Droid Life

Googler Gives Actual Explanation Why Bose's Google Assistant Headphones are Super Useful

Kellen — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 08:35:21 +0000

Yesterday's response to Google and Bose's announcement about the new QuietComfort 35 II headphones with Google Assistant on board was lukewarm at best. Most couldn't figure out (including us) how these were that different from any other Bluetooth headphones. Because if you own Bluetooth headphones, you can typically long-press on the call or action button that they already have to activate Google Assistant and go about your business. So how are these unique? Googler Ian Lake took to Google+ to try and better explain it:

So if you've used any Bluetooth headphones before, you probably have a 'call' button. Long pressing on that button on recent versions of Android would trigger Google Assistant. So that's not anything particular exciting. These headphones do a lot more than that though. My personal favorite feature and why I prefer these headphones over all my others is the VUI (Voice UI) around reading and responding to notifications. While regular notifications will play their chime just like on normal headphones, these headphones can detect messaging notifications and will instead read the name of the person (super important context usually missing). From there, a simple tap of the button will read the notification out loud (this works with any notification!). For messaging notifications, you also get the chance to reply, directly from the headphones by holding down the button. No having to say 'ok google' or have it transcribe a few extra second at the end. The 'push to talk' model is surprisingly nice on headphones. Even when there isn't a notification just coming in, tapping the Google Assistant button is so much more useful. Besides bringing up any notifications you may have long since missed, I've also gotten Google Assistant driven suggestions like the time to leave for my next calendar appointment. And I think something that is underrated by people who have Android devices, but these features also work when connected to iOS devices through the Google Assistant app on iOS. I wouldn't underestimate how impactful that is for iOS users who previously haven't had the ability to use anything but Siri on headphones.

So the big sell here is a better Voice UI that reads to you all notifications, will tell you who the person in the notification is instead of just dinging in your ear, and can playback a full notification with the press of a button. It'll also let you directly voice-reply without the "OK, Google" command, sort of like a push-to-talk button, and even give you Assistant suggestions, like those you might see in your Google Now feed for upcoming appointments, time to leave by, etc. While you have been able to hear those dings and launch Assistant on your old headphones, this is actually a more advanced experience that should let you leave your phone in your pocket or back at your desk more often. That help explain the difference? The new Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones are now available at Best Buy. // +IanLake

DxOMark Ranks iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Cameras Highest for Smartphones

Kellen — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 08:07:49 +0000

DxOMark scores are a thing. I'm not sure how much they mean to most of us around here, but there is no doubt that select Android manufacturers and super fans of them like to trot out their favorite phone's DxO score as it sits close to or at the top of DxO's ranking system. They've also loved the fact that certain phones have out-ranked the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus for a good year, so they can tell their iPhone friends that, "My camera is ranked higher!" Today, no Android phone is in the top two spots, thanks to the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 8. Again, I don't really care that much about these things, but to be fair and balanced (hah!), we thought we should point out the fact that DxOMark gave the iPhone 8 Plus a score of 94 (the highest ever) and the iPhone 8 a score of 92 (the second highest ever). The Google Pixel and HTC U11 sit in a tie for third with scores of 90. During its testing of the iPhone 8 Plus, DxOMark states that the camera set a new photo record score at 96, but still does fall a point shy of the Pixel in video. They claim that its "outstanding image quality, zoom for those needing to get closer to their subjects, and an industry-leading Portrait mode for artistic efforts," make this the best ranked smartphone camera in "nearly every category" they test. The only cons they noted were some autofocus issues and color cast in low light.. It should be noted that the Galaxy S8 received a score of 88 back in May. I don't believe it ranks any longer, though, because DxOMark is re-testing phones under their new test protocol and hasn't revisited it yet. The Galaxy Note 8 has not been scored by DxOMark at all. We do not know what its score is or where it would fall on this list. So there you go. You'll have to find something new to brag about for the time being, Android guys. // DxOMark

Report: HTC 'Ocean Master' Coming This Year, Features 6" Edge-to-Edge Display

Tim — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:34:05 +0000

Exactly one year and one day ago today, a slip up by a designer at HTC essentially gave us a hardware roadmap for the company. In that and subsequent leaks, we learned about the "Ocean" line of devices, consisting of the Ocean, Ocean Note, Ocean Smart, and Ocean Master. From what we now know, the Ocean is the U11, the Ocean Note turned into the HTC U Ultra, the Ocean Smart hasn't yet seen daylight, and the latest report details what we should expect from an upcoming Ocean Master later this year. According to Frandroid, the Ocean Master is coming this year, featuring a "borderless" design. This report is translated from French, so our assumption is that borderless might mean bezel-less. Regardless of a translation, the report goes on to detail "edge-to-edge," similar to what we've seen already from Samsung and LG. A sweet looking display isn't the only thing the Ocean Master will offer, though. Other highlightable specs include a Snapdragon 835 processor, IP68 water resistance, Edge Sense, and more.

Specs

5.99" Quad HD+ display (18:9 aspect ratio, 2880 x 1440 pixels)
Snapdragon 835
4 or 6 GB RAM
64 or 128GB
IP68 water and dust resistance
12MP rear-facing camera
8MP front-facing camera
QuickCharge 3.0, 18 Watt Battery
Edge Sense
U-Type USB Headphones

The report claims this device is called the U11 Plus, which makes sense. Plenty could argue that this phone sounds just like a U11 in a larger package, but that edge-to-edge design really has us interested. One of the drawbacks for the U11, at least in my eyes, is the dedicated home button/fingerprint reader flanked by capacitive buttons. Ditch those, stick a fingerprint reader on the backside, and you have my attention. According to Frandroid, we'll see this device announced in November. Are you interested? // Frandroid (French)

Moto G5S Plus Arrives in US for $230 on September 29

Kellen — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 10:25:45 +0000

Motorola's special edition Moto G5, also known as the Moto G5S Plus, arrives in the US on September 29 for $229.99. The Moto G5S line was first introduced at the beginning of August as upgraded or "special" versions of the Moto G5 line. The upgrades are subtle, but they are indeed upgrades. In the G5S Plus, you've got a bigger 5.5-inch FHD display now, along with dual 13MP rear cameras and an 8MP front shooter. The rest of the phone mostly stays the same, though, including the 3000mAh battery, Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB/4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, and fingerprint reader. The Moto G5S Plus is an unlocked phone that works on all major US carriers. In our regular Moto G5 Plus review, we gave the phone pretty high marks because of the combination of price, specs, and experience. With minor upgrades in the G5S Plus, I can't imagine the experience won't be similar if not improved. Also, at $230 (for a limited time - will be $280 soon), this seems like a ridiculous steal of a deal. If interested, you can pre-order today at the links below:

Instagram Intros Face Filters for Live Videos

Tim — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:42:15 +0000

Globally rolling out over the next few weeks, you can now utilize Face Filters when streaming via Instagram Live. That's right! With this, you can change yourself into a kitten or rainbow unicorn for all of your followers to see in real-time. To get in on this amazingness, when inside of Instagram Live, tap on the "Face" button in the bottom right. Once enabled, you can swipe through the different filters and have all of the fun you can imagine. Detailed in the announcement, "You can also try on the new sunglasses face filter — available exclusively in live video for the next week — and tap to change the scenery reflected in your lenses." Truly. Phenomenal. This update is rolling out across the globe right now. Be on the lookout! Play Link // Instagram

SHIELD TV 16GB With SHIELD Remote Bundle Price Cut to $179

Tim — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 08:38:02 +0000

Launched earlier this year with a price of $199, the SHIELD TV from NVIDIA has just received a price cut, now listed at $179 on NVIDIA's website. NVIDIA says this price will also be reflected at retailers soon and we can't help but assume this is a move directed at Apple's launch of the Apple TV 4K ($199). This $179 option is a 16GB unit with SHIELD Remote, but do note, it comes with no SHIELD Controller. That's an add-on you can purchase for the same $59.99 price. If you still don't yet own an Android TV box, the SHIELD TV is a great bet, one that Kellen and I both use in our homes on a daily basis. Not only does it act as your Google Cast receiver, but it can be your Plex media server, and gaming console (with games from Google Play or GeForce NOW). It's still a sweet box, with Google Assistant and support for the yet-to-be-released NVIDIA SPOT hopefully on the way soon. On the downside, NVIDIA is listing this price as a pre-order. I have no idea why, but it is. If you'd like to order a SHIELD TV at this lower price, you can do so through NVIDIA's website, or you can wait for retailers to offer the same lowered price. Have at it! Pre-Order: NVIDIA | Amazon (Coming Soon) | Best Buy (Coming Soon)

OnePlus Moves Launcher, Weather, Gallery Apps to Google Play for Quicker Updates

Kellen — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 08:03:27 +0000

One of the most important moves in Android history, I think, was the moment where Google started separating a whole bunch of core apps from the system and added them to Google Play (or Android Market at the time). This move essentially allowed for faster updates to Android in general, but it also helped updates to apps like Gmail arrive quicker as Google introduced major improvements early on. Fast forward to today and other manufacturers have done the same with many of their own custom apps. OnePlus is the latest to do so with their Launcher, Weather, Gallery, and Community apps. This move allows OnePlus to update apps with new features much quicker than they could in the past, since these apps were previously only updated through system updates. For example, with today's news, OnePlus is pushing Launcher v2.1.5 that includes a new home screen folder icon, double finger touch support, and more, all without having to push a full update to the OnePlus 5 or 3 or 3T. The update can be found through Google Play. OnePlus says that these apps are now available on Google Play to the OnePlus 5, 3, and 3T. You'll find all of OnePlus' Google Play apps at this link. // OnePlus

Google and Bose Announce Google Assistant Powered QuietComfort 35 II Headphones

Kellen — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 06:26:51 +0000

Not that this has been a well kept secret, but Google and Bose made the QuietComfort 35 II headphones official this morning as the first with Google Assistant on board. The two companies worked closely to "create a great Assistant experience," one that will cost you $350. With QC35 II headphones, you get noise cancelling cans, "industry-defining" audio performance, and up to 20 hours of battery life. You have controls from the right earcup for audio or general functions, but you'll now find an Action button on the left earcup for launching Google Assistant through a press and hold. In other words, you've got everything from the original QuietComfort 35s, plus access to Google Assistant.

Thanks to the Google Assistant and a Google App on your phone that is ready for the new QC35 IIs to be paired, you'll be able to hear your messages and reminders, manage music, add items to your calendars, make calls, and get questions answered, all in the privacy of a noise canceled pair of headphones. UPDATE: If confused by the integration and how it differs from current Bluetooth headphones that are capable of launching Google Assistant, check out this explanation from a Googler. This is an "exclusive experience" and first integration of the Assistant into headphones, so you should expect other headphones makers to join the party before long. The new QuietComfort 35 II headphones from Bose are available starting today and again, cost $350. Buy Bose QuietComfort 35 II:

Best Buy
Bose Store

// Google | Bose

Google Pays HTC $1.1 Billion to Acquire the Pixel Team, Not Own Their Smartphone Business

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 20:06:03 +0000

It's now official - Google is buying into HTC. Well, sort of. The deal is an odd one that is being called a "cooperation agreement" and will cost Google $1.1 billion to essentially acquire the talent from HTC who worked on the last couple of Pixel phones. The deal will also give Google access to HTC's intellectual property, just not exclusively. Confused? We all are! According to HTC, the agreement includes "certain HTC employees - many of whom are already working with Google to develop Pixel smartphones." Google's take is similar in that they are welcoming in a "team of HTC talent" that they have "already been working with closely on the Pixel smartphone line." $1.1 billion for HTC engineers who helped them make phones? Alright then. So you are aware, HTC isn't going anywhere as its own smartphone maker. They will continue to create phones under the HTC brand, including a new flagship they are already working on as a follow-up to the HTC U11. They'll continue investing in Vive, their VR platform, as well. To recap, Google didn't acquire anything from HTC other than the talent that helped them make Pixel phones. At least that's what the press releases from each company states. I'm trying to figure out how this doesn't involve an HTC factory or two as well, but either way, Google now has an expert team of hardware makers in-house that they can leverage to hopefully become a real competitor in the smartphone game. On the other hand, HTC is going to continue doing what it has been doing. That's not a compliment, even if they are making good phones. As good as those phones are, HTC continues to lose money as fewer and fewer people buy those good phones. The deal is expected to close in early 2018. // Google | HTC

Google Home Mini May Have Just Stopped at the FCC

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:25:09 +0000

Yesterday, we gave you a first look at Google's soon-to-be-announced Google Home Mini, the smaller, $49 version of their smart home speaker assistant. Today, that device may have stopped off at the FCC as we close in on the potential October 4 unveiling. An FCC listing under Google's grantee code (A4R) showed up and is described as being a "media streaming device." The product's FCC ID is A4RH0A. In case you were wondering, the original Google Home's FCC ID was A4RH0ME and it was also described as a media streaming device. Also, the Chromecast FCC IDs are completely different from these two. The device sports 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi as well as Bluetooth LE. While the details here have not given us definitive proof that this is indeed the new Google Home Mini, I'm not sure what else it would be. Plus, if you look at the label location of the device, it looks quite similar to the bigger Google Home, in that the model and FCC ID appear on the bottom base. One thing to note here is that the regular Google Home has a cutout on the bottom for the AC adapter, whereas this does not, at least according to this image. You have to wonder if that means the cord will plug directly into the side to power it.

// FCC

Global Citizen Festival to be Streamed in VR This Weekend, Courtesy of NextVR

Tim — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:38:29 +0000

The Global Citizen Festival, set to take place this weekend in New York City, is a big music festival with a few headliners you may have heard of. They include The Lumineers, The Chainsmokers, Big Sean, plus plenty more. Now, for anyone not in NYC this weekend, you can get in on the excitement, too, via a VR headset, courtesy of NextVR. As for which headset you'll need, NextVR says a Google Daydream View or Samsung Gear VR headset will do the trick. When the festivities kick off, you'll get to watch the aforementioned acts from a front row seat, plus, VR watchers will get "special access to the grounds not available to the public." It sounds like a real VIP experience, minus having to actually be there to check it out. If you've never heard about this particular festival, here's a rundown on what it's all about.

This one-of-a-kind live concert experience will virtually connect fans worldwide, offering them front row access, joining over 60,000 in-person activists as they stand together calling on leaders around the world to uphold their responsibility to end extreme poverty. Since its inception in 2012, Global Citizens have taken over twelve million actions and achieved financial commitments worth more than $30 billion set to affect one billion lives by 2020.

Now, to get in on this, you'll need a compatible phone and a VR headset, naturally. The good news is, the latest Galaxy phones from Samsung work for Daydream and Gear VR, but if you an Axon 7, LG V30, Mate 9 Pro, Moto Z, Moto Z2 Force, or Pixel device, you're set for Daydream. If you have a compatible device and headset, just download the apps below to get yourself all set up for the festivities. Play Links: Daydream | NextVR // NextVR

Huawei Mate 10 Lite Details, Images Posted Online Ahead of Unveiling

Tim — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:51:34 +0000

Huawei has a new lineup of phones on the horizon and the first to be detailed pretty deeply is the Mate 10 Lite. Posted by VentureBeat, the Mate 10 Lite is apparently the more affordable option in the Mate 10 lineup, with there being three devices in total. There's the Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, and Mate 10 Lite. According to the report, the Mate 10 Lite will come equipped with a 5.9" FHD+ display (18:9 aspect ratio, 1080 x 2160), Kirin 659 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, dual rear-facing cameras (16MP + 2MP), 3,340mAh battery, and Android 8.0 "Oreo" with Huawei's custom EMUI skin running on top. If none of this jumps out at you, remember, this is the Lite version, with the standard and Pro models sure to blow spec sheets away. As reported, the Mate 10 Lite is said to launch on October 16 in Munich, with shipping scheduled for a month later. Pricing is said to be €379, which is about $455 USD. For us in the US, the Lite version may not get much attention, but this design and spec sheet is a good indication of what we can expect from the standard and Pro models. As more details are made known, or when Huawei makes these devices official next month, we'll let you know. If waiting isn't your thing, a photo of the Mate 10 also made its way online recently, courtesy of @evleaks. https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/910055387591856128 // VentureBeat

Nexus Player Android 8.0 Factory Image and OTA With September Patch Now Available

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:06:52 +0000

When September's Android security patch went live last week for most Nexus and Pixel devices, the Nexus Player's files were not included. In fact, no Android 8.0 "Oreo" images had been posted by Google for their Nexus Android TV unit up until a few minutes ago. That has now changed and you can grab Oreo factory image and OTA files for the Nexus Player, with September's security patch as build OPR6.170623.021. The image or OTA files are available at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. Links:

Nest Announces $499 Alarm System, Video Doorbell, and Cam IQ Outdoor

Tim — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 10:26:17 +0000

Nest held a press event this morning, and somewhat surprisingly, announced a whole lot of new products. Announced at the event, there is now the Nest Hello video doorbell, Nest Secure alarm system, and Nest Cam IQ for outdoors. Considering Nest goes for long periods of time without announcing new products, this is like a treasure trove of new stuff. Nest Secure is the company's take on home security. It's an alarm system designed to make protecting your home an easier process. Instead of having a company and a team of people come into your home and setup a system, Nest estimates that most customers will be able to connect and set up the system in under 30 minutes. The system includes a somewhat standard number panel called Nest Guard (the brains of the operation) that can sit near your front door, 2 Nest Detects (door/window/room sensors), and 2 Nest Tags (a fob which goes on your keychain that can arm/disarm your system). The Nest Secure system is priced at $499, available in November, with pre-orders starting today. Nest also announced the Nest Hello video doorbell. Just like other video doorbells, the Nest Hello is a small camera and doorbell placed in the slot where your current doorbell resides. When someone rings the bell, video streams to your smart device for you to interact with the visitor. This is also handy when you're away from home and you can see when the UPS man came by or who is soliciting Girl Scout cookies while you're away. Nest Hello is a smart video doorbell, too. As Nest explains, "Nest Hello can detect a person, then send an alert and a snapshot, even if that person doesn’t ring the bell. With Nest Aware, customers can get alerts when strangers or suspicious activity like people talking or dogs barking are detected." Nest Hello will be available early 2018. Lastly, Nest announced Cam IQ for outdoors. Essentially, it's the same Cam IQ that was announced in May, complete with a 4K sensor, but with weatherproofing (IP66) and tamper resistance. The unit is also wireless for data connectivity, but does require a wired power connection. Nest Cam IQ for outdoors is priced at $349, up for pre-order now, or you can get a two pack for $598.

Google Assistant for Nest Cam IQ Indoor

Not only did Nest announce new hardware, but for Nest Cam IQ indoor owners, the company says it is offering the option to upgrade the camera with Google Assistant. Yes, this makes the Nest Cam IQ indoor the first security camera with Google Assistant. This feature will be available via a software update, "starting this winter." With Google Assistant, you'll be able to ask questions, control the your smart home products that are compatible with Google Assistant, as well as manage tasks. Are you picking up any of this for your nest? // Nest

Android One Moto X4 Announced for Project Fi, Priced at $399

Tim — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 08:47:22 +0000

There has been rumblings of an Android One-branded Moto X4 in the works, and today, it's been made official by Google for Project Fi customers. What differentiates the Android One Moto X4 from the standard Moto X4 is the pure Android experience it runs, plus its compatibility with the Fi network. For those who value software updates, this is a good thing, as Google states this phone will receive an update to Oreo before year's end. If that's good enough for you, Google even says this phone will be among the first to receive "Android P." That's pretty sweet. Beyond the software, the X4 hardware is identical to what you'll find available anywhere else. The phone has a 5.2-inch FHD LCD display, Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage (with SD support), rear dual camera setup (12MP + 8MP), 16MP front shooter, 3000mAh battery, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Priced at $399, this is a nice little device from Motorola. Keep in mind, Google also announced a new trade-in program, which can net you up to $165 for select Nexus devices, and if you start your trade-in by October 5, you’ll earn an extra $50 Project Fi credit. The Android One Moto X4 is up for pre-order starting today through the Project Fi website. Project Fi Link // Google

Google Launches Project Fi Device Trade-In Program, Will Likely do the Same for Google Store (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 08:35:52 +0000

You may be Google'd out after we revealed a whole bunch of Google's upcoming devices yesterday, like the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Google Home Mini, Google Pixelbook, and new Daydream View headset, but there is more to discuss. And for those of you who are considering those new Pixel 2 devices, this is the goodness you wanted to hear. Google just announced a new device trade-in program for Project Fi that will likely mean an expansion to the Google Store too. This morning, after a timing mix-up, Google announced that the Moto X4 is indeed the newest Project Fi and Android One phone. That's awesome! That means an Android One phone in the US and also an affordable Project Fi device. Along with that news, Google announced their "new" trade-in program. According to Google, they'll give Fi customers up to $165 for select Nexus devices, but they'll also toss in an extra $50 Fi credit if done by October 5 of this year. The rest of the terms can be found at this link (once it goes live).

UPDATE: Here are some additional details on the Fi trade-in program, now that it's live.

Google is offering "up to $388 Fi service credit or a credit card refund when you trade in an eligible phone."
You can get an estimate on the spot for a number of phones. An iPhone 7 Plus with 32GB storage can fetch up to $338, while a Galaxy S7 is worth around $150. A Nexus 6P with 32GB is worth $151.

UPDATE 9/26: The trade-in program is now live for the Google Store. It works almost exactly like the Fi program we detailed above.

Where this becomes important for non-Fi customers is through the idea that the Google Store will likely get the same trade-in program. The info isn't quite complete yet and the full process hasn't been revealed, but Google's Store tipped us to the magic in the making. The image below contains a note under the "Buy" button on the Pixel's device config page, just before you checkout that mentions "the amount you're credited depends on the model and condition of your phone." If that's not in reference to a trade-in program, I'm not sure what it could be talking about. Why else would Google be offering up a credit to you for something, depending on its model and condition? The backend of the page is also filled with phone trade-in references that can't be viewed. That note, as of this morning, is no longer there.

Additionally, Google has a full terms and conditions page already setup for the trade-in program. It references both the Google Store and Project Fi, so this program, when it launches in the next couple of days for Fi, will be there for Google Store customers as well. Pretty big news! // Google Store | Terms Cheers Matthew!

HTC Halts Trading, Could Announce Google Takeover in Major Announcement

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 07:58:22 +0000

This morning, multiple reports are suggesting that HTC has a major announcement coming within the next day that could mean the sale of their smartphone hardware business. That announcement could very well include details on Google buying portions of the HTC business, as was first reported almost two weeks ago. Here is a breakdown of the happenings as it currently stands:

The Taiwan Stock Exchange has halted HTC trading for the time being, in case you didn't think this was real.
Taiwanese media outlet, Apple Daily, is reporting that the deal is done and Google will indeed take over HTC's original device manufacturer (ODM) operation.
@evleaks says that an HTC town hall meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (9/21) and that at least one source expects Google to buy "certain" hardware engineering assets, though HTC will keep its brand. The branding could mean for Vive, rather than the smartphone brand.

https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/910458987757363200

HTC finally issued a statement on all of these latest acquisition rumors and only said, "HTC does not comment on market rumor or speculation." At least we got a statement!
Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan (you should follow him for breaking news on this story) says that HTC's factory utilization has dropped recently and that Google would be a perfect match for the empty space there to fully design its own phones out of it.

https://twitter.com/tculpan/status/910468041334337536 We'll update this as we have more. // TWSE | Apple Daily | HTC

LG V30 Goes on Sale in Korea, No Word Yet on US Launch

Kellen — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 07:10:32 +0000

The LG V30 arrived in South Korea this week, its first launch stop on a worldwide tour. While that's great news for LG to finally be selling their latest flagship smartphone, we still don't know when it'll arrive in the US. We've talked about this in the past, but LG does this often. They announce a new smartphone and generate a bunch of excitement, only to slowly roll the phone out across the globe as their competitors sneak in with their own phones first. It happened with last year's LG V20 and sure seems to be happening again with the V30 (the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 are poised to launch here before it). That doesn't mean you shouldn't still be considering the V30. We've spent a good amount of time with the phone and are huge fans of its in-hand feel, 6-inch POLED display, performance, and dual camera setup. While I have yet to spend any time with a retail unit, the preview unit I've been testing (see below) has already won me over. We'll let you know when the V30 shows up here. // LG

Google Pixelbook is Google's New Chromebook With Pixelbook Pen, Starting at $1,199

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 12:47:11 +0000

As we noted in our earlier Google Home Mini reveal, a report from a couple of weeks back had actually suggested that Google would soon release a smaller Home unit. In that same report, it was suggested that a new high performance Chromebook Pixel was on the way too. Today, we can confirm that report and you can all welcome in the Google Pixelbook. Yep, Pixelbook is the official name, which kind of makes sense since the line used to be called Chromebook Pixel, yet Google appears to be ready to fully embrace the "Pixel" branding for hardware. Or does that make sense? I can't decide, but am looking forward to the explanation on October 4. The Pixelbook will come in Silver, along with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The prices will look familiar to those who remember the original two Chromebook Pixel devices, in that they aren't coming cheap like many of the other Chromebooks sold by Samsung, Acer, etc. The 128GB version will start at $1,199, followed by the 256GB model at $1,399 and the 512GB option at $1,749. This Pixelbook is different from previous Chromebook Pixel units in that it folds into a tablet. It'll also get additional interactivity, thanks to the official Pixelbook Pen, which will cost $99. The Pixebool Pen is pressure sensitive, with tilt support and supposedly no lag.

Once live, you should be able to buy the Pixelbook here and the Pixelbook Pen here.

