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Things People Rarely Consider When Choosing A Smartphone

AndroidGuys
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If you are to look at all the smartphones that are available at the moment on the market you can easily notice that it is really easy to feel overwhelmed. We are faced with so many problems since a smartphone that is really good for a person is not necessarily the best one for another. You want to always be sure that you choose the very best smartphone for your own needs. This is where everything becomes complicated.

Most people basically only think about how much they are going to pay for their smartphone or what camera is included in the device. Making such a shallow choice is definitely going to lead to a bad decision. What is very important is to always think about every single thing that is of importance for you as a phone user. With this in mind, here are some things that you most likely never consider when you choose your smartphone and that can help you make a great choice.

The Reason Why You Buy The Smartphone

You surely have a main reason why the smartphone is bought. Think about the main applications you are going to use the device for. In many cases we see that people just use the phone to make phone calls. If this is the case you do not need much. However, in the event you use the smartphone when creating a blog to post posts, take professional photographs and even use applications to edit videos while on the go, something a lot more powerful will be needed.

Some of the smartphones will be a lot better for some specific operations than others. This is what you want to remember at the end of the day. Learn all that you can about how the gadgets will act in specific situations and your choice will be the best one possible.

Portability

If you look at modern smartphones, you instantly notice that they become larger and larger. This can make it quite complicated to carry them around in some situations. What you have to do is always consider smartphone size. While what the gadgets offer is definitely something of interest, size should never be underestimated. See if large smartphones are what you need or a smaller size is more suitable.

Manufacturer Reliability

It is really important that you always learn all that you can about the reliability of the manufacturer. Since not all people are going to have the money to buy the really expensive devices, it is a very good idea to focus on reliability. There are many manufacturers that are going to offer really shady devices that are not at all of a high overall quality. These are not the ones you should buy from. You want to remain focused on quality at all times. The best possible gadgets are always those that are going to last for a long time and that will be suitable for future upgrades. Always be sure that you do not neglect manufacturer reliability since this is one of the most important factors to consider at the end of the day.

My Home Dungeon: An interesting RPG amidst the endless-game craze (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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With the increasing amount of “endless” type games that feature almost no story and no progression, it is nice to see more ambitious projects such as My Home Dungeon. Developed by BerryRabbit, the game features an actual story, character progression and more depth than what you normally find these days in the Play Store.

Developer: BerryRabbit

Price: Free

Setup

Just as you open the app, it will ask you for permission for accessing your contacts. It’s like apps don’t even try anymore. I’ve played several hours of the game without one single instance in which my contacts are required for some kind of functionality. Why then? This is a widespread problem across the Play Store and it has no sign of stopping.

Anyways, after this, the game will take you to a short tutorial. The game will teach you in a funny way the basics of the gameplay. Let me take the opportunity to mention that the initial story of this game is hilariously ridiculous. “Oh look, there’s a huge, monster-riddled dungeon just beneath my house! And for some reason I am broke and selling it but I carry a fire-spewing sword with me everyday! And also I can throw fireballs!”

Overview

my home dungeon
Not the best way of starting a story.

There are four main on-screen buttons: two at the left, which are used for moving your character, and two on the right. The action of the first right button depends on the circumstances. You have a bar at the top, and if it is filled up, then you launch a very strong special attack. If the bar is not filled up, then you have two medium-powered attacks. After that, you just have a VERY weak sword attack that is better left unused.

The second button is used for generating fireballs. You can hold this button and your character will generate a continuous blast of fireballs. This will turn out to be your primary weapon throughout the game.

Gameplay

Monsters come at you in waves. There are normally three or four waves per level. After clearing each wave, a new section will show up and you progress until you reach a boss level. These bosses can vary from giant variations of the monsters you normally see to thought out, challenging boss fights.

These boss sections are also where the story unfolds. At first, the story is confusing but it starts to make a bit more sense as you keep playing. Something interesting is that the story gives you choices, and the story tends to change a bit depending on what you choose. For example, I managed to make a boss angry at me and increase its powers because of an answer I selected, so be careful about that.

my home dungeon
Controls are easy to use.

Monsters spawn from the sides of the stage, and thus, you need to carefully plan how you will approach each stage. Since there’s no way of jumping or similar, you can easily get stuck in the middle of two or more monsters without any place to go. If you deplete your three hearts, either by hitting monsters or by touching spikes, it’s instant death. You can either try the level again or watch a 30-second video ad to repeat only the last wave.

