Tuesday, July 14, 2020

OnePlus Nord revealed by Carl Pei and MKBHD

A few minutes ago, the OnePlus Nord was unofficially unveiled by Carl Pei in a new MKBHD video. Carl was a guest for the latest WVFRM Podcast, to talk about OnePlus' upcoming smartphone. While the OnePlus Nord was the main topic of the conversation, MKBHD also asked about various costs and tradeoffs that need to be made when building a budget-friendly device. Specifically, Pei revealed that NFC chips typically add $4 to a phone's BoM (build of materials), while certifying a smartphone with an IP rating can cost up to $15 per device due to the cost of testing materials, addition seals in the phone and added manufacturing steps to ensure that each device that's built is certified when it comes off the line.

Official: OnePlus Nord to make it debut July 21 with unique AR launch event

As for the OnePlus Nord, Carl Pei showed off the final design of the phone, in two different colors. While final designs are typically locked down 9 months before a phone hits the market, Pei revealed that the OnePlus Nord's final design wasn't finalized until 6 months before the launch which pushed the launch date back by about a month. He also showed off one of the design prototypes which featured a square camera module on the back with the camera lenses laid out in an L shape. Ultimately, OnePlus chose a more traditional design to ensure consumers could easily recognize the phone as a OnePlus device.

Check out the video below to get a first official look at the OnePlus Nord.



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10 best free app to track a Cheating Spouse for Android

Are you worried that your spouse might be cheating for you? If that is so, I have the perfect solution for you right here. With the methods that I suggested below, you can keep a tab on your partner's Android phone and find out what they are hiding from you.

I have tried and tested each one of the methods that I am going to talk about. Therefore, everything I say is proven and none of it is hearsay. After all, I want you to have the proper knowledge and opinion about an app before you try it out.

Therefore, without waiting any longer, let me start with the five best ways to catch a cheating spouse by monitoring their Android phone.

Part 1: Best Free Android Spy Apps to Catch a Cheating Spouse- Minspy

When the issue is as serious as finding out if your spouse is cheating on you, there is no app better than Minspy.

Minspy is regarded as the world's best phone monitor, no matter which way you look at it. With millions of users spread all over the world, Minspy enjoys a popularity that other phone monitoring apps find hard to match.

Minspy allows you to track your spouse's phone, no matter whether they are using an Android phone or an iPhone. However, for the purpose of this guide, I will only focus on Minspy's Android spying solution. I think Minspy is the best free Android spy app to catch a cheating spouse.

Your spouse might be clever and delete any traces of them cheating present on their phone. Yet, they still cannot hide from Minspy. Minspy shows you each and every bit of data present on their phone, including the data they have deleted.

What Makes Minspy the Best Cheating Spy App?

There are many reasons which make Minspy better than any other app you might use to catch your spouse cheating. Let me talk about a few of these reasons here:

Secret Android Monitor:

When you are using Minspy to keep track of your spouse's activity, they will never find out about it. This is because Minspy's Android monitor is designed to be completely quiet and secretive. It works without any chances of the target user knowing about it.

Web Based Spy App:

You might be worried about your spouse noticing a spy app installed on your phone. However, there is no such concern when it comes to Minspy. Minspy has a web based dashboard, that you can access from any web browser that you use.

No Root Needed:

You do not have to root your spouse's Android phone in order to view their data. This is unlike most cheating spouse apps, which require rooting their phone is the first step. By not asking you to root their phone, Minspy takes a big burden off your chest.

Data Privacy:

Your spouse's phone has a lot of data that you might want to keep private between you two. This is why Minspy does not store any of this private data on its servers. Even Minspy's own team cannot view this data.

There are many, MANY other benefits of using Minspy for catching your spouse cheating. However, I will leave it to you to explore these benefits when you use Minspy. You can even get a sneak peek into Minspy through its free web demo.

How Minspy Catches Your Spouse Cheating 'Secretly'?

When you are using Minspy to keep an eye on your spouse's activities, they never find out about it. This is because Minspy's Android solution is designed to be completely hidden.

As a basic rule, any Android phone monitoring app needs to be installed on the phone which you wish to monitor, i.e. your spouse's phone. This rule applies to Minspy as well as any other working Android spy app.

It might make you think that your spouse will find out that you have a hidden spy app installed on their phone. However, that is not the case; Minspy is designed to handle the problem quite well.

Minspy's Android app is less than 3 MB in size, which means that it takes only a few seconds to install it on your partner's phone. Once the app is installed, you can choose to hide the app icon from their app menu.

The app runs on the background of their phone without triggering any notifications. It will not even consume any battery at all.

And if you feel the need to uninstall the app, you can do it remotely through Minspy's web dashboard, which can open on any device's web browser.

Therefore, after the first time access (that too for a few seconds), you never have to touch your spouse's phone ever again.

**All working cheating spouse apps for Android phones will need the app installed on your spouse's phone. If any app claims to spy on your spouse's Android phone without app installation, that app is a scam and you should stay away from it!**

 

Minspys's Cheating Spouse Buster Features

There are many features in Minspy that are designed exactly for you, so you can catch your spouse cheating on you with proof of it. Here are a few of these features (keep in mind that there are many more of them):

Social Media Monitor:

If your spouse is cheating on you, your social media will definitely have traces of it. Minspy lets you read their social media private messages for apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and many more.

Location Tracker:

Minspy lets you keep a tab on their location in real-time. Not only can you view their live location 24×7, you also get to see their recent locations along with the timestamps. It even comes with geofencing, which tracks your spouse's location when you are busy.

Call Tracker:

The call tracker feature lets you monitor all their incoming and outgoing phone calls. The call logs come with caller details such as caller phone number, address, etc. You can even record the phone calls if you want.

Keylogger:

Minspy's keylogger feature gives you access to all the keystrokes that the user has typed on their phone. This even includes their usernames and passwords as well. You can even view their web searches and anything else they have typed.

There are several other features that come with Minspy, each one designed to give you more and more access to your spouse's phone data. If you want to see how these features look in action, you can always check Minspy's demo on their website.

Part 2: Cheating App for Android Phone- Spyine

Even though Minspy is the best app in the area of monitoring your cheating spouses, there are some apps that come close to it and give it a tough competition.

Spyine is one such app that can catch your spouse right in the act along with giving you the evidence for it. Just like Minspy, Spyine works without asking you to root or jailbreak the target device.

Spyine has been offering Android monitoring services as long as Android phones have been around. It is present on the phones of most spouses, as even if they are not cheating Spyine comes to be of help even then. It never hurts to take precautions.

 

Part3: Cheating Spy App Free-Spyier

Spyier is another great well established cheating spouse tracker that has been offering its services for some years now. Spyier's Android tracker is designed to be totally easy so even the most tech inexperienced people can use it without facing difficulties.

The thing that I like about Spyier is its user support process. Whenever anyone faces an issue, Spyier's user support team instantly resolves it. They pay quite a focus on customer support both before and after a user has its subscription.

This says a lot about an app, especially when it comes to trust. Therefore, you can use Spyier without any second thoughts.

 

Part 4: Spy Apps for Cheating Spouses Free-Cocospy

Cocospy is one of the oldest phone monitoring apps, and undoubtedly one of the best. You will see Cococspy in most top ten lists that talk about catching a cheating spouse or monitoring your child's activities. Cocospy is good for all purposes.

