Meet me here

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Thursday's top deals: portable chargers, Xbox Live Gold, and more! android os

On a daily basis there is no shortage of great deals to be had, but sometimes hunting them down can be a bit time consuming. Don't let that drag you down, though. We've rounded up some of our absolute favorites from today that you simply can't miss out on.

Charge it up

Anker PowerCore+ 19000mAh Power Delivery USB-C portable charger

Use code HYBRID13 during checkout to get this deal price. The charger sells for $130 normally and has never dropped from that price directly.

$103.99 $130 $26 off

See at Amazon

With its large capacity, you'll be able to charge phones like the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S9 several times before recharging. With Power Delivery you'll get full 27W speeds for all USB-C devices, including phones and laptops. Charge three devices simultaneously with two USB-A ports in addition to the USB-C port.

X-Cellent

Xbox Live Gold 6-month subscription

This is a deal that's limited to three days only, plus there's always the chance it will sell out beforehand as some Flash deals tend to do. Newegg's deal is for a digital code which should be accessible immediately after your purchase so you can apply it to your Xbox account today.

$25.99 at Newegg

Must Go Faster

Intel 660p 1TB NVMe M.2 internal solid state drive

It's down to a similar price on Google Express, but you can actually get an extra $20 off if its your first time shopping there. Use code FEBSAVE19 and get this SSD for just $102.21. The Intel 660p is a 2280 M.2 form factor, so you'll want to make sure your motherboard is compatible with that size before installing it.

$119.99 at B&H

Hands Free

Aukey suction car phone mount

Use code: FL6GFUK7. The mount uses a reinforced suction mount to adhere itself quickly and easily to multiple surfaces, including the windshield or dashboard of your car. You could also use it outside the car to elevate your phone on a nightstand or your desk. The 360-degree ball joint design helps you rotate the mount so you can find the best possible viewing angle.

$4.99 at Amazon

Movie Time

Anker Nebula Prizm 2500 Lux LED home projector

Use code: PRIZMMAR. The Prizm can project a 800 x 480 resolution picture up to 90 inches (although 65 is the ideal max). It's bright with 100 ANSI lumens of light and has an up to 40-degree keystone correction. This device would be a great way to setup a small home theater in your bedroom or a kid's play room.

$85.99 at Amazon

Do Some Editing

Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 2019

The deal comes in the form of a digital download. While the price works with both Windows and Mac you'll have to pick the platform you want it on when you make the purchase. These programs offer easy automated editing for your photos and videos. They help you organize your media, curate it, combine it, and create slideshows and collages.

$99.99 at Amazon

Instant Awesome

Instant Pot Ultra 8-quart 10-in-1 programmable pressure cooker

An eight-quart pressure cooker makes a lot of food. If you regularly cook for six or more people, then go for it. With 10 different uses, this pot can be a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg cooker, saute, steamer, warmer, and sterilizer. Some of the features include an altitude adjustment, cooking indicator, and steam release.

$119 at Amazon

This is just a small sampling of the deals that the Thrifter team has uncovered today. If you want to keep up with everything that the crew is uncovering, be sure to follow Thrifter on Twitter and sign up for the daily deals newsletter so you never miss out on anything!



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2EiOdqJ

How to hide the Galaxy S10 camera cutout notch android os

Love it or hate it, the Galaxy S10 has a cutout in its display for the front-facing camera. It's a much smaller and less obtrusive alternative to the traditional notch, but if it still irritates you to no end, Samsung does give you an option for covering it with a digital black bar. Here's how to enable it.

Products used in this guide

How to hide the Galaxy S10 camera cutout notch

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
  2. Tap the gear icon near the top right to access your Settings.

  3. Tap Display.
  4. Tap Full screen apps.
  5. Tap the Hide front camera toggle.

With that setting enabled, a black bar will cover the top part of the screen whenever you're in a full-screen app to hide the camera cutout. The screen will still look normal when you're on the home screen, but the black bar will return the second you hop in an app.

Should you really do this?

While we're glad Samsung makes it so easy to hide the camera cutout, we're not convinced that doing so is worth it. Not only does the black bar interrupt the otherwise futuristic aesthetic of the S10, but it also causes you to lose a decent amount of screen real-estate. Feel free to enable the black bar if you so please, but maybe try living with the cutout for a little bit before you banish it into the ether.

Our top equipment picks

You know you want it

Samsung Galaxy S10

$900 at Samsung

The flagship to get in 2019

The Samsung Galaxy S10 is a smartphone that does it all. Stunning AMOLED display? Check. Three rear cameras, including an ultrawide sensor? You betcha. Headphone jack and expandable storage? Of course. If you want it, chances are the S10 has it.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2H80fX9

Keep an eye on your stuff with a discount on the Zmodo Home Security Camera android os

Eyes in the sky.

