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First update to Android N preview rolling out today

Andrew Orr
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0

The Android N Developer Preview was released as an OTA (over-the-air) update just a week ago, and today its getting its first update. In case you want to update your device (Nexus 5X, 6P, 9, 9 LTE) the traditional method of flashing, you can still do that as long as your device is enrolled in the beta program. You can find the updated images here.

The build number for this update is NPC56W for the Nexus 5X/6P, and NPC56X for the Nexus 9/9 LTE. Reports are indicating there is also an update to the Nexus Player, with a build number of NCP56R.

gsmarena_001

Android N Features

  • Multi-window mode
  • Better tablet support
  • New settings menu
  • Enhanced Doze mode
  • Redesigned notification panel
  • Change display size
  • Faster app optimization
  • Recent apps and multitasking
  • New data saver
  • Dark mode
  • Improved call screening and number blocking
  • Emergency info on your lock screen
  • Android public beta program
  • Moving to OpenJDK from Java APIs
Source: Google+

Verizon joins other carriers to offer Samsung Galaxy S7 deals

Andrew Orr
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0

Verizon is now offering a “buy one, get one free” deal for the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge phones. In order to qualify, you must first buy a device on a payment plan. No more than eight weeks later, a prepaid Visa card will arrive in the mail in the full amount of your new phone. This promotion is valid until March 31, 2016.

Eligible Verizon Phones

Galaxy-S7-Edge

Other carriers are offering the same BOGO (buy one, get one free) deal, including AT&T and T-Mobile and Sprint. US Cellular has a buy one, get a Samsung Gear VR free, with a six-game bundle.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Specs

[graphiq id=”jJNdi70Pqt” title=”Samsung Galaxy S7″ width=”600″ height=”727″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/jJNdi70Pqt” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/5087/Samsung-Galaxy-S7″ link_text=”Samsung Galaxy S7 | SpecOut”]

Note: This article was updated to add new information that Sprint is offering a BOGO deal for the S7 as well.

Source: FierceWireless

Planet Surfer: Charming, casual, timing-based, space themed fun. [Review]

Donovan Jeska
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0

Overview

Planet Surfer is a cool concept with a fun aesthetic; you blast off from planet to planet, matching the color of your planet to the one to which you’re blasting off.

Developer: WebAlive

Price: Free (ad-supported, $1.07 to remove)

Highlights:

  • Blast off to faraway planets.
  • Play Support.
  • Challenging gameplay.

Setup

As with many casual games, there is minimal setup for this game. Planet Surfer automatically logs you into Google Play, but beyond that you’re good to go.

Impressions

I’m torn on Planet Surfer. On the one hand, I am terrible at it. On the other, it’s a simple, if challenging game with good production value and a proper application of ads. Anyway. Here’s what I think of it, with just a hint of bitterness that – again – I’m terrible at this game.

PS High Score

The idea is simple; your spaceship revolves around a colored planet as it rotates in space, and when the tip of your ship is pointed toward another planet of the same color, you blast off toward it with a tap. If you land on a planet of a different color, your ship explodes. There are additional layers to the gameplay, including collectible stars that you can use as currency to buy additional rocket skins, and enemy rockets that will also explode your ship if you touch them. This happened a lot to me. I’m bad.

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Unfortunately, Planet Surfer suffers from a similar problem as other “endless” games of its kind; you start from scratch every time, and by the time you reach the upper levels that make it interesting, you have 1) invested lots of time getting there, and 2) died many, many times in the process. And then when you finally do die on that record-setting run, you have nothing to show for it, nothing to do except start over.

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One of the things that really stood out to me is the way the ads are implemented. There are no mandatory full-screen ads, and the only video ads are purely optional – and they reward you with stars for watching. The only other ads are small banners at the bottom of the screen – very unobtrusive. I’m impressed.

What I like

  • Adorable graphics.
  • Great ad scheme.
  • No in-app purchases!

What I don’t

  • I’m terrible at the game.
  • Repetitive and endless.

Conclusion

Planet Surfer is charming, but unfortunately suffers from the same problems as do most endless-style games; no sense of progression, and you start from scratch. Every. Time. Also, you will die. A lot. Every time, in fact. Every. Time.

