HTC is offering a special deal to customers: $100 off of the HTC One A9, but it’s for TODAY ONLY! (March 8, 2016).
Largely derided as an iPhone clone, the A9 nevertheless has a sleek, gorgeous body running the latest version of Android. Whether you’re an Apple user who is curious about switching to Android, or an Android user looking for an attractive phone, the A9 is the perfect phone for you.
After poor sales of the HTC One M9, HTC made several attempts to keep aloft in a chaotic market, such as revealing more phones at this year’s Mobile World Congress. The market will decide whether HTC still has what it takes to make a popular Android phone, amid rumors that the company will design the next two Nexus devices.
This offer is available for today only, March 8, 2016, until midnight PT.
In an ecosystem in which pixel graphic games are a dime a dozen, developers have to find ways to come up with interesting gameplay in order to stand out. Random Fighters is a puzzle game with pixel graphics and superb sound that may remind you of Minesweeper at first. However, instead of avoiding mines, this game requires you to find tokens in a specific order to attack your opponent.
Open the app. That’s all you need to setup this game. It will automatically log you in to your Google Play Games account during its first launch. After waiting a few moments for the app to do its thing, you’ll be able to start playing. It’s as painless and straightforward as it sounds.
Gameplay
I learned the hard way the reason of the “random” in Random Fighters. You will be shown three combinations at the beginning of the game (a green one, a blue one and a red one). These are always random and they are shown to you for only ten seconds. If you don’t memorize them, you will definitely fail. In order to punch your adversary, you have to tap a maximum of 10 squares in a 5×5 board in order to find these colored tokens. When you find a combination on the board, your character attacks the CPU.
After attacking your opponent, there’s also a mechanic to defend yourself from enemy punches. You have to stop a moving element inside a diamond-shaped outline. This has to be done four times in order to get the maximum defense available, and they all have to be done in only five seconds. These elements also move randomly between fights, so even if you get the hang of it during one fight and defend perfectly, there’s always a learning curve for subsequent matches.
This is how Random Fighters look when you’re attacking……and this is how it looks when defending.
These mechanics help to make every match different from one another. Since you’re heavily reliant on luck, you may destroy one opponent in one fight, then be annihilated on the next one. Also, the patterns are difficult to memorize sometimes, which may make your fight more difficult than it should be. Nonetheless, the ever-changing nature of the game is really fun and progressing through the levels is extremely satisfying.
Kassandra wipes the floor with everyone.
There are three modes: Story, Survival and Online. In Story, you defeat multiple opponents in order to progress in the story. This will earn you experience and get upgrades, new characters and special attacks. Also, there are three difficulty modes, in case you find yourself struggling at any point.
Survival lets you fight and endless hoard of enemies until you run out of HP. Your health will be replenished a little bit after each fight in order to make this mode easier. Online lets you play against other opponents in online matches. It’s worth mentioning that I couldn’t find a match during my time with the game, so I couldn’t test this mode.
Graphics follow closely the pixel art pattern, so there’s plenty of blocky elements throughout the game. However, characters and environments manage to be detailed, and attack animations are fluid and convincing. There are some minor things that could be revised. For example, the loading screen has two spinning cogs that don’t adhere to the game’s theme, so they appear out of place. Overall, the art gets the job done.
Sound is undoubtedly an essential part of any game, and Random Fighters absolutely nails this department. Seriously, the music you hear when fighting is just awesome. There is some upbeat, catchy music, such as the track that plays when you’re in the menu, while other themes transmit the urgency of having to look for the pieces to make up a combo. In my opinion, the music is by far the best aspect of this game.
Remembering your combinations is easier when they look like Tetris blocks.There are five characters to choose from, and several others to fight against.
On top of that, every sound you hear adheres closely to the pixel theme, while executing beautifully its designed purpose. Punches are loud and strong, transition sounds add intensity to the neat animations, and characters have their own cries when attacking, defending and beating a rival. I’m extremely pleased with the work Whootgames has done regarding sound.
Performance in this game is fine. I had absolutely no issues during battles, character selection and such. The only minor complaint I have is that loading screens, though short, are somewhat frequent. Also, I managed to get an infinite loading screen by tapping Remove Ads, getting the Play Store dialog with the price, and then tapping outside of it. The only way of getting out of it was to force close the game and start it again.
