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6 Apps to control your Windows 10 PC from Android

Dan Bartram
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Whether it be a PC or laptop running Windows 10, it’s sometimes not always practical to carry it around with you. Something you do tend to have to hand almost constantly is your Android smartphone. Microsoft offers the ability to remotely control your Windows PC and here are the ways in which you can do that.

There are a few ways in which these remote apps work. Some of them connect via the remote desktop connection protocol that can operate over a data connection and offer a way to view the entire desktop via a remote device. Another protocol used is VNC, which is a similar method to RDP using a different protocol. Other methods will simply allow you to control the mouse and keyboard on your Android device but won’t actually allow you to display the remote display.

Chrome Remote Desktop

One of the most popular methods of accessing a remote machine is through the Chrome browser itself. You’ll need a Google account and be signed in on both the remote machine and the device you want to access from. You’ll be able to screen share, enter text, and have all the resources available as if you were sitting in front of the PC.

Chrome Remote Desktop

TeamViewer

Teamviewer Google Market

Most of heard of TeamViewer as it’s probably the most popular app for remote desktop sharing. It works by installing a host program on the remote PC and then using a client app to connect to the assigned ID. Again, it works flawlessly and allows you to even establish a secure connection to transfer files to the PC.

TeamViewer

Splashtop 2

While the offerings up to this point have been free to use, Splashtop 2 offers a paid package for an enhanced experience and is popular amongst those that want a better performance from the remote connection. There is a free version to test it out.

Splashtop 2

Microsoft Remote Desktop

Microsoft offers its own official RDP app for accessing your PC remotely. It works as good as you’d expect and can save multiple sessions for quickly accessing your remote connections. You’ll need to make sure you set up appropriate port-forwarding if you want to access your home PC away from your local network.

Microsoft Remote Desktop

DroidMote

This app can provide a remote mouse in case you find yourself without a mouse, which is perfect for PC’s connected to a TV for example being used as a media PC. It works over WiFi and does what it says on the tin.

DroidMote

VNC Viewer

This app sits right behind RDP as one of the most popular remote connection methods. It lets you see the screen of the remote PC and interact with it. There are not the enhanced features such as file transfer with VNC, but is the go-to app of choice for connected to remote PC’s that are off-site and outside of your local network.

VNC Viewer

If you have any apps that you go to for connecting to your PC remotely then please drop us a comment below. These are just a snapshot of some of the many remote access apps available on Google Play so let us know your favorite.

Android Auto users reporting pixelated screens, Google working on a fix

Dan Bartram
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Android Auto is Google’s answer to bringing Android to the car while keeping drivers, and those around you, safe. However, some new reports are filling up various support forums stating that the screens on some Android Auto units are pixelated.

The units themselves are made by third party manufacturers so the hardware is relatively unqiue across the board with reports extending across the entire range of hardware and software versions. Users are reporting the screens show blocky or pixelated areas of the screen.

Google hasn’t offered an explanation as to the cause of the pixelation on the Android Auto units but did say it is investigating and working on a fix. Presumably that means Google thinks it can fix things with a software update rather than something more fundamentally attributable to the hardware.

It’s good to see Google quickly reacting to these reports and hopefully a software patch will follow shortly to quash the issues users are having.

Have you seen this with your Android Auto unit? Drop us a comment below and let us know.

The complete list of Project Fi-compatible phones

Alexandra Arici
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Google this week announced an “unlimited” option of sorts for Project Fi users dubbed Bill Protection.

Google’s Project Fi service is designed for those who prefer not paying a flat fee for wireless service each month. Instead, subscribers are charged for the data they use. The base bill is set at $20/month and gives you unlimited talk and text plus $10 per gigabyte.

But while this system favors subscribers who rarely use data, it’s not too appealing for heavy users. That’s why Google introduced Bill Protection. The new plan caps every user’s bill at $80 per month regardless of how much data is used.

Users will still pay $20/month for unlimited talk and text and $10 per gigabyte of data, but instead of letting the numbers climb unrestricted, Google will be capping it at $60 even if you used more than 6GB of data. Google says it may slow data speeds once you’ve hit 15GB of data in a month.

