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Turn any watch into a smartwatch with this $39 buckle

Alexandra Arici
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Don’t want to pay $250+ on a smartwatch? You shouldn’t, especially when you have a perfectly good “dumb” watch sitting on your wrist.

With the help of this Kickstarter project, you will be able to get the smartwatch experience on your normal watch. Well, sort of. Just add this intelligent buckle and you’ll be good to go. The Smart Buckle uses miniaturized technology embedded in its compact wearable clasp to do things most smartwatches do like tracking your activity, steps, distance, pace and sleep patterns, as well as counting calories.

The Smart Buckle is water and dust resistant and compatible with Apple Health & Google Fit. It also connects to an iOS or Android device through an companion app which displays your stats. The buckle comes with a charger you can connect to an outlet or USB port with a micro USB cable.

The Smart Buckle is made of High-Grade Stainless Steel and brushed metal finish, so it will be able to match with most watch models. It’s actually compatible with the majority of designs available on the market including luxury models launched by household names such as Patek Phillipe, Tag Heuer, Rolex, Omega or IWC.

To be frank, the Smart Buckle will turn your watch into something more akin to an activity tracker than a smartwatch. Adding the buckle doesn’t mean the watch face will suddenly gain magical touch screen properties. You won’t be able to download apps on it (you can do that with an Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch) or receive notifications from your smartphone.

Nevertheless, given that the Smart Buckle costs only $39 it’s certainly worth a try for those who wish to add more functionalities to their watch. For this amount of money, customers will receive a Smart Buckle (22mm strap size) + spring bar pin & installation tool + charging dock + USB cable + free USA shipping.

Smart Buckle is currently still gathering funds on Kickstarter and with 29 days to go, there’s a good chance it’s going to be successful. The estimated shipping date has been set for August 2017.

LG said to manufacture the larger Pixel 2 codenamed “Taimen”

Alexandra Arici
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A while ago word surfaced online suggesting Google was working on three new Pixel 2 models. According to the leak, the successors of the Pixel and Pixel XL, codenamed “Walleye” and “Muskie” would arrive alongside a larger model called “Taimen”.

Now according to a report coming out of the Android Police and rated 9/10 on the rumor scale, Google has axed the direct successor of the Pixel XL (aka “Muskie). So this year the only phones coming out from Google will be “Walleye” which we can assume will have a 5-inch display and “Taimen” that will probably carry a screen larger than the Pixel XL’s 5.5-inch one.

Pixel 2 concept

Furthermore, 9to5Google has unearthed an extra piece of information about the mysterious “Taimen” in the Android Issue Tracker. The second comment in the “USB PD Compliance Failure” thread seems to indicate that “Taimen” is being manufactured by LG.

The general consensus is that HTC would once again manufacture Google’s next-gen smartphones. But in light of recent news, it seems Google might be leaning towards a 2015 scenario this year. Two years ago, the company unveiled the Nexus 5X which was manufactured by LG and the Nexus 6P that was created by Huawei. Needless to say, the two phones boasted two very different designs.

Recently, we also told you Google was looking to secure a shipment of flexible OLED displays from LG, but at this point in time, it remains unknown whether the deal was finalized or not.

Motorola’s new Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus arrive for $129.99 and up

Alexandra Arici
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This week Motorola Mobility pulled the veil off the affordable Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus, successors of the Moto E3 series introduced this year. The two handsets will be made available for purchase in the US and other markets towards the end of the month.

Not so long ago Motorola unveiled another affordable duo, in the form of the Moto C and Moto C Plus, but these models were destined for Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Now the company is launching two budget-friendly models for the US.

Both new models offer an elegant metal design and the Moto E4 comes bundling a 5-inch display with 720p resolution. It also includes an octa-core Snapdragon 427 processor (or Snapdragon 425 depending on carrier) in combination with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

The product also sports an 8-megapixel camera, as well as a 5-megapixel frontal selfie snapper with LED flash. The phone measures 144.5 x 72 x 9.3 mm and relies on a 2,800 mAh battery to keep the lights on.

As for the Moto E4 Plus, this model is a bit larger. It features a 155 x 77.5 x 9.55 mm and a pretty solid 5,000 mAh battery said to be able to last up to two days on a single charge. The phone features a 5.5-inch display with 720p resolution and like its smaller brother bundles a Snapdragon 427 (MediaTek MTK6737M in markets outside the US) under the hood alongside 2GB of RAM and a choice between 16GB and 32GB of storage.

When it comes to photography, the Moto E4 Plus offers the services of a 13-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter with LED flash.

Both Moto E4 models run Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box and include a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button.

