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Google brings even more Assistant features to Wear OS

Andrew Myrick
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Back in March, Google surprised everyone by rebranding Android Wear to Wear OS. The move hopes to inject some new life into what has seemed to be a dying breed as of late.

In fact, there has not been a new Android Wear/Wear OS smartwatch released in some time. However, that hasn’t stopped Google from working on new software updates and new features.

READ MORE: The Five Best Smartwatches

The company released its first Android P build for Wear OS at the end of March. Today, Google announced a slew of new features that are coming to a smartwatch near you.

Focused on Assistant

It should come as no surprise that this update is focused on bringing Assistant to your wrist. Sure, you could already use Google Assistant on your smartwatch, but the features were limited.

Now, we are seeing smart suggestions whenever Assistant is activated. These are “contextually relevant” questions or responses that you can select from.

In addition to having Assistant help answer any questions, Google confirmed that actions are coming to Wear OS. This means that you will be able to use your smartwatch to control your smart home products.

WearOS_BT.gif

It’s really nice being able to use your smartphone, but this is a functionality that should have been on board long ago. Nonetheless, Google is stepping its game up here and making life easier.

The last new feature coming to Wear OS smartwatches is the ability to audibly hear answers to questions. This will work whether your watch is paired with Bluetooth headphones, or if there’s an onboard speaker.

When is the update coming?

Instead of waiting until Google I/O, which takes place next week, this update is rolling out now. You should begin seeing these features available on your smartwatch over the next few days.

However, Google is also planning to show off some more features for developers. The company will be live-streaming the I/O session on May 9th at 10:30 am PST.

Let us know what you think about this update and if you are excited to see Actions on your wrist.

Seven best apps for meeting new people

Alexandra Arici
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Dating apps are all the rage right now, but not everyone is looking for romantic meetings. Some people are just looking to make new friends. Whether you are traveling or moving to a new city, the idea of going to bars and striking up a conversation with random strangers will not appeal to most people.

Luckily, you can always meet new friends by using mobile apps. And there are plenty of apps specially designed to help you meet strangers. They connect you with people you can go to events to or with locals who like showing tourists around town.

In what follows, we’ve rounded up some of the best apps for people who want to make new friends.

See Also:

As for those of you who want to get a date, we have another list of apps that will hopefully help you find love.

MeetMe

What it is:

A social app which lets you chat with people nearby, but also with folks from around the world.

Why we like it:

  • The app allows you find people nearby who share your particular interests. Having things in common represents the basis of a strong friendship, right?
  • MeetMe includes video chatting and streaming. It lets you go beyond just typing and allows you to forge a connection faster, even before you meet in person.
  • The app has been installed by 100+ million people, so it’s quite diverse. You’ll get plenty of options.

Install MeetMe

Bottled – Message in a Bottle

What it is:

Bottled puts a fun twist on the whole idea of meeting new people. It’s part game, part social app and revolves around the concept of message in the bottle.

Why we like it:

  • Write a personal message and release it into the unknown. It will eventually be picked up by a person from around the world.
  • In the meanwhile, you sit on your island awaiting message in the bottles yourself. Keep the bottle to connect with the person who wrote the message or let it drift back to the sea. You can also collect additional items, by opening the treasure chests that float ashore.
  • You can follow the journey of your bottles in real time.
  • Cheeky Captain will pop up from time to time and test your knowledge of the world.

Bonus: You don’t have to sign up with Facebook

Install Bottled – Message in a Bottle

Speaky – Language Exchange

What it is:

Speaky provides you with a good excuse to meet new people. Learn how to speak a new language by connective with natives. Then perfect your talking skills by meeting up.

Why we like it:

  • Want to learn a language? The easiest way is to speak your way through perfection. Speaky lets you connect with “pen” plans who are also native speakers of languages like Spanish, French, German, Chinese and more.
  • The app lets you find native speakers with similar interests.
  • It has a handy text correction feature.
  • Intuitive interface, so you can easily tell who is a native speaker of which language and which tongue they are trying to learn.

