Ulefone is a Chinese smartphone maker that is trying to make it in today’s extra competitive mobile market. The company has been offering great bang-for-the-buck Android phones, like the Power model. Well this week Ulefone has unveiled a new wallet-friendly device called the Ulefone U008 Pro.
The Chinese handset maker claims the newcomer is the best priced metal 4G product. So let’s see what the new product is all about. The Ulefone U008 Pro makes a debut into the world with a 5-inch HD display (1,280 x 720 pixel resolution) and a quad-core MediaTek MTK6737 chipset clocked at 1.3GHz.
Ulefone also throws in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. In the photography department the device takes advantage of an 8MP main camera (interpolated to 13MP) plus a 5MP selfie snapper.
While other devices launched by Ulefone like the Power had a huge 6,050 mAh battery pack, the new U008 Pro features a more modest 3,500 mAh juice pack. The phone ships out with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, but don’t get your hopes up about Nougat.
Ulefone has made efforts to make sure the U008 Pro comes equipped with some unique software feats. The new device rocks a new gaming mode which disables the menu and back keys in order to avoid any mis-touches. Ulefone also bundled the phone with gesture recognizer, float video player, double-finger volume control and smart screenshot mode.
The U008 will be launched with Grey, Black and Pink for an unspecified priced, but given the company’s track record the handset should feature a sub $100 price tag.
When you think of a first-class gaming experience, mobile gaming is not usually what comes to mind. There have been quite a few really fantastic mobile games, but most are just for a quick gaming session, with very few offerings for the serious gamer. If you’re into serious gaming or eSports, you’re probably going to be on a powerful PC or console. Vainglory looks to change the face of mobile gaming with a massively multiplayer experience and an up-and-coming eSport focus. Does it’s gameplay live up to its ambition? Let’s take a look.
Vainglory is a MOBA, which stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. The basic idea is there are two teams made up of three players each, and each team is trying to destroy the others base. To do this, they need to travel down a center lane and destroy giant turret guns protecting the enemy’s base. There is a constant stream of minions pouring out of each base that will do little more than distract the enemy. It takes teamwork, quick thinking, and powerful hero skills to win the battle.
Setup
Vainglory is a big game with lots of moving parts and many things to learn before you can just jump in. To help with the otherwise steep learning curve, the game walks you through several tutorial missions that cover everything from basic movements and maneuvers, several different special abilities, unlocking heroes, and some light strategy to help you win. All of this takes about an hour, but it’s worth your time to really understand all of the things going on in battle, as they can get quite fast-paced.
To really get the most out of the game, you need to create a profile to be able to access all the features and events. At the time of this writing, there’s a tournament coming up where you could win an iPhone 7, so we’re not just talking about in-game currency or a unique character, but actual real life prizes. There’s also an active community, friends list, and even an eSport league, so when it asks if you want to register, do it.
Gameplay
Some of the many, many characters available from the huge roster
The gameplay is solid and really easy once you’ve learned how to play. There are around 30 different heroes to choose from, each with multiple unique abilities, so playing around with all of them is key to discovering which characters skills fit your play style. I’m partial to Saw and his giant minigun, but there are quick run-and-gun characters, sword wielders who get up close and personal, and even little mage dragons who look like they came right out of Digimon. No matter your playstyle, there’s something for everyone. Each week there are new free-to-try heroes, which can be unlocked through collecting in-game objects or can be purchased through in-app purchases, so if there’s someone you really like, you can have them available, but for me personally, I enjoy playing with all of the different character types and trying them out for the week. If during that time there is a character that you especially like, you can purchase them for 10% off their regular price, which is a great system.
Depending on your match type, each round could take anywhere from 5 minutes up to 30+ minutes. At the start of each round, you have a small amount of money to buy one piece of equipment with, but as you mow down minions and enemy heroes, you’ll gradually gain both gold and experience. Gold can be use at your base or as item shops on the battlefield to purchase new equipment that will increase your attack, defense, speed, or grant new abilities, such as short speed bursts. Experience allows you to upgrade abilities and unlock new abilities for the round. Each round starts you off with little equipment and gold, allowing you to rebuild in different ways depending on what is needed for the round. If a certain enemy is resilient to your first ability but crumbles against your second, you can tailor your build during that game to boost the damage and level of your second ability. There’s also gameplay modes that will start your character at level 4 with a good sum of gold from the start so you can jump right into the action.
The biggest draw to Vainglory is the fact that the game is centered around multiplayer. There are some bot modes to play but they are just considered practice rounds, and your AI controlled allies can pretty much be forgotten about because they will be off lollygagging about and will not be much help. Connecting to other players and working together to overthrow the other team is the heart and soul of this game, and when you find players that you play well with, the game really shines. A strong team usually consists of characters that can cover each other weaknesses, but I’ve played matches where my teammates and I overwhelmed the other team through sheer force alone. The variety of character you’ll be playing with, both on your team and against, always keeps matches fresh and fun.
