Blackberry to release a more secure version of Android

According to the latest reports coming out, BlackBerry is about to announce licensing deals for a more secure version of Android. It will supposedly be called BlackBerry secure.

Overview on BlackBerry

BlackBerry was once the go to device for corporates who wanted a secure phone. They started to fall behind when smartphones started rising. The company quickly fell behind. It was only in 2015 that they announced an Android smartphone. This was years after other competitors had made the move. Since then, it has partnered with various hardware manufacturers around the world to resuscitate the BlackBerry brand and reoriented its focus to providing BlackBerry software to Android users.

The former has been working out relatively well: it recently signed a 10-year brand licensing deal with Optiemus in India, which gives the Delhi-based telecommunications company the right to design, manufacture, and sell devices using the BlackBerry moniker. Not only that, it already has similar partnerships with BB Merah Putih for Indonesia and TCL (probably a better-known partnership) for the global market. The latter, on the other hand, has been limited to Google Play apps so far. This is about to change according to the latest report.

 

Called BlackBerry Secure, it will be based on Android. The Canadian company will make special security features. The company is right now discussing licensing agreements with various hardware manufacturers. Under the licensing deal, Android OEMs will be able to ship their devices with a modified version of Android. It will be packed with all the features that once made the company so appealing. This seems to be a good move by the company to revive its fortunes by doing what the company was famous for. Blackberry devices were widely used in the business sector during the height of their fame. It was because of the key emphasis on security and privacy.

The Next Big Features in Smartphone Technology

It is no secret that smartphone technology is moving ahead at a rapid momentum. Faster cameras, more efficient processors and better smartphone displays are being developed everyday.

Regardless of if you are waiting for a major update or just a tech geek intrigued about the future, the pieces listed below will be introduced to smartphones over the not so distant future.

Flexible screens have been flaunted as the breakthrough tech for years and years and while it is understandable that you might roll your eyes at this, it does seem like flexible screens might finally make their way to consumers.

[caption id="attachment_4515" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The next big features in smartphone technology[/caption]

Since recently rumors have been rampant about major discussions behind the scenes and Lenovo has come out with its own prototype while Samsung has also displayed their own version of it. There has also been talk in the rumor mill about Samsung releasing their on “Galaxy X” smartphone which apparently incorporates a foldable and flexible design. While there is doubt if flexible devices would prove to be a hit, it is sure that consumers would welcome more durable and damage resistant displays.

[caption id="attachment_4516" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The next big features in smartphone technology[/caption]

 

Completely bezel less smartphones are also something that we can look forward to. Spurred by the stunning design on the Galaxy S8, many other devices have followed up on the same path. The Essential smartphone by Andy Rubin delivers a design with no top and side bezels and no buttons on the front of the screen. It is safe to say that this design is sure to be refined over time. Of course bezel less phones will require the fingerprint scanner to be moved to the back or under the screen. While many would scoff at the thought of a futuristic under the screen fingerprint scanner, there has been talk that Apple and Samsung are currently working on such models.

The Infiniti Prototype 9 Concept Car is a Fantasy Come True

The design of the Infiniti Prototype 9 illustrates a modern take on a 1930s beloved Infiniti Grand Prix racecar. Except there were any Infiniti racecars in the 1930s.

Nissan’s global head of design, Alfonso Albaisa said that Infiniti Prototype 9 was originally meant to be on blue prints. Funnily enough it was just an idea someone sent him in a text message that he sketched out. The idea was definitely too good to be on paper.

[caption id="attachment_4511" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The Infiniti Prototype 9 Concept Car is a Fantasy Come True[/caption]

Rumors say Nissan’s oldest factor in Japan, Oppama made the dream sketch a real car.

The concept was inspired from the likes of Germany’s popular Silver Arrow cars built by Mercedes-Benz and Audi, Italy’s red Alfettas by Alfa Romeo and the vibrant blue Delahaye 145s from France.

The Prototype 9 looks every bit the part. The dimensions conform precisely to Grand Prix regulations of the time. It comes with a plus point. Prototype 9 is an electric car unlike the older cars.

The long hood is equipped with battery packs instead of combustion engine that helps run this beast silently.

The concept car has a top speed of 130 miles an hour. It is capable of picking up an impressive 60 miles in about 5 seconds from a stop.

Albaisa said he test drove this beauty in Japan where the designer, born in the United States to Cuban immigrant parents, now lives.

"To be honest, when I was going around the track, around the bank, I felt more like a bird than anything. A very low flying bird," he said. "It was silent. I could see the tires next to me, because the position of my head. It was almost poetic."

