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FYI: Verizon certification for the Essential Phone is not yet complete

Alexandra Arici
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After much delay, Andy Rubin’s long awaited Essential Phone has finally started shipping out to customers who pre-ordered it.

However, at this time only the Black model is being sent out. And there’s another caveat to conisder, one might put a damper on the whole Essential experience from the get-go.

You see, while the Essential website clearly states the device is compatible with all major carriers, the truth is that Verizon certification is still pending. Customers who ordered an Essential received an email which contains this tidbit:

“Essential Phone is ready to operate on Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Certification with Verizon, however, is not yet complete, though will be soon. If you wish to be notified about Verizon certification, please sign up here.”

So what does it mean, exactly? Fortunately, it’s not as bad as you’d think. So, if you’re a current Verizon subscriber who is planning to use the Essential Phone on your current Verizon SIM you should be OK.

But problems might arise for people who want to use the Essential Phone on Verizon’s network but don’t have a Verizon SIM or who are new Verizon customers. In that’s your case, it’s recommended you call Verizon’s customer service and see if they can help you activate it.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint customers, on the other hand, needed worry about such issues. However, new Verizon customers will have to think twice before purchasing the Essential Phone, especially since the carrier couldn’t specify a time-frame for when we can expect the certification process to be complete.

New Android 8.0 Oreo feats: launching the Google Assistant from within apps

Alexandra Arici
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Released last week, Android 8.0 Oreo brings with it a host of new features and upgrades. One that was recently discovered by the folks of xda-developers in some code on the Android Developers website reveals an interesting possibility – soon users will be able to open Google Assistant from within their apps.

Right now you can launch the Google Assistant with a long press or by using a hot word, but in Android 8.0 Oreo third-party application will be able to summon the assistant from the app itself. This means users won’t have to leave the app anymore if they want to interact with their virtual helper. Speaking of which, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Google Assistant, although Google certainly hopes it will be.

Because users can easily change which AI-driven assistant they have on their device, third party apps in Android 8.0 Oreo will also be able to call up Google Assistant alternatives such as Alexa or Cortana.

We’re also told the assistant will be displayed as a new layer living on to of “other activities” and will work well in a multi-window scenario.

Google is basically trying to catch up with Alexa, which currently offers better third-party integration. However, at first, you shouldn’t expect the list of apps that integrate the Google Assistant to be a large one given that the feature requires an Oreo device to work, and for the app to support Oreo too.

Essential Phone orders are ACTUALLY now shipping out

Dan Bartram
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Essential said that devices were being shipped as of August 25th and some people even received shipping numbers but clicking the link returned an error. It seems that the Essential phone is now actually shipping out according to a number of forums.

It does appear that this is only for devices ordered directly through the Essental website. If you did, you should begin to see your tracking references become live.

If you ordered with the 360-degree camera, don’t worry as it seems although this is delayed Essential will be shipping it separately from the phone.

Amazon has a shipping date of Sep 1 and Best Buy is showing Sep 8 so it remains to be seen if these are coming from the same stock pile and those dates are actually accurate.

If you’ve received your tracking reference for a device ordered directly from Essential, is it now showing live? Drop us a comment below.

Unlock Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – Methods

AndroidGuys
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We’ve waited for this ever since last year, when Samsung decided to discontinue the Galaxy Note 7, after the infamous battery issues it had to deal with. During a special event, the manufacturer unveiled the new Samsung Galaxy S8, their top notch phablet, which, as you might expect, won’t come for cheap.

Considering this, a lot of buyers will actually get the handset with a two-year contract, which automatically means that, despite the lower price, the phone will have a big minus: it will be carrier locked, without the possibility of using it in any network you want. However, this isn’t a big reason to worry…

You can unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with ease, using various methods. To be more specific, we’re talking about two main categories of unlocking:

Paid unlocking

By far the most common method, it consists in buying an unlock code and inserting it in your phone. Here are the steps you need to follow if you opt for this method:

Find a third-party code provider: a quick search on “unlock Samsung Galaxy Note 8” reveals a few websites able to provide one. However, you need to choose it carefully, since a lot of them are actually scams.

