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MINI Cooper Compact Mirror Bluetooth Speaker: Unimposing design delivers powerful sound

AndroidGuys
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The MINI is an iconic compact sedan that was first produced by the British Motor Corporation. The MINI transcended the normal gas-guzzling, bigger car design and replaced it with a smaller, more efficient design. What made MINI so unique was despite its small design it was still able to fit passengers and luggage.

I have a couple of buddies that have MINI Coopers and riding in one is an exhilarating experience. I never expected such a small, unimposing car to be as quick as it is. It’s only fitting that MINI puts out a compact bluetooth speaker that packs a serious punch.

Build

  • Model: Compact MIRROR PF-328M
  • Weight: 0.22 Lbs
  • Product Dimensions: H 2.14” x D3.1” x W2.39” (inches)

The package comes with the compact speaker, micro-USB charger, and user manual.

This Bluetooth speaker is really, really small. This is fitting because the MINI car itself is known for its miniature size. The MINI Compact Mirror speaker fits in the palm of my hand. The design is based off the actual MINI sideview mirror. On the back of the speaker is United Kingdom’s red, white, and blue flag. The front of the speaker is made of a metal grill with the a small MINI logo at the bottom.

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The controls are located at the bottom of the MINI speaker. The bottom of the speaker sits on a rubber padding that ensures that the speaker will not move around. The controls are limited and only give you the option of turning the device on, turning it off, bluetooth pairing, and opening up Siri or Google assistant. The rubber bottom of the speaker is a button that when pressed will open up Google assistant. There are no volume rockers on the speaker, so increasing and decreasing volume will be controlled through your phone or tablet.

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Charging the device is really simple. Just plug in the micro-USB cord and plug it into a power source. The speaker can be charged and play music at the same time. There will be a red light right above the MINI logo on the front grill that will indicate that it is charging.

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Sound

To be honest, I did not expect much from the MINI Compact Mirror speaker when I first saw it. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this speaker. The highlight of this speaker is that it can play music at full volume without noticeable sound distortion. You can’t say that about a lot of speakers, especially from one that is so small. The speaker can get decently loud, but I wouldn’t use it for a party. The best setting would be in your room, or in the living room with your roommates.

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I found the MINI Compact Mirror speaker to have a well-balanced sound. Don’t expect huge bass from the 34mm driver. Speakers of this size do not have the capacity to produce the huge bass some people expect to hear from hip-hop or EDM genres. Instead, I listened to some acoustic playlists on Spotify and really enjoyed the sound experience from this little speaker. The guitar and vocals were really crisp even with the volume turned all the way up. Even my roommate who categorizes himself as an audiophile was extremely impressed with the well-balanced sound coming from such an unimposing speaker.

Usage

This speaker is roughly the size of an extra large egg. I actually forgot I put it in my pocket and spent half an hour looking for the speaker before realizing where it was. This could be a testament to how much of an idiot I am, but it also highlights the portability of this speaker.

I found myself using this speaker primarily in my living room. My roommates and I try to live like responsible adults and will “attempt” to clean every weekend. This was the perfect speaker to throw on some acoustic jams to help forget the awfulness of cleaning your house. I had no problem hearing the music from across my living room.

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I got roughly five hours of use from the MINI Compact Mirror speaker. I found this battery life to be really good especially because I was listening to music at full volume. I can imagine you would get closer to six or seven hours if you are only listening at 50%.

The MINI Compact Mirror speaker also has a microphone to allow hands-free calling. This feature worked really, really well. Every one of my friends that I used this hands-free option with had no problem hearing me.

Conclusion

The MINI has always been known for its exceptional performance despite compact design. It’s only fitting that MINI keeps the same theme with its MINI Compact Mirror speaker as well. One might think that this speaker is only for MINI Cooper owners, however that is not the case. This little speaker has a huge presence with its ability to play music at full volume without distortion. It’s well-balanced sound and portability makes it a great speaker if you want to keep it at your desk or take it outside in the backyard.

The MINI Cooper Compact Mirror speaker is only $25.99 on Amazon with the discount code Q3S4LE4J (save $10). This is an absolute steal considering the quality you get for the cost. You don’t need to be a MINI Cooper owner to appreciate the unique design and sound performance this little speaker can put out.  

