NVIDIA pulls Marshmallow update for the SHIELD Tablet due to Wi-Fi issues
Yesterday, we reported that NVIDIA had just started rolling out the long-awaited Marshmallow update to its SHIELD Tablets located in Europe and North America. However, the manufacturer has now pulled the upgrade owing to the presence of a major bug which renders the device somewhat useless by severing all ties to the Internet when using a Wi-Fi connection.
Please be aware that this error is only present on the original SHIELD Tablet that launched back in July 2014 and not the SHIELD Tablet K1 — so if you’re lucky enough to own the latter, you can navigate into Settings, followed by About Devices and Check for Updates to manually pull the OTA from NVIDIA’s servers if you haven’t been prompted to do so already.
Unfortunately, the American consumer technology giant failed to provide any details with regards to when it will reinitiate the update for the original SHIELD, but I can only hope that it’s soon as I personally cannot wait to take advantage of the new Adoptable Storage feature.
Source: NVIDIA
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SoundCloud gets new stations feature for finding new music
SoundCloud has big plans in store for 2016. The company is reportedly interested in creating an audio-streaming service. With SoundCloud’s latest update, it appears that the they’re already getting users ready.
SoundCloud’s new stations feature along with its newly added continuous play tool let users listen to new songs in a mix. SoundCloud will learn from the music you listen to and put together a suggested station. Users can enter this mode by clicking on the menu icon in the top right corner of the app and selecting the ‘start track station’ option. Just like any other song, you’ll be able to see the name of the song being played, the artist, as well as some other information about the track. You can also view your history by visiting your profile. We have seen other companies take similar approaches with their own streaming services.
SoundCloud is hoping that this new feature lets users discover new music that they’ve never heard before. This may be SoundCloud prepping for an audio-streaming service, which is expected to come out in 2016. The update containing this new feature is available today in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. What do you think of this new feature? Is it a hint of what’s to come? Let us know in the comments.
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February security patches make way to the BlackBerry Priv
Last month we were shocked at how fast the BlackBerry Priv got its security patch update. This month, the update began hitting units in half the time.
So far, BlackBerry has been really on top of things when it comes to updates. Just yesterday, Google published the factory images for February’s monthly security patch updates. Only hours later, BlackBerry rolled out theirs. Security is one of BlackBerry’s highlighting focuses with its transition to Android, and it doesn’t want to depress users about delayed updates either.
The update includes this month’s security patches, which will hopefully keep Priv units out of harm’s way until March. All unlocked Priv units should receive the update within the next few days. Carrier variants are expected to get it sometime next week. If you don’t get the notification right away, be patient. You can try going into settings under ‘About Phone’ and then ‘check for new software updates.’ Let’s hope BlackBerry continues pushing timely updates in the future.
Source: BlackBerry
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Video Review: The Nodus Shell for iPhone 6s Features a Magnetic Mounting System
The Nodus Shell case for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus comes from UK company Nodus and is featured in our latest video review. Made from Italian leather and available in black, brown, or yellow, the Nodus Shell has a design that’s similar to Apple’s own leather iPhone cases with cutouts for the volume and power buttons and openings at the top and bottom to leave ports and speakers available.
What’s unique about the Nodus Shell is the magnetic plate that’s built into the interior, allowing it to be mounted anywhere using small but powerful magnets called Micro Docks. Using adhesive, a Micro Dock can be positioned on a wall, in a car, or at the edge of a desk, allowing an iPhone to be docked in multiple places.
We found the magnets to be strong enough to hold the iPhone in place and one of our favorite aspects was the Nodus Shell’s ability to also work with other magnet-based systems. According to Nodus, there’s also magnetic shielding included in the case to protect the iPhone from magnetic damage.
The Nodus Shell can be purchased from the Nodus website for GBP49.99 or $72.11, with free shipping to the United States available.
Note: Nodus provided a Nodus Shell to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
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First Details on iPhone 7 Design: Flush Rear Camera, No Antenna Bands Across the Back
Apple’s iPhone 7 isn’t expected to launch until the usual September timeframe, but we’re starting to get our first hints of what we might be able to expect for the new device. According to a source who has provided reliable information in the past, the iPhone 7 body will appear very similar to the design used for the iPhone 6 and 6s, with two significant exceptions.
