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Galaxy Note 7 launched in India for ₹59,900, available from Sep. 2

Harish Jonnalagadda — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 07:54:29 +0000

At a media event in New Delhi, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 7 in the Indian market for ₹59,900. The phone will be available in three color variants: Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Gold Platinum. No Coral Blue for us folks.

The highlights include a design that's similar to what we've seen on the Galaxy S7 and the S7 edge. Previous offerings in the Galaxy Note line were popular for being productivity workhouses, and while that is still true on the Note 7, the phone doesn't stand out from the Galaxy S line. That's especially true on the hardware front, with notable differences being 64GB internal storage and a new iris scanner:

Category	Galaxy Note 7
Operating System	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Display	5.7-inch 2560x1440 Super AMOLED Dual edge screen Gorilla Glass 5
Processor	Octa-core Exynos 8890
Storage	64GB
Expandable	microSD up to 256GB
RAM	4GB
Rear Camera	12MP f/1.7 1.4-micron pixels, OIS
Front Camera	5MP f/1.7
Charging	USB-C, Fast Charging Qi, Powermat wireless
Input	S Pen stylus 4096 pts of pressure sensitivity
Battery	3500 mAh
Water resistance	IP68 rating
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor Iris scanner Samsung KNOX
Dimensions	153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm 169 g

The Galaxy Note 7 also marks the debut of USB-C charging. The phone should be more resilient to tumbles thanks to Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back, and the new S Pen is just 0.7mm thick.

The phone will retail for ₹59,900 starting September 2. Those pre-booking the handset between August 22-30 will receive the new Gear VR for free. Who's looking to pick up the Note 7 in India?

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Verizon AT&T T-Mobile Sprint

Three's Feel At Home inclusive roaming expands to 24 more countries

Alex Dobie — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 07:41:01 +0000

Starting in September, new free roaming countries for Three UK customers include Germany, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands, Malta and Iceland.

One of the most attractive perks for Three UK customers has been its "Feel At Home" program — the ability to roam at no extra cost in a selection of countries — mainly territories where Three already has a local mobile network. From September that list will be expanding significantly to cover 24 new territories, including major European destinations like Germany, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands and Malta, as well as the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

Here's a complete breakdown of the new "Feel At Home" countries, which expands the service's area to cover most of the European continent.

Germany
Greece
Portugal
Croatia
Poland
Belgium
Netherlands
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Hungary
Romania
Malta
Lithuania
Slovakia
Estonia
Latvia
Iceland
Slovenia
Luxembourg
Liechtenstein
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey)

That's in addition to the 18 existing Feel At Home countries, which covers many destinations in Asia, and the United States:

Spain
France
Switzerland
Israel
Findland
Norway
USA
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
Macau
Australia
New Zealand
Italy
Austria
Hong Kong
Sweden
Denmark
Republic of Ireland

The fact that the new list kicks in from September means holidaymakers traveling this month will miss out on free roaming in these countries. Nevertheless, bringing most of Europe into the "Feel At Home" zone makes sense ahead of the looming abolition of roaming charges within the EU, set to kick in from June 15, 2017.

By getting out nine months or so ahead of the mandatory date for the end of EU roaming charges, Three scores a nice PR win. However as we've discussed before, the future of EU roaming after the recent Brexit vote remains up in the air.

MORE: The future of EU roaming, post-Brexit

The LG V20 will be the first phone with a 32 bit Quad DAC

Jerry Hildenbrand — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 01:30:29 +0000

The LG V20 not only will be the first phone to run Android 7.0, but news from Seoul tells us it will also be the first smartphone to feature a Quad DAC.

While the actual model isn't yet revealed, we do know LG is once again partnering with ESS to bring premium audio to the V20. ESS also provided the excellent 32bit DAC in the V10, which received pretty rave reviews for its audio performance.

Higher quality audio is simply the natural evolution of the smartphone, as the industry moves toward a more holistic multimedia consumption experience. — Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company.

LG says that they know users are now looking for more than a fast processor and a big display when they buy a high-end phone, and they aim to provide it with the V20. We'll know more — and hopefully get to put our hands on a V20 — on September 6 when LG unveils the whole package in San Francisco. In the meantime, we can read the press releases. This one is below.

LG V20, WORLD'S FIRST SMARTPHONE WITH QUAD DAC FOR BEST IN CLASS AUDIO

LG and ESS Technology Collaborate to Deliver One-of-a-Kind Audio Experience

SEOUL, Aug. 11, 2016 ― LG Electronics (LG) announced that its forthcoming flagship smartphone, LG V20, will be the first smartphone in the industry to feature 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC (digital to analog converter) capabilities, bringing a superior audio experience to mobile for the very first time.

A Quad DAC delivers a crisp and clear sound that comes closest to a live performance when using compatible wired headphones. The sound is superior to that produced by a traditional DAC as it can reduce up to 50 percent of ambient noise levels. Videos taken with the V20 are accompanied by a soundtrack that can capture the roaring sound of waves crashing on a beach or conversations among two individuals at a noisy party.

LG worked closely with ESS Technology, a leader in high-performance analog and audio devices, to ensure that the Quad DAC, delivered the best audio experience for owners of the LG V20. The Quad DAC is the lynchpin of the many cutting-edge multimedia features included in the LG V20. ESS Technology previously provided its 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC in the V10, LG V20's predecessor.

"As smartphones mature, we're seeing more and more customers looking beyond just fast processors and big displays in their devices," said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company. "Higher quality audio is simply the natural evolution of the smartphone, as the industry moves toward a more holistic multimedia consumption experience. We're pleased to continue this long-term partnership with ESS and bring best in class audio to LG V20 users."

"We are extremely excited that our Quad DAC technology will be featured in the V20, LG's latest flagship smartphone for consumers who demand the best media experience," said Robert Blair, president and chief executive officer of ESS Technology. "As a technology more typically available in high-end audio equipment, Quad DAC on the V20 will make users feel as if they are carrying around a professional home-audio system on their smartphone."

Canadian court ruling on SMS privacy means you shouldn't be using SMS

Jerry Hildenbrand — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 21:43:27 +0000

Having nothing to hide doesn't mean you should ignore your privacy. Especially when keeping messages secure and private is so easy.

An Ontario Court of Appeals has ruled that your SMS messages are not private and once "sent to the ether" are no longer under your control. Vice has a full write up about the decision that interested parties should read, but the short version is this: SMS messages are like email and not subject to the same protection that voice calls have. They aren't a private conversation, and you shouldn't keep thinking they are private.

An Ontario Court of Appeals has ruled that your SMS messages are not private and once "sent to the ether" are no longer under your control.

This has some far-reaching implications for some folks, while others won't care because they "have nothing to hide" or don't care what happens in a Canadian court. But we all should be concerned, and now is a perfect time for you and the people you talk with to switch to something else. Preferably something that's cross-platform and offers encryption. I've got nothing to hide either, but I still expect and demand a little bit of privacy.

We don't have the perfect suggestion for a messenger app. Different people will want different things, after all. But we do know there are more than a handful of cross-platform (iOS and Android, sometimes Windows as well) messenger apps that can be used to keep private conversations private regardless of what a judge thinks. WhatsApp comes to mind, as does Signal or Telegram.

