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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.

ASUS ZenFone V, Kyocera Dura XV LTE rugged basic phone now available at Verizon

Alexandra Arici
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Verizon this week has some news to share with us. The most important part is related to the LG V30 which will (finally) be landing at Big Red on October 5.

There’s not going to be a pre-order period for it, which means you won’t have to wait for the phones to start shipping out. Pricing and additional info is coming soon.

Furthermore, we’re told the Verizon-exclusive ASUS ZenFone V is now available for purchase. You can get it either for $384 in full or for $16/month for 24 months.

The ASUS ZenFone V is middle-range device coming with an outdated processor, but at this price, it might attract some customers. The phone comes boasting a 5.2-inch fullHD AMOLED display and takes advantage of a Snapdragon 820 processor working side-by-side with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 3,000 mAh battery.

The handset also includes a 23-megapixel main camera with dual tone flash capable of shooting video in 4K, as well as an 8-megapixel selfie camera.

Big Red also launched the Kyocera Dura XV LTE flip phone this week. The basic phone comes with a rugged design and boasts Military Standard 810G for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt, fog, and humidity. The device is also IP68 certified.

It also boasts a 2.6-inch QVGA display with high-contrast LCD mono and offers the services of a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and video camcorder (you can opt to buy the phone without the camera).

Verizon is selling this rugged phone for $264 in full or for $11/month for 24 months.

“Ultra Pixel” could be the third Google Pixel smartphone in store for October 4

AndroidGuys
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We’ve seen that Google has the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in store for the company’s October 4th unveiling, and these phone monikers match their first-gen. counterparts from last Fall.

Rumors about a third smartphone swirled earlier this year, particularly about a device codenamed “Taimen” that would sport a larger display than either the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, codenamed “Walleye” and “Muskie.” The rumor appeared to be squashed weeks ago (according to another rumor), but the Taimen device may not be as dead as the rumor said.

According to a source that has received images, Google could have a third Pixel smartphone in the works after all, a device that could be called “Ultra Pixel” and bear the “Ultra Pixel Phone by Google” branding. The name “Ultra Pixel” has a lowercase “P” in “Pixel” on the shared images, but the name “Ultra Pixel,” if you’ll remember, was the branding HTC gave to its 4MP, rear-facing camera on the One M7 back in 2013 and has been using the branding on its cameras ever since.

Could it be that Google acquired HTC in order to use this branding without legal repercussions? It seems quite likely, especially considering the timing of this rumor: it arrives just days after Google acquires HTC’s mobile hardware division.

What can be known about this rumored “Ultra Pixel” smartphone? First, the Ultra Pixel would be as close to bezel-less as we’ve ever seen Google come in smartphone design, and photos comparing the Ultra Pixel with the current Pixel and Pixel XL show a significant decrease in bezel size. The Ultra Pixel appears to be taller than the current Pixel and Pixel XL and have more screen real estate for the user, so we could also be looking at an 18:9 aspect ratio for the device.

Next, the Ultra Pixel will be heavily gesture-based, with the smartphone no longer featuring software buttons at the bottom of the display. One other leaked photo shows a screen with a bezel-less smartphone that appears to be a replica of the Ultra Pixel with the words “The future of Android is Fluid,” confirming that perhaps Google wants gestures to dominate this new user experience. Perhaps the gesture-based setup will create a more advanced Pixel Launcher that will borrow some elements from Google’s OS on the side, Fuchsia.

Google’s Dave Burke has said that Fuchsia is related to something entirely different, but with all that we’ve seen, Google isn’t working on Fuchsia for fun alone. The squeezable frame (the Active Edge) is said to contribute to the new gesture-based experience on the Ultra Pixel, a rumor that has remained constant and probable based on screenshots taken from the upcoming device.

Finally, the Ultra Pixel could feature an under-the-display fingerprint sensor. This has been a desire of Android OEMs this year, with Samsung placing its fingerprint sensor on the back of the Galaxy S8 duo and the Galaxy Note 8 as an admission of defeat in this regard. Synaptics doesn’t have its sensor displays ready (Samsung’s Galaxy S9 may retain the back-mounted sensor because of it), and Qualcomm’s won’t arrive until 2018, so we recommend you take this rumor with a heap of salt.