Since Cocospy has been around for such a long time, it supports all Android phone versions and models out there. There are no compatibility issues that you are going to face with Cocospy. Its interface is quite flawless and there are no bugs you will find anywhere.

Therefore, if you want to choose a good and reputed app, Cocospy can never let you down.

 

Part 5: Android Spy Apps Cheating Spouse- Spyic

I first found out about Spyic after reading a really positive review from an authority media outlet. That led me to go through a series of similar reviews on countless tech media outlets talking really good stuff about Spyic.

Then I tried out Spyic to check what the fuss was all about and I realized everything they said was true. Spyic was indeed a perfect phone monitoring solution for Android phones.

Spyic can monitor any Android phone, just taking no more than five minutes to set up. Once you have setup Spyic, getting your spouse's private data is instantaneous.

It is another web app that you can use from any device, be it your phone, computer, or a tablet. You just need to open it through the device's web browser.

Part 6: Cheaters App for Android-Spyera

Spyera is another popular Android spying solution, or I should say it used to be a popular Android monitoring solution. However, times have changed and a few discrepancies here and there have led Spyera to slip down in the list.

Spyera offers a good number of features comparable to the top entries in the list. Its interface fits those features very well and there are no problems you will find in that area.

The major deal-breaking issue is that you need to root your spouse's Android phone in order to make it work. This is what keeps most people from using Spyera to monitor their spouse's activity.

Not just that, even though Spyera requires you to root their phone, its price is costlier than other entries on this list. This is why other entries on this list have taken Spyera's place and are used more than it.

Part 7: Android Spy Apps Cheating Spouse-Secureteen

While Secureteen is an app designed to monitor your child's activities, it is just as good for keeping an eye on your spouse's data too.

Secureteen is a toned down version of the apps so far on this list that are above it. Therefore, it lacks many features that you will find in apps of the likes of Minspy and Spyier. This is what makes Secureteen less popular than the above apps.

Therefore, you can use Secureteen if you have tried the above apps for a while and you want something very basic. It is not really a suggested phone spy app for first time users, as they miss out on many features that they can get with a phone monitoring solution.

 

Part 8: Apps for Cheating Spouse- Hellospy

Hellospy used to be a commonly used app if you were considering it a few years ago. However, lack of frequent updates and some bugs here and there have made Hellospy slide down in the competition.

Hellospy needs you to root the target device in order to work. It can be seen as a last resort if you do not like the other apps that I mentioned (which is improbable).

 

Part 9: Catch Your Spouse Cheating App- Mobistealth

Mobistealth provides Android monitoring solution to track your spouse or your children. It has a moderate user base and average reviews, neither too good nor too bad.

While you won't be disappointed if you use Mobistealth, there is nothing much you will like about it if you have used apps like Spyic. Mobistealth offers less than what other apps offer, at a price that is not lesser. This is why people prefer Mobistealth less than other apps.

Part 10: Apps to Spy on Spouse- Mspy

What Mspy does well in marketing its phone monitoring services, it lacks in the ability to improve the services. While its phone monitoring services work to track your spouse's activities, there are a lot of downtimes which can make Mspy less recommended.

Further, even though the quality of service is low, the price of the service is very high as compared to other entries in the list. Therefore, use Mspy only as a last resort.

Part 11: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions along with the answers to these questions:

Q: Do I need to root my spouse's phone to track its data?

While most apps require you to root your spouse's phone, really good apps such as Minspy can work without needing it.

Q: Can I monitor my spouse's phone without touching it?

No, you need at least a one time access to your partner's Android phone so you can install the monitoring application on it. This is true for all Android phones, regardless of which app you use.

Q: Can I track my spouse's live location?

Yes, you can view the live location of your partner through all the apps that I have mentioned above in this list.

Q: How long does it take to set up these spouse monitoring apps?

For the best apps out there, it will take you no more than five minutes for the setup process, just for the first time. Once the app is set up, you do not have to wait even for a minute to monitor your spouse's phone.

Q: Do I have to be in the same room to monitor my spouse's phone?

No, there is no such requirement. You can monitor your spouse's phone even from a whole other corner of the world. All you will need is internet access.

Wrapping Up

Now you know about the best apps to catch your spouse cheating, along with the proof. You can use any of these apps freely and the choice is just yours. Therefore, start monitoring right away, the sooner the better!



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Best Racing Games for Android and iOS

Racing games are one genre where individuals are either huge fans or have very little interest in playing. It doesn't matter if you're playing on your smartphone or tablet, racing games for mobile devices are extremely compelling and often times offer a more immersive experience than what gaming consoles can offer.

Best gaming controllers for smartphones and tablets

For those of you who do enjoy a good racing game here are a few of our favorites. If we happened to miss one that you truly enjoy, please drop it in the comments below.

Asphalt 9: Legends

The Asphalt series from Gameloft is quite popular and their latest Asphalt 9: Legends is another good example of a great racing game. Race vehicles from some of the top speed car manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, and W Motors in locations all over the world. Customize your vehicle including the body and rims before heading into an intense multiplayer battle with 7 other racers. A new feature added in Asphalt 9 is the ability to create your own multiplayer Club and compete for the top spot on the leaderboard.

Real Racing 3

Real Racing is a treasure trove of virtual exotic cars. Real Racing includes over 250 cars from manufacturers such as Porsche, Chevrolet, and Bugatti. Race your car on over a dozen real-world tracks and in 40 circuits. Fans of F1 can enjoy seeing all 10 teams and 20 drivers represented in Real Racing 3. Multiplayer mode lets you race cross-platform against 7 other players in a race. The game is resource-intensive so we suggest playing on a newer device with at least 2.5Gb of space available.

Top Drives – Car Cards Racing

Top Drives – Car Cards Racing is slightly different than other racing games on this list. You from over 1900 card cards and place them in your "deck" to race on each of the 5 tracks for the given challenge. Cars range in speed, performance, and tires. Make sure you pick the right car for the track condition. a 4×4 SUV will perform a lot better than a front-wheel-drive Porsche on a snow-covered circuit. Upgrade your cars and compete with friends or enter the live multiplayer races for a chance to win an exclusive car. Top Drives – Car Cards Racing requires a little more strategy than some of the other racing games I've played.

  • Download Top Drives – Car Cards Racing: iOS / Android

Beach Buggy Blitz

Beach Buggy Blitz is pure arcade racing. Race your buggy across several destructible environments earning coins that can be used to unlock customizations and additional vehicles. Your racing world is procedurally generated so you can drive endlessly and not repeat areas. The physics in Beach Buggy Blitz allows for off-track power sliding as you race across the track. The controls are easy to use with tilt, touchscreen, and game controller support.

GRID™ Autosport

GRID™ Autosport is a great option for those looking for a simulation racing game. Race using one of over 100 cars in numerous racing series including Open-Wheel, Tuner, Touring, Drift, and Drag racing. GRID™ Autosport offers multiple control options including Tilt, Arrow Touch, and support for multiple controllers. One thing to note is that GRID™ Autosport requires Android 9.0 and 3.9GB of free space on your drive.

Need for Speed™ No Limits

Need for Speed™ No Limits is brought to you by the same team behind Real Racing 3, also mentioned in this article. Buy and customize your car from manufacturers such as McLaren, Pagani, and Toyota. Once decked out, take your car to the streets for intense underground street racing. Compete in over 1000 racing challenges and prove you belong out there among the best virtual drivers.

