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Louis Vuitton upgrading Tambour Horizon with Snapdragon Wear 3100, improved display

We’ve already seen brands like Fossil and Montblanc adopt Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, and now we can add Louis Vuitton to that list, too.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon is getting a new version with the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor. With this upgrade, the new Tambour Horizon should get a full day of battery life, and another five additional days if you’re using it just to display time.

That’s not the only upgrade that the new Tambour Horizon has to offer. Louis Vuitton has put a better display with improved definition into the new watch, along with a 24-hour ring around the rim that includes a day/night indicator. Finally, LV says it’ll offer the new Tambour Horizon in a white ceramic version.

Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when the new Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon will launch or how much it’ll cost. The original model started at $2,450, though, so don’t be surprised if the new version launches with a similar price tag.

While the Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon may not be for everyone, we’re glad to see a new model coming with the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor. Not only is it great for more watches to be launching with Qualcomm’s new smartwatch-focused chipset, but it’s always good to have more options for smartwatches on the market, including in the luxury segment where this Tambour Horizon will most likely sit.

Android and Me 9:11 AM No comments

Amazon’s last big sale of 2018 discounts Echos, all but one FIre tablet

The holidays are now over, and Amazon is having one final sale to close out 2018, bringing deep discounts to a few of its own products. This includes some members of the Echo family as well as the Fire HD 8. The prices are similar to what they were last time so it’s a great time to pick something up if you missed out on previous sales. Here’s a full list of discounts:

Though the holidays have passed, it’s never too late to treat yourself. We’d take a Google Home product over an Amazon Echo but these sales are awfully tempting. Let us know if you picked anything up to end the year!

Android and Me 7:21 AM No comments

Amazon running end of the year sale on Anker charging products

Lots of folks picked up a new device over the holidays, and today Amazon is hosting a deal to help you keep your new smartphone, tablet, or whatever else charged up.

Amazon is now running a one-day end of the year sale on Anker charging products. This includes a wall charger with USB-C PD and USB-A ports, a 26800mAh battery pack, a 5-port USB wall charger, and more. Here’s all of the devices that are now on sale:

Anker is one of the best-known names when it comes to charging products, so these deals are worth a look if you could use some help keeping your devices juiced up. The sales are only available today, though, so you’d better act fast!

Android and Me 6:21 AM No comments

LG G7 ThinQ will receive Android 9.0 Pie update in early 2019

If you have an LG G7 ThinQ on hand, there’s new software on the horizon.

LG has announced (via My LG Phones) software updates for a variety of different devices, including the G7 ThinQ. The Life’s Good company will send out the Android 9 Pie update sometime in the first quarter of 2019. There’s no exact date to circle on the calendar just yet, but at least there’s something to look forward to.

The one thing to note here is that the software update will likely arrive in South Korea within this timeframe. As for other countries, it’s certainly possible it also arrives in the first quarter, but it may also see the light of day sometime in the second quarter outside of Korea.

No timeframe for an Android 9 Pie update for the LG V40 ThinQ has been announced just yet. And for those who have their sights set on the upcoming G8, that device is said to be coming with Android Pie out of the box.

Do you own the LG G7 ThinQ? If so, are you excited about the upcoming arrival of the Android 9 Pie update?

Android and Me 4:11 AM No comments

Google Duo testing a group calling feature, low light mode

Google Allo won’t be kicking around for too much longer, but Duo is doing quite well for itself.

It sounds like Duo is getting a pair of new features soon. Android Police has an early look at test builds for group calling in Duo, as well as a new low light mode. There does not appear to be a specific launch date circled on the calendar just yet, and the test build is in early days so some things aren’t quite working to their full potential. But it’s a start!

Group calling will apparently support up to seven people at once. In this particular test build, users need to create a specific group and add everyone they want to talk to before they actually start the call. You cannot add additional members to the group call after it has started, which is something Google will hopefully fix at some point before the public launch.

Another new feature coming to Duo is low light mode. If you find yourself in a setting that is dark, Duo will ask if you want to turn on low light mode. When enabled, low light mode “automatically adjusts your video in dark environments so others can see you better”. A small addition, but one that should be a welcome addition.

How often do you use Google Duo?

Android and Me 12:11 AM No comments

Top 5 most popular Android apps from last week: Apex Weather, Lemmings

Every week we cover new Android apps with Fresh Meat on Wednesday, followed by Android Gaming on Thursday and Top 10 App Updates on Friday. When Monday rolls around, we look back to see which apps were the most appealing to our audience. Read on for the five most popular Android apps from last week. These apps are ones that are most likely new and haven’t appeared in the top five list more than three times.

