Phandroid Recap: LG G3, Best apps and games, self-driving cars, and more! [May 25-31]

Phandroid

Phandroid Recap: LG G3, Best apps and games, self-driving cars, and more! [May 25-31]

Summer days are right around the corner and needless to say the Android news is heating up. This week saw the launch of LG’s latest smartphone, some new rumors about Moto’s next, our best apps and games for the month, and a look at the future of Google’s self-driving cars. So without wasting any more time, here’s a look at what was hot this week and some news that you might have missed!

The LG G3 is here, is it the Android smartphone to beat?

The short work week brought no shortage of Android news. Following the Monday holiday in the US, LG took to the stage in London for the global unveiling of the their latest flagship smartphone. The LG G3 debuted to plenty of hype and didn’t fall short of expectations. We went hands-on with the device, which features a 5.5-inch QuadHD display, 13MP camera with laser auto-focus, and an overhauled user interface to make it perhaps the best phone that LG has ever developed. Some are even considering it as a contender for the best Android phone on the market. Official release details haven’t been finalized, but buyers are already eager to get their hands on the G3. As a bonus, you can snag some of the phone’s official wallpapers right now.

Best Android apps and games for May 2014

We’ve got our monthly rundown of the best Android apps as well as the best Android games. May brought us plenty to choose from, including Klout’s Android debut and the popular anonymous social app Secret as well as Half-Life 2 and Monument Valley. That’s only naming a few of the many great software offerings to launch in May. Be sure to check out the full lists for more.

Are voice commands the best Android feature you’re not using?

What do you know about Google Now? Did you know about the dozens of voice commands you could possibly missing out on? We detail 50+ in our helpful list to make sure you are getting the most out of your Android smartphone. If you have a handset running KitKat, chances are you can simply say “OK, Google” and launch right in.

Moto X+1 leaks show off a phone that could feature a 5-inch display

The Moto X+1 is the rumored followup to Motorola’s ambitious Moto X. This week we might have caught our first glimpse of the smartphone. An early leak purported to show us the phone in the wild’s of the Chicago subway system. A followup gave us a slightly clearer glance at the phone’s front panel. Both suggest Moto could up the screen size to over 5 inches for their next flagship.

Google unveils self-driving car prototypes, goes a little overboard on the cuteness

Google’s self-driving car project has been around for a few years now, but up until this week it has relied on existing cars outfitted with an array of advanced sensors and gadgetry. That changed when Google announced that it had developed and built its first in-house automobile, a cute little two-door coupe with no steering wheel or physical controls. In fact, it might be a bit too cute with it’s front end, which purposefully resembles a smiling face, complete with eyes, nose and mouth.

Rest of the Best

• We might never see the launch of the HTC One M8 Prime


• A T-Mobile/Sprint merger is inching ever closer


• OnePlus takes to eBay to sell OnePlus One invites


• Apple makes Beast acquisition for $3 billion official

 

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Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 leaks with faux leather backing, huge 7-inch display

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Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 leaks with faux leather backing, huge 7-inch display

If you thought last year’s Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 were blurring the lines between phone and tablet, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Mega 7.0 is looking to sh*t all over that. Leaked online for China Mobile thanks to a 3rd party case manufacturer, this Samsung Galaxy Mega followup (SM-T2558 and SM-T2556) is said to feature a whopping 7-inch 72op display, one that is sure to push the limits of your new skinny jeans.

Keep in mind the Mega has never been a power house. It’s merely a way for Samsung to tackle the affordable phablet market, one that is currently left wide open by smartphone OEMs. Other specs for the Mega 7.0 include a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. You can see from the leaked image above that Samsung will once again follow the “faux leather” design language made popular by their Note line.

No word on US availability or pricing, but knowing Samsung — they’ll have a Mega for every market. We’ll keep an eye out.

[Ortud | via GSMArena]

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Samsung Galaxy Gear update strips away Android in favor of Tizen

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Samsung Galaxy Gear update strips away Android in favor of Tizen

There’s no question Samsung was treading new ground with the launch of their first smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Shoehorning Android to fit the small screen wasn’t easy, but Samsung felt like they were up to the task. It would later bite them in the butt as the smartwatch had some glaring issues (like battery life), causing Samsung to abandon their product only a few short months later for a new and improved model, the Tizen-powered Samsung Gear.

If there’s one thing we love about Samsung, they typically offer good support for legacy devices and the Galaxy Gear is no different. In a major software update rolling out today, Samsung is giving the Galaxy Gear new life. But as an Android fan — you might not like it. Software version 2.2.0 completely replaces the old clunky Android OS with Tizen, although on the surface, many wont be able to tell the difference.

Behind the scenes, the Galaxy Gear (or is it just Gear now?) will have improved battery life, a stand-alone music player, voice commands for the camera, and other software features that debuted on the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.

The update is only rolling out via Samsung’s Kies software (for now), so you’ll have to plug-in to grab it, or download manually from Samsung. Keep in mind that the update will completely delete everything from the watch — part of the whole switching OS thing — and many of the apps that worked previously may not after the transition (no duh).