Here is the Pixel 2 in "Kinda Blue," White, and Black - Starting at $649

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:59:06 +0000

Wrapping up here, because we don't want anyone feeling left out, here is the HTC-made Pixel 2. From what we can tell, it'll arrive in three colorways and match the Pixel 2 XL in terms of storage, while sticking to prices very similar to last year's original smaller Pixel. The Pixel 2 will arrive in Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White. It'll be sold with 64GB and 128GB of storage and priced at $649 and $749, respectively. Like the Pixel 2 XL, financing will be available for each storage option. The 64GB Pixel 2 will cost $27.04/mo over 24 months and the 128GB model will cost $31.21/mo. Once available, you should be able to buy the Pixel 2 at the Google Store right here. I think that's all for now.

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

And Here is the Pixel 2 XL in Black and White, Starting at $849

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:29:14 +0000

Alright fine, no more playing around. Here is the Pixel 2 XL (official name) in two colorways. We also have pricing that you'll need to brace yourself for. The LG-made Pixel 2 XL will come in a "Black & White" colorway (pictured above) that might be the hottest panda colorway we've ever seen. The phone will also arrive in "Just Black," and be available with 64GB or 128GB storage. The 64GB model will cost $849, while the 128GB model will jump to $949.

RELATED: Pixel 2 also revealed with colors, pricing, and storage!

Google will offer financing as well. The 64GB Pixel 2 XL will cost $35.38/mo over 24 months and the 128GB version will jump to $39.54/mo. While details on this are even more scarce than the Google Home Mini and new Daydream View we just showed you, this should make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, knowing that this is about to be unveiled on October 4. Once available, you should be able to buy the Pixel 2 at the Google Store right here.

Here is the New Google Daydream View, It'll Cost $99

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:17:21 +0000

Didn't care about the new Google Home Mini we just revealed? How about the new Daydream View, Google's latest VR headset? Here! While we don't have many details on this unit, it's obvious that we are looking at new colors: Charcoal, Fog, and Coral. The unit looks less soft and potentially more rugged. The previous Daydream View (our review) had a cloth, jersey like finish, whereas this appears to be more of a nylon or at least a material that may be able to withstand our nerd sweat over a longer period of time. The design also seems a bit cleaner this time around. The controller is back again..

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

RELATED: Pixel 2 also just got revealed with pricing, colors, and storage.

To see what I mean, here is the old vs. this new unit:

Old vs. New

The new Google Daydream View will cost $99, which is a $20 bump over the original. Does that mean upgrades inside? I'd assume so, though we don't have that info just yet. Once live on the Google Store, you should be able to buy them right here. Like the new Google Home Mini, this unit is probably going to be on stage at Google's October 4 event.

Here is the Google Home Mini, the Smaller $49 Google Home

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:57:18 +0000

When Google takes the stage on October 4 at a phone-related event in San Francisco, most of us expect there to be non-phone related product announcements too. We've heard rumors about a Google Home "mini" possibly being on the way and today we can confirm that it exists, how much it costs, and the colors it'll be available in. This is the Google Home Mini.

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

RELATED: Pixel 2 also just got revealed with pricing, colors, and storage.

According to the information we've viewed, the Google Home Mini (official name) will arrive in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colors. The Google Home Mini will be powered rather than wireless, at least according to the images here. This Google Home Mini will be able to help you with your schedule, set reminders, grab news, and other Home-related inquiries. It'll cost just $49 and, of course, sports Google Assistant. As you can see from the images we've included in this post, it looks a lot like a Google Home that has been pressed or sat on. You have colored bases that match the color of the top, soft portion of the unit. So unlike the original Google Home that had swappable bases, it looks like the mini may not have that same luxury. Instead, you'll get a dark base for the Charcoal unit, white base for Chalk (grey), and coral for Coral. Those appear to be lights on top of each unit as well, likely to let you know that you are interacting with Home Mini, just like we see from the multi-colored LEDs are the current Google Home. Once live on the Google Store, you'll be able to buy it right here.

Cheers Steve!

Report: T-Mobile, Sprint in Active Talks Regarding Merger

Tim — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:34:26 +0000

According to sources close to the matter, who spoke to CNBC, T-Mobile and Sprint are in active talks regarding a stock-for-stock merger. If you feel like you're having déjà vu, don't worry, you're not. Reports such as this have seen light before, but the reported deal fell through in mid-2014. This time around, things seem serious again, but we could still be weeks away from any deal being struck. As reported, T-Mobile has yet to complete any due diligence on Sprint, and to further complicate the situation, heavy thought must be put into whether antitrust regulators would allow for the #3 and #4 ranked US carriers to merge. Detailed inside of the report, given the all-stock nature of the deal, "Softbank would emerge as a large minority holder in any combination. While T-Mobile CEO John Legere is expected to lead any combination that results from a merger, [Softbank's Masayoshi] Son has made it clear he wants a say in how the company is run." So, yeah, the main takeaway is that talks of a merger are happening, but it's still possible that nothing happens. We'll keep you posted as the story develops. // CNBC

Video: Galaxy Note 8 Review!

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 09:42:25 +0000

I know that you've already read our Galaxy Note 8 review from Tim, but as we've said in the past, the big guys get both written and video reviews for those who need it all. Today, we bring you the video portion of our Note 8 review, which also happens to be my take on Samsung's follow-up to the Galaxy Note 7. While Tim is certainly more a fan of the Note line than I am, I actually came away with pretty similar thoughts on the Note 8. The quality of craftsmanship here is undeniable, the new dual camera setup is fantastic, and that display is a thing of beauty. I also found myself using the S Pen more than in years past and complementing Samsung on both the software experience and performance. I know, that's odd for me. Of course, with the Note series, the size was brought up by me and yes, I think this phone is too big. Even as a phone that is similar in size to the Galaxy S8+, something about its squared-off design just wasn't that comfortable to use and highlighted its elongated body, in a bad way. The fingerprint reader placement makes it an unusable feature as well, plus that price is going to take some getting used to. My thoughts are (predictably) mixed on this phone, but that really doesn't matter. If you love the Note series, you will love the Note 8 - that's the bottom line. You can buy the Galaxy Note 8 right here.

Amazon Intros Fire HD 10 Tablet With Alexa, Pre-Order Available for $150

Tim — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 09:11:37 +0000

Amazon announced a new tablet this morning, the Fire HD 10. Coming in with a 10.1" FHD display and quad-core processor with 2GB RAM, the tablet is up for pre-order at just $149.99, with shipments beginning October 11. The feature to highlight on this particular tablet is Amazon's inclusion of hands-free Alexa. This is a first for Fire tablets, and with it, users can do all of the same Alexa stuff that they can do on an Echo, but on a tablet. You can control your house lights, pause videos, look at your home security cameras, plus a whole lot more. Other things worth noting are the MediaTek quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 2-megapixel rear-facing camera, and microUSB port on the bottom of the device. These aren't necessarily the things you're looking for in a new device, but at $150, were you expecting something else? Here's a full look at the specifications.

Specs

Display: 10.1” touchscreen, 1920 x 1200 resolution at 224 ppi
Processor: MediaTek Quad-Core: 2 @ 1.8 GHz + 2 @ 1.4 GHz
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. MicroSD up to 256 GB supported
Camera: VGA front-facing camera. 2 MP rear-facing camera
Battery: Up to 10 hours of reading, surfing the web, watching video, and listening to music
Charge: Fully charges in under 5 hours using the micro-USB power adapter
Size: 10.3” x 6.3” x 0.4” (262 x 159 x 9.8mm)
Colors: Black, Marine Blue, or Punch Red

If Amazon's latest interests you, follow the link below to get your pre-order in. Amazon Link // Amazon

T-Mobile Raising Throttling Limit to 50GB (Updated: Yep)

Kellen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:38:36 +0000

Starting tomorrow, T-Mobile will up its unlimited data throttling limit to 50GB from 32GB, according to a document sent to Android Central. That's a sizable increase to T-Mobile's Fair Usage Threshold that was already the highest in the business when compared to Verizon or AT&T. By my count, this is the third such increase this year alone. Back in March, T-Mobile jumped the limit to 30GB before increasing it to 32GB in May. Should it move to 50GB tomorrow, I think it'll be tough for most customers to ever see much throttling, unless they are ultra-heavy users. For those not familiar, the Fair Usage Threshold is a limit T-Mobile sets on data plans to give them the power to slow down the speeds of customers who are using a ton of data and on a congested network. T-Mobile suggests that this limit only impacts the "top 3% of data users," so most customers will never see "reduced speeds due to prioritization." And so you are aware, all carriers are doing this at this point, it's just that T-Mobile seems to constantly be tweaking (increasing) their limit. T-Mobile's support account on Twitter confirmed the news last night, but has since deleted that Tweet. We'll let you know once it goes official. UPDATE: T-Mobile confirmed the news today. // Android Central

DEAL: Buy a Google Home for $129, Get a Free Chromecast

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:11:52 +0000

Over on Best Buy, you can grab a Google Home for $129 (its usual price), then get a Chromecast thrown in for free. Free tech? Oh, yeah! Best Buy lists this as a bundle, with both items coming in the same package, for the $129 price. That means there's no coupon codes or forms to fill out to claim your free Chromecast. Just pay the $129 and you get both devices. If waiting for delivery doesn't interest you, in-store pickup appears to be available basically everywhere, so treat yourself or someone you know to some Google sweetness. Follow the link below to check it out. Best Buy Link

This Icon Pack is Hot and Free: Graby Spin

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:55:22 +0000

Hot icon packs are something we've always got our eyes peeled for, and today, I've discovered another one I would like to share. Called Graby Spin, this pack is especially noteworthy because it's free for a limited time on Google Play, down from a usual price of $0.99. Packed with 2,500+ icons and a ton of cloud-based wallpapers, free ain't bad at all. To me, this icon pack brings a blast of color, a big change from my typical taste in custom icons. I'm usually drawn towards more minimal, plain looking icons, but switching it up is always a good way to keep things fresh. As I said, there are over 2,500 circle-shaped icons, meaning you shouldn't come across too many of your own apps that don't get skinned. On my device, there was only a handful of app icons that didn't get decked out, which were Star Wars: GOH, Redfin, a couple of other games, and FOX Sports GO. Other than that, all my icons are looking quite pretty and colorful. Even new apps, like YouTube TV, were supported. If there are icons you have that aren't inside this pack, the developer does offer an Icon Request system, meaning your icon of choice could make its way into a new batch for the pack. Besides the icons, the pack does come with many cloud-based wallpapers, 80 in total. And yes, they're all in 2K resolution, so all of you QHD display owners should have zero issues when applying. Not all of the wallpapers are original, as I recognize a few of them, most notably the geometric ones from artist Simon Page. If you're looking for a fresh look, I'd say look no further. Couple these bright icons with a brightly colored Google Search bar (pictured above) and you're in for an ocular treat. Play Link

Google Announces Tez Mobile Payments App Specifically for India

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:03:24 +0000

According to Google's numbers, India is home to 300 million smartphone users. As more are becoming connected to the web, Google has introduced Tez, a mobile payments application built specifically for Indian users who wish to make paying for things a digital experience. As described, Tez is not just for paying at local stores. The app is capable of direct, bank-to-bank payments using the country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) standard. On top of transferring money easily, folks can use the app's "Cash Mode" to make purchases locally, have access to Tez Shield for a secured experience, as well as a "Tez for Business" program for large and small enterprises. Here's a complete rundown of Tez's features.

Tez Features

Direct, bank-to-bank payments: Tez uses UPI for instant and secure payments, directly to and from bank accounts.
“Cash Mode” for nearby transactions: Pay nearby without sharing your private details like bank account or phone number.
Tez Shield: Backed by Google’s expertise in data security, Tez works 24/7 to help detect fraud, prevent hacking, and to verify and protect the identity of every user.
Tez for Business: Tez for Business is a program for large and small enterprises to connect with consumers inside the Tez app to make payments, share redeemable offers, products and updates.

Now, as I stated, this is for India only. Us in the US have plenty of other options, such as Android Pay, Samsung Pay, or any other money transferring service you can think of. The app is available for download on Google Play right now. Play Link // Google

Report: Samsung Has Developed a Camera Sensor Capable of 1,000FPS

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 10:42:12 +0000

Are we already hyping next year's Galaxy S9? It kinda feels like it. According to overseas reports, Samsung has developed and will begin mass production in November of a mobile camera sensor capable of 1,000 frames per second (FPS). If you'll recall, a similar report made its way online back in March, stating that the Galaxy S8 may have come with this functionality. As we now know, that didn't happen. This new report, though, seems much more legit. Not only is the 1,000fps capability mentioned, but much more detail regarding the construction of the camera is provided. According to ETNews, the camera consists of a 3-layered image sensor, with the layers made up of the sensor itself, logic chip, plus a DRAM chip that can temporarily store data. Again, mass production is said to start in November, after trials with prototype hardware begin next month. Now, if this subject is something you've been following, you may know that Sony just announced the Xperia XZ1, which just so happens to feature a 19MP Exmor RS camera with 960fps video capture. Essentially, for anyone who has been dying to have insane slow-mo action via their smartphone, good times are in store. If this report does align with Samsung's plan for an upcoming phone, it's entirely possible we'll hear about it well ahead of the Galaxy S9 launch. As we've seen in the past, when breakthroughs and innovations such as this take place, Samsung tends to announce it separately ahead of whatever the flagship announcement is. We see this typically with display technology and RAM, but they have done it for cameras, too. Where my camera nerds at? // ETNews

Motorola Gets Raked for Not Updating Moto G4 Plus to Oreo as Promised, Says It Now Will

Kellen — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 10:26:20 +0000

At the end of last week, Motorola released its list of phones scheduled to receive the update to Android Oreo. As you guys know, the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus, two phones that are just barely a year old, were left off of the list. People were pissed initially, but over the weekend became even more livid as they discovered promo materials for the phone that suggested the phone would see both Android N and Android O updates. Because of that, Motorola says they will now update the Moto G4 Plus to Oreo, though we aren't sure when. I'd try to catch you up on the marketing material event that went down over the weekend, but you'll find it all at this reddit thread. The basics are this. Some Moto G4 owners looked back at the original marketing materials for the phone and noticed that it said to expect an update to both Android N and Android O. Those mentions have since been scrubbed from Moto G4 materials, which of course, is never a good look. Motorola responded today with the following to their Oreo updates blog post:

Since the time of posting this, we have learned of some errors in our marketing materials around Android O upgrades for moto g4 Plus. It’s our general practice for the moto g family to get one major OS upgrade per device, so it wasn’t originally planned for Android O. But it’s important to us we keep our promises, so in addition to the N upgrade it has already received, we will be upgrading moto g4 Plus to Android O. Because this is an unplanned upgrade, it will take some time to fit into our schedule, we’ll update our software upgrade page when we have more info.

In other words, we now know that Motorola only updates its Moto G line for a single year. To expect anything beyond that is silly on your part going forward. Whether that's cool of Motorola or not is a conversation for another day, but they have made it clear that this is how they treat their mid-range phones. If I were buying into a mid-range line in the near future, I'd certainly hesitate with the next Moto G if this is Motorola's stance. Also, that statement only says Moto G4 Plus and not Moto G4. Sorry, Moto G4 owners. Finally, it's anyone's guess when your Moto G4 Plus will see the update. As Motorola noted, this is an "unplanned upgrade," so it could end up at the back of the pack. Here's to hoping it doesn't end up on the bottom of the list only to never see it. // Motorola

Action Launcher Now Also Offers Adaptive Icon Support Via New $5 AdaptivePack App

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 09:04:09 +0000

One of the big features inside of Oreo is Adaptive Icons. It's essentially a native customization tool for icons, allowing a user to switch between different shapes for 3rd-party app icons. The only problem is, not many will be using Oreo until way down the road, and on top of that, the developers have to support this feature by creating an adaptive icon then updating their app. Enter 3rd-party launcher developers, who are finding ways to bring Adaptive Icons to all Android users, regardless of which version they're running. The latest to do this is Action Launcher, following Nova Launcher's announcement of something similar. To utilize the feature, Action Launcher users will need to purchase a separate app, which costs $5 on Google Play. However, there is currently a launch sale taking place, bringing the price down to $3.49. As the developer explains, "Unlike most icon packs, AdaptivePack’s icons are intentionally designed not to have a style or theme, but rather to offer Adaptive Icon variants of your most popular apps that look and feel as if the original app developer made them."

In addition to launching AdaptivePack, version 28 of Action Launcher was released, too, bringing changes to support AdaptivePack and other goodies.

Action Launcher v28 Changelog

AdaptivePack integration (naturally!).
Full Adaptive Icon style customization options, allowing you to pick from five icon styles: circle, square, rounded square, teardrop and squircle.
Adaptive Icon support is now integrated into Quickedit, so you can customize the icon Adaptive Icon style on a per-app basis.
A brand new icon picker.
Improved compatibility when running on Oreo, including use of the light navigation bar.

You can follow the links below to check out Action Launcher (or grab the update), as well as purchase AdaptivePack to check out Adaptive Icons on your device. Play Links: Action Launcher | AdaptivePack

Samsung Gives the World All It Ever Asked for: Option to Disable Bixby Button

Kellen — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:04:25 +0000

I can honestly say that I never thought this day would come, but Samsung has gone ahead and pushed out an update to Bixby on the Galaxy Note 8 (likely Galaxy S8 and S8+ too) that lets you disable the Bixby button from opening Bixby Home. It's not April 1! It's not my birthday either! What is happening!?! Bixby can (almost) be disabled!

How to turn off Bixby

In order to get the most important Bixby update in Bixby's short history, you'll simply need to open Bixby first. Sure, for old time's sake, let's press that Bixby button one last time to open Bixby Home.
You should see a prompt to update Bixby (tap the "Update" option in the pop-up), which will then lead you through a bunch of Bixby-related files updating.
Once done, you'll want to scroll all of the way up to the top of Bixby until you see the three icons to the right of "Hello Bixby." They should look like the icons in the GIF above, with a globe icon, settings gear, and 3-dot menu.
Tap that settings gear, watch as a new setting appears that allows you to stop the Bixby button from opening Bixby Home.
Enjoy life.

Disable Bixby alternate

If the steps above aren't working, you can also press and hold the Bixby button to activate Bixby Voice and say, "Bixby Settings." That should open Bixby settings where you'll want to scroll down and look for the "Bixby key" option. Tap that and then choose the "Don't open anything" dot to again, disable Bixby Home from opening when the Bixby button is pressed. I'm currently running Bixby Home version 2.0.03.3 and Bixby Voice version 1.0.10.8.

Don't forget the home panel

If disabling the Bixby button from launching Bixby Home isn't enough, don't forget that you can also fully shutdown the panel, assuming you are using the stock Samsung launcher. Simply pinch on your home screen (or long-press on it), slide over to the Bixby Home panel, and toggle it off. Boom, no more Bixby experience.

Not a full disable

I should point out that this isn't a full Bixby disable. Instead, you are disabling Bixby Home from opening when the Bixby button is accidentally pressed (because who presses Bixby on purpose?). You will still be able to use Bixby through voice or by pressing and holding the Bixby button to activate that same Bixby Voice portion. In fact, you still can't fully turn off Bixby, but this at least kills off the assistant from opening when you don't necessarily want it to. Pressing and holding to open Bixby is a purposeful action, whereas the simple touch of a button that could interrupt everything you were doing wasn't. This option should have been there from day 1. Thanks, though, Samsung.

Essential Phone Now Certified for Use on Verizon's Network

Kellen — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 06:28:12 +0000

Over the weekend, Andy Rubin and the Essential team let us know that the Essential Phone's Verizon certification process is now complete. Days before, they mentioned during a reddit AMA that they were close to finishing up and that the process should be complete within a day or two. Hey, they nailed a timing estimate! Things are lookin' up! Being certified to work with Verizon means you should be able to walk into a Verizon store and get a sales rep to activate your phone on the spot. Previously, even though we tested the phone (our review) on Verizon and it worked fine, you might have run into issues if you needed Verizon to activate a SIM card for the phone. Andy Rubin did say via Twitter that a phone reboot might help if you are having issues connecting to Big Red's network. And that's it!

Weekly Recap: Galaxy Note 8 Review is Live and October 4 is Pixel 2 Day!

Tim — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:00:50 +0000

At long last, the weekend has arrived, but not without a whole lot of stuff going down in the Android world. The big news is that we posted up our Galaxy Note 8 review, but also, Google confirmed that October 4 is the big Pixel 2 day! Get hyped! Along with that excitement, the Pixel XL 2 went through the FCC (made by LG), Essential shipped out a very important performance improving update to its owners, Motorola detailed which of its devices will receive Oreo, and YouTube TV finally made its way to Portland, OR. Happy days! Here's the stuff you don't want to miss.

WATCH: The Droid Life Show - Episode 151 [Subscribe]
Review: Galaxy Note 8
Video: Galaxy Note 8 Tips and Tricks.
Video: First 10 things to do with the Galaxy Note 8.
October 4 is Pixel 2 day!
LG-made Pixel XL 2 strolls through FCC.
Essential Phone picks up a very important performance update.
Essential held an AMA and here's everything important we learned from it.
These are the Motorola phones that will receive Oreo.
Verizon: Network > Free Services
YouTube TV comes to Portland, plus 7 other new markets!
Apple unveils the iPhone X. Here's the specs against the best of Android.
Apple removed the fingerprint reader on the iPhone X and that sucks!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

DEAL: Amazon Echo (Cert Refurbished) is Just $80 Right now

Kellen — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:42:41 +0000

Since you just got paid, being Friday and all, it's time to spend all that cash before Sunday ever arrives like the wild, edge-living child you are. And your best value is on certified refurbished Amazon Echo units that are just $79.99 at the moment. That's $85 off their normal price and $100 cheaper than the brand new ones. That's a heck of a deal! The $80 Amazon Echo can be had in either black or white and of course, includes Prime shipping. Go!

Amazon Deal Link

Galaxy Note 8, Essential Phone Reviews

Kellen — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 12:16:40 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we're kicking things off with Google's confirmation of the Pixel 2 event on October 4 and the latest in rumors surrounding the new Pixel phones. After that, it's on to our Galaxy Note 8 and Essential Phone reviews, which both wrapped within the last week. Since this is Galaxy Note 8 launch day, you'll want to listen in if the phone is on your shortlist. Finally. we'll follow up review talk with a recap of Apple's latest iPhone X event (because why not?), the new Android One phones, Motorola Oreo updates, carrier battles, and more! It's a packed show! We’ll be live at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM Eastern)! If you miss us live, you can always subscribe through the variety of links below.

Galaxy Note 8 Review

Tim — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:07:46 +0000

Before I dive into all things Galaxy Note 8 review, let's get this out of the way. Last year, with the Galaxy Note 7 recall, things were bad. To this date, I don't think we've seen something quite like it in smartphones, and to happen to such a big player in the game, it was very interesting to see how Samsung would recover. Well, as we can see now, Samsung is doing just fine, with pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 8 crushing the company's personal records. I also don't see people making "fire" jokes anymore, so that's also a plus. Point being, Samsung did what they needed to do to correct the situation, then simply moved on and seems to have bettered their practices to ensure that type of thing doesn't ever happen again. It was a lesson not only for Samsung, but for all consumer electronic makers across the globe. This year, we have the Galaxy Note 8, the followup to last year's recalled Note 7. There has been plenty of hype leading up to this device, thanks to tech media (including myself), so we're here to find out if the Galaxy Note 8 is the Samsung device we've all been hoping for and awesome enough to help us forget about last year's events. This is our Galaxy Note 8 review.

