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Verizon rolls out new plans – how does it affect you?

Matt Adams
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Verizon’s plans is getting even more expensive.

Big Red has long had the reputation that it’s by far the most expensive carrier in the country and the changes to its data plans this week will not do anything to dissuade that image. But, the news isn’t all bad! Along with the increased price comes an increase in how much data you get per line. Here’s the breakdown of the new pricing structure from Verizon.

  • Small: $35 for 2GB (previously $30 for 1GB)
  • Medium: $50 for 4GB (previously $45 for 3GB)
  • Large: $70 for 7GB (previously $60 for 6GB)
  • XL: $90 for 16B (previously $80 for 12GB)
  • XXL: $110 for 24GB (previously $100 for 18GB)

The new rate plans, along with Verizon’s new CarryOver data means that customers should have fewer overages on a month to month basis, but will have to pay a higher base cost first. If you’re routinely going over your data limit, this may actually save you money since those overages can be extremely expensive.

To ensure that you won’t go over, you can add the new “Safety Mode” feature. Free for XL and XXL plan holders and $5 a month for S, M, and L plan holders, Safety Mode will prevent you from soaring past your data allotment. Once you hit your cap you’ll be throttled down to 128Kbps speeds and you won’t pay for any data over your cap.

[graphiq id=”hnP9Fux7M6p” title=”Average Cost Per GB By Carrier” width=”600″ height=”480″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/hnP9Fux7M6p” link=”http://cell-plans.specout.com” link_text=”Average Cost Per GB By Carrier | SpecOut” ]

If Verizon truly wanted to do away with overages, they could go back to an unlimited plan. Some users have been holding onto their unlimited plans for years now choosing to upgrade their phones outside of the standard 2-year agreements or payment plans offered by carriers. These changes won’t mean much to those customers, but it will to a vast majority of customers, who according to Verizon used to use between 1GB and 2GB, that number has now jumped to over 2.5GB.

Within the new My Verizon app that VZW is also rolling out, you’ll be able to freely switch between plans every month. If you’re heading out of town and relying heavily on maps and streaming video you can pop up to the XL or XXL plans and move back down a tier next month. Verizon is trying to make it as convenient as possible for you to control exactly what’s going on with your account.

If you’re wondering what all of this means for your checking account, here’s some quick math we worked up to give you an idea what a family of four might expect to pay Verizon:

  • Four access fees at $20 each = $80
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 at $28 each = $112
  • XL Shared data plan 16GB = $90
  • Total (plus taxes and other fees): $282 per month

All things considered, that isn’t horrible for four lines and four brand new phones, especially when you consider Verizon’s supposed coverage dominance. A similar plan from T-Mobile with four lines, four Samsung Galaxy S7’s, 6GB per line (not shareable like Verizon) is $225 plus taxes and fees. AT&T comes out to $327, and Sprint sits at $268. None of these prices include any promotions that the carriers may be currently offering so you may be able to get service cheaper dependant on your situation.

So, are you going to save money? The base amount of your bill may go up, but if you’re up against your data cap every month, these new plans may work out better for you. We don’t ever like to see prices go up- although they always seem to, but at least Verizon is adding in more data too and not just raising prices. How will this affect your bottom line? What do you think about these new plans? Let us know down in the comments.

[graphiq id=”c97EQ2F6ifr” title=”US Cell Carrier Subscribers (in millions)” width=”600″ height=”569″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/c97EQ2F6ifr” link=”http://cell-plans.specout.com” link_text=”US Cell Carrier Subscribers (in millions) | SpecOut” ]

Snapchat introduces new feature called Memories

Andrew Orr
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Snapchat announced a new feature today that it calls Memories. It’s a way for people to save their favorites snaps and stories on Snapchat. To use it, just swipe up on the camera screen.

You can search through your Memories by using keywords, and use Memories to create new stories from your snaps. You can even combine small stories into a larger one.