[SamMobile]

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LG G3 gets stripped down to its bare parts in new teardown

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LG G3 gets stripped down to its bare parts in new teardown

Some guys like red-heads, others have a thing for curves. This guy? Well, I like to watch high-end smartphones strip down in front of the camera. I know, it’s an rare fetish, but luckily one the folks at uBreakiFix were happy to accommodate.

These fellas, who specialize in smartphone repairs, were able to get their hands on the Korean version of LG G3 and after probing it with all their specialty tools, stripped it down to just its bare parts for all to see. When all was said and done, they lit up a cig and gave the LG G3 an impressive 8/10 repair-ability rating. They were even nice enough to list off some of the hardware found on the LG G3′s motherboard.

• (Purple) Broadcom BCM4339 5G WiFi combo chip


• (Teal) Avago ACPM-7700 power amplifier module


• (Red) Qualcomm WTR1625L RF transceiver


• (Green) Qualcomm WFR1620 receive-only companion chip


• (Orange) SK Hynix 2GB/3GB LPDDR3 RAM layered on the 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor.


• (Yellow) ANX7812 USB SlimPort Tx IC


• (Blue) Texas Instruments BQ24296 battery charge management and system power path management chip.

Because LG went with several “contact-style” connectors in the G3 instead of traditional flexes, this should help make the phone easy on repairmen to fix whatever problems may arise (like a broken LCD/digitizer). Make sure to check out the full gallery over on their site, linked below.

[uBreakiFix]

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LG G3 gets stripped down to its bare parts in new teardown [ANDROID PORN]

Phandroid

LG G3 gets stripped down to its bare parts in new teardown [ANDROID PORN]

Some guys like red-heads, others have a thing for curves. This guy? Well, I like to watch high-end smartphones strip down in front of the camera. I know, it’s an rare fetish, but luckily one the folks at uBreakiFix were happy to accommodate.

These fellas, who specialize in smartphone repairs, were able to get their hands on the Korean version of LG G3 and after probing it with all their specialty tools, stripped it down to just its bare parts for all to see. When all was said and done, they lit up a cig and gave the LG G3 an impressive 8/10 repair-ability rating. They were even nice enough to list off some of the hardware found on the LG G3′s motherboard.

• (Purple) Broadcom BCM4339 5G WiFi combo chip


• (Teal) Avago ACPM-7700 power amplifier module


• (Red) Qualcomm WTR1625L RF transceiver


• (Green) Qualcomm WFR1620 receive-only companion chip


• (Orange) SK Hynix 2GB/3GB LPDDR3 RAM layered on the 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor.


• (Yellow) ANX7812 USB SlimPort Tx IC


• (Blue) Texas Instruments BQ24296 battery charge management and system power path management chip.

Because LG went with several “contact-style” connectors in the G3 instead of traditional flexes, this should help make the phone easy on repairmen to fix whatever problems may arise (like a broken LCD/digitizer). Make sure to check out the full gallery over on their site, linked below.

[uBreakiFix]

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Report: Google to unveil Android TV at Google I/O, new details revealed

Phandroid

Report: Google to unveil Android TV at Google I/O, new details revealed

It’s been a fair amount of time since we last heard talk of “Android TV.” Back in early April we saw things pick up steam after receiving a few leaked screenshots from the upcoming OS, another effort by Google to bring Android to the living room. There weren’t very many details, but today the folks at GigaOM have obtained new information on Google’s Android TV project, giving us a better idea of what to expect when it’s finally unveiled at this year’s Google I/O 2014.

Once again, Google is banking on creating a platform for television manufacturers to bake into their wares, just like Google’s first effort with Google TV. But aside from pay-TV services and applications, Android TV’s killer feature will be gaming — something the Chromecast simply isn’t equipped for.

Google is calling the user interface “Pano,” and it allows users to scroll horizontally through movies and shows which are linked to apps and services. This means instead of opening an app like Netflix for something to watch, the content from all these apps is already displayed as soon as you turn on the TV. A recently leaked changelog for Android 4.4.3 revealed a ton of references to Pano, so it’s entirely possible we’ll see the new firmware update launch during I/O as well.

There’s a lot of questions that pop up with Android TV and one is why Google is even bothering creating another platform, one that in some ways competes with Chromecast. Apparently, Google wants to cover all their bases, and by offering a more robust platform — one that also includes video gaming — television manufacturers will have a product they can rally behind. But it might be a tough sell considering all those that were burned by Google’s initial Google TV offering.

In the end, exactly who is willing to give Google another chance will likely be revealed at Google I/O, and we’re excited to see Pichai and the Android team put a little heat on Amazon and their newly launched Fire TV.

[GigaOM]

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xda:devcon 2014 announced, get your early bird registration now

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xda:devcon 2014 announced, get your early bird registration now

If you’re familiar with rooting and flashing ROMs on your Android phone or tablet, chances are you’re familiar with XDA-Developers. The XDA community consists of some of the most popular Android enthusiasts, hackers, and developers from around the globe. XDA-Developers recently announced their second annual developers conference and are now accepting early bird registration for attendees and taking bids for conference speakers.

