Amazon Prime Exclusive Moto G4 is Now Receiving Android Nougat Update

 By Vaibhav Jain on April 03, 2017       

The Amazon Prime Exclusive Motorola Moto G4 XT1625 which is only available in the US is now receiving the Android 7.0 Nougat update. So those who have this device will want to keep an eye out for the software update as it could be landing on their device as soon as today.

The update brings in a mostly redesigned interface, split screen, new boot-animation, one-handed mode and few other features. Moto G4 (Prime Exclusive) Nougat update carries build version NPJ25.93-14. 



Motorola’s instructions explain that for a successful installation, the battery in your phone should be at least 50% charged and your device should be connected to a Wi-Fi network or LTE. The changelog for the software patch does not explicitly mention any other improvements to the device.

If you haven't got the notification of this new software update yet, Just go to Software updates menu in Settings, and It will automatically start downloading the latest update. The update will take around 20-30 minutes to get Installed on your device.

Upcoming Nokia 9 Flagship Phone Tipped to Come With IRIS Scanner, IP68 Rating, and 22MP Carl Zeiss Rear Camera

 By Unknown on April 03, 2017       

Nokia is slated to release few Android phones in Q2 2017, and few of them will fall into flagship segment. According to a new leak from NPU, the Nokia 9 will be the first flagship phone from Nokia, which will be released next month. The source also tipped the specs of the phone. 

The Nokia 9, going by the leaks will come powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage. The Nokia 9 will get a 5.5-inch QHD OLED display and rumored to feature the Nokia OZO 3D audio technology. 



As per the leak, the Nokia 9 will boast of 22MP Carl Zeiss dual rear camera along with a 12MP front-facing snapper for selfies and video calls. In addition, Nokia is planning to make the phone water and dust resistant to compete with the rivals such as Galaxy S8 and LG G6. 

The Nokia 9 will boot Android Nougat based stock OS and expected to come with a 3800mAh battery with Qualcomm's QuickCharge 4.0 technology. The phone might be the first Nokia phone to feature IRIS scanner. 



All said and done, these are just tipped specifications, and none of them are officially confirmed by the company. We will update you in there's any info related to Nokia 9. 

The Pixel C is now getting Android 7.1.2 Nougat with April Security Patch

 By Vaibhav Jain on April 02, 2017       

After months of releasing Android 7.1.2 Nougat beta, Google has finally started rolling out the final build of the new version of Android. Google's Android tablet, the Pixel C is now getting Android 7.1.2 Nougat though the OTA (Over-The-Air) with the latest April 5, Android Security patch.

The latest Android 7.1.2 OTA also adds the Pixel Launcher and filled-in Pixel-style nav buttons to the Pixel C. The update costs 340.1MB and is reportedly rolling out globally. 



In all possibility, you might get a notification to download Android 7.1.2 on your Google Pixel C. Or you can manually check the software update. You can go to ‘Setting’, choose ‘Status’, then ‘System updates’.

Google is widely expected to roll the Android 7.1.2 update with April patch to the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Nexus Player on April 3.

Via: Reddit

Moto X 2017 shows up in freshly leaked press render

 By Vaibhav Jain on April 02, 2017       

Motorola moved away from the Moto X brand last year with the release of the Moto Z as their new flagship line, but it looks like the Moto X series is alive and well.

It was just a few days ago when we showed you the live pictures of the Moto X (2017). Now, According to a leak from the folks at Weibo, we may have our best look at the 2017 Moto X, Dual Camera and all. 

In the render below, the device looks a lot like the new Moto G5, only with a dual camera setup on the back with few visible antenna lines and a deep Moto dimple. You’ll also notice the fingerprint sensor looks just like that in the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus. 

We don’t know the full set of specs, but Reputed Motorola tipster, Roland Quandt on his Twitter handle has certainly revealed some specs of the phone. This phone appears to run a Snapdragon 625 processor, 3/4GB RAM, and carry 32/64GB storage. It has a 13MP rear facing dual-camera setup.

