10 basic Android terminal commands you should know

You don’t have to be a software developer to know your way around the Android Debug Bridge.

For a lot of us, the fact that we can plug our Android phone into a computer and interact with it is a big plus. Besides the times when we’ve broken something and need to fix it, there are plenty of reasons why an advanced Android user would want to talk to their device. To do that, you need to have a few tools and know a few commands. That’s what we’re going to talk about today.

Granted, this won’t be the end-all be-all discussion of adb commands, but there are 10 basic commands everyone should know if they plan to get down and dirty with the command line.

You’ll need some tools and getting them is easy. Head on over to the Android developer’s site. You can either install the full Android Studio package if you want extra debugging tools or you can scroll down to the bottom of the page and download just the command line tools. Unless you’re developing or debugging something on or for your phone, you’ll want just the command line tools.

Installing the SDK on your computer

Installing the command line tools without the full SDK

If you’re using Windows, there’s one more step. Visit the manufacturer’s page for your device and install the adb and fastboot drivers for Windows. You’ll need this so that your computer can talk to your Android device. If you hit a snag (Windows can be fickle) visit the forums and somebody is bound to be able to help you through it.

Now that we’re all on the same page, enable USB debugging on your device (see your devices manual if you need help finding it) and plug your phone into your computer.

Here we go.

1. The adb devices command

The adb devices command is the most important one of the bunch, since it’s used to make sure your computer and Android device are communicating. That’s why we’re covering it first.

If you’re a pro at the operating system on your computer, you’ll want to add the directory with the Android tools to your path. If you’re not, no worries. Just start up your terminal or command console and point it where you put the extracted tools you downloaded above.

Once you’re sure that you are in the right folder, type adb devices at the command prompt. If you get a serial number, you’re good to go! If you don’t, make sure you’re in the right folder and that you have the device driver installed correctly if you’re using Windows. And be sure you have USB debugging turned on!

Now that we have everything set up, let’s look at a few more commands.

2. The adb push command

If you want to move a file onto your Android device programmatically, you want to use the adb push command. You’ll need to know a few parameters, namely the full path of the file you’re pushing, and the full path to where you want to put it. In the picture above I’m pushing a song from my Music folder on my desktop to the music folder on my phone.

Notice the slashes in the file path and the quotes around the path on my computer in the command. Windows uses as a directory switch in a file path and Unix uses /. Because the file name has spaces and special characters (I renamed it this way on purpose!) you need to encase the path in quotes.

3. The adb pull command

If adb push sends files to your Android device, it stands to reason the adb pull command would pull them out.

That’s exactly what it does, and it works the same way as the adb push command did. You need to know both the path of the file you want to pull off, as well as the path you want it placed into. You can leave the destination path blank and it will drop the file into your tools folder to make things easy.

In this example, I did it the hard way and entered the full path(s) so you can see what it looks like. Remember your forward slash versus backward slash rules here and you’ll have no problems.

4. The adb reboot command

This is exactly what you think it is — a way to reboot your device from the command line. Running it is simple: just type adb reboot and enter.

Before you say “I can just push the button!” you have to understand that these commands can be scripted, and your device can reboot in the middle of a script if you need it to. And that’s a good segue to number five.

5. The adb reboot-bootloader and adb reboot recovery commands

Not only can you reboot your device, you can specify that it reboots to the bootloader. This is awfully handy, as sometimes those button combos are touchy, and if you have a lot of devices it’s tough to remember them all. Some devices don’t even have a way to boot to the bootloader without this command. And once again, being able to use this command in a script is priceless.

Doing it is easy, just type adb reboot-bootloader and hit the enter key.

Most devices can also boot into the recovery directly with the adb reboot recovery (note there is no hyphen in this one) and some can’t. It won’t hurt anything to try.

6. The fastboot devices command

When you’re working inside the bootloader, adb no longer works. You’re not yet booted into Android, and the debugging tools aren’t active to communicate with. You’ll need to use the fastboot command in its place.

Fastboot is probably the most powerful Android debug tool available, and many devices don’t have it enabled. If yours does, you need to be sure things are communicating. That’s where the fastboot devices command comes into play. At the prompt, just type in fastboot devices and you should see a serial number, just like the adb devices command we looked at earlier.

If things aren’t working and you’re using Windows, you likely have a driver issue and you’ll need to source it from the manufacturer.

7. The fastboot unlock command

The fastboot unlock process will erase everything on your phone and reset it.

The holy grail of Android commands, fastboot flashing unlock does one thing, and one thing only — unlocks your bootloader. It’s not enabled on every phone, even phones that support fastboot, but we’re including it because even if you don’t need it, it’s an important part of Android’s openness. Google doesn’t care what we do with phones as long as it doesn’t go against rules for Google Play access, and that includes this easy way to crack them open, even if the company who made your phone doesn’t support it.