The Good

Specs Like previous years, Samsung is not afraid to throw every available tech into the Galaxy Note lineup, with the Note 8 being no exception. The device comes outfitted with a 6.3" Infinity Super AMOLED Quad HD+ display (2960x1440, 521ppi), Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB built-in storage with support for expandable storage, dual 12MP rear-facing cameras with OIS, an IP68 rating, USB Type-C, NFC, MST (Samsung Pay), 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, fingerprint reader, iris scanner, facial recognition, and a 3,300mAh battery with Fast wired and wireless charging. Let all of that soak in for a moment. Besides stereo speakers and maybe a bigger battery, I'm not quite sure what else someone would ask for. I mean, this phone has it all. We'll dive deeper into each one of these specs below, but just know that when it comes to bang for your buck, the Note 8 is no slouch. Hardware If you're curious about what the Galaxy Note 8 feels like in-hand, simply pick up a Galaxy S8+, then imagine there being a slot for an S Pen on the bottom. To me, that's basically what the Galaxy Note 8 is; an ever-so-slightly larger, squared off Galaxy S8+, which is fine for me. Thinking back to past Galaxy Note devices, it's obvious that Samsung has come quite a long ways from faux-stitching and plastic materials. On the front and backside of the device there is glass, with the sides featuring metal. It's a premium looking and feeling device, one that you just know will shatter instantly if dropped on unforgiving surfaces. So, please, don't drop it. Personally, I like the glass and metal feel in-hand, but I know it may not be the most durable hardware. One slip and this phone is likely done for, which can make me very nervous at times. If this is something you might stress about, I'd recommend getting a case. Other hardware aspects we can't ignore are the absence of capacitive buttons, dedicated home button, and the dreaded inclusion of the Bixby button. While we'll discuss Bixby in a later section, I want to praise Samsung for its continued implementation of on-screen buttons. It's the same, customizable layout that we have on the Galaxy S8, and it's still just as cool as it was earlier this year. I do have to mention its size and in-hand feel, though. I know Kellen and myself differ on this slightly, because he thinks the phone is way too tall and squared, but I think the phone feels rather good in-hand. The rounded sides really help to keep the phone in place, and thanks to One-handed operation modes, using it with one hand while I'm out walking the dogs is never an issue. I've found myself doing that shimmy to reach certain things on the screen a few times, but I do that on basically every phone anyway. My only real problem with its size comes when I go to put it in my pocket. If I have shallow pockets, one end will want to stick out just a tad, but that just comes with the territory when you have a 6.3" Infinity display in your pocket. Display On the frontside of the Galaxy Note 8 is its massive, 6.3" Infinity display. Coming in with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 (521ppi), it's absolutely gorgeous, providing plenty of pixels for all you #crispy YouTube video consumers. While plenty of OEMs are utilizing QHD displays these days, Samsung still seems to dominate this category. Their AMOLED panels are rich with color, great for blacks, and are capable of providing users with Always On functionality. On top of the display quality, the "Infinity" aspect just adds to the gorgeousness. When watching a video from YouTube or playing games, the design of this display really helps provide an immersive experience, which I'm all about these days. Camera On the backside of the Galaxy Note 8, there are two 12-megapixel cameras, both featuring optical image stabilization (OIS). If you're into camera specs, here's the gist: 1 wide-angle (12MP, Dual Pixel AF, f/1.7,), then 1 telephoto (12MP AF, f/2.4, OIS, 2X optical zoom, up to 10X digital zoom). On the front, there's an 8MP camera with f/1.7. Just as I expected, the camera experience on the Note 8 is legit. From the shots I've taken, the camera is pretty trustworthy in all circumstances (portraits of humans/dogs, landscapes, low-lighting, etc.). As Kellen and I both talk about frequently, our biggest gripe with some shooters is the time it takes to not just load the camera app, but the time it takes for the shutter to react once you've pressed the capture button. On the Note 8, as soon as I press the button, the shot goes off, and there's no delay between one shot to the next. It's very responsive, allowing you to capture all those perfect moments. One aspect I don't think enough folks highlighted when this device was announced is that both cameras on the back have OIS. That's a pretty awesome fact, considering there are still a few phones out there that still don't have any type of real stabilization. As for the shots themselves, they easily challenge any other high-end smartphone camera on the market. There's not a lot of over exposing when in good enough lighting, but I will say, the Dual Pixel sensors let in so much light that when you're shooting in dark conditions, you may need to dial down the brightness to adjust the amount of noise you might see. To do so, tap on where you're trying to focus, then slide the ring around until you have your desired lighting. As I've found with most new Samsung devices, they excel at taking shots of certain colors, such as greens and purple. There's something about trees and grass that really pops on these cameras, but when viewing them, that Super AMOLED panel probably also has a little bit to do with it.

Software wise, Samsung has decked out this camera with Live Focus (what I refer to as active bokeh), live Stickers that go atop people in your shots, Bixby Vision, Pro mode, Hyperlapse, Slow Motion, Panorama, "Food," Virtual shot, plus the ability to download even more from Samsung's app store. Seriously, there are a lot of bells and whistles in this app, which can be overwhelming, but regardless of your shooting situation, rest assured there's a setting inside of here that can help you nail your shots.

Here's a few samples from my time with the device.

Battery The Galaxy Note 8 comes with a 3,300mAh battery, which probably disgruntled a few potential customers (considering how large this device is), but there's not much we can do about that at this point.

Anyway, I have used the Galaxy Note 8 for about a week now, and for the most part, the battery has been fine, nothing extraordinary. I'm getting a solid day, with anywhere from 3-4 hours of screen on time, then about 10-20% of juice left. That's what I get on a lot of different phones, so I'm assuming that's a good thing. Could it be better? Sure! I could bump down the resolution of my display, not play so much Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, and I could also use my WiFi more, but for the most part, this phone's battery has treated me just fine in terms of how I use it.

S Pen Ah, the S Pen. Honestly, I don't use the S Pen, but when I do remember that it's there, it can be pretty sweet. This year, it's the same ol' S Pen as before, but there is at least one new feature that has been pretty fun to play with. It's called Live Message and it allows you to create a word-centric GIF, complete with sparkly text. You can even take a screenshot of something on your phone, draw on it in sparkly text, then share it as a GIF via Twitter. Kellen has already made a couple great examples of this on his Twitter, but I can't link to them because someone may get offended. If you're interested in seeing them, scroll through his account (look around September 7). Highlighted in my Tips and Tricks video, there is also Bixby Vision and a Google Translate tool. With translation active, you can hover the S Pen over a particular word, then translate it to basically any language Google supports. As someone who has been attempting to learn Spanish for the past 3 years, this can be very helpful. As for Bixby Vision, this tool allows you to hover over a picture, such as a pack of Oreo cookies, then find where you can shop for that item. Thanks to compatibility with Amazon, basically anything that's for sale through that service can be recognized in a photo with Bixby Vision. I have to say, I don't know how extremely useful that feature will be, but it's there. Beyond that fun stuff, you can still take your notes, draw pictures with pencil and brush tools, plus all of the other functionality you'd expect from a stylus.

Somewhere in the Middle

Software This section is somewhat hard for me to write, only because I'm really torn how I feel about it. A part of me really enjoys all of the different things that Samsung's software brings to the table. There are these "Advanced Features," different implementations of Multi Window, and all of the customization options (themes, Icons, etc.). On the other hand, I'm a somewhat minimal guy, so having so much packed into my Settings menu can be a little overwhelming. At the end of the day, I think less is more, even when it comes to Android software. Now, as for the software on the Galaxy Note 8, it's good. For what feels like years I talked about how I wish Samsung would tone down its software, and for the most part, I still think they're sticking to that. The UI is easily digestible, there's simply just so much to discover and set up when you first boot the device that it can feel like a real chore. However, once all of your settings are in place and everything is set up to your liking, the experience is quite solid.

As I mentioned, Samsung has baked in plenty of things for you to enable/disable when using the device. We have gone over quite a few of these things already (linked below in the Videos section), but the highlights for me would be the ability to theme the UI, One-handed Mode, Game Launcher, and certain aspects of the Edge Panel (checking sports and accessing app shortcuts). Again, I recommend checking out our videos on the Galaxy Note 8's software that I have linked below.

Bixby Now that Bixby Voice is available in the US, I really got to test it out on the Galaxy Note 8. To sum up my thoughts on it, "Meh." I certainly understand what Samsung is trying to do, giving users a way to interact with their phone and do certain actions with their voice, and that's totally fine and dandy. To me, though, Bixby is more of an Accessibility feature, not really a competitor to Google Assistant or Siri. Yes, it can give you answers to questions, show you the weather, and even set reminders, but I think it excels at simply completing system-based tasks by listening to a user's voice. For example, I like that I can ask Bixby to open my camera or turn on my flashlight without me fiddling with buttons. I simply hold that Bixby button, speak the command, then it does it. That's cool. But since I have Google Assistant already at my fingertips via the home button, I just don't have a use for Bixby to complete web-based or Google-related tasks. I simply haven't been convinced to ditch Google Assistant in order to use Bixby, which I can only access on a Samsung phone. For me, who is constantly switching phones, Assistant just makes more sense. Unlike Google Assistant, Bixby takes quite a bit to set up, and it's obvious that Samsung is still tweaking the way it learns. In setup, you have to speak about 10 or more different phrases, which helps it learn and better communicate with users. With Assistant, you just say "OK Google" 3x and you're good to go. I guess what I want to say is, Samsung, stay in your lane. We have companies like Apple and Google already leading the charge in digital assistants, and I suppose I don't quite know why we need to keep fracturing up the market with newcomers. I mean, the Galaxy phones are already coming preloaded with Google Assistant. Is it really necessarily to build your own, too? Couldn't those resources go towards something original or better? Take Samsung Pay for example. It is a better service than Android Pay, because it offers the convenience of mobile payments to nearly ever credit card terminal, not just those with NFC readers. Bixby does not solve anything or do something incredibly unique. It still feels like a beta and really just gets in the way more than it helps. If I had a nickel for every time I accidentally pressed on that Bixby button, I'd have at least $2 by now. I'm not saying scrap it completely, because it's probably too late for that, but Samsung needs to find something much more unique to really tempt me to drop Google Assistant.

The Not-so-Good

Finger Reader Placement If I'm really looking for something to not like about this phone, it would have to be the fingerprint reader. This might be the first phone I have used that has one, that I hardly even try to use. Thank the great spaghetti monster in the sky that this phone has facial recognition.Even though it's awesome that this phone has one, the placement, at least for my hands, just ain't right. It's way out of the way, tucked in the top corner of the backside, right next to the glass that covers the LED and dual cameras. No. No. NO! Samsung, I really hope y'all have a design in store for next year that addresses this issue. Maybe front glass with embedded fingerprint reading tech? That'd be cool.

Other Notes

Expandable Storage: If the 64GB of built-in storage isn't quite enough for you, the Galaxy Note 8 does support expandable storage via microSD, up to 256GB. Believe me, every iPhone owner wishes they had this as they spend sometimes hundreds of more dollars to get the "one with more geebeez."
Yep, It's Got a Headphone Jack: Courage? Who needs that nonsense?
External Speaker: The single external speaker on the Galaxy Note 8 is fine, but of course, I wouldn't mind having another. At first, you have to get used to holding the device a certain way in landscape so as not to block the sound, but you get used to it. One day, maybe, Samsung will give us a Note with dual stereo speakers. That would be swell.
Girlfriend Impressions: "It's really big and the glass is slippery. I know I would drop this, so I'm not a fan."

Availability and Price

Like any other Samsung flagship phone, you can find the Galaxy Note 8 at basically all major smartphone retailers and US carriers. You want it on Sprint? It's there. You want it on Verizon? It's there. There are even unlocked models available for sale via Best Buy and Samsung's website. To sum it up, if you want to buy this phone, there are plenty of places to do so. Now, while it is available nearly anywhere you look, let's quickly discuss price. The phone, depending on where you buy it, will cost you around $930+. It's really, really expensive, no denying that. You may want to ask me, "Yo, Tim, is it worth that much, though?" Honestly, I won't be able to answer that for you, but I can say, think about the specs that are packed inside of here, the hardware, and if this is the phone you'll want to live with for 1-2 years. For me, what the phone offers certainly could be worth around the $900 price, but that is rather subjective. Galaxy Note 8 Purchase Links:

Verizon
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
US Cellular
Best Buy
Samsung

Video

Unboxing First 10 Things to Do 20+ Tips and Tricks

Gallery

The Verdict

The Galaxy Note 8 is a damn good phone, one that will surely make any owner happy. It's packed full of every single goody an Android user would hope for and then some. It's probably the best Samsung and the company's fans could hope for following last year's recall craziness. As someone who has been reviewing Galaxy Note phones for a few years now, I can say for sure that this is the best iteration we've seen to date. It has an insanely good camera experience, design that will have all of your friends talking, plus it doesn't leave anything out in the name of courage. To me, there were no sacrifices made in the making of this phone, making it one hell of a smartphone package. One hurdle folks may have is that price, though. This is not a cheap device, but we're bound to see more promotions and things of that nature as time goes on. If this is the phone you want, but don't have the duckets, remain patient and the price is sure to get dropped from time to time through various retailers. To sum up this entire thing into a single sentence: This is the best Note phone Samsung has made to date, and if you're a Note fan, this is the device you've been waiting for.

Verizon Galaxy Note 8 Receives Day One Update, Patches Blueborne and Improves GPS (Updated)

Tim — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:42:20 +0000

A day one update is rolling out to the Galaxy Note 8 on Verizon, labeled as build NMF26X.N950USQU1AQI5. According to the changelog, this update patches the Blueborne vulnerability (more info), but also improves GPS stability and the preloaded Swype keyboard. That appears to be about it, but hey, updates! If you're rocking your new Galaxy Note 8 on Verizon, go grab that update. UPDATE: T-Mobile Note 8 devices are getting an update as well as build N950USQU1AQI5. It includes improved stability in Google Maps, along with general device stability improvements, and performance improvements. The changelog mentions "new and / or enhanced features" too, but doesn't specify what they may be. // Verizon

It's Galaxy Note 8 Day! Who has the Best Deal?

Kellen — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:35:48 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is now in stores! Even though many of you have had the phone in hands for some time now, thanks to pre-orders, if you were holding out for some reason, today is the day you can walk into a store and buy one. It'll cost you close to $1,000 should you buy one without a deal, but since almost everyone is hosting some sort of Galaxy Note 8 deal, you'll get you the new S Pen-powered phone from Samsung at a much lower price.

Which seller has the best Galaxy Note 8 deal today?

That's going to be up to you to ultimately decide, since there are a number of factors here, including carrier, level of discount, if there is a trade-in involved, etc. We've tried to compile the best Galaxy Note 8 deals for you below to hopefully help make this process simpler.

Samsung's own Galaxy Note 8 deal: $300 Off with trade

I like this deal a lot because it covers all carriers plus the unlocked model, and offers you an instant discount up to $300 as long as you have a decent phone from the past 2-3 years to trade-in that still works. And when I say "instant," I do mean that. Rather than having to wait for your trade-in discount to come off weeks later, Samsung takes the discount off immediately at the time of purchase, only to ask you to send in the phone once your new Galaxy Note 8 arrives. They'll then accept the trade, make sure the phone meets their standards (powers on and holds charge, normal wear and tear, functioning display, etc.) and let you know that you'll see no extra charges and that the trade-in has been accepted. That's it! They are currently offering $300 off for phones like the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, LG G6/G5/G4, Galaxy Note 5, S7, S7 Edge, and iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. But if you have a Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, or S5, as well as pre-iPhone 7 iPhone, they'll still shave $200 off. So if you have a phone as old as the LG G4 ($300 off) and want to trade it in for the unlocked Galaxy Note 8 ($930), you'll walk away with the phone for roughly the price of the Galaxy S8. That's not bad. Oh, let's also not forget that Samsung is still handing out freebies with purchase, so you can get either a free Gear 360 or a bundle that includes a 128GB microSD card and fast wireless charger. To see the full list and get that $300 discount up front, hit up that link below.

Samsung Deal Link

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 deal: Buy one, get one free

T-Mobile is doing a mostly straight-up buy one, get one free deal on the Note 8. You buy two Galaxy Note 8 devices on 24-month equipment install plans (EIP) and then apply a redemption code after the fact for a rebate card that will let you pay off the second device. This gets a bit tricky since you have to pay $210 up front for each phone (so $420 out of pocket), because they cost $930 each and T-Mobile can only finance $720 per phone. When you get your rebate back, it'll be for the full $930 to at least give you back that down payment and allow you pay the second phone off. Once you buy the two phones, you'll then check for promo eligibility at this T-Mobile Promotions Center site by entering promo code “17CSAMN8BOGO” within 30 days of the second device purchase. Once you sign-up for the rebate, it’ll take about 8 weeks before you get your prepaid MasterCard (value up to $930). More details at this post. T-Mobile will also let you grab the freebies: Gear 360 or SD card/wireless charging bundle. Redeem here.

T-Mobile Deal Link

Verizon Galaxy Note 8 deal: Up to 50% off with trade

Verizon's deal is a pretty good one if you have a decent phone to trade-in. They'll slash up to 50% off the price of the Galaxy Note 8, though the whole situation is a bit wonky. Verizon works this by not giving you $480 off (half the price) up front, they instead apply a promo credit of up to 50% off over 24 months with the device payment plan they require you to sign-up for. So you'll get a credit back on your bill after a couple of billing cycles that'll offset the cost/discount. I know that's impossible to understand, but just know that you'll get a discount, it's just spread out over 2 years worth of monthly payments. I'd list out the phones that'll get you $480 off the $960 retail price, but Verizon makes that impossible to figure out. You will have to walk you the process and plug-in your phone to determine its value. Again, this is a wonky deal at best. Verizon will also let you grab the freebies: Gear 360 or SD card/wireless charging bundle. Redeem here.

Verizon Deal Link

AT&T Galaxy Note 8 deal: $300 off trade or Semi-BOGO

AT&T has a couple of Galaxy Note 8 deals to be aware of. I'll try not to make this confusing, but one is a $300 trade-in offer, while the other is sort of a buy one, get one free, though the second one won't be fully free because of the price of the Note 8. Trade-in deal: The trade-in deal is similar to Samsung's because AT&T will give you up to a $300 prepaid AT&T card the minute you trade-in an eligible phone. That card can then be used to pay off up to $300 of the Galaxy Note 8 you just bought. It is a "Private Label AT&T Promotion Card," though, so it has to be used to buy things from AT&T or pay off bills. Semi-BOGO: I'm calling this the "semi-BOGO" because it almost gets you a Note 8 for free after buying one. It works like this - you buy two Galaxy Note 8 phones with an AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year installment plan and then receive bill credits for the second device that should cover the cost. The thing is, the bill credits max out at $750, so since the AT&T Note 8 costs a whopping $950, you'll have some extra to pay in there. AT&T will also let you grab the freebies: Gear 360 or SD card/wireless charging bundle. Redeem here.

AT&T Deal Link

Sprint Galaxy Note 8 deal: 50% off lease

If you don't plan on owning the Galaxy Note 8 and are on Sprint, you can get the phone at 50% off through their 18 month lease program. No trade-in is required either, all you have to do is sign-up with Sprint and their Flex Lease, and choose the Note 8. You'll pay just $20 per month for the life of the lease. Also, if you want to keep the phone for less time than that, their Galaxy Forever program will get you a new Galaxy phone after 12 monthly lease payments. Sprint will also let you grab the freebies: Gear 360 or SD card/wireless charging bundle. Redeem here.

Sprint Deal Link

Best Buy Galaxy Note 8 deals: All of 'em

And if you don't want to go through a carrier or Samsung, feel free to head over to Best Buy. Best Buy basically has most of the deals above, outside of T-Mobile, since they don't sell T-Mobile service. But you'll find the 50% off trade-in deal at Verizon, the BOGO from AT&T, and the 50% off lease deal from Sprint. It does not look like they are currently offering discounts on the unlocked models.

Best Buy Deal Link

First Galaxy Note 8 stories to read:

Deal: Buy a Samsung Fast Wireless Charging Convertible for $72, Down From $90

Tim — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:00:39 +0000

Currently on Best Buy, compatible Samsung device owners can grab a Fast Wireless Charging Convertible for $72, down from its usual price of $89.99. While that does sound steep for a wireless charger, the convertible is Samsung's high-end charger, capable of tilting and laying flat, allowing you to prop up your device or lay it flat while it charges. As for which of Samsung devices support this charger, anyone who owns a Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, or Galaxy Note 8 will be able to get a charge from this unit. Follow the link below to pick one up for yourself. Best Buy Link DEAL UPDATE: Samsung is also selling their Fast Wireless Charging Stand for just $40.95 right now ($19 off).

Jaybird Introduces Wireless RUN Headphones, Freedom 2 Also

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 14:52:41 +0000

Jaybird, maker of some of the best sport Bluetooth earbuds on the planet, is back today with two new products, one that jumps onto the full-wireless train. The new Jaybird RUN and Jaybird Freedom 2 are arriving in October at $179.99 and $149.99, respectively, but you can pre-order today. The Jaybird RUN is the full wireless option (think Samsung Gear IconX or Apple AirPods) and lasts up to 4 hours on a single charge. The case that holds the buds helps charge them up to additional 8 hours, though, so you should get close to 12 hours of use from them in a day before needing to charge the case back up. They are sweat and water resistant, include a microphone and button for interaction (like taking calls and adjusting tracks), and should have enough tips and fins to give you a solid fit. Additionally, you'll get to customize the sound, thanks to the Jaybird app that pairs with them. Jaybird RUN comes in black and silver or black and white. Again, they cost $179.99.

As for the Freedom 2, you are looking at similar buds to the original Freedom, only with "greater comfort and an improved fit." You also get the customizable sound that you do with RUN, an integrated cord management system, and sweat/water resistance. They'll last up to eight hours on a single charge. The Freedom 2 comes in white/gold or black and costs $149.99.

Pre-order Links:

Jaybird Run: Amazon | Best Buy | Jaybird
Jaybird Freedom 2: Jaybird

Jaybird RUN

Jaybird Freedom 2

// Logitech

Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II Will Come Equipped With Google Assistant (Updated!)

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 14:31:54 +0000

Google Assistant-powered headphones are on the way, guys. We sort of knew that already, but it's like, really, really happening. Bose is making some for sure and they will arrive as the Quiet Comfort 35 II, likely with a whopper of a price tag. The report of these new headphones first came via 9to5Google who viewed documentation related to the new Quiet Comfort cans, but thanks to a reddit user, we have pictures of the damn things. Seriously, Bose, you suck at keeping secrets. As you can see in the image above, there is a big ol' logo at the top of the back of the box that says "Google Assistant built-in," just like if something had Chromecast built-in. The description for the Quiet Comfort 35 II also says to expect "Premium sound, wire-free," with "World-class noise cancellation" and "Google Assistant built-in." So that's two mentions of our friend the Google Assistant on board. To launch the Assistant action, you'll press and hold a special action button on one of the cups that'll let you hear notifications or speak commands. I'd imagine that you'll need a phone attached in order for this action to happen. We aren't talking about stand-alone Bluetooth headphones with magically Google Assistant in the background. It could actually be pretty sweet, though, even if you'll have to remember that you have noise cancelling headphones on as you shout out, "HEY, GOOGLE, WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE BACK AT HOME!" as you meander through the airport. Any guesses on pricing? The current Quiet Comfort 35 headphones cost $350 - does Bose go even higher for the Assistant-powered version? Would you buy these? UPDATE: And now a promo video! // 9to5Google | reddit

Essential Phone AMA Recap: Android Oreo Update, White Model, 3.5mm Accessory, and More!

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:10:09 +0000

The Essential team is spending an hour today participating in a reddit AMA. Well, Andy Rubin is hosting one, but he invited a bunch of the Essential team members to join the party and answer any questions the tech community may have about the Essential Phone (our review). To help you quickly find all of the good bits of info from the conversation, we've done our best to summarize the highlights below. During the chat, they covered a lot of important topics, including recent Essential Phone camera updates, the white model's release schedule, when Android Oreo is coming, if they'll support custom development around the phone, and what kinds of new accessories we'll see for the PIN connector at the top of the phone. For an AMA, it was pretty action-packed.

Essential Phone camera and updates

A question asked if Essential had plans to "address the widespread criticism" of the phone's camera, including what they plan to do to improve it? Andy Rubin responded with:

Hi! We are pretty happy with the hardware design of the camera. We are using computational photography to fuse a monochrome and color sensors. That's the part we're not too happy about, but luckily it's software and we've already done a number of updates to the app to fix bug and add features.

So that doesn't give us much other than the fact that they are trying to improve it. I don't know that any of us who own the phone think the camera is acceptable just yet, but at least they have attempted to make things better.

When is Android Oreo coming?

According to Rebecca Zavin, the VP of software, the Oreo update for the Essential Phone "will be coming in the next month or two." She also mentioned that they are considering a beta track for updates and asked people to upvote her comment in the AMA if interested. You can upvote it right here.

What about custom development support?

When asked about providing support to developers by releasing kernel sources, factory images, and SDKs for some of the modules, Zavin had this to say:

We are excited about supporting 3rd party developers. We'll be releasing our kernel and factory images in the next few days.

Well, then, there you go developers.

On that white version

White is coming! Pure White ceramic is in build trials now. We're looking at a few weeks until they're in boxes and shipping, especially as we fill the manufacturing backlog on Moon Black. - Dave Evans, VP of design

What kinds of snap-on attachments will we see?

Essential actually refers to them as Click Connector accessories, but they did reveal their plans for what's next. We should see the charging dock first, the one that was revealed with the phone back in May. After that, there is a good chance we'll get a high end 3.5mm accessory to bring you those sweet, sweet, tunes, since the phone doesn't have a headphone jack. Here is one of the answers from Dave Evans, the VP of design:

Yeah, our head of architecture is in Asia right now getting our high-end audio accessory super dialed. He graciously called me at 3AM today so we could talk about some specifics for our design... We are working literally around the clock around the globe to get your awesome new things ready.

As for the dock, the final prototype build happens this month:

We are planning on having the dock out shortly. Our final prototype build is this month and we will have it available for purchase after we run through reliability testing - Joe Tate, VP of hardware

But why no 3.5mm jack?

Headphone jacks are pretty big components and they don't play nice with all-screen Phone architectures. We studied it very seriously, but fitting a headphone jack into our Phone required tradeoffs we were uncomfortable with. We'd have grow a huge "chin" in the display and reduce the battery capacity by 10%, or we'd need a huge headphone bump! We decided it was more important to have a beautiful full-screen display in a thin device with solid battery life. Then we made sure we to build ya'll a high-quality DAC in a tiny adapter that can elegantly live on your headphones. - Dave Evans

Verizon certification?

We have been in the certification process with Verizon and are at the tail end. Could come as soon as tomorrow! These certifications really help enhance our overall quality, so your patience will pay off! - Andy Rubin

On poor performance of the software, issues with missed touches, etc.

We're happy we were able to address some of your issues! You'll see performance bug fixes continuing to roll out in our subsequent release. The top performance issue we are pursuing is that UI freeze up that turns out is lock contention in the System UI thread! Now that we're hot on it's trail we should have a fix soon.

Obviously, she didn't mention the missed touch issue, but at least they've figured out why the phone freezes up on the regular. I'd imagine we're going to see pretty regular software updates for a while.

What about phone cases?

