Welcome to Week 4 of The Hottest Android apps and games around! We are going to try something a little different this week. On top of pulling the top 10 downloaded apps and games from Google Play and the Amazon Appstore I have also included the top 5 New apps and games from Google Play and Amazon’s Underground project.
If you are not familiar with Underground check out this Article, but it’s basically Amazon taking apps that normally cost money and making them free, even the in-app purchases are gone so you pay nothing for an app that normally cost money! Please leave a comment below letting me know what you think of the new content.
Father’s Day is this Sunday, and millions of Verizon customers who procrastinated to buy a gift, can send an eGift using Verizon Messenger at the last minute.
Verizon Messenger is Verizon’s own messaging app that you can install on your Android or iOS device from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. The app is also loaded with tons of other useful features and is rated 4.6/5 stars at the Google Play Store with over 10M downloads.
To help you get familiar with Verizon Messages, here are some of the most helpful tools and features on the app:
FEATURES
• GIF burst: Share memorable moments in motion by tapping the Camera option in the attach menu.
• Calling: Advanced Calling customers (eligibility rules apply) can link their phone number to the Verizon Messages app on their tablet or compatible smart watch and make and receive calls wherever they want on any network (cellular or Wi-Fi).
• Send an eGift: Never miss the opportunity to send a gift card on that special occasion. Choose from over 50 merchants including Starbucks, Amazon, Domino’s and Gamestop.
• Extended Coverage: Send and receive messages over Wi-Fi from your smartphone, compatible smart watch, iOS device, tablet, PC, MAC, and web browser.
• Schedule a Message: Write and schedule a message to have it delivered at the date and time that you specify. Message is delivered even if your phone is turned off.
• Media Search: Use in app Media Search to find images, GIFs and videos to spice up your conversation.
• Driving Mode: Turn on Driving Mode to disable message notifications, send an Auto-Reply message and even let pre-selected contacts view your current location.
• Glympse: Share your location with friends or family. You choose who can follow your location and for how long.
• Photo Editing and Collage: Personalize and transform your photos and collages into beautiful or funny pictures using filters, wacky stickers and much more
• Personalization: Customize backgrounds with your photos, built in themes, fonts, colors, signatures and even conversation tones.
• Trim a Video: Edit your video to send your favorite part.
• Multi-Select: Select multiple conversations to Delete, Save, Mute or Mark as read.
• Emojis: – Express yourself with enhanced emojis by EmojiOne (http://emojione.com) or choose classic emojis
ADW, the OG of Android custom launchers has made a comeback after almost 5 years. It turns out that work on 2.0 was started awhile ago, in the form of an alpha testing stage, but it was never finished. Even though 3 years for an Alpha stage is a little much, its back and beta than ever.
I’m not gonna go through the whole feature set now, but the whole app has been rebuilt from the ground up with things such as:
Dynamic colors based on wallpaper colors
Custom widgets
Template manager for your ADW custom widgets
New and improved ways to manage your desktop
Improved theme engine
App search in the drawer
Extensions for the custom widgets, such as battery, time, gmail, and weather
Backup/Restore/Import feature
Cloud backup feature through Box,Drive,Onedrive,and Dropbox
A suspicious “promo apps” icon that isn’t removed even with purchase of the pro version
Its understandable that you’ve probably moved on from ADW and now use Action or Nova, but this will definitely be a walk down memory lane for some Android users who’ve been with the platform for a while. It seems like just yesterday that ADW was introduced as the default launcher for CyanogenMod v2 and later replaced by trebuchet in v9
You can opt-in to the beta here. The pro version is $3.99 and is available through an in-app purchase. I’ll go more in-depth on the feature set in my review of the app, but you can view screenshots of it below
What do you think about ADW making a comeback? Let us know in the comments
Buying a good pair of headphones is like buying a hat. It’s very personal and a hard item to buy for someone else. Everyone has different taste when it comes to how they hear their music. That’s why you see so many different opinions on what are great headphones. It’s all about personal preference.
There are tons of options when it comes to headphones including Bluetooth or non-Bluetooth, in-ear or over-the-ear, inline microphone or no inline microphone. So the task can be quite daunting. That’s why I have put together this guide that I will help you sort through all the details and give you benefits and drawbacks of all areas. Hopefully, you can be more confident in your search for the perfect headphones with this guide.
Bluetooth vs non-Bluetooth
TRNDlabs Bluetooth headphones
Once Bluetooth became mainstream, everyone flocked to it. Who can blame them, it’s a great piece of technology. The major advantage is being free from your device, by eliminating the standard 3.5mm cable. Not all Bluetooth headphones are created equally. Connecting to Bluetooth headphones gives you the freedom to move around away from the controller device. Now that wearables are a thing, you can even connect to a smartwatch and listen to music without your phone. This is huge for fitness fanatics.
Non-Bluetooth headphones, on the other hand have to rely on the cord attached to it. We all know how annoying that can be having to detangle them. To that end, even cord technology is getting better with the development of tangle free material.
One area Non-Bluetooth beats Bluetooth is the battery. With non-Bluetooth headphones you don’t have to depend on it being charged up. So it’s probably good to have a spare pair anyway.
