Android Phone Fans

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• Underwater Sony Xperia Z3 uboxing shows off its killer feature [VIDEO]
• Sony Xperia Z3 gets the teardown treatment, reveals modular components and parts
• Pushbullet introduces ‘Channels,’ like a mix between Yo, IFTTT, and RSS
• Google Play is now showing Android developers’ addresses and pricing for in-app purchases
• Best Android games from September 2014
• LG G3 officially headed to US Cellular next month
• Android Deals: 30% off the Galaxy Tab S, 90s albums at 90s prices, and more
• The Moto 360 is back in stock through Motorola – hurry, supply is limited
• Pebble and Pebble Steel get permanent price cuts, new health features
• Samsung explains Note 4 gap as a “necessary manufacturing feature,” says it may expand over time
• Samsung highlights 5 big features made possible by the Note Edge’s display [INFOGRAPHIC]
• Rumor: new HTC One Max coming with 5.5-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 805, 3GB of RAM and more
• This is supposedly what the Nexus 6 looks like, and here are some of its early specs [Leak]

Underwater Sony Xperia Z3 uboxing shows off its killer feature [VIDEO] Posted: 30 Sep 2014 05:57 PM PDT Although occasionally guilty of it ourselves, we’ll admit — smartphone unboxings aren’t always the funnest videos to watch. But alas, they’re a necessary evil, meant to give you a quick first look at what you can expect when you open up x device for yourself (and we typically mix in our first impressions to keep things interesting). Earlier today, we saw what happens when you crack open an actual Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone, exposing all the modular internals to the outside world. Now, the folks at Carphone Warehouse are giving us a more unconventional unboxing of the Z3, taking the phone deep underwater in their latest YouTube video. Given that the Xperia Z3 has an IP68 rating for water, it has absolutely no problem being submerged in 1.5 meters of water. You have to admit, that’s one killer feature. Check out the video below and be sure to let us know what you think.

Sony Xperia Z3 gets the teardown treatment, reveals modular components and parts Posted: 30 Sep 2014 04:51 PM PDT We’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Sony Xperia Z3 and its smaller sibling, the Z3 Compact. Call us sick in the heads, but we take a certain amount of pleasure in watching the disassembly of these tiny pocket computers with the Sony Xperia Z3 being no different. The phone is the subject of a new teardown by the folks at Ewisetech, giving us an up close look at everything that makes the Z3 tick. For interested parties, take a look at a few of the upcoming smartphone’s exposed parts down below. Unsurprising, there’s not too much different from the older Z2 model (this ones got more rounded edges). The back plate is removed rather easily, using some kinda of foam insulation to keep a water tight seal. Once cracked open, inside you’ll find the use of Samsung RAM/ROM, and a handful of chips from Broadcom and Qualcomm on the exposed motherboard. If nothing else, we were surprised at how clean and modular all the internal parts were, leaving us confident that replacing parts on the device shouldn’t be too troublesome. Fore more pictures, check out the source link below. [Ewisetech | via Xperia Blog]

Pushbullet introduces ‘Channels,’ like a mix between Yo, IFTTT, and RSS Posted: 30 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT Pushbullet has slowly grown into one of those Android applications we simply can’t live without. Recently, we saw updates that brought the ability to reply to our phone’s SMS messages straight from our computers, and even universal copy/paste. Again, we can’t say enough about the application and how it’s helped streamline our workflow. In a new update rolling out for Pushbullet on the web, the service is now introducing something they’re calling “Channels.” It’s a little hard to describe, but we’d liken it to services like Yo, IFTTT or RSS where you can essentially subscribe to notification feeds via Pushbullet’s new web portal. Once subscribed, you’ll receive notifications when something like a website publishes a new post, or when the channel owner wants to notify subscribers about some important update. While RSS feeds are naturally the most obvious type of Channel, Pushbullet describes a use case scenario where small businesses, groups, or even teachers need to send something to all their subscribers at once. Sure we have email, instant messaging, SMS, or just about any number of apps that do much of this already, but the fact that it’s so easy to set up and configure on an app we’re already using makes it useful enough to give it a shot. You can get started making your own Channel here, or subscribe to the Phandroid channel here to get notified of new posts, or even receive notifications when our weekly wallpaper posts go live here. You can find all available Pushbullet Channels by visiting the link down below from your web browser. [Pushbullet Channels]