We should all be concerned about this ruling, and now is a perfect time for you and the people you talk with to switch to another form of messaging.

If you're the go-to person for all things tech in your circle of family and friends, have a look and see what you like and would recommend. If you're not, point them here.

Stay safe. And stay private.

Kapture: Part Wearable Microphone, Part Time Machine

MrMobile — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 20:08:00 +0000

What if you could mix wearable tech, spy gear and a dash of audio-only time travel? You'd have Kapture: a wristwatch-sized microphone that's always listening to the world around it.

Kapture stays constantly connected to your smartphone and activates with a tap, so saving a recording of the past 60 seconds is as simple as flicking your wrist. As one of those weird kids who used to bring a tape recorder to school to document his days, Kapture instantly struck a chord with the young Michael Fisher inside me – but as it turns out, Kapture is a quirky little device.

Is the privilege of acoustic time travel worth the Kapture's hardware handicaps (and its steep price tag)? Join me for the latest MrMobile video to find out!

Go forth and socialize!

Don't miss this awesome deal on Tronsmart's Wireless Fast Charger

Jared DiPane — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 19:11:37 +0000

Right now Tronsmart is offering its fast-charging wireless charger with a sweet discount in the U.S., UK and Canada. Depending where you are ordering the charger from, you can save up to $6 on the recently-announced charger. It has a built-in LED that will let you know things are working, and that your phone is charging once you place it on there. It can work as both a standard charger and a fast charger, meaning you can top off that Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7 or other phone nice and quick.

As mentioned above, this deal is good for those in the U.S., UK and Canada.

In the U.S. - $19 with coupon FASTCHAR
In the UK - £14.36 with coupon PK4ZHV6O
In Canada - $20 with coupon XEXBMHXT

You will need to be sure to use the correct link and coupon code to order it for your region. The deal is set to end on August 18, or when supplies run out. If you are interested, be sure to act quickly to get your order placed.

Best travel apps for Android

Kathy McGraw — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 19:03:10 +0000

What's the best travel app for Android?

Whether you're planning your first trip away from home or you're a frequent flier, there are a ton of travel apps available for Android that will help you find the best flight, learn a new language, or get the best information about your desired destination. Here are our favorites.

Tripit
Airbnb
LiveTrekker
Skyscanner
LoungeBuddy
XE Currency
Evaneos Travel
Duolingo
Google Maps
Hipmunk

Update, August 10: This article was updated with new information about improvements to Tripit in version 5.0.

Tripit

Tripit lets you store all of your travel plans, including information about your itinerary, hotel, and car rental bookings in one convenient location. It can import this information direct from your email box, and you can easily share your travel plans with your family and friends. It'll even add your trips to your calendar.

Tripit is free, but there is a paid version called Tripit Pro, available for 99 cents, which removes the ads and updates you on any changes to your flights such as delays or gate changes. It will also inform you when a better flight becomes available and will let you change your flight plans in-app.

If you travel a lot, or even if you simply want an easy way to share your travel plans with people you know, give Tripit a try.

Download: Tripit (free)

Airbnb

If you're traveling on a budget or you're after an alternative travel experience, give Airbnb a try. It's free and helps you find places to stay, which are offered by private hosts in over 34,000 cities worldwide.

Whether you're looking for a luxurious house with a pool and hot tub for just you and your family, or you're open to sharing a room or suite with another traveler, Airbnb will help you find the right accommodations for you.

Communicate with the host directly through the app, as well as view pictures and get information about the offered amenities, the area the space is located in, price, and much more.

Download: Airbnb (free)

LiveTrekker

LiveTrekker is a free travel diary app that lets you document your travels through interactive maps, pictures, video, voice, and text. In addition, you can share your travel experiences in real time or upload them to the cloud to view or share another time.

With the tap of a button, the app starts tracking your movements via GPS and displaying your route on a satellite map. Annotate this map with photos, video, or text, and you have a detailed documentation of your journey to share with others or play back at any time.

If you enjoy documenting your travels and sharing them with others, download LiveTrekker.

Download: LiveTrekker (free)

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a great little app for searching for the cheapest flights to anywhere you want to go. You can book flights directly from the app, and you can also search for and book hotels.

Pick a location you want to travel to and the app will quickly find flights to that location and sort them by the cheapest price. Skyscanner is simple to use, and lets you quickly get the information you want.

If you want to find the cheapest flight to anywhere, or you just want to check prices and dream about your next vacation, Skyscanner is for you.

Download: Skyscanner (free +IAP)

LoungeBuddy

If you're a frequent flier or you know you're going to have a long layover somewhere, having a spot to relax, nosh on some tasty food, and have a little drink while you wait for your next flight may appeal to you.

Almost every airport in the world has lounges that are off-limits to the general public but open to people who have certain perks. Don't worry, though, lounges aren't just for the rich and famous — you may have the needed perks to get in without even knowing it, and that's where LoungeBuddy comes in.

Give the app a little information about yourself, such as whether you're flying business or first class, if you belong to the military, and which credit cards are in your wallet, and the app will let you know if you qualify for lounge access in over 900 airports worldwide. It will even let you book your chosen lounge in-app.

In addition, you can browse photos of each lounge and read reviews from other travelers.

Download: LoungeBuddy (free +IAP)

XE Currency

When you want to know how many pesos your dollar is worth while you're in Mexico, XE Currency, an app from the makers of the trusted currency exchange site, XE.com, will let you know in an instant.

XE Currency updates its rates every minute, so you always have the most accurate information, and it can also be used offline using saved data — no internet? No problem.

In addition to current rates, XE Currency offers market analysis information as well as charts that track your selected currency's rate over time.

If you want up-to-the-minute currency rate information, XE Currency is a must have for you.

Download: XE Currency (free)

Evaneos Travel

Evaneos Travel is a free travel guide app with absolutely no in-app purchases or advertising. Using information compiled by seasoned travelers, it offers a wealth of information on destinations all over the world.

Evaneos is especially handy for people who want to veer off the beaten path a little bit. Each destination has reviews from other travelers that tell you what you can expect, sights you must see, what to avoid, the best time to go, and much more.

If you crave an adventure on your next trip, pick up the Evaneos Travel app.

Download: Evaneos Travel (free)

Duolingo

Learn another language for free with Duolingo, a language app that's similar to Rosetta Stone.

As of this writing, you can learn the following languages from Duolingo: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish Gaelic, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish, and Turkish.

Each lesson includes a segment where you match a word in your chosen language to a picture and a section where you hear a sentence spoken and must translate it, as well as other types of learning tools.

You can take as much time to complete each section as you like and can also go back and repeat lessons you've already completed. If you're diligent about working with the app, you'll be speaking another language in no time.

If you want to learn another language for free, Duolingo is the app for you.

Download: Duolingo (free)

Google Maps

You probably already have Google Maps installed on your device, but if for some reason you don't, you can download it from Google Play for free.

Google Maps is a great map app that lets you plan your route and gives you directions to help you get there. It even has indoor maps for large places such as airports, stadiums, and malls. It will even tell you where the nearest restaurants and stores are based on your location.

If you haven't tried Google Maps yet, try it out next time you're traveling.

