Samsung Galaxy S8 edge: What does a curvy Note 7 mean for next year’s flagships?

Will the Galaxy S8 have a flat display, or is Samsung going all-in on the edge?

Unless the past several weeks of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 leakage have been part of some elaborate trolling campaign, it’s looking like the next member of Samsung’s popular Galaxy Note family will feature a curved “edge screen,” like the Galaxy S7 edge.

If that happens, it raises an interesting question about the future of the Galaxy S line: Is Samsung going all-in on edge? Could this year’s regular Galaxy S7 be the last flat flagship?

Sure, there’s some semi-useful software behind it, but the edge screen remains mostly an aesthetic feature, and like anything of that nature it has its admirers and its detractors. The prospect of only a curved Note 7 being available has already irked some on the forums, with burry photos of a flat-screened Chinese Note 7 prototype giving hope to those wanting a more traditional design.

Expect even more controversy if there’s no flat Galaxy S8 in the following year.

So let’s break down how it might happen — and why it might not.

The case for an edge-only Galaxy S8

It’s really hard to differentiate in the high-end space, and Samsung, with its curved SuperAMOLED panels, is in a unique position to offer one of the most eye-catching smartphone design features in years. People didn’t buy the Galaxy S6 edge because they wanted to swipe in and launch apps a bit more quickly, or because they wanted to measure stuff. They bought it because it looked cool, and it looked cool in a way that no other phone could match.

The Galaxy S7 edge sold because it looked cool, not because people wanted to slide out edge panels and start measuring stuff.

More recently, it’s been combined with curved glass on the back, and ever softer angles around the aluminum frame. The Galaxy S7 edge’s omnidirectional curves contribute to a pleasing organic design that give the illusion of razor-slim bezels. It has an almost otherworldly quality when you pick it up for the first time in a way that the regular S7 somehow lacks.

The success of the original S6 edge reportedly took even Samsung by surprise, and as such it was the S7 edge that took center stage in this year’s lineup. Ads promoted the “Galaxy S7 edge / S7,” with the flat S7 consistently playing second fiddle to its larger sibling in the public eye.

So if “edge” is a big enough deal to make it into the Galaxy Note line — let’s forget about 2014’s ill-fated, one-sided Note Edge for a minute — then why not go all-edge next year? Even if Samsung keeps a smaller model around, it would surely make more sense to transition to an S8 and S8 Plus (the “edge” distinction no longer being needed) than to leave the smaller model without such an appealing selling point.

Some may bemoan the slipperiness of the S7 edge, the problems with accidental touches, but you can’t argue with the success of edge. And that’s why it could be here to stay.

The case against an edge-only Galaxy S8

Edge screens are popular and beautiful, but they’re also expensive and difficult to make. Back in the days of the Note Edge, we’re told, yields of the curved glass were extremely poor, which one source says is why that model only had one edge screen. Samsung has obviously gotten better at producing curved glass screens over the past couple of years, but it’s still easier and more cost-effective to slap a traditional flat pane of Gorilla Glass on there and call it a day.

A smaller, cheaper, flatter GS8 lets Samsung position a more expensive GS8 edge as a ‘premium’ flagship.

This allows Samsung to sell the smaller of the two handsets at a lower price, keeping the “edge” model as the true flagship. Such a clear distinction in price would be difficult to maintain if both models used curved screens. (Unless Samsung simply jacked up the price of the larger model for the sake of it, of course.)

The company must also know that curved screens aren’t universally adored. The curved Note 7 could well be a blip on Samsung’s roadmap . (After all let’s face it — Note devices don’t sell in the same numbers as a Galaxy S.) For a series of devices aimed at the mainstream market, it makes sense to offer a conventional non-edge display that everyone can hold, without the color distortion and other compromises that often accompany a curved panel.

Ultimately, it’s about choice. And as successful as edge models have been for Samsung, it might be foolish to go all-out with curved screens across its entire high-end lineup.

Do you think the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be edge-only? Share your thoughts down in the comments!

Google brings add-ons to Docs and Sheets for Android

Google Docs and Sheets users are getting a little bit of extra help with their workflow in the form of add-ons on Android. Just announced by Google, add-ons bring a bit of extra functionality to Docs and Sheets by way of integrated partner apps.

