IF and DO Button by IFTTT on Android Wear – Android customization

I hope you had the chance to check out our Android customization primer on IF by IFTTT for your Android Wear device last week. The project was simple enough, providing a little pop up notification whenever there is a new post on Android Authority. With the concept of pushing info to your Android Wear device out of the way, let’s now look at using your smartwatch as the button to run actions on your phone.Luckily, the folks at IFTTT have two tools for this project, The original IF can be used, or the newer DO Button, which, for our sake here today, is really just a streamlined version of IF.Before we beginYou will require a fairly modern Android device to get started here today, you’ll also need an Android Wear device and to install both, or either, IF by IFTTT and DO Button by IFTTT. Both apps are free in the Google Play Store.DO Button – Google Play StoreIF – Google Play StoreThank you oelmekki for making sure we talk about DO Button here today, as it is the tool designed specifically for this sort of task. IF triggers still work fine, but DO is just faster and maybe even easier.Use your Android Wear device to trigger actions on your Android phone or tabletOoops, a little delay getting this article published, not my fault, I promise!We’ve been vague so far, let’s outline a simple project to get you started. Let’s say that you want to tap a button on your Android Wear smartwatch that makes your phone fire up navigation to your home. Sure, there are many ways to do this, including Maps’ built-in ability to put a ‘navigate home’ button on your Homescreen, but we wanted something simple to get started.Fire up DO Button on your phone or visit the IFTTT website to get started.Click the buttons to add a new recipe.Select Android device.Select Create New Recipe.Tap on Launch Google Maps Navigation.Provide a title to this button, I’ll call mine “Navigate Home.”Provide the Navigation type, I’ll be driving.Enter the address of the location you would like to travel to. In our example, Google Maps has the ability to translate ‘Home’ into your actual home address, if you’ve enabled this, simply enter “Home.”Save the recipe.Believe it or not, that’s all there really is to it. Go ahead and fire up DO Button on your Android Wear device and hit that button, your phone will start up the navigation and off you go.How is IF different?If you are having a hard time deciding which tool to use, consider that the DO Button is easier to set up and is designed to run faster than IF. There is not much of a difference most times, perhaps 10 seconds on average, but if you are performing a more time sensitive action, like taking a photo or screenshot, that could make the difference.To do the same project in IF, enter the app and begin a new Recipe.For your This action, choose Android Wear and select Tap button.For your That action, choose Android Device, then Launch Google Maps Navigation.As before, enter the address you are traveling to, or enter Home, if that is set up.Save the Recipe.And we’re done again. Fire up IF on your Android Wear device, tap that button and wait for your phone to take you home.What’s next?We have been focusing on using your Android Wear device to perform actions on your Android phone or tablet, please keep in mind that there is so much more you can do when you explore the available channels in the IFTTT network.I have a few other Recipes set to run from my Android Wear device, one sends a random Giphy animation to my wife via email. Sorry. One sends her my location via SMS, a little more practical. The last simply plays music on my phone.Remember that most all IFTTT Recipes and actions will work in both the IF app and the DO Button app, so you can choose which better suits your needs. Theory is, DO Button is better on your phone’s battery, but I’ve not seen evidence to that fact.Next weekWe are huge fans of using our Android Wear device as a trigger to perform actions on the phone. Next week on our Android customization series, let’s look at another app that makes your smartwatch a remote for your phone, it serves a single purpose, but do so with style. No hints.Do you care for IF or DO Button by IFTTT on your Android Wear device, or are these gimmicks not worth their time?More Android customization projects:Custom navigation overlay with GravityBox Pie controls – Android customizationDiscrete cuckoo clock using Tasker – Android customizationImprove privacy and device security with Android Lollipop screen pinning – Android customizationReduce data usage, turn on data compression in Chrome – Android customization

IF and DO Button by IFTTT on Android Wear – Android customization

#TBT: When Verizon Wanted to Charge You $2 to Pay Your Own Bill

If you thought today’s confirmation from Verizon over their plans to charge you an extra $20 for the right to buy a new phone from them was off-putting, let me take you back to 2011, where the same company considered adding a special “convenience” fee onto your bill each month that was eventually abandoned after a massive online uproar. 

What was the “convenience” fee all about, you ask? Well, Verizon thought you should pay an extra $2 each time you paid your bill at the end of the month. Why? I can’t give you an answer to that with a straight face, especially knowing that it was referred to as the “convenience” fee, but my best guess is that there are fees involved in processing bill payments and Verizon thought you should be responsible for those going forward.

Verizon wanted to charge you an extra $2 if you paid your monthly bill by phone or on My Verizon. We’re not talking late fees or for any other reason where you should be penalized, they just wanted you to pay extra if you were the type to manually pay your bill each month. However, if you signed up for Autopay, that $2 fee was waived. Ohhhh, that must be the “convenience” portion.


Of course, Verizon eventually killed the fee before it was ever added to a customer’s bill. We try not to brag too much around here (there are other sites in this field that do enough of that already), but Verizon killed the fee within two days of us breaking the news on their plans. See, sometimes we are capable of doing good in this world.

