Back in 2015 (like it was a long time ago), blocking ads were a hot topic of discussion around the social networks, as companies like Apple built ad blocking support into their platforms. Now Samsung is jumping into the mix, too.

The company is officially adding ad blocking support into its Android web browser. The update will arrive for the stock browser beginning today on Android devices running Lollipop or higher. The first one out of the gate for Samsung’s browser is called Adblock Fast and, according to those who made the software, it will reduce load times on your Android device by 51 percent. It’s a free download from Google Play.

As far as big companies in the mobile market go, Samsung is one of the biggest, so the fact it’s throwing ad blocking into its default browser is a pretty big deal. Of course, many Android users probably use other browser apps, so it would be interesting to hear if someone switches away from, say, Google’s Chrome browser to Samsung Internet, just for the ad blocking.

Will you make the switch?

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It’s been a couple of days since the first official-looking images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge were leaked online, and now Samsung has come forward to officially announce an announcement date for the next flagships.

Samsung has put together a quick video — coming in at just under 15 seconds — to show off a Gear VR headset on someone’s face, as they reach out for a virtual box that looks strikingly similar to Samsung’s Unpacked box. And then there’s a hashtag that tells us the company has plans to show off the “#TheNextGalaxy,” followed by a February 21 announcement date.

Of course, Samsung hasn’t made any confirmation that the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge is what they’ll show off at the event, and one might even consider that virtual reality might have something to do with the event, but it’s a safe bet that the Galaxy S6 follow-up is waiting in that box to be shared with the world.

You can check out the video below.

Are you looking forward to the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge?

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Android 6.0 Marshmallow has been available for a couple of months now, but a hefty chunk of Android phones have yet to receive an update to it. It’s time to add a couple more devices to the list of updated devices, though. Beginning tonight, the HTC One M8 on Sprint will be receiving its update to Marshmallow. The rollout will likely take a few days and will be arriving on both standard One M8 models as well as the Sprint-exclusive HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon Edition.

Owners of the HTC One M9 on Sprint need not fret. The Android 6.0 update for the HTC One M9 on Sprint will begin sometime next week, pending technical approval. No specific date was given, but you can rest easily knowing that your update is coming very soon.

Even if some other devices received the Marshmallow update first, it’s good to see HTC continuing to work to maintain its commitment to speedy updates. With any luck, we’ll continue to see other devices receiving their Marshmallow updates within the next couple of weeks.

Sit tight and we’ll keep you posted on more updates.

Source: Mo Versi (1), (2)

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At this point, based on all the rumors and reports, it was expected that Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge would look like the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, respectively, but it’s still good to see the devices ahead of their official announcement.

That’s what we’ve got here, with Evan Blass (@evleaks) coming forward with another major reveal, this time a clear look at Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. It’s not a live photo, but it does give the best look at what the devices will probably look like. Nothing’s been confirmed just yet, but that should be changing soon, especially if that March 11 launch date is to be met.

https://t.co/JT6X0g8sBu http://pic.twitter.com/J78eezrU5o

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 29, 2016

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Reports in the past have suggested Samsung is going to include water resistance, a microSD card slot, and even bigger batteries in this year’s model, so that should be interesting to see if those pan out.

Are you looking forward to Samsung’s next flagships?

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Ah, February. Love is in the air, and to celebrate, Motorola wants to give you a reason to buy your loved one a phone or smartwatch for Valentine’s Day. How sweet.

Right now through February 16, Motorola is offering three deals on the Moto G, Moto X and Moto 360: If you buy a Moto G, you get two free shells included in your order; if you buy a second generation Moto 360 with a metal band, you get a leather band for free; and Jonathon Adler-designed Moto X Pure Edition devices are $75 off, now yours for $399.

For more info and to view all of Motorola’s current promotions, head to the source link below.

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As services like Android and Apple Pay have become the standard in payment systems, anyone trying to enter the game now has to have something good to compete. Samsung Pay, for example, doesn’t just rely on NFC for secure payments, it can also use traditional magnetic card readers by generating a magnetic field. If rumors are right, LG will have its own unique feature with LG Pay in the form of a universal payment card.

Much like Coin, LG’s universal payment card is rumored to be a Bluetooth-powered magnetic card that will allow users to store and use any number of cards with the simple press of a button. Called the “White Card,” the unit appearing in leaked pictures shows contacts for charging, a low-power LCD and buttons to switch between cards. The card also features LG Pay branding.

Expected to be unveiled at MWC, it will be interesting to see how LG positions the White Card. Will it be the must have accessory of the show, or is LG’s idea of backing an antiquated technology going to fall flat? We don’t have long now to find out.

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We normally try to steer clear of crowdfunding projects, but we like the concept here, and the company has demonstrated working prototypes and sufficient knowledge that we feel confident in its ability to deliver. With that said, there is always risk involved in crowdfunding, and of course the wait as the products aren’t projected to ship until September/November, so take that into consideration.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the TappLock. There are two models, the TappLock and TappLock Lite, which offer the same basic functionality. The headline feature is the ability to unlock via a fingerprint sensor on the front of the lock.

You program the fingerprints into the lock over Bluetooth using a companion app. Up to 100 distinct fingerprints can be saved to the device, and once they are saved to the lock, the smartphone is no longer necessary. The fingerprint sensor is the same one used by the Huawei Mate 7 and is designed to stand up to use and abuse. You can also give others access to your lock using the app, with the ability to customize the time and/or location of that access.

Your first question is probably going to be, “What if my fingerprint fails to open the lock?” The answer is that the fallback is unlocking using the app again over a Bluetooth connection.

The TappLock is a bit larger than the TappLock Lite and can go 3 years on a charge (even with daily use), while the TappLock Lite lasts for 6 months and relies on user replaceable batteries. The locks will give you a notification when they drop below 5% battery life and, given the lengthy life on both, that still leaves you with months for the TappLock and days for the TappLock Lite before a charge or battery swap is needed.

