Brazilian court reverses yet another WhatsApp ban

Access to WhatsApp has been reinstated in Brazil just 24 hours after Judge Marcel Montalvão ordered the country’s five largest cellular service providers to block the messaging service.

Yesterday’s court order to ban the app stemmed from a disagreement over whether WhatsApp could (or would) decrypt and hand over chat records allegedly related to a drug investigation.

The Facebook-owned messaging app has more than 100 million users in Brazil and reaches over 75 percent of the country’s mobile subscribers, Reuters reports. In a statement posted on Facebook yesterday, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum said the company was working quickly to get its services back online but that “we have no intention of compromising the security of our billion users around the world.”

The temporary ban was actually Brazil’s second attempt to block the service in the past six months. In December, Judge Montalvão ordered the service be shut down for 48 hours, but the ban lasted only 12 hours before it was overturned. In March, the Brazilian authorities attempted to force Facebook and WhatsApp to relinquish user data by arresting Facebook’s Latin America VP Diego Dzodan. Dzodan was released a day later, when a judge declared the arrest was “unlawful coercion.”

After today’s reversal, Koum writes: “We’re humbled by the great support of people across Brazil, and appreciate your patience as the legal process unfolded. … The last thing we want is to see WhatsApp blocked again.”

TIME Names iPhone Most Influential Gadget of All Time

TIME Magazine today published a list ranking the 50 most influential gadgets of all time, from cameras and TVs to music players, smartphones, and drones.

Unsurprisingly, Apple’s iPhone was ranked as the number one most influential device on TIME’s list, because it “fundamentally changed our relationship to computing and information,” popularized mobile apps, and influenced the future of smartphone design.

Apple was the first company to put a truly powerful computer in the pockets of millions when it launched the iPhone in 2007. Smartphones had technically existed for years, but none came together as accessibly and beautifully as the iPhone.

Apple’s device ushered in a new era of flat, touchscreen phones with buttons that appeared on screen as you needed them, replacing the chunkier phones with slide-out keyboards and static buttons.

Apple’s Macintosh also ranked high on the list, coming in as the number three most influential gadget for setting the standard for “the way human beings interact with computers.” The iPod, the precursor to the iPhone and the device that inspired Apple’s line of mobile products, was listed as the ninth most influential gadget.

The only other Apple products to make the list are the iPad and the iBook. On the list for being “radically different” than the tablets that came before it, the iPad is ranked at number 25, while the iBook, the first laptop to offer wireless networking, is ranked at number 38.

The product’s reveal was a classic example of Steve Jobs’ showmanship at its best. While loading a webpage and showing off the computer’s display at 1999’s MacWorld conference, the Apple co-founder lifted the computer off its table and walked across the stage. The crowd roared in approval. In a gesture, he showed that Wi-Fi was here to stay.

Other smartphones that made the list include the Motorola Droid, credited with popularizing Android, the BlackBerry 6210, and the candy bar-shaped Nokia 3210, the first phone with an internal antenna and built-in games.

The full list, which includes products like Google Glass, Fitbit, Amazon Kindle, Oculus Rift, the Sony Walkman, and more, is available from the TIME website.

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Immortal Fantasy: Close to reaching full potential (Review)

Overview

This is Immortal Fantasy, where you take on the role of different types of characters while using cards and a dice. You’ll travel the land to discover weapons, potions and armor while taking on various enemies. You must choose which gods you will follow to help you in your quest to become immortal.

Developer: F.B.apps

Price: Free

Gameplay

Create your character.

There are a lot of ins and outs to this game, so I’m only gonna give a brief overview of how to play. First, you pick your character by choosing either one of the pre-made characters, or you can create your own. You have three races to choose from: Human, Dwarf, and Elf. You may also choose from a few different classes, as well as hairstyle, skin color, and sex.  

Play begins when you pick a spot on the map to explore. Once you’re inside, you go tile by tile and uncover various loot and enemies. Each card has an assigned value that tells you how strong that card is. If it’s a loot card, simply tap it to add it to your cards if you are under your allowed card space. If not, pass by it. If you uncover an enemy, you fight it by activating weapon cards and spells or other various cards. Then, the dice gets rolled and, if you roll higher than your opponent’s card value, you win.

