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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Google Posts Android 5.1.1 Factory Images for Nexus 7 WiFi (2012 & 2013) and Nexus 10

More Android 5.1.1 factory images are being released by Google, this time for the Nexus 7 WiFi (2012 and 2013), plus the Nexus 10. Each are receiving build LMY47V, which is the latest available. 

Android 5.1.1, at least from what we have researched, is mostly bug fixes for Android 5.1. Users should not expect to see anything too crazy once updated.

As more devices show up, we will post them.

Factory Images (Android 5.1.1):

Instructions for flashing factory images can be found here.

Google Posts Android 5.1.1 Factory Images for Nexus 7 WiFi (2012 & 2013) and Nexus 10 is a post from: Droid Life



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Sprint Partners With Boingo, Auto Connect to WiFi Hotspots in 35 US Airports

Announced today, Sprint is teaming up with Boingo, the WiFi hotspot provider you have probably paid plenty of money to if you are a frequent flyer. Based out of most major US airports, Boingo offers Internet access for those willing to pay, even allowing folks to connect while at 10,000ft or above. 

In this new partnership, Sprint customers can access Boingo hotspots for absolutely free in 35 major US airports. I won’t name them all, but a few of the top airports include JFK, BOS, BUF, DAL, LAX, LGA, MDW, MEM, MIA, and ORD. If you don’t see your airport listed, it is likely that WiFi is offered free of charge there, such as it is at PDX and SFO.

Sprint customers don’t need to pay or do anything to connect, as the WiFi connection will be automatic for devices that are capable.

Sprint devices within proximity of a Boingo hotspot can automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network seamlessly, providing service at the fastest speeds available, be that cellular from Sprint or Wi-Fi from Boingo. The auto-authenticating Wi-Fi connections are available at no additional charge to all Sprint customers with capable devices, and usage while connected to Wi-Fi does not count towards a customer’s monthly service plan. Sprint and Boingo conducted successful market trials with millions of Sprint handsets, which demonstrated the consumer benefits of effortless authentication onto Boingo’s network.

To view the full list of airports supported, click here.

Via: Sprint

Sprint Partners With Boingo, Auto Connect to WiFi Hotspots in 35 US Airports is a post from: Droid Life



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Report: Samsung Pay Hits North America and South Korea in September

Samsung Pay, the company’s mobile payments rival to Apple Pay, is reported to launch in North America and South Korea in the second half of 2015. According to sources of SamMobile, the timeframe is more along the lines of September, which is still quite a few months away. 

With Samsung Pay, Samsung phone owners can pay for their goods at “millions of locations” using their smartphone. The technology is much like what Google Wallet and Apple Pay offers, but claimed to be usable in a much higher amount of locations. Like, millions more. With the ability to emulate a credit card swipe on older terminals, this is what allows Samsung Pay to be usable where Apple Pay and Google Wallet are not.

Samsung Pay was introduced alongside the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. While it would have been nice to see the service launch closer to the availability of these devices, there is no doubt that Samsung Pay should arrive just in time for the upcoming Galaxy Note 5.

Are you ready to rock some Samsung Pay later this year?

Via: SamMobile | Who Wired

Report: Samsung Pay Hits North America and South Korea in September is a post from: Droid Life



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Top DL Deals of April: Nexus 5 for $199, 18000mAh Power Packs, Bluetooth Buds for $29

With the month wrapping up, we thought we would take a minute to feature some of the top deals of the month that were best sellers on the DL Deals store. In other words, these were the deals we told you about that you actually flocked to.

The deals include a couple of battery packs, an unlimited lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited, mystery Android collectibles boxes, Bluetooth ear buds, and a steal on the Nexus 5 through FreedomPop.

If you missed out on any of these the first time around, now is your chance to get in before they are gone. 


Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.10.32 PM

VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription ($39) – Deal Link

At just $39, you get a lifetime subscription to VPN services through VPN Unlimited. The deal includes secure connections when on public WiFi, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited high-speed connections, an ever-growing list of global servers, and compatibility with Android.

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.10.26 PM

ZeroLemon 20,000 mAh SolarJuice ($49.99) – Deal Link

The massive 20,000 mAh ZeroLemon power pack not only gives you 20,000 mAh of juice and multi-device charging, but it can charge with the power of the sun. This would be one of those great packs to take camping, just in case you need technology and can’t find an outlet in a tree or bush.

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.10.20 PM

Nexus 5 + Talk and Text from FreedomPop ($199.99) – Deal Link

The Nexus 5 is no longer available from Google, so in order to get one, you have to give in to services like FreedomPop. At $199, this deal gets you a Nexus 5 and unlimited talk/text plus 500MB of data per month. FreedomPop uses Sprint’s network, by the way.

