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ZTE ZMAX 2 arrives at AT&T with an affordable price

Jason Botha
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0

The 4th largest smartphone supplier in the USA, ZTE, revealed that the ZMAX 2 entry level phone is now available fromZTE-ZMAX-2-side
AT&T, and will be part of their GoPhone line.

With a 5.5-inch HD display, large battery and decent processor, the ZMAX 2 a worthy successor to the original ZMAX, and is up for $149.99, sans contract obligations. The phone also features Android 5.1, 2GB RAM and a 8MP shooter coupled with a quad-core 1.2 GHz  Snapdragon 400

[blockquote author=”Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA”]The original ZTE ZMAX set the stage for the phablet market as it was the first large screen Android device with high-end features at an affordable price. With the ZMAX 2, we will continue deliver the best low-cost Android phones in the U.S. that people actually enjoy using. Together with AT&T, advanced phone technology and design is now affordable for more U.S. consumers.[/blockquote].

It can be purchased from either a selected AT&T outlet or from att.com, and with a good selling price we could expect them to fly off the shelves.

HTC to launch updated One M9+ and Butterfly 3 at Sept. 29th event

Josh Noriega
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0

If you were disappointed to hear that the promising HTC A9 (Aero) will end up being a modest midranger rather than beastly flagship, you may like today’s news a little better.  It seems that HTC has a couple more smartphones up its sleeves for the Sept. 29th event.

The tip comes from an HTC-focused ROM developer on Twitter, @LlabTooFeR.  Not much is shared, only that we should expect updates to two well-known HTC flagships:  the Butterfly 3 and HTC One M9+.

llabtoofer_htc

The Butterfly 3 launched earlier in the year, as the HTC J Butterfly HTV31 in Japan.  So this could simply be market expansion for the device.  But regarding the One M9+, the tweet says that it will be updated.

Recalling the One M9 launch, many were upset that the One M9+ outdid it so quickly (larger screen, QHD resolution, and fingerprint scanner) and wasn’t offered in their market.  We can only hope that HTC has it together now and will widely release a top-end contender with this update.

Because of the fact that HTC’s Sept. 29th event is taking place in Japan, I wouldn’t hold your breathe if you’re in a non-asian market.  But this isn’t a good time for HTC to ignore the rest of the world.

HTC_event

It’s a week away, so stay tuned.

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/htc-one-m9/”%5D

Xiaomi announces their new Mi 4c flagship, priced aggressively at $203

Matt Adams
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3

Xiaomi, one of the biggest cell phone manufactures in China have announced their newest phone, the Mi 4c. The Mi 4c is an upgrade to the Mi 4i which was released in April. The Mi 4c has an upgraded processor, a bump in RAM from 2 GB to 3 GB and comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

[graphiq id=”cvf1iZqBznL” title=”Xiaomi Mi 4C” width=”600″ height=”662″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/cvf1iZqBznL” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/4227/Xiaomi-Mi-4C” link_text=”Xiaomi Mi 4C | SpecOut”]

As you can see, the Mi 4c has a really impressive spec list. What may be even more impressive is the price. In China it will be priced at 1,299 yuan which translates to $203 US Dollars. 1,299 yuan will get you a Mi 4c with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of memory while 1,499 yuan ($235 US Dollars) will get you the upgraded 3GB/32GB variant. Both variants will be available in several colors including white, pink, yellow and blue.

Mi 4c

We’re happy to see more companies adopting the USB Type-C connector and its reversible cable, but it would be nice to see version 3.0 instead of version 2.0. USB 3.0 allows for faster transfer speeds and faster charging time. The Mi 4c WILL offer Qualcomm’s fast charging 2.0 standard unlike the OnePlus 2 which also features a USB Type-C with no fast charging. There has been no word on wireless charging yet so we’re going to assume it’s not present. If you have nothing but Micro USB cables laying around, Xiaomi will offer a USB Type C to Micro USB connector extremely cheap (5 yuan).