With the new Bill Protection place in place, it might be the time for some customers to revisit Project Fi. But to be able to use Project Fi you’ll need a compatible phone. Below you’ll find the complete list of phones that work with Google’s MNVO.

Note: You need an unlocked North American model for Project Fi to work on it.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Obviously, Google’s recent Pixel 2 models are compatible with Project Fi. The phones are hailed as being some of the best phones launched in 2017. Both take advantage of a powerful configuration, a great camera and ship with the latest version of Android (Oreo) on board.

You can purchase the Pixel 2 directly from Project Fi, starting at $649, while the Pixel 2 XL can be yours for $849 and up. With Project Fi, you can also choose to pay for your Pixel over time.

Pixel 2

  • 5-inch AMOLED display with fullHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 421ppi
  • Snapdragon 835 with Adreno 540 GPU
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB/128GB of storage
  • 12.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/1.8, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus and dual-LED flash
  • 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4
  • 2,700 mAh battery
  • IP67 certified
  • Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box

Pixel 2 XL

  • 6-inch P-OLED display with 1440 x 2880 resolution, 18:9 aspect ratio, 538ppi
  • Snapdragon 835 with Adreno 540 GPU
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB/128GB of storage
  • 12.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/1.8, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
  • 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4
  • 3,520 mAh battery
  • IP67 certified
  • Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box

Pixel and Pixel XL

The original Pixel and Pixel XL are also part of the Project Fi family. You can grab the Pixel XL from the MNVO for $549 and up, but the original Pixel is currently out of the stock, so you’ll have to look somewhere else if you want to buy a new one right now.

Pixel

  • 5-inch AMOLED display with fullHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 441ppi
  • Snapdragon 821 with Adreno 530 GPU
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/128GB of storage
  • 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0, gyro EIS, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
  • 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4
  • 2,770 mAh battery
  • Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box (upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo)

Pixel XL

  • 5.5-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 534ppi
  • Snapdragon 821 with Adreno 530 GPU
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/128GB of storage
  • 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0, gyro EIS, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
  • 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4
  • 3,450 mAh battery
  • Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box (upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo)

Moto X4 (Android One version)

The Moto X4 is the first non-Google phone to be available via Project Fi. It’s also the most affordable of the bunch, and customers can get it for $299 outright or $12.46/month for 24 months.

Moto X4

  • 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with FullHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 424ppi
  • Snapdragon 630 with Adreno 508 GPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of storage (expandable up to 256GB via microSD card)
  • Dual 12-megapixel (f/2.0, PDAF, dual pixel) + 8-megapixel (f/2.2) rear-facing camera with phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash
  • 16-megapixel front facing camera with f/2.0
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box (planned upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo)

Some of Google’s older phones are also compatible with Project Fi:

Nexus 5X

  • 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with FullHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 423ppi
  • Snapdragon 808 with Adreno 418 GPU
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB/32GB of storage
  • 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera f/2.0 with laser autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash
  • 5-megapixel front facing camera with f/2.0
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box (upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo)

Nexus 6P

  • 5.7-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 518ppi
  • Snapdragon 810 with Adreno 430 GPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB/128GB of storage
  • 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0, laser autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash
  • 8-megapixel front facing camera with f/2.4
  • 3,450 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box (upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo)

Nexus 6

  • 5.96-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 493ppi
  • Snapdragon 805 with Adreno 420 GPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of storage
  • 13-megapixel rear-facing camera f/2.0 with autofocus, OIS, dual-LED dual-tone flash
  • 2-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.2
  • 3,220 mAh battery
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box (upgradable to Android 7.1.1 Nougat)

These phones are no longer available for purchase via official channels, although you might still find some people selling refurbished models on websites like eBay.

OnePlus suffers cyber attack that leaks 40,000 customer details

Dan Bartram
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It’s time to reset the OnePlus counter of controversy surrounding the company and its headlines in the news. First it was the invite system and then a plethora of social media blunders and now, unfortunately, it’s a security issue.

