DEAL: This Code Gets You 20% Off a Bunch of Galaxy S8-Ready Tronsmart Accessories

With Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ pre-orders open, you might be thinking about the accessories you’ll need to get the most out of your new phone when it arrives on April 21. The folks at Tronsmart think they’ve got what you need through a sale that will land you 20% off a bunch of Galaxy S8-ready accessories. 
We’re talking USB Type-C adapters and cables to use with old chargers, Quick Charge 3.0 car and wall chargers, big ol’ battery packs with quick charging, and even a fast wireless charging pad.
At checkout, use code “TSM20OFF” and you’ll see 20% taken off.
Amazon Links:


2-pack USB Type-C adapters ($6.56)

2-pack USB Type-C cables ($9.99)

Dual Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger ($19.99)

5-port Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger ($26.99)

Dual Quick Charge 3.0 car charger ($15.95)

10400mAh Type-C Quick Charge 3.0 battery pack ($26.99)

Fast Wireless Charging pad ($9.99)

Edit: The code doesn’t seem to be working for the car charger. Apologies on that.


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DEAL: This Code Gets You 20% Off a Bunch of Galaxy S8-Ready Tronsmart Accessories is a post from: Droid Life

DEAL: This Code Gets You 20% Off a Bunch of Galaxy S8-Ready Tronsmart Accessories

A new BlackBerry-branded Android tablet could be in the works

BlackBerry is still trying to reinvent itself as a software company, but it is allowing its name to be used on Android hardware devices made by others like the DTEK 50, the DTEK 60, and the upcoming KEYone. Now the CEO of BlackBerry, John  Chen, has hinted strongly that we could see the company’s name on an Android-based tablet.


See also:


Blackberry KEYone announced: here’s what you need to know
February 25, 2017




CrackBerry reports that in his remarks to financial analysts today as part of its fiscal fourth quarter 2017 conference call, Chen said that BlackBerry is moving into the next phase of its licensing program and that means that “you may soon see a BlackBerry tablet”. He added that he could not make any promises on releasing such a product, but he did state that one of BlackBerry’s partners is “very excited to build a tablet based on Android, and so they wanted us to give them the portfolio rights to do that.”
Chen did not state which company wanted those tablet rights. BlackBerry currently has agreements with China-based TCL Communication, India-based Optiemus and Indonesia-based PT BB Merah Putih that allow those companies to make and sell smartphones with the BlackBerry brand name. Chen said today that the tablet proposal was “not a 100% committed thing” but if it does happen, BlackBerry would receive royalties from its sales. The tablet would also use BlackBerry software and Chen stated it would handle “the QA and portfolio management”
If such a tablet is released, it would not be the first such device with the BlackBerry name. In 2011, the company released the BlackBerry PlayBook, a 7-inch tablet that ran on its own custom OS. Even with a ton of marketing and advertising, the PlayBook ultimately got mixed reviews and poor sales.

A new BlackBerry-branded Android tablet could be in the works

Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics will turn the GameLoft shooter into a tactical strategy game

A while back, GameLoft released Blitz Brigade, a team-based first-person shooter similar in style to Team Fortress 2, complete with over-the-top action and characters. Now the company is spinning off that game with a new entry, Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics. This tactical strategy game looks like it will be GameLoft’s answer to similar mobile titles like Supercell’s Clash Royale.


See also:


Best Strategy RPGs and Tactical RPGs on Android
July 14, 2016









Like Clash Royale, Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics looks like it will have a cartoon-like art style, but with a G.I. Joe vs Cobra influence rather than a fantasy theme. The game will allow players to select a team of eight units from a large number of hero characters, vehicles and power-ups. Your online squad will fight in PvV battles in arenas against opponents, and you can also make alliances with other players as well.
GameLoft has already set up a pre-registration page for Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics, which you can check out at the link below. Registering and liking the game’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages will help to unlock pre-release goals for all players like getting more in-game cash, opening up crates in the game and taking part in daily challenges. There’s no word yet on when Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics will be released.
Pre-register for Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics

