Monday, January 1, 2018

Best Heavy Duty Cases for Samsung Galaxy S8 as of December 2017

Protect your Galaxy S8 with a sturdy, rugged case, and have some peace of mind while you're at it.

The Galaxy S8 is a slender, sweet piece of glass, and if you like to live the rough-and-tumble, it needs some rugged protection to keep up with you and make through the day in one piece. Check out these heavy duty cases and slap a little peace of mind on that piece of glass.

Consider these the… Guardians of your Galaxy.


Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro

The old standby of rugged cases, the Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro (around $20) is the utmost in heavy-duty protection for your Galaxy S8. These three-piece cases feature a front cover, back cover, and a holster so that you don't have to carry a heavier phone around in your pocket. With that in mind, the Unicorn Beetle Pro doesn't add a ton of bulk to your phone, but there still is a difference. You want thin, go with a slim case.

The Unicorn Beetle Pro is made of tough polycarbonate plastic and provides extra protection in the corners — the kill shot for just about any phone in the event of a drop. You have your choice of black, blue (doesn't match the S8 coral blue color), pink, and white.

See at Amazon


Zizo Static Series

Zizo's cases are military drop tested, so they're guaranteed to protect your phone from drops, according to military standards. The Static Series features a fold-out kickstand and two layers of protection: a hard polycarbonate shell with a silicone layer to disperse impact and cushion your phone. This is especially necessary in the corners, which are incredibly vulnerable in a drop situation.

On top of excellent protection, the Zizo Static Series also looks really cool. You have your choice of seven color combinations, which feature a black layer and then a vibrantly colored layer. If you're looking for heavy-duty protection for your Galaxy S8, along with a flash of style and a convenient kickstand, then check these out. Especially since they're only about $11.

See at Amazon

Caseology Legion

I love Caseology cases. They always fit well and they're fantastically protective. I use a Wavelength, and I had my phone knocked out of my hand onto a gym floor. After cleaning up my drawers, I picked up my phone and it was fine. That was a slimmer case, too. Check out the rugged Legion series. It features a layer of flexible a shock-absorbing TPU with an outer layer of polycarbonate. You're protected from hard bumps and scratches, as well as shocks and drops.

All the buttons are covered, but the coverings provide great tactile feedback, and your ports are completely accessible. You have your choice of black or orchid gray, which is meant to match the S8 color, though we haven't seen this one in person to verify that.

You can grab one from Amazon for around $13.

See at Amazon


Poetic Revolution

The Poetic Revolution is a two-piece case that you slip your Galaxy S8 into, and then you snap on the front. Most Poetic cases have a screen protector, but this one doesn't because of the Galaxy S8's curved screen. That being said, the raised bezel around the front protects your screen when you lay it face-down, and the raised cutout around the camera protects the lens.

The inside of the Revolution is made of flexible TPU, which is designed to disperse impact and protect your S8 from scratches. The outside of the back is a layer of polycarbonate, which takes the brunt of any bump or drop. The outer edges of this case are textured to give it a great in-hand feel that isn't slippery, so you can hold onto your phone. You have your choice of black, a very vibrant blue, and pink.

Check it out for $10.

See at Amazon

Spigen Tough Armor

Spigen makes a phone case for every occasion and its Tough Armor series is perfect for heavy-duty protection. It has an inner layer of TPU for shock absorption and to protect against scratches, as well an outer shell made from durable polycarbonate. There's also a handy kickstand on the back, so you can watch videos hands-free.

This may look a bit like Caseology's Legion, but the button layout is a bit different, with a space between volume up and volume down, so you can control your music on the go without having to pull your phone out of your pocket. The Tough Armor series comes in gunmetal, black, coral blue (which looks like it matches the coral blue S8, but we can't say for sure yet), and maple gold.

Pricing starts around $17.

See at Amazon


UAG Feather-light Rugged

Urban Armor Gear's Feather-light Rugged cases are a staple of the heavy duty case market. These composite cases are made from hard plastic (outer shell) and a flexible and durable TPU rubber (inner shell), which come together to protect against drops, as well as a good deal of shock absorption.

