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Google to host Android Dev summit this November, Pixel 3 incoming?

Alexandra Arici
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Good news, Google fans! Your favorite tech giant this week announced it is bringing back its Android Dev summit this fall.

According to the company’s own website, the event will take place on November 7-8, 2018 and will be held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Google says it has an incredible lineup of talks from the Android Engineering team and attendees will get unprecedented access to them.

The event will also have a keynote, which most likely will focus on Android P. The next-generation version of Android is expected to land sometime in mid-August. And according to a recent leak, Android P could make its way into the wild as Android Pistachio.

Google says it will offer more details regarding the event including info on registration at a later date.

Save the date, Android developers!

Hopefully, Android P won’t be the only major thing Google ends up taking about during the summit. The company could very well use the keynote to unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, as well as other hardware products like the Pixel Watch.

It’s a possibility, although historically Google has launched new Pixel phones during a hardware event in early October.

We should also keep in mind, that it’s not the first time Google is hosting an Android Dev summit. The last one took place back in 2015 and focused on more technical aspects, rather than on consumer-friendly news.

So will the Pixel 3 models arrive a bit later this year? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, according to the rumor mill, the larger Pixel 3 is expected to feature a notch on the front. Which is not at all surprising given that most Android OEMs are doing the notchy display thing these days. What’s more, Android P has been offering support for various styles and sizes of notches, since its initial developer beta.

As for the regular Pixel 3, it will probably look like the Pixel 2 XL, only smaller. That means, it will boast an edge-to-edge design with super-slim bezels, but it will stay clear of the notch.

Read more: Google Pixel 3 rumors: Specs, price, and more

Are you excited about the Pixel 3? Let us know in the comment section below.

Getting low on storage? You might like these smaller Android games

Alexandra Arici
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There are many reasons for wanting to install a lightweight Android game on your device. Maybe you’re in a Wi-Fi-less area and you want to use up too much of your mobile data. Or maybe you want to try out a new game, but your phone’s internal memory is filled up.

See Also: How to improve call quality on your Android phone

Whatever your reason, the good news is that there are enough great lightweight games under 25MB games waiting for you in the Google Play Store. For the purpose of this article, we’ve selected ten such games that are guaranteed to entertain you.

Tap Tap Dash

What it is:

Developed by Cheetah Games, Tap Tap Dash is an immensely addictive game where you go for a never-ending walk and tap or change direction. Think it’s easy? Think again.

Why we like it:

  • It’s based on a simple concept, yet it gets super challenging to master as you advance through the levels.
  • It’s colorful and cute.
  • You unlock loads of new characters as you play.
  • There are over 1,000 levels to beat.

Download Tap Tap Dash

Dr Driving

What it is:

The game created by SUD Inc. is basically a car driving simulator in which you complete missions and earn money to upgrade your wheels.

Why we like it:

  • The game does a good job a simulating busy city scenes in which you have to avoid obstacles and abide by traffic laws. It’s a fun way for users to learn the rules of the road.
  • Controlling the car is quite challenging, but the pedals and steering wheel can be customized to the player’s preference.
  • Players can also make repairs or fully upgrade their vehicle.

Download Dr Driving

slither.io

What it is:

A game created by Lowtech Studios in which you control an avatar resembling a worm that grows by consuming multicolored pellets.

Why we like it:

  • The game’s goal: grow from a tiny little worm to a gigantic monster.
  • It’s quite challenging. Be careful not to touch heads with another player or you will explode and have to start the game all over again. But if a player runs into you, then it will explode and you will have the chance to nourish yourself by eating your remains.
  • You can play online against real players or versus an AI.

Download slither.io

Pou

What it is:

A game developed by Zakeh in which you have to take care of your pet Pou and keep him/her entertained too by letting him/her play a variety of games.

SEE ALSO: What is an IP Rating in phones?

Why we like it:

  • Pou reminds us playing with a Tamagotchi. You have to feed, bathe and nurse Pou, but also keep him/her from getting bored.
  • Play many games with Pou including Water Hop, Food Drop or Match Tap.
  • The game includes many other activities like going outside or playing with friends.
  • You also get to personalize your Pou.

Download Pou

Flow Free

What it is:

Created by Big Duck Games, Flow Free is a simple yet addictive puzzle game in which you connect matching colors with pipe to create the Flow.

Why we like it:

  • The twist is not to allow the pipes to cross or overlap.
  • The game features hundreds of levels ranging from simple to difficult.
  • Players have to strive to use as little moves as possible for a better score.

Download Flow Free

Sweet Candy Fever

What it is:

Sweet Candy Fever by Gamoper is a classic 3-match game set in a fantastically amazing candy world.

Why we like it:

  • It’s super easy to play: just swap, swipe and match candy pieces to complete a goal.
  • You’re given a target and you have a number of moves to achieve the goal.
  • Fun arsenal or power-ups and obstacles.
  • You can unlock several candy maps including Sweet Valley and Sugarshell Bakery.

