Android Authority this week – November 8, 2015
Android fans, this week brought us a very interesting report on how Google tries to fight Android fragmentation by standardizing components. Contradictory rumors about the camera of the upcoming Galaxy S7 surfaced. Meanwhile, Samsung’s future in the mobile industry came into question, following one prominent analyst’s prediction. Huawei teased the upcoming Mate 8 and launched the Kirin 950 processor. Google released updates for its productivity apps and tweaked the terms of the Android One program. Finally, Motorola launched the Turbo Edition of the Moto G, and more rumors surfaced about the Xiaomi Mi 5.
Inside AA HQ
As we’re getting closer to the holidays, there’s a distinct slowdown in the world of Android. The biggest devices of the season are already familiar; the Marshmallow update cycle is yet to start; and next year’s crop of flagship is still several months away. Hopefully, we’ll still get some exciting new devices by the end of the year, with the Xiaomi Mi 5 and Huawei Mate 8 standing out. And, considering what we’ve been hearing about Google’s plans for next year, there’s always a chance that some juicy leaks will give us what to talk about.
Things are pretty quiet around AA HQ too, but we still had a few standout posts this week: namely, make sure to check Nirave’s very special throwback hands-on, Krystal’s reviews of the new Droids, and Gary’s blockbuster report on the top SoCs of the moment.
This week, the prize in our weekly giveaway is a Nexus 5X! Good luck, everybody!
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The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Droid Maxx 2 review: how good is Motorola’s latest big battery phone?
- Review: Droid Turbo 2: shatterproof screen, but what else is worth knowing about this phone?
- Hands-on: Hands-on with the Nokia 3410, 13 years later
- Feature: Now that we take Huawei seriously, what’s next for the Chinese giant?
- Tech talk: Check out Gary’s super showdown between the top SoCs of the moment
- Comparison: Nexus 6P vs iPhone 6S Plus: the best of Android vs the best of iOS
- Review: The One A9 looks beautiful, but is it worth the money?
Top news of the week
Google is getting into chip making
Samsung’s future
- Samsung CEO: “If we resist changes, then we won’t survive”
- Why an analyst thinks Samsung will stop making smartphones in 5 years, and why I disagree.
Galaxy S7 camera rumors
Huawei news
- Huawei Mate 8 teased for Nov 26 unveiling
- Kirin 950 announced: What you need to know
- Huawei G7 Plus official: 5.5-inch 1080p and 13MP camera
Google apps updates
- Inbox by Gmail will read your emails and type out replies for you
- Google Drive update makes sharing files much more convenient
- Latest Google Play Services further simplifies the sign-in experience
Changes to Android One
Xiaomi Mi5 launch date rumored
Moto G gets a Turbo Edition
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Google will give you up to $12 in Play Store credit if you have Chromecast dongles attached to your account
Google has yet again begun giving out $6 in free Play Store credit for each Chromecast and Android TV associated with a user’s account. In other words, if you bought a new Chromecast and a Chromecast Audio dongle, Google could be giving you up to $12 in free Play Store credit.
This promotion not only applies to the Chromecast, but Android TV’s as well. It doesn’t have to be a specific Android TV, it seems. Whether you get a SHIELD TV, Forge TV or Nexus Player, they all seem to be eligible for that $6 in credit.
An important point to note is that, at least as far as the Chromecasts go, $12 in credit seems to be the maximum you can get. Having more than two Chromecast devices isn’t going to net you another $6 in credit. We’re not sure if this same rule applies to the Android TV’s or not.
Google’s promotion is available in the United States, though we’re not sure if it applies to other markets as well. If you’ve got a Chromecast or Android TV attached to your account, you can head over the Chromecast Offers page to begin redeeming your rewards. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use the Cast extension on the Chrome browser to detect the Chromecast and Android TV hardware on your network.
What are you waiting for? Go redeem that free Google money!
source: Google
via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Google will give you up to $12 in Play Store credit if you have Chromecast dongles attached to your account
New fantasy game ‘StormBorn: War of Legends’ now in Play Store
Developer JuiceBox Games enters the fantasy game genre with their new title StormBorn: War of Legends now available in the Google Play Store. StormBorn combines elements of both action-based and strategy-based role-playing games as players build an army led by their StormBorn heroes to defend the Kingdom of Eraine.
Players start out constructing a base and go on to assemble a collection of 60 heroes, all with different abilities and strengths. From there, players lead their armies onto the battlefield against other players from around the world. Win, and you not only achieve some measure of fame, but you get the loot and can start upgrading your army by obtaining creatures like trolls or dragons.
The game is available in the Play Store for free, but does include in-app purchases. Hit the download link below if you want to give StormBorn: War of Legends a try.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: New fantasy game ‘StormBorn: War of Legends’ now in Play Store
Inhabitat’s Week in Green: Obama’s Keystone XL pipeline veto
The world’s oceans contain an immense amount of energy — and this week two pioneering projects sought to unlock it. First Australia announced the world’s first wave energy microgrid, and then Scotland gave the green light to construct the largest floating wind farm on the planet. Germany is betting big on clean energy: The nation just announced that it’s on track to produce 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources this year. Meanwhile, Sweden is moving ahead with plans to become the world’s first fossil fuel-free nation by the year 2050, and President Obama officially vetoed the Keystone XL pipeline ahead of the Paris climate change conference.
