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Military-grade flashlights down from $100 to $20

Author: Anik Datta January 14, 2019

Whether you’re heading out into the wild or just looking for a new emergency flashlight for your trunk, the AAPicks team has found an illuminating deal.

For the next few days over at Tech Deals, you can pick up this pair of military flashlights worth $100 for just $19.99. We think they’re handy little tools to have to hand.

You could be mistaken for thinking that they’re called tactical military flashlights because they have ‘army gear’ emblazoned along the side. Actually, it’s the spec and features of these little beamers which really set them apart.

The adjustable zoom and 800m range gives you a huge amount of visibility.

The 500-lumen output means that each flashlight would be bright enough for military use. That should give you an idea of the type of luminosity they produce.

They also have an adjustable zoom feature, meaning you can sacrifice a small amount of light in the near distance to be able to see a lot further in the dark, in this case as far as 800m ahead.

Flashlight features:

Suitable for outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, or spelunking
Adjustable zoom and 800m range gives you a huge amount of visibility
Bright, lower bright, and SOS modes let you choose the right mode for any situation
Storage case makes carrying and traveling with both flashlights easy
Wide working voltage enables a long battery life

There’s no big innovation about these devices — they’re just very effective pieces of kit. But if you’re looking for a flashlight for your next adventure, then you‘ve probably found you’ll be paying more elsewhere for the same specs. And let’s face it, they do look pretty cool.

Click the button below to check out the full specifications for yourself. Be quick though, the deal expires soon.

Find out more!

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

Source: Android Zone

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10 best Disney apps for Android!

Author: Anik Datta January 14, 2019

This is the featured image for the best disney apps for android
Disney is quite the large media property these days. They own ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and, soon, Fox. That means there are a bunch of ways to interact with Disney stuff. However, we think that people looking for Disney apps want the more classic Disney characters and experiences. We can definitely help with that. Disney is, again, massive. They have movies, TV shows, and music across plenty of genres. We can help you find what you’re looking for. Here are the best Disney apps for Android!

Check out more stuff!

10 best TV apps and Live TV apps for Android

5 best Marvel games for Android

DisneyNow

Price: Free (with TV provider login)

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

DisneyNow is Disney’s current streaming service. You log into the service with your existing TV cable provider info and gain access to a bunch of Disney TV content. That includes kids shows, cartoons and live action stuff, classic and new Disney characters, and even Radio Disney. This is, admittedly, kind of holding the slot here until Disney+ comes out sometime in 2019. That will definitely be the streaming app to get from Disney. Until then, as long as you have cable, DisneyNow should be good enough to stream current shows to your smartphone. The app itself is otherwise free.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Fandom by Wikia Disney apps

Price: Free (with ads, usually)

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Fandom by Wikia is a community of enthusiasts that create these little wiki pages for various media properties. You can find Fandom apps for Disney (linked at the button), Star Wars, Marvel, and tons of other stuff as well. They generally provide information about characters, movies, TV shows, and even some games. It’s a neat way to learn some trivia about basically any Disney movie, show, or character. Of course, it’s a bit of a niche product. Not everybody wants to read about Aladdin, they want to watch Aladdin. We’ll cover that shortly, but trivia buffs should definitely start with the Fandom Disney apps.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Giphy

Price: Free

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Giphy might seem like a weird pick for Disney apps, but hear us out. Disney has a GIF app with a bunch of reaction GIFs. It’s a fun little app, but it lacks some really basic features and it makes the app hard to use. Thus, we recommend Giphy instead. It has a great search, tons of Disney GIFs, and the app is very easy to use. It’s much better than Disney’s GIF app. Other than that, there isn’t much else to talk about. You simply search for the reaction GIF you need and the app finds it. It has non-Disney stuff too in case you want that. It’s otherwise completely free to use.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

iHeartRadio Family

Price: Free / $9.99 per month

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

There are a few different versions of iHeartRadio. However, for Disney stuff, we recommend iHeartRadio Family. It has 80 stations of family-friendly music from a bunch of popular kids’ shows and movies. Of course, that includes plenty of Disney content. You can go with a station dedicated to Disney princess songs or just hit up the standard Radio Disney for a big mix of music from Disney. Of course, the full version has all of these stations as well so current fans of iHeartRadio just need to hit up the search button to find these stations. The premium version adds unlimited skips and a bunch of other features as well.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Internet TV (Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube TV, etc)

Price: Free / $7.99-$39.99 per month

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

It’s easier (and cheaper) to watch TV than ever before. TV services like Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube TV, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV Now all have a bunch of excellent child-friendly content. Consequently, they also all have access to the Disney Channel along with a bunch of back-logged Disney content. For instance, on Hulu, if you subscribe to the live TV service, you get the Disney Channel, but also access to movies like Pocahontas. The amount of Disney content per streaming service varies, but you can at least get the actual channel on all of them. Honestly, this is probably better than cable for Disney stuff because you do get those on-demand titles as long as you’re subscribed to the live TV service. You can go with whatever one you want. We simply linked Hulu because Disney owns 30% of it.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

More app lists here!

