You know how LG told us during last week’s earnings report that we should expect the successor to the V10 in the near future? They announced the damn thing tonight officially as the LG V20.
They aren’t saying much, plus the translation is iffy, but the official LG site to post the news says that the phone will launch in September with Android 7.0 Nougat on board. The focus, like last year’s V10, will once again be on the multimedia experience.
On a related note, in case you were wondering when Android 7.0 Nougat would arrive, I think LG just told you to expect it sometime before the end of September.
Via: LG
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Official: LG V20 Arrives in September with Android 7.0 Nougat is a post from: Droid Life
Official: LG V20 Arrives in September with Android 7.0 Nougat
Sunday is upon us and we are ready to feature a brand new ‘Crowdfunding project of the week’! In this article series we showcase some of the best crowdfunding campaigns from sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, so let’s dig right into the goods.Other featured crowdfunding campaigns:Modobag is a luggage bag you can ride!Omnicharge battery packSolos Smart Cycling GlassesThis week we are taking a look at the Superbook, a laptop dock that aims to turn any Android smartphone into a full-fledged computer. But does it? Let’s start by saying this computer experience is built on Android, which will be a limitation to many. While Android has plenty of powerful applications, it doesn’t really work seamlessly as a desktop PC alternative.But if you can live with some sacrifices and need a truly mobile laptop, this may be a great option; as long as you’re not restricted to certain software and PC capabilities. In a nutshell… it is a nutshell. What I mean is that the Superbook works as a docking station that offers an 11.6-inch HD (768p) display, over 8 hours of battery life (it will charge your phone while connected), a full keyboard and a multi-touch trackpad. The unit measures 19.3 x 28.7 x 1.8 cm and weighs only 0.9 kg, making it very portable.
When plugged in, the Superbook will pretty much become an extension of your device. You can operate your smartphone through the Superbook and experience a Desktop-like interface (looks similar to Chrome OS). All of your smartphone’s files will be accessible through the Superbook, as well as the apps and everything your device has to offer.There are some things to keep in mind, though. The Superbook does require that your Android phone supports USB-OTG, but most smartphones nowadays do. The manufacturer, Andromium, also recommends you have the following specs.Smartphone Minimum RequirementsAndroid 5.0+Dual Core Processor and above1.5 GB RAM or higherType-C or Micro-B phone port25 MB of free storage (100 MB+ recommended) Sounds pretty interesting, right? It’s hard to predict whether the experience will be wonky or not, but chances are the Superbook is worth its price. All early bird specials are gone, but you can still get a Superbook by backing the project with $99.The Superbook is expected to start shipping on February 2017. It might be worth the wait, though! Are any of you signing up?Check out the Superbook on Kickstarter
Reddit Talk about autocorrect fails: most of them are meant to be funny and awkward, but perhaps that’s not the case with the recent SwiftKey glitch. Earlier this week, some SwiftKey users started reporting that their keyboard was suggesting random foreign words and even unfamiliar email addresses. Awkward indeed. In response to the leak SwiftKey has suspended cloud syncing temporarily.Last weekend, a Reddit user posted a series of screenshots showing his SwiftKey keyboard doing something odd: despite being set to English, the keyboard was suggesting random German word predictions as well as a completely unfamiliar email address. Judging by the comments on this thread, this Reddit user wasn’t the only one plagued by the glitch.With personal words and phrases, email addresses, and phone numbers being synced to a stranger’s phone half-way across the world, this seemingly harmless bug potentially meant a huge security issue. 
See also: The best Android keyboards178 SwiftKey responded to the reports in a short blog post, acknowledging the problems and explaining that only a small fraction of users are affected by the glitch. In the meantime, however, the Microsoft-owned company is temporarily suspending cloud syncing and will be updating its system to remove email predictions.The company claims that the error is simply due to a bug in the keyboard’s synchronization program, which “did not pose a security issue for our customers.” Yet when personal information such as contact details are being leaked, it’s hard not to see it was a security issue, especially when SwiftKey is used by both Android and iOS users.While this did not pose a security issue for our customers, we have turned off the cloud sync service and have updated our applications to remove email address predictions.SwiftKey’s leak isn’t anything new in the virtual keyboard world: last year, there was a huge kerfuffle over Samsung’s keyboard and its security (or the lack thereof). It was estimated that over 600 million devices were affected by the security flaw in Samsung’s keyboard. As cloud technology becomes more integrated into our lives, the question of security must also be answered.With major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple already offering cloud-based services – and with Samsung’s own cloud service allegedly launching with the Galaxy Note7 – it’d be interesting to see how the discourse on security develops as well.Were you affected by the SwiftKey glitch? Do you see it as a harmless glitch or a security issue? Let us know in the comments below!
