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Do yourself a favor and give Aqueducts a try – for free

Donovan Jeska
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Aqueducts, at its core, is a game about transporting water from Point A to Point B by means of spinning pieces of pipe accordingly. Completing the path rewards you with a rating, determined by the number of moves it took you to get the water to the end.

When you first load up Aqueducts, I advise you to prepare yourself – it throws you right into the first level, and there a moment of absolute PANIC as you try to figure out what you’re supposed to be doing. After that terrifying moment passes, though, you realize that this particular level is not rated by time, but the efficiency.

As you take a second to really look at the game, you realize that it’s quite beautiful. The graphics are vibrant and minimal, with a playful, almost quaint musical score. Everything about the game screams minimalism – there are, to wit, only two menu options in the entire app; toggle sound, and rate the game.

In all, there are nine worlds, each with 5-10 levels. There are really only two mechanics to concern yourself with – the number of times you move the pipes, and the amount of water you have to work with. And even then, you only ever deal with one of those at any given time. It’s a very simple, peaceful game that is casual to the extreme, almost to the point of sleepy – in a great, relaxing way.

Worlds 3 and higher are pay to play, but with a pleasantly surprising catch – you choose what you want to pay for each level, up to and including nothing at all. You don’t have to pay anything to get all the content in the game, though I gotta say, if you don’t contribute at least a buck to the developer after playing this impressive little game, I don’t think we can be friends. The game is ad-supported, a video or picture ad playing every few levels. It’s really quite jarring, as the game itself is quite immersive.

The optional payment for content system is a delightfully refreshing philosophy. It encourages the developer to make games their clients want to play, and are willing to pay to play. It lets the customer decide the value of the game to them, personally rather than the developer or publisher dictate the price. This pricing structure is one I’d love to see other developers adopt – but unfortunately, few developers are as noble as those of Aqueducts.

Get Aqueducts FREE on Google Play – it’s currently rated 4.2 out of 5, with just under 11,000 votes.

Moto X4 vs Moto G5 Plus (Smartphone Showdown)

Alexandra Arici
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At IFA 2017, Motorola unveiled the Moto X4 handset – the latest addition to its middle-range portfolio. Motorola already has a few mid-rangers on the market including the Moto G5, G5 Plus and G5S, G5S Plus models.

In what follows we’ll compare the newly launched Moto X4 with the Moto G5 Plus, a product that is already available for purchase in the US. So let’s see what the main differences between the two models are:

Design and Display

The new Moto X4 comes with an anodized aluminum frame with IP68 protection against dust and water. The body is made of 3D contoured glass, unlike that of the Moto G5 Plus which comes with a backplate made of aluminum, while its core frame is made out of plastic.

In both cases, below the display sits a physical home button which also acts as a fingerprint scanner. But the scanner can be used for more than the obvious. You can also swipe left on your fingerprint scanner to go back or swipe right to open recent apps or tap to go to home screen.

Form factor-wise the two smartphones are the same, as both come boasting a 5.2-inch fullHD IPS LCD display with 424ppi.

Power and Performance

Being a newer device, the Moto X4 takes advantage of a Snapdragon 630 processor – which is an octa-core affair made up of eight 2.2GHz Cortex-A53 cores. It also includes 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage (with microSD support for up to 2TB).

In contrast, the Moto G5 Plus takes advantage of an older Snapdragon 625 (octa-core SoC clocked at 2.2GHz) with either 2GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage (microSD available).

Cameras

Unlike the Moto G5 Plus, the Moto X4 follows this year’s trend and includes a dual-camera onboard. Working in concert with Motorola’s advanced camera software, the two 12-megapixel with f/2.0 and 8-megapixel with f/2.2 sensors are expected to be able to deliver professional portraits and blurred backgrounds (bokeh).

The phone takes advantage of additional features like Dual Autofocus Pixel technology which brings the faster focus in lower light conditions.

When it comes to selfies, the Moto X4 carries a 16-megapixel one with f/2.0, 1080p and LED flash.

Moving on to the Moto G5 Plus, its main camera consists of a singular 12-megapixel sensor with f/1.7, autofocus and dual-LED flash. The self-portrait shooter is far less impressive as it’s only a 5-megapixel one with f/2.2.

Other features

Motorola has included a few new features which it hopes will boost the appeal of the new Moto X4. For example, there’s Amazon Alexa support built-in.

On top of that, Motorola has added something called “Landmark Detection” which allows users to point the camera at items to find more about them. There’s also a new Face Filters for selfies.

