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jeudi 18 août 2016

Android 7.0 Nougat update: August 22 looks to be the day, but when will you get it?

Android N logo AA

Update, August 18: Monday, August 22 is set to be the Android 7.0 Nougat release date, according to Canadian carrier Telus. This just happens to be the exact same date that a select number of South Korean LG G5's will also receive the Android Nougat update. If you don't own a Nexus or South Korean G5 though, take a look below to see when you can expect to get the Android 7.0 update.

When Google dropped the Android N developer preview on March 9 it was also pretty open about its update timeline. Google identified five monthly developer previews in advance of the final release of Android 7.0 by the end of September 2016. With the final dev preview now in hand, Google has hit every one of those monthly updates. But what does this public timeline mean for Android Nougat updates and when you can expect to see Android 7.0 on your device?

android n preview logoSee also: All the latest Android N features you need to know285

By getting the first developer preview out earlier this year, Google gave itself a couple of months head start on getting all of the necessary fine-tuning and bug squashing done with plenty of time to spare. But it also gave app developers and manufacturers an even earlier look at what to expect from Android 7.0 Nougat and additional time to get the update ball rolling.
n-preview-updates_2x

Latest Android 7.0 news

As mentioned above, Canadian carrier Telus has posted an update schedule in its forum that puts the Android 7.0 release date on Monday, August 22 for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Telus correctly predicted the launch date for Marshmallow last year and the date coincides with the Nougat preview program LG is offering some of its South Korean G5 owners.

The final preview of Android 7.0, Android N developer preview 5, didn't introduce many sexy new features, but those that remain have been further polished and optimized. Google has noted that this preview provides "near-final" system images. So while there may not be much to read about the latest Android 7.0 features – what's there is pretty much as we'll see it in Android 7.0.

Besides the visible stuff though, Google also teased several tidbits of information about the Android 7.0 Nougat update during Google I/O. For starters, Android 7.0 will introduce seamless updates so future Android updates happen silently in the background via A/B partition switching.

We'll potentially find Google's new messaging apps, Allo and Duo, bundled with Android 7.0 (or at least on the 2016 Nexuses) and we now know Android 7.0 will feature Sustained Performance Mode for demanding VR and gaming apps as well as support for Project Tango and Daydream VR devices. Oh, and there's a super-fun new Easter Egg that involves catching cats à la Neko Atsume.

Daydream_VR_Android_app_converted

Android N update: when will I get it?

Google Nexus Android N update schedule

March 9: Android N developer preview 1 (alpha)

April 13: Android N developer preview 2 (alpha)

May 18: Android N developer preview 3 (beta)

June 15: Android N developer preview 4 (with final APIs and SDK)

July 18: Android N developer preview 5 (near-final build)

August 22: Final Android 7.0 AOSP build

nexus 6p vs nexus 5x 2 aa (3 of 3)

Android N developer preview OTA updates

The Android N developer preview 5 is now available for Nexus devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program. If you haven't yet received the update, just head to Settings > About Phone > System Updates > Check for Updates to force the OTA. The factory images are also up on the Android Developers site if you prefer to do it that way (or if you flashed the first preview before realizing how easy the Beta Program is).

The monthly Android N updates were only available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, General Mobile 4G (Android One) and Sony Xperia Z3 (D6603 and D6653). We've added information below for other manufacturers based on how long it took OEMs to get Marshmallow out following the release of Android 6.0 in September last year.

Android N OTA update

Android 7.0 update: when will I get it?

Samsung Android 7.0 update

Samsung isn't exactly speedy when it comes to rolling out Android updates, and we sadly don't expect that to change significantly with the Samsung Android 7.0 update.

There was a five-month timeframe between the Android 6.0 launch on September 29, 2015 and the first U.S. update to Marshmallow with the Verizon Galaxy Note 5 on March 3, 2016. Galaxy owners could easily be waiting until late February or early March 2017 for the first Samsung Android 7.0 update.

Even then, it will likely only be the Galaxy Note 6 to get it first, with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge following a little later and the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ after them. With any luck, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge will both arrive in early 2017 running Android 7.0 out of the box.

Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 launch (February/March 2017)

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge photos-26

LG Android 7.0 update

LG has been pretty good with its update speed for Marshmallow, with less than two months separating the release of Android 6.0 and the first LG handset to receive it (the Sprint LG G4 on December 21, 2015). In fact, LG was the first OEM to get a carrier-based Marshmallow update out after Google. The LG V10 eventually got the update internationally in early March 2016, after the LG G3 and LG G Stylo already had Marshmallow in the U.S..

If this is anything to go by, the first LG Android 7.0 update could well be to the LG G5 in December 2016 with the successor to the LG V10 and the V10 itself likely being next on the list, alongside the LG G4.

Best case scenario: Less than two months after Android 7.0 release (mid-December 2016)

LG G5 vs LG V10 quick look-10

Sony Android 7.0 update

As mentioned above, some Sony Xperia owners were treated to an Android N preview build just as they were last year with Android M. However, for those of you not interested in installing a non-final developer version, the Sony Android 7.0 update could arrive as early as the start of March 2017, around the same time as the first Galaxy devices.

This prediction is based on the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Xperia Z3+ all got the Marshmallow update five months after Google first pushed it out. Of course, it will most likely arrive first on the new Xperia X series rather than the Z5 series.

Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 (March 2017), plus Android N developer previews

sony xperia X aa 3

Motorola Android 7.0 update

Moto owners will likely still get the Motorola Android 7.0 update a lot earlier than most, despite now being owned by Lenovo rather than Google. The Moto X Pure Edition got its first U.S. update to Marshmallow on December 7, 2015, but that was the unlocked version not slowed down by the addition of carrier bloatware and "optimization".

With this in mind, Moto owners could be the first non-Nexus owners to see Android 7.0 in 2016, even beating out the LG G5. However, we're yet to see how a Lenovo-owned Motorola handles software updates. At the very least we know the new near-stock Moto devices will run both the Android N and Android O releases.

Best case scenario: A little over a month after Android 7.0 arrives (early December 2016)

Moto X Pure Edition-15

HTC Android 7.0 update

HTC also did pretty well with its first update to Marshmallow. The unlocked Developer Edition HTC One M9 and all variants of the HTC One A9 got the Marshmallow update in December 2015. The HTC 10 arrived in April running Android Marshmallow out of the box.

If HTC follows the same path this year, the first HTC Android 7.0 update should roll out to existing devices less than two months after Android 7.0 is made official. HTC's next flagship, presumably the HTC 11, should arrive with Android 7.0 at launch.

Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 unveiling (December 2016)

htc one a9 review aa (28 of 29)

Huawei Android 7.0 update

Not including the Nexus 6P, the first Huawei device to get Android Marshmallow was not even an update, but straight out of the box. The Huawei Mate 8 arrived with Marshmallow on board in November, just weeks after Google had made the update available for Nexus devices.

Then the honor 7 Enhanced Edition arrived on December 14, 2015 with Android Marshmallow on board and the honor 5X and honor 7 followed with the Marshmallow update at the end of February.

Best case scenario: Mate 9 running Android 7.0 at launch (November 2016), updates in February 2017

Honor-7-vs-Huawei-Ascend-Mate-7-AA-(8-of-17)

Xiaomi Android 7.0 update

Xiaomi had a pretty bad case of the hiccups when it came to the Marshmallow update, so it may not be entirely representative to base assumptions about the Xiaomi Android 7.0 update based on its most recent update performance. Despite announcing Marshmallow was in the final stages of testing back in December 2015, it wasn't until early April that the Mi 4, Mi 3 and Mi Note finally got Android 6.0.

In the worst case scenario, Xiaomi suffers similar problems with Android 7.0 and users won't see it until six months after Google releases it. In the best case scenario, Xiaomi meets its timeline and has the update out in late December 2016 or early January 2017.

Best case scenario: Two or three months after Google (December 2016 – January 2017)

Xiaomi Mi 4S Nirave-1

Android One Android 7.0 update

Android One devices occupy a particular sweet spot when it comes to Android updates. Because they run stock Android, Google handles firmware updates, meaning the Android One Android 7.0 update should arrive at the same time as it does for Nexus devices with both OTA and flashable factory image options.

Best case scenario: Within days of Android 7.0 being released

When do you expect your manufacturer and carrier to get Android 7.0 into your hands?

Read next: Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup



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Android 7.0 Nougat release date is August 22 according to Canadian carrier Telus

Android 7.0 Nougat logo

As Nexus time – and with it, Android 7.0 Nougat time – rapidly approaches, we've just got possible launch date for it. Canadian carrier Telus has revealed the date in an update schedule posted on its forum that says the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X will get the Android 7.0 update on Monday, August 22.