Install Speaky – Language Exchange

Skout

What it is:

An app for meeting new people which encourages you to broadcast yourself.

Why we like it:

  • The app allows you to chat and meet new people by preference and proximity.
  • You can broadcast yourself or see what other people’s streams.
  • The app has an easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Share pics and statuses, just like on Facebook.

Install Skout

Meetup

What it is:

Looking to do something around town? Try Meetup and find the coolest meeting groups that focus on the things you love.

Why we like it:

  • The app lets you meet people who have the same hobbies.
  • It facilitates meetings in different areas including Tech, Fitness, Photography and more.
  • You can easily filter Meetups by date or city, which makes it a perfect app for travelers too.

Install Meetup

Nearify

What it is:

Need someone to attend an event with? Try Nearify, an app for meeting people who love the things you love.

Why we like it:

  • Love music or dance or theater? Never miss an event with Nearify. The app offers a daily personalized list of events near your location of choice, so you’ll always be in the loop.
  • See the events your friends are attending and join in the fun.
  • The app lets you follow your favorite artists and track their events. Although the database is pretty scarce at the moment.

Install Nearify

Worldpackers

What it is:

An app designed for travelers, which helps you meet new people and get accommodation for free in exchange for helping out the hosts.

Why we like it:

  • Worldpackers helps you travel the world on the budget, but also to meet inspiring locals and forge new relationships.
  • Finds you work exchange and volunteering opportunities all around the globe.
  • The app lets you contact and confirm your stay with the host.

Install Worldpackers

Not doing anything this weekend? Then why don’t you give one of these apps a chance and see if you can find your next hangout buddy?

AT&T won’t carry the G7 ThinQ in favor of an unknown ‘exclusive’

Andrew Myrick
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The LG G7 ThinQ was just announced yesterday, marking the first LG flagship of the year. However, not all carriers are jumping on board with AT&T leading the way.

AT&T says no

According to The Verge, AT&T confirmed that the G7 ThinQ will not be coming to the GSM carrier. Instead, AT&T will be offering a “new LG device this summer”.

With all of the issues that LG has been dealing with over the last few years, this comes as another blow. Sure, AT&T will be carrying an exclusive LG device later, but that doesn’t help the company now.

READ MORE: What’s the Difference: LG G7 ThinQ vs Samsung Galaxy S9

Instead, this just means that whatever device comes to AT&T later will be limited to one carrier. Another product with limited availability is unlikely to help dig LG out of the trenches.

With the Galaxy S9 available on every major US carrier already, this move is rather questionable. It almost seems that other OEM’s are just giving up and aren’t truly trying to take on Samsung anymore.

Nonetheless, we’ll have to wait and see what mystery device LG is working on. I wouldn’t bet that it’s a version of the V30 successor, as that has been a major release.

READ MORE: When will you be able to buy the LG G7 ThinQ?

But if the carrier is willing to hold off on the G7 ThinQ, then I would have to think we might have another flagship on our hands. Nonetheless, we’ll be sure to keep an eye on what’s going on.

Let us know if you think this is a good move for AT&T and LG. Be sure to also sound off about whether you think OEM’s are simply conceding to Samsung at this point.

New Samsung patent shows off embedded fingerprint scanner

Andrew Myrick
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As the bezels on our devices continue to get smaller, this means that front-mounted fingerprint scanners are on the move. Many OEM’s, including Samsung, have opted to move these to the rear.

However, there are a few others that are attempting to develop a scanner that is embedded in the display. Vivo was the first to the market with this technology, which was shown off at CES 2018.

We have been expecting to see a response from Samsung. It seems that we now have an idea of what could come to a future Sammy device.

Samsung Embedded Fingerprint Scanner

A new patent filing shows us what Samsung could have planned for a future handset. The scanner would be embedded in the lower-third of the display.