When killing monsters, they will throw gold and some energy orbs. Gold can be used for buying new equipment and increasing your character’s level. Also, you can increase the power of your fireballs and sword skills. If you are impatient, you can also buy gold through in-app purchases. The energy orbs will replenish the previously mentioned bar so that you can perform your strong sword attack.

Overall, the game feels very balanced. There’s no instance in which you feel that your death has been unfair or that it gets prohibitively hard just to push you to spending money on gold. It might get a bit repetitive after a while, though.

The way your character moves around the stage is almost as if he was walking on ice (which he actually does, in some stages), so you have to get used to it in order to avoid crashing into a monster by accident just because you moved your character in a wrong way.

Graphics

my home dungeon
There’s a clash between different types of art.

Graphics for this game are weird. On one side, we have pixel-style sprites for the majority of elements in the game, including your character, monsters and scenery. On the other side, the game presents very polished and not-pixelated elements on the main screen. Also, this same line of design is used for sprites and characters when there is on-screen dialogue.

Both elements clash with each other and give the impression of not being cohesive. It’s like two developers didn’t communicate with each other at all and then asked the design team to create assets for each of their parts.

This doesn’t mean that the graphics look bad. I like the polished assets much more than the pixel art (especially because now it seems that every game is trying to do pixel art), and I believe that the game would benefit greatly from either converting everything to pixelated sprites (probably easier, since the majority of elements have been drawn this way) or to polished art.

Sound

Just as with many games nowadays, sound is good enough for what it is intended. Sound effects are there but they don’t excel in any way. Music for the normal levels is the same, so you will probably get tired of it at some point. For some reason, I love the boss music. It is very dramatic and enhances the act of fighting against the boss.

Ads

my home dungeon
🙁

One of the good points of this game is that ads and other ways of monetizing the game are not intrusive. You never feel like the game is pushing you to buy gold, and there are no ads thrown at your face for no reason. Instead, the developer has made them optional, and you can totally do without them.

For example, if you lost all of your hearts at the last wave of monsters and you are too lazy to repeat the whole level, then after a 30-second video ad, you are back at the same wave. You could also repeat the whole level if you wish, and thus avoid the ad.

There’s also a way of earning gold by watching 30-second videos. If you don’t want to, then you can always repeat previous levels and earn gold that way. It’s your choice, and not the developer’s, if you want to go through ads or not. This is something increasingly uncommon in the Play Store, and for that, I applaud and thank the developer.

Conclusion

My Home Dungeon combines RPG elements with a very simple gameplay and controls to make an appealing game that can keep you entertained for a while. With the different options to increase your character’s strength, monsters getting gradually stronger, and no ads being forced down your throat, you can be confident that My Home Dungeon is worthy of being in your Android’s internal storage.

Download My Home Dungeon from the Google Play Store.

Best phones you can pick up from T-Mobile right now

Alexandra Arici
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Stepping into the new year, you might find yourself craving a new phone. You can already check our AT&T and Verizon buying guides, but if you are not a fan of either carrier, an alternative would be to look towards T-Mobile.

The magenta carrier offers plenty of mobile solutions and some of them are even available with a consistent discount. Keep reading to find out which are best phones you can purchase off T-Mobile right now.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 EdgeSure, in a month and a half Samsung will unveil the all-new Galaxy S8, but that doesn’t mean the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge will stop being worthy phones. At T-Mobile, you can pick up the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge with a bit of a discount. Customers can purchase the phone for $26/month on a two-year contract of $629 outright (discounted from $689). As for the Galaxy S7 edge you’ll need to make an initial down payment of $9.99 before embarking on a two-year contract that will add $30 to your bill each month. Or you can choose to pay in full. The Galaxy S7 edge can be yours for $729 (discounted from $789):

Below you’ll find the main specs of the two phones:

Galaxy S7

  • 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,000mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (currently getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat)

Galaxy S7 edge

  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,600mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (currently getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat)

LG G5

lg_G5_trayLG’s soon to be previous-gen flagship the G5 is available will T-Mobile. We expect the G6 to mark a departure from the modular approach of the G5, which hasn’t impressed customers all that much. However, the phone features a capable set of specs and to be fair, is quite intriguing and attests LG’s interest in shaking things up.