Amazon is offering the Zmodo Wireless Indoor Home Security Camera for $24.99, knocking $10 off the usual price. This is a match of the lowest we usually see, and it hasn't dropped this low since back in November.

This camera features 720p monitoring that works during the day and at night. You can adjust the sensitivity of the night vision to get the perfect image as well. Setup is quick and easy, taking only a few minutes. You also have the option of voice control if you have an Alexa device with a screen.

The camera can alert you to motion detection, sending a notification and a short video clip if it detects something's up when you're gone. If you need a replay, motion alert clips are saved in the cloud for 36 hours for free. More cloud storage options are available as a paid subscription. Your product includes a two-year warranty.

See at Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2T4KCa8

Anker's PowerCore+ portable charger on sale for $104 doubles as a USB-C hub android os

So much power.

The Anker PowerCore+ 19000mAh Power Delivery USB-C portable charger is down to $103.99 with code HYBRID13 on Amazon. The charger sells for $130 normally and has never dropped from that price directly.

This deal comes with the portable charger, but you'll also get a 30W USB-C Power Delivery wall charger and USB-C to USB-C cable to ensure you've got exactly the correct setup to get the fastest charge possible. With its large capacity, you'll be able to charge phones like the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S9 several times before recharging. With Power Delivery you'll get full 27W speeds for all USB-C devices, including phones and laptops. Charge three devices simultaneously with two USB-A ports in addition to the USB-C port.

A unique feature of this charger is Hub Mode. Connect to your USB-C port on your laptop and turn the charger into a data hub, so you can quickly read and transfer data using all the extra ports.

Need a portable charger with an AC outlet built in? Grab this Anker PowerCore device also on sale.

See on Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2GRinoP

Super Chargers: Samsung is being left in the dust by Chinese manufacturers android os

Chinese brands are at the forefront of fast charging innovations.

Phones have transformed drastically over the course of the last decade, but the trusty Lithium-ion battery has seen little in the way of change. Sure, batteries are denser and have much better safeguards built in, but the technology itself hasn't altered much. Until new-age tech like gallium nitride comes in, the only other recourse for manufacturers is to build fast charging tech that pushes Li-ion to its limit. And no one does it better than Chinese brands.

OPPO leads the pack with its insane 50W Super VOOC fast charging standard.

OPPO has invested in fast charging tech from the beginning, with its VOOC standard one of the fastest around. OPPO introduced a 50W Super VOOC standard at the end of last year on the R17 Pro, and right now it's the fastest such protocol around.

Although OPPO's phones are just now starting to get mainstream attention in western markets, the company licenses the tech to OnePlus, its sister company. So if you've used Dash Charge on your OnePlus phone in the last three years, you'll know just how good it is at charging the battery from flat.

Samsung just can't keep up with OPPO and OnePlus

Dash Charge offloads the charging circuitry to the wall plug, which ensures the phone itself doesn't get hot while charging. OnePlus has offered a 22.5W charging option for Dash Charge for a few years now, but is now switching to a 30W charging option from this year. We got an early preview of the same on the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition, and 30W charging will be standard on this year's phones.

That means you'll be able to charge the battery from zero to 52% in just 30 minutes — and that's with the screen on. With the screen off you'll hit a 70% charge in that same time. Huawei isn't far behind either, and the Mate 20 Pro with its large 4000mAh battery and 40W fast charging is one of the best phones in this area.

Samsung can incorporate a lot of elements from Chinese brands to update its charging tech.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S10 goes up to just under 40% in 30 minutes with its bundled charger. Samsung has traditionally lagged behind in this area, with the manufacturer making little changes to its fast charging standard in over three years.

There's good reason for that, but we're long overdue an update to 15W Adaptive Fast Charging. I started using the Galaxy S10+ earlier this week, and I'm loving the display and the new camera array at the back. The Infinity-O design is also one of the best in the industry today, but if there's one category where the device is lacking, it's charging.

Having used the R17 Pro and Mate 20 Pro in recent months, I got accustomed to charging my phones for a short burst during the day. The Mate 20 Pro in particular was great at this — a 40-minute charge delivered enough power to last an entire day, and the R17 Pro's 50W charging also delivered a day's worth of usage in just a half hour.

The Galaxy S10 is great in a lot of areas, but charging isn't one of them.

I was looking forward to Samsung rolling out a similar update to its fast charging tech, but the with the Galaxy S10 series, but the company instead shifted focus to wireless charging. The Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standard now goes up to 15W, the same as wired charging.