Download Sweet Candy Fever

Stairway

What it is:

Developed by the Mascoteers, the Stairway asks a very simple question: Can you get the ball to roll down the stairs without letting it fall down?

Why we like it:

  • You need to guide a ball down a staircase, navigation all kinds of crazy twists, turns and obstacles.
  • Train yourself to tap at the right moment and avoid losing the ball.
  • Play with different kinds of balls.
  • Great minimalist graphics, with ever-shifting colors.

Download Stairway

Mind Games

What it is:

Challenges your mind with a series of fun brain-training games. Train specific skills such as attention or reaction speed.

Why we like it:

  • Games are served up to you based on your age category.
  • Flex your brain muscles in the Training Center which chooses games to maximize your progress and enjoyment.
  • App has a Learning Center section where it teaches you concepts like Mindfulness and invites you to perform several exercises like Mindful Awareness.

Download Mind Games

Make More!

What it is:

Developed by Fingersoft, Make More! is a clicker game in which you have to get your workers to work as fast as possible and maximize profit.

Why we like it:

  • Simply tap to make goods. The faster you tap, the more items you’ll be able to make.
  • Hire and train new staff to boost your profits.
  • Expand and upgrade your factory and make new products.

Download Make More!

Up Hill Racing: Car Climb

What it is:

Created by Topappgame, Up Hill Racing is a car & bike racing game that challenges you to control your car in unique uphill & downhill environments.

Why we like it:

  • You have two pedals, break and gas and you need to use them to control your car.
  • The game has lots of different vehicles with unique upgrades for you to race with.
  • Up Hill Racing has a multiplayer function, so you can challenge Facebook friends or random users.
Download Up Hill Racing: Car Climb

So, which of these lightweight games has caught your attention?

Moment Pro App review: The camera app for photographers

AndroidGuys
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If you haven’t yet heard, Moment, a smartphone camera accessory company, has just updated their app to a new, more standalone, format. Moment creates lenses for many popular smartphones that can give your phone cameras a different look or purpose. These include fisheye, telephoto, and macro lenses to name a few. Their new 3.0 app update renames the app to Moment Pro Camera, and while allowing you to tie in usage with their lenses, you can use the app by itself and have a unique shooting experience. Moment Pro gives many manual DSLR controls to your phone’s camera.

To download the app, you need to visit the Play Store and install. The setup process is very easy, and no settings are required to be changed to get everything running. Once you have the app downloaded and opened, you can select the format for shots and your grid style. The grid styles range in 4 different styles (not including spiral), and the photo formats allow JPG or RAW. Moment Pro is the app for someone wanting to graduate from a quick point-and-shoot photog to a beginner professional photographer.

In general, the app is straightforward as far as using it. When I first downloaded Moment Pro, I noticed I didn’t have to fiddle around to get it going. Even when you jump into settings, there are only two toggleable actions: Histogram and Location. The rest of the app looks like any other camera app, shutter at the bottom, the gallery at the bottom left, viewfinder in the middle. Speaking of settings, you can’t adjust the viewfinder to a 16:9 aspect ratio, all photos will be at 3:2, and there will be black bars at the top and bottom.

Another thing to notice about the app is, there is (or at least was in the first iteration) no onboarding. You don’t get to learn how to adjust settings really, I just tapped and learned. Now I’ve seen from the app’s description that you adjust settings with a variety of slides, taps, and double-taps to default. The app does give you a chance to adjust Shutter Speed, ISO, EV, Focal Length, and White Balance, which is something I haven’t seen other apps do so effortlessly. You can adjust Grids, flash, timers, and the format in the top bar. Also in the top bar, there’s a setting to adjust whether you’re using a Moment lens or just your original phone camera. I’m guessing this will do any profile correction needed for any lens changes.

I would’ve loved to learn how to use the app more within the app as I’m sure not many people read full descriptions before downloading apps. Seeing as though the app is easy to navigate and the details ARE there, I’m not too upset.

After you take a photo, you’re taken to an after photo section where you can take a look at the setting of the particular photo and the image itself. You can share the photo directly, trash it, or dive deep into its EXIF settings. There’s a button to view all photos too, that will take you to your default gallery app.

This app leaves little to be desired, but there are still a couple of things I want to see in a future update. One is the ability to shoot in landscape. The absence of this fundamental feature boggles my mind. Does anyone that is into becoming more advanced in photography really only shoot in portrait? Another option I miss is autofocus on tap. You can enable autofocus but it is available while shooting not while preparing the shot, or you can use manual focus. One last small thing I’d like to see is being able to shoot video with the app. The Moment team has stated that video is coming.

EDIT: As of version 1.1.1, horizontal shooting is available.

I’d like to take the time out to congratulate the Moment team on quickly squashing bugs as well. In the first few versions of the app, there were bugs such as hanging on the gallery or from moving from the general viewfinder back to the home screen. As of version 1.1.0, I can not identify any bugs in the app, major or minor.