Albaisa further revealed that the most exciting thing for him wasn’t driving the car but watching it being built right next to production lines in Japan.

Fitbit tries Not to Lose Phase after Apple Scored a Two-and-a-half year head start on Smartwatches

The front-runner in wearable devices is hoping the Fitbit Ionic will draw in some of the lost interest in its brand and a tech category that"s lost most of the public appeal.

Their latest “space-themed” smartwatch ($299.95) is $30 more than that of their major competitor: the Apple Watch Series 2. That"s definitely a hefty amount to ask from the people who might own a smartwatch already or who would think twice before investing on a new one who just showed up on the market after a while.

[caption id="attachment_4507" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Fitbit Iconic[/caption]

The even irresistible tidbit is that Iconic has everything we’d expect from a fitness device: sleep and activity track rate monitor, GPS integration, smart notification and a seriously long battery life –which they market as their biggest selling point in the face of Apple’s comparatively low battery life. The battery will last up to four days, compared with Apple’s 18 hours.

The waterproof number comes along with tempting features for the fitness buffs too –a sensor that measures oxygen in the blood and customized workouts that fit you well.

You can even set up workout goals, such as running an extra mile even faster. Listen to audio coaching and store up to 300 songs on the device. The cherry on top is that the Iconic features a payments system named Fitbit Pay that needs just a tap to pay at the checkout.

The Iconic marks Fitbit’s first hardware and software. The Fitbit OS was built in-house which according to the vice president of design Jonah Becker was inspired by “space journey” and “progressive thinking that gets you to a destination” .

The Iconic features a lightweight casing made of aluminum and a colored spherical screen.

It’s no doubt that Fitbit is late to the smartwatch marathon and it is also unclear if it can fix that. But CEO Park stated that Fitbit is the "best positioned company to have the most profound impact on people"s health outside of the healthcare system."

Women in CyberSecurity: IBM wants to send you to a hacker conference for free

A new IBM scholarship will cover 100% of the entry fees for any woman interested in attending EC-Council"s Hacker Halted conference. Here"s how to take advantage of the offer. It"s no secret that cybersecurity professionals are in great demand—about 1 million open jobs currently exist in the field, and that number is projected to reach 1.8 million jobs by 2022.

Further, this industry is missing a key demographic: Women, who make up only 11% of the world"s cybersecurity workforce, and just 1% of its leadership.

To improve female representation in the security field, on Wednesday, IBM announced a scholarship to send women to EC-Council"s Hacker Halted conference—offering to cover 100% of their entry fees. The scholarship is meant to address the under representation of women in cybersecurity, and help women improve their skills and expertise in the field, according to IBM.

"Improving the diversity of the cybersecurity workforce is essential to overcoming the growing threats and challenges facing the industry - and supporting growth opportunities for women in this field is a critical part of that equation," said Diane Delaney, worldwide talent manager at IBM Security, in a press release. "By providing scholarships at conferences like this, IBM hopes that more women will be encouraged to attend the event and stay up to speed on the latest trends and techniques which will help them become even more successful in the field."

The Hacker Halted conference will take place October 9-10, 2017, in Atlanta, GA. The theme for the 2017 conference is "The Art of Cyberwar: Lessons from Sun Tzu," with presentations addressing cybersecurity issues from the perspective that our global society "is engaged in a constant and ever growing cyber war," according to the press release.

Several women in the industry will also offer presentations, including Shevirah founder and CTO Georgia Weidman, University of Buffalo senior information security analyst Catherine J. Ullman, and Centurion Technologies Consulting LLC executive vice president Laura Samsó Pericón.

Women interested in attending can register for free by clicking here and entering the code HH17IBM. While the scholarship covers the $199 conference only pass, which includes conference presentations and clinics, it does not cover the ethical hacking courses, which cost $2,999.

Source: TechRepublic

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Business User"s Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 sports an impressive list of features that will appeal to business users--with one exception. Find out why Samsung"s mobile device matters for the enterprise, and how to get it.

Samsung is well known for releasing flagship smartphones that consumers crave. But when it comes to the Galaxy Note series, the Note7 was a nightmare that could have taken the company down in a pocket of flames. However, the latest evolution of that line has been released, and Samsung hopes the Galaxy Note8 will completely eclipse the shadows of its former self.

This smart person"s guide is a quick way to get up to speed on the Galaxy Note8. We"ll update this resource periodically when news and updates about this Samsung device are released.

Read More: Everything We know about Samsung Note 8

Executive summary

• What is the Samsung Galaxy Note8? The Galaxy Note8 phone is the latest iteration of the Note series. This flagship-level device comes with a digital pen and numerous security and productivity features that will be attractive to business users.


