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Best Android games: What you should play in 2018 (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
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2018 is upon us, and Android players are scrambling to cash in on the hottest games. Gaming on Android smartphones, tablets, and phablets is a big business, and it’s worlds apart from what it used to be. Back in the day, we would be seated on the rug in front of the TV, with an Atari console and clunky cables. Remember those TV sets that weighed a tonne? They were like refrigerators with screens. Nowadays, Android is all the rage. Technology has evolved at a rate of knots, and we can enjoy audio-visual prowess, and spectacular 3D functionality.

The introduction of virtual reality (VR) headsets as accouterments for smartphones and tablets has boosted the appeal of Android games no end. Whether you enjoy playing PC games, console games, or straight up arcade games, there is no denying that Android beats them all. Feature-rich Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 crushes many of the finest iOS devices, and now Android is in contention to be a game changer for players. Without further ado, let’s get around to some of the hottest Android games that you can expect in the New Year. Let’s kick the tires and light the fires of great games for your smartphone in 2018.

What’s Hot at the Google Play Store?

The Battle of Polytopia

Here’s a game that is free to play and is a fun-filled attraction for strategy-based gamers as part of the smorgasbord of the civilization series of games. It’s different to what you would traditionally expect from these types of games, because it makes them lots of fun and less tedious. It’s a little quirky, eccentric, and polished. The result is an addictive mobile game that is certainly worthy of an entertaining playing session. The Battle of Polytopia is rated E for everyone, and the game has a stellar 4.5/5 rating from 62,217 reviewers.

You’re about to discover exciting new worlds, build incredible cities, and engage in fierce battles against marauding tribes. This game offers a little something for everyone. There are skill-based elements in it, lots of maps to read, and seemingly unlimited worlds to explore. You’ve got dark and dingy forests, sticky jungles, and populated empires to play your way through. Do you have what it takes to rule the world? I guess we’re about to find out!

Dots & Co

Remember when Two Dots burst onto the gaming scene? It was a ground-breaking success. Since then, there have been many imitators. What’s great about Dots & Co is its simplicity. Don’t think of this game as the next edition of Two Dots – it’s more of a standalone variant of the first game. There are all sorts of exciting new challenges in this version of the game. It’s a puzzle-style game created by PlayDots and rated E for everyone.

The 4.5/5 rating from 73,980 reviewers is testament to the quality of the game. You’ve got 50 exciting new levels added to the game, for a grand total of 550 to work your way through. This game has been installed between 1 million times and 5 million times, so you know that it’s going to be an enormous success in 2018. Did we mention that it’s free to play? That’s right folks, Dots & Co is fun, travel friendly, and great for keeping you glued to your screen.

Bubble Shooter

Anyone in the mood for pop and play games? 2018 is going to be bursting with excitement, and what better way to celebrate the New Year than Bubble Shooter Classic. This game was created by Bubble, and is rated E for everyone. Players can blast their way through 2,000 incredible levels of complex puzzles, with classic point and play, pop and drop functionality. It’s highly addictive, and that’s a good thing because it’ll keep you busy when you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, on the train, on a plane, in the car, at work, or running errands.

It’s simply the must-have Android app for 2018. With a rating of 4.3/5 from 247,458 players, you know you’re in for a good time. Bubble Shooter is a logic-based game with plenty of puzzle-play an arcade-style entertainment. You can connect via Facebook and enjoy it with your friends, and there are exciting leaderboard challenges to make your way through. You get fireballs when you pop 7 bubbles, and bombs when you pop 10+ bubbles. You don’t even need Wi-Fi to get started with this great game – it’s so awesome.

Cats: Crash Arena Turbo Stars

Anyone in the mood for fun? If you’re on Android, you’ve got to play Cats Crash Arena Turbo Stars. This game was a smash hit in 2017 and we expect the same in 2018. What are you supposed to do in this game? Win! You will be building all sorts of contraptions to race against other cats in this hyper-cool, cartoon-style kitty cat-themed game. Some of the cats think they’re tough stuff, but we know better. It’s fun, friendly and all loaded up with great reviews, fantastic animation and surreal gameplay.

