Amazon is giving away a Sony a6000 Mirrorless Camera – head here for your chance to win
It’s the season of giving, and many fine retailers around the globe have done their part to make sure we’re getting the best deals on the hottest products. Amazon is one of those retailers. They’ve brought us numerous deals on tablets, smartphones and more this holiday season, and now they’re kicking it up a notch.
Over the next two weeks Amazon will be hosting a few giveaways, where users will be able to enter and win a gadget featured in Amazon’s Electronics Gift Guide. All you need to do is head to the link attached below, click on the bouncing box, and it will tell you if you’ve won or not. First up on the giveaway list is a doozy – Amazon is giving away the Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera, complete with a 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens. This camera would normally cost you almost $550, but if you’re lucky, you may be able to score it for free!
The camera will be awarded to the 6,500th eligible entrant. The contest just started today, and ends on Friday, December 18th at 11:59 p.m. PST, or whenever the prize has been awarded.
Well, darn.
If you suffered the same fate as me, you can always check out the camera on Amazon to see if it’s right for you.
The best flagship smartphones to buy for less than $400
Even though we’re starting to see some high-end smartphones launch at very affordable prices unlocked, the vast majority of “flagship” smartphones can kill your wallets if you try to buy them outright. However, if you’re in the market for a great smartphone at a great price, the smartest move might be to buy last year’s flagship phones which frequently go for incredible prices from third party venders on Amazon and Ebay. While these phones don’t have the latest and greatest specifications of today, the differences between them and their current iterations are minimal, and you shouldn’t worry about them being outdated.
It’s also worth noting that these venders on Ebay and Amazon can be identified as legit or not by the customer feedback on Amazon and positive ratings on Ebay. Most of the time the phones sold are either manufacturer refurbished or brand new. Manufacturers can also directly sell these older phones on Ebay or Amazon, such as Motorola currently selling the Nexus 6 for $349.99.
Motorola Nexus 6
As stated above, Motorola is currently selling 2014’s flagship Nexus phone for almost half the price it originally sold for last year on Amazon, and we’ve seen other third party venders on Ebay going as low as $299 unlocked for this incredible phone. If you want to pay for a mint-condition Nexus 6 with the original box, Motorola’s website is still selling it for a more expensive price of $499. Buying this phone for anything under $400 is a steal if you ask us, as this Nexus still packs a punch in just about all hardware categories, and currently runs the latest Android with direct updates from Google. The longevity and relevance of this phone alone make it worth the current price.
Best current deals include:
- Ebay Nexus 6 Midnight Blue Factory Unlocked- $329.99
- Amazon Nexus 6 Midnight Blue Factory Unlocked (US Warranty)- $349.99
LG G3
While being about a year and a half old, the LG G3 still remains relevant today as one of the most popular LG handsets to have ever launched, and one of the first smartphones to ever include a stunning Quad-HD screen. The G3 is still being updated by LG with the promise of being updated to Android 6.0, as it’s currently being tested for a release in Poland in early 2016. One of the best features of the G3 is the screen to body ratio, as the phone is quite compact and easy to hold for having a large 5.5 inch screen. The phone can easily hold a charge through the day thanks to its 3,000mAh battery and takes really nice pictures with its built-in laser auto-focus abilities.
Best current deals include:
- Ebay LG G3 32GB GSM Unlocked Factory Refurbished- $199.99
- Ebay LG G3 32GB GSM Unlocked New- $249.99
- Amazon LG G3 16GB Factory Unlocked International Version New- $289.99
Samsung Galaxy S5
The Galaxy S5 still holds its own as a very tempting smartphone for many people. Samsung is still actively supporting the smartphone with software updates, and there are several features of this phone not found in their latest Galaxy S6. First of which is the phone’s IP67 water resistant rating, allowing the phone to be submerged in one meter of water for thirty minutes. The second feature not found in the Galaxy S6 is the micro-SD expansion slot allowing for more storage than the devices internal limitations, something that many fans were disappointed to see absent this year. Lastly, the ability to swap out the phone’s battery was missing in the S6, providing even more reason to stick with the Galaxy S5. On top of those features, the S5 has a vibrant, 1080p Super AMOLED screen, more battery capacity than the Galaxy S6 and a great camera that still holds even for today’s standards.
