The Galaxy Note7 disaster cost Samsung a whopping $6.13 billion, so the Korean tech giant needs to make absolutely sure the same scenario won’t happen again.
Now a new report coming out of the The Investor reveals that Samsung has launched a new team dedicated to product quality control. President and former production chief at the shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries has been appointed head of the team which will be under direct supervision of the company’s three co-CEOs.
In January, Samsung revealed the results of its official investigation into what caused the Galaxy Note7 to overheat and eventually catch on fire. As it turns out, the batteries were to blame.
On the same occasion, the Korean tech giant also announced it has installed new protocols like “multi-layer safety measures” and the “8-Point Battery Safety Check”. On top of that, the company has assembled a so-called Battery Advisory Group – a board formed by external advisers, academic and research experts.
These safety measures and new product quality control team will be in place in order to prevent a product like the Galaxy Note7 ever getting released into the world again.
Samsung is expected to launch its next-gen flagship, the Galaxy S8 on March 29 and the stakes are quite high. With the new device, the Korean tech giant hopes to win back the trust of disinherited Galaxy Note7 fans and not only.
Samsung’s reputation in the US took a major blow due to the Note7 affair, but the company hopes the Galaxy S8 will be able to redeem its sins.
The Nokia 3310 revival managed to steal much of the spotlight at an event dedicated mostly to the highest innovation in mobile technology.
The cute and colorful Nokia 3310 appeals to our sentiments, as it reminds us of an era when mobile devices where just starting out. The feature phone takes us back to the beginnings, but also retains some modernity.
Well if you too got quite excited about the possibility of grabbing the Nokia 3310 for yourself, your technologically impaired parents or children, you won’t like what we have to say next.
According to CNET, the Nokia 3310 will not be making it to the US anytime soon. What’s the problem you wonder? Well the Nokia 3310 which is a 2G only device won’t work in the US.
The device supports the 900MHz frequency range which means it will work just fine in Europe and Asia. However, US carriers require support for 850MHz range, which is not available with the Nokia 3310.
Still you shouldn’t be discouraged. There’s still hope as HMD’s Global Head of Marketing, Patrick Mercanton says the company does indeed want to bring the Nokia 3310 to the US, they just haven’t signed any deals with any of country’s main carriers.
The Nokia 3310 should launch in Q2 2017 with a $50 price-tag attached to it and hopefully the feature phone will make it to the US by the end of the year. The device might show up with third-party retailers like Amazon, but even if you do acquire it you’ll just end up getting a device you won’t be able to use in the US. Until HMD figures out something.
Gmail is Google’s approach to email and chat. So far the popular service allowed users to send and receive attachments to up to 25MB. However, this won’t be the case anymore from now on.
Google announced that starting this week users will be able to receive emails of up to 50MB. Note that you’ll be able only to receive 50MB attachment and not send them via your Gmail account. Which basically means Gmail subscribers will be able to get 50MB emails from users who don’t use Gmail.
“Sending and receiving attachments is an important part of email exchanges. While Google Drive offers a convenient way to share files of any size, sometimes you need to receive large files as direct email attachments.”
Even so, you can use Google Drive to send larger attachments, so it’s not all bad. Drive allows you to send files up to 5TB in size.
The company has already started to push the new update which will enable you to use the new feature. However, bear in mind that it might take between 1 to 3 days for it become available to your respective account, so don’t worry if you don’t see it yet. It’s on its way, as we speak.
We also expect that Google will increase the size cap on the emails that can be sent out from a Gmail account at one point in the future.
It’s no secret that Google’s Suite of productivity tools are some of the best in the world. Keep and Docs are some of the most well known products across all platforms, and today, Google is helping to combine the two.
Starting today, when working on a document of your choice, you are now presented with a window with your various Keep notes. From here, you can drag and drop text, lists, and images, into your document.
Here’s a breakdown of all the new features:
Drag your notes from Keep directly into your work documents
Easily search your notes in Keep while in Docs to find the information you need to complete your project
Add a new note in the Keep notepad or select text from inside of your document and easily add it to a new note (just right click and select “Save to Keep notepad”). When you open that note in Keep, we’ll include a link back to the source document so you can always refer back to it.
If you have a subheading or title for the Keep notes, that will also transfer to the document you’re working on. If you close the Google Keep sidebar, but need to open in later, you can do so from the Docs toolbar.
Let us know if you’ll be taking advantage of this new feature, of you’ll be using some other method to transfer notes.
