Announced back in June alongside the Moto Z2 Play, the Moto GamePad Mod is finally available for pre-order as a Verizon exclusive.
Gaming fans who want to transform their Moto Z2 Play (or Moto Z2 Force or the older Moto Z) into a wide-format handheld gaming console can grab one for $79.99. However, be warned that Verizon will start shipping out the Mod on August 25, so you’ll have to wait a while before you can actually get your hands on it.
Apart from adding two analog thumbsticks, a directional pad on the left and four action buttons on the right, the GamePad Mod also includes an additional 1,035 mAh battery pack meant to supplement your phone’s life with a few extra hours in case you chose to prologue your gaming session.
Those who will be ordering the GamePad Mod from Verizon can also grab the Moto Z2 Force from Verizon for $15/month for 24 months for qualified customers. Or you can get the Moto Z2 Play instead for $5/month for the next 2 years.
Up until now, Verizon was the only one selling the Moto Z2 Play, but as of this week, Motorola has started offering the unlocked version of the phone with more RAM and storage for the price of $499.
So far if you wanted to go get the Moto Z2 Play you had only one option – to grab it from Verizon with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
Well as of this week Motorola is finally accepting pre-orders for the unlocked Moto Z2 Play version. This model will work with all major US networks including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint, so users can easily switch carriers.
Unlike the Verizon version, the unlocked Moto Z2 Play includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You can pre-order one for $499.99.
But the rest of the specs remain the same. So you’ll be getting a phone with a 5.5-inch fullHD display, a Snapdragon 626 processor, a primary 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7, phase detection autofocus and dual-LED flash and a 3,000 mAh battery.
The device also takes advantage of a water-repellent coating and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat (will most likely be updated to Android O).
Customers who place a pre-order for the unlocked phone between now and August 19,2017 will also be awarded a JBL Soundboost 1 or 2 free of charge.
If you order the phone now, Motorola says it will ship it to you on August 18. Are you getting one?
I don’t know about you, but I have the tendency to misplace my smartphone all the freaking time. I probably have a short memory and if you’re like me, you’re probably very familiar with that wave of cold sweat which hits you as you realize you don’t know where your phone is.
Fortunately, there’s a trick you can employ – use Android Device Manager to quickly locate your lost handset.
In order to make sure you be able to that, you’ll have to make sure you’ve enabled Android Device Manager first. These are the steps you need to take:
Enable Android Device Manager
Open up Settings on your device and search for the Google option. Alternatively, you might have a separate app dubbed Google Settings.
From either, go to Security>Android Device Manager. Tap it and enable “Remotely locate this device” and “Allow remote lock and erase” – a setting which allows you to remotely lock down or wipe your device clean.
Find your device
Once the Android Device Manager has been enabled, go to android.com/devicemanager and log in with your Google account.
The Device Manager will attempt to locate your phone from there (make sure location services are on). Next you’ll be confronted with three option. If you think you’ve misplaced your handset around the house, you can make your phone ring.
Or if you are convicted you’ve lost your handset (or worse, someone stole it from you) you can go ahead and lock your phone remotely. In this case, you will be prompted to create a password that will replace your lock screen. You can also add a recovery message with contact info, in case your phone has fallen into the hands of a good Samaritan.
If you don’t think there’s any chance of getting your device back, then you can go ahead and wipe it remotely. This option will perform a factory reset on your device (although data on your SD card might not be wiped out). However, note that the phone needs to be connected to the Internet in order for you to be able to do so.
I don’t know about you, but my phone dying adds a great deal of stress to my life. I’ve gotten so used to having my phone around to do every little thing I need that suddenly being disconnected feels foreign. I use my phone for everything from turning on the lights, to changing the temperature of my thermostat, to taking pictures of my daughter and navigating using maps.
For that reason, I’m kind of obsessed with portable battery banks. Yes, there are a million out there and I’ve probably owned or tested about half of them but my search for the perfect one still goes on. Moshi recently sent over the IonBank for me to try out, and I have to say, I’m pretty impressed. Not only does this thing perform very well, it looks fantastic while doing it.
What you’ll notice first about the IonBank is the brushed aluminum and “vegan” leather that sits on the top of the battery. The back and sides have a more traditional hard plastic that stands up to falls and knocks very well. I’ve had the battery for about two months and I’ve not had a scratch on it yet. I love the look of the gray brushed aluminum against the darker leatherette. Moshi described it as Vegan Leather and while it does feel a little bit like leather, you’ll definitely notice the difference between it and real leather. But, if we’re being honest, I don’t need or want leather on a battery bank. Sure, I want it to look and feel good but that’s overkill.
