Motorola Moto Z Play Droid review: An exceptional phone value that gets even better with MotoMods
As the least expensive model in its Z line of smartphones, the Moto Z Play Droid is a fantastic solution for mid-range needs. Designed with MotoMod support, it can quickly become much more capable than it already is.
The Moto Z Play Droid is exclusive to Verizon, but it’s also available in an unlocked capacity, too. Aside from the software experience, and Droid branding on the rear camera, the two are virtually indistinguishable from one another.
Taking the phone out of the box you realize that this generation of Motorola is unlike anything else in the company’s history. Like the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid this phone is svelte and sexy. On the surface it exudes premium craftsmanship and begs to be looked at from all angles.
It didn’t take us long to realize that there’s no Verizon branding on the phone. While it’s certainly prominent on the box and in the apps, it’s not on the surface of the handset. If you know Verizon’s history, then you know this is something remarkable.
There is a “Droid” branding under the camera, but that’s really it. Otherwise, it’s a simple stylized “M” on the rear and a Moto on the front above the display. We’re not sure if this was Motorola’s doing or if Verizon loosened its grip a bit, but we’ll take it.
Hardware & Design
The Moto Z Play Droid is a heavy device; it’s more dense than we expected it to be and is quite noticeable coming from other handsets. It might not be so much in the two-hand stuff, but more of the pocket and one-hand experience. At times, this one feels solid. On the other hand, we found this to be a plus. There’s premium design at play here, and the Moto Z Play Droid looks to be among the more expensive end of phones.
Looking it over, there’s so much here that intimidates us. It has been a very long time since Motorola delivered a phone that we were afraid to leave the house with over fear of ruining it. One drop and we’re afraid it would be scuffed, scraped, or worse, shattered. We want to show it off so badly but, at the same time, we want to protect with some sort of case. As much as we like to insure ourselves with cases, we enjoy looking at the details on the rear.
The Z Play is built from metal and glass, including its 2.5D curved glass display. Even the rear is wrapped in glass, something that varies from its siblings in the Z Droid and Z Force Droid. Everything fits tightly together, signaling attention to detail and time.
The Moto Z Play Droid offers up a 1080p HD display, which is considerably different from what you’ll get in other high-end models. At 5.5-inches it still looks great on both images and text.
Colors are quite accurate, particularly indoors and in medium light settings. Get outside, though, and you may find yourself cranking up the brightness. This doesn’t so much affect accuracy, but it could come into play with your battery life.
Moving the phone around in various angles and distances we found the Z Play Droid to be a generally good experience. The glass does give some reflection of light sources, but it’s nothing that will cause you to squint.
All things considered, we’re just fine with what Motorola delivers here, especially as it helps drive the cost down. Sure, a higher display image is always nice, but so is money in the pocket. And, if you’re not pushing for the latest in heavy gaming, you shouldn’t care about not getting a Quad HD/2K display.
The copper-colored contacts look entirely out of place yet oh-so-perfect with the Z Play Droid’s aesthetics and the rear camera feels like a droid eye watching over things.
Our review unit has black/gray colors but there’s a white gold offering available, too. and gold metal accents, but a black/gray version is also available.
Holding and using the Moto Z Play Droid with one hand is comfortable, even with our smaller hands. At 5.5-inches, the display does have a little thicker bezel than some of its competitors, but we’ve seen worse. We found that while the bezel wasn’t that much of an issue over time, we would have really liked to see the curved glass taper into a near seamless edge. With that said, there is quite a bit of space on top and bottom of the screen.
As for the layout of the phone, the volume button and power buttons are on the right side with a clean edge trimming the left side. Up top is where you locate the microSD and SIM card; the bottom offers up the USB Type-C charger and 3.5mm headphone jack. We’re at that point now where discussing a headphone jack’s presence is noting. Indeed, the Moto Z Play Droid has one whereas its brethren do not.
