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LG Watch Style smiles for the camera, could cost $249

Alexandra Arici
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We already told you that LG is going to team up with Google once again in order to release two new smartwatches with Android Wear 2.0 onboard – the first of their kind.

On February 9, LG will be taking the wraps off the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style. If you were curious about how these products will look like,  you can now take a quick look at the LG Watch Style in silver and rose gold, courtesy of @evleaks.

The LG Watch Style is the entry level smartwatch, while the LG Watch Sport will be the flagship of the two. And according to a source speaking to Android Police recently, the LG Watch Style will come boasting a $249 price-tag. That’s $50 less than the ASUS ZenWatch 3. As for the LG Watch Sport, the price will jump over the $300 threshold.

LG Watch Style 2
LG Watch Style 2

Going back to the entry model, the LG Watch Style is expected to make a debut with a 1.2-inch display with 360 x 360 resolution, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The wearable will also take advantage of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and IP67 certification. Most importantly, the LG Watch Style will come equipped with the Google Assistant, which so far has been a Pixel exclusive.

Google AssistantAs for the more premium model, the LG Watch sport should make a debut into the wild with a 430mAh battery, NFC (so Android Pay will be enabled) and IP68 certification.

If you are looking for an Android Wear smartwatch this season, we suggest you wait until LG unveils the two new wearables before making a choice.

Odd phone diaries: the washable Kyocera “Rafre”

Alexandra Arici
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Japan has a reputation for producing some downright weird stuff. Actually the Japanese have a dedicated word “chindogu” which refers to an unusual invention, usually created as a solution to a practical problem, although lacking any utility whatsoever.

Which brings us to Kyocera, a Japanese smartphone manufacturer known for its rugged handsets. But did you know that Kyocera also released a washable Rafre handset back in December 2015?

Kyocera RafreAnd now the company just rolled out its second, next-gen soap-proof Rafre handset. Now, why would you want to wash your smartphone with soap and water? Well according to studies like the one conducted by British watchdog Which? smartphones, keyboards and tablets are more contaminated with dangerous germs that a public toilet.

That’s a very good reason to wash your Rafre smartphone on a regular basis, right? What’s more you’ll be able to use the handset even if its screen is wet.

The Rafre doesn’t mind whether you wash it with hot boiling water or if you accidentally drop it in the bathtub or pool. But wait, there’s more. The phone comes with a pre-installed cooking app that can be operated using only hand gestures – no touching involved.

In a sense, we guess it makes sense since you don’t want to touch your smartphone with greasy fingers, right?

Now that we told you about what makes the Rafre an oddball, we’ll move on to the phone’s specs, because you’re probably pretty curious, right?

Kyocera LogoWell sadly the device is equipped with really uninspired specifications. The Rafre sports a 5-inch display with 720p resolution. The device is powered by an unnamed processor in combination with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internals storage (microSD cardslot available for memory expansion up to 200GB).

Kyocera boasts that the main 13MP camera features the company’s proprietary image-processing AINOS Engine which allows users to take great photos in low lighting conditions. Furthermore, the shooter is equipped with Phase Detection Auto Focus and Auto HDR. As for the selfie shooter, it is of 5MP variety.

Kyocera DIGNO Rafre
Previous-gen Kyocera DIGNO Rafre

The Rafre runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and takes advantage of a 3,000 mAh battery. Customers will be able to grab it in Pale Pink, Clear White and Light Blue from major retailers in the country like KDDI for an unnamed priced.

For the time being, we don’t know whether the phone will make it out on the international market, but chances are it won’t be the case.

Here’s how the Motorola Moto G5 Play compares against the Moto G4 Play

Alexandra Arici
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Motorola’s Moto G4’s budget smartphone lineup has been received extremely well by consumers everywhere. So it’s no wonder Motorola and Lenovo are looking to unveil the next-gen Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus during MWC 2017 in Barcelona next month.

The Moto G5 Plus already leaked a while ago complete with images and a few specs. Well now we get some info about a version of the Moto G5, the Moto G5 Play.

Brazilian website Tecnoblog came across a “Moto G5 XT1672” product listed with one of the country’s major retailers. Given that the Moto G5 Plus should come with a 5.5-inch display and the Moto G5 XT1672 supposedly packs a 5-inch display, we have to assume the latter is in fact the Moto G5 Play.

