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T-Mobile gives customers free pizza, Lyft rides, and movie rentals

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T-Mobile today announced a number of promotions for its customers which can be used over the next few weeks. The deals see the return of pizza as part of the T-Mobile Tuesdays. In fact, the latest deals are all part of a Valentine’s Day themed bundle of giveaways.

According to T-Mobile, all customers enrolled in the T-Mobile Tuesdays rewards program will receive a free pizza from Papa John’s. Moreover, they’ll also receive a coupon good for 25 percent off a regular menu item from the restaurant. The free one can arrive on any of the next four Tuesdays while the coupon will be good on the others.

Come Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, T-Mobile is offering a free Lyft ride up to $15 value. Additionally, subscribers can have a free movie rental through FandangoNOW.

…Have a romantic night in with a movie, or go out on the town and let someone else worry about the driving. On top of that, two people will win an epic party room makeover, complete with a new TV, sound system AND a Papa John’s pizza party!

Pizza is one of the most popular items in the T-Mobile Tuesday promotion, says T-Mobile. Having kicked off last summer, the app has been downloaded more than 11 million times with more than 6 million customers accepting some 30 million gifts.

HTC announces seven days of “sickening sweet” deals

Alexandra Arici
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Want to impress your significant other with a tech gift this Valentine’s? HTC has your back. The Taiwanese device maker has just announced it is launching 7 Days of Sappiness to help users find their “phone true love”.

Starting at Friday, February 10 at 8am Pacific until February 17, HTC fans will be treated with a host of promotions on smartphones and accessories. What’s more, HTC is throwing in free shipping, free device protection and an extra Valentine Day’s gift. Get ready to receive a notepad or a travel water mug. Oh and a few lucky folks will even be awarded free power chargers & phones too.

Here are some of the “sickening sweet” deals HTC is offering this February:

  • HTC 10 – $549 ($150 off)
  • HTC One A9 – $299 ($200 off)
  • HTC One M9 – $399 ($250 off)
  • JBL Reflect Aware C headphones – 50% off
  • All other accessories – $50 off with purchase of $100 or more

What’s very cool is that HTC is also offering the option to pick up the HTC 10 and HTC One A9 in shades of red – thus matching the holiday spirit.

Apart from launching promotions, HTC is reportedly busy partnering up with Verizon with the purpose of testing an elusive Snapdragon 835 flagship.

After the HTC U Ultra which runs on the Snapdragon 821, the Taiwanese device maker is planning to launch a second flagship in 2017, this time with support for the Snapdragon 835.

ZTE Axon 7 vs OnePlus 3T (Affordable Flagship Showdown)

Alexandra Arici
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When you think of flagship smartphones you probably tend to associate them with high price tags ranging from $600 or $700 and beyond. But in recent years’ things have started to change. There’s an interesting new category on the block – the so called “affordable flagships” – phones sold for around $400 that come equipped with very-close-to flagship specs. And they are getting a lot of attention.

So what follows we are going to take a closer look at two of the best models on the cheap flagship market –  ZTE Axon 7 and OnePlus 3T – and see how they compare against each other.

Display

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution vs 5.5-inch optic AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution

538ppi vs 401ppi

The ZTE Axon 7 features a true flagship display with advanced resolution just like the Pixel XL. By contrast the OnePlus 3T features only 1080p resolution. Given that both phones come equipped with a 5.5-inch panel, the Axon 7’s is bound to be crisper and more detailed. The ZTE Axon 7 also features skinner bezels on top and on the bottom (but spacious enough to house the speaker grills).

Furthermore, the Axon 7 doesn’t come with a physical home button, while the OnePlus 3T does.