Download: Google Maps (free)

Hipmunk

While Hipmunk does essentially the same things as many other travel apps that let you find and book flights and hotels, it has an interesting sorting metric for finding the best flight for the lowest cost.

It's called Agony and it's a combination of price, number of stops, and layover time. Flights that score low on Agony will be at the top of the list while flights that score higher will be sorted lower. So if you want the shortest flight with as few layovers as possible, for the cheapest price, you can quickly find it with Hipmunk.

If you're looking for the cheapest and least onerous flight for your next trip, try Hipmunk.

Download: Hipmunk (free)

What do you use?

Do you use an awesome travel app that we missed out on? Sound off in the comments below!

How to move your Pokémon Go account to a new Android phone

Russell Holly — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 17:00:11 +0000

Can I move my Pokémon Go account to my new phone?

Pokémon Go can be rough on a phone. Some users are realizing their battery just doesn't cut it anymore, and some are accidentally walking into lakes. Whatever the reason for your old phone needing to be replaced, Pokémon Go players around the world are left asking a simple question about their game data: If you move from an old phone to a new Android phone — even if that old phone was an iPhone — will your game data travel with you?

The short answer is yes, and here's how it works!

Your Pokémon Go account is tied to one of two things: a Google account, or a Pokémon Trainer Club account. That login allows you to sign in to any phone running Pokémon Go, and all of your account information will immediately be available on that phone when you do.

If you used Google to create your original account:

Tap Google under "Sign up with".
Select your Google account from the list.
Enjoy your original account on your new phone.

If you used Pokémon Trainer Club to create your original account:

Tap Pokémon Trainer Club under "Sign up with".
Enter your username and password.
Tap Sign in.
Enjoy your original account on your new phone.

If you accidentally created a new account when trying to log in to your new account:

Tap on the Poké Ball.
Tap Settings.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
Tap the correct login option under Sign up with.

Niantic made this process as simple as possible, and made it so you can quickly get back to playing Pokémon Go when you've moved in to a new phone. And if that new phone is an iPhone, we have a guide for that, too!

Have you recently purchased a new Android phone due to Pokémon Go?

Tell us all about it in the forums!

Pokémon Go

Where to buy the Galaxy Note 7 in Canada

Daniel Bader — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:21:42 +0000

Where can I buy the Galaxy Note 7 in Canada?

The Galaxy Note 7 is a big, beautiful phone, and Samsung Canada knows it. That's why it is going to be offered at almost every possible carrier, along with the company's four retail locations spaced out across the country.

When the Note 7 is released on August 19th, it will be offered at:

Samsung Experience Stores
Rogers
Bell
Telus
Koodo
Wind Mobile
SaskTel
MTS
Videotron

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from the Samsung Experience Stores

If you're looking for the best out-of-box experience with the Galaxy Note 7 — and have over $1049.99 to spare for an unsubsidized handset — buying it from one of the four Samsung Experience stores across the country is the way to go.

Not only does the phone come without any carrier bloatware, but each box comes with an unlock code that will allow the phone to be used on any Canadian carrier, as well as most providers around the world.

It will be available for purchase on August 19 for:

$1049.99 outright

It will be available in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Coral Blue.

See at Samsung

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Bell

The Galaxy Note 7 is available for pre-order right now, and will be available on August 19 from Bell for:

$549.99 on a 2-year contract with a minimum $85/month plan
$1049.99 outright

It will be available in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Coral Blue. Bell is offering a free accessory with every purchase: either a Gear Fit 2 fitness band or a Level Box Pro wireless speaker. Redeem at Samsung's promotions page between August 19 and September 2.

See at Bell

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Rogers

Rogers has opened up its Reservation System for the Note 7, which allows you to put down $50 to reserve your spot in line for the phone when it becomes available on August 19.

The Galaxy Note 7 will be available for:

$559.99 on a 2-year contract
$1059.99 on a month-to-month plan

Each Galaxy Note 7 sold on a Share Everything plan will receive a 64GB microSD card and the choice of a Samsung Level Box Pro wireless speaker or Gear Fit 2 fitness band.

It will be available in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Coral Blue.

See at Rogers

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Telus

Telus has not made the Note 7 available for pre-order yet. Check back soon.

See at Telus

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Koodo

Koodo has not made the Note 7 available for pre-order yet. Check back soon.

See at Koodo

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Wind Mobile

Wind Mobile will sell the Galaxy Note 7 on August 19 for:

$449 with a $25/month WindTab Boost
$649 with a $15/month WindTab Boost
$849 with a $5/month WindTab Boost
$999 on WindTab
$1099 outright

It will be available in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Coral Blue. Wind is offering a free accessory with every purchase: either a Gear Fit 2 fitness band or a Level Box Pro wireless speaker. Redeem at Samsung's promotions page between August 19 and September 2.

See at Wind Mobile

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from MTS

MTS has not made the Note 7 available for pre-order yet. Check back soon.

See at MTS

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from SaskTel

SaskTel is offering pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 7 right now, with a release date of August 19.

The phone is available for:

$549.99 on a 2-year contract
$1049.99 outright

It will be available in Black Onyx and Silver Titanium. SaskTel is offering a free accessory with every purchase: either a Gear Fit 2 fitness band or a Level Box Pro wireless speaker. Redeem at Samsung's promotions page between August 19 and September 2.

See at SaskTel

Buy the Galaxy Note 7 from Videotron

Videotron is offering pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 7, with a release date of August 19.

The phone is available for:

$279.95 with a 9GB plan ($99/mo minimum) on a 2-year plan
$379.95 with an 8GB plan ($88/mo minimum) on a 2-year plan
$1059.95 outright

It will be available in Black Onyx and Silver Titanium. Videotron is offering a free accessory with every purchase: either a Gear Fit 2 fitness band or a Level Box Pro wireless speaker. Redeem at Samsung's promotions page between August 19 and September 2.

See at Videotron

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Verizon AT&T T-Mobile Sprint

Celebrate the Rio Olympics with these sporty wallpapers!

Ara Wagoner — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:00:11 +0000

While most of us can be forgiven if we show our patriotism on the inside, but during the Olympics it's time to let the flags and face paint fly... or, you could put an Olympic wallpaper on your phone to remind yourself to check out the results every now and then. Whether you're rooting for athletes you watch all year long or athletes you've never seen before (and never will again), the Olympics has something for everyone...

Let's just hope it's not Zika.

Olympic Flame

While there have been many awesome Olympic flames over the years, the one in Vancouver remains my favorite. Even if it did mess up during the opening ceremony. We don't talk about that, though. Isn't it pretty? Does it light the fires of patriotism and athletic competition in your heart?

Olympic Flame

Rio Olympics

This stylized poster feels like ti could fit on your home screen long after the closing ceremony, with its subtle rings and beautiful layers. With the moon and the stars, it kinda takes my breath away...

Rio Olympics

Flags Collection from GaryckArntzen

Want to cheer on your country of choice? Well, they may not have every country, but these spattered flag wallpapers are messy enough for real life yet still easy enough to recognize instantly and stir some national pride within you! U! S! A! U! S! A! U! S! A! Oh, and the rest of the other countries. Go for gold!

