Phonejoy GamePad 2 Review
It’s not the first time we’ve heard from Phonejoy and their game controller, having reviewed the first iteration of the Phonejoy GamePad and being incredibly impressed with it. Now, we seen the second-generation of the accessory in the form of PhoneJoy GamePad 2, and we got the opportunity to review it.
What’s New
– Improved battery capacity from 8 hours of gameplay to 14 hours of gameplay;
– New action buttons for better sensitivity;
– New outstanding analog sticks for better control, depression ability (L3/R3), and contact surface (Concave);
– Analog L2/R2 instead of regular buttons;
– Bluetooth 2.1 -> Bluetooth 3.0;
– Improved interface protocol for full compatibility with all HID input compatible games.
Sure, that battery increase doesn’t sound like too much of a thing, but i’ve been using the Phonejoy GamePad 2 extensively since receiving it over a week ago and still am yet to charge it, which is exactly what you want from a portable accessory.
The mechanism used to hold the device feels improved and the hinge is extremely strong, which leaves you confident that the device won’t fall out. The hinge then collapses to return to the GamePad 2’s most notable feature and that’s its profile when not being used; it is extremely portable and fits in your back pocket quite comfortably.
Phonejoy GamePad 2 Pricing
The gamepad is available in a tiered pricing model:
Basic Bundle – US $69.90
Advanced Bundle – US $79.90
Pro Bundle – US $89.90
The buttons on the Phonejoy GamePad 2 feel better than ever, as do the analogue buttons, which are extremely responsive. It was good last year, but the second-generation has taken things that but further and it looks, feels, and functions great.
The Phonejoy GamePad 2 will be available online on 30th Sep 2015 at www.phonejoy.com
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Google’s Nexus 5X hits the FCC with support for all big US carriers
Google’s Nexus phones haven’t had the best cross-carrier support in the US (ahem, Verizon), but that might change when the Nexus 5X and 6P roll into town. The Nexus 5X has just swung by the FCC for approval, and one filing is for a model that appears to support all four major US carriers in at least some capacity — there are concerns that it might not handle T-Mobile’s existing 3G, but this does include Verizon support. There’s also a second variant of the LG-made device that removes some frequency bands and appears destined for other countries. There’s not much to see beyond this, although the FCC’s measurements back rumors that the 5X will have a 5.2-inch screen. Will this Nexus actually work with every major US network when it launches? It’s hard to say for sure, but you’ll likely get the full scoop at Google’s event in a few days.
[Image credit: Android Police]
Via: Android Police, S4GRU
Google under antitrust investigation over Android Apps
The Federal Trade Commision(FTC) has begun a preliminary investigation into Google using Android to push its own apps like Search and Maps.
The search giant has been under investigation in Europe for antitrust violations for a while and the FTC has voted several times in the past not to pursue charges against Google. But there’s now an investigation brewing within the country’s antitrust watchdog.
Complaintants actually went to the Department of Justice(DoJ) first and the DoJ recently asked the FTC for clearance to begin their investigation by making contact with complaintants.
The DoJ and FTC have since worked out an agreement for the FTC, instead of the DoJ, to investigate the claims. The issue stem from the “home screen dominance” of Google’s Android App placement and Android app bundle requirements. The complaint is still in the fact finding stage, the FTC has still yet to contact Google, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that charges will move forward.
Google distributes Android for free to companies like Samsung and LG but if they want to have any Google Apps installed on their phones or tablets, they must take a bundle of a certain set of Android apps which includes money makers like Google Search and the Google Play store. Complaintants are unhappy with this because it gives Google a distinct advantage on the world’s most popular mobile operating system.
Google has offered no public comment comment regarding this matter and Justin Cole, an FTC spokesperson, was quoted as saying, “investigations are nonpublic, and we do not comment on an investigation or the existence of an investigation.”
Google has faced the harsh hand of the government before, but escaped charges. In 2013, Microsoft and Yelp brought complaints to the FTC that Google unfairly gave an advantage to its own products, but Google escaped scrutiny after the FTC voted unanimously not to bring charges.
Source: Bloomberg, via The New York Times
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Bugs and software fragmentation spoils Samsung’s premium devices
When Samsung released the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge last year, both devices screamed premium and were laden with features beyond all other phones. Out of the box the devices ran Android Kitkat 4.4 which was rather stable. Since then Google has released Android Lollipop 5.0 with Material Design but that release was laden with bugs like memory leaks and terrible battery life.
