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What is an MNVO anyway?

AndroidGuys
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If you’ve followed us closely as of late, you know we’ve been profiling different wireless service providers. These carriers, such as Mint Mobile, Republic Wireless, and Freedompop, are known as mobile virtual network operators — or MVNOs. What is an MVNO and what does that really mean?

While most American consumers are familiar with the names like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint, there are dozens more available. Who are they? What are the benefits or drawbacks?

Our latest podcast is up in which we discuss the very topic of MVNO. Learn more about who the various names are in the MVNO space and why you should consider one — or stay away.

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Click here to directly download the “What is an MVNO anyway” MP3 file and enjoy immediately.

Samsung announces new midrange Galaxy Tab S5e tablet for $399

Jason England
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Samsung continues to show they haven’t given up on the tablet market with the announcement of their new midrange Galaxy Tab S5e tablet. The new 10.5-inch tablet shares a striking resemblance to the 2018 iPad Pro but without the high price tag coming in at only $399.

With a starting price of only $399 the Galaxy Tab S5e is clearly aimed at the midrange tablet market. It even shares a similar naming scheme with the Samsung Galaxy S10e which will be the midrange model of the highly anticipated new Galaxy S10 series.

Read More: Reserve your chance to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S10

The Galaxy Tab S5e will be powered by a Snapdragon 670 SoC with a choice of either 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage or 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. If you find yourself needing more space then no worries as both will support a microSD card up to 512GB.

The display is a gorgeous Super AMOLED 10.5-inch screen in the 16:10 format with slim bezels offering 81.8% screen to body ratio. While the four AKG made speakers will feature Dolby Atmos sound making it perfect for consuming media. There is even a four month trial to YouTube Premium and three month trial to Spotify Premium included for new users.

With all that media you’ll be happy to hear Samsung squeezed a 7040mAh battery inside of the Tab S5e. Between the large battery, Snapdragon 670, and the 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen Samsung promises up to a whopping 14.5 hours of battery life.

Just like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S4 the new Tab S5e offers facial recognition to unlock the tablet. However, the Galaxy Tab S5e also offers a fingerprint scanner housed in the power button on the side. A big upgrade in my opinion, as I found myself wishing for a fingerprint scanner after reviewing the Galaxy Tab S4 and struggling with the facial scan unlock.

The Galaxy Tab S5e will come out of the box running Android 9 Pie with One UI. Samsung’s recent UI overhaul in Android Pie has garnered mostly positive attention and the Galaxy Tab S5e will give us a first look at how One UI handles a larger screen.

The Tab S5e is also the first tablet to come with Bixby 2.0 and it has Dex support when used with the keyboard dock that is sold separately. However, there will be an included USB-C headphone dongle as the Galaxy Tab S5e does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack.

As of now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is expected in the second quarter of 2019 at a starting price of $399. It will launch in the US, Germany, and other countries in three different colors including Black, Gold, and Silver.

Samsung leaks entire new wearable line

Andrew Allen
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Nothing seems safe anymore from the monster that is the open web. Samsung has mistakenly unveiled full renders of its new Gear wearables for all to see via the Gear mobile application. Leak season is officially upon us again here in 2019! It gives us our first “official” look at the new Gear Watch Active, Gear Fit E, and the Galaxy Buds.

While the Unpacked for this year’s Galaxy, and presumably Gear, models is set for next week on February 20, I’m sure Sammy would have loved to have kept this information to themselves until the actual event. The leaks were spotted by longtime XDA user Mishal Rahman via Twitter.

The Gear Watch Active looks like a pretty straight forward refresh of the Gears of old, but it is worth noting that the bezel looks much slimmer and may have eliminated the rotating crown. We are all for a better-looking screen with slimmer trim, but I think this may be a step back for a functional option to navigate the UI without smudging a small footprint touchscreen.

The new Gear Fit and Fit E leave some question on what the E stands for, but the rest seems to also be a general refresh of the Fit lineup that Samsung already has. The slender curved device is for the fitness-minded who don’t need a fully-functional smartwatch. Samsung needs a Fitbit competitor and the aptly-named Gear Fit will cover that space.

