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Hangouts for Android no longer supports SMS as of this week

Alexandra Arici
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Don’t say we didn’t warn you – Google confirmed it was ending SMS support in Hangouts back in March. Now the inevitable has happened, as the company finally pulled out the SMS component out of the Hangouts equation.

Still Project Fi subscribers and Google Voice subscribers can still access the feature. As Google is increasingly trying to migrate Hangouts into the enterprise environments, consumers will be forced to start looking for alternative apps.

The easiest route is to turn to Google’s own Android Messages solution, but this app won’t merge chats and SMS like Hangouts used to.

Google’s other messaging app, Allo doesn’t have SMS capabilities for the time being, who maybe the search giant will choose to add this feature in the near future.

If you’re looking for something akin to Hangouts used to offer there’s always Facebook Messenger and Signal which blends SMS and chat solution.

Google’s extensive host of messaging apps does not include a full Hangouts replacement at the moment. Still the company encourages users to use Meet and Chat for work, Allo for multimedia messaging, Duo for video calls and Android Messages for texting.

Moto G5S with full metal body leaks out

Alexandra Arici
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Motorola unveiled the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus at MWC 2017, but as it appears these aren’t the only phones coming under the Moto G banner that we’re going to see launch this year.

Through a recent leak which revealed Motorola’s upcoming Moto product release road map for this year, we could see the company has at least two more Moto G models in the pipeline. And now it seems one of them surfaced online.

The folks at Android Authority have managed to get hold a bunch of renders depicting the upcoming Moto G5S. The images were obtained from a trusted source who is familiar with Lenovo’s upcoming plans.

According to the information, the Moto G5S will be a bit more high-end than the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus. While the two current Moto G5 models feature an aluminum back plate and plastic sides, the new phone will boast a full metal design.

The Moto G5S is revealed in Grey, Gold and Blue paint jobs.

While the source didn’t reveal anything about the specifications of the upcoming phone (s), the leaked slide revealed the Moto G5S (if indeed this is the phone that appeared in the slides) will come with a 5.2-inch FullHD display (1920 x 1080) while the Moto G5S Plus will feature a 5.5-inch fullHD screen and a dual-camera setup.

We expect the specs of the new Moto G5S models to be a little higher, so maybe the G5S Plus model will get a Snapdragon 660 treatment. We’re just speculating at this point, as nothing in this sense has been confirmed.

Samsung Gear S3 Classic with LTE landing at AT&T on May 26

Alexandra Arici
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A few months back Samsung unveiled a LTE equipped version of its Gear S3 Classic smartwatch in South Korea. The product was said to also launch on the US market via three major carriers including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Now AT&T just confirmed it will start selling the LTE-equipped variant of the Gear S3 smartwatch starting this Friday, May 26 online, as well as in brick in mortar stores. Interested customers will be able to purchase it for $17.50/month for the next 20-months on an AT&T Installment Plan. Or you can grab the device for $249.99 outright.

The carrier also has an interesting promotion going on until June 30. Get the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ and you’ll be able to grab the Gear S3 Classic or Gear S3 Frontier from $49.99 a pop.

Naturally the watch comes with AT&T NumberSync feature, which means users will be able to port their smartphone number on the smartwatch as well, so they will be able to receive phone calls and messages even with no phone nearby.

As a quick refresh, the Samsung Gear S3 Classic comes with a circular Super AMOLED display and the rotating bezel which first debuted on the Gear S2. It bundles an 1GHz processor, 4GB of internal memory and 768MB of RAM, as well as a 380 mAh battery, wireless charging and a IP68 water and dust resistance. Unlike the majority of smartwatches out there, it runs Samsung’s own homegrown Tizen OS and not Android Wear.

Mophie’s Juice Pack battery case for Pixel XL launches for $99.95

Alexandra Arici
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Have a Pixel XL and you want to make sure your phone is always charged? Popular accessory maker, Mophie has just introduced a Juice Pack battery case for Google’s largest smartphone. The company launched similar cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8 a few days ago.

