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LG V30+ to become available at Sprint starting October 13

Alexandra Arici
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Last week we brought you news about the availability of the LG V30 with carriers in the US. But details about the LG V30+ remained unknown.

Last month, Sprint announced it will be the exclusive carrier for the LG V30+ variant which offers 128GB of storage, as opposed to 64GB of the standard LG V30. Other than that, there is no difference between the two models.

Well a few days ago, Sprint issued a press release in which it revealed customers can expect to see the LG V30+ arrive on October 13 (both in stores and online). The carrier also clarified it will be the only major carrier offering the LG V30+ at launch, but the statement seems to suggest other carriers might start offering the model at some point.

But for the time being, customers interested in acquiring the LG V30+ will be able to do so from Sprint for $0 down and $30/month with Sprint Flex. What’s more, new customers will be able to save $30 when they purchase a phone online, while existing customers can save $30 when they upgrade online.

Furthermore, Sprint announced a BOGO deal for the V30+. For a limited time, customers who buy the LG V30+ with Sprint Flex will be offered a second lease on the carrier. Thus they will be asked to pay $38/month for two phones.

But wait, there’s more. Sprint is also throwing in a Daydream View headset and top VR Content Bundle with the purchase of the handset. Note that this deal requires you to place the order online and to set up the device by December 31. LG V30+ owners will then have until January 15, 2018 to redeem the price.

Last but not least, the LG V30+ is the only V30 model to come with a pair of LG QuadPlay earbuds in the box.

For those who have missed our earlier story, you can find out more about the LG V30’s US release dates here.

IFROGZ launches five new wireless earbuds and headphone models, all under $50

Alexandra Arici
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Accessory maker, IFROGZ recently announced it was expanding its wireless audio product portfolio to include five new models, all coming with accessible prices.

The new accessories include three in-ear wireless earbuds models (not 100% wireless) and two over-the-ear wireless headphone solutions that are designed to be thrown in the bag without the owner having to worry about twisting wires.

Keep reading below to find out more about each of the new models:

Earbuds

  • Resound Wireless – made of lightweight aluminum, built-in 5.5mm drivers, up to 10-hour battery life, get them in Rose or Charcoal – $34.99 SRP

  • Flex Force Wireless – around-the-neck solution, built-in 8mm drivers, up to 8 hours of battery life, include magnetic earbud tips that stay in place when not used, get them in Black or White – $29.99 SRP

  • Free Rein Wireless – built-in 10mm drivers, up to 5 hours of battery life, get them in Black or White – $19.99 SRP

Headphones

  • Resound Wireless Headphones – premium wireless headphones for audiophiles who want to hear highs, lows, and mid-tones, 40mm drivers, built-in microphone, up to 20 hours of battery life, can be used wireless or wired, with on-ear controls, get them in Black or Red – $39.99 SRP

  • Toxix Wireless Headphones – 30mm drivers, built-in microphone, 10 hours of battery life, can be used wireless or wired, with on-ear controls, get them in Black or Blue – $24.99 SRP

All these new models are currently available for purchase on the IFROGZ website, so if you like any of them go ahead and place an order on the IFROGZ.com.

Samsung Pay begins to get Android Oreo support on Galaxy S8

Dan Bartram
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Samsung has a beta program for Android Oreo on the Galaxy S8 allowing select users to test the latest operating system on their device.

To allow full functionality of Android Oreo on the Galaxy S8, Samsung are updating the Samsung Pay app to support the latest version of Android.

Hopefully Samsung will open up the Android Oreo beta program to the Note series but for now it’s restricted to the Galaxy S8 line.

Sources state that the gradual rollout has hit devices in Europe. It could be that the update to Samsung Pay rolls out to every device regardless of if it’s enrolled in the Oreo beta program.

Own a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+? Drop us a comment below if you’ve seen an update to Samsung Pay.

OnePlus 5 spotted running Android 8.0

Dan Bartram
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If you’re in the closed Beta for Android 8.0 then you’ll already be familiar with Oreo on your OnePlus 5. For the rest of us there’s some good news in that a OnePlus 5 has been benchmarked running Android Oreo lending suggestion that an update could be imminent.

