If you're registered on the online support forums hosted by Avast, makers of the top-rated free antivirus software, then you may have heard that the forum has recently been hacked and has been taken offline for now.
There is no indication that usernames and passwords have been accessed (the company says that they were all encrypted, or at least hashed), but this is still a concern.
If you have used the Avast forums, and the password you chose was unique to that system, then there's no need to do anything. However, if you were registered on the forums and you used the same password elsewhere, on other systems, it would be wise to change that password on those other systems. Otherwise, if someone does manage to discover the Avast usernames and passwords, they can then be used on other systems too.
Note that this only affects the Avast forum. The antivirus software itself is not affected, and you can continue using it as normal.
If you have more than 1 device connected to your internet router, you have yourself a network. And if you're anything like me, your network probably contains quite a few devices when you start to think about it. In my case, for example, there are smartphones using wifi, my TV recorder, the router itself, a couple of PCs, a handful of IP security cameras, and more. Any or all of which could, in theory, have one or more security weaknesses that a hacker could exploit.
Companies often use security vulnerability scanning software to look for problems in the devices on their network. Using such programs is cheaper than hiring a so-called ethical hacker, or penetration tester, but they still run into thousands of dollars. Thankfully, though, many of the major players offer free versions of their software for home or non-commercial use.
One such product is called Nexpose, from Rapid7. The company also produces another product, called Metasploit, which attempts to hack into systems, using the weaknesses which Nexpose has, well, exposed. Metasploit is a complex beast which is not easy to use, and which can get you into all sorts of trouble if you misuse it, but Nexpose is a very useful tool indeed. And the community edition, available for free, scans up to 32 IP addresses, which should suffice for most home networks.
Those looking for one helluva deal on an Android device look no further than this insane deal on the Motorola Moto G for Verizon pre-paid. Priced at $70, the phone is heavily marked down from its $180 GSM counterpart. The best part is, not only will it make a great replacement iPod (should you forgo cellular service), but some reports suggest you may have luck activating it on a regular on-contract Verizon line (although there’s some steps involved).
With Father’s Day just around the corner, perhaps it’s time to break your father away from that dad-phone he’s been rocking all these years, and get him on something a little more this century. With a quad-core processor, 5MP camera and running on Android 4.4 KitKat — you could certainly do a whole lot worse.
We’re sure you’ll probably find just about any reason to pick up a brand new Moto G for $70, just keep in mind it is 3G-only and we can only guarantee compatibility with Verizon pre-paid, or as a standalone WiFi-only device. According to one helpful review on Amazon:
“I bought my Verizon Moto G 4/26/14 and was able to activate it on contract. You just have to bypass the activation screen (hit next, slide down notification bar, bring up task manager and swipe away the activation app) then dial *228 to activate the phone since it is 3G only. Do not try to activate through the My Verizon website, it will not work. I went from a Galaxy S3 to the Moto G.”
Is it a phone, or is it a tablet? Those are just a few of the questions most consumers will be asking themselves after taking a look at AT&T’s upcoming ASUS Padfone X. The phone smartphone/tablet hybrid has been stuck in what can only be described as limbo for ages now. We actually got our first hands-on with the device during our Mobile Word Congress coverage back in February of 2013.
Since then, the phone portion of the Padfone has received a slight hardware revision, dropping the brushed aluminum in favor of what appears to be a soft touch backing, while also upgrading that Snapdragon 600 to a more updated 800 chipset. The tablet portion features a 9-inch 1080p IPS display and can actually charge the phone while it’s being docked, making it perfect for passing it off to the kiddies for a quick gaming sessions in the car.
The real news is that AT&T is finally ready to discuss pricing and availability with pre-orders opening up next Friday, June 6th. The ASUS Padfone X will be sold for $200 on-contract, or can be upgraded via the Next program for between $20 – $30 a month. With a 13MP camera, micro SD card slot, and running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the Padfone X has aged rather gracefully. Check out AT&T’s quick overview video below for more deets.
Mark you calendars, boys and girls. T-Mobile is looking to shake up the wireless industry yet again. The 4th largest wireless provider in the US has begun sending out press invites for their June 18th, Uncarrier 5.0 event titled, “We don’t play it safe and sound.” Not sure what that means, but as always, expect big things to come out of the event.
