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Here’s what the Google Pixel 2 XL might look like

Alexandra Arici
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If the rumors we’ve been hearing turn out to be true, Google will release two Pixel 2 models this year – one should be the direct successor of the original Pixel and will arrive with a 5-inch display, while the other one will make a debut with a supersized display onboard.

According to a new report from Android Police, the Pixel 2 XL (or Pixel XL 2017) – previously referred to as Taimen – will be a 6-inch handset manufactured by LG that looks very much like the phone showcased in the render above.

The image is apparently based on information from sources deemed as extremely reliable. And save for a few subtle design details that might be subject to change, Android Police notes they are “exceptionally confident” that this is what the Pixel 2 XL will look like when it arrives a few months from now.

Pixel 2 concept

People have been telling Google it needs to spice up design with future Pixel models, and it seems the search giant heard their pleas loud and clear. So apparently the upcoming Pixel 2 XL will boast a 2:1 aspect ratio in the vein of the LG G6 with very slim bezels all around and pronounced curves on the right and left.

A glass window located on the back on top is visible in the render. It’s quite similar to the one featured on the current Pixel and Pixel XL, but with a notable difference – the fingerprint scanner is no longer contained in the window but sits below it. We can also spot the main camera sensor – so it appears Google won’t be jumping on the dual camera bandwagon this year.

The current Pixels

An interesting detail revealed by the current report is that the Pixel 2 XL might come equipped with a squeezable frame like the one HTC uses on its HTC U11 – which should allow users to simply squeeze their Pixel in order to interact with the Google Assistant in various ways.

Previously rumored specs for the Pixel 2 XL include a 5.99-inch display with 1440p resolution, a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Pixel 2 XL alongside the Pixel 2 should make a debut sometime in October.

So do you like how the Pixel 2 XL is shaping up to be?

Latest Galaxy S8 T-Mobile update that blocked Bixby is quickly bypassed again

Dan Bartram
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When Samsung launched the Galaxy S8 it had one major omission. Despite the inclusion of a dedicated button to launch Bixby, the virtual assistant wasn’t ready for the prime time.

Samsung confirmed the voice assistant portion of the software wouldn’t be ready in time and thus trigger the race to see if the dedicated Bixby button could be remapped to something more useful. Multiple solutions have been released only to be patched shortly after by Samsung.

The latest Samsung Galaxy S8 patch issued by T-Mobile once again disables the use of apps that remapped the dedicated button for another purpose. Samsung (obviously) doesn’t seem to condone the practice of remapping the button:

The dedicated Bixby button gives consumers an easy, and convenient way to launch Bixby – just like using a walkie talkie. We think it’s important to consumers this option in case they prefer it to using a wakeup word. Bixby has been designed to seamlessly work with our hardware so that you can easily switch from physical to voice control whenever you wish. To provide this ideal experience, the Bixby button will only work with Bixby, so Samsung does not support remapping the Bixby button.

However, it wasn’t long before bxActions, which is one of the more popular remapping apps, got updated to change the method it used and therefore once again bypass the new restriction imposed by the update.

It seems that only T-Mobile customers got the update to block the Bixby remapping while those on the June security update on other carriers seem to not have been affected.

However, if you rely on software to remap the Bixby button to something else then it’s worth updating to the latest version of bxActions to ensure it still works.

Roboforms: 4 years of AES 256-bit encrypted passwords across all of your devices, only $29.95

AndroidGuys
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As we move into the second half of 2017 we need to be more conscious and cautious than ever when it comes to our data. What with all of the ransomware and data dumping that’s going on, we need to be vigilant about passwords. And, while there are a number of password managers on the market, RoboForm is one that offers 256-bit encryption across all of your devices.

As our Deal of the Day, we’re offering a 1-year account for half price (only $9.95. What’s more, if you purchase the 4-year license, we’ll slash the price to the tune of 62 percent off ($29.95)!

This end-to-end solution makes generating and organizing strong passwords super simple, while allowing you to still access the sites you frequently use quickly. Supported by AES 256-bit encryption and powerful password auditing, RoboForm keeps your passwords safe across every device you use.