The new juice pack bundles a 2,950 mAh built-in battery, which according to Mophie will be able to add an extra 50 hours of battery life. On top of that, the case also adds wireless charging to the Pixel XL, so users will be able to recharge the phone using any Qi-based wireless charging pad.

What’s more, the rugged of design of the case ensures it will keep your phone safe in case of accidents. The raised corners add further protection against scratches and cracked screens. The Mophie Juice Pack also features a LED indicator which shows battery levels and charge status.

Those interested should know they can get the Mophie case from mophie.com  for $99.95. The accessory can also be purchased from Verizon retail locations from across the country. Verizon is the carrier that holds exclusivity for the Pixel and Pixel XL in the US.

AT&T to exclusively offer the resilient LG X VENTURE

AndroidGuys
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The LG X Venture is a rugged, dustproof, water resistant handset designed specifically for those of us who, let’s say, tend to air on the more active side of life.

There have been several circulating rumors about a possible ACTIVE version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 which I excitedly reported on back in April; this is also penned to be a AT&T exclusive in the states, so with that in mind, it comes as a great surprise to see LG appearing to pip its Korean rival to the post on this one.

In a recent press release we received from LG, the mobile giant provided us full technical specifications of the anticipated device and before I get all “science like” with you let’s talk about price:

In the United States AT&T are looking sell the X Venture for $11 per month beginning May 26th, which comes out at around $260 after 24 months. $260 people !!!!!!

Now, I suppose you are now thinking what’s the catch? Rubbish camera? Poor battery life? Insufficient processor? Well you’d be wrong, wrong and wrong again.

Here’s the science bit:

The LG X VENTURE Key Specifications:

  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 435 Processor
  • Display: 5.2-inch FHD In-Cell Touch (1080 x 1920 / 423ppi)
  • Memory: 2GB LPDDR3 RAM / 32GB eMMC ROM / Micro SD Slot (up to 2TB)
  • Camera: Front 5MP Wide Angle / Rear 16MP Standard Angle
  • Battery: 4,100mAh (embedded)
  • Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Size: 154.0 x 75.8 x 9.29mm
  • Weight: 166.5g
  • Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / USB Type-B 2.0
  • Color: Black / Brown
  • Other: IP68 Water and Dust Resistant / Fingerprint Sensor / Qualcomm Quick Charge™ 2.0 / QuickButton / Outdoor Essentials / FM Radio / GPS / Accelerometer / Digital Compass / Gyroscope / Barometer

So let’s pull a few nuggets out of that epic listing that especially caught our eye.

A 5.2-inch 1080p display under Gorilla Glass 4.

Snapdragon 435 chipset.

2GB of RAM and a HUGE 4,100mAh battery.

32GB of storage out of the box expandable via microSD up to 2TB!!!!!

16MP rear lens and 5MP front lens cameras and of course LG are including its signature 120-degree wide angle tech to get everyone in the selfie.

Add all that to its military grade protective shell, easy access to the phone when it’s cold outside with the convenient glove touch mode. You can also enjoy Outdoor Essential features including LG Health, Compass, and Flashlight.

It runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and weighs 166.5kg, measuring 154 x 75.8 x 9.29mm. There’s a fingerprint sensor too!

I am going to be brutally honest here, I have found it incredibly difficult while writing this article not to wander off into the internet abyss and start looking into when I can get my hands on this device, rather than talking myself into it, it’s fair to say I am on the brink of writing myself into it (if that’s even a thing) and to be honest, I did wander, and this is what I found:

The LG X Venture will launch first in North America, and that’s available from today. Some areas in Europe will follow, along with regions in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Price is yet to be revealed for said countries.

If this going to be a phone for everybody? I dare say not. Life can be a lot about individuality and that can sometimes come at a cost. I fail to see how getting this phone will be a negative in either the price or performance brackets. Sure, it isn’t the prettiest phone out there but let’s be honest.

Is it really going to matter when you are climbing to a glorious mountain top or equally as you find yourself texting your boss saying you are going to be late for work, gloves on, scraping the ice off your car windscreen? I doubt it, but I will let you decide.