Using it is easy enough. Once you’ve used fastboot devices to make sure everything is communicating, just type fastboot flashing unlock at the prompt and hit enter. Look at your device, read carefully, and choose wisely.

8. The adb install command

While adb push can copy files to our Android devices, adb install can actually install apps. You’ll need to supply the path where you have the .apk file saved, then run it like this: adb install TheAppName.apk.

If you’re updating an app, you use the -r switch: adb install -r TheAppName.apk. There is also a -s switch which tries to install on the SD card as well as other commands you probably won’t ever need.

And finally, you can uninstall apps by their package name with adb uninstall package-name-here. Uninstall has a switch, too. The -k switch will uninstall the app but leave all the app data and cache in place.

9. The adb sideload command

An OTS (over-the-air) update is downloaded by your phone as a .zip file. You can also download that zip file manually and install it without having to wait for your phone to have the update pushed to it. The end result is the same as if you had waited, but we hate waiting.

All you have to do is download the update to your computer. Plug your phone into the computer. Then, reboot into recovery on your phone and using the up and down volume buttons choose Apply update from ADB. Then hop into your favorite terminal/command line and type adb sideload Full-Path-to-the-file.zip and hit enter. Let things run their course, and you’re golden.

10. The adb shell command

The adb shell command confuses a lot of folks. There are two ways to use it, one where you send a command to the device to run in its own command line shell, and one where you actually enter the device’s command shell from your terminal.

In the image above, I’m inside the device shell. Getting there is easy enough, just type adb shell and enter. Once inside, you can interact with the actual running operating system on your phone. I’ll warn you that unless you’re familiar with an ash or bash shell, you need to be careful here because things can turn south quickly if you’re not. Ash and bash are command shells. They allow you to interact with your phone through typed commands and a lot of folks use one or both on their Linux or Mac computers even if they didn’t know it. ** It is not DOS so don’t try any DOS commands.**

The other method of using the adb shell command is using it to tell your phone to run a shell command without going into the shell. Using it is easy; type adb shell An example would be changing permissions on a file like so: adb shell chmod666 /sdcard/somefile.

Be very careful running direct commands using these methods.

And there you have it. There are plenty more commands to learn if you ‘re the type who likes to learn commands, but these 10 are the ones you really need to know if you if you want to start digging around at the command prompt.

Updated August 2018 to stay current with the latest releases of Android.

How’s your Moto Z3 Play doing?

Motorola’s other Z3 handset is still a great choice.

Yesterday at an event in Chicago, Motorola officially unveiled the Moto Z3. The Moto Z3 is the company’s flagship phone for 2018, and while it has plenty to like, its Moto Z3 Play sibling from last month is still a great choice.

Both the Z3 and Z3 Play share a lot in common, with one of the biggest differences being the fact that the Z3 is exclusive to Verizon while the Z3 Play is available unlocked through a number of retailers.

Some of our forum users have already picked up the Moto Z3 Play, and according to them, the phone’s been doing great.

Ha P McBroom
07-23-2018 09:56 AM

“

Okay I recently got a Moto Z3 Play from Amazon the Prime exclusive model and I have to say it’s been really good with keeping up with my Daily mobile habits. I tend to use the phone for mixed use at work usually to help customer service with finding a item on our website. And for watching all kinds of video content. So the battery has to keep up and Moto Z3 Play does a good job with that. How’s…

Reply

morriea
07-23-2018 07:36 PM

“

So far, I have not found any need to use the included battery mod. I slapped a Style Shell on it when I received the phone and have only switched it out for my Speaker Mod when going on the boat. Battery life has been great (coming from a Z Play Droid with the mega battery life). YouTube, web surfing, Bluetooth for music, navigation, etc is my normal use. No social media. I rarely turn on WiFi…

Reply

Now, we’d love to get some input from you! How’s your Moto Z3 Play holding up?

Join the conversation in the forums!

How to save battery life on Android P

You should take advantage of all the battery-saving features Google built into Android P.

With the industry as a whole gravitating toward thinner phones, manufacturers are coming up with new ways to conserve battery life. For instance, Huawei is known to implement aggressive battery saving measures in EMUI, and it tends to get so extreme at times that the feature is known to break core Android apps, or cause a media player to blacklist all Huawei devices entirely.

With Android P, Google is addressing the problem head-on by rolling out a set of tools that improve battery life. There’s a new Adaptive Battery mode that leverages machine learning to understand your daily app usage, allowing only apps that see regular usage to run in the background. Then there’s Background Restrictions, which lets you limit access to apps that continue to utilize a lot of system resources in the background. Google has also introduced a new auto brightness mode that intelligently adjusts brightness based on the ambient light in your environment.

With the final Android P beta out now and the stable build set to become available shortly, it’s time to take a look at how the upcoming version of Android delivers better battery life in day-to-day usage.