At launch, Google says it has worked with eight partners to launch an initial set of add-ons for Docs and Slides on Android. Examples include DocuSign, which allows you to set up a signing process in either app; and ProsperWorks, which lets you easily import CRM data directly into Sheets. Google has even released an add-on of its own just for Classroom users.

If you’re interested in checking out the add-ons on the go, you can view all of them as a collection on Google Play, or through the add-on menus in Docs or Sheets.

Alphabet releases Q2 2016 earnings: $5.8 billion income on $21.5 billion revenue

Alphabet has released its Q2 fiscal year 2016 earnings report, showing strong year-over-year growth once again with $21.5 billion in revenue leading to $5.864 billion in non-GAAP net income for the quarter.

The company saw a rise in its revenue compared to the same period a year ago, when it brought in $17.727 billion. Non-GAAP net income was also up compared to a year ago when it recorded $4.829 billion.

“Our terrific second quarter results, with 21% revenue growth year on year, and 25% on a constant currency basis reflect the successful investments we’ve made over many years in rapidly expanding areas such as mobile and video. We continue to invest responsibly in support of our many compelling opportunities,” said Ruth Porat, CFO of Alphabet.

Aggregate paid clicks were up 29% year-over-year, with paid clicks on Google’s own websites going up 37% in the same period. Cost-per-click was down 7%, with cost-per-click on Google’s websites going down 9% as well. The company has $78.460 billion in cash and cash equivalents on hand, up from $69.780 billion from a year ago. Headcount at the company was 66,575, up from 57,148 a year ago.

How to fix Samsung Galaxy S6 battery problems

How do you fix Galaxy S6 battery life problems? Here are our top power-saving tips!

With a brilliant display, powerful processor and plenty of software features, you may find yourself draining down the relatively small batteries on the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 edge a bit faster than other phones, but that doesn’t mean the phone’s battery life is completely out of your control.

With just a handful of tips — some specific to the GS6 series, others you can use on any Android phone — you’ll be able to make the most of the sealed-in battery on the Galaxy S6, and we’re going to tell you all about them.

Keep an eye out for rogue or often-refreshing apps

We’re often quick to jump on a phone when the battery life isn’t up to our personal standards, but sometimes you can’t point the finger at the phone itself. It’s far less likely each day as apps are designed to behave on our phones properly, but every once and a while you can still come across an app that uses up more than its fair share of your power. If you’re curious as to what’s taking up your battery, wait until the end of a full charge — say, when you hit 10 percent — and then head into the battery settings and tap “Battery usage.”

You’ll see if any particular app has been using a lot of battery, and if something’s way off the charts you can consider tweaking its settings or uninstalling it completely. If you’re interested in more granular information you can try a third-party monitoring app (folks seem to like GSam Battery Monitor) to get a more precise reading. Just know that the information can sometimes be confusing and inconclusive — apps are going to use some power no matter what, so don’t go overboard with monitoring and analyzing.

Disable pre-installed apps you’ll never use

While you won’t necessarily claim back any usable storage by disabling pre-installed apps, you may be able to save a small bit of battery by doing so. Depending on your carrier you may be staring at a couple dozen pre-installed apps on your Galaxy S6 that’ll choose to run and do things when you don’t want them to, and whether you actually open them or not they may be in the background running.

If there’s a pre-installed app (or 15) that you won’t be using, just go ahead and disable it so you’re sure it won’t be doing anything without your knowledge. You can always re-enable the app later if you choose to start using it for whatever reason.

Use Power Saving Mode when you can

Samsung has included Power Saving and Ultra Power Saving Mode on its phones for a few generations now, and they both serve a purpose on the Galaxy S6. The basic Power Saving Mode is accessible from the notification shade quick settings menu and the battery settings, and it’s one you may end up using quite regularly to get every last minute out of your GS6 battery.

When on it will scale back processor performance slightly, limit your screen brightness and turn off vibration, among other things, to subtly reduce battery usage without dramatically impacting how your phone works. You shouldn’t notice any large hit in performance or difference in use, but over the course of a full battery Power Saving Mode can extend life about 10 percent — not a small number. You can choose to have Power Saving Mode automatically enable at 50, 20, 15 or five percent battery, or you can just turn it on and off as you choose.

Ultra Power Saving Mode isn’t intended to be used so regularly, and is really a last option for extending your battery when you just need to have your phone last as long as possible. When enabled, it will set your phone to a basic home screen and switch the display to greyscale, while also limiting usage to specific apps and disabling data services when the screen is off. You can dramatically boost your battery life with Ultra Power Saving Mode turned on, but it doesn’t exactly give you a rich phone experience. Use it sparingly.