Google Play Store –  Planet Surfer

How to change your theme on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

Derrick Miyao
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12

Did you get a new Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge? One of Samsung’s latest features it has included on its devices is the ability to personalize the look of your icons, wallpaper, sounds, and colors with the ability to swap out “themes”. There isn’t a whole lot to downloading a theme, and if you don’t like it you can simply follow the instructions again and swap back to your old theme.

DSC01091

Here’s how to change your theme:

Applies to the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 edge.

  1. From the Home screen, touch Apps Apps Icon.
  2. Touch Settings .
  3. Go to the Personalize menuScreenshot_20160317-215345
  4. Touch Themes Themes Settings Icon.
    Note: It may be necessary to touch the PERSONAL tab and then touch Themes.
  5. Touch one of the available themes, or touch STORE to open the Samsung Theme Store and select another theme.Screenshot_20160317-215414

6. Touch FREE or DOWNLOAD.

Screenshot_20160317-223350

7. When the download is complete, touch APPLY to apply the theme to your device.

Screenshot_20160317-215609

8. Your device will apply the downloaded theme and open your Home screen.

Screenshot_20160317-215622

Try it out. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve used this feature.

Steal This Look: Give your Android a makeover in five minutes (Sci-Fi Sleek)

AndroidGuys
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1

We’re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience for our Android. In fact, we love it so much that we have an ongoing series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new layout, app, widget, or icon set for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need to mimic the feel.

Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome! If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more!

Screenshot_2016-03-17-19-14-50

We call this look “Sci-Fi Sleek” because it combines a “sci-fi” look and feel with a minimalist, “sleek” design.

If you like a darker, simpler theme that cries “less is more,” you’re really going to like what we are offering this week. “Sci-Fi”, as a term, is often synonymous with space, darker hues and tones, digital design, robotics, space ships, planets, exploration, and technology. With this sci-fi sleek look, you will be capturing the embodiment of what we perceive as “sci-fi” while also maintaining the minimalist look that is so popular in Android today.

Why pay for some of these apps?

You might put in a few bucks to get things rolling but you’ll be glad you did in the long run. The sheer level of configuration and customization behind a few of these titles means endless designs. If you’ve been doing the custom home screen stuff for a while, you may have already purchased some of these apps already.

What you’ll need

A couple of things to note about this design:

  • Desktop grid is set to 5×4 with subgrid positioning enabled
  • The Dock is set at 7 icons
  • The base Zooper Widget is set at 4X3
  • The Fade widget is scaled at 105%
  • For a cleaner look, we’ve hidden the notification bar through Nova Launcher’s settings and we’ve also moved all of our main app icons to the dock
  • We’ve selected different color variants for our app icons than what Aeon applies by default

Using the apps contained in this and previous Steal This Look articles, the sky and your imagination are the limit for how you can customize your device’s look and feel.

Feel free to leave your ideas and creations below in the comments, and stay tuned next Friday for a new edition of Steal This Look!

 

 

 

 

New Android Wear smartwatches from Fossil, Nixon and Michael Kors announced

Andrew Orr
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1

This year at Baselworld, a show held in Switzerland dubbed “the most important marketplace and trendsetting show for the world’s watch and jewelry industry,” has several announcements in the Android Wear category. Companies like Fossil Brand, Michael Kors and Nixon have all announced their versions of fashionable smartwatches.

Fossil

Fossil has a line of wearables, including activity trackers and analog watches. The Fossil Q line will “strike the perfect balance of fashion and function.” Three devices – Q Wander, Q Marshal, and Q Motion have touchscreen displays, refined steel and leather accents.

