Football Manager Touch 2017 slides into the Google Play Store

The 2017 edition of Football Manager Touch has landed in the Play Store. The sports management sim, known for its tactical depth and divorce case citations, is back for another year to try and take over your life.

Developed by Sports Interactive and published by SEGA, Football Manager Touch 2017 sees you take control of a real-world soccer team to guide them to championship glory. It features hundreds of leagues, thousands of players, and a 3D match engine to monitor each players' performance.

See also:

The Humble Mobile Board Game Bundle delivers 8 games for $5

1 day ago

FM Touch 2017 includes a host of improvements upon FM Touch 2016, many of which echo adjustments made to its PC counterpart, and one of Sports Interactive's main aims appears to have been speeding up the gameplay: there's now an "instant result" feature so you can skip to the end of matches when you feel you've seen enough of them, there are more automation options for backroom staff, and scout assignments have been streamlined.

Here's a video discussing the new features:

Football Manager 2017 Touch is available now in the Play Store for compatible tablets. Oh, and it costs $19.99 with in-app purchases.

Are you going to pick this one up? Let us know in the comments.

 

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/football-manager-touch-2017-released-727783/
via IFTTT

Google clarifies requirements for Daydream VR-ready phones

We finally know what Daydream VR-ready actually means.

Google recently updated the Android Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) for Android 7.0 Nougat. There are quite a few interesting changes, including some that point to consistent in-line controls for headphones, tweaks to the Android update model, and a potential ban of third-party charging standards.

Don't miss: Daydream VR: everything you need to know

Another provision of the document finally lays out the requirements that a smartphone must meet in order to be deemed Daydream VR-ready. While highly technical, these specifications give us an idea of what devices will work with Google's new mobile VR standard.

Daydream VR-ready phones:

• MUST have at least 2 physical cores.
• MUST support sustained performance mode.
• MUST support Vulkan Hardware Level 0 and SHOULD support Vulkan Hardware Level 1.
• MUST support H.264 decoding at least 3840 x 2160 @ 30fps-40Mbps.
• MUST support HEVC and VP9, MUST be capable to decode at least 1920 x 1080 @ 30 fps-10Mbps and SHOULD be capable to decode 3840 x 2160 @ 30fps-20Mbps (equivalent to 4 instances of 1920 x 1080 @ 30fps-5Mbps).
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support android.hardware.sensor.hifi_sensors feature and MUST meet the gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer related requirements for android.hardware.hifi_sensors
• MUST have an embedded screen, and its resolution MUST be at least be Full HD (1080p) and STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to be Quad HD (1440p) or higher
• MUST measure between 4.7″ and 6″ diagonal
• MUST update at least 60 Hz while in VR Mode
• The display latency on Gray-to-Gray, White-to-Black, and Black-to-White switching time MUST be ≤ 3 ms
• The display MUST support a low-persistence mode with ≤5 ms persistence
• Device implementations MUST support Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth LE Data Length Extension.

The full list of requirements is available here. A quick note on verbiage: "MUST" means that the requirement is mandatory, while "STRONGLY RECOMMENDED" and "SHOULD" mean that Google allows manufacturers to go against its recommendations.

The situation is a bit fuzzy when it comes to the processor requirements. While ZTE announced this summer that the Axon 7 (powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820) is Daydream VR ready, Qualcomm later stated that only Snapdragon 821 supports Daydream VR. Vulkan 1.0 support alone doesn't guarantee compatibility, as Samsung's S7 and S7 Edge support Vulkan, but are not Daydream VR-ready as far as we know.

Google doesn't specifically demand an OLED display in the CDD, but the need for low latency and persistency probably means that only phones with OLED panels will make the cut. That could increase even further the demand for AMOLED displays, which is already on the rise and expected to boom in 2017. On the flipside, Full HD devices are supported, though Google would obviously prefer the denser Quad HD.

So far, if you want a Daydream VR-ready device, the safest bets are the Google Pixel and Pixel XL and the ZenFone 3 Deluxe with Snapdragon 821. There are other Snapdragon 821 devices out there, but they haven't been officially confirmed to work with Daydream VR headsets like Google's Daydream View. Speaking of that, the View will ship tomorrow, so there's a good chance that Google will shed light on the matter very soon.

This post was originally published on VRSource.com.

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/daydream-vr-ready-phones-specs-727780/
via IFTTT

Facebook Messenger now lets brands send you ads that look like messages

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to deny any company the ability to make money, but isn't there a line somewhere that shouldn't be crossed? Maybe not. Facebook, in its never-ending pursuit of pleasing advertisers rather than users, has just updated Messenger to allow brands to send you ads disguised as messages. Hooray.

