Droid Life

About the LG V20 Being the First Android 7.0 Nougat Phone...

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 12:08:43 +0000

LG, you sneaky devil, you. Surprising the world with an out-of-no-where announcement last night suggesting that you will be the first manufacturer to ship a phone with Android 7.0 Nougat. That phone, of course, is the LG V20. I like this move, not because you are shipping a device that is actually up-to-date, but because you confused the hell out of the timing of this whole Nougat situation. And now we get to talk about it. To catch everyone up, understand that last night, LG announced the V20, saying that it will be the "world's first phone to launch" with Android 7.0 Nougat. They added to that thought by clarifying that it will be the first to feature Android 7.0 "out of the box." Ah ha!

LG's play on words and timing

In other words, the LG V20 is more than likely not going to be the first phone on the planet to run Android 7.0 Nougat - it's just going to be the first shipped and sold with it. Why does that matter? Because Nexus. Because the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C, all of which are a part of the Android N Developer Preview program are more than likely going to see Android Nougat before the V20 ever arrives. Over the weekend, leaker Evan Blass told his followers that Android Nougat would launch this month and have the August 5 security patch (which arrived today). That hilariously confused a whole bunch of journalists and Android fans because he attached a date to his tweet, but what he said is pretty straight forward. Blass said to expect Nougat in August, that's it. He didn't say to expect it by August 5 in any form, only that when it does release, it'll have the August 5 patch level. All clear on that?

Android Nougat stable release

If we look back at the release schedule of the Android N Developer Preview program, you'll see that Google always released new builds around the middle of the month. We got Preview 1 on March 17, Preview 2 on April 13, Preview 3 on May 18, Preview 4 on June 15, and Preview 5 July 18. They haven't said that August would be the stable build, but if they keep up the monthly schedule, I don't think it's out of line to consider the thought that it could be here around August 17. Then again, Google is only saying to expect stable Android Nougat in "Q3," giving them through September. Still, Blass knows his stuff and has said August, not September, and at this point, I'd lean towards that being correct. OK, so back to the main subject here, which is LG saying that they'll be first. You see, if stable Android Nougat shows up this month, it'll show up for the current crop of Nexus phones. Since those phones are all available today for purchase and many of you already own them, then technically, LG still gets to be the first to ship a phone that runs Android 7.0 "out of the box." Ahhh, the play on words.

HTC Nexus phones land in October

But wait, what about new Nexus devices made by HTC? When are those coming? We don't know officially just yet. However, a trusted source of ours has suggested that October 4 could very well be the launch date of the new Nexus phones. We haven't confirmed with a secondary source, but again, this is a reliable source who has proven correct time and time again when it comes to Nexus launches. And that date, which we first heard a couple of weeks back, now seems highly likely. I say that because LG announced that the V20 would arrive in September. If they are indeed laying claim to being the "world's first" to ship a phone with Android Nougat, then Google's new Nexus phones have to be arriving after it and October comes right after September.

Recap

If you aren't interested in reading all of that, this is what I just said in a nutshell. The LG V20 will be the first out of box phone with Android Nougat, but the current Nexus phones will likely see the update this month (August) and Google will launch the new Nexus phones in early October. That way, LG gets to be first to ship, current Nexus phones still get in on the fun as early as they want, and Google gets to host a big splashy Nexus and Google product launch right before the holidays.

August's Android Security Update Kicks Off Today With Factory Image Files, OTA Files

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:20:26 +0000

Google is pushing out August's Android security update to Nexus devices today and has done so by already publishing both factory image and OTA .zip files. They also provided the typical security bulletin as well. As of right now, we have Android 6.0.1 files for the Pixel C (MXC89L), Nexus 6P (MTC20F), Nexus 5X (MTC20F), Nexus 5 (MOB30Y), Nexus 6 (MMB30R,MOB30W), Nexus 7 2013 (MOB30X, MMB30S), Nexus 9 (MOB30W), and Nexus Player (MOB30W). You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. Links: Factory Images | OTA Files | Security Bulletin

BLU Pure XR Could be the Best $299 Smartphone of 2016

Tim — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:04:43 +0000

d d Specs d Via: BLU

Google Adds Native Notifications to Secure Login Procedure for New Devices

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:02:52 +0000

As of today, when you fire up a new Android phone for the first time and start logging in to your Google accounts, Google sends you an email notifying you of the access that is being granted. Going forward, they'll also send instant native notifications to your other Android devices to let you know in real-time what another device is up to. In a blog post to the Google Apps Updates blog, Google says that if you have multiple devices, you will see these new notifications on all devices at the same time. Through these notifications, you can then decide if the access to your Google account on another device is fine or if you need to look further into it. The notification lists a button to "Review account activity" that shows you the device in question, its IP address and location, and then gives you the choice to either allow the phone to continue on with access or to take additional security measures by securing your account.

This new feature should start rolling out immediately and will reach everyone within the next few weeks.

Via: Google Apps Updates

Here is Where to Watch Tomorrow's Galaxy Note 7 Livestream

Tim — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 09:39:14 +0000

Finally, we're on the eve of Samsung's unveiling event for the Galaxy Note 7. Tomorrow morning at 11AM ET (8AM PT) in New York City, Samsung will livestream all of the Unpacked happenings, and of course, you can watch it in virtual reality via a Gear VR headset -- if that's your thing. To get in on the action, users can view the livestream on Samsung's website here, or can stream it via YouTube. To take advantage of the VR stream, YouTube will probably be the easiest place to fire up the 360-degree stream. However, to be clear, users can watch it in a standard mode or VR mode on YouTube or Samsung's website. Tomorrow before the show starts, we will be sure to share a link directly to the stream again, just to make sure you don't miss any of the important details. Are you excited yet?

Via: Samsung

Google Wants You to Know That It has All of Your Rio Olympics 2016 Coverage

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 09:31:21 +0000

With the Rio Olympics kicking off on Friday with the opening ceremony, Google wants you to know that they have you covered in terms of easy-to-find info about the games. Just by searching within the Google App, you'll find everything from event schedules, medal counts, and athlete info to results and highlights. You can even use Google apps to explore Rio and the various venues holding events. Below, you'll find the list of suggestions for using Google to keep you informed on the latest in Rio Olympics news, but the image above will give you specific examples. For one, you could search for "Usain Bolt Rio 2016" to see if his hamstring held up or "Gymnastics rio 2016" to see how badly the women's US team dominated the world.

Discover the event schedule, medal counts, and athlete information in Search
Get results and view TV schedules in 30+ countries
Watch official broadcasters’ event highlights on YouTube in 60+ countries
Explore Rio and venues in Google Maps
Keep up to date with the latest search Trends from around the world

As a "pro tip," Google notes that if you use the Google apps on Android or iOS, searching for Olympics news will give you the option to receive "automatic updates on top event and medal wins, so you’ll never miss a beat."

Via: Inside Search

Official: LG V20 Arrives in September with Android 7.0 Nougat (Updated)

Kellen — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 19:44:24 +0000

You know how LG told us during last week's earnings report that we should expect the successor to the V10 in the near future? They announced the damn thing tonight officially as the LG V20. They aren't saying much, plus the translation is iffy, but the official LG site to post the news says that the phone will launch in September with Android 7.0 Nougat on board. The focus, like last year's V10, will once again be on the multimedia experience. On a related note, in case you were wondering when Android 7.0 Nougat would arrive, I think LG just told you to expect it sometime before the end of September. UPDATE: This morning, LG released a press release to the US that offers more details without the need for Google Translate. In it, LG claims that the V20 will be the "world's first phone to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat," including be the first "out of the box." If you take that exactly for what it says, that means this phone will launch before the new Nexus phones. The V20 will also use the Vulkan API for graphics.

NEW LG V20 TO BE WORLD’S FIRST PHONE TO LAUNCH WITH ANDROID 7.0 NOUGAT Successor to Acclaimed V10 Offers More Advanced Multimedia Features

SEOUL, Aug. 1, 2016 ― LG Electronics (LG) confirms that its next flagship smartphone, LG V20, will be the first device to feature Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. The LG V20 will begin shipping in the third quarter. The LG V20 builds upon the premium and rich multimedia smartphone experience of last year’s LG V10. It will be tuned to take advantage of many of the best features of Nougat, including Vulkan-supported graphics for more immersive gaming while also delivering better battery performance with Doze. Consumers will also enjoy new productivity features such as Direct Reply, which lets users respond quickly to text messages or update tasks using the notification interface. LG and Google have collaborated closely since the 2009 launch of the very first Android phone from LG based on Android 1.5 Cupcake. The two companies continued to collaborate on a series of Nexus smartphones starting with the Nexus 4 in 2012, which was shipped with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the Nexus 5 that was released in 2013 with Android 4.4 KitKat, and the Nexus 5X that was unveiled in 2015 featuring Android 6.0 Marshmallow. LG and Google have also teamed up to offer smart wearables such as LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, the world’s first and only Android Wear smartwatch with cellular-based connectivity. “We are excited to offer the first phone in the world to feature Nougat out of the box,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company. “The LG V20 upgrades and extends its predecessor’s cutting-edge multimedia features a step further, providing distinctive mobile experience and sets a new standard for premium phones for consumers.”

# # #

Via: LG

Pokemon GO Update Removes Broken 3-Step Tracking, Adds Trainer Re-Customization

Kellen — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 15:33:42 +0000

Pokemon GO received an update this weekend that includes a lengthy list of changes, some of which add new features while others seem to take away functionality, even if the functionality was broken. Below, you can view the full list, but we feel like we should point out a couple of items. First, you can now re-customize your trainer in the trainer profile screen. So if your original 'fit wasn't fresh enough, it now can be. The update also refines "certain Gym animations," improves memory issues, modifies battle damage calculations, and tweaks the achievement medal images. As for that removal I mentioned, we're talking about the footprints in the nearby Pokemon screen. Pokemon GO players know that the footprints tracking function has been broken since about the first weekend the game opened and has never been fixed. Because Niantic is likely still working on fixing it, they went ahead and removed the footprints from the game for the time being. On a related note, if you have been using PokeVision or a variety of other Pokemon trackers, you may have noticed that they are no longer working today. Niantic hasn't told anyone why from what we can tell, but they did hint at these services not working forever. Ugh. What's New

Avatars can now be re-customized from the Trainer profile screen
Adjusted battle move damage values for some Pokémon
Refined certain Gym animations
Improved memory issues
Removed footprints of nearby Pokémon
Modified battle damage calculation
Various bug fixes during wild Pokémon encounter
Updated Pokémon details screen
Updated achievement medal images
Fixed issues with displaying certain map features
Minor text fixes

Play Link

Galaxy Note 7 to Launch August 19, Pre-Orders Start as Early as August 3

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:52:18 +0000

On Tuesday, Samsung is going to officially unveil the Galaxy Note 7, that much is certain. We'll be on hand in New York City that morning as they show the phone off on stage. For weeks, though, rumors surrounding the phone's availability have been all over the board in terms of timing. We've heard reports suggest the phone will be available the minute Samsung announces it or as far out as a couple of weeks. According to a reliable source, Samsung's next phone, the Galaxy Note 7, will arrive in stores on August 19. Along with the launch, we have been told to expect pre-orders as early as August 3, the day after the phone is announced. The phone will launch in the US in black, blue, and silver, while a gold model will be issued internationally. As for specs, you've heard it all at this point, but our source has also relayed to us that the phone will have a base of 64GB storage, 3500mAh battery, 4GB RAM, IP68 dust and water resistance, a similar 12MP camera to the Galaxy S7, and an S Pen that can't be inserted backwards. 9to5Google first reported August 19th, and we have independently confirmed the date.

Friday Poll: Who is Your Current Wireless Carrier?

Tim — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 13:59:16 +0000

It's been a year since the last time we asked which carrier you are using for your mobile phone needs, so it's time to update our numbers. Last year, the majority of voters were rocking Verizon, with Big Red capturing nearly 60% of the vote. Following Verizon was T-Mobile at 20%, then AT&T with 9%. Sprint, which got less votes than the total of "Prepaid or Other," had 3% of the vote. This time, to get a sense of which prepaid options people are using, we have included the names of the top US prepaid carriers, so let us know exactly who you are using. Extra credit if you feel like telling us how you think your carrier is performing. [poll id="421"]

Swiftkey is Having Odd Prediction Issues, Turns Off Syncing Temporarily

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 11:32:37 +0000

Users of Swiftkey noticed some odd behavior from the popular keyboard this week, behavior that resulted in "unfamiliar" terms, and in some cases email addresses, showing as predictions. In a short blog post released this morning, Swiftkey acknowledged the problems while stating that they do not believe any of this is the result of a security issue. For the time being, though, they will be turning off cloud syncing. It's tough to tell the cause for Swiftkey's behavior and the company even noted that the "vast majority" of users were not at all affected. With that said, they are asking that you email reviews@swiftkey.com if you are seeing odd predictions as you type. Again, Swiftkey says that this is not a security issue, but they are going to remove email addresses as predictions and temporarily kill off cloud service while they fix whatever is going on. That means you won't be able to back up your language model, so keep that in mind over the next few days. As we learn more, we'll be sure to keep you informed.

Via: Swiftkey

Friday App Sales: Last Horizon, Minecraft: Story Mode, Star Walk, and More

Tim — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 11:09:16 +0000

The weekend has arrived and we already know you got nothing going on. Even if you do, I'm sure you can find a bit of time to play a few games or mess with a few new apps. Over on Google Play, you can grab a ton of apps and games on sale, including Final Fantasy VI, Last Horizon, and Minecraft: Story Mode. If games aren't your thing, a couple nifty apps called Star Walk: Astronomy Guide and Star Walk 2 are also on sale, both of which I use myself when gazing up at the twinkling stars. They are great apps for identifying constellations and which planets you are staring at. Have a look at the full list below. Friday App Sales

Puffin Browser Pro ($0.99)
OTTTD: Over The Top TD ($1.49)
6 Takes! ($0.99)
Cafe International ($0.99)
Backdrops Pro ($0.99)
Final Fantasy VI ($11.00)
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath ($0.99)
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee ($0.99)
Last Horizon ($0.99)
Runtastic PRO Running ($1.49)
Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock ($0.24)
Minecraft: Story Mode ($2.49)
Thrive Island - Survival ($0.99)
Star Walk - Astronomy Guide ($0.99)
Star Walk 2 - Night Sky Guide ($0.99)
Prune ($0.99)

Go support them awesome developers!

DEAL: Grab a Refurbished Moto 360 (2nd Gen) Starting at $150

Tim — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:57:49 +0000

For a limited time over on the Daily Steals website, you can pick up a manufacturer refurbished Moto 360 (2nd Gen) smartwatch starting at $149.99. Is that a good deal? Well, considering this Android Wear watch is still listed at $299+ on Motorola's website and the Google Store, yes, it does appear to be a very good deal. Both Moto 360 (2nd Gen) models are available, that being the 42mm and 46mm variants. The only downside I see is the limited choice in colors. Both models on sale are the Black on Black, meaning there is no leather, no Gold, and no Silver options to choose from. If Black on Black is fine with you, rest assured that you will likely see the Android Wear 2.0 update, which should be arriving in Q3. Have yet to get into Android Wear? Now's not the worst time, considering we don't know if Moto is ever going to release a Moto 360 ever again. Deal Link

Some Additional Notes About Google Play Family Library Purchases

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:38:12 +0000

We are still getting used to this whole Google Play Family Library idea, where we get to share purchases on Google Play with up to five family members. It's an awesome idea and my wife and I are already using it, but as some readers have pointed out, figuring out what exactly can be shared and when isn't so straight forward in all situations. Below, we wanted to toss out some additional notes on specific items, when they can be shared, which payment methods are required, etc. At some point, I'd imagine this will all just make sense and become second nature, it's just that it is so new to us that we aren't there yet.

Movies & TV

Previous purchases: Google says that any movies or TV shows purchased before the Family Library became a thing can be shared and added to the Library. Again, that's an any.
New purchases: Going forward, with movies and TV shows, you can only share purchased items that have been purchased with the family payment method, a Google Play gift card, or a promo code. In other words, if someone on your account has a separate credit card setup, using it to purchase movies or TV shows won't allow for sharing to the Library.
Bundle purchases: Purchased a bundle of movies? Know that all of the movies in the bundle have to be shared, you can't pick and choose. It's either all in or all out.
Rentals: Rentals of movies or TV shows simply cannot be shared.

Apps & Games

In-app purchases: Can't share 'em. That shouldn't surprise anyone, but that's the deal.
Previous purchases: We mentioned this in our "how to" post earlier in the week, but your previous app and game purchase availability all revolves around July 2, 2016. If you bought items before that date, it's up to the developer if they want to make those eligible for the Family Library. If you buy items after, they are all eligible.

Books

Purchases: Book publishers seem to be in control here, so all purchases are left up to the publisher as to whether or not they can be shared. Unlike apps and games, where all purchases are sharable, books aren't the same way.
Samples: Free samples, public domain books, personal documents you have uploaded, and books rented all cannot be shared.

And that's that. Hopefully that clears up any questions you had about specific purchase types.

Via: Google Support

Cheers Marco!

Wikipedia Android App Gets Redesign

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:21:11 +0000

Wikipedia's Android app is getting a major update today that introduces a redesigned Explore tab that will help you casually find out new interesting content in your free time. This new feed will show you recommend images, articles, news, and other bits based on previous reads. To show you a bit more about what you'll find in this Explore feed, Wikipedia offers the following:

In the news: Current international news stories, with links to the Wikipedia articles relevant to each story.²
Trending articles: The top five most read articles of the day.
Featured picture: A bold image selected every day by the Wikipedia editor community.
Featured article: A featured article on Wikipedia picked daily by editors.²
Because you read: Recommended articles based on what you’ve read lately on Wikipedia.
Continue reading: An option to continue reading articles that you started, but haven’t finished reading yet.
Today on Wikipedia: This card takes you to the Main Page of the Wikipedia of your preferred language.
Randomizer: A random Wikipedia article.
A more prominent Search bar at the top of the feed, with integrated voice search.

Outside of those items, Wikipedia says to expect to find previous day's features and trending topics, quick sharing of items, swipeable cards to quickly remove those you aren't interested in, and the option to save for offline reading. It's a big update! Play Link

Via: Wikimedia

5 Reasons the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are Worth Buying

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 14:47:24 +0000

If you happened to read our reviews for these devices, which can be found here (Moto Z) and here (Moto Z Force), you will know that if it was our choice, we would likely opt for another device over either of these two. They just don't quite mesh well with our lifestyles. However, if you are on the fence about these phones, possibly looking for a few specific reasons as to why they are worth your money, we can help you with that. You see, just because they aren't for us, doesn't mean you wouldn't enjoy them. Both of the DROID editions for the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are now available exclusively at Verizon. For pricing, the Moto Z full retail is listed at $624, while the Moto Z Force is priced at $720. These are not inexpensive devices. With that being said, we can think of a few good reasons why someone might want to rock the Moto Z or Moto Z Force. Allow us to enlighten you. Here are 5 reasons the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are worth buying.

Moto Mods I'd assume that if anything, the Moto Mods must excite anyone who is deliberating on whether to purchase this device or not. No doubt, the modular movement is coming to smartphones, and unlike the LG G5, we believe Motorola did a fantastic job on Moto Mods. At launch, there are quite a few options to choose from, and we believe there might be more to come. To start, there are external battery packs you can attach via the magnetic pin system, a projector, Style Shells, as well as the JBL Sound Boost speaker. The beauty to Moto Mods is the design and syncing, although, I should say the lack of syncing. You see, Moto Mods just work. There is no pairing to do like you would see on Bluetooth devices, which makes using them extremely simple. A small child could understand how to attach them, which is why we give so much credit to Motorola/Lenovo for the concept. Besides the projector that costs $300, the Moto Mods are relatively inexpensive. For the JBL speaker, the price is set currently at $80. For Style Shells, they are roughly $20, and battery banks start at $60. We go over all of the details for Moto Mods in this video, which is definitely worth your time if the Moto Z is on your radar. Specs In terms of 2016 flagships, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force feature specs that can compete with the best of them. First, let's go over the differences between the two, since it's not that much. The Moto Z and Z Force differ in the camera department, with the Moto Z featuring a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with Phase Detect autofocus, while the Z Force features a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera with Phase Detect and Laser autofocus. From our findings, both cameras deliver pretty similar results, so long as your lighting is good. Another category these two phones differ is the battery. The Moto Z features a 2,600mAh battery, while the Moto Z Force features a 3,500mAh battery. Both are built-in and non-removable. If that isn't enough juice, remember, you got a Moto Mod for that. Now, let's discuss how they are the same. Both devices feature a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display (the Z Force also features Shatter Shield to prevent breakage), Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, NFC, microSD card support for up to 2TB of expandable storage, USB Type-C, and Android 6.0+. Together, these specs make for a very snappy device, but that is also thanks to the onboard software that we will discuss in just a bit. The only thing we need to point out is Motorola's usage of the Snapdragon 820, with the Snapdragon 821 recently being announced. In the second half of this year, it's entirely possible that phones will launch with the Snapdragon 821, so if you pick up one of these phones, you will be a generation behind in terms of SoC. It shouldn't be a deal breaker, but you should be aware. Original Design When I first laid hands on the Moto Z, I was blown away by the lack of thickness. Seriously, words can't properly describe just how thin the device feels while in-hand, making it quite the interesting experience. Measuring in at just 5.2mm thin, the Moto Z is one of the slimmest Android devices ever launched. Even if you opt for the Moto Z Force, that phone is also very thin. With its 3,500mAh battery, it's still slimmer than a Galaxy S7. I'll let that sink in for a second. Motorola must be wizards or something. At first touch, the wideness coupled with how thin the phones are can make holding it a bit awkward, but after a week of using the device, it grows on you. It is reminiscent of getting used to using a larger phone when you are used to using smaller phones on an everyday basis. It might seem bad at first, but give it time and your hands learn to cope with the difference. The other design touch that catches the eye immediately would be the rear-facing camera. Pretty similar to the look of a Moto 360 smartwatch, am I right? It even features the flat tire on the bottom, which is where the LED for the camera has been placed. In my opinion, I like it. The design has grown on me, even though I thought it should be burned when we first saw it in December of last year. Moto's Backseat Approach to Software For a few years now, Motorola has been taking a backseat to the software that comes on its devices. By saying this, I mean they aren't tossing on some ugly skin and tons of bloat that adds no real value to the device. Instead of focusing on that garbage, Motorola includes tweaks that we quite enjoy, such as Moto Display and customizable gestures. When Motorola first started doing this, we saw the company do pretty well with software updates. While that has changed drastically, we still appreciate the somewhat stock Android OS look and feel Motorola continues to offer. We have discussed Motorola's lacking in the updates department, so none of what I'm saying should surprise anybody. No, you won't see monthly security updates, but if that concerns you, new Nexus phones are coming. To touch more on the software tweaks Motorola does provide, baked into both the Moto Z and Moto Z Force is the Moto app. This is the app that grants access to custom gestures (Actions), voice commands, and options for Moto Display. For gestures, users can set Attentive Display (keeps screen on while you’re looking at it), the famous Chop Twice for Flashlight, and Twist for Quick Capture. With the twist, users only need to quickly twist their wrist to dive straight into the camera. No double tap on the power or looking for your camera shortcut icon. Most of Moto’s gestures are pretty useful, so if you do pick up either the Moto Z or Moto Z Force, I’d suggest enabling most of them. As for Moto Display, this is the software that allows users to see and act upon notifications while the display is turned off. Thanks to AMOLED technology, Moto Display wakes only the pixels necessary for displaying an incoming notification. Users can then choose to dismiss or act upon the notification. Moto Display has been around since the original Moto X and we still love it. Moto Voice, an app itself, allows users to utilize their voice to control the phone. Much like you see with Google Now, users can search for specific things, make calls, texts, and check the weather. It's essentially having yet another digital assistant on your smartphone. For a pro tip, if you go under your Display settings, you can enable the double-tap on power button to launch the camera app. Nice touch, Moto. Turbo Charging I love Turbo Charging. I don't care if its called Rapid Charging, Dash Charging, Quick Charging, Fast Charging, or whatever. At the end of the day, it's all the same thing. I plug my phone into the wall, and in about 45 minutes to an hour, I got full juice. According to Moto, with Turbo Charging on the Moto Z Force, you should see about 15 hours of battery usage from just 15 of charging. That's nuts and perfect for all you Pokemon GO players out there. Inside of the box for both of these phones, you will find a Turbo Charger wall adapter. If you use a standard power adapter, don't expect to see the same results, though.

Considering another phone? Feel free to take a look back at 5 reasons to buy other phones, like the Galaxy S7, OnePlus 3, or HTC 10 in previous installments of this ongoing series.

Google Docs and Sheets Gain App Add-Ons on Android

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 11:56:30 +0000

This morning, Google introduced a new feature to Google Docs and Sheets that allows 3rd party apps to better integrate their services into Google's office suite. Called Android Add-ons, you will now be able to trigger a DocuSign action from within Docs, import CRM data from ProsperWorks, and even easily scan documents with a combination of Scanbot and Docs or Sheets. Those are just a few examples of the types of actions you could complete with this add-ons integration. And of course, I would imagine there will be more and more over time. To explore the current add-ons, head over to this Google Play link. To read more about each individual integration, hit up the source link below.

Via: Google for Work

#TBT: When We Reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 11:24:47 +0000

This time next week, Samsung will have announced the Galaxy Note 7. Before that happens, though, let's take a step back in time to late 2012. Nearly four years ago, we reviewed the Galaxy Note 2, and at that time, the Galaxy Note 2 was one of my favorite Android devices. I was getting pretty big into mobile gaming, and thanks to the 5.5" HD AMOLED display, my gaming was on point. Keep in mind, though, not everyone shared my love of the bigger displays, Kellen included. When reviewing the device, it appeared that Kellen's biggest gripe was the overall size. Yes, the phone was large, but there was good reason for that size. While the display was big at 5.5" (that was considered very large back in the day), it also came with a very big 3,100mAh battery. That was really big relative to what other smartphones were offering. Anyway, to wrap up Kellen's thoughts, he said he couldn't wait to get back to his smaller Galaxy S3, but could understand why so many would fall in love with the Galaxy Note 2. Below, I have added in his extra long hardware/software overview. If you have the time, it's worth a look, at least to see how far Samsung has come in terms of software and hardware design. Actually, now that I think about it, their software hasn't come that far at all, but the hardware is much better.

[responsive_vid]

Watch: Samsung is Hyping the Galaxy Note 7 on YouTube

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 10:24:16 +0000

I know we keep saying this, but for real, we are now just a few days away from Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy Note 7. We will be on-hand in NYC as Samsung gives us all of the details, but until then, the hypetrain rolls on. Posted onto Samsung Korea's YouTube, a video details what appears to be theme-able lock screens thanks to an updated TouchWiz UI. In addition, we see old telephones underwater. Water resistant Galaxy Note 7? Most definitely. We also see sentences on paper marked with highlighter, possibly detailing changes for S Pen. Given the video's language is Korean, we can't understand any of it. However, thanks to Samsung's brilliant use of imagery, we believe we're picking up what Samsung's throwing down. Take a look and share your thoughts below.

[responsive_vid]

LG Posts Q2 Financial Stats, Spills Beans on Upcoming V Series Smartphone

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 09:10:51 +0000

LG announced its Q2 results this morning, but while a lot of the talk was on the company's home entertainment and kitchen sectors, we are a bit more concerned with the mobile side of the business. According to LG, while the company saw revenues of $2.86 billion (an increase of 12 percent from Q1), it was an overall decline from last year's Q2. In other disappointing news for LG, the mobile business operated at a $132.10 million loss, apparently due to "increased marketing expenditures and somewhat slow initial sales of the G5 smartphone." However, looking to the future, LG states that the launch of a new V series smartphone should help improve the business's performance next quarter. Why does this excites us? Well, the original LG V10 was pretty sweet. Featuring top-tier specs and a massive dual display, many fans of that phone have been patiently waiting for a sequel. This statement from LG simply confirms that one is indeed coming, and coming very soon. Given the context that this statement is from a quarterly results announcement, the company doesn't dive into any specifics for the device, but it's a good start for the hypetrain nevertheless. V10 fans, does this have you excited?

Via: LG

Verizon Deal: Get 4 Lines and 16GB Data Per Month for $150

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 09:02:09 +0000

Verizon kicked off a new promotion this week that could land you an extra 8GB of bonus data per month should you switch to the L option on The Verizon plan and keep 4 lines active. The deal includes 8GB of data upfront in the L or Large tier, but then tacks on an extra 2GB per line up to 4 lines to get you to 16GB per month. The price for all of that? $150. Promotions setup like this aren't new to Verizon, but the bonus data they toss in might actually make them a decent value. To take advantage, your family must sign-up for the L plan on Verizon that includes 8GB of data. From there, you can grab an extra 2GB of bonus data per month up to 4 lines, as long as you "upgrade or activate a phone" on those lines. Again, the headline here is that you get 16GB of data per month that can be shared across all of your lines for $150 and that includes the line access fees. Now, if you are looking for a catch, it's in the device upgrade or activation portion. Verizon says that in order to get the 2GB bonus data on each line, you do have to "upgrade or activate a phone." That means you can't just take all of your current phones and lines and migrate over to the 8GB L plan and grab the 8GB of bonus data. You either have to upgrade phones with a payment plan or activate new lines. So your monthly service bill is $150, but your bill could be higher depending on the phones you ugprade to and the monthly payments that come with them. Verizon Link

Via: Verizon

Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID Now Available From Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 07:59:23 +0000

The Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID are now available in-store from Verizon and can also be purchased directly from Motorola or at a substantial discount through Best Buy. In other words, today is Moto Z launch day. At Verizon, the Moto Z starts at $26 per month with a device payment plan or $624 at full retail for the 32GB model. The Moto Z Force is slightly more expensive at $30 per month with a device payment plan or $720 at full retail for the 32GB model. Verizon is selling both phones in two colors, one that is mostly all black with some metallic shine, or the other which has a white front and all-gold back. If you want 64GB storage, you'll have to take your talents over to Motorola's site. At Motorola's site, you get the Moto Maker experience, which allows you to not only choose from a couple of color options (black and rose gold is listed, but not available yet), but easily bump up the storage and add on Moto Mods. But in reality, you should be hunting for the best deal and Best Buy still has that. For $1 and a 2-year contract, Best Buy will sell you the Moto Z. For $99 and a 2-year contract, they'll sell you the Moto Z Force. We're talking about $200 savings here. Oh and not only that, but they are tossing in a free $80 JBL SoundBoost speaker Mod as well. To decide whether or not either phone is for you, be sure to read out reviews here and here. Links: Verizon | Motorola | Best Buy

How to: Setup Google Play Family Library

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:30:54 +0000

The Google Play Family Library that was announced this morning by Google is already going live some users, including us! Because there is a lot to learn here, we thought a quick "how to" post was needed in case you have any questions on how this all works. This is how to setup the Google Play Family Library. Step 1: Sign up! All you need to do to get started is hit up this link either on your phone or desktop. If the option for a Family Library is live for you, you should be taken to a page that looks like the one below (on desktop) that will allow you to walk through the entire approval process for signing up. You may even seen a prompt in the Google Play app to sign-up as well.

The process includes information about who can be a part of your Family Library, how they can pay for stuff, and how you can limit the buying of apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books by family members.

You will then get to decide if you want to make all of your previously eligible purchases available immediately or if you would like to go through and hand-select them 1-by-1. If you choose the "Add all eligible purchases now" option, Google Play will do just that. If you don't, you will then half to go to individual apps or games or movies or shows or books listings and toggle on Family Library.

And that's the sign-up process! Step 2: Setup a family payment method In order to allow you and your family to buy items on Google Play, you will need to designate a "family payment method." There is a chance that Google will walk you through setup of this option during step 1, but in case they don't, this is how we get one active. To do so, you will need to swipe out the Google Play side menu, choose Account, and then Payment Methods. In here, you will see a list of your currently available cards, along with an option at the bottom to "Change family payment plan." If Google hasn't automatically assigned a payment method or let you choose one during the sign-up process, this screen will let you. Once you tap on "Change family payment plan," a pop-up box with all eligible cards will appear. Tap the dot next to the payment method you want and then "OK." Your current family payment method should then have the Family Library icon attached to it like the middle image below.

Step 3: Setup a Family Group In order to share stuff with family members, you'll need to setup a Family Group, which is the group of people you have given access to. You can access the Family Group screen by swiping out the Google Play side menu, choosing Account, and then Family. You should see two options here and you want the "Manage family members" category. From within there, you should see that you are the "Family manager" along with a "+" button to "Invite family members."

You can invite up to five people to join you and the process is exactly how it was when we showed you how to sign-up for the Google Play Music family plan. Step 4: Decide if you want to auto add new purchases or not Once you have gone through the sign-up process, chosen a family payment method, and setup a family, you then need to decide which content is going to be available. If you swipe out the Google Play menu, head into Account>Family>Family Library settings, you should see options for Apps & Games, Movies & TV, and Books. In each of these sections, Google is allowing you to decide if all newly purchased items are made available to the Family Library or not. To keep it simple and not have to worry about it, the auto choice is probably a good one. If you buy a lot of R-rated films or comics or play games your little children shouldn't have access to, then maybe go with the "Don't add automatically" option. From within these screens, you can also tell the Family Library to remove all items as well, in case you want to do a clean wipe and start over. To re-add everything, a prompt asking to do so will happen if you re-select the "Add items automatically" option.

That's pretty much it for the setup process. As for how it all works in practice, let's take a look at some screenshots. As the "family manager," you'll see toggles in app listings for items that you have purchased to make them available or unavailable to the Family Library. It really is that simple. On the far right, you can see that not all purchases are available, though. If you bought an item before July 2, 2016, developers do not have to make those available for Family Library. Any app bought after that date will be eligible. And again, you will notice that the Family Library icon is everywhere.

If you are a "family member" and not the "family manager," this is what your experience will look like. In your "My apps & games" page, you will find a FAMILY LIBRARY tab that includes all purchased apps and games that are available to you. Also, as you browse around in app listings, you will see notes like in the images below that mention who it was that purchased the item for the Family Library. If you go into your Google Play Movies & TV, I'm not currently seeing a FAMILY LIBRARY section, but am seeing all of the movies and TV shows listed in My Library.

And that's about everything. Enjoy sharing!

It's the End of July and I Keep Coming Back to the Galaxy S7

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:04:50 +0000

After reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S7 back in March, I have since reviewed the LG G5, HTC 10, OnePlus 3, and Moto Z. I've also spent dozens of hours using the Moto G4 Plus and Galaxy S7 Active, while tossing in some Nexus 5X time here and there whenever a new Android N preview arrives. That's basically me admitting that I've used just about every single major 2016 phone enough to spit out thousands of words on each in a review format, yet there is one common action that happens after I've finished up - I immediately jump back onto the Galaxy S7 without hesitation. In recent years, I have often found that as new phones come out and I spend increasing amounts of time with one, that I tend to just adopt them until the next phone arrives. But not this year. I just think that Samsung absolutely nailed it with the Galaxy S7. Here are some of the reasons I just keep coming back to it after all these months and phones.

Fit and finish

This is one of those phones that feels like it was designed specifically for my hand. Its curves, button positions, and overall size are absolutely perfect, I think. I can use this phone with one hand in almost all situations, never feeling like it'll take much of a shimmy to have to reach up to the notification area or to lock it. There isn't confusion between any of the buttons (looking at you, Moto Z) and even though I don't typically care for physical home buttons and Samsung's insistence on re-arranging back and app switcher buttons, I have to admit that I'm used to it all at this point. On a related note, in a time where others seem to build phones with abnormally large chins or add dual speakers that increase phone height, the Galaxy S7 has great balance without wasted space and is about as efficient in a design as you will see. It has a decent amount of weight to it without feeling cheap and certainly doesn't look inexpensive with its copious amounts of glass and metal. As of today, I'm using the unlocked US black version of the Galaxy S7 and find it quite striking. For years we begged phone manufacturers for colorful phones (or at least white options), but something about having an all black phone again is refreshing. It's clean. It's subtle. It's sexy, dammit.

Camera

After looking at flagship after flagship, I still don't think anyone has really come close to besting Samsung's cameras in the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge. I think it's fair to say that some are close in terms of picture quality, but the overall experience from opening to focusing to shooting hasn't been matched by anyone. This camera still launches insanely fast with its double-tap shortcut on the home button. It focuses sometimes before you have even realized it was ready to, leaving you ready to snap a picture instantly. When you do press that shutter button, it often finishes so quickly that you may not believe it took one and tap again to take a second, which it does again in the blink of an eye. It's just so impressive, but not only because of speed, because of its tendency to capture a good shot every time. That's most of the battle with smartphone cameras. When you need to rely on them, can you? With the Galaxy S7, I never have doubts when taking pictures that I'll end up with a majority that are great.

Battery life

The Galaxy S7 has a 3000mAh battery and it seems to be holding up nicely. There was a time where I switched to the Exynos-powered S7 and thought it's battery life was substantially better than the Snapdragon 820-powered version, but this unlocked model is powered by the 820 and it gets me through a long day, easily. For example, I got up at 5AM today, spent a good hour or so catching up on anything that happened over night, took the phone on a 45-minute run, and am now sitting at 55% at 12:30PM with over 2 hours of screen on time. Since I likely won't hammer on this thing until I'm done working for the day, I don't see why it won't last until 9PM or later. Sure, I could complain about it not lasting for two days, but whose phone actually does that?

Performance

Hard to believe, right? How many Samsung phones over the years have turned into jankfests within a couple of months? If you answered "Almost all of them," you'd be right. So far, in all of the Galaxy S7 devices I've spent significant amounts of time with, I haven't seen the massive slowdowns where the phone needs to be rebooted daily or all apps wiped from memory. That wasn't the case last year with the Galaxy S6, that's for sure. Now, there is always time for Samsung to screw this phone up through software, especially with Android Nougat on the horizon, but as of today, all of the S7s I own are still humming along. They open apps quickly while holding the ones I use the most in memory, there doesn't seem to be odd overheating issues, and so far, everything from unlocking the phone with the fingerprint reader to maintaining solid WiFi connections has been as it was on day 1.

Water resistance

It still shocks me that Samsung is one of a select few handset makers that was able to include this level of water resistance (IP68). You can dunk this puppy, wash it off under a faucet when your kid gets his greasy hands all over it, and never worry about a glass of Pallet Jack spilling across the table while it sits idle. As you all know, we have been dinging other smartphone manufacturers for not making extremely water resistant phones and will continue to do so. Ever since Samsung released this phone and I've spent time testing something else, I find myself stressing over the fact that the other phone is susceptible to liquids. I don't like that kind of stress! If Samsung was able to do this without covering ports and still managing to make a phone this sleek and sexy, it's time for others to do the same. This type of protection takes a major worry out of your smartphone life.

With that said...

We do have up to three new phones coming out within the next month or two that I'm pretty excited about. The Galaxy Note 7 will be unveiled next week and then the next Nexus phone(s) shortly thereafter. I can't necessarily see myself switching to the new Note, mostly because I know it'll be too large for my liking, but rumors of a smaller, Galaxy S7-sized HTC-made Nexus have certainly got me going. A new phone around this size with Android Nougat out of the box, an equally-as-good processor, and a build that is hopefully much nicer than last year's cheaply made Nexus 5X is something we should all consider. On that note, the software situation with the Galaxy S7 will be something I'll keep a close eye on. After all, this is Android and we all like to complain about slow updates. Will Samsung push Nougat to the S7 and S7 Edge in a hurry or will they let the Note 7 run wild with it exclusively for a while to help sales? Either way, as I do take additional breaks from the Galaxy S7 over the coming weeks to test new phones, don't be shocked if it's right back in my pocket the minute I'm done with reviews. The overall package here that includes a top tier camera, brilliant design for those who don't like whale phones, solid battery life, and steady performance continue to keep me coming back for more.

Wednesday Poll: Do You Care About Monthly Security Updates?

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:52:29 +0000

With Google's launch of monthly security updates last year, many device owners are beginning to take notice at how well, or how bad, their particular OEM and carrier are at delivering these updates. Realistically, if a smartphone owner is not constantly digging around sketchy websites or purchasing goods from the Silk Road, your phone should be relatively safe. Stick to downloading your apps from trusted sources and you should be fine. With that being said, there are those who care very much about security updates. These updates prevent known threats and exploits from causing harm to your smartphone. If you read mainstream news, listening to the countless scary stories about new device exploits being discovered, you can imagine why these monthly updates could be important. Now, besides Nexus devices from Google, it appears Samsung is making a valiant effort at keeping their devices secure on a monthly basis. On the other hand, we have Motorola. To be frank, they are not very good at updating phones monthly, literally stating that it's "difficult to do." So, you tell us, are monthly security updates important to you?

[poll id="420"]

AT&T Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge Get WiFi Calling Update

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 10:40:32 +0000

Owners of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge should be on the watch for a new update from AT&T. Inside this update, labeled as UCU2APG1, the devices are receiving WiFi Calling support. Also listed is IPME (AT&T's Advanced Messaging) and Setup and Transfer changes. The update should weigh in at almost 600MB total. The changelog is the same for both devices, naturally. Have a look at it below. Changelog

Setup and Transfer
WiFi Calling
IPME
AMBS Phase 3

Keep your eyes peeled for it.

Via: AT&T Forums [2]

Google Play Gets "Family Library," so You Can Share Purchases With Up to 6 People

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:27:48 +0000

Today, Google is introducing the Google Play Family Library, giving families the opportunity to share purchases from Google Play across accounts, so that everyone always has access to movies, TV shows, apps, games, and books. The service or feature is free and will be available over the next few days in a variety of countries, including the US. So how does this work? As noted above, if opted-in, you will be able to share "eligible" apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books with up to six (6) family members. You'll notice that music isn't listed - more on that in a second. As you buy movies or games or other items, and you are a part of a family library, you will soon see the option to add those to the "Family Library" via toggle in listings. You can see how this will look in the image above. That also means that you don't have to make everything available to all members of your family and can pick and choose what you think is acceptable for all to have access to. What about payments? When you sign-up and created a family, you'll pick a family payment method that everyone can use to buy items. With that said, each member can use their own credit cards or gift cards as payment methods as well, plus you can force some members to need to approval from you before buying. On a related note, if you have family members with iOS devices, they will also have access to movies, TV shows, and books. OK, so back to music. Google Play Music is separate from this plan and still requires a subscription to the Google Play Music family plan if you want the unlimited playing and sharing of songs. It still costs $14.99, while the Family Library is free. Again, Google says that rollout of the Family Library will happen over the next few days and will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. To sign-up, head to this link.

Via: Google Blog

Nextbit Robin in "Ember" is Real, Available for $299 Right Now

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 08:30:13 +0000

Over the past few weeks, Nextbit has been teasing a new color for its cloud-toting Robin smartphone. Well, the rumors are true, Nextbit is launching an Ember color option for the Robin. If this has you so excited, the device goes on sale today via Nextbit's website, with the phone priced at only $299. Beyond the color, nothing else is changing in terms of hardware or software. However, Nextbit also announced an upcoming August software update for current owners. Inside of this update, users will now benefit from Smart Storage's support of video files. Yes, not only apps and photos will be offloaded onto the cloud, but videos, too. To start, Nextbit details that this feature is for beta testers only, but in time, it should make its way out to all owners. The update also includes Google's July security update. All Robin owners are welcome to join Nextbit's beta program, so if you aren't signed up, you can apply here. If the Robin in Ember is something you need, be on the lookout here at Nextbit's store. Do note, the device is only being made available in limited supply. Once its gone, it's gone forever. Nextbit Store Link

Google Play Gets New App Categories, Including Dating, Parenting and Auto

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 15:24:23 +0000

Within the next 60 days, you will start to see a batch of new application categories hit Google Play to help you discover more and to help developers get their apps in front of the people who want them. Starting today, the categories will be available for developers to choose from, but again, they may not hit Google Play for all to see for up to 60 days, according to Google. The new categories are Art & Design, Auto & Vehicles, Beauty, Dating, Events, Food & Drink, House & Home, and Parenting. Additionally, Transportation will be renamed to Maps & Navigation and the Media & Video category will become Video Players & Editors. Developers, if you want to add these new categories to your apps, you should find them in the console at this time, just know that they won't show up for users for a couple of months.

Via: Android Developers Blog

Tuesday Poll: Do You Play Mobile Games?

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 15:17:01 +0000

In 2016, there have been a couple games to gain a lot of traction, the top being Pokemon GO, of course. That leads us to today's poll question. Do you even mobile game, bro? There are many genres to choose from - puzzlers, FPS, RPG, etc. With so many choices, there must be something for everyone. If you do play a mobile game, let us know which one is your favorite below. If you are a mobile game hater, please, enlighten us as to why that's your choice. Mobile gamers, unite! [poll id="419"]

LeEco to Acquire Vizio For $2 Billion

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:11:27 +0000

LeEco, formerly known to most Android folk as Letv, has reached a deal to acquire Vizio for $2 billion. LeEco's interests go way beyond that of just smartphones, but the company has yet to really push into the US market. In China and other markets outside the US, the company's cloud and internet-based platforms, as well as television sets, do very well. Anyway, Vizio, one of what seems like very few US-based TV makers is being sold to China's LeEco. The deal includes all hardware and software operations, technology, and intellectual property. However, the Vizio data business, known as Inscape, will spin out and operate as a separate, privately owned company. According to LeEco's CEO, YT Jia, “LeEco believes in breakthrough technologies, a complete ecosystem and disruptive pricing. Acquiring VIZIO is an important step in our globalization strategy and building our North American presence." Keep in mind, Vizio will continue to operate as its own entity, maintaining its place in all of the current distribution channels. In layman's, don't worry, your beloved Vizio TVs aren't going to disappear from shelves. Furthermore, if you currently own a Vizio TV set, the customer service already in place will remain the same. Nothing drastic is taking place.

Via: Vizio

Moto Z Won't Get Monthly Security Updates and You Never Should Have Expected Them

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:27:07 +0000

Last week, shortly after embargoes lifted on Moto Z and Moto Z Force reviews, there was some confusion over whether or not these devices would see the monthly security updates that Google releases. We never expected them to arrive monthly, because Motorola has never pushed monthly security updates to any of their phones, but they sent out a somewhat vague statement to press suggesting that they will in fact release security updates, only without mention of when. ArsTechnica reported in their review that Motorola told them a flat out "no" when probed over monthly updates. Then after the confusing statement made the rounds, they went back for more (we did as well, we just didn't hear back) and heard back today with some clarification. According Motorola, they will not be issuing monthly updates and will instead bundle them into scheduled maintenance releases and OS upgrades, like they have always done. Here is the full statement.

Motorola understands that keeping phones up to date with Android security patches is important to our customers. We strive to push security patches as quickly as possible. However, because of the amount of testing and approvals that are necessary to deploy them, it's difficult to do this on a monthly basis for all our devices. It is often most efficient for us to bundle security updates in a scheduled Maintenance Release (MR) or OS upgrade. As we previously stated, Moto Z Droid Edition will receive Android Security Bulletins. Moto G4 will also receive them.

Again, this is exactly how Motorola has always operated, so I'm not sure why anyone expected anything different. But hey, at least we now know that monthly security patches have been deemed by Motorola as "difficult to do." Then again, I guess it would be difficult when your Motorola support staff has been cut down to almost nothing. As a recap, should you buy the Moto Z or Moto Z Force, it will indeed see updates, like all major Android phones. Unfortunately, like the Moto X Pure Edition and almost all other Motorola phones, we don't know when those updates will come. When they do, it's anyone's guess as to whether or not they will be current.

Via: ArsTechnica

FYI: Your Verizon Unlimited Data Plan is No Longer Unlimited

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 11:25:33 +0000

When we broke news last week with word that Verizon was going to start disconnecting a small group of "extraordinary" data users who were out of contract and still hanging on to unlimited data, we were also telling you that your unlimited data plan is no longer truly "unlimited." In case you hadn't figured it out yet, Verizon is now paying close attention to how much data you are using if you are out of contract, so that they can take it all away from you with notice. As noted in our story that Verizon later confirmed, Verizon has pinpointed a "small group" of unlimited data plan subscribers who are out of contract and using an "extraordinary" amount of data per month. Those users are being notified that they can no longer keep their unlimited plan and will see their service disconnected unless they switch over to The Verizon Plan. The notices started going out as early as July 21 and have informed customers that they have until August 31 to make the move without interruption. At least one of our readers has already received a letter, which you can view below.

As you can see, the letters don't actually tell the customer that they are using those "extraordinary" amounts of data and that is why they are about to lose their plan. Instead, the letter only mentions that the plan is going away for them on August 31 and they must choose something new. Since these customers are out of contract, well, that's really all Verizon needs to do here. So what does this mean for you and the future of your unlimited plan? As I mentioned above, you should no longer consider it to be an unlimited data plan. Verizon still hasn't said officially what "extraordinary" means, but both sources of ours and Verizon continue to push out examples of users gobbling up 100GB of data or more as a way to put "extraordinary" into perspective. I think it's fair to say that 100GB is what Verizon is considering to be the limit. Our reader who sent in the letter above has two lines that are about to disappear because he said that he eclipsed 100GB on one of them here and there, but had another that was regularly over the 250GB mark. Again, your unlimited data plan is now a 100GB data plan that will always be hanging by a thread should you be out of contract and going month-to-month. Without a contract, Verizon can simply give you notice of a change, like they are doing in the letter above, and show you the door if you don't switch over to a plan that is suggested. At this time, Verizon hasn't said that they have additional targets after August 31 who they will push off of unlimited data, but why wouldn't they? In the end, they have spent the past four or so years trying to get unlimited data users off of their plans and onto their quarterly earnings-friendly tiered plans, by increasing prices, considering throttling the top 5% of users (likely the same "extraordinary" bunch here), and taking away upgrade options that allowed you to keep unlimited. I'd be shocked if another wave of users aren't forced to choose something else after August. Going forward, especially if you are closing in on the end of a contract, you should either start monitoring closely the amount of data you are consuming each month or start looking for a new plan.

Twitter Rolls Out Night Mode to All on Android

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 09:41:57 +0000

If for some reason your official Twitter app has yet to show Night Mode as an option in its slideout navigation, you should begin seeing it today. Twitter announced this morning that everyone should now be able to use the darker mode for those darker times where the overly-white Twitter UI might be unwelcoming. To see what Night Mode looks like, take a look at the short clip included in Twitter's tweet about the feature below. But you can probably guess how it works and looks, right? A Night Mode turns white to black and makes it not so bright and painful on your eyes when in dark situations. The feature started rolling out some time ago through the beta and has been activated on most of my phones for weeks. It's pretty awesome, actually, even during the day time. This is one of those features we wish a lot of apps would consider adding. And hey, it may even save on battery, in case you worry about such things. Be sure you are on the latest version of Twitter for Android and then look in the slideout menu for the toggle! Play Link https://twitter.com/twitter/status/757969656493649921

BlackBerry Announces the DTEK50, $300 Phone All About Security

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 09:35:10 +0000

BlackBerry announced the DTEK50, an affordable smartphone focused on bringing security to all Android fans. While the specs inside of the DTEK50 won't blow you away, even with BlackBerry highlighting the autofocus-having 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, it seems like a decent option for those who value security over other premium features. As for the specs, potential buyers will find a 5.2" FHD display, Snapdragon 617 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (added microSD card support), 2,610mAh battery, GSM network compatibility, 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with Phase Detect autofocus, and Android 6.0+. Check out the complete spec table below for more details. As for added software features beyond security, BlackBerry has baked in its Intelligent Keyboard, the Convenience Key (quick access to favorited apps), Pop-Up Widgets, Device Search, Instant Actions (quickened procedures for making calls or sending texts), and custom gestures for owners to play with. The price listed for the DTEK50 is $299, available for pre-order starting today directly on BlackBerry's website. Official Specs [table id=39 /] Ready to pre-order the phone? Follow the link below. Pre-Order Here

[responsive_vid]

Via: BlackBerry

T-Mobile's Binge On Ups Amount of Supported Services to Over 100

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:37:45 +0000

T-Mobile's Binge On, the added feature for customers that allows them to stream video from select services and have it not count against their monthly data allotment, is getting quadrupled in size. In total, there are now more than 100 services for users to stream DVD-quality (480p) video from. As for which services have been added, let's name a few. Starting today, you will find ABC, Apple Music, Disney Channel, FOX NOW, Nat Geo TV, FXNOW, as well as the Big Ten Network. Check out the full list of new services below. New Services

ABC
Apple Music
Big Ten Network
CEEK VR
DISH Anywhere
Disney Channel
Disney Jr.
Disney XD
D-PAN.TV
DramaFever
FOX NOW
FXNOW
NAT GEO TV
Shalom World
Sioeye
Tubi TV

Via: T-Mobile

Two Verizon LG Updates Today: G5 Gets an App Drawer, V10 Gets WiFi Calling Improvements

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:23:40 +0000

Verizon and LG are pushing out updates to two phones today, the G5 and V10. Each updates is fairly minor, but G5 owners who have been waiting for LG to give them an app drawer have finally received their wish. As for the V10, it's just looking like an update that tweaks the USB connection prompt and improves WiFi Calling. For the LG G5, users will see an update to software version VS98713A. The update does indeed include the "Home with app drawer" option from within the "Select Home" screen. I point this out because there was a mini-controversy over LG's choice to not include a launcher with an app drawer at launch, even though they quickly realized that was a mistake over the screaming of a loud Android minority. I don't want to dive (again) into why this was mostly a non-story, but the basics are that you can just download a really good 3rd party launcher from Google Play for free if it bothers you so much. In fact, LG's launcher is pretty terrible for the most part, so you would be better off with a 3rd party anyways. Either way, the update introduces a home screen setup with an app drawer instead of having Apple's app jukebox approach as the only pre-loaded option. You'll find it by going into Settings and then choosing "Home screen." From there, look for "Home with app drawer" and be on your way. Outside of the new launcher option, G5 owners will see an updated USB connection screen that looks like this:

Finally, this latest update also improves the LG Health app by adding customizable exercise modes and a change to the dashboard. The LG V10 update is arriving as software version VS99023A and simply includes WiFi Calling improvements and a change to the USB connection screen to what the G5 screen has become (above).

Via: Verizon [2]

OnePlus 3 Update to V3.2.2 Incoming That Fixes Doze Issues, Improves Video Recording

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:05:57 +0000

OnePlus is pushing yet another update to the OnePlus 3, this time as OxygenOS v3.2.2. This is the second update since launch to address bugs, a trend we hope continues on for the next couple of years. The trend here would be regular updates, something the company hasn't exactly been known for during its first two years of existence. In this update, we are getting "improved notification management in Doze," along with a fix for an issue with the alert slider, disabling of the fingerprint sensor while the phone is pocketed, and improvements to video recording (like an updated 4K codec). OnePlus also tossed in the "latest security patches." The full changelog is below.

Improved notification management in doze.
Addressed alert slider/silent mode issue.
Disabled fingerprint sensor while in pocket.
Added NFC toggle in quick settings.
Improved noise cancellation in video recording.
Updated 4K video recording codec.
Added latest security patches and various optimizations.

The update will rollout slowly over the coming days, but you can check for it by heading into Settings>System updates. If you are still considering the OnePlus 3, be sure to read our 5 reasons to buy one.

Via: OnePlus

Google Store Back to School Sale: $30 Off Chromebooks, $100 Off Nexus 6P, More

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:57:33 +0000

Shopping for back to school supplies can suck, as well as be quite the expense. However, if your kiddies are in need of a few new gadgets, or you just want to spoil yourself, the Google Store is hosting a new sale to save you a bit of cash. Listed on the Google Store, select Chromebooks are marked at $30 off (Acer Chromebook 14 and Acer R11), the Nexus 6P is $100 off, $50 off the Huawei Watch, plus $5 off the Chromecast and Chromecast Audio dongles. That's quite a bit of savings if you add it up. You can view all of the deals by clicking the link below. Google Store Link

Supposed HTC Nexus "Sailfish" Build.prop Leaks, Showcases Some Specs

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:48:35 +0000

Over the weekend, a supposed build.prop file from one of the upcoming HTC Nexus devices made its way online. This particular file is from the "sailfish" model, which is thought to be the smaller of the two new Google-created devices, and gives us details about the phone's internals, like display, processor, etc. After looking through the information, we're seeing things like mention of "sailfish," the current codename of the phone that will more than likely live on as its device name for software on Google's factory image pages. The build.prop also lists out the current build of Android (NMD83D), security patch level (2016.08.05), processor (Snapdragon 820, msm8996), and display density (420dpi). So we aren't learning all that much here, but the processor and display match-up to previous specs rumors. The Snapdragon 820 is indeed a 64-bit quad-core processor and a dpi of 420 in a display does hint at this phone having something close to a 5-inch FHD (1080p) display. Nexus!

Via: @evleaks | reddit

Google Maps Updated With Improved Typography, Areas of Interest

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 14:38:21 +0000

An update for Google Maps will affect users on Android, desktop, as well as iOS, bringing a cleaner look, improved typography, and much more. As you would assume, when looking over a city in Maps, there is a lot of information, all condensed until you zoom in. Because of this, Google is redesigning the layout of Maps, but don't expect anything too drastic. Google will be providing a "cleaner" look, plus improving the typography to make things a bit easier to read. As described by Google, they have removed elements from the overview that are not absolutely required. This will result in a cleaner look that makes it easier to find helpful and actionable information, such as traffic and transit lines. For the improved typography, you should much more easily view street names, points of interest, and transit stations. Google is also adding in a new "Areas of Interest" feature, highlight places on the map where there might be a lot going on. These areas on the map are shaded orange. When you head into an orange area in the Maps app, you can view different details about local hot spots or other activities you can do. This update is rolling out to Google Play, iOS, and on the desktop version right now.

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Via: Google

Google's Phone App for Nexus Devices Gets Spam Calling Protection

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 13:19:13 +0000

Google is updating the Phone app that is included on their Nexus devices to include spam protection against unwanted calls. The newest version of the app will alert you as a call is coming in if it may be a "suspected" spam caller (see below) and then let you take additional actions on it. With Caller ID & spam protection turned on, users will be able to both block and report spam calls. From within the Recent calls log, a tap on a call you'd like to report will offer up an option to "Block / report spam." You should see options to both report as spam and then block, assuming you want to do both. To find the setting for it, you simply open the Phone app, tap the 3-dot menu button for More options, and then tap on the Caller ID & spam protection section. If you already have Caller ID enabled in the Phone app on your Nexus, you'll automatically get the spam protection once you receive the newest update, which should start showing up today. Play Link

Cyanogen CEO Refutes Claims of Company's Pivot to Apps, "We are an OS Company"

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:40:38 +0000

Kirt McMaster, the current CEO of Cyanogen Inc., took to Twitter this last Saturday and this morning to briefly discuss last week's news of the company laying off a large portion of its workforce. McMaster confirmed that the company had to "let go of some wonderful people," but cited that disruption and startups are "brutal." Furthermore, McMaster spent 136 characters of his allotted 140 on Twitter to refute last week's claims that Cyanogen Inc would be making a pivot. Said pivot would be from OS to applications. According to McMaster, "We are an OS company and our mission of creating an open Android stands." Interestingly, we had multiple sources from last week state very clearly that Cyanogen would indeed be making a pivot. It is unclear whether McMaster's comments are sincere or disguised as a way for Cyanogen leaders to announce the pivot in a not-so-depressing manner. On the lighter side, a parody Kirt McMonster account has been created on Twitter, sharing a few funny jokes regarding the past week's happenings. Time will tell what's in store for Cyanogen Inc. at this point.

Via: Kirk McMaster [2]

DEAL: Amazon has the Refurbished Echo Priced at Just $140

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:20:17 +0000

Amazon is currently selling the Amazon Echo for just $139.99 as a "certified refurbished" unit. That's a good $40 discount off a brand new unit, which Amazon describes as being "refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new." So in other words, you are basically getting a unit that has had any issues fixed and then made new again. In case you need a recap on the Echo, you could think of it has a decent room-filling speaker for playing music from from a variety of sources or via Bluetooth. But on top of that, you can ask Alexa (the brains behind Echo) for answers to questions, about the weather, to set timers, control lights and thermostats, read the news, share sports scores, re-purchase products on Amazon, and even order an Uber or pizza. It's a bit like a home assistant. Amazon Link

Pokémon GO SDCC Panel: Game is Only 10% of Final Product, More Features on the Way

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 10:48:45 +0000

At this year's SDCC, a lot of attention was paid to the Pokémon GO panel, featuring members of the Niantic Lab's team. A lot of details were revealed, but most importantly, it should be known that no legendary Pokémon were released for those in attendance to catch. That would have really chapped my hide. According to what was discussed, Pokémon GO is hardly finished, with the developers stating that the game is at about 10% of what they want it to be. Yes, you read that right, only 10%. As for which features we can expect in the future, Niantic wants to bring more Pokémon (as in later generation Pokémon), release legendaries (but only when everyone in the world has access to the game), as well as new functionality for Gyms. Pokéstops will also be getting updated with added functionality. According to Niantic, players could go around and customize Pokéstops, adding new functions which have not yet been detailed. This would give more reason for players to leave the house and go meet up with other players in the neighborhood. Intriguingly, Niantic states that the game has a lot of Easter Eggs, too, all of which are currently undiscovered. Get to work, Internet! On top of that, the idea of breeding Pokémon is currently being tossed around, but there is no concrete intel on whether it will ever come. Oh, and the developers state that they are working on the 3-step glitch that has plagued the game for the past week or so. So, the major takeaway is that Pokémon GO development is far from over. If you have yet to start playing, don't worry, we assume you will have at least a couple more years to get in on the action while Niantic continues to improve upon the gaming experience.

Via: The Verge | Kotaku

OnePlus 3 in Soft Gold Arrives Tomorrow

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 09:34:21 +0000

On the day OnePlus announced the OnePlus 3, there was a bit of confusion surrounding the available color choices out of the gate. In promo imagery, we saw both silver and gold models, yet only the silver has ever been up for purchase. Tomorrow that changes, as OnePlus will make the "Soft Gold" variant available in the US before rolling it out to other countries. OnePlus says that Soft Gold is only available in limited quantities, so if you are interested, you may want to be ready the minute it goes live in their store. Tonight at noon Eastern (9AM Pacific) is your time if you live in the States. Live elsewhere and also want the Soft Gold One Plus 3? Below, you'll find the entire schedule of availability.

As far as we know, the price should still be $399. OnePlus hasn't exactly said nor is their website showing a price, but I don't know why a gold coating would cost anymore than the silver. If the price does end up being different, we'll update this post. Any takers? EDIT: Apologies, but I had my times mixed up and thought midnight. The phone is available at noon Eastern tomorrow, July 26. Buy OnePlus 3

Sprint Posts Best Postpaid Additions in Nine Years, Says LTE Plus is Getting Faster

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 09:00:19 +0000

Sprint is reporting excellent fiscal Q1 numbers, detailing its best postpaid phone net additions in nine years. According to Sprint, the company's "focus on delivering the best value proposition in wireless," resulted in the fourth consecutive quarter of positive net additions with 173,000 in the quarter, compared to net losses of 12,000 in fiscal Q1 of 2015. To put that in layman's, Sprint is now gaining more postpaid customers than it is losing, and for this company, that's a major victory. The company even credits its marketing campaign featuring the "Can you hear me now?" guy. Stated in the press release, "The campaign has been one of the most successful in company history. The ad has been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube and the company became postpaid net port positive against all three national carriers for the first time in over five years." More importantly for customers, Sprint discussed its plan for LTE Plus network expansion. Combining a tri-band spectrum portfolio along with LTE Advanced features, LTE Plus launched in 33 additional markets, bringing its grand total to 237 across the country. Sprint details that it plans a densification and optimization of the LTE Plus network, leading to better data speeds and networks reliability. The Sprint LTE Plus Network, which combines a rich tri-band spectrum portfolio with the LTE Advanced features of carrier aggregation and antenna beamforming, launched in 33 additional markets, increasing the total to 237 markets across the country. For a more thorough look at Sprint's fiscal Q1 numbers, check out the via below.

Via: Sprint

Prisma is Now Available on Android

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:42:58 +0000

Prisma, the photo filtering app thats is apparently a huge, huge, huge deal on iOS, has come to Android as of today. Apologies for not being in the know on popular iOS-only apps, but word has it that people are really into the filters offered through Prisma. With Prisma, you get the opportunity to use existing pictures on your phone or new ones taken through the app, to create "awesome artworks." The app works a lot like Instagram, in that you choose or take photos, crop and adjust to your liking, then apply a filter. The filters here aren't just auto tunes or brightness and vibrance enhancements, though, they are instead "modern art filters," where your photos take on the essence of artwork from Picasso, Munk, etc. Once filters have been applied, you can swipe left to right to tweak the strength of each and get the photo looking just right for social sharing. If a filter is to your liking and your image is hella hot, you can quickly share to Instagram and Facebook, save the photo for later, or choose an another avenue to spread the filter love. It's a pretty slick app for the most part, if you are into letting your photos become fun works of art. I will point out that being day 1, the app is struggling. It appears as if the processing of each photo is happening on a Prisma server and so the app is quite overloaded at the moment and timeouts are happening regularly. Still, the app is free and available now at the link below. Play Link

Verizon is Acquiring Yahoo for $4.83 Billion

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 07:09:10 +0000

Yahoo and Verizon announced this morning that Big Red is acquiring the struggling tech giant for $4.83 billion. The move will push Yahoo under AOL, another former tech darling that Verizon picked up within the past year. Verizon and Yahoo hope to close the all-cash deal by Q1 of 2017. So what does this mean for Yahoo products, like email, sports, finance, and Tumblr? They are all coming along for the ride to Verizon and AOL. From what I can tell, neither company said anything other than that those services will continue on. The goal here is more than likely to see if AOL CEO Tim Armstrong can build on a massive ad network to rival Google's. Or maybe, Verizon is really big fans of purple? If interested in deeper press release details, hit up the source links below from each company.

Via: Verizon | Yahoo

Moto Z Reviews

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 19:31:47 +0000

On today's episode of the Droid Life Show, as you probably guessed, we'll be diving into our final thoughts on the Moto Z and Moto Z Force now that reviews have been posted. Not only that, but we'll talk Moto Mods, pricing and availability, and hopefully answer questions you may have if watching live. After that, we will move onto the latest on the Galaxy Note 7, Android N DP5, and Verizon's latest attempt to kill off unlimited data for some. 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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Cyanogen Inc. Laying Off Large Portion of Workforce

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:55:32 +0000

First reported by Android Police, then confirmed by sources of our own, Cyanogen Inc. is in the process of laying off a substantial amount of its workforce. According to numbers provided by our source, roughly 28 out of 134 employees have received notice that their services will no longer be required at the company. That number could rise, though. As reported, employees who were not to be laid off received an email that the offices would be closed early and that they needed to go home. Those who did not receive this email, and instead saw what appeared to be a "generic" HR meeting placed on their calendar, were about to lose their jobs. The meetings with those who were being laid off sometimes happened in groups and others individually. Stated by our source, the reasoning provided for the layoff was that Cyanogen was about to undergo corporate restructuring and would be making a pivot in the business model. At this time, we cannot elaborate on what this pivot will be towards exactly, though, it is reported Cyanogen will focus more on applications instead of the operating system as a whole. Our source states that the majority of layoffs were dealt to the System/QA departments, located primarily in Palo Alto, CA and Seattle, WA. At this time, Cyanogen has yet to address these reports, but once they do, we will update this post.

Via: Android Police

Moto Z and Moto Z Force: First 10 Things You Should Do

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 12:51:31 +0000

With Moto Z reviews out of the way and the July 28 release day quickly approaching, our focus on both the Z and Z Force will now turn to helping you get the most out of each, assuming you plan to buy one or the other. To kick off the next series of posts, we wanted to start off with something we've been doing for all flagships recently, and that's by offering up the first 10 things you should do upon receiving the Moto Z DROID or Moto Z Force DROID. In this clip, we'll walk you through using the fingerprint reader, Moto's app suite (Display, Voice, and Actions), choosing a new launcher, disabling bloatware, firing up WiFi Calling, and even helping you pick a Moto Mod or two. Anything else you want to know? Feel free to drop those questions in the comments below, as our tips and tricks video is next.

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5 Reasons the OnePlus 3 is Worth Buying

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 12:14:15 +0000

We have been discussing the Moto Z lineup of devices quite heavily, given we just posted our reviews and pre-orders have gone up, but we wanted to take a bit of time to discuss the already-available OnePlus 3. If you're still on the fence for which phone to possibly pick up in 2016, we would like to offer you five reasons the OnePlus 3 is still worth your hard-earned money. If you missed our complete review of the device, along with plenty of videos we have shot, we think the OnePlus 3 is a great smartphone. Bringing great specs and design all into an affordable package, this phone is an excellent choice for fans of the Nexus lineup. You'll get your stock Android experience with custom tweaks baked in, as well as a plain, yet sexy hardware package. For $399, what's not to like? Here are 5 reasons the OnePlus 3 is worth buying.

1. Great Specs for Low Price

The OnePlus 3, unlike previous OnePlus devices, isn't missing any important specs. I'm referring back to OnePlus' ridiculous notion that NFC wasn't important enough to be added onto the OnePlus 2 or OnePlus X. That was just crazy. However, the OnePlus 3 does have NFC, thank goodness. On top of that addition, it comes with a list of great specs, including a 5.5" FHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB UFS 2.0 storage (no MicroSD slot, either), 3,000mAh battery, 16-megapixel camera, 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and OxygenOS running atop the latest publicly available version of Android. For all of this greatness, which should easily last you until you decide to upgrade devices again, the price is set at just $399. Yup, only $399 for all of that. Comparing that price to other phones like the HTC 10 or Galaxy S7, you will easily be saving up to a couple hundred dollars, depending on where you are buying from. In addition to the low price, the phone comes completely unlocked, allowing you to use the device on any GSM network, such as AT&T or T-Mobile. The only downside, at least in terms of supported networks, the device does not feature the necessary radios to work on Verizon. For many here, that will be a deal breaker. An overall downside, if I had to come up with one, would be the lack of water resistance. Unlike the Galaxy S7, you won't want to shower with this device. If taking pictures in the pool isn't something you need, though, the OnePlus packs a mean specifications punch for just $399.

2. Software Customization

As previously stated, the OnePlus 3 comes with OxygenOS. It's by no means a stock version of the Android OS, but one filled with lots of tweaks and custom settings. The options include the ability to quickly add theme accents into your Settings menu, change between on-screen and capacitive buttons, and lots of lockscreen gesture commands you can enable. Keep in mind, though, at first glance OxygenOS UI looks just like vanilla Android, making it that much more appealing to us. The custom software experience is one of my favorite aspects of the phone, and from my experience, it's pretty smooth. For example, when changing up themes or toggling different system settings to be shown in your pulldown notification window, there are no bugs or jank to be found. The one issue I have come across is a non responsive "back button" problem that will hopefully be resolved in an upcoming software update. As for the gestures, we did a video on them for our complete review, so be sure to check that out. To give you a summed up version, OnePlus 3 owners can enable select gestures that can be performed while the phone is locked. To turn on your flashlight, draw a "V." To begin music playback or to pause playback, with two fingers, draw a "Pause" symbol. These are small additions, but make using the phone a lot of fun.

3. Great Design

In-hand, the OnePlus 3 feels really good. It's not too big and it's not too small. It's just right. Covered in an all-metal body, the curvature of the device offers a great grip, and importantly for us, the buttons are all in their right places. The power button sits on the right side, while the volume up and down rocker is placed on the left side, right below the Alert Slider. For a lot of people, this is the proper layout when it comes to hardware buttons. In many ways, the OnePlus 3 is rather unsuspecting. There are no flamboyant markings or dressage on the device, just a single OnePlus logo on its backside. No carrier branding is always a plus, too. Along the bottom, you will find the USB Type-C port, external speaker, as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack. I suppose, if I was to design my ideal smartphone, it would end up looking a lot like the OnePlus 3. My only beef, and the first thing I would change, is the placement of the fingerprint reader. On the OnePlus 3, it sits on the bottom chin, right where you would find it on the HTC 10, Galaxy S7, and iPhone. For my dream phone, it would be on the backside, where you would find it on the Nexus 6P. That's just a personal preference, though. In my mind, the OnePlus 3 is easily one of the better designed devices on 2016. Sure, it might look a little boring, but most importantly, it works and feels good while in-hand.

4. Solid Camera

The rear-facing 16-megapixel camera on the backside of the OnePlus 3 is solid. It takes good pictures if provided a good setting, something I believe we proved in our complete review. However, like all other smartphone cameras, if you have poor lighting and moving subjects, it might be tough to capture that shot you are after. The camera is quick to focus, already making it a good contender, and the shutter is quite fast. The combination of these two aspects will at least allow for the potential of a few really good shots. A lot of phones don't even have that going for them.

While there is no way I would bet on the OnePlus 3 over the Galaxy S7 in a camera shootout, we have to remember that the OnePlus is priced at a substantially lower price than Samsung's flagship. For $400, you're still getting a very high quality sensor that is more than capable of snapping good shots. For a more in-depth, detailed analysis of the OnePlus 3 camera's abilities, check out the camera section in our complete review.

5. Fast "Dash" Charging

Last year on the OnePlus 2, OnePlus tossed in USB Type-C, allowing them to market the device as one of the first with the envelope-pushing feature. Unfortunately for consumers, they neglected to toss in any type of fast charging technology. That sucked. This year, though, the OnePlus 3 is outfitted with Dash Charging, a comparable experience to Motorola's Turbo Charging, Samsung's Fast Charging, and Google's Rapid Charging. Dash Charging on the OnePlus 3 can technically grab a 63% charge in just 30 minutes time, according to OnePlus. What makes Dash Charging different from other fast charging solutions is OnePlus' design to put the power management and heat dispersion in the actual charging adapter that plugs into the wall. This means your phone isn't burning up, something you might experience typically when fast charging. So, while you're charging your phone Dashingly, you can still game, record 4K videos, or do whatever else and not cook an egg on the backside of the device simultaneously. Keep in mind, though, to take full advantage of Dash Charging, you will need one of OnePlus' proprietary chargers. If you lose the original that comes with your OnePlus, you will need to buy a new one for about $34.

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.

Here's the Galaxy Note 7 From All Sorts of Angles in Different Colors

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 09:08:09 +0000

With each passing day, we get closer to Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy Note 7. Thanks to yet another leak, we can see the device from a ton of different angles, as well as in three different colors - Gold, Blue, and Silver. After looking over the device pretty well, I must say, the design is pretty much what we would expect from Samsung these days. We have a body drenched in glass and metal, along with the ever-so-slightly curved edges on the frontside display. Looking at the side view, the Galaxy Note 7 appears to be extremely thin, but not too thin, since we still need room to fit the S Pen inside of the body. The blue model appears to feature rose gold siding, which comes off as an odd color choice. The light blue and rose gold somewhat clash to my eye, but it may look pretty good in person. Not that you would ever catch me on the street with a blue and rose gold phone, though. Take a look over the photos, then share your opinion below in the comments section. August 2 is quickly approaching.

Via: SamMobile | SEEKO

DEAL: Nexus 5X 32GB for $240, Nexus 6 for $280

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:22:09 +0000

To head into the weekend, we've got a couple of decent deals for you on Nexus devices, assuming you need a good phone on the cheap that actually receives software updates and security patches. You can pick-up last year's Nexus 5X with 32GB storage for just $239.99 or the previously released Nexus 6 32GB for $279.99. The Nexus 5X is available at the price ($160 discount) in either white or black as a brand new unit and is shipped to you for free. This is the US model, so it'll work on all US carriers, including AT&T and Verizon. As for the Nexus 6, the listing states that it is "new other," which means it might come in packaging other than its original retail box. It doesn't say refurbished, so it still should be an unused phone. You can choose from either white or blue models and it too ships for free. eBay Links: Nexus 5X ($239.99) | Nexus 6 ($279.99)

Dots & Co Hits Google Play, a More Adventurous Take on the Original Dots

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:13:02 +0000

From the makers of the original Dots game, as well as the sequel TwoDots, Dots & Co is what I would label as a more adventurous take on the same Dots gameplay. While you still go around popping dots and making squares for more points, there is something similar to what could be labeled as a storyline taking place in Dots & Co. We begin Dots & Co with a single character, making her way through a very dotty world. As we progress, we meet companions. These companions have special traits, such as the ability to clear an entire color of dots, making select levels a bit easier. However, even with the addition of actual characters, it's basically the same Dots game as the original. In Dots & Co, there is a timer-like system based on Energy, just like Candy Crush. If your energy runs low, you can't play and you'll need to wait in order to play again. When you complete a level, you gain energy back. As long as you continue winning, the game lets you play on. This is where the in-purchases come in. If you run out of Energy, a full charge will cost you 12 gold coins. Interestingly enough, 10 gold coins will cost you $0.99. This means you will be two short, potentially forcing players to purchase $2 worth of gold coins. Stupid? Absolutely. From what I can tell, the game is really simplistic and not at all challenging. This means the need to purchase gold coins will hopefully never arise. With that being said, the game is actually quite enjoyable, coupled with a very fun soundtrack. If you are a fan of the original Dots, or its sequel TwoDots, give Dots & Co a try. Play Link

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#TBT: Android 1.6 Intro Video Details CDMA Support, "Quick Search" Box and Much More

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:31:32 +0000

The current version of the Android OS is Android 6.0.1, with the next version, Nougat, slated to be Android 7.0. Since we are still on Android 6.0.1, it's fitting that today, our #TBT post is about Android 1.6. You know, since 6.0.1 is sort of like 1.6 backwards. Close enough. Posted onto the Android Developers YouTube channel in September of 2009, Google details the big changes taking place in Android 1.6, also known as Donut. Changes for Donut include the ability for apps to be displayed properly on various devices that feature differing screen resolutions. Apparently, that was an issue back in the day, with apps not knowing how to display themselves properly unless a specific value was provided. Woof, that must have sucked. Additionally, Android 1.6 included support for CDMA networks, not just GSM. This allowed Verizon, Sprint, and other CDMA-using carriers to get in the Android action. On the UI side of things, Donut introduced the "Quick Search" box, which we now know as the Search bar that is probably sitting on your home screen right now. On top of that, Android 1.6 also brought changes for the Android Market. When that was updated on Donut, the Android Market brought screenshots of apps shared by developers, as well as user-written reviews. As we see today on Google Play, that hasn't changed at all. It's pretty incredible to think how far we've come in a relatively short period of time. Donut was only 7 years ago. I wonder what Android will be like in another 7 years.

DEAL: Ad-Free Moto G4 is Just $150 at Amazon ($50 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:16:26 +0000

The Moto G4, Motorola's recently introduced budget-friendly phone that still packs a punch, is currently available at Amazon on a special deal for just $149.99 with 16GB of storage and $179.99 with 32GB of storage. Those both weigh in at $50 discounts. Keep in mind that this is not the Amazon-sponsored one that shows ads on your lock screen. This is the clean, ad-free version that you would buy if you picked one up directly from Motorola. In other words, this is the one you actually want that doesn't include Amazon ads and apps throughout. As a recap, the Moto G4 is an unlocked phone that works on all major US carriers (Verizon included), runs Android 6.0.1, and sports a 1.5GHz Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB storage, 5.5-inch Full HD display, 3000mAh battery with Turbo Charging, and a rear 13MP camera. For the price, especially with it down to $150, you can't really beat the package. Amazon Link ($50 discount shows in cart)

Bubble Zoom in Google Play Books is the Best Way to Read Digital Comics

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 11:44:25 +0000

Introduced at the best time, given this week is SDCC, Google Play Books is getting a new feature exclusively for those who enjoy reading comic books on digital devices such as tablets and smartphones. Called Bubble Zoom, this feature intelligently recognizes text bubbles inside of digital comics, allowing users to follow a storyline more interactively. It gives off the sense that the comic is alive, making the act of reading a bit more fun. To get this feature working, all a reader must do is tap on the screen and the text bubbles will follow along with your taps. It's not automated, so you don't need to worry about the bubbles going too fast. According to Google, Bubble Zoom will be made available on the latest version of Play Books for Android as a technical preview with all Marvel and DC collected volumes supported. To celebrate the launch, Google is hosting a 50% sale on select DC and Marvel comics, too. Use the code SDCC2016 at checkout by July 24 to take advantage. Looking forward, Google's hope is to bring Bubble Zoom to every single comic and manga title they offer. To get a sense of what this Bubble Zoom feature looks like, check it out below. Pretty cool, right?

Via: Android

Borderlands 2 Hits Google Play for Select NVIDIA SHIELD Devices, Priced at $15

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 10:14:00 +0000

The day has finally come, although, somewhat unfittingly because one of the people who would appreciate this announcement the most is no longer writing for us. Eric, this means you. Borderlands 2, the sequel to Borderlands, is now available for the SHIELD Android TV and SHIELD Tablet from NVIDIA. Talk of Borderlands 2 for Android began in 2012, and funny enough, Eric actually wrote that post. The Borderlands 2 title you will now find on Google Play is exactly the same as you would see on the gaming console inside of your home. You will be leading a team of misfit companions, using unique strengths and weapons to take on Handsome Jack in the world of Pandora. Of course, all of the same loot, weapons, and Relics are available for your usage. According to game's description, a co-op mode, just like on console, is available if you have the required hardware (additional SHIELD Controllers). Priced at $14.99, you won't find any in-app purchases. Have at it. Play Link ($14.99)

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DEAL: Best Buy Offering Moto Z DROID for $1, JBL Speaker Tossed in for Free

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 08:27:20 +0000

The Moto Z and Moto Z Force may be up for pre-order today at Verizon and Motorola, but Best Buy appears to have the best deal on the way. Once Best Buy opens up their own pre-orders, they will sell you a Moto Z DROID (review) for just $1 on a 2-year contract extension ($200 off) and toss in the JBL SoundBoost speaker for free ($80 value). According to their promo listing, they will alternately shave $200 off a device payment plan too. That brings the price to either $1 on a 2-year contract or $17.67 per month with a payment plan. That's actually a pretty good deal, especially with the free JBL Moto Mod tossed in. As you know from our reviews, the JBL SoundBoost speaker is the one Moto Mod we'd actually recommend. As of right now, Best Buy is also listing the Moto Z Force DROID at the same price, but I get the feeling that is a mistake. We'll keep an eye on it and update this post accordingly. If for some reason Best Buy is selling the Force for $1, you might want to jump on it. UPDATE: Yep, as we suspected, Best Buy is still getting their sh*t together with these listings. It looks like the Moto Z Force DROID will drop to $99 on contract or $21.83 with a payment plan. Not a bad deal. Best Buy Link

Moto Z and Moto Z Force DROID Now Up for Pre-Order, Available July 28

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 06:00:58 +0000

I think I have seen a number of you refer to the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID as "vaporware," but I promise they are real and coming very soon. In fact, as of right now, we can share with you that they are up for pre-order today (July 21) and will be available in stores next week on July 28. If you haven't yet, be sure to read both our Moto Z DROID review and Moto Z Force DROID review, because we have plenty to share on these two phones, from their designs to their Mods. Oh, you want pricing? Ok, here you go.

Moto Z DROID: $26 per month or $624 full retail; 32GB model
Moto Z Force DROID: $30 per month or $720 full retail; 32GB model

What about Moto Mods?

JBL SoundBoost Speaker is $79.99
Moto Insta-Share Projector is $299.99
Tumi and Kate Spade Power Packs run $59.99 to $89.99
Incipio Back Plates are $14.99 and come in soft touch, iridescent, and brushed metallic

If you are ready to buy the Moto Z DROID or Moto Z Force DROID, we have links for you below. PRE-ORDER LINKS:

Moto Z Force: Verizon | Motorola
Moto Z Force DROID: Verizon | Motorola

Via: Verizon

Moto Z DROID Review

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 06:00:53 +0000

In 2016, if you aren't Apple or Samsung and you make smartphones for a living, you need to find new ways to stand out or you may not be around for long. This industry is tougher than ever and has become increasingly difficult for anyone to sell enough phones to remain (or become) profitable. For Motorola, they think that could all change through modularity and the idea that a smartphone can be improved depending on the situation, thanks to swappable hardware. With the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, Motorola has introduced phones that are not only high-end devices with top-tier specs, they are also compatible with Moto Mods, a line of modules that attach to the backs of each via pins and magnets that could help improve an audio experience, battery life, etc. Motorola may not be the first to usher in the era of modules (that would be LG), but they more than likely are the first to at least get it close to right. Over the past week, we've spent time with both the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID, the Verizon versions of Motorola's new phones, to see if 1) they are any good at being high-end phones, and 2) if this Moto Mods deal is worth your attention and investment. I took on the Moto Z, which you'll find out all about below, while Tim has the Moto Z Force. You can read his review right here. This is our Moto Z DROID review.

The Good

Software Motorola continues to put forth one of the best software experiences on Android. Even though the company is now owned by Lenovo, they are sticking to the "pure" Android experience that delivers most of Google's vision, then improves upon it with their Moto suite. You get the almost purely stock appearance with on-screen navigation buttons, the notification shade that you want, settings menus that haven't been messed with, and no extra fluff that could slow the phone down. Performance here, thanks to that light software, is very quick. My favorite features from previous Motorola phones are all here, like Moto Display. With this latest version of Moto Display, Motorola is allowing you to more easily manage notifications from the lock screen and appears to be showing more detail too. Of course, the Moto Z still has the bottom IR sensors that let you just wave your hand over the phone to light up Moto Display for quick time and notification checking. Then you have Moto Voice, to give you powerful voice control over the phone's functionality and a bunch of Moto Actions. For Actions, you are able to turn on the phone's flashlight mode with the chop of a wrist, flip it over to activate Do Not Disturb, twist your wrist to launch the camera, and even swipe up on the phone's screen to get you into a one-handed mode.

Again, all of that stuff sits in the background for the most part, so that you can just enjoy Android for what it is without extra layers of garbage and unnecessary skinning. There are times when I wish that Motorola would push to do more or take Moto Display or Voice to the next level, but I can't exactly complain. I'll take this over what Samsung and LG are doing any day of the week. On another bonus, Motorola has basically stripped everything out of this phone in terms of pre-loaded apps that aren't Google's or Verizon's. So yes, you do get a massive list of Verizon bloatware, but you then only get Google's apps alongside them. So instead of having a Gallery app and the Photos app, you just have Photos. You also are basically just expected to use Gmail and Google Calendar instead of a Moto-made email or calendar app.

Now, there are a couple of areas that do bother me, though. For one, Verizon insists on making Motorola put this random launcher on the phone called Launcher3. It's like Google's Now Launcher, only it lacks functionality and will probably never see updates. I don't get the point of doing this, especially since all other non-Verizon Moto phones come pre-loaded with Google's Now Launcher. Finally, and maybe most importantly, the software update situation here is a scary one. I'll touch on it more in a section below. Fingerprint reader The fingerprint reader on the Moto Z line is quite good. I can't say that I love the placement of it, directly in the middle of the phone's giant chin, but it works and does so quickly. I tend to prefer fingerprint readers to be on the back of phones for pulling-out-of-pocket reasons. However, I get the idea of having them on the front. They are accessible no matter what you are doing, which includes the phone sitting on a table or desk.

The fingerprint reader here is quick to learn fingers - not as quick as a Nexus, but way quicker than a Galaxy - and also has an additional feature that I wish others would take on. Once the phone is awake and you decide you want to lock it again, you can press your finger over the reader one more time and the phone will lock. This is one of those minor yet incredibly handy features that allows you to get in and out of your phone without doing much. As for reading times, I'd put this fingerprint reader somewhere towards the top of the list. Since it isn't a physical button and instead acts more like a capactive touch pad, you can just rest your finger on it to have it read. That saves quite a bit of time, especially when you compare it to a phone like the Galaxy S7, where you have to physically press the fingerprint/home button in first before it'll read. On the Moto Z, you just rest your finger on there, it reads and unlocks your phone. And then, if you decide you are done right away, you can rest it back on there to lock. No other phone, outside of the OnePlus 3, can do that at the moment. Display This year, Motorola went back to an AMOLED display and delivered a winner on the Moto Z. The resolution weighs in at quad HD, while the size tops out at 5.5-inches. It's big, but most phones these days tend to be big and 5.5-inch is largely thought to be one of the sweet spots. The AMOLED display works perfectly with Motorola's Moto Display and makes sense to be included, since it allows only specific pixels to be lit up each time new notifications arrive. Why they went with an LCD last year is beyond me, unless they really were trying to pinch all the pennies. Because it is an AMOLED, you also get create color saturation, some punch and vibrance, yet you can tone all that down if you want to a more natural look. Out of the box, my Moto Z came set to "Vibrant" mode, but there is a "Standard" mode as well that is described as displaying "realistic color." The viewing angles are great, as you can see below, brightness levels are adequate, and the overall experience is one that I don't have any major complaints about. The Moto Z's display isn't on Samsung's level just yet, but it's certainly not far from it. If you are looking for a complaint, it's the fact that this phone doesn't have Motorola's Shattershield technology like is in the Moto Z Force. With Shattershield, you get a display that can't be shattered. Why leave it out of this phone and only put it in the Force? Clearly it's a play to get you to upgrade and pay more, which isn't exactly a customer-friendly move.

Fast charging Fast charging is one of those features we'll probably stop pointing out within the next few months during reviews, because almost every phone has some form of it, but Motorola being one of the first to adopt it and also continuing to do their part in pushing it forward is worth acknowledging. On the Moto Z, even with its smallish 2600mAh battery, the claim is that you can grab 8 hours of power in just 15 minutes worth of charging. I don't know what percentage that calculates into, but the point is that with a supplied Motorola TurboCharger handy and a dead battery, you only need a few minutes to get juiced up for the next few hours. Motorola is claiming that this is the "world's fastest charging smartphone."

