Although it’s hard to argue that the Motorola DROID Turbo 2 is packed to the brim with top-of-the-line hardware, nobody ever said it was a particularly good looking device. A lot of that had to do with the fact that the front of the device is covered with a variety of sensors, speaker holes, and the odd placement of a huge Verizon logo emblazoned between the bottom speaker. We know. Nobody likes carrier branding on their device, especially when it’s staring them dead in the face everyday. Thankfully, removing the Verizon logo is as simple as peeling off a sticker. It’s true. Like a fine lasagna, the Droid Turbo 2 boasts a crazy 5-layer “ShatterShield” display. Motorola calls the 2 outer layers “lenses,” but they’re more like those plastic screen protectors you find on eBay. In fact, the top most layer — where the Verizon logo is stamped — can be easily peeled off (something our own Rob Jackson almost did during his live unboxing on Periscope. This will make the phone look nearly identical to the Motorola Moto X Force. Well, minus the Droid branding still on the back.
Now, you probably don’t want to remove the outer layer without putting something else there to take its place (it also might void the warranty, so there’s that). Plastic is so much more softer than glass, which is why we’d recommend finding a cheap plastic screen protector on eBay or Amazon, or perhaps upgrading the display with one of those fancy 2.5D tempered glass ones. While going the glass route would take away some of the benefits of an “unbreakable” display, finding a replacement screen protector is way more affordable then replacing the entire display.
You see? No reason to get so worked up over a silly logo.
Thanks to the iPhone 6 and #bendgate, every new phone is now subject to dozens of “bend tests” on YouTube. The Nexus 6P was recently the subject of one such bend test, as well as a scratch test and burn test. The whole gauntlet of extreme tests don’t paint a pretty picture for the durability of the Nexus 6P.
Let’s start with the scratch test. The YouTuber used a set of picks that vary on the Mohs Scale of Hardness to scratch the display. The display fared pretty well in this test by scratching right around level 6, which is where you’d expect glass to scratch. However, after the scratch test was done, the display seemed to crack very easily. The back of the Nexus 6P was very easy to scratch with a razor and keys.
The burn test, which was performed by holding a flame directly to the display, left a permanent white spot. We’re not sure why your phone would ever be subject to such intense heat, but apparently it’s a bad thing.
The bend test was the most surprising of the three. He was able to bend the phone almost completely in half with just his bare hands. He says “my little sister could have bent this phone in half,” but it looks to me like he had to put quite a bit of pressure on it, and the display was already cracked. Are you ever going to put that much pressure on the phone? Probably not. The results of these tests don’t look very good, but in the real world the Nexus 6P should be just fine.
Hot off of OnePlus X announcement where we learned specs, pricing, and availability, if you were even thinking about plopping down your hard-earned money on the phone — no matter how affordable — you’re probably going to want a closer look. We get it. Lucky for you we have a hands-on with the newly announced OnePlus X
More than just a quick hands-on, Tony not only gives you the full OnePlus X spiel, but he sprinkles some of his early first impressions of the phone having already spent a good few hours playing around with it. Here’s the video followed by what he felt were the biggest pros and cons of the OnePlus X.
The Good -Only $250 -High-end build quality -Only $250 -Feels solid in hand -Only $250 -Camera isn’t bad (not sure about low light) -Only $250 -Comfortable -Only $250 -OxygenOS but very little bloat -Only $250 -Free TPU case -Only $250
The Bad -Still no NFC
-No Wireless Charging -No fast charging -No USB C (not a biggie) -No OIS -No fingerprint sensor -Invite-only for a month -WiFi a/b/g/n — but no ac
Also shown off during the event were a few of OnePlus’ all new cases. Unlike the OnePlus 2, the back of the OnePlus X isn’t removable. That’s why OnePlus decided to give it its own line of cases. They come in a variety of materials and finishes, each with their own pricing. The wood backs will retail for $25, while the sandstone back comes in at $20, and the silicone at $15.
That’s not to say the OnePlus X doesn’t offer any protection out of the box. Inside you’ll find the phone comes with its own clear TPU case. Nothing too major, but a nice touch none-the-less. Check out our gallery down below for a more thorough look at the OnePlus X as well as those cases we just told you about.
Last week, YouTube officially announced their ad-free subscription service. It’s called YouTube Red, and it includes all of YouTube without ads, original YouTube content, and Google Play Music All Access, for just $9.99. It seems like a pretty sweet deal. Today, the service has officially gone live. You can sign up now for a free trial.
