Top 5 reasons why Rootless Pixel Launcher is better than Nova and Action Launcher

Rootless Pixel Launcher is the best option available for turning your phone into a Pixel 2.

In the Android launcher space, Nova and Action Launcher reign supreme as two of the best options available. This is a point that I have no problem agreeing with, but even so, it’s important to admit when a formidable (and potentially better) alternative comes around.

There are a few different launchers that try to mimic the look and feel of the Pixel 2’s interface, and while a lot of these come really close to being the real deal, few are as well-polished and feature-rich as Rootless Pixel Launcher. Rootless Pixel Launcher was recently updated to version 3.0, and if you’ve been wanting to spruce up the look and feel of your non-Pixel phone, it definitely deserves a place on your shortlist. Here’s why.

Google Feed is enabled by default

The Google Feed hasn’t aged gracefully since the introduction of Google Assistant, but even so, it’s something I find myself checking multiple times each day on my Pixel 2. Apps like Nova and Action Launcher allow you to use the Google Feed on your left-most home screen after installing a separate APK file, but with Rootless Pixel Launcher, this is enabled by default.

As soon as you download and install the launcher, you can immediately access the Google Feed and everything it has to offer, including news stories you’re interested in, customizations for the feed, and a tab for viewing more contextual cards. The Feed works just like it does on the Pixel 2, and the fact that it does so without the need for an additional app is pretty awesome.

The At a Glance widget is here

Although it’s hated by some, I absolutely love the At a Glance widget that Google introduced last fall. Having a consistent showcase for the time and date really is quite helpful, and when upcoming calendar appointments pop up, I fall even more in love with the thing.

My personal feelings aside, At a Glance works wonderfully on Rootless Pixel Launcher. As long as your Google app is up to date, it should work without a hitch. Tapping on the weather icon will open Google Weather, tapping on the date will take you to Google Calendar, and just like on the Pixel 2, you can adjust your preferences to choose whether or not you want it to display traffic and flight information.

Notification dots are free

Both Nova and Action Launcher have been updated to support adaptive notification dots, and while this is great, you’re required to pay for their respective premium versions in order to use them. On the other hand, this is something that Rootless Pixel Launcher gives you for free.

You don’t have any customization over the appearance of the dots like you do with Nova and Action, but the fact that they work without having to hand over any cash is a big plus.

When you get a notification, the app that it came from will show a small dot next to it so you can quickly see which apps have notifications that need tending to. It’s an admittedly small feature, but if you want to have the full Pixel 2 experience, they’re an essential component.

Support for icon packs

As much as I love the Pixel Launcher on my Pixel 2, one of the things I desperately wish it had was support for icon packs. I highly doubt this is something Google will ever add to the official version, but that really doesn’t matter since Rootless Pixel Launcher already allows you to do this.

Once you install the icon pack you’d like, hold down on your home screen and go to Home Settings -> Icon Pack. Choose the one that fits your mood/style for the day, and you’ll have a Pixel 2-style launcher that’s even more personal than what you’ll find on the real deal. Yes, yes, I know this is something you can do on Action and Nova launcher, too, but hear me out for one last pont.

This is the Pixel 2 launcher

For all intents and purposes, Rootless Pixel Launcher is the Pixel Launcher that’s on the Pixel 2. Developer Amir Zaidi based the launcher on the official one that ships with the Pixel 2, and as such, you get all of the little touches here and there you’d expect from the real deal.

The app drawer has a little bounce when swiping all the way to the top or bottom, the Google search bar at the bottom follows the app drawer as you swipe up, and Google logo in the search widget and app drawer background will change colors based on the wallpaper you have set. Like I said, this is the Pixel 2 launcher.

What do you think?

Now that I’ve stepped off my soapbox, what do you think? Is the Rootless Pixel Launcher something you’d consider using over Nova or Action Launcher? Let me know in the comments below!