During recent months, we’ve watched as T-Mobile essentially abolished wireless contracts, introduced early upgrade programs, and began paying off rival carriers’ early termination fees. All bold moves indeed, and ones that have T-Mobile creeping up behind Sprint for that #3 spot.
But not all changes have been well-received. More recently we watched as T-Mobile killed off their corporate discounts and made a few modifications to their JUMP plan (it’s now every 6 months, and half the current phone needs to be paid off before JUMPing to a new device).
No matter what, we’re excited to see what comes of the event and you should too. T-Mobile’s Uncarrier initiative always makes waves throughout the wireless industry, with their rivals often times adopting similar strategies through temporary promotions and whatnot.
After murmurings earlier this month that Apple was looking to drop a few billions on acquiring Beats, Tim Cook n’ friends are finally making things official. Figures are a little smaller than first rumored with Apple reaching into their pocketbook and pulling out $3 billion ($2.6 billion at first, then $400 million over time) for the honor of having full access to the Beats empire.
There was still no mention of exactly what Apple intends on doing with Beats, only their excitement on finally gaining some street cred. The deal isn’t expected to fully close until Q4 of this year and if you feel so inclined, you can check out the full press release via the link below.
A new update to Google Camera has begun hitting the Play Store for some folks. As usual, changelogs are scarce, but we have found that the new 2.2.024 update adds the option to shoot in a cropped 16:9 aspect ratio in the settings, as well as a 3 or 10 second timer. For those looking to get the goods early, you can download via the link below, or wait around for the update to roll out to your Android device.
One of the features that got our blue undies in a bunch during yesterday’s newly announced LG G3 was the smartphone’s improved camera features. Really, there’s 2 main camera features that should help the phone outperform some of its rivals (on paper anyway): the laser auto focus sensor, and enhanced OIS+.
Together, you’d expect some pretty snazzy snapshots, especially in low light where things can get muddy. But often times a camera is only as good as its sensor and the software behind it. Luckily, the boys at PhoneArena were able to snap a few comparison shots, pitting the LG G3 against the current crop of rival flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and Apple iPhone 5s.
We don’t want to spoil anything, but the results — which seem to have been shot in a dimly lit area — seem to favor the LG G3 in our unbiased opinion. The worst offender? Without a doubt the Samsung Galaxy S5 which, we mentioned in a previous article falls on its face in average lighting conditions (but looks great in daylight). Like most things, we’ll let you decide for yourself.
Of course, these results aren’t conclusive and we look forward to the chance to test out the LG G3 camera for ourselves. For a look at the zoomed out, full resolution images shown in the collage, hit up the source link below. Don’t forget to let us know which smartphone camera (which is only 1 component of what makes a phone great) you think came out on top.
The Sprint HTC One M7 is receiving a great upgrade today. It’s the Sense 6 update that everyone has been waiting for. Sense 6 brings Android 4.4.2 KitKat and some nice enhancements to the overall user experience. Namely, you’ll be treated to new design tweaks, an improved BlinkFeed experience, an improved gallery and an improved HTC TV app.
There’s no word on how big this upgrade is just yet, but it’s safe to hop onto a WiFi network and charge your battery to a reasonable level. You’ll be looking for version 5.03.651.3. You can head to the settings menu and check for it yourself, though note that this might be a staggered update and there’s a chance you won’t be able to pull it down right away. Let us know how it is once you’ve gotten it!
It’s been a busy last couple of months. The big Android players have all revealed their shiny new wares for 2014, the latest of which was yesterday’s newly announced LG G3. All these phones are looking great, and we’re sure they’re bringing in big numbers. But one OEM that’s been doing a good job of keeping their cards close to the chest is Motorola with the sequel to last year’s Motorola Moto X.
Despite numerous smaller leaks, we still haven’t gotten an actual look at the Moto X+1, but that changes today. Well, somewhat. Spotted in Chicago — Motorola’s new base of operations — one eagle-eyed Android fan snapped a photo of what could be a Moto X+1 in the hands of an employee while traveling via subway.