Purported Moto G5 Play SpecsThe listing sheds some light on what we can expect the Moto G5 Play to bring forth. Apart from the 5-inch display, the phone will take advantage of 1080p resolution and a Snapdragon 430 CPU. Motorola will also throw in 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable) and an 13MP/5MP camera combo plus a 2,800 mAh battery. The phone should come with Android 7.0 Nougat pre-installed and LTE.

If we look back into 2016, the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus both had 5.5-inch displays, while the Moto G4 Play featured a 5-inch screen, so it makes sense the XT1672 is in fact the Moto G5 Play.

Moto G4 Play
Remember the Moto G4 Play?

For those who don’t remember, the Moto G4 Play offered 720 x 1280-pixel resolution and drew power from a quad-core Snapdragon 410 working in combination with 1GB/2GB of RAM plus 8GB/16GB of internal storage (microSD card slot available for memory expansion). The phone also featured an 8MP/5MP camera combo and a non-removable 2,800 mAh battery inside.

Shrink Option Moto G4 Play
Shrink option Moto G4 Play

Is the XT1672 is indeed the Moto G5 Play, then the phone will bring a sensible spec bump-up. At the moment we don’t know much about the Moto G5, but the Moto G5 Plus is said to arrive with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The phone will also carry a 13MP/5MP camera duo and a 3,080 mAh battery.

Are you excited to see the Moto G5 lineup make a debut?

LeEco Le S3 vs. Huawei Honor 6X (Smartphone Showdown)

Donovan Jeska
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Up until I started reviewing the Le S3 a few days ago (look for that post next week), I didn’t even know LeEco existed. Like Huawei, OnePlus, ZTE, and others, LeEco is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that specializes in bringing budget phones with competitive specifications to market. As such, I decided to compare the Le S3 to Huawei’s equivalent, the much-touted Honor 6X.

Let’s see how LeEco stacks up.

815oX1tXGHL._SL1500_Build

Aluminum Body

Gorilla Glass 3 vs. Standard

Build-wise, these two phones match up scarily well. Both have all-aluminum bodies; both sport similar dimensions – about 151mm x 75mm x 8mm. The Le S3 is thinner and narrower, with almost no side bezel. While the S3 is listed as having Gorilla Glass 3, its screen is surprisingly fragile.

Screen

5.5″ IPS LCD Display

1080p Resolution

74.4% vs. 71.8% Screen Ratio

The only notable difference between these two phones when it comes to their respective screens is the lack of a bezel on the part of the S3, resulting in a narrower frame without sacrificing screen size. Otherwise, both phones sport identical 5.5″ LCD screens at 1080p resolution.

Honor_6x_overview_13Internals

Snapdragon 652 vs. Kirin 655

3GB vs 3/4GB RAM

32GB Non-Expandable vs 32/64GB Expandable

This is where the Honor 6X puts some distance between itself and the Le S3 – the Kirin 655 is a touch more powerful than the Snapdragon 652, and the Honor 6X has an option of coming preloaded with 4GB of RAM along with 64GB storage.

Internal Features

Fingerprint Sensor, Dual Sim, Dolby Stereo, Bluetooth 4.1

802.11ac vs. 802.11n WiFi

Type-C (w/QuickCharge 3.0) vs. Micro-USB

While Huawei went with a stronger processor and an option for better RAM, it appears LeEco decided to use more modern accessory components, with Type-C USB and QuickCharge 3.0 charging and the cutting-edge 802.11ac WiFi standard. Both phones feature Dolby sound, dual SIM slots, and fingerprint scanners. It should be noted that the Honor 6X’s second SIM slot is also used as the Micro-SD card, so you’ll have to choose one or the other.

Honor_6x_overview_09Battery

3000mAh vs. 3340mAh

Given the similarity in the processors, RAM, screens, size and internal components, I’d expect that the Le S3 would come in at roughly the same amount of battery life as the Honor 6X, though you might able to squeeze a bit more juice out of the 6X given the slightly larger battery.