Restricted apps

A welcome addition to Android P is Background Restrictions. The power management feature is a part of the larger Google initiative to improve stability and performance of all Android devices.

Android P lets you restrict misbehaving apps from using background resources. If an app designed for an older version of Android (API level 26 or lower) is using wake lock when the screen is off or utilizing excessive background resources, then the OS notifies you and gives you an option to limit that app’s access to system resources.

On devices like the Pixel, these restricted apps won’t be able to access the network or invoke the scheduler unless they’re in the foreground. Furthermore, Google is actively restricting the amount of network activity background apps can access. Google even made an index of the actions that would constitute bad behavior for a particular app.

Adaptive Battery

Adaptive Battery is a nifty feature in Android P that limits background usage for apps that you don’t use often. What it means is that apps that you regularly use will load instantly as the OS learns your usage patterns over time.

For example, if you open Instagram first thing in the morning, scan through your timeline for a few minutes and don’t return to the app until a few hours later, the AI will learn to anticipate that behavior and limit its background usage.

From Android Framework group product manager Benjamin Poiesz, in an interview with Ars Technica:

Adaptive battery was one of those ones where we’re trying to get better and better predictions about what we think you’re going to be using, so then those things can be allowed to run more, and the things that we don’t think will be used, we’re deferring them.

This is just the start

Alongside the AI-assisted battery saver mode, Google is implementing several under-the-hood changes that deal with how background tasks are handled on phones with two sets of cores. Most phones in the market today offer eight cores, and they’re split into two clusters: a set of four energy-efficient cores that are designed to prolong battery life, and a set of high-performance cores for when you need all available resources. Starting with Android P, Google is delineating core usage when the screen is off to restrict the idle battery drain.

There’s an excellent breakdown on how the battery-related fixes coming to Android P will deliver better battery life over at Ars Technica, so be sure to take a look if you’re interested in learning more. For instance, if you’re streaming music on your phone, it makes sense to pre-download songs as it saves the modem from having to engage constantly.

As for real-world usage, I’m seeing a considerable uptick — to the tune of 10 to 15 percent — in battery life on the first-gen Pixel running the Android P beta. That was the case from the initial Android P beta builds, and with Google constantly squashing bugs and ironing out issues, battery life figures will only go up.

What has your experience been like using Android P? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Livall BH60 Helmet Review: Smarts for my brain bucket

I didn’t know I needed a smart bike helmet, but now I won’t ride without it.

I’m a relatively new cyclist, averaging 100 miles per week, and just starting to figure out how I want to equip my bike for longer rides. In my area, riding more than 40 miles in a day means I’m going to spend some time on open roads. I don’t know if you know this, but people in cars aren’t always super friendly to those of us on bikes when we’re sharing the road. I wanted some equipment that made my time on roads as comfortable as possible, and the folks at Livall make a couple of helmets offering more than I realized I wanted to stay safe on my bike.

This base model, the BH60 Smart Helmet, has quickly become my favorite bike accessory thanks to all of the smarts running through an otherwise ordinary-looking helmet.

Livall BH60 Smart Helmet

Price: $90

Bottom line: This helmet keeps you safe and gives you music.

The Good

• Decent integrated speakers
• Fantastic light system
• Comfortable fit

The Bad

• Microphone is trash
• Battery is mediocre

See at Amazon

Livall BH60: What I like

Staying safe on the roads around here means a couple of important things. It means my ears need to not be covered so I can hear cars around me while listening to music or podcasts. Lights are also important, on the front but also the rear of my bike. Reflectors are cool, but simply not as effective as lights. These are ways to address both of these needs with individual accessories, but Livall integrates these features and more right into the helmet.

Just above my ears on the left and right side of the helmet is a set of speakers, which connect to my phone via Bluetooth. These speakers get plenty loud but are spaced far enough away from my ears that I still hear the rest of the world around me just fine. And because these little speakers are pointed straight at my ears, very few folks riding around me hear anything unless I have the volume all the way up. For me, these speakers are perfect for catching up on podcasts while I ride.

The main attraction with this helmet is the lights. A rear strip of red LEDs pulses while I ride, and continues that steady animation for hours. This keeps me highly visible in any environment, and because the lights are on my helmet instead of down under my seat it’s easier for larger vehicles to see me at night. There’s also a second set of LEDs, but instead of pulsing red, they blink yellow just like turn signals. In fact, thanks to the Livall remote mounted on the handlebars, they basically are turn signals. Tap the left arrow, and everyone behind me gets five left blinks. Same for the right. This is significantly more effective than the standard hand signals, which sadly very few car drivers in my area recognize or appreciate.

This is also a decent, comfortable helmet. There’s a ratchet gear on the back of the helmet to tighten to different head sizes, and none of the smarts in the helmet cause any uncomfortable bulges or shape deformities anywhere. The power and volume buttons on the front of the helmet are easy to access if I need them, and the electronics are all shielded well enough that I have ridden in a total downpour and everything has continued working perfectly.