Take advantage of Adaptive Fast Charging when you do charge

Even when you slim down some app usage and maybe take advantage of Power Saving Mode, there’s a decent chance you’ll need to plug in your Galaxy S6 before you go to bed at night. And when you do charge, you might as well make the most of it by using a charger that plays nice with Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging.

Of course the charger and cable that come in the box with the phone support Adaptive Fast Charging, but the neat thing to know is that it also works the exact same with any Quick Charge 2.0 compatible charger. That means you have dozens of great options out there, so you’ll be able to find a wall charger, car charger and even a battery pack that fits your needs and will charge the GS6 at the fastest possible rate.

With the right charger and cable you’ll be able to add about 50 percent battery to the phone in 30 minutes — that’s what we call power.

Casually charge wirelessly when you have time

If you know you may need to charge your GS6 by the end of the day, and that becomes the norm, you may want to invest in a wireless charger to reduce the friction of keeping the phone topped up. Having a wireless charger at your desk, on a coffee table or in the kitchen makes it much more convenient to just set down your phone here and there for charging throughout the day. It’ll all add up to keeping your GS6 powered up for anything you need it for.

Samsung of course has a new Qi charger that works with the GS6, but it isn’t the best one out there. You can take your pick of just about any Qi or Powermat wireless charger out there, and while they vary in price from $10 to $50 they’ll all charge up your phone at about the same rate. When shopping, keep in mind that the smooth glass back of the GS6 makes it difficult to stay put on flat surfaces, so consider getting a wireless charger with some grip to it.

Get a battery pack that suits your needs

Mobile battery packs have really taken off in popularity as of late, and while it’s probably not a bad idea to have one around no matter your phone choice you’ll likely make a bit more use of it with the Galaxy S6. There are tons of great options out there — like these four we picked recently — and even some that support the Quick Charge 2.0 standard that’ll juice up the Galaxy S6 extra quick.

What’s important when choosing a battery pack is finding one that fits your needs. If you don’t push your GS6 very hard and will only need it once every couple of days when you have a heavy afternoon, opt to get just a 1500mAh or maybe 2500 mAh battery pack. If you’re always streaming some sort of media or using the phone to its max you may choose something a bit less portable but with 10,000 mAh of capacity instead. Just know it’ll be heavier and more of a hassle to have on you every day.

More: Top battery packs for the Galaxy S6

Get a battery case that lives on your phone

There are some fantastic battery cases that not only protect your Galaxy S6, but charge it at the same time. Options from companies like ZeroLemon and Mophie make it easy to double your battery life just by fitting your phone into a case — and there’s less additional hardware to lug around.

Of course, battery cases are not without issues: they have to be charged themselves, and they do add considerable thickness and weight to a sleek phone. But in many cases, they’re the best option for extending your Galaxy S6’s battery life.

More: Best battery cases for the Galaxy S6

Keep screen brightness in check

The Galaxy S6 has a bright and beautiful screen, and it looks so good it may tempt you into keeping the brightness cranked up. While the new panel on offer in the GS6 is more efficient than previous versions, the display is still one of the biggest drains on any modern smartphone — and the higher you have the brightness set the more power it’ll use.

Automatic brightness is a good option if you don’t want to worry about manually setting it for the current lighting situation throughout the day, but having that setting turned on will drain more battery than if you were manually set the brightness lower. You can always crank up the brightness when you’re outdoors and manually drop it down when you’re back inside — and if you’re really worried about battery life then you’ll likely be okay with the trade-off in order to extend it.

More: GS6 battery discussion in our forums

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Best RPGs for Android

What are the best Android RPGs?

Role-playing games are wonderful, story-driven experiences that complement the mobile gaming experience nicely. Despite the relatively tiny mobile screens we’re used to (yes, 5.7 inches is still small by gaming standards) RPGs allow us to get lost in fanciful worlds for a while.

In the case of some games, especially those ported over from PC, that “while” could be 20 or 30 hours! This makes the best RPGs worth their price in the Google Play Store. There are some duds in there, so we’ve hand-picked the best of the best to save you the trouble of digging.

If you’re looking for more than just RPGs, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Android games of the year!