As Essential Phone owners know, there aren't really any case options out there, but Essential's head of industrial design, Linda Jiang, said to expect some from several partners they are currently working with. Andy Rubin offered up this option.

On cell signal and signal strength issues

While I haven't experienced any, and Essential seemed confused by suggests of issues in the thread, they did have some 1-on-1 conversations with folks. If you are experiencing signal issues, I'd suggest hitting up this thread and this one.

When is Essential Home coming?

I'm particularly excited about the home product. It has the potential to unify all the disparate devices in your home, including your phone! Not quite ready to talk details, but development is going well and we'll have something to show soon.

Interesting response from Rubin on phone batteries

This is one of the dilemmas for product designers. We could easily make the device thicker to accommodate a larger battery. But consumers don't like thick devices. (we can also make them a lot thinner, but they'd only last a few hours). The product designers typically take a "just right" approach, which equals one day...

On why not all apps look pretty up top

The in-screen front facing camera was a new feature for Android. To ensure Android compatibility, Google asked us to letterbox applications out of the cutout area by default. If you are a developer who wants to use the full screen, shoot us an email and we'll add your app to our whiteilst. The whitelist can be updated via the Play Store, so you won't have to wait for a full software update. - Rebecca Zavin

On the phone's unique design and material choices

We developed a design language based on our top priorities- best technology, user experience, and materials. Believe me, it took MANY revisions and design iterations to get to where we are now. At the end, we worked very hard to make sure our device is designed from the inside out. We wanted to let the technology shine through and take away anything that may pose as a distraction. That's why our borders are straight and thin (more visual display) and our details are clean and minimal. It's hard to come up with a brand new design from scratch, but at the same time it's a very freeing and openly creative process that is hard to find anywhere else but here at new startup - Linda Jiang

No water resistance

You nailed it, there are definitely tradeoffs to every design decisions and we had plenty of debates around ingress protection. When we studied waterproofing the Phone we discovered it would have made the device quite a bit thicker and the borders around the display would have doubled. Ultimately we decided to focus on making it "weatherproof" for daily use while maintaining that just-so blend of a huge display that also fits comfortably in your hand. That made sure the battery was big, the borders were minuscule, and the experience as magical as possible. - Dave Evans

And that's most of the good stuff. If you to read the full AMA, hit up that link below. // reddit

Motorola Posts List of Phones to Get Android Oreo Update

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:39:45 +0000

Motorola posted changes to its software update support site today that show which phones they are expecting to update to Android Oreo. We've gone through the list from each carrier and compiled them for you below. The usual suspects are there, but if you were looking for Motorola to go much more than a year deep in the line-up, you might come away disappointed. The Moto Z2 and Moto Z lines are there, as is the Moto G5 family, just not much else.

Motorola Android Oreo Updates:

Moto Z2 Force (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon)
Moto Z2 Play (Verizon, unlocked)
Moto Z Force DROID (Verizon)
Moto Z (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, unlocked)
Moto Z Play (Verizon, unlocked)
Moto G5S Plus (unlocked)
Moto G5S (unlocked)
Moto G5 Plus (unlocked)
Moto G5 (unlocked)
Moto X4

A couple of notes here:

No Moto G4 phones are currently listed as scheduled to get Android Oreo. The Moto G4 family is just over 1 year old. Let's hope that changes.
Most of the carrier phones that are scheduled to get Oreo are listed as "pending partner support." In other words, there is a chance that the phones may never see the update. Let's hope that doesn't change.
We have no idea when these updates will happen since a lot of this depends on carrier partners.

Seeing any phones we missed? Let us know if your phone is currently on the good side of Oreo or if you were left out. UPDATE: Motorola posted up the list on their official blog now too. UPDATE 9/18: Motorola now says it will update the Moto G4 Plus, but that they had never planned to. They only now will because of a marketing material mix-up of some sort. That seems like a bit of weak excuse, but hey, the phone should now get it at some point.

Since the time of posting this, we have learned of some errors in our marketing materials around Android O upgrades for moto g4 Plus. It’s our general practice for the moto g family to get one major OS upgrade per device, so it wasn’t originally planned for Android O. But it’s important to us we keep our promises, so in addition to the N upgrade it has already received, we will be upgrading moto g4 Plus to Android O. Because this is an unplanned upgrade, it will take some time to fit into our schedule, we’ll update our software upgrade page when we have more info.

// Motorola Support | Motorola Blog

Verizon CEO Says Network Still More Important Than Free Netflix, HBO

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:03:44 +0000

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam stopped by CNBC today to talk about the state of the wireless industry and the influx of freebie add-ons from companies like T-Mobile and AT&T. He shared his thoughts on whether or not he feels Verizon needs to offer up something similar. As you probably guessed by that headline, McAdam wasn't exactly worried about competitors offering free goods when he feels the strength of his own network is what's most important. McAdam talked specifically about T-Mobile's free Netflix and AT&T's free HBO, suggesting that he could cut a similar deal with someone like Showtime (😂). Verizon's CEO just doesn't think that you have to "give something away that has value in order to sell your service." He suggested that "customers will buy based on their experience" and "not whether they have Netflix or not." During the conversation, he also rolled his eyes a bit at all these companies feeling the need to acquire media companies (reminder: Verizon bought both AOL and Yahoo), name-dropped Go90 (😂), and talked briefly about 5G, though not mentioning much other than the vision of a connected world it could fulfill. We've seen this talk before from Verizon, and look, it makes some sense. If your network is the best (and clearly T-Mobile is catching up in many areas), people will stick with you. We run polls pretty regularly on this subject and most people continue to stay with Verizon's arguably high prices because they feel it gives them the best coverage and service. The thing is, as I just mentioned, T-Mobile is coming and they are coming quickly. Offering freebies and add-ons like Netflix, which millions upon millions of people subscribe to and would probably love to no longer have to pay for, help you standout. Those items add value. And when you are Verizon and your prices may not scream "value," yet your competitors aren't that far off in terms of network while tossing in these extra goods, you might want to care. // CNBC Cheers Chris!

YouTube TV Adds Another 8 Markets, Including Portland!

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:39:53 +0000

YouTube TV expanded yet again this morning, adding another 8 markets in the process. And yes, our home town of Portland was added! The other new YouTube TV markets include Albuquerque, Austin, Birmingham, Greenville, Norfolk, Raleigh, and Sacramento. The total YouTube TV market count is now up to 49 since it first launched back in April. That's pretty swift expansion, especially if you consider that YouTube has added markets monthly for the past few months. In fact, in July, they bumped the market count up to 15 (from just 5) and now sit at almost 50. To sign-up for YouTube TV, head over to this link. You can grab the YouTube TV app here. // YouTube TV Help

Google Confirms October 4 as Pixel 2 Day!

Kellen — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 06:16:56 +0000

We got a little ahead of Google yesterday when a reader of ours spotted a freshly posted billboard of theirs in Boston that told us to "Ask more of your phone," on October 4. While Google never did confirm to us that the billboard was indeed reference the upcoming Pixel 2 event, a video they posted early this morning sure did. You can watch the video above, which asks questions like, "What's wrong with my phone's battery?" and "Why is my phone always out of storage?" The point is that Google thinks they've fixed the smartphone by giving you better photos, letting it update itself, being less fragile, having longer battery life and enough storage, and not so annoying. They of course aren't asking anything about headphone jacks this year. 🤔 The video points us to their Made by Google site, where you can sign-up to be notified of the news on October 4.

LG-Made Google Pixel XL 2 Hits FCC!

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 16:21:44 +0000

Back in August, the HTC-made Pixel 2 stopped by the FCC and revealed a whole bunch of info about the yet-to-be-announced phone, like storage amounts, Android version, model number, processor, and the phone's "Active Edge" that should allow you to squeeze the phone to open things like Google Assistant. Today, the other new Pixel 2 (Pixel XL 2) stopped by, confirming that LG is indeed making it. This FCC listing isn't quite as potent as the last one, but we do get some goodies. For one, we know that the FCC ID is ZNFG011C (ZNF is LG's FCC grantee code) and that the model number is G011C, which is close to the Pixel 2's model number of G011A. What happened to G011B, you might ask? Well, G011B certainly could have been the HTC-made Pixel XL 2 that was reportedly cancelled in favor of this LG phone. Other than that, LG did a good job at concealing things when compared to HTC. The E-label instructions have been heavily simplified, whereas HTC showed us screenshots of the UI that gave up all sorts of tidbits. Below, you will see the LTE and network band support that covers them all, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. I'm not seeing T-Mobile's band 71, though, which would be the band their new 600MHz spectrum will live.

And that's pretty much all we can gather at the moment. We'll let you know if we find anything else lurking in here. I should point out that no where in these documents do they suggest that this is a Google phone, but come on, that model number is the giveaway. // FCC

Google Billboard Suggests Phone Event on October 4 (Updated: Yep!)

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 15:48:38 +0000

Reports initially suggested that Google would hold its Pixel 2 event on October 5, but according to the picture of a billboard in Boston that was just sent to us, they may double down and do it again on October 4. The billboard (pictured above), tells us to "Ask more of your phone," followed by the "G" logo from Google and an "Oct. 4" date. Of course, the billboard could mean something else, but the timing certainly matches up well to an expected Q4 Google product event. And again, last year's Pixel event took place on October 4, so this would make a lot of sense. The billboard is also talking about asking more of your phone, rather than promoting a special Boston-specific Google event of some sort. We've reached out to Google for confirmation on October 4 being the correct date for their next big event and will update this post if we hear back. UPDATE: Google confirmed the date this morning.

Cheers Brian!

Galaxy Note 8 Tips and Tricks: 20+ to Help You Master Your New Phone

Tim — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 14:34:23 +0000

As we alluded to in our recent First 10 Things to Do for the Galaxy Note 8, there are a ton of features baked into this device. That's pretty much always the case for Samsung phones, so ahead of our full reviews that will be posted later this week, we wanted to share our list of Galaxy Note 8 tips and tricks for this feature-packed smartphone. To sum up what you're about to see, we cover Multi Window, personalization of the Always On display, tweaking grid sizes for the stock launcher, what's inside of the Advanced Feature menu inside of Settings, and even a pro Android tip on making your phone perform faster. And believe me, all of that is just the start. Enjoy!

Galaxy Note 8 Tips and Tricks

Buy Galaxy Note 8: Samsung Store

September's Android Security Update (Finally) Goes Live With Factory Images for Nexus, Pixel

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 12:58:55 +0000

Google just posted the Android security update for September 2017 and the files are already live for a number of devices, both Pixel and Nexus. So far, we are seeing 8.0.0 files for Pixel and Pixel XL (OPR1.170623.026, OPR3.170623.007), Pixel C (OPR1.170623.026), Nexus 6P (OPR6.170623.017), and Nexus 5X (OPR4.170623.006). We’ve also got new 7.1.1 files for Nexus 6 (NGI55D) and Nexus 9 (N9F27L, N4F27O). The notes here for each Pixel update indicate that OPR1.170623.026 is for Project Fi and Canada models, while OPR3.170623.007 must be for everyone else. You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. As more files arrive, we’ll update this post. UPDATE: Nexus Player Oreo files are now up. Links:

Essential Phone Picks Up Performance Enhancing Update With September Security Patch (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 11:17:10 +0000

The Essential Phone is picking up a new update today to build NMI64C. This software update is still Android 7.1.1, but it does include the new September security patch from Google, which is something to point out since Google has hardly been able to push this month's patch to its own phones. The changelog says to expect "improved performance and bug fixes," along with "Google Security Patches 2017-09." It weighs in at 175.0MB and can be grabbed right now by heading into Settings>About phone>System updates. I'm installing now and will let you know if this update fixes any of the performance issues I talked heavily about in my Essential Phone review. UPDATE: Early, first reaction is that the performance, at least in terms of scrolling in apps or settings, is far less jittery. It no longer gives you an instant headache as you scroll and actually comes off mostly smooth. Touch responsiveness has been fine and I haven't experienced any missed taps yet. I'll continue playing with it throughout the day and try to update this post.

Essential Phone Hits Sprint Stores on Thursday

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 11:05:14 +0000

Sprint announced this morning that the Essential Phone will arrive in all Sprint stores on Thursday, September 14. That means you'll be able to get your hands on one of the best feeling smartphones I've ever held, but one that is unfortunately filled with poorly tuned software and a subpar camera. It's the ultimate mixed bag phone, that's for sure. You'll find our full review on the Essential Phone below, but yeah, it's one of those phones you'll pick up and begin to immediately love only to be let down by a software experience that just isn't up to par. Surely, those issues can be fixed. However, this is a brand new company with no track record, so it's going to be tough to try and sell you on that happening. I'm sure pulling for them, though, because again, this phone feels ridiculously good in hand. UPDATE: A new update is rolling out now that includes performance improvements and bug fixes. Maybe this'll fix half of the phone's problems? With that said, Sprint is offering up a 50% off lease deal on the Essential Phone for the time being. That'll get you the phone for $0 down and just $14.58 per month for 18 months. That's a pretty ridiculous price, especially when you consider the phone costs $700 at full retail. On a related note, I wonder if something special is planned for tomorrow since Andy Rubin also happens to be hosting a reddit AMA? I guess we'll know tomorrow. Sprint Essential Phone Link // Sprint

DEAL: Buy Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, Get Free U Flex Headphones ($70 Value)

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:38:11 +0000

Samsung's new Gear Fit2 Pro looks like a hell of a fitness band. From its color touchscreen, GPS, heart rate monitor, and 5ATM water resistance, all at a price of $199.99, I'm not sure I could point you to a better fitness value. After reviewing the original Gear Fit2 and finding it to be very impressive, especially at its original price, this one also seems like it should be on your shortlist of fitness wearables. The Gear Fit2 Pro comes in black or black/red models, costs $199.99 and can be had from a variety of retailers. Best Buy currently has the best deal, though. If you pick one up for BBY, they are tossing in a pair of Samsung's new U Flex headphones. That's a free pair of $70 headphones that fall into the dog collar trend of headphones, only these should be more comfortable and capable of taking a beating, thanks to their flexible body. Best Buy Links:

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
Samsung U Flex headphones

Report: HTC Also Getting Into the Android One Game

Kellen — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:35:10 +0000

It sure seems like Google is about to make a huge new Android One push to finish out 2017. Not only have we already been introduced to the Xiaomi Mi A1, by far the highest-end Android One device to date, we also are preparing to see a Moto X4 Android One phone. To sweeten the deal, HTC may be working on adding its own Android One device into the mix too, according to new reports. HTC leaker @LlabTooFeR mentioned last night that the rumored HTC "Ocean Life" or "U11 Life" will launch as an Android One phone with a stock Android build. @evleaks agrees that it will arrive and that it'll look similar to the phone below, just imagine it without the HTC Sense skin.

Rumored specs for this phone include a Snapdragon 630 processor, 5.2-inch FHD display, IP67 water and dust resistance, 16MP rear camera, and 32GB storage. The price is unknown, as is release timing, but we're really starting to put together a nice pile of rumors, all suggesting that Android One is about to add some serious players to the mix. Is this a sign that Android One will make its way to the US before long? That'd be cool. // @LlabTooFeR | @evleaks

Removing a Fingerprint Reader From Your "Future" Phone is Such a Terrible Idea

Kellen — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 15:03:00 +0000

Last year, Apple attempted to justify their removal of the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 with one word: "courage." In Apple's mind, it was going to take guts for someone to move the audio industry forward, and that someone was going to be them. Of course, that's Apple's justification for everything. By the time they catch-up to the industry or make an ill fated move, the only justification they need is that it's them making the decision and you should always trust it no matter what. And even as the headphone jack removal has been controversial, killing it wasn't the end of the world because there are alternatives (wireless headphones) and work-arounds (dongles). With today's news that the iPhone X, a phone that Apple is labeling as the "future" of smartphones, we now know that they have one-upped themselves by removing a feature I'd argue is more important than the headphone jack, yet they did so without a mention of why. I'm talking about the removal of the fingerprint reader in the new iPhone, a move I think is absolutely absurd and better not set in motion a trend of others following suit.

I ❤️ fingerprint readers

Why is the removal of the fingerprint reader such a big deal? For one, it is one of the most important security features I've seen introduced to phones since I've started writing about them. I refer to them as convenient security during most of our videos because that's exactly the best way to describe them. You see, fingerprint readers allow phone owners to not only secure their phone in addition to passwords or PINs, they also allow for the quick entry into a secure phone, often without the press of a button. On phones from LG and Google, we've seen them mounted on backsides (same for the most recent from Samsung, though their placements are questionable), allowing for your phone to be quickly unlocked as you slide it out of a pocket or off of a desk, easily before your eyes or face ever connect to its frontside. We certainly see them situated on the lower front chins of many other phones (iPhones included), offering even greater convenience for those who never put a phone in a bag or pocket. With a front-situated fingerprint reader, you don't even need to pick up or look at your phone in most cases, because a simple slide of a finger as it lies on a desk will do the trick. The idea here is that your phone remains secure behind a fingerprint and additional layer (PIN or password or pattern), yet you can enter that phone without as much as a no-look touch.

Face ID shouldn't be the only future

While Apple and its iPhone X are claiming to include next-generation facial recognition with Face ID (and animated facial-powered poop emoji) instead of Touch ID, they are taking away that secure convenience of the fingerprint reader without explanation. In Apple's future of security, you only have a single choice and that is picking up your phone off of a desk or out of a pocket before lifting it up and aligning your face (with eyes open) precisely in front of it, so that it can unlock. That's not a courage move, it's just a f*cking dumb one. I've tested some form of facial recognition off and on for years, because Android has had it that long. Google first introduced a basic version back in 2011 or so, but we've since seen Samsung (Note 8) and LG (V30) introduce more advanced versions this year. They work OK. While there is always a chance that Apple's, which is powered by an infrared camera, flood illuminator, and dot projector, could be quicker, you still haven't sold me on why this is quicker or more convenient than a fingerprint reader. Because again, Face ID requires me to pick up a phone and situate it in front of my face so that it can unlock. You may be wondering why I care so much about this move from Apple when no Android manufacturer has attempted such an idiotic move? My answer is because when rumors started swirling about Apple removing the headphone jack, it didn't take long for HTC and Motorola to jump on board with that mostly-terrible idea. I don't want the next wave of Android phones thinking Apple has something figured out here and doing the same. Then again, that's why we love Android, because we have choice. We also have Samsung who manages to do all of what Apple typically shows off well in advance, yet manages to keep all of the important stuff, like headphone jacks and fingerprint readers.

Samsung Hoping to Launch Foldable 'Note' Phone Next Year

Tim — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 14:32:44 +0000

Speaking recently with Koh Dong-jin, president of mobile at Samsung, Bloomberg reports that under the company's Note brand, Samsung hopes to launch its foldable smartphone sometime in 2018. If you've been under a rock all this time, a foldable phone from Samsung has been hyped for years by tech media, ever since the company showcased its Youm display technology at CES in 2013. Seriously, no one can seem to shut up about it, even though they have launched "Edge" devices and Infinity displays since then. Anyway, the big takeaway is that Samsung wants to launch this foldable smartphone under its Note lineup, which is sort of odd, but it is mentioned that this will only happen if Samsung can solve a few "problems." No specifics are provided for what these problems are, but our assumption is that it has to do with the production/manufacturing aspect. I can't even begin to contemplate all of the inventing Samsung will need to do in order to provide a premium smartphone experience, complete with a foldable display. Basically, this isn't something they will want to rush. In addition to foldable phone talk, Samsung also discussed its AI-powered speaker again, the same one we've reported on a few times. Yes, it is coming, with Bixby preloaded, so be prepared for that at some point. A foldable Note phone, anyone? // Bloomberg

Android Distribution Updated for September 2017: Nougat Soars Past 15%!

Tim — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 13:28:37 +0000

Oreo still has yet to make its debut in the Android Distribution numbers, but meanwhile, Nougat continues to grow! According to the latest numbers, Nougat now sits at 15.8%! That's up from last month's 13.5%. Oh, happy days! As for the other Android versions, Marshmallow is now at 32.2% (down from 32.3%), Lollipop is 28.8% (down from 29.2%), KitKat is 15.1% (down from 16%), Jelly Bean is 6.9% (down from 7.6%), and Gingerbread is at 0.6% (down from 0.7%). Expect Oreo to make its debut next month with the Oreo update hitting Nexus and Pixel devices recently. Here's our fancy graph that tracks Android distribution over a 5 year period. Last month's numbers are right here. // Android Distribution

Specs Comparison: Apple iPhone X vs. Samsung's Finest

Kellen — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 13:16:35 +0000

Now that all of Apple's new iPhone X details are confirmed, it seemed like the perfect time for the ol' iPhone X vs. Galaxy S8 battle, aka Apple vs. Samsung's finest. Well, to be clear, we also included the Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 as well, since those round out Samsung's entire current portfolio, one that Apple is certainly playing catch-up to at this point, even as they have dubbed the iPhone X the smartphone of the "future." In terms of just straight up specs battle, you can see that the overall basics are pretty much the same from phone to phone. We don't yet know the battery capacity for the iPhone X, but we know about its dual 12MP camera setup with dual OIS (just like the Galaxy Note 8), its 5.8-inch OLED display with an edge-to-edge feel, IP67 water and dust resistance (below the IP68 of Samsung's phones), storage options (64GB or 256GB), and newly minted wireless charging (Samsung's phones have fast wireless and wired charging). All phones also have premium metal and glass bodies. On paper, it would be hard to argue that the iPhone X tops Samsung's phones. I'd imagine that the A11 Bionic processor will wipe the floor in benchmarks with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, because chipsets from Apple always do. We also know that the dual camera setup should be quite good, though each year it's a struggle for most to decide which is better at smartphone cameras, Apple or Samsung? But you also have to remember that the iPhone X doesn't have a fingerprint reader or headphone jack, it still uses a proprietary Lightning port, and it costs a whopping $999 just to start. Check it out.

iPhone X vs. Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note 8

[table id=77 responsive=scroll /] // Apple

Hey Google, Please Copy These Apple TV 4K Announcements

Kellen — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 12:44:03 +0000

The iPhone X ("TEN") event just wrapped up, and as I mentioned during our live chat, I'm working my way up Mount Take at the moment because, ooh boy, this was fun and there are takes to be had. But before I summit this beast, I needed to stop and throw a few ideas in Google's face. You see, Apple announced a lot, but I'm not sure any of it is as important to Android users who love movies as the stuff Apple announced with the new Apple TV 4K.

Apple TV 4K and Free 4K HDR Upgrades

For one, the new Apple TV 4K does 4K (obviously) and HDR. That's cool, so does the NVIDIA SHIELD TV. But where Apple just killed today's announcement is in the content side of 4K and HDR, not the capabilities. Apple announced that all of the 4K titles they'll sell through iTunes will be the same price as those in HD. Additionally, if you already own a bunch of HD titles and the 4K versions get released, Apple will upgrade them to 4K for you for free. FREE. ALSO, SAME PRICE AS HD. That's nuts!

You want to know what Google currently charges you for 4K movies? Well, Wonder Woman just came out and the 4K version is a $10 up-charge over the arguably already-expensive HD version that costs $19.99. But beyond that, Google certainly isn't doing any sort of matching of current content to 4K. Hell, you can't even upgrade with a partial fee to a 4K movie you've already purchased through Google Play Movies & TV. That's kind of ridiculous. Google is essentially saying, "Sorry, bro, you just need to re-buy all of your content again." Apple is about to do it for you, for free.

New Dedicated Sports Section

But that's not all that was exciting about Apple TV 4K content. Apple also introduced a new Sports section that'll connect to your favorite sports apps to show you what's playing now, who your favorite team is up against, scores, time remaining, and more. You'll get notifications when your team is playing, a shortcut in the "Up next" list to their next game, or if there is a close game you might find fun. They even put together a Sports tab that adjusts to the season to always show you the current sports line-up. They also announced a similar News section as well with relevant live breaking news broadcasts.

Not that I'm all about going full Apple TV 4K fanboy, but these are a couple of major improvements over Google's Android TV and Google Play Movies & TV experiences. For one, Apple is handing people upgraded content at no charge, something Google has shown no interest in doing so far. We're talking about saving users mounds of cash in movie upgrades. Not only that, they are taking two major content types (Sports and News) and putting them front and center in a user experience that isn't just an app shortcut, but a combination of a bunch of apps and their content to make it less difficult for you to find. I don't say this often, but Google, you've got some catching up to do in the TV department.

