Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Mario Kart Tour has officially been announced for smartphones

I almost never thought I'd see this day, but it's finally happening. Nintendo is gearing up to release their latest title for mobile devices: Mario Kart Tour. Nintendo hasn't been too forthcoming with details, only showing off the logo and a vague release date sometime "in the fiscal year ending in March 2019." Yeah, it's going to be awhile but on the bright side of things, there's now plenty of time to start saving up for the boatload of in-app purchases sure to be found in the game.

This latest development is joined by news that Nintendo is also working on a full-length feature film from the Illumination Studios, the guys that brought you Despicable Me and Minions. Again, no word on a release date, but Nintendo is making a comeback in a very big way. I, personally, couldn't be more excited.

via Twitter



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Essential Phone is skipping Android 8.0 and focusing on Android 8.1 instead

Essential has been hard at work testing beta versions of Android 8.0 Oreo on the PH-1. They're already in their 3rd beta and while it looked like we nearing an official public release for Oreo on the Essential Phone, the company announced today that they're now pulling the plug on 8.0 entirely.

Before you get too upset, Essential said in a statement that they're simply moving directly onto Android 8.1 — the latest version of Android currently available — something that will push back the public release of Oreo "a couple weeks."

Essential expressed their gratitude for anyone who participated in the Oreo Beta while they prepare to launch a brand new Android 8.1 Beta. Stay on the lookout and if you're looking to talk with other Essential Phone owners about anything you like — including the Oreo Beta — check out the forum linked below.

Essential Phone Forum

via Twitter



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Huawei set to unveil the P20 lineup on March 27th in Paris

We've heard the rumors, seen the reports, and now we have the confirmation – Huawei won't unveil its latest flagship at MWC 2018. The company has started sending out press invitations for an event in Paris on March 27th.

At said event, we are expecting to see the new lineup of flagship devices filed under the Huawei P20 moniker, with up to 3 total devices being unveiled. While the company failed to share the reasoning behind pushing back the launch of its latest and greatest, we can assume its due to Samsung looking to unveil the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus at MWC.

This date gives Huawei about a month's worth of breathing room, so all of the excitement surrounding Samsung's latest flagship lineup can subside before Huawei looks to pick up the torch. As for what we are expecting from the P20, Huawei seemingly has some big plans in order.

First and foremost, the P20 will arrive in three different variants, with all different designs, but all three featuring a new camera system with three rear-mounted camera sensors. The displays for these devices are expected to be bezel-less with the Huawei P20 Pro featuring a simple notch at the top, to house the selfie camera and other necessary sensors.

Powering the Huawei P20 and P20 Plus will likely be Huawei's new Kirin 970 chipset, which will be coupled with at least 6GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. The Huawei P20 Lite will likely fall in the mid-range or budget market, and have lesser specs, but these have not been confirmed as of yet.

Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what Huawei has planned, even if the company continues to see troubles getting "in close" with US carriers. Let us know what you think about these devices in the comments below.



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Unlocked Huawei Mate 9 in US is receiving Android Oreo

While Huawei hasn't had much luck breaking into the US with AT&T and Verizon, they do still have phones that work on American networks. The Huawei Mate 9 is one such phone and it's currently getting an update in the US. Unlocked models for GSM networks are receiving Android Oreo as we speak.

We don't have an official changelog for this update, but we do know it's for Android 8.0 Oreo. The update also brings EMUi up to version 8.0. You can expect to get all of the usual Oreo goodies with Huawei's unique spin. The OTA is rolling out right now, but it might not be available for everyone right away. Keep checking for the update and it should arrive soon.

[via Droid-Life]



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The OnePlus 5T gets some awesome iPhone X-like gestures

When the iPhone X was unveiled, one of the more surprising omissions was the fact that Apple was finally moving away from the home button. This was to help accommodate the new 5.7-inch display that Apple has implemented, and marked a move away from the boring slab design that has been around for years.

However, the removal of the home button forced Apple to rethink the way users would navigate around the device, and the company has implemented a series of gestures for doing so. In the Android world, many devices use on-screen navigation buttons to combat the new trend of bezel-less phones, but OnePlus is looking at things a bit differently now.

The company has released the latest OxygenOS Open Beta for the OnePlus 5T, which not only gets rid of the wonky, new clipboard manager but also adds some new navigation gestures similar to the iPhone X. These navigation gestures are activated when you swipe up from the middle-bottom edge of the device, which will take you back to the home screen.

Swiping up and then to either the right or left side of the display will act as a back button, while swiping up and holding the screen for around a second will activate the app switcher. While these new gestures seem pretty awesome, there definitely may be a bit of a learning curve, and since this is a beta feature, there may be some bugs that cause your device to not react as quickly as you do.

Nonetheless, it's awesome to see at least one Android OEM implement new features "on-the-fly" and hopefully these gestures will stick around on OnePlus devices. I'm also hoping to see more Android OEM's implement similar features as we get closer to seeing the latest and greatest devices hit the market in 2018.

If you want to download the latest Open Beta for the OnePlus 5T, hit the link here. Give it a download and let us know how these new gestures are working for you.



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Sharp Android One S3 announced with waterproofing and IGZO display

Google's Android One program is still humming along nicely. The newest addition is the appropriately named Sharp Android One S3. This cute little device is waterproof, durable, and headed to the Japanese carrier Y! Mobile.

The One S3 has a 5-inch IGZO panel with 1080p resolution. Sharp is the only company using IGZO displays, which are made of crystalline oxide semiconductors. Basically, it's a very nice looking display. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 430, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. It has a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. The battery is 2,700 mAh and it's running Android Oreo.

