantage of this Amazon Prime add-on, you can visit your local Sprint retailer or sign-up online through Sprint's website.

Via: Sprint

AT&T Will Give You a "Free" 48-Inch Samsung TV if You Buy a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge and Their TV Service

Kellen — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 08:38:58 +0000

AT&T is hosting another deal this week that sounds great in a headline ("FREE TV!"), but isn't really going to be an option for most. Take a look at this "deal." Here is the headline from AT&T's press release:

Well, you don't say, AT&T. That sounds awesome! I buy one of the two best phones on the market today and you'll give me a free 48-inch TV? What's not to like about that?! I'll even jump into your Next thingy and pay monthly because man, free TV! Also, thank you for not pushing me into one of your TV services, since I'm a cord-cutter and all. You know, I wear selvage denim, dangle my keys from a bet loop, and drink $8 pour-overs. Enter first paragraph:

Starting tomorrow, AT&T wireless and DIRECTV customers can get a free 48” Samsung Smart TV. To qualify, buy a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge on AT&T Next, activate a new AT&T wireless line or new DIRECTV service, and submit an online offer claim. Plus, earn 1,000 Plenti points with your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge purchase when you first activate the offer on plenti.com and activate a new a new line of wireless service.

? But wait, I'm already an AT&T subscriber and haven't actually cut the cord on DIRECTV yet, I just tell people that! Give. Me. TV.

? Bottom line, if you want to buy a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, but aren't using an upgrade with existing DIRECTV service in place, yet are willing to sign-up for DIRECTV service, you can probably get a free TV, assuming they aren't already out of stock.

Via: AT&T

LG G5 Unboxing!

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:20:14 +0000

So, we have another LG G5 in house. Excited? Confused? I say "another," because we have had a pink, non-retail unit around these parts for a good couple of weeks now that we were really only able to toy and tease our inner tester-selves with. But with this new arrival, we have a retail unit to finally do some dirty work to. That's slick talk for, "We can finally test things!" You know, like the camera, battery life, performance, etc. That's pretty exciting. To kick off this official testing period as we lead up to a full review, we thought we'd celebrate with an unboxing, since the last time around we did a non-unboxing of sorts. Oh, and if you missed it, we did a pretty good comparison of the G5 to the Galaxy S7 and shared with you our 7 favorite G5 features. See, we've had the G5 around for a while now. OK, enough rambling, here's the unboxing before the review!

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OnePlus 2 OxygenOS 3.0 Update Detailed, Available for Early Flashing

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:42:56 +0000

Many OnePlus users have been left wondering where their OxygenOS Marshmallow update was, but finally, OnePlus is ready to let its users in on the goods. As posted to the company's forum, a near final build of OxygenOS 3.0, which is the update to Android 6.0.1, is available for flashing by those who enjoy that sort of thing. If you don't feel like flashing the update yourself, and choose to wait for an OTA instead, it's not far out. Inside of the update, beyond just Marshmallow for OxygenOS, the OnePlus camera UI has been cleaned up, a new wallpaper picker is implemented, an improved Shelf UX is available, and general system performance improvements have been made across the board. The changelog is quite thorough, so we have pasted it below for you all to see. According to OnePlus, if you do flash this build, you will be able to receive the final OTA update for it, so don't worry about missing out on future updates. Furthermore, OnePlus also lists a few bugs they currently have inside, such as wiped fingerprint data and a Shelf UI bug. They are hoping those who do flash OxygenOS 3.0 will report their bug findings inside of the forum. What's New

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow upgrade
New OnePlus Camera UI
- UI has been cleaned up: swiping up/down now switches between photo/video, whereas HD/HDR and flash settings live in the top right corner
- You can now change the aspect ratio and toggle grid view without going all the way to the settings
New wallpaper picker
- Easily preview and set both home screen and lock screen wallpaper in one place.
Shelf UX has been improved
- No more edit mode, long press boards to rearrange or remove
General system performance improvements
- Benchmarked 47% faster than OxygenOS 2.2.1 on key test scenarios
Fingerprint performance improvement
- Tested 45% faster than OxygenOS 2.2.1 on average
Settings changes
- Old app permissions are gone, say hi to new (native Android) app permissions.
- Alert Slider has its own entry point with more customization options
- Improved settings menu readability by changing the order a bit
March security patches

Via: OnePlus

Upcoming Update for Robin Brings Faster Camera, More Emoji

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:14:53 +0000

An upcoming update for the Nextbit Robin will bring Android 6.0.1, as well as reworked camera software to make snapping photos "twice as fast." According to Nextbit, this update will be available in the second half of April, with another update rolling out today that addresses an app crashing bug. As detailed by Nextbit, the April update will also feature tweaks for the front-facing speakers, allowing them to sound "clearer and better" than before. On that same point, the speakerphone quality will also be louder and more clear during calls. Here is the list of changes for the April update. What's New

Marshmallow 6.0.1 AKA new emojis!
The camera is now twice as fast in normal lighting and even faster in low light. We’ve also improved on-screen navigation.
Robin’s front facing speakers sound clearer and better than before, and speakerphone quality is significantly louder and clearer as well.

Be on the lookout for this update in late April.

Via: Nextbit

Google is Running Another 75% Off Movie Rental Deal (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:01:23 +0000

Got your eye on one of the new movies to hit Google Play in recent weeks? Maybe The Hateful Eight or Creed or The Last Witch Hunter? If you are nodding your head to that last one, please leave, because we are all shaking our heads at you. But if you are interested in those first two, both of which are great flicks, hit up the link below! Google is doing another 75% off movie rentals deal! Play Link UPDATE: Hmmmm, this could be for an old code that many of you have already redeemed and I had not seen yet on one of my accounts. If you are showing it as being old or redeemed, my apologies. Move along, as I'll be over here hanging out with The Last Witch Hunter.

Deal: BLU Life One X for $99 on Amazon, $50 Off List Price

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:33:59 +0000

One of Amazon's Gold Box deals of the day is a Life One X from BLU, a relatively inexpensive Android smartphone with quite a few decent specs. For only $99, down from the usual price of $149, the Life One X features a 5.2" Full HD display, octa-core Mediatek processor, 2GB of RAM, and 13MP rear-facing camera. Not only are you getting a smartphone with complete access to Google Play for $99, but the packaging also includes a free leather case, screen protector, charging cable, power adapter, and a set of headphones. For $99, that's a steal. As for which networks this device will work on, it is GSM unlocked, meaning it should be just fine on either AT&T or T-Mobile's 4G LTE network. Supported prepaid carriers would include Cricket and StraightTalk, just to name a couple. Follow the link below to purchase. Amazon Link

Cheers Ben!

Wednesday Poll: Do You Pay for a Music Streaming Service?

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:49:35 +0000

Yesterday, SoundCloud joined the likes of Apple, Google, and Spotify with the introduction of its version of a premium tier music service that costs $10 per month. The early impressions of it are pretty mixed if not bad, which probably means that it's probably not your top choice for a paid music service. But if not SoundCloud, what? Are you signed up for another paid music streaming service? Do you pay for a music streaming service like Google Play Music, Apple Music, or Spotify? If so, which one and why? If not, what's stopping you? [poll id="397"]

Uber Revamps In-App Customer and Driver Support

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:17:07 +0000

Since the beginning, customer support on Uber has equated to only emailing its support teams across the country, but going forward, things are going to change. With the company's latest announcement focused entirely on customer service, whether it be for drivers or passengers, many of the help you might need is no more than a few taps away. Instead of emailing messages to teams, you will handle claims from within the Uber app, thanks to an updated Help menu that will guide you on which steps to take in order to resolve any issues you may have. With the update in place, if you lost your coat or purse during a night out, simply open up the app, and report it from within the Help menu. If you want to know your passenger rating, head into your account from within the Help menu. Want to use Google Voice instead of a standard telephone number? You can do that, too. Additionally, passengers can get answers regarding ride inquiries -- such as a question about a receipt -- directly from the app. As always, if the Help menu doesn't have the answer you need, Uber's local teams across the globe are there to assist you further. These changes are rolling out today for Uber apps on Android and iOS. If you plan on using Uber soon, be sure to grab the update. Play Link

Via: Uber

Google Intros VR View for Developers, Easily Embed VR Content in Apps and on the Web

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:10:14 +0000

There is currently no shortage of content for VR, but at the moment, experiencing that content from the user standpoint can be somewhat limited. Google is looking to change this with the introduction of VR View. With this, developers of apps on Android and iOS, as well as developers for desktop, can easily implement immersive experiences for all of their users to enjoy. For example, if you created a real estate app, how cool would it be to allow for users to get a 360-degree view of that kitchen from right inside of an app, instead of describing it with words. Or for travel destinations, sharing 360-degree views of the beach, instead of stating, "ocean views." As Google puts it, it can turn a meh experience into a magical experience. From within an app with VR View, users can use either a Cardboard viewer, or use a tilt gesture to look around any VR scene. On a desktop, a simple iframe code can allow users to click and drag around a 360-degree VR image. To top it off, Google announced it has released an official Cardboard SDK for iOS, allowing iPhone owners to get in on the action. If you develop, it's time to update your app for the future of immersion.

Via: Google Developers

DEAL: SanDisk's 200GB Wireless Stick is Just $99 Today, 64GB SD Card is $18

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 10:41:42 +0000

Amazon is hosting a couple of decent deals today on SanDisk storage products for those of you in need of mobile storage, one of which would be perfect for those of you who don't have microSD card slots (6P owners). For those with SD card slots (We're looking at you S7 and soon-to-be G5 owners.), we have a nice price on a microSD card as well. One of the products is the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick with 200GB of storage that can be used as a flash drive for wireless on-the-go access to bigger files or photos or videos. You can access the wireless flash drive with up to three devices simultaneously, stream video or music from it, and even connect it to a computer via USB port, if needed. Again, this could be a really solid storage option for those without a microSD slot. The Connect Wireless Stick is currently priced at $99.95, which is around $20 off. For those with an SD slot, the SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSD card is just $17.99 at the moment. That's a lot of extra storage for less than the price of admission to "Superman v. Batman" in IMAX, only this will leave you feeling like you got your money's worth. Amazon Links:

SanDisk 200GB Connect Wireless Stick ($99.95)
SanDisk 64GB microSD Card ($17.99)

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Nat and Lo Give Us the Skinny on the Updated Voice in Google Search

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 10:03:51 +0000

As you may have seen over the past week, the voice for Google Search has been getting updated for many users. It's more clear, and at times, the way it speaks sounds very much as if you were speaking in real-time to another human being. Of course, that's because at one point, the words you are hearing were previously recorded by an actual human voice actor. With countless hours of work, thousands of sentences are spliced and stitched together, allowing Google to have its search engine say whatever it needs to, in a way that comes off naturally. In the latest episode of Nat and Lo, a series based on two Googlers learning more about what they are curious about at Google, they go behind the scenes to experience voice and how it relates to search. During the episode, we watch Google's voice coach speak with the search voice actor, going over lines and recording sentences for actual use. Near the end, Nat and Lo even take a shot at recording a few responses of their own. As you might imagine, it's not the easiest task. Give it a watch.

Amazon Bans USB Type-C Cables Not Spec Compliant

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 09:25:21 +0000

Googler Benson Leung has been on a well-documented journey to out all of the sneaky, cheap cable manufacturers on Amazon who are selling potentially dangerous USB Type-C cables to those of us just getting into Type-C phones for the first time. Leung started reviewing cables on Amazon after the new Nexus phones were released last November, highlighting both the good and the bad through his reviews profile. We aren't sure what his end-goal is, other than to let you and I know which cables are worth investing in, but his work seems to have been noticed by Amazon, who recently updated their "Prohibited listings" guidelines for sellers, effectively banning those who sell Type-C cables that aren't spec compliant. The new line added to the guidelines says the following:

Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by “USB Implementers Forum Inc.”

As noted in a Google+ post yesterday, Leung acknowledges the "great news," while reminding us all to "call out any bad products we find on Amazon." The power of reviews. If you are need of a USB Type-C cable, be sure to checkout Benson's list.

Via: +Benson Leung | Amazon

Google's Calculator App Hits Google Play, Brings Android Wear Support

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:28:19 +0000

Google's own Calculator application is now available for downloading on Google Play onto any Android device you have, allowing Google to send updates and new features more quickly to your device for the app. For the longest time, the Calculator app has been baked into the system, as it is on nearly every mobile phone ever made, but this continues Google's work to strip out most apps and have them available right from Google Play. According to the app's description, Android Wear support has been bundled in, allowing folks with an Android Wear smartwatch the ability to do simple calculations straight from the wrist. You will likely be unable to perform trigonometric or logarithmic functions, but hey, nothing beats a good addition and subtraction problem. The app is available right now, downloadable by most Android devices that have access to Google Play. Checking my list of compatible devices, it seems the majority of phones and tablets are supported, with a few HTC and Samsung devices not making the cut. I downloaded the app onto a Galaxy S7 Edge with no issues, though. Have at it. Play Link

Report: AT&T Might Sell a Bloatware-Infested Cyanogen-Powered ZTE Phone

Kellen — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:18:13 +0000

According to a report out of The Information, AT&T is looking into a Cyanogen-powered phone, because it thinks that Cyanogen could make a compelling Android-alternative option to its customers. That may be better put as, AT&T thinks that by partnering with Cyanogen, it can load up even more garbage bloatware on phones to help push you into their other services, like DirecTV. The entire report is actually quite comical if you stand back at a distance and insert "Amazon" where it says "Cyanogen." I think you all remember the Fire Phone don't you? It was an AT&T exclusive that aimed to cut out Google and weaken its control over Android, only to become one of the biggest flops in the history of consumer electronics. But hey, let's look at what AT&T, Cyanogen, and apparently, ZTE, think a partnership could mean. Today's report suggests that AT&T is "snubbing" Google by partnering with Cyanogen and that if this phone were to sell, it could really put a damper on Google's continued attempts at making an Apple-like "consistent experience across all Android phones." Of course, the key word, which we tastefully italicized above, is "if." A big giant "IF," because no company to date has been able to put a dent in what Google and Android bulldozed their way to some years ago. No offense to Cyanogen and ZTE, but does a scenario with those two, coupled with AT&T scream, "Industry changer!" to you? So ZTE is the supposed hardware partner, though their involvement may have already been cut out since the US dropped the trade sanction hammer on them just this month, with allegations that they had tried to "illicitly re-export controlled items to Iran in violation of US export control laws." That's right, the Chinese company created a series of shell companies to try and hide the fact that they were supplying electronics to Iran, a country that is under trade embargo from the US. The plot was uncovered after documents of ZTE's surfaced with not-so-subtle "TOP SECRET" and "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL" markings blasted across them were found by US investigators. But let's say there is a plan B that involves another hardware manufacturer. The point of this Cyanogen-powered phone is to allow AT&T to push as much bloatware and garbage into a phone as you can possibly imagine, something Google probably won't allow it to do, but Cyanogen certainly will, for the right price. That means deeply embedding DirecTV services into it, allowing Skype into the native dialer, and maybe even including visual voicemail at a system level. There is also talk of deeper Uber integration, along with Microsoft's Cortana, Spotify, etc. Take all of that in for a second. Good? OK, sell me on this being a good idea. Outside of this being a major step forward for Cyanogen, by getting their OS onto a US carrier for the first time, who else wins here? AT&T doesn't benefit unless it sells millions upon millions of these and gets a major portion of the suckers who bought them to sign-up for DirecTV. Same with ZTE or whichever other borderline-US-trade-embargo-skirting manufacturer you want to throw in the mix. And does anyone see that happening, AT&T selling millions upon millions of these? If Amazon couldn't get you to buy their phone, a phone which included a free year of Amazon Prime, how is AT&T going to sell you on a phone made by a Chinese company you may not trust running a little known Android fork or skin or "OS?" That sure doesn't sound like something Google should be worried about. That sounds to me like three companies sat down at a table, decided on a theory to overtake big, bad evil Google, and then took their plans in an off-the-record format to try and grab some headlines and see a reaction. Good work!

Via: The Information (subscription)

Snapchat Intros Chat 2.0 With Reworked Features, Auto-Advance Stories

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:54:07 +0000

One aspect of Snapchat frequently overlooked is the ability to "chat" with friends. Similar to Hangouts or any other instant messaging app, you can whip up a few sentences, then send them along to a friend who maybe sent you a really funny snap recently. It is sometimes easier to reply with words than with a snap of your own. With that said, Snapchat announced Chat 2.0 today, brining a more intuitive chatting experience to users of the service. According to Snapchat, they wanted users to more easily share videos, short audio notes, and even stickers to help friends communicate within the application. As stated on the Snapchat blog, "What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating — just like you do in person. When that’s possible, you aren’t texting, calling, or video chatting… you’re just talking." In addition to updated features for Chat, the service is also including Auto-Advance Stories, labeled as the "fastest way to catch up with your friends." When you are finished viewing a Story, the next one will begin automatically. You can swipe to skip ahead in a Story, or pull down to exit the story completely. Chat 2.0 for Snapchat is rolling out now, so be sure to update your Snapchat app by following the Google Play link below. Play Link

Via: Snapchat

SoundCloud Go Subscription Now Available in US, Priced at $10/Month

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:35:36 +0000

SoundCloud Go, the service's paid subscription model, is now available to all users in the US. With SoundCloud Go, normal operation of SoundCloud will remain the same, but members who sign up will receive added benefits, such as a deeper library of things to listen to, an option to listen offline, plus an ad-free listening experience. With the increased library, SoundCloud details that users will be able to access "massive hits," the "latest tracks from the biggest names," as well as a larger number of underground music tracks and podcasts. All of this music can be discovered directly within the SoundCloud app for Android. The ability to listen to your tracks offline is also included, meaning that even if you don't have Internet access via WiFi or cell signal, saved (cached) tracks on your device can still be heard. This is the same functionality you see from apps such as Google Play Music. Here's what you get with SoundCloud Go.

Even more tracks from emerging and established creators – including the massive hits, the latest tracks from the biggest names, the sounds of the underground, the most engaging podcasts and the best of what’s up-and-coming – all in one place
The ability to listen offline on your mobile device without a cell signal or internet connection
An uninterrupted, ad-free listening experience

Ready to give it a shot? SoundCloud Go can be taken on a test drive for 30 days free of charge, but after that, the service costs $10 a month, or $13 a month if purchased through the SoundCloud app for iOS devices.

Via: SoundCloud

NCAA Final Four and National Championship to be Viewable in Virtual Reality Thanks to Gear VR

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:22:48 +0000

Announced by the NCAA this week, viewers of the Final Four and National Championship will have the ability to watch the games in virtual reality, thanks to a special app created for owners of the Gear VR by Samsung. At game time, you will open up the app, slap on your headset, then find yourself sitting court side for a perspective that is usually only enjoyed by those with enough money to afford those types of seats. During the stream, you will hear commentary from Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson, along with sounds directly from the arena. Additionally, a "virtual scoreboard" will be available for viewing, as well as detailed stats. If own a Gear VR, be sure to download the NCAA March Madness Live VR app directly from the Oculus store on your mobile device. For the rest of us who enjoy watching the tube as we regularly would, you can watch the games on their usual stations or online via the NCAA website. I read somewhere that only 0.1% of all brackets had these schools in the Final Four. Funny, that's about the same percentage of chance there is of me wearing Gear VR to watch the games.

Via: NCAA

Latest HTC 10 Teaser Says to Expect "Fastest and Smoothest Android" Yet

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:34:10 +0000

In the latest teaser for the HTC 10, HTC, the VR-focused electronics company who now makes phones on the side, is bragging up their next phone's performance. Not only that, but they have confirmed the Samsung-esque button setup on the phone's chin, although it is at least in the correct arrangement. The teaser says that we should expect the "fastest and smoothest Android" yet, which is actually something we love to hear as Android elitists. Android "jank" has almost always been a problem on phones not made by Google, so hopefully HTC can prove to the world that all Android skins really aren't "created equal." I would imagine that the next version of Sense that will be coupled with the HTC 10 will be leaner than ever, helping it with performance. As for the button setup, well, you can see it there. We are looking at a centered home button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, with back and app switcher flanking it. It's not a setup I would typically prefer, but as I mentioned above, at least they put the buttons in the correct spots with back on the left and app switcher on the right. Even Samsung can't seem to get that right. Part of me is still holding out hope that we'll be able to turn off the capacitive buttons and go with an on-screen setup, like we saw on the OnePlus 2. Will HTC? We haven't seen any indication of that happening. A boy can dream. After seeing this new teaser, specs from GFXbench, and all of those leaked pictures from yesterday, your interest has to be growing some? Come on, you have to be at least a bit curious, right? https://twitter.com/HTCUSA/status/714844664927399937

DEAL: dbrand Hosting Storewide 30% Off Sale Because Bamboo

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:01:29 +0000

dbrand, sponsor of half of the internet's content, but also maker of fine skins for your tech products, is hosting a storewide 30% off sale to celebrate the fact that bamboo skins are back. Bamboo, kid! If you want something as simple as a new back for your Galaxy S7 or Nexus 6P, you are looking at spending just $5.97 at the moment. If you want a bigger option for something like a Macbook, a top skin could run you as little as $15. Of course, their skins still come in a variety of textures and colors, including metals, matte finishes, wood, leather, and yes, bamboo. The deal runs for 48 the next 24 hours, but we could already be a handful of hours into it. Better get after it. Oh, and no code is required since they took 30% off the entire store already. dbrand Link

Many More Banks Adding Support for Samsung Pay, Here's the List

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:14:58 +0000

A large number of banks across the US are adding support for Samsung Pay this week, which is great news for owners of the Galaxy S7 or any other Samsung device that supports the company's mobile payments platform. In the list of new banks supported, there are multiple credit unions from all over the place, including Altra Federal, Blackhawk Community, and Fidelity Bank. On Samsung's website, they detail which exact cards are supported from these banks. For example, one bank will support its entire card portfolio, while others will only support consumer credit or debit cards. It is all dependent on the bank. See the full list of added banks below. Added Banks

Altra Federal Credit Union
Bank of England
Benchmark Federal Credit Union
Blackhawk Community Credit Union
BHCU
Fidelity Bank
Founders Federal Credit Union
Greater Texas Federal Credit Union
Henrico Federal Credit Union
Kern Schools Federal Credit Union
Justice Federal Credit Union
MSU Federal Credit Union
NuMark Credit Union
Old National Bank
Star One Credit Union
TruWest Credit Union

For detailed info on any of these newly supported banks, follow the via link.

Via: Samsung

Tuesday Poll: Do You Have a Home Phone?

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:21:59 +0000

Google introduced Fiber Phone, today, a home phone service that seemingly exists because there are real humans in the world that still need a home phone. I don't personally know any, but today's poll should fix that. Actually, we are curious how many of you still have home phone service and what your reasons for doing so are. So that's it, we just want to know if you have home phone service. Easy enough? [poll id="396"]

Instagram Rolling Out 60 Second Video Support for All

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:14:46 +0000

When Instagram launched the ability to share videos to those who follow you, let's face it, they basically killed Vine. Now, Instagram is upping the support of video length, from 15 seconds, to an entire 60 seconds (aka 1 minute). That means longer kitty videos, your friends throwing out longer political rants, and probably even longer advertisements. According to IG, this change will begin rolling out today, and all users should see it within the upcoming months. For those on iOS, they will soon have the ability to create videos from multiple video clips in their gallery, a feature currently unavailable for Android. There is no guarantee that your account will see support for this feature today, as Instagram is pretty loose on their timeline. However, to ensure you have the best chance at taking advantage of the longer videos, be sure to always run the latest version of the Android app available. Cool? Play Link

Via: Instagram

Google Introduces Fiber Phone, Faxing and Dot Matrix Printing Likely Next

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:03:59 +0000

Today, because it is "still important to many families," Google introduced Fiber Phone, a home phone add-on to its Fiber internet service. Fiber Phone is a new way to help you stay connected, because it's a lot like having Google Voice for your home. With Fiber Phone, you are looking at a $10 per month charge for unlimited local and nationwide calling, along with Google Voice rates for international calls. Google says that if you sign-up, you get to keep your old phone number (can pick a new one too) and can use call waiting, caller ID, and 911 services like before. Fiber Phone will also transcribe your voice messages through text or email. As for the Google Voice comparison, Fiber Phone gives you access to your calls from almost anywhere in the world. As Google notes, your Fiber Phone lives in the cloud, so you can have calls to it ring through to not only your home phone, but to your phones or tablets as well. As a Google Voice user, I can't even try to explain how important of a feature this is. Google says that Fiber Phone is available in a "few areas" now, but will arrive to new areas before long, You can sign-up here. Oh, and that thing about faxing and printing was a joke... UPDATE: We have a poll up now! Do you have home phone service?

Via: Google Fiber Blog

HTC 10 Hits GFXBench With 5.1" QHD Display, Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:12:36 +0000

The HTC 10 has arrived on GFXBench, giving us a fantastic overview of the specs we might expect to see launch with the device next month. However, until the phone is official, spec listings should be read with a bit of skepticism, but at this point, we are so close to an unveiling that the chances of these specs being spot on are very high. According to the listing, the HTC 10 will come wielding a 5.1" QHD display (2560 x 1440), Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, 11MP rear-facing camera (4000 x 3000 max resolution) with 4K shooting capability, 5MP front-facing camera, and Android 6.0.1. One spec that is not present, is the battery. Comparing these specs to other devices currently available, the one phone that sticks out in my mind is the Galaxy S7 from Samsung. That phone also features a 5.1" QHD display, Snapdragon 820, and 4GB of RAM. Differences will include the IP68 rating, and the custom OEM skins that Samsung and HTC deploy on their smartphones, of course. As we lead up to the device's unveiling, we have seen many reported photos of the device, and HTC continues to tease features that will launch with it. April 12 can't come soon enough. Do these specs, which are very similar to what the Galaxy S7 features, interest you?

Via: GFXBench

T-Mobile Might Launch Data-Only Plans on March 30

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:19:00 +0000

Because T-Mobile is "about giving customers the freedom to use their devices however they want," the company is planning to launch data-only plans on March 30, at least according to a leaked document posted by Tmonews. Why data-only plans? Because not everyone places phone calls these days in the traditional sense. Some use VoIP (voice-over-IP) services and don't think they should have to pay for the minutes portion of a wireless service plan. Others, well, they may not even want to be able to place calls at all, but still want the wireless data connectivity. The new data-only plans are going to be available to GSM devices only and are not eligible for T-Mobile's $10 Automatic Mobile Internet Discount. They do include unlimited texting, though. The plans will look like this:

2GB for $20
6GB for $35
10GB for $50
14GB for $65
18GB for $80
22GB for $95

Below is the document. Interested?

Via: Tmonews

Report: Facebook Messenger to Offer "Secret Conversations," In-Store Purchase Feature

Tim — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:06:01 +0000

According to code buried within the Messenger app from Facebook, new features may soon be available that will lead to a more secure chatting experience for users. As detailed by The Information, secret conversations, which is likely a reference to encrypted messaging, would allow users to chat a bit more privately, a feature that is currently available to users of WhatsApp. Beyond encrypted messaging, a feature for in-person shoppers is also being hinted. Apparently, with a future update to Messenger, you would be able to make purchases for items at select stores, then pick up the item in person. For example, you could purchase a large quantity of paper towels through Messenger from Target, then go pick them up while you are running errands later in the day. This is only an example, as how the service actually works is still unconfirmed. Additionally, if you are already in a supported retailer, you could pay for your items straight from the Messenger app, no cash needed. This will only be possible if your payment information is already stored on Messenger, which exists already for sending friends money. Facebook declined to comment on any of The Information's findings, but if the code is readily viewable by those willing to dig, it would seem that we must be getting close to a launch. Would you use Messenger to pay for goods at a retailer, instead of your wallet?