Fenix for Twitter Exits Beta, Available for $2 on Google Play

Tim — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 12:37:33 +0000

The new and improved Fenix for Twitter, aka Fenix 2, has exited beta and is now available for all on Google Play, priced at $1.99. Just like the original, Fenix offers plenty more customization than the standard Twitter application, perfect for those who need more than just a toggle for "Night Mode." As it stands, Fenix 2 supports multiple accounts, a fully customizable home screen and timeline, external website support for media previews, a comprehensive "Mute" system, plus a whole lot more. Essentially, it's a great Twitter app, minus the Moments aspect that Twitter pushes heavily on its stock application. As was previously disclosed by the developer, this is a paid upgrade from the original, but it's only $1.99. That's a cup of coffee. To put it simply, you aren't getting much more than customization over the stock app, but maybe that's enough to justify the $2. If you downloaded this app while it was being tested as an "Unreleased" build, you'll know what you're getting. Have at it. Play Link

Sharing Instagram Stories Directly With Friends Just Got Easy

Tim — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 09:34:12 +0000

In case you found an awesome Story on Instagram that your BFF needs to see, the service just made it really easy to share said story right through Direct. As an example, if you find a story you want to share, you'll see the "Direct" icon on the bottom right of all stories, so long as the original Story account allows for sharing. Once you click that paper airplane icon, your list of friends will come up, with the Story being sent directly to their message inbox. Once the Story expires, it vanishes instantly from the inbox. As stated, if you share a lot of Stories, but don't want strangers seeing them, you can disable this share option in your Story settings. Remember, sharing is caring. Play Link

// Instagram

AT&T Unlimited Choice Customers Now Receive HBO for Free

Tim — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 08:56:24 +0000

AT&T customers on a Unlimited Plus plan have been enjoying free HBO since April, but starting September 15, all AT&T customers on an Unlimited Choice plan will also have access to the video service for free. This is big news because an Unlimited Choice plan not only has nearly the same unlimited data, talk, and text as the Unlimited Plus plan, but it's cheaper! To sum up what's happening, likely in retaliation to T-Mobile's offering of free Netflix for ONE family plan customers, any customer with an Unlimited Choice plan will have access to HBO for free, starting September 15. Thankfully, AT&T details how you can access your HBO.

If you currently subscribe to HBO through an AT&T video service – DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW or U-verse TV – HBO will now be included for no added charge.
If you subscribe to an AT&T video service but not HBO, you’ll automatically receive unlimited access to HBO as part of your wireless plan.
If you don’t subscribe to an AT&T video service, you can access your HBO entertainment through the DIRECTV NOW and HBO GO apps.

And don't worry, these apps support Google Cast, so getting your shows up on the big screen in your house shouldn't be an issue. Also, now seems like a good time to quickly outline the difference between Unlimited Choice and Unlimited Pro. While price is obviously the first difference, AT&T is, dare I say it, kinda rude when it comes to your data speeds and video streaming experience. As listed in the fine print, all Unlimited Choice plans are limited to just 3Mbps of data speed with all video throttled to 480p and 1.5Mbps max download. The only way to remove such throttling is to upgrade to the Unlimited Pro plan, which is an extra $30/month after bill credits are applied and Auto Pay is enrolled for. Anyway, if you're already on these plans or free HBO sounds enticing, follow the below link to see an overview of what AT&T is offering in the "unlimited" department. AT&T Unlimited Plans // AT&T

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X Event Live Chat!

Kellen — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 08:53:34 +0000

There are only a handful of days throughout a tech calendar year that bring us true snark-filled joy. Almost all of them include Apple events, because there are few companies quite as obscenely self-obsessed whose purposely comical facade to surroundings, competitors, and changing industry dynamics is as blatant as it is fallacious. And when your cult of followers won't hesitate to question an ounce of it, all parties involved deserve to be mocked endlessly. Today is an Apple event day. Not only that, but it's the day that Apple will introduce new iPhones. These new iPhones are thought to be the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Not that that means anything to most of us, because we are free thinkers who aren't already waiting in line to buy phones not yet announced under the assumption that there are no equals. But it does mean something for Droid Life the site, because we get to host a live chat as the collective robot army of Apple enthusiasts and supposed journalists change underpants mid-event-stream and remind them that this is just a technology company they helped make billions of dollars with no personal return to show. Their never ending affection and obsession as if there is some cultural advancement or status increase through ownership of Apple's creations has rewarded Apple, and Apple only. Apple knows this. It's supporters, well, I'm not sure that they do. That's, embarrassing. Today's iPhone 8 and iPhone X event kicks off at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern) and can really only be viewed through Apple products, like their Safari browser or other Apple devices. Here is a link to the show. Let's live blog the sh*t out of this.

Pixel and Nexus September Security Patches Have Started, We Think (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:19:34 +0000

Ever since Android Oreo dropped, Google has pushed the update out in manner best described as, "Who knows wtf Google is doing." From betas to stable to images and now into our first security patch, I'm not sure anyone knows if the typical rollout pattern has changed or if Google is simply working through some bugs. Either way, we think the September patch is rolling out to some. I say all of that because the original Android Oreo stable release was available immediately to those participating in the Android Beta program. Like, almost at the same exact time that the statue and name were unveiled, Beta participants had the goods. And Google made that available by pushing an over-the-air (OTA) update, while also posting up factory image files as build OPR6.170623.013 to a separate, beta program site. Then 9 days later, we saw both factory image and OTA files hit the typical location, as the update then began rolling out to those not in the Android Beta program. Cool! So here we are in September and the September security patch should have been here by now. We know that because for years now, Google has released the monthly security patch on the first Monday of each month. Since last week was Labor Day, a Monday holiday here in the US, that didn't exactly happen. Well, the Nexus 9 saw some builds posted, but no one else. We chalked that up to it being a weird week, which Verizon sort of confirmed on Friday when their support pages for the Pixel and Pixel XL told us that the update was coming on Monday, September 11 as build OPR3.170623.007. Yesterday rolled around, though, and no images were posted by Google, nor did anyone see the update. And this morning, Verizon owners pinged us saying that maybe they did! Well, one reader of ours who owns the Nexus 5X said he got it at some point last night, but another who owns a Pixel XL that is already on Oreo, believes his update is a rollback to Android 7.1.2. He is also on Verizon. We're all confused. So if you were on the lookout for the September Android security patch, you might find it if you are on Verizon! If not, then I'm not sure what to tell you just yet. I have a couple of Pixel phones here running the August stable build of Oreo and neither has an update today, including one that has a Verizon SIM. Anyone seeing the September update? If so, which phone and which carrier? UPDATE: It is indeed the September security patch for the Nexus 5X as build OPR4.170623.006. Also, the Pixel XL reader I referenced above said he didn't actually get a rollback update, only that Google/Verizon mislabeled it or something. He also received September's patch.

UPDATE 2: As you'll see in the comments, a lot of Verizon owners of Nexus devices are getting the update who had not previously been updated to Oreo. Here is a Nexus 6P user's info showing build OPR6.170623.019.

UPDATE 9/13: And the factory image and OTA files are finally live! Cheers Alex and Mike!

Oreo Update for Galaxy S8, S8+ Under Development at Samsung

Tim — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:15:05 +0000

Here's some news you can file under not-so-surprising, with it being reported by SamMobile that Samsung has begun development on the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. While this news is indeed exciting for anyone carrying a Galaxy S8 around, here's still no indication as to when these updates may be available. It could be later this year or even next year, we really don't know when it comes to Samsung. However, even though we do not know when any Oreo update is expected, the good news is that thanks to Samsung's usage of multi-CSC firmwares, it shouldn't take all too long for those around the globe to receive it once the software has been thoroughly tested. As more information is made available, whether it come from Samsung or new reports, we'll keep you posted. // SamMobile

My 5 Favorite Galaxy Note 8 Themes

Tim — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:55:41 +0000

For the past few flagships, Samsung has built in its Theme service that allows owners to change up the overall software look of their Galaxy device. Considering I'm still not a massive fan of Samsung's custom UI look, the theming has been lovely, and I wanted to share a number of what I'd consider to be the best Galaxy Note 8 themes. For the Galaxy Note 8 (this would apply to the Galaxy S8 too), I've found a few themes that go quite well with the phone. There are a couple that may need an update from their respective developers, as it seems there are little slivers of the UI that aren't matching up well. Even thought you may see something like that present, I'd say rest assured that things will get tweaked and updated to make everything look pleasing. Here are my 5 favorite Galaxy Note 8 themes!

Material Design

One thing you'll notice right from the start is that I appreciate somewhat minimal, vanilla Android-like Galaxy Note 8 themes. No neon colors, no crazy color profiles. I just want a simple, lovely theme. That's where Material Design themes come into play and there are plenty to choose from inside of Samsung Themes. Instead of me explaining everything that a theme changes, just check out the screenshots I've put below. I will say, though, these themes change up Samsung's icon pack, the wallpaper, notification pulldown, Samsung's suite of applications, lockscreen, navigation buttons, and the Settings menu. Basically, everything gets themed unless you downloaded it from Google Play. Additionally, each theme lists multiple screenshots for you to preview what you will download. Samsung also provides trials for you to test spin the theme before committing to a $1-2 purchase.

Material Dark UI

This is another Material theme, but with more purple and green. It reminds me heavily of Joker from the Batman series, and frankly, that's what makes it awesome. I also enjoy the Settings menu, with all of the icons getting touched up to suit the theme. Oh, and the wallpaper you get along with the theme is top notch.

Urban

With Urban, your Samsung device will take on a greenish, orangish look, complete with circle icons. If circle, minimal icons are your thing, this would be a good theme to check out. The Settings menu is bit more easy, with just a white background coupled with colored icons. It's not too flashy of a theme, just a basic recoloring and re-skinning of icons.

Kendi Material Red

This might be my favorite out of the five. If you're an MKBHD fan, then you'll probably love it, too. It's Red and Black, again featuring a Material Design appearance. The Settings menu is blacked out with Red icons, the pulldown is blacked out with a Red slider and icons, and all of the applications get a nice black look as well. Yep, this one is slick.

Vanilla

While "Vanilla" is another Red and Black theme, this one plays with the shape and colors more so than the others I list. In fact, the pulldown menu has no red at all, and instead, opts for an off-green color. It's a nice touch. The Settings menu is somewhat grayish, complete with off-colored icons and yellow-tinted text. After running this one for the past day or so, I take back what I said about Kendi. This one is probably my #1 go-to out of them all. I highly recommend.

Galaxy Note 8 Themes: Honorable Mentions

Because there are so many Galaxy Note 8 themes I could probably go on all day, so instead of doing that, I'll just list out a few more that I highly recommend. Some stray away from the minimal look I appreciate, but others are par for the course.

Pixelize
Forest [Premium]
Starry Night
[PIXOME] Awesome Sky

Now, if you own a Galaxy Note 8 or even a Galaxy S8, you can head into the Theme section of your Settings menu, then search for these themes specifically. If you want to find something more suited to you, use the search option to pull up holiday themes, colors, or anything else you can imagine. I was surprised at how many options are in there, so go have some fun. And again, you can download trials of any theme, and if you like what you see, the full versions often cost about $1-2. That's a small price to change up the entire look of your device. Do you have any Galaxy Note 8 themes you love that I didn't feature? Tell me about it below and I'll check it out!

Buy Galaxy Note 8:

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is Official and So Hot

Kellen — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:38:57 +0000

Xiaomi announced new phones this morning, but there is one that is going to steal all of the headlines. That phone is the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, and it's grabbing everyone's attention because of its all-display design that greatly improves the phone's overall footprint over the original Mi Mix from last year. You could make the argument that Xiaomi started the all-display, zero-bezel movement in smartphones with the original Mi Mix. Since that phone was introduced, we've seen Samsung, LG, and Essential all ship phones with phones that look straight out of the future. It's a trend I think most of us are very excited about because it not only pushes design forward, it also gives us more of what we want (big displays) without the stuff we don't (giant ass phones). With the Mi Mix 2, you've got a pretty dramatically improved overall design. The original Mi Mix was enormous, but the Mi Mix 2 drops down in display size some (to 6" display) and in body to make for a one-handed phone (12% smaller chin), similar in size to the LG V30. It's a truly unique look that only the Essential Phone matches. On top of the 6" FHD LCD display, you've got a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB or 8GB RAM, storage from 64GB up to 256GB, 3400mAh battery, 12MP rear camera, 5MP front camera (positioned in the bottom chin), USB Type-C port, and network support on 43 bands across the globe. The phone has a ceramic back as well, so it really is very much like an Essential Phone. There is a special edition version too, that takes the ceramic all of the way around the sides of the phone and comes in both white and black. Of course, even as cool as this phone looks, it'll never ship in the US unless you are willing to import it. Xiaomi just hasn't made the move here and we aren't sure if they ever will. It seems like they are constantly rumored to be making the jump over, yet here we are in 2017 without a Xiaomi phone officially sold here. So yeah, if you live in China or India, get excited. If you don't, drool for a minute and then move on.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Specs

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BlackBerry Priv Won't Receive Update to Nougat

Tim — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:33:57 +0000

According to BlackBerry's GM Alex Thurber, the Priv will not be receiving an update to Nougat. Womp womp. The Priv launched with Lollipop in 2015, then received its Marshmallow update in April, 2016. And even though Nougat launched last year and Oreo has already arrived, BlackBerry points the finger at Qualcomm for making the jump to Nougat so difficult. Running a Snapdragon 808, the Priv seemed like a fine phone, with our own Ron Offringa saying it was, "the most important phone of the year." I must say, I love the way statements such as that age, and it's not like a fine wine. So, if you're running a Priv still and were waiting patiently for Nougat to arrive, now would be a good time to offload and pick up a new phone. // Android Central

Latest Nova Launcher Beta Includes Adaptive Icons for All

Tim — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 08:47:17 +0000

While many Android device owners won't see an Oreo update for quite some time, custom launcher developers are always bringing renditions of the latest features straight to devices, without the need for an OTA. That's the story for the latest beta update to Nova Launcher, which includes Adaptive Icon control for devices on Android 5.0+, just like you have in Android 8.0. Natively for Oreo, users can control the shape their app icons will have, be it a circle, square, squircle, etc. The downside is, it's up to app developers to build in support for that, and given Oreo is still so fresh, not many have done so. However, with Nova Launcher, you can now apply masks to all icons, providing that sweet Adaptive Icon look. There seems to already be quite a few shapes to choose from (see GIF below), so if you're done looking at the default icons, go grab this beta update and change it up. Here's the complete list of changes. What's New

Adaptive icons for Android 5.0+
Use and control the style of adaptive icons from apps that support them
Scale and reshape legacy/existing icons to match the adaptive style
Minor fixes

Provided this is a beta, there's likely to be some minor issues. Here's the current list of what to look out for. Known Issues

Dynamic calendar icons don't currently remask to the adaptive shape
Apps using gradient in vectors in their adaptive icon (Plaid) require 7.0+
Apps using drawable aliases for their adaptive icon are not currently backported

Beta Opt-In | Play Link

// +Nova Launcher

Moto X4 as an Android One Device Sure is Interesting

Kellen — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 07:54:13 +0000

Over the weekend, this little beauty popped up, courtesy of @evleaks. What's that? You think that's the already-announced Moto X4? Well yeah, it is, only with one special addition that makes this instantly more appealing than the version Motorola unveiled a couple of weeks back. See that branding down low? Yessir, that says "Android One." A Moto X4 for Android One! I find that quite interesting for a number of reasons. For one, Android One devices are kind of like Google's own line of cheaper Android phones that they don't have to worry about making. All they do is worry about regular updates to them. That's a big deal because, well, Motorola is terrible at updates, so the Moto X4 as an Android One phone should mean monthly security patches and regular OS updates, likely in a faster manner than the non-Android One Moto X4 would see. In other words, if you were considering the Moto X4, but don't trust Motorola all that much because of their software history, this would be the model to potentially go after. Additionally, this could mean an Android One phone for the US. While there isn't necessarily a ton of proof yet that that will happen, we've already heard a report about the Moto X4 arriving later this year in the US as a Project Fi phone. Motorola didn't mention anything along those lines when it first showed the Moto X4, but a Google-backed Android One phone on Project Fi does make some sense. Google works some magic with software for Project Fi phones, so having extra control over something like the Moto X4 would allow that to happen, maybe even without much interference from Motorola. Again, we have no confirmation yet that the Moto X4, as Android One phone, would arrive in the US for Project Fi, but that combination makes more sense than the regular Moto X4 running Moto's light skin, without the regular updates, and less control by Google. Should the above happen, though, you have to wonder about price. The Moto X4 was announced at around $400. However, Android One phones are typically supposed to be in the ultra-affordable range, yet I wouldn't consider $400 to fit that mold. Take the new Xiaomi Mi A1 for example. That phone is an Android One phone with specs (Snapdragon 625, dual cameras, 1080p display, decent sized battery, metal body, etc.) that are comparable to the Moto X4, yet it's priced at just over $200. Does the Moto X4, as an Android One phone, drop in price somehow? I wish I knew the answer to that. Would you be down for a Moto X4 running pure Android? // @evleaks

Galaxy Note 8: First 10 Things to Do!

Tim — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 18:04:04 +0000

We know many of you who pre-ordered the Galaxy Note 8 are already receiving your new device, so now seems like a good time to bring you this -- the first 10 things to do with the Galaxy Note 8! As you'd expect, the Galaxy Note 8 is packed full of features, and we do our best to cover as many as we can without taking up too much time. We go over setting up the navigation buttons, Always On display, scheduling the blue light filter, plus a whole lot more. We also cover Bixby Voice, but if you need more Bixby in your life, we already have a complete video dedicated to that. There's a lot to talk about, so I'll let you get to it.

Weekly Recap: The Essential Phone Isn't Exactly 'Essential'

Tim — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 17:25:11 +0000

We capped off this week by posting our Essential Phone review, and if you want a quick recap of our findings, it's some of the best hardware we've ever seen, but is coupled with one of the worst camera/software performance issues ever experienced. Kellen's review goes into great detail, so be sure to check it out. Beyond Essential, we finally got the Galaxy Note 8 in-house, learned that Google might be on the verge of purchasing HTC's smartphone business outright, and learned more about what we should expect from the Pixel 2. It was a fun week! Here's the good stuff you don't want to miss.

Review: Essential Phone review!
Video: Galaxy Note 8 unboxing!
Google might be purchasing HTC.
Huawei overtakes Apple as #2 in smartphone sales.
Ookla crowns T-Mobile as fastest network.
The Essential Phone is not a DIY repair kinda phone.
The latest intel on the Pixel 2.
The Pixel 2 may not have a Snapdragon 836 after all.
FYI: Major Android updates for the Nexus 5X, 6P supposed to cease this month.
Get your Galaxy Note 8? Share your thoughts!

Have a great weekend, folks!

Essential Phone Review

Kellen — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:53:34 +0000

The Essential Phone is without a doubt the phone I've been the most interested in getting my hands on in recent months. And that's over the Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, and whatever else might have been or might still be on the horizon. I say that because it's different. It's new. Sure, the phone is made by a familiar face, but it's the approach by the company that captured my attention from day one and held onto it as I've moved into this Essential Phone review period. You see, the Essential Phone isn't supposed to be just another phone. Forget the name and the idea that it only brings the essentials, to me this phone attempts to fill a niche I've been waiting to see someone fill. This phone wants to not only ship with the most premium materials one can find for a phone, it then gets out of the way when it comes to software. So you've got a titanium and ceramic body that feel f*cking incredible in hand, but then you get stock, bare bones Android, the way Google intends for it to be displayed. This is a combination of ideas that are exactly what I have been looking for in a phone. Remember, Google ships the software that enthusiasts like me enjoy, but their hardware hasn't exactly been the best over the years. Samsung has managed to ship incredible hardware with premium materials (assuming you classify glass as premium), yet their software drives me insane even after years of tweaks and overhauls. Essential nailed both hardware and software, at least on paper, with its first phone. After having one in hand for a full week now, it's most definitely review time and the opinions are coming strong. Did this phone fulfill the void I've been needing someone to fill? Almost! The funny thing here, which you'll see in our Essential Phone review below, is that even though there are a couple of areas that are quite disappointing, I'm still struggling to put the phone down. In fact, with an average-to-below-average camera and shaky software performance, I don't know that I'm ready to go jump onto the shiny Note 8 sitting here next to me as I type this. I don't know that I've experienced these feelings with any other phone at the end of a review period. Enjoy the review.

Essential Phone Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xbjtA06YQ8 Buy Essential Phone:

Amazon
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Sprint

A Lot of People Pre-Ordered the Galaxy Note 8

Tim — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:31:43 +0000

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Note 8 has been pre-ordered by a lot of people. While no specific figures were shared, the company says that it's the most pre-ordered device in the Note lineup's history, which must be quite impressive. Now, we can ballpark an estimate for how many pre-orders have happened, only because this isn't the first time Samsung has made this claim. Just last year, the company said the Galaxy Note 7 was the most pre-ordered Galaxy device to date. According to a report out of South Korea last year, the phone was pre-ordered around 200,000 times, just in South Korea alone. If the Galaxy Note 8 surpassed those numbers, then we have to assume whatever the figure is, it's north of that. Again, not a specific number, but a solid guesstimation. Samsung took the time to remind folks that if they pre-order the device right now, they should receive their phone before the official launch date, which is still set for September 14. That goes for those who pre-order the phone with or without a new Gear VR headset, so that's something to keep in mind. Keep doing your thing, Samsung. // Samsung

Huawei Band 2 Pro Available on Amazon for $70, Features 5ATM and Standalone GPS

Tim — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:24:23 +0000

Huawei launched its new Band 2 Pro wearable in the US this week, priced at only $69.99. For being priced pretty inexpensively, this little wearable has quite a little set of features and specs. The marquee things that Huawei lists are standalone GPS, 5ATM water resistance, and continuous heart rate monitoring. Seriously, standalone GPS for a $70 wearable is pretty impressive. Huawei also details the device's "Professional Run Coach," which can be personalized for specific training, such as for half marathons and 5Ks. After your run, the wearable has Relaxation Training, complete with special breathing instructions to help reduce stress. Here's the full list of features that Huawei wants to highlight. Features

Standalone GPS to reduce the reliance on smartphone connectivity while also providing more accurate pace, distance and speed tracking
5ATM Water Resistance that can stand up to all-day wear, hand washing and swimming
Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring that shares accurate heart rate data and personalized suggestions for staying healthy
Professional Run Coach, a scientific running coach that can be personalized for specific training programs, such as 5k or half marathons, with training effect, VO2max and recovery time
Relaxation Training with breathing instructions to reduce stress
HUAWEI TruSleep scientific sleep tracking which delivers comprehensive sleep monitoring and tracks light, deep and REM sleeps, as well as sleep interruptions
Smart Notifications such as incoming calls, e-mail notifications, smart alarms and activity reminders when sitting for too long

The Huawei Band 2 Pro comes in Blue, Red, and Black, again, priced at just $69.99. You can find it right now on Amazon. Amazon Link // Huawei

All Boost Mobile Plan Prices Now Include Taxes and Fees

Tim — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 09:00:41 +0000

Announced this morning, all plans through Boost Mobile now include taxes and fees, similar to what T-Mobile announced for its ONE plans back in January of this year. For example, instead of seeing a monthly price and then paying more than what was advertised, thanks to hidden fees, the price you see is now the exact price you'll pay. This change will not only be for new customers, but existing Boost Mobile customers, too. After September 8 (today), any bill Boost Mobile customers see will include taxes and fees. To help celebrate this great news, on Friday, Sept. 22, Boost Mobile is hosting a “Flip Off Taxes Scavenger Hunt” contest in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. A single "Golden Switch" will be hidden in each of the three cities to celebrate customers who “Make the Switch.” Apparently, the first person to find the "Golden Switch" in each market will win a grand prize of $5,000. That's clutch. Additionally, if winning $5K doesn't interest you, new customers (not available to existing) can go into any Boost Mobile location and pick up 4 lines with "unlimited Gigs" for just $100. Besides a throttle to 480p video and data deprioritization, there doesn't seem to be any other downsides to Boost Mobile's unlimited offer. Now, because I am always reminded of this commercial when I write about Boost Mobile, I'll make you remember it, too. // Sprint

AT&T to Showcase Gigabit LTE on Galaxy Note 8, T-Mobile Hits 1.1Gbps in Lab

Kellen — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 07:31:41 +0000

We're still not that close to the big US wireless carriers launching full 5G networks, but that hasn't stopped any of them from working their tails off to get us there and bragging about their tests along the way. Verizon has already shown 1Gbps speeds with the help of Qualcomm and Ericsson technologies, and now, T-Mobile and AT&T want to do the same. T-Mobile just polished off an advanced LTE lab trial that was able to produce download speeds of 1.175Gbps. They used a combination of tech from Qualcomm (Snapdragon X20 LTE modem) and Nokia (Nokia 4.9G network powered by AirScale Base Station) to hit those speeds, as they allowed for 12 independent streams of LTE data to be used at once, along with 4X4 MIMO and three carrier aggregation. I know that's a lot of nerd talk, but just know that T-Mobile was able to produce almost 1.2Gbps speeds over their network, though it was in a lab setting. They plan to showcase these speeds again at MWC Americas next week in San Francisco. For AT&T, they have not yet blasted past the 1Gbps mark, but plan to do so next week on a Galaxy Note 8. That's a big deal, since we have really only been seeing carriers reach that threshold on test equipment. Should AT&T get there on a Note 8, this all starts feeling a lot more real. Like T-Mobile, AT&T is working with Qualcomm, but thanks to the Galaxy Note 8, they'll utilize the phone's Snapdragon 835 and X16 LTE modem. In other words, we're talking about the use of a phone and equipment that you and I can buy today. They'll also use network equipment from Ericsson, carrier aggregation, 4X4 MIMO, and Licensed Assistant Access (LAA) to hopefully reach that 1Gb mark. They too will attempt this at MWC Americas. Are we ready for 5G and 1Gig speeds? Your Note 8 sure seems to be. // Qualcomm [2]

Galaxy Note 8 Unboxing!

