Google Play Music spreads to 14 new European countries

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Google Play Music spreads to 14 new European countries

Google Play Music All Access is now seeding to more markets over in Europe. Google has announced the addition of 14 new countries to their growing list of areas where you can enjoy unlimited listening to over 20 million tracks for $9.99 per month. Here’s the full list if you’re interested:

• Belarus


• Bosnia-Herzegovina


• Bulgaria


• Croatia


• Cyprus


• Estonia


• Iceland


• Latvia


• Lithuania


• Macedonia


• Malta


• Romania


• Serbia


• Slovenia

So go ahead and rejoice if you’re in those countries and have been waiting for the opportunity to get your hands on one of the best deals in mobile music. You can browse Google’s entire collection of tunes here, and the accompanying Android app is right here if you decide you want in.

[via Google]

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AT&T Next 24 gives you 30 months to pay devices off + an option to upgrade after 24 months

AT&T has introduced a new option for their Next program that allows folks to buy smartphones for $0 down on monthly payment plans. It’s AT&T Next 24, and as its name suggests it’ll give you the option to go the AT&T Next route to receive an upgrade every two years instead of after 12 or 18 months.

Next 24 actually spreads payments out over the course of 30 months which makes the monthly installments for expensive smartphones considerably more easy to swallow. You have the option of upgrading your device at the 24-month point as long as you trade your device in while in good condition.

And that’s pretty much the only difference compared to the other Next plans — you still get $15 (less than 10GB data plans) or $25 (10GB or more data plans) off of your monthly access charge, you still have $0 down, and you still have a brand new phone as often as you could ask for. The plan will be available beginning November 9th.

[via AT&T]

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Google formally introduces all new Gmail 5.0, rolling out now to Android 4.0+ devices [VIDEO]

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Google formally introduces all new Gmail 5.0, rolling out now to Android 4.0+ devices [VIDEO]

After a test build leaked over the weekend, Google is now formally ready to introduce the all new Gmail 5.0 unto the world. In fact, starting today, you can find it rolling out in stages to everyone (Android 4.0+) on Google Play. Material redesign aside, the new Gmail’s claim to fame is its ability to add inboxes from Yahoo, Outlook, or any other email addresses that uses POP/IMAP.

Switching accounts is easy as pie too, with your separate inboxes appearing in the slide out navigation menu. Other than that, it’s the same Gmail you’ve been using these past few months, only with a shiny new coat of paint. To see it in action, check out Google’s new video below and for those that don’t want to wait, you can manually sideload (install) it here.

[via Gmail Blog]

Gmail (Playboard) | Gmail (Play Store)

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A year later, KitKat is now running on 30% of Android devices

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A year later, KitKat is now running on 30% of Android devices

It was almost a year ago today that the Nexus 5 officially hit the Google Play Store. With it, we saw the formal introduction of Android 4.4 KitKat and a few weeks later, the official OTA update began rolling out to Nexus devices. So, here we are nearly a year later and some of you may be wondering what’s the current state of Android KitKat?

Well, according to Google’s newly updated Android Platform Distribution numbers, more than 30% of Android active devices have now been updated to, or have come out of the box running Android 4.4. KitKat. It’s definitely not iOS numbers, but then again, Android runs on a much greater variety of hardware than Apple’s (by comparison, Android 4.4. KitKat is running on nearly all Nexus devices from the past few years).

As always, Gingerbread is still hanging on, but inching ever closer to its inevitable death with 9.8%. The 2-year old Jelly Bean still occupies the largest chunk of the pie with 50.9%. Next month, we’ll see Lollipop claims its slice of the pie, but it wont be until a few months later — once OEMs have updated their flagships to Android 5.0 — that it will make any sorta impact.