Blitz Brigade: Rival Tactics will turn the GameLoft shooter into a tactical strategy game

Weekly Recap for March 31, 2017: Gr8 Week for Samsung

At long last, after months of leaks and rumors, Samsung has announced the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Both devices are up for pre-order through all the major US carriers and even Best Buy, so if you’ve been waiting, this was a good week for you. 
Beyond Galaxy S8 stuff, we covered Simple Bank’s new support of Android Pay, discussed why Android Wear 2.0 has yet to rollout to the vast majority of available watches, and reported on info that claims HTC’s next flagship will be unveiled in April.
Here’s everything you won’t want to miss.



WATCH: The Droid Life Show – Episode 138 “Galaxy S8” [Subscribe]

Video: Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ hands-on.

Samsung announces the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

Galaxy S8, S8+ pricing and availability.

Galaxy S8, S8+ specs.

HTC: HTC U reported to be unveiled in April.

Andy Rubin is teasing his new company’s first smartphone.

T-Mobile: All T-Mobile customers getting free year of MLB.TV again.

IKEA enters the smart lighting game.

VZW: There’s a new privacy scare concerning Verizon.

Moto: The Moto X 2017 has leaked.

Verizon HTC 10 received Nougat.

Bug holding back Android Wear 2.0 update.

Android Pay: Simple Bank now supports Android Pay.

This speaker with a built-in touchscreen, Alexa and “OK Google” has my attention.

Have a great weekend, folks!


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Weekly Recap for March 31, 2017: Gr8 Week for Samsung is a post from: Droid Life

Weekly Recap for March 31, 2017: Gr8 Week for Samsung

The sci-fi mining game Dig Deep is available now for free in the Google Play Store

We imagine you like playing free games. If so, then we have a very cool game to tell you about that was recently launched for Android in the Google Play Store after having debuted on iOS. It’s called Dig Deep, and its the first in a series of iOS games from publisher Noodlecake that is is porting over to Android.


See also:


Best free Android games of 2017!
4 weeks ago









The game itself was developed by Flippancy Studios, and it combines 2D pixel graphics with an endless runner style of gameplay. You control a space miner who is sent out to different planets to dig and discover precious minerals, but there are also dangers that await you on these alien worlds.
Dig Deep offers players randomly generated planets to explore, which should mean no two worlds will be exactly alike. Players will be able to upgrade their mining gear as they move around and into the planets, and you can get some help from other AI miners. You can compete with friends on the online leaderboards, go on special side missions and much more.
Best of all, the game is free, at least for now, for Android players and it does not have any in-app purchases. Noodlecake says it will continue to bring many of its iOS games over to Android in the next few months, so it looks like gamers will have plenty of new releases to check out in the near future.
Get it at Google Play
 

The sci-fi mining game Dig Deep is available now for free in the Google Play Store

Starbucks to open a mobile order-only store in Seattle HQ

Starbucks introduced its mobile ordering system two years ago, and since then, it’s been immensely popular – in fact, so popular that the firm is testing a mobile order-only store within its Seattle headquarters.


See also:


Starbucks app finally lets you save your favorite drinks, voice commands coming soon
January 30, 2017




According to Reuters, Starbucks said in a letter to its employees that the company would be opening a new mobile order-only cafe inside its Seattle headquarters next week. In an effort to increase customer convenience, the company introduced mobile orders in 2015: instead of physically going into the store, you could simply select your drink from a menu within your app, pay in advance, and receive an estimated pick-up time.
But ironically, customers just ended up waiting in a virtual line, most locations suffering from inundations of mobile orders. The coffee chain is hoping that a dedicated mobile order and pay location might make a difference. Currently, the Seattle headquarters has two Starbucks cafes that serve more than 5,000 company employees. One of those is, according to Reuters, one of the top three stores in the US for mobile ordering.

If successful, we are bound to see more of these around the US.