There are 3 islands you must beat to win the game and lots of areas inside each island you must pass through. In between each section of the map, you have a chance to level up certain attributes, buy extra cards, and train your character to make it stronger.

Review

Story mode.

While playing the game I didn’t really feel challenged at first. It didn’t seem I could lose, even when I tried. During the first island in the game, I had to use no weapon cards to lose. Once I moved to the second island, it became really hard to win. It can be quite boring and people could potentially quit while playing the first island because of the lack of challenge there. There needs to be a balancing out in that area. Also, the developer needs to encourage buying cards to make yourself more powerful so, when you make it to the second island, you stand a chance.

Conclusion

There is a ton of potential in this game. The idea is awesome and unique. Unfortunately, the graphics are what hold this game back. This game includes a rolling dice that took me a while to realize because I couldn’t see it there. To me, it feels more like graphics from an older PS2 game. In order to compete with the market of games that include cards and characters similar to this, perhaps it would be better to take a more cartoonish approach. I am not sure if it’s within the budget of the developer to hire someone else, but that might be my first recommendation.

Despite the graphics and balance, I did enjoy the concept and very much hope improvements are made. I admire the fact that this is a free app with no ads and no in-app purchases: it’s 100% free. I’m not sure if they intend to later add any of this, but for the time being, it’s free.

Download and install Immortal Fantasy from the Play Store.

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Roundup: Spigen’s case lineup for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Here at AndroidGuys, we love phone accessories. Cases are the most popular type of phone accessory; everyone seems to have one. Today we’re going to be taking a look at the product lineup from one of the biggest brands in the world, Spigen. It was gracious enough to send over some of its Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge cases, so let’s get to it!

Rugged Armor

The Rugged Armor is my favorite case on the market right now. How Spigen was able to design a product that is both this lightweight and strong is beyond me. While it does add just the smallest amount of bulk to the sides, it’s an acceptable tradeoff for the protection it provides. Does my phone feel as sexy as it did before I put this case on? No, but it does feel protected and pocketable.

The rear of the case combines a nice large cut-out for the camera with a carbon fiber design near the top and bottom to give it just a bit of fashion sense. All of the ports have equally big cutouts for ease of use. The one thing I wish Spigen could have done with the Rugged Armor was metalized buttons like in the Neo Hybrid. I understand why the couldn’t, but it’s the only thing missing from an otherwise fantastic case.

You can pick up the Rugged Armor pretty much anywhere. I prefer Amazon for the cheaper price and Prime shipping, but you can also grab it at Best Buy, eBay, Mobilefun, Walmart and Spigen’s website.

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Thin Fit

The Thin Fit case is, as you may have guessed, Spigen’s thinnest case on the market. It focuses more on preventing those scratches and scrapes, rather than drop protection. The case is so thin it just snaps on, and you’d be forgiven if you forgot you had a case on at all if you rock the Thin Fit.

Spigen opted to skip covering up the buttons. While I do appreciate being able to use Samsung’s excellent buttons on the Galaxy S7 Edge, there is a bit of a gap in protection because of it. I don’t forsee too many problems because of it, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.

On the corners of the case, where the split comes together, it can be a bit sharp and I’ve caught the edge a few times. It’s more annoying than painful, but annoying nonetheless. Overall, though, the Thin Fit is a high-quality case. It protects from scratches pretty well and adds some grip on the sides without interfering with edge functions.

You can grab it at Amazon, eBay, Mobilefun, and Spigen’s website.

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Tough Armor

Holy crap. The Tough Armor makes my Galaxy S7 Edge feel like a Galaxy S7 Edge Active. This thing seriously protects the phone from drops and falls. Due to the curved edge, there isn’t that much you can do about falls that directly impact the face or sides, but Spigen has everywhere else covered with “Air Cushion Technology”.

There’s a kickstand on the back that lets you easily watch media in landscape and wide cut-outs so the speaker or microphone isn’t covered up. The sides of the case are wide enough to cover the volume and power buttons with nothing sticking out. Spigen decided to cover them up with a smooth case that makes them a bit hard to find. There are notches in the case to indicate where they are, but they’re very easy to gloss over.