Related Stories#TBT: That Time Steve Wozniak Called the Thunderbolt the Worst Gadget He Ever Paid ForFCC is “Concerned” About Verizon’s New Convenience Fee, Will “Look Into” itGalaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge Coming to These US Carriers and Retailers#TBT: Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” Preview Video
#TBT: When Verizon Wanted to Charge You $2 to Pay Your Own Bill is a post from: Droid Life

#TBT: When Verizon Wanted to Charge You $2 to Pay Your Own Bill

Final Fantasy XV minigame coming soon to Android

The full version of Final Fantasy XV doesn’t launch until late September, but luckily there’s a new minigame coming to mobile devices that will tide you over until then. Square Enix has just announced Justice Monsters Five, a pinball game for Android and iOS that will combine role-playing elements with some of Final Fantasy’s classic monsters.The pinball game will follow the heroes of Justice Monsters Five as they take part in battles to save the planet Nova from the diabolical Lord Vexxos. You’ll be able to power up orbs to make your monsters stronger, and defeat Lord Vexxos’ minions and recruit them to your cause. You can either go on solo quests or team up with others to defeat your opponents. Justice Monsters Five will be available to play in-game in Final Fantasy XV when it launches later this year. The game will be available for both Android and iOS later today for free, with optional in-app purchases. If you don’t want to wait, you can pre-register for the game by following this link. Next: 15 best Android games of 2016164

Final Fantasy XV minigame coming soon to Android

Ottm is the wooden band for your smartwatch

If you’re a smartwatch owner, then you’re probably well aware that the number of options you have for your band isn’t really overwhelming. If you’re not a fan of leather, silicone, or metal, then you’re kind of just up a creek without a paddle. What Ottm is promising is the opportunity to really stand out with your smartwatch’s look. The hand-crafted wooden bands look perfect for someone rocking a less techy or corporate vibe, and with three options to choose from, there’s something here for just about anybody. See also: Get realistic Android Wear watch faces with Weareal5 No matter which variant you go for, these bands are splashproof and can be used on Android Wear, Pebble, or Apple watches. This Indiegogo campaign has a goal of just $7,000, and the lowest amount you can chip in to get your hands on one of these bands is $25 plus shipping. However, if you throw $99 at the project, you’ll get all three variants. If you’re a business or fundraiser and you want to snatch up a fair quantity of these stylish bands, $450 will get you 5 of each of the 3 styles.So what kind of options do you have with Ottm? First on the table is Maple, which offers a crisp, lighter color aesthetic. This band provides some nice contrast for darker colored smartwatches, and it kind of has a delightful summery feel to it. Snagging Maple will run you $25 if you make the early bird special.Next up is Zebrawood, which sports a much more complex grain work. Although it’s quite striking, you’ve got to be careful with this option. If you’re already rocking a heavily detailed face and a more baroque smartwatch body then this could look pretty noisy on your wrist. Best paired with simple, elegant smartwatches. Early funders can catch Zebrawood for $39.Lastly, we have Sandalwood, and my God is it sexy. This earthy-colored, red-leaning band seems like it would pair well with just about anything. The contrast in colors between the inner and outer links is stylishly gripping, and it makes for one of the most unique smartwatch bands we’ve ever seen. Sandalwood will run you $65 whether you’re early or not.If all this isn’t enough for you, Ottm is pledging to plant a tree in a national park for every single band they ship. That’s pretty cool, and not something you see everyday from a crowdsourced campaign. If this article reads a bit glowingly, it’s because this is one of our favorite crowdsourced projects that we’ve seen in the last few weeks. With a reasonable goal, a cool product, and a promise to give back to nature with each item sold, there’s a lot to like here. Click the button below to check out the campaign yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments. Which band catches your eye the most?Check it out! Next: Kickstarter project of the week: Mighty Audio brings offline Spotify playback (Update: goal met)7

Ottm is the wooden band for your smartwatch

Samsung+ app receives major overhaul, gains Assist and Community features

If you happen to own a newer Samsung Galaxy flagship, odds are you’ve stumbled across the Samsung+ application that came pre-installed on your phone. It’s basically a help and assist application that will make sure you’re getting the most out of your Samsung smartphone. Today the app is getting a major update to version 3.0, which will bring a number of useful features to the already helpful app.In the past, if you had trouble with your Samsung device, you’d be able to video chat with a representative via Samsung+ to help solve your problem. Now Samsung is taking that feature one step further. With the addition of the Samsung Assist feature, you’ll actually be able to share your screen with the rep and let them operate your device to see if they can fix the problem. You’ll need to grant permission to the rep before they take control. This feature will only be available for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge for now, while older Galaxy devices will receive the update through carriers in the coming weeks.In addition, Samsung+ is getting a pretty big visual overhaul that will make the app much easier on the eyes. Separated into three different tabs, the app’s new layout will make features more easily accessible. You’ll now see a big list of tips and tricks on the homepage, as well as a personalized greeting once you open the app.There are tons of other new improvements and features you’ll want to check out, including the Samsung Community and more. All of those details can be found in the press release attached below. The big version 3.0 update will be available starting today from Google Play. Interested? Follow the link below for more details.Download Samsung+ from Google PlayShow Press ReleaseSamsung Ups the Ante on Customer Support with New Version of Samsung+ AppUpdate Brings New Features including Remote Customer Support Via “Samsung Assist”NEW YORK CITY, March 31, 2016 – Today, Samsung will release a new and improved version of the Samsung+ app (version 3.0), a one-stop destination for empowering people to get the most from their Samsung products, with additional features to further Samsung’s customer support offerings and deliver a more supported ownership experience.Key features of Samsung+ 3.0 app include:Customer Support:Live Support: With a variety of support options to meet customers’ needs, the Samsung+ app provides live support via video chat with the option to text, or phone support with a Samsung representative 7 days a week.Samsung Assist Feature: Brand new for Samsung+ 3.0, “Samsung Assist” feature brings users hands-on support, direct to their screens wherever they are. Samsung owners can access “Samsung Assist” feature to allow a support representative to remotely operate and troubleshoot their device. “Samsung Assist” feature can be activated once a consumer grants permission, during a video chat or phone call with a support representative. This feature is currently available on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Other Galaxy devices and tablets will receive the “Samsung Assist” feature through carrier updates over the coming weeks.On Demand Answers: Understanding that some customers prefer self-guided support, Samsung+ app offers On Demand Answers, which include FAQs troubleshooting tips for users to solve issues on their own.Device Diagnostics: The app’s Diagnostics feature keeps tabs on your device’s battery health as well as data and security. Simple tools pair with diagnostics to quickly optimize battery life and streamline storage.Tips & Tricks: Samsung+ app provides a library of tips and tricks and personalized support to help you do more and get more from your device. The release of Samsung+ 3.0 makes tips and tricks available for Samsung home appliances and consumer electronics, in addition to mobile devices.Community: With version 3.0, Samsung adds community across Samsung+ and online at samsung.com. Content will continue to be added on a rolling basis and we are excited to see this evolve as a valuable future resource for customers.Exclusive Access to Content and RewardsGalaxy Life: Samsung+ app treats owners like true VIPs, providing insider access to the latest Samsung innovations, plus personalized offers, discounts on the latest Samsung products, and even ticket giveaways for big events, which most recently occurred at SXSW.Availability:The 3.0 version of Samsung+ app will be available starting today on Google Play.