Mi 4c

The Mi 4c will debut a brand new feature from Xiaomi called Edge Tap. Edge Tap will allow you to quickly take a picture with one tap on the side of your phone and will allow you to go back to your previous picture or task with a double tap. It appears from the press photos that there will be an area under the power button where you can tap to take advantage of this feature. We just wonder how many pictures of the insides of pockets the Mi 4c will be taking.

Mi 4c

And speaking of the camera, the Mi 4c will be packing a 5 MP shooter on the front for your selfies and a 13 MP main shooter on the back. The main camera has a Sony IMX258/Samsung S5K3M2ISOCELL sensor and dual tone flash. The front camera has a wide angle lens and a beautify feature.

So far we’ve only heard that the Mi 4c is going to be only released in China, but we hope to see it come to other parts of the World with the impressive spec-line and even more impressive pricing.

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/xiaomi-mi-4c/”%5D

Source: Lowyat

Tronsmart’s trio of Quick Charge 2.0 chargers for all of your charging needs

Derrick Miyao
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0

With the passion and precision our singular focus here at Tronsmart, our Tech Geek team (designers) can spend months of research to better understand a new product. The process is repeated over and over again until the product is perfectly refined. By putting themselves in the customer`s shoes each and every component of a product is discussed, down to the tiniest detail, until the team believes it is complete. – Tronsmart

It’s rare to find a company these days whose mission statement matches their products. Tronsmart is one of those companies where they let their hard work, dedication to perfection, and understanding their customer’s needs reflect in the products they make and distribute around the globe. I was recently afforded the opportunity to review three of their chargers: The Tronsmart TS-WC3PC Quick Charge 2.0 Rapid Wall Charger, the Tronsmart CCF2 Two-in-One Car Charger and the Tronsmart CCFC Type-C Car Charger.

I’m not one to usually put a lot of care into my chargers, but after a couple weeks of solid usage, I decided the one who put the care and attention to detail into my chargers was Tronsmart. They did the worry for me and produced three outstanding products that I have no doubt will serve as my day-to-day chargers for years to come.

 

Tronsmart TS-WC3PC Quick Charge 2.0 Rapid Wall Charger

The Tronsmart wall charger has three USB ports, two of which are integrated with VoltIQ charging and the other is only for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0. If you don’t have QC 2.0 your best plug is the Volt IQ. VoltIQ is Tronsmart’s smart technology which can automatically determine what kind of charge your devices need. As rapid as technology is developing, many people don’t realize those chargers from three or four years ago are not designed for today’s tech.

Many people have multiple devices in their household, from tablets to wireless speakers to older and newer smartphones. Sure those older chargers will work, but a charger from three years ago may take six hours to charge my Samsung Galaxy Note 5 but may charge my older LG G2 in three hours. In order to charge your devices quickly and efficiently, you need to use the proper charger, and rather than remember which of your ten chargers belongs to a specific device, Tronsmart solves your conundrum with VoltIQ.

20150921_221334

The three port charger Tronsmart provided me with is well thought out. It wasn’t so large that I could not use the plug next to it, but it was large enough to power three of my devices. I had my tablet, wireless speaker, and wireless charger connected to it, keeping my wall outlet optimized. It’s a pain when you use two plugs for two devices these days. With VoltIQ, I was not running into issues like over-charging, heating issues, or slow charging. The charger is compatible with all of the devices from yesterday, today and the future. It will charge your Note 1-5, iPhone, Galaxy S6, Xiaomi Mi3, Xperia Z3, Z4, Z5 – you get the picture.

With Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 you can charge a Note 5 to 60% in less than thirty minutes. If you don’t have a Quick Charge 2.0 home charger, pick up one of these today. You can’t go wrong with the price, quality and technology. Tronsmart’s dedication to perfection is well represented in this TS-WC3PC Rapid Wall Charger.