Starting next week, all mobile orders from the building will be sent to the new mobile-only store, which is said to feature a large window for pick-ups, and you can even watch how your drink is made. Though it’s not yet clear whether a move to mobile order-only stores will facilitate a faster and bottleneck-free way of ordering and receiving drinks, if successful, we are bound to see more of these around the US.
In the meantime, if you don’t have the Starbucks app yet and want to give it a try, here’s a link to the Play Store:
Download Starbucks app from Play Store
What are your thoughts on mobile order-only stores? What’s your experience been with Starbuck’s app? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Starbucks to open a mobile order-only store in Seattle HQ

BlackBerry KEYone launch delayed until sometime after May

The BlackBerry KEYone, the upcoming Android-based smartphone with the company’s familiar physical keyboard, was officially announced in late February at MWC 2017. At the time, BlackBerry and the phone’s manufacturer, TCL Communications, said the KEYone would go on sale in April. Now it looks like we will have to wait a while longer to get our hands on this phone.


See also:


LG G6 vs BlackBerry KEYone quick look
February 26, 2017




As reported by MobileSyrup,  BlackBerry CEO John Chen held a conference call with financial analysts today to talk about  the company’s fiscal fourth quarter 2017 earnings. During the call, Chen said that TCL would begin their first manufacturing production for the KEYone run sometime at the end of April. As a result, Chen said the KEYone’s “worldwide availability is going to be later than May.” There’s no word as to why the production run on the phone got delayed.





When the BlackBerry KEYone does launch, it will have a 4.5-inch display, a 2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of onboard storage, with a microSD card slot for adding up to 2 TB of additional storage. It will also have a 12 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front-facing camera and a 3,505 mAh battery. It will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
The biggest feature for the phone is the physical keyboard that looks very much like the ones on classic BlackBerry devices. It will include support for touch gestures designed to emulate the  Blackberry trackpad, and users can take advantage of up to 52 customizable shortcuts so they can quickly launch apps without using the touchscreen. The keyboard will also have a fingerprint scanner built into the spacebar. The BlackBerry KEYone is scheduled to be priced at $549 when it does launch in the US.
Blackberry’s revenue for its last fiscal quarter was $286 million, which was slightly below those numbers from a year ago, but still beat prior expectations. The company recorded a net loss of $47 million, which was much better than the $238 million loss it had a year ago, and again today’s numbers were better than expected.

BlackBerry KEYone launch delayed until sometime after May

Galaxy S8’s Face Unlock Might be Just as Bad as Android 4.0’s

On stage during the unveiling of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, Samsung detailed a security feature similar to one found in Ice Cream Sandwich – Face Unlock. With it, users simply hold their face up to the phone, the phone recognizes the user, then unlocks the phone. However, much like the original Face Unlock, Samsung’s implementation might be just as easily tricked into unlocking the phone for an unwanted user.
As detailed in a Periscope video posted by an attendee of this week’s unveiling in New York City, a simple selfie photo on a separate device was able to fool Samsung’s face recognition security feature and the phone was unlocked.
Frankly, this is disheartening, considering the same technique was used to bypass Google’s implementation more than five years ago. To help bolster the security measure, Google added in a liveness check, which required users to blink during the process. This meant that a still photo would not work. As of today, this security option is no longer present on Google devices.
It should be noted that Samsung seems to know Face Unlock may not be the best option for fans of security. As Arstechnica details, it’s the only biometric option that won’t authorize Samsung Pay purchases. That’s a good thing, since you wouldn’t want a selfie of yourself charging amounts of money to your credit card. No one would believe a story like that.
As we’ve always suggested, a simple PIN or password can be quite secure, or use the iris scanner and fingerprint. There’s plenty of other options available on the Galaxy S8.
To see a selfie fool the Galaxy S8, follow the Marcianophone link below, then skip to the 6:30 mark and watch it get performed repeatedly.
Via: Arstechnica | Marcianophone



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Galaxy S8’s Face Unlock Might be Just as Bad as Android 4.0’s is a post from: Droid Life