Another benefit of YouTube Red is the ability to save videos for offline viewing and listen to videos in the background. As mentioned above, this also marks YouTube’s venture into producing original content. Shows from popular channels like PewDiePie, RoosterTeeth, the Fine Brothers, Tobuscus, and CollegeHumor will be available only with a YouTube Red subscription.
The reception of YouTube Red has been shaky. A lot of people love the idea, but others are afraid it will create a divide among YouTuber viewers: those that can afford Red, and those that can’t. Up until this point, YouTube has been free for everyone. Anyone in the world can watch videos, and also create videos that can be seen by everyone. What do you think about YouTube Red? Are you signing up?
For years, Corning’s Gorilla Glass has been touted as the toughest of tough glass for smartphone screens. But what if your smartphone screen didn’t need to be glass at all? That’s the point Motorola challenges with the Motorola DROID Turbo 2 for Verizon. The thing is shatterproof. How do I know? Because at today’s announcement in NYC, I watched Motorola’s Rick Osterloh hold the device shoulder high and drop it directly on the solid ground. Twice. That’s not something you do unless you’re confident it will undoubtedly, 100% pass the test with flying colors. It did… and then we took a closer look at what makes it work.
It’s called Motorola ShatterShield and it has 5 layers:
1. Exterior Protective Lens – a protective layer with a proprietary hardcoat designed to guard against dents and abrasion. 2. Interior Lens – highly transparent layer that provides a clear protective shield that won’t crack or shatter. 3. Dual touch layer – in the event of an impact that damages the primary touch-sensitive layer, a second layer takes over to maintain touchscreen performance. 4. AMOLED display -flexible display that absorbs shock and provides amazing picture quality. 5. Aluminum chassis – a rigid aluminum chassis provides structural integrity and durability.
Yes, you read that right: the Turbo 2 basically has two touchscreens so that if one breaks in a fall the second one kicks in and takes over. Motorola is standing by their statement, too, offering a 4-year warranty on the screen (you’ll want to read the fine print).
All-in-all, pretty amazing stuff. It’s just a shame that they’re only bringing the device to Verizon Wireless. Hopefully will see Motorola ShatterShield in other Android devices soon.
Fresh out of Verizon’s New York event is our own Rob Jackson who has been spending the last few hours getting acquainted with the all new Motorola DROID Turbo 2. Launching exclusively on Verizon Wireless, the Droid Turbo 2 is worthy successor to last years original Turbo and while some are billing this as simply carrier variant of the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition, it’s so much more than that. Quite frankly, the Droid Turbo 2 is the absolute best smartphone Motorola has ever built. Well, on paper anyway. It’s jam packed full of impressive hardware like a 48-hour battery and features like its unique shatter-proof display. These are all pain points that, according to various market research, consumers really care about. What’s more is the the Turbo 2 will by the first “Droid” handset that will be customizable through Moto Maker. This allows customers to build a Turbo 2 according to their tastes, choosing between different colors and back cover materials like leather, ballistic nylon, or the standard silicone finish.
Simply put, if you’re shopping around for a new smartphone/carrier, the Droid Turbo is worth more than a look. It deserves your full attention. Check out our hands-on video down above and stay tuned as we prepare a full review in the coming days.
The LG V10 may not be flying off store shelves in Korea like LG may have hoped, but that doesn’t mean they’re not taking the necessary steps to add a little extra value to the device for its US launch. Like we saw with the LG G4 earlier this year, LG will be offering up a promo netting early adopters a handful of goodies you simply wont find offered by other manufacturers.
All you have to do is purchase the phone through Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile and LG will kick in a 200GB micro SD card (great for storing 4K video) along with a spare battery and charging cradle. To redeem, you’ll simply need to submit your proof of purchase to LG’s rebate site and wait in the mail for your goodies to arrive.
Keep in mind the deal is only good for a limited time, so if you were planning on picking one up, now’s as good a time as any. AT&T will have the phone available for sale on tomorrow, Oct. 27th, while T-Mobile will make it available online the very next day (Oct. 28th) and in-store October 30th.
The market for kitchen tablets is expanding and after the Alcatel OneTouch Xess from a few months ago and the two-year-old Sony Tablet Z Kitchen edition, the Samsung Galaxy View is next in line. The 18.4-inch monster has been a regular at the rumor mill for a while, but has now been listed for pre-order at Adorama.