Camera

16mp vs. 12/2mp Dual Rear

8mp Front

While at first blush the numbers seem to favor LeEco’s model, the dual-camera that the Honor 6X sports seems to be the direction many smartphone manufacturers are headed these days. Both phones carry an 8mb selfie camera and dual LED flash, as well.

Value

At $250, both phones are quite the bargain – however, given the relative similarity of the specifications with the exception of the cameras, and the overall versatility of the Honor 6X, I have to give the edge to Huawei’s latest. While LeEco’s S3 has some cutting-edge internal components – Type-C, QuickCharge, 802.11ac – the Honor 6X comes out of the gate with a stronger performance, a better camera, and Huawei’s promise of Android 7.0; meanwhile, the Le S3 is likely stuck on the 6.0.1 it ships with.

Android’s auto backup: What you need to know

AndroidGuys
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With so much of our lives being controlled by our phones, losing or breaking a mobile can be a disaster. Fortunately, if you’re an Android fan, a lot of your data is being backed up automatically. But what does that mean for you? What exactly is being backed up and what isn’t? Today we’re taking a look at Android’s auto back up service so that you know what’s retrievable and what’s not, and what you might want to back up yourself…

Auto Back Up: The Good News

The good news here is that Android and Google automatically back up a lot of your data to your Google account. This is a default setting, though you can change how often your data syncs with your account (go into Settings, Account, Google, then choose your Gmail address to change this). So, automatically, here’s the info on your phone that’s backed up and that you don’t need to worry about:

  • Email, Contact, Calendar, and Docs: all of these are backed up to the appropriate Google tool, your contacts are in your Gmail account, as are your emails, your calendar can be found on the online version of Google Calendar, and similarly your Docs are on the online version of Google Docs;
  • System Settings and Apps or Purchased Content: some of your system settings are also saved, like wallpaper, WiFi passwords, and display settings like brightness and time out. And of course, all of your apps and purchased content (videos, music, etc.) are backed up to your Google account through Google Play;
  • Hangouts Chats: all of these are saved in your Gmail account and can be accessed by clicking on the contact you were chatting with;
  • Chrome Settings: bookmarks, web log ins, everything connected to Chrome is saved in Chrome itself (as long as you’re signed into the browser using your Gmail account);
  • Smart Lock Passwords: if you’re using Smart Lock Passwords for security, your passwords will sync across devices, including app passwords like Netflix;
  • Photos: as long as you’re using Google Photos for picture storage, everything is backed up to the online Google Photos service;
  • Some Third Party App Stuff: some third party apps will also store your data, though this generally involves you being signed into an account. Sign into Candy Crush using your Facebook account, for example, and your game progress will be saved through your account. This is not true of all apps though, so if in doubt check the developers page to find out!

Auto Back Up: The Bad(ish) News

From the above list you can see that your most important data is saved. But there are a few things that aren’t. Firstly, for security issues there are a couple of things that are never backed up. One of these is your Google Authenticator Data. If you’re a fan of two factor authentication, then you’ll need to set this up again if you change to a new phone. The same is true for Bluetooth devices (which will need to be reconnected), and security stuff like fingerprint locks. None of this security data is backed up.

The other big issue is SMS. Your SMS and MMS messages are NOT automatically backed up. For some people this isn’t a real problem, though if you prefer you can back up your SMSs to your Gmail account (a simple Google search will show you how to do this, it’s not complicated).

Finally, there are a couple of small things that won’t be backed up either. For the most part app data or game progress won’t be backed up for third party apps (unless, as mentioned above, that app is in some way connected to an account, such as Facebook). Also, custom settings like alarms and ring tones are generally not backed up either.

Full Back Up Options…

Okay, we’re going to be completely honest with you here. As techie as we are, for the most part we DON’T recommend doing full system back ups of Android products. This is simply because they’re not necessary given how great the auto back up features are. A full back up will take you a fair amount of time, and given how much data is automatically backed up for you, the process probably isn’t going to be worth it.

However, if you do insist on a full system back up, maybe because you want to save your app data and the like, then you do have options. Depending on the kind of phone you have you may be able to get a manufacturer back up program. For example, Samsung phone users can download Samsung Kies to fully back up their devices. If you can’t get a manufacturer backup, then your best bet is going to be downloading an app called Titanium Backup, which is a comprehensive back up system. Be warned though that you’ll pay for the privilege (you’ll need to buy the Pro version, not the free version to get a full back up), and using the app isn’t exactly simple.

