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US carriers continue scaling retail experience

News

AndroidGuys

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March 24, 2020

Several of the largest wireless service providers have taken steps to help keep US customers safer, including temporary closure of retail stores.

AT&T further tightened things up, opting to keep one location open in each 20-mile radius in urban and suburban areas. For rural areas, AT&T widens the radius to 30 miles. Learn more at AT&T’s website.

Previously: AT&T plans to close around 40% of its company owned retail stores around the country. What’s more, those that do remain open will have limited business hours and operate using safety measures.

Verizon recently indicated that it will reduce the number of Verizon stores which are open, but did not lay out hard numbers or locations. As for the stores which will remain in operation, they’ll have limited working hours. They’ll be closed on Sunday and only open to public from 11AM-4PM on other days.

T-Mobile, for its part, says it is closing down approximately 80% of its stores, leaving just one in five open to help service customers.

Sprint is closing down roughly 71% of its retail stores across the country, leaving open its most vital locations. Among the closures are stores located in Walgreen’s malls, and all stores in Puerto Rico. Even then, the stores that will stay open are going to see reduced hours of operation.

Google Assistant now answers your Coronavirus related questions

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AndroidGuys

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March 24, 2020

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Google has added a new function to its Google assistant called ‘Coronavirus tips’ which is a shortcut that could be accessed by either clicking on the shortcut from the Google Assistant app or by using the command ‘Do I have Coronavirus’. Once you use the command, your Google Assistant will show you a symptoms page for the Coronavirus where you could get detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and prevention for the virus.

The Google Assistant also responds with a short voice message giving you information about the Coronavirus, the symptoms, and the latest updates. You can also click on other useful links provided on the results page to learn more about the virus and get the latest news. The new Coronavirus tips function in the Google Assistant could also be accessed by clicking on the ‘Coronavirus tips’ shortcut on the home page or the discover page of the Google Assistant.

You can also select other relevant shortcuts like tips for working from home, how to wash your hands, and even set a reminder to wash your hands. Google Assistant will also provide you with the latest news updates in the relevant topics once you use the Coronavirus tips shortcut from the home page of the app. The aim of this new shortcut is to spread as much awareness as possible and also help people to get the right information especially with so many misinformation and fake news about the virus out there.

Apple also has added a similar function to its digital assistant Siri, which essentially asks you a series of questions about the Coronavirus symptoms to help you to self-diagnose yourself or to just learn more about the virus. While the Google Assistant just redirects you to relevant websites with information about Coronavirus, hopefully, we can see a similar functionality added to it soon by Google.

The cloud is more important than ever. Learn AWS and Azure for $24

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March 23, 2020

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With COVID-19 in full swing, many of us have been forced to adapt to a new way of living and working. For a large segment of the US it means working from home, if you can. It’s going to be the new normal, at least for some time.

While it be new territory for a lot of people, smarter folks have seen it coming. Platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, and others have been around for some time, helping workplaces migrate from strictly physical offices to a decentralized, more-accessible cloud-based operations with remote users.

Getting set up to work with the cloud isn’t a case of if any longer. It’s now a matter of when. How prepared is your organization? Do you have an IT professional on you team? The Complete 2020 Cloud Certification Training Bundle, over 90 percent off right now, is just ~~$40~~ from the AndroidGuys Deals Store.

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Over 12 courses, students will gain insight into the most popular cloud platforms being used today. Get a first-hand look into how each operates and learn how they can be leveraged to help your company and its tech processes.

AWS Technical Essentials
Introduction to Amazon S3 Training Course
Introduction to Amazon Route 53 Training
Introduction to Amazon EC2 Training Course
AWS Solution Architect Certification Training Course
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AWS Lambda Training Course
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AWS Sysops Associate
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
GIT Training
Ansible Foundations Training

It’s no surprise the AWS universe is the dominant one in this bundle. The courses help newcomers become familiar with the various terms and processes of managing an AWS-based system. As the leading provider in the cloud market, this is a vital collection with nine courses that dive into the wide range of features and options available in the growing cloud services empire.

There are also courses to help open up the world of another key player in the cloud space – Microsoft’s Azure. Learn how to monitor cloud system updates and changes with GIT and understand methods to things automatically with the help of Ansible.

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T-Mobile launches $15 Connect plan ahead of schedule

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AndroidGuys

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March 23, 2020

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T-Mobile will make its its budget-minded Connect plan available on March 25th well ahead of its intended debut. Originally expected after the finalization of the Sprint merger, the new option arrives at an all-important time.

