You can buy a Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition inside Best Buy stores this Friday, March 27th

After Samsung began allowing casuals to test drive the Gear VR at their local Best Buy, the virtual reality headset will officially make its retail debut this Friday, March 27th. That’s when the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition — powered by Oculus — will hit more than 100 Best Buy retail locations across the US (with additional locations throughout the year), meaning you’ll officially be able to walk in, test it out, and walk out with a Gear VR if you like what you see.

If you’re still on the fence about the virtual reality craze, our own Kevin Krause was probably the biggest skeptic, but later raved about the Gear VR in his full review. The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition is only compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as of now (there are workarounds), but an official Galaxy S6 version is also expected sometime down the road. In case you missed it, we got a chance to play with that model during this year’s Mobile World Congress and were basically blow away.

The Gear VR simulates movement using your smartphone’s motion sensors and displays dual-images to each eye for an added 3D effect. While there isn’t too much VR content at the moment, the list is definitely growing. It was last week YouTube added support for 360-degree 3D videos via their Android app and Chrome, while Samsung has their own app for watching immersive 3D videos via the Milk VR app. Oh, and if “adult” entertainment is more your thing (we wont judge), we already got people are already working on that too.

The Gear VR IE is currently available online at BestBuy.com for 0 but if you’re interested in waiting until Friday, you can find a list of Best Buy locations where you can walk in and buy one right here.

Android 5.1 rolling out now to the HTC One M8 Google Play Edition

Google Play Edition devices were a great idea that might not have taken off like Google would have liked. That hasn’t stopped them from updating GPe devices to the latest version of Android. A user over on XDA Forums has posted a screenshot of his HTC One M8 GPe receiving the Android 5.1 update.

The update comes in at 244MB large. Google says the update includes improves performance and stability and fixes bugs. Android 5.1 also includes tweaks in the way notifications are handled, as well as some other little changes that users will appreciate. HTC or Google hasn’t said anything about this rollout, so don’t expect all devices to get it right away. Keep your eyes peeled.

The OTA file has been posted on this website if you’re interested. Do we have any HTC One M8 GPe users? Have you received the update yet?

Download: LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition getting Android 5.1 Lollipop, here’s the OTA file

Android 5.1 is finally headed to the LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play edition, as many of you have reported being able to grab the upgrade over-the-air. Android 5.1 doesn’t house a significant bundle of new features on the surface, though the extent of the bugs fixed (read: a metric crap-ton) is likely incentive enough to grab this one as soon as you can.

Can’t grab the upgrade OTA for whatever reason? Thankfully the OTA download file is already available right here. Simply download it, rename it to update.zip, and either use ADB to flash it or drop it onto the root of your device’s storage as “update.zip” and flash it through recovery.

This file is meant to take you from LRX21P.L004 to LMY47O.L002, so be sure you’re on the right firmware before attempting to flash it. Not comfortable doing it yourself? Be patient as the OTA is likely to be on its way before this batch of Lollipop gets too stale.

Here’s our first peek at the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man edition, coming “next week”

When Samsung first teased the Iron Man Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge we’d only gotten a look at a box. A very cool box, mind you, but it was just the box. But today we seem to get our first glimpse at the device itself.

And a “glimpse” is all it is, as there isn’t much that can be seen in this tease of a photo. We get a rear shot of the device, with much of its detail drowned by a strong source of light emanating from the background.

It’s just enough illumination to see that the phone’s rear plate will be coated in a shade of red, with the Iron Man logo shimmering in what would likely be a golden color on top. We can also tell that the accents — particular that of the camera ring’s and the metal bumper of the device — will be shaded some sort of gold (though there’s no telling if this is some sort of paint or real gold plating).

We also get one more tidbit of info from the photo: it’ll be here as soon as next week! It’s worth noting that all this was posted on Samsung’s Korean Facebook page, so it’s possible this launch window pertains to that region alone. Heck, it’s even possible that this unit will be exclusive to South Korea. We’ll have to probe our friends at Samsung to find out more, but in the meantime let us know if you wouldn’t mind owning one of these.

Samsung confirms a special ‘Iron Man’ edition Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is in the works

This is a fan created concept render and not the actual product

Outside of a handful of Avenger style themes available in their Galaxy S6 Theme Store (and a brief Galaxy S6 cameo in the new Age of Ultron movie), Samsung hasn’t really done much with their Marvel partnership. But according to the South Korean press, Samsung could soon leverage it in new ways.

According to South Korean press, Samsung mobile marketing chief Lee Young-hee confirmed during a movie screening that they will be putting together an Iron Man edition Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to tie-in with the movie’s release. It’s still too early to know exactly what they have in mind, but they did mention the color “red” will play a major part in the design. We can only hope they look as flashy as those fan-created renders someone put together a few weeks back.

The phone is due out sometime in June, so it’s still a ways out. Kinda odd that they waited until after the movie has been out for several weeks before jumping on this, but at least something is coming. For any comic-book nerds out there, you might wanna hold off on picking up a Galaxy S6 in the meantime. Don’t worry, the phone isn’t going anywhere.

[Korea Times]

Google unveils limited edition Skrillex cases with matching live wallpapers for select Android devices

In a somewhat un-Googley move, the internet search giant is unveiling a new line of specialty cases now available on their online storefront. The “Live Cases” as they’re being called were designed in collaboration with world-renown artist Skrillex and not only feature unique designs, but matching live wallpapers as well.

