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Ditch the coupons – Try the DealDash Android app

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There is no shying away from the sheer explosion of mobile technology trends. In fact, learning something new makes it to number 6 on the top 10 New Year’s resolution lists made each year. That means there are plenty of people open to change, and when it comes to app technology, you’ve got to be open to learning something new if you don’t want to miss out on great deals, especially when it comes to bidding on products on apps like DealDash.

This especially applies to tech companies and business owners, who should make it their resolution to learn something new in their niche, and also check out what the competition is doing with all the advances in the world of technology.

One particular topic that should be on every tech company’s radar is mobile, and especially the growth of Android apps. Since so many developers are going mobile, how can mobile apps grow your business, and find you some great deals?

2017 Is a Benchmark Year for Mobile Apps

This has definitely proven to be the year for mobile, and there are a number of reasons why. Not only is exciting, new technology steadily infiltrating the mobile sector, but the cost of adopting apps for businesses, and to bring unmissable deals to users, is well within Android user’s reach.

For many startup tech companies, mobile apps are a no-brainer in terms of development choice. But, to be successful, you need to pay attention to a number of important qualities. Overall, technology’s path of evolution has led us to a point where the most noteworthy developments seem to be the ones we download onto our smartphones. Conventional tech businesses are finding more and more new ways to offer their services and products in a minimal and more digestible form, while some focus solely on promoting their mobile offerings.

No matter which industry you may be in, you need to ensure that your Android app has a few particular qualities if you want it to garner downloads, get great reviews, and plenty of sharing among users who will continue to come back, for example, to bid on enticing deals:

  • It should be platform appropriate – apps need to be optimized for mobile users. They should take advantage of the natural qualities of a mobile device, and therefore ought to be compatible and functional across devices and brands.
  • Looks count – apps do need to look good. Even the best idea risks faltering if it is not fully branded, enticing, and just designed to encourage downloads.
  • Apps should be easy – apps should be easy and quick to install, easy to access, and just as simple to use.
  • Unique – as a tech company, you likely have tons of competition. Make sure your app isn’t a modified copy of another company’s model, but rather an idea that is unique enough to stand alone.
  • Memorable – users should always be left with a positive, and somewhat big, impression. That’s why successful apps use wording, design, and other interface techniques to ensure users don’t forget their experience, the way that DealDash has designed its Android app for users.
  • Apps need to be shareable – successful apps are those that are shared a great deal. Apps should offer rewards for users who share it with others.
  • Affordable – the cheaper an app is, the more users will download it. Some tech companies prefer to release both a free version and a full version for user convenience.
  • Spontaneous – it may seem strange, but apps should be accessible spontaneously. If the app is only good for longer, and more drawn-out sessions, it may bomb.
  • Fun user experience – one of the most important qualities of an app is how enjoyable it is.  It should entertain users, along with whatever its primary function is, such as DealDash’s convenient and easy-to-use auction and bidding capabilities.
  • Demographically targeted – you already know that you need to know who your target audience is, since not everyone around the world is going to want to use the app, so it is better focus on those users who will.

How DealDash Does It

Online auctions are by no means a new concept, but DealDash has changed things up with its Android app. It’s a fun, user-friendly app that’s enticing, shareable, and certainly memorable. By buying bids, users can participate in auctions with the chance to win some good deals. Users can purchase bids in different pack sizes. Bids start at 60c, so users can begin with a package of 60 bids at $36 to get going on the app. However, the app often offers bid sales where users can pick up deals at as little as 15c per bid.

All the items listed on the auction site are new and are offered along with manufacturer warranties, with many offers come from the auction site’s partners, Sears and Best Buy. Once users find something they like, they can start bidding, with each bid adding a penny to the final price. Every bid restarts a timer to 10 seconds so that other users can place their bids.

Once bids stop, the last person to bid wins the item at a discounted price, and the company offers free shipping. Here’s where DealDash’s spontaneous side comes in – the auctions tend to be unpredictable, so users never know when other users will stop bidding and the auction will close. Auctions can last anywhere from a few seconds to a number of days.

Since there’s only ever one bidder that wins an auction, bidders who lose out are given all their bids back if they chose to buy the item at its “Buy Now” price on the site.

