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What we know so far: LG G6 edition

Alexandra Arici
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LG will soon unveil it’s next-gen top of a line device, the LG G6. According to recent information the Samsung Galaxy S8 won’t be unveiled at MWC 2017, thus leaving the coast clear for LG to draw all the attention upon itself during the event.

Knowing that scheduling its flagship launch on the same day as Samsung, meant risking the G6 would get overshadowed, LG came up with an alternative plan. Recent rumors indicate the Korean company plans to have the LG G6 on retail shelves starting March 10, way before the Galaxy S8 becomes available for purchase.

Well now it seems LG will only have to worry about Nokia and its comeback flagship which is also expected to make an appearance at MWC 2017. Since the event is only one month away, we thought it would be a good idea to make a roundup of all information related to LG’s upcoming G6 flagship, that’s currently available. You can also read our Samsung Galaxy S8 roundup while you’re at it.

Update 02/07/2016: The invite for LG’s MWC event was posed by the company:

Design

  • no modular body
  • no modular add-ons

lg-g6-shiny-backThe LG G5 has seen a lukewarm reception among fans of Android, so this year the company is said to renounce the modular design language and return to the standard one. As seen in recent CAD renders, the LG G6 should come boasting the usual candybar design characteristic of today’s smartphones.

lg-g6-frontWhile the LG G5 featured a unibody aluminum body which didn’t really wow users, the LG G6 might come rocking a high-gloss back which could be made of glass or employ a metal polishing technique. The end result might look very much like the HTC U Ultra’s super shiny rear.LG G6 Prototype

LG G6 Prototype BackUpdate 02/01/2016: Images of a real life prototype have surfaced which confirm presence of USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, bezeless display and metal body (see above and below).

LG G6 Prototype Lower View

Update 02/06/2017: New leak showcases the LG G6 with gorgeous brushed aluminum back.

Update 02/20/2017: Two live images of the LG G6 have appeared online revealing a glossy back and the Always-On display.

Display

  • 5.7-inch display with QHD+ resolution 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio
  • 564ppi
  • shrunken bezels

In the display department, LG wants to do things a little bit different, so it won’t offer the flagship with the standard 1440 x 2560 resolution. Instead the company will be using a 5.7-inch panel with 1440 x 2880 resolution or QHD+ and a wide aspect ratio of 18:9.

LG says the new display allows them to make a phone that takes advantage of extra screen estate. Thus users will be able to multi-task on Android by running two or more apps side-by-side on their handset.

Most Recent LG G6 LeakThe new screen tech also allows the company to shrink the bezels (20% on top and 10% on the left and right sides) and reduce overall thickness of the phone. Outdoor visibility is also said to get a 10% bump, while power requirements decrease with up to 30%.

The LG V20 also features a 5.7-inch display, but compared to it the G6 should be a bit taller and feature a smaller width.

Also since VR is quite big right now, we expect the LG G6 to be launched as a Daydream-ready device.

Update 01/27/2017: Want to take another look at the LG G6 and its bezel-less display? Check below:

Update 02/13/2017: What appears to be a real life photo of LG G6’s front has leaked online thanks to the ITHome publication.

Update 02/22/2017: It appears the LG G6 will be actually the same size as the LG G5. Here’s the two of them next to one another.

Internals

  • Snapdragon 821
  • 6GB or 8GB of RAM
  • at least 32GB of internal storage
  • microSD card slot

G6 RendersAccording to a very recent Forbes report, the LG G6 won’t be powered by the new Snapdragon 835 like earlier reports anticipated. Instead, an industry insider “confirmed” the phone will be based on last year’s Snapdragon 821 just like the recently announced HTC U Ultra.

As we know the Snapdragon 835 is developed by Qualcomm in collaboration with Samsung and the Korean tech giant is said to be in need of large quantities of the chip for its Galaxy S8 flagships.

So the Snapdragon 835 won’t be available en-mass until late April. Since we told you LG is counting to have the phone out and about by March 10, it makes sense to assume LG had to opt for an alternative. While the Snapdragon 821 is a capable chip, the new Snapdragon 835 does come with a set of improvements that can’t be ignored including being 35% smaller in size and 25% less power hungry.