Best current deals include:
- Amazon Galaxy S5 GSM Unlocked New 16GB Black- $339.70
- Ebay Galaxy S5 GSM Unlocked New White- $329.99
LG Nexus 5X
Google’s very recent Nexus offerings include the Nexus 5X, the more affordable option that offers a stunning camera, fast hexa-core processor and fingerprint scanner unlike any other smartphone. The best part? The phone currently goes for $329.00 with free shipping straight from Google themselves. I had the chance to review the Nexus 5X, and while it wasn’t my favorite phone I’ve ever owned, it’s an extremely compelling device for the price. On top of the great hardware mentioned above, this device will be getting updates from Google every month, and will always be running the latest version of Android for at least the next couple years.
Best current deals include:
- Google Nexus 5X 16GB Carbon/Quartz/Ice- $329.00
LG Nexus 5
What was considered the best Nexus phone ever made, the 2013 Nexus 5 offered the latest processor, a five inch 1080p screen, an 8-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and very minimal design all for a reasonable price. Today, the Nexus 5 is no longer in production or being sold from LG or Google, but third party retailers are still offering it. Being a Nexus device, this phone currently runs the latest Android version (Marshmallow) and performs like almost any high-end phone being released today. As for the future state of the device, it is not known how much longer Google will support the phone themselves, as their time frame for Nexus updates usually last two years, but it currently runs the most stable and smooth version of Android yet and it one of the best optimized phones I’ve ever used. This phone is still one of my favorite phones to have existed.
Best current deals include:
- Ebay Nexus 5 16GB Black/White- $169.99
- Ebay Nexus 5 16GB Black New- $175.00
- Amazon Nexus 5 32GB Black/White Certified Refurbished- $189.99
Motorola Moto X Pure Edition
Launching just this past fall and starting at $399, the new Moto X Pure Edition offers a 5.7 inch Quad-HD display and is customizable through Motorola’s online Moto Maker, giving the customer tons of freedom to design their phone. This device is a very worthy successor to last year’s Moto X 2nd gen. if you’re comfortable with big phones. The Moto X Pure Edition offers an Android experience very similar to stock Android, so you shouldn’t expect the bloatware that other manufacturers tend to include. Since this phone is almost brand new and includes some of today’s best hardware, you can expect the best value out of any smartphone currently listed in this article so far. For fans of wood designs, different colored rubber options or people who want the luxury feel of leather, check out the Moto Maker page to design your Moto X.
Best current deals include:
- Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 16GB- $399.99
Motorola Moto X 2014
The second iteration of Motorola’s Moto X series offered unparalleled customization with a price lower than most flagship smartphones. Like the new Moto X Pure Edition, customers have the ability to pick which back cover they want from a range of colors, wood and leather materials and the color of the speaker grills on the front. As a bonus, customers can even add a custom engraving to the back and add a special greeting when the phone boots up. While Motorola is still updating the unlocked version of this phone, they have decided to stop updating carriers versions. This caused quite a bit of distrust within fans and owners of this phone, as it is only a little over a year old. We do not recommend you buy the carrier version of this phone because of the discontinued support. However, Motorola is still currently selling the unlocked phone through Moto Maker for an amazing deal of $299 for the 64GB option only through December 18th. This price for that amount of storage, a high quality build and near-stock Android experience make this a very worthy purchase.
Best current deals include
- Motorola Moto X 2nd Gen. 64GB- $299.99
HTC One M8
Considered one of the best phones ever made by HTC, the One M8 is the second phone in their One (M) series and offers a full metal body construction, dual-rear camera for faster focus and dual front-facing Boomsound speakers. This is an incredibly fast phone that flies through every day tasks thanks to HTC’s great software optimization. While the two cameras on the back might be gimmicky, the phone does capture photos very fast and can be converted into 3D photos. Boomsound on this device still provides the highest quality speaker sound you will find on any smartphone today, and thanks to its five inch screen, you can easily hold it with one hand. HTC is still updating this phone, with Android Marshmallow to appear on it in early 2016. The One M8 is still a very well-rounded smartphone and is even better in some categories than its successor, the One M9.
