Google receives over one trillion searches each year. The first page of Google search results get the vast majority of that traffic, and ultimately more profits. If you’re not currently ranking on the first page of search engines, you’re missing out.

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Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Fold was already a controversial smartphone well before review units of the device were sent out earlier this week. Much was made about how the phone itself was highly expensive — nearly $ 2,000 — and that it had a very visible crease in the middle of its display when in unfolded tablet mode.

However, it’s safe to say none of us were prepared for the rush of Galaxy Fold screen failure reports that hit the interwebs on Wednesday. Media outlets like CNBC, The Verge, and Bloomberg, along with popular YouTube tech reviewer MKBHD, all reported that the larger inside screen stopped working after only a day or two.

The Verge

While at least a couple of these units failed because a protective film on the display was removed, it looks like the screens on the Galaxy Fold units given to CNBC and The Verge failed because the displays themselves broke down. Check out this commentary from our colleague Scott Adam Gordon for more information.

Samsung has already announced it plans to “thoroughly inspect these units in person to determine the cause of the matter.” However, it also indicated that the April 26 launch date for the Galaxy Fold will go on as scheduled. This doesn’t sound like a good idea at all. It leaves Samsung open to potentially getting a lot more of these display failures with consumer units.

It’s impossible not to think about how Samsung responded to the battery failures on the Galaxy Note 7 when you think about this current situation. The good news is the Fold doesn’t seem to be at risk of causing fires and massive destruction to property because of its display issues. However, we are still talking about one of the most expensive phones ever made for general consumers. The fact that Samsung seems to be hell bent on moving forward with the Galaxy Fold launch seems irresponsible.

A damper on the foldable phone trend?

At the moment, we only have one other confirmed launch for a foldable phone in 2019: the Huawei Mate X. It’s design is different than the Galaxy Fold, with an outward folding form factor. However, some people seem to prefer its design over that of the Galaxy Fold. At the moment, the Huawei Mate X is due for release sometime this summer in Europe, for a price that’s actually more than the Galaxy Fold at 2,299 euros (~$ 2,600). However, we have already seen that Samsung has sold out of its first shipments of the nearly $ 2,000 Galaxy Fold so the high price of the Mate X might not be a huge obstacle.

Android Authority contacted Huawei for comment on the Galaxy Fold issues. The company declined to offer a comment.

Breaking in new technology and design features in a smartphone can sometimes be a hit-or-miss proposition. At the moment, it looks like Samsung is trying to rush out the Galaxy Fold before it’s fully ready, just to beat the Mate X to market. (To be fair, the Royole FlexPai actually came to market a few months before the Galaxy Fold as the first flexible display smartphone, but in a very limited capacity).

The Galaxy Fold needs a time out, for now

Samsung could survive a launch of the Galaxy Fold, at least financially, if it had to recall the device later, as Scott suggested in his article. But that doesn’t mean the company should release a faulty phone.

Samsung should take a step back and reevaluate its release strategy for the Galaxy Fold. There’s no harm in delaying the launch to make sure that the faulty units sent to media outlets were outliers. If the company decides to continue with the launch, and then many more screen failures are found by regular consumers, that will give Huawei a ton of free PR for the launch of the Mate X later this year. It could claim, and quite accurately, that it didn’t want to rush its foldable phone out until it was ready.

This whole situation with the Galaxy Fold is a bit of a shame. Despite the high current costs and the possible design issues, foldable phones could be one of the most promising trends in this industry. Making a device that works as a smaller phone and expands to a larger tablet for more serious work is a no-brainer.

It’s more important to be the best, not the first.

We have been promised foldable phones for literally years, but the practical and reliable technology to go along with that promise always seemed to be just out of reach. Samsung may have felt pressure to get the Galaxy Fold out earlier than planned due to the release of the Huawei Mate X. That pressure may have caused more hardware problems than Samsung could overcome at this stage.

As most people know, rushing things out before they are ready is almost never a good thing in any business endeavor. It’s sometimes a good idea to be first, but it’s always a good thing to be best.