Samsung+ app receives major overhaul, gains Assist and Community features

LG Innotek’s latest wireless charger is three times faster

Wireless charging is a pretty neat, somewhat luxurious feature tucked away inside some high-end smartphones. But in the modern days of battery guzzling processors and fast charging wired alternatives, wireless charging just isn’t quite useful enough to breakthrough as a mainstream feature. That being said, LG Innotek has just announced some new wireless transmission modules that can apparently charge up a phone as quickly as today’s speedy wired chargers.The company claims that its new transmitters are three times faster than before and that they can charge a fully discharged battery from 0 to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. This has been accomplished by boosting the transmission power from the typical 5W all the way up to 15W. This comes close to the amount of power available from technologies such as Quick Charge. However, wireless transmission has additional efficiency losses, so it’s not going to be quite as fast but is still a notable improvement.“The development of the 15-watt wireless charging module is a success achieved through our active response to the needs of the customers and changes in the market.” – Gil-Sang Park, LG Innotek head of Automotive Components and Electronics laboratoryFurthermore, LG Innotek’s new transmission modules are cross compatible with a range of existing wireless charging specifications. It follows the Wireless Power Consortium and AirFuel Alliance standards, supporting both 15W WPC and 5W PMA. This means that the modules can be used with a wide range of products, including smartphones, without having to worry about the specific brand or wireless power type inside.The company is working with global power chip companies to develop wireless charging technologies for a wide selection of products, ranging from home uses to automotive and business environments. LG Innotek will begin mass production of its new 15-watt wireless transmissions modules within the year.Show Press ReleaseLG Innotek Unveils Transmission Modules for Quick Wireless ChargingSeoul, Korea, Mar 31, 2016 – LG Innotek, a global materials and components manufacturer, today announced the newly developed 15-watt transmission modules for wireless power charger that can supply the same amount of electric power supplied by wired chargers. It plans to start its mass production within this year.The transmission module has been developed for smartphone wireless power charger with performance equivalent to wired chargers. It shortens the entire charging time and enhances user convenience since it is compatible with diverse charger specifications.Wireless power chargers consist of transmitter and receiver. The transmitter supplies power to smartphone in the form of charger pad or holding platform. Embedded in smartphones, the receiver charges the battery by generating induced current by responding to the transmitter part.LG Innotek has further enhanced the charging speed, compatibility, and application areas with the new 15-watt transmission module for wireless power chargers.The module for wireless power chargers supplies power to charge a fully discharged battery up to 50% within 30 minutes. Its charging speed is three times faster than the existing 5-watt wireless charging modules.Furthermore, this product features outstanding compatibility since it supports diverse wireless charger specifications. It can be used on majority of commercial smart phones supporting wireless power chargers. It interoperates with the 9-watt receiving modules that were recently supplied along with WPC 15W or PMA 5W. It also follows the standards of both World Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and AirFuel Alliance, which are international standards organizations on wireless power chargers.LG Innotek’s 15-watt transmission module can be used on wireless power chargers installed on vehicles as well as wireless chargers used at home or office. The company has secured quality at the level of automotive electronic parts under a strategic alliance with developers of the world’s major power chipset manufacturers.The company’s core technologies include those for wireless communication, power circuit design, and new materials make success of the development of the 15-watt transmission module for wireless power chargers.In addition, the company has supplied wireless power charger receiving modules to global smart phone manufacturers such as LG Electronics, Motorola, and Kyosera starting with Google Nexus 4 in 2012. It attracted attention by last year’s introduction of 5-watt transmission modules that exceeded 70% charging efficiency.LG Innotek plans to respond actively to market changes as the current wireless power charger market so far, which is formed around home or offices, will expand to automobiles and public places. The company has already supplied modules for wireless power charger to the global automotive company in June last year.“The development of the 15-watt wireless charging module is a success achieved through our active response to the needs of the customers and changes in the market. We will continue to provide convenient, safe, and pleasant user experiences by concentrating all our resources on the creation of customer values.” said Gil-Sang Park, head of the company’s Automotive Components and Electronics laboratory.About LG Innotek Co,.Ltd.LG Innotek is a cutting-edge materials and components manufacturer and an affiliate of LG group. The company’s business units include core components for mobile, automotive, display, semiconductor, IoT and LED. Further, the company has cooperated closely with mobile device, home appliance and automotive companies, producing camera modules, automotive electronic components, wireless communication module, substrate materials and LED.LG Innotek is headquartered in Seoul, Korea and its sales subsidiary is located in San Jose, California. For more information, please refer to the website: www.lginnotek.com,