The first involves the rear camera, which protrudes slightly on the iPhone 6 and 6s. On the iPhone 7, the camera is said to sit flush with the rear casing, enabled by a thinner camera module. Recent rumors have indicated Apple is considering equipping the iPhone 7 Plus with a dual-lens rear camera, but the smaller iPhone 7 is expected to include a more traditional camera.
Mockup of iPhone 7 case showing flush rear camera and no antenna bands across rear
The other significant change with the body of the iPhone 7 is the removal of antenna bands across the rear, allowing for a cleaner all-metal look on the back. Antenna bands at the sides and around the top and bottom edges are said to remain, however.
Our source has been unable to confirm whether the device as a whole will be thinner than the iPhone 6 and 6s, although any thickness reductions would be expected to be slight, and many users (particularly those who use their devices without cases) will likely find the flush rear camera to be a significant improvement even if other dimensions remain the same.
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Apple’s smaller iPhone and new iPad tipped for March 15th event
The iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 rumors are piling up, and it looks like we won’t have to wait long to get the official details. Both BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski and 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman, both of whom have solid track records when it comes to rumors, report that Apple’s next event will take place on March 15th. The agenda for the soiree is said to include that long-rumored 4-inch iPhone and the new iPad Air that we got a look at yesterday. What’s more, an Apple Watch software update should be discussed at the event alongside a collection of new bands. We’ll know soon if the date is solid, as the official invites should be out sometime this month.
Source: BuzzFeed News, 9to5Mac
NASA’s first SLS launch will send cubesats into deep space
NASA announced on Tuesday that the first mission for its new Space Launch System in 2018, dubbed Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), will send more than a dozen mini-satellites as well as an unmanned Orion spacecraft into deep space.
The cubesats will test a number of design and technology ideas that will help researchers better understand the rigors of deep space travel ahead of NASA’s planned missions to Mars. The satellites will perform a variety of tasks. The Skyfire cubesat from Lockheed Martin, for example, will gather vital data about the makeup of the lunar surface while the BioSentinel cubesat will use yeast monitor the long-term effects of deep space radiation on organisms and the CuSP “space weather station” will measure particles and magnetic fields in space to see if a network of such stations is practical. The unmanned Orion spacecraft will be sent into a stable orbit around the moon to show that it can be safely operated in tandem with the SLS. If the launch is successful, NASA can move on to crewed flights.
Source: NASA
Microsoft formally recalls Surface Pro power cords
Microsoft said it would recall Surface Pro power cords to head off potential fire risks, and it’s following through on that promise. The Redmond crew has officially recalled about 2.25 million AC power cables for Surface Pro tablets sold before March 15th, 2015. If you own a Surface Pro 3 or earlier, you’re likely due for a free replacement. There haven’t been many reports of these cables catching fire (56, to be exact), but it’s safe to say that you don’t want to take a chance if you can avoid it.
Via: Reuters
Are you on the fastest LTE network in the U.S.?
If data is king, data speeds are the Galactic Emperor. Following the analogy, weak or patchy network connections are the thermal exhaust port through which an upstart young Rebel pilot could successfully fire two proton torpedoes, leading to a chain reaction that could blow up the entire U.S….carrier…system. OK, I may have gotten a little carried away there, but suffice to say LTE speeds are critical. A new report has revealed the fastest LTE network in the U.S.: are you on it?
OpenSignal has posted its most recent State of Mobile Networks: USA report, covering Q4, 2015, and the results are a little mixed. On the positive side, U.S. LTE networks get an A grade for coverage, ranking among the most extensive in the world. But when the report turns to the speed of those networks, things take a turn for the worse, with OpenSignal claiming the “U.S. finds itself falling short”.
See also: What is LTE? Everything you need to know
The fastest LTE network in the U.S. is…
So which carrier has the fastest LTE network? T-Mobile, by a hair’s breadth, defeating Verizon at 4G download speeds by less than a third of a MB/sec. T-Mobile scored download speeds of 12.26 MB/sec compared to Verizon’s 11.98 MB/sec. When we switch to 3G download speeds, T-Mobile is way ahead, with 3.48 MB/sec compared to Verizon’s paltry 0.66 MB/sec (AT&T took second spot with 2.22 MB/sec).
