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Verizon customers can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note7 now

AndroidGuys
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The Galaxy Note7 made waves yesterday with the official introduction by Samsung. Historically the Note line has paved the way for other devices to follow with its large QHD display, integrated stylus, and top of the line features not yet integrated into current smartphones. The Note7 is the first major smartphone to use iris-scanning technology which will use your eyes instead of fingerprints. As secure as fingerprint readers are, they are far from fool-proof.

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The Note7 will also include IP68 water resistance with the design being one of the best, similar to its little sibling, the S7 edge. If you like your photos, you will not find a better camera than what is found on the Note and S line. With dual-pixel technology and a large aperture, this camera is definitely going to be amongst the best.

Additional specs:

  • 5.7” Quad HD sAMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 5
  • 12 megapixel rear camera with dual-pixel technology; 5 megapixel front camera
  • 64GB internal memory, expandable to 256GB with microSD card
  • Long-lasting 3,500 mAh battery
  • Android Marshmallow 6.0.1
  • USB 3.1 connection (Type C)
  • Fast wired and wireless charging

Luckily for Verizon customers, you can start pre-ordering the all new Galaxy Note7 now with delivery guaranteed by August 19th. It won’t come cheap with a retail price of $864, but you can pay for it in installments at $36 per month for 24 months. If you want to wait to see it in store, the Note7 will arrive on August 19th. And for a limited time, you can also get a free Samsung Gear Fit 2 or 256GB microSd card with the purchase of the Note7.

Think you’re going to upgrade? Let us know in the comments section below.

Get the all new Samsung Galaxy Note7 at Verizon today.

Three tablet optimization tips for modern bloggers (PROMOTED)

Guest Blogger
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When we think of “mobile optimization,” many of us naturally think of a crowded room full of users tapping away at their smartphones.

However, modern bloggers and designers should take the booming tablet market into consideration when it comes to optimizing their sites. Tablets already represent a huge chunk of the mobile marketplace and are expected to grow to 1.43 billion users by 2018, so ask yourself: what is your site doing to appeal to such users?

If your answer is “nothing,” fear not. While there is a difference between optimizing for smartphones and tablets, thankfully you can easily tweak your site’s design for mobile users without changing too much.

These small touches, however, can have a big impact on your readership. In his in-depth guide to starting a blog, marketing guru Neil Patel notes that need give your audience exactly what they want. Given today’s massive mobile audience, consider how your blog can give tablet users what they want by making some simple adjustments to your site.

Bigger is Better

When it comes to tablets, size matters in regard to readability and functionality. Consider increasing the size of headers and buttons on your blog, ensuing that readers on tablets can easily navigate your website without becoming frustrated. For example…

  • Small buttons can lead to users either accidentally tapping onto the wrong section of your site or leave them unable to find what they’re looking for altogether
  • Small fonts could cause readers to skip over a post or potentially miss a call-to-action
  • At first glance, tablet users could get a bad taste in their mouths by seeing your site isn’t optimized for mobile, essentially causing them to bounce

Readability should be a top priority for mobile optimization; therefore, make sure your site’s content and navigation are coming in loud and clear for your visitors via tablet.

Decide Your Design

The explosion of responsible design for WordPress has given bloggers a myriad of options to build a sleek, eye-catching site.

Regarding mobile devices, however, the debate of infinite scrolling versus pagination rears its head. Both have become cornerstones of modern web design; however, they have their inherent advantages and disadvantages for tablet users.

For example, infinite scrolling feels extremely natural for tablet users who can simply browse a site without stopping. Conversely, such a design can be frustrating if you’re trying to scroll back to a specific page without some sort of sitemap.

Meanwhile, pagination gives users more control of the sites they browse as they can easily navigate and understand where they’re going and where they’ve been. Such design is more “traditional,” however, and perhaps less intuitive on tablets versus an infinite scrolling site.

In the end, choosing a design really depends on the focus of your site. Look around at other influencers in your space to see what they’re doing if you can’t come to a consensus on your own.