I should also point out that Motorola does indeed include one of their new TurboChargers in the box. "New" meaning this is a substantially slimmer charger than the original TurboCharger. It no longer looks like a giant black box and instead isn't such a nuisance to pack around with you. Just keep in mind that this is a charger only and doesn't have a detachable USB cable. Plenty of storage Thanks to the re-adoption by almost everyone of the microSD slot, storage on phones in 2016 shouldn't be much of a concern. The Moto Z will come in either 32GB or 64GB models (64GB only available on Moto Maker), but you can add on up to 2TB of extra storage via microSD. For now, that really means an extra 256GB, since those are the highest capacity cards available. Still, should you opt for the 64GB model and then toss in a 200GB or 256GB card, you are looking at upwards of 300GB of available space on your phone. That's got to be enough, right?

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Camera There aren't many differences between the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force, but one of the big ones lies within the camera department. On the regular Moto Z, you get a 13MP camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), laser autofocus, and an f/1.8 aperture. On the Moto Z Force, you get a super high-end Sony IMX338 21MP camera with OIS, laser autofocus, phase detection autofocus, and an f/1.8 aperture. The Moto Z Force clearly has the upgraded shooter here and I think it shows in both performance and results. Before we get to the results, though, here is a look at the software. In years past, Motorola's camera software was so bare bones that it was a bit underwhelming and frustrating at times. You just didn't have much control over what you wanted to take pictures of and I think Motorola realized that their customers want more. This year, they have a brand new camera app with a more traditional layout, along with new settings, and a full "Professional" or manual mode. The software has been greatly improved, to put it lightly.

As for the results, well, I'm just not all that impressed. For one, camera performance here is too slow when compared to other flagships. The camera can be loaded with Motorola's wrist twisting gesture or a double-tap on the power button, but it's just not all that fast to fully boot and be ready to shoot. The slowness only carries over to focus times and actually taking pictures. With auto HDR activated, this camera tends to like to use HDR, which I normally don't have a problem with, except that it's painfully slow in HDR mode at snapping and processing. In fact, you'll often be greeted with a message telling you to hold still for a few seconds. Seriously, in a 2016 flagship, your phone reminds you to hold still in order to capture the right shot. And with the slow autofocus, I found myself in too many situations where I wasn't sure if it had refocused, was still focusing, or if I needed to tap to tell it to focus properly in the correct position. That's just too much work for a smartphone where you would rather it take good photos without any fuss or question marks. Speaking of shots, below you will see a handful. I will say that the camera is capable of taking some decent pictures and even does a respectable job at capturing plenty of light in low-light situations, thanks to the f/1.8 aperture. But in the end, I'm not overly happy with the detail in a lot of the photos and often found close-ups to be murky and overprocessed. The camera clearly, as I just mentioned, favors HDR, which is fine, except that with HDR on all of the time you get those ultra-fake looking photos that get too wild with color reproduction. The camera here isn't on par with the Galaxy S7 or LG G5 or HTC 10, unfortunately.

Full resolution images can be found in this .zip file. Moto Mods This section probably almost needs its own separate review because of its importance to not only this phone, but the smartphone world in general so hang with me while I talk about the Moto Z and Moto Mods at length. I can't help but think that Motorola came really close to getting this idea right. I say that because the Moto Mods integration into the Moto Z is quite good - almost too good. What I mean is that, as someone who tinkers with tech, I want to know more, yet it all seems buried in secrecy. There aren't really any menus to adjust or tweak, nor is there software to customize. Instead, you just pick a Moto Mod and "snap" it onto the back to get whatever functionality it offers. It is the simplest setup ever and probably for good reason. When you are adding and removing hardware from a phone, you don't want consumers to have to go out of their way to get anything to work - you just want it to work and that's what Motorola is offering here. It's quite brilliant, in all honesty.

If you look at the LG G5, the other supposedly modular phone of 2016, you get an incredibly clunky modular setup that requires you to eject parts of the phone, turn it off, and swap batteries around. Actually, "clunky" is probably giving the G5 too much of a compliment, because Motorola absolutely crushes LG's approach. Motorola is using a system that involves both pins and magnets to hold Moto Mods in place. In order to attach a Mod to the Moto Z, you line up the pins and the hole that will sit around the camera and snap it in place. It then just stays there until you use a fingernail towards the bottom of the phone to pry it off. The Mods don't wiggle much or give off any sort of feeling that they may fall off while in use. And trust me, it was the first thing I checked on because I assumed they'd slide and wiggle all over the place. Thankfully, they don't. Motorola let us have the whole suite of Moto Mods that will be available at launch to test for this review. While I don't know that each needs its own review, I'll try to sum up some thoughts on each here. After all, each is pretty self-explanatory in functionality. Oh, and on that note, Tim has the JBL SoundBoost speaker for his Moto Z Force review, so if that's the Mod that interests you, be sure to check out his review. Tumi Power Pack ($59-$89) The Tumi Power Pack is a branded Moto Mod from Incipio, a company known for making cases and power packs. There will be Incipio branded ones as well, along with Kate Spade options for the fashionistas in the building. This pack offers your Moto Z an extra 2200mAh in juice, or as Motorola puts it, up to 22 hours. It's fairly sleek and looks nice, assuming you don't mind your phone having Tumi branding on it. I will say that at first, I was really excited at the possibility here. To think that if your phone was dying and you had no charger around and aren't interested in a big ass battery case, this would be the perfect solution. Sadly, I have to report back that the integration fails for the most part. Sure, it will charge your phone, it just does so at an incredibly snail-like pace. There is no Turbo Charging here with this power pack.

Why is that so bad? The best example I can give you is the experience I had one my way back from New York City last week after picking up the Moto Z. I was sitting on an airplane and the phone had dropped to around 12% or so. I slapped on the Tumi Power Pack and hoped that it would keep up with my ongoing use. It didn't. Over the course of 15 minutes or so, it did jump up to around 15%, but I actually watched it drop a percentage point while attached and the phone in use. That's really not OK. If a battery pack can't keep up with your phone usage, what's the point? You may as well go seek out an outlet and Turbo Charge for 10 minutes. Also, keep in mind that at 2200mAh, this pack can't even get you a full charge. In fact, in the times I used it, it was only able to get me up to around 60%. That 60% took almost 2 hours to complete.

Finally, the only way to charge the Tumi Power Pack is to have it attached to the phone while the phone also charges. That's not the worst setup, but it does make you think about how and when you can keep your Mods full of juice. I'd much rather be able to plug the power pack in separately. Moto Insta-Share Projector ($299) The projector that Motorola is selling as a Moto Mod is a fun idea, I just don't know how practical it is for most of us. For one, it's $300. Two, it's low 480p resolution doesn't exactly make you want to put up a movie onto a big screen or wall and enjoy with friends and family. I could see it coming in handy for meetings in smaller conference rooms or on a camping trip, where you want to have some fun in the tent, but other than that, it's one of those meh accessories.

It works for about an hour (1100mAh battery inside) at full charge before then digging into your phone's battery. Thankfully, you can charge it through its own USB Type-C port, so you don't need it to be attached to the phone, like you do with the power packs. It also does pretty nifty keystone correction to get auto-lined up on any surface and has a built-in stand for easy propping. But then it uses your phone's average single speaker for audio, doesn't really get all that bright, and again, costs $300. Style Shells Motorola hasn't talked about these much, but Style Shells will allow you to customize the look of your Moto Z in a snap. They included a wood Shell in the box, so you do get one right away. However, my assumption is that they will sell others, including those with leather, nylon, and other woods. I've seen some of the other options and they all look great. This is a brilliant way to add some personality to your phone and I don't even think they'll be that expensive. I say that because Incipio is making a series that only cost $15 individually. I can't imagine Motorola charging much more than that for their own.

So in the end, my thoughts are that Motorola really did a nice job with the idea of modules attaching to a smartphone. The setup is so seamless and fun to use for the most part. At this time, though, the available Mods, outside of the JBL speaker, just aren't really worth the extra investment. We saw a Hasselblad camera Mod leak months ago, so that could arrive, plus, Motorola seems to think that developers are really interested in creating their own. Give it a couple of months and we may see a really nice ecosystem. Heavy on the "may" there. Design The overall design of the Moto Z is a mixed bag of love and frustration for me. On one hand, this is a phone that has a very unique design identity that is quite beautiful. There is a good mixture here of metals, glass, plastics, and textures that you don't see often in a phone. My review unit happens to be the black and charcoal model, so you get these really nice contrast of gold pops from the pins that attach to Moto Mods. You get that massive camera puck as well, though it's growing on me for some reason. I think it's just so outlandish looking that it becomes refreshing in a world filled with flat smartphone slabs. I also really appreciate the cleanliness of the entire exterior, including the fact that there is no headphone jack, the subtle lines running across the phone's back, and the cartoonishly thin body.

The phone frustrates me in the sense that it might be too thin and too wide at the same time. Because Motorola made a phone that is 5.2mm thick, they more than likely had to flatten out the design, which leads to the added width and that massive chin that holds the fingerprint reader. I think the thinness to it also made it not that comfortable to hold in hand. Rather than the phone having backside curves that lay gently in your hand, I keep finding that I constantly squeeze the sides to make sure I have a good grip on it. This is one of those phones that isn't the easiest to use with a single hand and really does fall in the two-hander category. Speaking of using, the buttons on the side of this phone are no good at all. Motorola took the HTC One M9 approach to buttons on the Moto Z and it was a mistake. As you can see from the image below, the volume rocker has been separated into two buttons that match the power button in size and spacing. Because of this setup, it makes it incredibly difficult to know which button you are pressing even with the texture added to the power button. The buttons also sit way too high up the side of the phone and are tough to reach without a shimmy.

Overall, I love the appearance of the Moto Z. If you take a look at not only this review unit, but the others that have gold trim or fully gold backs, I think you'll agree that this is one of the most unique phones on the planet. I would love it if all companies took some more chances with design like Motorola has here. Unfortunately, the phone just doesn't feel great in hand. The width, height, ultra-thinness, and button placement make it kind of a frustrating experience. Battery life Thankfully, this phone is the "world's fastest" when it comes to charging, because you'll more than likely need to charge it mid-day depending on your usage. In my testing, the phone was sort of all over the place. On this last day, leading up to the review, I've had my best day, where I've gone a solid 11 hours with 2 hours of screen on time so far and I have 45% left on my battery. But then I also had days where I came off the charger in the morning at 6AM and it was down to 27% or so by 2PM or practically dead by 4PM. I had a day that went from 6AM to 9PM as well, though, so it's tough to call this good or bad, hence the reason I have it listed as somewhere-in-the-middle.

At just 2600mAh, the battery in this phone is arguably small. We know that Motorola had to go this size to keep the phone this thin, so it is what it is. Again, the Turbo Charging will come in handy, plus you do have the Moto Mod battery packs too. Just don't expect this phone to be the battery champion. If you want a Moto Z that lasts all day and then some, aim for the Moto Z Force and its 3500mAh battery. No headphone jack As our friend MKBHD put it, Motorola pulled an Apple before even Apple could pull an Apple. That's in reference to the lack of a headphone jack here, a move that Apple is supposedly making on the new iPhone. Yes, you read that right - the Moto Z doesn't have a headphone jack. So how does it work with headphones, you ask? Well, they included a dongle (pictured below). That dongle plugs into the USB Type-C port of the phone, which is the only port you'll find, and allows you to attach your headphones.

I don't have a strong take on this situation, other than that I feel bad for everyone who will need to now keep track of a dongle on the daily. You see, you get the same experience, at least in theory, by attaching your headphones to a dongle that is passing audio through. The problem is that you now have to carry a dongle with you, along with your phone and headphones and Moto Mods and charger and all that. That does kind of suck. There are two potential fixes to make your life dongle-less. One would be to buy USB Type-C headphones that don't exist yet. We know JBL is supposedly working on some. We aren't sure if anyone else is, but you would hope so, since this seems to be the direction companies are interested in going. The other fix is to buy Bluetooth headphones that don't require any wires. That, of course, means an investment in new headphones, something a whole bunch of people aren't going to want to do. So what are the benefits to this move? Honestly, I don't really think there are any. Maybe, at some point, you'll get headphones powered by USB Type-C and the audio will be super fantastic? Otherwise, Motorola probably did this to make the phone ultra slim (5.2MM!). Is there a benefit to that? Only if you need the world's slimmest phone. Otherwise, no.

Specs The overall specs package here is solid. Motorola didn't cut any corners, but they also are missing a couple of features that companies like Samsung managed to include for a similar price. Motorola packed in a Snapdragon 820 processor (the Snapdragon 821 just got announced, so they will launch a slight step behind the next wave of phones), 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, microSD support up to 2TB, 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, 2600mAh battery with Turbo charging, fingerprint reader, 13MP camera with OIS and laser autofocus, 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens, and a USB Type-C port. My only issues here are that Motorola still won't adopt full water resistance (this phone only has a water repellent coating), they skipped wireless charging, and didn't include their Shattershield technology in the display. So unlike the Moto Z Force, you can't drop this phone at will. If you do, it'll shatter like all other smartphones. So for the most part, Motorola is doing a lot of good stuff here, they just aren't doing it all.

The Not-so-Good

Motorola's history with software updates Back in April, I told you that if you care about software updates or security, you shouldn't even consider buying Motorola DROID phones on Verizon. Why? Because they are some of the last phones on the planet to receive not only major updates to Android, but they also almost never see timely security patches that are introduced monthly by Google. Motorola, probably because Lenovo laid off all of their support staff, can't seem to push out anything when it should be. I don't want to take the time to re-dive into all of that here, so if you want to know more, read this post. I wish I could tell you to ignore that post as of today, but I haven't seen anything from Motorola to suggest that things are going to change with the Moto Z and Moto Z Force. During their multiple unveilings of these two phones, no mention of future software updates was made. We are assuming that these phones will get Android Nougat at some point, but when is anyone's guess. It could be six, seven, or ten months from when Google releases it for all we know. As for security patches, just expect to rarely see them. I wish I had better things to say in this category, especially since Motorola was one of the best in the business at issuing software updates not all that long ago. Can they re-gain some of that swiftness? Sure, even slow Samsung is at least doing well with security patches these days. I guess it all depends on if Lenovo decides to care or if they are fine taking all of the blame for Motorola's woes.

Availability Motorola is a company that like HTC, hasn't been able to regain previous success even after releasing numerous phones that reviewed well. Ever since Samsung took over the game a few years back, it's been tough for anyone to keep up and turn a profit. Motorola, under Lenovo, was expected to return to the glory days of the original DROID, yet that hasn't happened and Lenovo has recently had to admit that things haven't exactly gone as they had hoped. So what does Motorola do? Release two phones that are arguably their most innovative to date and lock them onto Verizon as exclusives. I cannot tell you how disappointing it is to see the Moto Z and Moto Z Force release exclusively to Verizon for the foreseeable future. Not only that, but the Moto Z Force is Verizon's for good, at least in the US. That means if there are non-Verizon Motorola fans out there, the only choice for them will eventually be a GSM unlocked Moto Z. And we don't even have a firm date on that happening. After releasing the fully unlocked and universally accepted Moto X Pure Edition last year that worked on all major carriers and dropped in at a more-than-reasonable price point, this is beyond disappointing.

Other Notes

Single front speaker: Yeah, so the Moto Z has a single front-facing speaker that also doubles as the earpiece. That means no stereo sound like we got on last year's Moto X Pure Edition. I don't know that I would categorize the speaker as being bad, but I do know that I prefer it to the bottom firing speakers that everyone else is using for one reason - you won't cover it up when playing games or watching videos.
Fingerprints: If you buy this charcoal and black version, good luck keeping fingerprints off of it. Some heavy breath and a shirt barely does the trick.
Bloatware count: I counted a solid 12, 10 of which I disabled immediately. I don't know why, but that seems low for a Verizon exclusive phone. Are times changing?

Video

Unboxing

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Software tour

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First 10 things to do

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Moto Mods tour

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Gallery

The Verdict

The Moto Z DROID has some good things going for it, but unfortunately for Verizon and Motorola, it has just as many in the average category. On one hand you get a phone that is beautiful to look at with top tier specs for the most part, a lovely software experience, and a stunning display. On the other, you get an average camera, average battery life, a phone that isn't that much fun to hold, and availability that stops at Verizon. Sure, you do get Moto Mods and a really cool modular concept that has been executed very well, we just aren't sure the current crop of Mods are worth your time or money, outside of the speaker. So an area that should be the phone's biggest selling point, isn't quite ready to be that. Priced at $624 full retail or $26 per month on a device payment plan, you are in Galaxy S7 territory. In my opinion, even with the Mods available for the Moto Z, I'd take the Galaxy S7 over it every time.

BUY MOTO Z FROM: Verizon | Motorola | Best Buy

Moto Z Force DROID Review

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 06:00:38 +0000

Introduced as the Moto Z Force DROID Edition, now launched sans Edition, the Moto Z Force DROID could be described as a follow-up to last year's DROID Turbo 2, but it's much more than that. On paper, the Moto Z Force DROID attempts to bring the best of specs and modular functionality into a single device, offering a big battery and stellar camera to get people excited for this year's lineup of DROID phones. Combine all this tech nifty-ness into an incredibly thin body and you would think Moto and Lenovo are positioned to have themselves one very popular device. The Moto Z (DROID) and Moto Z Force (DROID) were announced on June 9, meaning we have had quite a long time to get unexcited about these devices, but putting the delayed launch aside, let's find out how they fare after a week in our pockets. Here's our Moto Z Force DROID review.

The Good

Specs Before we dive into all of the finer details of the Moto Z Force DROID experience, let's go over the specs. The phone features a 5.5" QHD AMOLED display (2560 x 1440 at 535 ppi), Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, USB Type-C, 21-megapixel rear-facing camera (OIS, Phase Detection and Laser autofocus) with ƒ/1.8 aperture, 5-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture, 3,500mAh battery, Turbo Charging, 32GB and 64GB storage models (with microSD support up to 2TB), and Android 6.0.1. These specs are good, but the only issue is, since this phone is launching in the later half of 2016, we as consumers are already looking toward what's next. For example, Qualcomm has already announced the next step in the Snapdragon family, the Snapdragon 821. We expect to see this new Snapdragon in the next Nexus devices and maybe even the Galaxy Note 7. As you can see, when you launch a device in the later half of the year, it's sorta hard to future proof a phone, even when you give it the best that is currently available. It essentially cuts short the potential lifespan of a device, if the buyer is interested in things such as specs. Looking past this, though, for what is currently on the market, the Z Force DROID aligns perfectly with the current best from Samsung, LG, and HTC. Fingerprint Reader Thankfully, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force do feature a fingerprint reader. The reader is incredibly speedy, with not much of a wait between putting your finger on the reader and the device unlocking. On top of the ability to lock the device and make purchases with it, users can also hold onto the fingerprint reader to lock the device. I use this feature constantly, instead of moving my thumb up the side of the phone to lock it. Unlike Kellen's crooked reader on the Moto Z DROID, my reader is straight, leading me to believe that Kellen's crooked unit is just a one-time manufacturing error. At least, let's hope that's the case. Moto Mods The Moto Z line is not all about the phones, but the Moto Mods. They are a very important factor into whether one should consider buying these devices. Unlike the LG G5, a decent assortment of Moto Mods will launch alongside the Moto Z lineup, including a projector, battery bank, JBL-branded speaker, plus Style Shells that add a bit of flair to your device. While I wouldn't say any of these mods are completely necessary to purchase, except for the battery pack if you find yourself outside playing Pokemon GO a lot, they are an added bonus. A bonus that you must pay for. The one Moto Mod I have used during testing is the JBL Sound Boost speaker. It's a cool little device, priced at $79.99. I speak more about the phone's single built-in speaker later in this review, but what you should know is that while the built-in speaker does get plenty loud enough, it has zero depth. To me, the sound is not deep, meaning there is little low end to the sound. If you are trying to bump tunes, good luck hearing the bass drop. With the Sound Boost speaker attached, the experience is definitely kicked up a notch. Plus, it has a built-in kickstand. To get a sense of what Sound Boost is capable of, check out the Moto Mods overview video below. Overall, I'm a fan of the Moto Mods concept. In terms of modularity being implemented into smartphones, this is a much better execution than what we saw from LG with the G5. My take is, as long as Moto isn't removing key aspects and selling them as a Moto Mod, it's fine. Yes, the external speaker on the Moto Z Force is weak, but so is the speaker on the Galaxy S7 Edge. At least with this phone, I can easily attach the Moto Mod and I have a little portable boombox. I wouldn't mind seeing Moto Mods come back next year. Kellen has additional Moto Mods featured in his Moto Z review, so if you want to learn more about those and hear his opinion on Moto Mods, be sure to check out his review. Battery Life According to Verizon and Moto, the Moto Z Force DROID delivers 40 hours of battery life. In my time testing, especially since I have been using Pokemon GO a bit too much, I can't exactly confirm that. On the bright side, even with how much Pokemon I have been playing, I was getting a solid day very easily. My typical day is 7AM to 11PM and I was getting through that with about 15% to 20% left in the tank. For me, someone who charges their device nightly, that's just fine. If you don't play Pokemon, you will likely exceed my results quite easily. For those of you who commute to work each day and night, I don't foresee you running into many issues with the phone's 3,500mAh battery. Keep in mind, the device does allow for Turbo Charging, providing "up to 15 hours of battery life" from 15 minutes of charging. While I can't confirm that either, I will say that when the device is plugged up to the Turbo Charger, the phone charges very quickly, providing me with lots of juice in a short period of time.

Software One thing Moto has not yet strayed too far from is their use of what is essentially stock Android software. Yes, there are a few changes here and there, but for the most part, it's the same UI and color scheme you would find on a Nexus device. As a Nexus fan myself, this is always a bonus. Until Moto and Lenovo decide to start offering their own custom theme, something like TouchWiz or whatever LG is calling their skin these days, I will continue to give Moto props for this move. The Moto Z Force (DROID) ships with Android 6.0.1, and when the device is being shipped with what is virtually stock Android, it should allow Moto and company to update the device quickly. However, when it will receive Nougat is another topic entirely, so look for that section a bit later in this review.

Out of the box, the phone's launcher is Launcher3, which is a customized version of Google's own stock Android launcher. And no, I don't mean Google Now Launcher. Think before that, a barebones Android launcher. There are very minimal tweaks made to it, such as the ability to rotate into landscape mode and a darkened app drawer, but beyond that, it's a very basic experience. So basic that I immediately downloaded and installed Google Now Launcher. On top of a somewhat custom launcher, Motorola's very popular Moto Display is also available on the device, bringing that same awesome notification experience many have come to love. If you aren't familiar with Moto Display, it displays notifications on your display in white text, while the rest of the display is turned off. This feature is typically found only on AMOLED displays. From the notifications, you can open the app or you can choose to dismiss it. Have to say, we have loved Moto Display since its initial launch and still adore it. Baked into the device upon boot is Motorola's Moto app, too. This is the app that grants access to custom gestures, voice commands, and options for Moto Display. For gestures, users can set Attentive Display (keeps screen on while you're looking at it), the famous Chop Twice for Flashlight, and Twist for Quick Capture. With the twist, users only need to quickly twist their wrist to dive straight into the camera. No double tap on the power or looking for your camera shortcut icon necessary. Most of Moto's gestures are pretty useful, so if you pick up this phone, I'd suggest enabling most of them. One bad thing that I have noticed, which I have confirmed with Kellen's Moto Z, is that Moto has disabled the long press on system toggles to open up the Settings menu. For example, if you pull down your notification bar, then long press on WiFi, you expect the full WiFi settings menu to come up. On these devices, that's not the case. It's extremely annoying, but hey, no phone is perfect.

Somewhere in the Middle

Lack of Headphone Jack Yes, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force feature no 3.5mm headphone jack. Is it a deal breaker? By no means. Inside of the box, Moto provides a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter, allowing owners to continue using their wired headphones. Just don't lose it or you're screwed until you find a new one online. In 2016, many people I know are already converting to Bluetooth headphones or should already be in the market for a USB Type-C set of headphones. While the options are still limited, more will be coming to support USB Type-C. It takes time for the market to transition, but it's happening. I applaud Moto's risk to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. To me, they pulled an Apple before Apple had a chance to do it. To sum it up, don't let the lack of a 3.5mm jack scare you away from these phones. There's an adapter and most likely, you'll be buying a USB Type-C supported set of headphones soon enough. Or stick to Bluetooth, it works fine. Camera On the backside of the Moto Z Force DROID, there is a 21-megapixel shooter, featuring laser and phase detection auto focus. The camera also comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). These features allow the shooter on this device to focus on subjects rather quickly, but from my time with the phone, I'm not an overall fan of the camera. While the camera will focus quick, I find that when looking at my final result in the gallery, an image is either out of focus or just hasn't been developed properly. This is usually the result of low lighting or a bad focusing job. Maybe even shaky hands. However, in proper daylight lighting, the camera performs quite nicely. If I'm outside in the garden, I can get a few great macro shots of bugs or whatever. Or, if I'm hiking a trail, I can get a few landscapes.

One area I found the phone not very good in is the shooting of quickly moving objects - my dogs to be exact. If they aren't moving, I can capture them just fine, but once they start running around, the phone has a hard time capturing the movement in focus. For the most part, the camera delivers what you might expect from Moto, which is nothing too special, but not anything like what we've seen from them in the past. I recall on the original Moto X, it had one of the worst camera experiences I thought I had ever seen. This phone is much, much better than anything like that. If you have decent lighting, your pictures should turn out great. If you have great lighting and an exceptional subject, turn on the HDR mode and you'll be cooking with real heat. Here are a few samples.

Display On the Moto Z Force (DROID), you will find Moto's ShatterShield technology. What this does is essentially guarantee that if you drop your phone, your screen won't shatter. While this sounds amazing and there's no doubt you want it on your next phone, there is a drawback. In my opinion, ShatterShield displays look and feel pretty iffy in comparison to something like the Gorilla Glass found on any number of devices on the market. You see, ShatterShield, according to Moto, is a 5-layer technology. Layer 1 is a ShatterShield lens, being the piece your finger actually touches. Layer 2 is an interior lens, engineered to be more flexible than glass while still maintaining a high degree of optical transmissivity. Layer 3 is a redundant touch system called Dual Touch, which is an added failsafe mechanism for ShatterShield. Layer 4 is the AMOLED display itself, followed by Layer 5, the aluminum chassis. When you combine these layers, there's a bit of a gap between the top layer and the display, at least to the naked eye. Because of this, I get this sensation that some of my taps and swipes on the display are not registering correctly or are delayed. The feeling is sort of hard to describe, but my hope is that if you ever picked up a DROID Turbo 2, you might know what I am referring to. Moving past ShatterShield, the AMOLED display doesn't appear to be all that bad to my eye. Compared to the Nexus 6P, whites actually look white, instead of giving off a yellowish tint. Color saturation looks good, too. As for brightness, the display gets plenty bright while in-doors, but when outside in direct light, I find myself squinting pretty hard to see what's on the display. If you are outside in the sun, and are wearing sunglasses, it's extremely difficult to see things unless you hold the phone closer to your face.

Design and In-Hand Feel When we first saw these phones, just to keep this review 100, I thought they were ugly. We joked that Moto was utilizing unused Moto 360 displays for the rear-facing camera, but really, it's what they look like; Flat tire and all. Time has passed and since then, I must say the design has grown on me a bit. It's definitely different. I wouldn't say the design is exciting or innovative, but the Moto Z and Moto Z Force certainly don't look like any other phone currently on the market. Moving on from the unorthodox camera housing on the backside, the next thing you will notice is how thin both devices are - especially the Moto Z. Somehow, even when fitting a 3,500mAh battery in the Moto Z Force, Moto was still able to keep the thickness down to just 6.99mm. For comparison, the Galaxy S7 is 7.9mm thick. The phone is super slim, which feels pretty good in the pocket. However, with that lack of thickness, it doesn't exactly leave much for your hand to grab onto. Combine the thinness with the fact that the phone is rather tall and wide, and unfortunately, it's not all that great to hold in-hand. When moving about from screen to screen, it's like putting my thumb through a gymnastics routine. I'm stretching the thumb, moving it from side to side, and really, it's just not an enjoyable in-hand experience. I could think of worse problems to have with a phone, but when it's not all that great to hold or is nearly impossible to use with one hand, it becomes a deal breaker for me. Also, during our last Droid Life Show, we briefly touched on the power and volume buttons. Typically, the volume up and down buttons are a single piece, aka a rocker. On this device, as well as the Moto Z, they are all separated. While this may sound nitpicky, I'm not a fan of this design. Like almost any other phone, I'd have appreciated the rocker much more, allowing my brain to not think twice about which button I am about to press.

The Not-so-Good

Availability and Price The DROID variants of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force will, of course, only be available on Verizon. Furthermore, making the availability matters worse, the Moto Z Force won't be made available as an unlocked device, unlike the Moto Z which will be sold unlocked later this year. This means, if you want the Moto Z Force, the only way to get one is if you're a Verizon customer. Ouch. We hate exclusivity. As for the price, full retail for the Moto Z Force is listed at $720. Via a device payment plan, your total will be $30 a month. To me, $720 is a pretty crazy price for this phone. Yes, it has the modular aspect, QHD display, 21MP camera and high-end processor, but from my perspective, this doesn't seem like a $720 smartphone. Considering we have zero idea of Moto's intentions on updating this device, $720 is just too much to pay to be in the dark when it comes to updates. To compare, the OnePlus 3 offers plenty of what the Z Force brings to the table, all for about $400. Sure, you can't use Moto Mods, but trust me, you'll live without them. Updates Updates for DROID devices. As a consumer, it's a scary thing to think about. These phones will launch with Android 6.0.1, but when will they receive Android Nougat (Android 7.0)? Later this year? Early 2017? Mid-2017? At this point, and given the recent history of DROID updating, it's a shot in the dark. For those concerned about security updates and general Android updates, this is something to consider. Given these are new flagships for Moto and Verizon, you would expect them to be updated in a timely fashion, but again, we can't say with certainty what anyone should expect to see from Moto. Single Front-Facing Speaker I'm just gonna say it, when phones are released with front-facing dual speakers, we get spoiled. Phones like the Nexus 6P are rare gems, catered to those who appreciate decent sounds emanating from a smartphone. On the Z Force DROID, there's a single external speaker, located on the top frontside of the phone. It doubles as your call speaker. I will say, the placement is good. It's on the frontside, so half of the equation is solved. However, it's just not that good. It gets plenty loud, but the sound delivered is best described as lacking in depth. There's no bass. If I want to bump some Skrillex, there's no drop. If I want to rock out to Acacia Strain, there's no brown note. As someone whose life is completely dominated by the love of the low end, it's not good enough.

Other Notes

Verizon - This is the first phone I have used on Verizon's network since last year. Over the past week, I have been more than impressed by where I get reception and how clear my calls sound. Coming from AT&T and T-Mobile, it's nice to actually have a few bars in locales I don't typically see service. Naturally, your experience will differ from mine, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
Girlfriend Test - "The size feels pretty good, not too big, especially for being a wider phone. I wish it felt heavier. It doesn't feel premium because of how light it is. I like the rounded off edges and the back's design [referring to camera and Moto Mod pins]. It's kinda cool."
Bloatware Count - The count for Verizon apps considered to be bloatware is 11, not counting the kiddie game shortcuts that are also baked inside. If we're counting those, the number goes up to about 17. Thankfully, disabling all of this crap is quick and painless.
Fingerprints - Like a lot of other phones available right now, the Moto Z Force DROID is a fingerprint magent. Sadly, these prints aren't the kind you can easily wipe away. No, with this phone, you really have to grind a microfiber cloth to get these prints off. Not a huge deal, but something I wanted to mention.

Video

Unboxing and Hands-on

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Software Tour

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First 10 Things To Do

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Moto Mods Overview

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Gallery

The Verdict

If you are a current Verizon subscriber or were planning to be one, should you buy the Moto Z Force DROID? Short answer is simply no. Long answer is a bit more tricky, though. It'd be a maybe. The Z Force DROID offers that special Moto Mods experience, while also delivering a really big battery, but I can't get past the uncertainty I feel when it comes to updates. Updates on Android are very important. I repeat, updates are muy importante. If I know a certain device shouldn't be expecting an update anytime soon, especially with a major Android release coming up, I can't recommend it. On top of that, we have Nexus phones coming soon. Should you hold off on the new DROIDs and see what Google has to offer in 2016? Yes, yes you absolutely should. If the new Nexus phones end up being poor offerings, which they probably won't be, you can go back and consider the DROID. Once you're back on the DROID, though, there's the upcoming Galaxy Note 7 to consider. Ugh, buying phones is hard. Bottom line, I would pass on the Moto Z Force DROID, unless you really want those Moto Mods. The cool factor of those could maybe outweigh a few of the negatives with this device.

BUY THE MOTO Z FORCE FROM: Verizon | Motorola | Best Buy

Adobe Rolling Update Out to Photoshop Mix, Combining More Than Two Layers Now Doable

Tim — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 15:20:55 +0000

Users of Photoshop Mix from Adobe should turn their attention to Google Play this afternoon, as the company announced an update bringing three different features. Once updated, users will benefit from the ability to combine more than two layers, which will allow for the creation of more complex images. Additionally, Adobe baked in "sophisticated blending," letting users control layer opacity to blend images for either realistic or artistic results. On top of that, you can now apply as many Selective Looks as you want to each image, getting just the right effect you are after. On our end, the update doesn't appear to be quite live yet, but keep your eyes peeled on Google Play. What's New

Ability to combine more than two layers: Create more complex images now that you can combine up to five layers in a single image.
Sophisticated blending: Control layer opacity to seamlessly blend images for realistic or artistic results with new Blend Modes.
Unlimited Selective Looks: Apply as many Selective Looks as you want to each image layer to get just the effect you want.

Play Link

Corning Intros Gorilla Glass 5, Will be Featured on Devices Later This Year

Tim — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 14:14:55 +0000

Corning announced Gorilla Glass 5 today, supposedly stronger than any glass they have made before. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 5 survives up to 80% of the time when dropped facedown from 1.6 meters (a little over 5ft.) in the air onto rough surfaces. This means, when you whip your Gorilla Glass 5-featuring smartphone out of your pocket and it falls onto the ground, 4 out of 5 times it should survive. I don't know anyone whose pockets are 5ft. up in the air, but you get the idea - it's tough glass. Over the course of Corning's existence, Gorilla Glass has been used on more 4.5 billion devices, which is quite the impressive number. If you think about it, pretty much any Android phone you can think of has used Gorilla Glass. In this industry, it's a household name. Not only will Gorilla Glass protect better from drops, but Corning also claims it should better protect against "sharp contact damage." This would include the scratching of keys, blades, and things of a sharp nature. Corning expects Gorilla Glass 5 to be featured on a number of devices from market leaders later this year. Galaxy Note 7? New Nexus devices? iPhone 7? We shall see.

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Via: Corning

Verizon to Disconnect Unlimited Data Users Who Use "Extraordinary" Amounts of Data

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 11:46:30 +0000

Hey buddy, you, the one who is consuming massive amounts of 4G LTE data on your Verizon unlimited data plan and is out of contract. You will want to pay attention to what I'm about to share. Come August 31, if Verizon deems your account as using "an extraordinary amount of data" each month, you could see your line completely disconnected. In other words, Verizon may shut you down by the end of August. According to sources of ours, Verizon is working on an Unlimited Data Plan Migration for the highest unlimited data users on their network. Starting tomorrow, July 21, Verizon will begin notifying users who have been flagged as using that "extraordinary" amount via mailer and through bill messages and explain to them their options to stay with Big Red. What are their options? Verizon is forcing these out of contract "extraordinary" data users to move to The Verizon Plan (a tiered plan) by August 31 or they will shut down the line. If they don't take that option by August 31 and their line is disconnected, they will have up to 50 days to re-activate, but of course, they can only do so by switching over to The Verizon Plan. As of right now, we do not know what an "extraordinary" amount of data is. Are we talking 25GB per month? 50GB? 300GB? We'll be sure to let you know if we find out. Verizon has confirmed to us that they will begin notifying a "small group" of customers (via both bill message and letter) who use that "extraordinary" amount of data, telling them that they will need a new plan by August 31. EDIT: Verizon also told us the following as it relates to "extraordinary" use. Note the 100GB plan as an example, so take that as you will.

These users are using data amounts well in excess of our largest plan size (100 GB). While the 100 GB plan is designed to be shared across multiple users, each line receiving notification to move to the new Verizon Plan is using well in excess of that on a single device.

Swiftkey Introduces Swiftmoji, a Keyboard to Help Predict Your Next Emoji

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 09:38:02 +0000

Swiftkey, the Microsoft-owned popular keyboard maker, released its first new product today since being acquired. The new keyboard (yes, they made another keyboard) is called Swiftmoji and it aims to help you become the emoji champion you always hoped to become. In fact, the sell here is that it "removes the frustration of playing hunt-the-emoji" from your life and predicts which emoji you might want. The app, much like Swiftkey does with word prediction, predicts emoji related to your conversation and offers them up through a shortcut bar at the top of the keyboard. Swiftmoji also brings forward trending emoji from around the world, so that you are never left still using the laughing-crying emoji, while everyone else is onto the new new. The app is available for free today on both Android and iOS. Play Link

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Via: Swiftkey

Video: Short Clip Shows Working Galaxy Note 7 In-Hand

Tim — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 09:25:20 +0000

August 2, the date set by Samsung for the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 7, is right around the corner. In fact, it's less than two weeks away. Since we are so close to an unveiling and possible launch of the device, you can expect to see plenty of leaks taking place. The latest is a very short clip posted to YouTube, showing someone fondling the device and pressing down on its buttons, apparently testing to make sure everything is functional. As far as context goes, that's all we have. From what we can see, this Galaxy Note 7 features the subtly rounded display on both sides, while also appearing rather large and very thin in this user's hands. Even from this extremely short clip, the device looks nice. Adding to the fun, let's see what those on YouTube had to say about the clip.

"i cant wait for this bad boy note 7 is gonna be the best phone of 2017."
"Great....Curved screen bs. Gonna stick with my note 4 for yet another generation."
"Not trying to be a Debbie Downer but it looks just like every other Note series phone from Samsung."
"The Note 7 brought to you by Melania Trump."

Enjoy the clip, friends.

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Moto X Pure Edition Gets Surprise Update, Now Up to May's Security Patch...in July...Still Not 6.0.1

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 07:37:15 +0000

The Moto X Pure Edition, a phone sold unlocked in 2015 as a single flagship with universal carrier support that should be able to receive the timeliest of updates because there is no interference between its maker and users, is receiving its first update in months. It's tough to be precise on this, as there have been notices of updates here or there that our in-house units never saw, but it may be the first real update since February or March. Forget how bad that sounds for a second and consider the fact that even with today's update, the phone is still not on Android 6.0.1. Android 6.0.1 with all of its fun emoji, was released by Google in December of last year. Need more bad news? This update only introduces the Android security patch level up to May. In case you hadn't looked at a calendar in a while, well, I hate to break it to you, but we're almost at the end of July. So the Moto X Pure Edition has been sitting on February's security patch for five months worth of open vulnerabilities and with this update, is still almost three months behind. The update should be available to all as version system version 24.221.4 and weighs in at just 9.7MB. It's a baby. To check for it, head into Settings>About phone>System updates.

Via: Motorola

Cheers Matt and Randle!

Android Engineer Team Took to reddit for AMA, Here's a Recap

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 15:28:05 +0000

Members of the Android engineering team (11 members, in total) took to reddit this morning to offer up answers to many questions that flooded in from the community. While the majority of questions dove into areas of subject we typically don't cover here, a few of the questions and the team's answers gave good insight into Android Nougat, device updates, and plenty other interesting topics. Below, we will highlight a few of the many questions, then provide you with the Android team's response. Beware, a few of the responses are rather lengthy, but the length helps provide context to the answer. If a topic deserves a bit of personal feedback from our end, you can expect to see that, too.

Satanmymaster asked, "Will we see night mode in the official release of nougat? If no, please explain why."

This one has been my pet feature for a while… So there were two “night mode” features in N DP that you might be referring to: dark theme (via -night qualifier) and screen tinting. The former, dark theme, was a modification to Material that would automatically switch between light and dark variants based on UiModeManager’s night mode setting. Which was awesome, and I know a lot of people really liked seeing a dark theme in Settings; however, in both M and N the dark theme feature had to be reverted because of ecosystem problems. As simple as we tried to make it, implementing dark theme meant doing twice as much design work and twice as much verification that visual styling was implemented correctly. It wasn’t a good allocation of design and engineering resources. In many places, like WebView, it simply wasn’t possible to convert content to a dark theme while preserving the content author’s original intent. Leaving a half-working feature in the platform, where developers would be expected to support it, wasn’t acceptable. So I’ve had to personally kill the feature twice, and ultimately it’s been for the benefit of the platform.

So, it appears we should not expect to see an official Dark Mode for Nougat. Not too surprising, but at least now we know why. Google thinks it is best for the platform not to offer one. The reasoning is sound, but we have seen these darker themes implemented rather well on other devices. My bet is we will see one from Google on Nexus phones sooner or later. Brought up by Krzysztof_Bryk, "Do you know how OEMs are doing with adapting Nougat code?"

We can’t share who or how many, but we are working with OEMs in parallel with Developer Previews to get their devices updated as soon as possible.

Sleepinlight brought up battery-draining bugs, asking, "Does there exist a team in the Android engineering division that is dedicated to finding and fixing bugs that make the system less efficient at managing battery?" In the question, many links are provided to bugs that are currently being tracked via code.google.com.

We do pay attention but it is hard to keep up, and we have a team monitoring it now. In better news, we think the first bug you mentioned is fixed in Nougat. I am aware of the third and fourth issues and someone is looking into it. The difficulty with some of the other reports (as with many battery issues on the tracker) is that modem and wifi issues on other vendors’ hardware will need to be fixed by the manufacturer of the device...though it is unclear what devices are being discussed in each initial report. (Be sure to specify what device and software rev you are using in your bug reports!)

Many people asked whether the HTC-made Nexus 9 would receive Vulkan API support. Sad news, N9 owners. It's a no go.

N9 will not be getting Vulkan drivers, but Pixel C has had them since the second N Developer Preview.

For this next question, multiple team members gave an answer. We'll list them out, allowing you to see who is excited for what. Dytigas asked, "What is one feature you're most excited for [in Android Nougat]?"

Anwar (Engineering Director for Android Core Platform): I’m pretty excited about a bunch of the under the hood improvements we’ve made: JIT, OTA speed, and some big kernel scheduler changes. It’s something no user will see, but hopefully they’ll notice:) In general, I’d like to see us do more with upstream Linux to optimize for mobile. Dianne (Manager of the Android framework team): Doze light in N, and the background restrictions coming in the future. Now that we have bitten the bullet with Doze in N to taking a firmer hand it what applications can do, there are a number of opportunities we have to improve the overall platform behavior. Chet (Lead/Manager of the UI Toolkit team): I love some of the usability features we’ve added in the last few releases, from fingerprint (turning on and unlocking my phone as I take it out of my pocket) to Quick Settings (fast access to things I commonly need to toggle) to the recent apps double-tap (takes you to the previous activity, like Alt-Tab for Android). Under the hood, I love the continuous work we’re doing on performance, always working on making things faster and smoother. Ogunwale (Technical Lead Manager for ActivityManager & WindowManager): Multi-Window obviously ;) This a feature the community has been asking for awhile now and I glad we finally made it happen! Paul (Engineering Director for systems software and battery life): The new Doze work in N is looking like it will be a big win for batteries everywhere -- early data from testers looks good, and that gets me excited! I think the “Seamless Updates” feature will have a lot of fans too.

A question concerning the Google Camera was also raised, receiving a well-received answer on the site.

We’ve been working on this and I think you’ll be pleased with what you see in the not too distant future.

NullFlavor asked, "What is the status of Android TV?"

Android TV is doing well in the market with million of devices already deployed (Sony Bravia TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, etc.) and many more to be shipped. In terms of category TVs and operator STBs are leading the way however several new Over The Top (OTT) streaming devices are on their way including Xiaomi’s Mi Box.

Pakoito asked, "What new features are being worked on for Android O?"

There were some pretty big features in N (e.g. multi-window). However, we try really hard to minimize the impact of such new features on the overall stability/quality of the OS. As you mentioned N stabilized on M and M stabilized on L. Hope to continue to trend.

One question, which probably outweighs them all in terms of importance, was actually answered by Alan, the team's resident Technical Lead for the Support Library. He asked, "How do I catch more cats in DP5?"

You will catch more cats with honey than with vinegar.

There's your recap. Trust me, there are a ton of questions and answers that seem to take up pages over on reddit. If you're interested, take a look by following the via link.

Via: reddit

Twitter Will Soon Let You Apply to be Verified

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 14:30:14 +0000

The blue badge will soon be somewhat easier to attain, Twitter friends. The social platform announced today that they will open an online application process to allow users to apply, in a way, for Verified status on Twitter. That's big news for those who think they deserve to be Verified, but have never figured out how to get there, mostly because Twitter has never had a public process for doing so. For those not familiar with the blue badge, think of it as a way for Twitter users to know that the accounts they are seeing or considering following or retweeting are "key individuals or organizations" that are authentic and not some troll account. You'll see the blue badge next to public figures, musicians, celebrities, fashion brands, politicians, athletes and sports organizations, and journalists or news outlets. We have the blue badge and have had it for years. Wait, are we the only Android site who is Verified? I'll let you check on that. Once the application process opens, you'll need to have your account in proper standing with things like verified phone numbers, a bio, profile photo, and a website. You can see the full list of recommended settings here. You'll find the form to apply for Verified status here.

Via: Twitter

Verizon Makes It Official: Prepaid Now has "Always-On Data" Throttling at No Extra Charge

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 13:09:23 +0000

Last week, sources of ours revealed Verizon's plan to add a new feature to their prepaid plans called "Always-On Data." The idea is the same as it is on The Verizon Plan's new Safety Mode, where customers can go over their allotted data sum at throttled 128Kbps speeds. But there is one added benefit here - it's included for free and doesn't require customers to turn it on or off. Over the weekend, just as our sources said it would, Verizon pushed the new feature live, though they didn't throw much of a party outside of a blog post. That's probably because it's a great feature that doesn't have the potential to nickel-and-dime customers with overage fees. Instead, it's just a really nice free add-on that does right by customers who dance near their data limit line each month. Unfair? No more unfair than charging customers $5 on The Verizon Plan for the same benefit. How does Always-On Data work? Well, it just works, for one. If you are on a $45/2GB or $60/5GB plan, Always-On Data is included at no extra charge. If you hit your data limit, you'll automatically be throttled down to 128Kbps speeds for the rest of your billing period, but no overages or $5 turn-on fees are involved. Oh, and you also don't have to turn it on or off because it's built in to the plan. And that's pretty much it. If you are on Verizon prepaid, enjoy the new bonus feature.

Via: Verizon [2]

Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID Camera Samples

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 12:34:23 +0000

Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID reviews will be a long shortly, as you probably guessed, but in the mean time, we're still doing what we can to share all that these two phones have to offer. That means running through unboxing videos, doing software tours, and showing you how the Moto Mods system works. It also means taking a look at camera capabilities, which we are about to do here. While we aren't ready to give final scores to each phone's camera, we did want to at least share a bunch of initial shots taken with each to show you what to expect when these phones are available for purchase. Our review units, as far as we know, are running software that you will see should you buy either and so these images do give a good representation of each phone's camera. UPDATE: Final reviews are out, which means final thoughts. Read the Moto Z review here. Read the Moto Z Force review here. Let's take a look. Note: Kellen handled the Moto Z for this post, while I took care of the Moto Z Force.

Moto Z DROID

On the regular Moto Z DROID, you are looking at a phone with a 13MP camera (1.12um pixels), f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), laser autofocus, and supposed zero shutter lag. The camera is capable of taking pictures in both auto and "Professional" or manual modes, is launched like other Moto phones via wrist-twisting gesture, has burst and night modes, and can record both 4K and slow-motion video. In terms of a modern smartphone, it certainly has it all on paper, outside of the larger micron pixels we are seeing on cameras included in last year's Nexus phones the the Galaxy S7 line. During my initial tests, I've found the camera to be a bit of a mixed bag. At times it's quick, focuses and takes the shot I want. During others, especially when HDR kicks in, I find myself wondering what's taking so long. In the end, Motorola is calling the cameras in the new Moto Z line their most advanced yet, so it should be fun over the coming days to decide if they are or not. But maybe more importantly, we get to decide if they are good enough to compete with the amazing cameras being used by almost everyone else in the industry these days. Here are a handful of Moto Z DROID camera samples.

Well Lit vs. Dimly Lit

Full resolution images can be found in this .zip file.

Moto Z Force DROID

On paper, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are almost the same phone, but one area they do differ somewhat greatly (in terms of specs, at least) is the camera. On the Moto Z Force and Z Force DROID, the camera is a 21-megapixel shooter with ƒ/1.8 aperture, as well as added phase detect and laser auto-focus. On the Moto Z, it's a 13-megapixel camera with ƒ/1.8 aperture and laser auto-focus. To the average consumer, this difference will probably only result in larger image files from the 21-megapixel camera, but it also allows a bit more control over which aspect ratio and image size you shoot with on the device. With the majority of photos being taken on smartphones going straight to Instagram, aspect ratio is not something anyone seems concerned about, though. During my time with the Moto Z Force DROID, I have found the camera to do pretty well in daylight settings, but once that sun begins to set, you are in trouble. With decent lighting on your subject, details come through rather well (check out the doggies and Android mini figure), but if you don't have that good light source, photos begin to look blurred and noisy. Additionally, reminding me of the original Moto X, it seems that owners should always use the camera's built-in HDR mode to crutch the device's poor low-light abilities. While some photos will come out overly saturated, I find that more times than not, the pictures look good enough to share on social media. The true downside to always using HDR is the wait time, as the camera then takes it time to focus and take the shots required to process a photo in HDR. We will have plenty more to say when our final reviews are available, but for now, we'll let the photos do the talking.

Well Lit vs. Dimly Lit

HDR On vs. HDR Off

Full resolution images can be found in this .zip file.

Party Hard on Google Play for NVIDIA SHIELD Devices, Priced at $13

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 09:18:04 +0000

Imagine you are comfortably snoozing in your bed, only to be rudely awoken by your noisy neighbors who are throwing a raging house party next door. This would upset you, right? Typically, a call to the police for a noise complaint would be a decent route to take, but not for the main character in Party Hard. In this world, you take matters into your own hands, dispensing justice and death to anyone who dares wake you from slumber. Described to be a game of tactical mass murder, you will utilize various in-level traps and tools to kill as many party attendees as possible. However, your main objective is trying not to get caught. When someone is on to you, you must dance and blend in naturally, providing a bit more of a challenge. It's all about killing, dancing, sneaking, killing, repeat. Gamers can also stream Party Hard directly to Twitch, allowing viewers to even get in on the action. According to the game's description, "Viewers can trigger all sorts of chaos, like calling in more people to join the party, calling in SWAT, causing Sharknados, and more!" Priced at $13, this game is sure to be loads of fun for all of you psychopaths out there. Features

19 unique levels with random variations on each one
Use traps, cause explosions, become a ninja
Multiple unlock-able characters
Special random events, like a bear coming in and killing everyone for you
Trigger the DEA, SWAT cars, paramedics, firefighters to come in and ruin the party

Play Link ($12.99)

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LG Introduces Action CAM LTE, an 4K Action Camera With LTE

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 08:35:57 +0000

To add to the limited number of "Friends" currently available for the world's smartphones, LG last night introduced the Action CAM LTE, which as the name suggests, is an action camera that has LTE connectivity. It's also powered by a Snapdragon 650 processor and can stream directly to YouTube Live, which is pretty sweet for an action cam. Since this is an action camera, LG made sure it's ready for your abuse and built it to be rated at IP67, which means it is dust and sand proof, but can be dunked in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes at a time. It should work with "various" mounts and accessories from third parties as well. As for recording, the Action CAM LTE sports a 1/2.3-inch 12.3MP wide-angle lens (150-degree) at 1.55x1.55 micron pixels and can record in UHD (4K) at 30 frames per second, full HD (1080p) at 30 or 60 frames per second, and HD (720p) 30, 60, and 120 frames per second. If you want to take advantage of live streaming, you are looking at just HD (720p) at 30fps. The rest of the specs include that previously mentioned Snapdragon 650 processor, 2GB RAM, 4GB onboard storage, microSD slot (up to 2TB), IP67 rating, GPS, accelerometer, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, and a USB Type-C port. The full list of specs can be found at the bottom of the press release below. The LG Action CAM LTE is available today in Korea and will arrive in other countries at some point...maybe...but there is absolutely zero guarantee of it if we take into account the history of other LG Friends.

LG ACTION CAM MAKES LIVE STREAMINGWHILE ON THE GO EASIER THAN EVER

Newest LG Friend Pushes the Boundaries of Personal Broadcasting

SEOUL, July 19, 2016 ― LG’s latest Friend smartphone companion device rolls out today in South Korea to be followed by other key markets in the weeks to come. LG Action CAMLTE offers robust features that allow for filming in dynamic environments and its built-in LTE connectivity, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 650 processor, means users can stream directly to sites such as YouTube Live via wireless 3G or 4G networks. Rated IP67, LG Action CAMLTE is dust- and sand- proof allowing it to be immersed in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. In addition to the included mount, this rugged camera is compatible with various third party action camera mounts and accessories to capture smooth footage while attached to helmets or moving vehicles. Images and videos shot with LG Action CAMLTE can be downloaded and saved on paired smartphones via the Action CAMLTE app available on Google Play. The camera can record up to three hours of Full HD video on smartphones running Android 5.0 or iOS9 and higher. The durable camera can also function as a CCTV camera for home monitoring with images and videos saved to users’ smartphones.* “LG and Qualcomm Technologies have worked closely together over the years, and we are delighted that LG is extending the Snapdragon relationship, adding the LG Action CAMLTE to the existing 360 CAM and of course the amazing G5 itself,” said Anthony Murray, senior vice president and general manager, IoT, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. “LG Action CAMLTE offers a new and exciting experience with unparalleled features and innovation,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company. “We are committed to developing a range of new Friends for LG G5 as well as premium LG smartphones in the pipeline.” Earlier this year, LG organized developer conferences in Korea and the United States and distributed an SDK to encourage development of LG Friends as well as sponsoring a competition to attract the best Friends ideas. Price and exact date of availability will be announced locally. Key Specifications:

Camera: 1/2.3-inch 12.3MP (150-degree wide angle lens) / 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 / Full HD 30, 60fps / HD 30, 60, 120fps
Video Live Streaming: HD (up to 30fps)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 650 Processor
Memory: 2GB RAM / 4GB ROM (OS only) / microSD (up to 2TB)
Size: 35 x 35 x 79.7mm
Weight: 99g
Others: IP67 / GPS / Accelerometer / Gyroscope
Color: Titan Silver

* Feature to be available with upcoming software update.

# # #

There is More to This Android N DP5 Easter Egg and It Involves Catching Cats (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:47:08 +0000

Earlier today, the Android N Developer Preview 5 dropped and brought with it a new Easter Egg, if you can call it that. At first glance, we brushed it off as being nothing more than a Nougat colored "N" set atop an emoji line-up that evoked Hodor and his name origin. If you say "No Cat" enough, you can see how that could become "Nou-gat" in the same way (SPOILER ALERT ON GAME OF THRONES) that "hold the door" became "Hodor." Get it? Oh, but it appears to be much deeper than that. There may be Pokemon GO-inspired happenings here. If you enter the DP5 Easter Egg area (tapping Android 7.0 in the About Phone section until the "N" appears), tap on the "N" a few times before long-pressing, you'll see a cat? emoji appear below. If you long-press on it again, a no entry? or "no" sign appears. As it turns out, that's more than "No Cat" and is instead toggling on and off a new notification quick setting for...cat catching! This is what we know for now, but we probably need your help in solving this completely. If you go into the Easter Egg and long-press to get the cat to appear, you will then want to pull down your notification quick settings edit menu. Assuming you pulled up the cat, you should see an emoji with a cat head and the text "???? Android Easter Egg." Move that into your list of quick settings tiles and back out of the edit screen.

Once you have done that, tap on the cat or the "Empty dish" that appears in its place. If you tap that, you'll then see a pop-up box that offers you choices of Bits, Fish, Chicken, and Treat. Tap on any of them and they will take the place of the Empty Dish. Confused? Probably hilariously. We haven't been able to catch anything yet, but our understanding is that those food items will help you lure in a feline friend. The reader who pointed out the Easter Egg said that he was prompted with a notification that said he had caught a cat, which was then listed in an Android Easter Egg UI as "Cat #196." See below.

Also, if you long press on the quick setting tile for this Easter Egg, it opens up a similar UI to that listing his captured cat. Unfortunately, our tasty treats haven't been picked up yet by any cats and we have tried them all. We don't know if it's just a random game inside of Android that offers you no controls other than setting out a treat, if there are other actions you can perform to help you catch cats, etc. Can there even be anything more to it than just Google planting a silly cat catching game inside of the latest Developer Preview? We don't know! We need your help. Help us catch cats, dammit. UPDATE 1: Here is Cat #196 from above. Apparently, you get to share your cats.

UPDATE 2: This is what it looks like when you catch a cat and receive a notification. Also, by tapping on the cat, you can then share it. Oh, and that's a reference to "Android Neko," aka Android Cat.

UPDATE 3: We caught our first cat! Cat #110!

As you catch cats, which happens by putting treats out for them in your quick settings tiles, you receive a notification telling you that you have done so. After tapping on that notification, you will be taken to the UI you are seeing below that lists out your captured cats. You can tap on each cat to rename them or long-press to either share or remove them. If you choose to share them, a big 512x512 image of the cat will be created and save to your phone for sharing. How fun.

UPDATE 4: As some have noted, this could also just be a play on Neko Atsume, a kitty collector game. I have no idea what that is, hence the comparison to another popular collector game of the moment. But hey, Neko Atsume makes a lot of sense too! We'll continue to update this post.

Cheers Brian!

Deal: Google Hosting $5 Movie Sale, Includes Cast Away, Predator, Fight Club, and More

Tim — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:03:27 +0000

For a limited time, Google is hosting a sale on select movie titles in HD, something I think we saw a lot more often back in the day. Regardless, these types of sales don't happen too often, so you might as well check them out in case you are interested in beefing up your digital movie collection. Listed at $5, Google Play users can pick up Fight Club (First rule!), Cast Away (Wilson!), Predator (Get to the choppa!), Man on Fire ("Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting."), The Day After Tomorrow (a pretty terrible flick overall), I, Robot (The Three Laws), and plenty more. There are also a few other titles priced a bit higher at $7.99, including Gone Girl (Ben Affleck naked), Wild (Reese Witherspoon naked), and Exodus: Gods and Kings (meh). Have at 'em! Google Play Link

Yep, Pokemon GO Works on Android N Developer Preview 5

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 11:14:10 +0000

Yes, yes it does. Pokemon GO works on the new Android N Developer Preview 5. Have a nice day.

Update for Gear S2 Brings Easier Watch Face Downloads, S Health Data Sharing, and More

Tim — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 10:46:34 +0000

Samsung is shipping an update out to the Gear S2, focusing on "improvements of both ease of use and speed of access." Inside of the update, owners will find that discovering and downloading new watch faces has been made very easy, with the ability to set new faces directly from the watch now available. Previously, users would need to find new watch faces via the mobile phone application, but now all of the process can be done on the smartwatch. If you find a face you like while searching on your watch, simply press download and install. Additionally, Samsung has built in more S Health changes, including the tracking of sleep data automatically. On top of that, if you are very proud of a recent run or workout, you can post your exercise data straight to Facebook from the Gear S2 for all to see. S Voice is also getting a few changes. Users can utilize a new Timer function by asking S Voice to begin a timer, as well as check for new messages. If a user has no new messages, the watch will ask if you'd like to open up your messaging app on the watch, giving you an overview of the messages you have recently received. Lastly, inside of the Samsung Gear app, a Contact Us button has been added, providing a direct line to support if you are haaving troubles with your Gear device. Gear S2 owners, be on the lookout for this update the next time you sync your smartwatch to a phone.

Via: Samsung

Android N Developer Preview 5 Now Available! The Final Preview! (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 10:05:29 +0000

Android N Developer Preview 5 just got posted and is available for the flashing! As of right now, it looks like all supported devices are getting Android build NPD90G. Note that this is the final developer preview before the stable version rolls out "later this summer." Again, the supported devices include the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9 (WiFi and LTE), Nexus Player, Pixel C, and the General Mobile 4G (Android One) device. We're still looking through the changes and will update this post. For now, grab the image files here! The OTA zip files are here. For instructions on how to flash factory images, hit up these instructions. For instructions on flashing OTA zip files, hit up these. UPDATE: Google has also published the notes for DP5. In the "New" section, they only mention that this is the final preview, but no other new features or tweaks are included. This is about as final as it gets before stable, folks. In the "Known Issues" section, just know that there are slight stability issues still, along with multi-window, camera, DND, Vulkan, and Android Auto bugs. Hit up this link to check out deeper details. UPDATE 2: The Android version has now been changed to Android 7.0 in this build. Also, here is the Easter Egg for preview 5.

UPDATE 3: There is much more to this Easter Egg than we had initially realized. It involves catching cats...yes, similarly to how you might think about catching Pokemon. Details here.

Galaxy S7 Edge 2016 Rio Olympics Edition Available at Best Buy, Priced at $850

Tim — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 09:00:17 +0000

Those looking to get their hands on the limited Olympics Games Edition of the Galaxy S7 Edge can now do so via Best Buy's website. As far as we can tell, the device is an online exclusive, meaning you won't find it at your local Best Buy retailer. Priced at $850, this model of the Galaxy S7 Edge will cost you a bit more than a standard S7 Edge, but given its limited availability, this is no surprise. The difference between the Olympics Edition and a standard model is nothing crazy - the phone features a special Olympics 2016 UI, including themed Samsung apps, on top of the obvious Olympics hardware theme. There are Olympic colored buttons and the Olympic rings are featured on the backside, allowing everyone around you to know that you take the Olympics very seriously. If you did not already know, this device is being given to each Olympian from the US headed to Rio this year. There's no telling if they will be using it, but I don't see why they wouldn't. The phone features a very good camera, great display, and has IP68 water resistance. It's perfect for any Olympian. Will you be picking one up? Best Buy Link

Samsung Pay Heads to Gear S2 Watch Today

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 08:49:40 +0000

When Samsung introduced the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic last year, they made it clear that these devices would at some point support Samsung Pay, allowing owners of each device to make mobile payments with their wrists. As 2015 came to a close, that feature never arrived on either watch and Samsung had to admit that the launch was pushed to 2016. We are now in the second half of 2016 and the only mobile payments happening on Gear S2 units seems to have been through a closed beta that Samsung hasn't been very public about. Well, until today! As of this morning, an update to the Samsung Gear app is adding access to Samsung Pay for the Gear S2. A Samsung support page even confirms as much, stating that "Samsung Pay Beta on Gear S2 will be available for anyone with a Gear S2" as of July 18 (today). We updated Gear apps and Gear S2 software everywhere we could and sure enough, the option to use Samsung Pay is indeed now there. Also, look at the image above. Yep, that's Samsung Pay up and working on my Gear S2! To get the mobile payments feature setup, you do indeed need to be up and running the latest software (EDIT: See "Other Notes" section) on your Gear S2, so be sure to do that. Then, look for the latest update to the Samsung Gear App that seems to include the option for Samsung Pay Beta. Tapping on the Samsung Pay Beta from with the Gear App will then take you through a whole bunch of steps to get setup, one of which involves installing the Samsung Pay (Gear) app from the Galaxy Apps store.

With that installed, you will then need to setup a secure password on your Gear S2 before adding support cards. In a way, this process seems very much like your are setting up an entirely different Samsung Pay experience than the phone version, since you do have to re-add cards. In other words, it's not just pulling in previously used cards from within Samsung Pay. To launch Samsung Pay on the Gear S2, once it has been setup, you just long-press the physical back button on the watch and it loads. You may need to input a PIN or secure password at first, but once you have done that and long-press "back," your default card will appear for payment. Should you have other cards setup, you can use the scroll wheel to jump between them. Then, lower your wrist to an NFC payment terminal and payment should go through! (And yes, this is NFC-only, as the Gear S2 doesn't support MST.) Other notes:

Samsung Pay Beta on the Gear S2 is only available in the US for now
According to Samsung support, it's also not available on the 3G models (Bluetooth only for now)
Again, this is NFC-only, since the Gear S2 is missing MST
Software: I mentioned you need to be on the latest version of the Gear S2 software, but that's not correct, since a new version is rolling out that I realized I do not have. I'm on R720XXU2CPC5, which I do not believe is the update that began rolling out just a few days ago.

If you own a Gear S2 (Bluetooth versions only at this time) and a Samsung Pay-supported Galaxy device, today is your day for mobile payments.

Via: Samsung

Pokemon GO Now Available in 27 New Countries, Including Canada

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 07:27:35 +0000

Over the weekend, Pokemon GO went live in 27 new countries. I'd call that amazing news, but the go-live caused servers to be down for hours and hours on Saturday. The server issues were such a big deal, that the official Pokemon GO Twitter account acknowledged them at 8:44AM before responding 11 hours later with word that they had identified the server issues and that Pokemon GO life should be good again. Either way, Pokemon GO is available in a heck of a lot more places today, including in Canada. The rest of the countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Play Link

Via: Pokemon GO (Facebook) | @PokemonGoApp

Moto Mod Me

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:37:37 +0000

On today's episode of the Droid Life Show, we'll dive into our impressions of the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID now that we have them both in house for review. That means we'll also talk Moto Mods and whether or not we think they are a winning idea and which of the current Mods we're enjoying. Finally, the Galaxy Note 7 is official and the Pokemon GO is showing no signs of slowing, so they will be discussed as well. 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.

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: July 15, 2016

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:45:23 +0000

Another week in the books here at DL, but I must say, it was pretty intense. If you couldn't tell, Pokémon GO essentially took over the world, so we found ourselves talking about it quite a bit. I've never seen a game consume pop culture so rapidly -- don't know if I should be scared or impressed by this fact. Either way, if you need Pokémon GO intel, like the report that trading and sponsored locations are coming, we have you covered below. Beyond the Pokémon talk, we have Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID devices in-house, so expect reviews and all of that coming soon. To keep you busy, we have an unboxing and software tour video already available for watching. To wrap up the news, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 821 (probably going to be in the Note 7, new Nexus phones), Verizon is beginning tests of 5G, and the Chromebook Pixel (2015) was updated to support Android apps. Check out all of this week's news below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 115 [Subscribe]
Video: Moto Z DROID and Z Force DROID Unboxing.
Video: Moto Z DROID Software Tour.
Galaxy Note 7: The Galaxy Note 7 arrives on August 2.
T-Mobile is gifting a free year of data for Pokémon GO.
Qualcomm intros the Snapdragon 821 processor.
Android: Chromebook Pixel (2015) updated to support Android apps.
Google Keyboard update brings Themes to all users.
Another possible look at the upcoming Galaxy Note 7.
Yup, Pokémon GO now works with Android Nougat.
Pokémon GO: Trading is coming to Pokémon GO, as well as sponsored locations.
Our essential Tips and Tricks for playing Pokémon GO.
5G: Verizon kicking off real-world testing of 5G.
Android Wear: Developer Preview 2 for Android Wear 2.0 released.

Have a safe weekend, folks!

Video: Moto Z DROID Moto Mods Tour!

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:05:38 +0000

Now that we are back from our Moto Z DROID meeting in NYC and have the new Moto phones in house, along with their launch line-up of Moto Mods, we have a big ol' modular-focused tour to share with you. Thanks to Motorola, we walked away with not only the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID (unboxing here), but we have Moto Mods like the JBL SoundBoost speaker, Moto Insta-Share Projector, Tumi Power Pack, and Style Shell as well. In the lengthy video below, we'll show you how this whole modular thing works inside-and-out. From attaching and detaching modules to charging them and updating their software, this video covers it all. We even have a Moto Mods carrying case to show you, in case you plan on catching them all. Let us know if you have any Moto Mods questions after watching!

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Samsung's Gear IconX Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Now Available, But Not in the US

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 11:58:46 +0000

Samsung's Gear IconX wireless Bluetooth earbuds are now on sale in select markets, but unfortunately, none of those markets include the United States. Previously announced by Samsung that they would be made available for $199 in Q3 (July 1 to September 30), the company now claims that the ear buds will be "gradually" rolled out to additional markets across the globe. We spent a bit of hands-on time with the IconX buds in early June, coming away pretty impressed with the fit and overall sound quality. However, that was early June and now it is mid-July. In our eyes, by the time Samsung does release these ear buds, they will likely be met with plenty of competition, even from Motorola. Samsung had a chance to swoop in and snatch a bit of this wireless ear bud market, but not anymore. As for which markets the IconX buds are available, you should be able to find them in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Canada, Australia and Korea. Prices will vary. When Samsung does intend to launch the buds in the US, we'll let you know.

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Via: Samsung

Google Keyboard Update Brings Themes to All

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 11:01:42 +0000

When Android N Developer Preview 3 showed up at Google I/O, we noticed that the included Google Keyboard was filled with awesome new features, most notably - themes. Instead of giving you limited choices for either a dark or light theme, Google was fully embracing the idea that we like to customize everything, including the interface we type on. Today, Google is pushing out that same Keyboard to Google Play for all to start using. The update, which is stable v5.1, has a plethora of themes , along with the option to create your own custom keyboard with an image of your choosing. You can choose from the pre-made options or walk through a simple tutorial that allows you to not only choose an image, but frame it up and adjust the brightness as well. Below, you can see screenshots for how that looked and worked in the DP3 version.

As for the rest of the update, we've included a changelog for your with those details below.

Themes: Customize keyboard with favorite photos or colors
Gesture typing & suggestions in: Albanian, Arabic, Basque, Bosnian, English (Australia), English (India), Esperanto, Irish, Javanese, Mongolian, Montenegrin (Cyrillic, Latin), Nepali, Portuguese (Africa), Sundanese, Tajik, Tatar, Zulu
Layout support: Burmese, Southern Sotho, Turkmen, Urdu, Welsh, Xhosa
Add recent emoji to suggestion strip
Bug fixes, including passwords with Talkback and missing key labels
Support Android N

Play Link

Koush is Testing Inkwire, a Screen Sharing and Remote Assistance App

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 09:42:53 +0000

Koushik Dutta, or just Koush, is one of the more well-known developer names in Android and has been in the game for a long time. Previously known for his work on ClockworkMod, then for releasing various apps, he is back yet again, this time testing out a new app called Inkwire. Inkwire is an Android-to-Android screen sharing and remote assistance application. With it, two individuals can pair devices without the need for ADB or a computer. Once two people are paired via an access code, they can get to work on whatever they may need to do. This app could be useful for the resident tech geek in a family, who is always being asked to fix a family member's phone. The app is not yet available on Google Play, but should be coming relatively soon. At this time, Koush is looking for beta testers over on Google+. Read below on how to get involved. First, I'll let Koush explain his app.

Unlike Vysor, it doesn't require ADB or a computer. Just plain old Android to Android screen sharing, without the cords. Since ADB is required to send the touch and keyboard events, Inkwire can't do that. I'm working around this by drawing over the screen to show the remote user where to touch; the experience is still pretty good. Also has built in voice chat.

To get in on the beta testing action, follow the link below and join the Inkwire community. Koush should be posting up the beta APK pretty soon. Google+ Communities Link

Via: +Koushik Dutta

Pretty Much.

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 09:36:04 +0000

Take my money now.

Via: xkcd

Pokemon GO Heads to Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK

Kellen — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 07:48:41 +0000

Not much else to say outside of the title, so yeah, if you live in Italy, Spain, Portugal, or the United Kingdom, go download Pokemon GO. Also, if you haven't yet, hit up our Pokemon GO tips and tricks to get the most out of your new world outside of your parent's basement. Play Link https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/753843221491355648 https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/753509144745877504

#TBT: The Last Time HTC Made a Nexus Phone

Tim — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:53:13 +0000

Flashback to late 2009, early 2010. During that time, this whole Android thing was starting to really take off. Seemingly out of nowhere, Google introduced the HTC-made Nexus One. It was pure Android, featuring no third-party skin or anything of that nature. It was clean. The device even had an illuminated trackball. The Nexus One was HTC's last attempt at creating a Nexus smartphone. Since then, they have produced a tablet, although, many see the Nexus 9 as one of more boring Android tablets ever released. That's not HTC's fault, though. We have felt for quite some time that the Android OS on tablets in general is rather boring. Hopefully Nougat's Multi Window support will fix that. While the Nexus One was certainly a cool phone, Google ran into a problem in terms of selling it. Originally intended to launch onto Verizon, which could have helped its popularity, Verizon opted to focus solely on the HTC DROID Incredible, passing on the Nexus One entirely. In doing so, potentially hundreds of thousands of would-be Nexus One buyers had no chance to ever use the device. It was actually quite the drama, covered pretty well back in April, 2010. Anyway, fast forward to this year, 2016. HTC has reportedly been tapped to create not one, but two Nexus smartphones. This has us pretty excited. A lot of things have changed since 2009. For example, the Nexus One featured a 1GHz Qualcomm-made Scorpion processor, 512MB of RAM, 3.7-inch PenTile display, and 5MP camera. Overall, the phone was awesome back in the day. This year, HTC apparently plans to deliver something much more sophisticated, possibly including a 5.5" QHD AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, 12MP rear-facing camera, and Snapdragon 821 processor. Sounds much nicer, right? Before HTC and Google unveil what's to come, let's take a moment to reflect on all that is the Nexus One. If you have any fond memories of a Nexus One being in your pocket, feel free to share them below.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force: What do You Want to Know?

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:25:18 +0000

As you know from our two most recent videos, we have the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID in hand in preparation for our reviews. It'll be a bit before we get those reviews all put together, but that doesn't mean we can't sit here and answer some questions you may have. Are you wondering about the missing headphone jack? Curious if the chin is as big as it looks on video? Is the regular Moto Z too thin or pretty great in hand? Are the Moto Mods actually cool and worth their previously reported high price tags? Is the camera any good on either phone? I may have some answers to stuff like that. Because I'm traveling back to Portland today with phones in pocket and none of us still know when we'll be able to buy them, let's chat! Head down to the comments and ask us about anything related to the Moto Z and its shatterproof brother, the Moto Z Force. Well, anything outside of when they will be released and how much they'll cost. ~~Pokemon~~ Go.

So, Yeah, T-Mobile is Gifting Customers With Free Pokémon GO Data

Tim — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:48:43 +0000

T-Mobile announced the goodies inside of next week's T-Mobile Tuesday, and to nobody's surprise, it has a lot to do with Pokémon GO. Next week, when you open up the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, the carrier will be gifting you with free high-speed data for use with Pokémon GO. This free data will be good for one year, so whenever you are out and about capturing Pokémon or taking over gyms, you won't need to worry about your data usage. I have been playing Pokemon GO for about a week now, and from what I can tell, the app does more harm to your smartphone's battery than it does to your data plan. With a week down, I've got about 300MB+ of data used, which doesn't seem like all that much to me, considering how much I have been playing. But hey, when something is popular and you want to get your brand involved, you jump on it. In addition to the free data, T-Mobile is also providing free Lyft rides (up to $15), a free Wendy's Frosty, as well as 50% off select accessories. These accessories include portable power packs (perfect for Pokémon GO playing), as well as replacement chargers. Here's what to expect once next Tuesday rolls around.

Free, unlimited data on Pokémon Go, so it won’t touch your high-speed data—for a full year!
Free Lyft rides up to $15 to get to a new PokéStop or Gym
Free Wendy’s Frosty to fuel up for your hunting trip
50% off select accessories – including portable power packs and chargers at T-Mobile stores – so you can keep on playing for hours

Also, as written in the press release, "250 people will each win $100 in PokéCoins, and five people will win a Pokémon GO hunting trip anywhere in the U.S. for themselves and a guest!"

Via: T-Mobile

Fallout Shelter Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary, Intros Quests and Improved Combat

Tim — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 11:19:22 +0000

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Fallout Shelter, the good folks at Vault-Tec (aka Bethesda) are doing big things. Since launch of Fallout Shelter onto iOS and Android, Overseers have been stuck inside of the Vault, not allowed to experience the action that happens outside. But now, Quests have been added to the game, allowing you, the person in charge, to go explore the Wasteland. In addition, new and improved combat will give you more control over the dwellers that are out on Quests. To spice this up, Bethesda has thrown in new baddies, such as Ghouls and Radscorpions. As if the Wasteland wasn't already terrible enough. These changes are now live for Android, so head on over to Google Play to grab the update. As a cherry on top, Fallout Shelter is now playable on PC, too! To check that out, follow this link. What's New

Introducing Quests! Now you can travel OUTSIDE the Vault with your Dwellers to explore new locations!.
New and Improved combat gives you more control over your Questing Dwellers.
Battle new enemies like Ghouls and Radscorpions and take on powerful boss enemies.
New items added to the store!

Play Link

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Moto Z DROID Software Tour!

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:58:46 +0000

With the unboxing now out of the way (watch it here), we can start getting into the important stuff - whether or not the Moto Z DROID (and Moto Z Force DROID) are worth considering as your next phone. One place we love to look to see if a phone is any good, especially with Motorola phones, is in the software. As you all know, Motorola has stuck with a "pure" Android experience for years that has a suite of Moto features added to improve the experience without getting in the way. With the Moto Z DROID, that's again the situation. Motorola has given each phone Android 6.0.1 with behind-the-scenes Moto Mod magic, the Moto suite (actions, voice, and display), and a couple of Verizon apps and widgets. Overall, it's very much what we have come to expect from a Moto phone. In the short video below, you'll see a tour of the experience, along with a couple of the new Moto options. Enjoy!

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Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID Unboxing!

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:45:06 +0000

You may have heard, but there was indeed a media gathering in New York today, hosted by Motorola and Verizon, that allowed the press to get a second look at the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID (those are the official names now, by the way). Maybe even more importantly, it was a chance for us to all get review units as we approach launch day. And get review units did we ever. We have them both - in hand! So, we unboxed! Of course we did. I know that you have all watched Tim's initial hands-on videos from the Lenovo Tech World unveiling, but this is a chance to see final units, in boxes, and to see what comes in those boxes. We'll have a lot more over the next few days, so stick with us! UPDATE: Software tour now posted as well!

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Chromebook Pixel (2015) and Acer R11 Updated to Allow for Android Apps

Tim — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:48:03 +0000

Android applications were made available for the ASUS Chromebook Flip not too long ago, but that was only one of the first three devices Google stated would support early access to Google Play. Last night, it appears Google rolled out updates to the developer channel for the other two devices, the Chromebook Pixel 2 and the Acer Chromebook R11. With this update now available, owners of either of these Chromebooks can load up Google Play and run nearly any Android application they would like. However, keep in mind, these are early builds of software, so your experience could be a little buggy. Not sure how to enable the developer channel on your Chromebook? We got you. On your supported Chromebook, head into Settings>About Chrome OS. You will need to flip to the “Developer – unstable” channel, so you'll need to click on the “More info” link under the “Check for and apply updates” button. Once in there, choose the “Developer - unstable” option, let it update and reboot. Confirm that you are on the latest Chrome OS for that model and then in general settings, look for an option in between “Search” and “People” that says “Android apps.” Enable access there and you are done! Want to see what Android apps are like on a Chromebook? Check out our video.

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Cheers Roger!

Nest Introduces Its First Outdoor Security Cam, Up for Pre-Order Now

Kellen — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 05:18:07 +0000

We're barely a month removed from Tony Fadell's exit at Nest and the company is pushing out its first product, the Nest Cam Outdoor. As the name suggested, this is the outdoor Nest Cam that customers have been begging the smart home product maker to release. At $199, the Nest Cam Outdoor is very much a Nest product, but yet also your typical outdoor camera. It shoots 1080p video, can see in the dark, is weatherproof at IP65, connects via WiFi, sends you notifications when it notices movement or hears noise, and needs to be plugged into an outlet 24-7. So what's different about Nest Cam Outdoor? For one, it's another Nest product, so if you already have other Nest products, this will slot right in with the rest, which means it'll show up in the Nest app. It's also supposedly easy to install and does so via magnets in many situations. Nest suggests that you just attach this little guy to a metal surface, plug it in, and then start monitoring your home. You can attach it to other surfaces as well. And that's pretty much it. It looks nice, I just hope that it won't be easy to steal. You can pre-order Nest Cam Outdoor today at the links below. Nest says to expect cameras to ship in 11-12 weeks. Pre-order links: Best Buy | Nest

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Verizon Prepaid Will Get Throttled Unlimited Data Next Week, No Sneaky Safety Mode Required

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 21:00:04 +0000

Last week, Verizon introduced a bunch of "fireworks" tweaks to their The Verizon Plan that included a feature called Safety Mode. To say that Safety Mode was anything less than an unnecessary scheme to nickel and dime you over overages or tempt you into upgrading your plan to something more than you need is probably not doing the sneakiness of it justice. I say that because the Verizon prepaid plans are about to get the exact same bonus, but it won't cost prepaid subscribers extra or require them to toggle it on or off to avoid getting hammered with overages. What am I talking about? On July 17, Verizon is going to introduce a new prepaid feature called "Always-on Data." What is Always-On Data? It's throttled unlimited data that kicks in once you hit your prepaid data limit. It doesn't require you to toggle a Safety Mode on or off and doesn't cost you an extra $5 per month for snail speeds. Nope, it's just included, unlike the new similar feature that Big Red deemed worthy of a "fireworks" descriptor last week. With Always-On Data, prepaid customers at Big Red will get to, according to multiple sources, continue using data at speeds of 128Kbps after their 4G LTE allotment is consumed. This new feature won't cost extra, isn't something that needs to be turned on, and will automatically be included in the $45/2GB and $60/5GB plans. Verizon will also send warning messages to customers who are approaching their bucket limit and about to see throttling. So, while regular The Verizon Plan customers are figuring out if they should shell out an extra $5 per month for throttled data or turn the feature on because it isn't just a part of the plan, prepaid customers will have less stress about hitting their limit each billing cycle. If you are on Verizon and not hanging onto unlimited data, why are you not on their prepaid? We reached out to Verizon looking for confirmation and will update this post if we hear back.

Photos Give Another Possible Look at Upcoming Galaxy Note 7

Tim — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 15:52:09 +0000

August 2 is coming up real fast, and on that day, we will get a real good look at what Samsung has in store for the Galaxy Note 7. Until then, we have to rely on images taken by leaksters. These photos are typically never high quality and usually feature plenty of shaky hands, but hey, that's the business of leaking. In the latest batch of photos, we see someone handling the device, showing it from different angles. While we cannot say whether this is the real deal, it does align very well with all of the previous leaks and renders we have seen. On the front there are the capacitive buttons, fingerprint scanner, plus that big and beautiful AMOLED display. One important note, take a look at the edges of the phone. As was already reported, the Galaxy Note 7 should feature a dual edged display, but probably not the same type of edge that we see on the Edge line of Galaxy S7 devices. These appear to be much more subtle, providing that bezel-less look that so many smartphone fans appreciate. Beyond that, there is not much too much else to see. Take a look at the photos, then let us know if you're feeling hyped for the Galaxy Note 7.

Via: No Where Else

Phase 3 of Verizon's $20 Unlimited Data Increase Kicks Off August 21

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:41:43 +0000

If for some reason, you were able to avoid Verizon's $20 price increase on unlimited data plans to this point, be prepared to get hit with the higher price on or shortly after August 21. According to sources of ours, along with a number of readers being notified of the upcoming increase, Verizon is prepping "Phase 3" of Verizon's plan to increase the price of remaining unlimited data customers to $49.99. As many of you know, Verizon started to increase unlimited data plan pricing back in November of last year. That first increase was deemed "Phase 1" of a 3-phase plan to get all remaining customers who were out of contract, up to $49.99 per month. Then in May of this year, "Phase 2" kicked off to grab another batch who missed the first increase. On August 21, the final phase will kick off and start impacting the last group of unlimited data customers. Who is impacted this time? It's tough to tell, but from what we can gather, "Phase 3" is finally nabbing those with old unlimited Alltel plans and special all-in-one plans that don't have separated data features. In reality, if for some reason you haven't yet seen the increase from $29.99 to $49.99, you are probably due this time around. When are they impacted? The good news is that you won't see the increase until you are out of your current 2-year contract. Even though August 21 is the date that "Phase 3" kicks off, you may not see the increase for some time should you have locked into a recent contract. However, once that contract is up, look for a $20 increase within a billing cycle. This is a screenshot of the notice customers are starting to see for "Phase 3":

Fun.

Cheers Cote, Steven, Shawn, and everyone else!

Lightroom for Android Update Includes Pro Camera Mode, Widget

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:10:55 +0000

Lightroom for Android just keeps getting better, this time with the update to v2.1. In today's update, the powerful photo editing app gains new features in its recently introduced camera experience, a widget for opening the camera, and better handling of full resolution files. Adobe tells us that the camera experience that came with the update to v2.0 has been improved through a Pro mode this time around that pushes the app towards "the best mobile photography experience available." In this Pro mode, users will be able to control shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and focus, all manually in a new UI (see image below). Because Adobe really wants you to give this Pro capture mode a shot, they tossed in a new shortcut widget that allows you to quickly launch Lightroom's camera. Once updated, you should find it as a 1x1 widget in your home screen's widget picker. Finally, Adobe improved the app's "ability to export full-resolution files." That means if the file you want is available within the Lightroom ecosystem, you'll have the option to download it at full resolution. The new update should be live now. Play Link

Via: Adobe

Hangouts Version 11 Will Kill Conversation Merging Because No One Uses It

Tim — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:04:12 +0000

According to a support page posted by Google, the next update to Hangouts (which will be for version 11.0), will remove the option for conversation merging. This features allows instant messages and SMS messages from the same contact to appear in a single thread. Why is it being killed? Well, Google claims no one is using it, so instead of continuing to support it, they will simply kill it off entirely. Google states that once version 11.0 is booted up on your device for the first time, your merged conversations will now appear as two separate threads. None of the messages will be deleted, so don't worry about losing any information. Moving forward, just to make sure you are texting and messaging in the proper thread, be on the lookout for icons that currently appear (or don't appear) on your threads. No icon means its a Hangouts message, Gray SMS box means carrier text, and Blue SMS box means its a Google Voice or Project Fi text. With this being announced, be on the lookout for Hangouts version 11.0 soon!

Via: Google

AccuWeather App Updated With Dark Theme, Future Radar and Graphs

Tim — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 11:31:26 +0000

The official AccuWeather application for Android received a major update this week, bringing a lot of new features to those who find themselves periodically concerned about their local weather. Inside, users will find a new Dark Theme, which can be set to automatic or manual. When on automatic, the app will go dark at night, then revert back to light during the day. In addition to the darker theme available, AccuWeather also offers "Future Radar," allowing users to access up to 2 hours' worth of future precipitation radar. This should allow you to better plan out your day and whether you will need that umbrella. By looking over the changelog, there are many fixes and goodies, so if you have the AccuWeather app, go grab the update. If you don't have the app, I'd suggest checking it out on Google Play. There is the free version (with ads) and the Platinum version (no ads). What's New

Future Radar – Access up to 2 hours’ worth of Future Precipitation Radar visuals in the maps section of the app.
Dark Theme – Enjoy AccuWeather’s app in both light and dark modes. With the Theme set to automatic, the app will switch to dark mode at night and back to light mode during the day.
Graphs – Temperature and Precipitation graphs have now been added to both the Hourly and Daily screens.
Pull Down to Refresh
Advanced Settings
Map Key Scrolling
Galaxy Edge Panel Support
Bug fixes and Improvements

Play Links: Free | Paid

July Security Updates Arriving Today on Handful of Samsung Phones (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 11:18:09 +0000

Now that the July Android security patch is rolling out to Nexus devices, Samsung has stepped up to start pushing it to their own phones. The latest devices to receive the newest patch are the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+, along with the Verizon Galaxy Note 5. None of the updates offer any new features from what we can tell, but we thought we'd point out that they are rolling out to save you from Googling away to find out. Also, the Verizon Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge received updates a week ago, though Big Red isn't offering details on whether or not these are the July patches. UPDATE: Verizon's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge received updates as well on July 14. Here are the new software versions to look for:

Verizon Galaxy S7: VRS2APF2
Verizon Galaxy S7 Edge: VRS2APF2
Verizon Galaxy Note 5: VRS2BPF4
Verizon Galaxy S6: VRU4CPF4
Verizon Galaxy S6 Edge: VRU4CPF4
T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5: UVU3DPG1
T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge+: UVU3DPG1
T-Mobile Galaxy S7: UVU3APG1
T-Mobile Galaxy S7 Edge: UVU3APG1

NOTE: T-Mobile pushed S7 and S7 Edge updates last week as well, so those are included.