[blockquote author=”Jill Elliott, Chief Creative Officer”]Customers want to be connected to the world around them, and are eager to access information about daily activities, filtered content and their social networks. The expanded Fossil Q line brings creativity, curiosity and connectivity through smarter watches and trackers that enhance their personal style.[/blockquote]

 

 

Q Line

  • Q Wander features a curved, multi-finish case with sculpted wire lugs, in a combination of beauty and function. The interchangeable leather strap gives a sense of style that customers come to expect from Fossil. ($275)
  • Q Marshal has a rugged case with a bold navy blue plate case artfully paired with vintage-styled leather straps. ($275)
  • Q Motion is an activity and sleep tracker sends notifications of calls, texts and activity due to its haptic technology and multi-colored LED lights. Water-resistant up to 50 meters and no need for recharging with coin cell batteries. ($95)

Nixon

Nixon smartwatch

Watch and accessories brand Nixon announced its first ever smartwatch, called The Mission. The Mission is the “world’s first, ultra-rugged sports smartwatch,” featuring a set of apps tailored for sports, and will pair with Nixon’s Misson Control app which will be powered by Surfline, Snocountry and Trace for live surf and snow condition alerts.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors also released the Michael Kors Access collection. These watches will have exclusive Michael Kors display faces, interchangeable leather and silicone bands, and also “glamorous versions for women and sporty versions for men,” because this is 2016 yet women apparently can’t be sporty, nor men glamorous. The models will start at $395.

[blockquote author=”Michael Kors”]I’m in the business of making people’s lives easier through fashion, I thought, ‘Why can’t tech accessories be chic and glamorous?'[/blockquote]

Source: Fossil Brand

 

iClever BoostCube 4-port USB Wall Charger review

Austin Hyde
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0

Awhile back, I reviewed iClever’s 6-port USB desktop charger. While my review was generally positive, the device was not without its faults. This time, I had the opportunity to review iClever’s BoostCube. Was it any better? Read on.

iClever BoostCube 4-port USB Wall Charger overview

The iClever BoostCube features four USB charging ports with each port outputting a maximum of 5 volts and 2.5 amps. Like all iClever charging devices, the BoostCube features SmartID, which recognizes the electronic device plugged in and maximizes the charging efficiency for a faster charge. Since each port is monitored individually, you won’t have to worry about one device getting power too quickly while another device gets power too slowly.

There are also several safety mechanisms inside the BoostCube to protect against over-current, short-circuit, and over-temperature situations.

The BoostCube doesn’t have a traditional power cord either. Instead, the BoostCube features a foldable plug.

iClever BoostCube 4-port USB Wall Charger usage

The quality of the BoostCube is superb. In comparison to the 6-port desktop charger I reviewed last year, the BoostCube is head and heels above. The only downside is that the 6-port desktop charger can actually sit on your desktop for easy access.

USB Wall ChargerEven though your BoostCube will be stuck on the wall, the portability factor more than makes up for the minor inconvenience of having to be tethered to the wall.

One of the features that I like is that by plugging it directly into the wall, you actually get a sort of platform to lay your device on. This comes in handy when your outlet is not close enough to your desk.

I also like that it outputs enough juice to charge a tablet as well as a phone. In fact, it has enough juice to charge just about any device that is charged via USB.

4.18 out of 5 stars

Overall this is a great device that will handle most, if not all, of your charging needs. I was very impressed with the build quality of the BoostCube and just how portable it is.

If you need to charge more than four devices at a time, then I suggest buying two. It’s on sale for $19.99 on Amazon.com and for that price, two BoostCubes might just be a good idea.

Simple Matters Ditto review

AndroidGuys
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0

[df-subtitle]Stop looking at your phone so much and let Ditto notify you when things are important.[/df-subtitle]

Introduction

Today we are taking a look at the Kickstarted Ditto by Simple Matters. The tagline for the product is “Never miss what’s important.” The Ditto is a small wearable device that you can customize to deliver notifications. During my time on this review, I have found this is all about setting expectations.

Specifications/Features:

Here is what the Ditto can do at a high level:

  • Ditto notifies you to incoming calls, texts, emails, & calendar updates.
  • Ditto has a silent alarm that wakes you and not your partner.
  • Ditto has a virtual tether that reminds you whenever you’ve forgotten your phone.
  • Ditto never needs charging! There’s no buttons, no cables, no inconveniences!
  • Ditto is customized through a user friendly mobile application.

Review

Included in the box is the Ditto unit, velcro band, and battery unit. There is a small instruction booklet that shows you how to assemble the unit and the application to needed to install on the phone.