With the Galaxy S7’s onboard water resistance and cases like this, there’s no reason to get a Galaxy S7 Active if one ever comes out.

Grab one today at Amazon, Best Buy, eBay, Mobilefun, and Spigen’s website.

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Neo Hybrid

The Neo Hybrid has always seemed like Spigen’s flagship product because it combines an excellent mix of aesthetics, protection, and price. The two-piece case has a hard bumper and soft inner case to cradle your phone in case of falls. Spigen added a top and bottom lip to the case to protect the screen, but it might be a little too big. It got in my way occasionally.

I love the two-tone design of my review unit. My Neo Hybrid has gold sides and a black back that look excellent. The cross pattern on the back also increases grip while feeling pretty cool. I definitely find no fault with the aesthetics or added grip. The phone still feels easy to handle and get in and out of jeans pockets while in the case, and except for the bigger chin, doesn’t interfere at all with functionality.

Pick up a Spigen Neo Hybrid at Amazon, Best Buy, eBay, Mobilefun, Walmart or Spigen’s website.

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Win one of these Captain America Civil War watch faces from Android Central!

Our Captain America Civil War themes may have decked out your phone in superhero awesomeness, but what about your wrist? Well, we’ve got 60 codes to put some #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan on your Android Wear watch. Tha PHLASH has has graciously given us 20 codes for his superhero watch faces:

• AMERICA ($1.99): It’s star-spangled awesome! Bonus: the night mode takes Cap’s shield from First Avenger to a cybernetic Winter Soldier.
• IRON ($1.99): We all want an Arc Reactor, don’t we? Now you can wear one on your wrist. Just don’t think it’ll give your watch repulsor-firing abilities.
• CIVIL ($1.99): Feeling torn between both sides? Not a problem with the CIVIL watch face, which is split between Cap’s shield and Iron Man’s Arc Reactor.

To enter the contest, head over to our theming forum and reply to this forums thread with the name of the watch face you want to win: IRON, AMERICA, or CIVIL.

LG G3 Marshmallow update now available from T-Mobile

T-Mobile has finally begun pushing out the Marshmallow update for the LG G3. We’ve already seen the other major U.S. carriers push the update out, so it’s great to see T-Mobile join that party. The update brings a number of big changes to the phone, such as Doze, enhanced permission controls and more.

T-Mobile’s change log doesn’t note much beyond that the update brings some Wi-Fi calling enhancements along with Marshmallow. You should be able to grab the update over-the-air now. If you aren’t seeing the update notification, head into your Settings, About Phone and finally check for the update. Be sure to let us know how the update works out for you!

The Sims FreePlay takes a relaxing trip to the spa in latest update

The Sims FreePlay fans can now take a relaxing trip to the spa thanks to the latest update to the mobile game. In the Spa Day update, you’ll be able to take your Sims on a tranquil retreat with massages, meditation and much more.

Here’s a quick rundown on just some of the activities your Sim can take part in with the Spa Day update:

• Create a sanctuary with everything you need to soothe your Sims’ senses
• Wrap up in comfy robes and awaken the mind with healing facials
• Enjoy relaxing massages and elbow out those back knots!
• Invigorate the soul with meditation, or sit by the water finding inner peace
• Treat yourself with manicure and pedicure stations
• Get steamy at the sauna or relax in the hot springs

You can grab the latest update to The Sims FreePlay on Google play now. And be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

RBC makes it easier than ever to send money with free e-transfers for personal accounts

The Royal Bank of Canada has announced unlimited free Interac e-Transfer payments on all personal accounts. RBC also recently rolled out newly designed mobile apps for both iOS and Android, making it easier than ever to send money.

The latest version of respective apps allows those who hold accounts with the bank to access their payment and gift cards at point of sale. Both apps also support instant Interac e-transfer payments between accounts. Grab the RBC Mobile app from the Play Store.

Press Release

TORONTO, May 3, 2016 — Whether splitting the bill, paying the babysitter, or reimbursing a sibling for that awesome Mother’s Day gift, Canadians are increasingly using person-to-person payments as part of their daily spending. As a market leader in payment innovation, RBC is making it easier and more cost effective for clients to send money by offering unlimited free Interac e-Transfer payments on all personal chequing accounts.

