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Gear Up: VRS Design cases for LG G6 and other flagships

AndroidGuys
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Are you the proud owner of a new LG G6 smartphone? What are you using to protect that flagship device? As delicate and sleek as that phone is, the last thing you want to do is drop it or scuff its surface. You’ll want to get a case on that thing as soon as possible.

VRS Design has a variety of cases for the LG G6 which we think you’d be interested in checking out. We were sent samples of four different models and have been testing putting them through their paces. All of them are excellent choices for customers looking to cover up the G6; the variety ensures you’ll find something that speaks to your needs.

High Pro Shield

Slim enough that it doesn’t add too much bulk to the device, this series of case is still strong enough to withstand drops. The textured design is subtle at first blush but upon closer inspection, the hairline brushed back gives it a bit of flavor. The outer layer is a shock resistant TPU while the bumpers are comprised of a polycarbonate that helps absorb bumps. Offered in five colors for about $30.

Crystal Bumper

While the bulk of this series is made of a transparent polycarbonate material, the bumpers accent the design of your G6. Available in five colors: Dark Silver, Shine Gold, Satin Silver, Blue Mist, and Rose Gold, each complements the standard colors of the LG handset. Don’t mistake this case for something generic; it can withstand drops with the best of ’em. About $30.

Simpli Mod

When you want to add a level of sophistication or professionalism to your G6, reach for this series of case. It comes in two colors (black, brown) and dresses the flagship phone up with a stitched PU leather backing. Equally slim as others, its polycarbonate backbone can take a few direct hits. It’s more of a snap-on shell than a case so and offers up easy access to the ports and buttons. About $25.

Layered Dandy

More than just a pretty case, this series lets you carry up to three cards and cash with the aid of sleeves. Whether you select Coffee Brown, Wine Red, or Black, the PU leather classes things up quite nicely. The magnetic clasp ensures you don’t have a flapping wallet opening up on you at inopportune times. About $35.

VRS Design has a large selection of cases for not only LG phones, but Samsung, Google, HTC, iPhone, and much more.  Additionally, it has a decent lineup of accessories, too. Shop direct or through various retailers such as Amazon.

Amazon Echo with built-in screen might arrive in May

Alexandra Arici
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Word that Amazon’s next-gen Echo speaker might come equipped with a 7-inch display surfaced late last year. Now a new report coming out of CNET claims the device might be ready to launch as soon as next month.

While the current report doesn’t make any references to a 7-inch display, so we’ll have to assume the new Echo might make it out on the market with a smaller screen onboard.

Information on Amazon’s second Bluetooth speaker is scarce, but industry sources have put forth the theory according to which an Echo with both a screen and a camera (in the vein of the recently launched Echo Look camera) might be in the pipeline.

The new Echo Look

Competition is getting increasingly fierce in the smart speaker market, as Microsoft and Harman Kardon are also gearing up to launch a premium Cortana-powered voice-activated speaker dubbed Invoke. So Amazon must think of new ways to differentiate its Echo products from the slew of competitors out there, especially since Google Home recently gained the ability to distinguish individual users based on voice.

An Echo speaker with a screen onboard could help Alexa respond to more complex queries, one industry analyst noted. Or it could aid her to better understand quarries, thus eliminating one of the most frequent problems plaguing virtual assistants today. All in all – it remains to be seen whether Amazon is truly ready to unleash its second Echo product next month or not.

Amazon Echo Look is a Alexa-powered hands-free camera

Alexandra Arici
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Amazon’s popular lineup of Echo products just got a new addition in the form of the Echo Look camera.

The “style assistant” – as Amazon calls it – will help anyone with a huge closet, catalog and sort their outfits. And like in the case of all Echo products, the camera is fueled by the Alexa’s AI wits. Fashionistas can instruct the Echo Look to take full-length photos and videos of their daily outfits via voice, which will be in turn rated based on fashion expert knowledge and intelligence machine learning algorithms.

The Echo Look comes with a built-in LED light, a base mount for attaching it to a wall, and a microphone. The camera works with a companion app that features a Style Check option which allows fashion addicts to compare two looks and rate which is better.

Looks are then stored, so Amazon can get an idea of the user’s preferences and then recommend outfits and accessories which fit that particular style.

Alexa on board the Echo Look is not limited to snapping photos of clothing items, she can also play music, read news or answer queries.

The new style-companion is available for purchase on Amazon, but you’ll need an invitation. For the time being only Prime Members will be able to purchase the Echo Look for a price tag of $199.99.

ZUK Mobile will be no more, Lenovo plans to absorb it

Alexandra Arici
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Earlier this year, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing admitted in an interview that turning Motorola around proved to be a harder task than initially predicted. Despite the Moto brand remaining fairy popular with consumers, two years after the acquisition, Lenovo had was forced to axe more than 2,000 jobs in the US and fell to eight place in the global smartphone market.

Lenovo already announced that its strategy for the future includes rebranding all its upcoming phones under the Motorola brand, but now it seems ZUK will also be part of this joint endeavor. According to well-known analyst Pan Jiutang, Lenovo plans to shut down the ZUK Mobile in the near future – which is unexpected given the brand’s independent status.