A benchmark result could indicate that the company is internally testing the update or that more users have Android Oreo on their device and someone happened to run a benchmark. The result comes from Geekbench which is one of the most popular benchmarking websites. I would expect OnePlus to have its own benchmarking software and not rely on Geekbench to test performance gains and losses from Android Oreo, but you never know!

While it doesn’t necessarily indicate anything specific about an Android Oreo release, it does show that an update does exist for the OnePlus 5 and it’s a matter of time before it is released to the public.

Google Assistant is now on Google TV

Dan Bartram
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Google Assistant first make its appearance on the Pixel devices and has steadily been rolled out to a number of devices over the past year. We can now add Android TV to that list as Google adds the virtual assistant to the NVIDIA SHIELD TV.

Google Assistant allows aspects of the Android TV to be navigated and content summoned just by using your voice.

You’ll need to accept the update on your Android TV to get Google Assistant running on your device.

Here are some ways your Assistant can help you on your device:

  • “Play Game of Thrones”— your Assistant can play a wide variety of content, from movies and TV shows to YouTube clips and music. With HBO NOW, Netflix and YouTube, you can instantly watch something by asking for it by name or, if you aren’t sure what to watch, try “show me movies about climbing Mount Everest.” You can also ask your Assistant to “play some music” or listen to a specific song on YouTube Music, Google Play Music, Spotify or Pandora.
  • “Play business news”— catch up on what’s going on in the news, from business to tech to entertainment. And once you’re caught up, prepare for your own day by asking “what’s on my agenda for today?”
  • “Talk to Fitstar”— apps for the Google Assistant are also now available on Android TV, so you can talk to Fitstar for a quick home workout, Tender for a cocktail recommendation, Wall Street Journal for a market update and more.
  • “Order more popcorn”— stock up on binge-watching snacks right from the comfort of your couch. With Google Express, you can shop and reorder from Walgreens, Walmart and many other stores.
  • “Turn off”— it’s as simple as that. With your Assistant on Android TV you can turn up the volume, pause, control your smart home devices and more, just with your voice.

Google is offering a three month trial of YouTube Red on your SHIELD TV to celebrate the launch of Google Assistant.

Go ahead and check for updates to get started.

Ulefone Power Max will packing a whopping 13,000mAh battery

AndroidGuys
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Ulefone has an impressive handset in the Ulefone Power 2, a phone with an unusually large 6,050mAh battery and a faster-than-fast fingerprint scanner that rivals premium, high-end Android-powered handsets for an extremely low-end price. Ulefone gives good specs and some decent performance for a fraction of the costs of high-end smartphones, which makes Ulefone one of those OEMs that delivers on affordability.

We’ve received word from Ulefone that the OEM is working on two new smartphones. One, a next-generation version of the Ulefone Power 2, will be called the Ulefone Power 3 and retain the 6,050mAh battery of the Ulefone Power 2. The Ulefone Power 3 is expected to have an updated Android system update from the Power 2, while retaining the premium look and feel.While the Ulefone Power 3 will make waves of its own, Ulefone has another device it’s working on whose battery capacity will blow the Ulefone Power 2 and Power 3 out of the water. The device will be called the Ulefone Power Max and will bring a 13,000mAh battery to the table. Yes, you’re reading that right: 13,000mAh of on-the-go juice! The Ulefone Power 2 gets users through the day and then some; imagine what the Ulefone Power Max will do?According to the photo above, if one zooms in on the back cover, you’ll notice (apart from a slightly protruding camera hump, that the Ulefone Power Max will also bring dual rear cameras, a dual-LED flash, and back-mounted fingerprint sensor. Yes, Ulefone looks to bring dual rear cameras, already present on its Ulefone Gemini, Ulefone F1, and Ulefone F2, to the Power Max. It appears that dual bottom-firing speakers are present, but your ears will have to be the judge of its audio output (when the device arrives to market, that is).

3,000mAh batteries have been good enough to get users through two-thirds of a day if not an entire one, so the Power Max should ensure users have a few days of battery life and may surprise light to moderate users.

The Ulefone Power Max will be the first smartphone on the market to pack a battery capacity the size of a power bank. Both the Ulefone Power Max and the Ulefone Power 3 will be released by year’s end.