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.10.13 PM

Power Vault 18,000 mAh Battery Pack ($29.99) – Deal Link

For $30, you can have a sleek, premium power pack that holds a whopping 18,000 mAh of juice. The Power Vault is lightweight, made of aluminum, and can charge two devices at the same time.

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.15.05 PM

Android Collectibles ($19.99) – Deal Link

If you haven’t found a reason to get into collecting Android collectibles, maybe this will be. At just $20, you can grab three surprise/mystery Android collectible boxes and a plush toy.

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 2.09.58 PM

Wireless Cloud Buds ($29.99) – Deal Link

Bluetooth ear buds tend to be really expensive and also not very good in the quality department. So rather than forking out over $100 for a pair of buds that may go bad on you within a year, why not stick to the affordable kind that you won’t feel bad about abusing. The Wireless Cloud buds have been a top seller on the DL Deals store for some time at just $29.99.

Top DL Deals of April: Nexus 5 for $199, 18000mAh Power Packs, Bluetooth Buds for $29 is a post from: Droid Life



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BANDAI NAMCO Releases Galaga: TEKKEN to Google Play, Shoot Aliens With Your Favorite TEKKEN Characters

A new game from BANDAI NAMCO, a well-known publisher of countless titles, has been released onto Google Play. Titled, Galaga: TEKKEN, the game fuses your favorite old school TEKKEN characters with the classic arcade shooter Galaga. 

To celebrate TEKKEN’s 20th anniversary, players shoot incoming aliens with laser beams and torpedoes, ultimately trying to save the world. According to Katsuhiro Harada, Game Director and Chief Producer of the TEKKEN series at BANDAI NAMCO, “With Galaga: TEKKEN 20TH Anniversary Edition, we wanted to give our fans something unexpected to celebrate such a huge milestone for TEKKEN. The crossover gameplay is sure to surprise and delight both TEKKEN and Galaga fans.”

The game is free to download, featuring zero IAPs, according to the Google Play listing.

Go give it a shot.

Play Link

BANDAI NAMCO Releases Galaga: TEKKEN to Google Play, Shoot Aliens With Your Favorite TEKKEN Characters is a post from: Droid Life



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Question of the Day: Why Aren’t You Buying the LG G4? Why are You?

Like with any flagship, I get the feeling that the DL community is torn on the LG G4. Some love it, others don’t. Some are buying it the minute it becomes available (27% of you), and others will keep their current phone or wait for something in the future that is more appealing to them. And you know what? That’s the way it should be. Not every phone is built for everyone, well except the iPhone. (Hah!) In all seriousness, choices are what makes Android so great. The LG G4 is another of those choices. 

For today’s question to the community, we want to know why you are or are not going to buy the LG G4? For those buying, feel free to list out a couple of the reasons. Maybe you are buying because of the display, next-level camera, and butt seams leather. If you aren’t buying, feel free to weigh in as well with a couple of reasons. Maybe the Snapdragon 808 and its lesser GPU is keeping you away, as are the size, LG UI, slow updates from LG, etc.

We did something similar to this with the HTC One M9 and it turned out great (500+ comments!), so we wanted to try and do it going forward with all flagships.

Ready? Go!

Question of the Day: Why Aren’t You Buying the LG G4? Why are You? is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: $70 Off Custom Moto 360, $300 Off Moto X + Sol Republic Bundle

Motorola is currently hosting a couple of solid deals on their current line of premium products that you may be interested in. First, the Moto 360 has been slashed by $70 to $180 in celebration of Mother’s Day. That’s the same price that Google is currently selling it, but Motorola lets you customize one through Moto Maker, which means you could choose from a variety of colors or bands.

The second deal is for a bundle that includes the Moto X and wireless Sol Republic headphones. For $399, you can get both, and the Moto X can be customized through Moto Maker. At $399, Motorola is basically slashing $100 off the price of the phone, but then also tossing in free $200 wireless Bluetooth, on-ear headphones. The Moto X may not be on the level of the Galaxy S6 or G4 at this point, but that’s still a hell of a value buy there.

Motorola Link

Deal: $70 Off Custom Moto 360, $300 Off Moto X + Sol Republic Bundle is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: Grab a Nexus Player for $70 on Amazon, Get $20 of Google Play Credit

For a limited time, you can pick up a Nexus Player from Amazon and receive a $20 credit to Google Play for whatever you would like to download. This would also be a good time to announce that the Nexus Player is on sale through Amazon Prime for just $70, down from its usual price of $99. 

Nexus Player is Google’s first commercial release of Android TV, a platform which turns any TV with an HDMI port into a smart TV with access to Google Play, Music, YouTube, Games, and much more.

Considering the price reduction, and the free $20 credit, this is a pretty good deal if venturing into Android TV is on your bucket list.