There are many ingredients when it comes to the success of mobile apps, but with the 10 characteristics listed here, users are sure to enjoy and share DealDash as it continues to offer exciting products and good prices.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 too expensive? Check out these alternatives instead

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is one gorgeous phone boasting a stunning design, incredible 6.3-inch display, great software and a stylus. But while there are many things that get us excited about the Galaxy Note 8 we can’t really ignore one aspect – the phablet’s sky high price tag.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the company’s most expensive handset to date and customers looking to acquire this great product should be prepared to spend big. The handset starts at $920 if you’re looking to acquire it in its unlocked form from Samsung, but you could end up paying more depending on configuration or carrier.

But what about smartphone enthusiasts who don’t have almost $1,000 to spend on a gadget? Fortunately, you have a few alternatives to consider that won’t deplete your finances for good. Just take a look below:

Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+

Can’t afford the Galaxy Note 8? Well, Samsung’s older but still very competent flagships are still available for purchase. Both models come with the same stunning InfinityDisplay, Snapdragon 835 horse power, and Bixby – the virtual assistant on board.

Prices for the Galaxy S8 start at about $750, while the Galaxy S8+ can be yours for $850 and up. Here’s where you can get them.

When and where to buy: Samsung Galaxy S8

LG G6

Don’t like Samsung? LG’s first flagship for 2017, the LG G6 also offers a great design with minimal bezels and 18:9 aspect ratio, as well as other appealing features such as water, dust and military-standard drop shock resistance and a dual camera setup (which the Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+ duo lack btw). Unfortunately, it comes with last year’s Snapdragon 821 under the hood.

Be prepared to spend around $650 for the handset, depending on the carrier.

Where and where to buy: LG G6

LG V30

LG’s second flagship for the year, the V30 is not yet available for purchase. Nevertheless, we expect the device to land in retail with a full price tag of approximately $750 – which still makes it cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Like Samsung’s phablet, the LG V30 is a tremendous device coming with a great display and design, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 and a lot of features and enhancements in the audio/video area.

It’s certainly a flagship to keep an eye out for.

OnePlus 5

This low-cost “flagship killer” comes with a pretty standard design, yet it offers a dual-camera setup, Snapdragon 835 chipset and up to 8GB of RAM.

Pricing starts at $479 which is half of what Samsung is asking for its Galaxy Note 8.

Buy the OnePlus 5

HTC U11

The HTC U11 makes it our list of worthy Samsung Galaxy Note 8 alternatives thanks to its pretty decent $649 price. The device also distinguishes itself by being the first handset to feature a pressure sensitive frame which when squeezed can trigger a certain (programmable) action.

It also includes Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor like most of the phones we listed here and offers access to not one but three voice assistants: Google Assistant, Alexa, and the HTC Sense Companion.

Buy the HTC U11

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2

The recently unveiled Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 might not be going on sale in the US officially, but the device supports WCDMA bands so it should be able to work just fine on US networks.

A successor of last year’s bezel-less Mi MIX, the new phablet comes boasting an even thinner “chin” (bottom bezel), as well as a sleeker 7.7mm frame (compared to last year’s 7.9mm model).

Naturally, it runs on a Snapdragon 835 chipset and the base model will go on sale with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on board (just like the OnePlus 5). Prices start at approximately $500.

Sony Xperia XZ1

Sony’s latest flagship was unveiled at IFA 2017 and is the first handset to be announced with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

The handset might not boast a modern bezel-less design, but it does offer pretty great specs including a Snapdragon 835 and a primary camera that can shoot slow motion video at 960 fps.

The company promised it will launch the device on September 19 which should land in the US with a $699 price tag.

Creating a successful mobile app

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Almost everyone you know, under a certain age, probably owns a Smartphone or tablet. Whether it’s an iPhone, iPad or an android, mobile apps and games are incredibly popular. If you’re keen to get into the market of mobile games, hurry, it’s a market that’s growing by the day. Here are a few ways to get your app off the ground and make money from it.

Concept

You may already have an idea for your app. If you don’t; a niche market is a good place to start because you’ll be one of only a handful, not several thousand. People will take an interest in something if it fulfills a want or need and captures their attention.

Appearance

No matter how good your app is, it needs to look good. In a superficial world, putting a good face on just about anything means people are more likely to buy it.

Research

Whether you already have your idea, or it’s still a work in progress, do your research. Find out what people look for in an app, how many similar apps already exist, and whether yours will stand out. If there are too many lookalikes, it’s unlikely to take off. Some of the most successful apps are completely new concepts.

