Coming soon: Break out of prison with The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout on Android

Already available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout is now available for pre-registration on the Google Play Store.

The Escapists 2 adheres closely to the gameplay mechanics of the original: to help inmates break out of prison. To get out of prison, you can craft and buy tools, beat up other people with the improved combat system, and sneak your way past guards. You can also equip your prisoner with various customizations to spruce things up.

That’s easier said than done. The Android version of The Escapists 2 features five sandbox-like prisons. The prisons range from minimum security to high security, so the difficulty doesn’t remain the same as you break out of prison.

Team17 will add the five other prisons from the console and PC versions “over time” for free.

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10 best sandbox games for Android

Sandbox games are a different kind of fun. Instead of focusing on linear game play mechanics and level design, sandbox games allow you to explore open worlds. You can interact with the entire game space, …

There are also various small details to consider before breaking out of prison. For example, you can learn guards’ schedules, steal certain items to help you escape, avoid contraband detectors, and take part in prison jobs.

Lastly, The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout supports local multiplayer with up to four players.

Android users can pre-register for the game at the link below. The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout launches January 31 on the Play Store and Amazon Appstore.

The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout

Source: Android Zone

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Twitter exposed protected Tweets for Android users: How to change your privacy settings

If you use Twitter for Android and thought your Tweets were only seen by a select few, you might be very much mistaken. The social network has just admitted its “Protect your Tweets” feature was disabled for some Android users, and this might have lasted for over four years.

If you had your protected Tweet settings turned on and happened to change any account settings in the Android app, your messages could have potentially been seen by the public. This issue impacted users between November 3, 2014 and January 14, 2019. Twitter says the bug only showed itself if users changed the email address associated with their account. The company did not say if the bug showed up if any other changes were made. This issue did not affect users on the web or on iOS devices.

So far, Twitter has not stated exactly how many users were affected by this bug. It did, however, inform users of this problem and also re-enabled the “Protect your Tweets” setting. The company said that it was “very sorry this happened” and added it will be conducting a review to prevent an issue like this from happening again.

How to change your Twitter privacy settings

If you’re concerned your account has been affected by this bug, you can follow the instructions below to turn on the “Protect your Tweets” setting.

• Tap on your account. When the menu appears, tap on the “Settings and privacy” selection near the bottom.
• Tap on the “Privacy and safety” selection on the next menu.
• You should see a “Protect your Tweets” section of the menu with a box on the right side. Tap on it to enable this feature.

Assuming Twitter has indeed fixed this disabling bug, turning on “Protect your Tweets” should keep any messages you post from being seen by the general public. With this setting, only your current followers will see your Tweets.

Source: Android Zone

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Report: Google Play revenue grew 27% in 2018, besting iOS store growth

Respected mobile industry statistics source Sensor Tower just published its estimations on 2018 revenue from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Although the hub for iOS apps is still making more money overall, the Google Play Store’s growth is surging far faster than its primary rival.

According to Sensor Tower, the Google Play Store earned $24.8 billion in 2018, which represents a growth of 27.3 percent as compared to its 2017 revenue ($19.5 billion). In comparison, the Apple App Store earned almost twice as much money ($46.6 billion) in 2018, but that represents only 20.4 percent in growth year-over-year.

Last year, according to Sensor Tower, both app stores were neck-and-neck for growth, with each platform growing by about 34 percent in 2017 as compared to 2016.

These numbers do signify, of course, that growth at both stores is slowing down overall.

Check out the chart below for more information:

Sensor Tower

It should be noted that China — one of the largest markets for mobile apps in the world — isn’t included in the Google Play Store numbers above since Google apps are not available there. The Apple App Store, however, is available in China. In other words, if Google apps were available in China, the chart above would likely look very different.

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The Google Play Store is the most secure and easily accessible place to grab and update your essential Android apps and games, but occasionally you might run into a rare problem. Unfortunately, when this does …

As far as the apps that drove that revenue growth, Tinder continues to be the top-earner on the Google Play Store (also according to Sensor Tower). Netflix, Pandora, and Google’s own Google Drive and Google One are also among the top earners for last year.

For games, Lineage M was the overall top earner on the Google Play Store for 2018, with Pokémon Go, Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, and Candy Crush Saga also earning top-ten slots.

For the full report on 2018 app store revenue, click here. For the full report on which apps and games did the best in 2018, click here.

NEXT: Give back with charitable donations on the Google Play Store

Source: Android Zone

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Encrypt and secure your files with Kruptos 2 Pro — 67% off today

With all the cyber criminals out there, your files could be stolen at any time. The cloud is one option, but it’s famously been breached before. Anyway, you’re always likely to have some sensitive files on your laptop or smartphone.

Kruptos 2 Professional offers a solution. This ultra-secure technology allows you to encrypt any number of your files with military-grade 256-bit encryption. It would take the fastest supercomputer in the world millions of years to crack, so you can’t get much more secure than that.

Even if your laptop is stolen or infiltrated, your photos, credit card data, tax returns, or any other private documents are safe.

Kruptos 2 is an easy-to-use encryption program that works well to keep your files safe from prying eyes. — TopTenReviews

That’s the headline, but everything else about Kruptos 2 screams premium. Firstly, and most importantly, it’s easy to use. You can also lock your files securely once and share them between your devices or USB drive. You can open them anywhere, but no one else has a chance.

With other added features such as a file shredder and a password analyzer, Kruptos 2 gives you a complete toolbox for protecting your privacy.