Google Play is now showing Android developers’ addresses and pricing for in-app purchases Posted: 30 Sep 2014 01:20 PM PDT In a followup to previous posts in which we highlighted some controversial new changes making their way to the Google Play Store — namely, developers being required to display their home/business address in app listings, and pricing for in-app purchases finally being a thing — it looks like both are now live on Google Play. While showing the price ranges for apps and games with in-app purchases is being lauded (still sucks that individual items aren’t shown), it’s the address portion that’s leaving some with a bad taste in their mouths. What’s the big deal? Well, the Google Play Store (once Android Market) was built on the backs of smaller indie developers — the same developers who may or may not have the money to afford an office or workspace away from home. With their addresses now in plain view on all of their app listings, you can see how this could potentially create a weird situation if fallen into the wrong hands. What kind of weird situation you ask? Android developer Koushik Dutta of Clockwork Mod fame sheds some light on this subject with a brief anecdote on his Google+ page. The post describes a “creepy” situation he encountered after a disgruntled customer showed up to his place of residence. “A few years ago, some guy bricked his Galaxy SomethingOrOther by flashing the wrong recovery. He started messaging me on Google Talk, and then on IRC asking for help. I told him I was not tech support, and that he shouldn’t have flashed the wrong recovery hoping it would work. I said to use Odin and find a debrick guide. He knew I lived in Seattle, and said we could meet up for me to fix it. I declined. Twenty minutes later… I receive a call. It’s this guy, begging for help. I tell him that’s totally inappropriate, and that he needs to stop. After I got off the call, I realized that the call was made from the call box downstairs, outside my building.” We should note: the above stated situation occurred before Google’s new Play Store policies and wasn’t a result of the new changes. While it’s true, technically anyone could grab a developer’s addresses by making an app or game purchase and viewing their Google Wallet receipt, the fact that it’s now openly made public online is still a legitimate concern for some. It’s being speculated Google was forced to go this route to stay in accordance with European laws and for the most part we get it. But it’s still unclear if developers can simply use a PO Box, UPS address, or if a physical home or business address is absolutely mandatory. What we do know is developers have 30 days to comply with Google’s request starting today, or run the risk of having their apps/games removed from Google Play.