Popularize, then Publicize

It’s an age old marketing technique – advertise your product before it hits the market. This way, you can get people talking about it and build a bit of anticipation so that when they actually see it, they’ll recognize it and, hopefully, want it. Timing is key though – leave it too long and the buzz may die down, too little time could mean not enough people have heard about it before the release.

Getting it Approved

Apple’s App Store and Google Play both have rules and regulations as to what apps and games can and cannot contain. Make sure you go over them thoroughly so that your app can be approved quickly, without you having to resubmit several times.

Make a success of it before you charge for it

Some of the most successful games are follow-ups to an original. Plants vs Zombies 2 currently has more than 10,000,000 downloads, outstripping its predecessor, the original PVZ, by more than 1.5 million – and that’s just the Android downloads.

Of course, there’s nothing to say that you have to have a successful app to be able to sell another one. Another huge success is Marvel’s Contest of Champions – the game owes its success to the massive fan base around the Marvel comics and movies. Another amazingly successful app is that of Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie. At $4.99 a pop, he made over $100,000 in just one day.

The good news about creating an app, you don’t have to be an expert programmer or know how to code to create an app. Team up with someone who can do the programming for you, or buy source code from a site like www.sellmyapp.com.

How to get Android Oreo adaptive icons on any Android device

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Android, as we all know has a ton of customization options like changing the theme of your system, keeping individual wallpapers for the home screen and the lock screen, and even changing the entire launcher.

While users also have the option to customize how the icons of their apps look, this feature had always been inconsistent; different apps have different icons and typically each icon comes with a unique shape, size, and wallpapers.

But, starting from Android Oreo 8.0, the latest version of Android announced last month by Google, this is not the story. Android Oreo comes with an interesting new feature called Adaptive icons, which will automatically mask all your app icons so that they all look exactly the same size and shape.

Adaptive icons feature of Android Oreo will really help in bringing a consistent look across your device by adapting your app icons to suit your system theme or any third party launcher you are using.

While the Android Oreo update is officially available only for the Google Pixel and the Nexus devices as of now, you can implement this new feature on any Android device right now with the help of the latest beta update of Nova Launcher.

Just follow the below steps and you would be able to try out the brand new adaptive icons feature of Android Oreo on your Android device in no time, provided your phone is currently running on Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher.

Step 1:

First, you have to download the latest beta update of Nova Launcher 5.5.1 from here.

Step 2:

Once you have downloaded the APK file of Nova Launcher, you have to install it on your Android device.

If this is the first time you are installing an APK file, then you have to enable the option to install files from Unknown sources.

To do that, go to Settings->Security->Unknown Sources and then enable it.

adaptive icons

Now open the downloaded file and then select install to install the Nova Launcher app on your phone.

adaptive icons

Step 3:

Once the app is installed, make it the default launcher app by clicking on the home button and then selecting always.

adaptive icons

Step 4:

Now open the Nova Launcher settings by long pressing on your home screen and then selecting Settings.

adaptive icons

Step 5:

Now click on Look and feel from the settings menu and then enable the adaptive icons option.

You can also use the adaptive icon shape feature to select the shape you prefer and enable the mask legacy icons option to match the unsupported icons with the supported ones.

That’s it. Once you enable the adaptive icons option, the change will be instantly reflected on the icons on your home screen and your app drawer.

adaptive icons

You can change the shape of the icons from the Nova Launcher settings any time you want. If the feature doesn’t work for you in the first attempt, try uninstalling and re-installing the app.

A Special Edition OnePlus 5 is probably coming on September 19

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Remember that last year OnePlus teamed up with French fashion boutique Colette in order to launch a Special Edition of the OnePlus 3T?

Well, it seems that OnePlus is gearing up once again to launch a style-oriented limited edition phone. And it’s going to be a new version of the OnePlus 5 this time.

The Chinese company has started sending out invites to an event to be hosted in Paris on September 19. We can see OnePlus has partnered up with French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac who is best known for designing a coat of teddy bears worn by pop sensation Madonna.

One of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s creations

The invitation reads “Save the date. When style meets its machine, one night in September in Paris.” No other details are given so we can only speculate that OnePlus is planning to unveil a OnePlus 5 version aimed at fashionistas. Like before, the phone will probably be available in limited quantities.Only 250 units of the Colette Special Edition were made.

