Selasa, 31 Januari 2017

TANKOUT is a retro multiplayer shooter from the maker of Galcon

Who doesn't like shooting stuff with tanks? No one, that's who. Now you can shoot blocks, other blocks, slightly different blocks, and other tanks in TANKOUT. It's a new online multiplayer game from the maker of popular strategy game Galcon.

TANKOUT is a top-down shooter taking place in a retro block-based world. You and the other tanks do battle, while also c ollecting coins to buy more blocks, weapons, and other objects.

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TANKOUT is a retro multiplayer shooter from the maker of Galcon was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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OnePlus and Meizu found to be inflating benchmark scores

The entire point of benchmark scores is comparing devices on an even playing field. If scores are being manipulated by CPU boosting and other methods that change the way the device behaves in specific apps, then the scores are no longer any use. Geekbench and XDA have found that both OnePlus and Meizu have been cheating benchmark scores by detecting benchmark apps and changing the way the device runs. Specifically, the OnePlus 3T and Meizu Pro 6. Here are the multi-core test scores for the OnePlus 3T with the regular build of Geekbench and a modified build that was not detected as a benchmark.

OnePlus 3T benchmark

You can see that the difference is quite big. this is due to a more aggressive CPU governor being used when the software detects certain apps. OnePlus responded to these accusations:

In order to give users a better user experience in resource intensive apps and games, especially graphically intensive ones, we implemented certain mechanisms in the community and Nougat builds to trigger the processor to run more aggressively. The trigger process for benchmarking apps will not be present in upcoming OxygenOS builds on the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.

Despite the reassurance that this will be changed, it seems to be a very intentional "feature." If you're relying on benchmark scores when buying a new phone, don't believe everything you see because this is not the first time benchmarks have been manipulated and this is definitely not going to be the last.


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Samsung confirms MWC 2017 event for February 26

Samsung's got some "big news" to share, and it's going to be revealed pretty soon.

Samsung will hold an MWC 2017 event, the company confirmed today, and it's going to happen on February 26. Samsung also shared a teaser image for the event, which you can see above.

We'll have to wait until February 26 rolls around before we know exactly what Samsung has planned, but one thing that we do know is that the Galaxy S8 won't be it, because Samsung said earlier this month that the GS8 won't be making an appearance at MWC 2017.

It's looking like the star of Samsung's February 26 show will be a tablet. Rumors have suggested that Samsung is prepping a Galaxy Tab S3, which should make for a nice upgrade from the Galaxy Tab S2 if its rumored specs hold true.

Would a new Samsung tablet interest you?


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Looks like the Galaxy S8 Will Have a Bigger Battery Than Its Predecessor

Missed some juicy new Galaxy S8 rumours? Well luckily for you, we're back with a new piece of information we think you might find particularly intriguing.

According to a new report coming out of South Korea, Samsung's battery suppliers have been given instructions to start production of 3,250 mAh and 3,750 mAh battery units. The report doesn't specify which devices will use the batteries, but at this point it makes sense to assume the Galaxy S8 will be the recipient of the 3,250 mAh power box, while the Galaxy S8 Plus will get the 3,750 mAh one.

This is indeed good news for those of you who are thinking of purchasing a Galaxy S8 this year. If you remember, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge relied on 3,000 mAh and 3,600 mAh batteries respectively. The increase is not a grandiose one, but it should be enough to support the alleged 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch QHD displays of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. The previous flagships boasted 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch screens.

Samsung is also betting on the Snapdragon 835's reduced power consumption too (40% down compared to earlier models). Hopefully that SoC in combination with the much lighter Android 7.0 Nougat will ensure the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus offer decently long battery life. Do you think it will be enough or should Samsung have aimed even higher?

[Phandroid]

The post Looks like the Galaxy S8 Will Have a Bigger Battery Than Its Predecessor appeared first on Android in Canada Blog.


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Google Rolls Out Android 7.1.2 Nougat Beta; Nexus 6, Nexus 9 Won’t Get It

Android 7.1.1 Nougat isn't available on many devices, but even so Google has already announced the Android 7.1.2 update.

The new build will bring a number of bug fixes and optimizations, as well as a small number of unnamed enhancements for carriers and users. The beta testing version is already rolling out for users of the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus Player and Nexus 5X.

If you are holding onto a Nexus 6P you'll have to wait a little bit, as the Android 7.1.2 update for the device is not ready just yet, but will be rolled out soon enough.

Sadly, the new build won't made available for those with a Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. To be fair, both Nexus models were launched back in November 2014 and Google only provides guaranteed updates for the next 2 years. Even so the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 got the Android 7.1.1 update which was released back in November.

Anyway if you are the owner of one of the devices specified so far, you can head on to the android.com/beta website and sign up to receive the new update for testing purposes. The public release should go live in a couple of months.

[Android Developers Blog]

The post Google Rolls Out Android 7.1.2 Nougat Beta; Nexus 6, Nexus 9 Won't Get It appeared first on Android in Canada Blog.