Not too long ago we’d be the first people to tell you to back up your phone at least once a month to prevent data loss. However, thanks to Google’s awesome automatic back up system a regular system back up just isn’t really necessary any more. Most people will be more than satisfied with the auto system, and should find that if a phone is lost or broken restoring their data to a new mobile is simple and pretty comprehensive too. A missing phone doesn’t have to be a disaster, if you’re an Android user then you might be out of pocket for a new mobile, but at least your data will be right where you left it when you need it!

MWC 2017 is coming and here’s what to expect

Alexandra Arici
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the biggest tech-related events on the planet, where key players in the industry come to put on display some of their latest smartphone products – among other things.

Android in particular usually tends to make the biggest announcements every year in Barcelona and in 2017 we expect top Android OEMs like LG, Huawei or Nokia (HMD) to treat us with some really intriguing new smartphone models. We’re going to have a notable absentee this year, but we’ll tell you more about it below. So, if you want to be prepared for MWC 2017 (it starts on February 27, 2017) be sure to read our info roundup on what to expect to see at the event.

Samsung

Galaxy S8 RenderSamsung usually reserves MWC to unveil its next-gen S flagship, but this year due to the Galaxy Note7 hurdles, it seems that the Korean tech giant will let LG and its G6 have the whole spotlight.

Since the company has to be extra careful about releasing another Galaxy Note7-like device into the world, the arrival of the Galaxy S8 will be delayed in 2017. According to the latest information, the phone should be unveiled on March 29. The same sources tell us the device could become available for purchase around April 21. You can read all about what we know so far about the Galaxy S8 in our in-depth article.

Even without the Galaxy S8, Samsung might not skip MWC 2017 entirely. The Korean tech giant might showcase the new Galaxy Tab S3 tablet, which has been spotted lately on benchmark sites or the new Gear S3 Classic with LTE smartwatch. The rumor mill also has it Samsung is currently developing a Tizen 3.0 phone, so we might get to see that too on the grounds at Barcelona.

What about the cutting edge foldable phone we’ve been hearing for a few years? In early January, we heard the device might make it on the market in Q3 2017. That’s pretty close right? So MWC 2017 would be the perfect place for Samsung to reveal at least a prototype of the upcoming device.

LG

Most Recent LG G6 LeakWith the Samsung Galaxy S8 out of the way at MWC 2017, LG’s next-gen flagship, the G6 is destined to shine. We expect the phone to mark a return to good, old traditional design – a departure from the modular approach of the ill-fated LG G5. You can read all about the LG G6 in our featured article here.

On top of the LG G6, we expect to see the company’s new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches, the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style. Given that the two wearables should be announced on February 9, we expect them to appear at MWC 2017 too – complete with Google Assistant onboard (which by the way it is rumored to come with the LG G6 as well).

Huawei

Huawei P10While traditionally Huawei has not used MWC 2017 as a platform to launch a new flagship, the company might do so this year. In its invite for the press event at MWC, Huawei says that CEO Richard Yu will be unveiling a “flagship device”.

Current word on the street seems to indicate the Chinese device maker will pull the wraps off the P10 and P10 Plus. While smartphones from the P family were usually launched during a separate event in April, Huawei might do things differently this year.

Many have been said about the upcoming P10. Some whispers claim the phone will feature a dual curved edge display in the vein of the Galaxy S7 edge, while others say it will look a lot like the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design.

We can also expect to see the P10 arrive with a 5.2-inch QHD display and the P10 Plus with a 5.5-inch QHD screen – a notable change for Huawei which is known for being against QHD panels.

Both phones should be powered by an octa-core Kirin 960 processor combined with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Who knows maybe the P10 Plus variant will even carry 8GB of RAM. As for photography, the P10 might make a debut with a 16MP main Leica-branded camera.

2016-08-27 14_42_05-Huawei Watch - Silver Mesh or Black
Current Huawei Watch

On top of the two phones, Huawei could also show the world it’s next-gen Huawei Watch 2 with Android Wear 2.0. The wearable should feature a sportier design and cellular connectivity.