Kellen — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:56:07 +0000

Gaaaaaaaaah, it's the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, in house! Finally! We'll get to the review to you here shortly, but for now, it's Galaxy Note 8 unboxing time. Like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ before it, the Note 8 ships in an all-black box with matching black accessories. You'll find a USB Type-C cable, Fast Charging adapter, AKG-tuned earbuds, guides, and a couple of USB adapters depending on your needs. You've certainly got all you need here from Samsung, even if the accessories aren't quite as nice as those included with the Essential Phone. The phone itself, as you all know, is a massive one. It features that 6.3-inch QHD Super AMOLED Infinity display with 3300mAh battery, S Pen, and dual cameras, along with a whole bunch of other tech that few companies manage to cram into a single phone This particular version is the Verizon model in Midnight Black and man is it sleek. It's huge, but sort of in a nice way. In hand, the phone will remind you very much of the Galaxy S8+, only a bit more squared off on the edges. It also feels larger to me even though I know the two are similar in size. There is no mistaking this for anything but a Samsung phone, though, trust me on that. Samsung's site currently has the best Samsung Galaxy Note 8 deal for those interested. More to come!

Verizon Moto Z Play, Z2 Play Updated With August Security Patch

Tim — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:11:42 +0000

Verizon is rolling out the August security patch to owners of the Moto Z Play and Moto Z2 Play. Aside from the bump in security, there doesn't seem to be anything else inside of these updates. The updates are labeled as NDNS26.118-23-1 for the Z Play and NDSS26.118-23-4 for the Z2 Play. Go grab it, Z Play and Z2 Play peeps. // Verizon | 2

Reported Update for HTC Edge Sense Brings New Functionality to U11 Owners

Tim — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 13:13:57 +0000

According to multiple reports that cite word from HTC, an update for the Edge Sense application will roll out this week (tonight at midnight, specifically) for U11 owners. As detailed, once the update rolls out, users will be able to utilize Edge Sense inside of applications, launch apps with a short squeeze or squeeze and hold action. As one example, it was stated that if you're inside of Instagram, you'd be able to squeeze on the sides of the device to "Like" a photo. There is said to be a preset list of functions you can toggle on or off, but users are welcome to set squeezing rules for basically any app on their device. We have no official word from HTC ourselves, but again, it is reported that this update will roll out tonight at 12AM Eastern via Google Play. Sounds pretty cool. Play Link // ZDNet

Facer 4.0 Introduced With Watchmaker Series and Verified Accounts

Tim — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 10:35:40 +0000

Facer, the go-to platform for creating and downloading custom watch faces for Android Wear and Tizen devices, received a massive update this morning. Labeled as Facer 4.0, the update brings not only new features, but a new look and a whole lot of exciting new watch faces from well-known brands. Starting today, smartwatch owners can find awesome watch faces in the Watchmaker Series, a section dedicated for actual watchmaker brands to share their classic designs, but in digital form. For example, MVMT, a watchmaker based in the US, has partnered with Facer to digitally render a few of its watch faces, and they are now available for download on any supported smartwatch. Other brands include Maurice Lacroix, ArtyA, Snyper, VAER, and Manufaktur Waldhoff. To go along with these brands, Facer has introduced Verified Accounts. Just like Twitter, it's a little blue checkmark that goes along with your username, and special spotlight status. With Verified Accounts, you'll know if a watch face is an authentic digitized replica or simply an attempt by a fan to recreate a well-known watch face.

Watchmaker Series Examples

Facer has also included a few visual changes for its desktop site. Users can use a new Showcase View for exploring the look of a watch face on any number of Android Wear and Tizen devices, check out a media carousel full of imagery uploaded by the watch face publishers, and as a cherry on top, all of this is headed to the Facer mobile app, too. It's a big update full of new stuff, so if you have your Android Wear or Tizen watch ready to go, have at it! Play Link // Facer

Ookla Issues Latest Speedtest Report, Crowns T-Mobile Fastest Network

Kellen — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 09:13:16 +0000

After announcing free Netflix for T-Mobile ONE customers yesterday, T-Mobile has additional news to celebrate this morning. Ookla, the makers of the Speedtest.net app you probably use to check internet speeds on your phone and computer, through their latest Speedtest report, crowned T-Mobile the fastest wireless carrier nationwide for the first half of 2017, topping Verizon. This latest report from Ookla covers speedtests from Q1 and Q2 of this year and shows that overall speeds in the US have increased from 2016 to 2017 by 19.2%. The average download speed throughout the country now sits at 22.69Mbps. Unfortunately, upload speeds haven't changed much, which should shock no one who subscribers to home internet service that isn't Fiber. Outside of the nationwide numbers, you probably just care about the individual carrier stuff we mentioned in the opening. And yes, T-Mobile came out on top followed by Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, in that order. You can see the average download speeds below for each carrier, showing T-Mobile posting speeds almost 8Mbps faster than Sprint, who sits in last place. They eclipsed Verizon by 2Mbps.

According to Ookla, they figure the win for T-Mobile amounts to their "tightly-spaced cell site grid and a smaller subscriber base" than Big Red or AT&T, but that their expansion into new markets, while refarming other spectrum to LTE has helped as well. T-Mobile's CTO, Neville Ray, had this to say about the win:

“Millions of wireless customers across the US have spoken – AGAIN -- and they’ve shown that T-Mobile is the master of all things unlimited, while Verizon is the master of none,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile. “This is the reason we’re able to do things like Netflix On Us. Maybe now the carriers will finally start listening to their customers … stranger things have happened.”

That actually says nothing about why they won and is a promo for their new promo, but OK. As for Verizon in second place, Ookla notes that Verizon has done a lot of work around "network densification" in order to "maintain solid performance" in high traffic areas. They do specifically point out that Verizon's performance has taken a hit since relaunching unlimited data plans, something T-Mobile often jokes about. In response to Ookla's report, Verizon issued us the following statement from Mike Haberman, the VP of Verizon Wireless network operations:

"Our network has never been stronger. Our network philosophy is simple: provide the largest coverage, the most reliable service and the most consistently fast speeds. This makes up the customer experience. “These tests confirm that we have phenomenal coverage across the country, the largest LTE network -- roughly 750,000 square miles more coverage than T-Mobile -- and great speeds. While these crowd sourced tests don’t show how reliable a network is, other scientific studies do – and Verizon is the clear leader. “A better measure of the best network is who does well across all types of testing, and Verizon does very well in all three."

Cool. Ookla also noted that AT&T's performance has suffered from their unlimited data plans, though they have seen an uptick in performance recently, thanks to LTE deployment in the 2300MHz band. For Sprint, even with the 4th place ranking, Ookla sees "significant improvements" compared to last year and should see things only improve further going forward. As for other bits of info from this report, T-Mobile took the win in speed scores taken from Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), which are the top 100 most popular areas in the country. Of the 100, T-Mobile posted the highest average score in 40 markets, Verizon took the crown in 35, AT&T in 20, and Sprint with just 5. Here are the average download speeds from those big 100 markets.

In the end, this latest report from Ookla shows a lot of what we've seen over the past two years - T-Mobile getting better in a hurry while the others seem to be standing still. That's not to say that Verizon or AT&T have a terribly run networks, they just jumped out to such an early LTE lead that T-Mobile's catch-up is so noticeable. For us, we can only hope that Verizon and AT&T get sick of T-Mobile topping charts and bragging up the joint, and start getting back to improving things too. // Speedtest | T-Mobile

Nova Launcher Updated With New App Search Animation, Android Oreo Improvements

Tim — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 09:07:06 +0000

An update is rolling out to the stable version of Nova Launcher, available to all users through Google Play. If you're currently using the beta (sign-ups here), these changes may look familiar. According to the changelog, version 5.4.1 comes with a new app search animation, integration for Sesame Shortcuts when long-pressing on an app icon and through app search, the ability to hide the navigation bar on Galaxy S8 and S8+ units, an updated searchbar style (rounded), and improvements for users running Android Oreo. Here's the complete changelog, as well as notes on select items that have moved in the Settings menu. What's New

New App Search animation
Sesame Shortcut integration for long-press shortcuts and app search
Ability to hide navbar on Samsung S8 (Nova Settings > Look and Feel)
Update round searchbar style
Improvements for Android Oreo
Bug fixes and optimizations

What's Moved

Nova Settings > Look and Feel > Search > App Search Background Color
Nova Settings > Desktop > Searchbar Style > Search as overlay
Nova Settings > Integrations for both Sesame and Google Now

The update is rolling out right now to Google Play. Play Link // +Nova Launcher Beta

Report: HTC in Final Negotiations to Sell Smartphone Business to...Google

Kellen — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 08:03:00 +0000

We've got a doozy of a story to kickstart your Thursday morning and as the title above suggests, involves two major players in this Android industry. According to DigiTimes, citing a report out of China's Commercial Times, HTC has "entered the final stage of negotiation with Google for selling its smartphone business unit." That's a big deal! No other details were necessarily provided other than this could be Google considering both a strategic partnership or buying the smartphone business outright. Supposedly, HTC's Vive VR business is not included in the talks. So, wow, what to make of this? Well, HTC has struggled and struggled and struggled for years, even as they release well-received phones. In fact, the HTC U11 (our review) is no slouch and should be considered one of the best phones of 2017. That said, they can't sell enough to make much (if any) money. In an ultra-competitive smartphone market dominated by only a few players, HTC just hasn't been able to break back in after Android's initial explosion. Selling off their smartphone business is probably a logical next step. But wait, why would Google want them? That's a tough one to answer and the only one I can come up with is that Google is serious about making its own hardware at this point. You know the Pixel phones as well as the upcoming Pixel 2 phones. Google wants to be a phone maker for the long run and compete with Samsung and Apple. Should they buy up HTC's smartphone business, that certainly gives them even more control over the process without having to contract the work out to HTC or LG, as they have done the past couple of years. Is HTC the company they should buy, though? Heh, I'm no financial or supply chain guy, so I can't answer that. Thoughts? // DigiTimes

Huawei Overtakes Apple as Second Largest Smartphone Brand, Both Still Lag Behind Samsung

Tim — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 15:01:17 +0000

According to consulting firm Counterpoint Research, Huawei has surpassed Apple for the first time in global sales, making them the #2 smartphone brand in the world, for the time being. While Huawei is not the most popular brand here in the US, the China-based OEM has great presence in Asia, Europe and Latin America, big enough to take away Apple's positioning. As I hinted, this rank may not last forever, though. Because Huawei has little presence in the US (maybe not for long), Apple could overtake with the upcoming launch of its new iPhones.

Detailed in the graph, both Huawei and Apple sit a little above 10%. In a world full of countless smartphone brands, that's pretty good. However, in a world with Samsung, who has a presence in every market imaginable, it's hard to compete if marketshare is the only thing you're trying to compare.

World's Most Popular Smartphone Rankings

Even though Samsung has the most marketshare, they do not have the most popular smartphone. That award belongs to Apple with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, being #1 and #2, respectively. In fact, on that list, Samsung ranks at #5 (Galaxy S8), with OPPO holding the #3 and #4 spots. Beyond that, we have Xiaomi, then more Samsung and Apple rounding out the top 10 popular devices in the world. If you're Huawei, the moral of the story is, take the US market seriously. Get on carriers, market your device heavily, and pray the device is well received. After the Nexus 6P launch, Huawei had a real shot at brand recognition, at least among American Android nerds, but things will only get harder the longer Huawei waits. If reports are accurate, and AT&T does intend to carry a Huawei flagship next year, that could be a big deal. Keep at it, Huawei. // The Verge | Counterpoint

Latest on the Google Pixel 2 Reveals Upgrades in the Right Places

Kellen — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:30:55 +0000

We could be just under a month away from Google unveiling the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, and that means more leaks, more rumors, and a clearer picture of details coming into focus. While there is now conflicting reports over each phone's processor, the rest of the story might not be so murky, thanks to a new report today.

New Pixel 2 details

According to a source of 9to5Google, who shared the most uninteresting leaked phone picture of all time (no offense, and I get the reasons for the copious amounts of blur), the Pixel 2 (smaller, HTC-made model) will at the very least come in a dark grey/black colorway (like this) with storage options of 64GB and 128GB, a camera with laser autofocus (but OIS is in doubt again), 4.97-inch 1080p display with hefty bezels, "improved" water and dust resistance (thought to be IP68), and front-facing speakers in lieu of a headphone jack, all at a price point higher than last year's Pixel. Additionally, both the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will feature identical specs outside of the display size (and design), along with an always-on display, and Android 8.1. We should see Google Lens finally arrive with the Pixel 2 as well. In terms of timing, a separate source indicated that accessory manufacturers have embargoes for Pixel 2 products on October 5, the same day previously reported as a potential launch day. Oh, and here is that leaked photo.

Stop laughing.

So what's new today?

Again, not a lot, but as additional reports seemingly re-report a lot of this info from their own sources, you start to doubt it all less and less. At this point, we're expecting an HTC-made Pixel 2 with a 5-inch 1080p display, dual front-facing speakers, Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage options, 12MP rear camera, IP68 water and dust resistance, squeezy side gestures, and Android 8.1. For the LG-made Pixel XL 2, we should get all of that plus a 6-inch POLED Fullvision (18:9, QHD) display. Outside of the lack of headphone jack, what is there not to like here? Has Google all but checked every important box? Assuming battery life isn't terrible and Google doesn't slap a Galaxy Note 8 price tag on either phone, these will be hard to pass on. // 9to5Google

Reminder: Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X Major Android Version Updates Supposed to End This Month

Kellen — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:59:35 +0000

In case you had not looked at Google's support cutoff timeline for Nexus and Pixel updates in a while, you may not have realized that we're now in September 2017. Why is that a big deal? According to Google, September 2017 is the end of "guaranteed Android version updates" for the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. That also means that this month's Android Oreo update could be the last big one for these two phones.

Not the end of all updates

So wait, what does this mean for your Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X going forward? Google set the end date for major Android version updates for these phones to September 2017, which is two years after they went up for sale on the Google Store. It'll work the same with the Pixel phones (end date of October 2018), just like it did for the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 (October 2016). That doesn't mean updates are done, though. Remember, the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, like other Nexus and Pixel devices, receive security updates for three full years. So even if Google stops pushing major updates to the 6P and 5X after this month, they'll still be secure for another 12 months with monthly patches. Additionally, Google hasn't officially said just yet that this month's Android Oreo update for the 6P and 5X is the end. Their support page says "no guaranteed" updates after September 2017, but that wording does leave some wiggle room. We reached out to Google to try and get confirmation on this being the end or if these phones will see an update to something like Android 8.1 in the future, but they had no further info to provide and directed us to this Pixel/Nexus support page.

Nexus 6 got a bonus update

The only comparison to this situation we currently have is the Nexus 6, which did see the update to Android 7.1.1 after reaching its October 2016 end date, but not to Android 7.1.2 a couple of months later. In other words, there is still a chance that the 6P and 5X will get additional updates after this month, I just wouldn't expect many more after 2017 ends. Assuming we get the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 in about a month, it might be time to consider upgrading if you are still holding onto a 6P or 5X and want the freshest Android version available.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 48 Answers

Tim — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:39:27 +0000

So sorry for the delay on our answers for Volume 48 of the Q&A Sessions, but I had a vacation this weekend, so hopefully you can forgive me. We received a lot of great questions last week, many of which had to do with Google's upcoming Pixel smartphones. Y'all seem pretty darn curious about what's ahead, but I can't blame you, it's exciting times in Android! Now, because a few of you may have been waiting patiently for these, let's get right into it. Reminder: K is Kellen and T is Tim

Do you trust LG to make the Pixel XL 2 after that boot loop fiasco plaguing so many of their previous phones?

K: The bootloop stuff really is unfortunate. I think I try to give these companies credit, in that I hope they fix this stuff for the future, but you just never really know. I don't know that I'm worried about their Pixel XL 2 phone having a major issue like that. Should people pass on it because of LG's history, though, I can't say I blame them. T: Honestly, I've heard about this issue countless times, but I never used an LG device that suffered from it. Maybe I'm lucky. Regardless, yes, I trust LG to make the Pixel XL 2. The way things are shaping up, I could see the Pixel XL 2 really have a good shot at being the Phone of the Year, so my expectations will remain high.

Are we at the point where any time a phone is called a “flagship” phone, the minimum starting price is about $699?

K: Yep and it kind of sucks. I get that these companies are packing more and more technology and design into each new phone, but I'm afraid we'll soon be at the Note 8's $1,000 price tag as being normal. I don't want that to happen because part of the fun of smartphones is that people seem to upgrade regularly, try new fun stuff, and then these products hopefully continue to improve. If we have to start paying $1,000 or so for a new phone, don't they then become more like computers that we keep for multiple years because that's what we can afford? What's the fun in that? T: I use the term flagship for any device that is the OEM's premier smartphone. For example, the OnePlus 5 starts at $479, but it's the flagship device for OnePlus. Samsung has two flagships, the S8/S8+ (combo counts as one device) and the Galaxy Note 8. Each phone is labeled as a tier one device offered by Samsung. So, for me to call a phone a flagship, price hardly has anything to do with it, so long as it's the pinnacle of what is currently offered by any given OEM.

Are you happy with Google's reported decision to have the 2nd-Gen Pixel phones made by different OEMs and not look alike?

K: Nope, I don't like it at all. As uninspired as last year's Pixel designs were, I loved the fact that they sold the exact same phone, only in different sizes. Now, it's another battle over which to own - the futuristic XL 2 and its size or the smaller, old-school-design of the Pixel 2. You then also have to worry about components, overall quality, and whether or not you trust this OEM over that one. I guess that at least gives you choice if you don't like HTC and love LG or vice-versa, but maybe you wanted the big guy and can't stand LG? Eh, it just irks me. T: No, I'm actually quite upset about it. I loved the idea of having the same phone in the Pixel and Pixel XL, the only difference being the size (and display resolution). It's a fantastic idea, similar to what iPhone users get from Apple. If the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 differ greatly in the hardware department, it confuses me. Pixel and Nexus-branded devices were supposed to be Google's vision for what an Android phone should be. If there are two differently designed phones, the message gets murky and you've got owners with differing experiences. Not a fan of that.

What's your "go to" phone so far in 2017?

K: I've actually had a hard time settling into a phone this year and I think that's because there have been some really good ones. I've probably spent the most time with the Galaxy S8, though I was hoping it would be the Essential Phone. But now, I'm guessing it'll be Pixel XL 2 once that arrives and until some time mid 2018. Still, you just can't go wrong with the S8. T: The phone I always find myself picking up is the Pixel XL (running Android O) and the Galaxy S8+. Both are devices with completely different Android experiences, but each excels in different aspects and that's what I appreciate. If I had to choose just one, though, it'd be the Galaxy S8+.

What is your bold prediction for this NFL season?

K: Hate to say this, but I hardly watch the NFL anymore. So my bold prediction is that nothing will change my interest level because the NFL hasn't changed much and I'll be over here watching college football and soccer. T: Hmm. My bold prediction is that the San Francisco 49ers will win more than 2 games.

What's the current verdict on LG's custom skin?

K: I still don't like it, but for some reason it hasn't been bugging me on the LG V30. And I don't even know what has really changed that much from the G6 to here, it's just that the speed of it and the slow morphing into a more stock look here and there has made it less terrible. I'd prefer not to use it, but will say that it seems far less bloated than Samsung's jittery Experience garbage on the S8 and Note 8. T: I used LG's newest skin iteration a lot on the G6, which was fine, but it leaves a lot to be desired. For example, it tends to get a bit clunky and not-so-attractive. There seems to be a lot of features that mainly go unused, meaning I'd love LG to completely strip it down and get back to the barebones. As for the design itself, aesthetically speaking, I'm not a huge fan. If I was voting, I'd go Stock > Moto > HTC > Samsung > LG > Everything else.

Can you share a basic overview of what you look for in an ideal Android smartphone?

K: I typically look for a premium build, a clean and fast software experience, solid full-day battery life without need to charge at 6PM, and a really, really good camera. There are few phones (if any) that ever hit all four of those things. Right now, the Galaxy S8+ comes close, but I hate its software. The Pixel is close too, but it's design isn't great, nor is its battery life. I thought the Essential Phone would be it, but the software is so badly tuned and bug-filled, plus the camera is absolute trash, that it's not there either. T: I want a minimal design, similar to what we get from Essential or the LG G6. There's not a lot going on around the phone, with a massive display on the front. I want a rear-facing fingerprint reader, awesome camera, IP68 rating, NFC, headphone jack, and that's really about it. I'm not incredibly picky about the skin, but I suppose I'd opt for stock Android if I could. I also don't need a 4,000mAh battery or anything like that. Give me somewhere around 3,500mAh and I'll be fine. It's not the fanciest phone ever, but it gets the job done and looks good while doing it.

Check out all of the past Q&A Sessions here.

Google Trips, Flights, and Destinations Now Support New Languages and Countries

Tim — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 10:16:36 +0000

Should you feel the need to get out of your current environment, for whatever reason, Google is rolling out new language and country support for Google Trips, Flights, and Destinations on Google. In total, there are 14 new languages supported by Flights, a service that lets users browse and purchase airline tickets. Those languages are Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Filipino, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Malaysian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, and Slovenian. If you want to go somewhere previously unsupported by these services, those countries are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Seriously, I hear Iceland is otherworldly. Mobile users aren't being left out either. Starting this week, users of the Google Trips app have support for new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese. Go grab that update and treat yourself to a vacation. Play Link // Google

T-Mobile ONE Family Plans Now Include Netflix at No Extra Cost

Kellen — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 08:32:41 +0000

T-Mobile's Uncarrier Next event took all of 4 minutes today, though it might have only taken 2 without a technical glitch that paused the short live stream. The event was so short because there was one announcement and that announcement was T-Mobile telling us that Netflix is now included in T-Mobile ONE plans with more than 1 line of service through a new promo called T-Mobile Netflix On Us. That's it - free standard Netflix subscriptions for multi-line accounts at T-Mobile.

T-Mobile Netflix On Us

In order to get the no-extra-cost Netflix with your T-Mobile ONE plan, you have to have "two or more voice lines at standard rates." In other words, this isn't a promo for single line accounts and really is for family plans. If you meet that requirement, you'll get the Netflix Standard, the $9.99 plan that offers up to HD quality streams and up-to 2 simultaneous streams at a time. What if you want Netflix Premium with Ultra HD quality and up-to 4 device streaming? You can go that route too. T-Mobile will pay your full Netflix Premium bill and you'll pay the difference ($2 per month) through your T-Mobile bill for Standard and Premium. So they'll cover the full cost, but because Netflix On Us is for Standard subscriptions, you'll pay the difference to T-Mobile on your monthly bill. That's a value of around $120 per year for Standard.

Already a Netflix subscriber?

Since most of you are already Netflix subscribers, you won't be signing up for new Netflix service to participate. Instead, T-Mobile and Netflix are linking your accounts, so that T-Mobile can pay Netflix "directly for you." T-Mobile expects up to 1-2 Netflix billing cycles before for this billing transfer happens. T-Mobile said today that you'll be able to sign-up and link accounts through the T-Mobile app, MyT-Mobile.com, a retail store, or by calling customer care to activate. The press release for the news says that you'll be able to do this on Tuesday, September 12. If you don't have Netflix just yet, you'll soon be able to opt-in (likely on September 12). Once you do that, T-Mobile will send you an SMS with a link to get started on signing up. Again, to get signed up for free Netflix with your T-Mobile ONE plan, head to this link on September 12. // T-Mobile

T-Mobile Uncarrier Next is Live at 8AM Pacific, Watch It Here (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:30:39 +0000

In a few minutes, T-Mobile will hosts its latest Uncarrier event dubbed Uncarrier Next. The wireless carrier hasn't necessarily given any hints at what we can expect, so you'll have to tune in just like us to find out. The last time T-Mobile held an Uncarrier Next event was at CES and they went all-in on T-Mobile ONE plans, included taxes and fees with their plan pricing, provided a kickback for those who use less than 2GB data per month, and made a pricing guarantee to customers. It was a big event that's for sure. Today's Uncarrier Next starts at 8AM Pacific (11AM Eastern). You can watch it all through the live stream above. Any last minute predictions?

UPDATE: And it's Netflix paid for by T-Mobile for T-Mobile ONE customers!

Or Maybe the Pixel 2 Won't Run a Snapdragon 836?