Livall BH60: What I don’t like

The best part of this helmet is having all of these important features in one place, so when I prep my bike for a ride there’s a lot less I need to check and make sure is charged and set correctly and functional. Unfortunately, that also means there’s a single failure point when riding so if anything goes wrong with the helmet I’m out quite a few important features for the rest of the ride.

If I’m going to have to stop to answer my phone, I’m just going to pick up my phone and use that.

The biggest issue I have with this helmet is battery life. Livall claims this helmet can get you 9-10 hours of battery in a single charge, but that goes down fast when you have a phone paired and the Livall Remote controller connected. With things set up the way I’d prefer, that battery life is closer to 3.5-4 hours in a single charge. And because the Micro-USB charging port is in the front of the helmet, it’s basically impossible to try and charge it from a battery backup while I’m riding.

Livall’s helmets also allow you to make phone calls, but that feature is just plain not enjoyable to use. The single microphone up near the power button is too far from your mouth to effectively pick up normal conversation, but it does a great job picking up basically everything around me. You can’t really use it when you’re actually moving, which all but defeats the purpose of being able to answer calls from your helmet to begin with. If I’m going to have to stop to answer my phone, I’m just going to pick up my phone and use that.

Livall BH60: Should you buy it? YES

Battery concerns aside, Livall puts some important features in a helmet. I like the way the helmet looks, I know it’s keeping me safer, and I can listen to whatever I want from my phone with no concerns about hearing the world around me. That peace of mind is well worth the price you pay over a standard helmet, and I hope we see a lot more integration in future releases from Livall.

4.5
out of 5

See at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!

Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy Note 9!

Now more than ever, Samsung’s Galaxy S+ phones are becoming eerily similar to the Note series. The Note used to be Samsung’s way of touting all of the latest and greatest tech it had to offer, and while this is still the case, the same can be said for this year’s Galaxy S9+.

Samsung needs more than just the S Pen to make the Note 9 stand out from its own phones and the rest of the competition, and luckily, all signs are pointing to something exciting for this year’s release. Here’s what we know so far!

August 3, 2018 — Note 9 retail box confirms many of the Note 9’s specs

For Pete’s sake — this is just getting ridiculous.

The same day that Samsung accidentally published a promo video for the Note 9, a Russian retail box for the phone has appeared to confirm a number of specifications. Although the specs are written in Russian, a quick translation makes them accessible in no time at all.

For the display, we’re looking at a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of Quad HD+. The camera hardware appears to be the same as the Galaxy S9+, consisting of two 12MP sensors on the back. That means the primary lens will be capable of dual f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures while the secondary f/2.4 lens allows for optical zoom.

Also present is an 8MP front-facing camera, 4,000 mAh battery, 128GB of storage (other rumored configurations include 256GB and 512GB), and headphones that are tuned by AKG. The box mentions “remote control” for the new S Pen, but doesn’t go any further to explain what that actually means.

August 3, 2018 — Official Galaxy Note 9 promo video leaks days before announcement

Six days before Samsung’s set to announce the Galaxy Note 9, an official promotional video for the phone has leaked online to give us an early glimpse of what’s to come.

The video confirms much of what we’ve been anticipating for months, including the Note 9’s design, an “all new powerful S Pen”, “powerful all day battery”, and expandable storage. The video ends with a bit of text that says “pre-order now”, suggesting that pre-orders for the Note 9 might open the same day it’s announced.

What will the Galaxy Note 9 look like?

Quick answer — a lot like the Note 8.

We’ve seen one collection of renders for the Note 9 so far (pictured above), and save for the fingerprint sensor being moved below the rear camera sensor, the phone’s shaping up to be nearly identical to last year’s model.

As such, we can expect a large Infinity Display with slim bezels, an all-glass back, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung’s event teaser suggests that we’ll get at least one bright yellow color option, but I’m still crossing my fingers the Galaxy S9’s Burgundy Red gets a wide release on the Note 9 🤞.

What specs can we look forward to?

Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones are always home to some of the best specs around, and the Note 9 shouldn’t be any different.

Based on the current rumor mill and what we’ve seen from other 2018 flagships, here’s what we think we’ll see this year.

What’s going on with the S Pen?

The S Pen has always been one of the biggest draws to the Galaxy Note phones, and this year with the Note 9, we’re expecting Samsung to give the accessory one of the biggest updates we’ve seen in years.

One of the biggest changes this time around is that the Note 9 S Pen is rumored to come with Bluetooth. On one hand, this means the S Pen will need to have a battery and be charged somehow. Although we can’t confirm this, it’s likely Samsung will design a system that allows the S Pen to charge up while it’s inside the Note 9.