There are a couple of protruding spots on the phone, namely the camera, earpiece, and fingerprint reader. Each sticks out to varying degrees and can be easily identified in low lighting. Speaking of the fingerprint reader, we would have liked to see it pull double duty as the home button.
Travel and feedback was excellent across the board; there’s no mistaking whether you pressed the volume buttons or power. The latter, for its part, has a ribbed or ridged texture which helps it to stick out from the other.
In the Box
In addition to the phone itself, the box also comes with a wall charger (USB Type-C), a MotoMod protective shell for the rear, and a tool to remove the microSD and Nano-SIM cards. There’s also a small booklet but there are no headphones. Speaking of which, a quick glance at the bottom shows us that Motorola did leave the 3.5mm port in this model.
The protective rear shell snaps into place via magnets and fits snugly against the phone. In fact, you’d be forgiven if you thought that it was part of the handset itself. The wood grain design has the same realistic appearance that is found in other, previous Motorola phones built in the Moto Maker tool.
Camera
On paper, the Z Play Droid falls in the middle of the Z Droid and Z Force Droid. Specifically, this one comes with a 16-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0, and features such as laser-assisted autofocus and phase-detection autofocus. There’s also a dual-LED flash on the back to brighten up your shots.
The Z Play Droid employs the same camera app that other Z models do; it’s the same that’s found in the Moto G 4 series, too. In other words, it’s simple to use and features a decent set of tools which are easily accessible.
Although there’s no hard button to access the camera, users can twist their wrist to activate the app. Moreover, it can also be opened from the lock screen, too.
Once in the app, users find three controls on the left hand side of the screen: Flash, HDR, and a timer. On the right we locate the shutter, modes, and toggle for front-facing camera. Both HDR and flash can be set to HDR, something we appreciated for both well-lit outdoor shots as well as those in darker environments.
Getting into the modes, the Z Play includes options for automatic, manual, panoramic, slow-motion, and video. Manual, as one might expect, lets users tailor the settings for focus, ISO, shutter speed, brightness, and white balance.
If you just like to open the app and snap a picture, you’ll enjoy the default settings. Slide your finger up and down the display to zoom in and out, tap to focus, and snap.
By and large, the pictures we took with the Z Play Droid were in focus and color accurate. Exposure was generally good, though it does pick up grain in lower light conditions. The flash is really good for capturing inanimate subjects in dark settings but it tends to wash out the color on people. Focus was quick and burst shot pictures came out nicely.
The front-facing camera is 5-megapixels and features a software enhancement called self beautification. It’s a nice touch for those of you who love to take selfies as it removes wrinkles and spots. As far quality goes, the pictures were more than adequate for social media. The 85-degree wide-angle lens lets you loop in a few extra people for group shots.
Software
Powering on the phone and checking the app tray we find that there’s no mistaking this for anything but a Verizon model. There’s Verizon branding everywhere; it’s almost as if it was designed to offset the lack of physical branding on the device.
There are nearly one half dozen apps with Verizon branding pre-loaded including VZ Navigator, VZ Protect, My Verizon, Message+, and Cloud. You’ll also find a couple of others here, too: Android Pay, Caller Name ID, Amazon Kindle, IMDb, NFL Mobile, and Slacker Radio.
If you are a current or previous Verizon user, this will not feel all that different. But, if you’re coming from an unlocked phone or stock Android experience, this is going to feel saturated in red.
After spending time away from Motorola phones, it was refreshing to be return to the software experience. Specifically, we were happy to find a largely untouched version of Android (6.0.1 Marshmallow) with only minor additions. And when we say additions, it’s subtle stuff that really enhances things.
Who doesn’t love picking their phone up and seeing the screen wake up? Moreover, we appreciate being able to twist our wrist to launch the camera, double chop to kick on the flashlight, or simply wave their hand over the display to wake it? To us, it’s just the right amount of OEM customization.
Aside from the heavy Verizon influence, we love the software that comes out of the box. And, even though we have our preferences to install, we can certainly make do with the default suite.