Intended for Americans who work with tight budgets or who have very minimal needs, the $15 Connect plan provides for unlimited talk and text with 2GB data. A $25 monthly option allows for up to 5GB of data.

Right now, having a reliable, low-cost connection is absolutely crucial for Americans, and with many facing financial strain, time is of the essence.. With T-Mobile Connect, we’re giving those hardest hit an even more affordable way to stay in touch…”

There are some fairly significant differences between the standard plans and what’s available in the Connect options. Video streaming is limited to 480p, for instance, and there’s no hotspot capabilities. Moreover, there’s no option to add data should you use your allotted amount.

As a perk, T-Mobile customers on these new plans will receive an additional 500MB of monthly data every year at no additional cost. This is promised for the next five years.

T-Mobile’s prepaid brand, Metro, will also offer discounted rate plans and incentives starting March 25. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

For the next two months, Metro is offering a $15 plan – that’s half the price of the current most affordable plan. For 60 days after customers activate, it’s just $15 per month for unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of high-speed smartphone data.
New and current Metro customers with any voice line can also get a free 8” tablet (via rebate redemption) with a $15 unlimited tablet data plan.
MetroSmart Hotspot devices will be half off, and the $35 per month data plan will include 20GB — double the normal monthly data — for the next 60 days.

Best Android apps for working from home in 2020

Reviews

AndroidGuys

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March 23, 2020

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A lot of people are forced to work from home recently due to the Coronavirus outbreak and while working from home entirely might be a big change for many people and could also be a tough challenge to overcome.

Fortunately, you could make this process much simpler with the help of technology as there are so many useful Android apps available that have the potential to make the process of working from home easier and even more productive than working from an office environment.

Here are some of the best apps in different categories that you could make use of as you are working from home during this pandemic.

Best Android apps for working from home in 2020

Communication apps

Communication is the main thing for any kind of job and as you are working from home some of you might even need to be in constant communication with your co-workers or employees. Thankfully there are many apps out there with advanced features like video conferencing, image, video, and file sharing and even communicating with several people simultaneously by creating a group.

Skype

skype work from home

If your job primarily involves a lot of meetings or needs you to be in constant communication, then your best bet would be to use Skype. Skype supports both audio and video calls and works across all major platforms making it easy to stay in constant touch with your colleagues. Skype also has the option to share your screen, send messages and even share images, and documents.

Play Store Link: Skype – free IM & video calls

Whatsapp

With over 2 billion monthly users, almost everyone you know is using Whatsapp which makes it very easy to get in touch with anyone instantly and the app also comes with other features like free audio and video calls, sharing of files, and creating group chats. So, if you are working with people around the world and need a way to get instantly in touch with them then Whatsapp is a great way to do that.

Whatsapp working from home

Play Store Link: WhatsApp Messenger

Slack

The Slack messenger helps you to communicate and collaborate with your team members, work on different projects, share messages and files, and also to privately message or call anyone in the team. Slack also comes with an option to integrate your workflow with third-party applications like Google Drive, and Asana to better manage your projects and teams.

Slack working from home

Play Store Link: Slack

Zoom

Zoom is a popular video conferencing application and if your job requires you to host or join a lot of meetings, you can use the Zoom app to organize cloud meetings with your colleagues. You can also use Zoom to send messages, and share your screen with others. You can easily invite people to join a meeting even if they are not using Zoom as it is supported by all major platforms including Windows, Mac, and iOS.

Zoom working from home

Play Store Link: ZOOM Cloud Meetings

Note-taking apps

Using your smartphone to take notes is one of the most convenient ways to keep track of your daily activities and with the help of cloud-supported note apps, your notes would be synchronized across all your devices. Here are some of the popular note-taking apps for your Android device which also supports features like collaborative notes, cross-platform support, adding images, files, and more.

Evernote

Evernote is one of the most popular note-taking apps out there and it is available across all major platforms. The app helps you to organize your daily tasks, meeting minutes, your ideas and anything that’s on your mind with individual notebooks, categories, and tags. You can share your notes with anyone, create reminders and even add files, webpages, and images to them. The app also supports handwritten notes if you have a stylus or an S-pen.

