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Google partners up with Amazon for Android Wear custom store front

Alexandra Arici
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Yesterday, news that Google removed the Android Wear section from the Google Store took everyone by surprise. Combined with the fact that Google didn’t even mention Android Wear at all during the Pixel 2 event, some assumed the search giant had silently killed off its wearable platform in a rather inexplicable twist of events.

After all, it’s not a secret that the smartwatch market is struggling, so at least to some onlookers the decision made sense. But, fortunately, Android Wear is still alive and breathing and now has a new home.

Hoi Lam, a Google expert in Android Wear-related things, revealed on Twitter than Google removed the Android Wear section from its Store due to its new policy to only stock up Google-made hardware like the Pixel phones, Home speakers and such.

And since Google hasn’t released any new Android Wear hardware recently, the search giant axed the corresponding section in the Google Store and moved it to …Amazon. That’s right, you’ll find a new Android Wear custom store front on Amazon which includes a large choice of Android Wear smartwatches including the Fossil Q Marshal (second-gen), Michael Kors Access Bradshaw or Polar M600, as well as a selection of watch bands.

We can’t help but notice that newer smartwatches like the LG Watch Style or LG Watch Sport (which were the only two models available for purchase on the Google Store until recently) aren’t available at this point, but maybe they will be added at a later date.

Android Wear smartwatches are available for purchase with other retailers, for example Best Buy which has a pretty large selection available.

BlackBerry Motion leaks, headed to Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint

Alexandra Arici
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Last month we told you BlackBerry’s first water-resistant smartphone was in the pipeline. The phone – known as Krypton – was said to make a debut in October sans the iconic QWERTY keyboard.

While Krypton has been spotted going through the FCC (and other agencies) collecting certifications, it has now become apparent the phone will be launched on the market as the BlackBerry Motion. Krypton was probably just a codename.

Anyway, frequent leakster @evleaks this week revealed the first image of the BlackBerry Motion which appears to feature a fingerprint scanner on the front embedded in a home button that has the BlackBerry logo plastered on top.

On top of that, the BlackBerry Motion seems to be made out of metal, runs Android and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.

From previous reports, we also know the phone will take advantage of a generous 4,000 mAh battery, but other than that the rest of the specs remain a mystery at this point.

A second Tweet coming from another reliable leakster, Roland Quandt claims the phone will be sold through Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. He also notes a dual-SIM version will be available in some markets (including China).

At this point, we can’t tell you when the BlackBerry Motion will make a debut on the market, but given that leaks related to it have intensified, we’ll have to assume it’s going to be soon.

Nokia Body Scale review

AndroidGuys
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With nine months of the year already in the book, it won’t be too long before we’re making plans for New Years Eve. Moreover, it’s about to dust off the ol’ resolution. For many people this means a pledge to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.

While there are plenty of apps which are tremendous for counting calories and eating smarter, sometimes we need a little more help. To that end, a smart scale makes for a great accessory to have in the home.

One such scale, the Nokia (formerly Withings) Body, is a tempting option. Thanks to an affordable price point ($59.95) and a solid list of features, it’s an excellent device to have in the bathroom.

Available in black or white finishes the Nokia Body is essentially a traditional weight scale with BMI measurement. It can identify up to eight users, including babies, with the ability to set goals for weight. Moreover, it helps with calorie counting and budgeting as well as nutrition tracking.

The Nokia Body will automatically synchronize via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and tracks weight in both kilograms and pounds. There are Android (5.0+) and iOS (8.0+) apps available which give users the ability to see progress; the Health Mate app also tracks activity, sleep, weight, heart, and environment.

In addition to using the Health Mate options, the Nokia Body also integrates nicely with third party apps such as MyFitnessPal, WeightWatchers, Google Fit and dozens of others.

The Nokia Body has a glass-fronted design which has sleek and very modern aesthetics. It offers up a 2.4-inch x 1.6-inch display which has both text and graphics capabilities. We found the glass to be cool to the touch but it was prone to pick up smudges.