Best Android games from September 2014 Posted: 30 Sep 2014 01:17 PM PDT Previous Best Games of the Month Another month bites the dust. September is officially ending, and with it has gone the last traces of summer. The good news is there were quite a few excellent new games this month. As the weather gets a little cooler you can stay inside and play games on your phone. Suddenly Fall doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Check out our list of the best games you may have missed from September. Enjoy! Angry Birds Stella “You know, we could use some more Angry Birds games.” I’m not sure if anyone has actually said that, but the folks at Rovio sure think so. Angry Birds Stella is yet another special edition of the same ol’ Angry Birds game. In this version you can only use the female bird characters. That’s pretty much it. Asphalt Overdrive Just like Rovio keeps making new Angry Birds games, Gameloft has pumped out yet another Asphalt title. Asphalt Overdrive is a mission-based arcade driving game with a retro style. Unlock and drive 30 high-performance, fully licensed vehicles such as the iconic Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa. Challenge yourself in 7 different mission types: Escape the cops, defeat bosses, avoid obstacles, and perform impressive stunts while you race. Beach Buggy Racing Beach Buggy Racing is the sequel to Beach Buggy Blitz. Drive into an action-packed, surprise-filled world of off-road kart racing mayhem. Race against a field of rival drivers, each with unique personalities and special abilities. Build a collection of crazy powerups, like Dodgeball Frenzy, Fireball, and Oil Slick. With 6 different game modes there is tons of fun to be had. Boogey Boy Boogey Boy is a 3D side-scrolling runner. It's time for bed and the boogeyman is out to get you. Can you escape your nightmares? Escape the boogeyman by collecting batteries to activate your flashlight. Play through the boy’s dreamworlds, dodging strange and bizarre enemies. Activate special power-ups to help the boy escape from the terrors of the night. BombSquad In BombSquad you can blow up your friends in mini-games ranging from capture-the-flag to hockey. With tons of explosions, advanced ragdoll face-plant physics, pirates, ninjas, barbarians, and insane chefs, there is something for everyone. BombSquad supports network-play as well as 8 player local multiplayer so all your friends can get in on the action. Cardinal Quest 2 Cardinal Quest 2 is an approachable, yet challenging, roleplaying game. Dive into dangerous dungeons with unique characters and climb the leaderboards. Explore challenging dungeons, encounter dangerous enemies, and grow in power as you progress. You can choose your characters class and customize with spells and special items. CounterSpy In CounterSpy your job is to stop a crazed superpower from launching deadly nuclear missiles. As a budding Agent for C.O.U.N.T.E.R, jump into action, stealthily sabotage dastardly plans and deceptively maintain world peace. The game is packed with stylized Cold War-era visuals and smooth side‐scrolling cover‐based shooting gameplay. Dragon Quest After having launched Dragon Quest 4 for Android last month, Square Enix wants to add more of the series to Google Play's catalog. The company has released the original Dragon Quest game, giving us a touch-equipped rendition of the game that started it all. The $3 download gives you access to the entirety of the game as it was released with no in-app nonsense to be had. Goat Simulator The bizarre Goat Simulator has been released to the Play Store this month. What the crap is Goat Simulator, you ask? Goat Simulator is the latest in goat simulation technology, bringing next-gen goat simulation to YOU. You no longer have to fantasize about being a goat, your dreams have finally come true! It’s pretty much just a joke. Interstellar Usually movie games are not very good, but Paramount actually did a good job with Interstellar. Create and customize your own unique solar system with planets, moons, asteroids and more. Explore a universe of fan-generated solar systems and black holes in the Interstellar experience. See how far you can pilot the Endurance without running out of fuel or losing time relative to Earth. Sling-shot through solar systems using real-world physics and gravitational forces. Just Dance Now The world’s most popular dance game is now available on your phone. Just Dance Now uses your phone as a controller for the game on your browser. Simply launch the game from the Just Dance website and use your phone to track your dance moves. It’s a neat new way to play Just Dance. Light In The Dark In this unique game you must help the Totems find their adorable lost children. In order to do this you must solve light bending, color blending puzzle game. The Totems shine brightly as you are tasked with solving each challenging and fun-filled scenario! Move boxes, slide lenses and adjust mirrors so the Totem's light can awaken the slumbering babies. Phantom Rift Phantom Rift is an adventure/RPG with a unique battle system, hundreds of spells to collect and use, endless equipment combinations to customize your wizard with, and much more. The Phantom Rift is a dark, ethereal world filled with mystery and powerful magic. You don’t know how or why you are there, only that you must find a way back to the True World at any and all costs. The Nightmare Cooperative The Nightmare Cooperative is a strategic adventure where you lead a group of unlikely comrades through some rather difficult situations. Your village has fallen on hard times, and it's up to you to bring back some gold. It’s a puzzle game where all the characters move together, but they have separate skills. Every playthrough will be a different experience. Nimble Squiggles Nimble Squiggles is a casual puzzle game where you use your finger to get squiggles to a funnel and escape the levels. One of key concepts of the game is matching colors. Each squiggle has a specific color. Squiggle can only pass through the lane of the same color. The same idea of color-matching applies to the funnels, gravity points and other interactive objects. If you like challenging puzzles you will like this game. R.G.B. R.G.B. is a unique game that combines Temple Run with Guitar Hero. Tap the screen to arrange the buddies in the correct order to match their colors. It’s simple, very addicting, and only requires one finger to play. The music is pretty cool too. Spider-man Unlimited Swing into a hand-drawn, action-packed arcade adventure game that feels like it came straight from a comic book. Unite every hero in the Spider-man universe against the ultimate threat of the Sinister Six, who have opened a dimensional portal in New York to summon endless versions of themselves. The Sinister Six are moving from dimension to dimension, destroying each one. It’s your job to save ours. Star Wars: Commander The best game to come from September might be Star Wars: Commander. Charge into battle on distant planets, and lead your troops to victory in this action-packed, combat strategy game. Build a base, recruit an unstoppable force, and challenge players across the Star Wars universe. Where does your allegiance lie? Will you side with the Empire's strength and relentlessness, or the Rebellion's heroism and resourcefulness? Unmechanical Unmechanical is all about the adventure of a little helicopter trapped in a strange, but fascinating world. Help him through to discover the secrets of the world. Unmechanical is a puzzle adventure that combines tricky puzzle solving, alluring exploration, and an engrossing atmosphere. Set in a fantastic world of flesh, rock and steel, your journey to freedom requires you to solve a great variety of puzzling challenges.