No More Tedious Typing

Perhaps the subtlest yet sensible way to optimize your site for tablets is to turn off autocorrect on your site’s form fields. While this may seem like an incredibly simple tip, consider the fact that tablet users are incredibly hungry when it comes to browsing and buying products online. Turning off autocorrect allows them to enter their email or contact information without being constantly interrupted.

Tablet users aren’t so different from traditional web or mobile users; however, the growing presence of tablets emphasizes the need for modern bloggers to adapt. By optimizing your site for readers on tablets, you can ensure your site looks good to all readers, regardless of whether or not they’re on-the-go.

 

Rumor Roundup: New Nexus fingerprint functionality, specs leak for the LG V20 and Moto Z Play

Matt Adams
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Welcome back to another Rumor Roundup! Yesterday was exciting, wasn’t it? We saw Samsung unpack the Galaxy Note 7 and Instagram declare war on Snapchat with some new functionality. Today could be even better! We have some exciting rumors surround the new functionality we’ll be seeing the next Nexus devices and how the LG V20 and Moto Z Play will stack up against the specs of other devices on the market. Let’s get to it!

New Nexus fingerprint scanner details

I’m a huge, huge Nexus fan so this leak is particularly exciting for me. AndroidPolice has received a tip that in the next Nexus devices we’ll be seeing some all new features using the fingerprint scanner!

The new HTC made Nexii (codenamed Marlin and Sailfish) will reportedly have fingerprint scanners on the rear of the phone just like the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X from 2015 and you’ll be able to use that scanner to open up the notification shade just by swiping down on it. You can see in the below animation how it works. We’ve seen features like this in Huawei phones before so while this isn’t earth-shattering in originality, it will be welcomed by those of us who struggle to reach the top of our phones.

nexus fingerprint swipe

The LG V20’s specs leak

If the Note 7 isn’t exactly your speed, or you don’t feel like paying $800+ for a phone, the LG V20 might be the most exciting Android phone yet to debut this year. The hype levels of our writers here at AndroidGuys are off the charts because we know if LG can build on a pretty solid V10 from last year, it will have a winner on its hands.

v20 leaked specs

According to the Korean website Sedaily (via PhoneArena) we’re getting our first look at some specs for the V20. LG will use a 5.5″, 1920 x 1080p display, which would be a drop from the 5.7″ 2560 x 1440p display in the V10. The device will carry 3 or 4GB of RAM and come in 32 and 64GB variants with expandable storage all the way up to 256GB. The main camera will be bumped up to a 20MP shooter with the front-facing camera sitting at 8MP. The phone will also feature the Snapdragon 820 SoC and a 4,000mAh battery.

Now, some of these specs don’t exactly make sense to us, but we’ll have to see how they pan out when the phone is released in September. A downgrade in screen size, resolution, and base storage doesn’t sound much like an upgrade over last year’s model, but LG has proven over and over again that it’s not afraid to try new things with its devices, so maybe it is cutting some costs to be able to drop the asking price. We’ll know for sure in about a month.

The Moto Z Play gets certified

Motorola has already released one of the most compelling phones of the year so far in the Moto Z Force (review here) and now we’re getting a peak at its sibling, the Moto Z Play. The Z Play recently passed through TENAA, China’s regulatory administration so we know the launch is imminent.

The Moto Z Play will have a 5.5″ AMOLED display at 1920 x 1080p, a fingerprint scanner, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of storage (expandable), and will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, which will be clocked at 2GHz. The new Moto will also run Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 out of the box and support dual sim cards.

One of the most intriguing things in the leak is the battery size (3510mAh). With a battery that large, and a lower resolution display and less power hungry processor than most flagships, this could truly be a battery life champ.

The rear camera will be a 16MP shooter with a 5MP front-facing camera. We’ll see the return of LED flash on the back as well.  The device will feature the same pogo pins that can be found on the back of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force so Moto Mods will likely work for the Moto Z Play as well. No release date information has leaked yet so we don’t know exactly when we’ll see it in the flesh, but it shouldn’t be too far away since it’s going through the certification process now.