  • Download Need for Speed™ No Limits: iOS / Android

Horizon Chase World Tour

Horizon Chase brings back the look and feels of the old 16-bit racing games such as Out Run in a more modern aesthetic. Race your car in over 92 tracks across 40 cities representing various areas around the world. Barry Leitch, the genius behind several old-school racing games such as Top Gear and Rush provides the audio track for Horizon Chase. Another nice feature is that you can try 5 tracks for free before deciding to purchase the game.

CSR Racing 2

CSR Racing 2 brings drag racing to new levels including a new AR experience. Select from and customize over 200 cars including Aston Martin, McLaren, and Bugatti. CSR Racing 2 also includes 16 legendary cars to collect and restore including an Astin Martin DB5. Take your car and battle other drivers, in single-player mode or hop online and race against others in multiplayer drag races. Use the new AR mode to share your custom beauty with your friends and family.



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How to check battery health on your OnePlus smartphone

When it comes to battery on our smartphones, there are a myriad of things that could affect the longevity of our devices. Cranking the brightness and volume to max levels could affect battery life, playing games all day, watching videos back-to-back, bad software updates, and so on all play a role.

There are also other factors that are hardware-related, such as having a battery that can no longer hold its maximum charge.

OnePlus 8 Pro review: finally playing with the big boys

This is due to the fact that lithium-ion batteries usually have a fixed amount of charges it can handle before it starts to degrade. With every full charge (0-100%), your battery losing a charging cycle, after which it will get to the point where your 4,000mAh battery is no longer operating as a 4,000mAh battery.

This is normal for all lithium-ion batteries in smartphones today, so if you want to know if maybe it could be time to replace the battery in your OnePlus smartphone, here's how you can do it.

Image credit – Some_Random_Username @ XDA Developers
  1. Download the OnePlus Diagnostic app
  2. Launch the app
  3. Under "Battery Capacity", tap on "View Battery Status"
  4. Under "Battery state", it will show you the max charge on your OnePlus battery and if it is still healthy or if it is at a "Serious Loss"

If the state says it is at "Serious Loss", this doesn't mean your phone will no longer work. It's just an indication that your battery no longer holds the charge like it did when it was new. This means that you might find yourself needing to charge your device more often than before.

At this point, you have several options to consider. You could always consider bringing a power bank with you to keep your phone topped up, or you could also consider having the battery replaced. How much this will cost will depend on where you send your phone in and which model you have.

Lastly, you could also consider buying a new handset, although this would be a bit extreme depending on how long you've had your phone, and it could be cheaper to just pay to get the battery replaced if you plan on keeping it around for several years.

Generally speaking, most devices tend to still hold around 80% or so of their charge over the course of 2 years, any longer and you might dip to the 70% level. Your mileage may vary depending on your charging habits. For example, keeping your phone plugged in for extended periods of time will impact battery life.

Some have recommended that you only charge your phone to 80% and never let it dip below 40%, but we imagine that this can be a bit troublesome to have to monitor.

Other great OnePlus articles

Source: XDA Developers



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How to Read Someone Else’s Text Messages Online for Free

There are countless people who look for a text message spy app every day. However, the internet is full of scams that promise to work but do not.

There are many sources that claim to offer you a 'free message spy' feature. Well, things are quite different when you try any of these out.

You are taken through a series of human verifications and surveys and the end result is a lot of time wasted, without getting anywhere close to what you were looking for.

Therefore, today I am going to tell you some tried and tested ways to read someone else's text messages online for free.

Part 1: How to Read Text Messages from Another Phone Without Them Knowing

When you want to view someone's private phone messages, it is obvious that you would not want them to find out about it. After all, no one is going to share with you their phone messages willingly.

Therefore, I am going to tell you a way through which you can read any phone's private messages without the user finding out about it.

1.1 Spyine- Remote Text Message Interception at Your Fingertips

Spyine is a phone monitoring solution that can help you to read someone else's text messages online for free. It is a web application that works for reading the private messages of both- Android phones and iPhones.

Using Spyine is quite simple and easy. This, coupled with its countless features, is why Spyine is used by millions of users all over the globe.

In fact, I have even seen several authority media outlets giving quite a positive review of Spyine. After using Spyine, I am glad to say that they are right; Spyine deserves all the praise it receives.

1.2 What Makes Spyine the Perfect Message Monitor?

When it comes to message monitoring, there is nothing better than Spyine. Spyine is the gold standard with which you can measure any monitoring app's efficiency. Here are a few of the reasons that make Spyine so perfect:

Web Dashboard:

You do not have to install any app on your phone or PC to use Spyine. Spyine can work through its personalized dashboard, which opens in any web browser on any device. This makes Spyine extremely portable as you can use it from anywhere just through login. 

No Root or Jailbreak Needed:

Unlike most other message monitors, Spyine does not make unnecessary requirements like rooting or jailbreaking. It is not because Spyine is missing out on any feature, it is just because Spyine has the best and most advanced technology out there.

Data Security:

More often than not, the person you want to monitor is going to be someone you care about. As such, data privacy and security is a big concern. Spyine relieves you from this headache by not storing any of your data on its servers.

In fact, Spyine's data security protocols are so good that even its own employees cannot access your private data if they wanted to.

Secret Message Monitoring:

Most message monitors fail to provide a completely secure way that can work without any chance of the phone owner finding out about it. However, Spyine's design leaves no traces and arouses no suspicion. You will learn about it in the sections to come.

There are many more reasons that make Spyine the best of the best message monitors out there. However, if I get too much into it, we will be missing out on other more important details. Therefore, I will leave you to check out Spyine's demo while I continue to discuss how it works.

To make things simple, I will be discussing Spyine's solution for tracking Android messages here, and its iOS solution (for iPhones and iPads) in the next section.

Part 2: How To Read Text Messages Without Them Knowing

Spyine's Android solution can work without the phone owner finding out that you have access to their messages. This holds true even though all Android phones require you to install the message monitoring app on the target phone.

Even though Spyine has an installable app to follow this Android rule, the app is designed to be hidden even though it is installed on the target phone.

Once the user installs the Spyine application, on the target phone, the app icon vanishes from their app menu. You can launch it with a secret code only you will know, but you will have no need to launch it.

The app runs on the background of their phone without triggering any notifications. It is designed so as to not consume any battery as well.

And if you ever feel the need to uninstall this app (although you don't have to), you can do it with a single click from Spyine's dashboard. If you remember, this dashboard opens in any web browser you use.

Therefore, there is no chance that the phone owner will find out that you are tracking their messages.

**It is mandatory to install the message monitoring app on the target Android phone, for all Android phones. If any app claims to monitor their messages without app installation, that app is making false claims and you should always avoid it.**

Steps to Read Their Text Messages Without Them Knowing

Follow these three steps to read their Android phone's messages secretly using Spyine:

Step 1: Create a Spyine account and get a subscription plan for Android devices.

Step 2: Download and install the Spyine app on their phone from the link mentioned on your screen.

Step 3: Click on 'Start' as you are ready to begin monitoring their messages.

When you click on the 'Start' button, you will be taken to your dashboard. This is where you can see all of their private messages. Every feature has its own tab on the left hand side of the dashboard.

Now you know about Spyine's Android solution, let us move over to the part describing how to read an iPhone's messages.

 

Part 3: How to Read Someone's Text Messages Without Their Phone

iPhones are different from Android phones in almost every way. Therefore, it is only obvious that the message monitoring method for iPhones will work differently for iPhones.