Motorola will start selling the Moto E4 for $129.99, while the Moto E4 Plus will take you back with $179.99. The standard Moto E4 will also be sold as an Amazon Prime exclusive phone, which means Prime members will be able to purchase it at a lower (yet to be announced) rate.

Later update: The Moto E4 will be available starting June 22 in the US.

App Highlight: YouTubers Life – Gaming

Dan Bartram
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The App

Developed by U-Play Online, YouTubers Life – Gaming is one of the best games on the Google Play Store. It is a relatively new app with only 10,000 installs, but this is already making a big impression.

What it does

Youtubers Life is a life simulation game where you act as a YouTuber and create content to try and become number one in the world with the most subscribers. You’ll need to record and edit your videos, collab with other YouTubers, and expand your empire.

Youtubers Life is the ultimate life simulation/tycoon videogame in which you can effortfully become the world’s greatest gaming video blogger in history by editing videos, expanding the amount of fans and turning yourself into a wealthy fellow. Create your character —customize it as you wish, there are thousands of hillarous combinations— and start making your first broadcasts in the cozy room at your parents’ where you have grown up since you were little. Record gameplay sessions, buy new and classic consoles, keep an eye on daily tasks, and socialize yourself to increase your popularity while you have to deal with fans, friends, family and time management!

Why we like it

I love simulation games and this is one of the best. It is vast, immersive, and keeps you hooked. The goal is clear, to become the number one YouTuber, but you’ll have to work to get there. It’s a little on the pricey side but you’ll certainly get your value out of it.

How to get it

YouTubers Life is available from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.

Mujjo’s Leather Case for the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is brilliant (review)

Matt Adams
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One of the best parts about owning an Apple iPhone is the third-party accessory market. A lot of people skip over Apple’s own accessories and grab a case off Amazon or from Best Buy, but when they do that, they’re missing out on what I consider the best case on the market, the Apple Leather Case for iPhone. I’ve been searching for a leather case that replicated the quality of that Apple case for years now, and I think I finally have.

For the last few weeks, the Mujjo Leather Case for my Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus has been strapped to my phone and hasn’t come off*. The biggest factors for me when choosing a case are the quality of the materials, how bulky it is, and how much protection it adds. Mujjo’s case ticks all the boxes for me.

(*I listen to music while I shower so I leave the case downstairs to preserve the long-term life of it)

The Leather Case from Mujjo is just that, leather. A lot of cases claim to be leather or “vegan” leather, but they’re really just leather substitutes or a small bit of leather with substitutes mixed in. That’s not the case here. This case is full-grain leather that goes through a tanning processes. According to Mujjo, each case is treated with aniline oils to enrich color tones.

And truthfully, it feels fantastic in the hand. It’s been a few years since I’ve held an Apple Leather Case but I remember them being a bit more of a matte to the shiny Mujjo case. The Mujjo case is a little more slippery, but not to the point of being difficult to hold onto, and a little shinier but they’re both look and feel great in their own right.

In addition to feeling great because of the materials, it feels great to hold this case because it’s just so thin. Mujjo claims the case is 1mm thick, and while I don’t have tools precise enough to give me a reliable measurement, I don’t doubt the veracity of that statement. I’ve run through a million cases in my time and it’s one of the thinnest I’ve ever used for longer than a day or two. It’s just north of those snap-on cases that promise nothing but scratch resistance because they’re so thin that there’s no possible way they could protect against falls.

The cutouts wrap around the ports and buttons in an elegant way that shows real craftsmanship. One area where you can tell that Mujjo really knows what they’re doing is the camera cutout. Instead of using a reflective plastic border around the edge of the cutout, Mujjo kept the leather wrap here. I love this for a couple reasons, the first of which is that there’s nothing reflective to bounce the camera flash back into the lens. Secondly, the entire phone is black and it would really destroy the experience for me to have another accent color on the case.

If you’re looking for OtterBox level protection, this obviously isn’t the case for you. But, the case provides plenty of protection for your every day falls. The Galaxy S8 was recently ranked as the most fragile phone ever, and while I hate covering up beautiful phones with cases, you’d be silly to leave your $850 investment unprotected.

Case makers have been struggling a bit trying to get the height of the sides of their cases right due to the curved screen, but Mujjo did pretty well here. I actually find it’s a lot easier to find where to swipe in from the sides of the phone with a case on as it kind of guides my hands. It also helps me find the fingerprint sensor too, which is a big plus since it’s in such a silly place on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

When I do reviews, I try as hard as possible to be honest about the negatives I’m seeing with products. Nothing can ever be perfect. But, I genuinely don’t have any negatives about the Mujjo Leather Case. Sure, it’s won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but that comes down to personal preference rather than any design or material choices made by Mujjo. Hell, you can even charge your phone wirelessly with it on. Not many cases will allow you to do that.