That wraps up our list for today. Let us know down in the comments what excited you the most, the new Nexus fingerprint scanner functionality, the LG V20 or the Moto Z Play.

Get Google’s new Nexus Launcher app now

Jason Botha
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With the official release of Android Nougat imminent, we’ve seen some leaks in the past days that gave us a glimpse of what Google’s future Nexus launcher may look like. It features a slight redesign, with a fixed date widget and swipeable app draw.

nexus2cee_5_thumbApparently, the launcher was planned to be released officially with the final public version of the Android N release. As things turned out, the APK file surfaced on the internet and is now available for anyone to use, granted that your phone supports it.

If you can’t wait to use it, today is your lucky day.

You can download the .apk file here at MediaFire.

You can download the flashable .zip file here.

Be warned, though. As the launcher is meant to be a stock application, trying to use some features will crash the app if you simply install the .apk.

In order to fully install it you have to flash the zip file linked above via TWRP. As mentioned, installing the APK works but it crashes when launching the wallpaper picker and you can’t swipe right for Google Now.

We advise you to only flash the app if you are aware of what you are doing.

There are also some cool 2016 Nexus wallpapers here to compliment your new look.

New Android feature offers more security for users

Andrew Orr
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Google released a new feature that notifies Android users of new security events to their account, specifically newly added devices.

When Google users add a new device to their account, these new notifications will appear and ask: “Did you just sign in?”

Android Notifications-2

You can dive deeper into the notification to explore more details of the device. If it was you then you can simply press “Yes, that was me.” If not you can take steps to secure your account. Android users are notified on multiple devices to increase awareness of suspicious activity.

Android Notifications-1

Launch Details

  • Release track:  Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
  • Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 14 days for feature visibility)
  • Impact: All end users
  • Action: Change management suggested/FYI

Note 7 users get Galaxy Game Pack on Google Play

Andrew Orr
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In a win for customers who buy Samsung’s latest Galaxy Note 7 phone, the company is offering an exclusive Galaxy Game Pack on Google Play.

The pack features over $400 worth of in-game giveaways from over 14 different mobile games. It offers a mixture of games that show off 3D graphic gaming using Vulkan-supported technology which is available on the Note 7. Note that these are for in-app purchases and not free games themselves.

Games include:

  • Hit
  • Need for Speed: No Limits
  • Vainglory
  • Olympus Rising
  • Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
  • Asphalt 8
  • Hearthstone
  • Hungry Shark World
  • And much more

This promotion goes live on August 20 and ends January 2017.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

[graphiq id=”7nZ6nIg03Vb” title=”Samsung Galaxy Note 7″ width=”600″ height=”473″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/7nZ6nIg03Vb” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/5763/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7″ link_text=”Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | SpecOut” ]

 

Rumor Roundup: new Nexus launcher, Android security features, and T-Mobile’s big sale

Matt Adams
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Welcome back to another Rumor Roundup post. We aim to keep you informed about all the rumors out there about Android, phones, and accessories. Today we’re taking a look at rumors regarding a new launcher that may ship with Google’s latest Nexus devices, a new Android feature to make your devices more secure, and a big new sale at T-Mobile that’ll save you hundreds!

New Nexus Look

The wonderful folks over at AndroidPolice have received some new information about Google’s newest launcher. As you may know, Google released the Google Now Launcher into the Play Store to save us from non-stock Android launchers that come on phones these days. Now, it seems, that Google will release a new launcher on its next Nexus phones, codenamed Marlin and Sailfish.

