Tag: Android

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LG Unveils G4 Flagship Android Smartphone with Leather Back and Improved Camera!

An exciting day for LG fans!

LG finally took the wraps off of their newest flagship phone at a very conservative press event. No fashion runway, no choir, no stage. They let the device speak for itself, while detailing the new tech and design elements moving forward.

The G4 will follow in the design footsteps of the G3 and the G Flex. The screen will now feature a subtle curve, not as radical as the Flex, but offering a more ergonomic experience than the G3. As we’re still using a near-phablet 5.5″ screen, the slight bend should help with one handed use, and lining up with the contours of the human face.

lg g4 ips quantum display somegadgetguy

The screen is still a QHD (2560×1440) resolution affair, but LG is focusing on the quality and brightness of the display, over trying to cram in more dots. We’ve complained in the past that LG screens can be harder to read outdoors when compared to Samsung and Nokia, and it would seem the G4 will address that issue. They claim their IPS Quantum technology will be 25% brighter with increased contrast and color accuracy.

It’s still incredible to see a screen this large on a phone this small. As with our LG G3 vs iPhone 6 Plus comparison, you’ll get a higher resolution panel, and the same screen size as Apple’s phablet, in a phone just a touch larger than a Galaxy S6. Continue reading “LG Unveils G4 Flagship Android Smartphone with Leather Back and Improved Camera!”

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Google Launches Fi – Easy Low-Cost MVNO Cell Phone Service, Everything You Need to Know!

Rumors have been swirling that Google would launch their own phone service, and today we have official confirmation on their plans.

Project Fi

Instead of building their own towers, Google will lease their connection on partner networks, Sprint and T-Mobile at launch. This makes Google an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), and brings them the advantage of not having to build out a competing network. The trick to Project Fi will be in delivering consumers a seamless transition between data and calls over Wi-Fi and on partner networks.

In subscribing to Fi, you will automatically be connected to the best possible network in your area. If Sprint has the best connection, your phone will connect to that network. Move to an area that’s rich for T-Mobile, you’ll jump ship to the UnCarrier. The consumer no longer has to mess with coverage maps or swapping SIM cards.

Low Cost

Pricing seems reasonable for an MVNO. There’s a base $20 a month fee for unlimited Talk and Text, with coverage for 120+ countries. Data costs $10 per GB. Want 4GB of LTE data, that will cost you $40. As the service moves between different carriers, it’s not very easy to do rollover data, instead Google is opting for cash back. If you pay for 4GB, but only use 2GB, you will receive a bill credit for $20.

Project Fi will start as an invite only service, and will only be compatible with the Nexus 6 at launch. It’s unclear how Google will move forward with other handset manufacturers, or what the certifications process for Fi compatible handsets will resemble.

You can request an invite at https://fi.google.com/about/

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LG Smartphone Showdown! G Flex 2 -VS- Original G Flex! Battle! Fight!

I’m really glad that LG is continuing the “Flex” experiment. Is the G Flex 2 a worthy successor to the original? I think it’s time for a good old fashioned showdown!

Shop the G Flex 2 on Amazon.

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LG G Flex 2 Coming to AT&T April 24th

lg_g_flex_2_946x432We’ve already started our long term review of LG’s newest curved screen phone, and you can catch a speaker test, a full camera review, and a pair of comparisons for the G Flex 2.

Good news for bendy phone fans on AT&T, as this LG smartphone will be landing on Big Blue for $299 on a two year contract, or purchased outright for $708.99. Expect to see the G Flex 2 online and at select AT&T stores starting April 24th.

Are you looking forward to a curved screen phone? Drop us a comment, watch our comparison between the G Flex 2 and its predecessor, or read AT&T’s full press release below!

Continue reading “LG G Flex 2 Coming to AT&T April 24th”

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Review: KCRW’s MUCH Improved Android App – Support Publicly Funded Radio!

It’s a service I use almost every day, and now their Android app is much easier to use. KCRW is a listener supported radio station in LA, which produces fantastic news and music shows with a global focus. Let’s take a look at their new app for streaming live audio and organizing their podcasts!

KCRW App (on Google Play)

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Google’s “Works With Cardboard” Program to Improve Android VR Compatibility

google works with cardboard vr headset virtual reality powisIt sounded like a joke at first. Google built a template that allowed users to cut out a cardboard headset which turned their phone into a Virtual Reality display.

What started off as a proof of concept for VR applications on mobile devices, has exploded as it’s one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to try out VR content. App developers are paying attention as there’s a growing list of services being developed for VR with Google Cardboard in mind. While you can create your own headset using Google’s template, there are also a number of companies building pre-assembled headsets out of cardboard or plastic. Even the Viewmaster will be returning this Fall as a Cardboard inspired VR experience.

With a growing community, it would only make sense that Google would continue investing in this project, and they’ve now announced a “Works With Cardboard” program for better hardware and software compatibility moving forward.

google works with cardboard vr headset virtual reality

Developers will receive better tools for migrating existing apps and services into a VR environment, Manufacturers will get a new tool which helps customers automatically configure the app for different hardware builds, and consumers will have access to a better organized app store experience.

It’s a very positive development to see Google taking this sector seriously, as VR is primed to be a hot industry as Oculus, Razer, Samsung, and HTC are all moving to get solutions into consumer’s hands. Google is betting on your first taste of VR coming from the (Android) phone you already own.

Works with Google Cardboard: creativity plus compatibility

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Amazon Brings Prime Video to Android Tablets – Still Finicky to Setup

Amazon has been notoriously slow in bringing their Prime Video service to Android. Cross platform compatibility was a key factor in making the Kindle service the most widely used way to consume e-books, but Amazon seemed happy to let Netflix, Hulu, and Google Play run away with the Android streaming video market.

Recently they caved on allowing Android phones to stream video, and now, the most recent update for the Prime Video app includes support for Android tablets.

It’s not all roses however. Getting the service up and running still requires a multi-app strategy. The fastest way we got it running?

  1. amazon prime instant video on android tablet browser chrome somegadgetguyInstall the old Amazon App Store APK manually.
  2. Sign in to your Amazon account through the Amazon App Store App.
  3. Use the Amazon App Store to Install the “Prime Instant Video” app.
  4. Open your tablet’s browser (I use Chrome), and log into your Amazon account through that browser.
  5. Navigate to a video you’d like to play, and press “Watch Now”. You should get an option to “Open with Instant Video”. Use that.

Congratulations, you’ve set up Prime Instant Video on your Android tablet! From here on out, you should be able to continue using the service by using your browser to search for videos to watch.

I don’t see Amazon Prime Video unseating Netflix, Google Play, and Hulu on Android devices any time soon…

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Chrome App Tutorial: ARC Welder – Running Android Apps on Windows PC’s

There have been several ways you can run Android apps on Macs and PC’s, but now using the ARC Welder Chrome app, you can load an APK and run it through your Chrome browser just like on a Chromebook. Here’s everything you need to know!

ARC Welder in The Chrome App Store: http://goo.gl/9ykdOI
APK Mirror: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/

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