Features

  • Automatically remembers your passwords for every site you enter one & logs you in w/ a single click
  • Random password generator creates strong & unique passwords for every site
  • Folders & powerful search functionality make organizing hundreds of passwords easy
  • AES 256-bit encryption protects against dictionary, brute force, & other attacks
  • Password auditing ensures you have strong passwords for everything
  • Supports importation from all major password managers or a generic CSV
  • Fills in web forms fast w/ a single click
  • Select a trusted contact to securely obtain access to your RoboForm data in the event of emergency
  • Share logins securely w/ trusted recipients
  • Encrypts text notes like software license keys or WiFi passwords
  • Compatible across all of your devices

Save even more!

In addition to the savings above, when you buy through AndroidGuys Deals, for every $25 spent, you get $1 credit added to your account. What’s more, should you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

Shop AndroidGuys!

If this is your first time buying, then you are also eligible for a further 10% discount when you subscribe for email updates.

How about a freebie?

Not looking to spend any money today? That’s alright, we understand. Why not visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and take something anyhow? Go ahead, grab two!

Becoming an Android Expert: Android Rooting Terms

Dan Bartram
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Becoming an Android Expert: Android Rooting Terms

Rooting is a big part of Android. The fundamental premise of Android is that almost every element is customizable but occasionally some things require escalated privileges called root.

Rooting itself can be a big topic to get your head round and with it comes its own plethora of acronyms and terms that can seem daunting. We’ve therefore compiled a list of the top rooting terms you’re likely to come across on your customization journey and what they mean.

Root

It seems only sensible to discuss what the term root actually means. As touched on previously, root refers to the act of obtaining escalated privileges on the Android operating system. Think of it as a super user that has all the permissions you’ll need to make modifications (and damage) the core system files. Obtaining root access can be a simple case or can require an exploit to be used if obtaining such access is prevented.

ADB

Standing for Android Debug Bridge, ADB is a command line tool installed on the system that allows a computer to communicate with your device. It’s extremely powerful and can be used to push and pull files as well as modify parameters. ADB is installed as part of the Android SDK and is used by many root tools and installing ROMs.

ROMs

Speaking of ROMs, think of these as system images. Complete operating systems that can be loaded onto your device that may decouple some bloatware or include system optimizations that are customized based on either AOSP or base Android included with your device.

Boot Loop

When your device reboots over and over you’ve found yourself a boot loop. This can occur due to corruption with the internal storage or an invalid ROM image so the system is unable to boot. You’ll need to head into recovery mode to re-flash a ROM.

Flash

Simple one but necessary. Flashing is the art of installing a ROM or Kernel via recovery mode. This tends to be in the form of a ZIP file.

Dalvik Cache

The cache is where frequently used files are held to improve the speed in which the system can read them. The Dalvik Cache is a directory tree for all apps. It holds all the pre-compiled.dex files created from installed apps and the created files are static and change only when the app is updated.

APK

This is the file extension given to Android applications that can be installed on your device. All apps downloaded from the Google Play Store come as APK files that are compressed and then unpacked when installed. You can also sideload an APK file by downloading it from a source outside of the Google Play store.

Hopefully this has helped expand on some of the common terms you’re likely to encounter when exploring the world of rooting. Knowing what some of these terms means will hopefully have helped you understand the rooting process just that little better. If you come across any other terms then please leave us a comment below and let us know.

How to block or allow pop-ups in Chrome

Alexandra Arici
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Pop-ups are an annoying business, especially on mobile. But if you’re using Chrome on your Android, there’s an easy way to block them from view. Just follow these simple steps:

Turn pop-ups off

1.    Take your Android phone out and find the Chrome app and tap on it.

2.    Tap More

3.    Go to Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups

 


4.    Turn pop-ups off (or on) by tapping the slider

That’s about it, you’re done!

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate makes managing video files a breeze (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview:

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate is video management software for Windows PC and Mac that allows you to edit, download, convert and manage video files from all different sources including Android and mobile devices. It has a ton of features and tools to help you get your videos how and where you’d like them using a simple and easy to use interface.

Developer: Wondershare

Cost: Starts at $39.95 for 1 year (Free trial available)

Impressions:

I was surprised by all the features on offer from Wondershare. They have the standard DVD burn and file conversion tools but also allow you to rip videos from the web including YouTube and save them locally, rip audio, or convert them to a new format for your needs. My favorite feature has to be the VR conversion, however. It allows you to take any video and convert it into a VR compatible video for playback on your HMD of choice. It’s an amazing way to convert your movies to VR for use in your Daydream headset or Samsung Gear VR, and I can see myself using it on flights to enjoy a movie in privacy. Other tools include cast support, metadata correction, video transfer and a screen recorder tool.