Snapdragon 821It comes bundled with Quick Charge 4.0 and Bluetooth 5.0 support, among other things. You can read all about it in our in-depth article.

As for the rest of specification, it’s quite unclear what the LG G6 will bring about. We can speculate LG will want to be in league with smartphone makers launching 8GB of RAM phones this year, but we don’t have any confirmation on the topic.

As for internal storage, we believe the base version will come bundled with at least 32GB of internal storage. Like in the case of the LG G5, we expect LG to keep the microSD card on the G6 as well, although some reports seem to deny this.

Cameras

  • main dual camera

In a recent video teasing “the ideal smartphone”, LG hinted that the G6 might feature a big screen somehow tucked into a smaller body and a camera capable to “capture it all at once”.

Like the G5 and V20 before it, the LG G6 is expected to feature a main dual camera setup. It’s probably going to be an upgrade from the current 16MP/8MP (wide angle lens) setup.

As for the selfie shooter, it might double as an iris scanner thanks to an IR light filter, according to some rumors. Although a recent render revealed the LG G6 might have a fingerprint scanner located on the back, as most smartphones do. A dual LED flash was also visible in the image.

Update 02/22/2017: A new official teaser reveals the LG G6’s camera specs. The flagship will feature a dual camera setup featuring two 13MP sensors. One of them will have 125-degree wide angle lens and they will work in concert to deliver the best possible images.

The LG G6 will have multipe shooting modes, including 18:9 (thanks to the fll width of the screen), 1:1 (square), panorama, food mode and others.

As for the selfie snaper, it will hae 100-degree field of view – although resolution hasn’t been disclosed yet.

Other features

  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Google Assistant
  • waterproof
  • LG Pay
  • advanced audio feature
  • upgraded quad-DAC audio solution

LG G6 CaseMost smartphones coming today do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack. Just look at the recently launched HTC U Ultra. However, the LG G6 won’t be part of this trend, so customers will be able to use their older headphones with the device.

LG’s recent video teaser also revealed the phone will be waterproof. But the most interesting part come now. It appears the G6 will be the first non-Pixel smartphone to come with the Google Assistant onboard. It makes sense, since most high-end handsets these days have an AI driven companion. Samsung is going to put Bixby onboard the Galaxy S8, while Nokia’s Viki will probably make an appearance on its upcoming flagship(s).

Another report claims the LG G6 might come bundling a service akin to Samsung Pay, which got dubbed LG Pay. So owners of LG’s upcoming premium handset might be able to make payments using the device.

Will LG continue to bestow unique audio capabilities on its flagship via the B&O partnership? For example, the V20 shipped out with a 32-bit “quad” DAC and B&O in-ear headphones, so it makes sense to assume the LG G6 could come packing with serious audio features.

Update 02/13/2017: A new announcement by LG, reveals information about the G6’s audio capabilities. As it turns out, the new flagship will even surpass the V20’s audio solution.

The company said an upgraded version of the latter will be available with the LG G6. The quad DAC setup features four DACs on a single chip which should bring static noise down by 50%, The audio system will also be able to control left and right channels separately thus being able to deliver an improved audio solution. Last but not least, increased circuit integration was used to bring down loss of information and overall distortion to merely 0.0002%.

Update 02/22/2017: LG teases the LG G6’s dust and waterproof body in a series of videos:

OS and UX

  • Android 7.1.1 Nougat

LG V20 SoftwareSince the V20 was the first phone to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, it makes total sense to assume the LG G6 will make it out into the wild with the latest Nougat version, Android 7.1.1

The company is probably going to bake some new tricks of its own like allowing users to customize their virtual navigation buttons and lots more.

Update 02/16/2017: Take a look at this video teasing the LG G6’s UX which the company just posted.

Battery

LG G5 Removable BatterySome reports claim the LG G6 will do away with the user-replaceable battery, while others claim that due to fire hazard concerns LG is going to opt for a replaceable battery after all.