LG G3 officially headed to US Cellular next month Posted: 30 Sep 2014 12:25 PM PDT Not everyone is able to get service with the Verizons, AT&Ts, Sprints and T-Mobiles of the world. For those folks, some good news has arrived — US Cellular will be carrying the LG G3 starting in October. The carrier didn’t have any detailed release date information to reveal, though we do learn that it’ll be offered for $0 down for those on US Cellular’s Shared Connect plans. That particular route will tie you to a commitment of paying the device off in full in 24 monthly installments, though you do get the option of trading the device in for a new one every 12 months. Not too bad if you like to switch smartphones every year. Be sure to check out our LG G3 review to figure out if it’s a good device to commit money and at least a year of your wireless freedom to, and stay tuned as we’ll be fishing for the final release date in the weeks to come.

Android Deals: 30% off the Galaxy Tab S, 90s albums at 90s prices, and more Posted: 30 Sep 2014 12:19 PM PDT This week's Android deals include sweet savings on the Super AMOLED-equipped Galaxy Tab S, your one-stop shop for password management, and classic 90s albums at vintage prices. Act quick. These deals are here today, but they could be gone tomorrow. Hardware & Accessories Take 30% off the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and unleash the beast that is the tablet's high resolution Super AMOLED display. Normally priced at $549, the Tab S is available through eBay for $379.99 with free shipping. Also available is the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 for an affordable $339. [eBay] Snag a Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX for $120 and get a piece of the name that started it all. The Droid Razr Maxx is one in a long line of popular Droid handsets from Verizon, and while it's a couple years old at this point this refurbished edition is still a perfectly capable Android smartphone. [eBay] Take flight with the $75 Micro Drone and wrest control of the skies. With a built-in camera, this little remote control flyer is one of the most fun and most affordable quad-rotor drones on the market. Normally close to twice the price, you save 46%. [AndroidArea] Double your data at AT&T from now through the end of October. Sign up for a new AT&T plan at regular price and see your data allowance multiplied by two for the length of your stay at AT&T. Prices start at $130 for 30GB (normally 15GB) of shareable data. [AT&T] Save 70% on Creative Airwave Portable Bluetooth Speaker and go wireless while you jam out to your favorite tunes. Normally $100, today only you can grab this mighty little sound machine for only $29.99. [Amazon] Apps & Games Manage all of your passwords with Dashlane Premium, only $49.99, and keep your passwords secure across multiple platforms. With apps for Android, iOS, and desktop encrypt and manage your login credentials for all your sites and services. [AndroidArea] Become an elite Android hacker with this discounted bundle featuring 74 lectures and over 10 hours of educational content. Learn about app development, Java, and hacking techniques to test the stability and security of your newly created software. All available for only $39. [AndroidArea] Apps Battery Monitor Widget Pro [$1.89] GeoTask Pro [$1.28] MIXTRAX [$1.99] Games Chuck's Challenge 3D Reloaded [$1.99] Osmos HD [$0.99] Scramble with Friends [$0.99] Music & Media Singles Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen [$0.69] Jealous – Nick Jonas [$0.69] Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus [$0.69] Why When Love Is Gone – The Revelations [$0.69] Albums ARTPOP – Lady Gaga [$5.99] Four – Blues Traveler [$5.00] Enema of the State – blink-182 [$5.49] My Everything – Ariana Grande [Free] The New Classic – Iggy Azalea [$5.99] Title – Meghan Trainor [$5.16] Tragic Kingdom – No Doubt [$5.99] Movies Ender's Game [$7.99] Forrest Gump [$5.99] Man of Steel [$6.99] Pacific Rim [$6.99] The Great Gatsby [$6.99] TV Shows Scorpion [S1E1, Free] Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories [S1E1, $1.99]   [[Find any great deals not included here? Be sure to send them our way or share in the comments below!]