FLASH=Off;MOMENT_LENS=NO LENS

Compared to other apps that I’ve tried, such as Manuel Camera, Moment Pro beats them out just for its simplicity. As stated above there’s no massive amount of settings to jump through or just additional options. Most options are right there on the viewfinder so you can adjust your camera settings easily and quickly. The app is my go-to camera app that I’ve all but replaced Google Camera.

Moment Pro is a great camera app for photography enthusiast that want to get better (read: manual) controls from their phones. Most people though are probably better with using Google camera. Yet, if you’re trying to learn how to shoot a DSLR and don’t have the money to invest then this is the next best thing. Pair the app with Moment’s smartphone lenses, and you may never need to buy a dedicated camera.

 

Moment Pro Play Store Link

Blackberry KEY2 Lite (Luna) might be in the works

Alexandra Arici
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BlackBerry’s latest KEY2 smartphone recently went on sale in the US. The device is among the more unique Android phones out there, featuring an improved QWERTY keyboard under the display.

However, not everyone might be willing to spend $650 on the device. Especially since the KEY2 packs middle-range specs including a Snapdragon 660 processor.

But if you still fancy the idea of having a phone with a QWERTY keyboard we have some good news for you. According to reliable leaker Evan Blass, the BlackBerry is allegedly working on a KEY2 Lite (dubbed Luna), a cheaper version of the KEY2.

Is this the BlackBerry KEY2 Lite?

Blass’ tweet was also accompanied by a photo of the upcoming phone. The pic shows the back of the device, which looks quite similar to the KEY2’s rear, complete with a dual camera. The main difference is the red trim that goes all around the phone’s outline.

In addition, the BlackBerry KEY2 Lite will apparently also be available in blue and copper variants.

We’re also told that the BlackBerry KEY2 and KEY2 Lite supposedly have the same size and form factor. Which means the upcoming device will also have a 4.5-inch display sitting on top of a QWERTY keyboard.

The tweet doesn’t reveal anything about possible specs. Yet, given that Lite smartphones always tends to come with watered down specs, we expect the KEY2 Lite to feature a less-powerful processor and under 6GB of RAM.

At the moment, we don’t have any information regarding a possible launch date. But given that IFA 2018 will be taking place next month, we could assume BlackBerry will unveil the KEY2 Lite during the event in Berlin.

All the big players in the tech space will be present at the tradeshow, including Samsung who is rumored to be saving the Galaxy Tab S4 tablet for the event.

Would you be interested in a cheaper BlackBerry KEY2? Let us know in the comment section below.

OnePlus 6 review: The best value smartphone of 2018

Alexandra Arici
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OnePlus’ creed has always been to deliver smartphones packing the latest technology at an affordable price. When the OnePlus One came out in 2014, it quickly became a wild success.

It was a hard-edged phone with a backside covered in sandpaper. It offered high-end components and the freedom for nerds to tinker around with the phone’s software.

Four years later, the Chinese indie brand has unveiled the OnePlus 6, and it’s the company’s most mature phone to date. Yes, it costs nearly double than what the OnePlus One use to, but the company has evolved a great deal and with this model, I believe it has completed its transition to the big league.

Don’t Miss

It’s a stellar piece of technology that looks and feels like a million bucks. And the best part is, it won’t burn through your savings like the iPhone X. Instead, OnePlus has managed to once again keep prices relatively low (compared to the competition), so the OnePlus 6 starts at $529 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model.

So if you’re on the market for a phone right now that doesn’t compromise on specs and features, the OnePlus 6 is one of the best options you have available at this point.

Not 100% sure you want to jump on board yet? Keep reading below for more details on OnePlus’ latest flagship.

Design

Much of the OnePlus 6’s appeal comes from the fact that it now sports a completely new build and design. This year, OnePlus abandoned the aluminum back of its previous phones in favor of glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to be more precise. Which now covers the back and front of the device. Despite the change, the phone does retain the slight palm-curved shape of earlier models.

As far as I’m concerned, the OnePlus 6 looks stunning and feels really premium, but the all-glass design might feel a bit overused to some. After all phones like the LG G7 ThinQ, Galaxy S9 and others also adhere to the same current.

OnePlus has also incorporated other trendy design details into the new flagship. Yes, there’s a notch on the 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display, but if you’re not a fan of that don’t fret. The company gives you the option to easily hide the notch from settings.

Now, if you were to hold the OnePlus 6 next to the 5T you’ll immediately notice that screen real estate on the former is bigger. It’s grown from 6-inches to 6.3-inches, leading to a slight increase in thickness (0.4mm) and weight (14g). Though the newcomer has shrunk a bit in width.

Display

The display itself is still excellent, although there are no major upgrades to speak of. The resolution is the same FHD+ or 2,280 x 1,080, and the AMOLED display continues to offer bright, sharp and vivid colors, with great viewing angles.