1. Memoria – Photo Gallery Pro

App info: Welcome to Memoria, the most personalized Photo Gallery on Google Play store. Created with gorgeous Material Design, Memoria is made for fast, smooth and organized browsing through all your favorite photos, with our main goal to provide immaculate user experience. Fast. Secure. Beautiful. Personalized.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

2. Apex Weather

App info: This weather widget is a full featured, completely customizable digital clock and weather forecast app. With this thermometer app, you can get daily and hourly forecasts, severe weather alerts, daily&7 day weather updates, fancy clock weather widgets, weather news and global weather.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

3. Lemmings

App info: The only Official Lemmings game! Lemmings is back and bigger than ever! The classic 90′s puzzle game, re-imagined for the best experience on your mobile device! Embark on an epic journey through the wonders of the universe, rescuing cute, lovable Lemmings by guiding them through levels filled with hazards and traps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

4. Mint Browser – Lite, Fast Web, Safe, AdFree

App info: Mint Browser is one of the best web browsers for Android phones. Breakneck speed, privacy, and security all come in a single tiny package. Our 10 MB app is a lifesaver when you prioritize user experience over pricey specs.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

5. Hummingbird

App info: Hummingbird uses the latest AI and search technology to help you locate stories. In Hummingbird, you can find stories and videos on topics you care about and from sources you trust on the web. You set it up with just a few taps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Note: To ensure that all apps receive a fair chance to make the list, we will retire any app that has made the list for three consecutive weeks and identified with an * after the name.
Android Match

Android and Me 9:21 PM No comments

Nokia 9 PureView leaks in high-quality image

Nokia has been busy updating several of its phones to Android Pie lately, but the company is also prepping a brand new device with five rear cameras, and today we’re getting an early look at it.

An image of the Nokia 9 PureView has leaked out, showing off a penta-lens setup and Android One branding. Shared by Evan Blass, the image also shows a screen with rounded corners and a fingerprint, hinting that the Nokia 9 PureView will include an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Nokia 9 PureView “Beholder.” HNY pic.twitter.com/x4Kh3anP46

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 31, 2018

Blass also mentions the name “Beholder”, suggesting that that may be the Nokia 9 PureView’s codename.

Despite the fact that we’ve gotten a couple of looks at the Nokia 9 PureView so far, spec details for the phone remain up in the air. A 5.9-inch QHD screen and USB-C charging are rumored, though, and if HMD Global does include five rear cameras and an in-display fingerprint reader, you’d think that this would be a fairly high-end device. Here’s to hoping we find out more soon.

Android and Me 2:46 PM No comments

Google’s Messages app now getting spam protection

Google’s Messages app is a clean and simple way to text, lacking customization but making up for it with simplicity and web messaging support. The latest addition to the app is spam protection, though it comes with some caveats.

This seems to be a server side rollout as most devices aren’t getting this option yet. However, those who do are getting a pop up at the bottom of the app offering the feature and allowing you to turn it off.

Why would you turn it off? Spam protection can’t be a bad thing, can it? Well it does require Google to collect data from you. Message contents are safe, but data about the messages themselves will be collected and sent to Google for this feature to work.

If you’re all about privacy, you’ll want to turn this feature off. You can do it from the pop-up or by heading to Settings > Advanced > Spam protection. For the rest of us, if SMS spam is an issue, this should help quite a bit. The feature should be rolling out to everyone soon so keep an eye out!

Android and Me 7:23 AM No comments

Essential discontinues PH-1, teases “next mobile product”

Essential has had an interesting year and a half since the release of the Essential Phone. The phone was released with a few major issues and some serious bad press, but it also impressed with its fantastic build quality and stock Android.

Now it’s known as the device that gets updates on the same day as Google. Whether it’s monthly security updates or the official Android Pie release, the device is mere hours behind Google’s update announcements.

Unfortunately, the device has now been discontinued. Essential has announced that the phone is sold out and will not be back in stock on its website. Other resellers may still have stock but it likely won’t last long.

Fortunately, the company has something up its sleeve. It’s teasing the “next mobile product,” and despite not giving any details, we’re already excited. It could be the rumored AI phone or something else entirely, but with no official details, we’ll have to wait and see. Here is Essential’s full statement:

“We are sold out of Essential Phone on essential.com and won’t be adding any new inventory. We are now hard at work on our next mobile product and will continue to sell accessories and provide speedy software updates and customer support to our existing community.”