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Alleged Moto G5 Play Specs Leak Out, Reveal Respectable Upgrade

MWC 2017 is coming up and most iconic Android OEMs are going to be present at the event in order to show the world their latest products. So are Lenovo and Motorola.

But unlike LG which is expected to unveil the G6 flagship, Motorola is going to focus on the budget niche with the new Moto G5 lineup. Which will include the Moto G5, Moto G5 Plus and probably the Moto G5 Play.

The Moto G5 XT1672 showed up with a Brazilian retailer revealing its specs. And given that it features a 5-inch display like the Moto G4 Play, we can assume we're dealing with the Moto G5 Play.

According to the listing, the upcoming low-end device will come with a 5-inch 1080p display and a Snapdragon 430 CPU, which is an improvement from this year's 5-inch screen with 720p resolution and Snapdragon 410 chipset.

The phone will arrive with LTE, S2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable) and a 13MP/5MP camera duo. The budget device will embed a 2,800 mAh battery and run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

The Moto G4 Play offered 1GB/2GB of RAM plus 8GB/16GB of internal storage and 8MP/5MP cameras, while retaining the same battery.

When it arrives the Moto G5 Play will feature a very affordable price-tag, ranging around $100.

[Tecnoblog]

The post Alleged Moto G5 Play Specs Leak Out, Reveal Respectable Upgrade appeared first on Android in Canada Blog.


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Huawei Honor 6X review

These days, $250 can get you a great phone. The days of having to pay at least $600 for a decent phone are long over. The age of good budget phones is here. The Honor 6X continues a tradition of a budget phone with premium build quality and decent hardware.

Details


5.5-inch 1080P LCD
Kirin 655 octa-core
3GB RAM
32GB storage + microSD slot
12MP + 2MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus
8MP front camera
Android 6.0 with EMUI 4.1
3,340 mAh battery

Hardware

The device features some pretty good specs. On the front is a large 5.5-inch 1080p display that is surprisingly pretty. It's not very high resolution, but it's reasonably sharp. However, the brightness and colors are very good, especially for the price. It's a very enjoyable display, and unlike most budget devices, it's just as responsive to touch as high end phones. Above it is an 8MP camera, sensors, and a notification light.

Huawei Honor 6X 3

On the rear is the dual camera setup and a fingerprint sensor. This fingerprint sensor is lightning fast and doesn't get inaccurate over time. It's worked every time for me as long as my fingers weren't wet. Unlike the Honor 8, this one isn't a button and can't be programmed as a shortcut. However, it can also be swiped up and down to activate the notification shade.

The SIM card is located in a tray on the side of the device. It also has a second slot that can either house a second SIM card or a microSD card.

Huawei Honor 6X 2

On the bottom are the speaker, microphone, and a charging port. Despite the Honor 8 using a Type-C port, this phone uses an older microUSB port.

Two things to note are the audio quality of the main speaker and the haptic motor. The loudspeaker is quite mediocre and tinny, about what you'd expect for the price. The haptic motor is not great too. Unlike high end phones, which give quick bumps when typing, this one gives vague buzzes. It's not as bad as other budget phones, but it could be a lot better.

Build quality

The front panel is a sheet of 2.5D glass while most of the rear is made out of metal. There are two pieces of plastic on the top and bottom of the metal, and the side buttons are also plastic.

The smooth curved glass feels very premium and the metal rear feels almost like a flagship device. However, the two pieces of plastic flanking it don't feel very nice. A better quality plastic could have definitely been used.

Overall this phone feels very well made. There are no creaks or bending and it feels great in the hand. If it weren't for the two pieces of cheap plastic, it would feel like a premium device. For $250, it's definitely above average.

Software

If you're interested in what I think of Emotion UI 4.1, check out my Honor 8 review. The software is pretty much identical to what the Honor 8 currently runs. Everything I said then holds true.

The main thing to look out for is the app cleanup feature, which will kill apps when you lock the screen. You'll have to manually approve apps to stay running! Otherwise you'll be wondering why Google Fit isn't collecting data and Reddit isn't sending you notifications.

There is one significant difference and it's actually a nice one. There is a new setting for DPI called View Mode. There are small, medium, and large settings. All phones should have this! The display is spacious and it's nice to fit more on it at one time, so a DPI setting is always appreciated.

There is an update for Android 7.0 Nougat coming with Emotion UI 5.0 in tow in Q2 2017. That's quite far away, but EMUI 5.0 is a huge upgrade. It'll change the phone for the better, making it more stock-like and even nicer to use.

Performance

With a more budget-oriented processor, I figured the performance of this phone would suffer quite a bit over the likes of higher end devices. I mean, how much can you ask for from a $250 phone?

You won't be getting flagship levels of smoothness, but the Honor 6X is a zippy device. It does most tasks very quick and retains a decent level of smoothness. There is a bit of visual stuttering throughout the OS but speed was never a let down.