Tronsmart CCF2 Two-in-One Car Charger and the CCFC Type-C Charger

I was fortunate and was provided with two car chargers from Tronsmart with their names listed above. The Tronsmart Two-in-One Car Charger is a Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 compatible charger with two USB outlets. Both USB ports are compatible with Qualcomm’s quick charging and VoltIQ technology. It can support up to 36 watts between the two ports which means you can charge your Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 compatible devices simultaneously. No need to fight over the fastest outlet:
  • Quick Charge 2.0 in both ports: 9V/2A full charging speed for Quick Charge 2.0 compatible device from both ports
  • VoltIQ Technology in both ports: Deliver 5V/2.4A for most devices, and 5V/2A for Apple products from both ports

20150920_134953

The other charger Tronsmart provided me with was the CCFC Type-C Charger with a fixed plug for USB Type-C devices such as the OnePlus 2 and the new Apple Macbook Pro. As much of a tech geek that I am, or that I think I am, I do not own a USB Type-C compatible device so I was not able to test this review unit. But by looking it over, I could tell without a doubt that this charger will be a daily charger once devices catch up to Tronsmart. It is nice to know that Tronsmart is ahead of the curve and offers a high-quality alternative to device manufacturers expensive chargers.

When I need to switch out my chargers next year for USB Type-C I know this will serve my needs.

20150921_221829

 

Usage

Between the car and wall chargers, with Qualcomm’s USB 2.0 technology, I found myself giving my older chargers to a co-worker of mine at my primary job. These chargers performed just as expected, and with VoltIQ I no longer need to worry about my Note 5 taking six hours to charge on an old USB standard.

I moved the wall charger from my kitchen outlet to my bedroom outlet a few times just to get a feel of how it would hold up over time, and I didn’t hear one squeak or creak. I know this charger will last many years to come just like the car chargers Tronsmart provided me with.

Summary

Don’t waste your time looking for other smart chargers. Tronsmart has you covered and you can trust that they really do put their tech geeks to the test in ensuring their customers get the right product. Tronsmart is in the tech business for the long haul and their pride and hard work is reflected in their chargers. I look forward to reviewing other Tronsmart products in the future.

If you want to read about Tronsmart check them out at their website.

 

Five Zooper Widget apps you need to download today

AndroidGuys
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2

If there’s one thing that remains constant it’s that we don’t like our Android devices to look the same for very long. Yeah, we know, it’s ironic. One of our favorite things to do is to regularly change up the home screen and lock screen of our phones. This means we’re always on the hunt for new icons, wallpapers, and widgets.

We’d like to highlight a handful of apps today that work with widget apps Zooper Widget and Zooper Widget Pro. If you’ve ever installed them then you know just how flexible and fun they can be. Indeed, one widget app can offer numerous, and sometimes infinite, possibilities.

What you’ll find below may not be brand new but we certainly do admire them. Moreover, we’re very fond of how they can easily spruce up an otherwise boring or humdrum layout. First things, first: download Zooper Widget Pro and get ready for some fun!

[spacer color=”CC1659″ icon=”fa-heart”]

MIN for Zooper pro

min_for_zooper

We know you. You don’t like clutter and a busy home screen full of icons and distraction. No, you’d rather keep it lean with the minimal stuff, preferring instead to tuck things away behind the scenes. That’s why we’re recommending this one; it’s everything you want, which is almost nothing. The widgets are text-based and simplistic and take a backseat to your wallpaper. This isn’t to suggest they’re boring, though, as we really dig the font and placement. FREE

[pb-app-box pname=’com.mindesigns.zwskin.min’ name=’MIN for Zooper pro’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Retro Zooper Skins

retro

For those who prefer a large, flat-colored clock or calendar widget. We actually find this one works best when you let it take up half of your screen. This free app includes some two dozen widgets, each with a different feel and design. You won’t want to add much else to your home screen once you put one of these widgets in place. But, if you do, the single color approach complements just about an icon pack you can find. FREE