Like on its predecessor, users can choose between a number of different screen calibrations including default, sRGB, DCI-P3 and Adaptive.

The only area where I found myself wishing the OnePlus 6 would be better sunlight readability. It’s summer here and days are super-sunny. On most occasions I was forced to shield the screen with my palm in order to be able to read something.

The back of the OnePlus 6 looks quite reminiscent of the Galaxy S9+. Both devices have a vertically stacked, centrally arranged dual-rear cameras and a candy bar-shaped fingerprint scanner below. Which is super fast, although I’m not such a big fan about the shape. I prefer circular.

This is quite a departure from the OnePlus 5T that had a horizontally-aligned dual camera located in the top-left corner and a circular fingerprint reader position centrally.

As you would expect, though, from a phone with such a glossy finish, it’s a dust and fingerprint magnet. On the bright side, I found it to be less slippery than the OnePlus 5T.

In any case, you can easily slap a case on the back of the phone. I particularly liked the rugged Bumper case OnePlus provided in the box with the phone. It’s very stylish in nylon and gives your device the soft feel of fabric.

Other details

There’s been a switch-up in other classic OnePlus design elements too. For example, the iconic alert slider has been moved to sit on the top right side. Regrettably, it’s a bit stiff and requires a firm grip on the phone to slide. But that’s just a minor detail.

Beneath it sits the power button. On the left side, you get a volume rocker and the phone’s dual SIM card slot. At the bottom edge resides the USB Type-C connector, 3.5mm audio jack port and a sole speaker.

Like on the 5T, the speaker is pretty basic, albeit it being enhanced by Dirac. You won’t find here a dual speaker setup or anything fancy like special audio chambers. If you’re an audiophile, you will have to look somewhere else. Perhaps in the direction of the LG V30 family.

We should also note at this point that the phone is water resistant for “everyday use”, but does not carry an “official” IP67/IP68 rating.

Performance

The OnePlus 6 is as good as any flagship launched in 2018. It includes Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 in combination with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. For the first time, the company is offering a 256GB storage option, alongside the 64GB and 128GB one.

This means that the phone is really fast and responsive, and games load quickly and reliably with minimal stutter or frame dropping. I’ve been using the device for a few weeks and I can’t say I’ve experienced any odd occurrences or random freezes. Our review variant has the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration.

On top of the pure power radiating from under the hood, the OnePlus 6 also gets the new capability to support two LTE connections simultaneously.

Battery-wise, the OnePlus 6 is a winner. It still retains the same 3,300 mAh juice box of the OnePlus 5T, but it lasts just as long, in some occasions even longer!

For example, I fully charged my phone Sunday morning and on Monday morning I still had 55% left.

Yet, despite having a glass rear, the OnePlus 6 does not support wireless charging. Fortunately, it has Dash Charge which can take you from around 27% to 100% in an hour or so. However, I should note that Dash Charge is proprietary, so it won’t work with another USB-C cable. You must use the one that OnePlus provided.

Camera

The camera performance was one of my main complains when I reviewed the OnePlus 5T. I hoped OnePlus would address the issue with the OnePlus 6 and it did.

Yeah, the camera it’s still not as good as the Pixel 2’s or Huawei’s fancy P20 Pro, but it’s definitely a step up in the right direction.

You might not believe this looking at the bare specs. On paper, the dual-cameras on the back are pretty much identical to the previous model. There’s the same 20-megapixel + 16-megapixel with f/1.7 combination. BUT, and there’s a big but, the main camera now has a 19% larger sensor.

Which means the sensor is capable of capturing more light, which in turn translates into being able to take better low-light pictures. Oh, and we also get optical image stabilization.

When compared to the OnePlus 5T, the OnePlus 6 is able to pick up more of the finer details, even in poorly lit environments. Sure, things aren’t amazingly sharp in low-light, but you will certainly be able to notice the improvements. Even as it falls behind phones with larger sensors and wider aperture like the beastly Huawei P20 Pro, the OnePlus 6 can take a decent bar or concert picture.

Where the OnePlus 6 shines is in daylight photography, with Portraits looking particularly remarkable.

Sure, there’s still work to be done. For instance, the second camera is only there to add depth data for the phone’s blurred background portrait mode. Which granted, works pretty well. Yet, the sensor doesn’t bring anything extra like optical zoom or the ability to capture monochrome images.

OnePlus has also added a new slow-mo video mode which lets you shoot 720p video at 480fps or 1080p at 240fps. You can also shoot video in 4K resolution at 60fps with OIS enabled, which is pretty sweet.

The selfie-camera remains a 16-megapixel sensor, but it seems to be able to take sharper selfies, as least as far as I can tell. A new selfie Portrait mode was also recently added via a software update.

Software

The OnePlus 6 comes running the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. Like always, you’ll get a smooth and clean experience, with only a handful pre-installed apps. Obviously, OnePlus has included a few software tweaks of its own.