Amazon Link

Via: @GoogleNexus

Deal: Grab a Nexus Player for $70 on Amazon, Get $20 of Google Play Credit is a post from: Droid Life



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HTC Camera Update Brings Raw Shooting Mode for One M9 Owners

The official HTC Camera app received an update in Google Play this morning, bringing a new shooting mode exclusively for One M9 owners. The new mode allows M9 users to shoot in a raw format, meaning better editing and data after the shot is taken for serious mobile shooters. 

Do note, for those who plan on shooting with the Raw Mode, these DNG files eat up much more storage than regular jpeg files.

In addition to the new shooting mode, M8 owners can access a new “Crop-Me-In” mode, which as you can probably guess, crops you into photos using the dual-shooter setup.

To get the update, head on over to Google Play.

Play Link

HTC Camera Update Brings Raw Shooting Mode for One M9 Owners is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Introduces Custom Voice Actions Like “OK, Google, Listen to NPR” (Updated)

Quietly over on the Android Developers Google+ page, Google announced custom voice actions today for third party apps. They are currently piloting this new integration with select partners like NPR and Shazam, but are actively seeking additional app developers to join in on the fun. 

With custom voice actions, you could say something like, “OK, Google, listen to NPR” and watch as it opens up the NPR app to play a new story. Or you could say, “OK, Google, Shazam this song” and your phone will open the Shazam app to figure out what it is. Maybe you need to plan for a trip, so you could go with, “OK, Google, show attractions near me  on TripAdvisoer.” You get the point.

At this time, Google hasn’t exactly released a full list of apps that are supported, but we’ll do our best to find them all.

Update:  This link shows most of the apps and their commands. It looks like some of the early partner apps are Flixster, TripAdvisor, Instacart, Lincoln, NPR, TuneIn, Shazam, Trulia, Zillow, and Realtor.com.

If you are an app developer and want to integrate with voice actions, you can talk to Google here.

NPR_Full

Via:  +Android Developers

Google Introduces Custom Voice Actions Like “OK, Google, Listen to NPR” (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life



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T-Mobile Offering Season-Long MLB At Bat Premium Subscription for Free to Customers

Through a promotion running from May 1 to September 30, T-Mobile is offering wireless subscribers a season-long premium subscription to MLB At Bat. With At Bat, you can access the scores and latest news from all of the games taking place across the country, plus stream the At Bat “Game of the Day.” 

This is all thanks to T-Mobile being MLB’s official wireless partner, which is a big bonus for any MLB fans on the network. Premium subscriptions cost $20 for the entire season, so I do suggest that you take advantage of this offer.

Features

  • Stream the MLB.TV Game of the Day (blackout restrictions apply)
  • Track every pitch
  • Watch in-game highlights
  • Access live look-ins on key plays

Tomorrow, grab the app from Google Play while on your T-Mo cell data. Make sure not to be on WiFi or roaming.

Via: T-Mobile

T-Mobile Offering Season-Long MLB At Bat Premium Subscription for Free to Customers is a post from: Droid Life



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Here are the First 4 LG G4 TV Commercials

With the phone official, LG is getting ready to ramp up promotional tactics for its newly unveiled flagship, G4. To kick off the campaign, they went ahead and released the first four TV commercials that you will likely see in the US and other places around the globe. Each focuses on what LG has deemed are the phones major selling points:  the 16MP f/1.8 camera, Quantum IPS display, and leather backing.

The commercials come in both 15-second and 30-second spots, but to give you the best presentation, we embedded all of the 30-second spots below.

Tell us what you think – are these the types of ads that are going to help the G4 cut into Samsung so-far-so-good Galaxy S6 numbers? 

Here are the First 4 LG G4 TV Commercials is a post from: Droid Life



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Plex Music Updated With Mood Playlists, Vevo Music Videos and More

Plex Music was never the best option for those who have a massive tunes library, but thanks to an impressive update that just went live, that may have just changed. According to the Plex team, they have been fiddling away for the past 6 months on this Plex Music update, bringing enhanced features, plus new features altogether. 

For starters, Plex Music now has “vastly improved” music scanning, leading to better organization and categorizing. With that same breath, Plex announced they have brought massive management and browsing enhancements, letting library owners take full control of their collection.

In addition, Plex Music now features Vevo music video searches, since nothing couples with music better than a good ol’ fashioned music video. The program works in the background to search Vevo for up-to-date videos for all of your tracks, as long as they are on Vevo, of course. As a note, this feature appears to be limited to Plex Pass users.

Lastly, if you happen to be in a certain mood, you can start a playlist of music based on your emotions, and moving forward, Plex Music will learn which songs pair well together, making the mood playlists smarter and more in-tune with you as a listener.

If Plex Music interests you, you can get started right here.

Via: Plex

Plex Music Updated With Mood Playlists, Vevo Music Videos and More is a post from: Droid Life



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Google’s Password Alert Helps Protect Your Google Password From Phishing Scams

Did you know that 2% of messages sent to Gmail accounts are attempts at tricking you into giving up your Google password? Not only that, but according to Google, 45% of the time, they work! So out of every 100 emails that roll through your Gmail inbox, 2 of them are phishing scams, and 1 of the 2 might get you to give up your password. Think about that for a second. That’s bad. Really bad. 