Conclusion
Random Fighters manages to offer interesting, dynamic gameplay with satisfying graphics and exceptional sound. Even though I didn’t got any ads during my time with the game, there’s a $0.86 Remove Ads in-app purchase in order to support the developer. If you need a simple, yet challenging game to play while on the bus or after lunch, then definitely try out Random Fighters.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge technically launch on Friday. We’ve seen shipments for pre-orders show up early, and Best Buy has jumped out in front by selling the phone early as well. But, you may get a MUCH better deal if you wait until the Friday, March 11 launch to pick up the newest from Samsung.
A leaked picture of an alleged upcoming promotion from T-Mobile points to a Buy One, Get One Free deal starting on Friday.
Courtesy: TmoNews
To qualify, you’ll need to open at least one new line of service with one of the phones on that line. Both phones must be on equipment installment plans, but you will have to pay taxes or any other fees up front. In the document we see a Mail In Rebate mentioned, but no exact details on what that will be for. Will you be getting a prepaid MasterCard for the entire cost of a Samsung Galaxy S7? We’ll have to see when the details are officially announced.
Unfortunately T-Mobile employees aren’t eligible for this promotion, and you can only have 2 free phones per account.
This sounds like an excellent deal out there for parents looking to upgrade their kids phones. You and your significant other can get new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edges, and hook up two of your kids as well.
Just be sure to get insurance! If you plan to pick up either phone, check out our Accessory guides for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and have your screen protectors and cases with you before pick up your new phones!
Are you interested in picking up a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge? Will this plan have any impact on your plans? Let us know down in the comments section.
It’s a pretty well known thing among Android enthusiasts that Nexus phones have historically lacked in the camera department. There was some hope when the Nexus 6 debuted. But while the camera quality was significantly improved, it still couldn’t keep up with flagships at the same price range.
Fortunately, Google had that in mind when directing its latest top-end phone, the Huawei-manufactured Nexus 6P. Its Sony IMX377 12.3MP module has proven worthy in the real world. Google also didn’t leave out the consideration for low-light performance, bumping up the pixel size to a considerable 1.55µm.
But I was curious if even still, could it finally keep up with the best in smartphone cameras? I had an LG V10 on-hand, which no doubt is among the top, so I went to work at grabbing comparable samples.
Before we get started, I must mention that lens angles between these two differ quite a bit. The 6P has a much larger angle (capturing more in the shot). I tried my best to get the images lined up as close as possible. The Nexus 6P’s native 12.3MP resolution is at a 4:3 aspect ratio. The V10’s native ratio is 16:9 with 16MP, but conveniently, when I drop it to 4:3, the capture resolution is 12MP. Additionally, I took the shots with Auto mode (and auto HDR).
Let’s see how they compare!
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I would say that a trend we’re seeing is that the 6P has better contrast. In comparison, the V10 looks slightly washed-out. But on the flip-side, dark areas can be a bit too dark with the 6P (most noticeable on the second set of images), so it may not be the best with dynamic range.
Regarding the last set, I personally prefer the 6P’s result. The colors on the tulips and background look deeper.
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These are some interesting results. The 6P couldn’t manage to focus well in the first set (I had a couple shots with the same result). On that note, I have noticed in general that the 6P’s focusing can be hit or miss. That may be a camera software thing, because I notice that the 6P focuses on one center area while the V10 freely picks multiple points.
The last set is pretty telling, about the 6P’s low-light performance. To me, the colors are all-around better on the 6P shot. The V10’s image looks washed-out.
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On the first set, we see that slight dynamic range issue with the 6P. My dog, Ian, helped out with the next set, on a bright day at the dog park. The images are pretty comparable to my eyes. The 6P does have a deeper tone to some elements, which is a trend we’ve been seeing.
I included the last set for a micro shot comparison. The qualities are comparable, I just think it’s interesting how they choose different focal points. The 6P focuses dead center while the V10 grabbed the stem. That’s something I’ve noticed with my V10 use, that the point the focusing algorithm picks isn’t always ideal.
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Thoughts
I would say that the Nexus camera is just about there. In some ways, I preferred it over the V10. Many of the V10’s shots look washed out in comparison. And it’s no competition in low-light situations. The improvements I would call for are better dynamic range performance and more robust focusing.