From there, the sensors would begin reading the necessary biometric information. If it is you who is unlocking the device, then access would be granted like normal.

But the interesting aspect of what Samsung is doing is taking advantage of the AMOLED display. The embedded scanner would use the “light-emitting property” of the display.

This means that the display around your finger would be lit up, allowing the scanner to work. The patent filing even shows the process that would take place with the different bits of technology.

According to 91mobiles, this is the same technology that is used by Vivo’s X21 UD. Synaptics is the maker of this tech, but it’s unknown whether Samsung would be using the same sensor.

Hold your horses

While a lot of folks want to jump to conclusions, we should take a step back. It’s extremely improbable that the Galaxy Note 9 would feature this technology.

Just because a patent has been filed and/or granted, that has no bearing as to when the technology will be released. Samsung has been struggling with this embedded fingerprint scanner technology for the last few years.

It seems that there is finally some light at the tunnel, although. If this tech is coming to a Samsung device, it likely wouldn’t be until next year at the earliest.

It’s clear that this could be the next trend in smartphones. However, it’s simply too early to tell, and most OEM’s are fine with using a rear-mounted scanner.

Let us know what you think about this new patent in the comment section below.

Samsung introduces the Galaxy A6 and A6+, stylish phones with advanced cameras

AndroidGuys
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Recently, Samsung is announcing its new Galaxy A6 and A6+ phones. While the Galaxy A series sits below the Galaxy S series as far as specs go, the A6 line is no slouch. The Galaxy A6 and A6+ tout Samsung’s “Infinity Display,” metal builds, and impressive rear AND front cameras.

Both phones have metal housing instead of glass, and on the back are visible antenna lines. They also both sport the new 2:1 aspect ratio standard. Samsung’s more flagship notable features are on both devices as well, including Always-On display, App pairing, Bixby, and Samsung Pay (NFC Only though). With all that though, the primary focus of these phones are their great cameras.

The Galaxy A6 has a 5.6” HD+ (720p) Super AMOLED display with a 16MP front-facing camera and a 16MP rear-facing camera. Powering the screen is an octa-core processor and a 3000mAh battery. It also comes with either 3GB or 4GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB storage.

The Galaxy A6+ has dual rear cameras, sporting 16MP and 5MP lenses, capable of Samsung’s Live Focus effect. Behind the 6.0” FHD+ (1080p) Super AMOLED display is a ridiculous 24MP front-facing camera. Under the hood, we’ve got a stronger octa-core processor and a 3500mAh, with the same amount of RAM and storage.

While the phones will be available in early May, they aren’t scheduled for Northern American markets. First, they are coming to Europe, Latin America, and Northern Asia, then out globally elsewhere. Unfortunately, we weren’t given a price either; but what do you think of the Galaxy A6 family?

The Nokia 6.1 comes to the US with Android One onboard

Andrew Myrick
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Although the LG G7 ThinQ was just introduced, we are still awaiting quite a few new smartphones. Getting back into the budget game, Nokia has announced the new Nokia 6.1.

Nokia 6.1 Launches

This device is also being touted as the “Nokia 6 2018” due to its similar design to its predecessor. On the spec front, we don’t have anything super crazy, as we have a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Powering the Nokia 6.1 is the Snapdragon 630 chipset, which has been coupled with 3GB of RAM. We also have 32GB of onboard storage, with a microSD card slot with support up to 128GB.

When it comes to the cameras, there is a standard 8MP sensor on the front. On the rear, we have a 16MP lens with an f/2.0 aperture and a dual-tone flash.

As you can see in the image above, there is a fingerprint scanner placed just below the camera module. Finally, the Nokia 6.1 also includes a respectable 3,000mAh battery.

Android One onboard

What makes the Nokia 6.1 so special comes in the software department. Nokia is joining the Android One brigade, meaning that the device will sport a vanilla Android experience.