The launcher is headlined by the lack of an app tray icon. Don’t fret, the app tray isn’t going away just yet. You’ll still be able to access it from a swipe up from the frosted glass section of the screen, commonly referred to the dock, or by tapping the arrow. You’ll close the app tray by swiping down anywhere besides the notification tray or navigation buttons. This seems like an interesting implementation and we’d bet that this stays only on Nexus phones for the future. Nexus owners are a little more hardcore about their devices and there would be a learning curve for average users.

nexus2cee_drawer_loop1-compressor

We’re also treated to a new Google Now widget. The Google Search Widget that you’re used to seeing at the top of your screen is now gone, replaces by a Google Now logo and a time and date widget that cannot be manipulated.

nexus-launcher-google-now-widget-compressor

 

A quick tap on the Google Now logo reveals a search bar and a swipe to the left reveals the Google Now screen that you’re used to seeing to the left of your default home screen page. AndroidPolice goes on to speculate that Google Assistant will be playing a big part in the new launcher, but that has yet to be seen (or leaked).

Android’s new security feature

Google has always been security conscious with features like 2-Step Verification and Single Sign-in, and now the search giant is adding another security feature into Android. Users will now be notified when someone using their login credentials enters them into a new device for the first time.

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If the activity looks suspicious, users will be able to quickly review the event to find out what device was added, what location it was added from and other information. In the event of an unauthorized login, users can instantly secure their account.

T-Mobile’s big sale

If you’re looking to switch carriers soon, T-Mobile is about to launch a sale that may interest you. Tmonews is reporting that starting tomorrow, August 3, you’ll be able to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S7 (review here), Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (review here), or Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (review here) for $200 off when you switch to the Uncarrier.

tmogs7note5offerleak

There are, however, some restrictions. You must switch to the service from another carrier and port your number, you must purchase a qualifying plan (10GB or more of data a month), and you must purchase the phones on an Equipment Installment Plan (EIP).

These aren’t the newest phones on the market, but they are some of the best. If you’re not into paying $700+ for a phone, you may want to consider this deal.

That wraps up this edition of Rumor Roundup. Let us know down in the comments what you’re most excited for, the new Nexus launcher, Android’s newest security features, or T-Mobile’s Samsung Sale.

Samsung unpacks the Galaxy Note 7

Matt Adams
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Today at events in New York, London, and Brazil, Samsung finally introduced the oft-leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The newest Note will skip the number 6, going straight from the Note 5 to the Note 7 to keep its naming pattern in line with the Samsung Galaxy S lineup released earlier in the year.

  • Processor: Snapdragon 820 (Quad Core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual)
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Memory: 4GB
  • Display: 2560 x 1440p dual-curved 5.7″ AMOLED
  • Camera: Rear: Dual Pixel 12MP OIS (F1.7) , Front: 5MP (F1.7)
  • Battery: 3,500mAh, Fast Charging (wired and wireless)
  • Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MU-MIMO(2×2) 620Mbps,
    Bluetooth® v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB Type-C, NFC,
    Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou)
  • Sensors: Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, HR Sensor, Iris Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor

Samsung made special mention of the new Iris Scanner in the Note 7. DJ Kohn, Samsung’s Mobile Chief remarked that “Parents will be happy because it will keep their kid’s phone safe and kids will be happy because it keeps their phones safe from their parents.”

The evolution of the Note has been five years in the making, but you wouldn’t be remiss if you confused the Note 5 and Note 7 based on physical appearance alone. The Note 7 will retain many of the physical aspects of previous Notes, but the difference lays in the dual-curved display and back, much like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Covering that dual-curved display is new Gorilla Glass 5.

The S-Pen, one of the defining features that sets the Note apart from other phablets, is also getting new features. Samsung Notes will be a single streamlined app to access all of the S-Pen features. You can quickly take notes on the screen (even when it’s turned off) and pin it to your Always on Display to remind you to send that email when you get back to your desk. Samsung reduced the diameter of the S-Pen by 50% and made it more receptive to pressure to give it a more natural feeling while drawing or sketching.

01_Galaxy Note7_blue

The Galaxy Note 7 will pick up water resistance, just like the Galaxy S7, but what is often overlooked is the water resistance of the S-Pen. It will now have an IP 68 rating which will allow it to survive in up to five feet of water.

