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Friday, February 5, 2016

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: February 5, 2016

So, what happened this week? A lot actually. We ran through both episode 100 and 101 of the DL Show. We gave away a Nexus 6P in gold, $500 in Google Play credit, a bunch of promo codes for Chrooma keyboard, and more. We saw backside photos of the Galaxy S7, know now that the LG G5 is officially coming at MWC, and that HTC is building another iPhone clone. We are also getting Marshmallow on Android Wear, more data in Verizon prepaid, and podcasts in Google Play Music (finally).

It was another big week as we inch closer to MWC on February 21. Catch up now! 

🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

Don’t Miss These Android Stories: February 5, 2016 is a post from: Droid Life



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Question of the Day: Who You Got in Super Bowl 50?

Today’s question is pretty straightforward. Who you got in this year’s Super Bowl? This year, we have the Denver Broncos going up against the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara, CA. Both teams feature pretty exciting offensives and defenses, so we could be in for either a very exciting, or very boring game, depending on how you look at it.

From the historical standpoint, this will likely be Peyton Manning’s last game as an NFL quarterback, and Super Bowl 50 could be the first of many to come appearances in a Super Bowl for the young Cam Newton.

As for me, my fictitious money is on Carolina, 28-17.

So, who you got this Sunday?

Question of the Day: Who You Got in Super Bowl 50? is a post from: Droid Life



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3 Reasons the Huawei Watch is Worth Buying

Marshmallow is rolling out to Android Wear devices, and if there is one device that really shines after the update, it is the Huawei Watch. Already a fantastic smartwatch, the Huawei Watch is only getting better, as the good folks at Huawei stated that they worked closely with Google to ensure that this smartwatch would not be outdated anytime soon.

Inside the latest Android Wear update is support for external speakers, which the Huawei Watch does indeed feature. That means that you can now listen to music, take calls, and much more all from your wrist using this device.

If you are still in the market for an Android Wear device, we present you with three reasons the Huawei Watch is worth buying.


Huawei Watch 13

1. Plenty of Style Options to Choose From

Much like the Moto 360 (2nd Gen), albeit not nearly as good, the Huawei Watch is available in many different options for whatever your outfit may be that day. While there are plenty of watches geared for working out and fitness, the Huawei Watch is unapologetically designed for those who are fashion-first. It’s a premium looking and feeling device, so when you wear it, Huawei intends on you feeling like a million bucks.

The standard (cheapest) option available is the Stainless Steel and Black Leather watch combo. This retails currently for $349 on Huawei’s website. However, for those feeling a bit more flashy, an all Rose Gold Plated option is available for $799 on Huawei’s store. In the middle you have Silver Mesh for $399, as well as an all Black look, retailing for $449 through the Google Store. For affordability, the Huawei Watch will receive no awards, but the quality is absolutely top notch, that I can say.

If these prices still seem a bit steep, I would recommend the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) from Moto Maker. Starting at $299, you can buy a really good smartwatch, plus customize it a bit for not much more money.

2. It’s Made With the Future in Mind

As stated in the opening, Huawei worked closely with Google to ensure that they were creating a smartwatch that would not become outdated within a year or two. A true example of this, before the inclusion was widely known, Huawei built in a speaker for audio feedback, something that Android Wear did not support at the time. As of this week (months after the device’s launch), the Marshmallow update for Android Wear is rolling out, and baked inside is speaker support. Thanks to this foresight, anyone rocking a Huawei Watch can listen to music, take calls, and hear reminders all from the wrist. This is something that not all Android Wear devices from 2015 can claim, but Huawei can.

The specs inside of the Huawei Watch should also keep up just fine for the future of Android Wear. At this time, we don’t expect anything too extravagant coming in terms of software, so the device’s Snapdragon 400 processor and 512MB of RAM should maintain a well performing smartwatch with no problem.

Also included on the device is a heart rate monitor, in case throwing on a silicone band and using it for workouts is something you desire, as well as a 300mAh battery. According to Huawei, the battery should last two days, given you turn off the always-on display feature. I will say, one feature that is lacking that we wish was included is a GPS sensor. While it is not necessary, it certainly would have added a bit more value to particular buyers.

