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Monday, February 8, 2016

DEALS: Choetech Wireless Charging Pad for $18, Tronsmart Charging Station for $24

There are new deals available on Amazon from Choetech and Tronsmart, with the added help of coupon codes directly from the manufacturers. For a limited time, you can pick up a Choetech wireless charging pad for only $18, perfect for use on any supported smartphone or tablet, such as the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5. 

Also available is a bundle set from Choetech, which includes a fast wireless charging pad, as well as a Quick Charge 2.0 fast adapter for only $29.

Available from Tronsmart is a Titan 10A/90W 5-port USB charging station, complete with Quick Charge 2.0. This unit, with the coupon code, is priced at only $24, down from nearly $40.

Take a look at all of the deals available below.

Choetech

Tronsmart

Note: To utilize these coupon codes, be sure to select Geekbuying as the vendor on Amazon.

DEALS: Choetech Wireless Charging Pad for $18, Tronsmart Charging Station for $24 is a post from: Droid Life



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Free Storage: Complete Google Security Checkup for 2016 and Get 2GB of Drive Storage

To celebrate Safer Internet Day 2016, Google is once again giving away 2GB in Google Drive storage if you run through their short Google Security Checkup. They did this security checkup last year and you all seemed to take advantage of it. After all, why wouldn’t you? It only takes a couple of minutes to complete and gets you free goodies. 

What is the Google Security Checkup? It’s a short survey, if you will, that helps you review important settings in your Google account to make sure all is secure. You are asked to complete your recovery information, should you ever get locked out of your account or in case Google needs to contact you about suspicious activity. Google also asks for you to check out the connected devices that have access to your account, which gives you the opportunity to easily remove anything that is old or shouldn’t have had access in the first place. And finally, the security checkup lets you quickly see which apps, websites, and devices connected to your account have this or that permission access.

Once you complete the 3-step survey, you should see the screen above which confirms that you will soon receive the free 2GB storage.

To run through the Google Security Checkup, hit up this link.

Free Storage: Complete Google Security Checkup for 2016 and Get 2GB of Drive Storage is a post from: Droid Life



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MLG Launches Official GameBattles App for Android

If you take part in GameBattles, the place for any member of the Major League Gaming community to compete, a new app for Android will be your one-stop shop for all things competitive. For those unfamiliar, GameBattles allow anyone to take part in highly competitive games on a number of different titles, such as Call of Duty, Halo, FIFA, Madden, and many more. Basically, if playing public matches is too easy for you and your squad, you will want to get into GameBattles and have a chance at winning real money with your skills.

With the GameBattles app, players can track all of their MLG stats, including wins and losses, plus keep track of their current team and roster. The GameBattles app tracks all of your matches, and you can go back and look at them individually, just like on the MLG website.

In addition, users can also view upcoming matches directly from within the app. Once a match is complete, you can also submit a win or loss for your record, which can be much more convenient than doing it on your desktop computer.

If you are all about the eSports, go grab the app now and I will see you online.

Play Link

MLG Launches Official GameBattles App for Android is a post from: Droid Life



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Question of the Day: What is the Perfect Smartphone Display Size?

From 2011 through much of last year, we seemed to debate time and time again about what the perfect display size was. We went from 4.3-inch displays being referred to as “hummers” to 5.5-inch displays and beyond as becoming somewhat commonplace. Thankfully, a number of smartphone manufacturers seem to have settled in a bit on what they consider to be optimal, so the argument has died down some. Samsung and its Galaxy S line are hovering around the 5.1-inch mark these days, the Note line has settled into 5.7-inches, LG seems to like 5.5-inches for its G phones, and HTC has taken a liking to 5-inches for its M series.

So here is a question for the day. Now that we are starting to know what to expect in terms of size from each OEM, what is the perfect smartphone display size? Which manufacturer is getting it right, at least in your opinion? Are there still plenty of sub-5-inch fans out here, are you OK with right-around-5-inches, or do you prefer something much larger? 

I can say that within the last year, I’ve sort of given up on the idea of owning a smaller phone. Shocking, I know, since I championed small phones for years and mocked all of the whales in existence. But even I can admit that you can get used to a bigger phone after using it for a while. I can also admit that consuming media on a larger-screened device is quite enjoyable. Sure, I’d love for the Galaxy S7 and its 5.1-inch display to woo me, but if Samsung hasn’t addressed the battery issues of last year’s model, I’ll pass. Because that’s another thing that I am loving about bigger phones – they have bigger batteries too.

