Roundup: Verus’ case lineup for the Nexus 6P

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, Verus. It was gracious enough to send over some of its Nexus 6P cases, so let’s get to it!

High Pro Shield

The High Pro Shield lineup is currently the only case offered by Verus (or VRS Design as its also known) for the Nexus 6P. This is unfortunate because Verus has several great lineups for other phones. We recently looked at its lineup for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and I was impressed by every case they sent over.

The High Pro Shield is a dual layer case featuring a hard bumper and a soft inside case to cradle the phone. The back features what Verus called its “hair line”. It’s a truly fantastic design of horizontal lines that not only look aesthetically pleasing but feel wonderful to touch as well. I often find myself unconsciously running my fingers along the back of the phone.

The bumpers on the side of the case provide a splash of color. The three cases Verus sent over for us to look at shine gold, crimson red and electric blue. You can also choose from satin silver or steel silver which look great in press photos. Hopefully, they are as impressive as the three I have sitting in front of me.

I’m really happy with cutouts in the case. You should have no issue with a wider USB type-C cable or an angled headphone jack connecting securely. The bezels of the Nexus 6P are almost entirely covered by the High Pro Shield case. While this is great from a protection standpoint, it does make the bezels feel even bigger. Some have complained in the past about the Nexus 6P’s huge bezels so if you find this to be an issue for you, make sure you check out pictures before you pick up this case. Despite this, I’ve never had an issue with swiping from either side of the screen.

The power and volume buttons aren’t quite in Spigen’s metalized button territory, but they are good nonetheless. They’re clicky and responsive while standing out from the case. When you run your finger up the side of the case, there will be no mistaking where the buttons are. They are also black in color which provides a nice contrast against the color splash of the hard frame.

One discrepancy I find between the case and the press photos comes near the camera. While the lens itself isn’t covered up,  it does cover up more of the ring around it than the pictures would appear. I’ve taken some pictures with the case on the phone and noticed no issues, but it does look a little weird. I don’t know how much you’re going to be staring at your camera sensor so take this criticism lightly.

Overall, I’m in love with this case and it’s going to stay on my phone long after the review period. The color splash is just enough to add personality without being gaudy. It’s slim and sleek with a cool hair line pattern on the back and provides excellent drop protection. Verus has put out a case to rival anyone else in the space. Hopefully, we see it expand more of its lines to the Nexus 6P in the future.

If you’d like to pick up the Verus High Pro Shield case for the Nexus 6P, you can pick one up at Amazon, eBay, or Verus’ website.

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Your S7 Edge needs a case like this UAG Composite case [review]

I’m not a fan of cases. Like, big time. It irks me everytime my eye catches an otherwise sexy smartphone covered up in cheap plastic. So it’s quite peculiar when I have a headline that praises phone case.

The thing is, if you’ve handled a Galaxy S7 Edge, then you know that Samsung’s beautiful design comes with a major drawback – fragility. You have to baby this thing like no other, and it almost ruins the experience. The phone almost wants to slip away and let gravity claim it. This was just the case for one of our own, Derrick Miyao, when his naked S7 Edge crept out of his pocket.

I’ve had my own bad experience with the glass, and wrote about how a large crack/scratch developed on the back and hairline scratches on and around the Home button.

Despite my fondness for Samsung’s design, I’ve questioned if it was worth it. Enter the UAG Composite case:

UAG gives this phone what it’s missing, but also maintains style. As a case-hater, it’s interesting that there’s something about UAG’s design that keeps me coming back. Let’s check it out.

Design

UAG’s case designs are industrial, and I dig it. Sure, you can argue that it kills the S7’s elegant vibe; I won’t disagree. But I find it just as attractive, just in a different way.

Despite being a rugged case, the S7 Edge is allowed to shine through. You can still see the phone’s silver sheen on the transparent “Ice” model that I have. The back is lined with these cool-looking, protruded members that extend from the corners/sides and meet up at the center. Then within each resulting pocket lies a faux screw, purely to push that industrial aesthetic.

The perimeter is made up of a substantial, matte black plastic. The material is thick and tough, but has a little flexibility to allow you to get your phone installed (and absorb impact, I imagine).

On the front, the case follows the S7 Edge’s contour to allow for the edges to be accessible and also to provide an effective lip on the top and bottom.

When you look at the ports on the bottom, you’ll see how substantial the protection is. UAG says that the case meets military drop-test standards (MIL-STD-810G).