[pb-app-box pname=’com.juansaracho.zwskin.RetroSkins’ name=’Retro Zooper Skins’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Fuse for Zooper Widget Pro

fuse

Updated quite a bit, and with new designs along the way, you’ll find all sorts of layouts and options. Sure, some of them are a little more busy than others, but we wager to guess a few of you might enjoy some of the looks nonetheless. In addition to the clocks and weather stuff you’d expect, there are also media player widgets and other goodies, too. FREE.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.dreaapps.zwskin.fuse’ name=’Fuse for Zooper Widget Pro’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

stun zooper widgets

stun

With more than five dozen widgets included in this bundle, there’s surely something for everyone. That means the clean and minimal stuff just as much as those screens with… a little more. Each design is unique in its own right but feels cohesive when viewed as a collection. We had a tough time figuring out which of this developer’s widget packs to highlight, but if these aren’t your style, then something else from mz design will be. It’s all sharp stuff and looks way better than the stock widgets. $1.41

[pb-app-box pname=’mzdesign.zooper.stun.installer’ name=’stun zooper widgets’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Typographical Zooper Theme

typographical

Although this one requires the installation of a third app (Media Utilities) and a small fee, you’ll be glad you listened to us here. There are more than 200 widgets to pore through and the inclusion of some 80 fonts make sure you never create the same design twice. We’re really into the text-based widgets for time and weather lately and think these are some of the best around. If you’re into deeply personal widgets and home screen creations then you should look no further. $1.50

[pb-app-box pname=’com.typographicaltheme.zwskin’ name=’Typographical Zooper Theme’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Coocheer CH-080 Bluetooth speaker review

Justin Marden
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0

20150921_121934Coocheer is well-known for making great speakers, chargers, and headphones, and the CH-080 Bluetooth speaker is most definitely no exception. From its simple, matte design to its quality sound, the CH-080 packs quite a punch. Let’s see what makes it tick.

Design

71cIqolhaHL._SL1500_Coocheer didn’t aim for flashiness or complexity with this speaker, which is actually a nice change of pace. The soft-touch matte plastic wrapped around the speaker give it a premium feel without the premium price tag. The only button on the entire device comes in the form of a large round dial which sports a colored LED ring around its base. Other than a 3.5mm audio jack, microUSB charging port, and an On/Off switch all lined up on one side, the CH-080 is left largely untouched by extra, unnecessary buttons. There’s a single microphone on the opposite side (right below the Coocheer logo in the photo above) as well, so you can use the speaker for voice commands and the occasional phone call.

It weighs in at just over one pound, so it still falls into the realm of a portable Bluetooth speaker. Its footprint isn’t very large, which means it should fit into most backpacks or messenger bags without any real issue. Unfortunately, Coocheer only offers the speaker in black (I would have loved to see a white or even a blue version).

Usage

61wcGCSLhqL._SL1500_As a Bluetooth speaker, the CH-080 works very well. It connects quickly and without any hassle, and I never experienced any stutter, song lag, or disconnections. Coocheer built this speaker with Bluetooth 3.0, which isn’t the latest standard, but it holds its own when playing music and taking calls. It also packs NFC, something we’ve seen in more and more Bluetooth speakers as of late.

If connecting through your phone/tablet’s Bluetooth settings fails (not very likely, as mentioned), you can (theoretically) always hold your device against the speaker to initiate the connection. In practice, I can’t say that the NFC in this case is very reliable. Try as I might, I could only get my Galaxy S6 to pick up the NFC from the speaker once or twice. I also tried a Moto X Pure Edition, with the same results. This is after dozens of attempts and a considerable amount of time pressing my phone against every inch of the speaker just to find the sweet spot. I appreciate that Coocheer included NFC as a connection option, but if it isn’t reliable, it’s almost useless to the average user.