Via: The Information [Subscription]

Latest Google Photos Update No Longer Defaults to Creating Copies of Edited Photos

Kellen — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 08:02:49 +0000

In Google Photos v1.17, which should be available to all this morning, Google has changed the way photo edits work, likely in a move to help save space on your phone. After editing a photo, your phone will no longer default to saving a copy of the photo and will instead replace the original with the changes you have made. Don't worry, though, as Google is still letting you undo all of the edits and return back to the original if you need to. With this change, phones with little storage or no SD card support will be able to save some space. It also helps clean up photo galleries that may otherwise look like they have duplicates. Overall, it's a simplification of the editing process. Still, you can save copies of edited photos if you want to. While editing a photo, you'll see the "Save" button in the top right corner of the edit screen next to an action overflow button (menu). If you don't want to save a copy and instead overwrite the original, just tap "Save." If you want a copy, tap that menu button and choose "Save copy." Finally, if you do choose the "Save" route and write over the top of your original photo, you can always tap that menu button and choose "Undo edits" to get it back to that original state. Play Link

Yep, Jason Statham Really is the Face of the LG G5 Campaign

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:17:16 +0000

Remember the bad LG G5 commercial that we trashed on pretty heavily last week for being bad and a bunch of you acted like you were offended? Remember the creepy guy in the video that was way too excited to be watching donkey-sheep clips? Remember how some of you suggested it was Jason Statham? IT IS. It's Jason f*cking Statham. LG announced the partnership or sponsorship or whatever it is, this evening, saying that the first spot "will portray Jason Statham experiencing the G5 in exciting and fun ways" and that every "character in the commercial is portrayed by Mr. Statham, an amusing mise-en-scene consistent with the G5’s Life’s Good when you Play More tagline." Oh and we have Statham quotes! "I think the concept that LG is putting forward with the G5 and its modular design is going to catch on with consumers." Jason Statham knows what the consumers want! Damn. OK, goodnight.

Pro Tip: Ignore the Jackasses on Instagram Telling You to Turn on Notifications

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 15:51:24 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we told you that Instagram was on the verge of screwing up your timeline, just like Facebook did a few years back and has yet to fix. The screw-up will arrive in the form of a new timeline that has been re-ordered to show you the moments Instagram believes "you care about the most." It's going to be terrible because most of us like things in chronological order. We also like to do things our own way, not based on what Instagram or Facebook thinks we like. Why are they doing this, you ask? Because Instagram's numbers show that people miss some 70% of their feeds, they think this new based-on-what-Instagram-thinks-you-care-about timeline is a great solution. It isn't, just like it isn't/wasn't/never-will-be on Facebook. Thankfully, we have "months" to go before this new timeline ever reaches our personal feeds. During those months, Instagram also says that it will "take time to get this right and listen to your feedback." In other words, there is still hope that they'll let us turn off their stupid re-arranged feed and let us keep it in chronological order. Unfortunately, dipshits on Instagram who don't understand any of this and for some reason, think Instagram is making this change tomorrow, are spamming to their followers that they all need to subscribe to notifications from their account in order to not miss a thing. Seriously, look at the hashtag #turnmeon. Over 56,000 people have used it, all of which are under the ridiculous impression that their Instagram feeds are about to receive less likes before the world implodes on itself during some sort of apocalypse that involves having to watch Will Smith movies on repeat. As terrible as that sounds, especially the Will Smith part, Instagram isn't going to make this change tomorrow or this week or the next, for that matter. See, look. https://twitter.com/instagram/status/714509569918169088 Instagram went a step further in an email to CNET, where they said there are "still weeks, or even months, of testing to come before we roll this out more broadly." Again, you have nothing to worry about right now. As for this whole notifications thing, just know that it's a really bad idea for you to turn on notifications for every single account you follow. Depending on how many accounts you follow, you could see dozens if not hundreds of notifications in a day from Instagram alone. Do you want that? I sure as hell don't. Do I want to get notifications from the important accounts I follow, like those run by my family and friends? Of course. Do I need to notifications from all of the beer, sneaker, basketball, and watch accounts too? Hell no. That shit isn't really that important. So, folks, ignore the fools on Instagram who keep spamming to you to turn on their notifications. Once Instagram actually starts rolling out changes, we'll let you know if different measures need to be taken. For now, carry on with your chronological Instagram. Oh, we're on Instagram. Feel free to follow us (and turn on notifications....lulz).

This is My Android: March 2016

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:36:23 +0000

Every so often, we try to take you into the personal setup of a smartphone that we have chosen as our go-to, through a feature we call "This is my Android." You see, as we review phones, we do so in a setup that the manufacturer has handed us, because we want to experience the phone the way they think it should be used. That means by using their launcher and skin, a number of their apps, and without any sort of special setup, other than by placing the apps we use the most in places they had other apps we wouldn't bother sniffing on a normal day. With the "This is my Android" series, we want to show you what happens when that review period is over, which launcher we switch to, the icon pack of choice for that day, which apps we use the most, if we have folders or gestures or anything special customized, and if a theme has been applied, depending on the phone, of course. We haven't done one of these since June of last year, so let's get into another and see what has changed in the way we use smartphones. This is my Android for March 2016.

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The Phone

At this point, I'm using the Galaxy S7 and that should come as no surprise. I had very few negative comments to make during my review because Samsung has done a brilliant job with this phone. I did switch over from a US carrier variant to an international Exynos-powered unit, though, and man, I am so glad I did. With this model in particular, I am seeing some of the best day-to-day battery efficiency of my life. I'm typically a 1-2 hours of screen on time guy, but with this phone, I can hit 4 hours by the end of the day and still have 10-15% battery left. For me, that's record-breaking stuff and I tend to believe it's the Exynos processor inside to thank. The Snapdragon 820 model I used never came close to usage like that. But I'm also using this phone because of the camera, the incredible size, the fit and finish, the headphone jack placement, water resistance, and at least so far, the performance. While I'm tempted to jump back to the Nexus 6P for that stock Android goodness, I haven't needed to. The Galaxy S7 is running Android 6.0.1, so until the 6P gets a big update, like to Android N this summer, I'm current and that's good enough for me.

The Launcher

I use Nova Launcher and have for years. Until another launcher comes around and does something unique enough for me to switch, I'll still be here. This launcher offers more features than almost anyone and gets me close to the Google Now Launcher experience if I need it to, but is also so familiar at this point that I can set it up with backups or by memory in a matter of minutes on a new phone. If you aren't using Nova, it's an app I will always recommend. The developer is constantly adding new features that take advantage of new features Google has introduced, has a beta version for those into experimenting, discounts the pro version regularly, and is showing no signs of slowing support. Play Links: Nova Launcher (Prime)

The Setup

The basics for my setup haven't changed much within the past year, but it has certainly evolved to make my smartphone experience more efficient than ever. I still keep my most used apps readily available in an app cluster, but I've taken away the extra dock panels I used to use and have replaced them with page 1 folders that are represented by these fun little dot icons. I've also added a shortcut to my battery stats, since I seem to be obsessing over them in recent months. Oh, and I do have one other dock page that is setup just for when I go out running, since it has Runkeeper and Google Play Music on it. As for home screens, I keep two still to this day. This is my main page, which sits next to page with calendar and Google Search bar. That's it. I can swipe either direction to get between them. I also keep a swipe down gesture for notifications, along with a swipe up for Google Now. I've also turned off Now on Tap, because since it was released last year, I have yet to use it in a real world setting for whatever reason. Again, I like to consider my setup compact, yet efficient.

Icons, Wallpapers, and Themes

I'm currently using Material Cards for my icon pack, the Material Black theme for the Galaxy S7 to darken things up, and am jumping between wallpapers from Materialistik and Plastexo. This wallpaper here is from Plastexo. My setup in recent months tends to reflect Google's Material Design, but through the vision of some truly great icon and wallpaper designers. I keep it simple and clean at all times. Play Links: Material Cards | Plastexo | Materialistik

Google Appears Ready to Kill Physical Google Wallet Card

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:01:09 +0000

The end is near, Google Wallet Card owners. According to code buried in the latest version of the Google Wallet app, Google plans to end support for the physical Google Wallet Card on June 30. That's a bit unfortunate for the six of you still using it, but I can't imagine the card was much of a success and probably isn't worth the hassle for Google. Not familiar with the physical Wallet card? It was introduced back in November 2013 as a way for you to pay for things using your Google Wallet balance. It wasn't like Coin or any of the other 1-card-to-rule-them-all credit card types, but more like a PayPal card that paid with whatever cash you had pushed into your Google Wallet account. At one time, it was great for pushing all of your VISA gift cards to, because it let you clean out those $1.16 balances and put them to card that was much easier to use. I could see it also being of use for families who want to give kids spending money without access to a full-blown debit or credit card. In the end, though, it never did seem to gain much traction. As for its supposed end, here is a portion of what was found in the latest Wallet app:

"As of June 30, Google Wallet will no longer support the Wallet Card. You'll still be able to use Google Wallet to send and receive money and we're working to make those features better than ever. If you have money in your Wallet Balance, you can keep it in Wallet or cash out anytime."

There are also notes that mention users being able to add money until May 1 or cashing out at any time. But again, come June 30, the card will stop working. RIP.

Via: Android Police

New Photos of HTC 10, King of the Double Chamfer, Emerge

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:03:42 +0000

The HTC 10 will be unveiled on April 12 through an online press conference, where HTC will show off its "world first, world class" camera, the double chamfer life, and BoomSound audio experience. They may announce its almost-immediate availability, show off the phone in various colors, and try to sell the world on why this is better than the Galaxy S7 or LG G5. In the mean time, a whole batch of new images of the phone's backside have hit the dirty web in what appears to be a listing for replacement parts for the phone. The images were posted to TaoBao, which is like eBay in a way, though just for Chinese shopping. The images show both the inside and outside of the phone's back plate, with USB Type-C port, bottom-firing speaker, and camera in place. We aren't necessarily seeing anything new, but these pictures do help us get used to the overall design. While this may not be an Earth-shaking design pot of newness, it is growing on me for its simplicity. Any new thoughts on the HTC 10 design?

Via: XDA | TaoBao

There Will Probably be a Galaxy S7 Active on AT&T

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:45:56 +0000

For the past couple of years, Samsung has released an AT&T exclusive version of their Galaxy S flagship as an "Active" model that's water resistant and tough, for those who need a phone that can take a daily beating. In 2016, even though Samsung brought back water resistance to the Galaxy S7 line-up, we wouldn't be shocked if they still went forward with the Active line by introducing the Galaxy S7 Active. According to notes left on the Samsung Level app's listing and a report from SamMobile, it may be here shortly. The listing (seen below) shows the supported devices list for the Samsung Level app, an app that powers the company's Level audio products. In the devices list, you can see the "Galaxy S7 Active" is mentioned, which probably isn't a typo unless an intern who knows nothing about Samsung was typing this out and just assumed there was already an S7 Active in existence. SamMobile thinks the S7 Active will fall under model number SM-G891A. That model number is a perfect next-in-line option from last year's S6 Active, which had a model number of SM-G890A. For additional reference, know that the S5 Active was model SM-G870A and the S4 Active was SGH-I537. Assuming the S7 Active is close, please don't be surprised at its AT&T exclusivity and come bitching. OK, feel free to bitch, because this phone should be available to everyone, not just AT&T customers. Play Link

Via: SamMobile

DEAL: 32GB Nexus 9 for Just $299 ($180 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:08:38 +0000

In need of an Android tablet that receives timely updates and has been substantially discounted? Amazon currently has the black WiFi-only Nexus 9 with 32GB of storage for just $299. That's $180 off the original price of $479 that Google and HTC introduced it at. While the device may be a year and a half old, Google is still supporting it with updates and has even made it a part of the Android N preview. It's a great tablet size at 8.9-inches and would be a great travel buddy or coffee table mate when you need a bigger screen. You can read our Nexus 9 review from back in 2014, but just understand that the device has evolved in recent years with each big update. Amazon Link

Cheers Greg!

DEAL: Up to 60% Off Anker Products Today at Amazon - $20 Bluetooth Earbuds, Power Banks, QC 2.0, and More

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:04:25 +0000

Today only, Anker and Amazon have teamed up to run a Gold Box deal where a number of their popular products are discounted up to 60%. We are talking deals on Bluetooth earbuds as low as $20, 16000mAh battery packs for $25, Quick Charge 2.0 2-port car chargers for $15, IPX7 Bluetooth speakers for $23, and more. If you are in need of some new accessories, today's package of deals is certainly worth a look. Anker has always made solid products that are well-reviewed on Amazon and the discounts featured are on some of their best. Amazon Link

Anker SoundBuds Bluetooth Headphones ($19.49)
Anker Astro E5 16000mAh Battery Pack ($24.74)
Anker QC 2.0 2-Port Car Charger ($14.99)
Anker SoundCore Sport IPX7 Wateproof Bluetooth Speaker ($22.49)
Anker Bluetooth Speaker With 24-Hour Battery Life ($35.99)

LG's UX 5.0 on the G5 Further Detailed, Will Include App Drawer at Launch

Kellen — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:43:06 +0000

Over the weekend, LG sent out a press release detailing the UX 5.0 experience that users will see when the G5 launches this Friday. The list of changes, along with an accompanying video, talk about the experience being "more playful and innovative," making it easier to keep track of your "Friends," which is what LG calls anything you pair to the G5 over Bluetooth. The new UX also adds new camera features and a "refined" skin to "enhance usability and convenience." The video below details every single new change, most of which are options that you would only use in special situations that aren't necessarily headline grabbers. Feel free to take a look. There is one change, though, that is particularly of interest to those of us who are Android purists. You'll notice that LG points out specifically that the default home screen experience is one without an app drawer, but that an option with the standard app drawer is only a couple of settings away. That's right, LG heard the cries over the lack of an app drawer and has added the option in UX 5.0. You have probably seen the poor reporting over recent weeks, which suggests that the LG G5 has an app drawer that is hidden or readily available in a settings menu. The fact is, that LG, up until this video was released, killed the app drawer unless you were willing to use their ridiculously degraded EasyHome launcher experience. Yes, other outlets are trying to tell you that you should just switch to EasyHome to get the app drawer, but that's actually not a good solution. I've explained it here to all of those out there who don't actually understand what EasyHome means and continually take to comments to tell us to "do some research" on the subject, but the basics are this. EasyHome is just that, an easy home option without any of the actual options (like Widgets, for one) or customizations that anyone complaining about an app drawer-less experience would want. So yeah, LG heard us and they are bringing back the app drawer. That's a pretty quick turn-around on their part. The phone isn't even out yet and they are backing away from a pretty major decision to appease the loud Android purist crowd. Good on them.

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Don’t Miss These Android Stories: March 25, 2016

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 15:53:28 +0000

This week at DL, we delivered our Galaxy S7 Edge review, talked about our favorite features on the LG G5, and gave you five fantastic reasons the Galaxy S7 (or Galaxy S7 Edge, for that matter) should be your next smartphone purchase. Besides your standard flagship news, we discussed the idea of being together, not the same, HTC confirmed the HTC 10 will be unveiled on April 12, while also getting more details about what to expect from Google's Android N. Also, if you missed it, we are giving away a NVIDIA SHIELD prize pack. Did you miss any of the craziness? Look below.

Review: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
Five reasons to buy the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge.
LG G5: Our seven favorite things.
HTC 10: Unveiling for HTC's next flagship set for April 12.
LG G5 pre-orders went up on Verizon.
Android N has a free-floating app mode.
Netflix: Netflix admits its been throttling Verizon and AT&T streams to 360p.
Google Cast: Chromecast gets rebranded to Google Cast.
Here are all of the wallpapers you keep asking us about.
Google reportedly making an Amazon Echo competitor.
Super Mega Baseball available for SHIELD Android TV boxes.
Opinion: We could all use a little "Be Together, Not the Same" right now.
Google makes its Nik Collection of photo editing plugins free.
Latest HTC teaser suggests BoomSound for HTC 10.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Deal: Buy a Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X for $50 Off Through the Weekend

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:25:23 +0000

Google is celebrating the Google Store's first birthday, and to do so, it is offering $50 off both the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. For the Nexus 5X, which starts at $349 for the 16GB model, you can purchase this device for $299. Need something a little larger? The Nexus 6P, typically priced starting at $499 for the 32GB model, can be bought for $449. This $50 off promotion can be applied to any color and storage model you choose. For example, if you want the largest 128GB model of the Nexus 6P, your price will be $599 instead of the usual $649. Stated on the Google Store, the $50 off will be applied at checkout, so if you go browsing and don't see the sale pricing, don't worry, it will be there. The birthday promotion ends this Sunday. Google Store Links: Nexus 5X | Nexus 6P

$150 Nik Collection of Photo Editing Plugins Now Free for All

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:13:30 +0000

In 2012, Google acquired Nik, the company behind Snapseed. After bringing Snapseed to Android, the collection of Nik plug-ins for desktop photo editing clients, such as Photoshop, were still available for purchase at $150. However, as of this week, the entire Nik Collection is free to download for anyone and everyone to use. Shared to the Nik Collection Google+ page, the following was shared in the announcement.

Photo enthusiasts all over the world use the Nik Collection to get the best out of their images every day. As we continue to focus our long-term investments in building incredible photo editing tools for mobile, including Google Photos and Snapseed, we’ve decided to make the Nik Collection desktop suite available for free, so that now anyone can use it.

If you recently purchased the Nik Collection for its $150 price, fret not! Google is automatically issuing refunds to all purchasers who acquired the collection so far in the year of 2016. If you purchased in 2015, you are out of luck. Edit photos on your Mac or Windows desktop? Go grab the collection. Download Here

Via: +Nik Collection

Google Announces Android Experiment Challenge, Winners to Attend Google I/O

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 11:27:29 +0000

Fancy yourself a developer? Miss out on your chance to attend Google I/O this year? Well, Google is offering folks with Android development skills the opportunity to submit an Android Experiment, and one lucky winner will showcase their experiment live at Google I/O to attendees. If you don't win the grand prize, don't worry, runner-ups will receive a Nexus 6P. An experiment will use the Android platform in a unique and innovative way, highlighting features, using interesting visual aesthetics, while also being open source for use by other developers. If you need a more detailed overview, Google explains below.

Creative uses of Android’s new or distinctive features
Projects that explore how we interact with our devices, in small and big ways
Unique visual aesthetics
Open source projects that can inspire other developers
Surprise us - we want to see the amazing things you’re cooking up.

Think you have what it takes? You can enter your experiment by following the via link. Maybe we'll see you at I/O!

Via: Android Experiments

Chromecast Update Available Now, Rebrands to Google Cast

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:54:34 +0000

As detailed earlier this week, the update that rebrands the Chromecast app name to Google Cast, is now available for all on Google Play. Beyond the name change, not much has changed, but Google did launch an updated Google Cast website to help promote the change. Inside the Google Cast app, users will still find support for controlling their Cast-supported devices, such as changing Backdrops settings and more. However, instead of only Chromecast dongles appearing on your supported device list, you should now see Android TV boxes and supported speakers. The update is populating Google Play right now. Play Link

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch Available on Google Store, Priced at $499

Tim — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:02:20 +0000

After seeing it unveiled at CES this past January, the Smart Outdoor Watch from Casio is now available for purchase on the Google Store, priced at a whopping $499. With that $499, you get a Android Wear-powered smartwatch that, as the name would suggest, was built for the outdoors. Including water resistance, stainless steel body, mineral glass, and a urethane wristband, this watch should be able to take quite a licking, but shall keep on digitally ticking. Built-in by Casio, the watch features a hefty amount of custom watch faces, as well as software tweaks that greaten the device's usability while doing outdoor activities such as running, biking, and camping. One huge omission from this device, especially considering its $499 price and outdoor centric approach, is GPS. The Smart Outdoor Watch has no GPS antenna. Go ahead and let that soak in for a second. The watch is available now for purchase. Google Store Link ($499)

Netflix has Been Throttling Verizon and AT&T Streams to 360p

Kellen — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:12:25 +0000

Last week, as a part of YouTube and T-Mobile's joint announcement that YouTube was joining Binge On, T-Mobile CEO John Legere released a video to help sell the news. During that clip, he made reference to Netflix streaming on T-Mobile that was dropped to DVD-like quality with BingeOn enabled, but noted that the 480p resolution was better than what you would see at AT&T and Verizon, who were only "delivering" content for Netflix at 360p (clip here). The news was somewhat shocking, because no one had heard this before and either assumed Legere was talking out of his ass or knew something no one else knew. As it turns out, he may have had the inside track to information that even Verizon and AT&T weren't aware of. After that video showed, Verizon's PR crew took to Twitter to attack Legere over the claims, saying that they weren't throttling Netflix. Legere was quick to point out that he never said they were throttling, only that the content was coming across their network in 360p. You can see the exchange here. What was he referring to? We think we now know. Last night, Netflix told the Wall Street Journal that it has been throttling its content through both Verizon and AT&T without their knowledge. In fact, Netflix says that it has been throttling video playback through numerous carriers for five years as a way to protect customers from themselves. They have not been throttling streams at Sprint and T-Mobile because "historically those two companies have had more consumer-friendly policies." The thought was that Netflix users may have limited data plans and 360p streams could help them extend the use of those data plans or at the very least, not blow through those buckets too quickly. AT&T is actually pissed about it and probably should be. An AT&T executive said that they are "outraged" to learn that Netflix has been throttling content without letting customers know. Verizon on the other hand, just said that they deliver whatever content providers are providing. Alongside this acknowledgement from Netflix, the streaming company says that it will soon give customers more control over the quality of stream they see. By May, an update should arrive on the Netflix app with a "data saver" option that will allow customers to raise or lower the quality of streams when on mobile. Is it just me, or is it not cool of everyone in this wireless industry to try and protect us from ourselves? Warnings and pop-ups and emails and all that are all we need to know about these types of issues. After that, let us make our own mistakes and learn from them.

Via: Netflix | Wall Street Journal

Verizon Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Get Connectivity Fixing Updates, LG G4 and G3 Get Security Patches

Kellen — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 07:55:49 +0000

To end the week, Verizon is pushing out a bunch of smaller updates alongside the Marshmallow goodness for the LG V10. Both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from Big Red are seeing updates that should improve WiFi connectivity, while the LG G4 and G3 are seeing March's security patch. According to Verizon, the S7 and S7 Edge will see an update as software version VRU2APB5 that "improves Wi-Fi connectivity on Marshmallow." That means fixes for "trouble connecting to the internet," frequent data disconnections, and problems while loading files or web pages. To check for this update, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for Updates. As for the LG G4 and G3 on Verizon, we are looking at software versions VS98625A and VS98547A, respectively. Each update is simply listed as the "latest Android security updates." Both seemed to have started rolling out yesterday for most, but to check, you can head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for update>Download now. And finally, if anyone still has a Galaxy Note Edge on Verizon, it also is receiving March's security patch.

Via: Verizon [2] [3] [4] [5]

Question of the Day: What are Your 3 Most Used, Non-Google Apps?

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:43:20 +0000

Talking about LauncherPro earlier today got us thinking about apps in general. More specifically, that #TBT moment got us thinking about the apps we use the most these days, because there is a good chance they have changed in recent months or years or since the last time we asked a similar question. So for today's question, let's just keep it simple and share some of our favorite apps. If you were to look at your phone and think about the 3 apps you use the most that aren't Google apps, which would they be? For me, it's the 3 you are seeing above: Instagram, theScore Sports, and Fleksy. Why? Well, Instagram is about the only social network I can stand, theScore is a solid sports app that isn't ESPN, and Fleksy somehow, some way, drew me back in after dedicating so many years to Google's keyboard. What about you? What are your 3 most used, non-Google apps?

DEAL: Limited Edition 32GB Moto X Pure Edition is Just $349 ($125 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:35:14 +0000

I don't necessarily know who Jonathan Adler is, but I do know that he is a designer hired by Motorola to create a line of limited edition Moto X Pure Edition phones. The phones by Adler feature 32GB storage and carry slightly elevated prices of $475 on most days. But today, you can grab any of the three designs at a $125 discount, which brings the price to $349.99. If you compare the $349.99 price to the 16GB base model Moto X Pure Edition, you are still saving $50 while doubling the storage. As for the designs, well, you can see them above. One features a honeycomb back, while the others use half circles and something called a "Bridget" design. All I know is that they are unique and are actually kind of fun, should you be in interested MXPE and want something few will have. Feel free to read our Moto X Pure Edition review or these 5 reasons why you should buy one if you need some convincing. The deal is live through April 28. Motorola Link

Deal: $89 for Lexar 128GB MicroSD Card 2-Pack, $39 for 64GB 2-Pack

Tim — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:16:47 +0000

Regularly priced at $165, you can grab a 2-pack of Lexar 128GB microSD cards for only $89, usable in any smart device that supports expandable storage. This includes the Moto X Pure Edition, Galaxy S7, and upcoming LG G5. If that much mobile storage is not needed, or you don't feel like blowing that much dough, a 2-pack of 64GB cards is available for $39. The cards are rated at Class 10, featuring UHS-I technology with a max read speed of 95MBps, with a slightly lower write speed. Your speeds will also depend on the size you choose, according to Lexar. Additionally, the cards also come with a USB 3.0 reader for high-speed file transfer. To take advantage of the SD card slots that are available on all of the latest flagship devices, follow the links below. eBay Links: 64GB 2-Pack | 128GB 2-Pack

Niantic Labs, Makers of Ingress, Provides First Look at Pokémon GO

Tim — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:28:32 +0000

We are still a ways from launch, but Niantic Labs, best known for Ingress, gave us our first early look at Pokémon GO this morning. Played the same way Ingress is, which has you walking all over town, Pokémon GO allows players to explore the world around them in search for new Pokémon. To discover your Pokémon, you may need to visit their natural habitats. For example, to collect a water type, you may need to visit your local lake, river, or pond. As you walk around, previously acquired Pokémon eggs will hatch, leading to the potential of new Pokémon in your arsenal. In addition, dedicated PokéStops are where you can acquire Poké Balls and eggs. But, what would a Pokémon game be without battles? In the game, players will be encouraged to join one of three teams in order to compete over the ownership and prestige of Gyms. They will do this by placing their captured Pokémon in a friendly Gym or by battling with an opponent’s Pokémon in another team’s Gym. Gyms, exactly like PokéStops, are also found at real world locations. Niantic states that the first field tests of this game will soon occur in Japan, but gave no word on when we can expect a complete US launch. While Ingress never quite intrigued me, I could see myself strolling around my neighborhood in search of Pokémon. How about you?

Via: Niantic Labs

Report: Google is Making an Amazon Echo Competitor, While Nest Focuses on Home Security

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:13:18 +0000

The crew over at The Information released two pretty wild articles today that paint a not-so-flattering picture of the current corporate atmosphere at Nest, the one-time darling smart home product maker that Google acquired a couple of years back for $3.2 billion dollars. The drama side of things isn't necessarily a subject we focus on - though this stuff is quite juicy and entertaining - so we'll instead take a look at the other side of the two reports, which is the company's product line-up going forward. The product-related information also includes a future product for Google, that may be a direct Amazon Echo competitor. According to sources of The Information, Nest is going to take on home security with its next series of products. Those products, for one, will include a product under the codename "Flintstone," which will be a wireless hub and the "brains" behind it all. Think Piper or Canary, two products that act as both security cameras and a hub for notifying you of other happenings in your home like relaying back information for temperature and other alerts. Flintstone works with Thread, a wireless standard that Nest created to take over home communication and relay information back and forth between other smart home products. Unfortunately, because Thread isn't a standard, they have struggled to get it to play nicely and have been working on Flintstone for roughly three years. Woof. Anyone remember Dropcam Tabs? They were a product that Dropcam was planning to release in August of 2014 just before Nest acquired them. The idea was that you could place little security tabs on the windows, doors, or fences around your house and receive notifications on your mobile devices if those windows, doors, or fences were opened. They were a brilliant little idea that used Dropcam Pro cameras as a hub. Nest killed Dropcam Tabs before they could ever ship because, at least according to this report, they were already working on their own similar solution. Again, that was in 2014 and Dropcam was ready to ship, yet it's now 2016 and Nest hasn't introduced a single thing. Nest's Dropcam Tabs-like product is supposedly called "Pinna" and they are wireless security sensors. They of course, use Thread to communicate, but since Nest can't figure out how to properly implement Thread, they also seem to be delayed, probably because Flintstone, the hub that allows everything to communicate over Thread has been in the works for three years. Finally, Nest is said to be working on a product called "Keshi," - no not Ke$ha - that are Bluetooth tags that could be attached to your keyring or bag or tossed in a purse to automate some of your Nest system. Think locking or unlocking home doors or turning your Nest security system on and off as you leave or come home. You get it. Outside of Nest products, Google is said to be working separately on a product that will be very much like Amazon's Echo. For those new, Amazon Echo is a cylindrical tube-shaped speaker that acts as a smart hub for your home. You can give Echo commands for setting timers, playing music, checking the weather, reading today's headlines, and controlling your Nest thermostat, all with voice. The home is largely thought to be a major area for growth for tech companies and so it makes sense that Google would want to do whatever they can to compete with Amazon's early lead in the space. According to The Information, Nest wanted in on this project, but the lead of it on Google's end "rebuffed" that idea. Any of this excite you? I, personally, am ready for some new smart home products from Nest. It's been years since they released anything new, outside of next-generation models of their Thermostat and smoke detectors. And no, we don't count the repackaged Dropcam Pro as the Nest Cam as a new product.