But Verizon still comes out on top in terms of coverage. Verizon has the best LTE coverage in the U.S., with Big Red customers assured of a 4G connection 86.73% of the time. In second place (but trending downwards from previous months) AT&T customers were guaranteed a solid connection 82.63% of the time, while T-Mobile was right behind at 81.23%.
Even the fastest 4G network speed in the U.S. – T-Mobile’s 12.26 MB/sec – is below the global average.
While these figures may sound pretty good to you, the coverage percentage is the only number that’s worth getting excited about. The problem with U.S. carrier data speeds is that they average out at just 9.9 MB/sec, well and truly below the international average of 13.5 MB/sec. Even the fastest 4G network speed in the U.S. – T-Mobile’s 12.26 MB/sec – is below the global average.
OpenSignal takes this as an opportunity to call out American carriers, claiming the U.S. is “no longer pushing mobile technology boundaries like it used to”, putting the industry in the same league as Argentina, a country that only rolled out its first LTE network a year ago.
Are you happy with your LTE data speeds? Would you have picked T-Mobile as the fastest?
15 best free Android games
We all know that free Android games aren’t always free these days, but many of them are very close if you have a little patience. Most Freemium bottlenecks occur when players get impatient and waiting the game out can usually get around those pitfalls. What we have here are the best free Android games that you should be able to play comfortably without engaging in in-app purchases and we hope you enjoy the!
- If you were looking for the best free games with no in-app purchases, check these out!
- And here are the best paid games with no in-app purchases!
Asphalt 8: Airborne
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
When it comes to racing games without an up-front price tag, Gameloft has a real winner with Asphalt 8: Airborne. It’s a full-fledged racing game with a ton of cars to unlock, a ton of tracks to race on, and various online multiplayer modes that allow you to challenge friends, strangers, and have even more fun. There are in-app purchases, but unless you want something game breaking, you can get along just fine without any of them. The game has decent graphics, good controls, and tons of active players so online multiplayer is actually useful.
Call of Champions
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Call of Champions is a mobile MOBA where you and two teammates face off against another team of three to see who can destroy the other’s base first. Each game has a time limit of five minutes which makes games quick to complete and the only thing you have the option of spending money on is additional characters if you want them. It’s a lot of fun and works very well. If you’re interested in MOBAs and Call of Champions isn’t cutting it for you, we also quite enjoyed Vainglory which is also free to play.
Clash of Clans
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Clash of Clans is well-known around the world and putting it on this list seems to be a throwaway. However, Clash of Clans is unique as its one of the few Freemium games that actively gives you the game’s in-game currency so you can spend gems without having to buy them. What really makes Clash of Clans enjoyable is the ridiculous number of active players and it shouldn’t take long to get into the game and find a clan of people you can play with. It’s a slower game, so prepare to wait for stuff, but it has remained a consistently good experience in the Freemium space which is rare.
Eternity Warriors 4
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Eternity Warriors 4 is an action RPG where you hack and slash your way to glory. You can choose between four heroes, each with their own set of stats and skills. The entire game is free so you can make it to the end with a little grinding and a little luck with additional equipment and items being for sale as in-app purchases. There are also PvP battles and guilds that you can join to add a bit of a social element to the game. The developers have done a decent job at adding events into the game to keep it fresh as well.
Fallout Shelter
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Fallout Shelter made huge waves in 2015 and remains one of the best games released that year. In Fallout Shelter, you must build a shelter, take in survivors (called Dwellers), and create a thriving ecosystem. You’ll have obstacles such as fires, raids by AI bad guys, and the like but otherwise it’s a pretty standard builder simulation game. The in-app purchases take almost a blatant backseat in this title and the developers have been good (so far) on releasing new and updated content.
Cut the Rope: Magic
[Price: Free with in-app purchase]
It’s safe to say that Cut the Rope has eclipsed Angry Birds as the must-have time wasting puzzle game on mobile. The series has evolved in a positive fashion and Cut the Rope: Magic is the latest iteration. The core mechanics involve you solving puzzles in unique ways to help Om Nom the monster eat the candy. There are a ton of levels, power ups, transformations, and tactics that will be required and you can complete each level without the use of in-app purchases. It will just take some time because this game does rely on an energy system.