[Android Developers]

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Start the clock: HTC One M8 and M7 will receive Lollipop before February of next year

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Start the clock: HTC One M8 and M7 will receive Lollipop before February of next year

Now that Android 5.0 Lollipop is now being pushed to AOSP, HTC USA announced via Twitter that they are now in possession of that same source code. With Lollipop now officially in the hands of HTC, the clock has now been set to 90 days — that’s how long HTC promised it would take for them to begin pushing out Android 5.0 Lollipop after getting a hold of the code.

So really, this is nothing more than a reminder, but it’s fun to watch an OEM get as excited about software updates as we all are, especially when they’re as big a deal as Lollipop. We’ll still have to wait and see how HTC interprets Lollipop into their custom version of Android, but if the current version of Sense is any indication, they’ll do a great job.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop is now being pushed to AOSP

With the release of the Nexus 9 — now available online from Google Play or in Best Buy retail stores — we knew Google would likely begin pushing out Android 5.0 Lollipop to AOSP today. Sure enough, they have.

Still hitting AOSP as we type this, the source code still isn’t fully available (these things take time), but you can already find repositories for the Nexus Player (ASUS Fugu) as well as the Nexus 6, Nexus 7 WiFi, Nexus 9 and we’re sure the rest of the Nexus family not too long after.

Currently, Android 5.0 Lollipop is only being referred to as “lollipop-release” with build LRX21M under platform build, but once everything is officially updated we should see that generic name changed to android-5.0_r1. Once everything is finished, expect your favorite Android developers to dive in and begin building updated Lollipop ROMs directly from source.

[Google]

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You can now publish apps for Android TV in the Play Store

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You can now publish apps for Android TV in the Play Store

Good news for fans of the big screen: you can now publish apps to be used on Android TV right in the familiar confines of the Play Store. Google has published a guide that will help developers get their apps or games into the living room. The cool part about is the installation process will be easy for users. Simply install the apps from the Play Store on your Androd TV device.

There are some requirements in order to get your app or game to show up on the Play Store on TVs. Make sure to follow the Android TV Design Guidelines, and the TV App Quality guide to make sure your app will actually work on a television. In the Developer Console you can follow these steps to opt-in to Android TV.

1. Make sure your app meets all TV App Quality criteria


2. Add TV screenshots and banner graphic to the app’s store listing


3. In the All Applications page, click the app you want to opt-in.


4. Under Pricing and Distribution, scroll down to find Android TV and the opt-in checkbox.


5. Click the checkbox next to Distribute your app to Android TV.


6. Click Save to save your changes.

Check out this page for more information on bringing apps to Android TV. We can’t wait to see what developers come up with!

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Best Android Phones [November 2014]

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Best Android Phones [November 2014]

October is now in the rear view, and the crazy holiday shopping season is approaching quickly. As the holiday sales start popping up you’re going to want to know what Android phones are best. We’ve got you covered. Here are the best Android phones available for the month of November.

Previously: October | September | August | July | June | May | April | March | February

5.  LG G3

Moving down from the second place spot is the trusty LG G3. For the 5th spot it was a toss-up between the S5, HTC One M8, and LG G3. We gave the G3 the slight edge for its awesome display, slim bezels, and much improved Android interface. The G3 is starting to feel like old news, but you still can’t go wrong with this surprisingly good device.

4. Sony Xperia Z3

Coming in at fourth place is the very attractive Sony Xperia Z3. We love the Z3 for its premium metal design and very powerful hardware. The Z3 also sports a sneakily awesome feature: waterproof construction. It will allow you to take great photos all day with excellent battery life, and your photos will be safe if you drop it in the pool.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The brand spanking new Galaxy Note 4 became available last month, which makes it a great choice going into the holiday season. The Note 4 might be the best Note since the original. It has many of the same features that were introduced on the Galaxy S5, but with a better build quality, and updated S Pen input. The only thing holding this phablet back from second place is Touchwiz.