Furthermore, the Chinese giant might also unleash a new tablet, the MediaTab T3 which leaked not so long ago and maybe just maybe announce the global availability of the gorgeous Honor Magic concept phone.

HTC

Vive SmartphoneHTC just unveiled the HTC U Ultra flagship not so long ago, so we shouldn’t expect another premium phone from the company at MWC 2017.

In a recent interview a HTC official said the company will launch another flagship as soon as the Snapdragon 835 becomes available. In case you don’t know, Samsung has apparently hogged the initial Snapdragon 835 supply for its Galaxy S8 thus forcing LG (and others) to make use of an alternate chipset (the Snapdragon 821) for its G6 flagship.

We don’t know whether there will be a HTC 11, but according to a recent teaser video the company might be working towards a HTC Vive-branded handset. But we don’t expect to see it at MWC 2017.

The company also denied rumors of launching an Android Wear smartwatch, which begs the question – will HTC skip MWC 2017 altogether?

Maybe not, the smartphone maker might tempt Android fans with a new mid-range Desire handset. But we’re not too certain about that.

Nokia

Nokia P1 Concept TeaserNokia’s return to the world of smartphones (courtesy of HMD) has been making major headlines for the past few months. The two companies already unveiled the mid-range Nokia 6 handset, but at MWC 2017 we’re hoping to finally see a true Nokia flagship make an appearance.

Now depending who you ask, the premium phone might launch as the Nokia 8 or Nokia P1. The most recent gossip would have us believe that the Nokia P1 is based on the Sharp Aquos Xx3 – a handset that was released in Japan a while back.

However, the Nokia P1 should have a Snapdragon 835 under the hood, which we already know it’s quite unlikely. HMD and Nokia could just announce the phone with a Snapdragon 835 inside at MWC 2017 and wait a few months before making the device available for purchase – but we don’t think it’s a good idea.

Other rumored specs of the Nokia flagship include a 5.3-iinch display with 2K resolution, 6GB of RAM, up to 256GB of internals storage, Zeiss-certified 22.6MP camera, water-resistant body, 3,500 mAh battery, fingerprint scanner and Android 7.0 Nougat.

The Nokia P1 is expected to arrive with a premium price tag attached to it, that might start at $800 for the 128GB version. Aouch!

Sony

Sony Xperia XA 2017We won’t blame if you all but forgot about Sony. The company is a fading presence in the market, but if we are to listen to the rumor mill, the Japanese device maker might try to revive interest with a host of new handsets.

The top of the line model dubbed Sony Yoshino is said to come boasting a 5.5-inch 4K display, Snapdragon 835 and either 4GB or 6GB of RAM plus a new Sony IMX400 image sensor.

Given that Samsung has reserved the initial Snapdragon 835 batch for its Galaxy S8 flagship, we don’t believe Sony will manage to pull this off, but maybe we’re going to be proven wrong.

Next in line, we have the Sony BlancBright which should make it out with a 5.5-inch display with QHD resolution and possibly a Snapdragon 653 and the Sony IMX400 sensor. This model sounds more believable if you ask us.

Sony supposedly has other 3 models with more modest specs, one of which could be the successor of the Sony Xperia XA which leaked not so long ago.

Motorola

moto-g5-plus-front-and-backMotorola and Lenovo announced their presence at MWC 2017 and where we expect to see the recently leaked Moto G5 Plus. The Moto G4 Plus is one of the most popular budget handsets out there, so naturally we’re pretty excited to see what the successor is going bring to the table.

However, if the leaks are correct we shouldn’t expect major improvements. According to the information we currently have, the phone should make it out with a 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution, a Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Other specs include a 13MP/5MP camera combo, 3,080 mAh battery and Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

BlackBerry

future-blackberry-mercuryWe’re wondering whether a new BlackBerry can manage to get customers excited. TCL (the company holding licensing rights over the BlackBerry brand) thinks it can. So at MWC 2017 we expect the BlackBerry Mercury to go official.

The device was already showcased at CES 2017, but next month TCL should have it ready for prime time. The phone comes with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and a fingerprint sensor embedded in the space bar on the front of the device.

Rumored specs include a 4.5-inch touchscreen display with resolution of 1,680 x 1080 pixels plus a QWERTY keyboard and Snapdragon 821.