The game has been installed between 10 million and 50 million times. Rated E for everyone, Cats Crash Arena Turbo Stars is one of the Editor’s Choice games at the Google Play Store. You’ll be fighting fit against loads of other players as you build the ultimate fighting machine. We’re talking blades, bulldozers, Armageddon-style stuff. Players can also join up in 3 versus 3 clan battles for fun. Unlock amazing new weapons as you gear up for a catfight. Enough said, let’s get scratching!

OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition wallpapers are now available for download

Alexandra Arici
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Bummed that the OnePlus 5T Star Wars edition is available only in India and Northern Europe? Well here’s a reason not to be.

One of the members of the xda-developers community found a bunch of Star Wars wallpapers for the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition (in encrypted form) in a system update for the regular 5T, and decrypted them.

The results are now available for download, so if you want to try them out on your OnePlus device, all you need to do is follow the source link.

While these wallpapers won’t magically turn your standard phone into a Star Wars edition, it will make it just a little bit sweeter.

The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition was recently announced and comes with a White paint job and the Star Wars logo plastered on the back. The phone – which comes only a weeks after OnePlus announced the Lava Red OnePlus 5T in China – is identical to the standard flagship spec-wise.

The smartphone includes the same 6.01-inch display with FullHD resolution and bundles a Snapdragon 835 processor under the hood, aided by an 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The dual-camera setup is still in place, although there’s no telephoto lens like on the OnePlus 5, which has been replaced with a low-light sensor instead.

The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition is available for approximately $608 in India

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ renders based on CAD designs leave nothing to the imagination

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung’s next flagships, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ – which are widely anticipated to be incremental upgrades over the Galaxy S8 – are bound to make a debut in a few months.

While we wait on the official announcement, we can already take a sneak peek at what’s coming by checking out these newly leaked Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 renders.

Like it’s always the case when @OnLeaks (in collaboration with 91mobiles/MySmartPrice) reveals images of unannounced phones, the renders are based on factory CAD designs. This particular leakster has proven to be reliable in the past, so there is a pretty good chance the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will look like this when they make a grant debut a few months from now.

According to the report, the Galaxy S9 will measure around 147.6 x 68.7 x 8.4 mm, which means it will be a bit shorter, wider and thicker than its predecessor which features 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm dimensions.

Furthermore, the Galaxy S9 is expected to arrive with a dual-curved display, water-resistant body, 3.5mm headphone jack and a single lens on the back, which is visible in the renders. The current consensus is that dual-camera treatment will be reserved only for the Galaxy S9+ this year.

Speaking of the Galaxy S9+, the phone is said to come with a 6.1-inch display, which is 0.1-inch smaller than the 6.2-inch display of the soon-to-be-previous-generation Galaxy S8+. The phone should measure 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5mm. For comparison’s sake, we’ll remind you the Galaxy S8+ is 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1mm.

Given that both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ appear to be thicker, we dare speculate that Samsung plans to implement larger batteries next year.

The main difference, when it comes to design, is that the Galaxy S9’s fingerprint scanner will no longer live to the right of the rear camera. To prevent users’ finger smudging the camera lens, Samsung will be moving the scanner of the S9 below the camera.

Obviously, we expect Samsung’s next flagships to take advantage of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 platform – which only recently made a debut. The phones could pack up 6GB of RAM and maybe even 512GB of storage. Recently we also heard, the Galaxy S9 will go on sale in Black, Gold, Blue and a new intense Purple paint job.

Best deals on Verizon right now (December 2017)

Alexandra Arici
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With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to get gifting and find the presents for your family and friends. If you haven’t picked them out yet, maybe you’d like to take a look at Verizon’s list of discounts for the season.

America’s biggest carrier is offering promotional prices on a lot of products, as well as freebies which can make for great gifts on their own. Below you’ll find some of the most noteworthy deals available:

Phones

$300 off the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL

Previously offered as an in-store exclusive, customers can now get this deal online too. You’ll need to finance your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL over 24 months to get $300 off, which will be applied to your account as a small credit each months starting in 1-2 billing cycles. What’s more, Verizon is also offering 50% off a Google Home speaker with the purchase.