Next: Expecting water resistance from the Galaxy Fold is ridiculous

Android Authority

After switching over from eMMC to UFS memory in its flagship smartphones last year, Samsung is now sketching out how it sees the future of memory in smartphones and IoT devices. Ever faster data speeds, 8K cameras, and virtual reality were just some of the tantalising benefits listed off.

Speaking at the Mobile & IoT 2016 Forum held in Seoul, Cho Hee-chang, a senior research fellow at the Memory Business Division at Samsung Electronics, explained that the 1.2GBps transfer speeds of UFS 2.0 and 2.1 are expected to leap to 2.4GBps in the first half of 2018. Samsung’s current 256GB UFS memory modules boast a speed of 850MBps, so we’re looking at an even greater speed increase in the next couple of years.

Cho expects that there will be 50 billion connected devices online come 2020, and that a growing number of them will make use of this faster storage technology. 4K and 8K camera equipped drones and the rise of VR devices were given as some potential growth areas outside of smartphones where Samsung expects to see UFS memory take off. Of course, we’re likely to see UFS trickle down to Samsug’s mid-range smartphones in the coming years too.

See also: What to expect from UFS, the fast new cards that will replace microSD53

Along with internal memory chips, Samsung recently unveiled its UFS external memory cards, which boast similarly impressive data speeds. The company also announced that it has developed a new memory card tray that works with upcoming UFS cards and existing microSD cards. Samsung is clearly convinced that UFS memory is going to be at the heart of future consumer electronics, and I’m sure that we’ll see more manufacturers begin to make use of it in the future.

Android Authority

Update, 08:50 AM ET: Duo is now available for some users in the Play Store. Click on the download button bellow to check the availability on your device.

Original post, 2:53 AM ET: One half of the dynamic, um, duo of chat apps that Google introduced at I/O is finally here. Almost.

In a blog post, Google announced that one-to-one video calling app Duo would become available on Android and iOS starting today. The post was published late in the evening (Pacific time), so the app should be rolling out right now.

Currently the Play Store Google Duo listing only gives us the option to pre-register for the app. It’s very likely that Google is rolling Duo out gradually, to avoid virtual traffic jams and iron out any unexpected issues that can arise with a brand new service.

Google highlighted the simplicity of Duo, an app that lacks the bells and whistles of Skype or even Google’s own Hangouts. “Duo takes the complexity out of video calling, so that you can be together in the moment wherever you are,” said the company.

It sounds like Google wants to remove any friction that could potentially prevent users from using video calling – the Mountain View company cited research stating that half of all users never make a video call.

To be as accessible as possible, Duo doesn’t need a separate account. You can start using it with just your phone number, just like WhatsApp.

Simple as it may be, Duo is not completely barebones. One of its coolest features is Knock Knock, which basically lets you see the person who’s calling before picking up. You also get end-to-end encryption, which aligns Google with Facebook and Apple when it comes to protecting user privacy.

Very importantly, Duo works on Android and iOS, which will put it on collision course with Apple’s very popular FaceTime.

We’ll keep an eye on the Google Duo Play Store page and update you as soon as the app becomes available.

No word yet on Allo, the text chat app that Google introduced alongside Duo. It can’t be too far behind though.

Anyone here who’s got Duo yet? Let us know!

Android Authority

Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every week!

Congratulations to last week’s S7 edge giveaway winner: Supriyanto (Indonesia).

This week we’re giving away a brand new Moto G4 Plus!

The Moto G series has been around for years now, and in that time has established Motorola as the king of affordable yet powerful handsets. Motorola’s latest low-cost beauty is no exception to this rule.

For those unfamiliar, the Moto G4 Plus is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 405 GPU and up to 4GB RAM. There’s also a beautiful 1080p 5.5-inch display, up to 64GB storage, microSD, and a 3000 mAh battery.

Despite being an affordable handset, the Moto G4 Plus has no shortage of extras, including a fast and responsive front-facing fingerprint scanner and support for Turbo charging. Motorola is also on the top of its game when it comes to the camera, delivering an impressive 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front cam.

For more details on the Moto G4 Plus, and its even more affordable little brother, the Moto G4, be sure to check out the following:

• Moto G4 and G4 Plus announced
• Moto G4 review

Enter giveaway

Moto G4 Plus International Giveaway! [3 Phones!!]