Xiaomi

xiaomi-mi-note-2Xiaomi is going through a strange phase. The company’s golden boy, Hugo Barra just announced he will be leaving the company to return to Silicon Valley as head of Faceobok’s Oculus VR team.

Xiaomi scored its first CES presence this year, but it seems like the company will be skipping MWC 2017 altogether. After-all in Las Vegas, Apple’s China did not launch any new products – it only announced a white version of the Mi MIX phablet. It’s certainly clear Xiaomi is not ready for the Western market just yet (will it ever be?).

And even if we ignore this aspect, if Samsung is hoarding Snapdragon 835 chips indeed, it would be wise for Xiaomi to wait until it launches another flagship. After all the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 and Mi MIX are only a few months old.

LeEco

leeco-le-pro-3
Current LeEco Le Pro 3 flagship

Chinese tech conglomerate, LeEco is another company that’s trying to make it in the Western world. Its products have been fairly well received in the States, so it might be the right time for the company to introduce a new flagship.

According to recently uncovered benchmark listings, the LeEco X10 might be the premium device in question. The phone could make an appearance at MWC 2017 with a 5.5-inch display with QHD resolution, Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage or 6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage.

ZTE

ZTE Concept 2Recently we told you that ZTE is gearing up to launch ground breaking concept phone. Since its Hawkeye handset has done a poor job at impressing the community due to the low-end specs, we are expecting ZTE to make it right at MWC 2017.

Google

Android Wear 2.0Google will also be present at MWC 2017, but we can’t be sure what the search giant will have to show for.

With Android Wear 2.0 on the way and two new LG smartwatches, Google might have a few things to share with us. On top of that we heard that Google plans to bring its Android One host of smartphones to the US, so we might hear more on the topic at MWC 2017.

Also Google plans to expand the reach of its Google Assistant on third party phones such as the LG G6. So far, the Assistant has been a Pixel exclusive.

Sprint slashes the price for its Unlimited Data plan to $50

Alexandra Arici
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Sprint is taking on Verizon’s new 5GB for $55 data plan with a new offer of its own, in the hopes users will find it superior.

The carrier has just announced that for four days only (limited promotion), new customers jumping onboard with Sprint will get Unlimited Data, Talk and Text for $50 per month. Those who add a second line will be asked to pay only $90 and extra lines can be added for $30 extra.

Sprint StoreSprint bashes Verizon for thinking that customers will manage to get by with only 5GB of data/month. The carrier says a user can spent 5GB of data in a glimpse, for example by simply watching seven episodes of their favorite Netflix TV Show in HD viewing.

Using data provided by Fierce Wireless, P3 and Strategy Analytics, Sprint reveals how much data customers actually on a monthly basis. For example, did you know 1 hour of web browsing (50 pages) eats up tp 50Mb or that checking your emails daily hogs 150Mb /month? Music streaming takes 100MB/hour and daily instant messaging on WhatsApp or Facebook consumes 250Mb daily.

While Sprint is throwing around big words, don’t go thinking the carrier’s Unlimited plan will let you go overboard with data usage.

Unlimited FreedomSprint will automatically down grade quality of video or music streaming for those who use more than 23GB of data/month. Data reprioritization also applies during times of congestion. Last but not least, we should note that new customers who jump onboard with Sprint for the new data bundle, will be required to pay $60/month after March 31, 2018.

Apart from the Unlimited plan, Sprint is also offering rate plans that provide sensible data buckets.

10 arrest record and background check mobile applications (PROMOTED)

Guest Blogger
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There are many good reasons why people are interested in looking up a criminal record or arrest record. For instance, you may have noticed suspicious activities from your new neighbor. In other cases, maybe you have started dating a person that you don’t know well. Or, maybe you just want to have some fun.

It doesn’t really matter what the reason is, you should know that there are many arrest records apps that can help you. There are plenty that work well for both Android and iOS platforms, including phones and tablets.

The following ten Android apps can be downloaded directly from the Google Play store. A few of them are found on iTunes App Store which means that iPad and iPhone users can use them too.