Thoughts?

Source: Weibo | Roland Quandt (twitter)

Moto "Pet Translator Mod" Translates Animal Speech into Words

 By Vaibhav Jain on April 01, 2017       

Pets have become our part of life and Language is one of our biggest barrier which disables us to communicate with our pets, So Motorola is back with another innovative Moto Mod to remove language barriers between the species.

The Pet Translator Mod which comes with an inbuilt microphone, records the animal sound and produces a translation in plain english language. 

Unbelievable? Just Watch:- 

Introducing the new Moto Pet Translator Mod, because even the fluffiest of pets deserve to have a voice. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/1JQ9ld8Awm

— Moto UK (@Moto_UK) April 1, 2017

This Isn't Even an April Fools' Joke! Is it?

Motorola announces non-irritable, customisable and portable "RAZR Moto Mod"

 By Vaibhav Jain on April 01, 2017       

Introducing Moto’s all-new, non-irritable, customisable and portable RAZR Mod.
When it's time for you to shave, our smart Mod reminds you via push notifications. While going at it, control the precision of your shave at the touch of a button. To complement your shave, our aftershave dispenser automatically soothes your skin.
This innovative Moto Mod allows you to shave anytime, anywhere, working seamlessly on your Moto Z with just a snap. How cool is that? Not!! - Moto Malaysia

OnePlus introduces its own drink!

 By Unknown on March 31, 2017       

OnePlus took over to Twitter to announce a new product. It's not a phone, though. It's an energy drink called Dash Energy Drink. As you know, tomorrow is April 1st, popularly known as April Fool's Day in English speaking countries. Every person tries to fool their friends, and in recent years, companies have taken the opportunity to do the same.

OnePlus says this new product will "unlock the person's hidden potential". The company is implicitly promoting its recent features, like the quick charging method it uses in its phones. For example, it states this energy drink gives you a full day of power within minutes. 

Although it's an April Fool's joke, the energy drink is actually real. It's all a marketing campaign around April Fool's, and it will be available for you to drink if you live in the UK and India. Several stores will carry this drink.

OnePlus also cut the price of its fast Dash Charger, compatible with the recent OnePlus USB-C models. You can also get that discount starting right now. Here's a video promoting the newly announced drink:

Reliance Jio extends Prime membership till April 15, Jio summer surprise announced

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 31, 2017       

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio has extended its Prime membership enrollment to April 15 and launched Jio summer surprise offer exclusively for its Prime customers.

Customers who could not enrol for JIO PRIME by 31st March for whatever reason can still do so by paying Rs 99 along with their first purchase of Jio’s Rs 303 and other plans till 15th April. The service has been extended due to the overwhelming response from the customers.



The Company has also announced Jio Summer Surprise offer exclusively for its Prime Customers. The users opted for JIO Prime prior to 15 April using Jio's Rs 303 plan or of any higher value will get services for the initial three months on a complimentary basis. The regular tariff plan (monthly basis) will be applicable from July, once the complimentary service ends.



According to a press release by the company, over 72 million Jio customers have signed up for Jio Prime. The company plans to give more surprises to the JIO Prime customers. Awesome? Have any questions? Let us know in the comment section below!

Watch Moto G5 Sapphire Blue Official Product Video Trailer

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 31, 2017       

The Sapphire Blue Motorola Moto G5 is now official and is now available for purchase in the UK. O2 is the exclusive seller of the Moto G5 in "Sapphire Blue," whereas the basic colors i.e. Lunar Grey and Fine Gold can be bought via Amazon UK.



To accompany the announcement of the limited edition Sapphire Blue Moto G5, the company has posted product video showing the features and beauty of stunning aluminium design Sapphire Blue Moto G5.

You can now buy the Sapphire Blue Moto G5 in the UK

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 31, 2017       

The Special edition "Sapphire Blue" Motorola Moto G5 is now officially available for purchase in the UK. O2 is the exclusive seller of the Moto G5 in "Sapphire Blue," whereas the basic colors i.e. Lunar Grey and Fine Gold can be bought via Amazon UK.