On a more exciting note, Bluetooth could allow for the S Pen to be useful even when it’s not in direct contact with the Note 9. Its button could act as a camera shutter, slide-show clicker, give you better alerts when it’s away from your phone, and more.

There have also been hints at some sort of gaming-specific features, but it’s unclear how exactly these will pan out.

When will the Galaxy Note 9 be released?

The Galaxy Note 9 will be announced on August 9, 2018, at an Unpacked event in New York City.

We can expect retail availability to come in a 1-2 week time frame after the announcement, if any previous launches are any indication.

How much will the Galaxy Note 9 cost?

Pricing for the Note series has steadily been going up each year, as has the majority of the smartphone industry.

The Galaxy Note 8 costs $950 unlocked, and I’d expect the Note 9 to cost either the same or slightly more. Apple proved with the iPhone X that people aren’t afraid to shell out $1000+ for a new smartphone, and I don’t consider it to be out of the question for Samsung to follow suit with the Note 9 – especially if it adopts newer technologies like an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+: Everything you need to know!

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!
• Is it best to buy the Galaxy S9 or wait for the Note 9?
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• Galaxy Note 8 review
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Updated August 3, 2018: Updated spec sheet with latest available info.

Revisit the good old days with an NES or SNES Classic Edition console in stock

You should hurry up.

Update: Both consoles are available for purchase right now! The NES Classic is in stock and ready to ship, while the SNES Classic won’t be back in stock until August 9th. You can get the console and controller at Best Buy as well, either separately or in a bundle. There’s no telling how much longer these consoles will be available for, so best get your order in while you can!

Ah, Nintendo, breaker of hearts and crusher of dreams. How can one company be so good at releasing such limited quantities of the coolest items ever?!

The Nintendo NES Classic Edition has been hard to nab from the get-go. When it was first released, people waited in line for hours in the hopes of snatching one up — myself included. This little gadget hit the reseller market fast after stock was depleted, selling for up to $1,000. Seriously. It was once thought to be gone forever, and it left thousands of fans upset, knowing that they may never have the chance to revisit their childhood favorites on an actual Nintendo machine. (Yes, you can emulate retro games. No, it isn’t the same. Don’t @ me.)

Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for six hours in the freezing Wisconsin snow to get yours like I did. You don’t even have to leave your house. Amazon has the Nintendo NES Classic Edition console in stock for the MSRP of $59.99. No markups, no hassle, and no blood, sweat, or tears. Except for maybe tears of joy.

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on the Super NES Classic console, you can snag one of those at Amazon right now too for its regular price of $79.99.

The NES Classic is awesome. It has the look and feel of the original console, although it is slightly smaller and sleeker. It includes an old-school controller and it’s packed with 30 games, including Super Marios Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and more. It’s worth noting that the controller cord is pretty short, but extenders are available for cheap or you could even pre-order a wireless controller. If you were inclined to do some web searching, you may also find that rumor has it you can hack the console to include hundreds of other games, although you run the risk of bricking your machine, among other things, and an editor such as myself couldn’t possibly suggest that you do such a thing.

This is the first major restock of this console since it was released. If you’re interested, trust me: there are thousands of other interested people, too. Hop to it and beat them to the punch before it sells out again.

See at Amazon

Holedown is a mesmerizing new puzzle game that’ll leave you satisfied! [Game of the Week]

For those who are fans of physics-based puzzle games and are looking for a new obsession.

Update August 3, 2018: Our pick this week is Holedown, a new puzzle game that’s a great mix of strategy and mindless fun!

Holedown

This week, we bring you a brand new arcade puzzle strategy game that’s sure to become an instant classic.

It would be easy to write this game off as another ball bouncer game. This genre of puzzle game has been done before and harkens back to arcade classics such as Breakout and Puzzle Bobble. But due in large part to developer Martin Jonasson’s reputation for crafting beautiful indie titles (rymdkapsel, twofold inc.) Holedown stands out with charming design and satisfying gameplay.

Holedown has you mining to the core of celestial bodies — starting with an asteroid and working your way up to the Sun — using bouncing miner balls that ricochet off of colored blocks. Each brick has a number that represents the number of hits needed to destroy it. You can let gravity do most of the work by destroying a block supporting other blocks and some are bolded in place and must be destroyed. With a well-aimed shot, you can clear the whole screen as the smooth animation of the bouncing balls leave you mesmerized.

It’s very quick to pick up and play this game, but you soon learn that there’s a surprising amount of strategy involved. All the bricks are curved, allowing you to set up tricky bank shots to clear out massive sections of blocks in one go. This will become quite important as the screen moves up one row after every shot. If the blocks reach the top of the screen, it’s game over.

Along the way, you will collect crystals which are spent on upgrades that give you more balls per shot, and more shots per round. These upgrades are crucial to completing the later planets but also let the earlier levels become more of a mindless distraction for your subway commute.