Spyine has created its iPhone monitor solution uniquely. While most message monitoring apps for iPhone ask you to jailbreak that iPhone and install the app on it, Spyine can work without touching the iPhone even once.

This is by utilizing the iCloud account of the device. All the data of an iPhone is uploaded to the iCloud server in an encrypted format. Spyine is able to decrypt it and present it at your personalized dashboard in a readable manner.

Therefore, all you need to do is verify the iCloud credentials of the user. With this information, you can view every bit of their private data, including their sent and received messages.

Steps to Read Someone's Messages Without Their Phone

In order to read the iPhone messages of a person, just follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Create a Spyine account and get a subscription plan for iOS devices.
Step 2: Verify the iCloud credentials of the user.

Step 3: Click on 'Start' and begin reading their messages.

Once you click on the 'Start' button, you will be taken to your dashboard. You can use all the features of Spyine from here. To use any feature, all you have to do is click on the tab of that feature on the left-hand side.

Part 4: How to Spy on Someone's Text Messages Without Their Phone for Free

Minspy might not be as old or as popular as Spyine, it is just as good nevertheless. With its awesome features, Minspy has been able to become the favorite app of many people, especially parents and people in marriages.

Minspy is a great way to make sure that your loved ones and their relationship with them is protected. It just takes a couple of minutes to show you each and every message on their phone, even if it is archived.

In fact, through its keylogger feature, Minspy is even able to show you the messages on their phone that they deleted. This includes both the sent and the received messages.

All the logs come with added details like timestamps, contact information, and other things, just as Spyine offers you.

 

Wrapping Up

Now you know about a couple of ways to read someone's text messages, choosing your method is entirely up to you. I recommend both Spyine and Minspy, as I have used both of these methods and found them to be 100% working.



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TCL 10 Pro and 10L make their way to Canada

The world is filled with smartphones of varying prices, some of which cross the $1,000 mark, while others sit well below the $500 line. If you're shopping for a phone that's affordable and won't break the bank, but comes with decent specs, then you might be pleased to learn that TCL has a couple of solutions for you.

The company has announced that both the TCL 10 Pro and the TCL 10L are now available for purchase in Canada. They will be available through carriers such as Bell, Telus, Virgin Mobile, and Koodo, but pricing will differ depending on the device and also which carrier you'll be buying them from.

According to TCL, buying the TCL 10L from Bell will cost CAD$350 while the TCL 10 Pro will retail for CAD$700. Buying it from Telus seems to be slightly cheaper with the 10L priced at CAD$345, while the 10 Pro priced at CAD$665. TCL also states that customers who purchase the TCL 10 Pro will also be eligible to receive a free 43-inch TCL TV, but this offer will end on the 16th of July, so you'll want to move quickly to take advantage of it and register their purchase before the 31st of July on TCL's website.

In the meantime, if you're interested in finding out how the TCL 10 Pro performs, we did a review of the handset back in June that might be worth a read if you're considering buying it.



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Google ‘accidentally’ leaked the Pixel 4a on its own website

Following the launch of the Pixel 3a back in 2019, it makes sense that the Pixel 4a could launch this year. Google has yet to formally announce a date for the handset, but it seems that maybe someone at the company might have gotten ahead of themselves and posted an image of the Pixel 4a on the company's website.

We have seen leaks of the handset but this is pretty much as official as it gets and confirms the design that we have seen before. Based on the render shared on Google's website, the Pixel 4a will sport a front-facing hole punch camera and also a single rear-facing camera. What's interesting is that the handset's render shows the 12th of May on it, which has led to speculation that the handset was originally intended to be announced earlier this year, but was later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

That being said, we imagine that the launch should be close at hand. Back in June, a handset that was speculated to be the Pixel 4a was spotted at the FCC, signalling that it was close to being launched. There is still no official date from Google yet, but combine the FCC sighting and the listing on Google's website, there is a good chance we could be learning about the phone soon.

Whether or not it will be announced alongside the Pixel 5 remains to be seen, so do check back with us in the near future for more updates.

Source: The Verge



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If this is the Razer Phone 3, color us disappointed

The last time Razer released a smartphone was back in 2018 with the Razer Phone 2. The company has been mum on the future of their handsets, although back in 2019 it seemed like a third Razer Phone could be in question as the company was cutting some of their workforce that used to work on the Razer Phone.

But could Razer be looking to revive their mobile efforts? Maybe. This is thanks to a couple of images posted onto Twitter by @Boby25846908 who claims that someone had sent him photos that are alleged the prototype of the Razer Phone 3. Upon first glance, it seems that the design of the Razer Phone 3 looks almost identical to its predecessor.

Taking a closer look at the phone has revealed some potential changes, such as how the top and bottom bezels on the front of the phone have shrunk by a bit, and how the camera orientation on the back of the phone has also changed from horizontal to vertical. It also seems that it now sports a triple camera setup versus the dual camera setup from before.

That being said, it is unclear what these photos could mean. It is possible that these photos might be of an older prototype that Razer was working on. We wouldn't be surprised if Razer had been prototyping a possible third Razer Phone before the rumors of its workforce being cut.

It is also possible that this could signal that Razer might have decided to pick up where they left off and begin working on their third device. We should note that it is quite rare to see companies sit out an entire year of not making a device, only to successfully stage a comeback, so maybe don't get your hopes up for now.



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Monday, July 13, 2020

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 rumor roundup: design, price, specs, cameras and availability

In case the Samsung Galaxy S20 series was a bit disappointing in your opinion, or maybe you want a phone with a larger display, or maybe you're just a fan of Samsung's Galaxy Note series, then you might have heard that Samsung is expected to officially launch the Note 20 series at a Galaxy Unpacked event that they will be hosting next month.

While there are no official specs of the phone available yet, we have come across plenty of rumors and leaks that might be of interest to you, so check them out and also be sure to check back with us on the 5th of August for all the official details.

Design

If you liked what you saw with the Galaxy S20, then there is a good chance you will like what you see with the Note 20. This is because based on the leaked renders we've seen, the Note 20's design will not be straying too far from the Galaxy S20.

Even the camera bump on the back of the phone, based on the renders, are very reminiscent of the Galaxy S20. You can take a look at the phone's alleged design in this video below shared by Jimmy Is Promo in which he seems to have gotten his hands on what appears to be a working version of the Note 20 Ultra.

Display

If the rumors are to be believed, Samsung could launch three variants of the Note 20. This will come in the form of the base Note 20, then there will be a slightly larger version in the Note 20 Plus, and an even larger version in the Note 20 Ultra.

The differences here are mainly in the displays where the Note 20 could sport a display between 6.4-inches to 6.7-inches, while the Note 20 Plus could come with a 6.9-inch display, while the Ultra model is said to sport a display that could creep over 7-inches. This might sound pretty huge, but given that the bezels on our smartphones have shrunk drastically over the years, we imagine that it should still be somewhat manageable.

As for the refresh rates, we're hearing that the phones could use a 120Hz display, but whether or not it will be limited to the higher-end models remains to be seen. A tweet by Ice Universe also suggests that Samsung will have a more "fine-tuned" version of the 120Hz display, meaning that it could use less battery than its Galaxy S20 counterparts.

Performance

Given that this is a flagship smartphone, we expect that the Note 20 lineup will most likely come with flagship hardware. If this had been a few months ago, we would have assumed that it would most likely be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, but given that Qualcomm had recently announced the Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset, it's almost a guarantee that this is what the Note 20 will be using.