If you’re a current Essential Phone owner, you’ll still be getting your monthly updates. Accessories are also still available if you haven’t already picked them up. We can’t wait to see what Essential has planned for 2019!

Android and Me 7:23 AM No comments

Samsung is reportedly working on another Galaxy Home smart speaker

Remember the Galaxy Home? The smart speaker featuring Bixby that Samsung announced earlier this year? Well, it’s still listed as “coming soon”, but that isn’t stopping Samsung from working on another one!

According to a report from SamMobile, Samsung is indeed prepping another smart speaker with the Galaxy Home brand. The new model is number SM-V310, while the unit that Samsung announced earlier this year is model number SM-V510. The report also states that the new model will be sold in black whenever it does launch, but otherwise there isn’t much else to go on here.

This new model may be cheaper than the Galaxy Home that was announced earlier this year, which may mean it has fewer microphones and other tweaks to help reduce the price. The report also indicates that this may be a “Galaxy Home Mini” of sorts, so that could help drop the cost, too.

So, there’s another Galaxy Home on the way! And Samsung hasn’t quite yet launched the first one. What do you think of that particular strategy?

Android and Me 5:08 AM No comments

LG G8 may feature teardrop notch, 3D camera, and no 5G

While the Android smartphone market appears to be moving away from the notch design as we head into 2019, LG won’t be making the jump just yet according to a new report.

ET News is reporting that the next flagship smartphone from the Life’s Good crew is going to be called the G8 and it will have teardrop notch at the top of its screen, similar to what we’ve seen from OnePlusand Essential in the past. The LG G8 will allegedly launch with a 3D camera system as well.

Unfortunately that’s all we know about the handset at this point. The handset will reportedly launch at the end of March, though, so the wait isn’t going to be too much longer.

And if you were hoping 5G would be on board, well, you can stop. According to the report, LG is planning on launching a separate device at some point later in 2019 that will have 5G connectivity. It won’t have the G-series label on it, either.

So that’s what we have on the upcoming G8 so far. Not much! It will more than likely be a flagship handset when it does arrive, though. How it stacks up against the likes of the Galaxy S10 will certainly be exciting.

Android and Me 4:03 AM No comments

Amazon Digital Day sale now live with deals on movies, books, apps, and games

After being teased earlier this month, Amazon’s Digital Day sale is now underway.

The Digital Day deals are all about offering discounts on apps, games, digital comics, e-books, digital movies, and more. Amazon says that there are thousands of deals available, but the sale is only running for one day, so you don’t have long to take advantage of these discounts.

Some of the deals available include discounts on movies like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2, free Amazon credits with subscriptions to channels like Showtime and ESPN+, and a discounted subscription to Kindle Unlimited. There are savings to be had on digital comics from Marvel and DC, too, as well as deals on select Kindle e-books.

When it comes to apps and games, Amazon is offering deals on in-app purchases for games like Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Friends Saga, and The Walking Dead: Road to Survival. If classic games are more your thing, you can get a deal on Sega Classics for Fire TV, which includes titles like Sonic The Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, and The Revenge of Shinobi. There are kid-focused apps on sale, too, and a deal on TurboTax 2018 to help you when tax time rolls around.

There are lots of deals to be had with Amazon’s Digital Day sale, and so whether you’ve got a new device that needs to be filled with content or you’re just looking for some entertainment over the holidays, these offers are worth a look. You can find them all right here.

Amazon is also offering some nice deals on its hardware devices. There are discounts on products like the Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers, as well as the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets.

Android and Me 2:18 AM No comments

SanDisk 400GB microSD card now on sale at Amazon

Get a new smartphone, tablet, or gaming console during the holidays? If so, a discounted microSD card can help make your new device even better.

Amazon is now offering a nice discount on SanDisk’s 400GB microSD card. This is one of the better prices we’ve seen on this model, which offers up to 100MB/s transfer speeds, A1-rated performance for faster app loading, and a 10-year limited manufacturer warranty.

This SanDisk 400GB microSD card ships from and is sold by Amazon, so Prime customers can get it with two-day shipping.

With this 400GB card, you can quickly add almost half a terabyte of storage to your phone, tablet, or gaming console. It’s a nice way to give yourself lots of storage for movies, games, or music on your phone or tablet, and tossing it in a console like a Nintendo Switch will let you carry a huge game collection everywhere you go without having to fumble with physical games.

To score a discounted 400GB microSD card of your own, visit the link below.