For users who want to know what to expect with the Power 3, check out our Power 2 review. The review will come in handy, now that Ulefone has a sale going on the Power 2 for Spanish and British customers. Use discount code UER9AYYP at the Spanish Amazon store to get the Ulefone Power 2 for €189 or 2IE7CXJM in the British Amazon store to get the Power 2 for ￡159. The discount offers are valid through October 15th, after which the price of the Ulefone Power 2 will return to its $199.99 price tag.

What do you think about the Power 2 discounts? Interested? How about the Ulefone Power Max? Would you love carrying around a 13,000mAh battery-enabled phone? Concerned that the battery size may prove too big or heavy in the hands? Think high-end smartphones should push battery limits beyond 3,000mAh? Do your thing in the comments.

Think carefully about your wireless carrier: why your choice matters! (Sponsored)

Guest Blogger
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You spend time researching each smartphone to discover which one best suits you, how much memory it has, what features it offers, what shape will be easiest to carry, and what color best defines you. But no phone can work to its best potential without being connected to the right network. Why don’t we spend quality time researching our wireless carriers? If you’re not checking into the following six factors, you’re not getting the best deal.

Matching Your Service to Your Lifestyle

Image via Flickr by Sole Treadmill

Do you travel often or need to keep your options open for a future switch of providers? A plan can have an impressive array of features but still not suit you.

CDMA and GSM are the two major network bands used in mobile phones. Some wireless carriers use GSM, as does most of the rest of the world. While this choice doesn’t have a significant effect on your phone’s day-to-day network coverage, if you move around or travel often, the SIM card technology associated with GSM makes this mobile activity easier for you.

Not All Companies Have the Phone You Want

This item is an easy first step, as it’s mostly about personal choice. Now that all major carriers offer the popular iPhone, the choice of carriers that support the phone you want is no longer a restricting one. All the major service providers may claim to have the best choices, but you know which phone you want. Whether it’s an iPhone or an Android, if a certain wireless carrier doesn’t offer it, it’s out.

Enhancing Your Smartphone Features

What does it matter if your new smartphone can do standup comedy and cook you dinner? If your wireless carrier can’t provide a service that enhances these features, you wasted your money.

Take the time before picking a service provider to compare the current OS systems of each provider. Otherwise, you’ll simply be waiting around for an update. Compare the data plans and multimedia features offered by each provider to find the one that matches your needs.

Customer Service Is Worth Paying For

Smartphones are fantastic until something goes wrong and you’re stuck on the phone with customer service for hours. If you do some research beforehand, you shouldn’t have poor experiences dealing with customer service. You want friendly service from a real person who can offer you simple solutions without wasting your time. Get online and read some customer service reviews before you sign up for a carrier selection.

Comparing Speed and Wireless Coverage

So you picked the smartphone with all the latest capabilities. If you don’t have a carrier that can enhance this potential, you may as well go back to using smoke signals. We know that 4G is good, with more coverage at faster speeds. But without LTE capability, the 4G symbol on your phone is ultimately meaningless.

Weighing the Perks With the Cost

As much as we may want all the perks, money is still one of the most important deciding factors when choosing a wireless plan. By researching plan options beforehand, you can make sure that you’re not wasting money by paying for perks you don’t need or want.

The big companies are often competing with each other, and T-Mobile is rolling out great deals on its wide range of cell phones thanks to the fact that this wireless carrier is removing subsidiaries and offering more choices when adding calling, texting, and data to your plan. Combine these deals with the company’s current ranking as the fastest 4G LTE service provider in the United States, as well as the one with the widest coverage of this service reported by OpenSignal earlier this year. Basically, you can’t go wrong.

You wouldn’t buy a Blu-ray player without a television to use it or a laptop without storage, right? Why would you buy your favorite smartphone without having the best wireless service provider to enhance your experience with your device? A simple comparison of the six factors presented above will make sure you get the best wireless service for your needs.