LG Innotek’s latest wireless charger is three times faster

Samsung launches Galaxy J3 ⑥ in India for just Rs. 8,990

Samsung is continuing its drive into the entry-level Indian market today, having just announced that the cost effective Galaxy J3 ⑥ has just gone on sale in the country. The handset was originally unveiled in China last year and has already made its way to the US market through Virgin Mobile and Boost.The core specifications remain virtually unchanged from the earlier launches. The Indian J3 boasts a slightly up-clocked 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot, and Android 5.1 Lollipop on board. There’s also an 8 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front camera, 4G LTE connectivity with support for local bands, and a 2,600mAh battery.The display is a 5-inch AMOLED panel with a reasonable 1280 x 720 resolution. Despite its appearance, the body is built entirely from plastic and comes in at a rather modest 7.9mm thick. The Indian variant also arrives with dual SIM slots, a particularly popular feature in the country. The other big selling feature with the J3 is the “S Bike Mode,” which is designed to allow riders to automatically reply to incoming calls with pre-recorded messages in 14 different languages. This system works based on an NFC tag that you can attach to a bike or helmet and then simply press to enter and exit the mode while driving. See also: The new Samsung Galaxy J3 just hit the US market9 The Samsung Galaxy J3 ⑥ is available in India exclusively through Snapdeal from today, Thursday 31st March, with a price tag set at just Rs. 8.990 ($135 approximately). The smartphone comes in a choice of gold, black, or white colors.

Samsung launches Galaxy J3 ⑥ in India for just Rs. 8,990

Deal: 32GB LG G4 with 2 back covers for $290 via eBay (Update: back in stock)

Update, March 31: The LG G4 is available again from BuyDig on eBay for $289.99.Original post, March 21: The LG G4 may not be the newest flagship on the market, but it’s still a sturdy performer with some top notch features. It’s even better if you can grab the phone at a discount, and $290 is quite a steal for a handset that’s not quite a year old.eBay retailer buydig is offering the 32GB unlocked LG G4 for $289.99 including free shipping for US customers. That’s a decent $90 (23 percent) saving off the regular retail price. Not only that, but the seller is throwing in two back covers with the order, giving you the choice of either black or red leather back options.The model on sale is the unlocked US variant (US991), which means that it should run on all the major US networks, including AT&T, Tmobile, Verizon, and Sprint. The spec sheet says that the modem works with LTE Bands 2/4/5/12/13/17/25, CDMA 800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, and GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, so you can double check that these bands are supported by your carrier before purchase.To jog your memory, the LG G4 comes with a 5.5-inch QHD LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 16 megapixel rear camera, 8 megapixel front camera, a removable 3,000mAh battery, and a microSD card slot. The phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. LG G5 vs LG G4 Quick Look The LG G4… Now LG V10 Vs LG G4 Quick Look LG G4 review If you are interested, click below to be taken straight to the listing. If not, check out our in-depth look at the LG G4 and its features to help you make up your mind.Buy LG G4 for $290 from eBay

Deal: 32GB LG G4 with 2 back covers for $290 via eBay (Update: back in stock)

Riptide GP: Renegades is arriving this spring

Vector Unit is a two-man production company that earned its street cred making gorgeous racing games. Their newest one is slated to come out sometime this spring, and it looks like it’s going to have some impressive water physics and nail-bitingly fast-paced jetskis. Riptide GP: Renegades may just be the racing game the mobile platform has been waiting for. See also: 15 best racing games for Android55 What sets this game apart from most other racing games is a focus on dynamic goals within the standard race setting. Sure, you’re trying to beat out your components in a high-octane zero-sum game, but you’ll also have to do things like advance evade the police and perform crucial stuntwork on the fly. The single player campaign appears to be larger than most games in this genre, but that doesn’t mean they’ve skimped on multiplayer. Split screen multiplayer is available, but what may be more interesting to most users is the online multiplayer.Vector Unit promises a load of customization in this game, so you can make your jetski and rider truly yours. Decals, paint jobs, numbers, stickers, and more are all at your fingertips to express your creativity to the competition. Some of the jetskis actually transform while you ride them, which adds an interesting gameplay mechanic.We don’t have a solid date for this anticipated game just yet. All we can say is what the developers have made official: Spring 2016. In the meantime, what is your general take on racing games on mobile devices? Does this one look like something you might pick up? Let us know your opinions in the comments below. Next: 15 best Android games of 2016164

Riptide GP: Renegades is arriving this spring

Upcoming Update for Robin Brings Faster Camera, More Emoji

An upcoming update for the Nextbit Robin will bring Android 6.0.1, as well as reworked camera software to make snapping photos “twice as fast.” According to Nextbit, this update will be available in the second half of April, with another update rolling out today that addresses an app crashing bug. 

As detailed by Nextbit, the April update will also feature tweaks for the front-facing speakers, allowing them to sound “clearer and better” than before. On that same point, the speakerphone quality will also be louder and more clear during calls.

Here is the list of changes for the April update.
What’s New

Marshmallow 6.0.1 AKA new emojis!

The camera is now twice as fast in normal lighting and even faster in low light. We’ve also improved on-screen navigation.

Robin’s front facing speakers sound clearer and better than before, and speakerphone quality is significantly louder and clearer as well.

Be on the lookout for this update in late April.

