You can now buy Samsung’s fancy Serif TV in the US from MoMA

Art enthusiasts can now get a Samsung TV from a Manhattan museum to complement the highbrow decor of their living rooms.

Last year (about nine months ago, to be exact), Samsung announced a new TV. But it’s not one of those flexible, curvy, or super-thin kinds. It’s something totally different. Samsung collaborated with French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to create the Serif TV. It’s an LED 4K TV with HDR, three HDMI ports, and support for Wi-Fi and apps. It also works as a Bluetooth speaker.

It’s designed with the idea that a television should be a piece of furniture (sort of like those wooden TV cabinets from the 50s and 60s), rather than a slim screen plainly affixed to your wall. It kind of looks like a letter ‘I’ with serifs in profile, hence the name. It comes in three sizes, with the two larger sizes having optional legs, which allows you to place those sets anywhere.

The rear of the TV features a fabric panel that covers its ports and connectors. But that’s not all: Serif TV is available exclusively from the Museum of Modern Art for $1,499 in blue or white (you can only buy the 40-inch version in the US). Obviously, you’re paying for the TV’s design – given it’s only a 40-inch 4K set. Not many people can say they bought their TV from an art museum, though.

The set has been available from Samsung’s website in the UK since November 2015, though it’s currently listed as out of stock. In the UK and in other countries, Serif TV can be bought as an ultra HD 40-inch, full HD 32-inch, or standard HD 24-inch in the colours white, red, or blue.

Americans interested in this designer TV will have to wait until August to get their hands on it however, as it’s already backordered and won’t start shipping until later this summer. #firstworldproblems

Google offers 4 free months of Play Music to celebrate 4 July in US

Google really wants you to use its Play Music service – especially Americans this Independence Day.

In celebration of 4 July in the US, Google is offering US subscribers a four-month trial of Google Play Music at no cost. With this trial, they’ll be able to play tunes from a library of over 35 million tracks, and they’ll gain access to Google’s ad-free YouTube Red service. Play Music normally costs $9.99 a month, while YouTube Red is $9.99 a month. Both services often come with a 30-day trial.

Keep in mind Google is doing everything it can to hawk its music-streaming service and make it as popular as Spotify or Apple Music. In the past, it’s doled out free trials with Chromecast devices, and it offers a free Play Music subscription when you subscribe to YouTube Red. This new Independence Day deal likely won’t turn the tide overnight for Play Music, but it’s still noteworthy.

Google

Google’s 4 July promotion amounts to a $40 savings, and you can cancel at any time. Just remember that it is only available to subscribers in the US who have never before signed up for Play Music or YouTube Red.

Learn to shoot like the pros with The Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course and Certification

Your photographic ability is not limited to your Instagram and Snapchat filters, so why not act like it?

A great deal has arrived to help you learn the principles behind lighting, composition, and exposure, so you can take frame-worthy shots every time without resorting to low-quality social media safety filters.

The Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course and Certification will help you get the most out of your photos and camera gear. And it’s now only £14.02 ($19.99) from Pocket-lint Deals!

Featuring 22 modules of instruction, The Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course and Certification delivers the resources and training required to significantly upgrade your photographic efforts. Level 3 certified tutors will guide you through a series of videos, video tutorials, articles, flashcards, quizzes, and more.

Upon completing the course, you’ll receive an industry-accredited certification, qualifying you to make a legitimate income in photography if you so desire. You’ll even receive a free 5-year subscription to the Pro Article Database, keeping you on the inside track of knowledge and developments!

With a professional certification upon successful completion of the course, you’ll not only have the skills to take the shots that wow your friends and family, you’ll have documentation to prove it. The only downside is the cost of all the frames you’ll need when you’re ready to put your work on display!Capture your memories the way they were meant to be seen. Pick up the Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course and Certification today for over 90 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals.