There are four weight sensors in the scale with a body position detector. Step onto it and you’ll have screen arrows to help you shift your weight. Power comes in the form of 4 AAA batteries which ought to last for a good 18 months. There are four feet attachments you can put on the bottom of the scale to adapt it to carpet. Otherwise, feel free to place it on a hard surface such as wood, tile, or laminate.

Setup on the Nokia Health Mate app was pretty straightforward; pairing was simple in that you hold down the sync button (on bottom) to put it into the Bluetooth pairing mode. Walking through the initial app process you’re able to create a profile and setup  Wi-Fi network settings, too.

The app lets users configure what displays on the scale whenever it is stepped on. Want to see the weather forecast? How about what your weight trend is over the last few readings?  These are a simple as a toggle inside of the app and can be found fairly easy.

While the Nokia Body does automatically detect up to eight users, it’s based off of weight. So, should you have two people in the house with similar weight, you may have to manually assign a weigh-in. The scale will hold up to seven readings in the internal memory so, if you run into issues with synchronization, you should be good for few times.

The scale works well on its own; however, things get better if you’re using other Nokia/Withings products (See: Withings Steel review). This way you’ll have all of your details inside of the Health Mate app. But, thanks to the integration with other apps, you can still capture details with the scale that talk to other clients you may already be using.

One thing to keep in mind about BMI measurement with a device like the Nokia Body is that it relates primarily to height and weight. So, even if you’re not overly heavy and have a solid, muscular physique, you can still be listed with a high BMI. In other words it may not be that useful to some users.

The Nokia Health Mate has gotten much better over the last few updates. The most recent version is easy on the eyes with a clean layout and simple navigation. You may find yourself spending time in other apps, but when you’re in Nokia’s, you’ll have a decent amount of information. Those seeking other metrics such as heart health or full body composition are advised to check out the Nokia Body+ ($100) or the Nokia Body Cardio ($180).

Getting a Pixel 2? Add some protection with one of these cases

Alexandra Arici
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With the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL now revealed, you’re probably dying to get your hands on the shiny new phones. But since they don’t come cheap, it would be recommended to invest in protective cases, as well to safeguard the flagships against accidental drops and other potential injuries.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of choices when it comes to official cases for the Pixel 2. You can grab one or more straight from the Google Store and here’s the complete list of choices you have at your disposal.

Live Cases

If you love art, you’re going to adore Google’s Live Cases. These accessories provide protection for your phones through the hard exterior shell while letting you customize the exterior with any image or famous artwork you want.  Certainly a must for creative types. Pricing starts at $40.

Get Google Live Cases

Google Earth Live Cases

Striking Google Earth aerial images come to your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL with the Google Earth Live series of cases. There are only two designs available at the moment, but Google will be adding more soon. You can grab one for $50.

Get Google Live Earth Cases

Fabric Cases

Google’s fabric cases have been around ever since the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Now they are also available for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL complete with a knit exterior and soft microfiber liner to help protect your new device. Google’s fabric cases are available in Carbon for the Pixel 2 and in Cement, Midnight or Coral for the Pixel 2 XL. They are sold for $40 a pop.

Get Google Fabric Cases

Bellroy Leather Cases

Want something more premium-looking to protect your new investment? The Bellroy Leather case may be what you seek. Made from durable flex polymer, environmentally certified leather and microfiber lining for cushioning any impact, the Bellroy Leather case doesn’t add extra bulk to your Pixel 2. It also comes with a three-year warranty. You can grab one for $45 in Black for the Pixel 2 and Navy, Caramel, and Stone for the Pixel 2 XL.

Get Bellroy Leather Cases

Moment Photo Case & Wide Lens Kit Case

Want to get more out of the Pixel 2’s camera? Then you can buy the Moment Photo Case & Wide Lens Kit Case which attaches a wide lens to help you capture more in each picture. It’s available in Black Canvas and Walnut and ships out with a lens cap and microfiber bag. It’s a bit more expensive than the cases we’ve listed so far and you can grab it for $129.99.

Get the Moment Photo Case & Wide Lens Kit Case

OtterBox Defender Series

Popular case maker Otterbox is offering a protective case for the Pixel 2 which pairs a solid polycarbonate shell and rubber slipcover to keep troubles at bay.