• Crashlands
• Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
• Final Fantasy
• The Bard’s Tale
• Evoland
• Pocket Mortys
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• Dragon Quest VIII
• Mage and Minions
• Dungeon Hunter 5

Crashlands

Butterscotch Shenanigans makes some quirky and hilarious games and Crashlands is no exception. In what might be the funniest mobile RPG to date, you play as Flux Dabes, a space trucker who’s forced to crash-land (get it?) on an alien planet thanks to an alien jerk named Hewgodooko.

As you try to survive on this strange planet, you must craft your way through repairing your ship, build bases, tame wildlife to be pets, and fight the locals while crafting weapons and items from their corpses (it sounds morbid, but it’s great).

If you love witty dialogue, a fun story, quirky games, and crafting over 468 items, then you should be playing Crashlands.

Download: Crashlands ($4.99)

Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn

If you’re a D&D fan, then you’re going to want the Baldur’s Gate games on your phone ASAP. They use a modified version of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition rules and the original Baldur’s Gate was credited with the computer RPG renaissance in 1998.

These are your classic fantasy games, wherein you start off knowing only the walls of the castle in which you were born, but are thrust into a war-torn world under mysterious circumstances. Venture off and take on mythical creatures, as well as real ones (like rats!)

If you like a good old fashioned romp around a medieval realm, clearing dungeons and slaying beasts, all while creating potions and bettering your character, then the Baldur’s Gate games should be right up your alley.

Download: Baldur’s Gate ($9.99, with in-app purchases)

Download: Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn ($9.99, with in-app purchases)

Final Fantasy

One of the most beloved RPG sagas is on mobile in the form of 12 Final Fantasy games:

• Final Fantasy
• Final Fantasy II
• Final Fantasy III
• Final Fantasy IV
• Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
• Final Fantasy V
• Final Fantasy VI
• Final Fantasy VII
• Final Fantasy IX
• Final Fantasy Dimensions
• Final Fantasy Tactics
• Final Fantasy Brave Exvius

If you have any love in your heart for the series, then you’ll definitely want at least one of these titles on your phone or tablet. Play your way through the entire sci-fi/fantasy saga if you want to and help Cloud stop Sephiroth, help Cecil stop Golbez, and help defeat Queen Brahne alongside Zidane.

Most of the adventures and a few spin-offs are there for you to spend hours and hours with, which makes them worth the cash (they can be as much as $20.99!). Just note that these games can take up a LOT of space, like upwards of 2 gigs. That being said, you’re getting the full game with all of these, so 2GB doesn’t really seem all the huge.

Whether you’re up for medieval fantasy or futuristic sci-fi action, Final Fantasy has something for everyone, easily making them some of the best RPGs around for Android or any platform for that matter!

Download: Final Fantasy (Free-$20.99)

The Bard’s Tale

The Bard’s Tale centers on a rather sly dog of a protagonist who, rather than playing the hero, prefers the company of women and the comfort of ale. You head off on a goofy adventure with a drunken fellow who plays magical songs in order to heal party members, summon party members to help fight, and summon party members to take damage for him (he’s kind of a dick).

This features an excellent voice cast, with The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes as the Bard, Tony Jay (Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame) as the narrator, and Brian George and Carlos Alazraqui as additional characters.

If you love a fantasy adventure, but want a break from the dark tones of most RPGs, then check out The Bard’s Tale and never be bored again; there are 50 enemy types, over a dozen bosses, tons of weird NPCs, and plenty of satire, sure to slake your thirst for hilarity. Definitely not for kids.

Download: The Bard’s Tale ($1.99, with in-app purchases)

Evoland

Evoland isn’t the most original game of all time, borrowing elements from the Legend of Zelda, Diablo, and Final Fantasy to create a classic RPG adventure that might be a bit of a knock-off, but it’s as fun as any of the originals, and there’s a damn-good reason for its pilfering of the classics.

This game is all about the evolution of video games, starting you off with two colors and a 2D character. As you progress, you unlock new technologies and new graphics until you reach the modern, 3D/HD age.

Your sort of meta-journey is punctuated by references to classic RPGs and movies, so keep a sharp eye out and enjoy the Easter eggs thrown in as you battle and loot and level up.

If you love RPGs, no matter when they were made, then you’ll love Evoland.