UnlockScope.com and UnlockUnit.com are two of the most trustworthy services of the moment, which you can use for getting a code without any issues.

Place your order: From the dropdown menu, select the make and brand of your phone – Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – then complete the order form with the required details:

  • IMEI, which you can find it by dialing *#06#.
  • The name of the network and country on which your phone is currently locked.
  • A valid email address.

After completing the form, choose your favorite payment option and proceed to payment.

Note: The order can be placed directly from your phone as well, using UnlockScope’s Unlock Samsung app.

Receive the code and insert it

In around one hour, you will receive an email with the code and additional instructions on how to use it.

  • Insert a SIM from an unsupported network in the phone and power it on.
  • Wait until it displays the “SIM Network Unlock PIN” message.
  • Using your keyboard, type the unlock code.
  • Hit the “Unlock” button.

All done! You have successfully managed to unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note 8!

It is worth mentioning that this paid unlocking process works for most GSM networks, except T-Mobile, since it doesn’t use unlock codes, but the Device Unlock app.

Still, it can be unlocked, following these steps:

  • Make sure the phone is registered as Unlocked/Eligible in the T-Mobile database, so you can use the app.
  • Place the order on one of the sites mentioned above and wait for the confirmation email, which confirms that the phone’s status was changed.
  • Insert a T-Mobile SIM and turn on Wi-Fi.
  • Open the Device Unlock app, press Continue and then Permanent Unlock. Shortly, your phone will reboot and it will be unlocked.

More details can be found on T-Mobile’s troubleshooting section.

Free unlocking

On the other side, you can also unlock Samsung Galaxy Note 8 for free, using two methods, but there’s no guarantee that any of them will work.

First of all, it’s asking your current provider to give you the unlock code. In order to be eligible for this, your bills need to be paid on time, have an account of at least 3 months and, most important, pay the phone in full.

Since we’re talking about a brand new phone, it’s impossible to meet these conditions, but, in time, you can try doing it, by following these steps:

  • Call the carrier’s customer support line.
  • Provide the rep the IMEI number and tell them exactly what you want.

If you’re lucky enough and your request is approved, you will receive the code by email in a few days. Then, follow the steps presented above.

Secondly, you can root the phone and flash a custom firmware. This method requires proper technical knowledge and you need to mess with the code a bit. It’s also risky, so it’s highly recommended to leave it to a professional, if you still want to try it.

These are the methods you can use to SIM unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note 8. If you have any other questions regarding the process, feel free to contact us, using the comments section below.

Google Play Indie Games Festival finalists announced

Dan Bartram
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Google has chosen the final 20 indie developers who submitted their work to the Google Play Indie Games Festival.

Not only that, but Google took the opportunity to open the invitations to register to attend the event.

So how did we choose the 20 finalists? We powered up our phones, put our game-faces on, and looked for games that not only met the festival requirements, but also stood out with their overall design, fun, and quality. These are the 20 finalists who will be joining us at the festival to demo their games.

By attending the event, you’ll be able to meet the developers and also play the games before the final 10 are selected. These final 10 will then move to the next round where the developer will present a short pitch in a bid to be one of three overall festival winners.

The winners will be chosen by this year’s panel of judges representing a diverse lineup of gaming expertise.

  • Alex the Gamerette, YouTube Creator
  • Lina Chen, Co-founder & CEO of Nix Hydra
  • Emily Greer, CEO of Kongregate
  • Jamil Moledina, Games Strategic Lead, Google
  • Dean Takahashi, Lead Writer for GamesBeat
  • Sarah Thomson, BD Lead, Indie Games, Google Play

To attend and learn more about the event, register now for free at g.co/play/sfindiegamesfest2017. To see who made it through to the final, check out the official blog post.