Via: Verizon [2] [3] | T-Mobile [2] [3] [4]

These Awesome Wooden Android Minis Will be Sold at SDCC, Online Later This Year

Tim — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 10:02:28 +0000

There have been countless Android mini collectibles released over the years, but they were all made of the same plastic material. Don't get me wrong, I love all of the past minis, but this year, we are getting something very special. Produced by the one and only Andrew Bell, in partnership with Ken Como, a limited set of real-wood Android minis will be available for purchase to attendees of the San Diego Comic Con. Seriously, these minis are hot. Not everyone reading this who is interested will be attending SDCC, and Dead Zebra knows this, too. Later this year, a limited run of these wooden minis will be available for purchase online, which makes us (not attending SDCC) very excited. In terms of size, they stand a bit taller than your typical mini, with the image below showing exactly how much larger they are. The price for these minis are not listed yet in Dead Zebra's post, but I have to assume they would be about $30-$40 a pop. It's real wood and I'm sure it is very time consuming to make them. Update: These minis are priced at $120 a pop, packed in a muslin bag and custom kraft box. Ouch, but still awesome. We'll let you know when they become available online.

Via: Dead Zebra

ZTE Axon 7 Now Up for Pre-Order in the US at $399

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 09:33:16 +0000

The ZTE Axon 7, the latest affordable flagship from the Chinese manufacturer, is now available for pre-order in the US at a variety of retailers. With a starting price of $399, you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck here. As a recap, the Axon 7 was announced back in May with a somewhat mysterious launch time frame here in the States. It made headlines because not only did it offer a bunch of great specs at what we assumed would be an affordable price, but ZTE also made sure we knew that it was one of the first Daydream-ready phones. In terms of specs, the Axon 7 basically has it all. You get a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 20MP f/1.8 rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 8MP f/2.2 front camera, 3250mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, USB Type-C port, dual speaker setup with a dual Hi-Fi chipset (Dolby Atmos surround sound), and a fingerprint reader. As for storage and RAM, ZTE is releasing two models, but the US is getting the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage with a microSD slot. The phone should work fine on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile. While the pre-order is open today, the phone won't ship until July 27. Links: Amazon | Best Buy | B&H Photo | ZTE

Pokemon GO Now Works With Android N!

Kellen — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 07:14:04 +0000

Android N Developer Preview users who have been left out of all the fun that is Pokemon GO, can now catch 'em all. An update pushed this morning adds support for Android Nougat. Look, that phone above is the Nexus 5X and installation is possible! The rest of the update, at least according to the app's listing (and its silent developers), is a mystery. We're assuming it fixes bugs and improves stuff, though that's unconfirmed. Maybe it was just an update to give Android N users access? Who knows. Either way, it's here! Oh, Pokemon GO has also started its European rollout and the first country to get in on the action is Germany. Server breakage in 5...4...3... Go download it! Play Link

Report: Trading is Coming Soon to Pokémon GO, But so are Sponsored Locations

Tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 15:43:07 +0000

Moving forward, we promise to not stupidly SEO spam about Pokémon GO (we've been pretty respectful, I think), but the latest news is important for those who have been enjoying the game. For anyone who knows what the old Pokémon cards were all about, trading was a big deal. You get a few good cards, trade them to a friend for something better, then that cycle repeats itself until everyone is satisfied with their collection. Trading is one aspect that Pokémon GO launched without, and for fans of the franchise, that was a major downside. However, in a recent interview with Niantic's CEO, John Hanke, trading is indeed coming sometime soon to the game. While specific details were not made clear on how the trading aspect will work, we have to assume that strangers and friends will be allowed to trade Pokémon with fellow players. Whether there will be built-in mechanics that stop people from getting ripped off in a bad trade, we don't yet know. I probably fell victim to that a few times back in middle school. While trading is certainly a step in the right direction, another feature previously mentioned by Hanke, this time reported by the New York Times, states that it is possible "sponsored locations" could also be coming to the game. With this implemented, businesses such as fast-food joints, coffee shops, and other retail establishments could pay to become sponsored locations where a Pokéstop or Gym is located. This in turn would drive real-world traffic to these locations, bringing in money for the businesses. At this time, there has been no timeframe provided for when trading or sponsored locations will be baked into the game, but once they are, rest assured we will let you know. On a personal note, I don't see sponsored locations as a bad thing. If a business wants to pay to have a Pokéstop inside their place, so be it. However, if Niantic grants a business the ability to offer a more uncommon or rare Pokémon, one that you could only capture if at a specific sponsored location, then we will have problems. Share your thoughts below on these developments.

Via: Business Insider | New York Times

Samsung Makes It Official: Galaxy Note 7 is Coming August 2

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 14:24:59 +0000

The rumors were spot in, as Samsung has announced this afternoon that they are hosting an Unpacked event at 11AM Eastern (8AM Pacific) on August 2nd to unveil "the latest in mobile innovation." In case you haven't been following along, that means that they will announce the Galaxy Note 7. As you can see from the teaser image that they sent to us in an invite, we are getting the confirmation on this being the Note 7 through the "7 UNPACKED 2016" with an S Pen sitting above it and the circle of pen tips with the 7th lit up. The event will be live-streamed, plus we'll be on hand at a New York event to take it all in and bring you the hands-on experience. If you were at all considering a phone at the moment, you might want to consider holding off until August 2. UPDATE: Samsung also pushed out a press release that we missed initially that confirms the phone as being the Galaxy Note 7. They addressed the jump from Note 5 to Note 7 as well, saying the following:

First and foremost though, you might be curious as to why it’s called Galaxy Note7 instead of Galaxy Note6. There are a couple reasons why. First, the Galaxy Note7 will complement our Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, and unify our product portfolio. Second, the Galaxy Note7 will minimize confusion about the latest mobile technology from Samsung, and provide full alignment with Galaxy S smartphone.

That's sort of what we figured, a unifying of the portfolio and clearing up any confusion going forward.

Via: Samsung

Samsung Pay Adds Puerto Rico to List of Supported Countries

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:26:43 +0000

Live in Puerto Rico? Want to use your Samsung Galaxy phone to pay for things? Today, you can! Samsung announced this morning that Samsung Pay is now available in Puerto Rico and works with the country's largest bank, Banco Popular. The launch also includes support on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Claro networks in Puerto Rico, so travelers from the US to and from should have access as well. MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) is along for the ride too, so you can pay in Puerto Rico at both NFC and regular card swipe terminals. Supported phones include the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Active, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Active and Galaxy S7 edge. With the launch in Puerto Rico, Samsung Pay is now available in the US, Spain, Singapore, and Australia.

Via: Samsung

Android Wear 2.0 Developer Preview 2 Released, Wrist Gestures for 3rd-Party Apps and More

Tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 12:01:52 +0000

Developer Preview 2 has been launched for those running Android Wear 2.0, but take notice that Google and the Android team still label this build as "not intended for daily use." Catered to developers who want to get their apps prepared for the public launch of Android Wear 2.0, the latest developer preview features a bump to the Android Platform API 24 (now matching Nougat), Wearable Drawers enhancements, and opened Wrist Gesture commands for 3rd-party applications. While the big block of text looks like there are a lot of changes, essentially none of it is geared towards end users. Don't let that surprise you, though, as these are "developer" previews. For us folk who are patiently awaiting the launch of Android Wear 2.0, we are getting close -- only a couple more months until its fall. If you are a developer, go grab it! What’s New

Platform API 24 - We have incremented the Android Platform API version number to 24 to match Nougat. You can now update your Android Wear 2.0 Preview project’s compileSdkVersion to API 24, and we recommend that you also update targetSdkVersion to API 24.
Wearable Drawers Enhancements - We launched the wearable drawers as part of the Android Wear 2.0 Preview 1, along with UX guidelines on how to best integrate the navigation drawer and action drawer in your Android Wear app. In Preview 2, we have added additional support for wearable drawer peeking, to make it easier for users to access these drawers as they scroll. Other UI improvements include automatic peek view and navigation drawer closure and showing the first action in WearableActionDrawer’s peek view. For developers that want to make custom wearable drawers, we’ve added peek_view and drawer_content attributes to WearableDrawerView. And finally, navigation drawer contents can now be updated by callingnotifyDataSetChanged.
Wrist Gestures: Since last year, users have been able to scroll through the notification stream via wrist gestures. We have now opened this system to developers to use within their applications. This helps improve single hand usage, for when your users need their other hand to hold onto their shopping or their kids. See the code sample below to get started with gestures in your app:

Via: Android

T-Mobile Offers Families of Four or More Cheaper Plans, Free Galaxy On5 Phones

Tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:59:11 +0000

It seems that T-Mobile announces a new "best deal ever" about once a week, and this week, it's no different. Beginning tomorrow, T-Mobile is kicking off its "Best. Deal. Ever." This deal is geared specifically toward families of four or more, who are preparing this summer to send kiddies back to school. To provide you with the no BS version of what T-Mobile is offering, let's take a look. As I stated, the deal is for families of four or more - up to 12, specifically. T-Mobile is offering four lines of 6GB for $30 a month per line, and for each line, the carrier is providing a free Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Is it a Galaxy S7? No. Is it a Galaxy S6? Absolutely not. The free Galaxy smartphone is the Galaxy On5, a device that retails for $140. The On5 features a 5-inch TFT (thin-film-transistor) display, 5MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, microSD support (up to 128GB), and runs Android 6.0. For $140 at retail, but free thanks to this promotion, that doesn't seem too bad for a child in middle school who is lucky enough to have a smartphone. If you attempt to give this phone to your teenage daughter, though, she may threaten to run away and date that boy you really aren't too sure about. Is he on the up and up? Unlikely. Anyway, as for the plan itself, T-Mobile is providing 6GB lines for $30 a month. Since T-Mobile is offering the phones via bill credits, none of that cost will reflect on your monthly total. You will only be paying $30 per line you have open. Again, the max is 12 lines at the $30 (per 6GB) price per line. For those who may ask, yes, that means you can get up to 12 free smartphones, too. If 6GB is not enough data, families can opt to pay $40 per line for 10GB of high-speed data, limited to the first four lines. Each other line over four is stuck at the 6GB limit a month. There are quite a few more details you may want to look over if this plan sounds tempting. All of the details can be viewed here.

Via: T-Mobile

NVIDIA Begins Rolling Out Upgrade 4.2 to SHIELD Tablet Owners

Tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 09:32:40 +0000

An update for NVIDIA's SHIELD Tablet is bringing Upgrade 4.2, which includes a lot of fixes and improvements for those still using this tablet. Inside, users will find the requirements set by Android 6.0 Professional Audio, including low latency audio, MIDI support over USB, plus peripheral modes. The update also features an option to toggle navigation button locations, enhancements for the Vulkan API, improvements to the device's touch responsiveness, and fixes to WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. To top it all off, NVIDIA also included the June (last month) security patch. Check out the complete changelog below, then keep an eye on your device to grab the update. Upgrade 4.2 Changelog

SHIELD Tablet now meets Android 6.0 Professional Audio requirements, including:
- Low Latency Audio (<20ms continuous round trip)
- USB Host & Peripheral modes
- 24-bit@192kHz Stereo & 7.1 HDMI output
- MIDI support over USB & Bluetooth LE
Option to toggle Navigation Button location (Settings > Personalize Settings)
Enhancements & fixes to Vulkan™ API
Improvements to touch responsiveness
Fixes to WiFi & Bluetooth connectivity
Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level June 1, 2016
Overall stability and additional security improvements

Via: NVIDIA

Android Distribution Updated for July 2016 – Marshmallow Keeps on Climbing

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 09:30:24 +0000

Google updated the Android distribution numbers today for the month of July, showing Marshmallow jumping up to 13.3% of the share. That's up from the 10.1% of last month and continues to show the slow, but steady climb of the latest version of stable Android. Of course, we'd all like to see that at 95% by now, especially with Android Nougat all but a month away from a stable release, but that's not how Android works. If you still don't get that, dear Apple journos, good luck to you in life. As for the rest of the numbers, Lollipop now sits at 35.1%, KitKat at 30.1%, Jelly Bean at 17.8%, Ice Cream Sandwich at 1.7%, Gingerbread at 1.9%, and Froyo still at 0.1%. Those numbers are all down from June. Last month's numbers can be seen here.

Via: Android Developers

DEAL: $100 Off HTC 10 ($599), $100 Credit Towards Accessories

Tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 08:52:53 +0000

With all of the Prime Day madness going on, it only makes sense for other companies to get in on the action. Beginning today through the end of the month, potential buyers can nab a HTC 10 for $100 off, bringing the price down from $699 to $599. On top of the new phone you will receive, HTC appears to be throwing in $100 of credit towards HTC accessories. The credit is not limited to buyers from htc.com, though. According to HTC, if you can provide proof-of-purchase from any other retailer or channel, you can receive it. This credit can be spent of cases, extra chargers, or anything else they have listed on the HTC site as a phone accessory. Do note, this does exclude Vive accessories. HTC currently has all of the models available for purchase, including the Verizon variant in Silver, as well as the Unlocked model in Silver and Charcoal. Have at it. HTC Link

Project Fi Gets Faster International Data, Will Shave $150 Off a Nexus 6P If You Sign-Up

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 08:11:19 +0000

Google is fully aware that when traveling abroad, your data connection is a major pain point. Not only is it expensive to use data when traveling outside of the US, it's also often quite a slow and frustrating experience. Today, to help reduce those struggles, they are introducing better roaming to Project Fi by adding connectivity through Three's network. With Three on board, Project Fi users will now have access to a network that is 10-20x faster than before and in 135+ destinations. Oh, it's also free and a part of Fi at no extra cost. That means whatever you are currently paying for Fi, you will continue to pay the same even when traveling overseas. To help celebrate the news, Google is offering $150 off the Nexus 6P ($349 for 32GB model) for the next week when you buy and then activate it on Fi. The deal goes live at 10AM Pacific through the Project Fi website. UPDATE: Nexus 5X is discounted too, all the way down to $199.

Via: Android Blog

Amazon Prime Day Deals are Live! Here are Some of the Best (Updating!)

Kellen — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 06:55:25 +0000

As we noted yesterday, today is Amazon Prime Day 2016. It's a lot like Black Friday, only in the middle of the summer for some reason and exclusively for Amazon Prime members (Not a member? Sign-up here for free.). But the idea here is that Amazon is slashing the prices on thousands of products to get you to shop, because, shopping. Seriously, I don't get the point other than Amazon seems to think we need a mid-year Black Friday to blow more money on fun stuff. I don't have issues with that, it's just odd. Shopping, though! Amazon did give us a preview of what to expect in terms of Amazon Prime Day deals and now we get to actually browse through them all and decide if they are worth the trouble. Anything good? Here are some that are sticking out at the moment.

Amazon Prime Day Link

Amazon Products

Amazon Echo ($129.99) - $50 off
Amazon Tap ($99.99) - $30 off
Amazon Fire TV ($69.99) - $30 off
Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition ($109.99) - $30 off
Amazon Fire TV Stick ($24.99) - $15 off
Amazon Fire TV Stick with Voice ($34.99) - $15 off
Amazon Dash Buttons, all $0.99 (Plus $4.99 credit)
Amazon Fire HD 10 ($149.99) - $80 off
Amazon Fire tablet as low as $33.33

Spotlight Deals

Nexus 6P 64GB ($403.75) - $146 off
Nexus 6P 128GB (478.75) - $171 off
Nextbit Robin ($239) - $136 off, price drop in cart
Moto X Pure Edition 32GB ($249.99) - $100 off, price drop in cart
Honor 5X 16GB ($119.99) - $80 off
LG G5 unlocked ($479) - $100 off, price drop in cart
Huawei Watch starting at $175.99 - $174 off
Moto 360 Sport ($149.99) - $50 off, price drop in cart
Fossil Q Founder starting at $192.50 - $82.50 off
Samsung Gear S2 watch ($224.99) - $65 off, price drop in cart
Garmin Forerunner 225 GPS watch ($174.99) - $45 off, price drop in cart
Samsung 256GB microSD card ($169.99) - $60 off, price drop in cart
SanDisk 200GB microSD card ($58.99)
SanDisk 128GB microSD card ($32.99)
SanDisk 64GB microSD card ($14.99)
Samsung UN55KU6600 Curved 55-inch 4K TV ($649.99) - $598 off

Other

Philips Hue white starter kit ($59.99) - $20 off, price drop in cart
A bunch of movies are 50% off
Anker has many of their major accessories on deep discounts with codes
Samsung Gear VR + Level U Pro bundle ($129.99) - $21 off, price drop in cart
Eero WiFi System individual ($149.99) - $50 off, price drop in cart
Eero WiFi System 3-pack ($399.99) - $100 off, price drop incart

Lightning Deals (these go fast!)

NVIDIA SHIELD TV + 2nd controller ($149.99) - $110 off
~~Asus Google OnHub Router~~ ($129.99) - $70 off

BONUS: Remember that if you order items through Alexa, meaning with an Amazon Echo, Tap, or Dot, you get additional discounts. We'll continue to update this post as we see more!

Amazon Prime Day Deals: A Preview of the Discounts

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:15:12 +0000

Tomorrow, July 12, is Amazon Prime Day 2016. You probably know that, because Amazon won't shut up about it. And rightfully so, as Amazon Prime Day is a day not unlike Black Friday, where Amazon slashes prices and offers a variety of discounts on thousands of items. All I can say is that I hope this year's Prime Day is better than last year's massively disappointing inaugural discount day. Today, to help set expectations, Amazon released a list of Amazon Prime Day deals we should see tomorrow as a preview of sorts. The deals include a $50 discount on the Amazon Echo, $30 off the Fire TV, $15 off the Fire TV Stick, and $30 off the Kindle Paperwhite. The deals don't all involve Amazon products, though. You will also see big ticket items like a Samsung curved 55-inch 4K TVs available for as little as $650. There will be lightning deals too, the ones that come and go as they sell through or reach the end of their allotted time, and special discounts should you order through Alexa via Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot or Tap). Amazon Prime Day Link Here is a preview of Amazon Prime Day 2017 deals:

2016 Model – Samsung UN55KU6600 Premium Curved 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $649.99 – Amazon Exclusive
2016 Model – Samsung UN55KU6300 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $549.99 – This is not the 2015 Black Friday model that other retailers are clearing out
Fire tablet, our best-selling tablet, starting at just $33.33
Save $50 on Amazon Echo
Save $30 on Amazon Fire TV
Save $15 on Fire TV Stick
Save $30 on Kindle Paperwhite
Up to 50% off top toy brands including Nerf, Barbie, Fisher-Price and more
Up to 50% off electric shavers, hair tools, and more
30% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches & more
Up to 60% off athletic shoes
Save up to 65% on Fast & Furious 7-movie collection on Blu-Ray and DVD
Save big on Coleman Road Trip Portable Grill LXE
31% off Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Save big on "DOOM" video game
$25 back with $50 Luxury Beauty purchase
Save big on select DEWALT and BLACK+DECKER products
VIZIO 2.1 Channel Sound Stand for $89.99
VIZIO 5.1 Channel Sound Bar for $199.99
Samsung Curved 3D Blu-ray Player for $49.99
RIF6 Cube 2-Inch Mobile Projector for $189.99
$40 cash back on an Amazon Home Service of $75 or more, like House Cleaning or TV Wall Mounting

Amazon says that if you ask Alexa to buy you stuff tomorrow, you'll get a $10 discount on your first order over $20. You'll also see bigger discounts on items like the Fire HD 10 tablet and Philips Hue starter kit when ordered from Alexa. Those discounts are:

“Alexa order a Fire HD 10 tablet” and get a Fire HD 10 tablet for $129, save 43%
“Alexa order a TP-Link smart plug” and get a TP-LINK Wi-Fi Smart Plug that works with Alexa for $15, save 49%
“Alexa order a TrackR Bravo” and get a TrackR Bravo (Black) that works with Alexa for $15, save 50%
“Alexa order a Philips Hue starter kit” and get a Philips Hue White and Color Bulb Starter Kit that works with Alexa for $125, save 37%

Again, the party kicks off on July 12 (tonight at midnight). Tomorrow, at some point, we'll try to open up a rolling list of deals for those interested that you'll be able to check back on. In the mean time, you can learn more about Amazon Prime Day here.

Via: Amazon

Poll: Did You Play Pokemon GO This Weekend?

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 13:36:32 +0000

You played Pokemon GO this weekend, right? If you say "no," I don't know that I can believe you. Even me, the guy who spent 30 mins on Friday's DL Show talking about how little I know or understand about Pokemon, installed Pokemon GO and nabbed a Pokemon or three from within my living room within the past couple of days. Everywhere I went over the weekend, which included a toddler party on Saturday, there were people talking about it. Yes, the parents at the toddler party, many of whom are old like me, talked Pokemon GO for lengthy periods of time. Honestly, I think some were counting the minutes until their child was headed for bed so that they could run around their neighborhood with phones up, tossing balls in AR to creatures from their past that are back and taking the world once again by storm. So we want to know, because there is no denying the level of buzz surrounding this game at the moment, how many of you spent some time playing Pokemon GO this weekend? If you did spend some time, be sure to head over to this giveaway we are doing to show off your collection - you could win some Play credit! [poll id="418"] P.S. - I still don't understand it at all, even after reading Eric's sweet Pokemon GO tips and tricks posts from earlier. I guess I should get to learning.

Giveaway: Show Off Your Pokémon GO Collection, Win Google Play Credit (Update: Winners Selected)

Tim — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 12:39:47 +0000

Over this weekend, the Pokémon GO servers were up and running, allowing me to put aside my complaining and catch some Pokémon. To see just where you currently sit, we invite you to post up your collection via device screenshots. Maybe enticing you into doing so, we will be giving out Google Play credit at random to a few of those who share their collection. Not everyone will win, but hey, it's easy and fun for the whole family. We have ten (10) $10 Google Play credit codes to share. This money can be put towards Pokémon coins or anything else you may want to buy with it. Maybe you can rent the original Pokémon movie and relive your childhood? It's up to you. To share your collection, take a screenshot of your best Pokémon, then attach the image in a comment down below. That can be done by clicking the little image upload button pictured here. You can use Imgur or other popular photo sharing sites, too. Just be sure your link ends with ".jpg" or ".png" and it should display properly. Our winners will be selected at random from the comments section below. How many upvotes you receive on your post or anything like that will not weigh the results, so don't worry if your post ends up at the bottom. You have just as much chance of winning as posts that are on top. Our ten winners will be selected today at 3:30PM Pacific (6:30PM Eastern). I'll get the party started. Here's my collection!

Get to it, trainers!

Pokémon GO: Tips and Tricks to Make You the Very Best, Like No One Ever Was

Eric — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:41:38 +0000

Pokémon GO is literally taking over the world. As awful as the launch of the game has been due to countless server issues, no one can seem to stay indoors anymore. Even the White House and the Pentagon are getting in on the action. True to the original Pokémon games, Nintendo and Niantic didn’t explain much about the game in terms of "How To," so to help you level up quickly and find the best Pokémon, let me be your Professor and give you some Pokemon GO tips and tricks while out playing.

Just GO Seriously, just go for a walk. This is in the game’s name for a reason. The world is nice outside, and I know this time of year can be hot, but just try it. The best way to level up is to catch Pokémon, and the best way to catch Pokémon is to explore the area around you. This is something Nintendo has been trying to do for years through step counters on your 3DS and failed peripherals, but with GO, it’s actually rewarding. The stories about people meeting up while out searching for Caterpies is 100% true, I’ve run into more than a few fellow trainers on my travels so far. There are people in your city right now hunting for these virtual sprites. Go join them! Lucky Eggs and Leveling Your trainer level is everything in Pokémon GO. In addition to picking your faction of choice at level 5 (#teamvalor), you’ll naturally start finding stronger Pokémon to capture. The game rewards you with goodies when you level up as well - me turning over to level 12 bagged me 10 Great Balls to use on some Pokémon captures. The best way to power level is to stack your items. If you pop a Lucky Egg, your experience gained is doubled for 30 minutes. After the Lucky egg is activated, turn on a Lure or Incense, catch as many Pokémon as you can, evolve the Pokémon, and power up Pokémon. By doing this, you’ll see your level start to skyrocket. Work smarter out there, trainers.

Here’s How to Track Pokémon The “nearby” section of the game is one of the least explained, but potentially most rewarding. Here’s how it works. Channel your inner “Who’s That Pokémon?” skills and decipher what Pokémon is near you, and select that Pokémon. Turn your phone so that your character on screen also rotates and if you see a white circle pulse out when you face a certain direction, you’re facing the right way. Head in that direction and you should find the Magmar that you were so desperately seeking. Training vs. Battling Gyms Once you hit level 5 and choose a faction, you’ll start the endless war of building and destroying Pokémon gyms. Once you take control of a gym, it starts at level 1. That means it can hold one Pokémon. If the gym is owned by an opposing team, you’re battling for control. If you win, the spot is yours! If you’re on Team Mystic and come across another Mystic-controlled gym, you can train against that gym. If you win, your character gains some XP and the gym levels up. Once it hits level 2, the gym can hold two Pokémon. This makes it harder for opposing trainers to topple your hard work. Gyms can go up to level 6 when you beef them up enough. Gyms are worth the trouble because if you have a Pokémon in a gym, you will get in-game currency to spend, depending on how many gyms you have Pokémon in. You'll find that under the "Store" tab in the top right. Pokéstops Refresh Every 5 Minutes Hit them up as much as you can. You’ll start running out of Pokéballs soon enough, trust me. Not only will you be provided Pokéballs, but Stops also provide berries for luring, potions, and more. Become familiar with the Stops around you, then if possible, adjust your routine or commute to hit up as many as possible along the way to your final destination.

Here’s How to Spin the Pokéball Cool trainers know how to catch their Pokémon with style. When you’re throwing your Pokéball, hold down and spin it around in a circle to give it some english. But, be warned: this gives it a curve once you let go. You’ll need to compensate the arc of your throw to make sure you hit your intended target. While curving the ball does add difficulty, the game rewards you with extra "Curveball" bonus XP. Leveling Up vs. Evolving The debate has raged since Pokémon GO’s launch - Should I power up Pokémon before evolving, or wait until after? Early research shows that there isn’t much of a difference. As I said before, trainer level dictates more than existing Pokémon level. If you eventually get enough Pidgey candy to level up your little bird, your high trainer level will bring him into line with the Combat Power where your level is at. However, make important note that the higher your character's level, the stronger Pokémon you will encounter in the wild. Pro Tip - always and only evolve your strongest Pokémon, making them more difficult for enemies to defeat in your Gym.

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs Hitting up Pokéstops will sometimes drop you Pokémon eggs. The Pokémon lore says that all of these pocket monsters hatch from eggs, but you actually have to hatch them. When you get an egg, they come in 2km, 5km, and 10km varieties. The different eggs require you to walk those distances before the Pokémon eventually hatches. Make note, cheaters - Driving does not count for incubation steps! These eggs first have to be placed in an incubator before your steps start counting. Go to your collection of Pokémon, then swipe to the right to see your eggs. Click on an egg and select "Start Incubation" to get going. Extra incubators for speeding up your hatching process can be purchased with the gold coins, and you can also earn incubators by leveling up your character. Typically, hatched Pokémon are stronger than ones you find in the wild. You also get a few candies for that Pokémon by successfully hatching their egg, making the candy-collecting evolution process a bit quicker! The egg spawns are also somewhat random, but the internet has a head start on identifying which Pokémon come from which eggs. Bring a Battery Pack Riding around a bikeshare (riding a bike will hatch your eggs, but driving does not) in downtown the other night, the little portable battery I forgot I had came in handy big time. Keeping the screen on, GPS running, and the Pokémon GO app running can be pretty taxing, but the extra battery kept my phone running for almost an extra hour after I thought it would have died. Again, be smart out there trainers. Try and Act Normal Listen, I want that Porygon as much as you do, but don’t go climbing into people’s yards and restricted areas going after Pokémon. Frankly, I’m surprised how widely accepted this game has been by the mainstream public, but let’s not ruin that by becoming creepers wandering around places we aren’t supposed to be. If it’s after dark, be aware that someone standing outside a house will look a little more questionable than it does during the day. Be Safe The night is dark and full of terrors (Ghastlies). There are already multiple stories about people getting in car accidents, being robbed, and even finding dead bodies during their Pokémon GO adventures. Just be aware of your surroundings while you are out there. Travel with groups of known friends, or new friends that you find while you are out. Oh, and one last thing, do NOT Pokémon GO and drive. Seriously, people.

Do NOT Pokémon GO and Drive.

Follow these tips and tricks and you will be on your way to Pokémon master in no time. If you think we missed an awesome tip, please leave it below and we will gladly add it to the post for everyone to notice. Now, go out there and catch 'em all.

DEAL: Amazon Dash Buttons All $0.99 Today, Include $5 Credit for First Use

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:30:32 +0000

Amazon Dash Buttons, the programmable buttons that allow you to order all sorts of your favorite household items with a single press, are discounted today to just $0.99. Since they normally retail for $4.99 a piece, I'd say that this is a deal worth jumping on if you are a Prime member. How do Dash Buttons work? They are super simple, thanks to setup via the Amazon Android app, and have become a part of my shopping routine, especially when it comes to things like paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, air fresheners, and even bottled water. In fact, Dash Buttons have all but killed off any need for me to go to Target, which is an amazing thing to say. With a Dash Button, you purchase the button that is specific to a product you might want to order regularly (or maybe infrequently too) from Amazon (like laundry detergent). You then program that button through the Amazon shopping app to order your specific detergent, so that with the press of that button, Amazon will place an order and send it via Prime shipping. It's really that easy. For example, my wife orders bottled water from Amazon and so we have a Smart Water Dash Button on our fridge. As she runs out, she punches the button and within 2 days, we have another 6-pack of water. We also have a Clorox Wipes button that sits in our laundry room with other cleaning supplies. If someone uses the last wipe, they tap the button and within a couple of days, we have another 3-pack of wipes. You could do cat littler too, or shampoo, baby food, Doritos, Red Bull, and condoms. Yes, condoms have a dash button. On top of the discount, Amazon is also giving out $4.99 credits after you press your buttons for the first time. Since the buttons are just a $1, they are more than paying for themselves with the credit included. Amazon Link

Verizon Completes 5G Radio Specs, Now Onto Field Trials

Tim — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:14:08 +0000

After working with Verizon's 5G Technology Forum, which is a group of global operators, parameters have been defined for 5G specifications in advance of future standards. To break that down in simple terms, Verizon has now outlined guidelines to test and validate crucial 5G technical aspects. This leads to compliant chipset manufacturing and a slew of other important developments. To give you a sense of what Verizon is shooting for with 5G, end users will enjoy a wireless network that delivers several gigabits per second throughputs and single-millisecond latencies. Think of it like Google Fiber, but for your smartphone. Verizon has published the specification document for all to see, if you're interested. According to Adam Koeppe, Vice President Network Technology Planning (lead of the 5G trials), "The level of collaboration that we are seeing exceeds what we saw during 4G. This agile way of developing the specification and working with the ecosystem will enable us to get to market rapidly." While all of this is groovy, we as customers only care about when Verizon and other companies will make 5G available to us. The good news is, Verizon has begun field testing 5G in real-world locations, including areas in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Texas. Working with companies such as Samsung, Cisco, and Qualcomm, Verizon hopes that by working with as many partners as possible, they can more quickly deploy the technology to customers. Of course, even with these developments, we still have no rough timetable on public deployment. For now, testing will likely go on for quite a while. To get a sense for when we can expect 5G's launch, be on the lookout for Verizon and maybe other companies to announce 5G-supported handsets. That could be a sign we are getting close, but I wouldn't expect to see/hear anything until either much later this year or in 2017.

Via: Verizon

DEAL: Jaybird X2 Bluetooth Headphones Just $79.99 Today at Amazon ($70 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 08:52:31 +0000

Today's best deal is without a doubt the Amazon "Deal of the day" for the Jaybird X2 Bluetooth sport headphones. At just $79.99 ($70 off), you can own what I consider to be the best wireless Bluetooth headphones on the planet. Well, they'll be the best until the X3 comes out later this year. Amazon currently has the $79.99 price available in a variety of colors with Prime shipping, since this is a Prime-specific deal. Why am I such a big fan? Well, because most Bluetooth sport headphones just aren't very good. They either offer weak sound, have bad, uncomfortable designs, or don't hold up under numerous workouts. These headphones have been with me since they launched last August and have been by my sweaty shoes ever since. They still sound great, offer enough battery life for multiple days worth of workouts, and fit great, thanks to the different tips Jaybird includes in the package. By the way, this is the lowest price we have ever seen, so you might want to take advantage today. Amazon Link

Cheers David and Bobby!

Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon 821 Processor, Just in Time for New Nexus Phones

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 07:45:12 +0000

The Snapdragon 821 is now official and ready for the next wave of next-generation mobile devices. Think devices like the Galaxy Note 7 and the two HTC Nexus ("marlin" and "sailfish") phones we expect to be introduced within the next month. Qualcomm didn't provide many details in their announcement for their newest high-end chipset, but did mention that it delivers a 10% performance increase (CPU speeds up to 2.4GHz) over the Snapdragon 820, which is the feature processor inside the Galaxy S7, G5, and HTC 10. If anything, think of the 821 as a more refined 820, but one that should also help welcome in Google's Daydream VR platform. Qualcomm says to look for Snapdragon 821 powered devices in the 2nd half of this year. Yes, we are already in the 2nd half, so we could see the first any day now.

Via: Qualcomm

Samsung Develops Slot That Supports Both New UFS 1.0 and MicroSD Cards

Kellen — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 06:58:24 +0000

Last week, Samsung announced a new form of removable storage for devices like smartphones, DSLR cameras, action cams, and drones, that put the microSD format to shame. These new cards are built off the UFS 1.0 standard and are at least 5x faster than the microSD cards we all own and use today. By all means, these UFS cards should help to create the new standard for removable storage. But what does that mean for the microSD card? What does that mean for future devices and storage? Will manufacturers have to choose to support one over the other? Will there be backwards compatibility? Does anything currently on the market support these new cards? Because we (and a number of you) wanted answers to some of those questions, and because Samsung wasn't exactly sharing all of that info at the time of announcement, we reached out to Samsung and heard back this morning with the following:

"The new UFS cards are not compatible with the current microSD card socket. However, we have developed a socket design that can support both UFS cards and microSD cards. We are working with different partners in the industry on this integration for next-generation devices."

So as we sort of expected, the new UFS 1.0 cards will not work with anything currently on the market. The microSD card slot in your device will not work with a UFS card. However, in really good news, Samsung has developed a socket that can support both the new UFS cards and microSD cards. In other words, your stack of microSD cards will not soon be obsolete - you'll still be able to use them, even in devices that support UFS cards. With that said, this is obviously new tech and so as Samsung notes in their comment to us, this new socket needs to be adopted by others. They are already working with others, though, "for the next-generation" set of devices. That could (and we hope it does) mean that the Galaxy Note 7 will be one of the first on the planet to support both. The timing certainly seems right, with the announcement of those cards happening last week and the Note 7 largely thought to be showing up some time in August. After that, it's anyone's guess as to when other manufacturers could adopt this Samsung-made socket.

New Nexus Thoughts and Pokémon GO Madness

Tim — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 19:22:52 +0000

On this episode of The Droid Life Show, we plan on tackling the latest intel that has surfaced regarding upcoming Nexus devices from Google, sharing our final take on the OnePlus 3 (final review here), as well as discussing our take on the current Pokémon GO craziness that has taken the mobile gaming world by storm. 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.

Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:33:38 +0000

With the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus arriving in the US on July 12, we now have them both in house for some review action. Motorola was kind enough to send over a couple of review units, so we'll put them to good use and relay back our findings. As a recap, the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus are the newest members of Motorola's highly successful G range. They are certainly budget-friendly, yet manage to pack in a lot of solid specs for the price. The regular Moto G4 starts at just $199 (or as low as $125 at Amazon), while the G4 Plus starts at $249. Both can be upgraded in storage and the Plus can also be upgraded in RAM. They each sport 5.5-inch 1080p displays, Snapdragon 617 processors, 3000mAh batteries with TurboPower charging, microSD slots, Android 6.0.1, and universal operability on all major US carriers. The Moto G4 comes in either 16GB or 32GB models with 2GB RAM, while the G4 Plus comes with either 16GB of storage and 2GB RAM or 64GB storage and 4GB RAM. The G4 has a 13MP rear camera and the G4 Plus has a 16MP camera with laser and phase detect autofocus. The G4 Plus also has a fingerprint reader. Since we just got each in house, we ran through a quick Moto G4 unboxing to introduce them to both you and us. Give it a watch and then prepare for the review. Pre-order the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus today from Amazon.

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Friday App Sales: Kovdev Icon Packs 50% Off, Monument Valley for $1, and More

Tim — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:10:07 +0000

Heading into the weekend, there is a large list of applications currently on sale in Google Play. For starters, our good friend Dave Kover (aka Kovdev) has his entire icon pack library on sale, each priced at just $0.99. This includes Lustre, Nox, Stark, Domo, and Audax. They're all awesome, so be sure to check those out if you use icon packs on your device. Additionally, the super popular Monument Valley game is on sale for $1, Swipe for Facebook Pro is available for $1.49, and Age of Pirates Elite is also on sale for $1. There's a lot to grab! Check out the full list of apps on sale down below. Friday App Sales

Kovdev Icon Packs

Domo ($0.99)
Lumos ($0.99)
Nox ($0.99)
Audax ($0.99)
Merus ($0.99)
Stark ($0.99)
Omne ($0.99)
Dekk ($0.99)
Tersus ($0.99)
Illus ($0.99)
Lustre ($0.99)
Versicolor ($0.99)

Apps and Games

Go support those developers!

OnePlus 3 Review

Kellen — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 11:04:01 +0000

After what I can only describe as a confusing 2015 for OnePlus, the upstart Chinese manufacturer is back for 2016 with another flagship phone. This time, though, the hypetrain has departed, there are no gimmicky feature trollouts per week, promises of it destroying 2017 phones are no where to be found, and that f*cking invite system that stayed around for far too long, might be gone for good. Oh, and that phone is the OnePlus 3, a phone that on paper, stacks up with the best without any major sacrifices and even has NFC. Yes, NFC is here. I've spent the better part of the past three weeks with the OnePlus 3 in hand and can't help but nod in appreciation or congratulation to OnePlus. There just aren't any glaring issues with this phone, nor is OnePlus doing and saying a bunch of annoying things to turn us off. They, for lack of a better descriptor, seem to have done a great job. Let's talk about it all in greater detail. This is our OnePlus 3 review.

The Good

Price and Availability At $399, I can't think of many better values than the OnePlus 3. At that price, you get a phone with top tier specs, including a Snapdragon 820 processor, 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM, plus a software experience that is clean enough to make both nerds and casual tech users happy. OnePlus didn't cut any major corners to get to that price either, so you can go into the buying process knowing that you are getting the goods (the current best set of specs available, unless the 1080p display offends you). But not only is the price right, OnePlus has ditched their invite system going forward. That means - and this was true from day 1 - that you can buy the OnePlus 3 without acting-a-fool on social media, begging friends, or adding your name to a list that you may never see the top of for months. OnePlus announced the OnePlus 3 and then proceeded to make it available for purchase immediately. I wrote an entire opinion piece on this subject, but OnePlus is one of the only companies in recent memory to absolutely nail the launch of a phone. They didn't announce the phone, but then say you couldn't buy it for weeks or months. They also didn't announce the phone and then also announce an exclusive partnership to limit reach. They simply said, "Here is our phone, go buy it now if you want." From what I can tell, quite a few of you did. We certainly did. Tim ordered one through the VR store and I ordered one through their website. Neither of us ran into a broken ordering system, bugs or timeouts, or a lack of stock. If you want a OnePlus 3, you can buy one today and enjoy it within a couple of days. As odd as this sounds, that can't be said for many other smartphones.

Specs As I mentioned above, the OnePlus 3 ticks just about every single box. You get a 5.5-inch FHD AMOLED display (1080p), Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB UFS 2.0 storage, 3000mAh battery, NFC, 16MP rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 8MP front camera, alert slider, USB Type-C port with fast charging, and a full-metal body. Full specs can be found here. Some will point to the fact that other flagships have QHD resolution displays, bigger batteries, wireless charging, expandable storage, and waterproofing and suggest that the OnePlus 3 isn't quite good enough. Honestly, though, I wouldn't necessarily consider any of those dealbreakers. Sure, I would love to have all of that stuff in this phone, but really, the only manufacturer currently including all of that, is Samsung. Everyone else is leaving some or all of those items out, yet also are charging quite a bit more (HTC 10, LG G5, etc.) than OnePlus is. Remember, the OnePlus 3 costs just $399. Software The software experience on the OnePlus 3 is one of the best in all of Android. It's very much a "pure" or stock experience, but with added features here or there that improve upon the foundation Google has laid. And really, that's what nerds like us who buy this phone want. It's also a version of Android that won't get in the way of casual users and will get the job done in a straight-forward way. In a way, you could think of this like the experience Motorola introduced some three years ago, only it's much, much better. Beyond the stock appearance, OnePlus has added in gestures to the lock screen (like draw an "O" to open the camera or double-tap-to-wake), the ability to apply icon packs for a more customized look, choices of on-screen or capacitive buttons, and subtle swipe gestures on the home screen to quickly access notifications or Google Now.

OnePlus even uses Google's Ambient Display, which shows notifications in a black-white format as they roll in on the lockscreen, but one-upped Google by also tossing in a Proximity Mode, where you can wave over the top of the phone while it rests on a desk to wake Ambient Display and check the time or notifications. OnePlus lets you really customize the way you navigate the phone via buttons as well. Tim and I almost always go with on-screen buttons, but if you want, the capacitive buttons are there for the taking. You can customize the capacitive buttons to perform extra tasks through double taps or long presses and even choose to keep the home button active with on-screen keys. There are options for customizing the Google Search bar, grid layout in the app drawer, and icon size, if you use OnePlus' launcher.

You also get to choose a night mode when you reach evening, which is OnePlus tuning the display to a warmer, amber-ish tone to ease the strain on your eyes. You can invert colors to a dark theme if you choose, adjust the system accent color to really add some style, choose the icons that appear in the status bar, tweak the tone of the display, turn the power button into a camera shortcut, and customize the colors that shine through the notification LED. There are so many useful tweaks here, that I don't have time to name them all.

There are two negatives worth noting, though, one being the fact that, at least as of today, there seems to be quite a few bugs. I'll address some of them in the bottom "Other Notes" section because I do think most can be addressed via software update. You just get the feeling while using this phone that it is really close to being polished, but that OnePlus is also a young company who is still learning how to iron out all of the little issues. The other would have to do with the RAM management of the phone. You see, OnePlus tried to wow the crowd by introducing a phone with 6GB RAM. That's cool and all, but they have limited the phone to not being able to utilize much of that RAM and are limiting the number of apps it holds in memory to only a few. Why? They did so on purpose because they believe the current setup offers the best battery life. Of course, that then makes the inclusion of 6GB RAM all but pointless and nothing but a spec sheet move. They are tweaking RAM management in an upcoming update and there are other ways to tweak it yourself, but it's all a bit of a head-scratcher or a finger-wager. NOTE: Speaking of updates, OnePlus has readied an update that includes an sRGB mode, better RAM management, and a host of bug fixes. We tried to wait for it to arrive before publishing this review, but we really can't wait any longer (we've been waiting a full week at this point). The update was supposedly going out to review units, yet ours never saw it. Then it went live for the public for a couple of hours as build 3.2.0 before being pulled due to issues. It has now re-emerged as 3.2.1, but we still don't have it and simply cannot wait. I don't believe the update will change our opinion of the phone. However, should we see something that does change our opinion, we will be sure to update this review.

Battery Life Thanks to that 1080p display and 3000mAh battery, the OnePlus 3 battery has been really good on most days for me. I seem to have upped my phone usage within the last year and am typically seeing 3 hours of screen on time with this device each day. As you can see from the screenshots below, that translated to an unplug of the phone at around 7AM and it surviving through day and night until the next morning. I guess you could call that 24 hour battery life, but it's more like 14-16 hour battery with heavy use before I would either pass out for the night or consider plugging it in.

There were times - and I believe these have been heavily documented in OnePlus' forums - where the phone seemed to wake while in a pocket and generate quite a bit of heat that resulted in substantial battery loss. I think if you turn off ambient display and proximity display, that may go away. Or, as long as you don't carry your phone in your pocket all day, you should be fine. This is an obvious bug, one that we hope to see OnePlus fix. If you use the phone more heavily than I do, know that you have the option to fast charge with OnePlus' Dash Charge technology that I'm about to touch on. Assuming you go through your daily routine with a wall outlet nearby, I can't imagine you ever having battery issues with this phone and a Dash Charger on hand. Fast (Dash) Charging In last year's OnePlus 2, OnePlus included a USB Type-C port yet failed to include any sort of fast charging. The lack of fast charging was one of many corners that seemed to have been cut last year, so we were curious to see how OnePlus would address one of our favorite technologies for 2016. They did so by introducing Dash Charge. With Dash Charge, OnePlus says they have the best fast charging solution on the planet, even better than Samsung's Fast Charging and Google's rapid charging. Dash Charge in the OnePlus 3 can technically grab a 63% charge in just 30 minutes time.

OnePlus has tweaked the way the phone charges by putting the power management and heat dispersion in the actual charging adapter that plugs into the wall, so that way you don't get the heat into the phone that is typically associated with fast charging. OnePlus says that this allows them to not only charge faster, but charge faster while you use your phone as well. That means you can game, record 4K video, or browse the web while charging without sacrificing the quick juicing times. I haven't had a chance to do any sort of scientific comparison of Dash Charge to other charging solutions, but I will say this - it's super fast. I've actually been very impressed at the charge times, one of which jumped from 2% to 75% in just 42 minutes. It's not all good news, though. Dash Charge is a new proprietary charging system that is exclusive to the OnePlus 3, which means you also need one of their chargers in order to take advantage. You can more than likely still charge semi-quickly with other fast chargers on the market, but you just won't see these kinds of results. That's a pain in the ass, because there is a good chance you already own a whole bunch of other chargers. OnePlus does include a Dash Charger with the OnePlus 3 and will sell you additional chargers for around $34. Fingerprint Reader I think I still prefer a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, but the front-mounted fingerprint reader on the OnePlus 3 is a good one that happens to have some tricks up its sleeves. Not only is it quick to read your fingers, it's also a capacitive style pad that can be used as a home button and to unlock the phone without ever actually pressing in a button. It's very much like the HTC 10 setup, only this fingerprint reader seems to read faster.

What makes it extra good, though, is the fact that it can be programmed to launch apps or actions with a double tap or long-press. I have mine setup to launch the camera with a double-tap (like Samsung's phones) and Google Now on Tap with a long-press. But you can tell it to do other things too, like turn the screen off, open your last used app, and more. Those features may not necessarily be a part of the fingerprint reading process, but you have to admit that it's pretty cool that a capacitive pad that reads fingers, can also do that stuff too.

Somewhere-in-the-Middle

Design The OnePlus 3 is certainly an attractive phone, it's just not the most originally designed phone to date. If you put this phone up next to last year's HTC One M9, I'm not sure you would be able to tell them apart. Or, you could put it next to the Honor 5X, an iPhone, the HTC 10, and countless other all-metal phones and see similarities. While I fully understand that there is only so much you can do with a smartphone design, this phone really feels like something we have seen before. Still, it is well built, is again, attractive, feels great in hand, has buttons in all of the right places, and should please anyone who holds it, assuming they don't mind larger phones. It has that metal rear, all-glass black front with a very edge-to-edge display, and ports that line up perfectly on its bottom. There are no squishy or flexible parts to the phone either.

If you need something to complain about, outside of the generic appearance, you could look to the camera hump on the back. Had OnePlus opted to put in a slightly bigger battery instead of going for a phone this thin, they could have done away with that and taken away some of the stress you'll have when setting this phone down. Because the last thing you want to do to your new phone is scratch the camera lens. I don't love the design here, because it's not exactly new, but it is a tried and true take on a smartphone. It works, gives you a sense of validity for spending money on it because of the premium materials used, and most definitely won't be the laughing stock at the dinner table when everyone drops their phones into a pile. In reality, it's hard to complain about the way this phone looks or was designed. It does look good. I just think I find it a bit boring because we are seeing Samsung continue to do what they do with their Galaxy line, have seen Motorola take some really interesting chances with the Moto Z, and even expect Google to mix it up with new Nexus phones.

Camera Because Tim has already done a fairly thorough camera review of the OnePlus 3, I won't spend a ton of time here and will instead point you to his write-up. He talks about the straightforward camera software (pictured below) with auto or full manual controls, noting that the manual controls are quite easy to manage. I would tend to agree with him on the software, in that it gets the job done without getting in your way. You can easily change modes, the settings options are all there if need them and out of the way if you don't want them, and you aren't lacking anything a modern smartphone camera should have, like slow motion capture, panorama mode, and 4K video.

I also really like the fact that OnePlus allows you to access the camera in a variety of ways. We talk often about the need for quick access to cameras and praise Samsung for giving us the double-tap on the home button and Google for doing so on the power button. But OnePlus has basically incorporated all of the quick launch options to make sure you never miss a shot. You can draw an "O" on the lock screen to launch the camera, double tap the power button at any time, or even setup a capacitive button (like the home button) to launch camera with a double tap or long press. With the OnePlus 3, you shouldn't have any issues getting into your camera, which is quite fast to load once you do attempt to launch it.

As for the camera's capabilities, I have to admit that I have mixed feelings here. On one hand, the OnePlus 3 and its 16MP camera with OIS is capable of taking solid photos in a hurry (did I mention how quick the camera is?). In good light and with non-moving objects, it's pretty great. However, in low light or indoors or with anything on the move, I haven't found that it excels there. In our samples above, you are seeing still shots. But my photo timeline from the OnePlus 3 is filled with murky photos of my son or cats or activities because the camera wasn't good enough in all situations. The camera snaps photos quickly once it focuses, I just haven't found that it's reliable enough to point and shoot, point and shoot, and come out with a winner almost all of the time, like you get with the Galaxy S7.

Above, we have a series of low-light photos that I took with the OnePlus 3 to show how it handles lighting situations as they get gradually darker. The phone goes from taking a clean shot to turning everything blue, to showing how bad it is in extreme low light. And in case you were wondering, the last two photos are a comparison of photos taken with the OnePlus 3 (left) and Galaxy S7 (right) in the same lighting. Trust me, it was as dark as the OnePlus 3 leads you to believe, yet the Galaxy S7 was still able to inject some light to make the photo visible. Overall, the OnePlus 3 camera gets a "decent" mark from me. Like many smartphone cameras, it's good when you expect it to be (in good lighting) and average at best when you really need it to be good (in tougher conditions). Display Shortly after the OnePlus 3 arrived in the hands of more technical reviewers, a mini controversy brewed over the fact that OnePlus failed to include an sRGB display mode and that they hadn't tuned the display to an sRGB standard. OnePlus admitted that they ignored both of those ideas and instead tuned the 5.5-inch 1080p display one the OnePlus 3 to their own liking. As someone who just looks at a display with the naked eye and compares it to other flagships to decide whether or not it's good enough, I can't say that the way it has been tuned offends me at all. With that said, OnePlus heard the cries and is issuing an update with an sRGB mode. We have yet to receive that update, so we are reviewing the display based on the factory settings out of the box that OnePlus has delivered. Even if we had received that update, we would more than likely be reviewing with sRGB mode off, since that is a "developer" option that we probably wouldn't use anyway. OK, so is this 1080p display good enough?

As you can see in those comparison photos, it's no where near the best in the business. If you care about resolution, then you'll be offended at the fact that OnePlus went 1080p here instead of QHD like all of the other flagships of the moment. Honestly, 1080p vs. QHD doesn't matter to me as long as the display looks good as I use it throughout a day and potentially saves on battery life. In this case, I actually think the OnePlus 3 display comes out as a winner for the most part. Out of the box, the color temperature of the display is quite blue-ish or "cool," but OnePlus does include a color balance option in display settings that lets you tweak that some on the fly. I have indeed tweaked mine toward a warmer spectrum as I did notice the blue tint initially. So there's that. The phone does show cool, but you can tweak it to your eye's desire without an sRGB mode handy. Still, as you can tell from the photos above, brightness levels here aren't good. The OnePlus 3 is the dimmest of the four phones with brightness maxed out and that's not shocking to anyone who has used it. The phone isn't great in sunlight because of those low levels, but it also is incredibly slow to adjust to lighting conditions as you move from dark to light areas. In fact, I'd call it painfully slow and I often found that I needed to manually adjust the brightness because the display failed to automatically adjust quick enough. It's viewing angles are decent, not great, as well. I will say that this display does appear to be almost painted on to the top glass, so you really get that immersive feel when touching or browsing around. It's also good enough to look at for most uses. Outside of analyzing the display a bit for this review, I can't say that this display is bad. Is it slow and lacking high enough brightness levels? Yes. Does it reproduce colors so poorly that your eyes will bleed? I don't think so. Connectivity The OnePlus 3 gets plenty of positive points for being priced at just $399 and available now. It also gets points for being an unlocked phone that works on GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T without issue. It does lose a point or two for being locked to just GSM networks, though. In 2016, we really like to see phones that are universally supported across all major US wireless networks. When you see ultra-budget phones like the Moto G4 capable of doing so, you hope that flagship-level unlocked phones like the OnePlus 3 can too. I get that getting certified for use on Verizon's network probably isn't cheap and that OnePlus' margins are already thin. However, when you sell an unlocked phone in the US, you can reach a whole heck of a lot more customers if you give them more connectivity. Go look through our OnePlus 3 posts over the past month and you'll see how many of our readers alone can't even consider this phone because of its lack of Verizon connectivity.

The Not-so-Good

OnePlus' Track Record With Updates OnePlus doesn't have a lengthy history, so take that into consideration on what I'm about to say as they could quickly turn this around. But with the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2, I think it's safe to say that both received updates much slower than their owners had hoped for, by a long shot. If we take a look at Marshmallow, since that is the most recent major update of Android, we didn't see Android 6.0.1 on the OnePlus 2 until the end of March and not until April for the One. Keep in mind that Samsung is equally as slow at updating their phones, but here's the thing - not only does OnePlus push a relatively clean version of Android that you would think wouldn't take as much time to get ready, they also only have a couple of phones to work on. I'm no software developer, so someone can fill me in if I'm wrong. But when Motorola and HTC stripped down their Android skins to be more stock-like or pure in recent years, they did so in part because they could update them quicker. Why it seems to take OnePlus so long is beyond me. With that said, shortly after the OnePlus 3 was released and word spread about a couple of issues (like missing sRGB mode and poor RAM management), OnePlus was very quick in pushing out an update to address them. I get the feeling that they could be faster than they have been and so like I just mentioned, understand that with a short history, it won't take much for OnePlus to turn this reputation of being slow at updates, around.

No SD Card Slot, No Water Resistance Everyone else is including a microSD slot this year and here we have OnePlus leaving it out. Well, Google probably won't do it with the new Nexus phones, but everyone else is back on the expandable bandwagon. We like that bandwagon because we all take more pictures than ever, play bigger games, and potentially even load up our big-screened phones with HD movies. 64GB of storage is quite a bit, but it may not be enough for two years worth of use. Would have liked to have seen an SD slot, OnePlus, sorry. Speaking of missing features, we can't let OnePlus off the hook for including zero water resistance. We dinged HTC and LG for it and so OnePlus gets knocked for it as well. I don't know why Samsung and Sony (Motorola too to some extent) seem to be the only two who realize how important it is for your phone to be resistant to water and spills, but that's the situation. And we're dinging companies for leaving it out because they need to figure out how to do it - they need to understand that people care about having a phone that can withstand some simple abuse.

Other Notes

WiFi issues: My house is outfitted withe Eero's WiFi system, so that means I have hubs throughout to give me a strong wireless signal at all times. For some reason, the OnePlus 3 seems to hate Eero. As I jump from upstairs to downstairs, which more than likely means the phone switching from hub to hub, I simply lose a WiFi data connection and have to toggle it off and back on to regain connectivity. You could call that an Eero problem, except I don't have the problem with my Galaxy S7 phones (both Snapdragon and Exynos models) and I haven't noticed it with any others either, outside of the HTC 10. This seems like an issue that could be addressed with a software update, but I just don't know exactly the root cause. Also, this has happened with two different OnePlus 3 units (both review and retail), so it's not exactly an isolated issue.
Bluetooth issues: I drive a 2015 model year vehicle and have never had a single issue connecting a phone to it via Bluetooth. Well, until now with the OnePlus 3. On two separate OnePlus 3 phones (review and retail), I am unable to get the phone to properly pair and carryover music controls and artist/song info, so that I can control my music in-car with the in-car controls. As you know, I use a lot of different phones and this is the first to not work properly. I don't know the reason, but it's a problem for someone like me who relies on Bluetooth when in car for music.
On-screen button issues: This is a bug that I think will be addressed, but both Tim and I have had the issue on all OnePlus 3 phones in our possession. The issue is a non-reliable back button when you are using on-screen navigation. That means it often requires multiple taps on the on-screen back button to get it to go backwards. The issue doesn't exist when you switch to the capacitive buttons. Here's to hoping OnePlus can sort this out in a hurry.

Video

Unboxing

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First 10 things to do

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Software tour

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Gallery

The Verdict

At $399, the OnePlus 3 is a really great bargain and value. It's also a really nice phone just in general. OnePlus hasn't cut any major corners here and has delivered a phone that almost everyone will really enjoy. It has a premium build, a best in class software experience, and doesn't arrive with an invite system holding it back or a terrible marketing campaign that over-promises. If you need a phone to compare it to, there aren't many because of that price. It offers a similar set of specs to other flagships, like the HTC 10, yet comes in at almost half the cost. I would tend to lean towards recommending it over the HTC 10 or LG G5 at this point, because I think the build quality is the same, if not better, and the software experience beats both. It may not have a better camera than those two phones, but the camera could be good enough for many of you. I was a huge OnePlus One fan and so last year's disappointing OnePlus 2 (and X) was frustrating to deal with. However, the OnePlus 3 has wiped away last year's missteps and has me back as a firm believer in OnePlus' ability to make great phones.

Nexus (2016) Render Given Photoshop Treatment to Add a Bit of Color

Tim — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 10:24:40 +0000

For a bit of fun, a reddit user whipped open his Photoshop, offering a few renders of what the new Nexus devices could look like if Google provided them with a bit of color. Obviously inspired by the Nexus 5 in Red and the Nexus 6P in White, these renders are based off the initial 3rd-party render that hit the web earlier this week. With that said, don't go around thinking Google plans on releasing anything close to what these look like. We still have no idea what exactly is coming. Really, there isn't much to say about the images. They were created using Photoshop, giving a look at how certain colors may or may not work together. Personally, I like most of what I'm seeing. Even the black plastic backside is beginning to grow on me. If I had to choose one, though, it would have to be the Red. That's fire. Let us know what you think. Photoshop Renders

Via: reddit

Facebook is Testing End-to-End Encryption Via Messenger With 'Secret Conversations'

Tim — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 09:11:48 +0000

Beginning now, Facebook and the Messenger team are testing a new option inside of Messenger, one catered to those who prefer discussing certain matters in a more discreet fashion. Called Secret Conversations, this end-to-end encrypted messaging feature is designed to be read one-on-one, meaning the thread is limited to a single device for each person in the conversation. For example, if you begin a Secret Conversation on your desktop with a friend, you won't be able to see it on your smartphone or tablet. Additionally, beyond only being able to view the conversation on one device, Messenger grants the user the ability to place a time limit on the threads existence. If you don't want the conversation sticking around forever, you can kill it after a certain period of time. To ensure Secret Conversations remain as private as possible, Messenger has disabled basic features that many are used to, such as money sending, GIFs, and other various features. If you plan on using Secret Conversations, don't be alarmed when all you can do is type a message. Facebook states that they are rolling this feature out very slowly, and many may not see it until later this summer.

Via: Facebook

Pokémon GO is a Total Disaster [Opinion]

Tim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 15:20:30 +0000

Last year in September, it was announced that Pokémon GO was an actual thing. Made by Niantic Labs, the minds behind the hit-game Ingress, Pokémon GO would deliver that same type of Ingress adventure players grew to love, but with familiar Pokémon characters that we knew as children. You see, Pokémon GO is essentially every Pokémon fan's fantasy - you go out into the real world, capture Pokémon, evolve them, and then battle them at your local Gym. For anyone who grew up playing or trading Pokémon cards, Pokémon GO is basically a dream come true. The only problem is, now that the game has launched for Android and iOS, we can safely say that this game totally sucks ass. I must say, I am surprised to be saying this. As I recall, Ingress never got off to such a buggy start, so I had high expectations that Niantic, Nintendo, and whoever else had a hand in development would see to it that Pokémon GO's launch was nothing but a success. If you are not familiar with the troubles I am referencing right now, take a good long look at the header image used on this post. If you have attempted to play Pokémon GO, you have probably seen it a hundred times by now. More times than not, when attempting to log into the game to play, it states that the servers are experiencing issues. Okay, I can understand that. It's a very popular game that just launched, so there's probably server issues. That happens, even to the biggest of companies. However, the issues stem way past that of mere server interruptions. When you do get to log into the game and play, it can sometimes be interrupted by a complete freeze, forcing you to close down the application. You know what happens when you attempt to log back in after a freeze? You guessed it, "our servers are experiencing issues." From my experience after attempting to play for the past day, the Pokémon GO application is so filled with bugs that I am beginning to think whoever Niantic and Nintendo had beta test this were not doing their jobs. How could this steaming pile of Pokécode launch to the masses? It's nowhere near ready, at least on Android. I have heard from multiple people that the iOS version runs much more smoothly, which shouldn't surprise anybody, but I refuse to use an iPhone just so I can play Pokémon GO and a bit of Tiny Wings. Were the field testers not reporting the countless bugs that even I found in the first two hours of playing? Were they not discussing how the game features absolutely no useful guide on what exactly to do to get started? Am I seriously supposed to be plopped into this Pokéworld and just understand exactly how to use the different items? What about hatching eggs, what the heck is that all about? You are telling me that no one brought up to the developers that there is no way to exit the game except for hitting the home button? How about whenever I go change the game settings, they never save once I restart the app? Seriously, folks, I could go on all day. It's a total mess. Niantic, what happened here? Was there pressure from Nintendo or other sources to launch on a specific timeframe? Were you just not able to crush all of the bugs and plan on releasing an update soon to address these issues? After all of the hype this title received, plus the fact that you have in-app purchases priced at $99, your users deserve answers. I know I sound like an absolute nerd complaining about a Pokémon game, but I was really hyped about this title. I want to love it and I want to play it. If no one else will be addressing these issues, I sure as hell will. If you share my feelings, let me know down in the comments section.

#TBT: Check Out Ice Cream Sandwich on the Nexus S, Marvel at How Far We've Come

Tim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:54:47 +0000

"Look, you can place two app icons on top of each other to create a folder." Back in 2011, this was pretty groundbreaking if you think about it. You could even place these newly-made folders into your app dock on the bottom of your screen. Wicked awesome. The below video shows off a custom Ice Cream Sandwich ROM loaded up onto the Nexus S, before it was made available to the device from Google. Reminder, the Nexus S launched with Android "Gingerbread." A lot has changed since then, no doubt about it. Check out this walkthrough video, then take a moment to reflect at just how great our smartphones have become.

[responsive_vid]

Reminder: You Can Upgrade at Verizon and Keep Unlimited Data These Days

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:31:45 +0000

Back in November, Verizon began raising the price of unlimited data plans from $29.99 per month to $49.99 per month. That $20 hike has or will have happened to almost everyone with an unlimited data plan by the end of August, as far as we can tell, through a three phase process that has almost completed. Many of you took the increase as the final straw to quitting Verizon and are enjoying wireless life elsewhere. But some of you also hung on, accepting the fact that $50 is still probably an OK deal for true, non-throttled unlimited data when compared to other carriers. When the initial $20 increase arrived, we passed along word of a way to upgrade without losing your unlimited data going forward. Verizon said that as long as you upgraded through a device payment plan, your unlimited data plan was yours to keep. And that's still true today.

Upgrading with a device payment plan

You can login to your Verizon account, find the phone you want, and choose to upgrade to it with a device payment plan. As you walk through the checkout process, not once will Verizon ask you to change plans, but they will constantly show you that you have the "Unlimited Email & Web for Smartphones" data package that now costs $49.99. This is what your screen will look like just before you send off payment.

The whole process is as easy as you would hope and does indeed get you into a new phone without losing unlimited data.

What about upgrades with a 2-year contract?

In recent months, a couple of readers have pointed out the fact that they also seem to be able to upgrade by signing a new 2-year contract. We haven't been able to fully confirm with any that this is actually possible, so we decided to give it a shot and see if that was true. Our conclusion, at least at this moment is, we aren't sure, but maybe! I was able to walk through the entire process of upgrading on a new 2-year contract for a Galaxy S7 Edge and keep my $49.99 unlimited data package at the checkout stage, through to the payment stage. This is what my shopping cart looks like just before payment.

See that pink box? That is Verizon apparently letting me keep unlimited data data while still signing up for a 2-year contract. But here is where it gets tricky. For one, Verizon has never said that 2-year contracts are back as unlimited data options. (We've reached out to Verizon to see if anything has changed and will update this post accordingly if it has.) Two, there is a single prompt during the checkout process that makes this somewhat risky or at the very list, confusing.

The prompt (which isn't there during the device payment checkout process) is telling me that I need a data plan to move forward, shows a checkbox about agreeing to that idea, and then mentions something about Verizon's old MORE Everything plan, which doesn't exist anymore as far as I know. As you move through the rest of the process, though, your unlimited plan sticks all of the way to checkout. The risk here is in the fact that this specific prompt is a part of the process. I don't want to get too deep into that, but by accepting that prompt and then upgrading with a contract, that could be enough for your unlimited plan to disappear and a cheap $30 tiered plan to take its place. Should that happen, it would be a headache to have to do whatever it takes to return the phone and get your plan back to where you want it.

2-year upgrade (left) vs. device payment upgrade (right)

I haven't pressed the button to formally pay while doing this, since I don't exactly need to upgrade at the moment, but from what I can tell, Verizon's online system will let you upgrade with a 2-year contract and keep unlimited data. Here are two last screenshots that appear to show as much. Neither shows the data plan listed on the final sales page, but they do indeed both factor in the $49.99 unlimited data plan, not a $30 tiered planned that was referenced at one point during the 2-year contract upgrade process. Because I haven't been able to 100% confirm, I'll have to leave it to you, dear fellow unlimited keepers, to share your experiences with this process and whether or not it worked. Jump into the comments and let the rest of us know how the process went, if you signed a new contract, and whether or not your unlimited plan stuck. Finally, as I mentioned above, we have reached out to Verizon for confirmation and will update this post if we hear back.

To recap

Verizon, once they added on a $20 price increase to unlimited data plans, gave you the option to upgrade with a device payment plan and keep your unlimited data plan going forward. That much is 100% confirmed and official and will work this very minute. With that said, it appears that Verizon may have softened (or there is a bug in their system that we just pointed out) and given the option for 2-year contract upgrades as well, though we are still waiting for official word on that.

Out There Chronicles is an Interactive Graphic Novel Based on the Out There Universe

Tim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:47:51 +0000

For fans of the game Out There, a new title from the same creators has been released to Google Play. The title isn't a game, but is an interactive graphic novel of sorts that is based in the same universe as the original Out There. Called Out There Chronicles, the story follows Darius, a human from Earth that escaped the planet during a time of great war. Recovered from an Ark which carried remnants of the human race, Darius' new mission is to find the location of his lost companions, while also trying not to die in an alien galaxy. While playing, you will meet many different people, including humans living on a small moon named America, as well as plenty of alien creatures. To master this title, you will need to have patience and a wanting to learn everything you can from those you interact with. I can't tell you much, as I don't want to spoil anything, but be sure to always read and listen to what those you speak with have to say. As you will discover, most of your actions will have a direct impact on your outcome. While I don't believe there are alternate endings (I haven't completed the game), it is quite easy to make a wrong decision and die as a consequence, starting you back at a checkpoint. If you are a fan of space in general, or love the original Out There game, this title will suit you nicely. The app is priced at $2.99 on Google Play. Play Link ($2.99)

Honor 5X Gets Its Marshmallow Update and EMUI 4.0

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 10:28:58 +0000

The Honor 5X, a budget-friendly phone in an unlocked package worth considering at its $199 price, is receiving an update to Android Marshmallow today. The update also include the latest skin from Huawei (Yep, they own Honor), also known as EMUI 4.0. Thanks to the update, owners of the Honor 5X will get access to Google Now on Tap, more powerful voice interactions, Doze mode, simplified volume controls, and a new open apps menu. On an EMUI 4.0 front, the new skin on top of Marshmallow, users will get new motion controls, a customizable navigation bar, drag actions, a one-hand mode, and a bunch of other tweaks. Rather than attempt to describe each individually, we'll let Honor do that through the descriptions below from today's blog post announcing the update:

Now on Tap Get assistance without having to leave your app. No matter where you are in the UI, simply press and hold the home button to call up Google Now. It’s smart enough to know what you’ve been doing and is ready with suggestions. Do More with Your Voice You can now have a dialogue with any of your apps, so long as they support the new voice interaction service. From looking up information online to playing a specific song, your voice has the power to do whatever it is you need with the Honor 5X. Doze When your device or open apps aren’t in use, Marshmallow automatically goes into a deep sleep state, increasing your standby battery life. Advanced, Yet Simplified Volume Control Settings Manage your notifications, music and alarm volumes quickly and easily. Simply toggle the up or down volume rocker wherever you are. New Open Apps Menu The new look and feel of the open apps menu feature allows you to easily scroll through all your open apps and make a selection, dismiss or (with EMUI 4.0) dismiss all at once! Motion Control An easier way to access your phone. When your screen is on standby, touch the screen in various motions to initiate different functions.

Draw an “M” on your inactive screen to open your music app.

Double-tap from a dark screen to wake up your phone.

Flip your phone over to mute incoming calls, timers and alarms. Perfect for snoozing!

Navigation Bar Personalize your navigation experience by customizing the order of icons in your navigation bar. You also have the option to add a notification panel icon. Drag Actions With so much information on your phone, shortcuts are the key to help you get things done. Drag actions make it easy for you to view and hide the important things. Drag top down on left side to show notifications. When you drag top down on the right side, you’ll see your shortcuts. One-Hand Mode The One-Hand Mode alters the UI to make using your device with a single hand much easier. Simply swipe left or right at the button of the screen to use the phone with your left or right hand only. Honor 5X Made Easy We’ve also included additional features to create a smoother and efficient experience in the Honor 5X.

Pinch out on an open screen to quickly show any of your hidden apps.

Pull down on the open Home screen for a quick, universal search of apps, contacts and messages.

Instantly add apps to your folders. Simply press the “Add” button in the folder and checkmark the apps you’d like to include.

EMUI 4.0 shows the battery percentage next to the battery icon so you know when it’s time to recharge!

To grab the update, head into the Settings app on your Honor 5X and head into the Update tab.

Via: Honor

OnePlus Releases 3.2.0 Update, Pulls It, Now Slowly Rolling Out 3.2.1

Tim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 09:22:38 +0000

Earlier this week, OnePlus made the update to OxygenOS 3.2.0 available for a little bit, then pulled it rather abruptly. Today, the company is back, stating update 3.2.1 is rolling out slowly to all OnePlus 3 owners. On top of the original changes, which includes the sRGB display changes, RAM management improvements, as well as GPS performance fixes, OnePlus claims that they also fixed "some notification issues." OnePlus stresses in the OP forums that this is an incremental rollout, meaning if you have been patiently awaiting this update, you are probably still going to be waiting for a little while. There is no timeframe provided for when they expect 100% rollout, so hang in there, OP3 owners. Also, semi-related, is it seriously only Kellen and I who are experiencing this on-screen back button issue? What's New

Fixed some notification issues
Addressed SIM recognition issue
Enabled sRGB mode in developer options
Improved RAM management
Improved GPS performance
Enhanced audio playback quality
Updated custom icon packs
Improved camera quality/functionality
Fixed some issues in Gallery
Implemented latest Google security patches
Fixed bugs in Clock/Music apps

Via: OnePlus

Every US Olympian is Getting a Limited Galaxy S7 Edge Olympic Games Edition

Tim — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:52:20 +0000

Samsung introduced a new variant of the Galaxy S7 Edge this morning, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Edition. To be presented to each US olympian headed to Rio, this device is the same Galaxy S7 Edge we all know, but comes with a unique coloring that matches that of the Olympic Rings. The Rings can also be found on the backside of the device. The UI has also been outfitted with Rio 2016-themed wallpapers, dialer, and other various apps. If you are a fan of Rio 2016, even with the Zika, polluted waters, and the killing of a jaguar, you're gonna want this phone. While most of these devices are limited to only the olympians, Samsung is teaming up with Best Buy to make an even more limited run of them available in-store in the US. If you want one (price unknown), head to Best Buy on July 18. Who wants one?

Via: Samsung

Pokémon GO is Finally Live in the US

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:08:35 +0000

After teasing us with a live listing on Google Play all of yesterday, Pokémon GO finally went live for download in the US at some point last night. Tim says it's buggy as hell, but you can still install and play to decide that for yourself. Go get it! Play Link

Samsung Stomps on the MicroSD Card With UFS Line of Cards, Including 256GB Option

Kellen — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 07:47:37 +0000

This morning, Samsung announced that it has taken expandable storage to a ridiculously fast level. Their new removable memory cards are more than five times faster than the typical microSD cards you probably have in your phones now. Read that again: five times. The new cards are build on the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 1.0 standard, which means read speeds of up to 530MB/s and write speeds of 170MB/s. The current crop of fast microSD cards that we all own are built on the UHS standard and mostly top out around the 95MB/s read mark. That's nuts! The point of these cards is to have a storage solution that can keep up with our increasingly HD world filled with 4K video files and high-end games. Samsung says that a 5GB full HD movie can be read on one of these new UFS cards in just 5 seconds, while a standard UHS card would take over 50 seconds to complete a similar task. Samsung expects these to be a hit in devices like DSLRs, 3D VR cameras, action cams, and drones. But hey, they might be awesome in your (future) high-end Galaxy device as well. Samsung is simply calling these their UFS cards and they come in 256GB, 128GB, 64GB, and 32GB sizes. Samsung has not said when to expect these cards or how much they will cost. Still, we all want one, right? EDIT: The original post called them microSD cards, when in fact, they are just "removable memory cards" that may be slightly different than a microSD card. Sorry for the confusion.

Via: Samsung

BLU Energy XL Priced at $300, Features 5,000mAh Battery, 6" AMOLED Display and Fingerprint Reader

Tim — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 15:44:37 +0000

BLU has a new device this week, the Energy XL. The name is rather suiting, as the Energy XL features a massive 5,000mAh battery, juicing a smartphone with a 6.0" FHD Super AMOLED display and MediaTek octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM. The phone also comes with a 13MP rear-facing camera, 5MP front-facing camera, as well as 64GB of onboard storage. Another feature, one you may not expect from the $300 price tag, is a built-in fingerprint reader. Dang, BLU, you're getting fancy these days! On the downside, look at those capacitive buttons real quick. See 'em? Those absolute abominations? If you aren't seeing the issue, the "back" button is on the right side, depicted by an arrow facing left. On stock Android, the back button, using that same symbol, is on the left side. This layout seriously disturbs my OCD and makes me question whoever designed this device. However, if button layout doesn't turn you off, check out the complete list of specs, then follow the Amazon link below to grab one. Specs

6-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display
13MP rear-facing camera
5MP front-facing camera
5,000mAh battery
Fingerprint Reader
64GB built-in storage
3GB of RAM
MicroSD
1.3GHz MediaTek 6753 processor
4G LTE connectivity - GSM Unlocked

Amazon Link

Report: Google is Working on Two Android Wear Watches It Can Call Its Own

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:15:14 +0000

Because no one else seems interested in building them anymore, Google is apparently going to build two of their own Android Wear smartwatches, one with LTE and GPS, and another without. The report arrives via Android Police, who describes each watch at length, but doesn't have mock-ups or images of either, leaving us the opportunity to open our creative minds to try and picture them. They sound like...round smartwatches made by Google. Shall we talk about them? OK. One could be codenamed "Angelfish." This watch is said to be the larger of the two with built-in GPS and LTE radio. It won't be quite as large as the 46mm Moto 360, but could weigh in at around 43.5mm and with a 14mm thick case. The watch will have lugs (the nubs that hold a watch band), like many other watches, a curved body that isn't so puck-like, and three circular buttons on its side. It could come in a matte, dark grey finish called "titanium." Thanks to the embedded GPS and LTE (heart rate monitor too), one could think of this watch like the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition 4G LTE Sport Carrier-Exclusive Overpriced (3rd Gen) device that LG once introduced, recalled, and then re-introduced in limited availability - that no one bought. In other words, it could be a stand-alone device that wouldn't need your phone nearby at all times. The other watch is said to be codenamed "Swordfish." It's also thought to be the smaller of the two without GPS and LTE (might lack the heart rate monitor too). This watch is compared in design to the Pebble Time Round, only without the disastrously large bezels. It'll be sized at 42mm and with a thickness of 10.6mm, come in three colors (silver, titanium, and rose gold), and contain a single rounded button. It should work well with Google's MODE watch bands too, unlike the Angelfish watch. Along with each device, Google may push special Google Assistant integration or offer new watch face types, though that could all just be a part of Android Wear 2.0 that will arrive later this year. According to this report, these watches may arrive after the new Nexus phones are introduced, but could very well be branded as Nexus watches and eventually, marketed alongside the Nexus phones. Neither is said to be a partnership type of deal, meaning, Google is building these, not using HTC or LG or Huawei to make them, like they do with other Nexus products. Why do this now? I think it's pretty obvious. Android Wear is fun and all, but I don't think anyone can say that typical tech companies (the early partners) seem to be as excited about building Android Wear watches as they once did. Huawei doesn't seem to be working on anything new, nor is LG. Motorola did recently release the Moto 360 Sport, but then proceeded to deeply discount it as if they just wanted to move on from the experiment. Samsung is more than likely done with Android Wear as well. HTC has never been on board. Sure, Casio and some fashion brands have taken a stab at making them, but is anyone taking those seriously? We haven't seen anyone innovate in the smartwatch realm in some time. If Google wants to continue with wearables, they should probably just start making their own. That way, they can show off new features and technologies through their own vision and move the platform forward. It's as simple as that. So yeah, Google-made watches!

Via: Android Police

Snapchat Update Brings Memories, a Collection of Favorited Stories and Photos

Tim — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 11:50:50 +0000

In an old update for Snapchat, the app introduced Stories. With Stories, users could upload short videos and photos to a single feed that could be shared with friends. As things happened in a day, you could update your Story, and it was a great way to let friends in on what you were up to. Now, Snapchat introduces Memories, and everything that was authentic and real about Stories is going right out the window. With Memories, users can save a personal collection of favorited Snaps and Stories, then send new Snaps made from Memories. For example, say you went to a friend's birthday party last weekend, had a blast, and don't want to lose those videos and photos once Snapchat deletes them. Now, you can save those clips into potentially longer Memories. The keyword is longer. While this sounds like a positive for users, many on the internet argue that its Snapchat's spontaneity that made it fun in the first place. Each day your friend uploads a new Story, only to be wiped clean the next day. Now, your friends can spam you with older photos and videos, which goes against what users think Snapchat should be about. However, with a larger surface of video and photos for Snapchat to play with it, it is believed that the company will look to inject more advertisements into these Memories. Personally, I liked it when Snapchat was only photos and everything was seemingly deleted after 10 seconds. All that has changed, and since then, I rarely find myself using the service. Check out what Snapchat has to say about Memories below, then be on the lookout for the update in Google Play. What's New

Memories is a new way to save a personal collection of your favorite Snaps and Stories. Make new Stories, send Snaps from Memories, and easily find the moments you're looking for with search. You'll receive a Chat from Team Snapchat when Memories is available for you to use.

Play Link

July's Android Security Update Kicks Off Today With Factory Image Files, OTA Files

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 10:58:31 +0000

Google is pushing out July's Android security update to Nexus devices today and has done so by already publishing both factory image and OTA .zip files. They also provided the typical security bulletin as well. As of right now, we have Android 6.0.1 files for the Nexus 6P (MTC19X), Nexus 5X (MTC19Z), Nexus 5 (MOB30P), Nexus 6 (MMB30K, MOB30O), Nexus 7 2013 (MOB30P, MMB30M), Nexus 9 (MOB30P), and Nexus Player (MOB30P). UPDATE: Pixel C files for July are now available as build MXC89K. You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. Links: Factory Images | OTA Files | Security Bulletin

Verizon Confirms New Price Hikes and Data Increases, Throttling, Carryover Data, New App, and More

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 10:35:23 +0000

This morning, Verizon hosted an online-only press event to announce a bunch of new The Verizon Plan options, a redesigned app, and new features, like ~~Rollover~~ Carryover Data. We reported on all of this news through various stories over the past week, but Verizon has confirmed it all. As we exclusively reported last week, this all goes live tomorrow, July 7. The details of everything are as follows. First, Verizon is tweaking The Verizon Plan by raising prices and increasing data buckets. Funny note - during the opening of their online press event, they laughed at all of the early reports who suggested they were raising prices, as if they aren't raising prices, except that they are raising prices. Jokes on who? The new plans provide "at least 30% more data" even if they are now more expensive. The bang-for-your-buck ratio is what Verizon is really pushing here. For example, the "S" $30-1GB plan is now $35-2GB and the "XL" $80-12GB plan is now $90-16GB. So for just $5 or $10 more, you get at least an extra GB of data, if not more. The rest of the plans are increasing as well, all of which we reported on here. You can also take a look at the new structure in the image below. If you want to jump on the new plans, you can. If you don't want to, you don't have to ("for now"). And in case you were wondering, all of the line access charges stay the same.

What else is new? Well, you can see above. New options like Carryover Data, Safety Mode, Data Boost, unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada, and talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada have been announced. Most are self-explanatory, but we have the basics for you below.

Carryover Data: If you have unused data this month, you can carry it over to the next month for use. It only lasts for one month, though, so you can't just save up a bunch of data and then access it in six months, for example. Carryover Data is a free feature added to all of the new Verizon plans.
Safety Mode: This is Verizon's take on unlimited data with throttling, like many other carriers do. With Safety Mode turned on, Verizon allows you to use more than your data bucket provides, but it throttles your speeds down to 128kbps until your next billing cycle. This new Safety Mode can be turned off or on in the new My Verizon app. If you are on a S, M, or L plan, you can add on Safety Mode for $5 extra per month. (Seriously, you have to pay $5 per month to get 128kbps, throttled data? Yikes.) If you are on the XL or XXL plans, you get it at no extra cost. NOTE: Verizon reached out to say that they are offering Safety Mode for free to the top two tiers because "those are the folks that typically go over on their data" and have to pay for overages. As you can imagine, I have about 100 thoughts in reaction to that, but will save them for another day.
Data Boost: Through the new My Verizon app, Verizon is giving you a quick and easy way to add on 1GB of data to your plan should you hit your data bucket limit for the month. It costs $15 per 1GB, which is a crazy rip-off. Remember, they just bumped up their 1GB plan to 2GB for $5, yet it'll cost you $15 for 1GB if you run out.
International calling and roaming for Mexico and Canada: If you are on one of the new Verizon plans, you can get unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada or use your plan's talk, text, and data allotment while in either country. If you are on the XL or XXL plans, that all comes to you at no extra cost. If you are on S, M, or L plans, the calling to Mexico and Canada costs $5 per month and the talk, text, and data usage within those countries is $2 per day.

All make sense? Verizon also introduced a new My Verizon app that they seem very proud of. That's good news, because the previous app was a bit of a mess and really just seemed like a bad web portal. The new My Verizon app can be seen below, but they designed it like a feed you would see on a social platform. They are trying to show you everything up front, like data, account, and bill in a real-time feed, along with other "personalized products and content just for you." There is a data hub like control center to show you how much data you are using, who is using it, and how you can get more. They also added in a shop to quickly add on new services, are providing on-demand support, and can show you a simplified bill.

Oh, they have new business plans as well. Those are below.

Tomorrow is the day if you are interested.

Via: Verizon

myAT&T App Gains Fingerprint Reader Support for Added Security

Tim — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 10:02:48 +0000

The myAT&T application from AT&T has been updated to support fingerprint readers. With this feature added, users of myAT&T will be able to log into their accounts more quickly and more securely. AT&T states that the update will also bring a better account overview when logging in, making the checking of your account status more efficient. Written by AT&T, "We know that myAT&T serves as your digital relationship with us and we want you to have an efficient and effective method for managing your wireless account needs." Go grab the update from Google Play if you rock a bit of myAT&T. Play Link

DEAL: Download Boingo App From Amazon, Get 6 Months Free WiFi

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:57:33 +0000

Traveling from airport to airport is typically associated with also having a bad internet connection. Whether that's because of spotty service from your provider, the fact that thousands of people are on the same tower at a time, or because airport WiFi is expensive (or terrible when free), getting anything important done (like checking in and blasting your baller life to IG) can be difficult. Companies like Boingo offer what they consider to be decent WiFi hotspots, but they come with fees or memberships. If you want to give them a shot for the next few months, you can do so for free, thanks to Amazon. Over at Amazon Underground, the place where apps are "actually free," you can install the Boingo Wi-Finder app, create an account, and get 6 months of free service. From what I can tell, all you need to do is install the Amazon Underground app, then install Boingo Wi-Finder linked below, and sign-up for an account, and you should be granted access. If you plan to travel much over the next 6 months, it could be worth having Amazon's apps installed. Amazon Links: Boingo Wi-Finder | Amazon Underground

Pokémon GO Live on Google Play in US, But Not Quite Ready for Use (Update: Finally Live)

Tim — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:45:56 +0000

Pokémon GO is finally live on Google Play for everyone. The only issue is, it's not yet downloadable onto any device. While you can easily find it, the game's device compatibility list shows that no device is supported, so until Niantic Labs decides to change that, all we can do is look at it and twiddle our thumbs. However, as soon as it is available for download, get ready for fun. Think of Pokémon GO as Ingress, but with Pokémon. As you walk around your neighborhood, you will come across wild Pokémon that you can capture. As you rank up, you can train and evolve your Pokémon, then battle them at arenas which are also located around your area. If you live near a park, you should see many checkpoints where you can refresh your amount of Pokéballs, which will allow you to capture more wild Pokémon. The overall objective is to catch all of the Pokémon for your Pokédex, making you the greatest Pokémon trainer to ever walk the Earth. Once downloaded, you will notice that there are in-app purchases. The purchases are for Pokémon gold coins, which are transferred for Pokédex storage upgrades, backpack upgrades, as well as 2X experience points. While these upgrades could help you level up quicker, I would not label them as necessary for doing well in the game. Note: You may have seen an APK floating around the web that would allow you to access the game early, but I would suggest holding off until the game is live on Google Play for your region. Better to wait for the official APK than take a risk with 3rd-party downloads. As soon as the game is available for download, we will alert you. UPDATE: It finally went live in the US last night. Go get it! Play Link

Google Now on Tap Gets Translating From Any Screen, New Discover Mode, Barcode/QR Scanning

Kellen — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:27:23 +0000

Google Now on Tap, a one-time cool but limited party trick, is sure turning into the useful service we all hoped (and sort of envisioned) it could be come. The latest wave of new features to hit the in-the-moment search service includes the ability to translate text from any screen, discover new content in a new Discover mode, and quickly find out information about products by scanning barcodes and QR codes. With the new translate feature, it does exactly what you would hope - translate any screen. Chrome already does a good job of translating within web pages, but you do more on your phone than just browse Chrome. Now, when in an app or other screen that is written in a language you aren't familiar with, you can run Now on Tap, choose the "Translate this screen" option that appears, and sit back as Google magically translates it. As of today, the new translate feature is available to phones "with the language set to English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian."

The new Discover mode brings a new button to the Now on Tap bar, right in the middle of where you would see other shortcuts for Yelp or Google Maps or Google Play. By tapping this option, Google will try to show you a "stream of visual content related to what's on your screen," making it easy to browse around interesting topics. In this Discover mode, you'll find YouTube videos, news articles, etc.

Finally, in addition to Google giving your camera Now on Tap powers, they have added to that idea by allowing you to open your camera, hover over a barcode or QR code, fire up Now on Tap, and quickly learn more about the item. That could be a code on packaging or the random QR code you see scattered about the real world. Google says these new features will arrive as early as today. Play Link

Via: Inside Search

Every Time You Check to See if Your OnePlus 3 Has an Update, You Expose Your IMEI

Tim — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:52:03 +0000

According to users on reddit and the OnePlus forums, every time an owner of a OnePlus 3 checks to see if they have an update via the Settings menu, their IMEI is sent to the OnePlus servers in plain HTTP and not HTTPS. Because of this, OnePlus 3 owners on an unsecured network (a coffee shop with public WiFi access point, for example), potentially expose their device's specific IMEI number to would-be evil doers. With an IMEI in the hands of someone not so trustworthy, a device could be blacklisted (marked as stolen, lost, etc.) in a carrier's database, making the possibility of activating it on a network extremely difficult. This action can be reversed by the true owner of a device, but you can imagine it's not the easiest process to deal with when it involves US carriers. To sum up what's happening here, every time you select "check for updates," a POST request is sent to a specific URL from the OnePlus 3. This request contains the IMEI of the device in the user agent, as well as in a header labeled "imei." For this to negatively affect a OnePlus 3 owner, he or she would need to be on an unsecured network, check for an update, and at the same exact time, an individual would need to be fishing for this information on that same network. In the real world, the chances of something like this happening to OnePlus 3 owners seems small, but still, this is plain sloppy work from the folks at OnePlus and should be fixed immediately. At this time, OnePlus has not addressed this issue, and until a fix is provided (which would most likely require a security update), be sure to only check for software updates while on a secured network.