Computing power

Snapdragon 820 vs Snapdragon 821

Adreno 530 vs Adreno 530

4GB of RAM vs 6GB of RAM

The OnePlus 3T takes advantage of Qualcomm’s newer Snapdragon 821, while the Axon 7 is supported by a Snapdragon 820. The Snapdragon 820 takes advantage of four custom made Kyro cores divided into two different clusters – the first runs at max clock speed of 2.15GHz while the other duo dedicated to power efficiency can run up to 1.6GHz.

The Snapdragon 821 is also a quad-core affair, with the performance cores running at up to 2.4GHz, while the battery saving cores max out at 2.0GHz. Basically the Snapdragon 821 offers a 10% increase in performance – so you should find the OnePlus 3T to be a bit snappier, especially since it boasts 6GB of RAM too. However, both affordable flagships will be able to handle most of the tasks you throw at them without problem.

Cameras

20MP/8MP vs 16MP/16MP

The ZTE Axon 7 features a main 20MP camera with f/1.8 phase detection autofocus, optical image stabilization, dual-LED (dual tone) flash plus an 8MP selfie snapper.

As we found in our review of the ZTE Axon 7 the phone is capable of taking some exquisite pictures day light, however it does tend to struggle in low lighting environments:

“The phone’s camera does struggle at night; much more than other high-end phones I’ve used. When capturing our school’s library at night, the lights are easily seen, but not much else even with HDR mode enabled. Detail on the townhouses shown above aren’t very impressive either, and the lights are way overexposed.”

The OnePlus 3T has a 16MP main camera with f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, optical image stabilization, LED flash and a more advanced 16MP selfie camera – which is going to be the delight of selfie lovers everywhere.

Software

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow vs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Even if both phones shipped out with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box, owners can update them to Android 7.0 Nougat. Actually the Nougat update for the Axon 7 started rolling out not so long ago and brought Daydream View headset support along with it (something that the OnePlus 3T doesn’t have).

ZTE’s own UI skin does come with a few particularities of its own, just like OxygenOS. For example, on the ZTE Axon 7 the pull-down notification bar and quick settings change color with the wallpaper. There’s also the Mi-POP – a software navigation button that can be dragged around the screen in case you don’t want to make use of the capacitive keys.

As for the software onboard the OnePlus 3T, it lets you do things like drawn an “O” to launch the camera or customize notification colors.

Battery

3,250 mAh vs 3,400 mAh

Both phones feature non-removable batteries, but the OnePlus 3T has a larger one. This in combination with the less demanding 1080p display will probably ensure the OnePlus 3T will have a longer life than the ZTE Axon 7.

In our review of the Axon 7 we found the phone was able to last through a day on a single charge on moderate to heavy use.

We also ranked the Axon 7 lower than the OnePlus 3 (which has a 3,000 mAh battery), so the OnePlus 3T will certainly fair out better than any of the two.

Other features

64GB of internal storage vs 64GB/128GB of internal storage

The OnePlus 3T does offer two storage options, but it does not come with a microSD card slot. In contrast the ZTE Axon 7 does offer the services of a microSD card which allows for memory expansion up to 256GB.

Both the Axon 7 and OnePlus 3T feature USB Type-C ports and fingerprint sensors. The one on the Axon 7 is one the back while the OnePlus 3T’s lives up front.

Value

$399 vs $439

As you can see, the Axon 7 is a bit cheaper, but the difference isn’t too grand. Customers might be inclined to get the Axon 7 because it offers better resolution, a more advanced main camera, a microSD card slot and Google Daydream View support. However, the OnePlus 3T features a newer Snapdragon 821 processor and more RAM. It also has a larger battery and a better selfie snapper.

Sprint’s limited time promo offers five lines of unlimited data for $90

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Sprint today announced a new promotion which gives customers up to five lines of service for $90 per month. The plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data.

As one might suspect, this is a limited-time offering; the promotional rate only lasts a little over one year. If interested, here’s how one goes about taking advantage of the plan. It’s really quite simple, actually.