As XDA puts it, xda:devcon is a conference by developers for developers. The general idea of the XDA conference is to take what normally happens throughout the XDA community, but bring the community together to learn, have a great time, and collaborate with like minded folk in person.

Since XDA-Developers is a global community, this year they’ve opted to host their developer conference across the pond in the UK. xda:devcon 2014 takes place in Manchester, UK at the Radisson Park Inn, on September, 26th – 28th.

Tickets are on sale now for the 3 day event starting at £75 (about $125 USD). For the entire conference schedule and other available packages, you’ll want to check out the official xda:devcon site for more details.

Or to put it in XDA speak:

[CONFERENCE][xda:devcon][UK Release][Sept 26-28][£75][No Bugs]

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Best Android games from May 2014

Previous months: March, April

The weather is warming up, and so are the new game releases. May brought us many awesome new games to play. The only problem is you may have missed some of them while you were enjoying the nice weather. We’ve got a big list of great games that launched this month for your reading pleasure. Check it out and download a few of these for a rainy day. Enjoy!

Aliens Drive Me Crazy

In Aliens Drive Me Crazy you use a car to blast your way through the city to reach the alien base. Get it? Aliens Drive me Crazy. While you are driving you can defeat invaders and terrifying bosses to get access to powerful weapons, cars and power-ups. If you like destruction and aliens you can download this game for free.

Castlestorm: Free to Seige

CastleStorm: Free to Siege is a genre mash-up of 2D physics destruction and tower defense brawler. Think of it like your typical tower defense game with the vantage point of Angry Birds. You get tons of different weapons, spells, and characters, plus console-quality graphics. All of this is completely free to download.

Dark Lands

Dark Lands is an epic battlerunner action game. Develop your hero to survive this infinity battle and run as long as possible. This game is an addictive mix of an infinity runner fantasy horror game with a dynamic combat system. This epic and addictive game has great art design and is available for free.

Dragon Coins

Our very own Chris Chavez has the best description for this game: “Dragon Coins is a new one from Sega and for whatever reason, I can’t stop playing it. It’s an RPG, mixed with card games, mixed with Pokemon, mixed with that dozer coin game at Chuck-E-Cheese. Sounds weird and I don’t normally like games like these, but it’s WILDLY addictive.”

Half Life 2

Half-Life 2 is a bit long in the tooth by today’s standards, but it was one of those genre-defining games when it launched nearly a decade ago. The best thing about Half-Life 2 is its advanced physics and interesting weapons. This great game is now available for Android users via the NVIDIA Shield. You can download it for $9.99.

Heroes: A Grail Quest

Heroes : A Grail Quest is a turn-based strategy game in a fantasy world. The player leads the hero and his army across the world to find the lost artifact and to save the king and his kingdom. You will go on an exciting journey with lots of battles, powerful atrifacts, magic and dungeons. Pick this game up for $1.00 in the Play Store.

Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage

A coldwind has swept the Vikings away, leaving them stranded in a dangerous and icy land. It’s up to you to save them. To do this you need to use your icebreaking skills to solve puzzles and cut your way through ice, rope, cannons, explosives, slime and more to get the Viking back to their ship. Download this game for $2.51.

JoyJoy

JoyJoy is a new fantastically satisfying twin-stick shooter from the creators of Inferno+, Ballistic SE, Super Crossfire, and more. In this game you need to blast your way through 24 unique waves and 6 intense challenges. It’s psychedelic and chaotic fun for hours, and it costs $1.99.

MacGyver Deadly Descent

MacGyver is back in a new puzzle game. This time he is tapped as the last hope when a computer virus rips through the top-secret D.A.W.N Laboratories. It’s a race against time before the lab runs out of air. If you  love MacGyver and puzzles this is an easy $2.99 to spend.

Metal Slug Defense

SNK’s Metal Slug series is well-known for its Contra-esque gameplay. This new game, however, is a tower defense game. In Metal Slug Defense, you recruit soldiers and build structures in a real-time. You get a one-lane defense layout through which you send the soldiers into the enemy base with no real control.

Monument Valley

The best way to describe Monument Valley is to call it a playable work of art. It’s a puzzle game that might be just as fun to look at as it is to play. The puzzles are optical illusions that require you to look at things differently in order to complete the level. The game costs $4.99 to play, but it is worth every penny. For free this is a pretty fun game.

OTTTD

HEROCORP is calling you to command heroes, build towers, discover strange and exotic worlds and blow them all to bits. This awesome game is a combination of top-down and real-time strategy games. The art design is beautiful, and the action is epic. Command your squad of heroes today for $2.99.

Portal

By this point you’ve probably heard of Portal. This ultra-popular game has been around for a while now, but this month it came to Android on the NVIDIA SHIELD. Portal is an insanely fun puzzle game that uses a portal gun to transport you from one place to another. If you have a SHIELD you can get it for $9.99.

Tiny Dice Dungeon

Tiny Dice Dungeon is an epic RPG full of danger, warriors, wizards and loot. Adventure with tiny heroes through dark dungeons full of giant monsters and ultimate treasure. Tame evil creatures to fight at your side as you build a powerful army to take over this fantasy universe. If you love this style of game you can get it for free in the Play Store.