Madden NFL Mobile
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Madden NFL Mobile is one of the precious few sports games on mobile that is competent enough to actually be enjoyable. In this title, you’ll actually get to play football games instead of some weird simulation styles like we’ve seen in the past and that’s a good sign. There are also various modes that allow you to do other things and it adds up to a metric ton of content to enjoy. The in-app purchases are a tad harsh but like most titles, you can wait it out if you so choose.
Modern Combat 5: Blackout
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Modern Combat 5: Blackout has run the gamut when it comes to pay styles. It started out a paid game, the transitioned to paid with in-app purchases, and is not free with in-app purchases. The developers have made a lot of changes since the game first came out and now it’s among the best free-to-play first person shooters available anywhere. There is a campaign mode and an online multiplayer mode that provides a ton of content that should keep gamers busy for a while. You can also choose between one of six classes and customize your controls to fit your style. It’s not perfect and the road to this point left a lot of people upset, but there is a lot of game here and you can get through pretty much all of it for free.
See also: 15 best Android games of 2016
Pocket Mortys
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Pocket Mortys was released in 2016 and is one of the hotter hit games of the year so far. It’s based around the Adult Swim cartoon series Rick and Morty and the game play is a parody of the popular Pokemon series. You’ll play as Rick and you must collect and train various types of Mortys in order to play through the story and find out what’s going on. The game is full of the show’s style of quirkiness and the mechanics work well. Some have lamented the game’s length, but it’s a fun way to spend a week and you can beat it without using in-app purchases.
Smash Hit
[Price: Free / $1.99]
Smash Hit has been around for a while but it remains one of the most solid infinite runner experiences available. The graphics are pretty decent and you play from a first-person perspective. Your job is to throw balls at obstacles in your path with the balls also doubling as your life total. The entire game is free to play without advertising and you can’t buy power ups. The one purchase you can make unlocks things like saving your game and access to game stats, but you can play through entirely without that stuff if you don’t mind a challenge.
Sky Force 2014
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Sky Force 2014 is, obviously, another older title with some serious staying power. This one is a top-down sky shooter where you must take down bad guys, avoid enemy bullets, and upgrade your ship to survive more onslaughts. Each level has a variety of objectives for replay value and ship upgrades are generally pretty quick to complete. It looks pretty good and the mechanics are simple enough to understand. It also comes with leaderboards so you can compare scores with friends.
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes is a relatively newer game but one of the few that successfully cashed in on the Star Wars: The Force Awakens hype train. This is a “monster collector” game where you must collect your favorite Star Wars characters and then battle them in various situations. The game is almost entirely multiplayer which can be a drag for those who like campaign modes, but the game features a ton of Star Wars characters to collect and train and you can mix and match them as you choose.
Summoners War
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Summoner’s War is a monster collecting game where your goal is to collect and train monsters, level them up, fuse them, and more to create a team of fighting champions. It’s one of the smoother games we’ve played and getting around is quite easy once you learn how. Where Summoner’s War differs from most other creature collection is how much free stuff the developers give you. It’s almost a constant torrent of gems, scrolls, and what have you. There is the classic Freemium “wall” where the game gets much more difficult, but a little patience should help you get over it.
The Sims FreePlay
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
The Sims FreePlay is one of the few really good simulation games that is free to play on mobile. It is a Sims game and you’ll have no doubt of that when you start playing and immediately recognize the familiar graphics. This game allows you to create houses, build Sims, and live out their lives as you see fit. There is a ton of content to enjoy and there is also a social mechanic that lets you engage with other people. It also includes quests to keep things interesting and the developers have done a decent job of updating the game to keep things current.
UNKILLED
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
UNKILLED is likely one of the most underrated games of 2015. This is a zombie shooter where your job is to accept missions and then dive into the various scenarios and slaughter all of the zombies. There are over 300 missions and many of them include boss fights. You’ll also find over 50 weapons, some of the best mobile graphics we’ve seen so far, and there are some online multiplayer aspects to the game as well. It comes from the same developers who did Dead Trigger 2 (Madfinger Games) which was a mainstay on previous versions of this very list for years.
Related best app lists:
- Here are the best tablet games for those rocking an Android tablet
- Emulators cost money, but ROMs are usually free. Here are the best Android emulators!
If we missed any of the best free Android games, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.
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