At T-Mobile the phone can be yours for $0 down and $20/month for two years or for $499 outright. Check out its specs:

  • 5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/8MP selfie camera
  • 2,800 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

LG V20

lg-v20LG’s dual screen phone is seeing some competition from the newly announced HTC U Ultra, so maybe you want to wait for that. But if you like LG more, then you can get the phone from T-Mobile if you make an initial $49 down payment and then continue on to pay $30/month for two years. Or if you have $769 at your disposal you can purchase it in full. Take a look at its specs:

  • 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
  • Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD screen with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,200mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 7.0 Nougat

Samsung Galaxy J7

carousel-samsung-galaxy-j7-all-380x380-1Moving on to middle-range phones, the Galaxy J7 is a perfect for customers who don’t want to pay premium for a handset, but still enjoy having a large display. You can get the Galaxy J7 for $0 down and $11 for the next 24 months. Or you can buy it for $249 outright. Here’s what you’ll get:

  • 5.5-inch with 1280 x 720 resolution, 267 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,300 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Kyocera DuraForce XD

Looking for a rugged phone that can handle anything you throw at it? Imagine being able to take selfies in the rain or browse the web while you’re watching your kids play in the pool. With the Kyocera DuraForce XD you can. Grab it for $0 down and $16/month for 2 years or for $399.99 outright (previously $449.99). Here’s what you will get:

  • 5.7-inch with 1280 x 720 resolution, 258 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 64GB)
  • 8MP/2MP camera combo
  • 3,700 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • IP68 certification for dust/water jet/water immersion up to 6 feet for up to 30 mins

LG Stylo 2 Plus

lg-stylo-2-plus-phabletAt CES 2017, LG unveiled the Stylus 3 model but if you don’t wait until the phone becomes available, you can simply go for the LG Stylo 2 Plus, which comes equipped with a pressure sensitive pen.

So if you like to scribble notes and reminders on your phone, you can get the LG Stylo 2 Plus from T-Mobile today for $0 down and $10/month for 24 months. Or just pay $239 in full. Here’s what to expect from this mid-range phablet:

  • 5.7-inch with 1280 x 720 resolution, 386 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • 2,900 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow

LG G6 to launch with unique QHD+ display, waterproof body

Alexandra Arici
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Like Samsung, LG is coming to MWC 2017 to unveil it’s next-gen flagship. According to leaks and rumors, the LG G6 will be quite different from the G5. For starts, you can kiss goodbye modality.

LG has tried making a modular phone with the LG G5, but users weren’t particularly taken with it. So the Korean tech giant has switched strategies fast, opting for the usual smartphone design this year.

Well it appears the LG G6 won’t be ordinary after all. According to a press release by LG Display, the LG G6 will be the first smartphone to be the beneficiary of a quad HD LCD with new aspect ratio 18:9 (or 2:1).

lg-v20The 5.7-inch display will feature an atypical 2,880 x 1,440 resolution dubbed QHD+ and 564ppi. The company says the screen is “optimized for multi-tasking, using dual-screen functions”. The second screen mention will most likely add extra length to the part of the width of the screen.

The new display will allow LG to shrink the bezels (20% on top and 10% on the left and right sides) on the LG G6 and reduce the phone’s overall thickness thanks to In-Touch technology. Other advantages of the new screen tech are improved outdoor visibility (up with 10%) and reduced power requirements (down with 30%).

So compared to the current LG V20 which also boasts 5.7-inch display, the G6 should be a bit taller and have a smaller width.

Earlier today LG teased the LG G6 in a video while asking people on the street about “the ideal smartphone”. So based on the clip we should expect the LG G6 to feature a big screen somehow tucked into a smaller body (reference to the new QHD+ screen) but also to be waterproof. Last but not least, LG mentions something about the camera that should be able to “capture it all at the once”.

Are you intrigued? Because we’re certainly are

Everything you need to know about mobile VPN

AndroidGuys
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As you know, a Virtual Private Network is a secure network that allows you to access networks and the internet as safely as possible with a few performance enhancements such as geographic flexibility or surpassing bandwidth restrictions.

What you may not know is that VPN is now available at the best VPN providers for most Android devices. Not just your mobile phone or tablet but your laptop too; essentially any piece of tech you carry around with you can access mobile VPN – but what’s it for? Surely a mobile device can make use of mobile data or Wi-Fi hotspots for network access?