The US company also worked with French start-up Tempow to improve the Bluetooth experience with the new phone. As a result of the partnership, Moto X4 owners will be able to pair up to four audio devices to the phone including speakers, headphones and more.

Software-wise, the older Moto G5 Plus ships out with Android 7.0 Nougat, while the new Moto X4 has the newer Android 7.1.1 Nougat version. Both look pretty stock, as it’s tradition with Motorola.

Battery

Both models rely on a non-removable 3,000 mAh battery. This is what we found in our Moto G5 Plus review and we expect results to be similar in the case of the Moto X4.

“Six hours of on screen time comes easy. Two days of regular use comes easy. I’ve had this phone for seven days and I’ve charged it three times.”

Value

The Moto X4 will retail for around $480 which is not exactly super cheap. The Moto G5 Plus on the other hand is a true budget affair and you can pick it up starting at $229 for the 2GB of RAM+32GB storage version.

But if you want a dual-camera, Alexa and the option of pairing up to four audio devices to your phone, you might want to save up and buy the Moto X4. It will become available in the States later this autumn.

Check out Oukitel’s answer to the Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Alexandra Arici
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Chinese smartphone brands have had a history of copying the design of iconic smartphone models. For example, you can easily find a Samsung Galaxy S8 clone with measly price attached to it, if you perform a quick search on the Internet.

Sony’s OmniBalance design hasn’t inspired a lot of copy/paste tendencies in Chinese OEMs in the past, but that’s about to change. Oukitel, for example, is offering for pre-order a handset which it wants us to believe, is a worthy alternative for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a high-end device which comes with a 4K display and a Snapdragon 835 processor under the hood. So what about Oukitel’s K3? Does it have a 4K display? No, it doesn’t. How about the Snapdragon? Nope, it’s powered by a MediaTek MT6750T processor instead. So how does Oukitel hope to attract those who are craving a Sony Xperia XZ Premium substitute?

The company says that like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the K3 too comes with a 5.5-inch display and glossy dual curved design. However, the K3 includes a larger 6,000 mAh battery (compared to the 3,000 mAh inside the Sony Xperia XZ Premium) which can be fully charged in only 2h and 50 minutes, as well as 4 cameras!

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium boasts a 19-megapixel main camera with f/2.0, EIS, predictive phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus. But its standout feature is the ability to shoot slow motion 720p video at 960fps.

Of course, the Oukitel K3 can’t do that. However, it has a 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel combination serving on the back, as well as on the front, so at least in theory, you should be able to take some sleek selfies.

The handset is on par with the Sony phone when it comes to RAM and storage coming with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage. However, it offers only 1920 x 1080 resolution.

All in all, the specs of the Oukitel K3 don’t sound too bad, but it can hardly be called a Xperia XZ Premium competitor give it that it lacks the features that make the Sony flagship great. At best, it can be called a sort of look alike although the K3 is narrower than the Sony phone and features a different sensor arrangement on the back.

The phone will retail for $179.99, but during the presale period you can grab it for $139.99. Which sounds quite inviting.

Xiaomi joins the Android One family with the dual camera Mi A1

Alexandra Arici
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Google today announced that it has partnered up with Xiaomi for a new Android One handset. The device called Mi A1 offers great specs and a stock Android experience at an affordable price.

While internally the Xiaomi Mi A1 is very much the same as the Xiaomi Mi 5X, it comes with clean Android 7.1.2 Nougat on board and the promise that it will be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo by the end of the year.

The handset features a 5.5-inch LCD display with fullHD resolution (1920 x 1080) and includes a Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood. The handset ships with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (hybrid SIM/microSD card slot).

The Xiaomi Mi A1 is the first Android One device to take advantage of a dual Mi camera which consists of a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, as well as dual-tone LED flash. The back also houses a fingerprint scanner.

Xiaomi also notes it used a pyrolytic graphite sheet in the device to help with thermal dissipation and reduce temperature by two degrees Celsius. The black model also offers an extra perk, as it features a special coating which doesn’t produce smudges once handled. Xiaomi calls it “fingerprint resistant”.

The new Android One phone relies on a 3,080 mAh with USB Type-C charging. It will become available for purchase in Black, Gold or Rose Gold for approximately $234 a pop.

Like it’s the case with Android One handsets, the Mi A1 will go on sale in emerging markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, as well as the Americas. Customers in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay will be able to purchase the phone starting on September 12.

The Arrow smartwatch puts a 360 rotating HD camera on your wrist

Alexandra Arici
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Smartwatch manufacturers are still having a hard time attracting customers towards the niche, but some still believe a market for intelligent timepieces exists.