Flags Collection from GaryckArntzen

The Olympic Pokeball by wazzy88

There's something about the Olympic motto that makes it feel like it applies to Pokemon Training...also, this beautiful lunar Poké Ball looks like it's ready to hold the strongest Pokémon a country can find. Which Pokémon would you want to compete in Olympic events? I'm saying Manaphy for the 100 meter freestyle.

The Olympic Poké Ball by wazzy88

2020 Olympics

The closing ceremony will be here before we know it, but never fear! There'll be another one in four years, and guess what?! NEXT ONE'S IN JAPAN! Pardon me for a moment as I squee at the idea of being able to both see an Olympics, take in the culture of Japan, and then pop over to Tokyo Disney and die of happiness at all of the magic in there. Well, it may be four years away, but it's never too early to start planning the trip of a lifetime, right?

2020 Olympics

Sizzlin Hot Summer Sale: Save an extra 20% on your favorite Android accessories

ShopAndroid.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:00:11 +0000

The heat of summer is still here, so don't miss out on this hot sale.

Feeling bummed that summer will soon be winding down? Well, how about an extra 20% off on the already-reduced ShopAndroid.com accessories? Don't miss out on this opportunity to stock up with cases, charging cables and more for your favorite Android phones and tablets. Whether you are looking for something to accompany your Galaxy Note 5, Nexus 6P, HTC 10 or something else, we've got you covered.

The savings runs now through Sunday, August 14, and all you need to do is enter coupon code SS16 to save the additional 20% on your favorite accessories. What will you be adding to your collection? Let us know in the comments.

See at ShopAndroid

Coolpad unveils Coolpad Mega, a nicely designed budget smartphone for India

Abhishek Baxi — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:42:45 +0000

Coolpad has unveiled the Coolpad Mega, its latest budget smartphone for India.

In a press conference in New Delhi today, Coolpad unveiled the Coolpad Mega, a lightweight, nicely designed affordable smartphone. Powered by the latest CoolUI 8.0 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the Coolpad Mega supports dual SIM dual standby with VoLTE support and offers 4G LTE network.

The company claims that with the launch of Coolpad Mega, Coolpad aims to capture 13-15% of the online smartphone segment of phones priced under ₹8,000 – a growth rate of 100% YOY. In the first flash sale for Coolpad Mega, the company wants to sell 50,000 phones.

While the first phase of Coolpad Mega devices will be imported from China, later they will be manufactured in India under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Coolpad Mega 2.5D Specifications

Category	Features
Operating System	Android Marshmallow 6.0 with CoolUI 8.0
Display	5.5-inch HD (1280 x 720) IPS LCD \| 2.5D curved screen
Processor	64-bit 1.0GHz MediaTek MT6735P Quad-core processor \| Mali-T720 GPU
RAM	3GB
Internal Storage	16GB; expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card
Camera	8MP front camera with 83.6-degrees wide-angle lens + 8MP rear camera with LED flash
Battery	2500mAh
Dimensions	153 × 76.8 × 7.85mm
Weight	143gms

Priced at ₹6,999 ($105), Coolpad Mega will be exclusively available on Amazon in gold, white, and black. The smartphone will go on sale starting August 24 via flash sale for which registrations have already begun. Coolpad has also teased a disruptive product before Diwali this year, without sharing any details of the same.

The Coolpad Mega is an elegant looking smartphone, and looks pretty good on the specifications sheet for a budget smartphone. Would you be interested in picking one up? Tell us in the comments.

See at Amazon

Selling your Android phone or tablet: The ultimate guide

Simon Sage — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:28:15 +0000

How do I sell my Android phone or tablet for the most amount of money? With these tips and tricks, you'll get the best return!

So a new Android phone has caught your eye — maybe the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 — and you want to get on the boat as soon as possible. You'll need to sell your old phone in order to make up some of the money you're spending on that new device, but luckily there are a wealth of options available. We're going to get you through some of the best practices out there for preparing your Android phone or tablet for sending off, and some places for sale that would best suit your needs.

Remove SIM and SD cards

First up, you'll want to take out the SIM card and SD memory card from your phone. These are important pieces of hardware that you don't want to forget in your phone when you ship it off to your buyer. Your SIM card is what enables your phone to take calls at your number and is associated with your data plan. You'll need it for your new phone, anyway. Often you'll need a paperclip or similarly slim poking implement to open a SIM card tray, but sometimes it will be behind the rear casing of your phone by the battery. The exact method will vary by device.

Not every phone or tablet will have an SD memory card slot, but you'll often find them alongside your SIM card slot. Memory cards will often store your photos and music, though the device itself has its own storage too. Use either your phone's native file manager or a third party one (I like Astro to look into folder where downloads, music, and photos may have been saved. From there, you should be able to copy them to your SD card before taking it out. You'll want to check to make sure all of your important files are saved, so be sure to back up your data as well.

Back up data

Assuming your data is associated with your Google account, your contacts, calendar, and e-mail will already be fully backed up in the cloud. That means as soon as you fire up your new phone, that important information will be there as soon as you log into your Google account. Many manufacturers will offer their own similar cloud backup utility that encompasses contacts and calendars. More storage-intensive content such as music and photos can be backed up wirelessly with Google Drive, or third parties like Flickr and Dropbox.

Your Google account, your contacts, calendar, and e-mail will already be fully backed up in the cloud.

If you'd rather not go through the cloud, your device manufacturer should have desktop software that would allow you to back up your data with a USB cable. Again, that process will vary by who made your phone or tablet.

More: Backing up your Android phone: the ultimate guide

Unlock your phone

Strictly speaking this part is optional, though it certainly adds value. Unlocking your phone means SIM cards other than those of the original carrier can be used. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean the phone's antenna will necessarily play nice with the new network, but unlocking at least gives it a chance to try. In the U.S. this is only really of interest to T-Mobile and AT&T customers, but is quite important to international sellers and buyers.

Everything you need to know about unlocking your phone

So where do you go to unlock your phone? Your current service provider may be willing to do it after some wrangling. You can go with an online service too, like CellUnlocker.net. Cost is usually in the ballpark of $15 to $25. depending on phone model. The unlock is accomplished by generating a code based on your IMEI number. Your IMEI number can be found under Settings and About device, or by entering *#06# in the phone dialler.

Unlocking your phone often adds value to your phone, since it can work on other carriers around the world.

Once you've received an unlock code from your service provider or third-party unlocker, put a different SIM card into your phone, and you'll be prompted to put in that code. Be careful, you only get so many tries before you're locked out entirely from your phone.

Factory reset

Once you're sure your data is safe and secure, you're ready to wipe it clean. The first thing you'll want to do is turn off Factory Reset Protection (FRP), which is an extra security measure in case your phone or tablet gets stolen and the thief simply does a factory reset on it. FRP can be disabled by removing your Google accounts from the phone or tablet. Jump into Settings and find Accounts. You'll see a list of various accounts you've set up on the device, but you want to tap on Google. Here, you'll see your Google account(s), where you can tap on them, and see more settings to remove them permanently.