Kruptos 2 at a glance:

• Password protect your files with 256-bit encryption in two easy steps.
• Share your encrypted files between all of your devices and cloud services.
• Use the file shredder to permanently destroy your sensitive files.
• Create stronger passwords with the built-in password analyzer.
• Integrate with Microsoft Windows Explorer to encrypt your files in as little as two clicks.
• Enjoy added features for encrypting email attachments, self-decrypting files, and more.

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Kruptos 2 usually retails for $40, but right now at Tech Deals, you can get a subscription for just $12.95. That’s not a lot to pay for peace of mind.

We came late to this deal and it’s almost over. If you want to find out more hit the button below.

Check out the deal!

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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These new LG G8 ThinQ renders will look very, very familiar

91mobiles

Trusted smartphone leaker @OnLeaks just shared a set of renders allegedly depicting the upcoming LG G8 ThinQ over at 91Mobiles.

If you just took a quick glance, you would be forgiven in thinking that these are just the renders for the LG G7 ThinQ, since they look remarkably the same. If you give a closer inspection, you can see there are definitely some differences. However, from an overall design point-of-view, the LG G8 ThinQ looks like it will be more of the same from LG.

Check out the images for yourself in the gallery and YouTube video below:

Just for the sake of comparison, here are the leaked renders of the LG G7 ThinQ from last year:

@evleaks

Let’s start with the similarities. The front has a big ol’ notch at the top, the rear fingerprint scanner is in relatively the same place, there’s a dual camera setup, a glossy finish, and an enormous LG logo at the back.

Oh yeah, and the headphone jack is still there, which is certainly nice.

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LG might make a phone you can add another screen to… no joke

You’ve got to give it to LG for constantly trying to out-innovate their competition, from modular phones like the LG G5 to phones with way too many cameras. The company is now apparently leaning towards …

The only major differences we notice between last year’s G7 and these leaked renders is that the dual camera setup is now horizontally-aligned and the front-facing camera appears to have been upgraded to a dual-lens configuration. Those are both welcome changes, for sure, but is that really all it takes to move from G7 to G8?

Unfortunately, it appears any LG fans who were looking for a triple-lens camera (as was on the LG V40 ThinQ), an in-display fingerprint scanner, a waterdrop notch, gradient colors, or any of the other design features trending right now in the smartphone industry will be disappointed with these renders.

There’s still the possibility, though, that this G8 could feature an optional second screen attachment. If that’s the case, LG could be relying solely on that innovation to push sales.

What do you think? Is LG making a misfire here, or are you still excited for the LG G8 ThinQ? Let us know in the comments.

NEXT: LG in 2019 — No more excuses

Source: Android Zone

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Facebook employees caught leaving 5-star reviews for Portal on Amazon

Facebook

If you visit the Facebook Portal listing over at Amazon.com, you’ll find plenty of five-star reviews of the smart display product. However, what you might not know is that a small handful of those glowing reviews are actually from Facebook employees.

That’s what Kevin Roose — tech columnist for The New York Times — exposed on Twitter earlier today. Roose didn’t use any secret trickery to find the clearly-biased reviews, he simply checked the names: three prominent Facebook employees used their own, full names to review the product.

Editor’s Pick

Facebook’s Alexa-powered smart display is called Portal, and it’s enormous

Facebook

We’ve heard rumors about Facebook releasing either a smart speaker or smart display at some point in the future, and now we finally have official confirmation of the device. The Facebook Portal is …

Not only is it a violation of Amazon’s TOS for a company employee to write reviews for its own products, but it also makes Facebook look a bit desperate. After all, it’s not easy to sell a product designed to sit in your home with a camera attached to it when the company is constantly in the news for data and privacy violations.

To that end, Facebook’s vice president of AR/VR Andrew Bosworth tweeted back to Roose:

[These reviews were] neither coordinated nor directed from the company. From an internal post at the launch: “We, unequivocally, DO NOT want Facebook employees to engage in leaving reviews for the products that we sell to Amazon.” We will ask them to take down.”

Facebook Portal and its larger sibling Portal Plus are designed to act as an Alexa-powered smart speaker, a video-consumption device, as well as an easy way to have video chats through Facebook Messenger. Although you can easily turn the cameras and microphones off, Portal has had an uphill battle from the beginning since several Facebook privacy and security scandals have dominated headlines over the past year.

The Google Home Hub — another smart display released in 2018 — does not feature a camera.

Click the button below to buy a Facebook Portal — if you’re into that sort of thing.

Buy Facebook Portal

Source: Android Zone

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Slimmed-down Weather Timeline app is coming back soon under new management

The much-loved weather app known as Weather Timeline unfortunately got removed from the Google Play Store last fall. Due to rising costs, the app’s creator — Sam Ruston — elected to hide the app from new users to keep functionality working for existing installs.

However, a different company ended up acquiring Weather Timeline. That company — the awkwardly-named ACME AtronOmatic — just pushed out a new update to the app, a big step on its way to re-release (via 9to5Google). ACME AtronOmatic also promised that Weather Timeline will be back on the Google Play Store soon in both a free, ad-supported version and a paid, premium version.

Editor’s Pick

Popular weather app Weather Timeline unpublished from the Play Store

Weather Timeline is one of those apps that does a very simple thing — display the weather — in a very simple and effective way. Sure, there are plenty of weather apps available, but Weather …

Unfortunately, Weather Timeline won’t be exactly the same as people remember it. The biggest change will be the source of the weather data: whereas the original app featured many different sources to give as accurate a prediction as possible for your local area, the new version only uses one source in the United States: MyRadar. That means other sources such as Weather Underground and the popular Dark Sky will no longer be options.