If you’re a fan of physics-based puzzle games and are looking for a new obsession, Holedown is well worth your money!

Download: Holedown ($3.99 )

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Fortnite for Android: Everything you need to know

The hottest game of 2018 will be coming to Android soon.

Fortnite has been blowing up lately. Millions of people have become obsessed with the game, both as players and just watching popular Twitch streamers play the game.

Interested to learn more about what the heck Fortnite is all about? Just keep reading.

What’s new with Fortnite?

August 3, 2018 — Epic confirms that it won’t be offering Fortnite for Android via the Google Play Store

It’s official, folks. A few days after rumors started piling up, Epic has confirmed that Fortnite for Android won’t be offered on the Google Play Store. Instead, users will have to download the game directly from Epic’s website.

Talking to The Verge, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said:

Epic wants to have a direct relationship with our customers on all platforms where that’s possible. The great thing about the Internet and the digital revolution is that this is possible, now that physical storefronts and middlemen distributors are no longer required.

In addition to having a more direct relationship with players, Epic’s second reason for bypassing the Play Store is that it won’t have to hand over 30% of all sales from in-game purchases to Google. According to Sweeny, “30 percent is disproportionate to the cost of the services these stores perform.”

Sweeny also went on to say that Fortnite for Android will be available globally except for China. However, Epic is currently working on finding a way to bring both the iOS and Android version of the game to the country at some point in the near future.

July 30, 2018 — Fortnite for Android might not be on the Play Store and require a manual APK download

Just a few days after it was reported that Fortnite will be launching as a limited exclusive for the Galaxy Note 9, we now have some interesting details about how the Android app will be distributed.

The folks at XDA recently took a look at the source code on Epic’s official website, and while doing so, came across some instructions telling people how to download the Android port. Specifically, it talks about going to Epic’s site and downloading the game’s APK file there rather than doing so through Google Play.

With a move like this, there are a few important things to point out.

First off, while manually downloading APK files isn’t all that difficult, it does require you to accept downloads from unknown sources (possibly making yourself vulnerable to security threats) and can be a clunky process for users that aren’t familiar with doing so. On the flip side, Epic gets to avoid Google’s 30 percent cut from all in-game purchases.

It’s still unclear if this process will be set in stone for the game’s foreseeable future or just during its exclusivity to the Note 9, but all these details should be explained in just a few short days.

All the big details

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is what would happen if you combined two of the most addictive games out there — Minecraft and PUBG.

Fortnite offers a free 100-player Player Vs Player (PvP) Battle Royale game mode. Just like PUBG, you’re dropped onto the large island map and must arm yourself and outlive your competition. But in Fortnite, you always start out armed with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or for harvest raw supplies for building walls, ramps, and shelters.

It certainly adds extra layers of strategy to the format, creating essentially a perfect storm of addictive gaming action that’s as fun to watch as it is to play. Oh, speaking of storms all the action takes place in the eye of a deadly electrical storm meaning you can’t just hunker down and hide out the whole game. You got to keep moving.

How do you play the game?

Just like PUBG, your goal is to be the last man standing — with up to 100 players involved in each match, that’s no small task.

Each game starts with the players jumping out of the flying “Battle Bus” and parachuting down onto a giant island. Once landed, you must loot nearby buildings for items, guns, and ammo to defend yourself and attack other players.

You also need to keep an eye on the map, as every few minutes the storm closes in on the play area. If you’re caught in the storm, you slowly die so you do not want to forget to regularly check where you are on the map. Eventually, the play constricts to a tiny area for the final showdown between the remaining players — there can only be one winner!

Unlike PUBG, you’re able to carry more than two guns. Instead, you’re limited to the number of weapons and items you can carry at one time. Also, guns are color coded to denote their rarity — from grey (common) to orange (legendary) — and the rarer the gun, the deadlier it is.

Then there’s the crafting element. Every player starts out with a pickaxe which can be used as a melee weapon or used to break down trees and buildings to harvest the raw resources. You can then use these raw resources to build your own structures, whether it be a defensive wall to provide cover from an advancing enemy, a set of stairs to reach the second floor of a building or your own watchtower to snipe players from across the map. The resources you mine will determine the strength. Steel is stronger than brick, which is stronger than wood.

The latest update to the game for the Season 5 Battle Pass has introduced a slew of new map areas and gameplay features including the All-Terrain Kart (ATK) which let you and your squad move around the map faster than ever before. You can read more about the latest tweaks in the full release notes.

When will it be available for Android?

Fortnite has been available for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for a few months now, and is now widely available on iOS devices after a brief invite-only beta.

There have been no firm dates set for an Android release by Fortnite’s developer, Epic Games, but they have said to expect Fortnite Mobile to launch on Android sometime this summer. For now, Android users can head on over to Epic Games, log in or create your Fortnite Account, and then let the developers know which device you plan to play on which will also add you to the mailing list to be informed when the game eventually drops.