To counteract these phishing attempts, Google created a new Chrome extension called Password Alert. With Password Alert, Google will show you a warning in Chrome when you land on a page that gets you to give up your Google password. The warning looks like the image at the top of this post. Should you give up your password to a known scam site, Google will give you a quick link through Password Alert to go change your password.

To get Password Alert up and running, all you need to do is install it in Chrome, then initialize it by typing in your current Google password.

If you use Chrome as your daily browser, it’s probably worth installing.

Chrome Extension

Via:  Google for Work

Google’s Password Alert Helps Protect Your Google Password From Phishing Scams is a post from: Droid Life



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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Google+ “Collections” Feature Starts Showing Up for More Users

Google+ Collections, the topic-focused grouping feature coming to Google’s social network that we broke news on last week, appears to be rolling out to new users today through the G+ app. 

We initially thought that the appearance of Collections was happening with the Google+ update that was published today on Android, but I went ahead and installed it and am not seeing the option for Collections. As you can see, some people are. My guess is that the new Collections feature is controlled server-side rather than through the app itself.

So what’s new since our last report? Not much! Collections is exactly as we reported last week – a new feature for Google+ that allows you to group posts, photos, videos, links, etc. by topic instead of by person. It’s like the opposite of a Circle, in a way. Other people can follow your Collections or you can go browse the world’s Collections as well.

Collections was previously in a private beta or testing group, but if it’s showing up in the app to new users, we must be getting close to an official launch. Let us know if you are seeing anything related to Collections!

Play Link | Download Link (apk)

Cheers Marco!

Google+ “Collections” Feature Starts Showing Up for More Users is a post from: Droid Life



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Lucky T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge Owner Gets Android 5.1.1 Update

Last week, as we were telling you to expect Android 5.1.1 at any moment, we weren’t exactly including those of you who just picked up a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in the conversation. No offense, but phones with OEM skins aren’t usually leading the pack when it comes to updates that feature the newest versions of Android. As it turns out, maybe we should have. 

According to a single member of XDA who happens to own the T-Mobile variant of the Galaxy S6 Edge, Android 5.1.1 is rolling out! OK, “rolling out” probably isn’t an accurate term to use here, since this is one person with the update. No other owner of this phone has reported receiving it, which could mean a couple of things. One, this dude is incredibly lucky and somehow got roped into a test build, and two, he’s the first person on Earth to receive this update before T-Mobile rolls it out to more people. I’m guessing he falls into the first category, but time will tell.

This XDA member is also reporting that the bootloader of the phone is now locked, so there’s that, bootloader people.

I know that the answer will more than likely be “no,” but has anyone else seen the update?

Via:  XDA | SamMobile

Lucky T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge Owner Gets Android 5.1.1 Update is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: $20 for the ExoMount Touch Car Mount

The ExoMount Touch car mount has been slashed to just $19.99 in the DL Deals store. That’s roughly $10 off the full price or about $5 cheaper than you will find it at Amazon. That’s a solid deal for those of you looking at car mounts for your oversized smartphones.

Why the ExoMount Touch? It can mount to just about any surface (flat, smooth, textured, curved, or rounded) thanks to its super strong suction. Once attached to your dash or other surface, the ExoMount quickly grabs a hold of your phone without the need to press a button. All you have to do is press it against the mount and the non-slip arms/pads will grab it. To release, you need a finger to loosen its grab, giving you true 1-handed access to your phone.

The ExoMount is also washable, has a swivel head, and should work with just about any phone, including oversized big boys like the Note 3.

Deal Link 

Deal: $20 for the ExoMount Touch Car Mount is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Connectivity Services Hits Google Play, Will Likely Manage VPN and WiFi Connections in Project Fi

If you own a Nexus 6 and it’s running Android 5.1, then you should see an update in Google Play for an app called Google Connectivity Services. Don’t be alarmed, because the app (or system service) is likely only there (at least for now) to help Project Fi work its WiFi network magic. 

The app’s description mentions that this service “helps Android handle network connections,” but also is there to support “connecting to Wi-Fi networks automatically and using a Google VPN to help secure your data.” It’s that second part that we care about, since that is exactly how Project Fi works.

Project Fi, when not connected to a Sprint or T-Mobile tower, might very well find itself automatically connected to a public WiFi hotspot. When connected to one, Google is using Google Connectivity Services to make sure that that connection is secure and safe for you to use data on. In order to secure your data connection, Google has told us that it will use a VPN, which we now know is a Google VPN.

If you aren’t seeing the update on your Nexus 6, you can click the link below and then update.