This phone doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some Android One devices have. It doesn't have a fingerprint sensor and we don't if it used USB Type-C. The price works out to be around $300, which isn't terrible, but the Moto X4 costs the same and has more features.

[via gsmarena]



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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Verizon drops all plans to sell Huawei smartphones

Things are not looking great for Huawei in the US market. After AT&T dropped plans to work with Huawei around CES, Verizon is now following in their footsteps. Verizon has dropped all plans to sell Huawei phones, including the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. This decision was made after being under pressure from the US government.

The government's concern is about Chinese spying. However, they don't block Huawei devices completely. You can still buy a Mate 10 and use it on AT&T or Verizon. The devices are just not available through the carriers. The major concern comes with 5G networks, which will be used for everything from phones to cars. If someone gets access to that network, they would have access to a lot of stuff.

Huawei fans won't be happy about this news, but it's not a complete ban on Huawei products. You'll just have to buy devices online for a little more money.

[via Bloomberg]



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Joe’s essential Android apps [VIDEO]

Every week, I share some of the best new Android apps and games. Now, I'm sharing the apps and games that I actually keep on my phone after the camera is turned off. I've been using Android for as long as I can remember. In that time, I've tried thousands of different apps. So I feel like I have my setup figured out pretty well.

Before we get into the apps, I should talk a little about the phone I use. My daily driver for the last five months has been the LG V30. I protect it with this awesome case from Bear Motion. The case is super thin and has a nice sandstone-like texture.

The full list of apps installed on my phone can be found below, but I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites first. Flamingo is probably my most-used app. It's a 3rd-party Twitter app that works a million times better than the official app. I have it customized exactly to my liking and I will never go back to the awful official app.

(Every page has the same number of apps icons)

Facebook Messenger Lite is probably my second most-used app. If you find the full version to be bloated and battery killing, the Lite version is a breath of fresh air. Backdrops is by far my favorite wallpaper app. New custom-made wallpaper is added almost daily, which is how often I change my wallpaper.

There are a few apps that I recommend splurging on. Nova Launcher is my home screen launcher of choice. I've been using it for a long time and it continues to get better. The Pro version is well worth the price. I messed around with free podcast apps for a while, but I should have used Pocket Casts sooner. It's amazing. Reddit Sync is a really simple, easy to use, and customizable Reddit app.

I'm not a huge widget and folder guy. My one widget (not counting the obligatory Google Search bar) is Weather Timeline. My two folders are for Phandroid apps (Forums, EarlyBird, and Phandroid News) and the other folder is for TV apps, such as adultswim, WatchESPN, and HDHomeRun.

That's my phone! I'm interested to hear all about your setup. What launcher do you use? What icon packs do you like? What are your invaluable apps? Let me know in the comments below!



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New OnePlus 5/5T beta brings iPhone X-like gesture controls, removes controversial Clipboard app

The OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T are receiving yet another Open Beta update, the second one to rollout this month. The update features small but important bug fixes, along with a few interesting goodies tucked away inside.

The first important change is OnePlus removing that controversial Clipboard app. A few weeks back OnePlus came under fire after the included Clipboard app was inadvertently sending user data to Chinese servers. A remnant from the Chinese version of OnePlus' software, they promised to remove the app in a future update. True to their word, the app is now gone.

Now the real fun comes by way of iPhone X style gesture controls. When choosing to hide the navigation buttons (a feature found in OxygenOS), users can now swipe to go home or activate recents. According to one tester on Reddit, the gestures are smooth and work well but he was having trouble getting the back gesture to activate consistently.

Anyone with an iPhone X knows that gestures can take many attempts to master before they become muscle memory. While navigation gestures hasn't been added to Android proper, we're wondering if this could be the beginning of the end for the big black bar. The navigation bar's days could be numbered.

via OnePlus



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Google officially closes its $1.1 billion deal with HTC

Back in September, Google and HTC announced a deal which would bring most of the team dedicated to the Pixel lineup from HTC, which amounted to around 2,000 employees. In exchange, HTC would receive a cash infusion of $1.1 billion giving the company a much-needed boost as it continues to suffer through quarterly losses.

While it's been about four months since the deal was announced, all of the t's weren't crossed just yet, until today. Google announced that the deal has been completed and states that they are "welcoming an incredibly talented team to work on even better and more innovating products in the years to come".

On the outside, it may seem like HTC is preparing to exit the smartphone business, that seems to not be the case as the company confirmed that it will continue to produce new smartphones. However, HTC is looking more towards the future with the help of Virtual Reality with its Vive branding, despite rumors that HTC was attempting to sell that division entirely.

It will be interesting to see what's to come in the future from Google now that it has a dedicated hardware team on staff, but hopefully, the Big G will pull the necessary maneuvers to really take on the big boys like Apple and Samsung. Only time will tell, but I'm already excited to see what's to come later this year for the Pixel 3 lineup.



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Moto X4 with 6GB of RAM launches exclusively in India

The Moto X4 has been available for a few months already, but Motorola has decided to up the ante a bit for its potential customers in India. The company has announced a brand new version of the device, which "only" sees a bit of a spec bump.

The standard version of the Moto X4 launched with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM, depending upon your preferences, but starting this week, folks in India can get a version of the X4 which is equipped with 6GB of RAM. The rest of the specs are the same, so you'll still have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset, and 64GB of expandable storage.