Via: The Information (subscription)

#TBT: It's 2016 and We Still Want a LauncherPro Rewrite

Tim — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 11:46:14 +0000

Sure, it's 2016, but my fingers are still crossed for a LauncherPro rewrite. Oh, who am I kidding, it's not coming, folks. Back in late 2010, we hyped the LauncherPro app more than anyone, talked about updates, and even interviewed the developer, Federico Carnales, for the Tato Series. What ever happened to LauncherPro? Well, it's still available for download on Google Play, but as you can guess, it doesn't see any support. Having recently used it, I can actually attest that it's still pretty smooth, unsurprisingly. Near the end LauncherPro's life, we were told a rewrite was coming for the app, which would include new features and tons of goodies. As we all know now, that rewrite never came and the developer essentially vanished. With that said, we probably all have fond memories of LauncherPro, but we've moved on. It's all about Nova Launcher now, at least for us at DL. Like I said, LauncherPro is still available on Google Play. Give it a download and spin for old times' sake. Play Link

GIVEAWAY: Win a SHIELD Android TV Bundle in Celebration of Super Mega Baseball Launch

Tim — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:01:06 +0000

To help NVIDIA celebrate the launch of Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings for SHIELD, we have teamed up with them to give away a SHIELD Android TV bundle. Included in this bundle is a SHIELD console (16GB), SHIELD Controller, SHIELD Remote, SHIELD Stand, and a copy of the Super Mega Baseball game. Super Mega Baseball offers gamers on SHIELD a very comprehensive baseball experience, complete with in-depth statistics (that's what baseball is all about, after all), enjoyable graphics, and a complete multiplayer co-op experience. The game is priced at $20 on Google Play, but with this giveaway, you have a chance to not only win the game, but win a complete Android TV gaming setup. If you want even more chances to win a SHIELD, NVIDIA is hosting a stream with Streamer House on the official NVIDIA Twitch channel tonight, with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown at 6PM Pacific. During the stream, folks will have a chance to win NVIDIA SHIELD prize packs, game codes, and much more. You can access that stream here. Don't miss it. Let's get to the giveaway.

Contest

Prize: One winner will receive a NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV (16GB), SHIELD Controller, SHIELD Remote, SHIELD Stand, and a copy of Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings. How to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: We will select our winner on Monday (3/28) at 10am Pacific.

Sprint Galaxy Note 5, Note 4, S6 Edge+ Receiving Marshmallow Updates Today

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 09:40:34 +0000

Marshmallow updates are flowing today, with Sprint's Galaxy Note 5, Note 4, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ as the latest to join in on the party. The updates appear to be live for those on Sprint, so be sure to check, assuming you have ample battery life. To do so, head into Settings>System update>Update now. Both the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ are receiving software version VPU2BPC3 (Android 6.0.1), which is accompanied by a changelog from Sprint that only notes the update including an "OS Upgrade to Android 6" and "Security Updates." The Note 4 should be seeing software version VPU4DPC1. You know what's in Marshmallow by now, right? If not, here is a short video tour of the first Android M preview, along with a feature-by-feature breakdown here.

Via: Sprint [2] [3]

Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings Now Available for SHIELD Android TV, Priced at $20

Tim — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 08:42:10 +0000

With MLB's spring training in full swing, Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings could not have picked a better time to launch onto Google Play. Made for use on the SHIELD boxes from NVIDIA, Super Mega Baseball brings a comprehensive, yet easy-to-learn baseball game system. If you care about things such as complete pitching and batting stats, while also getting the sense that you are playing a game made for the Nintendo Wii, this is the game for you. Once you fire this game up, you can choose between a few modes. The game does support multiplayer, so if you have an extra SHIELD Controller available, you and your buddy can go head-to-head, or play co-op on the same team against the CPU. In total, up to 4 players can play simultaneously. To get started, you will choose between a complete season (short, medium, long options available), or simply a one-game exhibition match. If a season is selected, you will go up against the league's best, with all of your opponent teams going through simulations to work out the standings. As you progress in a season, you can unlock new gear for your players, new workouts to help them improve as players, and you can even fire your staff members. I'm serious, this game is extremely comprehensive. Thanks to an Ego Mode, which is code for the game's difficulty, you can pinpoint exactly how comfortable you are at the game. If you want the opposing pitchers slowing down or not throwing as much junk, lower your ego. If you don't mind having your pitches cranked out of the park consistently, then up your ego. Now, for all of this baseball action, Super Mega Baseball carries quite a price tag, listed at $20 on Google Play. While that certainly is steep, having tested the game myself for a couple of days, I can vouch for its awesomeness. If you really enjoy baseball, diving into stats and improving your players in almost RPG-like setting, it's worth the price. Additionally, the performance and overall appearance of the game is quite enjoyable, with batters throwing their bats and even crying when you strike them out. So worth it. The game is available now on Google Play. Note: To help celebrate the launch of this title, NVIDIA is teaming up with Streamer House, as two residents will dual it out live on Twitch. If you are interested, NVIDIA will be giving away prizes including SHIELD Android TV sets, game codes, and more. The stream will begin tonight on NVIDIA's Twitch channel here. Play Link ($19.99)

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Verizon Adds Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE to Line-Up as Well, Now Up for Pre-Order

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:54:18 +0000

The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE, after returning from the dead on AT&T this week, is also now up for pre-order at Verizon. Priced at $449 with a 2-year contract or $499 at full retail, the WU2ELTE is an expensive product, likely because its the first LTE watch. With that LTE connectivity, Verizon is pushing its ability to connect to your phone number to send text messages through their Verizon Messages app, place calls to family and friends, search for nearby restaurants, and listen to music. Because of that LTE chip inside, you don't need to be tethered to a phone at all times - it's very much a stand-alone device. For a limited time, if you buy an LG G5 or V10, Verizon will slash $100 off the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE. Pre-order Link

Via: Verizon

Verizon LG G5 Pre-Orders are Now Open, Includes Free 360 CAM

Kellen — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:36:49 +0000

The LG G5 is now up for pre-order at Verizon starting at $26 per month for 24 months. You can buy it without a contract, as well, for $624. Verizon is selling the silver and titan versions, so no gold or pink, my friends. Verizon says that if you pre-order you will have your phone in time for the April 1 launch. But also, if you pre-order, Verizon is tossing in a free battery and charging cradle, along with a free 360 CAM, so you can be come the VR master of the G5. Go get it. Pre-order Link

Samsung Gear S2 Gets iOS and Marshmallow Support Tomorrow, According to Verizon (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:06:07 +0000

Earlier in the week, a rumor about the Samsung Gear S2 gaining iOS support within the month circulated around these parts. We can now confirm that Verizon is onboard with that idea, as their support section for the Gear S2 says that an update will arrive tomorrow with a fix for a random clock freeze, but also with added support for iOS and Marshmallow. UPDATE: Verizon tells us that this update won't include iOS compatibility after all. We have no ETA on when it will be included with the S2. The update is software version R730VVRU1BPC1, for those keeping track, and will allow the smartwatch to run on iOS devices with iOS 8.4. The changelog for the update also mentions that the Gear S2 will gain support for "smartphones using Android Marshmallow OS." This is going to sound bad, but I had no idea that Marshmallow and the Gear S2 weren't playing nicely, though it's not all that surprising since the permissions system changed in 6.0 and the S2 runs Tizen. It's just that not one single reader of ours (50% of which have phones running Marshmallow) mentioned a word about it. Popular watch, eh? So yeah, your Gear S2 will be much more compatible with the world tomorrow.

Via: Verizon

Sprint LG G5 Launch Set for April 1, Pre-Order Begins March 24

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:55:34 +0000

Tomorrow on March 24, online pre-orders will open up for the LG G5 for Sprint, with official in-store launch set for April 1. For those wanting to perform a pre-order in-person, you can do so at your local retailer beginning March 25. Sprint is offering a charging accessory bundle and a minimum $150 credit to those who trade-in their current smartphone to upgrade to the G5. Additionally, those who choose to get the phone on a 2-year agreement, the price is set at $149 thanks to a $50 mail-in rebate after your initial purchase. An installment plan is also available, priced at $0 down and 24 monthly payments of $24 for well-qualified buyers. For those who want to buy the device outright, the G5 carries a SRP of $576, according to Sprint. Have you pre-ordered your G5 yet?

Via: Sprint

Verizon's LG V10 is Getting Its Marshmallow Update, Tomorrow (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:50:20 +0000

Starting tomorrow, owners of the LG V10 on Verizon will begin to see an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. According to Verizon's support section dedicated to the V10, the update will arrive as software version VS99022A. Verizon isn't saying how big the update will be, but it should be a decent size. Be sure you have plenty of battery tomorrow should you check and see the update as available. In the update, users will receive Now on Tap access, the benefits of Doze on battery life when idle, clearly upfront control over app permissions, an actual silent mode, more control over notifications, and what I can only imagine are a bunch of bug fixes and enhancements that we typically see with big updates. Again, the update is scheduled to begin rolling out on March 24, so don't be shocked if it isn't there just yet. To check in the morning, head into Settings>About Phone>Software updates>Check for Update>Download now. On a side note, is this the first V10 to get Marshmallow? It might be. And if so, good job, Big Red. UPDATE 9:25AM: We are being told from readers that the update is now live. Go check!

Via: Verizon

Question of the Day: Which Android Phone Would You Like to See Remade, iPhone SE Style?

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:56:41 +0000

No matter how much we love a particular phone, at some point, it's going to get old and not function as well as the newer phones. This is why we upgrade every year or so. Apple announced the iPhone SE this week, basically an iPhone 5 body with updated internals, which put this thought in our head. If you had your choice of one phone to be "remade" with the latest specs, do you have a phone in mind you would like to see this happen for? For example, I would love to see either the HTC One X or Nexus 5 (2013) remade with new specs. The One X with a QHD display, Snapdragon 820, and 12MP+ camera would be insanely sweet. Or the Nexus 5 with updated internals, upgraded camera sensor, and a much larger battery? I would be happy with either of those. By remade, I specifically mean specs, with nothing touched on the design of the phone. So anyone who says the Nexus 5X is a Nexus 5 remake, that doesn't count. If you could choose, which phone would you like to see remade with the latest specs?

Cheers Bert!

HTC Teaser Suggests BoomSound in the HTC 10

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:05:24 +0000

A few years ago, with the launch of the original HTC One M7, HTC introduced BoomSound, a marketing term used in reference to the phone's dual front-facing speaker experience that offered an audio package not seen before on a smartphone. They coupled up BoomSound speakers with an internal software audio enhancement powered by Beats, since HTC owned a portion of Beats at that point. In recent years, though, as new HTC One phones have come and gone and the Beats stake sold back to Beats, HTC phones have started to ditch the dual front speakers, while BoomSound has morphed into what Beats on HTC phones used to be - a software audio enhancer. What I'm saying here is that BoomSound once referred to dual front-facing speakers, but it now only stands for a software audio enhancement in HTC phones. By carrying on the BoomSound name, HTC can say that every single one of their phones has an audio enhancement without building in the expensive hardware. It's probably a smart move in the long run, but it sort of cheapens the idea. Either way, the new HTC 10 will have BoomSound in some form. The latest teaser tweet from HTC suggests as much by mentioning both "audio" and "boom" and the fact that you'll "hear it." So yeah, expect an audio enhancement in the software of the HTC 10, just don't expect the BoomSound experience of old. By all accounts, and the dozens of leaked HTC 10 pictures, we're looking at another single, bottom-firing speaker in the next HTC flagship. EDIT: As has been mentioned in the comments, there is still a chance that HTC uses the top earpiece speaker and the bottom speaker in some sort of dual capacity. The top dots in the image below, along with the elongated slits below could be in reference to those two speakers. My god, there is hope. BoomSound, though. On April 12. https://twitter.com/htc/status/712670253411643392

Opinion: We Could All Use a Little "Be Together, Not the Same" Right Now

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:05:07 +0000

As the Android ecosystem has grown, it's become apparent that many Android users, some of our readers included, are splitting up into what I see as cliche cliques. Years ago, when I first started visiting Droid Life as just a reader, we all united behind a common goal. That goal was to essentially show iOS users that our seedling mobile OS was going to be awesome, one day running on the majority of smartphones throughout the world. After all, iPhone users were the apparent pompous elitists who poo-pooed anything other than iOS. It's 2016 now, and wouldn't you know, Android is massive. In late 2015, Google revealed that there were 1.4 billion Android activations to date across the globe, and undoubtedly, that number continues to grow each day. The issue is, not all of these activations are the same phone, or even close for that matter, while iOS activations are united by similarities with each phone released by Apple. Each year, the iPhone sees a slight hardware and software upgrade, and each year, the same people upgrade to it. It's basically an ever-growing family of people with the same smartphone experience. On Android, the experience on each phone differs greatly, and because of this, Android users of one particular phone will see users of a different phone as an enemy. They will argue about specifications, hardware design, software updates, OEM skins, and the list goes on. Recently, Google began a marketing campaign for Android, focusing on a simple, yet very powerful phrase - "Be together, not the same." In my view, this sentence transcends that of just smartphone bickering, but relates to humanity in general. We may all be from different parts of the world and have different views, but we are all citizens of Earth. We are humans, together. All of us. With it attached to Android, Google could not have been anymore spot on with what Android represents as a whole. It stands for choice, options, and personal preferences. Each Android OEM brings something different to the table, whether it be better cameras, better displays, or certain software features you won't find elsewhere. At the end of the day, people will buy whichever phone suits their own personal needs, not someone else's. So while someone may smack talk Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's black bar, we must remain respectful to other people's choice. After all, they are your Android brethren. They are someone you can seek advice from when you need to troubleshoot an issue, or maybe even ask smartphone purchasing tips from. No matter the case, purchasing a particular brand of Android device (or any smartphone for that matter), should ever result in someone getting bashed for it. This is just unacceptable in my opinion. Let's take a moment to remember that we are all enthusiasts of the same OS. Whether the version of Android you are running is skinned to oblivion or AOSP, it's all the same on the inside.

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LG G5: Our 7 Favorite Features

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 11:43:49 +0000

I don't think there is any denying what LG has done with the G5. They created an ultra-premium phone that takes them into previously unexplored areas (that all-metal body, baby), while also managing to tick a bunch of boxes for features that other manufacturers avoid or ignore, like removable batteries, always-on displays that aren't crippled, and the latest in charging tech. To highlight those, along with a couple of areas where LG is taking a risk that could pay off in the long run, we picked the seven features that help the G5 standout from the rest of the smartphone crowd at the moment, including the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Come April 1, you'll get to decide if these are enough.

1. A modular future awaits

Google's Project Ara was at one time supposed to be the future of modular phones, where you could swap parts in and out to add or adjust functionality. Project Ara has yet to become a reality after a couple of years of work, so LG and the G5 are stepping up to take the lead on the idea. With the G5, at least at launch, we have a camera grip and a DAC as modules. Each might be targeted at small audiences, but the fact that LG is ready to take on modular phones is something to get excited about. Even if you don't care about the camera grip or DAC, you have to appreciate that LG is paving way for a future where you could swap in or out all sorts of add-ons. It could be docking your phone into a speaker for a real audio experience, adding on a credit card swiper for retailers, expanding battery capacity without the hassle of a case, a way to give your non-smart car a true in-car display experience, etc. The future of modularity in phones is here because of LG.

2. Always-on display that doesn't suck

The always-on display is a big deal in 2016. Both Samsung and LG included always-on features in their flagships, but so far, only LG seems to have gotten it right. With Samsung's always-on, you can customize a clock, with battery status and date, or even toss in a calendar or background image, while seeing the occasional notification. Unfortunately, Samsung limited the functionality with notifications, only opening the phone up to showing notifications from its own stock apps, like the dialer or messaging app. On the G5, you not only get the time and date, but you get notifications showing from every single one of your apps. Taking that idea a step further, as each arrives, the always-on display highlights the app with a blown-up animation of the app's icon, so that you know exactly which app you may or may not need to check. In this battle of always-on displays, it's LG 1, Samsung 0.

3. USB Type-C and QC 3.0, thankfully

Last year, Android received support for USB Type-C, a port that will become the future of charging, file transfers, and expansion. We saw the Nexus phones all receive a USB Type-C port, along with the OnePlus 2, leading us to expect that all major manufacturers would jump on board with Type-C for 2016. LG held up their end of the bargain by including Type-C in the G5 and we're expecting HTC to do so as well. Samsung, probably for VR-related reasons, skipped out this time around. On the LG G5, LG doubled down by also including Quick Charge 3.0 support through the phone's Snapdragon 820 processor. QC 3.0 allows for even faster charging times than any other phone, including Samsung's, since they also skipped out on the new charging tech, even though their US S7 variants house the 820. With the G5, you get both quick and convenient charging, something not many phones can lay claim to.

4. The size is really nice

Maybe I'm just getting used to giant phones by now, but the LG G5 is a really nice size. LG says that they shrunk the phone's display down to 5.3-inch (from 5.5) because their users told them this would be a sweet spot. While I would tend to agree that 5.5-inch is a bit large and would prefer a phone with a display size around 5-inch, I'll take 5.3. Overall, though, the phone isn't that much smaller than the G4 from last year. In fact, it is actually a bit taller, though not wider. Still, it feels great in hand, partly because of the new soft-touch metal finish, but also because of its curved body with plenty of roundness that lets it really nestle into your hand. The G5 isn't large by any means, but it's also big enough to give you that modern smartphone experience.

5. An improved fingerprint reader

LG introduced fingerprint readers to its phones with the V10 at the end of last year. I've been clear in numerous posts that I wasn't a fan of the V10's fingerprint reader, but LG seems to have corrected those worries with the G5. This fingerprint reader provides an instant read and unlock, fits nicely into the all-metal body of the phone, and is positioned perfectly for quick wakes without much work. As many of you know, I'm a big fan of rear-placed fingerprint readers over those embedded in home buttons. Good job, LG.

6. Ugly dual cameras will come in handy

Look, I get it, you all think the dual-camera setup on the back of the G5 that has created a somewhat-oddly-shaped hump on the phone's backside, is ugly. I'm not not here to argue against that, but what I will say is that these two cameras are going to come in handy at some point in your life. Either that, or the guy next to you with the G5 is going to be able to capture a shot that you can't and you'll feel silly for trashing on his humps, his humps, his lovely LG lumps. On the back of the G5, you have a traditional 16MP sensor next to a 135-degree wide angle 8MP shooter. That 135-degree lens allows you to capture entire scenes that you would normally need a special camera lens for, which you will almost never find in a phone.

7. Hey, no fingerprints!

Take a look at any one of our Galaxy S7 videos and you are bound to find enough fingerprints to want to reach for a towel and wipe your screen. With the G5, that's never going to be an issue, since the phone is all-metal and practically fingerprint resistant on every surface outside of its display. I know, I know, this isn't exactly the typical "feature," but it's worth noting for the OCD crowd in the building.

Deal: Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 Car and Travel Chargers Discounted With These Coupon Codes

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 11:38:38 +0000

Tronsmart is currently working to roll out its line of Quick Charge 3.0 chargers, but until that happens, they have listed most of their Quick Charge 2.0 chargers at discounted prices on Amazon, in addition to the below coupon codes that will save you quite a bit. There are three different chargers available - a travel/wall charger for under $10, a car charger for under $8, and the Titan charger for under $24. Each charger, if your device is compatible, features Quick Charge 2.0, which will charge your phone at a faster rate than it would without it. To name a few of the phones that benefit from Quick Charge 2.0, we have the flagships from HTC, LG, Motorola, Google, and Samsung. All recent phones from these makers should work just fine. Coupon Codes

Travel Charger - 3USBWALL
Car Charger - 2USBCHAR
Titan - USBTITAN

Amazon Links: Travel Charger ($9.49) | Car Charger ($7.49) | Titan ($23.49)

Consumer Reports Love the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, Rates Them Tops

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:19:12 +0000

Consumer Reports, the go-to source for America's pulse toward all things consumer products, dished out top ratings for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from Samsung this week. Citing a "terrific" camera experience, "Excellent" video quality, and "Excellent" battery life, the Galaxy S7 and co. are now ranked in the top spot alongside the Galaxy S5, with the LG G4 and Galaxy S6 Active not trailing too far behind. Wait, what? That's right, according to Consumer Reports, which ranks nearly every major smartphone to hit the market, the Galaxy S5 is tied with the Galaxy S7 Edge in terms of overall score. These scores include display quality, ease of use, web browsing, and camera quality. Now, at the time, the Galaxy S5 was a top tier smartphone, but even we didn't think it was all that great, with its terrible version of TouchWiz and awful Band-Aid design. Looking over the rankings, the Galaxy S5 is listed as an even better buy than the iPhone 6s. Ouch. Anyway, the report also highlights Samsung's inclusion of water resistance, expandable storage, and the overall design of the devices. Compared to our reviews, they line up similarly. Still on the fence about which phone to get? Check out our Five Reasons post for the Galaxy S7.

Via: Consumer Reports

Look at This Silly Ass LG G5 Commercial

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:07:00 +0000

This bad LG G5 commercial is bad. Why is this guy on the subway or bus with his battery out? Is that a new thing we are all going to start doing, just popping out batteries to make clicking noises that no one else can make? God no! Who wants to ever pull their battery out just because? That shit is no fun at all. Ever. It takes at least 2-3 minutes to boot up any Android phone to fully working status. You gotta let Android fully load everything in the background, which probably means optimizing 188 apps for 10 minutes at the boot screen, then LG's garbage skin and your data connection, before finding the app you want in an app-drawer-less iOS-like, completely inefficient jukebox layout, which will then let that stream of House of Cards continue. It sure as hell isn't instant, as this video suggests. Hot swap...gtfo, LG. But forget all of that for a second. What are we trying to say here, exactly? That when it's dark and you are on your way home, your battery will 100% be dead and you will need to swap it out for a fresh one? That's a terrible marketing message! "Guys, buy our new phone because its battery life is pretty terrible! But that's OK, because you can do this!" CLICK! No, just no. And wtf is going on with the goat video? Or are those cows? Is that B-roll from LG questionably sourcing G4 case backs? Dude, you are creeping out all passengers. When the animals come on the screen, your grin should not be growing. That faux sheep-fur jean jacket to your left has never felt so empowered. Put some headphones on. Look at this guy... UPDATE: IT IS JASON STATHAM.

This commercial is bad. (EDIT: Apologies for the bad sarcasm in all of this, which according to the comments, didn't come through to all.)

LG 360 VR Headset and 360 CAM Both Up for Pre-Order, Each Cost $199

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:02:41 +0000

Yesterday, the 360 CAM Plus module went up for pre-order on B&H Photo, and now, two more LG G5 accessories are available at the same location. Both priced at $199, the 360 VR headset and 360 CAM Spherical Camera allow for new experiences - one for viewing virtual reality content and one for creating virtual reality content. Those looking into VR can easily use the 360 VR, simply by plugging a cable into the G5, then wearing the headset. Content can be viewed from YouTube, as well as other services. If there's not enough content for you to enjoy, you can make your own with the 360 CAM. Either carry the camera with you to capture complete 360-degree angles, or place it in a room to record everything taking place. For example, use the camera on Christmas morning to see all of the magic and joy on the kids' faces. For a bit of comparison, Samsung's Gear VR is priced at $99, and is viewed as being a much better experience than what LG's headset provides. We will hold off on our opinion until we get a bit more hands-on time with the 360 VR headset. Samsung also has its own Gear 360 camera, but pricing is not yet known. B&H Photo Links: LG 360 VR Headset ($199) | LG 360 CAM ($199)

Android Pay is Coming to the UK in the "Next Few Months"

Kellen — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 08:28:13 +0000

This morning, Google announced that Android Pay will come to the UK in the "next few months." I wish I could tell our UK readers to go out and download Android Pay this very minute and get to shopping at contact-less payment-equipped shops, but you have a bit to go. With that said, once it does launch, you will see immediate support from financial institutions like Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society. Shops that are ready include Boots, Costa Coffee, Waitrose, Starbucks, and KFC. We'll let you know the minute it goes live...in a few months.

Via: Android

5 Reasons the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge is Worth Buying

Kellen — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:44:45 +0000

Our reviews are in, you should know all there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge at this point. We told you about each phone's stunning design, the top level specs that few can come close to matching, the return of missing features, and of course, the almost immediate availability. But maybe you didn't want to read through the thousands of words we put together in those official reviews. Maybe you just want the highlights broken out into the simplest of forms to help you decide if either is worth buying. Well, here you go. These are 5 reasons the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge is worth buying.

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1. A best in class camera experience

While using the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, even though it has a beautiful and premium design with incredible performance and decent battery life (depending on the version), I can't help but think that the best feature is its incredibly fast and easy-to-use camera. Samsung dropped the resolution to 12MP this year, but in doing so, included a sensor that captures more light through bigger pixels and is insanely quick to focus on subjects. It creates stunning bokeh effects, shoots in 4K, kills the competition in low light, and is simple to launch, yet still has the full manual controls, slow motion video modes, and everything else you would expect from a flagship smartphone. But maybe most importantly, it's a camera that you can't really screw up with. What I mean is that it's so fast to focus and so fast to shoot, that your photos will be great almost every time. And if the first shot isn't up to your standards, taking another two or three to make sure it is, only takes a second.

2. Best of the best in smartphone specs

Both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge feature top of the line, high-end smartphone specifications. Inside, Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM power the applications and operating system, while generously-sized batteries keep the phones going during your long days at the office. The Galaxy S7 features a 3,000mAh battery, which is a solid step up from last year's Galaxy S6 that features a 2,550mAh battery. As for the Galaxy S7 Edge, it received the largest battery upgrade, with the device sporting a 3,600mAh battery, up from the 2,600mAh battery that was in the Galaxy S6 Edge. Going deeper, both devices feature Near Field Communication (NFC), 32GB of built-in storage, expandable storage via microSD up to 200GB, a 12MP Dual Pixel back-facing camera, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v 4.2 LE, fast wireless charging, fingerprint reader, a variety of environment sensors, heart rate monitor built into the LED flash module, and Android 6.0 "Marshmallow." The only differences between the two phones are the display sizes and battery capacity. While the Galaxy S7 features a 5.1" Super AMOLED QHD display, the Galaxy S7 Edge is slightly larger, packing a 5.5" Super AMOLED QHD display. Both feature the same resolution of 2560 x 1440. Compare these specs to anything else on the market, in addition to the inclusion of IP68 water and dust resistance, and you might be looking around for quite a while.

3. Samsung Pay

What's the best mobile payment system on the planet? It's the one included on the last handful of Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. We're talking about Samsung Pay, which not only allows you to pay over NFC like Apple and Google's payment systems, but it also lets you pay at non-NFC terminals with MST, a technology that emulates a credit card swipe. I won't attempt to explain exactly how MST works, but just know this - Samsung Pay will blow some minds with its tricks. You can go into almost any shop with a credit card swiper and touch your Galaxy S7 to its card slot to make a payment. You will frequently have cashiers tell you that "We don't do that stuff here," just before their jaw drops to the floor as payment clears. Just keep in mind that Samsung Pay currently has a limited number of accepted cards. Feel free to check here to see if yours is supported.

4. Water resistance is back

Included with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, IP68 water and dust resistance will protect your phone from a majority of the elements that would typically render a smartphone completely trashed. For example, if you are shooting pictures of your kids in a swimming pool, then your iPhone goes tumbling into the water, you are out of luck. Apple, for example, states clearly that the company's 1-year limited warranty and AppleCare Protection Plan do not cover water damage. In addition, Apple, along with most Android OEMs (LG, HTC, etc.) go so far as to build Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) into their smartphones, just so they can be sure that any accidental water damage done to a phone does not need to be paid for by them. The point is, accidents do happen, but when your phone features a high rating of water and solid resistance, it's one less thing you have to worry about. With a rating of IP68, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are protected from total dust ingress, as well as long term liquid immersion. So, when you see those videos of the Galaxy S7 going through a washing machine cycle, or being dropped in the deep end of a pool, you need not worry, as you know it will most likely survive undamaged.