Via: OnePlus Forums | reddit

Galaxy S6 Active Gets Marshmallow Update Today

Kellen — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:01:12 +0000

AT&T has approved the update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow today for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active. The update will arrive as software build UCU3CPE4 through a file that is roughly 1.4GB in size. AT&T isn't divulging any of the dirty details, but you should expect to see access to Google Now on Tap, Doze Mode (for better battery life), and better app permissions controls. I wouldn't be shocked if you also get the latest UI update that came with recent Note updates. To check for the update, head into Settings>System>About Device>Software Update>Check for updates.

Via: AT&T

Cheers @connoratremper!

Beyondium is Mediocre's Latest Game, Priced at $1.99

Tim — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:51:55 +0000

Mediocre, publisher behind Granny Smith, Smash Hit and Does Not Commute, launched a new game to Google Play recently, titled Beyondium. Beyondium, to put it ever so simply, is a game centered around computerized quantum disentanglement technology. In other words, you draw lines to and from floating dots, gaining more points with the more dots you connect. The gameplay goes like this. In the center is your molecule. As it spits out dots, sometimes differently colored to make the game harder, you the player must draw lines to the same-colored dots. To score more, and when possible, connecting the dots in a complete shape will award you more points. Additional power-ups, such as point multipliers, also find themselves floating about your levels, and to utilize them, you must complete a shape of dots surrounding them. I will say, the game is not easy, and due to this fact, I highly recommend the tutorial. The tutorial should allow you to grasp how to properly play, as well as make you familiar with the other power-ups that are sometimes seen floating around. Just remember, do not cross the colored lines with dots of another color or you lose those potential points. Priced at $1.99, this is a great time killer. In related news, we're still awaiting a Granny Smith sequel. Play Link ($1.99)

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Our First Potential Look at What the Nexus (2016) Will Look Like

Tim — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:29:20 +0000

As we near the announcement from Google concerning new Nexus devices for 2016, a render has hit the web, giving us our first potential look at what the Nexus (2016) devices will look like. It is still believed that Google will release two Nexus phones (Marlin and Sailfish), but it is being reported that both phones will look very similar in terms of overall design and aesthetic. The below image comes from Android Police, who created the device render based on information they gathered from an undisclosed source. According to them, exact dimensions are still unknown, but the image portrays what we should expect as closely as possible. Let's go over what we can take from this image. The first thing you will notice, at least the first thing I noticed, is the funky looking backside of the phone. Wrapped by a body of aluminum, a piece of glossy plastic (or glass) houses the camera and fingerprint reader. On the bottom, a Google "G" is present, but it is unknown if that will remain on the final design. It could be replaced by "Nexus" or "HTC" branding. For now, plan on the "G" not staying. According to AP, the holes next to the camera are currently a "mystery," but are thought to be for sensors or secondary microphones. Given that it is pretty much a certainty that HTC is creating the next Nexus phone(s), we will say that this device shares no resemblance to the HTC 10. Whether that is a good or bad thing, we will leave that up to your own personal preference. On the frontside, you have a plain looking phone. There is a front-facing camera, speaker for phone calls, a couple sensors, and a display. Naturally, this phone features on-screen buttons, with the Android Nougat buttons being shown proudly. Again, this is just a render based on information provided from a source. It's not leaked from Google or taken from a retailer site, so anything you think you like or don't like can change. Please, share your initial thoughts on the design below. We're dying to know what you think.

Via: Android Police

Root Achieved for Snapdragon-Powered Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge Devices

Tim — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:34:07 +0000

Root has been achieved for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, appearing to be stable on all carrier variants. Just to be clear, if you own a Galaxy S7 (SM-G930) or Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935) featuring a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon processor, and not the Samsung Exynos processor, you may proceed. The letters that follow the model number, such as A (AT&T), T (T-Mobile), or V (Verizon) indicate which carrier variant is being referred to. At this time, root is achievable for what appears to be all carrier models, which is a big time win for Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge owners who love complete system access. Since we don't dive deep into root and custom ROMs like we used to, what we will say is this. Over on XDA, instructions and links for file downloads have been compiled, making the process as easy as possible. However, I would only suggest these actions to those who are comfortable working with the software on their devices. Flashing custom software and rooting can be tricky business, leaving some phones dead forever. So, if you are cool with that, read below and I will go over the basics of what is going to happen when you begin the process. The seemingly simple process involves using Odin, flashing a rooted boot.img, and then gaining root access. Once all is said and done, your phone will be running stock Samsung software, but you will have gained root access. Most of the programming has been automated, so on the user side, only a few commands will need to be inputted for the process to be completed. This is only the first step towards developers bringing custom ROMs and everything else to the devices, meaning this should be an exciting time for those interested. If you are at all interested in rooting your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, follow the links below, then locate the proper instructions for your carrier variant. And please, be sure to follow the instructions very carefully, as we shall not be providing tech support to those who brick their phones. Those days are over for us. Have fun, hackers!

Via: XDA [2]

Cheers Houston!

S Health Gets More Competitive, Adds Leaderboards and Challenges

Tim — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 09:27:21 +0000

For those utilizing the S Health software, prepare to have your fitness data turned into a friendly game among your peers. If you have a few S Health users in your circle, you can now challenge and compete against them using Samsung's fitness app. For example, to see who will buy the next round of coffee this week, challenge them to a step-off, seeing who can get through the most steps in a work week. Once a challenge is submitted to your friend, S Health will keep you up to date on your friend's step total, and if you fall behind, the app will notify you with how many steps you will need to regain the lead. Beyond creating challenges, S Health users can now look through complete leaderboards, comparing your steps to friends and others using the app across the globe. This will give you a good sense of just how little you are actually walking, compared to others. That's always a good motivational boost.

Additionally, the S Health app will better recognize when workouts are taking place. If beginning a workout on your phone is something you routinely forget to do, the app will automatically start for you and log your data. As an example, you can program the app to begin logging data if it recognizes running, cycling, or hiking. If you need a better look at your overall profile in S Health, don't worry, Samsung is hooking you up with that, too. An updated My Page keeps tracks of your weekly activities by displaying a weekly summary, rewards receives, as well as a bundle of personal bests. Using this data, S Health will also suggest goals and targets you can work towards. This S Health update is rolling out right now, so be on the lookout in Google Play. Play Link

Via: Samsung

Verizon's "Fireworks" Plan Changes Coming July 7, Include Price and Data Hikes

Kellen — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 08:52:45 +0000

Last week, thanks to promo pages that surfaced on Verizon's Testman site, we learned a handful of details about upcoming changes that Big Red would soon introduce. When probed for confirmation, Verizon would only tell us to expect "fireworks" within the next week, but sources of ours confirmed to us days later the full set of changes to expect (which we noted here). Those changes are as follows. On July 7, Verizon is going to update The Verizon Plan, which is their line-up of data packages labeled under S, M, L, XL, and XXL categories. These plans will all jump in price from $5 to $10, but they will include more data as well. Verizon will attempt to justify the price hike by suggesting customers are getting a deal because the new plans offer "30% more data per size at lower cost." How will the new plans look? Like this:

S: 2GB for $35 (was 1GB for $30)
M: 4GB for $50 (was 3GB for $45)
L: 8GB for $70 (was 6GB for $60)
XL: 16GB for $90 (was 12GB for $80)
XXL: 24GB for $110 (was 18GB for $100)

Verizon will also announce previously reported features like Carryover Data (monthly rollover of unused data), Safety Mode (option to throttle you after using data bucket to avoid overages), included roaming on XL and XXL plans to Mexico and Canada (will cost $5 for other plans), and something called Data Boost, a quick way to buy an extra 1GB of data at $15 per. Finally, expect a re-designed Verizon app as well. Verizon is training their employees on the changes this morning with July 7 availability. IMAGE removed by request.

And Here is the Galaxy Note 7 in Three Fun Colors

Kellen — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 07:58:34 +0000

Moments after the long, 3-day weekend kicked off here (that's code for: we peaced out and never looked back), we welcomed in a first set of press images of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Because you (hopefully) did the same and are just now firing up a computer for the first time in days, let's take a late look at them! Black. Ooooh. Silver. Ooooh. Blue. OOOOOOOOOOH. OK, then. Oh, you need analysis too? Here goes nothin'. The black model is, black. The silver model is, silver. The blue model looks like the powder blue you see on Volkswagen Beetles that only 75 year old grandmothers swag out in. We have front and back cameras, along with what appears to be an additional front camera (or two?). We have heard countless rumors suggesting that Samsung will include an iris scanner in the Note 7, so this could be a clean look at that setup. You'll also notice that Samsung is using S Pens on the screen to show a "7" and that the backs of all three phones most certainly say "Galaxy Note 7," not "Galaxy Note 6." And yes, that little nub on the bottom is the new S Pen. One could suggest that this phone has a double-edged front display, but I don't know that that is 100% accurate. To me, this just looks like Samsung is using slightly-curved glass on both the front and back of the device. Curved glass is what the kids love these days, after all.

Looks good!

Via: @evleaks

OnePlus 3's OxygenOS 3.2.0 Update was Ready for Rollout, has Since Been Pulled

Kellen — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 07:35:09 +0000

A couple of weeks back, OnePlus began issuing a software update to some OnePlus 3 units that included an sRGB mode, better RAM management, and other various bug fixes. At the time, we only knew that the update was arriving on review units and weren't sure when the general rollout would start. Over the weekend, OnePlus must have decided it was stable enough and went public with it, even stating that it should hit all devices within 48 hours. And then they abruptly halted it. The update, which is OxygenOS 3.2.0 should have been on most phones by now, but OnePlus says that "due to some reports of issues while upgrading," they temporarily stopped pushing the update until they can figure out what's up. Until they tell us what's up, we can only sit and wait. For now, here is a look at the full changelog for the update:

Enabled sRGB mode in developer options.
Improved RAM management.
Improved GPS performance.
Enhanced audio playback quality.
Updated custom icon packs.
Fixed some issues with notifications.
Improved camera quality/functionality.
Fixed some issues in Gallery.
Implemented latest Google security patches.
Fixed bugs in Clock/Music apps.

I do see one missing fix that Tim will likely complain about in 5...4...3...2...1, and that's the on-screen back button issue, where the phone doesn't recognize initial taps to go back and requires you to press the button multiple times. Please tell me it has been fixed. We'll update this post when they start the update again.

Via: OnePlus

Nougat!

Kellen — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 16:56:14 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we'll catch up on the past couple of weeks in Bugdroid news, react to Android 7.0 Nougat, share more OnePlus 3 thoughts, talk through the latest in HTC Nexus rumors, figure out what's going on with the Galaxy Note 7, and more! Join us at 11:00AM Pacific (2:00PM 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: July 1, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:24:11 +0000

For it being just another random slow week at the end of June, we sure had some big things happen in the world of Android. We now know what Android N stands for and what its version number will be, welcomed in a US unlocked Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge), learned about another HTC Nexus, pre-ordered the Moto G4 and G4 Plus, and started prepping for big announcements from Verizon that should come next week. Over the long weekend, you should probably catch up. In case you hadn't realized, things are about to get wild around here with the Note 7, Moto Z, and new Nexus devices on the way.

WATCH: Droid Life Show episode 113 - Nougat! | Subscribe
Android N is Android Nougat
Android Nougat is Android 7.0
Poll: Nougat name - love it or hate it?
These are the HTC devices that will get Android Nougat
HTC Nexus "marlin" rumored specs
Samsung releases US unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
This is where you can buy the US Unlocked S7 and S7 Edge
Galaxy Note 7: This could be what the software will look like | Specs too
Video: OnePlus 3 software tour
Moto G4 and G4 Plus now up for pre-order in US | Work on all carriers
Deal: This is a crazy good deal on the new Moto G4 at Amazon (with a catch)
Verizon: Big plan changes and features coming to Big Red next week
Google Play beta tab and early access rolling out to all
Apps sales: All the good app deals heading into the holiday weekend
Using Evernote is about to get really expensive
Poll: You still using the 5-year old Google+?
Please!: Google may build an internet speed test into Search
Google builds song lyrics right into Search results

Pro tip: Light and run, light and run.

Friday App Sales: Hitman: Sniper, Lifeline Series, DuckTales: Remastered, and More

Tim — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:31:03 +0000

There is no better time to check Google Play for sales than when there's a national holiday coming up. Right in time for the 4th of July, many big-name applications and games are on sale, including the entire Lifeline series, Hitman: Sniper (an awesome game), and many more. Also listed at a discount are Disney's DuckTales: Remastered for just $4.99, as well as Castle of Illusion. Both of those are very popular titles from Disney, perfect for any kiddies in your life. Check out the complete list of apps and games on sale below. Friday App Sales

RPG Eclipse of Illusion ($0.99)
Hitman: Sniper ($0.99)
Easy Voice Recorder Pro ($1.99)
TextGrabber + Translator ($1.99)
Business Card Reader Pro ($0.99)
Lifeline: Whiteout ($1.99)
Lifeline: Silent Night ($0.99)
Lifeline 2 ($0.99)
Lifeline ($0.99)
WiFi Mouse Pro ($1.99)
DuckTales: Remastered ($4.99)
Castle of Illusion ($4.99)
Secret of Mana ($4.49)
Adventures of Mana ($9.99)
Door Kickers ($0.99)
Death Worm ($0.99)

Go support those developers!

Verizon's National Trade-In Event Kicks Off Today, Up to $300 for Your Used Smartphone

Tim — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 09:28:25 +0000

Starting today, existing customers on Verizon or those looking to make the switch to Big Red can get up to $300 when they trade-in their existing smartphone. Better yet, even if your current smartphone has a cracked screen, Verizon will offer you a DROID Turbo 2 or DROID MAXX 2. The way this event works is pretty straightforward on paper. Customers can activate a new line, upgrade an existing line, or switch to Verizon and sign up for a device payment plan. The quickest way to receive instant value for your gently-used smartphone is to visit a Verizon retailer. The credit you receive can be placed towards your new phone's down payment, or can be redeemed as an account credit. Customers can also opt to receive the credit on a Verizon gift card. Verizon currently lists the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, HTC 10, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, HTC 10, LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, DROID Turbo 2, and DROID MAXX 2 as part of the trade-in event, meaning these are the phones you will be allowed to choose from when making your purchase. Verizon also notes that now is a good time to switch to their network, as they are offering $650 to buy out your existing smartphone payment plan, as well as your contract from another carrier. Good luck, smartphone shoppers.

Via: Verizon

DEAL: Buy Unlocked US Galaxy S7 From Best Buy, Get a $75 Gift Card (Updated: S7 Edge Too)

Kellen — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 08:06:57 +0000

Should you have managed to hold off on buying the newly released US unlocked Galaxy S7 when it initially went live yesterday and are ready to pull the trigger today on payday, just hours before we step into a holiday weekend, we've got a decent deal for you. Best Buy is one of the few retailers in the US who has them in-stock, ready for pickup, so if you are considering buying from them, how does an additional $75 gift card with purchase sound? The $75 gift card comes after purchase, so you still need to fork out the $670 for the phone, a phone that works on all US carriers and is the Galaxy S7 (or S7 Edge) to buy if you have yet to do so. Best Buy says that the gift card ships free, has no expiration, and can be used in both stores and online. UPDATE: The Galaxy S7 Edge is now available from Best Buy and a part of the deal. Hit up that link to buy and pick-up in your nearest store. Deal Link

Cheers Aaron!

#TBT: Google Unveils Kit Kat, Googler Accidentally Leaks Nexus 5

Tim — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 16:07:07 +0000

Back in September of 2013, the Android community was bracing itself for the next Nexus smartphone. Funny enough, during the unveiling of Android 4.4 "Kit Kat" at Google HQ, a Googler (an employee of Google) accidentally revealed Google's upcoming smartphone. Whoops! In a video clip which was centered around the new Kit Kat statue, all attention was on the mysterious "Nexus" smartphone this certain gentleman was holding. Naturally, every tech site on Earth posted about it, with Google quickly pulling the clip. Was the clip posted on purpose, maybe to get the hypetrain rolling? Anything's possible. Once this clip posted, it set off a massive flood of leaks, including hands-on videos, photos, packaging, and much more. It was an insane time if you enjoyed Nexus leaks. Since then, every time Google posts a new statue unveiling, such as the latest with Nougat, we're always eyeing each device the Googlers are holding when snapping pictures. Note, we already scanned the latest, and we haven't found anything special...yet. Good times, Google.

Android Nougat Statue Video Also Confirms Android 7.0

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 15:26:02 +0000

This morning, Google officially unveiled the name of Android N as Android Nougat, but this afternoon, they put a number to it as well. The next version of Android is Android 7.0. That new number shouldn't really shock anyone, since Google basically told us last year to expect a new version each year. We knew that meant a new name, but was anyone sold on their being a full digit jump each year? I don't know! Either way, Android Nougat is Android 7.0 whether we were ready for it or not. In the video below, which is the unveiling of the Nougat statue, you'll see the image above that puts 7.0 with Nougat. The description for the video also lists it.

DEALS: Verizon Galaxy S7 for $415, Refurb Nexus 6P for $335 at eBay

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:49:21 +0000

With earlier-in-the-day phone talk all surrounding new Nexus and unlocked Galaxy S7s, we will now direct your attention to two similar devices that are being sold at decent discounts. eBay currently has the Verizon Galaxy S7 for just $414.99 and the Nexus 6P (refurbished by Huawei) for as low as $335.99 with coupon codes. For each phone, you'll see prices of $429.99 and $349.99 listed, but if you use coupon code "cruisen2summer" at checkout, you'll slash another $15 off, which brings us to the $415 and $335 prices. If you are interested in the Galaxy S7 from Verizon, the seller is listing it as "new," but does say that the earbuds are not included in the box. That's odd. The phone is available in either black or gold, though, and will work on Verizon only, for the most part. This isn't a GSM unlocked version from what I can tell. Still, $415 is a $257 discount over what Verizon will charge you. If the Nexus 6P with 32GB of storage is your thing, just know that this is a refurbished version, but it has been refurbished by Huawei, according to the listing. this phone, which appears to be in gold, will work on all major US carriers, just like the versions you buy from Google. eBay Links: Verizon Galaxy S7 ($415) | Nexus 6P 32GB ($335)

Video: OnePlus 3 Software Overview

Tim — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:11:39 +0000

The OnePlus 3 is a sweet phone, I can't deny that. For $400, you are getting a very nice hardware package, but on top of that, OnePlus throws in software tweaks and other functionality to spruce up what's already a pretty solid Android experience. For fans of Nexus devices, you undoubtedly like stock Android, and for me, that's where the OnePlus 3 software shines. Not only does it provide that stock feel and look like on a Nexus phone, but certain OxygenOS features, such as gesture commands and icon pack support, really help get the most out of the possibilities for Android. In the below video, I cover most of what you can find on the OnePlus 3 in terms of custom software. Going over the lockscreen gestures, customizable system toggles, and even OxygenOS's Shelf feature, I will attempt to make you a believer that what OnePlus provides in the OnePlus 3 is a great Android experience, easily worth your hard-earned money. Now, if OnePlus intends to continue updating this phone into the future, that's another story entirely. Thankfully, what ships on this phone is not completely bug ridden, so updates should not be your main concern quite yet. If OnePlus does not provide Android Nougat within six months after its release later this year, then we can start freaking out. Until then, remain calm. Watch our OnePlus 3 software overview below. Software Overview

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Google Play Beta Tab Now Rolling Out to All, Early Access Section Too

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:07:44 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we pointed out a new section in Google Play that showed you a list of apps you were currently beta testing, noting that it was only just beginning to rollout to users. Today (or maybe even last night), the full rollout started and you more than likely have the new section, whether you realized it or not. What is this new beta section for? Well, first of all, you'll find it as a new page/column in your "My apps & games" section of Google Play. It should be situated all of the way to the far right, even further right than your "All" apps page. Assuming you have signed up for beta versions of an app, you should see them listed there. But really, this new section has been needed for far too long, so we are glad to have it. It lets you easily manage all of the apps you may be testing for Google or other 3rd party developers. This section, along with individual app pages that have betas, allow you to opt-in or out of beta tests, without having to do so through that awkward opt-in web page we used to use, along with Google+ groups. If you know of an app that has a beta, you can find the opt-in box towards the bottom of its app page. Google has created a special box (seen below) that lets you become a tester or even leave a test if you would rather ditch the beta track. Once you become a beta tester, you'll always see a notification just under the "uninstall" button that reminds you, probably so that you don't spam off pure hatred to a developer over issues that are in a beta app. To find beta apps, you really need to know that an app has one available or you could just check each of your apps by scrolling to the bottom of their pages. Otherwise, Google hasn't exactly added a "beta" section to Play just yet.

If you'd like to find other apps that are in early stages (maybe even pre-beta), Google has also recently added an "Early Access" section to the Play store that can be found through the main apps page in one of the little green category buttons (see below). In this section, you'll find apps that are still in development or are betas. In fact, if you install early access apps, they'll show up in the beta section we referenced above.

Of course, these early access apps will warn you that they may not be all that stable because they aren't finished, hence the name "early access." Like with betas, be kind to the developers and try to help them out as you see bugs. Now, get to playing with the early goodies.

Here are Some of the Rumored Specs for the Other Upcoming HTC Nexus

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 12:02:13 +0000

If you believe the interwebs, we should see two Nexus phones once again this year, only this time only one manufacturer will make them. That manufacturer is thought to be HTC. Last week, purported specs for the smaller of the two HTC Nexus phones surfaced, and now this week, we are getting specs for the other, larger model. For those keeping track of the dirty details, the smaller is running under codename "Sailfish," while the larger, possibly more premium phone is the "Marlin." Let's talk about HTC Nexus "Marlin." According to a report out of Android Police, the specs for "marlin" are as follows. We should see a quad-core Qualcomm processor, 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, 4GB RAM, 3450mAh battery, bottom-firing speakers, 32GB or 128GB storage (no 64GB model), Bluetooth 4.2, and a USB Type-C port. Or better yet, here is all of that in bulleted format:

5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display
Qualcomm quad-core processor
4GB RAM
32GB or 128GB storage
12MP rear camera
8MP front camera
Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
3450mAh battery
Bottom-firing speaker
Bluetooth 4.2
USB Type-C port

At this time, no one knows exactly what the processor will be. Google could just go with a Snapdragon 820, which is a quad-core 64-bit processor, or they could use something that has yet-to-be-announced by Qualcomm. What we do think we know, is that it very well could be the same processor as is in the smaller "sailfish." It's also looking like most of the rest of the specs will match-up as well, like cameras, RAM, build, design, and maybe even storage. What's more interesting, is that this year's Nexus line-up may take on an iPhone-like approach to the two phones. That's not a negative comparison, for those freaking out at the moment, that's just the best example of how to explain this. What I mean is that today's report suggests that these two HTC Nexus phones ("sailfish" and "marlin") may only differ in screen size (plus resolution) and battery size, while the rest of their specs, including the designs of each, will be identical or very similar. Instead of having to choose between higher or lower-end phones like you did last year (Nexus 6P being higher-end than the Nexus 5X), you'll now get to choose based on size without a compromise (unless you hate the idea of a 1080p display). That's a lot like how the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus work. Things are really taking shape here - are you liking where we are headed?

Via: Android Police

HTC 10, One M9, and One A9 Confirmed to Receive Nougat at Some Point

Tim — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 11:07:09 +0000

HTC took to Twitter shortly after Google's unveiling of the Nougat name for Android N, confirming that three of its devices will eventually receive the update to Nougat. The three devices are the HTC 10, One M9, and One A9. If you have another device from HTC, stay hopeful that your phone might also receive the update, as HTC mentions more devices may be announced to receive the update once Google makes Android N available to OEMs. At this time, HTC can only confirm the aforementioned devices, though. Naturally, there is no timing on when owners should expect to see these updates, but fingers crossed its before 2017.

So sweet. Android Nougat—the next version of Google’s Android—will be coming to the HTC 10, HTC One A9 & HTC One M9. pic.twitter.com/cB5S2zv0PW
— HTC (@htc) June 30, 2016

Poll: Android Nougat Name - Love It or Hate It?

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 10:09:08 +0000

Google revealed the name of Android N today and that name is Nougat. Android Nougat, to be exact. There has been fallout on some level. Nerds seem to be unhappy with the choice, probably because it wasn't called "Nerds" or "Neapolitan" or "Nutella." You only think I'm joking about that - I'm not. People really are not OK with Google going full Nougat. That right there, is the reason for this poll. This is as official as it gets. You either love it or hate it. There is no in between. You have to take sides because, well, because I said so. Vote. [poll id="417"]

Android N is Android Nougat (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 09:04:12 +0000

The official name for Android N is Android Nougat! https://twitter.com/Android/status/748547400210472961 Oh, and here is a picture of the statue!

UPDATE: It's also Android 7.0!

AT&T Thanks Program Kicks Off Today, Postpaid Customers Receive 2-for-1 Movie Tickets

Tim — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:56:42 +0000

AT&T is ready to start 'thanking' its customers, with the first phase of the Thanks program kicking off today. Unlike T-Mobile Tuesdays, which is available for all postpaid and prepaid customers, AT&T Thanks is currently exclusive to postpaid customers, which is something to keep in mind if you ever plan on switching carriers or are attempting to weigh your options when seeing which carrier is right for you. As for what AT&T is thanking its customers with, phase one is a 2-for-1 movie ticket deal. If there is a movie you would like to see with a friend or loved one at an AMC theatre or Regal theatre (the two largest chains in the US), all you need to do is purchase one regular general admission ticket via AT&T's dedicated redemption site, then receive an extra ticket free of charge. There are no apps to download or server malfunctions to deal with. Beyond movies, AT&T Thanks is also granting pre-sale ticket access for select shows via Live Nation. This perk won't be available until later this year, but could be a good way to ensure you see a few of the hottest acts across the country. Note that it is only pre-sale access, and not free concert tickets. AT&T claims that this is only the beginning and they will be introducing new ways of thanking their customers later down the road. Have at it, folks. Ticket Twosdays Link

Via: AT&T

Where to Buy the Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge (US Model)

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:34:51 +0000

Samsung surprised us this morning with news that it was releasing the Galaxy S7 (SM-G930U) and Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935U) in unlocked form here in the US. While we're a bit annoyed at the fact that it took them this long to do so, we still appreciate having the option. After all, not everyone buys the new shiny toy the minute it comes out and some have probably been waiting for the right moment to upgrade. Now would be that time. These unlocked units work on all US carriers (including Verizon and AT&T), so if you champion unlocked phones like we do, these are great because they give you flexibility to jump around on carriers and never feel locked down. They also lack bloatware and may even receive timelier updates (might is the key there). As far as specs go, these phones are the same as the US models that were sold through carriers, meaning they run on Snapdragon 820 processors, 4GB RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel cameras, and have 32GB of storage. They also run TouchWiz and the latest version of Android (at the moment). Below, you'll find links to all of the places you can buy them. The Galaxy S7 is priced at $669.99 and the Galaxy S7 Edge is priced at $769.99.

Android N Name Will be Revealed Today! (UPDATED)

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:18:50 +0000

Seriously, today. It's happening.gif. Final chance for guesses. GO! https://twitter.com/Android/status/748534094405857281 UPDATE: Ugh, and it's apparently happening on Snapchat. https://twitter.com/google/status/748539262316969984 UPDATE 2: IT'S ANDROID NOUGAT! https://twitter.com/Android/status/748547400210472961 UPDATE 3: Here is the statue and a higher-res version of the new version logo.

Neat. UPDATE 4: Our immediate conversation following the announcement sums up today nicely.

Samsung Releases Unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in the US, Works on All Carriers

Kellen — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 06:37:33 +0000

You probably won't believe this the first time you read it, but the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge can now be purchased in the US as unlocked phones. Officially. This isn't a story about buying an imported version at a discount from who-knows-where. We're talking about officially supported, unlocked phones made specifically for the US with support on all carriers. Samsung announced the unlocked versions this morning, saying that they should go on sale later today, June 30. Both the unlocked S7 (SM-G930U) and S7 Edge (SM-G935U) are compatible with all of the big dogs here in the US, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular. And because they work on all of those carriers, they should work with all of your favorite prepaid outlets as well. Once available, the phones can be purchased from the retailers you expect, like Amazon, Best Buy, Ebay, Sam’s Club and Target.com. We aren't finding them this second, but will update the post with links once they go live. UPDATE: List of places to buy the unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. In case you were wondering, these are the exact same phones, in terms of specs and features, as the Galaxy S7 devices you have been able to buy from US carriers for months. You still get the Snapdragon 820 processor, 32GB storage with SD support, 3000mAh and 3600mAh batteries, water and dust resistance, 12MP Dual Pixel cameras, etc. But these phones stand out because they won't have the garbage bloatware and stupid carrier branding. Oh, they also have access to Samsung Pay, unlike imported unlocked versions. These are the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones you have been waiting for, even if they are months and months later than we wanted them. How much, though? The unlocked Galaxy S7 is $669.99 and the unlocked Galaxy S7 edge is $769.99.

UNLOCKED GALAXY S7 AND GALAXY S7 EDGE BANDS (US) [table id=38 /]

Via: Samsung

Evernote is About to Limit Basic Accounts to Just Two Devices, Raise Prices

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 16:04:39 +0000

Big user of Evernote? Hopefully, for your sake, you either pay for their premium tiers or you don't use it on more than two devices. Why do I say that? Because this week, Evernote announced that its free tier, otherwise known as Evernote Basic, will start limiting users to access on just two devices. They are also adjusting Plus and Premium price tiers for new subscribers. Evernote penned a pretty straight forward blog post to touch on each of these topics, saying that exactly what you expected them to say - they'd rather not do this, but keeping this best-in-class note app updated and innovative going forward costs money. Over the "coming weeks," Evernote is going to limit all of their free (Basic) accounts to access of notes on just two devices. If that's your situation, just know that they are giving you "at least 30 days to adjust." So once they flip the switch, it sounds like you'll still have a good month to figure out which devices you want that to see access. To deauthorize any unwanted devices, head to your Evernote account at this link and get to work. In terms of new pricing, the Basic plan will stay free, Plus will jump to $34.99 per year ($3.99 per month), and Premium will jump to $69.99 per year ($7.99 per month). Previous pricing for Plus and Premium was $2.99 and $5.99 per month, respectively. Are you already a subscriber to Plus or Premium? According to Evernote FAQ, it sounds as if "not everyone will be affected by a price change." Evernote also says that if you are up for a price change (hike), you will be notified within the next few weeks. Fun. For more, check out this page and this page.

Via: Evernote

Nike SNKRS Update Brings Fingerprint Authentication for Purchasing, Release Widget

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:12:41 +0000

Beware, sneaker talk incoming. If you aren't into shoes, please move along. For those who utilize Nike's SNKRS app to grab the latest launches from The Swoosh, an update is bringing features that might help with a more speedy checkout process. Once the app is updated, users can take advantage of fingerprint authentication when purchasing, allowing you to skip additional security when making a purchase. With this baked in, you will simply select a shoe to add to your cart, confirm your size, shipping address, and payment info, then tap your finger to proceed with the purchase. On Saturday morning when you are racing to scoop the latest heat, this will certainly come in handy. Also baked into the update, a newly added widget will help keep you up to date on what launches are coming up. This widget takes the feed from the list of shoe types you are interested in, which could be anything from women's running shoes, to the latest from LeBron, Kobe, and Kevin Durant. Lastly, an updated Inbox feature will keep you informed of any Drawings you won, you lost, or other processed order information directly from Nike. Go grab the update. Play Link

Google Keep Update Adds Auto-Generated Topics, Inbox Gets Direct Sharing

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 14:02:49 +0000

Google tells us that it is pushing an update to Google Keep today, the note-taking app that has slowly become a polished, semi-powerful option for those looking to keep track of ideas and lists. We are also seeing an Inbox update that appears to have an updated changelog on Google Play, if you can believe that. In the update for Keep, Google is adding in "automagically" created topics for things like books, food, quotes, travel, and places that can be found in the search area of the app. By tapping on these, you should see notes related to those things even if you haven't remembered to add notes to them. That make sense? The point here is that Google is helping you stay organized without the need for additional work on your part. In the Inbox update, Google's Play listing says that direct sharing has been added, so that as you tap the share button on phones running Marshmallow, you'll see "people you email often" as options. Yay. Play Links: Google Keep | Inbox by Gmail

Report: Samsung Smart Glow May Come on Galaxy S8, Act as LED Notification and More

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:53:28 +0000

A recent report from SamMobile details a new feature we might see on next year's Galaxy S8 from Samsung, something called Smart Glow. Basically, Smart Glow will replace your device's LED notification light, but does much more than let you know when you have a notification that needs your attention. As an example, on the Galaxy S7 Edge, you can assign select colors to your top contacts. Whenever that contact calls or texts you, that selected color will light up your Edge Display, so long as you have that feature enabled. With Smart Glow, an outer ring that surrounds your camera lens will light up, providing a more loudly colored notification that someone is attempting to reach you. Beyond just the notification aspect, it is reported that Smart Glow will soon also be able to provide notifications regarding the device itself. For instance, if your device is nearing its maximum storage limit, it could shine a red color, or if you would like to know the weather outside, Smart Glow could shine Yellow to indicate a sunny day. Additionally, S Health may also get tied into Smart Glow at a later time, with the device's camera and LED flash handling the measurements of heart rate, then Smart Glow utilizing that information in a currently unknown manner.

According to SamMobile, Smart Glow won't first be available on the Galaxy S8 in 2017, but instead, will launch with limited features later this year on the Galaxy J2 in India. At that time, we should get a real sense for how it looks and works. As reported, if and when the Galaxy S8 does launch, Smart Glow should have many more features by that time, making it a more useful addition to the Galaxy lineup for the US. The below image was created to give a sense of what Smart Glow could potentially look like when in use. However, in reality, this is just fancy Photoshop work and not what it will actually look like. Does Smart Glow interest you for the Galaxy S8 next year?

Via: SamMobile

SanDisk Announces Two 256GB MicroSD Cards, Arriving as Early as August

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:14:44 +0000

This morning, SanDisk joined Samsung as removable storage makers who plan to offer microSD cards in 256GB options. According to SanDisk, we should expect two new 256GB cards throughout the year, one of the Extreme variety that should be good for action cameras and 4K-ready phones, plus another of the Ultra variety that will be great for casual smartphone use. The 256GB Extreme card sports read speeds of 100MB/s and write speeds of 90MB/s. You should be able to fit around 14 hours of 4K UHD video on this card, which SanDisk says will be great for drones, action cameras, and 4K-capable smartphones. It should be the "fastest microSD card in its class." The 256GB Ultra card is very similar, but it tops out at 95MB/s in read speeds and must have substantially lower write speeds, since SanDisk hasn't disclosed those yet. The Extreme card will retail initially for $200 and is expected to hit retailers in Q4 of this year. The Ultra card will start at $150 and be available worldwide in August.

Via: SanDisk

Verizon Unveils 4G LTE Network Extender for Home and Business, Launches June 30 for $250

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 12:10:04 +0000

Verizon is releasing a 4G LTE Network Extender device this month for $250. Targeted towards those who live in homes not saturated in Big Red's beautiful LTE network, or those who wish to provide patrons of their business with better Verizon coverage, this Samsung-made network extender covers a 7,500 square foot area, providing HD Voice coverage and 4G LTE data speeds for up to seven devices with an eighth channel reserved for 911 calls. Designed for self-installation, setting this device up should be rather straightforward. Assuming it works the same as T-Mobile's network extender, all one needs is a broadband internet connection and wall outlet for power. Once the device is activated, it works as its own little 4G LTE tower inside of your home or business, featuring Samsung's "small cell" technology. On the downside, this thing is $250. I would label that price as insane, given T-Mobile hands these devices out to customers at no charge, minus a $25 deposit for the hardware. T-Mobile sees these units as a way to better a customer's LTE coverage, while it appears Verizon is using them to rake in more dough. Sure, buying it outright means you own it and Verizon will never ask for it back, but why would you need to own it? In my opinion, T-Mobile's angle is much more consumer-friendly. If you would like a 4G LTE Network Extender for your home or business, head into a Verizon store on June 30 and get ready to drop some dough.

Via: Verizon

Verizon May Introduce Carryover Data, Free Roaming, and Throttled Unlimited Data This Week (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 11:26:51 +0000

A little over a year and a half ago, Verizon CFO Fran "ShamWow" Shammo told the world that his company was a "leader" not a "follower" and that they wouldn't be jumping on the rollover data bandwagon. If the image below, along with a confirmation from a source of ours is to be believed, Shammo may have some explaining to do. By this Friday, Verizon could introduce not only "carryover" data, but a safety mode and free roaming to Canada and Mexico, as well. All of these new features should launch within The Verizon Plan. In the image below, which is said to be a screen capture from Verizon's Testman site, a site they often use to test out incoming product launches, we could see the following on Friday:

Carryover Data: It's exactly like rollover data from AT&T, in that if you have unused data from this month, you'll be able to use that unused data next month and next month only. This should be included in S, M, L, XL, and XXL plans at no extra charge.
Safety Mode (throttled unlimited data): This sounds like a feature that can be added on that allows you to continue to use Verizon data after you have gone over your monthly allotment at no extra charge. The data speeds will be "reduced" heavily, I'd imagine, until you either buy more high-speed data or hit your next billing cycle. This option is only free to XL and XXL plans. If you are on any other plan (S, M, and L), you'll have to add on Safety Mode for $5 per month.
Free Data/Text Roaming to Mexico and Canada: Well, free for some. Like Safety Mode, Verizon will allow XL and XXL plans to use text and data allowances when in Mexico and Canada. Unlimited from the US to Mexico and Canada is also included. If you are on a S, M, or L plan, you'll have to pay extra for this feature.

Again, here is the image, which first surfaced over at reddit.

As I mentioned above, at least one source of ours was able to confirm the changes to The Verizon Plan and said to expect them on Friday. We've also reached out to Verizon for a more official confirmation and will update this post if we hear back. UPDATE: Verizon responded by saying that they are "going to have some fireworks next week" and to stay tuned. UPDATE 2: According to sources of ours, it looks like July 7 will be the day this all goes down. The Friday date came from the reddit thread linked below, but July 7, a Thursday that also isn't the day before a long holiday weekend where no one would be paying attention, makes a lot more sense. This also matches up to Verizon's statement about "fireworks next week." Additionally, many of the plans are said to be receiving a bump of up to 30% more data, along with the carryover data, safety mode, etc.

Via: reddit

Facebook News Feed to Show More Friends, Less Pages

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 10:52:12 +0000

Facebook is revamping your News Feed yet again, but this time, actually has its user's interests and not business in mind. Shocking, I know. Over the next few weeks, your News Feed will now display more posts from your friends and family (or whoever you follow on FB), instead of making Pages a priority. These changes will primarily affect those who have many friends, as it's possible that many status updates are being missed due to how many folks you follow. To ensure you are not missing those pregnancy announcements or new puppy dog pictures, News Feed will be making a priority of bringing those posts to the top. Sadly, for those who run Pages, you may see a dip in numbers due to these changes. According to Facebook, "we anticipate that this update may cause reach and referral traffic to decline for some Pages." Furthermore, the exact impact on your Page’s distribution numbers and other various metrics may vary depending on the, "composition of your audience." For example, if your Page's posts get shared and then liked and commented on via the sharer's post, your traffic may not dip. However, if much of your traffic comes from posts you make onto your Page, which is then saw only by people who follow the Page, you will likely see a dip in numbers. As mentioned, look to see these changes happen over the next few weeks.

Via: Facebook [2]

OnePlus Co-Founder Shows Off Smartwatch Sketch That Will Never Happen

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 09:29:42 +0000

On Twitter, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, showed off a smartwatch design that the company was apparently working on in 2015. However, as mentioned by Carl, the device will likely never see the light of day, reasons unknown. The design is pretty typical, featuring a round display and possibly detachable body, but beyond that, it's your standard smartwatch design. We don't really need to dive into the details, since the device won't ever be on your wrist. Whether OnePlus doesn't have the resources or want to get into the Android Wear arena, the true reason why this smartwatch was shelved may never be known. Funny enough, people on Twitter gave plenty of reason for OnePlus not to release a smartwatch. Comments included, "focus on smartphones," "market is saturated with smartwatches," "get one thing right first," and "looks like a design for the Pop Swatch." What do you think? Should OnePlus start making smartwatches or stick to smartphones?

What could have been but never will be. Sketches circa 2015. #throwback pic.twitter.com/5zKuSdDiv0
— Carl Pei (@getpeid) June 29, 2016

Google is Testing Internet Speed Within Search Results

Tim — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 08:50:47 +0000

Typically, when you are looking to test your internet speeds, one will head to Ookla's Speed Test website, or maybe even Netflix's new Fast.com site. Well, that all may be changing soon. According to information posted onto Google's support site, as well as a tweet circulating the web, it appears Google is bringing internet speed testing directly to Google Search. Currently, when a search of "check internet speed" is performed on Google, you will be met with plenty of results, whether they be from Netflix, Ookla, Xfinity, etc. When these changes go live for the masses, a button will appear in Google Search stating, "Run Speed Test." When hit, Google will perform the speed test for you, then relay that information back to you. Google is essentially turning themselves into your destination instead of the middleman, something they have been getting better at as Google Search has become a more powerful and smarter tool over the years. Stated on Google's support page, the test is performed by M-Lab. Besides your IP address, no other information is shared, but it also not known what other information is provided following the test. For example, Ookla will provide comprehensive details post speed test, unlike Fast.com which merely shows your download speed. Will Google provide download and upload speeds, or allow you to choose a server to perform the test? Currently, the test is said to weigh in at around 40MB of transferred data, possibly more if your speeds are high. If you count MBs on your monthly phone plan, be aware of that. We don't quite know when Google will flip the switch for this feature, but if testing is being done in select areas, we must be close. From time to time, feel free to run that search and maybe you will get lucky and see the option pop up.

Looks like Google is testing their own internet speed test (query = "check internet speed") - not seeing it live -- pic.twitter.com/wjsPIlEbFv
— Dr. Pete Meyers (@dr_pete) June 27, 2016

Via: The Next Web | @dr_pete | Google Support

NVIDIA SHIELD's 3.2 Update With Plex Media Server Support, Netflix in HDR, YouTube 4K 60FPS, and More is Out!

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 08:36:55 +0000

Earlier this month, NVIDIA and Plex announced that through an incoming update to version 3.2, the SHIELD Android TV box would have the opportunity to become a Plex Media Server, all but eliminating the need for you to run a PC as your media box. That update, which also includes a number of other noteworthy features, is now available. According to the release notes, this update builds-in Plex Media Server, so you will be able to use your SHIELD to stream to all of your devices (even outside the home) or "accelerate your media" through SHIELD's HD transcode. I have not yet updated my SHIELD to 3.2, so I'm still not sure if you need the Plex Media Server app installed. If you do, you can grab it here. As for the rest of the update, it includes Netflix in HDR, VUDU in 4K, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and YouTube 4K in 60fps. NVIDIA also tossed in accessibility of SHIELD folders from network PCs with drag-and-drop sharing (Settings>Storage & reset>Access SHIELD folders on PC), mounting of a network attached storage device (NAS), an option to turn off your TV when SHIELD goes to sleep, picture improvements to RGB TVs, the latest Android security patch, and more. Yep, it's a massive update.

Via: NVIDIA

DEAL: Moto G4 (Yes, the New One) is Just $124.99 Today at Amazon

Kellen — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 08:14:18 +0000

The Moto G4 went up for pre-order only yesterday and already, Amazon has it discounted to a ridiculously low price of $124.99. That's a $75 discount in case you were curious. Now, let's talk about why Amazon has this phone so cheap, because as you probably guessed, there is a bit of a catch here. Amazon announced a new program today called Prime Exclusive Phones. This new program sells newly launched unlocked smartphones to Prime subscribers at up to 50% off in exchange for a lock screen with "offers and ads." Oh, that's...interesting. How does that work? Well, Amazon is selling you deeply discounted phones in exchange for some space on your lock screen where they can show you ads and product promos. The ads show up in lock screen notification form and can be tapped on if you want to learn more. If you don't, you can unlock the phone to make them go away. Amazon says that these deals and product recommendations will be personalized, so they aren't just spamming unrelated garbage at you. The phones also come pre-loaded with a bunch of Amazon apps on the main screen, though you should be able to just remove those shortcuts. Can you remove the lock screen ads? We are still waiting for more information on how that works. Once we have that, we'll update this post. UPDATE: Amazon tells us that this works exactly like the ad-filled versions of their Kindle products, where you can opt-out with a fee, if you'd like. I'll be curious to know if you can just replace the lock screen or block whatever Amazon service is in the background pushing these ads. I guess we'll order one and find out. Now, back to the deal. Amazon is currently hosting the new Moto G4 and the BLU R1 HD through Prime Exclusive Phones. You can pickup the BLU R1 HD for as little as $49.99 with a $50 discount, but the Moto G4 is probably the phone to consider here. The Moto G4 16GB and 32GB models have both been discounted by $50 to $149.99 and $179.99, respectively. However, as a special deal, Amazon is also slashing another $25 off each in cart, hence the $75 discount I referenced in the opening. So in exchange for some ads on your lock screen, you could own the Moto G4 for as little as $125. You tell me if it's worth it. Amazon Links: Moto G4 | BLU R1 HD

Android Mini Collectibles Series 06 Will Arrive This Summer

Kellen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 15:32:34 +0000

The last time we saw a new series of Android mini collectibles was all the way back in February of 2015. Without hearing any details of a new series in over a year, we were actually starting to wonder if the Dead Zebra and Andrew Bell-backed project had run its course. Today, though, those silly thoughts were confirmed to be garbage. Andrew Bell took to the Dead Zebra newsletter moments ago to announce that the Android Mini Collectibles Series 06 set would arrive "this summer." There will be 16 designs overall, many of which will be previewed over the coming weeks. The full set will then make its debut at Comic Con in San Diego towards the end of July before stopping off for sale at your local toy shops. Artists this time include these folks: Andrea Kang, Colus, Dwaine Morris, Igor Ventura, Jessica Wang, Nathan Jurevicius and Otto Bjornik. Don't care about mini collectibles? Fine. Here are some new coffee mugs to consider.

Dead Zebra Link

Verizon Pushed Updates to the Turbo 2, Note 4, and Galaxy S5 Within the Past Few Days

Kellen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:37:32 +0000

Just a quick note here, but we wanted to point out that owners of a DROID Turbo 2, Galaxy Note 4, or Galaxy S5 on Verizon should have seen a prompt for an update in recent days. No, none of the updates are anything exciting, but our inboxes and Twitter accounts have made it clear that a number of you are curious as to their details. So, here you go. The DROID Turbo 2 is getting an update today to SU1.75B: 24.14.16 that "fixes device charging issues." This update just popped up this morning, so if you aren't seeing it yet, look for in within the next couple of days. The Galaxy Note 4 jumped up to software version VRU2CPF3 as earlier as last Friday. The update is the latest security patch from Samsung. The Galaxy S5 was also updated as early as last Friday, only to software version VRU2DPF4. The update aims to fix "an issue where the device couldn't be unlocked, even when using the correct PIN or pattern unlock code." Yikes, that actually sounds like a terrible bug. Grab those updates!

Via: Verizon [2] [3]

Tuesday Poll: Google+ Turns 5, Do You Still Use It?

Tim — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:16:14 +0000

Google+ turned 5 years old today. Don't believe it? Check out our original announcement post, as it's filled with awesome notions like, "it looks to be one hell of an impressive social tool that may even stretch beyond what Facebook has been doing." Yeah, we were spot on with that one. While 5 years is quite the milestone, it's safe to say that Google's social network never really quite took off. The only time Google probably saw an uptick of use in the service was when YouTube required users to make a Google+ account for uploading and commenting, and we all know how well that went. If you don't know how it went, just know that Google retracted that requirement almost a year ago. Anyway, Google+ isn't dead. It's still alive and well. And while the community there isn't as vibrant as we all might like, it's still an excellent source to follow your favorite Android news blog. So, do you still dabble in Google+ or is it dead to you?

[poll id="416"]

DEALS: Unlocked Galaxy S7 Duos Just $499, 32GB Nexus 5X for $239

Kellen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 12:56:01 +0000

eBay has cooked up two serious deals today that include the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Nexus 5X. The Galaxy S7, in all its unlocked, dual-SIM glory, can be had for just $499, while the Nexus 5X with 32GB of storage is all the way down to $239. If you are interested in the Galaxy S7, I'm not sure you will find a better deal than this. This is a 32GB unlocked version with dual SIM slots, so you can travel easily with this phone without swapping SIMs. This particular variant is model SM-G930FD and works on GSM networks in the US like T-Mobile and AT&T. It will not work on Verizon or Sprint. The only real issue here is that it more than likely won't work with Samsung Pay because of its international nature. If the Nexus 5X is of interest and you missed the string of ridiculous discount on it last week, you have another chance today. Your time is running out, though, so you may want to hurry. Again, this is the 32GB version and it has been discounted by $160. Each deal includes free shipping. eBay Links: Galaxy S7 Duos ($499.99) | Nexus 5X ($239.99)

Searching for Song Lyrics? Google Search is the Place to Be

Tim — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:59:22 +0000

Thanks to a new licensing deal with LyricFind, Google will now display lyrics for practically any song you need directly on Search. Lyrics being displayed on Google Search isn't exactly new, but the new deal ensures that whenever you search for lyrics, you are directed towards Google Play, instead of hundreds of possibly unlicensed lyric sites. As you will notice in the search results, Google will only display a large chunk of song lyrics, then direct you to Google Play to see the rest. From here, you can purchase the track you searched the lyrics for. By doing this, Google is bringing in revenue, then handing over a piece of that pie to the publishers. According to an executive at LyricFind, this deal will net publishers millions of dollars, so long as people continue to search for song lyrics. Check out the screenshots below to see what you will be met with when searching for song lyrics. At the bottom, a link leads you to Google Play, then a price tag for the single. These changes take place today in the US.

Via: Billboard

Watch: 15-Minute Video Details Updated TouchWiz for Galaxy Note 7

Tim — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:07:50 +0000

Posted by Italy's HD Blog, the below 15-minute video could be our first look at what to expect UI-wise from the Galaxy Note 7. Typically, Samsung redesigns TouchWiz once a year to make it appear more polished. On the Galaxy S7, the latest iteration of TouchWiz isn't what we would label as terrible, but it still isn't anywhere near the simplicity of running stock Android. In the video, the gentleman working the camera takes us on a tour of the pulldown notification area, the updated look for the system toggles, device settings menu, theme management, TouchWiz Home app, and pretty much everything else you would need to see to get a feel for what to expect. As you might guess, this build of TouchWiz is likely a beta build, so it's possible things may change before launch. As we have reported, the Galaxy Note 7 is expected to launch on August 2, followed by an immediate launch. That's how you're supposed to do it, phone makers. Cash in on those impulse buyers. Also note, the video is in Italian, but YouTube allows you to instantly translate the spoken word into English subtitles. Check out the video, then let us know if this rendition of TouchWiz has you excited. I will say, it does look pretty handsome.

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Via: HD Blog (Italian)

Alexa Skills Kit Hits First Birthday, Features Added for Skill Discovery

Tim — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 09:10:53 +0000

A year ago, Amazon opened up Alexa to developers, allowing them to integrate the tech into their own platforms. Because of this, the amount of skills offered on the Echo has shot up tremendously, with more being added every day. To help navigate through all of these skills, Amazon has redesigned the Skills layout inside of the Alexa app, listing individual skills under categories, making discovery easier for Echo owners. With the updated look, owners can view skills listed under Smart Home and Lifestyle categories, as well as utilize search filters to help you find exactly what you are looking for. Additionally, available starting today, Alexa owners can use their voice to enable any skill that is available. For example, you can say to Echo, "Alexa, enable 7 Minute Workout." It's as easy at that. According to Amazon, Alexa has over 1,400 skills available to owners, the bulk of which are essentially new to the platform. A couple examples of newly added skills are from Lyft and Honeywell. With the Lyft skill, you can quickly catch a ride, and with Honeywell, managing your Smart Home is made a bit more simple. All of the changes listed in this post are available starting today.

Via: Amazon

Moto G4 and G4 Plus are Unlocked and Work on All Major US Carriers

Kellen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:37:00 +0000

The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus will arrive in the US on July 12 at a starting price of $199. The price and set of specs should be enough to get you interested in them on their own, but these two phones are also some of the few options out there that work across all of the major US carriers, including Verizon. At this point, not even the incoming flagship Moto Z line can say that, unless something changes last minute. What does that mean and why is it a big deal? Well, it means that whatever carrier in the US you are on at the moment, this phone will just work out of the box on it. If you have an active SIM card from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, all you will need to do is slide in the SIM and power the phone on to get it going. That's it. The universal acceptance across major carriers here is exactly like how the Moto X Pure Edition worked last year and the Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X as well. According to Motorola's spec sheet for each phone, the supported bands are as follows: Moto G (XT1625) CDMA (850, 1900 MHz) GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS / HSPA+ (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41) Moto G4 Plus (XT1644) CDMA (850, 1900 MHz) GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS / HSPA+ (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41) Yep, looks like all the bands needed. You can pre-order the Moto G4 or Moto G4 Plus today from Motorola.

Via: Motorola

Pre-Orders Open for Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus in US, Starting at $199

Kellen — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 08:09:26 +0000

The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus, Motorola's newest budget-friendly phones, are now up for pre-order here in the US with a starting price of just $199. Neither landing page for each says specifically, but if you add either to your cart, they show an expected delivery date of July 12. UPDATE: Motorola has now announced the news and says that July 12 is indeed day 1 of availability at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Car Toys, Fry's, Microcenter, Sam's Club, Walmart.com, and their own store. Each device will also hit Republic Wireless on July 28. As a recap, the Moto G4 is the cheapest of the two, but by no means lacks decent specs for a $200 phone. The Moto G4 Plus is probably the phone you'll want to splurge a bit for, though, if you were eying either. You can check out the full specs here, but each has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon 617 processor (octa-core), 5.5-inch Full HD display (1080p), 3000mAh battery, microSD card support, and can be customized through Moto Maker. The differences are in additional specs for the G4 Plus. The G4 Plus can be upgraded from 2GB to 4GB RAM and from 16GB storage to 64GB storage, it has a 16MP camera with laser and phase detect autofocus (regular G4 has just a 13MP camera with neither AF), and also a fingerprint reader. If you are interested in the Moto G4 Plus it starts at $249 with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. For the bad boy version (64GB storage and 4GB RAM), you are looking at $299. If the lower Moto G4 is you, the 2GB RAM/16GB storage version is $199, but you can double the storage to 32GB for just $229. According to Motorola's site, the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus will work on any major US carrier, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. If you need a SIM to go with your phone, you can add one on to an order for just $5. Motorola Link

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Monday Poll: Do You Use a Custom ROM?

Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:24:00 +0000

It's no secret, we have pretty much entirely stopped talking about custom ROMs. Sure, we used to adore them and use them on all of our phones, but that was years ago. Times have changed, Android has matured, and frankly, custom ROMs don't offer all that much these days in terms of added benefits over running whatever stock software your device comes with. While the arguments that are pro the usage of custom ROMs will always be legitimate, such as custom themes and the de-bloating of smartphones thanks to added privileges, I would argue that the number one reason for rooting and ROM'ing back in the day was speed. With a custom ROM, you could load up a hotrod kernel, overclock that puppy, and all of a sudden your OG DROID is running like a million bucks. Ah, yes, those were good times, but sadly, like everything else, all good things must come to an end. So, have your rooting and custom ROM days passed, or are you still clinging onto them? And if you are, please, share your wisdom with us non-custom ROM common folk.

[poll id="415"]

Google Earth Satellite Imagery Updated With Superior Clarity

Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:04:35 +0000

Google announced updated satellite imagery for Maps and Google Earth this week, courtesy of the USGS/NASA Landsat Program. Using HD images from primarily the Landsat 8 satellite, these images feature greater detail and truer colors, offering a better look at a cloudless Earth. Not only does Landsat 8 provide better photos than Landsat 7 (which most of Google's previous images were compiled from), but the sensor also snaps shots twice as fast. This allows Google to provide the most up-to-date look at our planet from the sky. As users will note, at certain altitudes, images will be much more clear. For example, in the shot below, skyscraper details and shadows can be made out in New York City, as well as a superior details in Central Park. Landsat 8 images have been applied across the board, meaning that in most cases when in Google Earth, you will be viewing high-quality images with more detail. To enjoy the updated mosaic, open up Google Maps (Google Earth) on any platform, then enable the satellite layer. Above is Before, Below is After

Via: Google Maps

DL Q&A Sessions: Volume 41 Answers

Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:07:55 +0000

Last week, we opened up Volume 41 of the DL Q&A Sessions. Good for me, but bad for you, I took last Friday off, so we were unable to post our answers. To everyone's delight, now I'm back, so let's get to answering your questions. We received a ton of great questions last week, ranging in topics such as how we sync our devices properly when we're always changing daily drivers, if we ever get tired of blogging, if LG should drop the removable battery schtick, and if we were at all surprised by the NBA Finals outcome. Let's get to it! Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tim.

Since you are switching between phones all the time, what do you do to make sure all of your data is properly synced between devices?

K: I probably don't do enough, but I basically just let Google do everything. When I fire up a new device, I then load up LastPass to allow me to quickly log into everything and that's it. I don't SMS, so I don't need to back any of those up and move them. The majority of apps I use just sync everywhere, which is nice. T: Interestingly enough, I don't really think about that too much. When I link up my Google account on a new phone, everything I need basically comes with. Contacts, emails, and that's about it. I have all of my photos on Google Photos, which handles that, but when it comes to app data, I've learned to just not care about it. However, many games I play have added in cloud saves, so that makes syncing very easy. The experience of setting up a new device has become so much better over the years. +1 for that, Google.

Nexus 5X or Moto X Pure Edition?

K: Nexus 5X at this point. Can't beat the price, plus Google will support for another year and a half at least. Motorola has become the absolute worst at caring about its phones, so with the Moto X Pure Edition, you just don't know what kind of support you are going to get. For example, the MXPE is still on Android 6.0, not even Android 6.0.1. It's the single flagship from Moto from last year and they can't even update it properly to a minor bug fixer. T: For me, the customization options that are still available on the Moto X Pure Edition continues to win me over. Leather is, and always will be, way better than Google's budget Nexus device. Sorry not sorry. Plus, both run nearly identical Android OS experiences.

Do you ever get tired of your job?

K: Oh, for sure. While this is one of the greatest jobs ever - playing with new tech all of the time and sharing thoughts on it - there are times when things just get slow. Like right now. There isn't much going on as we anticipate Android N, new Nexus phones, the Note 7, and the Moto Z in August. We aren't the type of site to fill up our feed with SEO spam and garbage how-to posts that we hope people search for, so it can get a bit slow. T: Even if you have the best job in the world, there must be times that get slow, right? I love what I do and I take pride in the fact that I've gotten better at it over the years. Throughout certain times of the year, things can drag a little bit, but it pays off when companies drop tons of phones and there are lots of things to write. I usually refer to this period as the, "calm before the storm." It's probably one of the more exciting times for my job. Thankfully, Kellen and I have been working together for quite a few years now, so when sh*t hits the fan, we both can handle the work with straight ease.

NBA Finals Outcome: Expected or surprised?

K: Definitely not expected, and just a little surprised. I tried to remind everyone after game 2 that these are long series and two road game slaughterings aren't the end. I will say that am super surprised at how LeBron responded after the Warriors talked all that trash about him. He's not often a cold blooded killer like he was game 5, 6, and 7. Was nice to see someone stick it to the little entitled it kids of the moment who got a little ahead of themselves. T: Not too surprising with all of the drama orbiting around Draymond. Dude plays with a lot of heart and brings that fire, so when we had to sit out Game 5, I pretty much saw Cleveland taking the title. There was a big momentum swing. Also, the fact that the Warriors appeared to be better than the '96 Bulls (73 regular seasons wins), then losing in the Finals, really makes me happy. Maybe pundits can stop with the comparisons now.

If you had to relocate your home office to somewhere in the US, what would be your top three choices?

K: For convenient work reasons, New York. We miss a lot of small press gatherings because we just aren't there like a lot of media. I'd consider my hometown of Whitefish, MT, as well because it's so damn beautiful and I have family there, but flying in and out is just not cheap or easy at all. After those two, I'm not sure - maybe somewhere super warm, on a beach? T: I would want somewhere remote and rural. Not a place off the grid by any means, but just somewhere that my dogs can run around free, no noisy neighbors, and no damn kids stepping on my lawn. To clarify, I'd shoot for wooded areas in Oregon/Washington, northern California, and maybe even north western Nevada. No matter what, it's gotta be Pacific Northwest. Can't leave this area.

Can you list your Top 3 bucket list items?

K: I'm not much of a bucket list guy. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever thought about it. My personality is the type that obsesses and schemes until it can accomplish something, so there isn't this list of things I need or want to do. With that said, there are two things I really want to do in the next couple of years and they are: NCAA Final Four with my dad and a Kentucky whiskey tour with my brother. T: I don't personally keep a bucket list, as I sort of just take life as it comes. If there's an opportunity for something, I go for it. If I had a list, though, it would probably consist of a worldwide eating/drinking tour, visiting my great grandfather's homeland in Russia (or Poland, there is mixed documentation as to where my ancestors are from. Thanks, Ellis Island!), and maybe visiting a wolf sanctuary in Canada or something. That'd be sweet.

Which OEM do you think is up next to get bought/sold?

K: My first thought is HTC, but I just don't think there is value there for anyone to want to buy them. They have little cash, don't own a bunch of patents, and aren't selling any phones nor do they have momentum. I'm not sure anyone would be a good fit to buy at this point. T: I think we all just assume HTC, yeah? Only issue is that HTC brings little value to the table at this point, unless some company thinks Vive is worth a billion dollars, which to me, it is not.

Do you think LG should give up on having a removable battery?

K: Yes. It clearly limited their modular experience this year and just isn't a big enough sell to keep around. Apple sells millions upon millions of phones and has never had the option. Samsung switched to non-removable and is back to selling record phones. I think few people really care about the ability to swap batteries. The people who complain, I think, are a loud minority. T: While I would never suggest companies follow a certain trend, it does seem that there are much better ways to differentiate your product from others than by using a removable battery. I mean, Motorola has Moto Mods, Samsung has its design, and HTC has something, although, I'm not sure what. I guess they have BoomSound? My point is, LG's step into modularity appears to be a underwhelming effort. If bringing a non-removable battery into the mix helps them in the design department, I say go for it.

What reason is there not to buy a OnePlus 3 if you're still using one of last year's flagships?

K: You don't like big phones and you don't trust them with software updates. Those are my two worries/issues. T: Well, we do have new Nexus devices coming soon, and if you are on the fence, that should be your only reason. Nexus phones are always priced reasonably, will receive updates, and get support directly from Google. Can't argue with any of that.

If you could choose, which OEM would you have make your "perfect" phone?

K: Huawei is making really great hardware right now, so they would be up there. I guess I would also like to see Google make a Pixel phone, where it's 100% their design in hardware. The Pixel and Pixel C are fantastic looking devices. I'd love to see those in phone form. T: Dang, after handling the P9 from Huawei, I'd be crazy not to say them. That phone feels so darn good in-hand. Too bad the software is a dumpster fire. For my dream phone, I choose you, Huawei. Oh, but keep your gimmicky dual-camera setup, please.

Is the bad-battery business (battery banks, charging cases, etc.) too lucrative for OEMs to really get behind upgrading battery tech?

K: I think battery tech is the problem. We haven't had a major battery tech breakthrough in who knows how long and so we are stuck with ancient battery tech that hasn't kept up with smartphone needs. I think if a company could say, "3-day battery life in our phone!" and it be true, they would do it in a heartbeat. For many, that would be the ultimate selling point. T: It's an election year, and seriously, not a single candidate has discussed the issue that plagues American consumers more than any other - crappy battery life. Make battery life great again! My flip phone lasted a week, damn it. It's 2016 and I charge my phone every night. Houston, we have a problem. While Elon Musk is building rockets for Mars and what have you, I've been chained to the wall, waiting for my smartphone to charge up. In all seriousness, though, I don't want quicker ways of charging. I want a battery that lasts more than 24 hours. Who knows, maybe one day we will have it.

Do you ever use VR at your own home for fun?

K: As the self-appointed VR hater of the world, I actually use it all of the time at home. I have an HTC Vive and have been enjoying the hell out of it. I'm basically the king of #SelfieTennis. T: God no. More times than not, I exit VR experiences feeling sick, so I just don't bother with it. Only time I haven't felt sick was when I used HTC's Vive, so until I have one of those, I'm sticking to real life and not virtual reality.

With Allo and Duo coming out (very soon), what do you think is the future of Hangouts?

K: Google says it isn't going anywhere and I think I believe them. Allo requires a phone number for setup and Hangouts has a Google requirement. So they are two products whether they want to be or not because of the way you have to sign-up to use them. Hangouts is also a part of Google's apps (like Gmail), which also means it's a corporate messenger. Allo is a stand-alone chat app and that's it. T: Hangouts just works. It's not awesome, but it's not terrible. I use it everyday. It does what I need it to. Allo and Duo won't be replacing it anytime soon. That's not to say Google couldn't improve upon it, but in reality, it's a standard instant messaging platform that doesn't really need to do much more than it already does. That's just my belief, though. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Twitter Introduces #Stickers for Your Photos

Kellen — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:49:42 +0000

Over the coming weeks, Twitter will rollout an update to its Android and iOS apps that introduces #Stickers, which as the name for them suggests, are fun little stickers that can be placed on the photos you share through Twitter. With #Stickers, you get a "new way to add creativity to your photos and connect them to the world." Twitter says you can choose from rotating sets that include "hundreds of accessories, emoji, and props" that will be both generic and potentially timely. You could see options that help you show support for a cause, but let's be honest here, aren't we all seeing this as a way for Twitter to partner with brands? Yes, we are. Stickers can be resized and rotated on photos to give you a custom experience for each that you share. But also, a photo with stickers is searchable in new ways. A tap on a sticker will apparently take you into a new timeline with other photos that have been shared with those same stickers. How neat. Again, the updates to enable #Stickers will arrive "over the next few weeks." https://twitter.com/twitter/status/747429521440202752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Via: Twitter

T-Mobile's Galaxy Note 4 is Getting Android 6.0.1 Today

Kellen — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:01:51 +0000

T-Mobile has started pushing an update today to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as software version VU2DPE3 or VU1DPE3. Those numbers don't actually matter much, though, because the real story here is the fact that the update is Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. T-Mobile doesn't list many details about the update outside of the file size (1.5GB), but being a Note device, you should expect a similar experience to what the Note 5 got with Marshmallow. Details of that update can be found here. To check for the update, head into Settings>About device>Software update. T-Mo's variant of the Note 4 joins Verizon's as the first Note 4s to get Marshmallow.

Via: T-Mobile

Cheers Brian!

Google's Expeditions App Now Available to All in Google Play

Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:51:10 +0000

Last September, Google opened up the Expeditions Pioneer Program. Since then, over a million students from 11 countries have taken VR field trips across the globe, helping children learn more about far away locations and cultures. Today, Google is opening Expeditions to everyone, launching the official app to Google Play for all to download. Targeted towards teachers, those with students simply need to download the app onto a set of devices, then choose which trip they wish to take. Naturally, schools will need to provide Cardboard headsets or something similar for the kids to benefit from the virtual reality. To help with that, Best Buy Education is making Expedition kits available to schools for purchase, which contains everything students and teachers need for these experiences. To give you an idea of which locations are supported in Expeditions, students can take a trip to Antarctica, Machu Pichu, Mars, Yosemite, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, and many more. Watch the video below, then remember that there might still be hope for our future generations. Play Link

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Via: Google | Expeditions Program

Here's a Few Reported Specs for the Galaxy Note '7'

Tim — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:50:26 +0000

According to the latest from Evan Blass, the next Galaxy Note will in fact be the Galaxy Note 7, not the Galaxy Note 6. As far as we know, nothing has yet changed for the timeframe Samsung will unveil the device, which is still rumored to be August 2 in New York City. A bit more interesting, though, are the specs Blass listed recently onto his Twitter feed. If all of these specs are in fact making their way into the Note 7, fans of Samsung and the Note series should be pretty excited. Listed by Blass, the Galaxy Note 7 should feature a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, 64GB of internal storage, expandable storage via microSD, 12 megapixel rear-facing camera with Dual Pixel, 5 megapixel front-facing camera, as well as the reported iris scanner for additional biometric security. Oh, and maybe the most exciting spec, IP68 water and dust resistance, the same as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. At this time, there's no word (official or unofficial) on what processor Samsung will use or amount of RAM. Blass also tweets that the device will be available in Silver, Blue, and Black. We are creeping closer to July, putting us about one month away from the reported unveiling date for the device. If the previous reports are correct, Samsung will make the device available immediately following the announcement, helping those who have a tendency for impulse purchases get their hands on the device quickly. How are these specs sounding to you? Anything missing?

Via: @evleaks

DEAL: Nest Thermostat (3rd Gen) is $199 Thru July 4 ($50 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:53:00 +0000

Nest Thermostat, one of the few items of tech I've purchased within the past few years that I often refer to as "an item I can't live without," is discounted at the moment in celebration of July 4th. Nest has dropped the 3rd gen model (the newest version) by $50, so to get into a device that rarely sees discounts, you can do so for $199 instead of $249. Not all that familiar with Nest Thermostats? Just know that they are the ultimate smart home convenience items. Not only can you adjust the temperature of your house at any time from anywhere, you can also set schedules for heating and cooling or let Nest create them for you automatically. Nest works with a number of smart home platforms (like Amazon Alexa) and can be a hub of sorts for automation, like your doors locking or your WiFi cameras turning off or on. As of right now, most retailers have the Nest Thermostat (3rd gen) at $50 off. Links: Amazon | Best Buy | Nest

Report: Google Will Release Its Own Non-Nexus Phone Later This Year

Kellen — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:25:22 +0000

For years, tech pundits, especially old washed up media who love nothing more than Apple, have begged Google to be like Apple. They think, because Apple prints money by manufacturing their own phones that run their own software, that there is no other way for Google to approach Android. Forget the fact that Android is on four in five phones across the globe, it's Apple's way or bust. According to a report that randomly went live over the weekend from the Telegraph, these one-track-minded pundits may get what they have long wished for. Sources of the Telegraph, potentially who work within the carrier realm, are under the impression that Google is going to release a Google-branded phone that is 100% controlled by Google. The phone could arrive before the end of the year. Confused? How is this different from Nexus phones? Let's walk through this. Nexus phones are Google-owned and sold phones that they are mostly in control of. They use Nexus hardware to fine-tune the latest versions of Android and often add on a hardware capability that they would like to see adopted in the industry. They influence the design of the these products and also push software updates directly to them. They are, by all means, Google's devices. However, Google uses the Nexus program to partner with a manufacturer in the industry to help in the manufacturing of these devices, so they aren't exactly 100% Google phones and tablets. Last year we had Nexus devices made by Huawei and LG that were also branded with Huawei and LG logos. The same could be said for the Nexus 6 and Motorola, the Nexus 5 and 4 and LG, Galaxy Nexus and Samsung, etc. You get the point. Nexus phones are Google phones, but they partner with a big name to manufacture them. A Google-branded phone is what we would consider a phone that is much more like Google's Pixel C tablet, where there is no hardware partner, just Google branding with Google software. That means Google will design every inch of a phone, hire someone (like Foxconn) to build it, and then put the software on it. It won't have Huawei or LG's names on it - it'll just be all Google. Why do this? Pundits have long thought that Google could take control of this whole "fragmentation" idea, where manufacturers who ship Android phones struggle to push updates in a timely manner, by making their own phone from top to bottom. It won't fix that at all, unless all of those other companies like Samsung, LG, Huawei, Motorola, and HTC quit Android and Google all of a sudden becomes the only Android manufacturer. Google would also have to sell hundreds of millions of Google phones, like Apple does, for that to really be a thing worth talking about. The chances of that happening are ridiculously slim at this mature stage in smartphones. But, by making their own phone, they have a chance to really show the industry what they think Android could be. They could highlight even more hardware ideas, create new software experiences outside of the "stock" Android that ships on Nexus phones, and also see what the world thinks about a Google phone that is sold everywhere. It's not a terrible idea, even if Nexus phones are basically Google phones already. Will it fix these so-called "fragmentation" issues? Again, no. But Google-branded hardware is becoming more and more commonplace (think Google Home, Chromecast, etc.) and a phone without "Nexus" across the back seems like a logical next step for the company who now has former Motorola boss, Rick Osterloh, in charge of a new hardware division.

Via: Telegraph

Google May be Redesigning Android's Nav Bar With Ugly Home Button, Introduce Live Nexus Support Via App

Kellen — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:10:33 +0000

Not surprisingly, Android news is pretty slow these days, as it always is in the lead-up to a new version of the OS. Google more than likely doesn't want to out anything too fun at the moment, since we are only two months or so from stable Android N going public and new Nexus devices running it arriving alongside it. To fill the time, we are left entertaining rumors of minute changes that may or may not be on the horizon, like Google tweaking the navigation bar appearance and creating a live support app for Nexus users. Yep, that's where we are at the moment. Both bits of information arrived through Android Police, this morning, but to break it up, let's start first with the navigation bar. According to this report, a new navigation bar could see life on Android N or only on Nexus devices or on...we don't know. But this is what it could look like! Emphasis on the "could" because Google is prone to switching things up on a regular basis.

Please, no. That home button is...yikes. Today's report suggests that this new navigation bar may arrive soon and that the home button has some sort of long-press animation along with it. That's really all we know. What I know is that I'm hoping this is one of the "We're just playing around, guys, and we'll get rid of this multi-colored disaster at launch! Haaaaah...chill, bros!" types of things. Look, I get that this could be some sort of Nexus exclusive type of change, where Google is highlighting that Nexus phones are Google phones and you should be happy and proud to own one and that those colors could animate into some hot Now on Tap action that all the fanboys will get sweaty over. But it also feels a hell of a lot like when Verizon branded the home button of the Galaxy Note 2 to let you know every single time you touched it, that Verizon owned your ass. We get it Google, your colors are fun and you infuse them into a lot of things, but this isn't the way any of us want to see it. Just stick to the simple, clean, modern, minimal home button we all know and enjoy. As for the second rumor today, word has it that we may see Nexus devices get a live support app. Here is a mock-up of the icon and opening screen for the app.

There isn't much to figure out here. After all, a live support app is exactly that - a live support app. From the screen above, we can see that Google could get a view of your screen (that whole "share your screen for guided support" part) to help walk you through issues, diagnose problems, or help you accomplish your Android dreams. The app could come to other Android devices, but that would be a tough task for Google to take on, you know, trying to support phones that aren't theirs. Nexus owners, interested in getting live screen-shareable support from Google? Android nerds, what are your thoughts on that new navigation bar?

Via: Android Police [2]

OnePlus 3 Getting Update with sRGB Mode, RAM Adjustments

Kellen — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 11:23:00 +0000

Since the OnePlus 3 starting arriving on non-privileged media's doorsteps and additional reviews began rolling out, this narrative over the quality of the phone's display and RAM management have really come to the forefront. Or maybe better put, people aren't exactly excited about the direction that OnePlus took the AMOLED panel of the 3 and the way they are dealing with background apps. But because of concerns, OnePlus has already readied an update that aims to address complaints and select media (XDA in this case) have been able to use it for the past day. To catch you up, though, this is the current situation. Within the last week, a number of reviewers that do much deeper analysis than the early batch of reviewers has noticed that the display is calibrated pretty poorly. Anandtech spent a good section of its review trashing the hell out of it in the most objective sense, by showing numbers and data on how the OP3 display compares to other flagship devices (spoiler: it doesn't fare well). Their tests show that the display is poor in brightness, greyscale, and color reproduction departments, and could be the result of OnePlus not tuning the device to the sRGB color space. sRGB, for those not up on display calibration talk, is basically a standard color space that is pretty widely adopted on smartphones, monitors, etc. It's muted, to put it simply, so that you don't have the outlandish vibrance that many once bitched about whenever an AMOLED panel was used in a display. OnePlus, according to co-founder Carl Pei, purposely didn't tune the AMOLED display on the OnePlus 3 to sRGB because it's a "niche requirement and is not the right choice for the vast majority of smartphone users." Argue with that any way you want, but know that the choice was done for their own reasons. As I mentioned in the opening, OnePlus has heard the cries and will add an sRGB display option in an upcoming update. XDA has that update and notes that this new sRGB mode is found in developer options, just like it is on the Nexus 6P. Their early opinion? This new mode is "rather pleasant to look at." Well then. Here is a comparison that shows sRGB mode off (left) and then on (right). Pretty big difference, right? If for some reason you aren't seeing it, just compare the lower orangeish section and front grass on each photo and it should be obvious. The left side is ridiculously orange and green, while the right looks much more natural, if not muted for a photo as vibrant as this one.

As for the RAM management I also mentioned, OnePlus is aware that the OnePlus 3 isn't holding very many apps in its 6GB of RAM and constantly refreshes them once they are re-opened. OnePlus has said that this was also done on purpose, because it helps with battery life and creates the "best user experience." As others on Twitter and various forums have noted, what the hell is the point of the phone's 6GB RAM then? Co-founder Carl Pei has a variety of responses to that, all of which can be found through this tweet. XDA found that after this update, the OnePlus 3 is now able to hold an extra 3 apps in memory. While not a significant amount, it's yet another tweak by OnePlus to give in to early adopters. Like the decisions they made or not out of the gate, you have to give OnePlus some credit for at least being semi-quick to acknowledge user wants and then issue an update. Well, an update to some press. We still don't know when this update will arrive on all units (both our review and purchased units do not have this update yet).

Via: XDA

DEAL: 32GB Nexus 5X for $260 at Daily Steals With This Coupon Code ($140 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:15:24 +0000

Nexus 5X deals never seem to go away and the latest is one of the best we have seen to date. Over at Daily Steals, you can grab the 5X with 32GB storage for just $259.99 after coupon code. That's a solid $140 discount. To get the deal, head over to Daily Steals through the link below, add the device to your cart, and then use code "NexusEmail10" at checkout to see an extra $10 drop off the price. Our Nexus 5X review is a good place to start if you are considering buying one. Daily Steals Link

YouTube Gets Mobile Live Streaming

Kellen — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:03:17 +0000

YouTube has been in the live streaming game for a number of years now, but you have never been able to live stream from a mobile device. That seems odd, since YouTube is still video king and Google is a company who has heavily invested its future in mobile. Instead, those who want to live stream from anywhere on mobile have had to turn to services like Periscope and Facebook, who were early into mobile live streaming game. Today, YouTube is joining the party. As a part of VidCon, YouTube and Google announced that mobile live streaming is arriving to a select group of YouTubers immediately and will then rollout "more widely soon." To stream via YouTube app, you won't need a separate app (which is shocking, since this is YouTube we are talking about). All you'll need is the latest version of the app and a tap on a new "big red" capture button. You can select photos as a thumbnail and broadcast and chat in "near real time." Once a stream has finished, the video will be just like any other video in that you will be able to search for them, find them through recommendations, and protect them. Sounds easy, right? We'll let you know once the update starts becoming available to all.

Via: YouTube Creator Blog

Want to See the Inside of the OnePlus 3?

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:19:53 +0000

Tech outfits like to "teardown" phones and other gadgets for a couple of reasons. For one, we're all nerds and like looking at cables, batteries, screws, circuits, speakers, ports, boards, and displays in their raw, disconnected form. But the other reason is because we also like to ponder the idea of fixing these things ourselves should something break. After all, who doesn't like pulling out a 70-piece tool kit made specifically for ripping apart tiny electronics? The latest to receive the teardown treatment is the OnePlus 3. The folks over at Fonearena had the honor of walking through the process, which they gave a 7.5 out of 10 score on the repairability scale. That's them suggesting that this phone isn't that easy to repair, unless you can figure out how to get the back cover off without destroying everything inside. Inside the phone, you won't really find any surprises, this is just another one of those videos that we find odd, nerd joy in.

Via: Fonearena

Here are Some of the Rumored Specs for an Upcoming HTC Nexus

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:03:59 +0000

Back in April, we saw the first batch of reports surface with possible details of the upcoming Nexus phone or phones from Google. The initial rumors focused on codenames of Marlin and Sailfish as those representing two HTC phones that would take over Google's Nexus program this year, but few other details accompanied those names. Today, thanks to a report out of Android Police, we may have an early spec list for the supposed smaller of the two phones, the Sailfish. According to this report, Sailfish will be the smaller of two HTC-made Nexus phones headed this way and could be a well-put-together package for those not interested in another whale-ish Nexus. An initial spec list provided suggests we'll get a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core 2.0GHz (64-bit) processor, 4GB RAM, 2770mAh battery, 32GB storage, 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, USB Type-C port on the bottom, bottom-firing speaker, top-mounted headphone jack, and Bluetooth 4.2. This goes without saying, but Android N will be there as well, assuming Google does what it always does and launches the new version of Android on fresh Nexus hardware. Or better yet, here is all of that in bulleted form:

HTC Nexus "sailfish"
5-inch FHD AMOLED display (1080p)
2.0GHz quad-core processor (64-bit)
4GB RAM
2770mAh battery
32GB storage
12MP rear camera
8MP front camera
Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
USB Type-C port
Bottom-firing speaker
Top-mounted headphone jack
Bluetooth 4.2

This report can't confirm if 32GB will be the only storage option (or even the base at that), what the processor is, how many speakers there are, or what the price will be. Still, this info certainly gets the wheels turning as we approach August, where we expect Google to show off finished Nexus devices for 2016. Based off of that info, could this be what the Nexus 5X should have been? Should HTC make great hardware with help from Google and the price be right as the smaller model, I'm not seeing much here that I'm not ready to jump after.

Via: Android Police

WhatsApp Users Place 100 Million Calls Every Day

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 12:37:11 +0000

When you have billions of users and are on the phones of 1 in 7 people across the globe, it makes sense that your usage numbers fall into the "Holy sh*t, that's a lot of" category. The latest example of such from WhatsApp was announced today via blog post, where the increasingly popular chat app said that its users place 100 million calls per day. PER DAY. Another way to put that would be 1,100 calls every second on WhatsApp. How cool. And I still don't use it, nor do I know anyone who does. But for those of you who do and know others who do as well, enjoy it - I'm sure it's a fantastic chatting experience. I'll just be over here griping at Hangouts, its bugs, and the fact that I can't swipe the navigation drawer out from any screen.

Via: WhatsApp

Nextbit Says It Can Fix Battery Life With Software, Will Do So Later This Year

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 10:10:46 +0000

Nextbit, the technology company who thought that promoting smart cloud storage of apps was a way to get you to buy a phone, now wants you to think that it can fix battery life issues by applying principles from their smart storage. Through a forum post announcement, the Nextbit team suggests that it can "save your battery before it needs saving" and will do so Q4 of this year. How is Nextbit going to do that? As I just mentioned, they said that they can "apply the same intelligence" that they created in their smart storage functionality and apply it to the way your phone manages battery or performance or tasks or something along those lines. Nextbit isn't exactly opening the playbook here, but they are saying that when the new version of their Nextbit OS launches later this year, it will get to know your "habits" and optimize smartphone functions "at the system level to ensure you get the most screen time possible." All of this should happen "on top of the features Google has implemented in Marshmallow" and in Android N, leading to a "compounding" of the power savings you could see. Anyone want to speculate on exactly what this means? Are we just talking about cutting off power-hungry apps that aren't in use? Are we talking about more efficient RAM management beyond what Google does? Will Nextbit pull cloud-stored unicorn tears from your account to smartly re-fill batteries when needed? Are there even enough crying unicorns in the world for that? Is Nextbit farm-raising unicorns? Is their logo really a unicorn disguised as a sheep? So many questions.

Via: Nextbit

Universal Search Comes to Netflix on Android TV

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:26:30 +0000

According to simultaneous tweets and G+ posts by official Android accounts, it appears as if Netflix has finally been added to Android TV's universal search function. That means you should see suggestions for Netflix and also find search results for Netflix shows when you use the main Android TV search functionality. I don't know why this wasn't there from day 1, but it is now. Neither Android account has mentioned whether or not an update is coming and the Netflix app hasn't seen an update since early June, so it's tough to tell how this change will come about. Either way, yay! https://twitter.com/Android/status/745995701528764417

DEAL: Moto X Pure Edition Drops to as Low as $239, Free SD Cards Included

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 08:10:07 +0000

As we inch closer to the summer launch of the Moto Z brand, it only makes sense that Motorola and its retail partners try and clear out any remaining Moto X Pure Edition inventory. Today, they should be able to do that in a hurry with the crazy low prices they are currently offering the phone for with 16GB or 64GB of storage. Most retailers who carry the phone are selling the 16GB Moto X Pure Edition for just $239.00, which is a $110 discount. If you want all the storage, you can grab the 64GB version for just $319.00, a $130 discount. B&H Photo, Best Buy, and Amazon all have each phone for that low price. Want more? If you buy from B&H Photo, you'll also get a free microSD card. The 16GB phone gets a free 32GB Class 10 card, while the 64GB phone gets a 64GB Class 10 card, both of which are from Transcend. Links:

B&H Photo Link
Best Buy Link
Amazon Link

T-Mobile is Unleashing the Summer With Unlimited High-Speed Data in Europe, Free Gogo Internet

Kellen — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:52:37 +0000

T-Mobile customer with travel plans for Europe this summer? Thanks to the Uncarrier's new "Summer Unleashed" promo, your trip will now include unlimited high-speed data at no extra cost. This morning, T-Mobile announced that all Simple Choice customers get "unlimited high-speed data across all of Europe" (except in Andorra), with speeds up to 4G LTE levels. That means no massive roaming bills or never-ending hunts for WiFi hotspots. As T-Mobile puts it, if you are traveling throughout Europe, "your phone just works = exactly like it should." The promo kicks off July 1 and ends August 31, so if your travel plans include dates in that range, send a little "Thanks" over to T-Mo. In semi-related news, as a part of this "Summer Unleashed" deal, T-Mobile announced that for this weekend, everyone who flies on a plane equipped with Gogo internet service, gets an hour of free each way. And that includes those on AT&T and Verizon as well. T-Mobile has been working closely with Gogo for some time, so this is yet another way for them to show non-T-Mobile customers the added benefits of being a T-Mo customer. This deal kicks off Friday, June 24, and ends Sunday, June 26 at 11PM ET.

Via: T-Mobile

Wednesday Poll: Do You Prefer On-Screen or Capacitive Buttons?

Tim — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:20:05 +0000

We were recently asked on Twitter why we prefer on-screen buttons to capacitive. The fact is, there are many pros and cons to each setup. Don't believe me? Check out our massive list. Personally, I enjoy the more immersive feeling I get when using on-screen buttons, but really, it comes down to what I would describe as a more sexy look. Since the launch of the first OnePlus device, users have been able to choose which button setup they want, which I think is a major plus for OP. As far as I know, no other Android smartphone maker does this. On the OnePlus 3, I opt for on-screen buttons, but thanks to a slight bug with the software, I am currently restricted from using them. If it wasn't for that software bug, though, I'd be rocking on-screen buttons all day. What about you? If you have a preference, which do you prefer?

[poll id="414"]

DEAL: Buy a Moto X Pure Edition 64GB, Get a Free Moto 360 Sport

Tim — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 13:34:30 +0000

Now until June 28, anyone who purchases a Moto X Pure Edition directly from Motorola, so long as its a 64GB model, will receive a free Moto 360 Sport smartwatch. The price of a 64GB Pure Edition starts at $399, the same price as a new OnePlus 3. Naturally, if you upgrade your Pure Edition to leather, you are looking at an extra $25 in cost. On the bright side, the Moto X Pure Edition is currently $100 off its original pricing, so not only are you saving on the phone, but you are getting the free Android Wear smartwatch, too. As for the Moto 360 Sport, it features a standalone price of $199, which is $100 off of its launch price of $299. When reviewing the device, we came away pretty impressed, but couldn't help ourselves from being disappointed in the $299 pricing. With the chance to get it for free thanks to this promotion, one can't complain too much. Have at it if you'd like. Motorola Link

OnePlus 3 Camera Review

Tim — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 11:58:51 +0000

Looking over the spec sheet for the OnePlus 3, the device checks off a whole lotta boxes. From what we can tell, as the technology has improved, many people are relying on their smartphones more than ever to deliver high-grade photography. Not everyone carries around a professional camera, so having a smartphone shooter that can capture all of life's joys is pretty important. Plus, you don't want to be posting pixelated photos of that gorgeous dinner you devoured last night, right? So how does the OnePlus 3 camera stack up to others in the field? For specifications, the camera features a 16MP sensor, as well as OIS (optical image stabilization) and EIS (electronic image stabilization). The stabilization tech works to ensure that your photos come out looking crispy and not a blurry mess. Additionally, the OnePlus 3 supports shooting in RAW, allowing for post-shot advanced editing work. Much like other top-tier smartphones on the market, the OnePlus 3 also features a comprehensive Manual shooting mode, granting users access to more mid-shot adjustment tools. Below, we go over the OnePlus 3 camera's software, then take a look at a few example shows to give you an idea of what you can expect if you decide to purchase the OnePlus 3.