The X4 also has a 5.2-inch FHD display, which does not have a fancy bezel-less display as Motorola and Lenovo decided to stick with the standard 16:9 display for this device. There is also a 16MP selfie camera and a dual-camera system on the rear with a primary 12MP sensor and a secondary 8MP sensor.

One awesome thing about this release of the new Moto X4 is that Motorola has stated that the device will feature Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. This removes the need for consumers to worry about when or if the device will be updated to the latest version of Android, which will save a lot of headaches.

The new Moto X4 will be priced at Rs 25,000 (~$392), which is around the same cost as the standard Moto X4 here in the US. The device will go on sale starting on February 1st and will only be coming in the "Super Black" color variant. Let us know if you would like to see this version of the X4 launched elsewhere, or if you're perfectly okay with having 4GB of RAM on this mid-range device.



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Download the first wallpaper from the Samsung Galaxy S9

The Samsung Galaxy S9 won't be official until next month, but a wallpaper has already found its way online. The wallpaper comes from Evan Blass, unsurprisingly, and the full resolution is 1625×2960. You can click the image above to get the full resolution version for your phone.

This new wallpaper has a similar theme to what we saw on the Samsung Galaxy S5. Low-poly shapes in an interesting design. We can also expect to see this wallpaper as a live version on the Galaxy S9. When you move your phone it will change the perspective, similar to how the stock wallpaper works on the Galaxy S8. It's just a matter of time before we see more official renders and leaks.



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Monday, January 29, 2018

Galaxy S9 may combine iris scanner and face unlock for “Intelligent Scan”

One of the big new trends we're about to see in smartphones is secure face unlock methods. Face unlock is certainly not new to Android phones, but it has never been as secure as a fingerprint. For example, you can use your fingerprint for mobile payments, but not your face. Apple's Face ID is secure enough for those tasks.

Samsung phones have had face unlock for a while. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, they have also included iris scanning. Some users have been digging around in the Settings app of the Oreo beta for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. They discovered a few strings that relate to a new "Intelligent Scan" feature. This feature supposedly combines face unlock with iris scanner for a better experience.

The idea is using the two methods together will make the feature work better in all lighting conditions. Since there is no such feature on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, it's believed that this is for the Samsung Galaxy S9. Obviously, Samsung will want something to compete with Apple's Face ID. Intelligent Scan could be the answer.

[via sammobile]



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Samsung will open pre-orders for the Galaxy S9 on March 2nd in South Korea

As the days fly by, we are getting closer and closer to the launch of the Galaxy S9, which Samsung is expected to do at an event during MWC 2018 next month in Barcelona. That means we are beginning to see more and more information revealed about the device, and the latest piece of information may give us an idea as to when the device may go on sale.

This latest report suggests that Samsung will open pre-orders of the Galaxy S9 lineup on March 2nd in the company's home country of South Korea. The pre-order time period will last until March 8th, when the device will likely go on sale everywhere in the country.

While specific pricing for either the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus were not mentioned, the report does state that these devices will be "slightly more expensive" than the Galaxy S8. For reference, the Galaxy S8 was priced at $875 when the device launched, meaning we could see a price hike to above $900 for the S9 lineup.

One reason for the higher pricing in Samsung's latest device could come with costs associated with the new camera system that has been rumored to be implemented. This new camera system is said to feature a sensor capable of shooting "super slow-mo" videos, and the primary rear-camera will feature a "variable aperture" which will switch between f/2.4 and f/1.5 – a first for smartphones.

The countdown to Samsung's event has already begun as the company confirmed the device will be announced on February 25th during an Unpacked event at MWC 2018. For those who want to watch the event live, you will be able to as Samsung will be live-streaming the event on its own website, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more information leading up to the announcement.



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Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition is officially launching February 9th

Prince Noctis n' friends are gearing up to take on flurry of monsters and baddies on Android devices with the upcoming release of Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition. The 10 episode mobile game — which is a retelling of the console/PC version only with revamped tap controls and a fun "chibi" art-style — is coming to iOS and Android starting on February 9th.

Because this is Final Fantasy XV we're talking about here, the first episode of the money grab game will be free, with the 2nd and 3rd episodes running 99 cents each. After that, episodes 4-10 will run $4 ($30 total), or you can purchase then entire game straight up for a cool $20.

Oddly enough, the game's listing in the Apple App Store displays the Feb 9th release date, while the Android version does not. We're hoping that's not in any way indicative of a timed exclusive, but either way you'll probably want to pre-register on Google Play to get a notification when it's available. Link provided below.

Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition Pre-register


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New leak confirms three variants of the Huawei P20

Earlier this year, we learned that Huawei has plans to release three new variants of its upcoming flagship, the Huawei P20. The naming moniker was changed from the Huawei P11 for unknown reasons, but the big story about these devices is that each option may have three rear-facing cameras.

While most details regarding these devices are scarce, a new leak confirms that three variants of the P20 will launch, and we now know their codenames. The standard P20 has a codename of "Emily", the P20 Plus is called "Charlotte" and the P20 Lite has a codename of "Anne".

In addition to learning about these codenames, Roland Quandt also shared the different color options that each device would be equipped with. The standard P20 and the P20 Plus will both be made available in Ceramic Black and Twilight, while the P20 Lite will come in Midnight Black, Klein Blue, and Sakura Pink.

Unfortunately, no more information regarding these devices has been shared as of yet, but we may not have to wait too much longer. Huawei is still expected to make an appearance at MWC 2018, although a recent rumor suggests the company may delay its launch of the P20 due to Samsung's plans to announce the Galaxy S9 lineup.