Android Nougat logoSee also: Nougat in a nutshell: Summary of the Android team's Reddit AMA31

Of course, this date isn't definitive, but it falls in line with plenty of other rumors doing the rounds regarding a late August launch for the Nougat update. It must be noted though that the list is maintained by several Telus community managers and, while they may well have some inside info we don't from Telus, we can't guarantee it wasn't just an educated guess. The page does say "dates are approximate and subject to change".

Telus Software Update Schedule Android 7.0 Nougat update

So take the above schedule as you will and if you have a better educated guess on when Android 7.0 will officially arrive, then feel free to sound off in the comments. No wild theories are unwelcome at this time of year. Do you think we'll be looking at the final build of the Android N release next Monday?



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Samsung and LG are making big bets on automotive tech

samsung automotive

This post was originally published on Charged.io, our new transportation site. Don't miss: 15 of the best plug-in electric cars (August 2016)

Both Samsung and LG have bet big on the automotive industry becoming the driving force in information technology.

It's nice to have confirmation from two of the world's biggest tech companies. But we all know that electric cars, autonomous technology, car hailing schemes and even in-car entertainment are set for a quantum leap in the coming years.

"Automotive will ultimately be the next big thing in the information technology sector," said Kim Do-kyun, one of Samsung Electronics' memory division at the Mobile & IoT forum in Seoul. "It's just a matter of time."

The Internet of Things, Google Tango and more could revolutionize technology that isn't even out in the wild. That's how fast automotive IT is progressing right now.

What lies beyond autonomous cars?

We're all looking at the autonomous tech, but the companies involved have to see further. What happens when we don't have to drive the car anymore? We're going to have a lot of free time on our hands.

"In the long term, autonomous driving will be a game changer for bringing in new lifestyle," Kim said. "In the short and medium term, there are opportunities from infotainment, advanced driver assistance system, telematics. DRAM capacity for automobiles will catch up with that of smartphones from 2017."

Samsung buying a seat at the automotive table

Samsung has embraced the auto industry as it clearly sees the industry converging with its own business model. Bloomberg recently revealed that the tech giant is negotiating to buy parts maker Magnetti Marelli from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for more than $3 billion.

It has also bought a 1.92% stake in the BYD, which is one of the world's biggest EV manufacturers.

Automobile electronics is reportedly worth $10.6 billion a year and that's a figure that can only increase. Samsung wants a piece of the action and is prepared to pay for it.

"Samsung Electronics is fostering future growth engine through merger and acquisition strategies. Automobile electronics is expected to lead (Samsung's) future growth business," said Soh Hyun-cheol, a senior analyst from Shinhan Investment Corp.

lg auto car

Don't forget LG, they're coming too

LG Electronics, meanwhile, is working with GM to mass produce 11 core components for the new Chevy Bolt. They include the motors, inverters and infotainment systems. It's just the start for LG, which opened a separate campus outside Seoul in June 2013 to focus on the burgeoning demand in the automotive industry.

The company believes this Vehicle Components (VC) division will be a huge earner for the company in the coming years, even though it is shipping losses right now. It posted a $15.23 million operating loss in Q2. Sales are up 47.9% year-on-year, however, largely due to the six-year deal with Chevy that starts this month.

"Automakers are very strict in terms of safety and form a long-term relationship, with only a few qualified parts suppliers due to safety concerns," an LG Electronics official said. "That's why it takes more time for us to generate tangible results in the business. We are still in the investment phase."

Don't miss: Everything you need to know about the Tesla Gigafactory

This will drive sales

LG, though, expects the VC division to drive the firm's sales in the second half of this year and is well worth the $360 million investment the company intends to make this year alone.

We can expect to see much more synergy between the traditional tech giants and the automotive industry in the years ahead. We have already seen Google build a car, Apple keeps talking about it and the traditional manufacturers have slowly accepted that self-driving EVs are the future after all.

Samsung, LG and more already have the required technology in place and it makes sense to work with them. So the next generation of cars could owe a great deal to the phone in your pocket.

We can't wait to see the results.