The main nicety of the UAG case is its oversize cutouts for the headphone jack and USB-C port. You shouldn't have to take the case off to listen to tunes or charge up your Galaxy S8, no matter the size of the cable.

There are 10 color options to choose from and pricing starts at $29.

See at Amazon

Mascheri Prism Series

For around $9, all signs point to awesome. This is a fairly slim rugged case, and it's quite sexy, available in a sleek black and a soft rose gold.

This is another dual-layer case with a polycarbonate outer shell and a flexible TPU inner shell, offering the utmost in drop protection and shock absorption. Reviews also mention that it works perfectly with screen protectors, so if you're looking to protect your Galaxy S8 on all sides, this is a fantastic option.

See at Amazon


OtterBox Defender

I left this one off the list, much to the dismay of many a commenter, so here it is in all its glory: the OtterBox Defender. The old standby of rugged cases, OtterBox started it all with cases you could allegedly drive over and your phone would still be intact. I've never known anyone who's tried it, but having had OtterBox cases in the past, it seems plausible.

The Galaxy S8 version is just as great as you've always known, with precise cutouts, a substantial in-hand feel, and a convenient hip holster for you and all your cool friends.

Pricing starts at $22 for black, and you have four other colors to choose from.

See at Amazon

Pelican Voyager

Another comments section special, the Pelican Voyager really shouldn't have been left off this list. I've known an had friends who've used Pelican products for years, from cases to suitcase, and between the warranty, price, and truly rugged protection, this is definitely one of the top three cases in this roundup.

Tested to military specifications, this case has four layers of shock-absorbing protection, with two types of rubber inside a hard polycarbonate plastic shell, adding a bit of bulk, but the ultimate in protection. And the polycarbonate shell has a texturized rubber coating so that it's not slippery. There's also a rad holster that swivels, which you'll probably need, since this will be substantial pocket carry. For $35, you really can't go wrong.

See at Amazon

Looking for something a little slimmer or a bit different?

Best Cases for Galaxy S8

Got one yet?

Have you already picked up a case in anticipation for your Galaxy S8 pre-order? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated December 2017: Added the OtterBox Defender and Pelican Voyager at the behest of the community. Also updated pricing for everything.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2voo97r
via IFTTT

Telegram 4.7 adds multiple accounts and quick replies on Android

Telegram now supports up to three unique accounts/phone numbers.

Telegram is one of the world's most popular messaging services around, and with the latest 4.7 update that's rolling out to Android now, it's picking up a couple new tricks that we think will be greatly appreciated by users everywhere.

The biggest feature being added with Telegram 4.7 is support for multiple accounts. You can now add up to three accounts on the Telegram app that each have their own phone number, and switching back and forth between your different ones is as easy as opening the hamburger menu, tapping the arrow by your number, and choosing which account you want to use.

You'll get notifications for all of your numbers by default, but you can turn these on and off in your notification settings.

Also new in 4.7 is quick replies. When in a conversation, just swipe left on any message and you'll see an option for quickly replying to that specific message.

Telegram 4.7 is available to download in the Play Store now, and you can grab the update by clicking/tapping the button above.

How much local storage do you use on your phone?



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2q9Afno
via IFTTT

You'll be able to use Android Auto without any wires this year

Wireless Android Auto is almost here.

In November of 2016, Android Auto became a lot more accessible with the ability to run the car-centric version of the OS directly on your phone without the need for a compatible receiver. Android Auto receives do have the advantage of offering a larger display and being a more seamless integration into your vehicle, but the disadvantage is that they require your phone to be plugged into your car.

Thanks to JVC Kenwood, this won't be an issue for too much longer. The company will be showcasing two new Android Auto receivers at CES 2018, and they'll be the first ones that allow you to run Android Auto wirelessly without having to plug your phone into them.

Exact specs are mostly unknown, but CNET reports that both units will come equipped with 1280 x 720 HD displays and support for Apple CarPlay as well.

The current wired method of using Android Auto works fine, but the advantage of going wireless means that you can run Android Auto on your receiver and have a free port on your phone for fast-charging while on the way to work.