As much fun as we have writing about Android and technology all day, everyday, there are still real issues in the world. The awesome part is that these technology giants that we follow and report on, recognize these problems and sometimes provide tools to help.
Facebook is one of these companies as the social network giant has introduced a new tool to help in the fight for suicide prevention. This new tool takes advantage of Facebook Live, a streaming service which was introduced last year.
Here’s a breakdown of how the new services have been implemented by Facebook:
Integrated suicide prevention tools to help people in real time on Facebook Live
Live chat support from crisis support organizations through Messenger
Streamlined reporting for suicide, assisted by artificial intelligence
What this means is that if you see someone posting a status which is cause for concern, you can either reach out to them directly, or report the post to Facebook. From there, the individual may be contacted by professionals who are trained in suicide prevention.
While using Facebook Live, here’s a look at the description for how you can help:
Our suicide prevention tools for Facebook posts will now be integrated into Facebook Live. People watching a live video have the option to reach out to the person directly and to report the video to us. We will also provide resources to the person reporting the live video to assist them in helping their friend.
The person sharing a live video will see a set of resources on their screen. They can choose to reach out to a friend, contact a help line or see tips. If you or someone you know is in crisis, it is important to call local emergency services right away. You can also visit our Help Center for information about how to support yourself or a friend.
We know that trying to help one of your friends in this situation isn’t easy, but there are tools at your disposal if the situation arises. Be sure to inform yourself, and your friends of the ways you can help, and if you fear the worst, be sure to reach out in some capacity.
If you’re like me, then you know the struggle of carrying your laptop charger with you all the time. I’ve been using a laptop as my main computer for as long as I can remember, and it drives me up a wall when it comes to packing my computer bag up.
There are already so many cables in my bad, that adding a big and bulky one does nothing but annoy me and take up precious space. Luckily, Finsix has recognized the struggle and has released an accessory that saves space in your bag, and doesn’t take up both wall plugs at the same time.
The Finsix DART is touted as the “World’s Smallest Laptop Charger” and does an excellent job at putting my mind at ease when it comes to saving space. The DART measures in at just 2.75-inches long and is 1.1-inches wide. Compared to something like the Macbook Pro charger, we’re looking at apples and oranges (no pun intended).
The DART doesn’t offer anything special in terms of charging your laptop any faster than your stock charger does. However, it does include the ability to not only charge your laptop, but you can also use the included cable to plug in your charging cable for either your laptop or charger.
In the box, you get a 9 different interchangeable tips, which will work with specific laptops. This isn’t a one-size fit all, as I’ve already run into some issues with that. However, if you use the Finsix compatibility tool on the company’s website, you’ll be able to determine whether the DART is for you.
The aforementioned USB 2.1A port allows you to plug in your tablet or smartphone, and charge it up while you’re charging your laptop. What makes this so special is the fact that it allows for rapid charging, so that you’re mobile device can charge faster than the standard wall charger.
Something else that makes the DART so awesome is the fact that it runs so cool that you’ll never have to worry about it overheating. I’ve had the DART plugged in for hours and hours, but never even felt it get hot. I didn’t have a IR thermometer on hand to provide an exact temperature, but it was only slightly warmer than when it wasn’t charging for an extended period of time.
As with most smaller, unknown products, Finsix got its start through KickStarter. The DART was the company’s first product and easily doubled its goal of $200,000. Now, the company has continued to offer the DART, but also offers a USB Type-C option for those who are on the bleeding edge of technology.
Specs
Input
100 – 240VAC; 50-60Hz, 1.5A
Output Voltage
18V – 21VDC
Output Power
65W
USB Output Voltage
5.0V, 2.1A
Unit Volume
3.0 cubic Inches
Weight
85 grams
Storage Temperature
-40°C – 85ºC
Operating Temperature
0ºC – 40ºC
Operating Relative Humidity
Up to 85%
If you’re interested in picking up either the Finsix DART or the DART-C, you can do so via the official Finsix website, Amazon, or B&H Photo for just $99. Note the DART-C is only available on FINsix.com and not in retail stores yet.
It’s also worth noting that Finsix is offering free shipping on the DART for a limited time. This may seem like bit of overkill price-wise, but if you think about just the convenience aspect of having an extremely portable laptop charger, it’s just fine.
Let us know whether you would find something like the Finsix DART useful, or if you’ll stick with the jumbled wires in your bag while traveling. If you’ve found another option that offers a similar experience, give us a heads up in the comments below.