On October 4th, we could see Google unveil the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and the Ultra Pixel – or, we could see a Pixel (2), Mega Pixel (Pixel 2 XL), and Ultra Pixel. I personally think these three monikers would drill the “Pixel” name in better fashion than Pixel 2 XL, but a phone by its expected name will still be as good. It goes without saying that HTC will craft this device. We have a feeling the acquisition was right on schedule.

What do you think about the rumor of an Ultra Pixel? Would you be interested in a premium Google Pixel smartphone whose price tag would run north of $950? If an Ultra Pixel is coming, what feature would make it a must-buy for you?

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL specs leak out showing what Google has in store for us

Dan Bartram
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Google is set to announce the next generation of Pixel devices next week and despite already seeing a leak showing the rear of the device, this time a new leak reveals the specs of both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

The Pixel 2 XL will feature a curved QHD screen and will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor with either 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage, which we already suspected. It is said that the screen-to-body ratio will be around 80% and 85%, lending a similar look and feel to that of the Note 8. The Pixel 2 XL will also feature dual stereo speakers but no headphone jack.

It appears the Pixel 2 devices won’t see dual rear-cameras but instead retain the single front-facing and rear-facing cameras we’ve seen in previous models. These will be specifically called Pixel cameras though so that could lend some suggestion as to how much focus Google will be placed on the camera functionality.

The source also suggests that the Pixel 2 devices will come equipped with an E-SIM that would allow the device to connect to different carriers without the need for a physical SIM. The Pixel 2 XL will have IP67 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 5 and be powered by a 3520mAh battery.

The subtle differences of the Pixel 2 over its bigger brother are that it is likely to have a larger bezel and will be removing the headphone jack. The device will have an FHD screen instead of the curved QHD screen on the Pixel 2 XL and have a smaller 2700 mAh battery given the smaller profile of the device.

This is how the two devices lineup:

Google Pixel 2 Google Pixel 2 XL
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Screen FHD with Gorilla Glass 5 QHD Curved Gorilla Glass 5 Wide Color Gamut
Cameras Pixel Cameras with OIS and Google Imaging Chip Pixel Cameras with OIS and Google Imaging Chip
Battery 2700 3520 mAh
Storage 64 and 128 GB 64 and 128 GB
Dust/Water Resistance IP67 IP67
Audio No 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Dual Stereo Front-Facing Speakers		 No 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Dual Stereo Front-Facing Speakers
OS Android O Android O
SIM E-Sim E-Sim
RAM N/A N/A
Extra features Active Edge Active Edge

Some of these specs may be surprising while others seem spot on with exactly what we were expecting from the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. With only a few days left to the event, the devices are certainly shaping up to reveal some interesting features. Based on what we know so far, which device would you go for?

The best Bitcoin wallets for Android devices (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
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Bitcoin is an unusual and revolutionary technology, and with this, there are a lot of extreme stories surrounding the currency. If you’re looking to get involved with this exciting, unique technology and start using bitcoin, then you’ll need to download a bitcoin wallet. In the past, people could mine their own bitcoin at home from their computer. However, as the technology has become more popular it’s become more difficult to mine bitcoin. People are now required to use specialist computer hardware for mining. For this reason, instead of mining bitcoin many people are buying it directly from bitcoin brokers and exchanges. To purchase and store bitcoin, users need a bitcoin wallet. The wallet can be stored on individual’s phones or their desktop. However, users with Apple mobile phones may struggle to find an appropriate bitcoin wallet, the brand are well known for being wary about bitcoin and have previously removed wallets from the app store.

How does a bitcoin wallet work?

There are slight differences between mobile and desktop bitcoin wallets. Desktop wallets are usually included with bitcoin software but you can also download a separate wallet if you would prefer to. Although desktop bitcoin wallets are useful and have their merits, mobile wallets are far more convenient. This is because they allow users to pay for things using bitcoin when they’re on the move. In general, a bitcoin wallet works in a similar manner to online banking. You can run the app on your mobile phone and use it to make payments. Making bitcoin payment payments from your phone has become easier as the technology has advanced, it’s even possible to make in-app purchases with bitcoin now. When starting to use bitcoin for the first time you’ll need to make sure you have signed up for a unique bitcoin address, this allows all of your bitcoin transactions to be stored under your anonymous ID.