Via: Nextbit

Related StoriesVideo: Android 6.0.1 Android Wear Gestures and Features Tour!HTC on Target to Update Unlocked One M9 to Android 6.0, One A9 to Android 6.0.1 This MonthNextbit Robin Now Available to Purchase for $399, Ships in Two WeeksCloud-First Robin Smartphone Pre-Order Now Live, Priced at $399
Upcoming Update for Robin Brings Faster Camera, More Emoji is a post from: Droid Life

Upcoming Update for Robin Brings Faster Camera, More Emoji

Google Calculator just hit the Play Store

 Oh snap. Just when you thought it was a slow news day, out of nowhere Google has dropped a bomb on the mobile app world. With no warning and little fanfare, the search giant has unleashed their Calculator app on the Google Play Store, and now there’s no going back.Ever been in that situation where numbers were hard? Never again. Not with Calculator at your fingertips. This killer app has all your favorite mathematical functions. Addition? Check. Subtraction? Absolutely. Multiplication and division? It’s out of control! You won’t even have to pick a favorite number, because this app has all of them. That’s right. One through nine… and even zero. It’s even got a dot over there for some reason. Hell if I know what it does. See also: 10 best personal assistant apps for Android11 If you’ve managed to get this far into the article without passing out from sheer awesome overload, then you must not be sold yet. You must be waiting around for the advanced features. Fear not, because Calculator has them in spades. A quick swipe to the right reveals a mint green wonderland of the kind of math that uses letters, words, and made-up symbols (which is how you know it’s real math). There’s like, a log. Some parenthesis it looks like. A sin button that looks pretty tempting. Some sort of checkmark thing. I dunno. It’s pretty sweet. As an easter egg, if you tap the stonehenge button and then hit the equal button, the app will output 3.1415926535897. Pretty mysterious. Did we mention it has Android Wear support? It has Android Wear support! Click the button below to grab Calculator from the Google Play Store. Give it a spin, then let us know in the comments what kind of maths you plan on algebrating with this baby in the near future.Get it in the Play Store! Next: 14 best Android calculator apps46

Google Calculator just hit the Play Store

The man behind Star Wars’ holochess is making a monster-battling AR board game

One of the most memorable parts about the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars is the holochess game, where C-3PO famously instructed R2D2 to “let the wookie win.” If you’ve ever thought the holochess game, or Dejarik, would make for a great game in real life, you’re in luck — Phil Tippett, the creator of the original stop-motion monsters in Star Wars, is bringing a similar game to the real world called HoloGrid: Monster Battle. The game will be available for AR and VR platforms, as well as mobile and PC.Tippett Studio has been working with developer HappyGiant to create the title. It will be very similar to other collectible card games like Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering, but with a big twist. Thanks to the process called photogrammetry, playing a card on the game board will result in the monsters springing to life and attacking their opponents. There aren’t too many other details as to how exactly the game will be played, but we do know, thanks to the trailer attached below, that it will be quite graphic.As of right now, there aren’t any details as to when we can expect HoloGrid: Monster Battle to arrive. Mike Levine, president of HappyGiant, says his company is excited and interested in new platforms like Microsoft’s HoloLens, Magic Leap, Meta, CastAR and others. We do know, however, that it will be available for the Oculus Rift, mobile and PC. We’ll be sure to let you know when we get more details. For now, head to the HoloGrid link attached below for more information.Learn more about HoloGrid: Monster Battle

The man behind Star Wars’ holochess is making a monster-battling AR board game

Amazon Bans USB Type-C Cables Not Spec Compliant

Googler Benson Leung has been on a well-documented journey to out all of the sneaky, cheap cable manufacturers on Amazon who are selling potentially dangerous USB Type-C cables to those of us just getting into Type-C phones for the first time. Leung started reviewing cables on Amazon after the new Nexus phones were released last November, highlighting both the good and the bad through his reviews profile. We aren’t sure what his end-goal is, other than to let you and I know which cables are worth investing in, but his work seems to have been noticed by Amazon, who recently updated their “Prohibited listings” guidelines for sellers, effectively banning those who sell Type-C cables that aren’t spec compliant. 

The new line added to the guidelines says the following:

Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by “USB Implementers Forum Inc.”

As noted in a Google+ post yesterday, Leung acknowledges the “great news,” while reminding us all to “call out any bad products we find on Amazon.”

The power of reviews.

If you are need of a USB Type-C cable, be sure to checkout Benson’s list.

Via:  +Benson Leung | Amazon

Related StoriesDEAL: $3 Off TechMatte 5-Foot and 3-Foot USB Type-C to Type-A Cables (Benson Leung Approved)Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge Coming to These US Carriers and RetailersThese USB Type-C Adapters are Benson Leung ApprovedGoogler is Fighting the USB Type-C Cable Battle for You, Highlights Good and Bad on Amazon
Amazon Bans USB Type-C Cables Not Spec Compliant is a post from: Droid Life

Amazon Bans USB Type-C Cables Not Spec Compliant

Foxconn finalizes takeover of Sharp after reducing the price to $3.5 billion

Shutterstock Following a month long delay, Foxconn is now completing its acquisition of display manufacturer Sharp, after both companies confirmed the agreement today. The deal will cost Foxconn 389 billion yen (approximately $3.5 billion) for 66 percent of Sharp’s shares and some substantial cash investments spread across the company. This price is greatly reduced from the $5.8 billion agreement that was pulled at the last minute back in February.The deal was originally put on hold after Foxconn received last minute materials regarding Sharp’s business, which was rumored to contain information about 50 billion yen ($3.1 billion) of additional contingent liabilities at Sharp. Combined with Sharp’s long running financial troubles, Foxconn was clearly concerned about the company’s viability and was not prepared to pay the full price at the time.Sharp has been struggling financially for a number of years and came close to bankruptcy in 2012, despite often being at the forefront of display technology. Just before Foxconn entered the scene, Sharp had been discussing a rival offer from a government-backed consortium of investors, as the Japanese government had been keen not to see the company sold to a foreign business. The Foxconn deals marks the first foreign takeover of a major Japanese electronics firm, surely a troubling sign for Japan’s often struggling technology industry.“I am thrilled by the prospects for this strategic alliance and I look forward to working with everyone at Sharp … We have much that we want to achieve and I am confident that we will unlock Sharp’s true potential and together reach great heights.” – Terry Gou, Foxconn CEO and founderNow that the deal is agreed, Foxconn will be looking to boost its manufacturing capabilities by leveraging Sharp’s technologies and facilities. The speculation is that this deal will tie in nicely with Foxconn’s manufacturing arrangements with Apple, as the company has built previous iPhones while Sharp had been providing LCD displays for the handsets. Moving into displays will also present the manufacturer with plenty of new business opportunities and customers.The two firms will actually sign on the dotted line on April 2nd.

