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Verizon debuts first LTE-only (flip) phone, the LG Exalt LTE

Alexandra Arici
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Verizon launched a new affordable phone in the US. But this time it’s not a smartphone, but a flip-phone.

While flippers like the new LG Exalt LTE are popular choices in countries like Japan, customers in the US aren’t completely immune to their charms either. Actually, there’s a lot of people who still prefer these “dumb” phones to their more intelligent alternatives.

Anyway, despite being an unimpressive device spec-wise, the LG Exalt LTE does come with a special characteristic. It’s Verizon’s first LTE-only phone. Which means the LG Exalt LTE can only connect to the carrier’s LTE network and not its 3G CDMA network.

This launch indicates Verizon is looking towards the future and the future is LTE, not 3G. With this in mind, the carrier will slowly but surely start to retire its CDMA-compatible phones and bring out new 4G-only devices. The LG Exalt LTE is only the beginning.

Verizon actually announced a while back it will start shutting down parts of its CDMA networks by the end of 2019, to make more room for LTE. But in order to do that, Big Red needs to start migrating people from 3G CDMA networks onto LTE ones. And a sure way to do that is to start offering 4G-only phones like the LG Exalt LTE.

Now let’s take a quick look at the specs. The new product comes equipped with a 3-inch display with 400 x 240 resolution and a Snapdragon chip clocked at 1.1GHz plus 8GB of internal storage (microSD card slot available for memory expansion up to 32GB).

The LG Exalt LTE also includes a 1,470 mAh battery. In addition to LTE, it supports Wi-Fi, HD voice, Bluetooth 4.1 and integrated text-to-speech function.

You can purchase the LG Exalt LTE flip phone for $7/month for 24 months or for $168 outright. Naturally, for this amount of money you’ll be able to purchase a low-end smartphone, but if you’re looking to change it up, the LG flipper is waiting for you.

Why is antivirus software so crucial?

AndroidGuys
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Yes, yes, we have all heard it a million times and anyone with half a brain is well aware of the need to protect your laptop by having a reliable antivirus installed. The truth is, as technology is getting smarter, and so are the bad guys who are trying to spread malicious viruses and hack personal data.

In the last 12 months alone it was stated that over 900 million users could be at risk – and that is just on Android devices! It goes without saying we store so much personal information on our devices, from bank details to copies of identity documents, ultimately antivirus is to stop our details getting in the hands of the wrong people. Make sure you know how to block your information remotely should your device or computer fall under the eyes of someone else- a reliable antivirus can protect against unauthorized access to your confidential data, as well as on memory cards.

But it is not as simple as just googling antivirus and downloading the first one that pops up as some sneaky hackers have created FAKE antivirus programs that contain malicious codes just waiting for you to install. More so than many other products, finding a reputable, thorough, and safe antivirus provider is paramount and the best way to do this is by reading reviews on top-quality sites such as bestonlinereviews.com.

Downloading

A strong antivirus can protect against harmful downloads, and that doesn’t just mean the latest movie that you want to see. Opening any file, or email attachment could potentially threaten your device. If that file is infected the antivirus will recognize it instantly and destroy the intruder.

Making the most of battery life

Did you know that a great antivirus can also help you manage and maximize your devices battery life? An antivirus will enable to you to take note of the consumption and space your apps are occupying on your device.  They can help you to take control and block apps that are not necessary to enable your device to work more efficiently.

Don’t just assume you only protect laptops and desktops

Unfortunately, the rise in malicious viruses has also spread to handheld devices. Hackers are increasingly interested at getting to your tablet and smartphone but thankfully there are many efficient apps on the market to protect your phone e.g. some apps enable you to block your phone remotely, and lock the device. Games are frequently a common means of acquiring a nasty virus. A solid antivirus will perform frequent checks on your devices, not just the imminent downloads.

Keeping the little ones’ safe

The weird and wonderful worldwide wide web is no place for children without anything to block them from harmful images. A purely innocent google search can throw up a whole manner of inappropriate material and an infected computer can receive explicit popups and adverts, not suitable for younger eyes. Innocent websites can also be disguised, and in fact bear x-rated material.  In the world we live in, be sure to pay attention to internet safety for children. An efficient antivirus software helps keep the younger members of your family safe online.

Illegal activity

Many hackers try and obtain the IP address of the victim, to perform illegal operations, not just stealing identities. The pro’s most certainly outweigh the cons when it comes to securing your devices. Prevention is always better than cure. Is a costly laptop repair, loss of personal data and the inconvenience while you don’t have it, really worth the risk.