In the Messenger Platform 3.1 update, Facebook informs all advertisers that they can now create News Feed ads that open a conversation in Messenger. If you ever clicked on one of those ads, in future you will be able to be contacted by that brand in Messenger directly.

See also:

Best messenger apps for Android

January 5, 2016

While users will have the ability to block or delete troublesome "advertimessages" we're likely going to be seeing more and more of them because they clearly work. Absolut, a company that has been trialling the News Feed-Messenger feature in beta form for months, provides a convincing testimonial regarding exceeded expectations. As Absolut's vp of marketing states:

Using News Feed ads to open conversations in Messenger allows Absolut to move beyond the call to action – it's a call to conversation, which ultimately leads to a conversion. It's a novel way to use Facebook ads to drive consumers from content to commerce. So far, our activation rate has exceeded execution benchmarks by 2x.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the blog post continues: "but driving people to Messenger isn't enough. How can businesses continue to engage and excite people to keep coming back? This is where sponsored messages can play a role."

Sponsored messages are ads delivered straight to your Messenger inbox, bypassing any initial interaction with a News Feed ad (because you must have interacted with the brand in the past). The only way to avoid advertimessages is to either never interact with ads in your News Feed or to block each one as it comes in.

Up next: Messenger will now keep track of PayPal payments in the U.S.

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/facebook-messenger-sponsored-message-ads-727745/
via IFTTT

Poster leaks Vivo X9 and X9 Plus hardware specs

Whoops, it appears that someone has given the game away about the upcoming Vivo X9 and X9 Plus smartphones. A promotional poster has been spotted out in the wild revealing almost a complete rundown of the phones' hardware specifications.

According to the poster, the Vivo X9 will come with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, and is powered by an unlabeled octa-core Snapdragon processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal memory. There's also a reasonably sized 3,050mAh battery on board, and a soft LED flash to accompany the camera.

As the name suggests, the Vivo X9 Plus will be a larger model, boasting a 5.86-inch display with the same 1080p resolution. The phone is powered by Qualcomm's 8976 Pro, aka the Snapdragon 653, and some additional RAM, bringing the total up to 6GB. There's the same amount of internal storage as the regular X9, but the Plus model also receives an upgrade to a 4,000mAh battery. Overall, the design and hardware will be almost identical to the X7 series released earlier in the year.

The poster also reaffirms Vivo's earlier teaser that the X9 series will come with a dual front facing camera configuration, which appears to be the range's most notable new feature. The front facing camera will be built from one 20 megapixel and one 8 megapixel sensor, but we don't know anything about how Vivo intends for this configuration to be used yet. We could be looking at a wide-angle option like the LG V20, or a monochrome sensor technology from the likes of Huawei. This powerful looking selfie setup is accompanied by a 16 megapixel camera on the handset's back.

See also:

Vivo X9 and X9 Plus to include 20MP and 8MP dual front-facing cameras

1 week ago

The Vivo X9 and X9 Plus are scheduled to be unveiled at a launch event in China on November 16th. What do you think about the hardware?

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/poster-leaks-vivo-x9-plus-specs-727762/
via IFTTT

This is what Android Nougat looks like on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Following the introduction of an Android 7.0 beta program for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge users in the UK and South Korea, we knew Samsung was close to rolling out an early version of Android Nougat. Now, we know what it looks like.

Sam Mobile obtained screenshots of the new UX, which appear to come from a Korean device, and uploaded some videos showing it in motion. Samsung's UI once again features the typical white and blue Grace color palette but appears to have seen some changes in its icons and menus.

Check out the media below.

In other news, the Wi-Fi alliance has also just certified the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge's Android 7.0 firmware. Though this doesn't mean that Nougat is now ready to be deployed, it's a crucial step in the quality assurance process and confirms that the UI is in its final stages.

The new Grace software is still in production, so the images above may not reflect the final design. Still, what on your thoughts on how the new interface looks so far? Let us know in the comments.

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-s7-android-nougat-screens-727760/
via IFTTT

ASUS launches ZenFone 3 Max in India with two variants

At a launch event in New Delhi, ASUS announced the launch of the ZenFone 3 Max in India. ZenFone 3 Max comes in two size variants – one with a 5.2-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch display. The Max completes the ZenFone 3 line-up in India. ASUS had previously launched its other ZenFone 3 smartphones in the country back in August.