• Why does the Galaxy Note8 matter? For Samsung, the Note8 matters because of the disaster that befell its predecessor: Because of issues with the batteries, the Note7 was prone to halt and catch fire. The Galaxy Note8 needs to prove the Note7 was a fluke, so the company can regain consumers" trust in the product line.


• Who does the Galaxy Note8 affect? The Note series is popular among business users, especially those who prefer to interact with their devices via a digital pen. Consumers might also enjoy the Note8, with its telephoto primary lens, at f/2.4 and including an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), to enable better low-light pictures.


• When is the Galaxy Note8 available? The Note8 will be available to purchase in the US on September 21, 2017, and it will be available to purchase in the UK on September 22, 2017.


• How do I get a Galaxy Note8? You can preorder the device on the official Samsung Galaxy Note8 site.

What is the Samsung Galaxy Note 8?

The Note8 is a flagship-level device in Samsung"s Note series. Although the Note8 is the largest and heaviest phone since the Note2, Samsung managed to keep the Note8 down nearer to smartphone dimensions, so size won"t be an issue like it was for some with the Nexus 6. Because of the thinner width (it"s less than 3" wide, whereas the Nexus 6 was nearly 3.5" wide), the device will easily fit in most consumers" hands. Plus, the Note8 has elegant curved edges.

Beyond the form factor, the S Pen digital pen brings an added appeal to the device. The S Pen allows users to quickly take notes or draw images; consumers will love the ability to draw an image and share that image as an animated GIF.

But don"t think the Note8 is all form and no function. The spec sheet clearly indicates this device is—with one exception—on par with modern flagship mobile devices.

Specs for the Galaxy Note8:

• Body: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.34 in)


• Weight: 195 g


• Display: Super AMOLED 6.3" capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors at 2960x1440 pixels (~521 ppi pixel density)


• OS: Android 7.1.1


• Chipset: Exynos 8895 Octa - EMEA, Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835


• CPU: Octa-core 4x2.35 GHz Kryo (US) and 4x1.9 GHz Kryo (China)


• GPU: Adreno 540 (US and China)


• Internal storage: 64/128/256 GB


• External storage: microSD up to 256 GB


• RAM: 6 GB


• Camera (Primary): Dual 12 MP (26mm, f/1.7, PDAF and 52mm, f/2.4, AF) OIS, autofocus, 2x optical zoom, dual-LED flash


• Camera (Secondary): 8 MP, f/1.7, autofocus, 1/3.6" sensor size, 1.22 µm pixel size, 1440p@30fps, dual video call, Auto HDR


• Battery: non-removable 3,300 mAh with talk time up to 22 hours and music play up to 74 hours

The one slight for the device is the battery. The Note8 has a smaller battery (3,300 mAh) than the Galaxy S8 (3,500 mAh). This drop in size is due to the inclusion of the S Pen.

The Note8 includes Samsung"s Bixby, which is the company"s take on Google Assistant and Siri. Chances are, most users will forego Bixby in favor of the more reliable and integrated Google Assistant, though some people may want to try it.

Why does the Galaxy Note 8 matter?

The Note8 must go a very long way to regain users" trust in the company and the Galaxy Note line because the Note7 was a disaster. With 35 reported incidents of the device randomly catching fire, Samsung had to recall the Note7 twice. The issue turned out to be two bad batches of batteries and caused the public to lose faith in one of the largest manufacturers of smartphones on the planet.

It was fortunate for Samsung that sales of the Galaxy S7 and S8 were so strong, otherwise the Note7 could have spelled doom for the company. Not only did the Note7 become the punch line for late-night talk shows, it was banned on numerous flights. Because of the recalls and the hit the company"s image took, the financial losses were at $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Who does the Galaxy Note 8 affect?

The Note series is popular with business users because of its digital pen. Samsung has improved the S Pen for the Note8 (it has a finer tip, and its responsiveness eclipses the Microsoft Surface pen), so users will take better notes and create more detailed drawings.

Other features that will easily attract business users include the following.

• Knox 2.9: Samsung"s in-house, enterprise-class encryption provides data security and user flexibility, all from within a secure folder. The 2.9 release of Knox improves the admin control and has an enhanced UX design.


• DeX: When attached to a display (via micro HDMI to HDMI cable), DeX will shift the mobile device into a desktop workstation so users are working with a more familiar interface; this functions similar to Microsoft"s Display Dock. DeX enables users to work with Microsoft Office/Outlook, Skype, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Hancom Office, WPS Office+PDF, OfficeSuite, Gmail, Chrome Browser, Google Drive, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Workspaces, and much more software.