Until then, at least we’ve got PUBG to tide us over.

Yeah, but I found this site that offered an APK file for…

Stop. The game is not out for Android yet, so any website you see offering a version of Fortnite for Android is a scam.

Since Epic Games announced the Summer release window for Fortnite on Android, a bunch of fake websites have popped up claiming to offer an early version of the APK. I’m not going to link to them but unless you see an announcement from Epic Games themselves or we report it here, don’t fall for the scam.

If you want to be notified from the developers as soon as the game is available, you can sign up at the Fortnite Mobile website.

Will it be free to play?

Epic Games has so far released the PvP Battle Royale game for free across all platforms including the mobile version for iOS. The console version also has a paid game mode called Save The World that’s Player vs Environment (PvE). Save The World plays more like Minecraft, where you’re harvesting more resources and stocking up on loot to survive waves of AI enemies in a sort of tower defense-style of gameplay.

The PvE mode will not be available in Fortnite Mobile due to CPU limitations and, frankly, it’s the PvP mode that everyone is crazy for so that’s quite alright with us.

However, the mobile version will offers in-app purchases for cosmetic items to customize your player and people sure have been buying stuff. According to this report from Sensor Tower analtyics, Fortnite Mobile players spent more than $1 million during the first 72 hours of its release on iOS. Wow.

So, to answer the question, you have the option to spend money on Fortnite if you want a cool looking character, but the game is free to play and you won’t need to pay to win.

Will there be support for Bluetooth controls?

Epic Games has indicated that Bluetooth controller support will be coming later, but as of right now only touchscreen controls are available.

Is it cross-platform?

Epic Games have indicated that you will be able to play Fortnite across all platforms. Your Fortnite profile can be connected to all the platforms you play on so you can add to your stats however you connect to the game.

Don’t be worried about getting mismatched as the one mobile player in a server of PC and console players. If you’re playing solo on mobile, you will only be matched up against other mobile players. If you join a squad with friends playing on another platform, then that squad will be matched against a multi-platform population, essentially making cross-platform play opt-in.

• Learn more about Fortnite Mobile

How does it compare to the PS4 version?

If the iOS version of Fortnite is anything to go by, the Android version will enjoy feature parity with all other platforms, including PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. There will be minor differences to account for the form factor, such as (hopefully) support for Bluetooth controls, on-screen controls for those not using a controller, and certainly toned down graphics capability. But if you want to jump in for a quick game of Battle Royale, you won’t need to worry about playing a vastly different game. Fortnite on Android is still Fortnite.

Are you hyped for Fortnite?

We’ll be sure to let you know when the game launches for Android. Until then, you can create your Epic Games account and start playing on one of the other platforms to start getting a handle on the game

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The water-resistant Oontz Angle 3 Bluetooth speaker is down to $20 today

Boom. Boom. Pow.

The Oontz Angle 3 portable Bluetooth speaker is down to $19.99 on Amazon. We’ve seen several deals on these speakers in the past dropping them from a regular $35 price to $25, but this price matches the sort of sale you’d see on Black Friday or something similar.

The Angle 3 has room-filling volume with extra bass. It is resistant to splashes, rain, dust, and sand. You can use it indoors or out. The 2200mAh rechargeable battery lasts for up to 12 hours. Not only does it connect via Bluetooth to any device, it can also work with Amazon Alexa. It has a built-in mic and comes with both a micro USB charging cable and a 3.5mm audio cable. Users give it 4.4 stars based on a ridiculous number of reviews.

Looking for something smaller and even more waterproof? Check out this Victsing Shower Speaker for just $12 today!

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Acer Chromebook Tab 10 review: Not quite Android, not quite Chrome OS

Not like this, Google. Not like this…

Ever since the first time we saw a virtual keyboard in Chrome OS code a couple of years ago, I’ve been waiting patiently for a Chromebook tablet. Not a Chromebook convertible where I can fold the keyboard back, but a tablet running Chrome OS with no keyboard at all unless I wanted one attached. As Android apps started coming to Chrome this seemed inevitable, and now thanks to Acer we have a reasonably priced Chrome OS tablet with no keyboard in the box.

I got exactly what I wanted, so why am I so damn unhappy with this thing? Let’s take a deeper look.

Acer Chromebook Tab 10

Price: $345

Bottom line: Google turned off a lot of the things I like about the Chrome OS UI to make this work, and that sucks.

The Good

• Textured back is perfect for grip
• Decent display with solid viewing angles
• Fully functional USB-C port
• Battery life is great

The Bad

• Speakers make me want to cry
• Windowed Chrome OS UI straight up gone
• Rockchip processor struggles under load

See at Amazon

Acer Chromebook Tab 10 What I like

Out of the box, Acer has delivered a super simple Chrome OS tablet that checks all of the important boxes. This 10-inch tablet is a little thicker than an iPad, but not quite as thick as a Surface, which means the textured backing and healthy bezel on this tablet is greatly appreciated for one-handed use.