  • Sign up for Unlimited Data, Talk and Text with Sprint, with AutoPay
  • Add a second line and pay $90/month total for two lines
  • Receive lines three, four and five for FREE

The savings can be had through March 31, 2018 at which point customers pay the additional $10/month for first line, the second line remains at $40/month and each of lines 3-5 are $30/month – with AutoPay. That’s right, it goes from $90 per month up to $190 per month for a family of five. A three line account would be $130; four lines for $160 per month.

Head to Sprint’s website or head to your local store to learn more.

Verizon now offers same-day screen repairs for select Samsung and Motorola phones

Alexandra Arici
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It usually takes a simple moment of inattention to drop your phone on the floor – the end result being a horribly cracked display. Well Verizon knows many of us have slippery hands, so it is looking to make it easier for us to get over this stressful situation with a new protection plan.

Big Red announced it is now offering same day screen repairs for some of high-profile smartphones. From February 9 to April 9, customers with 3 to 10 phones activated at Verizon can also sign up for the Total Mobile Protection Plan.

The carrier hopes people will be willing to pay an extra buck, to bypass the hassle of having to deal with shipping out your cracked device and waiting. Now Verizon is willing to send a technician to your house or you can choose to make a stop on one at Verizon’s 220 repair shops.

The Total Mobile Protection Plan will have to pay $11 a month for a smartphone ($9 for a tablet) but there’s a $79 deductible for more complex procedures like replacing a display.

For $33 Verizon will protect up to 3 devices registered to your account. If you have more than 3 you are not required to register a phone until something actually happens to your device.

The insurance also includes access to the Tech Coach app which connects you to a Verizon Tech Coach. Also, if the repair leaves you without a phone, Verizon will quickly deliver a replacement device, as soon as the next day.

However, there’s a catch you need to be aware of. Same-day replacement service is limited to a few Android devices including the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7, as well as the Galaxy Note4 and Note5. The Motorola DROID Turbo and DROID Maxx are also on the list. However, Verizon notes that models eligible for Cracked Screen Repair change over time based on device popularity and technician/parts availability.

Total Mobile Protection allows three claims per year and subscribers adding a new or existing device until March 10 will also receive a free Morphie powerBOOST mini battery pack.

So if you are one of the 30% of US smartphone owners that are currently using a cracked or spider-webbed screen (numbers provided by Big Red) you might want to check out Verizon’s Total Mobile Protection Plan.

Five tips on securing your device, and what to do if the unthinkable happens (PROMOTED)

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There’s no denying that the level of technology surrounding us these days, and the benefits and advantages that come with it, is truly remarkable – especially compared to what was available to us just a few years ago. It is something that has assisted us in our lives so efficiently and effortlessly that we can now (the majority already have) put ‘all our eggs in one tablet’ so to speak.

But what would happen if your tablet or smartphone wound up in the wrong hands, even for just a few minutes? To those in the know, the potential threat and damage would be unthinkable. To those not in the know, or to those who haven’t really considered the potential harm that would ensue, this article serves to help you plan for just that.

Lock it. Simple. Just do it.

You would be shocked at the amount of smartphone and tablet users who neglect to take advantage of this overly simple, yet eternally valuable feature, for the silliest of reasons. In an era where people are accustomed to instant access and gratification, adding a layer of ‘inconvenience’ for some people simply won’t do.

Yet what’s at stake from making such a flippant decision is enormous: simply as a result of failing to lock your phone. Whether you do this via PIN code, fingerprint or a personal swipe gesture, you minimize, in an instant, the risk of visual hacking, loss of privacy, and data/identity theft, which are all likely to come knocking on your door if you don’t do it.

Protect your Apps

To add a further layer of security to your device you need to seriously consider locking certain apps, in particular the apps containing sensitive information like banking, email, or anything that can handle online payments. Failing to do this could compromise login details, passwords, and more painfully: bank balances. Making use of a free app such as App Lock will achieve just that and give you extra peace of mind.