What do you think? Is the Nexus’ camera quality finally up to snuff with its competitors, or does it still have a ladder to climb? Let us know in the comments!
It looks like Google is finally ready to move from the beta stage into full rollout with its own cellular service in Project Fi. They did away with the invite system today while also offering the Nexus 5X for just $199.
There is an awesome deal to get the latest Nexus 5X right now for just $199 without contracts. I personally use Project Fi on a Nexus 5X and it works great in San Diego. I also use AT&T for work use and everywhere I have been, Project Fi’s network has matched the signal bar for bar.
Project Fi does use the Sprint and T-Mobile network for its service and the combination seems to be a perfect match. If you’re up for giving Project Fi a try, read below for instructions on how to sign up as well as reading through common questions and answers about Google’s network.
Head on over to the signup page at Project Fi – Click “let’s get started” – you will need an actual “gmail” account
Type in your ZIP code
Setup a new number or transfer your current number.
Pick a data plan
Select a device. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are listed for sale. – pay in full or in installments
Confirm your address
Sign up for billing with a credit card
Wait for your newest Nexus device to arrive in the mail and starting saving money
If you want to end your service with your current wireless provider after you switch to Project Fi, you will need to contact your current wireless provider after you activate your Project Fi account.
Google’s one simple plan starts with the Fi Basics for $20/month. It includes unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international texts, Wi-Fi tethering to use your phone as a hotspot, and access cellular coverage in 120+ countries.
Google recommends you set your data budget based on your past data usage. Check out this video if you need help figuring out how much data you normally use. Google’s pricing provides you control of your data amount and saves you money by crediting you dollars back for unused data. You can change your budget for the next month whenever you want, so don’t worry about getting it right the first time around.
If your data usage at the end of the month is less than your data budget, you’ll get a credit for approximately one cent per MB. For example, if your data budget is 2GB and you use 1.265GB, you’ll get a $7.35 credit.
Project Fi will first alert you if you’re getting close to your data budget. If you go over, you’ll still get full-speed data and data is charged at the same $10 per GB rate. For example, if you go over your data budget by 350MB, $3.50 will be added to your next bill.
These devices are the first smartphones that support Google’s network of networks. They work with the Project Fi SIM card, which supports multiple cellular networks, and have a state-of-the-art cellular radio tuned to work across network types.
For a limited time, Project Fi is offering a discount of $150 off its normal price for the Nexus 5X, with activation required. If you purchase a Nexus 5X from fi.google.com, the discounted price will automatically apply during checkout. You must then activate Fi service on the same account within 30 days of device shipment, or an additional $150 will be charged to your Google Payments account to match the full price of the device.
In addition, if you purchase a Nexus 5X from the Google Store while this offer is valid, and then activate Fi service using the same Google Account used to purchase the device, then you will automatically receive a partial refund to the form of payment used to purchase. The partial refund amount will match the difference between the amount you paid for the Nexus 5X and the Fi promotional price. You do not need to contact Project Fi or Google Store customer support to receive the partial refund, as it will be automatically applied within two weeks of activating Fi service.
This offer is valid from March 7, 2016, to April 7, 2016, while supplies last for U.S. residents ages 18 and older with a Google Payments account. There is a limit of 1 discounted Nexus 5X per customer, and terms are subject to applicable laws. The offer is void where prohibited.
Project Fi has partnered with Sprint and T-Mobile, two of the leading carriers in the US, to launch Google’s service. You can viewGoogle’s US coverage atfi.google.com/coverage.
A Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, or Nexus 6 purchased from Project Fi is under manufacturer’s warranty for one year following purchase of the device. If your new phone is defective and you report it within this time period, Project Fi will replace the phone at no cost.
Project Fi offers device protection for the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. With device protection, you can quickly get your phone replaced in the event of accidental damage (including drops, cracks, and spills), or mechanical breakdown (beyond the 1-year manufacturer’s warranty period). If you purchase a Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X from Project Fi, you can enroll it in device protection during checkout or within 30 days of when the device ships, after you’ve activated Projet Fi service. For more details, visit Google’s Help Center.
Device protection is not available for the Nexus 6.