The Galaxy S10 series is positioned as a leader in display and camera technologies, but it is some way behind Chinese brands when it comes to fast charging.

It's clear that Samsung needs to overhaul its standard, and a great starting point is to look at what brands like OPPO are doing. OPPO's implementation in particular — with the charging bits offloaded to the wall plug — is a clear leader in this area.

There isn't a unified solution that works across the board

But as good as Chinese brands are when it comes to fast charging, the main issue today is that each standard is locked to a particular manufacture, which means you need to use proprietary hardware to unlock the insane charging speeds. Looking to charge the R17 Pro at 50W? You'll have to use the bundled wall unit and cable to do so. Same goes for Huawei and OnePlus devices.

Qualcomm's Quick Charge standard is the leading brand-agnostic platform out there, and there are a range of excellent third-party solutions available based on the standard. Qualcomm licenses Quick Charge to device makers for a fee, and brands like Xiaomi — which don't have a fast charging standard of their own — rely on Quick Charge for their flagships.

With a lot of Chinese manufacturers heavily invested in their own platforms, it's unlikely we'll see a unified charging standard that works on every device. The closest we have to that ideal is Qualcomm's solution, and while it'd be great to see Samsung side with the chip company to offer Quick Charge on its flagships, that isn't likely.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2EiAVKR

This mini wireless keyboard and touchpad mouse is on sale for $10 android os

Game or binge.

The Anewish mini wireless keyboard with touchpad mouse is down to $9.99 with code RO2RGAP6 on Amazon. Without the code, this device sells for $17 and hasn't dropped below $15 since this time last year.

Connect this wireless keyboard and mouse to any device with a standard USB port, including smart TVs, streaming media devices, and more, thanks to the mini receiver that can communicate up to 25 feet away from the main keyboard. Use this as a remote replacement or just a way to add keyboard functionality. Designed like a controller, the keyboard is easy to hold and use. Since it is backlit you can use it easily at night or when you don't want to disturb others in the area. The touchpad mouse gives you more convenient control of what's on the screen. It uses a rechargeable battery, too, so you don't have to worry about running out of power. Users give it 4.2 stars based on 473 reviews.

See on Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2BXdkiu

Record everything on the road with up to 32% off WheelWitness dash cams android os

These prices are good until the end of the day.

A couple of WheelWitness Dash Cams are discounted at Amazon as part of its daily deals. You can save up to 32%, but the prices expire tonight.

The well-reviewed WheelWitness HD PRO Plus Premium Dash Cam has dropped to $84.98. It regularly sells for $125 and has never been available for this price before. It has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, 1080p HD recording, automatic accident detection, on-the-fly zoom and more. If you drive a lot at night, this camera will work great too thanks to its night vision capability. You'll probably want to pick up a microSD card or two to use with your camera to make sure you capture everything on the road.

Also in the sale is the WheelWitness HD PRO Dash Cam at $89.98. It has a lot of the same smarts but records in 2K resolution and has a wide-angle lens for a broader field of view. It also includes a 16GB microSD card with your purchase and has a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5 based on over 1,900 user reviews. If you enter code MSVLK7O7 at checkout, you even get a further 5% off that sale price.

See at Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2U8ZaSA

Microsoft Edge beta for Android adds picture-in-picture support android os

We heard you like windows in your windows.

The Microsoft Edge beta for Android is catching up with its iOS sibling this week, adding support for picture-in-picture mode. As with other apps sporting the feature, you'll now be able to "float" a video over the main Edge window while you continue browsing (via Windows Blog Italia).

Aside from picture-in-picture support, the latest beta version doesn't pack any other new features. Instead, you'll find the usual smattering of bug fixes and performance improvements.

Here's a look at the official release notes:

Thanks for using Microsoft Edge! Picture-in-Picture mode is available with this update (on devices with Android 8.0 and above). This release also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements.

If you've already opted in to test the beta version of Microsoft Edge, you should be able to grab this update now via Google Play. If you haven't, you can register to start getting beta builds from Google Play as well. For everyone else, picture-in-picture support should filter down to the release version of the app once Microsoft has ironed out all of the kinks with beta testers.

See at Google Play



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2BX7Zrn

The Google Home app now supports changing the color of smart lights android os

Available as part of the v2.9 update.

Back in October, Google completely revamped its Home app with a fresh interface and new smart home controls that made it ten times more enjoyable to use than past versions. Unfortunately, it was missing one big feature — the ability to change the color of smart lights/bulbs.

A new update to the Google Home app is rolling out now (version 2.9), and after all these months of waiting, our complaints are finally being addressed.