The listing reveals key specs of the tablet, not that they were exactly a secret. The large display comes with FullHD resolution for a density of about 120ppi, hinting that it's not to be used at arms length. The Exynos 7580 SoC powers the Galaxy View, its processor clocked at up to 1.6GHz. Interestingly, the retailer calls the chip Carmen2, the first time we've seen that moniker.
The specsheet goes on with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which can be expanded by popping in a microSD card up to 128GB. You get a 2.1MP front-facing camera with FullHD video recording, and thankfully you are denied the opportunity to use the View as a camera - there's no rear shooter.
There's a full connectivity suite aboard the View, with quad-band 3G and Cat.6 LTE, and a Wi-Fi-only model may be available too. Either way, the entire WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac range of standards is supported. There's Bluetooth v4.1 and GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, though we're hard pressed to imagine a case where you'd use the 18.4-inch for in-car navigation.
The battery inside the tablet has a rather modest 5,700mAh capacity, though Samsung promises 8.5 hours of video playback out of it. Not much detail is revealed on the kickstand, but by now we're expecting it to be a permanent fixture.
What Samsung is trying to pitch as the missing link between your Galaxy tablet and your Samsung TV is yet to become official, but you can pre-order yours today for $599. Details on actual availability are yet to be revealed, though.
iFixIt is back at it with another one of their smartphone maulings known as “teardowns.” The Nexus 5Xis the hottest new thing on the block so we aren’t surprised they got their hands on it to take it to town.
The findings? It’s pretty easy to fix, scoring a 7/10 on the repairability scale (where 10 is easiest to fix). The main issue which keeps it from a near perfect score — like most smartphones these days — is that the display and touch assembly are fused together, so if it cracks then you’ll have to buy an entirely new unit when replacing it. The battery is also a bit trickier to get to than normal, but not so much that it’ll throw a wrench into your plans.
He says it works and charges more slowly than normal, but wasn’t sure if this was due to the pad he was using. Fully functional or not, hacking a wireless charging receiver into the Nexus 5X is super cool and would probably be pretty convenient regardless, as the latest Nexus phones opted not to include the feature as standard. Be sure to check the process out in the video above.
Samsung Galaxy On5 popped up on the official Samsung India website just two days ago, but the page was quickly taken down. We still managed to extract all the interesting details about the 5" Galaxy On5 and we are pretty much considering it as official. Today Samsung China official took the wraps off the Galaxy On7 and the Galaxy On5 smartphones - two entry-level offers with attractive designs. While both look a lot like the A series, they are made entirely of plastic with faux-leather rear covers. Samsung says those affordable phones come with "an unprecedentedly thin frames and bezels".
The Samsung Galaxy On7 is 8.2mm thing, features a 5.5" 720p TFT display and runs on a quad-core 1.2GHz (Cortex-A53 probably) processor with 1.5GB of RAM. It packs a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie snapper, offers 8GB expandable storage and LTE support.
The Galaxy On7 is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop (with Samsung Milk Music pre-installed). It will be available in white and gold flavors.
The Galaxy On5, which we already met, has a 5" HD display and an Exynos 3475 SoC (a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex-A7, Mali-T720 GPU) and 1.5GB RAM. It employs an 8MP rear snapper and a 5MP selfie shooter, there is 8GB expandable storage and LTE connectivity.
The Galaxy On5 is also running on Lollipop (with Milk Music app), and has a beefy 2,600 mAh under the hood to power the whole thing.
Both Samsung Galaxy On7 and On5 are going on sale in China very soon. We guess India will be next to get those two models, as the On5 briefly popped up on the official site.
The expected retail prices are about $150 for the On5 and about $200 for the On7.
Ever since HTC launched its new One A9 smartphone, it has been heavily criticized for making a device that looks like an iPhone 6 clone. Now, a senior HTC executive has came to the defense of the handset as well as the company, saying that it was Apple who originally copied one of their phone's design in its iPhone 6.
"We’re not copying. We made a unibody metal-clad phone in 2013. It’s Apple that copies us in terms of the antenna design on the back," said HTC's North Asia President Jack Tong.
If you're wondering, Tong is referring to the One M7 smartphone from 2013, which sported an aluminium body as well as antenna lines on its back. So, while his statement does carry some weight given that the iPhone 6 came in 2014, it still doesn't justify the fact that the One A9 seems to have copied almost every other design aspect from Apple's new iPhones.