If you’re interested in picking one up, you can head over to Mujjo’s site and grab one. They also offer them in Saddle Tan too if you don’t like the black.

Stay safe with Legitifi, the first social identity verification app

Alexandra Arici
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With the spread of mobile technology, it’s become much easier for people to satisfy their need for social interaction and human companionship virtually. Want to go out on a date? There’s an app for that. Need someone to watch your kid? You can easily find a babysitter online.

But before you welcome these people into your life and even more potentially dangerous, into your home, you should ask yourself “Are these people really who they say they are?” In most cases, you can’t know that for sure until you meet them in person. But what if you could run a background check on them before leaving the house? Now you can – with the help of Legitifi, the first social identity verification app.

How does it work? The app simply pulls social media information to verify and validate identities. On top of that, it combines the data and checks the National Sex Offender Database to show you the full story.

To get started you’ll need to download the app from the Google Play Store. Once installed on your device, you’ll be able to search for anyone by their phone number, email address or name. If the person you’re searching for has joined, the app will show you their profile. Or you can invite them to join via text or email.

The more someone fills in their profile, the more legitimate the profile becomes. Still, there’s a limitation here. The person you are searching for needs to be on social media and link her/his accounts to Legitifi in order for you to be able to gain any insight into their persona.

Luckily, Legitifi does not rely only on info pulled from social media. It also lets users “Vouch” for each other. If you interacted with someone and liked it, you can go ahead and vouch for them. Think of it as a positive review. The more an user has, the more legit they are.

If the idea behind the app sounds good to you, you can go ahead and give it a try. And don’t forget to tell us what you think about it.

WalletHub – A must download for any adult (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Some people (me) have difficulty keeping track of their finances from time to time. While I always know what’s in my bank account, my credit score is usually somewhat of a mystery to me, both what’s in it and what it means. If you’re like me and that 3-digit number is an enigma to you too, you too should download WalletHub.

 

Developer: WalletHub

Price: Free

Download: Google Play

All you need to know in one place

All Your Info, All in One Place

When you first launch WalletHub, you will need to enter quite a bit of personal information. Obviously, this is needed to bring you your credit report. WalletHub has the usual disclaimer that your information will not be used for anything other than the report they are generating, and they promise that their reporting will not affect your credit score. This initial setup, both entering your data and them looking you up, will take a good 10-15 minutes, so expect to wait for a little bit. Once everything is loaded up, WalletHub will allow you to set a password or a pin number to keep your information safe from prying eyes.

 

From the main dashboard, you have your credit score displayed in an easy to read format that tells you your score, how that rates, and when the last time it was updated. From this screen, you can set goals such as buy a house or car, and get great resources about different types of loans, how to negotiate price, pitfalls to watch out for, and tips for all ranges of credit. There is also an indepth analysis tab that shows everything that has had an effect on your credit both positive and negative over the past month, with breakdowns for Payment History, Collections, Credit Utilization, Debt Load, Account Age, Account Diversity, and Credit Inquiries. There are other tabs that suggest credit cards for your credit score and help you analyse the pros and cons of various cards and various offers for cards.

Easy to read info and tips

A Solid App

Everything in the app out in the open in easy to find locations, so if this topic starts to get you overwhelmed, the app helps guide you along. Also with all of the information packed into this app in every category, they really make sure that if there is something you are unsure about in the world of credit scores they help talk you through it in an easy to understand way. Everything in the app is positive and directs you back to what your goals are and what steps you can take to reach them.

Set you goals and reach them with guides and tips

A Personal Touch

Without disclosing all my personal financial information to the whole internet, I will say that this app has first and foremost explained to me what everything on my report means, how different things effect my score, and how to make even more improvements to get where I want to be. Everything they have suggested to me so far has worked out and has been solid information, and the fact that they take the time with each step to explain to me what everything means is a huge sigh of relief to someone who easily gets overwhelmed by numbers.

 

Conclusion

Plain and simple, the fact that the features in this app are not included in every banking app baffles me. The reports, notifications, suggestions, and guides are top notch and really make you feel like you are in control of your financial life. This app is a must install for me, and should be for anyone else who is in charge of their financial life. So for all you adults out there, download now.

The next 18:9 ratio phone will come from Google

Alexandra Arici
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The Pixel 2 is popping into the rumor mill with some frequency these days. Slowly but surely the aura of mystery is lifting and we’re starting to an idea of what the Pixel 2 will be like.

German website WinFuture has spotted the Pixel XL 2 in the GFXBench database with most of its specifications in tow. The listing reveals the Pixel XL 2 will apparently feature a 5.6-inch display with 2560 x 1312 pixels. The atypical resolution indicates the phone will have an 18:9 (or 2:1 ratio) aspect ratio, in the same vein as the LG G6. Earlier rumors also hinted at the possibility that the Pixel 2 will feature a dual curved panel.