The Smartphone costs £0 for an upfront cost for qualifying customers and £19 per month on top of the monthly phone bill cost. You can also opt for a prepaid plan with an upfront cost of £139.99, with a qualifying prepaid tariff. 



As of right now only the Moto G5 (non-plus) variant is available from O2, whereas the Moto G5 Plus with the same color will be launched in subsequent weeks with basic changes to the specs.

The Moto G5 sports a 5" Full HD display (1080p), 5MP front camera, 13MP rear camera, 2800mAh removable battery, Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor, 2GB/3GB RAM, 16/32GB internal storage with SD support and Rapid charging. It is worth noting that O2 only sells 16GB version of the Sapphire Blue Moto G5. 

Grab the Moto G5 Sapphire Blue: O2

via: AndroidHeadlines | Roland Quandt (Twitter)

Download: Samsung Galaxy S8 Wallpapers

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 31, 2017       

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus was officially unveiled by Samsung at a global press event this week, so as is the case shortly after these get-togethers, the wallpapers from the device are now in the wild.

Both the phone comes with Beautiful wallpapers including few Animated Infinity Wallpapers (which can be found in the Samsung Themes app) and 4 default stock backgrounds.

You can download all wallpapers down below. To do so, simply right-click on the one you like, select open link in new tab, save it to your PC or Smartphone.

Credits: David Wilson (Google Plus)

These companies are fighting to build the 2018 Pixel Smartphones

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 30, 2017       

Image: Benjamin Geskin

Last year, Google and HTC gave us the first two Pixel Smartphones i.e. Pixel with 5" Display and Pixel XL with 5.5" Display, with some extra Artificial intelligence in the form of the fledgling Google Assistant. According to the recent reports, Google has already sold over 2.1 million units of Pixel phones since their release in fall 2016. So, it's no surprise that the company is planning new models for 2017. 

HTC will continue to be Google's manufacturing partner for this year's Pixel smartphones as the Taiwanese Smartphone maker scored a two-year manufacturing deal from Google last year.

As reported by Digitimes, HTC is now competing with LG, TCL, and Coolpad for the Pixel 3 smartphones, which Google will release in 2018. The same report also notes that LG is more likely to win orders for the Pixel 3 smartphones. 

2017 Google Pixel rumors have been surfacing over the last couple of months and many of those rumors have been consistent across multiple reports. As per the initial reports, 2017 Google Pixel will be codenamed "Walleye" and the 2017 Pixel XL will be codenamed "Muskie", Google is also working on a third larger Smartphone under codename "taimen." 

Which company should make the 2018 Pixel Phones? Should it be HTC with its awesome designs? Or LG with its mind-blowing specs? Or Coolpad with affordable prices? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Top Tech Brands Are Trying to Connect with You

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 30, 2017       

If you have been paying close attention to the tech market recently, you will have noticed that a lot of brands – particularly those who used to be conventional, like Samsung – are now engaging their users more and more. Enthusiast brands like OnePlus and Xiaomi have been doing this for a while, but traditional ones are now beginning to respond to users, take advantage of user-generated content and even run digital campaigns like never before.

The shift in marketing trends, according to the masters in business administration online department of Northeastern University, is caused by changes in behavior. We interact with each other differently these days, with social media being an essential part of our lives. Instead of formal reviews from various sources, we can now access peer reviews and tech videos easily.

To understand more about tech brands’ efforts in reaching out to their users, the Trends That Are Changing the Way Brands Market to Consumers by Northeastern University is the infographic to read.

Google has already sold 2.1 million units of Pixel and Pixel XL

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 30, 2017       

In 2016 we saw some incredible decisions taken by some of the reputed companies over the globe. One such decision that stands out from every other is that Google releasing their own smartphones. The Google Pixel phones were the search giant's first attempt to take on the Apple iPhone.

And, they succeeded in doing that. The Pixel and Pixel XL is widely regarded as the best smartphone of 2016 and best camera smartphone of all time. However, Google has done a poor job of shipping adequate supply of both Pixels.