Note:  Just after posting this, I’m now seeing my Moto X “Pure Edition” as being compatible too. Anyone else without a Nexus 6 seeing this update?

Play Link

Google Connectivity Services Hits Google Play, Will Likely Manage VPN and WiFi Connections in Project Fi is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Launches Chrome Dev to Google Play, Live on the Bleeding Edge

Another version of Chrome has hit Google Play this afternoon, Chrome Dev. Much like Chrome Beta, which is still available at the time of this writing, the app’s description states “Live on the bleeding edge: Try out our latest features.”

So, if the Chrome Beta was not already buggy enough for you, Chrome Dev will allow you to have the latest features from Google ahead of anyone else, bugs and all. 

After downloading and installing, I don’t notice any real differences right off the bat. It looks and operates like Chrome, with no changes in the overall appearance.

Go give it a shot and clue us in on anything special you find. Nothing wrong with having features before everyone else, right?

Play Link

Google Launches Chrome Dev to Google Play, Live on the Bleeding Edge is a post from: Droid Life



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Airbnb App Updated to Support Android and iOS Tablets

Airbnb, the service that allows you to quickly find a place to crash for a night or two in most cities around the world, or lets you rent out your own unused space, now has a dedicated application for Android tablets. 

Inside the updated applications, users will see immersive maps to locate listings around you, as well as listing pages that feature cinematic images in high resolution. As stated in Airbnb’s press release, it should resemble the look of a magazine.

According to Airbnb, this is exactly what the tablet app offers.

  • Immersive maps that share more about the listings to help people decide whether to dive deeper into the content
  • Listing pages that showcase the cinematic images in high-resolution – Seamless flow through the app that reacts to touch rather than a point and click, which keeps people engaged as they move through the booking experience
  • An in-depth Discover page offering curated listings, wish lists, and experiences around the world
  • A message system specifically built for a tablet with dual-pane view for the first time on Airbnb
  • New navigation setup that offers a simple way to find upcoming trips

Please note, Airbnb states that the update should go live later this evening on Google Play, around 9pm Pacific.

Play Link

Airbnb App Updated to Support Android and iOS Tablets is a post from: Droid Life



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Google’s Messenger App Gets Quick Replies in Latest Update

If you still text message and happen to use Google’s Messenger application, you are going to want today’s update immediately. In the latest build, Google has added in a quick reply-like feature that allows you to quickly respond to text messages without ever opening the Messenger app. 

As can be seen in the images above, text messages will roll in and display as heads-up notifications with a “Reply” button. If you tap that “Reply” button, you will enter an overlay that allows you to type out and send a reply without actually opening the full-blown Messenger app. Once done, you can get right back in to whatever you doing. Of course, if you do want to get into the Messenger app, which you would need to do to send an image, Google provides a shortcut below the input box that will take you there.

“Why doesn’t Hangouts have this already?” We don’t know. We also don’t know why Hangouts is such a terrible app still, even though it is supposed to be the future. Messenger, on the other hand, is quite lovely.

Play Link | Download Link (apk)

Cheers @bdbplatano!

Google’s Messenger App Gets Quick Replies in Latest Update is a post from: Droid Life



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FYI: LG G4 Doesn’t Support Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0

“G4 has Quick Charge 1.8 Amp capabilities along with wireless charging.” That’s the official word on the LG G4’s lack of Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 charging capabilities.

We asked LG specifically yesterday, because there had been some confusion on the subject. After all, this phone runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, so it wouldn’t be crazy to just assume that the phone also was equipped with Qualcomm’s quick charging technology. Again, it doesn’t have it. 

Thankfully, the G4, like the G3 before it, charges through an included 1.8A charger that is quite fast in its own right. The G3 and its 3,000mAh battery , even without Quick Charge 2.0, was one of the fastest charging devices of 2014.

Just keep in mind that your Quick Charge 2.0 adapters aren’t going to produce that full 2A flow and charge the G4 any faster. Some may not even get to 1.8A. If you plan on buying the G4 and need an extra charger, you are going to want to find LG’s 1.8A chargers through places like Amazon.

Then again, you could also buy back-up batteries or attempt to grab the wireless charging back for the phone, whenever it becomes available.

FYI: LG G4 Doesn’t Support Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Launches Project Fi App to Google Play

For those here who are hoping to set up their Project Fi wireless accounts, you will definitely need the new Project Fi app that Google just launched onto Google Play. Honestly, we don’t think anyone is getting invites quite yet to try out the service, but with the release of this app, it is likely that folks who asked for an invite should receive them soon, given you live in an area that Google supports. 

With the Project Fi application, customers can activate their Fi service, manage their account, view data usage stats, view monthly statements, and get in touch with support 24/7.

So, if you own a Nexus 6 and want to live off of WiFi hotspots, T-Mobile and Sprint, go grab the app.