Download: Evoland ($5.49)

Pocket Mortys

Like Pokémon? Love Rick and Morty? Does the Pope have lips? Is a chicken Catholic? At their core, the original Pokémon games were glorious RPGs and Pocket Mortys is about as close as you can get to (legally) playing the classic Pokémon games on your phone. (Yeah, Pokémon Go is a thing, but it’s just not the same!)

You get to control Rick, who’s just doing science in his garage when Mysterious Rick comes through a portal and challenges him to a Morty battle. After, Rick goes through the portal to the Council of Ricks, who confiscate his portal gun.

To get it back, you have to defeat the six Ricks sitting on the council, but before you can battle them, you must battle the Ricks from other dimensions and claim their badges. After all that’s through, you have to go and capture every type of Morty.

This is probably the most twisted take on Pokémon you’ll come across, but it’s fun and branded with the cartoon’s signature humor, making it a game that just makes you wanna get schwifty.

Download Pocket Mortys and SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.

Download: Pocket Mortys (Free, with in-app purchases)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

This is the full K.O.T.O.R. experience, so if you’re a Star Wars fan, this is definitely the mobile game you’re looking for. It’s a huge file, at 2.4GB, but you get all the force-wielding, lightsaber-swinging, Republic-saving goodness that the console games dazzled us with.

You get to choose your party from nine types of characters, travel to eight planets on the Ebon Hawk, and learn to use the Force, including over 40 powers. You also get to build your own lightsaber!

Knights of the Republic is the epitome of a classic Star Wars RPG and this port is totally worth the cash. This game even supports controllers if you prefer to play that way. As the Jedi’s last hope, you decide the fate of the galaxy as you battle your way to becoming a hero or falling to the temptation of the Dark Side.

You decide!

Download: Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic ($9.99)

Dragon Quest VIII

Possibly the most popular game in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is available for android in all its cell-shaded beauty. It was the first widely released Dragon Quest title, being the first to hit the PAL region and the first to be called Dragon Quest in North America, where it was always called Dragon Warrior.

In this version, you play as the Hero, a Trodain guard, who embarks on a quest to reclaim a stolen scepter from the evil court jester, Dhoulmagus, who has cursed Trodain castle, turning the king into a troll, the princess into a horse, and everyone else into plants.

This is the full PS2 game, so it’s 1.4GB, taking up quite a bit of space on your phone. But you get everything the original has to offer: epic, turn-based battles, crafting via the Alchemy Pot, and classic fantasy, presented in a gorgeous 3D anime style.

If you loved Dragon Quest VIII on PS2, you’ll love it on Android too.

Download: Dragon Quest VIII ($19.99)

Mage and Minions

Claiming to be the first RPG truly designed for controls, Mage and Minions is an excellent fantasy RPG that really does feel great to play. The controls are smooth and make sense to the mobile experience and the gameplay is fun and immersive.

You and your party are off on a quest to prevent Ragadam from taking over the world and ultimately destroying it, all the while battling skeletons and demons, collecting loot, crafting items and weapons, and casting spells to get the job done.

The spell-casting controls are particularly cool, since you have to draw symbols on your screen to summon different spells.

If you’re looking for an RPG experience that was truly meant for mobile, then indulge in Mage and Minions.

Download: Mage and Minions (Free, with in-app purchases)

Dungeon Hunter 5

This is one of the deepest RPGs on this list, featuring a story mode, an online mode, and co-op mode wherein you hack and slash your way through dungeons, all the while leveling up and unlocking new weapons, armor, and other upgrades you can craft to create even stronger weapons.

This game is HUGE. The initial download is 33MB, but you’ll eventually be downloading gigs of data, since there are over 900 weapons to wield and hundreds of different spells and skills to acquire.

While online, you get to develop your own dungeons where your precious loot resides, defended by minions that you recruit and craft from Minion Shards. As an added defense, you get to build Trap Rooms within your dungeons in order to thwart those that might steal your treasure. Just be careful; you’ll likely be on the receiving end fairly often!

Dungeon Hunter 5 is a big, immersive, versatile RPG that sucks you in and before you know it, it’s the year 2100 and you’re a pile of dust, still battling your way to herodom or riches (because apparently heroes don’t get paid).

If you’re looking for an awesome free RPG that you can play until Ragnarok, then dive into Dungeon Hunter 5 and definitely keep an eye on your data usage!

Download: Dungeon Hunter 5 (Free, with in-app purchases)

Did we miss anything?

What’s your favorite RPG for Android? Did it make our list? Sound off in the comments below!