Vegan leather flap hiding the two embedded cables
Under the vegan leather flap sits two cables, one USB type-C, and one USB type-A. Battery banks are increasingly embedding the cables and this is a trend that I love. I never have to worry about carrying a cable with me in addition to the battery bank and all I need to charge it back up is a USB port on a computer or a USB type-A wall adapter, which are everywhere. The only situation where this is a negative is if you’re trying to share your USB type-C IonBank with a friend who has an Apple device, but you could always grab an adapter and keep it handy if you run into this situation more than once.
The IonBank also a USB type-A port on the side so you can plug additional cables in to charge other devices. Next to that port is a button and four LEDs that indicate how much juice is left in the battery. The lights don’t get overly bright which is nice for checking out the battery level at night (which I have done more than once) but can be a bit of a hassle during the day. This isn’t a huge problem, but this is such a good battery bank that I struggle to find negatives.
You can get the IonBank in 10k, 5k, and 3k varieties and in a couple of colors. Right now you can only get the IonBank 5K with a USB type-C port on Moshi’s site, the rest have lighting connectors. It charges up at 1.5 Amps which is slower than the version with a lighting cable for Apple device. This is slightly disappointing since Android devices can charge at far faster rates than Apple devices. According to Ampere, I normally pull anywhere from 1010 mA to 1500 mA which is maxing out the IonBank’s stated charging speed. I’ve conducted these tests in the 25 – 75% battery range as this is when most people are grabbing a battery bank.
All-in-all, I really like the IonBank. It’s expensive at $79.95 on Moshi’s site but I think Moshi feels like they can charge a bit more because of the quality materials. Not often are you going to find something that looks this good. I wouldn’t find it out of place on the desk for a corporate officer or executive. Still, it is expensive. There are a lot of other options out there that cost a lot less with a higher capacity. If you’re looking to get something that looks better than those with built-in cables, the Moshi IonBank might be the one for you.
It’s not even August yet, but some companies are already announcing Back to School deals. It’s the case of Huawei which has started offering permanent discounts on two of its handsets, the Mate 9 and Honor 6X.
Customers who want to take a Huawei device for a spin can purchase the Mate 9 phablet from Best Buy with a $100 discount. So now you’ll have to pay $499 instead of $599. The phone is available in Space Gray or Moonlight Silver color options.
Huawei Mate 9 specs
• 5.9-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 373ppi
• HiSilicon Kirin 960
• 4GB of RAM
• 64GB of storage (microSD card on board for memory expansion up to 256GB)
• Dual 20MP+12MP/8MP camera combo
• 4,000 mAh battery (non-removable)
• Android 7.0 Nougat
Moving on to the affordable dual camera phone – the Honor 6X – shoppers can purchase it for $199.99 instead of $249.99 (save $50). You can pick it up in Gray, Silver, and Gold.
Honor 6X specs
• 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 373ppi
• HiSilicon Kirin 655
• 3GB of RAM
• 32GB of storage (microSD card on board for memory expansion up to 256GB)
• Dual 12MP+2MP/8MP camera combo
• 3,340 mAh battery (non-removable)
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)
Note that you can purchase the same products at a discounted price from Amazon, as well. The Huawei Mate 9 is currently going for as low as $459.99 on the website, while the Honor 6X can be yours for $175 (only the Gray and Gold version, the Silver is still $199).
Back in July of 2014, Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S to compete directly with the iPad and iPad mini. With comparably sized screens at higher resolutions, more RAM, upgradeable storage, and unique features, Samsung was set to take Apple’s iPad line head on. Although the Tab S never quite reached the sales levels of the ever-popular iPad tablets, they are still some of the best tablets available today.
Visually pleasing
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S still has one of the nicest screens you can find on a tablet. The SUPER AMOLED screen can refresh as much as 1000 times faster than a traditional LCD panel. AMOLED screens are also known for high-contrast levels as well as rich color reproduction and deep blacks. The Tab S also includes preset color adjustments if you don’t particularly care for the oversaturated look of AMOLED screens.
The screen on the Tab S is bright and vivid–perfect for outdoor use
Another great thing about the SUPER AMOLED screen on the Galaxy Tab S is the superior viewing angles, which is great for sharing media or photos with those around you. The Galaxy Tab S is essentially the only major tablet with an AMOLED screen from its time and also has one of the highest screen-to-body ratios of any tablet, at over 76%.