Rootless Pixel Launcher 3.0 is basically the Pixel 2 launcher on steroids

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Verizon won’t sell the Mate 10 Pro or any other Huawei phones

The final nail in the coffin.

What the heck happened to the Huawei Mate 10 Pro? It was supposed to be the first Huawei device that’d be available through a U.S. carrier, but these plans were quickly shut down when AT&T officially stepped away from the deal. A report came out shortly after this indicating that Verizon would do something similar, and now it appears that’s exactly what happened.

According to sources that spoke with Bloomberg, Verizon Wireless has officially decided to not sell the Huawei Mate 10 Pro like it originally intended to. In fact, Verizon won’t be carrying any other Huawei phones for the foreseeable future.

Just like what happened with AT&T, this decision is a result of pressure Verizon faced from the United States government claiming that Huawei devices would pose a security threat if sold on a wireless carrier in the country. In addition to the disadvantage this puts consumers at for less choice in the market, this also prevents Verizon from working with Huawei on developing 5G technologies – something AT&T’s commercial operations have also been faced with.

All of this recent backlash makes Huawei’s plans for ever releasing a phone on a U.S. carrier look pretty bleak, and considering how awesome of a device the Mate 10 Pro is, that’s a bummer.

I know that this can be a controversial topic, but what do you think about the U.S. government pressuring carriers to end relationships with Huawei? Let me know in those comments below.

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• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
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Best Android apps for taxes and getting money back in 2018

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

Benjamin Franklin was right, and considering the former has not reached us yet, you can bet your sweet refund check the later has rolled around yet again. Nobody really likes filing their taxes, but it’s that time of year. These apps will help you to get the job done with as little muss and fuss as possible. They can also help you to stay on top of things during the off-season so that you are ready for next year!

So grab your 1040 and let’s go get that refund! Maybe.

• TurboTax Tax Refund App
• Quickbooks Self-Employed
• Mint
• Google Drive
• H&R Block Tax Prep and File
• IRS2GO

TurboTax Tax Refund App

We’ve recommended this app before, with plenty of good reason, TurboTax’s Tax Refund app can sync with your TurboTax account so that you can fill out the question-by-question tax preparation throughout your busy day. It’s also helpful if you need to go spelunking for more forms in the black hole formerly known as the family office. You may not fill out your entire return here, but at least you can keep going even if you get dragged away from the computer.

Download: TurboTax Tax Preparation (Free, in-app purchases)

Quickbooks Self-Employed

We’re living in a world where being a freelancer or owning your own small business is more common than ever. When you aren’t dealing with a traditional W2 to file, and especially if you have multiple sources of income, this is a great way to keep track of everything you have going on. You can store your receipts, get help with tracking mileage, and even get quarterly updates on your taxes so you know what to expect in April, and it will sync up with Turbo Tax because it’s by the same company.

Honestly, it’s a little late for this to really help you on this tax return, but if you install it this year, next year’s taxes should be much easier.

Quickbook Self-Employed (Free, in-app purchases)

Mint

If you haven’t been using a personal finance app all year, it’s too late for this return, but maybe the sting from this year will be enough to actually get you into the habit of using an app like Mint. Mint is made by the same company as TurboTax and it’s a simple way to both keep an eye on your budget and maintain a trail of where you spent money over the year for things like — you guessed it — your tax return. Whether you’re saving your way towards that down payment on your first home or you’re just trying to make sure you’ve got enough left over for whatever new phone/tablet/game/toy you’ll be dying to buy on launch day, Mint can help you make it happen.

Mint (Free)

Google Drive

If you think you’re more likely to face an audit, or even if you’re just looking to get all these documents somewhere easier to sort and access, then think about scanning your documents to a folder in Google Drive for this year’s tax return. This way, you can click it, save it, and move on. Drive can also prove useful as you can make lists of deductions you did and didn’t take and keep it in that same folder.

