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Samsung Chromebook Pro with a backlit keyboard is now available

Alexandra Arici
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So, you’re looking for a Chromebook with a backlit keyboard. There are some options out there to consider including the ASUS Chromebook Flip 2 or the Acer Chromebook 14.

Well, you can now add Samsung to the list of companies that are offering a Chromebook with a backlit keyboard. The Korean tech giant recently added a new version of its Chromebook Pro with a backlit keyboard.

Samsung started offering the Chromebook Pro in the US back in May. As far as we can tell, the two versions are identical when it comes to specs and price.

Customers might be a bit disappointed that the processor didn’t get a bump up, but even so, the backlit keyboard is a useful addition.

Samsung Chromebook Pro comes with a Pen

The laptop features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with 2,400 x 1600 resolution. Labeled as a Chromebook specially designed for professional, the laptop takes the form of a convertible with the display connected to a 360-degree hinge.

The Chromebook relies on an Intel Core M3 6Y30 processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of e.MMC storage. A microSD card reader is also included.

Furthermore, Samsung’s model includes a built-in digitized Pen for working in applications such as Samsung ArtCanvas.

The Chromebook Pro was officially introduced during CES 2017, alongside a second Chromebook Plus model. The latter shares many characteristics of the Chromebook Pro except for the ARM-based CPU. It also carries a slightly smaller price tag.

Given that the Samsung Chromebook Pro is a year old, we would have welcomed a more significant upgrade.

But we do have a bit of good news. The new Chromebook with a backlit keyboard does not cost extra. So customers can pick it up for the same $599.99 price tag.

Those looking for something more affordable should check out the Samsung Chromebook Plus which is currently on sale for $449.99.

Saturday Savings: Tech and Gear on sale this weekend

Andrew Myrick
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While it’s nice to be able to get your hands on brand-new products, it’s important to save a few bucks. Today, we’re taking a look at all of the various devices and accessories that are on sale.

We take a look at some of the best smartphone deals, highlighted by the Moto G5S. There is also quite a few accessory deals that are taking place this weekend.

Save on new tech

Moto G5S Plus – $270 $219.99

If Motorola has been good at one thing in the past few years, it’s budget devices. The Moto G series of smartphones has been some of the fan favorites, and you can save a few bucks on the latest option.

READ MORE: Save big on Amazon Kindle and Fire Tablets

Normally priced at $270, the Moto G5S Plus is now available for just $219.99 with free Prime Shipping. The G5S Plus sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display, while being powered by the Snapdragon 625 SoC. This has been coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.

Save on accessories

Anker Soundcore 2 – $39.99 $29.99

Now that it’s starting to get warm outside (at least in some areas), this means more time spent outside. In turn, you’re going to likely want a reliable portable Bluetooth speaker and that’s where the Anker SoundCore 2 comes into play.

The SoundCore 2 is normally priced at $39.99, but Anker is running a promotion that allows you to save $10. This speaker features a 5,200mAh battery, which is rated at lasting up to 24 hours. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about the SoundCore 2 getting wet with its IPX5 rating.

Submit your Deal!

Do you have a product, service, app, or game that’s on sale? We’d love to hear about it. Please take a few minutes to fill out this form and we’ll consider it for an upcoming post.

Cricket Wireless releases the LG Fortune 2 for just $99.99

AndroidGuys
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It’s only been slightly over a year since LG released its first-generation Fortune, a device with budget-friendly specs and a budget-friendly price tag. Well, the phone that features a price tag-defying name now has a second-generation followup, called the LG Fortune 2. The 19-year-old AT&T MVNO Cricket Wireless, known for its budget-friendly offerings, is back with the next-generation LG Fortune 2 for $99.99.

The price of the Fortune 2 alone is lovely, but a phone is more than its price. The LG Fortune 2 features a 5-inch display with an HD (1280 x 720p) screen resolution, an increase from the 854 x 480p resolution of the first-gen. Fortune, and a 1.4GHz, quad-core processor (which is slightly faster than the 1.14GHz quad-core SoC of last year’s model).

The 16GB of storage with a microSD card slot for an additional 32GB of expandable storage returns from last year’s model, alongside the 2,500mAh battery.

In addition to the increased screen resolution, the Fortune 2 brings the same 5MP front-facing camera but bumps up the rear camera from 5MP to 8MP and adds an LED flash. The phone features Bluetooth 4.2 but runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, an improvement from the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update of the first Fortune.

Knock On, a feature of LG smartphones that lets you “knock on glass” to wake up the phone, returns, and a Quick Video Editor will let you customize videos right from your phone.

You can pick up the Fortune 2 both in stores and online starting today for both existing and new customers at the $99.99 price tag mentioned above, so you don’t have to choose your venue to get this deal.