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Google Clips finally become available for $249

It's been a solid 4 months since Google held its event where the company unveiled a new lineup of devices including the Pixel 2, Pixelbook, and others. While the Pixel 2 and Pixelbook have been available on the market for some time, there is one product that was introduced but has not hit the market yet – Google Clips.

Google Clips is a camera which uses artificial intelligence to quickly capture moments, leaving you to be able to enjoy the moment and not have to worry about missing anything. The camera was met with some mixed reviews, as it had yet to be seen in action, but the anticipation began ramping up a few weeks ago when Clips passed through the FCC.

For those who have been excited about this unique product from Google, the wait is finally over as Google Clips are not available through the online Google Store. Pricing may look to drive some folks away, as the smart camera is priced at $249 with free shipping.

Unfortunately, it seems that Google sold out of these pretty quickly as the "Join Waitlist" button is back in action on the Google Store. If you want to check out Google Clips and sign up for the waitlist, hit the button below.

Buy Google Clips


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HQ Trivia removes the $20 limit to cash out your winnings

HQ Trivia is one of the most popular apps in the world right now. In case you're unfamiliar, it's a live game show that takes place on your phone. The games start at specific times and there are usually around a million people playing. If you can answer 12 trivia questions correctly you win real money. That's the cool part of the game. You can literally win real, cold, hard cash.

The prize money comes with a few big catches. First of all, the prize is split between all of the winners. The prize for a normal game is $2,500. I've seen the payout be as little as $1.86 per person. Here's where the second catch comes into play. Previously, you couldn't cash out your winnings until you amassed $20. It's hard enough to win one game, let alone enough to cash out.

Thankfully, HQ Trivia is waving the $20 limit. You can cash out your winnings at any time. So if you happened to get lucky and win a couple bucks one day, that money can now be yours.

Download HQ Trivia

Use referral code tallshmo for an extra life


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Saturday, January 27, 2018

5 Best Android Apps of the Week (January 2018 #4)

Every week, hundreds of new Android apps and games are submitted to the Play Store. If you're not paying attention 24/7, it's easy to miss some of the best stuff. Each week we will highlight five of the best new or overlooked apps and games. You're sure to find some hidden gems in these recommendations. Go forth and download!

1. FingerSecurity

FingerSecurity allows you to protect any app with the fingerprint scanner on your phone. Just like the lock screen, you can require a fingerprint to open any app. This is perfect for apps that have personal information. Use this app for an extra layer of security on your phone.

DOWNLOAD: FingerSecurity

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 4.2
  • Installs: 500,000 – 1,000,000

2. Overlay Detect

Android 6.0 added a feature that allows apps to "draw over other apps." Sometimes this can cause problems. Overlay Detect will help you to fix those issues by revealing all the apps that have access to screen overlay. You can easily turn off the offending apps.

DOWNLOAD: Overlay Detect

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: No
  • Rating: 4.0
  • Installs: 5,000 – 10,000

3. Darkmatte Icon Pack

Darkmatte features icons with a dark gray color scheme and round icon shapes. It has a growing collection of over 1,000 icons. The icons are HD and support icon mask. The icon pack also includes wallpapers that go nicely with the Darkmatte theme.

DOWNLOAD: Darkmatte

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 4.9
  • Installs: 100 – 500

4. Paint Tower!

Paint Tower is essentially reverse Tetris, but you get to choose the shapes. It's your job to draw the shapes that float up instead of fall down. The trick is to balance the shapes so they don't fall off the tower. Draw strategically and do your best to keep everything standing.

DOWNLOAD: Paint Tower!

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 3.6
  • Installs: 10,000 – 50,000

5. red

Do you like the color red? You better like it if you're going to play this game. The goal of this puzzle game is pretty simple: make the entire screen red. Each level has its own logic. Your job is to figure it out and make everything red.

DOWNLOAD: red

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 4.9
  • Installs: 10,000 – 50,000

More Best Apps & Games

Our Download This series includes the best apps and games you should be downloading. We also have more lists for the best apps and games on Android. Check them out below!



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Friday, January 26, 2018

Google launches new app called Bulletin for highlighting hyperlocal stories from your community

Google is launching a new app called Bulletin. I know what you're thinking, there are plenty of news apps out there but Bulletin is different. The app is focused on community posts, similar to services like Nextdoor where you can interact with others users in your nearby area.

It hearkens back to the old days of community bulletin boards, where users submit "stories" relevant to their community. This can be anything from photos or videos taken with your smartphone. The goal is for members to highlight specific stories as they happen, those that local news agencies have overlooked or haven't even been alerted to yet. Here's what Google has to say about Bulletin stories:

  • Impactful: Bulletin helps you tell the stories that aren't being told
  • Open: Bulletin stories are public and easy to discover: on Google search, through social networks, or via links sent by email and messaging apps
  • Effortless: No setup is required to create a story – all you need is a smartphone

The app is currently in a limited pilot program and only available in Nashville, TN and Oakland, CA. You can submit a request for early access to the app by filling out a small questionnaire. You'll find a link at the landing page linked below.

Bulletin Early Access


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How to turn off that annoying Google Maps popup navigation

Google Maps is great. For most folks — especially those with Android devices — it's their go-to when navigating to new destinations. With the recent introduction of Android 8.0 Oreo, the new firmware update is off to slow start but about to hit a lot more devices. With that, I wanted to highlight an Oreo feature that could potentially drive you crazy: Picture-in-picture.