This week we reviewed the ZTE Axon 7, talked about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, rounded up the best new Android apps and games, and much more. Here’s the news of the week.Who wants to win a Nexus 6P?The Nexus 6P is still one of the best Android phones on the market. Here’s how you can win one.10 Android stories we handpicked for youZTE Axon 7 review A year after the mysterious Axon Pro, ZTE have launched the Axon 7 with a lot of upgrades and a $400 price tag. Is it the best affordable flagship around?BlackBerry DTEK50 hands-on: the Priv minus the keyboard, essentially It’s been nearly a year since BlackBerry launched the PRIV running Android and now, they’re back again with the DTEK50. Is the phone as lame as its name?Moto Mods review: blast, power and project in a snap Modularity is the name of the game and Josh takes a closer look at the Moto Mods – great ways to add more capabilities to the Moto Z range… at a price.The most iconic phone from each manufacturer It’s easy to get caught up in the current smartphone landscape, but every once in awhile we need to look back and remember our history. Join us as we take a look at the most iconic phones from each OEM.I want to develop Android apps – what languages should I learn? Developing Android apps can be rewarding, both personally and financially. Assuming you have a certain level of technical knowledge then it is possible to develop Android apps yourself. But what programming languages do you need to learn?10 best new Android games of June 2016 Our own Joe Hindy rounds up the best Android games from June 2016!10 best new Android apps of June 2016 Every month we update our list of favorite new apps, and this time Joe Hindy has given us a very neat portfolio of great additions to the Google Play Store. Among them are Bitly, Evie, Expeditions, Discogs and more.Cyanogen OS vs Android: what’s the difference? If you’re at all interested in smartphones, you’ve probably heard of Cyanogen OS. What is it, and how does it differ from Google’s Android? Let’s find out.Failure to launch: 6 devices we’re still waiting for Crowdfunding has kickstarted a number of great products, but for every success there are some failures. Here are six devices that we are still waiting for.Lenovo K4 Note review We take a look at one of Lenovo’s new mid-range offerings in this in-depth Lenovo K4 Note review!You have to watch thisAnd more: Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – July 31, 2016More hot newsBlackBerry DTEK50 officially announced: Snapdragon 617, FHD display, Android 6.0 MarshmallowFull Galaxy Note 7 specs leak along with new Gear VR and rendersThis app notifies you when Pokémon are near without opening Pokémon GoOfficial Galaxy Note 7 commercial reveals several new featuresGalaxy Note 7 and S7 Edge compared in new leakSamsung Galaxy S8 codenamed ‘Project Dream’: 4K display rumored againHTC Nexus Sailfish leak reveals 1080p display, MSM8996 chipsetThe Xiaomi laptop is official: Mi Notebook Air announcedPrisma finally launches on AndroidSamsung releases flagship smartphone battery test videoAndroid 7.0 Nougat final release reportedly coming in AugustPokémon Go update: footprints gone, customizable avatars and moreT-Mobile CEO slams Verizon and AT&T, announces 16 new Binge On partnersNintendo doesn’t actually make Pokémon Go: investors freak out, shares plummetXiaomi responds to that whole exploding phone incidentKeep up with AAGet the Android Weekly delivered to your inbox each and every Sunday. Sign up for our newsletter below.Email Address Android Authority NewslettersAndroid WeeklyApps WeeklyDev WeeklyBreaking News AlertsTop Stories of the dayReview AlertsDeal AlertsView previous campaigns.