This game is beautiful. There are brilliant colors everywhere on the battlefield. All around you are lush bushes, pathways that have been trampled by war, and incredible masonry surrounding each base. Character animation is smooth and using abilities is fun with leaps and dives and uppercuts that all transition seamlessly into one another. All the characters have unique looks and multiple costumes.
The Verdict
Vainglory is all the fun of the MOBA games on PC only in a pocket format. The characters are varied and unique, and with a heavy focus on multiplayer and events, there’s always new content to discover. In-app purchases are available but hardly necessary, which is great for those who want things right away and don’t mind paying, but it’s also great too for those on a budget. If you are a fan of MOBAs, action games, or enjoy serious gaming on the go, download this now.
Time to purchase a new smartphone? Is this an upgrade from an existing device? We want to help you out either way.
To save you money, we’ve gathered up all of the promotions we could find from T-Mobile. Regardless of where you’re thinking of going for service, or what phone you are looking to pick up, you owe it to yourself to check below.
What follows is a mix of phone, rate plan, and accessory promotions worth checking out. It might not be an exhaustive list, but it’s a good collection of what’s currently offered through T-Mobile.
Although we’ve listed known expiration dates, we have no idea how long some of these other deals will last.
Recently Samsung debuted a new, non-interactive VR experience titled “The Night Before.” This 3D-VR short video allows users to experience Santa’s sleigh ride from Santa’s home, around the world, and into space, then back to New York City. Although this ride is non-interactive (aside from looking around the 360-degree space), it’s a fun little video that kids can enjoy.
The VR and motion features do a fairly decent job immersing the viewer into the combined CG and live-video world. Overall, the production values and acting are respectable and should be serviceable for the intended audience.
Want to ride along with Santa and his magic sleigh?
Samsung labels the journey as a 4D VR experience, but never really defines what the extra dimension this video brings. It’s short for sure, but it’s nice to see that Samsung continues to add content for the Gear VR headset. If you have a Gear VR headset and you’re itching for some extra Christmas spirit, “The Night Before” is worth checking out in the Samsung VR application.
Visit Samsung’s newsroom site here for more information including scheduled mall hours for a dedicated sleigh-ride experience.
Not so long ago Cyanogen Inc. CEO Lior Tal announced in a sketchy blog post that the company is closing its Seattle office and moving to Palo Alto, California – presumably to be closer to where all the action happens, while leaving co-founder Steve Kondik behind.
Kondiak apparently wants to move on with the CyanogenMod project, but things might not be so easy due to legal issues. Let’s elaborate on that.
New rumors have emerged online saying that CyanogenMod might be renamed in the near future to LineageOS or Lineage Android Distribution.
(Dictionary definition: linage – direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree)
In his last official statement before parting ways with Cyanogen Inc, Steve Kondik asks the community if they should keep going. But he warned against intellectual propriety issues CyanogenMod might be confronted with if it were to “fork and rebrand”, which sparked talk of re-naming possibilities.
Kondik explains that the main IP is brand and trademark and he confesses he is not sure he can get it back without a fight, which is why renaming the custom firmware makes sense.
With that being said, a repo called “Lineage Android Distribution” has been spotted on GitHub hinting LineageOS (or Lineage Android Distribution for that matter) is already being considered as a serious alternative to CyanogenMod.
The repo is said to be very active, although the status of this mystery project currently remains unknown. So for the time being it’s quite uncertain whether CyanogenMod will indeed transition to LineageOS or not.
Even if the naming scheme changes, it’s very unlikely the functionality of the firmware will also be changed, so rest assured that the potential LinageOS will deliver the same goodies you have been accustomed to expect.
As for CyanogenOS, the company announced a few months ago it is focused on developing the so called ModularOS – an initiative designed to provide device manufacturers with a customizable version of Android.
Smartphones are a wonderful way of keeping all our data and entertainment in one convenient package, but they also carry some risk. As a single, easily stolen device, they represent a way for criminals to get away with huge chunks of your personal information in one fell swoop. Here are some tips to keep that fate from befalling you.
The first step to phone security on a new smartphone is to set up the lock screen. Lock screens hold the smartphone’s functions behind a numeric access code. Many phones will prompt you to create one during setup; if yours does not, don’t forget to find the lock option in your settings menus. And if you have any reason to believe the passcode is out on the web, change it immediately.
Use a Strong Password
Of course, locking your phone isn’t going to do a lot of good if your password is easy to guess. Common numeric passwords include parts of your social security number or your birthdate, either backwards or forwards. Someone who has access to both your phone and your wallet or purse could conceivably break that code very quickly. Instead, try to find a string of numbers and letters that are unrelated to you and your interests. Ideally, this should be a code that means something to you, but random characters are acceptable if you can remember them. Don’t write your passwords on anything you carry on your person.