JailBase

This is a completely free Android app not only for downloading but also for using. It provides access to a huge number of mugshots and arrests records and the information is updated regularly. Users can refine their search by choosing a date, gender, and race. If you want to get high-quality mugshots you will have to pay a certain fee.

vinemobileVINEmobile

Just like JailBase, VINEmobile is completely free to use and download. VINEmobile is actually a mobile version of the popular VINE (Victim information and Notification Everyday) National Victim Notification Network. The main goal of this application is to allow access to timely information on persons that are in custody at the moment. In case the status of a person in custody changes, you will get a notification in the form of a text message, e-mail or phone call. In addition, users can get accurate information about the people who have been arrested and the reason for their arrest.

Unlimited Criminal Checks

This application is free to download and allows access to every kind of criminal records and sex offender information is not an exception. The only thing users need to provide is the individual’s name. For a certain fee, they can perform nationwide research with one search. The fee you pay will provide more detailed information and it will eliminate ads too.

CourtClick

CourtClick is an app with a user-friendly interface which allows users to search and browse thousands of court records of different types. Users need to type the person’s name and their state or ZIP code. Some of the most searched types of records include sex offenses, warrants, arrests, bankruptcy and civil and criminal records. It is completely free to download and install this application, but if you want to use it, you must pay a certain fee. There is a 7-day free trial for brand new users.

jailbirdsJail Birds

Finally, Jail Birds is a great solution for Android users looking for mugshots and arrest information. What is good to know is that Jail Bids doesn’t cover all counties. The authors of this app encourage users to help them extend their database. In addition to mugshots, this app provides access to information like fresh arrests and allows timely notification in case someone they are interested in is arrested.

BeenVerified

This free app allows users to search for any individual. All you need to do is to type their name and you’ll get access to many different records. The Been Verified People Search application will provide access to criminal and arrest records, property ownership information, contact information and professional history too. As we said the app can be downloaded for free, but if you need more detailed results you can pay a monthly fee.

mobilepatrolMobilePatrol

Here’s another great example of a free app that’s rather beneficial. MobilePatrol features a myriad of public safety information customized to the user’s location. So, you can simply add your ZIP code and this app will display public safety updates obtained from official public safety and emergency agencies in your area. In addition, users can locate registered, convicted sex offenders and people who have been arrested not while ago with precise details about the charges.

Intelius

Intelius is a free application that people can use to get accurate information and details about certain individuals who are found in the public records. It requires the use of a phone number or name. Downloading this application is completely free and the app doesn’t come with any ads. However, every search result you want to check costs $0.99. You can also use a subscription that costs between $10 and $20.

MugshotSearch

This is one of the simplest apps that can be used by beginner cell phone users. As the name suggests it is focused on searching and displaying mugshots. The database of mugshots is constantly growing and the so are the number of new arrest records. MugshotSearch keeps following these updates.

Public Record

Apologies, guys, but this one’s for iOS users. If you are interested in a complete application that lets users search criminal and civil court systems, you can’t go wrong with Public Record. Keep in mind that downloading this app is free, but the search results cost $13.99. if you are planning on checking a few searches, you can get a discount. It is good to know that the search results can be downloaded and even shared with other people through e-mail. This application is currently focused only on North Carolina.

[Promo] LeEco wants to take you to Super Bowl 2017

Alexandra Arici
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Have you ever dreamed of attending the Super Bowl, but for various reasons you never managed to? Chinese tech giant, LeEco wants to make it happen for you.

With only about a week and a half before Super Bowl 51 kickstarts, LeEco just announced an incredible promo, football fans are going to love.

SB2017LeEco plans to give a lucky winner and a guest what it calls the Ultimate SB51 Experience which includes:

  • 2 tickets twothe Super Bowl game
  • $3,00 pre-paid credit card
  • 3 consecutive nights of pre-game concerts including The Chainsmokers on February 2, Bruno Mars on February 3 and Taylor Swift with access to the LeEco VIP suite on February 4.