DittoRetailBox

The Ditto supports both iOS and Android. It doesn’t appear that all phones are supported, so check the support site first. The setup process is very simple; the application guides you through the setup and pairing process and it is very quick. It is here that you get to see the first time the Ditto vibrates. I would describe the motor as surprisingly powerful, particularly because of how quiet it is.

Launching the application, you can customize the types of notifications and the events that trigger them.

Your stock options are:

  • Phone calls
  • Texts
  • Emails
  • Tether
  • Calendar
  • Alarm/Timer

There are also a growing number third party apps that are supported by the Ditto, including Google Hangouts, Facebook, and WhatsApp. You customize the alerts by picking the number and durations of vibrations for each alert.

I found it easy to differentiate between a few but really most notifications indicate you’ll need to check your phone. In other words, the interaction on the Ditto is all one way. That is, basically, because the Ditto is only for notifications and does not offer any actions.

Users can also enable an option called tether which will alert when your phone gets too far away from the Ditto. If you wish to fine tune your alerts, you can. For example, it’s possible to specify which specific text messages or calls will alert users. Rounding out the feature list is the standard alarm or timer notifications.

DittoOpen

Updating the firmware and performing maintenance is also handled in the software. I was able to update my review unit’s firmware easily and quickly with no wires. Speaking of firmware, you can also check the unit’s battery level.

After about a weeks’ worth of use, the battery was still at 93 percent. Replacing the battery is a simple affair. I should also mention that the warranty period is one year. That seems fair if not a little generous given the price point.

Wearing the Ditto is easy and more flexible than most smart devices I have used. You can either slip the Ditto through the included velcro band, clip it to your clothing, or even keep it in your pocket. If you do wear it on the wrist, you can have the Ditto on the inside of your wrist as opposed to the top since you don’t need to access it.

DittoVsWatch

The inside of the Ditto’s clip is grippy and the unit itself it lightweight so the chances of dropping it are slim. Speaking to the unit’s build quality, I found it small, lightweight, but a little on the thick side. This was, naturally, to accommodate the battery and motor. The Ditto is advertised as IPX7 certified so you can shower, swim, and wash your hands without removing it.

So how well does this all work? It works very well for what this device is trying to accomplish. This will not replace an Android watch or an Apple watch, but at a list price of $39 it was never meant to.

DittoApplication

Ditto is also very simple and low maintenance and should appeal to a much wider range of people. Some might say that the weakness of the Ditto is that you don’t use it to interact with your phone, or that it is a one way device. With a full smart watch, I can review the notifications and not pick up my phone. But let’s be honest here, I have used Android and Apple watches and they still aren’t as easy and natural to use as the cell phone they are paired up with. That and the fact you have to deal with recharging and sometimes performance issues given their complexity.

The Ditto is not a smartwatch alternative, it’s a simple extension of the phone you already have. For that purpose and scope, it is a great product.

Caseco Blu-Toque Dual Layered Bluetooth Beanie review

Austin Hyde
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0

There are some things that naturally go together, like peanut butter and chocolate or politics and hurt feelings. Caseco believes that Bluetooth and beanies also go together on that same level. It makes sense to me, but we’ll take a closer look in the review.

Caseco Blu-Toque Dual Layered Bluetooth Beanie overview

Caseco’s beanies come in a variety of styles and colors, so it’s not hard to find one that suits your taste. Of course, the feature that sets them apart from other beanie makers is that they have a Bluetooth headset built into the beanie.

The beanie has a dual-layered design with an inside zipper that allows for easy access to and removal of the Bluetooth headset. This is important because at some time you’re going to need to wash it.

The headset itself features a three multipurpose button system. The volume buttons double as track changers and the power button does triple duty as the power button, pause button, and the call answer/hang-up button.

Caseco Blu-Toque Dual Layered Bluetooth Beanie setup

Like many Bluetooth headsets, the Blu-Toque Bluetooth Beanie is fairly easy to pair. Once the headset is turned on you press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to enter pairing mode. You can then search for Bluetooth devices from your phone.  Once it’s found, all you need to do is tap on the device and your phone will do the rest.