People can send snaps from Memories to their friends, and post them to your story. If you post a snap more than a day old it will have a frame around it so your friends know it’s an older snap. Some memories are private, so you can categorize snaps and stories as “My Eyes Only” so your friends don’t have to accidentally stumble upon your dick pics.

Snapchat is rolling out this feature slowly “selectively over the next month or so”. When the feature is ready, you’ll receive a chat from Team Snapchat. In the meantime, check out the video below:

[Review] Improve your mobile photography with iBlazr 2

Andrew Orr
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I’m excited that I got my hands on a product aimed at photographers: the iBlazr 2. Whether you’re a smartphone photographer or packing a DSLR, this LED flash is sure to please everyone.

Inside The Box

  • iBlazr 2
  • Mount clip
  • Silicon diffuser (white)
  • Key clasp
  • USB charger

Features

  • 300 Lux on m. power of light
  • Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
  • Temperature adjustment 5600K — 3200K
  • Touch Sensor
  • Native app sync
  • Shutter remote
  • No red-eye
  • 75-degree beam angle

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First Impressions

Measuring in at just under two inches, and weighing only 0.3 ounces, the iBlazr 2 is a powerful little device. It doesn’t require any extensive set up, so you can start using it immediately out of the box.

Created by a small company called Concepter, located in Kiev, Ukraine, the iBlazr was first crowdfunded on Indiegogo and was fully funded in September 2015. This wireless flash is the second product that the company produced. The original iBlazr had the same concept – a flash device – but it plugged into your phone’s audio jack. The second model is more versatile as it lets you pair it over a Bluetooth connection.

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Since it’s wireless, you don’t have to stop at just one. You can pair up to 10 iBlazrs as you want to your smartphone or tablet to increase the amount of brightness needed. Not interested in smartphone photography? Concepter also sells a cold shoe mount, so you can mount the iBlazr 2 onto your DSLR camera and use it in the same way. For use with a smartphone, it comes with a mount clip that you slide onto your phone, and the iBlazr easily slides into the mount.

iblazr_coldshoe

Usage

Concepter has a camera app called Shotlight, and it’s meant to be used in conjunction with the wireless flash. You can still use it with your regular camera app though. Like most device-based flash, the iBlazr is meant for portraiture and close-up/macro photos.

The flash is bright and powerful, and if you’re using it to take a selfie you’ll be temporarily blinded. Unlike a camera’s regular flash, I can’t seem to get the iBlazr to flash only for a split second; instead it stays on for at least a full second, so your selfie might get ruined by squinting.

As you can see in the image below, I took four photos using an iPhone 6s. Although the level of brightness looks the same, my use of the iBlazr created images that were much more crisp and detailed with less noise than the iPhone’s native flash. With the iBlazr, the flash is also spread out more equally and not centered in the middle.

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The flash also has a strobe mode and flashlight mode, and let me tell you that it makes a great flashlight. The battery life of the iBlazr 2 is decent, at around three hours. You get 300 flashes per charge and about 20 minutes of constant light for a video.

The Shotlight app has an automatic and manual mode. In manual, you can control white balance, shutter speed, focus, zoom and ISO. When using the iBlazr, you can also control the temperature of the light by swiping up and down on the back of the device. The device has four LEDs on the front: two emit warm light and two emit cool light.

The silicon diffuser is a helpful addition. In photography, a diffuser is used to soften the light from a flash. This is great for portraiture as it gives people a soft glow without harsh shadows. A white diffuser was included in the package, but Concepter also sells diffusers in other colors: Vibrant Orange, Classic Green, Flame Scarlet, Raspberry Rose and Brilliant Blue. The diffuser has a hole in the side where you can attach the keychain.

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Conclusion

If you’re serious about mobile photography and care about the quality of your photos, then I recommend getting the iBlazr 2. It’s a tad expensive, but if you’re one of those people who use the hashtags #iphoneonly or #androidonly on Instagram and other social networks, then I think you would benefit by using this product.