For example, a new gesture control system can replace the familiar Android on-screen nav button triad with an iPhone-X like swipe system. Which, unfortunately, need more perfecting because it’s often times unreliable and frustrating to use.

Other features you’ll find on board the OnePlus 6:

  • OnePlus’ home screen Shelf – lets you write a quick memo or view recent contacts and apps.
  • Gaming Mode 2.0 – kicks in a do-not-disturb mode while gaming, but also boosts app loading speeds specifically for games. It also has improved app prioritization, so it will know to kill off apps in the background if they are affecting performance
  • Reading Mode – creates a monochrome effect that’s conducive to reading.
  • Schedule Do Not Disturb Mode – allows you to set up custom rules for Do Not Disturb and configure a preset time so it kicks in automatically. This way you won’t have to toggle the Alert Slider every time you go to bed in the evening.

Finally, the OnePlus 6 is one of the phones on Google’s Android P beta list, so you can give the latest version of Android a try if you buy it.

Final thoughts

With the OnePlus 6, the Chinese company has delivered a suitable successor for the OnePlus 5T. Boasting a beautiful design, top-notch specs and much-improved camera, the new flagship should definitely be on your radar if you’re on the market for a new phone.

Obviously, no phone is perfect and the OnePlus 6 is no different. It does lack a microSD card slot, waterproofing and despite having a glass back, it does not offer wireless charging. Which would have been nice.

But none of these are actually deal breakers, especially at this price. Just think about it, you’d be getting a premium glass phone with a Snapdragon 845, great display and competitive dual-camera for only $529.

If you’re not looking to spend more than $600 on the phone, then the OnePlus 6 is absolutely the best device you can get on this budget. Aside from the minimal issues we’ve outlined in this review, the OnePlus 6 is more than capable to compete head-to-head with the top flagships available on the market today. And in some respects even outdo them.

However, there’s a caveat to be taken into account before buying the OnePlus 6. It does not work on Verizon or Sprint networks. Thankfully, it works just fine with GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T. So if you’re already a subscriber, you should be good to go. If not, you might want to consider switching carriers. Or, you could take a look at the alternatives. The Honor 10 View and ASUS ZenFone 5Z (which is not yet available in the US) are the closest options right now.

The OnePlus 6 is currently available in the following coloring options and configurations:

  • Mirror Black with 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage – $529.00
  • Silk White with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage – $579.00
  • Mirror Black with 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage – $579.00
  • Midnight Black with 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage – $579.00
  • Midnight Black with 8GB of RAM + 256GB of storage – $629.00

Buy the OnePlus 6

Google offers $300 Project Fi service credit when you buy the LG G7 ThinQ or V35 ThinQ

Alexandra Arici
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Summer is a great time to find awesome deals. Case in point, Google’s Project Fi announced one which might be of interest to you.

You might remember, the MVNO recently added the LG G7 ThinQ and LG V35 ThinQ to its portfolio. They can be purchased for $749 and $899 respectively.

But if so far, these prices have kept you from truly considering to buy one of the two LG flagships, now it’s a good time to reconsider. Google is running a promotion which offers $300 Project Fi service credit to customers willing to purchase one of the two models.

Obviously, some conditions apply in order to qualify to get the credit. First off, you need to activate the smartphone within 30 days of its being shipped. Additionally, you’re required to keep the line of service active for 30 consecutive days.

Once you do that, you can expect to see the account credit show up in 45 to 60 days from the time the phone was activated.

Google is offering the promotion until July 29, so you still have plenty of time to decide whether this deal I for you or not.

While you ponder the pros and cons, we’re taking an opportunity to list the major specs of the two smartphones in order to refresh your memory.

LG G7 ThinQ

  • 6.1-inch LCD display with a notch and 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19:5:9 aspect ratio
  • Snapdragon 845
  • 4GB of RAM with 64GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB)
  • Dual rear-facing 16-megapixel (f/1.6, OIS) +16-megapixel (f/1.9) camera with laser & PDAF
  • Front-facing 8-megapixel camera (f/1.9)
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Quad DAC
  • Support for DTS-X virtual surround sound
  • Dedicated Google Assistant button
  • BoomBox audio

Get the LG G7 ThinQ from Project Fi

LG V35 ThinQ

  • 6-inch OLED display with 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 aspect ratio
  • Snapdragon 845
  • 6GB of RAM with 64GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB)
  • Dual rear-facing 16-megapixel (f/1.6, PDAF) +16-megapixel (f/1.9) camera with laser & PDAF
  • Front-facing 8-megapixel camera (f/1.9)
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Quad DAC
  • Support for DTS-X virtual surround sound
  • 3,300 mAh battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo

Get the LG V35 ThinQ from Project Fi

T-Mobile intros $5 international day passes for LTE data and unlimited calls

Alexandra Arici
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Summer is a popular time to take vacations. So in order to to make your holiday abroad even more enjoyable, T-Mobile this week announced it is updating its Simple Global plan to include 70 more countries and destinations.

