Author: Clinton

Microsoft Arrow Launcher has yet another update rolling out in the Play Store.  The update, version 3.6.0.34513 for those keeping score at home, brings a number of UI tweaks and improvements to the launcher.  Many of these tweaks are just that:  Tweaks.  There are, however, some new features to be found in the update too.

One of those new features is the ability to hide the system status bar at the top of your phone.  The system status bar is where you see things like your mobile signal indicator, Wi-Fi indicator, battery and notification icons.  Now you can hide it from view for a cleaner look to your home screens.  To view the status bar, you can just swipe down from the top of your home screen.  This new feature is found in Settings>General settings>Keep status bar.

For readers who have the Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge on the T-Mobile network, be on the look out for a sizable update coming your way.  The update brings a host of improvements to both devices as well as the June Android security update.  For those with a S7, you are looking for firmware build G930TUVS4BQE1 while those of you with a S7 Edge, you are getting build G935TUVU4BQF6.  Both updates coming in at just over 350MB in size.

With that size, there are clearly other tweaks and improvements that have been made to the firmware beyond the June security updates.  Those updates themselves are only about 25MB so the rest is more-or-less other improvements.

Today’s Deal over at Amazon is on the well appointed entry level Asus ZenFone 3 Max.  The 5.2″ phone has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage but what is really impressive is the battery.  It comes with a whopping 4100 mAh battery for all day performance.  Right now you can pick up this phone for $149.

The ZenFone 3 Max is powered by the Mediatek MT6737M quad-core processor running at 1.25 GHz.  It has a 5.2″ IPS display and as mentioned, has 2GB of RAM.  The 16GB of storage can be expanded thanks to the Dual-SIM/MicroSD slot.  You can add an additional 256GB of storage with a card.  The phone runs Android Marshmallow and it is unclear if Nougat will be coming to this phone.

Today’s Deal is on the Choetech dual port USB car charger.  This new model sports a USB-A and USB-C port and is down to $14.99 on Amazon.   Choetech makes a wide range of accessories for Android and iOS devices.  It features one USB-A port which supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology.  The second port is USB-C   If you have a compatible device, it will charge at up to 5v for minimal charging time but the adapter also includes over-charging technology to prevent damage to your device.

The second port in the charger is designed for any device and has auto detection technology to charge that device with maximum efficiency.  You can charge two devices at once while you are driving as this adapter puts out 5V/3A on the USB-A port and the USB-C port.

Today’s Deal is a great option for those who need an external battery pack to charge your devices.  The Poweradd  2nd Generation Pilot2GS is a 10,000mAh battery with dual USB ports and right now is just $13.49 on Amazon.  The two USB-A ports output 2.4A of power so you can charge your devices efficiently.  The pack doesn’t support Quick Charge technology but for a pack this size at this price, it is not too surprising.

The 10,000mAh means that you can charge most devices 2-3 times before the battery itself depletes.  With the dual ports, you can charge two devices at once but keep in mind that it will take longer to charge both devices.  It can output a maximum of 5V/2A when charging.

Today’s Deal is on the new Samsung Chromebook Plus.  The 12.3″ convertible has been selling for $450 but is down to $408.65 right now on Amazon.  That will get you one of the latest Chromebooks available and it will run Android apps natively right out of the box.

The Chromebook Plus has a 12.3″ display rendering at 2400 x 1600.  It is also a touchscreen which makes using the included stylus or your finger for apps easier.  It has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of Storage and you can expand that storage thanks to the MicroSD slot.  It has dual-microphones, a 720p Webcam and, of course, Wi-Fi.  It only ways 2.4 lbs so it is designed for portability and with it being able to be be used as a laptop or a slate, you have a lot of flexibility in where and how you use this Chromebook.