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 14:56:22 +0000

After two separate reports claimed that the new Google Pixel 2 phones would run yet-to-be-released Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 processors, two new reports claim that no such processor exists, nor will it ever exist. The new reports reference "extremely reliable" sources "familiar" with Qualcomm's plans, both with the assumption that each phone will run a Snapdragon 835. Should you care? No. The Snapdragon 835 is more than capable, is the processor powering the Galaxy S8, S8+, Note 8, LG V30, and OnePlus 5. It's the Qualcomm flagship mobile chipset for 2017 and will be fine inside the Pixel 2 phones, especially with Google taking the time to optimize performance. We're just spoiled after last year, when Google and Qualcomm released the Snapdragon 821 inside the Pixel phones, a slight upgrade over the 820 that was in almost all other phones from 2016. As tech enthusiasts, we like shiny new things with bigger numbers that no other phones have. In the end, a Snapdragon 836 likely would have offered little improvement over the 835. For example, the Snapdragon 821 offered 10% boosts in boot times, app load times, and general performance over the 820. Those weren't insignificant improvements, they just weren't game-changing, phone-changing, experience-changing upgrades. A jump to 836 probably would have boosted similarly. With that said, we don't yet know anything about Qualcomm's plans for 2018. If history is any indicator, they could announce something like a Snapdragon 845 toward the end of this year with release happening in early 2018. I point that out because if the Pixel 2 phones arrive around the end of October and Qualcomm announces a new chipset shortly thereafter, prepare for an internet complaint session about Google shipping old silicon. I'll just say that I'm fine with that timing as long as they aren't using the previous year's chipset only months before the new one arrives, right, LG? Again, you'll be fine with the Snapdragon 835. // XDA | Android Police

Probably Shouldn't Try to Repair the Essential Phone Yourself

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:25:51 +0000

Most of us won't ever attempt to fix a broken phone, one that we might have cracked after dropping or that has died from water damage after being dunked in a pool. Fixing these things isn't easy, requires special sets of tools and adhesives, and can be nearly impossible to do without causing further damage depending on the device. The Essential Phone is one of those that falls in that final category. This is a phone you likely won't be able to repair. The crew at iFixit tore the Essential Phone down and struggled to do so without damaging components. Not only did the phone resist their adhesive-melting heat, they then had to apply Super Cold to "reverse the polarity" of the phone in order to get past the top display. Of course, once past that (and after cracking the hell out of it), they were able to dive into this tightly organized package and find some of the unique parts Essential included. They found the magnets for the modular add-ons, like Essential's 360 camera, and a custom made front-facing camera piece that also housed the earpiece. Kind of cool stuff. In the end, iFixit handed the Essential Phone a 1 out of 10 for repairability with 10 being the easiest to repair. In other words, should you need to swap something on the inside, it's going to be tough to do. Does that matter that much in the grand scheme of things? Not really. After all, this phone has a titanium frame that should help it withstand drops. Then again, you may want to pick up that $99 extended care if you are worried about it. If you haven't already, be sure to read our initial thoughts on the Essential Phone. // iFixit

OnePlus 3 and 3T Beta Updates Bring Big List of Changes

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:09:05 +0000

Even with the OnePlus 5 now out and the only phone OnePlus currently sells, the company is still updating the OnePlus 3 and 3T, though we'll see how long that lasts. I'm partly kidding there, since we know they'll both see Android O at some point, it's just that OnePlus hasn't exactly been winning over previous device buyers through software updates. All of that drama aside, both the OnePlus 3 and 3T received a new beta update to OxygenOS yesterday. The update is a big one and does things like tweak the design of the lift up display UI, adjusts the default color screen calibration, speeds up loading of images in the Gallery app, adds a new alarm calendar feature to the clock, and more. I don't know that there is anything major, but it should fix bugs and stabilize a whole bunch of stuff. The full changelog can be found below.

Camera：

Added Shot on OnePlus watermark

You can toggle the Shot on OnePlus watermark and add your name to all pictures taken in the main camera settings

System：

Redesigned lift up display UI

Now supports displaying battery percentage

Now supports hiding of notification content from apps locked by App locker

There is now a toggle that allows you to block notifications from apps that are in the App lock list

Improved stability of Parallel apps

Adjusted color display of default screen calibration

It now tends more towards sRGB calibration

Added E-warranty card

You can now find a version of your warranty card in “About phone > E-Warranty card”

Updated Android security patch level to August

Phone：

Added quick index bar in contacts UI

The contacts page/app now have an alphabetical bar on the right side for easy moving to certain groups of names

Improved experience of switching incoming calls

Improvements to suggested merges functionality

Gallery：

Loading speed of images improved

Weather：

Improved location accuracy

Improved the experience of searching cities

Clock:

New feature "Alarm calendar"

Can be used to set an irregular alarm schedule, once you set the time, you can activate this feature by hitting the 3 dot menu button to the right of "repeat"

Known issues:

Immediately following the update, you might not be able to turn on the flashlight. Please reboot the device and normal functionality will be restored.

If interested in running the beta, you'll want to head over to the OnePlus downloads site to get started. // OnePlus

Received Your Galaxy Note 8? Feel Free to Share Some Thoughts!

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 10:24:51 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 isn't supposed to arrive until next Friday, September 15. However, likely in response to Apple announcing their September 12 iPhone 8 reveal, the Korean electronics giant seems to be pushing up some dates and doing things out of order from typical launches. For example, the Note 8 review embargo lifted earlier this morning, almost two weeks before the phone will hit stores. We've also received word from countless readers who are expecting their Note 8 pre-orders as early as today (mostly from Verizon). In fact, many have already shared pictures of their phones! How cool is that? So because we don't have a unit and have no idea when we'll ever have one, we'll turn to you, lucky early pre-order receivers, to share thoughts with the DL community. I'm curious what your first out-of-the-box take on a $930 phone is, if this is your first Note or one of many, and which carrier you went with. Ready? GO!

DEAL: You Can Get a Amazon Echo for Just $75 Today (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 09:52:16 +0000

Who knows if Amazon is about ready to release a new Amazon Echo or not, but the amount of substantial discounts they are producing as if they were won't fetch any complaints from us. Today, you can grab a certified refurbished Amazon Echo for just $79.99 in what must be the best Amazon Echo deal to date. Amazon lists that at an $85 discount, which is pretty nuts. This Amazon Echo deal includes both black and white models, so depending on your home decor, you do have a choice. Of course, there are also Amazon Echo skins that'll help you customize even further. You don't need me to explain what an Amazon Echo is, do you? Depending on how you just answered that, let's just say that this is a deal worth pouncing on. You can go Google Home or Amazon Echo at this point for a smart home speaker assistant, and I'm not sure I have a preference. My advice would be to go with whichever is cheaper at the moment. For today, that's the Amazon Echo. UPDATE: As some have pointed out, QVC is running a crazy deal for new Amazon Echo units where the price has been dropped to just $74.95.

Amazon Deal Link | QVC Deal Link

2017 DL Football Eliminator Challenge is Open! Win the Ultimate Smart Home Kit! (UPDATED: WINNER!)

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 09:02:55 +0000

UPDATE: We have a winner and it's IlyaKol! The win comes from aggregate score after 6 people pushed through perfect records (17-0). That's pretty amazing!

Unfortunately, ESPN has removed all means of communication between players in the challenge. In other words, I have no way to contact you, IlyaKol. I need you to hit us up if you do read this! We are trying to figure out other ways too. Congrats!

UPDATE 2: We're good! Winner's prizes sent!

You've been asking and we've been silent on it, but yes, the DL Football Eliminator Challenge is once again back for the 7th year in a row. Much years. Very football. How exciting. This year, we are doing something a bit different in terms of prizes, though. In the past, we've given away a phone of choice valued at up to $700. But today, there just aren't enough phones under that price point and because the prices of these things just keep going up, we're shifting gears to make it simpler on everyone. This year, we'll be doing a massive prize pack to help get your smart home started. We're talking close to $700 in smart home gear, like a SHIELD TV, Google Home, new Nest Thermostat E, and Philips Hue starter kit. Not bad, right? For those new to NFL eliminator challenges, they work like this. At absolutely zero cost to you, you pick one winner each week during the season out of all of the games being played. If your team wins, you move on to the next week. Just keep in mind that you can only choose a team one time per season, so there is some strategy involved. With that said, by no means are these challenges as intense as fantasy football or weekly pick’em challenges. This is the simplest form of an NFL challenge you can participate in. All you have to do each week is remember to pick a single winner. You can even make your picks via ESPN Fantasy app if that helps. The season kicks off this Thursday (yes, in 2 days), so you will want to sign-up now. We will try our best to remind you throughout the next couple of days to sign-up, though.

Join the group: Droid Life Eliminator Password: droidlife Simple rules for those new to eliminator challenges:

Join the league up above. Create an entry for yourself. Get ready to pick winners.
Since this is an eliminator challenge, you only have to pick 1 winner each week.
Remember though, that you only get to use a team one time and cannot pick them to win again.
If you choose correctly each week, you continue to advance.
If you choose incorrectly, you are more than likely out. Still, continue picking though, as we may not have anyone finish the season perfect.
If that didn’t make sense, check out the full “How to Play” rules here.
If we run into a tiebreaker, we will decide a winner based on these rules. That’s right, we go with ESPN’s rules and they determine the winner.

Prize: We're putting together a massive smart home starter kit that includes a NVIDIA SHIELD TV, Nest Thermostat E, Google Home, and Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit. The total value of these items is currently at around $677. It should be just the right mix of goodies to get your home ready for the future. Winner’s prizes will only be bought and shipped within the US. Reminders: We’ll try to remind folks to make their picks each week, but cannot guarantee that we’ll remember. If we do though, it will be on Twitter, so be sure to follow us there. Week 1 starts this Thursday, with the first game between the Chiefs and Patriots on September 7. Good luck! IMAGE

DEAL: Samsung's 64GB and 128GB USB Type-C Flash Drives Discounted Today

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:57:08 +0000

Amazon is hosting a storage sale today as a part of its Daily Deals program and while there aren't many discounted products that are mobile-related, these Samsung USB Type-C flash drives sure are. Not only that, but they are USB 3.1 and come with either 64GB or 128GB of fast storage. These, my friends, are sweet little mobile accessories to store all of your goods on. The units feature a 5-year warranty, plus are water, temperature, x-ray, shock and magnetic proof. They can push data at up to 150MB/s, will work with both laptops and mobile devices, and are certainly small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. The 64GB unit is just $23.99 today ($6 discount), while the 128GB unit is $42.99 ($12 discount).

Amazon Deal Link

Xiaomi Joins Android One Line-Up With the Mi A1, a Phone Everyone Might Enjoy

Kellen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:08:54 +0000

Android One phones have never been the type to get most of us around these parts very excited because we're all about high specs, high-end finishes, and the unfortunate high price tags to match. But Android One wasn't built for us either. Nope, Android One was built for the next billion, the user in areas of the world where a $100 phone is all that's necessary and likely all that's affordable. Today, that changes a bit as Google partners with Xiaomi to offer a new Android One phone called the Mi A1. It's by no means a low-end $100 phone and instead matches up quite nicely with phones like the Moto X4 (#notmymotox), only its price tag falls a couple of hundred dollars under. In fact, this phone sure looks like one you and I might enjoy in the US should our budget tighten up for a bit. The Xiaomi Mi A1 comes in three colors (black, gold, and pink), features a full metal body, big 5.5-inch FHD display, 3080mAh battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, fingerprint sensor, and USB Type-C port. It also runs a Snapdragon 625 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage while shooting photos with a dual 12MP camera setup. Oh, it also runs stock Android, has the Google Assistant, and will see timely updates over two years. Google says that the Mi A1 will get Oreo before the end of 2017 and most definitely an update to Android P next year. All of that costs about $233. That's nuts. I kind of want one. Too bad Google and Xiaomi didn't announce any US plans. You can buy the Xiaomi Mi A1 at Xiaomi's store (on September 12).

// Google

Weekly Recap: IFA You Missed Anything

Kellen — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:21:07 +0000

IFA kicked off this week in Berlin and that meant a wave of announcements from some pretty big companies. LG was the king of it all with the unveiling of the V30, but Motorola, Sony, Google, Samsung, and Nest also had some big products to show off. We also walked you through the unlimited data plan battle, carrier by carrier, and received our retail Essential Phone for a first look. Things are getting nuts around here with all of the new phones on the way, so be sure to stay up through our list below of the best Android stories of the week.

We'll have a new NFL Eliminator Challenge next week!

Essential Phone: 24 Hours Later, Some Initial Thoughts

Kellen — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 13:56:25 +0000

After spending a few minutes with an Essential Phone last week during my trip to NYC for Samsung's Note 8 launch, I now have a retail unit in house that we'll begin to put through our tests as we form a proper review, one that isn't rushed into a 48-hour embargo period. But before we get there, since talking about shiny new phones is fun, I wanted to share some initial thoughts because as a new phone created by the founder of Android, the Essential Phone is certainly worth having multiple conversations about.

Packaging and that price

When your Essential Phone arrives, you get an all-black box with little branding. You, of course, know what the contents are, but like the phone itself, Essential has gone full-minimal, something I appreciate. As you dive into the box, it only gets better. First, you've got the phone, but next to it are the well-placed, premium charger, nylon-wrapped USB Type-C cable, and similarly finished USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter. No one gives you accessories this nice. I'm not sure that fancy accessories are a key selling point, but when you pay $700 for a phone from someone who has never released a phone before, sometimes the little things help ease any concerns you might have. If anything, this type of quality at least shows you that the company you just helped support cares deeply about their product.

Phone in hand

Now out of the box, the Essential Phone makes its presence known right away. This thing is heavy. Sort of in a good way, though let me get back to you on that in a couple of weeks. The titanium and ceramic body are probably to blame there (or thank?) and give off a feeling that few phones have in recent memory. Most phones these days are purposely light, while this phone is unapologetically trying to remind you it exists and is made like none of its competitors. When you fire it up for the first time, you'll probably get a software update, since Essential is doing its best to improve their first phone as quickly as they possibly can. After pretty harsh reviews around the phone's camera, I'd imagine these updates won't stop any time soon. No, I'm not complaining about updates, especially those that appear before you ever login to your new phone. I like it when companies try to improve their products.

Of course, after that update, the display hits you and you'll probably fall immediately in love. We'll see how long these display emotions last, but the Essential Phone, even after spending countless hours with Samsung and LG's Infinity and FullVision displays, just looks different - in a good way. I said this on yesterday's DL Show, but I really think you could put any wallpaper on this phone and it would look amazing. It's just a different kind of all-display experience, one that feels even more immersive. I have yet to fully pin down why that is, but it could have to do with that front camera position and the fact that some apps and the notification area wrap around it. I should also point out that while the Galaxy S8 and V30 have all-display fronts and relatively smallish bodies, the Essential Phone does an even better job at giving you a big display and manageable frame. I'd even suggest that this phone comes off a little small, yet it sports a 5.7-inch QHD display. I wonder if that's because of its squared body and thickness, but as you can see in the image above, this is not a phone you'll have any issues using in a single hand.

Software at its emptiest

Andy Rubin wasn't messing around when he talked initially about there being no bloatware or unnecessary fluff on the Essential Phone. Out of the box, as I just mentioned, there are so few apps that you might think something is wrong. Thankfully, that means you get to setup a phone the way you want without having to spend another five minutes disabling or uninstalling the garbage. That also means that there aren't additional settings anywhere that you won't be familiar with should you have come from a Nexus or Pixel phone. You will, however, wonder what's missing if coming from a Samsung or LG device. You see, in the settings, nothing is different from a Google phone, outside of the one "Essential" option that is nothing more than a usage and diagnostics opt-in. This is a bare bones approach to Android experiences. This is also very much a dream come true for some of us. While I've always been a fan of Nexus and Pixel phones, we've begged for other manufacturers to take Google's approach and just give us Android the way Google made it. So far no one has done that except for Essential. With software this lean, it's up to you to make it yours, not a manufacturer forcing you into bits and pieces of custom tweaks they decided you'll enjoy.

The Camera

You've probably heard, assuming you read any of the early reviews, that the Essential Phone's camera is awful. I'm not sure that after a day with it, that I have great things to say about it either. My worry is that the camera app is to blame and that there is hope on some level. You see, the camera app is as bare bones as the software, only it seems ridiculously buggy and broken. For example, I tried to add to my burger picture collection yesterday and had to restart the camera app 3 separate times because it just stopped taking pictures. I was tapping and tapping and tapping the shutter button, and it just didn't want to do anything. The camera is also painfully slow at times. I was taking macros of some plants around my house yesterday with the sun peaking through a tree in the background and thought I had taken 5 or 6 photos. As it turns out, I took 3, 1 of which was of the blurry ground. In its current form, the camera app on this phone is unacceptable and that's apparently after multiple updates.

Of the shots I have taken, some are OK, some not so much. The lack of stabilization and the instability of the camera app don't exactly bring confidence to your hand when snapping photos. And look, when the best camera is the one you have on you, you need confidence in it. After a single day with this phone's camera, I can't say that I have any just yet. On a related note, we received a recommendation to try the Google Camera app with HDR+ that was released a couple of weeks back to see if it helps. I haven't taken enough photos to give you much feedback there, but I can at least tell you that the experience is much more stable than Essential's own camera app. The Google Camera opens in a hurry and is capable of firing off multiple shots without hesitating. We'll definitely do more testing there.

Other notes: Both good and bad

Display touch issue: I feel like there is a touch sensitivity issue here with the display. I've now talked to at least two other people with retail units who pointed out that the display doesn't regularly recognize your first touch. You have to tap things twice more often than I'd like. I don't know if that can be fixed with software or not, but it's already annoying me.
Performance: Performance is just OK. At times, the phone is buttery smooth and flies around, but every so often it hiccups or loads an app or the home screen slowly. Again, those are things that could get better, I'm just wondering how many more times I'm going to type, "Software could fix that" before this phone seems worth the money and hassle.
Night mode: There is no night mode or blue light filter for the display and that's unfortunate.
Verizon: While not yet certified for Verizon, I popped in an activated Verizon SIM and the phone had no problems connecting to Verizon's network. So even though it isn't officially ready, as long as you have an active SIM, it'll work just fine on Big Red's network. However, if you don't have an active Verizon SIM, I doubt that Verizon will be able to get you setup if you walk into a store with only your new Essential Phone.
Charging: I have yet to time it, but the Essential Phone charges really, really fast with the included charger.
Battery life: On the first full charge, I pushed about 3 hours of screen on time and still had 23% before I was looking for a charger. I'd imagine the phone's battery life will improve as I use it a bit and it settles in.
Wife test: My wife was actually a fan and she hasn't been of most phones I've handed her this year. She's still rocking a blue Pixel, but I'm now wondering if this could be her next. That's a good sign, Essential.
Son test: As a random note, I was out with my son yesterday and he was playing a game on the phone. Thanks to the PINs on the back and the magnets, the phone sort of attached itself to the metal table we were sitting at and allowed for the phone to be secured from him knocking it off as he tried to rage quit Subway Surfers. Bonus feature!

So yeah...

So far, my thoughts are pretty mixed about this phone. On one hand, it's exactly the type of phone I wanted to see someone else make. I have no issues paying a premium for an ultra-premium device that runs the software I want and nothing else. There is a lot I already like about the Essential Phone. On the other hand, the camera is a bit worrisome, as is the touch issue in the display. Since the Essential camera app is garbage, I may actually switch full-time to the Google Camera app to give this camera a real test. I don't know if Essential can fix the camera, but if they plan to sell many phones, they better figure out a way. Otherwise, stay tuned for our full review.

JBL's New Link Speaker Series Will Also Feature Google Assistant

Kellen — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:14:13 +0000

Go ahead and add JBL to the list of companies on the verge of launching a Google Assistant-powered speaker. In fact, JBL has a whole series ready called JBL LINK. The JBL LINK series is made up of three speakers, the LINK 10, LINK 20, and LINK 300. As the names suggest, you've got two smaller speakers with Google Assistant along with a much bigger, room-filling beast. JBL says that you should expect "rich, full-range sound and instant access to [your] favorite music through voice control." The LINK 10 and 20 are portable and last anywhere from 5 to 10 hours, plus they have IPX7 waterproof designs. The LINK 300 is more of a set-it-and-forget-it speaker, though you can pair multiple together. The current plan is to start selling these new speakers later in the fall in the UK, Germany, and France. Pricing has not yet been shared. // Harman

T-Mobile Launches Galaxy Note 8 BOGO Deal

Kellen — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:02:34 +0000

The T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal is now live for those who have been holding out on a pre-order. As expected, you can buy a Galaxy Note 8 and get a second free, but you'll have to sign-up for finance agreements and a new line, while waiting for a prepaid MasterCard to reimburse you for the cost of the second device. The basics here are this. You buy a Galaxy Note 8 on a 24-month equipment installment plan (EIP), then add a line to purchase a second Note 8 (or Galaxy S8/S8+) on another 24-month EIP. You'll then check for promo eligibility at this T-Mobile Promotions Center site by entering promo code "17CSAMN8BOGO" within 30 days of the second device purchase. Once you sign-up for the rebate, it'll take about 8 weeks before you get your prepaid MasterCard (value up to $930). You will have to "maintain an active, eligible rate plan for each eligible Galaxy phone" with T-Mobile for both lines or they will charge you for the phones. Who is eligible? New and existing T-Mo customers, so basically everyone. Here are some other tidbits to know:

JUMP! customers are eligible for the free Note 8, but JUMP! On Demand customers are not.
If you already pre-ordered, you can still participate by buying another Note 8 on an EIP.
Even Costco Note 8 purchases are eligible.
To see the rest of the FAQ for this promo, hit up that link below.

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 Pre-order Link

DEAL: Verizon Accessory Sale - 50% Off Daydream View, $30 Off Moto Gamepad, $100 Off Moto 360 Mod

Kellen — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 08:27:45 +0000

As we head into Labor Day Weekend and the kiddies run back to school, we're seeing a bunch of good deals on tech goods around the web. Verizon is one that's hosting a decent accessory sale for the next few days that includes 50% off Google's VR headset, plus a bunch of big discounts on Moto Z Moto Mods. We've captured a few of the best below, but $40 off Daydream View is a good one, as is the $100 off the freshly announcement Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod. The new Moto Gamepad Moto Mod is also down $30. If you aren't in need of a Moto Mod or three, the Chromecast Ultra is discount by $10 too. For other deals on cases, headphones, speakers, security cameras, and screen protectors, hit up those links below. Verizon Accessory Sale Links:

Daydream View ($39.99, $40 off)
Moto 360 Camera Moto Mod ($199.99, $100 off)
Moto Gamepad Moto Mod ($49.99, $30 off)
Chromecast Ultra ($59.99, $10 off)
All Verizon accessory deals

T-Mobile Hosting Uncarrier NEXT Event on September 6

Tim — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:17:40 +0000

T-Mobile's last Uncarrier NEXT event was at CES this year, but today, a new NEXT event has been scheduled for September 6 (next Wednesday). Even though the carrier posted up a hype trailer and gave us dates, we don't quite have an idea of what they will announce. At the last event, T-Mobile introduced ONE plans, KickBack, and flat rate pricing. All of that stuff is still relevant if you're a T-Mobile customer, so we expect whatever they announce to be a pretty big deal if you're an existing customer or were thinking of making a switch. Any guesses on what we should expect on September 6? Stream Link

// T-Mobile

We're Kind of Busy at the Moment

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 12:34:27 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, I'll just suggest that you strap in because we're about to dive into it all. And when I say "all," I mean the past two weeks worth of Android and tech madness that included more news than any normal human can possibly handle. We saw Android Oreo go official shortly after the total solar eclipse before hitting AOSP and Pixel and Nexus devices. Seriously, the update is already out! But on top of that, the Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, Moto X4, Nest Thermostat E, and Google Assistant-powered speakers were all unveiled during IFA. Oh, we have an Essential Phone in house now too. And finally, Verizon changed up its unlimited plans and pissed everyone off. We’ll be live at 1:30PM Pacific (4:30PM Eastern)! If you miss us live, you can always subscribe through the variety of links below.

Moto X4 is Official Without Any Customizable Options, $400 Price Tag, and Fall Arrival

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 12:06:24 +0000

Motorola unwrapped the Moto X4 this morning, a phone that isn't anything like the old Moto X line and is instead some sort of new, shiny mid-to-upper-mid-range offering that is piggybacking off the old X's good memories. That's OK, I guess, just don't compare this to the Moto X around these parts. We take our Xs seriously, guys. As for this new Moto X4 and its lack of personalization or customization, you are looking at a phone that steps above the mid-range tier, but not quite into the top tier. It features a 5.2-inch FHD LCD display, Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage (with SD support), rear dual camera setup (12MP + 8MP), 16MP front shooter, 3000mAh battery, IP68 dust and water resistance, and Android 7.1 Nougat. The body is made of 3D contoured glass and an anodized aluminum frame.

Moto X4 with Alexa

Motorola has baked in some new smart features to help the phone standout. We're talking about things like Amazon Alexa built-in, so that you can access your shopping lists, learn song lyrics, or perform other Alexa tricks while on the go. Motorola also included something called Landmark Detection that lets you point the cameras at items to find out more about them, as well as Face Filters in your selfies. You can even place three fingers on the screen to have it take a screenshot or connect up to four Bluetooth devices to the Moto X4 at once. The Moto X4 arrives in September in Europe for €399. It should hit the US later this fall. You can register for updates on the Moto X4 at Motorola's site.

Moto X4 Specs

[table id=85 responsive=scroll /] // Motorola

Gboard Gets Stickers and Bitmoji Support

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:23:12 +0000

The latest update to Google's Gboard keyboard on Android brings with it support for both stickers and Bitmoji. As Tim just explained to me, Bitmoji are personalized emoji that you design to look like yourself and are super popular with 12 year olds and his 40-year old sister. Sounds right up my alley! To get into this Bitmoji and stickers thing, you'll need today's update before diving in and expressing yourself in ways you never thought digitally possible on your OG Droid. The buttons for stickers and Bitmoji can be found with the keyboard open under the emoji key and in where you'd previously found GIF support. From there, if you tap on stickers or Bitmoji, you'll need to download supported packs. Google teamed up with partners to offer starter packs featuring items from the NBA, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, Garfield, Hello Kitty, and more. All of the links to get you going on downloading these packs will happen with Gboard. Google Play Link // Google

Sony Intros Google Assistant-Powered Speaker, Costs $199

Tim — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:20:26 +0000

Just as Google teased yesterday, with the notion that more products featuring Google Assistant were on the way, a new smart speaker powered by Google's digital assistant has been announced by Sony at IFA. Labeled as the LF-S50G, Sony's new speaker looks much like an Apple HomePod, but with a few differences. On the frontside, there's a digital clock display, a splash-proof design that's perfect for the kitchen, and a 360° speaker system. Beyond that, you can do all of the great Google Home stuff, such as check traffic, listen to music, and even set remin...err, never mind, you still can't set reminders on Google Home. The speaker is also capable of gesture controls to begin playing music, skipping tracks, or adjusting the volume. For specifics on the audio, Sony's unit comes with a monaural design, 48mm satellite speaker, and 2.09" subwoofer. You can expect to see this speaker hit the market in October for $199. Sony Product Link // Sony

YouTube TV Expands to 12 New Markets

Tim — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 10:18:55 +0000

YouTube TV is continuing its rollout across the US, this time lighting up in 12 new markets. The latest additions include Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and St. Louis. These are big markets, so essentially, YouTube TV is now available for millions of more people throughout the US. Pricing for YouTube TV has not changed since launch. There's a single tier for $35/month, granting you access to a pretty decent (and still evolving) channel lineup. New Markets

Cleveland
Denver
Greensboro
Harrisburg
Hartford
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Milwaukee
Oklahoma City
Salt Lake City
San Diego
St. Louis

Still no Portland, OR, though. Meh. // YouTube TV

LG V30 is Coming Some Day This Fall at Some Price at These Carriers

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:56:51 +0000

I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm turning into a big fan of the LG V30, even though I've only had the chance to play with a preview unit for a handful of days. LG just did so much right here that it's going to be a phone you should probably all strongly consider if in the market for a new one. However, like with all LG launches, we have no idea how long it's going to take before you can buy one, hence that ambiguous title above. You see, every time LG announces a phone, they do so early enough that they aren't even sure when they are going to sell the thing. Or, at the very least, the carriers aren't sure when they should sell it. We typically see a Korean launch date right away, but often find that the phone won't reach these US shores until weeks later. It's a pretty terrible launch pattern that kills any buzz surrounding LG phones, especially as others arrive, like the Galaxy Note 8 and the new Google Pixel phones.