The picture quality is fairly blurry and the phone is donning one of those prototype cases to keep it hidden, so there’s not much to go on. But it’s enough that @evleaks felt confident enough to attach his name to the “leak.”
What do you guys think? Could we really be looking at the upcoming Moto X+1?
If you’re looking to grab yourself a Sonos sound system soon you’ll want to be made abreast of this deal going on. You can grab six months of Google Play Music All Access for free with purchase of any Sonos product, which is a pretty good offer that stands to save you about $60 (based on regular pricing of $9.99 per month).
Google Play Music All Access will not only give you room to store up to 20,000 of your own tracks, but you can also get instant streaming access to millions upon millions of songs that you don’t already own. It’s an incredible value even without getting it for free, so there’s no reason not to cash in on this offer if you were thinking of buying a Sonos system in the near future.
The deal lasts through July 5th so you have a bit of time to decide if you want to take advantage. Head over to the Sonos website at the source link for more details.
Need to see a condensed version of LG’s G3 unveiling yesterday? This first advertisement video is as good as you’re going to get, as the company gives you a look at all its curves, features and beauty in an easily-digested two minute video.
Ready for a quick deal on a very cheap (yet capable) smartphone? Amazon has Verizon’s Moto G on sale for a measly $70, which will get you a 4.5-inch quad-core device a 5 megapixel camera and 8GB of internal storage. There’s no 4G here — that version is going to run you a bit more coin — but if you need an affordable entry into the smartphone realm this is your best shot. Head to the source link to get started.
The Google self-driving car project has always been very interesting, but it’s hard for some folks to get excited for a project that seems like it will take ages before being fully developed into a consumer product. Google’s showing that we’re closer to the dream that we might think, though, as they have just revealed plans to build their own self-driving cars.
The car in question is quite interesting. At first glance I might mistake it for one of those Fisher-Price foot-pedaled toy cars that we all loved to get inside as toddlers.
The design is very bare bones and only includes the basic necessities, including the seats and seat belts, lights, a space for your belongings, a start and stop button, the display that shows your route and destination, and controls for the windows.
The car doesn’t even include steering wheels or pedals (which is likely why Google capped it off at 25 miles per hour). Google says they designed it this way because they wanted it to be more for learning than luxury.
They plan to build 100 prototypes of this thing with manual controls for their “safety drivers” to begin testing on the road later this summer, and they hope be able to run a small pilot program in California within the next couple of years if everything goes according to plan. Needless to say we’re definitely rooting for them to be successful.
It’s truly inspiring stuff, and makes me excited for our future and glad to be alive in a time where such technological advances are possible. I’m not sure if we’ll ever see these all over every ride in my own lifetime, but every little step toward progress is exciting nonetheless. Be sure to take a gander at the video above where Google gives a few lucky folks the chance to drive in one and see what the future might hold.
Counting down the days until you can buy the LG G3? While it may be some time before you can fondle one of the hottest devices of 2014 yourself, you can get a decent sense of the experience on the phone you own right now. LG G3 wallpapers have been pulled and posted for all to download, giving you a new collection of decor to improve your digital feng shui.
Here they are in all their glory:
Simply click the one (or ones) you want to enlarge them, right click (or long press if you’re on mobile) and save it. From there, use your phone’s built-in wallpaper feature to set one of these as your home-screen and/or lock-screen wallpaper. It should be enough to hold you over until we see the real deal (which we’re hoping is happening later next month).
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In honor of LG's announcement of the LG G3, we're giving one lucky Android Central member the chance to get their hands on this BIG-screened phone as soon as it hits the market.
To enter for your chance to win, all you need to do is login to Android Central and leave a comment on this post for your chance to win. And since this is LG's third G phone, we're going to spice things up and give you up to THREE chances to win. After you leave your first comment, leave a second and a third to earn additional chances of winning.
It’s that time again. The folks at Humble Bundle are back with their latest release and, as always, your wallet is about to feel a little lighter (but not by much). This time around we have Humble Bundle: PC and Android 10 — a handful of great games you can play on either your Android device, or Windows, Mac, and Linux PC.
