So Google just released a new Google Wallet app through Google Play, except there is something odd going on here. This isn’t an update to your current Google Wallet app. Instead, it’s a brand new app with a brand new UI.
You can install it at the link below.
Google Just Released a New Google Wallet App… is a post from: Droid Life
Since we are potentially getting close to the launch of new Nexus phones, case makers are doing that thing where they start pre-selling cases for yet-to-be-announced phones to generate buzz, get their name out there, and hopefully sell a bunch of cases to suckers. But not only that, they are doing that thing where they supposedly reveal the phone’s design before its creator can. Like, check out the image above from casemaker Ringke, who is claiming that this is what the new Nexus 5 (2015) (or Nexus 5x or 2nd gen, or whatever the hell the internet is calling it) will look like. They aren’t even holding back either.
The renders inside these cases look like previous leaks, with cameras, flashes, and fingerprint sensors all in specific spots we have seen before. We have USB Type-C ports and nipple humps and buttons in all the right places. We have dual front-facing stereo speakers too! Looking good, renders!
Oh, but we also have one with massive bezels and a Lollipop screen, which you know, makes a lot of sense since this phone will launch with Android Marshmallow…
One of the renders from a different manufacturer has a completely different front, with slimmer bezels and super skinny speakers. It looks all sorts of non-a-chance-in-hell-of-being-real.
So yeah, this is grain of salt stuff, folks. Not #salty, like Apple fankids think Android users are about Apple stuff, but grain of salt as in believe as much as you want and don’t be sad if it’s not 100% accurate because these case makers just want your money now and are playing about as clean as A-Rod after a “rejuvenation” day trip to Biogenesis.
Amazon Link [2] [3]
Case Makers are Spamming Amazon With Nexus 5 (2015) Renders That May or May Not be Legit is a post from: Droid Life
For all of you developers and soon-to-be developers out there, it’s time to brush up on your Android 6.0 Marshmallow development skills. On the DL Deals Store, you can grab the Android Marshmallow Mobile Developer Course, down from its list price of $199, priced at just $25.
With the course, you will be taught app coding for Marshmallow on smartphones using Java, featuring over 93 lectures and 14.5 hours of content. During this process, you will go over learning to use Google’s main APIs for app creation, coding in Java from scratch, understanding the Wearable API, and much more.
If developing is your thing, go check it out.
Features
Deal: Ready Your Marshmallow Development Skills With This Course for $25 is a post from: Droid Life
You know how users initially reported all sorts of issues activating the Nexus 7 (2013) LTE and the Nexus 6 on Verizon shortly after they each launched, even though each device was technically fully capable of attaching to Verizon’s network? That whole situation stemmed from Verizon not having certified those devices at the time of the attempted activations. Since they weren’t certified, and likely not in Verizon’s systems, they couldn’t be activated, thus creating the issues. We walked you through all sorts of work-arounds, but it was still a problem. With the Moto X Pure Edition and its fully unlocked self arriving on doorsteps of many this week, we reached out to Verizon to see if customers would run into similar issues.
According to Verizon, “customers who purchase the Moto X Pure Edition from Motorola will be able to activate it fine on our network.” You heard it here first – the Moto X Pure Edition shouldn’t have any issues being activated on Verizon’s network. If you are activating a new line with Verizon or signing-up for new service, you should be able to head into a Verizon store and have your brand new Moto X Pure Edition activated like any other phone.
Now, if you already have Verizon service and a nano SIM, all of this doesn’t really matter to you. With an active line and compatible nano SIM, you can just swap the SIM from your current phone into the new Moto X Pure Edition and move about your day.
We should have our Moto X Pure Edition tomorrow and will be sure to test as many networks as possible, including Verizon’s. While we are running through that process, be sure to let us know if you run into any issues.