• Security options: A Note8 device can be unlocked via the standard methods as well as facial recognition and iris recognition. These options provide for a more secure experience, which is crucial for business and enterprise users.


• Edge Panels: A new Edge Panels feature in the Note8 is the ability to set up shortcuts to launch two apps at once with a single tap on the icon.


• Live Focus: If you"re looking to up your mobile photo game, the Note8 includes a feature that allows you to focus on a single image and blur the background.


• Telephoto lens: The primary 12-megapixel camera includes a telephoto lens at f/2.4. With the inclusion of OIS, the primary camera is capable of taking much better images at low-light levels. The Note8 primary camera will best any competition that isn"t sporting OIS.


• Lock screen memos: If you need to take memos on the fly, the Note8 will allow you to use the S Pen to write quick notes on the device"s lock screen.

What are the Galaxy Note 8 competitors?

Some of the competitors to the Note8 are the following devices.

• OnePlus 5


• Apple iPhone 7


• Google Pixel Phone


• Samsung Galaxy S8


• Sony Xperia XZ Premium


• Xiaomi Mi Mix


• Huawei Mate 9


• Essential PH-1

When is the Galaxy Note 8 available?

The Galaxy Note8 was unveiled on August 23, 2017 and will be available in the US starting September 21, 2017 and in the UK on September 22, 2017. The full market price of the device is $929.99 USD. Your current device might be eligible for up to $300.00 USD in trade-in value.

How to I get a Galaxy Note8?

You can preorder a device from the official Samsung site. On that site, you can purchase a device associated with a carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or US Cellular) or an unlocked version that can be used on any of the supported networks. Once the Note8 launches, look for the device at any supporting carrier.

Resource: TechRepublic

Google announces Android 8.0 Oreo

Today google revealed the new version of Android. It is to be called Android 8.0 Oreo. The name was revealed earlier today during a live stream following the solar eclipse.

Android 8.0

The name has been licensed from Nabisco. This is not the first time Google has partnered up with another company to create a name for Android. Android 4.4 was called KitKat.

Features in Android 8.0

 

There are many changes that are to be introduced with Android 8.0. First and foremost, Oreo will bring a number of behind-the-scenes changes like background limits for apps to improve battery life. Bluetooth audio improvements and Google Play Protect to help on the security front, and other important changes will be implemented.

Android Oreo will also bring faster boot speeds (up to twice as fast on the Pixel), a much better Autofill implementation, plus support for Android Instant Apps. There are also some user-facing additions. These include adaptive notification dots, wider support for picture-in-picture mode, over 60 new emojis.



A new look for media notifications and the quick settings menu, a redesigned settings menu, adaptive icons, notification channels are some of the rest.

When will your device get Android 8.0

According to Google, Android 8.0 will roll out to the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, The Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Nexus Player very soon. If you are in the Android Beta Program, your device will automatically update to the stable version.

Google also notes that it’s been “working closely” with partner. By the end of 2017, Hardware makers including Huawei, HTC, Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony are all scheduled to launch or upgrade devices to Android Oreo.

For those who aren’t keen on waiting for the over-the-air update to hit their devices, factory images will be available sometime, again, “soon” at the Google Developers website.

First Opinions of the Nokia 8

HMD Global has just unveiled what will be the very first Nokia flagship running Android: the Nokia 8. Historical significance aside, does the Nokia 8 represent the return to form that legions of Nokia fans have been waiting for?

Well, it certainly looks and feels a whole lot like a 2017 flagship and like many flagships, it has a killer feature to set itself apart. Let’s dive right in.

Design of the Nokia 8

The Nokia 8 has most of the hallmarks of a modern flagship, while continuing the design language of the last three models. It has an attractive and very slim all-aluminum design with an average thickness of 7.3mm.

It has a 5.3 inch QHD screen with a brightness of 700 nits. The colors look very vibrant and bright. There is a fingerprint in the front of the phone that couples as a home button too. The back of the device looks great but it attracts quite a lot of fingerprints. It is splash-proof with an IP54 rating.

[caption id="attachment_4467" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Nokia 8[/caption]

Camera of the Nokia 8

The Nokia 8 camera is the result of a partnership between HMD and Zeiss and is the core experience the phone is designed around. The rear shooter utilizes two sensors: one color and one monochrome.

The two images are then combined into a single shot with greater contrast using ‘Image Fusion Technology’. This is essentially what we have seen from several other handsets recently, such as the Honor 9 and Huawei P10. There’s also a two-tone flash and both apertures are f/2.0.