You know the story, you pay as much (or as little) as you’d like, just remember a good chunk of the proceeds go to charity. If you donate over the average, you get a few bonus games off the bat, with even more arriving over the next few days. Here’s the current lineup:
Humble Bundle: PC and Android 10
Symphony
Draw a Stickman: EPIC
Galcon Legends w/ Galcon Fusion
Pay more than the average price to unlock:
Skulls of the Shogun
METAL SLUG 3
Fieldrunners 2
Breach & Clear
This deal wont last forever, so don’t mull over too long. Humble Bundle: PC and Android 10 ends on Tuesday, June 10th at 11AM (PT). Also keep in mind that apparently the developer of Metal Slug 3 is still working on the final touches for the DRM-free Mac, Windows, and Linux version but promises to have it up in the next 24-72 hours.
Developer Kevin Berry from Teslacoil has just announced that a new version of Nova Launcher is in the works. To help get it ready for prime time, Kevin is looking for brave Android users willing to test out Nova Launcher 3.0 before it’s ready for public consumption. The update is said to be large, one of the biggest we’ve seen in months. It’s a pretty huge changelog and if you’ve got the stomach for it, you can find all the details below.
Nova Launcher 3.0beta1
Subgrid positioning, snap widgets/icons to half cells. Greater control of placement/size without shrinking/cropping app icons
Individual drawer tab colors (tap on the tab and select Edit)
New tab style Colorblock
Vertical drawer scrolls under transparent navbar
Backup/Restore using Kitkat’s Document Provider (supports ext-sdcard, Drive, Box, etc)
Full 4×1 widget support in dock
Individually toggle widget padding (long-press on widget and select Padding)
Nova Action for First Item In Folder (Use with swipe/tap action of folders)
Honeycomb style persistent searchbar available on phones
Slight visual refresh (settings screen, menu icon, color picker)
Fix Samsung KitKat bluetooth settings shortcut
Fix home button action on Verizon Motorola
Restore "Force" wallpaper scrolling for HTC KitKat
"Show Shadows" on HTC One M8 perfectly blends from semi-transparent system bars
Other changes include:
Tab configuration is a bit stricter. Now one and only one All Apps tab is required, and zero or one Widgets tab can be used. These tabs can be renamed and recolored.
All Apps tab dropdown menu no longer includes filters for New/Downloaded
The dropdown menu indicator has been removed from the tabs, though the menu still exists (with some modification)
Persistent Search Bar is either enabled or disabled, the landscape only option has been removed
Persistent Search Bar style is consistent between landscape and portrait
Icons are now centered vertically in their cells, rather than being top aligned
Phone landscape mode fills available space horizontally, rather than reserving space for the search bar/dock even if those elements were hidden.
Honeycomb style search bar no longer includes the menu button (which was not authentic to honeycomb anyway)
To get started, you’ll first need to be apart of the Nova Launcher Beta community here. Once you’ve joined up, you can opt-in for the beta releases on Google Play here. Once you’ve done all that, simply hit up Nova Launcher on the Google Play Store to begin downloading the new Nova Launcher 3.0 Beta 1.
Should all that sound like too much work, the app can always be sideloaded directly from TeslaCoil here. Enjoy!
In their latest move declaring war against malware (and clean up their image), Google announced today that they have begun blocking 3rd party Chrome extensions downloaded outside their sanctioned Chrome Web Store. What’s more is they’re not just blocking them, but they also mentioned that could begin actively disabling ones already installed in your Chrome web browser — no permission necessary.
While we generally stick the Chrome Web Store for all our extension needs, there are those that haven’t passed Google’s terms of service (like YouTube downloader) and can only be downloaded direct from the developer. It feels a bit Apple in approach, but when data breaches and malware are seemingly spreading across the internet like wildfire, it’s better safe than sorry.
For the time being, it looks like this is going to be exclusive to Windows users. Nothing mentioned about OSX or Linux quite yet, but we’re sure their time is also coming.
Earlier today we watched as LG finally took the wraps off their worst kept secret: the LG G3. In an effort to stay competitive with the likes of the Samsungs and HTCs, LG broke away from their usual end of the year release timing, moving up their flagship launch a good couple of months. Hot on the heels of some of the biggest smartphone releases of the year, some of you might be wondering how the LG G3 stacks up in comparison to Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. Well, let’s find out.