Terms & Conditions

• The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
• If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
• We are not responsible for lost shipments.
• You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
• We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.
• Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
• We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
• This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.
• The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.

Android Authority

Taking a leaf out of the multitude of exchange offers available for Indian smartphone buyers across sales on Amazon India, Flipkart, and other e-commerce platforms, Chinese upstart OnePlus has also jumped on the exchange bandwagon. The company has announced an upgrade program which will allow you to turn in your old smartphone for the newly-launched OnePlus 3 and get a discount of as much as 100%.

With the OnePlus 3, the Chinese smartphone maker has certainly come a long way since the launch of their first smartphone, the OnePlus One, back in 2014. Its powerful features like the massive 6GB RAM, Snapdragon 820 processor, 64GB ROM, and the quick charging ‘Dash Charge’ technology ensure that the OnePlus 3 still gets to give other more expensive flagships a run for their money.

It’s now also much easier to get your hands on the OnePlus 3 because you no longer need an invite, unlike in the case of its predecessors. After being recently launched in India, the OnePlus 3 became available for purchase exclusively on Amazon India where it currently sells for Rs 27,999 (~$ 420).

If paying a midrange price for a flagship device still doesn’t appeal to you, OnePlus is now sweetening the deal by offering an exchange program so that you can swap your old smartphone and upgrade to the new OnePlus 3. Starting today, you can return any old smartphone and get a discount of up to 100% of the value of OnePlus 3. The exact amount of the cashback will depend upon the condition of your old smartphone, which will be evaluated and approved by the company’s program partner, Cashify.

If you want to upgrade to the OnePlus 3 using the exchange offer, you’ll first need to visit Cashify’s webpage to check the replacement value of your old smartphone. Next, you’ll have to purchase the OnePlus 3 from Amazon India and take down the order ID. Finally, you can accept the T&C on Amazon India, after which you’ll be redirected to the Cashify page where you’ll have to input key details of your old smartphone, check your pin code serviceability, and confirm the buyback price and pickup time for your device.

A Cashify representative will then visit you at your submitted address, and pay for your old smartphone after examining the condition of the device. The upgrade offer is available in selected Indian cities of Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Pune, Faridabad, Bangalore, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad.

The exchange offer could be a sign that OnePlus is feeling the heat from other Chinese manufacturers in the Indian market, with budget-conscious Indian consumers warming up to smartphones from OEMs like Xiaomi, Lenovo, OPPO, Vivo, Huawei, Gionee, and LeEco. Even as Chinese smartphone companies slug it out in the Indian market by throwing in more offers and discounts, Indian consumers are obviously happy to get a bigger bang for their buck.

Do you plan to exchange your old smartphone and upgrade to the new OnePlus 3? Let us know in the comments below!

Android Authority

In May of 2011 the Chromebook line was first announced, immediately finding itself a target of mixed reception. Many felt a computer that was “limited to the web” would ultimately struggle to find a following, and yet despite this the Chromebook market has exploded in recent years.

While the Chromebook market might still be a very niche one, there a growing number of people that are looking for an affordable, virus-free computing experience that serves as their gateway to the web. The fact that Chrome OS only has a number of true offline apps simply doesn’t matter to this type of web-centric user.

Check out: Wondering which Chromebook to buy? Google can help you pick4

In the early days, there were only a limited number of Chromebooks to choose from, but in 2016 there are dozens of models to pick from. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a few models that we feel represent the very best of the Chromebook universe right now.

See also:

• Best Android tablets
• Best Android watches
• Best Android phones

HP Chromebook 13

Normally when we think of Chromebooks, what we’re imagining is something affordable and basic. Indeed, there aren’t really many options for anyone looking to run a more upscale Chrome OS experience. If budget isn’t your priority, but you’re not quite willing to go all out for the Pixel, then the HP Chromebook 13 might just be the device for you.

This Chromebook sports an Intel Core M Skylake processor powered by 4GB of RAM. For productive members of society on the go, the HP Chromebook 13 boasts a battery that manages to keep its 13.3 inch, 3200 x 1800 display glowing for 11.5 hours. You’ll naturally find the usual connectivity features like a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB Type-C ports, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot to expand upon its 16GB SSD, and of course Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.