How Samsung exposed your old Galaxy phone to hacking

Alexandra Arici
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If you own or owned an older Samsung device, you’re probably familiar with the S Suggest app. An ancestor of Bixby, the app – which came pre-installed on most Galaxy devices in the past – is a device-specific Android app recommendation tool.

But as Samsung is now focusing on Bixby, the older S Suggest got pushed aside – with some potentially dangerous consequences. S Suggest wasn’t even particularly popular with users, so Samsung decided to pull the plug on the service. This happened three years ago, but in doing so, the tech giant forgot to wipe out all traces of S Suggest’s existence.

2.1 million of unprotected Galaxy phones you say?

The problem is that Samsung let the ssuggest.com domain expire, leaving the channel of communication between the domain and the remaining millions of older Samsung devices intact.  This act of carelessness could have given hackers easy access to these phones, potentially allowing them to serve up malware to unsuspecting users. Ouch!

According to a report from Motherboard which cites Anubis Labs’ CTO João Gouveia, up to 2.1 million unique older Galaxy devices checked in the ssuggest.com domain merely 24 hours after Samsung’s ownership expired, so the potential for disaster was a great one. Luckily Guoveia took over the domain, thus preventing someone with less benevolent intentions from doing so.

If you too are using an older Samsung phone, you could simply disable S Suggest to make absolutely sure you are 100% safe. On your older Galaxy device go to Settings>Application Manager>Find the All section.

Inside the “All” tab you should see a list of stock apps, S Suggest among them. Tap on it and then the Disable button on the top right. In case you don’t see the Disable button, but the “Uninstall Updates” tap on that instead. Afterward, the Disable option should appear.

Maze Alpha available for pre-order as super cheap Xiaomi Mi MIX alternative

Alexandra Arici
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A few months ago we brought you news that industry newcomer, Maze was working on a bezeless smartphone in the vein of the highly acclaimed Xiaomi Mi MIX, called the Alpha.

Well, the phone has been made available for pre-order on GearBest. And the biggest surprise is the super low price tag. While the Xiaomi Mi MIX with a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage onboard can take you back with $523, prices for the Maze Alpha start at $179 (!!!).

For this amount of money, customers will get a phablet with a 6-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. The side and top bezels are almost non-existent, but the bottom bezel remains quite consistent while also housing the physical home button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

The Maze Alpha embeds an octa-core MediaTek Helio P25 processor clocked at 2.5GHz working in combination with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage.

On the photography front, the phone includes a dual camera setup featuring a 13-megapixel sensor made by Samsung and a secondary 5-megapixel one for collecting depth and lighting info. The main camera has f/2.2 aperture, but doesn’t offer optical image stabilization. As for selfies, there’s a 5-megapixel snapper living up in front.

The phone includes a pretty hefty 4,000 mAh battery and runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

For the time being, only the Maze Alpha variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage is up for pre-order. Until June 30, customers will be able to secure a unit for $179.99, afterward the phone will be sold for $219.99.

If you’re interested in Xiaomi Mi MIX lookalikes, the Doogee MIX is also an alternative. The phone is available for pre-order for $169.99 and up depending on configuration.

LG G6 now comes with a two-year warranty instead of one (in the US)

Alexandra Arici
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Do you own an LG G6 or are planning to get one? If you are in the US, we have some good news to share with you. LG just announced the “LG G6 Second Year Promise” program which extends the phone’s warranty from 1 year to 2 years.

The program is available for users who purchased the LG G6 from any mobile carrier or authorized retailer and will require registration on LG’s official website. Customers will need to provide a proof of purchase, on top of the phone’s IMEI/MEID and serial number within 12 months since they bought the phone. Those who are looking to purchase the LG G6 today or very soon, are given 90 days to register.

The LG G6

Why is it a good idea to join the program? For starters, it’s free. Secondly, LG will award you a new phone in case your LG G6 gets damaged and it’s not your fault. Under LG’s new initiative you’ll now be covered for two full years.

Most handsets in the US come with the standard one-year warranty, but as LG itself notes, customers tend to use a new phone for an average of 18 to 24 months. The company pledges to replace faulty G6 units within two business days after the original device shipment date, with all shipping costs being covered by the company.

However, it should be noted that LG’s Second Year Promise does not cover damage from drops or other accidents, so if the phone accidentally slips from your hand and ends up on hitting the concrete sidewalk, LG won’t replace it. Regardless, knowing you’ll be protected against issues like bootloops, which LG has become infamous for, certainly brings some piece of mind.