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Deal: $1 albums on sale in Google Play

Google Play Music new logo

If you've got a hankering for some old school beats, there's a bunch of classic must-have albums available in Google Play right now that might whet your musical appetites (or educate them if you don't already know these legendary albums). Note that these albums only seem to be on sale in the U.S.

Take a look at this list of dusty chart toppers and tell me they're not still worth $0.99:

Favorite album of the bunch? What's your all-time favorite album?



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AT&T outs Mobile Share Advantage plans with no overage charges

AT&T LogoShutterstock

AT&T is upping its game in the bid for your network dollar; the carrier has just announced a tempting new plan called Mobile Share Advantage (MSA). While a few more spitballing sessions on the name might not have gone astray, the plan itself is actually pretty attractive, primarily because it does away with overage charges.

AT&T LogoSee also: Best AT&T Android phones20

Once you get to your data threshold each month, you'll automatically start using any leftover that may have rolled over from the previous month. Once that's gone, instead of being charged overage rates or a fee, you'll simply have your network speed throttled to 2G speeds (a max of 128 Kbps). Not enough to stream movies or music, but enough to get by. Oddly, AT&T notes that even sponsored data will be affected if you reach your data limit.

Instead of being charged overage rates or a fee, you'll simply have your network speed throttled to 2G speeds.

AT&T is keen to point out that "unlike some competitors, we're not charging extra to get that protection." Although all MSA plans still have an "access charge" applied per device, ranging from a flat-rate $20 per smartphone or feature phone and $40 for devices on a two-year contract. (Mobile Share Advantage for Business customers get a $5 discount on both of those rates.)

But it's not just about avoiding additional fees for exceeding your data limit. Mobile Share Advantage also increases your data allowance as well. There's way too many data caps to cover here, but feel free to hit the link to check out the various caps and prices. But to give you an example, AT&T has taken its existing 5GB/month plan worth $100 and upped its data limit under MSA to 6 GB for the same price, and without overage charges.

AT&T Mobile Share Advantage plans

There's plenty on offer for households, families and businesses too, with data caps as high as 200 GB with support for up to 25 lines. AT&T has also added new data bucket thresholds including 6 GB and 10 GB and you have the freedom to change your data limit anytime during the month. Existing Mobile Share customers can keep their existing plans but add new ones if necessary.

Other current Mobile Share features that will carry over to Mobile Share Advantage plans include:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Mobile hotspot
  • Rollover data to carry over unused data into the next billing period
  • Unlimited texting from the US to 120+ countries
  • Unlimited texting and calling from US to Canada or Mexico
  • Free roaming in Mexico for plans with 10GB or higher (this used to require a data bucket 15GB or larger)

Mobile Share Advantage will be available starting August 21.

ICYMI: AT&T brings family plans to prepaid customers



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Can apps shape our brains, thoughts, and personalities?

brain facebookAJC1

We recently talked about the ways smartphones have changed the world for the better over the last decade. While smartphones are shaping the world we live in, they also have a real impact on our inner world. Continuous interaction with our devices can change the structure of our brain. It can improve our cognitive abilities, and some say, reduce them. Let's take a look at how our beloved phones can change the way we think and feel.

Smartphone usage alters our brains

Research shows that our brains gradually change, depending on how we're using them. I'm sure this doesn't sound like rocket science. A striking example of how our brains adapt comes from a study of London taxi drivers that found that the memory regions in their brains were much larger than in normal people. This is because, in order to be a registered taxi driver in London, you need to have the so-called "Knowledge" – a detailed command of London's thousands of streets, shortcuts, and interest points, which requires strong spatial mapping. Consequently, the drivers' brains' memory regions adjust to store the huge amount of information. Mind you, this goes way back to the millennium, years before the smartphone revolution.

London by night. Image by NASA

London by night. Image by NASA

What about you? When was the last time you asked a person on the street for directions? My bet is the frequency of that happening has declined dramatically since Google Maps was introduced.

So far, there is no research specifically on this topic. But my feeling is that our ability to read maps must be improving simply because we started doing it much more often than we used to. Not convinced? Consider how valuable the ability to locate a rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go is! Surely games like Pokémon Go are designed around giving us incentives to use such skills effectively and improve on them to perform even better.

A recent study showed that touchscreen phone users have a greater representation of their thumb, index and middle fingers in their brain. That tells us that prolonged smartphone usage enlarges the area in our brain where our limbs are represented.

