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Get your dual camera phone for less than $150 this summer

Alexandra Arici
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Dual cameras are becoming the standard for most smartphones released today, regardless of whether they are premium affairs or middle-to-upper rangers. And Chinese manufacturers have brought prices of dual camera phones way down, so almost everybody can afford one.

The Honor 6X currently sells for $249.99, but what if we told you will soon be able to grab a dual camera phone for even less.

French low-cost phone and tablet maker, Archos has unveiled two new affordable mobile phones a few days before the Mobile World Congress kick starts.

The new comers are called the Archos 50 Graphite and 55 Graphite. They will be available for purchase staring in June for approximately $137 and will first launch in Europe, but they will eventually make their way to the United States.

Out of the two, the Archos 55 Graphite is the most advanced. It features a 5.5-inch IPS display with a 2.5D contoured edge with 720 x 1280 resolution. It features a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD cardslot).

While the specs are not blowing, the phone does offer some features that are usually reserved for more expensive phones. The Archos 55 Graphite takes advantage of a 13MP (autofocus and LED flash) + 2MP dual setup, while on the back there’s a 5MP selfie snapper.

On top of that the phone boasts a fingerprint scanner on the back which is are said to be able to unlock the phones in less than 0.3 seconds.

Last but not least, the Archos 55 Graphite features a 3,000 mAh battery and Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

As for the lighter version, the Archos 50 Graphite comes with a 5-inch display with 720 x 1280-pixel resolution, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD slot). The phone will take advantage of the same dual-camera setup and fingerprint scanner.

Would you be interested in an Archos dual-camera phone?

Check out the Huawei Watch 2 in all of its glory

Alexandra Arici
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Huawei is coming to Barcelona at MWC 2017 with a basket overflowing with goodies. The Chinese company will pull the wraps off the P10 and P10 Plus – two gorgeous flagships that will most likely make your eyes water.

But Huawei is also coming to Barcelona to unveil a successor to its gorgeous Huawei Watch. We previously told you that Huawei is gearing up to launch the Huawei Watch 2 at Barcelona and now we can show you the device in all of its glory.

Unlike the original Huawei Watch catered to the more stylish, fashion conscious crowd, the new comer with feature a sportier look – as you can very well see from the leaked press renders.

The images show us the smartwatch will feature a SIM card slot, so we can confirm the device will indeed boast cellular connectivity.

The watch will be offered in three colors including black, orange and gray. We also know the device will come pre-installed with the latest Android Wear 2.0 software. For the time being, we can’t offer you any more information about the specs, but we can hypothesize the watch will be a competitor to the LG Watch Sport.

And since Huawei plans to put the Google Assistant on some of its future products, the Watch 2 could also come equipped with it, as well as Android Pay. It remains to be seen how much Huawei will ask for it.

LG X power2 will get you through the weekend on a single charge

Alexandra Arici
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LG launched the LG X Power back in 2016 – a mid-ranger with a powerful battery nestled under its hood.

Well LG is not coming at MWC 2017 only to launch the highly anticipated LG G6, but also to introduce a mid-range phone. It’s the successor of the LG X Power, which the company calls the LG X power2.

The phone will make a debut with a 5.5-inch display with unimpressive 720 x 1280-pixel resolution and relies on a 1.5GHz octa-core chipset to keep the lights on. The Korean company will offer the LG X power2 with either 1.5GB or 2GB of RAM onboard and 16GB of internal storage (microSD cardslot available for memory expansion up to 2TB).

Like standard middle-range phones, the LG X power2 comes equipped with a 13MP main camera plus 5MP selfie camera. It arrives with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, which is very good news.

The LG X power2’s biggest selling point it’s the large 4,500 mAh battery. LG says that fully charged, the phone can play video for up to 15 hours uninterrupted. It can also provide navigational directions for about 14 hours or allow owners to surf the web for around 18 hours.