Huawei Watch

3. The Display is Stunning

Let’s be real, for the second year in a row, Motorola has provided us with a flat tire. Yes, there is a logical and reasonable explanation for it (ambient light sensor), but does it not throw off the design of a circular watch? In my opinion, it does to some degree. For the most part, I can live with it, but that is where the Huawei Watch comes into light.

Featuring a completely circular AMOLED display (with no flat tire), its resolution is 400 x 400, allowing digital hands to look crisp, as well as providing users with more intricate watch faces. The more pixels you have, the less blocky and pixelated things will appear on the display, which allows the Huawei Watch to provide the best watch faces to buyers.

There are 40 pre-installed faces included, meaning there is easily something that everyone can appreciate. There are analog faces, completely digital, and everything in between. For comparison, the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) display features a resolution of 360 x 325. Not only that, but it is a backlit LCD, so in terms of colors and saturation, the AMOLED on the Huawei Watch is able to deliver a much more enticing viewing experience.

If you need a bit more information on the Huawei Watch, check out our complete review.

3 Reasons the Huawei Watch is Worth Buying is a post from: Droid Life



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The Droid Life Show: Episode 101

Now that episode 100 of the Droid Life Show is out of the way, it’s time to get back to your regularly scheduled programming, which means catching up on the latest in Android news. We haven’t had a news-related show in a few weeks, so as you probably predicted, we have a lot to catch up on.

In recent weeks, we have seen the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge rumors paint a pretty vivid picture of what we can expect on February 21, plus LG confirmed the G5, and HTC leaks are finally showing up. It’ll be a packed show that you won’t want to miss.

Join us at 2PM Pacific (5PM Eastern) for the fun.

If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well, along with an IRC chat. Also, we’ll be chatting through the YouTube feed too.  

Subscribe | iTunes | Stitcher| Show Page

The Droid Life Show: Episode 101 is a post from: Droid Life



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DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $279 at eBay Today ($20 Off)

The price slashing in recent weeks of the Nexus 5X has become a bit comical at this point. The phone, which was released in October of last year, started out at $379 for 16GB of storage. After a temporary Black Friday discount, we have since seen a permanent discount by Google to $349, followed by another potentially temporary discount for Valentine’s Day to $299. So within a matter of months, Google and its retail partners have decided that you should be able to join the Nexus family for under $300.

Actually, if you act fast, you can buy it for even cheaper through a daily deal over at eBay. If you are cool with 16GB of storage, you can grab the Nexus 5X for just $279.99. That price also includes the free expedited shipping.

If you need to any last minute details confirmed about this phone before pulling the trigger, be sure to read our Nexus 5X review.

eBay Link

DEAL: Nexus 5X is Just $279 at eBay Today ($20 Off) is a post from: Droid Life



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Verizon go90 Update Lets Post-Paid Customers Stream Without Using Their Data

Verizon’s go90 app received an update this week that makes it more acceptable to use by its post-paid customers (those not on prepaid). The update enhances the follow/unfollow feature, makes the streaming experience faster, and allows for previews of NBA games, but more importantly, no longer counts against data plans. 

In v1.4 of go90, Verizon is allowing post-paid customers to stream for free on 4G LTE  connections. That means all the shows, live concerts, and sports you can handle from go90. Verizon is saying that other activity within go90, like downloading, commenting, clipping, and sharing videos does count against data plans.

In order to experience the benefits, be sure to update today.

Play Link

Cheers Erik, Marqus, and C!

Verizon go90 Update Lets Post-Paid Customers Stream Without Using Their Data is a post from: Droid Life



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If This is the HTC One M10, It’s Their Best iPhone Clone to Date

Now that we are a couple of months into 2016, it’s probably time for HTC to release a new flagship phone. In the past, they have targeted Mobile World Congress (MWC) as a launching point for their One M series, though rumors up to this point have suggested that HTC may wait until after that big event and do something outside of the craziness. If that’s the case, then they better have something extraordinary to show off. After last year’s disappointment, the One M9, HTC needs a real winner for the first time in years. 

According to leaker @evleaks, the new HTC flagship, largely thought to be dubbed One M10, may take on the design language of the HTC One A9. As you all know, the One A9 was HTC’s first stab at an iPhone clone, a practice typically reserved for bottom feeding knock-off brands. If the latest picture from @evleaks that arrived today is of the new phone, then well, HTC is showing no signs of abandoning their decision to embarrass themselves as an iPhone clone maker. Is that harsh? Yes, it was meant to be. This is HTC we’re talking about – they are better than this. They are not an iPhone clone company.