Usability

Frankly, the UAG Composite case makes the S7 Edge usable. Three issues with the S7 Edge are: 1) The glass back is super slippery, 2) You barely have any grip on the sides, and 3) It’s easy to make accidental screen touches on the edges (especially when you’re reaching over to the other side of the screen). This UAG case fixes all of those problems.

It gives you a whole lot more material to grip onto on the sides. It’s even ridged for a more secure hold. The extra material also pushes your finger away from the sensitive edges. I’ve had no problem reaching to the other end of the screen.

Sure, it makes the phone thicker all-around, but it’s not that bad for a “rugged” case. The S7 Edge is compact for a 5.5″ phone, so to me, it could be worse. I am also slightly bothered that the phone no longer smoothly slips in and out of my pocket, but this kind of thing is very minor when you think about what you’re gaining.

Final Thoughts

UAG’s styling may not be for everyone, but in my opinion, the Composite case is a standout. The design is a fantastic balance between robustness and slimness, with a touch of flair. And concerning the S7 Edge’s ergonomic annoyances, I can say that this case kinda saved the phone for me. I don’t desire to take it off, which says a lot.

UAG Composite Case product page

Pick a side with our Captain America: Civil War Wallpaper Wednesday

Don’t let your home screen fall into a rut — switch out your wallpaper!

You don’t have to pull out a complex new theme like Deadpool or our shiny new Civil War themes to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, and launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire home screen around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we’re compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.

If you’ve got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We’re always looking for something new. Now get your wallpaper picker ready and see what’s in store this week.

Hawkeye by Arian-Noveir

Everyone thinks that all there is to Hawkeye is sharp eyes and a borderline unnatural talent with a bow, but that’s not true. Like Widow, Hawkeye is a master of deception, subterfuge, and all kinds of combat. As both spy and sniper, Hawkeye has been trained to blend in, to make you look him over so he can shoot your eye out. This wallpaper pays tribute to that chameleonic trait of the purple archer. It also pays tribute to the classic mask that we’ll probably never see in the MCU. At least I get it in the cartoons….

Hawkeye by Arian-Noveir

Scarlet Witch by xxiiCoko

Scarlet Witch may not be quite the mutant we know and love from the comics, but I’m happy she’s sticking around in the MCU, especially now that her hubby Vision has a body. Vision and Scarlet Witch are on opposite sides of the war, but I’m hopeful that they can come together before the war’s over.

Scarlet Witch by xxiiCoko

Vision

Speaking of Vision, can we all just take a moment and cheer that Paul Bettany finally gets to really act on screen in a Marvel movie instead of just being a disembodied voice? Yeah, his debut was in Age of Ultron, but he didn’t show up till Act Three and he didn’t get to do much besides lift Thor’s hammer and smash some Ultrons in Sokovia.

Vision

The Winter Soldier by ColnChen

Bucky has been through the wringer. While there’s a lot of wallpapers out there that can catch the brutality and badassery of the Winter Soldier, few capture the broken soul within. This wallpaper, this frame, these eyes… They try your soul just thinking of what those eyes have seen, and what they’ve been forced to forget.

The Winter Soldier by ColnChen

War Machine by burtthefly

James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes is one of Tony’s closest friends, but if the trailers for Civil War are any indication, Rhodey may not be long for this world. Pour one out for War Machine and the man inside who tried to keep Iron Man on the right path.

War Machine by burtthefly

Samsung Pay adds support for 39 additional U.S. banks

Samsung Pay, the digital payment system that’s available on a number of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, has added support for 39 more banks.

The new additions were added to the list on the official Samsung Pay website:

• Achieva
• Alcoa Tenn Federal Credit Union
• American Heritage Federal Credit Union
• Bangor Savings Bank
• Bridgewater Savings
• CSE Federal Credit Union
• Christian Community Credit Union
• Chrome Federal Credit Union
• Community First Credit Union
• Cornerstone National Bank
• Corning Credit Union
• Desert Schools Federal Credit Union
• Financial Partners Credit Union
• 1st Financial Federal Credit Union
• First South Financial
• General Electric Credit Union
• Gorham Savings Bank
• Great Lakes Credit Union
• Hastings City Bank
• Haven Savings Bank
• Heritage Family Credit Union
• INOVA Federal Credit Union
• Keesler Federal Credit Union
• Kern Federal Credit Union
• Los Angeles Federal Credit Union
• Montgomery County EFCU
• Mutual Security Credit Union
• Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
• Pacific Marine Credit Union
• Point Loma Credit Union
• Point West Credit Union
• PrimeTrust Financial Federal Credit Union
• Provident Credit Union
• SEFCU
• St. Landry Bank & Trust Company
• Summit Community Bank
• Truity Credit Union
• University Federal Credit Union
• Vantage Credit Union

Samsung Pay currently is supported by over 170 U.S. banks, and will expand to a number of countries later in 2016.