The HP Chromebook 13 launched with a $ 499 price tag, placing it in the comfortable middle ground between the standard sub-$ 350 fare of most Chromebooks and the pricier Pixel. The price has since dropped a bit to $ 424.99.

Specs

• 13.3″ Anti-Glare Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Wide Viewing Angle Display
• Intel Celeron 3215U Dual-Core Processor
• 4GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• Battery rated for up to 12 hours use

Read more

• HP announces high-end Chromebook 13, pricing starts at $ 500

Acer Chromebook 11

The Acer Chromebook 11 serves as one of the most affordable options out there. What’s impressive is that it manages to maintain some fairly respectable specifications for its meager price tag. The device is stable and clean, and it makes efficient use of its 2GB of RAM. Stacked up against other devices in its price range, the Acer Chromebook 11 straight up eviscerates the competition.

The build quality is sound, but nothing to write home about. When you’re paying less than $ 200 for a device, plastic pretty much comes standard. However, the Acer Chromebook 11 doesn’t feel cheap. It feels practical. In many ways, this is a Chromebook of Chromebooks, seeing as the platform was originally created for students and professionals on a budget.

It’s worth noting that the Acer Chromebook 11 isn’t particularly rugged. You get a lot for what you’re paying here, but you’re still investing in a product that has a primary selling point of affordability. Excellent for students or people looking for a backup netbook, but this might not be your best pick for your primary interface with technological landscape. Still, in terms of bang-for-buck, the Acer Chromebook 11 is incredibly hard to beat.

Specs

• 11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• 2.16 GHz dual-core Intel Celeron N2840 processor
• 2 GB of RAM
• 16 GB of internal storage
• 9 hours of battery life

Read more

• New Acer Chromebook 11 and 14 hit the Google Store

Acer Chromebook 14

The Acer Chromebook 14 ticks off all the checkmarks of the Chromebook 11 while bringing a much more premium feel to the table. The device has a brushed aluminum lid, weighs a solid-feeling 3.42 pounds, and boasts a much more impressive display than you would expect from its circa-$ 300 price point.

This is an ideal Chromebook for a writer on the go or a student who needs to get work done while schlepping their entire work station from coffee shop to coffee shop. It runs Docs and the rest of Google’s suite with aplomb, and its nearly-10-hour battery life means you can work all day on a single charge without worry.

Unfortunately, although this device has the specs to run the slew of Android apps being made available on ChromeOS, it doesn’t have touchscreen capabilities. That means that if using Android apps is your primary motivation for picking up a Chromebook, you might want to look elsewhere. If that doesn’t faze you, then the Acer Chromebook 14 is a seriously good pick.

Specs

• 14-inch display, 1920×1080 resolution
• Intel Celeron N3160
• 4GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• Extras: HDMI port, Bluetooth, 2 USB 3.0
• 9.5 hours battery life

Read more

• Acer Chromebook 14 arrives

HP Chromebook 11 G5

Now, if touchscreen capabilities are a priority, look no further than the HP Chromebook 11 G5. This baby offers the best of both worlds and really feels like a Chromebook designed for the current notebook landscape. This recently launched device is currently available through online retailers in the ballpark of $ 200 and is expected to hit brick and mortar locations in September.

Although the screen has a somewhat off-puttingly thick bezel, it seems a reasonable concession for the kind of specs you’re getting for this price tag. It’s an impressively thin and light design that feels a bit more premium than its competition in the price range. Most of all, it has an impressive 12 hour battery life, meaning you rarely even have to think about charging it.

If you’re on the go and on a budget, the HP Chromebook 11 G5 is a solid option. Its specs won’t break any records, but it won’t break your bank account either.

Specs

• 11.6″ LED HD SVA Anti-Glare flat (1366×768)
• dual-core Intel Celeron N3060
• 2 or 4GB RAM
• 16 or 32GB storage
• Extras: 2 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, HDMIport
• 12 hour battery life

Acer Chromebook 15

Alongside Samsung, Acer was one of the first manufacturers to jump into the Chromebook fray. Since then, they’ve released numerous models with different screen sizes, processing packages, and more. Our favorite from the company is currently the Acer Chromebook 15.