5. You have choice in size

As stated previously, the only differences between these two phones are the display size and battery capacity. On one hand, you have the smaller and easier to use with one hand Galaxy S7, featuring a 5.1" Super AMOLED QHD display and 3,000mAh battery. On the other hand, you have the slightly larger Galaxy S7 Edge, with a 5.5" Super AMOLED QHD display and 3,600mAh battery. Really, when it comes to which phone you should pick, it's entirely personal preference. Do you want a smaller phone? Do you want the extra 600mAh battery capacity? Or maybe, are the features baked into the Galaxy S7 Edge's Edge Panel worth the extra price you pay? For me, while Samsung did upgrade the Edge Panel features to make them more noteworthy, I wouldn't go so far as to say they are the reason you should buy the Galaxy S7 Edge. If the S7 Edge is calling your name, it's probably because it features a larger display and larger battery. Beyond those two things, nothing entirely separates the Galaxy S7 from its larger self. If you have not already, be sure to watch our overview of the updated Edge Panel on the Galaxy S7 Edge, and maybe that will help you in making your decision. At the end of the day, having a choice between which Galaxy S7 model you want is key, and Samsung likely recognizes this need in the market. Consumers love options, plain and simple.

LG CAM Module for LG G5 Available for Pre-Order, Listed at $70

Tim — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:14:59 +0000

The LG CAM Plus module, made specifically for the LG G5, is now listed up for pre-order on B&H Photo. Listed with a price of $69.99, this little "friend" for your smartphone adds a grip for better picture taking, dedicated shutter and record buttons, as well as an additional 1,200mAh of battery juice. To use this accessory, you will insert the module into the device, as if you were placing in a new battery. This, along with the Hi-Fi Audio DAC module, are among the first accessories made specifically for the LG G5's module slot. While the benefits are easily noticed, that $69.99 price is hard to chew. Really, this module is a little grip for your phone with a dedicated shutter button. Should it really cost anything more than $49.99? If the price doesn't scare you away, you can pre-order it right now. B&H Photo Link

Saiyan Battle is the Straightforward Dragon Ball Z Fighter You Need

Tim — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:49:45 +0000

If we have any Dragon Ball Z fans here, check out Super Battle for Goku Devil on Google Play. This game is as straightforward as can be, having you play as a Super Saiyan warrior. Like you would see in earlier Mortal Kombat games, you play one boss at a time, moving your way up the ladder to more difficult opponents. The first few rounds are easy, with plenty of energy to spare on all of your favorite moves, such as the Ki Blast, Kamehameha, Dragon Recall, and Big Bang Attack. However, as you progress, encountering boss characters you should recall from the franchise, their attacks become very powerful, and eventually, you may fall victim to their strength. As you use attacks, your energy will drain, but bosses will drop power ups to help you regain your attack energy. Once you are at max energy, you can unleash deadly attacks. As far as movement in concerned, all you need is two fingers; one for moving your character up and down to avoid attacks, and one more to engage the boss. If you master your timing, you can essentially miss any incoming attacks. The game is free to download and play, but inside, there are plenty of ways to get additional coins to unlock new variations of the same character. From what I see, there is no exact reason to do any of this, unless you want to look different. On top of that, after a few rounds, a video ad will play. Such is the state of mobile gaming. Go get your power level over 9000 already, noob. Play Link

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Google Photos Gets Smarter With Album Creation

Tim — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:28:11 +0000

When you come back from a trip, many times, you will upload a few photos to social media, but the rest get lost on your device, never to see the light of day. Thanks to an incoming update for Google Photos, Google's photo service will intelligently suggest a new album for you, and will automatically place your best photos from your trip into an album. Once the photos are collected, users can place text captions to better describe what's taking place in a photo, and Google will also add a map so you can see just how far you traveled. Essentially, this feature is much like the Stories you see on Google Photos, but instead of a story, it's a photo album. User can also enable a collaboration mode, which allows other users to upload their own photos to your album, making a big, shareable album for all to see via mobile or desktop. The update is rolling out today. Play Link

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Via: Google

HTC 10 to be Announced on April 12

Kellen — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:36:31 +0000

HTC's next phone, a device that is rumored to be called HTC 10, will arrive April 12 through a ~~multi-event~~ announcement across the globe (or not exactly?). This morning, HTC sent out a teaser for the new phone with instructions listed for all to head to HTC.com to watch, with times listed for New York, London, and Taipei. EDIT: Or is this an online-only event? That seems odd. HTC kind of needs to sell lots of phones and could potentially benefit from a bigger event...we'll see what we can do to confirm. In the mean time, the post has been edited. The event kicks off on April 12 at 8AM Eastern (5AM Pacific). We'll have coverage!

HTC Hot Deal: Buy a One M9 and Nexus 9 Package for $649, That's $399 in Savings

Tim — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:09:40 +0000

For this week's Hot Deal from HTC, the company is offering a free Nexus 9 tablet ($399 value) when you purchase a new One M9 for $649. The phone can be purchased for any major US carrier, or you can select between an Unlocked model and Developer model. Each is priced at the same $649. When you add a One M9 to your cart, HTC brings the price of the One M9 down to $250, which is $400 off of the listed price. In checkout, HTC keeps the Nexus 9 price at $400, but with the discount applied to the smartphone, you are essentially getting the Nexus 9 tablet for free, still having to pay the original $649 for the smartphone. Keep in mind, the HTC 10 should be right around the corner in April. If having the latest and greatest tech is your style, you may want to hold off on this deal. However, if scoring a Nexus tablet that can run the Android N preview, and rocking a phone with BoomSound seems legit, by all means, this deal is killer. Have at it by following the link below. HTC Hot Deal Link

Google Re-Brands Chromecast App as Google Cast App, Launches New Website

Kellen — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 07:51:09 +0000

As a part of today's announcement for new VIZIO P-Series TVs with Google Cast support built-in, Google also announced that the Chromecast app will be re-branded as the Google Cast app. The switch-up makes a lot of sense, since the technology is called "Google Cast" and we have moved well beyond just the dongle-centric Chromecast at this point. We are now seeing Google Cast built into speakers and TVs, along with Google's line of plug-and-play products, so the simplification to just "Google Cast" could help with any confusion. An updated Google Cast app will arrive later on in the week with the new branding on both Android and iOS. To help introduce the new branding, Google has launched a new website as well. The site focuses on teaching us what Google Cast is, where it can be found, and what it's used for when put in play on your TVs and speakers. Play Link You can check out the new Google Cast website here.

VIZIO Introduces P-Series TVs With Google Cast Built-in, Speakers Too

Kellen — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 07:42:21 +0000

This morning, Google and VIZIO announced new P-Series TVs with Google Cast support built directly into the display. What does that mean? Well, that means that you don't need a Chromecast in order to Cast all of your favorite content to your new VIZIO TV. They also announced new soundbars and speakers that all support Google Cast. With the new P-Series, VIZIO seems to have ditched the typical Smart TV functionality and instead just gone with Cast support, although they are calling it SmartCast and have an app to go along with it. They are shipping the new TVs with a full 6-inch (1080p) Android-powered tablet as a replacement for the typical remote, because after all, you do need a smart device like a tablet or phone in order to really take advantage of Google Cast functionality. Keep in mind that your current phone or tablet will also work for Casting, but VIZIO's tablet adds some extra functionality. The new P-Series also supports casting up to 4K, is supported by iOS and Android apps, and starts at $1299 for the 55-inch model. If you want to go H.A.M. on a new TV, there is a 75-inch version with Google Cast that can be had for $3799. To learn more about the new P-Series from a TV nerd standpoint, head over to VIZIO's site.

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As for the soundbars and speakers, VIZIO is introducing standard-shaped soundbars as your central speaker, but they also have a slim-shaped subwoofer and set of satellite speakers to round out your surround sound setup. If you want sound to fill a room or take with you instead of home theater products, VIZIO has new Crave 360 and Crave Pro speakers that should do the trick. The 360 is a cylindrical styled speaker (think Amazon Echo) that is portable and carries an 8-hour charge. Then with the Crave Pro, you get that SONOS-like sound without the portability. You can learn more about the new speakers here and here. The VIZIO SmartCast app, which is what powers most of the functionality behind the new P-Series TVs can be found at Google Play.

Via: Chrome Blog | VIZIO

Android N has a "Freeform" Desktop-Style Floating App Window Mode

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:41:03 +0000

As it turns out, Google's Multi-Window in Android N isn't the only new multi-tasking functionality the Android team has added. If you read closely in the Android N Multi-Window Support section for the first preview, Google calls out an additional "freeform" mode that lets users "freely resize" activities, which sure sounds like Google has floating app support on the way where you can resize individual apps. Arstechnica also found references to "freeform" buried in code inside Android N's framework-res.apk, before figuring out how to enable it and take the floating pre-alpha feature for a spin. You can see some of this in the couple of screenshots below, but this new "freeform" option allows you to run more apps at a time than what you would see in the Multi-Window, dual panel/screen setup. As Ars notes, the mode is pretty rough around the edges right now, with graphical issues, no easy way to show apps that could be hidden behind other apps, and no way to adjust both height and width of an app at the same time. Google will also still need to allow Android RAM management to handle a true multi-window experience, which means allowing apps to continue running when they aren't in focus. With that said, the foundation is there, for the most part.

Once activated, you'll see icons in the app switcher screen next to the "X" for each app that will launch an app into "freeform." From there, you can drag apps around, roughly resize, and jump into others through a tap. It looks like you can jump into Multi-Window, then load additional floating apps within a single side of Multi-Window, as well. There is even mouse support as well, which could be some sort of sign that Android as a desktop OS isn't just a made up journo dream. Again, the functionality is there, but it needs a lot of work from the Android team before it becomes something you should really give some time to. If you are interested in tinkering with it, though, head over to the source link for the adb command. Oh, you'll need a custom recovery too.

Via: Arstechnica

Question of the Day: Would You Buy a High-End 4.0" Android Smartphone?

Tim — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:17:00 +0000

Apple took the stage this morning and announced the iPhone SE, a premium iPhone device that does not compromise on specs. More interestingly, Apple claimed that people were begging for a small display, so the iPhone SE only features a 4.0" display. Compare that to many Android flagships and we can safely label that as a minuscule screen. For comparison, the Galaxy S7 features a 5.1" display, the Galaxy Note 5 features a 5.5" display, and the Nexus 6P features a 5.7" display. Picture a Nexus 6P (same specs), but with a 4.0" display. Is that something you would buy? Or maybe a 4.0" Galaxy S7 Mini? If an Android OEM produced a high-end device that only featured a 4.0" display, would you be interested?

Here are All of the Wallpapers You Keep Asking Us About

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 14:14:45 +0000

Maybe it's because our personal devices have been featured more than ever lately, with reviews up for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, along with a deeper look at the G5, but we have been getting an unusually high number of inquiries over the wallpapers we have been using. Because we would hate to leave your beautiful home screens hanging, we figured the best way to answer all of those interested, was through a post. So, here we go, these are the wallpapers we are using and where you can find them. Material-styled mountain wallpapers

Most of the mountain scene wallpapers in posts of mine, including the image at the top of this post can be found in Materialistik Icon Pack. It has an awesome variety of wallpapers, plus it's a great icon pack as well. Materialistik Icon Pack ($0.99) These other Material-styled mountain wallpapers

Called Plastexo, this 130+ wallpaper pack has long been a favorite of ours because it gives us a fresh Material appearance whenever we have a new phone. It's also easy to figure out, thanks to categories for Abstract, Landscape, Lollipop, etc. Plastexo Wallpaper (free) Galaxy S7 Edge review wallpaper

It's from Glim, one of Tim's current favorite icon packs that also happens to include a bunch of sweet wallpapers. Glim ($2.79)

Humble Bundle 17 Offers Lara Croft GO, Prune, and More at "Pay What You Want" Pricing

Tim — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:50:15 +0000

A new Humble Bundle is live for all to see, and this time around, is offering quite a few premium titles at a pay what you want price. The way it works is simple. There is an average price set on the bundle, which is the average price of those paying for the games on Humble Bundle. If you meet or exceed that average, you get all of the games. Easy, right? Currently, the average is set at just under $6, and when the average is paid, you gain access to six games. If you pay a set $6 price or more, you get 8 games. As always, you the payer get to decide where your money goes. Additionally, more games become added to the bundle at a later time, making your initial investment much sweeter. As for which games are currently available, I am sure you have heard of a few of them. Right now, Humble Bundle is offering Lara Croft GO, Prune, Framed, Grim Fandango, Sorcery! 3, and others in this bundle. For the $6 set price, this is a very good deal. Follow the link below to take advantage. Humble Bundle Link

T-Mobile is "Pivoting" Away From Pushing Unlimited Data Plans

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:35:56 +0000

During a an interview given at the Deutsche Bank 24th Annual Media, Internet and Telecom Conference a couple of weeks back, T-Mobile CFO Braxton Carter made comments about his company "pivoting" away from unlimited data plans. That's headline grabbing news because the UnCarrier has always been able to heavily promote its previously-affordable unlimited data plan as a great alternative to whatever overpriced tiered data plan AT&T and Verizon will get you into for similar money. Carter's exact words on the subject are somewhat lengthy and drawn out, so if you want to listen to each word, we have audio for you below. The basics are this, though. T-Mobile started pivoting away from pushing unlimited data in the year prior, most notably when they snuck in a "substantial" price increase to the unlimited plan during their announcement of Binge On. T-Mobile, like every other carrier on the planet, even as the UnCarrier, knows that there is money to be made in data. Offering you and I really cheap unlimited data plans is bad business for their pocket books. That doesn't mean they are killing their unlimited option any time soon, it just means that future price increases or burying the option underneath other tiered promos is going to be happening more often. Is T-Mobile still offering pretty great value when compared to other carriers? For sure. Are they constantly improving their network to make them a legitimate option for customers on other carriers to switch to? Definitely. Are they still a US wireless carrier who in the end just wants to make a shitload of money? Yep.

Via: DSLReports | T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Review

Tim — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:12:39 +0000

I reviewed the Galaxy S6 Edge last year, coming away impressed overall with Samsung's design, camera, and display technology. There were a few shortcomings, such as battery life and the usefulness of the Edge Panel, but as Samsung announced when they introduced both the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge, most of the problems I had with last year's device have been addressed. There's a bigger battery, they completely reworked Edge Panel, and even threw in water resistance and expandable storage as a bonus. On paper, this should be the ultimate phone. I will say, the Galaxy S7 Edge is much like the Galaxy S7, so instead of diving deep into features that have already been touched on in Kellen's review, I will attempt to primarily speak about features specific to the Galaxy S7 Edge. Don't worry, there's still plenty to talk about. Here is our Galaxy S7 Edge review.

The Good

Specs The Galaxy S7 Edge features a 5.5" Super AMOLED QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel rear-facing camera with OIS, 5MP front-facing shooter with OIS, IP68 water and dust resistance, microUSB charging and data port, 32GB of onboard storage, expandable storage slot for an extra 200GB of storage, fingerprint reader, 3,600mAh battery, wireless charging, NFC, and TouchWiz running atop Android 6.0 "Marshmallow." While we will likely see plenty of other devices rocking similar specs this year, the IP68 water resistance helps separate Samsung's latest offerings from the rest of the field. Needless to say, all of these specs in a single smartphone package is what dream phones are made of. Display Compared to last year's Galaxy S6 Edge 5.1" display, the S7 Edge features a slightly larger screen, with Samsung bringing the panel up to 5.5-inches. It's still the same resolution, Quad HD (2560 x 1440). It's still Super AMOLED. Beyond the size, not much is different. According to the pros who test all things smartphone displays, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are some of the best on the market, meaning Samsung is still cranking out good quality panels. To my eyes, I prefer Super AMOLED panels over the other types you would find from HTC or LG, as the colors are usually more saturated than you'd find elsewhere. Some folks don't care for high saturation, but with a few tweaks in the settings, you can actually change the amount of saturation you will see. Out of the box, the Screen Mode is set to Adaptive, which attempts to give the best experience based on what it is you are doing on your phone. If you want the colors toned down a bit, switch the Screen Mode to either Basic or AMOLED Photo. Design If you took the Galaxy S6 Edge and merged it with the Galaxy Note 5, you would have the Galaxy S7 Edge. Thanks to the curved backside, like we see on the Galaxy Note 5, the device is much more comfortable to hold than the Galaxy S6 Edge. Last year, the S6 Edge was quite rigid, almost sharp on its siding. This year, it's very smooth and feels fantastic in-hand. As for the curved sides, they look great, and definitely draws the attention of anyone around you who is unfamiliar with Samsung's latest designs. What draws me to the Galaxy S7 Edge in 2016 is that Samsung stayed true to the idea of the Galaxy S6 Edge, with the curve, but made rather minimal changes to make it easier to handle. This shows me that Samsung's design team were listening closely to those who purchased the phone, then made the changes to reflect what they heard. Really, you can't change anything else to make it a better feeling phone. The gentle slope on the back and curves on the front all feel great. Besides the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 5, I can't think of a more comfortable phone to hold. With all of the praise out of the way, I will say that it took me a few solid days to get used to handling the device properly. By this, I mean you have to adjust where your fingers rest when the device is in landscape mode, or you might accidentally hit the screen, causing unwanted actions. For example, if I'm watching YouTube and don't have my fingers just right, I might hit a playback option and the video will skip forward or even pause it depending on where I tapped it. So, yes, the S7 Edge takes a bit of practice, but once you master where your fingers should rest whenever you are holding the phone, it's fine. Camera You will find the exact same shooter in the Galaxy S7 Edge as you would the Galaxy S7, a 12MP Dual Pixel sensor featuring optical image stabilization (OIS) and an aperture of f/1.7. Samsung actually toned down the resolution of the camera sensor from last year's 16MP sensors (Galaxy S6), which broke the trend of the ever-increasing resolution size year-over-year. Even with the lower megapixel count, the shots capable of being taken on this phone are mind boggling at times. When going in for those macros, or zooming in on a landscape, the clarity and details that remain after you have clicked the shutter is downright impressive. Let's talk about the experience of taking photos on this phone. As soon as you open up the camera app, you will notice that the camera is quickly focusing on whatever is in front of it. If shooting something as quickly as possible is required, the Galaxy S7 can be very clutch. After you have focused on your target, switching to Pro mode can get you adjusting the ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and exposure levels. You can even select between a multi-point auto focus or centered auto focus, giving you better command over your shots.

Overall, the camera on this phone might be my favorite aspect, with its super fast focus times, and the overall detail you can capture when shooting. In Kellen's Galaxy S7 review, he shares a few fantastic shots, so if you have yet to see those samples, give them a look as well.

Availability and Pricing Like any other major Samsung release, this phone is available anywhere and everywhere. Brick and mortar stores, carrier stores, online - really, everywhere. While this seems like the norm, it's still a major plus for everyone. If you are on Sprint and want this phone, you can get it. If you're on Verizon, you can get it. As for pricing, most carriers will want to push you into a installment plan and get you on a two-year contract, and for many, that's probably fine. If buying the phone for the full retail price is more your style (you baller, you), the phone averages around $750. There are also many BOGO deals taking place currently that you can take advantage of, allowing you to get two Galaxy S7 Edge (or Galaxy S7) phones for the price of one.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Battery Featuring a 3,600mAh battery, much larger than what was in last year's Galaxy S6 Edge, I had high expectations from the Galaxy S7 Edge. Unfortunately, at least from my experience, I was nowhere near blown away by battery performance. My typical day was wake up at 7am, go to bed by 11pm, with about 15% battery left at 1-2 hours of screen on time (SOT). That's purely with T-Mobile 4G LTE connectivity and no WiFi.

According to the GSam Battery Monitor app I have installed, on average per charge, I'm getting a max of 23 hours of battery life, with 3 hours and 10 minutes of SOT. I would say that's about right. If you think about this, that seems pretty bad. With the power sipping Snapdragon 820 processor and large capacity battery, I was really expecting quite a bit more. However, even though I was nowhere near a day and a half or two days of battery life, a solid day of smartphone life is absolutely fine with me. I usually tend to charge my devices every night anyway, so continuing this is fine with me.

TouchWiz and Edge Features TouchWiz is getting better, no doubt, but it's still nowhere near as smooth as stock Android. With these fancy processors and large amounts of RAM, OEMs such as Samsung are essentially using brute force to get their skins to perform well, and even when doing that, performance is not all that great. After a couple of days without a reboot, you can feel the phone becoming sluggish. At times, I feel like I did way back in the day when task managers were a thing. I'll open up my recent apps, "close all," then get that placebo effect where I think my phone is running smoother. In 2016, this isn't exactly what I was expecting for the future of smartphones, but it's manageable.

In terms of the improved Edge Panel features, Samsung really went back to the drawing board and fixed my main beef with last year's S6 Edge. That phone had no real useful features on the Edge Panel, but the S7 Edge most certainly does. I can swipe out and get the latest sports scores, top CNN headlines, quickly get into snapping selfies with the camera, and much more. Last year's People Edge is also included, but is replaceable by more useful features. You can watch our complete Edge Panel overview video below to get a better sense of how Samsung has improved this unique feature. At the end of the day, TouchWiz has become so much better than it used to be. It's entirely usable, and really, with the help of custom launchers, themes, and even cranking up the speed of animations, a phone running TouchWiz can look a lot like a phone not running TouchWiz. If you plan on picking this device up, I suggest investing in Nova Launcher, Chrooma Keyboard, and some fancy themes from the theme store.

The Not-so-Good

External Speaker The one true downside I have with this phone is the external speaker loudness and quality. No, my mobile phone should not be a boombox, but still, it shouldn't sound like a tinny piece of poo. And while I wouldn't exactly label the speaker on this phone that poorly, it's not very good. The sound is pretty weak, and it doesn't get loud at all. There are apps in Google Play that can make your speaker louder, but of course, you don't want to accidentally damage your phone. The placement is also not that exciting. If this phone featured dual front-facing speakers, that would have been the ultimate. Instead, we have one bottom-facing speaker, which usually finds itself getting covered up whenever I have the phone in landscape mode. I have to hold it just right, in usually an uncomfortable position to listen and watch without sound getting blocked. This is annoying.

Other Notes

Fingerprint Magnet: I've got the same issue with fingerprints as Kellen. Yes, it blows! But hey, you could have much worse problems with a phone. Fingerprints are not a deal breaker for me.
Girlfriend Test: "Easy to hold, not slippery, umm, it feels like a premium product, it doesn't feel cheap. And a good-sized display. You can reach all necessary sections of the screen with just one hand."
Fingerprint Reader: Speaking from my own personal experience, I did not have many issues with last year's fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. This year, it's the same for me. Detection seems very quick, and I hardly ever get misreads or errors. On the Galaxy S7 Edge, the fingerprint reader performs exactly how I would expect from a premium smartphone.
Samsung Pay: If I had a bank that supported Samsung Pay, I could rave on and on about how cool it is. To this day, I've never used it, but I know it's awesome. If you have a bank that supports Samsung Pay, you are gonna have a blast.
Water Resistance: The IP68 rating is something you won't know you'll love until your phone has it. At dinner, I can scare my friends by accidentally spilling water on my phone, which I always get a kick out of. Usually, I'm pretty careful with my phone, but with IP68, I really don't have to worry about anything.
Expandable Storage: Samsung heard your cries, adding in a microSD slot for expandable storage. Now, they did technically remove Marshmallow's Adoptable Storage, but the fact is, you can store data, photos, and apps onto your SD card. For those of you who are ambitious, you can plug in a few adb commands to have your SD card recognized as internal storage, but it is possible Samsung can enable Adoptable Storage with a future update. If we pressure them enough, it can happen. In the meantime, credit where credit is due.
Fast Wireless Charging: Fast wireless charging is available on both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, and for those using Samsung's standard fast wireless chargers (not one from Ikea, for example), you should see similar speeds for charging as you would a standard wall charger. Thanks to wireless fast charging, your phone can go from 0-100% in roughly an hour, give or take, which can be incredibly clutch when traveling or juicing up before a night on the town.

Video

Unboxing

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Edge Panel

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Always On Display

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Gallery

The Verdict

For me, the Galaxy S7 Edge sits right next to the Galaxy Note 5 on my list of top favorite Samsung smartphones. The design is perfect, the in-hand feel is fantastic, and Samsung is finally getting realistic about how much crap it can bake into TouchWiz. For anyone looking to upgrade from a Galaxy S5, HTC One M9, LG G3, or something along those lines, the Galaxy S7 Edge is a great choice. You will notice the improved display, insane camera, and will likely appreciate the revamped version of TouchWiz. However, if you are already on a Galaxy S6 Edge, there does not seem to be too many reasons to upgrade, with exception to water resistance and expandable storage. While those two things can be very handy to have, you may not exactly see them as necessary. You will have pretty similar camera experiences, the same display resolution, and from my experience, pretty much the same battery life.

Galaxy S7 Links:

AT&T: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
VERIZON: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
T-MOBILE: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
SPRINT: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
BEST BUY: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge

Live Chat: Apple's iPhone SE and iPad Pro Event!

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:48:14 +0000

Apple has an event today. It starts at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). We haven't mentioned it up until this point, because well, it sounds like a pretty weak event unless you are the ultimate Apple diehard. I say that because they are supposed to unveil a mid-range, margin-increasing, iPhone SE for people who love non-Hummers and are in emerging markets (or something), a new iPad Pro, and maybe some new overpriced watch straps. See...boring, right? Either way, because we always like to have a good time at Apple's expense and annoy elitist bloggers who get all huffy and pissy when we poke fun at Apple, we're doing a live chat of the event! The festivities start at 10AM (so in just a few minutes) and will be streamed for the world to see over at Apple's site. Unfortunately, that means you need Safari or an Apple device in order to watch. You can watch here if you fit those terms.

DEAL: Nexus 5X 16GB is Just $249 Today on eBay, 32GB is $299 ($100 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:36:00 +0000

The Nexus 5X recently received a supposed jank-fixing update that we have been waiting for since the phone first launched. The jury is still out on whether or not it did improve overall performance, but a number of readers have already noticed improvements to the camera launch and general UI smoothness. Assuming the update has improved the phone, you probably shouldn't ignore today's deal on it over at eBay. For $249, you can own the 16GB model, or you can jump up to $299 and get into the 32GB model. That's a solid $100 off of each. Each listing also includes free shipping. Who knows how long the listing will last, so don't hesitate if you are in need of a new Nexus that won't kill your budget. eBay Links: Nexus 5X 16GB ($249) | Nexus 5X 32GB ($299)

6-Hour Screen on Time Guy, Explain Yourself

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 08:48:16 +0000

I can't take it anymore. I need to know now. You, 6-hour screen on time guy, it's time to explain it all. I want to know details. I want to know if you are even attached to a cell network (because I don't believe that you are). I want to know, how on Earth, you have 6 or 7 or 8 hours in a day to stare at a screen. I want to know what apps you use all of the time to even get to that many hours of screen on time. I want to know which network, which phone, what your brightness is set at, if you use Bluetooth at all, are your location settings tweaked, and anything else you can think of that might help us all get to the bottom of this. (Please just don't tell me you root, bro.) We have come to this breaking point after I posted this screenshot to Twitter, this morning. It's the Galaxy S7 international model with an Exynos processor. I had over 4 hours of screen on time for the first time in my life and thought that was pretty damn good. I was excited. For two seconds until 8-hour screen on time guy showed up to laugh at me. Considering it was LTE-only, while traveling back to Portland from the NCAA Tourney this weekend, with games, music, and constant data being put to use, it seemed awesome. Apparently, it's not. And remember, I have tested every single major phone on the planet over the past six years and again, the 4 hours I hit yesterday is a record for me. I'm clearly doing this wrong. Teach me, battery life champion, teach me.

LG G5 Pre-Orders Open Today at AT&T, Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE Returns

Kellen — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 07:32:38 +0000

At the end of last week, we saw LG G5 pre-orders open up at Best Buy for select carriers, while individual carriers either announced later dates or remained quiet. AT&T was one of the silent few, but has switched gears this morning by announcing that pre-orders are now live for not only the G5, but the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE as well. The LG G5 can be had for as little as $22.97 per month on AT&T Next or $688.99 without a contract. AT&T has four colors up for grabs, including silver, titan, gold, and pink. As they have done with all recent flagships, the G5 is participating in their BOGO offer that will land you a 2nd G5 for free should you pick-up two through AT&T Next plans. The LG G5 is the same G5 you have seen us take for a couple of different spins at this point, but again, is a top-tier phone with 5.3-inch Quad HD display, always-on display, dual camera setup, all metal body, Snapdragon 820 processor, modular battery compartment with 2800mAh removable battery, 4GB RAM, and Android 6.0.1 under LG's skin. As for the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE (WU2ELTE?), it has returned after being pulled from shells moments before it went on sale due to a "hardware" issue that turned out to be the display. This is one of the first watches to sport an LTE chip that allows it to stand on its own, away from your smartphone. It utilizes AT&T's NumberSync service for sending and receive both calls and texts through your everyday phone number. The WU2ELTE can be had for as little as $18 per month on an installment plan, $199 with 2-year contract, or $359 at full retail. The WU2ELTE arrives around March 30. The LG G5 arrives in stores on April 1. AT&T Pre-order Links: LG G5 | Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: March 18, 2016

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:01:40 +0000

This week at DL, we began the Bracket Challenge for 2016, which is probably our most favorite time of year. If you entered, how's your bracket looking so far? With the latest Michigan St. upset, we have seen a ton of brackets busted. However, we were not watching college basketball games all week, we promise. Beyond basketball, we posted up our complete Galaxy S7 review (Galaxy S7 Edge review coming soon), went hands-on with the Nextbit Robin, went super deep with the LG G5 hands-on, and played more with the Android N Developer Preview. It was a very busy week. If you missed any of the action, catch up below.