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J&L Real-200 Swan: Gym headphones that won’t fall out of your ears or leave you broke (review)

AndroidGuys
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I’ve been a big fan of J&L Real ever since I bought the J&L 103 Bluetooth headphones for the gym. J&L Real puts a lot of value in making aesthetic, affordable headphones for people who live an active lifestyle. I’m an avid gym-goer and so wireless headphones are a staple in my life.

Let me introduce you to the J&L-200 Swan bluetooth earbuds. Those who live an active lifestyle will really appreciate the design and stability that these headphones provide.

Build

  • Model: J&L-200 Swan
  • Bluetooth Version: V4.1
  • Playtime: 6~8 hours
  • Charge time: 1-2 hours
  • Weight: 20.8 grams

The package comes with the headphones, three different sized eartip adapters, a USB charging cable, user manual, and carry pouch.

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The headphones are primarily made from plastic which keeps it light, portable, and sweat-proof. The eartip adapters are made made from a soft, silicone design. The tips of the silicone design are really small making it easy to fit into the ear canal. The eartip adapters don’t have wings that are normally associated with bluetooth earbuds but don’t worry these headphones will not come off your ears since they are light weight.

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The design of the headphones limit the user to wear it so that the wires are around the back of your neck, unlike some bluetooth headphones. The ends will wrap around your ears ensuring a secure fit which is why the eartip wings were omitted. The headphones take a bit of time getting used to putting them on due to its unique design.

The two earbuds are connected by memory wire, which will contort back into a compact shape making it extremely easy to put back into the mesh pouch. I don’t know how many times I’ve put headphones in my pocket, only to find a tangled disaster in its place.

The in-line controls are located on the right earbud. There are only three controls: power, volume up and volume down. The power button also doubles as a button to take phone calls. Double pressing the power button will call your most recent contact. Long-pressing the power button will also pair your bluetooth device to your phone.

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The volume rockers will control the music you are listening to as well. The volume up rocker will skip to the next song, while the volume down rocker will play the previous song.

Usage

I replaced the J&L 103’s with these J&L-200 Swans as my primary gym headphones. I was really impressed with the comfort and stability of these headphones. A big worry with wireless headphones are that they will fall out of your ears. These headphones will not budge during your workout. I’ve been working on explosive movements such as box jumps and these held firmly in place. Running around my neighborhood was no problem either.

Even though the design isn’t completely wireless, you don’t have to worry too much about getting the wires that wrap around from getting caught on anything. The design of the headphones keeps the wire close to your neck. I can’t emphasize enough how annoying it is to have the headphones yank out because the loose wire gets caught on something.

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I tested out the range of the J&L-200 Swan’s and I got around 10 feet before music would cut off. I did notice that the headphones had the occasional drop at the gym but it would reconnect immediately. This is an occurrence that many bluetooth devices suffer due to weaker antennas.

J&L claims that the headphones will get six to eight hours of battery life. I found myself getting a solid seven hours of battery life. I personally never exceed 70% volume because I have sensitive ears and will get headaches from loud music.

Sound

The J&L-200 Swan headphones sound awesome for how cheap they are. J&L focused on the crisp highs and rich lows. It wasn’t kidding when they said these have crisp highs. I found that the highs slightly overpowered the mids and bass. Listening to the chorus part of Ultralight Beam by Kanye West on full volume was a bit overwhelming. Regardless, the sound still offers a rich bass experience. The headphones offer a great sound experience in the gym where upbeat music benefits from this EQ range.

I wouldn’t recommend using it in a work setting. I found that the crisp highs lead to sound fatigue in a calm setting such as the workplace. However, these headphones were designed for an active setting so this will not affect most people.

Conclusion

I was really blown away at the comfort and design of the J&L-200 Swan bluetooth headphones. These headphones are one of the most comfortable, secure headphones I have ever used in the gym. Comfort and fit are two very important factors for gym headphones as you will be more active than normal and potentially will deal with more fit issues. Wireless headphones are useless if they continually fall out of your ear.