Android and Me 12:48 PM No comments

Nokia 5.1 Plus receiving Android 9.0 Pie update

‘Tis the season for software updates! Several devices have received updates in the past couple weeks and the Nokia 5.1 Plus is the latest device to join the club. HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas has announced that the Nokia 5.1 Plus is now receiving an update to Android 9.0 Pie. The update is beginning to roll out today, and will reach all devices within the next week or so.

Along with the usual features of Android 9.0 Pie, Nokia is bringing Pro Camera to the Nokia 5.1 Plus. If you’ll remember, Pro Camera was introduced way back when Nokia made its Lumia devices that ran on Windows Phone OS. Pro Camera includes full manual controls, allowing you to adjust your phone’s camera in much the same way you would a DSLR.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus will also receive Pro Camera as part of its regular December update.

Android 9.0 Pie brings in a refreshed UI that features gesture- and swipe-based navigation. It also features Adaptive Battery, app actions, Slices, and Digital Wellbeing, which allows you to monitor and control how much you’re using your phone and what you’re using it for.

Do you own a Nokia 5.1 Plus? If so, let us know when you receive the update to Android 9.0 Pie!

Sources: Juho Sarvikas, (2)

Android and Me 6:18 AM No comments

Trump administration may block Huawei, ZTE purchases

The war between the Trump administration and Chinese tech companies is continuing to escalate. According to Reuters, the White House is considering an executive order that would prevent U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment manufactured by Huawei and ZTE. Following the script that we’ve heard throughout 2018, the Trump administration claims that ZTE and Huawei work on behalf of the Chinese government and could use their technology to spy on American citizens and companies.

While the administrative branch of government does have the power to prevent purchases of equipment, it’s unclear if it has the power to force companies to remove existing equipment. If this executive order comes to fruition, this will likely prove to be a point of contention. Smaller, rural U.S. operators currently use a significant amount of ZTE and Huawei technology. The forced removal of this equipment would come at great cost, and would likely require compensation by the U.S. government for losses.

While the U.S. government has been barred from using ZTE and Huawei equipment, this order would extend the action much further. Consideration of the bill is unsurprising, considering that U.S. carriers are frantically rolling out 5G networks. With the deployment of new technology, the Trump administration wants to prevent Chinese equipment from being used, while also striking another blow in the ongoing trade war.

While a decision hasn’t been finalized, we could see this executive order come to life as early as January.

What are your thoughts on this latest step in the U.S.-China standoff?

Android and Me 4:08 AM No comments

Motorola P40 appears in renders with hole-punch display and 48MP rear camera

First Samsung announced a smartphone with a hole-punch display, then Huawei followed suit. Now it looks like we can add Motorola to the list of companies prepping a new phone with a hole-punch screen.

The Motorola P40 may have just been revealed by a new set of renders. Posted by @OnLeaks and 91mobiles, the images show a phone with a hole-punch display that’s said to measure 6.2 inches. There are slim bezels around the screen, save for the chin that’s large enough to fit Motorola’s branding.

Around back we can see a dual camera setup, including one sensor that’s said to be of the 48MP variety. There’s a fingerprint reader with Motorola’s logo on it, too, as well as Android One branding that suggests that the P40 should have a relatively untouched build of Android. These renders also appear to show a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The details we still don’t know about this device include its launch date and its price. The Motorola P30 that launched earlier this year is a mid-range handset that starts at 2099 yuan ($306 USD) in China, so it’s possible we’ll see something similar with the P40, though there’s also a chance that that 48MP rear camera could make the P40 a little pricier.

With Samsung, Honor, and possibly now Motorola adopting the hole-punch display design, it’s increasingly looking like that could be a popular smartphone trend in 2019. It does help phone makers get a bit closer to that all-screen design that everyone wants, and while there’s still a cutout for the front camera, the hole-punch is at least in the corner and not right at the top of the screen.

What do you think of this Motorola P40?

Android and Me 4:08 AM No comments

Google Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite may launch on Verizon in early 2019

Google launched the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones earlier this year, partnering up with Verizon yet again for the release.

Now it turns out Verizon may be seeing a pair of additional Pixel smartphones early next year. Android Police is reporting that Verizon will launch the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL in the spring of 2019. As far as the rumor mill is concerned, both will be mid-range handsets, scaling back some of the flagship features in an effort to reduce prices.

As far as specs are concerned, we’ve heard that the handsets could feature 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. The devices may use either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 or 710 processor, and both handsets will reportedly also feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. The rear camera is said to come in a 12MP shooter in both devices, too, with a single 8MP front-facing camera on the other side. The Pixel 3 Lite will reportedly boast a 5.5-inch display, while the Pixel 3 XL Lite will have a 6-inch display.

