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Switch to Cricket Wireless and get 50% off the Samsung Galaxy S8 (conditions apply)

Alexandra Arici
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In anticipation of the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, some carriers and retailers are trying to clear out their inventories by offering generous discounts on the soon-to-be previous-generation flagships, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

It’s the case of AT&T’s prepaid branch, Cricket Wireless which has a pretty sweet promotion going on. Customers looking to switch to Cricket can get a 50% discount on the Galaxy S8.

You’ll have to bring your number to the carrier and sign up with a data plan that costs $30/month or more. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to purchase Samsung’s 2017 flagship for $349.99.

Current Cricket Wireless subscribers adding a new number or looking to upgrade their phone will pay $699.99.

There are a few other conditions you need to take into consideration before taking advantage of the deal. For example, the first month’s service charge and sales tax are due at the time of the purchase. Also, if you buy the Galaxy S8 from a brick and mortar Cricket store, you will have to pay up to $25 for an activation fee.

Even so, the deal sounds pretty great. Unless you’re looking to get the Galaxy S9. In that case, don’t forget to tune in on February 25 to learn more about Samsung’s new flagship.

Get the Galaxy S8 at half the price at Cricket Wireless

Essential Phone also gets a Halo Gray version with Amazon Alexa on board

Alexandra Arici
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Last week Essential Products unveiled three new color options for the Essential Phone including Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray, and Copper Black.

Well soon after introducing the new colors, the company also announced a new version of its flagship handset. It’s called the Essential Phone Halo Gray and comes with Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant built-in.

Halo Gray or Stellar Gray?

Visually, the Halo Gray version doesn’t seem to be much different from the Stellar Gray model, but Essential notes that the former features a black matte ceramic back and natural-colored titanium frame, while the latter boasts a matte black ceramic back and black titanium frame. Hmm, sounds like you’ll need glasses to tell them apart.

Oh yes, and there’s a difference in pricing too. While the Stellar Gray model will be sold for $599, the Halo Gray version can be yours for only $449.

As for specs, the Halo Gray variant retains exactly the same specs as all the other versions. That means you’ll get a 5.71-inch handset with 18:9 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1312 resolution. Other specs include a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, dual cameras on the back and a 3,040 mAh battery to keep things alive on board.

Unlike the new color versions, you can pre-order the Halo Gray Essential Phone from Amazon. The handset is expected to start shipping out to customers starting February 21. Any takers?

Tip: How to speed up your OnePlus 3T

Dan Bartram
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The OnePlus 3T was, and still is, one of the best budget phones you can buy and is great for those not looking to spend a lot of money on their device. However, the device isn’t as young as it once was and with apps getting more resource demanding, you could find the OnePlus 3T to be slowing down. Luckily there is a hidden feature that you can change that will instantly speed up your device.

This tip will help speed up your OnePlus 3T and help reduce the impact of the ageing processor and resource-hungryy apps, as well as the lower processing power in the device. The best bit is there’s nothing extra to install or tons of settings to change, just a simple case of changing a setting with developer options enabled.

The little hack revolves around the animations applied to transitioning between windows and turning the device on or off. By simply turning this off, it contributes to making the device seem extremely snappy and fast by reducing the delay applied to the animation.

First, you’ll need to enable the Developer Options hidden menu. To do this, go into Settings -> About Device and scroll down to “Build Number”. Now, tap on “Build Number” five times and you’ll see a notification saying that “Developer mode has been enabled”.

With that hidden menu now enabled, we can head on into it to begin fastening up our OnePlus 3T.

  1. Head on in to Developer Options in Settings.
  2. Scroll down to the Drawing section.
  3. Of interest here is the Window Animation Scale, Transition Animation Scale, and Animator Duration Scale.
  4. Click on them individually to change the scale.

You are able to turn the animations off completely, or set them to 0.5x (default is 1x) so the animations will be double speed for those who would like to retain them.

You’ll notice your OnePlus 3T feels substantially quicker without any hacks that affect your software, warranty, or device battery life. Let us know your comments in the section below.

LastPass finally gets Oreo’s autofill support

Dan Bartram
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One of the standout features with Android Oreo was the new API that allowed an autofill call to be made by apps. The natural application to this was password managers that would be able to detect a form field and lookup credentials and share it with that app.

LastPass began integrating the support for the Oreo autofill back in August but the app is now ready to publish the feature in the full stable version of the app as of today. LastPass keeps its accessibility-based autofill to cater for, let’s face it, a majority of other devices that don’t have Android Oreo.

We are very pleased to introduce support for the new Android Oreo autofill feature, for devices running Android 8 and later. You can enable this new feature in the Autofill settings page. The original accessibility-based autofill is still available as well, and it can help fill apps that are not yet compatible with the new autofill feature. Please use the support feedback channels to let us know how well this works for you, so that we can continue to improve it in future releases!