READ MORE: What’s the difference: Android Go vs Android One

This also means that the handset is guaranteed to see software updates for two years. On the security side, updates will come to the device for the next three years.

Price & Availability

Since this device rocks Android One and mid-range specs you won’t have to worry about a hefty price tag. The Nokia 6.1 is priced at just $269 and will be made available from Amazon and Best Buy on May 6th.

The catch here is that the device is GSM-only. This means that you will be to use just AT&T or T-Mobile.

Buy the Nokia 6.1!

Google Now Launcher is gone, here are some of the best replacements

Andrew Myrick
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The launcher is the most used “application” on any Android smartphone. So when Google released its own version many Android purists rejoiced.

However, Google confirmed the retirement of its launcher back in 2017. The app has continued to work for just about everyone, until a few days ago.

Android Central has found that the Google Now Launcher is incompatible with just about every handset. There are a few outliers, such as the BlackBerry KeyOne, but even the Galaxy S9 can’t run the app.

What this means for those who currently have it installed, is that it will continue to work, without updates. But if you opt to get a new device, or wipe your current phone clean, you will lose access.

With that, we are taking a look at a few replacement options for you to consider.

Nova Launcher

Nova Launcher Logo

Nova launcher is arguably the most customizable launcher on the Play Store. The app features so many different configurations that you can create any layout that your mind can think of.

The best part is that if you somehow haven’t already purchased Nova, there’s a free version to get your feet wet. If you want to dive all the way in, you can pick up Nova Prime for $4.99.

Download Nova!

Action Launcher

If Nova is the best launcher, then Action is the second best. The app has been around for quite some time and has been seeing regular updates to add more customization features.

What sets Action apart from the rest is the inclusion of the “Shelf” feature. This is similar to what’s found on the OnePlus OxygenOS launcher. Recent updates have focused on bringing more Pixel features to the application, and it’s available for free.

Download Action!

Lawnchair Launcher

Lawnchair started out as an open-source project but turned into something much bigger. After seeing much popularity for offering a stock experience, Lawnchair’s developers opted to release its app on the Play Store.

Instead of the boring barebones experience, Lawnchair gives you the stock experience with a slew of customization features. You can even use your favorite icon pack and more.

Download Lawnchair!

 

HTC U12+ will be unveiled on May 23

Alexandra Arici
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May is going to be a busy month. LG just unveiled its latest G7 ThinQ flagship, and OnePlus is preparing to unleash its latest effort, the OnePlus 6 in a few weeks too.

Well, it seems a third flagship is set to join the May crop. The Taiwanese company just teased a device launch set for May 23 on its US Twitter page.

According to HTC, fans should expect to see “a phone that is more than the sum of its specs” launch during the date.

While the name of the device is not revealed in the Tweet, we have to assume the company is gearing up to launch the HTC U12+ (or HTC U12) towards the end of the month.

The teaser image reveals a smartphone outline surrounded by lots of components, so it does not provide many clues.

Which isn’t a big problem, since a lot of details about the upcoming HTC U12 have already made their way online. So we know what to expect, at least for the most part.

HTC’s next flagship will be revealed towards the end of the month

According to the leaks, the HTC U12+ (or U12) will make a debut with a 6-inch LCD display with WQHD+ resolution. This places it in between the 5.8-inch Galaxy S9 and 6.2-inch S9+.

Internally, the U12+ is powered by Qualcomm’s new top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845, backed up 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. It also includes a microSD card slot.

On the back reside two cameras: a 16-megapixel one and secondary 12-megapixel one. They sit arranged side by side, with the LED flash and fingerprint scanner located below.

Finally, the U12+ is expected to sport HTC’s squeezable Edge Sense technology, which debuted on last year’s HTC flagship and is now also available on the Pixel 2.

HTC has been going through a really rough patch for the past few years, due to slumping smartphone sales. Will the launch of the U12+ flagship help the company reverse the downward trend? It remains to be seen.

