Data Saver mode coming to Facebook Messenger (beta test it now)

Facebook Messenger has become a full-featured service, but all these capabilities can take a toll on your data consumption. Regular text won't be a big deal, but a data saving mode becomes more helpful once you start receiving images, video and more. That is exactly what Facebook is now testing.

Facebook Messenger Beta users are seeing a new option in the settings, allowing them to enable Data Saver mode. There seems to be no compression methods or anything of the like. Instead, this mode will stop Facebook Messenger from automatically downloading photos and video; users will have to tap to download these. When connected to WiFi, the application will continue to work as always.

Those curious about how efficient this option is can also take a look at the estimated mobile data saved, which is right below the option to turn on Data Saver.

Beta testers should go ahead and check it out! By the way, you can join the beta fun too. Just click on the button below and follow the steps to become a beta tester for Facebook Messenger.

Keep in mind testing beta versions of an app also means enduring more bugs and issues. Not everything will work perfectly, but you will be getting features before everyone else. Otherwise, you can sit tight and wait for this capability to make it to the stable version of the app.

Become a Facebook Messenger Beta tester

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This Nexus 6 Pixel parody reminds us that old phones can still rock

While many of us are getting our fair share of hype from the launch of Google's new Pixel phones, one man has helped remind us that even old phones can still pack a punch.

YouTube user SuperiorSandbox has just released a video nearly identical to Google's official "Introducing Pixel" commercial, with one key difference: it highlights the Motorola Nexus 6.

In the parody, Motorola's flagship "whale" of a device is highlighted in all of its glory (taken from the official nexus 6 commercial), spinning in slow motion just like the latest Pixel spot. This reminds us that Google keeps a very similar design language for many of its product launches, and gives a pretty comedic spin to how "new" each iteration really is. There are quite a few features present in the Nexus 6 which Google chose to not include in the new device, such as wireless charging and front facing speakers, and the video made sure to point these out.

The maker of the video also cut his own shots of the Nexus 6 in, and the result is absolutely hilarious. The high quality official renders of the device mixed in with the realistic "handy-cam" style shots is both unsuspected and comedic gold, and had quite a few of us laughing out loud.

Take a look at the video above, and make sure to leave your own thoughts below. I'm still running the Nexus 6 myself. Are you?

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Qualcomm takes Meizu to court in the USA, Germany and France

As we have put it before – it seems Chinese authorities and manufacturers don't care too much about patenting and licensing, so Qualcomm is taking the fight to other lands. After official complaints and threats to take Meizu to court for allegedly using Qualcomm's 3G and 4G radio standards with no authorization, there seems to be no agreement in place.

And odds are they simply couldn't agree with the terms, because Meizu did tell Android Authority they were willing to negotiate directly. But Qualcomm obviously disagrees with the validity of this statement.

"Meizu's refusal to negotiate a license agreement in good faith and its sales and distribution of infringing products around the world leave Qualcomm with no choice but to protect our patent rights through these additional legal proceedings." – Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel at Qualcomm

See also: Which phones come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor?44

Now, the San Diego-based chip maker is taking Meizu to court in the USA, Germany and France. To be more exact, they have filed complaints and actions with the USA International Trade Commission (ITC), the German Mannheim Regional Court and the French authorities.

Qualcomm paid around $1 billion to settle an antitrust investigation brought by the Chinese authorities earlier this year.

What will become of this? Only time will tell, but Qualcomm doesn't seem like an easy contender in court. They are a strong force in the market and will probably protect their technology with teeth and nails. The company actually makes the bulk of its revenues from licensing its technology patents, so the stakes are high.

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AT&T to offer cracked screen repairs for insured phones

AT&T subscribers will no longer have to venture into shady shops to get their cracked screens replaced. The carrier is offering a new cracked screen replacement service for insured devices. Don't go getting comfortable just yet, though! There's a few things to keep in mind.

For starters, your device needs to be insured with the Mobile Insurance, Mobile Protection Pack, Mobile Protection Pack for Business and Multi-Device Protection Pack programs. And it won't be free – an $89 deductible per screen replacement will be charged.

If those aren't enough conditions, you also have to keep in mind this doesn't apply to many phones and markets, at least for now. In fact, only three Android phones are included in the list. Let's check out the availability details.

Those who meet all the requirements can then file a claim and schedule an Asurion technician to come to them. If the claim is approved, it is even possible to schedule an appointment for the very same day.