In the latest version of LastPass (4.4.1749) you’ll find support for autofill and you can turn it on by going to Settings > Autofill if you’re running Oreo.

LastPass also has the ability to recognize addresses and credit card forms to fill in the appropriate data but these features are still in beta and are turned off by default in the settings.

You can grab the latest version of LastPass to try it out for yourself here.

LG’s next flagship smartphone could be set to launch in June

Dan Bartram
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LG earlier this year made a pledge to stop the yearly release schedule of its smartphones. It was a bold but thoughtful and understandable move for the company to launch new models only when it was needed. Shortly after the announcement, it emerged LG was already working on its next flagship.

According to a new report from VentureBeat, the phone is codenamed “Judy” internally and is expected to have a 6.1-inch 18:9 display. The panel is using a new ‘MLCD+’ panel capable of 800-nit brightness, which consumes around 35% lower battery.

The device will also have a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 64GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM, dual 16-Megapixel cameras and IP68 water resistance. There will also be wireless charging and stereo speakers.

LG seems to be targetting a June release so presumably, it considers that timeframe an essential time to release a new flagship given the company’s new mentality.

Eight surprising things you can do with Google Maps for Android

Alexandra Arici
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Navigation apps are super useful to have on your smartphone and Google Maps is widely considered the cream of the crop. But while the app is used mainly to provide orientation, there are some surprising features tucked away in Google Maps that you might not know about.

So we rounded up a selection of some of the best hidden Google Maps tools and functions you should definitely try out next time you’re out and about:

Measure distance between points

Want to know the exact distance between point A and point B on the map? Nothing easier. Google Maps lets you measure the distance. Just touch and hold anywhere on the map. You’ll immediately see a red pin appear.

At the bottom, tap the name of the place. On the place’s page, scroll down and choose Measure distance. Then move the map, so the black circle is on the next point you want to add. At the bottom, you’ll see total distance on miles or kilometers.

Avoid tolls

Looking to save up a few bucks? Avoid paying a costly bridge tax, by setting Google Maps to show you only the free routes. Tap on Route Options and toggle Avoid Tolls on. But keep in mind that this decision might add a lot of miles/km to your travel itinerary.

See inside places

Google Maps comes with the neat option of allowing you to take a sneak peek inside famous buildings such as art museums, cultural landmarks, and even airports and their surroundings.

When you search for a location, swipe up to get more info on it. In some cases, you will notice the 360-degree icon (under Photos). Tap on it, so you can view the interior/exterior and walk in the space too.

Remember where you parked

Parked at the mall and you can’t remember where you left your car? Google Maps can help you with that too. Once you arrive at your destination, tap on the little blue dot that is your location. Choose the Set as parking location option from the menu that pops up. If you’re using your Android smartphone, you can even add a parking note with additional info (like the sector in which you parked).

Zoom with one finger

The majority of smartphone users zoom in on their device using the traditional pinching gesture. But in Google Maps there’s an easier way to do it and it requires only one finger – just double tap the screen and swipe up to zoom out or swipe down to zoom in. Just make sure you keep your finger on the display after the second tap.

Read more: Google Maps will soon help you to get off at the right bus stop

Explore

Just landed in a new place and you’d fancy a quick dinner? Or you want to get to an ATM as soon as possible? Use Google Maps’ Explore feature to see what’s nearby including restaurants, cafes, gas stations, pharmacies, groceries, and ATMs.

All you have to do is tap on the Explore button at the bottom of the display to get started.

Get transit info

Rail data and public transport information is available on Google Maps in large cities. You can access the Public Transport tap to get buses, trains and trams schedules. It shows real-time departures and reveals how many interchanges there will be.

For each journey, the app will compare alternative routes via different transport modes, including walking and driving, so you can choose the quickest or easiest way to get to your destination.

Request a ride

Need to be somewhere and you need someone to drive you there? Enter your destination, tap on directions and choose the little figure attempting to hail a taxi.

Then you’ll be presented with a list of options (Uber, Lyft) along with the estimated time and fare. Note that you can’t order a ride directly from the Maps app. Tapping on the option will automatically direct you to the Uber/Lyft app.

Suggested reading:

Official Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus cases appear on MobileFun

Dan Bartram
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As the launch of the Galaxy S9 approaches, it’s natural for the leading accessory sites to get ready for the new device. MobileFun is one of those sites and it has sent over some exclusive videos of the new Clear View stand cover and LED Flip Wallet cover in action.

One of the first things you want to do when you receive your brand new shiny device is to protect it with a case so it’s a great move that you can pick up a cover to protect the Galaxy S9 even before its release.

The video shows off the official cases and the rear camera design, as well as the overall look and feel of the Galaxy S9 itself.

You’ll specifically notice the shift in fingerprint reader location that is now placed under the camera to provide a more accessible and comfortable feel.