Well yes they can but if you’re going out of your way to be secure on your home network, why allow your guard down when you step out of the house? Can you afford for your phone or laptop to be hacked via a Wi-FI hotspot? There has been a rise in criminals hacking ‘free Wi-Fi’ in 2015; Will your business maintain its reputation if all the customers’ details are freely accessible thanks to poor network security on the move?

The answer to these questions is almost certainly no and a big tick in a big box for Mobile VPN but the case in favour doesn’t end there.

Mobile VPN offers a similar level of geographic flexibility when compared to normal VPN as it can offer remote access to your home network – an invaluable tool to have when you think about the positives. In brief, you could upload basic information to your Android device and leave all the sensitive data on your home network for secure, mobile access when required – far less risk.

Remote access is nothing new but it has always been restricted to desktop computers that are hard wired to a network – now that we can access a network remotely, we can look to the present and future applications of such a technological advancement.

The NHS make use of Mobile VPN to securely access medical records – imagine a travelling nurse or carer attending a property and being given all the information they need instantly with no threat of a security breach. Public safety organisations also use Mobile VPN to carry out checks on those they have arrested and for their dash-cam technology – a high speed, secure uplink to the base of operations network means full coverage!

This all sounds very confusing and, in truth, it certainly can be tough to get your head around. However, if you need more information, you can find VPN protocols explained online that can break things down for you no matter your computing proficiency.

In brief, Mobile VPN can surpass bandwidth restrictions to give you a stronger connection on the move, it’s more secure than ever before, it allows remote access to your home network and the roaming capabilities mean you’ll spend less time being interrupted by connection issues and more time accessing the network and files you need to succeed.

A porcelain smartwatch might be what the wearable market needs right now

Alexandra Arici
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Bored with most of the smartwatches that are currently available on the market? We feel you. Well Hong Kong startup FEN has a different take on how a smartwatch should like, one you might find quite intriguing.

Users have been complaining that a lot of wearables aren’t stylish enough, but that’s not really a problem for the FENwatch – the world’s first white&blue porcelain smartwatch. Obviously FEN’s first wearable is targeted at ladies, but we’re pretty sure that if the FENwatch becomes successful, a gentlemen’s model will launch as well.

FENwatch On Wrist 2The FENwatch is unique among the current smartwatch crop because it’s front dial is made out of hand painted ceramic. The rest of the FENwatch’s body is made out of 316L Stainless steel and K1 glass with sapphire coating (hard and wear-resistant).

The wrist bound device can pair to your Android phone and deliver relevant information right to it. It can be used for UV monitoring, sleep, step and activity tracker. The FENwatch can also be used to reject a call, locate a phone or as a remote shutter.

316L FaceThe watch mixes traditional craftsmanship methods with modern technology. The creators of the device combine Swiss precision gears with current smart features in order to deliver the interesting FENwatch.

FENwatch ModelsThe product is currently up on Kickstarter gathering funds, but what the page doesn’t clarify is whether the watch face will be able to display any information or not. As far as we can tell the answer is no, all relevant info will be forwarded towards the mobile app. Although the presence of the call alert feature entails the watch should at least vibrate when you’re getting a call.

FENwatch SideAnother outstanding feature of the FENwatch is that it promises a battery life to up to 365 days. It makes sense since the power source doesn’t have a power hungry display to support.

If you’d like to support this fashionable smartwatch, you can make a pledge via the FENwatch Kickstarter page. Early birds can get one watch for $79. Throw in an additional $20 if you want a natural lambskin strap to go, as well.

Leaked Galaxy S8 renders reveal Samsung’s flagship design language is about to change

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the most anticipated phones of this year and we expect it to be unveiled during MWC 2017. Since we’re just one month and a half away from the event, leaks centering the Galaxy S8 have intensified for the past few weeks.

The latest one comes to us courtesy of Mobilefun.co.uk – an accessory web shop which is currently listing a case for the Galaxy S8 made by GhosTek. The renders show the upcoming flagships inside one of the company’s Atomic 3 waterproof case.

Galaxy S8 Render 3The rumor mill has been saying for the last couple of months that Samsung plans to overhaul the design of the Galaxy S lineup and the Galaxy S8 should be the first beneficiary.