Free: Master Java programming with this All-About-Android Coding Bundle

Pocket-lint Deals regularly offers a wide range of tools and training support to learn Android or iOS development, preparing readers for development jobs and successful careers in the IT industry. But once in awhile, an opportunity comes along to significantly upgrade your skill set at no cost whatsoever, offering you a path to success without financial commitment.

That’s what’s available today in the All-About-Android Coding Bundle, featuring five different courses and over 200 lectures and examples to create your own Android apps. And yes, it’s absolutely free.

In less than 24 hours, you can begin coding your own Android apps with this great free offer. The courses included in the All-About-Android Coding Bundle will lay the groundwork necessary for success in Android programming, even showing you how to publish your own Android game app with AndEngine.

As you explore the ins and outs of Java programming, you’ll learn to work with Java networking, edit files in Java and more. Create custom apps with the Android Material Design Library, and sharpen your Android coding skills with the included Ultimate Android Tutorial.

Your courses include:

Create an Android Game from Scratch Using AndEngine
Using Java for Android and Advanced Applications
Publish an Android Game App
Android Material Design: Learning Through Example
Advanced Android Programming Skills

Get started down the path to Java and Android coding mastery with this fantastic 5-course deal, normally priced at £81.85 ($144) – but completely free for a limited time on Pocket-lint Deals.

What’s on your HDTV: UFC 200, ‘Carmageddon,’ ‘The Night Of’

Tonight, fireworks are all over network TV. Later this week, there’s more US Olympic trials action from both track & field and gymnastics, while fighters hit the mat for a UFC 200 card headlined by Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier. Royal Pains is saying goodbye on USA, while FX’s Tyrant returns for a third season. HBO has a brand new murder mystery series premiering with The Night Of, while PS4 gamers can grab Hawken, and Carmageddon: Max Damage comes to PS4 and Xbox One. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

• The In-Laws (Criterion)
• House of Cards (S4)
• Only Yesterday
• The Dark Knight Trilogy (Special Edition)
• The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
• Rocket League: Collector’s Edition (PS4, Xbox One)
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13 (PC, PS4)
• Frost (PC)
• Cavernus (PC)
• Energy Hook (PS4)
• Inside (PC)
• Hawken (PS4)
• Carmageddon: Max Damage (PS4, Xbox One)

Monday

• Kuromokuro (S1), Netflix, 3AM
• Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, NBC, 8PM
• WWE Raw, USA, 8PM
• A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 8PM
• Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, CBS, 9PM
• Houdini & Doyle (season finale), Fox, 9PM
• Idris Elba No Limits (season finale), Discovery, 10PM
• Unreal, Lifetime, 10PM

Tuesday

• Powers, PSN, 3AM
• The Mindy Project (season finale), Hulu, 3AM
• Casual, Hulu, 3AM
• America’s Got Talent, NBC, 8PM
• Pretty Little Liars, Freeform, 8PM
• Zoo, CBS, 9PM
• The Greeks (season finale), PBS, 9PM
• Animal Kingdom, TNT, 9PM
• Uncle Buck (season finale), ABC, 9 & 9:30PM
• 60 Minutes Sports, Showtime, 9PM
• Containment, CW, 9PM
• Deadliest Catch, Discovery, 9PM
• Scream, MTV, 10PM
• F in Fabulous, BET, 10PM
• Feed the Beast, AMC, 10PM
• Tosh.0, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Wrecked, TBS, 10PM
• Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, Comedy Central, 10:30PM

Wednesday

• Chelsea, Netflix 3AM
• America’s Got Talent, NBC, 8PM
• Unsung Hollywood TV One, 8PM
• Young & Hungry, Freeform, 8PM
• Baby Daddy, Freeform, 8:30PM
• Dating Naked, VH1, 9PM
• Dual Survival, Discovery, 9PM
• Kingdom, DirecTV, 9PM
• Maron, IFC, 9PM
• Wayward Pines, Fox, 9PM
• Tyrant (season premiere), FX, 10PM
• Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons, HBO, 10PM
• 9 Months That Made You, PBS, 10PM
• Another Period, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Royal Pains (series finale), USA, 10PM
• American Gothic, CBS, 10PM
• The Night Shift, NBC, 10PM
• The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, MTV, 10PM
• The Ultimate Fighter, Fox Sports 1, 10PM
• Cleverman (season finale), Sundance, 10PM