In the Settings section for most phones, you'll find under Settings an option for Backup and Reset. If it's not immediately visible, the settings menu should have a search bar to help you. You'll want to double and triple check to make sure all of your important information has been recovered from the phone, because after this there's no going back.

Gather official and third-party accessories

With your phone wiped clean, you'll want to get all of the miscellaneous odds and ends you have lying around. If you still have the original box, receipt, and warranty, those are all good to include. Original USB cable, wall charger, and headphones are nice bonuses. If you want to put the real icing on the cake and increase your chance of sales, include any relevant third-party accessories. The case in particular you won't have much use for after this anyway.

If you still have the original box, receipt, and warranty, those are all good to include. Cables and chargers are good, too!

Clean device and take pictures

Give your phone or tablet a good wipe down with a microfiber cloth, and get ready to take some pictures. Use a proper camera (i.e. not another phone) with a tripod, if you have one. Your top priority for taking pictures is good lighting. A lamp will cast a lot of shadow, but if you have a cool-toned halogen overhead light in the house somewhere, that should provide a nice even look.

Keep the background clean. Even if you're just putting the phone on a white piece of paper, that's fine. Get multiple angles, and if there are any particular scuffs or shows of wear, photograph them; being deceptive about the state of your phone will lead to poor feedback or outright refunds, depending how you're going about selling.

Sell your device

With your phone wiped, cleaned, and the accessories all boxed up, you've got to figure out where to sell. Your venue of choice will often decide how much of a return you'll get.

Sell via carrier trade-in

Finding a buyer can be a hassle, but all major U.S. carriers will offer you credit for your old phone. A resurgence in many guaranteed upgrade plans actually require you to hand your old phone back before being able to snag a new one. Though this is a pretty convenient solution, especially if you intend on sticking with your carrier for your next phone, the actual return on your phone will likely be less than other venues for sale.

Sell via Amazon trade-in

Amazon's trade-in service applies for just about every type of phone, tablet, and electronic product. Amazon will pay for shipping your device out to them, but you'll get paid with an Amazon gift card rather than proper cash, but that might not be an awful thing if you can find your next phone on Amazon (and you probably can). If you just want some cold, hard cash, or already have your next device ready to go, this route might not be for you.

Sell on Amazon

Sell via eBay

eBay is a massively popular way to sell your stuff. A rating system vets sellers, and you can pay in a number of secure ways. You'll need to deal with additional fees and the hassle of shipping, but a much wider audience will see your device for sale here than just about anywhere. There are a few things to keep in mind before jumping onto eBay.

Only ship to the confirmed PayPal address, if that's how you're getting paid. This ensures you keep PayPal Seller Protection.
Price competitively. It's easy to check other sales of the same item and see how much they've sold for. With a larger seller pool, it's easy for buyers to find cheaper options.
Be honest about the condition of your Android device. Shipping an item in the condition it wasn't described as can earn you a poor review, and potentially lead to the buyer getting their money back.
Use accurate keywords in the title and description. That means full market name, model number, carrier branding, memory denomination, and a mention of accessories included.
Mention shipping details in your description. Usually the faster the shipping the better, even if it bumps up the cost of the device, and insurance isn't a bad idea. Communicate regularly with your eventual buyer about the shipping status of the device.
Avoid low-feedback buyers. Odds are it's for a reason, and you can often drill down into their feedback profile to see any previous altercations a buyer has had on eBay.

Sell on eBay

Craigslist

Use Craigslist to sell your Android device locally, which cuts out the issue of shipping. Any potential buyer will want to check out the condition of your phone in person before handing over any money. Some sellers might not be comfortable meeting strangers and taking their money, but it's fairly common occurrence. So long as you follow some simple guidelines, everything should go fine.

It should go without saying, but don't post your home address in the public Craigslist ad.
Price competitively by monitoring how much similar devices are selling for. You'll have a hard time moving yours if potential buyers know they can get a better deal.
If interested buyers want to call on the phone, consider using Skype or a temporary phone number to maintain privacy.
Meet in a public place during the daytime. Most buyers are going to be perfectly normal and friendly, but better safe than sorry.
Shipping internationally or getting offers that are absurdly higher than your asking price are signs of a scam. Hold off for a legit offer.

Sell on Craigslist

Swappa

Swappa is a dedicated mobile device marketplace with established quality assurance. Buyers pay a $10 fee in the U.S., but what they're buying is inspected and vouched for by Swappa. They even do a check to make sure there isn't an outstanding balance on the device. The prices are decent, to boot.

Sell on Swappa

Gazelle

Gazelle is similar to Swappa, though they're ultimately trying to do the selling for you rather than pairing you up with a buyer. They'll buy your phone painlessly, though you won't get as good of a price as you might from other services.

Sell on Gazelle

Friends and family

People you already know may be in the market for a new device and be willing to pay up-front for one. Assuming you're on good terms with a buyer you already know, you can count on getting a good price, plus it's convenient being able to hand off the phone to someone you might already see regularly anyway. Of course, you also get the warm-and-fuzzy feeling of knowing your well-loved phone is going to a good home.

Android Central forums

We have a whole forum dedicated to wheeling and dealing in used devices. Check in with our community members that are interested in buying, and you may have a sale before you know it. You can also check out our general help forums if you've got questions about how to go about selling your Android device.

Visit the Android Central Marketplace

Visit the Android Central General Help forums

Kyocera Duraforce PRO doubles as a wide-angle action camera

Jared DiPane — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:19:13 +0000

The new Duraforce PRO is a unique waterproof phone with a wide-angle action camera!

Kyocera has announced the Duraforce PRO, its latest rugged phone that has a built-in wide view action camera. Mainly known for its waterproof and shockproof devices, this will be the first time that Kyocera adds an action camera into its phone to combine the best of two worlds into one. Sporting a 5-inch 1080p display, the Duraforce PRO features 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the back you've got a 13MP camera, and the front has a 5MP shooter for capturing those selfies. The rear camera features a number of new modes, such as underwater mode, sports mode, slow motion, time-lapse and other camera filters/applications.

With its 3420mAh battery, you should get all-day battery life and solid recording time on the action camera. The phone will be available later this fall, but no word on pricing yet.

Press release:

Kyocera Goes Pro with New Duraforce PRO, the First Rugged Smartphone with a Built-in Super Wide View FHD Action Camera

The Only Rugged Smartphone All-In-One Super Wide View FHD Action Camera

SAN DIEGO – – Kyocera International Inc., the North American leader in rugged mobile solutions, today announced the new Kyocera DuraForce PRO – the only rugged 4G LTE smartphone with a Super Wide View FHD (1080p) Action Camera. The latest in Kyocera's leading portfolio of military-grade rugged, waterproof devices, DuraForce PRO offers an affordable, durable and dependable smartphone for both business users and consumers. Complementing the phone's 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, the new Super Wide View Camera offers functionality once reserved for dedicated action-camera devices, including underwater operation mode, and the phone can be integrated with popular action-camera mounts. DuraForce PRO will launch nationwide in the coming months.

