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Friday, April 24, 2015

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: April 24, 2015

Another week in the books here at DL. It was a news-filled week, though, with Google making Project Fi official, us posting up our long overdue HTC One M9 review, and Sony quietly unveiling the Xperia Z4.

In other news, we took a dive into Google Contributor, Verizon announced new changes to data plans, the Google Store will sell LG’s Watch Urbane in the near future, and Yahoo is looking to compete against Apple and Google directly. Oh, that should be fun.

To catch up on the best Android news of the past week, we have a collection of stories for you below.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: April 24, 2015 is a post from: Droid Life



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Deal: Pick Up the Trakdot Luggage Tracker and 2 Years of Service for $79

I can’t say that it has ever happened to me personally, but I can imagine that losing your luggage while traveling could quite possibly be the most frustrating thing on the planet, especially when you and the airport have no idea where your bag is at the moment you realize it has been lost. Trakdot is a product that attempts to alleviate this situation by tracking your bag at all times.

To work, the Trakdot is simply placed in your luggage and then paired with an app or browser. As you land, the device sends a notification to your phone to let you know its exact location, which hopefully is right underneath your seat in the luggage compartment of the plane. If it isn’t there, then you should at least be able to see its last whereabouts to help you and the airline track and recover it.

The Trakdot typically runs $50, but you need to pay $20 per year for its tracking service. With this deal, you get the Trakdot plus two years of service for $79.99. So basically, you are saving $10. Amazon reviewers seem to love it and have given it a 4.5+ score. 

Features:

  • Tracks your luggage when traveling by air
  • Uses newly patented micro-electronics & ground-based cellphone technologies
  • Tracks & reports its location, even while inside metal containers
  • Sends a notification via your choice of email or text when your plane lands w/ exact location
  • Displays tracking info on free app & web browser

Deal Link

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Sony Xperia Z3 Returns to T-Mobile at $499 After Short Hiatus

The Sony Xperia Z3 randomly showed back up on T-Mobile’s online shop this week after disappearing nearly a month ago without notice. Not only has the device returned, but it can be had for just $499 without a contract or broken out into monthly payments as low as $20.

We still aren’t sure why the Xperia Z3 disappeared for a couple of weeks, but everyone should be happy that it’s back. This is a hell of a smartphone. Sony’s Xperia line has only gotten better over the last couple of years and should be considered by fans of this operating system even with the Galaxy S6 now available. While the fate of the Xperia line in the US now seems to be up the in air, the Z3 deserves more than a 6-month stay at the Uncarrier.

T-Mobile Link

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Friday App Sales: Leo’s Fortune, The Room Two, Metal Slug Series, and More

This week, a massive list of games and apps are on sale for just $1 through Google Play, a few of which I think some of you should already own. For starters, you can grab Leo’s Fortune for $0.99, which is an awesome platformer, plus grab The Room Two for $0.59. If you like escape games, you can’t beat The Room Two in terms of quality for half of a dollar.

On top of those titles, you can grab most of the Metal Slug series for $1 each, as well as Table Tennis Touch for $1.99. If arcade fighting is more your style, you might enjoy The King of Fighters series, which is also on sale for a lowered price of just $0.99.

Check out the full list below. 

Friday App Sales

Get on it!

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Galaxy Note 4 on T-Mobile Receives Approval for Android 5.0 “Lollipop” Update

According to a tweet from T-Mobile’s product guru Des Smith, the Lollipop OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has received technical approval, and should begin seeding out to owners next week. 

While this is great news, and owners are more than welcome to be excited, the version being tested is said to be Android 5.0, according to T-Mobile’s website. As many Lollipop users know, early builds of Lollipop are quite atrocious with the number of bugs present, as Google was quick to send out a few updates to fix them.

Right now, the latest version of Android is 5.1.1, meaning Android 5.0 owners would still be quite behind the curve. Couple that with Samsung’s non de-bloated TouchWiz skin, and you may run into issues.

Fingers crossed T-Mobile and Samsung were able to crush any real major issues for owners, and continue to work on getting an even newer build of Android out to you.

Be on the look out, Note 4 owners on T-Mobile.

Via: @askdes

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Deal: New Unlocked Galaxy S6 Edge (SM-G925i) for $799

Been on the hunt for an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge that works on T-Mobile or AT&T, but isn’t outrageously priced? A current deal running over at eBay may be your best option at the moment. Priced at $799 for the 32GB model, you have the choice of either Sapphire Black or White Pearl, with support for T-Mo and AT&T GSM and LTE bands.

Other unlocked Galaxy S6 Edge sellers are asking for $900 and over, in case you were wondering.

For comparison, a Galaxy S6 Edge purchased outright at AT&T would cost you $815. At T-Mobile you are looking at $780. However, with either those should you decide you want them unlocked, you would not only have to pay full price, but also keep them active at those carriers for up to 60 days at AT&T and 40 days at T-Mobile.

eBay Link

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Next Version of Google Glass Will “Be Out Soon,” According to Report

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the next iteration of Google Glass may be just around the corner, apparently made in direct partnership with Luxoticca, an Italian eyewear maker.

Massimo Vian, CEO of Luxoticca, recently said in a company meeting in Milan that the partnership with Google is moving forward, and that the next version will “be out soon.” 

An exact date or timeframe was not given, but with Google outsourcing possible design elements for Glass, consumers may be in for a much more fashion-friendly face computer.

From what we have learned from Ivy Ross, who currently oversees Glass at Google HQ, the next version should have improved battery life, a better display, better sound, and will most importantly feature a lower price tag for consumers.

Ready for Glass v2.0?