Pricing and availability for the JVC Kenwood Android Auto receivers is unknown, but we'll have all these details and much more in just a few short days.

Jam out to your favorite tunes with Plex for Android Auto



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2lvtszG
via IFTTT

Xiaomi Mi A1 now getting official Android Oreo update

Oreo goes official.

Since early December, Xiaomi's been seeking individuals to participate in a beta of Android Oreo for the Mi A1. News broke later in the month that Oreo for the phone introduced fast-charging, but there was still no timeframe as to when it'd be available for all. However, as a treat for ringing in the new year, Xiaomi's announced that Oreo is officially rolling out to all Mi A1 units.

Xiaomi will push Oreo to the Mi A1 in batches, so if you don't have an OTA update quite yet, it should arrive on your handset within a couple days.

In addition to the previously mentioned fast charging, Oreo for the Mi A1 adds picture-in-picture, notification dots, Google's Autofill API, improved battery/performance, and everything else that we've come to love with Android's latest.

If you own a Xiaomi Mi A1, have you gotten the Oreo update yet?



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2Erd5M6
via IFTTT

OnePlus 5 now has Face Unlock with OxygenOS Open Beta 3

It's finally here.

A few days before we closed out 2017, OnePlus announced that it'd be introducing Face Unlock to the OnePlus 5 with an OxygenOS Open Beta before rolling it out to everyone with an official OTA update. OxygenOS Beta 3 is now rolling out to the OnePlus 5, and along with a new security patch and a couple general optimizations, also included is – you guessed it – Face Unlock.

Just like on the OnePlus 5T, Face Unlock on the 5 allows you to securely unlock your phone almost instantly by just looking at it. It's not as secure as the good old fingerprint sensor, but there's no denying its sheer convenience.

In addition to Face Unlock, Open Beta 3 for the OnePlus 5 also adds the December 2017 security patch, app shortcuts for Recorder, optimizations for vibrations, a fix for connection issues when using 5G Wi-Fi, and other general fixes/improvements.

You'll need to flash the OxygenOS Open Beta onto your OnePlus 5 if you're not already enrolled, but if you are, an OTA update should already be available.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2CvY5fn
via IFTTT

How much local storage do you use on your phone?

The constant battle of cloud vs. local.

Now more than ever, phones are shipping with larger storage configurations and getting rid of 16 and 32GB variants. Seeing 64GB of internal storage slowly become the new norm is pretty exciting, and with Samsung already producing a mobile chip with 512GB, we're now living in the best time for saving local files on our mobile devices.

But then again, do we really need all of that space?

So much of what we do on our phones is now streamed or saved on the cloud, and our forum users recently got into a discussion about how much storage they actually use on their handsets.

Here's what they had to say:

klau25
12-28-2017 12:53 PM
"

I guess it depends on you. I keep everything in the cloud, Google drive, Google music. Even with the pixel 1 at 32 gig, I had around 20 gig of storage used. So 64 gig is plenty for me. Some people always have to have everything on their phone. Just depends on how you use it.

Reply
Forest Dane
12-28-2017 12:58 PM
"

I managed 2 years with 64gb on my 6p but for some reason I've already used about 50 gb on this XL. I'm probably using more due to having more but even so I'm glad I went larger

Reply
Almeuit
12-28-2017 01:06 PM
"

If you don't store a lot on the phone 64 is fine. I personally went with 128 just so I don't ever have to think about it. I do store music and other things on my phone.

Reply
EMGSM
12-28-2017 08:49 PM
"

Returning my 64 tomorrow. 128 comes in on the 3rd. I put a lot of videos, music, and notes on it so 128 gives me extra room. As others mentioned, 64 is plenty if you don't store everything on your phone.

Reply
rochrunner46
12-29-2017 02:20 PM
"

I only use half of the 32Gb on my 5x, but then I have very little data stored on the device (don't d/l movies or anything like that). All my music is streamed too.

Reply

What about you – How much internal storage do you use on your phone?

Join the conversation in the forums!