Thanks to the embedded high-speed charging technology, the LG X power2 can be re-charged super-fast. A one-hour charge delivers 50% battery power, while two hours will give you a full charge.

The phone will become available in March in Latin America, followed by the US, Asia and Europe. Pricing has yet to be disclosed.

The soon to be previous generation LG X Power feature a smaller 4,100 mAh battery and a 5.3-inch display.

Original LG X Power

It took advantage of a quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz which has now been upgraded to an octa-core 1.5GHz chipset in the current model.

The LG X power2 sounds like a decent mid-ranger especially for those who love weekend getaways and tend to forget their charges at home.

WhatsApp’s Snapchat-like Status feature is now available for all

Alexandra Arici
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A few days ago we told you that WhatsApp started rolling out a very Snapchat-like feature which enabled users to share photos, videos and GIFs via their Status.

The updated Status feat was initially made available for users located in France and Netherlands. Well now WhatsApp has announced the feature is available for all users across the globe, regardless of whether they are on iOS, Android or Windows Phone.

Until now, the Status feature only displayed a short next. However, the new Status allows you to share more with (certain) people in your contact list.

Conveniently, you’ll also be able to control who sees your Status update and who doesn’t. By accessing the app’s privacy settings, you can choose which people receive your update. You can choose from one of the 3 options: My contacts, Contacts except…, Only Share with…

Curious if friends and family viewed your update? You can now tap the eye icon at the bottom at any Status update and see who has viewed your post.

Chatters can use the reply button to comment on any photo, video or GIF you find to be interesting. Once you tap reply, the message will appear as a WhatsApp chat with a thumbnail of the Status update.

Don’t forget that all updates expire after 24 hours, so if you want to say something you best do it immediately after you’ve notice the new Status update.

Google 4K wireless TV box for Fiber subscribers is on its way

Alexandra Arici
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0

It seems that Google is gearing up to release a new 4K set-top box with Wi-Fi support, even as the company has drastically reduced its Google Fiber operations.

Now Business Insider spotted a FCC filing which points out that Google is preparing to launch a new 4K wireless set-top box for the next-gen of ultra-HD 4K TVs. Back in November, 9to5Google reported Google was preparing a new 4K Fiber TV box (possible Nexus Player successor), but at that time we weren’t given too many details about it.

Nexus Player successor incoming?

For those who aren’t familiar with Google Fiber, it’s a service that provides fiber-optic internet and television in select cities, that delivers up to 1Gbps internet speeds.

The FCC documents now reveal Google is seeking authorization for a set-top box that contains a 4×4 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac and a Bluetooth 4.1 radio.

Previous reports related to Google’s upcoming 4K wireless set-top box mentioned the ability to stream from YouTube in High Dynamic Range (HDR). This isn’t apparent in the current FCC filling, but given that Google’s Chromecast Ultra comes with support HDR, it makes sense to assume that Google will include this function too.

Google Fiber subscribers are finally getting some attention

Despite the initial hype, Google Fiber has failed to attract many subscribers. According to some estimates, the services has under a million users. The thing is, competitors aren’t rushing to help Google and building broadband infrastructure is naturally very expensive.

The filing does not reveal when the new Google TV box will be launched, but certain documents pertaining to the filing including photos and the user manual are going to be kept under wraps until August 8,2017. Which suggests Google will launch the device before that date.

We expect the new device to run Android and offer Google Home integration and the Google Assistant’s services.

The OnePlus 3T was the closest thing to an iPhone in 2016, not the Pixel

Matt Adams
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The search for the Android equivalent of Apple’s iPhone has been going on for years. Users have been asking for a phone that focuses on not only uncomplicated and beautiful software but a tight hardware experience too.

All we want is the complete package.

Every year hype builds around the phone that will take on the iPhone that year. We hear rumors of an iPhone killer like the HTC One M8 with its aluminum build and amazing speakers. Specs and build materials leak, but it never pans out. This predictably pops up around the time Samsung releases a device or whenever the next Nexus device was expected (when those were still a thing).