Do note, though, that of the 32GB of space that comes with the phone, you end up with a little over 18GB to use. If you plan to snap a bunch of pictures or load music, get yourself a microSD card. This goes double if you’re using the Hasselblad camera MotoMod or plan to capture 4K video.
Performance
The Moto Z Play Droid isn’t going to best any benchmarks but that matters little to us. We’re not pushing our phones to their limits and wager to guess that most of you aren’t either. With that said, the Snapdragon 625 processor (2GHz octa-core) and 3GB RAM do the trick for us.
We added a suite of applications and games to the phone over the last few weeks, all of which performed to our expectations. On paper the 625 CPU doesn’t sound as capable as an 810 or 820, but that’s hard to see in real-world scenarios. We know that there are, but the average user is not going to notice it.
We have no problem suggesting the Z Play Droid for middle-range and even moderately heavy users. If you don’t hold on to your phone for more much more than a year or so, or don’t care for bleeding-edge games, this is more than enough.
The fingerprint reader was easy to set up and has responded quickly in every situation we’ve employed it. Whether waking a phone up or authenticating a purchase, we found it to be accurate and fast.
What’s the best $400 phone you can buy?
We’d love to see Motorola put some sort of reader on the rear where the logo is, but that’s a quibble. To us, if you’re not pulling double duty with the reader acting as a home button, we say move it around back. Taken as a whole, this is one of the faster sensors we’ve spent time with. Not only that, there were fewer second and third touches than when compared to other devices.
As for speakers, there’s only one on the Moto Z Play Droid; it’s the same one for taking calls. Listening to music is decent as there’s plenty of sound. It could be more rich, but we don’t ever find ourselves breaking out a phone to take in a playlist.
Watching videos on YouTube or Netflix was pleasurable, but not overly robust. Again, we’re not the type to spend extended periods on our phone watching movies and expecting a theater experience. Throw in some headphones or pair to a speaker and now we’re talking.
Speakerphone was loud and clear, but music and video can get somewhat annoying in a single speaker setup. It could be worse, though; the loudspeaker could come from the side/bottom edge.
The phone comes with an internal, non-removable 3,510mAh battery. This is a really generous amount, especially when you see that it’s more than what the other Z models pack.
We’ve found that the battery lasts us well beyond two full days of use. Without fail, we’d unplug at 100% on Monday morning and get into bed on Tuesday night with juice left over. There’s such a wonderful feeling in knowing that you don’t have to get to a power supply before the day is out. But, even when you do, the Z Play Droid gets you up and running in no time.
Charging is super fast, for what it’s worth, thanks to the TurboPower cable. According to Motorola, spending 15 minutes on the charger will result in 10 hours of power. Seriously, plug your phone in at lunch and you’ve got another day’s worth of battery.
MotoMods
The whole notion of the MotoMods is an interesting one, but it’s also a gamble for prospective buyers. Just about every person we showed the phone and camera module to were immediately impressed but were quick to temper enthusiasm. “Yeah, what happens when Motorola stops using mods?” “Who is to say that Motorola doesn’t change their mind down the road?”
If you buy a Moto Z or Moto Z Droid series of phone, you’re buying into the added flexibility that comes with the modules. In theory, you’re also buying against the future when other, perhaps better MotoMods are made available.
On one hand, you’re buying the promise that your phone will be more flexible in the long run. On the other, investing in the MotoMods means you’ll be sticking with Motorola down the road. There’s nothing to suggest, at this point, that Motorola might scrap the design. But, if accessory makers aren’t seeing much traction or interest, they can very well pull out on a moment’s notice.
To us, it would be quite a PR mess for customers to purchase a number of MotoMods with the hopes they’ll work on the next generation (or two) of phones. At this stage we have to bank on the idea that Motorola and Lenovo are serious about the MotoMods.
As for the day-to-day usage of these, well, it’s pretty damn awesome. The magnets and hot-swappable design means you can snap on a killer speaker, extended battery, or better camera without rebooting. They stay in place quite well and don’t feel as if they are going to fall off on accident or with slight bumping. You have to put at least a moderate amount of effort to pull them apart from the phone.