Earlier this week, customers were reporting fraudulent transactions on their credit cards following a purchase on the OnePlus website. OnePlus confirmed that it used custom code and the highest security to assure customers their data was secure; however, shortly after the company suspended all credit card transactions on its website, rightly so, while it investigated the claims.

Today, OnePlus began sending out emails to those who purchased a device stating that their information may have been compromised.

The breach is said to have impacted 40,000 customers and of those who were affected, the full credit card number, expiry date, and security code were accessed. That’s a big problem and should instantly be a trigger for cancelling your credit card if you believe your data was compromised.

OnePlus has still left PayPal as a valid payment method on its website, but credit card payments remain suspended.

While security can never be full-proof, this is a massive red flag for the company and why using an intermediary like PayPal is always a safer option than plugging your card details directly onto any site. It certainly won’t help the reputation of OnePlus and while this situation is simply unacceptable from a cybersecurity point of view, OnePlus do get some brownie points for suspending the payment method so quickly but could have been much more transparent earlier on with those impacted.

Get a free smartphone when you switch to Cricket Wireless

Dan Bartram
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Cricket is offering up a sweet little deal to help deal with the holiday blues in which you can grab yourself a free smartphone when switching to the carrier.

When you switch to Cricket, get 2 lines of unlimited data for $80/month with 2 free smartphones, like the new Alcatel VERSO (regularly $29.99). There is a specified list of free smartphone before you get too excited and think about bagging a Galaxy S8. Eligible devices are ZTE Overture 3, LG Fortune, and Alcatel Verso.

You can even switch up the whole family and take advantage of 4 unlimited data lines for $100 and get a free smartphone for each line. Unlimited data is capped at speeds of 3Mbps and has a fair usage of 22GB per line per month.

There are some obvious T&C’s around this including an applicable service activation charge of $25, so encourage you to go have a read of the Cricket promotion page. It’s a good way to entice users over to the Cricket network but I’m not sure the selection of free devices would be a good enough deal. I would much rather see a discounted monthly charge than a free device that I’ll probably just sell thrown in.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

New Amazon Echo device owner? Here are the first things to try

Alexandra Arici
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Amazon Echo was one of the most sought-after gifts during the most recent holiday season, literally flying off virtual and physical shelves.

Three years after defining a category with the first Echo smart speaker, Amazon has regularly refreshed an expanded the line which now includes seven models, each powered by Alexa.

  • Echo (1st generation)
  • Echo (2nd generation)
  • Echo Dot (1st generation)
  • Echo Dot (2nd generation)
  • Echo Show
  • Echo Plus
  • Echo Spot

Did you get one yourself recently? If the answer is yes, then you might want to check out this list of tips and tricks meant to help new Echo owners get acquainted with their new Alexa device.

Once the Alexa app is downloaded on your smartphone / tablet and your device is all set up, you’re ready for your first interactions with Amazon’s virtual assistant. Try something basic first, like:

  • Ask questions/get answers – Alexa can swiftly pull up info from Wikipedia, read out definitions and provide you with answers to whatever questions you might have (example: Alexa, who was Ivar the Boneless?)
  • Check the news/weather – listen to up-to-the-minute weather and news from a variety of sources. Users can also opt to hear a flash briefing – a daily curation of top news from sources you handpicked by you. In the Alexa app visit Settings>Flash Briefing>Get more flash briefing content, to add more sources
  • Play your favorite songs – ask Alexa to play music from Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, Pandora. Just say something like “Alexa, play [Sleep Party People] on Pandora”.
  • Set alarms, timers/make lists – with Alexa you can set up voice-controlled alarms (now made better with the ability to use music from Amazon Music, Spotify or Pandora), timers and to-do lists (never forget to buy milk again)
  • Take the edge off with a few jokes – simply say “Alexa, tell me a joke” if you feel like you need a reason to smile

Once you start getting the hang of the basics, you can try to explore even further. Some other things you can do:

  • Place a call/send a message – try hands-free calling and messaging with Alexa. Simply say: “Call (David’s) mobile” without interrupting what you’re doing
  • Calendar Integration – Alexa-powered devices work with Google, G Suite, Outlook and Office 365. Once enabled users will be able to ask Alexa to give them an overview of their day or make changes/additions to their calendar solely relying on voice commands
  • Go wild with voice shopping – Use Alexa to keep stocked on the things you need. Say “Alexa, order soap” or “Alexa, open Domino”. Once in the Domino skill, customers will be guided through the ordering process.
  • Make your home smart – Alexa can control many smart devices around the house from lights to thermostats. You will need to have the manufacturer’s app on your smartphone/tablet and make sure you set it up on the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa device. Then you can enable the skill for the smart home device from Settings in the Alexa app.

Unsure how to use some features? Ask Alexa to help you. Try asking things like:

Alexa, how do I play music?

Alexa, how do check my messages?

Alexa, what does the green light mean?

Alexa, how do I change my location?

Amazon is keen on improving its rooster of Echo devices, so it’s worth regularly checking to see what’s new and what you can take advantage of to improve your life with your Echo.

7 useful OnePlus 5T tips and tricks you should definitely try out

Alexandra Arici
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The OnePlus 5T is one of the best smartphones you can buy right now, especially considering the competitive price tag. One of the phone’s stand-out features is Oxygen OS which injects some nifty features into Google’s standard Android operating system. But some of them are buried deep within the Settings menu.

In what follows we’re going to highlight a bunch of really useful OnePlus 5T tips and tricks, so that you can make the most of your smartphone.

Swap buttons

The OnePlus 5T is the first smartphone in the company’s portfolio to come without a physical home button. Instead, you get virtual on-screen keys.

But if you’re switching to the 5T from a Samsung phone, you might find it a bit difficult to adjust to the flip-reversed keys (the Back button is on the left, while the Recents key is on the right). Fortunately, you can easily swap the two keys.

Just head to Settings>Buttons>Swap Buttons. Toggle the switch to move Back to the right side of the screen and Recents to the left.

Also, note that each button can be configured to trigger additional actions by long pressing or double tapping on it. You have a total of seven actions to choose from:

  • Open/close menu
  • Search assistant
  • Turn off screen
  • Voice search
  • Open Shelf
  • Open/close notification center
  • Open/close split screen

Take a screenshot with gestures

Need to take a screenshot on your OnePlus 5T?  You can do that the classic way by holding down the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.

Or you can use gestures. To do so, you’ll need to enable the “Three-finger screenshot” option by going to Settings>Gesture. Once you’ve done that, go to the screen you want to capture and do a three finger swipe down on the screen. And voila!

Take a selfie with the main camera

The OnePlus 5T’s selfie camera is pretty decent, but it struggles in some situations – like low-light environments. Also, there’s no Portrait Mode available. Fortunately, you can easily take a picture in the camera app using the fingerprint scanner as a shutter release. This way, you can take clearer self-portraits. And you can even blur the background if you wish to so.

To enable this feature, go to Settings>Gestures >Long press to take a photo. Unfortunately, it works only when using the phone’s proprietary camera app and not with third-party camera apps.

Get full-screen video

Watching videos on the OnePlus 5T’s 18:9 AMOLED display can cause the dreaded black box effect on some of the videos. Fortunately, you can easily go full screen while watching YouTube videos. Just pinch out on the display and the video will fill in the additional space. Other apps might require you double tap for full screen.

Yet, the majority of the apps on your phone aren’t compatible with 18:9 displays. So OnePlus allows you to view (some) of your apps in full-screen mode. To do so, go to Settings>Apps>Full-screen apps and change the ratio.

In case where apps don’t handle 18:9 aspect ratio all that well, you can quickly change them back to their original 16:9 compatibility mode.

Change Icon shape and size

Want to change the look of your icons? Nothing easier. Just press and hold on the home screen wallpaper and go to Settings. Tap on Icon pack and pick between one of the three options:

  • OnePlus
  • Round
  • Square

Or you can download an additional icon pack from the Google Play Store.