Lastly, we get our first glimpse of the new completely wireless audio device from Samsung. Design-wise they look much like the Gear IconX before them, but rumors point to some updated internals and features. The assumption is that these will bring with them Bluetooth 5.0, 8GB of storage, and a new Powershare option to charge the buds wireless using the new S10 phones.

Of course, these leaks are all conjecture and assumptions, but I’d say we are far off from what these devices will really be. Either way, stay tuned here on the site for our coverage of the Samsung Unpacked 2019 event next week.

How to permanently delete your Google Plus account

AndroidGuys
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After word got out this week that Google accidentally exposed private information of hundreds of thousands of its Google+ users over the last few years, you might be feeling a certain way. Specifically, you may be upset with the social network and uncomfortable having a Google+ account.

Introduced in 2011, Google+ never quite got the traction in the social-media space that some expected. While it started out as a would-be Facebook killer, it eventually pivoted to become more of a community-centric outlet.

In the ensuing years Google used the underlying account infrastructure to build out other Google software products and services. It’s possible that you have a Google+ account whether know it, or remember signing up.

Google plans to shutter its network in the coming year, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait around. Rather, you can take things into your own hands — now.

If you want to get out of town before everyone else, there’s an easy way to delete your account.

What Will Happen?

There are a few things that you will want to know prior to deleting your account. What does and doesn’t happen to your data, profile, or pictures? Is everything gone the second you delete? Hardly. Here’s a few things you won’t lose in the process of closing the account.

  • Photos will not be deleted. You have to do that through your Album Archive
  • Communities will not be deleted, even if you created it — unless you’re the only member
  • Chats from Hangouts, Google Talk, are not deleted
  • Your Google Local reviews and Google Maps contributions are left alone
  • Events created and your RSVPs will not be deleted

How to Delete your Google+ Account

The process is really simple and only takes a few steps. Here’s how!

  • Sign into Google and go to Google.com or your Gmail account.
  • Click your profile picture in the top right and look for a link that says “Google+ Profile” below the name. If there’s a link, you have an account.
  • Once inside your profile, look to the left for “Settings” and click it.
  • Scroll to the bottom and click on “Delete your Google+ Profile” under the Account menu
  • After confirming your password, and reading the fine print, you can check the box(es) at the very bottom.

Upon deleting you’ll get a brief survey page indicating you’re all set. The account is deleted and you’re no longer a member of the Google+ network.

Samsung Galaxy S10 hasn’t been announced but you can already reserve one

AndroidGuys
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When Samsung takes the stage at its Unpacked event later this month, don’t even bother to pretend to be surprised. It knows that you know what’s looming on the horizon.

Samsung hasn’t exactly been shy about what could be unveiled at the upcoming February 20 event. The timing is right in line with the last few years, and the promotional image more or less spells it out.

There’s still one week to go before the Galaxy S10 line makes its formal introduction but don’t let that stop you from ordering one. That’s right, Samsung has already set up a mini-site for the phone that shall not be officially named.

Samsung’s website already tells us what it is willing to do in order to entice buyers of its “next Galaxy” Indeed, it promises customers up to $550 off the phone with trade-in of an eligible device. What’s more, the new phone will ship by March 8.

Placing a reservation gives you prioritization during a 72-hour window once the pre-orders kick off. It’s more or less a spot in a virtual line so if you don’t order during that time frame, you lose your spot and could miss out.

Interestingly enough, the website says “Not all Galaxy device versions are eligible for this offer.” There are at least three devices expected to debut at the Unpacked event, possibly four. Indications are that the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and an S10e will be unveiled with a 5G-compatible model looming somewhere in the distance.

If you’re ready to get a spot in line for the Galaxy S10, head to Samsung’s website and sign up. Those who do so will also receive a $50 instant credit toward accessories. You can also check to see the trade-in value of your current phone.

Google to launch lower cost phone, watch, and security camera, report indicates

AndroidGuys
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Google will introduce a more affordable smartphone and its first branded smartwatch later this year, according to a Nikkei report. Presumably these are the so-called Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel Watch.

As Google continues to expand its hardware portfolio with the likes of the Pixel line and Google Home devices, customers and observers are left to wonder what else is on the horizon.  We could soon learn the answer.