Instagram has unleashed a new app that are meant to make it more uncomplicated for you to make inventive short videos to percentage together with your family and friends. It’s referred to as Boomerang, and it makes use of a picture sewing means (it takes 10 fast photographs) to make a 1-2d looping clip of no matter what it is you wish to have to document.
Boomerang comes half a year after Layout, Instagram's last release aimed at giving people a first-party means of doing something they're already doing with their Instagram photos. The new quasi-video app lets you shoot ten photos with the single press of a button. This then become a mini video that you can post to your Instagram or Facebook accounts directly. Alternatively, you can export them to out to other apps as an MP4 using the share menu.
You can find a link to download the app below. That way before taking that next photo of yourself, you can stop to make it a video selfie. Since Boomerang doesn't capture sound, you don't have to worry about the rest of us gagging in the background.
Late last night, Blackberry accidentally let slip a pre-order page for the Blackberry PRIV in the US and Canada. We thought the company was ready to stop being so quiet about the thing and start getting it into folks’ hands, but they were quick to take the page down. They weren’t quick enough for the internet, though. A couple of new details about the Blackberry Priv were revealed, including a $749 price tag and a November 16th shipping date (which lines up with Blackberry’s planned November window). It’s possible these numbers and dates aren’t totally final, but it’s a good starting point for what to expect in terms of pricing and availability.
The device’s specs were also confirmed. Here’s what we’re looking at: 5.4-inch 2560 x 1440 display with slide-up keyboard Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor 3GB RAM and 32GB storage (microSD slot up to 2TB) 18MP rear camera with 4K video, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase detection autofocus; 2MP front camera 3410mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 NFC Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
This is a heavy hitting device through and through, folks, and Blackberry is giving everyone a compelling reason to take their first Android efforts very seriously. If the price tag sounds a bit too high for your taste, Blackberry is said to be giving the exclusive carrier rights to AT&T here in the United States, so those with Ma Bell might have an easier road to grabbing one. We’ll be awaiting more details from Blackberry in the near future.
Rumors of Samsung preparing to unleash a gargantuan 18.4-inch tablet have been circulating the web since back in August. No, Samsung hasn’t lost their minds.They’re simply one of the few device makers who actually has the cash flow to continue throwing devices of all sizes against the wall to see what will stick. In fact, some might say Samsung pioneered the phablet product category at a time when phones were barely pushing 4.7-inches. And guess what? Consumers ate it up.
Although this 18.4-inch tablet was initially only in the testing phase, it seems things are progressing nicely. The folks at SamMobile have obtained what appears to be a product video showcasing the new tablet. According to the leaked images, the tablet could launch as the Samsung Galaxy View. Pretty fitting considering the whole point of the large tablet is to give users a better view of whatever they’re doing on the device. The tablet is so big it even features its own kickstand with a handle to make sure you have a firm grip on it. Probably equally as interesting is it seems to be the first Samsung device in a long time to ditch the traditional physical home button in favor of on-screen nav buttons. Have a look-see in the gallery below.
With these images leaking out, we imagine it wont be too much longer before the giant tablet (gablet?) is made official. In the meantime, let us know if you’d ever consider picking up something this large. We wont judge.
Although we were a bit skeptical at first, after receiving the Nexus 6P last week and playing around with it non-stop since then we can conclude, without a shadow of a doubt: the Nexus 6P isn’t just the best Nexus device, it’s arguably the best Android device to come along in years. If you’re a new owner, we probably don’t need to tell you that.
One thing we did want to discuss, whether you just received the Nexus 6P or it’s still coming in the mail, are the first things every owner should do. Although the following guide is more geared to the new or casual Android user (please feel free to share with your non-tech savvy friends/family), we think veterans might find something useful as well. Here are the first 11 things every Nexus 6P owner should do.
1. Use the included power adapter whenever possible
Although the Nexus 6P doesn’t technically support Qualcomm’s “Quick Charge 2.0,” the 6P does have its own fast charging tech. Google says you can get 7 hours of usage out of a 10 minute charge, but there is a catch: you’re going to have to use the included wall charger, not some rink-a-dink wall charger you found at the 99 Cent Store.
Because of the phone requires a very specific type of charge (5V/3A), finding additional 3rd party options can be kind of tough. Should you be looking for a spare, you can always buy an official Nexus 6P charger from the Google Store — in single or dual-port varieties — although at $25 and $40, respectively, they’re a bit pricey.