After downloading the update and tapping on a multicolored light, you'll now see a new "Color" button below the on/off toggle. When you tap it, you can browse through a list of 42 different hues. It would have been nice for Google to integrate a custom color wheel, too, but this is certainly better than not having anything at all.

Google Home v2.9 is rolling out to the Play Store now, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.

Download: Google Home (free)



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2XubfUp

Secure your phone in the car with Aukey's suction mount for 50% off android os

Keep your hands on the wheel instead of your phone.

Grab an Aukey suction car phone mount for just $4.99 with the code FL6GFUK7 on Amazon. This phone mount normally sells for around $10 and has only dropped as low as $8 directly. The code brings it down to one of its best prices ever.

The mount uses a reinforced suction mount to adhere itself quickly and easily to multiple surfaces, including the windshield or dashboard of your car. You could also use it outside the car to elevate your phone on a nightstand or your desk. The 360-degree ball joint design helps you rotate the mount so you can find the best possible viewing angle. The cradle can hold smartphones between 4 and 6.5 inches wide. If you need to move the mount, you can easily remove it and wash the suction cup and start over somewhere new.

Aukey backs it up with a two-year warranty. Users give it 4.1 stars based on 185 reviews.

See on Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2GOWaHT

Make the most of the Galaxy S10's status bar with this simple setting android os

Out of the box, your Galaxy S10 only shows your three most recent notifications in the status bar, keeping your status bar from looking overcrowded but also allowing you to miss notifications if you don't check them often.. Here's how you can change it to show all of your notifications instead of just a sampling..

How to show more notifications on your Galaxy S10

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
  2. Tap the gear icon at the top right to open your Settings.

  3. Tap Notifications.
  4. Tap Status bar.
  5. Tap All notifications.

With that done, you'll now see all of your notification icons in the status bar instead of just three — well, as many as can physically fit in the bar, that is — allowing you to really take advantage of the Galaxy S10's 6.1-inch display.

Expand your universe with great Galaxy S10 accessories

Samsung 512GB EVO Plus microSD Card

$150 at Amazon

You could spend $250 more for the 512GB version of the S10, or you could buy this microSD card for $150 and use it in another device whenever your phone retired years down the line.

Anker PowerPort Qi Charging Pad

$22 at Amazon

This affordable 10W fast wireless charging pad lights up when its charging your phone and is thinner on your desk or nightstand than most chargers on the market — even most of Samsung's.

Bolt Smart Automatic Car Mount

$50 at Amazon

This motorized fast wireless charging car mount uses a touch-sensitive panel at the top of the mount to open the clamps, then an IR sensor closes them once your S10's in place. Neat, huh?

Samsung's latest

Samsung Galaxy S10

$900 at Samsung

A stunning flagship phone inside and out.

The Galaxy S10 is, undoubtedly, one of the very best Android phones money can buy. Its AMOLED display is a thing of beauty, the triple rear camera setup is a lot of fun to play with, and One UI based on Android 9 Pie is Samsung's best software interface to-date.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2XDkTnQ

Minger's discounted LED light strip changes to fit the music automatically android os

Or you can control manually with the physical controls or app.

The Minger 16.4-foot Wi-Fi LED light strip is down to $13.51 at Amazon when you enter code 9PGVBADD at checkout. That's a drop of over $12 from a street price of $25.99 which it has never gone lower than without a special coupon like this. These lights are already more affordable than the likes of Philips Hue, but are a total steal at under $14.

This strip has RGB LEDs covering 16.4 feet. It has physical controls for determining brightness and colors, or you can use the accompanying app from afar. The strip also has a high-sensitivity mic that can adjust the speed and color of the lights automatically based on ambient sound so your lighting will sync with your favorite music. They also work great to add some ambient light behind a TV or computer monitor to help alleviate eye strain. The lights are waterproof so they can be used inside your home as well as outdoors. Users give them 4.1 stars based on over 70 reviews.

See at Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2TjIR8e

This Phone Has a Massive 18,000mAh Battery

Avenir Telecom launched an Energizer branded smartphone with a massive 18,000 man battery.

from NDTV Gadgets - Latest https://ift.tt/2EioJdc

The new Amazon Day initiative lets you organize your deliveries android os

Keep the boxes from piling up.

Do you order groceries from Amazon? Maybe you do regular deliveries of toiletries or everyday essentials? If you find yourself ordering a lot from Amazon and having to answer the door nine times a week for every package, then the new Amazon Day might be exactly what you need. With this new program you can pick what day of the week all your packages will arrive. That way you can plan ahead. Plus, Amazon will be able to consolidate all of your deliveries into fewer packages. That's less garbage, less boxes to break down, and less hassle overall.