Hasselblad True Zoom MotoMod
As part of our review kit, we also received one of the Hasselblad camera MotoMods to try out. Indeed, you can snap this guy on to the back of the phone as easily as the case and give your Motorola phone a 12-megapixel camera with a 10X optical zoom. Capable of taking RAW images, the camera also boasts a Xenon flash. The range of the flash is fantastic and beats anything you’ll get from a smartphone.
As you might expect, the camera can connect with both the Motorola Z Droid and Motorola Z Force Droid, too. Moreover, the other MotoMods launched in the last few weeks can be attached to the Moto Z Play Droid.
Once in place, the Hasselblad camera makes your phone about as thick as a point and shoot camera. Moreover, it weighs just as much, likely more. It’s a dense and bulky experience. Don’t look for it to slide into a pants pocket; its weird shape doesn’t make for a fun time to carry around.
The Hasselblad MotoMod completely covers the rear of the Moto Z Play Droid and other phones. Indeed, it even sits atop of the camera as it relies on its own hardware for picture taking and video recording. Additionally, it relies on the battery of your phone for power, too.
The Hasselblad has a curved grip on the right side which feels like a traditional camera. Further, the power, shutter, zoom dial, and other controls give it the look and touch of a well-designed point and shoot style camera. Pressing the power button wakes the Z Play Droid and launches the camera app. Alternately, you can still wake the camera up directly from the writ-twisting gesture or camera app.
If you have to go through Verizon for your phone needs, the Moto Z Play Droid is fantastic “every man” phone.
It would be nice if there were a way to put on a tripod mount somewhere in the module. Once connected to a phone, it begs to be put on a tripod. Start zooming in on a subject and you’ll see that, even at 10X, you’ll be shaky and unstable. This leads to pictures that aren’t focused or framed properly.
All of the pictures and videos captured by the phone and/or the True Zoom are stored on the handset. There is no external storage that comes with the Hasselblad MotoMod. Keep this in mind because once you get into RAW files or HD video, you’ll be chewing through space.
Once you’ve attached the MotoMod, Moto Z Play Droid loads a slightly different version of the Motorola camera app. Based largely on the default Moto camera experience, there are more shooting modes to choose from: sports, night portrait, backlight portrait, night landscape, landscape, and auto.
Strangely enough, the Hasselblad MotoMod doesn’t capture 4K video. The phone itself does, but the module doesn’t. It does, however, film 1080p HD video. Additionally, users don’t get a full manual setting for pictures. This means you’re not able to toggle ISO, exposure, shutter speed, or white balance when using the True Zoom. To say this was disheartening would be an understatement; we wanted full control over the enhance camera experience.
How are the photos? Generally speaking, they were not bad at all. Color and exposure are good, there’s not much grain, and we noticed very little light flare. Given this was centered around a brand name, and pricey $250+ camera experience we had high hopes. In the weeks we’ve spent with the module we’ve come away pleased with results.
As somewhat of a stress test, we relied strictly on the Motorola Moto Z Play Droid and the Hasselblad MotoMod for a recent press event. Coming away from it, we can’t say there were any particular instances where the camera should have done a better job for us. That is aside from not having any manual settings, of course. A macro mode would have been truly impressive. The timer worked nicely, capturing focused pictures and we definitely appreciated the optical zoom.
Conclusion
Given that the Moto Z Play Droid closely resembles both the Z Droid ($625) and Z Force Droid ($720), we have no issues in recommending it for most users. The specifications that most people care about are not all that different across the board and it’s $200 less than the counterparts. Hell, take that extra money and apply it toward a MotoMod on day one.
For about $400 you end up with one of the cooler looking phones on the market, plus it’s ready for modifications down the road. Assuming Lenovo and Motorola continue to support the ecosystem and other accessory makers climb aboard, the phone potentially increases in value over time.