Play Link

Google Launches Project Fi App to Google Play is a post from: Droid Life



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HTC Would Rather be “Cool” Than Compete With Xiaomi, Predicts 29% Revenue Decline for Q2

HTC reported modest profit of $11 million for the quarter that just ended, with revenues also growing year-over-year, giving them a couple of quarters in a row of actual growth. Unfortunately, those positive signs aren’t going to hang around long, as the company’s Q2 target isn’t exactly strong. HTC expects revenues to drop by up to 29% year-over-year, which is surprising since they just announced their new flagship phone (HTC One M9) for the year that should have been a driving force for the next three months. Should we take that as HTC already expecting it to be a flop? 

Of course, the blame these days for struggling sales figures is almost always directed at emerging market players like Xiaomi, who continue to ship boatloads of devices at rock bottom prices. Companies like HTC just can’t compete with the small margins of these other companies. OK, that’s not entirely true. They probably could if they really wanted to change their way of thinking and operating, but they seem to be set in their ways.

In fact, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Chang Chia-lin, the CFO of HTC, said that his company isn’t interested in competing with companies like Xiaomi, who tend to only focus on volume. Instead, HTC wants to focus on being “cool,” because…well…I actually don’t know why you would choose being “cool” over shipping millions upon millions of smartphones. Chang did say that he thinks his company’s brand image is more important because their flagship product can create a halo effect that eventually draws people to mid-tier and entry-level phones, like the ones he just said he didn’t want to compete with, which would eventually bring in revenue.

I guess, I can accept that as one way of thinking. Except, that’s exactly how HTC has operated for the last few years, all of which have been massive disasters for a company who once shipped more Android phones than anyone in the world. HTC hasn’t even been in the top 10 in terms of smartphone shipments since 2013 and holds less than 2% of the world’s market share. And again, they managed that drop by creating supposedly “cool” high-end phones that were supposed to create a brand image that attracted the attention of mid-to-low end buyers. Is it working? It certainly doesn’t seem that it is.

On a semi-related note, Chia-lin did mention that his company will have another phone ready for the holiday season.

You tell me, is HTC “cool?”

Via:  WSJ [2]

HTC Would Rather be “Cool” Than Compete With Xiaomi, Predicts 29% Revenue Decline for Q2 is a post from: Droid Life



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Moto 360’s Monolink Band is Back In-Stock at Moto Maker

The Monolink band for the Moto 360 is back in-stock at Moto Maker! This is the little beauty that we took for a spin a couple of weeks ago.

This band, which has been hard to come by since the smartwatch’s introduction, will cost you an extra $50 on your custom Moto 360 order. And yes, you are still only able to buy it through the Moto Maker process, not as a stand-alone watch band. I can’t tell you why that is, it just is. 

Still, this might just be the best looking metal watch band for any smartwatch, so if you are in the market for a Moto 360, consider this add-on. Also, keep in mind that this band will more than likely work with the next generation Moto 360, meaning the investment may be well worth it. At least, that’s our thought on owning one.

To see the Monolink band in action, be sure to watch our video preview of it below. If still images are more your thing, we have a bunch of those here.

Motorola Link

Via:  @Motorola

Moto 360’s Monolink Band is Back In-Stock at Moto Maker is a post from: Droid Life



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Here is the LG G4 Official Product Video

Feeling a little hungover after yesterday’s LG G4 festivities? We are too. But what better way to cure a hangover than another beer G4 video?

This morning, LG posted the “official” product video for their new flagship smartphone, one that is ripe with drone footage taken on the phone, overviews of its camera, shots of leather being cut and shaped before being applied, butt seam rubbing, and tours of Sydney, Australia.

Even if you need a break from the G4 for a minute, the views of Sydney are at least worth a look. Trust me. 

Here is the LG G4 Official Product Video is a post from: Droid Life



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TAG Heuer’s Android Wear Watch Will Cost Around $1,400, Have 40-Hour Battery Life

The first true premium smartwatch is coming later this year from TAG Heuer. That’s right, Apple, plating a calculator watch in gold doesn’t make it premium – at least in my book. The watch, as announced in March, will be made in partnership with Intel and Google, yet “reflect the TAG Heuer heritage of Swiss design and quality.” So it’s a Swiss-made Android Wear device, powered by an Intel processor, and outfitted with what we can only imagine will be a high price tag for a smartwatch. 

According to a report out of Bloomberg, that “high” price will likely end up right around $1,400 and reportedly be ready for launch in October or November of this year. That matches up to TAG’s announcement of a 2015 worldwide distribution.

Aside from the pricing news, we may also now know another important feature of this yet-to-be-seen TAG smartwatch, and that’s battery life. Jean-Claude Biver, TAG Heuer’s CEO, said during a Hublot boutique opening that his smartwatch will last about 40 hours on a single charge. That would top all other smartwatches in the Android Wear category, assuming it can deliver on that. Most Android Wear devices are good for a day with pretty heavy usage, but can often bleed into a second day. At 40 hours, we are getting close to two full days.