15 best free Android apps of 2019!

10 best kids apps for Android

Movies Anywhere

Price: Free

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Movies Anywhere is probably the best app for movies on Google Play. It isn’t its own standalone streaming service. It’s actually a collection of other movie streaming services. You sign in with your iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, or Google Play. All of the movies you purchased on all of those services are now available in one spot. The service boasts over 7,500 movies and that, of course, includes tons of Disney movies along with basically every Marvel and Star Wars movie as well. Disney is likely going to have all of those movies on Disney+ when it comes out. Until then, though, this is probably the best place to actually buy a Disney movie and watch it. The app is occasionally buggy, but it’s otherwise quite good. It also comes with Chromecast support.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

My Disney Experience / Disneyland

Price: Free

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Disneyland and Disney World are two of the most popular vacation spots in the world. They also both have official apps. The My Disney Experience app focuses primarily on Disney World. You can use it to plan your vacation, as an interactive map of the park, and you can even buy your tickets and merch there. The Disneyland app is much the same way. The app shows you information like estimated wait times, browser restaurant menus, and interact with the park’s map. There are apps for all of Disney’s parks individually, including the ones in Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Those headed to Disney World or Disneyland should definitely have these apps on hand.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Price: Free / $5.99 per month

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Reddit is good for a lot of fan bases and Disney fans are no exception. The site has dozens of subreddits for Marvel properties, Star Wars movies, and, of course, classic Disney properties as well. You can talk to other people who like the stuff that you like and post stuff that you care about. The Reddit app keeps everything under moderate control, although people who haven’t used Reddit before may have a tough time acclimating at first. In any case, this is a great way to read up on news about Star Wars, Marvel, or other Disney properties and discuss those things with other fans. The premium subscription removes advertising and gives you some additional features as well.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Official apps for Disney media

Price: Free (usually)

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

We’ve said it over and over again that Disney is a huge company. As it turns out, there are a variety of official Disney apps for most of those properties. Some examples include the official Star Wars app, the official Marvel app, the ESPN app, ABC’s official app, and the list goes on and on. These official apps are among the best ways to interact with Disney’s massive list of media companies. For instance, you can watch ABC’s programming on the ABC app or read about the latest Star Wars news in the Star Wars app. You can even read old Marvel comics in the Marvel app. It really depends on what kind of content each property makes, but it’s all still Disney.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

YouTube

Price: Free / $12.99 per month

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

YouTube is an excellent, albeit obvious, choice for a great Disney app. You can find basically any Disney song ever made there along with a ton of clips and memes from various movies and TV shows. That’s also the place to see trailers for upcoming movies or shows, reviews of various toys or games, and basically anything else you can think of. Disney has an official VEVO channel with over 11 million subscribers. But, again, you probably already knew all of this so this part of the list is really just some confirmation bias. Yes, YouTube is among the best apps for Disney fans. You can optionally pay $12.99 per month to remove ads, download videos for offline use, and you get a few other features.

DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY

Thank you for reading! Try these out too!

10 best video streaming apps and video streaming services for Android

10 best kids games for Android

If we missed any great Disney apps for Android, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists!

Source: Android Zone

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Verizon and Amazon reportedly working on their own mobile game streaming services

Author: Anik Datta January 14, 2019

The Verge

Two more major tech players, Verizon and Amazon, may be entering into the already crowded list of companies that plan to launch mobile game streaming services. According to The Verge, Verizon Wireless is already testing its own game streaming service with a small number of customers. The people who are selected reportedly get an NVIDIA Shield Android TV set-top box for the test, but The Verge says Verizon plans to eventually expand this streaming service to Android smartphones.

