Regulators reject plan to fix 85,000 diesel Volkswagens

Although Volkswagen has those ambitious plans to launch 30 new electric vehicles in the next 10 years, the German automaker is still on the hook for that $14.7 billion class-action settlement related to the diesel emissions scandal. While VW has already agreed to buy back nearly half a million 2.0L diesel engine vehicles, the California Air Resources Board rejected the company’s plan to fix another 85,000 3.0L diesel VWs, Audis and Porsches that are still on the road.

As Ars Technica reports today, the CARB called VW’s plan “substantially deficient” and that it “fall[s] far short” of the state regulator’s standards. CARB also claims Volkswagen “failed to disclose and provide a complete description of all defeat devices” and accuses the company of being vague about how the fix will actually affect the vehicles’ emissions, fuel economy, and On Board Diagnostics systems. According to a statement provided to Ars, however, the rejection is just “a procedural step under California state law.”

It is worth noting that CARB initially rejected the 2.0L recall plan citing similar reasons. According to Volkswagen’s attorneys, the defeat devices on the 3.0L vehicles are different and they initially believed those vehicles could be fixed without a full-scale buyback program.

How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android

How do I transfer my iPhone contacts to my Android phone?

You’ve made the brilliant decision to switch from iPhone to Android. Congratulations and welcome! Now you just need to get all of your contacts off your iPhone and onto your new Android phone and your Apple ties will be severed and you shall be reborn anew (or something like that).

Here’s how!

You’ll first want to make sure that your iPhone is backed up to iCloud. Once that’s done, you’re ready to make the move. You’ll start by exporting your vCard.

• How to export contacts using iCloud
• How to import contacts using Google Contacts
• How to sync your Google account with your Android phone
• How to add your iPhone contacts to your Android phone

How to export contacts using iCloud

Launch your web browser on your computer. This process does NOT work with Chrome. Use Firefox or Safari.
Navigate to iCloud.com.
Sign in using your Apple ID and password.
Click Contacts.

Click All Contacts in the top left corner of your screen.

Press the Command key and the A key on your keyboard simultaneously if you have a Mac. Press the ctrl key and A key on your keyboard simultaneously if you have a PC.
Click the Settings button on the bottom left corner of your screen. It looks like a gear.

Click Export vCard. Your contacts will all be saved as a .vcf file in your downloads. If a new window pops up, you’ll just have to select all of your contacts again, right click, and export again.

How to import contacts using Google Contacts

Next, you’ll import your vCard using Google. If you don’t have a Google account, sign up now, since you’ll need a Google account for your Android phone. If you’ve already set up your Android phone, you likely set up a Google account in the process.

Launch your web browser on your computer. Any web browser will work.
Sign into your Google account.
Click the Google apps button in the top right corner of your screen.

Click Contacts.

Click Import Contacts on the bottom of the left menu.

Click Choose File.

Click your vCard and open it from your downloads or wherever you have saved it.
Click Import. All of your contacts should appear after a few seconds.
Click Find and merge duplicates if the red message appears at the top of your screen.

Click Merge in the pop-up. This isn’t always entirely accurate, so double-check your contacts after for duplicates.

How to sync your Google account with your Android phone

You can sync your phone with your Google account, which can be done from any Android phone.

If you haven’t turned your Android phone on yet, you’re in luck; you’ll be asked if you want to sync an account during setup. Just use the account that has your contacts and follow the on-screen prompts.

If you have turned on your Android phone and gone through the setup, here’s how to sync your Google account to get your contacts on your phone.

Launch the Settings app from your home screen, the Notification Shade, or the app drawer.
Tap Accounts.

Tap Google.

Tap the switch next to Contacts to make sure that contact sync is turned on if it’s not already.
Tap the more button on the top right corner of your screen. It’ll either be the word More or three vertical dots.

Tap Sync now.

How to add your iPhone contacts to your Android phone

You’ll only want to email yourself your vCard if you don’t have a Google account to sync with your Android phone. If you do have a Google account, your phone will inevitably sync with it and then you’ll likely have duplicate contacts and it’ll just be a mess.