Trials Frontier

Explore a vast world on your motorcycle. Compete against your friends on Global Leaderboards. Master physics-based tracks to challenge the world’s top riders for the best times. Race your motorcycle through a world of adventure, crazy characters, and unfairly addictive tracks. All of this will cost you absolutely nothing.

Word Monsters

Word Monsters is a super social word search game. It requires you to sign in with Google+ or Facebook to use. Look for words on the screen and swipe them away to get points. Performing that action will cause them to disappear, sometimes removing letters needed for future words and making the game more difficult. Grab it for free in the Store.

***

There were many other games that launched this month that didn’t make the list. What were some of your favorites? Have you been playing any of these games?

Previous months: March, April

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Oppo officially announces the Oppo N1 Mini

Oppo has finally announced the Mini version of last year’s oversized wonder, otherwise known as the Oppo N1 Mini. This device brings the interesting form factor to 5 inches down from 6 inches. It still maintains that 13 megapixel swivel camera that was so awesome on the original, and takes many other design cues from its big brother.

The display has 720p, and it should be running a fairly modern version of Android (we’re hoping KitKat) with Oppo’s ColorOS 1.4 sitting on top. Aside from its weight — it weighs about 150 grams — Oppo didn’t give us many other details to go on, though a more formal event taking place on June 10th should reveal far more details.

[Oppo via GforGames]

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Motorola is shutting down their Texas factory

It’s only been operational for barely a year now, but it seems Motorola is finally ready to call it quits on their assembling factory in Fort Worth, Texas. Really it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Once churning out 100,00 Moto Xs a week and home to a workforce of about 2,500 workers, that number has since dwindled down to about 700.

The Texas factory was originally built to help get customized Motorola Moto X handsets into the hands of customers faster than if shipped from overseas. Unfortunately, dwindling sales of custom Moto Xs simply couldn’t offset the costs that went into paying for US wages. Motorola President Rick Osterloh went on the record saying that the North American market was proved exceptionally tough to break into and with new parent company Lenovo taking the helm, we’re sure there was little Motorola could do.

So, what does this mean for Motomaker? Well, it’s possible the entire thing will come crashing down, but that doesn’t mean prospective Motorola Moto X+1 buyers should worry. If the Moto G and Moto E taught us anything, it’s that you don’t need someone else to glue down a battery cover when you can simply order your favorite color and do it yourself.

For those feeling nostalgic, you can take one last look in Motorola’s factory via Google Maps Street View, back when it was still operating at capacity. Our condolences to those losing their jobs as a result of this decision, and we wish them the best of luck.

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[The Wall Street Journal]

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Samsung Galaxy Wear trademark hints at naming for Samsung’s Android Wear watch

Phandroid

Samsung Galaxy Wear trademark hints at naming for Samsung’s Android Wear watch

With Samsung switching all their current smartwatches over to Tizen you’d think they would have bowed out of the Android Wear welcome wagon by now. That hasn’t been the case, though, as they are still billed as one of the handful of manufacturers bringing an Android Wear smartwatch this year.

They might have just given us a clue as to what they’ll name it, too — Samsung Galaxy Wear. Not surprising at all, and the “Galaxy” bit at least solidifies its status as an Android-based device (which we assume will be the lone product that isn’t converted over to Tizen).

We still don’t know anything else about Samsung’s offering as they have yet to unveil any designs, nor have we had any juicy leaks to sink our teeth into. But with Google set to take out a good chunk of time for Android Wear at Google IO next month we suspect it won’t be long before Samsung takes the wraps off for the world to see.

[Korean Trademark via SamMobile]

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Mobile Roar Podcast 47: Let’s talk about the LG G3

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Mobile Roar Podcast 47: Let’s talk about the LG G3

With Joe away on his honeymoon, Chris and Kevin discuss the launch of the LG G3 and its QuadHD display, Google’s self-driving car and its peculiar smiling face, and Apple’s upcoming WWDC 2014 keynote and more on the Beats Audio acquisition.

Top Stories

• LG G3 officially unveiled


• What to expect from Apple’s WWDC keynote

Quick Hits

• Apple (finally) makes Beats deal official for $3b


• Google’s self-driving car prototypes


• Moto X in Rosewood with rumors of a 64GB version coming soon


• Samsung stand-alone smartwatch launching this summer [RUMOR]


• ASUS Padfone X finally coming to AT&T

Wins/Fails

• Kevin: LG G3 user interface overhaul / The face on Google’s self-driving car


• Chris: LG G3 camera/ LG G3 QuadHD display

App Picks

• Kevin: Haystack


• Chris: Dragon Quest VIII

Follow Us

• Joe Fedewa (@tallshmo)


• Chris Chavez (@gamercore)


• Kevin Krause (@youdontknowkev)

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Is this the front panel of the Moto X+1?

We’re supposed to be seeing Motorola’s flagship for 2014 at some point this summer, but aside from a name we haven’t had much to go on. We may have just gotten our first peek of what to expect, though, as the device’s front panel has leaked online.