The story also includes screenshots from the service, which has the rather unimaginative name: Verizon Gaming. The images show a list of impressive PC and console games, but the screenshots are most likely placeholders. Based on emails sent to testers, it sounds like Verizon is more concerned with basic game streaming performance at first with this test. The service is currently is using Wi-Fi, but it’s more than likely that Verizon will roll out this service on its wireless network when it gets its 5G hardware fully up and running. The Verge reports that this small test version with the Shield TV box will conclude by the end of January.

Google’s Project Stream beta to end Jan. 15, AMD Radeon GPUs used for gaming service

AMD

Google launched a public best test of Project Stream, its PC game streaming service, back in October 2018. It allowed people to stream and play the full version of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey …

Meanwhile, The Information reports Amazon is also working on its own game streaming service. There’s not much information on this service in the report, other than Amazon has reached out to game publishers to see if they would be interested in offering their titles for this venture. Amazon is certainly well positioned to launch such a project, as its cloud-based Amazon Web Services already has a ton of experience streaming content for companies like Netflix. It also owns Twitch, the gamer-centric live video streaming service. The report does say Amazon is not looking to launch its game streaming service until 2020 at the earliest.

Verizon and Amazon will be entering a field that is full of competitors who have already revealed their plans for streaming games with cloud-based set-ups. Both Microsoft and EA announced at E3 2018 that they have separate plans to stream games to smartphones. Microsoft later revealed that its service, with its codename Project xCloud, would begin public trials sometime in 2019.

In October, Google announced and launched a public test of Project Stream, which allowed people to stream and play the full version of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on a PC, Mac, Linux, and even a low-end Chromebook via the Chrome browser. That tech test is scheduled to end on January 15. So far, Google has not yet revealed what it plans to do with Project Stream.

Of course, Sony already has its own game streaming service, PlayStation Now, which allows PlayStation 4 and Windows PC owners to stream and play hundreds of classic and current PS4 games for a monthly fee. Sony has never revealed how many subscribers it has for PlayStation Now. NVIDIA also has its GeForce Now service, which lets people purchase PC games on Steam and other services, and then lets them play those games remotely on their PC, Mac and their Shield TV box. That service is still in a closed beta test.

Source: Android Zone

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Launch your project management career in style for only $19

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

If you have a friend who’s a project manager you might be curious what it is that they actually do all day. Maybe you just wonder why they get paid so much for doing it.

Well, now’s your chance to find out, and to get a piece of the action yourself. Today’s top deal is the All-Inclusive Project Management Bundle, and for a limited time, it’s only $19. For over 300 hours of online training, you can’t go too far wrong.

All-inclusive is an apt description. This is lifetime access to every one of the 90 project management courses offered by EduCBA — a leading global provider of skill-based education.

By 2020 there will be 15.7 million new project management jobs created. (Greycampus.com)

There are various methodologies in the project management world, such as Agile, Lean, and Scrum. While these might sound like buzzwords now, this huge collection of online training kits can take you from newbie to pro-level in this lucrative field.

From tech to construction, any industry with big plans uses project managers to coordinate them. That means the skills you stand to attain are highly transferable. Even better, each course you take in this vast collection leads to a certificate of completion you can stick straight on your resume.

The Project Management Bundle at a glance:

Access more than 90 complete courses and over 300 hours of content 24/7.
Explore Agile, Lean, Scrum, and more.
Learn about software project management, performance analysis, TQM, and more.
Use mock tests and online quizzes to fortify your learning.
Earn certificates of completion for each course you finish.

These learning kits have a combined value of $1,700, so paying just $19 works out to around six cents per hour of expert training. Not bad at all, and you have the materials for life, so you can work through them at your own pace.

Be aware that the deal expires soon. To find the offer tap the button below.

Check it out!

Source: Android Zone

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This week in Android: Our CES 2019 Awards!

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

Our best of CES awards are included in our CES 2019 wrap up

This week was all about CES and appropriately most of our top stories from this week came from that event. We gave out our Best of CES Awards, awarded the best audio devices, and even rounded up the best smartwatches and wearables. We saw expansion of Google Assistant in both hardware and software, too.

Outside of the trade show, we got news of Samsung’s latest flagship coming earlier than we expected. February 20 is the official date of Samsung Unpacked when we expect to see the Galaxy S10, and maybe even a folding phone! Speaking of Samsung, the iPhone turned 12 this week, and we compared it to our Best of Android 2018 winner, the Note 9, to see how far we’ve come.

Add to that a rugged phone, a gaming phone, and a chat with OnePlus, and you have yourself a pretty full week!