Best current deals include:
- Ebay One M8 32GB Factory Unlocked New Gunmetal Grey/Glacial Silver- $279.99
- Amazon One M8 32GB Factory Unlocked Refurbished Used
We are not responsible for any purchase you make through the suggested retailers and advise reading through descriptions before deciding to buy.
Questions or comments? Sound off in the section below!
The post The best flagship smartphones to buy for less than $400 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly
Welcome back to Android Apps Weekly! Here are your headlines for this week!
- Nova Launcher is currently selling the prime version of their iconic launcher app for a mere $0.99 and our readers have informed us that it’s even less in other regions. We don’t know how long the sale will go for but it was still going strong for right now. Get it quick because this won’t last forever.
- The waffling by Google to release their Contacts and Phone app to the Play Store continued this last week. First they were up, then Google took them down but at the time of the making of this video, are back up again. They’re totally free but it seems like you can only get them on select Nexus devices right now.
- Amazon announced a new initiative called the Streaming Partners Program. The object of this is simple. With your Prime subscription, you can access third party streaming services such as AMC, Showtime, Starz, and IndieFlix. The big players like Hulu or Netflix aren’t available to the surprise of no one, but this could make Amazon Prime a little more fun.
- After a long wait, Google is finally releasing a family plan for Google Play Music. It’ll be $14.99 per month and can be shared with up to six family members. In applicable regions, you’ll also get YouTube Red access. That’s an excellent deal for pretty much everyone and you can get it right now.
- Dropbox announced that it was going to shut down its Mailbox and Carousel service in early 2016. While I know there are some people who will be upset about this, the truth is that neither service really took off and they were never really as good as competitor apps. They will join Google Helpouts as great ideas that very few people ever actually used.
For even more Android apps and games headlines, updates, and new releases, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter! We had a ton of stuff we didn’t get to include here that you may find interesting. If you so choose, you can sign up for the newsletter using the form below and we’ll send it to you every Sunday!
5miles
[Price: Free]
5miles is a new application that performs a lot of the same functionality as Craigslist. It’s essentially a classifieds service that lets you sell things, post services and job openings, and a whole lot more. The app uses GPS and zip code to find listings in your area and you can do things like post voice descriptions, register with Facebook, and there’s even a built-in messaging system. It’s a little rough around the edges, but keep an eye on it.
Get it now on Google Play!
SwiftKey Symbols
[Price: Free]
SwiftKey Symbols is a new, very different type of keyboard. Instead of words and letters, SwiftKey Symbols uses symbols to allow people to communicate. This is a great application and can potentially be useful for those with autism or other, various communication disorders. It’s a bit simplistic right now and users are already asking for more symbols, but still, this is a pretty great little thing.
Get it now on Google Play!
Snap Swipe Drawer
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Snap Swipe Drawer is a new app that kind of gives you a second notification shade. Except this one has a bunch of widgets in it. Think of it like a stash for your widgets so you don’t have to use so many on your home screens. It can be configured to be available at any time you want it. There are some release day bugs but that’s to be expected. Don’t let that prevent you from giving it a shot because it is pretty nifty.
Get it now on Google Play!
Age of Empires: World Domination
[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Age of Empires: World Domination is the latest Age of Empires game to launch on Android. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try this one ourselves because it is only available in select markets right now, but you can expect a full release sometime in the near future once the kinks have been worked out. We can tell you that it’s going with a Freemium model which is different from prior titles so it won’t cost you anything to try it.
Get it now on Google Play!
Cortana
[Price: Free]
After a long wait, Microsoft has finally released Cortana to the wild. As expected, the app and service are a little rough around the edges, but we’ve no doubt that Microsoft will cure the bugs and improve the service over time, much like Google did with Google Now. It’s totally free to download and use so there’s no harm in seeing it for yourself. It’s also worth noting that you must have a PC running Windows 10 and opted into Cortana before you can use the app.