The Chromebook 15 is far from the most powerful Chromebook around, but it packs plenty of juice for the price. Starting at $ 230 and tapping out around $ 300, this Acer laptop offers an Intel Celeron processor, a large 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768, RAM up to 4GB, and storage up to 32GB. The base package includes 2GB RAM and 16 storage.

Specs

• 15.6-inch Active Matrix TFT Color LCD display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• Intel Celeron Dual-Core 3205U 1.5 GHz Processor
• 2 to 4GB of RAM
• 16 to 32GB of on-board storage, with SD card slot for expansion
• Extras: Webcam, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, HDMI
• 3220 mAh battery, rated for about 9 hours use
• 15.08 x 9.65 x 0.95/0.97 inches, 4.85 pounds

Read more

• Acer Chromebook 15 announced

Dell Chromebook 13

One thing you’ll find in common for most Chromebooks is that they tend to make plenty of concessions in order to keep pricing down: Celeron or ARM processor, plastic bodies, and other little things that make it clear that you’re using a ‘budget friendly’ device. For those that want something a bit more upscale without going to Chromebook Pixel extremes, the Dell Chromebook 13 could certainly be worth a look.

Ranging from $ 430 to $ 650, the DELL Chromebook 15 is certainly pricier than the many “$ 300 or below” Chromebooks out there, but for that extra money you get a 13.3-inch Full HD display and a more premium looking metallic chassis. The processing package ranges from an Intel Celeron up to a Intel Core i3-5005U, with 4 to 8GB RAM, and 16 to 32GB storage.

Specs

• 13-inch Non-Touch LCD display with 1080p resolution
• Intel Celeron 3205U or Intel i3-5005U
• 4 to 8GB of RAM
• 16 to 32GB of on-board storage, with SD card slot for expansion
• Extras: Webcam, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, HDMI
• 67Whr 6 Cell Battery
• 18 x 3 x 11 inches, 5.2 pounds

Read more

• DELL Chromebook 13 announced

Lenovo 100S Chromebook

While Chromebooks have always been pretty affordable when compared to their “regular PC” brethren, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook takes this a step forward by hitting sub-$ 200 pricing.

For just $ 175, the 100S Chromebook gives you an Intel Celeron N2840 processor with 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, and a battery rated for about 11 hours of life. While these specs won’t wow anyone, there are good enough to provide a fairly decent Chrome experience, though folks who are big into multiple-tab browsing might find it to be a bit underpowered for this kind of use case.

Still, for such a low price, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook brings a lot to the table, and combined with a weight of just 2.2-pounds, it could prove to be the perfect traveling companion for those that want a no-frills machine for browsing and basic work.

Specs

• 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768
• Intel Celeron N2840
• 2 RAM
• 16GB of on-board storage, with SD card slot for expansion
• Extras: Webcam, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, HDMI
• Battery life of up to 11 hours
• 11.81″ x 8.23″ x 0.78″, 2.6-pounds

Read more

• Toshiba Chromebook 2 announced
• Toshiba Chromebook 2 gets 2015 refresh

ASUS Chromebook Flip

Lastly we have the Asus Chromebook Flip, a unique device aimed at those looking for something that’s one part laptop, one part tablet. The Flip isn’t exactly the most impressive device on this list, and the only one without an Intel processor, actually. But power isn’t the point here.

With a unique hinged design and a much smaller screen size of 10.1-inches, the Chromebook Flip is the perfect device for those looking for a multimedia machine that also can double as a Chromebook for basic productivity and for those situations where having a keyboard makes sense over a touchscreen.

The Flip isn’t perfect, with a weaker Rockchip processor onboard and an OS that isn’t necessarily built with touch in mind, but for less than $ 250 – it’s a unique twist to the Chromebook formula. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but it might be perfect for you.