Review: Samsung Galaxy S7
Video: 20+ Galaxy S7 Tips and Tricks.
Video: LG G5 deep hands-on and overview.
Video: Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5.
Video: Nextbit Robin unboxing and tour.
Android N: First update to Developer Preview now available.
Best Buy opens up pre-orders for LG G5 on AT&T and Sprint.
Robin: Nextbit cancels plans to release CDMA Robin variant.
T-Mobile LG G5 orders begin March 29.
Fossil Group brands intend to launch 100+ wearables by end of year.
T-Mobile to offer free season of MLB TV Premium to customers.
Get ready to hate Instagram.
HTC: HTC 10 teasers mention "world first, world class" cameras.
YouTube now part of T-Mobile's BingeOn lineup.
Michael Kors intros its first set of Android Wear devices.
Galaxy S7: Unlock Adoptable Storage on the Galaxy S7 via a few ADB commands.
Motorola: Rick Osterloh is exiting Motorola.
Unlocked LG G5 appears on B&H Photo, should work on all US carriers.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Friday App Sales: LEGO Batman, Goat Simulator, and Hitman: Sniper

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:58:57 +0000

If relaxing, taking in a few games on the telly this weekend isn't enough to keep you busy, maybe the latest deals on apps and games can do the trick. Right now on Google Play, many popular titles are listed on sale, such as Goat Simulator for only $0.99, and a couple of LEGO Batman titles for $2 a pop. Beyond those titles, we have Hitman: Sniper (awesome game) for $0.99, Shazam Encore for $1.99, Brass for $0.99, and Tiny Guardians for $1.99. Trust me, there are plenty of titles to choose from this week. Check out the complete list below. Friday App Sales

TruckSimulation 16 ($0.99)
AppDialer Pro T9 Finder ($1.95)
LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham ($1.99)
LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes ($1.99)
Brass ($4.99)
The Dark Knight Rises ($1.99)
Goat Simulator ($0.99)
Star Chindy: SciFi Roguelike ($1.67)
The Ghost Archives ($0.99)
Deadly Puzzles ($2.49)
Baby Sleep Unlock ($0.99)
Hitman: Sniper ($0.99)
Tiny Guardians ($1.99)
Shazam Encore ($1.99)

Go grab those apps, yo.

Unlocked LG G5 on B&H Photo Should Work on GSM and CDMA Networks (Verizon Included)

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 13:10:18 +0000

B&H Photo is now listing the LG G5 on its website, available for purchase starting April 1. However, this isn't an ordinary carrier-specific variant. Instead, this unlocked model, according to the product listing, features LTE bands that would make it compatible with all of the top US carriers, including Verizon. Usually, consumers only see this much carrier compatibility from Nexus or similar devices, so seeing LG embrace this type of functionality, which is known to be extremely beneficial for buyers, is a great thing. As listed on B&H, this G5 features LTE bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, and 25. To work on Verizon, you need 2, 4, and 13. For AT&T, you need 2, 4, 12, and 17. With that said, this G5 appears to have them all, meaning that buyers, in theory, should easily be able to jump from carrier to carrier, just as long as they already have active SIM cards with whichever carrier they prefer. As for CDMA (CDMA2000) bands, everything needed for US carriers is listed. On Verizon, buyers will need to hope that LG sought certification from Big Red to allow for easy activation. If not, you may come across an issue that usually only affects Nexus buyers. But don't worry, there's always work-arounds. If you only intend to use the G5 on one specific carrier, such as Verizon, we suggest purchasing the device directly from Verizon. Pricing of this unlocked model is not yet available, but once it is, we will update you. B&H Photo Link

Cheers Eric!

T-Mobile Unboxes LG G5 in "Probably World's Fastest Unboxing"

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:21:38 +0000

T-Mobile is at it again, unboxing yet another device in extreme fashion. Last time, T-Mobile's Des Smith unboxed the Galaxy S7 underwater, but now, the company looks to be raising the bar with "probably the world's fastest unboxing" of the LG G5. By world's fastest, T-Mobile doesn't mean video duration, but the speed at which Des travels while performing the action of unboxing the device. As you will see, Des is being whipped around in a Subaru rally car, taking tight turns through the dirt and mud. Naturally, unboxing a smartphone during this process probably isn't the easiest thing to achieve, but Des finds a way. As you might have already seen, T-Mobile is set to begin online orders for the LG G5 on March 29, two days ahead of the national launch on April 1. We here at DL tend to do unboxing videos in a more tame environment, so check out our hands-on below T-Mobile's video.

Grab your helmet and watch @askdes unbox the #LGG5 during the ride of his life. ?? https://t.co/yULFUALtBu
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) March 18, 2016

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Test Your Basketball Skills With Facebook Messenger's Latest Easter Egg Game

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 11:16:13 +0000

In time for March Madness (how's your bracket looking?), Facebook has built in a basketball easter egg game for users of Messenger. When activated, a mini shooting game pops up, testing your finger flicking skills against your friend. To start the game up, insert a basketball emoji into the chat. Then, tap on the basketball. Once your turn is over (you miss a shot), it's your friend's turn to see if they can best you on the court. You can continue to keep playing however much you would like. The best I can do at this time is 15, and once you get past 10 made shots in a row, the basket starts moving left to right, making the game more challenging. Make sure you are running the latest build of Messenger, then go challenge your friends. Play Link

Label Your Places in Google Maps With Cute Little Icons

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 10:31:52 +0000

Thanks to an update for Google Maps, users can begin to customize their places with little icons, such as log cabins for your home, or a towering skyscraper for your work. Once a place has been customized, you will see these icons appear on your map whenever you open the Google Maps application. To get started on this process, you will need to have the latest version of Google Maps from Google Play. Once you have the update, open up the app, slide out the side menu on the left, click on Your Places, and get to choosing your icons. Currently, there are many icons to choose from, but your Home and Work are not the only places you can customize. Users can set the Gym as a place, your kid's school, or any other important place that you find yourself visiting often. By doing this, you allow Google to help you get to places quicker, with updated traffic info viewable directly in Google Now. This change is rolling out to Google Play now, so be on the lookout for the update. Play Link

Via: Google

Rick Osterloh Exits Motorola Amid Lenovo Leadership Changes

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 09:35:37 +0000

Rick Osterloh, Motorola's President, is exiting the company amid broad changes at Lenovo's leadership level. Osterloh was in charge of Motorola after Dennis Woodside stepped down and left for Dropbox, with Osterloh being the one to oversee the company's acquisition by Lenovo. Going forward, the Motorola Mobility team will report to Aymar de Lencquesaing, who will become Chairman and President of Motorola. In the announcement made by Lenovo, few parting words were provided, but is highlighted by Lenovo's hope for Osterloh to have continued success.

Rick Osterloh has decided to leave Motorola Mobility. His steady leadership since Lenovo’s acquisition is appreciated and Lenovo wishes him continued success in the future. The Motorola Mobility teams that currently report to Osterloh will now report under de Lencquesaing, who will become Chairman and President of Motorola.

The changes to Lenovo's leadership structure are effective April 1, 2016. Stated by Lenovo, the talent at Motorola is among the parent company's strongest advantages in the mobile industry. Previously, Lenovo and Motorola announced that the Motorola brand was essentially being killed off, and that on future phones, only the "Moto" and "Vibe" brand names would be seen on handsets. Good luck on your next endeavor, Rick.

Via: Lenovo

T-Mobile LG G5 Online Orders Begin March 29, Includes 360 Cam and Accessory Bundle

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 08:29:19 +0000

Beginning March 29, T-Mobile will open up orders for the LG G5 on its website, two days ahead of the national April 1 in-store launch. For those who order, T-Mobile is partnering with LG to offer quite a few goodies, including a free 360 Cam and charging accessory bundle. All of the goods combined carry a value of nearly $300. The G5 will be priced for T-Mobile at $0 down and $26.25 over 23 months on an interest-free financing plan. The 24th payment will be $26.24, bringing the FRP (full-retail price) to $630. For those unfamiliar with the benefits of the 360 Cam, or its actual purpose, the 360 Cam is used to shoot 360-degree photos, including 2K video. The camera is equipped with two 13MP 200-degree wide angle cameras, 4GB of storage, microSD slot, and 1,200mAh battery. To shoot your photos and video, simply hook the 360 Cam up to the LG G5, snap your shots, then share to whichever service you prefer that offers 360-degree viewing experiences. The G5 is upon us, folks.

Via: T-Mobile

AT&T and Sprint LG G5 Pre-Orders Up on Best Buy, Includes Free Accessory Bundle

Tim — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 07:57:29 +0000

Pre-orders for the LG G5 are now up on Best Buy, with AT&T and Sprint leading the charge. According to the product listings on Best Buy, the official launch is scheduled for April 1, and for those who do pre-order LG's latest, you will be getting a few free goodies from Best Buy and LG. Listed on the Best Buy website, a promotion will net you the G5 for only $99 on a two-year contract with Sprint. If AT&T is your carrier, you will receive a $100 Best Buy gift card with purchase of the G5 on an installment plan, which is also eligible for Sprint customers. Beyond monetary savings, all pre-orders will come with a free replacement battery, charging cradle for your batteries, and a USB Type-C to microUSB adapter. This bundle of accessories carries a value of $90, all free when you pre-order the G5. If Verizon is your carrier, don't worry, pre-orders are soon to start on March 24 (next Thursday). Are you picking one up? Best Buy Link

Verizon Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Also Receiving First Update

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:12:31 +0000

Tomorrow, expect to see an update on your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge through Verizon. According to Big Red's support pages, each device should see an update on March 18 with a security patch, likely similar to the update seen on the T-Mobile S7 and S7 Edge this morning. That's really all we should see in the update. The update will roll out as build VRS2APB4 for each. To check, head into Settings>About device>Software updates>Check for Updates.

Via: Verizon [2]

Thursday Poll: What's the Most You Would Spend on a Smartwatch?

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:50:55 +0000

Through the past couple of days of announcements, it is starting to feel like Android Wear is on the verge of becoming a mainstream technology and fashion item. I say that because it's not just tech companies making watches; the fashion brands are now fully embracing smart wearables for your wrist. Michael Kors, Fossil, Casio, and Nixon all have watches arriving in 2016. Fossil even said to expect over 100+ this year out of its family of fashion brands. Outside of those non-luxury brands, companies like TAG Heuer also plan to launch a full "collection" of smartwatches, which may be joined in another year by Hublot and Zenith. See, the world is getting on board with smartwatches whether you are ready or not. This isn't just a techie nerd niche any longer. We have legitimate fashion brands fully committed to making smartwatches that will be sold in jewelry stores, at Macy's or Nordstrom, and in skate shops. For today's poll, we want to know how much you would be willing to spend on any of these new smartwatches (or just smartwatches in general). We are seeing some priced at $395, others at $500, and expect many to be well above those price points depending on the brand. Of course, we also will continue to see those in the $200 range. What's the most you would spend? [poll id="395"]

Casio Smart Outdoor Watch on Sale Starting March 25, Priced at $499

Tim — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:53:13 +0000

At CES this past January, we got our eyes and hands on the Smart Outdoor Watch from Casio, a rugged Android Wear smartwatch with way too long of a name. Now in March, Casio has announced official availability of the watch, with it set to go on sale March 25, priced at $499. During our time with the Smart Outdoor Watch, which carries a model name of WSD-F10, we noticed it is rather large, but very lightweight and durable. The watch features many custom faces from Casio, as well as comprehensive digital tools for when you are out and about on the trails and in the woods. As for where you can pick it up next Friday, the watch will be available on the Google Store, Amazon, Casio's website, and at participating REI retailers. Picking one up?

Via: Casio

First Android N Preview Update is Available

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:50:23 +0000

The first update for the Android N preview is now available. For now, the update is available through new factory images, but should be rolling out over-the-air (OTA) before long, if it isn't already, I would imagine. The updates are showing up for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P as build NPC56W, while the Nexus 9 is getting NPC56X. The rest of the Nexus line-up isn't seeing new files just yet. You can grab the new factory images at the links below:

Nexus 5X (56P to 56W)
Nexus 6P (56P to 56W)
Nexus 9 (56P to 56X)
Nexus 9 LTE (56P to 56X)

Instructions for flashing factory images found here. We don't know what is included in the update, but this isn't still a part of preview 1. Our assumption is that this update may reduce some bugs and potentially help performance a bit. UPDATE: The OTA update is rolling out to the devices above. Readers in the comments have seen the 6P update and my Nexus 5X just got it as well.

Via: Android

Google Adds Android TV's Backdrop Daydream to Google Play for Easy Updates

Tim — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:45:54 +0000

Like all other apps these days, the Backdrops Daydream app for Android TV has been ripped from the system and uploaded to Google Play for quicker updates. Listed in the changelog on the app's landing page, Google states there are "bug fixes" inside. Backdrops Daydream is the app that handles the lovely imagery you see when you are not using your Android TV box. If you are on your home screen, instead of the UI burning into your panel, Android TV shows off photos from around the world, usually taken by well-known Googlers and professional photographers. Owners of an Android TV box or TV running the OS won't need to do anything. With auto updates turned on, Android TV will update its own apps from Google Play, no action required. Enjoy those lovely photos. Play Link

Michael Kors Intros First Android Wear Smartwatches, Available This Fall for $395

Tim — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:50:20 +0000

Michael Kors is preparing to enter the smartwatch game, just as the Fossil Group announced that it would earlier this week. At Baselworld, Michael Kors announced the Access lineup of wearables, smartwatches for both men and women, running Google's Android Wear wearable OS. Given we are quite a way from the fall season, specifics (specs) on the devices are unavailable, but what we do know is the following. Both Access watches will feature interchangeable bands for further customization, will both feature exclusive Michael Kors watch faces, and both appear to have front-facing flat tires for ambient light sensors. As far as Android Wear implementation is concerned, all of the basic Android Wear features will be baked in. This includes notifications, built-in fitness tracking, and voice-activated Google assistance. Both smartwatches will be available through the Michael Kors website and various retailers, listed at $395. Exciting times ahead for the Android Wear platform.

Via: Michael Kors

Expect "Real" Collection of TAG Heuer Smartwatches Next Year, Maybe Hublot Too

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:02:04 +0000

I hope you weren't expecting TAG Heuer to be a one-and-done in the smartwatch arena, because within the next year, they should launch a "real collection" of them, according Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and president of the LVMH Watch Division. During a range of interviews at Baselworld, Biver talked about creating a new version of their Connected watch (our review) that could arrive in six to eight different models. He called it a "real collection" because the current Connected model is only available as just that, a single model. With a "collection," we could see different designs, metals, styles, and price points. Biver noted that when the first 15,000 units of the Connected went on sale at the end of last year, they sold out almost immediately and that they "underestimated" demand. We aren't sure how many they have sold since that initial batch, but they expect to sell another 40,000 to 50,000 this year. In related news, Biver's former company, Hublot, may be next in line to introduce a smartwatch. We don't know if the watch will run Android Wear or just be smart in that it can share notifications, but Biver told Reuters that the ultra-high-end watchmaker could launch watches with intelligent functions as early as 2017 or 2018. Knowing Hublot, I wouldn't be surprised if we're talking a smartwatch in the multiple thousands of dollars range. Biver also mentioned that Zenith, another high-end watch brand under the LVMH umbrella is also in consideration for smartwatches. Watch fans, any interest at all in these luxury smartwatches?

Via: Reuters | Bloomberg

#TBT: Google Unveils the Nexus Q, $299 Doorstop

Tim — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:55:44 +0000

The year is 2012, Google takes the stage at Google I/O with an attempt at connecting all of your smart devices under the same roof. They intro the Nexus Q, a media center that connects to your TV, allowing you to "cast" YouTube and Google Music straight to the living room. The idea was good, but the rollout was really bad. At first, the Nexus Q was delayed for consumer launch, with the only units available being the ones that were distributed to attendees of Google I/O. Those who pre-ordered the $299 media ball were given the device for free, but by then, it was too late. Reviewers declared that it was too expensive, and ultimately, lacked any type of functionality that warranted such a high price. Complete support and sales were shut down within a year. Now, if you are lucky enough to have a Nexus Q in your home, it makes for the sexiest doorstop you have ever seen. What were your thoughts on the Q? While it was a total flop, it did lead the way for services like Android TV and the highly-popular Chromecast dongle. For that, we are thankful.

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Rayman Classic Available on Google Play, Priced at $4.99

Tim — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 09:21:32 +0000

Rayman Classic, the classic platformer from many moons ago, is available today on Google Play for $4.99. Ubisoft, publishers of the 1995 classic, announced that mobile gamers can relive the fun of the original, thanks to reworked touchscreen controls, and optimizations that should make gameplay smooth. Rayman Classic features all of the original characters, music, and 2D graphics that made the original so much fun. For the story, you play ass Rayman, kicking and punching your way through various levels, while also unleashing Rayman's inner powers from time to time. When it comes classic platformers for OG gaming systems, Rayman is up there with the best of them. The game carries a price of $4.99, but it's a one-time purchase and there are no additional in-app purchases. Once you buy it, it is yours forever. Did you play the original? Play Link ($4.99)

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T-Mobile Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Receiving Security Updates Today

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 09:12:53 +0000

T-Mobile is pushing updates to its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge variants today as software version UVS2APB8. The update includes "Security updates" and nothing else, according to T-Mobile. The update should be live now for all. To pull it, head into Settings>About device>Software update.

Via: T-Mobile [2]

YouTube Joins Binge On After T-Mobile Changes Program for Video Providers

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 07:45:56 +0000

Back in December, YouTube decided that it wasn't happy with T-Mobile's Binge On video service and raised some important questions, partly because T-Mobile was being ultra sneaky about how it worked, but also because T-Mobile was throttling their streams even though they weren't participating. T-Mobile's CEO John Legere threw a couple of big, embarrassing fits about YouTube's concerns, because apparently, no one is allowed to question pink Batman. Legere just couldn't see how anyone could be offended by what his company was doing with Binge On, assuming that those with concerns all had some sort of agenda. As it turns out, YouTube (and the rest of us who had issues with Binge On) really just wanted the program to be more transparent and not do sneaky things, like throttle the companies who were not choosing to participate or make it difficult for people to opt-out. Funny how that's a bad thing, especially to the CEO of a company who has spent the past few years calling out his competitors for not being open and upfront about policies or sales programs. Today, after some obvious back-room negotiations took place between T-Mobile and YouTube, the two companies have co-announced that YouTube (and Google Play Movies & TV) will join Binge On, thanks to some new changes. T-Mobile made the announcement through their newsroom, but Google decided to skip announcing the move through their YouTube blog and instead went through their much-more-serious Public Policy blog. T-Mobile's announcement is all "Rah! Rah! Rah! We added more services to Binge On because it's a runaway success!" while Google's focuses on the fact that they weren't about to join the free video streaming service unless some major changes were made. Because of the questions raised and the stink the media made about the whole situation, T-Mobile has continued to "improve the program," according to Google. Those improvements include clarifying to users what "optimization" of video means, making it easier than ever to turn off the service, and "improving information and choice for video services." The changes to video providers include the option to opt-out if they do not want to be throttled by T-Mobile. T-Mobile will also now work with video services "to optimize their own streams," if they feel that is the better option while participating. That could mean pushing through better video quality, instead of the DVD-level video that Binge On defaulted all video to. These are pretty big changes that potentially never would have happened without YouTube questioning it almost four months ago. In T-Mobile's announcement, the carrier announced that along with YouTube, Baeble Music, Discovery GO, ESNE TV, FilmOn.TV, Fox Business, Google Play Movies, KlowdTV, and Red Bull TV have joined the list of Binge On supported video services.

Via: T-Mobile | Google

Nextbit Cancels CDMA Variant of Robin Smartphone

Kellen — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 07:10:14 +0000

The Nextbit Robin won't come to Verizon or Sprint networks, the company announced to backers this morning. The move, which comes after the CDMA variant was already delayed a couple of months, should shock no one. CDMA is hard, it's expensive, and it's a pain the ass. In a letter to backers, Nextbit Tom Moss said that the last thing they want to do is "disappoint" supporters, but they need to do that today, unfortunately. After adding the CDMA variant during the middle of the Robin's Kickstarter campaign due to fan support, Nextbit made a mistake in assuming they could launch the phone in a timely manner without fully realizing the situation surrounding CDMA certification. They thought the process would only take an extra couple of weeks, but it has turned into months. They also thought it might cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete, yet it has turned into "millions." Yikes. Because they cannot fulfill CDMA orders, they will fully refund all CDMA backers within the next 48 hours, including the accessories that may have been purchased along with the phone. Nextbit will then toss CDMA backers a 25% off code, in case they are still interested in using the Robin on a GSM network or have a friend that might be able to use it. See, backing crowdfunded smartphones is almost always a bad idea.

Bad News regarding U.S. CDMA Version Well, shoot. We started Nextbit to make products that we want to use ourselves, and to build the kind of company that we would want to support and be proud to have represent us. We designed Robin to be a phone that would reignite the excitement we all used to feel back when smartphones were new and innovation was a constant. We hoped that by doing so, we could also attract like-minded people and turn them into a family of supporters around the world. The hardest thing for us to do, therefore, is anything that we know will disappoint these supporters. That makes today a really bad day for us. While we hope that some of you may have backed us in order to simply enable us to exist as a start-up and poke the boundaries of today’s smartphone ecosystem, I’m sure most of you backed us in order to get a Robin. If you happen to be one of the folks who asked us for a CDMA version, then today I am going to disappoint you, and for that I am truly sorry. As you might already know, we had several short delays with fulfilling all of our GSM version orders, but have finally gotten it to the point where all GSM phones have shipped to customers. The CDMA version has a different set of problems, and unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a workable solution. The bad news: we are unable to ship a CDMA version. I would like to explain why this happened. If you would rather just find out information about what happens now (refunds, discounts, etc.), please skip ahead to the end of the letter below. Originally, we weren’t planning on launching a CDMA version, but we had many folks reach out to us during the Kickstarter campaign asking for it, so we decided to take a look. Nextbit is comprised of people who have been in the mobile business for a while (since the birth of the modern smartphone era). Many of us have worked on devices that have shipped on U.S. CDMA carriers previously, and had a rough understanding of the issues involved. As soon as we saw the many requests from our backers for supporting this, we called and emailed folks we know at the various U.S. CDMA carriers and asked about the process to ship an open-market phone that would work on these networks. As you can imagine, we were in a rush. The Kickstarter campaign is only 30 days long, and it wasn’t until the second week of the campaign that we realized the demand and started the investigation. Because of this, we had to go with the best information we could get before the campaign was over, and over time it turned out that this information was not accurate. What people at the carriers, in good faith given our need for quick answers, thought would take “weeks” has turned into “months”. What they thought would cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars” has turned into “millions”. And we’re still not there. The goal posts are still being moved, and at this point, we think it is better to cancel this version rather than continue to try and make progress with no clear answers to offer regarding when we would actually be able to ship. We first realized there was a big delta between what we originally thought and reality in January. It should have been sooner but to be honest a big part of the problem is how long it takes just to get the right information (and in some cases, what we were doing was a “one-off” for the carriers and they didn’t even decide themselves yet how it would be treated until as late as a week ago). Even then, we believed we could recover and launch in March. Then new information came up and it became April. We really thought that would be it, but yet again, we were wrong. We should have known better. We were not sufficiently doubtful of what we were told given everything we already knew from our experience at previous companies. We were too optimistic, too bullish, and as a result we have to deal with our biggest fear, disappointing you, our supporters. This is bad for you, and this is bad for us. The best we can do is send you this explanation with our sincerest apologies, and try to make sure you don’t suffer any financial loss in addition to the disappointment of not receiving a CDMA Robin. Here is how we are going to try to make up for our failure: Refund/Cancellation. We are giving everyone a full and complete refund within the next 48 hours. For Kickstarter backers, this includes your entire pledge as well as any extra you were charged for accessories, shipping, etc. For pre-orders, we have not charged you and will not do so. A 25% discount code for each CDMA backer. Each of you will receive a code for a 25% discount on one order from our online store. If you cannot use this yourself, feel free to pass it on to a friend or family member who is on a GSM network and might like a Robin. From all of us at Nextbit, I would like to offer our apologies for this cancellation, and to also thank you for all of your support thus far. Sincerely, Tom Moss CEO

Cheers Evan!

LG G5 Arrives April 1 at US Cellular

Kellen — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:10:43 +0000

Last week, LG told us to expect the G5 to launch in the US in "early" April. According to a reliable source of ours, US Cellular will open up a pre-order for LG's new flagship on March 28, before making it available in stores on April 1. No, this isn't an April Fools' joke. US Cellular will price the G5 at $636 without a contract, $199 on 2-year agreement, or $26.50 per month for 24 months. If anything, that should give us an idea as to what other carriers in the US might charge. During launch, from March 28 through April 17, LG will run a promotion that will land G5 customers a free battery, battery charging cradle, and USB Type-C adapter. The total value for the accessory bundle is around $80 and is similar to the promotion LG ran last year for the G4. These launch plans, obviously, don't confirm anything for other carriers like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, but I'd be pretty surprised if they also weren't targeting April 1.

Question of the Day: Do You Use a 3rd Party Launcher? Which One?

Kellen — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:09:56 +0000

In today's Galaxy S7 tips and tricks video, the 2nd to last tip I suggest is for you to swap out the Samsung TouchWiz launcher and app drawer for something on Google Play, a 3rd party launcher. I suggest this in almost every single tips and tricks video because 3rd party launchers really can turn your phone into a powerhouse of efficiency (and Samsung's launcher is terrible). With a 3rd party launcher, you can easily change the look of your phone with an icon pack, take more control over the layout of widgets and icons and other home screen add-ons, introduce gestures for accessing settings or apps or shortcuts, and even do really cool things like access an app's widget with a swipe on its icon. 3rd party launchers are awesome. In fact, changing to Nova Launcher - the DL favorite - is the first thing I do after completing a review of a phone. For today's question, it seemed like the perfect time to catch-up on the launchers you are all using these days. Are you still using a 3rd party launcher? If so, which one and why?

Video: 20+ Galaxy S7 Tips and Tricks

Kellen — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:28:47 +0000

Now that our Galaxy S7 review is ready, it's time to switch our focus over to helping you get the most out of your new phone, assuming you plan to pick-up a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge. We tend to do that after major phone launches by sharing a handful of tips and tricks through a series we started all the way back with the Galaxy S4 and One (M7). Since we already gave you the first 10 things you should do after setting up your S7, in this next video, we'll continue that thought and move into adjusting even more settings. During this 20+ Galaxy S7 tips and tricks video, we'll mention the Quick Launch camera shortcut again, along with Always-on Display, but we'll also talk about moving apps to SD, adjusting default apps, learning about the phone's "Advanced Features," when battery saver modes might come in handy, and how to reset specific areas of your phone without doing a full factory reset. Enjoy!

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Uber Intros Family Profiles, Pay for Your Kid or Friend's Ride

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:16:17 +0000

Today, Uber introduced Family Profiles, the easiest way to make sure your children, friends, and loved ones are getting around safely through the city. When a Family Profile is created, multiple users can request rides from the same account, with Uber billing a single payment form. For example, if you have a kid in college in a different city, that child can request an Uber and pay for it using the Family Profile (mom or dad's credit card), instead of using their own money. Uber specifies that they don't care whether someone is an actual family member or not. You can even add plain ol' friends to the Family Profile, allowing you to gift rides to whoever, whenever you want. All you need to do is add someone from within the updated Uber app, have that person accept your invitation, and that's it. You can have a max of up to 10 people in the same Family Profile. Be on the lookout for the update. Note: At launch, Family Profiles will be limited to Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix. Play Link

Via: Uber

T-Mobile to Offer Free Season of MLB.TV Premium to Customers

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:41:03 +0000

Last year, T-Mobile offered a free MLB At Bat subscription for mobile customers. That subscription carried a $20 value, which was a nice little extra goodie, but for 2016, T-Mobile should be your only choice in wireless carriers if baseball is your sport of choice. For this year's baseball season, T-Mobile will offer a complete season of MLB.TV Premium, a $110 value, for absolutely free. With MLB.TV Premium, you can stream all of the diamond action live in HD, get access to Home and Away broadcasts, and in addition, you will receive a MLB At Bat subscription for the year. As a diehard baseball guy, I can tell you, life isn't complete without MLB.TV. From what I can see, as the offer won't be live until April 3, these subscriptions are not limited to just your smartphone either. With Premium, users can cast games straight to the TV, take the action in on a desktop computer, or on a gaming console. For a complete list of supported devices, click here. Now, onto the important details. T-Mobile states that this offer is only open from April 3 to April 10. That's one week. During this time, you must be on T-Mobile's network in order to redeem the offer. After speaking with a T-Mobile representative, I can confirm that Simple Choice, as well as prepaid plans through T-Mobile are eligible to redeem this offer. Starting April 3, if you love baseball, redeem this offer. T-Mobile Link

Cheers Will!