Via: Wall Street Journal

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Be Gone Peeing Bugdroid! Google Apologizes for This Morning’s Maps Fun

The peeing party is over. Google has apologized for this morning’s Google Maps action that involved their Android mascot relieving itself on the Apple logo. According to a statement released to the Washington Post, Google is “sorry for the inappropriate user-created content” found on Maps, which is them referencing a user submitted change to Google Maps via Map Maker. The search giant will learn from whoopsies like these and continue to “constantly” improve the way they “detect, prevent and handle bad edits.” 

For those not familiar with Map Maker, just know that Google uses it as a tool to help keep their Maps updated. Map Maker is open to users like you and I who want to fix errors in Google’s Maps, add new places, roads, hiking trails, etc. Of course, these edits are supposed to be checked out and then approved, but clearly, the process isn’t 100% foolproof.

Back to your Friday.

Via:  Washington Post

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Mediocre, Makers of Granny Smith, Launch ‘Does Not Commute’ to Google Play

From the same Mediocre folks who created one of our favorite games called Granny Smith, a new game with the title Does Not Commute is available on Google Play. 

In Does Not Commute, you control many drivers one at a time in a closed setting. Using your fingers, you choose which route drivers will take to get to their destination. However, once you are in control of about 10 vehicles, you need to be very careful that none of the cars hit each other or fall off of the map.

The game is time based, meaning you have 60 seconds to get all of your cars across the line. There are time tokens placed around maps, which should help you never run out. If you screw up, you can rewind your vehicles, removing any accidents, but it does cost you time.

It is a very fun and unique game, plus it is free to download. However, to utilize premium checkpoints, that allow you to save your progress at any time, you have to pay $1.99.

Go check it out.

Play Link

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It Takes a Long Time for LG to Make the G4’s Leather Backs

On April 28, the world will be officially introduced to the G4 from LG. Even though we are seeing the device and almost all of its features thanks to LG and a set of promos they are running for various features of the device, we still have yet to see the G4 as a whole. By this, I mean LG has not yet released a video or teaser that shows off the phone as a complete package, and instead, they are opting to show off individual features and highlights one by one.

In a blog post, that is written in Korean, LG is following their own trend, diving deeper into detail about the leather used on certain models of the upcoming G4. 

Google Translate seems to be struggling with the translation, but along with a few new pictures of the back cover and the leather being used, we get the feeling that LG wants us to know how much time they are spending on these G4 backs.

G4-아날로그-감성의-名品-천연가죽-입는다-3 G4-아날로그-감성의-名品-천연가죽-입는다-1

LG states that to create these leather-backed models, it is a 12-week production process, which is 10 times longer than the 4-day process for a normal rear cover. That makes sense, since a lot of the process is done by hand. LG also mentions that they ran each back through a post-processing treatment to help it resist moisture and better handle heat. The goal is to creature a luxurious and timeless smartphone, similar to what you get with fine leather bags and purses.

We will be on-hand in NYC next week to bring you all of the G4 action.

Ready for the G4?

Via: LG (translated)

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Verizon Revamps Data Plans Again – Brings Back 10GB $80 and 15GB $100 Options, Kills Others

Back in February, Verizon did a big re-shuffling of its More Everything data plans that included the introduction of a bunch of new tiers, $10 discounts on many, and slight increases on a few. This morning, they did another big shuffling that wiped out many of those new plans, brought back others, and kept the $10 discounts. Let’s talk about what’s new, gone, and what stayed the same. 

The 500MB to 4GB plans are all still here at their February prices, as is the $15 Edge discount that accompanied them. We also still have the 6GB and above limit for the $25 Edge discount, the 6GB plan at $70 and the 20GB plan at $140. That’s what stayed the same.

As for changes, the 8GB ($85), 12GB ($110), 14GB ($120), and 16GB ($130) plans are all gone, even though these were all new just a couple of months ago. In their place, we have the 10GB plan dropping back to $80 (from $100) and the return of the 15GB plan priced at $100.

verizon data plans 4-24-15

Previously, this pricing on the 10GB and 15GB plans was promotional and temporary, so it may not stick around for long.

Via:  Verizon
Cheers Josh!

Verizon Revamps Data Plans Again – Brings Back 10GB $80 and 15GB $100 Options, Kills Others is a post from: Droid Life



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Video: Galaxy S6 Goes 3rd Person Describing Its “Hot” Dual Edges in These Commercials

To say that Samsung’s promotional videos for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have been “wild” is probably a bit of an understatement. From unboxings that lead into parkour outings or helicopter escapes from the bad guys, Samsung is kind of all over the place. That’s not to say that these commercials are bad, they are just different. Different is usually OK, right? Anything but a ticking digital crown set to a drum beat. Please.

Anyways, here are a bunch of semi-funny, kind of awkward, “What Comes Next?” commercials from Samsung that give the phone a voice, turn it into some sort of real object, and then let it talk in the 3rd person to describe itself. 

Video: Galaxy S6 Goes 3rd Person Describing Its “Hot” Dual Edges in These Commercials is a post from: Droid Life



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Here is the Android Logo Pissing on Apple in Google Maps

Ahahah…ahahaha… 

Someone on the Google Maps team might have a little explaining to do to someone this morning. Hopefully, they get only a little wrist slap or are forced to take a shot of Fireball for their actions, but yes, the images you see here are actually in Maps. Click here if you want to see it. In case you can’t quite decipher the code here, that is indeed the Android logo (better known as “Bugdroid”) urinating on the Apple logo.

I couldn’t tell you why this image is plastered just south of Islamabad, west of the Bahria Golf Course, but maybe the Soan River is in need of a refill? Is this that new Bugdroid-Pissing-on-Apple State Park that has been delayed on Kickstarter for months? Whatever the reason, it’s something.

Talk about a start to our Friday.

android pissing apple maps2

Via: Team Android

Here is the Android Logo Pissing on Apple in Google Maps is a post from: Droid Life



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