10 Android phones you should consider for Verizon (December 2015)
It’s the holiday shopping season and discounts and promos are in full swing. If you’re like a lot of consumers, now is the time to consider a smartphone upgrade. Buying a new device can be a fun endeavor, especially if you’ve got previous experience. For some, however, the thought of selecting a new handset may trigger some trepidation.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig through the clutter.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for Verizon this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for Verizon if you’re currently shopping around.
Droid Turbo 2
As the first phone to feature a shatterproof display, much can be said about the new Droid Turbo 2. Not only does this one give you peace of mind in knowing that it can fall out of your pocket or desk without shattering, the phone also features some pretty impressive hardware.
Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Turbo 2 features a 5.4-inch display at 2560×1440 resolution and a 21-megapixel camera. Quick charging ensures that the phone never runs low on juice; moreover, the 3760mAh battery gets you two days of use. In other words it’s built to be used and somewhat abused.
In a first for the Droid series, buyers can head to the Moto Maker tool to design their own unique version of the phone. There are more than 1,000 combinations of colors and materials to choose from.
Motorola Droid Turbo 2 at Verizon
Customized Droid Turbo 2 at Verizon
LG V10
The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favourite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.
But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.
Motorola Droid Maxx 2
Another relative newbie, this Motorola packs a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, 21-megapixel rear camera, and 16GB internal storage. Toss in the 3630mAh battery with Turbo Charging and you’ve got a device that should never run low on power. Other specifications include Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, microSD expansion card slot for more storage, and a water-repellent coating.
Motorola Droid Maxx 2 at Verizon
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Verizon
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S6
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ at Verizon
LG G4
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
Google Nexus 6
Running an untouched version of Android Lollipop, the Nexus 6 is among the first to receive an update to the 6.0 Marshmallow build. The 6-inch screen might be a little bigger than you’re familiar with but the reviews and feedback have been solid. Internal storage is tapped at 32GB with no microSD expansion card slot but it should be enough for those who live in the cloud.
HTC One M9
The lone HTC model here is also one of the oldest flagship models to make this list. Don’t let that concern you, though, it’s still a kick-ass phone with a great build. The 5-inch screen looks great and fits well in the hand while the 20-megapixel camera snaps excellent photos. The microSD card keeps media lovers content with room for up to 200GB of external storage.
Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation)
As an ancestor to the Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2, the Moto X (2nd Generation) doesn’t have a ton of Verizon customization. In other words, it’s closer to a stock Android experience than most other phones with only a few added touches. We love what Motorola adds to the user interface: twist to open camera, chop to activate flashlight, and voice actions. Pick yours up in Black, White Bamboo, or Football Leather.
Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation) at Verizon
Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation) at Amazon
The post 10 Android phones you should consider for Verizon (December 2015) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
10 Android phones you should consider for AT&T (December 2015)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – to buy a smartphone. With Black Friday behind us and the holiday shopping season off and running, it’s the time of year where many consider a new handset. If you’re a seasoned smartphone owner, picking out an upgrade is a simple process. But, for some folks, the idea of purchasing a new handset generates a touch of anxiety.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig through the clutter.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for AT&T this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for AT&T if you’re currently contemplating a new device.
LG G Flex 2
Introduced early in the year, this phone was among the first to boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. It’s powerful enough to contend with most Androids and features a 13-megapixel rear camera with laser focus and optical image stabilization. What it also offers, is a self-healing protective coating, which means your keys and general wear won’t ruin the finish. Also, the phone is curved in multiple ways and allows for one of the most comfortable experiences around.
LG V10
The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favourite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.
But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ at AT&T
BlackBerry Priv
The newest of the bunch, this is also the first BlackBerry handset to run Android out of the box. Not only is this one big and powerful, but it’s also extra secure, too. Standout features include an 19-megapixel rear camera and 3410mAh battery. Oh, and did we mention the Priv also has a physical keyboard? Indeed, tucked under the gorgeous 5.4-inch curved display is a 4-row QWERTY keyboard. Blast through emails and messages without breaking a sweat. It’s 2015 and once again it’s cool to own a BlackBerry.
