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Verizon’s new Smart Family app gives parents control over their kids’ phones

Alexandra Arici
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Verizon used to offer a suite of parental controls for monitoring your family’s device usage through its FamilyBase service. Well, the carrier announced this week that the product just got an overhaul and a new name.

The new entity is called the Verizon Smart Family app. It will allow parents to oversee their children’s activity on devices included on the family plan.

Using the new app, adults can do things like enable screen-on time limits for specific days/times or turn on content filters for social media, videos, text messaging.

The Smart Family app is available for $4.99 and up

Real-time location tracking for family members is also included in the package. By the way, you can add up to 10 members to the app.

On top of being able to see how their kids use their phones throughout the day, parents can also remotely pause internet access.

Other customizable limits include minutes used for calls, number of text messages, and monthly purchase amounts.

The new app benefits from an improved, more intuitive design which should deliver a more fluid user experience.

Most of the features were previously available in Verizon’s FamilyBase service. But the biggest additions to the new app include location services and the ability to monitor individual app usage.

While Verizon’s Smart Family is free to download, interested parties will have to pay a subscription fee if they want to use its features. A base subscription is available for $4.99. But if you want location tracking and alerts, you’ll have to pay for a premium subscription which costs $9.99/month.

In a world where smartphones are becoming extremely common in the hands of kids, Verizon’s new Smart Family app seems like a worthy addition to the carrier’s portfolio. Although there are many other apps that accomplish the same tasks out there.

For more info, visit Verizon’s Smart Family page.

Amazon Prime has 100 million subscribers

AndroidGuys
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Amazon Prime has been a hit but Amazon has kept the exact number of subscribers close to the chest. Now, a new letter to shareholders by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos puts an end to the mystery.

According to Bezos, Amazon Prime now has 100 million subscribers. According to the newsletter, Bezos said, “13 years post-launch, we have exceeded 100 million paid Prime members globally. In 2017 Amazon shipped more than five billion items with Prime worldwide, and more new members joined Prime than in any previous year – both worldwide and in the US.” Last year’s guesstimate was around 80 million.

Amazon hopes the success of Amazon Prime comes to Fire TV. The company has secured a deal with Best Buy to bring its Fire TV Edition Smart TVs to the beloved American retailer this summer. The upcoming Smart TVs will feature Amazon’s Alexa AI integration.

Earlier this year, Amazon eliminated lockscreen ads on its Prime Exclusive phones to give access to features such as iris and fingerprint scanners. Eliminating lockscreen ads removes Prime Exclusive phone discounts as well.

Amazon Prime offers free and fast shipping for subscribers. Members also receive discounts on books and other products. The service costs $99 in the US. The online retailer offers 30-day free trials for potential Prime customers.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Motorola announces new Moto G6 and E5 families with taller displays, better batteries, and dual cameras

AndroidGuys
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Earlier this morning, Motorola took to the stage to announced its two new product line families. These are the Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play; and the Moto E5 Play and E5 Plus. From their previous generations, the phones now incorporate 18:9 displays, huge batteries, curved backing, and cheaper price tags.

Moto G6

With the Moto G6 line, you have the higher-end G6 along the more budget G6 Play. Unfortunately, the G6 Plus won’t be arriving in the US. The G6 has a 5.7” Full HD 18:9 LCD display with a 12MP and 5MP dual-lens camera. The phone also comes with up to 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, a 3000mAh battery, and the Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor.

The G6 Play has nearly the same type of display as of its big brother, but at 720p resolution instead. The other specs are in similar line with the slight decrease in quality for the standard G6. You’ve got 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM, a single 13MP camera, and a Snapdragon 427 quad-core processor. The G6 Play does have a 4000mAh though, which Motorola states will grant “up to 36 hours of power.”

Both devices feature Turbopower to get hours of use time after only short minutes of charging. They both also feature curved glass, Gorilla Glass 3, on the back, similar to what the Moto X4 had. The Moto G6 will start at $249 while the G6 Play starts at $199, and will be available this Spring.

Moto E5

Dropping down to the E5 line, they are even more budget-friendly than the G6 line. While the G6 devices are similar to each other, the E5 Play and E5 Plus have little parity. The E5 Plus has a 6” HD+ (720) display paired with a 12MP camera. It will also come with 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a Snapdragon 435 processor. A massive 5000mAh battery will power all of this.

The E5 Play has 5.2” HD display with an 8MP rear shooter. The phone will only have 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, and either a Snapdragon 425 or 427. Shockingly, the E5 Play has a removable 2800mAh battery — haven’t seen these in a while. The Play is easily the lowest end of these new Moto devices, and that should reflect in its price.