Software

The camera software baked into the OnePlus 3 is extremely straightforward, allowing anyone to open it up and start firing away. During my time testing, I didn't notice any outstanding bugs or jank to be found, which is a good thing considering this phone does have such high-end specs. Upon first boot up of the camera, you are placed in the standard "Auto" mode, meaning the phone's software is calibrating all of the settings for you by itself. It will adjust your lighting settings, enable the flash if you are in a dark locale, and will ultimately strive to deliver the best photo without the user having to input any settings. However, if you want something a bit less automated, such as a light streak photo with tweaked exposure settings, you can head into the easy-to-understand Manual mode. Unlike this setting on other devices I have used, OnePlus did not overdo it. The settings are perfectly laid out, although, without prior knowledge as to what they do exactly, one may be left wondering what ISO or White Balance does. With that said, the sliding wheels that control these various settings are super smooth, allowing you to test them very quickly to see if they are something you want to play with. The camera is also very quick to react to the different settings you choose, so on the display (which is essentially your viewfinder), you can get a sense for the shot you are able to take.

As you will see in a few of the photos below, the OnePlus 3 excels in certain macro settings. If your subject is not shaking too much and allows you to get in real close (such as the bee and fly I photographed), it can make for some really great shots if you zoom in and enlarge with editing software. Beyond cropping and resizing, none of the photos below have been altered with software. Overall, the software is very straightforward and easy to use. As someone who does not label themselves as a professional photographer, I appreciate that. If I was to share a bit of criticism, it would be that the camera does not focus as fast as other phones I have used in the recent past, such as the Galaxy S7 and Nexus 6P. I will say, the camera experience as a whole is much better than on the HTC 10, which has a very hard time at focusing quickly unless your lighting is absolutely perfect. Even in dark settings, the OnePlus 3 handles itself pretty well in the focus and noise department.

Verdict

For a $400 smartphone, the OnePlus 3 delivers a solid camera experience. To compare, I would say that it doesn't quite match that of the Galaxy S7, Nexus 6P, or Galaxy Note 5, but the OnePlus 3 certainly holds its own against the LG G5 and HTC 10. Considering the phone just launched, it's possible that with future software updates, we may even see a few improvements to the camera. As for what could use improving, the time to focus might need a bit of adjusting, as well as maybe some added dialog for the Manual mode, just for the folks who may not be familiar with what all of the settings control. Beyond that, OnePlus did a spectacular job. Take a look at the sample photos below, then feel free to shoot over any questions you have in the comments section. I'm here all week.

Gallery

Snapseed 2.6 Update Adds Blue Filter in Black and White, White Balance in RAW Editor

Kellen — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 11:21:10 +0000

Snapseed, Google's photo editing app that was acquired back during the prime of its Google+ push, received an update today that adds more editing power to black and white photos and when tinkering with RAW pics. A Blue filter is now included in Black and white, because this should create a "high contrast black and white image by pushing blue tones white and yellow tones black." White balance has also been added in the RAW editor on Android, with options for a neutral color, or eight other presets (like Tungsten, Daylight, and Sunny). The update should be available today. Play Link

Via: +Snapseed

AT&T Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ are FINALLY Getting Marshmallow Updates

Kellen — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 09:11:46 +0000

Back in February, we saw a first glimpse of a beta Marshmallow running on AT&T's variant of the Galaxy Note 5. February. Today is June 22 and AT&T is finally pushing the stable update to not only the Note 5, but to its brother, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ as well. The update is arriving as a big 1.4GB file that seems to be available to most owners of the phone. Heading into Settings>About phone to check for the update will likely allow you to pull it. What took AT&T so long to get this update out? They won't ever say, but the fact that T-Mobile had it out in April, while Sprint and Verizon both pushed it out in March, certainly isn't something AT&T should be proud of. To see what you can expect from the Marshmallow update, hit up this post. Go grab it.

Via: AT&T

Former HTC CEO Peter Chou Sets Off for Retirement Sunset

Tim — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 08:56:05 +0000

It's official, Peter Chou no longer has an active role at HTC. The former CEO, who moved to a backend position as the company's head of "future development," then was apparently holding a role as "chairman of Digital Domain," will now offer his consultation to the company in times of need, but beyond that, he's retired. Peter Chou led HTC for a decade, providing the world with the One lineup of Android devices, and even incubated one of world's more popular VR headsets in HTC Vive. He seemed like a good guy, even showing off unannounced phones while on stage, but HTC had its share of struggles while under his leadership. Here is the statement from HTC that has been provided to a few media outlets across the web. Note, it has gone through Google Translate.

Mr. Peter Chou, HTC confirmed in September 2015 as the digital realm (Digital Domain) chairman after leaving HTC original positions, and invited him as a consultant. We are grateful to Mr. Chou long-term commitment to the company's business, and sincerely wish him future development. Now, we are honored to invite Mr. Peter Chou, HTC as honorary adviser, continued to play its experience.

We wish the best to Mr. Chou.

Via: The Verge

Samsung's Gear 360 to Cost $350 in the US, Who Knows When It's Coming to Anyone but YouTubers

Kellen — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 07:59:40 +0000

Back in April, Samsung announced that its Gear 360 camera, a device that will probably be the best 360-degree VR camera on the block, was headed to select countries. At the time, they failed to provide pricing or when anyone in the US could buy it. Now, as we close in on the end of June, we are one step closer to knowing all when it comes to US availability. We know a price! According to Samsung, the Gear 360 will cost a semi-steep, but-sort-of-expectedly-steep price of $349.99. The device goes on sale in the US today...sort of. VidCon, this place for YouTubers to grandstand around like the faux-celebrities they are and get chased around by ~~stalkers~~ tweens who watch too much YouTube, is kicking off tomorrow and will be the official mini-launch of the Gear 360. The device will be available at VidCon in "limited" quantities, mostly to YouTubers who get paid by Samsung to show off Samsung products to their millions of YouTube subscribers. And seriously, those are the only people who can buy it for now. Samsung would only say that additional availability "will follow later in the year." OK!

Via: Samsung

PlayStation Vue Coming to Android Next Week

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 15:16:32 +0000

Coupled with the announcement that it is now available for Roku, PlayStation Vue will be made available on Android devices beginning next week. If you are sitting there asking yourself, "What on Earth is PlayStation Vue?," think of it as a Netflix-like cable TV competitor. With it, users get access to on-demand content, livestreaming TV shows (55+ channels on the basic package), as well as a feature called My Shows, which is a cloud-based DVR. To sum it up, it's yet another option for those looking to ditch their dinosaur cable TV provider, angled directly at PlayStation console owners. With PlayStation Vue available for Android, subscribers can watch all of their content directly from their smartphone or tablet, so long as it is running Android 4.4 or newer. Additionally, the app will support Chromecast or any Google Cast-supported device, such as an Android TV box (NVIDIA SHIELD) or HDTV with Google Cast built-in. At any given time, a user can have five individual streams running on different devices, making it a decent option for those with a family or a cheap friend who doesn't want to spend the dough on their own account. Once the app goes live on Google Play, which will happen next week, we'll let you know.

Via: PlayStation

T-Mobile Tuesdays Struggles for 3rd Straight Week, Offers Extended Through Friday

Kellen — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:48:21 +0000

T-Mobile Tuesdays was billed as a way for the growing wireless (un)carrier to thank and reward all customers with free sh*t on a weekly basis. Dinner and a movie was the biggest selling point, but T-Mobile wanted to give out free Lyft rides, swag to MLB.com, and Frosties from Wendy's too. Of course, we already saw the dinner and a movie idea fall through after just two weeks of Domino's struggling to keep up and now, in our third week, the bumps aren't softening. T-Mobile was once again hit with more traffic to their T-Mobile Tuesdays service than they could handle, prompting the company to announce that they were extending the free offers through Friday this week. According to T-Mobile's Twitter, some 5 hours after they first confirmed that the apps were "experiencing very high volumes right now," the apps should be working fine now, but they are still giving you all until the end of the week to grab a Lyft ride, MLB swag, and the Vudu movie.

Via: @TMobile

Jim Wicks is the Latest Exec to Leave Motorola

Kellen — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 13:04:50 +0000

That guy, right there, is Jim Wicks. You may not know him by name, but you certainly will know him by his work. This was the man at Motorola responsible for leading the company's design, which means the RAZR and Moto 360 were all created under his watch (Ooh, pun!). He also led the charge through a number of DROID devices and more than likely, the Moto X line. Jim Wicks was a big deal at Motorola and in the consumer electronics industry. I say "was" because he's out at Motorola. Wicks was one of the last remaining big names at Moto(rola) since the company was sold by Google to Lenovo. In fact, I don't know who is left any longer. Ashton Kutcher, I guess? Either way, losing Wicks, like Rich Osterloh who went back to Google to head up a new hardware team, is a tough one for Moto. After spending a good 15 years at Motorola (since 2001), Wicks is heading over to Northwestern University to teach design courses and mentor student design teams. Lenovo says that Ruben Castano will take over Wicks' design duties. Castano was been with the company since 2005.

Via: Crain's | Northwestern

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Review

Kellen — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:07:21 +0000

As the first wave of rumors arrived for Samsung's Gear Fit 2, I've got to be honest in admitting that I was not at all excited. In fact, I probably winced, shook my head a couple of times, and contemplated schemes that would force Tim to review it. I say that because I had the ~~dis~~pleasure of reviewing the first version of the Gear Fit, a fitness wearable that was a terrible fitness tracker with a cool display. But then we had a chance to spend some time with the Gear Fit 2 during a media briefing and I was immediately sold on this latest version for a number of reasons. Let's talk about what you get with the Gear Fit 2 and if that initial hype stuck with me through to this review. This is our Gear Fit 2 review.

It looks fantastic and fits even better.

Yep, the design here is greatly improved over the original. I would even argue that the Gear Fit 2 is the best looking wrist wearable I've put on in some time, if not ever. Those are big words, I know, but look at this thing.

I've been testing the blue model, which adds a subtle hint of metallic coolness to my wrist. However, there is a black model as well, for those who want something a bit more low-key. Or, you could go pink! As for the design, Samsung managed to pack a decently sized 1.5-inch curved Super AMOLED touch display in this thing, along with a dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 200mAh battery, and a GPS, while keeping it quite thin and light. Sure, it's a wide device when you compare it to a simpler Fitbit or Misfit tracker, but that's part of the deal when you have a big beautiful display. It also wears low on the wrist and doesn't stand too proud. In other words, I didn't find that I was constantly banging it on doorways or people or snagging it on everything any more than I would a normal watch since it sits fairly flush to my smallish wrist. The band Samsung has used here is soft-coated silicon that isn't a hair magnet (Lookin' at you, Moto 360 Sport!). It's also incredibly easy to adjust and put on. All you have to do is slide one end of the band through a loop on the other, move it into position so that it's tight enough on your wrist, and then snap it into place. It actually holds pretty well too. I did knock the band loose 3-4 times in the past couple of weeks, but thankfully, the loop interaction helped keep it on and I never really felt like I was on the verge of losing it. Finally, the Gear Fit 2 has two simple buttons, one that acts as a "back" button and the other as a power or action button. You don't have spinning dials or six buttons or a bunch of excess - you get a simple 2-button setup, along with the touch display. And that's exactly what you need in a fitness tracker. Overall, this is a really well-designed product. It's made with higher-end rubbers in the band that will withstand all of the sweat you pour onto it, it sports a beautiful curved display that wraps perfectly around my wrist, and has been a joy use on the daily .

It's pretty good as a fitness tracker!

I'm a pretty active dude, for the most part. I try to run 3-5 times per week while getting other hikes or activities in here and there as I have time, so a fitness tracker or wearable is something that has been a part of my daily life for years. I don't necessarily use a fitness tracker to motivate me to get fit, because I feel like I know what needs to be done to get there. Instead, I use a fitness tracker because I want the data, so that 10 or 15 years from now, it might be useful in some way. The Gear Fit 2 is one that I would consider switching to on a permanent basis. As a fitness tracker, the Gear Fit 2 pretty much does it all. You get step tracking, calorie burn counts, floor climbs, and heart rate monitoring, automatically. It also tracks your sleep automatically, even though I still have to find a setting anywhere on the device to control this. But where the Fit 2 shines is in the fact that it now has a built-in GPS. With a GPS inside, the Fit 2 becomes more than just a basic step and sleep tracker and can be used as a semi-serious workout tool to track everything, or at the very least, will allow you to go workout without your phone.

I took the Gear Fit 2 on a number of runs with GPS enabled and it seemed to track somewhat closely with my Garmin Forerunner 230, a dedicated GPS-enabled running watch that I trust and is one of the best in the business. At times, the Fit seemed to lag in distance, while others, it thought I had run further than I actually had. Most days, it was within 0.10 miles, often closer than that. I did have one outlier yesterday, where I went on a quick 3.10 mile jog (5K) and the Fit 2 thought I ran 3.30 miles. To a non-runner, that may not seem like a huge difference, but to me, that's a massive difference. If you were doing any sort of serious run training for a race or event where your time and distance matter, that .20 mile error is unacceptable. [table id=37 /] For the most part, though, the Fit 2 could work as your only GPS-enabled tracker. I don't know that I would fully trust its accuracy at this point for the running I do on a regular basis, but if .10 or .05 miles here and there don't matter to you and you really just care about getting out and running and seeing a mostly-correct activity that can be tracked without your phone nearby, it would be fine.

If you aren't a runner, the Fit 2 also does automatic tracking of a variety of activities. That means the Fit 2 tries to figure out what you are doing as it recognizes you are in motion and will then provide a summary of it after the fact. Samsung says the Fit 2 can distinguish between running, cycling, and a number of other physical activities. (I don't own a bike, soooooooo, sorry! No biking review here.) And isn't that what most people want in an activity or fitness tracker? They want an all-in-one device that can do the basics, like steps, sleep, and calories, but also one that can do some heavy lifting for runs or bike rides or other activities.

You should use S Health with it.

With all of that in mind, just know that you should probably use your Gear Fit 2 with Samsung's S Health app. Like it or not, it gives you the bigger picture of your health and a UI that displays what the Gear Fit 2 is keeping track of. While there are ways to view most of your fitness information right on the Fit 2, it's not exactly a pleasurable experience on its small display. By installing S Health and syncing it to your Gear Fit 2, you get to customize the information that you see, from daily step, sleep, and activity tracking, to the amount of water and coffee you consumer each day. You also get to see charts and trends for activities, including your heart rate, stress levels, etc. This is going to be the best place to view your sleep information as well, with details for when you were sleeping your best and worst.

The S Health app isn't the greatest in terms of UI, but it is a pretty full-fledged health app at this point. You have access to programs (like couch to 5K), syncing to partner apps (like Nike+ Running), and calorie and weight tracking. Technically, you can use a Gear Fit 2 without ever using S Health, I just wouldn't recommend it if you want to see the bigger picture on a big screen, instead of the little guy on the Fit itself.

This is not a smartwatch.

The Gear Fit 2 is not a smartwatch, but yes, it does have some smartwatch-like features to it. For one, you can receive all or some of the notifications from your phone and even respond to many of them with pre-canned answers. The watch doesn't have a keyboard (thank God), though, so it is quite limited. You can't place calls or take pictures or draw cute hearts or voice-dictate to it. It's a fitness tracker, folks. I ended up just turning off all notifications from my phone, because there is nothing more annoying to me than my wrist buzzing during workouts, glancing at notifications, and then thinking I need to act on them mid-workout but can only do so by pulling my phone out. Again, the functionality is so basic that I wouldn't necessarily hype up the smartwatch functions here. The Gear Fit 2 is a good fitness tracker, just don't go into hoping for it to also be a smartwatch.

Other notes:

Display brightness: Since this is a fitness tracker and you'll probably spend quite a bit of time outside with it, you probably want to know how it does in bright sunlight. From my experience, it does OK. It has an outdoor brightness mode (you actually do crank it to 11) that shines through well, you just have to remember to set it that way during outdoor workouts. My first couple of workouts left me annoyed at how bad I thought the display was in sunlight, but then I figured out how to crank it all the way up and thought it did the job. Maybe I'm expecting to much, but I wish it would change automatically to "11" brightness when you go for a GPS-enabled workout.
Battery life: I'm getting 2 days of battery life with the Fit 2 - no less, no more. Samsung says that it can go up to 4 days, but I just don't see that happening if you use the GPS for tracking a workout even once for 30 minutes. If you aren't using the GPS, you could potentially get 3 days in and maybe more if you turn off all notifications and utilize the Fit's battery saving option. Otherwise, expect to charge this little guy often. On the plus side, it does have a handy little charging dock with magnets that charges the device no matter which way you drop it on. The dock could also act as a bedside clock if you wanted it to.
Compatibility: Samsung has opened up their wearables to now work with all Android phones, so if you were interested in previous Gear devices, yet passed because of the Samsung exclusivity, you may want to re-consider. The Gear Fit 2 will work with them all now. I have tested this tracker on both a Galaxy S7 and OnePlus 3 and saw pretty similar experiences.
Music storage and Spotify: The device has built-in storage for your workout music and also can connect to Spotify. I don't use Spotify, so I had no use for that feature. The built-in storage could come in handy, though, if you really want to leave your phone at home as you go out for exercise. All you would need is a pair of Bluetooth headphones to pair to the Fit 2 and you could get into your favorite playlists pretty easily.

Man, that price is hard to beat.

At $179, there is a heck of a lot to like here. You have a beautiful curved AMOLED touch display, 2-day battery life, built-in GPS, all the fitness tracking you could ask for (sleep, heartrate, steps, floors, calories, water, coffee, running, cycling, etc.), and a well-put-together design that (thanks to two sizes) should fit any wrist. I'm actually not sure if there is even a competitor here that can come close to what Samsung has done. The Fitbit Surge is probably the first that comes to mind, yet it costs at least $220. Garmin has the Vivosmart HR+, but it's also $220. Honestly, I don't know why (other than those two being households names in the fitness arena) you would choose anything over the Fit 2 if you are looking for the most value.

The Verdict

I didn't think I would ever end up saying this about a Samsung Gear Fit device, but the Gear Fit 2 seems like a no-brainer recommendation for anyone looking for their first fitness tracker or as an upgrade over an older Fitbit or Jawbone or Misfit. It pretty much does it all as a fitness tracker, plus it has GPS, a bit of smarts for notifications, looks great, and costs just $179. You can buy the Gear Fit 2 from Amazon today for $179.

Sony Xperia X Lineup Available for Pre-Order in US

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 11:32:57 +0000

Late last month, Sony announced a new lineup of devices for the US, the Xperia X family. Included in this lineup is the Xperia X, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XA, and Xperia XA Ultra. Each has a different list of specs, and to align with that fact, each has a very different price tag. The most expensive of the range is the Xperia X Performance, listed at $699 unlocked. It features a 5" Full HD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM, 2,700mAh battery, 23MP rear-facing camera, and fingerprint reader. On the far bottom, the Xperia XA costs only $279, featuring a 5" HD display, 13MP rear-facing shooter, 2,300mAh battery, MediaTek processor, and 2GB of RAM. Each phone, regardless of which you want, features expandable storage. As you will note, each model comes with a free 64GB microSD card if you purchase through Best Buy. However, the devices are also on sale through Amazon, if you want to take that route. Pre-Order Links:

Xperia X ($549)
Xperia X Performance ($699)
Xperia XA Ultra ($369)
Xperia XA ($279)

Are these the Xperia devices you have been waiting for?

Google Listing Android Update Death Dates for Nexus Devices (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 10:14:19 +0000

As we already know, Android software updates typically last for two years following the launch of a device. This goes for pretty much every OEM, although, not every device sees that type of support. However, when it comes to Google and its lineup of Nexus devices, the company is usually quite good about supporting its smartphones and tablets. Listed on a support page this week, Google is now detailing the timeframes that owners of these select devices should start really thinking about an upgrade. For Nexus phones and tablets, the Android software updates will last "at least" two years, but for security patches, the updates will continue for about three years after launch. To cite the list, this means that the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X should see support into the deep part of 2017, but sadly, the Nexus 9 is soon to meet its demise this October. Oddly enough, many will note that the Nexus 6 (the whale) is not listed. Why this is, who knows, but I suspect it will also see the update support for at least two years, which would be around November of this year. Look over the list, then get excited about the fact that we should have a new Nexus device announced in the coming months. New Nexus phones are always something to get hyped about. UPDATE: Google remember the Nexus 6 and so we've updated the list below.

Via: Google

DEAL: Get Nova Launcher Prime for Just a $1

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:15:29 +0000

If Nova Launcher is a treasure chest inside of an old cave, Nova Launcher Prime is the key that opens it. For who knows how long, Nova Launcher Prime is on sale for just $0.99, down from its usual price of $4.99. With the Prime key, users unlock many of the special features that Nova Launcher offers, such as gestures, unread counts, the ability to hide apps, and additional scrolling effects. If you don't already own Prime, use that saved up Google Opinions reward money and buy this right now. Play Link ($0.99)

Instagram Hits 500 Million Users, 300 Million Use it Every Day

Tim — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 08:42:36 +0000

Instagram announced this morning that the service has hit 500 million users, with 300 million of those people using it every day. That's a lot of dinner pictures. Additionally, 80% of users are currently outside of the US, making Instagram truly a global service, allowing folks to get a look at the experiences of friends from all across the world. With such a large base of users, Instagram is able to pull down a few cool stats. According to the company, there are more than 100 million monthly actives in the US, more than 95 million photos and videos are shared per day (on average), and there are 4.2 billion (with a B) likes per day, on average. That's pretty incredible. Chances are that you use Instagram, and if that's the case, make sure you are following us. We post some pretty cool stuff, not to toot our own horn.

Via: Instagram

Twitter Now Lets You Upload Longer 140-Second Videos, Vine Starts Testing Idea Too

Kellen — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 07:31:51 +0000

New video experiences are coming to Twitter today that should not only let you share more, but experience more as well. Plus, if you are a Vine user, get ready for a new experiment that goes beyond six seconds. Through dual blog posts, Twitter announced new video endeavors today, the first of which is pretty simple. Going forward, everyone gets to upload 140-second long videos to Twitter, up from the previous 30-second limit. Hooray, for longer videos! https://twitter.com/video/status/745239649652662273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Along with longer videos, Twitter is also introducing a new viewing mode that lets you jump quickly into a full-screen viewing experience that places additional, potentially-watchable videos a tap away. It's a bit like YouTube's suggested videos and should help you consume a never-ending roll of the most popular Twitter videos of the moment. Twitter says to expect this new video experience "soon." https://twitter.com/video/status/745240047289458688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw In Vine news, Twitter announced a new initiative called "#beyondtheVine," which is a beta experiment for select creators to upload 140-second long clips to the video sharing service, with a 6-second Vine as the trailer to this bigger story. The thought here is that the 6-second Vine could grab your attention and get you to watch more, just like a movie trailer would. Vine says that a "Watch more" button will indicate whether or not the initial Vine you see has an extended video along with it. These new 140-second videos are again, in beta, but will now be in fullscreen. You can also double tap during your favorite parts to "make hearts fly." That sounds familiar. Finally, Vine is now experimenting with monetization opportunities for creators to pull in some cash from their efforts.

Via: Twitter | Vine (Medium)

Poll: How Much Are You Willing to Spend on a Chromebook?

Tim — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:55:00 +0000

We ran a poll back in May, asking you if support for Android apps on Chromebooks would convince you to pick one up. Not too surprisingly, many of you said, "Yes," meaning there should be quite a few of you that are currently looking to purchase a Chromebook. The only issue is, much like Windows, there are countless varieties of Chromebooks from different manufacturers, ranging in specifications, and more importantly, ranging in price. At the bottom there are Chromebooks available for a couple hundred bucks, while others, such as the Pixel line from Google, are priced at over $1,000. That's the same price as a new MacBook laptop from Apple. Of course, there are plenty other options, ranging from $350 to $500 and up. If you are in the market for a Chromebook, how much are willing to spend?

[poll id="413"]

DEAL: 32GB Nexus 5X is Just $269 at eBay ($130 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 12:37:22 +0000

If you missed out on the end-of-the-week sale that B&H Photo held last Friday for the 16GB Nexus 5X, we have another equally-as-good deal today. Over at eBay, you can grab a 32GB Nexus 5X for just $269.99, which is a $130 discount off Google's full retail price. How can you beat that? As we always mention with the 5X, this affordable 2015 Nexus was already a good value at Google's pricing, so when you see big discounts like this, it's tough not to want to jump at it. For one, it's a Nexus, which means the quickest of all Android updates and access to Android Betas for things like Android N. This Nexus also has a great camera, a smallish body for those who like smallish phones, connectivity on all of the major US carriers, and is only getting better with each update. What's not to like? eBay Link

Google Job Listing Hints at Possible Chromebook Pixel 3

Tim — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 12:28:24 +0000

The original Chromebook Pixel launched with a bit of fanfare on Google's part, but as we saw with the launch of the second Chromebook Pixel, the company didn't do anything special - the device was made available on the Google Store with no real celebration or unveiling event, likely because normal consumers are not concerned about $1K+ Chrome OS laptops. If you think about it, I would argue that Chromebook devices don't deserve any type of unveiling event or fanfare, but now with Android app support hitting the developer channel, that pretty much changes the way we discuss Chromebook devices. It also makes us very excited about the possibility of a Chromebook Pixel 3, one designed by Google with Android app support specifically in mind. According to a job listing for a Quality Engineer by Google, the company is looking for someone in China to be a "part of shaping Google's next game-changer." Could this be hinting that a new Pixel is coming? Most definitely. Specifically, the listing is for the engineer to be in the Chromebook Pixel sector, working to ensure that whatever it is they are working on is launched with as few roadblocks as possible. As stated in the listing, "you will identify setbacks within a project and generate solutions for resolving them quickly, build a product team in collaboration with a technical lead in order to recruit the best-suited engineers and evaluate feedback from support teams to identify product errors and gaps." As for when we might expect the launch of this new Pixel, sadly, there's no telling at this time. With Android app support here, have you been eyeing a new Chromebook? For an overview of how it works, watch our hands-on video below.

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Via: Google

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 41

Tim — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:55:02 +0000

With new devices launched and plenty more to come in 2016, it's understandable if you have questions regarding your best course of action. For example, is the OnePlus 3 a good buy right now at $399, considering new Nexus devices are on the way? Or, will the next Galaxy Note absolutely dominate any other smartphone at launch? We would be happy to answer any questions you might have on new devices, or really, any other topic you want to discuss. The DL Q&A Sessions are a time to pick the DL staffer brains. Any topic, even if it's not Android, is acceptable. We can discuss Kevin Durant's impending move to the Bay Area, what type of smart tech we have in our homes, or anything else you might be curious about. On Friday, we will round up as many questions as possible and post our answers. To see all of our previous Q&A's, check them out here.

OnePlus 3: First 10 Things You Should Do

Kellen — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:29:18 +0000

Thanks to OnePlus' stellar launch of the OnePlus 3, a number of you already have the device in hand and have spent most of the weekend with it. For those of you with your shiny new phone or for those of you with one still on the way, we've put together a little video today with 10 tips or suggestions for things you may want to consider doing out of the box. We do this for all of the major flagship phones, but if you are new to the series, expect to see tips that remind you to setup the fingerprint reader on your phone or show you ways to get the most out of your display (turning on ambient, proximity modes; tweaking color balance). The tips here also talk through choosing between on-screen or capacitive navigation buttons, utilizing gestures, and launching the camera in various ways. Here we go, here are the first 10 things to do with the OnePlus 3!

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The Next Time You Search for Symptoms on Google, You Won't Leave Thinking You Have Cancer

Tim — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:06:02 +0000

If you have ever tried using Google to determine if you are really sick by looking through symptoms, it's entirely possible that you ended your search thinking something could be seriously wrong with you. How could my minor headache and cough possibly be linked to pseudohypoparathyroidism or hypoparathyroidism? Don't worry, you are not the only one who uses Google to check their health. According to Google, millions of searches are performed to check symptoms, and because of this, the company is revamping the symptom search experience. Once the change rolls out officially, a user could type in "headache on one side," then be met with more realistic causes, such as migraine, tension headache, cluster headache, sinusitis, and common cold. The goal is to not leave users feeling anxious over an improper self diagnosis. As another example, one could search for "child with knee pain," and be met with helpful information, including links to details on growing pains. To improve the information displayed to users, Google teamed up with experts at Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic to ensure that the lists of conditions displayed are as accurate and info-filled as possible. According to Google, this change will happen on mobile in the next couple of days, taking place first in the US. Over time, Google hopes to create a larger library of symptom information, as well as make it available to more people.

Via: Google

Chrooma Keyboard Updated With Google Keyboard 5.0 Features, Google Now Integration, Much More

Tim — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 08:52:39 +0000

Exiting the existing beta channel, Chrooma Keyboard for the public was updated to version 3.0 this morning, bringing hefty changes to the already incredible 3rd-party keyboard app. Inside of version 3.0, the Chrooma team has implemented what appears to be all of the major changes that arrived for Google Keyboard 5.0. These changes include dragging on the space bar to move the cursor, as well as swiping on the space bar to enable a one-hand operation mode. On top of the Google Keyboard feature forks, Chrooma also added in its own ingredients, such as an improved Action Row, Google Now integration for built-in search, and two new keyboard styles with key boarders. For the Google Now integration, which sounds legit, it's a bit more simplistic than you might expect. Instead of seeing cards from Google Now or something similar to Gboard (available only for iOS), Chrooma performs a Google Search with Google Now, bringing up results inside of Google. For example, if you type "Cavs" into a message, then swipe up on the space bar, you will be brought to the standard search results for that inquiry. It's nothing too fancy, but still a helpful feature for quick searches. On top of the new features, Chrooma also claims there are new settings to play with, custom gesture trail colors to create, plus improvements for gestures and predictions. It's quite the update, so go check it out. What's New

Restored tablet compatibility
Google Now integration
Text suggestion and prediction improved
Gesture improvement
New settings
Emoji page restyle, plus new emoji
Action Row - put everything on this customizable row
Swipe to top on delete to delete all
Swipe to left on delete to delete word
Drag on spacebar to move the cursor
Swipe on spacebar to enable one hand mode
Custom gesture trail color
Two new keyboard styles with key borders

Play Link

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DEAL: Fenix for Twitter Drops to $2.99 ($2.50 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 08:26:56 +0000

While we're out here getting all excited about Flamingo, the shiny new Twitter toy on Android, we shouldn't forget about Fenix and its revived self. Still one of the best Twitter apps available, Fenix has never been cheap. Today, though, you can pick-up one of our favorites for just $2.99, a steep discount from its usual $5.49 price tag. Why do we love Fenix? It's powerful, has a great UI, gets regular updates, supports multiple accounts and gestures everywhere, has TweetMarker and Readability support, includes timeline and mentions widgets, and is on Twitter's list of apps that should be able to add new subscribers forever, unlike others who have run into token problems in the past. Play Link ($2.99)

Don't Miss These Android Stories: June 17, 2016

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:45:14 +0000

The past two weeks have been pretty awesome if you consider yourself a tech fan. At the end of last week, we got the Moto Z and now this week, the tech lords have given us the OnePlus 3 (which you can buy now!), WWDC, Android N Developer Preview 4, and Android apps on Chromebooks. I'm a fool and missed most of it by being on vacation, but that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome. In case you missed any of the fun, we have the biggest stories of the week linked for you below.

WATCH: Droid Life Show Episode 112 | Subscribe
Video: OnePlus 3 unboxing and tour!
Download: OnePlus 3 wallpapers
Poll: Are you buying the OnePlus 3?
Specs: OnePlus 3 vs. HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5 vs. Moto Z
Android N Developer Preview 4 is out!
Google brought out Namey McNameface this week to mess with us
Moto Mods looking hella expensive
Tale of 2 Launches: OnePlus 3 the good, Moto Z the terrible
Thank you, Google: Play store is getting a beta section
Next Galaxy Note could arrive August 2 with immediate availability
Video: First Look at Android Apps on Chromebooks
Chrome OS 53 has started rolling out to Chromebooks
Randomly, ADW Launcher is back as version 2.0
Android Pay gets a dedicated promotions page worth bookmarking
Poor Domino's: Pizza chain quits on T-Mobile Tuesday after second week
Fleksy has been acquired by Pinterest and the app will basically die
Nest is getting a big update this week
Sad!: Moto 360 (1st gen) and LG G Watch won't see Android Wear 2.0 update
Microsoft spent a sh*tload of money on LinkedIn, yes, LinkedIn
Our WWDC live blog and chat is a must read.

#BATTLEOFTHEBASTARDS

Video: First Look at Android Apps on Chromebooks

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:29:17 +0000

As we noted this morning, Chrome OS 53 is rolling out to Chromebooks, bringing with it Google Play and Android apps. Three devices are scheduled to receive that access this month and the ASUS Chromebook Flip just so happens to be the first to go live. Since we have one in house, it's only fitting that we take it for a spin to show you just how this whole Android-on-a-Chromebook thing is going to work. Keep in mind that this is Chrome OS 53 in the developer channel and it is running on the Chromebook Flip, which isn't exactly the most powerful of computers (2GB RAM, 16GB storage, Rockchip 3288-C). What I'm trying to say is that there will be bugs and slowness - lots of both. Not only that, but things aren't going to be the smoothest or quickest just yet, since this is the first release and all. Still, this is pretty cool stuff. In the video below, you'll see how to get setup with Google Play on your supported Chromebook and take a tour of the store, install an app or two, and then enter a quick walk-through of apps and games up and running on the device. Enjoy!

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You Should Bookmark This Android Pay Promotions Page

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 12:09:32 +0000

Like with the Chromecast and Cast-ready devices, Google has created a dedicated page to showcase the promotions available to those willing to use Android Pay. On this particular website, you'll find latest offers that can land you discounts on products and services. As of today, Google is currently featuring offers through DoorDash ($5 off orders), Yelp Eat 24 ($5 off orders), Instacart ($10 off orders), Uber ($10 off next rides), 1-800-Contacts ($20 off first order), and 1-800-Flowers ($20 off order). The only requirement, as you probably guessed, is that you pay with Android Pay in these apps. Google will likely update this page regularly with new offers, so you will want to bookmark it. I say bookmark it because I'm not currently seeing a way to access promotions through the Android Pay app. Here is a link to the Android Pay promotions page.

Remember ADW Launcher? It Just Got Its First Major Update in Years to V2.0

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:11:08 +0000

The last time I wrote about ADW Launcher was in October of 2012, where I said it had returned from the dead. Since I already took that metaphor, I'm not exactly sure what to say now that it has returned some four years later. That's right, ADW Launcher or ADWLauncher or ADW.Launcher, is back and with a huge update to version 2.0. What is ADW Launcher? I don't necessarily want to go into all of the history, but ADW was once a big part of CyanogenMod before standing on its own as one of the most customizable launchers in the game. It was a really, really good launcher for a long time and did a bunch of stuff before anyone else, but the gap in updates always made it a tough sell. You just never knew if it was going to be abandoned or supported. Yet here we are, four years after its last update, talking about it. Weird how this works out some times. So what's new? A lot! The app is now filled with Material-esque animations, new ways to manage home screens, widgets, and shortcuts, dynamic coloring, new transitions and app drawer styles and I don't even know how many other tweaks. You can customize widgets, icons, folders, the app drawer, etc., setup gestures, carry over your launcher setups from others to ADW, and more. If you hit up the source link below, you'll find a lot of the changes, but my guess is that not everything is even close to being listed. I would also recommend watching the video above. I've been playing around with it for the past hour or so and am impressed by what I'm seeing. There is a lot to like here, but understand that this is a beta, technically. If you want to take it for a spin, you can opt-in below before installing. If you want to get even more out of the new ADW, there is an ADW Extension Pack to go along with it and a premium $4 purchase. Give it a spin and let us know! Beta Opt-in | ADW Play Link | ADW Extension Pack

Via: ADW

DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $229 Today at B&H Photo ($120 Off)

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 07:27:24 +0000

At $229 ($120 off!), the Nexus 5X is without a doubt today's deal of the day. As far as I can tell, this is the lowest price we have seen to date on Google's affordable 2015 phone. The deal is currently running through B&H Photo's DealZone, but keep in mind that this is a 1-day-only event. In fact, as of the time of this post, there are only 13 hours left to secure your Nexus 5X before the price drop disappears. This Nexus 5X comes in either mint (a really light green) or white and with 16GB of storage. In case you were curious, recent updates (at least those in Android N form) really seem to have fixed this phone's performance issues that were noted during our review. When you consider the fact that this is a Nexus, has a great camera, works on every major US carrier (including Verizon), and is this cheap, I don't know how you don't buy it if you are in need of a phone at the moment yet don't have a big budget. B&H Photo Link

Cheers Cory!

Chrome OS 53 Starts Rolling Out, Brings Google Play and Android Apps With It

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 06:21:45 +0000

Back at Google I/O, as Google was announcing to press that Android apps and Google Play were soon coming to Chromebooks, they told us to expect the first dev builds of Chrome OS with support for the new feature during the month of June. Here we are in June and 53 has arrived with Android app support. Well, so far, only on one of the three devices scheduled to receive early support. Last night, just as Team USA was dispatching Ecuador and LeBron was pummeling the Dubs, our Chromebook Pixel (2015) and ASUS Chromebook Flip both saw the update to Chrome OS 53. Unfortunately for me, the Pixel (2015) does not yet get Google Play. However, the Flip has it! Tim's Flip updated, he activated Android apps, and within minutes started installing some favorite apps from Google Play. Since the update rolled out in the middle of an evening filled with sports madness, he really only had time to share the fact that it is "pretty legit, though." If you own the other device of the initial three, the Acer Chromebook R11, I have yet to see any reports of it seeing Google Play yet. As of this morning, still, the Flip is it, though the Pixel (2015) and R11 shouldn't be far behind it. We'll have more shortly, but if you own the Flip and want to give Android apps a shot, head into Settings>About Chrome OS. You'll need to flip to the "Developer - unstable" channel, so you will need to click on the "More info" link under the "Check for and apply updates" button. Once in there, choose the "Developer -unstable" option, let it update and reboot. Confirm that you are on Chrome OS 53 and then in general settings, look for an option in between "Search" and "People" that says "Android apps." Enable access and be on your way! For those with the Pixel (2015) or R11, let us know in the comments if you are seeing Android apps access. And for those of you with the Flip, let everyone know what you think so far!

Moto Z and OnePlus 3, Wee!

Kellen — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 19:14:15 +0000

On today's Thursday-edition episode of the DL Show, we'll sit down to recap the hectic yet fun past week in Android. As you all know, the last week included the unveiling of three phones, the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, and OnePlus 3, but also gave us the Android N Developer Preview 4. We've had our hands on it all and have plenty of thoughts to share. Assuming we have time, we'll also talk a bit about Apple's latest WWDC, the Galaxy S7 Active, and our new favorite Twitter app. 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.

Google is Rolling Out a "Beta" Section and Beta Controls in Google Play (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:12:26 +0000

In later afternoon breaking news, it appears as if Google has started rolling out a "Beta" column or section in Google Play under the "My apps & games" area. This section, as you can imagine, lists out all of the apps you are currently signed-up to beta test through Google Play. That's awesome news and should help us all manage the apps we are helping test, something Google mentioned was in the works at Google I/O. We first spotted a user with the new section over on reddit, but have since confirmed with a number of readers that this isn't just an isolated appearance. At least three DL readers showed us on Twitter that they are also seeing the new "Beta" column. Unfortunately for those of us not seeing it, but are a part of beta tests, it appears as if this is a server-side change coming from Google. Everyone we checked with is running Google Play version 6.7.13. As we find out more, we'll be sure to update this post. UPDATE: The app listings for the beta apps you are testing now tell you that you are beta testing and let you opt-out too!

UPDATE 2: And you can opt-in to beta tests now from Google Play!

Cheers Thomas, Daryl, and Shelly!

SwiftKey Beta Updated With Awesome Clipboard Feature

Tim — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:56:37 +0000

The SwiftKey beta application is receiving an update today, bringing with it a new Clipboard feature for users. When using, the Clipboard will allow users to maintain, albeit for a limited amount of time, a list of text that is copied (or cut) on Android. Items that are copied or cut will remain on the list for an hour, granting quick access to the information you copied via SwiftKey Hub. According to the changelog, if there is a copied item you need for longer, you can "pin" it, making sure it won't get deleted. Users can also add commonly used snippets, such as phone numbers, email addresses, or web links. Instead of having to type that info in numerous times, simply copy it from your Hub, then paste it into a text field. Pretty ingenious, if I do say so myself. For those who are not running the beta, you can download it onto your by following the Google Play link below the changelog. Features

Remembers the snippets you’ve copied/cut for an hour
Copy multiple snippets without losing all but the last one you copied or cut
Pin the ones you want to keep for longer
Add your own commonly used snippets such as emails and addresses
Find it in the SwiftKey Hub and Settings
Doesn’t interfere with how Android’s copy and paste works

Play Link

Via: SwiftKey

LG Announces the X Power, X Mach, X Style, and X Max Smartphones

Tim — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:41:23 +0000

LG announced four new devices this week, set to launch later this month in markets around the globe. While US availability has not been confirmed, let's go over the four devices, just in case we see one or two of them hit stateside. In all honesty, the naming scheme is sorta confusing. In this "X Series" of devices, there is the X Power, X Mach, X Style, and X Max. According to LG, each new device in this lineup has a unique feature which is matched to a specific user need or interest. Why LG couldn't simply create one device to meet each of these needs, I have no idea. Instead, we have four phones, so let's go over the needs that these four devices meet. The X Power is aimed at satisfying even the most power-hungry users, featuring a 4,100mAh battery in a slim 7.9mm body. Fast charging (PE+) technology allows the X Power to charge at twice the normal speed, which means more gaming and web browsing when you need it most. The X Mach is all about data speed. Featuring LTE Cat. 9 3CA transfer speeds, the X Mach comes with a 1.8GHz processor, as well as a QHD IPS Quantum display. The X Mach also has a "gently curved" form factor for a perfect in-hand grip. The X Max, sticking true to its name, comes with a large display for "enhanced viewing experience," but oddly enough, LG does not list the display size and specific specifications are not yet available. The X Style is apparently the only X Series device that doesn't meet a specific user need, even though LG says each phone does. As stated by LG, the phone, "differentiates itself with its elegant design boasting gracefully curving lines and extra-slim body." Hmm, well, okay then. Pricing and other information, such as specs, will be made available closer to launch, scheduled to be later this month. In the meantime, check out the below video, showcasing the X Power smartphone.

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LG ANNOUNCES NEW ADDITIONS TO ITS X SERIES

X Power, X Mach, X Style and X Max Fill Out LG’s X Series with Unique Features and Exceptional Value
SEOUL, June 16, 2016 — LG Electronics (LG) today announced four new X series smartphones that share many of the top end features found on LG’s flagship G and V series handsets. X power, X mach, X style and X max join the X cam and X screen to bring additional depth and options to LG’s lineup of mass-tier offerings. These new phones will start rolling out later this month in markets around the world. Each new device in the X series lineup have a unique feature which is matched to a specific user need or interest, such as greater battery capacity, faster processor, more sophisticated styling or a larger display. The X power is aimed at the most power-hungry users who will appreciate the 4,100mAh battery in the 7.9mm slim body. Fast charging (PE+) technology enables the X power to charge at twice the normal speed, allowing users to do more with their phone for longer. The X mach supports LTE Cat. 9 3CA data transfer speed and is powered by a speedy 1.8GHz processor to deliver top performance and speed. The device comes equipped with a QHD IPS Quantum display for crisp, clear images, and a gently curved form factor for a perfect grip. Users will also appreciate the ability to take stunning photos in low light conditions with the large 1.55μm sensor camera. X style differentiates itself with its elegant design boasting gracefully curving lines and extra-slim body. X max sports a large display for an enhanced viewing experience, making it the ideal phone for consuming multimedia content. “Each X series smartphone pairs perfectly with its user by offering uncompromising quality and one truly outstanding feature that speak the user’s personal preference and lifestyle — all at a great value,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and the Mobile Communications Company. “The newly expanded X series demonstrates LG’s commitment to offering top flight performance with premium features at a satisfying price.” Prices and exact dates of availability will be announced locally in each market.

DEAL: Get $300 Off Any Verizon Phone Over $400 With This Code (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 11:16:55 +0000

Ready for the deal of the day (or maybe month)? Verizon is currently allowing use of a coupon code that will land you $300 off any phone that is priced over $400. Is there a catch? Eh, not really, but there is one requirement - you have to sign-up for a device payment plan. This is how it works. You find a phone you want that is priced at a full retail price of over $400, like the Galaxy S7 Edge, which retails for $792. If you use coupon code "FORYOU300" at checkout, the price will drop to $492. With that discount, your monthly payment drops from $33 per month for 24 months to $20.50 per month. Pretty sweet deal right? We tried it on a bunch of phones and it really does seem to work for anything over $400. We even tried the iPhone 6s with 128GB of storage and dropped it from $849 to $549. The Turbo 2 can be dropped from $624 to $324. You get the idea. Have at it via the link below! Verizon Link UPDATE: Verizon tells us that this was a limited time offer for select customers and that it has expired. Note: When logged into my Verizon account, the discount seems to be having issues with upgrades, but certainly works for new lines and new accounts.

Cheers Stuart!

Album Slideshows Come to Google Photos

Tim — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:23:38 +0000

Slideshows are now available through Google Photos within individual albums. To get started, open up the Google Photos app, go inside of an album then select a photo you want to start the slideshow with. Once you hit the three-dot settings button, the top option will be Slideshow. Once tapped, a slideshow of the photos will begin. If you wish to project your slideshow to your HDTV, you can simply cast the show via Chromecast or Android TV. And yes, the Slideshow feature is available on your desktop computer, too. Unfortunately, the feature is limited to just that, a Slideshow. There are no randomizing effects, no stoppage of duplicate photos being shown, or anything quite unique about it. The Slideshow simply shows whatever is in that album, just as you have it. If you want to make a better Slideshow, you will need to move photos around and edit them on your own. The option should be live for all in the Google Photos app. Go check it out. Play Link

Via: +Google Photos

DEAL: UE Megaboom Bluetooth Speaker is Just $160 at eBay ($140 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:03:09 +0000

When it comes to the best reviewed and often most popular Bluetooth speakers on the planet, Ultimate Ears (UE) and its line of Boom and Megaboom speakers typically tops most lists. The combination of great sound, design, and value makes these speakers tough to beat. So when we see deals on them, well, we point them out immediately. Right now, if you don't mind a "manufacturer refurbished" product or two, the UE Megaboom can be yours over at eBay for just $159.99. The Megaboom is the bigger version of the popular Boom, but it has the same style and design, including the 360-degree audio. It's also waterproof (IPX7), has 100-foot Bluetooth range, 20-hour battery, is controlled via app, and gets over-the-air updates. The price for the Megaboom typically sits at $299, but often sees $50 discounts to $249. At $159, you get why this is a good deal. The eBay seller is currently selling both black and red models with free shipping. eBay Link

Report: Samsung Will Unveil the New Galaxy Note on August 2, Release It Immediately

Tim — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:58:54 +0000

According to the latest intel from overseas, Samsung is set to begin mass production of the newest Galaxy Note device starting next month in July. Detailed by orders for parts, Samsung is expected to produce 2.5 million units in July alone, followed by another 2.5 million in August, totaling 5 million units produced in the two month period. Last year, Samsung produced 5 million units of the Galaxy Note 5 in an entire quarter, making it pretty obvious that the company expects to sell a ton of Galaxy Note 6 (or Galaxy Note 7) handsets worldwide. While still not confirmed, it is also reported that on August 2 in New York City, Samsung will host an unveiling event for the device. Not only will the public view the launch, but will also have the option to purchase the phone immediately following the announcement. This is thought to be the main reason why Samsung is ramping up production so quickly, giving credit to our theory that buyers tend to make impulse buys whenever possible. The report also details that Samsung has opted to use a dual-edge AMOLED display on the next Galaxy Note, similar to what is used on the Galaxy S7 Edge, but maybe not as curved. Personally, we have been major fans of phones being available directly following announcement. For example, when HTC launched the One M8 immediately on Verizon during the announcement, that was incredibly clutch. As we saw this week, OnePlus scored big time points by making the OnePlus 3 available for purchase on the same day as announcement, too. These days, when people are always waiting for the next big thing, you have to strike quickly if you are to sell any phones. As we near the reported announcement date, we will surely see more details released.

Via: ETNews

Domino's Quits T-Mobile Tuesdays Because You All Eat Too Much Damn Free Pizza

Kellen — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:24:16 +0000

T-Mobile Tuesdays is off to a pretty poor start after only two weeks. Last week, we saw the apps that support the deal movement struggle mightily while customers flocked to claim their freebies and now this week, T-Mobile CEO John Legere has announced that they are already ditching their Domino's deal that was to land all customers a free 2-topping medium pizza every week. So much for that whole, "dinner and movie every week" idea. According to Legere (and a number of our readers who pointed out issues with their local Domino's outlets), T-Mobile customers slammed Domino's stores so badly, that they saw 3x and 4x the sales of a typical day and simply can't keep up with demand. Because, as Legere puts it, "you broke them," Domino's won't be participating next week. An image that appears to be an internal memo from Domino's that was retweeted by Legere shows that Domino's may have been the participant to pull the plug. It says that they have "suspended the T-Mobile Tuesdays promotion indefinitely," and that won't continue it again unless they can "find a solution that is best for the brand." So next week, instead of free pizza, you will be able to claim a free Vudu rental, free Frosty from Wendy's, $20 in free stuff from MLB.com, and a free Lyft ride. Other partners are lined up as well for future T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Via: Tmonews

Samsung's Game Launcher App Reported to Receive UI Update, New Features

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 15:37:15 +0000

Reported by SamMobile, the Game Launcher application for select Samsung Galaxy devices will soon receive an update, bringing with it new features for gamers to take advantage of. According to the information received, once Game Launcher is updated, users will see a new UI for popular titles, as well as trending titles that players may want to try out. On top of that, the new interface will showcase games in a tiled grid format, detailing individual game notifications for easy consumption. Beyond an updated UI, the Game Tools floating icon will detail new information for gamers to keep track of while playing. For example, the Game Tools menu will now display RAM usage, battery percentage and other good information to know when you are blasting zombies or flying through space. Inside of Game Scene, gamers will be able to find helpful gaming YouTube channels, as well as web links and images that might help players get through difficult levels on Candy Crush or Blossom Blast. No word yet on when we can expect this big update from Samsung, but we will keep you posted. Do you even use Game Launcher on your Galaxy? I play mobile games all of the time on the Galaxy S7 Edge, but I haven't opened Game Launcher for months.

Via: SamMobile

DEAL: Amazon Tap, the Portable Version of Echo, is $20 Off Right Now

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 14:42:58 +0000

Amazon Echo is a good product and all, thanks to the constant stream of new features to Alexa, but the problem with Echo has always been the fact that it needs to be anchored to a power source. That's why Amazon created the Amazon Tap, which is basically the Bluetooth version of Echo that can be taken with you for tunes and access to Alexa. For those looking for access to Alexa, but would rather have it in a portable format, we thought you should know that the Amazon Tap has been discounted by $20 at the moment. That discount brings the price to a really reasonable $109 with Prime shipping. As a recap, the Tap is the Bluetooth-enabled version of Echo with 9 hours of music playback, 360-degree omni-directional audio, and access to Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn. You could also use it as a stand-alone Bluetooth speaker to stream whatever music you want over Bluetooth as well. To access Alexa, Amazon's voice-controlled assistant, the Tap does require that you "tap" it first, in case you were wondering. While Echo is always-listening, the Tap probably can't or else its 9-hour battery life would be significantly reduced. You'll also need Tap to be connected to WiFi. Amazon Link

Pokémon GO Public Launch for Android Happening Next Month

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 14:04:01 +0000

Even though I still don't have a beta invite (thanks a lot, Niantic), the public launch of Pokémon GO for Android will take place next month in July. During Nintendo's E3 livestream, it was announced that the Pokémon GO Plus hardware, which allows gamers to play the game without needing to take your smartphone from your pocket, will launch for $34.99. Using AR technology, players go out and about in the real world, attempting to discover and capture Pokémon. As you train and build up your collection, you can battle other trainers at gyms. For anyone who played Pokémon back in the day on a Game Boy Color, you will know what to expect. The game has been in field testing for quite a while now, with testing beginning in the US last month. It has been available for testing Japan for months, though. As soon it launches, we will let you know.

Via: Polygon

DEAL: Grab a Nexus 6 for Just $180 at eBay

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:18:10 +0000

A current deal running over at eBay can land you a manufacturer refurbished Nexus 6 for a ridiculously low price of $180. Sure, this is the 2014 Nexus, which is a figurative whale, but it's still one of the best performing devices you will ever use. And, it's getting all the Android N love at the moment. Whether you need a device to pass the time because you lost or broke your other, or you just love the Nexus 6 and all of its size, jump on this. The deal currently includes the blue version, as the white is sold out. Free shipping is available as well. eBay Link

Download the OnePlus 3 Wallpapers Straight From the Creator

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:50:44 +0000

If you need to get your hands on the OnePlus 3 wallpapers, you can grab them straight from the creator himself, over on his website. I can't say I blame you, as I think that the wallpapers are one of my favorite aspects of the device so far, without ever having touched it. I'm a big fan of abstract. In total, there are about 15 wallpapers, more if you include the ones that feature OnePlus' Never Settle slogan. Downloadable in HD (1920 x 1920) or a full 4K resolution (3840 x 3840), the wallpapers won't only look good on your own smartphone, but will look great on your desktop computers, too. Follow the link below to grab them all. Download Here

Via: Hampus Olsson [2]

OnePlus 3 Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:11:20 +0000

Hey, we have a OnePlus 3 in house! No, we don't have a review yet, but that won't stop us from diving into this device from the beginning and sharing that journey with you as it unfolds. As a recap, the OnePlus 3 was announced yesterday and made available moments after that initial announcement. You can buy OnePlus' latest flagship today for $399 and you may have it within a week (or less). That's awesome, if you are already blown away by the 3 after reading early reviews. By all means, it ticks a lot of the boxes that smartphone nerds get excited about. Since we just received our review unit from OnePlus and it came in special packaging, we thought we'd kick this off as we always do with a classic unboxing. During this clip, you'll see what accessory are available, how the phone is packaged, and hear our initial impressions. Spoiler, they are good. Enjoy!

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Did Google Just Reveal the Name of Android N?!

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 11:49:24 +0000

After the whirlwind of popularity Boaty McBoatface received on the internet, Google looks to be following suit. Inside of the Easter Egg used on Developer Preview 4 of Android N, Google may be hinting at what Android N's official name will be. As you can view in the header image above, which is a shot of the Easter Egg, it is now an ultra safe bet we can confirm that the name for Android N will be... Namey McNameface! Android Namey McNameface. Has a good ring to it, right? In actuality, if you could not already tell, I am joking. This is Google and the Android team clearly having a laugh at users who continue to suggest Namey McNameface as a name on their website. Don't worry, Android N will have a normal dessert/treat name like all other previous releases. Not only that, but the official announcement of the Android N name is coming soon. Still, nice move, Google.

Fleksy Team Acquired by Pinterest, Keyboard Will Soon be Open-Sourced

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 10:51:51 +0000

"I can’t help but think this feels a lot like the silent abandonment that comes with a company being acquired." That was the statement I left you with last week when we talked about the sudden silence of Fleksy as rumors swirled of them abandoning the app. From their dead support site to the lack of updates and general quietness on previously active social media accounts, it made sense that Fleksy was about to be (or had been) acquired by someone. Today, Fleksy announced that they have indeed been acquired and the company who has done so is Pinterest. To be clear, though, Fleksy's technology is not exactly being acquired, but rather the man (and some of the team) behind Fleksy. According to a press release announcing the acquisition, Pinterest says that they are bringing Fleksy CEO Kosta Eleftheriou over to join the product engineering team and that the keyboard app and technology isn't coming with. So what does that mean for Fleksy? The keyboard will still live on through iOS and Android, but updates going forward will be minimal and limited. The app will soon be open-sourced so that the community or developers can do more with it, though. What does Pinterest want with Fleksy's staff? About half of Fleksy's staff is coming to Pinterest to work on "a variety of mobile focused projects such as growth, core consumer features, and platform. infrastructure." So, yeah, Fleksy has essentially been acquired, just like we suggested last week.

Pinterest acquires team behind smart keyboard app Fleksy
San Francisco, CA, June 15, 2016 -- Today we're announcing that the team behind smart keyboard app Fleksy is joining Pinterest. Fleksy founder and CEO Kosta Eleftheriou will join the product engineering team. While Pinterest is not acquiring the technology, the app will continue to run for the foreseeable future. You can find Fleksy’s note to their community here. Fleksy first launched in the iOS store as a standalone app for their community of blind users - at a time when 3rd partykeyboards were not yet supported on the platform. Fleksy will soon open-source some of the app’s accessibility components that are helpful to the blind and visually impaired community. More updates to come. Statement from Scott Goodson, Head of Core Experience, Pinterest: "Pinterest is intensely focused on refining the mobile experiences that make it possible to flow effortlessly through our catalog of ideas — on any device, any place in the world. The Fleksy team is made up of truly noteworthy engineers and world experts in their areas. These technical artists have a history of developing architecturally innovative, highly Statement from Kosta Eleftheriou, Fleksy Founder & CEO: “We’re excited to join the world-class team at Pinterest where we’ll continue working on intuitive content discovery experiences on mobile. We’ll be bringing our expertise on both iOS and Android to join Pinterest in developing the most robust, beautiful and engaging ways to help people discover ideas.”

Android N Developer Preview 4 Now Available!

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 10:11:41 +0000

Android N Developer Preview 4 just got posted and is available for the flashing! As of right now, it looks like all supported devices are getting Android build NPD56N. Again, the supported devices include the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9 (WiFi and LTE), Nexus Player, Pixel C, and the General Mobile 4G (Android One) device. We're still looking through the changes and will update this post. (Updated below) For now, grab the image files here! The OTA zip files are here. For instructions on how to flash factory images, hit up these instructions. For instructions on flashing OTA zip files, hit up these.

UPDATE: Now that we have had a chance to read through the material, here is what we know about DP4. Google says that Developer Preview 4 includes the final APIs, which is API level 24. That means apps can now be published with support for API level 24 on Google Play in alpha, beta, and production release channels. Google is also providing the final API to Android Studio 2.1.2 and higher, while also pushing system images to the emulator. Here are some of the new feature changes:

In previous versions of Android, an app activates with all of its locale resources loaded before locale negotiation begins. Starting in Android N DP4, the system negotiates resource locales individually for each resource object before the app activates.

As announced at Developer Preview 3, we’ve deferred the Launcher Shortcuts feature to a later release of Android. In Developer Preview 4, we’ve removed the Launcher Shortcuts APIs.

We’ve changed the BLE Scanning behavior starting in DP4. We’ll prevent applications from starting and stopping scans more than 5 times in 30 seconds. For long running scans, we’ll convert them into opportunistic scans.

The Multi-Window android:minimalHeight and android:minimalWidth attributes have been renamed to android:minHeight and android:minWidth.

Want to know what might be broken? Here you go:

Stability -Users may encounter system instability (such as kernel panics and crashes). Launcher -The default launcher’s All Apps tray may become unresponsive after cycling the screen off and on. Returning to the homescreen and relaunching the All Apps tray may resolve this issue. Setup Wizard -Crash on selecting "Not now" in "Set up email" screen. Media -Media playback may be unreliable on Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, including issues playing HD video. -Occasional freeze when running the YouTube app with other apps in multi-window mode on Pixel C devices. In some cases hard reboot is required. -Apps may have issues playing some Widevine DRM-protected content on Nexus 9 devices. -Issues handling VP8 video on Nexus 9 devices. External storage -Apps may become unstable when the user moves them from internal storage to adoptable external storage (this can include SD card or devices attached over USB). Screen zoom and multiple APKs in Google Play -On devices running Android N, Google Play services 9.0.83 incorrectly reports the current screen density rather than the stable screen density. When screen zoom is enabled on these devices, this can cause Google Play to select a version of a multi-APK app that’s designed for smaller screens. This issue is fixed in the next version of Google Play services and will be included in a later Developer Preview release. Vulkan support and multiple APKs in Google Play -On devices running Android N, Google Play services 9.0.83 currently reports Vulkan support but not Vulkan version. This can cause Google Play to select a version of a multi-APK app that’s designed for lower Vulkan support on devices with higher version support. Currently, the Google Play Store does not accept uploads of apps which use Vulkan version targeting. This support will be added to the Google Play Store in the future and fixed in the next version of Google Play services (to be included in a later Developer Preview release). Any N devices using the version of Google Play services 9.0.83 will continue to receive versions of apps targeting basic Vulkan support. Accessibility -Switch access doesn't allow user to navigate web pages in Chrome. -Accessibility issues for talkback users with notification dismissal, and wifi selection screen. Android for Work -Currently, CA certificates provisioned through DevicePolicyManager are not available to profiles other than the primary user/profile due to a preload issue. For example, this could prevent a user from connecting to a trusted server when in a Work profile. This issue will be resolved in the next Developer Preview.

If you are a part of the Android Beta Program, it doesn't look like the update is live yet for me, but feel free to check in Settings>About phone>System updates.

Crikey: Samsung Pay Now Live in Australia

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 10:10:12 +0000

Residents of Down Under can now utilize Samsung Pay on their supported Galaxy device from Samsung. Australia is the latest region to gain support for the mobile payments service, following what we would label as "successful" launches in China, Spain, South Korea, and of course, the United States. "It’s the next development for Australians who use their smartphone as the central device to live, organize and enjoy their lives," said Prasad Gokhale, Vice President of Mobile Division at Samsung Australia. According to Samsung, Samsung Pay has processed more than $1 billion in transactions in South Korea alone, a pretty impressive stat for the still-growing service. Contactless payments are already in strong demand in Australia, according to Samsung, so bringing Samsung Pay to the early tech adoption-loving continent seems like a good move. If you are reading this in Australia, go ahead and whip out your Galaxy phone, download Samsung Pay, add your cards, and get to buying.

Via: Samsung

WiFi Calling Comes to AT&T Android Phones, Starting With the LG G4

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:13:58 +0000

AT&T Android phones are working towards joining 2014 today, with the addition of WiFi Calling as one of their available features. The first to receive the advanced calling option is the LG G4, a phone that isn't exactly new. AT&T says that WiFi Calling is a "complement to our already great network coverage," which is funny, since the point of WiFi Calling is to use it where AT&T doesn't exactly have a great signal. I guess that does make it a complement and necessity for some. To use WiFi Calling, which is the ability to place calls over WiFi, you'll need a compatible device (LG G4 only for now), a postpaid account that has been set-up for HD Voice, and a WiFi connection. If you meet all of those requirements, you'll be able to place and receive calls, but also send and receive text messaging, just like you would on a cell network. To learn more about WiFi Calling, hit up AT&T's site.

Via: AT&T

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 Updated With Enhancements to Vulkan, Professional Audio Requirements

Tim — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 08:58:48 +0000

An update for the SHIELD Tablet K1 is bringing Android 6.0 Professional Audio, enhancements for the Vulkan API, as well as improvements to touch responsiveness. As you would imagine, all of the aforementioned items are quite important for a tablet that is all about the best mobile gaming experience possible. Required by the Professional Audio standards set in Android 6.0, NVIDIA is baking in Low Latency Audio (<20ms continuous round trip), USB Host and Peripheral modes, 24-bit@192kHz Stereo output, plus MIDI support over USB and Bluetooth LE. These changes will surely up your audio game. While not detailed in length, NVIDIA also lists enhancements and fixes to the Vulkan API, the set of APIs that deliver better access and control to a device's high-end GPUs. To round out the update, the June security patch is inside, as well as "improvements to touch responsiveness." Check the full changelog below, then grab that update. What's New

SHIELD Tablet K1 now meets Android 6.0 Professional Audio requirements, including:
- Low Latency Audio (<20ms continuous round trip)
- USB Host & Peripheral modes
- 24-bit@192kHz Stereo & 7.1 HDMI output
- MIDI support over USB & Bluetooth LE
Option to toggle Navigation Button location (Settings > Personalize Settings)
Enhancements & fixes to Vulkan™ API
Improvements to touch responsiveness
Fixes to WiFi & Bluetooth connectivity
Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level June 1, 2016
Overall stability and additional security improvements

Via: NVIDIA

Tale of Two Launches: OnePlus 3 the Good, Moto Z the Terrible

Kellen — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 08:29:18 +0000

Last Thursday, I started a 6-day vacation to Victoria, BC that was booked months in advance, partly because the trip involved being on hand to cheer on a family member during her Iron Man, but also because no one launches phones in June and it was thought to be a safe bet to be away. Silly Kellen. Moto(rola) and Lenovo announced the Moto Z and Moto Z Force on Thursday, while OnePlus took some time yesterday to unwrap the OnePlus 3. Yes, my trip managed to not only overlap two major phone announcements, but WWDC was packed in there too, for good measure. Since I was away for most of the fun and Tim took on all tasks, I was able to watch from a distance and form some opinions on how these two phone launches went. I'll just say this - there are two blueprints here for launching a phone and only one of them is even close to being right, while the other is about as bad as it gets.

OnePlus 3, a launch well done.

In case you couldn't guess which company I think got it right, that bold type above should help. OnePlus, with its launch of the OnePlus 3, absolutely nailed it. For one, the phone ticks almost all of the boxes in terms of specs (unless you really need QHD), plus it has a great price, design, and maybe most importantly, availability. OnePlus managed to use mostly the best of the best in the hardware department here, gave the OnePlus 3 an incredibly reasonable $400 price tag, and put it up for order immediately without the need of an invite. If you did place an order right away, or within an hour or two when the phone ditched the VR gimmick shop for a real website, your order is expected to ship right away. In fact, Tim placed an order via The Loop, and it shipped already. He should have it in a couple of days. That's how a phone launch should go! Or, could it get better? Yes! It can! OnePlus certainly isn't Apple or Samsung or Nike and may not have 10 million people attempting to order at once, but if you tried to place an order for the OnePlus 3 yesterday, you probably did so without a single issue. Tim ordered one via The Loop store within minutes of it being available and I managed to order from the bottom of a ferry in Port Angeles, WA via the OnePlus site on a shaky connection. Their website didn't hang, crash, timeout, or anything. I just ordered the phone, received confirmation, and should have it within a week at the latest. Honestly, I don't know how a phone launch could have gone any smoother. Sure, the OnePlus 3 won't work on every major carrier and is really just an unlocked GSM phone, but that's basically what Moto and Lenovo are doing as well. And let's talk about them for a second to take in the opposite of what every single phone manufacturer should do.

Moto + Verizon exclusivity = disaster.

I hate to say this because I think the Moto Z looks like a really, really good phone and also am excited about their approach to modules, but how forgettable was Thursday's Moto event? I ask because there really isn't anything more to talk about until the phone arrives some time in the next 2-3 months. To recap, Moto unveiled the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, along with DROID Editions that will launch exclusively on Verizon this summer, before arriving as GSM unlocked phones in the fall. Well, the Moto Z will arrive as an unlocked GSM phone, the Moto Z Force is a Verizon exclusive forever here in the US. I can't even type all of that without shaking my head. What's wrong here? Oh, just everything. Let's start first with timeline. The Moto Z, as good as it may be, won't be available for upwards of two months and only as an exclusive to Verizon. Remember, OnePlus announced the OnePlus 3 yesterday and is shipping them immediately. Again, as good as the Moto Z could end up, it'll be pretty easy to forget about it in a couple of months when the new Nexus phones arrive, the Note 6 (or 7?), and the iPhone 7. Who announces a phone that isn't going to be ready for months? Not only that, but who announces a phone with a launch time frame of the exact period that the biggest phone manufacturers in the world are going to launch their next big things? But timing isn't all that's bad - the exclusive garbage may be an even bigger area of concern. If you want to buy the Moto Z or Force (which is assuming you've decided in August or September to pass on the new Nexus phones, new Galaxy Note, and iPhone 7), you'll only be able to at launch on Verizon. AT&T customer? Sorry! T-Mobile customer? GTFO! No sir, Verizon is the only party in the US who gets both phones right away. Once that exclusivity period goes away, though, you then only get to choose the Moto Z, not the Moto Z Force, because that phone will stay with Verizon. (I'm still shaking my head, by the way.) Who plans a phone launch this way? In my opinion, this is nothing short of a disaster for Moto and Lenovo. I understand that the unlocked Moto X Pure Edition didn't sell by the millions upon millions and bring Moto back, but going the exact opposite approach doesn't seem like a great choice either.

I hope it works for OnePlus.

And look, this isn't me saying, "Go buy the OnePlus 3!" After all, it may not be the phone for you, but what we should all be saying is, "Hell of a job, OnePlus," which is saying a lot after the company spent two years with a trash invitation system that was on a similar disaster level to this Moto Z launch. We should also be hoping that OnePlus sells 10 million of these new phones, because maybe it'll get others to take notice of the approach and try something similar. I never understood why a company would announce a product that wouldn't be available for months. We are humans after all, so if you can sell us on something during a big splashy presentation, we'll probably impulse buy the damn thing immediately if you give us the chance to. Let us sit on a decision for too long because you still need months to get it ready and we'll lose interest, likely because of the next big splashy product that will let us impulse buy. Hell of a job, OnePlus.

DEAL: $100+ Off Huawei Watch in Google Store and Amazon

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 15:31:36 +0000

If you caught one of the last Droid Life podcasts, you may have heard me say that the Huawei Watch would be a great buy, only if it was about $100 cheaper. Well, someone with the power was apparently listening to me, as the smartwatch is now priced starting at exactly $100 off on the Google Store and Amazon. With the $100 off, and differing savings for select models on Amazon, the Huawei Watch now starts at $249.99 for the Stainless Steel and Black Leather model. Upgrading a bit, you can purchase the Silver Mesh model for $299, down from its original $399 price. If you really want to ball out, you can grab the Rose Gold plated model for just $579.99 on Amazon, down from its original $799 price. That's a savings of $220. Follow the links below if the Huawei Watch is now priced at a range you can swallow. And remember, with the Huawei Watch, you will definitely see the Android Wear 2.0 update that is launching later in the year. Buy: Google Store Link | Amazon Link

Poll: Are You Buying the OnePlus 3?

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:44:39 +0000

With the announcement and unveiling out of the way, along with all of the details made public that you might need to make an informed decision, what's your take on the OnePlus 3? Going to pick one up? Maybe wait for official Moto Z pricing, or maybe new a Nexus later this year? One could argue quite a few points to either purchase or not purchase this phone, but when it comes down to it, the OnePlus 3 is quite the smartphone package at just $399. The fact that OP decided to skip the invite system completely makes it all the more attractive, too. The company added in NFC, gave us a top-tier applications processor, 6GB of RAM, UFS 2.0, and even that awesome Alert Slider. On the downside, there's no water resistance, expandable storage, wireless charging, or Verizon/Sprint support. Our final take is, yes, we will definitely give this phone a shot. How about you?

[poll id="412"]

Nest Update Includes New Views for Farsight, Improved Energy History Views

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:42:10 +0000

An update for the Nest thermostat is bringing new views for the Farsight feature, which is the information a Nest displays when it senses someone from across a room. Essentially, it's bigger text that allows you to view the target temperature that the thermostat is set to. According to Nest, while many folks enjoy Farsight as it is, they want to switch it up a tad to offer more information people have requested. Once updated, Farsight can display a room's current temperature, not just the target temperature that is set. Nest also added in an animated weather screen for the meteorology fans, including a look at outside temperatures throughout the day. To enable these new features, head into your Display Settings menu on the thermostat and choose the view you want for Farsight. Lastly, Nest has also improved the Energy History views on the thermostat itself. With this updated, the views look more like what you see inside of the Nest application. The new software is rolling out to all owners right now.

Via: Nest

OnePlus 3 Available on OnePlus Website for Purchase at $399, No Invite Required

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 12:18:42 +0000

The OnePlus 3 from OnePlus is now available for purchase on the OnePlus website, no invite required, just the way it should be. As of right now, only the Graphite Grey model is available for $399, with no sign of the Gold. OnePlus also has a few add-ons you can buy, such as protective cases for $25 a pop or Dash Charge bundle kits for $33. Buyers can also throw in a protection plan from Assurant, starting at $20 for 12 months of additional protection. The most expensive protection plan is $80 for 24 months, covering your phone from drops, cracks, and other accidental damage. As for shipping, the OnePlus site is doing much better at being transparent on ship times. Currently, if you order right now, the device will ship within 4 business days. For free, you can have your new OnePlus 3 by June 25. For Priority, you can have it by June 22. Priority costs an extra $10. If you are ready to take the plunge, follow the link below. OnePlus Link

Spec Comparison: OnePlus 3 vs. HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5 vs. Moto Z

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:26:43 +0000

It's time to stack up the OnePlus 3 against the rest of 2016's flagship devices. The following comparison features the OnePlus 3, going up against the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5, HTC 10, Moto Z, and Moto Z Force. Keep in mind, pricing has not yet been revealed for the Moto Z or Moto Z Force. On paper, the OnePlus 3 is a dream phone, especially with a price of $399 unlocked. Featuring a Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage, fingerprint reader, and 16MP rear-facing camera, there is no doubt that many people will attempt to pick this device up. I mentioned this earlier and I will stick to it, but the OnePlus 3 lacks a billboard feature. Is the low price the best feature of the phone? All of the other devices listed below feature some type of differentiation between themselves. The Moto Z has Moto Mods, the LG G5 has its modularity, the Galaxy S7 has a IP68 rating, and the HTC 10 has its impressive design and speaker quality. At least to me, the OP3 is missing that "wow" factor. It's possible that not all smartphones need a wow factor, though. Maybe they just need to work and be affordable. That seems fine, too. Look over the specs, then share your take below.

[table id=36 responsive=scroll /]

OnePlus 3 Specs (Official)

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:31:48 +0000

With the OnePlus 3 now official, you are probably looking for a complete breakdown of its specs. Well, don't worry, we got you. Inside of the OnePlus 3's aluminum shell, you will find a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, 16MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera, as well as a 5.5" AMOLED display. Speciality features include NFC, fingerprint reader, Dash Charge, and support for dual nano-SIMs. Sadly, the device features no type of water resistance, so be careful around your pool. There is also no expandable storage. The OnePlus 3 comes in two colors, Graphite Grey and Gold, priced at $399 in the US. For a complete rundown, look below. [table id=35 /]

OnePlus Announces the OnePlus 3, Available Today for $399

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:24:53 +0000

The OnePlus 3 is now official, available starting today for $399. For that price, buyers get a device featuring a 5.5" AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM, and much more. For anyone willing to try out the Loop VR experience, you can purchase the device starting right now, no invite required. If VR is not your thing, the phone will on sale via the web at 12PM PT (3PM ET). Other specifications for the OnePlus 3 include a 16MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera, fingerprint reader on the bottom chin, an Alert Slider, Dash Charge, as well as a 3,000mAh built-in battery. Dash Charge, OnePlus' take on fast charging, gives a user 60% battery on only 30 minutes of charge. OnePlus also heard the cries of many, including NFC on the OnePlus 3, too. Looking over the features, nothing quite stands out. Basically, the device features most of the high-end features an Android user would hope for. It has a well-sized camera, is running the latest publicly available Android OS, comes with a fingerprint reader and USB Type-C port, but nothing makes the OnePlus 3 really unique from what else is already available. The minimal, aluminum design looks good, but could be quite slippery in-hand. We will have to wait until we get our hands on a unit before making judgements like that, though. For now, if you are interested in purchasing the device, follow the link below at 12PM PT. If you don't want to wait, download the Loop VR app from Google Play and begin your order that way. OnePlus Link Gallery

Video

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How to Watch Today's OnePlus 3 Launch

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 08:48:22 +0000

Like we saw last year, OnePlus wants to annoy you. They don't want you to have an easy time viewing its unveiling of the OnePlus 3. Instead of just posting a livestream to YouTube, OnePlus is asking you to download an app from Google Play, and if you are feeling super frisky, the company also wants you to experience the launch in virtual reality with a VR headset. Talk about a pain in the rear. For the most part, I am not against these VR launches, but it does up the odds of technical difficulties for viewers. Difficulties are never a good thing. Because of that, let's discuss the details of this launch, just to be sure you don't miss this morning's excitement. At 9:30AM PT (12:30PM ET), fire up the OnePlus 3 Launch: The Loop application on your smartphone. If you have not already, be sure to download it from Google Play if you want to watch the livestream. Now, OnePlus suggests that you wear a VR headset for the launch, but it is not a requirement. If you don't have a VR headset, or even Cardboard, you can watch the stream via The Loop app in a standard viewing mode. From what we understand, the phone will be made available for purchase via The Loop app following the presentation. However, if dealing with that does not sound fun, the OnePlus 3 will be available for purchase in the web-based store at 12PM PT (3PM ET). There are no invites to deal with, and also, we hear inventory numbers are huge, so there should not be any "Sold Out" shenanigans. Additionally, OnePlus is hosting a few Pop-Up shops across the world (with one in NYC), so you can buy the device from there, too. As for what to expect, thanks to Amazon jumping the gun, the OnePlus 3 will feature a 5.5" FHD display with Gorilla Glass 4, Snapdragon 820, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage, USB Type-C (USB 2.0), NFC, 16MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera, 3,000mAh non-removable battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, and OxygenOS on top of Android 6.0.1 "Marshmallow." Are you ready for the OnePlus 3? Play Link

T-Mobile Binge On Adds Support for PBS, Azubu, Dailymotion Games

Tim — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 08:16:54 +0000

T-Mobile announced the sixth expansion of the Binge On service this morning, bringing the total number of supported streaming services to nearly 90. With Binge On, any video you stream over T-Mobile's data network from a supported provider (such as Netflix, HBO, and YouTube) will not count towards your monthly allotment, saving you from possible overage charges. As for which services were added this week, viewers can now stream video from PBS, PBS Kids, Azubu, Dailymotion Games, Eyegroove, as well as YouTube Gaming. According to T-Mobile, customers have streamed more than 500 million hours of video, with none of it counting towards their data. T-Mobile's Binge On list is always updating, so be sure to look here at the complete roster of supported streaming services. Do you use Binge On? Do you love it or are we still pissed about 480p?

Via: T-Mobile

Deals: HTC Father's Day Sale Includes $50 Off UA HealthBox, Free Headset With HTC 10 Purchase

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 15:33:08 +0000

HTC is hosting a Father's Day sale, offering money off on select products, as well as a free goodie if you purchase a particular smartphone. Running today through June 19, buyers can save $50 on a UA HealthBox (UA Band, UA Scale, UA Heart Rate), bringing the total down to $350. For those interested in the UA Band by itself, the price has been decreased by $20 to $160. As for the free goodie I mentioned previously, if you purchase a HTC 10 smartphone, HTC will kick in a free Jabra headset or HTC Pro Studio set of headphones. Which one you get will be decided by you at checkout. Once the HTC 10 is added to your cart, you will be provided with the ability to choose which headset you want. Check out the deals below, then follow that link if you are interested. Deals

Buy an HTC 10 and get your choice of a Jabra headset or HTC Pro Studios headphones
Save $50 on the UA HealthBox™ (now $350)
Save $20 on the UA Band (now $160)

HTC Link

Four Different Motorola-Branded Verve Earbud Sets Launch Tomorrow

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 14:55:32 +0000

Detailed on Amazon, as well as on a specially outfitted website, a lineup of Motorola-branded earbuds will launch tomorrow, ranging in price from $79 to $249. To be clear, while these products are branded as Motorola, it must be noted that in late 2015, Binatone acquired exclusive licensing rights to design, develop, and market certain Motorola accessory products. So, while Motorola's "M" logo will appear on packaging, this isn't Motorola developing and releasing the products. With that out of the way, let's go over what is being launched tomorrow. From what we can see on Amazon, there are four earbud options to choose from - two wireless earbud sets and two wired wrapping sets. The wireless earbuds are the VerveOnes and the VerveOnes+. While both are completely wireless, just like Samsung's Gear IconX earbuds, the VerveOnes+ earbuds are "completely waterproof," as well offer Siri and Google Now support when connected to your smartphone. The VerveOnes unit does not offer waterproofing, but still supports Siri and Google Now. The VerveOnes+ set is priced at $249, while the standard VerveOnes are $199. Lastly, there is the VerveRider ($69) and VerveLoop+ ($79). Priced much more affordably, these earbuds feature hours of music playback, HD sound compatibility, as well as access to Hubble Connect for Verve Life in case you misplace them. Pre-orders for all four models are live on Amazon, but really, it's nice to have another wireless earbud option from a company other than Samsung. Complete image galleries and Amazon links can be found below. VerveOnes+

VerveOnes

VerveRider

VerveLoop+

Amazon Links: VerveLoop+ ($79) | VerveRider ($69) | VerveOnes ($199) | VerveOnes+ ($249)

Via: Verve Life

Cheers Felipe!

T-Mobile BlackBerry Priv Updated to Marshmallow

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:24:47 +0000

At long last, for those waiting, Marshmallow is rolling out to the BlackBerry Priv on T-Mobile. This announcement is coming somewhat late, as it was first mentioned back in April that this update would be rolling out as a beta relatively soon. It's now mid-June, so the beta process apparently took quite a long time, but hey, updates are always better late than never. Specifically, inside of Android 6.0.1 (Build AAF153) on the Priv, this update will bring Doze, comprehensive app permission controls, adaptable storage, as well as plenty of performance and stability enhancements.

The update is rolling out right now for all Priv owners on T-Mobile. Go grab it.

Via: T-Mobile

Moto 360 (1st Gen) and LG G Watch Won't See Android Wear 2.0 Update

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 12:26:56 +0000

According to Motorola and LG's support accounts on Twitter, the Moto 360 (1st Gen) and G Watch will not be receiving the Android Wear 2.0 update that was previewed at this year's Google I/O. This news should not exactly surprise anyone, but if you were holding off on upgrading your smartwatch, now seems like a good time to buy a new one, as support for these two devices seems to have ended entirely. While Motorola simply tweets that the watch won't be getting it, LG states that support for the G Watch has been discontinued. I mean, the device is going on a couple years old, so it's probably best to let it fade into the sunset. As for what Android Wear 2.0 brings, users who run it will find an improved complications experience, better Google Fit activity tracking, a handwriting input method, plus much more. All Android Wear 2.0 details can be found here. To determine if Android Wear 2.0 is that important for you, check out our overview and hands-on video below.

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Via: The Verge | Twitter [2]

WWDC 2016 Live Blog: Incredibly Beautiful Innovation of Fantastic Amazement

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 09:38:57 +0000

Another year has gone by and still no media invite from Apple to attend WWDC. What gives, Apple? Don't you appreciate our input? Maybe not, but that's cool, we are still going to provide it. As for what you should expect from Apple this morning, the rumors include an updated iOS (duh), updated OSX (double duh), plus new versions of watchOS and tvOS. Oh boy! More importantly, at least for Android folk, it is rumored that Apple will launch iMessage for Android, which would actually be huge. It was also rumored we could see new hardware, such as an updated MacBook Pro, but that may not be happening after all. Awesome, right? The event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). If you want to watch it, you’ll have to use an Apple device or install Safari. You can watch it here. We will be live blogging the event below. There will be awesome commentary, fantastic snark, amazing giggles, and, beautiful innovation. Join us!

Select Moto Mods Pricing Revealed, Spoiler Alert, They're Expensive

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 08:50:01 +0000

Listed inside of the My Verizon app, pricing for select (not all) Moto Mods has apparently been listed. As mentioned in the headline of this piece, you will need to prepare your wallet, as a couple of the Moto Mods are priced quite high, unsurprisingly. According to the listings, the Insta-Share Projector will be priced at $299, which is quite the expense. The JBL SoundBoost Moto Mod, the one we demoed last week, is priced at $79, seeming a bit more realistic. The TUMI battery packs are also priced, with the wireless charging Power Pack listed at $99 and the standard Power Pack listed at $89. For those interested, the Kate Spade Style Shell is priced at $79. At this time, pricing of other shells is not known. We had a feeling that these Moto Mods would not be too cheap, but the $299 projector definitely blows our mind. While the tech itself is pretty sweet, it would be hard to cough up $299 for the ability to project Angry Birds or YouTube videos onto a wall. As for the JBL speaker, that's priced much better, almost what I would label as cheap. When we demoed the mod at Lenovo Tech World, you could tell that the little speaker packs a mean punch. It seems to me that if you intend on buying a Moto Z or one of the DROID Editions, you would have to be interested in the Moto Mods, too, right? If you are, which one are you going to buy? Do any of these prices scare you away from the Moto Z lineup?

Via: reddit

Microsoft to Acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion in Cash

Tim — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 08:16:42 +0000

As details are made public this morning, it's official - Microsoft is acquiring LinkedIn. With Microsoft paying $196 per share, all cash, the deal is priced at a whopping $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash. According to Microsoft and LinkedIn's press releases, LinkedIn, "will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence." Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, will remain in place as CEO, reporting to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Stated by Microsoft, the transaction is expected to close this calendar year. Microsoft and LinkedIn will host a conference call with investors on June 13, 2016, at 8:45AM PT to discuss the transaction. The call will be available via webcast right here. The call will be hosted by Nadella and Weiner, as well as Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood and Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith. A video of Nadella and Weiner has been posted to YouTube that shows both of them discussing the acquisition. Feel free to give that a watch below.

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Via: Microsoft | LinkedIn

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: June 10, 2016

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 16:02:57 +0000

It was a busy week in Android, so there's no doubt that you may have missed something important. That's why we have gathered all of the top Android stories from this week, placing them all in a single post for you to easily consume. Don't trip, we got you. This week started off pretty good. We unboxed the Galaxy S7 Active, watched as T-Mobile unveiled Stock Up and T-Mobile Tuesdays, and then prepared ourselves for the Lenovo/Moto announcements. Motorola did not disappoint, announcing multiple new phones, and Lenovo even got in on the action with the world's first Tango-ready smartphone. If you missed any of this craziness, check out all of the highlights below. Enjoy!

WATCH: Moto Z first look and hands-on.
Video: Hands-on with the Moto Z Force DROID Edition.
Video: Hands-on with the Moto Mods.
Video: Galaxy S7 Active unboxing and hands-on.
Moto announces the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, plus a couple of DROID variants.
Specs: Moto Z and Moto Z Force.
Unlocked Moto Z will be GSM only.
Nope, the Moto Z line does not feature headphone jacks.
Tango: Lenovo announces the PHAB2 Pro, world's first Tango-ready phone.
Moto X is not dead yet, according to Motorola.
Android "N" name reveal coming soon!
Flamingo is a bossy new Twitter client for Android.
T-Mobile: T-Mo announces T-Mobile Tuesdays and Stock Up as part of Uncarrier 11.
Nest's reported product roadmap detailed.
Amazon's reported to launch its music streaming service pretty soon.
Project Fi adds US Cellular support.
Fleksy: No, Fleksy is not dead!

Bring on the sports!

Google Shows Off the Power of Tango in Three New Videos

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 15:25:20 +0000

During yesterday morning's Lenovo Tech World keynote, Google announced that Project Tango would be blossoming into just Tango, the consumer-facing end to the company's AR (augmented reality) technology. With the launch of Lenovo's PHAB2 smartphone, which so happens to be the world's first consumer device to launch with Tango technology built-in, consumers will finally be able to get their hands on the project that Google has been working on for over three years. In a series of short videos, two of them being under 30 seconds long, Google details just a small fraction of things you can do with a Tango-ready smartphone. For example, if you are looking to buy a piece of furniture, but aren't quite sure if it will fit, Tango -- using its multi rear-facing cameras -- can measure out the space exactly, taking all guess work and self measuring out of the equation. That's a time saver. Another example, not detailed in these videos, would be the ability to overlay navigational directions inside of a place you have never been. Say you are at the Mall of America for the first time. It's easy to get lost there. In the future, with Tango, you could hold your phone up and get directions to whichever store you are looking for. That means no more stumbling around, looking for a directory, and potentially saving yourself embarrassment by asking the locals. Check out the videos below, then, share your thoughts. If, say, a new Nexus device was to launch with Tango, would you be interested?

Tango: Re-imagine space around you

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Tango: See more with a new kind of phone

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Via: Google

Report: Amazon Preps Launch of Standalone Music Streaming Service

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:55:09 +0000

Reported by Reuters, Amazon is soon to launch a standalone music streaming service, independent from its existing Prime Music offering. To be priced at the industry standard $9.99/month, this unnamed service will feature an expansive music catalog, allowing Amazon to compete with Apple Music, Google Play Music, and Spotify. According to sources, the music service could launch near the end of summer or early fall. Right now, Amazon's Prime Music is a decent spot to purchase songs and stream music with your yearly Prime subscription, but there is a lot more Amazon can do. For one, this new streaming service is said to feature a massive song library, much larger than Prime Music's catalog. Additionally, for owners of an Amazon Echo, subscribers could stream any music from the new service directly through Echo, making the tube all the more useful. Currently, Spotify support on Echo does make for a better music listening experience, but again, Amazon's limited Prime library flat out hurts. I can't tell you how many times I have asked Alexa to play a song, only to be met with, "Here's a sample of [...] from Prime Music." No, Alexa, I don't want a sample! Keep in mind, this is not the first time we have heard about a Spotify competitor from Amazon. Back in January, reports were surfacing that stated Amazon was working to license a ton of music, helping to boost its future offering. As for me, I don't see myself dropping Google Play Music anytime soon, but hey, that won't stop Amazon. How about you?

Via: Reuters

Moto X is "Alive and Well," According to Motorola

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:28:10 +0000

In a statement provided to Android Police following the Lenovo Tech World keynote, Motorola says that the Moto X is "alive and well." Citing the somewhat recent launch (October, 2015) of the Moto X Force overseas, Motorola clarifies that the purpose of the Moto Z line is not to replace the Moto X, but to offer something a bit different to consumers. For those interested in the modular aspect of smartphones, which is something not seen at all with the Moto X, the Moto Z is the proper lineup of phones. While Motorola admits that the Moto Z and Moto X share some "great qualities," both lineups ultimately provide different experiences to round out Moto's portfolio. Here's the complete statement provided to Android Police via email.