Google Drive (Free, in-app purchases)

H&R Tax Prep and File

H&R Block Tax Prep and File is the app for one of the most popular non-Turbo Tax tax services in the country, and their app can help you get your tax return done as painlessly as possible, and can even get you your refund “instantly” in the form of an easily-spendible Amazon gift card, for those of us who intend to use that refund on a new toy — I mean, lifestyle investment. They even have a bunch of handy frames for your #TaxesWon selfie, if you’re into that kind of thing…

H&R Block Tax Prep and File (Free, in-app purchases)

IRS2Go

The IRS is who you’re sending your tax return to, so it might help if you saw the tips they give out to help maximize your refund, streamline the process, and get you done with your taxes so they can get done with them, too. The IRS2Go app can also help you track your refund once it’s submitted, so you’ll know when it should be landing in your direct deposit account.

If your taxes are getting to be too much for you, the IRS2Go app also provides a handy directory of local tax prep offices that you can turn to for help, especially if you qualify for free tax prep. It can also help you to set up a payment plan if it looks like you owe more in taxes than you can afford to pay right now.

Download: IRS2Go (Free)

Are you using these apps?

Taxes are pretty much always a stressful process, no matter how used to them you actually are. Thankfully the days of having to do everything on paper are past us, and these apps can help you to streamline that process. Whether that means using them to track your expenses so you avoid surprised, or just to keep track of when your refund hits, they can be a serious help in reducing your stress levels.

Are you using any of these apps? Is there a good one that we failed to mention? Be sure to drop us a line in the comments and let us know about it!

Updated January 2018: The tax apps have been refreshed for the 2018 tax season, and so has our article!

Google has officially completed its $1.1 billion HTC deal

All the pieces are in place to make the Pixel 3 as awesome as possible.

A few days before Google unveiled the Pixel 2 at its October hardware event, it was announced that the company would be spending $1.1 billion to acquire around 2,000 HTC employees to beef up its hardware division. A little over four months since this deal was announced, Google’s confirmed that it’s been completed.

Google worked closely with HTC’s hardware talent during the development of both the first-gen Pixel and Pixel 2, but now that they’re officially working under the Google umbrella, the result should (hopefully) be even better hardware design and reliability than what we’ve seen from the past two years.

The employees that are joining Google are the same ones that helped HTC launch the first 3G-capable phone in 2005, the first smartphone that used a touchscreen as the primary input in 2007, and the first phone made entirely out of a metal unibody in 2013 (the HTC One M7).

The hardware improvements that Google made from the Pixel to Pixel 2 are awfully impressive, and while it’s too early to truly speculate about what the Pixel 3 will offer, the completion of the HTC deal can only benefit the development of the phone.

Lastly, Google also says that the acquisition will allow it to expand operations further into Asia – specifically using Taiwan as a “key innovation and engineering hub” and Taipei now becoming Google’s biggest engineering site in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Galaxy S9 will be great, but I’m waiting for Google’s Pixel 3

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

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OnePlus 5/5T Open Beta removes Clipboard app, adds iPhone X-like gestures

R.I.P Clipboard 💀

The OnePlus 5 and 5T are receiving their second OxygenOS Open Beta update this month, and while there are a few added features and bug fixes, OnePlus is also removing something that it just added a couple weeks ago – its Clipboard app.

A new Clipboard function was added to the OnePlus 5/5T with an OxygenOS Open Beta on January 16, and it introduced a pop-up window that appeared whenever copying text on the phone. With this pop-up window, you had easy controls for sharing text and even the ability to open a web browser preview if highlighting a link. However, today’s update removes it.

Now you can navigate Android while completely hiding its navigation buttons.

While the removal of a new feature isn’t any fun, there’s still some good to be had with this latest update. OnePlus has added a new gesture for incoming calls so you can choose to slide up or down to answer, the latest CVE-2017-13218 security patch has been added to the CPU, and there’s also a new option for hiding Android’s navigation buttons and using gestures similar to what’s found on the iPhone X. Early reports indicate that the feature is a bit buggy in its current form, but it still sounds like something that’s worth checking out.