To get the discount, just head over to Verizon and pick your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL and add it to your cart. Choose the finance option that spreads the cost over 24 months. And also make sure to have the Google Home in your shopping cart, to be able to take advantage of the discount.

Free ASUS Zenfone V Live

Switch and add a new line to Verizon and the carrier will give you an ASUS ZenFone V Live free of charge. The low-end phone has a retail value of $168 and could be a perfect first smartphone for a child or elderly member of your family.

Learn more about the ASUS Zenfone V Live here.

Samsung Galaxy J7 V for $5/month

This holiday season, Verizon lets customers save $120 on the Samsung Galaxy J7 V, in certain conditions. Switchers who activate a new line of service will be able to get it for $5/month, meaning the handset will cost you $120 instead of $240. The $120 discount will be applied as bill credit over 24 months.

Moto Z2 Play for $10/month

Similarly, switchers who activate a new line of service can grab the Moto Z2 Play for $10/month. So instead of paying $408 for the phone, you’ll only spend $240.

Tablets

Verizon Ellipsis 8 HD for $149.99

Verizon’s own Ellipsis 8 HD tablet is available with a hefty $170 discount for customers willing to jump on board with a 2-year contract with the carrier.

If for some reason you don’t want to do that, you can still pick the slate up for $249.99 outright or $10.41/month for 24 months.

Verizon Ellipsis 10 HD for $99.99

Similarly, you can get the larger Ellipsis with $200 off with a new 2-year activation. Or you can acquire it for the full retail price of $299.99 or $12.49/month for 24 months.

ASUS ZenPad Z8s for $99.99

Verizon has also discounted two ASUS tablets this holiday season. You can get the ZenPad Z8s for $99.99 with a new 2-year activation or for $249.99 outright.

ASUS ZenPad Z10 for $149.99

Need a bigger slate? The ZenPad Z10 is available with $180 off, for those who agree to a 2-year contract with the carrier. Otherwise, the device is up for sale for $329.99.

You can get other discounts on tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 if you embark with a 2-year contract. Check out the full list here.

Accessories

Buy two cases get one free (discount will be applied in cart to lowest-priced item)

Tech21 Evo Check Case for Samsung Galaxy S8 – $39.99

Otterbox Symmetry Series Case for Galaxy J3 Eclipse – $39.99

Incipio DualPro Case for Galaxy Note 8 – $29.99

These are just a few examples, check the complete list of accessory cases right here.

Wearables

Fitbit Charge 2 – $129.99 (down from $140)

Fitbit Alta HR – $129.99 (down from $140)

Fitbit Blaze – $149.99 (down from $199.99)

Fitbit Ionic – $269.99 (down from $299.99)

Michael Kors Access Hybrid – $159.99 + $50 prepaid Mastercard

Garmin Vivosmart HR – $49.99 (down from $149.99)

Samsung Gear 360 (2017) – $229.99 + $50 prepaid Mastercard

For more deals on wearables check here.

Sound

JBL Link 20 – $159.99 (down from $199.99)

JBL Clip 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker – $39.99 (down from $59.99)

UE Wonderboom – $79.99 (down from $99)

Bose SoundLink wireless headphones II – $199.99 ($299.99)

For more deals on audio products check here.

Connected home and others

Google Home – $79.99 (down from $120)

Google Home Mini – $29.99 (down from $49.99)

Google Chromecast Ultra – $54.99 (down from $80)

Bring your own phone to Verizon and get a $100 gift card

Sentio Desktop is a Samsung DeX alternative that works with any Android phone

Alexandra Arici
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Many companies have tried – and mostly failed throughout the years – to make smartphones work like PCs for years now. Just think of Motorola’s Atrix or HP’s crazy Elite x3 smartphone. But Samsung’s new DeX station seems to have challenged the perception that using a phone as a dedicated computer is something unattainable.

Trouble is the Samsung DeX is only compatible with the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Note 8, so not everyone with an Android smartphone will be able to try smartphone as desktop/laptop experience.