“Offering free e-Transfers supports our commitment to helping our clients seamlessly and quickly send money how they want and when they want,” said Linda Mantia, executive vice-president, Digital, Payments and Cards at RBC. “As clients embrace new technologies and increase their use of mobile we are always looking for ways to provide them with added value and convenience. Taking this leadership role in person-to-person payments will allow us to continue to build client loyalty and maintain strong client relationships.”

This decision supports new statistics from Interac that show that the Interac e-Transfer service is growing at 50 per cent per year.

“RBC clearly recognizes the changing nature of payments and that clients are demanding and embracing digital payment options as part of their core banking services,” said Mark O’Connell, president and CEO of Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. “Clients want to be able to easily and securely pay and exchange money using funds in their bank accounts and our payment solutions, like Interac e-Transfer, help financial institutions meet this need.”

Canada is an innovator and a world leader in person-to-person payment technology and infrastructure. Close to 100 per cent of consumers who bank online with financial institutions have access to sending or receiving Interac e-Transfer payments.

“RBC’s investment in mobile has really accelerated the adoption of person-to-person payments and in 2015 RBC clients sent more than $22 billion in payments between our two person-to-person payment services – far surpassing many incumbents and new entrants in the fintech space,” said Mantia. “Today, more than 50 per cent of RBC e-Transfers are sent using a mobile device, which was less than 20 per cent just a couple of years ago. It’s not a surprise our clients love RBC person-to-person payments as they are simple, instant and now they are free.”

RBC, as a market leader in payment innovation, has a strong history of investing in person-to-person payments and mobile technology.

• In 2001, RBC introduced a free RBC client to RBC client payment service.
• In 2003, RBC introduced Interac e-Transfer payments.
• RBC was one of the first financial institutions in Canada to offer Interac e-Transfer Bulk Disbursement, tailored to enable businesses to send payments to multiple recipients at once.
• In 2013, RBC announced its RBC Secure Cloud mobile payments service. The technology, a first in Canada, keeps sensitive customer data secure with RBC in the cloud, not on the phone, making this a safer, faster, more flexible solution.
• In 2014, RBC was the first Canadian financial institution to provide clients with the choice of using debit or credit for their mobile payments.

RBC recently rolled out a newly designed RBC Mobile app and RBC Wallet on Android and iPhone. The RBC Wallet on Android gives users convenient access to their payment and gift cards at the point of sale. For iPhone users, the new RBC Wallet provides clients with secure and easy access to their gift cards in one convenient location. Both mobile platforms support seamless, instant Interac e-Transfer payments between customers.

The magical Onewheel electric skateboard now has an Android app and we rode the hell out of it [video]

The future is here and there is an Android app to go with it!

To go along with their amazing electric board, Future Motion – the creators of the Onewheel – released an Android app, which gives you the ability to monitor various aspects of your Onewheel and even lets you customize the way it feels when you ride it.

What is the Onewheel?

The Onewheel is best described as an electric skateboard. It looks similar to a skateboard except for one “tiny” difference: the large wheel in the center of the whole board. Sure, it may not look conventional, but that one large wheel has a 2-horsepower motor and gyroscope inside that controls everything.

How does it work?

You control the board much like you would a snowboard, by leaning in the direction you want to go. If you lean forward slightly, you will engage the motor and start moving forward; if you lean back slightly, you will slow down and stop. When you want to turn, you simply lean in the direction you would like to go.

Turning takes a while to perfect and, when riding the Onewheel, it’s actually best to not think about how you are going to turn. Much like riding a bike, it’s much easier to just look where you want to go, and you will find that the Onewheel will accurately respond to how your body moves and soon you will be turning with very little thought!

Android Central rides the Onewheel and survives!

Taren took the Onewheel to the streets, sidewalks, and skateparks to see if he could master the way of the wheel. Will he come out intact? Click on the video below to see the full video review of the Onewheel.