The week is over and you can bet we’ve been keeping busy. But we know you can’t always be on the lookout for new videos, so every weekend we put together a list with the hottest ones.So what’s all new? The Android Authority team has updated the best apps and games lists. In addition, we had the opportunity to review the ZTE Axon 7, BLU R1 HD and even the all-new Segway miniPRO. We even had a chance to check out a brand new BlackBerry phone!There’s a lot to see, so let’s jump right in and show you this week’s videos.In the news: Nintendo shares plummet? Note 7 Leaks & Samsung responds to failed S7 ActiveLooking to catch up on the news? Jayce has put together a video talking about the hottest topics of the week. Maybe you would like to start there! He covers the craze on Nintendo not making Pokemon Go, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 leaks and more. Sit back and catch up on what matters.Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air: What You Need to KnowXiaomi is known for making great smartphones at incredible prices, but they are definitely not afraid of stepping into stranger territories. This week they announced the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air, a computer that will definitely catch your eye. It comes with great specs and a price point that will prove to be very hard to beat.The Xiaomi laptop is official: Mi Notebook Air announcedFavorite Tech under $50Want to get some cool tech on a $50 budget? There’s plenty of great stuff out there, just like there is a lot of cheap, worthless products. If you need some help finding the right gadgets, our very own Lahn has put together a list with his favorite gadgets below this price point. The list includes speakers, mounts, lighting equipment and more.Favorite tech under $5010 best new Android apps from July 2016!Every month we update our list of favorite new apps, and this time Joe Hindy has given us a very neat portfolio of great additions to the Google Play Store. Among them are Bitly, Evie, Expeditions, Discogs and more.10 best new Android apps from July 2016!10 best new Android games from July 2016!We have an updated list of new games too! And yes… Pokemon Go is in there.10 best new Android games of June 2016!Reviews and hands-on coverageZTE Axon 7 reviewThis week Bailey Stein got to review the ZTE Axon 7. It is clear that ZTE has put a massive amount of time and effort into the Axon 7, making it one of the best smartphones we’ve encountered. It’s surprisingly similar to popular offerings like the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10, while costing much less. Want to learn all about it? Check out the video or read our full written review.ZTE Axon 7 reviewBLU R1 HD ReviewNeed something more affordable? The BLU R1 HD costs only $100 for the base version. That is incredibly affordable, so we know you are asking yourself if it will be good enough to meet your needs. There’s definitely a good list of sacrifices that were made, but this phone gets a lot right. It has a solid design, decent performance, a clean software package and an unbeatable price point.BLU R1 HD reviewMoto Mods review – Blast, power, and project in a snap!Though few and pricey, Moto Mods have been all over the news, making us wonder if Motorola has finally found the right balance between a modular design and user friendliness. If you have been asking yourself the same, go ahead and check out our Moto Mods review, where we give you a closer look at some of these modules.Moto Mods Review: Blast, power, and project in a snap!Segway miniPRO by Ninebot reviewThis is not something we would usually cover, but there is an Android app that controls it and the Segway miniPRO happens to be one really awesome product. The Segway miniPRO by Ninebot promises reliable, green and easy to carry transportation. Does it fulfill its promises? Take a look at John Velasco’s full review to find out!Segway miniPRO by Ninebot reviewBlackBerry DTEK50 hands-onWhen John Velasco is not riding around in a Segway miniPRO, he is playing around with a BlackBerry DTEK50 (at least this week). Yes, this is BlackBerry’s new phone, which is very competitively priced at a mere $299. Now we have your attention, right? Watch the video and read the full review to learn why it’s so affordable.BlackBerry DTEK50 hands on: The PRIV minus the keyboard, essentially
Phones and water don’t mix well together and CaliCase is here to help keep you protected. With CaliCase you get:2x protection – Double protection thanks to the 2 layers of PVC Plastic, most competitors use just 1.Floating – No need to worry about your phone sinking to the bottom of the ocean.16 fun colors – Including the American Flag, Camo & glow in the dark.Available exclusively at Amazon you can pickup a CaliCase for $14.95. To celebrate the giveaway CaliCase is offering a 10% off coupon this week only, enter promo code: CALI1010 at checkout.Buy at AmazonEnter giveawayNexus 6P CaliCase International Giveaway!Recent WinnersTerms & ConditionsThe giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.We are not responsible for lost shipments.You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
Drivers lose track of a lot of things, but it’s always hard to believe people are forgetting kids in their cars. One would think walking away from a baby you are always with would feel like walking outside with no shoes. You would instantly notice something is missing, right?It seems this issue is more common than one would think. According to San Jose State University’s Department of Meteorology & Climate Science, kids forgotten in vehicles has been the cause of 23 infant deaths in the USA this year. It’s kind of a big deal, especially as the summer heat creeps up on us. This is why Waze wants to help a bit.
The popular navigation app is getting ready to launch a feature that would remind users not to forget their kids every time they reach their destinations. These notifications can be personalized and are now available in Waze’s beta app.But of course, if people are forgetting their kids, nothing can assure they will be paying attention to their notifications. This is a nice addition, nonetheless. If you find you don’t need it, it’s also possible to disable the feature.We don’t know how long this feature will stay in beta, but if it is to save some lives we certainly hope it comes to the official app sooner rather than later.