Both rear sensors are 13 MP, but in a unique twist, so too is the front-facing camera which, in fact, utilizes the exact same camera module. That means you also get auto focus, which is another rare feature for a selfie camera. The camera app is pretty basic and does not include a manual settings mode.

Everything we know about the Samsung Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the biggest comeback story in phones following all of the disastrous Galaxy Note 7 battery failures last year. Samsung will be looking to improve on their all screen technology. Just like the previous Note devices, they are likely to come with a S pen.

The release date of the Samsung Note 8

Samsung is going to announce the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23, according to the official invite sent to the media a month in advance. When will it actually be in your hands? The company recently hinted at an early September release date in some countries, with others getting it in October.

More specifically we"ve now heard from both an analyst and a South Korean carrier that the Note 8 will hit stores on September 15. Samsung will look to beat the iPhone 8 as it’s the same time the iPhone releases to the market.

Display of the Samsung Note 8

The Samsung Note 8 is rumoured to release with a 4K screen. While this might seem like overkill, it is has a major advantage when you are using the device for VR. The screen size is rumoured to be 6.3 inches and it is likely to have the infinity display.

Design of the Samsung Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 design is likely to take almost all of its cues from the glass-and-metal sandwich that is the Galaxy S8 Plus. It"s almost a Note phone – minus the stylus. If the rumors are true, we will be presented with a larger Galaxy S8 Plus. But it will come with one more camera on the back of the phone and a place to store the S Pen. There is also talk of a dedicated button to use Bixby. The device will not have a physical home button. It is rumored to have a pressure-sensitive screen. The screen brings up different menus and options depending on how hard you press the display.

Worst trends in the smartphone industry!

The smartphone industry is continually evolving to adapt to customer demands and preferences, but sometimes a company’s decisions can be baffling. Not everything is sunshine and roses when it comes to getting a new smartphone, either. These days designs are diverging enough that you need to keep a list of features you hold dear to determine if the newest flagship is right for you.

Shipping a smartphone with a Micro USB port in 2017

USB Type C has been used in devices since 2015. There is hardly any advantage in sticking with Micro USB in this age where every new phone is releasing with USB Type C. The only thing it does is leave the smartphone world deeply fragmented.

The Snapchat app for an Android smartphone

It’s become almost a meme at this point when using Snapchat on Android. Snapchat’s CEO promised improvements to the Android app back in February, but also admitted that his company prioritized iOS development over Android since most of Snapchat’s users are on iOS. The app hasn’t gotten better and with Instagram Stories, it’s becoming irrelevant for most Android users.

[caption id="attachment_4457" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Snapchat on a Android Smartphone[/caption]

Removing the headphone app from a smartphone

It’s inevitable that phones will eventually ship without a 3.5mm headphone jack. That’s progression and technology marches ever forward. However, the downside is that in the in-between year, there is no real solution to fill the void. USB-C hasn’t become the standard enough for USB-C ear buds to be readily available. Bluetooth audio isn’t ready for prime time. All in all it feels like the audio jack died too soon.

Not issuing updates on time

Every single carrier and manufacturer aside from Google’s Nexus and Pixel devices suffer from this. Some are worse than others But so far it seems like Nokia is the only manufacturer that’s serious about supplying the monthly Android security updates on time. In fact, they even beat Google in the month of July.

Simple Tips to Speed up Your Android Phone In Just 5 Minutes

As a matter of fact, we all love our smartphones, they help us with everything ranging from sending texts to calling, from capturing photos, videos, and GIFs to sharing with our friends sitting across the globe. But at the same time, we all those sluggish phones. There is nothing worse than a slow smartphone that keeps on halting whenever you try to use it.

And this is the common problem of all the android phones but you need not panic as there are many simple ways to fix it. Below is our guide to getting your phone fast again. Read out the tips and brighten up your smile.

 

#1: Free up Some Space:



All those photos that you have taken and all those apps that you have installed on your phone can make your Android sluggish like ever. Your phone needs a little breeze of fresh air and room to run smoothly. So, the first thing that you can do to make your phone fast again is to delete all those extra photos, videos and even apps that are not of your business. Just long tap the app that you want to uninstall and free up some space.

#2: Cut Back on Widgets:



Widgets are your friends when your phone is having a bit of extra space, but when not, widgets are not your thing. So, the next thing that you need to do is to get rid of all the widgets on your screen that you don’t need. There is no harm in having some of the widgets active, but running too many can be a factor slowing your phone down.