This feature display a tiny floating window for specific apps whenever you leave them. It works great with Netflix or YouTube so you can continue watching a video while checking your email, or shooting off a quick message. The problem is that picture-in-picture isn't always ideal for every app, Google Maps arguably being the worst.

For whatever reason, you wont find a setting inside of the Google Maps app to turn this feature off — and since PiP is enabled by default — you're going to need to know how to turn it off if you find it getting in the way. And it does. A lot. Don't worry, the feature is just buried deep inside the Settings app. Here's where you'll find it:

How to turn off Google Maps popup mini map

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Tap on Apps & notifications
  3. Tap on Advanced
  4. Tap on Picture-in-picture
  5. Tap on Maps
  6. Turn OFF "Allow picture-in-picture"

Or..

  1. Long press the Google Maps icon (on your home screen or inside app drawer)
  2. Tap the "i" icon
  3. Scroll down to Advanced and select Picture-in-picture
  4. Switch "Allow picture-in-picture" to the OFF position


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DEAL: Save a few bucks and get the Essential Phone for as low as $435

Those of you still looking for an awesome deal now that the holiday season is over, you might want to jump on this latest deal for the Essential Phone. Currently, the device is being offered for just $434.99 with free Prime shipping and you can get the device in either Black Moon or Pure White.

For those of you that love a bundle, you can still pick up the PH-1 and the Essential 360 Camera for a combined price of $540 with free Prime shipping. However, if you don't feel like messing with the new 360-degree camera module, you can check out Essential's new lineup of accessories which was recently announced.

The Essential Phone likely won't be the first option to roll off the tongue when asked about best devices of the year, but it could just be one of the best options at the sub-$500 price point. This comes after the company lowered the price to $499 back in October after the company was struggling to sell devices at the $699 price point.

As a reminder, the PH-1 features a 5.7-inch QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1312 and that awkward resolution is thanks to the small notch that is found at the top, which houses the selfie camera. Powering the device is the Snapdragon 835 chipset, which has been coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Perhaps the biggest complaint surrounding the PH-1 has been its camera system, which boasts a 13MP primary sensor and a secondary 13MP Monochrome sensor. While image quality has been hit or miss since the beginning, Essential has released a slew of updates that have markedly improved the camera quality. But if you don't like what Essential has been doing, you can always install the ported Google Camera APK to get a little bit better performance.

Hit the button below if you want to pick up the Essential Phone for yourself, and let us know if you decide to do so!

Buy the Essential Phone


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Here’s our first look at the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus

As has been the tradition for quite a long time, January and February are usually reserved for rumors about the upcoming flagship devices for the year, and 2018 has been no different. We have been seeing rumors, leaks, and renders regarding the Samsung Galaxy S9 lineup for a few months now, but a new image likely gives us our first "real" look at the devices.

Leaker-extraordinaire, Evan Blass, has shared the above image along with some more information regarding the device over at VentureBeat. As you can tell from the image above, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus remain largely unchanged when it comes to the display, as Samsung will be sticking with its Infinity Display which made its debut with the Galaxy S8 lineup.

Unfortunately, Blass did not share any images or renders of the rear of these devices, which is supposedly where most of the changes will be happening. The display for the Galaxy S9 will measure in at 5.8-inches, and the Galaxy S9 Plus will feature a 6.2-inch display, both of which are Super AMOLED panels.

As for the specs, it seems that Samsung will begin separating these two devices, as the standard Galaxy S9 will come equipped with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, while the larger Galaxy S9 will feature 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Both devices will either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset or Samsung's Exynos 9810 SoC.

In Samsung's MWC Unpacked invitation, the company stated that the camera would be "reimagined", which is a big claim considering the Galaxy Note 8 camera is already considered to be one of the best on the market. Nonetheless, we are expecting to see Samsung include the ability to shoot "super slow-mo" videos, along with the primary 12MP sensor to feature a "variable aperture" which switches between f/2.4 and f/1.5.

Keeping up with being different, the standard Galaxy S9 will feature just one camera sensor, while its big brother will see a second 12MP added to the mix. The entire camera module itself will be orientated vertically, while Samsung will move the fingerprint scanner to the middle of the device, making for a more convenient and natural experience.

Samsung's Unpacked event at MWC 2018 will be taking place on February 25th, where these devices will be made official to the world. However, Blass gives one final tidbit of information regarding availability, stating that these devices will go on sale starting on March 16th.

Let us know what you think about this latest slew of information surrounding Samsung's 2018 flagship devices and what you think about Samsung separating the standard and Plus-size Galaxy S9.



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Could this be our first look at a Chrome OS-powered tablet?

When you think of Chromebooks, chances are that you think about an internet-only device that may or may not suit your needs. However, there are some out there who are so entrenched in the world of Chrome, that these laptops become their primary computer as it checks all of the boxes.

But what if there was a world where Chrome OS ran on more than just laptops? It seems that pipe dream may become a reality after an image was shared with ChromeUnboxed which shows an unnamed Acer tablet running Chrome OS.

This image was taken during the BETT conference in London, which is directed at those in the education industry. As expected, there's not much else to go on here as there was no information about specs or availability shared at the time.

Instead, this leaves everything up to a bunch of speculation, starting with the display size of between 8 and 10-inches. On the other side, regardless of the specs of this unannounced tablet, a Chrome OS tablet could help change the game, and considering the number of 2-in-1 Chromebooks on the market, could be a welcome addition to the Chrome OS lineup.