Be sure you mark the May 23 date on your calendar if you’re curious about the HTC U12+.

How to speed up your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus

Andrew Myrick
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Now that the Galaxy S9 is in your pocket, chances are you’ve already noticed how fast it is. But did you know that you can make things even faster?

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus Review

There are a few steps that you can take to speed up the interface even more. And if you’re worried about having to jump through a bunch of hoops, have no fear.

Speed up Galaxy S9

The first step you’ll need to take is to head into the Settings menu on your S9. From there, scroll all the way down until you see About Phone, and open this sub-menu.

The About Phone section will show you a bunch of different information. You will see the name of your device, phone number, model number, IMEI, and more.

Below the overview, there is a section called Software information. You will need to tap into this in order to proceed.

After you have opened this screen, you’ll want to look for a section named Build number. This will be an array of numbers and letters to let you know what build of the software your Galaxy S9 is currently running.

You can’t open any more screens from here, but you want to tap on Build number 7 times. Once completed, a pop-up will appear which states “You are now a developer”. This is where the fun begins.

READ MORE: Nine tips to get the best Galaxy S9 battery life

Back out of those settings menus until you reach the main Settings panel. Scroll all the way to the bottom until you see Developer Options.

There will be a lot of different settings in this panel, many of which you will want to ignore. Once enabled, you’ll want to scroll until you see a section named Drawing.

From here there are three different animations that we will be working with:

  • Window animation scale
  • Transition animation scale
  • Animator duration scale

Go through and tap on each one to change the scale. The larger the number, the slower the animation will be. Therefore we can deduce that the lower the number, the faster the animations will be.

We do not recommend turning the animations off completely, but you can move them from 1x down to 0.5x. The same steps can be repeated for all three animation scales.

Enjoy the speed

Once completed, the changes will take place automatically. If you want to be on the safe side, you can go ahead and restart your Galaxy S9.

After the device has rebooted, you will notice that navigating around your device is much faster. This is purely aesthetics, as you have decreased the speed of the animations.

Nonetheless, this is an extremely beneficial method to make your device feel snappier. If you run into any issues, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Oath bloatware is coming to your expensive Samsung Galaxy S9

Alexandra Arici
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Bloatware might not have been invented by the Android phone, but Android phone makers and carriers sure like taking advantage of it.

Bloatware is all the extra software applications that come pre-installed on your phone. Most of it is quite unnecessary, and the majority of Android users dislike having these unwanted apps on their handsets. Yet some carriers don’t seem to care about customers’ aversion towards bloatware.

Case in point, Verizon just signed a deal with Samsung to pre-load four apps from its own Oath brand onto the Galaxy S9 flagship.

Verizon created Oath back in 2017 by merging AOL with Yahoo. Verizon’s acquisition of Yahoo was completed last year.

These are the Oath apps headed for the Galaxy S9

The four apps coming to the Galaxy S9 are Oath’s Newsroom, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Finance, and Go90. Samsung has confirmed the pre-loaded services will only be offered on board the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ at Verizon. The other carrier versions and unlocked models will continue to be sold sans the Oath apps. It’s unclear whether users will be able to uninstall these apps. We certainly hope so.

But that’s not all. The deal also includes integration of native ads from Oath into both the Oath apps and Samsung’s own Galaxy and Game Launcher apps.

On top of that, Oath has become Samsung’s “premier content partner” on Bixby Home in the US. This means that Oath’s top apps and native ads will now be distributed across select Samsung devices with Bixby. This also includes the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

A word of warning! These integrated ads and Bixby Home content will be coming to all Galaxy S9 devices, not just Verizon ones! So be prepare to be invaded by Verizon, even if you are not with Big Red.

Although the new partnership is a big win for Oath, whose services have been struggling to gain traction, most customers will probably be less than pleased when hearing the news.

Tell us your thoughts on the Samsung Oath deal in the comments section below.

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