Exact details, pricing, and a specific launch date remain a mystery for now. But if an early 2019 launch window is the plan, we may be hearing something official from Google soon. If these devices are the real deal, would you pick one up?

Android and Me 1:08 AM No comments

LG’s new soundbars feature Google Assistant and Dolby Atmos

Putting Google Assistant into things is a pretty common move these days, especially in devices that can be considered smart in one way or another. That definitely includes speakers.

And LG is getting ready to release three new smart speakers into the world after their big debut at CES 2019 next month. We’ve got the SL10YG, SL9YG, and the SL8YG, each of which was made in partnership with Meridian Audio. The new smart speakers should boast impressive sound as they are equipped with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

LG’s new speakers are also all equipped with Google Assistant, which makes it possible to control each with voice commands. If you’re playing a song you can ask the Assistant to tell you which song it is or control the volume with your voice. And the new speakers can be used as a smart home hub, too, so you can control other smart devices in your home that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

One other interesting detail: The SL9YG model has a gyroscope inside which LG says “gauges the position of the product (fixed to a wall or on a flat surface), adjusting sound directionality to guarantee the optimal listening experience”.

No word on pricing or a release date yet, but LG will have more information for those interested when CES rolls around. What do you think of the minimalist design?

Android and Me 11:08 PM No comments

Top 10 New Android Games This Week: Lemmings, Angry BaBa

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

Past For Future

Description: A man struggling to accept his current life and time discovers the story of a brilliant and eccentric woman who was able to travel through time to escape her present unhappiness. As a player you travel to the beautiful coastal town of Taranto to uncover her real tragic story, track her down through time and maybe escape your own present.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Lemmings

Description: The only Official Lemmings game! Lemmings is back and bigger than ever! The classic 90′s puzzle game, re-imagined for the best experience on your mobile device! Embark on an epic journey through the wonders of the universe, rescuing cute, lovable Lemmings by guiding them through levels filled with hazards and traps.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Rome: Total War

Description: Experience the full glory of ROME: Total War on Android. Conquer and rule the ancient world by fighting spectacular real-time battles in an enormous turn-based campaign.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Angry BaBa

Description: I am angry. How do you relieve your stress? This game that will blow your stress away! Angry baba. Become a barbarian today and blow your enemies away. Angry BaBa with an exciting sensation of hitting the targets! Dynamic and vibrant 3D game graphics! Hit all the objects that fly over such as meteors, UFO, missiles, space worms, waste, and so on, and knock them away.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Knights of the Card Table – Dungeon Crawler

Description: Master over 100 dungeons and 3 worlds in this free dungeon crawler card game that puts YOU in control of the dungeon cards. Rearrange the dungeon cards to collect loot before rolling dice to slay foes with your nunchucks.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Uncharted Ocean

Description: Uncharted Ocean, a simulation sailing game is now released! It is set in the Age of Discovery, in the time when European Fleets have been expanding their trading areas by exploring uncharted oceans and waters to find new routes and partners.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

TotAL RPG

Description: Become the most powerful warrior liberator of the great towers! Join the battle in this new Action RPG!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Planetary Pew Force

Description: Blast your way through endless waves of alien invaders in this free 2-bitish pixel art shoot’em up!

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Quantum Contact: A Space Adventure

Description: After scientists discovered how to send a simple quantum message, an unexpected distress call arrived as data from outside the scientists systems, and outside our solar system. As the mysterious data is deciphered, you’ve been assigned as ship commander to respond to the distress call on a specialized craft. Your first mission is to explore one of Jupiter’s moons.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Bendy and the Ink Machine

Description: Bendy and the Ink Machine™ is a first person puzzle-action-horror game with a unique cartoon atmosphere and an intense, frightening storyline that keeps you guessing throughout.

(Playboard) | (Play Store)

Android and Me 9:08 PM No comments

Android TV being used by ‘tens of millions’ of people

Android TV is quickly gaining popularity, and it seems that much of the adoption is happening in Europe and Asia. Over 100 pay TV operators have integrated the service into their offerings around the world and it’s really starting to pay off.

Shalini Govil-Pai, senior director of product management for Android TV, says that “tens of millions” of people are now using the platform globally and have have started using it thanks to partners adopting it.

Here in the US, it’s not nearly as popular. Though many TVs ship with Android TV, cable companies have not been adopting it nearly as rapidly. DirecTV is soon launching a set-top box with Android TV and others will hopefully follow suit. But it’s good to hear that the platform is succeeding globally.

Android and Me 4:09 AM No comments

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