The power and volume rocker are up in the top left so they’re out of the way, and the USB-C port is on the bottom so it can be used while attached to a keyboard. In fact, the headphone jack on the top makes using both at the same time exactly as convenient as you’d expect.

The 10-inch IPS 2048×1536 display is great for using just about anywhere. I can have it resting on the counter and see the screen from weird angles with no problem, and it gets both bright and dark enough to use in most places. Bright reflections aren’t huge problems, and the touch interface is perfectly responsive. As inexpensive tablets go, Acer has assembled something well worth using.

It feels good to have something that largely feels like an Android tablet in your hand, but with all of the functionality of a full desktop browser.

Digging into the software is exactly what you’d expect, more or less. This is Chrome OS, Android apps and all. It feels good to have something that largely feels like an Android tablet in your hand, but with all of the functionality of a full desktop browser. It’s nice to be able to grab a keyboard and write for long periods of time without worrying about the browser not being able to handle an image uploader the right way or having to wonder if you’ll be able to do things like change a file name at will.

When you dive into the browser, it feels like you’re using a full PC. When you’re playing games, it feels like you’re using an Android tablet. It’s simple, straightforward, and it works.

Thanks to the Rockchip CPU and the typical battery-sipping nature of Chrome OS, this thing gets incredible battery life for a tablet. My 10-inch iPad Pro will get me through a little over an 8-hour day of browsing and writing and the occasional game, which is nice. This Chromebook tablet got me through two full days of the same kind of work, and the only reason it didn’t get me a little further than that was because I left the Bluetooth keyboard connected to it overnight so it died by morning.

Acer Chromebook Tab 10 What I don’t like

I’m used to the Chrome OS experience feeling a little spartan. This OS was built to make the browser front and center, which works well for a lot of workflows these days. But the Chromebook Tab 10 takes that minimalist approach to an extreme I’m not overly fond of.

To help deal with the smaller display and typically handheld orientation, this version of Chrome OS has no home screen. There’s no home button, no need to worry about what your desktop wallpaper is, nothing. You have the last browser tab you were using, and you have the app drawer. That’s literally it since Chrome OS puts things like settings in a browser tab as well.

There’s no home screen because there are no windows. Everything opens in full screen all the time. The option to put a browser or app in a windowed mode simply doesn’t exist, and the Chrome flags which ordinarily give you some control over this have been disabled. This works fine in some situations but really frustrates me in others.

The option to put a browser or app in a windowed mode simply doesn’t exist, and the Chrome flags which ordinarily give you some control over this have been disabled.

Android as a tablet platform has grown to accept side-by-side and windowed apps, and as an Android tablet user, this Chrome OS tablet experience feels like a step backward. The tablet experience for Chrome OS simply isn’t ready to compete on the same level Android is when it comes to multitasking, which is frustrating because this limitation feels so artificial.

Unfortunately, my issues with this tablet don’t end with what could possibly be a simple software update. The speakers, microphone, and cameras on this tablet are sub-par. Trying to use what should be a fully functional tablet computer to join a video meeting proved to be miserable for everyone involved.

The speakers just don’t get loud enough, the microphone does a terrible job picking my voice up over ambient noise, and the cameras are exactly what you’d expect from a $300 PC tablet. This last point is especially frustrating, since one of the things this tablet was being sold to schools for was offering teachers a way to conduct Augmented Reality lessons in the classroom.

There’s a stylus in the box, but it’s not particularly useful. At least not yet.

Finally, the stylus. At the bottom of this tablet, there’s a little stylus you can pull out and use, but it’s really not clear what for. Chrome OS has no special pen input functionality, like Microsoft’s handwriting recognition in the keyboard or the ability to take notes on a screenshot with ease.

The closest thing you get to useful out of the box is pen-based notes in Google Keep, which allow you to record drawings and sync them to your phone. There’s potential for a pen to be really useful in this form factor, but Acer did nothing extra to make that obvious and none of the really cool Pixelbook pen features are available on this tablet.

Acer Chromebook Tab 10: Should you buy it? Probably not.

There are things Acer and Google has done with the Chromebook Tab 10 that I really like. It’s a nice sturdy tablet that I can hold comfortably with one hand and actually enjoy using in both portrait and landscape modes. But when I try to use it for more than just a casual media consumption device, the artificial limitations Google put in place for the interface make it less functional than any other Chromebook or Android tablet I would otherwise reach for.

On the other hand, at $350 with a $30 keyboard from Logitech, you get an incredibly portable browser with a nice screen.

3
out of 5

Considering the bloated price tags on the iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, and Surface Go with their keyboards, this thing is a bargain. Here’s hoping Google can sort its software out and really make this worth using for me.

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