Outside of the extra Verizon bloatware apps and services, the Moto Z Play Droid boasts one of our favorite builds of Android. Specifically, it’s like taking the default Android experience from Google and adding in just the right amount of gestures and functions. If you have to go through Verizon for your phone needs, the Moto Z Play Droid is fantastic “every man” phone.
If you can afford to, want the flexibility, or don’t have a carrier preference, opt for the non-Droid model direct from Motorola. It’s only $50 more and the unlocked nature means timelier updates and freedom to switch service providers.
With a variety of cool module accessories to choose from already, we’re optimistic that the MotoMod features are here to stay. And, thanks to its price, the Z Play Droid is the least expensive way to leverage that technology. On its own, the phone is a tremendous value, but it could get even better with time.
Editor’s Note: Excerpt of this post appeared in the initial unboxing and impressions post.
Best Google Pixel Cases (so far)
The phone is out, now get a case ready to protect it from Day 1.
Many of us are waiting for our Pixel or Pixel XL to arrive, and that means it’s time to get some accessories so we’re ready to go when it’s delivered. A case is the most basic accessory — some use one every day, and others keep one around for when they travel or expect to be a little rough on the phone.
It’s early days so the options are slim and duplicative when you look around the internet, but we have a few picks to consider. Here are the best cases, so far, for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
We’ll be updating this list as more cases are released from big name accessory companies like Otterbox, Lifeproof, Tech21, Spigen, and more!
Silicone Pixel Case by Google
If you’re willing to spend a little bit of money on a case, there’s no better place to go than the phone maker itself. Google’s own cases have never been inexpensive, but they’re also well made and designed to perfectly fit on the phone.
The silicone Pixel Case is somewhat thick like other full silicone cases, but for that reason offers plenty of protection all around for bumps and occasional small drops. It also gives you a small lip around the screen so you can put the phone face-down on a table without worry. Because of that thickness it may not be the best case for the already larger Pixel XL, though. It’s a nice fit on the standard Pixel.
With five solid colors available it may be a great choice to spice up the look of your Pixel or Pixel XL without having to buy the blue phone model itself. At $35 it’s on the high end for a case purchase for most, but it’s a nice one.
See at Google
Google Places Live Case
Google debuted its awesome Places Live Case for the Nexus 6P and 5X, and now offers it for the new Pixels. Search for anywhere in the world you want to put on the case, choose from six different map styles and a dozen different color combinations, and you can make an awesome case you won’t want to take off.
The case also gives you two extra perks. A unique Places live wallpaper is included, which shows you a stylized view of your current location — a neat trick that pulls the whole thing together. The case also has a customizable button on the back that you can do whatever you want with, helping justify the price a tad.
At $40 they’re spendy for sure, but you can know that nobody out there will have the exact same case you do — and you get to represent a specific part of the world wherever you travel at the same time! At the time of writing the cases aren’t yet in production, but you can already create and save your case design for when they are on sale.
See at Google
LK Ultra Scratch Resistant TPU case
Because it’s so early in the Pixel life cycle, case makers are still ramping up their offerings and most are pretty much identical. If you’re not interested in the expensive cases directly from Google (we wouldn’t blame you), it’s worth taking a shot with one of the cheaper simple offerings out there to tide you over.
LK has a simple transparent TPU case available in several colors. It’ll protect your new Pixel or Pixel XL while you make up your mind about a nicer case or a different style, and it’s just $8 — hard to beat that combo.
See at Amazon
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
Google Store
Verizon
Don’t buy your Google Pixel from Verizon
There’s basically no reason to buy the Pixel from Verizon.
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are really solid phones. You can say they’re a bit on the spendy side considering how much cheaper the past few Nexus phones have been, but Google is clearly swinging for the fences here.
Part of that plan is a multi-pronged retail approach that includes partnering with Verizon in the U.S. to get the new Pixels out in stores and in front of average consumers. But just because Google has struck a deal with Verizon to carry the phones doesn’t mean you need to go with that option — Google is also selling the phones directly through the Google Store, and through its own carrier Project Fi.