The Defender Series been put through more than 24 different tests to ensure your Pixel 2 won’t ever scratch or bruise. It’s available in Black for $49.95.

Get OtterBox Defender Series

Power Support Tempered Glass Film Screen Protector

For those who don’t want to add bulk to their Pixel 2, there’s the option of using the Power Support Tempered Glass Film. This screen protector is designed to keep your Pixel 2 from scratching or getting dust and dirt on its screen. It also removes the issue of annoying fingerprints and smudges. It’s available for $39.95

Get Power Support Tempered Glass Film

Power Support Air Jacket

Don’t want to hide the Pixel 2’s sleek design from the eyes of the world? Then you might want to opt for this durable see-through Power Support Air Jacket case. It’s made of polycarbonate and its self-healing coating will ensure your Pixel 2 doesn’t ever scratch. Grab it for $34.95.

Get the Power Support Air Jacket

How to stream Torrent files online without downloading them to your PC

AndroidGuys
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Gone are those days where people used to spend hundreds of dollars to buy a CD loaded with their favourite films or song collections. It has been many years since the world has shifted towards Torrents and inarguably, it is currently the most popular way of downloading the content you need from the web.

But one downside to this method is that the number of seeds a Torrent has is directly proportional to the amount of time it takes to download. Torrents with a huge number of seeds might download almost instantly while those that are many years old and have single digit seeds take forever to download.

What if there is a way where you could almost instantly stream your favourite movies in from torrents without having to wait for it to finish downloading to your computer? What if you could use the same torrent file to stream across multiple devices without having to transfer them or download them every time?

Well, there is an online service which allows you to do exactly the above mentioned things and most importantly all the activities involved, right from the Torrent file. Streaming it online and even transferring it to your Google Drive storage are completely anonymous and secure. Which means you never have to fear the need to use a VPN service or ending up on a spam site.

Sound interesting, right? But how exactly could you do all this on your computer? Read on to know.

Step 1:

First, head over to the Bitport.io website and click on the Sign up button at the top to proceed.

stream Torrent files

Step 2:

Now, choose a plan on the first step according to your preference. You can change your plan later if you want to extend it.

The service also offers you Money back Guarantee, so you can proceed without any worries.

stream Torrent files

Step 3:

Enter your email address and select your preferred method of payment to proceed. You can either use your Credit card or your PayPal account for payment.

stream Torrent files

Step 4:

In the next step, you have to enter the payment details and once the transaction has been successfully completed, you will be receiving a confirmation email to the email Id you provided earlier.

Step 5:

Click on the registration link in the email you received and you will be redirected to the Sign up page. You can create a new account by entering your email address and a password.

Step 6:

You will now be taken to the Dashboard from where you will be loading the torrent files or inserting the links from the web.

stream Torrent files

Step 7:

All you have to do now is to go to the website you usually download your torrents and you can either download the file like you usually do or simply copy the magnet link of the torrent which is much easier.

Step 8:

Now, go back to the Bitport.io website and then paste the link in the text box at the top and then click on the Add new torrent button. Alternatively, you can also upload the torrent file if you prefer that method.

stream Torrent files

Step 9:

Once you load the torrent file, Bitport will now automatically detect what kind of Torrent is that and you can click the Download to my cloud button to initiate the download.

stream Torrent files

After the download is complete, you can directly open the file to instantly stream it online. You also have other options to move it to a different folder, download the file to your computer or delete it. It even offers to convert your files if the file format is not supported.

stream torrent files

Since Bitport.io maintains a separate server exclusively for its users, it is not only secure but it is also insanely fast. Generally, the download speed on my PC is either 2 or 3 Mbps at the maximum, even though my internet speed is over 40 Mbps. But, Bitport.io went all the way upto 18 Mbps and it took less than 2 minutes to download a file which was 764 MB in size, which usually takes more than 15 minutes on my computer.

stream Torrent files

The secret behind the quick downloads of Bitport.io is that if someone has already downloaded the same file you are attempting to download, your file will download almost instantly irrespective of the number of seeders it has.