Some of you might have heard of the homunculus, an imaginary creature whose body parts are proportional to the space each limb is represented in the brain. The smartphone homunculus is a little bit exaggerated, but I still think it illustrates the point quite well.

smartphone homunculus

Some experts warn that enhanced blood flow to certain regions of the brain may increase the risk of tumors. But, so far there is no concrete evidence that brain cancer incidence has increased in the last decade, and particularly in people who use their smartphones intensively.

It will be interesting to repeat these studies a few times in the next decade, because the average age of the smartphone user is rapidly declining and its long-term effects in younger brains is mostly unknown.

Think of the children

As adults, we have to take responsibility for the proliferation of smartphone usage among our kids. I'm sure we all have seen adults who allow their children to play with their smartphones just to have a little time for themselves. The brief introduction quickly leads to a point of no return, as high-resolution screens open up vibrant, animated, and attractive world for children to explore.

With rapidly advancing technology, the children of today are being exposed to a much richer information load, in almost every respect compared to previous generations. This change will influence their learning abilities, as well as their learning styles.

Even for us adults, it's becoming more and more difficult to keep our attention on one thing. Not when there are so many digital distractions – top 10 lists! videos! adverts! discounts! new product reviews! – fighting for a piece of our time. By this point, I'm sure I lost some of my readers to something else.

It's possible that tomorrow's adults will have much shorter attention spans. They may be more likely to develop "sensation seeking" personalities, mainly because technology is accelerating everything and the "hype" fades away rather quickly!  On the bright side, they will develop much better abstract thinking abilities, which will help them excel in fields such as software engineering. It is likely that both of these scenarios will happen.

What about those left behind? The kids who don't get to play with the latest tech from age 2? They may suffer, unless we adopt smart devices in our education system on a wide scale. And we don't need to invest billions in it. A good example of this is how the dirt cheap virtual reality headset Google Cardboard is used in schools to give children virtual tours of attractions from around the world. Even the old-school Nexus 5 is enough to make a difference.

The excitement of these children is surely admirable! I think the sole aim of mainstream education should be promoting enough curiosity (to seek more knowledge), and smart devices have a huge potential to help us accomplish this.

Apps with a pinch of science

There is an emerging trend in science which is called "gamification." With this approach, scientists bury their research question in the context of a game which is then introduced to the general public to collect data in an indirect way. We recently talked about one example, called Quantum Moves, in which scientists were seeking inspiration from the intuitive ways that people can solve quantum physics problems. Without doubt, exposure to this kind of problems would help us develop better abstract thinking and problem solving abilities.

Great Brain Experiment, which is an app designed by University College London, is another example where science meets mobile technologies. It contains a number of games that involve exercising your memory or estimating financial risk. Scientists use the data collected from thousands of people to understand how the brain works by developing mathematical models to explain how people make decisions. This is fairly important, because we can think of our daily life as a series of decisions that we make, from when to eat and to when to leave work, all the way up to judging which new smartphone is the best.

Another research from University of Oxford, recently used VR to help people manage severe paranoia. By exposing agoraphobic people to crowded places that they usually try to avoid, researchers showed that even 30 minutes of VR training is enough to make a difference on how the mind works.

In our work, we apply similar gamification principles to another public health issue and investigate to see if playing one version of a game can change people's learning styles and protect them against future episodes of depression. However, whether repeated exposure to one type of problem solving can improve cognitive abilities proportionately is not always clear-cut, and more data is needed before we can confidently say that these approaches will work for the wide majority of people.

Games and cognitive control

I don't know if this will actually happen, but after the recent tragic mass-shooting that took place in Germany, there was a set of rumors that "violent" games might be banned in Germany. It is easy to understand this logic, that violent games inspire people to violent behavior and they reduce people's ability to control acting on violent ideas. But a counter-argument is also possible, that "violent" games help people by giving them a virtual world to actualize such ideas, so that they can control them in daily life.

The key problem here is where to draw the line. Maybe it is the "graphical violence" which is more problematic. Otherwise, think of Mortal Kombat vs Pokemon Go, both available in app stores. In these games the underlying idea is the same (defeating the opponent), but the implementation is quite different. Perhaps training our brain to be less influenced by all the graphical violence that we are exposed to needs to become an educational priority too.