We’ve started to learn the details of how Verizon will handle the Pixel phones, and most of the news isn’t good for the savvy consumer who thinks about the intricacies of how they’ll experience their phone. Here’s why you should seriously consider bypassing Verizon if you make a Google Pixel purchase.
Bloat apps
Verizon is known for its bloatware just as much as any other carrier. Both its own-branded Verizon apps and plenty of pay-to-play partner apps fill up phones you buy from Verizon. If you buy a Pixel or Pixel XL from Verizon it won’t have the full suite of garbage, but you’ll get three apps nonetheless: Verizon Messages, Go90 and My Verizon. They should be uninstallable, but just knowing that they’re pre-loaded is something you shouldn’t have to deal with.
Having just three apps installed is a step in the right direction for Verizon, and I recognize that, but it needs to go all the way and stop installing these apps. You can install them from Google Play if you want, and that’s how it should be handled.
Slower updates
Part of the appeal of a Pixel phone (and Nexuses before it) is that it’ll be update directly by Google on a regular cadence, guaranteed. This isn’t entirely the case for the Pixels purchased from Verizon, however. In a bit of a capitulation, Google is letting Verizon handle platform updates going forward on the Pixels it sells — and this should be expected, as Verizon wants to verify things like network performance before thousands of phones get new software.
For what it’s worth Google says that it is still handling monthly security updates itself, and Verizon has historically let those slide on through quickly with phones this year; just look at the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge’s track record. But future platform updates potentially lagging behind their arrival on unlocked Pixels doesn’t feel good — a couple days may be okay, but how long are you willing to wait? For an enthusiast owner, probably not very long.
Encrypted bootloader
This last point is one that probably has the smallest number of people who care but for those people has the biggest impact: Verizon will encrypt the Pixel’s bootloader so you can’t unlock it. Now this really shouldn’t be all that surprising considering this is Verizon’s policy for every phone it sells, but considering that the bootloader will be unlockable when you buy the phone SIM-unlocked, it’s a bit disappointing.
If you want to unlock your Pixel’s bootloader for future application of factory images, use of custom ROMs or other flashable customizations, don’t even consider buying from Verizon.
The Google Store has you covered
Even if you didn’t think the few extra apps, slower updates and an encrypted bootloader were a very big deal (though at least one of those should be), the biggest thing that should keep you from buying through Verizon is the availability of Google’s own shopping experience.
The Google Store will sell you a Pixel or Pixel XL for the same price, with free shipping, in whatever configuration you’d like. It also offers you 24-month interest-free financing, just like Verizon will. The Pixel or Pixel XL you buy from Google directly will also still work on Verizon just fine — just pop in your SIM card and you’ll be up and running in no time. The only restriction will be the lack of HD Voice and Wi-Fi calling (though I thought the Verizon network was so good you don’t need Wi-Fi calling? Hm.)
It’s important for Google to have Verizon as a partner. But that doesn’t mean you should buy from the carrier.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s important for Google to get its new Pixels out in the world, sitting in Verizon stores and on Verizon’s website, being sold to normal people who walk in and make their buying decision with a quick stop at their local carrier store on their way home from work. Those people don’t care about slightly slower platform updates or an encrypted bootloader, and they’ll enjoy using their Pixel or Pixel XL.
But that doesn’t mean that you, the savvy consumer who thinks about all the details, have to make that decision. Because there is another perfectly good way to buy a new Pixel or Pixel XL that happens to also let you bypass Verizon’s meddling in your phone: store.google.com.
When you add it all up, I struggle to see a reason why you’d buy the new Google Pixel from Verizon. Sure some people won’t know about the Google Store, or will prefer to buy directly from Verizon as they have for years and maybe trade in their old phone for whatever crazy promotion Verizon is currently running. But you don’t have to make that mistake. You can be ahead of the curve and buy from Google, knowing you’re getting a better overall experience and an unencumbered phone, while using any carrier you prefer — yes, even if that’s Verizon.