Despite of Google's inability to maintain supply for its Pixel-branded smartphones, HTC has reportedly already shipped more than 2.1 million Pixel and Pixel XL units to Google since their release in fall 2016.

Comparing with Apple or Samsung, the numbers are quite low. However, if we consider how bad the Nexus sales were and Pixels are supposedly available only in a handful of countries, this number seems pretty impressive.

The 2017 Pixel Smartphones are still a few months away and hopefully by then a healthy number of units will be shipped.
Source: Ctee

A new Pixel Launcher is coming?

 By Unknown on March 29, 2017       

AndroidPolice is reporting that the Pixel Launcher got redesigned overnight to include many new design elements. As you know, Google has its own launcher, that a few OEMs use, while other build their own. But the Google Now Launcher had become quite a popular alternative.

This launcher showed what a pure android experience means, and over the years, Google has added and removed a couple design feats. This time, the source reports that the search bar is back after being gone for a while.

The source also points out that the weather and clock widget are gone with this redesign, but that it might come back later with a new update. You can see the differences in the following picture:

If you are wondering how to get the new design with the search bar, which to me looks nicer, the source says all you need to do is clearing App data from the settings. Tell us what you think about this new design in the comments section.

Samsung Announces Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, Available April 21

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 29, 2017       

You are probably watching along to the Galaxy S8 live stream, but the phones are now official with enhanced features such as a bezel-less, dual-edge Infinity Display and Bixby, an intelligent interface, that offer a new level of functionality and convenience.

As for the rest of the story that has been leaked in various forms over the past weeks, this is what we are looking at. So, we have a "new era of smartphone design and fantastic new services, opening up new ways to experience the world".



With the regular Galaxy S8, you get a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display, Exynos Octa-core or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor depending on the market, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage plus microSD support up to 256GB, Dual Pixel 12MP camera (f/1.7) for the best low-light, zoom and anti-blur photos with enhanced image processing, 8MP (f/1.7) front camera, 3000mAh battery, fast wired and wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance, and Android 7.0 Nougat.

The Galaxy S8 Plus isn’t much different, but it does have the bigger 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display and a bigger 3500mAh battery. The rest is the same.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available starting on April 21, and will be offered in a rich color palette including Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold.

What else new, though? Well, you get a new Gear VR with Controller (powered by Oculus), The Samsung DeX which transforms your smartphone into a desktop by providing a secure desktop-like experience, Samsung Connect for smart device management, enhanced Samsung Health and a New high-performance earphones tuned by AKG by Harman. 

Full Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus Specs

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Specs

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 29, 2017       

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Specification
OS And Hardware
OS	Android 7.0 Nougat || Samsung Experience 8.1
Processor	Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835
GPU	Adreno 540
Body
Dimensions	152.4 x 78.5 x 7.9 mm
Weight	151 g
Colors	Black Sky, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue
Display
Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Screen Size	6.2 inches
Resolution	1440 x 2960 pixels (~531 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch	Yes
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Sensors	Iris, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass, Heart Rate
Memory
Card slot	microSD, up to 256 GB
Internal	64 GB
RAM	4 GB
Camera
Primary	12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm
Features	Phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash
Video	2160p@60fps, 1080p@120fps
Secondary	8 MP, f/1.7
Battery and Power
Type	Non-Removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh battery
Stand-by	-
Talk time	-
Releasing Date
Announced	-
Status	-
Expected Price
US Dollor	-
Euro	€909