The Moto 360 is back in stock through Motorola – hurry, supply is limited Posted: 30 Sep 2014 11:43 AM PDT Availability of the Moto 360 has been tricky these past few weeks. Whether Motorola didn’t make enough, or demand has been so high they can’t keep ‘em on store shelves it’s clear Motorola didn’t properly gauge consumer demand for the new smartwatch. Today, after a bit of a dry spout, the Moto 360 is once again available direct through Motorola via their online store front. If you’ve been looking to pick one up for yourself, you’d better hurry. Motorola says supplies are limited so jump on it. Still on the fence about picking up a Moto 360? Check out our full review here and don’t forget that a recent update has drastically improved battery life on the watch, one of its few shortcomings. You can grab the Moto 360 here.

Pebble and Pebble Steel get permanent price cuts, new health features Posted: 30 Sep 2014 11:02 AM PDT Pebble has announced some very good news today for not only existing owners of their smart watches, but folks who are interested in jumping into the fray at some point soon. For starters, the smart watch has gotten a permanent price cut across the board. The normal Pebble now costs just $99.99, while the Pebble Steel will run you $199.99. We originally thought the device was on sale for those prices at Best Buy yesterday, but it looks like those prices will stick for the foreseeable future. With that, Pebble also announced new features for folks who have an interest in health tracking. For beginners, activity tracking apps — such as Jawbone, Misfit and Swim.com — can now work in the background while viewing the watch face or using other apps. You’ll be able to see which activity apps are actively running by looking within the Pebble menu. Beyond that, Pebble has added a quick launch feature that allows you to go to your favorite app with a long press up or down. This can be customized from the settings menu to be whatever you like. Not a bad way to start a Tuesday if you’re one of the many who have yet to get on the Android Wear wagon. You’ll be able to update your Pebble using the Android or iOS app so be sure to take care of that as soon as you can. [via Pebble]

Samsung explains Note 4 gap as a “necessary manufacturing feature,” says it may expand over time Posted: 30 Sep 2014 09:51 AM PDT Earlier this week we reported on an issue that Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners in South Korea noticed upon picking up their handsets. The device seems to have a gap between the edge of the display and the chassis. The gap isn’t terribly big, though it’s apparently big enough to slot a business card inside. This is concerning mainly due to the possibility of dust, dirt or water getting lodged inside. Funnily enough, Samsung already acknowledged this defect — in their Samsung Galaxy Note 4 manual. The troubleshooting section of the manual touches on the issue with the following explanation: A small gap appears around the outside of the device case This gap is a necessary manufacturing feature and some minor rocking or vibration of parts may occur. Over time, friction between parts may cause this gap to expand slightly We’re not so sure the word “feature” is an accurate way to describe what’s going on, but that’s Samsung’s take. Even more troubling is the acknowledgement of possible rocking and vibration with some of the device’s parts, and the possibility of the gap expanding over time. That doesn’t sit well with us at first thought, though only time and a good amount of use can tell if this would become a big issue down the line. The user manual didn’t have many other details to share about the device that we didn’t already know. Its main purpose is to teach you how to use the device and all its features, so be sure to download it and take a read ahead of the Galaxy Note 4′s arrival around the rest of the globe later next month. [via SamMobile]