That’s where Los Angeles-based Sentio comes in. The startup has recently unveiled the Sentio Desktop, which is an app-based phone-to-PC solution. It’s available for download for free from the Google Play Store for free and is compatible with ANY Android smartphone in circulation running Android 7.0 Nougat or later. Sentio Desktop supports millions of Android apps, including popular tools like Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, and others.

Similar to Samsung’s dock, Sentio Desktop aims to emulate a Windows-like experience on Android which includes multi-windows applications, desktop icons, a file explorer, and other similar features for maximum productivity.

Even as Sentio Desktop works with any Android device running Android Nougat or above, the app is touted as the perfect companion for Sentio’s flagship Superbook laptop shell. The device was launched on Kickstarter back in 2016 and only recently entered mass production. According to Sentio, the Superbook will be available come early 2018.

In the meanwhile, if you have an Android Nougat+ phone around, you can go ahead and download the Sentio Desktop app and see what it has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy S9 might not come with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ in the US

Alexandra Arici
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There’s no doubt that the majority of customers prefer smartphones with big batteries, but if that’s not part of the spec sheet, the next best thing would be fast charging. Because we all like being able to charge our devices as fast as possible.

With the Snapdragon 845 now official, it’s expected that Samsung’s upcoming next-gen Galaxy S9 flagship will be the first to take advantage of Qualcomm’s new super-fast Quick Charge 4+ technology which is said to be 15% faster and up to 30% more powerful. But the most important thing is that the new technology keeps the temperature of the phone up to 3C degrees cooler, making the device a lot safer.

Given the improvements, it might come as a disappointment to learn that according to a recent leak, the Galaxy S9 won’t come with Quick Charge 4+ in the US and Hong Kong. This is because the Korean tech giant failed to get the necessary licenses for the technology in those markets. It’s a similar story with Sony who can’t seem to be able to implement a working fingerprint sensor in the side power button on the devices it sells in the US.

Even though it’s disappointing to think that the Galaxy S9 won’t get Quick Charge 4+ in the US, consider this. According to Qualcomm, the Galaxy S8 uses only Quick Charge 2.0. There’s no mention of the Galaxy Note 8, so maybe the phablet takes advantage of Qualcomm’s more recent Quick Charge 3.0.

Anyway, this is just a rumor, so . Hopefully, Samsung will pleasantly surprise us when it unveils the Galaxy S9 in a few months.

Google Assistant is finally coming to tablets, smartphones running Lollipop get it too

Alexandra Arici
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Originally, the Google Assistant was a Pixel-exclusive. Then Google started offering it on smartphones with Android Marshmallow+ on board.

Interestingly, so far tablets were left out of the equation.  But this will no longer be the case, as Google just announced the Google Assistant is finally making its way to tablets, but only in English and for US users. Oh, and your device will have to be on Nougat on Marshmallow in order for the virtual helper to work.

Furthermore, Google also said the Assistant has started rolling out for smartphones that run the outdated Android Lollipop. The roll-out will include users who have the language set on English on their device in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and India, as well as Spanish in the US, Mexico, and Spain. The Assistant is also going you be available on your Lollipop-power smartphone if you are in Italy, Japan, Brazil, Germany, or Korea. Once users get the Google Play Services update and opt-in, they will be able to see an Assistant app icon in their All apps list.

As for the Google Assistant for tablets, it will start rolling out to Marshmallow or Nougat devices sometimes during the coming week, although Google didn’t mention a specific day. So be on the lookout.

T-Mobile has a new TV service coming in next year

Alexandra Arici
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Cord cutting is accelerating at a pace faster than previously estimated. But despite the rising trend, T-Mobile just announced it will be launching its own TV service in 2018.

In order to make this happen, the Magenta carrier has acquired Layer3 TV – a startup which integrates TV, streaming and social networking into the packages it offers in five states.

T-Mobile aims to bring its “Uncarrier” campaign to TV the way it with wireless service and seeks to attract customers from other carriers by offering unlimited streaming and a one-size-fits-all plan for a flat monthly fee. T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere denounced competitors such as AT&T and Comcast for offering bundles with wireless, internet and video, which despite their lower rates force users to buy services like landlines they don’t actually need.