You can grab the LG Fortune 2 from Cricket Wireless.

Retouch Me review: a photo correction service for those with no photo editing skills

Alexandra Arici
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How many times have you snapped a selfie and, upon seeing the result, found yourself wishing you had more hair volume or that you were skinnier? These imperfections can be easily adjusted using professional editing programs like Photoshop. But what do you do if you don’t know Photoshop? You ask a friend… or you can install an app to help you with editing.

These days, there’s an app for everything. So why shouldn’t there be one for getting flawless photos and selfies? Enter Retouch Me, a photo correction service which puts you in direct contact with trained designers, who are available at any hour of the day and night.

Setup

Setting up the app is pretty simple. Just grab it from the Google Play Store and install it on your Android device. The app is free to download, but if you want to get your photos and selfies retouched you will have to pay cash.

Once you fire up the app, you’re prompted to pick a photo you want to get retouched (or to take a new one).

Select an image and start tapping on the adjustments you want the designer to do to them. Options are grouped into two categories: Body and Face.

You can pick from numerous options including:

  • Slimmer waist
  • Flat stomach
  • Remove fat folds
  • Remove skin flaws
  • Longer legs
  • Thinner arms
  • Remove tattoos
  • Iron clothes
  • Remove pimples
  • Whiten teeth
  • Enlarge eyes
  • Enlarge lips and many more

But to get your photo retouched you need stars. To see your star balance, check the bottom left of the screen.

How do you get stars? Well, you’ll have to purchase them using real money. 20 starts cost $1, while purchasing 80 will take you back with $3.99. If you want to go big, you also have the option of buying up to 3000 stars.

You can also earn stars (or credits). You can watch an ad for one star or like RetouchMe on Facebook or Instagram for five stars each. Writing a review on Google Play will get you an additional 10 credits.

Once you stocked up on stars, pick the retouches you want to apply to your photo. For example, a nose correction, ear reduction or lips enlargement will cost you 10 stars.

Smoothing the skin takes more effort so it will take you back with 20 stars. But the majority of options cost 5 or 10 stars.

After you decide on the retouches you want to be applied, you simply tap the Send to Designer button in the upper right corner and wait. It takes up to an hour before you get the edited photo back.

So, how are the results? In my experience, they were ok, but nothing out of the ordinary. I sent in a few pics and asked the app to smooth my skin, remove a pimple and add more volume to my hair.

While the designer who retouched my image(s) did everything I asked for, it’s nothing I couldn’t have done myself using a photo app like AirBrush.

For another image, I requested a bosom enlargement, as well as a tan. As you can see below, the retouches are a bit awkward.

Once you get the results back, you can easily compare the old and new image to be able to see the differences more clearly. You can also rate the designer who retouched your photo and opt to have the RetouchMe logo on your pic.

From the same window, you can also share the retouched images on social media (Facebook, Twitter) or save it to your device.

Conclusion

RetouchMe is a very intuitive app, so anyone will be able to get their photos retouched easily. Photo retouching apps are as easy as ever, so there are plenty of options to make these alterations on your own. But, that being said, if you want to just have someone else take on the task RetouchMe is the way to go.

If you want to find out more about Retouch Me, you can visit its website or find it in the Google Play Store.

Misfit Path minimalist hybrid smartwatch goes on sale

Alexandra Arici
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Looking to buy a smartwatch, but you’re not a fan of the bulkier ones? No problem. You can check out Misfit’s hybrid Path smartwatch, which just went on sale.

Announced at CES 2018, the Misfit Path features a 38mm case that houses a standard watch with smart features such as activity tracking.

The minimalist wearable is available for purchase for $149.99 in four color options including stainless steel, rose gold, gold and stainless steel with gold accents.

Since it’s a hybrid smartwatch, the Misfit Path does not have a touchscreen, although you can pair it with smartphones over Bluetooth.

Misfit Path is an affordable hybrid smartwatch

Even if it doesn’t allow you to install apps, the watch can still track steps, sleep, calories burned, and distance walked. The product is also water-resistant up to 50 meters. The wearable does not have a heart rate sensor, though.

Poor battery life is one of the major complaints of smartwatch users, but the Misfit Path runs on a replaceable coin cell battery that can last up to six months. That’s possible because hybrid smartwatches are more restricted in nature when it comes to functionality.

On top of providing superior battery life, hybrid smartwatches are also more stylish. On the other side of the coin, they don’t offer advanced features such as being able to reply to messages from your wrist.

With the Misfit Path, you can still get vibrating notifications for calls, texts and apps. So at least, you’ll know you need to check your phone.

The watch also features a smart button which lets users play music, take a picture, or find their phone.