Samsung Galaxy S6
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Active
Take the 2015 flagship smartphone and add in water and dust resistance with shock resistance and you end up with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active. Still present are the 5.1-inch display, 16-megapixel camera, and octa-core processor; however, the device greatly benefits with the addition of a 3500mAh battery. In short, this is a tremendous phone that’s built to last all day and can take just about anything you will throw its way.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Active at AT&T
LG G4
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
HTC One A9
As the only HTC model on this list, we’re big fans of the new design cues and direction. It’s not necessarily a powerful smartphone, but it’s more than enough for first time buyers with plenty left over. It’s the first non-Nexus handset to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow and enjoys features such as Doze, Android Pay, and Android on Tap. For the first time in a few years we are excited about HTC again and can’t recommend this phone enough for its target demographic. The 5-inch screen feels terrific in hand and the fingerprint scanner is highly responsive. Check out our review of the HTC One A9.
HTC One A9 (unlocked) at Amazon
Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation)
The Moto X (2nd Generation) doesn’t have a ton of AT&T customization which means it’s closer to a stock Android experience than most other phones. What is added by Motorola, however, is worth it and only adds to the phone’s value. It’s a little over a year old now, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your attention. If you’re looking for a great Android handset that won’t break the bank, you’ll be wise to consider this one.
Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation) at AT&T
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The Moto 360 Sport goes on sale in the US in January
The new Moto 360 was a definite step up over the original model, but we found it wasn’t particularly well-suited to workouts. Motorola appeared to know that right off the bat, as the company announced it was working on a “sport” model specifically for the athletically-minded. Now, the company’s finally telling us when it’ll be available. The Moto 360 Sport will go on sale in the UK and France on December 18th and will follow in the US on January 7th. The $299 watch will also be available in Best Buy stores all around the US on January 10th.
Source: Motorola
Google releases new ‘Arts & Culture’ app for Android devices
Google’s newly released Arts & Culture application aims to better education.
Arts & Culture lets students explore artifacts and famous pieces of art from hundreds of museums around the globe all in one free application. Students can browse through some of history’s most ancient artifacts with just a swipe. With each piece, students can read a short and detailed description on what it is they’re looking at. The app also lets students zoom in on images for a more in-depth look.
One of the great things about Arts & Culture is the ability to insert 360 degree tours of famous landmarks and museums near you. Google has also added in a bit of fun with its built-in scavenger hunt. Hidden gems are placed throughout the app and users can collect them to learn some extra facts. One can try the new app by heading to the download link included below.
Come comment on this article: Google releases new ‘Arts & Culture’ app for Android devices
Google’s new Chrome implementation lets users save up to 70% more data
As you may have noticed, inside Google Chrome’s mobile settings, there’s an option for data saving. This has the power to reduce all data used on Chrome by 50%. With a new implementation, Google has been able to increase the savings to a whopping 70%.
Great news for Chrome users! If you regularly check which apps use your cellular data, you might notice a significant change on Google Chrome in the future. Unfortunately, the feature is not available just yet, and not everyone will be getting it. Google stated that the rollout of the new feature will begin with India and Indonesia. The feature will only work on the Android version of the Chrome browser and will cease to work on any other platform at this time.
In case you’re wondering how this works, Google has made it possible to detect whether your internet connection is good or bad. If a user’s connection is poor, Chrome will make the detection and pop-up a notice before loading up all the on-screen images. You can check out exactly how this works in an animated image visible at the official source link down below.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google’s new Chrome implementation lets users save up to 70% more data
Updated Chrome for Android can reduce data consumption by 70 percent
Saving on data has become an important feature as smartphones make their way out to regions with more hit and miss connections. Opera Max’s data compression technology has begun to find its way onto some new smartphones and now Google’s Chrome browser has received additional optimizations of its own, with an improved Data Saver mode.
A new update improves Chrome’s Data Saver mode to offer savings up to 70 percent. The Data Saving feature has been available for a little while already, and offers up to 50 percent data compression on pages by passing them through Google’s own servers. But this latest update is a little more aggressive at culling the biggest data hogging parts of web pages.
The 70 percent saving is accomplished by removing most of the images on a page when Chrome detects that a user’s connection is too slow. Once the page has loaded up, users can tap on the backgrounds to just show the images that they want. Alternatively, a pop-up will appear offering to load up all the images on the page. This should certainly improve web page loading times on slower connections and could also be used to save on your data allowance.
See also: Reduce data usage, turn on data compression in Chrome – Android customization
The new update will be making its way out to India and Indonesia first, with other regions set to follow in the coming months. If you want to turn the feature on, Data Saver mode can be found under Settings->Advanced->Data Saver.