Specs

• 10.1-inch LCD screen with 1280 x 800 resolutio
• Rockchip 1.8 GHz Processor
• 2 to 4GB RAM
• 16GB on-board storage with SD card slot for expansion
• Extras: Webcam, 2 USB 3.0
• 31 Wh battery rated for about 9 hours use
• 7.2 x 10.4 x 0.6 inches, 1.96 lb

Read more

• Asus Chromebook Flip now available

Elephant in the room: Chromebook Pixel

Okay, we couldn’t end this post without addressing the elephant in the room. Technically speaking, the Chromebook Pixel  (2nd gen) is still the very best Chromebook out there, but it’s probably overkill for most users and so unless you’re a power user — you’re probably better off going for one of the other devices we showcased above. That said, even if you are a power user, arguably you’d be better off spending a few hundred more for a Windows (or Mac?) machine that could handle gaming, traditional apps, and the like.

With all that aside, the Chromebook Pixel is a beautiful device, and it also happens to be a powerhouse. The base model, which sets you back $ 1000, is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 32GB storage, though there’s options to upgrade to an i7, up to 16GB RAM, and 64GB storage. The device also has a high-resolution 12.86-inch touchscreen display, 12 hour battery life, 2 USB-C connectors, 2 USB 3.0 connectors, and a premium metallic design that no other Chromebook can match — though Dell comes the closest.

At the end of the day, the Chromebook Pixel is a niche offering in an already niche product category, but that doesn’t mean it in’t cool or sexy as hell. If you have your heart set on Chrome OS but want to be able to open up countless dozens of tabs and multi-task like a boss, the Pixel could be right up your alley. That said, with devices like the HP Chromebook 14 might make more sense, as they offer higher-than-normal Chromebook performance but still manage to be priced much more affordably.

Specs

• 12.8-inch LCD touchscreen with 2560 x 1700 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio
• Intel Core i5 or i7 processor
• 8 to 16GB RAM
• 32 or 64GB storage
• Extras: 720P HD Wide Angle camera with Blue Glass, 2 USB 3.0, 2 USB C, HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0, 4K video output
• Battery rated for up to 12 hours use
• 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches, 3.3 lbs

Read more

• Chromebook Pixel (2015) arrives
• Chromebook Pixel 2 coming soon

That’s that! While there are many more models out there, these are the Chromebooks we felt deserved a little extra highlight. Agree with our picks? Have another you feel deserves a place among the best? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Android Authority

The Pokémon wave continues to wash across the world, with more regional releases in Central and South America, Asia and Oceania in recent days. While the game’s popularity is on the wane in the U.S., it’s worldwide appeal will last for a long time yet. With each new market, Pokémon Go adds a new spike to its download figures and opens up the potential for a lot more paying players. Pokémon Go has now surpassed 100 million installs in Google Play and reportedly made $ 200 million in its first month of release.

See also: Pokemon Go increases battery pack sales by 101%31

Making millions daily

To put some of these figures in perspective, we recently reported that Pokémon Go developer Niantic is making $ 10 million per day on the title. Which is not bad at all considering the game’s slow geographical slow rollout.

Now, app analytics firm Sensor Tower is reporting that Pokémon Go made $ 200 million in its first month of availability. As more and more new markets start playing, that monthly revenue figure may continue to grow significantly.

100 million Android installs in a month

Following its launch on July 6, on July 25, Pokémon Go topped 50 million installs on Android and 75 million on iOS and Android combined. One week later on August 2, across both mobile platforms, Pokémon Go topped 100 million installs.

Then, less than one week later, on August 7, Pokémon Go surpassed 100 million installs on Android alone. (In Google Play, you’ll notice that the game now sits in the 100,000,000-500,000,000 install bracket) The game saw its first 50 million Android installs in 19 days. The next 50 million came in half that time. With even more markets opening up that download rate will only continue to accelerate.

While some very large untapped markets remain, in particular India and Africa, some others – including Russia and China – won’t be getting Pokémon Go for some rather comical reasons. Regardless, the game doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon and will likely earn a billion dollars for Niantic before the end of the year.

How much have you spent on Pokémon Go? Do you think its popularity will slow down or continue to grow?

Android Authority

Shutterstock

If you buy one of the newer Galaxy devices on T-Mobile, the self-proclaimed Un-carrier is giving you a second one for free – this Saturday only.

If you’ve been thinking of buying a new Galaxy phone with T-Mobile, you may want to go ahead and do that this Saturday, August 6^th. America’s fastest network will be offering a free Galaxy phone for those who purchase a qualifying Samsung Galaxy this Saturday only.