Here are your top stories for the week

Android Authority’s CES Top Picks 2019 Awards: Our favorite products from the show

We scoured the show floor to find the very best that CES had to offer. Come check out what impressed us!

Samsung to launch Galaxy S10 on February 20

Samsung’s next flagship phone is coming sooner than we all thought and we have the details here!

Smartwatch roundup: All the best wearables we could find at CES 2019

You want wearables? CES has all the wearables! We found the best ones for you.

Best audio products of CES 2019

Our sister site, SoundGuys, found the best audio products on the show floor for your inner audiophile.

Google Assistant Connect makes it easier for companies to create smart products

Google wants the Assistant built into more devices, and now it’s easier than ever for more products to tie into that ecosystem.

Hands-on: The Lenovo Smart Clock is a cheaper Home Hub for your bedside table

But, if you don’t want to wait for that, you can have a Google Assistant powered alarm clock from Lenovo.

Hands-on with the Cat S48c rugged phone, available now on Verizon

Want a smartphone that you couldn’t break if you tried? Cat has some good news for you.

The iPhone turns 12: Here’s how it compares to the best Android phone of 2018

Since the iPhone turned 12 this week, we thought it would be interesting to look back and see how smartphones have evolved since that time.

We talk with OnePlus about T-Mobile, the new TV, and the invite system

While at CES, we had a chat with OnePlus about the past, present and future of the company. You don’t even need an invitation to read it!

Nubia Red Magic Mars hands-on: Best budget gaming phone?

The Nubia Red Magic Mars is a sharp looking gaming phone for under $400, which is pretty awesome if you ask us.

Who wants to win a OnePlus 6T?

This week, we’re giving away a brand new OnePlus 6T. Enter this week’s Sunday giveaway for your chance to win!

Enter the giveaway here

Don’t miss these videos

Subscribe to Android Authority’s YouTube channel

That’s it, folks! We’ll have another giveaway and more top Android stories for you next week. To stay up to date on all things Android Authority in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters at the link below.

Source: Android Zone

The post This week in Android: Our CES 2019 Awards! appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

TicWatch C2 review: An (almost) perfect Pixel Watch blueprint

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

It’s taken just over two years for China’s Mobvoi — ostensibly an AI company — to cement its place as one of the hottest smartwatch makers on the planet.

Editor’s Pick

2019 will be a great year for smartwatches and fitness trackers — here’s why

Smartwatches and fitness trackers have never been as cut-and-dry as smartphones because they’re not for everyone. Not everyone needs to track how many steps they take, and most of us certainly don’t need our wrists …

From ultra-affordable Wear OS watches to innovative, high-end wearables, Mobvoi’s TicWatch range boasts some of the best smartwatches money can buy.

That’s why I was really excited to try out the latest member of the TicWatch family, the TicWatch C2.

Intended to fill a niche between the fully kitted out TicWatch Pro and the more affordable and only recently announced TicWatch S2 and E2, the TicWatch C2 also has a legacy to live up to as the follow-up to the TicWatch Classic (aka the “tickleable” TicWatch 2), the first watch from the brand to reach a global market.

Can the TicWatch C2 live up to the brand’s growing reputation for delivering the best Wear OS smartwatches? Find out in our Mobvoi TicWatch C2 review!

Mobvoi TicWatch C2 review notes: I’ve been using the TicWatch C2 (model WG12036) as my main smartwatch for just under a month, running Wear OS 2.2 based on Android 8.0 Oreo. The watch was connected to a Google Pixel 2 XL for the first two weeks. I switched to a Pixel 3 XL for the remainder of the review.

Design

TicWatch C2 review design

Pitched as a perfect blend of sleek, premium style and an elite smartwatch with all the best Wear OS features, the TicWatch C2 certainly achieves the former thanks to its stainless steel finish and unfussy design.

The C2 comes in three color options: black, platinum, and rose gold. I tested the black variant for this review, which is undoubtedly the least ostentatious of the three. I also handled the other two briefly at the C2’s launch in London.

While the silver and black models are identical aside from the finish, the rose gold variant sports a curvier look with rounded physical buttons, softer edges, and brings the display almost flush with the surrounding bezel.

The TicWatch C2 is a stunning timepiece that oozes class.

The rose gold version is also thinner than the black and platinum models, coming in at just 12.8mm thick. Mobvoi says the rose gold model is built for slimmer wrists, but you only have to look at its advertising to see that it wants the variant to appeal to women.