Check out Temi, an Amazon Echo Show on wheels

Alexandra Arici
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A few months ago Amazon unveiled a new Echo product called the Echo Show which unlike previous models, incorporates a tablet which comes in-handy for things like video calling.

While the product has seen moderate success so far, we might soon see a similar product arrive on the market. Robot making company Roboteam is currently working on a robot that looks very much like the Echo Show, with added wheels.

The robot is called Temi and offers much of the functionalities you get with the Echo Show. However, you’ll be able to summon it to you and thanks to the path-planning tech imbued within, Temi will be able to find you across the house. A neat trick indeed.

Meet Temi

Temi runs on Android-based software and uses facial recognition tech to track and identify its owner. It also offers a virtual assistant functionality in the vein of the Google Assistant. You can also use the device to video chat hands-free, watch TV, or just listen to music while you’re doing chores around the house.

The creators of Temi don’t like to think of it as a robot, instead they are calling it a video chat and music machine. The device hasn’t been created to be a personal sidekick, as the developers don’t believe robot tech is yet ready to do that. That’s the reason why Temi hasn’t been given a face (you know two eyes, a smiling mouth).

When it comes to the physical aspect, Temi is 3ft tall and comes carrying a 10-inch tablet on its head. It can connect to Wi-Fi, LTE, and Bluetooth. The device can last up to eight hours on a single charge.

At the moment, Temi is in beta testing. Roboteam plans to expand this program to include 1,000 users by late 2018. It’s estimated the product will hit the market with a price tag of less than $1,500.

But would customers pay so much for an Amazon Echo Show on wheels (which sells for $229)? Temi’s creators think so and as they explain it the robot has a special purpose – it has been designed to help people have a better relationship with their technology and focus on what matters.

While devices like smartphones have the power to make us forget what’s important, Temi puts the user at the center, stepping into the picture only when called. Is it time to call grandpa yet? Temi is here to assist you.

Fitbit Ionic is the company’s first true smartwatch

Alexandra Arici
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Smartwatches are becoming less and less relevant and while companies like Motorola have shunned them completely, others have decided it wouldn’t hurt to start making them.

You probably know Fitbit because of its fitness trackers, but the company recently acquired ex-Kickstarter sensation Pebble and so, armed with the new ideas and high hopes it unveiled its first true smartwatch product – called the Ionic – this week.

The company already launched the Blaze back in 2015 which many customers perceived as a smartwatch due to its full-color display and angular wristband, but Fitbit didn’t call it that. However it does call the Ionic its first smartwatch product.

Ever since smartwatches became a thing, consumers have struggled to give a true purpose to the smartwatch. Well, Fitbit believes it has solved the problem, so it launched the Ionic as a fitness and health tracker primarily and only secondary as a classic smartwatch piece.

But can the Fitbit Ionic put a fight against the competition? It depends on who you ask.

Visually the Fitbit Ionic isn’t terribly attractive. Unlike the Apple Watch which is considered more of a fashion accessory, the new smartwatch features a colorful display with a big bezel and sharp angles which don’t necessarily scream pretty. Fitbit calls it futuristic, as the design team behind the Ionic apparently drew inspiration from things like Martian landscapes and Sci-Fi movies.

What’s a bit more impressive is that Fitbit used a nano-molding technique to connect the smartwatch’s aluminum-made angular body with the plastic strap, an approach often used in smartphones, but not smartwatches.

The smartwatch bundles a battery that is layered inside the watch’s body said to be able to offer four+ days of battery life (or 10 hours if the GPS in on or the device is streaming music). Ionic also includes an accelerometer, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC for mobile payments (through the new Fitbit Pay service) and has water resistance up to 50 meters for swim tracking. Fitbit boasts it has also included a highly accurate tri-wavelength heart rate sensor which in concert with the PurePulse tool will help provide precise readings.