Of course, you can always experiment with whatever charger you have laying around and the include 6-inch Type-C to Type A cable (good luck), just know that it probably wont charge as quickly even when the the Nexus 6P lock screen shows that it’s “fast charging.”
2. Sign into your Google account and restore select apps/games
Okay, so this one is pretty much a given. To enjoy just all the free and paid apps/games on the Google Play Store, you’ll need to sign into a Google account. There are a few options Google will give you during the initial setup process, one of which is called Tap & Go. All it does is copy your Google account sign-in info from another (NFC equipped) Android device by pressing the back of them together. It’s neat if you have your old device handy, just make sure it has NFC or it wont do anything. Of course you could always manually type in your sign-in info…
Once you’re all signed in, Google will allow you to choose a previous phone you’d like to copy apps from (either all of them, or just specific apps/games). Depending on the amount of apps you’re restoring, it could take a good 10 minutes, so now would be a good time to make a sandwich. Keep in mind, this wont restore everything, but you should have all your Google contacts moved over followed by the mass re-downloading of all your apps from the Google Play Store. We recommend connecting to WiFi for the quickest results.
3. Secure your phone with fingerprints, pattern, PIN, or password
Our smartphones carry a lot of sensitive information inside, information you probably don’t want ending up in the wrong hands. Should you ever find yourself leaving your phone in a cab, restaurant or even a friends/family place, you’re probably going to want to lock it down with a secure lock screen lest you have someone snooping inside.
The great part about Android is there are a few options available to you — pattern, PIN, and password — and no matter which method you choose, it’s always better than nothing. Because the Nexus 6P also has a fingerprint sensor that can unlock the phone (also known as “Nexus Imprint”) chances are you’ll rarely have to use any of the above methods (as they’re only for backup), but you will be forced to pick one.
If you really want extra security and render your phone useless in the hands of a thief or new owner, you can even have your phone require a PIN before it even boots up. You know, to be on the extrasafe side. Then again, if the phone doesn’t boot, you wont be able to locate it if it gets lost or stolen. Just a thought.
You probably already came across the “Protect your phone” process during the initial setup, but in case you skipped over it, here’s how you can quickly secure your phone later:
1.Go to Settings app > Security. 2.Tap on Nexus Imprint. 3.Choose a secure screen lock from the list (pattern, PIN, or password). 4.Decide whether you want enable “Secure startup” (not recommended for most people). 5.Create a pattern/PIN/password. 6.Decide whether to show full notification content on lock screen, only the app it came from, or nothing at all. 7.Add fingerprints using the Nexus Imprint sensor on the back of the phone. 8.Press the sensor 6 times to record fingerprint data.
That’s it! We recommend adding additional fingerprints using the same index finger twice, but in a slightly different position each time for better accuracy when unlocking using Nexus Imprint. For instance, the first time place your finger flat on the sensor for the first fingerprint. Then, add another using the same finger, but this time use the tip or side of your finger to touch the sensor. This way, no matter how you press your finger on the sensor, you’ll get an accurate reading. Google says recorded fingerprints are encrypted and never leave the actual device, so don’t worry about them being uploaded to the cloud somewhere.
4. Use your fingerprint to make purchases on Google Play
Android isn’t nearly as annoying as iOS is when it comes to downloading free apps. Although you wont be asked for your password when downloading free apps and games, you’ll more than likely reach a point where you actually want to buy something. Entering passwords can be annoying, especially if you have potato fingers like mine. Thankfully, in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, you can now make purchases using Nexus Imprint. You can enable it only 3 easy steps:
1.Open the Google Play app. 2.Slide out the navigation drawer and select Settings. 3.Scroll down and check the box for Fingerprint authentication.
Now, the first time you make a purchase on the Play Store it will still ask for your password, but everything after that can be bought using your fingerprint. You can also skip all that and simply select the option to “Use fingerprint for future purchases” when buying something. Keep in mind that however you enable it, you’ll still have to enter your password the first time, but from here on out, it’s all fingerprints.
5. Use Smart Lock to keep phone unlocked when at home or connected to your smartwatch
Even though Nexus Imprint is more convenient than having to enter a pattern/PIN/password every time you unlock your phone, it can still be a nuisance. For instance, when you have the phone laying on a desk and just want to check on something really quick. Or perhaps you just got home from a long day at the office and don’t want to have to bother using your fingerprint every time you need to check in with your city on Clash of Clans.