In the past, Coinbase was the most popular option for storing bitcoin securely and easily. However, Coinbase is not technically a bitcoin wallet. It’s actually an exchange with the facility to hold bitcoins. There are plenty of better options available for storing bitcoins on your mobile phone, although it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t store large quantities of currency on your phone in case you are hacked or lose access to the wallet.

Android have been known to be revolutionary when it comes to all types of technology, with phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 making waves in the industry and looking to outshine the ever-popular iPhone. This is also the case when it comes to Bitcoin, as unlike iPhone, Bitcoin wallets have consistently been available on the Play Store. These are some of the best bitcoin wallets currently available for Android phones and tablets.

Samourai Wallet

This bitcoin wallet is great for privacy and it offers an easy to use interface. It’s ideal for first time bitcoin buyers or those who are concerned about their security. The enhanced security features on this wallet include military grade encryption, PIN login and individual bitcoin addresses for each purchase. Not reusing bitcoin addresses means that transaction data is kept more anonymous than it would be with other bitcoin wallets. This allows people to maintain their privacy when purchasing items using bitcoin.

Breadwallet

Breadwallet is a straightforward bitcoin wallet. It’s a no-fuss solution for people who are looking to try out sending and receiving bitcoin on their mobile phone. There’s no intimidating technical language, although of course you will need a basic understanding of how bitcoin works. The basic idea behind breadwallet is giving users the ability to control their transactions and eliminate hidden fees and restricted banking hours.

Copay

If, for any reason, you need your bitcoin wallet to be accessible on many different devices then Copay is the right app for you. Copay is a multisignature wallet, this means that you can have multiple people signing off transactions. This makes the Copay wallet an ideal choice for people who are using cryptocurrency within their businesses. There are a number of different ways that you can use Copay, it’s not just designed for business use. The average bitcoin wallet user can also use Copay.

Airbitz

If you know you’re going to be spending bitcoin regularly, instead of just storing them for use at a later date as many people choose to, you’ll need a wallet that is able to cope with frequent use. Airbitz is ideal. It has a number of plugins that make spending bitcoins easier and updated at the end of last year to fix bugs and support Android Fingerprint, alongside other features. These features include fold integration, which allows you to buy gift cards within the app for popular stores, such as Starbucks and Target. Another feature is biterefil integration which allows you to top up your mobile phone from within the wallet, which is particularly handy if you are on a pay-as-you-go contract. The Android app is easy to use when you are the go, with an interface that is easy to navigate.

These are just some of the many bitcoin wallet applications available for Android users. If you’re looking for a bitcoin wallet to suit your needs, be sure to read reviews and research the features of each app before you commit to one.

LG V30 US release dates finally announced

Josh Noriega
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We figured that LG would have wanted to improve on the V20’s large announcement to release gap last year, but unfortunately the V30 has found itself in the same predicament. It’s been just about a month since we had official word about LG’s hot alternative to Samsung’s Note 8 big-hitter. It’s been frustrating to say the least for those who LG has made excited about this promising flagship phone.

Also check out: Our hands-on and first impressions of the LG V30

But if you’ve managed to hold out, you’ll finally get to see if the wait was worth it next week. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have let the cat out of the bag; here’s the scoop:

  • AT&T: Very short pre-order window. You can technically order the V30 on Oct. 5th, but it will be in stores the next day, on Oct. 6th. Retail cost is $810 or you can finance it for $27/month for 30 months. Read the official word here.
  • T-Mobile: A week behind in comparison. The V30 won’t be in stores until Oct. 13th on T-Mobile, with pre-orders starting on Oct. 5th. Retail price will be $800 or $30/month for 24 months (with $80 down). Bear in mind that this will be the first phone to launch that can use the carrier’s brand new 600 MHz frequency, enabling the potential of better coverage and future-proofing. Read the official word here.
  • Verizon: The V30 is also launching Oct. 5th on Verizon. That’s literally all we know right now. No pricing or info about pre-ordering. We should see official word soon.