While catering to different builds is worth applauding — especially as smartwatches tend to be quite bulky — that the thinner version is only available in a shade of pink is a little cynical. I’m sure there are plenty of women (or anyone with thinner wrists, for that matter) who would prefer a thinner smartwatch with a more traditionally gender-neutral color option.

The underside of the TicWatch C2 ditches the steel in favor of plastic, but it blends in well enough to not spoil the aesthetic. Here you’ll also find the heart rate sensor and magnetic charger contacts. The heart rate sensor juts out more than I’d like, and it leaves a mark on your wrist, but it never caused me any discomfort, even during or after exercising.

TicWatch C2 review heart rate monitor

The physical buttons sit on the right side of the watch, with a microphone in between for Google Assistant voice commands. You’ll have to live with verbal responses coming only from your phone, as unlike the TicWatch Pro, the C2 doesn’t have a speaker.

You also don’t get a fancy rotating crown like you’d find on the Skagen Falster 2, but the two hardware buttons are nice and tactile and compliment the touchscreen controls. You can also remap the lower button, but I’ll get more into that in the software section.

One thing I don’t particularly like is the large orange dot engraved into the center of the top button as it sticks out like a sore thumb when viewing the watch from the right side.

Best fitness trackers (December 2018)

Fitness trackers have come an extremely long way over the years. No longer are they glorified pedometers; they’re much more than that. Most standard fitness trackers nowadays can track your steps taken, distance traveled, how …

I also wasn’t completely sold on the included watch straps. Despite “genuine leather” being embossed on the underside, the straps have a very plastic feel. This eased a little after a few weeks with the watch, but they still don’t quite match the quality of the watch itself.

The black and platinum models have 20mm straps, while the pink gold version has 18mm straps. Mobvoi sells silicon straps (say that fast ten times!) compatible with the two thicker models, but if you like metal straps you’re currently fresh out of luck.

While I have a few nitpicks here and there with the TicWatch C2’s design, in general this is a stunning timepiece. It’s incredibly comfortable, subtle enough to suit any outfit or occasion, and oozes class.

Hardware and performance

TicWatch C2 review Google Assistant

Regardless of which model you buy, the TicWatch C2 sports a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with a 360 x 360 resolution.

This is pretty standard stuff for modern smartwatches at this point, but the C2’s AMOLED display still impresses with deep blacks and bold, contrasting white text and vibrant colored icons. The high contrast AMOLED panel also ensures viewing angles are great even in direct sunlight.

The most significant hardware downgrade is that the C2 lacks of the Pro’s celebrated dual-display technology. Without the Pro’s secondary FSTN LCD display, your only options are an always-on watch face outline or a completely black screen when the watch isn’t awake. Inevitably, this has a huge impact on battery life.

Editor’s Pick

5 best Wear OS games (Android Wear games)

Yes, there are games for Android Wear. Admittedly, they’re a little difficult to play so most of the better titles include easy controls and simple ideas, but gaming on your Wear OS device can actually …

The 400mAh battery inside the C2 is, again, pretty standard for a smartwatch of this size.

The most I managed to squeeze out of the cell was two days on a single charge with very light usage (only occasionally checking incoming notifications), and with the always-on display and constant heart rate monitoring switched off.

When used more frequently with those settings on, the C2 usually makes it through around a day and a half. If you take it for a long morning run or a lengthy gym session, you might end up reaching for the charger that same night. Generally, however, the C2 offers decent, if unremarkable battery life that can’t hold a candle to the TicWatch Pro’s maximum of 30 days on a single charge.

Other notable hardware features include NFC support for Google Pay, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou location tracking, and 4GB storage and 512MB RAM. The C2 is also IP68 rated for splash- and sweat-proofing, but you absolutely shouldn’t take it for a swim.

All in all, it’s a nicely kitted out Wear OS device that ticks all the right boxes — with one notable exception.

Despite Qualcomm having finally released a new flagship smartwatch platform — the Snapdragon Wear 3100 — the TicWatch C2 is powered by the ubiquitous Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, which at time of writing is a month away from its third birthday.

A three year old chipset is powering a flagship smartwatch in 2019.

The TicWatch C2 suffers from lag when first booted up and occasionally when using apps (especially third-party apps). On the whole, this isn’t something you’ll notice for swiping away notifications, skipping tracks on Spotify, tracking your workouts, or anything in regular day-to-day use.

However, Wear OS has evolved by leaps and bounds in the past year, and there’s always the risk the next major software update will have a much larger impact on performance. When buying any modern tech product, it’s often best to mitigate the threat of obsolescence by seeking the most up-to-date hardware possible. Unfortunately, the C2 can’t quite deliver that.