Translogic 187: Virtue Pedalist
The Virtue Pedalist aims to combine the best of the bike and trike world to create the ultimate green commuter. With the e-assist of an electric bike, the stability of a tricycle, the storage of a cargo bike, and the aerodynamic enclosure of a velomobile, the Virtue Pedalist offers a little bit of everything.The Virtue Pedalist aims to combine the best of the bike and trike world to create the ultimate green commuter. With the e-assist of an electric bike, the stability of a tricycle, the storage of a cargo bike, and the aerodynamic enclosure of a velomobile, the Virtue Pedalist offers a little bit of everything.
25 Colorful HD wallpapers to light up your display
Our mobile device displays just keep getting better and better. What better way to show off that 2k Super AMOLED display than with a super colorful wallpaper. We’ve curated a selection of 25 wallpapers for you to put up on your device background. Enjoy!
If you see a wallpaper that belongs to you and you would like to receive credit, I would love to give it to you! Just drop a comment in the section provided below with some proof (You know, just so we don’t have people claiming things that are not theirs…) So, please choose those that you like and enjoy!
The post 25 Colorful HD wallpapers to light up your display appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC is delaying HTC One A9 orders in the US
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We kinda like the HTC One A9 – despite the heated discussions around its appearance, we do like that it comes out of the box with Android Marshmallow and is a generally well-made device. What we don’t like is that HTC has been stuffing around with the US release of the device – and that’s coming from an Australian. There was the whole ordeal of the device being offered at a lower price to start with, and now HTC has been sending emails around to pre-order customers, saying that HTC One A9 orders in the US have been delayed – and if you’re a Verizon customer hoping to get your hands on the HTC One A9, look away now. Here’s the email:
Thank you for ordering the HTC One A9. It’s the phone that gets all the important elements right-including UH OH Protection, and 6 months Google Play Music. When you buy the HTC One A9 from HTC.com, you get more value and greater level of freedom with a special SIM unlocked edition that comes with unique benefits. Your order of the Carbon Grey HTC One A9 will begin shipping on 11/10/2015 based on shipping method.
It’s taking a little longer than expected to get you your Carbon Grey HTC One A9. To make up for it, HTC would like to give you 25% off of accessories to protect and personalize your new phone.
FOR VERIZON CUSTOMERS:
The HTC One A9 is the first CDMA-less device to support both voice and data services over LTE, providing individuals with the flexibility to use the same device on multiple carrier networks. To ensure the best experience for our customers on the Verizon network, we are conducting more extensive testing and certification. As a result, Verizon compatibility on the HTC One A9 won’t be available in December as originally expected. We are working with Verizon to make it available as soon as possible.
If you want to change your order, please contact HTC customer support.
The tl;dr version is that if you ordered a HTC One A9 in Carbon Grey, your shipment has been delayed till the 10th of November. Additionally, if you’re waiting for the Verizon variant of the HTC One A9, the email seems to suggest that the device is now in limbo with the only assurance on release date being “we are working with Verizon to make it available as soon as possible”. All-in-all, a bit of a setback for some, and for others, possibly a deal-breaker.
Let us know your thoughts about the delays to HTC One A9 orders in the US.
Source: Android Police
The post HTC is delaying HTC One A9 orders in the US appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Dongle ‘fixes’ your PC’s security by killing your USB port
We’ve seen some questionable crowdfunding campaigns in our time, but this one might take the cake. A Russian outfit is raising money for USB Killer, a $99 dongle that thwarts data thieves by… electrocuting your USB port. Yes, you’re paying money to damage your computer. There’s even a disclaimer that this could wreck your motherboard, turning the whole PC into a paperweight. It’s supposed to help in case of “emergencies” like break-ins, but something tells us that you’d have a lot more to worry about with someone so close to physically raiding your data.
Via: Hack A Day
Source: Indiegogo
Watch a jetpack pilot fly past the Statue of Liberty for the first time
Forget taking a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty… how about visiting with a couple of jet engines strapped to your back? JetPack Aviation chief David Mayman did just that: the entrepreneur is the first person to fly around New York City’s signature statue in a “controlled and sustained” way with a jetpack. He wasn’t exactly brushing past Lady Liberty’s nose, as you’ll see in the video below, but it’s still a noteworthy feat. Is this ultimately a publicity stunt meant to draw attention to the company’s upcoming, mainstream-oriented JB-9 jetpack? You bet. However, there’s no denying that this is also a childhood wish come true. It’s not often that you can soar above the tourists and still get a good look at one of the US’ best-known monuments.
Via: Entrepreneur
Source: JetPack Aviation
Nexus 5X International Giveaway!
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday.
A big congratulations to last week’s winner of the OnePlus X Giveaway : Jordan P. (Canada).
This week we are giving away the brand new Nexus 5X
Starting at $379, the Nexus 5X is now available for sale in the US Google Play store. LG’s third Nexus device, the 5X offers solid specs, a promising camera, and the Nexus Imprint fingerprint sensor, combined with pure Android and a fast updates guarantee. For more info, check out our Nexus 5X review, best Nexus 5X cases, Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P as well as our complete Nexus 5X coverage.
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Nexus 5X International Giveaway!
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More Giveaways:
- JayBird X2 Bluetooth Earbuds giveaway at SoundGuys.com
- Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet giveaway at TabTimes.com
Winners Gallery
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Terms & Conditions
- The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
- If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
- We are not responsible for lost shipments.
- You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
- We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
- Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
- We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
- This giveaway is operated by Android Authority.
- The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
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