The Galaxy Note 7 has native support for icon packs and themes

Theming and customization are part of the reasons we all love Android. But to get the full customization experience we typically had to turn to alternate launchers, icons packs, custom ROMs and third-party applications.

But manufacturers – and Google for that matter – have been increasingly adding what would otherwise be considered 'custom' features into their core OS or skin. So it is with the Galaxy Note 7, which supports icon packs right out of the box via Samsung Themes.

See also: This is Samsung's Good Lock UI for Android93

This means if you want to play around with the full scope of themes – not just wallpapers and color schemes but icons as well – you now need not look any further than the built-in Themes on the Note 7. Opening Samsung Themes on the Note 7 reveals three tabs: wallpapers, themes and icons. This follows on from Samsung adding support for third-party themes on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Whether this move will roll out to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Note 5 and possibly S6 range is as yet unknown. But if it does it could strike fear into the hearts of third-party launcher developers who have typically relied on a general distaste for the UI that comes out of the box.

If Samsung and potentially more OEMs start adding support for themes and icons by default, essentially cutting out the middleman, the main reasons to install a custom launcher start to dry up.

Are you happy to see Samsung supporting themes and icons natively? Or will you still use a custom launcher?

Up next: Galaxy Note 7 feature focus: S Pen

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aLlJbm
via IFTTT

T-Mobile knocks $200 off Galaxy S7, S7 edge and Note 5 if you switch carriers

Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 might be grabbing all the limelight right now, but the company's Galaxy S7 series and the slightly older Note 5 shouldn't be overlooked if you're in the market for a new phone. These three are still some of the best phones around right now and T-Mobile is making them even more tempting with a $200 discount off the Galaxy S7, S7 edge or Note 5 for customers who switch carriers. There's a little bit of a catch though.

T-Mobile offers this $200 compensation by way of bill credits after the first two months on your new plan. So this works out to a $8.34 reduction in your phone bill each month for 24 months. Furthermore, the only data plans eligible for the offer are either the 10GB or Unlimited packages, which cost $60 or $75 each month respectively.

Technicalities a side, it's still a pretty good deal if you were thinking about picking up one of these phones anyway. Breaking down the numbers means that you can (sort of) nab a Galaxy S7 for $479.99, the S7 Edge for $579.99, or the Galaxy Note 5 for $589.99. Or you could view the deal as getting 10GB data for $51.66 or unlimited data for $66.66 a month for the next two years.

• 
  Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Revie...
• 
  Samsung Galaxy S7 Review
• 
  Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review

To grab the offer, just head on over to the carrier's website, pick your phone and an eligible data plan with 10GB or more, and port your phone number to your new handset. I'll leave the links to the phones below. Alternatively, give T-Mobile a call on 1-877-413-5903 and they'll arrange everything for you.

Galaxy S7

Galaxy S7 edge

Galaxy Note 5

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aLle0O
via IFTTT

Riptide GP: Renegade comes to NVIDIA SHIELD

If you are a big fan of fast-paced, arcade-style racing games and have been waiting for the latest installment of the Riptide GP series to come to the NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV, your wait is over. After its release on the PC and consoles only a few days ago, Riptide GP: Renegade, the third entry in the high-speed water-based racing game series from Vector Games, is now available with NVIDIA Shield.

Riptide GP has always been on our list of favorite Android racing games here at Android Authority. While the two previous installments in the Riptide GP series featured only a career mode and a series of tournaments, Renegade takes things to a whole new level. You now have a story to play out in the game, and you get to play both a racer as well as a fugitive. It's also the first game to be developed by Vector for consoles from the ground-up since they launched Hydro Thunder Fury.

So get ready to play a hydro jet racer who has to prove that he is still the best racer on the planet after being framed and banned from the professional Riptide GP league. Restore your reputation by taking part in illegal races held in large futuristic cities, and outrun other racers, as well as the police chasing you on their hydro jet bikes across city parks, industrial compounds, and flooded streets even as fighter jets from above drop bombs on the ground.

As you race around the tracks on your hydro jet, you not only get to perform stunts like grinds and flips, but also get rewarded with a speed boost for successfully pulling off complicated tricks. Progressing further in the game gives you cash rewards which can be used to upgrade and redesign your hydro jet, while defeating your opponents will unlock new models.

Apart from traditional races, Riptide GP: Renegade offers you a variety of modes to choose from, such as elimination rounds, freestyle events, time trials, and a challenge mode. If you get bored with standard solo play, there's split screen multiplayer available, or you can always switch to online multiplayer mode where you can race against other players.

At 1080p, 60 frames per second action, the graphics are pretty impressive and Vector has really nailed it this time with Riptide GP: Renegade. You can head to the Google Play Store to download the game on your NVIDIA SHIELD, but don't complain about the $9.99 you need to pay because the PC and console version on Steam costs $15, despite offering only a few additional effects and high-resolution textures.

If you're among those who badly want to play Riptide GP: Renegade on their Android smartphone, you'll have to wait patiently until the end of this month when its support is extended to mobile devices.

Are you excited to play Riptide GP: Renegade on your NVIDIA SHIELD or Android smartphone? Hit the comments below to let us know!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aQ89Ey
via IFTTT

Xiaomi Mi VR headset launched

This article was originally published at our sibling site, VR Source. 

The world has reached a phase where Virtual Reality is on the verge of becoming mainstream. This time around, it is Xiaomi who will be joining the bandwagon of companies that have been developing their own VR headsets. This really comes as no major surprise, since the company first started teasing about the possibility late last month.