Right now, Concepter is having a sale on its products. The iBlazr 2, originally $60, is being sold at 30% off, so the price is $41.99. Yesterday the company had a sale for the original iBlazr but it seems that it ended, so if you want an iBlazr 2, act fast. The bundles on offer are currently 10% off.

Buy the iBlazr 2 and more at the Concepter store here, or buy it on Amazon to help support our website by using an affiliate link.

Download Shotlight here: Android | iOS

Amazon Underground and Boingo offering up six months of free Wi-Fi

AndroidGuys
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Amazon Underground and Boingo Wireless today announced a deal which provides customers with six months of free Wi-Fi. Starting immediately, and running through December 31, it’s a simple way to obtain a half year’s worth of Wi-Fi for use when traveling.

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To get started, all you have to do is download and install Boingo’s Wi-Finder app in the Amazon Underground store. Free in and of itself, the app helps users to identify and access thousand’s of Wi-Fi hotspot locations around the globe.

boingo_wifinder

Amazon Underground is available to Android devices and can be installed to phones or tablets directly from Amazon’s web site. Introduced last summer, Amazon Underground offers free versions of games and other apps which typically carry a price tag through other channels. The titles are essentially the exact same experience except that they are supported through advertising.

A concept image of a 2016 Nexus phone has been revealed

Andrew Orr
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First, let me hasten to say that this is a rumor, and it has not been confirmed in any way. Got it? Great!

As reported by AndroidPolice, a supposed “leak” of the 2016 Nexus phones, dubbed Sailfish and Marlin, has been revealed. The website gives it a confidence level of 8/10 while expecting you to take their word for it. AndroidPolice even say:

“We do not at this point have a reliable secondary source for information about the phone’s design. But as I’ve said, we trust our source for this information very highly.”

The image revealed below is not even an actual press render. Someone over at AP just created the image based on “evidence” from their source. So instead of judging it as an actual leak, let’s judge it as a concept image.

nexus2cee_nexuswm-1

It’s interesting to note the lack of a Nexus logo, with a G for Google at the bottom. This is similar to the other rumor that Google plans to make its own branded phone this year. It’s likely that the Google phone wouldn’t fall under the Nexus brand but exist in addition to the brand.

Since it’s almost certain that HTC will be making both phones, you can compare the design of this concept, like the antenna lines, to other HTC phones like the A9.

Similar to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, the fingerprint reader is in the same position on the back. Also note the matte body of the phone and the enlarged glossy area on the top. This looks worse than the Nexus 6P camera hump. AP speculates that the new Nexus phones will both have aluminum bodies.

Other “leaks” that AP have written about include specs for each model. Such things as 4GB of RAM, 12MP rear camera, 1080p AMOLED screen and up to 128GB of storage have been detailed.

Of course we need to take these with a grain of salt, but it’s worth mentioning that AndroidPolice believe there will only two storage capacities: 32GB and 128GB. This seems even worse than Apple leaving out the 32GB from their iPhone line.

What do you think about this concept image? Let us know your thoughts of this design and of a supposed Google-branded phone in the comments below.

 

MetroPCS launches two offers with families in mind

AndroidGuys
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MetroPCS, a prepaid brand of T-Mobile, is today announcing a pair of promotions which should attract customers looking for multiple lines of service. One rewards buyers for switching from another service provider while the other makes it less expensive to add lines to a family plan.

Subscribers who port their phone number from another carrier will receive $60 credit to spend on any handset offered by MetroPCS. As of now this means you could walk away with one of nine models for free. All that’s required is that you pay the sales tax at time of purchase.

Adding a line to an existing family plan is more attractive with the new deal that gives 5GB of data for only $25. The catch is that you’ll need another line on your plan which has at least 5GB of data or more.