If you’re one of the lucky people who previously downloaded the original Weather Timeline, congratulations: you are grandfathered into the premium, ad-free version of the app. When the app does get re-published to the Play Store, new users will have to choose between seeing ads or paying for the premium variant (which, notably, is what Ruston was trying to avoid).

ACME AtronOmatic does promise that the “new” Weather Timeline will look and function much as it did before, albeit with the loss of major data sources.

We will let you know when the app gets re-published to the Play Store. In the meantime, check out our weather app roundup below:

NEXT: 15 best weather apps and weather widgets for Android

Source: Android Zone

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The massive Collection #1 data breach: What is it and what you should do?

Troy Hunt

• Have I Been Pwned creator Troy Hunt announced the Collection #1 data breach.
• The collection of files contains millions of compromised email addresses and passwords.
• The compromised data supposedly comes from 2,000 databases.

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Data breaches have become so commonplace nowadays that we’ve almost become numb to them. However, security researcher and Have I Been Pwned creator Troy Hunt just reported a data breach that will hurt for a long time: Collection #1.

Collection #1 is a massive file that was recently uploaded to cloud storage service Mega. The file features 12,000 separate files that contain 87GB of data.

What’s in the data, you might ask? 772,904,991 unique email addresses and 21,222,975 unique passwords. A significant issue is the stolen passwords having cracked protective hashing. That’s why the passwords show up as plain text instead of being cryptographically hashed when the websites were breached.

Now emailing 768,253 individuals who subscribed for notifications and another 39,923 who are monitoring domains…

— Troy Hunt (@troyhunt) January 16, 2019

These cracked passwords allow for a second issue, a practice called credential stuffing. Credential stuffing is when breached username or email/password combinations are then used to get into someone else’s account. Attackers don’t need to brute force or guess passwords — they can just automate the logins.

Credential stuffing is particularly concerning for those that use the same username and password combination across websites.

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How to sync all your passwords using Google

Passwords – none of us like them, but we must live with them if we want to keep our private information secure. It’s also a good idea to make safe passwords, which involves creating unique, …

It just so happens that Collection #1 contains almost 2.7 billion combinations. It also just so happens that roughly 140 million email addresses and 10 million passwords from Collection #1 are new to the Have I Been Pwned database.

Let’s also not forget the decentralized nature of Collection #1. Previous breaches usually had a common silver lining: each breach could be tied down to one website. Not so with this breach, which comprises of breaches across 2,000 databases.

In this case, the only possible silver lining is that Hunt doesn’t know if every single breach in Collection #1 is legitimate. However, Hunt also said that this is “the single largest breach ever to be loaded into HIBP.”

What should I do?

First, go to Have I Been Pwned and type in your email address. The site lets you know if an account that uses that email address was compromised.

If you already used Have I Been Pwned, you should have received a notification of the breach. Almost half of the site’s users are caught up in the breach, so keep that in mind if you’re a member.

From there, click the Passwords tab on the top of Have I Been Pwned. Pwned Passwords lets you know if your password was compromised and helps you to use strong passwords.

Editor’s Pick

10 best password manager apps for Android

Password managers are becoming more and more popular. The ability to keep all of your passwords in one spot is highly appealing. With mobile, you can have them on you at all times and the …

If you have a compromised email address and compromised passwords, it’s time to clean up your password practices. If a site supports it, use two-factor authentication. It might not be foolproof, but two-factor authentication helps to dissuade most that might want access to your account.

You can also avoid using the same password across multiple sites. It’s tempting to use the same password for the sake of convenience, but the practice is a dangerous double-edged sword.

Finally, use a password manager. 1Password, Dashlane, and LastPass are three of the more popular options out there, though you can also use the tried-and-true method of pen and paper.

Oh, and change your password. Definitely change your password. Make it something complex, something that can’t be found in a dictionary.

Source: Android Zone

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Android 9 Pie rolling out to Honor View 10 in the US

The Honor View 10 is one of the very few Huawei-made devices to be available in the United States. Those of you U.S. citizens who bought the popular 2017 smartphone will likely be excited to know that EMUI 9 — based on Android 9 Pie — is rolling out to U.S. variants now.

This update is build number 9.0.0.201 (C567E6R1P12) which is specifically for the Honor View 10 model BKL-L04.

Since the update carries Android 9 Pie, it comes with the usual Pie upgrades such as adaptive battery, navigation gestures, revamped UI elements, etc. You can read all about what Pie has to offer in our roundup here.

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Honor View 10 review: a OnePlus 5T challenger emerges

Pre-order the Honor View10
The flagship space is saturated with contenders on all sides and typically they come at a high price. Companies like OnePlus have been trying to shake things up by making their flagships …

EMUI 9 also has some specific upgrades of its own, such as more AI features, an upgraded game optimization program, etc. Check out what EMUI 9 has to offer here.

You likely will receive an OTA notification soon which you can use to upgrade your device. However, if you want to upgrade manually, you can open the HiCare app, select Update, and then follow the on-screen prompts.

If you don’t already own an Honor View 10, the device is going for only $389 on Amazon.com right now. Click below to grab one!