The Xiaomi VR Play Edition comes with a zipper, and is made out of Spandex and Lycra. The zipper is expected to hold the phone in a better way, as opposed to the velcro that is found with other VR headsets.

Xiaomi has also managed to address yet another pain point with bare basic VR headsets, the adjustment. The two openings at the front will allow users to adjust the placement of the smartphone, and will most likely also keep the device ventilated. The Mi VR headset is designed to accommodate phones with screen size ranging from 4.7-inch to 5.7-inch. Furthermore, Xiaomi has also used anti-glare lenses and non-slip pads for the VR headset.

Alongside the new VR headset, Xiaomi has also announced Mi VR app, and is partnering with VR content providers like Youku. The app will also offer a diversified range of content including several VR-based apps and games. Interestingly, the Mi VR headset will also come with a slew of personalization design options, so you won't be limited to the standard black or the boring white trims.

See also – Best Cheap VR headsets

At this juncture, Xiaomi is yet to reveal the price, however, it has opened the registrations for beta testers who once selected would only have to pay a nominal CNY 1 for the headset.

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aV9hsp
via IFTTT

Deal: Sony 43″ 4K Android TV for $579.99

In the market for a 4K TV with Android TV's spiffing software and apps? Well then you'll probably want to check out this eBay offer on a 43-inch Sony set, which can be yours for $579.99.

The 43-inch Sony XBR-43X830C usually retails for around $650, depending upon where you look, so this offer will save you about $70 or more. The TV boasts an LED panel with a 4K Processor X1 for de-noise and upscale tasks to make the most of the 3840 x 2160 panel resolution, regardless of whether you own any 4K material. With Android TV software included, you won't have to mess around with a Chromecast or HDMI cables running to external boxes. Google Play Movies, YouTube, Netflix, and the like, can all be accessed over your WiFi connection straight out of the box.

To sweeten the deal, the seller is offering free mainland US shipping and the Sony TV comes with a free 12 month warranty. If you're interested, hit the button below to check out the deal before they're all snatched up.

Buy from eBay

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2akw27X
via IFTTT

Snapseed 2.8 update adds text input and photo resizing

Snapseed, the Google owned cross-platform photo editing application, has just received an update to version 2.8. The latest software adds in a selection of new fonts, colors, and filters, as well as the option to resize pictures, to help tweak your photos to your liking. The update also contains some slight tweaks to the UI and a small number of bug fixes.

While Snapseed certainly isn't at the Photoshop level of picture editing, the new text tool enables users to insert text wherever they like in a variety of styles and colors. There are 38 different fonts available in the app, text can be inverted, and can also be spliced with other filters for some more unique effects.

The ability to resize images is also a much sought after feature that has finally made its way into the app. This is a particularly handy tool for resizing large megapixel images before uploading them to social media or a blog, to help save on data. The option is tucked away in the overflow menu and allows users to adjust pictures to sizes between 800 and 4000 pixels in each axis.

Snapseed 2.8 is now available from both the App Store and Google's Play Store. If you haven't tried it out already, hit the button below for a free download.

Get it from Google Play

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2ax4MVb
via IFTTT

LeEco launches 4K Android Super TV series in India

After winning over Android smartphone users in India with their attractively designed and aggressively priced handsets, Chinese technology giant LeEco is now applying the same tried and tested formula in order to make waves in the the Indian TV set market. LeEco has just introduced their first Super TVs in India, that feature a premium look that is sure to make heads turn, and at a price that the company claims to be disruptive.

LeEco unveiled its new range of Super TVs at its product launch event in New Delhi earlier today, and the LeEco Super3 smart TV series include the Super3 X55 model with a 55-inch screen, and the Super3 X65 and Super3 Max65 models, with 65-inch displays.

All three models come with a 4K UHD display, and are powered by  a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and Mali-T760 MP4 GPU, and run the EUI 5.5 user interface based on Android 5.0 Lollipop. While the X55 comes with 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, the 65-inch TVs feature 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage. Other features include Dolby Audio, dual USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, and three HDMI ports.

The TVs will come with a Super Remote Control 3.0 with four-direction navigation buttons, that you can use to access different applications and functions, and also use it as an air mouse or gamepad to control multiple devices connected to the Super TV. If you already own a LeEco smartphone, you can use it as a remote as well.

LeEco is offering two years of LeEco Membership with their Super 3 series smart TVs that will allow you to access the company's content ecosystem, including Eros content, without a cable connection. You also get access to content-viewing apps like Levidi, LIVE, LeView, and Panosearch, along with a special LE Key for accessing shortcuts to frequently used apps. All the three models will receive live updates to improve the user experience.

Upon purchase of any of the Super TV models, you get cloud storage space of 5TB with privacy protection to store your pictures and share them with family and friends whenever you want to. Also bundled free along with the three Super TVs is a pair of 3D glasses and a yoga stand. If all of this is still not tempting enough, LeEco is further sweetening the deal by throwing in free shipping, free installation, a 2-year warranty for the unit, and 4-year warranty for the panel. After sales service shouldn't be a problem either, because LeEco has a 24×7 call center in India, backed by 333 service centers at prime locations.

The Super3 X55, X65, and Max65 are priced at Rs.59,790 (~$893), Rs 99,790 (~$1491), and Rs 1,49,790 (~$2238) respectively. Pre-orders for the LeEco Super 3 series kick off on August 10, and first the first 48 hours, you can take advantage of introductory offers worth Rs 25,000 (~$373). The Super TVs will be available on both Flipkart and LeMall.

Let us know in the comments below if you plan to grab a LeEco Super3 TV!

from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2awy68f
via IFTTT