Galaxy S8’s Face Unlock Might be Just as Bad as Android 4.0’s

Specs Comparison: Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8+ vs. Galaxy S7 Edge

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge owners are probably wondering if they should consider upgrading to the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+. That’s going to be a tough decision to make, since those phones should still be holding up well after only a year. To hopefully help you with that decision, we’ve put together a specs comparison chart of the four phones to show you on paper how they all differ. 
On a basic level, you have upgrades in many of the key areas. For example, you’ve got Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835 processor in the S8 line vs. last year’s Snapdragon 820 in the S7. The displays are an upgrade as well, at least in terms of size without adding much extra bulk. The new Galaxy S8 phones also include a USB Type-C port, on-screen or virtual navigation buttons, a Bixby button, Iris Scanners, Bluetooth 5.0, and more internal storage out of the box. On the other hand, you have the same rear camera as is in the S7s, same or smaller batteries (S8+ battery is smaller than S7 Edge), and the same IP68 water resistance.
So overall, the Galaxy S8 line shows solid upgrades that you expect from one year to the next, but the really big one is likely the wild new display setup. Is that enough to get you to upgrade? You tell us.




 
Galaxy S8
Galaxy S7
Galaxy S8+
Galaxy S7 Edge



Software
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat


Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 64-bit 10nm
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad-core, 64-bit, 14nm
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 64-bit 10nm
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad-core, 64-bit, 14nm


Display
5.8" Infinity Super AMOLED Quad HD+ (2960x1440, 571ppi)
5.1" Super AMOLED Quad HD (2560x1440, 577ppi)
6.2" Infinity Super AMOLED Quad HD+ (2960x1440, 529ppi)
5.5" Super AMOLED Quad HD (2560x1440, 534ppi, Edge Screen)


Battery
3000mAh
Fast Charge (wired and wireless)
3000mAh
Fast Charge (wired and wireless)
3500mAh
Fast Charge (wired and wireless)
3600mAh
Fast Charge (wired and wireless)


Memory
64GB (UFS 2.1), microSD support up to 256GB
4GB RAM
32GB (UFS 2.0), microSD support up to 256GB
4GB
64GB (UFS 2.1), microSD support up to 256GB
4GB RAM
32GB (UFS 2.0), microSD support up to 256GB
4GB


Camera
Rear: 12MP f/1.7
Front: 8MP f/1.7
Rear: 12MP f/1.7
Front: 5MP f/1.7
Rear: 12MP f/1.7
Front: 8MP f/1.7
Rear: 12MP f/1.7
Front: 5MP f/1.7


Size
148.9 x 68.1 x 8mm
152g
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm
152g
159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1mm
173g
150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm
157g


Water Resistance
IP68
IP68
IP68
IP68


Ports
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone
MicroUSB
3.5mm headphone
USB Type-C
3.5mm headphone
MicroUSB
3.5mm headphone


Connectivity
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0
4G LTE
GPS
NFC
MST
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2
4G LTE
GPS
NFC
MST
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0
4G LTE
GPS
NFC
MST
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2
4G LTE
GPS
NFC
MST


Other
Fingerprint reader
Iris Scanner
Fingerprint reader
Fingerprint reader
Iris Scanner
Fingerprint reader


Colors
Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold
Black, Blue, Gold, Silver
Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold
Black, Blue, Gold, Silver





Notes: Those images are not at all a true or 100% correct size comparison. Also, we gave each phone Nougat since Samsung has updated most S7 models to Nougat at this time.