Because this is Android we’re talking about here, you have other options as well. Like your phone automatically removing the secure lock screen as soon as you walk through the door of your home. You can even set it so that it’s unlocked when it’s on your person, or say, connected to a Bluetooth device like your smartwatch, wireless speaker, or car stereo. Should you leave the phone in a restaurant, you’ll have the piece of mind of knowing that it automatically locked itself. Neat huh? Here’s where you’ll find it: Settings app > Security > Smart Lock (enter password/PIN/pattern). From there you’ll have a few options:
Trusted devices – keep your phone unlocked when connected to specific devices (speaker, car, smartwatch) via Bluetooth.
Trusted places – keep your phone unlocked when you arrive in specific places (home, work, etc.).
Trusted face – phone will automatically unlock when it recognizes your face after turning the screen on.
Trusted voice – unlock the phone using your voice.
6. Enable developer mode (to speed up animations)
There’s no denying the Nexus 6P is fast. In fact, it’s the fastest Android device we’ve ever laid our hands on. But we can do better. You can actually make the phone feel even zipper by speeding up the transition and UI animations. It’s hidden away inside the Developer options, but here’s how you can find them:
1.Open the Settings app. 2.Scroll down to the bottom and select About phone. 3.Scroll to the bottom and press Build number 7 times (you’ll see a confirmation that you are now a developer), press the back button. 4.Developer options will now appear at the bottom of Settings, select it. 5.Find window animation scale, transition animation scale, animator duration scale and select .5x for each.
7. Enable System UI tuner to add battery percentage
By now you’ve probably noticed how the battery icon in the status bar doesn’t display the actual battery percentage. If you’re looking for a little more detail, tucked away in Android 6.0 Marshmallow is another hidden setting called System UI Tuner. Why it’s hidden, nobody knows, but Google says it’s still “experimental.” Don’t worry, we’re not going to use it for much.
Just pull down the notification tray twice and long press on the little Settings gear icon for about 5+ seconds. It make take more than 1 attempt, but once you let go and pull the shade back up, you should see a new prompt telling you that “Congrats! System UI Tuner has been added to Settings.” Just like those Developer options, you’re going to scroll down to the bottom of the Settings app where you’ll find a new setting called System UI Tuner.
Once inside, Google will warn you about the features being experimental, just select “Got it” and “Show embedded battery percentage. After that, the battery icon in your status bar will show you a battery percentage. Easy peasy.
8. Enable Google Fit
Google Fit is pretty great for tracking general physical activity throughout the day. It’s not as incredibly in-depth as some other services, but the fact that it comes pre-installed on most Android devices and syncs your data to your Google account, you’ll probably want to use it. The only thing you need to do is open the app and enable it.
1.Open the Google Fit app. 2.Sign in with your Google account. 3.Fill out your height, weight, gender, and set a personal fitness goal.
Because the app runs in the background, you wont have to worry about opening it every day or messing around with it too much. Just make sure you keep your phone on you while you’re out and about running errands, or during your run. After that, you’ll receive the occasional notification when you’re getting close to, or have reached, your daily step/activity goal.
9. Setup Android Pay to make purchases using your smartphone
Whether you hate pulling out your wallet and swiping your credit card, or you simply want a backup method of paying for things should you leave your wallet at home, Android Pay makes it easy to make purchases using nothing but your smartphone. Like some of the other things on this list, you’ll first need to open the app and set it all up.
1.Open the Android Pay app on your phone. 2.Touch the + sign in the bottom-right corner. 3.Touch Add a credit or debit card. 4.If you already have linked cards, choose one or touch Add another card. 5.Use the camera to capture your card info or enter it manually.
The toughest part is finding a place that accepts Android Pay, but keep in mind it also works anywhere tap-to-pay or Apple Pay is accepted. Even then, not all card issuers are supported, but you can find a full list of Android Pay supported banks over here. Happy tapping!
10. Check out all the new Marshmallow features
Some of the Nexus 6P’s best features were actually introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s Google’s latest Android release and more than anything it polishes off some of Lollipop’s rough edges, while giving users more control of their apps, better battery life, and improved UI. We covered most of this in our “Everything New in Android Marshmallow” post from back in August, but in case you need a refresher, here’s some of the bigger things you should definitely try out:
1.Google Now on Tap – Scans entire screen to pull up relevant information in a Google Search. 2.Easy word selection and toolbar – Highlight text and a new copy/paste toolbar appears right above it. 3.Simplified volume controls – Adjust ringer/notification volume, media volume (music and videos), and alarm volume by click the drop down arrow. 4.Improved ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode – Choose between total silence (even alarms are muted), alarms only (everything but alarms are muted), and priority only (can be fine tuned to allow specific apps to still ring). 5.Greatly improved battery life while sleeping – With the new “Doze” feature, apps are frozen when the phone hasn’t been touched or moved for long periods of time, increasing standby battery life by days (yes, we said days). 6.App’s ask for permission to access device functions – Apps now ask permission before accessing things like your location, microphone, or camera. You can even fine tune this some more by manually toggling these permissions on the App Info page (Settings > Apps > select app > Permissions).