The leak naturally tells us very little about the phone except for the fact that it’ll have a display, light and proximity sensors, a speaker, a microphone and a front-facing camera. And while this photo alone can’t possibly give us a hint at its size, it looks like it could clock in at a slightly bigger size than the 4.7-inch Moto X.

The casing in the photo seems to have some golden hue cast on it, though we can’t be too sure if that’s a stock color option Motorola is going with or if that’s just the product of shoddy camera work. Regardless, it doesn’t really matter much because we’re sure they’re going to give us all the options we need to craft the exact phone we want through Moto Maker.

[via Google+]

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Rumor: HTC One M8 Prime development suspended indefinitely

Phandroid

Rumor: HTC One M8 Prime development suspended indefinitely

After weeks of hearing about an “ HTC One M8 Prime” that would one-up the original HTC One M8 in the specs department, murmurings suggest that it’s time to put those rumors to rest. Twitter leakster @evleaks has reportedly heard that the HTC One M8 Prime’s development has been suspended indefinitely. There’s no reason or rhyme — it’s just done.

We hadn’t seen or heard much regarding the Prime, except one revealing press render did show off a tweaked backplate design compared to the original. We also learned that it would look to use a new composite material made out of liquid silicon and aluminum for its chassis. Finally, the specs that were initially leaked had our mouths watering quite profusely: 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 display, Snapdragon 805 chipset, 18 megapixel camera — you know, the phone we wish the HTC One M8 would have launched as.

Part of me doesn’t know whether to feel relieved or maddened. I’d feel relieved because it would make any future purchase decision that much less hard, but at the same time I’d be pretty peeved if I were waiting to see what was on the horizon only to be told that the horizon doesn’t exist.

Then again, if anyone’s purchasing decisions hinge on the strength of loose rumors I suppose it’s their own fault. Were you holding out to see what the HTC One M8 Prime had to bring to the table? If so, which phone would you go with now? Let us know in the comments section straight ahead!

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Rugged Samsung Galaxy S5 Active for AT&T now available [VIDEO]

Samsung and AT&T have once again come together to launch the rugged version of the manufacturer’s annual flagship. It’s the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, and it can be yours as early as today $200 on a new two-year contract. You’re also free to go the AT&T Next route, which will get you the device for $0 down payment for $27.50 per month (26 monthly installments with an option to upgrade after 18 months) or $35.75 per month (20 monthly installments with an option to upgrade after 12 months).

Where as Samsung tried to keep a sleek and slim profile for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and make it as stylish as any phone could look, they went all out with the rugged look and feel for this one. A nice, protector bumper around the edges protects the device from drops, and its tight design gives IP67 and military-spec 810G ratings for dustproof, waterproof and shock resistant qualities.

Samsung’s even gone full-on camo with the backplate, with screws in each of the four corners of the device to top off that “I’m a badass phone that will be hard to break” look. Specs and software wise, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is nearly identical to the original.

It still has the same 5.1-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 16 megapixel camera, and even the original’s heart rate monitor. What it doesn’t seem to have is a fingerprint scanner, so if you care about that particular feature you may want to steer clear. The device ships as soon as you order it so head to AT&T’s site if you’ve been waiting on this, and take a look at their mobile minute video above to get yourself a closer looks.

[via AT&T]

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Tomorrow only: pick up a gold HTC One M8 for only $100 on-contract [DEALS]

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Tomorrow only: pick up a gold HTC One M8 for only $100 on-contract [DEALS]

For those still on the fence about picking up one of the best smartphones currently on the market, starting tonight at midnight, you can pick up the Amber Gold version of the HTC One M8 for only $99 on-contract with free shipping.

Similar to HTC’s $100 promotion earlier this month, the offer is only good for 1 day only and only directly through HTC’s online store (linked below). Also, keep in mind this only applies to Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint models (T-Mobile still has the off-contract One M8 for $0 down).

The best part is you wont need any special promo code to nab the deal, just simply visit HTC’s online store starting tonight at 12AM (CT), choose your carrier, pick the gold One M8, and you’ll see the new price reflected in your cart. Only question left now is, who’s buying?

[Image via HTCSource]

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T-Mobile merger with Sprint inches closer with parent companies agreeing on a sale

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T-Mobile merger with Sprint inches closer with parent companies agreeing on a sale

A T-Mobile/Sprint merger is one step closer to becoming a reality after reports that Deutsche Telekom has already agreed on a sale to SoftBank. According to Reuters, Deutsche Telekom — which owns a 67% stake in T-Mobile — would be willing to keep a minority stake after selling to SoftBank, but smaller details, like an actual dollar figure, have yet to be worked out.

The biggest hurdle the two companies face isn’t so much coming to an agreement, it’s gaining regulatory approval. Deutsche Telekom has wanted out of the US market for quite sometime, while it’s clear SoftBank is looking to enter it after picking up Sprint for around $21.6 billion back in October of 2012.