Build and Design
If you’ve been following the mobile scene, you’d know LG is no stranger to the all-plastic design philosophy that made Samsung rich. But that doesn’t mean LG hasn’t dabbled in their use of more premium materials like glass for the LG Optimus G from 2 generations ago. While glass on the back of a smartphone may not have been the wisest choice for a smartphone (they have a tendency to drop), industrial materials like aluminum seem to hold up well. Just ask any HTC fanboy what they love about the Taiwanese OEM’s recent flagships and they’re sure to wax poetic about the premium feeling aluminum build quality.
Taking this idea and running with it, the LG G3 features a polished “metallic” skin on the its removable battery cover. The result is something that can only be described as the love child of the One M8 and Galaxy S5 melding together into one. There’s no question the HTC One M8 will still feel more solid in the hand thanks to a unibody construction, but for those that never took to Samsung’s gratuitous use of chrome and “band-aid” battery cover should feel right at home on the LG G3.
Display
The LG G3 features LG’s latest Quad HD 2560 x 1440 resolution IPS display with an insane 538ppi. Word from our own Kevin Krause is that the display is something that will need to be seen in person to believe, with pixels that are indiscernible to the human eye. Of course for many, they get a similar result from the now standard 1920 x 1080 found on all current flagships. This means no matter the quality — which appears to have excellent viewing angles — the display on the LG G3 could be one of the device’s more superfluous features, one that could have an impact on battery life.
LG did mention that they’ve taken steps to minimize the impact on battery life, but we can’t help but wonder if that could have been put to better use on a 1080p display. No matter how many pixels LG throws into their phones, there’s just no beating Samsung at their own game. While both the LG G3 and HTC One M8 displays look fantastic make no mistake — the SAMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is still the one to beat.
Processor, Performance, and Battery
We know it’s easy for some to simply look at the raw hardware specs on a smartphone and declare a winner, but that would be foolish. As we discovered with the Galaxy S5, a beefy processor doesn’t always equate to above average performance (quite the contrary). With the LG G3, the phone features the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor as the HTC One M8, but like on the Samsung Galaxy S5, LG has managed to crank up the clock speed to 2.5GHz. The result should be an overall zippy Android experience, but we’ll reserve judgment until we get our hands on a review unit.
When it comes to battery, LG doesn’t appear to be messing around, outfitting the LG G3 with a higher-than usual 3,000mAh battery (the One M8 only has 2,600mAh, while the Galaxy S5 features 2,800mAh). As we saw with last year’s model, this should help the LG G3 last more than a full day with average use. But let’s not forget. Both HTC and Samsung have gotten creative with battery life, squeezing out every last drop through the use of software features like HTC’s Extreme Power Saving, or Samsung’s similar feature that also enables a black and white display.
We’ll have to wait and see what kind of battery saving options LG’s new software introduces in the G3, but given the phone already has a removable battery for quick battery swaps, this alone gives it the advantage.
Custom User Interfaces
When it comes to custom Android “skins” you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. But sometimes Android OEM’s can do a lot to help you hate them less, even to the point where you grow to love them over time. We’ve always felt strongly that HTC Sense offered the most refined custom user interface and that Samsung — while packed to the brim with customizable features — was more or less an eye sore. Even further behind the pack was LG, who made little effort to update their UI for the new generation of smartphones, recycling it over and over again.
Thankfully for the LG G3, LG has finally gone back to the drawing board, dreaming up something that’s familiar to LG fans, only much more modern. This new “flat UI” is much more minimal in appearance and while colorful, seems to favor the use of more muted colors for a professional look. We’ll need to have a little more time to play around with all the new software features therein but as it stands, LG has just placed itself ahead of Samsung — and right behind HTC — in the race for best looking custom UI. It’s about damn time.
Camera
Like most other hardware features, you can’t always judge a camera by the amount of MP it has. When it comes to mobile photography, there’s so many other smaller hardware features — like the LG G3′s optical image stabilization — it’s tough to declare a winner. As we mentioned, the LG G3 introduces LG’s new OIS+ camera hardware, said to bring a 20% increase in stabilization vs last year’s G2 (which only had regular OIS). This means whether you’re recording video or taking a snap shot, the G3′s camera will be more stable, resulting in clear shots for the most part.