There’s no shortage of good smartphones in the market, but there is definitely a need for more unique devices. This is why our heads always turn when we see gadgets like the Akyumen Holophone Phablet (yes… they literally put the word “phablet” in the name). But that moniker is about the only bad thing this device seems to have.This phone is a one-of-a-kind in multiple ways, and it happens to be pretty powerful. For starters, it is bigger than even the biggest smartphones at 7 inches. It’s pretty much a tablet with cellphone capabilities. But that is only part of what makes this phone odd.This device can dual-boot both Android and Windows 10. No, not the mobile or simplified versions of Windows 10; full-on Windows 10. And you definitely don’t want to be using Windows 10 on 7-inch screen, so the manufacturer has added a 35-lumen, 720p pico projector that can display at up to 100 inches.Other specs include the following: Windows 10 and Android Lollipop7-inch 1080p display720p pico projectorIntel Cherry Trail 8300 processor4 GB of RAM128 GB of internal storage (upgradable)13 MP rear-facing camera5 MP front-facing camera2910 mAh battery
Needless to say this idea is pretty crazy, but we can see it working great if well implemented. Making a device do too much can sometimes translate to a bad experience all around. But if done right, this could be an amazing tool for the road warrior.Interested? You can pre-order this device now. Prices vary from $600 to $950, depending on your needs, or whether you are in education or not.Basic Package ($750) : Sabertooth pen, high quality ear buds, basic device stand, screen protector.Premium Package ($850) : Sabertooth pen, high quality ear buds, screen protector, external wireless Bluetooth speaker, Saber stand with built-in battery, allowing up to an additional 5 hours of battery life.Advanced Package ($950) : Sabertooth pen, high quality ear buds, screen protector, external wireless Bluetooth speaker, game controller, Saber stand with built-in battery, allowing up to an additional 5 hours of battery life.Education Package ($600) : Basic Saber Stand, Sabertooth Pen, DNA Earbuds, Basic DNA Speakers, Screen protector and Akyumen School Bag.Are any of you signing up?Pre-order the Akyumen Holophone Phablet
Tired of all those Pokemon Go bugs? Things are getting a little better with the latest update to version 0.31.0, which comes with a plethora of fixes and improvements. Some changes may be more welcomed than others, but at least we know Niantic Labs is working on improving the app.Here is the full change log: Avatars can now be re-customized from the Trainer profile screenAdjusted battle move damage values for some PokémonRefined certain Gym animationsImproved memory issuesRemoved footprints of nearby PokémonModified battle damage calculationVarious bug fixes during wild Pokémon encounterUpdated Pokémon details screenUpdated achievement medal imagesFixed issues with displaying certain map featuresMinor text fixesDefinitely one of the coolest changes is that we are now able to customize our avatars whenever we want. This was something we could only do when creating a profile, which meant users had to stick to their avatar and regret their decisions later. Now you can go back and easily change your clothes in the user profile section.How to play Pokemon Go (and everything else you need to know)What your Pokémon GO team says about youAndroid Authority Plays Pokemon GoSomething else that catches our eye is the removal of the footprints for nearby Pokémon. What’s up with that? How are you supposed to know how close a pocket monster is?! Well, you will just have to keep walking to find out. The footsteps feature became an issue when it stopped working some weeks ago, and of course Niantic thought the best solution was to get rid of it altogether.The rest of the fixes are more minor, but very welcomed. After all, the popular app seems to be full of issues, so we are happy to see updates coming constantly. As usual, the update is rolling out in stages, so be patient (or not). Now, when will I be able to trade Pokémon?
We’ve seen a lot of changes in the Android Developer Preview program since its inception in 2014 with Android L. While Lollipop only saw one developer preview, Android M would end up offering three previews. With Android N, Google has upped its game even further, with the fifth and final preview of Android 7.0 Nougat arriving earlier this month. So what’s next for Android 7.0 and its release cycle?Typically final versions of Android don’t arrive until October, but with the aggressive development schedule we’ve seen with Nougat, we can’t help but wonder if the update will arrive a bit earlier this year. If Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) proves correct, the answer is “yes, it’s coming next month”.Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you 😢— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 30, 2016Further backing up Evan’s claims, a recent post on reddit claims one Nexus 6P user was accidentally pushed to Android 7.0 build NRD90M when attempting to ditch the Nougat developer preview and return to the stable Android 6.0.1 release. For those that don’t know, “R” in the build name stands for release, and so this was likely an internal build that Google is testing out in preparation of the final release. In other words, all signs point to a final release in the very near future.So what does that mean for Google’s 2016 Nexus phones? Google traditionally releases new Android builds alongside Nexus phones and tablets. Unless Google plans to break tradition and release Nougat to existing Nexus phones first, that means we might be seeing the next generation HTC-made Nexus phones as early as next month. Again, Google has proven more than once that it’s willing to break its own rules, so almost anything could happen.What do you think of Android 7.0 Nougat so far? Excited that we may seen the final build in just a few short weeks? Do you think Google will also release new Nexus phones early, or will they push the update to existing Nexus phones first and hold off on the new Nexus phones until the fall?