Onewheel app

The Onewheel app is the perfect companion for any Onewheel rider who wants to get the most out of their board. It’s the best way to keep track of how your board is performing and even lets you customize certain settings via Bluetooth. Upon launching your the app for the first time, make sure your Onewheel is turned on, then simply tap the “connect now” button. It will scan and find your Onewheel and in seconds you will be connected and ready to go.

Controlling the lights

The Onewheel has a line of LEDs on the front and back edge of the board. Sort of like headlights and tail lights, the lights will be white on the front – A.K.A the direction in which it’s travelling – and red on the back. Of course, since the direction the Onewheel travels is based on the way you’re leaning, the lights will simply change to the appropriate color when you start leaning the other direction.

These lights can be super handy if you are riding your Onewheel in low-light situations, but if you find yourself not needing them the Onewheel app will let you turn them off and on at your leisure. By tapping the light icon in the top right corner of your screen you can toggle the lights on and off.

Digital Shaping

Probably the coolest thing that the Onewheel app can do is digital shaping, which changes the way your Onewheel handles. There are three different modes for you to try:

• Classic: The original Onewheel ride, classic mode is the slowest of the all the riding styles, which makes it much easier to turn. This is the standard feeling ride that is great for all-around riding and is especially useful for Onewheel newbies.

• Elevated: Elevates the nose of the Onewheel allowing the board to have an easier time going up hills or over bumps. The acceleration and speed are increased in this mode which will make turning a little more difficult, but if you find yourself on uneven terrain this could offer you a smoother ride.

• Extreme: The mode for the most experienced riders, this offers you a no-holds-barred type of ride. The speed and acceleration are both kicked up, giving you the ability to go much faster without having to lean forward nearly as much. As a heads-up, this mode is for experienced riders and the app will even give you a warning when you enter extreme mode that it’s best to proceed with caution.

Settings menu

The settings menu inside the Onewheel app is where all the more in-depth details are found. Here, you can see a plethora of information relating to your board – everything from how fast you are going to what the current motor temperature is – which makes it convenient to see how smoothly or, heaven forbid, unsmoothly your board is performing. Here are a few of the more important details you can find in the settings menu:

• Trip odometer
• Speed
• Battery percentage
• Motor temperature

Keep in mind the speed will only show up when your Onewheel is moving, so if you really want to know how fast you are going, you will need to be checking your phone while you are riding. It may be a recipe for disaster, but seeing just how fast you can get the Onewheel to go is an adventure all on its own.

The bottom line

You don’t need the Onewheel app for your board to function and may never use the app during your whole riding career. For a new Onewheel owner, the app will probably best serve you as a way to know the remaining battery life. After all, if you plan to do a lot of commuting on your Onewheel, knowing how much battery power you have left is invaluable information.

That being said, the Onewheel app is extremely handy for experienced riders who want to customize their riding experience and know how their board is performing at all times. The different riding modes offer a unique-feeling ride that could be a great change of pace for the more frequent riders who want to take the Onewheel off the beaten trail.

Purchase your Onewheel today

You can purchase your very own Onewheel for $1,499 directly from the Onewheel site.

See at Onewheel

The Connect tab is Twitter’s latest way to help you find interesting people to follow

Twitter is only engaging if you follow people that actually interest you, and the company is looking to make finding those people easier with its latest feature. Now available on iOS and Android, Twitter’s new Connect tab will serve up recommendations on who to follow based on what you like, who you already follow and much more.

Find the best people to follow. With the new Connect tab, there’s no place like home: https://t.co/gWTtAmgizw pic.twitter.com/mu8pXlKPF0

— Twitter (@twitter) May 3, 2016

The new Connect tab acts as a sort of replacement for the current “Find People” section. Once there, you’ll find recommendations based on a number of factors. From Twitter:

To give you the best recommendations — which we’ll continue to refine over time — we look at who you already follow, Tweets you like, popular accounts in your local area, what’s happening in the world right now, and more. We’ll also let you know exactly why we’re showing you each recommendation.

The Connect tab is now rolling out to everyone across both Android and iOS, so you should see it soon. Once enabled, the Twitter app will prompt you with an introduction explaining how to use it.

Have you seen the new Connect tab yet? Let us know if you think it’s an improvement over the previous “Find Friends” screen in the comments below.