Starting today Cricket’s unlimited plan will only run you $60 a month and that includes your taxes and fees. Unlimited means unlimited with this plan. You get unlimited talk, text, and data as well as calls to Mexico and Canada and texting to 38 countries including Austalia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and a ton more.
$60 is an awesome price for a single line of unlimited everything, but Cricket is offering a pretty great deal on family plans too. If you’re a family of four, your bill will only run $180 a month after discounts. Included in that plans are Group Save discounts like $10 off a second line, $20 off a third line, and $30 off a fourth line. If you add a fifth line you can get a discount of $40 too.
Cricket is also offering four free smartphones to choose from if you bring your number to Cricket. Those include the Samsung Galaxy Amp 2, LG Spree, ZTE Sonata 3, and Alcatel Streak. All of these extremely low-end phones, but hey, free is free. They’ll be perfect for a teen looking for their first phone or a parent or grandparent that doesn’t require much from a phone.
Cricket has the advantage of running on the excellent AT&T network and it’s not stopping with the improvements. Later this year, Cricket says it’ll be rolling out HD Voice and WiFi calling. Not too bad.
Crickets plan is extremely competitive with all of the major carrier’s newly announced plans. If you don’t mind being on an MVNO and want unlimited data, this might be the route for you. We’ve inserted Cricket’s rate plans below for your viewing pleasure. If you’re interested in more info, head over to its website for more.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to alter your IP address so you can appear as if you’re operating in another part of the world. They allow you to circumvent government blocks on websites and protect your privacy. It should come as no surprise that people all over the world use VPNs.
But what about using them on Android? Here’s what you need to know.
It’s Not as Easy as Using Software on a PC
The way a PC works is different from how an Android device works. Regular users of VPNs will find that they can’t use the same software as they did on a laptop or PC. That can make them think that VPNs aren’t viable on Android devices. It’s true you need to take an alternate route, but they still work.
Standalone VPNs have Started to Hit the Market
Standalone VPNs are services with dedicated Android VPN builds. This means you can literally download the app and be on your way. However, many of these standalone VPNs do cost. There are a few that offer free tiers, but many of them are not fit for purpose.
Expect this segment of the industry to grow in the coming years, though.
OpenVPN Networks are Popular but Unsupported
Some people consider the best VPN to be OpenVPN networks. To use these, you need to be able to download a third-party app and work from there. The official app for OpenVPN is OpenVPN Connect, but there are others that do the same thing.
You should aim to have Android 4.0 or higher to use these networks. For older versions of Android, you’ll need to root the device. After you connect, you’ll have a choice of networks and all you have to do is click.
Android Does Have Some Support
Google already has brought in the VPN-only option. Enable this and no data will be sent across the network unless you’re protected by a VPN. This will maintain your privacy and ensure you don’t send data if you accidentally disconnect from the VPN.
It also comes with integrated support for L2TP and PPTP VPNs. These VPNs can always be connected to without the help of any outside apps. Just go to the Settings app and look for it under Wireless & Networks.
Is it Worth the Hassle?
You may think that VPNs are only for advanced users sending sensitive data across the web. But the truth is that governments are becoming more intrusive than ever before. Data gathering is increasingly being sanctioned, so you’re vulnerable if you’re not using a VPN.
Even if you just want to watch your favorite TV show when you’re in a foreign country, or access social media in Turkey, a VPN can prove useful. No government or private company will be able to track you or gather any information on your activities. You can operate with peace of mind. Set it up today and you won’t regret it.
It’s been a long time since I’ve played a golf game. Remember the glorious days of Super Stickman Golf? Those were the days. Sometimes I think that golf and mobile are meant for each other because of the relaxed nature of the game. This makes it easy to create an intuitive but fun golf-related games. A brilliant example of this is Golf Clash, by Playdemic, which combines very easy to learn controls with well-thought gameplay centered around online matches.
When you start the game, it will ask you to link it to your Google Play Games account. Immediately after this, the game will throw you into a very short tutorial that will explain the two main gameplay mechanics.
First, you will determine how far you want the ball to go. Obviously, in the first shot, you would want it to go as far as possible, but in subsequent shots, a compromise has to be reached in order to propel the ball as close to the hole as possible.
Then, you will be able to shoot the ball by pressing the Take Shot button. The shot itself can be done by pulling the ball to a blue target that will appear on the bottom. The game does a good job in indicating where is the sweet spot, so you don’t have to do any guessing. After this, a target with a moving needle will appear, and your goal is to release the ball when the needle is in the center of the target.
