APK BRO™ - Download APK Android Apps: 07/28/15

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Verizon Lights Up XLTE in Six New Markets

Depending on how long you have been reading DL, you may recall a while back when we would write up weekly announcement posts of when new 4G LTE markets would light up across the US. Seeing as how it’s mid-2015, those posts don’t happen anymore, as Verizon’s rollout of LTE was complete some time ago.

Now, we have Big Red lighting up XLTE, aka their AWS spectrum (band 4 LTE), available in six new markets according to today’s announcement.

The new markets for XLTE are Carlsbad, NM, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Corbin, KY, Jackson, MS, Selma, AL, and Stevens Point, WI. For those of you new to XLTE, it is Verizon way of boosting customer bandwidth on cellular networks, which is now a little over a year old.

Check out the list of new markets below, then share your stories of a time when you remember the world before LTE in the comments below.

New XLTE Markets

Carlsbad-Artesia, NM
Coos Bay-North Bend, OR
Corbin, KY
Jackson, MS
Selma, AL
Stevens Point-Marshfield, WI

Via: Verizon

Verizon Lights Up XLTE in Six New Markets is a post from: Droid Life

Motorola “Smart Watch” Hits FCC, Presumably the Next Moto 360

According to a published filing on the FCC website, it appears a possible sequel to last year’s Moto 360 smartwatch from Motorola just went through its paces. With test reports filed for Bluetooth and WiFi (802.11b/g/n), and the details stating that testing took place on a “smart watch” for Motorola Mobility, evidence suggests we may not be too far away from the company’s followup wearable.

Not long ago, a possible charger for this device also went through the FCC. In the documents filed, it is written that the regulatory information is embedded electronically. This same method was used on last year’s Moto 360. A user will need to head into the Settings menu to view the Identification Label, which is unlike the case on smartphones.

Of course, Motorola also filed a confidentiality request letter, so there are no photos of the device, renders, or anything too telling for us to drool over.

We may not have gotten the new Moto 360 this morning at Motorola’s event, but we’re getting closer.

Via: FCC

Cheers Nicolas!

Motorola “Smart Watch” Hits FCC, Presumably the Next Moto 360 is a post from: Droid Life

Google Contributor Now Open to Public, Support Websites and See Cat Ads

Google Contributor, the service that allows you to pay a monthly fee to browse the worldwide web somewhat ad-free, is now available for anyone to use. To break it down, depending on how much money you contribute per month, you will be served fewer advertisements on sites that are enrolled.

We took Contributor out for a spin not too long ago, concluding that the service is pretty awesome. Sites that use Google’s ad services, like AdSense, see a small portion of your monthly contribution in their account, making it a win-win for users.

Kellen said the following in his writeup on Contributor.

Right now, I’m paying $10 per month and am already seeing a lot less ads. Of course, we all know that ad-block is free, but to website owners like me, ad-block is a pretty horrible product that only hurts our opportunity to keep producing content that is free to consume. I personally, am now enjoying the fact that ads in my browser are reduced on the sites I visit regularly, except I’m doing it while still helping these sites.

From what I can see, the pricing has not changed. You can choose between $2, $5, and $10 monthly contributions. The more you spend, the less ads you see. What I did notice is that Google Apps accounts are not supported. You will need a regular Gmail account to get started.

As Kellen stated, ad-block is free, but running a website and producing content is not. Not by a long shot. Google Contributor can help you support the sites you love, while blocking ads that annoy you.

If you are interested, follow the link below to sign up.

Google Contributor

Via: @mattcutts

Google Contributor Now Open to Public, Support Websites and See Cat Ads is a post from: Droid Life

Choose One: Moto X Pure Edition (2015) or OnePlus 2?

We have two new flagship phones to ponder this week, and it’s only Tuesday. Last night, relative newcomer OnePlus announced the OnePlus 2, with its 5.5″ FHD display, Snapdragon 810 processor, USB Type-C, and fingerprint reader, declaring it as the “2016 flagship killer.” Early this morning, we have veteran OEM Motorola, introducing the Moto X ‘Style’, branded as the Moto X Pure Edition for the US. It features a 5.7″ QHD display, Snapdragon 808 processor, and 21MP rear-facing camera.