It’s the case of Lost Angeles-based startup Arrow which has successfully funded a smartwatch on Indiegogo. The product is called the Arrow smartwatch and interestingly, comes including a 360 rotating HD camera.

There aren’t many smartwatches out there that come with a camera on board which lives in the rotating bezel, so the Arrow has a certain unique appeal to it.

The rotating 5-megapixel HD 1080p camera allows users to twist and shoot photos and videos in any direction, which in theory sounds double. However, it remains to be seen how the whole taking photos with your smartwatch experience would feel like for a user in real life.

The watch also allows owners to edit (with filters) and share their photos and video directly from the Arrow smartwatch.

Anyway, if you’re wondering about specs, the Arrow features a case size of 50mm and a round OLED 1.39-inch screen with 400 x 400 resolution. Power comes from a MediaTek MTK6480 quad-core processor clocked at 1.39GHz in combination with 768MB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

On top of that, the Arrow offers built-in GPS, a gyroscope, and accelerometer and relies on a 400 mAh battery with wireless charging which should last 1-2 days of mixed used on a single charge.

Like most smartwatches out there, the Arrow is capable of relaying notification for phone calls, text messages, email, calendar and more. You can also take phone calls on the wearable which also incorporates a speaker and a microphone.

It can also play tracks from your music library which users are required to upload in the Arrow’s internal memory. You can also sync, stream and control your favorite music app from your wrist.

Naturally, the Arrow can be used as a fitness companion as well to track steps, speed, distance, route, and calories. The Arrow App fitness tracker app which is available for iOS and Android can display daily, weekly and monthly results and also allows users to set fitness goals.

If you think the Arrow is the smartwatch you’ve been looking for all of this time, then you can head on to Indiegogo and make a pledge. You can get the Arrow smartwatch + charger + silicone band for $149. A Silicone Band Kit which includes a Black, White and Red strap is available for $15. A Leather Band Kit (includes Black or Black with Red Stitching straps) is available for $20.

Samsung starts shipping out unlocked Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders earlier

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was announced on August 25. At launch, the Korean tech giant said customers can expect the new phablet to be released on September 15.

However, it seems some users who pre-ordered the phone will be able to get their hand on the shiny, new device sooner than expected.

According to users on Reddit, both Verizon and Sprint have started sending out pre-ordered Galaxy Note 8s.  It’s not all that uncommon for carriers to start shipping ahead of schedule.

What’s out of the ordinary is the manufacturer itself shipping out ore-orders before the announced released date. Alas, this is what’s happening. Samsung has started sending out pre-orders for the unlocked Galaxy Note 8, alongside some freebies which include a FastWireless Charging Convertible and a 128GB Samsung EVO+ memory card.

This very good news for eager fans who have been dying to get their hands on the new phablet.

A few days ago, it was revealed that T-Mobile was preparing to start sending out Galaxy Note 8 units earlier too, although at this point it seems that Verizon and Sprint have beaten the Magenta carrier to the punch.

In related news, Netflix recently updated its support page to include the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 as one of the supported devices for HDR content via its video streaming app.

Scosche StuckUp Qi Wireless Charging Mount (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Although most smartphones don’t support wireless charging, the idea is a novel one that offers a bit of ease at some additional cost. Samsung has gone full bore into the wireless charging world by offering the feature on all of its flagship phones. There are a few other devices from Microsoft, Sony, Google and Motorola that also employ wireless capabilities–so it’s not just Samsung here.

Although the majority of smartphones don’t have wireless charging, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for wireless chargers. With multiple manufacturers providing a handful of devices with Qi (pronounced ‘che’) wireless capabilities, the Scosche Wireless Charging Mount offers a great solution for those don’t want to bother plugging in to charge.

The box is nothing too fancy, but what do you expect–it’s a box!

Inside the box and assembly

Scosche includes a good deal of components here–everything you need to mount and charge wirelessly. Upon opening the box you’ll find the charging base, the charging USB cable, the suction mount, and the separate 12V power adapter that plugs into the car socket. Each item feels durable and well designed. These are not components that you’d find in a budget bin at your local department store. Also included is a simple multi-language instruction booklet made of folded paper in case the simple assembly isn’t quite clear.

scosche wireless components
Inside the box, you’ll find the manual, the car adapter, the mount, a micro-USB cable and the charging pad

Using the charger and mount

Assembly is thankfully simple and straightforward. I was able to get all pieces connected and working within minutes. Plugging in the adapter and inserting the USB cable in properly is something we’ve all done a thousand times; this is not rocket science by any means. The mount locks into the adjustable arm with a simple click, then you’re all set to charge your device wirelessly. Having a quick and understandable assembly process goes a long way here.