Adding to the camera’s performance is the use of LG’s laser auto focus sensor which helps the phone focus quicker than the blink of an eye (.276 seconds). It’s interesting because we’ve seen both HTC and Samsung attempt to tackle this problem using their own hardware methods — the One M8 with its Duo Focus system, and Galaxy S5 with phase detection.
While every single one of these phones are quick to focus in optimal lighting situations, the LG G3′s laser focus is said to be lightning quick even in low light. Keep in mind we’ll need to see some comparison shots before declaring a real winner, but pound for pound, it seems the LG G3 is the smartphone camera to beat.
What say ye?
Now, we know many of you haven’t gotten a chance to play with all these phones and we’re reserving final judgement until we receive an LG G3 for review. But you’ve seen spec match up and if you frequent the site, we’re sure you’ve seen our reviews (HTC One M8 review here, Samsung Galaxy S5 review here). After considering all of this, which smartphone do you think wins the crown of most impressive Android device? The LG G3, HTC One M8, or Samsung Galaxy S5? Vote in our poll below.
Last year's LG G2 came as a pleasant surprise, rear button and all. In 2014, Korea's other major smartphone maker brings the innovative design back for round two, today unveiling the highly-anticipated (and highly-leaked) LG G3. Does the successor to the 2013 sleeper hit once again knock (pun intended) one out of the park?
For anyone that has seen or used the G2, the G3 is immediately familiar, yet it retains a fresh feel with a redesigned rear button and brushed metal finish. That finish uses a metal layer to achieve the look, but it comes with a matte coating to aid in its durability and make for easy cleaning and care. The back cover is removable, revealing a 3000mAh battery within the belly of LG's beast.
But back to the back button. The G3 does away with its quick functions by default, relegating its use as the power/standby button and volume rocker out of the box. Fans of the selfie shortcut and one-button access to Quick Notes will be happy to know that these functions can be restored easily via the settings menu. Unfortunately, the buttons can still not be mapped to other user-defined functions.
Moving around to the front of the device comes another cornerstone of the G3's design — its Quad HD display. The G3 offers four times the resolution of a phone with a standard HD display, and the display is built around IPS technology for solid color reproduction. It looks great, but the extra pixels might be a little wasted on the 5.5-inch display. It's hard to say whether the higher resolution really makes a difference, and the advantage is arguable, but we liked what we saw. Is it the smartphone display to beat? Time will tell.
Given the color and clarity of the Quad HD display, it's a wonder LG went with a more muted color scheme for the G3's user interface overhaul. Don't get me wrong, this is perhaps the most welcomed change to the G3, but if it were any other manufacturer bright colors would have no doubt been the emphasis to really showcase the screen technology. That's neither here nor there, though. We don't want to undersell the extreme improvements LG has made to their user interface with the G3.
In past releases, LG's take on Android was perhaps our biggest gripe. Here it is one of the phone's key advantages. This still isn't the super stock implementation we would like, but it's the closest it has ever been on an LG phone. As is the trend, flat, simple design cues can be found throughout.
Let's touch on the G3's camera for a moment. It turns out the mysterious sensor located to the side of the 13MP camera that was spied in leaks is a laser blaster. Why include a laser blaster? To offer super fast image focusing. And it is fast. We tested it out around the demo room floor and found it to be quite adept at quickly focusing on and snapping impressive shots. Advanced optical image stabilization further adds to the camera's abilities.
This all, of course, is merely scratching the surface of what LG has accomplished with the G3. Will its allure outlast our initial excitement? That is the question we hope to answer when we get a chance to further review the handset. For now, check out our above hands-on video for a bit more about the new G3. Release dates aren't quite clear yet, but one thing is certain. When the G3 touches down, it will come as a worthy competitor to other current Android powerhouses like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.
It faces competition from not only the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8, but also quirky offerings from the likes of Oppo and OnePlus. The smartphone scene is quite crowded this year, so it’s sure to be a tough decision for many folks. Drop a vote in the poll below and let us know if you’ll be grabbing one. If not, be sure to stop by the comments and tell us which phone has your attention instead!