Launch your email app from your home screen or app drawer of your Android phone.
Open the email containing your vCard file.
Tap the download button next to the vCard file to download it.
Swipe down from the top of your screen to reveal the Notification Shade.

Tap the completed download notification to open the vCard file.

Depending on which phone you have, you’ll be able to save your contacts to your device or to the Google Contacts app (only if you have a Nexus, Android One, or Google Play Edition device).

Moto Z Droid & MotoMods unboxing!

Buried deep inside the boxes of the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid editions, we find what lurks in the hearts of smartphones. Or something.

As the Moto Z edges ever closer to its release … sometime … we’re getting a fresh look at what of the year’s most anticipated (and, frankly, interesting) Android smartphones. Specifically, today we’re taking a look at Verizon’s versions — the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid editions.

The basic rundown, since our first look at them at Lenovo’s TechWorld event in July: These are 5.5-inch phones, with the Force Droid model also sporting a larger battery, and a shatterproof display. The BIG deal, though? MotoMods — the replaceable back covers that essentially turn the phone into something new. A long-running powerhouse. A portable speaker. And a portable projector. And those are just the first three. (Plus, we’re getting our first look at the USB-C adapter for your headphones!)

We’ve got a lot more on the new Moto Z phones coming your way in the near future. Stay tuned!

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our hands-on preview
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Best Buy
Amazon

Marvel Future Fight adds an all-new Captain America

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Captain America, Marvel Future Fight has added a brand new version of the Captain, Sharon Rogers, with its latest update. The update also adds the character Sin, daughter of Captain America’s nemesis, the Red Skull, along with new uniforms and advancements for certain characters.

Here’s what you’ll find in the Marvel Future Fight update:

• To celebrate Captain America’s 75th anniversary, new original character Captain America (Sharon Rogers) and new event quests have been added.
• Meet Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull.
• New Uniforms for Agent 13, Red Skull, Crossbones, M.O.D.O.K., Punisher, and Winter Soldier.
• New Tier-2 advancements for the following characters: Agent 13, Red Skull, Crossbones, M.O.D.O.K., Punisher, Sin, Nebula, and Captain America (Sharon Rogers).

The latest update to Marvel Future Fight is available for download right now on the Google Play Store.

YouTube to stream Republican and Democratic conventions in 360-degree video

If watching traditional coverage of the upcoming Democratic and Republican National Conventions sounds a little too ho-hum, you’ll get the chance to spice things up this year with VR. YouTube has announced that it will be providing live streams of both conventions with 360-degree video.

Additionally, YouTube plans to put popular content creators to work with added coverage from the convention floors:

Look out for coverage from The Young Turks, Complex News, Seeker Daily, Ingrid Nilsen, Mark Watson, Julie Borowski and more. These creators, along with other news organizations, will report back to their communities using new tools including mobile live streaming and Jump VR cameras, so you will have nonstop coverage from a variety of perspectives.

In any event, you’ll be able to check out live streams of the Republican convention starting July 18, along with the Democratic convention starting July 25.

Electronic billboard reminds Floridians not to ‘Poké and Drive’

Clear Channel wants to remind you not to play Pokémon Go while driving. The company has taken out space on an electronic billboard in Jacksonville, Florida telling people not to play the popular mobile game while they drive.

As you can see, the PSA changes, saying “Pidgey can wait” or “the Poké Stop can wait.” It’s certainly a clever way to get someone’s attention.

If you’re really enjoying Pokémon Go, that’s great, but remember to practice some common sense. Don’t dart out into streets chasing a Squirtle, or walk into people pursuing an Electrode. And certainly don’t play the game and drive, because that’s a very good way to get yourself or someone else hurt.

Thanks to Alemuit for the tip!

T-Mobile offers customers unlimited data for Pokémon Go

Starting with its next Tuesday giveaway, T-Mobile will be offering its customers free, unlimited data on Pokémon Go. This means that the game won’t eat up your high-speed data allotment. This offer will cover your data usage in the game for a year.

In addition to free Pokémon Go data, T-Mobile will offer customers their customary set of T-Mobile Tuesday goodies. These will include a Lyft ride with a value of $15 or less, a free Wendy’s Frosty, and 50% off certain accessories.