Users in India are also getting a new feature that’ll automatically sort SMS messages into different categories, and all 5/5T owners will see general performance improvements/bug fixes.

Phones that are already enrolled in the Open Beta should receive an OTA update within the coming days, and if you’re not currently part of it but want to jump in on the action, you can sign up by flashing the update file to your 5/5T.

OnePlus 5T Star Wars edition goes back on sale in India for limited time

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

• OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement
• OnePlus 5T specs
• Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 3T?
• OnePlus 5T vs. Galaxy S8: Beast mode
• All of the latest OnePlus 5T news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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Apple might delay iOS interface revamp to focus on stability

If you hadn’t noticed, iOS 11 has had more than its fair share of bugs. And that’s apparently been worrisome enough to prompt a rethink of how the company approaches iOS 12. Axios sources have said that Apple is pushing some major iOS feature updates into 2019 to focus this year’s upgrades on “performance and quality issues.” Reportedly, Apple is delaying refreshes of the home screen interface, CarPlay, core apps and photography in favor of quality and responsiveness. There will be significant improvements in 2018, the insiders said — they’ll just focus on less dramatic areas like augmented reality, health and parental controls.

We’ve asked Apple if it can comment, although it typically doesn’t talk about leaks.

It’s not unheard of for Apple or other OS developers to push back major features. The release of iOS 9 focused more on under-the-hood improvements, while macOS has tended to alternate between major upgrades and subtler refinements like this year’s High Sierra. Google mostly focused on behind-the-scenes tweaks with Android Oreo. In all cases, though, they produce mixed reactions. While you’ll certainly see arguments that Apple should get its software house in order, this won’t please those who want Apple to be more aggressive — especially now that it has a brand new iPhone design to work with.

Via: 9to5Mac

Source: Axios

India’s Uber rival Ola expands into Australia

While Uber is distracted with lawsuits and a London ban, its ride-hailing rivals are expanding. First it was China’s Didi arriving in Brazil and Taiwan, and now its Ola’s turn. The Indian company, which shares common investors Softbank and Didi with Uber, is heading to Australia. Ola said it’s started adding private hire vehicle drivers in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth in its first move outside of its native India.

Ola landed on the scene in 2011, and has since snapped up more than 125 million registered users and over 1 million drivers across 110 cities in India. Expansion was on the cards following the firm’s $2 billion funding round in October, which included investment from China’s Tencent and the University of California’s investment arm, among others.

Despite the expansion, Uber and Ola’s primary battleground remains India, where the former counts 450,000 drivers among its ranks. Ola recently announced plans to take on its rival with a fleet of electric vehicles, including cars and auto-rickshaws.

Source: Ola

Snap’s Bitmoji Deluxe adds more avatar personalization options

If you’re an avid user of the Bitmoji keyboard, this is your lucky day. Snap announced Bitmoji Deluxe, which includes hundreds of new customizations for your Bitmoji. These include skin tone options, hair styles, hair colors, facial features, accessories and more.

To ensure your Bitmoji looks as much like you as possible, Snap has added the option to use a selfie to inspire the look of your Bitmoji. Additionally, when you’re deep into customization, a new feature allows you to preview your facial feature selection directly onto your Bitmoji, so you’ll know exactly what the finished product will look like.

If you’re ready to change up your Bitmoji, visit “Settings” in the Bitmoji app and hit “Change Avatar Style.” If you like your Bitmoji the way it is, though, then you don’t have to change a thing.

Source: Snap

Scientists explore using astronaut poop to make space food

Astronauts aboard the ISS drink recycled pee for a reason: we can only bring so much food and water to to space. Imagine how much more we need to take for that year-long journey to Mars. Since bringing more resources means higher costs — the heavier a spacecraft is, the more fuel it needs, after all — scientists are looking to find ways to make self-sustaining vehicles. A team of researchers from Penn State University, for instance, have developed a method to make space food with astronaut poop.