Amazon Day is available to all Amazon Prime members. If you aren't a member yet, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial and put Amazon Day to the test. If it works for you, you'll have the choice to make the trial more permanent. Prime comes with plenty of other benefits, too, including fast and free shipping, Twitch Prime, streaming through Prime Video, free books every month, and more.

Once you've picked the day of the week that works for you, you'll be able to add any new orders to your Amazon Day delivery during checkout by picking it as your delivery option. You won't sacrifice any of the other Prime benefits, either. You'll still be able to do one-day shipping or same-day delivery if you're eligible. You'll be able to get Prime Now's two-hour delivery and of course the standard two-day shipping. The choice is yours, and you can change your Amazon Day setup any time you want.

Amazon Day is a free option for Prime members, so you won't pay anything extra for this service. Like Prime's regular free shipping, you'll need to place your orders at least two days in advance. Most things eligible for Prime or sold by Amazon should be eligible for Amazon Day as well, although that will vary based on the items.

Amazon Day is part of Shipment Zero, Amazon's long-term goal to make 50% of all shipments net zero carbon by 2030. So by using Amazon Day, you're helping the environment and helping yourself.

Set your Day at Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2EmB2F4

Which Moto G7 should you buy? android os

Best answer: Of all three devices being offered this year, the regular Moto G7 strikes the best balance of features, specs, and price. If you're on a tighter budget or want the best battery life possible, you'll want to opt for the G7 Play or G7 Power, respectively.

The regular Moto G7 is the best choice for most people

For most people, the base Moto G7 will be the best choice out of all three options. Why? It offers a strong balance of features and specs while retaining a really affordable price tag.

The front of the G7 is home to a large 6.2-inch LCD display with an impressive screen resolution of 2270x1080. The 19:9 aspect ratio keeps it tall and narrow, and while there is a notch, it's the small waterdrop style that takes up very little space.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 632 is present across all three phones, as is the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. However, only the G7 has 64GB of storage, dual 12MP + 5MP rear cameras, 4GB of RAM, and face unlock. Add that together with a solid 3,200 mAh battery and a price of just $300, and it's easy to see why this will be the go-to choice for most buyers.

Our pick

Moto G7

$300 at Motorola

The G7 most people should buy

With the Moto G7, Motorola once again makes the case against spending more than $300 on a new phone. The G7 delivers a large, crisp display with slim bezels, a powerful Qualcomm processor, dual rear camears, 64GB of built-in storage, and more.

Want legendary battery life? Go with the G7 Power

New this year for the G-series is the introduction of a Power model. As the name suggests, the Moto G7 Power is all about providing the best possible battery life. Thanks to its downright massive 5,000 mAh battery, Motorola's touting that you'll be able to use the phone for three days straight before having to throw it on the charger. That's beyond impressive.

Compared to the G7, the G7 Power's specs are slightly downgraded across the board. There's still a 6.2-inch 19:9 display, but it has a lower resolution of 1520x720 and a slightly larger notch. The internal storage is decreased to 32GB, RAM is set to 3GB. and you'll find a single 12MP on the back.

Those downgrades aren't too damning, and if battery life is your main concern, the G7 Power is the easy choice out of the three.

Battery champ

Moto G7 Power

$250 at Motorola

Get up to three days on a single charge

The Moto G7 Power cuts back on a few of the G7's specs, but it makes up for them in a big way. With a 5,000 mAh battery, Motorola says you can expect 3 days of full use with the G7 Power before ever needing to put it on the charger. That, friends, is insanely impressive.

Get the G7 Play if you're on a tighter budget

Last but not least, there's the Moto G7 Play.

Taking a look at its specs, the Play scales back even more than the Power does. Starting first with the display, it's the smallest at 5.7-inches. The 19:9 aspect ratio remains, but the resolution's ever-so-slightly decreased to 1512x720 and the notch is bigger yet again.

You'll still find 32GB of storage like on the Power, but this time around, there's only 2GB of RAM. The rear camera is a single 13MP shooter, the battery comes in at 3,000 mAh, and unlike both the G7 and G7 Power, only the G7 Play has a dedicated selfie light for the front-facing 8MP camera.

Where the G7 Play really shines is with its price. Coming in at just $200, it's a full $100 cheaper than the G7.

Best for less

Moto G7 Play

$200 at Motorola

Cutting a few corners to get an even lower price

If money's particularly tight but you still need a new phone, the G7 Play has everything you need at a price that'll make your wallet smile. For just $200, you get a phone with a 5.7-inch screen, Snapdragon 632 processor, 32GB of expandable storage, and a 13MP camera.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2VpmefV

Charge two phones at once with $18 off Choetech's dual wireless charger android os

Move over AirPower...