How to install the Android O Pixel Launcher now

AG Deals Team
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Google I/O 2017 came and went last week, and brought many new things for us to talk about whether it’s Android related or not. One of the biggest new things that was given to users was the first (and second) public beta for Android O.

However, the problem here is that Android O is only available on select devices and that the rest of us are left waiting (months and months) to get a taste. The great thing about the Android community is that folks are able to bring apps and features to devices that wouldn’t regularly be supported.

This is the case with the new Pixel Launcher which came along with Android O. A trusted contributor at the XDA Forums was able to port the launcher to those running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and above. There isn’t much new here, but it does add app shortcuts when you long-press on various app icons.

Since this app isn’t available on the Play Store, you’ll need to get your device ready to download the “unofficial” APK. In order to do so, you’ll need to follow these steps:

  • Navigate to Settings
  • Select Security
  • Toggle ‘Unknown Sources’

Once toggled, you’ll need to download the Pixel Launcher APK file itself, which you can do from the link here. After it has been downloaded, you can drag down your notification shade, or open the Downloads app, then select the downloaded APK and it will install.

Since this is Google’s stock launcher, you won’t be able to import all of your settings, so you’ll have to set your home screen up again. But if that doesn’t matter to you, you’ll be good to go and can experience the latest Pixel Launcher on your non-Pixel device.

After you’ve downloaded it, show us your various home screens in the comments below.

App Highlight: Tempest – Pirate Action RPG

Dan Bartram
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The App

Developed by HeroCraft Ltd who is tagged as a top developer on the Google Play Store, Tempest Pirate Action RPG is a new app with only 1000-5000 installs. Having been updated on April 21, 2017, the developer is constantly fixing various bugs and introducing performance enhancements. The game allows you to become a pirate, assemble your crew, and battle and defeat other pirates and monsters such as the Kraken, the Leviathan, and others.

What it does

You’ll be placed in an open world with an arsenal of cannons, mortars, flame throwers, and a lot of other various weapons to overcome a number of quests across dozens of islands in three regions. You can share the huge world of Tempest with two friends and it is up to you if you decide to become companions or wage war against each other. You’ll need to buy and upgrade your ships by robbing galleons, sinking warships, and destroying forts.

Why we like it

I always like a good pirate game and this one is one of the best. It’s one of the most immersive I’ve ever played. The instructions on how to play could do with a little work and prompting as to what each thing does. There is a question mark that will give hints but I think this could be improved and made part of an overall tutorial. With great graphics and lots of quests, this is a great game that you need to check out.

How to get it

Tempest: Pirate Action RPG is available for $7.99 from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.

Tronsmart’s Element T2 is an affordable waterproof Bluetooth speaker with spunk

Donovan Jeska
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Let’s get this out of the way – Tronsmart’s Element T2 is not a sexy piece of hardware. It’s a basic Bluetooh speaker that offers solid performance, rugged durability, and lets you answer phone calls without having to pick up your phone. That being said, it’s well worth the $24 it costs on Amazon. Now that you’re properly warned of the perks and drawbacks of owning this little piece, let’s dive into what actually makes it tick.

Features

For not having any gimmicky features that are so prevalent in Bluetooth speakers these days, the Element T2 has surprisingly solid specs all around. Let’s start with the basics – Bluetooth 4.2 – while not the state-of-the-art Bluetooth 5 that’s coming into vogue, Bluetooth 4.2 still presents a number of excellent qualities of the more common 4.1 – most notably, a significantly reduced power consumption. A 1900mAh, 12-hour battery means you’ll probably not have to charge it for about a week unless you’re listening to music for hours and hours on end.

Hardware

The Element T2 is hefty, for only being the size of a soda can. It feels solid, and the rubberized buttons, outer rim, and accessory compartment feel nice and durable. A small clip is built into the frame, allowing you to attach the included carabiner and carry it around with your with ease. Two small high-friction plastic “feet” are set into the bottom, ensuring that it won’t slip around easily.