The handset's big selling point is its large 4,100mAh battery, which ASUS says can offer 38 days of 4G standby time and 17 hours of 3G talk time, and can double up as a powerbank to charge other gadgets (The product comes bundled with an OTG cable for reverse charging and file transfer). Obviously, you're going to get a lot less than that if you're even a moderate user though. Both devices sport a fingerprint sensor positioned near the top of the rear panel, allowing the user's index finger to rest naturally upon it.

"We understand the needs of the mobile consumers who are constantly on the move and require access to everything at the tip of their fingers. Through Zenfone 3 Max, we have been able to combine high-end aesthetics, a great photography experience, as well as a battery that ensures that users can enjoy their smartphone experience for longer durations without having to look for a plug point."

– Peter Chang, Region Head – South Asia & Country Manager for ASUS India

ASUS Zenfone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Specifications

• OS: Android M with ZenUI 3.0
• Display: 5.5-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 2.5D contoured glass
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core 64-bit processor | Adreno 505 GPU
• RAM: 3GB
• Internal Storage: 32GB; expandable up to 128GB via microSD card
• Front Camera: 8MP | f/2.2 aperture
• Rear Camera: 16MP | f/2.0 aperture | 0.03s Laser AF/PDAF | EIS | Dual Flash | 64MP Super Resolution
• Battery 4100mAh
• Dimensions: 151.4 x 76.24 x 8.3mm
• Weight: 175g

ASUS Zenfone Max (ZC520TL) Specifications

• OS: Android M with ZenUI 3.0
• Display: 5.2-inch HD (1280 x 720) | 2.5D contoured glass
• Processor: Quad-core 64-bit MediaTek processor | Mali T720 GPU
• RAM: 3GB
• Internal Storage: 32GB; expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Front Camera: 5MP | f/2.2 aperture
• Rear Camera: 13MP | f/2.0 aperture | 52MP Super Resolution
• Battery 4100mAh
• Dimensions: 149.5 x 73.7 x 8.55mm
• Weight: 148g

See also:

The Asus Zenfone 3 Laser is now available in India

4 weeks ago

While the Zenfone 3 Max ZC520TL is available starting today across major online and offline retailers in the country, the Zenfone 3 Max ZC553KL will be available by the end of this month. Available in three metallic colours – Titanium Gray, Glacier Silver, and Sand Gold – the 5.5 inch-variant (ZC553KL) is priced at ₹17,999 ($270) and the 5.2 inch-variant (ZC520TL) is priced at ₹12,999 ($195).

The Zenfone 3 Max lands in a crowded budget-to-mid-range segment in India. What are your thoughts on the internals of the Zenfone 3 Max, and would you be picking one up?

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/asus-zenfone-3-india-launch-specs-price-727732/
via IFTTT

Facebook is having another go at cloning Snapchat

Facebook has just launched a new app called Flash, which is yet another attempt by the company to take on Snapchat. The app is being billed as a Snapchat competitor for emerging markets, as it boasts a small memory footprint and will work in areas with more limited data connectivity.

Flash weighs in at "less than 25MB" in size, which is approximately a third of the size of Snapchat's Android app. It's also smaller than Facebook's core app, which comes in at around 54MB, varying slightly depending on the device. The app was apparently developed by a team specialized in building apps for emerging economies.

This is not the first time that Facebook has attempted to take on Snapchat with what is essentially a software clone. The company's Poke and Slingshot apps both failed to pick up many users and have been pulled from Google and Apple app stores over the past couple of years. Facebook is also testing camera-first features in its core app and is adopting familiar features with Instagram too.

But rather than challenging Snapchat head on for a third time, it would be incredibly tough to catch up to the app's 60 million daily users in the US and Canada, Facebook's new strategy is to beat Snapchat in emerging market adoption. As the app boasts similar features but uses less data, customers may be tempted to download Facebook's option instead, which could finally be a winning formula.

"In most social apps today, a text box is still the default way we share. Soon, we believe a camera will be the main way that we share." – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Flash launched in its first market, Brazil, on Tuesday, and the company has plans to bring the app to other markets too. Facebook hasn't given out information on regions or a timeline yet though, but it seems likely that Flash will be targeted at markets with limited WiFi availability and lower Snapchat adoption rates.

See also:

WhatsApp testing out Snapchat-like "Status" feature

5 days ago

from Android Authority http://www.androidauthority.com/facebook-flash-app-brazil-727742/
via IFTTT