DuraForce PRO was designed by Kyocera to be rugged for a reason—to provide businesses and consumers with a dependable smartphone that can withstand the harshest environments and mishaps, all with the peace of mind of a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. For an industrious worker, an adventurous thrill-seeker or a parent on the go, DuraForce PRO incorporates cutting-edge technology and features designed to function in life's most demanding moments. It is equipped with a large 5-inch Full HD display and a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ octa-core processor (1.5GHz x 4/1.2GHz x 4) with X8 LTE and multi-mode to ensure fast connections on diverse global networks.¹

The phone is shockproof, drop-proof, and dustproof, with certifications to IP68 (waterproof up to 30 minutes, up to 2 meters deep) and Military Standard 810G for protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, immersion, temperature shock and icing/freezing rain. Enabling seamless one-to-one or one-to-many communications, DuraForce PRO also includes a dedicated side button for Push-To-Talk (PTT) that can also be programmed by non-PTT users for one-touch access to a favorite feature or application.

"Kyocera's new DuraForce PRO provides consumers and businesses with industry-leading rugged technology and is the only rugged smartphone with a built-in high-definition action camera, enabling users to stay connected and capture the content they love no matter the circumstance or environment," said Chuck Becher, senior division vice president of sales, marketing and product at Kyocera International's Communications Equipment Group. "With the breadth of durable features our customers have come to expect from Kyocera, DuraForce PRO delivers peace of mind, unmatched durability and rugged design, all at a price point consumers will love."

In addition to the Super Wide View FHD Action Camera, DuraForce PRO also integrates the following features:

Leading security features, including a fingerprint security sensor on the phone's power button for biometric authentication and FIDO® Certified for simpler, stronger authentication to support popular mPayment/ mCommerce protocols
Cutting-edge connectivity, including enterprise-grade Wi-Fi with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/r/k, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Mobile Hot Spot (for up to ten devices), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Miracast and USB 2.0
Enhanced camera features including underwater mode, sports mode, slow motion, time-lapse and other camera filters/applications
Leading-edge performance with a Snapdragon processor and 32GB/2GB of ROM/RAM memory capacity
Survivability with waterproof, shockproof, dropproof and dustproof capabilities, certified to Ingress Protection (IP) and Military Standard 810G standards for environmental hazards
Extreme-environment protection, including protection against dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, immersion, temperature shock and icing/freezing rain
Impact-resistant 5" FHD (1920x1080) display designed to survive falls with a hardened, impact-resistant touchscreen
Continuous productivity across environments with Glove and Wet Touchscreen Operation to allowing the device to be functional even when wet or used with gloved hands
Longer battery life with a large 3,240mAh non-removable battery, Wireless Charging support and Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 2.0, a comprehensive suite of battery-management technologies that lets devices charge up to 75 percent faster than conventional charging methods
Enhanced audio experience through 100+dB dual front speakers for improved sound, particularly in noisy environments

For business and enterprise users, Kyocera is collaborating with leading enterprise application and solution providers. DuraForce PRO supports Android for Work, along with industry-leading security, device-management and productivity apps. It is currently being certified for Common Criteria for government agencies and other entities with that requirement. Kyocera also works with a wide array of accessory manufacturers, creating hardware solutions to customize the device for specific industries. The device is certified for use in hazardous locations where concentrations of flammable gas, vapors or mists are not normally present in explosive concentrations but may exist (Non-incendive Class I, Division 2, Group A-D, T4).

Best OnePlus 3 tips and tricks

Harish Jonnalagadda — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 13:00:14 +0000

How do I make my OnePlus 3 better, faster, and more productive? With these tips and tricks!

The OnePlus 3 is one of the best phones you can buy for $399. Featuring a fantastic metal chassis, a 1080p Optic AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 64GB storage, and a 16MP camera, the phone undercuts traditional flagships by a few hundred dollars while providing a similar user experience. Hardware prowess has always been OnePlus' forte, but this time around the software has also picked up much-needed polish in the latest version of OxygenOS, which offers a stock Android experience layered with several customizations.

Here's how you can get the most out of your OnePlus 3.

Alert Slider

The three-stage Alert Slider made its debut last year, and is one of the best features on the OnePlus 3. The slider lets you quickly toggle between different notification modes — all notifications, priority, or silent. You also have the option of customizing what types of notification alerts are allowed when the phone is in priority or silent mode.

With the slider all the way down, you'll receive all notification alerts. The middle stage is for priority alerts, and you can put the phone in silent mode by pushing the slider further up.

How to configure the Slider on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Navigate to Alert slider, located under the Device category.
Toggle media, alarm, reminder, event, and message settings for Priority and Silent modes.

Change the button layout

With the OnePlus 3, you have the option of using the built-in capacitive buttons or software navigation buttons. The capacitive buttons are enabled by default, but you can easily switch over to on-screen navigation keys by heading into the Settings.

How to toggle on-screen navigation buttons on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Navigate to the Buttons section, which is located under Personalization.
Toggle the on-screen navigation bar.

In addition to switching to on-screen buttons, you can alter the layout of the back and recent buttons if you're more comfortable with having the back button to the right. If you're sticking with the capacitive buttons, there is an option to assign secondary functions to each button, including different actions for long press and double tap. For instance, you can configure the home button to launch the camera with a double tap. Here's how to assign secondary actions.

How to assign secondary actions to capacitive buttons on OnePlus 3

In Settings, navigate to the Buttons section.
Under Home button, assign a function for Long press action.
Assign a function for Double tap action.

You can also disable the backlight for the capacitive buttons.

Go dark

The OnePlus 3 has a dark mode that switches white and grey UI elements to black, including the notification shade, settings, and app drawer. The dark mode looks great on the AMOLED screen, and you can also customize accent colors that contrast the black background. Here's how to enable dark mode.

How to enable dark mode on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Navigate to Customization under the Personal category.
Toggle Dark mode.

The phone also comes with a night mode that effectively acts as a blue light filter. If you've experienced eye fatigue after starting at your phone's screen for an extended duration after dark, harsh blue spectrum light is likely to blame. Thankfully, the OnePlus 3's system-wide night mode alters the display's color temperature so that it shows warmer tones, making it easier on your eyes particularly at night. You can adjust the strength of the yellow tint as well.

How to enable blue light filter on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Head to Display, located in the Device category.
Toggle Night mode.
Adjust intensity with the slider.

Customize the display

Don't like the way the display looks on the OnePlus 3? The screen is calibrated to show cooler colors out of the box, but you can tweak the white balance to show warmer hues.

How to adjust white balance on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Head to Display.
Use slider to adjust color balance.

While you're tinkering around with the display settings, you should enable ambient mode, which wakes up the screen for a few seconds every time you receive a notification (à la Moto Display). There's also proximity wake, which lets you switch on the screen by waving your hand over it.

Shelf

Shelf is a panel that sits to the left of your home screen. By default, it highlights your frequently-used apps and contacts as well as weather information for your current location. There's also a basic note-taking client, but the best part about Shelf is the ability to stack widgets vertically. To add a widget, select the floating action button on the right hand corner, and choose your desired widget. It's as easy as that.

If you're not keen on Shelf and are looking to disable the custom screen, here's how you do it.

How to enable Shelf on OnePlus 3

Tap and hold anywhere on your home screen.
Select Customize from the bottom right.
Toggle Enable Shelf.