Editor Note: This article is a paid or sponsored publication. AndroidGuys has vetted the links at the time of publication; however, the articles should not be considered a blanket endorsement for the products or services highlighted herein. In some instances AndroidGuys may receive a small percentage of revenue derived from purchases through affiliate links. Money generated here is used to help pay for the site and/or staff.

Google tipped to be working on an Amazon Echo Show rival

Alexandra Arici
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Google is playing catch-up with Amazon when it comes to the smart home devices, as the retail giant is currently dominating the market thanks to its extensive Echo family of products, which just received new additions yesterday.

But soon the Google’s smart home device portfolio will be extended to include a few new devices including the Google Home Mini, Google Home Max and according to the newest rumors a tabletop smart screen for video calling just like Amazon’s Echo Show.

A few days ago we brought you news that Google blocked YouTube access on the Amazon Echo Show without a warning, later citing issues related to the violation of its terms of service. But there might be another reason for why Google took the decision – the search giant is working on its own Echo Show alternative which will also provide YouTube access – on Google’s own terms (with all the critical subscriptions and video recommendations).

Two sources have confirmed for TechCrunch – one of which got the information straight from a Google employee – that Google is currently developing a product with a 7-inch display, codenamed “Manhattan”. Apart from offering YouTube access, the device will come featuring the Google Assistant, Google Photos and video calling options (probably through Google’s video chat apps Duo and Hangouts). On top of that, we’re told Google’s upcoming device will be able to act as a smart hub and control Nest and other smart devices in the home.

Last but not least, one source notes that the yet-to-be-released smart gadget will be running Android (and not a version of Chrome) which will allow the Mountain View-based company to leverage existing apps, as well as get developers on board.

While the original target to launch this product was mid-2018, the presence of the Echo Show on the market is putting pressure on Google to get it on retail shelves by the end of 2017. Although we shouldn’t expect to see it get unveiled during the Pixel 2 event scheduled for October 4.

Sign-up for an Amazon Music Unlimited trial and get $10 in credit

Alexandra Arici
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To celebrate the arrival of the new Echo devices, Amazon is currently offering music enthusiasts $10 promo credit when they sign up for a free 30-day trial of its Music Unlimited service by using the promo code MUSIC1.

That sounds good, but there are a few things to be taken into consideration here. First off you need to be a new subscriber to take advantage of the promo, so current subscribers or older are not eligible to get the free credit. Secondly, you can only spend the $10 on products sold and shipped directly by Amazon.

Once you’ve signed up with the service, you can change (or cancel) the subscription to not auto-renew in order to make sure you won’t be charged additionally after the promotion expires.

A subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited normally costs $7.99/month for Prime members or $9.99/month for non-Prime members.

Amazon’s Music Unlimited service is home to tens of millions of songs and thousands of playlists users can stream from their smartphones, tablets, Alexa-enabled devices and more.

If you’re interested in trying out Amazon’s own music service, remember you have until October 6 to sign up and until October 31 to use the $10 credit.

Even if you prefer using Spotify or Google Play Music, it wouldn’t hurt to sign-up for this free trial. You’ll get $10 credit to spend on Amazon, but also the chance to see if Music Unlimited would work for you or not.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is coming to T-Mobile soon

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung and AT&T teamed up for years ago to offer the Galaxy S4 Active and since then customers looking to purchase a rugged version of Samsung’s Galaxy S flagship could only grab it from AT&T which had exclusivity over the Active line.

But in 2017 things will be a little bit different, as T-Mobile is gearing up to introduce a Galaxy S8 Active of its own. According to promo materials that were shared with Venture Beat, the device – known as model number SM-G892T (AT&T’s model is SM-G892A) – will land with the Magenta carrier in the near future and will be available in Meteor Gray and Titanium Gold.

Like in the case of the AT&T model, the T-Mobile Galaxy S8 Active will come sans the signature curved edges of the Galaxy S8. However, it will boast a body that’s resistant to water, dust, and drops (from up to 5 ft) instead. It will also offer a larger 4,000 mAh battery which is certainly a big bonus. We expect the phone to sell for around $800, although this information hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Apart from the T-Mobile version, an unlocked (or universal model) of the Galaxy S8 Active might also land on the market, at some point. The phone bearing the model number SM-G892U received certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance not so long ago.

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