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Specs Comparison: Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8+ vs. Galaxy S7 Edge is a post from: Droid Life

Specs Comparison: Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8+ vs. Galaxy S7 Edge

LG G6 Launched at Verizon Today, and You Can Still Get a Free TV With Purchase

I know that world is still focused on yesterday’s big Samsung Galaxy S8 event, but the LG G6 launched today at Verizon. And we’re talking full launch, as in, you can walk into a Verizon store and buy one. Pre-orders are done, man.
If the Galaxy S8 and S8+ didn’t turn you on, the G6 is going to be an excellent option. It’s got really good specs, a big ol’ display with little bezel, water resistance, dual cameras, and a premium metal and glass design. It’s easily LG’s best phone in years. 
Outside of those thoughts, it’s also a bit cheaper at $28/mo or $672 full retail and comes with a boatload of freebies, like a free TV and Google Home. Seriously, you can buy the LG G6 and Verizon will give you a free 43-inch LG Smart TV, “when you activate a new line of service on Verizon Unlimited and purchase an LG G6 on device payment,” according to Big Red promo materials. The Google Home is redeemed from LG.
Galaxy S8 haters, what are you waiting for?
Verizon LG G6 Link
LG G6: First 10 Things You Should Do



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LG G6 Launched at Verizon Today, and You Can Still Get a Free TV With Purchase is a post from: Droid Life

LG G6 Launched at Verizon Today, and You Can Still Get a Free TV With Purchase

What could be better than cats? Cats in vehicles battling it out

And that’s exactly what CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars is, the latest game from the creator of the insanely popular game Cut the Rope.
As you can see from the video above, the idea is pretty straightforward: you are a street cat, and you must build your own vehicle to fight with other vehicles. You start off with an unflattering wooden car, but as you progress, with either in-game currency or in-app purchases, you can upgrade your fleet with more menacing gadgets – from soda pop bottles to chainsaws. The goal? Destroy your opponents’ vehicles in one-on-ones to reach Crash Arena, the highest league in the game where you can become the champion.

The goal? Destroy your opponents' vehicles in one-on-ones to reach Crash Arena, the highest league in the game where you can become the champion.

As the CEO of ZeptoLab Misha Lyalin explains, the idea is you have to build a vehicle that is not only powerful enough to destroy your opponent’s but also durable enough to withstand a lot of fights. Lyalin says that everyone in the company liked the game during its soft launch and that the company is confident enough to launch it worldwide now.
Semyon Voinov, creative director at ZeptoLab, explains just how the game came about:
As kids, many of us loved building tanks and battle cars from the stuff in our backyards to create epic toy battles, so we thought — why not turn it into a mobile game? And to make things even more fun, we decided to man our bots with cute — but highly competitive! — kittens. Who doesn’t like machines, explosions, and cats?
CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars will be available for download in April – not just for Android but also for iOS, Amazon, and Windows Phone – but if you are dying to try out ZeptoLab’s latest creation, you can click the link below to pre-register in the Google Play Store right now!
Pre-register for CATS on the Play Store
Are you excited about CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars? Let us know in the comment section below!

What could be better than cats? Cats in vehicles battling it out

Unlocked Moto G4 Plus starts getting Nougat in the US

We have some great news for those of you who use the unlocked version of the Moto G4 Plus and live in the US. The Android 7.0 Nougat update is finally rolling out to the devices (XT1644) in the country.
This is a big update, as it weighs in at 741 MB. It brings a bunch of new and great features to the Moto G4 Plus including multi-window mode, improvements to Doze, and inline notification replies, among others. These should make the devices a lot better to use and will surely keep you entertained for quite some time as soon as you get the update.


See also:


Moto X Pure Edition slated to begin Nougat soak tests in US soon
3 days ago




The update is already being rolled out, but might not be available to all users just yet. It could take a couple of days before Nougat hits all the unlocked Moto G4 Plus smartphones in the country. To check if you have already received it, open the device’s Settings, choose About phone, and then tap on System update.
If the update is already available, make sure you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network before downloading it in order to avoid any potential charges from your carrier and check if the battery is sufficiently charged. Around 50 percent should be enough in this case.

Unlocked Moto G4 Plus starts getting Nougat in the US

Google Maps and Search can be used to reserve and pay for fitness classes

Even though spring has just started, many people are already looking forward to summer so they can hit the beach. However, you may want to put some work in that beach body beforehand. This week, Google announced a new service in the US that will allow people to reserve and pay for fitness classes via Google Maps and Google Search.