But reducing the number of major US carriers from 4 to 3 is a tough pill to swallow, especially after seeing the strides T-Mobile has made in the past year or so. Of course, a lot of that had to do with the large $3 billion dollar break-up fee T-Mobile gained after their failed merger with AT&T (along with AT&T spectrum), but perhaps they have a similar backup plan this time around.

Just about everything is up in the air at the moment, so try not to get too worked up. The public outcry is sure to reach the higher uppers at the FTC, and quite honestly, we can’t imagine a US market without T-Mobile and it’s wacky CEO John Legere stirring up the pot.

[Reuters | Kyodo (Subscription)]

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Microsoft’s upcomig smartwatch rumored to play nice with Android and iOS devices

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Microsoft’s upcomig smartwatch rumored to play nice with Android and iOS devices

Pioneered by wearables like the Pebble, 2014 is looking to be the biggest year for smartwatches yet. We’ve already seen exactly how LG and Motorola are planning on tackling the market, ushering in Android Wear, Google’s latest OS built specifically with wearables in mind.

When it comes to rival OSs, we’ve heard talk (just about every year now) that Apple too is planning to jump into the ring, joined by the likes of Microsoft with a smartwatch of their own. But where previous leaks gave us a peek at what Microsoft has in mind in terms of hardware (see above patent image), it seems the house that Bill Gates built might have a killer feature most other smartwatches don’t: cross platform compatibility.

This exclusive report was brought to us by Forbes who also mentions Microsoft’s smartwatch — which will leverage tech from their Xbox Kinect division — will last a full 2-days without needing to recharge. We just found it most interesting given OEMs like Samsung, who have already failed once during their first foray into smartwatches, actually had the gall the release smartwatches exclusive to their specific line of smartphones.

We could be getting a taste of a new Microsoft, one already seeing influence from their hip CEO, Satya Nadella. During an interview at the Code Conference, Nadella mentioned Microsoft was looking ahead at life after smartphones, rather than trying to play catch up. We’re not so sure smartwatches are the answer, but offering cross-platform compatibility could be a step in a the right direction.

[Forbes | ReadWrite]

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HTC M8 Ace is official, features plastic body with a 13MP camera

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HTC M8 Ace is official, features plastic body with a 13MP camera

We’ve seen/heard enough about the HTC M8 Ace to know it was a real thing. Said to be a lower cost version of the HTC One M8, the HTC M8 Ace has finally been made official in China. The phone popped up on HTC’s Chinese site ahead of its formal June 3rd release, but it finally gives us a better idea of what to expect when it launches.

Just about everything about the phone has been revealed, down to its Snapdragon 801 processor, 13MP camera, 5MP front facing camera, stereo front facing BoomSound speakers, and compatibility with China Mobile’s 4G LTE network. Looks like HTC’s forfeited the IR blaster and aluminum construction of the One M8 for something a little more wallet friendly.

Only problem is HTC still isn’t talking pricing on this handsets. As we mentioned before, it’s like a lite version of the HTC One M8 and for some, a better option for those that don’t care about universal remote functionality or premium materials. We don’t expect to see this launch stateside anytime soon, but we’ll keep you posted.

[HTC (China) | via Engadget]

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LG G Watch running early version of Android Wear gets the hands-on treatment [VIDEO]

It’s only been a day since we saw LG unveil their latest flagship — the LG G3 — during their London launch event. Well, it looks like that’s not all they were showing, as some crafty folks from the German tech site AppDated managed to also get their hands on the upcoming LG G Watch, rumored to be shown off during this year’s Google I/O.

The smartwatch, which can be seen in their hands-on video, is still running a very early version of Android Wear (Google’s new Android software built specifically for wearables). It’s so early in fact, that an actual clock face wasn’t loaded on the device, but we do get to see how the OS behaves to some extent. Swiping from the top of the display showed some basic system information like the battery level, while a an ever present Google Now button hovered over some basic options.

Really it’s not much and while we’re not entirely sure how we feel about the 3-tone white/gold/black combo, we think the black version is better suited for our tastes.

[AppDated]

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Popular iOS app Sunrise Calendar rises and shines on Android

Phandroid

Popular iOS app Sunrise Calendar rises and shines on Android

Another iOS app has found its way in the Google Play Store. This time, Sunrise Calendar hops on over for folks on Android, giving us a calendar app that is as beautiful as it is functional. (And if you’ve ever used the Google Calendar app for any extended amount of time you’d know that’s something many folks desperately seek.)

The app fully integrates with Google Calendar and iCloud, and gives you the same set of tools and options that those stock offerings provide. It even comes with a widget that doesn’t suck — that alone should sell you on its worth, though perhaps its free price tag does a better job. No use not trying it, so be sure to grab it from Google Play right here.

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The best Android feature you’re not using: voice commands

Phandroid

The best Android feature you’re not using: voice commands

Google Now has become a central part of the Android operating system, introducing new functions and capabilities with every candy-flavored iteration. While voice commands have been core to the service since its launch, Google has done their part to continuously add new options regularly. Did we mention it’s now easier than ever to control your phone just by speaking to it? As of the latest Android KitKat update, users can jump right into Google Now simply by saying “OK, Google” at any time.