See also: Another Galaxy Note 7 leak: iris scanner setup, S Pen and edge features221 To give you the back story, the Galaxy Note 7 as it has been leaked is exceedingly – and problematically – familiar. It looks near identical to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which themselves look a lot like the Note 5 and Galaxy S6. Most of the features it adds, like an IP68 rating and edge features, are nothing new. The full specs that have just been leaked are almost exactly those of the Galaxy S7 Edge, albeit with a slightly larger screen and slightly smaller battery.The Note 7 we’ve seen so far smacks of the Samsung of old: lazy design, largely pointless features and a failure to innovate.The Samsung of oldTo be critical, this smacks of the Samsung of old: lazy design, largely pointless features and a failure to innovate. You witnessed the immense flack HTC caught for the largely unchanged design in the HTC One M9.You likely remember that pre-Galaxy S6 Samsung was under constant fire for not changing the design of the S Series in any substantial way since the generational shift from Galaxy S2 to S3. You’re familiar with the constant sneers when it comes to Sony’s uninspiring Omnibalance design language.GALAXY S7 IN PERSPECTIVE 
ZTE Axon 7 vs Samsung Galaxy… 
Same specs but differentWhen it comes to the specs we’ve just seen leaked, releasing a new phone six months after the last with essentially identical specs in a slightly larger format sounds more like a Galaxy S7 Edge Plus than a Galaxy Note 7. Is the simple addition of a stylus really all that is demanded by the Note faithful?Are Samsung fans – and haters for that matter – really going to accept the Note 7 as a new flagship rather than just a larger S7 Edge with a stylus? Samsung is certainly onto a winning recipe with the S7 so it’s understandable that they don’t want to mess it up. But perhaps by doing nothing new they are flirting with disaster.From what we’ve seen so far, the Note 7 feels more like a Galaxy S7 Edge Plus with a stylus than the Galaxy Note 7.When you have two major flagship lines you can’t be expected to completely reinvent the wheel with every new release. This is obviously unsustainable and we’ve certainly seen S series devices and Notes that share more than a few similarities in years past.There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but it’s the kind of attitude that has seen Samsung and other manufacturers tossed under the bus before. It doesn’t matter if it’s unreasonable to expect constant innovation and improvement. That is simply the nature of the consumer beast, whether it’s reasonable or otherwise.
A temporary shakeupIf the specs and renders we’ve seen so far are true, then it’s hard not to feel like Samsung’s big shakeup in terms of design and features we saw following the Galaxy S5 was nothing more than a passing affair. Brought about by a dire sales situation but only temporary in nature and not a permanent indicator of the Samsung to come. That the company now, having achieved monumental success with the S7, is satisfied to let things ride, unchanged, until the next big consumer meltdown.Is Samsung now satisfied to let things ride, unchanged, until the next big consumer meltdown?Of course, there may be untold depths of innovative new software features hidden beneath the shiny surface of the leaked press renders. But the leaked system image and Grace UX beta have already shown us that we shouldn’t expect too much from the new UI except lots of white and a cleaner layout.The battery life might well be amazing, the camera software might be even better. The possibility of a front-facing flash will surely satisfy many but adding an IP rating simply seems overdue. Adding an edge with no flat option is perilous. While an iris scanner is undeniably cool, is it really enough to get consumers lining up, cash in hand? As things stands right now, it’s a little difficult to get truly excited for the Note 7’s arrival.Is the addition of an iris scanner an IP rating really enough to get consumers lining up, cash in hand?The chances of failureCould the Note 7 be a massive failure? Probably not, to be honest. Note users tend to be hugely loyal. The Note 7’s new tick list is sufficiently long that at the very least those dedicated few will be happy with it. Its larger form factor and iris scanner will undoubtedly attract others.Screen recording and GIF making with the S Pen, downscaling to 720p to save battery, iris unlocking (and probably app locking), double the base storage, edge features, USB Type-C, an app drawer that can be sorted alphabetically…you can see how these add up to something that seems good. But they’re a long way from what I would consider exciting.
Perhaps we’re just at that point now where all smartphones are good enough. That the huge technological advances of years past are long gone (just look at how good flagship cameras are across the board now). That it’s hard to pack brand new features into phones that are already jam packed with features. That we essentially have everything we actually need in a smartphone already.Who knows. Only time will tell if the Note 7 is held up as an example of refined design, improved performance and enhanced features. Or if it’s ridiculed as the emperor’s new clothes. All I know for sure is that right now it feels like not much has changed from the phone I’ve been using for the last six months; that things are starting to feel eerily familiar, but not in a good way.What do you think of the Note 7 you’ve seen so far? What phone are you most excited for?Download the Galaxy Note 7 wallpapers now
Today in Hip Hop History:Brother Ali was born July 30, 1977
Well, looky here! Daily Steals is currently running an incredible offer on refurbished Moto 360 smartwatches. These are the second generation of this device, and they’re currently going for $150. Considering Motorola is currently selling these babies new for $300 or greater on their website, this is a fairly stellar deal.In the spirit of the Ford Model-T, these Android Wear devices are available in any color you want so long as that color is black. If you’d rather spring for the leather, silver, or gold options for the Moto 360, then you’re going to have to fork over full price at a different retailer. However, these refurbished smartwatches are available in both the 42mm and 46mm variants. 