#3: Restart the Device:



The most common and the most practiced tip for your smartphones is to restart them. Well, this is truly functional to give your phone a fresh start, especially when it is not in the mood to run smooth. Restarting the device can clear the cache, stop unnecessary tasks from running and get your phone back to its speed.

Try out these tips before you bang your cell on the wall!

Using the Samsung Internet Browser

Samsung recently caused stirs in the tech world when it released its beta Samsung Internet Browser. Not just to Samsung devices but to every Android device out there. It does make sense as a large number of devices in the market are non samsung. If you are out looking for a internet browser, this might cut it. Lets find out!

 

Samsung Internet Browser vs Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the most used browser right now. If the Samsung Internet Browser wants to break into the top, it has to topple Google Chrome.

 

To start off with, Samsung has a better UI than Google Chrome. Most of the UI is at the bottom of the screen where it is easier for the thumb and fingers to reach. Smart eh? Plus, Samsung adds a Quick menu which is used to access some other functions with a couple of taps. This quick menu floats, much like Facebook’s chat heads on either the left or the right side. It is also optional.

 

When it comes to privacy, security and ad blocking, Samsung ticks all the boxes here too. It offers a Secret Mode. This means your browsing history will not be recorded. It is also possible to password protect the Secret Mode. Add to that, DuckDuckGo is an option for default searching in the app. If you’re not familiar with DuckDuckGo, it’s a search engine that emphasizes privacy, and doesn’t feed you personalized ads based on searches. Basically, it’s the anti-Google search engine. It also offers an array of ad blocking applications that a person can make use of if they don"t like ads popping up on the screen.

[caption id="attachment_4451" align="alignnone" width="841"] Videos on the Samsung Internet Browser[/caption]

Videos on the Samsung Internet Browser

You have the ability to pop out the video when you are watching embedded videos. This is much easier than dealing with embedded videos on Google Chrome.

Top 5 Best New Games for Android - August 2017

Although Google Play Store is flooded with the tons of apps and games, yet you can see a number of new titles on the list every month. The month of August has also added a plethora of amazing games on the App Store that you don’t want to miss.

So, exclusively just for you, we have rounded up the fresh top 5 Best Games on Play Store that you can add on your Android phone. Check them all and thanks us later!

 

#1: Driving School 2017:

The simulator game that teaches you how to drive like a pro. The game offer tons of cars to play with and within some amazing environments like cities, country roads, highways, mountains and much more. So, unlock all the vehicles and ride with skills.

Driving School 2017 on Google Play Store

 

#2: A Planet of Mine:

As the name suggests, this game features a new planet of yours where you command your knights to serve you and to keep your planet safe from invaders. The game is adventure rich and you will find a number of little surprises there. The game is freemium but with the lots of in-app purchases.

A Planet of Mine

 

#3: Pro Evolution Soccer:

Fan of soccer? Yes, please! The game is simulator one that allows you to understand the tips, tricks, and physics of the soccer game with the natural movements and natural players. The game offers amazing 3D graphics and lots of realistic features that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Pro Evolution Soccer

 

#4: Elder Scrolls: Legends:

After the long wait, finally, the Elder Scrolls: Legends has arrived on the Play Store for Android users. The game is very easy to learn but a bit strategic. So, practice a lot to master it.

Elder Scrolls: Legends:

 

#5: Team Guardian:

Bringing the heroic traits and heroic fantasy, the Team Guardian is another amazing game to add on your smartphone. The game is really pleasant to play and offers multiple gameplay. Its graphics are bit simple but offers a really good gaming experience.

Team Guardian

 

If we have missed any best game from August 2017, you can share with us in the comments below!

iPhone audio trick goes viral

Social media users are going crazy about a little known iTunes trick that can let you jack up the volume on your audio. This iPhone audio Trick Goes Viral

It involves changing the equalisation setting while playing audio on your device. In sound recording and reproduction, equalisation is the process commonly used to alter the frequency response of an audio system using filters.

On your iPhone the EQ setting is set to ‘off’ by default. However you have the option to change it to a whole raft of different settings such as Bass Reducer, Flat, Vocal Booster or Late Night — if you want to get a little more oomph from quieter parts in music or movies.

While the trick isn’t new, a tweet by social media user called TheBae showing how to toggle with the setting has gone viral.

https://twitter.com/thebaemarcus/status/894356174438633476

 

“How to make your iPhone Speaker louder. (Play Music while you’re doing it) Thank meh later,” he wrote alongside a pair of screenshots demonstrating how to do it.