It should be noted, however, there are valid concerns that even Qualcomm’s latest wearable SoC doesn’t stack up to wearable chips from Samsung, Apple, or even Fitbit.

Ignoring ultra-premium options like the $1,000 Montblanc Summit 2 and Louis Vuitton’s latest, the only other Snapdragon Wear 3100-powered smartwatch to hit the market so far is the $255 Fossil Sport, and reviews have suggested the processing leap isn’t drastic enough to deliver a significant boost to either battery life or performance.

There’s every possibility Mobvoi made the right call here to keep the C2’s price down. That said, it’s still worth bearing in mind that a three year old chipset is powering a flagship smartwatch in 2019.

Software and fitness tracking

TicWatch C2 review Wear OS

Prior to strapping the TicWatch C2 onto my wrist, I hadn’t actually taken Google’s recent Wear OS redesign for a spin. Considering how much I didn’t care for Google’s OS in its original Android Wear guise, I wasn’t expecting miracles, and while it’s still far from perfect, I was blown away by just how much Wear OS (now in V.2.2) brings to the table.

Swipes and taps now take you directly to the most important features like notifications, quick settings, and Google Assistant. Much like Google’s launcher on Pixel phones, the search giant’s almost forms the core of the Wear OS experience, acting as both a voice assistant and a go-to feed with all your appointments, reminders, and available at a quick glance.

If you’ve tried out Wear OS 2.2 you already know all of this, but it’s worth highlighting how streamlined and “pure” the OS experience feels on the TicWatch C2. If you took away the TicWatch-branded watch faces and Mobvoi’s four pre-loaded fitness-focused apps, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d accidentally stumbled upon a some kind of Google Pixel Watch prototype.

Related: 10 best Wear OS watch faces

This might be a bit of a turn-off if you like your watches jam-packed with extra software features, but there’s not much you can’t find on the Play Store. All the basics are here, including Google Pay, so you won’t have to fumble around for your card or phone when buying your groceries or on the subway.

The only other giveaway that this isn’t a Google-made product is the lower physical button and the swipe left gesture, both of which take you straight to Mobvoi’s TicHealth app instead of the new and improved Google Fit like other Wear OS devices. Not only can you remap the physical button to whatever app you like in Settings > Personalization, you can also toggle between Google Fit and TicHealth as your default tracker by long pressing after swiping to the left — an option only recently added to TicWatch’s smartwatch range.

While you can ignore it completely in favor of Google Fit, the TicHealth app is clearly intended to act as the C2’s main fitness app. TicHealth links directly into the Health Center inside the Mobvoi smartphone app, but it improved much since our other TicWatch reviews. It’s designed to cater for TicWatch users and Mobvoi’s wider smart home range, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s really there to peddle ads.

Thankfully, you can forget the smartphone app even exists as all of the crucial fitness data can be accessed directly on the watch. Visually the TicHealth app is very Apple-esque, with simple diagrams and a circular, color-coded chart used for tracking your daily steps, workouts, and active hours. You can also set step goals and goal or activity reminders, which if you’re like me are great nudges to get you off your backside every now and again.

There are three other pre-installed TicWatch health-centric apps that link into TicHealth — TicExercise, TicPulse, and TicRanking.

TicExercise helps you track your distance, heart rate, speed, and more, for outdoor runs, outdoor walks, indoor runs, and cycling presets. If you want more granular results you’ll need the Health Center in Mobvoi’s phone app, but generally there’s enough in the watch app to monitor your workouts. Of course, if you’re more of a dedicated fitness buff, there are plenty of other Wear OS-compatible health apps available on the Play Store.

TicWatch C2 review Mobvoi app on Pixel 3 XL

TicPlus, meanwhile, links in with the heart rate monitor. You can set it to track your heart rate over 24 hours for better overall results, but it impacts the C2’s battery life. The heart data is also compatible with Google Fit, Runkeeper, and Strava.

Finally, TicRanking pits you against other TicWatch users in your nearby area as you compete to gain the highest step count. As with the rest of Mobvoi’s app suite, there are plenty of privacy prompts to avoid sharing any data without your permission.

Mobvoi has promised the TicMotion features of the TicWatch E2 and S2 will also be come to the C2 and the rest of its Snapdragon Wear 2100-powered wearables in the future.