The first couple of carriers getting their paws on the LG G3 have come forth and revealed plans. Both AT&T and T-Mobile have announced that the device will be coming later this year. No further details could be had unfortunately, though T-Mobile did want folks to know that their carrier would be the only place to get a G3 before it launches, as they’ll be giving one away every day through June 29th (which we hope is the day it’ll launch to the public).
AT&T’s launch window is simply “later this year,” while T-Mobile’s is “this summer.” It’s safe to say we should be seeing these at some point starting next month, though it’s never wise to count on anything other than hard confirmation.
[Update]: And you can add Sprint and Verizon into the mix. The former says they will exclusively offer the golden option (something Sprint has been quite find of as of late). Now we’re just waiting on pricing details.
With as many leaks as we’ve seen regarding the LG G3 in recent weeks, it’s almost as if LG didn’t need to put on a big show to tell us everything we needed to know about their 2014 flagship smartphone. But the official word is always better than anything else, so here are all the details as LG announced them.
Hardware
Specs look quite typical for a flagship this year, though LG ups the ante on everyone with a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 display. Beneath that massive display is a Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz and 2GB of RAM. Here are the rest of the specs you should care about:
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 801 (up to 2.5GHz Quad-Core)
Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS (2560 x 1440, 538ppi)
LG has confirmed that the device is equipped with metal, though it isn’t an all-metal affair here. Instead, a metal coating sits over a typical plastic chassis. This is said to give the phone that premium metal feel while still enabling things such as Qi wireless charging, and perhaps more flexible NFC chip placement.
Software
On board for software is Android 4.4.2 and LG’s customer user experience, which incorporates classic favorites such as LG Knock On and Q-Slide, but also introduces new features.
Smart Keyboard: learns your typing habits and adjusts over time. Also allows you to resize the keyboard how you want, as well as customize its keys to symbols you use more frequently than others.
Smart Notice: a personal assistant that delivers help when you need it. It can automatically remind you to return a call you missed earlier, and suggest an umbrella whenever it’s raining outside.
Smart Security: Content Lock keeps your sensitive files and photos safe and hidden, Knock Code provides a convenient way to secure your device, and Kill Switch lets you “nuke” your device from a remote location in the event that it’s lost or stolen.
Everything is about getting smarter it seems, and that’s the kind of stuff we like to see. LG’s UI has also gotten a lot flatter and a lot cleaner, and they’ve made changes that makes it more of a joy to use.
Availability
LG says the LG G3 will begin rolling out worldwide starting tomorrow, May 28th in South Korea, and that they’ll be looking to bring it to over 170 carriers worldwide in the days and weeks to follow. We’ll need to wait a tad longer for more pointed estimations for launch details in specific markets, so stay tuned for all of that as we let the details storm in.
Stay tuned for Phandroid’s hands-on coverage of the device right from the show, and let us know what you think about this smashing device in the comments section below!
Ready for the big LG G3 unveiling going down in about a couple of hours? You won’t need to follow clunky live blogs or wait for us to post the details if you don’t want: all the live streaming goodness you’ll need to follow along will be at the YouTube embed sitting above.
As of the time of this writing the live stream countdown reads half an hour, though it’s like just a bit of preview material ahead of the real goods. Either way, we’ll be tuned in every second and so should you. And in case you didn’t see it, full details regarding the LG G3 have already leaked on LG’s website. Grab a healthy bite of that right here. Get ready!
It looks like Google’s vision of the connected home is all starting to come together quite clearly. After having bought smart thermostat, smoke detector and CO2 detector manufacturer Nest for $3.2 billion, Google is reportedly looking at throwing some cash at the folks behind Dropcam.
Dropcam is a home surveillance kit that allows you to gain access to your feeds via the web and save recordings for future analysis. Their cameras can be paired a line of USB-sized “Tabs” that can be stuck near a window or door and give the user an alert on their phone if anyone breaks in.
Dropcam’s security benefits alone are slim as the device can only alert you, but pair it up with a quick call to 911 in the event that you suspect someone is breaking into your house and you could save yourself a lot of headache by the time you get home.