Get it now on Google Play!
Wrap up
Did we miss any awesome Android apps and games news? If so, tell us about it in the comments! Thanks for watching and read, and we’ll see you next week!
The After Math: ‘Murica!
With the presidential elections just under a year away, the American political season is kicking into high gear. But the race to be Commander in Chief isn’t the only thing going on in this country. We’ve got veterans getting new members, Chicken McNugget dispensers and hoverboard bans as well! Here’s your United States, by the numbers.
Slideshow-347634
Amazon pulls some ‘hoverboards’ over safety concerns
Airlines aren’t the only ones nervous about “hoverboards” catching fire — Amazon is pulling some of the self-balancing scooters until they’re proven to be safe. Swagway (one of the better-known manufacturers) tells The Verge that the internet retailer wants all sellers to demonstrate that their devices meet the right battery and charger safety standards. Needless to say, those boards that don’t make the cut won’t be coming back. Swagway maintains that its own models are safe, but rivals like CoolReall and PhunkeeDuck might not be so lucky.
One thing is certain: Amazon has its work cut out for it. As Casey Neistat shows in a clip below, the “hoverboard” market is defined by legions of near-identical models, many of them from tiny companies with no real track record. It’s hard to know at a glance whether or not the more expensive boards are any safer than their cheaper counterparts, and they sometimes aren’t. Those boards that stay on Amazon should be safe, but it may take a while before the dust settles and it’s clear who you can trust.
[Image credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]
Via: The Verge
Source: Best Reviews
Amazon handing out $5 credit to anyone who downloads one of these apps
You can never turn down free money, right? If you are looking to get a nice deal (free cash), Amazon is making it really easy to get $5 in credit to use towards “products sold by Amazon.com or digital content sold by Amazon Digital Services”.
See also: 15 best Android apps of 2015
So, how do you sign up? You pretty much just have to download an app from a selected list. First you must download the Amazon Underground application, but this must be sideloaded. Simply go to Amazon’s Underground page and request a download by inputting your phone number or email.
Users will then receive a message containing a download link for the APK file. Make sure your phone can install applications from unknown sources (in the settings, under Security). After downloading and installing the Amazon Underground application, simply download one of the qualifying apps and you will get your free $5 credit in an email some minutes later.
See also: 10 best Android tablet apps that all tablet owners should have
Yep, it’s that easy! You have to love Amazon for always offering great value to their customers. Amazon Underground already showcases a long list of free applications. Not only do you not have to pay for these applications, but now you actually get money for downloading them. We live in good times, guys.
You can go ahead and read the terms and conditions here, but there’s not much of a catch here. It’s just free money! Go get it.
iOS and Android are both great. Here are some reasons to consider switching to Android.
I know I am going to get my fair share of hate emails and comments from this post, but I beg you try to keep an open mind when reading through this article. I understand that the whole Apple iOS versus Google Android debate is a heated topic for many, and expect comments on both sides of the fence. Let’s try to keep the comments civil.
I am going to do my best to explain why Android is a great alternative to iOS and try to avoid the whole Android is better than iOS debate as best as I can. I think both platforms are successful and by no means are Google or Apple struggling for cash. Monetarily you can say both are pretty darn successful. Apple is worth more money based on market value, but Google has more market share. I know that I will have a decent amount of bias towards Android, since I do use Android as my primary platform, and I also write for a website called AndroidGuys.
But it is in my nature to look at all things with an open mind: I am a scientist at a biotech in San Diego, and it is my job to investigate and offer answers with actual information to back it up. Any good scientist uses the Scientific Method to ask questions, investigate, acquire knowledge, and to use evidence to develop conclusions based on results. Once a conclusion is developed it is my job to test it and to prove it.
In my immediate family we are split 50/50 in what mobile software we use. My father uses an iPhone 6S+ and my older brother uses an iPhone 6 at my recommendation. Both of them started with the Apple iPhone, and are the type who prefer to stick with what works and to stay within one ecosystem. iPhone’s have great cameras, software, design, build, customer support and more. Just because I use Android doesn’t mean I force it on my own family.