Moto X is alive and well. In fact, Moto X Force recently launched in multiple new markets around the world. Moto X and Moto Z do share some great qualities, but they ultimately provide different experiences and make our portfolio more robust for consumers looking for the perfect smartphone to fit their needs. Tech-hungry consumers who are looking to get a brand new set of experiences from their smartphone will turn to Moto Z and Moto Mods.

This statement contradicts a previous report from May, which claimed that the Moto Z line would in fact be replacing the Moto X. Given that the Moto Z was just announced yesterday, and still won't be available for a good amount of time in the US, it would be irresponsible to assume what Lenovo and Motorola's future intentions are with the Moto X lineup. The way I see it, while the Moto X line can still stand for a standard smartphone experience, the Moto Z simply brings the modularity aspect to market that many companies are vying for. Modularity is easily one of the quicker ways to differentiate your product from a competitor's, and as we have written in the past, we are totally onboard with this progressive trend in companies seeking new ways for people to interact with smartphones. What's your take? Should the Moto X line be killed off entirely? Does it still have a purpose to serve?

Via: Android Police

Nest's Rumored Product Roadmap Consists of Tastefully Colored Thermostats, Outdoor Nest Cam

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 10:46:35 +0000

In Tony Fadell's letter to employees declaring his departure from Nest, he briefly mentioned a product roadmap that was set in place for the company. This week, additional details regarding that roadmap have been made public, although, they are not yet confirmed by Nest or Google. According to a source of Tech Insider, Nest will have at least one "new" product, with an existing product getting a bit of a facelift. As reported, Nest will release an outdoor Nest Cam, designed specifically to fair in the elements. The outdoor Cam will feature a power cord, meaning owners won't need to worry about replacing batteries. Nest Cam, for those unfamiliar, is a remote web-connected camera that allows owners to see what's happening at home when they are away. While there are already 3rd-party solutions to make the existing Nest Cam devices weather-proof, the outdoor version will feature a more rugged design, perfect for outdoors. Beyond a new Nest Cam, it is also reported that the existing Nest Thermostat will be offered in different colors. Details on which colors are unknown, but according to the source, they are, "tasteful." By tasteful, we assume there won't be Hot Pink or Rosso corsa. To add a bit more fuel to the rumor fire, the source states that while 2016 won't be the most exciting year for Nest product announcement, 2017 has the potential to be huge. Even though no specific details were shared, it was alluded that it might have something to do with home security, possibly. Would you be interested in a colored Nest Thermostat or outdoor Nest Cam?

Via: Tech Insider

Google's Nearby Connects Your Device to the World Around You

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 10:02:42 +0000

Yesterday, while we were busy with Lenovo and Moto announcements, Google detailed its Nearby feature for Android users. With the launch of Nearby, users who choose to interact with beacons around them can stumble upon helpful apps and webpages when they are out and about. For example, if you are inside of a CVS Pharmacy, your smartphone can notify you that you can print photos while at the store directly from your phone's gallery. Or, if you are taking a United flight, Nearby can notify you to download the United app from Google Play for access to free entertainment while you wait for your departure. To take advantage of Nearby's offering, you will need to have Bluetooth and Location services enabled. Not all places will have beacons for you to access, but as the service grows, more should pop up. For now, look over Google's examples below and be on the lookout. Examples

Print photos directly from your phone at CVS Pharmacy.
Explore historical landmarks at the University of Notre Dame.
Download the audio tour when you're at The Broad in LA.
Skip the customs line at select airports with Mobile Passport.
Download the United Airlines app for free in-flight entertainment while you wait at the gate, before you board your flight.

Via: Google

You Can Now Leave Video Comments on Facebook

Tim — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 08:43:27 +0000

Showcased at Facebook's Hackathon event earlier this year, a feature that allows users to upload video comments to people's posts drew quite the attention. Over the past few months, the FB coders behind the feature worked to get it up and running on both desktop and mobile, then tested it among peers at Facebook. The feature is now available for all, accessible via a desktop computer, Android device, and iOS. Once you are running a version of Facebook that allows for video comments, you will see a new camera icon next to the comment field. Once clicked, you can begin to record your video reply, then upload it to the comment section for all to watch. This announcement came shortly after Facebook announced support for uploading and viewing 360-degree photos on News Feed. Download the latest version of Facebook from Google Play, then try the feature out for yourself. Play Link

Via: Facebook [2]

Video: Hands-on and Overview of Moto Mods

Tim — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 16:05:10 +0000

Announced alongside the new smartphones from Moto and Lenovo, the Moto Mods are an attempt to bring modularity to the forefront of consumer smartphones. Featuring everything from a projector module, to Style Shells and JBL external speakers, Moto showcased an impressive number of Moto Mods that customers will be able to purchase with their Moto Z and Moto Z Force devices. In the below videos, we go over a few of the different Style Shell covers that can be attached via magnet to any of the new Moto Z devices, plus have the JBL SoundBoost speaker mod demoed for us. In the photo gallery, you can get a close-up look at the projector Moto Mod, but with the lighting situation, it was not at all possible to get a photo of the projector in action. However, I will say that it looked pretty cool when it was demoed. Currently, since we have yet to receive an official launch date for the Moto Z devices or the Moto Mods, pricing is unavailable. If you have any questions regarding the Moto Mods, direct them to the comments section below and I will attempt to field them. Gallery

Style Shells and External Battery

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JBL Speaker Moto Mod

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Video: Moto Z Force DROID Edition Hands-On

Tim — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 15:44:43 +0000

For those more interested in the DROID series of phones, don't fret, Moto and Verizon did not forget about you. This morning, two new DROIDs were announced, the Moto Z DROID Edition and the Moto Z Force DROID Edition. Is this one of the more confusing naming strategies ever? Yes, it most certainly is. We took the Moto Z Force DROID Edition for a spin in the hands-on video below, since there is technically not much difference between the Moto Z and Moto Z Force versus their DROID counterparts. To clarify this situation for anyone curious, the Force DROID Edition features the same 21MP rear-facing camera, larger 3,500mAh battery, and ShatterShield display technology as the standard Moto Z Force. The only real difference is the DROID branding and CDMA radios. In-hand, the Force and Force DROID Edition are noticeably thicker, but still quite thin at 7mm. In addition, regardless of which model you choose, all of the announced MotoMods will work just fine. Like on all of the other devices announced, the Force and Force DROID Edition feature USB Type-C, but lack a 3.5mm headphone jack. This will require you to use Bluetooth for audio out or a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter. Currently, no pricing or exact availability has been announced by Moto or Verizon. Check out our first look and hands-on video below, then shoot any questions you may have in the comments section. I'll field as many as I can. Gallery

Video

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Video: Moto Z First Look and Hands-on

Tim — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 15:17:19 +0000

During Lenovo Tech World, we were able to go hands-on with all of the new products announced this morning. First, let's go over the Moto Z, which is the standard flagship of the new lineup from Moto and Lenovo. You should already know the complete list of specs, but if you don't, here's a recap. The Moto Z features a 5.5" QHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 13MP rear-facing camera, 2,600mAh battery, USB Type-C fingerprint reader, and Android 6.0.1. You will immediately notice that the phone is extremely thin. Measuring in at just 5.2mm, it's one of the slimmest phones I have ever held in my hands. While it did make holding the device rather odd, I will say that the thinness was extremely attractive. While a bit bigger of a battery probably would have served users a bit better, there's no denying that this is an intriguing smartphone. While the addition of USB Type-C and the ultra-thin body is nice, you will see that all of these phones lack a 3.5mm headphone jack. For music listening, you will need to invest in a Bluetooth headset, or use the USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter Moto is creating. It's a pain, but could be worse. Check out the hands-on video below with a complete photo gallery, then keep your eyes peeled for hands-on with Moto Mods, the Moto Z Force DROID Edition, and more. Also, make note of the last photo in the gallery. You will get a good sense for just how much a fingerprint magnet these phones are. Gallery

Video

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Unlocked Moto Z Will be GSM Only

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 14:52:35 +0000

When the Moto Z is relieved of its Verizon exclusivity later this fall and arrives as an unlocked phone, it won't have the connectivity of last year's Moto X Pure Edition. According to Motorola, when asked if the Moto Z would be unlocked and work on all carriers, like last year's Pure Edition, they responded to us by saying that the unlocked Moto Z will be "available on GSM networks starting September." For those of you hoping to buy the Moto Z as an unlocked phone and jump from GSM (like AT&T or T-Mobile) to CDMA networks (like Verizon or Sprint) and enjoy the freedom of last year's flagship Motorola device, you won't be able to. That also means if you wanted the Moto Z, but would rather not buy the DROID version, knowing that Motorola and Verizon DROID phones are some of the least supported and least secure on the planet, you won't be able to buy the unlocked and use it with Big Red. It's tough to tell why Motorola would go this route and lock the phone to GSM networks only, other than the fact that this whole launch seems like an all-in Verizon DROID scheme with some unlocked availability on the side. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Poll: Buying the Moto Z or Moto Z Force?

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 14:01:04 +0000

Well, it's time to vote or at least share your early reaction to the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, DROID Edition versions, and whether or not you plan to buy one when they arrive this summer and fall. You've seen the announcement, checked out the specs, figured out how the Moto Mods work, now know that neither has a headphone jack, and probably punched a wall over the fact that Verizon gets a lengthy exclusive on both initially and the Force for the long haul. I think it's safe to say that you have enough information to weigh in on some level. Are you buying the Moto Z or Moto Z Force? [poll id="411"]

Fun Fact: Moto Z and Force Don't Have Headphone Jacks

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 13:49:35 +0000

Notice anything specifically interesting with that image above of the Moto Z Force, at least in terms of its audio experience? If you recognized that it has no headphone jack, then you my friend, win a prize today. So how does that work, you might be wondering? Well, both the Moto Z and Force have USB Type-C ports, so their audio-out happens through those. Each phone is releasing with a special USB Type-C-to-3.5mm port adapter, so in order to use regular wired headphones with either device, you'll need to have that adapter handy. Keep in mind that USB Type-C headphones are coming soon, like these from JBL. So at some point, you'll just be able to buy headphones that will plug directly into the phone and you won't need that adapter. This may be somewhat of a nuisance at first, but I get the feeling that with Apple on the verge of ditching the headphone jack as well, that this may be the future, or at the very least, the beginning of the end for 3.5mm ports.

Moto and Lenovo Introduce Moto Mods, the Modules for the Moto Z

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 12:12:51 +0000

The big selling feature for the new Moto Z and Moto Z Force is being pushed as the modularity of each phone, where Motorola will look to extend the style and functionality of each by selling you modules, called Moto Mods. So far, we know that we can expect Moto Maker options for Moto Mods called Style Shells that can add a pop of color, texture (leather, wood, nylon, etc.), and personality to your phone. But outside of the Shells, we we will see Moto Mods including a speaker from JBL that can extend battery life by up to 10 hours, a Moto Insta-Share projector for turning any surface into a 70-inch screen, and an Incipio offGRID power pack that can give you up to 22 hours of extra battery life. The Moto Mods, in case you were wondering, attach to the new Moto Z phones via "really strong magnets" and are held in place without worry. In the video above, you can see these modules in action and how they attach. To learn more, hit up Motorola's Moto Mods site. Moto Mods and Style Shells will be available at launch this summer.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force Arrive Exclusively to Verizon This Summer, Elsewhere in the Fall

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 11:50:24 +0000

With the Moto Z and Moto Z Force (along with their DROID Edition variants) now official, you are probably wondering how and when you can get one. Well, I have really sh*tty news on that front, unfortunately. Why? Because Motorola went the exclusive route to start. Yep, ready to hear about this? The Moto Z and Moto Z Force will first arrive in the US as DROID Edition exclusive phones for Verizon this summer. If you aren't a Verizon customers, you'll be able to buy the Moto Z later in the fall. You'll notice I only mentioned the Moto Z and that's because the Moto Z Force, with its shatterproof display, is a Verizon exclusive completely. The Moto Mods that snap on the backs of the Moto Z will be available at the same time they launch on Verizon. In somewhat decent news, the Moto Z will be released as an unlocked phone in the fall, though we aren't sure how unlocked it'll be, meaning, we aren't sure if it'll be as unlocked as a Nexus or the Moto X Pure Edition, with connectivity on all major networks. If you are a global Moto Z fan, you can expect a launch in September. Full specs or each device can be seen here. UPDATE: We asked Motorola if the unlocked Moto Z would be open to all major networks, like last year's Moto X Pure Edition, and they responded by saying that the Moto Z will be "available on GSM networks starting in September."

Via: Motorola

Moto Z, Moto Z Force, and Moto Z Play Specs (Official)

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 11:41:58 +0000

The Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Moto Z Play too) are now official! Ready to learn all about these two new, truly modular phones from Motorola and Lenovo? We have lots to share, but to start, we thought we'd just hand out the official specs of each to get you into the dirty details. As expected, both phones are very high-end, with 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED displays, Snapdragon 820 processors, 4GB RAM, 32/64GB internal storage with microSD support, next-gen cameras, and of course, Moto Mod support. Here you go, dive in.

Moto Z, Moto Z Force, and Moto Z Play Specs

[table id=34 responsive=scroll /] *These are the specs for the US model, DROID Edition Moto Z variants. UPDATE: Added Moto Z Play specs on August 31.

Moto Z Family is Now Official With Moto Z Force and DROID Editions

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 11:24:48 +0000

Lenovo and Motorola just unveiled the Moto Z, along with Moto Z Force and Moto Z DROID Edition models. As expected, these are the ultra thin modular phones that have leaked a couple of times in recent weeks. The details are just now pouring in, so stick with us. For now, here are the first few official images of the phones, along with some of the Moto Mods (modules). Our understanding is that the Moto Z is the standard model, while the Moto Z Force has a shatterproof display. There are DROID Edition versions as well. Each phone sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage, and can utilize Moto Mods. The regular Moto Z is impossibly thin (5.19mm) and holds a 2600mAh battery, while the Moto Z Force weighs in a 6.99mm and has a 3500mAh battery. The Moto Z has a 13MP f/1.8 camera with OIS and laser autofocus, while the Force has a 21MP f/1.8 camera with OIS, laser autofocus, and phase detection autofocus. Both cameras have 1.12 micro pixels. As for the Moto Mods, they connect via "really strong magnets" and can be slapped right onto the back of a phone. At launch, you will see Moto Mods that offer extra battery from Incipio, a speaker from JBL, and one that can even turn your phone into a projector. They are also Mods that can add style with different colors or leather or wood, plus you'll find items from designers like Kate Spade. EDIT: Official specs here. Ready?

Moto Z

Moto Z Force DROID Edition

Moto Mods

UPDATE: Ready for the full scoop? First, you can check out the full specs here, if you haven't already. As for available, you can read all about that here, but just know that Verizon landed an exclusive on both phones to start, with availability happening this summer. Once that launch happens, the Moto Z will be available as an unlocked phone in the fall. The Moto Z Force, with its shatterproof display, is a Verizon exclusive for good, as far as we can tell. UPDATE 2: Here are more details on the Moto Mods and Style Shells.

Lenovo Announces First Project Tango Phone, the Massive PHAB 2 Pro

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 10:46:44 +0000

Lenovo Tech World is still ongoing at the moment, but Lenovo took a minute to unveil the first Project Tango phone, the PHAB 2 Pro. As the name suggests, it's a massive phone, but it also has four cameras, a metal unibody, and almost everything else you could ask for in a flagship. As for quick specs, you are looking at a 6.4-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 652 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 4050mAh battery with 2.4x fast charging, fingerprint reader, DOLBY Atmos sound with 5.1 audio capture, and four cameras for capturing Tango AR goodness. It has a 16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, depth camera, and motion tracking camera. Of course, the point of a Project Tango (which is now just "Tango") phone is to map your environment with all of those cameras, measure distances in real time, and even game no matter where you are. A giant 6.4-inch phone certainly should be able to do that well. The phone will be globally available in September at a pretty crazy low price of $499, unlocked, at retailers like Best Buy and Lowe's.

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Uber Introduces Scheduled Rides to Let You...Schedule a Ride

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 09:22:24 +0000

If there is one feature that Uber has desperately needed since launch, it would be the ability to schedule a ride. The thought here is that you probably know ahead of time that you'll need a ride, but you don't necessarily want to deal with last minute requests and would instead like to set something up ahead of time, you know, to cross it off the list of "Sh*t to do before my trip." Today, Uber is introducing Scheduled Rides globally. As the name suggests, you can now schedule a ride with Uber anywhere from 30 minutes to 30 days in advance. To schedule a ride, from within the app, you'll tap on uberX and then "Schedule a Ride." From there, you can choose a pickup date, location and destination. Once confirmed, you'll see reminders both 24 hours and 30 minutes in advance. This is how it will look.

Because this feature is new and has also been so highly requested by business travelers, Uber is giving Business Profiles priority access to start. To sign-up for early access, head over to this Uber page.

Via: Uber

Moto 360 (2nd Gen) and 360 Sport Get Updates With Moto Body Enhancements

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 08:57:52 +0000

The Moto 360 (2nd Gen) and Moto 360 Sport are receiving updates today in the form of Android Wear build MWD49B. The update isn't large, but does introduce enhance calorie calculation and continuous heart rate measuring through Moto Body, plus security updates and stability improvements. The update is rolling out now, so be sure to jump into Settings to check for it. Here is the full list of changes:

Moto Body enhanced calorie calculation: Moto Body now takes heart rate into account when calculating calories burned.
Moto Body heart rate continuous measure: Heart rate measures in Moto Body are now continuously updated, you don't need to tap to re-scan while you are in the app.
Security updates: Includes the updates of Android monthly security bulletin until May 1st 2016
Stability Improvements: Includes changes that fix bugs and improve stability.

Via: Motorola

Cheers Derek and jeesung!

Lenovo Tech World 2016 Keynote Live Blog!

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 08:35:35 +0000

Lenovo and Moto(rola) will take the stage today during the Lenovo Tech World to unwrap at least a handful of new products. We have Tim on hand for the keynote and after-keynote coverage, so expect all the hands-on throughout the day of everything that is announced. As for what we can expect, well, Lenovo is going to debut their Project Tango phone, a phone that may be so massive, it'll make the Nexus 6 feel unworthy of its "Shamu" codename. Moto, on the other hand, is more than likely going to give us a first look at the Moto Z, the new line of phones that should replace the Moto X. This phone, or line, will include ultra thin bodies and modular capabilities that have been rumored here, there, and everywhere. The event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). Join us below for the embedded live stream and chat!

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HTC Announces Vive Business Edition for Enterprise VR

Tim — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 08:23:09 +0000

HTC announced the Vive Business Edition (Vive BE) this morning, designed specifically for the enterprise sector. Allowing for the capture of big demand in certain industries (automotive, real estate) to implement virtual reality in commercial applications, businesses interested in getting dirty with VR can do so beginning this month when the Business Edition is made available. While the hardware itself does not differ from that of consumer Vive systems, there are a few added perks. The Vive BE will come with commercial licensing, a dedicated customer support line, as well as the ability to order much larger quantities of systems. For $1,200 US, the Vive BE includes the following.

Vive BE Headset
Vive BE Controllers x2
Vive BE Base Stations x2
Vive BE 3-in-1 Cable
Vive BE Face Cushions x4
Dedicated Vive Business Edition customer support line
12-month limited warranty (certain exclusions and limitations apply)

Vive BE will launch in five markets this month, which will be the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France. Vive BE will be rolling out globally in the coming weeks.

Via: HTC

Chrooma Keyboard Beta Hits 3.0 With a Laundry List of New Goodies

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 07:53:06 +0000

Chrooma Keyboard, the Google Keyboard-esque color-switching that has become a favorite around these parts, now has a beta available that will let you test v3.0 of the app. This isn't just a bug-fixer either. No, v3.0 of Chrooma is packed full of new goodness for you to play with, assuming you are down to help the developer work through some bugs on the way to stable. In this 3.0 update, Chrooma has improved text suggestion, prediction, and gestures swiping. You'll find new settings, an emoji page restyling, new emoji too, and bug fixes as well. As for what's new, well, strap in for a minute here. The new goodies include an "Action Row" that is a customizable row with 3 swipe-able pages for things like a number row, recently used emoji, and copy/paste buttons. You'll find new shortcut actions as well, like swipe from delete upward to delete everything you have typed or to the left to go word by word, dragging on the spacebar to move the cursor, and gesture swipe left or right on the spacebar to go into one-handed mode. Finally, there is support for custom text colors on the keyboard, custom gesture trail colors, and two new keyboard styles. This is a pretty intense update. With that said, this is a beta and since being released as v3.0, the developer has already had to address a couple of bugs and is on v3.0.2 at the moment. Again, this is a beta so expect bugs and also expect to help the developer to improve these new features. To get in on the beta action, you'll need to first join the Chrooma G+ community, then opt-in to the beta to "become a tester." Once you do that, you are on your way to becoming the next beta king.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV Basically Becomes a Bad Ass Plex Box in Latest Update

Kellen — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 07:23:12 +0000

Today, NVIDIA and Plex announced that in the next update to SHIELD TV, which will be v3.2, your Android TV-powered set top box can basically become a Plex box or Plex media server. That's awesome, because well, Plex hasn't always been the easiest thing to set up and maintain on a PC, so this should help ease a number of pain points. Seriously, Plex media server on your SHIELD TV! Not familiar with Plex? Think of it as the controlling software between all of the media you own (music, movies, pictures, etc.) that is stored on a PC and the rest of your connected life. Plex is able to blast all of your content, via Plex apps, to TVs and phones and tablets and computers and all that. That's the simplest way I can describe it. The problem with it has always been either maintaining the connection from your PC to the web, so that you can get access to the content at any time. You tend to need a PC that is always-on, so that your content is always available. Make sense? With this update to NVIDIA SHIELD TV, this all should become incredibly simple. Plex says that they will push an update to their app in tandem with the 3.2 update to SHIELD TV that will enable Plex media server to run on the box. With Plex media server setup to run on your SHIELD TV, you'll get "the full media server, including support for hardware-accelerated video transcoding (H.264, MPEG2 and HEVC)" and 4K video access at 60fps. Obviously, the 500GB version of the SHIELD TV would work perfect for this, since your Plex libraries are more than likely quite large, but NVIDIA says that owners of the non-500GB version an always expand their storage with external hard drives connected to the SHIELD TV, adopting them as internal storage (or mounting a NAS drive), and then dragging and dropping files from PC to SHIELD via network share functionality. Pretty exciting news if you are into Plex or have been thinking about getting into Plex, yet didn't want to deal with the PC setup. Also, NVIDIA SHIELD TV units can be had right now for as little as $179 at Amazon. Links:

NVIDIA SHIELD TV (Amazon)
Plex app on Google Play

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Via: Plex

Verizon's Galaxy Note Edge the Latest to Get Marshmallow Update

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 22:21:26 +0000

Add another one to Verizon's list. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge from Big Red is the latest to receive an update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The update will arrive as software version VRU2CPD1 and Android build MMB29M (6.0.1). Once it shows up on your phone, it'll include features like Google Now on Tap, Doze, better application permission controls, WiFi Calling, a newish TouchWiz skin with new icons, and Ultra High Quality Audio. According to Verizon, the update should begin June 9. To check for it in the morning, head into Settings>About Phone>Software updates>Check for updates.

Via: Verizon

Chrome 51 Arrives on Android, Officially Kills Off "Merge Tabs and Apps"

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:07:20 +0000

I hope you weren't a fan of Chrome's "merge tabs and apps" option that was introduced back with the launch of Lollipop, because Google fully killed it off today with the update to v51 of Chrome stable. That's right, once you update Chrome with today's release, you will no longer be able to merge your tabs into your app switcher. RIP? We knew this day was coming, as the feature was first removed from Chrome Dev and then Chrome Beta, but there was always a chance Google would keep it around in the stable version of Chrome. OK, really, though? There was no chance this forced merge was going to hang around. It needed to die because it was a pretty terrible feature from day 1. After the update, your Settings screen will look like this, with the "Merge tabs and apps" option not even available for the choosing.

Play Link

Via: Chrome Releases

Question of the Day: Excited for Moto's Announcements Tomorrow?

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:19:20 +0000

Tomorrow is a pretty big day for Moto(rola) and Lenovo. During the keynote of Lenovo's Tech World conference in San Francisco (watch it here), Moto will get a chance to shine on stage as they unveil what we expect to be their next flagship phone, the Moto Z. From what we have seen through a variety of leaks, the phone will take on new design language, ditch the "X" branding, and attempt to make modularity in a phone a real thing, something LG couldn't do with the G5. At first leak, we weren't exactly all that impressed by the Moto Z's design, but have admitted to warming to it and maybe even becoming quite fond of it. As you guys know, I'm also excited to see companies like Lenovo and Moto taking chances with things like modules, because innovation doesn't happen if everyone just place it safe. But even though Moto could be onto something with this phone, it's hard not to ignore the rocky past few months and wonder if we should even be excited about tomorrow. I'm talking, of course, about the poorly run service department here in the States that has left people without phones for months at a time, Lenovo admitting that the acquisition of Motorola has so far been a disaster, executives departing left and right, an odd rollout of the Moto G4 to only select markets, and the fact that Motorola went almost instantly from the best in the business at updating its Android phones to the worst the minute Lenovo took over. That's a lot of messes that neither Moto or Lenovo have been quick to clean-up. So tell us, are you excited for Moto's announcements tomorrow or has your interest decreased in recent months?

Belkin Releases USB Type-C Car Charger, Priced at an Unholy $50

Tim — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:15:20 +0000

With the launch of many flagship devices featuring it, USB Type-C is finally becoming the norm this year, thank goodness. The only downside to this, for pretty much every old school Android user, is we now have to upgrade all of our microUSB accessories. It's not the most difficult process, but as you will see from the latest Belkin offering, it certainly isn't the cheapest. Belkin's USB Type-C car charger, which includes a Type-C cable, is priced at $50 on their website. Sure, there are more expensive accessories for your smartphone, but damn, $50 for a car charger? If you browse through Amazon, I would say that the average price of a USB Type-C car charger is around $15, so to see Belkin price theirs at $50, this must be one helluva charger. We can only assume that this isn't some rinky-dink charger, right? As listed on Belkin's website, the charger features input surge protection, as well as a USB power delivery chipset, ensuring your car does not fry your smartphone. Additionally, the USB Type-C car charger features a universal compatibility chipset, common mode noise filter, and power switching controller. That's quite a few features for a car charger. Check out the full list of features below, then if you feel that this car charger will serve you well for $50, follow the purchase link below. An Amazon link has also been added, but the product does not appear to be live quite yet. Once it is, we will update the post with a link to it. Features

Input Surge Protection
USB Power Delivery Chipset
Power Switching Controller
Universal Compatibility Chipset
Common Mode Noise Filter
Toroidal Core Inductor
USB-C Port and CC Controller

Buy: Belkin Link | Amazon Link (Coming Soon)

Fleksy Isn't Dead, Should Have Updates in "Next Couple Weeks"

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:28:03 +0000

Over the weekend, a reddit thread suggesting that popular keyboard app, Fleksy, had been abandoned, really picked up steam and caused a number of its users to worry about future support. The thread pointed out that the app hadn't received an update in almost two months, even though it previously seemed to receive them every couple of weeks. The keyboard's social media accounts have also all basically gone silent since early March, plus some of the changes that were introduced in the last big update are head-scratchers (like the removal of cloud syncing and all premium features going free). Oh, and the support site is 100% offline. Because of that thread - and because I'm a fan of Fleksy who would hate to see the app die - we reached out to Fleksy to see if they could give us an update on the situation. It took a couple of days, but they responded simply by telling us that they are "working on updates now and will have more to share in the next couple weeks." So, the app isn't dead and may still be kicking for now and onward a bit after a couple of updates. I have some additional thoughts on whether or not I think the app will live on much longer, but will give Fleksy a chance to get those updates out and share any news about their future. Ahh the hell with it. I can't help but think this feels a lot like the silent abandonment that comes with a company being acquired. While that would be unfortunate, because Fleksy is a good keyboard, their founder is a bit of an entrepreneur who has already sold off one keyboard tech. Remember BlindType? Yep, this guy created that and sold it to Google. We've also seen how hard it is to continue to make money as a keyboard company. Swiftkey, one of the biggest names in the game, had to sell to Microsoft because a financially secure, independent future might not have been a reality. Fleksy selling (or even just opening up the app and walking away) shouldn't come as much of a surprise. If you dig around LinkedIn, the struggle is real to find many people listed on there that work for Fleksy, outside of a few higher-ups. Maybe that's why they have gone from being incredibly active on Google+ in their stable and beta communities, to not having said a word or issued even a bug fixer in 11 or 12 weeks. The end may be near, even if there are a couple of updates still supposedly on the horizon.

Here's Where to Watch Moto's Announcement Tomorrow

Tim — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:37:02 +0000

We will be present in San Francisco for tomorrow's Lenovo Tech World conference, which kicks off at 10am Pacific time. Sent to inboxes this morning, an email declares fans won't want to miss Moto's announcement, with the company claiming that tomorrow is a "big day for Moto." There will be a complete livestream, which we have embedded below, so you won't be missing a thing. We expect the unveiling of the Moto Z smartphone, along with those Moto Mods that were reported on earlier. Once the keynote is wrapped up, it's possible we have a bit of hands-on time with whatever Lenovo and Moto announce, so expect that, too. Do note, Moto's announcement is scheduled for the second hour of the keynote presentation.

Livestream

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Project Fi Adds US Cellular to Gain More Coverage and Speed

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:21:41 +0000

Project Fi added a third network today in US Cellular. That means Project Fi users now have access to three different networks, further enabling the ability of Fi to get you on the best connection at all times. For those not familiar with US Cellular, just know that it's one of the larger mobile networks (they claim to be the 5th largest) in the US with coverage in 23 states. The company is headquartered out of Chicago, has 4.8 million customers, and runs a network on LTE and CDMA. How will this work with Fi? It should work without you even realizing it. Fi will continue to switch between the best connection automatically, it'll just have US Cellular as an option now, if available. US Cellular is joining T-Mobile and Sprint as Project Fi partners, with coverage from the new addition arriving to Fi users in the "coming weeks."

Via: Android Blog

DEAL: Unlocked Galaxy S7 Returns to eBay at $529

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:07:00 +0000

eBay continues to be the best place to buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 if you have been on the hunt for one that will work with AT&T and T-Mobile. At just $529, the unlocked dual-SIM model (SM-G930FD) is today's steal, since you are looking at a $151 discount over the T-Mobile S7 and $166 discount over the AT&T version. In case you were wondering, I've been using a similar model (SM-G930F) on both AT&T and T-Mobile for a couple of months now and have had no issues, other than the fact that these international models don't necessarily have access to Samsung Pay out of the box. There have been some strides made toward getting it to work by flashing specific software, but it's not exactly the most beginner-friendly process. Still, at $529, this is a heck of a deal on a phone that is probably the best available Android device. eBay Link

Android N Name Reveal Coming in a "Few Weeks"

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 09:11:36 +0000

This morning, the official Android Twitter account gave us a timeframe of sorts for when we can expect to find out what the "N" in Android N will stand for. Their plan is to reveal the name in a "few weeks," which, at least to me, sounds a lot sooner than initially expected. We aren't supposed to see a final stable Android N until later in Q3 after another couple of preview releases arrive in June and July, but a "few weeks" seems to suggest that we could know the name by the end of June. It could be that when the APIs and SDK go final in the June preview that Google will then announce the name. Any guesses as to what it is? Have you submitted? What have you been submitting? https://twitter.com/Android/status/740568083446648832

Slack Rolls Out Calls Feature to All

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 08:52:43 +0000

Slack, the team workplace chatting service that only tech nerd press seem to drool over constantly, every day, on Twitter, as if they are the "In" crowd because they use Slack and you don't, rolled out a calls feature to all yesterday, after having been in beta for months. Not familiar with Slack? That's OK! Not everyone is tech nerd press who live in a bubble of obnoxious tech elitism and feel like they need to tell you each time that Slack receives an update, that "this is the app our team uses!" It really is just a workplace or team or group chat app (it's on Android, iOS, Chrome, and desktop) that has a lot of really neat features that make it a powerful tool that you may talk about incessantly, assuming you like to get excited about your team workplace chat apps. I know I don't! As for the newish calls feature, it does exactly what you would expect it to do - place calls to people within Slack. Slack says that anyone can now make one-on-one calls, while "paid teams can also make group calls in any channel or group DM." You'll now see phone icons throughout apps, be able to react with emoji during calls, and feel a part of the "In" Slack crowd who have been testing calls for a while in the beta, bro. Play Link

Via: Slack

OnePlus Posts Camera Samples From OnePlus 3

Tim — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 08:41:48 +0000

With June 14 set as the unveiling date for the OnePlus 3, the company took to Twitter this morning to show off what the phone's rear-facing camera is capable of. Reported to feature a 16MP shooter, it would appear that OnePlus took the phone out to the coast, up to Mt. Everest (unlikely, probably a different mountain), a fireworks show, and the marina. After looking over the photos, I will say that they look pretty good, although, I wouldn't expect a company to post any bad photos. At least on Twitter, OnePlus did not mention if these photos were touched up before posting to the web, but if they were, that would defeat the purpose of showing off the camera's capabilities. OnePlus asked its followers to pick their favorite, so I will do just that. For me, it's the mountain. If you zoom in, there are still plenty of details to be seen in the foreground climber's boots, with the light pouring over the peak and somehow magically hitting their backs. It's a marvelous shot. Take a look over the photos and share your thoughts.

Via: @OnePlus

Withings Introduces Body Cardio WiFi Scale, Thinks It Can Measure Cardiac Health

Kellen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 08:31:29 +0000

Withings, a smart health accessory maker who was recently acquired by Nokia, announced and made available its newest WiFi scale this morning, the Body Cardio. The Body Cardio attempts to give you a comprehensive and "holistic view" of your health, which includes a metric for measuring your cardiac health. Withings says that within seconds of stepping on the new Body Cardio, the scale will measure your weight (obviously), but also your BMI, body composition (like fat, muscle, water and bone mass), standing heart rate, and the big selling point, your Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). After measuring all of this, you can have the information synced through the Withings app and a variety of other services that connect with Withings. Back to PWV for a second, though, since that's the unique feature here. Withings is using the measurement of PWV because it thinks it can assess cardiac health, which could in turn potentially save you from cardiovascular diseases. Pulse Wave Velocity is defined as the "speed at which heartbeat-generated vibrations spread out along the arterial wall." The higher your PWV, the higher your blood pressure likely is. In other words, you want to reduce your PWV, which this scale could help you do by at least monitoring it and letting you know the latest each and every day. Withings mentions that PWC measurements are typically only found in clinical environments and often only measured for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. By putting the tech in an affordable at-home scale, everyone can now be aware of this useful, potentially life-saving metric. If all of that sounds interesting to you, you can buy the Body Cardio today for $179.95 at Withings.com or through Apple stores until later this summer.

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Via: Nokia

Google's New iOS-Exclusive Motion Stills App Technology May Come to Google Photos

Kellen — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:55:33 +0000

Try not to get mad at what I'm about to say, but Google released another iOS-exclusive app today. I'm sorry! I'm just the news deliverer! Would it help if I told you that we could see the technology from this app on Android? Better? OK, let's talk about the app. It's called Motion Stills and it allows users of iPhones that shoot Live Photos (the short video clips taken before and after pictures in the iPhone camera) to turn them into easily shareable GIFs. It's probably awesome. It also uses some video stabilization magic to make them super cool. Here, check out a few of Google's examples.

See how it goes from shaky disaster to stabilized work of art? Yeah, that's Google puttin' in work on the stabilization algorithm or something. Need a better explanation? This is the foreign language spoken throughout the app's announcement post where Googlers try and tell us how this all works:

We pioneered this technology by stabilizing hundreds of millions of videos and creating GIF animations from photo bursts. Our algorithm uses linear programming to compute a virtual camera path that is optimized to recast videos and bursts as if they were filmed using stabilization equipment, yielding a still background or creating cinematic pans to remove shakiness. Our challenge was to take technology designed to run distributed in a data center and shrink it down to run even faster on your mobile phone. We achieved a 40x speedup by using techniques such as temporal subsampling, decoupling of motion parameters, and using Google Research’s custom linear solver, GLOP. We obtain further speedup and conserve storage by computing low-resolution warp textures to perform real-time GPU rendering, just like in a videogame.

Again, the app is currently only available to iPhones, which makes a lot of sense since they are the only phones that shoot Live Photos. Yeah, I know, there are other phones that shoot Live Photo-esque clips, but it was probably easy for Google to focus on the iPhone here to try and perfect this new tech. On that note, Google perfecting the tech is exactly how it comes to Android. According to a blog post announcing Motion Stills, the Googlers involved said that this app is really just an experiment and a way for them to "iterate quickly on the technology needed for short video creation," but that their "hope" is to integrate the feature (making short videos into awesomely stabilized GIFs) into Google Photos. See, it could come to Android...because we have Google Photos! If you own an iPhone, you can grab Motion Stills here.

Via: Google Research

Google Store Has a Few Deals for Father's Day, $50 Off Nexus 6P and $5 Off Chromecast to Name a Few

Tim — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:24:58 +0000

As I mentioned in a previous post, all fathers everywhere are tech nerds. At least, that's the way companies who sell tech products make it seem. If your papa does indeed enjoy himself smartphones, tablets, or is in need of a new Chromecast HDMI dongle, Google is hosting a few special Father's Day prices to spoil your old man with. The deals, from what Google lists, include $50 off of a Nexus 6P ($449), $5 off a Chromecast ($30), $5 off Google Keyboard ($10), $5 off Chromecast Audio ($30), $30 off an Acer Chromebook R 11 ($250), and $20 off an OnHub WiFi router ($179). That's a lot of deals. To look over everything Google is offering for Father's Day, follow the link below. Google Store Link

Poll: Do You Own a VR Headset?

Kellen — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:22:15 +0000

VR, whether you are ready for it or not, is about to be everywhere. What's that? You thought it already was? Honestly, I don't think the big VR push has really even begun yet. Sure, we talk a lot about it because a bunch of big name companies are talking about it and it seems to be the next big focus, but a world filled with VR is really only in its infancy, if not pre-infancy. I say that because the biggest player right now, is Samsung, with its mobile-powered Gear VR headset. Companies with big, stand-alone, PC-powered units, like HTC and Oculus, are just now entering with their more powerful options. Plus, Google has barely finished off announcing its VR platform for Android and Apple hasn't said a word yet. Samsung should be given lots of credit for being one of the first out of the gate, but when you talk about all of these other players on the verge of entering the game, this really is only the early stages of the beginning. Still, that doesn't mean many of you haven't already jumped into VR. You could have purchased (or been given as a bonus gift) a Gear VR, dropped hundreds on Vive or Rift, or picked up Google Cardboard for a couple of bucks at this point. And that's where we go for today's poll. Even though we asked you back in January if you were at all interested in VR (52% said "no"), we now want to know how many of you are already invested in the fun. [poll id="410"]

Flamingo is Just Another Twitter Client, But It's Awesome

Tim — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:32:28 +0000

Twitter clients are a dime a dozen, but the new Flamingo beta app on Google Play has us pretty excited about its potential. Even with Twitter making its Material Design UI refresh official for all Android users, it's never a bad thing to test the waters. If you have been hesitant to try any 3rd-party Twitter clients, such as Fenix or Falcon, Flamingo might be a good one for you to start with. If you happen to consider yourself a 3rd-party Twitter app expert, then you definitely need to try Flamingo. While still in beta, having used it most of this morning, the app is insanely stable and full of working functions. For example, there is an entire theme manager built into the app (included is a theme that looks as if was handcrafted for Droid Life), superb Night Mode with time functionality, as well as a comprehensive notification settings menu. Of course, many of the standard features you would expect are also included and functioning properly, such as multi-account support, swiping navigation, plus the ability to customize which columns of information you would like to see. Take a look over the screenshots I took from the app below.

As previously stated, this is a beta, priced at $0.99 on Google Play. For $1, Flamingo is a solid pick-up. Use that unused Play credit from the Opinion Rewards app. Play Link ($0.99)

Android Distribution Update for June 2016 - Marshmallow Jumps Past 10%!

Kellen — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:15:04 +0000

Google updated the Android distribution numbers today for the month of June, showing Marshmallow jumping past the 10% mark for the first time. I'd call that a significant milestone, but when you consider the fact that Marshmallow was introduced at the end of last September, 10.1% of the Android pie doesn't exactly seem like enough. As for the rest of the numbers, Lollipop now sits at 35.4%, KitKat at 31.6%, Jelly Bean at 18.9%, Ice Cream Sandwich at 1.9%, Gingerbread at 2.0%, and Froyo at 0.1%. In case you were wondering, those are all down from May. You can see last month's numbers here.

Via: Android Devleopers

Reminder: T-Mobile Tuesdays is Live, But It's Struggling

Tim — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 11:05:14 +0000

For all of you T-Mobile customers, today is a big day for you! Today is the first Tuesday to kick off T-Mobile's promotion to thank customers, T-Mobile Tuesdays. With this promotion, which was announced during Uncarrier 11, all T-Mobile customers (postpaid and prepaid) can receive a free medium 2-topping Domino's pizza, Wendy's Frosty dessert, movie rental from Vudu, and even a ticket to see Warcraft in theaters. Unfortunately, as many are finding out, the T-Mobile Tuesdays app sorta blows. Riddled with stuck spinning wheels, awful login experiences, and plenty of other little bugs, it has become clear that T-Mobile and the app's developers were not expecting this type of load on the system. We have pasted a few of the many negative reviews from the app's landing page on Google Play for you to see just what T-Mobile customers are currently going through. I, personally, share their frustration. After attempting to confirm that I was a T-Mobile customer, the app completely froze and locked my device. Once I got it restarted, the app shows no way of redeeming the free gifts, leaving it virtually useless at this point in time. T-Mobile will undoubtedly have to address this situation, but in the meantime, keep trying to claim your free stuff. It's possible that once the mass of people stop trying to the use the app, the system will begin working properly. If you are on T-Mobile, go ahead and download the app and try for yourself. Good luck. Play Link

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:01:53 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active and its official self have arrived at the DL offices this week, so that means we will embark on a journey with it in pocket, on runs, and through waves of physical abuse to test its might. It should be an easy device to review, since it really is just a beefier, more protected Galaxy S7. That doesn't mean we won't enjoy it, though. The Active line has always been a DL favorite because of its toughness. As a recap, you are looking at a device with a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display (that might be somewhat shatterproof), Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel rear camera, military grade protection, and a whopping 4000mAh battery. This phone is a beast on multiple levels. So, to begin this review period, let's unbox it! Also, let us know if you want us to test anything in particular.

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HTC Vive Now Ships Between 2-3 Business Days, Demo Locations Expanded

Tim — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 09:58:16 +0000

For those of you who have been waiting to scoop up a HTC Vive VR headset, now might be a decent time. No, it's not on sale (...yet), but instead of going through HTC's awful "pre-order" experience like we had to when it first launched, HTC announced that headsets will now ship between 2-3 business days after purchase. Not only that, but many retail partners will have units on-hand, granting you access to demos and an official place to buy it offline. As for where you can find a Vive, you can start at many Microsoft Store, GameStop, and Micro Center locations. Anyone who placed a pre-order through one of these retailers should see their purchase fulfilled this week. Starting this month, HTC Vive will be demoed in 100 retail locations throughout North America. In addition to the current list of retail demo locations, Microsoft Stores will expand from 29 to 51 locations, GameStop will increase demo locations from 10 to 40, and Micro Center will add 5 more locations for a total of 10. We have a Vive in the office, and according to Kellen, it's still pretty sweet. Mind you, that's coming from someone who originally did not care for anything VR-related. He's a changed man, apparently. Do you own a Vive? Please, let us know how you like it.

Via: HTC

Twitter for Android Gets a New Look With FAB, Swipe-Able Columns

Kellen — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 09:00:02 +0000

Twitter for Android is getting a major update today that introduces a new UI to better align with "the best of Android." That really just means that Twitter is ditching their previously confusing UI for a column-style approach that can be swiped through, a navigation drawer, and a floating action button (FAB) for spamming off poop emoji in a hurry. This update has actually been in beta for a few weeks and I have had a chance to play with it quite a bit. It is 100% an improvement over the previous versions of Twitter that I always found to be a confusing mess to use. I wonder if Joaquim (of Falcon Pro fame) had anything to do with the update? Hmmm. Hmmm. (Looks below at animated GIF) HMMMMM.

As you can see, you now have columns for home timeline, moments, notifications, and direct messages. A swipe from side-to-side gets you in between each, plus you can slideout a left-situated navigation menu to get into Highlights, lists, and your other accounts, assuming you have any. Want to send a new tweet? Hit that FAB, bruh! Yes, that would be the little floating blue circle in the bottom right corner The animations and moving parts also feel very Android now. The official Twitter is finally good! Twitter tells us that the update is rolling out globally to everyone today. Be sure to grab that update. Play Link

Via: Twitter

Deal: Nextbit Robin Only $299 on Amazon, That's $100 Off

Tim — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 08:47:59 +0000

For anyone looking to hop into the cloud storage lifestyle, the Nextbit Robin is on sale for $100 off on Amazon, now listed at just $299. Thanks to recent updates, I would argue that the Robin, at $299, is a cool buy. While the specs won't compete with the HTC 10, Galaxy S7, or LG G5, for $299 you get access to a 5.2" FHD display, 13MP rear-facing camera, innovative cloud storage solution, dual front-facing speakers, 3GB of RAM, fingerprint reader, and USB Type-C. This is not the first time that the Robin has been listed for $100 off on Amazon, with it probably not being the last. But hey, it's a solid deal for a phone that is still seeing plenty of support from a startup company that actually released a phone via the means of crowdfunding. That's pretty impressive, considering you still have companies like Saygus and "Comet Core Inc" scamming people daily. Follow the link below if the Robin interests you. Amazon Link

DEAL: Moto 360 Sport Drops to $161 at Amazon

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 16:06:20 +0000

The Moto 360 Sport, an active Android Wear smartwatch that Motorola can't seem to give away after only a few months on the market, is now so heavily discounted, it makes me nervous to recommend you pick one up. At just $161 and some change, the Moto 360 Sport in black can be yours, only you need to consider some things first. I hesitate in fully recommending this watch because these heavy discounts so soon just scream of a product being abandoned. I hate to say that, but remember that this is a watch coming from the company who completely cut off a flagship phone (Moto X 2nd Gen) after a year and has been irritatingly slow at updating their 2015 flagship phone. That's not to say that Moto(rola) won't be awesome with this device, but there are some red flags here. If you can put up with the idea that your watch may not receive a ton of support going forward, yet you still want to get into a GPS-enabled sporty little Android wrist thing that Tim had mostly good things to say about, don't hesitate. Amazon Link

Poll: Are You a Keyboard Swiper or Pecker?

Tim — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:55:43 +0000

Since there is no shortage of options for keyboard apps on Google Play, it seems that no matter who I talk to, everyone is using something different. For me, the standard Google Keyboard works great. I especially love the custom photos I can use to theme it. More importantly, though, the swipe functionality on Google Keyboard seems very accurate more times than not, which saves me time during typing and also allows me to use one hand. Other people, known as peckers, prefer to type each individual letter in a word. These people don't care about saving time and would much rather watch the whole world go up in flames than to swipe out words on their keyboard. Don't worry, only kidding. Peckers would argue that swiping words out is not as accurate as they would like, plus with auto-correct becoming better over the years, the words that they peck out are usually spot on which saves them time from redoing a swipe. Different strokes for different folks. So, are you a keyboard swiper or pecker?

[poll id="409"]

This $7 Spigen Magnetic Car Mount is a Must Buy for Galaxy S7 Owners (S6 and Note 5 Too)

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:34:39 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, a reader of ours suggested we check out the Spigen Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount for use with our Galaxy S7 because not only is it a super inexpensive product from a reputable company, it works best with the latest Galaxy S phones because it does so without any extra magnetic stickers. Let me try and explain that last part. There are tons of these magnetic air vent car mount items on Amazon. They all pretty much work the same too. In the box, they include the magnetic car mount that attaches to an air vent, along with magnetic stickers that you apply to the back of your phone or case, or whatever to allow it to attach to the mount. But the thing is, the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge(+ too), and Note 5 all have magnetic magic working inside them already, likely because of their wireless charging capabilities. In other words, you don't need those terrible stickers! These phones just stick right on the damn thing. So with any of these phones, all you need to do is slap them onto the Spigen car mount and be on about your way. It's the simplest little accessory that helps you go hands-free in your car for just a few bucks.

I've been using one for a couple of weeks now and had to order another, because my wife stole the original one for her car because she also thought it was pretty awesome. While it's not the ultimate magnetic gripping accessory that will hold on until you tell it to let go, it has yet to fall off while in use as I have driven around Portland. You also get the added flexibility of putting your phone on it in any position. Oh and speaking of price, this little guy costs just $6.99 and comes with Prime shipping, if you are a member. How can you beat that? Amazon Link ($6.99)

Cheers Anthony!

AT&T: The BlackBerry Priv is Really Struggling

Tim — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 12:47:17 +0000

According to an AT&T executive, the BlackBerry Priv isn't doing too hot. Putting it rather blunt, the unnamed exec stated, "The BlackBerry Priv is really struggling," continuing that AT&T is seeing a lot more returns of the device from customers than they would like to. Typically, you would hardly, if ever, hear anything critical of a smartphone OEM from a carrier partner. More usual, you will see phones continue to get marked down in price until they vanish forever, which we sort of expected with the Priv. For a bit more insight, BlackBerry expected to sell 850,000 smartphones in Q4, but was only able to push 650,000. AT&T gave their account on the situation, stating that instead of Android fans loyal to other brands using the Priv with its physical keyboard and touted security benefits, it was purely BlackBerry loyalists. When these BlackBerry users were having troubles adapting to the Android OS, they simply returned the device. Way to embrace the future, BlackBerry peeps. Even with these apparent struggles, BlackBerry is still expected to launch two additional Android devices in 2016. The primary difference, at least from what the BlackBerry CEO stated, is that these new phones will be priced much more competitively. Are you a Priv owner? Now having the device for a few months, are you still enjoying it? Did you return it?

Via: CNET

WATCH: Google Shows Off Android Apps in Action on Chromebooks

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 12:20:20 +0000

Select Chromebooks are getting Android apps any day now and if you aren't already as excited as me, we (finally) have the video of the announcement event from Google I/O to help get you there. This video, in case you were wondering, is of the mini press event that Google held during I/O to both announce and demonstrate how Android apps will work on Chrome OS. During the roughly 25-minute briefing, Google not only walked through scenarios where the seamless integration of Android apps in Chrome OS can help you really get things done, just like you would on a full-blown PC, but they also "geeked out" a bit on how all of this works. The talk notes the Linux container they use to run Android Framework in, on top of Chrome OS, which allows them to keep up with security and have an integrated UI. I'm telling you again, this is pretty game-changing stuff for Chromebooks. Here is that list, one more time, of the Chromebooks that will soon have Android app support.

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DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $275 Today at eBay ($125 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:32:17 +0000

To end last week, the Nexus 6P saw a flurry of discounts from a variety of retailers by as much as $80. If you want a Nexus 6P, hopefully you took advantage. If you missed out on any of those deals, we have a new Nexus-related discount for you today that might be even harder to pass on. The Nexus 5X with 32GB can be had for $274.99, a discount of $125. The phone is in new condition as model H790, which is the US variant, so you should have no issues taking this to your carrier of choice, including Verizon. Currently, the eBay seller has black or white versions and is offering free shipping. eBay Link

T-Mobile Uncarrier 11 Includes T-Mobile Tuesdays and Stock Up

Tim — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:56:05 +0000

The Uncarrier 11 event just wrapped up, and if you didn't watch, I can sum it up for you pretty quickly. If you are a T-Mobile customer, prepare for free pizza and a Wendy's Frosty dessert. If you aren't a T-Mobile customer, no pizza or Frosty for you! T-Mobile announced two new initiatives, T-Mobile Tuesdays and Stock Up. T-Mobile Tuesdays is an app, available on Android and iOS, which will act as a portal for T-Mobile customers to get free goodies every single Tuesday. As an example, this Tuesday alone, every T-Mobile customer (postpaid or prepaid) will receive a free medium 2-topping Domino's pizza, Wendy's Frosty, ticket to see Warcraft in theaters, and one free movie rental from Vudu. Tirelessly stressed by T-Mobile, T-Mobile Tuesday is not like other reward or loyalty programs. There are no tiers, points, or any hidden ways to sell stuff to consumers. All gifts are merely a "Thank You" for being a T-Mobile customer. Going beyond pizza and Warcraft tickets, special prizes can also be won, including a Warcraft viewing party for 40 of your friends (plus open concession tab), free Lyft rides for a month, plus much more.

The second part of Uncarrier 11 is Stock Up. With details regarding the program leaked last week, we already have a good understanding of exactly what to expect. Basically, any postpaid customer (or primary account holder on a family plan) will receive a single share of $TMUS stock. Currently trading at about $43, customers can gain an additional stock for every friend they refer to T-Mobile. Customers can earn up to 100 shares each year. So, if you refer 100 people at $43 a share, that's $4300 in T-Mobile stock you would have. To begin managing your stock, you will need to sign up for a free brokerage service from LOYAL3. There are no fees to get or sell your share this year, plus no fee to maintain your account as long as you’re an active T-Mobile customer. Existing customers can claim their T-Mobile stock starting tomorrow, June 7, through June 21 in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. To learn more about growing your ownership when you recommend T-Mobile, see more details here. On top of T-Mobile Tuesdays and Stock Up, T-Mobile is also throwing in additional Gogo in-flight WiFi goodies. As of right now, T-Mobile customers can enjoy free SMS texting on any domestic flight for free using Gogo, but starting June 13, T-Mobile will also include iMessage, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp and Viber as part of the supported free-use services. When on a flight that has Gogo, simply connect and chat away using any of those apps on your smartphone or tablet. Lastly, T-Mobile is also gifting a free hour of Gogo in-flight WiFi for your web browsing needs. If you are on T-Mobile, grab the T-Mobile Tuesday app by following the link below, then feel free to pop a bottle of $5 champagne and congratulate yourself on potentially becoming a shareholder in T-Mobile. Play Link

Via: T-Mobile

June's Android Security Update Kicks Off Today With Factory Images, OTA Files

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:15:11 +0000

We teased this possibility on Friday, but Google has gone ahead and posted June's security patch for Nexus devices. When we say "posted," that of course means both factory images and OTA .zip files, so you should have no problems updating immediately without having to wait for a prompt. As of right now, we have Android 6.0.1 files for the Pixel C (MXC89H), Nexus 6P (MTC19V), Nexus 5X (MTC19V), Nexus 6 (MMB30J, MOB30M), Nexus Player (MOB30M), Nexus 9 (MOB30M), Nexus 5 (MOB30M), and Nexus 7 2013 (MOB30M, MMB30J). You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. Links: Factory Images | OTA .zip Files UPDATE: If you are curious about the vulnerabilities that were patched, you can read the June Nexus Security Bulletin here.

WATCH: T-Mobile's Uncarrier 11 Live Stream

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:51:03 +0000

Ready to see what T-Mobile has in store for the next Uncarrier? You can watch it all right here as Uncarrier 11 unfolds. The event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern).

OnePlus to Host Pop-Up Shops Featuring OnePlus 3 on June 15

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:22:07 +0000

On June 14, OnePlus will unveil the OnePlus 3 through a virtual reality portal called The Loop. On that same day, you will be able to order the phone in VR during an exclusive time period before sales open on OnePlus' website. But what if you aren't into buying phones the day they are released before seeing reviews or getting your hands on them? OnePlus has a solution for a select few of you in the form of a pop-up shop tour. OnePlus will host pop-up events starting June 15 across the globe to help you get your hands on the OnePlus 3. The pop-up event tour will run through New York, London, Paris, and Berlin on the 15th, giving OnePlus fans a chance to win free swag, play with the phone, and even purchase the 3 "right then and there ". Shortly thereafter, pop-up events will happen in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The New York event will take place at Magnum New York (map link) on the 15th from 7PM-10PM Eastern. Carl Pei, one of the company's founders, will be in attendance as a special attendee. For more details on the exact time and location of each pop-up event, hit up that source link below.

Via: OnePlus

Verizon's "Can You Hear Me Now" Guy Now Works for Sprint

Tim — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:16:08 +0000

"Can you hear me now?" It was a line that anyone who watched TV in the early part of this century would hear over and over again, thanks to Verizon. The actor in those commercials is Paul Marcarelli, and announced late last night, he has officially switched to Sprint. Not only is Paul doing commercials for Sprint, but the company claims he is also a customer. Good for you, Paul. In a new line of commercials that feature Paul, Sprint is pushing a "1%" stat provided from Nielsen. According to the research done by them, Sprint is within 1% of the network reliability rate offered by AT&T and Verizon. Sprint spins this information to make the claim that your calls and data should be just as reliable on their network as it would be on Verizon or AT&T. With far better rates on monthly plans, why would anyone not use Sprint? Without diving into the concept that it isn't just reliability that people need in 2016 -- we also need coverage in a modern world where people travel a ton -- make note that you can expect to see Paul on TV a whole lot more than you have in the past decade. You might be asking, what does Verizon think of all this? Well, in a statement provided by a spokesperson, "They're using our 2002 pitchman because they're finally catching up to our 2002 network." Zing! Check out Sprint's latest commercial featuring the "Can you hear me now?" guy below.

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Via: Sprint | CNET

Check Out These Moto Z Moto Mods That Will Add Leather, Wood, Color to the Phone

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 08:10:01 +0000

When Moto and Lenovo unveil the Moto Z later this week at Tech World in San Francisco, one of the major focuses is going to be on the modularity of the phone. We think we have a pretty good idea as to how that will all work (with magic pins!) and what some of the modules (called Moto Mods) will be, but what does all of that mean for Moto Maker and leathers and woods and customizations to the phone's appearance? It probably means more Moto Mods as plates with all of those options for quick customizability. Thanks to new pictures revealed by helloMotoHK over the weekend, we are getting a look at five potential Moto Mods that will add some style to the phone. In the images throughout this post, you can see modules with wood (cork too?), leather, nylon, and a soft touch finishes. Like the modules for cameras or speakers, these backs should just "snap" right on to the back and attach themselves via pins. It's tough to imagine these backs doing much other than adding style, but they do help make that camera puck much more flush and less awkward. This is likely also the way that Moto and Lenovo will keep Moto Maker alive in name. Instead of having to produce custom phones, they can just sell us all pre-made backs this way, which I would imagine is much simpler and cheaper to do. Now, time to guess how much a back like this will cost. $25? $50? More?

Via: +helloMotoHK

Cheers Jeff and Derek!

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active Specs (Official)

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 06:43:38 +0000

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is official and arriving later this week (June 10!), you are probably weighing the decision over whether or not to buy one. As a fan of the previous Active phones from Samsung and AT&T, I've got to say that I'm actually quite excited to get this one in house. There are few phones on the planet that can take a beating like these phones can, and so that's part of the fun when you have one - seeing just how much you can throw at it. But the insides here matter too and that's typically where the Active series shines. Instead of being a lesser version of the flagship Galaxy S of the year with some toughness thrown on the outside, Samsung keeps the Active as high-end in terms of specs as it gets along with the extra protection. In case you were wondering what all of those insides were, we have them below.

Galaxy S7 Active Specs

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AT&T Announces the Galaxy S7 Active With 4000mAh Battery and Shatter Resistant Screen, Arrives June 10

Kellen — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 06:33:21 +0000

This morning, AT&T went ahead and unwrapped the newest version of their exclusive Active line, also known this year as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active. The phone, as you should have expected, assuming you have any knowledge of previous models, is a lot like the standard Galaxy S7 only it has been toughened up to be able to withstand the elements. With the Galaxy S7 Active, you are looking at a phone with a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED "shatter resistant" screen, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM, rear 12MP Dual Pixel camera, front 5MP camera, 32GB storage with microSD support, and a whopping 4000mAh battery. It also has IP68 resistant to water and dust, Military Grade Body (MIL STD-810G), a customizable Active button (like previous Active phones), fingerprint reader, and access to Samsung Pay. Full specs here. Of course, the exterior is quite different from the original S7, but does look like a typical Active device. There are camo backs, "military grade" protection running around its outside (with temperature resistance too), a bumper-like system at all corners for absorbing impact during drops, and three physical buttons along the bottom, instead of the mixture of capacitive and physical like on the S7. The Galaxy S7 Active arrives in Sandy Gold, Titanium Gray, and Camo Green on June 10 in stores and online and can be had for as little as $26.50 per month with AT&T Next (30 payments) or $33.13 per month with AT&T Next Every Year (24 payments). Once live on the 10th, you'll be able to buy the Galaxy S7 Active at this link. We'll have one in house shortly should you have any questions.

More info: AT&T

Rumors Everywhere

Tim — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:49:37 +0000

The rumor hypetrain is departing the station. All aboard! In this week's episode, we will cover the latest details concerning a 2016 Huawei-made Nexus device, additional rumors regarding the Galaxy Note 6 (or Note 7, or Note 7 Edge, or whatever we're calling it now), plus Samsung's launch of the Gear Fit 2 and IconX wireless Bluetooth earbuds. In addition, Google's Sundar Pichai recently made comments about stock Android on Nexus devices with the possibility of future models gaining additional features. New features for Nexus phones? We must discuss. Join us at 10:00AM Pacific (1:00PM 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.

Report: T-Mobile Uncarrier 11 is "Stock Up," Customers Can Earn $TMUS Stock

Tim — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:19:04 +0000

According to a source of VentureBeat, T-Mobile's Uncarrier 11 event is geared towards getting postpaid customers invested more in the network they use. And by invested, we mean quite literally. As reported, Uncarrier 11 will introduce Stock Up, a program that offers actual T-Mobile stock to customers. At the time of this writing, $TMUS is trading at over $43, which is an important tidbit of info you should keep in mind. There are reportedly two ways customers can earn shares. To get started, there will be an initial, "qualification-free giveaway," plus a "referral fee" for driving business to T-Mobile. Yet to be confirmed by T-Mobile, any existing postpaid customers who downloads the yet-to-be-released T-Mobile Tuesdays app prior to June 21 will automatically be eligible to receive a single share of stock. To claim the share, customers will be required to sign-up for Loyal3, which is a web service offering fee-free investing. The report claims that new customers will have a rolling three week window to claim the share via Loyal3's website. Once the initial share is claimed, any customer can earn up to 99 more shares per year by referring friends and family. That's a total of 100 shares in the first year. However, with those referrals, the new customers will need to maintain their T-Mobile accounts for longer than 15 days. This will prevent anyone from signing up, claiming the share, then taking advantage of T-Mobile's new-line return window. For long-term subscribers (customers who have been with T-Mobile for 5 years or more), they will earn two shares per new customer referred, instead of one. If you begin stacking up referrals, all you need to do to claim the shares is enter your referee's T-Mobile phone number inside of the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. The process appears to be fairly simplistic, and in the long run, customers should have a fun time trying to convince their friends and family to signup for T-Mobile, allowing them claim free shares. The last part, according to VentureBeat, is more of a customer appreciation bonus. The initiative will net customers a two-topping Domino's pizza, small Wendy's Frosty, plus a downloadable VUDU movie rental each week. Bonus gifts will also include trips, gift cards, and event tickets. As a prepaid T-Mobile customer myself, Stock Up may even get me interested in switching to a postpaid account. You can't beat free shares, right?

Via: VentureBeat

Tony Fadell Exits Nest, Will Take Advisor Role at Alphabet

Tim — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:15:44 +0000

Nest co-founder Tony Fadell is exiting his role at Nest, according to a person familiar with Fadell's plan. Reported by The Information, Fadell will assume an advisor role at Alphabet, the parent company to Google. Nest's new CEO is to be Marwan Fawaz, who was previously the CTO of Charter and worked for Motorola Home. In a statement posted to The Verge, Fadell explains that he is leaving with a two-year roadmap in place.

Last year, I began discussions with members of my team about my next endeavor. After six years of working on Nest, leading it through 4.5 years of double-digit growth and consistently high marks from customers, I leave Nest in the hands of a strong and experienced leadership team, with Marwan at the helm and a well-defined, two-year product roadmap in place. I’m looking forward to my new role as an advisor to Alphabet and Larry, which will give me more time and flexibility to pursue new opportunities to create and disrupt other industries - and to support others who want to do the same - just as we’ve done at Nest.

Here is a statement provided by Alphabet's Larry Page.

Under Tony’s leadership, Nest has catapulted the connected home into the mainstream, secured leadership positions for each of its products, and grown its revenue in excess of 50% year over year since they began shipping products. He’s a true visionary and I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as advisor to Alphabet. I’m delighted that Marwan will be the new Nest CEO and am confident in his ability to deepen Nest’s partnerships, expand within enterprise channels, and bring Nest products to even more homes.

We wish Tony the best on his "new opportunities."

Via: The Information [Subscription] | The Verge

IMAGE

Microsoft Outlook Comes to Android Wear Via New Watch Face

Kellen — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:28:29 +0000

After launching last August for the Apple Watch, Microsoft has now introduced Outlook to Android Wear and your current smartwatch. With this introduction, Microsoft is really giving you a whole new watch face that has Outlook embedded within, hoping that you will let Outlook control your day. With Outlook set as your watch face, you will have quick access to an overview of your day, or at least whatever you have coming within the next 12 hours. Outer dials around the watch face are color-coded to match what you have set your calendars at certain time periods, plus a tap on the shortcut to the next item on your schedule takes you into deeper details, along with a timeline going forward. The watch even shows you how many emails you have received since you last looked at your phone. If you don't any upcoming items, the watch face will at the very least, show you the most recent email you have received. Outside of the schedule management, the Outlook watch face allows you to color change the watch face to your liking, plus you can now interact with notifications that come in by choosing to archive, schedule, flag or delete emails.

Be sure to grab the newest Outlook update and set the new watch face. Play Link

Via: Microsoft Office Blog

Official: Get Ready to Hate Your Instagram Feed

Tim — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:09:57 +0000

According to Instagram, users miss an average of 70% of their photo/video feeds. Sure, if you follow 1K+ people, that's likely, but why are you following so many people in the first place? How is that a meaningful experience? Apparently that doesn't matter to Instagram, and starting today, as the company announced in March, a new algorithm is rolling out to everyone's feeds, bringing the most popular posts directly to the top of your feed. FML. FML! "Over the past few months, we brought this new way of ordering posts to a portion of the community, and we found that people are liking photos more, commenting more and generally engaging with the community in a more active way," Instagram states. To help get users more involved with those who post photos and videos, such as bands and brands you follow, their photos will show up more often near the top. Furthermore, Instagram claims, "No matter how many accounts you follow, you should see your best friend’s latest posts." How do they do that? Algorithms! Depending on how much you interact with any given user on IG, the algorithm will determine if you are "best friends," which will surely go well. Quickly, run to change.org and start a petition to turn it back! The fate of Instagram may be in your hands. Even better, head to Instagram's Help site, then where you see the frowny face, tap on that. Once frowny has been selected, hit "I don't like how this works." Maybe IG will see a direct hit on that topic and begin to rethink this awful idea. You never know, it could work. Play Link

Via: Instagram

Unofficial Renders Provide First Look at Samsung Galaxy Note 6 (7?)

Tim — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 09:16:18 +0000

Even as we inch closer to the unveiling of Samsung's next phablet (reported to be August-September), the industry is pretty uncertain as to what Samsung is going to call its next flagship device. Reports claim anything from Galaxy Note 6 to Galaxy Note 7, and even one insider states Samsung may launch two Note devices this year, with one featuring an Edge display. It's getting pretty chaotic over at Samsung, apparently. To most consumers, a name probably won't matter too much, as long as the phone is awesome and a significant upgrade over last year's Galaxy Note 5. Based on the latest renders to hit the web, the phone, whatever it is to be called (and seriously, we don't care what they call it), is shaping up to be pretty righteous. Detailed in the photos, Samsung would be incorporating a USB Type-C port on the bottom side of the device, as well as offering somewhere between a 5.7-inch and 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display. You will also notice these renders feature a slight curve on the side edges of the display. Could that be where the Note 6 Edge rumors stem from? The phone's dimensions are "around" 153.5mm x 73.9mm x 7.9mm. No other specs were listed, so without getting lost in the endless void of rumored specs, let's just look at the damn renders.

For a Note device, this phone appears to look like the perfect mix of a Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7/S7 Edge. There are smooth lines, subtle curves, and of course, a S Pen gracing the bottom. Share your Hot Take down below.

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Via: uSwitch

Reports: Huawei's Daydream-Ready VR Phone to Arrive in Fall, New Nexus This Year Too (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 08:56:47 +0000

Through two separate interviews from Huawei executives that took place this week, we aren't starting to understand that Chinese company's plans for the fall. One of those plans includes their VR and Daydream-ready phone, but they may also include a new Nexus device. According to Huawei's Richard Yu, the man in charge of Huawei's consumer electronics business who sat down for an interview with the Wall Street Journal, we should expect a phone that will take advantage of Google's new Daydream VR platform this fall. He didn't provide any other details, so he's really just confirming what Google told us at I/O while adding in a time frame. The "fall" makes sense since we expect Android N (which has Daydream built-in) to hit stable in late summer, which would then mean the first devices running it would arrive shortly thereafter. As for the Nexus news, during an interview with Gearburn, the general manager of Huawei's consumer group in South Africa, Charlene Munilall, reportedly confirmed that her company will once again be a part of this year's Nexus line-up. The confirmation was brought up when Munilall was questioned about why Huawei had not released the 2015 Nexus 6P in South Africa. She responded by saying that Nexus is a "very niche product," before tossing out the line we care about, which was, "We're doing the Nexus again this year, by the way." That's all she said, so we don't know if she means a tablet or a phone or something else altogether. Could she be referring to the Snapdragon 820-powered "Nexus 6P" we saw in recent benchmarks or does Huawei have tablet in the works? Was her quote taken out of context? Assuming that quote was transcribed word-for-word, I don't know how else anyone could take that. I would certainly be open to Huawei making another Nexus. They did a fabulous job with the 6P and seem to be working as closely with Google as anyone. What about you? Ready for another Huawei Nexus? UPDATE: Huawei reached out to us with a statement on both topics here. The full read is below.

“We don’t comment on future products, as a matter of policy. Huawei is committed to creating the world’s most compelling and innovative devices, offering an exceptional performance and outstanding user experience. We are proud to have worked with Google, which is strong in innovation, on the Nexus 6P and will continue to collaborate in the future, such as our support for Daydream, the recently-announced platform for high performance mobile VR.”

Via: Wall Street Journal | Gearburn

DEAL: Nexus 6P is $80 Off at Best Buy, 32GB Just $419.99 (UPDATED)

Kellen — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 07:30:05 +0000

To kick off the weekend, Best Buy is currently running the best deal on the Nexus 6P we have seen in a while. All models have been slashed by $80, so that means you can get into Google's best Nexus ever (our review) for as little as $419 with 32GB of storage. If you need more than 32GB of storage, you'll find the 64GB model at just $469 and the 128GB model at just $569. Best Buy currently has the gold, aluminium, and graphite colors in stock in all storage sizes, plus they are tossing in free shipping. Best Buy Link UPDATE: Newegg's eBay store has the 128GB Nexus 6P for $499 ($150 off!). UPDATE 2: B&H Photo running the $80 off deal, but is also tossing in a free $50 B&H gift card and screen protectors.

Cheers Mike and Eric!

#TBT: When the Android Market Became Google Play and We All Freaked Out a Little Bit

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:26:39 +0000

To say that Google's name change of the Android Market to Google Play just over four years ago (!) wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms out of the gate, is probably not doing the dissatisfaction and confusion enough justice. People in our comments, moments after the change rolled through, were so unhappy and confused, that they all just assumed Google was smoking something and would eventually revert back. "Google Play! What does it even mean!?!?" they shouted. Again, here we are four years later and I think it's worked out OK, even if it is awkward at times. You can see all of the hilarious comments here, but these are some of my favorites. RIP, Android Market, we certainly forgot all about you and your bad UI.

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Facebook Messenger Users, You Now 1,500 New Emoji to Play With

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:13:55 +0000

An update for Facebook Messenger is completely revamping the emoji experience inside of the communication app, but it's not just the addition of new emoji that has people excited. According to Facebook, 10% of all messages sent via Messenger include emoji, and considering how many messages are likely sent on the service, that's a crap ton of emoji. Inside of the update, FB is bringing 1,500 newly designed emoji to public, including gender-agnostic options and multi-colored emojis. For multi-colored emoji users, they will get to determine the skin tone they prefer, including dark, pale, or The Simpson's yellow. For those who prefer female emoji, an entire set of emoji catered for ladies is also available, including a female police officer, female runner, and others. However, probably most importantly, FB is rolling out a new emoji standard for all users (iOS included), which means no one will be confused by that odd looking smiley face from iPhone users anymore. All emojis, regardless of platform, should look the same. No more emoji confusion! This also includes the times when you are sent an emoji, but your system does not recognize it, leaving you with a blank box. FB wants to cut that experience out completely. According to FB's announcement, "From skin tones that you can choose to lots of women in great roles, Messenger is beginning to make emojis more representative of the world we live in." I should have known the day would soon come when emoji rose up and fought for equality. Personally, I'm all for it. This huge emoji update will begin rolling out tomorrow for all Android users. Play Link

Old vs New

Via: Facebook

Samsung Gear IconX Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Launch Q3, Priced at $199

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:00:04 +0000

The previously rumored Gear IconX earbuds from Samsung are now official, scheduled to launch in Q3 for a price of $199. Featuring a lightweight and comfortable fit, the Gear IconX earbuds are completely wireless thanks to Bluetooth technology, but go way beyond just playing music. With the help of built-in sensors, the Gear IconX buds can track fitness data such as distance, speed, duration, heart rate, as well as calories burned, which is then easily sync-able with the S Health app on your smartphone. To help you on your way to healthy greatness, a built-in Voice Guide delivers instant voice feedback on a user’s workout progress, plus will help guide you through menus. Much like the Gear Fit 2, the Gear IconX also allows for the offline storage of MP3 files, with enough memory to store up to 1,000 songs. Thanks to this, if someone wants to go on a run completely barebones (without a smartphone or smartband), the Gear IconX buds can do it all. To control all of this functionality, a user only needs to insert the buds into the ears, which then automatically boots up the buds, then a few taps on the outside of your controller bud. During setup, the user will determine which bud will be the controller, left or right (which hand you are dominant with). Coming in a travel case-like container, the packaging acts double as storage and charging station. On the backside of the case, a microUSB port will deliver juice to the buds' internal batteries. Each bud features a battery size of 47mAh, which Samsung states can last about 2 hours depending on whether a user is streaming music or using offline playback. The Gear IconX wireless earbuds will launch Q3, priced at $199. Specs

Memory: 4GB / up to 1,000 songs
Connectivity: Bluetooth v4.1
Sensor: Accelerometer, Heart Rate, Capacitive Touch
Dimension: Earbud - 18.9 (W) x 26.0 (D) / Case - 92.0 (W) x 35.3 (D)
Weight: Earbud - 6.3g per earbud / Case - 52g
Battery: Earbud - 47mAh / Charging Case - 315mAH
Compatibility: Android 4.4/ RAM 1.5 GB
Speaker: Dynamic Driver
Microphone: 2 each per earbud
Additional Features: Black, blue and white, Splash resistant (P2i Nano Coating), Standalone music player
Voice Guide: Available in 15 languages
Audio Formats: MP3, WMA v9, WAV, AAC, M4A

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Samsung Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX Wireless Earbuds Hands-On

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:00:04 +0000

With announcements for the Samsung Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX earbuds out of the way, we can now share our own, albeit brief, personal experiences with both devices. During a small media briefing, we got a bit of hands-on time with Samsung's latest wearable and even got to listen to the all-new wireless Bluetooth earbuds. The experience was rather short lived, but I can at least provide my initial impressions for anyone interested in purchasing one of these devices. As a recap of the announcement, the Gear Fit 2 goes on sale in-store on June 10 for $179, while the Gear IconX earbuds will launch in Q3 with a retail price of $199. Let's start with the Gear Fit 2.

When the original Gear Fit launched in 2014, I didn't use it all due to its incompatibility with anything other than a Galaxy smartphone. That is where the Gear Fit 2 excites me a bit more. As long as your Android device is running Android 4.4+, you will be compatible. This should open up the potential market quite a bit for Samsung. In addition, notification support has been completely opened up, and instead of only a few Samsung-made apps allowed to push notifications, the Gear Fit 2 can display any notification you receive. That's another big step in the right direction for Samsung. When I first picked up the Gear Fit 2, I could feel how extremely lightweight the device is. The band is made of silicone and is very bendy, but not at all cheap feeling. Unlike the Moto 360 Sport that features a very sticky band, the Gear Fit 2's band does not seem to attract lint or any pet hair you might have on you. The UI itself, while it is Tizen, is very snappy and responsive to touch thanks to the added Exynos processor. When swiping through the different screens, you will quickly realize how many features this little smartband packs. A swipe down will access your notifications and ongoing music controls if you have music playing, or a swipe across the display will get you to all of your recent workout information. If you keep swiping, breakdowns for all of your activities are viewable, which is great for those here who need access to that information on the fly.

If you happen to know someone else who utilizes a Gear Fit 2 and S Health, you can even begin a little challenge amongst yourselves, which adds a decent flavor of competitiveness to the experience. Also in that same sharing category, if you are the type to display your workouts on social media, the standalone GPS radio can deliver a little map of your last run, which can then be shared on Facebook, Twitter, or wherever else. Overall, the Gear Fit 2 is a major improvement in all categories over the original Gear Fit. The Gear Fit 2 launches in-store on June 10 for $179, with pre-orders beginning June 3 at select retailers.

Gear IconX Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds I am by no means a headphone specialist or audiophile, but I will say that the Gear IconX wireless Bluetooth earbuds from Samsung are pretty dope. Personally, I would declare that my ear canals are rather funkily sized, but I was surprised to see that these earbuds fit in them very snug and comfortably. Even after whipping my head around a little bit, I could tell that they weren't going to fall out, which is important if you plan on dropping $200 on earbuds and then take them on runs. When you insert the buds into your ears, you will hear a beep. This beep indicates they have powered on and are ready for use. Do note this happens automatically, as the built-in sensors detect the insertion. Once done, you simply tap on the flat outside surface of the controller bud to get going. In my case, as I am right handed, the controller bud is in my left ear, but either the left or right can act as the controller. To navigate the different features of the buds, such as controlling music and workout functions, you swipe on that same outside part of the bud. As you swipe, a soft voice will speak into your ear, letting you know what you are about to select. One feature that amazed me, probably because I was not expecting it, was the ambient microphone. Say you are in the grocery store and get to the checkout counter. Instead of taking out the earbuds, simply long press on the controller bud, and outside sound will then be fed into your ear. This will allow you to have conversations with people or even here oncoming traffic if you enjoy running in the street. In terms of overall sound quality, it was actually pretty good. Most phones feature a built-in EQ for outputted audio, so finding the right mix should not be too difficult for you. For me, the only downside would be the battery life. According to Samsung, depending on if you stream your music or use the offline playback mode, you should only see about one and a half to two hours of use on a single charge. That's not bad if you plan on hitting the gym for an hour, but don't plan on using these for your full marathon, considering the median completion time of a full marathon is north of 4 hours. With that said, the charge time on these little guys is pretty good, coming in at about 30 minutes. If you take your carrying/charging case with you everywhere, you should easily get a day's usage out of them. For $199, this is certainly a good starter earbud pack for fans of wireless Bluetooth buds, but it's still expensive. Expect these to hit stores in Q3 of this year.

Samsung Announces the Gear Fit 2, Available June 10 for $179

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:00:03 +0000

Samsung officially unveiled the Gear Fit 2 this afternoon, a sequel device to 2014's Gear Fit. Designed to be worn all day during any type of activity, this wearable smartband features a 1.5" Super AMOLED curved display, plus a dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM. Differences between the Gear Fit and Gear Fit 2 will likely jump off of the page for owners of the original, which includes an added GPS radio, speedier Exynos 3250 processor, complete notification support for Android devices, as well as a standalone music player application. Most importantly, while the Gear Fit was only compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices, the Gear Fit 2 will work on any Android device running 4.4+. Other specs for the Gear Fit 2 include IP68 water and dust resistance, 15 different activity tracking modes, 4GB of onboard storage, heart rate monitor, and Bluetooth v4.2. The Gear Fit 2 is also a bit smaller than the original, and because of this, it features a slightly smaller battery of 200mAh, down from the Gear Fit's 210mAh battery. However, Samsung still lists the Gear Fit 2 at lasting 3-4 days on a single charge. One major feature addition is a custom-built Spotify music player app. Perfect for those with a set of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds -- such as the IconX buds from Samsung -- the Spotify app allows users to store cached music on the smartband itself, meaning you won't need to take your paired smartphone on all of your runs. In addition, the built-in GPS will allow runners to keep track of all movements, regardless of whether a smartphone is synced or not. This same functionality can be seen on the Moto 360 Sport, which we admire quite a bit. The Gear Fit 2 will be available in two different sizes (Small and Large), as well as three different colors - Black, Pink, and Blue. Pre-orders for the Gear Fit 2 begin tomorrow at Amazon, Best Buy, Macy's, Samsung, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Priced at $179, general in-store and online sales will begin June 10. Specs

Display: 1.5”, Curved Super AMOLED 216 x 432
Chipset: Dual Core (1 GHz)
Memory: 512 MB (RAM) / 4 GB Storage
Connectivity: Bluetooth v4.2
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Heart Rate Monitor, Built-in GPS, Barometer
Dimensions: 24.5 (W) x 51.2 (D) mm
Weight: Small - 28g Large - 30g
Battery: 200mAh
Compatibility: Android 4.4/ RAM 1.5 GB
OS: Tizen
Additional Features: Notifications (SNS, call, email, applications, schedule), IP68 certified, Standalone music player
Colors: Black, blue and pink
Sizing: Small (Size of the wrist: 125 ~ 170mm), Large (Size of the wrist: 155 ~ 210mm)
Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, M4A, AMR, AWB, OGG, OGA, 3GA

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Google Maps Gets an Official Beta, Sign-Up for It Now!

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:40:19 +0000

Google Maps joined the Google App as having an official beta version this afternoon, and you can sign-up now! All you need to do is hit that link below, click the "Become a tester" button, and then head to Google Play to "update" to the beta version. It's just like you have done with the Google App and Nova and any other beta through the Play store. That same link below will allow you to leave the beta test as well. The new beta version is 9.27.0. Google Maps Beta Sign-up

Via: Android Police

YouTube Red Subscribers Get a Free Chromecast From Google

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:39:38 +0000

Earlier in the week, a handful of YouTube Red subscribers began receiving emails from Google that spoke of a free gift as a thank you for being a part of the movement. That "thank you" gift was a free Chromecast (the new one). We just now received our email and figured we'd be sure to point out to the rest of the YouTube Red subs around these parts to keep an eye out for a similar email. Or at the very least, to assure you that these emails really are showing up. From what we can tell, this isn't a selective thing, but a gift to those who actually signed up for Red. I say that because I have three Gmail accounts, two of which are subscribed to Google Play Music, while just one is signed up for Red. The single account that is signed up for Red is the account that received the gift - the other two haven't seen this freebie offer. Now, I know that if you sign-up for Play Music's monthly service, Red is a part of the deal, but you aren't necessarily a Red subscriber, you just get Red as an added bonus. That may seem silly or unfair, but that's the only explanation I've got for you. So, if you subscribed to YouTube Red, be on the lookout! You have until June 19 to redeem.

Pebble Core Gets Amazon Alexa Integration

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:24:25 +0000

Pebble Core, the 3G and GPS-enabled running buddy created by the Kickstarter-attached smartwatch company of the same name, added a really impressive new feature today. When Core begins shipping in early 2017, backers (and those who end up buying one later on down the road) will be able to tap into the power of Amazon's Alexa. With Alexa built-in, the Core and its 3G connected self now becomes much more than just a running buddy. You now have an Amazon Echo attached to you at all times. You can be out for a run and tell Core to order you pizza, by talking to Alexa. You can ask Alexa to play songs from a variety of music services, ask for news updates and traffic reports, control your smart home (like lights or thermostats), get weather updates, etc. You get the point. This is actually huge news for a product that was already doing something quite unique in the fitness world. At $69, if you are a runner or someone who spends a lot of time outdoors or on the go, the addition of Alexa to the Core almost makes it a must buy, in my opinion. Anyone else more interested now?

Via: Pebble

#NewVSCO is Coming Soon for Android, Offers Newly Designed Community and Search

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 10:25:05 +0000

An updated VSCO app is soon to make its way to both Android and iOS. Not only does the update include a fancy new UI, but VSCO has essentially reworked the entire platform to offer more of a community-driven experience. Once updated, users can still look through other content creator's work, as well as search for topics they want to see photos of. While the ability to share your photos with the VSCO community has been there for quite awhile, this update should bring much more attention to that experience. The update has four gestures that users will need to familiarize themselves with. There is swipe left, right, up, and down. Upon start up, you begin in your "personal space." This is where you create, edit, and publish images. From here, a swipe right will get you into the VSCO community, while a swipe down will bring up the integrated search menu. No matter which screen you are on, a swipe up will open up VSCO's built-in camera. The update is not yet available, but once it is, we will let you know.

Via: VSCO

Samsung Pay Now Available in Spain

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 09:48:02 +0000

Hey, Samsung Pay is now available in Spain! Outside of the US, Korea, and China, this is the first new market (and first in Europe) to get access to Samsung's best-in-the-business mobile payment app, so that's kind of a big deal...if you live in Spain. To start, Samsung Pay will be eligible for use with cards from CaixaBank and imaginBank, and should hit Abanca and Banco Sabadell "soon." As for supported businesses, customers will be able to use Samsung Pay at contactless terminals all over the place, but Samsung says that it is working with brands like Cepsa, Cervecería La Sureña, Domino’s Pizza, El Corte Inglés, Fridays, Ginos, Grupo DIA, and Starbucks to add more value. You'll notice that I didn't say anything about Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and paying everywhere. That's because Samsung doesn't mention it in their press release, which could (and likely does) mean that this initial rollout is NFC-only. Europe, in general, is much more mature in its contactless setup, so there may not be a need to utilize MST or get approval or certification or whatever is needed to make it active in countries like Spain (or the UK).

Via: Samsung

AT&T Thanks Program Aims to Reward Your Unwavering Loyalty

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 09:17:10 +0000

As a means to show appreciation to its loyal customers, AT&T introduced the thanks program this morning. With thanks, select AT&T customers will receive added benefits, such as free movie tickets and pre-sale access to concert tickets. More interestingly, AT&T also details that "private offers" will include device and accessory perks, as well as data giveaways. Free data? That's sweet. Given this is purely an appreciation program, AT&T claims there are no sign-ups, fees or waiting periods. If you are an AT&T customer, you pretty much automatically qualify. However, going through the material, it would seem that postpaid customers will be receiving just a bit more appreciation than those who use AT&T via prepaid options. Moving forward, AT&T states that the program will evolve with new offers and deals. David Christopher, the Chief Marketing Officer of AT&T Entertainment Group says, “AT&T thanks is kicking off with some great entertainment-focused benefits and will build over time. The relationship we have with our customers will get better and better with exciting ways for us to show our appreciation.” Beginning this summer, here's what select AT&T customers can expect as appreciation.

Ticket Twosdays: AT&T postpaid wireless customers will qualify to get a free movie ticket on AT&T when they buy one at full price for a Tuesday showing. These are available to qualifying customers once every week for the duration of the program. Customers can visit att.com/thanks to learn how to receive a coupon code for a free ticket exclusively through MovieTickets.com for participating theaters, including all Regal Entertainment Group theaters.
LIVE NATION Priority Pre-sale: AT&T customers will get exclusive pre-sale access to the hottest concerts and events starting this summer. Select customers will also be able to get in on access to exclusive experiences with their favorite artists.
Unique Content: Select DIRECTV subscribers will get access to special content coming soon to their TVs and their favorite mobile devices.

Via: AT&T

T-Mobile is Cranking It Up for Uncarrier 11, Takes Place June 6

Tim — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 08:38:28 +0000

On 6.6.16 (June 6, 2016) at 10AM Pacific, T-Mobile is dialing it up all of the way to 11. For Uncarrier 11, T-Mobile says they have a bit of "epic news" that customers won't want to miss. To help everyone get in on the action, they have opened up a RSVP for the livestream, which does seem a little odd. I mean, it's just a livestream, right? While we have no idea what T-Mobile is going to announce, it's always fun to throw out a few guesses. With T-Mobile using the Spinal Tap reference (video linked below in case you have no idea what I'm talking about), it seems like a safe bet that Uncarrier 11 might have to do with music or amplification of some kind. Maybe increased data speeds in select areas? For those of you who are interested in the RSVP, sign-ups are located here. If you have any guesses, feel free to shoot them below.