Both phones are reasonably affordable, with zero carrier involvement needed to buy one. The OnePlus 2 starts at just $329, while the Moto X Pure Edition will retail for $399, with additional storage upgrades costing a bit more. In comparison to flagship phones from Samsung, this $300-$400 range is extremely tempting for buyers, as the idea of no two-year commitment on a carrier to even afford the device is quite promising.

Each phone offers a few software tweaks on top of stock Android 5.1.1, meaning there are no custom skins to be found. Again, this is great news for Android fans.

If you had to choose, for the sake of this poll, which device would you purchase?

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

Choose One: Moto X Pure Edition (2015) or OnePlus 2? is a post from: Droid Life

Moto G (3rd Gen) Unboxing and Quick Look!

We may not have taken home a new Moto X Pure Edition after today’s Motorola product launch event, but they didn’t let us walk out the door empty handed either. Motorola tossed us a brand new Moto G (3rd gen) to start testing as we await the arrival of their 2015 flagship.

With this new Moto G, we get upgrades in all the right places (battery, 4G LTE, storage and RAM, cameras, processor, and waterproofing), but with a price that has mostly stayed the same. The phone starts at $179 and goes up to $219, depending on your storage choice. Speaking of choice, Moto Maker is now a part of the Moto G package as well! You can customize all sorts of items, too, like the back and accent colors, storage/RAM, and more.

Mid-range phones aren’t typically something that we review, but after doing this unboxing and feeling the quality of this smallish phone in hand, I’m sort of tempted to give it a go. While I figure that out, be sure to see it in action.

If you would like to buy the new Moto G (3rd gen), head over to Motorola’s store.

Moto G (3rd Gen) Unboxing and Quick Look! is a post from: Droid Life

Send Your WhatsApp and Viber Messages With Voice Instead of Thumbs

Tired of using your thumbs like a Neanderthal to send messages to friends via your favorite 3rd-party messaging apps? Well, Google now wants you to use your beautiful speaking voice, allowing you to speak exactly what you want sent through messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, and WeChat.

The idea is pretty basic. On your home screen, say, “Ok Google, send a WhatsApp message to Kellen: You partying in NYC with Diddy tonight?” With that command, the Google app will instruct WhatsApp to send the message to that specific contact, and then you are all done. The same can be done for Viber, WeChat, Telegram, and NextPlus.

In order to get this going, you will need updated apps from Google Play, but once you have them, it should all work seamlessly with zero issues.

Try it out and give those hard-working thumbs a break.

Via: Google

Send Your WhatsApp and Viber Messages With Voice Instead of Thumbs is a post from: Droid Life

Moto X Play Specs (Official)

Announced for International markets alongside the Moto X Pure Edition and Moto G (3rd Gen), the Moto X Play is the mid-range device between the other two. It features a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM, 5.5″ FHD 1080p display, and a 21MP rear-facing camera.

Keep in mind that the Moto X Play will not be headed to the US by any means. Motorola stated in a press release that they have something else planned for us later in the year.

Here are the official Moto X Play specifications.

BASIC PARAMETERS

Colors: 14 different backs, varying from market to market
Dimensions: 148.00 x 75.00 x 8.9-10.9mm
Weight: 169 grams
System: Android 5.1.1 “Lollipop”
CPU: Motorola Mobile Computing System, 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-core CPU, Natural Language Processor, Contextual Computing Processor
GPU: Adreno 405 with 550 MHz GPU
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16GB, 32GB + microSD card slot for 128GB max storage
Battery: 3,630mAh
Water Protection: Yes

CONNECTIVITY

Connectivity:

GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
4G LTE (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 41)

Wi-Fi: 802.11a/g/b/n (dual band capable)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth version 4.0 LE
Positioning: GPS antenna

PORTS, SLOTS, BUTTONS AND INDICATORS

Ports Data & Charging: Micro USB, 3.5 mm headset jack
NFC: Yes
Buttons: Power Button, Volume Rockers, On-screen buttons
SIM: Nano-SIM

DISPLAY

Size: 5.5-inch
Resolution: 1080p Full HD, 403 ppi
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3