LG has already announced its strategy to prevent the G6 from overheating. The company says it employ a copper heat pipe cooling system that will dispel heat from the battery. LG also claims it’s testing the battery of the new flagship at temperatures 15% higher than US and EU standards in order to make absolutely sure the phone won’t overheat.

Update 01/27/2017: A new report coming out of CNET seemingly confirms the LG G6 will be ditching the removable battery in favor of a waterproof body.

Update 02/15/2017: The LG G6 will feature a non-removable 3,200 mAh battery.

When will I be able to get it and for how much?

As we already told you, LG is expected to make the G6 official on February 26, a day prior to MWC 2017. Then the phone should become available for purchase on March 10. The price is currently unknown, but you should expect to pay a pretty hefty sum.

02/02/2017 Update: A new report indicates the LG G6 price will start at $770 in South Korea

02/07/2017 Update: According to “planning material” obtained by Venture Beat, the LG G6 will become available April 6 in the US.

02/23/2017 Update: The latest information indicates the LG G6 will become available on March 10.

LeEco X10 flagship with dual front and rear cameras might be headed for MWC 2017

Alexandra Arici
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At MWC 2017, we expect important names in the smartphone industry to unveil new products. For example, we know LG will show off its next-gen LG G6 smartphone, but other device makers will also be present. Like LeEco.

The Chinese giant recently made a debut on the US market and seems to be doing quite well. Now according to info spotted by Gizmo China it appears the company is gearing up to unleash a new flagship smartphone.

According to the listing, the phone dubbed LeEco X10 will make a debut with a 5.5-inch display with 2560 x 1440 resolution – the stuff of premium handsets. However, when it comes to computing power, the phone only takes advantage of a Snapdragon 820.

LEeco-X10Yeah, the LG G6 will also be powered by a 2016 chip – the Snapdragon 821 instead of the Snapdragon 835 because Samsung has hogged the newer chip for its Galaxy S8 flagship.

But LeEco’s current flagship, the Pro3 runs on a Snapdragon 821 – which is a bit weird. Other specifications include a 5.5-inch FHD display, 64GB storage and 16MP rear camera,

Going back to the LeEco X10, the phone might make it out with either 4GB of RAM + 32GB of internal storage or 6GB of RAM + 64GB of internal storage.

leeco-targetBut the LeEco X10 will stand out in the photography department. 2017 seems to be the year of dual cameras, so this flagship will apparently come boasting a dual camera on the back and one in the front.

If the listing turns out to be correct, the LeEco X10 could take advantage of a main shooter with two 12MP sensors capable of 4K video shooting capabilities, while the frontal camera will feature two 15MP sensors and 2K video recording option.

It’s seems like LeEco has entered the race of delivering the world’s first smartphone with two dual cameras onboard. BLUBLOO is also expected to offer a similar device.

leecoWhen it arrives at MWC 2017, the LeEco X10 might make an appearance with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow pre-installed, but we certainly hope that’s not the case. It would be quite silly for LeEco to launch a flagship with Marshmallow in 2017.

Nevertheless, we’re pretty curious to see how the cameras on the LeEco X10 perform. We’ll certainly keep an eye out for it at MWC 2017 in order to let you know more details.

Setting up an Android Spy App is as easy as using it (How to)

AndroidGuys
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There are many firsts in life, for example, first love, first job, first pay, etc. Is it your first time in spying?

Suspicion and uncertainty can make you restless. To avoid constant nagging, you need to be sure of certain things in order to make an informed decision about them. Whether it’s your kids, spouses or your employees, you need to have the right skills to handle an Android spy app to monitor the activities of your respective target.

Though it may all sound like a technical task requiring a lot of intelligence and ability to have a know-how in technology but things are not as complicated as they may seem. Let’s have a look at how a cell phone tracking software, xnspy.com can be set up for spying.

Prepare Well for Spying

samsung_trioWhat I’ve seen is, when people rush into installing a spy app, they often tend to make mistakes. If this is your first time installing an app, make sure you don’t slip up. First things first, physical access of the target phone is mandatory when you want to install a spy app in their phone. You must choose an app that is compatible with the target device. I would suggest XNSPY, since it is both, an iOS as well as Android spy app.

