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Oukitel looking to release a phone with a 10,000 mAh battery in June

Alexandra Arici
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There aren’t many phones today that features batteries larger than 4,000 mAh. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, which recently launched in the US, is one of the exceptions to the rule with its 5,000 mAh juice box.

But what if you could have double of what the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom brings to the table? You will soon be able to. Obscure Chinese brand, Oukitel is planning to launch a new phone this summer, one which will come equipped with a massive 10,000 mAh power source.

The handset will be called K10000 Pro and comes to succeed the K10000 model which was launched back in 2015 and also arrived with a 10,0000 battery.

The original Oukitel K10000 which launched in 2015

The yet-unreleased Oukitel K10000 Pro is poised to make a debut with a 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and a octa-core MediaTek CPU clocked at 1.5GHz. The product will also feature 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage – with no mention of microSD card slot. Judging by the teaser image, the phone will have a fingerprint sensor living on the back.

Oukitel claims the battery inside the device takes only three and a half hours to fully charge thanks to the flash 12V/2A charger which will accompany the phone. Furthermore, the K10000 Pro is advertised as being able to last up to 15 days without needing to be recharged.

No info has been shared related the photographic capabilities of the phone (although a dual camera setup doesn’t appear to be in the cards) or the operating system onboard. Hopefully it’s going to be at least Android 7.0 Nougat and not Marshmallow. We don’t how much the device will cost either, but we can tell you the Oukitel K10000 was priced at $200.

Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ available for pre-order in the US

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are already available for purchase from most major carriers in the US, but if you would prefer to have the unlocked version then we have some good news for you.

The unlocked Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are currently available for pre-order in the US. Samsung is discounting these models, shaving $25 off each model, so you’ll be able to grab the Galaxy S8 for $725, while the larger phablet will cost you $825.

The two unlocked models can be pre-ordered from Best Buy. The retailer notes customers will be able to get them by May 31, which means you’ll have to wait by the end of the month. Or you can place your pre-order with Samsung directly. It’s up to you.

Unlocked phones are not sold with accompanying contracts or device installment plans. On top of that, they can prove valuable for people who travel a lot. Owners of unlocked handsets can go into a country and buy more affordable service from local carriers.

Not to mention, unlocked phones don’t come with the unnecessary bloatware most carriers include onboard of their devices.

Are you getting an unlocked Galaxy S8? Let us know in the comment section below.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom finally arrives in the US with $329 price-tag

Alexandra Arici
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In early January, ASUS introduced the ZenFone 3 Zoom during the CES 2017 event in Las Vegas. But so far customers were unable to purchase the device. Well this changes this week, as ASUS has finally announced the phone is going on sale in the US with a $329 price-tag.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom 3 is a middle-range phone with a focus on photography, similar to the ZTE Blade V8 Pro. It features a 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The ZenFone 3 Zoom is powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset which works in combination with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

A fingerprint sensor is located on the back, where we also find the dual-camera assembly which consists of a two 12-megapixel sensors, one with f/1.7 aperture, 25 mm wide-angle lens and the other with a 59 mm camera for instant 2.3x zoom.

ASUS has bundled the phone with a new autofocusing tool called TriTech+ which employs a laser autofocus system, subject tracking and dual pixel phase detection autofocus technologies, so it can focus on a subject in as little as 0.03 seconds. On the front, there’s a 13-megapixel selfie snapper.

Another selling point of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom is the big 5,000 mAh battery which according to the producing company should last up to 42 days on standby. It will also be able to support 6.4 hours of non-stop 4K video recording.

The phone is available for pickup from Amazon, BestBuy and B&H Photo, but remember it will ship with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box and not Nougat – which is quite disappointing.

Google Assistant can now control more home connected (i)devices

Alexandra Arici
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Maker of home connected devices, iDevices today announced that its products are now compatible with the Google Assistant. Previously Alexa and Siri support was offered, but from now on Devices can be controlled by addressing voice commands directed towards the Google Assistant inside the Pixel or Google Home.

iDevices family of products includes switches, wall outlets, a thermostat and intelligent light bulbs. And with simple commands such as “OK Google, turn on the lights” users can control their iDevices-branded appliances around the house.

Getting started is easy. Google Home or Pixel users will have to download the iDevices Connected App from the Google Play Store/App Store and then enable the Google Assistant within the settings of the iDevices app. At the same time, users will need to go and enable iDevices services in the Google Home app in order to link all the products.

“Our unique software architecture allows us to expand compatibility easily and quickly, so we continue to offer a comprehensive smart home solution to consumers. When people think ‘smart home’, words like ‘simple’, ‘easy-to- use’ and ‘helpful’ should come to mind. We’ve made it easier than ever to adopt the smart home, no matter what kind of system you prefer to use.“

Chris Allen, iDevices CEO

Back in April, iDevices was acquired by the Humbbell Incorporated of Shelton, Connecticut, thus joining the company’s large portfolio of brands that sell electrical and electronic product for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Amazon confirms Alexa Calling and Messaging Between Echo Devices

AndroidGuys
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It’s been a big day for amazon, a full reboot of the Echo device and now confirming calling and messaging between all Echo Devices and the Alexa App: Let’s just say we’re excited!