If you haven’t checked out voice commands in a while or are not acquainted with some of the newer (and very useful functions), here is a sampling of what you can do. Simply replace the text in brackets with whatever you are searching for or inquiring about and wait for Google to spit out the pertinent information.

Essential commands

• “Go to [Phandroid.com].”


• “Search for [ Samsung Galaxy S5].”


• “Open [Gmail].”


• “Take a picture.”


• “Record a video.”

Productivity

• “Remind me to [call John at 6PM].”


• “Remind me to [buy toilet paper at Target].”


• “Set an alarm for [6PM].”


• “Create a calendar event: [Happy Hour at Union on Friday at 5:00PM].”


• “Where’s my package?”


• “Note to self: [remember to buy milk].”


• “What’s the tip for [$42]?”

Communications

• “Call [George Smith].”


• “Call [Mom mobile].”


• “Text [Lee that I'm running 5 minutes late].”


• “Send email to [Rob Jackson, subject, Google Now, message, Check out these Voice Commands].”


• “Listen to voicemail.”


• “Find [Bruce’s] number.”


• “When is [Mary’s] birthday?”


• “Post to [Google+]: [Google Now is awesome].”

Media

• “Listen to: [TheDirty Projectors].”


• “Play: [The Beatles].”


• “What’s this song?”


• “Play some music.”


• “Watch [Toy Story 3].”


• “What movies are playing tonight?”


• “Where is [X-Men] playing?”


• “Show me pictures of the [Chesapeake Bay Bridge].”

Navigation and Travel

• “Navigate to [Ocean City, MD].”


• “[Biking] directions to [The Brewer’s Art].”


• “Find [the Eiffel Tower].”


• “Where is [the Empire State Building]?”


• “Where’s the nearest [ice cream shop]?”


• “Show me the menu for [Holy Frijoles].”


• “Call [Ledo's Pizza].”


• “Show me my flights.”


• “Where is my hotel?”


• “What are some attractions in [Baltimore]?”

Information

• “What time is it in [London]?”


• “Do I need an umbrella today?”


• “What’s the weather in [Cape Cod] for [the weekend]?”


• “Where was [Albert Einstein] born?”


• “How old is [Brad Pitt]?”


• “How do you say [‘hello'] in [Spanish]?”


• “What does [onomatopoeia] mean?”


• “What’s [Google’s] stock price?”


• “What is [Twitter] trading at?”


• “What’s [16 ounces] in [pounds]?”


• “What is the square root of 2209?”


• “When is sunset?”


• “Did the [Orioles] win today?”


• “How did [the San Francisco Giants] do?”

Then, of course, Google has also included some Easter Eggs. Try telling Google Now to “Do a barrel roll,” or asking “What does the fox say?” for a giggle or two. And don’t forget, many if not all of these commands should work just as well with Google Glass and Google’s web voice search, as well.

What else can you do with Google Now? Let us know your favorite voice commands, Easter Eggs, tips, and tricks in the comments below!

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OnePlus is now selling invites to buy the OnePlus One on eBay

Phandroid

OnePlus is now selling invites to buy the OnePlus One on eBay

If you were annoyed by the “antics” OnePlus has resorted to for selling their first smartphone, then you might get a kick out of their latest actions. The company has decided to sell 15 invites to buy the phone on eBay — and here we were worried that selling invites on eBay would be attempted by a few bad apples in an otherwise good bunch.

There’s a catch, though — it’s for a good cause, so I guess we can’t chastise them too much. Whichever individual wins the eBay auction for the invites will be happy to know that the money raised will go to one of four charities that forum members are voting for over at the OnePlus community:

• Water.org


• Unicef


• World Wildlife Fund


• 1% for the Planet

From there, whoever wins the 15 invites are free to do with them whatever they wish. I’m not going to get too virulent in spitting my opinion on the OnePlus One invite system debacle here, but I will say that they should be looking to put an end to this sooner than later — there’s only so long some folks will be able to hold out with attractive options like the newly-announced LG G3 around the corner. We’re still hunting down the eBay auction if you’re interested, so check back periodically for the link.

[via OnePlus]

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Best Android apps from May 2014

Previous months: March, April

April showers bring May flowers, but also new app releases. Yes, another month has gone by and summer is just about to officially kick off. There were some great new app releases and major updates in the world of Android this month. If you’ve been outside enjoying the warmer weather you may have missed a few of them. That’s where we come in. Here are the best apps to launch this month, and a few major updates that you should check out. Go forth and be download!

AllCast Reciever

AllCast is an awesome app that allows you to send almost anything to a Chromecast. In order to get this working with the Fire TV the developer made a special app called “AllCast Receiver.” This app essentially turns the Fire TV, and any other Android device, into a Chromecast. Now you can send stuff from one device to another. It’s very cool. Check it out for free or unlock the full version for $4.99.

BoltBus

Catching a bus in the modern age is not nearly as difficult as it once was. BoltBus by Greyhound is the perfect example of this. With this new app you can buy a bus ticket right from your phone. No more fiddling with crappy machines or wonky websites. The app is actually really well designed. If you use a Greyhound bus often this app will quickly become one of your favorites. It is available for free from Google Play.