20150921_121137Coocheer’s large dial in the center of the speaker (naturally) controls the volume, but the designers baked a little extra functionality into the dial, which doubles as a button. A single press serves as a pause/play function, but if you hold the button for three seconds, the LED ring will flash, indicating that the speaker has entered what Coocheer calls “Song Control Status.” This is essentially a mode in which turning the dial changes the song rather than the volume. It works exactly as you’d expect: enter Song Control Status mode, turn clockwise to skip to the next song and counterclockwise to return to the previous song. This may seem like a simple addition, but it is extremely useful when your phone or tablet is far away and you just want to change the song. Coocheer found a way to make this feature useful, without making it too complicated or adding extra buttons. Simplicity goes a long way with this speaker, something that users are sure to appreciate.

The inclusion of an LED ring around the base of the dial adds just the right amount of pizzazz to an otherwise blank slate of a speaker. The ring stays a light blue color, and turns a brighter shade of purple when the speaker is charging. When entering “Song Control Status” mode, the blue ring will flash. Other than that, the light remains on as long as the speaker is on. Coocheer didn’t include any way to turn off the LED, but it isn’t obtrusive enough to really be a bother anyway.

Performance & Sound

Coocheer’s speaker sounds great; there is no other way to describe it. Strong lows and accurate mid-range sound comes almost seamlessly from the speaker. The distribution of sound is fantastic, thanks to the CH-080 sporting two speakers that flank the dial in the center. Coocheer built the speaker with “Bass Enhance Technology,” which is basically a fancy way of saying that it can put out some reasonable bass for a small(er) speaker. It won’t shake any wine glasses or blow anyone away, but it can hold its own if you’re using the speaker at a house party or to listen to some tunes while you mop the floors.

The CH-080 can get considerably loud, and it doesn’t seem to distort much at higher volumes. Obviously if you overload it with bass, it’s going to sound a little wonky, but overall this little speaker can make some noise.

Conclusion

20150921_121154Coocheer was obviously trying to create a solid, simple, affordable Bluetooth speaker with the CH-080, and it definitely hit the mark. For just $19.99, this is hands-down one of the best speakers for the price. While the NFC issue is somewhat annoying, it isn’t really a deal-breaker. The CH-080 looks great, sounds great, and works almost perfectly. If you’re looking for a strong speaker at a reasonable price, this is definitely a good option.

If you’d like to grab a CH-080 speaker, you can grab one from Amazon here.

Moto X Pure Edition first takes: Upgraded all around

AndroidGuys
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2

I have always enjoyed Motorola phones, I’ve just never really got any hands-on time with any of them. I remember when the Razr first came out, and it was the first phone that I truly really wanted. Then came the Droid series, which were by far the best Android phones at the time, the problem was that I was on T-Mobile, and still am.

Fast forward a few years and I finally decided to purchase my first Motorola device, the Nexus 6. While it was made by Motorola, it didn’t include all the features a standard Motorola phone would. Nonetheless, my Nexus 6 was my favorite phone to date, and still might be. The design style is still my favorite. Motorola made a phone with a 6 inch display manageable to hold. Now that’s an accomplishment.

The Moto X devices always intrigued me, but they always lacked in the specification department. The original Moto X only had a 4.7 inch screen, 720p resolution, the Snapdragon S4, all powered by a small 2,200 mAh battery. The Moto X (2014) made serious improvements, like upgrading to a 1080p AMOLED display that was 5.2 inches diagonally. the timeless Snapdragon 801 processor, but still only upped the battery to 2,300 mAh.

Enter Moto X Pure Edition.

Moto X Pure Edition box

When Motorola announced the Moto X Pure Edition, they caught my attention 100%. Not only did they make the device more affordable by starting it at $399.99 completely unlocked, but they upgraded the device in EVERY single category. It ships with 3 GB of RAM, Snapdragon 808 processor, 21 megapixel rear-facing camera, and a nice sized 3,000 mAh battery.