We asked this question back in March, but are you willing to pay a premium for a Swiss-made watch that also runs Android Wear?

Via:  Bloomberg

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Sprint Offering Half-Off Data Plans for Tablet Users

For anyone picking up a new smartphone or updating an existing line through Sprint, you can grab half-off deals for select data plans on tablet devices. Specifically, Sprint is offering the deal for its 100MB-1GB plans, now priced at $5 a month for 100MB and $7.50 a month for 1GB of high-speed data over six months. 

Again, to take advantage of this deal, you will need to be activating a tablet on a new line or updating an existing line coupled with a smartphone. More plainly, Sprint is offering a discount when you bundle devices on the same plan.

On top of cheaper data for tablets, Sprint is offering the LG G Pad for $0 down, with $10 monthly payments through Easy Pay. However, if you purchase, you will receive a $10 a month credit, essentially making the tablet completely free.

If Sprint is the right carrier for you, be sure to take advantage of these new offers.

Via: Sprint

Sprint Offering Half-Off Data Plans for Tablet Users is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: Dotti Pixel-Art Smart Light Brings LED Fun to Your Desk for $69

I know that you probably never envisioned your life being better with a box full of colored LED lights that light up into shapes or animations while also showing you notifications from your phone, but it could potentially happen with the Dotti Pixel-Art Smart Light, which is on sale in the DL Deals shop for $69.99. Or maybe you just want a cool accessory for your desk to play with during times of boredom. Whatever the case may be, the $10 discount only lasts for a couple more days.

The Dotti Pixel-Art Smart Light, as I just mentioned, is a box full of colored LED lights. That box connects to your phone via Bluetooth to show you notifications from your favorite apps as they come in. But you can also sync the lights to a clock, customize how notifications arrive, push through various icons and animations, and even watch the lights animate to music that is playing on your phone.

Again, it’s kind of cool even if it is a niche product or office accessory that not everyone needs.

Deal Link 

Deal: Dotti Pixel-Art Smart Light Brings LED Fun to Your Desk for $69 is a post from: Droid Life



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Google Play Services 7.3 Allows for Multiple Wear Device Connections, More

Google announced an update to Google Play Services (v7.3) today that introduces new Android Wear and Google Fit APIs to help you all build better experiences into your apps that use either service. 

With Wear, Google is giving us the ability to connect multiple wear devices to a single mobile device. Better put, that means you can connect two watches to a single phone or tablet. But along with that new connectivity, new APIs are needed to better manage those connections, decide how to deal with messages, and figure out where data should be going to and not going to. If you check out the blog post linked below, Google walks through all of the new APIs that were created to handle all of that.

As for Google Fit, Google wants it to be easier for apps to grab up-to-date information from Fit (like steps or calories burned) and display it. Think watch faces being able to grab your current step count each time you look at it.

The rest of the update really is developer-specific stuff, so rather than attempt to sound like I know how to build apps, I’ll have to push you to today’s post on the announcement and the video below. Have fun, devs.

Via:  Android Developers

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Tuesday Poll: Is the LG G4 Your Next Phone?

Have you seen enough of the LG G4 after today’s festivities to know whether or not you are going to buy one? I would imagine that many of you have, thanks to this full list of specs, a comparison to the Galaxy S6 and One M9, our hands-on gallery, and Tim’s first impressions. We’ve tried to give you everything we can, outside of price, because LG and its carrier partners have yet to reveal that important bit of information. Still, we know it will probably drop in at $199 on contract and anywhere from $600 to $700 without one. There are few secrets left.

Tell us, did LG impress you with all of its Quantum IPS display and f/1.8 camera talk? Did they convince you that you need a leather back and removable battery? Or are you disappointed that the phone looks a lot like the G3, is using a Snapdragon 808, doesn’t have the premium materials of the Galaxy S6 or One M9, and skipped on the fingerprint sensor?

Let us know!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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LG G4: Hands-on Video and Impressions

Before I got my hands on the G4 from LG, I did not know quite what to expect. Sure, any company can tease that they have made a great successor to last year’s flagship, but with LG diving headfirst into leather backsides, while also upgrading their display and camera technology, I slightly assumed they could easily miss a few points of interest for users, such as in-hand feel and battery life.

After the device was unveiled in its entirety, all of the media in the venue filed over to the demo area. I finally got my hands on with the G4, and right when I picked it up I said, “Oh, this feels nice.” 

In-hand, the G4 feels rather light, but not cheap. Unlike the metallic heaviness of the One M9, or the cold glassy feel of the Galaxy S6, the G4 fits somewhere right in the middle, still utilizing a heavy amount of plastic in its design. At first glance, the phone reminds me a lot of the OnePlus One and last year’s G3. There are minimal bezels, plus a nicely sized chin with the LG logo at the bottom of the frontside.