Dubbed the Saturday-Only Samsung Superphone Superdeal (gotta love some alliteration!), T-Mobile’s BOGOF deal covers the most beloved Galaxies from the recent years: Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, and Galaxy Note5.

As you may have noticed, the newest addition to the Galaxy family, the Galaxy Note7, is not on the list, so pre-ordering the iris-scanning phablet won’t get you a free smartphone sadly. However, the deal does include last year’s Note5 as well as Note7’s S-Pen-less siblings: the Galaxy S7 family.

Want all the fine prints? Well, here they are:

If you buy a qualifying Samsung Galaxy phone on T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), and you add a line of service, you get a second Galaxy phone of equal or lesser value for free. According to T-Mobile, customers will be credited on their monthly bill over the 24-month EIP term for the full amount of the second device after paying any down payment, which will also be credited.

The deal is available at T-Mobile stores in the US and online for US customers.

With the Galaxy Note7 launching on America’s third largest network soon, T-Mobile probably wants to boost sales of all the older Galaxy models. Considering all of the qualifying devices still boast top-notch specs and considering T-Mobile’s recent victory, the Super-deal is indeed quite… super.

What are your thoughts on T-Mobile’s latest deal? Let us know if you plan on buying a qualifying Galaxy device on T-Mobile this Saturday!

Android Authority

The just released Galaxy Note 7 has become the first handset from Samsung to feature iris scanning technology, which could possibly pave the way for the company to do away with other security methods, such as PIN, pattern, simple swipe, and even fingerprint, even if that is quite unlikely.

With iris scanning arriving in the Galaxy Note 7, you don’t need to touch the device to verify your identity and can access the phone by just looking at the screen. Our tests with the iris scanner in the were pretty positive, particularly given the number of times we have seen the same security feature in other devices failing to respond, or proving unreliable.

For the uninitiated, iris scanning uses mathematical pattern recognition of images of the iris – the thin, colored ring of your eye that opens and shuts the pupil to regulate the amount of light reaching the retina. Just like your fingerprints, your iris pattern is also uniquely different and cannot be changed or replicated, making devices with iris scanning technology highly secure.

Now, in a post on its website, Samsung explains the hardware and technology behind its iris scanner in the Galaxy Note 7. According to the company, the device stores your registered iris information as an encrypted code safely in its hardware using its KNOX security platform. Whenever you want to access content, such as a protected app, the device first captures your iris pattern for recognition, extracts and digitizes it, and then proceeds to match it with the encrypted code to provide access. You can be sure that no one else apart from you can access your device in case it is stolen or lost because the Note 7 registers the iris information of only one person.

Samsung has made all this possible by including a dedicated iris camera for recognizing the composition of the user’s eyeballs. The dedicated iris camera uses a special image filter to receive and recognize the reflected images of the irises through an infrared light on the other end of that panel. The light emitted from the Galaxy Note 7’s display allows the scanner to receive data even in low light environments.

Along with iris scanning technology, the Galaxy Note 7 offers a separate Secure Folder for storing private apps and files that can be accessed using your fingerprint, iris scanner, pattern, or PIN. You can use the Secure Folder to keep your private and personal information, like your banking details, completely separate on the device, as well as block access to specific games or content for children. If this sounds familiar to you, that’s because it is similar to Samsung’s KNOX security platform found on its other devices that allows you to manage two different profiles for work and normal usage.

The Note 7 also brings Samsung Pass, a security feature which you can use to log into websites on the Samsung Internet Browser using biometric authentication without having to input your username and password. Samsung now plans to partner with major financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citibank and U.S. Bank to allow the integration of its iris scanner into mobile banking apps.
Even as Samsung looks to expand the use of its iris scanning technology, you can be sure that the company is likely to introduce the biometric security feature in other future devices, including its mid-range smartphones.

Related Note 7 content:

• Galaxy Note 7 S View Standing Cover and Battery Pack hands on
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 availability: what we know so far (Updated)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy S7 Edge First Look
• Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5 first look: the difference a year makes
• Galaxy Note 7 color comparison: gold, silver, black & blue
• This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Let us know in the comments below if you would like to see the Galaxy Note 7’s iris scanner in other Samsung smartphones!

Android Authority