Coloud’s new headphone lineup: Great on the go headphones (Review)

AndroidGuys
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I love finding a great pair of headphones, especially ones that have style, durability, great sound, and most importantly an affordable price tag. We all know they are rough of their stuff. On June 1st, Zound Industries gave us a new line of Coloud headphones that are affordable, fit comfortably, and target the busy lifestyles of today’s youth.

Design

While all three headphones have different builds, they all share some similarities. This is no surprise since they are from the same line. Let’s look at some of the same features they share.

https://www.androidguys.com/buyers-guide-headphones/

The cords measure in at just over four-feet long, which gives you plenty of length when you carry your device in your pocket. They also sport the newest flat design most companies are using today, which helps ensure your cord will remain tangle free.

coloud165

Coloud’s new line also features a triangle-shaped inline microphone. The microphone has one button that has only two functions; answer/hang up calls and play/pause music. The call quality is crystal clear leaving you with fewer hiccups when talking.

At the end of the cords, there is a 3.5 mm plug. This is no ordinary plug as it the entire length of the plug is two inches and the casing of it is made of flexible rubber. The best thing about the set-up, as you can see in the picture, they feature Zound Industries proprietary ZoundLasso. Basically, you can wrap the cord around the plug and insert the actual plug into a hole, and you have a tangle free wrapped cord.

Coloud No. 4

coloudno4

Coloud No. 4 is an incredibly sporty looking pair of in-ear headphones that scream “Take me for a run”. The ear tip area of the headphones has a design that contours to the ear, which gives it a more comfortable fit. The buds don’t go too deep, and with the tight fit, they are hard pressed to fall out. You are provided with four different size tips, so you will likely find one that fits you.

Let’s not forget that these headphones also are rocking magnetized earbuds that can easily hang from your neck when not in use. This is becoming a common feature that all in-ear headphones should adopt.

Available in Black/Gray. Blue/Yellow, Grey/Splash

Coloud No. 8

coloud8

These sleek looking on-ear headphones are ultra lightweight with a comfortable angle that fits nicely on your head. They feature cloth on the ear cups, which gives it a nice plush feeling against the ear. You don’t have to worry about that weird vinyl feel that most headphones have.

Adjusting the headphones is no problem with the metal adjustments at the bottom of the headband. It adjusts to almost any head. However, the metal adjuster does concern me a little. I get a feeling if you’re not careful they could get bent sticking them in a bag.

Available in Black/Gray. Blue/Yellow, Grey/Splash

Coloud No. 16

?

 

The No. 8 and 16 share some similarities as well. They both are on-ear headphones and have the cloth design on the ear cup and headband. But that’s where it ends. Instead of the angle that the No.8 features, this one has a more traditional headband. It has a comfortable fit that won’t make the outer portion of your ear hurt like some do with prolonged use.

Putting these away is easy since it features hinges that allow them to fold in. These headphones are built solidly and will survive any hectic lifestyle.

Available in Black/Gray. Blue/Yellow, Grey/Splash

Sound

Sure, headphones can be tough and durable. They can even look nice. But if you don’t have good sound quality, then you don’t have a good product. Let’s see how these tested.

Coloud No. 4

?

The Coloud No. 4 headphone’s sound is best described as bright. That means there is an emphasis on the upper midrange and lower treble. This becomes more apparent in the Rock genre more than any other. Hip hop and R&B, where the bass is a more prominent feature, do have a little more bass; however, they still have a brighter sound.

Coloud No 8

coloud82

These smaller on-ear headphones feature a slightly different sound. I feel when there is an inline microphone involved sound seems to degrade. This is not the case with the No.8’s. When listening to songs like Lucky by Daft Punk, it has has a clean, crisp sound. Nothing overpowers anything else. It’s great for sitting back and listening to some easy going music like Jazz or even Bluegrass, and of course, Daft Punk.