Also, there are a few different colors for the leather backsides, and there are multiple colors of the plastic or “carbon” backs. The leather, while not being Horween or anything of insane quality, does feel like leather. Not that I ever doubted that it was, but since LG has to mass produce these backsides, and still try to make a profit, I’m sure a few high-end corners had to be trimmed. Depending on the leather color you get, a different texture is featured. For Black, Light Blue and Shale (that’s what I’m calling it), you get a tumbled leather on the back. For Maroon and Tan, there is a smooth back. Personally, I enjoy the smooth backside.

LG G4 - 21LG G4 - 24

Continuing on, LG worked a slight curve into the design, which really helps when the device is being held in your hand. It fits wonderfully, and with no real weight to it, it’s a comfortable phone all around. During the hands-on time, I got to play with the camera, view the display during different operations, and basically give it a nice little tour.

As I previously mentioned, LG has loaned us a unit to take back home and review, so as my time with it grows, I will likely have much more to say about it. However, I don’t want to leave anyone hanging. The G4 is really nice. The 5.5″ QHD display is gorgeous and the camera is remarkably good, making the G4 a serious little package when compared to the Galaxy S6 and One M9.

Below, I have a hands-on video that I recorded myself when I got back into the hotel room. Since I am the only one filming, and don’t have access to a tripod, there is a tad bit of shakiness, so please excuse that until I can get back home to all of my equipment.

In the meantime, I am more than happy to answer any questions or show off select features if anyone asks for it.

LG G4: Hands-on Video and Impressions is a post from: Droid Life



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Verizon’s Galaxy S4 Gets Lollipop This Week!

The Verizon Galaxy S4 is the next phone to get this year’s big update to Lollipop. According to Verizon, the update will begin rolling out in phases this week as build VRUG0C1 and Android 5.0.1 (LRX22C). 

Like all other Lollipop updates, this one will feature Google’s Material Design language sprinkled throughout the OS, more powerful notification controls, including interactive notifications on the lock screen, a brighter look and feel to Samsung’s TouchWiz, floating action buttons everywhere, and a new look to the recent apps screen.

In order to check for the update, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates>Check for updates.

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galaxy s4 lollipop2 galaxy s4 lollipop3

Via:  Verizon

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Google Gives 70 New Partners Access to Google Now

Back in January, Google announced that it was allowing 3rd party apps to work with Google Now for the first time; 40 of them to be exact. This was huge news because it meant that your favorite non-Google apps could start to give you relevant, perfectly timed information in your Google Now stream just as you need it, in the way that Google attempts to do with transit info, the weather, and your travel plans. Today, they expanded the program by allowing another 70 new partners to get in on the fun. 

Some of the new partners include ABC News, Allrecipes, Jawbone, Runkeeper, Adidas, OpenTable, Zipcar, Spotify, TuneIn, and Feedly.

To see the full list of apps, head over to this Google page. To see some of the example cards of each, go here.

In order to let the new apps play nice with your phone, you will need the newest version of the Google app (4.5), which is rolling out slowly.

Play Link

zipcarmockhighres spotifyhighres

Via:  Inside Search

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LG G4: Hands-on Photo Gallery

Here is a hands-on photo gallery for the LG G4 to keep you busy, while we patiently wait for our hands-on video to upload and go live on YouTube.

From the time I have spent with the device, I am pretty darned impressed with the 5.5″ QHD display, 16MP rear-facing camera with OIS and Laser Auto Focus, as well as the snappiness overall in the device from the Snapdragon 808 processor and 3GB of RAM. 

Thankfully, we have a unit to take back to the Pacific Northwest with us, so you can expect plenty of G4 coverage to follow along shortly.

If there is anything in particular you have questions about, shoot them below, or wait for our video to go live and then ask them.

Until then, feast your eyes on the G4 from LG.

Gallery

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LG G4: Hands-on Photo Gallery is a post from: Droid Life



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Specs: LG G4 vs. Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge vs. HTC One M9

Curious how the new LG G4 stacks up to Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge or the HTC One M9? We walked through each phone’s specs and put them together in a simple comparison sheet for you below, so that you can at least get a feel for each on paper. Each phone will undoubtedly be different when in hand, mostly because of the size, finishes, and software experiences, but this still gives you a way to compare the hardware that manufacturers settled on. 

For example, LG went with the Snapdragon 808 instead of Qualcomm’s supposedly higher-end Snapdragon 810 that is in the HTC One M9. LG did go crazy with the G4’s camera, though, even topping Samsung in aperture. LG also went with a removable battery and microSD slot, something I know a handful of you wish had been included in the Galaxy S6s.

Overall, this is a pretty close battle, even if LG skipped on the fingerprint sensor, heartrate monitor, and all-metal body.

lg g4 vs galaxy s6 edge one m9

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