The latest craze in customization apps has to be the apps that add an iPhone X notch to your Android smartphone. A simple search in the Google Play Store brings up several options. It's quite funny that these apps have hundreds of thousands of downloads. Folks go from wanting no bezels to wanting to add a huge notch to the top of their phones. Overall the apps seem to pick fun at the less than optimal feature of the iPhone X. Grab one of these apps for your phone and see if you can trick anyone into thinking that you have the new iPhone X. Report back with your results.

via PlayStore

Ahead of the upcominning Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL announcement google has launched their new trade in program. With this new program you can send in your old device for up to $388 off your order. When you click buy you are taken to the options page, from there you can click the trade in button. They accept phones from 6 manufacturers. It looks like you get the least back with a Nexus 6 trade in and the most back with an iPhone 7 Plus trade in depending on condition of course. For some of the pricing schemes on these trade ins you might be better off selling your phone, however if you have already tried and had no success this may be a great option for you. Either way it's nice to see Google giving us a chance to save some green!

via Android Police

LG announced the LG V30 several weeks ago to much fan fare. They sent out pre production units to many news outlets and got lots of initial coverage. While the reviews were mostly positive LG was unable to capitalize on this since they were not quite ready to release the device. They didn't even have a release or pre-order date.

Here we are weeks later and LG has still kept quite on the matter. We do have some good news though. It looks like the V30 is now available for purchase in Korea. This would be the first step in LG's normal worldwide roll out. If you have been holding out for the V30 you wait may soon be over!

via LG

Google has just secured the next 10-20 years of their hardware development future with a $1.1 Billion transaction with HTC. They have acquired part of HTC's mobile team. These are the same members who have already been working closely with Google to work on Pixel devices. The deal also includes a non-exclusive license for HTC intellectual property.

HTC will only employ about 2,000 of the original 4,000 design staffers after the acquisition. This means that Google just picked up a bunch of talent. HTC will continue to build their own smartphone and VIVE virtual reality business following the acquisition.

via Google

I have been carrying my Note 8 for about two weeks, and so far the battery life has been pretty great. I am averaging about 6 hours of screen on time and my battery doesn't die until it is time for me to go to sleep. I am getting a good 18 hours of life out of the 3300mah battery every day. Not everyone has had the same experience with battery life as me. If you don't mind adding a brick to a device that is already quite beefy zerolemon will be releasing their Note 8 battery bank in early October. This will add 5500mah of additional battery life which should have your Note 8 running strong for days. I can definitely see something like this being useful if you have a long trip or plane ride coming up. They have not given us a price for the case yet. You can buy this at the link below once it is available.

via Amazon

We heard earlier this month that HTC was in the final stages of negotiation with Google to sell them their smartphone business. We seem to be getting closer to the end of that process. HTC just announced that they will halt trading tomorrow pending a major announcement. They are also apparently preparing space for a town hall meeting with all staff members for an "announcement of a major strategic reform". It only makes sense that Google buy HTC as they get deeper into the hardware business with their Pixel lineup of devices. Google would finally be able to build phones from end to end. HTC shares have fallen 94% since April 2011.

via Businessinsider

Many Chromebook Pixel fans had been hoping that Google would release a more powerful updated version, and it looks like that will happen on October 4th. This updated version will be called the "Google Pixelbook". It will have a hybrid design being able to fold into a full fledged tablet. The new device will come in Silver and will have three storage configurations including 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options. The prices will be $1199 for the base model, $1399 for the 256GB model, and $1799 for the 512GB model. The Pixelbook Pen will be announced alongside the Pixelbook and features pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and will have no lag. The Pen will cost $99. This looks pretty incredible, but will it be worth the price?

via Droid-Life

Among the leaks today provided to Droid-Life included an all new Google Home Mini and the new Daydream View. The Google Home Mini will be competing directly with the Amazon Echo Dot. It will come in 3 colors including Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. According to Droid-Life the Google Home Mini will be powered instead of wireless. They arrived at this conclusion as the leaked images show a power cord connected to the back of each unit. This smaller Google Home will be much more affordable costing only $49 at launch. These will still feature full Google Assistant functionality. Charcoal and Coral versions have a colored base to match the top while the Chalk version has a grey top and white bottom. The units also appear to have LED lights to show you when you are interacting with the device.

Other leaks today included some details and pictures of the New Google Daydream View. The units also come in 3 colors including Charcoal, Fog, and Coral. Droid-Life noted that these units seem more rugged then last years softer counterparts. We will also get a controller with the unit, and these will be priced $20 higher than last years models at $99. We will likely see both of these units on stage at the October 4th Pixel event.

via Droid-Life

The Pixel 2 was also leaked to Droid-Life earlier today. We now have official photos showing off the backs of these devices in three colors. Colors for the Pixel 2 include "Kinda Blue", "Just White", and "Clearly Black". The Pixel 2 also comes in two storage configurations 64GB and 128GB. The 64GB version will cost $649 while the 128GB version will cost $749. Financing will also be available with the 64GB version going for $27.04 over 24 months. The 128GB version will cost $31 over 21 months. The Pixel 2 is not as exciting as the Pixel 2 XL but is a much better value.

via Droid-Life

Earlier today Droid-life hit the mother load when it comes to Google Product leaks. We now have official images of both Pixel 2 XL colors. There will be both a "Black and White" version and a "Just Black" version of the device. We will also have two storage configurations with the 64GB base model retailing for $849 while the 128GB storage option will set you back a cool $949. Google apparently agrees with the Note 8 and iPhone X pricing structure! It is also worth mentioning that we do not see a dual camera setup on this larger device which is what we have been expecting, and the Black and White version appears to have an orange power button. Google will be offering their own financing with the 64GB variants costing $35.38 for 24 months and the 128GB version costing $39.54 per month over the same period. These are the devices that many of us have been holding out for. Are you guys still as excited as me?

via Droid-Life