Also, with Samsung using a mix of both Exynos and Qualcomm chipsets, there is a good chance that this tradition will continue. Unfortunately though, while the Qualcomm chipset Samsung could be using might be an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 865, the Exynos version will apparently still be the same Exynos 990 chipset which powers the Galaxy S20 series.

Camera

If you were hoping that the Note 20 series would come with an upgraded quad-camera setup, you could be disappointed. This is because based on the renders and rumors, it seems that the Note 20 lineup will continue to use a triple camera setup, but there will be some differences between the models.

For the base Note 20, it has been rumored that it will sport a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 64MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide angle. As for the Note 20 Plus, it will sport a 108MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide angle. There are also rumors that it could support 50x zoom and will have a laser autofocusing feature that will help closeup shots.

There is no mention of the Note 20 Ultra, but there is a chance it means that it could use the same setup as the Note 20 Plus, just with a larger display.

As for the front-facing camera, there have been rumors claiming that the Note 20 could finally come with an under-display front-facing camera. If these rumors don't pan out, then there is a very good chance Samsung will return to using the hole-punch design.

Pricing and availability

Samsung will be officially unveiling the handset on the 5th of August, which means that a release date is probably not too far behind. According to leakster Jon Prosser, he claims that the Note 20 series will be officially released on the 20th of August.

There is still no word on pricing just yet, but a report out of Korea did suggest that it could be slightly cheaper, at least as far as the top-of-the-line model is concerned. The report suggested that the Note 20 Ultra could be priced at 1.45 million won, which is roughly 50,000 won cheaper than its predecessor and roughly works out to be $1,200. We're not sure if this will be applicable across all models, but fingers-crossed that it will be.



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5 Critical Reasons Why Businesses Should Update Their Mobile Android Apps in 2020

As the digital landscape advances at a high pace, the way businesses function is entirely different from what it used to be a couple of years ago. Companies need to take into consideration the digital transformation that their business is going through and act in a way that helps this transition, rather than diminishing it. 

Mobile applications provide retailers have become the primary method of communication with their customers. As with more than 3.5 billion smartphone users globally, it is only understandable that companies want technology to increase business potential with well-made mobile apps. 

Despite the multiple benefits that a mobile application has to offer to e-commerce businesses, there are still companies out there that believe that a mobile app is more of an additional feature, rather than a necessity.

Another commonly encountered problem with businesses while developing mobile apps is that they tend to forego the significance of frequent maintenance (updates). Once they've created and launched their mobile app, these businesses make no effort to update or improve their application, which could prove extremely dangerous for their business in the long run. 

Fortunately, in an attempt to help our readers come to terms with the significance of developing, as well as updating a mobile application, we've compiled an article that delves deep into everything that there is to know about mobile apps, starting with why you might need one. 

 

Why Do Businesses Need Mobile Applications? 

 If you've read our article up till this point, and are still unconvinced about the significance of mobile apps, we've still got a few solid reasons up our sleeves that may convert you. 

More and more people use their mobile phones for online shopping, and Nathan Finch from Aussie Hosting advises the owners of e-commerce stores to invest in an e-commerce platform that is mobile friendly. This way your customers can easily access your store wherever they are which could significantly increase your sales.

Recent data coming out of Australia's Digital Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) group support Finch's claim; e-commerce market share, as a percentage of total retail, continues to grow rapidly down under.

Some of the most valid reasons as to why businesses, particularly e-retailers, need a mobile app, consist of the following: 

  • Mobile apps are an excellent marketing tool. It is crucial for companies today to market themselves as much as they can on mobile. By investing in the development of a mobile app, companies can ensure that their products and services reach their customers at the right place and time. By utilizing the mobile application, users can get details about the company and information on the latest promotional offers and news. 
  • Businesses can offer better customer service through mobile apps. One of the most significant benefits of creating a mobile app is that it offers consumers a direct link to support.
    This provides the e-retailer with the golden opportunity to better enforce their customer service and is one of the reasons why investing apps like Robinhood have become so popular with millennials in recent years. It also gives users access to information about your business by providing fast and simple ways to get in touch with your business. 

 

  • Having a mobile app gives your business a competitive edge. Since today's e-commerce landscape features multiple retailers offering the same product, or service that you do, designing a mobile application might be the very thing that separates you from the rest of the competitive herd. Furthermore, if you run a small business, offering your consumers the luxury of a mobile application is to improve your company's reputation relative to the competition.
  • Businesses can expect better customer loyalty. By making an investment in the development and maintenance of a mobile application, companies can enjoy the support of a loyal and efficient customer base. Through the multiple perks that businesses will be able to offer consumers through the mobile application, such as the better and effective distribution of rewards and frequent updates about promotional offers.- businesses will be able to leverage their mobile apps to enforce customer loyalty. Having a mobile application significantly aids small companies by enabling them to connect with a loyal clientele. 

 

 

Why Should Businesses Update Their Mobile Applications? 

If you've gotten through the tedious process of mobile development, once you've launched the application, you might be tempted to leave the mobile app. Not only can the mistake of 'leaving the app as it is' cost you thousands of dollars, but it could also potentially put you out of business- which is why frequently updating your mobile app is critical for a business's survival.

Some of the most crucial reasons backing up the significance of updating your mobile app, consist of the following: 

Removing Bugs

Perhaps the greatest hindrance in consumers enjoying a seamless mobile app experience is the existence of bugs. If you've got bugs present within your mobile application, not only will consumers stop using your app, but they will also avoid buying from you in the future. 

To guarantee that your consumers are being offered the best possible experience through your mobile application, we'd suggest that you undergo a strict testing cycle. Only by daily testing, businesses ensure that their mobile application is free from any bugs, along with remedying any flaws caught immediately.  

Contrary to popular belief, testing the mobile app once before its launch will not detect all the security vulnerabilities and bugs present within the app. Additionally, there is no telling that there won't be any bugs that arise once you've launched the application, which is why it is so significant that you update the app frequently and test for any bugs and security vulnerabilities continually. 

Combatting Security Issues

Operating a business in the ever-evolving threat landscape is severe enough, but it takes a turn for the worse when we account for the threats and vulnerabilities targeting mobile applications specifically. 

Since customers will be entering their financial information, and other confidential data on to your application, there's a high risk that hackers and other malicious entities might gain access to this data, and exploit it for their own benefit. 

Businesses should ensure that their consumers' data is being protected. The e-retailers must exercise innovative technology solutions to ensure that their users' private information remains private. Furthermore, a lack of security within your mobile app will drive customers away since they'll be wary of entering their data. 

The easiest way to uphold cybersecurity within your application is through regular updates. By utilizing tracking tools and top tier security solutions, businesses can ensure that their organization is safe from the perils of a data breach.

Leveraging the Latest Technology

Since your business's mobile application will work in tandem with popular mobile operating systems such as Android and Apple, companies need to stay on top of updates within these OS to ensure that their mobile app's useability isn't affected by it. In a worst-case scenario, businesses can see their mobile app crashing, because they hadn't thought about the necessary adjustments needed on their app to work with the updates on either Apple or Android. 

With that being said, recently, Apple and Google have also taken it upon themselves to force app owners to update their mobile apps accordingly to the latest technology, or else they won't be able to list their applications on the App or PlayStore. Fortunately, if you've been regularly updating your mobile app, your application is already compatible with the latest technology- which implies that you won't have to worry about your app being taken off the App or PlayStore. 