Samsung Galaxy S8 Specs

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 29, 2017       

Samsung Galaxy S8 Specification
OS And Hardware
OS	Android 7.0 Nougat || Samsung Experience 8.1
Processor	Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835
GPU	Adreno 540
Body
Dimensions	159.9 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm
Weight	173 g
Colors	Black Sky, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue
Display
Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Screen Size	5.8 inches
Resolution	1440 x 2960 pixels (~571 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch	Yes
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Sensors	Iris, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass, Heart Rate
Memory
Card slot	microSD, up to 256 GB
Internal	64 GB
RAM	4 GB
Camera
Primary	12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm
Features	Phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash
Video	2160p@60fps, 1080p@120fps
Secondary	8 MP, f/1.7
Battery and Power
Type	Non-Removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
Stand-by	-
Talk time	-
Releasing Date
Announced	-
Status	-
Expected Price
US Dollor	-
Euro	€809

Android 7.0 Nougat is now rolling out for Lenovo P2

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 29, 2017       

The Lenovo P2, which was originally launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow back in January, 2017 in India is now getting Android 7.0 Nougat update. So those who have this device will want to keep an eye out for the software update as it could be landing on their device as soon as today.

The Android 7.0 Nougat Software update for the Lenovo P2 weighs around 1957MB, and carries build number P2a42_S232_170320_ROW. The update to Android 7.0 Nougat should be pretty similar to what the company has launched on their flagship devices "ZUK". 

The Android 7.0 Nougat based ZUI stable version brings in a mostly redesigned interface for the Lenovo P2, and also brings split screen, U-Touch fingerprint gestures and few other features. 

The battery-centric Lenovo P2 comes with 5.5-inch full HD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor clocked at 2 GHz, which is coupled with 3GB/4GB RAM, 32GB, which can be further expanded to another 128 GB via a micro SD card.

Source: Techupdate3

Samsung Galaxy S8 Key Features leaked Ahead of Launch

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 29, 2017       

Today is the day, when Samsung is going to unveil the most awaited Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus during a press conference in New York City. The specs and design of these devices are no longer a mystery, as the device have been already leaked multiple times.

Following a series of leaks that we shared with you earlier‏, we now have all information about new Samsung Galaxy S8 features.

Infinity Display:

Intelligent life with Bixby:

Security:

Smart utilities:

Samsung Galaxy S8 handbook

HTC U Ocean to come with Sense 9: New features

 By Unknown on March 28, 2017       

HTC is back, baby! After a year of ups and downs, the company announced its U smartphone line two months ago, and is now ready to release them with all of its new features, which you will now know. The devices will feature the newest HTC user interface, Sense 9, and will come with a variety of improvements over last year's Sense 8 while bringing new features.

They will also release the HTC U, codenamed "Ocean" along the two already announced. It will come with a 5.5" QHD screen, the Snapdragon 835, but its most innovative feature will be Edge Sense, a set of sensors that lets you customize actions like swiping.


This means the HTC U will have a touch sensitive frame all around its screen, possibly becoming one of the most innovative smartphones of the year. Oh, and VentureBeat also reports it will come with a new Sony sensor in its camera. HTC is expected to unveil the U in April, with launch scheduled for May.

Thoughts? Can HTC win your heart again?

Source

Do you support Smartphone leaks?

 By Unknown on March 28, 2017       

As you all may know, the Galaxy S8 has been the most leaked device in recent history. But it's not the first time this happens. It has happened to Apple, HTC, LG and even to Google with its Pixel phones.

Supposedly, companies hate leaks and want to prevent them. Other times, they just leak things themselves to get the media's attention. But there's a thin line between this and sometimes these companies act hypocritical. Other times it's obviously them leaking this stuff.

I know sometimes it ruins the whole anticipation, but other times it's what excites readers about new products and makes them buy it after released. Like the GS8, which will break sales records when released, or even the iPhone 6 and 7 which had leaked so much that even clones were on sale before they were released! 

Some people look at us, the tech blogs, and think we are the evil guys here ruining companies' plans. But we are journalists, we have to report whatever pops up. Interestingly, I just read a poll on Samsung's fan club and they were asking what their readers thought about leaks. And the results were amazing. More than 60% of their readers support leaks.

So...what do you think guys? Are you in favor of leaks? Vote and leave a comment!

OxygenOS 4.1.1 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 3/3T

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 28, 2017       

Following the OxygenOS 4.1 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the company is now rolling out OxygenOS 4.1.1 OTA update for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. This latest update comes with minor bug fixes and stability improvement.