Daily PrizesOn top of that LeEco is giving off daily freebies between January 27 and February 3, including Super4 x65 TVs and Le Pro3 smartphones. In case you can’t remember here’s what the Le Pro3 brings to the table:

LeEco Le Pro3

  • LeEco LePro 35-inch with 1080 x 1920 resolution, 403 ppi
  • Snapdragon 821
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB of on-board storage
  • 16MP/8MP camera combo
  • 4,070 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

In order to be eligible to win one of the prized you will need to:

  1. Go on Twitter and retweet LeEco’s daily giveaway tweet and reply tagging the person that you want to accompany you on the trip
  2. Go on Instagram and follow @LeEcoGlobal and submit a comment tagging the person you’ll be taking on the trip.
  3. Go on Facebook and share the giveaway post on your profile while tagging the person you want to take on the trip.

You are allowed only one entry per channel per day.

LeEco will randomly select a winner at 12:01 ET Monday, January 30. Daily winners will also be randomly selected at 9 p.m ET Friday, Jan 27 – Friday, Feb 3. We wish you the best of luck!

Imaging the Google Pixel 2

Alexandra Arici
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2

Google’s Pixels phones have proved to be extremely popular with Android fans. And despite Google having a hard time coping with demand and a variety of issues plaguing the devices, consumers seem to be quite invested in the phones.

Google’s Pixels are by no means perfect, so the search titan has plenty of room for improvement. Now the first rumors related to the Pixel 2 have popped up this week, given us an idea of what to expect later this year.

pixel_xl_silver_googleAccording to the folks of 9to5Google who have spoken with reliable sources, the next-gen Pixels are likely to be waterproof. This is not a definitive feature for the time being, but Google is strongly considering it.

Needless to say we consider waterproofing a necessary feature for a high-end phone like the Pixel. Samsung and Sony have been doing it and LG is probably going to add this feature in 2017 with the LG G6, so Google needs to step up the game as well. Not everyone may care about owning a waterproof device, but the feature removes having to worry about accidents that might void the warranty.

google-pixel-in-whiteGoogle has surprised everyone when it glued a premium price tag to the Pixel. After all the Nexus lineup was known for its affordability. But with the Pixel, Google changed things around quite a bit.

Well the rumors now claim in 2017 Google plans to cater to the budget crowd by releasing the Pixel 2B. The search giant is said to be testing multiple Pixel 2 models with Qualcomm and Intel chips. We’re told that MediaTek was briefly part of the project as well, but it’s no longer involved.

google_pixel_xl_10Obviously the Qualcomm chips will go into the higher-end Pixel 2, while the Pixel 2B is most likely going to get Intel SoC treatment.

The Pixel 2B is expected to be significantly cheaper than its premium brother and aimed at developing markets. The affordable Pixel should be launched alongside or shortly after the Pixel 2.

Speaking of price, the high-end Pixel 2 might come with at least $50 price increase. Today’s Pixel phones start at $650.

google-pixel-1Sources familiar with the matter also reveal Google is looking to improve main camera capabilities on the Pixel. It’s next-gen phones might come with a sensor capable to perform batter in low lighting environments plus other extra features.

Now that we’ve seen what the rumor mill is saying about the Pixel 2, we’re going to throw in some of our own hopes related to Google’s next-gen flagships.

google_pixel_xl_01Google and HTC are having a hard time keeping up with Pixel demand, especially the 128GB Pixel XL model. The phone is currently listed as “Out of Stock” in the Google Store and is back-ordered until March at Verizon.

This year Google needs to be better at anticipating. On top of that, it would be nice to see the Pixel 2 available with other carriers, not just Verizon. Sure carrier-bound Pixels ship out with an unlocked bootloader and bloatware, but these are some of the compromises Google will need to make if it wants to make the Pixels more widely available. Not to mention that not everyone can afford a $649 phone, so financing plans are a good alternative.

google_pixel_xl_03Yes, the Google Play Store also offers the Pixels with interest-free financing options, but some people might want to buy a phone from a carrier for various other reasons. They should be allowed to have that option.

In 2017, edge-to-edge displays are going to become the norm. The LG G6 will have one and the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are expected to feature really anorexic bezels. Design hasn’t been one the Pixel’s strong points, but in 2017 Google (and its manufacturing partner) can make up for it but opting for a different, more appealing design language.

Last but not least, as we already noted in our Google Pixel XL review, it would certainly be nice to see Google implement a microSD card slot in future Pixel models (at least in the lower-end version?).  This way people go from 32GB to 128GB quite easily.

What do you think? What other features would you like to see on the Pixel 2?

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