The new phone will be the spearhead of Google’s drive to expand the hardware using its operating systems. New products planned for this year include smart speakers, wearables and web cameras, sources familiar with the company’s plans told the Nikkei Asian Review. Google also plans to launch a new premium phone in its Pixel range, as usual.

Allegedly, Google is readying its first “non-premium” smartphone with a price tag said to come in under $750. Moreover, it is said to be planning a new “premium phone” in the Pixel line. If previous rumors are correct, this would be the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 4.

Also on tap for later this year are said to be a new smartwatch as well as new smart speakers and web cameras. None of these should be a surprise, especially to those who follow Google closely. The company has been securing talent, tech, and the other items necessary to expand its reach.

Google has long needed a branded watch to operate as a flagship experience for its Wear OS. Will a Google Watch or Pixel Watch have what’s necessary to keep the operating system afloat or, better yet, catapult it to another level? Time will tell.

As to when we might see the Pixel 3 Lite it’s not immediately clear. We can’t imagine it wanting to wait until fall to introduce the phone. For starters, it might make more sense to simply drop the price of the Pixel 3 and keep it available. And, given the recent spate of rumors, benchmarks, and leaks, it feels as if it could happen at any time.

Get to Know: Unreal Mobile

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Most of us can identify the bigger names in the wireless network space as we routinely see advertising from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. These so-called “Big Four” pretty much own the landscape.

But, for each of the aforementioned service providers listed above there are others out there vying for your attention and money. Most of these smaller outfits license and use the towers and infrastructure from tier one players but offer their own rates, customer service, and phone selection.

You might have seen a commercial or print ad for some of them along the way. Some of them include Boost Mobile, Cricket, and Mint Mobile. These Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) can offer customers everything they need at a fraction of the price they’re paying.

Let’s take a look at one of them in particular: Unreal Mobile.

See Also

About

FreedomPop, a brand we’ve profiled, makes its name by offering free and inexpensive phone plans. Its spin-off, Unreal Mobile, hopes to peel away subscribers who might be attracted to, or put off by, the potential merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.

Unreal supports both CDMA and GSM phones, relying on Sprint and AT&T for the networks, respectively.

Rate Plans

Unreal has a plan for $10 per month that includes unlimited calls, texts, and 1GB of high-speed data. A $20 option nets 3GB per month while the $30 plan offers up 5GB of LTE data. These are among some of the cheapest you’ll find around and match up nicely with what Mint Mobile does.

PODCAST: What is an MVNO?

It’s worth noting that users actually receive unlimited data each month and there are no overage fees. Once a user hits the allotted month the speeds are throttled down to 2G speeds for the rest of the bill cycle.

On the other end of data usage, customers who do not go through their bucket can roll up to 500MB over from month to month. All plans are no-contract which means there’s no long-term obligation and subscribers can cancel at any time.

  • Unlimited Everything + 1GB LTE $10/month
  • Unlimited Everything + 2GB LTE $15/month
  • Unlimited Everything + 3GB LTE $20/month
  • Unlimited Everything + 5GB LTE $30/month
  • Unlimited Everything + 10GB LTE $40/month

All Unreal plans also include a VPN, ad blocker, and data saver. The VPN encrypts and secures your internet connection, and protects phone calls, texts, and data from being snooped on by malicious types.

The ad blocker block ads from showing up on web sites and in select mobile apps while the data saver compresses and saves data, in turn saving users money. Additional features can be purchased for a fee. Unreal also provides hotspot-only plans, too.

Handset Selection

Unreal Mobile offers a modest selection of devices but many of them are a generation or two behind. Moreover, they tend to skew to the lower end of hardware. With that said, there are big brand names here such as Samsung, Motorola, LG, and Apple.

Bring Your Own Device

You can often use your current unlocked GSM phone, especially if it was purchased directly from the manufacturer. Additionally, those which are compatible with Sprint or AT&T will work on Unreal.

As a general rule, T-Mobile unlocked phones ought to be compatible with Unreal Mobile’s GSM-based plans. To check compatibility of your existing device, head to the carrier’s website.

Pokemon Go adds Go Snapshot mode with new ways to show off your pokedex

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The folks at Niantic don’t appear to get much sleep. Pokemon Go is set to add yet another feature in the coming weeks. Today finds the game maker announcing “Go snapshot” which will let players share photos of their favorite pokemon in the real world.