ZUK Mobile is the most recent addition to the Lenovo Group, but as it appears at this point its existence will be cut short after only 23 months of life. ZUK won’t completely cease to exist – right now it seems the merger’s sole survivor will be the company’s ZUI custom interface which according to a now-deleted post by Lenovo’s VP Alex Chen Yu will make an appearance on future Moto products, but probably only in China.

ZUK Z2

Analyst Pan Jiutang calls ZUK Mobile a successful brand that managed to attract a lot of fans during its brief time as a phone manufacturer. The company introduced a total of five devices including the Z1, Z2, Z2 Pro, Z2 Rio Edition and ZUK Edge, which were fairly well received in Lenovo’s home country. Now it seems ZUK will be absorbed into Lenovo.

In the meanwhile, Motorola and Lenovo are preparing an entire slew of new Moto smartphones which are expected to arrive in the following months including the Moto C/Moto C Plus, Moto E4/Moto E4 Plus, Moto X (2017) and Moto Z2 and related devices.

Samsung’s In-Traffic Reply app aims to combat distracted driving

Alexandra Arici
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Yesterday, Google rolled out a new feature in Maps to help users where they parked their car. Now Samsung is also targeting drivers with a new application called In-Traffic Reply – but for a totally different reason.

In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in car accidents caused by drivers who used their smartphones while in-traffic. In order to prevent these kinds of incidents, the Korean tech giant announced the new “In-Traffic Reply” initiative.

Using the phone’s sensors, the app gets automatically activated when it detects the user is driving or riding. In the eventuality of a call or message, the app will send the person on the other end an automated response like “I’m driving, so I cannot answer at the moment”. Users can customize the default message to say anything they want. The app works with a selection of popular messaging apps including Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, not just SMS and calls.

No more texting and driving with Samsung’s new app

In-Traffic Reply is developed by Samsung Netherlands and is currently still in beta. We can expect the app to become available for download from the Google Play Store sometime in mid-May.

In recent years, smartphones have been increasingly blamed for the rising of traffic deaths and injuries. Insurance companies say they can’t raise premiums fast enough to keep up with the cost of replacing sheet metal and paying those killed and injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers.  Will Samsung’s new app be able to put a stop to this worrisome rising trend?

NuAns NEO Reloaded is an Android 7.1 Nougat smartphone that can change colors

Alexandra Arici
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Had enough of black, gray or white smartphones? Want your next handset to a bit more unique while coloring is concerned? Well then you might want to take a look at this Indiegogo page.

Japanese company Trinity has set up a crowdfunding campaign for their NuAns NEO Reloaded smartphone which comes with removable back plates. The idea is to allow customers to mix and match the tops and bottoms of the phone and create the combination truly suited to their taste.

You might remember the same company attempted to crowdfund its NuAns NEO design last year. The product ran Windows 10 out of the box, but the campaign eventually failed to reach its goal. Now Trinity is back with a new proposal – the NuAns NEO Reloaded with Android 7.1.1 Nougat on top. Will the new product have a better chance at succeeding?

From the start we can tell you the NuAns NEO Reloaded’s specs aren’t mind-blowing, but more characteristic of a middle-range device. However, Trinity bets on users’ fondness for aesthetic customization. The company hopes to gather $370,000 in funds in order to start producing the handset, which is quite an ambitious goal if you ask us.

The NuAns NEO Reloaded comes packing a 5.2-inch display with fullHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and a Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood. Trinity also offers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (with a microSD card slot that supports up to 1TB of additional storage).

The product also carries a 13-megapixel main camera and front-facing 8-megapixel selfie shooter. It’s completed by a fingerprint scanner located on the front and a nice 3,450 mAh battery. We should also note the NuAns NEO Reloaded is dust-proof and water-resistant up to IP54 standard. The specs remind us of the ZTE Blade V8 Pro sans the dual-camera setup and with a more expensive price-tag attached to it.

The NuAns NEO Reloaded sells for $355 without any of the custom back plates. Add $5 more and you can get the phone with a set of back plate or one of its Flip cases. Assuming Infinity’s campaign reaches its goal, the phone should start shipping out to backers in September 2017. What do you think of the NuAns NEO Reloaded?

Grab the LG K3 2017 for only $20 from US Cellular

Alexandra Arici
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Looking for a new smartphone, but you can only afford to spend the bare minimum on it? US Cellular might just have exactly what you need. Only a few days ago we told you that the ZTE Blade Max 3 landed on the virtual shelves of the carrier for $199 outright, but that’s too much for your budget, you should look towards the new LG K3 2017 instead.

Even if the phone normally costs $90, US Cellular is offering it with an online discount so customers can grab it for the super affordable price tag of $19.99. In order to use the phone, customers will have to jump onboard of a Simple Connect plan, which starts at $35/month. But given that the phone is available on pre-pay, no long term contracts will be involved with its purchase.

