Add Money To Your PayPal Account at 7-Eleven

A small update to the PayPal app is rolling out in the Google Play Store that brings the ability to add funds to your account at your local 7-Eleven.  The update builds on a feature that was introduced late last year which saw the same feature come to local CVS and Rite Aid stores.  How it works is pretty straight forward.  Take your phone and the money you want to add to your account to a participating 7-Eleven.  Go into the app and go to Manage Balance>Add Money>Add cash at a store.  Follow the prompts and you will get a barcode that you need to show to the cashier.  Once they scan that barcode and collect your money, the funds will appear in your PayPal account in about 15 minutes.  Quick, simple and easy.

As you would guess, there is a convenience charge to do this type of transaction which is $3.95.  Also keep in mind that not every 7-Eleven (or CVS or Rite Aid for that matter) is setup to take funds like this.  You will need to check with your local store.

Today’s Deal – BLU Life One X2 with 4GB Ram and 64GB Storage for $199

Today’s Deal is on the powerful BLU Life One X2, a solid 5.2″ Android phone with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage built in.  Right now you can pick one up either in Grey or in Rose Gold for $199 on Amazon.  The phone is very well equipped for one in this price range, featuring a 5.2″ curved glass Full HD display and is powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 430 processor running at 1.4GHz.  As mentioned, it has 4GB of RAM which is almost unheard of in the sub-$200 range as is the 64GB of built-in storage.  That storage can be expanded an additional 64GB thanks to the MicroSD slot.

Camera wise, the BLU Life One X2 has a 16MP Phase Detection Auto Focus shooter while the front camera is an 8MP unit that has a front facing flash for improved selfie quality.

As with other deals I post on, the Life One X2 is sold unlocked and works with GSM carriers.  If you are on Sprint or Verizon, sadly it won’t work for you.  Here are the GSM frequencies and LTE bands in this phone:

  • 4G HSPA+ (850/1700/1900/2100)
  • LTE (2/4/7/12/17)

Finally, the Life One X2 is running Android Marshmallow so you are getting a solid and secure Android build on the phone.  One thing to note is that BLU is no clear on when or if there will be a Nougat update for this phone so if that is a big deal to you, be aware.

To get all the details or to order your BLU Life One X2 in Grey or Rose Gold, head over to Amazon.

Nokia 6 Launches in China Running Android Nougat

Nokia fans, it is official.  The company, at least in name, is back and has a brand new smartphone.  The Nokia 6 was launched with little fanfare late last week as CES 2017 wrapped up, pulling the covers back on the China exclusive phone.  HMD Global, the owners of the Nokia brand, had indicated they would be launched Android powered devices in 2017 and they let little time pass in the new year before making it happen.

The 5.5″ Android Nougat powered phone has some great specs for a phone that will retail for approximately $250 in China.  It fits well with HMD’s desire to offer well featured phones at competitive prices.  This certainly looks like a good start.

OnePlus Rolls Out OxygenOS 4.0.1 for The OnePlus 3 and 3T

A little over a week after the initial Nougat-based OxygenOS 4.0 release, OnePlus has released a small update for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.  The new OxygenOS 4.0.1 build is rolling out to both devices currently and is primarily focused on addressing bugs and stability issues with the OS on these devices.  As OnePlus does, the update will be released to a small number of users first then roll out to the larger population as confirmation all is well with the update comes into them.

As for what is addressed, probably the biggest news is the updated APN settings.  After the initial OxygenOS 4.0 update, many 3 and 3T owners had network connectivity issues with their carrier.  This update should resolve those issues.  However, in the posting announcing the update, OnePlus is saying that if you still have issues, to manually adjust the APN settings or, worst case, report it to the product team at OnePlus with your phone model and carrier involved so they can help identify the issue and resolve it.

Review – Noreve Ambition Folio Case – Elegance & Protection for Your Nexus 6P

When it comes to cases for your Nexus 6P, the options are pretty endless.  But when it comes to an elegant look with excellent protection for your phone, look no further than Noreve.  The French couture designer has been making handmade, premium cases and accessories for devices for years and their line up for the Nexus 6P doesn’t disappoint.  I’ve had the privilege of reviewing several of their cases over the years for a variety of devices and jumped at the change to review the Ambition grain leather folio case for my phone.  As you would expect for a luxury case, this one is fantastically constructed with great attention to detail and a solid fit around my phone.  Here is my review of this great case.

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