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
Google Store
Verizon
How to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot on an Android phone
How to share your Android phone’s mobile data connection with laptops, tablets and other devices.
Setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot is an easy way to share your phone’s data connection with another device, like a tablet, Mac or PC. Tethering to your phone over Wi-Fi is often easier than using a cable, and you can have multiple devices connected if need be.
Android has had Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities built in for years now, though depending on your carrier, or the model of phone you have, it may work slightly differently. In this article, we’re going to cover the most common options — stock (unmodified) Android, and Samsung Galaxy phones.
NOTE: Tethering can quickly drain your battery, and use a lot of mobile data, so be careful!
On a Nexus 5X or 6P
How to enable Wi-Fi hotspot
Tap the Settings icon in your home screen or app drawer.
Under Wireless & networks, tap More.
Tap Tethering & portable hotspot.
Tap the toggle next to Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
You’ll also find a shortcut in the quick settings area.
Swipe down from the top of the screen to view notifications.
Swipe down again to see quick settings.
If the Hotspot shortcut isn’t already there, tap Edit, then long-press on Hotspot and drag it to the grid of tiles.
How to configure your Wi-Fi hotspot
If it’s your first time using the Wi-Fi hotspot feature, you might want to set your own network name and password, or change other settings.
At the Tethering & portable hotspot menu, tap Set up Wi-Fi hotspot.
Here you can enter your network name and password. (Tapping show password often makes it easier to type.)
You can also select the AP Band, though you can usually leave this at the default 2.4GHz. (5GHz sometimes works better in crowded areas with lots of Wi-Fi traffic, but has shorter range.)
Note: You can also disable network security from this menu if you need to, but that’s usually a bad idea.
On a Samsung Galaxy S7
How to enable Wi-Fi hotspot
Tap the Settings icon in your home screen or app drawer.
Tap Mobile hotspot and tethering
Tap Mobile hotspot, then hit the toggle at the top of the screen.
You’ll also find a shortcut in the quick settings area.
Swipe down from the top of the screen to view notifications and quick settings.
If you don’t see Mobile hotspot, you might need to swipe down again to see all quick settings.
To change the position of quick settings shortcuts, tap EDIT, then drag mobile hotspot to where you want it.
How to configure your Wi-Fi hotspot
If it’s your first time using the Wi-Fi hotspot feature, you might want to set your own network name and password, or change other settings.
At the Mobile hotspot menu, tap MORE in the top right corner of the screen.
Tap Timeout settings to choose how long the phone waits before turning off the hotspot, if nothing is connected to it.
Or tap Configure Mobile hotspot to choose your Network name and password (tapping show password often makes it easier to type complex passwords).
Note: You can also disable network security from this menu if you need to, but that’s usually a bad idea.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Galaxy S7 review
- Galaxy S7 edge review
- U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
- Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
- Best SD cards for Galaxy S7
- Join our Galaxy S7 forums
Unlocked
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
AT&T will now let Note 7 owners return their replacement phone
The plot thickens.
AT&T has reached out to Android Central to let us know that they are offering to replace the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for another phone if you have any concerns over the safety of the device.
If a customer would like to exchange a replacement Note7 for a different device we will do so.
The short official statement comes on the heels of a replacement Note 7 phone catching fire on a Southwest Airlines plane that was boarding in Louisville and destined for Baltimore. The phone in question was a device bought as a replacement and is now in the hands of local Louisville authorities.
The Note 7 originally launched with much fanfare, most of which was later tarnished by a notice from Samsung on September 2 to power off the device and return it for replacement, followed by an official safety recall in conjunction with the CSPC and Health Canada. A recent statement from CSPC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye reminds users holding on to an original Note 7 that one of the options provided to them under the recall is to return the device for a full refund.
More: Everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 7 recall
Customers on Sprint can also return their Note 7 in exchange for another phone, and T-Mobile suggests customers with concerns use their Buyer’s Remorse program and exchange it.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Rent Hotel Transylvania for just 31 cents at the Microsoft Store!