What do you think? What is the perfect smartphone display size?

Question of the Day: What is the Perfect Smartphone Display Size? is a post from: Droid Life



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We Might Only be Two Years Away From Week-Long Battery Life for Phones

According to a report from Bloomberg, smartphone users may see a major upgrade in smartphone battery technology over the next couple of years. In the world of mobile devices, while displays are getting more pixels and processors are getting faster, battery tech has fallen behind. It seems that the only way to see decent battery life from devices would be to throw in large amounts of capacity, or just don’t use your phone all that much. However, thanks to an investment of $7.5 million from an unnamed smartphone maker, the UK’s Intelligent Energy is working to change all of this. 

Known for utilizing the power of hydrogen in London’s black cabs, Intelligent Energy will be tasked with developing a fuel cell small enough to be embedded in mobile phones. Using technology that converts hydrogen into electricity, the goal is to bring week-long battery life to smartphone owners.

In an interview, Intelligent Energy’s CEO Henri Winand stated that if all goes well, we could expect to see this battery technology being deployed within two years, although, it would first be seen in regions without access to large power grids, as those people would benefit from the technology much more.

In what was thought to be a rather stagnant industry, it seems that smartphone batteries might finally see a bit of innovation.

Via: Bloomberg

We Might Only be Two Years Away From Week-Long Battery Life for Phones is a post from: Droid Life



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Best Android Phones on AT&T: February 2016

At the end of January, we shared with you the best Android phones you could walk into a Verizon store and buy. Some of you agreed with our picks, while others disagreed and pointed out that there are far better phones that work on Verizon, even if they aren’t sold there. While we agree that the Nexus 6P and Moto X Pure Edition would likely be on each list for each carrier, they aren’t sold at Verizon stores and thus were left out. Same goes for today’s list, which is a short list of the best Android phones on AT&T.

The list of phones below are those that can actually be purchased at an AT&T store, not those that could technically work if you knew how and where to buy one. So, we’ve got three options for you below, two of which are/were unique to AT&T at one time or another.

Ready? 

Note:  This post focuses on the Android phones you can buy at AT&T. This post isn’t touching on the unlocked options out there, like the Nexus 6P or Moto X Pure Edition. We know those fully work on AT&T, but they aren’t sold at AT&T stores.


galaxy note 5-14

The Best:  Galaxy Note 5

Like on the list for Verizon, the Galaxy Note 5 from Samsung tops the list of phones you can buy at AT&T. This is one of those phones that really doesn’t have a fault. You could nitpick a bit and say that the lack of SD storage or water resistance is a big deal, but outside of those two minor details, the Note 5 absolutely nails everything else. We’re talking about the best mobile display on the planet, great performance, great battery life, an insanely good camera, a beautiful design, great in-hand feel, and both wireless and wired fast charging. Oh, and Samsung also includes their S Pen, almost like a bonus accessory that only seems to get leaps and bounds better with each release.

As I mentioned in the Note 5 section on the Verizon list, our biggest gripe with this phone is the lack of updates for it. We are almost into mid-February and it still doesn’t have Android 6.0 Marshmallow. We are starting to see it show up on the AT&T model in limited beta forms, but that’s just not good enough. This is the 2nd half flagship of 2015 from Samsung and yet here we are some four months removed from the release of Marshmallow, still running Lollipop.

To get the full scoop on the Galaxy Note 5, be sure to read our review.

You can currently buy the Note 5 from AT&T for around $25 per month or $739 at full retail. The Note 5 is an expensive phone, no doubt, but it truly is a phone worth almost every penny.


galaxy s6 active

The Runner-up:  Galaxy S6 Active

The Galaxy S6 Active is a bad ass phone. We rarely see “tough” phones like the Active sporting top tier specs, but this phone absolutely has it all. In a way, it is a Galaxy S6 in a protective shell, so you get the awesome camera, solid performance, and RAM, yet you don’t have to worry about scratching its metal and glass prettiness. You can drop it, spill beer on it, sweat all over it, rub it in the dirt, and it’ll keep on running. It also has a massive 3500mAh battery inside, which in my time with it, proved to be an enormous amount of juice that I just couldn’t kill in a day.

Unfortunately, the S6 Active is an exclusive to AT&T and that’s a shame, because this is a phone that would be a great option for many in need of a high-end “tough” phone. However, if you are reading this list, you probably don’t care that this is only available on AT&T and might even take some pride in knowing you have a phone that isn’t available to just anyone.