Install the Software

xnspy1

For XNSPY, the installation process takes about 3-5minutes and the process is quite easy. Here are the steps which you must follow if you want a quick set-up for installation.

  • To begin spying, visit the page, https://cp.xnspy.com/.
  • Enter your login details including your email address and password.
  • Once you’re logged in, a page will appear from where you can select the target device which you want to monitor. You can monitor as many devices as you want through a single login.
  • Once you do that, xnspy dashboard page will appear.
  • On the left-side of this panel is the list of activities that you can monitor. Select any of the options you want to monitor and there you are.

Dashboard Monitoring

Once you’ve signed up for an account with xnspy, all other activities are really easy. You can make necessary settings on the dashboard and begin receiving online reports about your target. XNSPY has a bold layout with six remote control settings. These settings include Toggle features, Toggle alerts, Add watchlist words, Add watchlist contacts, Add watchlist locations, and Edit device profile. You need to make the settings wisely as the Android spy app will respond accordingly in functionality.

Features

All the information that you want to consume about your target can be received by various features of a spy app. if you want to access any details, click on each and every feature and find out about your target.

Phone call logs

xnspy-2

This includes a lot of information that is present in the target phone. You can view the call log which gives the number of outgoing/incoming calls, call duration, contact number, and, date and time stamp. The location of the caller can be viewed and there’s also an option to record the call. You can also view the contact list and watch-list the name of a specific contact if you want to.

Text messages

xnspy4

You can also read the entire text message conversation including the conversation thread. Along with the content, message sender’s name, his contact number, date and time stamp, and geo-tags are available.

Internet history

xnspy3

You can monitor all the browsed content of your target. All the websites your target has browsed are visible and the number of times those sites are visited is also stated. You can actually click on that website and see for yourself what your target has been viewing online. You can also see the bookmarks saved by your target.

Messenger

This includes all the chats conversation between your target and their contacts on different platforms. Some of the chat platforms that can be monitored by XNSPY include Viber, Skype, WhatsApp, Line, Kik, Facebook, and Tinder. You have the option to watch-list words if you want.

Location

xnspy5

You can track your target through his GPS location. The exact location address will be given along with the real date and time stamp. You can view the location in the map. Through geo-fencing you can create a virtual barricade for your target and watch-list specific locations to receive alerts.

Multimedia files

You can view multimedia files saved in the target phone or shared on IM chats. If there are any voice recordings shared, you can hear them too.

Call and surround recordings

xnspy6

The best thing about XNSPY is that you can record phone calls and listen to them later at any time. These files are available in a particular format which can later be downloaded. Not only this, you can also record surroundings of your target to learn about the in-room conversation taking place near your target.

Conclusion

There are slight differences in the installation procedure of different apps. For a novice, using a spy app can seem like a complicated task but as you go through with each step, you’ll find out that it is in fact quite easy to accomplish. The trick is to have a smart start with the process and staying calm and confident till you’re done. Follow the instructions carefully and you’ll become a pro.

After the Galaxy Note7, the Galaxy S7 edge is now causing major headaches

Alexandra Arici
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0

Samsung has barely concluded the nasty Galaxy Note7 chapter and already another issue has reared its ugly head.

This time the device affected is the Galaxy S7 edge – one of Samsung’s two remaining flagship models in 2016. It seems that users from all over the globe are reporting the presence of a vertical pink line that showed up on phones’ displays.

Pink Line in All Its GloryGalaxy S7 edge owners have been complaining of the issue ever since summer 2016 on a lot of forums including the official Samsung Community one, Reddit, AT&T, Verizon, O2 or Vodafone.

On the Samsung Community forum, the issue has been flagged as “Solved”. Here’s what the moderator advises affected owners to do (dated 11/04/2016):

“If your device has not experienced any physical or liquid damage, we recommend having it set up for evaluation. Please be aware that final determination will come down to the technician that examines your device, whether any repair falls under warranty. Physical or liquid damage is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.”