With this in mind, we can see the Galaxy S8 in the renders doesn’t have a physical home button and features a port-less construction. This leads to speculations that Samsung has opted to launch a wireless charging phone this year.

There’s also no trace of a fingerprint scanner on the back, but according to word on the street Samsung will be embedding the authentication technology within the display.

Galaxy S8 Render 2Third-party case makers often get information about soon to be released handsets in advance, so they can have the accessories ready as soon as the phone is announced. In this case you can even order a GhosTek case before Samsung has even had the chance to introduce its 2017 flagship (if you live in the UK).

As for this particular set of renders, we’re told they are based on actual data obtained from Samsung factories that actually producing the Galaxy S8.

Galaxy S8 Render CaseOne thing that we’ve noticed that might challenge the authenticity of this image is the lack of a LED flash cutout on the back. Surely the Galaxy S8 will include a LED flash, so the lack of it raises a question mark.

Anyway, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S8 at MWC 2017, but don’t expect to be able to purchase it right away. According to rumors, the phone will make it out in the US in the middle of April (possible date: April 18).

HTC U Ultra arrives with dual display, AI capabilities and microSD card slot

Alexandra Arici
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As expected, HTC’s big media event took place earlier today and the company unveiled its latest flagship product the HTC U Ultra alongside a smaller alternative, the HTC U Play.

HTC is focusing a lot on “U” with the launch of these two new devices that aim to deliver a highly personalized experience. The first thing you’ll notice when looking at these two phones is the new design. People have been wishing HTC will revamp the design of its products for quite some time and now the moment we all been waiting for has finally come.

HTC’s new phones take advantage of a new-all super glossy exterior which the company calls Liquid Surface construction. While the phones do indeed look gorgeous, they might just be a bit too slippery to be used without a phone case. A problem I also noticed with the Samsung Galaxy A (2016) series.

HTC U Ultra Green 2Being a flagship phone the HTC U Ultra features high-end specifications in line with most of last year premium phones. But HTC could have been the first company to announce a Snapdragon 835-powered device, instead the company left this honor to another (unknown) Android OEM.

The HTC U Ultra features last year’s Snapdragon 821 chipset under the hood which works in concert with 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. Surprisingly enough HTC has added a microSD card slot which will allow users to expand memory to up to 2TB.

HTC U Ultra BlueWe previously mentioned the HTC U Ultra is a phablet which makes use of a 5.7-inch QHD display (2560 x 1440-pixel resolution) plus a secondary mini screen with 160 x 1040 res. Like in the case of the LG V20, the second screen can be used to display additional information like notifications, reminders or music playback controls.

In the photo department, the phone features a 12MP UltraPixel main camera which takes advantage of phase-detection autofocus, laser autofocus, f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The phablet features an 16MP selfie snapper which inexplicably features an UltraPixel model that allows 4MP self-portraits to be snapped.

HTC U Ultra WhiteThe HTC U Ultra ships out with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and the new Sense UI plastered on top which includes the so-called Sense Companion. Here’s where things get more interesting. It appears HTC has been researching AI extensively for the past year, so the HTC U Ultra takes advantage of a few AI-driven enhancements.

HTC U Ultra PinkMaking use of machine learning, the phone will learn your habits and provide helpful suggestions based on them. So if the device “knows” you’re supposed to pick up your daughter from school and the roads appear to be crowded, it will suggest you leave a few minutes earlier.

Like in the case of the HTC Bolt, the HTC U Ultra doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead HTC is selling the device with Usonic earphones – a rebranded version of its in-ear headphones.

HTC U Secondary ScreenLast but not least, we should mention the phablet is powered by a 3,000mAh battery which is a bit flimsy, especially considering that the LG V20 bundles a more consistent, removable 3,200mAh one.

The HTC U Ultra with 64GB of internal storage will be available for pre-sale later today for $794 a pop from the company’s website. Customers can have their choice at Brilliant Black, Cosmetic Pink, Ice White,  and Sapphire Blue models. Expect the phones to start shipping out in March (for international customers).

HTC plans to launch a Limited Edition HTC U Ultra with sapphire glass on the front panel and 128GB of storage.

HTC U Play PinkAs for the smaller HTC U Ultra variant, the HTC U Play the phone has a 5.2-inch display with 1080p resolution and a MediaTek Helio P10 processor on the inside. HTC will offer the mid-ranger in two variants, one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

HTC U Play White

HTC U Play GreenThe main camera has been shrunken to 16MP (although there’s none of that UltraPixel business going on here). But the biggest disappointment is that the phone will ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

HTC U Play BlueThe HTC U Play is due out on the market in spring, but pricing specifications will be announced then.