Due to the fragmentation of Android, many of the most expensive Android devices, from less than a year ago, are still dealing with issues because they are still running Android 5.0. Even though Samsung was testing 5.1 back in the summer, very few Note 4 devices got the upgrade to 5.1. I happen to be one of those AT&T Note Edge users who has been dealing with incredibly poor battery life, memory leaks, display issues, and laggy performance when users of almost most other flagships are running 5.1 and are not having issues. When I ask AT&T customer support for help they tell me they have no time frame but to continue to look for updates. (Thanks AT&T!)
Fragmentation is a huge issue for manufacturers and only a couple have made a firm commitment to get updates out within a reasonable time frame, which Samsung is not one of those companies. They make deals with carriers to further customize their software, and in my case I have over 20 apps that I cannot uninstall because of AT&T. Those apps and customizations add another layer of fragmentation to my updates.
If Samsung wants to fix their sales and stop laying people off from poor sales, they need to stop selling out to the carriers as well as focus on getting updates out to their phones more quickly. Sure I bought the Note Edge for $945 without tax, which was my fault for not knowing Samsung and AT&T was going to leave me hanging, but shouldn’t customers expect their phones to work for more than a year without major bugs? I almost feel as if those of us dealing with bugs should get a manufacturer’s replacement device of choice because our software does not work. My Note Edge battery life lasts an incredibly short five hours and that isn’t five hours of on screen time. That is five hours of being disconnected from the plug.
By the time most of us power Note users get Android 5.1, the rest of the Android community will be on Marshmallow 6.0.
If you bought a Note 5, S6, S6 Edge or S6 Edge plus I sure hope Samsung gives you updates after the first six months. Until Samsung makes a commitment to pushing updates out on a timely basis, my future phones will only be pure Android Nexus devices. I would never buy an iPhone ever again, but at least when an update is published, every phone/tablet within the last three years has access to it.
Most of you readers here are super users and would tell people like me to flash their devices. For a flagship device, I shouldn’t be forced to flash it and void the warranty just for it to perform normally.
Are you a 2015 Galaxy S6 or Note 5 owner? Are you worried about not getting updates?
Or if you do happen to be one of the lucky Note 4 and Note Edge users on 5.1, is it running smooth for you?
I posed the question to my colleagues here at AG ,”If you didn’t switch phones so quickly, do you think you would be okay with fragmentation?” Out of all of the writers only one, Benton, has used a phone for two years and he has a Moto X(2013) which is one of the phones to get updates on a regular basis. Personally I do not think most Android bloggers would be okay with fragmentation if they used their phones like normal people and hung onto them for two years.
Let me know how you feel in the comments.
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FTC may launch antitrust case against Google over Android
Google is currently under the spotlight in a number of countries for possibly abusing its market position and the US’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may also be back on Google’s case, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The FTC is said to have reached an agreement with the Justice Department to spearhead an investigation into Android. More specifically, to examine whether or not Google has been hindering competitors’ access to its Android mobile operating system.
As we have heard a few times before, the concern is that Google gives preference to its own services that often come bundled with its Android operating system. By installing these services by default, some suggest that this gives the company an unfair advantage over its competitors. The fact that OEMs are not free to fork Android without losing access to seemingly essential services, like the Play Store, is also likely to be part of the investigation.
It is important to note that this inquiry is said to still be in its early stages, meaning that the FTC’s investigation may not even end up producing a case to bring against the company. The FTC previously led a U.S. antitrust investigation into Google’s search business back in 2011, but a case was never brought forward as there was a lack of evidence.
See also: Google told to unbundle apps from Android in Russia
Google is also under similar Android-based anti-trust investigations in the EU and Russia this year. The Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has already found Google guilty of abusing its market position following a complaint from search rival Yandex. The Russian investigation would rather that phones simply shipped with the Play Store, forcing customers to choose all their other services.
Read more: European Commission launches antitrust investigation into Android
The European Commission is concerned that pre-installed applications, such as Chrome, Hangouts, and Youtube, are offering Google an unfair advantage over rival pieces of software, especially if the tech giant is forcing or encouraging handset manufacturers to install these apps by default.
Neither the FTC nor Google commented on the matter.