The companion live wallpapers will change in real-time throughout the day with visuals of the Earth or constellations at night. Why? Apparently this has something to do with a balloon satellite named after Skrillex’s dog that Google sent up into the stratosphere to photograph the images. Once the satellite hits earth, Google will actually have it signed by Skrillex and mailed off to a lucky Android fan in an upcoming Twitter giveaway.

The Skrillex Live Cases will grant owners with early access to an unannounced record from Skrillex’s OWSLA label on Google Play and updates about Skrillex delivered straight to their phone. The cases even have a shortcut button built into them that either take you directly to Skrillex’s YouTube channel, or can be customized to launch whichever app you like. Needless to say, these aren’t your typical “dumb cases.”

That being said, that kind of tech doesn’t come cheap and the Skrillex Live cases retail for around a piece. They come in 3 options — Space Shield, Circuit Bae, and Lil Planet — and are compatible with a very select few Android device (it’s still more than we expected). The Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S5, and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are all included and can be purchased from the Google Store while supplies last and only until the end of June.

Skrillex is just the first artist Google will be teaming up with for these new limited-edition cases, with new “Editions” coming in the near future. We’ll be on the lookout.

[Skrillex Live Cases at Google Store]

Android 5.1 Lollipop for HTC One M7 Google Play Edition rolling out, Verizon’s One M7 gets it tomorrow

Verizon HTC One M7 customers need not worry about the fate of their device as it pertains to Android 5.1 Lollipop. HTC’s Mo Versi has confirmed on Twitter that the device will be receiving the upgrade as soon as tomorrow, May 14th. Details are scarce, but we can at least anticipate this will be a staggered rollout process that might take a while to get to every handset still in service.

For Those of you with the Google Play Edition, the update is already rolling out with the earliest reports having been seen just yesterday. You’ll only need to head to the device’s settings menu and check for updates to begin pulling it down (look for version LMY470, which is just about 280MB in size).

Fallout 4 Special Edition will come with a real life Pip-Boy wearable that works with your Android phone

Fallout fans will appreciate this one. The special edition of Fallout 4 (read about the new game on Xbox One Daily) will come with a Pip-Boy arm attachment to use as a second screen accessory for the console title.

If you’re not aware, Pip-Boy was the smart watch of olden times. It’s big and clunky by today’s standards, but for those in the Fallout universe it’s a necessary tool that delivers information on your environment, enemies, your inventory and even your own vital health.

The attachment will work with your phone and show you information about the game in real time, so you can refer to it in a jiffy instead of pulling up the digital version in-game. You just drop your phone in (there will be foam inserts to customize the cradle for different smartphone sizes) and it’ll be just like the abomination you happen to find in the game.

But if you don’t plan to buy that 0 special edition you’ll be happy to know that the companion app can still be used with Fallout 4 just as it would inside the Pip-Boy. The app should be available the day the game launches (November 10th) so be sure to check Google Play for the download once it arrives.

[via TechCrunch]

Iron Man Edition Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge gets the hands on treatment [VIDEO]

Samsung already gave us their own unboxing/hands-on video with the Iron Man limited edition Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, but if you’re looking for another look, popular YouTuber MKBHD is here to help. The best part: he’s giving one away. The phone is only available in South Korean, China and Hong Kong at the moment, but we’d imagine a stateside release can’t be too far off given the new Avengers movie is still in theaters. Gotta strike while the iron is hot, right?

Check out the video down below and be on the lookout for 2 more videos from other YouTubers who will also be giving theirs away, giving you 3 chances to win. Good luck!

Every Moto X (2nd Gen) Pure Edition is now receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop

It’s a headline that sounds like many you’ve heard before and that’s largely because of the way Motorola handles software updates. Generally they start testing updates in select regions and then gradually broaden that to new areas. Very slowly. Making the necessary revisions and fixes as issues are discovered. But this time they mean it: starting today, every single unlocked Motorola Moto X 2014 (2nd Gen) Pure Edition will be updated to Android 5.1. For real this time.

It was an update that may have taken a little longer than expected, especially from Motorola who normally has a great track record with speedy updates. In fact, they were able to get the initial Android 5.0 Lollipop update out to the Moto X 2nd Gen Pure Edition quicker than even the Nexus 5. Now that’s saying something. Users can expect all the smaller additions from stock Android 5.1, along with added fixins from Motorola like that funky karate chop motion to launch the flashlight.

We perhaps will never know what the hold up was with such a tiny incremental update to 5.1, but we know Motorola was working hard on it. They’ve practically kept us updated on its status the entire time and we must say, Motorola’s transparency and interaction with users on Google+ is refreshing and something we’d like to see more of in Android.

For those curious, you can find everything new in the Android 5.1 update for the Moto X 2nd Gen right here. Those of you with carrier branded Moto X 2014s will have to continue waiting for the update, but hopefully not too much longer. Samsung and their carrier partners were quick the push Android 5.1 for the Galaxy S6 out the door with little delay. We don’t see why Motorola would be any different and in fact, we’re hearing a soak test has already begun for Moto X 2014 owners on Verizon.

[Motorola | via Google+]