So, let me break this down for you.

Amazon is bringing the update to all current Alexa devices: This was announced today alongside the eagerly anticipated Amazon Echo Show. Amazon have also confirmed this feature is going to be open to people using third-party Alexa devices ( Virtual High 5 )

Amazon have Voice calling and messaging as launching “soon,” on the relevant landing page. In our Echo Show article we documented an expected release date of sometime before June 28th for the new device and due to this, having the additional feature available for launch would make the most sense.

Alexa’s voice calling feature seems to be pretty straight forward: you ask Alexa to call someone in your contacts and it does! I do feel I have to state the obvious here though and remind you that both contacts have to have Alexa enabled devices — you can’t just call any regular phone. Don’t get too downhearted though, Amazon isn’t insisting that everyone has to rush out and buy an Echo: Amazon are also going to be adding calling into the Alexa app for iOS and Android.

Another cool feature I feel is worth mentioning is the ability to send a voice message.

All you have to do is ask Alexa to send a voice message and the person on the other end can receive said voice message you have recorded; YES, they will receive an actual recording of your voice, not just as a dictation by Alexa. I can see people having some real fun with this!

Essentially what Amazon are doing here is offering a simple, hands-free way of calling family members much akin to Apple’s FaceTime or Google’s Duo, and although Amazon are not reinventing the wheel with this feature, man – it’s got me excited!

How to read websites in Chrome for Android with no data

Dan Bartram
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Despite having connectivity pretty much everywhere we go, there are some times when the cellular signal just doesn’t reach far enough and WiFi isn’t available. For those exact times, Google has bundled a new feature into Chrome for Android that will allow you to download a webpage for offline viewing.

Available via a long press on any link, Chrome will download the entire webpage, images and all, for a no-compromise offline viewing experience. Many similar services offer the ability to download just the text from a website to view offline but Chrome offers a more seamless experience by downloading the whole page as if it was delivered with an active connection.

Simply long press on any link to bring up the contextual menu and hit “Download link” – you’ll need an active connection for that part. Once downloaded, hit the three dots in the upper right hand corner to access your previous downloads and you’ll see the webpage(s). Simply click on the list item to view the page.

You’ll be warned it’s an offline copy both at the footer of the browser and in the address bar but otherwise the experience is the same.

Be sure you’ve got the latest version of Chrome and happy offline viewing.

Protecting your privacy on Android

AndroidGuys
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We use Android devices to browse websites, emails, and other content. We haven’t got a clue as to how safe they are and start thinking about this aspect only when we become afraid of our transactions and activity on the web. For example, if you are a student, you don’t want someone to know that there is an email in your outbox, where you ask someone, “Can you do my essay instead of me?” What if someone steals our passwords and finds out some stories that we want to keep in secret?

The safety issues should be taken seriously even if you are not a secret agent. In this article, we are going to discuss how to protect your private information on Android.

Basic protection

Mobile devices are made to carry them outside your house, and therefore you have to make sure to use passwords to protect your information. Also, you should have a tracking service that allows you to delete all information on your phone without an access to a device. Once the bad guys have your device, it’s hard to keep them away from your information.

Of course, you need to have backups of your information, including emails, documents, photos and all content you store on the online services (like Cloud). You can easily do that by plugging your smartphone or tablet into a computer. Pay special attention to your cloud and encrypt important data you store there. Any information outside your control is in danger!

Applications and permissions

Do not install to many applications to your device and try not to give them useless permissions. Of course, it is not practical and an applications mostly ask for some useful permissions to function better. But when a trivial application asks for an access to your address book or location – you’d better refuse for a security sake.

As a rule, if you download applications from Google Play, then you are probably safe. When you choose some alternative stores, be careful about scampish apps with names that remind you of something you are looking for, but are not actually that.

When using your devices, you should never accept any files from strangers. Also, never click on links you receive via email or SMS. Many malware cheaters catch their prey by sending messages with irresistible offers.

Wi-Fi is more dangerous than you think

Free Wi-Fi is always tempting, whenever you are. When you are at your workplace, the service can be reliable, however, you shouldn’t trust public Wi-Fi spots.

Your tablet, smartphone or laptop should be protected by a VPN that encrypts your personal data and save you from cheaters. Android has has a built-in VPN client, so make sure to use it. Otherwise, use only safe addresses, which start from “https://”.
Some devices connect automatically to all available Wi-Fi networks. Make sure to turn off this feature to avoid unreliable networks, since they might be tracking you.

It is perfect if you can do without using Wi-Fi outside your house. If not – make sure to use VPN and encrypt important data.

The Internet today is a dangerous place, so make sure to pay attention to your personal security. Always use passwords, back-ups, and encrypt important information if you need to keep it on a mobile device.

Google ends Android Nougat Beta program in favor of Android O

Dan Bartram
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With Android O now the latest and greatest version of Google’s operating system, the company have announced that it is to end the Android Nougat beta program.