The E5 Plus will come in Grey and Blue, while the E5 Play will come in black. Unfortunately, no pricing has been released just yet, likely because carriers will be selling these phones. They will be available alongside the Moto G6 line starting this spring.

What does everyone think about this new Moto lineup? The new Moto G6 devices should again hold the crown for best budget devices (under $400) this year. The Moto E5 line will be good gifts for those just getting into the cell phone era, young and old.

Why it makes sense to buy gadgets with credit card (Promoted)

AndroidGuys
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Any sensible individual might say that you should never allow your debts to pile up. And, to be fair, it has been observed that most of the debts that accumulate are due to inappropriate use credit cards.

On the contrary, there are many who are of the opinion that you must make use of credit cards to shop for gadgets, which might include any gadget under the sun like an Android smartphone, an iPhone or iPad, or any device with your favorite operating system.

Are individuals with bad credit eligible?

There are several instances when you can come across people that use these cards to improve their credit score. Prior to delving deeper into why it is a good decision to do your tech shopping with credit cards, let us briefly find out how you can improve credit by making purchases with your plastic cards. This also means that the same principle will apply for credit cards for people with bad credit.

If you buy any device or gadget with the help of credit card where you have to make monthly payments, you can make the repayment process a sincere one, thereby proving that your repayment habits have improved and that you can avail financial aid in future.

In this article, let us find out why you will have made a good decision if you make so-called “tech purchases” with your credit card.

Why using credit cards for buying your Android dream smartphone makes sense? Read the paragraphs below-

Warranties

When you shop for a gadget, you are oftentimes asked whether or not you want extended warranty but you are in a dilemma whether you should shell out those extra dollars for the same. But if you are using a credit card, you don’t feel the pinch. So, you can go ahead and use the plastic card for extra security of your device. Moreover, you will come across many credit cards that offer extended warranty with any purchase of tech gadgets by default.

Protection of phone

Let us say, you are buying an Android phone, or for that matter iPhone. Usually, the plans that come with extended warranty are quite expensive. However, there are such credit card companies that will offer provision of phone protection plans. You might have to shell out an amount as deductible but that should not pinch your wallet.

Provision to use 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) card

If you are planning to lay your hands on the latest smartphone or any tech device, it is quite likely that you will want to buy so that you don’t feel your wallet getting strained. So, the best way is to pay with your credit card that offers the provision of 0%APR on the card.

There are quite a number of plastic cards that offer 0%APR so that you sign up with the credit card issuer when you have found the product satisfactory during the promotional offer period. So, reap the benefits of this feature. It would be a wise move if you opt for a card that has the longest offer period of 0%APR on the card.

However, since you are using your credit card, just make sure you adhere to the monthly repayment schedule religiously. This will not only allow you to pay off your debts at the earliest but will eventually improve your credibility over a period of time.

So, make the best use of these circumstances. By doing so, you win in two ways; firstly, you become a proud owner of a latest gadget and secondly, you improve your financial credibility that appears in your credit report.

T-Mobile announces big discounts for service members, veterans and their families

Alexandra Arici
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In recognition of their service, T-Mobile announced a new affordable plan aimed at active duty military (Reserve and National Guard included), veterans and their families.

The nation’s third-largest wireless carrier unveiled the T-Mobile One Military, a program designed to offer great discounts to service members.

The plan includes a 20% discount on the first phone line, so instead of $70, customers will pay $55. The carrier also offers half off the next five lines, which means $25 for the second line, and $10 for the next four lines. Under this plan, a family of four would pay $100 each month.

T-Mobile honors service members and veterans

T-Mobile One Military includes unlimited text and data roaming, as well as low flat-rate calling in 140+ countries. Netflix and T-Mobile Tuesdays offers are also part of the package.

The program will not be available for a limited time but joins the carrier’s permanent plan lineup. T-Mobile claims a family of four will be able to save $665 compared to the AT&T alternative and $764 compared to Verizon’s.

To qualify for a T-Mobile One Military plan, the service member or veteran must be the primary account holder. He or she must also sign up for AutoPay and provide proof of members.

For veterans without a military identification, T-Mobile will accept other forms of verification, as well, including a DD-214.

On top of launching the new plan, T-Mobile also said service members are eligible to get half-off select Samsung phones including the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Customers have to sing up with a 2-year Equipment Installment Plan and will get the discount as 24 monthly bill credits.