Wondershare supports almost any video format you can imagine and lets you convert for specific device support if you want to take a video and make it playable on your phone or tablet. I was floored by the amount of options for upscaling, editing, and conversion of my video files. I wish I had heard of this software sooner, as it would have made my switch to Android from years ago much easier.

Using Wondershare Video Converter is surprisingly easy, as most of the options are just simple menus and in a few clicks you can download a video, convert it, edit it and reupload it to whatever device you need. Render times are reasonable, even better if you have a beefy machine like mine. Nothing ever got so complicated that I got lost in the menus like some other software out there. Set up was simple as well, a short download and no sign-in required.

Conclusion:

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate has so many features that I feel like it would be impossible for me to list them all here in detail, but know that if there’s something you need done with a video file. this program can probably handle it. Reviewing PC software on a Android site seems kind of out of place, but the applications of this software in relation to your phone or tablet are clear, and if you’re a heavy phone user who loves to take videos or a vlogger whose primary camera is your mobile device, this software can be a real life saver. I’d definitely recommend checking it out, as there’s a free version that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but gives you a taste of the potential of the software without a monetary commitment. The price for the full license is reasonable, and even without it, you can do a lot. Definitely a recommended program from me.

Download Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate here

What’s the difference: LG G6 vs LG Q6+

Alexandra Arici
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LG recently unveiled a new family of mid-range devices called Q6 that borrow many of the design traits and features of the LG G6 flagship but are to be offered at a lower price.

Out of the three new models, the LG Q6+ offers the most advanced specs, so in what follows we’re going to compare it to the LG G6 and highlight the major differences.

Design and display

The best thing about the LG Q6+ is that it offers the same FullVision 18:9 display as the LG G6. So if you decide to purchase the LG Q6+ you’ll be getting a tall and narrow phone with really slim bezels.

The new phone also retains the same metal frame made out of 7000 series aluminum but boasts a slightly smaller 5.5-inch diagonal with 2160 x 1080 resolution. In contrast, the LG G6 packs a 5.7-inch edge-to-edge display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, which highlights its more premium status.

Computing power

The LG G6 is based on last year’s Snapdragon 821 processor, which still pretty powerful. It’s a quad-core arrangement which combines two 2.35GHz Kyro cores with another two 1.6GHz Kyro cores.

As for the LG Q6+, it takes advantage of a lower-range Snapdragon 435 processor, which won’t run as fast or as smooth as the Snapdragon 821, but should be powerful enough to sustain most activities onboard. The former is an octa-core setup comprised of eight 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 cores.

When it comes to RAM, both models are on par, bundling 4GB of RAM each. The LG Q6+ however, bundles 64GB of internal storage, while the LG G6 comes with multiple storage variants (some of them are yet to become available for purchase) including 32GB/64GB/128GB.

The LG G6 features a microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 256GB, so we’ll have to assume the LG Q6+ includes one too (although LG doesn’t mention that specifically).

Cameras

The LG G6 is a dual camera flagship that includes a 13-megapixel sensor with f/1.8, phase detection autofocus and OIS alongside a 13-megapixel with f/2.4 on the back. Up in front, the flagship has a 5-megapixel selfie camera with wide angle lens.

The LG Q6+ trades the dual camera for a single lens of 13-megapixel variety. As for the self-portrait camera – it remains the same.

Other features

LG doesn’t tell us whether the LG Q6+ is waterproof or not, but the LG G6 is dust/waterproof up to 1.5 meters and 30 minutes.

The mid-ranger doesn’t include a fingerprint scanner, which the flagship houses on its back – below the cameras.

On top of that, the LG G6 includes premium features like quad DAC (in some Asian markets, but perhaps coming to even more) or wireless charging (in the US). The LG Q6+ being a middle-range affair, doesn’t have all these things.

The LG G6 relies on a 3,300 mAh battery, while the LG Q6+ has a smaller 3,000 mAh one onboard – and given its smaller display and less demanding processor we believe it will provide sufficient fuel for a full day of use.