Evernote

Play Store Link: Evernote – Notes Organizer & Daily Planner

OneNote

If you are an avid user of the Microsoft Suite of products, then you might find the OneNote app more useful as it integrates with MS Office apps like Word and Excel. The interface of the app is similar to the MS word application so you might already be familiar with the app, it also has features like allowing you to embed videos to your notes, use your voice or stylus to take notes and even save web pages to your notes.

OneNote

Play Store Link: Microsoft OneNote: Save Ideas and Organize Notes

Google Keep

Google Keep is for people who just want a simple and straightforward note-taking app to jot down their thoughts without any complications, create lists, and set reminders. The app also has a web interface making it easier to access it from any device. You can also organize your notes by giving them different colors, labels and saving them in separate folders to drastically increase your productivity and workflow.

Google Keep

Play Store Link: Google Keep – Notes and Lists

Cloud storage apps

Even though you are working from home you can still access all your important work-related files from anywhere, thanks to the cloud technology. No matter what cloud service provider you use, there is an Android app to help you to easily access, and edit your files from anywhere.

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage apps available out there and with almost everyone having a Gmail account, it is easier to store and organize your files using the Google Drive app and share it with anyone you want. Google Drive comes with a default storage limit of 15GB which would be plenty to store and access your documents, spreadsheets, and other important files.

Google Drive

Play Store Link: Google Drive

Microsoft OneDrive

If you are a Windows user and you primarily use Microsoft Office products like Word, PowerPoint, or Excel to create and edit your files, then Microsoft OneDrive app would be the best option to store and manage your files. You can use the app to scan files, access them and share them with your colleagues. All your files stored in OneDrive are encrypted and Microsoft also offers Ransomware protection so you don’t have to worry about the safety and the privacy of your important files.

Microsoft OneDrive

Play Store Link: Microsoft OneDrive

To-do list and reminder apps

There might be a lot of distractions when you are working from home and a good to-do list and reminder app would help you to stay on track of your daily tasks and remind you to complete all your activities for the day.

TickTick

TickTick is a popular to-do list app for Android which also supports creating reminders, notes, and accessing your calendar. You can use the app to quickly create and manage tasks and reminders and also add notes to your tasks to help you organize your workflow and increase your productivity. The app syncs across all your devices helping you to easily manage your tasks and allows you to create recurring tasks to be reminded every day automatically.

TickTick

Play Store Link: TickTick: ToDo List Planner, Reminder & Calendar

Todoist

Todoist is another powerful to-do list and reminder application which also has a chrome extension allowing you to create and track your tasks and reminders from any device and stay on top of your day. You can also collaborate with others by assigning tasks to them from within the app. The app also has options to prioritize your tasks, integrate with Gmail, Slack, Alexa, and more.

Todoist

Play Store Link: Todoist: To-Do List, Tasks & Reminders

Productivity apps

Being as productive as possible while doing your work might be a difficult task, especially when you are working from home with so many distractions around. However, with the help of these unique productive apps, you can significantly increase your daily productivity and get more things done in less time.

Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To-Do List

The Pomodoro timer app uses the Pomodoro technique to help you to be more focussed and productive when you are working on a task. The technique is to break down your work into 25 minutes intervals separated by short breaks in between. You just need to start the timer and work on a task and after 25 minutes the timer will run out and your 3-5 minute break will start. This method has been scientifically proven to increase your productivity. The app also has options to create a to-do list and even whitelist your apps to stop yourself from getting distracted.

Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To-Do List

Play Store Link: Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To Do List

Forest

Forest is a unique application that helps you to focus on the task at hand instead of wasting time on your phone browsing social media or watching videos. The idea is to plant a virtual seed in the Forest app, and the seed will grow continuously into a tree as long as you are not using your phone, and will wither and die if you use it. This concept gives you a sense of responsibility and achievement and helps you to overcome your phone addiction. The pro version of the app plants trees in real life as well based on your achievements which is just an added bonus for being productive.

working from home Forest

Play Store Link: Forest: Stay focused

Office apps

One of the main things involved in lot of people’s works is creating and editing different types of documents including text, excel sheets, presentations or pdfs. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers powerful and feature-rich applications that would help you to achieve all this from your Android device.

Google Suite

The Google Suite of word processing applications includes Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and PDF viewer. You can perform all kinds of tasks like creating, editing, and sharing your documents using this suite of applications. You can also collaborate with your team members and edit documents together and since all your documents are stored in the cloud, you can access and edit them from any of your devices.

working from home Google Suite

Play Store Link: Google Suite

Microsoft Office Suite

The Microsoft Office Suite has almost all the mobile versions of applications that you might find on a Windows machine including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more. You can use this app to create and edit your documents, sign pdf files and share them with your colleagues and even scan physical documents and edit them as well. The app also allows you to export pdf files of your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files and share them with anyone.

working from home Microsoft Office Suite

Play Store Link: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint & More

White noise apps

White noise applications help you to focus and concentrate on your work by generating soothing and calming sounds like rain or a beach, especially you are working from a noisy environment.