Also impressive for its time, the Tab S has an astounding 1600×2560 resolution and a PPI rating that’s still the best-in-class for tablets at 359 pixels per inch (for the 8.4″ variant). This high resolution and high PPI is not even available on Samsung’s newer flagship tablets. For some reason, Samsung shied away from the 16×9 resolution in its newer tablets to opt for the 4×3 aspect ratio that’s more common with Apple’s iPad. I find the original Galaxy Tab’s resolution and aspect ratio to be much better for games, electronic books and video, which is why I prefer the Tab S over the Tab S2 or S3.
The Tab S makes a great e-reader with its high-res screen and 16:9 aspect ratio
Light as a feather
Samsung did a wonderful job implementing smart technologies into the Galaxy Tab S that allow the tablet to be extremely lightweight. Although newer iterations have built on these technologies, I was incredibly impressed by how light the Tab S felt the first time I picked it up, three years ago. At only 294g, the Tab S is still lighter than the Apple iPad Mini 4 and still thinner than the newer Samsung Galaxy Tab A at only 6.6mm.
The Tab S [left] from 2014, next to the Nintendo Switch [center] from 2017, next to the Galaxy S7 Edge [right] from 2016Samsung seemed to have focused on being lightweight by choosing to go with a 4900mAh battery instead of something larger like what its competitors were offering at the time. Fortunately, the Tab S performs quite well considering the size of the battery (having that AMOLED screen is a bonus here) paired with the resolution and processing power of Samsung’s tablet. Personally, I’ve rarely encountered an instance where battery life was an issue, even during lengthy, processor intensive gaming sessions.
It’s all about the specs and features
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S features expandable memory, a fingerprint scanner as well as an MHL AV port for direct video and audio over HDMI, with a compatible adapter. Also unique to Samsung Tabs of the time–an IR blaster that allows the Tab S the ability to control multimedia devices within your home.
The Tab S features Knox security as well as an accurate fingerprint reader for added security. You also get a split-screen view with Multi-Window, which allows you to use two applications at once. Want to check email while you continue to watch a YouTube video? Samsung’s Tab S series was one of the first devices to allow such capabilities. Do you currently use a Samsung phone? Turn on SideSync so you can view and control your smartphone without even picking it up. The features are packed to the brim!
If you use a Samsung phone, try SideSync for times when you don’t want to juggle your tablet and phone
Secondary Uses
Although the Tab S is a few years old now, it still has a ton of use and is plenty capable as a primary tablet. However, if you’ve recently upgraded with a new tablet, you could use a Samsung Tab S as a secondary tablet in a multitude of ways.
Need a home security camera? Set a Tab S up in your kitchen or living room, plug it in and use an app like Manything or Alfred to record videos for extra security or to keep an eye on midnight snackers. Need a universal remote in the TV room or living room? The Galaxy Tab S has an IR blaster so you can control multiple entertainment components from one device. Do you like to sit in your bedroom and write fictional stories in your free time? Pair the Tab S with a Bluetooth keyboard and HDMI/MHL compatible monitor to make for a simple author’s desk that is both cheap and portable.
The Galaxy Tab S makes for a great browser but also does so much more
Having a tablet like the Galaxy Tab S provides for a wide variety of interesting capabilities. It’s not just a tablet to play a couple games and browse the web for a while (although it is fine for that too). It really is a device that allows you to do so much more. Gaming, browsing, streaming, creating, writing, blogging or vlogging–the possibilities are extraordinary.
Tab S vs. tablets today
While the Tab S continues to age, it still stacks up fairly nicely against some newer tablets. Apple, Samsung, Google, ASUS, and Microsoft continue to sell tablets today with different specifications and of course, at different prices. However, Samsung still continues to offer the best Android tablet in the marketplace and really set the bar high with the Tab S in 2014.
The Tab S stacks up nicely when compared to other tablets of years past as well as today
The Tab S can still roll with the best of them. Its smart design and future-ready internals have made it extremely versatile and functional. Over the past three years, I’ve never felt like my Tab S 8.4 has been incapable of doing something that I’ve wanted to get done. I have yet to see a tablet that I’ve really wanted to upgrade to over the Tab S. I honestly feel as though my Galaxy Tab S is plenty capable, even today.