As a refresher, the LG V30 is a powerhouse of features. We’re looking at a 6.0″ QHD+ P-OLED screen with 2:1 aspect ratio (LG has finally moved to OLED on its flagship), Snapdragon 835 chipset with 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage with microSD expansion, 16MP standard camera (f/1.6 aperture, OIS) + 13MP wide-angle camera (f/1.9 aperture, no OIS), 3,300 mAh battery (no longer removable), IP68 rated waterproofing, wireless charging, and headphone jack powered by the newest HiFi Quad DAC.

Exit secondary screen, enter Floating Bar.

It’s looking like Silver may be the only color we’re getting, but it may be too early to conclude that. The V30 was initially announced with four colors: Aurora Black, Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue, and Lavender Violet. We knew all these colors weren’t coming to the US, but dang. I personally really wanted the Moroccan Blue, especially after Samsung shafted the Note 8’s blue color in the US.

All the V30 colors.

Have you managed to hold out for the V30’s untimely release? One thing that’s nice is that we’ll be able to check out the new Pixel phones on Oct 4th before having to decide on the purchase.

AutoPi wants to make every car much, much smarter

Donovan Jeska
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In a world where the Internet of Things is becoming more and more a reality, the large majority of cars on the road are still disconnected from that world. Sure, many cars these days come standard with Bluetooth and some even have 4G hotspots baked into them, but for the most part our cars are totally separate from an otherwise connected world.

That’s where AutoPi comes in. On Kickstarter right now – and with a mere $500 to go! – the Raspberry Pi-based AutoPi system plugs into your car’s ODB-II port (every car since 2002 has one), transforming your dumb car into a smart one. This brings a world of functionality to your vehicle:

The features it can bring to your care are legion: create a touchscreen car computer, use Google Assistant, and create If This, Then This style rules for your car. AutoPi Cloud is the backend of the AutoPi system, where you can govern all the functionality remotely, from your desktop or phone. AutoPi starts at $100 for a DiY model, ranging up to $274 for the best model, which includes WiFi and 4G connection.

The idea is pretty genius, really, and I’m shocked it hasn’t been done at this level before. But the AutoPi team wants to do it, and is this close to making it happen. Let’s see if we can’t make their dream a reality, dear Android Guys.

It’s a full house for the Wink Bingo App for Android (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
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They say that bingo first originated in Italy in the 1500s, possibly as a way for the government of the time to raise money, just like our National Lottery today. But it wasn’t until the 1920s and 30s that it really took off in America. In the UK the 1960s were its true heyday with thousands of bingo halls up and down the country and millions of people playing each week.

But for several decades bingo hall attendances have been on the decline as people have chosen different ways to spend their leisure time. It’s a decline that’s continuing as, according to Gambling Commission figures, between 2016 and 2017 the number of bingo halls in the UK fell by nearly 6%.

However, the advent of the internet and mobile access to it have given the game a whole new lease of life with many operators finding that bingo translates very well to being an online experience.

One of the biggest and most successful of these operators is Wink Bingo. As one of the most innovative of the online bingo operators it’s not surprising that Wink also have a cutting-edge app that makes mobile play simple.

Getting started

The app is easy to download from the Google Play Store and installing it on any Android device is simple, although you will have to register on the Wink Bingo site too. Luckily this is also a very easy process that takes only a couple of minutes to complete.

Once the app is installed you’re ready to go.

An especially good feature for anyone starting to play via the app is the so-called “Newbie Room”. For 7 days it gives free access to games so you can find your feet by playing games for free as well as having online access to help if you find you need it. Then, at the end of the 7 days, you should have all the confidence you need to play whenever you want.

Choice of games

The Wink Bingo App gives you a great choice of games to enjoy on your Android device including both 75 and 90 ball games which are easy to play. Experienced players even have the opportunity to play a selection of VIP games for even bigger prizes.