Noizio

Noizio is a popular white noise application which helps you to focus on your work by generating various high-quality nature sounds like a waterfall in a forest, sound of the beach waves or rain during a thunderstorm. You can choose any sound you like from the list of options and there is also an automatic timer that will pause or stop the sounds after the set time.

working from home Noizio

Play Store Link: Noizio — nature sounds for focus, relax or sleep

Noise Generator

Noise Generator is an advanced white noise generating application that has several options to create, customize and generate noise according to your preferences. Apart from white noises, the app also has options to select from brown, pink, blue, and violet noises and you can even combine them to create a unique combination that matches your taste. The app will help you to focus and improve your productivity at work by reducing all other outside distractions.

working from home Noise Generator

Play Store Link: Noise Generator

Manage your work with the free trial of Surfshark VPN

Promoted News

AndroidGuys

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March 20, 2020

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EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

With the recent coronavirus pandemic, managers and employees alike are looking to complete their daily work tasks remotely. Often this means accessing sensitive material such as email, databases, and information systems from a home environment on a residential internet connection.

Data Security

Understandably, some people have concerns about whether their home internet is secure enough to access proprietary or restricted content. After all, there are unscrupulous individuals in the world who may try to take advantage of this unique health crisis. In fact, we already have proof of this happening!

For example, The New York Times reports that some have been collecting hand sanitizer and other medical supplies with the intent to profit through price gouging. That is, they plan to buy up these necessities and sell them back at an inflated and unreasonable price. Indeed, even the Australian Prime Minister has requested that his citizens discontinue hoarding behaviors, as these are harmful to the population– regardless of whether the intent of this action is to take supplies from others.

People do take advantage of the confusion created by unprecedented circumstances, which is why it’s important to be safe. Stock up on the supplies you need to protect your health, and a secure VPN to protect your data.

It’s a good idea to signup for trial VPN service, just to make sure you are not the cause of a data breach for your workplace. Hackers are always looking for a way to capitalize on confusion, and coronavirus may look like the perfect chance to take advantage of stressed out staff members trying to work from home without a VPN in place for protection.

Many businesses may not have protocols in place for when their employees are forced to work from home. After all, a pandemic of this size has not yet been a consideration in the digital age. It seems unfair, but many are considering whether to protect their health and the safety of their community by staying home and social distancing, while also worrying about risking their livelihood through workplace absenteeism. This is not a choice anyone would like to be making, but it is our current situation.

VPN to Work

In many workplaces, a VPN is a perfect solution to this issue. The virtual private network provides security features including authentication and certification. Additionally, your VPN can determine whether there were attempts to interfere with your data transmission.

This is a unique time where many have been displaced from their traditional workplaces. Considering a VPN is the first step to manifesting a forward thinking attitude and taking on the challenges of this pandemic while also protecting data and the profitable continuance of business.

Everyone has been given the opportunity to enact new protocols. As an employee or a business, data security from a home work environment is the holy grail that enables workers to complete tasks while also preventing the spread of a potent pathogen. That’s where a good VPN comes into play. Hackers are counting on the opportunity to take advantage of chaos, but a VPN leaves them out in the cold.

Avoiding Malware, Tracking, and Ads

Many people have jobs where they are required to use the internet for research. For example, google is a good place to begin searching for industry best practices, evaluating vendor information, and making travel decisions– to name a few.

Browsing on the internet–even casually– can lead to the acquisition of malware, tracking, or even obnoxious pop-ups and ads. While accessing the internet at work, many businesses have security setups which prevent these occurrences. However, at home, many are unprotected without the explicit selection of a protective VPN.

The Future? Remote Workplaces via VPN

The coronavirus has surprised many of us with its quick spread and dramatic consequences. Though this current pandemic has had worldwide implications, eventually life will begin to return to normal.

However, there are important lessons to be learned from this experience. It’s becoming clear that a remote workplace scenario has its advantages: from ease of commute, to safety of staff, to ability to connect with staff in real time– whether or not they are home with their ill children or resting after minor surgery.