So, not only you get to download your favourite films or songs as quick as possible, you can do that without worrying about safety and your storage space.

stream torrent files

Pretty cool isn’t it? I didn’t realize it until I tried it out. Let us know your thoughts about Bitport.io in the comments below and feel free to ask any questions you have regarding this process.

The Pixel 2 is already available with a discount at Best Buy

Alexandra Arici
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Well, that didn’t take long. Google barely unveiled the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL yesterday and the two phones are already on sale at Best Buy.

Like last year’s models, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are Verizon exclusives. And the carrier is offering the phones as it follows:

Pixel 2

  • 64GB storage – $649 outright or $27.08/month for 24 months
  • oddly the 128GB storage version is not showing on the Verizon website at the moment

Pixel 2 XL

  • 64GB storage – $849 outright or $35.41/month for 24 months
  • 128GB storage – $949 outright or $39.58/month for 24 months

Well the good news is that Best Buy currently lets you save $100 on the Pixel 2 on Verizon with a 24-month installment billing plan if you place a pre-order now. The retailer offers a slight discount on the Pixel 2 XL too, but it’s not as impressive as the deal on the Pixel 2.

Here is BestBuy’s offer:

Pixel 2

  • 64GB of storage – $22.91/month for 24 months which results in a total of $549 (down from $649)
  • 128GB of storage – $27.08/month for 24 months with results in a total of $649 (down from $749)

Pixel 2 XL

  • 64GB of storage – $34.36/month for 24 months which results in a total of $824 (down from $849)
  • 128GB of storage – $38.53/month for 24 months which results in a total of $924 (down from $949)

Both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL pre-orders are Best Buy come with a free Google Home Mini which is worth $49.99 – if and only if you pre-order before October 19.

Verizon and ZTE team up for the super-affordable Blade Vantage prepaid smartphone

Alexandra Arici
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Chinese smartphone maker ZTE has been trying to strengthen its position in the US market for a few years now. The company is already selling its phones through some carriers including Sprint and T-Mobile, but starting this week prepaid customers will also be able to pick up a ZTE phone from Verizon.

Introduced as the most affordable prepaid phone in Big Red’s portfolio, the Blade Vantage is the first ZTE device to be on Verizon’s network.

The device is available for purchase starting today for $49.99 and for this amount of money customers will receive a phone with a 5-inch display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage (up to 256GB via a microSD card slot).

The ZTE Blade Vantage also takes advantage of a primary 8-megapixel camera and a front-facing 2-megapixel selfie snapper. The product relies on a 2,500 mAh battery which according to ZTE can provide up to 8 hours of talk time and 13 days of standby time.

Last but not least, the phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, but it’s highly unlikely the device will ever get updated to Android 8.0 Oreo. But with an affordable $50 price tag attached to it, this entry-level device sounds more than decent.

What do you think of ZTE’s first phone for Verizon? Let us know in the comment section below.

Spotify voice controls are coming to all Google Assistant-powered devices

Alexandra Arici
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0

Music enthusiasts who love using Spotify will be happy to know that the app’s voice commands will soon work with any device that supports the Google Assistant. Google’s virtual assistant can be activated on (almost) any smartphone/tablet/etc which runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher.

So far, voice commands for Spotify were only available on the Google Home, but soon enough the smart speaker will no longer hold exclusivity over the feature. Now any user with a phone that has the Google Assistant enabled can say things like: “OK Google, play Spotify” or “OK Google, play some dreampop on Spotify”.

Linking your Spotify account to the Assistant and setting Spotify as you default music service will eliminate the need to say “on Spotify”.

What’s more, you’ll also be able to send a song to another Chromecast-enabled speaker by saying out loud something like: “Ok Google, play Today’s Top Hits on my Chromecast.” The voice commands will be available for both free and premium members of Spotify.

When will you be able to give Spotify voice controls a try? The music service notes that full support for Spotify on Google Assistant will be coming in the upcoming weeks.