The LED View cover is similar to previous iterations we’ve seen, whereby a series of dots make up a matrix that projects things like the current time, notifications, calls, etc. through the case to avoid the need to open up the cover to see vital information. However, instead of the usual synthetic leather, it is now made of a woven fabric that makes it look a lot nicer. MobileFun also shows off the new Hyperknit cover, which is especially nice in my opinion. It looks to add a substantial amount of grip to the Galaxy S9 without any noticeable bulk.

If you’re looking for something a little different, MobileFun has compiled a round-up of cases for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.

The two cases are already available on MobileFun’s online store, with the LED Flip Wallet Cover costing $69.49 while the Hyperknit Cover case costing $34.99. You can also view our full range of Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus here.

Verizon Prepaid rolls out new options, including a $30 plan

AndroidGuys
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Verizon Wireless on Friday introduced a number of changes to its prepaid offerings. The shakeup adds a new entry, low-cost entry point as well as extra options to help subscribers get more from the service. If you’re interested in a no-contract option, Verizon prepaid just became more interesting.

What’s New?

Starting on February 20, customers will find a new option that costs only $30 per month. For the money you’ll get unlimited talk and text with 500MB of high speed data. For just ten bucks more each month, though, you can receive 3GB of data. Here’s a look at the current rate plans from Verizon Prepaid.

Rate plans

  • 500MB for $30
  • 3 GB for $40
  • 7 GB for $50
  • 10 GB for $60
  • Unlimited for $75

Each of the aforementioned plans includes unlimited U.S. talk and text, Carryover data (for one month and on-time payments), mobile hotspot capabilities, and unlimited text 200+ international markets.

For those customers who sign up for the Prepaid Unlimited plan, they’ll also get unlimited mobile hotspot at 3G speeds (600kbps). What’s more, subscribers who travel to Mexico or Canada can purchase a Travel Pass. For $5 per day, it allows for unlimited talk and text and the standard data allotment. Verizon recommends that you add the Travel Pass to your account (through the My Verizon app) before traveling.

Verizon Prepaid is offering a $50 credit to customers who port their number in from another carrier. Simply sign up with a rate plan of $50 or higher and you’ll get a credit after two bill payments.

 

Select “loyal” Nexus owners are getting a 20% discount on the Pixel 2

Alexandra Arici
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We have some good news for those of you who have been loyal members of the Nexus clan for years. Well at least for some.

According to several reports that emerged on Reddit, Google has been sending emails to select people who purchased Nexus devices in the past offering a pretty sweet discount on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Google gets generous

At this point, we aren’t really sure who qualifies for the promotion, but if we’d have to guess we’d say Nexus owners who bought their device directly from the Google Store. How many devices should have you purchased for Google to consider you a loyal Nexus fan? We don’t know at the moment, but according to the forums at least two are needed.

Google is shaving 20% the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and according to 9to5Google, the offer applies to any Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL color or storage variant. So loyal Nexus fans could get the following prices on Google’s latest smartphones:

  • Pixel 2 with 64GB storage – $520
  • Pixel 2 with 128GB storage – $600
  • Pixel 2 XL with 64GB storage – $680
  • Pixel 2 XL with 128GB storage – $760

The offer is valid until February 02, 2018 so if you bought a Nexus (or more) and you haven’t received an email yet, don’t forget to check the SPAM folder. Hopefully, it will be there. If not, well…fingers crossed!

Project Fi now offers international coverage in 37 new countries, price remains the same

Alexandra Arici
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Are you a Project Fi subscriber that loves to travel? Then you’ll be thrilled to know that Google’s MNVO is adding 37 new countries where customers can enjoy text and data coverage, thus bringing Project Fi’s total coverage to 170 territories across the globe.

New countries include Belize, Laos, Isle of Man, Monaco, Mongolia, Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia and more. You can check out the whole list below:

The best part of the announcement is that unlimited texting is offered to all locations on the list and data coverage will cost the same $10 per GB as it does domestically. Project Fi’s Bill Protection feature also remains in place and will cap your data bill at $60 per month regardless of how much data you use. Add an extra $20 for talk/text and you’ll be paying an $80 monthly bill.

Phone calls, however, are not part of the Bill Protection plan and will be charged $0.20/minute outside of the US.

Know before you travel

Project Fi will also let you know whether you are covered by the MNVO on your next trip. Based on info pulled from your Gmail account, Project Fi will know your upcoming travel plans and inform you whether it can provide service in that specific country.

Thinking of joining Project Fi? There’s a little catch you need to be aware of first. The MNVO only works with a list of select phones including the four Pixel phones, Moto X4, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6.

If that’s not a problem for you, you’ll be interested to know that Project Fi has a little deal going now to celebrate the expansion to new countries. Buy a Project-Fi compatible phone and you’ll get a free month of service (worth $80).

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