Consider the fact that remote workers don’t need to jump on the highway and get mired in traffic jams. Instead, they walk to their remote offices and log onto VPNs. One is a significantly smaller hassle; that is certain! Not only that, but most workers are more likely to be productive if they work from home.

Savvy businesses are noticing the benefits of remote work. The coronavirus has reminded us that we can’t control the future, but it’s always good to have a contingency plan in place– and to learn from whatever circumstances we encounter. It helps to have a good VPN, just in case.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Nokia unveils a trio of phones, including a global-friendly 5G handset

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AndroidGuys

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March 20, 2020

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HMD Global this week unveiled three new phones under the Nokia brand which were originally slated to appear at Mobile World Congress. With COVID-19 spreading across the globe, however, the introduction was more muted and relegated to not much more than a press release.

Nokia’s new models range from a high-end 5G experience all the way down to a no-frills Android Go device for entry-level needs.

Nokia 8.3 5G

First up is the company’s first 5G phone, the Nokia 8.3 5G. Set to ship globally this summer, it supports 12 different frequency bands in both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks.

With a 6.8-inch full HD display and a 4500mAh battery, the Nokia 8.3 5G should sit nicely in the upper-middle range.

It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor with 6GB-8GB RAM and 64GB-128GB storage capacities.

The rear has four cameras, including a 64-megapixel sensor with Zeiss optics. The other three are a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel depth sensor, and 2-megapixel macro sensor. Around front is a 24-megapixel shooter, located in a hole-punch cutout in the corner.

Other details include a dedicated Google Assistant button, a fingerprint reader on the side, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Nokia 8.3 5G is an Android (10) One phone, meaning two years of system updates and three years of security updates. Pricing is anticipated to be 599 Euros (~ $640 USD)

Nokia 5.3

Slightly more in line with a mid-range device for 2020, the Nokia 5.3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor with a quad-camera configuration.

Sensors here include a 13-megapixel main, 5-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front has an 8-megapixel camera located in a water drop cutout.

Slightly smaller than the 8.3 5G, the Nokia 5.3 offers up a 6.55-inch display and 4,000mAh battery. Still, that’s plenty big in both departments if you ask us.

Rounding out the notable hardware are USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, rear fingerprint scanner, and dedicated Google Assistant button. It, too will run Android 10 under the One program and get two years of OS updates and three years of security patches.

The Nokia 5.3 starts at 189 Euros (~$200 USD) for the 3GB RAM/64GB storage option when it goes on sale in April.

Nokia 1.3

The entry-level Nokia 1.3 brings about a 5.71-inch Android (10) Go experience with a respectable smattering of hardware.

Specs include a Snapdragon 215 processor with 1GB RAM and 16GB storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of batteries, there’s a 3,000mAh power source which should be good enough for about two days usage for basic needs. The Nokia will cost just 95 Euros (~$100 USD) with an expected April launch.

This Python bundle, just $18, is perfect for beginners

Deals

AndroidGuys

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March 20, 2020

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It’s never to late to get started on a new hobby or career path. Finding what resonates in you is important, and for some people, that means creating and tinkering. To create in today’s world that often revolves around coding, or computer science.

With everyone being confined to their homes right now, it is the perfect time to pick up a hobby or learn a side hustle. How about taking the opportunity to learn one of the most fundamental coding languages?

We’ve got an incredible little set of training designed to help beginners get up to speed on the essentials of Python.

Called the Absolute Python Programming Certification Bundle, it’s 276 lessons over three different courses. It’s everything you need to get started and on your way to a new passion.

Introduction to Python Training

…The course is aimed at students new to the language who may or may not have experience with other programming languages.

Python Data Analysis with NumPy & Pandas

…The course starts by teaching Jupyter Notebook, a great tool for writing, testing, and sharing quick Python programs. You will learn to work with arrays and matrices, manipulating, munging, slicing, and grouping data much easier.

Advanced Python Training

…In this Python training course, students already familiar with Python programming will learn advanced Python techniques. It will cover actual mapping, advanced sorting, expressions, databases, object-oriented coding, and more.

Availability

Normally, each of these training courses would cost about $200 each, for a total of $600. AndroidGuys readers can pick up the full three-part kit for just ~~$29.99~~, a savings of some 95%.

For a limited time you can get the entire kit for just $16. That’s right, we’re slashing another 40% off the price. Simply enter promo code SPRINGSAVE40 before March 24 and you can reap the rewards.