Disgusting? Well, the team’s technique doesn’t exactly turn the feces itself into food. Instead, it uses microbes to break down solid and liquid human waste with anaerobic digestion, a process that doesn’t consume precious oxygen, similar to what happens inside our stomach when we eat. During digestion, the fecal material produces methane, which is then fed to bacteria (Methylococcus capsulatus) naturally found in soil and already used to make animal pellets using a microbial reactor.

When the researchers tested their technique using artificial poop, the end result was biomass that’s 52 percent protein and 36 percent fats. That’s what future spacefarers would eat — and what Mark Watney probably would’ve used as dip for his potatoes if he just had the equipment. Team leader and Penn State professor Christopher House admits that “[i]t’s a little strange,” but it’s like “Marmite or Vegemite where you’re eating a smear of ‘microbial goo.’” We’ll bet space-poop goo is also an acquired taste.

In addition to being packed with nutrients, the goo is also relatively fast to make: researchers said they managed to remove 49 to 59 percent of the solids in the waste material within 13 hours during their tests. That’s much faster than current waste management treatment methods, and as House said, it’s “faster than growing tomatoes or potatoes.”

The researchers also found potential food sources other than Methylococcus capsulatus during their tests. When they tried growing microbes in either an alkaline or a high-heat environment to prevent the growth of pathogens, they discovered that a bacterium called Halomonas desiderata (15 percent protein and 7 percent fats) can thrive in the harsh conditions. Another species of bacteria called Thermus aquaticus can live in environments reaching 158 degrees Fahrenheit, as well. With a nutritional value that’s 61 percent protein and 16 percent fats, it’s yet another possible source of microbial goo grub for future astronauts.

Source: PennState, ScienceAlert

Nuro’s self-driving vehicle carries packages, not passengers

As Toyota proved by winning Engadget’s Best of CES 2018 award for its e-Palette, robotic cars that can deliver things other than humans are coming at us fast. A new startup called Nuro is capitalizing on that idea, but taking a different angle with its self-driving electric van. Rather than carrying things over long distances, the narrow, lightweight vehicles are designed to carry packages, and only packages, on “the last mile” to buyers.

The Nuro vehicles are around the same size as a normal crossover vehicle, but only 3.5 feet wide and just 1,500 pounds, with a 250 pound maximum payload. There’s a “windshield” so as not to alarm other drivers, but only space for food, boxes and other things — not drivers. The interior can be customized for dry-cleaners, florists and other types of businesses. On top is a typical self-driving sensor array with LiDAR, cameras and radar that can guide the vehicle through traffic to its destination.

Nuro seemed to come out of nowhere, but it was started by two former engineers from Google’s Waymo self-driving division, Robert Ferguson and Ziajun Zhu. The company has already rounded up $92 million in capital and some of the Bay Area’s best engineers.

The fact that Nuro’s cars are relatively slow, take up little lane space, and carry no passengers gives the company a competitive leg-up, its founders believe. “For us, there are just some things we don’t need to worry about [like passengers],” Ferguson told Bloomberg. “Most of these things sort of drive like my grandma.”

Nuro’s system is pretty unique, but it has some formidable competition. Automakers like Ford and GM are working on their own self-driving cars for passengers and delivery, and a firm called Starship Technologies is experimenting with sidewalk robotic deliveries. On the same day Nuro launched, another startup called Udelv did the first demonstration of its own delivery vehicle, carrying groceries from a Silicon Valley store to a pair of customers, the Financial Times reports.

Nuro has a permit from the California DMV to test its technology, but still needs a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) signoff. Once it has that, it will test its technology using six self-driving cars, then apply what it’s learned to the prototype vehicles.