The TappLock does offer a couple tricks over the TappLock Lite. It can also serve as a charger for your smartphone, which isn’t probably going to be something you lean on often, but could be handy in an emergency. It also features an alarm that will be triggered if someone completely severs the lock.

Both TappLocks use steel frame construction and are weather resistant, in case you are looking for a lock that can be outside year-round.

The TappLock has already crossed its $40,000 funding goal with 28 days left, so this project is going to go ahead. There are still a number of early bird options left as of publication, with the TappLock Lite as low as $29 and the TappLock as low as $49.

If the TappLock sounds interesting, hit the Indiegogo link below to check it out for yourself.

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Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most frequently upgraded apps for the week. We’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to find the ones that are actually being updated by the developers rather than selecting the apps with the most installs. As in the past, we’re going to filter out minor updates for the super-popular apps that have over 10 million installs, but we’ll make exceptions for apps that have had significant updates. We hope you enjoy this weekly feature and that you discover some apps that end up being useful.

Robinhood – Version 1.8.3

What’s new in this version:

• Android Wear! Checking your performance and peeking at your watchlist is now more accessible than ever.

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Firefox Browser for Android – Version 44.0.0

What’s new in this version:

• Tab audio indicator displays in tab list
• Include URL when sharing selected text from web page
• Accessibility improvements
• Users can now mark read/unread state of items in reading list panel

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Motorola Gallery – Version Varies

What’s new in this version:

• Added Support for Android M.
• Bug fixes and stability improvements.

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” data-sheets-userformat=”[null,null,4843,[null,0],[null,2,14275305],null,[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,1],[null,1,0,null,1]]],null,[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,1],[null,1,0,null,1]]],1,1,null,0,null,null,"Arial"]”>com.motorola.MotGallery2“]

Flipboard – Version 3.3.19

What’s new in this version:

• Improved image loading speed
• Now enjoy a leaner Flipboard with reduced memory usage
• Tumblr image loading issue fixed

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AirDroid – Version 3.2.0

What’s new in this version:

• Added an option to dim phone screen when starting AirMirror.
• AirIME: use your computer keyboard to type on your phone. (requires Win/Mac client v3.3.0, to be released soon)
• Share content between phone and computer clipboards. (requires Win/Mac client v3.3.0)
• Reply to Skype and Line messages from notification popups.
• Other bug fixes and improvements.

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AliExpress Shopping App – Version 4.7.8

What’s new in this version:

• New app homepage; discover more deals and product recommendations
• My Invitations; invite friends to download the app and earn coupons together
• Language support in Polish, Dutch, Arabic, and Vietnamese
• Product feedback sharing through social media
• Sale reminders for Featured Brands
• Bug fixes and general improvements

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Android Wear – Version 1.4.0.255

What’s new in this version:

• Interactive watch faces that respond to your touch
• Together watch face to keep you connected to a friend
• Weather app to see the forecast for the next 4 days
• Translate app that lets you tilt your wrist to share a translation
  

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Google Calendar – Version 5.3.3-11

What’s new in this version:

Motorola Camera – Version Varies

What’s new in this version:

• ​​Improved focus and exposure controls.
• Bug fixes and other improvements.

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SwiftKey Keyboard – Version 6.2.1.146

What’s new in this version:

//playboard.me/widgets/pb-app-box/1/pb_load_app_box.js

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March is looking like a probably launch month for Samsung’s upcoming flagship(s), if the rumors swirling around one particular date pan out, that is.

Earlier in the month, a rumor surfaced that suggested the Galaxy S7, and more than likely the Galaxy S7 edge, will launch on Friday, March 11, in the United States. Now that same date has surfaced yet again, this time suggesting the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge could see a rollout begin in Europe on the same date.

Mark your calendar: the first European rollout for #GalaxyS7 family starts on 11/3 http://pic.twitter.com/TdhtJIJ2dD

— Shai Mizrachi (@ShaiMizrachi) January 29, 2016

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The rumor comes from a tweet from serial leaker, Shai Mizrachi, who has delivered some credible information in the past. While neither the launch in the United States or Europe has been confirmed by Samsung just yet, if the two reports are accurate, this would essentially mean a widespread launch for Samsung’s upcoming devices.

It would also pan out with a reveal for both handsets at Mobile World Congress at the tail-end of February.

We’re still waiting for Samsung to even confirm they have an Unpacked event planned for the conference, but those usually land at the start of February, so it shouldn’t be too much longer to wait. Are you looking forward to seeing what Samsung brings to the table with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge?

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As one of the world’s largest software companies, Google understandably has a great deal of apps and services available. From time to time, however, the company does a cleanup and shuts down apps that are no longer a priority for the company. This generally happens each year in the spring, and Google’s first app to be killed off in 2016 is My Tracks.

My Tracks is an app aimed at those who enjoy outdoor activities, such as runners and hikers. The app allows users to track their speed, distance, elevation and location through GPS. The data could be saved for later and could also be shared to a service like Google Maps for use in plotting a route. Additionally, users could share their My Tracks data to social media.

My Tracks never garnered a large following and Google hasn’t done anything significant with it for quite some time. Now, Google has made the decision to shut down the app. The shutdown will occur on April 30, 2016, and users of the app will be greeted with a pop-up informing them of the news with an option to export their data to Google Drive or an external storage source.

Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives out there that perform the same functions. Some suggestions are Runtastic, Endomondo, Map My Run and, to some extent, Google Fit. If you’re a My Tracks user, you may want to find one that you like and get into the habit of using it before My Tracks shuts down.

For instructions on exporting your My Tracks data, follow the source link below.

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