When it comes to specs you shouldn’t be expecting anything too mind-blowing. The LG K3 2017 arrives with a 4.5-inch display with 480 x 854 resolution and a Snapdragon 210 processor tucked under the hood. LG also bundles 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel/2-megapixel camera combo.

There’s also LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 2,100 mAh battery onboard. The phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and will probably never get Nougat.

As you can see, the LG K3 2017 is nothing to write home about. Even so, it’s a device capable of satisfying you basic technology needs and given that it costs only 20 bucks, we expect it to be quite successful.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 home button moves around to prevent burn-in

Dan Bartram
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Samsung decided to ditch the physical home button on the Galaxy S8 in favor of a virtual one, but does that introduce burn-in issues?

Pixels that are always lit up in the same place naturally results in the image being retained and eventually burnt into the OLED display. However, it seems the Samsung thought of this already as it turns out the virtual home button actually moves around slightly.

Don’t Miss: Samsung rolling out software update to fix Galaxy S8 reddish hue issues

The team over at Galaxy Club used tape to surround the image to demonstrate that the virtual home button icon on Galaxy S8 devices actually moves around very slightly.

As you can see from the above image, the home button ever so slightly shifts as to change the pixels that are lit up and therefore avoid any burn-in problems.

So rest assured that using the always on display virtual home button won’t ruin your brand new Galaxy S8.

Linux Launcher brings CLI to your Android Smartphone

Dan Bartram
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Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) aren’t for everyone and if you fall into this category then you might like the new Linux Launcher to bring CLI to your device.

Linux Launcher is an unusual app that will bring a command line interface to your device for those who like that kind of thing, or if you just want people to stop messing around with your phone.

Don’t Miss: Some users experiencing a broken Bixby button on the Galaxy S8

Most Android users are used to seeing a row of icons and widgets on the homescreen but Linux Launcher will replace this with a command line interface just like you’d find in an Operating System like Linux.

It supports the Android commands as well as a number of shortcuts that can be customized to perform quick actions.

Here are some of the commands that work with the launcher:

  • uninstall [app]
  • sms [contact] [text]
  • call [contact]
  • calc [expression]
  • search [google, playstore, youtube, files]
  • wifi
  • flash
  • share [file]
  • mv / cp [file] [dest]

Linux Launcher might not be for everyone and you might just want to use it to mess with your friends, but it’s worth checking out. You can grab Linux Launcher here.

iFrogz Summit Wireless earphones review

AndroidGuys
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The Summit Wireless are an affordable pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds that promise 10 hours of battery life and a rugged, sweat-resistant design. Priced approximately $35, they’re positioned as the sort of headphones you’d want for running or working out.

The Summit Wireless feature three different sizes of ear tips as well as two sizes of wing adjustment pieces. In other words, you’ve got a wide variety of fits to ensure the earbuds sit comfortably in the ear and don’t fall out when moving about.

The iFrogz peg the headphones with “up to 10 hours battery life” but that is based on five hours of playback at average levels and five hours of standby time. We found that we could get to the five hours of play with no real problems, but they would not have another five hours of standby. After a few times, we found them dying after five hours of listening and around 2-3 hours of standby.

There’s something a little wonky about the standby in general; ours seemed to lose a fair amount of charge if we let them sit for a few days. After a week of not using them, instead of getting the normal amount of playback, we ended up with roughly half of that.

The iFrogz earphones were built well and seem to hold up to moderate wear and tear. Toss them in a bag, throw them on the counter, or stuff them in your pocket; you can be more that a little bit rough with them. The same goes for sweat and perspiration. The Summit Wireless showed no signs of breaking down and performance never suffered.

The battery is found away from the earbuds and is also where you’ll find the controls for taking calls and managing music. Buttons are somewhat limited, but you do have the ability to adjust volume as well as pause and resume playback.

There’s also a clip on the back of the battery and control unit. This lets you fasten the earphones to your shirt sleeve or collar. Do note that there’s not a ton of slack here. It doesn’t allow for much range so don’t put it too far from your ears. On the other hand, it never dangles or gets in your way when bending over or running at a decent stride.

Given the Summit Wireless’s $35 price tag, we didn’t expect too much for sound quality. The 8mm drivers put out an acceptable volume level, but the overall experience left much to be desired.

You won’t find too much range so don’t pick these up if you plan on really diving into your music. But, if you’re running or working out, you likely aren’t paying close attention to the sound. Pretty much everything we tried music-wise ended up sounding very average. The highs and treble didn’t differentiate itself from the bass and low end. It’s almost as if the audio was smooshed together.

If you’re in the market for headphones that sound great, you’ll spend at least twice what these cost. What you’re getting here is convenience, portability, and resistance to sweat.

The iFrogz Summit Wireless are affordable and well built; however, they’re definitely not music-first. If you’re generally rough on your earphones, you’ll like that these can withstand moderate abuse. Moreover, the Earbud Tips for Life limited lifetime warranty gives you free replacements of earbud tips should they get worn or damaged.

Pick up a pair of the Summit Wireless earphones for about $35 from iFrogz; several online retailers offer them for about the same price, if not a few bucks cheaper. Amazon was selling them for $31.99 at the time of publication of this review.

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