The sound experience you get for the low price point makes these headphones a steal. The J&L Real-200 Swan headphones are only $23.94 on Amazon with free shipping. The emphasis on crisp highs and rich bass from these sweat-proof headphones will power you through even the toughest of workouts.

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You can now get Android Auto for all cars

Andrew Orr
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Not everyone has a modern car with amenities like built-in screens. Although over 200 car models support Android Auto, there are millions more without support. So Google is letting drivers use Android Auto from their phone.

Anyone who has an Android phone running 5.0 Lollipop or later can take advantage of Android Auto. You don’t have to hook it up to an external screen either; just set your phone on a mount somewhere accessible.

To be clear, Android Auto doesn’t really give you extra functionality; rather, it’s the opposite. Systems like Android Auto and CarPlay strip down a smartphone into the bare minimals and presents them in a distraction-free interface.

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You can easily access things like directions, music and communication apps, but no more than that. These services are presented in a UI that looks similar to your notification shade: big fonts and buttons in a minimal interface.

Along with the update, your phone can also automatically start the app when your phone is paired with Bluetooth. Presumably this means Bluetooth-supported car mounts, and not Bluetooth speakers and headphones.

Google is also bringing updated hands-free voice commands “in the coming weeks.” You can use these commands to access maps, music and messaging with the familiar “Ok, Google” command.

Android Auto is currently available in 31 countries. You can enter your email address here to find out when your phone will get the app.

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Verizon rings up two new rate plans for prepaid customers

AndroidGuys
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Only days after shedding its lowest rate plan for prepaid customers, Verizon is back to change things up. Today finds the carrier adding two new options to its Verizon Prepaid options.

Starting from November 13, Verizon Prepaid subscribers will be able to choose from $50 and $70 offerings. The former provides for 5GB of 4G LTE data per month while the latter delivers 10GB of high speed coverage.

Both plans include unlimited talk and text, mobile hotspot, international messaging, and carryover data. Should a customer hit the threshold of data, Verizon will throttle speeds for the remainder of the bill cycle. Moreover, those customers who want more data in the interim can purchase it in bundles.

For a detailed look at Verizon Prepaid and other prepaid services, be sure to check out our buyer’s guide.

The best promotions you’ll find for wireless service providers (November 7)

AndroidGuys
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Time to purchase a new smartphone? Is this an upgrade from an existing device? Or, are you brand new to these sort of things? Actually, scratch that, it doesn’t matter. We want to help you out either way.

To save you money, we’ve gathered up all of the promotions we could find from the various wireless providers. 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. Don’t be the guy who says, “I didn’t know I could get more for my money.” Worse, don’t be the one who could have kept some of that money in his wallet.

What follows is a mix of phone, rate plan, and accessory promotions worth checking out this week. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good mix of what’s currently offered across the bigger carriers. We have no idea how long some of these deals will last. Sure, some are ongoing in a semi-permanent manner, but others could disappear overnight.

Verizon

AT&T

T-Mobile

Sprint

US Cellular

AT&T GoPhone plans get 33% more data for same price

AndroidGuys
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AT&T on Monday announced that two of its GoPhone rate plans will soon offer more data for the same price. Starting on Friday, November 11, the $45 and $60 options will have 33 percent more data at no additional cost.

The $45 plan will give subscribers 4GB of 4G LTE data, up from the 3GB bucket offered today. The $60 plan, for its part, jumps from 6GB to 8GB. Customers can save $5 per month on each rate plan if they agree to the AutoPay automatic bill payment.

In addition to the rate plan changes, AT&T will debut a couple of deals on smartphones on Friday. Running through the end of the year will be the following discounts:

  • Get a free ZTE Maven 2 when you activate a new line and pay $30 for service
  • LG Phoenix 2 will be $49.99 (reg. $69.99)

AT&T GoPhone is the prepaid service which operates on the same network as the tier-one AT&T brand. Plans include features such as Rollover Data, calls and messages to Canada and Mexico, and more.

HTC Bolt arrives at Sprint November 11 with 5.5-inch 2K display

Alexandra Arici
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We recently told you that HTC is currently prepping a version of its HTC 10 handset dubbed Bolt (in international markets) or HTC 10 Evo (for the Taiwanese market) that might make it out on the market towards the end of the month. Well new info unearthed by Techno Buffalo seems to indicate that Bolt will make an appearance in the US earlier than predicted, on November 11.