CAMERAS

Sensor: 21 Megapixel
Features: Slow motion video, 4X digital zoom, Burst mode, Night mode, Auto HDR, Panorama, Quick Capture, Tap anywhere to capture
OIS: No
Laser Focus: No
Flash: Colour Correlated Temperature (CCT) flash with dual LEDs
Aperture: f/2.0 aperture
Front Camera: 5 Megapixel
Video: 1080p HD, 30fps (MPEG4, H.264)

AUDIO

Speakers: Front-ported
Microphones: Dual-microphone

Moto X Play Specs (Official) is a post from: Droid Life

Moto X Pure Edition Does Indeed Work on All US Carriers, Including Verizon

During today’s live press event from Motorola, the company announced that its new Moto X Pure Edition was an unlocked phone that worked on all of the major US carriers, including Verizon. People were excited at the thought of buying a phone for $399 that could be taken to any carrier of choice. That excitement died quickly, though, when Motorola posted official specs for the phone and left out any mention of Verizon’s CDMA bands or its LTE band 13.

As it turns out, that was a mistake on their part. The specs have now been updated to include all supported bands. We included them below, but you can see for yourself at Motorola’s site and our official specs list.

Moto X Pure Edition wireless bands:

UMTS GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+ (800, 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)
4G LTE (B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 28, 40, 41)
CDMA (800, 850, 1900 MHz)

Moto X Pure Edition Does Indeed Work on All US Carriers, Including Verizon is a post from: Droid Life

Quick Comparison: Moto X Pure Edition (2015) vs. Moto X (2nd Gen)

Shortly after running through a quick hand-on tour with the new Moto X Pure Edition, I had a chance to whip out the Moto X (2nd gen) and film a quick side-by-side comparison.

Next to one another, these phones look almost identical outside of their size. That’s the first thing that stands out – how big the new Moto X is. I wouldn’t call it the most awkward-to-use phone by any means, but it’s definitely up there in the size department. Other than that, you get nice upgrades from one year to the next like you would expect, which means a QHD display, 3GB RAM, 21MP camera, new Snapdragon 808 processor, and microSD support.

Take a look at the short video below, then let us know if you plan to upgrade from one Moto X to the next.

Quick Comparison: Moto X Pure Edition (2015) vs. Moto X (2nd Gen) is a post from: Droid Life

Moto X Pure Edition (2015) First Impressions and Tour!

What does Motorola do to try and upstage the madness that was OnePlus’ unveiling of the OnePlus 2, yesterday? They gave us three phones! Or four. Or…we’re all confused. One thing is for sure, Motorola is releasing a US flagship phone called the Moto X Pure Edition, which is known everywhere else in the world as the Moto X Style (see, confusing!).

While the phone won’t be out until September, we spent a good amount of time with it this morning. We walked through all of the Moto features, like Voice, Display, Assist, and Actions. Yep, they are all in the “Pure Edition,” even though others are incorrectly reporting that Motorola has stripped that out. We fired up the camera in the poorly lit demo room (nothing to report from that bad of a lighting situation) and snapped some quick pics. We looked at a variety of colors, all of which will be available for you to choose from. We experienced the Pure Edition for as long as we could.

Overall, the phone feels and looks like a bigger version of last year’s Moto X (2nd gen). You get Moto Maker customizations, have an identical design, and that same lovely close-to-stock Android experience that we all enjoy. I can’t say that I was blown away by the phone because it was so similar, but it certainly didn’t turn me off. I’m sure it’ll be a fine phone when finished and available, especially at its more-than-reasonable $399 starting point.

Unfortunately, since the phone won’t be out for another month or two, our time was limited. For now, enjoy the quick hands-on video below.

Moto X Pure Edition (2015) First Impressions and Tour! is a post from: Droid Life

Moto G (3rd Gen) Specs

The Moto G (3rd Gen) is now official, available starting today through Moto Maker. Priced at just $179, this is Motorola’s affordable handset, that also delivers for those who enjoy naming off specs. While it may not stack up too high against flagship devices, there is a massive market for budget-friendly smartphones across the world.

Available through Moto Maker, buyers can choose to customize the device with various different colored backs and fronts. In addition, note that depending on which storage size you choose will directly affect how much RAM the phone has.

Here are the official Moto G (3rd Gen) specs.