Seven useful apps for 1-year-old kids and under

Alexandra Arici
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You might have noticed it too, but kids these days tend to develop and mature a lot faster. And while it’s not recommended letting small children spend long periods of time interacting with smart devices like tablets and smartphones, exposure to such gadgetry might help them develop their budding learning skills quicker.

A small child’s brain is like a sponge for information, so giving your toddler access to an educational app for a few minutes a day should not interfere with his/her natural growth cycle. So we have complied a list of child-friendly application for kids ages 1 or younger which have been specifically designed to help parents assist their little bundles of joy acquire lots and lots of useful information.

Even Monsters Get Sick

01-even-monsters-get-sickHere’s an app which was designed with an ingenious idea in mind. It’s always hard to get kids to take their (yucky tasting) medicine, so the folks behind the app thought children might relate to the characters in this storybook who like children get sick and need medicine to fight off the sickness.

The Even Monsters Get Sick e-book features full-color illustration, interactive animations and a custom soundtrack. The story can be read out or children can read by themselves, but parents of smaller children  will probably go for the former variant.

Baby Zoo Piano

02-baby-zoo-pianoParents who would like to see their child develop an interest in music, could try loading up the Baby Zoo Piano app on a tablet or a smartphone with a larger screen. The app gets kids acquainted with piano music accompanied by sounds of various domestic animals. Baby Zoo Piano is a bright and colorful game with an intuitive interface that’s easily accessible by any child beyond the newborn period.

Baby Zoo Piano will introduce your toddler to the realm of music by presenting him or her with three claviers with eight colorful keys each. All children have to do is press the keys to hear the sound, so it’s quite simple to get started. The app is free for download form the Google Play Store.

Fisher-Price Shapes & Colors Music Show

03-fisher-price-shapes-colors-music-showFisher-Price is a household name when it comes to children entertainment, so of course they are offering a few baby apps. Like the Shapes & Colors Music Show which is completely free for download from the Play Store.

The first things a child learns when it comes into the world is how to identify shapes and colors. The app teaches the little one all about shapes and colors though interactions with animations, sounds and sing along song.

Fisher-Price offers a large selection of baby apps, but some are paid. Check the whole collection here, if you are curious.

Baby Sleep Instant

04-baby-sleep-instantThis is not an education app, but one that will prove very useful for parents of really small children. Unable to get your baby to go sleep? This app will help the child fall asleep instantly by playing a classic monotonous sound (lullaby) proven to be effective in these situations.

According to the creators of the app, sounds made by a shower, fan, music box or hairdryer are more effective than tones, music or sing. To get started, put the phone in vicinity of the baby’s crib, choose one of the available sounds and set the timer. Goodnight, baby!

Nursery Rhymes

05-nursery-rhymesOk, so maybe the Baby Sleep Instant app did nothing for your infant. Then it’s time to go back to good old nursery rhymes. The Nursery Rhymes app delivers a collection of classic nursery rhymes including Old MacDonald, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider (in video format). The fun videos will teach children the basics of ABC phonics, first words, numbers, fruits, animals and much, much more.

However, keep in mind that only 24+ nursery rhymes and toddler games are free. If you want to unlock more features and games, you will need to purchase a subscription to the app.

Baby Phone

06-baby-phoneAnother way you can teach your child nursery rhymes and lullabies is the Baby Phone app. The application will turn the parent’s Android smartphone into a kiddie-friendly handset to teach the child about numbers, animal sounds, songs and lots more.

The game aims to develop important skills through musical stimulation such as development of memory, motor skills and linguistic capabilities.

If you like Baby Phone you can go ahead and explore all the apps offered by App Quiz. Most of them are free, however you might want to be careful because some titles support in-app purchases.

Baby Night Light

07-baby-night-lightDon’t let your child develop a fear of the dark with the Baby Night Light app which accompanies your kid’s descent into slumber. The app lets you choose between 14 different nightlights complete with a cute, animal companion of your choice.

Baby Night Light turns your smartphone into a night lamp that makes your child feel safe. Parents can adjust lighting effects, rotary motions and light intensity to give create the perfect sleeping environment.