To get the full scoop on the Galaxy S6 Active, be sure to read our review.

The Galaxy S6 Active is currently available from AT&T for around $20 per month or $594 at full retail. This phone isn’t a bad buy at those prices, but you have to remember that the Galaxy S7 is arriving within the next month or so, which means we could see an S7 Active. If you are considering the S6 Active, I would wait a month or two to see how that all unfolds.


blackberry priv-12

Another Option:  Blackberry Priv

If for some reason you want nothing to do with the best phones on AT&T, those being the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Active, then you could always go wild and choose the Blackberry Priv, the keyboard-toting offspring from the one-time king of smartphones.

In our review, we didn’t exactly rave about the Priv as being one of the best Android phones available, but it is there, serving a purpose for those who want to re-live their days with a physical keyboard. Blackberry has shown that it wants to update the phone regularly, the keyboard actually has some useful features built into it, the display is solid, it is well designed, and is about the only option for those missing their Blackberry keyboards.

Blackberry needs to find a way to improve the camera and battery life, though. In those two departments, Blackberry is severely lagging behind the competition, making this a tough sell. Then again, if you are even entertaining the Priv, it’s probably because of the keyboard and so cameras and battery life may not even be of concern.

To get the full scoop on the Blackberry Priv, be sure to read our review.

You can currently buy the Blackberry Priv from AT&T for about $25 per month or $739 at full retail. In my opinion, this phone isn’t worth as much as a Galaxy Note 5. I hope we see this phone discounted deeply within the next couple of months to make it more appealing.


What do you think? If you had to buy an Android phone on AT&T today, which would you choose?

Best Android Phones on AT&T: February 2016 is a post from: Droid Life



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Report: Google is Going to Release a Gear VR-like Headset, Android VR Technology

Whether or not virtual reality (VR) is the next tablet frontier, the tech world has fully embraced it as their next focus. Now that the wearable craze (Wait, was there a wearable craze?) has slowed, companies like Samsung and HTC are pushing VR as hard as their little budgets can. According to Financial Times, Google is also ready to fully jump into VR both on hardware and software levels, which means they are graduating from Cardboard, their little inexpensively made VR viewer. 

In today’s report, FT suggests that Google is currently working on their next VR headset that should be ready for release some time later this year. This headset won’t be another Cardboard, but will instead be along the lines of Samsung’s Gear VR, with “better sensors, lenses, and a more solid plastic casing.” We’re talking about a VR headset with a slot for housing almost any smartphone. Not only that, but Google is said to have a new “Android VR technology” to show alongside it.

According to sources of FT, the Android VR software will be built “directly into its Android smartphone operating system,” which is a big deal. Instead of releasing a stand-alone app that relays the VR experience, Google may bake VR into Android. FT suggests that this move could help in reducing lag experienced in many of the current VR headsets on the market.

As someone who has yet to see a reason for VR to be widely adopted, this move is one that certainly helps push VR to a more accessible level. Right now, you have Samsung with its Gear VR that only works with select Samsung phones, followed by the soon-to-be-released wave of PC-powered VR solutions (Oculus and Vive). With Google moving fully into VR through a Gear VR-like option, that could give you and I (who don’t own Galaxy phones) a real opportunity to test the waters and see if VR is for us. I still don’t know if it will be, but if Google has a headset that works mostly universally and is building out native Android support for VR, the ecosystem and developer support for it might finally grab our attention.

Do you give a sh*t about VR?

Via:  Financial Times

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Next-Gen Samsung S-Pen Could Double as Stand, According to Patent Application

According to a patent application from Q3 of 2015, detailed by Patently Mobile, the next generation of Samsung’s S-Pen stylus could double as a stand for a smartphone. As shown in illustrations that go along with the application, they show a stylus with a joint in the midsection, allowing users to bend it and hold a smartphone up when on a flat surface. 

The details on how it works seem pretty straightforward. When you want to use the S-Pen as a stand, you will pull the stylus out halfway, then bend it to whichever position you need it. When done, unbend it and either slip it back inside of the device, or pull it out and get a bit of writing done. Using an internal locking mechanism, folks won’t need to worry about the S Pen slipping or sliding while the stand is in use.

While it is not stated anywhere, an S-Pen with this functionality would pair nicely with the Galaxy Note 6, would it not?

For more images, please follow the via link below.