Coloud No. 16

coloud16

Stepping out from its sister headphones, these larger headphones have a much different sound. It comes off as slightly muffled, but not in a way that makes them sound bad. They still maintain a balanced sound. I found listening to music such as the Foo Fighters to be quite enjoyable.

Price

Summary

Coloud’s new line of headphones is a great investment for this price range. I have had many headphones and the majority just doesn’t stack up. You can’t lose with any of these headphones.

Buy Coloud Headphones

Google’s Allo and Duo are due out soon: Pre-register to ensure you are notified first

AndroidGuys
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Back in May, Google introduced two new big apps it is releasing with Duo and Allo.

For a quick refresher, Duo is Google’s all new video calling app for one-to-one conversations no matter if you’re on iOS or Android. It will work for both platforms. A major benefit is that it will work even if you have a slow connection.

Allo is the app that most of us are waiting for, as it should improve upon our text messaging habits. Its main feature is that it is smart which will allow for better conversations between users. It’s a fact that most of us text more than we call these days, and communication can easily be confused over text.

Allo’s new features will include:

  • Built in Smart Reply, similar to Inbox where you can reply without typing a single word
  • Google assistant directly in your chats
  • Language pattern recognition
  • Incognito mode for private conversations

3-Gbot_animation_v4-GIF_abbrev (1)

Google stated both apps will be available sometime this summer which means their release can be any day now. In order to stay on top of the release date you can head on over to the Google Play Store and Pre-Register for each app. Once released you will be notified immediately so you can be one of the first users to experience Google’s all new apps. Simply click “Pre-Register” and you will be the first to know.

Blu Products reveals Energy XL with downright insane battery

Scott Webster
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You have to hand it to Blu Products. It seems like just about every few months the Miami-based company reveals another smartphone that moves the needle in the bang-for-buck department. Such is the case today as it unveils the Energy XL, a $300 unlocked phone that touts an incredible battery.

Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Energy XL is promised to receive an update to the 6.0 Marshmallow build before 2016 runs out. This is good, but not fantastic stuff with an even newer release coming from Google in the coming months. Nevertheless, the hardware is what most users care about.

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The BLU ENERGY XL offers everything someone can ask for in terms of specs and performance in a high-end smartphone. All while resolving the single biggest problem smartphone user’s face today, which is battery life. -Samuel Ohev-Zion, CEO BLU Products.

The Energy XL draws strength from a 1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek processor and 3GB RAM; storage is pegged at 64GB internal memory. Display size is a massive 6.inches with HD resolution coming in at 1080 x 1920 pixels. Keeping the picture nice and protected is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.

In terms of camera, the rear offers up a 13-megapixel shooter (F/2.2 aperture, 1/3 inch sensor) capable of 1080p video at 30 frames per second. Around front we find a 5-megapixel camera with an 84 degree wide angle lens, perfect for group selfie shots.

Getting to that battery, the Energy XL touts a 5,000mAh unit which promises “30 days stand-by, or up to 3 days of standard usage on a single charge.” We’ll have to wait to see it in the real world but we’re expecting big things out of it. By comparison, today’s key phones pack around 2,800mAh-3,100mAh. In other words, we’re down with it.

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Other specifications for the phone include a fingerprint reader, a microSD expansion card slot, DTS Surround Sound, and USB Type-C charging port with support for quick charging. Ten minutes on the charger should be enough to pull in four hours of talk time.

The Blu Energy XL comes in Solid Gold and White-Silver options and is offered unlocked. This means it’s equipped to support AT&T and T-Mobile as well as their respective pre-paid brands and MVNO’s.

NBA LIVE Mobile: Basketball in your pocket (Review)

AndroidGuys
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The confetti has fallen, the fans have celebrated and the NBA Finals are over. The Cavs have been crowned champion and now that it’s all over what do you do next? Well, I’ll give you one option. Head over to the Play Store and register download for the new NBA LIVE Mobile app. The fast-paced NBA action in the palm of your hands is sure to get you ready for next season.