See also: Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) review21 If you’ve been wanting to get into the Android Wear ecosystem but haven’t really felt like breaking the piggy bank for it, then now might be your chance to get in on the action and see if smartwatches are for you. This is one of the best prices we’ve seen for a wearable of this caliber, and it’s likely that it will receive the update to Android Wear 2.0.What are your thoughts regarding this deal? Is this something you’d think about scooping up? If you’re a Moto 360 (Gen 2) owner or have owned refurbished Motorola products, let us know what your experience with them has been like in the comments below. You might just help someone make a more informed purchasing decision!Check out the deal! 
Next: Best Android Wear watches67 
Today in Hip Hop History:DJ Krush was born July 29, 1962
Samsung continues to expand their smartphone portfolio with yet another entry-level offering with the Samsung Galaxy On5 (2016). While the exact date of its release its still unknown, this device has just been approved by the US telecom regulatory agency FCC, which means that it should be making its way to consumers soon.Last month, the entry-level smartphone from Samsung had showed up on Zauba, a website tracking India’s imports and exports. The Galaxy On5 (2016) was later spotted at GeekBench bearing the model number SM-G570F, which pretty much confirmed that it was a successor to the original Galaxy On5 that was released last October, the model number of which is SM-G5500.The GeekBench listing revealed that the Galaxy On5 (2016) would be powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core Exynos 7570 processor, paired with 2GB RAM, and run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The handset achieved a single-core score of 646 points and a multi-core score of 2,000 points in the Geekbench performance testing. When compared to its predecessor, the On5 (2016) features a faster processing package, and more RAM, but will feature the same 5-inch display.The original Galaxy On5 is priced at US$134, while the Galaxy On5 (2016) spotted on Zauba had a price tag of US$154. Samsung hasn’t revealed any release date yet for the Galaxy On5 (2016), but the FCC approval does indicate that its launch could be just around the corner, possibly after the Galaxy Note 7 is unveiled on August 3.Let us know in the comments below if you would go for the Samsung Galaxy On5 (2016) after it is released!
If you own a Xiaomi device, you must be sore at the fact that none of the currently available virtual reality (VR) headsets are optimized for MIUI. The Chinese powerhouse is about to fix that by launching its first-ever VR headset on August 1, going by the company’s latest teasers.Xiaomi is well-known for its aggressively-priced smartphones and wearables, but most consumers are unaware that it also offers IoT and smart home automation products, such as air-conditioners and bedside lamps, in China. With VR becoming the buzzword in the consumer tech industry, Xiaomi was also expected to soon jump on the bandwagon. Cheap Google Cardboard-inspired devices, as well as highly expensive VR headsets such as the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift, have already arrived in the market, though none of them are optimized to work with Xiaomi’s devices which run the MIUI.Xiaomi in video: 
Imagine a huge market – say, the smartphone market – reaching saturation point, slowly plateauing and then stagnating. Then imagine some revolutionary new phone comes along that miraculously kick-starts the market, sending it skyrocketing once again. While that might be a difficult future to imagine, we may have just witnessed something similar in the games industry thanks to Pokémon GO. 
See also: The best Android games of 2016177 In a new report from market analysts Frost & Sullivan, Pokémon GO is essentially credited with near single-handedly revitalizing a stagnating global gaming market. In effect, all hopes for the future of the mobile market are pinned on not just the game itself, but what it represents: a massively successful proof-of-concept for location-based and AR games.The report is pretty depressing reading for anyone interested in gaming, painting a bleak picture of a market flooded with poorly performing games amidst declining smartphone shipments. The report outlines problems with limited payment models, a stalled emerging market and major players like Supercell essentially dominating all others. But then along comes Pokémon GO and everything is blown wide open and the sky seems to be the new limit.
The reasons for this are manifold: the clear interest in location-based gaming, the immediate popularity and acceptance of augmented reality for gaming and the exciting new potential for profit. As Frost & Sullivan’s Marc Einstein notes:The partnership with the game and McDonald’s in Japan also opens the door for new revenue streams for gaming companies. There are also many new interesting areas such as connected toys which will further bridge the gap between digital and physical products so we expect continued growth in the gaming market.With this in mind, among other factors, the research firm is predicting significant growth in the global gaming market by 2020. From revenue of $52.3 billion in 2015, Frost & Sullivan forecast a more than 25% increase to $66.2 billion in 2020. The company states there will be “greater demand across all regions and key markets for Toy-to-Life and smartphone supported games.”There will be greater demand across all regions and key markets for Toy-to-Life and smartphone supported games.It doesn’t take a genius to realize that we’re going to be seeing a lot of new games that attempt to emulate Pokémon Go’s success by using a similar recipe (albeit without the historical legacy and nostalgic fanbase of Pokémon). Whether or not many more titles will manage to be quite as popular remains to be seen, but the future of AR and location-based gaming looks bright.But before that can happen, Pokémon GO’s profligate approach to battery life, continued instability and plentiful bugs need to be worked out. The future of the mobile gaming landscape apparently depends on it.Do you think AR is the future of mobile gaming? How do you see gaming evolving?