Here's The Purple LineHowever, Samsung hasn’t officially acknowledged the issue which seems to have to do with hardware and not software. So currently, getting a Galaxy S7 edge affected by a pink line fixed is quite a gamble, as it will ultimately fall on the technician to determine whether the reparation should be done under warranty or not.

According to one user on the forums:

“Unfortunately this is a hardware related problem so doing to the factory reset and trying to clear the cache will not help. The problem is in the LED screen itself and will need to be replaced. More specifically it is the vertical line driver that has failed. (I cannot 100% say with certainty that this is the case without physically inspecting the device, but every time I have seen this in the past that was the cause.)”

Given how widespread the problem seems to be, we expect Samsung will issue an official statement. Hopefully.

Pink Line 2While we wait on that, some folks have suggested a couple of workaround. The first one has you:

  • Resetting the display to the phone’s service menu
  • Open the dial pad on the device and type *#0*#.
  • Click Red, Green and Blue and rest individual pixels on each color

The other solution would be to try and press on the top of the screen near the Samsung logo and see if that makes the line go away.

Fix Purple LineThese are not permanent fixes, so if you too are experiencing the problem keep an eye on the official Samsung forum to see whether the Korean tech giant makes an announcement. Or you could try sending it for evaluation. Hopefully you’ll be able to get it fix under warranty. Some users have succeeded in getting a replacement Galaxy S7 edge like this guy on Reddit.

Google Instant Apps are one step closer to becoming available

Alexandra Arici
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You might remember that one of the most intriguing novelties announced by Google at its I/O event last year was Instant Apps.

If you don’t, let us refresh your memory by explaining that Instant Apps act as a sort of bridge between web apps and native Android apps allowing users to utilize only specific parts of applications without needing to actually installing them on the device.

The example provided at Google I/O had a person send another a link to Buzzfeed Video’s Tasty app. And instead of having to go to the Play Store and install the app in order to view the content, the recipient was able to view, let’s say a recipe without having to do anything more than tap on the link.

Instant AppsAfter announcing the feature more than half a year ago, the first Android Instant Apps are ready to be tested out. The results include a small batch of apps from Buzzfeed, Periscope, Wish and Viki.

So instead of downloading and installing one of these apps on their personal devices, users can now run them right away – quite similar to loading a web page.

Instant Apps 3Instant Apps relies on modularization, by skipping to download an entire app and downloading only what it needs to allow a user to perform a specific action. Obviously users can go back and download the full application later, but the function allows users to get to what they need faster.

Instant Apps 2After collecting feedback from initial testing, Google wants to expand the experience to include more apps and users. The company also mentioned a few steps developers can take to get their apps Instant-ready. The Instant Apps SDK will be available for devs in the upcoming months.

 

This $49 Python bundle features five training courses, four books (Deal of the Day)

AndroidGuys
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Knowing how to program using today’s computer languages is a skill many people do not possess. Perhaps that’s why there is a global shortage of programmers and why the profession is so lucrative. Instead of twiddling your thumbs, wondering how nice it would be to master programming skills, why don’t you make 2017 the year you learn something new?

Our Deal of the Day is a $49 training bundle that will teach you Machine Learning with Python. As a language that’s more than a quarter century old now, it’s one of the most popular to code in. Moreover, understanding it can help you gain an edge in your career. Mastering it, well, that sounds like a new career altogether.

python_snakesAbout

As a combination of e-books and online training, this kit assumes no prior experience and helps you dive into Python fundamentals to come to grips with this popular language and start your coding odyssey off right. Spread out over 13.5 hours, you’ll have a lifetime access to more than 140 courses.

Features

  • Deep Learning with TensorFlow
  • Beginning Python
  • Deep Learning with Python
  • Data Mining with Python
  • Mastering Python
  • Data Visualization: Representing Information on the Modern Web E-Book
  • Python: Master the Art of Design Patterns E-Book
  • Python: Deeper Insights into Machine Learning E-Book
  • Python: Real-World Data Science E-Book

Where to Buy

You can purchase the full Machine Learning with Python Bundle in the AndroidGuys store for only $49. Normally priced around $650, our readers can access the kit at a 92 percent discount. Hurry, though, the deal won’t last long!