Pretty awesome, right? It is nice to see AT&T doing something like this, and we certainly hope more carriers follow suit. After all, many of you prefer going with the official carrier or manufacturer whenever possible.

This service will become available come November 15, so be careful with your phones until then!

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Grumpy Cat – Ready, Set, NO is “the worst game you will ever play”

You remember Grumpy Cat, right? The feline's real name is Tardar Sauce and it became an internet sensation thanks to its unique facial features. It looks like he is… upset, which also makes it extremely adorable. Well – now Grumpy Cat will have its very own mobile game.

Grumpy Cat – Ready, Set, NO is said to be the "worst game you will ever play". Of course, that is part of the joke, as the game actually sounds pretty fun. The MarioWare title has 60 mini games, 4 themes and over 40 Grumpy Cat characters. And you can bet this is as legit as it gets, as Lucky-Kat Studios claims one of the founders has actually met Grumpy Cat in real life!

The title will be free-to-play, but there will be in-app purchases in the form of digital currency (goldfish). You can use this to purchase levels, characters and more. But don't worry, you will be able to get in-game currency without actually paying. One option would be to watch a video ad.

See also: 15 best Android games of 2016183

You are at least intrigued by the idea of the game, right? You will have to wait a bit to play it, but it should be a fun distraction for the holidays. Grumpy Cat – Ready, Set, NO will be launching in December, so let's keep it tuned to any upcoming news. Who is going to be downloading this title?

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Samsung brings the Note 7’s Always on Display software to the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge

Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 may be discontinued, but that doesn't mean some of its unique software features are going away.

If you happen to own a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, a new update to the Always on Display should be waiting for you inside the Galaxy Apps store. Released just a few days ago, version 1.4.02 of the Always on Display brings a number of new customization options that were previously only available on the Note 7.

So what's new in this update? For starters, v1.4.02 replaces two of the existing calendar themes with an all-new calendar option. There's also a new digital clock that lets you add your own custom text signature, which can be customized with a different font or color. In addition, Always on Display can now show your currently playing music track. Samsung also says Always on Display now takes up less than 1% of battery every hour.

Plenty more customization features and enhancements are present in this update, though there are too many to list here. It's worth noting that many folks have been reporting broken features in this initial release. To grab the update, head to Settings>Display>Always On Display> About Always On Display>Update.

If you still need to return your Note 7, the S7 or S7 Edge are two phones you should definitely check out if you're looking for a replacement. They may not have an S Pen or many fancy note-taking features, but they are similar enough.

See also: Returning your Galaxy Note 7? Here are some other great Android phones you should check out115

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Crowdfunding project of the week: SunnyBAG LEAF+ is a solar panel you can take anywhere

Great innovations frequently come from crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but we know you don't have time to search through hundreds of campaigns. In the 'Crowdfunding project of the week' we bring forward the hottest tech in this category, so let's get started on this week's gadget.

Other featured Crowdfunding projects: 

• Betterspot VPN router
• The H1 meets all your projector needs
• The Blade4000 is a portable charger that also expands storage
• iBand+ induces lucid dreaming and helps you sleep better

Have you ever been left stranded without power? We all know that pain, but there is a source of energy most of us are not taking advantage of – the sun. The SunnyBAG LEAF+ is a solar panel that harnesses this green energy and charges our gadgets wherever there is sunlight.

But we have heard of plenty of solar products around; what makes this one special? There are multiple reasons why you would want the LEAF+. For starters it is thin and portable at under 200 grams, making it possible for the solar panel to hang from any backpack (or whatever you want to attach it too). SunnyBAG also touts its accessory's resistance, as it is flexible and not affected by the elements. This thing can get wet, dusty and abused.

The solar panel can output 6 Watts of power and comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, as well as Lightning and Micro USB connectors. Those of us with different charging ports can also use adapters to keep devices powered up. These include converters for USB Type-C and 30-pin connectors.

Interested? We believe this could be a great deal for those who often go on hikes or simply want to take advantage of renewable energy wherever they go. If you are considering getting one, all early bird specials are gone by now, but there is the "late bird" offer and you can go home with a SunnyBAG LEAF+ for 76 Euros. The regular package costs 79 Euros. Either option would be a good deal, as it has a recommended retail price of 129 Euros.

Shipments are estimated for December 2016 and the funding goal has been met, so there is nothing to worry about. Are you signing up?

Check out the SunnyBAG LEAF+ on Kickstarter

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