Here is the latest picture from Evan (@evleaks), which he attached to his story on the purported details of the HTC flagship.

htc one m10

My lord. Come on, HTC.

Oh, what’s that HTC blind apologist, you aren’t seeing the iPhone resemblance and are considering tossing out some incorrect argument about, “Apple is the one who copies HTC! HTC did it first!” Take a look at the comparison below of this supposed HTC phone to my iPhone 6. Then tell me this isn’t a blatant iPhone knock-off.

htc one m10 iphone clone

I have no other words.

Is this the real deal? Evan has been correct in the past more times than we can probably count when it comes to leaks. But he also showed us this phone last year, which was supposed to be the HTC One M9. That image turned out to be not-so-correct. In other words, before we fully jump on HTC for the phone above, take this for what it is at the moment, just a purported leak.

And, thoughts?

 

Via: @evleaks

If This is the HTC One M10, It’s Their Best iPhone Clone to Date is a post from: Droid Life



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Order an Uber or Domino’s Pizza Through Amazon Echo

New skills are arriving for Amazon Echo to make it even more useful, even after the latest update that brought support for Spotify. Starting now, users of Alexa can order both an Uber ride, or even a pizza from Domino’s. Doing so is simple enough, just say, “Alexa, ask Uber to get me a car,” or, “Alexa, open Domino’s and place my Easy Order.” 

For Uber, once you have started the process, you can track the car’s whereabouts by asking Alexa where your Uber is, and can even cancel your ride request by asking Alexa to do so.

On the Domino’s side of things, users can track their pizza orders by asking Alexa once an order is placed. To do all of this properly, you will need a Domino’s profile from their website, complete with payment information, your address, and an Easy Order pie.

These changes are now live for Echo.

Via: Uber | Amazon

Order an Uber or Domino’s Pizza Through Amazon Echo is a post from: Droid Life



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How Does Two Day Battery Life on the Galaxy S7 Sound?

According to industry insider Eldar Murtazin, who has a history of somewhat credible reports, as well as total nonsense, the Galaxy S7 should feature decent battery life. Unlike last year’s Galaxy S6, which seemingly needed to be constantly charged, a preview unit in his possession has been getting him through two days of usage, which is good for potential buyers. 

Tweeted out by Murtazin, he has been using a Galaxy S7 on 75% brightness, with no WiFi and 3GB used via dual LTE SIMs. As shown on the screenshots, he got two days and four hours of usage (3% remaining), with the low battery drain portions indicating Marshmallow’s Doze feature in full effect during the night.

However, in the small portion of usage we can see, it shows the display ranking in at number one with 24%, followed by Twitter at 9%. This is not a bad thing, but it leads me to believe that Murtazin is using his device a bit differently than others would. Screen-on time is placed at 4 hours and 32 minutes, which is not bad, but for 2 days, I would expect to see a bit more SoT. I know we have a few readers out there who always claim to have 5 or even 6 hours of SoT, so it will be interesting to see if Eldar is not using his phone too much, or Samsung really did improve on battery life.

We still have a bit to go before folks will have this device in their hands, and it is also unclear what the capacity of the battery is at this point. Even though there is no good leak claiming a size, it is reported that the battery size is 3,000mAh for the Galaxy S7, and 3,500mAh for the Galaxy S7 Edge.

What do you think? Can these screenshots be believed?

Via: @eldarmurtazin

How Does Two Day Battery Life on the Galaxy S7 Sound? is a post from: Droid Life



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Samsung Pay Update V1.6.61 Gets It Ready for Marshmallow

Samsung is pushing a new update to Samsung Pay this morning that gets the mobile payment service ready for incoming device updates to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The update showed up on my AT&T Galaxy Note 5, which has recently seen a beta test kick off for Android 6.0.

In this latest version, Samsung Pay is jumping up to build v1.6.61. According to the changelog, the update does two things: enhance the UI and performance, and make it “M OS compatible.” 

To grab the update on your phone, open the Samsung Pay app. If you aren’t prompted immediately to update, you can head into More>Settings>About Samsung Pay, and update from there.

Hopefully, this means that Android 6.0 is arriving momentarily.

Cheers @xrob772!

Samsung Pay Update V1.6.61 Gets It Ready for Marshmallow is a post from: Droid Life



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