BlackBerry confirms ‘Priv’ Android phone will launch this year
In its latest earnings report, BlackBerry has confirmed that rumors of its first Android device, called Priv, are accurate. CEO John Chen said that the device will “support Android for Work on the the BES12 platform… (and) offer best in class security for enterprise customers.” The device will arrive by the end of 2015, and other details like specs and price, will be revealed soon. So far, rumors indicate that it’ll have a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge-like curved screen, QWERTY keyboard slider and 18-megapixel camera. Despite the company’s turn toward Android, Chen said it “remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 OS,” and will release version 10.3.3 in March, 2016.
Source: BlackBerry
US will probe Google for anti-competitive Android behavior
The FTC and US Justice Department have launched an antitrust investigation into Google’s Android operating system, according to Bloomberg. US regulators reportedly decided to launch the inquiry after meeting with rival tech companies, which complained that Google limits their access to Android in favor of its own apps. The US move follows a similar investigation into the Android platform in Europe, where regulators are looking into Google’s search and bundling of apps like Gmail, Chrome and Play. The concern is that it creates a monopoly and crowds out rival apps like Microsoft’s Outlook or Nokia’s Here mapping.
Microsoft, of course, was itself dinged heavily in EU for pre-installing Internet Explorer on Windows 7 without giving consumers other browser options. Google’s situation with Android is similar, given that it owns over 50 percent of the smartphone market. However, consumers have realistic options to Android, like iOS, Windows Phone and Blackberry, so according to US law, regulators may not have a case. For now, the FTC and DoJ have reached a “clearance agreement,” that lets the FTC take charge of the query.
Two large regulatory bodies — the FTC and European Commission — are now investigating Google’s Android practices.
The proceedings, of course, may never amount to anything. In fact, the FTC launched a similar probe into Google’s search business in 2013, but elected to not bring any charges. However, the FTC was heavily criticized for that decision, especially after it accidentally posted a document leaking the names of the complainants in the case. This time, however, two large regulatory bodies — the FTC and European Commission — are investigating Google at the same time (though not exactly for the same thing). It could get awkward if they arrive at different decisions. There’s no word about the investigation yet from Google or the FTC, but we’ve reached out for more information.
Source: Bloomberg
Play a game about YouTube stars in ‘PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist’
The gaming stars of YouTube were recently turned into physical action figures, but their next big feat takes them back to the digital realm. PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist is a pixelated action game for iOS and Android starring YouTube sensation Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg and a host of his fellow online entertainers, including Marzia, CinnamonToastKen, JackSepticEye, Cryaotic and Markiplier. Legend of the Brofist features a mix of platforming, bullet hell and and sidescrolling action genres, and it comes courtesy of retro-focused Canadian studio Outerminds. It’s $5 on the App Store and Google Play.
PewDiePie and his gang of Let’s Players aren’t alone in their transition to game development: Plenty of other YouTube personalities have worked on their own games, including Jordan Maron, AKA CaptainSparklez. As he told Engadget in an on-camera interview back in July, Maron is working with Activision co-founder Howard Marks on the competitive mobile game Fortress Fury, plus some neat crowdfunding and investment platforms.
Meanwhile, PewDiePie (who hails from Sweden) is in Los Angeles right now to film something that looks a lot like a reality show. Plus, he’s scheduled to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 1st, followed on October 2nd by Sean Murray, the co-founder of No Man’s Sky studio Hello Games.
Source: @pewdiepie
Google Keep brings Evernote-style productivity to iOS
Google’s note taking and to-do list app, Keep, has been available on Android devices and the web for quite some time. Well over two years, in fact. Looking to offer the productivity software to the Apple faithful as well, Mountain View announced today that Keep is available for iOS. This means that all of the app’s handy tools like location-based reminders, shared lists and quick search and filtering are ready for your iPhone or iPad. And if you’re already using an Android Wear device with iOS, Keep plays nice with those wearables, too. The goods are available over at iTunes now, via the source link down below.
Source: iTunes
Here’s the stock wallpaper for the BlackBerry ‘Venice’
Leaks have been springing out of everywhere in regards to the first BlackBerry device to run Android. The BlackBerry Venice has gotten its glamour shots, and has been around the block quite a bit, even though we still don’t have a release date or anything like that. Regardless of that, everybody loves wallpapers, and thanks to @evleaks on Twitter, we have the stock wallpaper that has been seen with the BlackBerry Venice. Download it below, and show it off on whichever devices you choose to.
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