This would be a very interesting acquisition, if true. Nest and Dropcam have given each other props in the past for trying to reinvent these products in a way that is less cumbersome and more of a pleasure to use. As Nest says it, security shouldn’t be annoying, and it sounds like Dropcam would wholly agree.
How these two would work together in the event that Google acquires Dropcam would be quite the exciting question to ponder. For now, let’s just cross our fingers and hope that some sort of deal is actually being worked on and that this love triangle between Google, Dropcam and Nest becomes a reality.
ASUS is drumming up excitement for Computex 2014 (kicking off June 2nd) as they often do, and the company is teasing a device that could be quite thin. A teaser video for the Taipei show tells folks to get ready for the “the next incredible thing.” Shortly after the text is written out, the “g” in “thing” suddenly disappears.
There’s no telling what ASUS could be looking to introduce in the days to come. Their name hasn’t been in the rumor mill for any smartphones or tablets as of late. There’s a chance that whatever device they announce won’t be related to Android. But then again, there’s a chance that it will be. Only way to find out is to circle back and follow all the Computex coverage, we suppose.
Watch Dogs launches today for all major previous gen and current gen platforms except the Wii U, so we’re sure many of you are scrambling to find the ctOS companion app that Ubisoft has been talking about as of late. It’s already available for Android and sitting in the Google Play Store waiting for your hacking expertise.
The ctOS Mobile Companion App is meant to be your real-life version of a mobile ctOS workstation (ctOS being a central operating system that all of fictional Chicago’s technology is hooked into for the purposes of better living and improved policing and security). You use the app as a Chicago ctOS operative, which puts the controls of the Chicago Police and the city in your hand.
So what will this app let you do? It lets you connect to Watch Dogs players’ games and put an end to their criminal mischief. You do this by dispatching police units to chase the player down, and manipulate things like street lights, road blocks, steam pipes and gates to try and slow them down.
The streets of the city become your ultimate battleground where your goal is to stop players and maintain order. Challenge and shut down other players with every tool available.
The more challenges and takedowns you achieve, the more experience you get (which goes toward unlocking more ctOS tools). The best part of all of this is that you don’t even need to own Watch Dogs to get in on the fun. Simply have an internet connection, the Watch Dogs app, a Uplay account and an Xbox Live or PSN account (free or otherwise) and be on your way to gratifying crime-busting action.
Another wooden chassis option has been added to the Moto X’s list over at Moto Maker. It’s Rosewood, which we saw at the device’s official unveiling but haven’t seen launched until this point. It’s a nice, warm bark that strikes a pretty decent balance between dark and bright.
It’s a shame that Motorola couldn’t get all these options out closer to launch, as folks are likely looking ahead to more “contemporary” smartphones at this point. The Moto X is still a fine phone, though the expected unveiling of a follow-up this summer might cause hesitation for many at the point of sale.
If you decide that last year’s model is still worth buying (especially for an attractive $375 off-contract) then be sure to check out all the different customization options available to you at Motorola’s site.
There are only a few short hours between us and the grand unveiling of the LG G3, but even more leaks are rushing in for last minute spotlights ahead of the big show. LG Netherlands’ site has accidentally posted full product information about the LG G3, and while it doesn’t tell us anything the rumors haven’t already it’s nice to see them somewhat confirmed.
13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, laser-assisted autofocus, 2.1-megapixel front camera
16GB storage and microSD card slot with up to 128GB
3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2
WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G LTE, FM Radio
DLNA and Miracast
Metallic Black, Silk White, Gold Shine colors
146.3 x 74.6 x 9.1mm
The site also mentions the device will come with metal housing, something we weren’t entirely sure about from all the leaks before (it’s always looked metal, but it wouldn’t have been the first time we’ve seen plastic perpetrating as something it’s not). The site has been fixed, naturally, but it shouldn’t be long before LG throws it back up. for the world to see.
The LG G3 shaping up to sound like a rather nice device. I’d say it’s ordinary for today’s flagship standards, though none of LG’s biggest competitors are quite living up to that ridiculous display being stuffed inside.
We’ll be making our way downtown like Vanessa Carlton later on today to get our own look at the thing in person. In the meantime, let us know if this is a smartphone you’d be likely to buy in the weeks or months to come!