Lift to see notifications

Want to check your notifications at a glance without having to unlock your phone? You’ll need to enable both Ambient Display and Lift up display – both of which are located in the Display settings.

So the next time you’ll want to check out notifications, all you’ll have to do is pick up your phone.

Get rid of the Shelf

The Shelf is a screen that appears as you swipe left from your home screen. It shows you weather info, recent apps/contacts, and battery stats. You can add additional widgets for the things that matter most to you.

But what if you don’t like the Shelf and you want to see it gone? Nothing easier. Press and hold on the home screen wallpaper and access Settings. From there, simply disable the Shelf option.

Be sure to try out these tips on your OnePlus 5T and tell us what you think in the comment section below. What additional options should OnePlus add in future iterations of Oxygen OS?

Top 9 Android apps to help you get fast food faster

Alexandra Arici
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Found yourself craving a juicy burger in the middle of the night? Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, your next fast-food visit can go a lot smoother. Now you can easily download the app of your favorite restaurant (if they have one) or some other food ordering apps to by-pass having to wait in line for your meal to be prepared.

Mobile ordering is becoming a critical piece of many restaurants’ business plans because of what it can bring it terms of improved sales. Customers tend to visit more, on average, when they’re using a phone to order their food. However, the majority fast-food apps work a bit differently than normal food ordering apps. Sure, they allow you to place the mobile order on your phone, but you’ll have to take a stroll to the nearest restaurant and pick up your order straight. But at least you won’t have to wait.

Below you’ll find a list of some of the best apps for ordering finger-linking burgers or chicken wings. And in some cases, fries (and other goodies) are on the house.

McDonald’s

Obviously, when you say fast food the first thing that comes to mind is McDonald’s, right? The restaurant chain has its own Android app, which shows you the nearest branch, as well as provide nutritional info and new job listings. It also lets you order in advance and pick up whenever you are ready.

Furthermore, the app is quite useful for deal hunters. While the offers vary from week to week, you’ll be able to regularly find goodness like Free Fries Friday (get a free order of fries with any purchase) or buy 5 McCafes and get one free.

Download

Chick-fil-A

Do you favor chicken above anything else? Then you might want to check out the selection of chicken burgers and sandwiches at Chick-fil-A. Their mobile app allows you to customize your menu and save your options for later usage.

Customers who don’t want to pay remotely, can come in the restaurant and scan the app at the register and use the money previously loaded on their account. And the more you order at Chick-fil-A, the better the chance to receive free treats.

Download

Chipotle

In the mood or a burrito or a taco? Chipotle’s Android app has your back. You can easily customize your order with a few quick swipes and order without having to log in with an account (guest checkout). Then proceed to the register at a time and location of your choosing.

With this app, you won’t have to wait in line at Chipotle ever again! Don’t forget to check the available offers, for a chance to save up cash. Oh and you can pay with Android Pay too!

Download

Wendy’s

If you haven’t had your fill of burgers yet, you can check out Wendy’s. The app allows hungry customers to check the menu, see near-by locations and access the available deals. Yet, mobile ordering is only available in a few select locations including Austin (TX), Phoenix (AZ), Portland (OR), New Orleans (LA), Shreveport (LA), Alexandria (LA), Baton Rouge (LA), or Columbus (OH) – where you can pay for your order with your smartphone.

Download

DoorDash

Don’t feel like leaving the house this weekend? Install DoorDash on your Android phone and browse through more than 40,000 menus from your favorite fast food restaurants including Taco Bell, California Pizza Kitchen, Dunkin Donuts, Buffalo Wild Wings, El Torito, Smash Burger and more.

Pick whatever your heart desires, then just sit at home and relax while you wait for your order to be delivered. A convenient delivery tracking feature lets you know how long until your food arrives. What’s more, the app even lets you schedule deliveries, so you can make sure you don’t miss the delivery man.