Samsung has released a video of a battery test comparing all major flagship smartphones and you’ll never guess who the winner is. Not surprisingly, Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge beat out all other devices in the test, including the LG G5 which is actually the first phone to die. If all this sounds a little too convenient for you, then you’re not alone. 
See also: Should I leave my phone plugged in overnight?134 Now, every smartphone manufacturer does a ton of internal testing. And every smartphone manufacturer buys phones from competitors for comparisons so they can make those bold claims you always see at press conferences. But you’d have to be a little naive to believe the claims being made are 100% accurate. There are a lot of ways to manipulate data or otherwise rig the system to come out on top and Samsung’s battery test video is no different.Samsung video on how the battery test was conducted.Which is not to say that the S7 and S7 Edge batteries aren’t good – quite the contrary. They are among the best smartphone batteries around. But the battery duration figures Samsung comes up with are not what you should (or likely even could) count on personally. In the video, Samsung’s S7 lasts for 10 hours and 59 minutes and the S7 Edge for 10.5 hours. I don’t know anyone that has come even close to this figure in normal usage. The G5 dies after just 6.5 hours. But when it’s Samsung conducting the battery test you can’t exactly expect anything else.In Phone Arena‘s battery tests, for example, the S7 lasted for 6 hours and 37 minutes. The LG G5 made 5 hours and 51 minutes. That’s a much closer result (and one much closer to realistic usage). Phone Arena also notes certain issues with the video, including the screen brightness measurements being taken in a lit room and the slow dimming of the displays during the battery test, which obviously affects the result. So while there’s no denying that the batteries in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are really good, don’t be surprised if your mileage varies.Do you ever believe the claims made by manufacturers? Which phone do you think has the best battery right now?
With the announcement of Android N back a few months ago, Google mentioned that Android would be supporting the new Vulkan graphics API . If you haven’t heard of Vulkan then we have a full rundown in our Vulkan – everything you need to know article, plus we did a deep dive into making high performance 3D apps with Vulkan. One key question is this, how does Vulkan perform compared to OpenGL ES 3.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0? Let’s find out.Methodology of the testsAt the moment, there is no easy way to test Vulkan versus OpenGL ES 3.1 on Android. My go to 3D engine Unreal Engine does not support the Android-24 API, so while Vulkan is technically supported, I was not able to get Vulkan working on my Nexus 6P to do this.Instead, I will be using Nvidia’s samples for this article to test Vulkan, OpenGL ES 3.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0 on my desktop for performance tests and Unreal Engine for graphics comparisons between Vulkan on mobile with OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenGL ES 3.1. In the Nvidia tests the CPU and GPU usage will all be monitored and the graphics quality will be noted in the Unreal Engine tests. Let’s get started with graphics.Graphics comparison
Vulkan offers greater performance compared to its OpenGL brothers and greater control of the hardware allowing for a boost in graphics quality do to better optimizations. But how does this translate into the real world?Compared to OpenGL ES 3.1, at least in Unreal Engine made for mobile, there is no difference in graphics. That being said, most games run in OpenGL ES 2,0, and there is a huge difference here, which you can see above. The problem with OpenGL ES 3.1 is that while the graphics look immensely better than OpenGL ES 2.0, the performance hit is so great that games are basically not playable, looking at the image above comparing OpenGL ES 2.0 and 3.1 on my Nexus 6P shows that the exact same scene runs at a third of the frames per second compared to OpenGL ES 2.0. This is where Vulkan comes in, offering at least the same in graphics quality, but with improved performance. So how does Vulkan do?Performance comparison
Vulkan does amazing actually, the results show that Vulkan more than triples the FPS compared to OpenGL ES 3.1. There are a few reasons to why this is. First, it may be hard to see in the picture, but my computer’s CPU usage is more than doubled on all 8 threads and my computer is able to handle two million fish per second compared to around 900 thousand while using OpenGL ES 3.1. The multithreading capabilities are a lot better with Vulkan, allowing for all 8 cores to get a workout, not just one.