At Amazon you can snag the Choetech Dual Wireless Charger for just $33.99. That new all-time low price can be achieved by clipping the on-page coupon for $3 off and then entering code 7MD8DHWY at checkout, saving you a total of $18.

The charger can power up two phones simultaneously with up to 18W of power thanks to its 5-coil design and large surface area. It has an anti-slip PU leather surface meaning your phone stays put and doesn't get scratched, as well as silicone feet to keep the pad itself stationary. On the underside you'll also see heat dissipation holes to keep everything cool. Your purchase also includes a Quick Charge 3.0-compatible plug and USB-C cable, saving you buying extra or tying up your existing ones.

This charger hasn't been on the market that long, but early reviews give it an average of 4.2 stars out of 5.

See at Amazon



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2Vqb36D

Android Pie is now rolling out to the Razer Phone 2 android os

See when your phone will get the latest version of Android.

Latest Updates

February 28, 2019 — Android Pie is now rolling out to the Razer Phone 2

Right on schedule, the Razer Phone 2 is starting to receive its update to Android 9 Pie.

As mentioned below, the update will first arrive on unlocked versions of the Razer Phone 2 before making its way to carrier models on March 14. If you bought the phone on AT&T, you'll need to wait until April 4.

February 19, 2019 — Razer Phone 2 will get Android Pie starting February 27

Good news Razer Phone 2 owners — Android Pie will soon be headed your way!

According to Razer, Pie will first arrive on unlocked Razer Phone 2 devices beginning February 27. From there, all carriers (expect AT&T) will get the update a bit later on March 14.

If you do have a Razer Phone 2 on AT&T, you'll need to wait until April 4 for the Pie update.

These dates could change at any point between now and then, but they're definitely something to look forward to.

January 23, 2019 — Nokia releases its Android 9 Pie roadmap

Nokia's proven to be one of the best OEMs in the business when it comes to pushing out speedy Android updates, and today, the company released its roadmap of Android 9 Pie for all of its latest phones.

In the roadmap, we can see that the Nokia 5 and Nokia 3.1 Plus are the next phones in line to receive the Pie update. According to the company, we can expect the Pie update for these two phones as soon as this week! Following them, the Nokia 6, Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1, and Nokia 2.1 will get the Pie treatment in Q1. And, last but not least, Q2 will see Pie released for the Nokia 3 and Nokia 1.

January 4, 2019 — Final Android Pie update rolling out to the Galaxy Note 9 in Germany

Well, that was fast.

Just two days after Samsung revealed that it was pushing the Note 9's Pie update up by a month, a user in Germany is reporting that they're already receiving the update as of today.

The update for this particular user weighed in at just 95MB, but that's because they were already part of the Android Pie beta. If you're not on the beta, you can expect a much larger file size.

It'll likely take a while for everyone in Germany to receive the update, and then even longer for the update to make its way to everyone around the globe. When you do get the update, however, it will have the firmware version of N960FXXU2CRLT and should come with the January 2019 security patch.

January 2, 2019 — Samsung pushes up its Android Pie update for the Note 9, Note 8, and others by a month

Samsung's One UI/Android Pie update is already available for the Galaxy S9 series, and if you have a Note 9, Note 8, or another Samsung-made device, you can expect Pie to arrive a month earlier than expected.

SamMobile recently came across an update roadmap highlighting Samsung's Pie plans for its other devices, and per the roadmap, Pie is now coming to the Note 9 in January rather than February and to the Note 8 in February instead of March.

Along with those two phones, Samsung's also moved up the Pie update by a month for the Galaxy J4, J6+, J7 Duo, A8 Star, and Tab S3 9.7.

December 19, 2018 — EMUI 9 now available for the Huawei P20 Pro, Mate 10, and more

At the beginning of November, Huawei announced that EMUI 9.0 (its Android interface that's based on Pie) would see a global rollout on November 10. That day came and went with nothing to show for, and now over a month later from that original date, it looks like EMUI 9 is finally ready for showtime.

The official EMUI Twitter account shared the above tweet early yesterday morning, announcing that the new software is finally ready for a series of its latest phones.

Per the tweet, you should expect an update to EMUI 9.0/Android Pie for the following phones "very soon":

  • Huawei Mate 10
  • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  • Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design
  • Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
  • Huawei P20
  • Huawe P20 Pro
  • Huawei P20 Lite
  • Honor Play
  • Honor View 10
  • Honor 10

November 27, 2018 — Android 9 Pie now rolling out to the Nokia 7.1

The Nokia 7.1 is one of the best mid-range phones on the market right now, and believe it or not, it's about to get even better.