The program kicks off starting April 22. It will be available at T-Mobile stores nationwide, and bases.

As part of this week’s announcements, T-Mobile also said it is committed to hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses over the next 5 years. The carrier has also partnered up with FourBlock, a non-profit organization that helps veterans return to the work force.

Moto Z3 Play leaks with side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Alexandra Arici
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Like Sony, Motorola is one of the latecomers to the 18:9 aspect ratio bandwagon. Well this summer, the Lenovo-owned company is going to release its first bezel-less phones.

Within the next few months, Motorola will be unveiling its next-gen flagship, the Moto Z3, alongside the more affordable Moto Z3 Play, both of which will sport 18:9 displays.

Speaking of which, the Moto Z3 Play just leaked in a number of new case renders. And as anticipated, the handset features minimal bezels all around. On the top front, we can spot the selfie camera, sitting alongside an in-ear speaker.

Moto Z3 Play renders show off the phone in all its glory

On the back, there’s a dual-camera setup with a dual-tone LED flash. Nothing else adorns the back. So where’s the fingerprint scanner, you might be wondering? Well it seems this year Motorola has moved it on the right side of the device. This is reminiscent of Sony’s recent phones.

Above the scanner, we can spot two volume buttons for up and down. The power button is placed on the left side of the phone. The bottom is home only to a USB Type-C port, as it appears the 3.5mm headphone jack is no longer part of the package.

Ok, so what about the Moto Z3 Play’s specifications? According to recent rumors, the device will arrive with a spacious 6.1-inch display in tow and will rely on the services of a Snapdragon 636 processor.

Motorola is also going to offer 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, as well as a 3,000 mAh battery. The Moto Z3 Play will launch with Android Oreo out of the box.

Right now, we don’t have the exact launch date for the Moto Z3 and Moto Z3 Play. But last year, the Moto Z2 Play went live during the beginning of June. So, most likely the new flagships will be released around the same period.

Avengers-themed OnePlus 6 confirmed, but it won’t come to the US

Andrew Myrick
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Over the last few weeks, there have been some rumors about a possible Marvel and OnePlus partnership. This would be for a special edition OnePlus 6, themed to the tune of Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers-themed OnePlus 6

It seems that this partnership has been confirmed in press material to our friends at Android Central. A partial reason for this deal is to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios.

You may remember that OnePlus recently partnered with Disney for the launch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. So this collaboration should come as no surprise.

The downside here, as was with the Star Wars edition, is that this OnePlus 6 is likely to be limited to India. That means the only way that you will be able to pick one up here in the US is through eBay or Swappa. Unfortunately, it’s also likely that a hefty price markup will also be in tow.

I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to get really jealous of those in India. First, there was the Star Wars edition, and now the Avengers edition of the OnePlus 6. If there was a world where money grew on trees it would be one thing, but that’s not the case.

While this confirms that a special edition OnePlus 6 is on the way, that’s the only confirmation that we have. OnePlus stopped short of revealing when this device would possibly be released.

We are expecting quite a few changes with the upcoming OnePlus flagship, including a notch. The OP6 will also have a dual-camera system, along with the Snapdragon 845 SoC and at least 6GB of RAM.

OnePlus could be making its official announcement in the next few weeks, so we’ll be sure to keep our ears to the ground. Let us know what you think about an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6 and if you would want one.

Motorola accidentally shows off the Moto G6 ahead of launch

Andrew Myrick
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While we have seen new devices from Samsung, Huawei, and others, Motorola has been relatively quiet. All of that is about to change as the company is nearing the launch of the Moto G6 lineup.

Moto G6 Leaks

A new teaser clip for the G6 shows off the device from different angles. This reveals a design similar to that of the popular Moto X4, which launched last year.

READ MORE: Android One Moto X4 Review

It’s obvious that the G6 will not be keeping with the trend of Moto Mods found on the Z2 lineup. However, this comes as no surprise as the Moto G lineup is geared more towards the budget-minded consumers.

From the teaser, we get a close-up look of the different buttons around the edges. We also see the front-mounted home button/fingerprint scanner, along with the rear-camera module.

The teaser confirms the existence of a dual-camera setup, which will sport an LED flash placed below. What the teaser doesn’t confirm is whether Motorola will be opting for an 18:9 display with the G6.

In an unexpected move, we are likely to see three devices with the G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus. However, none of these devices will sport flagship specs and will rest in the mid-range and budget markets.