Bright Weather

There is no shortage of weather apps in the Play Store. LevelUp Studio, the creators of Beautiful Widgets, have entered the ring with Bright Weather. This gorgeous new app claims to be the most “comprehensive weather app” available for Android. We don’t know if that’s true, but it certainly could be one of the prettiest. You can try it out for free in the Play Store right now.

Klout

Klout has undergone some serious changes in the past year. The service that used to be all about tracking your social importance is now more about helping you share great content. It uses the same tools from before, but now it’s using that information to suggest things you might want to share. Their brand new Android app will help you do all of this on the go. It’s available for free.

Motorola Alert

Alongside the launch of the Moto E, Motorola unveiled a new app to be your personal body-guard. Motorola Alert works by sending location-based alerts to a circle of friends/family of your choosing. This can be set to alert a parent when their child arrives safely at home, or alert a wife when her husband has left for/arrives at work. This app can come in handy during emergencies, and it won’t kill your battery in the process. You don’t need a Motorola device to download this app for free.

NomNom Finder

Food trucks are all the rage these days if you live in a big city. Instead of you going to a restaurant to eat the truck can come to where the people are. Since they move around a lot it can be hard to find your favorite truck. NonNom Finder is a new app that allows you to easily see where food trucks are on a map. It’s well designed, simple to use, and super handy when you’re in the mood for some food. It can be yours for free.

Secret

Secret, which has been an iOS exclusive for the past 4 months, is now available for Android. Secret allows you to “speak freely” by sharing your thoughts with friends while being anonymous. The idea behind Secret came about so that people could share moments, like posts, and re-share other’s posts without the need to be embarrassed. The coolest thing about Secret is that the secrets are from people you know, which makes it more fun. Download it today for free.

Slyde

One of the coolest new apps from this month is called Slyde. This app is a new way to do multitasking on your Android device. Instead of using the built-in multitasking button you simply slide a little round button over to the app you wish to open. You can add your five favorite apps to the slide out area. It’s a really quick way to switch between your often-used apps. Slyde is $0.99 from the Google Play Store.

Swarm

What do you get when you take the social aspect out of Foursquare? Swarm. This new app from Foursquare aims to make all of the social aspects of the original app easier to access. You can see when your friends are close-by, tag friends when checking-in, see a feed of what your friends have been up to, and much more. Swarm has some stiff competition in this space, such as Facebook Places, but this is a good start. Swarm is available for free.

Yahoo! News Digest

Keeping up with the news can be a difficult thing to do, especially since we all have busy lives. Many apps have tried to remedy this situation in the past, and Yahoo is the next to give it a try. News Digest sends you personalized news round-ups every morning and night. The stories are bundled with information that makes them easy to digest. News Digest is the perfect app for the casual news reader. It is available for free in the Play Store.

Big Updates

Pushbullet

Pushbullet received a massive update this month. They have added a new sliding drawer navigation, a  new sharing interface, the ability to push to all devices, easier notification mirroring, improved tablet UI, and a better widget. If you’re not using Pushbullet you really should be. Download it for free.

Tumblr

This month Tumblr got serious about profiles in their mobile app. You can now fully customize the way your personal page/profile looks. Some of the customization options include background color, cover photo, font type, font color, highlight colors, and more. If you’re a Tumblr user be sure to go in and customize your profile. You can get Tumblr for free.

Snapchat

One of the biggest updates from this month is Snapchat. This update puts the “chat” in “Snapchat.” Users can now send disposable text messages to each other ad view snaps in a conversation view. If your friend is viewing the conversation at the same time you can even do a live video call. It’s a whole new way to communicate with your friends. Snag the update for free from the Play Store.

That’s a wrap! Let us know if we missed any apps that launched in May. June should be another awesome month for new Android apps. We can’t wait!

Previous months: March, April

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Dragon Quest VIII finds itself in the Google Play Store, and it ain’t cheap

Gamers will want to give this $20 download a consideration. Yes, I said $20. That big bill will now get you one of the most beloved RPGs on your Android phone or tablet. I’m talking about Dragon Quest 8, a classic RPG from the PS2 era that is as unforgettable as anything can be.

Dragon Quest 8 follows the story of a royal family that was turned into farm animals and plant life via the spell of a court jester who was having far too much trouble for his own good. You play the protagonist — the lone guard who, for whatever reason, was unaffected by the spell — to help restore some normalcy to the kingdom.

The game features beautiful cel-shaded graphics, an epic soundtrack, and turn-based gameplay so good that it’ll make you wonder why Japanese RPGs have been on a decline in recent years. For $20 you’re getting access to the full experience as it was when it first launched on PS2, so there are no microtransactions, ads or other cash grab antics to deal with.

If ever there was a time that you complained about microtransactions and the lack of good, solid one-time purchase experiences, then this is your chance to show Square Enix and other developers that we enjoy a no-frill gaming experience for an upfront cost. Head to Google Play if you’re ballsy enough to spend the 20 bills.

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