On top of landing on Google Assistant-powered Android phones, the new feature is also going to be available on the newly introduced Google Home Mini, Google Home Max and Pixel Buds.

It looks like the Pixel 2 will get a minimum of 3 years of software & security updates

Alexandra Arici
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0

If you’re planning to get the new Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, we have some good news for you. It seems that Google will be offering 3 years of OS and security updates for the new phones.

This information was spotted in the official spec sheets of the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL by the Android Police.

With last year’s models, Google promises a minimum of two years of OS updates and three years of security updates. So the new Pixels get an extra year of OS updates. Yey!

This upgrade might have something to do with Project Treble being implemented in Android 8.0 Oreo, as one of the goals of this endeavor was to enable longer updates periods.

Regardless, this aspect certainly makes the new Pixels more attractive and it’s quite puzzling why Google didn’t announce it on stage, instead of burying this piece of info in the phones’ spec sheets. Could it possibly be a typo? We hope that’s not the case.

Anyway, if you’re hoping to grab a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, you’d best hurry up, as “Out of Stock” warnings as already popping up for most models in the Google Store. Your easiest to get is the base Pixel 2 with 64GB of storage.

T-Mobile launches BYOD promo on Google Pixel 2, half off original price

AndroidGuys
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The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, like their predecessors, are Verizon exclusives in the US, and this is causing some consternation for some who were hoping to get the new Pixels on an installment plan with AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile. Google isn’t repenting of its Verizon exclusivity for its phone hardware.

There is good news, however: right out of the gate after the Pixel 2 announcement, T-Mobile wants to do battle against Verizon once more. The UN-carrier has been working hard to combat Big Red’s dominance in the wireless carrier industry, boosting its LTE network speeds, offering deals (including free Netflix and the increase of unlimited throttling data from 32GB to 50GB per month), along with other goodies.

Verizon has been losing customers as a result, and it’s unlikely that the lost customers have been going to Sprint. Now, with all of T-Mobile’s damage done to Verizon, Magenta is back with another deal meant to strike fear into Verizon’s dominance. The new deal concerns the newly-announced Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and the deal is a new BYOD promo.

T-Mobile is offering customers who bring their own Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL to T-Mobile from either Verizon, the Google Store, or other retail partners up to 50% off the price of the Pixel 2 phone when they add a voice line with Magenta by way of T-Mobile ONE. Existing customers can partake of this deal when they add a line with either T-Mobile ONE or Simple Choice Unlimited.

The discount ($325 off, half the price of the 5-inch Pixel 2) will arrive in the form of a MasterCard card. It could take up to eight weeks to receive your gift card in the mail, so you’ll have to wait a little while.

T-Mobile’s BYOD Pixel 2 promo is designed to educate buyers about Google’s Pixel 2 series. Despite Google’s carrier exclusivity with Verizon, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are carrier unlocked out of the box – which means that buyers can take them to any of the major carriers, not just Verizon. The one downside to Verizon exclusivity for non-Verizon customers has been the lack of an installment plan when purchasing the Pixels, but T-Mobile is providing a solution to that problem with a $325 gift card in return for all buyer troubles.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the newest phones in the Made By Google program, featuring 5-inch (Pixel 2) and 6-inch (Pixel 2 XL) POLED displays, Always On Displays, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64/128GB storage configurations. Other features include IP67 water and dust resistance (finally, Google didn’t run out of time this year), a first for the Pixel lineup, super fast charging (another first), back-mounted fingerprint sensors (Pixel Imprint), an even smarter Google Assistant, Google Lens (akin to Samsung’s Bixby Vision), AR stickers, and the highest-rated rear camera on the market with an impressive score of 98. Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL received the high score of “89” last year and ended the year at the top of the Android camera competition.

The T-Mobile BYOD Pixel 2 promo is coming soon, though there’s no specified starting date. Keep in mind that you’ll have to register for this offer and add a qualified rate plan within 30 days of receiving your phone to qualify for this promotional offer.

Android users, who’s picking up the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with T-Mobile? Do you think the Verizon exclusivity plan should end, or are you fine with purchasing the Pixel 2 series outright?

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