Root Explorer, the One and Only, Receives Material Design Refresh

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:58:39 +0000

It's been quite a while since we last mentioned Root Explorer, but back in the day, it was virutally the only file manager we used. Back when rooting and using custom ROMs was our thing, Root Explorer allowed us place files and transfer data to wherever we wanted on our phones, which is not the case on a non-rooted device. With that said, the app has received a major update on Google Play, bringing a complete Material Design refresh with it. As you will see, the slide out menu has been added for quicker navigation, a floating action button has been placed, and the overall look is much cleaner than the previous UI. For those who don't already own this app, the price is set at $3.99, but if you root and ROM, this is the go-to option. If you don't root, don't worry, this app is still a solid and comprehensive option for your file management needs. Go grab that update. Play Link

DEAL: Nexus 6P, Moto X Pure Edition, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy S7 Edge Still on Sale

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:06:41 +0000

In case you missed the news last week, there are plenty of high-end devices still on sale this week, including the Nexus 6P, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and Moto X Pure Edition. For the Nexus 6P, it can purchased directly through Amazon or Best Buy, with Amazon listing the device at about $75 off retail. On Best Buy, the phone is $50 off, but also comes with free Speck case for the phone's protection. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge can be found on eBay for $599 and $699 respectively. These are international models, meaning they come equipped with the Exynos processor, instead of the Snapdragon 820. However, they should work just fine on AT&T and T-Mobile's LTE networks. The Moto X Pure Edition can be purchased through Motorola, Best Buy, and Amazon starting at $299. At $299, for the 16GB model, you can purchase the White and Bamboo option directly from Amazon, or you can customize your own through Moto Maker. Follow the links below if you need a new phone. Deal Links:

Nexus 6P (Amazon, select models $75 off)
Nexus 6P (Best Buy, $50 off)
Moto X Pure Edition (Amazon, $100 off)
Moto X Pure Edition (Best Buy, $100 off)
Moto X Pure Edition (Motorola.com, $100 off)
Galaxy S7 (eBay, $50-$100 off)
Galaxy S7 Edge (eBay, $50-$100 off)

LastPass Authenticator Makes Your Password Bank Even More Safe

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:09:40 +0000

The new LastPass Authenticator app, available on both Android and iOS, is here to make your passwords super safe. Using two-factor authentication, you can be sure that no one will gain access to your password, except for you. Coupled with the LastPass service, the way two-factor authentication works is pretty simple. When logging into LastPass, the service will send out a unique code, which will then be used during the sign-in process. The code is only sent to you, via mobile phone or other form, meaning only those with this code will gain access. Going beyond LastPass, you can use LastPass Authenticator wherever Google Authenticator is supported. This is big for anyone who appreciates knowing their info is secure and completely in their own control. As shown in one of the photos on the app's landing page, LastPass Authenticator supports Android Wear, allowing you to get through the verification process seamlessly. The app is completely free to download and use. Play Link

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FYI: A Few ADB Commands Will Get You Adoptable Storage on the Galaxy S7

Kellen — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:04:13 +0000

Samsung may have left out one of Marshmallow's potentially more innovative features in adoptable storage, but that doesn't mean the possibility of it isn't buried beneath a couple of adb commands. That's right, Paul Modaco has come up with a simple guide for for enabling adoptable storage, which means you can combine the storage of a microSD card with the internal storage of your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge. I won't go through the whole process, but it sounds pretty simple, assuming you have adb setup and running on a computer nearby. The basics are this. Once in terminal, with "adb shell" run, you can view the list of disks available on the phone for adoption, then tell your phone with another command how you would like to partition your microSD card. There are a couple of options - one for full adoption and another for mixed. Full adoption is what Paul recommends. Once you start the process, it will take a while, but when it's finished, you should have something similar to Marshmallow's adoptable storage. Modaco does mention in his write-up that the storage space reporting seems to be off, yet everything works correctly. This is what you should see when it's finished.

Keep in mind that this process will wipe your SD card, so be sure to back everything up before hand. If moving apps to SD wasn't enough, this is something to consider. The full instructions can be found at the link below.

Via: Modaco

Deal: Buy One Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger, Get a 2nd Free

Tim — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 08:49:19 +0000

Available through this upcoming Saturday (3/19), when you buy a Fast Charge Wireless Charger from Samsung for the usual price of $70, Samsung is throwing in an additional wireless charger for absolutely nada. These wireless chargers are compatible with many devices from Samsung, such as the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and others. According to Samsung, these wireless chargers can take your phone from 0-100% in just 50 minutes. While our findings would lean more towards the solid hour+ mark, there is no doubt that these chargers can charge your phone very quickly. To take advantage, follow the link below. Samsung Link

Nixon Mission is the Fashion Watch Brand's First Android Wear Watch

Kellen — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 08:20:37 +0000

If you have been wondering why there has been so much watch talk around these parts over the past couple of days, it's because Baselworld is going on over in Switzerland. Baseworld, for those not familiar, is like the CES or MWC of the watch world. It's a massive watch event where all the biggest watch brands in the world gather to unveil their new products for the coming year. Everyone from Rolex to Fossil are announcing products, some of which happen to be Android related. Next up, we have Nixon, a younger lifestyle-focused watch company who tends to cater to the skate or surf crowds. They announced a watch this morning called the Mission, which they are calling the "world's first ultra-rugged, action sports smartwatch." There are certainly other rugged watches on the market, so they must be banking off the "ultra" term here. Either way, the watch was built for abuse from waves and stuff, breh. All jokes aside, the watch features "industry-leading" durability and 100M water-resistance. It also runs the new Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, which you can learn more about here. The display is a fully rounded AMOLED panel, plus the body sports 316L stainless steel, roll cage, Gorilla Glass crystal, custom dual-layer silicon band, and should have the best battery life of any smartwatch to date, assuming the new Snapdragon processor inside can live up to its billing. The Nixon Mission will arrive in three colors (pictured above and below) and include a couple of exclusive apps for tracking activity and getting current conditions information depending on your location. The Mission will be available later this year.

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Via: Nixon

Deal: Pay What You Want for the Android Expert Coding Bundle

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:32:17 +0000

For a few more hours on the DL Deals Store, you can pay what you want for the Android Expert Coding Bundle. Much like what you'd see from services such as Humble Bundle, you can pay whatever price you would like for a portion of the bundle, but if you pay the average or over the average, you gain access to all parts of the bundle. At this time, the average for the entire bundle is $18, with it valued at over $500. Inside this bundle, if you choose to get the whole thing, you will receive access to many courses. These courses include a couple on everything you need to know about Java and how it relates to development on Android, Marshmallow app development, and a course on mastering the Android Studio. In addition to getting these at a highly discounted price, a portion of all proceeds goes directly to a charity. For this bundle, the money goes to Save the Children. For those who pay more than the average, currently set at just $18, you get the following. Included in Bundle

Master Marshmallow App Development Using Java
Java Programming for Beginners
Java Essentials for Android
Build Android Apps with the Marshmallow Studio Course
Learn to Reskin Android Apps for Fun & Profit

Deal Link

Instagram is Probably Going to Mess Up Your Feed

Kellen — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:24:12 +0000

In the "coming months," Instagram is going to start messing with your feed. It's probably going to suck. Prepare yourselves. Instagram says that about 70 percent of people miss the content in their feed because growing feeds are becoming harder and harder to keep up with. What they are trying to say is that you are missing photos or videos that were taken earlier in the day or yesterday or the day before because you don't have time to scroll all of the way back through that many photos, depending on how many people you follow and how active at posting they are. Like Facebook before it, Instagram is going to try and fix this problem by sorting your photos and videos to "show the moments we believe you will care about the most." In other words, you know how Facebook won't let you force your timeline to show recent posts in chronological order at all times and continues to default to their "Top stories" garbage? Instagram is going to do the same thing. Your new feed will be in an order "based on the likelihood you'll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post." Ugh.

UGH.

Instagram says they are going to "take time to get this right" and will listen to your feedback. Now would be your chance to tell them they at least better give us an option to default to "Most recent" instead of "Top stories."

Via: Instagram

Question of the Day: What Would You Fix About the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge?

Kellen — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:05:55 +0000

Our Galaxy S7 review is now out, if you haven't read it yet. I point that out because during the review, we talk about a lot of the good things that Samsung has done this time around to create an incredible phone. Yet, I think it's clear that many of you still have issues with the S7 or S7 Edge (and rightfully so, no phone is perfect). Whether it's the software skin on top of Android, worry over a lack of updates, the choice to not include a USB Type-C port just yet, the stance against removable batteries, or just the fact that it's made by Samsung, all seem to be issues we keep seeing in the comments. For today's question, let's see if we can't fix the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. And not that everyone needs to like these phones. After all, we love the fact that Android gives us choice and that we all aren't siloed into a single device family. But we also like talking about a vision for the perfect phone and Samsung seems to be getting quite close with their newest Galaxy devices If you could turn these phones into the perfect phone, how would you do it? What would you fix about the S7 or S7 Edge?

Expect 100+ Wearables From Fossil Group Brands This Year

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:29:21 +0000

Fossil Group, the parent to many of the world's most popular fashion brands, announced that consumers can expect to see more than 100 wearable products by this year's holiday season. A few of these brands include Michael Kors, Chaps, Diesel, Emporio Armani, kate spade new york, and of course, Fossil. In the announcement, Fossil Group states that these wearables will feature a mixture of display and non-display devices, meaning it's likely we can expect a few Android Wear devices from the batch. According to Fossil Group, during the holidays, these devices will be available in 40 countries, meaning there should be no shortage on locations to pick a wearable up.

Concurrent with the advancement of Fossil Group's owned technology and research and development capabilities, the company continues its strong partnerships with third-party technology partners, including Google and their Android Wear™ platform, to deliver on the company's short- and long-term wearables strategy.

Fossil Group also took this time to remind folks that it acquired Misfit, a fitness tech company, and the company intends to continue its implementation of the technology into its wearable lineup. No specifics were given as to which brands would be focusing on what kind of wearables, but my fingers are crossed we see a few more high-end Android Wear devices from the likes of Michael Kors and kate spade new york.

Via: Fossil Group

Fossil Launches Two More Android Wear Watches, Q Marshal and Q Wander

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:10:24 +0000

Fossil, maker of the Q Founder smartwatch running Android Wear, is back at it again with two new additions to the Q lineup. Today, the company announced the Q Marshal and Q Wander watches, both of which run Android Wear. As you would expect, both are designed to heavily resemble standard timepieces, with the exception of their large digital faces. With both the Marshal and Wander priced at $275, they will also come in two different size options, 44mm and 46mm. Currently, Fossil has not announced when or where exactly these smartwatches can be purchased, although, Fossil states both will be available "later this year." As for specs, Fossil has also withheld that info, but we assume both the Marshal and Wander will feature somewhat identical specs to the Founder. This would include 4GB of storage, IP67 water resistance, and Snapdragon processor. As more details are made available, we will update you. Anyone here fancying a new smartwatch from Fossil?

Q Marshal

Q Wander

Via: Fossil

Samsung Galaxy S7 Review

Kellen — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:55:58 +0000

In 2015, Samsung finally took design seriously. By doing so, they created a line-up of Galaxy S and Note phones that featured metal frames and glass panels with jewel-like appearances, on top of next-level specs. The S6 series, along with the Note 5, were nothing short of amazing. They were all, without a doubt, phones that few could match up to not only in 2015, but maybe even beyond. It was the first time we were able to look at a phone (or phones) and realistically say, this phone might be better than phones released a year from now. OnePlus claimed they were making the 2016 flagship killer, but in reality, it was Samsung. Now that we are in 2016 and Samsung's first two flagship phones are out - the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge - one has to wonder if Samsung has bested their previous efforts? Or better yet - has Samsung done enough from last year to this year? After spending the past couple of weeks with the Galaxy S7, I can safely say that they certainly have in many ways. The Galaxy S7 fixes all of the issues we had with the Galaxy S6, yet still puts forth an even better overall design. As I mentioned, I have had the regular S7 and am about to tell you all about it. If you were looking for the full Galaxy S7 Edge review, Tim will have that shortly. Edit: Our Galaxy S7 Edge review is now ready. You can read it here. For now, this is our Samsung Galaxy S7 review.

The Good

Design Samsung is so good at design right now. Who thought we would ever say that, eh? But seriously, look at the phone above. I don't even like gold, yet this phone in particular is such a stunner. The black and silver models are as well, by the way, I just happen to be reviewing a gold model. Those reflections, the jewel-like aesthetic and subtle curves, and that feeling that you are holding something of value that isn't just another piece of "airplane grade" metal, all add to the aura of a phone that could mesmerize you for periods of time. The design of the S7 has depth, polish, and shine in its glass, with a sand-blasted, matte-like coating to its metal. Take a minute to stare into the reflections of the Galaxy S7 and you'll quickly realize that there is no other phone on the planet this well-made. In a move I can't praise enough, Samsung also ditched the flat back of last year's S6 and went with a Galaxy Note 5-styled backside curve. You can see it in the image below, where the right and left sides of the back cascade around to the metal frame, which really aid in fitting the phone perfectly to your hand. Because of that shape, you never really feel like an edge even touches you. It's an incredible touch to an already well-thought-out design. Speaking of fit, the Galaxy S7 is a smallish 5.1-inch phone, so it can easily be used with a single hand, something that can't be said for most flagship phones these days. Samsung deserves praise for not growing the Galaxy S7, or at least giving people size options by offering a slightly bigger S7 Edge alongside the regular S7.

Of course, the design isn't perfect. The glass on both front and back are prone to massive amounts of fingerprints and the single, bottom-firing speaker is easily covered when holding the phone in landscape. If you can handle those two issues, though, and I think most can, I can't imagine you'll find another problem here. Specs I mentioned in the opening that last year's line of phones from Samsung was about as future-proof as you could get, which meant they would have a tough time really upping the ante this time around. They managed to do so by upgrading almost everything across the board. We have a new Snapdragon 820 processor from Qualcomm, improved Super AMOLED quad HD display, 4GB RAM, bigger 3000mAh battery, internal storage that is joined by a microSD slot, fast wireless charging next to fast wired charging, IP68 water resistance, and a 12MP camera with new Dual Pixel technology. They didn't miss a thing, which we couldn't say about last year's phones. I honestly don't know what else Samsung could have put into this phone, outside of a USB Type-C port, or maybe an IR blaster (for some). We talk a lot about manufacturers not making the perfect phone or always leaving a "but," yet this phone doesn't really have one. I'll stop short of calling the S7 the perfect phone, but it's damn near close, at least on paper. The full specs can be found here. Display Take one look at the display comparison below and try to convince me that the 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display on the Galaxy S7 isn't leaps and bounds ahead of everyone but the Galaxy Note 5. You can't, it's OK. Look at the brightness to the white of the Nexus 5X pictured there, plus the punch of the pink in the top of Chrome, and the pure grey that isn't yellowish (Moto X) or so dark that details are hard to pick up (6P). The brightness and clarity also carry through at all angles, even the steepest we can capture, never showing weaknesses or dimming. It's so impressive. In case you were wondering, in these images, you are seeing each device at full brightness, in Chrome, with no other adjustments.

That color reproduction, brightness level, and punch are a part of the experience elsewhere as well. When viewing your recently taken photos, videos on YouTube, or your favorite games, you'll be hard-pressed to not come away thinking as I am now - that this is the best smartphone display ever used. Camera "Point. Shoot. Point. Shoot. Point. Shoot. Enjoy." Those were the exact words I used to describe the camera in the Galaxy S6 last year. With the Galaxy S7, it's more like "Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Enjoy." I say that, because the autofocus with this 12MP "Dual Pixel" f/1.7 camera is so insanely fast, that you might not even realize it has focused, which means you can just shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, and shoot. Let's back-up for a minute, though. With the S7, Samsung has dropped the resolution of the camera down from 16MP to 12MP. You could complain about the loss there, but it's not like when HTC decided a couple of years ago to drop to a ridiculously low 4MP. With the S7, you still have plenty of resolution to work with at 12MP, meaning you'll be fine in the editing room, cropping pictures (to an extent), printing them for a wall, and sharing them with the world. Samsung dropped to 12MP, because they are using a new sensor with this "Dual Pixel" technology with bigger micron pixels. The camera is now using those those 1.4 micron pixels, up 56% in size from the micron pixels of the S6, to capture more light in darker moments, and overall, perform better in tough situations. As for the "Dual Pixel" talk, Samsung is attempting to split every single pixel into two photodiodes, to allow for better phase-detection. And that right there, is why the autofocus is so scary fast. It's one of those items you have to experience to believe. As for the software of the Galaxy S7, it's pretty standard stuff for Samsung, but that means it is quite robust when compared to other smartphone camera experiences. You have your shutter, video, and camera-switch buttons on the right side, along with various settings on the left. The camera resolution can be adjusted from the 12MP to lower resolutions at both 4:3 and 16:9 ratios, you can record video in 4K if you want, and there are options for "Motion" photos and tracking autofocus. Samsung is also including full manual controls, live broadcasting, slow motion capturing, panoramas, and a whole bunch of other modes that could come in handy from time to time. If you want the full camera experience for both pros and casual photogs, Samsung has it.

When we are talking actual results, I kind of can't help but be impressed by the whole package here. The camera is insanely fast to launch (double tap on the home button), even faster to focus, and maybe even faster yet at snapping photos. There are times when shooting with this camera that you may not even realize it has snapped a photo because it is that quick. Want to snap multiple photos in a row? Tap away. Unfortunately, during the past two weeks in Portland, it has rained almost every single day, so my sample photos are all under similarly dreary and wet lighting conditions. While that may be ideal for some photographers, I tend to like shooting photos of objects when I'm not getting dumped on and there is light from the sun to add shadow and variation. But, this is what we were dealt and so we ran with it.

And here is a look at low light performance in gradually increasing light.

I know I keep saying this, but I think what impresses me the most is the speed here. There is no better example than the photo of the "Dumping Rubbish Prohibited" sign, where the Galaxy S7 also managed to capture four moving cars in the background. Those are four cars traveling at 60 mph on I-5 here in Portland, yet this camera makes it look like they are standing still, with almost no blur. I also really like that this camera seems to capture what your eye is seeing, without a bunch of over-processing and blown out colors. There are times when photos come out a bit overexposed, but not enough for me to worry, especially knowing I can snap two or three photos in a couple of seconds. At least one of them should be excellent. Finally, in low light, I think it's pretty obvious that this camera will shine during those previously-difficult moments for smartphones. In the four images above, even the darkest of situations presents colors of this toy accurately, if not noisily. As you go across the whole series, though, even in the final photo, which is actually quite dimly lit, the camera snapped a fabulous photo. When you buy a smartphone looking for an incredible camera, you want it to be fast at all times, yet also versatile, while taking photos you would be proud to share. The Galaxy S7's camera is all of that and then some. Performance Thanks to its Snapdragon 820 processor (which is quad-core, by the way), Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and what I can only imagine are a bunch of enhancements to Samsung's TouchWiz skin, the Galaxy S7, for now, runs flawlessly. We're talking buttery smooth transitions in and out of the camera quick launch, into apps, back home again, into a game and back out, and even after streaming music while on a run with Runkeeper tracking by GPS and the camera being opened and closed for testing. In two weeks, I have yet to see this phone stutter, lock up, or frustrate me enough to force a reboot. With that in mind, we are talking about the performance of this phone right now - today. In two months or six months or a year, after the phone receives an update or three, we don't know if that will change. Last year, the Galaxy S6, after its first big update, turned into a lagfest that left the phone almost unusable at times. In Samsung devices before that, we saw similar situations play out. I'm not saying that the Galaxy S7 will see a similar fate, because the Galaxy Note 5 runs fine to this day, but you should be aware of the history. Samsung isn't the best at updating its phones and they certainly haven't been the best when it comes to improving performance over time. Here's to hoping the Galaxy S7 sticks to today's experience, because it is one of the most enjoyable. Fast Wireless and Wired Charging Last year's S6 and S6 Edge featured both wireless charging and fast wired charging. Later in the year, Samsung then introduced fast wireless charging to the S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5, so it only makes sense that they continue on and provide the same with the S7 and S7 Edge. You'll need a special wireless charging pad with fast charging enabled in order to get the faster wireless speeds, but since Samsung is using Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 in the Galaxy S7 (those equipped with the Snapdragon 820), you likely have a charger or four that will get you those fast wired speeds. Samsung is still making the only major phones on the planet (at least in the US) that offer both fast wireless and wired charging. Think about that for a second. With fast wired (QC 2.0) charging, you are looking at re-filling your phone with hours of juice in a matter of minutes. Instead of charging your phone to full over a couple of hours, you can get there in about an hour. Fast wireless charging is similar, though not quite as fast. However, normal wireless charging speeds are painfully slow, so while you won't fast wireless charge a depleted device in an hour, you can do so in well under two hours.

If you were looking for one problem in this area, you could argue that Samsung leaving out Quick Charge 3.0 - the newest standard from Qualcomm - was a mistake. The Snapdragon 820 in the phone should open the Galaxy S7 up to QC 3.0 speeds (45% more efficient than QC 2.0; up to 80% charge in 35 minutes), but Samsung left it out and limited the phone to Quick Charge 2.0. We don't know why, other than the fact that Samsung ships the Galaxy S7 internationally with an Exynos processor that wouldn't be able to take advantage of QC 3.0. Samsung, more than likely, wanted its phones to be somewhat standard across the board with charging speeds instead of the US models getting a slight advantage. In the end, we aren't talking about a massive speed change. Quick Charge 2.0 is plenty fast, it's just that if the new technology is available, we would have liked to have seen Samsung use it. Fingerprint Sensor The fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy S7 is as good as ever. Once your fingerprints are learned (up to 4 are allowed), unlocking the phone is incredibly quick. I don't know that I would consider it to be as fast as the implementation of the Nexus 6P or G5, because you do have to wake the phone before your finger can be read, but it's quick. I rarely run into mis-reads or have to place a finger back on the phone after thinking it should have been unlocked and that's all you can ask for. We've come so far with fingerprint readers that it pains me to think back only a few years where manufacturers (including Samsung) were asking us to swipe across them in order to unlock a phone. Now it's just a tap and quick hold - unlock.

The only issue I have with Samsung's implementation is the number of taps required to learn your finger. This is me nit-picking a bit, since once a setup is complete, it's not like you ever have to go re-teach the phone a finger, but it takes around 15 or 16 taps in order to complete a fingerprint setup. On the Nexus 6P or G5, it takes all of 6 or 7 taps. It might also be nice if Samsung let you add more than four fingerprints. For example, I have setup both thumbs and both index fingers, but what if I wanted to also add my wife's fingerprint or a middle finger? I can't. Overall, the fingerprint reader in the Galaxy S7 is one of the best in the business. I would highly recommend you take advantage of it as well, along with Android's Smart Lock, to give your phone security and some flexibility in terms of not having to scan a finger every time you unlock your phone. Samsung Pay Samsung Pay is the best mobile payment system in the business. It just is. I'm a big fan of Android Pay, but Samsung Pay is the only payment system with Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), which allows it to pay for items at standard credit card terminals that aren't equipped with NFC chips. Because of that, you can pay almost anywhere. Android Pay and Apple Pay are limited to retailers, restaurants, gas stations, etc. that have upgraded their terminals with NFC, while Samsung Pay shrugs its shoulders at the hole-in-the-wall shoe store and buys those bad ass boots without missing a step or tripping on a lace. If Samsung Pay had a problem that will keep you from using it, it's that it doesn't support enough credit or bank cards. At this time, Samsung is missing card support for Capital One, PayPal, and most of your smaller financial institutions. To see if your bank is supported, head over to Samsung Pay's site. The Galaxy S7, obviously, comes equipped with Samsung Pay. Ready to see the real future of mobile payments? SD Card Returns What happens when you have spent your entire smartphone existence pushing expandable storage, only to one day take it away without reason? The world explodes at all the bitching. Now, I get that Samsung probably wanted to increase those margins last year as its sales and profits stumbled, but taking away SD card storage in favor of breaking wallets over internal storage upgrades was not exactly the best move. This year, Samsung brought back the SD card slot and everyone can chill. Thanks, guys! With the Galaxy S7, you (unfortunately) only get 32GB of internal storage (at least at the time of this review), but you can expand the total capacity of the phone by another 200GB. Samsung is also letting you move installed apps over to the SD card, so we aren't going to complain about their decision to not include one of Android 6.0's most innovative features. While we would love to have seen Samsung offer a 64GB or 128GB model out of the gate, I think most of us will be fine with 32GB storage now that we can expand it, move apps over, and go up as high as 200GB.

Water Resistance Everyone bitched about this missing from last year as well, so Samsung brought water resistance back in the form of IP68. At IP68, you get a phone that is dust tight and that can be fully submerged in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes and it will still work. Samsung is using special "water protective" tape to adhere the glass to the body, created new technology to remove gaps between products as the phone is put together, and even tossed in rubber in the USB port, headphone jack, and SIM tray to prevent water from entering. The phone isn't technically "waterproof," but it's damn close at IP68. Availability In somewhat surprising fashion, Samsung announced the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on February 21 and said the same day that they would be available in stores on March 11. They then opened up pre-orders on February 23 at all major US carriers, threw in a bunch of freebies (like Gear VR), and even allowed some carriers to ship them incredibly early. I can't recall the last time a company this big announced a product and then placed it in their customers hands just over a week later. Many pre-orders arrived well before Samsung's embargo had lifted on their little hand-chosen group of media outlets. It's been a fun launch, to say the least. Outside of the quick availability, the Galaxy S7 is also easy to find. Every US carrier has it, as does Best Buy and a number of other retailers. If you want an S7, you shouldn't have any issue making one yours. There are BOGO deals here and there, contract options, monthly payment plans, and even unlocked units up for grabs through sellers on eBay. Talk about a smooth launch, right? Accessories As long as Samsung continues to make phones, they are going to have the best options on Android when it comes to available accessories. Galaxy phones are like iPhones in that almost all of the major accessory makers will continue make cases and stands and chargers and anything else you can think of that someone might buy for a phone. That's just what happens when you are the king of smartphone sales, like Samsung is. If you want official Samsung accessories, you have tons of options, including fast wireless chargers, portable fast battery packs, cases, flip cases, snap-on keyboards, and even camera add-ons for telephoto and wide-angle shots. If you don't care about official Samsung accessories and would like to buy off of Amazon on the cheap, your options are almost endless. Just go to Amazon and search for "Galaxy S7" and see for yourself.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Battery Life Last year, I probably should have been harder on Samsung for the atrocious battery life I saw on the Galaxy S6. Part of me thought the Black Hole of Signal Death that I live in was to blame (and it partly was), but after seeing other flagship phones come across my desk over the rest of the year that were capable of getting me through a day and then some, it's now obvious how bad the S6 really was. With the Galaxy S7, Samsung has upped the battery capacity to 3000mAh (from 2550mAh) to try and fix that troublesome area. Have they? Eh, battery life is OK, maybe even borderline not so good. Or maybe me and Samsung phones just don't get along. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever had stellar battery life on any Samsung phone, including the Galaxy Note 5.

My stats show slightly below-average numbers for me as of late. I've been running a T-Mobile Galaxy S7 with a decent connection, switching between WiFi and LTE depending on the time of day, and I feel like I'm averaging around 11-13 hours on a charge, with 2.5 hours of screen on time. I will say that my battery life has gotten progressively better over the past week. It was pretty brutal in the early days, but seems to be more towards the 14-hour per charge range at the moment.