But that was allegedly about to change when we first heard about the Pixel.

It was supposed to be Google’s first real phone. Google had always controlled the software experience in its Nexus devices but always left the hardware up to a partner like Samsung, HTC, or Huawei. This time the search giant supposedly controlled not only software but hardware too. How true that is, we don’t really know, but the Pixel was supposed to be the iPhone killer. It was the first Android phone that would really take on Apple and beat its iPhone. But, did it?

Sure, Google blanketed the airwaves just like Apple does. The smart and cool ads focused on not only what was great about the Pixel, but about how it was just as good, or better, than the iPhone. The camera was rated by DxOMark as the best ever and still holds that title to this day. The software was tightly integrated and as smooth as any released on a flagship to this day.

But, as someone who pre-ordered his Pixel XL while the announcement press conference was still taking place, it just didn’t seem to live up to the hype that surrounded it. Sure, it was a really good phone but it wasn’t great like so many other iPhone killers.

The Pixel’s software was one of its biggest selling points to me. It was definitely the smoothest I’ve ever experienced on an Android phone and I saw no lag in the few months I had the Pixel, but nothing really blew me away. There was no wow factor at all.

I generally dislike the skins that phone manufacturers like Samsung and LG (especially) put on devices, so the Pixel should have the ideal software for me, right? Google placed a huge emphasis on Assistant but it never changed the way I used my phone and quickly was forgotten. The unlimited backup of photos and videos at full resolution is wonderful but if you’re anything like me, you’re fine settling for the compressed image in Google Photos.

The area where I feel the Pixel’s hype most overlooked was the physical construction of the device. The blocky corners never felt premium to me and the glass that covers part of the back of the phone scratched far too easily. The Pixel is nothing if not boring to look at due to the complete lack of anything visually interesting about the device.

I’ve owned every iPhone that has ever been released (besides the iPhone 5c) because I love mobile technology. I use an Android phone as my daily driver because I prefer Nougat to iOS. But, people generally dismiss is how big of a role the physical design of a device plays on the overall satisfaction someone will have with a device.

So, if I’m not using a Pixel XL like a good little Android fanboy, what am I using? For a long time, I was using the Moto Z Play due to its excellent software and even better battery, but I’ve finally settled on the OnePlus 3T.

Without taking price into consideration, I feel like the OnePlus 3T was the best phone released in 2016 and the closest thing you can find to an Android-iPhone equivalent.

OnePlus has come a long way in its short existence. It has made some really, really bad choices along the way and the growing pains have been very apparent but I feel like OnePlus is finally on track after the release of the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T in 2016.

Why do I think the OnePlus 3T is the best Android phone out right now? First, you have to start with the build and materials. The aluminum body is curved perfectly to fit into your hand comfortably and mine looks as good today as it did the day I took it out of the box. The phone is extremely thin so a small camera bump sticks out of the back of the phone, but it doesn’t bother me as it used to. Maybe I’m more willing to overlook it since I’m so happy with the rest of the phone.

The iPhone-like camera bands wrap from the rear of the device to the sides. The left side holds a slider that switches your phone between three volume settings, Silent, Do Not Disturb and regular volume. I do miss a scheduled Do Not Disturb at night when I forget to move the slider up one spot, but it is otherwise very convenient. In a world where we’re trying to erase bezels on phones that feel increasingly hard to use I think we might have forgotten we actually need to be able to hold a phone comfortably. The slider is one of those quality-of-life features that OnePlus thought to include in its phones that everyone else has ignored because they think it makes them look too much like an iPhone.

In a world where we’re trying to erase bezels on phones that feel increasingly hard to use I think we might have forgotten we actually need to be able to hold a phone comfortably. The slider is one of those quality-of-life features that OnePlus thought to include in its phones that everyone else has ignored because they think it makes them look too much like an iPhone.

The bottom of the phone houses a USB type-C port and speaker and… yes, a headphone jack. This phone is immediately better than the iPhone for that reason alone.