Previously, T-Mobile users could take advantage of free international roaming in 140 territories around the world. Now that number has gone up to 210. Simple Global is included for free with T-Mobile ONE plans and offers free 2G unlimited data, unlimited SMS and low-priced calls ($0.25/min).

The plan also includes things like picture messaging, visual voicemail, and one hour of in-flight Wi-Fi on flights that feature Gogo.

T-Mobile also has a new and affordable international LTE day plan

T-Mobile also offers the option to upgrade to LTE data and unlimited calls. The newly announced International Data Pass costs only $5/day. In return, T-Mobile ONE subscribers will get 512MB of LTE, and unlimited text and talk for that day. T-Mobile says it will allow for a maximum of two passes to be purchased every 24 hours.

Compared to what rivals Verizon and AT&T charge for similar services, T-Mobile’s International Data Pass is available at half the price.

Speaking of which, the new daily pass will go into effect starting on August 1, 2018. What’s more, the new countries will get added to Simple Global on July 22. You’ll be able to see the complete list on the Simple Global website.

In related news, T-Mobile also recently announced a few deals for back to school. Yeah, we’re aware it’s only July, but maybe you’re looking to make a few purchases in advance.

The carrier has a BOGO deal on the Samsung Galaxy S9. It’s also shaving up to $720 off select phones including an LG G7, G6, V30, Aristo 2+, K30 or Stylo 4 when buying an LG G7 or V30.

The deals don’t stop here, so if you want to learn more, check our previous article on the subject.

How to speed up and customize your Google Pixel 2

AndroidGuys
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The Google Pixel 2, or its larger sibling, the Pixel XL 2, is one of the best phones you can purchase right now. Available through Verizon and Google, it’s the latest and greatest in Android and features some pretty damn impressive hardware. It’s one of our favorite devices ever, even if it’s not exactly the sexiest device on the market.

One of the things we love about Android is that it offers so much customization. The platform continues to get better all the time and the 8.0 Oreo release is as gorgeous as it is practical. Spend any time with either phone and you’ll no doubt realize there’s a world of potential at your fingertips.

READ: Want Android P? Here’s how to get it on your device today!

Whether this is your first Android phone, first Google handset, or just the most recent in a long history of upgrades, you’ll want to set it up to your liking. We’ve gathered up a handful of helpful tricks, tweaks, and tips to ensure you get the most out of the phone. Here are ten Pixel 2 settings you should know.

Active Edge

One of the features that Google was quick to highlight for its 2017 flagship phone, Active Edge, gives users the ability to squeeze the sides of their phone to trigger Google Assistant. While we were initially reluctant to buy into the hype, it’s one option we find ourselves using regularly. But, that doesn’t mean this is something that everyone loves. Here’s how to tailor or disable Active Edge.

Navigate to SETTINGS > SYSTEM > GESTURES > ACTIVE EDGE. From here you can configure the sensitivity of the squeeze gesture. Moreover, you can also opt in and out of allowing it to trigger when the screen is off or if you would like for squeezing to silence alarms, timers, and incoming calls. And, if you just don’t want to use it at all, simply toggle the first option “Squeeze for your Assistant”.

Swipe Fingerprint for Notifications

Perhaps the one feature we’ve come to love more than most, we love the ability to swipe the fingerprint reader to check notifications. Yes, you can simply slide your finger down the reader and your notification shade will slide down on the screen. It’s a dead simple way to take a quick peek at your unread messages, status updates, missed calls, and more.

For whatever reason this is not turned on by default. Not to worry, though, you can set this up at SETTINGS > SYSTEM > GESTURES > SWIPE FINGERPRINT FOR NOTIFICATIONS. That’s it! While it might not sound like much, this is a highly underrated way to mange your Pixel 2.

Lift to Check

One of the features we liked best about the first Pixel is the ability to lift to check our phone for time and notifications. While it’s present in the Pixel 2, it’s not enabled by default.

To turn this setting on, navigate to SETTINGS > DISPLAY > ADVANCED > AMBIENT DISPLAY. From there you’ll want to enable the “Always On” which triggers the ‘Lift to check phone’. Now you can simply lift your phone up to wake it, showing your messages, missed calls, and more. You can also decide at this screen whether you want the option to double-tap the display to check the phone.

SEE ALSO: Everything we think we know about the Pixel 3

Adjust Colors

Although the phone doesn’t come with quite the color customization as what Samsung or LG might do for their respective phones, there is one noteworthy Pixel 2 setting. If you want your pictures, video, and graphics to leap off the display just a little differently, you can choose from different modes.

Head to SETTINGS > DISPLAY > ADVANCED > COLORS and choose from Natural, Boosted, and Saturated. Pick one and play around with it for some time to decide if you like it. Or, change it when you’re playing a video game.