Today, Juho Sarvikas (the Chief Product Officer of Nokia's parent company, HMD Global) announced on Twitter that Android 9 Pie is now rolling out to Nokia 7.1 handsets around the globe.

Sarvikas notes that this is a "phased rollout", and that "some markets with longer technical approval cycles will follow as soon as possible."

November 20, 2018 — Asus ZenFone 5 series will get Android Pie in early 2019

Asus's big Android offering this year was its ZenFone 5 series of handsets, and today, the company confirmed that all three of the different models will be updated to Android 9 Pie in early 2019.

The regular ZenFone 5 is currently scheduled for a Pie update in early Q1 whereas the ZenFone 5Z and ZenFone 5Q will be updated by the end of January.

You'll be able to download Pie via an other-the-air update when it's available for your phone.

November 18, 2018 — Motorola One and One Power receive Android Pie update in some markets

The Motorola One and One Power have been out in most markets for months — and the Motorola One arrived in the US earlier this month — and Motorola promised that these phones would not only see Android Pie but Android Q. Over 3 months after the release of Android Pie, the latest Android version is beginning to arrive on both models.

The update for the Motorola One Power started rolling out in India on Friday, and while its changelog isn't very long, it does include the upgrade to Android Pie, the November security update, some improvements to the camera and a new "Dual VoLTE" feature. The Android Pie update has also started hitting the regular Motorola One for some users in Mexico today, but an official change log hasn't been posted yet.

While these the Motorola One and One Power do have some minute regional build differences, the beauty of Android One and its rules about minimal changes to the system mean that the update for the rest of the world shouldn't be far behind these initial rollouts.

November 6, 2018 — EMUI 9.0 will begin its global rollout on November 10

EMUI 9.0 is Huawei's custom Android skin that's based on Android 9 Pie, and according to a post from the company on Chinese social network Weibo, the update will begin rolling out to select Huawei and Honor phones starting on November 10.

Once November 10 rolls around, the following phones will start to receive EMUI 9.0 around the world:

  • Huawei Mate 10
  • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  • Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design
  • Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
  • Huawei P20
  • Huawei P20 Pro
  • Honor 10
  • Honor View 10
  • Honor Play

In addition to the regular Pie goodies, EMUI 9.0 also comes with improved smoothness/responsiveness and a GPU Turbo 2.0 mode that delivers increased performance when playing games.

October 17, 2018 — Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact getting Android 9 Pie on Oct 26

Earlier in the month, Sony began rolling out Android 9 Pie to the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact. Now, we have official dates for when Pie will make its way to the company's other handsets.

Starting first with the Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact, these phones will receive their update on October 26. The XZ2 Premium will follow them on November 7, and if you have an Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, or XA2 Plus, you can expect Pie to land on March 4, 2019.

October 12, 2018 — Android 9 Pie rolling out to Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact

On October 12, reports started coming in to show that Pie is making its way to Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact handsets. The update changes the build number from 51.1.A.11.51 to 52.0.A.3.27 on both phones and weighs in at around 1.059 GB. In addition to the usual Pie goodies, there's also a new camera app and the October 2018 security patch.

The full roundup

Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone wants it and the sooner the better. That's how it works and that's how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.

The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q come along. It's a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it still takes a while.

Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.

Trying to figure it out is not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into the predictions each and every year. About one-third of them are no-brainers, but some of the others are basically the same odds as a coin flip. It seems like manufacturers only care about a few models that get a lot of press time.

Let's break it down by the major manufacturers of the phones we love. Remember, many of these are just predictions and not any official word on anything from any company unless otherwise noted.

Still waiting for Oreo? Check to see whether your phone will be upgraded!

Google

Google has already told us which phones get updated and which won't.

And that's it. Prior to the Pixel, Google promised two years of full support and three years of security updates for phones they sell under their own brand. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are just about three years old. Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, Adios, Good Bye. They were great phones.

More: It's time to say goodbye to the Nexus program for good

Samsung

Samsung makes more models of a single flagship line like the Galaxy S each year than Google has made in total, but it's also pretty easy to know which phones Samsung will update because they're predictable. Samsung offers four "premium" models each year. like 2018's Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 Active that we all know is coming, and the Galaxy Note 9. Even when Samsung sold 15 different models of the Galaxy S6, they were all treated the same when it came to expecting an update.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+, as well as the Galaxy Note 9, have already been updated.

Here's Samsung's full schedule.