Developer: Electronic Arts
Cost: Free with in-app purchases

Getting started

Like all apps, the first thing you have to do is go through a set-up process. This includes setting your age, login preference, username and favorite team. Afterwards, you go through the tutorial that includes teaching you how to shoot, pass, you know the basics. And of course, they will walk you through the app itself. After all, that you’re ready to play.

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Game Play

NBA LIVE Mobile isn’t too far off from another EA game called Madden NFL Mobile in terms of gameplay. While I won’t go into great depths explaining all the ins and outs, I’m going to give you the brief overview of how to get started in building your dynasty.

You are given four modes of play that include live events, head-to-head, season, and leagues. In order to play these modes, you have to build a team. You are given starter packs of players in which to play. These players have divided up automatically into different lineups based on different skills.

When playing a game of any kind you will choose which lineup you want to use unless otherwise noted. Some games require certain lineups for the challenge presented. Once you buy new player cards the are inserted into the appropriate lineups.

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Let’s touch on the different modes of play. Live events consist of your season games and various skill challenges that help you improve your skills. Some may be locked until you reach the appropriate skill level. Head-to-head games show all the people who are playing those games. You may challenge anyone to match-up.

NBA LIVE has an interesting take on head-to-head. Each player takes control of a quarter. Meaning, if you start a game with an opponent, you play the first and third quarter vs the other team’s AI team, and they take the 2nd and 4th quarter vs your AI. With this style of gameplay, there is less chance of lagging and ruining a game which makes it more enjoyable.

Playing a season is not much different than playing a season on traditional consoles. The exception being you don’t play as many games and each quarter last two minutes. But you do play the finals, but I couldn’t tell you what that’s like since I’m not very good. That means you’ll need to play and tweet me the experience. That’s a joke of course, except the part where I suck at the game.

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Finally, the last mode of gameplay is leagues. There are already a number of leagues that you can join or for 5,000 coins you can create a league. I would suggest joining a league to start.

You should also note that all events cost you stamina to play. You start off with 15 stamina and with each level you gain, you gain the ability to have more at one time. So after level ten you may be able to have 16 stamina instead of 15. After you use your stamina up it replenishes after a certain amount of time, or you can buy more with in-app purchases.

Controls

Controls are a short area to go over but let’s get through it quickly. At the bottom left you’re going to have your “joystick” to move your player around. Over on the right, it’s broken into two categories, offense and defense. Offense consist of pass, drive (sprint) and shoot while defense has two controls, guard, and block. Going through the tutorial will explain how to use these.

Here is a quick tip they don’t tell you that I learned while playing. When you hold down the guard button while on defense, letting go of the button and tapping it will help your player steal the ball.

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Everything else

To acquire all the extras, head over to the store and purchase various random player packs. You can use real money, or money you’ve earned by leveling up after games or beating certain challenges. The better you play, the more experience you get and faster you level up. If you want a specific player or want to get rid of excess players you can use the auction section. This is the feature they have that I didn’t even know I wanted but makes perfect sense.

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Review

EA has certainly stepped up its game with this amazing pocket version of basketball. The graphics are very smooth showing no signs of lag or hiccups. You can only do so much with graphics on mobile, but the movements and look of the players are exactly how they should be and not all, for a lack of a better word, janky.

I personally believe where most games like this fail are the controls. Developers seem to forget no matter how much you want it to be, it’s just isn’t a normal control pad. EA stepped up and made the controls the right way for mobile. Don’t think you’re going to get the same experience as a Playstation, after all, it’s still a phone.

Summary

NBA LIVE Mobile is an overall fun game to pick up and play. It’s simple enough for a novice to understand yet elegant enough for a seasoned gamer to enjoy on the go. I don’t normally see these games translating to mobile this smoothly.

It is still in beta but expected to come out this week. So head on over and preregister to get notified when it releases download NBA LIVE Mobile.

Down NBA LIVE at the Play Store

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