See also:


Best Android fitness apps and workout apps
January 17, 2017





The Google Maps support for this new feature is restricted to the desktop, but it’s available for Google Search on both desktop and mobile. All you have to do is search for the fitness studio you want to attend and then click “Reserve with Google”. You can check out the studio’s current class schedule, reserve your specific day and time, and pay in advance.
You can also do the same thing by going to the Reserve with Google website, and it will offer additional options such as recommendations for new classes, special discount offer when available and more. It even lets users buy class packages or full memberships. The number of providers that support these features include  MINDBODY, MyTime, Genbook, Full Slate, Front Desk, Appointy, and more.
Again this new feature is just for US residents, and there’s no word if Google plans to expand its online fitness classes service to other parts of the world.

Google Maps and Search can be used to reserve and pay for fitness classes

Google Allo could get a ‘quick selfie’ button among other new features

Google is constantly updating its messaging app, and the latest report claims that Allo might be getting a dedicated “quick selfie” button as well as a backup and restore feature. And of course, what would a Google Allo update be without a slew of new stickers?


See also:


Are you one of the 10 million who have installed Google Allo?
December 15, 2016





While it’s a small addition to the app, I do wish that a) this does officially come to Google Allo and b) other messaging apps would follow.

According to 9to5Google, there are some new features embedded within Google Allo that just haven’t been enabled yet. And one of them is a “quick selfie” button right inside your messaging box. Simply tap on the camera button, and a circular preview screen will pop up with a shutter button. Once you take a selfie, you can either send it or get rid of it. While it’s a small addition to the app, I do wish that a) this does officially come to Google Allo and b) other messaging apps would follow. You can see it in action below:





Google Allo could also receive an update that will allow you to add stickers on top of any photos you take, similar to Snapchat’s filters and stickers. Given Google’s love for stickers, I’m surprised that it’s taken the company this long to add this feature. Another big hidden (and disabled) feature is the option to backup and restore your messaging data. The folks over at 9to5Google discovered the following, but not much is known at this point:
<boolean name=”BackupRestore__enable_backup_restore” value=”false” />
Similarly, Google may be expanding its incognito chat option so that group chats can be incognito as well, but again, nothing else is there apart from the code which hints at this feature.
I want to emphasize that these are not official new features: these features may come with the next Google Allo update, or they may never make public appearance – we just have to wait and see, unfortunately.
Which of these features would you like to see in the next update? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Allo could get a ‘quick selfie’ button among other new features

Robot Unicorn Attack 3 begins pre-registration in the Play Store

The Robot Unicorn Attack series of games, besides having an ultra-cool title, also have some very additive gameplay and a highly colorful 2D art style. Today, publisher Adult Swim Games began taking pre-orders for the latest game in the endless runner series, Robot Unicorn Attack 3, in the Google Play Store.


See also:


Best endless runner games for Android
May 3, 2016




The game has already soft launched in New Zealand and a few other markets, and reports say the game now has full 3D graphics, but still keeps its basic side-scrolling gameplay. This game allows players to pick from three different robot unicorns. Running each of these mechanical stallions through their paces will help them collect tears generated from past failures so they can build their citadel. Yep, it’s that kind of a game.








All in all, it looks like if you are a fan of the previous Robot Unicorn Attack games, this latest installment is aiming to add more content, some impressive and colorful graphics and addictive gameplay to the mix. Since pre-registration has started, we would expect that the game will be launched worldwide in the very near future. Oh, and one more thing for fans of the previous games; Robot Unicorn Attack 3 will still feature Erasure’s Always in the soundtrack.
Pre-register at Google Play Store

Robot Unicorn Attack 3 begins pre-registration in the Play Store

Simple adds support for Android Pay

Simple has become a popular bank alternative for those who want an easy-going, more human experience. The app is as user friendly as they get, and its tools for saving and managing money compete with the best finance managing apps out there. But as good as this bank can be, we know it can be a pain not having mobile payment compatibility.
Many of you will be excited to hear Simple has finally added Android Pay support, something plenty of you have been asking for. There is a bit of a catch, though. Your account needs to be with Simple’s new partner bank, BBVA Compass.