Galaxy Note 6 Patent

Via: Patently Mobile

Next-Gen Samsung S-Pen Could Double as Stand, According to Patent Application is a post from: Droid Life



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OnePlus 2 Price Dropped to $349, Still Available Without Invite

In case you forgot about OnePlus, the company is hoping that a $40 price decrease is enough to get you remembering. The price of the OnePlus 2 (64GB) is now listed at $349, down from its original price of $389.

Originally, one of the difficult aspects of buying a OnePlus device was the invite system, but as you may recall, OP has done away with the invite system for the OnePlus 2, so you can go ahead and purchase this device as you would any other phone, which is borderline innovative for OP. 

If you happened to purchase the OnePlus 2 in the past 15 days, you should expect to see a refund from OnePlus soon, which is a classy move on their part. Additionally, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, OP will gift you a free cover with the purchase of a new device, OnePlus X included. OnePlus is also offering free shipping on orders of $100+.

If the OnePlus 2 would be a good gift for someone you love, you can follow the below link to pick one up.

OnePlus Store Link

Via: OnePlus

OnePlus 2 Price Dropped to $349, Still Available Without Invite is a post from: Droid Life



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Galaxy S7 Appears in the Wild, in Hand

We kick off this beautiful Monday morning, where none of you are hungover from the Super Bowl, showing you what may be the first in-hand picture of the Samsung Galaxy S7. The image comes to us courtesy of ReviewDao, who seems to have stumbled upon a photo of the device in the hand of a person on Facebook who enjoys an apple or two as they test out unreleased phones. Yummy.

So what are we seeing? The image is of the phone’s backside, which does indeed look a lot like the leaked press render of the phone’s backside that we saw a week ago. We are seeing a dark, blackish color, curved paneling on each side of the device, and a flush camera housing next to the flash and heartrate sensor. The image has been edited to conceal the IMEI and other information that could out the leaker, but “32GB” was left untouched. Previous rumors suggested that we should see both 32GB and 64GB models of the new Galaxy.

What else? Well, not only are the sides rounded like we saw on the Galaxy Note 5’s backside, but the curves seem to roam around the entire border of the phone. The top and bottom portions are slightly curved as well, which could really aide in hand comfortability. Of course, we also have a metal frame, similar to last year’s Galaxy S6.

galaxy s7

I hate to say this, but this image isn’t exactly screaming “Premium!” to me. I don’t know if it’s the poor image quality (it probably is), the all-black color scheme, or the gloss that has to be the ultimate fingerprint magnet, but it looks a little cheap-ish. My guess is that it will feel really nice in-hand thanks to all those curves, so I’m hoping that it looks better in-person as well.

Your thoughts?

Via:  ReviewDao

Galaxy S7 Appears in the Wild, in Hand is a post from: Droid Life



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Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact Now Available in the US

Sony’s latest flagship phones, the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact, are now available for purchase, officially, in the US. After being announced back in September, these phones looked like potential winners from Sony, but as is always the case, their availability has made them a tough option to even consider at this point. What I mean is that Sony always does this (delaying their phones to the US for months) and it’s really too bad, because they can make a good phone, a really good phone. 

As a recap, the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact are flagship level phones, with 23MP cameras, Snapdragon 810 processors, 3GB and 2GB RAM, long lasting batteries (2900mAh and 2700mAh), water resistance, and an Android skin that seems to be getting better with age. They also feature sleek, minimal designs that come in a handful of odd, yet sort of refreshing colors. They do not feature fingerprint readers here in the US. We don’t know why, but Sony removed them. You can checkout their full specs here.

If you are interested in the Xperia Z5, which is the bigger of the two and includes a 1080p display, you are looking at spending $599 through Amazon at the moment. If you want the smaller Z5 Compact, that will run you $499 at Amazon.

I hate to be that guy, but that’s a heck of a lot of money to be spending on phones that are months and months old and aren’t nearly as good as phones like the Nexus 6P, Moto X Pure Edition, or Galaxy Note 5. And those first two can be had for much cheaper than the regular Z5 – hundreds cheaper.

But hey, if you love Sony and have active service on AT&T or T-Mobile (because those are the two networks these phones work on), you finally have a chance to buy one of these two phones legitimately. Then again, if you care about either of these phones, my guess is that you would have imported them from overseas by now.

Amazon Links:  Xperia Z5 | Xperia Z5 Compact

Via:  Sony

Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact Now Available in the US is a post from: Droid Life



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