Price and the competition

TicWatch C2 review watch face

I really like the TicWatch C2 — so much that I’m still wearing it while writing this review, long after I’ve finished testing it.

If Google doesn’t have a “Pixel Watch” waiting in the wings already, I suggest it looks to the C2 for inspiration.

The fittingly “classic” design, extensive list of hardware features, and the clean software experience remind me a lot of Motorola’s short-lived, but much-loved Moto 360 series — simple, stylish, and timeless (pun intended). It’s also priced perfectly at $199 (179 pounds if you’re in the U.K., like me), making it one of the best value Wear OS smartwatches on the market.

Smartwatch roundup: All the best wearables we could find at CES 2019

Smartphones may have been almost a no-show at CES 2019, but that wasn’t the case for smartwatches. From fitness companies to fashion brands, we’ve seen plenty of companies launch new wearables at this year’s trade …

There are a handful of lingering quibbles, however.

The TicWatch Pro’s dual-display is such a killer feature and it’s hard to argue its not worth the extra $50.

The aging Snapdragon chipset is still a concern. In spite of the agonizingly slow adoption of Qualcomm’s latest wearable platform and its reported diminishing returns, the C2’s processor is so long in the tooth at this point that you can see it dangling out of the horse’s mouth.

If Google doesn’t have a ‘Pixel Watch’ waiting in the wings, the C2 would make a mighty fine blueprint.

Seemingly every Wear OS smartwatch debuted at CES 2019 is sticking with the Snapdragon Wear 2100, so the fragmentation issue isn’t going away any time soon.

Unfortunately for the TicWatch C2, Wear OS isn’t the only player in town. The Apple Watch Series 4 is far and away the best smartwatch money can buy. For Android phone users, the Samsung’s Exynos/Tizen OS-powered Galaxy Watch still has the edge.

In the land of Wear OS, Mobvoi’s TicWatch brand is currently the undisputed king, and the TicWatch C2 is a more than worthy addition to its burgeoning royal family.

What do you make of the TicWatch C2? Do you still prefer the TicWatch Pro, or are you waiting for the E2 and S2? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Android Zone

The post TicWatch C2 review: An (almost) perfect Pixel Watch blueprint appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro vs Pocophone F1: Which is better value?

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

Clash of Clans update hub: Bat Spell nerfed again in January balance update

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

Clash of Clans update hub

Welcome to our Clash of Clans update hub! We’ll be collecting all of the official balance changes and updates for Clash of Clans as they’re released by the Finnish giant Supercell. Even after 6 years, fans can expect a new Clash of Clans update each month!

Whether you’re a new player or a TH12 veteran, be sure to bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on the latest buffs, nerfs, and new troops announced each month. Below you’ll find the most recent Clash of Clans update, followed by previous updates.

Download Clash of Clans

Queen Walk your way through some of our other Clash of Clans content:

Clash of Clans Update: The latest

Supercell

Clash of Clans update: January Bat Spell balancing

Released: January 7, 2019

The January update is a small one, and it’s focused on a single thing. Despite the nerf in the previous Clash of Clans update, the Bat Spell still remained too powerful in comparison to other spell choices. The number of Bats spawned has been reduced (again) and their first attack delay is longer.

Clash of Clans January Bat Spell balancing patch notes

Bat Spell

Each level of the spell now spawns fewer Bats.
- Level 1: 7 (down from 10).
- Level 2: 9 (down from 12).
- Level 3: 11 (down from 14).
- Level 4: 16 (down from 18).
- Level 5: 21 (down from 22).
Bat first attack delay increased to 1.5 seconds (from 1.0 second).
Damage remains unchanged.

Clash of Clans update history

Supercell

Clash of Clans update: December Balance update overview

Release date: December 12

It looks like the December Clash of Clans update might have needed a bit more tweaking before being released, as the development team has released a balance update just two days after the big one hit. Fans complained, and Supercell responded quickly.

This balance update is entirely focused on two new elements introduced in the December 2018 update. More specifically, it nerfs the new Dark Spell Bats and the new Siege machine the Stone Slammer. See below for the full list of changes introduced in this new Clash of Clans update.

Clash of Clans update: December Balance update patch notes

Bat spell

Each level of the spell now spawns fewer Bats.
- Level 1: 10 (down from 15).
- Level 2: 12 (down from 18).
- Level 3: 14 (down from 21).
- Level 4: 18 (down from 24).
- Level 5: 22 (down from 27).