Buy Honor View 10

Source: Android Zone

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Plex wants to become a hub for video and audio subscription services

Plex

• Plex could soon become a hub for other media streaming services.
• The Plex platform already integrates with music-streaming service Tidal.
• However, the larger streaming companies like Netflix would likely not come aboard until Plex grows significantly.

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If you’re a Plex user, you likely use it mainly to stream your personal library of audio and video files (all of which you purchased legally because you would never, ever pirate anything). This, after all, is the main reason for the existence of Plex.

However, with Plex now supporting podcasts, web shows, and even integrating with the music streaming service Tidal, the Plex platform is becoming much bigger. Now, according to German-language site Golem, the new goal for Plex is to become a hub for all your streaming services.

Theoretically, this would mean you could open Plex and have access to your personal media library as well as access content from other streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Audible, etc., all within the same app.

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Kodi and Plex are competing media centers — they give you access to all your videos, images, and songs from one place. They also let you stream content to multiple devices and watch live TV …

If this were to happen, Plex could be the one-stop-shop for all media which would truly send the platform into the stratosphere.

Plex CEO Keith Valory said at CES 2019 that the company has 20 million loyal subscribers, some of which pay a monthly or annual fee to use the premium Plex Pass service. In 2018, the company integrated with Tidal, which is seen as a test run for how other subscription services could integrate with the platform. It appears that partnership has been a success.

The problem Plex will face now will be getting the huge platforms — like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video — to sign on. Considering that even a company as huge as Apple had to jump through many hoops to get Amazon Prime Video onto its Apple TV platform, Plex certainly has its work cut out for it in that regard.

What will most likely happen is that Plex will work with smaller and/or up-and-coming streaming services at first. If it can leverage those partnerships to grow its user base, it could potentially become large enough to entice a company like Netflix to come aboard.

NEXT: Listen to podcasts through Plex!

Source: Android Zone

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Deal: Become a machine learning specialist for just $34

Machine learning is now a reality. It’s in many industries already, and you regularly see it while you browse the internet, often without even knowing it. 

As machines take more and more of the jobs out there, the market value of machine learning experts is rapidly increasing. Who do think Skynet employed?

It’s time to become future-proof. The good news is that expert-led online courses now make it possible for you to become a specialist in your spare time, and get a major career boost. The Machine Learning and Data Science eBook and Course Bundle is one such opportunity, and right now it’s on offer.

One of the main uses of machine learning in the present day is for data analysis. This might not sound quite as cool as building robots which will one day enslave mankind, but it’s certainly lucrative. The ability to build sophisticated financial models is in huge demand in the current job market.

This curated collection of learning kits comprises several eBooks and online tutorials. To understand the concepts you’re going to learn various coding techniques, mainly based on Python. This is one of the most widely-used programming languages today, so it’s a useful ability to have in your locker.

The Machine Learning and Data Science bundle:

• Learning Ansible 2 eBook — $36 Value
• Practical DevOps eBook — $36 value
• DevOps Automation Cookbook eBook — $40 value
• Python Machine Learning eBook — $36 value
• Mastering Python for Data Science eBook — $48 value
• Practical Data Analysis eBook — $40 value
• Data Mining with Python — $72 value
• Python Machine Learning Projects — $125 value

A promotion running at TechDeals has dropped the price of this bundle by a massive 92 percent. While the total value of the bundle is $433, right now you can get lifetime access for just $34.

The deal is ends in a few days, so don’t miss out. Sign up now via the button below.

Check it out!

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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Security flaw found in ES File Explorer app (Update: Patch incoming)

Update, January 17, 2019 (10:53 AM ET): We just received word from ES App Group, the creators of ES File Explorer. The company informed us that the HTTP vulnerability as described in the article below has been fixed.

However, the new version of the app still awaits approval to launch on the Google Play Store, so it might take a few days for the patched version to go live.

The company also apologized for the security flaw being there in the first place. Keep an eye out on the ES File Explorer listing on the Play Store to see when it will be updated with the new patch.

ES File Explorer

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Original Article, January 16, 2019 (10:07 AM ET): If you use the popular Android app ES File Explorer on any of your Android smartphones or tablets, be careful: a security researcher has found a vulnerability in the app which would allow a hacker to access sensitive information on your device (via TechCrunch).

ES File Explorer — which has over 100 million installs on the Google Play Store — is a very simple and effective file manager app for Android. The app is totally free with an option to upgrade to ES File Manager Pro, which removes advertisements and offers a selection of new features.

According to Baptiste Robert — a French security researcher who uses the alias “Elliot Alderson” in some online forums — the ES File Explorer app includes a tiny hidden web server. Although Robert is not totally certain why the web server is there (he posits it might have to do with streaming video to other apps using HTTP) he did conclude that any hacker on the same network as the device could use the open ports connected to the web server to gain access to the device.

Editor’s Pick

Files by Google now supports USB OTG storage exploring

The latest update to Files by Google is rolling out now, and with it comes some new functionality. Files by Google version 1.0.224103129 now supports USB OTG storage.

Although USB OTG storage support isn’t something many people …

Once the hacker gains access through the open port, they could theoretically take almost any file from the Android device — including photos, videos, text files, etc. — and transfer it to any other server they also had access to. They could also remotely launch apps on the exploited device.

Obviously, this vulnerability only becomes a problem if you are on the same network as the hacker, which usually involves being connected to the same Wi-Fi network. In other words, the dangers of this vulnerability while you are at home are slim-to-none, but the dangers increase exponentially if you are on a public network such as those at coffee shops, airports, libraries, etc.