Updating the Interface of Your App to Engage Users

When it comes to maintaining relevance in the e-commerce landscape, updating your mobile app's UI and UX design is a crucial way to keep your consumers engaged. Along with improving elements that help foster a better usability experience amongst users, updating the UI and UX can also help businesses solve user complaints. 

It is also worth mentioning that completely altering your UX design all in one go is not recommended. Instead, businesses should opt for small and gradual changes that focus on elevating the user experience. 

Better Marketing to Re-engage Users

Once you've updated your business's mobile application, chances are you'll see a spike in your app store ranking- which gives you a perfect opportunity to re-engage old customers through new marketing tactics. 

Not only will frequent updates assure users about your business's commitment, but it will also serve as an attesting to customers that you're in the industry for the long run. Moreover, by updating your application, you've got an excellent excuse to send out push notifications, which is almost sure to draw in both old and new customers. 

Final Words

At the end of the article, we hope that we've cleared the air of any mobile app related doubts that our readers might have been harboring. As soon as you launch your business's mobile app, you should start working on your next update- so that you're always ahead of the game! 



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Friday, July 10, 2020

Check out this insane deal on Death Stranding PlayStation 4 Collector’s Edition

Hideo Kojima is a game developer that many might be familiar with. For those who aren't, he helped develop the Metal Gear franchise while he worked at Konami. Following his departure from Konami, Kojima started to work on a new game in the form of Death Stranding which has received multiple favorable reviews.

If you are keen on checking out the game, you definitely do not want to miss out on this crazy deal because over on Amazon, the PS4 Collector's Edition of Death Stranding has been discounted down to $70. The normal price of the game is $200, which means you'll be saving for yourself $130 in the process!

At $70, it also puts it almost on par with the regular game, but you'll get a ton of goodies in the process. This includes a keychain, a statue figurine, a steelbook case, and more (along with a copy of the game, of course). If you're interested, you'll definitely not want to miss out on this deal.

Buy On Amazon
Note: this article may contain affiliate links that help support our authors and keep the Phandroid servers running.

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5 reasons the Pixel 5 will be DOA

There's no telling how far away we are from the launch of the Pixel 4a, let alone the Pixel 5. Conflicting rumors and reports have left everyone's heads spinning, and Google just seems to continue chugging along with no release date in sight.

At this point, we would welcome a teaser from Google, but it would be even better if the company just unveiled at least one of its devices. The Pixel 4a is likely to be a solid successor to the 3a, but the Pixel 5 has bigger fish to fry. Based on what we know so far about the phone, here are five reasons why we think the Pixel 5 will be DOA.

We need more cameras

Yes, the Pixel offers arguably the best camera experience on a smartphone, and it does just fine with those two camera sensors. However, we are sorely missing an ultra-wide lens, and just about every other smartphone OEM has moved to more camera sensors.

We aren't exactly talking about the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which is designed to just have a smartphone with everything but the kitchen sink built-in. But, having more cameras means that your user base has more options, and more options is always a good thing, right? It just doesn't make any sense for Google to stick with just two, especially for a phone slated to launch in the 2nd half of 2020.

Price is only going to go up

There are some conflicting reports about what Google will be using to power the upcoming Pixel 5 lineup. A recent rumor claims that the smaller Pixel 5 will feature the Snapdragon 765, while the 5 XL will get the newer Snapdragon 865 chipset. The problem with this is that we are losing parity between two handsets with the same design, and it's something that Google really shouldn't consider.

Both the 765 and 865 offer 5G support, but there's now (as of a few days ago) the Snapdragon 865 Plus which Google could (but probably won't) pivot to. All of these processors are 5G capable, but it's no secret that Qualcomm has upped the pricing for manufacturer's to take advantage of these fast chipsets. If Google opts for flagship chipsets, then that means flagship pricing, and we wouldn't be surprised if this is the last flagship handset from Google.

There's a clear market for a budget-minded handset, and that's where devices like the Pixel 3a and Moto G series excel. Google should stick in that market, and if it really wants a flagship , then it needs to go all out and give the users what we want. Otherwise, the Pixel will end up just like HTC.

Bringing back something from two years ago?

We've done a lot of talking about how Google needs to essentially "get with the times" and bring the masses a smartphone that is at least on the same tier as others. That means an in-display fingerprint scanner, more cameras, bigger battery, etc. Recent renders seem to suggest that Google is planning on bringing back the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner that was removed in the Pixel 4 only to be resurrected in the 3a lineup.

If Google really wanted to bring a fingerprint scanner back, then that's awesome. But go down the same path of OnePlus, Samsung, and other OEM's by embedding it in the display. What would really be amazing is if these renders were incorrect and Google plans on bringing the biometric facial recognition ALONG with an embedded fingerprint scanner. But who are we kidding.

What is happening with the hardware?

Just look at this recent render. It looks like a child's toy. Cool, it's got the patented accent power button, and is a different color than what we've seen. But what happened the last time Google launched a unique color for its phone? The "Oh So Orange" Pixel 4/4 XL is practically a unicorn if you wanted to buy one new, and the used market sees price spikes when an Orange phone becomes available.

The hole-punch is just okay but we've seen that time and time again. Google needs to be innovative if it wants to capture any meaningful portion of the smartphone market. The idea of "Stock Android" just isn't enough. Make the screen slightly taller, redesign the notch to include the biometric sensors, embed the fingerprint scanner in the display, and there ya go. Then throw AT LEAST an ultra-wide lens in the main camera bump and give us at least a 4,000mAh battery. That's all we're asking for.

Even if Google wants to stick with this psuedo-glass-plastic material for the body, very few will really care if Google hits the mark across the board in all the other facets. But according to these renders, I'm preparing myself to be disappointed.

This just isn't enough

If the Pixel 4a was already available (like it was supposed to be back in May), then a lot of the confusion would have been solved. But since Google is slated to launch two new handset lineups this year, the rumor mill is all over the place.

Google may be waiting for the "right time" to get the 4a out of the way so it can have more time to lead up the Pixel 5, but it's not doing anything. Maybe there's an internal struggle on what to do, or maybe Google just doesn't know what to do considering the state of the world at the moment.

But turning the Pixel 4a into the Pixel 5, and having the Pixel 5 XL available as the "flagship" still isn't enough to keep the Pixel ship afloat. It's not like Google doesn't have the money or resources to unveil a product that will make everyone's head spin. They just seem lost.

Final Thoughts

We really want to love the Pixel 5, but after how badly the Pixel 4 flopped, it seems that Google is just giving up on its next device. There are conflicting reports all over the place, nobody seems to know what's going to happen, and in the end we're going to end up with another Pixel that has too many sacrifices to really be good.

The Pixel 4 had the chance to take a step forward, and instead, it took a massive leap backwards. Sure, there's still Stock Android, but things like battery life and the awkward Motion Sense just didn't help anything. I'm still crossing my fingers that these leaks are just diversion tactics, but I'm gearing up to be disappointed again.



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Kwikset Halo smart lock review: A smart addition to your home security

Home security has been one of the more obvious and practical beneficiaries of the booming smart home industry over the last several years. Kwikset was one of the first traditional door lock companies to get into the smart home market with early efforts like the Kevo and the Premis that relied on Bluetooth alone for connectivity, but also limited the potential capabilities of the locks. 