Conclusion

At this age (1 year old and under) your child is forming the neuronal pathways that will help him or her perceive and understand the world. And technology could be used as a great tool to nurture the child’s learning processes. But remember: young minds shouldn’t be exposed excessively to tablets and phones, so giving your toddler access to a game or visual storybook for a few minutes a day should be enough. As you can see, the apps in our list are quite simple and don’t necessitate prolonged exposure anyway.

Using Google Maps Offline [How-to]

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If you travel much or just like driving to new places, then you know this feeling: you’re trying to find someplace new to visit but your phone is pulling data as if it is stuck to a slow IV – drip, drip, byte by byte. All that is displayed on your phone is a brownish-gray background with a few squiggly lines here and there, some blue and some red. The display looks more like a close-up of a zombie’s translucent skin than a map.

There’s nothing worse than getting a few bars on your phone and not being able to navigate around or at the least see where there is an ATM or gas station nearby. Fortunately, with a little planning, you can avoid these annoying scenarios.

Google Maps is King

When it comes to maps, Google Maps is still king. Usage wise, Google Maps had, as of October of 2016, twice as many users as Apple Maps, with the caveat being that Google Maps can be used on Android and iOS, while Apple Maps is only available to iOS users.

Google Maps is also ahead of the competition in turns of map accuracy, trip time and usual routes are faster in Google Maps vs Waze and Apple Maps.

Add the ability to download and use Google Maps when offline and we have ourselves some real travel opportunities, data towers, and dead spots be damned.

Preparing Offline Google Maps

Preparing and using an offline map is really easy to do from within the Google Maps application. To download a map for offline use, perform the following:

  1. Preferably, be connected to Wi-Fi and open Google Maps (you can use your mobile data, but Google Maps will warn you of high data charges). See Figure 1.

    google maps
    Fig. 1 – Google Maps
  2. Search for the place you will be navigating in/to. In our case, we are planning a trip to Big Bear, CA, L.A.’s snow playground. Coverage isn’t always good up in the mountains, so this is a perfect offline map location. See Figure 2.

    screenshot_20161227-142137
    Fig. 2 – Search Google Maps
  3. Once your map is up, click on a nearby spot. Since we are interested in the whole Big Bear Lake area, we will click right on the red icon labeled Big Bear Lake. See Figure 3.

    screenshot_20161227-142200
    Fig. 3 – Big Bear Lake map
  4. You will be taken to an info screen that tells you a little about the place you are looking up. Additionally, you will get a glimpse of the local weather conditions, pictures, hotels, shops, restaurants and navigation options. You will even get a travel estimate to that spot based on your current location. See Figure 4.

    screenshot_20161227-142209
    Fig. 4
  5. To prepare your map for offline use, click on Download. If using mobile data, now is the time to connect to Wi-Fi. See Figure 5.

    gmaps-down
    Fig. 5
  6. Select the area you want to use offline. The bigger the area, the larger the data package you will need to download. See Figure 6.
gmaps-download
Fig. 6

That’s it! Your phone will now download the area map and be available when you are offline.

Using Offline Google Maps

Now comes the hard part, using your offline maps. Be prepared to perform the following:

  1. Open Google Maps. If you have location services enabled, it will pull up your current location.google maps (1)
  2. Here’s the hard part: use Google Maps.

It is that simple. If the area you are in does not have good data coverage, Google will use your offline map and show you it is using offline data by displaying a lightning bolt. See Figure 7.

gmaps-offline
Fig. 7

You can still navigate and zoom in on your map to see nearby places of interest and travel time estimates.

Things to Consider when Using Offline Google Maps

There are drawback to offline Google Maps. Here are some things missing from offline maps that are available in live Google Maps:

  1. Public transit routes are not available, even for cities that have this option like Los Angeles.
  2. Bike and walking routes are not available.
  3. Live traffic will not be employed.
  4. Travel estimates will not be as accurate.
  5. Routes can’t be modified (avoidance is not an option).

Conclusion

There are other tools available for offline maps. Some, like maps.me, allow you to download everything at once, while others offer city, state and country downloads. If you are a hunter or exploring areas off the grid, these maps may be a better option.

However, for most travel and tourist needs, Google Maps does a great job of showing you what is around you, how long it will take you to get there and now, you can even use these maps if you’re tapped out on data or just have a slow connection.

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