We attempted to contact ES App Group, the creators of ES File Explorer, to get a statement on this security issue. However, we did not hear back before press time. We will update this article if and when we receive a response (ED: See above for statement).

In the meantime, will this stop you from using ES File Explorer? If so, here’s a list of alternatives, or sound off in the comments with your file explorer app of choice.

NEXT: 10 best Android file explorer apps, file browser apps, and file manager apps

Source: Android Zone

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Best Dell laptops to buy in 2019 — mainstream, business, and gaming

If you’re in the market for a new laptop, Dell is definitely one of the main brands to consider. The tech giant is the third biggest PC maker in the world and has a ton of great products in its lineup. To help you figure out exactly which Dell laptops are worth your money, we’ve rounded up the best ones aimed at casual users, business users, and hardcore gamers.

Keep in mind these are all Windows machines. If you’re more of a Chrome OS fan, be sure to check out our guide to the best Chromebooks.

Best Dell laptops for personal use

Dell XPS 15 9575

The first model on our list of the best Dell laptops is the XPS 15 9575. It’s a 2-in-1 device, which means you can also use it as a tablet by flipping over the 15.6-inch display. The laptop is thin as well as light and has small bezels around the screen for a modern look.

It’s powered by Intel’s 8th generation Core i5 or i7 processor and comes with up to 16GB of RAM. The laptop also sports a Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics card, up to 256GB of SSD storage, and an optional fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. The built-in battery comes in at 75WHr and offers up to 15 hours of use, according to Dell.

The Dell XPS 15 9575 is a great laptop, but it’s not cheap. The entry-level version comes in at $1,300, while the high-end model will set you back $2,000. You can check out pricing for the other configurations via the button below.

Buy from Dell

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Dell XPS 15 9570

This Dell laptop can’t be used in tablet mode like the model above, but it does have better internals depending on the configuration. It’s powered by the 8th generation of Intel Core processors (up to Intel Core i9) and offers as much as 32GB of RAM — making the device a great option for power users. The laptop comes with either Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 630 or a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card.

The battery should be good for up to up to 20 hours of use.

The display measures 15.6 inches and is available with Full HD or 4K resolution. There’s plenty of space available, with the high-end models featuring 1TB of SSD storage. If you opt for the 97Whr battery, you’ll be able to use the device for up to 20 hours before running out of juice, according to Dell.

The cheapest version of the Dell XPS 15 9570 will set you back $1,000, while the most powerful variant comes in at $2,750. There are seven configurations to choose from, which can be further customized to suit your specific needs.

Buy from Dell

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Dell XPS 13 9380

The Dell XPS 13 9380 was announced at CES 2019 and is a refreshed version of an already great laptop. The company removed the nose camera seen on the previous model and placed it back in the top bezel above the display where it belongs. Speaking of the display, it comes in at 13.3 inches and offers Full HD (without touch) or 4K resolution (with touch).

The compact laptop packs the 8th generation of Intel Core processors (up to Core i7) along with up to 16GB of RAM under the hood. It also comes with as much as 256GB of SSD storage, stereo speakers professionally tuned with Waves MaxxAudio Pro, and a built-in 52WHr battery promising to last up to 21 hours.

If you’re in the market for a well-built and beautiful laptop with a compact size that allows you to easily take it on the road with you, this is the one to get. Pricing starts at $900 and goes all the way up to $2,010 for the high-end model.

Buy from Dell

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Best Dell laptops for gaming

Alienware Area-51m

Like the Dell XPS 13 9380, the Alienware Area-51m also made its debut at CES 2019. It’s a beast of a laptop, packing the 9th generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processor under the hood and up to 32GB of RAM. It comes with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070/1080 graphics card and a 17.3-inch Full HD display.

Editor’s Pick

What is 5G, and what can we expect from it?

You’ve likely heard the term a lot recently, but what is 5G? Good question. Simply put, 5G networking is the next major evolution of mobile wireless technology. It will empower customers with even faster data connections, …

The laptop has a futuristic design thanks to the unique lighting at the back. The battery comes in at 90Wh and is said to be good for 3.5 hours of video playback. What’s interesting is that it ships with two power bricks — one for home and one for the road — which is not all that common. The reason for this is that one brick is larger and for situations where you want full power, while the other is smaller and perfect for traveling situations.

You can also opt for Tobii eye-tracking for a more immersive gaming experience.

All these things combined make the Alienware Area-51m one of the best Dell laptops for gaming you can get. As you’d expect, it’s very expensive, with pricing starting at $2,550. If you want the top-of-the-range model, you’ll have to fork out $4,250. Sales kick off January 29.

Buy from Dell

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Dell G7 17

As you can tell by its name, this Dell laptop has a 17-inch display (17.3-inch to be exact) and offers Full HD resolution. It’s not as fancy or powerful as the Alienware Area-51m, but it still gets the job done.

Under the hood you’ll find Intel’s 8th-gen Core i5 or i7 processor, 8 or 16GB of RAM, and Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 or 1070 graphics card. The laptop comes with 128/256GB of SSD along with 1TB of HDD storage and a 60WHr battery. It runs Windows 10 Home.

The Dell G7 17 features a spill-resistant keyboard with a numeric keypad and comes with a 30-day free trial to Microsoft Office as well as a 12-month subscription to McAfee LiveSafe. Pricing starts at $1,380, with the high-end model retailing for $2,200.