Download

Uber Eats

Just like DoorDash, Uber Eats lets you browse through the menus of local restaurants and fast foods, so you can order Pizza, Burritos, Burgers and much more. Once you have placed your order, you can see the estimated delivery time and total price including the booking fee.

Download

Postmates

Need a bath deodorizer along with that burger? Postmates lets you order anything – from pizza, burgers and Chinese food to groceries and convenience store items through its partnerships with restaurants and retailers like Chipotle, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, T-Mobile, Walmart or AutoZone.

Like the apps we talked about above, Postmates also offers real-time tracking of your order and the ability to pay with a credit or debit card stored via your Google account.

Download

Starbucks

Can’t live without coffee? Get the Starbucks apps on your mobile to place a (customized) order and pick it up from a nearby store without having to wait in line to do so.

Using the app to pay frequently will result in Rewards which can be redeemed for free food or drink of your choosing. You can also tip your barista on purchases made with the app and have it identify the songs playing in Starbucks coffee houses and save them to a playlist on Spotify.

Download

7-Eleven

Save money with the 7-Eleven app which rewards you for buying food and drink items. You can earn points on almost everything, just don’t forget to scan your app barcode at every checkout.

For every $1 you spend, you will be able to earn 25 reward points. Once you reach 800 points you can start redeeming them for things like Donuts, Cookies, Taquitos, chips and more. Or you can save up the points and redeem them on larger purchases such as hot dogs and more.

Unlike the other apps on the list, you won’t be able to place an order via the app, but at least you’ll get to see the nearest store located to you. While you may not get your hands on your order faster with the 7-Eleven app, you’ll be able to earn points and redeem them in exchange for tasty fast food items. Which is great, if you love free stuff. Let’s face it who doesn’t?

Download

Sure, fast food isn’t the healthiest meals and you should be careful not to over-indulge, but when you’re short on time it can prove a viable alternative. With these apps, you’ll be able to skip the line and get your order as soon as you walk in the restaurant. They are certainly a time-saver for individuals with extremely busy lives.

 

What should we expect from the Samsung Galaxy S9? (Promoted)

AndroidGuys
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Given that Samsung’s Galaxy S8 range continues to sell relatively well, it seems strange to think that the brand is set to launch its upgraded S9 devices in the coming weeks. In fact, the Galaxy S9 is likely to be announced at the MWC on February 25th, while handsets are expected to hit the market in March.

The S9 range is unlikely to have the same impact on Apple’s ground-breaking iPhone X, however, while any improvements to the design and performance are expected to be incremental at best.

In this post, we’ll address the key design elements and ask what we should expect from the Galaxy S9, while also determining whether or not an upgrade from the S8 is fully justified.

What are the S9’s Key Design Elements?

Let’s start with the handsets display, which is likely to remain to Samsung’s fundamental design principles. More specifically, it’s expected to boast a screen size of 5.8-inches, while the larger, S9+ will feature a 6.2-inch display.

Samsung is also unlikely to upgrade the 2960×1440, Super AMOLED ‘Infinity’ panel on the S9, with rumours suggesting that Samsung will introduce a 4K screen have so far proven unfounded. However, the brand will implement its flagship Y-OCTA technology into both the S9 and the S9+ models this time around, which is interesting that this was only incorporated into the standard S8 handset last year.

This uses a single manufacturing process for the screen and touch-film element, creating a more seamless user experience across multiple uses.

On an even more innovative note, the S9 range could well the first to benefit from Samsung’s patented glass-coating technology. The brand patented this innovation last year, and it will be used to help increase water resistance and allow for continued usage even in the rain.

The processing power of the new handset is also likely to more capacious with the Galaxy S9, thanks to the introduction of the Snapdragon 845 chip from Qualcomm. This would represent an incremental upgrade on the Snapdragon 835 processor used by the S8 range, as while the new chip is built on the same, 7nm manufacturing process it’s expected to be slightly quicker and deliver a more efficient performance.

The Snapdragon 845 chip is also estimated to be 30% more efficient than its predecessor for gaming and video streaming, along with AR and VR functionality. This will actively improve battery longevity, which is a key consideration for avid smartphone users and those who like to use their handsets primarily for the purpose of entertainment.