The Un-carrier is offering 250 of its customers $100 each in free PokéCoins, which can be used to buy in-game items like Poké Balls, incense, lures, and more. The data offer is similar to T-Mobile’s Music Unlimited and Binge On programs, which offer access to certain music and video services without eating into your data allotment.

How much mobile data does Pokémon Go use?

Press release:

Pokémon Go Mania Sweeps the Country … So T-Mobile Thanks Customers with Free Pokémon Data and More

Next week’s T-Mobile Tuesday is all about unleashing you to catch ’em all!

Bellevue, Washington — July 14, 2016 — T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today announced that, with next week’s T-Mobile Tuesday, the Un-carrier is thanking its customers with free, unlimited data for Pokémon Go—the new sensation that’s taking the world by storm. On July 19th, as part of next week’s T-Mobile Tuesdays, the Un-carrier will give customers great ways to take their Pokémon Go skillz to a whole new level, including …

• Free, unlimited data on Pokémon Go, so it won’t touch your high-speed data—for a full year!
• Free Lyft rides up to $15 to get to a new PokéStop or Gym
• Free Wendy’s Frosty to fuel up for your hunting trip
• 50% off select accessories – including portable power packs and chargers at T-Mobile stores – so you can keep on playing for hours

On top of that, 250 people will each win $100 in PokéCoins, and five people will win a Pokémon Go hunting trip anywhere in the U.S. for themselves and a guest!

“This is what T-Mobile Tuesday is all about – thanking customers with hot, new, totally free gifts every week, and right now, nothing is hotter than Pokémon Go!” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “With the carriers’ shared data schemes, players could easily burn up the family’s data bucket – and then, hello, overages! At T-Mobile, we’re unleashing Pokémon Go so our customers can play free for a year. It’s gonna be a fantastic T-Mobile Tuesday!”

Since Pokémon Go launched July 6th, the mobile game has raced past the likes of Facebook and Twitter on the app charts, already attracting a record-setting 21 million daily users in the U.S. alone. The groundbreaking AR game has surged to the No.1 free game and No.1 grossing game in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in record-breaking time, qualifying Pokémon Go as a certifiable global phenomenon.

New and existing T-Mobile customers can get free and unlimited high-speed data for all your Pokémon Go gaming in the U.S. – all the way through end of August 2017. They just need to download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app and claim the free gift. But hurry – this limited-time offer will be available to redeem starting next Tuesday, July 19th and available to redeem every T-Mobile Tuesday through Tuesday, August 9th. Everyone who’s eligible for T-Mobile Tuesdays is eligible for all this Pokémon fun.

Last month, T-Mobile unveiled its 11th iconic Un-carrier move – #GetThanked – a set of history-making initiatives dedicated exclusively to saying “thank you” to customers, offering T-Mobile customers ownership in the company, free stuff every week, and free in- flight smartphone Wi-Fi on Gogo equipped U.S. flights. With T-Mobile Tuesdays, customers can count on getting thanked each week with free recurring gifts, a surprise free gift from a new partner and a chance to win something epic. After launch, the T-Mobile Tuesdays app immediately jumped to No.1 on the App Store. And, millions of T-Mobile customers have already been thanked with free stuff.

The new offers will be visible in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on iOS and Android and at http://www.t-mobiletuesdays.com starting tomorrow, so customers can get ready for next Tuesday. Previously, the T-Mobile Tuesdays app featured partner Gilt and a focus on fashion for this coming week, but don’t worry, t-shirts and fashion will be coming back to T-Mobile Tuesday soon. For more information about T-Mobile Tuesdays, visit explore.t-mobile.com/t-mobile-tuesdays.

Limited time offers; subject to change. Qualifying service required. Detectable Pokémon Go data on our U.S. network does not count against high-speed data allotment; some content may be excluded & additional incidental content may be included. See app terms of use; age 13+. For sweepstakes, NO PURCHASE NECESSARY & void where prohibited. See Official Rules at T-MobileTuesdays.com. $15 Lyft Credit must be redeemed by Wednesday 7/20/16; must be over 18. Accessories offer valid only in stores 7/19. Extremely high data usage may result in deprioritization (& slower speeds). T-Mobile is not an associate, affiliate, or licensee of Pokémon/Niantic. We’re just big fans.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company’s advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to more than 65.5 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!