Exclusive: Google Assistant could replace Siri on iPhone 8

Matt Adams
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Google and Apple are giving it another go. The search giant is teaming up with Apple for closer integration of Google Assistant according to a source. Our source indicated that the launch of Google Assistant on iOS devices that we saw at Google I/O 2017 was indeed a soft launch for future plans between the two.

Currently on iOS, you can use Google Assistant like any other third party app. You open it up, have a chat with Assistant and close the application back down. What’s lacking is the first party integration that Siri on iOS or Google Assistant on Android enjoys.

Our source confirms that a plan is in motion to make Google Assistant a full Siri replacement should the user decide that they want to use Google Assistant instead of Siri. What we do not know right now is where Google and Apple are in this process.

How to get Google Assistant on any device running Android 5.0+

Unfortunately, our source could not confirm that this will be an official partnership ala Google Maps on the first several iPhones. They could also not confirm the limits of the functionality of Google Assistant on iPhone but did compare it to other phone manufacturers integrating Alexa into their phones, namely Huawei.

Another tidbit that our source passed along is that there will indeed be three iPhones released this year: the iPhone 7S, iPhone 7S Plus, and the iPhone 8. We’re light on details about what these phones will look like, but the iPhone 8 is said to carry a premium price tag.

We reached out to Google for comment on this rumor but it stated it had no comment on the matter.

Three tips to help you choose a high-quality case for your new Galaxy S8

AndroidGuys
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“No phones are more sleek, more stunning, or more powerful.” – BGR

There is no doubt that the new Samsung Galaxy S8 is pure quality, both inside and outside. In fact, the official Samsung website states that the S8’s features “mark the beginning of a new way to experience the world.” CNet.com gives the phone a score of 8.8 out of 10 as well as noting that, while the S8 is an “extremely fast, highly competent, visually stunning device”, it is a good idea to purchase a high-quality case with your phone as it is not worth risking breaking the phone should an accident occur. Tech Surprise, specialists in smartphone technology, recommends that you remember these important things.

What constitutes a high-quality mobile phone case?

It might be stating the obvious, but the most important function of a case is to protect the phone from damage as a result of being dropped, liquid spills, and scratches, etc. Even though modern design technology is producing tougher and possibly even waterproof mobile devices, there is no doubt that the vast majority of phones will not survive an accident without some damage of sorts. Furthermore, your phone might not show outward signs of damage after being dropped the first time, there will more than likely be invisible damage, and it will eventually break after being dropped more than once.

Therefore, a high-quality case needs to be well-constructed from shock- and water-proof materials. It also needs to look good and stylistically flattering to the design and shape of the phone. Additionally, the mobile device case needs to follow the latest industrial design trends as well as function as a fashion accessory.

What to look for when purchasing a Galaxy S8 Case

It is easy to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobile device and forget about buying a high-quality case to protect your new device. As stated above, this is not necessarily a good idea as your new phone could end up being seriously damaged or even destroyed without a phone case to protect it. Therefore, here are several tips to help you choose a high-quality phone:

Type of case

How do you typically carry your phone – on your belt, in your pocket, bag, or in your hand? The answer to this question will determine what type of case you should consider. The most popular cases are constructed as holsters, side cases, skins, cases with lids, and pouches, etc. Do not dismiss any option as you never really know which one is the best for you until you get to see them.

Level of protection

The next step is to decide how much protection your phone needs. For example, do you work outdoors on a dusty construction site? If so, it is advisable to purchase a cover that is rubberised, dustproof, and waterproof. Unfortunately, rugged, protective cases tend to be bulky and heavy. On the other hand, should you use your phone in a fairly sanitized, protected environment, a slim or basic case will suffice.

Fashion accessory or not?

Does your phone case need to complement your outfit? It is possible to purchase an assortment of mobile device cases and exchange them depending on your outfit as well as the function you are attending.

Related: Caseology cases for the LG G6

Final words

The good news is that mobile device cases are interchangeable. You can buy one to suit your working environment as well as another protective cover for your weekend and vacation adventures. The salient point; however, is to ensure that your phone is adequately protected at all times. It is not worth risking having to replace your phone because of accidental damage.

This $1,600 tablet is actually just a fancy music player

Alexandra Arici
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Streaming music from your smartphone to your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connected speakers isn’t enough for you when you’re at home? Then you’re probably going to like the Nativ Vita music system. At least on paper.

You’re also going to appreciate its aesthetic qualities. The Nativ Vita looks like a sleek tablet with an 11.6-inch tablet and a stand. But don’t go thinking you’ll be able to install apps on it or edit a spreadsheet, as the Vita was designed with a clear purpose in mind – to allow users to play, store and control music.