Thursday

• Brahman Naman, Netflix, 3AM
• NSU German History X, Netflix, 3AM
• Chelsea, Netflix, 3AM
• Battlebots, ABC, 8PM
• WWE SmackDown, USA, 8PM
• Greatest Hits: 1995 – 2000, ABC, 9PM
• Big Brother, CBS, 9PM
• Beauty and the Beast, CW, 9PM
• Home Free, Fox, 9PM
• The First 48, A&E, 9PM
• Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, NBC, 9PM
• Alone, History, 9PM
• Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, FX, 10PM
• Queen of the South, USA, 10PM
• Aquarius, NBC, 10PM
• Thirteen, BBC America, 10PM

Friday

• Word Party (S1), Netflix, 3AM
• The Invitation, Netflix, 3AM
• US Olympic Trials: Track & Field, NBC, 8PM
• Masters of Illusion, CW, 8PM
• Killjoys, Syfy, 9PM
• US Olympic Trials: Women’s Gymnastics, NBC, 9PM
• The Ultimate Fighter (season finale), Fox Sports 1, 9PM
• Dark Matter, Syfy, 10PM
• Outcast, Cinemax, 10PM

Saturday

• Deadly Trust, Lifetime, 8PM
• US Olympic Trials: Track & Field, NBC, 8PM
• Angel from Hell, CBS, 8PM
• People’s List, ABC, 8PM
• Outlander (season finale), Starz, 9PM
• Hell on Wheels, AMC, 9PM
• In An Instant, ABC, 9PM
• American West, AMC, 10PM
• UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones, PPV, 10PM

Sunday

• US Olympic Trials: Track & Field/Swimming, NBC, 7PM
• Big Brother, CBS, 8PM
• The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (summer premiere), Showtime, 8PM
• US Olympic Trials: Women’s Gymnastics, NBC, 8:30PM
• The Night of (series premiere), HBO, 9PM
• The $100,000 Pyramid, ABC, 9PM
• Ray Donovan, Showtime, 9PM
• DB Cooper (series premiere), History, 9PM
• Endeavour (season finale), PBS, 9PM
• Preacher, AMC, 9PM
• The Last Ship, TNT, 9PM
• The Watcher, Lifetime, 9PM
• Motive, USA, 10PM
• Match Game, ABC, 10PM
• Roadies, Showtime, 10PM
• Ride with Norman Reedus, AMC, 10PM
• Feed the Beast, AMC, 10PM
• Declassified, CNN, 10PM
• The Jim Gaffigan Show, TV Land, 10PM
• Murder in the First, TNT, 10PM
• Tunnel, PBS, 10:30PM

(All times listed are ET)

What is it Xbox Play Anywhere and when will it be available?

Xbox Play Anywhere will arrive this autumn.

Microsoft has announced a launch date for its new Xbox Play Anywhere service that will allow you to buy a participating digital game as a single purchase and then play it on both an Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC. For more details about this service, including how it works, which titles support it, and its official release date, Pocket-lint has explained everything you need to know and more.

What is Xbox Play Anywhere?

Microsoft introduced a new Xbox service, called Xbox Play Anywhere, at E3 2016. The service basically allows you to purchase a participating game (aka an “Xbox Play Anywhere” digital game), then play it on both an Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC at no additional cost. That means, with a single purchase, the game will be unlocked across both platforms. Also, your progress – including saves, achievements, add-ons, season passes, consumables, and in-game unlocks – will transfer across both platforms, so you can pick up where you left off.

How does Xbox Play Anywhere work?