Living Universe and Come Alive Wallpapers

Living Universe WallpapersOne thing we often take for granted is the ability to change simple things like the wallpaper. It’s easily one of the quickest ways to make a phone feel like it’s “ours” and unique. The Pixel 2 gives owners a whole host of options in the area of preset wallpapers, each of which can help make the handset feel special.

Two of the things that really stand out for the Pixel 2’s background are the Living Universe and Come Alive sections. The former are stunning photos that have an ever-so-slight movement to them. Look closely and you’ll see in one that the waves are crashing on the beach; in another cars are driving on the highway and the clouds are drifting by.

As for the Come Alive, these are similar to the “Live” wallpaper that’s been around for years, but with a twist. Some move and react to tapping and swiping while others change based on time of day or battery percentage.

To change your wallpaper you can long-press the home screen and tap the appropriate icon. You’ll find that, in addition to these two types of wallpapers, the Pixel 2 has a wide variety of stock images, too.

Exact Battery Percentage

Battery PercentageAs much as we like keeping our notification bar clean, sometimes it’s tough to tell how much battery you have left. Instead of relying on the battery symbol and guessing, have your phone tell you exactly what percentage you have to use. This one’s accessible through SETTINGS > BATTERY where you’ll trigger the slide for showing percentage. There, isn’t that better?

Notification Dots

Have you noticed those little colored dots on some of your icons? Whether on the home screen or in your app drawer, these dots are there to signal a notification. Your Gmail one, for instance, might have one for an unread message. The Play Store might show one when you have apps that need to be updated.

Notification Dots in Google Play

A lot of the apps and games you have on your phone will give you notifications to varying degrees. And, while some of us prefer the unobtrusive indicators, others don’t want to look at them. They are, after all, just the same stuff that’s in the top bar on your phone.

The Pixel 2, and Android 8.0 Oreo, gives users the ability to manually select which apps can show those notifications. So, rather than turning them off completely, maybe you just want Instagram or Facebook to stop telling you every time someone leaves a comment.

Navigate to SETTINGS > APPS & NOTIFICATIONS > NOTIFICATIONS and you’ll have a screen with a few user-defined options. You can turn all of the notification dots off at once by toggling the setting here. But, if you tap the “App Notifications” at the top, you can select a specific app and its settings. It’s in each app that you can disable the notification dot.

Home Screen Rotation

While we spend most of our time staring at our phones in portrait orientation, sometimes we we end up turning the phone sideways in landscape. Maybe it’s for a video, maybe it’s to look at pics, or maybe it’s just the way you like things. Did you know you could also do that to the home screen of the Pixel 2?

Home Screen in Landscape

To enable this setting, just long press the home screen and tap the HOME SETTINGS gear. The screen that pops up gives you control over the main screen rotation as well as other options. Note that by allowing the rotation you will lose the pervasive search bar that’s found near your app drawer.

At-a-Glance Widget

See that date and weather that’s showing at the top of your home screen? That will show you your next calendar appointment as well as any relevant traffic information. Should something unusual happen to affect your commute you’ll know from a quick look at the home screen. It’s handy stuff to be sure, but you don’t have to see it if you don’t want to.

Long-press on the home screen widget and you’ll see a pop-up for preferences. You can choose to disable calendar events or traffic information.

Google App on Home Screen

If you’re the type of person who loves to tailor the Google experience around your preferences, chances are good you’ve set up news and interest preferences. Swiping to the left screen gives you all of the most relevant news and weather. Great stuff if you use it.

For those who don’t want that screen to show up, or for those who just don’t care about the customized experience, you can get rid of it. Like the home screen rotation setting, this one’s accessed by long-pressing the home screen. Tap the HOME SETTINGS gear and slide off the “Display Google app” option.

TicWatch-E Review: the best value in WearOS smartwatches

Donovan Jeska
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Let’s be honest, Android Wear wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. Like iPads in the tablet world, the Apple Watch rules the smartwatch world. But, with WearOS, Google is making a strong push to try to save the struggling brand.

Unfortunately, newer features and better performance requires better hardware, and many of the original Android Wear watches are being left behind – even the venerable Moto 360.

And replacing them is pricy! Most WearOS-compatible watches are $200 or more, which is no joke considering you’ve likely already dropped $500+ on a phone it connects. MobVoi, though looks to make that hit a little more bearable with the Ticwatch E, a water-resistant WearOS smartwatch with modern features but a manageable pricetag.

Ticwatch E Features

The E – which stands for Express – comes with a number of modern smartwatch features, including WearOS (of course), a lightweight polycarbonate design, heart-rate monitor, GPS, Google Assistant, and a 48-hour battery.

It also features an IP67 rating – which means it’s waterproof up to 1m. MobVoi warns that it’s not “suitable for shower or swimming,” but that rating wouldn’t be given if it wasn’t certified. I even put it to the test by taking it to the lake, and it performed admirably.

Hardware-wise, the Ticwatch E is about on par with the rest of the smartwatch world. It’s powered by a MediaTek MT2601 1.2GHZ processor and 512MB RAM, with 4GB onboard storage.