After talking to S7 Edge owners throughout the past couple of weeks who all keep saying that they are averaging 4-5 hours of screen on time, I just thought I was doing something wrong here. But other early S7 reviews all seem to be in line with what I'm seeing here from what I can tell. For whatever reason, the S7 just doesn't push out top-tier battery life. And look, I've tried to do everything in my power to extend this, including tweaking WiFi connection settings, ridding my phone of some of my favorite apps that could have been battery hogs (ex: theScore Sports), and even killed off Always-on Display. This is what I'm seeing - you decide what to do with the numbers. TouchWiz Even I can admit that Samsung's TouchWiz, the skin the Korean manufacturer continues to place atop Android, has grown up in recent years. It's still quite a bloated, iOS-look-alike mess in apps, but it is faster than ever, less overwhelming, and arguably too trim in select areas (like the app drawer). Samsung does things like let you apply themes through a theme store, giving you the ability to customize the look of your Galaxy and ridding the phone of Samsung's tired UI and icon set. The stock Samsung apps for messaging, calls, and calendar are also improved too, but thankfully, this is Android and you can replace it all with other apps.

I can no longer sit here with a straight face and tell you that TouchWiz is the worst thing to ever attach itself to Android. It really isn't. While it may not be an Android skin I would ever choose if I had a choice, it is much better than ever before. That may not be saying much, but at least Samsung is improving it these days. For example, I like the custom shortcuts to popular settings you can set in the settings menu, the numerous options I can arrange in the quick settings pulldown, the Quick Launch shortcut to the camera, the additional compatibility with non-Samsung apps in Multi Window, separate controls for home and lock screens, all of the options for vibration intensity and pattern, and specific options in the "Backup and reset" menu for wiping phone and network settings back to defaults without fully resetting the phone.

Still, TouchWiz drives me nuts. You can read all about it here if you want.

The Not-so-Good

Samsung's Track Record With Software Updates I hate to go into this section and knock a phone for something that hasn't even happened yet, but I feel like potential owners of the Galaxy S7 deserve to know Samsung's background. From the beginning of time, Samsung has been one of the worst at Android updates. We keep hoping that they will get better, since everyone else (HTC, LG, and maybe even Motorola again) seems to be getting quite quick with updates these days. But if we look at the most recent major update to Android Marshmallow, it's safe to say that Samsung isn't interested in being quick. Samsung's flagships from 2015 are just now receiving the update to Android 6.0, whereas flagships that are upwards of two years old from LG received it over a month ago. The rest of the flagships from HTC and Motorola and LG are all on 6.0 as well, while Samsung takes its sweet time. I don't know why Samsung is so terrible at updating phones. They have a couple of hundred thousand employees globally (via), so why they can't put together a team to work on updates is beyond me. Just know this. If you buy the S7, don't be shocked if you are one of the last on the planet to get the update to Android N. If you are OK with that, then so be it.

Other Notes

Pricing: The Galaxy S7 is a really expensive phone. Last year, the Galaxy S6 (which was also an expensive phone) started at around $600 off contract at Verizon. This year, the Galaxy S7 starts out at $672 at Verizon and can be found only slightly cheaper at Sprint for $650. Samsung put its best into this phone and you will pay for it.
No Removable Battery: The Galaxy S7, like the S6 and all of last year's Galaxy phones, does not have a removable battery. If that's a big deal to you, you still have the LG G5 on the horizon.
Calls: The Galaxy S7, like all phones, takes and places calls. It does a fine job at that. It does WiFi Calling too, depending on the carrier. That's awesome too. I don't have much else to say on that front. I had no issues receiving calls, placing them, or hearing the person on the other end. No one complained about my audio quality either.

Video

Unboxing

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First 10 Things to do

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vs. Nexus 6P vs. Galaxy Note 5 vs. Moto X Pure Edition

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Always-on Display

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Gallery

The Verdict

The Galaxy S7 is a really easy phone to recommend. It has everything you could want in a phone, including fixes for all of last year's troublesome areas. But should you go out and buy one? That depends. Are you on a 2-year old phone or one of HTC's from the past three years? Then yes, you should probably consider buying the Galaxy S7. It will not disappoint and will be such a massive upgrade for you in the camera, design, and performance areas, that you may weep over the thought of your past 24 months. Are you on a flagship from last year, like any of Samsung's phones, the Nexus 6P, Moto X Pure Edition, or G4? Well, you probably don't need to upgrade to the S7. Your phone is more than likely just finding its groove and should get you through at least another 6 months to a year, if not more. But hey, if you have tons of cash lying around to spend on the newest of the new, then go for it. Samsung, once again, has set the bar really high for the year ahead.

Galaxy S7 Links:

AT&T: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
VERIZON: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
T-MOBILE: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
SPRINT: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
BEST BUY: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge

Google Maps Integrates Ride Services With Dedicated ETA Tab, Fare Estimates

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 10:36:24 +0000

Starting today, users of Uber can simply open up the Google Maps app, plug in a destination, then get detailed information on whether an Uber is the best option for you to get somewhere. Usually, if you want to use Uber, you must open their app, hail a car, type in your destination, then you will be on your way. With this ride service integration in Google Maps, a newly dedicated tab specifically for ride services will show you estimated time to your destination, as well as the cost for the different tiers of Uber service. This is in addition to the other ETAs the Google Maps app provides, such as public transportation, walking, and biking. In the US, Uber riders can choose between uberX, uberXL, and uberBlack Car, all of which will estimate the cost of how much your trip will be. If you decide to choose one, a single tap takes you into the Uber app and hails your ride. For anyone outside of the US, Google is implementing other ride services, and taxis, into this tabbed area. Services will be available such as 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the UK, mytaxi in Germany, and Gett in the UK. Google is rolling this feature out starting today and over the next week. For iOS users, it's coming soon. Play Link

Via: Google

HTC Teasing "World First, World Class" Cameras on HTC 10

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 09:44:02 +0000

HTC took to Twitter again this morning, this time teasing the camera tech that is to be found on the upcoming HTC 10. In the tweet, HTC states, "World first, world class, front and back." We assume this alludes to high-quality sensors both on the front and backside of the device, but we can't quite put our finger on what "world first" means. It can't be dual cameras, because that idea has been implemented plenty of times. Dual OIS sensors on front and back? That's possible. If you want to see the device, you can look here, here, here, or here. There has been no shortage of looks at what HTC reportedly intends to launch. The only true question is, when will they release it? The latest rumor claims we are looking at a mid-April launch. Share your speculation down below.

World First, World Class, Front and Back. You’ll see. #powerof10 pic.twitter.com/qN9HN6OP5i
— HTC (@htc) March 15, 2016

SEGA and Warner Bros. Game Titles Coming to NVIDIA's GeForce NOW

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 08:40:03 +0000

Announced at this year's GDC in San Francisco, SEGA and Warner Bros. are bringing game titles to GeForce NOW, NVIDIA's Netflix-like game streaming service. As for which titles, fans of the Sonic franchise should be happy, as four titles from the Hedgehog lineup will be available for streaming. Also available from SEGA will be Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Alpha Protocol. From Warner Bros., gamers will gain access to Mad Max and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, two highly popular open-world action-adventure games based on their theatrical counterparts. In addition, LEGO Jurassic Park will be available for purchase on GeForce NOW. According to NVIDIA, the nine new titles in total will be available in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of available games for streaming to 100. As for pricing, nothing has changed. The service costs $7.99 a month, but for those who sign-up, the first three months are completely free. Do you play on GeForce Now?

Via: NVIDIA

Question of the Day: Nexus 5X Owners, Did Recent Update Fix the Jank?

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 16:05:22 +0000

On March 8, Nexus 5X owners were set to receive an update that was supposed to clean up much of the jank that resided in the device. By "fixing jank," the update was actually listed as featuring fixes for "overall stability, connectivity, and performance." This was in addition to being the monthly security update for March. During the review of the Nexus 5X, we found performance to be quite weak, with a lot of stuttering and lag taking place. For a Nexus device, this was not a fun experience. Now that a few days have passed, we have to ask Nexus 5X owners out there, has the jank been taken care of?

You Will Soon Test Drive Games Straight From Google Search

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:59:16 +0000

Buried inside of a list of changes for app developers on Android, Google has announced that users will soon see an option to test drive applications, games in particular, directly from Google Search results. This is essentially an expansion of Google's previous "Stream" option for mobile apps that was announced back in November. When enabled on Google's servers and by developers from their development console, if a user Google's "Panda Pop," for example, a button for "Try Now" will appear. When hit, folks can play a bit of the game, then choose to install the title right from Google Play. Google states that a user can test drive an app for up to 10 minutes, which in turn, leads to worthy downloads for developers. As written in the blog, "Using this format, you can drive qualified users who are likely to stay engaged with your game after install." In addition to test driving apps, Google is including new video recording APIs, predictive analytics, game parameters management, and more tools focused solely on game developers. Google states that the test drive feature will be rolling out of the next few weeks, so be on the lookout for it on Google Search.

Via: Android Developers

OnePlus Gallery App Now Available on Google Play

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:10:41 +0000

OnePlus launched its own Gallery app to Google Play this week, making updates for the app much easier to obtain for users. The OnePlus Gallery, beyond being the app that showcases all of your photos, features the ability to edit your daily photos with the usual options, such as cropping and drawing. When your edits are done, photos can be shared straight from the app into whichever app you would like. In order to download the app, you will need to own a OnePlus device. That would include the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, and OnePlus X. With the app placed onto Google Play, users should see more timely updates for it, since the app will no longer be a part of the OS at a system level. For anyone rocking a OnePlus device, grab it. Play Link

Moto X Pure Edition is Getting an Update Today, Says Sprint

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:37:24 +0000

Own a Moto X Pure Edition? Interested in receiving a new update? Feel free to check for one, as Sprint says that we should be expecting one as soon as today. Sprint's support page for the update doesn't mention what's included, nor do any of Motorola's support documents. It could be Android 6.0.1 or it could just be a security patch for March. We don't really know! Fun, right? If you see the update, let us know. In the mean time, we'll see what we can find out and will update this post.

Via: Sprint

Video: Nextbit Robin Unboxing and Tour

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:30:16 +0000

After a bit of waiting, we have a Nextbit Robin in-house at last. Back in September, I declared that Robin, a phone featured on Kickstarter, might not suck, and for the most part, reviews from across the web have somewhat validated my claims. While it is 2016, and the Robin ships with only a Snapdragon 808 processor, the device delivers what it promised, which is intelligent cloud storage in direct partnership with built-in storage. For those new to Robin, Nextbit created a system which loads and offloads non-used apps to the cloud, allowing storage to be freed up on the device for when you need it. When an app is needed, a user simply reloads the app (plus app data) onto their device. With that said, the plus side is that a user does not need to dictate which apps are important and which are not. The Nextbit OS, built on Android 6.0 "Marshmallow," handles the learning and cloud storage aspect. As a freshening up, specs on the Robin include a 5.2" 1080p display, Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, 100GB of online cloud storage, a fingerprint reader built into the power button along the side of the device, 13MP rear-facing camera, 5MP front-facing camera, front-facing speakers, USB Type-C, NFC, 2,680mAh battery, and the Nextbit OS running atop Marshmallow. For all of this tech, the price of Robin is set at $399, and the phone is available in two color options. As I state in the video, we are already hard at work reviewing the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and now we even have the LG G5 in-house. There's a lot of phones to cover right now, so this one may go on the back burner for a bit. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding the Robin, please shoot them below and I will be happy to answer them.

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Video: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:07:49 +0000

Over the weekend, we received an LG G5 and took it for a quick 2nd look, non-unboxing overview, after spending a solid 24 hours with it. Today, we're taking a look at how it compares to the Galaxy S7, since these really are the two flagship devices of substance for the first half of 2016. Deciding between the two isn't going to be easy, even if many of you can't stand that G5 camera hump. In this video, which is somewhat lengthy, we dive into the design of each, how their specs match-up, the big differences in features (water resistance, removable battery, etc.), a look at their very similar software, and some overall opinions on fingerprint sensor location, in-hand feel, and more. We'll have more coverage soon, including reviews of each. For now, let's get to comparing.

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Verizon Introduces Annual Upgrade Program With Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Purchases

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 10:48:21 +0000

If you buy a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge from Verizon on a device payment plan, you will be eligible to receive a new phone every single year going forward, thanks to their new Annual Upgrade Program. The program was announced this morning as a way for customers to exchange their high-end Samsung Galaxy phones or other new phones each year as the new flagships arrive. According to Verizon's FAQ for the program, all you need to do is purchase an S7 or S7 Edge (if you pre-ordered, you are already enrolled) on a device payment plan and once you have paid off 50% of the phone, you can swap it out at a Verizon store for another phone. Well, you also have to have owned the phone for 30 days. The basic idea is that within a year, you will have paid off 50% of the phone, just in time for the next wave of flagships to upgrade to. Verizon's FAQ also states that other devices are included in this upgrade program as well, as long as you entered into a device payment agreement before May 31, 2015. In other words, Verizon is ditching their requirement that asked you to pay off 100% of your phone in order to upgrade. This is Verizon's way of bringing back 50% paid-off upgrades. Make sense?

Via: Verizon [FAQ]

Contest: Enter the DL Bracket Challenge 2016 and Win a Nexus 6P!

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 10:11:40 +0000

Here we go! The Droid Life Bracket Challenge 2016 is now live and ready for your entry. This year (which is our 7th year of doing this contest), we are giving away a brand new Nexus 6P with 64GB of storage plus $100 in Google Play credit to the winner. For those new, each year for the past seven years we have put together a massive NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket challenge (which we are in no way affiliated with) through ESPN’s Tourney Challenge service. It works just like your office bracket pool, except this one is free and is massive. Last year, we had almost 2,500 entries and gave away a Nexus 9 plus $100 in Google Play gift cards. It’s loads of fun, even if you aren’t a college basketball fan. In fact, this is easily my favorite sports period of the entire year because everyone can get involved, talk about upsets, and brag about their perfect brackets. In order to play, you don’t need to know a thing about college basketball. All you need to do is fill out a bracket through ESPN, which you can do based on the color of each team, who has the cuter point guard, which mascot would win in a battle to the death, or maybe, should you actually watch college basketball, based on which team you think might actually win. I really don’t care. Just pick and submit. You ready?

Contest

ESPN Group: Droid Life 2016 Password: droidlife Prize: Winner takes home a Nexus 6P 64GB and $100 in Google Play credit. How to enter: 1. Entry is free. 2. Join the Droid Life group from above (create an ESPN account if you need to). 3. Fill out your bracket and submit before the “1st” round games start Thursday morning (March 17). 4. There are games tomorrow and Wednesday, but you still have until Thursday before you need to be entered. 5. Winner with the highest total points following the NCAA Championship is our winner. 6. We use ESPN and their scoring system, along with their tiebreaker system. 7. This is a “winner takes all” competition. Two rules: 1. We use the “Locked” setting, which means you can’t swap out brackets once the competition starts. 2. We also only allow 1 entry per person. Winner: On the morning following the NCAA Championship game, which takes place on April 4, we'll contact the winner through the ESPN Tourney Challenge Group Chat. If you win, you'll want to head there to see instructions. You can find the Group Chat here. Feel free to invite your friends and family members – the more competition, the more fun we have. Good luck, all! Apps: ESPN Tournament Challenge (manage your brackets) | NCAA March Madness Live (watch all games live)

NCAA March Madness App Gets Cast Support, Big Update Just Before Tourney

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:34:48 +0000

Last night, the NCAA unveiled the men's basketball tournament bracket for 2016, which means it's time for another DL Bracket Challenge. But before we get there, make sure you take a look at the updated NCAA March Madness app on Android. The app was recently updated to include a redesigned, Material-heavy experience on both phones and (especially) tablets, plus it includes Google Cast support for the first time. And don't forget that this app is major ? for the fact that it lets you watch every single game on mobile. With Cast support, you can be almost anywhere and stream this year's tourney games to a monitor or TV. All you need is the app, a cable subscription, and a TV that is hooked up to a Chromecast or has Cast-support built in. That's pretty awesome, actually, especially for those of us who may not be at home during the tournament. The update is available now, so feel free to grab it. What's new for 2016:

Google-cast enabled
Redesigned, immersive live video experience on tablet
Standalone Coke Zero Social Arena experience on tablet
Expanded video on demand content and video playlists
Improved bracket picking experience and SWEEPSTAKES for NCAA March Madness Bracket Challenge
NCAA March Madness Tournament Run now available on Android phone and tablet

Play Link

Qualcomm Intros Snapdragon Virtual Reality SDK for Developers

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:01:49 +0000

To help grow the booming number of experiences available to owners of a VR headset, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon VR SDK this morning, giving access to tools for VR developers that will help simplify the process of creating compatible applications. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 820 processor is more than capable of creating immersive VR experiences for consumers, but without the right set of tools, developers will face difficulty attempting to create applications. With the SDK, developers can heighten power efficiency, as well as improve performance across the board during the creative process. Qualcomm detailed a bit of the tech that is opened inside of the SDK, including DSP sensor fusion, VR layering, and stereoscopic rendering with lens correction. The list of included tech is below. With chipmakers now completely onboard to help create better VR experiences, consumers interested in virtual reality should be in for a real treat once developers get their hands on the SDK. Qualcomm states that the SDK should be available in Q2 of this year. Supported Tech in Snapdragon VR

DSP sensor fusion: Utilizing the full breadth of technologies built into Snapdragon 820, the SDK enables developers to create more responsive and immersive experiences by easily accessing the right combination of high frequency inertial data from gyroscopes and accelerometers via the Snapdragon Sensor Core and predictive head position processing with the Qualcomm® Hexagon™ DSP
Fast motion to photon: Supports asynchronous time warp with single buffer rendering for fast transformation of rendered images in 3D space, which helps reduce latency by up to 50% compared with not using the SDK
Stereoscopic rendering with lens correction: Supports 3D binocular vision with color correction and barrel distortion for improved visual quality of graphics and video, enhancing the overall VR experience
VR layering: Generation of menus, text, and other overlays so that they render correctly in a virtual world, reducing distortions that would otherwise make them difficult to read
Power management: Integration with the Qualcomm® Symphony System Manager SDK to provide cohesive CPU, GPU, and DSP power and performance management to help achieve stable frame rates for VR applications running in low-power, thermally-constrained devices – improving power efficiency compared to not using the SDK

Via: Qualcomm

DEAL: SanDisk 64GB MicroSD Card Just $18 Today, 200GB at $60, on Amazon

Kellen — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 07:59:25 +0000

I think it's pretty obvious at this point, after who knows how many weeks of deals, that SanDisk and Amazon are well-aware that this year's flagship device category is filled with phones that include microSD card slots. Or maybe they are just going nuts over the fact that Samsung has once again embraced expandable storage. Whatever the case, should you be in the market for some extra storage on your new Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, or LG G5, we (once again) have good news - SanDisk memory products are up to 70% off today at Amazon. The daily flash deal includes massive discounts on microSD cards including 32GB cards for just $10 or the big dog 200GB card for $59.99. But you'll also find regular sized SD cards, thumb drives, ultra fit flash drives two-way OTG drives, and solid state drives. Here are just a couple of the deals worth noting:

32GB Class 10 microSD - $9.99
64GB Class 10 microSD - $17.99
128GB Class 10 microSD - $34.99
200GB Class 10 microSD - $59.99
128GB 2-way OTG drive - $29.99
960GB Solid State Drive - $199
240GB portable Solid State Drive - $79.99

Amazon Link

Video: LG G5 is in House, Let's Take a Deeper Look

Kellen — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 11:44:24 +0000

The LG G5 won't launch in the US until early April, but we now have one in house to get more familiar with. While that doesn't mean full testing or an incredibly early review (because this is a really early unit and that wouldn't be fair to LG or the phone), that does mean we can show you all of the G5's features in greater detail, take software and hardware tours, and get all up in the comparison game with the Galaxy S7. In the video below, you won't find an LG G5 unboxing, since we don't even have retail packaging, but you will find all of what I mentioned above - a better hardware and software tour than we gave you a few weeks ago at the launch event, along with impressions after using the phone for a full day. I know that a number of you are hesitating on this phone because of that dual-camera setup on the back, but trust me when I say that this is a phone that feels incredible in hand and (at least to me) actually looks quite good. It's also ridiculously premium feeling with its all-metal body and isn't anywhere near being a fingerprint magnet. It's quite bubbly or rounded, making it easy to manage, doesn't include Samsung's offensive navigation button setup, and seems to have a really good fingerprint reader. More to come, but for now, enjoy the video!

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Galaxy S7 Day!

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 20:27:55 +0000

After spending the past couple of weeks with both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, today's DL Show will focus on some real-world, deeper thoughts on each. We have previewed the two in other shows, but we now have much more fully-informed opinions that we would like to share. Also, because today is launch day for Samsung's newest flagships, what else were we going to talk about? If we get through that, we'll talk about new HTC 10 pictures, the LG G5's fate after coming on so late, and more. Oh yeah, Android N is also out. We should probably talk about that too. 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: March 11, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:15:39 +0000

Anything happen this week? Only massive amounts of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge coverage, the introduction of Android N and its first developer preview, Hangouts 8.0, a new Q&A session, new HTC 10 pictures, Project Fi going invite-free, and an official timeframe for the LG G5. It was an insane week. I would try and tell you where to begin, but there is just so much going on that moment. We should have our S7 and S7 Edge reviews up shortly, so be sure to run through all of the recent coverage to see where we stand so far. Or maybe just watch the DL Show from today, since it covers everything and then some. Get to it!

Watch: Droid Life Show episode 104 | Subscribe
Video: Galaxy S7 Edge unboxing!
Video: Quick look at Edge Panel of the Galaxy S7 Edge
Video: Galaxy S7 vs. Nexus 6P vs. Moto X Pure vs. Galaxy Note 5
Galaxy S7: 9 things that drive me nuts
Opinion: Samsung needs to start offering unlocked models of its flagships in the US
LG G5 is officially coming in early April
Google randomly, out of no where, announces the Android N first preview
Android N will arrive this summer, called Nutella?
Android Beta Program opens with Android N
Download: Android N developer preview factory images
Android N Video Tour: Part 1 | Part 2
Android N: Everything that is new in the N developer preview
Android N: The app switcher button is now awesome
Android N: New emergency info screen is a great addition
Android N: Optimizing Apps screen will no longer be so damn slow
Android N: Download the new Android N wallpaper
Hangouts 8.0 is out and adds to the Android N notifications experience
Nexus 6P is getting a decent update | Nexus 5X too
DL Q&A sessions: volume 28 answers
DROID Turbo 2 finally, finally got Marshmallow
Photos: New pictures of the HTC 10
HTC 10 could arrive April 19
Nest finally added family accounts, also introduce mobile home/away action
Waze 4.0 is now available!
Google has a new Destinations planner for mobile
Poll: What is your typical screen on time in a day?
Google's Project Fi no longer requires an invite

It's raining in Portland. Shocker.

DEAL: Unlocked Galaxy S7 on eBay for $599, S7 Edge for $699

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:45:39 +0000

Of course, just hours after I took Samsung to task for not offering unlocked phones here in the US, we have eBay sellers pop-up with pretty incredible deals on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge that will surely satisfy our unlocked needs. At $599, you can own the unlocked Galaxy S7 (SM-G930F), or you can bump up to Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935F) for $699. That's around $100 off of each when compared to US carriers. For example, Verizon sells the S7 at $672 and AT&T at $695. Keep in mind that these are international models, so they come equipped with Samsung's Exynos octa-core processors instead of the Snapdragon 820. They also will only work on GSM carriers in the US, which means AT&T and T-Mobile (and the MVNOs that use their networks). Each should support LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 26. At those prices, these seem to be going quick and most colors are gone. However, the silver S7 is available! (Yes, I just bought it.) The sellers claim to have stock now, while most on eBay are only offering pre-orders. eBay Links: Galaxy S7 (SM-G930F) | Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935F)

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 38 Answers

Tim — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:26:39 +0000

We have gathered up your questions from this past week, and are now ready to share our answers with you. This week, many questions focused on the modular state of affairs taking place in the smartphone industry, with a few of you questioning if modular phones are just a gimmick. Other questions focused on how good Project Fi is (now that it's invite free), and we even got asked who would win a fight between Batman and Superman. There were a ton of questions, so we did our best to focus efforts on the ones we could handle in a timely manner. Now, onto the questions!

Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim.

Are modular phones the next big thing or just another gimmick?

K: I think with LG taking the lead, it'll become something. With the G5, it does seem like a bit of a gimmick, but I that's because it's all so new. In the G6 (so next year), we could see some cooler applications that hopefully don't involve removing the battery each time. I just think you could potentially expand the life of a phone, or the camera, or battery, or audio, or a number of other things by going the modular route. Right now it might seem gimmicky, but I think there could be a future. T: As far I am concerned at this moment, they are borderline gimmick. I think LG is attempting to differentiate themselves from the pack with the G5, and I should note, they are doing a fine good job at that. However, are any of these modules definitively usable? So far, we have a janky camera attachment and a somewhat neat speaker setup. These are neat concepts, but nothing that I see as game changing. For now, I shall reserve absolute judgement until I have a modular device in-hand.

I'm considering that I should prioritize the sound/speaker in my next phone purchase. Do any of the new phones have good speakers?

K: Nexus 6P and Moto X Pure Edition are your best bet. The rest of the new phones (S7, G5, and HTC 10) all seem to have a single, bottom-firing speaker. T: Well, the Galaxy S7 probably won't be your first choice. From my experience so far, the speaker is pretty weak. Coming the Nexus 6P, which has two front-facing speakers, that device can get very loud. As for tonal range and a more wide sound, I suppose nothing beats the One M9 in the Android category. But I don't recommend that phone at all, so for now, I would suggest the Nexus 6P or Moto X Pure Edition.

Now that Project Fi is invite free would you choose it over Cricket, Metro PCS, etc?

K: All depends on how T-Mobile and Sprint coverage are in your area. If they are good, it's probably a decent option. If not, anything tied to AT&T's network is a good option for prepaid. Also keep in mind that Cricket and some of the other MVNOs are quite cheaper, even cheaper than Fi. T: It should really come down to which services offers the best service in your area. Do Sprint and T-Mobile offer good coverage in your area? If so, you can't go wrong with Project Fi. The prices are pretty good, and the fact that Google only charges for what you use is super clutch. Plus, it's Google. When I was using Project Fi, the customer service was impeccable. For me, that's a huge bonus.

Are you excited for the HTC 10 or do you see it being dead on arrival?

K: I actually expect it to be a really good phone, which probably surprises you. HTC is finally putting a real camera in a phone that we know is good (Nexus 6P), will create a great in-hand feeling phone, and will more than likely sell it unlocked. Those are all things I appreciate. Do I think HTC will sell tons of them and return from the dead? Hah, no. T: Just gonna throw this out there - it's completely DOA. Do I need to give a reason why? Maybe, but c'mon, we're all expecting this device to flop, right? The competition is simply too stiff this year. Samsung gave us the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, two incredibly legit phones, and LG has its modular/metallic G5. What does HTC intend to compete with? A home button (fingerprint reader), capacitive buttons, and UltraPixel camera? Nah, I'm good.

Should we stop caring about IR blasters in smartphones?

K: I didn't know that people cared about them. I've never used one in any phone I have ever owned... T: Yes, you should. I understand you want a remote control on your phone, but let's just let it go. It was cool while it was around, but it shouldn't be a deal breaker by any means.

How important are Android software updates for my smartphone?

K: Incredibly important. Not only do they patch potentially serious security vulnerabilities, they also do give you new features. They may not all stand out like a new UI would, but they could improve battery life, speed up boot times or app install times, etc. You always want what's new, even if it's just to shut up your obnoxious Apple friend. T: Super important! Updates contain patches for security exploits, annoying bugs, and so much else. At times, it seems that both carriers and the OEMs don't place updates at high enough of importance, and I hope one day, that isn't the case. For now. do whatever you can to make sure you are running the latest and greatest update available for your particular device.

Who's gonna win? Batman or Superman?

K: Come on, neither. They'll get all mad and broseph it out by destroying Metropolis some more, then become teammates to take on Lex Luthor. I just hope it doesn't suck. I kind of think it won't, but it probably will. Please don't, though. T: I'm happy you ask! Recently, I came across a theory, albeit a crazy one, that claims Bruce Wayne is the killer of his parents. Without ruining it completely, click the link and read it for yourself. It may change the way you see Bruce Wayne.

Kendrick Lamar or Kanye West?

K: Ugh. Kanye for me, based on reasons I'd rather not share because I don't want to offend anyone, hah. T: Kendrick! To Pimp a Butterfly was a fantastic piece of rap music, which in my opinion, is a lost art form. Yeah, he's as preachy as a evangelical in Mississippi, but you gotta respect his game.