According to GFXBench, the Pixel XL 2 should also arrive with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. Previously, we heard the Pixel 2 might take advantage of a revised Snapdragon 835 version, the Snapdragon 836 which Qualcomm will supposedly introduce later this year. The LG V30 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are also expected to be based on the platform.

The Pixel XL 2 listing also includes a primary 12-megapixel camera with 4K video, as well as a 7-megapixel camera with 4K support.

If you’re curious to see how a tall and narrow Pixel 2 will look like, designer Benjamin Geskin has already created a concept that looks quite stunning, albeit the LG G6/Samsung Galaxy S8 resemblance is pretty obvious.

Huawei Honor 9 arrives with 6GB of RAM, Huawei Pay

Alexandra Arici
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The Huawei Honor 8 was one of our favorite middle-range phones of last year. And obviously, we’re pretty excited that Huawei pulled the veil off its successor today.

Naturally the newcomer is called the Honor 9 and as predicted arrives with a 5.15-inch display with fullHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and 428ppi. The screen covers the DCI-P3 standard to deliver better color reproduction.

Like it’s the case with most Huawei phones, the Honor 9 takes advantage of a home-grown Kirin 960 processor with four cores clocked at 2.4GHz and four extra ones clocked at 1.8GHz. It’s the same processor that also fuels the Mate9 and P10, so the Honor 9 leans towards affordable flagship territory rather than middle-ranger.

Consider that Huawei is also offering the phone with 4GB of RAM/64GB storage or 6GB of RAM/64GB storage or 6GB of RAM/128GB storage (a microSD card is included for memory expansion up to 256GB in all models). Flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S8 only offer a standard of 4GB of RAM/64GB storage.

The Honor 9 also comes with an improved main dual-camera setup which pairs a 20-megapixel sensor for monochrome shooting with a 12-megapixel sensor for RGB and offers f/2.2 aperture, PDAF, and two-tone LED flash. For self-portraits, there’s an 8-megapixel secondary camera with f/2.0 living on the front.

Huawei is taking advantage of the Honor 9’s launch to also introduce its own mobile payment solution called Huawei Pay. The service will come pre-installed on the Honor 9.

Audiophiles will also love the Honor 9. The phone includes a Hi-Fi audio chip that was fine tuned by Grammy-winning recording engineer Rainer Maillard said to offer 90% improvements in audio purity and 60% increase in fidelity. But that’s not all, Huawei has embedded Histen audio processing tech inside the phone which gives a sense of being right next to the stage where the music plays. To make the offer even more enticing, Huawei is also offering a pair of custom Monster earphones with an Honor 9 purchase.

The new product relies on a 3,200 mAh battery and also includes a USB Type-C port, dual SIM, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack (yey!). It runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box with Huawei’s own EMUI 5.1 interface on top.

The Honor 9 comes with a metal body and a sleek glass back and will become available for sale in three luscious colors including Blue, Grey and Amber Gold. Customers in China will be able to purchase it starting this Friday from Vmall, JD.com, Tmall.com and other online locations.

The 4GB/64GB version will cost approximately $338, while the 6GB/64GB model will have a $400 price-tag attached to it. The 6GB/128GB model will set you back with approximately $441.

No information regarding availability in other markets was shared at this time, but we do expect the Honor 9 to land in the US in the future.

OnePlus officially confirms OnePlus 2 won’t get Android 7.0 Nougat

Alexandra Arici
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Android enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the OnePlus 5 which should land on June 20, but in the meantime, OnePlus 2 owners got some bad news.

Even if back in November 2016, OnePlus promised it will update the OnePlus 2 to Android 7.0 Nougat, the build never came. And now we finally have the confirmation it will never arrive. The Chinese company officially confirmed for Android Authority that the OnePlus 2 will not get the Android 7.0 Nougat update.

You’re probably wondering what’s the reason behind it all. Well according to the statement, when it built the OnePlus 2 the company did not have the software infrastructure team in place it does now, perhaps hinting that the convergence of the Hydrogen and Oxygen teams is to be blamed for the lack of update.

Furthermore, OnePlus added that customers service has been relaying this information for a while, saying that it “isn’t new and we think people were aware of it.”

Given that no official info about the Nougat update for the OnePlus 2 transpired ever since the Chinese company made the original announcement back in November 2016, the news does not come as a big shock.

Still, a lot of OnePlus 2 owners were probably still hoping their phone will get the update. Luckily, the device enjoys good third-party support, so there are alternative ways available to update to Android Nougat.  Sorry, OnePlus 2 owners you’re on your own.

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