A built-in microphone ensures that you won’t have to switch between your phone and the speaker when getting a call – especially handy if you’re in an environment where you’d be at risk of dropping your phone in water. And speaking of which, the Element T2 is Ingress Protection rated IP56 – meaning that it can handles heavy sprays of water (but not immersion) and is protected against dust and sand – making it a great choice for the beach.  A MicroSD slot, Aux port, and MicroUSB port are hidden under a rubberized flap on the side – do not, under any circumstances, forget to close that flap before taking this thing out in the wild.

Functionality

I gotta be honest, here – this is easily one of the easiest-to-use speakers I’ve had the pleasure of using. Setup is ridiculously simple – powering the thing on immediately launches it into pairing mode, meaning you can power on and pair in about fifteen seconds flat. There are five buttons on the device; Power, Bluetooth, Play/Pause, +, and -.  The first three are pretty obvious, but the last two have a clever dual functionality; short-pressing each one individually raises or lowers the volume, while long-pressing either performs the Skip functionality.  Long-pressing the Bluetooth button allows you to pair a second Tronsmart speaker using TWS – True Wireless Stereo. 

Sound

Sound on the Element T2 is loud and booming, with a bass that can be felt from a full inch from the speaker grill. The volume is considerable for such a little package – it surprised the crap out of me, honestly. This is where things get a little weird; while both sides of the speaker are identical and symmetrical, there is clearly a front and back to the thing. One side plays considerably louder and clearer than the other – presumably because the little subwoofer is partially blocking the other side. It’s not so bad that it affects the quality of sound coming from the speaker, but it is noticeable.

When it comes down to it, Tronsmart’s Element T2  is what it is – a solid, if unspectacular, sequel to the T1. It’s reliable, weathers the elements well, and doles out big sound in a small package. Get it on GeekBuying for $35 or on Amazon for $25.

IFROGZ’s new Impulse Duo & InTone wireless earbuds offer quality audio on a budget

Alexandra Arici
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Audio specialist IFROGZ is expanding its earbuds portfolio with the addition of the new Impulse Duo and InTone wireless models.

Both models are competitively prices, in a bid to bring quality wireless audio to the masses. For $44.99 customers can get the Impulse Duo wireless bundle which feature dual, dynamic 6mm neodymium drivers in each earbud in order to deliver a complete audio experience.

As for the InTone they are available for $29.99 and embed powerful, but lightweight 14mn neodymium which manage to offer quality audio.

InTone wireless buds

Both models offer wireless control which can magnetically clip to any garment, as well as cable management, so cables don’t get tangle while using the earbuds.

On top of that the two earbuds sets come equipped with IPX-2 sweat-resistance which means you can easily take with you when go out running or at the gym.

IFROGZ promises up to 10 hours of battery life between charges, but an additional note reveals that with real life use users will be able to enjoy 5 hours of play time at 70% volume and five hours of standby time.

The two new earbuds models are available for purchase from ZAGG.com, but will be made available with additional retailers.

This is how the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active will look like

Alexandra Arici
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The fact that a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active model will soon be landing at AT&T was revealed last month. Now it seems we’re getting closer to the product’s launch, as the phone has appeared at the Wireless Power Consortium (the consortium behind Qi wireless charging) in a live image.

This year Samsung has unveiled two curved Galaxy S8 versions, but no standard flat model was offered. Well those who prefer flat screens to anything else will be glad to know the Galaxy S8 Active will offer such a display.

On top of that the device will feature a more robust body and IP68 certification, meaning it will be able to handle a rougher treatment. Since it showed up with the Wireless Power Consortium, the Galaxy S8 Active will naturally come with Qi wireless charging.

Last year’s Galaxy S7 Active model

While the group did not least the full specifications of the phone, it’s assumed the phone will arrive with the same configuration as the Galaxy S8. Although we do expect the AT&T variant to come with a larger battery pack.

For example, last year the Galaxy S7 featured a 3,000 mAh cell, while the Galaxy S7 Active variant had a 4,000 mAh power house. The Galaxy S8 houses the same 3,000 mAh battery.

Other than that, the phone should make a debut with a 5.8-inch display with 2960 x 1440 resolution and a Snapdragon 835 processor fueling all operations onboard.

It seems like the Galaxy S8 Active might go live any day now, so keep checking back with us for an update on the matter.

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