As far as games go, it handles them just fine. Pokemon Go seems to be a particularly poorly optimized game yet the Honor 6X takes it like a champ. The same can't be said for cheaper devices.

The 3GB of RAM is plenty, it never fills up. The phone isn't very aggressive with closing apps in the background either.

Camera

Huawei Honor 6X 4

This device uses a dual camera setup much like it's big brother the Honor 8. But instead of two of the same sensor, it has a 12MP main sensor and a secondary 2MP sensor. The second sensor helps with focus, adding a bokeh effect and more.

Yes, the features of the camera are its main draw. You can add a really nice bokeh effect using the depth data from the second sensor, and you can change it later on. There are also modes like a night mode for a long exposure, painting, and more.

The actual performance of the camera is quite good. In good light, it captures very nice images. They're large and detailed and the colors are fantastic. They're a lot better than I expected for the price. Sometimes, they're downright amazing.

At night, this camera has a bit of trouble. Oftentimes the photo will simply be blurred. It's possible to get good shots in the dark, but it isn't very easy. Check every shot after taking it to make sure you got it. However, if you keep the phone stable enough, night photos look quite good.

The front facing camera is an 8MP sensor that captures quite good photos as well. Huawei seems to use very good front facing sensors to nail your selfies.

Overall, the camera is very good but doesn't handle low light very well. Nonetheless, it can take some shockingly great shots.

Huawei Honor 6X Photo Samples

Battery life

With a 3,340 mAh battery and fairly mid-range specs, the battery life is outstanding. With normal use, you can easily go two days on one charge. Even with heavy use, it'll last a full day with ease. Throw hours of Google Maps and music streaming at it and still get home with plenty of juice.

Firing up games like Pokemon Go still drains the battery at a significant rate, but you'll have many many hours of play time before needing a charger.

Unfortunately, there is no quick charging with this device. Charging isn't slow, but it's what you were used to before the advent of quick charging.

Huawei Honor 6X9 / 10

Huawei Honor 6X 5

In the realm of budget phones, it's all about compromise and getting the best bang for your buck. The Honor 6X offers almost everything you could possibly want from a flagship phone. Dual cameras, a big battery, a pretty display, it has it all.

The compromises made are few and easy to handle. The vibration motor isn't very good, the processor can't make the UI perfectly smooth, and the camera suffers in low light. However, for $250, it's a fantastic phone.


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Alleged prototype of LG G6 leaks

The LG G6 is going to be launching pretty soon, so it's time for the major leaks to start coming. This latest leak is an alleged prototype of the G6 and it's looking pretty good so far.

The front has a big display with tiny bezels and what looks to be curved corners, something that's been rumored before. There is also chamfered metal all around the device

On the back is an unfinished piece, but it shows off the dual cameras and center mounted fingerprint reader. On the bottom is a USB Type-C port and a speaker.

The G6 is looking good, and that front with the tiny bezels should attract quite a few buyers. Let's hope that the older Snapdragon 821 processor won't steer too many people away. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

lg-g6-prototype-1 lg-g6-prototype-3 lg-g6-prototype-2
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Snapseed updated to v2.15 with new curves tool, improved multi-line text, and more [APK Download]

Snapseed is one of the apps Google has actually been keeping up after acquiring it, and good thing too. Adobe's mobile apps aren't great, and Snapseed is excellent for simple image edits. In the first update of 2017, Snapseed has a new curves editing tool, and there are changes to the way text and face detection work.

There's a Google+ post with details, but here it is in list form.

  • New curves tool
  • Choose location of word wrap in multi-line text
  • Improved face detection
  • Higher quality grain in black and white filter

The curves tool lets you change an image's tonality.

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Snapseed updated to v2.15 with new curves tool, improved multi-line text, and more [APK Download] was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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RCS support in Messenger going live for some T-Mobile users

RCS, short for Rich Communication Services, has been aiming to replace SMS for years. But unlike the universal SMS standard, there are multiple RCS implementations that don't work with each other. Google has been working to solve this, by adding RCS support to Google Messenger and working with carriers to implement Jibe's 'Universal RCS Profile.'

Right now, only Sprint and Rogers support the Jibe RCS profile, but T-Mobile may be next. Multiple T-Mobile customers on Reddit, Twitter, and Google+ have reported seeing the RCS activation popup in Google Messenger.

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RCS support in Messenger going live for some T-Mobile users was written by the awesome team at Android Police.


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Jason Mackenzie leaving HTC after 12 years

Weeks after revealing its new flagship, the U Ultra, HTC has lost a major presence in its human lineup.

Jason Mackenzie, HTC's global Executive Vice President, has confirmed that he will be leaving the company. He tweeted out the news today and thanked Peter Chou, Cher Wang, and the rest of the HTC team.

This is another high-profile executive departure for HTC, as Claude Zellweger recently left to join the Google Daydream team. Mackenzie didn't announce what's next for him.


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