The phone will be sold exclusively by Sprint and will arrive with a larger 5.5-inch display (compared to the HTC 10 which features a 5.2-inch display. We were unsure whether the phone will be equipped with 1080p resolution or 1440p, but the latest info confirms the Bolt will boast a 2K panel instead (2048 x 1080 res).

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According to leaked Sprint promotional material, the phone will features IP57 certification for water and dust protection, which isn’t as impressive as the IP687 water resistance on the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7, but a decent enough option.

HTC 10 is among the best smartphones to date (Review)

The documents also attest the presence of a 16MP main camera with f/2.0 aperture and OIS (optical image stabilization) and 4K video recording capabilities plus an 8MP selfie snapper in front.

The flyers reveal the phone will feature the world’s first adaptive earphones, which are said to feature a speaker that’s 70% larger than the one found in standard earphones. A diaphragm made from aerospace-grade plover allows the phone to deliver two-time the sound range.

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Interestingly, the slides also mention the Amazon Assistant coming pre-installed. Android 7.0 Nougat has been confirmed to be onboard of the phone too. Certainly Sense 8.0 UI will be plastered on top.

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We’re also told the phone has an aluminum unibody and bundles 3,200 mAh battery which promises talk time of over 20 hours. Thanks to the Quick Charge technology, the phone can be charged to last up to a day in 30 minutes.

No info related to the pricing of the HTC Bolt for the time being nor the chipset inside it (Snapdragon 820 or 821), but we’ll now soon enough.

T-Mobile’s SyncUP DRIVE turns your car into mobile hotspot

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T-Mobile today announced the SyncUP DRIVE, a plug-in device for automobiles which provides safety and analytics tools, alerts, and notifications to users. Moreover, it gives cars a Wi-Fi hotspot which allows for sharing to up to five devices.

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The SyncUP DRIVE, which plugs into most vehicle OBD-II ports, is like having a mechanic constantly diagnose and evaluate your car. Paired with the OBD reader app, it lets you know what’s going on with your vehicle. Should your auto end up on a recall list, the app will alert you. Additionally, the device can alert you to maintenance reminders and notify of troubles.

The device captures driver behavior information such as acceleration and braking, speed, and RPM. The device also reports vehicle location via GPS and can report on common vehicle issues called Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).

Parents will like having the ability to monitor driving behavior and/or setting speed alerts. Further, the SyncUP DRIVE can help share its location should your car or truck end up stolen.

Manufactured by ZTE, the SyncUP DRIVE is compatible with most cars from 1996 to today.  The SyncUP Drive unit costs $150, however T-Mobile will offer it free to customers provided they sign up to a two-year service plan with at least 2GB of data per month. Look for the device in participating T-Mobile stores and online at www.t-mobile.com starting November 18.

Check out these 10 awesome cases and accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Matt Adams
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Whether you picked up a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge on release day or you’ve only had it for a few hours, you know that you need to keep your phone protected. While Samsung makes great phones, the S7 series is susceptible to bumps and breaks, especially the Edge variant, due to all of the glass used on the phones. We’ve put together a list of some awesome cases and other accessories like screen protectors, docks, and micro SD cards. Check them out!

Spigen Rugged Armor

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Spigen is one of the biggest and best cell phone accessory companies because it makes excellent products for a wide variety of phones and offer them at a price that won’t break the bank. The Rugged Armor case is one of my favorites due to it’s understated looks and shock absorption.

Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7): Amazon | Spigen
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon | Spigen

Caseology Envoy Series

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Caseology just makes beautiful cases. If you’re interested in enhancing how your device looks, you may want to check out one of its case lineups. We’ve focussed on the Envoy Series today due its hard plastic bumper that absorbs shocks, the leather cherry oak back, and wonderful color combinations. You can grab this case in one of six combinations to suit your needs.

Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7): Amazon | Caseology
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon | Caseology

AIIYG DS Gradient Mirror

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This is one of the coolest looking cases out there. The AIIYG DS Gradient Mirror TPU case has four different color options to choose from and provides a hard plastic bumper and an awesome looking gel case. The gradient of colors is unlike almost every other case out there and will truly stand out in a crowd. Be prepared to get asked where you got your case, because this is a conversation starter.
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle

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If you’re looking for serious protection at a great price, look no further than the Supcase Unicorn Beetle. The case is a hard plastic exterior with a soft interior to cradle your phone in case of drops. It also includes a 360-degree swiveling belt hook so you don’t have to stick a big phone and larger phone case into your pockets. The cutouts are large enough to not inhibit functionality but small enough to protect the phone. This is an awesome option if you want to make sure your phone is protected long-term.

Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7): Amazon | Supcase
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon | Supcase

Samsung LED View Flip Cover

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Samsung is one of the only companies out there that make excellent first party accessories for its phones. One of the best is the LED View Flip Cover. The case allows the phone to display a wealth of information like the time and notification directly through the case. You can also use gestures to interact with the phone and your notifications without even opening the case. Pretty cool stuff.

Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7): Amazon | Samsung
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon | Samsung

Armorsuit MilitaryShield

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If you’re looking to protect your screen, Armorsuit’s option may be the best of the best. Glass screen protectors have issues with curved displays, so the scratch-proof material Armorsuit uses is a great option for full coverage. You apply it with a liquid solution that seals the screen protector to the screen so it doesn’t move and no bubbles are trapped underneath.

Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7): Amazon
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon

Xcords Glass Screen Protector

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If you’re married to the idea of a glass screen protector, you may want to check out Xcords’ option. The screen protector goes over the entirety of the front of your phone, not just the display. The scratchproof screen protector is heat-bent to match the curve of your phone and provide 100% protection.
Purchase Link (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge): Amazon

MKK Universal Stand + Samsung Fast Charger

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I keep my phone on a charging dock at my desk at work and it might be the most convenient thing in my life. I constantly get my updates as they come in, I don’t have to check my phone constantly and my phone always stays charged. The MKK Universal Stand comes with a Samsung fast charger so your phone will charge up in a jiffy and remain within eyesight of your desk or bedside table.

Purchase Link: Amazon

Belkin PowerHouse ChargeSync Express Dock

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Belkin offers another option that comes with a few more features. This offers an adjustable connector so you can use it even if you have a bulky case on your device. The charging speed is a bit slower, but that may help overall battery health in the long term if it trickle charges, rather than charges as quickly as possible.

Purchase Link: Amazon

SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSD card

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One of the best thing about owning a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge is the expandable storage. With a simple $20 micro SD card you can triple your storage space and move that card between multiple phones. This is a no brainer.

Purchase Link: Amazon

Android 7.0 Nougat beta testing for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge begins November 9

Alexandra Arici
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Android 7.0 Nougat has been out and about for a few months, but at the moment just a handful of device run it. Samsung isn’t exactly ultra-fast when it comes to software updates, but the good news is that things appear to be moving along in the right direction. According to the Samsung website, the company will be kick starting the Galaxy Beta Program for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge starting November 9 in the UK.

Last year Samsung enrolled interested parties in a similar beta program for Marshmallow that allowed users to test the software before the new build was offered to the masses.

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The Korean tech giant apparently started the Android 7.0 Nougat beta testing program a few day ago in the UK, before abruptly pulling off the Galaxy Beta Program app. It appears now that was just a test and the official launch will happen on November 9.

Users who own a Galaxy S7 or/and Galaxy S7 Edge and want to test the build before anyone else, are required to download the Galaxy Beta Program app from Galaxy Apps Store and send their application via the Registration menu that can be found in the app.

First impressions of Android 7.0 Nougat

However, even if you complete the registration you might not make it into the beta program. Samsung itself will be handpicking the users that will be allowed to test the build.

The update is expected to bestow Grace UX and the Always-on display feature of the Note7 plus an enhanced Doze mode and other Nougat-specific features, on the phone.

The beta program starts on November 7 and will extend all the way towards mid-December. Which means we’ll be lucky if the official Nougat build starts rolling during the first month of 2017.

Take into consideration that if you’re holding on to a Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Edition or Batman Injustice Edition you won’t be eligible to enter the beta program.

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