Block Your Number
Unless you like the idea of handing out your phone number to any person you need to call for any reason, you should know how to block your phone number when dialing out. The most time-honored way to do this is to dial *67 before dialing the number you want to call, which will make your phone show up as “unknown” on the other end. Some phones or service providers offer more complex number blocking schemes.
Use VPNs to Transmit Data
If you are concerned with your online activities being traced to your device, you should consider setting up a VPN. This stands for Virtual Private Network, and a properly set up VPN connects to the internet indirectly, moving through several web sites and obfuscating your IP address in the process. At the same time, a VPN can slow down your web browsing, since moving between all those servers is not instantaneous. Several commercial VPN programs exist, though you should pay close attention to the terms of the software, as some of them keep a log of your activities.
Use Android Device Manager
Nobody wants their expensive technological devices stolen, especially when they carry as much potentially salable personal data as a modern smartphone does. If you are worried about your phone or other Android device being stolen by the unscrupulous, you should make use of the Android Device Manager, an online service provided by Google. The device manager tracks all associated Android devices as long as they are currently connected to the internet. You can use the manager to find the location of a missing phone, to activate the ringer in case you need to dig it out of your couch, or to lock and erase the phone, rendering it useless to a thief.
Find an Encryption Scheme
Secure transmission is a nice idea, but sometimes even the most secure network is not enough. If you need even more peace of mind than that provided by VPNs and trusted networks, you can use encryption to protect your valuable data in transmission. Encryption translates your data into a set of cipher text, encoded in such a way as to make it unusable to anyone who does not have the key to the encryption scheme. Most forms of messaging use some type of encryption, but it is usually of the server-based variety. Apps that encode your communications with end-to-end schemes will provide more security.
At the end of the day, no protection scheme makes up for a careless user. Pay attention to your situation, and then use any or all of these methods to add to your privacy protection.
Android phones are the most popular smartphones. According to Time Magazine, they account for more than 50% of smartphone usage worldwide. One reason is that they don’t cost nearly as much to purchase or upgrade as an iPhone does. Another reason is that they are versatile and don’t bog down users with proprietary cables and expensive add-ons.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of online business owners on the go rely on their smartphones to operate during the day. Certainly, tablets and laptops come in handy, too, when the back office computer is not accessible. While one may not necessarily want to post new products to their store from a smartphone handset, there are a surprising number of things that you can do to keep your online business in tip-top shape, and all from your Android phone.
Use the Right Storefront
If you want true mobile access to your online store, then you have to consider the shopping cart service that you are using. Not all of them offer a mobile-accessible storefront that you can just tap into at any time when on the go. But the good news is that plenty of them do.
Popular shopping cart providers that feature mobile management include the likes of Shopify, 3dcart, BigCommerce, Volusion, eBay, Amazon, Etsy, Newegg and others. Certainly, these are not the only ones. Make sure you conduct your own research before choosing a shopping cart or marketplace provider to assure that you have unfettered mobile access.
Lock Down Your Fulfillment
Fulfillment can easily be the most the time consuming aspect of your already busy day. A lot of online retailers use a tedious two-system method. This involves printing your shipping labels from one system and your packing lists from another. More time is involved because you also have to match up packing lists with labels and manually fulfill packages.
But newer e-ecommerce shipping software applications eradicate this tediousness. They instead let you generate your packing list and shipping label from standard printer sheets (inkjet/laser). You then just peel and stick the label onto the package and slide in the packing list. What’s more, newer shipping software solutions offer mobile access and some even feature mobile scanning. You should look for a solution that offers mobile accessibility, complete with shipment status, tracking number access and returns for when you are roving.
Track Everything in the Cloud
Cloud based software solutions are generally the most accessible of the bunch. When pursuing the next big online retailing success story, you always want to make sure that you are connecting with your customers and nurturing the relationship. Doing so helps you procure revenue-producing campaigns that feed your bottom line.
Newer e-commerce CRM software solutions are both cloud-hosted and mobile accessible, helping you expand the relationship you have with customers in ways you never thought possible before. Some feature cross-channel integration as well as shipping and returns solutions, all hosted under a cloud banner, featuring a solitary and user-friendly interface.
Project Management is Your Best Friend
Lastly, don’t forget to connect your team using a mobile-friendly Project Management System (PMS). Without dropping any big names, a simple online search will reveal that there are five quality systems that you can choose from at any time. Most offer integrations into CRM and into your shopping cart or online marketplace.
These systems give you broad administrative control over your back office workers, so you can always be in the know. It can be as simple as overseeing tasks and watching your numbers while you are traveling for business. Or it can be as dreamy as sipping on a margarita on the beach while vacationing, and enjoying having complete access to your online business, digitally nestled in the palms of your hands as you soak up the sun.