Sit in the orchestra pit with Google’s 360-degree video
To get a good view of an orchestra in New York’s Carnegie Hall, you would normally have to buy an expensive front row seat. With a little help from Google, however, you can now sit on the stage for free. The company is launching a “virtual exhibition” today called Performing Arts which includes four performances recorded with multiple 360-degree camera rigs. Alongside Carnegie Hall, you can experience the Berliner Philharmoniker, London’s Royal Shakespeare Company and the Theatro Municipal in São Paulo.
Via: Google (Blog Post)
Source: Performing Arts
Chrome for Android slims down the internet when speeds are slow
If you’ve ever been stuck with slow mobile internet and just wanted to read an article, Google has some mighty good news. It’s about to release a new feature to its Chrome for Android Data Saver mode that will only display text when it senses a slow network. Once a page loads, you can then show all images (above) or specific ones by tapping on them. Google says that the new trick will use up to 70 percent less mobile data on Android devices.
Source: Google
Google Hangouts finally supports Apple watch
The latest update for Hangouts on iOS won’t tell you this, but Google’s instant messaging app will play nicely with your Apple Watch now. What the change log does say, however, is that you can now reply to notifications in-line — but that means following up via Apple’s wearable is an option. You can pick from a handful of pre-written responses, but those don’t include canned messages for telling your coworker to bring funky-flavored KitKat bars from Japan to CES. No, that’s where using voice dictation comes in, silly. If your iOS gizmo hasn’t updated yet, we’ve got you covered at the source link below.
Source: iTunes
Google is matching up to $1MM for donations to DonorsChoose.org (students in need) #ForEveryKid
Happy Holidays everyone. I’m sure many of you are tired of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, and your wallets are a little lighter after the spending binge. I truly hope you all got spectacular deals on incredible products, either for yourselves or for a loved one.
Now that it is December, the time is upon us to get in the spirit of giving.
One of my very favorite things about Google is their commitment to making a difference in the world. At the very bottom of the Santa Tracker webpage, Google is asking for people to get in the holiday spirit by donating to DonorsChoose.org. Not everyone is fortunate enough to splurge during the Black Friday weekend and some kids don’t even have access to simple school supplies.
#ForEveryKid (From Google)
“Help fund a special project on DonorsChoose.org. This December, we’re helping to double the impact by matching donations by 50%, until we reach our goal of donating US$1,000,000. Together, we can make classrooms more inclusive #ForEveryKid“
How does it work?
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on our site, and you can give any amount to the project that most inspires you.
When a project reaches its funding goal, we ship the materials to the school. You’ll get photos of the project taking place, a letter from the teacher, and insight into how every dollar was spent. Give over $50 and you’ll also receive hand-written thank-yous from the students.
Is there a minimum donation?
You can give as little as $1 and get the same level of choice, transparency, and feedback that is traditionally reserved for someone who gives millions.
What kinds of schools do you serve?
K-12 public schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including public charter schools.
How did DonorsChoose.org start?
Charles Best, a new social studies teacher in the Bronx, often talked with his colleagues about materials and experiences they wanted their students to have, but which they had no funding to support. He created DonorsChoose.org in 2000 so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need. Check out our fun timeline.
Are gifts tax-deductible?
As a 501(c)3 charity, donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of US law. Our federal tax ID # is 13-4129457.
I know not everyone is fortunate enough to be in a position to donate money, but the holiday season is about giving, and even if you can donate time at your local food bank, homeless shelter, or even just helping a neighbor rake leaves, take the time to do something nice for someone. But if you are fortunate enough to donate money, help support DonorsChoose.org and Google will match %50 of every dollar raised to help students in need.
You can fund projects in your local communities, or you can give to projects hundreds of miles away.
Some projects ask for as little as $555, such as this one where a teacher is asking for support to pay for simple school supplies. The funding will provide basic supplies for her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade special education students. The project just needs $203 to be funded half way and Google will take care of the rest.
Or this project which needs just $69 to reach its goal:
Learning With Autism: A Safe Place To Grow
My students need tools to help focus their minds and calm their bodies to be ready to learn. Other students in the class need books to build empathy and understanding.
I know Androidguys doesn’t have the reach that sites like Engadget and Android Central have, but if you could help pass this message along to everyone you know, we can help kids by funding one, two, three or maybe even hundreds of projects. Every dollar counts. #ForEveryKid
Let’s aim to get most of these projects funded before Santa comes on the 25th.
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