11. Explore the Nexus 6P forums
The best place for new Nexus 6P owners to mingle is on Android Forums. It’s where you’ll find all sorts of help, tips, tricks, support, suggestions, and information about your phone than shiny new smartphone. You’ll also find plenty of other users sharing their own personal experiences, favorite accessories, and whatever else pops into their head. Here are a few of the more popular threads to get you started:
The Nexus 5X is Google and LG’s long-overdue follow-up to the Nexus 5. Android fans loved the Nexus 5 (and still do), but it was time for an upgrade. The 5X is a worthy successor, especially with Android Marshmallow right out of the box. If you’ve never used Marshmallow before there are a few new things you’ll want to set up right away. Here are the first things you should do. Sign into your account and use Tap & Go to restore all of your apps
One of the best recent additions to Android is one of the very first things you will see. After setting up your WiFi and signing into your Google account, you’ll be taken to the “Get your apps & data” page of the Setup Wizard. Select the “Restore from this backup” option and you’ll be presented with a list of every previously owned Android device that has been backed up to your account.
You’ll be able to see all the apps that were backed up to that device and choose the ones you wish to install on the Nexus 5X. All the apps you selected, along with your settings, will be restored to the phone. If you use the Google Now Launcher it will even restore apps to their proper place on the home screen.
Use the new USB Type-C cables, your old ones are now obsolete
The Nexus 5X comes with a shiny new USB Type-C charging cable. This is the first time we’ve seen a new connector on Android devices since the switch from mini to micro USB several years ago. There are a lot of advantages to this new standard. The cable is reversible, so it doesn’t matter how you plug it in. Charging speeds are also faster, but it’s not Quick Charge 2.0.
There are some downsides to being an early adopter to a new standard. The Nexus 5X doesn’t come with a Type-C to standard Type-A cable, which means you can’t even use your old AC adapters. You can only use the cable and adapter that comes in the box, or buy the adapter. The dozens of micro USB accessories you’ve accumulated over the years are now obsolete.
The single most noticeable new feature of Android Marshmallow is Google Now on Tap. It’s a completely new way to interact with Google search. The Nexus 5X is one of the first devices to take advantage of this feature. Now on Tap allows Google to scan your screen and provide information based on what it finds. If your friend asks about seeing a movie in a text, Now on Tap can see the movie title and display show times.
Now on Tap is something you’ll want to use. Here’s how to set it up.
1.Open the Google app 2.Swipe in from the left and tap Settings 3.On the next page tap on Now cards 4.Make sure Now on Tap is enabled
To use Now on Tap, simply long-press the home button. You’ll see a white line trace the edge of the display, and then cards will slide up from the bottom.
Sign into your phone by scanning your finger
Another great new feature of Android Marshmallow is support for fingerprint scanners. On the back of the Nexus 5X you’ll notice a recessed circle underneath the camera lens. This is the fingerprint scanner. You can use it to quickly unlock your phone, pay for items with Android Pay, and even log into apps. It’s great. Here’s how to set it up.
1.Open Settings > Security 2.Tap on Nexus imprint > Add fingerprint 3.Create a backup PIN or password 4.Follow the on-screen instructions for scanning your finger 5.After you’ve added your first finger you can add more or be done
Set up Android Pay to make payments with your phone
As we mentioned above, one of the best uses for the fingerprint scanner is authenticating payments with Android Pay. When you use Android Pay at a terminal you’ll be able to simply scan your finger to approve the payment. It makes mobile payments a lot easier and faster. You’ll want to set up Android Pay so it’s ready to use.
1.Find Android Pay on your phone 2.Touch the (+) button in the bottom-right corner. 3.Touch Add a credit or debit card. 4.If you already have linked cards, choose one or touch Add another card. 5.Use the camera to capture your card info or enter it manually
Why does the Twitter app need to know my location? Why does Facebook need to access my microphone? If these are questions you’ve asked you will love Android Marshmallow. Instead of seeing a long list of permissions when you install an app from the Play Store, you will be alerted when an app requests permission to do something. If Whatsapp wants to use your camera it will ask for your permission first.