While the LG G6 ships out with Android 7.0 Nougat, the LG Q6+ arrives with the newer Android 7.1.1 Nougat with LG UX 6.0 UI on top.

Pricing

You can get the LG G6 from a variety of places. The unlocked model sold by LG costs $699, but you can get it for a more affordable price from third-parties. For example, B&H is offering the GSM+CDMA version for $549.99 while carriers like T-Mobile are selling it for as low as $500 with a two-year plan.

As for the LG Q6+ pricing specifications are still unknown, but given its specs we expect it to be competitively priced. Maybe around $300-$350.

The best deals from Amazon Prime Day

Matt Adams
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Amazon’s third annual Prime Day is here and with it comes some big savings. If you’re looking to pick up some electronics, you are definitely in luck. Smartphones, smartwatches, televisions, tablets, video games, and toys are all on sale, plus a ton more. Here are some of the better deals we’ve come across so far.

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you can grab a free trial here.

Amazon Echo, Kindle and Fire devices

Smartphones

Smart Watches and Wearables

Smart Home

Chromebooks

Cameras

  • Samsung Gear 360 – Regular price: $349.99 – Amazon Prime Day price: $109.99

TV’s

Video Gaming

We’ll constantly be adding new deals throughout the day so be sure to stop by later or leave a deal we may not know about dow in the comments section!

Louis Vuitton’s first smartwatch targets well-to-do fashionistas who like to travel

Alexandra Arici
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More and more luxury fashion houses have taken an interest in smartwatches as of late and the latest to join the party is Louis Vuitton.

The high-fashion brand just introduced its first smartwatch product baptized Tambour Horizon which runs a heavily customized version of Android Wear 2.0.

As part of the popular Tambour line of products, the Horizon was designed by the same team behind the award-winning Tambour Moon watch. The smartwatch boasts a circular 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a 390 x 390 pixels resolution and is powered by a Snapdragon 2100, the chipset Qualcomm created especially for wearables.

The 42mm Horizon also includes 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 300 mAh battery and will be available with 60 interchangeable strap options and a wide range of different watch faces.

The fashion brand is targeting affluent travelers with the Horizon, which will also come bundled with Louis Vuitton’s city guides and a downloadable “MyFlight” app. Like most smartwatches out there, it can also relay notifications for text messages, phone calls and emails. It also has the ability to work seamlessly with China’s internet, as the market in the country is witnessing a rebound in demand for luxury watches.

The more expensive Black version

The Tambour Horizon comes in three different exterior styles with different bodies and bands. The Graphite and Monogram will retail for $2,450, while the Black one will be offered for a whopping $2,900.

And given its luxury brand status, it’s no wonder the smartwatch will be so expensive. But it’s by no means the only opulent smartwatch on the market. Swiss watch maker, Tag Heuer unveiled the Connected Modular 45 back in March. The wearable, created in partnership with Intel, boasts a price starting at $1,600 and up.

Montblanc also outed its first smartwatch a few months ago, while Armani is gearing up to unleash its first Android Wear 2.0 wearable in September. It seems the race in the luxury smartwatch market is slowly but surely heating up.

LG V30 renders based on CAD designs leave nothing to the imagination

Alexandra Arici
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LG is gearing up to unveil its second flagship for the year, the V30 in Berlin a day before the IFA 2017 trade show officially opens its gates.

The phone popped up in the rumor mill before, but this week we’re getting a closer look at it thanks to @OnLeaks and MySmartPrice who posted a series of renders based on CAD designs.

The renders are in league with recent rumors which claim the LG V30 will not feature a secondary display on top like its soon to be predecessor, the LG V20.

The phone is poised to arrive with a 6-inch panel and to boast 151.4 x 75.2 x 7.4 mm measurements.

Looking at the renders, we can spot the dual camera module and the fingerprint scanner living on the back. We also notice the USB port next to the speaker holes and the headphone jack located on the top left.

Lastly, we’re told the phone might support wireless charging, just like LG G6 does in select markets – although this information hasn’t been confirmed at this point.

Other expected features for the LG V30 include a tall and narrow form factor with 18:9 aspect ratio, a Snapdragon 835 processor and 6GB of RAM.

Hopefully, LG will also throw in the quad-DAC feature for audiophiles too, but we’re just going to have to wait and see.

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