See also:


Android Pay – What is it, how does it work and who supports it?
March 9, 2016




Simple has been transferring its user to BBVA Compass accounts for some time, so many of you have probably already been transitioned from Bancorp. Those who haven’t can simply wait a bit more or send a message to Simple’s support team.
Those who are already under BBVA Compass’ wing can go ahead and set up Android Pay. It should be a breeze

Simple adds support for Android Pay

First Google I/O 2017 developer sessions posted

Developers are getting ready to head to San Francisco for the Google I/O 2017 conference, which takes place this May 17-19. It’s a few days of madness for the industry, but even more so for developers attending the event. You better get ready for a wild time of learning, announcements and hands-on experience. We know it’s hard to plan it without a schedule, though.
Don’t you worry – the first wave of developer sessions has just been published in the official site’s schedule. Of course, this includes the keynote and all the “What’s new in _____” sessions, as well as plenty of other goodies regular consumers will have no idea what they are about.

All these sessions will be divided in categories, including topics, themes, types and locations. You can filter all the sessions as you wish and plan your time at I/O. As always, more sessions will continue to be added, so keep checking back for included schedule entries and make sure to make time for some fun!
Of course, we will be covering I/O live, so also keep it tuned to Android Authority for all things Android and Google I/O.
Google I/O 2017 schedule

First Google I/O 2017 developer sessions posted

Zoolz temporarily offering 2TB of lifetime cloud storage for $50

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links.

The allure of the cloud is easily understood. Hard drives fail and physical storage devices can get lost or stolen. But once you entrust something to the cloud, you can scrounge it up any time in the future from any device.
You know, barring a technological apocalypse or something.
Unfortunately, cloud storage typically runs off a monthly subscription model. That monthly billing can really stack up in the long run.
However, for a limited time, Zoolz is offering full access to their 2TB storage model for life. All you pay is a one-time fee of $49.99.
Zoolz is a well-reviewed and respected cloud service. The 2TB plan is actually a combination of 2 plans: a 1TB Instant Backup plan for quick storage and retrieval and a 1TB Archive Backup plan where you can store infrequently accessed files for the long haul. You get both for one price.
Here are the plans in a glance.
Zoolz Instant Backup

Store 1 TB of instantly accessible data for life, w/ no additional costs
Have your data encrypted w/ military-grade 256-AES encryption before it even leaves your machine
Quickly & easily select the files you want to store w/ Smart Selection
Retrieve stored files instantly
Enjoy backup scheduling, bandwidth throttling, icon overlay, file retention & more
Preview thumbnails of images
Get reliability w/ data stored over multiple facilities & devices

Zoolz Archive Backup

Archive 1 TB of retrievable data for life w/ no additional costs
Have your data encrypted w/ military-grade 256-AES encryption before it even leaves your machine
Retrieve stored files in approximately 3-5 hours from Cold Storage
Enjoy backup scheduling, bandwidth throttling, icon overlay, file retention & more
Preview thumbnails of images
Get reliability w/ data stored over multiple facilities & devices

Are you interested in snatching up permanent access to 2TB of cloud storage without having to worry about monthly fees ever again? Click here to check out the offer for yourself!
Is this deal not quite right for you? Head over to the AAPICKS HUB for more offers you’re going to love!
In disclosure, we may get a small percent from purchases made through affiliates. However, the AA Picks team only spotlights verified, legitimate deals. It’s a nice way to help keep the lights on around here, and it decreases our reliance on pesky ads. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out at aapicks@androidauthority.com.