2. Nexus 6

Moving from the “Rumor Mill” to third place in our list is the long-rumored Nexus 6. If you were lucky enough you will be receiving your Nexus 6 in the next few weeks. This is arguably the best Nexus phone to ever be made, and it’s definitely the most powerful, but one thing held it back from the top spot: size. Not everyone will want a device this big (and it is really big).

1. Moto X (2nd Gen)

For the second straight month the Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) tops our list. With all the new devices coming out in the past month this phone has been forgotten, but we still love it. The software is nearly stock Android, you can get the hardware in any color or material you want, and it’s still one of the most nicely sized devices. Motorola made some really nice improvements over the original Moto X, which will keep this device on our list for a while.

Honorable Mentions

1. Motorola DROID Turbo – The newest device on our list didn’t make the Top 5 for one crucial reason: Verizon exclusivity. That’s a shame, because so far we really like the DROID Turbo.

2. Nexus 5 – Google’s last generation Nexus device is still high on our honorable mention list because it will be getting Android Lollipop very soon. If you don’t like the behemoth Nexus 6 this is still a great device.

3. HTC One M8 – Our beloved HTC One M8 finally dropped out of the Top 5 this month, but it’s still an excellent choice for anyone. The design and build are great, and the software is top-notch.

4. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – A dark horse in the Android world right now is this small, but very powerful, variant of the Xperia Z3. If you’re looking for something that can easily fit in your skinny jeans this is the no-compromise small phone.

5. Samsung Galaxy S5 – Another phone that dropped out of the Top 5 is the trusty Galaxy S5. We’ve been hard on the GS5 in the past, but there is no denying it is a very capable Android phone. There are better options available, but you still can’t go wrong.

Upcoming Phones

HTC Desire EYE

Coming at us very soon will be the HTC Desire EYE. This device is named for the 13MP camera on the front of the device. It’s the ultimate phone for taking selfies. Other specs include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 801, and 2400mAh battery. It’s a solid mid-range device with a nice pair of cameras. Later this month it will be available from AT&T for $149.99 with a new two-year contract.

Rumor Mill

The rumor mill has run dry this month, but there is one device that popped up in the news last month.

Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung’s “next big thing” seems to always be on the horizon. Nevermind the great devices they have for sale right now. What’s next?! That device will, of course, be the GS6. A new report claims Samsung will be designing the S6 from scratch. Samsung has been dabbling with new designs with devices like the Galaxy Alpha. The Galaxy S line is in desperate need of a new look. We hope the Galaxy S6 changes the game again.

Amazon Best Sellers

We don’t have room for every Android device to be on our list, but Amazon sure does. They are constantly ranking the best phones based on what people are buying. Here are the best sellers that we haven’t already mentioned above.

1. Amazon Fire Phone


2. Samsung Galaxy S4


3. Samsung Galaxy Note 3


4. LG G2


5. Samsung Galaxy Mega

What Say You?

Now is a very exciting time to be looking for a new Android phone. The new Nexus has been announced, the DROID is back, phablets have never been hotter, and Motorola is quietly making some of the best devices. How did we do with our rankings? How would you rank the best Android phones right now? Let us know in the comments below!

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Motorola Moto Maxx pictured in the wild, looks to be international version of the DROID Turbo

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Motorola Moto Maxx pictured in the wild, looks to be international version of the DROID Turbo

A Verizon Wireless exclusive, we got our hands on the Motorola DROID Turbo when it launched last week and have fallen in love with its 24 hour+ battery life and insane processing speeds. Of course, many (ourselves included) were heartbroken to find the phone wouldn’t be launching for any other US carriers, despite documentation showing Motorola was working on a GSM version of the phone (XT1225). But just because the US is ruled out, that doesn’t mean the rest of the globe isn’t left wide open for this beastly Android device.

After Brazilian press began receiving invites for an upcoming Motorola Moto Maxx event last week, it seems this very same phone has now been pictured in the wild. Posted on Google+, the photos clearly show the “Moto Maxx” protective covering on the display, listing off the exact same specs as found on the Verizon variant. The only difference? While this appears to the 64GB version, there’s no “DROID 64GB” tag on the back or any kind of Verizon branding at all — makes sense given only Verizon has access to the DROID branding (owned by Lucasfilm).