Make sure your network is secure

While it’s natural to assume the Wi-Fi in your local coffee shop is perfectly safe and secure, don’t be too naïve in thinking carefree browsing is without its pitfalls. The guy sitting in the corner quietly supping on his seventh espresso could be decoding pieces of your transferred data and forming a meticulous translation into what he then receives as a list of your passwords.

Using an app to encrypt your outgoing data, by giving you an alternate VPN is absolutely necessary if you’re going to spend time on important or sensitive things like Internet banking in a public place.

What to do if your phone is lost or stolen

This simple tip may seem a little odd, but could significantly increase your chances of getting your phone back if someone finds it. Simply adding a message along the lines of ‘Reward offered for return’ to the lockscreen could actually make all the difference. You could also provide a displayed email address underneath for someone to contact you should they find it. Naturally, this email address would be set up to serve this purpose only, and would automatically forward any emails received to your real email address.

If this doesn’t bring much success and you really want to shift up to a more urgent gear you could use one of the many device-tracking apps to accurately locate your phone. Having said that, if (like many people) you have a huge amount of invaluable personal data that you feel just cannot be compromised, you’re only last resort is to wipe your device remotely.

There are apps available that can do this, and obviously it’s essential that you backup as often as possible, but if the day comes where the unthinkable does happen, you can feel safe in the knowledge that erasing the contents of your device and restoring the factory settings completely, from anywhere at any time, instantly removes the threat and simultaneously restores your peace of mind.

Scott Woz is a freelance writer and regular contributor to www.for-sale.co.uk

Image courtesy: Flickr

New Nokia N series smartphone might be headed for MWC 2017

Alexandra Arici
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1

At MWC 2017 we expect Nokia to finally announced its comeback Android flagships. But that might not be all the Finnish company has in stored for us.

Remember the Nokia N series? It was probably one of the most successful lineups from the company’s golden age. First released in 2005, the Nokia N series included smartphones like the N70, N92 and N77. Mostly powered by the now defunct Symbian OS, the Nokia N series allowed users to play music, snap photos and play mobile games.

Well according to rumors coming out of Asia, HMD (the sole global licensee for all types of Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets) is looking to revive the Nokia N brand by offering a new Nokia N95 smartphone.

Sources claim the new handset will be presented in Barcelona during the MWC 2017, probably alongside Nokia’s new flagship(s), the P1.

We’re told the new Nokia N95 will take advantage of a Snapdragon 600 series processor, probably the Snapdragon 652 to be more precise. Apart from that, the Nokia N95 remains a mystery although we believe more info about it will surface as we get closer and closer to MWC 2017. Until that happens, we urge you to take this information with a pinch of salt.

The original Nokia N95 was one of the biggest blockbusters Nokia ever released. The allowed users to switch between a phone keypad and one for media playback. The phone also bundled GPS capabilities, a media player and Carl Zeiss lenses. The device was released back in 2007, exactly 10 years ago – so 2017 seems like a good year to launch a new N95 phone.

Would you be interested in buying a Nokia N95 2017 Edition?

WhatsApp starts rolling out two-step verification for all users

Alexandra Arici
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WhatsApp has been testing a two-step verification feature for the last few months and this week the messaging app announced it is rolling out the feature to users across the Android, iOS and Windows platforms.

For those wondering what two-step verification is, it’s an optional feature in WhatsApp that adds more security to your account. With the feature enabled, any attempt to verify your phone number WhatsApp will need to be accompanied by a six-digit passcode of your choice. In order to enable the feature, you need to access WhatsApp>Settings>Account>Two-step verification>Enable.

It’s quite simple really. Just don’t forget to write your passcode down somewhere on a piece of paper. Luckily users can provide an email address, so they can recover the account in case the password is lost somehow.

Another thing you need to remember is that will two-step verification enabled, your number will not be allowed to re-verify on WhatsApp within 7 days of last using WhatsApp without the passcode.