This is easier said than done, as you might expect, so the game gives you different feedback based on your performance. If you land it perfectly, the ball will only be moved by the wind. If you do great, the ball will move slightly towards the direction your needle is pointing to. Do horribly wrong, though, and you’ll be stuck in the middle of the bushes or in a sand trap.
When you reach the final section and you have to putt the ball, the controls change slightly. You still need to pull the ball, but now you’ll have to align it to a cyan trail that appears on top of the grass. Then, you’ll need to align two arrows in order to get the perfect shot. You can see the Setup gallery to get what I’m saying.
After going through the tutorial, the game will throw you directly into a match. Do not be intimidated, though. Even though it looks like it searches for a player online, I’m pretty sure that the other player is a bot, since it does everything it can to avoid winning.
Overview
The main menu has a lot of stuff going on.
After getting through the tutorial, you’ll be greeted by a very crowded main screen. The most important element of this screen is the “Play Golf” button, which makes you choose between playing a match against an online player or against a friend. Since I don’t have friends, the online matches will have to do.
There are different tournaments you can choose from. All of them have an entry free that you have to pay in coins, which is one of the two in-game currencies (you already know the drill by know, so you can probably guess the other). In return, winning doubles the coins you disbursed for entry and will also increase your trophy count.
As with so many other games, trophy count is like your overall ranking, and winning matches will increase this rank and unlock new tournaments where stakes are higher. You can’t farm the beginner tournament forever since it can yield a maximum of 20 trophies.
Matches are straightforward: the one who gets the ball into the hole using the least amount of shots, wins. If both use the same number of shots, then you go to a tiebreaker, in which you have only one shot and whoever places the ball closest to the hole, wins.
After winning games, you will also receive chests that open after a certain time (such as the timed blocks in Pokémon Duel, for example). These will yield coins, gems, upgrade cards and other similar items.
Controls are very easy but there’s no training option to hone your skills.
Speaking of upgrade cards, if you know a bit about golf, you would know that they use different kinds of clubs based on the situation. This is also true for the game, and you can upgrade each kind of club by getting upgrade cards and paying some coins. This will improve the accuracy, power and in-game help that the club provides.
This will improve the accuracy, power and in-game help that the club provides. There are a lot of clubs that you unlock when unlocking the upper levels, adding a lot of replayability to the game.
Aside from clubs, you can also buy ball packs. These special balls (no double entendre, please) are much better than the regular ones you use since they have perks such as being less resistant to the wind, reaching farther distances, having more sidespin and such. These can be bought with gems only.
In case you haven’t guessed it until now, gems are the second in-game currency. You can use them to buy new clubs, balls, and chests. You can also use them to open chests received through online matches without waiting for the timer. In case you are low on coins, you can also exchange gems for coins and continue your ass-kicking in online matches. Prices for these gems range from $0.98 for 80 to a whopping $99.34 for 17000. Your choice.
General Impressions
Obviously, 47-trophy Jack is going to win against a noob like me.
Until you get the hang of it, prepare to experience frustration in online matches. It is baffling to me that there’s no practice mode or something similar so that you’re not forced to make a fool out of yourself in online matches until you get decent at the game, but life is hard.
After some matches, though, you will be able to systematically do good shots and you’ll feel more in control of the game. Normal matches are tense because you know that if you make one mistake, you are probably out. The mechanic for deciding who wins in a draw is very interesting and matches can be decided by just portions of a yard.
Regarding online matches, I experienced very few issues with connection. Other games with a higher volume of players have constant connection issues that plague the online matches. However, everything ran smoothly here aside from a couple of seconds of reconnecting dialogs here and there.
However, the problem was with the matchmaking itself. While I was a proud holder of 18 trophies, I got mixed with a guy who had 47, all with fancy clubs and deluxe balls. All I could do was hope for a mistake, which he obviously didn’t make because he was more experienced.
Graphics
Menus are well laid-out, the problem is with graphics during matches.
As always, there are two sides for the graphical aspect. The first one is the user interface, which I like in this game. A lot of animations are present and buttons are very easy to press. Even though sometimes you can get the impression that it is too busy, it works fine most of the time. The in-game help for controls is very responsive and looks good.
Even though sometimes you can get the impression that it is too busy, it works fine most of the time. The in-game help for controls is very responsive and looks good.
However, the graphics in matches themselves leave a lot to be desired. Elements such as trees, grass, and bushes look sub-par, and when you compare them to other games, they look truly archaic and outdated.
This is very noticeable on the screen where you choose the direction of your shot before actually hitting the ball. Trees and other nature elements are very low-detailed and textures are either bad or nonexistent.