Interestingly, while the majority of the industry is trying to woo cost-conscious customers by offering affordable packages with fewer channels, Layer3 launched as a high-end TV service in metropolitan areas such as Washington or Chicago.

But even if T-Mobile didn’t offer any details on how much their new service will cost, we have to assume it’s going to be priced on the more affordable side. The carrier did specify the service will be part of a package, but will also give customers several options.

T-Mobile acquisition of Layer3 is the latest example of a wireless company going into the TV business. Last year, AT&T purchased Time Warner, although the deal is still the subject of a government lawsuit.

Yet the move comes at a strange time. People are ditching cable more than ever, so this is a big bet on T-Mobile part. However, if the carrier manages to create a compelling service, it could overhaul the entire TV industry.

Vinci 2.0 standalone smart headphones want to replace your smartwatch

Alexandra Arici
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Remember the Vinci headphones which most surprisingly included a virtual assistant on board? Well the startup behind them, Inspero Inc. is back with a new pair of wireless headphones with an intriguing design and smart features.

The Vinci 2.0 are marketed as sports headphones reinvented and your personal fitness coach in your ear. So the gadget – which is to be worn around the neck – is qualified to track your heart rate, steps, cadence and workout speed and then offer coaching tips on how to improve your performance.

Because it can connect either to the Internet (3G/Wi-Fi) or your mobile, the Vinci 2.0 can act as a standalone music player that does not require a nearby smartphone to stream music from Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and KKBOX. It can also receive notifications from your handset, no matter how far you’re from it.

Unlike its predecessor, the Vinci 2.0 is powered not by one but two virtual assistants – Inspero’s proprietary Vinci and Amazon’s Alexa, so users will have access to more than 15,000+ skills.

Owners can ask their headphones by using the hotword “Hey Vinci” to make phone calls, set a reminder, or give you directions, while their handset sits comfortably on the desk back home.

Don’t like to be seen talking to yourself while out on a jog? You can do things like changing a song or raising the volume without asking Vinci to do it, as the headphones integrate so-called true gesture control. Sounds interesting?

The Vinci 2.0 cellular has been gathering funds on Indiegogo and recently managed to surpass its funding goals. The first Vinci 2.0 units are expected to ship out in April 2018, but come next month Inspero Inc. will be present at CES 2018 in Las Vegas and will have the headphones on display.

The company is offering three versions of Vinci 2.0 on Kickstarter: the Lite, Pro, and Super. You can check out the differences between them in the table below.

Right now, you can still catch Super Early Birds on Indiegogo. Pledge $79 to get a Vinci 2.0 Lite in Black, White, Red or Blue.

Caterpillar’s rugged CAT 31 smartphone is up for grabs in the US for $329.99

Alexandra Arici
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Announced back at IFA 2017 in Berlin, the rugged CAT 31 smartphone by Caterpillar is now available for purchase in the US. Interested parties can grab the sturdy device from the company’s official webshop for $329.99 a pop.

The Cat S31 might not be pretty to look at, but it’s a robust device which can function in harsh conditions. For starters, it comes with MIL-SPEC 810G rating, meaning it can take a 1.8m fall and come out unharmed, as well as an IP68 rating (can be immersed in up to 1.2m of water for 35 minutes).

As for specs, the Cat S31 is a pretty middle-range device coming in with a 4.7-inch IPS display with 1280 x 720 resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It bundles a Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 210 processor under the hood, aided by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage (expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card slot).

In the photography department, the Cat S31 offers a rather unimpressive 8-megapixel/2-megapixel camera combo. On the bright side, Caterpillar has equipped the device with a large 4,000 mAh battery. It runs Android Nougat out of the box.

If you want something more advanced, you should know the company is also selling the Cat S41 which offers better specs, including a 5-inch IPS LCD display with fullHD resolution, an octa-core MediaTek processor, more RAM and 5,000 mAh battery. The phone also benefits from Android Pay integration and obviously, it’s a bit more expensive than the Cat S31. You can get it for $449.99.

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