Foxconn finalizes takeover of Sharp after reducing the price to $3.5 billion

ScratchBack – Sweepstakes [App Review]

Today I was asked to look at a different sort of app – ScratchBack. ScratchBack is a UK based games that is currently free on iOS and should be coming to Android shortly. This game is based on a ” popular lottery scratch card” game. The app is easy to use and play but I recommend you go through all of the directions and information before you get involved. Right now I would recommend this app for just our UK readers since all earnings are in British Pounds. When you first start off, the app asks you to login via Facebook or play as a guest. If you login via Facebook, you will earn some coins and Play Chips. Now the key to playing the final scratch-off game is the Play Chips. No Chips = No Play. Now to earn chips, you need to go through some ads. The app is setup into four packages. Each package has a set of different advertising tasks, such as taking a survey of McDonalds vs Burger…

App Review Central.

ScratchBack – Sweepstakes [App Review]

Crushing a Galaxy S7 Edge with a 400-ton hydraulic press is surprisingly dramatic

Drop tests are out of fashion, scratch tests are boring, and you can only watch so many videos of smartphones getting shot with assault rifles. Luckily, YouTubers come up with new ways to ruin perfectly good electronics all the time and now SlickWraps is joining the fun with a video titled “400 Ton Hydraulic Press VS Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.”Yeah, you know where this is going. That poor Galaxy S7 Edge won’t live to tell the tale. That’s not surprising. But you know what is surprising? How dramatic the whole thing is. There’s smoke, and sparks, and flames, and whistles, and bangs, and plastic mush oozing out in slow motion. There’s even black fluid running down the press, and it looks a lot like blood, and OMG, what did you do to that innocent Galaxy S7 Edge, you sadists!If we need to say it, don’t try anything like this at home. Those fluids and gases you see in the video come from the battery, and they can be corrosive and toxic. No amount of “Febreze or something” can protect you from their effects.

Crushing a Galaxy S7 Edge with a 400-ton hydraulic press is surprisingly dramatic

Report: Samsung Q1 2016 earnings to be better than expected

For the past couple of years, Samsung’s financial success has been a somewhat hit-and-miss affair. The Galaxy S5 arguably failed to live up to expectations which resulted in some reshuffling and, perhaps, the premium-material approach to the Galaxy S6. Last year was also peppered with some concern as well, culminating in the Korean conglomerate’s Vice Chairman, Kwon Oh-hyun, proclaiming that “if we resist changes then we won’t survive“. According to a new report however, 2016 looks like it will be starting with a stunning stream of success.Thanks in part to the successful launch of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones, industry analysts are now predicting Samsung to make 6 trillion won in profit, roughly $5.14 billion. Previously analysts had projected a Q1 operating profit around 4 trillion won due to increasing competition in both chip manufacturing and home appliance market.Just last week Korean financial outlet FnGuide was anticipating this quarter’s profit to be around 5.17 trillion won as per estimates from 24 brokerage houses. For reference, in Q1 2015, Samsung earned 5.98 trillion won, thus today’s estimate is not only defying projections for the current quarter, but also posed to surpass last year’s as well.Despite the optimistic earnings estimate, some speculators remain cautious due to lower demand often seen at the start of the calendar year.Samsung has filed an official projected figure with Korean regulatory offices today however the guidance report is not set to be released until April 7th.Supplemented by smartphone supply successThe new, higher projection comes amid estimated reports that Samsung has shipped a cumulative 10 million units of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in the 20 days since its release. If true, it would mean that the new smartphones are significantly more popular than their predecessors given that last year’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge took almost a month longer to ship the same amount of units.As was the case with Q3 last year, the current currency exchange rate is also playing into the projections, with the South Korean Won being weaker than the US Dollar. This in turn, means that domestic products sold in Korea have a more competitive price advantage than their overseas rivals. Today’s report also indicates that the conglomerate should also see exchange rate values favoring its semiconductor and display units as well.Long term traction…?Domestic rival LG has its sights set on Samsung’s smartphone sales with its own LG G5.While the first quarter looks poised to post positive profit, Samsung may have more difficulties as the year continues. LG, for example, is set to release its anticipated G5 flagship smartphone within mere days. The device features an all new design complete with a metal construction and swappable accessory bay. Taiwanese rival, HTC, is also planning to unveil and launch a new flagship halo product which insiders are calling the HTC 10, in the next few weeks.These two products, along with numerous new offerings by Chinese rivals and even Apple with its small yet significant iPhone SE, means that the premium market is going to become increasingly competitive as the calendar crawls on.Looking to the summer and autumn, Samsung is expected to launch a new Galaxy Note product. Unlike last year however, which saw the simultaneous launch of not only a Note but also a larger sized Galaxy S6 Edge, this year is likely to see just one major product pushed in the same time period.With regard to the currency exchange rate, this may become a more critical issue depending on many factors, including the progress and winners of the ongoing US Presidential Election primaries.Wrap UpArguably microSD support has had a big impact on the success of the S7.Assuming Samsung’s official earnings guidance is in-line with, or perhaps better than today’s projections, it is safe to say the OEM has staved off what could have been a disappointing start to the year. If shipment estimates of its new smartphone hardware are accurate, it will offer a clear picture that customers are pleased with the inclusion of water resistance and a microSD support for this year’s models. Likewise, the larger size of the Galaxy S7 Edge may also offer it a competitive advantage over the standard S7; the former commands a higher price than the latter though it is also more expensive to produce.Amid the constant rumors of Samsung bringing a foldable smartphone to market, as well as the more realistic prospects of the Galaxy Note 6, this year may indeed be a stable and significantly successful one for the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer. Adding to the potential profit picture is a new vision for the company that seeks to make its culture that of a small startup rather than a colossal corporation. 