 

Create an animation in Google Photos [How-To]

AndroidGuys
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We have gone over a number of things you can do with Google Photos. I won’t list them all here but feel free to take a gander at our Tips, Tricks & Tools page and check out all of our content.

Today we are here to talk to you about animations. Remember when you were a kid and you drew a bunch of pictures in your notebook and then flipped the pages to make a short “movie” to impress all  your friends (I was never this cool). This is basically what you can do with the animation feature.

Prerequisites:

Our setup is the same as all of our other Google Photos walkthroughs:

  1. Must have the Google Photos app installed and logged into your Google account
  2. Have taken some pictures that you want to play with

Impressing your friends and family:

  1. Launch the Google Photos app
  2. Tap the options button in the upper right hand corner (3 dots)
  3. Select the Animation option
  4. Select the photos you want
  5. Tap the create button

Now you have a nice GIF that you can share with your friends and family. If you feel so inclined we would love to see some of the animations you create. Feel free to share below or tag us on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

New year, new gear? Keep charged up with one of iClever’s solutions

AndroidGuys
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Have you recently found yourself as the proud owner of a new phone or tablet? What are you using to keep it charged up? If you’re like most of us, you likely need more than one wall charger for your stuff. We like to keep one in the bedroom, one in the living room, one at work, and one in the bag. Right?

Some of you are likely transitioning away from devices that use microUSB ports and now rely on USB Type-C connections. This means that a lot of the cords and chargers you were using last year are not going to cut it in 2017. It’s time to upgrade to new stuff.

We’ve received, and spent time with, a handful of products from iClever, all of which are designed to help keep your gear charged up. Note that these were offered to us at no cost and under no obligation for promotional consideration. With that said, we found each of the following to be handy and affordable solutions for customers looking to juice up a phone or other gadget.

iclever_stock2UC01 30W PD USB-C Wall Charger

For those of you who need a straight up extra USB charger, this is that device. With 30W power delivery, it’s exactly what you need for a phone or tablet, or laptop. Normally retails for about $24.99 but we’ve found it for $22.99 at Amazon.

iclever_stock3

UC02 30W Dual USB Wall Charger with USB- C and SmartID

Should you want something that charges up your USB Type-C phone and another device at the same time, you’ll want to check this one out. The back has a USB Type-C on the upper half with a USB port with SmartID speed charging below. Plug in your tablet or Quick Charge phone (USB 2.0/3.0 supported) and charge up as quickly it can handle. Snag one for about $19.99 from Amazon.

iclever_stock4

TC04B 40W 4 Port USB Wall Charger

Powerful and compact, this one is in a 40W/8A 4-port output wall charger that delivers some up to 2.4 amps, per port, for any USB-enabled devices. Indeed, it does the trick for all four at once. Throw this one in a bag with your cables and you can leave three bulky blocks at home. Pick it up for $19.99 at Amazon.

iclever_stock1

IC-BS03 Surge Protector Power Strip

If your situation calls for charging up multiple traditional devices and those with USB ports, the surge protector is your one-stop-shop. You’ll get six AC outlets and six USB ports, each with SmartID technology up to 2.4A charging. Comes with an 18-month warranty and a 4230 Joules Rating. A heck of a deal for $25.99 at Amazon.

Kubik is a colorful, easy, and fun 3D puzzler (review)

AndroidGuys
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OK, a show of hands: Who here has never heard of Tetris?
Nobody? Thought so.

Now, another show of hands: Who here can’t just play a single game of Tetris, but instead quickly become convinced that the turn on it will be the all-time high score. Ah, right again.

We are light years beyond Tetris’s heyday, but the basic principle still has plenty of appeal: a simple game with simple mechanics, lots of colors, short but repeatable gameplay, and even some social appeal (“I can do better than you can!”).