Verizon Will Allow You to Activate the Moto X Pure Edition is a post from: Droid Life
Late last year I was sitting in my car playing with my tiny iPhone 5c. I had just finished reviewing the Sony Z3v and it dawned on me. I missed Android. I started messaging with everyone at Droid Life and within a few minutes I decided I was going to switch to Android. I have an upgrade coming up in October so I figured I would upgrade to the Note 5 since it would be the latest phone out then. Then I got to spend some time with the Galaxy S6. It was a great phone with some shortcomings, but surely the Note 5 would be the phone for me.
More time passed and I continued to evaluate. Would the Note 5 meet my needs? Can I live with a more advanced OS that doesn’t get apps or updates first? Can I give up iMessage for SMS? I had lots of questions and few answers. Read on to get my impressions of the Galaxy Note 5 and what I decided.
S Pen
I don’t think I need a phone with a stylus, but whenever I used it I enjoyed it. Most of the time I used it just to mess around or as a workaround for the lack of a TweetShot app for Android. Right before we recorded an episode a podcast I co-host I needed to jot down some questions. I immediately went for the S Pen, opened S Note and started scribbling. Could I have just typed the questions? Sure, but I’m about as fast on a tiny keyboard as I am handwriting nowadays and it worked perfectly. So again, while the S Pen is far from essential in my book, like NFC it can be a cool tool to use when appropriate.
The Rear Camera
Samsung has been putting out phones with stunning cameras for several generations now and this is no exception. While the shots are sometimes a little too low in contrast that’s nothing a little editing can’t fix. Overall the Note 5 has an incredible camera that launches quickly and takes great pictures with little effort. That’s all I need.
Display
The display on the Note 5 is amazing. It has incredible brightness levels that make it usable in all but the brightest direct sunlight and it also gets incredibly dark for those low light situations like getting some reading done while your child sleeps next to you. The only downside to this display is that the colors were sometimes too vivid for my eyes, leading me to choose a more muted wallpaper.
Performance
The Note 5 never stuttered or hiccuped for me once. Maybe it’s the processor. Maybe it’s the RAM. Maybe it’s the toned down TouchWiz. Maybe it’s Maybelline. Whatever it is, it’s working. This phone flies with everything you throw at it.
S Health
I think MyFitnessPal is a better app overall, but S Health is incredible as a built-in fitness app, especially when compared to Apple Health. With S Health you can count your calories, track your steps, check your heart rate, track and log exercise, and more. There are better apps out there with more restaurants for calorie counting, but if you just need the basics for watching what you eat and exercising S Health works great. The only thing I dislike is when I’m going for a run and I’m at the last bit and the phone says, “Almost there. You can do it” in the most monotone, robotic voice possible. If you’re going to throw in an encouragement like that record it with some inflection!
Big Phones Still Have Big Problems
I’ve actually been really happy with the size and feel of the Note 5. I even went running with it regularly with the Note in one hand and my dog’s leash in the other. The problem I have is that most of Android is still designed to have a lot of the UI on the top of the display, which is unreachable for normal people with a phone this big, never mind with something like the Nexus 6.
As I’ve been using the Note 5 and trying to reach taller areas with one hand I’ve wished not only that apps would start moving UI elements to the bottom of the screen, but also that things like notifications would sit there too. I’m using Nova Launcher so I’m able to set the notification tray to come down with a swipe down on my home screen, but when I’m within apps I’m stuck doing dangerous shimmies or using two hands.
Matias Duarte has continued to pull over more and more bits of webOS during his tenure at Google; why not bring over webOS notifications too? On the Pre they made sense because the top of the phone was harder to reach with the keyboard extended; we have the same problem today, but no one has done anything to solve it. I don’t think big phones are going to go away, so it would be nice if Android as a whole moved towards making these giant phones easier to wield.