  • Galaxy S9/S9+ — January
  • Galaxy Note 9 — January
  • Galaxy Note 8 — February
  • Galaxy S8/S8+ — March
  • Galaxy A6/A6+ — April
  • Galaxy A7 (2018) — April
  • Galaxy A8 (2018)/A8+ (2018)/A8 Star — April
  • Galaxy A9 2018 — April
  • Galaxy J2 2018/J2 Core — April
  • Galaxy J4 — April
  • Galaxy J6+ — April
  • Galaxy On7 — April
  • Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 — April
  • Galaxy J4+ — May
  • Galaxy J6 — May
  • Galaxy J7 (2017)/J7 Duo/J7 Neo — July
  • Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 — August
  • Galaxy Tab A 2017 — October
  • Galaxy Tab A 10.5 — October

LG

LG has always been a wildcard when I write this post every year. Like Samsung, there are a few "important" models that get all the press coverage and plenty of other more inexpensive models that most of us aren't talking about.

LG also mentioned some streamlining in the release cycle, which hopefully gives the development teams time to get an update out the door and have it be a good update.

  • The LG G7 ThinQ will be updated to Android Pie.
  • The LG V30 (including the V30S or whatever models we have seen or will see) will be updated to Android Pie.
  • The LG V20 will be updated to Android Pie.

The LG G7 One, and Android One device, has already been updated. others are scheduled for updates starting in early 2019.

Huawei

Per an update from the company on December 18, 2018, the following phones have been updated or will be updated to EMUI 9.0/Pie around the world:

  • Huawei Mate 10
  • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  • Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design
  • Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
  • Huawei P20
  • Huawei P20 Pro
  • Honor 10
  • Honor View 10
  • Honor Play

Motorola

On August 15, 2019, Motorola published a blog post outlining the handsets that'll receive the official Pie update starting in fall 2018. They include:

  • Moto Z3
  • Moto Z3 Play
  • Moto Z2 Force
  • Moto Z2 Play
  • Moto X4
  • Moto G6 Plus
  • Moto G6
  • Moto G6 Play

While that's a strong list, the notable omissions include the Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play.

OnePlus

OnePlsu released a statement about the update situation for its phones. it reads as follows.

OnePlus is driven by the idea of giving people the best possible hardware and software experience and that's why we've been excited about Android P for some time now, having worked closely with the Android Beta Program. We're looking forward to bringing Android P to OnePlus 6, as well as updating OnePlus 5/5T, and OnePlus 3/3T, ensuring OnePlus users all over the world can continue to enjoy new features.

The Oneplus 5 and 5T have already seen the update as of February 2019.

Nokia

Nokia seems to understand that a substantial portion of its own customer base wants fast updates. Like OnePlus, they should listen to their current customers while trying to find new ones if they are to be successful. Here's a list of phones that have been updated or are expected to see Android Pie from Nokia.

  • Nokia 3 -Nokia 5 (updated)
  • Nokia 5.1 plus (updated)
  • Nokia 6 (updated)
  • Nokia 6.1 (updated)
  • Nokia 7 Plus (updated)
  • Nokia 8 (updated)
  • Nokia 8 Sirocco

On November 27, it was confirmed that Android Pie was officially rolling out to the Nokia 7.1 as well.

HTC

Disappointing sales have left the future of HTC's smartphone business in uncertainty, but assuming the company doesn't go under in the next few months, it's announced that it'll be updating four of its smartphones to Android 9 Pie. The list is as follows:

  • HTC U12+
  • HTC U11
  • HTC U11+
  • HTC U11 Life (Android One version, already updated)

HTC says that it'll release timeframes for its Pie updates "in due course", and as those announcements are made, we'll update this article accordingly.

Sony

Sony announced its Pie update plans on August 16, 2018, and as expected, the phones that'll be the first to get the new software treatment are the company's high-end flagships. So far, the following phones have been confirmed to get an Android Pie update.

  • Sony Xperia XZ2 (updated)
  • Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
  • Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact (updated)
  • Sony Xperia XZ Premium (updated)
  • Sony Xperia XZ1 (updated)
  • Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact (updated)
  • Sony Xperia XA2
  • Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
  • Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

Must mentions

These may be the companies we're most familiar with in the west that sell Android phones, but they aren't the only companies doing it. Out of the literally hundreds of models available, a few stand out and need mentioning.

  • Any phone running the Android Go version will probably see an update once Google gets Pie optimized for the meager specs these devices have.
  • The BlackBerry KEYone probably won't be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
  • Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

Like mentioned earlier, these are just educated guesses at this point. but one thing I know for certain is that no matter what the phone, any updates will feel like they took too long to make it into our hands. That's just how we're wired.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers https://ift.tt/2HGlfRP