Enter Kubik, a game from the developer Ketchapp Games. Sight unseen, consider it a slimmed-down, 3D version of the ever-popular Tetris. The game is very family-friendly (though younger children may struggle a bit with the 3D spatial relations involved to play) but adults would also enjoy this title, too.
Ketchapp Games has dozens of games available on the Play Store, including “Don’t Step on the White Tile” (a game my kiddos still pick up and play after more than a year later).

Setup

Setup is very easy; just download from the Play Store and enter the game. There Screenshot_2017-01-09-22-15-44extremely little in the way of settings or options. Essentially you can turn the background music and subtle sound effects on or off, buy some of the premium world bases up front, and check the leaderboard. Other than that, it’s a big pulsating ‘TAP TO PLAY’ icon square in the middle of the screen to get you going.

Gameplay

Gameplay is very solid; it works just like the old Tetris, but with a 3D element added to it. You start with a bare 3 square x 3 square grid at the bottom. From above the screen drop down geometric shapes of various sizes and geometries (again these are essentially the same shapes that are in Tetris but with a 3rd dimension to them).

Screenshot_2017-01-09-22-17-53Your job is to spin the grid at the bottom using basic left and right screen swipes, lining up the shapes on top of one another to make the most efficient block tower possible. You want to leave air spaces at a minimum, as with them your tower can grow quickly. If it hits a certain height (shown by a super-imposed indicator).

I found the gameplay to actually be pretty easy. The speed at which this game moves is almost “slow”…..but it’s kinda nice respite from a lot of current games that put an almost-impossible expectation on your supposed cat-like reflexes (I don’t have any of those).

Additionally, the game also lights up the particular squares that the currently-falling block will land on. Rotate the floor, and it will update the squares that will be landed on. While this does assist in making Kubik kind of easy, it does do a great job in preventing the game from being unplayable, in my opinion. Trying to guess which squares would be landed on, only to be proven wrong again and again…..I would have uninstalled this game in short Screenshot_2017-01-09-22-19-29order. Thankfully that’s not the case at all here. If you are certain of the falling block’s location, a simple screen tap will speed it’s drop to full free-fall to get to the next piece faster.

The only real upgrade available is in the “world” that your floor happens to sit on. They don’t offer any strategic or performance enhancements, but hey, they sure are cute.

Visuals and Audio

You can probably guess by now that I’m a fan of the visuals in this game. The colors are solid but a bit muted, and the motion throughout the game is buttery-smooth. It almost can lull you to sleep it’s so nice.
Which brings us to Kubik’s audio. There are very few and subtle sound effects (little ‘plinks’ and ‘dunks’ for game action. I think the background music is love-it-or-hate-it, as it’s has a twangy new-age/zen feel to it that will either have you enjoying yourself immensely or looking for that mute button. But in the end it does work for this game, as the overall feel isn’t hyper-competitive mayhem, but relaxed distraction.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed Kubik; it knows what it wants to be, and almost completely succeeds. My Screenshot_2017-01-09-22-19-55only personal want is to manually dial the difficulty up or down, based on the player or the mood. But other than that it’s a perfect Tetris alternative in this 3D, touchscreen world we’re living in.

Download Kubik from the Play Store here.

Google Voice implements new app features on mobile

AndroidGuys
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Google has just announced updated versions of Voice across multiple platforms. The updates include a new, modern user interface for both the mobile and web-based applications. Also included in this update is photo-sharing, translation and group conversations that can be separated and named.

It’s been years since Google Voice has seen any major updates, but according to the Google blog, regular updates are being promised here forward. We hope that Google follows through with this as Google Voice could be a great alternative messaging and chat application for many users.

 

google voice
Although it has been around for quite a while, Google Voice is now seeing some major updates

 

Other features to see updates or improvements include voicemail transcriptions, separate tabs for text, calls and voicemail, and in-notification replies on Android. Apple users will also see 3D touch support on their iPhones. Google is promising RCS features on supported networks in the future.

It is important to note that Hangouts integration with Google Voice will not see any changes with this relaunch. You can still use Hangouts as your default application for messaging and sharing content. It’s a little confusing if you’re not set on one messaging application, but it’s still nice to have options going forward.

 

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