Payments and withdrawals

One of the most important aspects of any online bingo app is being able to make payments and withdrawals quickly and easily – and the Wink Bingo app makes sure this is simple. You can use all major debit and credit cards but lots of players prefer methods like PayPal, PaySafe Card and Entropay so you certainly do have plenty of choice.

Bonuses and incentives

Another real area of strength are the welcome bonuses that Wink Bingo offer for new members – though it is a good idea to read through the terms and conditions for these before you play as there are certain wagering requirements to be met before you claim yours. Nevertheless, they do offer fantastic value when you claim them.

So, to sum up, the Wink Bingo App is a great way to play this popular game on any Android device and installing it couldn’t be simpler. If you want to find out more about Wink Bingo before you commit then visit their website where you’ll also be able to download the app.

So eyes down, and get ready to play!

Editor Note: Our editorial stance on including links to apps or games with gambling and/or casino links is as follows: We will only consider them if there is an official app in the Google Play Store and/or Apple’s iTunes. The sentiment being that if it’s good enough for those outlets, it’s good enough for us to mention. Wink Bingo can be found in iTunes now.

Canvaspop wants to print out those killer Instagram photos for you

AndroidGuys
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So you’ve taken some great photos, tweaked them a bit and then shared them online. Now you’ve got all sorts of friends and family asking for copies. Why? Because nobody captures the moment like you do.

Instead of letting your loved ones download the images to their devices, why not take things a step further? Why not get them a gift that just happens to center around the photos?

Canvaspop is an outlet that specializes in turning your pictures into printed artwork. Be it in the form of a poster, collage, Triptych print, magnet, or pillow, it’s an easy process with quick turnaround.

We recently had a chance to test out the custom photo pillow and were really impressed with the way in which things were handled. Moreover, we were delighted to see the finished product, an 18″ x 18″ pillow that has become a conversation piece.

For us, the hardest part about ordering was figuring out which picture we were going to use to test it out. Now that we’ve had a chance to check it out, we’re ready to dive back in with more stuff.

Having recently gone to a concert with lasers and lights, we’re interested in checking out a triptych print. What is a triptych print, you ask? That’s where you take an image and break it apart over three pieces. You can space them out, offset them, and do other cool things with the artwork. It works great in cases where you have a lot of colors or objects and don’t need to focus on, say, a single face.

There are plenty of options at Canvaspop, each of which speaks to a different sort of use case or photo. We invite you to check them all out to see what would make a good gift.

Not everything has to be done from scratch, either. There are existing designs to start with and patterns which could make for interesting pillow backs. Prints can be done in just about any size with various framing and color options. And, if you’re not sure where to start, check out the gallery of inspiring ideas.

Save 35% with AndroidGuys

While you might find a coupon code upon entering the site, we have a special one just for you. Indeed, if you use CPGUYS, you’ll save 35% on anything in the store.

With Christmas coming up, now’s the perfect time to get started on your shopping. You’ll have the perfect, custom printed gift ready to go and a few months to spare, too.

Google Assistant finally comes to Android TV, NVIDIA SHIELD TV gets it first

Alexandra Arici
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Back at CES 2017, Google promised the Google Assistant will soon make its way to the Android TV platform. Well after months of waiting (CES took place in January), the feature is finally rolling out, first for the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, but Sony Bravia TVs with Android TV will also be getting it in the upcoming months.

Having the Assistant live and listening on your NVIDIA SHIELD TV means that you’ll be able to do things like play content, discover content, get answers, set the mood or get ready for your day by using voice commands directed towards your Android TV.

To summon Google’s AI-infused virtual helper on your SHIELD TV you can either press the microphone button on the remote or just say “OK Google” from within shouting distance of the SHIELD controller.

Google Assistant on SHIELD TV is basically Google Voice Search on steroids, coming with a cleaner, more intuitive visual design, but also more features.

So you’ll also be able to cast audio to the Google Home or other Google Cast speakers, as well as play content directly from Netflix, HBO and more.

In order to celebrate the arrival of the Google Assistant on Android TV, NVIDIA SHIELD TV owners will be given a free three-month YouTube Red trial, so they can watch ad-free videos and play all the music they want.

The Assistant comes with the SHIELD 6.0 software update which is currently available for download on SHIELD TV devices.

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