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2EvkHgH
via IFTTT

3 important steps for keeping your kids safe online in 2018

You don't need to be afraid of your kids using the internet.

Surfing the internet is not in and of itself a dangerous act, but much like the chain letter emails of our forefathers, it can be easy to get lost when you're inexperienced. Younger users tend to live in apps instead of the browser, but that doesn't always guarantee safety. If you're concerned about leaving your child unattended on the internet, we've got a few tips for ensuring their safety.

As parents, we have no reference to what it is like to be a kid today. We didn't have the internet growing up, and those of us who did weren't constantly barraged with social networks and an endless stream of information that may or may not be real news. Being safe online isn't just about protecting your information digitally, kids in school and other public places can easily snap a photo and use it mock your child online.

Navigating this environment as a parent is new and unusual, but it's also not particularly difficult. Here's how to start!

Give them their own account

This may sound counterproductive, but hear me out: your kid, regardless of age, needs their own identity online. It doesn't have to contain any personal information, it just needs to be separate from your online identity. This can be a Google account, a separate screen name in Minecraft, or their own profile on the family computer, but it's important to set this up early.

That unique identifier makes it easier for their activity online to be monitored and, more importantly, filtered. With a Google Family Link account, you have control over the kinds of search results your child sees and what kinds of apps they can access. With a unique account on Netflix or Hulu you can control what ratings your kid can see. This gives you the ability to teach best practices in safer environments, and slowly open up more of the internet to your kid as they grow more mature.

Also read: How to set up a kid-friendly Android phone or tablet

If you're sharing a tablet, giving your child their own account or profile also helps them feel a sense of ownership. If their activity on that device isn't what you want, you can show them consequences for improper use without exposing your own usage habits and patterns. Instead of just handing the phone or tablet over to play with temporarily, they get to create an environment that belongs to them, which helps them learn and grow.

Look for Parents Guides

Your kids are more than likely going to be using apps and playing games you've never heard of. They want a Roblox account because all of their friends have one, or they want to play Clash of Clans because they saw a commercial on TV. There are a ton of these games out there, and with these little adventures typically comes some kind of horror story of a child racking up a huge bill through in-app purchases because a parent wasn't paying attention. This is not only easily avoidable, but it's an important thing to pay attention to.

Because most of these app developers are aware their games can skew to the younger side, you'll frequently find Parents Guides made by the game creators. These guides are designed to show you how to use the tools built into the app to keep your kid safe and stop unwanted purchases from happening. Some of these tools do things like disable chat or keep personal information hidden when you identify the user as under a certain age. Others will email you when your child logs in to their account from a new device, so you know if your child is playing when they aren't supposed to.

Before letting your kid run wild in a game they love, make sure you locate the Parents Guide. You'll be able to quickly enable any safety or privacy features you'd rather know about early on, and you'll be able to stop your child from spending a ton of cash in-game.

Talk with your children

The best way to keep your kid safe online has little to do with enabling a feature or installing the right app. It's communication. That may sound simple, but it requires a lot of work on the side of the parent. Talk with your kids about what they are doing online, and really try to focus on the parts you don't fully understand. If your kid just spent the last hour watching Jacksepticeye playing a game on Twitch, you should have a general idea of who that person is and get your kid to talk about the experience.

Some of this is going to sound like a foreign language, and you need to respond to that confusion by looking it up yourself and asking your child to explain it to you. Not only does this give you a window into the kind of thing they enjoy, but it keeps you from being surprised when your child is doing something online you don't fully approve of. As a general rule, if you don't understand what your kid is doing online you need to fix that. This isn't just about keeping your child from doing something they shouldn't, it about being aware of how their friends and classmates are treating your child as well.

It's important to be an active participant in your child's online and app-based activities. That doesn't mean you have to be their friend on Instagram, but it does mean you should have a general idea of what the apps and games are they use the most and what those apps are used for. Open communication will allow you to teach your kids how to avoid some of the more obvious traps online, but also keep you from being surprised if something goes wrong.



from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers http://ift.tt/2ClOLhw
via IFTTT