Design
The Note 5 is a big phone, but the curved back makes holding the device not only enjoyable, but less of a nuisance. I wish Samsung would have kept the slight curve they included on the front of the S6 (and even enhanced it a bit), because without it the Note 5 looks like every other Samsung phone before it. I also wish Samsung would have used a recessed speaker grill like Sony has done in the past instead of the flashy silver grill. The metal trim around the edges is nice and gives the phone just enough grip. The camera protrudes just a bit from the back of the shell, but not enough to make the phone easy to wobble when placed on a table. It’s a good design, but it’s nothing amazing. I’d love to see Samsung step this up even more, specifically with the face of the device.
The Front Camera
The front camera on a phone is becoming increasingly important. Most of the time I think it takes a nice shot, but especially in low light I feel like it is doing too much processing or something. Details often look soft like the ‘beauty’ feature got stuck on max. In great light it works great, but otherwise it’s just ok.
Fingerprint Scanner and Home Button
The fingerprint scanner works most of the time, but it’s been a mixed experience for me. First of all, it’s a rounded rectangle which makes it harder to place my whole thumb or finger over it at certain angles, leading to me having to re-scan my thumb far more often than I have to do on my wife’s iPhone 6. The button is also placed very closely to the bottom of the display, which has led to errant presses far more than I have on the Moto X with its software buttons. I get why Samsung is still using physical buttons like this and I think fingerprint scanners are a must-have for any flagship, but I think a little more space between the button and the screen would help.
Android Apps
There have been plenty of think pieces about the differences between Android and iOS apps. Heck, I’ve written several of them, but with the Galaxy Note 5 so many of my hunches and feelings have been solidified. To be clear, most apps work just as well as their iOS counterparts, but there are some that have strange behaviors that seem inexcusable in 2015.
For example, I love reading comics in Marvel Unlimited, but the transitions between pages are jarring. When I swipe between pages the motion is smooth as I touch the screen, but as soon as I let go it jumps to the next page instead of completing the smooth transition. Is that so terrible that I just can’t use the app? No, but it’s the kind of detail that matters in an app where one thing I’ll definitely be doing often is swiping between pages. This isn’t an Android problem, either. Comixology, for example, scrolls totally normally between pages. Marvel has just decided that its Android users don’t deserve as good an experience as their iOS users.
It isn’t just Marvel Unlimited, either. Many Android apps are still second to get features that premier on their iOS counterparts. Again, for most users this isn’t a deal breaker, but it doesn’t make me want to jump ship to Android when it’s been demonstrated time and time again that many (not all) developers consider it a second class platform. If you’re already on Android then this isn’t a new problem, but as a potential returner to Android this was a big hurdle.
Volume Level Warning
I complained about this in my thoughts on the Galaxy S6 and I still found it to be a maddening issue with the Note 5. When you plug in headphones and adjust the volume it sometimes warns you about excessive volume levels. I get having that warning, but the reality is the software has no idea what the levels of the media are that I’m listening to. The warning actually didn’t do it the first time I went above volume it deems safe, but it popped up within a day or two. Then it went away for a few days and then it came back up on top of the notification screen. After that I never saw it again. Again, I get why this is there, but it really isn’t helpful or accurate.
Volume Level Consistency
This is another complaint that I mentioned with this S6. I’ll be listening to a podcast or music and then need to pull my headphones our tape adapter out of the phone momentarily. When I plug the headphones in again, even if it’s only been one second, the volume level has dropped. I imagine this is part of Samsung’s well meaning safe volume level campaign, but if I set the volume to a certain level I don’t want it reset when I plug my headphones back in. On iOS the volume level stays the same (it is separately saved for with headphones and without, though, which is nice) no matter how many times I plug or unplug headphones; Android should do the same.
I also had a weird issue on two runs while I was listening to music. It was fine for the whole run and then when I got to a certain location at the last bit the volume would dip and then soar back and forth which was annoying and painful. I’ve never had that issue with my iPhone using the same wired headphones and I have no idea what caused it, but it happened twice at the same place.
Media Playback Controls on Headphones
Another repeat, but absolutely worth repeating. On iOS if I triple tap the mic button it goes back a track. If I double tap and hold it fast forwards; triple tap and hold it rewinds. I’d love to have those controls built into Android. It makes controlling media while driving so much easier.