Let us know in the comments below what you think about this tablet and if you would be interested in using a tablet which is strictly powered by Chrome OS.



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Qualcomm agrees to $2 billion deal with various Chinese OEM’s including Xiaomi, Oppo, and others

Qualcomm has been in the news over the last few months for all of the wrong reasons, as the company has seen a few struggles as of late. The latest of which was a $1.2 billion fine after it was discovered that the company paid Apple to "shun competitors" between 2011 and 2016.

However, it seems things are looking up for Qualcomm, at least for now, as the company held an event in Shanghai to make a rather important partnership. The chipset manufacturer announced a $2 billion agreement with the likes of Lenovo, Xiaomi, Oppo, ZTE, and other OEM's to help facilitate the development of 5G network.

The deal also ushers in a new wave of hope for Qualcomm as each of the aforementioned companies have agreed to purchase an array of components over the next three years. While on the outside it may just look like Qualcomm will bring its Snapdragon lineup of chipsets to more devices, this also may be a big move to help sway shareholders from selling the company.

Back in November, we began hearing rumors of a potential suitor who was looking to purchase Qualcomm. These rumors were confirmed after Broadcom officially offered a staggering $130 billion bid, which was based on a valuation of $70 per share. Qualcomm quickly rejected the bid, doing so unceremoniously as the Board of Directors voted unanimously against the buyout.

A few weeks later, a report was revealed which claimed that Qualcomm wanted Broadcom to return to the table with a new offer, which would be worth $80 per share. Since then, we have seen Qualcomm introduce its latest chipset, the Snapdragon 845, which will be at the helm of many flagships in 2018.

Furthermore, Qualcomm has been in a legal battle with Apple due to battery patent infringement, a case which has yet to be settled. While we haven't heard much from the possible Broadcom acquisition, chances are that Qualcomm is working to pull out all of the stops to show just how much the company is worth, and this latest deal is sure to assist in that attempt.



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Android Wear 2.9 will bring an unread notification indicator

The updates for Android Wear have been coming out a little more consistently lately. Last week, we talked about Android Wear 2.8 bringing a new black UI theme. The next incremental update includes a few more little additions. Android Wear 2.9 brings a new unread notification indicator to every watch face.

The default unread notification indicator is a simple dot at the bottom of the screen. Developers will be able to customize it to match the design and color scheme of the watch face. They can change the accent color or use an unread number instead. You can see a couple of examples above. This should make it much easier to see what's going on with a quick glance.

These new features are available in the Android Wear SDK 2.2.0. We'll have to wait a little longer before the update hits smartwatches.

[via Android Developers]



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Thursday, January 25, 2018

Turns out Amazon’s alleged Moto G5 Plus lockscreen bypass bug was something else entirely

The internet is pretty good at finding things to freak out about, especially when it comes to device security. The latest outrage comes to us courtesy of Amazon's Prime Exclusive Moto G5 Plus. These phones are offered at a discount for showing users Amazon ads on the lock screen and while that sounds like a good trade-off, some people claim to have made a disturbing discovery.

The alleged issue? According to a furry user on Twitter, it's really easy to bypass the phone's secure lockscreen by simply tapping on the phone's lockscreen ads. To provide proof, he uploaded a quick video showing the problem, something that was seemingly confirmed by another user showing the exact same issue.

The problem is that it's hard to pinpoint what's going on here. On the surface, it sure looks like Amazon's ads are the culprit, but not so fast. Android also has a variety of features that could be coming into play, delaying the lockscreen from fully activating.

As it turns out — at least for our furry friend here — the issue was simply Android's "On-body Detection" feature — which keeps the device unlocked as long as it detects movement — something he claims was on by default (this usually isn't the case). Locking and quickly unlocking the device doesn't provide enough time for the phone to lock itself down, seemingly allowing a simple tap of an Amazon ad to give the user full access, although technically a swipe would do the same thing.

In either case, we've learned an important lesson here. Sometimes it's better to hold off on the outrage and wait until we can find the true source of an issue before grabbing our pitchforks. Not that anyone did that here today, but you know… just a little food for thought.



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Google tests ‘My subscriptions’ option inside the Play Store’s nav menu

Google Play's in-app subscriptions have been around for years now but even with special introductory pricing and free trials, they've always been a tough sell. Don't get me wrong, app subscriptions are great, especially for developers looking to make a living off their apps/games. But one of the biggest hurdles users have get over is the feeling that they'll forget which apps they're even subscribed to in the first place.

For those unaware, the Google Play Store does add a tab in the My apps & games page specifically for your subscriptions, but you need to subscribe to something first. The simple fact of not knowing there's a place for them could keep some users from buying and that's not exactly good for business.

It seems Google is toying around with a better place for subscriptions, placing them just underneath the My apps & games section in the Play Store's pull out menu. Even if you aren't subscribed to anything, you'll still see My subscriptions and it lets you know ahead of time — in the event you're considering subscribing to an app or service — that this is where they'll be found should you decide you later want to cancel.

Now we don't know for certain if this will make its way to the app. It doesn't appear for everyone just yet so it could be nothing more than a server side test. I, personally, think it's a great idea and would love to see this hit my version of the Play Store. I've always had this irrational feeling that I'm subscribed to something but forgot. This isn't a huge deal, but would eliminate a step for me to check (especially if they add a shortcut from the Play Store icon). Make it happen, Google!

via Android Police



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Google Pay now showing up in some users’ Tap-to-pay settings, rollout imminent?