You have stated that you don't care much for Virtual Reality at this time, but can you briefly explain why?

K: I think I explained it pretty well here. But my general thought is that people are already too disconnected with the world because of their phones and smartwatches and tablets and TVs, that the last thing our deteriorating society needs is to get people to spend hours in head-engulfing virtual fakeness. Go have a beer with your friends and unplug for a bit, folks. T: The experience is getting better! Maybe when everyone has $1K+ computers and the hardware is more widely accessible (cheaper), it can be widely adopted. Until that day, it's just something for tech blogs to get excited about.

To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Video: A Quick Look at What's New in Edge Panel on the Galaxy S7 Edge

Tim — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:30:32 +0000

During my review of the Galaxy S6 Edge, I turned off the Edge Panel features. Why? Franky, because they sucked. On the Home screen, there was one panel, People Edge, and it wasn't all that great. On the lock screen, there were plenty of tickers to choose from, but in real life scenarios, they weren't helpful or fun to use. In 2016, Samsung is offering the Galaxy S7 Edge, with a completely remodeled Edge Panel. But, does it have any worthy features? Surprisingly, yes, it absolutely does. Unlike the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Edge Panel found on the Galaxy S7 Edge is highly useful, and I intend to use it quite often. With that being said, let's go over what's new. Again, unlike the Edge Panel found on the Galaxy S6 Edge, there are many different panels to choose from on the Galaxy S7 Edge. This is thanks to many updates to the Edge Panel app, found on the Samsung Apps store. On the Galaxy S7 Edge, there are panels for sports scores, app shortcuts, feature shortcuts inside of specific Samsung apps, news tickers, and even a compass panel. Really, there's a ton to choose from, half of which you probably won't even use. On the lock screen, users still benefit from Edge Lighting, news tickers, sports tickers, and notifications. Essentially, not much has changed with regard to the Edge Panel and the lock screen. However, inside of the Settings menu for the Edge Panel app, you can change up the transparency of the tab, adjust its size, and placement along the side of the display. All of these features really help bring value to the Edge Panel. Without saying too much, check out our video below, comparing Edge Panel on the Galaxy S6 Edge and the Galaxy S7 Edge. As you will see, thee difference is night and day. Do we have any Galaxy S7 Edge owners here? If so, do you think Samsung did a good job at adding more value with the Edge Panel?

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DEAL: Moto X Pure Edition is Just $299 at Best Buy ($100 Off) (Updated: Amazon, Motorola Too)

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:08:53 +0000

I know that the Android world is really excited about the waive of deals on the Nexus 6P that showed up this morning, but Best Buy has a potentially better deal on the Moto X Pure Edition. For just $299 today ($100 off!), you can grab the newest flagship from Moto, a phone that we still consider to be one of the top 5 Android phones available today. At $299, you are getting the all-black model with 16GB of storage, but just remember that the phone includes a microSD card slot that supports up to 128GB cards. If you don't want the black model, you can grab the white and bamboo version for $100 off as well. Since bamboo is considered an upgrade, your base price there is $325. If you need more than 16GB of internal storage, the 32GB models of each are also discounted, but only by $50. Our Moto X Pure Edition review is worth a read if this interests you. Best Buy Link UPDATE: Amazon has the same deal! UPDATE 2: Motorola too! With MotoMaker!

Cheers James!

Samsung Pay Deal Lands You $30 Gift Card for Paying Once

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 10:54:03 +0000

With your new Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, should you happen to have a supported card through Samsung's mobile payment service, consider making a purchase before the end of March. If you do so with Samsung Pay, you'll be gifted a $30 gift card to one of a handful of select retailers. All Samsung is asking that you do is "complete your first qualifying transaction" with Samsung Pay on your S7 or S7 Edge and you will get to choose a $30 gift card to Regal Cinema, Nike, eBay, Whole Foods, or Best Buy. Pretty easy, right? The full details can be found at Samsung's website.

Deal: Nexus 6P for $50 Off, Plus Gift Cards From Numerous Retailers (Updated: $75 Off at Amazon)

Tim — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:31:38 +0000

Taking place right now, numerous retailers are marking the Nexus 6P at a $50 discount, and is also throwing in varying goodies in addition to the smartphone. Here are deals we're seeing:

At Newegg, when you buy the Nexus 6P, the company are also throwing in a $50 promo code to use on its website. These codes can be redeemed towards anything you would like.
The same is taking place at B&H Photo and Video, with the Nexus 6P listed at $50 off, plus a $50 gift card for use on its website towards a separate purchase.
Best Buy, while it is also offering $50 off of the Nexus 6P, is including a smartphone case from Speck, listed at a $40 value.
For those not concerned about the extra goodies, Nexus 6P devices sold and shipped by Amazon are also listed at $50 off, but come with no gift card.

The $50 off does not appear to be limited to any particular storage option or color. With $50 off, the 32GB Nexus 6P model comes to $449.99, the 64GB to $499.99, and in select colors, the 128GB model is $599.99. Follow the links below to take advantage of this sweet deal. Deal Links: Newegg | B&H | Best Buy | Amazon UPDATE: The phone is now $75 off at Amazon and at Best Buy.

Cheers Zeyad!

The Next Thing Samsung can Follow Apple's Lead On.

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:47:22 +0000

Yes, Samsung, as the world's largest smartphone manufacturer, you should be able to release an unlocked version of your flagship phones. Apple does it. Google certainly does it. Hell, even Motorola and HTC are doing it these days. Why aren't you? Seriously, why aren't you? If it's a carrier issue, get the f*ck out of here. You are big enough that you shouldn't be giving in to all carrier demands. Of course, we're pretty sure you are, just look at the bloatware and branding all over the US carrier variants of the phones you sell. That's really unfortunate. You see, some of us, well, we don't want to buy through carriers. We would rather just buy the phone from you, the manufacturer. We would like to see your vision for your phone, without Verizon's Navigator and AT&T's Locker (whatever the hell that even is) and Amazon's apps and Yellowpages or Whitepages or whatever other spam-filled idea from the past that is pre-loaded in your app drawers. We don't want to attach a phone to a carrier we don't really care for for an entire month, just so they'll give us an unlock code to take it elsewhere. We certainly don't want the branding - look at what you allowed Verizon to do a couple of years ago. Oh, we also would like choice, like in colors. Because, everywhere else in the world is getting cool blues and greens and silvers, yet the US and your carrier-only approach, doesn't want to give us those choices. But maybe more importantly, we would love to get updates without the carrier interference. You are one of the worst at updating phones, but if you sold an unlocked model or two, maybe you wouldn't have that reputation. Maybe then, you could push updates quicker and to the customers who are probably screaming the loudest about you being bad at updating. Look how quickly Motorola pushed out Marshmallow just this past year, and the promises that HTC is comfortable making (and has kept up with) for updates. You could do that too, Samsung. And look at this, your own website even has a sweet little blank spot in its carrier and retailer chooser where you could put "SIM FREE," just like Apple does! How convenient. It wouldn't be hard to do. It's obvious that you sell international unlocked models, because some of us have to buy them through semi-shady eBay sellers and UK retailers.

But you probably won't ever in the US. The carriers are too mean or something. Those of us who appreciate a clean, bloatware and branding free phone of yours will continue to have to import them and pay hundreds more than retail. We'll continue to have to disable dozens of apps and snarl at logos. We'll continue to be annoyed at the entire situation. That sucks. You know what doesn't suck? Apple's approach to unlocked and SIM free phones. Yeah, you should look into, Samsung.

Whaaaaaaat: Lil Wayne is Pouring Champagne All Over his Galaxy S7, and Delivering Baby Elephants in VR

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:49:09 +0000

Hopefully, you enjoy Lil Wayne and champagne, because both are about to be all over your commercial breaks as the stars of Samsung's new line of Galaxy S7 commercials. We first saw Wayne in Samsung's Oscar commercials alongside a bunch of other celebs, but he seems to have emerged as the lead in the S7 and S7 Edge campaign. The commercials aren't bad. Lil Wayne can be a funny dude, especially when he's mocking his own lifestyle and his friends and the thought of wasting really expensive champagne to show that his phone is water resistant. Will these help Samsung sell lots of phones? They might. I don't know. Whaaaaaaaat. UPDATE: Weird, Samsung made two of the champagne videos private.

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Oh, he's also doing ads for the Gear VR that don't involve champagne, but do involve Weezy speaking in the 3rd person. And Wesley Snipes.

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Where to Buy the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:26:55 +0000

Still haven't decided whether or not to pull the trigger on a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge? Today is the day that you can officially buy them in stores, so you can finally make a decision after your own personal hands-on time. While a number of you pre-ordered because you knew from day 1 that one of these would be your next phone, we know that a number of you have been waiting to get your paws on them in person. Thankfully, everyone should have them today, including the big carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint, plus the big retailers as well (Best Buy, Target, etc.). If you need quick links to them, we have those below. For specific pricing and all of the deals that each carrier or retailer is including, you'll want to check out this post. We're talking freebies that include the Gear VR, microSD cards, Netflix for a year, and more.

AT&T: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
VERIZON: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
T-MOBILE: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
SPRINT: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge
BEST BUY: Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge

If you missed any of our coverage through today, you may want to check out our Galaxy S7 unboxing, Galaxy S7 Edge unboxing, how the S7 compares to today's best Android phones, and even the things that drive me nuts about the S7.

Today is Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Launch Day! Here are 10 Things to Consider Doing

Kellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:12:36 +0000

The big day is here! If your pre-order is finally arriving or you plan to stop by a store today to pick-up the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, you may want to check out this video that we posted well over a week ago. In it, we give you 10 things to consider doing to your phone after setup to get the most out of it. These aren't 10 "must do" things, but more like 10 ideas that could help you enhance the experience of your new Samsung phone. For example, tossing in a microSD card is highly recommended, as is the camera Quick Launch, but turning on Always-On Display could be good for some of you, just not for all of you (read: those who are crazy about savoring every ounce of battery). But you'll also learn about cleaning up home screens, setting your favorite settings, and diving into themes to really make your new phone yours. Let us know how your first few hours are going!

#TBT: That Time Steve Wozniak Called the Thunderbolt the Worst Gadget He Ever Paid For

Tim — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:34:40 +0000

For this week's #TBT, we would like to highlight a low point in the history of Android. Remember the Thunderbolt? The man, Steve Wozniak, very much disliked that phone from HTC. But, how is that possible? The Thunderbolt was the first publicly available phone to run on Verizon's uber-fast 4G LTE network! What was wrong with it? Well, how about the constant reboots, crap signal no matter where you went, and the despicable update support? Mr. Woz apparently liked this phone so little that he felt the need to go into Gizmodo's comment section and share his feelings. When Gizmodo asked its community "What's the Worst Gadget You Actually Paid For?," this was Steve's blunt reply.

While the explanation is not all there, the fact is, undeniably, Woz thought it was the worst gadget he ever paid for. Ouch. Good times, right, ex-Thunderbolt owners?

Hangouts 8.0 is Out, Includes Inline Notification Replies for Android N

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:16:27 +0000

An update to Hangouts started rolling out last night on Android and has picked up steam today, bringing with it support for Android N's inline notification responding. The update is v8.0, though we aren't seeing much new on Marshmallow devices. It really seems like this update was pushed with Android N in mind. If you are running the developer preview of N, installing this allows you to respond to Hangouts messages from within the notification shade. As you can see in the image above, a quick tap on "reply" within a notification opens a reply box and send button for quick messaging. During the entire reply, you are never taken from the notification shade. It's super slick and you'll want to give it a shot. The update should also add Android N's new bundled notifications to Hangouts as well. You can install via Google Play or sideload the apk that we collected. Play Link | Download Link (v8.0.116581895)

Photos: Here's the HTC 10, In the Flesh

Tim — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:40:14 +0000

We have seen plenty of press renders for the HTC 10, the company's upcoming flagship device, but now, actual photos of the reported device have hit the web. In my mind, photographs represent what to expect from hardware much better than press renders, given the eye can better see tiny details and textures that are not apparent in digital renders. The photos in question, posted to Twitter, show that we can expect more metal from HTC in 2016, but also that the company has apparently taken a step backward in embracing what the Android community wants. Focusing primarily on the righthand photo, we can see the device's frontside. Now, draw your attention to the bottom. See anything incredibly disturbing? Yup, those are capacitive buttons on the left and right side of the home button/fingerprint reader. Does anyone else remember when HTC removed capacitive buttons from the One M series, much to the delight of consumers? It was HTC taking a step toward aligning themselves with what Google offered in Nexus devices, which was on-screen buttons. We loved this move, as it made the frontside bezels take up less space, allowing for larger displays. Now, not only is HTC putting a home button on front, but also slapping Back and Recent Apps buttons down there. Feel free to take note of the large gap between the display and home button, too. That's a whole lotta chin. Additionally, we should probably expect a HTC logo to make its way to the front as well. For a bit of speculating, it would be interesting to see if HTC implements a software feature like OnePlus, which allows users to switch back and forth between on-screen buttons and capacitive buttons. That might fix the main beef we have with this move, but then you still have these large, unused sections on the front of the phone. The rest of the photos align nicely with the press renders we have seen, not showing off too much else in terms of new intel. We can see the Sense clock widget, a few of HTC's Sense icons, and a sweet lava flow wallpaper. Please, do share your thoughts below. Are you okay with HTC bringing back the capacitive buttons?

Via: @tanalibera

Android N: RIP, Slow as Hell "Optimizing Apps" Screen

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:27:19 +0000

What's our least favorite screen in Android? You don't need to answer that because I'm about to tell you. It's the "Optimizing apps..." screen that pops up just after you install a new update on your phone. You know you have seen this screen. It's the screen that stares back at you after updating to the latest version of Android, knowing that you can't contain yourself at the joy beyond that first reboot. But it won't let you experience that joy. No, sir, this screen's shit-eating grin is next-level as it "optimizes" one app after another, potentially over a hundred times, depending on the number of apps you have installed. It's sipping a watermelon mojito (probably blended), enjoying the fact that you want to hit buttons or speed something up or do...anything (!) to get past it. "Hah," it often says, "Do you even optimize, bro?" with a popped Polo collar and chuckle. Yeah, the "Optimizing Apps" screen sucks. It was created to torture you. It's good at it. You hate it. We hate it. But guess what? In Android N, it will become a thing of the past. Well, not completely, but it at least won't be so obnoxiously slow as it optimizes. There is a whole bunch of ~~nerd~~ developer JIT-ART-AOT stuff going on here in N to minimize the amount of processing and "optimizing," all of which I have no business attempting to explain to you. Just know this. In Android N, you'll be able to install apps faster than ever and also install system updates without slapping the blended cocktail out of the "Optimizing apps..." screen. Google is calling it "Quick path to app install" and describes it as:

One of the most tangible benefits of ART's JIT compiler is the speed of app installs and system updates. Even large apps that required several minutes to optimize and install in Android 6.0 can now install in just a matter of seconds. System updates are also faster, since there's no more optimizing step.

As I mentioned, there is a lot more to it than just this single paragraph, so if you are interested in the dirty details, head over to the Android N API overview here.

Sprint Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are Getting Marshmallow Today

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:55:15 +0000

As you all know, Verizon (somehow) became the first US carrier to introduce Marshmallow to a Samsung flagship from 2015. That phone was the Galaxy Note 5. We don't even want to know the politics behind Verizon being first, when they are almost always last, because it'll likely anger us, so we'll just point out that Sprint is now the second in line to do so. Both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, on that other network with yellow involved and unlimited-not-unlimited data plans and something-for-life, but probably-not-for-life leasing options, are receiving the update to Android 6.0.1 today. The Galaxy S6 will see software version G920PVPU3CPB6, while the S6 Edge will get G925PVPU3CPB6. A handful of our readers have already received the update, so you may want to jump into Settings>System update>Update now, to experience Doze, Now on Tap, and the rest of Marshmallow.

Via: Sprint [2]

Nest Intros Family Accounts, Home/Away Assist for Better Automation (Android Wear Support, Too)

Tim — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:43:59 +0000

Nest is introducing two new features for owners this week - Family accounts and Home/Away Assist. For those who live in a household with others, and not just themselves, it makes sense that you would want others in your home to have the ability to control Nest. With that said, Nest now allows 10 individuals to control Nest via the Nest app for iOS and Android. All you have to worry about now is a fight over the thermostat. While the above new feature is cool, Nest's new Home/Away Assist is where the learning thermostat really shines. With this feature, the thermostat will employ new methods and algorithms to hopefully learn about your family's movement habits better. The endgame is to better predict when someone is actually home or not, adjusting the temperature of a home as needed. For those with a family who all opt-in to a family account, Home/Away Assist should be extremely smart. As more data from various sensors and people's locations is gathered, Nest should become better at deciding when the heat should be cranked or not. As the Nest team writes, "Family Accounts provides a critical piece of the puzzle. When family members opt in, it lets Home/Away Assist use data from their phones. We’ve wanted to do Home/Away Assist for a long time now. But more importantly, we wanted to do it right. By combining sensor data, algorithms and multiple phones, we think we’ve nailed it." To make these changes, simply update the Nest app via your respective app store. Update: Listed on Google Play as a new feature is Android Wear support, allowing Nest owners to control the temperature in their home from a Android Wear smartwatch. Sweetness. Play Link

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Via: Nest

Video: Android N's App Switcher is Pretty Awesome Now

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:19:35 +0000

When Google first introduced the swipe-up gesture for Google Now, our minds start racing over the future and possibilities of navigation buttons. Before then, we all just sort of took those buttons to mean simple functions: back meant back, home meant home, and the app switcher (or menu at one point) meant switching to recently used apps. In recent years, though, we have seen long-presses pop-up multi window functionality on some phones, new options added to the swipe-up gesture, and even old school menu access brought back. With Android N, Google is looking to take these buttons another step forward, specifically, through the app switcher. In yesterday's Android N preview tour, we showed you how multi window works and how you activate it (long-press on the app switcher). But after playing around with this first N preview, we realized there is so much more to that button than just activating multi window. For one, the new app switcher screen shows much bigger card previews of apps with more information. But it's when you start tapping on the button that kicks off the magic. For example, a double tap launches you into your most recently used app when on the home screen. If you are in another app, that same double brings up your 2nd most recently used app. You can actually double tap over and over again to switch quickly between two apps. If you want to toggle through your entire list of recently used apps, you can tap the app switcher over and over to do so one by one (with a little pause in between), instead of having to uncontrollably scroll with your finger. And of course, you can long-press to get into multi window, or use that new swipe gesture we pointed out in our preview 2 video. Or maybe you forgot to activate multi window and are in the app switcher already - you can drag and drop card previews into highlighted areas on the screen to take you there. See? We're talking some pretty useful new shortcuts. To see them all in action, check out the video below.

SwiftKey Keyboard Intros Stats, Number Row in Password Fields

Tim — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:18:12 +0000

SwiftKey's first update after being acquired by Microsoft is now available to the public through Google Play. Inside, SwiftKey has implemented SwiftKey Stats, which gives visualizations of how you, the user, type. This can be accessed by visiting the Settings inside of the app. Also included in the update, there are improved corrections in Korea, the hub menu no longer blocks the Q/1 key in password fields, and a number row is shown in password fields. SwiftKey even felt it necessary to list that they agreed to join Microsoft in the changelog. Go grab that update. What's New

My SwiftKey Stats’- fun visualizations of how you type (in settings)
Number row now shown in password fields
Improved corrections in Korean
Agreed to join Microsoft*
Hub menu no longer blocks the Q/1 key in password fields
You can now flow in Vietnamese
Hebrew undocked thumb layout displays correctly

Play Link

Waze 4.0 Launches on Google Play, Fancy ETA Panel and Improved Power Consumption

Tim — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:48:21 +0000

After much teasing, Waze 4.0 is officially available on Google Play, bringing a gang of changes to Android users. Inside, Waze has "significantly" reduced battery consumption, while also incorporating an entirely redesigned reporting menu for sharing road information with fellow drivers. Also listed on the changelog is "fewer taps." This means, when you start up the app, it will take fewer taps to start a drive, send locations, as well as get directions. A new ETA panel organizes all of the info you need during a drive in one place. From the ETA panel, you can view reports, check alt. routes, add stops, and more. View the changelog below, then give it a go if Waze is your navigation app of choice. What's New

Significantly reduced battery consumption.
Fewer taps to start a drive, send locations and directions.
New ETA panel organizes everything you need in one place. View reports, check alternate routes, add a stop on the way, or instantly send ETA to friends and family.
Smart reminders to leave on time for your Calendar events based on traffic conditions and drive times.

Play Link

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DEAL: Huawei Watch, One of the Best Android Wear Devices You can Buy, is Just $269 Today

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:34:44 +0000

The Huawei Watch, a smartwatch that is easily one of the two best available today, is discounted at Amazon for the day by as much as $130. You can read our Huawei Watch review for details on why we love this watch so much. Actually, here are 3 reasons you should buy it right here. Huawei positioned this watch as a premium timepiece, rather than just another quickly made, affordable smartwatch. They went with premium materials, finishes, and presentation. They also put in an amazing display and were hoping to build a device that will last for a while. Amazon has almost all variants discounted today, even the all black version for just $319. This is is the unit that normally retails for $450. But they also have the stainless steel model with stainless steel bracelet for just $279 ($120 off), the stainless model with mesh band at a $85 discount, the rose gold model at $96 off, and the base leather band model for $269. These are easily the best prices we have seen yet on the Huawei Watch. Amazon Link

Nexus 6P Update to MHC19I Will Also Introduce a Number of Improvements

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 06:38:12 +0000

On Tuesday, a Nexus community manager showed up at reddit to inform Nexus 5X owners that they would finally be receiving their jank-fixing update. The update would rollout as special build MHC19J, with not only bug fixes and the latest security patches, but stability, connectivity, and performance enhancements as well. Of course, Nexus 6P owners were wondering why they weren't getting the same love. Yesterday, during the surprise release of Android N, Google quietly snuck in a new factory image for the 6P (which we noted here) with a similar build number that is also a substantial update. Orrin, the Nexus community manager, returned to reddit to confirm as much. The update, which is build MHC19I, includes a "number of bug fixes that will improve overall stability and performance." We're talking "general device performance," but also fixes for the disappearing Do Not Disturb next alarm option, some carrier-specific stuff, and connectivity issues. The over-the-air update should have started, so let us know if you get it.

Via: reddit

LG G5 Will Arrive in the US in Early April

Kellen — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 06:22:12 +0000

This morning, LG announced that its new flagship phone, the LG G5, will arrive in the US in early April at all of the expected spots. You will be able to buy the G5 and its "Friends" at AT&T, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon. Today's announcement did not include pricing or an exact date, but LG is going offer - "for a limited time" - a free extra battery and battery charging cradle when you purchase a G5. You know, because it's all modular and has a removable battery, and all. Details for that promo can be found here. Don't tell me you forgot about the G5? I know we are fully invested in Galaxy S7 and Android N hype-mode, but the G5 should not be overlooked.

Android N Lets You Add Personal Emergency Info to Your Lock Screen

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:11:25 +0000

Android N is turning out to be another of those change-filled updates that is equipped with all sorts of little goodies that we are discovering as the day wears on. One of those is the new Emergency Info screen under "Users," which lets you put in all sorts of information that could be used by someone, should there be an emergency involving you. (This info can also be entered upon phone setup.) To access the new Emergency Info screen, you'll find a shortcut to it by accessing the "Users" section in your phone or tablet's main settings menu. Once you tap on it, you'll be taken to a form that allows you to specify name, address, date of birth, blood type, any known allergies you may have, what medications you are on, medical conditions someone should know about, and if you are an organ donor. You can also specify emergency contacts that someone could call from the emergency calls screen.

This panel only reveals itself should you have a secure lock screen, which makes sense, since then someone couldn't just open up your phone to find out info about you. But if you do have a secure lock in place and you access the emergency dialer, you'll see a panel at the top that can be tapped twice to show your emergency info. Below, you can see how it shows and what the call screen looks like if you try and call a contact.

Talk about an extremely helpful addition to Android. I was actually recently thinking about this subject for some reason and couldn't figure out a way that should something happen to me, if anyone would be able to get into my phone to contact my wife or brother. With this added to Android N, that certainly solves that problem. Here's to hoping none of us ever needs someone to use it.

Cheers Sean!

Deal: Buy a Pixel C Tablet for 25% Off, If You're a Developer

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:45:42 +0000

To celebrate the launch of the Android N Developer Preview, Google is offering developers (or anyone willing to try, basically), the chance to buy a Pixel C tablet for 25% off its list price. If you apply 25% off to the cheapest model of the Pixel C, your price will be $375. To claim this offer, all you need to do is provide your email address to Google, then they will email you a unique promo code to use on the Google Store. According to Google, this deal will only last as long as supplies last, so if you are interested, you best hurry. And if you are not a developer, hey, what's the worst that could happen? They don't give you a code? No big deal. Hit the link below to enter in your email for a chance to get a code. Developer Discount Link

Download: Android N Wallpaper

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:19:41 +0000

Want the Android N wallpaper that you keep seeing all over our devices today? Well, we have it for you below in its full 2880x2560 resolution. Yep, it's a big one. It's also the only new one, so don't worry about finding the rest - this is it. Enjoy. DOWNLOAD LINK [Alt Link]

Android N: A Quick Video Tour (Part 2)

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:55:24 +0000

Earlier today, we took a quick tour of the new Android N Developer Preview, showing you how Google's take on Multi Window works, along with a brief overview of the new notifications, quick settings shade, and settings menu. It was really a video made to focus on the big upfront changes in Android N, so now we're focusing on some of the smaller, less obvious items. In this part 2 video, we take a look at what's new in the hidden System UI Tuner (Night Mode, DND toggles, etc.), show a quick method for accessing Multi Window, discover Data Saver, and some new accessibility features, like Display Size adjustments. To catch the tour one, head over to this post.

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Google Intros Chrome Music Lab, Musical Fun for Everyone

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:38:05 +0000

Google introduced the Chrome Music Lab this week, allowing anyone with access to the web via mobile device or desktop computer to play with music. With it, users (with an emphasis on younger folk) can physically engage themselves with music, turning drawn pictures into music, playing with voice pitch adjusters, and much more. When you access the webpage Google published, you will see a variety of experiments to try out. A few of them require permissions to be granted, such as one for the microphone on your device, but when granted, you can start making music. Personally, after having a go with it, I quite enjoy the Kadinsky experiment, which is the drawing exercise. The best way to explain it is, draw different shapes, and let Chrome turn it into sweet tunes. Other experiments cover arpeggios, a spectrogram (to see what music looks like), and a brief workshop on chords. Again, everything is sort of brightly colored and happy, so this might be something kids would greatly enjoy. I should note, the Music Lab works fine on desktop computers, but I think the best experience is on mobile devices. Wanna give it a shot? Click this link from your mobile device to get started.

Via: Chrome

Google's Android Head Talks Android N, Hints at Possible Name?

Tim — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:10:32 +0000

Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's head of all things Android, took to Medium to discuss the company's launch of the Android N Developer Preview. Detailing that this preview has been made available early so Google could take in as much feedback as possible before handing it over to OEMs "this summer," enrolling in and installing the beta process has never been more easy. Since we have already gone over quite a few things regarding Android N, we wanted to point out something in particular that Hiroshi writes at the end of his post. The last sentence, Hiroshi writes, "So, the burning question that’s on everyone’s mind: what will the N release be named? We’re nut tellin’ you yet." He placed a green highlight on "We're nut tellin' you yet." If you say "nut tellin'" quickly enough, you almost make out the word Nutella, the name of a delicious hazelnut chocolate spread. Is this Hiroshi's way of hinting that Android N will be Android Nutella? Or is he just having a bit of trolling fun with the Android community? Share your thoughts below, and feel free to provide your best guess as to what Google might name Android N.

Via: Medium

Android Beta Program Now Open, Sign-Up for Android N!

Kellen — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:05:04 +0000

The Android Beta Program is now open! As a part of the release of the first Android N Developer Preview, Google is also kicking off a beta program that gives you over-the-air (OTA) access to these preview builds. This is a way for developers (or Android nerds who just love new versions of Android) to get the newest builds without having to flash factory images. As new versions of these preview builds rollout, you should be the first in line to receive them over-the-air, assuming you have registered. We should point out that after registering our devices, the OTA to Android N appeared on all of our registered devices almost immediately. So if you have yet to flash a factory image to N, stop now and just sign-up for the beta. You'll get notified right away. Android Beta Program Link