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there was any word on availability anywhere just yet, but don’t hold your breath if you’re hoping this model to land in the US any time soon. We’re willing to bet Verizon paid a lot of money for the exclusive on this particular smartphone here in the states. Of course, that still leaves open the rest of the world which, for the most part, operates on global GSM networks. We’ll have to wait and see which 3G/4G LTE bands this Moto Maxx supports before we can start planning for an import.

It’s not likely, but we’ll continue keeping our fingers crossed for an unlocked Motorola Moto Maxx Pure Edition sold direct from Motorola.

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Report: Galaxy S6 to be designed from scratch with an “entirely new vision”

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Report: Galaxy S6 to be designed from scratch with an “entirely new vision”

Samsung’s stagnant growth in the mobile realm these past few months might have inspired the electronics manufacturer to kick it into gear and get that innovation train rolling again. We’ve already seen a bit of their latest wacky experiments with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, though a new report out of SamMobile suggest that more is on the way.

According to them, Samsung is designing the Samsung Galaxy S6 from scratch. The South Korean company has long stayed with similar looks from phone to phone, but the report suggests they want to move forward with an “entirely new vision.”

Samsung’s already shown a desire to revamp their design language with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. It was their first phone to emphasize (not just use) metal as a key component of its design, and the company considered it the spiritual launchpad for many of their big devices going forward.

Is Samsung finally ready to bring that metal-clad goodness to their main flagship lineups? We’d imagine so, but without further information anyone’s guess is just as good. Whatever it is, we just hope it’s enough to get folks excited about Samsung phones again.

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Take a look at the slick new Google Calendar app [VIDEO]

With Nexus 9’s officially available to purchase starting today, the floodgates of Google’s updated Material redesigned apps should now be hitting the Play Store. To show the rest of the world exactly what’s coming around the bend, Google has uploaded a new Google Calendar promo video onto YouTube only a few minutes ago.

It’s not totally unheard of, but it’s nice seeing Google take the time to show off one of their apps, especially when it looks as good as this. The promo shows off the new Calendar’s new interface which integrates with Gmail to add calendar events “automagically.” Again, it looks absolutely gorgeous and while it’s only available for the Nexus 9 as of now (the only currently available Lollipop device), expect a rollout to Android 4.1+ devices in the coming weeks.

Google Calendar (Playboard) | Google Calendar (Play Store)

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Google shows off their slick new Calendar app in a fun promo video

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Google shows off their slick new Calendar app in a fun promo video

With Nexus 9’s officially available to purchase starting today, the floodgates of Google’s updated Material redesigned apps should now be hitting the Play Store. To show the rest of the world exactly what’s coming around the bend, Google has uploaded a new Google Calendar promo video onto YouTube only a few minutes ago.

It’s not totally undheard of, but it’s nice seeing Google take the time to show off one of their apps, especially when it looks as good as this. The promo shows off the new Calendar’s new interface which integrates with Gmail to add calendar events “automagically.” Again, it looks absolutely gorgeous and while it’s only available for the Nexus 9 as of now (the only currently available Lollipop device), expect a rollout to Android 4.1+ devices in the coming weeks.

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AT&T gets LG G Watch R and Moto 360 ($50 off with Moto X purchase) starting November 5th

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AT&T gets LG G Watch R and Moto 360 ($50 off with Moto X purchase) starting November 5th

More announcements are storming in from AT&T this morning. The company has announced that they are planning to sell two of the first circular Android Wear smart watches beginning November 5th. The first is the LG G Watch R, a sporty-looking round watch with a 1.3-inch OLED display.

The LG G Watch R’s watch face is built out of a metal material which should give it quite the nice look as it sits on your wrist.It boasts 4GB of internal storage and also has a built-in heart rate sensor for all you health-conscious folks. $299 is AT&T’s asking price for that one.