Buy from Dell

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Alienware m17

You can tell this is a gaming laptop just by looking at it. It sports a rugged and eye-catching design that definitely stands out from the crowd. The device sports a 17.3-inch display that offers Full HD or UHD resolution and is powered by either the Intel Core i7 or i9 processor (8th generation). It comes with 8 or 16GB of RAM depending on your configuration and Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060, 1070, or 1080 graphics card.

Read next: Here are the best phones for gaming

The amount of storage you get depends on the model you go for, with the most expensive variant featuring a 512GB SSD and 1TB hybrid drive. The laptop comes with a 60WHr battery and optional 90WHr upgrade. It’s available in silver with a satin finish or red with a soft-touch finish.

In terms of pricing, the Alienware m17 can be yours for $1,650 if you opt for the entry-level model. The top-of-the-line machine will set you back a lot more, coming in at $3,750. You can check out prices for the other models via the button below.

Buy from Dell

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Best Dell laptops for business

Dell Precision 7730

This business laptop from Dell has a 17.3-inch display with HD+ resolution. You get a lot of screen real estate to play with, but that also means the laptop might not be the best choice for road warriors. The device has a sleek design, is well-built, and comes with security features such as an integrated fingerprint reader.

There are a few models to choose from. You can get the Dell Precision 7730 with Intel’s Core i5, i7, or Xeon E-2176M processor. Depending on which one you go for, you get 8, 16, or 32GB of RAM. The top-of-the-range model comes with the Nvidia Quadro P4200 graphics card, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 97Wh battery. You can check the specs of the other models here.

Pricing starts at $1,400 and goes well over $4,000 if you want the best specs and features. As it’s a business laptop, the Precision 7730 is powered by Windows 10 Pro.

Buy from Dell

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Dell Latitude 5591

If you’re looking for a Dell business laptop on a budget, the Latitude 5591 might be for you. It’s powered by the 8th generation of Intel’s Core processors (i5 or i7) and comes with either 4 or 8GB of RAM. You can get it with as much as 256GB of SSD storage and a 68Whr battery.

Editor’s Pick

Mobile VR headsets – what are your best options?

Standalone VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive Pro do their job brilliantly but both come at a premium. The Rift will set you back $399, while HTC’s option currently retails for $799. …

The Full HD display comes in at 15.6 inches, making this Dell laptop a better choice than the Precision 7730 for those who spend a lot of time on the road. The device has fingerprint readers to keep your business documents safe from prying eyes and runs Windows 10 Pro.

The entry-level configuration is available for $900, but it’s probably best to step up a bit and get the next model in line (at least). It will set you back $1,380 and offers more RAM and well as SSD storage, allowing you to get things done faster.

Buy from Dell

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Dell Latitude 7390

The last model on our list of the best Dell laptops is the Latitude 7390, which is a 2-in-1 device. That means it can also be used as a tablet thanks to the touch-sensitive display. Speaking of the display, it measures 13.3 inches, has Full HD resolution, and is covered by Gorilla Glass 4 for added protection.

You can get the Latitude 7390 with a fingerprint reader and a digital stylus.

You can get the device with an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor (8th gen) and as much as 32GB of RAM. There’s an optional fingerprint reader available and a digital stylus for writing on the display. Depending on the configuration, the Latitude 7390 comes with either a 45 or a 60Whr battery.

The cheapest model can be yours for $1,150, although it’s not super powerful and best to be avoided if you want speedy performance. The next model in line is a better choice and comes in at $1,380, while the most high-end configuration goes for $1,800.

Buy from Dell

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Read next: The best laptops with the RTX 2080

There you have it — these are the best Dell laptops you can get your hands on in our opinion, although there are plenty of other great ones to choose from as well. Which ones would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

 

Affiliate disclosure: We may receive compensation in connection with your purchase of products via links on this page. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. See our disclosure policy for more details.

Source: Android Zone

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Redmi Note 6 Pro review: Still a fine buy

The success of the Redmi Note series has catapulted Xiaomi to a meteoric rise in last couple of years, usurping market leaders in India.

The Redmi Note 5 series launched in India in February 2018 with a “Pro” variant on offer for the first time. In just eight months, the company has launched its successor, the Redmi Note 6 Pro.

Read: The best smartphones in India under Rs. 20000

The Redmi Note 6 Pro sticks to the formula of the predecessor, keeping up with the times and cashing in on its popularity as one of the best mid-range smartphones in the market to keep the sales momentum going.

I spent a few weeks with the phone — here’s my Redmi Note 6 Pro review.

Design

The design of the Redmi Note 6 Pro has Xiaomi written all over it (not literally!). It’s functional, but uninspiring — it just looks fine.

There’s nothing wrong with Xiaomi’s design language, mind you, but all the iterations are tiring, even if the phones’ bestselling status means a lot of customers are okay with it. A spunky new chassis would’ve offered a nice refresh, since by the end of 2018 it was difficult to tell one Xiaomi phone apart from another.

Redmi Note 6 Pro has a functional, but uninspiring, design.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro features a few subtle design changes that improve the device’s ergonomics, like the arc design on the back. The rounded corners don’t let the phone dig into your palm. At 182 grams, it’s a tad heavy, but the weight is distributed well and the phone didn’t get uncomfortable to hold at any point. There’s also a water-resistant P2i coating.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro is nicely built. Its metal body looks solid, but it’s definitely not winning any beauty contests. Honor and HMD Global consistently up the game in aesthetics, and I wish Xiaomi would follow suit in 2019.