When Google announced that they'd be merging Android Pay and Google Wallet under a new "Google Pay" brand, the move just made sense to us. We never did quite see the point of handling peer-to-peer and Tap-to-Pay mobile payments in two separate apps, but then again it's not unusual for Google to have multiple apps all trying to accomplish the same thing.

We still don't know when the two services will officially merge, but some users are starting to find that all new Google Play branding popping up inside their devices already ( Pixel 2 XL and Moto X Pure Edition). It's reportedly being show under Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps > Tap & pay. Selecting that option will normally show you Android Pay, but some users are reportedly seeing "G Pay" instead.

I've tried it on my own Pixel 2 XL with no luck in pulling up the new service, it's still boring 'ol Android Pay. Guess we'll have to wait for something more concrete when it comes to release timing. It's still not entirely clear if a new Google Pay app will need to be downloaded, or if Google will simply re-brand Android Pay or Google Wallet with the new moniker. Shouldn't be long now.

Android Authority | via Droid-Life



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Instagram Stories adds GIF stickers from Giphy, no longer crops your photos

Instagram Stories are about to become a lot more fun (or annoying, depending on how you look at it) with the addition of GIF stickers. The social network is teaming up with Giphy to bring their entire library of GIF stickers to Instagram Stories, allowing you to quickly search and paste them on your photos and videos.

When creating a Story, simply drag up from the bottom to open the drawer and tap the GIF search sticker to begin searching through Giphy's animated image repository. GIFs behave just like regular stickers, allowing you to rotate, pinch-to-zoom, or pin them wherever you like.

Arguably more important, however, is the ability to upload photos in any orientation to your story. Previously photos uploaded would zoom in to fill the frame, occasionally cutting out important parts of your photo. This happened to me frequently and I was actually looking for an app that would fix this.

Instagram is also doing one better by keeping the original orientation and filling in the empty space using a custom color gradient that matches the colors in your photo. It's not available to everyone yet, but it should be available in "the coming weeks" and quite frankly, it's about damn time.

 

via Instagram



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HTC will not show off new phones at Mobile World Congress

We now know the Samsung Galaxy S9 will be shown off at Mobile World Congress next month. That basically means all other devices will be buried by the almighty Samsung. Some were worried that this news would cause other manufacturers to hold back device announcements. It sounds like that's exactly what's happening with HTC.

Some rumors suggested that we might see the HTC U12 at MWC, but sources familiar with the situation are saying otherwise. Apparently, HTC is pulling the U12 out of MWC and they will have their own event instead. We could see the event sometime in March or April. It's hard enough for other manufacturers to get noticed all year, let alone when Samsung is showing off new stuff.

[via android headlines]



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Samsung’s Oreo beta for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ is officially ending on Jan 26th

Samsung has been testing Android 8.0 Oreo in a public beta for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ since last November and it's been a fun ride. After 7 updates and rumors that the most recent beta — builds G950U1UEU2ZRAE for the S8 and G955U1UEU2ZRAE for the S8+ — would be the last, Samsung is now sending a notification to beta users letting them know that the program is, in fact, officially coming to an end.

According to notification, the Samsung Beta Experience 9.0 will officially be ending on January 26th. Once the beta has drawn to a close, there will be no further beta updates and Samsung says they'll no longer be responding to beta feedback. So where does that leave beta users?

 

Well, you now have to wait until the official Android 8.0 Oreo + Samsung Experience 9.0 software update is ready for the devices, something that hopefully wont take much longer considering all the feedback Samsung has received along the way. The beta program included T-Mobile, Sprint, and unlocked devices, so it's possible they could be first in line to roll out the update. Stay tuned!

via Droid-Life



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New images show off the Xiaomi Mi 6X and its familiar camera bump

Xiaomi is one of those companies which is most intriguing to someone like me, as the company offers extremely excellent options, although these devices almost never are readily available in the US. Sure, you can go through the likes of Gearbest or eBay to pick up these devices, but Xiaomi has never released a smartphone here in the States.

Nonetheless, the company continues to churn out new options on a regular basis, and a new leak shows off the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 6X in a series of images. These images show off the new 2:1 display, which could measure in around 6-inches, but we don't know if this will be an OLED panel or something else.

The images also show off the rear of the Mi 6X, which features a rather familiar camera bump, a la the iPhone X. The dual-camera setup has been oriented vertically, with the LED flash placed in between the two sensors. It's unknown just how thick this camera bump is, but it's sure to rattle back and forth on your desk regardless.

As expected, there is also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is placed in the center for optimal quick-unlocking. Other rumored specs for the Mi 6X include the Xiaomi Surge S2 processor, which could be coupled with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM.

It's possible that the Xiaomi Mi 6X could be unveiled at MWC 2018, so we'll be keeping an eye on TENAA to see if the device passes through certifications anytime soon.



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Robinhood brings zero-fee crypto trading to the forefront

Over the last few months, you have more than likely been hearing about "Bitcoin" and "cyptocurrency", but the entire space is a bit confusing for the uninitiated. Thankfully, due to the increasing popularity of cyrptocurrency, we are seeing more apps hit the Play Store, but an old friend is joining the space.

Robinhood is a popular stock trading application which has made life extremely easy for those who want to invest in stocks, without worrying about the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. Today, the company announced that it will soon be bringing crypto-trading to its application.

What makes this announcement even more exciting is the fact that there will be no fees attached to trading your various cryptocurrencies. This is a big blow to Coinbase, which primarily specializes in Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, but also includes up to a 4% fee when trading or cashing in your crypto of choice.