Since being posted to Twitter a few days ago, the handy tip has been retweeted more than 84,000 times and received nearly 175,000 likes, suggesting many iPhone users had never toyed with the EQ setting.

To try it, got to Settings > Music > EQ > and choose the Late Night option.

The special EQ option actually compresses whatever audio you’re listening to so that the loud stuff will be a bit quieter and the quiet stuff will be louder. The setting can be quite useful while listening to something in a loud environment or perhaps even watching a movie on iTunes late at night.

Plenty of social media users seemed surprised to learn of the feature and expressed gratitude for the viral tweet.

 

“You are amazing. I just want to hug you,” wrote one Twitter user.

“Twitter teaches me more than college,” joked another.

While discernible, the boost in quiet sounds is subtle and other commenters were left a little underwhelmed.

Give it a try and see for yourself.

This story originally appeared in news.com.au

Secret WhatsApp Tricks You Never Knew!

We are in the age where we are surrounded by tons and tons of messaging services but WhatsApp has got something better than all. Regardless to say, this social media app has been around us a while but has had a massive head start, having tons of amazing features covered inside the compact thing.

You can read, you can send, you can share and you can call. That’s not all! You can do a lot more with your WhatsApp with the secret tips that we are now going to give you. Just grab your phone, open the WhatsApp and get started!

 

Surprising WhatsApp Tips and Tricks You Should Know:

Take your messages to the next level using these tips and tricks for your WhatsApp.

#1: Read Messages without Letting Sender Finding it Out:



Want to secretly read the message on your WhatsApp? Here’s what you can do:

1. Turn off the “Wi-Fi” on your phone.


2. Open the WhatsApp and read the message.


3. Close the app.


4. Turn on the Wi-Fi again.

This will not show the recipient that you have read the message, already.

#2: Get Siri to Reply, Read or Send your Message:



If you are using WhatsApp on your Apple phone, you will get the benefit to read, reply and send a message using Siri. To get started with this, ask Siri to read your last message, or send a message to (contact name).

#3: Hide the Blue Ticks:



Those blue ticks can get you to the whole new trouble especially when you don’t want to reply to a message instantly. Fortunately, you can turn them off by following the steps:

1. Android: WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy > Untick Read Receipts.


2. iOS: WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy > Toggle off Read Receipts.

#4: Turn Words Bold:



To emphasize some phrase or your words in WhatsApp, you can bold them easily. To do this, add an asterisk either side of the word or phrase on both Android and iOS. For example, *bold*.

#5: Use Quote Feature to quote Any Message:



There is a built-in feature in WhatsApp that allows you to quote any message you want. For this, long press on the message, you want to quote. You will get 7 options on the top of the screen. One of seven is the replying option that you want to select. Tap that icon and you will be able to quote the message you long pressed.

#6: Stop People Seeing Your Messages:



 

Ever passed your phone to your friend and panicked about your messages that he might see? Yeah, often comes the time. But not anymore as you can turn off message preview in iOS only so that the contact’s name will appear but not the message. For this, follow the steps:

1. Open the WhatsApp.


2. Reach for the Settings


3. Tap “Notifications”


4. Toggle off “Show Preview/ Notifications”.

#7: Save your Mobile Data by Stopping Media Auto Download:



Paying mobile data bills is often too hard, especially when you are using too many social media apps including WhatsApp. Of course, there are millions of media sent in different groups and conversations that you don’t want to download but it gets automatically. You can easily stop that by following:

WhatsApp > Settings > Data Usage > When Using Mobile Data > Uncheck.

#8: Use Multiple WhatsApp Accounts on the Same Phone:



Well, this was not easy before Parallel spaces app. But with the evolution of this app, you can use as many accounts on WhatsApp on the same phone. Just download and install the app from the Play Store and add accounts over it and run more than one WhatsApp account via it.

Now you are a pro of your WhatsApp. For more tips and tricks, be sure to visit us regularly!

Higher Quality Apps Now Rank Better On Play Store

Regardless to say, Play Store or Android Market is one of the most used App markets in the history of the smartphones. Play Store is the official services been developed and operated by Google that serves the Android users allowing them to access and download any kinds of games and applications they want on your phone.

Ranging from Camera apps to photo editing apps, from video maker apps to social media app, all can be accessed directly from the Play Store, that has been around since the evolution of the Android smartphones.

Recently, Google has made some changes in the Play Store, in order to enhance its user’s experience. The company stated that it has started incorporating app quality signals in the ranking algorithms.

That means, a potential app, having no issues with its working, quality, and performance will automatically rank higher in the search results than the ones having lower quality.