At this moment it seems the Misfit Path is available with a discount. So if you hurry up (the promo price might be available for a limited time) you could get it with 25% off. Instead of $149.99, you’ll only have to pay $112.49.

Four tips on how to choose the right headphones and headsets (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
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Nearly anything a person does can be made better by listening to music. In order to take the music you love on the go, you will have to find the right headphones. There are no shortage of options on the headphones market and choosing the right one will take a little bit of work on your part.

Finding the right phones will usually start with finding the right supplier. Ideally, a person will want to find a suppler who can get them everything from headphones to a Beats cord. A person should have no problem finding the right headphones by simply considering a few factors.

What Will the Headphones Be Used For?

Blackwire 5210 USB-C

Selecting the right headphones will require a person to figure out what they are being used for. There are a variety of headphones out there and they are almost all designed for specific things. By taking the time to figure out how and where these headphones will be used, a buyer will be able to get the right ones. For those shopping in a store, be sure to talk with a salesman to get some advice on what type of headphones are needed.

In some cases, getting mobile phone headsets may be better than a set of headphones. With a headset, you will be able to drive hands free without having to hang up on a call. Before investing in a headset, you need to take some time to do your homework. With all of the different headsets on the market, you will have to take your time.

Budget is required

The next thing a person will want to think about when trying to get the right headsets or headphones is the amount of money they are willing to pay. There are a variety of headphones out there and each of them will have a different price range. Before going out in search of the right headphones, a person should research how much money they will need.

The Right Supplier to Buy From

Finding a deal on a headset or headphones may require you to do any level of research, from just a small bit to a large amount. There are a number of websites out there that specialize in discount electronics.

Before using one of these sites, make sure they are reputable. The last thing you want to do is overpay for a headset that isn’t worth it. Perhaps worse, you don’t want to end up with a bad product that is not supported by a quality warranty or return policy.

Another very important thing to consider is finding the right supplier. The proper supplier will be able to get you the advice and guidance needed to find the right headphones. Finding out as much as you can about a supplier will help a person to get the right one chosen in a hurry. Making a decision without the proper amount of research can cause a number of issues along the way.

Try Them Out

If at all possible, you will need to try out a headset or headphones before you buy it. Many electronic retailers will have displays of headsets they sell. Taking the time to go in and try these out is a great way to figure out what headset is the right fit for your particular needs.

Getting the right headphones will make it easy for a person to take their music with them. A quality pair of headphones will last for a long time and are well worth the money. Skimping on the quality of a headset or headphones to save money will usually backfire.

Research claims Android manufacturers dishonest about security

AndroidGuys
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Several phone makers have been allegedly misleading consumers regarding their device’s protection. A study spearheaded by Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell of Security Research Labs revealed OEMs have been making users think their phone is up to date while never having applied the supposed security patches.

Patch Gaps

The following breaks down missing patches by vendor:

  • Google, Sony, Samsung, Wiko (0-1 missed patches)
  • Xiaomi, OnePlus, Nokia (1-3 missed patches)
  • HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola (3-4 missed patches)
  • TCL, ZTE (4+ missed patches)

This type of neglect would seem to greatly increase vulnerabilities, however, Google refutes this notion in a statement to Wired.

Security updates are one of many layers used to protect Android devices and users. Built-in platform protections, such as application sandboxing, and security services, such as Google Play Protect, are just as important. These layers of security—combined with the tremendous diversity of the Android ecosystem—contribute to the researchers’ conclusions that remote exploitation of Android devices remains challenging.

— Scott Roberts, Android product security lead

The report adds to an already tarnished reputation as the Android OEMs haven’t always been timely with security provisions and have track records of lagging behind on overall updates.

There will certainly be more information in the days ahead as Google plans to independently investigate the parties named and will also team with SRL for further analysis.

As a consumer, has your trust taken a hit or could we be sensationalizing this?

It’s a Space Thing charmingly recreates arcade shooter (review)

AndroidGuys
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It’s a Space Thing takes players on a journey through the lenses of 80s era moon shades. Harkening back to the days of such classics as Space Invaders and Galaga, indie dev Brad Erkkila has struck a nice balance between nostalgia and present-day game mechanics.

With various game modes (Single/Multiplayer, Invaders and Boss Mode) along with character selection and achievements, gamers get to decide how to approach the galactic goodness offered up by IAST.

Blast Off

Getting going is just a matter of downloading from the Google Play Store, launching and connecting to your Google Play Games profile (should you choose to do so). You are then greeted with a cheeky sci-fi reference setting the tone immediately before being presented with game mode options.

Space Thing Options

Following your mode selection, it’s time to pick your character skin. Currently, there are eleven “things” to choose from to represent you on your retro-quest.