My mother uses a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and I use a a wide variety of Android devices like the Nexus 6P, 5X, Asus Zenfone 2 and the Doogee F5. My older sister uses an iPhone 5S, and she also uses an Android LG G2 too. So even in my own family, we are split 50/50 on what platform we use.
My devices
So let’s put the debate of what is better behind us. Let’s just take a look at Android and why it is a good alternative to iOS.
Let’s start with the most important factor: Price
iPhone 6S 4.7″ 16GB – $649
iPhone 6S+ 5.5″ 16GB – $749
Whether you buy an iPhone on a 0% financing plan, two-year contract, or in full, you’re going to pay a heck of a lot of money. Because Apple is the only company who makes the iPhone, the price stays relatively unchanged throughout the course of its one-year life cycle. Apple owns a monopoly on its products and can charge accordingly. It’s quite rare to see any technological device hold its value so well, but the iPhone does it regardless. And it even has incredible resale value. Apple controls its mobile market share by not making iOS accessible to other manufacturers.
Samsung Galaxy S6 5.1″ 32GB – $679.99
Samsung Galaxy Note 5.7″ 32GB – $699.99
Nexus 6P 5.7″ 32GB – $499.99
Nexus 5X 5.2″ 16GB – $379.99
There are dozens of Android device manufacturers. There are so many that I can’t even find an accurate count on the web. I listed the biggest Android device manufacturer in Samsung, and I also listed Google’s pure Android Nexus devices. Android phones can be expensive too. It’s difficult to do a direct comparison to iPhones, because the Samsung S6 line has been out since the Spring, while the iPhone 6S and Note 5 line have only been out since the Fall. Internal hardware varies greatly from device to device too.
The prices for the Galaxy line devices are clearly almost identical to the iPhone, with the Galaxy devices offering more base storage than the iPhone. Google’s own Nexus devices are $180-300 cheaper than the iPhone which means you can save money with pure Android devices. On top of the initial MSRP savings, Android prices drop much faster, but at the same time have terrible resale value. Overall, the upfront fees can be much cheaper when buying an Android device.
Letv 1s 5.5″ 32GB – $238
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″ 16GB – $249.99
Nu Mobile Z8
Who? Who the heck is Letv and Nuu Mobile? I know you have heard of Motorola, but the Letv 1s and the Nuu Mobile Z8 are example devices that come unlocked with fantastic features. They also run the same Android software that the more expensive devices like the Note 5 and S line run. You haven’t heard of Letv because they are focused on the Chinese market.Nuu Mobile is a up and coming Android device manufacturer with a small budget and can’t afford to blast advertisements around the world.
And just because these devices are cheaper, doesn’t mean they lack in hardware.
Letv 1s
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: MTK6795 64bit Octa Core 2.2GHz
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 5.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: 1.7 GHz Octa-Core Processor, MediaTek MTK6752 64-bit
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 8.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Android software is easy to use, is secure, can be customized, and Google apps are loaded with features
Again, I’m not here to argue that Android is better than iOS. Both email, text, make phone calls, browse the web, play videos and music, and take pictures incredibly well. There is no arguing that both platforms do the basics with ease.
The iPhone just works. I know it does. But that doesn’t mean Android devices don’t work. Many of us, me included, got started with iOS. I bought the first iPhone on the day it was released and waited in line for every subsequent release until the iPhone 5. I made the switch to Android when I took the time to evaluate the software with an open mind. Android is as safe as iOS and iOS is as safe as Android. Both Apple and Google make security the top priority for their software. Don’t buy into all of the misinformation out there about one being safer than the other.
The other sad truth is no software is bug free. Both Android and iOS have their fair share of bugs which is the reason why they release updates.
Google Search
Just “Google” it. Google’s search tools are so powerful that many of us have swapped the word “search” for the company name Google. The dominance of Google search is so overwhelming that the name Google has become a verb. We don’t say just Apple it, Yahoo it, or Microsoft it. Many of us say just “Google” it because Google has become synonymous with searching and researching unknowns. It like calling tissue “Kleenex”, lip balm “Chapstick”, or cotton swap “Q-Tips”.