But, where OnePlus has come the furthest is its software. Most will remember that its first phone, the OnePlus One, shipped with CyanogenMod on board. For someone like me who loved pouring hours into almost bricking then fixing my phone while flashing a bunch of random ROMs, this was amazing. Now, I’m in a different phase of my life where I just want stable software that doesn’t stutter. My phone isn’t even rooted.

The universal dark theme is one of my favorite features of Oxygen OS

I really love what OnePlus has done since dropping CM. Oxygen OS has matured into a stable operating system that offers just enough in the way of tweaks and improvements over stock-Android that keeps me happy.

A lot of it is common sense.

Reordering quick tiles is a no brainer. Picking what double presses and long presses do changes the way I use my phone. It’s the little stuff like this that move this phone from a great one to the best on the market.

This article is entirely subjective. That’s why it’s placed under the Editorials and Opinions section of the site, but I truly think that if you’re switching from an iPhone to an Android device you’ll be happier with a OnePlus 3T than a Pixel.

So where do the Samsungs, LGs, and Sonys of the world go from here in their fight against Apple’s market share? I don’t think it’s any secret that Samsung and LG are going to continue to do their own thing. The leaks of the S8 and G6 look interesting but it’s very obvious that they both feel like they can fight off Apple by being different.

Other manufacturers may (hopefully) follow the lead of Lenovo and Motorola and release phones with innovative hardware and software that resembles stock-Android with some quality of life tweaks on top of the OS.

Or some are going to follow OnePlus’ lead and fight Apple on its own turf. The OnePlus 3T is everything that is good about an iPhone and more and I encourage all of my friends to check it out when they’re looking for a new phone. I encourage you to do the same.

How-To: Connecting your phone to a Bluetooth device

AndroidGuys
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If you didn’t already know, Bluetooth is a type of wireless connection that will easily transmit audio channels and is a popular connection method for today’s wireless devices. So popular in fact, some developers have decided to do away with the 3.5mm audio jack on their devices. Let’s jump in and get you connected to that device you just purchased.

Prerequisites:

Prerequisites are few and should be pretty easy to come by if you are reading this article.

  1. You must have a mobile device
  2. You must have a Bluetooth device to connect your device to

Making a Connection:

  1. Launch your app drawer and find the settings icon (gear), tap it
  2. Under the connections section, find and tap the Bluetooth option
  3. Tap the slider or button to enable your Bluetooth radio
  4. Set your Bluetooth device into connection mode (see the manual from your device to see how to accomplish this)
  5. Tap the scan button to discover your Bluetooth device
  6. When you see your device in the list, tap on your device to make a connection
    1. When you make the connection, some devices may require you to type in a number password, this should be explained in your devices owners manual.


Look at that. Your device is now connected to a new speaker or headset (or whatever you bought). Fire up the music or make that hands free phone call.

What is your favorite Bluetooth device? Got any favorite Bluetooth apps?  Leave us some comments below and let us know your thoughts.

Android accessories you need to become a superior gamer (PROMOTED)

AndroidGuys
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Given that you’re on on AndroidGuys, we’ll go ahead and assume you’re more than likely a fan or lover of Android. We can’t blame you; we love the flexibility of the platform, its options for apps and games, and wearables. And, although we might collectively be more casual gamers, Android has no shortage of high-end hardware and devices to play more involved games.

If you’re among those who like to compete with more robust hardware and peripherals, there are a few special options for you, too. However, for those who aren’t yet, and are looking to get more, you’re likely wondering what you need to be a superior Android gamer. Here are five things that will help give you a leg up, or at least a better experience.

MOGA Pro Power Controller

Android smartphones and tablets are excellent pocket-sized gateways into gaming on the go, but a touchscreen can only do so much in terms. Driving, for instance, can sometimes get your fingers positioned in awkward places on the screen, leading to obscured views of the action at hand.