Microsoft

Participating games will be marked on Xbox’s website, the Xbox Store, and the Windows Store with the Xbox Play Anywhere icon. You can also go to the Xbox Play Anywhere site (coming soon) to see a full list of games. Once you buy one of these titles, it’s yours to play on both an Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC. However, you will need to install the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition update on your PC, as well as the latest update on your Xbox One console. From there, simply log into your Xbox Live/Microsoft account, and your Xbox Play Anywhere games will be available to download.

You can only sign into an Xbox Play Anywhere digital game on one Xbox One console or one Windows 10 PC at the same time. You cannot be signed into the same game on both an Xbox One console and a Windows 10 PC at the same time.

What are some Xbox Play Anywhere games?

Xbox Play Anywhere only applies to digital games. Here’s an initial list of confirmed titles:

• Gears of War 4
• Phantom Dust
• Killer Instinct: Seasons 1, 2, and 3
• Forza Horizon 3
• ReCore
• Cuphead
• Slime Rancher
• The Culling
• Everspace
• ARK: Survival Evolved
• Sea of Thieves
• Scalebound
• State of Decay 2
• Halo Wars 2
• We Happy Few
• Crackdown 3

When will Xbox Play Anywhere be available?

Xbox Play Anywhere will go live 13 September 2016. The service requires that you have the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition update on your PC, which releases 2 August, and the the summer update on your Xbox One console. It only supports the download version of the game, not the disc.

Want to know more?

Check out Microsoft’s website for more details.

China bans news sites from using social media as a source

The Cyberspace Administration of China put national news outlets on notice this weekend, warning them not to base reports on social media sources without strict verification of the facts. The statement came less than a week after the appointment of a new head of the regulatory body, and cites various, apparently bogus stories published off the back of chatter on popular services like Weibo and WeChat. “It is forbidden to use hearsay to create news or use conjecture and imagination to distort the facts,” a translation of the warning reads.

The general sentiment isn’t particularly oppressive: Ensure news is true, objective, written in context, appropriately sourced and referenced. There is a threatening undertone to the notice, however. It states that media outlets should have robust internal mechanisms in place to keep false reports from seeing the light of day. Failing those, the Cyberspace Administration will punish offending publications, aided by a growing force of internet inspectors.

China’s penchant for censorship is nothing new, of course. When the powers that be aren’t blacklisting new sites to be blocked by the Great Firewall, they’re sanitizing the content published on approved apps and services. The government is also working on new laws that would ban foreign media from publishing without the state’s blessing first, all the while asking more liberal corners of the world to respect its censorship regime.

Via: The Guardian, South China Morning Post

Source: Cyberspace Administration of China

‘Walmart Pay’ Expands to 19 More States as Apple Pay Holdout Continues

Walmart has announced that its mobile payments solution Walmart Pay is now available in 19 more U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Last month, Walmart Pay widely expanded to Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. capital area. The service initially launched in Arkansas and Texas in May.

Walmart Pay is built into the Walmart app [Direct Link] for iOS and Android and works at any checkout lane with any major credit, debit, pre-paid, or Walmart gift card.

The payments solution is based upon a QR code checkout process that involves opening the Walmart app, selecting Walmart Pay, activating the camera, scanning the code displayed at the register, and waiting for the cashier to finish bagging your items. An electronic receipt is automatically sent to the app.

Walmart Pay is now available at nearly 5,000 stores in 37 states, and a nationwide rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

Walmart is among a handful of retailers that have refused to support Apple Pay since its American launch in October 2014. The retailer was originally committed to the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) consortium and its now indefinitely postponed payments service CurrentC before launching Walmart Pay.

In late 2015, Walmart senior vice president of services Daniel Eckert said that Walmart Pay allows “for integration of other mobile wallets in the future,” providing at least some hope that the retailer may eventually accept rival payment services such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay at its stores.

Walmart Pay’s resistance to Apple Pay continues despite some other large U.S. retailers including Best Buy and Rite Aid reversing course and accepting the iPhone-based payments service at their stores. Walmart rival Target, meanwhile, is developing a QR code-based mobile wallet solution of its own.