Hulu will offer live TV streaming in 2017, CEO confirms

Hulu has now confirmed plans to launch a live TV streaming service in 2017. As reported by TechCrunch, CEO Mike Hopkins announced the plans at the Hulu Upfront event in New York, confirming an earlier report that claimed the company was mulling a cable-like streaming service that would feature live sports, cable networks and more.

“This means our viewers will be able to enjoy live sports, news and events all in real-time without a traditional cable or satellite subscription,” said Hopkins. “We’re going to fuse the best of linear television and on-demand in a deeply personalized experience optimized for the contemporary, always-connected television fan.”

While Hopkins stated the service is due for a launch sometime in 2017, the CEO was mum on pricing. However, rumblings have named an estimated figure of around $40 per month. Hopkins says that we should expect to hear more about the service throughout the rest of 2016.

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand review

Samsung’s Qi chargers haven’t had the best designs, but this one gets it right.

Last year’s Galaxy S6 and Note 5 brought along with them new faster wireless charging tech, but that also required a charging pad that was able to output enough power to make it all happen. Samsung’s only fast wireless charging pad was a pretty solid improvement over the previous standard-speed model, but we weren’t surprised when Samsung rolled out a new model with the launch of the Galaxy S7.

This new “stand” style fast wireless charger has a new look, and definitely takes up a little more room, but has a few advantages over what was previously your only fast wireless charging choice. Here’s a look at Samsung’s Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand.

If you’ve used or even seen Samsung’s previous iteration of the fast wireless charger, you’ll be well on your way to knowing what this new stand-up version is like. Samsung took the same basic design and shape of the old version and tilted it upwards to about a 65-degree angle with a round base below. The base serves as a sturdy platform, though it isn’t quite as sleek as you’d expect considering how thick the rest of the charging pad portion still is. At the very bottom there’s a tiny shelf for your phone to sit on, coated in some rubber to help fight slippage.

Best of all, you won’t be blinded by the charging LED anymore.

The charging surface is just a tad larger than last year’s — with a bit more sticky rubber to go along with it — and ditches the clear plastic ring around the edge, which is a bonus. The LED status indicator at the base of the charger is another area where this design is an improvement over the last model, as it isn’t nearly as bright or spread out. The small LED is bright enough to indicate when it’s charging (blue) or fully charged (green), without being too bright and annoying in a dark room.

Just like the last generation you’ll notice slotted openings in the back of the charger, which are paired up with a very slow spinning fan to dissipate extra heat generated with fast wireless charging. You can’t hear the fan and if you never turned the charger around you wouldn’t ever notice the difference from other fully enclosed Qi chargers.

Samsung includes a Fast Charge wall plug and USB cable with the charger, which is the same plug included with your Galaxy S6, S7 or Note 5. Samsung recommends that you use the included charging plug or the one that came with your phone, as it can’t guarantee charging speeds or safety with any other charger. (And remember, even with all of this “Fast” branding plastered everywhere, a standard Qi phone will just charge at its normal rate on this pad.)

Samsung seems to position the charger as being designed to hold your phone vertically to charge, though a pretty good portion of a larger phone — like the Galaxy Note 5 or Nexus 6 — sticks out above the charger and is susceptible to tipping over if the table it’s on is bumped. To keep things sturdier, you can place the phone on its side, where it still charges just fine and is much more stable.

This design dramatically improves your chances of properly aligning your phone.

Though the stand-up style of charger takes up a bit more room, it sure makes getting your phone positioned properly on the charger a lot easier. Whereas the flat models are quite easy to misalign a phone on, there’s no mistaking where your phone will go here — just place it on the shelf at the bottom, and you’re going to be covered. It’s something that other charger manufacturers have figured out, and it’s good to see Samsung take a swing at the style as well.