Google owns the market share when it comes to searching, and Google Search is native to Android devices making it a super powerful tool. Yes you can download Google Search software onto iOS devices, but there are benefits to being native. You can “Google” directly from any screen on an Android device, while it constantly keeps you up to date on weather, stock prices, news, parking location and more through Google Now.
Google Photos
Arguably the best feature about Google Photos is that you have unlimited storage for FREE. Once backed up, you can access your photos from anywhere you have an internet connection and a web browser. You no longer need to worry about saving your most precious memories on back-up hard drives with Google Photos.
Here are some other great features taken directly from the app landing page:
VISUAL SEARCH
Your photos are now searchable by the places and things that appear in them. Looking for that fish taco you ate in Hawaii? Just search “food in Hawaii” to find it – no tagging required.
FREE UP SPACE ON YOUR DEVICE
Never worry about running out of space on your phone again. In Settings, just tap “Free up device storage” – photos that are safely backed up will be removed from your device’s storage, but will still be available in Google Photos.
BRING PHOTOS TO LIFE
Enjoy automatically created montage movies, interactive stories, collages, animations, panoramas, and more from your photos. Or you can easily create them yourself – just tap +.
SHARED ALBUMS
Get everyone’s photos and videos in one place, across iOS, Android, and the web. Privately sharing all the photos you took – and getting the ones you didn’t – has never been easier.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive
Google has its own answer for word processing, spreadsheet editing, presentation building, file storage and collaboration all for the price of nothing. Most of us learned how to use these tools using Microsoft Office, but Google created its own powerful tools and they are native to Android as well. Just like with Google Photos, all Google Docs are accessible from tablets to smartphones to desktops. And Google Docs is also compatible with Microsoft file types, while offering almost all of the same powerful features.
An alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides offers a great and free way to make presentations.
Google Docs is an online word processor that lets you create and format text documents and collaborate with other people in real time.
Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet application that allows you to store and organize different types of information, much like Microsoft Excel.
Project Fi
Project Fi is Google’s answer to cellular service. It isn’t Google’s own network – they have partnered with providers to offer its own affordable plan. Only select Nexus devices(Nexus 6, 6P and 5X) can access Project Fi, but it is a strong reason to give consideration to Android. Project Fi is still very new so this reason is highly debatable. But here are some reasons to consider it:
Project Fi is a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile
Project Fi coverage map
What’s included in the Fi Basics?
What happens if you go over your data budget?
You can bring your own number to Fi
Like any other provider, you can simply transfer your number when you sign up.
Android Wear
Wearables are taking hold in the marke,t and Android is at the forefront. Yes, Apple has its own watch too, which is great in its own right, but there is much more selection with Android. Tag Heuer, Fossil, Asus, LG, Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei are some of the major manufacturers of Android Wear devices, and the list continues to grow. With Android Wear you can monitor your activity levels, open apps, search and text using just your voice, get notifications, see the time and more.
Android Wear watches feature always-on displays, so you’ll always see important info like time, calls, and alerts. Respond to messages right from your watch, even when your phone isn’t with you.
Works with your Android phone or iPhone
Android Wear requires a phone running Android 4.3+ or iOS 8.2+. Supported features may vary between platforms. Visit g.co/wearcheck on your Android phone or iPhone to see if it’s compatible.
Android Wear is native to Android and is a great reason to consider Google’s software as an option.
You should consider Android if you don’t use it already
No I don’t work for Google, even though sometimes I wish I did. Google employees get get free food and drinks just for showing up to work! I have been to the Google campus, and they even let guests eat and drink for free. I hope Google let’s me hangout at its campus again some day in the future. It truly is an experience I will never forget.
Instead, I work for a biotech and research neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, and the like. We get free coffee and tea, but I am not complaining. Nothing is more gratifying to me than working to solve unmet medical needs.
It’s my job to look at problems objectively, to ask questions, to research and to develop conclusions based on evidence.