While trading is not available in the Robinhood app as of yet, the app has now been updated with the ability to track up to 16 different cryptocurrencies including the Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Ripple. Here is the full list of crypto coins that you can track with Robinhood:

  • Bitcoin
  • Bitcoin Cash
  • Bitcoin Gold
  • Ethereum
  • Ethereum Classic
  • Litecoin
  • Ripple
  • Zcash
  • Monero
  • Dash
  • Stellar
  • Qtum
  • OmiseGo
  • NEO
  • Lisk
  • Dogecoin

There is a bit of a catch here, as Robinhood will limit trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum to just California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montan, and New Hampshire when its crypto-trading feature arrives. Speaking, there is currently a waitlist over at the Robinhood Crypto landing page for those who are looking to get "Early Access" ahead of the official launch of crypto-trading via Robinhood in February.

At the very least, if you want to check out the updated Robinhood app, hit the button below and let us know what you think about cryptocurrencies.

Download Robinhood


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LG’s mobile division posts another loss for Q4 2017

The last few years have not been too kind to LG as the company has struggled to keep up with the competition, being completely overshadowed by Samsung year-after-year. This is even more apparent in 2017, as LG has shared its Q4 2017 financial results, showing that the mobile division had an operating loss of $192.33 million.

At first glance, you are likely expecting for me to spell out the demise of LG, but if you look at the latest financial results compared to Q3 2017, LG has rebounded quite nicely. In Q3, the company posted an operating loss of $331.37 million, so essentially LG has shaved its losses by almost $150 million in just a quarter.

The positive outlook on LG's mobile division from Q4 2017 was driven by the release of the LG V30, which saw many different deals during the holidays as it competed against the more-expensive Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Looking to the future, things are looking a bit bleaker as LG has not only scrapped its plans for the LG G7, but the company is opting to delay the launch of a modified LG V30 due to Samsung's presence at MWC 2018.

2018 is going to be extremely interesting for LG, as the company has decided to end the rat-race of following a specific release schedule for its flagship lineup of devices. Instead, the company will be releasing new devices "when necessary", which could either help boost the company even more or could spell disaster.

Let us know what you think about the company's financial results and if you are looking forward to seeing what LG is working on for 2018.



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Registration for Google I/O 2018 opens on February 22nd

A couple of nights ago, Google released its teaser for Google I/O 2018, where the company wanted everyone to play a game to figure out the date and location of the latest developer conference. The game was pretty fun, and we learned that I/O 2018 will again be held at the Shoreline Amphitheater for the third straight year, taking place on May 8th.

At the time, we weren't sure of when registrations for the event would open, and if Google would be changing the way that folks are invited to the event. It seems that won't be the case, although the Google Developers Google+ account shared that you will be able to "apply to purchase a ticket" starting on February 22nd.

This registration period will last from the 22nd until February 27th, although pricing for the tickets was not shared at this time. As has been the case for the last few years, we are expecting Google to select attendees via lottery, meaning that unless you are specifically selected, you will be left out of the fun.

While Google Assistant and Android 9.0 (Pineapple?) will be at the forefront, Google has yet to really share much of what's going to be shown off at the conference as of yet. Of course, we'll be learning more in the coming weeks and months, and we'll be sure to keep everyone updated as more information becomes available.



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The Samsung Galaxy S9 will be revealed on February 25th

The time has come. Well, the time is coming. The device that will dominate the Android world in 2018 is exactly one month away. Samsung will officially unveil the Samsung Galaxy S9 on February 25th at Mobile World Congress. Get ready.

Samsung sent out an announcement teaser with one clue about what we can expect. The big "9" logo is flanked by the phrase "The Camera. Reimagined." So, obviously, the camera will be a big area of focus on the Galaxy S9. This is interesting because Samsung already makes probably the second best camera you can get on a smartphone (just behind the Pixel 2). Clearly, second place isn't good enough.

They could be referring to the variable aperture camera that they've started shipping on the crazy W2018 flip phone. It actually has real aperture blades that open and close to match light levels like a legit camera. In well-lit scenarios, you get a f/2.4 aperture, but it can switch to f/1.5 in low-light. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S8 camera is locked at f/1.7 all the time.

Mobile World Congress should be very exciting now that we know Samsung will be there. Expect the Galaxy S9 to launch sometime in March.



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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

JDI creates transparent fingerprint sensors that wont get in the way of the display

Chamfered edges are so 2015. Right now the current trend in mobile design are phones with displays that have painfully small bezels. Sparked by early leaks of the iPhone X, manufacturers the world over are doing anything they can to eliminate the bezel on their flagship devices, even at the cost of front facing fingerprint sensors.

On Android devices this isn't so much of a big of a deal, as rear facing sensors are pretty commonplace. Without getting into the debate of front vs rear fingerprint sensors (I still believe front is best) we're starting to see new options for manufacturers who want the best of both worlds: bezel-less displays and a front facing fingerprint sensors.

JDI has come up with an interesting solution. They've built a transparent fingerprint sensor based on their Pixel Eyes capacitive touch technology. This is built into the the glass substrate of the LCD panel, where the fingerprint sensor rests on top. Since it's transparent, there's nothing getting in the way of the display and the sensor is accurate enough to detect the ridges of your prints.

This is in contrast to the Synaptics fingerprint sensor that we saw in the Vivo X20 which is built underneath the display. JDI's sensor is set to being shipping next March with plans to also introduce flexible sensors. Whether we see these eventually make their way into devices we'll be using here in the states remains to be seen.

Japan Display Inc. | via GSMArena



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