The Walmart app [Direct Link] is free on the App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: Walmart Pay, Walmart
Discuss this article in our forums

Best casual games for Android

You don’t have to play 24/7 to enjoy games on your phone. Be a casual gamer and join in the fun!

Not everyone wants to commit hours of their day to playing games on their phone. That’s why casual games exist! You can drop in and play whenever you want to at your own pace and be as laid back or as competitive as you want. Most casual games are free, offering in-app purchases and some ads, while a few will cost you a dollar or two, but they’re totally worth it. We had some fun playing around with the very best casual games for Android, and here are some of our favorites.

• Fast like a Fox
• Smash Hit
• Blek
• Piano Tiles 2
• Candy Crush Saga
• Fruit Ninja Free
• Angry Birds
• Ridiculous Fishing
• Dumb Ways to Die 2
• Words With Friends
• My Talking Tom
• Mandala Coloring Pages

Fast like a Fox

Search for stolen coins, emeralds, and diamonds as you race through multiple worlds in Fast like a Fox. The retro-style geometric design of your little hero fox and the landscapes he runs through are fun to watch, and the soundtrack is zippy and catchy.

The game claims it’s “easy to play, hard to master” and that’s just what you want in a casual game; it will keep you coming back until your fox has claimed all of the treasure he can. In-app purchases can be made to help you advance, but the more you play and the better you get, the less likely you’ll be to need those extras.

Download: Fast like a Fox (free with in-app purchases)

Smash Hit

Unwind in your downtime by breaking virtual glass in Smash Hit. No consequences, only loads of points when you shatter the glass obstacles in your path in beautifully designed game levels.

The music and audio effects change as you progress through the game’s stages, over 50 of which are available with the free download. An optional in-app purchase gives you premium perks such as the ability to save and access checkpoints, new game modes, and cloud save access across all of your devices.

Download:Smash Hit (free with in-app purchases)

Blek

If you often find yourself mindlessly doodling, Blek is a game designed with you in mind. The multiple award winning game takes doodles to an artistic level as you find patterns and draw your way to more challenging levels.

The concept is simple and hooks you in right away. Use your doodling skills to draw a continuous line that collects all of the colored balls in a pattern. Succeed and your doodle becomes its own piece of art; make a mistake and you try again. Blek is easy enough to play on your downtime, yet challenging enough to busy your mind. With full support for the S-pen, this is a must-own for Samsung Galaxy Note owners.

Download:Blek ($2.99)

Piano Tiles 2

Building on the popularity of the original Piano Tiles game, Piano Tiles 2 lets you play along with the band to classical music and modern pop songs. Use your fingertips to tap the black keys as they scroll down your screen to the music.

Play in friendly battle of bands-style competitions against your Facebook friends or against other music lovers from around the world. In-app purchases unlock additional songs. A tremendously popular game with a beautiful built-in soundtrack? That’s an absolute must have.

Download:Piano Tiles 2 (free with in-app purchases)

Candy Crush Saga

The Candy Crush franchise is the most popular casual puzzler for phones. In the latest twist on the Candy Crush game, you match three of the same candy on the game board to create, spread, or clear away jelly. Your nemesis is the Jelly Queen and you can battle her alone or test your skills against your friends.

The game has added new candies you’ll wish you could buy and eat in real life. If you’re connected to Facebook you’ll have access to a leaderboard that shows you how well you’re doing and who your biggest competition is. There are over 100 levels of sweet, silly fun to be had, and the games are as short or as in-depth as you want them to be.

Download:Candy Crush Saga (free with in-app purchases)

Fruit Ninja Free

Enter the world of Fruitasia, where your Sensei is waiting for you with fruit fight missions. All you need to know to get started is that Fruit Ninjas slice fruit, not bombs; once you master that, you’ll be slicing and dicing like an old pro in no time.