Change icon and app drawer size

OxygenOS allows you to easily change the size of icons as well as the app drawer. If you feel that the standard icons are too large (or small), here's how you can adjust their size without using a third-party launcher.

How to change app and icon size on OnePlus 3

Tap and hold anywhere on your home screen.
Select Customize from the bottom right.
Swipe left twice to get to the Icons card.
Select between small, standard, and large.
Swipe left once again to alter the size of the app drawer.

Customize quick toggles

You can quickly arrange the layout of the quick toggles. Here's how.

How to change quick toggles on OnePlus 3

Swipe down from the home screen to pull up the notification shade.
Tap the Edit icon located at the top right corner.
Rearrange the tiles to your liking.

Get a different battery icon

Don't like the default battery icon? You can change it.

How to change battery icon on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Head to Battery from the Device section.
Tap the battery icon in the top right corner.
Choose your desired icon.

Use gestures everywhere

OxygenOS has gestures for various functions, such as opening the camera, controlling music playback, and switching on the flashlight. The one I like the most is double tap to wake the screen, which should be a standard feature across all Android phones.

How to enable gestures on OnePlus 3

Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer.
Navigate to Gestures in the Personal category.
Select the gestures you want to enable.

Use the camera's manual mode

The OnePlus 3 has a great manual mode for the camera that lets you adjust the ISO, white balance, exposure settings, and much more.

How to access manual camera mode on OnePlus 3

Open Camera from your home screen or app drawer.
Tap the menu at the top left corner.
Select Manual mode.

Your turn

How are you liking your OnePlus 3? What kinds of tips and tricks do you have for a better experience? Let us know in the comments!

OnePlus 3

OnePlus

The Canadian Galaxy Note 7 runs a Snapdragon 820 chip, not Exynos

Daniel Bader — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:58:37 +0000

In a reversal in strategy from its Galaxy S7 and S7 edge counterpart, Android Central has learned that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor in Canada instead of the Exynos 8890 that powered all Galaxy S7 variants outside the U.S.

In a statement to Android Central, and as first reported by MobileSyrup, Samsung Canada said the decision was made to "better align with the U.S. market," which has been the case in previous generations of Galaxy S and Note launches. A representative went on to say that the Snapdragon 820 has been carefully optimized for the Canadian market — it powers many in-market products, including the HTC 10 and LG G5 — and is ready to facilitate carrier aggregation schemes by carriers like Bell and Rogers.

While the quad-core Snapdragon 820 benchmarks slightly better in GPU-intensive 3D games, and slightly slower in CPU tests, it is also known for being slightly less efficient than the Exynos, which could negatively impact overall battery life of the Canadian Note 7. Samsung Canada assured Android Central that users will see little to no difference between a Note 7 running a Snapdragon 820 and a Galaxy S7 edge powered by Exynos.

Some Reddit users decried the decision as being anti-consumer, since the Exynos chip has traditionally been easier to root, in addition to having slightly longer uptime (though rooting has become considerably less important to many Android users over the past few years).

The worst part for U.S. users? They no longer have the option of importing an Exynos-powered flagship from north of the border.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

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Circular ASUS ZenWatch 3 coming soon, IFA unveiling likely

Alex Dobie — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:46:09 +0000

Latest Android Wear device outed by FCC filing ahead of launch.

It's not often that a good old fashioned FCC filing gives the game away anymore, but that's exactly what's given us the first reliable info on the unannounced ASUS ZenWatch 3. Diagrams first found by Ausdroid reveal a circular design and a handful of minor technical details.

The ZenWatch 3 will also feature Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n on 2.4GHz, charging at 5V/2A and a stainless steel back. The "input" reference in the graphic suggests it'll charge directly over physical contacts, like previous ZenWatches, as opposed to Qi wireless charging like some rivals. The graphic also references "customized keys," suggesting that like LG's second-gen Urbane LTE there'll be multiple keys on the side of the watch.

It's no coincidence that Android Wear 2.0 includes a complete UI redesign to better accommodate circular displays.

The move to a circular display comes after two generations of decided square watches from ASUS — both the ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2 featured rounded rectangular designs. But with the notable exception of the Apple Watch, that's the direction most smartwatches are heading. And it's surely no coincidence that the upcoming Android Wear 2.0 release features a complete UI redesign built around better accommodating circular screens. A round ZenWatch 3 would be right at home on the new platform.

ASUS has an press conference scheduled for Aug. 31 in Berlin, ahead of the IFA trade show. For what it's worth, we've also got pressers from Huawei and Lenovo on our pre-IFA calendar, so could this new ZenWatch have a refreshed Moto 360 and Huawei Watch to face off against? We'll have to wait and see.

Best fantasy football apps for Android

Simon Sage — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:23:08 +0000

Football season is back, baby!

The kickoff to the 2016 NFL season is rapidly approaching, and from office leagues to public leagues, we're sure there's a lot of you looking to get in on the fantasy action. We've gathered up our favorite Android apps to help you dominate this year's fantasy football draft (and hopefully, the season that follows it)! You'll find plenty of options here, each letting you drill down into player statistics, latest news, and updates to your draft.

Note: these apps are for season-long fantasy football, not daily fantasy sites like FanDuel and Draft Kings.

Update, August 10: This article has been updated with new information about the ESPN Fantasy Sports app.

Yahoo Fantasy

Yahoo Fantasy includes fantasy leagues for more than just the NFL; you can get in on MLB, NBA and NHL at the same time, too. Before the league actually starts towards the end of the month, you can work on mock drafts, check in on player news and score updates, and see what the experts are saying about the latest progress.

Download Yahoo Fantasy Football (Free)

NFL Fantasy Football

The official NFL Fantasy Football app features live and mock drafts, live scoring, in-game video highlights, the ability to join and create leagues, quickly choose your weekly lineup, and tweak your player lineup. There's lots of timely player news available and expert analysis to help you in your game.

Download NFL Fantasy Football (Free)

ESPN Fantasy Sports

ESPN's Fantasy Sports app leverages the network's extensive news teams to provide real-time alerts of trades, injuries, and scores for your favorite teams. You can also check in on live auctions and gut-wrenching snake drafts in addition to participating in mock and live drafts. Of course, you can set your weekly players and follow the latest NFL news from within the app. A new update has also added ESPN's other fantasy sports to the app like baseball and hockey.

Download ESPN Fantasy Football (Free)

CBS Sports Fantasy

CBS Sports Fantasy is a great football reference that provides projections, 2016 stats, and outlooks by CBS experts. You can play around with mock and live drafts, and dive in with full team management, live scoring, and chat with other players in the league. CBS Sports fantasy allows for on-the-go trades for your multiple teams, spanning football, baseball, basketball and hockey.

Download CBS Sports Fantasy (Free)

Fantasy Draft Dominator

The Fantasy Draft Dominator is a cheat sheet to help you make the best picks for your draft. Players are scored across 20 positions within 19 categories of passing, 12 categories of rushing, 12 categories of receiving, 7 categories of kicking, and 27 categories of defense. You'll have more data than you'll know what to do with once this is installed. This is one of the highest-rated fantasy football apps in the Google Play store, and one of the most expensive, too, but really, what's five bucks if it can help you get an edge in a thousand dollar league?