Well, that is definitely a good step from Google that found it to have a positive impact on engagement, as users can now download higher quality apps on their phones and don’t have to uninstall them often.

The reason for this good change has been claimed to provide the best experience to the Android users. They claimed that an internal analysis of app reviews showed that 50 percent of 1-star reviews mentioned stability as the main issue.

Well, the fact here is, no one wants to get the unstable app who drains excessive battery, slow render times and crashes frequently. That is what the Google Play Store understands and focuses on the performance of the apps and ranked them accordingly. Now users can get the higher quality apps and games on the top of their search list without any hassle!

For more info regarding the Android Store, keep visiting us!

Some Surprising Health Benefits of Gaming You Should Know

Gaming has got the bad rap! We know that parents often forbid their children to play video games because they are responsible for making them lazy, sedentary and unhealthy. However, that’s not the full story.

Playing video games can be beneficial if the gaming time is limited. This is not what I am saying, but has been proven by a number of scientific researches and studies. So, if you are wondering how gaming can be beneficial for you and your health, you have come to the right place. Read on to know!

 

5 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games:

Besides killing the boredom, gaming can be a healthy activity to carry out. Check out the benefits of gaming below:

#1: Gaming Improve Hand-Brain Co-ordination:



All the video games, whether you play on PC, Android or iOS require your mental attention as well as your hands’ constant activity. The more you play games, the more your hand- brain coordination will improve. The fact has been studied and proved by a number of studies that people who are gamers are more likely to perform well in the activities requiring hand and brain coordination as compared to the non-gamers.

#2: Games are much like Steroids for the Gamers:



It is really common to distract the patients suffering from pain, to help them feel better. That is what the games can do better than all of us. The study conducted to check the effects of gaming on pain and was revealed that the games produce an analgesic response in the brain, thus making the patients relief their pain. So why use steroids when you can play?

#3: Gaming Might Curb Cravings:



Whether you crave for smoking or drugs or pre-occupied with overeating, you can take benefit by playing video games. A study in University revealed that gamers might reduce their craving for sweets, smoking, alcohol, drugs or eating by 24 percent. This study was actually performed with the puzzle game, so if you want to curb your cravings, you must have a puzzle game at hands.

#4: Games can Relieve Stress:



Depression, anxiety or stress are the silent killers that can be killed by playing a simple video game. Well, the study that tracked players over six months showed that playing the video games will reduce the release of stress hormone by 50 percent. They can make the depressed person happy, by boosting his mood and by distracting him from his worries.

#5: Gaming can slow the Aging Process:



Brain teasing games can actually delay the inevitable process that we call aging. According to the study from the University of Iowa, playing the games for just two hours a week may help to slow down the aging process and mental decay associated with aging. The theory behind the fact is not clearly known but many scientists believe that playing video games is just like the exercise for the brain muscles that get stronger by regular playing.

Not only this, playing video games can affect your vision positively, help you get physically active, enhance your cognitive abilities and help you make your decisions faster and accurate. So, you don’t have to fear to play video games in your spare time. After all, they are justified enough to get your time!

Samsung Galaxy S9 with New Motherboard Tech

After the successful release of Samsung Galaxy S8 across the globe, the Samsung has started working on their next biggest flagship – Samsung Galaxy S9. And we already started getting rumors about the phone. Well, the rumour that we have recently got from the Samsung company is that they are going to pack larger battery in their upcoming flagship.

According to the Korean media, ETNews, the Samsung Galaxy S9 might come with the new technology – the new type of the motherboard having Substrate like PCB (SLP) technology that will allow more components to fit in the phone, by lowering the footprint and allowing the additional layers.

With this latest motherboard technology, Samsung can now fit the larger battery in next device without making the size bulkier. Moreover, the report from the ETNews suggested that this motherboard technology can only be used in the handsets powered by Exynos chipset. This means the Qualcomm versions will still get that less- efficient technology with the older version motherboard.

In the past, little has separated the Qualcomm variants (the ones that are usually sold in the West) from the Exynos versions of Samsung’s handsets — save for some minor performance differences. If the two versions of the Galaxy S9 were to make use of different motherboards this time, though, it could mean that the phones also come with different size batteries, or with different sized bodies (with the Qualcomm variant being bigger in order to house the same size battery as the “global” version).

This way, we will get the idea about the variants of the next biggest upcoming flagship from the Samsung company – Samsung Galaxy S9. Both the phones will get different battery sizes along with the different chips and technology. That"s something great for the Samsung enthusiasts.

What do you think of Samsung Galaxy S9’s battery size? Is it good to pack the better battery with the new motherboard technology for Samsung? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!