Therefore, if you forget your password and you have not provided an email address to disable two-step verification, you won’t be allowed to re-verify on WhatsaApp within 7 days of last using the messaging application.

After 7 days you will be able to re-verify without the passcode, but all pending messages will be lost. That’s why you need to make sure you save your password somewhere. Or just remember to provide the email, just in case.

WhatsApp will also lend a helping hand by asking you to periodically input your passcode in order to make sure you remember it.

Huawei Mate 9: the phablet standard (review)

AndroidGuys
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Chinese developer Huawei has been a growing presence in the mobile device market ever since they partnered with Google to release the Nexus 6. With the Nexus line being so affordable and it being such a quality device, it really puts this developer on the map with may of the US buyers. Huawei sent us one of their Mate 9 phablets to review and, let me tell you, they are living up to their reputation of good devices at good prices.

Key Specs:

  • 5.9″ FHD display (373 ppi)
  • Kirin 960 Octacore processor with i6 co-processor
  • 4000mAH battery
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB of storage
  • Dual LEICA rear camera (20MP monochrome + 12MP RGB); 8MP front facing camera
  • Android 7.0
  • USB Type-C

Design:

The overall design of the Mate 9 is very classy. With thin bezels all around and the absence of any hardware keys, Huawei is able to squeeze as much screen as possible into this massive device. Being a religious Samsung user over the past 4 years, it was actually a nice relief to not have the hardware keys (something I was not expecting).

Starting from the bottom up, we see some symmetrical speaker slots on the bottom of the device (very much iPhone like), unfortunately, on the right side plays sound. I’m guessing the microphone is housed in the other side, and obviously a style choice. In the direct center of the bottom is the USB Type-C connection. I was very pleased how quickly the Type-C charged the massive 4000 mAH battery, but more on that later.

Moving up the sides of the device, we find the lock button followed by the volume rocker on the right-hand side of the device. They are placed nicely based on where I tended to place the phone in my hand. The left side is clear of any functional pieces as it only houses the SIM card slot. You can either use the Dual SIM feature or one SIM and the expandable storage.

The back of the device is very clean and sports the obvious fingerprint sensor, flash, and massive dual camera setup. Thankfully, the Huawei was bale to tuck most of the camera into the body resulting in very minimal protrusion, which can easily be covered by any case.

The very top of the body sports the 3.5mm audio jack (this should never go away) and an IR blaster. Not much to write home about but things that should be included in any device that is considered medium to top tier.

The front of the phone obviously houses the screen, ear speaker, and front facing camera. There is also the light sensor for the automatic screen brightness. Overall I have no major gripes about the body and style of the new Mate. It is a little on the hefty side but is balanced well overall.

Display:

The Mate 9 Has an absolutely humungous screen. With a footprint similar in size to the iPhone 7plus it is still able to sport a 5.9″ screen. Much attributed to the small bezels and use of on-screen buttons. This massive screen is covered by an equally massive piece of 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The slight bevel is nothing compared to the what Samsung has done with their Edge displays but it adds a little class to the monster phone.

As far as screen functionality is concerned I never had any issues with brightness. In fact, the automatic brightness setting was actually useful, as opposed to some other phones (*cough* my Galaxy S7) where you have to turn it off and manually adjust the brightness to see anything. Colors were all beautiful and bright.

The only complaint I could have is that the screen is only FHD. Personally, I can’t even tell the difference unless I am looking at some ridiculously hi-res images, and if I wanted to do that I would probably move to PC.

Software:

Huawei, much like Samsung, has decided to make its own software package for their devices. They have labeled it EMUI (Emotion UI). They have sent the Mate 9 with the most recent version of their software, version 5.0. This being the first time I have used it and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. In my day job, I work for a large enterprise and have always had my email and calendar on my phone. These two apps delivered by Huawei are excellent and worked better that I am used to with my S7.