Razer has a new iPad Pro mechanical keyboard case for gamers

Razer on Thursday announced an iPad Pro accessory that’s perfect for those of you who like to game while on the go.

It’s also for those of you not in love with the iPad Pro’s stock smart keyboard. Razer is offering an alternative that uses its new “Ultra-Low-Profile Mechanical Switches” in order to provide the same acuity and responsiveness found in full-size mechanical keyboards. The peripheral-maker appears keen to help Apple push the iPad Pro as a PC replacement, so it’s rolling out a new compact keyboard case created just for the slate.

The Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case is cloaked in all-matte black, has a detachable polycarbonate shell with a metal kickstand, and boasts chiclet keys that require just 70 grams of force. It appears the keyboard case pairs to the iPad Pro via Bluetooth, rather than the Smart Connector, and therefore can’t recharge the iPad Pro while in use. But it does have a 10-hour battery life with the backlight at maximum (or 600 hours without).

“We’re commonly thought of as a company that makes phenomenal products for gamers, but to design the very best products, we’ve had to innovate from the ground up – even from each individual component such as mechanical switches,” explained Min-Liang Tan, Razer’s CEO.

“We’re excited about the potential of our Ultra-Low-Profile Mechanical Switch and look forward to exploring other applications in addition to the mechanical keyboard we’ve designed for the iPad Pro,” Tan added, indicating it plans to use its new mechanical switch in other products.

• The Razer RealSense Camera will enhance your broadcasts
• Razer Mamba (2015) hands-on: The best gaming mouse on the planet
• Calling all GDC goers: Pick up your free Razer Nabu X smartband today

Until then, you can get Razer’s new mechanical keyboard case for iPad Pro. It is releasing right now, with pricing set at $169.99 in the US or €189.99 across Europe. It’s available at both Razer’s online store brick-and-mortar locations.

Pokemon Go: How to find and catch rare Pokemon?

So you’ve been playing Pokemon Go for a bit and want to catch a rare one, eh?

You’re in luck. We at Pocket-lint have played with the game ourselves and scoured the internet for the best tips and tricks out there, so everything you need to know is laid out below, including details about which Pokemon are common/rare/legendary, as well as how to find and catch rare ones.

Once you’re done getting all the information you need, check out these pieces for more stuff about Pokemon Go, such as how to play, general tips and tricks, how to get the game in your country, why is everyone talking about it, and other mind-boggling facts about the new app:

• Pokemon Go: How to play and other tips and tricks
• Can’t get Pokemon Go in your country yet? Here’s how to download it now
• What is Pokemon Go and why is everyone talking about it?
• Pokemon Go: Best, worst and craziest places people have found Pokemon
• London through the eyes of Pokemon Go
• Pokemon Go: 11 amazing, mind-boggling facts about the AR game
• Pokemon Go: How to catch Pikachu as your first Pokemon

What are Pokemon?

Everyone has heard of Pokemon. They’re fictional creatures from the self-titled franchise that exploded in the 90s. The idea is that Pokemon Trainers – aka humans – try to catch and battle Pokemon for sport. Pokemon originated in a Nintendo video game for the first Game Boy and eventually landed in trading cards, animated shows, movies, and comics. Now, via Pokemon Go, they’re in an augmented-reality mobile game.

There are more than 700 Pokemon that have appeared in the Pokemon franchise over the past 20 years, though only 151 of them are in the new mobile app. Browse our gallery of all the Pokemon in Pokemon Go, in alphabetical order:

• How many Pokemon are in Pokemon Go? 151, and here they are

What are rare Pokemon?

There’s actually two types of rare Pokemon: Rare and Legendary. The Legendary ones are the rarest creatures in the Pokemon universe. In fact, few have actually seen them. It’s been confirmed (via code in the game) that Legendary-status Pokemon are hiding, and Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, and Ditto were even spotted by a player. Rumour has it Niantic, the game’s developer, is withholding them for a huge in-game event or something.