Display

The display is the first thing you’d notice if the Redmi Note 6 Pro is placed next to the Redmi Note 5 Pro, since the former sports a larger 6.26-inch display with a large notch on the top. The notch allows Xiaomi to increase the display size within the same footprint of the phone although most of the extra screen real-estate is eaten by the notch itself. Practically, the notch offers no real benefit here but Xiaomi had to keep up with the trend.

The panel on the Redmi Note 6 Pro though looks much better than its predecessor. The colors are vibrant and the images and text appear quite crisp. The viewing angles are pretty good as well.

There’s also an option to tweak the white balance and color temperature of the display. For me, the default settings were just fine. For a smartphone in this price range, the Redmi Note 6 Pro certainly has one of the best displays out there.

Performance

The Redmi Note 6 Pro packs in the same internals as its predecessor. For many, that was the biggest disappointment at the launch. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, combined with 4GB or 6GB of RAM, was pretty exciting at the start of the 2018 — not so much in early 2019.

The Snapdragon 636 packs eight Kryo 260 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. It’s a fantastic mid-range SoC, but upgrading to the latest Snapdragon 660 would’ve been nice.

That said, the Redmi Note 6 Pro is a solid mid-range smartphone and can take anything you throw at it with considerable ease even, though it’s hardly the most powerful or fastest in the market. It’s an awkward conflict — the Snapdragon 636 works well and I had no issues with it in real-world usage, but the specifications sheet watchers won’t be impressed.

It’s the same story in the battery department. The large 4,000mAh battery offers over a day and a half of battery life easily, but the phone only comes with a 5V/2A charger.

Overall, the Redmi Note 6 Pro continues to be a solid performer, even though this isn’t an upgrade from the last generation. A lot of the users might just be okay with it, really.

Hardware

The choice of MicroUSB port on the Redmi Note 6 Pro is disappointing. A device with a “Pro” moniker should’ve gone with USB Type-C, now that few other smartphones in the market at similar price points have made the switch.

The device features a hybrid SIM tray, so you can either use two SIMs or one Nano-SIM and one microSD card.

Camera

Imaging is one department where Redmi Note 6 Pro ups the ante from the last generation, even though the Redmi Note 5 Pro offered one of the best cameras in the segment at its time.

While the company retains the 12MP and 5MP dual camera configuration at the back, the primary sensor now has a 1.4-micron pixel size and dual-pixel autofocus, with a wider f/1.9 aperture that helps it pull in more light than the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which had an f/2.2 aperture. The secondary depth sensor helps with those bokeh shots and portraits.

In good lighting conditions, the Redmi Note 6 Pro takes great shots. The exposure’s just right, the colors look vibrant, and Auto HDR kicks in automatically when required. The macro shots look brilliant. In low light, the slow shutter speed adds some blur if you’re capturing objects in motion, but otherwise fares well. There’s obviously some lack of details and the sharpness takes a hit, but for a smartphone at this price, the low light photography is pretty impressive.

When shooting portraits, edge detection is perfect in most cases. Even after taking the shot, you can adjust the level of blur, add light trails, and adjust studio lighting effect. It may sound gimmicky, but it’s executed well.

At the front too, there’s now a dual camera. The 20MP selfie camera is paired with a 2MP secondary sensor for depth-of-field. The primary sensor uses a 4-in-1 pixel binning method for an effective pixel size of 1.8 microns.

The front camera is quite an upgrade from the last time. The selfies taken pack in a good amount of detail. The edge detection in portraits is quite good and you can also fine-tune parameters for beautification if vanity is your thing.

Like the trend in 2018, the Redmi Note 6 Pro boasts AI scene detection. The rear camera can recognize 32 scenes, while the front camera can recognize 12 scenes using artificial intelligence. The AI mode is turned off by default but once you turn it on, the results are a hit and miss. The Redmi Note 6 Pro takes great photos either way, and sometimes you’d not be sure of the contribution of the AI smarts.

Overall, the camera on the Redmi Note 6 Pro is one of the highlights of the smartphone, and also the area where Xiaomi has put in greater effort than some other areas while conceiving this successor.

Software

The Redmi Note 6 Pro runs MIUI 10, Xiaomi’s proprietary UI layer, out of the box. MIUI 10 is based on Android 8.1 Oreo, which is disappointing for a smartphone launching at the very end of 2018. At launch, Xiaomi didn’t announce a timeline for the Android Pie update and the company has never been known to be very quick about those anyway.

That said, the software is quite well optimized for the phone and it breezes through everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. In my anecdotal experience, the apps seemed to launch faster than the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the overall experience is quite snappy.

MIUI is one of the more popular Android customizations. It’s a tad bloated, but packs in a lot of features and has its share of fans. With the hardware it packs, Redmi Note 6 Pro offers a fluid software experience with no performance issues.

Specifications

	Redmi Note 6 Pro
Operating System	Android 8.1 Oreo MIUI 10
Display	6.26-inch Full HD+ (2280 x 1080) display 19:9 aspect ratio 500-nit maximum brightness 2.5D curved glass Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (1.8GHz max) Kryo 260 CPU Adreno 509 GPU
RAM	4/6 GB LPDDR4X
Storage	64 GB Expandable storage up to 256GB
Rear Camera	12MP + 5MP dual camera 1.4μm pixel size f/1.9 aperture Single tone dual-LED flash
Front Camera	20MP + 2MP dual camera AI face unlock
Battery	4,000 mAh 5V/2A charging Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
Dimensions	157.91mm x 76.38mm x 8.26mm
Weight	182g
Colors	Black, Rose Gold, Blue, Red

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The Redmi Note 6 Pro is a great all-round package, but it’s definitely not the leader in the mid-range segment amongst growing competition.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro is a pretty good smartphone but there are more than a few more appealing options on the table right now.