The Tab S is showing its age but is still plenty capable
Drawbacks and shortcomings
Although the Samsung Galaxy Tab S is a great tablet, it is not without its shortcomings. In the span of three years, technology has advanced immensely, which means the Tab S is not the most powerful nor the most robust tablet anymore. As designs evolve, things from years’ past can seem somewhat basic or outdated. This is the unfortunate inevitability of technology in general.
Like most tablets, the cameras on the Galaxy Tab S are far from great. Cameras on tablets generally are not used for taking high-end photos, to begin with, but the sensors on the Tab S are close to what you could find on a budget device today. While most people would opt for a different device to take photos, the Tab S can still snap a quick photo when necessary or even allow for streaming video.
The Tab S Settings menu looks antiquated but still is fairly functional in its age
Another downside of Samsung’s tablets (and its phones for this matter) is the inclusion of the highly divisive Touchwiz OS overlay. Although the version of Touchwiz that’s included on the Galaxy Tab S is not too overbearing, most Android users have found stock Android operating systems to be much more effective as well as efficient. The biggest drawback of the Tab S with its interface today is that it looks and feels slightly dated. It’s still very functional, but the styling of fonts, color, and layout design are rudimentary when compared to the phones and tablets of today.
Built for the future
Samsung really designed the Galaxy Tab S to last for a long time. With high-quality build materials, amazing specifications and a host of unique accessories, the Tab S is almost too future-proof. I say this only because the high-end capabilities of this tablet has made it more difficult for Samsung to sell iterative versions of its tablets. Unlike a smartphone, tablets are generally used less frequently, which has made upgrading the device a lot less likely.
The “smart” book cover for the Tab S is one of the better protective solutions for this tablet as it protects both the front and back
Personally, I am very happy that I purchased my Tab S when I did. I’ve used my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 at home and at multiple jobs for gaming, media consumption, work-related tasks, creative projects and more. Since the release of the Tab S, I have yet to see another device in this price range that has made want to upgrade.
Going forward I feel that the original Tab S is one of the greatest tablets ever designed. I imagine that my family and I will continue to use the Tab S 8.4 for years to come, as long as the hardware components hold up. There are so many capabilities packed into this little electronic slab that has made my life more enjoyable as well as much more productive.
Present at the New Music Seminar in New York, YouTube’s global head of music, Lyor Cohen confirmed the ad-free YouTube Red and Google Play Music will merge into a new subscription service.
Cohen explained the two services need to be integrated with each other in order to educate customers and attract new subscribers.
Currently, Google’s video/music service ecosystem is confusing, not to mention fragmented. The company offers YouTube Red – a video service which takes ads out of the equation and allows users to save videos for later offline viewing.
Additionally, there the YouTube Music app which offers perks to Red subscribers and YouTube TV – a separate entity which is yet to widely available. Oh yeah and then there’s the Google Play Music which offers services similar to Spotify.
However, when all these services will be united under one umbrella, Google hopes the benefits of acquiring a subscription to the new service will become more evident to prospective customers.
Until then, Google says it will notify users all the disparate services about upcoming changes. However, Cohen has not provided an exact time frame for the rebrand. So it might be a while before we see the new service make a debut into the world.
A few months ago when Xiaomi introduced the Mi 6, it also promised a Silver Edition will be made available. Months have passed, but this version failed to make an appearance.
Well this week during a press event where it launched a super affordable AI-powered smart speaker and the Mi 5X, Xiaomi also revealed the Mi 6 Mercury Silver Edition dubbed the MirrorBack edition.
Why is it nicknamed the MirrorBack edition you might be wondering? Because the phone’s super shiny surface has reflective properties so users will be able to glance at themselves on the phone’s back.
How much does the super reflective phone costs? It’s a bit more expensive than the standard Xiaomi Mi 6 which can be yours for approximately $360 (in China). In contrast, the Mercury Silver Edition sells for about $595.
While US customers can order Xiaomi products (like the recently launched Mi 5X) through third party resellers like GeekBuying, the Mercury Silver Edition is going to be limited to 100 units, so it’s unlikely other retailers will offer the product.
Save for the reflective finish the Xiaomi Mi 6 Mercury Silver Edition retains the same specs as the standard edition. Meaning it will ship with a 5.2-inch fullHD display (1920 x 1080), a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
The phone will become available for purchase on August 3.
It has been a long wait, but finally Waze for Android Auto has officially landed and is available for anyone (with a compatible vehicle that is).