Today Yahoo brought new customization features to its Yahoo Mail Android app, version 5.3.
New Features:
Over 11 new custom color themes
Rename accounts – long press any account name in the account switch to rename it
Photo options – preview or save photos you’ve received in an email
Subfolders – long press a folder to rename, delete or create a subfolder within it
Stars – enable tappable stars in Settings to better organize your emails
To change your app theme, go under Settings > Themes, and you can change your color theme for any connected email account, including Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail and even AOL.
Starting today, Android customers can now sign up for Google’s Project Fi without an invite. As a way to promote the service, Google is offering the Nexus 5X for $199 – which is $150 off its current retail price – for a limited time. This offer is valid from March 7 to April 7, 2016.
Fi-Supported Phones
Nexus 6
Nexus 5X
Nexus 6P
Nexus 7
Nexus 9
Tablets With Data-Only SIM
Samsung Galaxy Tab S
iPad Mini 4
iPad Air 2
Project Fi, which launched just ten months ago for Nexus 6 owners(having since expanded), is Google’s experiment to offer cheap and easy cell phone plans for customers. Subscribers pay a flat fee of $20 for unlimited talk/text and an additional $10 per gig of data. For example, a 3GB plan would be $30 plus the $20, but if you only use 1.5GB you would get $15 back at the end of the month.
Fi runs on both Sprint and T-Mobile networks and allows your smartphone to automatically switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data as a way to improve call quality.
“We’d like to say ‘thank you’ to all our Project Fi customers for providing insights and feedback over the past 10 months. While Project Fi is still in its early stages, we’re excited to welcome our next wave of customers and look forward to growing and improving together.”
Two researchers from Michigan State University have come up with a new method to subvert smartphones with fingerprint biometrics. It’s possible to spoof a device in 15 minutes or less with this attack, and all you need is an inkjet printer.
That’s right. With gear costing less than $500, the researchers were able to print out a fingerprint and use it to unlock a phone.
The Tools
Regular inkjet printer
AgIC silver conductive ink cartridges (x3)
Regular black ink cartridge (x1)
AgIC paper
Using these tools, a hacker could lift a smartphone owner’s fingerprint, scan it at 300 dpi (dots-per-inch), horizontally flip it, then print it on the glossy side of the special AgIC paper. Cut out the print and place it on the smartphone’s fingerprint scanner. The hack was successfully used on a Samsung Galaxy S6 and a Huawei Honor 7, with the researchers saying that the Samsung phone was easy to crack while the Huawei phone took more tries. Check out the YouTube video below:
The researchers wrote a white paper detailing the attack, which you can read here.
Following the new financial options by Apple and Google, starting today, OnePlus is offering customers the ability to pay in installments any order over $99. The main benefit is not being locked into a carrier contract; OnePlus customers can switch carriers whenever they want. While customers can still pay the full price of their phone, having installments will be a big incentive for prospective buyers.
In order to pay in installments, you’ll need to select PayPal Credit during checkout. This is, unfortunately, the only option customers can use when purchasing a new OnePlus phone. With a handy calculator tool during checkout, you’ll know exactly how month your monthly payment will be in advance.
Now that the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X have been removed from the invite-only system, customers have more options to select from. The OnePlus 2 starts at $22.60/month, and the OnePlus X starts at $16.12/month.
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile on Monday confirmed the upcoming launch details for the Samsung Galaxy S7.
The pair of Sprint prepaid brands will pick up the call for this year’s flagship phone starting later this week, on March 11. Boost is the first of the two prepaid carriers to offer the Samsung smartphone, tapping it with a $650 price tag. Virgin Mobile dials up its own version of the phone one week later, starting on March 18. Pricing is the same at $650 with no long-term contract.
It’s worth noting that the two carriers are only selling the 32GB Onxy Black models. If you are in the market for one of these phones, you should check out our growing list of accessories worth looking into.
The pair of Sprint prepaid brands will pick up the call for this year’s flagship phone starting later this week, on March 11. Boost is the first of the two prepaid carriers to offer the Samsung smartphone, tapping it with a $650 price tag. Virgin Mobile dials up its own version of the phone one week later, starting on March 18. Pricing is the same at $650 with no long-term contract.