Mounting the device to the dash of a vehicle takes some patience. I discovered that the suction mount didn’t adhere well to the plastic parts of my dash at first. I had to fully clean the mounting location as well as readjust the suction cup to assure the mount was firmly in place. Previous to doing so, the entire assembly detached once, which sent my phone tumbling to the floor.

scosche in car mount
Once mounted properly, the wireless charger sits firm, ready to charge all your Qi-compatible devices

Mounting to my windshield was much more stable, however, locating a spot on my windshield that didn’t obstruct my view was a bit tricky. This is nearly impossible and would be a red flag for getting pulled over, but to be fair, the same would apply to almost any windshield-style mount. I found that the mount stayed firmly attached to the windshield at all times and the included release stem worked perfectly for removal.

scosche wireless with device
Large phones like the S8 Plus fit just fine; just make sure to slide down the bottom feet grips

Once mounted, I was able to easily set and remove my smartphone from the charging cradle. The charging indicator on the front changes from blue to green to show that it’s charging, but is sometimes not visible depending on the size of the device being charged as well as the angle of the mount. At the bottom of the device, two adjustable clips keep the phone from slipping out. A button on the back side of the cradle allows these clips to slide down, which was necessary for my S7 Edge and S8 Plus to activate the wireless charger.

scosche wireless mount pad
It may take a few tries to get the pad to stick, but once it’s on, the mount stays in place until you pull the tab near the bottom

StuckUp wrap-up

Scosche has been around in the mobile devices field for quite some time now and they’ve always made quality products. I was pleased to see the track record remains with the StuckUp Qi Wireless Charging Mount. This product charges quickly and holds firmly while not being overly complicated to assemble or use.

I honestly can’t speak for, nor guarantee, that every wireless device will be compatible, but considering Qi is quite universal, I can’t imagine any problems arising with other devices. Scosche has constructed a universal charger that has only a few minor shortcomings. It’s still a great value and one I can recommend to anybody that needs a wireless charging mount.

Google Camera HDR+ Port APK updated with Zero Shutter Lag

Dan Bartram
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The Google Camera app found on the Pixel devices was ported with working HDR+ mode earlier this month to pretty much any device that ran on a Snapdragon 820/821 or 835 chip to install the APK. The problem was that although the functionality reflected that found on the Pixel devices, the experience was somewhat lacking.

Through the various updates that the Google Camera Port received the various bugs that existed in the initial version were fixed. In the latest update to the APK, Zero Shutter Lag has been introduced for automatic HDR+ mode.

The Google Camera port seems to make use of the Hexagon 680 DSP in these Snapdragon SoCs, so no equivalent Exynos or Kirin SoC will be capable of using this port. The addition of Zero Shutter Lag enables some of the devices with capable hardware but not so great software increase the quality of images it outputs.

The update to the Google Camera port comes courtesy of B-S-G over at XDA Developers who has added ZSL, but only for automatic HDR+.

Automatic HDR+ uses a lighter algorithm than forcing it, and the lighter algorithm uses fewer photos to stitch together. This is why it can use ZSL, as otherwise there would not be enough time to take enough photos. If you use forced HDR+, then you cannot benefit from ZSL.

You can download the latest Google Camera v4.4 Mod with HDR+ APK optimized for Snapdragon 820/821 devices right here.

https://www.androidguys.com/2017/08/31/androidguys-ten-for-ten-giveaways-celebrating-ten-years-of-android-week-1/

Will the Samsung Galaxy S8 outshine the next iPhone?

AndroidGuys
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In the world of mobile devices, Samsung and Apple have been vying for the top spot for years. With the release of the Galaxy 8 and the Galaxy 8 Plus, Samsung may have overtaken its rival. The S8 won the “Best Smartphone” award at the Asia Mobile Awards (AMOs) at the 2017 Mobile World Congress Shanghai, which is Asia’s largest mobile event. With its new flagship product, Samsung has rolled out some features that are exciting to power users.

Size and Shape

Image via Flickr by Andri Koolme

The S8 is smaller than the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, and yet the screen is almost exactly the same size. This is possible because the Galaxy is using a virtual home button instead of a physical button, so the entire front of the unit can be devoted to screen space. Users also like the S8’s tall, narrower shape, which is designed to fit easily into an average-sized hand.