Stone Slammer

Stone Slammer damage modifier increased to 25x (from 15x).
Splash damage now falls off with distance.
Walls immediately adjacent to the target building will always be destroyed.
HP reduced at levels 2 and 3.
- Level 1: Unchanged.
- Level 2: 5900 (down from 6200).
- Level 3: 6200 (down from 6800).

Siege Workshop

Level 3 Siege Workshop now allows 6 Siege Machines to be stored.
3 stored as available, 3 in queue.

Clash of Clans update: December 2018 update overview

Release date: December 10

Brace yourselves, because Winter is here, and with it comes a huge amount of new content in Clash of Clans’ new update. The December 2018 update introduces the Ice Golem and Bats, both of which will be familiar to fans of Clash Royale. Plus, there are loads of holiday goodies that will continue to come out over the next month.

Clash of Clans veterans can rejoice with the Stone Slammer, a new siege weapon that’s available at TH12. It drops boulders that deal massive AoE damage to defenses, and like other siege machines, it houses Clan Castle troops to boot!

Clash of Clans update: December 2018 update patch notes

New troop: Ice Golem

Ice Golem is a Dark Elixir troop available at TH11.
Requires newly added Dark Barracks level 8 to train.
Targets defenses and freezes everything he touches.
Explodes when defeated, freezing nearby buildings.

New Spell: Bats

Bats is a new Dark Spell available at TH11.
Requires newly added Dark Spell Factory level 5 to brew.
Summons 10+ bats anywhere on the battlefield.
Bats target defenses and do not trigger traps.

New Siege Machine: The Stone Slammer

The Stone Slammer is available at the newly added Workshop level 3.
Targets defenses and deals up to 25x damage to walls, depending on distance.
Once defeated, Clan Castle troops spawn beneath it.

New Magic Item: Shovel of Obstacles

Shovel of Obstacles allows you to temporarily lift and re-place any obstacle.
Works on special event obstacles, such as Christmas trees.
Can hold up to 5 shovels at a time.

New Magic Item: Hero Potion

Temporarily boosts a Hero’s level by 5.
Cannot increase past the Hero level limit of your current Town Hall.

Home Village Changes:

Extra War Layout slots are now available for purchase with gems.
Siege Machine choice can now be changed before a battle begins.
Grand Warden mode can now be changed in battle before it has been deployed.
League Medals over the 2500 cap will be converted into Gems.
Improved UI for tablets and very wide screen devices.

Builder Base Changes:

Cannon Cart DPS reduced by 15%.
Third Cannon Card now available at level 10, down from 16.
Super P.E.K.K.A. HP reduced by 5%.
Baby Dragon HP increased by 7.5%.
Upgrade times for Builder Base troops in Star Laboratory reduced across the board.
Gem Mine can now be upgraded to level 3 in Builder Hall level 3.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed a bug in village editor mode.
Fixed a bug with unarmed traps while scout or wall mode is enabled.
Wall Wreckers will no longer get stuck on decorations.
Fixed a visual bug with the Clan Castle badge.
Donating Siege Machines now contributes 30 housing space to Clan Games tasks.
Fixed a bug when choosing your name during the tutorial.
Clock Tower boosts will now remain paused after maintenance.
Fixed a bug where defensive buildings were not displaying their proper level in the Builder Base while under construction before battle.

Seasonal Content:

New Seasonal loading screen.
Holiday music added.
Seasonal obstacle now spawns in Home Village.
Snow effect and snow-covered buildings, can be turned off in settings.

That’s it for our Clash of Clans update hub. Be sure to bookmark this article, as we’ll update it over the next few weeks and months with the latest releases!

Source: Android Zone

The post Clash of Clans update hub: Bat Spell nerfed again in January balance update appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

15 best VR games for most VR headsets!

Author: Anik Datta January 13, 2019

This is the featured image for the best VR games
Virtual reality gaming is growing at a rapid pace. It made $5.8 billion in 2017 and just shy of $10 billion in 2018. That trend should continue over the next several years. There are a few big VR platforms. They include Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus, and the HTC Vive. We haven’t gotten our hands on all of those yet, but we can get this list started anyway. Here are the best VR games currently available for the Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, and Google Cardboard (and compatible headsets).

Check these VR articles out too!

Best VR and AR products of CES 2019 — headsets, games, porn…

15 best Gear VR apps to make your VR experience better!

Samsung Gear VR

These are our top five picks for the Samsung Gear VR. These games aren’t in the Play Store like Daydream or Cardboard, but rather the Oculus Store. You can check out our whole list here!