Starting this week, drivers will be able to download and use Waze right from their car’s infotainment screen. To get started, users need to make sure they have updated to the latest Waze version on their mobile phone and then simply connect their mobile device to their Android Auto-powered car. This will prompt Waze to launch right on the in-car display.
Waze for Android Auto works very much like its Android counterpart. It can deliver notifications about accidents, delays, jams, traffic jams or police sightings based on the drivers’ feedback.
Waze also works with voice commands, so you’ll be able to say things like “OK Google, drive to Home (or Work)” to quickly start navigation.
But why would you want Waze when Google Maps is already the default navigation app on Android Auto? Because the former does bring something veryimportant to the table – with Waze drivers are able to report about traffic issues in real time, so other drivers can take advantage of the information while in transit.
If you have an Android Auto compatible car, you can go ahead and try Waze by installing the latest version from the Google Play Store.
Google wants you to always be safe, so this week it has rolled out a new tool called SOS Alerts in Maps and Search, which display emergency info in case of disasters.
In Search, an SOS Alert will appear at the top of results if a user performs a search on a location that has been struck by a calamity. The Google Alerts are based on reliable content from the web and will display news, maps, updates from local authorities and useful translations.
The same feature in Maps will show live updates about the affected area, as well as links and contact details for emergency numbers, in a card. Red badges signaling a disaster has hit a particular area will also appear when you search.
If you have the latest version of the Google mobile app installed, you’ll also be able to receive SOS alerts in the form of notifications.
Google’s new SOS tools are very useful because they allow users located outside the danger zone to see what’s happening and postpone their travels to the area until things improve.
Google has worked with emergency authorities like the Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to develop these emergency response products.
However, Google notes that it can’t guarantee users will see an alert for every major catastrophic event, but it’s actively working on making them more broadly available over time.
SOS alerts for Maps and Search aren’t currently live, so we have to assume Google will start rolling them out soon.
Apart from adding two analog thumbsticks, a directional pad on the left and four action buttons on the right, the GamePad Mod also includes an additional 1,035 mAh battery pack meant to supplement your phone’s life with a few extra hours in case you chose to prologue your gaming session.
Those who will be ordering the GamePad Mod from Verizon can also grab the Moto Z2 Force from Verizon for $15/month for 24 months for qualified customers. Or you can get the Moto Z2 Play instead for $5/month for the next 2 years.
Unlike the Verizon version, the unlocked Moto Z2 Play includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You can pre-order one for $499.99.
The device also takes advantage of a water-repellent coating and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat (will most likely be updated to 
From either, go to Security>Android Device Manager. Tap it and enable “Remotely locate this device” and “Allow remote lock and erase” – a setting which allows you to remotely lock down or wipe your device clean.
Or if you are convicted you’ve lost your handset (or worse, someone stole it from you) you can go ahead and lock your phone remotely. In this case, you will be prompted to create a password that will replace your lock screen. You can also add a recovery message with contact info, in case your phone has fallen into the hands of a good Samaritan.
The IonBank also a USB type-A port on the side so you can plug additional cables in to charge other devices. Next to that port is a button and four LEDs that indicate how much juice is left in the battery. The lights don’t get overly bright which is nice for checking out the battery level at night (which I have done more than once) but can be a bit of a hassle during the day. This isn’t a huge problem, but this is such a good battery bank that I struggle to find negatives.
You can get the IonBank in 10k, 5k, and 3k varieties and in a couple of colors. Right now you can only get the IonBank 5K with a USB type-C port on Moshi’s site, the rest have lighting connectors. It charges up at 1.5 Amps which is slower than the version with a lighting cable for 
All-in-all, I really like the IonBank. It’s expensive at 
Huawei Mate 9 specs
Honor 6X specs
Additionally, there the YouTube Music app which offers perks to Red subscribers and 
Why is it nicknamed the MirrorBack edition you might be wondering? Because the phone’s super shiny surface has reflective properties so users will be able to glance at themselves on the phone’s back.
While US customers can order Xiaomi products (like the recently launched Mi 5X) through third party resellers like 
Save for the reflective finish the Xiaomi Mi 6 Mercury Silver Edition retains the same specs as the standard edition. Meaning it will ship with a 5.2-inch fullHD display (1920 x 1080), a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Waze for Android Auto works very much like its Android counterpart. It can deliver notifications about accidents, delays, jams, traffic jams or police sightings based on the drivers’ feedback.
But why would you want Waze when 
The same feature in 
Google’s new SOS tools are very useful because they allow users located outside the danger zone to see what’s happening and postpone their travels to the area until things improve.