Location, Location, Location… Location. Location.
The Galaxy S6 had a bug where it would display a “Location Found” notification far too often. When I was using the device it was new so I figured they would fix the problem with a software update in the future. The Galaxy Note 5 has the exact same problem. Most of the time it pops up and goes away and it isn’t an issue, but on one afternoon it popped up over and over and over again for a good two hours, making notifications inaccessible and unusable. The only option that I can find to fix this problem is to disable location altogether, but I’d really rather just disable the notification. I’m glad it found me, but I don’t need to know every 2 seconds.
Battery-life.com
The battery life on the Note 5 is about as good as it was on the Galaxy S6 in my experience. That means with heavy usage I’m charging in the afternoon to get through the rest of the day. I sort of understood that with the Galaxy S6 even though it was bigger than my two year old iPhone 5c that did about as well, but the Note 5 has no excuse. This thing is massive – where’s my massive battery?
My worst day with the Note 5 should have been my best day. On my way out to church I listened to music and then the phone sat in my pocket for the next few hours unused while I helped set up the stage, ran rehearsal, led worship, and cleaned up the stage. I jumped into my car and discovered the battery was in the 40s. Normally my 5c (which is also on Verizon) would be in the 80s at worst. The week after the same thing happened. I suspect the poor service in the building may be part of the problem, but there’s no reason why a phone with half the battery size (1507 mAh) of the other (3000 mAh) should last substantially longer in the exact same conditions.
On the bright side the Note 5 charges incredibly quickly, which doesn’t make up for the average battery life, but it helps.
After spending the last two weeks with the Galaxy Note 5 I’ve decided to get an iPhone 6s. I still love Android and I have plenty of issues with the iPhone, but I have more with Android. I wish the iPhone had a better built in health app and wireless charging and fast charging and better notifications and came with more built in storage and didn’t bend, but I also know that I prefer to have the best apps first over the most featured operating system.
The Galaxy Note 5 is a great phone that I will happily recommend to my friends on Android who don’t mind the less than stellar battery life in exchange for a great display, great performance, a fingerprint scanner, and a great camera. We may not have the perfect phone still, but the Note 5 is still one of the best devices in 2015.
Thoughts on the Galaxy Note 5 from an iPhone User [Opinion] is a post from: Droid Life
How does the newly announced iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus stack up to the best of the moment from Android? Well, in the table below, you can see, at least on paper. We have assembled the newest from Samsung, Motorola, and LG in a spec showdown of sorts. It’s a simple paper comparison, but it almost always gets the job done.
Like in past years where Apple unveils an “S” model, they kept the same frame of a phone, but upgraded the internals. We have a new A9 64-bit processor, upgraded 12MP camera, new 3D Touch display technology, and, well, I think that’s it. They may have upgrade RAM and the battery as well, though Apple doesn’t exactly like to be upfront with that info. As we have it, we’ll be sure to add it to the table below.
Here you go.