Connectivity

If connectivity is vital for you, the Samsung Galaxy S8 on a reliable network like T-Mobile will cover all your bases.  Some reviewers report that the Galaxy S8 is doing a better job connecting to weak Wi-Fi signals than the iPhone 7. This is important because users are moving away from their laptops and relying on their phones for more of their internet needs.  Even phone calls are more likely to be transmitted over Wi-Fi in the future, so Wi-Fi connectivity should continue to be a big deal going forward.

Screen Appearance

The Galaxy S8 has a higher screen resolution than the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 plus. (TIP: Although the S8 is capable of super sharp QHD (2,960 x 1,440) resolutions, it ships at a lower setting. If you want the higher res appearance, slide your “screen resolution” setting slider all the way to the right.) It’s a sharp, crystal-clear screen that displays vivid color. In fact, if you do a lot of image editing on your phone, you may want to turn off the screen’s artificial color enhancement so you can see your images the way people using other devices see them.

Bixby

With the Galaxy S8, Samsung is rolling out its answer to Siri. The new voice-operated personal assistant is called Bixby, and it’s still a bit mysterious. Bixby has a dedicated button on the phone, but will also respond when you speak his name. Bixby interacts with your camera and can help you search for wine and other products, or identify landmarks and objects.

Security

It’s hard to compete with Apple’s reputation for ironclad security, but Samsung is making some headway. The S8 has fingerprint-sensor technology, just like the iPhone, along with other options like facial recognition and an iris scanner. Data encryption is available on the S8, but the phone ships with that feature disabled, and you’ll need to turn it on in your settings.

Battery Life

Consumer Reports has named the Galaxy S8 Plus the top spot in its smartphone ratings this year, in part because of the phone’s impressive battery life. After rigorous testing, the consumer agency found that the S8 Plus held a charge for 26 hours of talk time, 17.5 hours of data transmission, or 14.5 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing. The numbers were slightly lower for the regular S8, which is a smaller phone and therefore carries a smaller battery.

Camera Functions

Consumer Reports also raved about the cameras on both the S8 and the S8 Plus, saying “Several phones in our ratings take absolutely stunning photos, but even in that group the Samsung S8 phones shoulder their way to the front rank. The colors are rich and the low-light performance admirable. They take great video, as well.”

With this new model, Samsung has reduced the over-sharpening that some of its former phone cameras produced. While an over-sharpened image will perform well on some of the standard tests used in the industry, the human eye measures image quality differently.

It seems that, for the moment, Samsung has indeed edged out the Apple iPhone in their eternal cell phone wars.

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus could see January 2018 unveiling, display panels ship in November

AndroidGuys
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The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have had four good months of market celebration, but the Galaxy Note 8 brings Samsung’s dual camera setup that may have some Galaxy S8 owners envious of their Galaxy Note-toting buddies. According to a new report, Galaxy Note 8 owners may have only four months to rock their new smartphones before the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus (Galaxy S9+) supplant it.

That’s the word out of Korea by way of The Investor, which says that Samsung’s OLED panels will start shipping in November and that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus could be unveiled as early as January 2018. Usually, the timetable from display shipments to phone unveiling is two to three months. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ display panels shipped this past January before their March announcement, so the idea of a January 2018 unveiling of Samsung’s next-generation devices isn’t all that far-fetched. Should the device ship according to this timetable, it’s likely the world market could see the phones released for purchase by mid-February.

There are a few things we know about the upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, among them, that the devices are codenamed “Star” and “Star 2,” and that they could sport Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC (the Snapdragon 836 is in the works for Google’s Pixel 2 phones).

As for the display panel shipments rumor, it does make sense: after all, we’ve already discovered that Samsung isn’t pushing the display boundaries in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9, and the back-mounted fingerprint sensor location will remain the same as it is on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. If the display sizes and fingerprint sensor will remain the same as we’ve already seen in this year’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, then a January 2018 unveiling is highly likely.

Samsung will bring its dual camera setup to the Galaxy S9, marking a significant first for the Galaxy S series next year, but outside of the dual rear cameras and the Snapdragon 845, much of what the Galaxy S9 will bring is iterative from the Galaxy Note 8. That’s not a bad thing, but the decision to level the spec sheet between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series means that earlier-than-normal phone unveilings, like dual rear cameras, could be the next big trend.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S back in 2010, but AndroidGuys has been around even longer: we’ve been here since 2007. To celebrate our tenth birthday, and to celebrate the impact you’ve made upon us and the site’s success, we’re giving away prizes over the next ten weeks. Want to be one of our lucky winners? Check out our Ten for Ten Giveaways terms, conditions, and rules before entering, then feel free to enter.

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