The sensor can also deliver more advanced stats like relative blood oxygen levels, which in turn helps the Ionic keep track of breathing habits. In the future, such technology might help diagnose serious conditions like sleep apnea.

Of course, the new smartwatch can be used to track all sorts of workouts too and Fitbit has included a bunch of new features such as automatic pause option in running mode when you stop at traffic lights and such.

Fitbit also replaced the Fitstar app with the Fitbit Coach on the Ionic to deliver tailored workouts that offer step-by-step guides showing you what to do exactly.

The Fitbit Ionic does not come with Android Wear on board, but with the company’s own wearable OS. It’s pre-installed with App Gallery – Fitbit’s app store – which so far it’s pretty limited, but more apps will be added soon as the company will be opening up its SDK to third-party developers soon enough.

Ionic launches with four main partners: Pandora, AccuWeather, Starbucks mobile payments and a Strava activity tracking app.

The new smartwatch will work alongside the Fitbit app on your Android, iOS or Windows Phone device.

If the Fitbit Ionic caught your attention you should now the product is set to launch on the market in October for the pretty expensive price of $300. The Ionic will arrive in three colors: silver gray, smoke gray, and burnt orange with interchangeable leather and sport bands.

Fitbit also introduced today a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones called Flyer which should deliver up to six hours of playtime, alongside a Wi-Fi smart scale called Fitbit Aria 2. You can pre-order one starting today for $130 each.

Run – Not simply a running game (Review)

Guest Blogger
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Today I’m going to tell you about Run. I gotta say that Kongregate has been wonderful in bringing this popular game onto mobile platforms for everyone (myself included) to be able to easily enjoy the game using nothing but a smartphone. Into the game information:

How does it play?

Let me explain to you a bit more about the game so that you may better understand it. Normally, you can jump over the gaps. However, if a gap is so large that you can’t jump over then what do you do? Here is the unique mechanic in Run that made me interested in the game which is that you can move your character to the left or right to avoid the gaps and if the gaps take up the entirety of the road in front of you, you can simply just move either left or right at which point the level will rotate itself so that the lane/wall you ran towards becomes the floor. Pay close attention and choose the optimal lane as sometimes the lane that you’re currently on has tricky terrain while other lanes are much simpler.

Move to the left and the “wall” on the left will automatically rotate and turn into the floor for you to run on, allowing you to avoid the gaps in front of you.

Impressions:

If you’ve ever played through the Run series on PC then you’ll come to find that this mobile version of Run has retained all of the characteristics and unique features and mechanics from the PC version. You still play as an alien continuously running (because this is an endless runner type game) while dodging and avoiding gaps in order to not fall into space.

The gaps have different shapes and sizes

There are many levels in Run, and while I’ve only gotten to level 8, I already see that each level is different from each other. You also can’t forget about the Power Cells that are in Infinite Mode (if you play Explore Mode then you won’t receive any Power Cells). They’re mostly used to buy new characters for you to play as in the game. Just imagine, playing as the default character, then when you have enough Power Cells, how interesting it will be when you buy a new character

Each character costs a certain amount of Power Cells.

Let’s temporarily stop talking about game mechanics as talking too much about it doesn’t really do much. You should experience the game for yourself and find out many interesting things that can’t be expressed in a review as short as this one. Now however, I will tell you about my impression when playing on mobile.

Kongregate has went on the right path when making Run for mobile as the game gives you 3 separate ways of controlling your character, allowing for maximum comfort when playing. You can either use virtual buttons or touch and drag your finger around the screen to move your character. Or the most interesting way to control your character in my opinion is tilting the device to move the character in the direction that you want. It makes it very convenient and realistic when playing this endless runner game on mobile as you simply just have to tilt your device to play the game.

Conclusion

I myself have devoted hours into playing Run every day because truthfully, as the terrain in later levels become harder, I’m given a sense of challenge and from there the urge to try and beat the level grows stronger. The game’s simple art style doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable at all after playing it for a long period of time. And though the challenges are hard, how you overcome them is quite clear. More importantly is whether or not you have good perception and are quick when moving.