Previous leaks have revealed that these devices could be launched as soon as tomorrow (April 19th). Motorola is reportedly holding an event in Sao Paulo, Brazil and sent out a “Save the date”.

While these won’t be flagship devices, the new Moto G6 lineup will likely be hot-sellers. Here’s to hoping that these won’t be limited to specific regions that aren’t in the US.

Let us know what you think about this teaser and if you’re interested in seeing what Motorola has been working on. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for an awesome 2018 flagship lineup.

How to remove Bixby from your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus

Andrew Myrick
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As was the case with the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, Bixby has made its presence known with the Galaxy S9 lineup. This includes the dedicated hardware button that has been placed directly below the volume rocker.

The problem is, Bixby isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite assistant. Samsung has recognized this, and has included a few different ways to get Bixby out of your life.

READ MORE: First nine things to do with your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus

Disable Bixby Button

The most annoying feature of Bixby as a whole is the dedicated hardware button. In my time with the Galaxy S9 Plus, I have inadvertently pressed the button more times than I can count.

However, Samsung has made life easier for everyone, as you can now disable the button. In order to do so, you’ll want to follow these steps:

  1. Swipe to the right on your home screen to bring up Bixby Home
  2. Tap the Settings gear icon button in the top right-hand corner
  3. Toggle the switch to turn off the “Bixby Key”

Once completed, you can press that button all you want and nothing will happen. Stay tuned to a future post where we show you how to remap the Bixby button for other uses.

Disable Bixby Home

Now that you have disabled the Bixby button, you can get rid of Bixby Home. This panel leaves on the left-most screen, and includes a myriad of information.

Once enabled, Bixby Home can show you trending topics on Facebook and Twitter, along with calendar events. The problem with Bixby Home is that it can take some time to actually load for some strange reason.

Luckily, there are some extremely easy steps to follow, if you want to get rid of this panel:

  1. Long-press on an empty area on your Home Screen (this can also be done by swiping inwards with two fingers)
  2. Swipe all the way to the left to show the Bixby Home panel
  3. Tap the toggle in the top right-hand corner to turn Bixby Home off

Although you can’t replace this panel with something like Google Now, performing these steps can help avoid interacting with Samsung’s assistant at all.

Disable Bixby Voice

Perhaps one of the most useful features of any Voice Assistant is the “voice” part. Being able to issue various commands without ever touching your phone has many different advantages.

Samsung included this functionality with Bixby Voice. This allows you to perform various tasks, including making calls, control your smart home, or even take a screenshot.

However, keeping with our trend of getting rid of Bixby, you can also get rid of the “Voice” portion. Here are the steps to finally remove the last remnants of Bixby:

  1. Swipe all the way to the left on your home screen
  2. Tap the three-dot overflow button in the top right-hand corner
  3. Select “Settings”
  4. Scroll down and select ‘Bixby Voice’
  5. Toggle Bixby Voice to “off”

From there, you will officially be rid of Bixby one and for all, and you can begin using Google Assistant. Of course, you’ll need the help of an app such as bxActions to use the Bixby button with Assistant.

Disable Bixby on Note 9?

Unfortunately, it looks like Samsung is currently blocking any push to remove the assistant on the Galaxy Note 9. Traditional methods have yet to work, but one of our favorite YouTubers may have found a workaround. If you’re willing to play around inside your phone…

Android P to adopt iPhone X’s multitasking menu

AndroidGuys
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It looks like we have new leaks on more changes about Android P UI and UX. It appears that Google will be changing our beloved navigation bar around and introducing gestures. No longer will we have three icons at the bottom, but rather only a back button and the home button. We will then use gestures on the home button to access our multitasking menu — similar to what a particular competitor does.

Leaked from Google itself, we were shown some of these new changes about a week ago. The most notable difference likely being the new pill design for the home button. To counter the removal of the multitasking button, you will now have to swipe up on the pill home button to access the menu. After that, notice that the vertical array that background apps used to be in are now in a horizontal orientation. They perform as expected, swipe left and right to cycle through, swipe up to quit, and tap to select.

That seems to be the only gesture added to the new OS update. The home button is still a simple button, so no swipe to get home. The back button, although unchanged in basic functionality, does seem to now be contextually-based. This change means that you shouldn’t see it when there isn’t a previous page to go to, such as on the home screen.

These changes should be present in the final version of Android P coming later this year, but we may also get them in future beta builds of the software. Personally, I like the move towards a gesture-based OS. It makes our phones seem more modern. How do you all feel about these upcoming changes? Should we bring back WebOS?

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