It offers great value, with a fantastic camera and reliable overall performance, but Xiaomi missed a trick or two to make the latest iteration more appealing. It’s still a fine buy for most users and will likely sell well based on the Xiaomi name.

However, in the mid-range smartphone segment where the loyalties shift with a bump in the RAM or a single digit change in the name of the processor, at 13,999 rupees ($199) in India the Redmi Note 6 Pro won’t have clear path to the crown the Redmi Note series has claimed for a while.

Source: Android Zone

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Google ordered to filter search results in Russia, but will it do so?

Shutterstock

Russia’s communications authority has reportedly demanded that Google route its citizens’ searches through a government-approved filtering system.

According to Sky News and Russia’s Interfax agency, the authority has issued repeated requests to filter Google searches in the country. The demands come after Russia passed a new law last year, which requires search engines to censor their results by connecting to a government filtering system.

Google reportedly received a 500,000-ruble (~$7,512) fine back in December for failing to connect to this system. A government spokesperson told Interfax that continued violations could lead to a maximum fine of 700,000 rubles (~$10,521).

Editor’s Pick

Google shareholders file lawsuit over sexual misconduct payouts (Update: Response)

Shutterstock

Update, January 11, 2019 (3:42PM EST): In a statement sent to Android Central, Andy Rubin’s lawyer said the lawsuit “mischaracterizes” Rubin’s departure from Google.

Here’s the statement from Rubin’s lawyer, Ellen Winick Stross, in full:

“This …

It’s highly unlikely Google will feel the pinch of these fines, as the Alphabet parent company reported worldwide revenue of $110 billion in 2017. Nevertheless, it’s believed Russia could consider blocking Google in the country if the search giant conducts “malicious non-fulfillment” of the filtering law.

SearchEngineLand notes Bing has also been issued with demands to filter results, but it’s unclear whether Microsoft has decided to comply. The most popular search engine in Russia (Yandex) has already conformed to the censorship law though.

NEXT: Huawei is reportedly under federal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department

Source: Android Zone

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Galaxy S10 Plus photo leak: is this Samsung’s new flagship?

91Mobiles

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S10 Plus smartphone may have been spotted in real life. A Redditor uploaded a photo of a person apparently using the device on a bus late yesterday (via DroidShout).

It’s a grainy photo but it gives us some clues as to what to expect at the phone’s launch next month, should it be the real deal.

The Galaxy S10 Plus appears to have a dual selfie camera at the top right embedded in the display, as had been speculated, while you can just about make out the buttons of Samsung OneUI interface at the bottom of the screen too.

It looks like a near-bezel-less screen.

Reddit

The handset looks like it’s protected in a square case, so we aren’t able to see every design element around the device’s edge. People working at smartphone companies are sometimes given test units to take home, bundled within a security case and other protective measures to conceal its identity and stave off leaks. The device itself probably has slightly rounder edges than it seems from the outside — like in the render at the top of the page.

Editor’s Pick

Samsung Theme Store: What it is and how to use it

Samsung is one of a few OEMs still offering themes. They’re not available in stock Android, and may be one of the best reasons to still have OEM customizations. In any case, Samsung’s theme store …

What we do know is that the Galaxy S10 Plus will launch at a Samsung event on February 20. It’s expected to come with a QHD+ display, Snapdragon 855 chipset (or Exynos 9820), as much as 8GB RAM, a triple rear camera, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

For more on what to expect from the upcoming smartphone, head to our Galaxy S10 rumors article at the link. Let me know in the comments what you think of the most recent photo – and if the Galaxy S10 is approaching Google Pixel 3 levels of leaks?

Source: Android Zone

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LG might make a phone you can add another screen to… no joke

You’ve got to give it to LG for constantly trying to out-innovate their competition, from modular phones like the LG G5 to phones with way too many cameras. The company is now apparently leaning towards selling you one with an optional second screen. A folding phone, however, this is not.

According to CNET, LG is getting ready to show off multiple devices including the LG G8 at Mobile World Congress next month. One of these new devices will have an optional second screen. There’s no confirmation whether LG will market this as a variant of the G8 or as a completely new series.

It is believed the additional screen will arrive as part of a case for the phone, apparently giving you more screen space to work with. This screen would presumably make use of the USB Type-C port or perhaps a proprietary connector.

Editor’s Pick

Foldable phones with flexible displays – Here are the ones we know about so far

Phones with true flexible and foldable displays are on the way! After a brief flirtation with phones like ZTE Axon M, which joins two screens with a hinge in a clamshell design, we’re already seeing companies tease …

The jury is still out on whether we really need dual screen phones, but what about a second screen attached to a case? This solution could potentially be used as a folio-style device with a stylus. Or how about a modern-day communicator with the keyboard split over on the other half? Since the screen would be on the inside, it would also be relatively protected against drops and scratches.

Is this something that excites you? Let us know down in the comments.

NEXT: Yes, there is a system-wide dark theme in this early Android Q build

Source: Android Zone

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