Download Fantasy Draft Dominator ($4.99)

So what's your favorite?

There are a lot of ways to get in on fantasy football. What are yours? Who are you eyeballing for your draft? Which leagues do you play in? Hop into the comments and let us know!

Will there be a 6GB Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with 128GB of storage?

Alex Dobie — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:02:59 +0000

Looks like China's getting a tricked-out Note 7 with more RAM and internal storage. So what does that mean for the rest of us?

Over the past year there's been growing chatter among Android fans as to whether Samsung's Galaxy Note line has become just another smartphone. It started back with last year's Note 5, which on the inside was essentially a Galaxy S6 with an extra gig of RAM and a slightly bigger battery — a baby step forward compared to the huge leap we'd seen from Galaxy S5 to Galaxy Note 4.

And there are even more striking similarities between the Galaxy S7 series and the new Note 7: Same processor, same RAM, a small bump in internal storage, USB-C and a new iris scanner feature of questionable value. Notably absent was Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 821. And as smaller rivals like ASUS and OnePlus pushed forward to 6GB of RAM, Samsung stayed at four.

Now, the Note 7 is still a far cry from being a disappointing phone. The company is building on a great platform — the Galaxy S7 — and providing a hearty upgrade for Note 4 and Note 5 owners. And yet, considering Note's origins as a power-user device, it was a little surprising to see Samsung not go completely all-out with its specs.

Chinese consumers get the option of a premium 6GB/128GB Note 7, or a cheaper 4GB/64GB model.

Only now it looks like it might do just that in one market. There's mounting evidence that Chinese buyers will get a Galaxy Note 7 variant (SM-N9300) with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The device passed through China's TENAA regulatory body last month, and now whispers on Chinese social network Weibo suggest two models will go on sale — 4/64GB for 5688 yuan ($854) or 6/128GB for 6088 yuan ($914) — on Sept. 2. At present there's no indication that this tricked-out Note will make it to any other regions, and understandably this has led to some enthusiasts in the West feeling short-changed. Even right-wing British tabloid the Daily Express is getting in on the outrage.

So why China alone? It's likely the move reflects the more spec-conscious nature of buyers in that country, where local phone makers like Oppo, ZTE, LeEco and Lenovo are already pushing to 6GB. A device with 4GB of RAM might well be seen as passé next to the ZTE Nubia Z11 or Lenovo ZUK 2 Pro. In Europe and North America, by comparison, most normal people buying phones don't care what's inside as long as it's fast enough. And as the Galaxy S7 proves, 4GB is more than enough for a smooth Android experience, even with all the extra software Samsung brings to the table.

There's an outside chance a 6GB Note 7 could land on Korean shores at some point.

It's highly unlikely we'll see a wider release of the 6GB/128GB model in territories where the Note 7 has already been announced — with one exception, perhaps. In the West, a souped-up Note 7 would only cater to power users — exactly the sort of people from whom there'd be a backlash if Samsung were to drop an upgraded model only weeks or months after launch. But Samsung has a track record of releasing iterative upgrades in its home market of Korea. One example would be the hilariously named Samsung Galaxy S5 Broadband LTE-A — dubbed the "S5 Prime" by some — which packed a higher-res screen and faster CPU as well as quicker 4G networking. And in late 2014 the firm launched a souped-up Note 4 with support for 3X carrier aggregation. Neither saw a wider international release.

So it could happen, just don't expect it anywhere in the West. And if you absolutely must have a 6GB Note, expect some serious trade-offs in an imported Chinese model — no bundled Google services, and incomplete LTE band coverage, meaning it might not work on all carriers in your home country.

Ultimately, the Note 7 still stands a chance of being the best Android phone of 2016, however much RAM it has — a result of the diminishing importance of specs for most consumers. Where it sells the Note with 4GB, there are surely financial advantages for Samsung — less RAM costs less money — and the company should benefit from economies of scale using largely the same internals as the GS7.

And if you absolutely must have 6GB of RAM right now? Well, it's not like there aren't other options.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

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Best microSD cards for Moto G4

Christine Lachance — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:00:11 +0000

What are the best microSD cards for the Moto G4?

When you buy your Moto G4, it only comes as a 16GB phone. That may very well be enough for some people, but you're looking to improve that number significantly. Good thing the Moto G4 comes ready with a microSD card slot, perfect for Adoptable Storage or portable storage (if you want to transfer files between devices). The best microSD cards for you Moto G4 are only a click away!

Transcend 64GB microSDXC Card
Samsung EVO Plus 64GB microSDXC Card
ScanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB microSDXC Card
PNY U3 Turbo Performance 64GB microSDXC Card
Kingston 64GB microSDXC Card

Transcend 64GB microSDXC Card

You're looking for three simple things: quality, storage, and a good price. The Transcend microSD card ticks all three boxes for about $17, and if 64GB isn't quite enough, you can upgrade a little bit more (for only a little extra bit of money) to their 128GB card.

The 64GB version runs 45MB per second and is great for pictures and videos, for which you want plenty of room to keep around on your Moto G4. Music lovers will be pleased to know that one of these 64GB cards can hold up to 16,000 songs, so your playlist can go on and on. Great price, great card.

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Samsung EVO Plus 64GB microSDXC Card

There's no denying the quality of Samsung's products, and the Samsung EVO Plus microSD card will work seamlessly in your Moto G4. It's built to handle the elements and safely store your files, even if x-rays or magnets are nearby.

The 64GB version features 80MB per second data transfer, and it's ideal for video and picture taking. It's inexpensive at just over $20, and if you find you need to max out your storage options, it's available in a 128GB version as well.

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SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB microSDXC Card

In all fairness, SanDisk does tend to be a more expensive brand, but it's popular and trusted for a reason. You're going to pay about $45 for a 64GB card, but you're getting solid quality for that money — not to mention a lifetime warranty.

It reads up to 95MB per second, and writes 90MB per second. If you're in the market for portable storage, SanDisk includes an adapter so that saved files can be easily inserted into another device, like your laptop. This version does max out at 64GB, but it's mighty fast, and it might be all that you'll need for a long, long while.

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PNY U3 Turbo Performance 64GB microSDXC Card

For the avid photographer who's keen to take advantage of the excellent camera capabilities of the Moto G4, the PNY U3 Turbo Performance microSD card is an easy choice. The 64GB version can store over 22,000 photos. Shutterbugs rejoice!

It features a 90MB per second data transfer rate and is perfect for capturing video. The lifetime warranty and price point that just scratches above $25 are icing on the cake.

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Kingston 64GB microSDXC Card

You've likely got several Kingston USB flash drives kicking around the house or the office, and for good reason, too. The Kingston brand is popular, trustworthy, high quality, and inexpensive; they've applied this same recipe to their microSD cards, too.

For $18, Kingston's 64GB card gives you 45MB per second read speed and 10MB per second write speed. It's a good buy if you're a budding photographer, and it's got a lifetime warranty just in case. If you're worried at all about storage space, Kingston also offers a 128GB version of the microSD card.

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Gimme some room!

Are you using a microSD card with your Moto G4? Tell us about your Adoptable Storage experiences in the comments below!

Moto G4 and G4 Plus

Moto G4:

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Moto G4 Plus:

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