As for specs, the new OnePlus 5 will probably stay the same, as we only expect the phone’s exterior to be altered a little bit.

Before the OnePlus 5 was launched, the company teased a series of intriguing color options for the device including a Red hue and an Azure/Magenta mixture. Will we get to see a Fiery or Unicorn OnePlus 5 during the event? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Currently, the OnePlus 5 is available in Slate Gray, Midnight Black, and Soft Gold.

Android Oreo bug disables mobile data on Nexus and Pixel devices

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Google officially unveiled the latest version of its mobile operating system, Android Oreo 8.0 last month. This is said to be the fastest and the safest version of Android yet and it comes with some interesting features and background improvements.

But some Android Oreo users, owners of Google Nexus and Pixel devices have taken to the Google Product Forums to report a bug in the newest version of Android. Apparently they are getting a notification on their phone saying that mobile data has run out, and they need to visit their carrier’s website.

This might seem like a normal and a useful message, but in reality, the Android Oreo users are getting this notification before they have actually used all of their mobile data. While some carriers still allow their users to use certain apps like Whatsapp even if they have used all of their mobile data, Android Oreo does not realize this yet. Which is why it keeps sending the notification and automatically disables users’ mobile data restricting them from using these apps even as their carrier allows it.

Another set of Google Pixel users are also reporting a bug where their mobile data is automatically switched off even before they reach the usage limit.

Many users have reported these bugs on the Google Product Forums and a Pixel Community Manager has already responded to this by announcing that they will be fixing this via an update.

It is not clear when the update will be hitting the Android Oreo devices as of now. But, since it was marked as high priority, you might expect it anytime soon. Do you experience similar kind of issues on your device running Android Oreo? Let us know in the comments below.

LG prices V30 lower than Samsung Galaxy Note 8 in hopes of attracting buyers

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With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 launching just weeks apart, the two handsets will compete head-to-head to win the crown of the smartphone market this season.

But will LG be able to sway customers from buying the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or the upcoming iPhone X for that matter? The company certainly believes so.

According to industry sources who have talked to The Korean Herald, LG has decided to price the V30 under the 1 million won in its home country, South Korea. In contrast, Samsung is asking for 1,090,000 won (approx. $964) for the 64GB model of the Galaxy Note 8, while the 256GB version will take customers back with 1,250,00 won (approx. $1,105).

The LG V30’s price tag, however, won’t surpass the psychologically heavy 1,000,000-won threshold. LG will price the 128GB version of the V30 at 998,000 won (approx. $882), while the 64GB model will be available for 949,300 won (approx. $840) a pop. Thus the price of the new LG flagship will be approximately 10% lower than Samsung, Apple phones (iPhone X expected to retail for $1,000+).

Pricing its products more affordable than the competition isn’t a new strategy for LG. The company did the same with the previous G6 flagship which was positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Galaxy S8/S8+.

In the US, the LG V30 will most likely retail for a full price of $749, which is again more affordable than the $929.99+ Samsung is asking for.

It remains to be seen whether LG’s competitive pricing strategy will yield positive results or not. But with the LG V30 being a promising device, the product does stand a good chance of grabbing the attention of high-end customers.

In our First Impressions piece, we found the LG V30 to be “a fast, beautiful, powerhouse of a phone that fixed the few faults of the LG G6. It’s going to be a contender for phone of the year unless Google really blows our socks off with the Pixel 2.” So it’s definitely a smartphone worth checking out.

ASUS Zenfone 4 Max with dual-camera, large battery now available in the US

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ASUS’ new Zenfone 4 Max – which was so far available in Russia and other countries has now hit US shores.

You can grab the device in its unlocked form from ASUS.com, but also Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and B&H. Since this is a middle-range device, it does not come with a premium price tag, so you’ll only have to pay $199 for it.

What will get in return for this amount of money? Well a decent 5.5-inch touchscreen handset with 720p resolution and a Snapdragon 430 sustaining life on board. The ASUS Zenfone 4 Max also includes 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage and also dual-SIM functionality.