Experience the game for yourself and see. I hope you all have a great experience playing Run.

Keep your OnePlus 5 protected with the new Bump in the Night bundle promo

Alexandra Arici
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Ordered yourself a shiny new OnePlus 5? It would be a good idea to get some protection along with it, to make sure you don’t accidentally damage your device.

To help you keep your device protected, OnePlus is now offering a new Bump in the Night bundle which includes a Protective Case + Karbon Bumper Case.

Pairing the Sandstone case with the bumper will cost you $44.91, while the other three options + bumper are available for $49.41.

You can get the case in Karbon, Rosewood, Ebony Wood or Sandstone. The wood cases are particularly striking, so if you crave one you can go ahead and order one. The bundle is available for all markets where OnePlus is selling its products except for India and China.

It’s worth noting that OnePlus is also offering another bundle called OnePlus 5 Groove Safety Kids Bundle which includes the same choice for a Protective Case + OnePlus 5 3D Tempered Glass Screen Protector + OnePlus Bullets earphones starting at $53.86.

These bundles are available for a limited time, so if you want to take advantage of them you best act fast.

We should also remind you that OnePlus back to school bundles are still available. The Chinese company has partnered up with popular drone maker DJI to offer a bunch of bundles including one that includes a OnePlus Travel Backpack and a DJI Spark drone.

There are many to choose from and you can check them out right here.

How to skip YouTube ads automatically in Android without root

AndroidGuys
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Youtube is currently the most popular platform for watching and sharing all kinds of videos and there is absolutely no doubt about that. But as we all know, every good thing has a flip side, and for YouTube, it is the annoying auto play ads.

While it is true that YouTube is free to use and ads are one of the ways by which they make a large amount of money, it is still irritating to wait for 5 or 15 seconds to skip an ad to watch something you really want to. The case is worse if you use hands-free controls like Google Assistant or Amazon Echo, to play YouTube videos because now you cannot skip the ads and have to wait 30 seconds or a minute before it ends.

This not only consumes your precious limited data but also your invaluable time which you are about to spend watching a cat riding a skateboard. What if there is a way to have your phone automatically and instantly skips the ads for you every single time and you never have to worry about clicking the skip ad button.

Fortunately, there is, and the good thing is that you do not need a rooted phone or a Xposed module for it to work. It is just a simple Android app called Cygery AdSkip for YouTube available exclusively over at XDA labs. Here is how you can download the app and enable it to automatically skip your YouTube ads, forever.

Step 1: For this trick to work, you have to first install the XDA Labs APK on your phone. You can download the latest version from here.

If this is the first time you are installing an APK file on your phone, then you have to allow installation from unknown sources.

To do this, head over to Settings->Security->Unknown sources and tap on it to enable it.

automatically skip YouTube ads

Step 2: Once you have installed the XDA labs app, open the app and sign in using your account. This is necessary to download the apps.

automatically skip YouTube ads

Step 3: Now click on the search icon at the top and then search for ‘Cygery’, you will get the result of the Cygery AdSkip for YouTube app, click on it to open and then download the app.

automatically skip YouTube ads

Step 5: Once the Cygery AdSkip for YouTube app is downloaded, install and open the app.

Step 6: Now the app will ask you to provide the accessibility permission. This is to detect when the skip ad button appears on your screen. Just click ok and then enable the permission in the next screen.

Step 7: Now go back to the app and then enable it. You can also choose to mute the audio of the ad while it is playing, however, this might slow down the processing of the app.

automatically skip YouTube ads

Step 8: That’s it. Starting from now, Cygery AdSkip for YouTube will automatically and instantly skip your ads as soon as the skip ad button appears. You never have to worry about the ads anymore as you will not even be hearing the sound of them playing.

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