Right now you can rent Hotel Transylvania for just 31 cents from the Microsoft Store, a huge discount from its regular $3.99 price. Both the SD and HD versions are available for the same price, and you can even get it for the same price in Canada. With rentals from the Microsoft Store, you have access to it for 14 days from the time you rent it to begin watching it, and 24 hours from the time you start watching it to finish it or watch it again.
If you aren’t familiar with the movie Hotel Transylvania, it is described as:
The last thing Simon Van Helsing, the youngest in a line of monster hunters, wants to do is fall in love with Dracula’s daughter, Mavis. Upon discovering that they are natural enemies, the doomed couple attempt to bring peace between the warring monsters and humans.
This offer won’t last long, so if you want to check this movie out you should do it quickly. Whether you want something new to watch during the storm this weekend or something to keep the kids busy so you can get some stuff done, this is a great way to do so without spending a bunch of cash.
See at Microsoft
Hackers doctored anti-doping files before releasing them
The World Anti-Doping Agency wanted Russia banned from the 2016 Olympics for operating a “state-run doping program.” In response, hackers, believed to be from the country, breached WADA’s systems and published a bunch of athletes’ private health files. But now, the drug-testing body has revealed that some of the documents that were leaked to the public weren’t actually legitimate.
In a release, the organization says that “not all data released” by the hacking group known as Fancy Bear “accurately reflects” the files that WADA holds. It appears as if someone seized the real documents and made spurious amendments that were designed to undermine the organization’s legitimacy. There are no prizes for guessing who’s behind the leak, since most fingers are viciously jabbing towards the Kremlin.
It’s not the first time that Putin’s digital army has been accused of using the internet to undermine its perceived enemies. The FBI believes that Russia was involved in the hack of the Democratic National Committee that forced the resignations of several top officials. In addition, the FBI thinks that political activity could be at risk from a concerted attempt to rig the 2016 election in favor of the Republican candidate.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: WADA
Philadelphia court orders Uber, Lyft to stop operating in the city
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft deal with legal and regulatory issues all the time, but the battle is heating up in Philadelphia. A Common Pleas Court judge ordered the two companies to stop operating in the city yesterday, but both are still offering rides to customers today. Engadget has confirmed via the apps for both Uber and Lyft that the services are still up and running in Philly.
The injunction comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by taxi drivers against the Philadelphia Parking Authority back in July. That suit argues that equal protections were not provided for all operators of the city’s car services. It also says that ride-hailing services aren’t required to adhere to the Americans With Disabilities Act like taxis do, so people with disabilities aren’t being offered the same options. Neither Uber or Lyft were named as defendants in that suit.
Lyft said the hearing that led to the ban didn’t involve the company and it wasn’t given the change to respond to the proceedings. “Lyft was not given any notice or opportunity to be heard on this issue before yesterday’s ruling,” the company said in a statement to Engadget. “We are appealing the order and will continue operating in Philadelphia as the legal process moves forward. People in Pennsylvania want access to ridesharing, and we remain committed to finding a statewide solution that keeps this modern option available across the state.”
In a statement to Engadget, Uber said it plans to remain operational in Philadelphia during the appeals process. “While our appeal is pending at the Commonwealth Court, Uber will remain available for riders and drivers,” the statement read. “This situation makes it clear that Harrisburg needs to act: Pennsylvania must have permanent, statewide ridesharing legislation as soon as possible.” Uber also explained that its authorization for uberX in the city expired on September 30th and it awaits a permanent solution from the legislature.
While the two companies wait on that decision, it appears to be business as usual while the legal process plays out. Both Uber and Lyft face another regulatory battle in Pennsylvania in a few days as the state legislature plans to discuss ride-hailing apps later this month. New regulations could override the current injunction and appeals process that resulted from the aforementioned lawsuit. Both ride-hailing companies are urging government officials to adopt a “statewide solution” as soon as possible.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Philly.com
AIVAnet 