I have been using this device since I received it this past Friday (3 days), and I am nothing short of impressed. The device is already my favorite device of 2015, and I have used the HTC One M9, Galaxy S6/S6 edge, LG G4, OnePlus 2, and the Galaxy Note 5/S6 edge+. That is definitely saying something.

Even though it doesn’t have the highest end specs, it functions just fine. Some companies put too much thought into packing the device to the gills with high-end hardware, but the device doesn’t function as well (OnePlus). I think Motorola made an excellent choice going with the Snapdragon 808 in the Moto X. I liked the performance a lot in my G4, so I haven’t had any complaints. In my experience, the Snapdragon 808 also gets much better battery life than the power-hungry Snapdragon 810. Hell, I’m even getting battery life on my Moto X than I was on my Note 5 with the super efficient Exynos 7420 (both have 3,000 mAh batteries). That points back to the hardware: it’s worthless without the right software.

Not only does the device outperform other flagships in 2015, I also think it looks better. Like I said earlier, I loved the Nexus 6 design, even with the massive display. The Moto X Pure Edition is shaped very similar, but is much easier to hold. I think Motorola hit the sweet spot with the 5.7 inch display. That is one reason why I like the Note series so much, but Samsung devices are somewhat hard to hold, especially now that they are glass and metal.

To compare the design of the Moto X to the Note 5, they have the same sized displays and nearly the same dimensions (height and width), but the Moto X is a lot easier to hold. Add on to it the rubberized back that comes on the default model, and it is the most comfortable device to hold on the market. I like it even more than the G4, and that is a device that is slightly smaller.

Motorola definitely hits the nail on the head with balancing a large device with making it manageable to hold. The edges are flat enough that they are easy to grip, but it also rolls off to the back to make it comfortable to hold. Couple that with the rubberized back and it is the best device to hold in 2015 by far. It’s amazing how much curves can help how easy it is to hold.

Like I stated earlier, the Nexus 6 was and still is one of my favorite devices of all time. So naturally, the Moto X fits right in, but it brings the Motorola features that the Nexus 6 left out. Having used the Moto X Display for just a few days, I must say it is the most convenient thing that I have used on a smartphone. I love being able to pull the phone out of my pocket, having it “breath”, and showing me if I have any notifications. Not only that, but being able to check what messages and notifications say without unlocking the device is more convenient than tap to wake. I thought I would miss tap to wake on the Moto X coming from the G4/OnePlus 2, but Moto X Display is way better.

Overall, I am very impressed and quite pleased with the Moto X Pure Edition. I am gladly using it over my Note 5 and getting better battery life and no noticeable performance drop off. The camera is definitely an improvement from the Nexus 6. The 21 megapixel camera is a large upgrade to the 13 megapixel on the N6. Another category that has vastly improved is the front-facing speakers. They are much louder and crisper than I’ve heard in the past as well. The display is very clear, but I am a little bummed it isn’t AMOLED. It isn’t a big deal, but it’s just something to note.

Chromecast Audio to WiFi-enable your speakers, codenamed “Hendrix”

Josh Noriega
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0

A few days ago we got a glimpse at what the new Chromecast will offer.  It is expected to drop at Google’s Sept. 29th event, along with the highly-anticipated pair of Nexus phones.  Now we have some more info on the Chromecast Audio part of that launch, which is allegedly codenamed “Hendrix” within Google.

To recap, Chromecast Audio is said to be a separate Chromecast device, specifically aimed to set your home speakers free.  This means that it will plug into your audio setup and wirelessly connect to your WiFi router.

chromecast_audio

This will allow you to remotely control the speaker through your smartphone or tablet.  If this kind of thing sounds familiar to you, you may be remembering the Moto Stream.  But Google may feel like they should do to speakers what they’ve done to TV’s.  And it should be competitively priced.

The Chromecast Audio should have multi-room support, so you can utilize every speaker in the house to raise the roof.  Communication via WiFi means you can have them rock out with the same track in unison.  However, to do this, it is assumed you would need a Chromecast Audio for each speaker.