High Dynamic Range, or HDR, will now be supported, not only in the Note 7’s camera but also within the Note 7’s display. Samsung leveraged its television chips to create a new chip and driver to allow the Note 7’s display to be even more power efficient while displaying HDR content.

The same camera that can be found in the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be in the Note 7. If you’re using that camera to store a ton of 4K videos you’ll be happy to hear that the Note 7’s base storage is now 64GB, up from 32GB on the Note 5. You can also expand that storage with a 256GB microSD card. To help keep all of that storage backed up, each Note 7 owner will receive 15GB of storage in Samsung’s new cloud service.

02_Galaxy Note7_black

Samsung made sure to point out that it’s placing the biggest battery it’s ever put in a Note before in the Note 7 (3500mAh), but it’s still 100mAh smaller than the battery in the S7 Edge (3600 mAh) which has a smaller display (5.5″ vs. 5.7″). Also included with the Note 7 is quick wireless charging, USB type-C, and a USB micro B to USB type C adapter.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be available worldwide on August 19. Pre-orders for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon will begin August 3. U.S. Cellular will kick off its pre-orders August 4.  In addition to carrier stores, you’ll be able to pick up the Note 7 in Samsung Experience centers at Best Buy, Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Car Toys, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart. If you buy soon you will qualify for a free Samsung Gear 2 or 256GB micro SD card!

Instagram wants to replace Snapchat with its new update

Jason Botha
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Instagram today announced a new feature to its app, dubbed “Instagram Stories”. The update, automatically pushed from its servers, aims to offer a place for users to share content – without overposting on their feed.

Somewhat similar to Snapchat’s Story sharing, users can post pictures and videos into a dedicated place that can be seen by anyone who visits your account. If your account is private, only your followers may view it. One may also block a person from accessing their stories regardless if they’re a follower. They disappear after 24 hours.

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To spice it up, there’s also a built in editor which enables you to draw with different color pens and slap stickers onto your photos. Sounds familiar?

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“To view someone’s story, just tap on their profile photo. It’s easy to view stories at your own pace: tap to go back and forward or swipe to jump to another person’s story. If you want to comment on something you see, you can tap and send a private message to that person on Instagram Direct. Unlike regular posts, there are no likes or public comments.”

It appears as Instagram just turned up the heat on the social media war. The Stories feature is now live and can be used by anyone using Instagram.

Mint SIM launches, and plans to change the cellular market

Jason Botha
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Mint SIM, a telecommunications provider founded by Ultra Mobile, launched today. Mint SIM is a no-contract, prepaid mobile phone service provider offering low-priced, full-feature unlimited domestic talk, text and data plans. It plans to target the younger generation of users while competing against the larger service providers in the US.

Subscribers have the option of choosing one, three, six or 12-month plans on “the fastest 4G LTE network available”. There are no contracts; however, the longer duration plan selected, the bigger the discount.

Mint SIM will offer the following:

● One, three, six or 12-month plans with 2GB, 5GB or 10GB data plans at
4G LTE speed
● The option for subscribers to keep their phone number or activate a
new one
● U.S. based customer care
● No contracts, no ads and no hassles. Ever.

Mint SIM can be purchased at www.mintsim.com. Existing subscribers can also go online and add on extra data should they desire or recharge their plans for additional months of savings.

Mint SIM works with unlocked GSM compatible cell phones from nearly every manufacturer. In addition, Mint SIM will offer a range of phones for purchase directly from the site. SIM cards and phones are purchased online and will be delivered by mail.

About Mint SIM (website statement)

Mint SIM is a mobile phone service provider that offers low-cost unlimited talk, text and data plans in the U.S. on the fastest network available. Mint SIM is a prepaid service that was developed for millennial, tech savvy, smart-minded, money-conscious consumers who wanted more flexible options than what traditional carriers offer. Mint SIM is committed to getting people the premium mobile service they deserve at the lowest possible prices.

The service goes live today, 2nd August.

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