The software that I was most impressed with is the fingerprint sensor software. Not only is
the sensor placed in a very convenient position for the users’ hand but the reading of the fingerprint is lightening fast. from screen locked and off to unlocked and usable is easily less than 1 second if not half a second. It functions equally as fast with any apps that are integrated with the fingerprint scanner.

The other thing of note is that the Huawei software seems to really increase the battery life. Now I do realize that we are talking about a 4,000 mAH battery here but I can get a solid 2 days of battery life at normal use, and mind you, my normal use is constantly getting enterprise emails, using chat applications, reading news, etc on my phone. I’m sure that an average user might be able to squeeze out 2.5 days or even more.

I have read some other reviews where it was mentioned that EMUI runs close to the path of iOS, I do not agree with this. I can not stand apple’s software. I don’t like the way it looks, and I don’t like how the settings work. This is clearly android, with some major refinements and customizations to increase the users’ experience. Developers, if you are going to make custom software for your phones, take note of what Huawei has done.

Camera:

Mate 9

This is one of the Mate 9’s stand out features. Huawei has teamed with Leica to create a phone with an outstanding camera. I must admit, I am not much of a camera or pictures guy. I am a doer and not a photographer (my wife hates this). However, I can tell you that this phone takes some pictures that simply amaze me. They have built in some settings that are simply amazing. You can capture up to 20MP images and even take 4K video.

Conclusion:

If you couldn’t tell by my enthusiasm in some of the pervious sections, I absolutely love this phone. My only drawback to using it is, as you may be able to tell in some of the pictures, I have smaller than average hands which makes it difficult to use such a large device. If this phone was maybe a 5.7″ screen, I would run out and buy one right now.

Mind you, this phone is not the cheapest device, coming in at $599, however, given what you get for that price I think it is sitting at the right spot. As my title suggests This phone should be the golden standard for any developer to aim for when developing an oversized device.

If you are interested in picking up a Mate 9 you can head over to Amazon or B&H to pick one up.

 

Creating a website? Here’s a few things to consider

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So you’re interested in creating a web presence for yourself. Good for you! Do you know where to start or what tools to use? What platform are you using to generate content? What are you going to use to learn how to do all of this?

Tools and Training

If you head to the AndroidGuys Deals store, you’ll find that we have all sorts of assistance under the topic of websites. Be it in the form of online courses, web services, design, or something else, there’s something for everyone.

Beyond what we offer, there are some other solutions which might be of value. Another place to check out for teaching and training would be Udemy. We’ve profiled them a number of times on the site, particularly around their Android development courses. With thousands of classes and topics to choose from, you can get an education from the ground up. And, depending on when you buy, you can sometimes save big on courses.

Platforms

When deciding which platform you want to go with, two major names come to the top in 2017: WordPress and Joomla. Each has its advantages and strengths; both have gotten continuously better over the years. The former seems to be the more popular and widely supported however the latter should not be discounted or ignored.

Hosting

After figuring out which tools you want to use for content management, you’ll need a place to host your services. Here at AndroidGuys we employ the services of Digital Ocean for hosting the site. For what it’s worth, we use WordPress for our CMS. If you click here, we receive a credit for referring new clients.

Should your site be built with another tool, you can still find a variety of affordable solutions, many of which include simple installation tools. Whether its WordPress hosting, Joomla hosting, or something entirely different, do a little digging and check companies against each other.

Don’t Forget the Apps

Once you’re heading down the path you want to go, be sure to arm yourself with apps. Head to the Play Store or iTunes and check whether there’s a tool to create content, manage your server, track analytics, buy a domain, or get more from your website.

Additional Resources

Editor Note: Purchasing anything through deals.androidguys.com does generate a small percentage of revenue for the site, all of which goes toward furthering various AndroidGuys endeavors. Moreover, some of the additional links in this post may be attached to select affiliate programs. Money received from those will also go toward growth of the site.

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