Straight Baller

The overall gameplay of IAST can be described as a quick-twitch shooter. While paying homage to its old-school brethren, it mirrors the same unyielding difficulty. But upon settling in, gamers will likely appreciate the opportunities for strategy in the forms of barricades and power-ups.

The goal is to simply dodge fire from an opposing enemy scrolling across the top while you maneuver below armed with forcefields and a blaster (both items must recharge after use). Besting your opponent ten times will trigger a boss attack. Bosses come in many shapes and sizes and offer their own unique enhanced challenge.

Another method of playing is by switching to “Invaders” mode. This style pits your character against three stationary motherships which launch projectiles including spacecraft and energy spheres. This mode increases in difficulty every round and players amass an overall score.

The 2-player setting of IAST is way more fun than it should be. With online multiplayer being the norm these days, there is just something refreshing about being able to sit opposite a friend or family member in the same room, on one smart device, with the sole goal of conquering and disintegrating one another (Ah, old-fashioned wholesome fun).

Space Thing Multi

Additionally, there is a standalone boss mode. You will make your way through a host of enemies:

  • Widowmaker
  • Tri-Orb
  • Turbo Tyrant
  • Eliminator
  • Destructor
  • Marauder
  • Goliath
  • Crusher
  • Spectre

Accomplishing every boss mission (achievements) will give players access to all bosses.

Hella Tight

When replicating 80s gaming, music and sound effects are as important to the experience as the product itself. IAST hits the mark with accurately pitched “pew-pews” and a throwback electronic soundtrack provided by PlayOnLoop. Sound effects and/or music can be disabled within the audio settings in the event you are a killjoy.

Space Thing Settings

Awe Dang

Being that IAST is a free app, of course, there are ads. They are quite frequent, but not overly invasive. Currently, there does not seem to be a way to disable, so deploying an ad-free paid version would be ideal.

Super Dope

It’s a Space Thing succeeds on many levels while faithfully recreating a slice of gaming from a bygone era. Players will appreciate how each component of this mobile gem was given proper attention.

With a distinct visual and audio vibe propped up by engaging game modes, IAST makes for a nearly perfect mobile experience for retro gamers and enthusiasts alike.

You can grab It’s a Space Thing in the Google Play Store.

MetroPCS tempts switchers with two months of free service

AndroidGuys
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T-Mobile and its prepaid brand, MetroPCS, today announced a new offer aimed at luring subscribers away from other wireless carriers. Starting immediately, and running for a limited time, customers can earn two months of free service through MetroPCS.

In order to qualify for the two free months, customers will need to meet a few criteria. First up, the user must bring an existing phone number from another carrier and sign up for a plan of $50 or higher.

Once the customer finishes two months of on-time payments, they will receive a $100 MasterCard. Although it can be used anywhere a MasterCard is accepted, this value equates to two months of a $50 rate plan.

MetroPCS is also offering its new customers free phones from a variety of handset makers. Among the selection are the Samsung Galaxy J3, LG Aristo 2, Motorola Moto E4, ZTE Avid 4, and Coolpad Defiant.

The fine print tells us there is a limit of 1 service rebate per account with a maximum of five per household. As for the free phones, MetroPCS limits it to five device rebates per account/household.

LG opens Software Upgrade Center, aims to make slow updates a thing of the past

Alexandra Arici
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Slow Android updates are one of the worst things about smartphones running Google’s mobile operating system.

LG knows this to well and under its new CEO, who got appointed at the end of 2017, it’s aiming to change things for the better.

The Korean device manufacturer recently opened the Software Upgrade Center in Seoul, a facility set up with the express goal of speeding up the Android software delivery system for LG phones. As the company’s CEO Jo Seong-jin explained in the press release:

“Stable and consistent upgrades will demonstrate to our customers that LG smartphones have long and reliable lifespans.”

The first task set upon the shoulders of the Software Upgrade team will be to deliver Android Oreo to LG’s 2017 flagship, the LG G6. The company hopes to be able to start rolling out the new update in Korea later this month, with other key markets following shortly.

By taking steps to improve OS update times, LG is probably aiming to create an advantage over the competition, especially Samsung. The Galaxy phone maker is well-known for taking its sweet time when it comes to updating its devices to the latest version of Android.

LG phone owners should get faster updates

LG hopes to provide a superior experience, as the Software Update Center is dedicated to developing and delivering regular OS updates.

Will LG be able to deliver what was promised? We’ll just have to wait and see. Even so, will this be enough to entice customers to purchase LG smartphones and forget all about Samsung’s? It’s another big maybe.

In related news, LG recently revealed when it’s going to take the wraps off its long-rumored G7 ThinQ flagship. The Korean company will host a press event in New York on May 2, during which it will unveil the G6 successor. Uncharacteristically, LG skipped MWC this year and opted to unveil its next flagship during a separate event at a later date.

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