As your game improves, you can upgrade your blade and join new Dojos. Learn how to handle bananas and multi-slice pomegranates, not to mention the rare 10 fruit Great Wave. It all sounds funny and a little on the ridiculous side, but it’s also all for fun and distraction; that’s the perfect casual game.

Download:Fruit Ninja Free (free with in-app purchases)

Angry Birds

You’d be an Angry Bird, too, if a bunch of pesky pigs swiped all of your eggs. That’s the premise of the mobile game so popular they based a movie on it. This free game will keep you entertained in short spurts while you’re in line at the grocery store, or for longer rounds on that long bus ride home.

Every bird comes with a unique skill, designed to ruin the evil pigs and restore order. Fling the birds at obstacles, power up their skills with features like a Birdquake (hint: it’s exactly what it sounds like), or make a one-time purchase of the Mighty Eagle and show those pigs who the real bosses are. It’s loads of addictive fun for gamers of any age or skill level.

Download:Angry Birds (free with in-app purchases)

Ridiculous Fishing

The key character in this slightly absurd, absolutely fun game is a mysterious man named Billy, who’s out on the water in his trusty boat, trying to catch fish. The real catch? After he catches the fish, Billy flings them into the air and shoots them. Wait…what?

The goal is to get Billy’s fishing lure as deep into the water as you can without touching any fish on the way down; on the way up, grab everything! Because you’re paying for the game outright, there are no additional in-app purchases to make, so when Billy needs to buy his chainsaw and toaster (which are actually very helpful fishing appliances, as it turns out) you won’t be out of pocket. And just wait until you get to Billy’s hats…those silly, ridiculous hats.

Download:Ridiculous Fishing ($2.99)

Dumb Ways to Die 2

This casual game is based on the cute, animated Australian public service announcement that went viral. All you have to do is stay alive, and that would be easy if your character wasn’t so dumb. Dumb Ways to Die 2 is actually a series of mini games, perfect for those little moments when you want to play a game but can’t invest loads of time.

In the Dumb universe, you don’t throw the javelin, you catch it. Have you always wanted to swim with dolphins? Try your hand at the Dolphin Rodeo and try not to break your neck. Don’t forget to join the local curling team and play with dynamite rocks. Invite your friends in the multiplayer mode and see who can jump the ever-rising electric fence.

Download:Dumb Ways to Die 2 (free with in-app purchases)

Words With Friends

Fancy yourself a wordsmith? If so, get on board with Words With Friends, the Scrabble-based game you play at your own pace, whether it’s one word an hour or one word per day. Just check your gameboard whenever you have a few free moments and play tiles to earn points and climb the real-time leaderboard.

The in-app chat feature lets you converse with your friends as you play, so you can send them an innocent taunt or gentle reminder that you’re waiting for them to take a turn, or you can congratulate them on a complex play. You’ll also be able to access your game from your desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone, so your game can just keep on going.

Download:Words With Friends (free with in-app purchases)

My Talking Tom

Adopt and raise an adorable kitten when you download My Talking Tom (think tomcat). It’s up to you to feed him, play games, and teach him how to be a grown cat by checking in with him regularly and keeping him happy.

If you talk to your Tom, he’ll repeat what you say. Tickle him on your screen and watch him giggle and purr. You can customize your Tom by choosing what his fur looks like, what kind of apartment he’ll live in, and the clothes (yes, clothes!) he’ll wear. The two of you can play in-app mini-games like Bubble Shooter and Planet Hop before Tom needs to be tucked in for the night.

Download:My Talking Tom (free with in-app purchases)

Mandala Coloring Pages

The popular trend of adult coloring books is on your phone, too. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s time to download the Mandala Coloring Pages and remember how much fun coloring was when you were a kid.

With hundreds of mandala designs to choose from, and a virtually endless colour selection, you can create beautiful images in your moments of spare time. Unlike real coloring pages, you can tap Undo to use a different color if you change your mind. You can also save your finished pieces and share them to your social media account or even print them. How lovely is that?