Now, as for the general rare ones… this gets complicated. Pokemon that are rare might only be rare in your area; they could be very common Pokemon somewhere else. Still, there seems to be some Pokemon that almost all players have trouble spotting and catching. Here’s a list of just 20 rare Pokemon, in order of most rare (it’s based on information compiled by thousands of users around the world at Poke Assistant):

(Click each to see an image.)

• Charizard
• Ditto
• Omastar
• Charmeleon
• Dragonair
• Muk
• Vaporeon
• Machamp
• Ivysaur
• Venusaur
• Blastoise
• Nidoqueen
• Nidoking
• Vileplume
• Poliwrath
• Alakazam
• Weepinbell
• Victreebel
• Slowbro
• Marowak

How do you find rare Pokemon?

The most common Pokemon found in Pokemon Go include Pigey, Rattata, Caterpie, Duduo, etc. Chances are – often playing the game for a few days – you’ll notice you keep finding these little guys and none of the rare ones, like a Marowak. So, how do you find these elusive creatures? Simple: raise your trainer level. Wild Pokemon rarity is tied to your trainer level and CP stat (how well a Pokemon can attack).

You can see your trainer level in the lower left-hand corner of your screen. To raise your trainer level, you need to get experience. That means you must grab all those PokeStops, fight in several gyms, hatch those eggs, walk around a lot, and just play the game basically. You can even buy a Lucky Egg from the store to double your experience gain for 30 minutes. After about 10 levels or so, you will spot those wild, rare beasts.

How do you catch rare Pokemon?

The Nearby menu in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen show how close a Pokemon is to you. When hunting the rare ones, you’ll want to track the creatures that appear greyed-out behind a silhouette. These are Pokemon you haven’t caught yet, and thus they aren’t recorded in your Pokdex. The closer the Pokmon is to you, the fewer footprints you’ll see underneath the silhouette (3 footsteps = 300 metres, etc).

Make sure to keep the Nearby menu open and then circle the Pokémon you want to capture by clicking on it. The circled silhouette should shift up and down based on proximity to you (the more right and down the silhouette is, the father it is from you). If the Pokémon is moving down the menu, walk away to see if it gets closer. Pokemon listed on the Nearby menu are always close by, so keep trying and looking.

Now, check out this guide to learn how to catch a Pokemon in general. For rare Pokemon, try to get the ring around the Pokemon as small as possible before flinging a Poke Ball. The smaller the ring, the more likely the Pokemon won’t escape from the ball. If the Pokemon does escape, just fling several Poke Balls at it before it has a chance to run away. That and pray to the Poke Gods is about all lower-level players can do.

Higher-level trainers upon hitting Level 7 can grab Razz Berries from PokeStops. Feed these to wild Pokemon to make them less likely to run away or escape Poke Balls. At Level 10, you can use more powerful Poke Balls (like Great and Ultra Balls). Wild Pokemon of all levels have difficulty escaping these balls. And if you feed a rare Pokemon a Razz Berry first, then fling a powerful ball at it, you’ll likely be successful.

Are there any other tips and tricks?

Rare Pokemon change from location to location, and it depends on a number of factors, including player population density, proximity to certain types of landscapes, nearby landmarks, different times of the day, etc. Also, certain Pokemon dwell in areas related to their type. Psychic- and ghost-type Pokemon can be found near cemeteries, while fire- and ground-type Pokemon are more likely to appear in arid, desert climates.

Based on information culled from Reddit, Twitter, and our own experiences, here’s other tips and tricks on how to find and catch rare Pokemon:

• Wall a lot, and walk slowly.
• Check unvisited lanes, undiscovered locations, and unpopulated areas.
• Go to locations depending on the type of rare Pokemon you want to find.
• Place lures at PokeStops to lure all nearby Pokemon to your area.
• Use Incense to draw Pokemon if you’re staying put in an area for 30 mins.
• Look for rustling leaves in the game.
• Continually check the near “Nearby” menu for Pokemon.
• When you spot one, switch off the AR Camera (top-right corner of screen).
• Throw a clean Poke Ball without excessive hand movements.
• Make sure your phone has plenty of battery.