The Chromecast Audio will mirror the audio from your Chrome browser or Android device.  If you’re worried that this operation will sacrifice precious bytes of music data, Google is said to be focusing on “high-quality” audio for the device.

We should know the full scoop next week, stay tuned!  Do you like this audio extension to the Chromecast portfolio?

Source: 9to5google

Check out these Interactive Watch Faces for Android Wear

Andrew Myrick
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0

A couple weeks ago, Google introduced a new update to Android Wear called Interactive Watch Faces. In turn, this update ended up starting a revolution of new Watch Faces to start showing in the Play Store, some of which we will cover today. Before covering a few of the top Watch Faces for Android Wear, let’s answer the question of what makes Interactive Watch Faces special.

The simple answer to that is the obvious one. These new watch faces allow you to actually interact with your watch face, and give you different pieces of information. Before, you wouldn’t be able to interact with the watch face in any capacity other than with your eyes. If you wanted more information, you would have to find another watch face, or create your own with something like Facer.

As we will showcase today, Android Wear 1.3 brings a feature to your wrist, that should have been there from day one. Now, since it’s only been a couple of weeks since the introduction of Android 1.3, we can expect more and more of these watch faces to crop up.

As for the one’s that are already in the Play Store, prepare to be amazed at what you can do. I can already see the introduction of Interactive Watch Faces being used as a tipping point for those on the fence about getting an Android Wear device.

Without further adieu, let’s get started.

Bits Watch Face

First up on today’s list of top Android 1.3 Interactive Watch Faces is Bits. Bits Watch Face from the folks at ustwo, is a pretty simplistic watch face for your Android Wear device. However, Bits also features a ton of information at the tap of a screen. There are a total of 11 different options that you can select from. Bits allows you to display seven different pieces of information at once.

While you can’t rearrange which option is where, Bits still gives you everything you need at a tap and a glance. For example, in the screenshots above, you can see what your watch face looks like when tapping on the Battery or Weather “Bit”. Within the Android Wear application, you can also configure the style of Bits. There are thirty different color and background options for you to pick and choose from.

If Bits tickles your fancy, grab it from the widget below on the Play Store for FREE!

[pb-app-box pname=’com.ustwo.watchfaces.bits’ name=’Bits Watch Face’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

InstaWeather for Android Wear

InstaWeather for Android Wear is the watch face that offers the most options. Meaning, that there are 11 different watch faces for you to pick from. While the primary focus behind this is Weather, the developers still wanted to provide both a traditional and unique approach to your Android Wear device.

There are basic watch faces as you see above, that just have the time, date, and weather forecast, however, there are more in-depth watch faces like one that shows the weather radar for your location. In terms of that watch face, the radar shows any precipitation that may be in your area, and when you tap the screen, you are given a ‘+’ and a ‘-‘ which allow you to zoom in or out on your location.

As I mentioned above, there are a slew of watch faces with InstaWeather for Android Wear, and each of them bring something unique and different to your wrists. Hit the widget below and grab this so you can give it a shot and see if it’s for you. Don’t worry, it’s free.

[pb-app-box pname=’mobi.byss.instaweather.watchface’ name=’InstaWeather for Android Wear’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

[spacer color=”264C84″ icon=”fa-android”]

Moonlander watchface by Materi

Moonlander watchface doesn’t really do much other than show the time. However, what makes this one interactive, is that when you tap the screen, the moon phase changes, just to show off what it really can do. This piqued my interest due to the fact that I have a large interest in astronomy, and Moonlander fit the bill pretty well.

As for the watch face itself, the hour indicator is a satellite, while the minute indicator is a rocket ship. There is also a section on the right hand side that shows you the date, month, 12-hour, 24-hour, or second. This feature can be changed from within the Android Wear app or from right on your wrist.