Download:Mandala Coloring Pages (free with in-app purchases)

Keep it casual

We want to know what are some of your favorite go-to casual games? Tell us all about them in the comments!

What is Project Fi, how does it work and why do I want it?

Google’s own carrier offering definitely has some appeal.

If you’re an Android enthusiast, you’ve likely already heard of Project Fi. But that doesn’t mean you necessarily know everything about it, so we’re here to give you the high-level look at the carrier option that comes directly from Google. Namely, just what the heck it is, how it works compared to other carriers and maybe a few reasons why you’d want to try it.

If you’re interested in checking out phone service from Google, be sure to follow along with some of the high points below and get acquainted with Project Fi.

What is Project Fi?

At the highest level, Project Fi is a phone carrier offering from Google. It works by giving you mobile data service on three mobile networks, which your phone will intelligently switch between — it also uses Wi-Fi to make calls and send texts whenever available. Project Fi is a “prepaid” carrier, meaning you pay upfront for your service in the trailing month, which is the opposite of a traditional carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) that bills you after you use the service.

Project Fi is focused on simplified billing. You pay $20 per month for unlimited talk and texting, and a flat rate of $10 per gigabyte of data used. At the start of each month you simply estimate how much data you’ll use and pay for that amount — at the end of the month you’ll receive either a refund for data you didn’t use, or pay a little extra on the next bill for data overages. You’ll always pay at the same $10 per gigabyte rate, though, no matter what.

How does it work?

Project Fi works with a special SIM card — and a little software on your phone — that can authenticate you on T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellular, and switch between them on the fly based on a variety of factors. Because it can also use Wi-Fi for calls and texts, you can keep using your phone in places where mobile data isn’t that great. Extra software called a “Wi-Fi Assistant” will automatically connect your phone to open Wi-Fi access points when you’re out of the house, reducing your data usage without any intervention on your part.

You get the power of three mobile networks, plus Wi-Fi, in a single SIM

When you use Project Fi, you also get some of the same features that have made Google Voice popular over the years. You can forward phone calls to your Fi number to any phone you want, as well as view voicemail, make calls and send texts with that number from any device using the Hangouts app.

Project Fi also works internationally in 120 countries around the world with no additional cost for data use or texting. You can call at a flat rate to any number while on the cellular networks abroad, or pay much lower rates when calling on Wi-Fi. You can also call back home to the U.S. on Wi-Fi for free. Data used internationally just comes out of your standard $10 per gigabyte bucket, but speeds are limited to 256kbps (double what T-Mobile offers outside of North America).

Why do I want it?

Well, this is really a personal question of whether you actually want to try Project Fi. Chances are if you’re reading Android Central you’re at least one step closer to being the target audience for the Google-powered carrier, but there are a few other boxes to check that make it the right choice for you.

Simplicity in the service and billing are paramount to the experience.

The first limitation is phone choice. Google lets you choose from one of its latest three Nexus phones — the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X or Nexus 6 — but those are the only three phones you can use with the service right now. You can sign up for Project Fi, and you’ll have either a SIM card for your existing Nexus shipped out or you can buy a new phone right from Google, including with interest-free 24 month financing. You can use it for as long or short as you like, and there’s no activation fee or service commitment.

There are lots of cool features that make Project Fi a good choice, like the simplified billing, included international features and improved network coverage through the use of three carriers and Wi-Fi networks. Each one will have a different amount of draw for different people, though.

Project Fi’s pricing isn’t dramatically lower than other carriers out there, and whether it makes a good choice financially for you depends on your data usage and which features you want. We encourage you to do your pricing research before choosing which carrier is the best.

And whether you’re still on the fence or just curious about it, be sure to follow all of our Project Fi coverage here at Android Central.

Google Project Fi

• What is Project Fi?
• Get the latest Project Fi news
• How to move back to Google Voice
• Discuss Project Fi in our forums
• Compatible phones: Nexus 6P | Nexus 5X | Nexus 6
• Sign up for Project Fi