Removing the Verizon logo from the Droid Turbo 2 is almost too easy

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.

Watch the Nexus 6P fail miserably at a bend test [VIDEO]

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.

Source

Hands-on: OnePlus X and custom cases [VIDEO]

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.

Source - Phandroid

YouTube Red is live, sign up now for a free trial (US only)

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?

An inside look at the Shatterproof screen on Motorola’s Droid Turbo 2 (VIDEO)

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.

Source

Hands-on: Motorola Droid Turbo 2 [VIDEO]

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.

Source

LG V10 promo gets you a free 200GB micro SD card and extra battery w/ charging cradle

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.