Report: Samsung Q1 2016 earnings to be better than expected

Snapchat gets chattier than ever with Chat 2.0

Shutterstock Snapchat is a massively popular communication tool, especially among younger demographics. However, the chat feature has always been a little bit buggy, and most users have naturally gravitated to its primary feature of sending ephemeral images that vanish after an initial viewing. These users tend to hop between Snapchat for images and other mediums, like SMS messaging, for a more reliable chat experience. Now, however, the company is giving a bit of love to their oft-neglected chat feature by bringing Chat 2.0 to the game. See also: Instagram now blocking links to Telegram and Snapchat13 Chat 1.0 launched two full years ago and has remained relatively unchanged since its arrival. What makes the next iteration of this service special is that it allows its users to seamlessly transfer from text, to stickers, to audio, to video, to pictures. Snapchat is aiming to make the communication experience a bit closer to what it’s like in real life by providing an increased sense of immediacy. This new hot-swapping, multimedia approach is sure to confuse the hell out of anyone older than thirty, but the younger crowd will probably love it.In their words: You can start by sending a few chats, and when your friend shows up, start talking or video chatting instantly with one tap. Your friend can simply listen if you want to sing them a song, or watch if you have a new puppy to show them. If they aren’t there, you can quickly send an audio note to say what you mean. And sometimes, a sticker says it best :)What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating — just like you do in person. When that’s possible, you aren’t texting, calling, or video chatting… you’re just talking. We’ve been working on this redesign for a while — we can’t wait to hear what you think!What do you think of Chat 2.0? It will be rolling out over the course of today, but you can snag it now by downloading the latest version of the app in the Google Play Store. Give it a whirl, and then come back and report on your experience in the comments! Oh, and while you’re at it, why not give us an add?Next: Come join Android Authority on Snapchat!2

Snapchat gets chattier than ever with Chat 2.0

Snapchat Intros Chat 2.0 With Reworked Features, Auto-Advance Stories

One aspect of Snapchat frequently overlooked is the ability to “chat” with friends. Similar to Hangouts or any other instant messaging app, you can whip up a few sentences, then send them along to a friend who maybe sent you a really funny snap recently. It is sometimes easier to reply with words than with a snap of your own. With that said, Snapchat announced Chat 2.0 today, brining a more intuitive chatting experience to users of the service. 

According to Snapchat, they wanted users to more easily share videos, short audio notes, and even stickers to help friends communicate within the application. As stated on the Snapchat blog, “What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating — just like you do in person. When that’s possible, you aren’t texting, calling, or video chatting… you’re just talking.”

In addition to updated features for Chat, the service is also including Auto-Advance Stories, labeled as the “fastest way to catch up with your friends.” When you are finished viewing a Story, the next one will begin automatically. You can swipe to skip ahead in a Story, or pull down to exit the story completely.

Chat 2.0 for Snapchat is rolling out now, so be sure to update your Snapchat app by following the Google Play link below.

Play Link

Via: Snapchat

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Snapchat Intros Chat 2.0 With Reworked Features, Auto-Advance Stories is a post from: Droid Life

Snapchat Intros Chat 2.0 With Reworked Features, Auto-Advance Stories

NCAA Final Four and National Championship to be Viewable in Virtual Reality Thanks to Gear VR

Announced by the NCAA this week, viewers of the Final Four and National Championship will have the ability to watch the games in virtual reality, thanks to a special app created for owners of the Gear VR by Samsung. At game time, you will open up the app, slap on your headset, then find yourself sitting court side for a perspective that is usually only enjoyed by those with enough money to afford those types of seats. 

During the stream, you will hear commentary from Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery and Tracy Wolfson, along with sounds directly from the arena. Additionally, a “virtual scoreboard” will be available for viewing, as well as detailed stats.

If own a Gear VR, be sure to download the NCAA March Madness Live VR app directly from the Oculus store on your mobile device. For the rest of us who enjoy watching the tube as we regularly would, you can watch the games on their usual stations or online via the NCAA website.

I read somewhere that only 0.1% of all brackets had these schools in the Final Four. Funny, that’s about the same percentage of chance there is of me wearing Gear VR to watch the games.

Via: NCAA

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NCAA Final Four and National Championship to be Viewable in Virtual Reality Thanks to Gear VR is a post from: Droid Life

NCAA Final Four and National Championship to be Viewable in Virtual Reality Thanks to Gear VR

HTC 10 Hits GFXBench With 5.1″ QHD Display, Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM

The HTC 10 has arrived on GFXBench, giving us a fantastic overview of the specs we might expect to see launch with the device next month. However, until the phone is official, spec listings should be read with a bit of skepticism, but at this point, we are so close to an unveiling that the chances of these specs being spot on are very high.