Here's the changelog for OxygenOS 4.1.1 (Android 7.1.1), which is the same for both phones:-

• Upgraded Android 7.1.1
• Added expanded screenshots
• Improved picture taking of moving objects with blur reduction
• Improved video stability when recording
• Improved WiFI connectivity
• Improved bluetooth connectivity
• Fixed Instagram swiping bug
• Fixed hardware buttons malfunction bug
• General bug fixes

This OTA is incremental and is now rolling out for a small percentage of users, OnePlus will begin a broader rollout in a few days. So you might have to wait a little to Install this latest OS on your OnePlus 3/3T.

Source: OnePlus 3 | OnePlus 3T

Motorola Moto G5 will be Amazon exclusive in India

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 28, 2017       

This is some breaking news coming in! The new Motorola Moto G5 will be Amazon Exclusive in India. Expected to be launched on 4th April, the new Moto G5 is the newest addition to the Motorola portfolio.

The Motorola Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus were first launched at MWC in barcelona, Motorola has already launched the Moto G5 Plus in India. The device comes in two variants, 3GB/16GB which is priced at ₹14,999 and 4GB/32GB priced at ₹16,999. 



The Smaller variant of the 2017 Moto G family, the Moto G5, which the company is about to launch in India very soon, sports a 5" Full HD display (1080p), 5MP front camera, 13MP rear camera, 2800mAh removable battery, Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor, 2GB/3GB RAM, 16/32GB internal storage with SD support and Rapid charging.

The Moto G5 is expected to be priced around ₹12,999 in India respectively. Are you buying the new Moto G5?

Samsung Reveals "Over the Horizon" for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 28, 2017       

"Over the Horizon" is a signature Samsung Galaxy brand sound that many of you might be using as the ringer or the alarm. Each generation of Samsung’s Galaxy devices comes preloaded with a fresh new take on "Over the Horizon".



Ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, Samsung has officially announced the fresh new Over the Horizon. For this, the company teamed up with Grammy Award-winning artist Jacob Collier to compose a tune that’s as unique and inventive as the devices themselves.




Samsung is all set to launch its much awaited Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones in New York tomorrow, i.e., March 29, 2017. The specs and design of these devices are no longer a mystery, as the device have been already leaked multiple times. This new ringtone will be preloaded in the Galaxy S8, to be launched tomorrow. 

Johanna joins TechDroider

 By Unknown on March 28, 2017       

As you all know, Felipe left for his own project, motorola-fans.com and we wish him the most success. But it's also time for us to grow even more while still focusing on our readers and providing the latest news and rumors about your favorite brands.

-TD team.

Hi TechDroiders!

My name is Johanna and I'm from West Covina, California. I'm 28 and I've been a geek since the first iPhone was released. I really love Apple products but it's competitors are top notch. Samsung, LG, Sony are of great interest to me. 

I wrote tech news for my school newspaper and then I was invited to join this amazing site. I've been following this site for a year and love the fact that is always the first to post leaks. I love that. 

Being the first is always the most important thing to journalism so I will try to do that here. Hope you all enjoy my articles. Oh, and I love pop music, cats, a good bottle of wine and art museums.

I really hope you love my stuff.

Johanna

Screen Pinning: What It Is and How to Use It

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 28, 2017       

Back when Android Lollipop launched, Google introduced "Screen pinning" feature which temporarily locks specific app, and you cannot access any other apps, cannot see notifications, or return to the home screen, until a specific shortcut is tapped to take you out of it.

You may consider yourself a Android master, but chances are even you've forgotten Screen Pinning feature. When Screen Pinning is active, the following behavior happens:

• The status bar is blank, and user notifications and status information are hidden.
• The Home and Recent Apps buttons are hidden.
• Other apps cannot launch new activities.
• The current app can start new activities, as long as doing so does not create new tasks.
• If screen pinning is activity by another app that is not a device owner or by the user directly, the user can exit by holding both the Back and Recent buttons.