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Via: T-Mobile

DEAL: Get a Moto X Pure Edition 64GB and Moto 360 Sport for $400 ($350 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 07:13:44 +0000

A current steal-of-a-dual-deal is running through Motorola's online shop that can land you a Moto X Pure Edition (our review) with 64GB storage and a white or orange Moto 360 Sport (our review) for $399. In case you haven't memorized the typical combined prices of those two devices yet, at $399, you are looking at a discount of $350. Another way to put it, is this deal hands you a Moto 360 Sport for free and may even slash another $50 off for good measure. In order to get the deal, you need to custom build a Moto X Pure Edition with 64GB of storage and add it to cart. Once in the cart, toss in promo code "CLASSOF2016." Then, head over to the Moto 360 Sport page and add either the white or orange models to cart. Once added, toss in another promo code for "JUNEMOTO360." In cart, with both codes added, you should see a similar setup to what we have captured below, where the Moto X drops to $399 and the Moto 360 Sport is essentially zeroed out. Motorola Links: Moto X Pure Edition | Moto 360 Sport

Cheers Danny and Scott!

And Now Verizon is Updating the Galaxy Note 4 to Marshmallow

Kellen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 06:53:23 +0000

Whoa there, Verizon, just showing off now, are we? Two days after sharing with us a list of 13 devices that had been updated to Marshmallow, Verizon has added two more to the list, the most recent being the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The update should begin rolling out today as software version VRU2CPD1 and Android build MMB29M (Android 6.0.1). Like the Galaxy S5's update to Marshmallow, Note 4 owners are getting Google Now on Tap, Doze, better application permission controls, WiFi Calling, a newish TouchWiz skin with new icons, and Ultra High Quality Audio. To see all of the new details, hit up that source link below. To grab the updated, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for new updates.

Via: Verizon

Question of the Day: Why Don't You Buy Nexus Phones?

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:02:10 +0000

Earlier today, Google CEO Sundar Pichai made an appearance at Recode's Code Conference to talk about all that is on his company's plate. During the chat, the conversation moved over to Google's Nexus line of devices and where it's headed. In short, Pichai said that Google is investing more in Nexus and sees areas that they can really improve upon stock Android through Nexus devices, as weird as that sounds. Conversations like these often spark my curiosity, especially when they involve the Nexus line, a long-standing favorite of ours. As many of you know, we love the Nexus line of products (phones more specifically) because they offer a lot of what we look for in an Android phone. We get Google's vision for the operating system without the bloat, the newest versions the quickest (which means new features first), and direct and swift updates from Google. Sure, prior to the Nexus 5X and 6P, Nexus phones never led the industry in camera quality or battery life, but we dealt with those lacking experiences for those other items I just mentioned. After listening to Pichai today and looking back at last year's excellent Nexus phones, you get the feeling that Nexus will be hard to pass on going forward and that issues from the past won't be around for long. That thought brings us to today's question, which is - why don't you buy Nexus phones? I ask because even as Nexus phones seem to be gaining in popularity around these parts, many of you still opt for the Galaxy S7s and LG G5s and HTC 10s and Moto X Pures of the world. While I can't fault you for choosing the phone that best fits your needs (or budget), I'm just curious why Google's aren't fitting them?

LG Unveils the Stylus 2 Plus, Features 5.7" FHD Display and Stylus Pen (Duh!)

Tim — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 15:55:03 +0000

LG announced the Stylus 2 Plus this week, yet another device that will soon hit the Asia, South America, Europe and North America markets in the "coming weeks." Given this is the Stylus 2 Plus, you have likely already guessed that this device features a suite of software to take advantage of the accompanied stylus pen, with LG baking in Quick Memo, Off Memo, as well as Pen Keeper. As for specifications, this sequel device features a 5.7" FHD display, 1.4GHz octa-core processor, 13MP or 16MP rear-facing camera (dependent on region), 3,000mAh removable battery, 2GB or 3GB of RAM (also dependent on region), fingerprint reader, as well as a slot for microSD expandable storage. Built-in storage is listed at either 16GB or 32GB. Running beneath LG's custom skin is Android 6.0 "Marshmallow." The device is available today starting in Taiwan, but should soon make its way to additional markets, including the US. However, even with it now available in one market, no price has been listed for the US by LG. Do we have any Galaxy Note owners here who still rock the stylus? Specs

Display: 5.7-inch Full HD IPS Quantum Display
Chipset: 1.4GHz Octa-Core
Camera: Rear 13MP, 16MP / Front 5MP, 8MP (varies by region)
Memory: 2GB, 3GB RAM / 16GB, 32GB ROM / MicroSD (varies by region)
Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)
Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Size: 155 x 79.6 x 7.4mm
Weight: 145g
Network: LTE / HSPA+ / GSM
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.1 / USB 2.0
Colors: Titan / Gold / Brown
Others: Fingerprint Sensor

Via: LG

Google Keep Now Previews Links, Autocompletes Lists and Dodges Duplicates

Tim — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:09:10 +0000

A newly available update for Google Keep, the relatively simplistic and bare-boned note and list taking app, is bringing three new features. Now, when inserting links into notes, a preview of the link will be displayed inside of the note, making for a more fancy and info-centric appearance. When making grocery lists, Keep can help you by autocompleting whatever it was you were going to write. For example, if you type "App," Keep will fill in Apples, Apple Juice, or whichever word matches what you were trying to type from a list of possible options. Google Keep will now also help you avoid writing duplicate items inside of a list. If an item already appears on a list and is already checked off, then you attempt to rewrite it, Google will simply add that already scratched out item back to the list. These changes are rolling out right now. Play Link

#GoogleKeep now previews links, dodges duplicates & autocompletes grocery lists. Just in time for summer BBQs & more pic.twitter.com/cwg6HcCqcK
— Google Docs (@googledocs) June 1, 2016

Sundar Pichai: We are "Investing More Effort" Into Nexus, More Opinionated on Design and Features Too

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 12:14:51 +0000

With the launch of the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, I think it's safe to say that Google was trying to tell us that it is now taking its Nexus products seriously. They created two phones for the first time in a single year at two price points to give consumers choice. They then put them up for sale all over the place, making them much more accessible than in the past, and are constantly running regular discounts on them through promotions to tempt you into buying one. It's pretty obvious that Google wants you to buy their phones, to see their vision for Android, and hell, get updates when you are supposed to get updates. To further hammer that point home, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sat down at Recode's Code Conference today to discuss some of the recent Google I/O happenings, but also to talk about Nexus. The chat lasts for a solid 30 minutes or so, but at the 20:30 mark, Walt Mossberg (of Recode) starts talking to Pichai about hardware, including Nexus devices. Sundar doesn't shy away in suggesting that Google is 100% "investing more effort" into the Nexus line. Walt, who won't give up on his tired, long-standing theory that Google should become like Walt's favorite company, Apple, and build a phone from the bottom up, pushes for what that means. Sundar reminds Mossberg that the Nexus line is not about them building their own hardware (it never has and probably never will be about that), but about partnering with companies like Huawei or LG. By "investing more effort," Sundar says that they see areas where they could "thoughtfully add more features on top of Android or Nexus phones," because there is a "lot of software innovation to be had." He also mentioned Google being "more opinionated about the design" of the Nexus line. For Nexus fans, this is exactly what you want to hear. Google's Nexus devices have gotten quite good recently, so to hear them flexing even more muscle over design, while upgrading the feature set to be more than just stock Android is exciting. To see the full interview, head over to Recode's Facebook page. To jump to the Nexus talk, head to the 20:00 mark.

Verizon Offering Father's Day Promos, One Includes a Free 50" Samsung Smart TV

Tim — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:47:51 +0000

Attempting to profit from yet another holiday aimed at celebrating the loved ones in our lives, Verizon is offering a few promotions during the time of Father's Day. According to mainstream media, every father is a typical tech lover, so getting him a new smartphone or VR headset is exactly what he wants. Never mind a new fishing pole or George Foreman grill, those gifts are way too cliche. Starting today, when you buy two Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or Galaxy Note 5 devices on a Device Payment plan and activate at least one new line, Verizon is throwing in a free 50-inch Samsung Smart TV. Specs for the TV are not available, but you can expect it to be at least 720p or 1080p (refresh rate unknown, but probably low) complete with Samsung's Smart tech baked inside. To be eligible, both lines must remain active for six months on Verizon's network, and please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery. A free TV is awesome, but maybe 50-inches is too big? Verizon is also offering a free 32-inch Samsung Smart TV with the purchase of a Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge or Galaxy Note 5 device on a payment plan with a new line. If you are not in need of a new TV and you wind up purchasing a single Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge or Galaxy Note 5 for dad, you can receive a free Gear VR headset. This deal does not differ at all from the same promo that was available when the Galaxy S7 launched, but now it's back for Father's Day. For all of the details, look below, and again, all of these promos go live starting today at your local Verizon dealer.

Free 50" Samsung Smart TV. Beginning today, get a free 50” Samsung Smart TV when you buy two Samsung GS7, GS7 edge, or Note 5 devices on Device Payment and activate at least one new line.

Free Gear VR. Get a Free Samsung Gear VR with Oculuar VR experience content, a $150 value, when you buy a Samsung GS7, GS7 edge, or Note 5. TheGear VR headset changes the smartphone experience you know today and puts you in virtual worlds, games, 360 degree videos and images.

Free 32" Samsung Smart TV. Also starting today for a limited time, get a free 32” Samsung Smart TV when you buy a Samsung GS7, GS7 edge, or Note 5 on Device Payment and activate a new line.

$100 bill credit when you purchase a new smartphone. The offer applies to any smartphone purchased on device payment when you switch to Verizon. You can combine it with the $650 offer to switch to Verizon.

Switch to Verizon and receive up to $650 to pay off your old phone or contract when you trade in your phone for a new one. If you’re switching to Verizon you can also receive up to $650. What’s the fastest way to score these savings? Stop by a Verizon store to complete your trade and learn about your savings.

Get movin’ n grovin’ with Fitbit and Bose. Starting today, the Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II will be $179.99 (normally $199.99) and Fitbit Blaze will be $179.99 (normally $199.99). The discounted pricing will be available for the month of June as part of Verizon’s accessory of the month promotion.

Via: Verizon

Official: Google Adds Text Select and Image Search to Now on Tap

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:02:42 +0000

Earlier this morning, we highlighted a new feature that was rolling out to Google Now on Tap that allows you to select specific text to run searches on. We assumed it was a beta feature that was slowing arriving on devices, but Google went ahead and announced it today, making it 100% official for all. As we noted earlier, the update allows you to fire up Google Now on Tap and then select specific sections of text to have it run the Now on Tap query again. In the past, Now on Tap often struggled to pinpoint the precise info you were looking for, but this changes all of that. Now on Tap is now in your control, which is the way it should be. Google also announced that Now on Tap fully works with images. That means you can use Now on Tap to find additional information about an image, like the ones you store in your Google Photos account. We sort of showed you this earlier, even demonstrating that Now on Tap can scan images for text to then make that text searchable. Our example was within Instagram, but my guess is that it could work in almost any image situation, assuming there is text.

Finally, Google says that within your camera app, you can do live searches for whatever you have framed in your viewfinder. Depending on the subject (a famous building or bridge, movie poster, etc.), Google should be able to return live results to you. According to Google, all of these new features are available "everywhere you can already use Now on Tap."

Via: Inside Search

SanDisk Intros High-Speed USB Type-C Flash Drives, 128GB for $70

Tim — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:29:47 +0000

This week, SanDisk introduced new flash drives for owners of devices that feature USB Type-C ports. Coming in different sizes, such as 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB, the flash drives can quickly transfer data from your Android device -- as long as it has a Type-C port -- to a laptop or Chromebook device. Estimated by SanDisk, the amount of devices with a Type-C port sold across the world will increase about 800% by the year 2020. With that in mind, many companies, not just mobile storage, will look to hit the market with more accessories that allow for the use of USB Type-C. As for specs, the Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C flash drives deliver USB 3.1 performance of up to 150MB/s. With that, users should have no problem quickly transferring movies to watch while traveling, music libraries to listen to, or any other data one may want to move. The Ultra USB Type-C flash drive also works with the SanDisk Memory Zone app for Android, available on Google Play. This app gives users an easy way to manage and back up content on their device. The new USB Type-C flash drives come in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB with U.S. retail prices of $19.99, $29.99, $39.99 and $69.99, respectively. For those in the US that would like to get their hands on one of these drives, B&H Photo has them for pre-order now.

Via: SanDisk

Google's My Account Turns 1, Find Your Phone and New Access Features Now Included

Tim — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 08:52:56 +0000

Launched one year ago, Google is celebrating the birthday of My Account. To make it fun for everyone, the company is bringing a few new features that will make managing your Google account a bit more simple. My Account is the place to access all of your Google account settings. You can see connected device settings, all of the information you share, receive an overview with privacy checkups, and starting this week, you can even use My Account to find your lost smartphone. Located directly on the My Account page, a section for "Find your phone" can be seen, which brings up a list of your connected devices. If the device has contacted Google's servers recently, you should have no troubles getting a mark on where it might be. Additionally, if your phone is really gone (like, stolen or something), you can remotely wipe it so long as the device is on and connected to the servers. This same functionality can be done via the Android Device Manager site. Google is also baking in ways to access your account via Google Search. Coming soon, users can say, "Ok Google, show me my account," with the search then leading you directly to My Account on the mobile web. Not yet available, a secondary option is to type your name directly into Google, with the results returning a "Go To My Account" shortcut. Just another way to make access to your personal data easier for you. Happy birthday, My Account!

Via: Google

Verizon's Galaxy Tab S2 Gets Marshmallow Today

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 08:48:41 +0000

Hours after Verizon pinged us with a list of the 13 devices they had updated to Marshmallow in recent months, I get the feeling that they should have waited, because the list has already grown again. This morning, Verizon began pushing an Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update to their variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. The update will arrive as software version VRU2BPE1 and Android build MMB29K. Like other Verizon Samsung devices to see Android 6.0.1, the Tab S2 will get access to Google Now on Tap, Doze, and better controls over app permissions. Outside of the standard Marshmallow fare, Samsung is also tossing in new function to the stock email app, animations and collages to the gallery, and a drawing feature in the Memo app. To check for the update, head into Settings>About device>Software updates>Check for updates.

Via: Verizon

Google Now on Tap Gets a Tap-To-Select Text Option and It's Awesome (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 07:00:56 +0000

A new change to Google Now on Tap began rolling out this week, one that should instantly turn it into a much more useful tool in almost any situation, because it gives you some control over what is being analyzed on the screen. Take a look at the screenshots above. Are you seeing the new addition? Yep, it's the tap-to-select icon sandwiched in between the share and menu buttons. So how does this work? It's pretty simple, yet enormously powerful. As you initiate a Google Now on Tap action, you get the initial screen analysis as you always do with Now on Tap. But should the results not come back with anything or show items you weren't exactly looking for more information on, you can punch that tap-to-select icon before then selecting specific items of text. In the top set of screenshots, you can see that I initiated a Now on Tap action that brought up cards for Verizon, Motorola, and Google Nexus. But what if I wanted info on Marshmallow instead of any of those items? If I touch on that new tap-to-select button, Now on Tap does a quick processing of the screen (likely rendering all the text it can to make it touchable) which then allows me to specify that I wanted Marshmallow. Once I tap on Marshmallow, it then redoes the Now on Tap analysis and brings me Marshmallow-related cards. Sweet, right? But wait, it gets better. Let's say you aren't in Chrome or an app where text is easily selected. Maybe you are in Twitter and you see an item that you'd like to search for, but isn't exactly text. Like, in this example, I ran Google Now on Tap and then chose tap-to-select to highlight "foxsports.com" link to see results for FOX Sports. I also ran it on a page with a number of potential topics, but then narrowed that down to just the specific person I was looking for.

Seriously, though, it gets even better. Let's say I'm on Instagram, where you often see information that you want to know more about, but is an app that isn't exactly friendly at sharing info to and from, largely in part because it's image-heavy. Well, check this out. I found an image of an Omega Seamaster watch and ran the tap-to-select function in Now on Tap and it processed the angled wording on the watch face in the image to make it select-able. Whaaaaaaat!

Mind blown. In order to get this functionality, you'll need the latest version of the Google App, which might mean you'll need the beta. For instructions on joining the beta, hit up this post. Play Link UPDATE: Oh look, it also works in videos.

UPDATE 2: Now official! Should be rolling out to you today.

Cheers +ChristopherBravataCode!

OnePlus 3 Launches June 14 in VR Without Invites

Kellen — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:24:11 +0000

The OnePlus 3 will be unveiled on June 14. Got that down on your calendars? As previously announced, OnePlus will do the unveiling in VR, through an app and virtual store they are calling "The Loop." During the first two hours of the virtual unveiling, customers will be able to purchase the OnePlus 3 from that virtual store, a supposed first (the virtual store part). You may have noticed that I said you'll be able to buy the phone right away. In case you you wondering, OnePlus has decided to ditch their invite system going forward with new products. That means you will be able to buy the OnePlus 3 and not sell your soul for an invite to purchase a phone. The event kicks off on June 14 at 12:30PM Eastern (9:30AM Pacific). To participate, you will need to download OnePlus' "The Loop" VR app from Google Play and have some sort of VR viewer, like cardboard. If you don't want to deal with the VR part, including buying the phone in the VR store, you will be able to buy the OnePlus 3 from the regular OnePlus store at 3PM Eastern. Play Link

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Via: OnePlus

Here is a List of Verizon Devices That Have Been Updated to Marshmallow, OK Then

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 14:58:46 +0000

Android updates, boy do we talk a lot about them. Well, we complain a lot about how they aren't here fast enough or avoid complaining by telling you to just buy a Nexus device to skip out on having to have those conversations about them not getting here fast enough. It's a situation that isn't fun for anyone, including Google, who is reportedly working on a shame list to out manufacturers and carriers who suck at delivering updates in a timely manner. Is a shame list the solution we all need? Who knows, but it certainly can't hurt as it would at least be one way for us to have evidence of neglect, which would in turn allow us to better vote with our wallets over who will more than likely meet our need for updates the fastest. And that whole idea brings me to a list that was sent over to us this afternoon from Verizon, a list that includes all of the 13 devices they have updated to Marshmallow thus far. The list came with notes that mention the number of updates and the phones that received them, but it wasn't exactly trying to outright brag over how fast those updates arrived or how they are stomping all over AT&T and T-Mobile in the update game. It's simply a list of phones they have already updated, along with a mention of "more on the way soon." That's it. Here is the list. 1. HTC One M8 2. HTC One M9 3. LG V10 4. LG G4 5. LG G3 6. LG G Pad 8.3 7. Droid Turbo 2 8. Droid Maxx 2 9. Samsung Galaxy S6 10. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 11. Samsung Galaxy Note 5 12. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 13. Samsung Galaxy S5 OK, then. Do we say, "Good job!" Do we look at that list and say, "Yeah, well, took you long enough to get to 13! What about this device and that device and those devices!?!?!?!" I don't know. I, honestly, do not know what to do with this list. Android Marshmallow was released right before the start of October last year. We are now hours away from June 1 and Verizon is showing that they have updated the majority of their highest end phones from the past two years to Android 6.0+. Sure, this list is missing the Note 4 and original Turbo, but it seems like they are close to having a pretty complete list. Again, Marshmallow was released 8 months ago. My reaction seems to want to be, "This certainly looks like Verizon is doing a decent job at getting out major updates." I also kind of want to say, "Thanks, Verizon, this is nice to see." Sure, these updates would have been welcomed in January, but I think we all survived. No one was hurt in the process, were they? Everyone's phones continued to work leading up to the Marshmallow update, right? And look, I'm not trying to come off as someone who is softening their stance on Android updates and their slowness to rollout. But I do appreciate Verizon acknowledging the fact that people are interested in this info and then going about sharing it. Maybe something as simple as a list like this from carriers and manufacturers could be a step in the direction of holding themselves accountable or at least proving that they are doing something, so that we can all pause the complaining for a minute. At this point, I'm open to any suggestions for making this update process on Android better, even if that is something as simple as list from Verizon.

Samsung Seeding Invites to June 2 Launch Event in NYC

Tim — Tue, 31 May 2016 14:24:54 +0000

Invites are being sent out to the inboxes of media people, such as ourselves, directly from Samsung. The invite details a media event that is to take place on June 2 at 5PM in New York City. As stated, media are invited to, "Experience how Samsung's devices work together to create a Galaxy of Possibility." So, what is Samsung going to announce? Well, if I was a betting man, and considering all of the leaks regarding a certain wearable (Gear Fit 2) device, I would put my money on that. It is also possible Samsung may introduce the reported Bluetooth-powered "IconX" earbuds, too, but this invite is limited in detail. Since this is not an Unpacked event (where Samsung usually unveils new Galaxy smartphones), I doubt we will see any mention of a Galaxy Note 6 or Galaxy Note 7 if you believe everything you read. Also listed on the invite is a performance from Diplo and a "surprise guest." June 2 is this Thursday. How exciting.

DEAL: 200GB SanDisk MicroSD Card Drops to $59.99 Today, 128GB Card With Bonus 128GB USB Drive Too

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 12:33:24 +0000

Amazon is hosting one those regularly scheduled SanDisk flash storage sales as today's daily deal, but today's happens to include two options that you really should consider jumping at if you are in need of mobile storage. For one, you can grab their 200GB microSD card for just $59.99. This is a product that started out at $240 when it arrived last June. It has seen a number of price drops in about a year, but typically hovers around $80. So yeah, you get a $20 savings today. In another underrated deal, SanDisk and Amazon are offering up a combo package that includes a 128GB microSD card and a 128GB USB Dual Drive for the same $59.99. The SD card is pretty standard fare, but that bonus 128GB Dual Drive could come in handy in a number of situations. For those not familiar, this is double-ended drive that has USB 3.0 and microUSB connectors to let you quickly go from transferring files on your phone to your computer in minutes. It not only expands the storage of your phone, but easily lets you take them to another phone or tablet or computer. The deals are good for the next few hours. Amazon Links:

200GB SanDisk microSD card ($59.99)
128GB SanDisk microSD Card with 128GB USB Dual Drive ($59.99)

Sony Xperia X Arrives in US on June 26 for $550, X Performance a Month Later at $700

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 11:47:53 +0000

Sony's new Xperia X line, the series of phones that was introduced back in February at MWC as a replacement for the Xperia Z line, is officially inching closer to a launch here in the US. Sony, probably as an announcement timed to fit nicely into the blast of Computex announcements, told US press today that the Xperia X series will get here just as the summer is kicking off. The Xperia X is up for pre-order today for $550 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, and will arrive on June 26. If you want the Xperia X Performance ($699) or the Xperia XA ($279), you can pre-order either on June 19 before they hit stores on July 17. If the Xperia XA Ultra ($369) is the phone for of your dreams, July 24 is your day. Need a recap on the Xperia X line? Here are the specs of the phones that really matter, the X and X Performance. [table id=28 /] As you can see, these phones both have solid specs, though the pricing seems a bit high for what you are getting. At $550 for the Xperia X, you can get a 64GB Nexus 6P, which tops the Xperia X in almost every single category. At $699 for the Xperia X Performance, we're now up there in Galaxy S7 Edge territory where this phone just can't compete with Samsung's flagship for 2016. Oh, and even though the official specs say that they have a fingerprint reader, they more than likely don't in the US. To learn all there is to learn about the Xperia X line (including the XA models), head over to Sony's site.

Qualcomm Intros Modest Snapdragon Wear 1100 Processor, Details 3rd-Party OEM Devices

Tim — Tue, 31 May 2016 11:01:50 +0000

This week, a new Snapdragon Wear processor has entered Qualcomm's family of wearable SoCs, the Snapdragon Wear 1100. Positioned to compliment the more-powerful Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, the Wear 1100 is designed to be an ideal processor for child and elderly smartwatches, as well as fitness trackers and smart headsets. Devices in these categories usually do not need as much power as your standard Android Wear smartwatch, so Qualcomm is essentially filling out its portfolio with a SoC that better serves this range of products. While the Snapdragon Wear 1100 may not have as much power as the Wear 2100, it still features an iZat integrated location engine, support of applications that utilize geo-fencing for safety monitoring, integrated applications processor for Linux-based applications, Power Save Mode (PSM), as well as next-gen Cat 1 modem with LTE/3G global band support. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon Wear 1100 is commercially available and shipping today. Along with the announcement of the new wearable processor, Qualcomm details a few of the wearables from 3rd-party OEMs that are utilizing Snapdragon Wear in their devices. From InWatch, there are multiple children's wearable models for the China region, plus another smartwatch designed for kids from Anda Technologies. This watch will be available in the Latin America region. Based on the SurfaceInk design, which can be customized for the kid, elderly, and pet segments in the U.S., WeBandz showed off its own smart tracking modular device. Each of the aforementioned products represent reference implementations targeting the kid and elderly watch segment and, "enable OEMs to commercialize in an accelerated fashion," Qualcomm stated. Undoubtedly, Qualcomm will continue to work with additional OEMs to get their wearable processors into more devices. As for the high-end Android Wear market in the US, we still have yet to see a device that features the Snapdragon Wear 2100. With that said, we are nearing what should be the unveiling of new smartwatches from Huawei, Moto, and LG. That is, if they are not too busy with VR and whatever else is trendy.

Via: Qualcomm

Report: Google Home is Basically Just a Chromecast Inside of a Speaker

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 10:37:54 +0000

If you are at all interested in the smart home or at the very least, putting Google a voice command away from being able to confirm that the Oklahoma City Thunder completely choked against the Golden State Warriors after taking a 3-1 series lead, then Google Home should excite you. First announced at Google I/O a couple of weeks back, the Amazon Echo-like competitor won't arrive until later this year and is mostly covered in mystery. We know its basic functionality and love the potential that this video shows us, but Google hasn't exactly provided us all of the dirty details behind this new home hub. According to a new report out of The Information, that's OK because we may already be quite familiar with its innards. The Google Home, at least the current version that was shown off at I/O, is really just a Chromecast (similar microprocessor and WiFi chip), surrounded by a speaker, microphone, plastic casing, and some LED lights. That actually makes a lot of sense, since the Chromecast was created by the man in charge of Google Home, Google's VP of product management, Mario Queiroz. I can't think of a better person or base to get you going on your next hopeful-hit home product. After all, the Chromecast is still Google's most successful hardware to date.

Like the Chromecast, Google Home is designed for multi-room use using the Cast standard that has been built into speakers and TVs in recent years. From Casting Google-backed music and movies and YouTube, Google Cast has also seen many of your favorite media apps adopt the functionality (like Spotify, Plex, Netflix, etc.), making it one of the most powerful services on the planet, in terms of media streaming. And just think, by being nothing more than a souped-up Chromecast, Google Home can seamlessly walk into your home and start talking to all of your previously purchased Chromecast devices. While not a ground-breaking reveal, the fact that Home may just be the next Cast-enabled device from Google is good news for you and I. I don't know that I see Home being on the same ridiculously low price level as Chromecast, but maybe it'll still hit that value point better than even Amazon's Echo line. And again, it'll just work with all of your other Cast-ready devices out of the box.

Via: The Information (subscription)

ASUS Introduces Three New, Affordable Giant ZenFone 3 Phones, One With a 6.8-Inch Display

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 09:27:14 +0000

Computex is currently in full swing this week and ASUS has done their typical big production for the event. That, of course, means lots of new products in all of their categories, but it also means new ZenFone models. Today, we have the ZenFone 3 family, which includes three phones with massive screens and what I would consider to be rock-bottom prices. First up, we have the ZenFone 3 Deluxe (ZS570KL), the "world's first full-metal smartphone with invisible antenna design." Seriously, that's the headline for this phone - the fact that it doesn't have the antenna lines that the Apple and HTC and Huawei and every other metal phone maker include. I didn't know that that was a selling point, but let's continue! The phone features a 5.7-inch FHD (1080p) Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB RAM, rear 23MP Sony IMX318 camera sensor (f/2.0), front 8MP wide-angle camera (f/2.0), fingerprint reader (rear-mounted), 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and USB Type-C, and 5-magnet speaker with high-res audio. ASUS says that you can get "up to" 256GB UFS 2.0 internal storage as well. ASUS is really pushing the camera here, which is version 3.0 of their PixelMaster tech. It has a "world's best" 0.03 second TriTech autofous and 4 axis OIS, 3 axis EIS, and color correction sensor. That's a lot of stuff, so before we get to excited, we'll have to say what we always say, which is "We'll wait until we get one in hand to see if it lives up to all that marketing jargon." The ZenFone 3 Deluxe will set you back $499 when it goes on sale (we don't know when that will be).

ZenFone 3 Deluxe — World’s First Full-Metal Smartphone with Invisible Antenna Design ZenFone 3 Deluxe is the flagship model of the ZenFone 3 family and the ultimate expression of ASUS smartphone design. It is constructed with a strong and light aluminum alloy unibody, and has a rear surface free of unsightly antenna lines and an ultra-thin 4.2mm edge. ZenFone 3 Deluxe features a 5.7-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) Super AMOLED display with a gamut of over 100% NTSC color space for rich, vibrant colors, even in harsh, outdoor lighting. An ultra-thin bezel gives ZenFone 3 Deluxe a 79% screen-to-body ratio for a maximized display in a compact package. Inside, ZenFone 3 Deluxe has a powerful Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 Series processor, Adreno™ 530 GPU, and integrated X12 LTE modem, as well as up to 6GB RAM to deliver the best performance and fast connectivity for demanding apps, games, and media. ZenFone 3 Deluxe raises the bar for mobile photography with its incredible 23MP camera featuring the latest Sony IMX318 image sensor, a large f/2.0 aperture lens, and 4-axis optical image stabilization for high-resolution, blur-free, and low-noise photos in almost any lighting condition. It also features 3-axis electronic image stabilization for steady 4K UHD videos. Coupled with an ASUS TriTech autofocus system that automatically selects 2nd generation laser, phase detection, or continuous autofocus to provide accurate and nearly instant 0.03-second focusing and subject tracking, as well as exclusive PixelMaster 3.0 technology, ZenFone 3 Deluxe captures truly stunning photos and videos. ZenFone 3 Deluxe has a built-in fingerprint sensor that's perfectly positioned on the rear of the phone to sit underneath the user's finger and unlocks the phone in just a fraction of a second. Quick Charge 3.0 technology reduces battery recharge times and a reversible USB 3.0 Type-C port that makes connecting charging and accessory cables effortless. ZenFone 3 Deluxe also excels at audio with its powerful five-magnet speaker and NXP smart amplifier that provides clear, defined sound and also protects the speakers from damage. When listening over certified headphones, users can enjoy Hi-Res Audio (HRA) that provides up four-times-better sound quality than CDs.

Up next, we have the regular ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL), a phone that has decent specs as well, but an even better price. With its 5.5-inch FHD (1080p) LCD display, 16MP rear camera (OIS, f/2.0), 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3000mAh battery, USB Type-C port, fingerprint reader, and Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, the ZenFone 3 will set you back just $249. It also sports a high-end PixelMaster 3.0 camera with that same fast autofocus from the Deluxe, only at a 16MP resolution, high-res audio, and a glass and metal design. It's very much the budget version of the Deluxe.

ZenFone 3 — Agility, Beauty, and Clarity Winner of a Computex 2016 d&i Award, ZenFone 3 is a feature-packed smartphone that brings premium design and empowering performance to everyone. Built around a gorgeous 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) Super IPS+ display with up to 500cd/m2 brightness, ZenFone 3 delivers an incredible visual experience that makes apps, videos, and games look their best. With a narrow bezel, ZenFone 3 provides a 77.3% screen-to-body ratio for a maximized viewing area in a slim and compact body. The front and rear of the phone are encased with scratch-resistant 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass that gently curves to make the edge of the phone completely smooth. ZenFone 3 is equipped with a 16MP camera with ASUS TriTech autofocus that automatically selects 2nd generation laser, phase detection and continuous auto focus to achieve precise focus in just 0.03 seconds, resulting in sharp images in any condition. ZenFone 3 is the first smartphone worldwide to be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa‑core processor — the first Snapdragon 600 Series processor with 14nm FinFET process technology, an integrated X9 LTE modem, and 802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi connectivity — PC-grade graphics and up to 4GB RAM that together deliver outstanding mobile performance with improved efficiency and battery life. ZenFone 3 has a built-in fingerprint sensor that's perfectly positioned on the rear of the phone to sit underneath the user's finger and unlocks the phone in just a fraction of a second.

If all that wasn't enough, we also have the ZenFone 3 Ultra, a phone so big, it actually should be sold as a tablet with cellular connectivity. The Ultra sports a whopping 6.8-inch FHD (1080p) LCD IPS display, and no, that isn't a typo. Along with that massive display and body, you will find a Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, same 23MP rear camera from the Deluxe, 8MP front camera, USB Type C port (with HDMI display built in), front fingerprint reader, 5-magnet speaker with high-res audio, and 4600mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 and the ability to reverse charge another device. Like the other two phones, you should see a top-tier camera performance with the high-res audio and metal body without antenna lines. ASUS also says that this phone, with its enormous display, has a 4K TV processor embedded (the phone only has a 1080p display, by the way). Unfortunately, the CPU isn't close to top tier, nor is the GPU, so if you wanted this to be the ultimate gaming machine, it may not quite fulfill all of your needs. You would be better off with the Deluxe. The ZenFone 4 Ultra can be had for $479 when it launches.

ZenFone 3 Ultra — Unleashed, Unlimited, and Unrivaled Winner of a Computex 2016 Best Choice Golden Award, ZenFone 3 Ultra is a smartphone designed for multimedia lovers, featuring a 6.8-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) display with a 95% NTSC color gamut for rich, vibrant images even outdoors in harsh lighting. It is the world’s first smartphone to have ASUS-exclusive Tru2Life+ Video technology, which harnesses a high-end 4K UHD TV-grade image processor to optimize every pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior contrast and clarity. ZenFone 3 Ultra also excels at audio with its two new powerful five-magnet stereo speakers and a NXP smart amplifier that provides clear, defined sound and protects the speakers from damage. When listening over certified headphones, users can enjoy Hi-Res Audio (HRA) that provides up to four-times-better sound quality than CDs and the world’s first smartphone with virtual 7.1-channel surround sound with DTS Headphone:X. Like ZenFone 3 Deluxe, ZenFone 3 Ultra has an incredibly slim and elegant full-metal unibody chassis — the world’s first to have no antenna lines. An ultra slim bezel gives ZenFone 3 Ultra a 79% screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the viewing area while minimizing its overall size and weight. ZenFone 3 Ultra is equipped with the same high-resolution 23MP camera with ASUS TriTech autofocus system as ZenFone 3 Deluxe. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor, Adreno 510 graphics, and up to 4GB of RAM, ZenFone 3 Ultra delivers outstanding mobile performance. A built-in fingerprint sensor is perfectly positioned on the front of the phone beneath the user's finger and unlocks the phone in just a fraction of a second. ZenFone 3 Ultra also has a high-capacity 4600mAh battery for long-lasting performance and Quick Charge 3.0 technology for rapid recharge times. ZenFone 3 Ultra even works as a power bank with 1.5A output for quickly charging other mobile devices.

Lots of stuff to digest there. I think the bottom line is that ASUS just announced three ZenFone 3 devices, all of which are extremely affordable, yet don't really compromise on specs. Once they are available, assuming you love large phones, I think the Deluxe is a device you should all consider in the unlocked game. Anyone interested?

Via: ASUS

LG Unveils G Pad III 8.0, Features Full HD IPS Display and Marshmallow

Tim — Tue, 31 May 2016 08:58:32 +0000

LG unveiled a new Android tablet this week, the G Pad III 8.0. Overlooking the usage of Roman numerals as well as Arabic numerals in the same name, the G Pad III 8.0 features an 8.0" Full HD IPS display, 1.5GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP rear-facing camera, as well as many software tweaks to add value to the somewhat mid-level device. Detailed by LG, this tablet comes with a package of MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), a coupon for free books to read on the device, plus an enhanced reader mode to take advantage of the aforementioned coupon. To add to the productivity potential, LG also equipped the tablet with a USB Type-A port, which will allow users to hook-up a wired mouse or keyboard for more efficient work experience. As for availability and pricing, no details have yet been given by LG, but will likely come soon. Check out the full list of specs for the G Pad III 8.0 below. Specs

Size: 210.7 × 124.1 × 7.9 mm
Weight: 309g
Colors: Indigo Black / White
Network: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac
Chipset: 1.5GHz octa-core
Display: 8.0 inches Full HD IPS (1920 × 1200)
Camera: 8MP (front) (rear) / 5MP
Battery: 4,800mAh
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 32GB, Micro SD card slot
Operating System: Android 6.0
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, Micro USB, USB Type-A

Via: LG

Verizon's Galaxy S5 is Getting Marshmallow Today

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 07:13:35 +0000

Late Friday afternoon, Verizon updated its Galaxy S5 software support page with today's date, a sign that an update would be arriving. We figured it might be a major update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, since the T-Mobile variant had recently received a similar honor, but because they left out details on the page, we weren't sure and held back on sharing the news. Then, this morning, they included update details, confirming our suspicions - this is Marshmallow. According to Verizon, Galaxy S5 owners will see software version VRU2DPD1 and Android version MMB29M (Android 6.0.1). The update, with the jump to Marshmallow, includes Google Now on Tap, Doze, better application permission controls, WiFi Calling, a newish TouchWiz skins with new icons, and Ultra High Quality Audio. To see all of the new details, hit up that source link below. To grab the updated, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for new updates.

Via: Verizon

OnePlus Will Let You Review the OnePlus 3 Early

Kellen — Tue, 31 May 2016 06:59:38 +0000

To kick off the week with a Monday announcement, a Monday that just so happened to be a pretty major holiday here in the US and is not exactly a great day to announce anything that might be headed this way, OnePlus unveiled a program for the upcoming OnePlus 3 that could land you one ahead of time, for review. The program is called "The Lab," and it works as a "peer review" program that involves 30 of OnePlus' biggest fans reviewing the OnePlus 3 to deliver a "comprehensive community review." How do you get signed up? Well, you get to apply, not just sign-up. OnePlus wants anyone who is a fan of OnePlus to apply and sell themselves on why they would be the perfect candidate for early review. You have 500 words to do so, but if you have reviewed other products in the past, linking to those reviews could and probably will be beneficial. OnePlus says they are doing this because the community built OnePlus and they want to give back and blah blah. It's the same story all small companies pitch to their biggest fans, which is fine. I'm just not sure I fully understand the point of a "comprehensive community review" from the biggest OnePlus fans, a group that isn't exactly going to go into a review unbiased and open to criticizing the product in front of them from the company they already love. But hey, marketing! As of right now, over 8,500 people are on the list and OnePlus plans to choose 30. If you are interested in pitching your services to OnePlus for a chance to review the OnePlus 3 early, head over to The Lab here.

Google: Current Smartphones Unlikely to be Supported by Daydream VR Platform

Tim — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:11:37 +0000

Google's overseer of Virtual Reality, Clay Bavor, states that folks looking to get into Daydream, the Android VR platform, should hold off on upgrading their smartphone for a couple of months. For anyone who wanted to upgrade within the next few weeks, if VR is an important purchasing factor, you may want to take Bavor's advice. According to Bavor, it is "unlikely" that many current devices, or any at all, will be "Daydream-ready" out of the box when the platform is made available to consumers later this year. Stated by Bavor, "I can tell you that there will most likely not be any retroactively Daydream-ready phones." Apparently, Google's standards for internal components to support Daydream are so high, many of the current devices on the market, such as the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10, may not make the cut. Bavor continued with, “We want to hold a very high quality bar, and for that to happen all of the components need to be just right. So, to VR fans, I would say, hold off for a few months to get your next phone… and get a Daydream-ready phone.” Google has yet to publicly announce what exactly separates a "Daydream-ready" smartphone from an already available high-end smartphone, but the company did list a few general bullet points for what is inside a would-be Daydream device. Phones will need low-persistence displays, a high performance SoC (system on a chip), as well as a myriad of low latency and high quality sensors. Also note that a phone must be running Android N to enable the VR Mode that is required for Daydream to work properly. Even with this information available, we still don't know the exact requirements or if any current flagship device carries them. While most current high-end devices would meet the SoC and display needs, it's likely that the built-in sensors are not quite up to the standards Google is requiring. Right now, specifically for developers, Google lists only the Nexus 6P as a supported device for Daydream development, but Bavor did not state whether or not it would be supported once Daydream is officially available. Alongside the announcement of Daydream, Google listed a few partners who would have Daydream-ready smartphones later in the year, including ZTE (the company announced its first Daydream-ready phone this week), Samsung, LG, HTC, and more. If getting into virtual reality is something you have been contemplating, and don't want to wait for a Daydream-ready smartphone, you can purchase a Galaxy S7 and Gear VR headset. Let's see hands for who all is fine waiting until Google's partners release their Daydream-ready phones. Anyone?

Via: Road to VR

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 40 Answers

Tim — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:25:45 +0000

We have gone over all of your submissions for Volume 40 of the Droid Life Q&A Sessions, and we now have answers for you. We received quite a few questions this week, ranging in topics from what we saw at Google I/O, to what's the best way to get started in the connected home game. We also covered whether we feel it would be right for Google to take a more "controlled" approach toward Android updates. Take a look at our answers below, then let us know if you agree in the comments. If you don't, we will be more than happy to argue with you. Bring it on. Reminder: K is Kellen and T is Tim.

Do you think, at this point, Google taking more complete control of Android like Apple has with iOS, would be a good thing?

K: Not really, no. That kind of eliminates the point of Android, which is somewhat of a blank canvas for all to enjoy and do as they please with (to an extent). I wish there were ways for them to get updates out faster to everyone, but Android, as of today, isn't exactly built that way, though Google has made it better in many ways by putting an emphasis on the power of Google Play Services. I hate to say it, but if you want that experience, buy a Nexus phone. They are very good phones, affordable, and will make you happy. T: Google having "more control" wouldn't exactly solve any issues we face. To start, Google makes the new Android code available to OEMs, OEMs then bake on their software tweaks, then submit to carriers for certifications and approval. Once all that is done, it rolls out to users. The process is ridiculously dumb, but that's the world we live in -- Overly regulated and overly time consuming. Google taking a more hands-on approach does not stop the carriers from managing what exactly is running on their network. I'm in the same boat as many others, and if you want Google to be in control of updates, you have no choice than to buy a Nexus smartphone.

Can any new messaging app get a foothold in 2016 when there are so many popular apps already?

K: Going to be tough to topple WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Google's Allo will be a fun alternative, but is being fun and having built-in Google access enough to convince everyone you know to switch? Tough to say. I don't really see that happening. T: I'm leaning towards No. Google had an opportunity to steal a bit of marketshare with Hangouts, but instead of baking other Google features into Hangouts to make it more of a robust platform, it has decided to manage multiple messaging apps that pretty much all do the same thing. There's Allo, Duo, Hangouts, the stock Messaging app for Android, and Google Voice. Why couldn't you just put all of those features into one app, Google? Was it really that much work? At this point, it's too late for Google to fix that problem, and for any other company looking to get into the messaging game, good luck.

What is Motorola/Lenovo going to have to offer in order to turn this sinking ship around?

K: They better knock it out of the park with this modular concept, offer the phone at a ridiculously competitive price, and...ahh hell, they are probably screwed. I'm actually quite excited to see what they do and am warming up to the look of the new Moto Z phone, but they seem like a mess at the moment. Poor Moto. T: Do average consumers even know that Motorola was bought by Lenovo? Probably not, and in the long term, that's likely a plus for Lenovo. The Motorola name still carries weight in the US among consumers, so whatever Moto and Lenovo do offer this year, they better hope it's awesome. It can be modular and inexpensive, that's a good start, but as long as Moto stays true to what they have begun to represent here in the US, I think they could remain in good shape. As for the "sinking ship" aspect, look at HTC. That company is still around, so that's a good sign for Lenovo. You just have to keep fighting in this sector, regardless of whether you are raking in the cash or not. Sometimes it pays off to maintain the course.

Do you think Project Ara would be a hit among average consumers?

K: Not really, no. Google can't even sell its own Nexus phones that well, so I can't imagine they'll figure it out with Ara, a weird concept phone that normal consumers probably won't understand or won't want to try to understand. It's a cool idea, but Google seems to have already pissed off the biggest Ara supporters with their I/O unveiling of the phone, which is a skeleton with built-in display, CPU, GPU, RAM, and battery. So much for absolute modular-ness. T: God no. As Kellen mentioned, Google isn't selling millions upon millions of Nexus phones, so it seems unlikely that a product such as Ara could become heavily mainstream. Mind you, speaking relatively, mainstream smartphone usage is not all that old. Maybe in 10 years, modular will be the hot thing, but right now, many companies are focused on extensions of the smartphone (VR, wearables), so it could be that Ara is the first broad step in a big picture game plan for Google. I'm probably safe to assume that most people have never heard of Project Ara, and to make a populace informed of a new product is not cheap. Google better start getting that advertising money lined up if that's their plan.

Having a stay at home and sitting all day profession, what is your daily routine of exercise and healthy eating so that you stay fit and not become overweight?

K: I operate under the "I run to drink" routine, which means, I enjoy beer far too often, so I try and workout 4-5 days a week to maintain a somewhat healthy lifestyle. That typically means tons of running, because running burns tons of calories and gets me out of my cave. I also mix in massive amounts of water, fresh fruits, and avoid snacks. T: I have been blessed with a body that does not maintain body fat. I eat whatever, whenever I want and never gain weight. It's a gift and I am very thankful for it. Although, my girlfriend hates me for it. Because of this, I don't necessarily work out. On my typical day, I walk my two dogs an average of one and a half hour throughout a day, so that's probably my workout right there. Other than that, I pig out and play Call of Duty.

What do you guys think is the appropriate age for a child to have their first phone?

K: As someone with a 2.5 year old, this is a subject I have thought about. My gut tells me that once he's in school full-time, I'll want him to have something, even if it's just a cheap flip phone with phone numbers in it to call me, my wife, grandparents, whatever. But that may be in a couple of years, which seems way too early. Honestly, I don't know. Once I get my son a phone, I'll let you know how old he is heh. T: For me, a smartphone won't be an aspect of my child's life until they are 16-18 years of age. It'll depend on how cool they are. However, once they begin school full-time and can be trusted with responsibilities, they will have some sort of communication device in case of emergencies.

If one is thinking of getting into the connected home game, what would be the top two (2) to four (4) products you would recommend to start off with?

K: Nest Thermostat, WiFi cameras (probably Nest Cams because they work nicely with Nest), and some smart light bulbs. With those, you are getting convenience, a bit of security, and the feeling of some automation or control, which to me, is what the smart home experience is all about. T: Gotta go thermostat! Get yourself a Nest or EcoBee, then I'd probably invest in awesome LED lighting. I have always wanted smart bulbs, but my God, they are expensive. Of course, in a few months, you also need to get Google Home. Bring it on, Google.

Do you really think Project Soli will ever launch in mainstream devices?

K: I hope so! The Soli watch was one of the coolest things we saw at Google I/O, but not just because of a demo, because Google actually showed it in a living product. I find technologies like that fascinating, though I don't know how realistic it is in that form. T: Not with that attitude, it won't. From what I saw during Google I/O, it's happening. Insert GIF here. Technology like that can really change the way we interact with smart devices, and to me, it's worth waiting for. Fingers crossed it is sooner, rather than later. To see all of the past Q&A Sessions, look here.

Samsung Made a 5.5-Inch 4K Display "For VR"

Kellen — Fri, 27 May 2016 12:15:28 +0000

Rumors of the next Galaxy Note (6 or 7?) have long-mentioned the possibility of Samsung upping the resolution of the display featured inside. We have heard talk of 4K, which makes a lot of sense because it seems to be the next step up from QHD, but also because the company is heavily invested in VR, where higher resolution displays are needed to improve the experience. This week, at Display Week, Samsung showed off a "high resolution for VR" display that weighs in a 5.5-inches and with a resolution of 3840x216 (4K or UHD). It's currently only a prototype, but one has to consider the idea of it being featured in the next Galaxy Note. Then again, that would mean a shrinkage in screen real estate from recent Note offerings. According to UploadVR, the UHD display "for VR" had a density of 806ppi, a 44.7% increase from 2k displays, and was "pretty gorgeous, bright with excellent contrast and color." Here is a look at it.

VR aficionados, re you ready for a 4K Samsung phone?

Via: UploadVR | The Verge

Report: Samsung Pay Will Soon Move Into Online Payments too, on Both Android and iOS

Tim — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:42:00 +0000

To help boost the amount of users making purchases through Samsung Pay, Samsung is reportedly working on an extension to the existing Samsung Pay platform that will be available to both Android and iOS devices, as well as online for desktop users. According to industry insiders, this Samsung Pay extension could launch as early as June. To recap Samsung Pay as a whole, it is a bit different from what is offered by Google (Android Pay) and Apple (Apple Pay). As of right now, only select Galaxy device owners can use Samsung Pay in stores, and it is also limited to whichever banks support it. The list of supported banks is growing, but there are still plenty that do not. If you do have a supported bank and smartphone, users can upload banking and credit card info into Samsung Pay, then pay for goods at almost any retailer in the US, as long as there is a MS-powered credit card terminal. Samsung Pay does not entirely run off of NFC (Android Pay and Apple Pay do), so it allows users to benefit from the service in more places. More importantly, both Apple Pay and Android Pay heavily support online payments through 3rd-party applications. This is the area where Samsung is playing catch up and this reported extension is Samsung's investment into that online payments realm. Think of this possible extension as a counter to PayPal online. When checking out inside of an online store, or even through a mobile app, many retailers grant the option to use PayPal for hassle-free payments. Your banking and credit card info is already stored on PayPal, which makes the payment experience much quicker. This same experience is what Samsung is reportedly going for. By offering Samsung Pay more broadly online, as well as to virtually all Android users and iPhone owners, the company can grow the amount of users exponentially. Details regarding partners and concrete launch timeframe are unknown, but it seems that Samsung wants to launch as quickly as possible. Of course, nothing has been made official by the company yet. If you are a current Samsung Pay user, could you see yourself using Samsung Pay for more online desktop purchases?

Via: ET News

The Smartphone Industry Needs to Take New Chances, Like Motorola and LG are Doing With Modules

Kellen — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:57:42 +0000

With Motorola on the verge of announcing its newest phone fit with modular capabilities and LG having just come off a an opening month or two where it introduced its take on a modular phone, I think it's clear that smartphone makers have realized that in order to survive going forward, they need to do something new. It's time to innovate again. It's time to take chances, offer more value in new ways, make phones more than just phones, and move beyond the simple, slab smartphone that just gets the basics right. The smartphone world needs something new, something fresh. The last thing it needs are a bunch of devices that the average consumer can't tell apart but seem to fit a tech media narrative of what they view as success or good. Many of your favorite smartphone makers, outside of Samsung, are struggling and have been for years. Since the early gold rush to Android supremacy four and five years ago, the industry has matured, maybe even plateaued, and made it extremely difficult for anyone to succeed. Companies like Samsung and Apple are still doing quite well as they established dominance long ago and haven't given it up, partially because they have massive marketing budgets, but also because they keep making great products that mean something to owners of them. For companies like Motorola and LG, they can't compete with that reputation or marketing budget by just doing the same old thing. And that right there is why I'm glad that they are both taking chances by going this modular route. Think about this for a second. In the past three years, Motorola has made phones that we gave what amounts to as a "phone of the year" award twice, plus included them in the top 3 phones of the year in another. You know why we did that? Because Motorola was making phones that were simple, took it all back to the basics, and just did almost everything right. And how did that work out for Motorola? Well, they sold enough phones to miss out on every single smartphone marketshare chart, were sold off by Google for failing, and are now a part of Lenovo, who has already admitted that they aren't meeting expectations. In other words, that approach was a colossal failure. Should they really just keep on doing the same old thing?

Look at HTC this year. The HTC 10 is a phone that I think most would agree is a really good phone. HTC fixed problems from the past, by using a better camera, lengthening battery life, building beauty into hardware, and taking their Android skin down to the studs to leave a cleaner approach. But does anyone think that the HTC 10 is going to save HTC or bring them "back" as so many in the media have proclaimed? God no. Forget the fact that they are a VR company now that makes phones on the side, doesn't hold press events for their phones anymore, fills every private event they can with Vive demos and not phones, and are in the middle of the slowest product category exit I've ever seen (Yes, I'm talking about phones.), the HTC 10 doesn't stand out in any real way over the competition. But are modular phones the answer? Do any of us really care about adding on JBL speakers and high-end camera attachments to expand the capabilities of a phone? I don't know that yet because no one has done it in a way to convince me that I do. At least someone is trying to convince me, though. At least someone is trying to show me that there might be something more to a phone than just the simple things. Because as we have all witnessed in recent years, those things aren't getting it done for all but two companies. I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to have choice in the future and for other companies to succeed and for someone to push Samsung and Apple into being better. The thing with modules is that they have the potential to add value on top of your initial purchase. Obviously, we need companies to use those brilliant minds of theirs to come up with those ideas, but if they can, this is an area that could, in theory, succeed. Even something as simple as slapping on a battery module to the back of my phone to top it off mid-day and relieve myself of a charger is innovation. Maybe I want a kickstand on my phone right now, with bigger speakers as I watch a movie, but don't want that added bulk in an hour. Maybe, I want to take better-than-smartphone pictures and will deal with the bulk of a camera add-on for an hour during a photo shoot before tucking it back in a back pocket. Maybe, just maybe, I want a secondary display to constantly show me information in a way that won't drain battery or change the appearance of my phone to match an outfit today or check my blood-sugar levels. Phone expansion makes a lot of sense if it's done right, if it adds that value, and if there is an ecosystem in place to foster continued innovation.

With LG and the G5, they tried to go modular and probably failed. They failed, though, because their take on a modular phone doesn't exactly work the way it needs to because they insisted on keeping that silly removable battery. You can't ask someone to turn their phone off every time they want to adjust it - we don't like inconveniences. They also failed because they failed to create a module line-up worth considering. If there is a takeway from the G5, it's that we can only hope LG is learning and will get it all right with the G6, next year. Can Motorola do it right today? All signs so far point to Motorola at least getting it closer-to-right with the upcoming Moto Z. None of the details are official, but Moto and Lenovo appear to have adopted modules that slap or "snap" across the entire backside of the phone, connect via pins, and could potentially be swapped on or off with ease. They also reportedly have created a decent-sized ecosystem of modules that will be ready for launch, unlike LG. But again, that's all not really the point. The point here is that for everyone involved (both companies and consumers), the chances being taken by Motorola and LG today could pay off in the long run. They could mean better, more advanced phones whose capabilities can expand and create more value for you and I, which could turn into more sales and success for them. Besides just doing the basics well, which almost every phone already does well today, we could get more. Think about 2012 and the original Galaxy Note for a second. Remember how many in the media thought it would be a failure because it was too big with its 5.3-inch display (!), that it was awkward to make calls on, yet also couldn't replace a tablet? As it turns out, Samsung has sold millions upon millions of the Note franchise, which will soon hit its 6th model, and ushered in an era of bigger phones that we haven't moved away from. You could argue that Samsung's Galaxy S line is their bread and butter, but by taking a chance on the Note line, Samsung changed the game. That's why I'm glad to see Motorola and LG take chances on modular phones. We don't know if they'll be successful with these first versions or if modules will be a thing in five years, but if they don't try, where does that leave us? We could be stuck with what we have now, with a bunch of really good phones from manufacturers who are struggling to survive and can't stand out, even by doing the basics right. Or, we could get the next Galaxy Note.

DEAL: Buy HTC 10, Receive Free RE Camera During Memorial Day Weekend

Tim — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:45:41 +0000

A Memorial Day weekend sale from HTC can net you a free RE Camera with the purchase of a HTC 10. Currently, the HTC 10 is available via HTC's website for a whopping $699, but with that purchase, you get a free RE Camera, which has a current sale price of $80. Regularly, the RE Camera is priced at $199. Do note that this deal is not limited to which HTC 10 you buy, whether it is the Unlocked, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint model. As previously mentioned, the RE Camera is on sale, usually $200, for just $80. If you want to skip the HTC 10 completely and get the RE, now would be a good time. If you happen to need a few accessories for your existing HTC products, the company is also offering 40% off select accessories, such as the Active Earphones, Type-C charging cables, Universal Car Kit, and much more. Follow the link below to skim over what HTC is offering this weekend only. HTC Link

Here is the Batman Galaxy S7 Edge, and OMG It's Hot

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 17:20:16 +0000

The Batman themed Galaxy S7 Edge that Samsung teased earlier in the day is now official and fully unveiled. As we mentioned earlier, the partnership is based on the game Injustice: Gods Among Us, but from this "unboxing" video, it's clear that Samsung and DC spared no expense. In the clip, we get to see a Bat symbol emblazoned box with both Galaxy S7 Edge and "Injustice" branding. Inside, Samsung is showing off a gold plated Bat symbol accessory that matches the branding on the back of the gold and black phone, specially themed Gear VR unit, and matching case. There are headphones in there as well, though they aren't shown outside of their box. As predicted, parts of the UI have been themed to play into the collaboration, including skinned icons, lock screen, always-on display, and dialer. TouchWiz has themes these days, so it's more than likely just a special edition Batman theme. Yeah, it's hot and we need one now.

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#TBT: Motorola Shadow, the Fake Phone of Everyone's Dreams

Tim — Thu, 26 May 2016 15:51:19 +0000

I was recently diving through many older Droid Life posts -- like, 2009 and 2010 posts -- and came across a device that everyone seemed very hyped about. At the time, the OG DROID was still a very popular device among Android owners, but many of them were getting ready to find a worthy successor to their new-found Android love. The Motorola Shadow, as it was known among the blogs, seemed to be the phone many of us wanted. The Shadow featured the same full QWERTY slide-out keyboard we had learned to love on the original DROID, and the design of it oozed high-tech and modern. As it turned out, the Shadow, or at least what we thought was the Shadow, was pretty much nothing; merely a design render that got passed around time and time again. The Shadow name lived on, though, morphing into DROID Xtreme, and then finalized as DROID X. The DROID X launched on Verizon back in July of 2010 and was quite popular with Android users. I recall specifically looking at the below render years ago, thinking to myself, "That's gonna be my next phone." Did you feel the same way about the Motorola Shadow as I did?

Want to See the Inside of Samsung's Gear 360?

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 15:11:03 +0000

Boom. Now, if Samsung would just put the damn thing up for sale in the US, all would be good, because yes, I want one. I don't know why, but I do.

Via: Samsung

DEAL: Save $5 on Chromecast and Chromecast Audio

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:26:19 +0000

Google's dongle line-up is currently on sale with a $5 discount at retailers like Best Buy and through the Google Store. The dongles I'm talking about are the Chromecast and Chromecast Audio of course, two products from Google that turn TVs and speakers into Cast-ready devices for modern day stream-a-thons. With a $5 discount, you are looking at spending just $30 for each. Not sure what a Chromecast does? Please leave now. I'm kidding! A Chromecast is a device that plugs into your TV, allowing you to stream content from your phone or a computer to that TV. You can toss up some YouTube clips, movies from a variety of services, music from just as many more, and even play games through them with friends. It's one of the best pieces of technology that Google has released in recent years, especially at the price. The Chromecast Audio is similar, only its an audio-only product. The deal ends on May 29. Links: Best Buy | Google Store

Google's Use of Oracle's Java APIs in Android Qualify as "Fair Use," Says Jury

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 13:43:42 +0000

A jury returned a favorable verdict for Google today in their trial with Oracle over use of Java API's in Android. The jury, after three days of deliberation, says that Google's re-implementation of 37 Java APIs is protected by "fair use." I'm no copyright specialist, but this is good news for both Google and developers. Not only does this save Google from what could have been a multi-billion dollar settlement, it alleviates some worries of developers who use public and open APIs for their own software. There will be an appeal from Oracle, I would imagine, so this thing probably isn't over. Think about that - six years later, along with a 2-week trial, and this could still continue on. Woof. In hilariously satisfying yet related news, Florian Mueller, a supposed patent and copyright guru who takes wads of cash from anyone willing to hear his expertise on why Google, Android, and all involving parties are evil in an attempt to bend the narrative, is throwing an absolute fit at the moment. Actually, the guy has been crying over this battle on his FOSS Patents blog for weeks, almost as if Oracle was paying him to do so. Oh wait. Do you, Florian, do you.

Via: Arstechnica | Techcrunch

Skype 7.0 Available for Android, Redesigned UI on Tablets and Better Multitasking

Tim — Thu, 26 May 2016 13:01:56 +0000

Skype 7.0 is rolling out to Android users via Google Play with a ton of changes for users of the service. First thing you should notice immediately is a redesigned UI for Android tablets, bringing more of the Material Design hotness that Skype unveiled last year on smartphones. This new UI includes a floating action button (FAB), featuring quick access to new video calls, messages, and contacts. In addition to the design changes, Skype touts an enhanced universal search feature, making it easier and quicker to find contacts, chats, groups, and Skype bots right from the main screen of the app. Multitasking is also getting an upgrade on Skype, with the new design allowing for a multi-pane view when in landscape. To enter this, simply flip your device to landscape and you will see different sections of the Skype app neatly organized. On top of the new look and features, Skype also declares that call quality is only getting better with the latest update, saying specifically that, "Downloading the latest version means you’ll also benefit from the latest call quality and performance improvements." Go grab that update. Play Link

Via: Skype

Verizon HTC 10 Getting Update Tomorrow With Camera Improvements

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 12:19:30 +0000

Own an HTC 10 from Verizon? Cool! You get an update tomorrow! And you get an update tomorrow! And you too, get an update tomorrow! According to HTC's Mo Versi, they "have the approval for the MR update that includes camera improvements and additional fixes." That means they somehow already worked through Verizon's 8-month (that might be an exaggeration) update testing approval process and are now ready to give you the goods. The goods being a better HTC 10 camera experience. For what it's worth, Verizon concurs - you should expect an update tomorrow. This page will be live at some point with additional details. https://twitter.com/moversi/status/735871954129821696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

ZTE Announces the Flagship-Level, Affordable Axon 7, One of the First Daydream VR Phones

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 11:59:17 +0000

ZTE took the wraps off its new flagship phone this morning, the Axon 7. The phone, like most ZTE phones, is being positioned as an unlocked phone with high-end specs and an affordable price. Unfortunately, ZTE isn't ready to share specifics on the price, but they are revealing the specs, which are very much so in the incredibly high-end category. The ZTE Axon 7 features a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 20MP f/1.8 rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 8MP f/2.2 front camera, 3250mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, USB Type-C port, dual speaker setup with a dual Hi-Fi chipset (Dolby Atmos surround sound), and fingerprint reader. As for storage and RAM, ZTE is releasing two models, one with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, along with another that has 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Each model also has a microSD slot. See what I mean? That's about as high-end as it gets.

Now, about that price. All ZTE will say is that there is "value" here and that the price will be lower than other flagship smartphones of today. That should mean a sub $500 price, but are you willing to get into a ZTE phone over something like the Nexus 6P to save $50 or so? I'll let you decide on that. As for availability, the Axon 7 hits China today and will then make its way to other markets, including the US, in the coming weeks. Once it arrives here, you will be able to buy it from zteusa.com, Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo, eBay, and Newegg. The Axon 7 will be available in either gold or silver. Which carriers will it work on? Out of the box, it will for sure work on T-Mobile and AT&T, because of its GSM connectivity. However, ZTE says that it has the ability to work on both Sprint and Verizon. At this time, they aren't guaranteeing that the phone will receive certification for use on those networks, only that it might "possibly" happen later in the year.

Along side the announcement of the Axon 7, ZTE announced that they created a VR headset to pair with it, since this phone is one of the first Google Daydream-ready devices. After looking at those specs and seeing that the Axon 7 sports a QHD AMOLED display, it makes sense that it would be ready for Google's new VR platform.

It's certainly a pretty phone with great specs and tons of potential. But again, can ZTE get your cash over someone like Google or HTC or even Samsung for that matter?

Samsung Working on Dedicated Controller for Gear VR

Tim — Thu, 26 May 2016 10:53:21 +0000

The one thing that the Gear VR experience is currently missing is, surprisingly, not content. There is actually plenty of that. In reality, Gear VR needs a controller, one that allows users to better interact with aforementioned Samsung and 3rd-party developer content. Right now, a user must fiddle with the touchpad on the side of the Gear VR headset, and in a few apps and games, that is simply not an intuitive experience. One of the reasons we enjoy playing with HTC Vive are the controllers, which makes playing games much more enjoyable, instead of twisting our heads about and pressing on the side of our headset. According to leaked renders, Samsung is finally at work on a dedicated controller device for the Gear VR. As shown in the images, the controller will feature an analog joystick, action buttons (X,A,B,Y), three-lined menu button in the direct center, as well as two top-facing left and right bumper (trigger) controls. Additionally, the last render also details that the controller is attachable to the headset when not in use. Now, a controller is certainly a good start, but in my opinion, a wand is much more suitable for many VR experiences. With a wand you could point and click on items when in your virtual world, instead of a controller which is merely an uninspired replica of the console gaming experience. Vive has wands. Wii has a wand. For VR, a wand makes sense. Yes, a gaming controller certainly has its own place in VR, but a wand should come first. Call it Gear Wand - that's badass. Samsung has yet to confirm it is building a controller (or wand) for Gear VR. Do you own a Gear VR? You tell me, would you want a gaming controller or wand?

Via: SamMobile | Samsung Mania

Galaxy S7 Edge "Batman" Isn't the Phone We Deserve, But It's the Phone We Need

Tim — Thu, 26 May 2016 09:39:58 +0000

Samsung is teaming up with DC Comics and appears to be creating an Injustice: Gods Among Us smartphone. Details are scarce, but maybe part of a bigger series, the device being teased on Twitter is a Batman-themed Galaxy S7 Edge. Oh my gawd. Much like we saw last year with the release of a limited Iron Man-themed Galaxy S6 Edge, our belief is that this Batman phone will be pretty much your standard Galaxy S7 Edge, but entirely blacked out. We may even see a few special themes for TouchWiz, all Batman-esque, complete with custom icons and wallpapers. At this time, release and availability is unknown, but I would suspect the device will be very limited in quantity. If you want one, keep your eyes peeled to Samsung's Twitter and DL. UPDATE: Here is the unboxing of it!

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Lenovo Admits That Its Acquisition of Motorola is Not Meeting Expectations

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 09:30:35 +0000

On the phone side of things, Lenovo is struggling at the moment, if you didn't know. Once a top three smartphone maker, the company is slipping as its acquisition of Motorola, which they thought would propel them towards Samsung and Apple, not away, is not paying off. In fact, during their Q4 earnings release this morning, Lenovo was quite frank in admitting that the acquisition is not meeting expectations. For the quarter, Lenovo shipped around 10.9 million phones globally, 5 million of which came from the Motorola side of the company. To put some context around those numbers, know that for the quarter, in China (the home country of Lenovo), smartphone shipments declined 85%. Yikes! They also said that "product transition" in North America was "not successful." According to Lenovo, they have "learned a great deal" since they completed their acquisition of Motorola and are looking to apply those learnings as quickly as possible. For one, they now have two co-presidents, with one focusing on China and the other on the rest of the world. While the US doesn't have its own specific leader, Lenovo is going to focus on getting its US "business back on track," likely with the upcoming Moto Z. If you ask anyone around these parts, I don't know that any of us are shocked to learn that Lenovo and Motorola together are struggling. The Moto X Pure Edition, while a fine phone, hasn't seen much support in recent months and other than being discounted every few weeks, doesn't even seem like a phone Motorola cares to talk much about. Couple that with the disaster of a customer service department and you don't exactly have the most winning formula for retaining customers to drive sales. They also have a DROID line, but it's also been well documented how unimportant it feels to both Motorola and Verizon. Oh, and Rick Osterloh, the man in charge of Motorola for the past few years, took off for Google to lead a new hardware team. It's hard to see much of a light at the end of this tunnel for Moto and Lenovo. Maybe a modular phone will be the ticket?

Via: Lenovo

OnePlus 3 Pictured During Trip Through Equipment Certification

Tim — Thu, 26 May 2016 08:49:02 +0000

As we keep stating, there is no doubt we are close to an official unveiling of the OnePlus 3 from OnePlus, and the latest happenings only strengthen that assumption. It appears that the OnePlus 3 has gone through TENAA equipment certification overseas, which many companies must go through to ensure their products are okayed to launch to the masses. During its pit stop, TENAA confirmed that the device will feature a 5.5" FHD AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, 3,000mAh battery, Android 6.0.1, as well as GSM, CDMA 2000, and LTE radios. Dimensions of 152.6 × 74.6 × 7.3mm were also confirmed. Most importantly, TENAA provided high-quality photos of the device, as shown below. As I joked previously, the OnePlus 3 looks like the love child of a HTC One device and an iPhone, thanks to the plastic bands and centered camera on back, with the metallic-ringed fingerprint reader on front. Don't get me wrong, this device looks pretty solid and we look forward to its launch. You can only write up rumored specs and leaked photos so much before things begin to dull, so unless OnePlus decides to finally announce this device, we will probably cool it on posting OnePlus 3 news. Just announce it already, OP! Share your final pre-launch thoughts on the OnePlus 3 below.

Via: TENAA

Here are Some Moto Z Modules, Plus a Fresh Moto Z DROID Edition Look

Kellen — Thu, 26 May 2016 08:27:27 +0000

In just under two weeks, Lenovo is going to unveil the next Moto phone, a phone we are fully expecting to be called the Moto Z at this point. Previous reports have suggested that it will attempt the modular thing with back plates, called MotoMods, that may be much more user-friendly and flexible in terms of potential than what LG tried with the G5. We may also see that same Moto Z phone as a DROID Edition, though there is no certainty that it will show up an Lenovo Tech World on June 9. This morning (well, last night to be exact), we are getting a fresh look at the Moto Z in DROID Edition form, along with a first look at three of the MotoMod modules. In the image above, we can see "DROID" branding on the camera housing, which is really the only differentiator from this phone and the standard Moto Z. Well, there is always a chance that the DROID Edition will get exclusive colorways (like these heavily gold plated models), but the shape and size, along with the rear pin placements for MotoMod connecting appear to be identical. A previous report suggested that Lenovo would simplify their line this year, by just branding the flagship Moto Z as a DROID Edition, instead of pushing out the Moto Z and then creating an all new phone (like previous DROID Turbo devices) to be sold at Verizon under the DROID name. This is yet more evidence of that happening. But what about those MotoMod modules. Well, here are three of them.

From what I can tell, we have (front-right) a camera module with a massive lens, shutter button and control, and flash. In the middle, that looks to me like a thicker battery pack module with kickstand. In the far back, it's really tough to tell, but that could just be a slimmer battery pack, though there does seem to be some extra fun baked in there. Is that a button? What is that line down the middle for? (Any thoughts?) UPDATE: According to @evleaks, what we have here is (from back to front) a projector, JBL speaker, and Hasselblad camera. https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/735862741127155713 In case you were wondering, yes these apply right onto the back of the phone. The idea here is that the ultra thin body of the Moto Z can be expanded upon by slapping or snapping these modules across the entire back. A current or magnet of some sort will hold these MotoMod modules in place through the sets of pins seen on the back. This could make for quickly swappable modules and might actually be a great implementation. And I can't believe I'm admitting this, but damn, this phone is growing on me.

Via: @evleaks [2]

Google's Snapseed Receives Update, Brings Horizontal Flip and Last Edit Features

Tim — Wed, 25 May 2016 15:51:05 +0000

An update for Snapseed, Google's photo-editing application, is bringing two new features for those who are still using the app. The two features are Apply Last Edits and Horizontal Flip. Both are pretty self explanatory, but just in case, let's go over what they do. Apply Last Edits allows users to apply the same edits to a newly uploaded photo that was used last on a previously saved photo. For example, if I apply a bit of HDR to a photo, then save it, that same exact edit can be done to the next photo I upload, without me having to fiddle with the HDR dial. As for Horizontal Flip, this feature allows the user to horizontally mirror a photo. This can be used for your fudged up mirror selfies or for whichever other use you may have for flipping a photo. A detailed changelog is listed below, as well as a link to Google Play to download the update. What's New

Apply Last Edits from the Main Screen. Use this feature to apply the same edits on a new photo that have been applied to the last saved photo. This feature only applies adjustments that have no local dependencies (i.e. no crop, transform or brush filters)
Horizontal flip in Straighten (y axis). Use this feature to horizontally mirror a photo, for example to fix front camera selfies which did not get mirrored correctly by the camera app.

Play Link

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OnePlus Drops Pricing for OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X by $50

Tim — Wed, 25 May 2016 13:23:57 +0000

Dropping a few phones in price to likely make way for incoming OnePlus 3 inventory, OnePlus has the OnePlus X, OnePlus 2, and if you can find it, the OnePlus One on sale via its online store. Once priced at $349, the OnePlus 2 is now marked at $299. The OnePlus X, launched at $249, is priced now at $199. I'm assuming you see a trend, as every phone currently available on the OnePlus website has been lowered by $50. For those here who may have purchased a OnePlus device within the past 14 days, you can contact OP support and request a refund of the price difference. Good Guy OnePlus. Now, when is that OnePlus 3 coming? OnePlus Links: OnePlus X | OnePlus 2 | OnePlus One (Out of Stock)

Via: OnePlus

Never Alone for Android TV on Sale for $5, Down From $15

Tim — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:23:44 +0000

One of my all-time favorite games for the NVIDIA SHIELD, called Never Alone, is currently on sale through Google Play for only $5. Regularly priced at $14.99, Never Alone is the story of a young Iñupiaq (Alaskan natives) girl and her Arctic fox friend attempting to stop a blizzard from destroying their village. The game itself is a puzzle platformer, forcing you to complete mildly difficult puzzles to advances chapters in the story. Throughout the game, as you complete tasks, you unlock additional stories based on Alaskan indigenous folklore. It adds a very authentic and visually appealing aspect to the gameplay. During your adventure to find a source of the massive blizzard, you are your fox will come across locals, vicious polar bear predators, as well as spirits that will help guide you on the journey. There are a few sad parts to the story, but slight spoiler alert, there is a happy ending. If you have the required hardware (NVIDIA SHIELD, SHIELD Tablet), the game is definitely worth the $5. Do make sure you have a gaming controller, too. It is also being reported that a touchscreen version of Never Alone is set to come to Android soon. Play Link ($4.99)

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Report: Google Created a Android Update Ranking System by Manufacturer, Might Publish It

Kellen — Wed, 25 May 2016 12:14:59 +0000

According to a report out of Bloomberg, Google has created a ranking system for Android device manufacturers based on how quickly they are not only updating their phones to the latest versions of Android, but applying the most recent security patches as well. Google has apparently considered publishing their findings, which of course, would be bad for manufacturers, almost all of which are terrible at updating phones in a timely manner. The report dives into slow updates and how some manufacturers have attempted to improve their timeliness, but carrier involvement has often delayed important updates for months. Some carriers have softened timelines a bit over security patches since big scares, like Stagefright. However, the larger, feature-packed updates are still taking longer than we all want them to. None of this is news to us, as we continually complain about how much of a disgrace most Android phone manufacturers are in the update department. Sure, some have improved in recent years, but we see them all come and go as the shining update stars from time to time and hesitate to crown anyone as even "good." But we really just care about whether or not Google will post this ranking system, right? Think about how amazing it would be for consumers to be able to point to Google's list and then at the manufacturer of their phone (and the carrier) to say, "You know what, you are terrible at updating, so I'm not buying another phone from you until you get better." That's power I think we all deserve to have. Google could place a chart or list for this right on their Android distribution page and update it monthly. They already show updated numbers at the beginning of each month for each Android version's percentage of the pie, so they may as well include the phone manufacturers whose phones are contributing (or not contributing) to each slice. Quick, someone fire off a change.org petition to force Google into publishing their findings. (That's sarcasm, by the way.) In all seriousness, this is something that Google really should do. While it might be a bit of PR disaster for a number of companies on day 1, it should only lead to improvements from everyone in pushing out updates, assuming they care about their public perception and consumers coming back for more. I can't think of a better way to start turning this all around.

Via: Bloomberg

Report: Next Galaxy Note May be the Note 7, Not Note 6

Tim — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:14:16 +0000

In the whacky world of smartphone marketing, it may seem odd to have two lineups of devices not on the same number-naming structure. At Samsung, we have the Galaxy S line, as well as the Galaxy Note line, but these lineups are not on the same number, and apparently, that's a problem. This issue, if it even is an issue, originates from Samsung releasing the first Galaxy Note device one year later (October, 2011) than the first Galaxy S (June, 2010). Because of this time difference, it has caused the two lineups to be out of sync in the numbering structure. Today, the latest Galaxy S on the market is the Galaxy S7, and the latest Galaxy Note is the Galaxy Note 5. Note that the next Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Note 6, is likely only a few months away from launch. Well, according to the latest overseas report that cites industry insiders, Samsung may skip the "Galaxy Note 6" name completely, and instead, will release the Galaxy Note 7 to go right alongside the popular Galaxy S7. Stated in the report, Samsung wants to eliminate any inconsistency it currently has with the numbering structure, so jumping ahead to the Galaxy Note 7 seems to solve that issue entirely for them. However, to my recollection, skipping a number in a series of smartphones has not been done before, by any company, so we won't know the possible affects it has on the unbeknownst populace. Will average consumers even notice that "6" has been skipped, or will there only be a few angry bloggers? According a reported high-ranking representative of the telecommunications industry,"When Galaxy Note 6 has its model number lower than Galaxy S7, which is the newest model, is released, it can give out a feeling that it is an outdated phone. It is known that Samsung Electronics has made the numbers same to unify a premium image." That is certainly an argument Samsung can make, but if you ask me, the fact that the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S line are not the same is fine by me. The company continues to sell millions of phones, so I don't get the sense they have been losing business because of numbering. This is the first report we have seen that describes a potential name change, and as we get a bit closer to an unveiling, we will certainly keep you posted. I guess this answers the "Why was 6 afraid of 7?" question pretty well.

Via: ET News

Samsung Intros Galaxy Tab Iris for India, Features Actual Iris Scanner

Tim — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:48:43 +0000

Minority Report, eat your heart out. This morning, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab Iris for Government and Enterprise use in India. While the thought of a new Galaxy Tab is not enough to get me out of bed in the morning, this tablet features a fully-working iris scanner on its backside, providing yet another layer of data protection for users of the device. As detailed by Samsung, the idea of including an iris scanner is not exactly for personal usage, but to help India's population as a whole. Written in the company's press release, the inclusion of this technology, "will help India spread its Digital India vision of providing technology so that every citizen of the country can have access to financial inclusion benefits." With this forward step, the iris scanning technology will support, "government benefit programs," and, "enable banks and financial institutions to streamline the process of an individual’s authentication, regardless of language and literacy barriers." On top of the tablet hardware itself, Samsung is also releasing an SDK for application developers to build financial inclusion, payments and authentication solutions. As you can see, Samsung's hope is to offer a better digital experience to the people of India, where language and literacy issues are more common. In early April, a report surfaced that the Galaxy Note 6 may also feature this iris scanning technology, but our hope is that the camera/sensors for the tech is on the frontside, not backside. The tablet is launching in India with a price of about $200 USD.

Via: Samsung

TripAdvisor Gains Google Play Music Integration to Play Trip-Related Tunes

Kellen — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:39:15 +0000

TripAdvisor and Google announced a new partnership today that puts Google Play Music inside of the popular trip planning and booking service to help you get in the mood for your upcoming vacations. Through a new update to TripAdvisor, you'll be able to stream locally-curated or tailored playlists from places all over the world. That's a fancy way of saying that as you plan your trip to Italy, you'll hear music you might find while in a cafe, sipping espresso. Or maybe you'll just oonce-oonce it out for a bit once you step foot in Germany. Within the TripAdvisor app, users will see a Google Play Music icon within select destination pages that take them into the curated playlists. To get a feel for the integration, take a look at the image above. If you aren't a Google Play Music subscriber, Google and TripAdvisor are handing out a 2-month free trial of the service to help promote this new partnership. Here are some examples of the playlists you'll see:

London - Pub Jukebox
Paris - I Love Paris
New York - Made in New York
Las Vegas - Viva Las Vegas
Berlin - The Underground Club Sound of Berlin Techno
Vienna - Beginner’s Guide to Mozart
Cancun - Mas Gasolina
General - Pack Your Suitcase: 2016 Hits

Play Link

Via: Android Blog

Poll: Do You Use Home Screen Widgets Still?

Tim — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:38:26 +0000

Way back in the day, Android widgets were my thing. I rocked Beautiful Widgets, a Gmail widget, DashClock, Sound Search widget, and a few more that I can't recall right off. These days, I feel old and lame, using a single widget from the stock Clock app on my phone. It's not very cool. Times have changed, I suppose. I don't feel the need to have all of that information cluttering my home screen, and instead, I was a minimalistic look with quick access to the apps I frequently use. It might have also been the performance drag some widgets caused due to improper optimizations made for Android. Whatever the cause was, at this point, I'm over widgets. Tell us, do you still widgets? If so, which ones can't you live without?

[poll id="408"]

Report: No More Android Wear Devices From Samsung (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:52:33 +0000

Not that anyone was expecting to see one, but according to Fast Company, who spoke with executives of Samsung, there are no future plans for a Samsung-made Android Wear device. The only Android Wear smartwatch Samsung ever released was the Gear Live, which was made available after Google I/O in 2014. Since then, Samsung has used Tizen, its in-house operating system, exclusively for wearables. However, while that news should not alarm or upset anyone, the Samsung executive (no name provided), stated that Android Wear is not as battery-efficient as Tizen. No doubt, Android Wear and smartwatches in general have a ways to go in the battery department, but is Tizen really that much better? Back when Kellen was using the Gear S2 (powered by Tizen), he never mentioned incredible battery life, which leads us to believe its not just battery life that turns Samsung away from Android Wear. Could it be that Samsung has already invested a ton in its own wearable ecosystem? That seems more likely. Whatever the reasoning may be, don't expect a Samsung Android Wear watch anytime soon. Here, you can borrow my tissue to wipe the tears. Update: Samsung has reached out with the following statement regarding the comments made.

Samsung has not made any announcement concerning Android Wear and we have not changed our commitment to any of our platforms.

Via: Fast Company

AT&T Confirms: $45 and $60 GoPhone Prepaid Plans Get More Data This Week

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:28:21 +0000

Yesterday, we reported changes coming soon to AT&T's GoPhone plans that would reward each with more data without a price hike. AT&T has now confirmed and announced the plan changes, which will arrive this Friday. As we noted yesterday, both the $45 and $60 plans are getting more data, with the $45 plan going from 2GB to 3GB data per month, while the $60 plan is jumping from 5GB to 6GB. Again, that is all happening without a price hike. Also, keep in mind that you can receive a $5 per month discount on each if you sign-up for autopay. If you are already a GoPhone customer, the increase in data will attach itself to your account automatically - you don't need to do anything to get it.

Via: AT&T

T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S5 Gets Marshmallow Update

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:18:54 +0000

Yesterday, T-Mobile began pushing an update of Android 6.0 to the...wait for it...Samsung Galaxy S5. Yeah, that old bird. Sweet, right? The update is showing up as either software version G900T3UVU1GPE1 or G900TUVU1GPE1, depending on, something. Honestly, I have no idea why T-Mobile has two different variants of the Galaxy S5 cruising around that need different software versions. You want to complain about fragmentation... Each update weighs in at right around 1GB and appears to require a WiFi connection or installation via Samsung Smart Switch for PCs. Go get it!

Via: T-Mobile

Reported OnePlus 3 Specs Include Snapdragon 820, 5.5" 1080p Display, NFC

Tim — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:15:03 +0000

As we near the apparent unveiling of the OnePlus 3 from OnePlus, additional details are hitting the web, this time from Evan Blass. According to Blass, the OnePlus 3 specs will include a Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 5.5-inch 1080p (FHD) display, 64GB of onboard storage, 16 megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as NFC. Yes, you read that correctly -- NFC! The aforementioned specifications align perfectly with what we have reported previously. From the previous roundup of rumors, there may still be two OnePlus 3 models featuring varying amounts of RAM and onboard storage. The more premium model would feature 6GB of RAM, while the lesser model would have just 4GB. Not that 4GB of RAM is scoff-worthy by any means. It is also reported that the phone will feature a USB Type-C port, same as the OnePlus 2. We still do not have a confirmed unveiling or launch date for the OnePlus 3, but the company recently hyped up a brand new virtual reality headset, leading many to believe the launch will take place in VR. We'll keep you posted on anymore details, but in the meantime, be stoked about the possibility of NFC and mobile payments.

Via: @evleaks

RIP, Nexus Player.

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:36:04 +0000

The Nexus Player, Google's original Android TV set-top box, is now gone from the Google Store and has been sold out (or removed) at most retailers for months. Yes, the end has come to the low-spec'd little media streamer and we may not miss it, outside of its low price. It was a decent initial entry to the Android TV platform for the price, especially with included remote, but it always lacked the power needed to run most apps or games and was certainly a "jank" list topper. This device truly was a Nexus, in that it was nothing more than a showcase for what could be possible with Android TV, rather than the best-of-the-best that all should try to beat. One has to wonder if a new Nexus Player will show in place of the now-retired Nexus offering, or if Google will let third party manufacturers take it from here. After all, the SHIELD Android TV from NVIDIA is about as top tier as it gets for a media streaming box, but we also have options on the way from companies like Xiaomi that will certainly be worth a look. You used to be able to find the Nexus Player at this link.

Google Cast Offer Gets You 3 Months of YouTube Red for $0.99, Which Means Google Play Music Too

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:06:26 +0000

YouTube Red, the ad-free version of YouTube that also includes a subscription to Google Play Music at a price of $9.99 per month, can be had as a Google Cast (Chromecast) offer for just $0.99 for three months. At less than a dollar, I'd say signing up is probably worth the hassle if it gets you the next few months of ad-free YouTube streaming with a bonus of the Google Play Music collection on the side. If you own a Cast-eligible device, you can check to see if the offer is available to you by hitting up the Google Cast Offers page, linked below. Once redirected, the site will check all of your devices to see if the YouTube Red can be yours. If it can be, the click of a "redeem" button followed by a short sign-up process over at YouTube should be all that is required. Enjoy. Google Cast Offers

Cheers Marco!

Twitter Makes it Official, Media and Replies Using "@" No Longer Count Towards 140 Character Limit

Tim — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:52:55 +0000

Earlier this month, it was reported that Twitter would soon stop counting links, photos, mentions, and other things towards your 140 character limit when composing a tweet. Twitter made these changes official this morning, hopefully bringing an end to compacting words and sentences to make them fit within the confines of 140 characters. Once these changes take place, over the next few months according to Twitter, replies with @names and media attachments (photos, GIFs, videos, polls) will no longer count. In addition, interactions with fellow Twitter users are also changing. Instead of using a ".@" to mention someone while also broadcasting it, a new tweet that begins with a mention can go out to all of your followers. Once tweeted, you can retweet your own tweet - also a new feature - that way all of your followers can view it. It seems somewhat complicated, but that's what we get. In conjunction, when RT'ing your own tweet, you can opt to simply RT or Quote your tweet, giving you a few options on how to interact with your own content. Twitter states that it is working with users and developers to roll these changes out as soon as possible in the coming months. Excited?

Via: Twitter

Capital One Comes to Android Pay, Along With a Bunch of Other Banks (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:38:02 +0000

Google updated its list of participating banks with Android Pay this morning, adding Capital One to the list. They also added another couple of dozen (or 48 in total) as an extension to the dozens they added only a week ago. UPDATE 4:16PM: Google removed Capital One this evening from their list of participating banks. I guess they jumped the gun there? Maybe Capital One wants to be the one to announce their participation? We aren't sure, but we'll update this again as we have more info. The full list of new banks is as follows:

Advia Credit Union
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Alcoa Tenn Federal Credit Union
Altra Federal Credit Union
Amegy Bank
Arsenal FCU
Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union
Bank of England (England, Arkansas)
Benchmark Federal Credit Union
Blackhawk Community Credit Union
California Bank & Trust
Capital One
Catholic and Community CU
Centier Bank
Citizens Bank & Trust Company
Consumers Cooperative FCU
dominion Credit Union
Fidelity Bank
First Atlantic CU
First Community Credit Union
Great Lakes Credit Union
Greater Iowa Credit Union
Hiway Federal Credit Union
Inova Federal Credit Union
Justice Federal Credit Union
KeyBank
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Marine Federal Credit Union
MAX Credit Union
Metro Health Services Federal Credit Union
Mission Federal Credit Union
Nasa Federal Credit Union
National Bank of Arizona
Nevada State Bank
Numark Credit Union
Nusenda Federal Credit Union
Oregon Community Credit Union
Richfield/Bloomington Credit Union (rbcu)
San Mateo Credit Union
Suncoast Federal Credit Union
The Bank of Northwest Kansas
Truwest Credit Union
University Federal Credit Union
UW Credit Union
Vectra Bank Colorado
Vinton County National Bank
Wright Patman Congressional Federal Credit Union
Zions Bank

To see the full list of all supported banks, hit up that source link.