| iPhone 6s | iPhone 6s Plus | Galaxy Note 5 | Galaxy S6 | Moto X Pure | LG G4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OS | iOS 9 | iOS 9 | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Network | 23-band LTE VoLTE |
23-band LTE VoLTE |
LTE Cat.9 / LTE Cat.6 VoLTE |
LTE Cat.6 VoLTE |
15-band LTE | LTE VoLTE |
| Dimensions | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm, 143g | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm, 192g | 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm, 171g | 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm, 138g | 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06mm, 179g | 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8mm, 155g |
| Processor | A9 64-bit | A9 64-bit | Exynos 7420 (64bit, 14nm) Octa core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad) |
Exynos 7420 (64bit, 14nm) Octa core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad) |
1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core | 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core |
| RAM | - | - | 4GB RAM (LPDDR4) | 3GB RAM (LPDDR4) | 3GB DDR | 3GB |
| Storage | 16/64/128GB | 16/64/128GB | 32/64GB (UFS 2.0) | 32/64/128GB (UFS 2.0) | 16GB/32GB/64GB + microSD for up to 128GB | 32GB + microSD for up to 2TB |
| Display | 4.7" Retina HD with 3D Touch 1334x750 (326ppi) |
5.5" Retina HD with 3D Touch 1920x1080 (401ppi) |
5.7” Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560×1440 (518ppi) |
5.1’’ Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560×1440 (577ppi) |
5.7" Quad HD LCD 2560x1440 (520ppi) |
5.5" Quantum IPS LCD QHD 2560×1440 (538ppi) |
| Camera | Rear: 12MP iSight (f2.2) Front: 5MP (f2.2) |
Rear: 12MP iSight w/ OIS (f2.2) Front: 5MP (f2.2) |
Rear: 16 MP w/ OIS (F1.9) Front: 5 MP (F1.9) |
Rear: 16 MP w/ OIS (F1.9) Front: 5 MP |
Rear: 21MP (f2.0) Front: 5MP with flash |
Rear: 16MP w/ OIS 2.0 (f/1.8, Laser autofocus) Front: 8MP (f2.0) |
| Battery | - | - | 3,000mAh | 2550mAh | 3,000mAh | 3,000mAh (removable) |
| Charging | Lightning port | Lightning port | Fast Charging, Fast Wireless Charging | Fast Charging, Wireless Charging | Turbo Charging | Turbo Charging |
| Payment | Apple Pay, NFC | Apple Pay, NFC | Samsung Pay, NFC, MST | Samsung Pay, NFC, MST | Android Pay, NFC | Android Pay, NFC |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, Glonass, iBeacon |
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, Glonass, iBeacon |
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MIMO (2×2) 620Mbps Bluetooth® v4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou) |
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MIMO (2×2) 620Mbps Bluetooth® v4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou) |
WiFi 802.11a/g/b/n/ac with MIMO Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, NFC, GPS |
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, Glonass, USB 2.0, NFC |
| Sensor | Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Barometer, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor | Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Barometer, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer, Proximity, RGB Light, Geo-magnetic, Gyro, Fingerprint, Barometer, Hall, HRM | Accelerometer, Light, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Fingerprint, Hall, HRM | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity |
| Colors | Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold | Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold | Black Sapphire, White Pearl | Gold, Black, White | 18 different backs, 7 different accents, Moto Maker | Genuine brown or black leather; Metallic Gray or Ceramic White plastic |
Specs Comparison: iPhone 6s and 6s Plus vs. the Best of Android is a post from: Droid Life
Tinder, the dating app based on “nope” and “like,” has a new feature for those who really need to express how much they like a person they have never met. Called “Super Like,” this will show the recipient that you mean business, ready to meet and start a life together as soon as possible.
Your number of usable Super Likes is limited, making their meaning all the more special. You know, because people want to feel special. Tinder feels this will lead to more meaningful matches for users. According to Tinder’s presser, “Users will be able to determine whether someone has Super Liked them by the presence of a blue footer on a given profile. The receiver is still in control of whom they want to match with, but the existence of a Super Like can influence that decision.”
The Super Like is rolling out to users in Australia first, followed by a global rollout in the following weeks. Sorry, you’ll have to wait to find true love with Super Likes for a bit longer.
Have any fun stories about Tinder? I want to hear them!
Tinder Intros “Super Like,” in Case a Regular “Like” Isn’t Enough is a post from: Droid Life
Yesterday, T-Mobile told us to expect monthly security updates for Nexus devices including the Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7 (2013), 9, and 10. Today, Google posted the factory images for each as build LMY48M.
Keep in mind that the T-Mobile Nexus 6 will receive a different update as build LYZ28K, so if you are running a Nexus 6 on T-Mo, don’t flash these LMY48M images.
You can grab the new factory images here. Instructions for flashing can be found here.