HMD is the company which currently holds the rights to use the Nokia brand on smartphones and tablets. We recently told you the Finnish company is gearing up to unveil the first Android Nokia smartphones in a while next year at MWC 2017, but while we wait on that HMD has already pulled the wraps off its first Nokia.
The caveat is that the new Nokia 150 isn’t really a smartphone but only a feature phone. You know like the good old Nokia 8210.
HDM offers two variations of the phone, the Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM, but both phones will come bundled 2.4-inch display, built-in FM radio, MP3 player and an “outstanding battery life”.
Those of you who are nostalgic of the past, will probably be very excited to know that the Nokia 150 comes bundled with the host of games including the all-time popular Snake Xenzia.
The new feature phone also comes with a camera with LED flash which will allow users to snap the occasional shots and a microSD card slot up to 32GB.
HMD doesn’t specifically tell us, but recent feature phones like the Nokia 216 (Asha) allow users to access popular applications like Facebook.
Nokia is known for its long lasting devices, so the Nokia 150 is no different. HMD promises users will be able to enjoy talk time up to 22 hours and a standby times of up to 31 days (for the single SIM unit).
The Nokia 150 and Nokia 150 Dual SIM will be sold for $26 a pop. HMD plans a global roll out for the devices, so the feature phones might land in the US as well. However, the phones will be initially sold in Europe, Asia and Africa.
HMD will continue its Nokia love affair at MWC 2017 where we expect to see two affordable handsets go live. Nokia premium Android smartphones are also in the cards, but will probably arrive later in 2017.
Interest in the wearable market has started to decrease drastically, as more and more users realize they don’t really need a smartwatch (including our own Henry).
But Google doesn’t want to give up on Android Wear, not by a long shot. The company is looking for new ways to make wearables relevant (again!?). Its latest initiative involves purchasing Cronologics – a startup that was created back in 2014 by a bunch of ex-Google employees. The company created its own smartwatch OS plus a wearable product called CoWatch.
The details of the acquisition are yet to be revealed, but Cronologics’ CEO already announced on Twitter it will be joining Google.
“We see strong alignment with Android Wear’s mission and look forward to working with our new colleagues at Google to continue pushing the frontier of wearable technology and smartwatches with Android Wear 2.0 and beyond.”
The company’s first product, the CoWatch is still up for grabs via IMCO Technology’s website. The wearable features a 1.39-inch Super AMOLED display with 400 x 400 pixel resolution and a dual-core MIPS processor under the hood.
There’s also 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage, alongside an accelerometer, gyrometer, heart rate sensor and vibrating motor. Naturally the CoWatch takes advantage of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The CoWatch gives us a glimpse of Cronologics’ attempt at building its own wearable OS. The platform comes bundled with a host of native apps arranged in categories such as communication, fitness tracking an entertaining. The watch offers support for iOS 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop+ devices.
But what really makes the Cronologics’ operating system special is the Amazon Alexa support. CoWatch users can do things like order sushi or dictate a memo via a voice command. Is it possible that Google is also looking to make Android Wear more voice-enabled? It’s a possibility.
Recently Google unveiled the “Magic Minute Project” in a bid to remind users Android Wear is still present and really cool. A new Android Wear watch, the Michael Kors Enter Bradshaw has also recently popped up in the Google Store, replacing the uber expensive Huawei Watch.
So Google is taking small step that let us know Android Wear hasn’t been forgotten. Android Wear 2.0 is scheduled to make an appearance sometimes in early 2017, alongside two rumored Google Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches.
Are you a Project Fi subscriber who knows someone who is using a Nexus or a Pixel phone? Then why not recommend they join Project Fi, as well? Google is going to make it worth for you.
The search giant has just introduced a new referral program for Project Fi, which aims to bring more subscribers on board.
The new “Refer a Friend” option should be found in the Account tap of the Project Fi app. From there you can generate a code which in you need to send your contact. What’s in it from you? Google will award the referrer $20 credit on their next bill which each new subscriber they send into the loving arms of Project Fi.
Google limits the number of referrals to 10, so if you take advantage of all the open slots you’ll be able to shave off up to $200 from your next bill. However, be advised that the Refer a Friend program will only be active between now and January 11, 2017.
Naturally, there are some rules that apply. The person you are referring needs to be a brand-new customer who hasn’t previously signed up with Project Fi. More than that, the account has to be in good standing and the referee needs to have paid for two months of service in advance.
Referrals aren’t eligible for the family plans, so people who are joining Project Fi as part of someone else’s family plan will not be taking into consideration for this deal.
It’s the perfect moment to join the Project Fi family. Google has just introduced a new holiday themed website filled with hidden gifts like $10 Google Play gift cards. And in the following weeks more surprised will be unveiled.