The program of Android Nougat is set to be replaced with the latest Android O version and Google have said the site will be updated when the Android O Beta Program officially launches.

It’s not quite clear if the first beta to appear in the Android O program will be the same developer preview that is currently available or just what features will be available in the first version.

Being part of the Android O beta program allows users access to the latest features available in Android O such as notification channels, picture-in-picture video, and custom lock screen shortcuts to name a few. Despite access to the latest features, there are inherient risks with running a beta version of software so don’t be surprised if you encounter bugs.

Stay tuned to be notified when the Android O beta program officially launches and is available to download.

Tap Hero – A more original Flappy Bird (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Yes, I know that I probably deserve to be burned at the stake for bringing up this cursed game from 2013, but by the end of this, you’ll see where I am coming from.

Alright, down to business. Tap Hero, the sole product offered by APPLICATTURA Michal Walaszczyk is offered on both Google Play and the Apple Store, supporting 4 1/2 star ratings on both. You play as a pixel knight, defending your castle by tapping to attack(and switching direction, more on that later)

 

AHHH! PRIVACY!

Well, this is fun. as far as permissions go:

Version 1.01(Latest) can access:
In-app purchases
Photos / Media / Files
  • read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage.

Storage

  • read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage.

Other

  • view network connections, full network access.

So, pretty permission light. But, oddly, the app has never requested these permissions.

Never requests them, at least for me.

How does it play?

It’s about… well, I’m not sure. As far as I can tell, you protect a castle from a variety of enemies. As in the aforementioned title, it is not frantic screen tapping that will get you through this game, but thought out, precision tapping. Tapping the screen essentially attacks the person behind your knight.

The enemies always spawn in alternating sides, making sense why the attack mechanic is the way it is. Don’t let that give you a false sense of security, missing gives you a huge stagger, meaning you are dead– The constant horde is not patient – but you can revive yourself with 100 coins, or an advert*.

Speaking of coins, you can use them to buy armor(in which a full set give you one hit immunity every run) as well as a better Sword and a Hammer. What these weapons do is unclear – try as I might, I couldn’t actually earn them (Money is hard to get hold of.) The developer does plan to add more weapons and armor in a later update.

 

Tap Hero death
Even Slightly Late or Early? Death to you!

*Wait, did you just say adverts?

Yup. At the end of a run, you may get an advert, usually a quick image you can just close. You can tap the end of run scroll (Left-center on your score) and watch a 30 second advert to get a buff, like a revive, money, or double money generation. I’ll admit, I do like the options, but I wish you could pick what you got, rather than choosing whether to deal with the option given.

If you hate the adverts, options are available, in our favourite form:

In App Purchases! (IAP’s)

If you read my previous review on Dragonstone: Guilds & Heroes, you know I am not a fan of overpriced IAP’s. Luckily, Tap Hero passes the test here. You can either:

  • Buy Ad-free mode for $0.99/£1.09
  • Double coin rate for $1.99/£1.79
  • Buy the full set of gear, and ad-free, for $3.99/£3.89

Which is certainly bearable. Little confused why GBP costs more than USD on the Ad-free mode, but not elsewhere, however, it could just be a slip-up by the developer, and its not an awful lot of money regardless.

Conclusion

Overall, pretty decent. The game’s soundtrack is a pretty good tune, and the 8 bit graphics do the game justice. I’m not a personal fan of any games that rely on reflexes and timing, but this has covered it with a rather fun twist to that sort of game – Actual ways to last longer than a few seconds.

Amazon adds $230 Echo Show to its roster of connected devices

Scott Webster
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Amazon today announced its latest connected, Alexa-enabled device in the form of the Echo Show. Set to arrive in late June, the unit offers up an entirely different design from its predecessors.

The Echo Show houses a 7-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera, Dolby-powered speakers, numerous (eight) noise-canceling microphones, and a trio of buttons.

Like its brethren, the Echo Show is designed to sit prominently in your kitchen, living room, or busier areas of the home. Indeed, you’ll not only interact with it to add items to a grocery list or listen to a playlist, but you can also use it to view media.

The Echo Show can be configured to work with your streaming media services such as Pandora, Spotify, and, of course, Amazon Music. Moreover, its smarts enable it to integrate with other connected home services and devices from the likes of Philips Hue, WeMo, Ring, Wink, and more.

The 7-inch display will be used to show upcoming calendar appointments, set timers, manage shopping lists, and much more. It can also pull up YouTube clips, pull up a weather forecast, or be used for an alarm clock.

The 5-megapixel camera can be utilized as a video conferencing system between two Echo Show units. Additionally, it can make hands-free video calls to others with the device or with the Alexa app installed. And, for those moments when mom wants to tell the kids it’s time for dinner, the Drop In option lets you check in on trusted friends and family.

 

Availability

The Amazon Echo Show is offered in White and Black and is currently available for pre-order with pricing listed at $229. According to Amazon, the Echo Show launches on June 28 and will include free two-day shipping via Amazon Prime.

Those looking to purchase more than one Echo Show can save $100; a “SHOW2PACK” coupon code can be used when buying two.

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