According to the listing, the HTC 10 will come wielding a 5.1″ QHD display (2560 x 1440), Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, 11MP rear-facing camera (4000 x 3000 max resolution) with 4K shooting capability, 5MP front-facing camera, and Android 6.0.1. One spec that is not present, is the battery.

Comparing these specs to other devices currently available, the one phone that sticks out in my mind is the Galaxy S7 from Samsung. That phone also features a 5.1″ QHD display, Snapdragon 820, and 4GB of RAM. Differences will include the IP68 rating, and the custom OEM skins that Samsung and HTC deploy on their smartphones, of course.

As we lead up to the device’s unveiling, we have seen many reported photos of the device, and HTC continues to tease features that will launch with it. April 12 can’t come soon enough.

Do these specs, which are very similar to what the Galaxy S7 features, interest you?

Via: GFXBench

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HTC 10 Hits GFXBench With 5.1″ QHD Display, Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM is a post from: Droid Life

HTC 10 Hits GFXBench With 5.1″ QHD Display, Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM

Tuesday Poll: Do You Have a Home Phone?

Google introduced Fiber Phone, today, a home phone service that seemingly exists because there are real humans in the world that still need a home phone. I don’t personally know any, but today’s poll should fix that. Actually, we are curious how many of you still have home phone service and what your reasons for doing so are.

So that’s it, we just want to know if you have home phone service. Easy enough?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

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Tuesday Poll: Do You Have a Home Phone? is a post from: Droid Life

Tuesday Poll: Do You Have a Home Phone?

Nintendo’s Miitomo app arrives to the US on March 31st

Miitomo, Nintendo’s first major push into mobile apps, arrived in Japan on March 15th and quickly was met with quite a bit of success, to the tune of over a million downloads in just 3 days. Will the US audience find the app as intriguing? We’re about to find out, as Nintendo has confirmed Miitomo will hit the US on March 31st.Best Android gamesBest Android appsFor those not in the know, Miitomo isn’t a game exactly, but is instead an animated social network and chat client of sorts. You create your own “Mii” (Nintendo’s iconic avatars that debuted with the original Wii console) to look however you want, and can even use the front cam on your phone if you want the app to attempt to generate a mii character that looks a bit more like the real-life you. There’s also further customization in the form of clothing, accessories, and even hairstyles. As you might imagine, these are things you can get through in-game coins or you can buy them with real life cash. Hint: Nintendo is probably hoping you’ll take the later route.Once your Mii is ready, you can then directly add friends who are using the app, or you can link to your existing Facebook and Twitter accounts. Miitomo also has polls, conversations, and more. Ultimately though, this is much less of game and more of a social experience. What do you think, are you interested in trying this one when it hits later this month? Or are you simply waiting for that mobile Zelda or Mario game you always dreamed about?

Nintendo’s Miitomo app arrives to the US on March 31st

Samsung Pay is now live in China

The Samsung Pay global roll-out has moved on another step today, as the mobile payment service is now officially live in China. Samsung has teamed up with China Union Pay (CUP), the only domestic bank card organization in the country, to enable contactless payments from Samsung’s flagship smartphones.Samsung Pay supports credit and debit cards from nine of China’s major banks so far, including China CITIC Bank, China Construction Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank, China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd, China Merchants Bank, Hua Xia Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Ping An Bank. Support for six additional banks is scheduled for the future too, which includes the Bank of China, Bank of Beijing, Bank of Communications, China Bohai Bank, Industrial Bank, and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.To begin with, just the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy Note 5 smartphones will be supported in the country. Samsung also states that some of its mid-range models will be able to use the service in the future, although this might just be through NFC compatibility rather than Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). Perhaps the newly unveiled Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 2016 models will be compatible at some point? See also: Samsung Pay is growing faster than Apple Pay18 MST is of course one of Samsung Pay’s major benefits over services offered by its competitors Apple and Android Pay. This technology included in the company’s past two generations of flagship smartphones allows for payments to be accepted at older magnetic POS card machines, as well as the more modern NFC based units.After China, Samsung Pay is scheduled to launch in Australia, Brazil, Spain, Singapore, and the United Kingdom later in the year.

Samsung Pay is now live in China

T-Mobile setting a new trend with data-only plans?

Who calls anymore? OK, so plenty of you still do, but it is also true the amount of users who don’t need traditional voice calls is growing. I, for one, rarely ever make a call. Seriously, it happens like once a month (if that).Are you on the same boat as me? If you are, you might want to take a look into the latest T-Mobile rumor. Apparently, the Un-carrier is looking to introduce some new Simple Choice plans that offer data-only and come with no voice minute allotment.The rumor comes from TmoNews‘ “anonymous source”, who has also shared a nice document detailing what these plans will look like once they launch, on March 30th. Let’s take a look at it.See also: Best T-Mobile Android phones (March 2016)53 As you can see, it will be possible to sign up for a $20 plan and get 2 GB of data. Prices keep growing as you request more gigabytes, but these do seem like reasonable costs. 6 GB for $35? How about 10 GB for $50?If the pricing seems familiar, it’s because it is. These are actually the same tiers you will find in Simple Choice Mobile Internet plans for tablets and other internet devices. And just like with those plans, it seems like all of these plans will also include unlimited texting,Any small print? We are not sure yet, but we do know the $10 Automatic Mobile Internet Discount won’t apply here. Also, if you have a BlackBerry device, it will need to come with Android or BB10 for it to work with these plans.But tell us, how are you feeling about these possible new options? Would you sign up? Just keep in mind this is still a rumor. TmoNews has a pretty good track record on leaks and rumors, but we wouldn’t hold our breath on anything until an announcement comes around. 

T-Mobile setting a new trend with data-only plans?