The other watch is the Moto 360 we’ve all come to know and love. Motorola has been selling this thing via retail and online for quite some time, but there is some incentive to get it via AT&T if you’re also in the market for a new Moto X — they’ll knock $50 off its original $250 price tag.

 

This particular watch started the wave of the rounded goodness with its metal frame, 1.4 inch display, 4GB of internal storage and TI OMAP battery. It features wireless charging and a built-in heart rate sensor, and its latest update allows folks to squeeze a healthy amount of juice out of its 320mAh battery. The device will be available starting Friday, November 7th online and via AT&T stores. Let us know if you’re planning to grab either of these hot items in time for the holiday season.

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Buying a Nexus 9? Best Buy has same-day pickup available right now!

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Buying a Nexus 9? Best Buy has same-day pickup available right now!

Earlier today we told you guys about availability of the Nexus 9 over at Google Play. You can order one right now and have it shipped within 1-2 business days. But if you would rather have the device sooner then you’re in luck — Best Buy has them in stock right now, and you can get free same-day pickup in-store.

There is one small catch, and that is that the device is only available in Indigo Black. That said, if you didn’t have your heart set on Lunar White then you can get the 16GB or 32GB models right now. Head to BestBuy.com to get your order in and wait for that sweet, sweet email letting you know it’s ready to be picked up.

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AT&T to carry the HTC Desire Eye and HTC RE starting November 7th

AT&T has officially announced that they will be carrying the HTC Desire Eye and HTC RE camera starting November 7th. They claim to be the exclusive carrier of these devices, though it’s not yet clear if that’s on a temporary basis.

The HTC Desire Eye turned heads by being one of the few mainstream smartphones that treated the front-facing camera as an equal citizen rather than a secondary afterthought. The front-facing camera shares the same 13 megapixel image capture as the rear sensor, and also comes with its own set of LED flashes.

Other specs for the Desire Eye include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset, a 2400mAh battery, 16GB of internal storage and more. Pricing sits at $149.99 on a new two-year contract or $549 outright, which figures out to be $22.92 or $27.50 per month on AT&T Next 18 and Next 12, respectively.

Also headed to AT&T store shelves that day is the HTC RE, a handheld camera that can be mounted to headgear, bikes and other fun things to capture those hardcore activities you carry out every week. The RE camera is a 16 megapixel shooter that automatically backs up images and footage to the cloud. Video and images you shoot can easily be pulled into HTC’s new Zoe app that will allow you to combine everything into an awesome highlight reel. It’s also IPX7 water resistant for use underwater (one meter up to 30 minutes) without a case).

AT&T is offering $50 off the HTC RE for anyone who buys it alongside the Desire Eye on AT&T Next or on a two-year contract. That’d bring the price down to $150 from its original $200. Let us know if you’ll be looking to take advantage once Ma Bell loads their store shelves with these products later this week.

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[Update] Samsung Galaxy Note Edge officially heads to US November 14th

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[Update] Samsung Galaxy Note Edge officially heads to US November 14th

Samsung has just announced that the Galaxy Note Edge will officially be launching in the United States beginning on November 14th. The company didn’t give any specifics as to who would be launching it that date, but we do know all four major United States carriers are planning to offer it at some point.

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge isn’t quite that dissimilar to the Note 4 (which you can read about in our review). It houses many of the same specs under the hood, including a Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 16 megapixel camera and more. The difference is in the form factor and display — this thing folds over to the side and gives you an independent strip of viewing notifications, quick controls and more. It’s a really unique feature, though time will tell if it’s less of a game changer and more of a gimmick.

We’ll be tracking down information on individual carrier plans for launching the device in the moments to come, but let us know if you’re planning on giving what Samsung considers an “exploratory” release a shot once it’s finally available.