Thankfully, Power A have designed a gamepad for your Android needs that somewhat resembles an Xbox controller. Additionally, this one offers a smartphone mount and a built-in charger, helping to extend your gaming sessions.

SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism

When you’re totally immersed in the game, the last thing you want is lousy sound to ruin the experience. Even if you’re playing online slots, you need great audio to make it a perfect gaming session. Who knows what little nuances a developer might code into a game to add to the overall effect?

Enter the Siberia Elite Prism headset. These aren’t just noise cancelling headphones, these are noise eliminating headphones. You won’t hear anything you don’t want to with these cans on.

They don’t come cheap with their $80+ price tag but you shouldn’t expect that from a 7.1 channel sound experience. And, not only do they sound amazing, but they look cool too with the custom illuminated ear cups colors and lighting effects.

Nvidia Shield Tablet Cover

Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or something else, you need to protect your investment. Nothing gives the uncomfortable feeling of having scratches and scuffs on a device that runs hundreds of dollar.


As one of the most powerful devices of its kind, the NVIDIA Shield tablet and its K1 processor are built for games. It’s got everything you need to plow through first person shooters, racing games, and more. Just be sure to keep it covered up with an insurance policy. Grab a cover and make sure your beauty sleeps well at night.

NVIDIA Remote

For those of you who want an all-night gaming marathon there’s nothing like the Shield TV. Not only does it have everything you need for incredibly fun games direct from the unit, it can also stream them from NVIDIA, too. The hardware is a beast no matter which way you go, and software makes it get better all the time.

One of our favorite reasons for owning a Shield TV is that it doubles as a great entertainment and media device. So, when we’re not playing games, we’re watching video; the new model allows for 4K. Sure, you can use the game controller to navigate around the menus, but we suggest snagging the remote. It’s not necessarily going to improve your gaming experience, but it can improve the overall Shield setup.

Samsung Gear VR

Surely you expected to see this one on the list. The Samsung Gear VR has been around for a couple of generations now and is starting to hit its stride. If you own a Samsung smartphone, then this is the first accessory you’ll want to check out.

For a fraction of the price of the Oculus Rift, Samsung has created a highly accessible VR headset that speaks to the every man. Thanks to a growing library of content and games, we’re finally at the point to where we’re actually endorsing wearables like these.

Your Moto Mods will live a long, healthy life

Alexandra Arici
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One of the main reason people love the Moto Z is because the phone can be paired with a number of Moto Mods – modular accessories to be snapped onto the handset and deliver extra functionality.

But even if people love Moto Mods, some users have raised concerns regarding the Mods’ compatibility with future devices. No one likes a scenario where you buy the phone and a bunch of mods only to find they become irrelevant once new phone models become available?

Luckily Motorola and Lenovo have put the minds of such skeptics at ease. According to a recent interview, Lenovo’s General Manager for Middle East Smartphones, Sharay Shams confirmed that 12 new Moto Mods will become available this year, which “will remain compatible with the phones to be introduced by the company over the next three years.”

So if you buy today a certain Moto Mod, you can be sure you’ll be able to use it with your next Moto Z smartphone when you decide to upgrade 2 years later.

As for the new Moto Mods, the Lenovo Manager did not provide any additional information regarding them. Still, it’s quite possible they will be delivered by some of the winners of Motorola’s “Transform the Smartphone Challenge” which are currently gathering funds on Indiegogo to make their projects become a reality.

Reigns : Rule your kingdom with a swipe of your finger (Review)

AndroidGuys
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When it comes to games that give you the role of a ruling king, I’d say that 9 times out of 10 you are in the middle of a deep strategy game, requiring you to know who to barter with, go to war with, and when to adjust the price of wares sold to keep your peasants happy, you rich, and your kingdom thriving. Reigns takes all this, simplifies it dramatically, and turns it into a card-swiping game. Will you raise the price of bread? It will increase your money but will make your people angry. What about a war with the eastern territories to increase your domain? Better yet, how about a nice crusade? It’s all here and more, all in the swipe of a card.