In-ear vs Over-the-ear
This is one area that just seems to go back and forth depending on the times. Back when walkmans were big, you had those over-the-ear crap phones that broke easily. As mp3 players and smartphones entered, they came with in-ear headphones and everyone seemed to love them. In recent years, over-the-ear design and technology has gotten much better in durability and became more fashionable.
The biggest problem with in-ear headphones that I have experienced personally is the fit. It’s rare that I find a set that fits tight and stay in my ears. I know I’m not the only one with this problem. Since they don’t always fit we find ourselves turning up the volume to hear the music better. By doing that you run the risk of hearing damage.
The biggest draw for in-ear headphones is portability. You can wrap them up and tuck them in your pocket. Some Bluetooth in-ear headphones even hang around your neck, which is nice. Their counterparts, the over-the-ear headphones, are more bulky and harder to carry around.
Despite that, they do have some advantages.
Over-the-ear headphones have a fuller sound since they go without compression from transferring data over wireless. This depends on the quality of the headphones. Since they don’t go into your ear, they are usually more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. In recent years, it has even become more socially acceptable to walk around with them on.
Other things to consider
While the two things I just talked about are some of the major concerns when making a purchase, there are other things you may want to think about, such as microphones. You can get inline microphones with any style you choose. Depending on what you are using them for, you may save a couple dollars by not getting them.
In most headphones I’ve owned, there always seems to be a downgrade in the clearness of the sound when there is an inline microphone attached. Not sure if it’s just me, but that has been my experience. It may be a must have type situation. If that’s the case, you could consider buying a cheaper headset just for talking and a pair for listening, if sound quality is a major concern for you.
Then there is the price. A lot of people run to Walmart or the Dollar Store and grab the cheapest pair. This rarely works as it usually breaks within a week. That doesn’t mean that you should buy expensive ones either, they aren’t always the best. I have bought a pair of $10 headphones from Amazon that had an amazing sound.
The majority of the time, you’re going to want to spend around $30-$50 on a decent pair of headphones. Which brings me to my next point, buy from a reputable dealer like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. Never buy from a Flea Market. Flea Market vendors usually carry sub-par versions of name brand headphones and market them as the name brand.
Final thoughts
As I said, buying headphones is a personal experience that you really need to do your research on. Narrow down your options to what you think will be the best fit for all your needs. After you have a few options, read multiple reviews on the products. Remember all reviews are biased to that person’s experience, so the more experience you get, the better informed and more comfortable you will be with your purchase.
And finally don’t be afraid to send back headphones you don’t like. All reputable retailers have a return policy. Make sure you know what that is and use it if you need to. Don’t get stuck with a product you don’t like.
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA, wholly owned subsidiaries of Sprint, are expanding their phone lineup with the LG K3. The LG K3 is priced at just $79.99 and offers consumers a whole smartphone experience without breaking the bank.
The LG K3 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and is available online today here at Boost Mobile and here at Virgin Mobile USA. Starting next week, the LG K3 will be available at Boost Mobile retail stores and select independent retailers nationwide if ordering online isn’t your thing. LG proves that you don’t need a whole lot of money to enjoy keeping in touch with your friends and family.
The days where we walk into a carrier store to purchase a subsidized smartphone are fading. This trend, bundled with the aggressive prices that we’re beginning to see in unlocked phones, makes purchasing a phone full price a more viable option. Carriers will tell you that you are getting a discount when you sign up for a phone plan, but you can save a lot more with an unlocked device.
Amazon is where a majority of us go to find the best prices of merchandise, therefore, we’ve complied a list of great unlocked smartphone deals you can find there today. Let’s check out what you can save on! And if you have a Prime account, you can even get same day shipping depending on where you live.
Bear in mind that these particular prices are at the time of writing. Amazon changes its prices frequently. Also, different colors often have different prices, and there may be limited quantities. Happy Android shopping!
Have you ever wanted to write on a wall, but a) didn’t want to get arrested for vandalism or b) only wanted your friends to be able to see it? If so, WallaMe is the app for you. If not, you and I are on the same boat.
WallaMe takes many cues from Instagram. There are three tabs at the top, five at the bottom, and the center of which is adding a new wall. I like it, but everything seems a little blurry.
The image capture screen is very basic, with no option to zoom in or out. Additionally, turning the flash on keeps the flashlight lit the whole duration of lining up the picture, instead of “flashing” upon capture.
Features
Once you get a picture of a wall, the editing options are quite plentiful. You can add stickers or pictures from your own gallery, text, and drawings in various colors. Once your wall is posted, people can like and comment on it, again very much like Instagram. There is no option to add your own photos instead of taking one, which is quite inconvenient.
General Impressions
WallaMe is touted as an AR app, with the ability to see walls that other people have posted when you are nearby. However, there is an astonishingly low amount of users in my area and in the US as a whole. To me, that largely makes the app an Instagram for walls, which really has no point. When WallaMe develops a larger user base, I think it is a great way for residents and tourists alike to connect with each other.