At CES 2019 Kwikset announced the Halo, which finally incorporated Wi-Fi into the lock as well, opening up the ability to monitor and control the lock when away from home. This has made the product a vastly more valuable addition to a home security setup.

I installed the Kwikset Halo in my home about a month ago for this review. While I've tested some Bluetooth padlocks previously, this was my first experience with a connected lock for the home so I was curious to find out if my family actually found it useful or if it was just an unnecessary complication versus a standard lock. 

Kwikset Halo Design

 

The Kwikset Halo features a few different design and finish options to match the style of your home. Personally I opted to test the "Traditional" model in Satin Nickel which features a more rounded design and physical rubberized buttons, it also comes in a Venetian Bronze finish. Many are probably going to prefer the look of the "Contemporary," which as you might guess, has a more modern look with a touchpad that lights up to allow you to enter your passcode and comes in Polished Chrome or Iron Black color options. 

Both designs feature a standard keyed lock as well to ensure that you never get locked out of the house due to a dead battery or other potential smart lock malfunction. This includes Kwikset's SmartKey Security technology which allows you to re-key the lock yourself so if you are installing two of these locks or have an existing Kwikset lock in your home you can easily get them all set to the same key.

The interior section of the lock is identical (color matched obviously) regardless of which design you select, it's about 1.2-inches deep in order to accommodate the four AA batteries that power it, making it more prominent than a standard lock. The battery section, pairing, and reset buttons are located underneath an opaque black plastic shell on the interior section. Otherwise, it's simply the turn piece used to manually lock or unlock the deadbolt and a status LED that will inform you when the door is being locked, unlocked, or if the batteries need to be changed.

Overall I don't find that the size or look of the lock bothers me and ultimately I'm more concerned about the utility of the lock, but obviously this comes down to personal preference.

Unless your original deadbolt was designed to keep out invaders in the middle ages, the Kwikset Halo is likely going to be a bit larger than your old deadbolt or other competing smart locks, but typically those don't include Wi-Fi and/or have reduced battery life when compared to the Kwikset Halo. The Kwikset Halo is also one tough lock, it's designed to withstand all of the typical lock picking, kicking or crowbar style entry efforts along with 20 minutes of fire resistance. And since this is a smart lock, it's also hardened against digital lock picking efforts via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth as well.  

Kwikset Halo Setup

Installing the Kwikset Halo is, for the most part, identical to installing any new deadbolt lock. If you are installing it in an existing door, as I was, you will want to confirm that it is compatible with your current setup. Essentially you need to have the most common setup for an exterior door, which is a separate deadbolt and handle. You can take a quick look at the installation instructions on the Kwikset site if you want to confirm for yourself, but the app does a better job of walking you through the installation step-by-step once you have the lock and are ready to install it.

The entire process of removing my old lock and installing the Kwikset Halo, including setting up the app, took about 30 minutes. However, if you haven't installed a deadbolt previously or need to make adjustments to the door or door frame for the lock this could certainly take another 30 minutes to an hour.

And to support that fact, I made one mistake when first installing the Kwikset Halo. I failing to properly adjust my strike plate for a completely smooth movement when locking and unlocking the door. With a standard deadbolt, this wouldn't really be noticeable, you would just exert slightly more pressure when locking it, but you will dramatically reduce the battery life of the Kwikset Halo if it needs to use added force to lock the door. The measurements are all there in the instructions and after getting the occasional "jammed" message in the app for the first week I finally took the time (about 5 more minutes) to adjust the strike plate and it has been working perfectly ever since.

Kwikset Halo Battery Life

The Kwikset Halo is powered by four AA batteries, which are included in the box with the lock. According to Kwikset, most users should get 6 months on a single charge, averaging ten entries and exits per day.

After about a month of testing the lock I believe it will probably fall a little short of that mark for most users. Due to the error that I made with the initial installation and my elevated level of usage given that I was repeatedly testing all of the features of the lock it's difficult to infer too much from the battery usage that I saw. I have just recently replaced the batteries to start fresh and will update this review with my long term findings regarding battery life in another month or so now that the installation is done right and I have settled into a more standard and consistent usage pattern.

Kwikset Halo App

The Kwikset app has a simple and clean design that provides you with all of the basic information you want at a glance. That being said, it also offers quite a few features to delve into depending on your preferences.

The primary screen for the app gives you all of the pertinent information regarding the current status of your lock with a large "locked" or "unlocked" message at the center with a red or green circle around it respectively for added clarity. It will also show your connectivity status with the lock with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth logos at the top-right corner along with the current battery life of the lock. Tapping the lock status at the center of the screen will cause it to lock or unlock.

Across the bottom of the app you will see "People," "History," and "Settings." 

People is where you will set up new users or make changes to users' access codes. You can also set a schedule for each individual to identify a specific set of dates, days, or times that the access code will be active. This works great if you have an electrician, pet sitter, or whoever that needs access to your house during a specific window. Naturally, it's easy enough to delete or disable an access code too, but this way you don't need to think about that. You can also turn on Secure Mode from this screen which will temporarily disable the keypad completely, meaning only someone with access to the app or the physical key would be able to unlock the door.

History gives you the time and date of every time the lock is used whether that is someone using the turn piece to lock or unlock it or if they use their access code it will display the name associated with that code. 

Settings will display a list of your locks with the options for each one. Most of them are pretty self-explanatory, Auto Lock allows you to have your lock wait for a set period of time, from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, after you unlock your door to enter or exit your home and then automatically locks the door.

Finally, the hamburger menu in the upper-left corner allows you to manage additional locks or homes, I wasn't able to test this as I just have the single lock, but it's certainly convenient that this is all easily manageable without jumping through too many screens in the app.

Kwikset Halo Pricing

The Kwikset Halo has a retail price of $199 for the Traditional model that I tested or $229 for the Contemporary touchscreen version. However, you can find deals for it on a regular basis, at the time of publication the Traditional model was available for less than $150 on Amazon and the Contemporary was $175.

While you can obviously find a standard deadbolt for less than $40 and a simple electronic deadbolt for less than $75, the value in the Kwikset Halo is in the connectivity which can provide you with added security and peace of mind. 

Viewed strictly against other smart locks the pricing on the Kwikset Halo is quite reasonable, the equivalent model from Schlage, the Encode is actually slightly more expensive at $249 as is the 4th Generation August lock which integrates into your existing deadbolt.

Overall, I think the Kwikset Halo is a solid value, particularly at its current pricing.

Final thoughts

Overall, I was thrilled with my experience with the Kwikset Halo.  It does a nice job of easing you into the smart lock world with the ability to use it as a traditional deadbolt when you need or want to, while offering all of the smarts I could want out of it as well. Setting up accounts for my entire family was quick and easy and the app makes it simple to monitor the status of your lock.

We had a pet sitter for our rabbit while we were away for a weekend and I was able to easily see when she arrived to feed and check on the bunny and then verify that the door was locked after she had departed. Not having to hand someone a key, worry about them actually locking the door, or then getting the key back later was fantastic. 

While the initial investment is roughly three to four times the cost of a traditional deadbolt, this lock should last for years, and for the convenience and peace of mind it delivers, I think it is absolutely worth the price of admission.



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First 10 things every Samsung Galaxy S20 user should do

The Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup comes in three variations, with many of us settling with either the standard S20 or the S20 Plus. But if you just picked up your S20, you'll want to know where to get started. Well, we've got you covered and here are the first things every Samsung Galaxy S20 user should do.