Combine the easier positioning with the subtle improvements in the charging status LED, while also keeping the same fast wireless charging tech inside, and this is quite easily the best wireless charger that Samsung has ever made. And while it doesn’t offer as many benefits to someone who won’t be charging up a modern Galaxy phone, it is definitely a better choice than last year’s flat model if you do have one of Samsung’s latest phones.

Where to buy

Samsung’s Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand has a retail price of $69.99, but has already taken discounts down to the realm of $50 — which is really the price that better reflects what it’s worth. You can pick one up at the retailers below.

See at Amazon
See at Samsung

BlackBerry pushes new Marshmallow beta build for T-Mobile Priv

BlackBerry is now pushing out a fresh Marshmallow beta update for the Priv, though, this time around they are being a bit more specific about who exactly will be receiving it.

For this release, T-Mobile customers whose Priv is of the STV100-1 variant and signed up for the beta should see the update notification. Additionally, those on Canadian carriers or in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region with STV100-3 variants of the Priv are also eligible for this release.

Left off the list for this round are the ShopBlackBerry, and Amazon purchased Priv’s, as well as AT&T, Verizon and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) varients. To help keep track of which variants have received what builds in beta form, check out the list.

Google I/O 2016 app makes its way to Google Play for all your planning needs

If you’ll be attending Google I/O this year you will want to grab the Google I/O 2016 app from Google Play now. If you aren’t attending in person, there are still a number of features you can take advantage of from within the app. Google has been great about live streaming various sessions from the event for developers who are unable to make it out to California, and this app will just enhance the overall experience.

Some of the additional features of the app include:

• Explore the conference agenda, with details on themes, topics and speakers
• Add events to a personalized schedule
• Get reminders before events in your schedule start
• Watch the keynote and sessions live stream
• Sync your schedule between all of your devices and the I/O website
• Guide yourself using the vector-based conference map
• Follow public social I/O related conversations
• See I/O content from previous years in the Videos

For those who will be at the event, the app will also let you take advantage of facilitated pre-event Wi-Fi configuration. You can grab the Google I/O 2016 app from Google Play now.

Watch Google’s self-driving car go rogue in this Grand Theft Auto parody

Google’s self-driving cars are far from the most intimidating vehicles on the road. That is, until you introduce one to the wild world of Grand Theft Auto V.

YouTuber “pizzaforbreakfast” has created a parody clip of sorts (via Kotaku), showing off what would happen if Google’s futuristic self-driving cars were controlled by the notoriously erratic AI of the Grand Theft Auto universe. Top top things off, the whole clip is told as a fake news report taking a look at Google’s autonomous tech for the first time, which just adds to absurdity.

As you can imagine, as with all things in the GTA universe, things go haywire pretty quickly.

LIGO team wins $3 million prize for gravitational wave discovery

The team of scientists and engineers who confirmed the existence of gravitational waves earlier this year have just nabbed a handsome $3 million reward as part of a special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

The prize will be divvied up between the three LIGO founders, Ronald W. P. Drever, Kip S. Thorne and Rainer Weiss, as well as the other 1,012 people who helped confirm a key part of Albert Einstein’s 100-year-old general theory of relativity. In the prize’s announcement, internet investor and Breakthrough Prize founder Yuri Milner said of the vast team of scientists: “The creative powers of a unique genius, many great scientists, and the universe itself, have come together to make a perfect science story.”

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory was originally dreamed up in the 1960s, but construction of twin LIGO detectors in Louisiana and Washington State was done between 1994 and 2002. After some major upgrades from 2010-2015, the system “almost immediately observed a gravitational wave distorting the structure of spacetime.” The gravity ripples detected by the observatories originated 1.3 billion years ago during the collision of two black holes — the first such phenomenon ever observed.

The discovery promises to fundamentally change the way we study the universe, as humans no longer have to rely solely on visible light or electromagnetic radiation to see into space. By studying gravitational waves, scientists can begin to see more violent cosmic events like supernovae and, eventually, echoes of the Big Bang.

The Breakthrough Prize is a five-year-old foundation that recognizes the world’s top scientists in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics, as well as New Horizons prizes for junior researchers. The foundation was founded and largely funded by Yuri and Julia Milner, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Jack Ma and Cathy Zhang, and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. In addition to the prize money, the foundation also funds research and exploration projects like Breakthrough Listen and Breakthrough Starshot.