It has a 1.4″, 400x400p OLED display, with 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy 4.1 for connectivity. There’s only so much oomph you can cram into a 45mm frame, and MobVoi has done about as well as can be expected here.

Ticwatch E Daily Use

From the first time I powered it on, the Ticwatch E performed better than my trusty second generation Moto 360. It’s snappier, smoother, and its battery lasts longer. The watch faces it comes pre-loaded with are…interesting, to say the least. Some of them are wildly garish, with very few of them anything resembling what you could call “understated.”

Luckily, the WearOS Play Store is packed tight with hundreds of apps to change your watch face, many of them with their own built-in marketplace. It was easy to find the one I wanted.

Unlike the Moto 360, which comes with a metal band and a charging dock in the box, the Ticwatch E includes a silicon band and a magnetic charging cable. And while both of those pieces are perfectly serviceable, it really reveals where MobVoi had to cut costs in order to provide the same specs as the Moto 360 for significantly less.

I personally bought a Myriann Charging Stand for my Ticwatch E, and it works great. It’s also easy to grab yourself a nicer band for the Ticwatch E, as it accepts standard 20mm bands. The included silicon band even includes quick-change pins, which are fantastically convenient.

In practice, that supposed 48-hour battery life is closer to about a day of heavy use. You can, perhaps squeeze two days by turning off ambient display and most notifications. The OLED screen definitely helps though, as it allows the screen to turn off pixels rather than dim them for the ambient display. It’ll always get you through a day of use, though – which should be comforting to most.

Value

When compared to most WearOs smartwatches (which routinely hit $250 or more) the Ticwatch E is an utter bargain. It features the same or comparable specifications as many of the top smartwatches on the market, without sacrificing too much in the looks department.

At $159.99, the Ticwatch E is a good $40 cheaper than most, though some lower-end attempts by Fossil and ASUS also hit that price point. Among the WearOS watches that come in under $200, I’d say the Ticwatch E is the best value.

Buy the Ticwatch E from Amazon for just $159.99

What to do if you can’t afford the expensive Pixel 3 (Promoted)

AndroidGuys
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Back in May, Google made a tiny oversight when they released their Android P beta. Due out later this year, Android P represents an ambitious new OS that will take Google in an entirely new direction. Unsurprisingly, fans took to it as soon as Google released the developer preview, and they found an interesting detail nestled within the beta: design details for the upcoming Pixel 3.

Whether an accidental coding error or a clever marketing strategy, the hidden plans reveal Google intends to copy Apple’s iPhone X in more ways than one. Not only will it embrace the X’s notch, but it will mimic the X’s steep price tag. Experts anticipate the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will match Apple’s flagship phones, making them one of the most expensive handsets money can buy.

If you don’t have enough money in your budget to afford a Pixel upgrade, you’re not out of luck. You can get that new phone smell without that new phone bill when you follow these simple tips.

Always update your OS

One of the most common mistakes people make is ignoring their phone’s recommendation to update. The typical excuses include: they just got used to their phone working a certain way, they fear the update will take too long, and they expect it cause issues.

While Apple was exposed for forcing updates that reduced its phones’ battery life, it’s a bad example. For the most part, OS updates are critical patches that fix bugs and other common issues affecting ‘droids.

Making the leap to a new OS means you also get to experience the fun updates Google has made for practical and aesthetic reasons. Android P (what the P stands for is still to be determined) promises some interesting features, including:

Digital Well Being: a kind of parental control that lets users cut down on digital distraction. This feature will track how much time you spend on apps and give you the option of limiting how long you can spend using your favorites.

Gestural Navigation: Apple may have removed the home button, but Google hopes to revamp it entirely. Android P should switch up the UI in a way that prioritizes swiping (or gestures) over tapping (or buttons), so you can expect a change to the row of buttons on your home screen.

Change up its looks

While keeping on top of its OS updates will ensure your older Pixel performs at its best, a personalized Pixel skin can make sure it looks its best, too. It covers up the wear and tear you’ve managed to collect.

Whether it’s a gross streak of grease from your latest round of Animal Crossing or those permanent nicks marring its bezels, a skin can cover up the worst of those cosmetic damages. You’ll get the most coverage when you shop from a company like dbrand. All dbrand phone skins are based on individual handset blueprints, so their engineers can cut every skin to fit the intended device down to the micro-millimeter.

Like a bespoke suit, the best skin Pixel owners can apply come in a bunch of cool colors and textures, so it does a lot more than just camouflage scratches. A customized Pixel 2 skin can make your handset look like a totally new phone and completely unique.

Far from the typical monochrome style Google offers its customers, the best Pixel skins come in premium textures like black camo, marble, and dragon skin to give you the most customization possible.

Though you may not be able to afford a brand new Pixel at flagship prices, you can chase the next best thing. Keep your eye on OS upgrades and design a personalized skin. Together these tricks can make it seem like you have a new phone without breaking your budget.

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