Developer: DevolverDigital
Price: $2.99
Download: Google Play/App Store

Long live the King

Gameplay

The entire game is about Yes or No choices, with some variation. Generally, a swipe to the right will be for “Yes” or a positive response, and a swipe to the left is for “No” or negative. Through this simple, binary response system, the game fleshes out a story where a long time ago a King made a deal with the Devil to have ultimate power but at the loss of his soul. Now cursed to living in an endless cycle of deaths and resurrections, it’s your duty to appease the Devil’s demands or try and trick him.

There are hundreds of cards with more unlocking as you make different achievements through the game. Cards include everything from the army needing more troops, to your miner finding a cave of gold and you deciding to keep it for yourself or share the wealth. You may end up with a bastard son, or you could be a great war hero. This game has incredible variety. All of these choices effect 4 meters at the top of the screen. There is a Religion, People, Army, and Treasury meter. Just about everything you do will either raise or lower the bar for any of these areas, and it’s important to maintain a balance with each of these. If the Chuch gains too much power, they will overthrow the government and you lose, but it they lose all of their power, the pagans overthrow your castle and murder you. No one stat can be maxed or emptied.

En garde!

There are times when you will wander into a dungeon or be challenged to a duel. Swiping right will attack while swiping left will block and charge a special attack. This is a little bit of “rock paper scissors” and a little bit of luck as you aren’t able to choose which specials you throw out, so sometimes you’ll do a dive attack when a sword throw would win the match. It’s fun, but can be frustrating when things don’t go your way and you have no control over it.

There are special situations that will effect these meters as well, romancing a lover will make the people happy and will lock the People meter so that it is unaffected by any choice made. Starting a holy crusade will continuously raise profits and increase the Church’s power over time, but with a steady decrease of the military. There are powerups to save you from famine, mushrooms that let you see the exact increase or decrease of each choice you make, and even a potion to turn all your villagers into rabbits. This game has an incredible amount of variety and even after hours of playing it, there are still a few cards I have not seen yet.

Yeah, sure. Thin the herd.

Graphics

The visuals are all similar to a flat, material design with bright vibrant colors. All the characters are unique and diverse, from the Executioner with his hood hiding his face, to the crazy heretic that released a lion in your village as part of God’s wrath. It’s a simple design, but it’s beautiful and keeps the game moving at just the right pace. You aren’t supposed to be locked into the beauty of the cards, you’re supposed to recognize the character, read what they say, and swipe. The simple graphics compliment the simple gameplay.

Maintain a balance at all times, or the scales will not tip in your favor.

Sounds

The sound is on point, with the low chanting music that one would expect from a medieval game. Every character has their own unique voice and chatter, even if it is something that sounds like it comes out of The Sims. It is a fun way to make the characters seem a little more engaging. Again, there is no over-complication in the sounds, but there are just enough details that prevent if from getting dull.

Longevity

There are hundreds and hundreds of cards available to unlock and the pacing of unlocking them is spot on, with more cards getting unlocked the deeper in the story you get. There are many branching storylines, some dependant on completing other in a single playthrough to unlock. Considering that each life of the King on average only lasts between 5 to 10 minutes, it’s full of quick and achievable goals, but luck plays into getting the cards needed to pull off certain achievements. With the Devil only showing up every 666 years, there’s plenty of time to have fun and explore without having to worry about mandatory story quests, but there’s still plenty of story quests sprinkled throughout. You are able to continue playing after you break free from the Devil’s control to pick up any last achievements that are missing. All in all, the game took me just shy of two weeks of off and on playing to get through the main story.

 

Conclusion

Reigns is a brilliant game. It’s easy gameplay and short bursts of story are perfect for the mobile gamer on the go. The story is engaging, the characters are endearing, and the strategy is easy to pick up but difficult to master. Besides the bit of random luck involved in duels, the game is as flawless as they come. At $2.99, this game knows it’s worth and is worthy of the price tag.

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