Google Posts LMY48M Factory Images for Nexus 6, 9, 5, 7 (2013), 10, and 4 is a post from: Droid Life
There is an Apple event today at 10AM Pacific. Because of said event, and our constant need for snark, we will be live chatting the happenings as we always do.
A couple of weeks back, as Apple was inviting the press to this September extravaganza, we told you to prepare for sensationalism. You should probably prepare for more than that. Let’s be honest here, sensationalism is only the beginning of what will undoubtedly be an embarrassing display of “THIS IS AMAZING.” You should prepare for finger tips to be permanently lacking blood (Force Touch), even awesomer iPad photo shoots (nothing like 12-inch tablet photos!), and charts with misleading information. So many charts.
The live chat is embedded below. Apple will also live stream the entire event, though. You can watch it here. Unfortunately, you have to do so through an Apple device or in Safari. Ugh, I know, Safari.
10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern). Ready?
Live Chat: Apple’s September 2015 iPhone 6s, Apple TV, Sirified, iPad Pro, iOS 9er, El Capitan All the Things Event! is a post from: Droid Life
This morning, Verizon announced a new XXL option that will join the S-M-L-XL choices of its still newish “The Verizon Plan.” The XX-Large option includes 18GB of shareable data for $100 per month. That’s a decent deal if you compare it to AT&T’s $100 option, which only has 15GB of data.
Here is the current line-up:
Verizon introduced the new S-M-L-XL back in early August in an attempt to simplify the process of buying wireless service through them. They used to do all of these silly (and confusing) discounts on line access fees depending on how much data you bought or if you were a part of their Edge device payment plan. With “The Verizon Plan” it’s a flat $20 line access charge, a flat rate for data, and then whatever the cost is per month for your phone payment. It is simplified, that’s for sure.
To read more about the new plan details and how Verizon killed the 2-year contract, check out this post and this post.
Verizon Introduces XXL Plan of 18GB for $100 is a post from: Droid Life
For the kids here who wish they could cast content from the YouTube Kids app to a big screen TV in the living room, Google now has you covered. This morning, the YouTube Kids application received an update, bringing full Chromecast support.
In addition to Chromecast support, parents can set a passcode to access parental controls inside of the app, as well as the app’s settings menu. This allows you to take full control over what your kids do with the app, you weirdo control freak.
Do your kiddies enjoy this curated YouTube experience for youth?
YouTube Kids App Receives Chromecast Support Via Update is a post from: Droid Life
Still haven’t picked up a Turbo Charger or one of the many Quick Charge 2.0 chargers that Amazon sells at rock bottom prices? Assuming you haven’t bought the Quick Charge-less OnePlus 2, you should probably own at least two of these chargers. They really do make life much less stressful, knowing that as your battery deteriorates during a day, that you can quickly juice it fully within about an hour. Quick Charge 2.0 is easily one of the best tech inventions of the last 5 years.
So if you haven’t picked one up, we wanted to point out that the Groupon deal for Motorola’s Turbo Charger is back. You can grab a re-certified version for just $9.99 or pick up a brand new one for $14.99. These originally retailed for around $35, so we’re talking a significant discount. And at $9.99, you are even getting a better price than the off-brand adapters Amazon is selling.
DEAL: Groupon’s $10 Turbo Charger Deal is Back is a post from: Droid Life
Your next flagship phone from Samsung (or another OEM) might have 6GB of RAM inside. I know that you are still wrapping your brain around it having 4GB, but Samsung is ready to move beyond that mark through its first 12Gb LPDDR4 mobile DRAM based on its 20nm process.
It’s new RAM is said to be 30% faster than its 8Gb RAM and twice as fast as DDR4 DRAM for PCs, “while consuming less energy.” When used in a single 6GB RAM package, Samsung says that it can fit in the same space used by a 3GB RAM package, so really, your next flagship will probably have 6GB RAM. That’s just nuts.
Mass production for this new 12Gb RAM has begun.
Your Next Phone Might Have 6GB of RAM, Thanks to Samsung is a post from: Droid Life