Zoolz temporarily offering 2TB of lifetime cloud storage for $50

Your Mentions Inside Replies No Longer Count Towards 140-Character Limit on Twitter

With a single tweet on Twitter, you are given 140 characters to get across what you are trying to say. It’s not the easiest thing to do at times, especially when you’re trying to talk to multiple users at once. With a change for how mentions are handled within replies, things should be getting much better now. 
Moving forward, whenever you are replying to someone or to multiple people in a tweet, those mentions will be above the tweet, not a part of it. When you to compose a reply, you’ll no longer see each user automatically listed inside the reply, taking up valuable characters you might need for a tweet. To edit who a tweet is going to, simply tap on the names you see above, then select who gets the tweet and who doesn’t.
Frankly, this feature should have been available years ago, but hey, it’s here now. This move also goes nicely with images and video links no longer counting towards character limits, so things are looking pretty good for Twitter users.
What’s New

Who you are replying to will appear above the Tweet text rather than within the Tweet text itself, so you have more characters to have conversations.
You can tap on “Replying to…” to easily see and control who’s part of your conversation.
When reading a conversation, you’ll actually see what people are saying, rather than seeing lots of @usernames at the start of a Tweet.

The update is rolling out for everyone on every platform, so go enjoy.
Play Link

Via: Twitter



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Your Mentions Inside Replies No Longer Count Towards 140-Character Limit on Twitter is a post from: Droid Life

Your Mentions Inside Replies No Longer Count Towards 140-Character Limit on Twitter

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Apple iPhone 7 Plus quick look

Unfortunately for Samsung, they didn’t really have anything over the holiday season to compete against the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. Instead, they were dealing with one wicked migraine of a problem with the Galaxy Note 7. Now that’s all in the past, they’re looking ahead to the future with its upcoming phablet of a phone in the Galaxy S8 Plus.


See also:


Galaxy S8 vs Google Pixel: The two most important Android devices right now
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Right away, the most notable difference between the two is in how Sammy is able to cram a whole lot of screen to the body of the S8 Plus. Comparing it to the iPhone 7 Plus, it’s pretty incredible Samsung was able to maximize the real estate on its phone because the two appear to be similar in size, but yet, the S8 Plus features a significantly larger 6.2-inch display – easily dwarfing the 5.5-incher in the iPhone 7 Plus.

Speaking of their displays, there’s yet again a draw with the S8 Plus because of its staggering resolution of 2960 by 1440 pixels. With so many pixels crammed together, it makes it sharper looking and more detailed than the 1080p resolution used by the iPhone 7 Plus.

Aesthetically, there’s no denying the premium feel of the two phones. The S8 Plus, much like its predecessor has a shiny affection for glass, which shimmers nicely when light bounces off its surfaces, but that glass still feels a bit more fragile. In contrast, the metal body of the iPhone 7 Plus gives it a more substantial feel in the hand. Honestly, it’ll come down to personal preference. But at least the two offer a degree of water resistance.

Placing the two on top of one another, we can make out how the S8 Plus features a slimmer chassis – so we’re not straining to hold it in our hand. However, the iPhone 7 Plus is a little shorter than the S8 Plus – while also sporting a slightly thinner chassis. Regardless, though, it’s still impressive how the S8 Plus is able to achieve nearly the same overall dimensions as its rival – while yet carrying along a larger screen!

We spent a short time checking out the two phones in action, so we still have a lot to go before we get a good feel for the two of them. The iPhone 7 Plus proved to be a champ when it comes to snapping photos with its dual camera configuration, but don’t count out the S8 Plus just yet – mainly because the Galaxy S line has been pretty reliable with its performance in this area.

The one area where we feel the S8 Plus eclipses the iPhone 7 Plus is in its brand new desktop environment courtesy of Samsung Dex. This essentially allows you to dock the S8 Plus and experience a desktop environment, where everything is powered by the phone itself. It’s not a new concept in mobile, as Windows 10 has its own version, but this is still something that the S8 Plus has an edge over its competitor.









Beyond that, we’ll save our reservations between the two phones until we get a better feel for the S8 Plus. So far, however, it’s no doubt going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Next: Samsung Galaxy S8 feature focus: Bixby

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Apple iPhone 7 Plus quick look