Screen pinning feature could be extremely useful, for example, when playing games, you may accidentally tap the home button or back button. This may kill some games, at least it can be very annoying.

How to enable screen pinning on your Android Device?

By default, screen pinning is not enabled. To enable this feature you may follow these steps.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Security and go to Advanced section to enable Screen pinning at the bottom of the list. (Note: You can also set password to protect the screen pinning).

Step 2: After enabling it, open the Recent apps screen and tap on the little push-pin button in the lower right corner of the front-most card to get started.

Tap and hold back button to exit screen pinning. If you request password for unpinning when pinning the app, you will be directed to the lock screen to proceed.

This is our first look at Moto X 2017; Motorola's first Dual Camera Smartphone

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 27, 2017       

The Moto X is Motorola's one of the most successful lines of phones ever. If you're still holding out hope of a successor to the Moto X (2015) then, such a phone still does exist. Well, as much as you can give credence to leaks. Thanks to Google Plus user Jerry Yin, few specification of the Moto X 2017 may have just leaked, including pictures of the phone.

Below are the leaked images of 2017 Moto X under model number XT1801. The Images also states that this phone features 3GB RAM and 32GB Storage. As you can see in the image above, the Motorola Moto X 2017 will feature dual camera setup and a deep Moto dimple. Also, the image confirms the new fingerprint sensor, which was first announced with the Moto G5.

Source: Jerry Yin | Hellomotohk | Via: 9to5Google

Android Creator Andy Rubin teases new Bezel-Less phone

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 27, 2017       

As rumored earlier, the creator of Android, Andy Rubin is building a high-end smartphone with a large edge-to-edge screen that lacks a surrounding bezel. Today, we got our first look at the Company’s First Smartphone.

Rubin on his Twitter handle has posted the first official look of the upcoming new bezel-less Smartphone, saying "I'm really excited about how this is shaping up. Eager to get it in more people's hands...".

According to an earlier report by Bloomberg, the device is said to come with a screen larger than the iPhone 7 Plus's (5.5-inches) but will have a smaller overall footprint because of the lack of bezels. The phone will sport metal edges and a back made of ceramic. The picture above doesn’t reveal a lot about the Smartphone, but the device surely looks stunning with rounded corners, and minimal bezel.

In 2015, Rubin registered Essential Products Inc. and In late 2016, the company registered "Essential" listing smartphones, tablets, and other accessories. It's unclear if this upcoming Smartphone will run on software based on Android. Thoughts?

Source: Andy Rubin

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs revealed by AnTuTu

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 27, 2017       

Samsung is widely expected to unveil the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus during a press conference in New York City on March 29th. The specs and design of these devices are no longer a mystery, as the device have been already leaked multiple times.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus has been run through the AnTuTu benchmark test. As a result, AnTuTu was able to post and reconfirm the latest rumored specs for both the handsets.

From the listing we can tell you that, the Samsung Galaxy S8 (SM-G950F) and Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955F) International variant will feature Exynos 8895 chipset with Mali-G71 GPU while the Unlocked variant of the Galaxy S8 (G950U) and Galaxy S8 Plus will ship with Snapdragon 835 processor paired with Adreno 540 GPU.

Under the hood you will find 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of internal storage. A 12MP camera will be found on the back of the phone with an 8MP selfie snapper in front and Android 7.0 will be pre-installed. Only two more days to go.

Source: AnTuTu

March security patch rolling out to the Moto Z Droid/ Z Force Droid

 By Vaibhav Jain on March 27, 2017       

The Moto Z Droid and Z Force Droid has now started receiving a new software update with the March Security Patch, bug fixes and Stability improvement in the US on Verizon's network. The update arrives as software version NCL25.86-11-4-6. Note that the device still runs on Android 7.0 Nougat.
If you haven't got the notification of this new software update yet, Just go to Software updates menu in Settings, and It will automatically start downloading the latest update. The update will take around 10-15 minutes to get Installed on your device.
Source