In no way am I arguing that Android is superior to iOS, or vice versa, but I am offering reasons why you should consider Android if you are not using it now. There are fantastic devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or the Nexus 6P that offer the latest and greatest hardware, or there are fantastic alternatives like the Letv 1s or Nuu Mobile Z8 which offer great hardware for budget conscience users.
The software is also incredible and better yet, the applications Google provides are completely free to use.
If you would like to learn more, head on over to Google.com. No you don’t have to switch to Android – there are plenty of great features on iOS too.
My favorite Android commercial.
The post iOS and Android are both great. Here are some reasons to consider switching to Android. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Amazon’s best-selling unlocked Android phones (December 12)
The newly launched Blu Life One X leads the charge
One day removed from its announcement, the Blu Life One X has taken the top spot in Amazon’s best-selling unlocked smartphones. And for good reason – the limited-time $100 price tag makes it damn near impossible to resist.
The benefit of an unlocked smartphone, for those who aren’t aware, is that it can be used on a variety of wireless service providers. Moreover, going this route ensures you don’t have to worry about contracts or long-term obligations. Want to hop from T-Mobile to AT&T or vice-versa? That’s no problem when you’re using an unlocked GSM phone.
We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android smartphones from Amazon so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available. Yes, you’ll also find some iPhones in the mix, too, but that’s not our bag.
So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the long run.
- Blu Life One X – $100
- Motorola Nexus 6 – $350
- Blu Advance 4.0 – $60
- Asus Zenfone 2 Laser – $200
- Blu Studio 6.0 HD – $89
- Blu Life One – $100
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime – $149
- Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen) – $178
- Samsung Galaxy S5 – $340
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime DUOS – $145
The post Amazon’s best-selling unlocked Android phones (December 12) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The tech industry teams up to take on Donald Trump
Inexplicable presidential candidate Donald Trump has spoken loudly about his distaste for immigration, as well as the mass-deportation he would institute if elected. That puts him squarely at odds with much of the tech industry, which is pushing for immigration reform and a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship. Now, lobby group FWD.us has released an emotive video speaking out against Trump’s dystopian vision by showing the human cost of such a policy.
The clip is entitled The Truth of Mass Deportation and features figures like Sophie Cruz, the five-year old who asked the Pope to prevent the deportation of her parents. The video shows how families would be torn apart, especially when immigrant parents with citizen children could be forced to leave the country. The group also wants to make the point that the people targeted often have valuable skills, and FWD.us believes that, if given citizenship, they’d contribute $329 billion to the economy.
The move comes a day after Mark Zuckerberg announced that he’d stand up for the rights of communities like the one Trump seems to enjoy monstering in public. FWD.us is often spoken about in the same breath as the Facebook CEO, but it was co-founded by Bill Gates, Sean Parker and LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman. The group can also call upon the founders, CEOs and/or major names from a whole host of brand-name tech firms like Google, Qualcomm, YouTube, Instagram, Netflix, Yahoo, AirBnB, Evernote, Jawbone, Zynga and even Aol.’s own Tim Armstrong. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos isn’t a signed member of team FWD, but we can imagine where his sympathies (and rockets) would lie if this went to a fist-fight.
Via: The Hill
Source: FWD.us (YouTube)
Amazon and Netflix land a dozen Golden Globe nominations
Streaming services collecting awards for original content is nothing new, and this year’s Golden Globes nominations show the potential for more of the same. Netflix and Amazon both picked up nominations for shows (and a movie), with the former nabbing nine total. All three of Amazon’s nominations came for Transparent, a show which is already critically acclaimed. As you might expect, Netflix’s list of nominations includes two each for House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
Netflix’s new darling, Narcos, was also nominated for a pair, including Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama for Wagner Moura (as Pablo Escobar). Perhaps what’s more interesting is Narcos replaced President Underwood and House of Cards in the two categories it’s nominated. Aziz Ansari is nominated for Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy in Master of None and Lilly Tomlin for Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy for Grace and Frankie. We’ll have to wait a month to find out who takes home top honors, though, as the ceremony airs January 10th on NBC.
Via: Variety
Source: Golden Globe Awards
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