Caseco Blu-Toque Dual Layered Bluetooth Beanie usage

Caseco Bluetooth Beanie 1 Bluetooth BeanieSo what I mainly used the beanie for was to keep my ears warm during my morning bike ride. The Bluetooth speakers were a bonus for me. I was initially worried about using them while on a bike ride because I didn’t want to block myself off from the sounds of the traffic. The knit design of the beanie proved to be very helpful in allowing in ambient noise. I found that it was a worthy option for listening to music during my morning ride.

The sound quality was good, but not great. Why not great? That would be because there is no sound isolation, but I don’t believe that is what you’re looking for when purchasing a Bluetooth beanie. If you’re purchasing a beanie in general, then you will most likely be using it outside. If you’re going to be using it outside, then you are most likely going to be involved in some sort of activity, and being able to hear some ambient noise could be as important to you as it is to me when I ride my bike.

Bluetooth BeanieThe build quality is pretty good, but there are some things that are less than perfect. For example, the headphone pieces sit in small pockets on the inside of the beanie. This allows for a little movement, which isn’t bad because the beanie is designed with these tolerances in mind. However, it can be a little bit of a pain when you want to plug in your charger because the access hole on the outside of the headphone pocket shifts around. You won’t have to charge this very often, but it’s a little bit of pain finding the charging port when you do. Having said that, I’m not sure how else they could have designed it without including a wireless charging option. This would no doubt drive the price upward, so I’m fine with it the way it is.

My one complaint about the headphones is that there is no way to initiate your phone’s voice dialing features. You can answer an incoming call, but you can’t initiate one. While commuting this can be a little annoying, especially if you’re used to using Google Now voice commands to control your device while you ride.

3.93 out of 5 stars

Overall this is a great device to keep your ears warm and your tunes going. I would recommend it to anyone that is active outdoors when it’s cold.

Little Aliens Heroes is a surprisingly fun game! (review)

AndroidGuys
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0

Overview

I hate match-three games. There I said it. From Candy Crush to Cookie Jam to Bejeweled to Dots, I had enough of them a long time ago.  So much so that I kind of forgot what they’re all about: Super-easy gameplay, colorful graphics, and a bit of strategy…thinking two steps ahead, while whittling away time on your device.

Enter Little Aliens Heroes, by 4YouPlay Game Studio. The premise is the same, with a couple of small level tweaks that make it somewhat fresh and challenging.

LAH2Setup

You can get the game by simply downloading from the Play Store. From there just fire it up, and off you go.

GameplayLAH1

If you’ve played (or even heard of) the aforementioned games above, then you know what to do. Each level is a grid of squares, occupied by cute little aliens faces. There are over 130 levels, and your objective in each is to swap positions of two aliens to line up three of a like color. This eliminates those three or more aliens and allows the ones above to drop down and the top holes to auto-fill with randomly-colored new aliens. Each level’s goal varies as you progress through the game: starting out you are to amass a predetermined number of match-three’s by color (example: seven matches of blues and 11 matches of reds), and progressing to moving a unique static alien to the bottom of the screen (by removing match-three’s), among other challenges.

LAH4The graphics and sound of the game are a highlight, too, but not in how you think.  Usually, the term ‘highlight’ refers to a bright spot; something that really jumps out at you. In this case, I’m referring to the refined nature of the graphics, and the more subtle existence of the sound.  While both are of the candy-colored universe you would expect from such a game, both are muted enough that you can look at the screen for extended periods without much strain. In particular for me, the sound was “just enough” to let you know how you’re doing without becoming an all-out distraction.

If you get stuck, no worries, the game has some included help. The first is if you hesitate for a few moments, the game will subtly make an available alien throb, showing you an available next step. Also, along the bottom of the screen are several assists that can be ‘bought’ using coin you’ve amassed through the previous stages.

Summary

This game really surprised me, in case you couldn’t tell. I honestly started playing this game wondering what I could possibly tell you that hasn’t already been used to death by the myriad of other match-three games out there. And while there’s nothing groundbreaking about Little Aliens Heroes, the graphics, sound, and gameplay are unique enough to keep you playing long after you thought you would be.

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