Building off of the AR+ feature that was first introduced more than a year back, Go snapshot gives players the ability to hand pick which pokemon they’d like to show off and where.

SEE ALSO

Similar to what players can do when catching today, the new option lets you place a pokeball where you want to have the pokemon appear. And, building on the AR feature, you can move around to get different angles and move in for closeups. Any pictures taken in the app are saved to your phone’s camera roll and can be shared over social media.

It’s simple to use. Select a Pokémon and tap on the screen to throw its Poké Ball to that spot. Once your Pokémon is situated in the ideal spot, you can then move around it to find the best angle for your photo. Is your Pokémon distracted or looking the wrong way? Brush across it to get its attention, and it will be sure to face you.

Last year saw Niantic introduce Pokémon Go’s AR+ feature for Android, giving select players an enhanced way of capturing pokemon in an augmented reality. Moreover, it brings about more advanced animations, shadows, and other details to make the pokemon feel more realistic.

It’s not clear if the forthcoming Go snapshot mode will add a hashtag or branding to the photos. On one hand it would help to further spread the word about the game; on the other hand it doesn’t appear that Niantic is having no problem making money. A Wall Street Journal report from December 2018 indicates the developer is valued at around $4 billion.

Niantic says that the snapshot tool will be launching “soon” on both iOS and Android.

A brief history of Android releases (podcast)

AndroidGuys
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How long have you owned an Android phone? Were you there when the T-Mobile G1 kicked off the platform more than one decade ago? We were, and we remember what it was like to own an Android phone.

As much as we loved our handsets at the time, we’ve really come to appreciate new features as they rolled out with each of the Android releases. Some we felt immediately and added to the experience; others laid the groundwork for other features we’re just now regularly using.

Widgets, MS Exchange, Live Wallpapers, NFC, Google Now, Material Design…

From Android 1.5 Cupcake all the way up to today’s latest build, Android 9 Pie, the history of Android releases has been an interesting one. Join us as we dive into the rabbit hole and explore the major features that popped up along the way.

Subscribe!

If this is your first time exploring the AndroidGuys podcast, we would love it if you subscribed or gave us feedback. We’re constantly looking to improve the experience and welcome your opinion.

Get more of the AndroidGuys Audio Experience

Google Play Music | Simplecast | iTunes | Stitcher | Pocket Casts

For questions, concerns, or general feedback about the podcast feel free to contact us at podcast [at] androidguys.com.

Click here to directly download the MP3 file and enjoy immediately.

Google Fi SIMs coming to a Best Buy store near you

Jason England
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Jumping to Google Fi formerly Project Fi has just gotten easier, now you can pick up a SIM from over 500 Best Buy stores in the US. Previously, the only way to get your Google Fi SIM was to sign up online and wait for it to be delivered.

That all changed on Monday, Google has now expanded the service to Best Buy retail stores across the US. Google Fi SIMs will be sold separately from devices for $9.99 and include a $10 Fi service credit. The $10 service credit is limited to one per person and up to 6 total activations for group plans. The credit is not immediate and will show up on your bill within a week after activation.

While you can pick up a Google Fi SIM in stores Best Buy employees will be unable to help with activation. In order to activate you will have to do it yourself online following these simple steps. Besides activation, there is another caveat as Best Buy will not carry the data only SIMs. If you want a data only plan instead of one that also includes talk and text you will still have to order your SIM online.

Google Fi service has been around for several years now and takes a unique approach to service and billing. With Google Fi, your service is provided through three different networks including T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular for all phones. While Fi specific phones get the added benefit of access to Fi service Wi-Fi hotspots to help you save money on data.

Google Fi plans start at $20 for unlimited domestic minutes and texts and international texts with cellular coverage across 200+ countries and destinations. Data, on the other hand, will run you $10 per gigabyte until you reach 6GB. Once you reach 6GB Bill Protection kicks in and all data afterward is free.

This ensures you’ll never pay over $60 for data in a single month no matter how much you need. With this approach, Google Fi offers flexibility for your data plan. Providing you with unlimited data on months where you need it and saving you money on months when you do not.

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