Samsung highlights 5 big features made possible by the Note Edge’s display [INFOGRAPHIC] Posted: 30 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT In case you were confused why Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge has a curved display, Samsung is looking to make it clear with a new infographic they’ve put together. Many people were rightfully skeptical that the Edge display would bring meaningful benefits as Samsung has tried and failed at a secondary display before. We’re hoping this time is different, but let’s let Samsung tell you why they believe the Note Edge will be beneficial to your mobile life. Quick access to apps The Edge display can give you access to your top apps so you can launch them from anywhere in the OS. We didn’t have an issue with the old sliding drawer from traditional Galaxy Note handsets, but making access to favorite apps more quick and efficient is always a welcome change. Check notifications without interruptions Since the Edge display can display information independently of everything else, you’ll be able to see incoming notifications no matter what you’re doing, even when viewing full-screen content like games and video. This also works for incoming calls so you won’t be kicked out of your game when an unsuspecting phone call comes in. Personalization We’re not sure how many of you care about personal expression outside the use of your standard wallpaper, but you can customize the Edge display to show whatever it is you want when it’s not in use. You can add images and text as you see fit, including drawings with the S Pen. Samsung’s main use case for wanting to customize your Edge display is when it’s sitting inside a folio case, but we’d imagine most people would rather have the display off whenever it’s not needed. Quick access to live information The Ticker Board app can show live information about stocks, sports scores, live news and Twitter trends so you can keep tabs on the latest without having to tab your way through a multi-step user interface. It’s nothing a typical notification can’t handle, but it does look pretty neat. Quick tools Finally, the advent of the Edge display makes way to quick tools that can be used without much effort, including a stop watch, a timer, a ruler, flashlight control and voice recording. Samsung has it 5th on their list, but we’d probably shoot this one closer to the top of the list of useful features the Note Edge enables. Any of these features appeal to you or would you rather have a device with a straightened display? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section! [via Samsung]

Rumor: new HTC One Max coming with 5.5-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 805, 3GB of RAM and more Posted: 30 Sep 2014 07:55 AM PDT Looks like HTC could be hard at work on their next phablet. The company’s first attempt at one — the HTC One Max of yesteryear — was pretty decent, and now they’re could be ready to up the ante with a sequel. According to MyDrivers, HTC is currently on a 5.5-inch follow-up that will don 2560 x 1440 resolution, a Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 3,000mAh battery and an 18 megapixel camera that has optical image stabilization. On the side of software, the device is said to be loaded with Android L and will run an updated version of HTC Sense on top (Sense 6.5, to be exact). We’re not sure what the latest version of Sense will introduce once it’s made available, but HTC doesn’t often go with a major version change without bringing major features. It was once thought that HTC would look to abandon the phablet space and work on their main flagship HTC One M8 after a lukewarm response to last year’s model. The HTC One Max came to the table with uninspiring specs and features. Aside from a fingerprint scanner awkwardly placed on the rear of the device it was little more than just a big HTC One. We wouldn’t be surprised to learn that recently stiffened competition in the category (read: Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6+) might have inspired them to reboot their efforts. Let’s hope they have something truly remarkable in the works.

This is supposedly what the Nexus 6 looks like, and here are some of its early specs [Leak] Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:45 AM PDT We’re expecting Google to launch the next Nexus handset later this year, but to this point we haven’t been able to get a good look at the device. A leak last week showed us a purported image of the device sitting next to an LG G3, though with its back plate looking quite similar to the new Moto X we had no choice but to approach it with a degree of caution. Today, Android Police leaks a render of what they believe the Nexus 6 could look like. The render above was created based on what they’ve reportedly seen, though you should note that it’s considered a faithful recreation and not an official press render. The Motorola-made device apparently shares a lot of the same design characteristics as the new Moto X, though it obviously comes in a bigger package of 5.9 inches. According to the report, the device features dual front-facing speakers, a metal frame, and a camera ring flash ala the Moto X. Some early specs include its QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440, a 13 megapixel rear shooter, a 2 megapixel front shooter and a 3,200mAh battery. The device is also said to feature Motorola’s new Turbo Charge feature which promises to deliver 8 hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging. Software is said to be Android L, something not at all farfetched considering Google typically uses the latest Nexus phones to launch the latest versions of Android. There wasn’t much else to be had at this point, though we did also get word that there may not be a smaller Nexus handset in the works. That doesn’t sound too appealing for those who aren’t into the phablet thing, but there’s still a slight chance that a smaller handset could be introduced at some point. Would you pick this bad boy up if it turns out to be the Nexus 6?

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