Via: Android

Pebble Back on Kickstarter This Morning With Pebble 2 and Time 2, Already Surpasses $1 Million in Funding

Tim — Tue, 24 May 2016 08:49:36 +0000

Yesterday, we wrote that Pebble was teasing something new on its website with a countdown, but no one knew exactly what the countdown was counting towards. First thought to possibly be the launch of a new wearable, we now know that Pebble is back on Kickstarter, looking for $1,000,000 in funding to build a trio of new wearable devices -- the Pebble 2, Pebble Time 2, and an all-new Pebble Core. The Pebble 2 smartwatch is the same Pebble device many have come to love, but does feature a slightly updated look, along with a built-in heart rate monitor. In addition, the Pebble 2 features built-in activity tracking, water resistance, as well as the same e-paper display. According to Pebble, the Pebble 2 smartwatch should last up to 7 days on a single charge. The watch, once available, will cost $129 at retail, with shipments expected to begin in September. For those who decide to fund through Kickstarter, the Pebble 2 is priced at $99 The Pebble Time 2 features a 53% larger color display, built-in heart rate monitor, activity and sleep tracking, water resistance, and battery life for up to 10 days on a charge. The Pebble Time 2 will be priced at an intriguing $199, with shipments expected in November. If you decide to back the Time 2 on Kickstarter, though, the price is $169. As for the Pebble Core, there are two models. One is specifically designed for runners (fitness folk), and one for "hackers." The standard Pebble Core will be priced at $99 at launch and allows users to leave their smartphones at home while out for a run. The Core features GPS tracking, Emergency SOS protocols, syncing with 3rd-party fitness apps, Spotify music streaming, as well as 3G/Bluetooth/WiFi radios. Expected to ship in January of 2017, backers will only need to pay $69 for one, until they are sold out. For hackers, the Core features a hardware expansion port, early SDK access for app building, as well as 2 programmable buttons. For additional information, check out the Kickstarter campaign. If you are interested in backing, you better do so quickly. Pebble has already hauled past their $1 million goal, sitting currently at over $1.5 million. And yes, many of the rewards will sell out, so act quickly. Kickstarter Link

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Verizon Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Get Updates That Fix Google Play Issues, Kill Bloatware

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 08:06:09 +0000

Verizon will begin pushing an update to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge this morning that should fix a couple of nagging bugs, while tweaking some behaviors on the side. The updates are rolling out as version VRU4CPD2 for each and can be pulled for installation by heading into Home>Applications>Settings>About Device>Software updates. These aren't massive updates, but you will want to grab them sooner than later. As for what's changing, Verizon says that the update fixes the following:

Fixes Google Play Store app update and download errors
Resolves Visual Voice Mail access issues
Google "Search" is now available in Settings menu
You can now answer video calls as just a voice call, and when you do, the call audio is routed to the earpiece by default. Video call audio will come from the speaker by default
Removed Amazon Music app
When a USB cable is plugged into the phone, the default mode automatically shows other USB options (like File Transfer)
Added "Send Premium SMS" in the Application manager settings

Need more? The update also introduces a setting that shows how much RAM is being used by apps and how much is free. To check this going forward, head into Settings>Applications>Application manager>More. Let us know if that update is live yet!

Via: Verizon [2]

LG G5's "Friends" Now Available Directly From LG.com

Kellen — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:53:04 +0000

For those of you who bought the LG G5 hoping for a modular world of bliss, but have been disappointed at the lack of availability, know that today may change things a bit. LG announced this morning that the "Friends" line-up for the G5 is now available directly from LG.com in the US. Instead of having to hunt down a carrier with stock or a retailer, you can buy items like the CAM Plus, 360 VR, and 360 CAM from LG. You'll also find their new TONE Platinum headsets at the Friends store, but you aren't going to find the G5's HiFi DAC anywhere. Remember, LG decided that it wasn't worth selling in the US, which means you really only have access to one module on your supposedly modular phone, the CAM Plus. The future. Shop LG.com

Damn, Google I/O

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:12:53 +0000

Since we ran out of time last week, thanks to travel schedules and all that, it's time to recap Google I/O 2016 on the DL Show. After a weekend off, we've had time to fully digest all that Google announced, which should mean more well-rounded thoughts, or something, right? Hah, don't give us that much credit. On this episode, we will indeed be diving into the biggest announcements from the event, though. That means Google Home, Assistant, Daydream, Allo, Android Wear 2.0, N, and all of the ATAP madness will get some air time. We'll try not to make this a 3-hour episode, but you just never know. 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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Twitter is Testing an Automatic Night Mode UI

Tim — Mon, 23 May 2016 16:00:57 +0000

Apparently in the very early stages of testing, Twitter is working to bring an automatic Night Mode to the official Android application. Available only to a select number of alpha testers, the app's UI will automatically change to a darker appearance, which should be easier on the eyes at night time. As it is right now, the standard white UI is the only option available to users of the Twitter app. Once available for all, the UI should consist primarily of a dark blue background with white text. Not only is Twitter testing a Night Mode, but different button placements, too. According to testers and reported by 9to5 Google, Twitter is also experimenting with hamburger slide-out menus, overflow buttons, as well as floating action buttons (FAB) for the composing of new tweets. As previously mentioned, this testing is happening among a small group of people. Anyone hoping to take part will need the alpha version of Twitter. Sign-ups for that are available here, however, acceptance rate is very low. Beta sign-ups are also available here, with acceptance rate sitting at 100%. Night Mode all the things.

Via: 9to5 Google | +Taylor Wimberly

AT&T GoPhone Prepaid Plans are Getting Another Data Increase Without a Price Hike (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:00:23 +0000

AT&T is about to increase the data buckets on its GoPhone plans later this week, according to sources of ours. This move comes on the heels of a data increase back in January, but also helps bring the plans in line with Verizon, who seems to be taking prepaid quite seriously these days. Starting May 25, the $45 plan will jump from 2GB of data per month to 3GB per month, and the $60 plan will rise from 5GB per month to 6GB per month. No price increase will accompany these changes, plus the $5 autopay or "auto refill" credit will still be available on ~~the $60 plan~~ both plans. Talk about a solid value here from AT&T. Think about the fact that we first started talking about GoPhone back in 2013, just as it was getting access to LTE with only 1GB of high-speed data. Since that time, AT&T has lowered the price to $60, tossed in a $5 credit for autopay, and managed to raise the data limit all the way up to 6GB of high-speed data per month. Oh, and if you don't use that 6GB, AT&T will roll that data over to the next month for use within the next billing cycle. We've reached out to AT&T for confirmation and will update this post. UPDATE: AT&T confirms the changes to the plans and says they launch Friday, May 27, instead of on May 25, like we had reported.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 40

Tim — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:04:56 +0000

Google I/O is now past us, but the excitement of what's to come still lingers. As you will have noticed, Google didn't actually release anything last week, but announced a ton of potentially sweet products that will hit the market in the summer and fall seasons. There is an upgraded Google app experience (Google Assistant), Google Home, plenty of Android N stuff to be excited about, plus the Allo and Duo apps. With I/O done, we now have other things to look forward to, such as Moto's (Lenovo) upcoming flagship for 2016, the Galaxy Note 6 from Samsung, as well as the OnePlus 3. There's a whole lot to discuss! The Q&A Sessions are your opportunity to ask the DL staff whatever you might like pertaining to Android, or anything else that might on your mind? Want to know if we ever plan on using Allo? Will Google Home immediately replace our Amazon Echo tubes? Have we completely surrendered to the hype of virtual reality? There's a lot to be asked. 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.

Video: Android Wear 2.0 First Look and Tour!

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:44:54 +0000

During Google I/O last week, Google showed off Android Wear 2.0, the biggest update the platform has ever seen. They told us to expect it later this year on consumer devices, but did push out a developer preview to the Huawei Watch and LG Watch Urbane LTE for those interested in getting their apps ready ahead of time. It's also available for those of us who live on the bleeding, buggy edge of all things Android. Yep, that means we flashed 2.0 to a Huawei Watch to take it for a spin. In this build, in case you missed last week's coverage, we get new ways to navigate Android Wear including an emphasis on using the physical button on the side of a watch as a back button instead of the swipe we are all used to. Swipes from the home screen also work differently and now launch you into the watch face chooser when done from side-to-side. The UI for notifications is no longer a card style and is instead a more fluid Material Design layout with full-screen pages. There are new ways to interact, like with a keyboard, as well. Have a look!

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And Then Motorola Registered a Trademark for Moto Z

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:05:03 +0000

Last week, just as Google I/O was kicking off, a report surfaced suggesting that Motorola was moving on from the Moto X line of phones and instead introducing a new Moto Z line. Only adding to that idea, Motorola appears to have filed for a trademark on the day that report arrived for the name "MOTO Z." You can see a screenshot of the registration below, along with the owner being "Motorola Trademark Holdings." No other details are included, other than a note about this being a trademark for "Mobile phones, smartphones and accessories therefor, namely battery chargers and adapters." While this doesn't confirm a Moto Z, it certainly helps that story. Also, keep in mind that trademark filings in the past have led us to all sorts of product names ahead of time.

Via: USPTO

Cheers Justin!

Pebble is Teasing Something, Announcement Set for Tomorrow at 7AM Pacific

Tim — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:31:34 +0000

Pebble has a fancy countdown happening on its website, stating that we are all "in for a treat." The countdown will end tomorrow morning (5/24) at 7am Pacific (10am Eastern). Below the countdown, folks can register to be notified of what's happening once it takes place. Given this is Pebble, we expect the company to be announcing some sort of new smartwatch device or maybe a fitness wearable, but this is really the first we are hearing about it. The last smartwatch Pebble released was the Pebble Round, which was announced last year in September. The Round was then made available for purchase in November. We have not heard much from the Pebble camp since then, so a new device for 2016 is very possible. Our only hope is that a new Pebble watch doesn't have so much bezel. Do you have any thoughts on what is going to happen? Do you care?

AT&T to Offer Only Two Next Payment Plans, Instead of Four, Starting June 9

Tim — Mon, 23 May 2016 08:50:36 +0000

Beginning June 9, consumers and businesses with AT&T can lower their monthly payments, thanks to changes the carrier is making on its Next program. Once June 9 rolls around, AT&T will only offer two different Next plans, down from the current offering of four plans. These two plans are the straightforward AT&T Next plan and the AT&T Next Every Year plan. The way both plans work is relatively simple. On AT&T Next, customers can upgrade their smartphone every 2-year cycle, based on a 30-month financing program. On a 30-month program, instead of 24-month, your device payments will become cheaper, which AT&T (and probably consumers) sees as a good thing. For AT&T Next Every Year, customers can upgrade their smartphone every year, with a 24-month financing program. While your payments will be slightly higher each month (due to the shorter financing program), the idea that you can upgrade each year when a sweet new phone is released seems like a good benefit for the added price. Additionally, AT&T is introducing two new ways for customers to lower their monthly bills. There is a device trade-in program, as well as a down payment option. For trade-ins, AT&T will accept your current smartphone and apply its redemption value towards the price of your new phone. Once done, you will be paying for the remainder of the price, not the complete retail price. As for a down payment, it simply means you can put any money down at the time of purchase towards your total price owed, which would lead to lower monthly payments.

Again, these changes take effect on June 9, 2016.

Via: AT&T

DEAL: Jaybird X2 Drops to $99 at Amazon ($80 Off), Probably Because the Freedom Just Launched

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 07:29:11 +0000

The Jaybird X2 sport headphones are some of our favorites around these parts. Not only do they sound great for a Bluetooth pair of headphones, but they look snazzy, fit well, and last for a week's worth of workouts. They are, at least for me personally, my go-to headphones for workouts and have been since the day they launched. With that in mind, and if you are in the market for a new pair of top-tier Bluetooth headphones, you may want to cruise over to Amazon today. As of right now, the Jaybird X2 in white has been discounted by $80 to $99. There are others that are $70, $60, and $50 off as well. My guess is that they are being discounted because Jaybird just launched their new Freedom headphones this morning. While the Freedom look promising and should be a solid option, at $99, the X2 are just too good of a deal to pass on. Amazon Link

Cheers Bobby!

OnePlus 3 Launch Will Take Place in VR, Grab Your Free Headset Now!

Kellen — Mon, 23 May 2016 07:19:40 +0000

OnePlus is gearing up to announce their new phone, the OnePlus 3. In doing so, they are once again going to stream the launch event in VR, just as they did last year, only this time they are "upping the ante." Instead of handing out free Cardboard units to bring you all the VR experience, they are going all out with Gear VR-like headsets made in partnership with AntVR. They are calling this the Loop VR Headset, because it will help them host a launch event that OnePlus says takes place in the future, at their space headquarters called "The Loop." As you can see from the image above, this is a full-blown plastic headset that straps to your head while holding your phone. At this time, we do not know when the OnePlus 3 will be unveiled, but if OnePlus is announcing this new VR launch today, it could be very soon. Last year, they announced the VR launch in late June and then announced the phone in late July. Are we a month away from the OnePlus 3? As for the VR headsets, OnePlus is once again giving 30,000 of them away. You are reading that correctly. OnePlus said they are "upping the ante" and certainly seems to be doing that by giving away these new Loop VR Headsets that most definitely cost more than cardboard to assemble. If you want one, they are handing them out this very minute. Grab your free headset here.

[responsive_vid]

Via: OnePlus

WATCH: Google I/O ATAP Session Covering Project Ara, Soli, and Jacquard

Tim — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:06:40 +0000

At last, Google has posted the ATAP session from Google I/O in its entirety to YouTube, and seriously, you all need to watch it. It's the future. During this hour-long session, the ATAP team goes over many of the projects they are working to bring to consumers, such as Project Jacquard (smart fabrics), Project Soli (mini radars that make smartwatches the shiznit), and of course, all of the details regarding Project Ara. It's all there, delivered in a way only Google could do. Watch it and then embrace it, for it is the not-too-distant future most likely.

Poll: Will You Buy a Chromebook Once They Get Android Apps?

Kellen — Fri, 20 May 2016 14:30:24 +0000

Google's big day 2 announcement at Google I/O centered around the Google Play store and Android apps making their way onto Chromebooks. I followed up that news by writing up a bunch (probably too many) of words on why I think this is a major game-changer and potentially puts the final nail in the Android tablet coffin. In the early days, we talked about Chromebooks not being powerful enough and lacking the utilities many of us needed to get by on most days. With Android apps, that could (and should) all change, since Google Play includes an app for just about every single one of our favorite PC services. Obviously, I think this is a huge deal and will take a great deal of time to test out the new functionality once it arrives, but I'm curious to know what the majority of you are thinking now. Are Android apps on Chromebooks enough to get you to buy one? If not, why? [poll id="407"]

Google's Project Jacquard Introduces Levi's Trucker Jacket, Arrives Next Year

Kellen — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:39:07 +0000

The inner geek in all of us should still be giggling at all of the fun stuff Google's ATAP team announced on stage today at Google I/O. If you missed it, we'll be sure to share the session once it has been uploaded. (EDIT: WATCH IT HERE!) The ATAP team not only gave us a tour of the latest in Project Ara happenings, but they showed off an amazing Project Soli smartwatch concept, and told us when to expect the first consumer clothing item with embedded Project Jacquard. Through a partnership with Levi's, we'll all be able to buy a new jacket that is outfitted with Jacquard technologies within the next year. The jacket is called the Commuter Trucker jacket and it was designed for city bike commuters, or those who just want a sweet new denim jacket with some tech inside. Not familiar with Jacquard? It was first unveiled at Google I/O last year as a fabric that was weaved with technology, so that you could touch it or swipe gestures across it to perform tasks through a smartphone or other device. Think about swiping across your pants to change music tracks, answer a call, etc. It took some time for them to get the weave perfected for this denim jacket, but they have reached the point where they are ready to start production, again, only a year after they first showed off the concept. Below, you can see the dongle-esque (or "smart tag") device that powers the weave, along with the subtle weaved pattern that you can touch. That smart tag can be removed when you are ready to wash your jacket. I don't know that they have specifically mentioned this, but that smart tag likely has Bluetooth and a battery which connects to your phone to make the magic happen.

This is only the first of what could be many articles of clothing to adopt Jacquard. But for now, you can see how close the future is and how smart everything in our lives has become. In these couple of clips, you will get to see how they make the denim for this jacket with Jacquard embedded and also what it could be like for a biker commuter to use the jacket during daily rides. Making of Jacquard denim

[responsive_vid vid_url="grKHwQIaiaA"]

The Commuter Trucker jacket in action

[responsive_vid]

Google Demos Project Soli on Smartwatch, Crowd Goes Wild

Tim — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:31:49 +0000

Project Soli was demonstrated inside of a prototype smartwatch this morning on the last day of Google I/O, which had the developer crowd cheering quite loudly. Project Soli is Google's attempt to remove the physical interaction we have with tech devices, and I do mean that literally. By minimizing the size of radar chips, which is no easy task by any means, Project Soli reacts to air gestures made by a user, then interprets that data into commands for a smartwatch or other various devices, such as a Bluetooth speaker. For example, if a user holds their hand up to a smartwatch, then does a pinch and twist motion, you could view and scroll through text on the smartwatch. As of right now, Project Soli is nowhere near ready for consumer consumption, but with Google showing it off at Google I/O and beginning to get developers interested, it could help the company breakthrough many of the existing boundaries that are currently in place. One of those boundaries, specific to the Bluetooth speaker implementation, are the vibrations made from said speaker. Soli is developed to recognize the slightest of gesture movements in the air in front of it, but while inside of a vibrating box (speaker), the gesture interpreting becomes quite difficult. Problems such as these are what the Project Soli team are working to overcome.

However, the demo given during I/O with the smartwatch was pretty incredible, and as soon as the session is posted onto YouTube for sharing, we will update the post with it. It should be required viewing for all. ~~In the meantime, The Verge went hands-on with Project Soli at Google HQ. Check out their video below~~. UPDATE: WATCH IT BELOW (26:30 mark)!

Google Announces Big Project Ara Update, Consumer Phone Coming Next Year

Kellen — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:06:21 +0000

Today during the ATAP session at Google I/O (EDIT: WATCH IT HERE!), Google provided an update on Project Ara, the modular phone concept from Google that we were starting to think might have been shelved. During the short session, Google showed off the latest prototypes, told us when to expect developer and consumer units, and maybe more importantly, showed hot swapping of modules in real-time, one of which was controlled by voice. The full ATAP session is worth watching, once Google posts it, but for now, let's talk about the Ara news, because it's big. Google announced that developer units of Ara will be available this fall in preparation for a consumer launch next year (2017). They seem set on these dates and timelines, plus with the demos they showed today, I'm tempted to believe them. The latest Ara prototype looks like the devices above and below. It's simpler and more beautiful, includes six slots for swapping modules into, and is the closest we have seen to a potentially finished device. The new frame includes the phone's CPU, GPU, antennas, sensors, battery and display, in case you were wondering.

Modules are connected to it via new latch system to help modules stay locked on securely. They connect to the phone through Google's Greybus software, that allows instant connections of modules to immediately work with Android (and transfer data up to 11.9 Gbps). That basically means hot-swapping. To detach, you can tell the Ara app to release a module, which then ejects it, or you can tell Google to do it with a command like, "OK, Google, eject camera module." And seriously, they demoed this on stage today and it was pretty neat. The new modules can be outfitted in different textures and finishes, helping you create a modular phone that is both functionality and unique. Along with all of that news, the Ara team shared this video, which takes you on a day in the life of an Ara phone owner.

[responsive_vid]

Pretty impressive stuff from ATAP and Ara. Now, let's see if they can hit those promised timelines. To learn more, head over to the updated Ara site.

Report: LG Pay's White Card to Feature IC Chip

Tim — Fri, 20 May 2016 10:27:33 +0000

Over the past few months, more details have surfaced regarding LG Pay, the company's mobile payments platform that should launch at some point, although, there is no concrete info on when we should expect it. It was even rumored it would launch this past January, but that didn't happen. Anyway, a new report out of Korea states that the White Card, which is the consumer-facing end to LG Pay, will feature an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip. Anyone reading this who has a new credit card probably knows what an IC chip is, as the chips are becoming more widely adopted by financial institutions all across the world. To sum it up, IC chips help protect your credit card data from fraud and cloning, utilizing on-the-spot encryption methods. Not only will LG's White Card feature the IC Chip, but will still work via the traditional MS (magnetic stripe) means. That allows the White Card to not only work at pretty much any terminal now, but any terminal that gets upgraded in the future to only work with IC chips, as they are becoming the worldwide standard for credit card payments. As a refresher, think of White Card like a master key for your existing catalog of credit and debit cards. Once you upload all of your banking and credit card details onto White Card, you can use this single card for all of your purchasing needs, sort of like Coin used to do with the Coin 2.0 hardware. Are you pumped for LG Pay and White Card?

Via: ETNews

Chromebooks Just Killed the Tablet

Kellen — Fri, 20 May 2016 09:36:57 +0000

If you are at all considering an Android tablet purchase at the moment, feel free to stop. I say that because in a couple of weeks, Android apps and the Google Play store will arrive on select Chromebooks. By the end of the year, those same apps will arrive on dozens and dozens of additional Chromebooks at varying prices and in a variety of forms, some of which can emulate a tablet experience. This major move of Android apps onto Chromebooks from Google has all but eliminated the need for Android tablets to even exist. Let me explain. Tablets were created years ago as bigger screened versions of our smartphones because we all thought that on a bigger screen, you could do more, become more productive, and maybe even get rid of your laptop. That, of course, hasn't happened because tablet operating systems (or blown up versions of Android and iOS) are pretty simple in form and lack the powerful multi-tasking a traditional computer can offer. Sure, they may offer better mobile media experiences because they are often more portable, but the lack of powerful features have made them difficult choices over a Macbook or Windows laptop. With Chromebooks now running Android apps along with Chrome OS, I think we may be stepping into a world of pure mobile bliss that finds the perfect middle ground of laptop and tablet.

Yesterday, Google showed the media Google Play and Android apps working seamlessly on a Chromebook. The apps run just like you would hope they would run on your phone or tablet, but they do so in stand-alone windows, sort of like you see on any other computer. Just keep in mind that this isn't the limited PC app selection you probably complain about - this is the Google Play app selection with millions and millions of apps that you have been using for years. On Chromebooks, all of your favorite apps (Evernote, Instagram, Facebook, Robinhood, Alphabear, Houzz, Wunderlist, etc.) are going to be available and will just work. Wondering how that's going to play out? According to Google, Android apps on Chromebooks can be displayed in 3 different window sizes, users can multi-task between them in moveable windows along with the desktop Chrome browser, they gain access to keyboard, mouse, and touch input, can file share with Chrome OS, and even show notifications! In other words, you get everything you want from Android apps and then some, because you can run them while doing PC-like multi-tasking. Google showed us examples that included editing an image in the Android Photoshop app before saving it and then adding it to a document in Microsoft's Word for Android, all on a Chromebook running Chrome OS. They played games on a touch screen too. They even made mention of being surprised that Facebook Messenger's chat heads works out of the box. That means the days of you having to keep using your phone for specific apps that aren't available on your computer and your computer for everything else, are over with, assuming you own a Chromebook. So how is this going to kill the tablet? Outside of the fact that you will now have the bigger-screened software and Android experience the world was asking for, Chromebooks will kill the tablet because Chromebooks are only getting better with each passing month, yet they aren't necessarily getting any more expensive. Google has its ridiculously priced Pixel line, but you can get into a convertible Chromebook that folds flat like a tablet for under $300. Look at the Chromebook below. That's the Acer Chromebook R11, with a foldable design that turns the notebook-esque device into a touchscreen tablet when needed. It has a 11-inch multi-touch display, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, Intel Celeron processor, USB ports (both 2.0 and 3.0), SD card reader, and 9.5 hour battery life. It costs $279 and will be one of the first on the planet to get access to Google Play. Yep, I'll pause for a minute while you run off to the Google Store to buy one.

Are you starting to smell the death? Few make Android tablets these days because they are a tough sell. Android just never became a great bigger-screened operating system and failed to prove to doubters that buying a tablet running Android, was a worthy investment. With all of our favorite Android apps coming to Chromebooks that can become tablets, you will be getting the Android experience you always hoped for on a bigger screen, only it'll also be affordable. Oh, you will also never have to worry about slow updates (Google provides and applies them automatically on Chromebooks) or security issues (those are patched automatically too). The future will only get brighter too. Because Google Play has come to Chromebooks, my guess is that we'll see innovation ramp up around design (detachable displays, anyone?) and companies pushing forward with even higher-spec'd devices than the sub $300 options you see today. Chromebooks will kill the Android tablet and that's probably for the best.

Samsung Announces 10nm LPDDR4 6GB DRAM, Likely to be Used in Galaxy Note 6

Tim — Fri, 20 May 2016 09:08:03 +0000

At the Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum this week in China, Samsung unveiled its 10-nanometer LPDDR4 6GB mobile DRAM (dynamic random-access memory), which is likely to be used in the upcoming Galaxy Note 6 flagship device. Without diving into technical specifics, the upping of RAM should allow for better battery life and improved smartphone performance overall. During the forum, Samsung also spoke about its "super-fast" UFS built-in memory, Dual Pixel image sensors, improvements to AMOLED technology, lithium battery product line (smartphones, wearables, etc.), charging technologies, and wireless WiFi modules. From that list, it appears Samsung focused on smartphones the entire time, which is fine with us. Right now, there are only a few reported specs for the Galaxy Note 6 floating around, including a 5.8" AMOLED display, Snapdragon 823 processor, USB Type-C, and IP68 water resistance. Bring on the RAM, Samsung.

Via: SamMobile | huanqiu

Winners of the First Google Play Awards Include Robinhood, Houzz, Alphabear

Kellen — Fri, 20 May 2016 08:01:30 +0000

During an evening presentation at Google I/O last night, Google announced winners for their first ever Google Play Awards. After announcing a handful of apps for a handful of categories (like "Best use of Material Design" and "Best game") a few weeks back, we now know who reigns supreme in the eyes of Google's "panel of experts on the Google Play team." And the winners are:

Best app: Houzz
Best families app: Thinkrolls 2
Best game: Clash Royale
Best use of Material Design: Robinhood
Best use of Google Play Game Services: Table Tennis Touch
Early adopter: World Around Me
Go global: Pokemon Shuffle Mobile
Most innovative: NYT VR
Standout indie: Alphabear
Standout startup: Hopper

Big user of any of those apps? Houzz is certainly a wonderful app that probably deserves the win there. Robinhood is also a very well made app. I haven't used many of the others, but really would have liked to have seen Alto's Adventure snag the "best game" award.

Via: Android Developers

#TBT: Unboxing Our First Google I/O Gift, the Galaxy Tab Running Honeycomb

Tim — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:30:02 +0000

We are here at Google I/O 2016 in Mountain View, reminiscing about the fun times we have had celebrating all that is Android. We were thinking hard, remembering all of the goodies Google has given out over the years to attendees, only because it seems Google has no gifts to share with folks this year. There has been phones, tablets, Nexus Q door stops, and plenty of smartwatches. One Google I/O gift stands alone, though, and that's the first gift we received for attending Google I/O in 2011. That is the limited edition Samsung Galaxy Tab, running Android 3.0.1 Honeycomb. At the time, it was pretty bleeding edge Android tech, but now in 2016, it's seen as a cheap piece of plastic and nothing too fancy. Kellen decided to do a hands-on with the device after receiving it, showing off the differences between it and the Motorola XOOM tablet. As you will see in the video, things weren't as professional as they are these days, but it was still a blast. Take a moment to remember that the Google Talk app was a real thing, as well as that cringeworthy Honeycomb UI. Woof.

Which Chromebooks Will Get Google Play and Android Apps?

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:32:19 +0000

These. To be more specific, there are three Chromebooks that will gain access in mid-June before the rest of the field gets in on the action later this year. Here are those first three:

Acer Chromebook R11
Asus Chromebook Flip
Google Chromebook Pixel (2015)

And here are a number of the others gaining support from some of the bigger manufacturers in the business. If you aren't seeing yours, feel free to look at the list I linked at the top of this post for all supported models. ACER

Chromebook 11 C740
Chromebase 24
Chromebook 11 CB3-111 / C730 / CB3-131
Chromebook 15 CB5-571 / C910
Chromebook 15 CB3-531
Chromebox CXI2
Chromebook R11 C738T
Chromebook 14 CB3-431
Chromebook 14 for Work

ASUS

Chromebook C200
Chromebook C201
Chromebook C202SA
Chromebook C300SA
Chromebook C300
Chromebook Flip C100PA
Chromebox CN62
Chromebit CS10

DELL

Chromebook 11 3120
Chromebook 13 7310

Chromebook 11 G3 / G4 / G4 EE
Chromebook 14 G4
Chromebook 13

LENOVO

100S Chromebook
N20 / N20P Chromebook
N21 Chromebook
ThinkCentre Chromebox
ThinkPad 11e Chromebook
N22 Chromebook
Thinkpad 13 Chromebook
Thinkpad 11e Chromebook Gen 2

SAMSUNG

Chromebook 2 11" - XE500C12
Chromebook 3

TOSHIBA

Chromebook 2
Chromebook 2 (2015)

YouTube App Being Rebuilt for Daydream, Google's VR Platform

Tim — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:24:25 +0000

As announced during yesterday morning's keynote, Google is rebuilding its YouTube app, making it more enjoyable for those who plan on using the service with virtual reality. The announcement goes hand-in-hand with the unveiling of Daydream, the company's VR platform for Android devices. Once the changes are live and Daydream is available to consumers, a revamped UI will be seen, just like the own shown in the header image above. Explained by YouTube, the goal is provide an, "easier, more immersive way to find and experience virtual reality content on YouTube." The YouTube app will still feature the things you know and enjoy, such as voice search, easy discovery, as well as your playlists of videos. Once live, it will all just be tweaked to better work inside of a VR headset. Naturally, if you aren't using VR, the YouTube UI won't be changing. YouTube claims they have been working with many creators to have a ton of VR and 360-degree video content available at the time of Daydream's launch. Additionally, YouTube is collaborating with the NBA, BuzzFeed, and Tastemade to deliver all new experiences to VR users. Like everything else from Google I/O this year, expect to try it for yourself later this year in Q3.

Via: YouTube

Moto is Teasing June 9 Announcement With a Throwback to the RAZR

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:20:08 +0000

Moto and Lenovo are expected to show off new Moto phones on June 9 at Lenovo Tech World, one of which is rumored to be insanely thin at just 5.2mm thick. In the lead up to that event, Moto's Twitter account has started throwing it back to previous phones of theirs that were not only very thin, but iconic. In the video included here, you'll see Moto take us back to the days of the original RAZR flip phone, a phone that we probably all have fond memories of, though this isn't the first time that Moto(rola) has leaned on the successes of the RAZR for the launch of a new phone. Are they hinting at something here? The RAZR was indeed very thin for its time, just like the new Moto Z is supposed to be. Maybe the Z in RAZR is a hint at the Z in Moto Z too? Or maybe this is just Moto doing a #TBT on a Thursday to help us remember that this company, before it was owned by a Chinese computer company who can't figure out what to do with it, was pretty awesome. Thoughts?

Cheers Felipe and Marco!

Google Confirms That It is Making a VR Headset for Daydream

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:02:16 +0000

This morning, during the "VR at Google" session here at Google I/O, Google's VP of virtual reality, Clay Bavor, confirmed that the company is making its own VR headset. He didn't provide specifics (like name or release date), only that they are indeed working on a product that is outside of the reference design they built for other manufacturers to use. During the session, Google also showed off the Daydream controller and how it will work in a virtual environment. Unlike Samsung's Gear VR that uses a pad on the side of the head unit for interacting, Google's vision is of separate headset and handheld motion controller. In the video below, you can see just how that action might play out.

[responsive_vid]

For reference, here is an image of the reference design that Google was talking about. You can see the simple headset design next to a controller that looks a lot like something that might be built for Android TV. Or maybe you are seeing a lot of the Gear VR here, which would also make sense.

I'm certainly excited about Google's VR work, but can't help but feel a little underwhelmed at the moment. You can only get so hyped for a product that doesn't actually exist yet. And honestly, that's sort of the take away at the moment from this year's I/O - future products that we are dying to play with but can't.

Via: Google Developers

Android Apps Come to Chromebooks With Google Play Access

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 11:12:05 +0000

Google just spent a special session here at I/O, telling the press that Chrome OS and Chromebooks are gaining access to Google Play. And yep, that means Android apps running on your Chromebook. That's....a huge announcement! We're getting a preview of the news right now, so stick with this page as we continue to update it.

UPDATE: Google made the news official here. UPDATE 2: Google announced that Chromebooks topped Macs in sales to become the #2 PC OS for Q1 of this year. To help celebrate that news, they are bringing Google Play and Android apps to all of those devices (eventually). It shouldn't be difficult for developers to get their apps ready for Chromebooks. In fact, they may not have to do much, as Google says this all just runs right over the top of Chrome OS. Google Play will start hitting (mid-June) the developer channel with M53 on the ASUS Chromebook Flip, Acer Chromebook R 11, and the newest Chromebook Pixel. They'll add it to other Chromebooks too, but told us that they won't have more details for another few months. UPDATE 3: You can view the full list of Chromebooks that will get Android apps here. It's massive, in case you were wondering, and appears to include most of the modern models. The support site there only says that these will gain support "later" this year. UPDATE 4: For developers, Google is sharing details on how to get your apps ready here. UPDATE 5: Photoshop on your Chromebook thanks to the Photoshop Android app? Yep.

UPDATE 6: How does it work? Like this.

UPDATE 7: So the first developer access, again, is dev channel M53. It will be available in the next few weeks.

UPDATE 8: And, yeah, I just ordered the new Chromebook Pixel.

Poll: Biggest News so Far Out of Google I/O 2016?

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 10:13:36 +0000

Google I/O 2016 is far from over and we have much more to cover, but after the blockbuster keynote from yesterday wrapped and we took the rest of the day to digest all that was announced, we want to know what impressed you the most. Were you blown away by Google Home or Assistant? Does Daydream live up to all of your VR dreams? Are you ready to adopt Allo as your next messaging client and ditch Hangouts? Maybe you just care about the stable-enough Android N Developer Preview 3 that was released? Something else stuck out, perhaps? Let us know! [poll id="406"]

Android Auto at I/O: Coming Soon to Your Phone, Plus Waze, Hotwording, and a Concept

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 10:04:20 +0000

Google didn't mention much about Android Auto yesterday during either the keynote or through their barrage of blog posts once that wrapped, but they are sharing big changes with media and in the I/O Sandbox. The changes include a phone mode that allows you to use your phone as your Android Auto unit, incoming Waze support, and a really cool concept that is Google's vision for a full-blown in-car infotainment suite. The first bit of Auto news that is likely to impact you has to be the introduction of a phone mode, where your phone can become the Android Auto device. Another way to put that would be to consider the idea of your car no longer needing an Android Auto-capable infotainment device, since your phone is that device. Think of it as the return of the Android car app that we had so long ago, only it's Android Auto's new pretty UI. This also means that you get Android Auto's features, like "voice-enabled calling, media, messaging and navigation with a new driver-friendly interface." The Android Auto for phones will arrive as an update to the Android Auto app in the near future.

Outside of the phone news, Google announced that Waze is coming as an app/service for Android Auto within the next "few" months. According to Google, this has been the top requested feature. They are tossing in hotwording, where you can activate voice by saying "OK Google," and also bringing more apps from car manufacturers, Honda and Hyundai included. Finally, they are showing how Android Auto can be projected to screens in cars that have WiFi, something that should happen more and more in the future.

Last, but certainly not least, Google is showing off a concept infotainment system that has been setup to run inside of a Maserati. This isn't just a a stock Maserati system with Google running over the top. Instead, they custom built a system, along with Qualcomm, that includes a 15-inch 4K display to showcase it all, that shows info in 720p clusters. The concept allows Google to control everything, not just the Android Auto stuff. Thanks to the custom software and Android N, it can power a car's HVAC, AM/FM radio, digital instruments, and almost anything else your standard infotainment system would.

See, big news. I don't know why Google didn't make a bigger splash with this stuff, because the Android Auto experience is about to be tested by us all.

Google Lists More Places to Find Android TV, Changes for Android N

Tim — Thu, 19 May 2016 09:15:28 +0000

Google did not spend too much time detailing changes for the Android TV platform during its opening I/O keynote yesterday, but following the event, plenty of information was posted to the company's official blog. Not only did Google explain where potential Android TV users could find the platform in new 2016 TV and set-top hardware from various companies, but also explained a few changes we will see once Android N hits the platform. If buying a new TV with Android TV baked in sounds like the best way to get your fix, Google states that new sets from Sony (2016 BRAVIA line) and RCA will have Android TV built in. For set-top boxes, users can buy one from Sharp or Xiaomi. The Xiaomi Mi Box supports 4K at 60fps, complete with 802.11ac WiFi, Dolby Digital Plus + DTS surround sound, HDR10 and HDMI 2.0a support, and more. Additional details for the Xiaomi Mi Box can be found here. As for the changes taking place once Android N hits the platform, Google talks about 3 main focuses. Picture-in-Picture, Recording APIs, and HDR (High Dynamic Range). Picture-in-Picture will allow users to continue watching video while browsing for new content to enjoy, Recording APIs allows the recording of live TV, and HDR enhances the 4K UHD viewing experience on many TV sets. We won't have Android N on Android TV until Google releases it, which will be sometime in Q3.

Via: Android

Android Instant Apps Let You Run Apps Without Installing Them

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 07:49:23 +0000

One of the most fascinating announcements to come out of yesterday's Google I/O keynote came during the end of the 2-hour long presentation that had already rattled off news of Google Home, Assistant, Allo, Android Wear 2.0, and a new Daydream VR platform. The idea was not expected and certainly wowed a few in the crowd. I'm talking about Android Instant Apps, of course, a new project that Google is working that allows you and I to use an app without having to first install it. The thought here is that getting access to an app should be as fast as finding and loading up a web page. Instead of doing a Google search, finding the information you want in an app, tapping on it to then install it, waiting for that to complete, and then moving on to your content, Google just wants you to be able to tap, load up the content you were looking for within the app, and be on to the next task. How does that work, you ask? Google says that developers are going to have to "modularize" their apps, so that when you and I come hunting for info and it's available in an app, Google Play can quickly load it up on our phones by only pulling in the "parts that are needed." So as you tap on an app in Google Search, the app loads and looks like the app needed, but it's not the full experience. You would still need to download and install the app to get that. Instant Apps allow you to do plenty of things, like shopping for items with full checkout experiences and Android Pay, or paying for parking through a parking app that you never intend to install.

Google is rolling this idea out slowly and only working with select developers at this time, developers like Buzzfeed, B&H Photo, Medium, Hotel Tonight, and Disney. They did say that many developers could have their apps ready for Instant Apps within about a day, though, so converting it into this modular concept may not be all that difficult. We should expect to see Instant Apps access later this year.

Via: Android Developers

Even With Allo on the Way, Google Says Hangouts Won't Go Anywhere

Kellen — Thu, 19 May 2016 07:25:44 +0000

Google may have surprised many with yesterday's introduction of Allo, a WhatsApp-like messaging client, but I think it's safe to assume that a number of us quickly went from, "This looks like a great app!" to "But wait, what happens to Hangouts?" According to Google, Hangouts isn't going anywhere for the time being. A spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that Google will "continuing to invest in Hangouts and it will remain a standalone product." While Allo has the potential to confuse those trying to figure out which messaging app of Google's they should use (let's not forget about Messenger either), it does make sense for Hangouts to live on. After all, Allo only requires that you have a phone number, not a Google account. On the flip side, with Hangouts, you still have a messaging platform that is deeply embedded in Google products because it does require a Google connection. Allo is very much a stand-alone client that has Google built inside of it. That make sense? So have no fear, Hangouts isn't dying...yet.

Via: Business Insider

Android Wear 2.0, Biggest Update for the Platform Yet

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 16:54:31 +0000

According to Google, Android Wear 2.0 is the "most significant Android Wear update" since the platform launched about two years ago. That's a bold statement, even for Google. Available later this year in the fall season for everyone, Android Wear 2.0 includes standalone apps that access the web without the help of a smartphone, UI changes to make interactions with a smartwatch better, handwriting input methods, a new Complications API for developers, as well as big changes for the Google Fit platform. For UI changes, Google has redesigned its app launcher and notifications, making the launching of apps on Android Wear much more timely. The system UI also adopts a dark color palette and makes better use of round displays, which is a bonus for owners of the Huawei Watch, Moto 360, and Watch Urbane models. Google also baked in a new handwriting input method, which allows users to essentially draw whatever they want typed, instead of having to speak everything to the smartwatch. The Complications API for Android Wear 2.0 allows any app to add data directly to a watch face that allows for the API. For example, if you use a 3rd-party watch face, and also have an Android Wear app that shows sports score, you can add a complication to your watch face that shows those sports scores. That's just an example, though. A complication could be added for weather, stocks, or anything else. For Google Fit, improvements for the platform make it easier for apps to collect and use fitness data, as well as detect ongoing activity. Developers will also find it easier for their apps to get consistent daily step counts on Android Wear. Thanks to the changes, apps will better detect when a user starts walking, running, or biking. If you are the type who does not care for waiting until the fall, a developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 has been made available for two devices - the Huawei Watch and LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition. Just like flashing an image to a Nexus phone, the process is very straightforward if your computer is already setup with adb good to go. You can download the necessary images right here. Exciting, right?

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Via: Android Developers

Google Play Beta Tests Will Soon be Easier Than Ever to Join

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 16:46:37 +0000

Joining a group to a beta version of an app on Android hasn't exactly been the simplest of tasks. It typically involves finding out or knowing about a Google+ group or Google Group that hosts the beta, then clicking through a special link in that group to opt-in to testing, before moving onto Google Play to get the beta installed. See what I mean? Thankfully, those days of jumping through hoops to get involved in a public beta will be in the past. During Google I/O, Google announced that beta tests will become easier to find and participate in because they will start showing up in Google Play search results, assuming they are open and not in production. Through the beta listing, you will be able to opt-in and also send developers private feedback. This new beta setup has already appeared briefly in Google Play, so it may happen more broadly within the coming days or weeks. Either way, joining beta tests should be easier than ever.

Via: Google Developers

In July, Google Will Introduce Family Library for Sharing Paid Apps

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 16:32:42 +0000

At the bottom of today's post from Google on the new features coming soon to Google Play, there is a brief reference to a change that will allow family members to share paid apps. Why Google didn't think this major change was worthy of a bigger announcement is beyond me, so we're going to take a minute to make sure you know about it. On July 2, every app you buy will (by default unless the developer decides not to participate) become a part of your family group, which means everyone in that group can share use of that paid for app. In other words, your family will only have to buy certain apps one time for all to use. That's pretty cool, right? Through a Google Support page talking about the upcoming change and in the new developer distribution agreement, we are starting to get an understanding of exactly how this will work. According to Google, developers can opt-in to family sharing with the tick of a box, but do not have to. If they do, though, the change is permanent and can't be taken back. They are also recommending that developers allow previous purchases of apps made prior to July 2 be included in family sharing. The new developer distribution agreement makes note of exclusions for sharing, which include in-app purchases and subscriptions. However, straight up app purchases can be shared at "reasonable limits designed to prevent abuse." Now, it's up to developers to decide if they want to participate.

Via: Google Developers | Google Support | DDA

Bank of America Announces Android Pay Support for Withdrawing Cash at ATMs

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 15:31:35 +0000

During one of Google I/O's many Android Pay sessions, Bank of America took the stage to announce that they are now supporting Google's mobile payment service at their cardless ATMs. That means you can use Android Pay, assuming it is loaded up with your Bank of America card, to withdraw cash. BofA says that they expect to expand the cardless technology to 5,000 ATMs by the end of the year, but not before they push out an initial 2,400 across the country. They also will equip the "majority" of ATMs in the San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley areas with the technology. But not only can you withdraw cash using Android Pay and your phone, you can check balances and make transfers as well. All of this is a first for any bank in the US. The future is here.

Bank of America Cardless ATM Technology Featured at Google IO Conference

Bank Expands Cardless ATM Technology to 5,000 ATMs Nationwide in 2016
SAN FRANCISCO – At the Google IO conference in Mountain View today, Michelle Moore, Head of Digital Banking at Bank of America, was on stage with Pali Bhat, Senior Director of Android Pay to demonstrate that the Bank of America cardless ATM technology now supports Android Pay. The bank also announced plans to expand cardless technology to 5,000 ATMs by year-end starting this month with a roll out to 2,400 ATMs across the country, including the majority of ATMs in the San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley areas. Bank of America becomes the first bank to begin a broad roll out of the technology, which lets customers withdraw cash, make transfers and check balances using a digital wallet stored on their smartphones. Earlier this year, the bank rolled out the feature to select ATMs in Boston, Charlotte, New York City, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. “Consumers are increasingly using their mobile devices to manage their daily lives, and we’re committed to delivering solutions that give them convenient and secure options when it comes to managing their money,” said Moore. “Now in addition to using digital wallets for purchases, customers can use them to get cash at the ATM.” Cardless ATMs allow customers to access most features of Bank of America’s ATMs. Customers can identify cardless-enabled ATMs by the contactless symbol near the card reader. When ready to perform a transaction, the customer will select their Bank of America debit card in their digital wallet and hold their device over the ATM’s contactless card reader to activate the ATM. Then they follow the normal process to enter their PIN, select their account and initiate a withdrawal, transfer, or balance inquiry. The cardless ATMs support mobile wallets that are enabled with near field communications and loaded with a Bank of America debit card. Cardless ATMs are one more example of the ongoing shift to mobile. Twenty million Bank of America customers now actively use the bank’s mobile banking app. During the first quarter of 2016, the number of new Bank of America accounts opened through mobile increased by 50 percent year-over-year. More information about cardless ATMs is available here.
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HTC Confirms Android N Update for One A9, M9, and 10

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:51:15 +0000

No shock here, HTC confirmed on Twitter today that Android N will be made available to owners of the One A9, One M9, and HTC 10. According to HTC, delivery date of the Android N update will depend on when Google actually delivers Android N to manufacturers, and of course, carriers go through their testing/certification phase. Because of those reasons, HTC is not able to provide a timeframe for updates, but realistically, owners should hope to see it within three months of release from Google. While this news is great for owners of the aforementioned devices, HTC also confirmed via Twitter that Android N will not available for the One M7 or One M8. That should not be too shocking to anyone, but if it is, that means it's time for you to buy a new smartphone.

Life is about to get a little sweeter. Android N will be coming to the HTC 10, HTC One A9 and the HTC One M9. pic.twitter.com/dj9fcZHNnH
— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) May 18, 2016

Daydream is Google's Virtual Reality Platform for Android Devices

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:24:56 +0000

Previously expected to be called Android VR, Google announced Daydream at Google I/O this morning, its virtual reality platform for Android devices. To clarify, Google already had a feature inside of the Android OS called Daydream; It was basically a screen saver that was displayed when devices would sit idle. Now, the Daydream name represents Google's stronger commitment into VR for mobile devices. Daydream has a few branches that you will hear more about over the next few months. For Android smartphones, specifically ones running Android N, a VR Mode has been built into the OS. This mode optimizes the device's performance, since VR can be quite the processing hog. Additionally, it must be noted that Google has yet to announce any competitor hardware to Samsung's Gear VR, but has released a reference design for a VR headset and handheld controller device. This reference material can be used by 3rd parties to create actual hardware for Daydream. Daydream also brings a recreated Google Play, specially made for virtual reality. Like pretty much everything else Google announced today, we won't have much hands-on with Daydream until later this year, sometime around the fall season.

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Via: Google

Download: 4 New Wallpapers From Android N Preview 3

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:19:24 +0000

Want more goodies that we found inside the Android N Developer Preview 3? How about four new wallpapers? Yes, I know you want them because Google's wallpapers are almost always pretty great. The four included are the classic aerial shots of coasts and various water bodies. I've included previews of each below, but you'll want to download the .zip file that includes the full resolution papers (2880x2560). Enjoy! Download Link | Alt Link

Download: Google Keyboard 5.1 Arrives in Android N DP3 With Themes!

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 13:59:59 +0000

Buried inside the the new Android N Developer Preview 3 is the new Google Keyboard 5.1, a slight bump in version number from the recent v5.0 that rolled out a few weeks back. We weren't exactly expecting a bunch of new features this soon after the big 5.0 push, but one in particular should bring customizers some joy - themes and custom keyboards! If you install and open the new Google Keyboard, you will now find a section called "Themes" where Google not only included a handful of new colorful layouts, but there is an option that allows you to create a custom keyboard back with your own image. You can see the new section in the images below. For those curious, we were able to install v5.1 on a Galaxy S7 and HTC 10, and both seem to work, including the new themes section. Give it a shot! Download Link (v5.1.07)

Google Introduces Messaging App Allo, New Video Chat App Duo

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 13:23:43 +0000

In an announcement no one saw coming today at Google I/O, Google went ahead and unveiled two new apps, one for messaging and another for video chatting. The apps are called Allo and Duo, respectively. Unfortunately, Google was just previewing the apps today and hasn't made them available, but they did talk plenty about them. This is what you need to know.

Allo

Allo is an app that Google is calling a "smart" messaging app that is tied to your phone number (sort of like WhatsApp). Because it's tied to your phone number, hopefully it becomes easier for you to convince other people to use it, since it will also just be tied to their phone number. Or as Google puts it, this idea lets you easily get in touch with the people in your phonebook (and probably send them an invite to use Allo). With Allo, you get a mostly standard messaging client, but it tries to learn from you over time to show suggestions that allow you to have conversations without typing. It learns if you are a "haha" or "lol" person, can suggest responses based off of photos being shared (yep, it does photos too), and brings the power of the new Google Assistant.

By using Google Assistant, Allo brings you Google inside of your app (Think the iOS-only Gboard but better!). That means you can chat with the new Assistant and get things done without leaving your chat app. You can book dinner reservations, edit photos, get sports scores, play games, use Search/Maps/YouTube/Translate, check your calendar, see flight information, photos from your last trip, and more. You can ask the assistant (by typing @google) if your flight is delayed or what the weather is like, find soccer highlights, etc., all within Allo. You can even setup an incognito conversation to allow Allo to encrypt your chat. Pretty sweet, right?

Duo

As for Duo, this is Google's new one-on-one video chatting app that is supposedly really fast. Google says that this should work flawlessly across both slow and fast connections, which means you can video chat at all times if you want, from anywhere. The app has a Knock Knock feature that shows you who is calling on video before you answer, displays video chats in 720p (HD), and sports end-to-end encryption.

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Both apps are now live on Google Play for pre-registration. As I mentioned earlier, they won't be available until "this summer." Play Links: Allo | Duo

Via: Google

Google Assistant is a More Personalized Google Search Experience

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:58:24 +0000

Google is essentially rebranding Google Now and the overall Google Search experience for individual users, announcing Google Assistant at this year's Google I/O developer conference. Unlike the 1-way conversations we have with Google right now, Assistant is a 2-way conversation between you and Google. Contextually aware, Assistant builds on the progress Google has already made to make Search smarter. As an example for Assistant, a user could search for SF Giants, then be met with all of the information they need regarding that baseball team. Once complete, suggestions will be shown for the SF Giants, such as roster, ticket sales, and more. From here, Assistant knows that you want information pertaining to the SF Giants, so it will recommend other detailed Giants information from the web, YouTube, and other sources. The same can be done for a movie that is in theaters, or other events taking place. As previously announced, Assistant won't only be for mobile devices. It is also being built into Google Home, meaning you will have your personalized Google Assistant wherever you are. According to Google, "The assistant is an ambient experience that will work seamlessly across devices and contexts. So you can summon Google’s help no matter where you are or what the context. It builds on all our years of investment in deeply understanding users' questions." Since Google Assistant is merely an update to an already existing platform, don't look for any new "Assistant" app to hit Google Play. Instead, look for it in Google Home, as well as Google's new social apps like Allo and Duo. Those apps release this summer. You can also expect Assistant to hit the existing Google app sometime in the future.

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Via: Google

Google is Letting You Help Name Android N

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:30:25 +0000

What's Android N going to be called? You know the question has be burning through your brain since the first preview arrived a couple of months ago. Google has teased options. We have taken guesses. But we still don't know, even after today's I/O keynote. Well, Google is going to let you do something about it. During today's keynote, Google announced that they are letting the people help decide what Android N should be called because they are struggling (or just want to include you in the fun). Seriously, they even have a website already setup for you to start submitting options. Go here and let Google know what you think Android N should be!

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Google Home is Official, Powered by Google Assistant, Available Later This Year

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:27:10 +0000

During the keynote of Google I/O this morning, Google Home was made official. Set to be a real competitor to the Amazon Echo, Google Home is powered by Google Assistant, the new AI-based software that helps users complete tasks. Much like Echo, a user will speak to Google Home, which will get it to relay information from the web, playback music thanks to a built-in speaker, tracks your packages, make and change dining reservations, and even go over calendar events you have linked to your Google account. Additionally, Google Home can be linked to other smart features in your home, such as speakers, HDTVs, thermostats, and more. Google has opened up a sign-up of sorts, which is really just an email list to be informed of when Home is available. You can sign-up here. At this time, Google has not provided an official release date or pricing. What's your take on Home? Will it dominate Amazon Echo?

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Here's What's New in Android N as of Google I/O

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:21:04 +0000

Curious as to what's all new in Android N as of today? As has been the case the past couple of years, Google tossed up a slide during the I/O keynote with new features in the shape of the newest version of Android to give us a good look. Sure, a lot of this stuff we already knew about thanks to two developer previews before today's release, but it's still nice to see it all in one place. See anything extra interesting?

Android N Preview 3 Gets Semi-Stable "Beta" Release, Available Now

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 12:13:00 +0000

The massive Google I/O 2016 keynote just wrapped and that means it's time to start talking about what's new. Since you are all obsessed with new versions of Android, we thought we should first start with the fact that Android N Developer Preview 3 is now available. Google is also saying that this version should be stable enough for you to use on a daily device. And Android Pay works! That's huge news! The update is rolling out as version NPD35K and is already popping up on devices who are a part of the Android Beta program. In fact, during the show, I was able to pull the update onto my Nexus 6. So if you are enrolled, be sure to check in Settings>About. The update is available for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. This new version includes Android VR, along with a sustained performance mode and a bunch of other behind-the-scenes items. The full release notes can be found here. If you don't want to go that route, you can grab the factory images here or the OTA .zip files here.

Fitbit Acquires Coin's Wearable Payments Platform, Will be Used in Future Products

Tim — Wed, 18 May 2016 08:23:40 +0000

This morning, Fitbit announced its acquisition of the wearable payments platform from Coin, the payments startup that released a universal credit card replacement. According to Fitbit and Coin, the acquisition will include, "key personnel and intellectual property specific to Coin’s wearables payment platform." Undoubtedly, Fitbit will use this purchase to create wearable devices that feature Coin's technology, allowing users to not only track their steps, but to make purchases at supported retailers. As reported by Engadget, Fitbit previously mentioned that there are no plans to release such a device in 2016, but the door has been left wide open for a release in 2017. Detailed in the press releases, this deal excludes the Coin 2.0 credit card hardware. Mentioned by Coin, your Coin card will still work (until the internal battery dies in 2 years), but the company will no longer sell the device, although, they are holding onto inventory for warranty replacement purposes. Furthermore, Coin Rewards and the Coin Developer Program are being retired with this announcement.

Via: Engadget | Coin | Fitbit

Google Releases Google Play Developer Console App to Help With App Management

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 08:22:47 +0000

Google I/O hasn't started yet, but you can bet that Google will talk about the release of a new app designed specifically for developers with apps on Google Play. It's the Google Play Developer Console app! Yep, no more logging into the developer console via the web and attempting to manage your apps. With this app, you can do quite a bit of management of your apps from within an app. How fun. While I'm no developer, the screenshots and included video for the new Developer Console app show options for checking performance statistics and financial data, and to see app status, publish changes, and even read and reply to user reviews. If you have apps on Google Play, this is probably an app you should install. Play Link

Samsung Pay Adds Reward and Membership Card Support in US

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 07:48:49 +0000

Samsung, because Google is about to have a hell of a day at I/O, dropped its own bit of news this morning related to Samsung Pay, its widely accepted mobile payment solution. Starting today, Samsung Pay now accepts users' reward and membership cards, helping save money and accrue points all within a single payment app. The support for rewards and membership cards lets you add everything from gym and drug store cards to those from your favorite retailers. Samsung says that you can even add insurance or personal identification cards, just for "safe keeping." To use rewards cards, once you have added them, you should be able to tap on one from within the app, then hover your phone (with the card up) over the store's scanner. That's it. Samsung isn't mentioning if this is limited to select retailers or gyms or drug stores, so you should be able to add almost anything. Give it a shot and let us know.

Via: Samsung

Google I/O 2016 Keynote Live Chat!

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:54:35 +0000

We are back at Google I/O once again, this time to cover the 2016 "developer festival" that Google is putting on in their own backyard at the Shoreline Amphitheater. This isn't the typical I/O setup, so don't expect this to be in any way like previous years - it should be much bigger, much louder, and potentially have more news than ever. To kick things off, we have today's opening keynote which starts promptly at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). This is a 2-hour keynote that should feature everything from Android N updates to VR, Project Tango, and Chrome OS. We will be on the grounds after that wraps with proper event coverage. But for now, you'll find an embed of the keynote in both regular form and 360-form, should you want to dive into this whole deal virtually. Join us soon! [responsive_vid vid_url="862r3XS2YB0"] [responsive_vid vid_url="lFm4s50PnmY"]

Android Pay Arrives in the UK, Coming to Singapore and Australia "Soon"

Kellen — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:11:47 +0000

This morning, only hours before Google I/O kicks off, the Android team announced that Android Pay is now available in the UK. That news might not sound surprising after the Android Twitter account jumped the gun a bit yesterday, but the news is 100% official. Google says that currently supported banks include Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, and Nationwide Building Society. Of course, more will be added all of the time. UK users should be able to pay at all sorts of locations, as long as they feature contact-less payment terminals. Also, be on the lookout for regular promotions from Google and some of their early partners, like Starbucks. In related news, Google announced that Android Pay will arrive in Australia and Singapore "soon." They didn't share any other details, but if they are name-dropping those two specifically, I would imagine it won't be long before users in those countries have access. If you are in the UK, grab Android Pay at the link below! Play Link

Via: Android Blog

Report: Project Chirp, Google's Amazon Echo Competitor, to be Called Google Home

Tim — Tue, 17 May 2016 15:50:58 +0000

On the eve of Google I/O, details are emerging regarding Google's Project Chirp. If you have missed the previous reports, Project Chirp (otherwise known simply as Chirp), is the Amazon Echo competitor device that Google is working on, said to be powered by Google Now and other Google technologies. According to the latest report from the New York Times, Chirp will be officially called Google Home, set to be unveiled during Google's keynote address tomorrow morning in Mountain View, CA. Detailed in the report, Google Home will do essentially everything Echo can do, which is answer simple questions using the web, as well as possibly connect to other smart devices in your home. That's the goal, at least. Not too many tidbits on operation were given, but considering we are potentially less than 24 hours away from unveiling, we will know everything soon enough. According to the source of the New York Times, Google Home will not be available for purchase until this fall, but with an unveiling during Google I/O, you can expect that Google is looking to bolster app integration and support for 3rd-party systems by the time launch comes around. The Echo from Amazon has had nearly two years to build on the platform, so Google has a bit of catching up to do. Let's see a show of hands for who is anticipating the announcement of Google Home.

Via: The New York Times

Hugo Barra Teases Xiaomi Mi Android TV Reveal for Google I/O?

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 15:35:14 +0000

Hugo Barra, former master presenter of Android at Google who now overseas the fun happening with Xiaomi, teased a couple of interesting bits of Google I/O related material this week, prompting those of us in this tech sphere to wonder if Xiaomi has co-developed a product with Google to be announced tomorrow. You can see the tweets below that prompted the speculation, both of which appear to show something gaming and TV focused. See them? First we have a gamepad combo and then we a volume up switch that could be sitting below a power button for a remote, next to the shape of the device? Maybe? Your vision may come up with something different, but that's what I'm seeing. Barra did say specifically that they "will be a part" of Google I/O, so this isn't him just running with the hype and teasing a product that will launch outside of I/O. Xiaomi is also no stranger to TV-like products. They currently sell a stand-alone TV along with a TV box, like a Nexus Player or Fire TV. Could this be a new Nexus Player with extra gaming capabilities? Maybe it's just a new Mi product that has official Android support? I don't know, but I'm excited. https://twitter.com/hbarra/status/732646980267057152 https://twitter.com/hbarra/status/732494672174551040

Question of the Day: What are You Hoping to See at Google I/O Tomorrow?

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 13:06:15 +0000

So, umm, Google I/O starts tomorrow. You didn't forget did you? If so, be sure to read our quick preview, as it dives into the latest rumors and also includes predictions on what we may or may not see. Since we are on the eve of the magic that is I/O, we thought we would give you one last chance to weigh in with thoughts everything before it becomes official. Let's talk about what we want to see the most, which sessions have grabbed our attention, and how awesome Matias' outfit is going to look on stage at an amphitheater. Ready? Go!

Starz App Updated to Support Android TV

Tim — Tue, 17 May 2016 13:00:08 +0000

The Starz app, available on Google Play, has been updated to support Android TV devices. This support includes set-top boxes, like the NVIDIA SHIELD and Nexus Player, as well as HDTV sets that have Android TV baked in. Based on a subscription model, like many other channels, users pay $8.99/month for access to Starz's programming, which includes Outlander, The Girlfriend Experience, and Power. With a subscription, up to four viewers can watch content simultaneously, as well as download titles for offline viewing. However, if a user already pays for Starz via their cable TV provider, simply use your existing credentials to log into the Starz application for easy access. For anyone subscribed to the Starz sister sites, Starz Encore or MoviePlex, use the official Starz app for the one-stop shop streaming experience. The newly added Android TV support is available in the latest update, downloadable now on Google Play. As a programming note, you can expect to see a few posts like this over the week, thanks to Google I/O taking place. Play Link

Via: Starz

Report: Moto X Line to be Replaced by New Moto Z Phones

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 12:39:31 +0000

According to a report out of Venturebeat, the Moto X line may have been unceremoniously retired by Lenovo in favor of a new Moto line dubbed Moto Z. This news comes on the heels of Lenovo announcing new Moto G phones that may show up later this summer in the US and just before Lenovo shows off new Moto products at its Tech World conference in early June. Today's report claims that unpublished marketing materials have revealed the new branding, which also might shift the DROID line at Verizon into Moto Z branding. Let's talk about what we are being told today. The Moto X line is dead and the Moto Z line is taking over. The two Motorola phones under codenames Vector Thin and Vertex, whose details were leaked last week, will arrive publicly as the Moto Z Style and Moto Z Play, respectively. Those names certainly match up to last year's Moto X Pure Edition, which was more widely presented as Moto X Style outside of the US. Its counterpart, as you may recall, was the Moto X Play. As for the DROID line, Verizon and Moto may end up ditching the Turbo and MAXX lines in favor of this Moto Z branding, only they'll be dubbed "DROID Edition." So we could have a Moto Z Style "DROID Edition" and Moto Z Play "DROID Edition." That's ridiculous, but then again, these are DROID phones we're talking about. Finally, we have additional information on the modular aspect to all of these phones. According to today's report, the individual modules may end up being sold as MotoMods instead of Amps, which was previously rumored. So much re-branding. I hope you know what you are doing, Lenovo.

Via: Venturebeat

This is the OnePlus 3, a Mix of HTC One M9 and iPhone

Tim — Tue, 17 May 2016 11:09:57 +0000

Thanks to Evan Blass, this is likely our first good look at the upcoming OnePlus 3 from OnePlus. As you will see, the phone appears to be the perfect blending of a One M9 from HTC and an iPhone from Apple. It's not that this is a bad thing, or that we're calling OnePlus out, it's just happens to be the best way to describe what the phone looks like, in our opinion. According to Evan, at least one of the specs we reported on yesterday in our rumor roundup is correct, which is the AMOLED display. The only other spec listed by Evan is a 3,000mAh battery, which does not align with the previously reported 3,500mAh battery size. Other specs we are expecting, thanks to previous leaks, are a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB and 6GB RAM models, 16MP rear-facing camera, and Android 6.0.1. Looking over this render, I would say that the OnePlus 3 looks pretty good. On the lefthand side, we have the notification toggle, just as it is on the OnePlus 2. There is a front-facing fingerprint reader, volume rocker on the left side, power button on the right side, USB Type-C, single bottom-facing speaker, and 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the phone. We still don't have a date from OnePlus for when to expect a launch, but we're getting close. Thoughts on the render?

Via: @evleaks

T-Mobile Ups Binge On Services With Google Play Music, TIDAL, Spotify

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 11:02:42 +0000

T-Mobile announced today that its Binge On video service now supports over 80 streaming platforms, thanks to the addition of a new wave. New video-only services include NBC, Univision, and Qello Concerts, but T-Mobile has also added in music services that happen to show videos. Services like Google Play Music, Radio Disney, Spotify, and TIDAL all have videos within their apps and so it only makes sense that Binge On add them to help ease data concerns of T-Mobile customers. This is the 5th amping of Binge On since its launch, which means there are few video services left that aren't a part of the throttling fun. If you want to ~~help reduce the network strain on T-Mobile~~ reduce the amount of data your video watching takes up, Binge On should get you there. The full list of today's additions is:

Google Play Music
Great Big Story
NBC
Kiswe
Ligonier Ministries
NOGGIN
Qello Concerts
Radio Disney
Univision
Univision Noticias
Spotify
TIDAL
Toon Goggles

Via: T-Mobile

AT&T Galaxy S6 is Getting Its Marshmallow Update (Updated: Edge Too)

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 09:04:36 +0000

Galaxy S6 owners who are stuck with AT&T, your Marshmallow update is incoming. In fact, you may be able to pull it right now. A number of owners of the phone over at reddit have been downloading and updates their Galaxy S6s all morning, so you may want to take a look. The update supposedly weighs in at about 1.5GB and software version "PD6." I wish I could tell you more, but AT&T has all but abandoned their individual device support pages these days and has yet to update with Marshmallow info for the Galaxy S6. Feel free to keep checking ~~here~~ for the latest. To check for the update, which should be Android 6.0.1, head into Settings>About device>Software update>Check for updates. Anyone seeing it?

UPDATE: AT&T switched gears and posted up the details over at their forums, because, yeah. The good news there is that the Galaxy S6 Edge is also receiving the update. The details are as follows. Changes

Android OS 6.0 Marshmallow
Adds Video Calling
Removes Keeper, AT&T Live, FB Messenger
Adds Amazon to full preload
Moves AT&T Mail and YP Mobile to a Virtual Preload

Galaxy S6

Android version: 6.0.1
Android security patch level: May 1, 2016
Baseband version: G920AUCU3CPD6
Kernel Version: 3.10.61-7368506 dpi@SWHD7308
Build Number: MMB29K.G920AUCU3CPD6
File size: 1.45GB

Galaxy S6 Edge

Android version: 6.0.1
Android security patch level: May 1, 2016
Baseband version: G925AUCU3CPD6
Kernel Version: 3.10.61-7368506 dpi@SWHC3508
Build Number: MMB29K.G920AUCU3CPD6
Security Enhancements for Android: Enforcing SEPF_SECMOBILE_6.0.1_0006 Fri Apr 29 16:08:59 2016
File size: 1.45GB

Via: reddit

Cheers Red5!

WatchESPN Streaming Hits Android TV Through ESPN App

Tim — Tue, 17 May 2016 08:51:26 +0000

Those interested in shooting balls through hoops, shooting pucks into nets, hitting balls over fences, kicking balls into nets, or watching James Harden reinvent the pratfall, access to WatchESPN has been added to the official ESPN application for Android TV. To watch the action, users will need the ESPN app installed, available on all Android TV models, and will also come shipped on all new Nexus Players, according to ESPN. Bundled into the new offering, ESPN will also provide access to short-form video clips, as well as ESPN Classic on-demand content for streaming. As stated by ESPN, "Delivering our content seamlessly within this app-like user interface on Android TV embraces a growing trend in consumer behavior and consumption habits." To have access to all of the videos, a user will need a paid TV subscription from pretty much any cable provider in the US. That also includes satellite TV. If you pay for TV at home, it's likely that you have ESPN, so to use the ESPN app, simply log into your TV account via the ESPN app and then you are all set for sports watching. How about them OKC Thunder, yeah? Play Link

Via: ESPN

Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and Moto G Play Specs (Official)

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 06:49:17 +0000

Looking for the full specs for the new Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and Moto G4 Play? Here they are. Now that Motorola has re-opened their website with all of the details, we've laid out each in the table below to help you compare the new Moto G family. As we mentioned in our initial write-up, the Moto G4 Plus is the higher-end of the three, while the the Moto G4 Play falls somewhere around Moto E territory. But thanks to the full specs lists, we now know that we are dealing with Snapdragon 617 and 410 processors, that the G4 Play only has a 720p display, and that you may get up to 4GB RAM and 64GB storage on the G4 Plus. Have at 'em! [table id=32 /]

Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and Moto G4 Play All Announced, Coming Soon to North America

Kellen — Tue, 17 May 2016 06:27:13 +0000

Moto and Lenovo unwrapped a new Moto G family this morning in India and Brazil, a family that includes three phones, not two. Please welcome in the Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and Moto G4 Play, three phones that should match up to the world's "unique" people who all "use their phones differently." The Moto G4 (or Moto G 4th gen) sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display (1080p), 13MP camera, 3000mAh battery, Snapdragon 617 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB internal storage with SD support, and charges quickly when needed with TurboPower. Like previous generations, this new Moto G also has interchangeable shells, so that you can customize the look and make it yours. The Moto G4 Plus is the exact same phone as the Moto G4, only with a handful of addition features that might make it slightly more appealing. You still have the 5.5-inch FHD display and 3000mAh battery with Turbo charging, but Moto also tossed in a 16MP camera with laser and phase detect autofocus. Moto used DxOMark to either test or optimize their camera, so DxOMark says that this camera is among the best and tops the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. And finally, the Moto G4 Plus has a fingerprint reader as well, but can be found with 64GB internal storage and 4GB RAM, along with the 2GB version. On the lower end, we have the Moto G4 Play, a phone with a "reliable" Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 5-inch 720p display, and 2800mAh battery. Motorola's press release isn't saying, but my guess is that this is more like a new Moto E than a true Moto G. You can find full Moto G4 specs here. The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus arrive in Brazil starting today, while the Moto G Plus, by itself, hits India. Moto says to expect both of these phones to show up in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific before long. The Moto G Play arrives this summer. UPDATE: Motorola is now saying to not expect the Moto G4 or Moto G4 Plus until "mid-Summer."

Moto G4

Moto G Plus

Moto G Play

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Via: Moto

WATCH: Moto G (4th Gen) Unveiling Live Stream! (2:30AM Pacific, 5:30AM Eastern)

Kellen — Mon, 16 May 2016 15:27:26 +0000

At 2:30AM Pacific (5:30AM Eastern), Moto~~rola~~ will unveil new products during an event in India, products that we assume will include at least one Moto G (4th gen) variant. While there is no guarantee that tonight's event is for the Moto G, Moto's India arm has been teasing a phone for weeks upon weeks now with a mostly cheesy Twitter campaign based around the hashtag #MissingOut that hypes a phone with a better camera, battery life, performance, and security. Is it the new Moto G? I can't imagine what else it would be. For some reason, Moto has decided to make a big deal about the upcoming Moto G (4th gen) in India alone while ignoring the rest of the world that cares about the Moto G line. We are fully expecting the new Moto G to be sold here (and elsewhere) after it's made official, thanks to an FCC listing that shows a model primed for our GSM networks, but it feels like we are missing out on the splashy launch of the next version of Moto's most successful of all time. Maybe that's Moto's intent. Either way, the fun happens tonight and we'll be ready to share it all with you once Moto gives us the goods. To learn the latest on the Moto G (4th gen) saga, hit up this post from earlier.

Sign Up to Field Test Pokémon GO in the US

Tim — Mon, 16 May 2016 15:18:57 +0000

The Pokémon GO launch for the US is right around the corner, but before that can happen, the game must be field tested. Sure to be a hit game across the globe, Niantic Labs needs willing testers out in the field to put features through the paces, and if you play your cards right, that could be you. Much like Ingress, the other uber-popular title from Niantic Labs, players will trot around their neighborhoods, but instead of capturing portals, you capture Pokémon. The overall objective, at least from what we can tell, is to become the biggest and baddest Pokémon trainer in your area. There are Gyms to train and battle your Pokémon, as well as different Poké Balls to capture new creatures. Signing up is very easy. All you need is a working Gmail address, know which mobile OS you use (Android or iOS), and optionally, provide your Ingress agent name. Once complete, you are done. Niantic shed no light onto how they are selecting volunteers, but fingers crossed they select a lot of people. Full disclosure, yes, I signed up. If testing isn't your thing, once the game is available for all on Google Play, we will inform you. Sign up by following the link below. Sign-up Here

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Via: Pokémon

Twitter May Soon Stop Counting Links and Images Against Your 140 Character Limit

Tim — Mon, 16 May 2016 13:33:21 +0000

According to a source familiar with Twitter's upcoming plan who spoke with Bloomberg, the company will soon stop counting links to the web and images against your 140-character tweet limit. For the longest time, Twitter has counted any added links and photos against your limit, leaving less room for actual words. In a change that could happen within the next couple of weeks, folks may soon see more words, links, and photos. As of right now, when a link is added or a photo is embedded into a tweet, it takes up 24 characters. If multiple links are required in a tweet, that's an additional 24 characters for each link. However, if adding multiple images (up to four), only the first 24 characters are counted and the photos are assembled into the same album with a single link. With that being said, the process has gotten better over the years, but if Twitter does change how images and links are counted, you should begin to see more words with tweets that are accompanied by images and links. According to Bloomberg, Twitter even contemplated lifting the character limit to 10,000, but apparently, that wasn't seen as a good idea. Limiting a tweet's size is one of the main reasons people flock to Twitter. Topics and headlines are easily digestible in 140 characters, so here's hoping that the 140 character limit never vanishes. In the comments, feel free to express how much you hate Twitter and all social media. We know you will.

Via: Bloomberg

Google Spaces Now Available on Android and the Web

Kellen — Mon, 16 May 2016 13:25:04 +0000

Google Spaces, the new group sharing app from Google that seems to be an app created specifically for Google I/O sessions later in the week and maybe not much more, is now live for all to use or...look at! The app can be downloaded on Android or experienced via the web in all of its Material Design glory. I've been jumping around in the app for a few minutes now and am not sure that I, personally, have much use for it. These types of group sharing like apps are probably great within bigger organizations or fraternities or something, not a 2-man shop like DL. Also, if I were to use this with friends and family, well, it would be a hard sell when they already use apps like Hangouts or Google Keep. Sure, those aren't apps aren't designed with this same purpose, but they can be used in a group sharing sort of way. Will you want to use it? Maybe! You'll be able to create "spaces" for all sorts of things, add people to them, quickly add items to them through Chrome or YouTube or Photos or Search, leave comments and have a good chat about your space topics, and easily find it all later on with built-in search. It's a slick little app worth checking out if group sharing apps were missing from your life. Give it a go! Play Link | Web

Google I/O 2016 is This Week! What Should We Expect?

Kellen — Mon, 16 May 2016 11:55:46 +0000

Assuming you are any sort of Android or Google nerd, you know that Google I/O starts later this week - Wednesday, to be exact. At Google I/O, which is Google's yearly developer conference, we get to find out just what Google has been working on and what their plans are for the near and distant future. They almost always show off the newest version of Android (even if it is only in preview form), share refreshed design guidelines, and talk about their different product focuses (from Auto to Chrome and Chromebooks, to Google Photos, Play, and even pet projects, like the crazy stuff from Google's ATAP team). We typically go into I/O thinking we have a good vision for what Google will talk about, but then they almost always toss in some surprises even if they do layout a preview of sorts through each year's schedule that hits the I/O website well ahead of the conference...err "festival." This year, though, Google is changing locations and taking the show closer to home, so the whole thing is very much up in the air. Sure, we know VR will be a big part of it, as will Android Pay, and Android N, but what else? Let's talk about it and make some dumb predictions.

New Location, Lots of Streaming

For those planning to attend (and yes, we'll be there), part of the appeal to this year's I/O will be the location change to Mountain View, right across the street from Google's campus at the Shoreline Amphitheater. Yep, this is an outdoor "festival," not just a developer conference. Google will do a lot of work from the main stage of the amphitheater, including the live-streamed keynote, but they'll have another dozen or so stages setup for smaller sessions that developers can actually learn something from. There will be tents and areas to relax, I would imagine, but the weather is looking like it could be quite lovely once the festival starts. What does that mean? Burned nerds, everywhere. Seriously, Google better have barrels of sunscreen on hand or it could get ugly in a hurry. Remember, we're almost all basement-dwelling, never-see-the-sunlight keyboard warriors around these Android parts, and this pearly white flesh isn't equipped for sun rays. Thankfully, for those not in attendance or those who want to save their skin, a majority of the show will be live-streamed, plus Google will record almost every session and post it later to YouTube for viewing. You can find all of the live and post-event video at the Google Developers channel.

Android VR and Project Tango

A couple of years back, Google introduced Cardboard, a $5-10 apparatus that instantly brought a cheap virtual reality (VR) experience to your life, by using your phone. We may not have predicted it at the time, but this was the first step towards Google getting itself heavily involved in VR. While we haven't seen much happen since that initial introduction, Google's behind-the-scenes work appears to have reached the point where they are ready to share big news. At this week's festival, Google has at least 11 sessions setup to talk about VR on some level, not including whatever they announce during the keynote. Recent rumors (and a quick appearance in the Android developer console) suggest that Google will introduce Android VR, a system-level VR experience that will be accompanied by a much higher-end headset, similar to Samsung's Gear VR, only "better." Don't be shocked if they announce gaming and app partnerships surrounding VR announcements, a platform for more hardware or other hardware partners (think 3rd party headsets, like what they did with Cardboard), and VR cinematic experiences. Not only that, but Google has big plans for Project Tango that will co-exist in this VR world, at least, that's what the sessions are leading us to believe. Project Tango, for those not familiar, is a technology that started out in tablets but will move to consumer phones within the next month, that allows you to in real-time, map rooms and render them in 3D. A pairing with Android VR could take a Tango phone, slot it into the Android VR headset, and let you game or digitally experience a real-world environment in real-time. Think about that for a second. Sure, the processing power needed to accomplish this seems a bit much for a phone, but Google could at least get the idea started with some simple applications. Project Tango could also be used for helping you navigate retail environments or airports or cities and possibly ramp up Google Maps to another, ridiculously awesome level. Prediction: So we're expecting major VR announcements during the keynote, which takes place Wednesday morning at 10AM Pacific. We are guessing that Google will announce that Android VR has been built into Android N Developer Preview 3 and that we'll be able to take some of it for a spin using a VR headset of some time.

Android N, the Next Preview

We have already been introduced to Android N and two developer previews, so it's not like Android N is going to surprise us at Google I/O this week. With that said, the timing is right for Google to release Developer Preview 3 to the world and bake in anything new that was absent from the first two rounds. As I just mentioned, that could mean Android VR, but it could also mean a more polished multi-window experience too. There are sessions laid out for helping developers improve battery life and performance, high-performance audio, notifications, ART, multi-window, UI and layouts, etc. As of right now, nothing is standing out as something huge, outside of a potential VR introduction. Prediction: Google isn't going to tell us what Android N stands for yet - I think they wait until later.

The Google Amazon Echo

A report last week suggested that Google has an Amazon Echo-like product in the works that will take over your home in a way that Alexa and the Echo already have. That report also said that we shouldn't expect Google to launch it at Google I/O, but that doesn't mean Google won't preview it, the technology behind it, or at least make it known. Currently codenamed "Chirp," I'm just wondering why Google needs a separate product and doesn't instead just update their Google OnHub routers to do what Amazon's Echo does. I wrote up a piece last week talking about the possibilities of OnHub and the secrecy that has surrounded them since launching in the summer of last year. They just seem so ready for their moment in the spotlight. Prediction: Will Google show us this Echo product? Honestly, I kind of doubt it. That report feels like Google reached out "off the record" to set us up to not be disappointed by the product not making an appearance and that they'll instead show something off down the road, maybe even at this year's Nexus event, if there is one.

Google's Next Messaging Client

Back at MWC in February, Google announced that it was teaming up with a number of industry players to create a rich communication service (RCS) messenger that should become a standard on all Android phones. Think of it in a way like iMessage in that all Android phones would have access to it and be able to use new advanced messaging capabilities, instead of having to choose Hangouts or WhatsApp or some other service. Google hasn't said when this app could launch, but Google I/O is a good place to start talking more about it. I don't know that they will, especially with no sessions currently scheduled to focus on RCS messaging. Prediction: No death to Hangouts just yet.

Android Wear

There are at least five Android Wear sessions planned, so expect a big update to Android Wear in the near future. Google says that it wants to talk about plans for the future (a big update), work on getting developers to build more Wear apps and watch faces, and how to make sure they all connect to devices seamlessly. Prediction: HTC watch appearance, anyone?

Android Pay

I know that Android Pay isn't typically thought of as a major headlining topic, but Google seems poised for major announcements here. There are a number of Android Pay sessions, including one called "Android Pay everywhere: New developments." I think it's a safe bet to say that Google is going to announce a whole bunch of new Android Pay countries, including the UK. There is also a session where Google will explain new ways for retailers to get their loyalty cards in Pay, as well as ways for banks to get onboard with Android Pay "through their mobile banking apps." Prediction: I wish Google would announce that it has licensed Samsung Pay's MST technology for making payments at all credit card machines, but they probably won't. The "everywhere" in that session probably just refers to a global rollout of Pay.

Nest

There has been some drama recently involving Google's Nest, the smart home product maker that Google acquired a couple of years back, so we were curious to know if they would have any sort of presence at I/O. The drama mostly involves turmoil on the inside between employees and leaders, but it may also have to do with the fact that Nest hasn't delivered a new product in quite some time, other than the Nest Cam, which was really just a rebranded Dropcam HD. As of right now, Nest has a single session on the final afternoon at "Tables 3&4" that will last an hour. That's right, Google isn't even giving Nest a stage to talk about anything, they are just getting a couple of tables to maybe, potentially, talk about Works with Nest. You have to imagine that at 2PM on Friday, the last day of the festival, that all of seven developers will still be around to attend the chat. It's like Nest has been put in timeout. Prediction: Yikes.

Other Nuggets

Google has sessions for Android Auto, Games, Android TV and Chromecast, and Google Play as well, but they just don't seem like they'll be the major focuses this year. I could be way off on that, but each has a limited number of sessions. There is one wild card, and that's whether or not Google will go live with Google Play store access to Chromebooks and ChromeOS. We saw hints of it being on the verge of happening not long ago and I/O would be the perfect place to make it official, but again, there aren't really any hints of that happening in the current I/O schedule. Things could change, obviously, over the next day or two.

Wrap-up

And that's it for now! Google I/O officially kicks off with a keynote on Wednesday morning at 10AM Pacific. The opening keynote, which is always filled with more goodies than our brains can handle, lasts for two hours. After that, it's onto sessions and us trying our best to share everything new with you that we can. Both Tim and I will be in Mountain View for the fun, so be sure to follow us everywhere, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!

Rumor Roundup: OnePlus 3

Tim — Mon, 16 May 2016 11:42:19 +0000

We have yet to receive an official unveiling date for the OnePlus 3 from OnePlus, but recently, Carl Pei, CEO of OnePlus, stated we should expect release before the end of Q2. For 2016, the last day of Q2 is June 30, so we must be getting close. Over the course of the past couple of weeks, many apparent leaks and rumors have been swirling around, and before OnePlus makes anything official, we wanted to update you on what we should expect from the company in 2016. The leaks have focused on specifications we can expect to see inside of the device, photos showing off its design, and much more. If you are at all interested in this year's OnePlus device, take a look.

Specs Thanks to reported benchmarks posted online, we have a pretty good understanding of where this device (possibly devices) will sit alongside other flagship phones. Inside, it is expected that the OnePlus 3 will feature a Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM, although, a more "premium" model of the device is rumored to feature 6GB of RAM. The display is reported to be 5" in size, with a resolution of 1080p (FHD). Other specifications include a 16MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera, USB Type-C port, 32GB of onboard storage (64GB for the premium model), fingerprint reader on the front chin, and OxygenOS running atop Android 6.0.1.

Software At this time, not many details have been leaked concerning OnePlus' proprietary software changes, but it's safe to assume we can expect more of the same customization options that were baked into the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X. Additionally, it is also unknown if the OnePlus 3 will feature NFC (Near Field Communication), which was sort of a big deal with the OnePlus 2. With mobile payments becoming pretty much the norm across many parts of the world, it would be foolish of OnePlus to leave NFC off of its upcoming flagship device. Charging According to a leak out of OPPO, the OnePlus 3 is also reported to feature an extremely fast charging feature, which would get the phone from 0% to 100% battery in just 15 minutes. Known as VOOC Charging, it is said to be 5x faster than conventional smartphone charging methods. At MWC, OPPO did showcase this technology, but it was used on a 2,500mAh battery. It is reported that the OnePlus 3 will feature a 3,500mAh battery.

Price As for pricing, the latest intel suggests that the premium OnePlus 3 (6GB RAM, 64GB storage) will cost around $400, while the 4GB RAM and 32GB of storage model will be about $310. As always, OnePlus has made its devices very competitive in the pricing department. We should expect the same in 2016. Is the OnePlus 3 shaping up to a smartphone you are interested in? Would a possible invite-only release completely turn you off? What about NFC, is that still a big deal? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Via: Tech Radar | @the_maligant | GizmoChina

AT&T Includes New North America Roaming Benefits for Select Plans

Tim — Mon, 16 May 2016 08:58:17 +0000

In what might be considered a humorous and topical usage of a metaphor, AT&T wants to "break down wireless walls" between the US and its neighbors to the north and south. To clarify, right in time for any summer traveling, AT&T is bundling a Mexico roaming feature into its existing Mobile Share Value plans of 15GB and higher. With this plan, customers receive unlimited calling, texting, and use of their data in and between Mexico and the US. This roaming feature will start being included in the Mobile Share Value plans on May 20. Furthermore, any new or existing AT&T customer on an Unlimited Plan will have unlimited talk, text, and data in both Mexico and Canada. This change also takes place on May 20. AT&T Unlimited Plan customers will need to separately add the AT&T Roam North America feature to each smartphone and the Roam North America Data feature to each tablet. For those interested in these upgraded plans, note that AT&T is adding the benefit free of charge. However, to activate the change, customers will need to do so via AT&T's online portal, in a retail location, or via the myAT&T application on your mobile device. Business customers on a Mobile Share Value plan of 15GB or higher can get the new features, too. Those who activate on a new Mobile Select plan priced $20/month or higher will automatically receive Mexico roaming benefits. These changes begin May 20, so if you plan on dipping into Cabo, or snowmobiling your way up to Canada this summer, mark it on your calendar.

Via: AT&T

Google Spaces is a New Group Sharing App With Built-In Chrome, Search, and YouTube (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 16 May 2016 08:44:26 +0000

To kick off Monday, Google went ahead and gave us a new app to try out, called Google Spaces. As the name sort of suggests, it's a bit of group messaging or sharing app that revolves around specific "spaces" or topics that you'd like to discuss with friends or family or co-workers. Google is calling it a "better group sharing experience," so again, the goal is to get you sharing information with others about topics. Did we need an app like this? I don't know! With Spaces, which we are still waiting to go live on Android, iOS, and Chrome, Google has built-in Search, YouTube, and Chrome to allow you to find items (like videos or web pages) to be shared and then quickly searched through to find other or older items too, perhaps mentioned topics deep in the past of a Space. In the screenshots currently available from Google, they are suggesting spaces for topics like group trips to Paris, study sessions with fellow students, a comic book club, kitchen remodels, a space for college buddies to bro-out in, or parenting tips. It's not a difficult idea to understand, right? You have this app for sharing topics with others who have interest in a topic.

If you are attending Google I/O, Google says to install Spaces because they plan to create a space for each I/O session so that "developers can connect with each other and Googlers around topics" at the conference. Once Spaces goes live, we'll be sure to share those direct links to Android and iOS. For now, feel free to cruise around the Chrome landing page and preview some of the fun. UPDATE: Google Spaces is now live!

Via: Google Blog

Moto G (4th Gen) Hits FCC Looking Ready for the US

Kellen — Mon, 16 May 2016 07:59:38 +0000

Lenovo and Moto are expected to officially announce new a new Moto G phone tomorrow in India, likely called the Moto G (4th Gen). We aren't sure why they are specifically targeting India for the launch while ignoring the rest of the world, but it does appear that the new Moto G will show up here eventually, if not right away. According to listings for new Motorola phones that hit the FCC at the end of last week, we indeed show a couple of model numbers with full US connectivity on AT&T and T-Mobile that have long-been attached to this new Moto G. At least four new Moto phones are listed at the FCC from Thursday and Friday, with model numbers including XT1620, XT1621, XT1622, XT1624, XT1640, XT1641, XT1642, and XT1643. The two we care about are XT1620 and XT1640, both of which show carrier support here in the US. All of those other models are quite limited in terms of connectivity, but the XT1620 and XT1640 models have all the right GSM support, along with LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, and 17. Here is the general info chart from the FCC for those two models:

What's a bit odd is the fact that the FCC listings all show an XT1620 numbers with an XT1640 number together, along with a single set of device dimensions. For months now, there has been talk of a Moto G (4th gen) and a Moto G Plus (4th gen), which one would think would mean smaller and bigger versions. That may not be the case, though, and we may just see lower and higher end versions with the "Plus" moniker differentiating the two.

The most recent set of rumors pegs the Moto G Plus (4th gen) as having a Snapdragon 617 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 16MP camera, 5.5-inch FHD (1080p) display, and a fingerprint sensor. The regular Moto G (4th gen) should have the same size, but slightly lesser specs, like a Snapdragon 400-range processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13MP camera, and no fingerprint sensor. Also, that new image at the top is from @evleaks, who referred to this as the "little bro" to another version of the Moto G. Excited for the new Moto G?