Moonlander leans towards those space enthusiasts out there, but is still pretty awesome nonetheless. Grab it for free from the Play Store widget below.

[pb-app-box pname=’dd.watchdesigner.moonlander’ name=’Moonlander watchface by Materi’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

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Under Armour Record

This next watch face is for those athletic individuals out there. Well it’s actually pretty useful for anyone who wants to be conscious about how much they walk or run in a day. Under Armour(UA) Record is a fitness tracking application that includes an Android Wear watch face. Even though Under Armour partnered with HTC to deliver an unreleased fitness tracker, UA has thought about everyone in the mean time by offering this functionality.

What makes the UA watch face cool is that every time you tap your Android Wear device’s screen, you see a different piece of information. In addition to that, there is also a bar that wraps around the circumference of the watch face and shows your progress compared to what you have entered in the main application.

If you want the most accurate results, be sure to login to the main application and get all your information put into the system. That way you can start tracking everything you want with both the app and the watch face. Obviously as you can tell from the screenshots above, I didn’t do much walking while using the watch face.

You can grab Under Armour Record for free via the widget below.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.ua.record’ name=’Under Armour Record’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

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Odyssey Watch Face

Odyssey Watch Face is one of my favorite Android Wear watch face choices due to how beautiful it looks. Odyssey has been out for some time, and recently received the update to include Interactive Watch Face functionality. The face itself features an analog clock, the date, weather information for your location of choice, and battery life indicators for both your Android Wear device and the device it’s connected to.

In terms of the Interactive Watch Face update, Odyssey now includes two options for you to play around with. The default option is that every time you tap the display, the watch face changes colors. The other option for you to select is to open an application with the tap of your finger. You can configure these settings within the Watch Face settings in the Android Wear Application. There are nine different color options to choose from, and if you choose to open an application from your Android Wear device, you must select from the options available on your wrist.

You can head over to the Play Store and pick up Odyssey Watch Face for less than a buck at $0.99.

[pb-app-box pname=’co.smartwatchface.odyssey.watch.face’ name=’Odyssey Watch Face’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

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Dynamic Watch Face

The final Interactive Watch Face that we are going to take a look at today is Dynamic Watch Face. This watch face is another of my favorites, due to the amount of detail that is included in the Watch Face itself. You are presented with the Analog Clock, Date, Weather information, battery information, and missed notifications for Calls and Texts. Additionally, where the fun begins is when you tap one of those sections.

If you have a missed text, and want to see who it’s from, you can tap the bottom, and you are presented with a screen similar to what you see above. From here, you can interact further with your notification by replying using your Android Wear device and you will never have to take your phone out of your pocket. Another cool feature of Dynamic Watch Face is all the customization options. There are over 15 different features within Dynamic Watch Face and you can change or customize just about everything, including Background Textures, Watch Hands, the animations, and more.

Head over to the Play Store via the widget below, and grab Dynamic Watch Face for only $1.23 and get all your information that you need at a glance.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.watch.richface.dynamic’ name=’Dynamic Watch Face’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

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These are just a few of the Interactive Watch Faces that have been updated to work with Android Wear 1.3. You can check out the other options that have Interactive Watch Faces via the link here. In the mean time, drop us a line and let us know some of your favorite Android Wear watch faces, even they aren’t as awesome as the Interactive ones.

Samsung plans to implement a financing option just like Apple

Dan Bartram
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Apple took the carrier contract subsidies into their own hands by offering their own financing option on their new iPhone 6s devices, and now according to a new report Samsung are looking to do the exact same thing.

Sources that are citing an industry executive who are familiar with Samsung’s plans claim that the company will launch a smartphone leasing program in the next several months. This will make it easier for consumers to spread the cost of their Samsung phone over a number of months without being tied into carrier contracts.

Samsung have already offered a program to customers that paid users cash for trying and switching to Samsung devices so this is the next step in enticing potential customers to the Galaxy lineup.

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