[Update]: AT&T has officially announced plans to have the device in-store on November 7th at select retail locations. The device will only be available for demo purposes, though, so you won’t be able to walk out of the store with one that day.

If everything goes according to plan, though, they should be one of the potential few carriers offering the device on the November 14th release date set by Samsung (especially since they’re bragging about how they were the first to offer the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in that very same press release).

AT&T has announced that the device will cost an insane $399 with a two-year contract, $945.99 without a contract or $39.42 and $47.30 per month on AT&T Next 18 and Next 12, respectively.

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Nexus 9 orders begin shipping for pre-orderers, and new customers can order one starting today

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Nexus 9 orders begin shipping for pre-orderers, and new customers can order one starting today

Check your calendars, folks — it’s November 3rd! That means today is the day Google is set to ship out all those Nexus 9 pre-orders they received late last month. Your email should be loaded with shipping information and your doorstep will soon be loaded with the 9-inch pure Android tablet.

For those who didn’t get a chance to pre-order? Well, Google has more units in stock right now. You can order a 16GB ($399) or 32GB ($479) WiFi-only model today (in black or white, but not tan) and have it leave the warehouse within two business days. Unfortunately the LTE model is still unavailable so if you were planning to order that one then you’ll have to wait a while longer.

The Nexus 9 is the biggest tablet Google has launched since the Samsung-made Nexus 10. Its 8.9-inch display boasts a 2048 x 1536 resolution and is actually situated in the 4:3 aspect ratio. That’s somewhat atypical for a non-Apple tablet these days, but it shouldn’t be much of an issue to get used to.

Under the hood is NVIDIA’s 64-bit Tegra K1 chipset clocked at 2.3GHz, an 8 megapixel camera, a 6,700mAh battery and more. It’ll be the first device to run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box so you’ll have immediate access to all the goodness that comes with. Let us know if you’re expecting a shipment to arrive today, and if not then let us know if you’ll be ordering a Nexus 9 in the near future!

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Moto X 2014 with football leather back coming just in time for NFL Thanksgiving games

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Moto X 2014 with football leather back coming just in time for NFL Thanksgiving games

 

Besides running a slightly modified version of stock Android, arguably one of the better features of the Moto X is customization. Customers can visit Motorola’s MotoMaker site and choose from a variety of colorful back covers or opt for something a bit more unique and go with a wood or leather option – I chose cognac leather for mine. Well football fans, it looks like Motorola will be bringing you an additional customization choice in the near future.

Coming the third week of November, football fans will be able to purchase a Moto X with a leather back that looks and feels like a traditional football. There’s no word on carrier exclusivity, however our tipster only provided us with information for Verizon’s variant as shown below. There’s also no word on pricing, but if it’s anything like the current leather options, you should expect to fork over an additional $25 your footballified Moto X.

 

While this special leather back might allow for a better grip on your Moto X, I wouldn’t recommend tossing your phone around with your friends and family this Thanksgiving. Well, that’s it for now. If we get any more information, we’ll update this post accordingly.

 

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Android Wallpaper: Fun With Patterns

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Android Wallpaper: Fun With Patterns

Last Saturday we did Lollipop wallpapers.

The Saturday before that it was Fall wallpapers.

The Saturday before that is was coffee wallpapers.

Today is Saturday. Are you sensing a pattern? Good, because the wallpapers this week are all about patterns. A pattern can be made out of literally anything, as you will see in the wallpapers we’ve posted. I’ve always been a fan of repeating patterns for wallpapers. I’m not sure what it is that I like so much, but I find they are often the perfect back-drop for icons.

If you are also a fan of patterns you can snag these 6 HD wallpapers below. To get one of these wallpapers on your phone, tablet, or even PC, simply tap or click on the image to see it at full resolution. Then long press or right-click to save the image. Let us know which one is your favorite, and be sure to share a screenshot if you use one of these wallpapers! Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Push new Android Wallpaper to your Android device with our Pushbullet channel.

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