That’s only half of the new features. It’s also possible to choose which permission you’d like to deny. The new App Info page in the Settings has a section for permissions. You can simply unselect which things you don’t want an app to have permission to do. Here’s how to do it.
1.Go to Settings > Apps 2.Tap on any app 3.Tap on Permissions from the App Info page 4.Unselect any permission you wish
Note: Not all apps will behave correctly if you disable certain permissions.
Choose default apps once and for all
Anyone that has used Android knows how often you’re asked about the app you’d like to use to perform a task. It’s nice that we have that power, but it’s also a little annoying. A new feature called App links let you choose if you want an app to always open a certain type of link. For example, you can make Twitter links always open in the Twitter app without asking you every time. It just works.
1.Go to Settings > Apps 2.Tap the gear icon in the upper right 3.Tap on App links 4.Choose an app from the list
If the app can recognize certain links they will be listed under Supported links (the Phandroid app can open phandroid.com links). You can choose to have the supported links opened in the app, ask your permission every time, or never open in the app
Enable Google Fit to track your activity
The world of activity trackers is full of weird bracelets and dongles, but your phone is probably the best activity tracker you own. An app called Google Fit comes pre-installed on the Nexus 5X. With this app you can track your steps, activity, weight loss, and more. In order for the app to start tracking, you’ll have to first set it up.
1.Find the Google Fit app 2.Sign in with your Google account 3.Fill out your height, weight, gender, and set a personal fitness goal
That’s pretty much it. The app will run in the background and notify you when goals have been reached. All you have to do is remember to carry your phone.
Customize the Quick Toggles
Most non-Nexus devices allow you to customize the toggles found in the Quick Settings. It’s nice to be able to organize the toggles to match how you use them. Google finally added this ability in Android Marshmallow, but it can only be accessed if you know the secret method. We’ll let you in on the secret.
1.Pull down on the notification shade twice, or with two fingers 2.Long-press on the Settings gear icon in the top right for more than 5 seconds 3.Remove your finger and a toast notification will tell you System UI Tuner has been added 4.To customize the System UI go to Settings > System UI Tuner
From this screen, you’ll be able to customize the Quick Settings and choose which icons appear in the status bar. Once you successfully enable the UI Tuner you’ll notice a tiny wrench next to the gear icon in the Quick Settings. To remove the System UI Tuner from the Settings simply do the same process.
Double tap the power button to launch camera
Google and LG have talked a lot about the camera on the Nexus 5X. In the past, Nexus phones have been hampered with poor cameras in the past, but it seems they have finally caught up with everyone else in this generation. A good camera isn’t worth much if you can’t open it fast enough to take a picture. On the Nexus 5X you can double tap the power button to quickly launch the camera. Never miss a moment again!
Explore the Nexus 5X forums
If you’re already a lucky owner of the Nexus 5X, have one on the way, or plan to buy one soon, you can join the Nexus 5X forum over at Android Forums. You’ll find conversations about customization, troubleshooting problems, accessories, and much more. It’s the best place to go to ask questions and learn more about your new phone. Here are a few threads you may be interested in:
Safe to say HTC caught a lot of flak when they officially took the wraps off their latest creation: the HTC One A9. True to all the leaks and rumors, the phone, quite frankly, looks like a near carbon copy of Apple’s iPhone 6/S. That, of course, didn’t sit too well for Android (or even Apple) enthusiasts, but with affordable (promotional) pricing and mid-range specs, it seems HTC wasn’t so much targeting the die-hard Android user as much as the soccer mom and her not-so-tech-savvy young teen. Here are the biggest features HTC is hoping will win over consumers:
It’s only $400 (temporarily) HTC Uh Oh Protection (free replacement) High quality sound and full volume output to large headphones 14MP camera with OIS and RAW capture Fingerprint sensor Every Android update within 15 days of Nexus devices Unlocked bootloader wont void warranty It looks just like the iPhone 6
The whole iPhone lookalike thing isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it could bring some level of success to a company who’s been struggling to take make headway in a fiercely competitive smartphone market. Whatever works. Our own Rob Jackson had a quick minute to go hands-on with the all new One A9 during their low-key event in New York. Check out his hardware tour while we work on preparing a full review.