Lock your phone with biometric security

The great thing about many smartphones in 2020 is that there are multiple ways to keep your device locked so it remains private to you. With the Galaxy S20 lineup, there are a few ways to do this, including the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner along with the less-secure iris scanning. If you bypassed this during the initial set up, then here's how you can set up the Biometrics on your S20:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and select Biometrics and security.
  3. Tap Face Recognition.
  4. Follow the steps and save.
  5. Go back to the main page.
  6. Tap Fingerprints.
  7. Follow the steps and save.

One thing to make note of, and this has been true for many devices, you might want to register your fingerprint multiple times. This helps to improve the overall accuracy, and of course, adding your thumbprint from both your dominant and non-dominant hands will make it easier to unlock in a jiffy.

Take advantage of the new gestures (or go old school)

Now that screen real-estate is more important than ever with these big and beautiful displays, you may not want to have a portion of the screen taken up by the old-school navigation bar. Samsung has implemented gestures across the board in order for you to quickly navigate around your Galaxy S20 without tapping buttons. Here's how you can get that set up:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on Display.
  3. Scroll down and select Navigation bar.
  4. Tap the icon next to Full-screen gestures.
  5. Change Button order, if you desire.

There is one disappointing aspect of the new gestures, as Samsung has not enabled them to be compatible with third-party launchers. So Nova or Lawnchair users will be able to activate them, but not all of the options will be available and the experience is less-than-great. But if you're okay with using Samsung's launcher, this won't matter as much.

Switch to Dark Mode to save battery life

Nobody wants to wake up early in the morning, unlock their phone, and get blinded by a bunch of bright and white screens everywhere. Dark Mode is available on the S20 and you can even set a schedule if you don't want it enabled all of the time.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on Display.
  3. Tap Dark on the right-hand side.
  4. Select Dark mode settings

Diving deeper into the Dark Mode Settings, you'll find the ability to turn this on according to a specific schedule, or just from sunset to sunrise. However, you will be prompted to grant location data in order for your phone to know when it's time to activate Dark Mode. You can also have this applied to your wallpaper, along with the ability to enable the Blue Light filter (Adaptive Color Filter) automatically between sunrise and sunset. Your eyes will definitely thank you for this.

Turn on 120Hz refresh rate

One of the key features of the S20 isn't the new Snapdragon processor or the increased amount of RAM. Nope, it's all about the display and with the S20 you can enable the refresh rate to go up to 120Hz. The S20 comes with two refresh rates available, giving users the option to go between either 60Hz (what you are used to) and 120Hz.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on Display.
  3. Select Motion smoothness.
  4. Tap High refresh rate (120Hz)
  5. Tap Apply.

The settings panel for adjusting the refresh rate gives you an example of the difference that will be applied if you choose 60Hz or 120Hz. The only catch here is that you won't be able to take advantage of the WQHD+ (3200 x 1440) offered by the S20. Instead, if 120Hz is enabled, your phone will be "locked" to FHD+ (2400 x 1800). It makes sense to do this as having the highest display resolution paired with the fastest refresh rate will mean the shortest battery life you've ever experienced.

Accessorize your S20

Accessories are a fun part of getting a new device, regardless of whether it's a phone, tablet, or new PC. We have rounded up some of our favorite accessories that will pair perfectly with your S20 and give you a more enjoyable experience.

Turn off Bixby for good

Bixby has been a source of frustration for just about anyone who has used it over the years. While the experience itself is seamless, as it's integrated directly into your phone's software, Bixby just doesn't work as well for a smart assistant when compared to Google Assistant or even Siri. Nonetheless, Samsung continues to try to push it on users, including owners of the Galaxy S20. Here's how you can disable Bixby on your S20:

Disable the Bixby Button: 

The first method we will explain to disable Bixby is through the disabling Bixby button. Starting last year, Samsung has merged its Power button and Bixby button, making it one that is present below the volume key. Therefore, it is really easy to turn off Bixby. 

Steps to disable Bixby button are: 

  • From your home screen, move the notification bar down. 
  • In the next step from the quick settings, panel click on the Power Menu button
  • Once the power menu opens, look for the side key settings and tab on it. Or you can either hold the side key of the device to open side key settings.
  • Power off the menu under the press-and-hold option by toggling it on. This can be done by making changes in the double press settings. Therefore, by holding the power button longer, it can lead to Quick Camera launch or open app
  • If you have selected an open app, press the cog button to choose an app that can open with a double press. 

Disable Bixby Routines: 

The last method we will explain involves the disabling of Bixby routines. Disabling Bixby routines can completely turn off the Bixby in Samsung. It is clear that once Bixby is a turnoff, its features won't work anyway. 

Its steps include:

  • Scroll down the notification bar from the home screen. 
  • Then click on Gear Icon.  
  • In the settings, please search for the Advance Features and tap on it. 
  • Move down to search for the Bixby routines and disable it from there.

Enable Always On Display to always show your notifications

The Always On Display is both great and not-so-great, depending on how much battery you need to last you throughout the day. But it's still a better option than your phone lighting up every, single, time a notification hits your phone. And in true Samsung fashion, you can customize and set this up to your liking from top to bottom. Here's how to get started.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Lock screen.
  3. Tap Always On Display.

Before even enabling the Always On Display, there is a slew of options for you to go through and customize so that your AOD looks exactly how you want it to.

  • Tap to show – Show AOD for 10 seconds.
  • Show always
  • Show as scheduled – Set a schedule of when to show AOD.
  • Clock style – Customize the clock that is shown, along with the color theme of the clock.
  • Show music information – Shows details of the music playing when the FaceWidgets music controller is active.
  • Rotate screen to – Switch between Portrait or Landscape mode when viewing AOD.
  • Auto brightness

Take better pictures than ever before

Gone are the days of needing a dedicated point-and-shoot or DSLR camera to get the best pictures. Samsung's camera system is one of the best on the market, and with your Galaxy S20, you can customize the app to your liking.

  1. Open the Camera app.
  2. Tap the Gear icon in the top left-hand corner.

From the Camera Settings, you will find a slew of options to pick and choose from. This lets you keep the features you want while getting rid of the features you could care less about.

  • Intelligent features
    • Scene optimizer
    • Shot suggestions
    • Smart selfie angle
    • Scan QR codes
  • Pictures
    • Swipe Shutter button to edge to
    • Save options
  • Videos
    • Rear video size
    • Front video size
    • Advanced recording options
    • Video stabilization
  • Useful features
    • Auto HDR
    • Selfie tone
    • Tracking auto-focus
    • Pictures as previewed
    • Grid lines
    • Location tags
    • Location tags
    • Shooting methods
    • Shutter sound

Control your S20 from your Windows PC

Usually, you have to worry about a lot of useless bloatware being pre-installed on your smartphones. But there's one piece of software that is rather useful, provided that you use a Windows PC. Link to Windows is a new integration for Samsung handsets and allows you to view notifications, reply to messages, and even control your smartphone's audio. Here's how to get it set up.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and select Advanced features.
  3. Tap Link to Windows.
  4. Follow the instructions.

You will need to be at your PC in order to finish the installation, as you need to confirm the pairing between your S20 and your computer.

Check out even more on the Galaxy S20

The Galaxy S20 continues to turn heads and will be a fan-favorite for at least the next year or two, until something better comes along. Can't get enough of the S20 and what it's capable of? Then check out Phandroid's other coverage of Samsung's early-2020 flagship.



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