Sound
There are a few sounds effects to accompany your actions in the game, such as when you hit the ball, some claps when you do a good shot, and the characteristic sound the ball makes when being introduced into a hole. Also, there’s a voice who says “Perfect Shot” when… Wait for it… You do a perfect shot. However, that’s it.
Club upgrading adds replay value to the game.
I’m serious. Tapping elements on menus yield zero audible feedback. Actually, there’s no background music, neither in the menus nor in the matches. At first, I got a little afraid because I thought that my phone’s speaker was giving in. However, after realizing that it worked fine because the game itself made some sounds, I realized how flawed sound is in this game.
To add insult to injury, the sound effects come turned off by default! I seriously have no idea of what is going on here. A quick trip to the options will change that, though.
Conclusion
Through relatively simple controls and a great emphasis on online interaction, Golf Clash manages to provide entertainment. Also, thanks to the possibility of participating in several tournaments and upgrading clubs, the game has a replay value aspect adhered to it. Where it suffers is in the graphics and sound department, with very low-quality graphics and inexplicable omissions regarding sound. Also, a lack of offline gameplay is a bummer. However, give it a shot and see if you can overcome the bad aspects and enjoy the good ones.
We haven’t heard anything about Jolla’s Sailfish OS for quite a while now. Jolla took the reins of the MeeGo brand back in 2012, after Nokia abandoned it in favor of Windows Phone and started developing a new alternative to Android – called Sailfish OS.
A few years later in 2015 the company tried fund raising a tablet which ran the said operating system, but things don’t go so well and the device was cancelled.
Well it’s 2017 and Jolla has been busy putting itself back together. The company doesn’t see itself as exiting the market, so it has been focusing on finding new opportunities and developing new partnerships.
Like the one which was announced this week. As it turns out Jolla now supports Sony’s Open Device Program. Which translates into consumers seeing Sony Xperia devices running Sailfish OS in the near future.
The first device expected to support Sailfish OS is the Sony Xperia X, a handset which was launched last year. Jolla hopes a community release on Xperia devices will happen by the end of June 2017.
Given Sony’s consistent track record of supporting the Android ROM community via its Open Devices Program, the choice was pretty evident for Jolla.
In case you don’t remember the Sony Xperia X features a 5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution and a Snapdragon 650 under the hood. The phone makes use of 3GB of RAM with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.
It also bundles a sensible 23MP main camera with phase detection autofocus with LED flash and a 13MP selfie camera. The Sony Xperia X is quite a nice mid-ranger spec-wise and will Sailfish OS onboard it will be considered at least unique if not interesting.
In January, Samsung revealed the results of its official investigation into what caused the Galaxy Note7 to overheat and eventually catch on fire. As it turns out, the batteries were to blame.
These safety measures and new product quality control team will be in place in order to prevent a product like the Galaxy Note7 ever getting released into the world again.
According to CNET, the Nokia 3310 will not be making it to the US anytime soon. What’s the problem you wonder? Well the Nokia 3310 which is a 2G only device won’t work in the US.
Still you shouldn’t be discouraged. There’s still hope as HMD’s Global Head of Marketing, Patrick Mercanton says the company does indeed want to bring the Nokia 3310 to the US, they just haven’t signed any deals with any of country’s main carriers.
“Sending and receiving attachments is an important part of email exchanges. While Google Drive offers a convenient way to share files of any size, sometimes you need to receive large files as direct email attachments.”
The company has already started to push the new update which will enable you to use the new feature. However, bear in mind that it might take between 1 to 3 days for it become available to your respective account, so don’t worry if you don’t see it yet. It’s on its way, as we speak.
The 
In the box, you get a 9 different interchangeable tips, which will work with specific laptops. This isn’t a one-size fit all, as I’ve already run into some issues with that. However, if you use the Finsix compatibility tool on the company’s website, you’ll be able to determine whether the DART is for you.
The aforementioned USB 2.1A port allows you to plug in your tablet or smartphone, and charge it up while you’re charging your laptop. What makes this so special is the fact that it allows for rapid charging, so that you’re mobile device can charge faster than the standard wall charger.
As with most smaller, unknown products, 
Well it’s 2017 and Jolla has been busy putting itself back together. The company doesn’t see itself as exiting the market, so it has been focusing on finding new opportunities and developing new partnerships.
The first device expected to support Sailfish OS is the Sony Xperia X, a handset which was launched last year. Jolla hopes a community release on 
In case you don’t remember the