It features 108p resolution and is powered by a Cortex-A9 processor running alongside 4GB of RAM. What’s more, the product includes up to two HDDs that bring support for a total of 4TB of storage, so it can easily host your digital music collection.

If you want to go beyond it, the Vita also offers access to some of the most popular music streaming platforms out there including Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and Apple Music. Given that it has an 11.6-inch display, the Vita can of course, also play music videos.

Since it does not have built-in speakers, the Vita includes USB, SPDIF, HDMI, AES/EBU ports, but also Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi connections, to play your music.

What’s more, it has a companion Android, iOS or smartwatch app and can be used to stream over AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect or Sonos systems. Users can also interact with it by virtue of voice commands.

The product supports a wide range of audio formats including MP3, OGG, AIFF, WAV, FLAC and Apple’s ALAC in 32-bits and 384 kilohertz. It also ships out with an IR remote.

On paper, the Nativ Vita sounds pretty great. It features a gorgeous, minimalist design and can do a lot of things. But your enthusiasm will decrease considerably when you see the price.

The standard model without a storage drive and an oak stand can take you back with $1,599, while a unit with a walnut stand and 4TB of SSD storage can cost a whopping $3,099. Sadly these huge rates are probably going to do a good job at keeping customers at bay.

LG G7 could arrive as soon as January 2018

Alexandra Arici
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LG’s next-gen G7 flagship might arrive sooner than we expect. The Korean tech giant introduced the G6 during the MWC 2017 convention this February, but next year it might not wait for the event to introduce its newest premium design.

According to a report coming out of The Investor, LG has already kick started R&D operations for the G7 with the goal of launching it in January 2018. Like this year, when it rushed to launch the G6 even though the Snapdragon 835 processor wasn’t yet widely available, LG is probably hoping to get a head start on Samsung and other competitors.

Take into consideration that the information hasn’t been confirmed by LG, so you should treat it with a healthy degree of skepticism.

This year’s LG G6 with Snapdragon 821

The same report also reveals LG also plans to launch the V30 ahead of schedule. Its soon-to-be predecessor, the V20 launched in September 2016, but this year the V30 could go official as soon as August.

As we previously heard, the LG V30 is expected to take advantage of an OLED display, a Snapdragon 836 processor (an updated version of the current Snapdragon 835) and dual camera setup on the back.

According to the rumor mill, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be the first handset to take advantage of Qualcomm’s second premium chipset for the year. The V30 and Google Pixel 2 will be given the same treatment.

As for the LG G7, the phone will reportedly take advantage of the Snapdragon 845. This information is corroborated by an older piece of information which stated LG has already started working with Qualcomm to ensure the G7 won’t miss out on the Snapdragon 845.

Hopefully, the decision to unveil the phone earlier won’t negatively affect the LG G7. After all, Samsung rush to launch the Galaxy Note7 in a bid to overshadow the iPhone 7, proved to have disastrous consequences.

OnePlus 5 gets revealed earlier by case manufacturer

Alexandra Arici
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In a few days popular Chinese smartphone maker, OnePlus will unveil the highly anticipated OnePlus 5 flagship.

While we wait on that, case maker Case Fanatic has all but outed the device by posting a series of images showing the OnePlus 5 in all of its glory meant to advertise for its lineup of dedicated cases for the phone. However, until the OnePlus 5 is officially announced, we urge you to treat these images with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Anyway, in related news, Technoblog allegedly leaked the complete spec list of the OnePlus 5 with pricing in tow.

The report confirms the phone will come boasting a 5.5-inch 1080p display and a Snapdragon 835 processor under the hood. We’re also told that OnePlus’ next flagship will come with a 6GB of RAM/64GB of storage configuration, as well as an 8GB of RAM/128GB of storage – one which will be sold in Asia, India included.

The report goes on to reveal the phone’s dual camera setup will pair a 20-megapixel sensor with a 16-megapixel one with f/2.6 and f/1.7 apertures respectively. A 3,300 mAh powerhouse will be in charge of keeping the handset operational. And with the Dash Charge feature included onboard, users will be able to charge from 0% to 92% in one hour.

Additional details about the display are also shared with us. It seems the phone’s screen will boast DCI-P3 colors, which means it will be able to reproduce more accurate tones than even the iPhone 7. A “ceramic coated” fingerprint sensor embedded in the physical home button living on front, will allow users to unlock the phone in mere 0.2 seconds.

Last but not least, the OnePlus 5 will reportedly go on sale starting at $479. Last year’s variant arrived with a price tag of $439 and up.

Previously we reported, the OnePlus 5 could end up selling for $100 more than the OnePlus 3T, but we’d be more than glad if the info at hand proves to be correct.

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