The CPU usage reported in task manager is more than likely a bit misleading. I believe this is the case because Vulkan spreads out the load of this example across all 8 cores, instead of just one with OpenGL ES 3.1. So while it is technically using more of my CPU, the CPU is not as stressed as the work is spread out between the cores. Notice that the RAM usage does not change between tests as well.Looking at the draw calls, Vulkan allows for a little more than 3 times the amount compared to OpenGL ES 3.1. A “draw call” is how many objects are being drawn on the screen at a time. Usually, you want this number to be lower, as performance can suffer, but in this case, the new API stomps all over ES 3.1 while still having a higher draw call.Looking at the GPU usage while running these tests, it’s about the same, with about 20 percent GPU usage in Unreal Engine and 4 percent for the Nvidia test. OpenGL ES 3.1 used about an extra percent than its newer brother. While this is essentially nothing to my desktop, on a phone this could be a huge difference and we could see 10-20 percent GPU difference possibly. What is actually giving it better performance is the lower level control and relying on the developer more than the drivers to decide where your device’s resources go.Looking at this data, Vulkan still will not perform as well as the lower graphics capable OpenGL ES 2.0, as Vulkan displays a lot more on screen and the scenes it can render are a lot more complex, but this is to be expected.Imagination has also observed similar results in their tests. Showing that the CPU load is spread across the four cores and the FPS increases by quite a bit. This test really shows how well the new API works with multiple threads and how much it benefits from doing this.What does this mean for Android?This is an interesting question, as at the time of writing, there are only a few devices that are actually able to utilize Vulkan. While new flagship devices running Android 7.0 will most likely support Vulkan, it will take awhile for developers to integrate the new API into their games, especially since third party engines do not fully have Vulkan integrated for Android, like Unreal Engine. Or not at all, like Unity.All of this will come with time, of course, but I would not hold my breath, as there are a few stars that need to be aligned before your device supports the new API. For reference, Vulkan will be supported on Snapdragon 8xx and up with Adreno 4xx GPUs and up and Exynos 5433, 7420 and 8890 and presumably everything proceeding those models. Once Vulkan is used correctly, games will see a massive jump in quality with very little to no penalties as the API and hardware advances over the years. This is definitely an exciting time to be a developer and gamer.Wrap UpVulkan looks very promising for not just Android, but also for the desktop. The numbers do not lie, and Vulkan beats OpenGL ES 3.1 no problem. The real question is how fast will developers start implementing the new API in their games. As engines progress and development gets easier, I see no reason why not to.Let us know in comments what you think of these results!
Amazon Imagine never having to leave your house to get groceries – simply say the things you need, and everything is delivered to you. Does this sound like some futuristic utopian world? Well, what if I told you that’s been the reality for quite some time now with Amazon?Amazon Dash is a device that AmazonFresh customers can use to order groceries through scanning bar codes of products that they’ve run out of or simply by dictating what they need. The Dash device recognizes the desired items and automatically adds them to your basket. All you have to do is confirm your order, and your groceries are delivered to your front step. Simple as that.The grocery scanner has been available in the US for some time now albeit through invitation only. Well, for our neighbors across the pond who have been waiting, we bring you good news: the Dash scanner is now available in the UK. The bad news is that initially, the service will only be available in 128 London postcodes. Don’t be too dismayed because Amazon seems to have plans to expand its service in due time:We will be very methodical and considered in how we roll this service out further in the UK.If you do live in one of those 128 postcodes, however, and you are already a AmazonFresh customer, placing two orders between today and August 28th will get you the Dash scanner free of charge. If not, this nifty little device would set you back £35.With more than 130,000 fresh and frozen food products to pick from, AmazonFresh will offer delivery slots from 7am to 11pm every day, as well as a same-day delivery option for those who order by 1pm.We will have to wait and see how Londoners will react to the Dash scanner, but if proven successful, along with the expansion of the service, Amazon could bring its already-popular Dash Button across the pond as well.If you live in one of the 128 postcodes, will you be trying AmazonFresh and the Dash scanner? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
On the whole, Google’s parent company is on the rise. Alphabet is reporting a 21 percent revenue growth year on year, and most of that comes from the boons of advertising. While it’s no question that the information king has advertising in the bag, the company is nevertheless hemorrhaging funds in a blanket category described as “Other Bets.” 
See also: FTC extends its antitrust investigation into Alphabet and Android48 So what exactly is Other Bets? Well, mostly these include moonshot projects, a number of initiatives that earned about $185 million over the course of the last quarter. However, in spite of these earnings, projects like self-driving cars and worldwide internet powered by balloons has cost the company a hefty $859 million.Fortunately, it appears that Alphabet is able to neatly eat these costs thanks to their $7 billion advertising profits. It’s worth noting too that, even though Other Bets is still in the red, the category at large may eventually have a future as an asset rather than a liability. Revenue on these projects increased by 150 percent even as losses grew by 30 percent. 
Last Quarter: Alphabet Q1 2016 income sees boost from ad revenue3 In conversations with investors, Alphabet officials are emphasizing long-term gains over short-term difficulties. The company is adamant about their belief that the future will be radically different than the present, so responsible decisions that are not immediately profitable must be made in the short term to successfully navigate the coming decades.