Conclusion
WallaMe is largely just a copy of Instagram with a fraction of the user base. The user interface is squared off, and for that reason not visually appealing. The photo editor is pretty nice, but they need to improve the image capture screen. Check it out from the link below if you’d like.
I’ve used quite a few of Inateck’s products, and I am impressed with the level of classy looks it brings to its products. The company has worked diligently make sure it hits three aspects: style, functionality, and price. That’s not an official mission statement, but from my perspective, it seems Inateck strives for that. Take the trendy MercuryBox Bluetooth speaker, for $38 it just proves my point.
In the box
MercuryBox speaker
Audio cable
microUSB charging cable
Hand strap
Customized cable ties x2
Manual
Design
The MercuryBox is a six-and-a-half inch speaker that’s just oozing with style. Its aluminum casing and rubber top and sides make you feel like you have a quality product that’s durable and beautiful at the same time.
On top is where your buttons are located. Laid out as one seamless piece of rubber, it features six buttons that are slightly raised and feel like bumps more than buttons. While this does make for a cool look, the buttons can be hard to press.
The Auxilary and charging ports are both tucked away on the side under a rubber flap. Over on the opposite side sits the hand strap, which is a handy little feature to have…see what I did there.
Each of the two cords is made out of a braided material that not only looks elegant but also gives it a stronger feel. Again, Inateck makes things that last.
Sound
What good are the looks if it sounds like a blown out speaker in a Chevette with a hole in the muffler? Does it stand the test? It’s packing dual five-watt precision-tuned drivers that emphasize more bass and treble while leaving the mids out.
Every week my family and I walk a path to the local dam. The MercuryBox is perfect for this situation. We all get to enjoy the music without it being overbearingly loud. So it might not be right for a party, but you can find plenty of use for this portable speaker.
Everything else
The MercuryBox has excellent battery life getting around nine to ten hours of playback so you can easily go all day with moderate volume levels. Its Bluetooth capability gives you plenty of moving room as it is good up to around 30 feet.
Lastly, let’s not forget that the MecuryBox is water resistant. That’s right; it has an IPx5 certification that gives you some splash protection. That means it can be in the shower with you, but I wouldn’t dunk it in a bath.
Summary
The MercuryBox is a safe speaker to buy. At a price of $38, you can’t go wrong. So take that birthday money you got from Grandma (it doesn’t matter how old you are, Grandma still gives you checks and you know it), and head on over and pick up one.
You may not have heard of Bluboo before, and I wouldn’t really blame you. They’re another Chinese brand trying their luck in the smartphone market, and if this sale is of any indication, they’re doing quite well. To celebrate their upcoming anniversary (we are not sure which anniversary), they are doing an insane flash sale with several of their devices.
At 3AM EDT on the 18th June, just fifty (50) devices of each model will instantly be available for purchase at $9.99 each. If you’re too late on the button, you will then get the opportunity to buy the device with $50 off for the rest of the day. The usual price of the phones ranges from $179 to $79. There is also a smartwatch model in the line-up.
The Bluboo Maya, on of the devices going on sale, features a 5.5 inches HD JDI display with a layer of Gorilla glass 3 on top. It sports a 13MP Sony camera at the back and an 8MP snapper at the front. The device comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. A 3000mAh battery powers it up, and an unnamed (likely Mediatek) 1.3GHz quad-core processor powers the device.
Their flagship is also up for grabs at $9.99, and comes with 3GB RAM alongside an octa-core CPU.
Slightly dodgy, but it’s only fifty devices and we couldn’t spot anything out of place. It’s now up to you whether you’re going to wake up so early to try get one.
Another day, another phone: this time, they’re from LG. Following on the launch of the G5, LG outed their new mid-rangers to compliment their existing options. With all four having the ‘X’ name, they each offer a different set of specs for their respective prices. Each also offers something that is designed to appeal to a specific market.
The X power features a HD 5.3″ screen with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM under the hood. There’s a 13MP shooter on the back, and a 5MP front-facing camera on the flip side. LG has crammed a huge battery in as well, measured in at 4100mAh. The X power’s frame measures in at only 7.9mm thin, which is excellent considering the battery size, and it boasts PE+ fast charging technology. The intended customer here is obviously people who need a decent phone with a lot of battery.
LG’s mach is, hence the name, all focused on speed. With a 1.8GHz hexa-core processor and 3GB, it’s certainly the better of the four. It features a QHD IPS Quantum Display, with a 16MP camera and 1.55μm sensor. It also sounds a lot like the 2015 flagship, the LG G4.
“Each X series smartphone pairs perfectly with its user by offering uncompromising quality and one truly outstanding feature that speak the user’s personal preference and lifestyle — all at a great value,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and the Mobile Communications Company. “The newly expanded X series demonstrates LG’s commitment to offering top flight performance with premium features at a satisfying price.”
The remaining X style differentiates itself with its elegant design boasting curving lines and extra-slim body. X max sports a large display for an enhanced viewing experience, making it the ideal phone for consuming multimedia content.
Unfortunately we do not know the remaining specifications for the style or max, or any pricing for any of the phones. We guess LG will reveal them in the coming weeks.