Price and Value – Does the S9 Represent a Worthwhile Upgrade?

To date, the Galaxy S8 and the S8+ remain Samsung’s most expensive handsets, priced at £689 and £779 respectively. Despite the market’s shift towards premium handsets and the upgraded nature of the S9 range, however, Samsung are likely to adhere to similar pricing this time around and maintain a strategy that the marketplace can bear. fonehouse may offer access to some competitive deals, for example, just as they did on Apple’s iPhone X recently.

Similarly, it’s worth bearing in mind that the SIM-free prices associated with Samsung handsets have a tendency to fall considerably in the months following their release, so this could also offer considerable savings.

Given these purchasing options and the improvements made in terms of performance and battery life, upgrading to the Samsung S9 could well be a justifiable decision. The key is to compare the market for the best deals, while also considering precisely what you’re looking for from your new handset.

Sprint baits switchers with one year of free service, here’s what you can get

Alexandra Arici
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Unhappy with your carrier? Sprint has your back. For a limited time, the carrier is willing to offer a full year of free service for those willing to switch from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or other postpaid carriers.

This includes unlimited talk, text, & data. The good news is that you can keep your phone and current number too! Families can switch up to five lines with this promotion. A list of qualifying phones can be found at the bottom of the article.

With this deal deal you’ll get 10GB of high-speed hotspot data, high definition video streaming (1080p) and international roaming (2G and text messaging in 165 countries). Yet you have to keep in mind that after you have used 23GB of data in a month, Sprint might temporarily slow down speeds in times of network congestion.

But while service will be free, you’ll still have to pay some fees each month:

  • $1.99 admin fee
  • $0.40 regulatory frees + other takes
  • AutoPay and eBill enrollment is required
  • $5/month charge if you don’t use AutoPay
  • $7.99/month charge if you renounced both AutoPay + eBill

The deal is available until January 31, which means you have two weeks to decide whether you should switch to Sprint or not. The free year of service expires on January 31, 2019, after which you will be charged $60/month for the first line, $40/month for the second and $30/month for each additional line.

Last but not least, we should note that if you do jump on board with this deal you won’t be able to upgrade your device until you’ve been with Sprint for four consecutive months. If you really find yourself of a new device, you’ll have to buy it at full price or risk losing the promotion.

Sprint says that Verizon customers could end up saving up to $900 in one year with this promo, so if you have a qualifying phone the deal might be worth checking out. Just make sure you know the full conditions before making the plunge.

List of eligible phones

  • Alcatel IDOL5
  • Apple iPhone 5c (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone 5s (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone 6
  • Apple iPhone 6 Plus
  • Apple iPhone 6s
  • Apple iPhone 6s Plus
  • Apple iPhone 7 (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone 8 (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone 8 Plus (Verizon only)
  • Apple iPhone SE
  • Apple iPhone X (Verizon only)
  • BLU S1/VIVO S
  • Essential Phone
  • Google Nexus 5 (16 & 32 GB – black/white/red) (Verizon only)
  • Google Nexus 5X (all versions)
  • Google Nexus 6 (32 & 64 GB – black/white)
  • Google Nexus 6P (all versions)
  • Google Pixel
  • Google Pixel XL
  • Google Pixel 2
  • Google Pixel XL 2
  • HTC One A9 (Sprint Version only)
  • LG X Charge
  • moto e4
  • moto e4 plus
  • moto g4
  • moto g4 play
  • moto g4 plus
  • moto g5 plus
  • moto g5s plus special edition
  • moto x pure edition
  • moto x4
  • moto z2 play
  • Orbic Wonder
  • Samsung Galaxy Note8 Special Edition
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Special Edition
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Special Edition
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 Special Edition
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+ Special Edition

Update: Sprint has reached out to rectify that the promotion hasn’t been resuscitated. It’s actually the same “limited-time” deal that has been available since last June. The story has been revised to reflect that.

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