The phone is an interesting proposition for budget customers due to two reasons. First off, it features a dual camera setup which pairs a 13-megapixel main sensor with a 5-megapixel secondary one (there’s also an 8-megapixel selfie shooter living in the front). Secondly, the phone comes with a huge 5,000 mAh battery – which you can also use to charge other devices and is said to be able to sustain up to 22 hours of video playback or 26 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing.

While the handset comes with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, ASUS has pledged the Android 8.0 Oreo update for all the phones in the Zenfone 4 series.

Note that the handset is compatible with GSM/LTE carriers meaning you’ll be able to use it on AT&T or T-Mobile, but not on Verizon or Sprint.

Qualcomm takes a jab at Apple by reminding us that Android did it first

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A few hours before the grand iPhone X reveal, Qualcomm wants to make sure consumers don’t forget about Android. To this end, the chip maker has published a list of Android firsts that were made possible thanks to Qualcomm technology.

For example, the post credits the HTC One M8 for being the first device to take advantage of fast charging/quick charge, while the Xiaomi Mi MIX is listed as the first to boast a bezel-less design. You can check out the full list below.

As you’d expect for a post essentially meant to counter Apple’s flagship launch, Qualcomm kept mum on things like iOS, iPhone and related. The chipmaker only briefly noted that “inventions from Qualcomm lay the foundation for so many technologies and experiences we value in our smartphones today – on Android and other platforms.

Qualcomm is deliberately keeping any Apple references out of its blog post for one good reason. The chip maker and the Cupertino company are currently involved in a legal battle against one another in three different countries. Apple is accusing Qualcomm of charging too much for its Standard Essential Patents – which manufacturers are required to license in order to build their own devices and of forcing it to pay a percentage of its iPhone revenue. Apple’s iPad and iPhone manufacturing partners including Compal Electronics, Foxconn Technology Group, Pegatron Crop. and Wistron Corp. have joined Apple in the fight against Qualcomm.

Going back to the laudatory Android blog post, Qualcomm has also taken the opportunity to highlight the successful working partnerships it has set up with top Android OEMs around the world including Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola/Lenovo which enables it to lead innovation in the mobile space. The chip giant also notes it’s working closely with new players in the global smartphone market like Oppo and Vivo and will continue to do so, in a bid to make Android even greater.

Want a Daydream-ready phone? Here are the devices that support Google’s VR platform

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A few days ago Samsung confirmed that its latest flagship, the Galaxy Note 8 will be Daydream compatible at launch. Thus, the Note 8 joins a select family of devices which comply with Google’s set of standards in order to effectively deliver Daydream VR content.

An important player in the VR arena, Google has been actively working towards getting cheaper devices into people’s hands with the Google Cardboard.

Now with Daydream – which was unveiled in 2016 as new VR platform for Android devices, Google is moving to the next level. Daydream comes built right into Android Nougat, is supported by Google’s own headset, the Daydream View and essentially simplifies access to VR content on a mobile device.

As we mentioned above, there aren’t so many phones compatible with Daydream. That’s because Google imposes some strict requirements for phones that are to be part of the select Daydream club. Here’s are a few examples:

  • MUST have at least 2 physical cores
  • MUST support OpenGL ES 3.2
  • The display MUST measure between 4.7-inch and 6.4-inch diagonal
  • MUST have an embedded screen, and its resolution MUST be at least be FullHD(1080p) and STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO BE be QuadHD (1440p) or higher.
  • MUST support sustained performance mode.
  • The display latency on Gray-to-Gray, White-to-Black, and Black-to-White switching time MUST be ≤ 3 ms

The full list of requirements can be viewed here.

So what are the devices you can purchase which are currently Daydream-ready?

  • Google Pixel
  • Google Pixel 2
  • Moto Z
  • Moto Z Force
  • Huawei Mate 9 Pro
  • Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design
  • Samsung Galaxy S8
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+
  • ZTE Axon 7
  • ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe
  • ASUS ZenFone AR
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 8
  • LG V30

That’s it, so far! Other companies like Xiaomi and Alcatel have committed to launching Daydream-ready phones in the near future, thus expanding the search giant’s list of VR partners. Google’s next-gen Pixel 2 models are expected to support Daydream out of the box, as well as Huawei’s upcoming flagships. And who knows maybe HTC will unveil a Daydream-ready phone at some point, given that the company pledged to launch one and the HTC U11 isn’t among the Daydream supported devices (for lack of AMOLED display).