Wrap up

The smartphone revolution is surely influencing the structure of our brain and our thinking. The technology seems to advance far quicker than we can adjust. And, so far, the capacity of scientists to understand the long-term effects of heavy smartphone usage is lagging behind. Instead of being dragged away by this massive revolution, I think it's important to take a few steps back to check how much we are, as individual customers, harvesting the potential of smart devices and think of ways to minimize their negative effects.



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Best phone holders for your car

galaxy s4 mini accessories iclever car mount

Staying connected with your smartphone is key nowadays. Even while you're driving it's a good idea to have your phone for GPS, emergency calls, and so forth. Despite this, it isn't worth having your phone in hand when driving; it puts you and everyone else in the car at high risk.

Thankfully there is a solution to increase your safety on the road while still being able to use your phone- getting a smartphone car mount. They allow you to position your device on the dashboard for easy access where your eyes aren't far from the road. Then you can safely navigate through your GPS or contact numbers.

See also – best Android smartphones

Picking a car mount is the hard part though. With so many to choose from, it becomes difficult to determine which one benefits you the most. So here is a list of six different car mounts that are worth your money.

LifeActiv Lifeproof Suction Mount with Quick-Mount

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LifeActiv is no stranger to building devices that allow you to mount your phone. Their products are always well constructed and reliable. Their suction mount is no exception. Where many car mounts struggle with staying attached to your windshield, the LifeActiv has an industrial strength suction cup to ensure stability during use. It also boasts the Quick Mount adapter which attaches your phone with a simple click and detaches with a light twist. It comes it at $34.99, which is more than many would want to pay, but the quality is worth the price.

Get it on Amazon

Aukey Vent Clip Mount

aukey-universal-smart-phone-magnetic-air-vent-car-mount-holder

Some people don't appreciate mounts that sit on the windshield for fear of it blocking your view. If that's the case for you, then the Aukey Vent Clip has you covered. This mount clamps onto your air vent instead, where you won't have to worry about losing suction. Instead of manually attaching your phone to it as well, the Aukey boasts a non-interfering magnetic design. It comes with two metal plates that fit in your phone case or stick to the back of it. The build also allows you to use it in more places than your car. The best part about the Aukey is it comes in at a very attractive price of just $8.99.

Get it on Amazon

Bracketron TekGrip Power Dock

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If convenience is your fancy, then the Bracketron TekGrip is what you want. This mount uniquely plugs into your car's charging port, where a sturdy yet flexible neck extends so you can access your device with ease in portrait or landscape mode. The best feature of the Bracketron is that it comes with two USB ports, where you can charge two devices simultaneously, even while it's mounted. It's the ultimate mount for people that love road trips with friends. You can purchase the mount from Bracketron's website for $34.99, or you can also get it off of Amazon for $24.17.

Get it on Amazon

USA Gear Car Vent Phone Holder

large_airvent-mount-android-900x900

USA Gear knows the sheer range of smartphones on the market, and that's why their phone holder is as versatile as it is. It is a vent-based mount, but uses brackets instead of magnets. However, the brackets are outfitted with padding that ensures that you will never harm your phone while mounting it. The brackets are also adjustable to fit phones of all sizes (up to 3.5 inches in width). Top it off with 360 degree rotation, and you've got a solid car mount on your hands. Did I mention it's only $12.99?

Get it on Amazon

Spigen Car Mount Stealth

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Spigen's car mount is sleek, simplistic, well-crafted, and reasonably priced at $20.99. At first glance it doesn't look like much, but the Stealth car mount is a viable and easy-to-use option. It adheres to the top of your dashboard via a reusable gel pad that sits at its base. It can only hold your phone in landscape mode, but you won't be frequently navigating your home screen while driving. The holder on the Spigen is constructed with TPU, so it won't scratch your phone, and its designed so well that you can remove and attach your device using only one hand.

Get it on Amazon

Macally mGRIP Automobile Suction Cup Holder Mount

mGrip_07Macally wants to ensure your comfort with a car mount without forsaking tradition, and that's where the mGRIP comes in. It has a classic suction cup design, but its long, flexible neck will sit at your phone at whatever angle or distance you want. The holder itself also swivels to hold your device in portrait and landscape. Three adjustable settings allow for a wide array of devices to be used. The rubber grip will prevent any scratches during operation, and a small release button will let you remove your device with no trouble. Not bad for $14.99.

Get it on Amazon


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