LG V30 Release Date?

With the V30, we seem to be headed down a similar path. As you know, the V30 was announced yesterday and will arrive in South Korea on September 21. When will US carriers start to sell it? We don't know! One can hope that the South Korean launch is only a week (or days) early, followed by a launch here, but you just never know. Remember, last year's V20 was announced in early September and then arrived here almost two months later at the end of October. By then, the Note 7 had blown up a couple of times and the Google Pixel phones were there for the taking. The LG G5 launch was similar with a mid-February unveiling, followed by a launch close to two months later in early April. Thankfully, the LG G6 launch was slightly better. That phone was announced at the end of February, with pre-orders happening a couple of weeks later before the phone showed up at all carriers in early April. That's not a great turn-around, but it is an improvement. As of this morning, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint have all confirmed that they plan to carry the V30. However, none of them has given us a price or specific date. All we are left with is a "early Fall" or "Fall" arrival. For those into calendars, the start of Fall is September 22. LG, please get this phone out to the masses in a hurry. It's likely your best phone to date and we'd hate to see this momentum burn off as you take your sweet time. // Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | @marceloclaure

Here Are the Sony Xperia Devices Getting Android Oreo

Tim — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:09:07 +0000

Are you the owner of a Sony Xperia phone? Good, this post will be important for you. Below is the list of each Xperia phone that will receive an update to Android 8.0 "Oreo." Basically, if you don't see your phone listed, it's time to start thinking about an upgrade.

Xperia X
Xperia X Performance
Xperia XZ
Xperia X Compact
Xperia XZ Premium
Xperia XZs
Xperia XA1
Xperia XA1 Ultra
Xperia Touch
Xperia XA1 Plus

Please note, there are two more phones for this list (Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact), but those phones launch with Oreo next month, so there is no update for it. As for when these updates will begin to rollout, Sony only says that it will be a phased process, meaning slowly but surely. Fingers crossed your current Xperia phone is listed above. // Sony

Sony Unveils the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, Will Launch With Android Oreo

Tim — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:59:31 +0000

Sony unveiled the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact at IFA this week, matching up nicely with the leaks that took place last week. Like we've seen from pretty much all past Xperia devices, both are specced quite nicely, but differ very much in size. Both phones feature a Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB RAM, 19-megapixel Exmor camera sensor, and 2,700mAh battery. To make it completely clear, yes, both phones run the same size battery. For sizing, the Xperia Xz1 comes with a 5.2" FHD TRILUMINOS display, while the Compact model features a 4.6" HD TRILUMINOS display. Again, same 2,700mAh battery, though. On an awesome note, both phones will launch with Android Oreo, making these some of the first phones in the world to run Android 8.0 that aren't branded Pixel or Nexus. That's cool. Here's the complete spec breakdown for those curious. Xperia XZ1

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 64-bit
GPU: Adreno 540
Weight: 156g
Sim Card: Nano SIM, Single SIM, Dual SIM
Operating System: Android O
Camera (Main): Motion Eye, 19MP 1/ 2.3” Exmor RS with "Super slow motion" 960fps video capture
Camera (Front): 13MP 1/3.06” Exmor RS, F2.0
Display: 5.2” FHD HDR TRILUMINOS
Design: IP68, Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB Universal Flash Storage, Up to 265GB SD card support
Networks: LTE (4G) Cat16 with up to 1Gbps download speed
Battery: 2700mAh, Quick charging QC3.0
Colors: Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink, Warm Silver, Black
Size: 148 x 73 x 7.4mm

Xperia XZ1 Compact

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 64-bit
GPU: Adreno 540
Weight: 143g
Sim Card: Nano SIM, Single SIM
Operating System: Android O
Camera (Main): Motion Eye, 19MP 1/ 2.3” Exmor RS with "Super slow motion" 960fps video capture
Camera (Front): 18MP 1/4" Exmor RS, F2.4
Display: 4.6” HD TRILUMINOS
Design: IP68, Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Memory: 4GB RAM, 32GB Universal Flash Storage, Up to 265GB SD card support
Networks: LTE (4G) Cat15 with up to 800Mbps download speed
Battery: 2700mAh, Quick charging QC3.0
Colors: White Silver, Black, Horizon Blue, Twilight Pink
Size: 129 x 65 x 9.3mm

As for availability, Sony says both devices will launch globally in September, but for us here in the US, we shouldn't expect to see them gain much traction. If history is any lesson, these phones will come with a hefty price tag and you won't find them inside any carrier store. If this changes, though, we will definitely let you know. Sony fans, how do these sound to you? // Sony

LG V30 is Indeed T-Mobile's First 600MHz LTE-Capable Smartphone

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:05:40 +0000

Leaving no doubt this morning, T-Mobile announced that the LG V30 will be the carrier's first 600MHz LTE-capable smartphone. The phone was announced last night and T-Mobile went ahead and confirmed the news this morning, that LG gets the first look at that shiny new spectrum they spent all that cash on. T-Mobile previously told us to expect LTE Band 71 phones from both Samsung and LG before 2017 wraps, yet Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 doesn't seem to be equipped to take advantage. That leaves LG and the V30 as the first and only smartphone so far, though there is still a chance Samsung could issue something later on. "What will that be and how low-end might it end up?" is probably the question to ask there.

LG V30 + 600MHz = Nerd Network Heaven

So if you are the ultimate T-Mobile customer who wants a futureproof phone that can utilize the full T-Mobile network, you might want to consider the LG V30 as your next smartphone. Not only will it connect to all of T-Mobile's network bands, it's also shaping up to be a hell of a phone. We've spent a lot of time with the device already and have nothing but positive things to say about it. The design and build are as premium as it gets, the dual camera setup could very well be the best we've seen to date, the performance is almost unmatched, and the big 6-inch POLED display is awesome. Without having been able to do proper testing on the V30, I'm already leaning towards this being LG's best phone by a substantial margin. With 600MHz connectivity, the V30 should work better in buildings and find signal in new T-Mobile markets that might not be as heavily tower'd up just yet. All of that should lead to better battery life and a more pleasurable experience. This is a big first step, even if the 600MHz Band 71 LTE spectrum won't go live until later this year for most of us. // T-Mobile

SanDisk Just Made a 400GB MicroSD Card...Nice

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 07:40:16 +0000

Man, look at the image above - it says 400GB! That's a microSD card with 400GB of storage! How nuts is that? It's from SanDisk, of course, and the new card was just announced at IFA. It'll cost $249.99 when it arrives shortly at retailers and will undoubtedly bring you all the storage your little phone could ever need. This SanDisk Ultra 400GB microSD card manages to eclipse the 256GB capacity of SanDisk's most recent high-capacity card without dropping in speed. You still get the A1 App Performance Class specification, so you can store apps and load them fast. You also have 100MB/s transfer speeds, which means moving 1,200 photos per minute. This is a beast card that's the same size as all other microSD cards. Who wants one? If so, you can buy one right now and receive it in a couple of weeks from Amazon.

Amazon Link ($249.99)

// SanDisk

Video: LG V30 First Look and Tour!

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:00:56 +0000

Now that the LG V30 is 100% official and you know details (like the specs), you are probably wondering what this phone is like to use. Well, I've had the chance to play with one for a good bit of time. While I'm not ready to share any of those final thoughts, I can certainly recap the fun in video form, which I've done below. The LG V30 is easily LG's best looking phone to date, thanks to an all-glass body surrounding a metal frame. With its huge 6-inch display and lack of bezel, it's competing hard with Samsung for most immersive viewing experience. On top of that, you've got a Quad DAC for the audio snobs among us, Snapdragon 835 processor that has been fine-tuned with the best of 'em, dual camera setup on the back with LG's awesome wide-angle shooter setup, and IP68 water and dust resistance to keep your phone safe around liquids. So far I'm a fan, but of course, there is much testing to do. Who's excited about the LG V30?

LG V30 Specs (Official)

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:00:50 +0000

The LG V30 is more than a phone with good specs (our first look and tour), thanks to LG's focus on high-end video capture capabilities, the audio experience few manufacturers can match, and a design that rivals the best in the business. But look, we're Android nerds and we still care about things like specs because we often base our purchase decisions off of the little things that manufacturers toss into their best devices. With the LG V30 you've pretty much got it all. While LG did ditch the removable battery this time around, they still knocked it out of the park with the rest of the goods. You've got a 6-inch POLED QHD+ display that takes up almost the entire front of the phone, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage options with SD slots for more, dual camera setup (16MP f/1.6 standard + 13MP f/1,9 wide-angle), 3300mAh non-removable battery, IP68 water and dust resistance, USB Type-C port, wireless charging, fingerprint reader, Quad DAC and headphone jack, and Android 7.1.2 Nougat. See, it's all pretty much there. Anything missing from the V30 that would stop you from considering one?

LG V30 Specs

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LG V30 is Official and Arriving Next Month

Kellen — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:00:10 +0000

The LG V30 is now official! Yessir, IFA 2017 is here and LG kicked things off in a big way by introducing us to the latest in its V-series line of phones. While this is a follow-up to last year's LG V20, it's very much a refined beast that is almost like an upgraded G6, a phone that is only a few months old. So what's new with the LG V30? Well, you've got this beautiful glass and metal design that showcases LG's new 6-inch QHD+ POLED FullVision display. There isn't much bezel here, so even though this phone has a larger than life screen, it won't feel that big in the hand. In terms of size, it sits somewhere between the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Outside of the display, you've got a Snapdragon 835 processor, dual camera setup with 16MP f/1.6 and 13MP wide-angle f/1.9 shooters, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage (also 128GB in a V30+ model), 3300mAh non-removable battery, USB Type-C port, and Android 7.1.2 out of the box. You can see the full list of specs here. Specs aren't all, though. The V30 sports Google Assistant and its own voice recognition software that allows you to wake up the phone with a custom command and utilize exclusive Assistant commands. It has a Quad DAC for those HiFi tunes you desire (with MQA support) and pro video tools as well, like a Cine effect and Point Zooming. It impresses in the durability department too, thanks to IP68 water and dust resistance, along with Gorilla Glass 5 and MIL-STD 810G compliance. We took the LG V30 for a lengthy spin, so be sure to watch that clip. The LG V30 first arrives in South Korea on September 21 and will hit North America and other markets shortly after.

// LG

Nest Thermostat E is Official at Just $169, Available Now

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 23:41:02 +0000

Nest announced its new thermostat this evening, the Nest Thermostat E. This is the Nest Thermostat that leaked in image form a couple of weeks ago and was thought to be the company's less-expensive model. As it turns out, that's exactly what this is. The Nest Thermostat E costs just $169 and has been given a fresh look over the original Nest Thermostat. Like the original, it can be controlled with your smartphone from anywhere and includes the smart features you need, but rather than standing out on your wall, this Thermostat E tries to blend in a bit more through a white body and frosted display. You still get the automatic turn-off when you are away, scheduling (including a pre-set schedule out of the box), support with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, alerts when your heating or cooling systems need attention, and easy installation (for most people). Nest says that this new Thermostat E could save you as much as $131 to $145 per year in energy costs, which basically pays for the unit right away. You can buy it today at the links below. Buy Nest Thermostat E:

Best Buy
Nest

// Nest

DEAL: Samsung's Instant Trade-In Offers for the Galaxy Note 8 are Up to $300 Off

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:08:40 +0000

Ever since the Galaxy Note 8 went up for pre-order, the conversations surrounding its somewhat ridiculous $1,000 price haven't let up. People are (rightfully) struggling to justify spending that kind of coin on a smartphone. Thankfully, Samsung isn't holding back on its launch promos and are handing out massive instant discounts as long as you have a decent older phone to trade-in. I'm talking $300 off upfront and what is so far the best Galaxy Note 8 deal. I point this out because as I was looking for the best Galaxy Note 8 deal to order one for us to keep on hand, Samsung's site is where I went. While most carrier deals involve rebates or prepaid cards that take weeks to arrive, Samsung just hands you discounts right away and then has you send in the trade-in device later to confirm it all. There are no rebatecenter pages or VISA gift cards or any of that obnoxious garbage others want you to do. The process works like this:

Head to Samsung's site to pick out the Galaxy Note 8 model you want.
Choose a carrier model or the unlocked version and then the color.
You'll then find a trade-in device page that lists out acceptable devices.
Click on the device grouping for the device you have.
Next up, choose from the $190+ freebies Samsung is currently offering.
Decide on whether or not you want their Premium Care.
Decide on discounted accessories like Dex.
Then begin the checkout process for your pre-order.
You should see the instant discount in cart for your trade-in.

Now, this current trade-in promo is so good because the list of phones Samsung is taking is pretty lengthy. For example, I will trade in a working LG G4, a phone that is a couple of years old and not exactly worth much these days, yet Samsung is willing to give me $300 for it. Or you could trade-in a Galaxy S5 (3 year old phone!) for $200 off, a Galaxy Note 5 for $300 off, etc. The full list can be seen below.

Of course, the phones need to be in working condition (power on and hold charge, normal wear & tear, functioning non-cracked display, not blacklisted, and no factory reset locks). Assuming you have one on hand that meets those requirements, how can you not consider jumping at this? And for those wondering, I used their instant trade-in offer for a Galaxy S8+ not long ago and the process was as smooth as you could hope. I think I was able to grab one for just over $400. With that said, as good as this deal is, T-Mobile is about to launch a BOGO deal too, though that'll most definitely involve a prepaid gift card. There are bound to be others too. Anyways, if you have not yet pre-ordered and were looking around for the best deal, Samsung's own site currently has the best one.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Pre-order Link

This BLU Vivo 8 Costs $199 for a Limited Time and Looks Pretty Nice

Tim — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 15:37:54 +0000

BLU is back with another new phone this week, the Vivo 8. On paper, this device sounds pretty slick, and with its accompanying $299 price tag ($199 for this weekend only), this could be a solid little package for those not looking to drop a crazy amount of cash on a new Android phone. To highlight a few of its specs, you'll find a 5.5" curved FHD display with Gorilla Glass 3, a MediaTek Helio P10 octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, a Sony-made IMX 258 13MP rear-facing camera, a massive 4,010mAh battery, and Android "Nougat" with a mild BLU skin running on top. There's no water resistance or iris scanning, but at sub-$300, deal with it. Here's the full rundown of specifications. Specs

5.5-inch curved Full HD display
MediaTek Helio P10 processor
4GB RAM
64GB storage
13MP Sony IMX 258 rear-facing camera
16MP Super Selfie w/ LED Flash front-facing camera
MicroSD support
Fingerprint reader
4,010mAh battery
LTE connectivity (GSM unlocked)
Android 7.0+

The only downside to this device from what I can immediately tell is that it lacks USB Type-C. Why does it lack such a standard feature for 2017 Android phones? I have no idea, but it's definitely odd. Thankfully, it does have a 3.5mm headphone jack or else that would be incredibly awkward. According to BLU, for this weekend only (Aug. 31 - Sept. 1), you can grab this phone for $100 off its usual MSRP ($299), bringing the total down to $199. For that price, with these specs, that seems like a fine deal.

BLU Products is offering a limited time promotion of the new VIVO 8 for 48 hours with an immediate $100 off its $299.99 MSRP which will be available on Amazon.com, starting August 31^st ending September 1^st 11:59pm EST.

Follow the link below if you're interested. Amazon Link // BLU

T-Mobile to Launch BOGO Deal for Galaxy Note 8 on September 1, According to Leaked Doc

Tim — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:20:50 +0000

If you were planning on picking up a Galaxy Note 8 through T-Mobile, stop what you're doing and read this first. According to leaked documents that were shared with TmoNews, a reputable source for all things T-Mobile, the carrier will soon host a BOGO deal for buyers of the Galaxy Note 8. Considering this is one of the most expensive Android devices ever launched, a BOGO deal is a very good thing. As reported, the BOGO offer will be available to those on a T-Mobile One or Simple Choice Unlimited plan, beginning September 1. In order to take advantage, the first Note 8 will need to be purchased via an EIP, with a second line added and second Note 8 purchased. Following your purchase, you'll need to head to T-Mobile's dedicated promotions website, enter in a code, then you'll receive a prepaid MasterCard to cover the price of the second Galaxy Note 8. While it may sound confusing, don't worry, it's pretty simple and this is a standard way T-Mobile offers its BOGO deals. Now, many of you might be saying, "Hey, what if I preordered, do I get screwed?" No, sir, you do not. According to the document, this deal will be made retroactive to those who preordered the device. Score! Once all of the specifics have been made official, we'll let you know.

Pre-order T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8

// TmoNews

Watch the LG V30 Unveiling Event Right Here Tonight!

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:40:23 +0000

The LG V30 will be unveiled tonight during a press conference in Berlin at IFA. The event kicks off at 12:00AM (Midnight) Pacific or 3:00AM Eastern. We've seen a lot about the V30 already, including a number of confirmed items from LG. For example, LG already told us that the phone will feature a Quad DAC, new UX 6.0+ software with floating toolbar, f/1.6 dual camera setup with a Crystal Clear lens, and a big ol' 6-inch POLED QHD FullVision display. We've also seen the device in use through promo videos that slipped by LG's buddy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. We know a lot about the V30 and have already weighed in on its fancy new design. Tonight, we'll learn the rest (we hope), like when it'll ship, how much it'll cost, and if there are any other surprises in store.

Territory Battles Go Live in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes Today

Tim — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 11:00:56 +0000

Today is a big day for Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes players, with EA set to launch the new Territory Battles feature. If you play SWGOH, the introduction of this shouldn't come as a surprise, since the developers have been hyping this for some time now. Regardless, it's a major addition to the game, where you and your guildmates will use the entirety of your character and ship lineup to destroy enemies and gain awesome rewards. Speaking of rewards, let's highlight those goodies first. Should you and your guild have the right amount of power to embark on such an objective, players can be rewarded with shards for three new characters: Rebel Officer Leia Organa, Hermit Yoda, and Captain Han Solo. If you thought rebel squads couldn't get any stronger in this game, you thought wrong. To break down Territory Battles, you can sum it up with three distinct types of missions. There are combat missions, platoon missions, and special missions. Combat missions are the same as your standard holotable battles where you take your squad and attempt to beat waves of opponents that get stronger as the waves go on. For platoon missions, you dedicate characters to slots to fill the allotment of each platoon. During this, you can unlock abilities and buffs to be used for later battles. The last part is special missions. For new or improving players, this is where things get rough or essentially inaccessible. In here, you'll need specific characters in order to participate in a battle. However, if you meet the requirements and complete the mission, you'll get some of those special character shards. Here's a full breakdown provided by the developers. What's New

Combat Missions - Players will create a squad of their choosing and battle through multiple waves of enemies.
Platoon Missions - Players can utilize their expanded collection by dedicating characters to certain slots to fill the allotment of each platoon. In addition to earning Territory Points, players can unlock abilities or buffs to be used in subsequent territories by filling enough platoons.
Special Missions - Similar to Combat Missions, Special Missions require specific characters in order to participate. Completing special missions will grant rare and unique rewards.

You'll find access to all of this starting today inside of your guild, so be sure to log in and take part in the craziness. Play Link

Samsung Introduces New Fitness Products: Gear Sport Watch, Gear Fit2 Pro, and Icon X Buds

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 10:11:50 +0000

Samsung kicked off IFA this morning by announcing a new range of fitness wearable devices, including a new Gear smartwatch, Gear Fit2 band, and updated Icon X earbuds. All products are nice upgrades over previous generations, so let's dive into what's new.

Gear Sport

The headliner of the bunch of obviously the new Samsung Gear Sport, the company's latest smartwatch with fitness features. It has 5 ATM water resistance with swim tracking, improved heart-rate monitoring, auto activity detection, and support with a bunch of fitness apps, like UA Record, MyFitnessPal, MapMyRun, and Endomondo. For specs, the watch features a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display (360x360, 302ppi), 20mm strap width, dual core processor, 4GB storage, 768MB RAM, NFC for mobile payments over Samsung Pay, and a 300mAh battery that should last up to 4 days on a single charge. The Gear Sport will arrive in black or blue models (pictured above). Samsung didn't give pricing or availability.

Gear Fit2 Pro

The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is the newest fitness band that improves on the original Gear Fit2, a wearable I actually found to be one of the better options, especially at its reasonable price. With this new Fit2 Pro, you've got 5 ATM water resistance with swim tracking, along with built-in GPS, 1.5-inch curved Super AMOLED display, dual core processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, 200mAh battery, and small or large sizes to fit anyone's wrist. The new Gear Fit2 Pro heads for pre-orders tomorrow, August 31, and arrives in stores on September 15. You'll find it for $199.99 at places like Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Samsung's own shop.

Gear Icon X

Finally, the new Gear Icon X earbuds feature an updated design that should be more ergonomic on the ears, plus you still get the automatic tracking of running activities. Battery life should also be improved and now reach up to 5 hours of streaming or up to 6 hours of standalone music playing. The new Gear Icon X provide 4GB of storage. Samsung, like with the Gear Sport, didn't mention pricing or availability.

Samsung Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro Specs

[table id=83 responsive=scroll /] // Samsung

Alexa and Cortana Will Soon Talk to Each Other

Tim — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 10:10:13 +0000

Announced today, but arriving later this year, Amazon's Alexa and Microsoft's Cortana will be able to talk to each other, allowing for users to get more done. Once this functionality rolls out, you'll be able to say to Echo, "Alexa, open Cortana" to turn on your Windows 10 device. Along the same lines, you can say "Cortana, open Alexa." According to the release, Alexa users will be able to access unique Cortana features such as booking a meeting, accessing work calendars, or reading out work emails. For Cortana users, they can use Alexa's features, too, such as controlling smart home devices, shop on Amazon, and even more from Alexa's massive library of skills. We don't have a specific date for when this functionality will go live, but we'll let you know as soon as it's available. // Amazon

Google Assistant is Ready to Power New Speakers, Appliances This Year

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 08:50:04 +0000

The Google Assistant is ready to take the next step towards home tech saturation. Google announced today that by the end of the year, we'll start seeing Google Assistant baked into new smart speakers and appliances, and we're not talking about those made by Google. Instead, Google Assistant is coming to third party products to help quickly expand its reach and allow it to take shape in many form factors. We'll see speaker products from companies like Anker, Mobvoi, and Panasonic. We don't yet have pricing on any, but you can see the TicHome Mini from Mobvoi above. It's a portable Assistant-powered speaker that looks a lot like a small Amazon Echo Dot, only there is no Alexa on board. It's wireless, so you won't need to leave it plugged into a wall, is IPX6 rated for water resistance, comes in a variety of colors, and is being billed as a little audio beast. If this sounds like a product you'd be interested in, you can sign-up for news on the TicHome Mini and receive 30% off when it launches. The Panasonic speaker is labeled as the GA10 and can be seen below. This is not a portable speaker as far as I know, but is supposed to produce sound in the Hi-Fi arena, while sporting "high-class" design in either white or black. It'll arrive in early 2018. More info here.

There will likely be many more than those speakers too, Google and its partners just haven't announced them yet. With these speakers, you'll be able to interact with them just like you would a Google Home. That means wake-up commands ("OK, Google") followed by instructions to get info about your day, the weather, play music, set alarms, dim lights, and control other aspects of your smart home. Outside of speakers, the Google Assistant will arrive in appliances from companies like LG later this year too. With the Assistant on board, you'll be able to tell the assistant to start vacuuming or washing a load of clothes. You could even ask the Assistant if your clothes are clean or if the laundry is done. Big things happening! // Google | LG

DEAL: Buy a Moto Z2 Play, Get a Free JBL SoundBoost 2 Moto Mod

Tim — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 08:48:34 +0000

For the next week, you can grab a Moto Z2 Play (unlocked or Verizon-branded) through Motorola's website, then get a JBL SoundBoost 2 Moto Mod for free. In total, the Z2 Play will cost you $499 for an unlocked model (64GB) or $409 for the Verizon unit (32GB). For a device that we think is pretty sweet, coupled with a free $80 Moto Mod tossed in, that's not too shabby. To claim this, you'll need to add both the Z2 Play and JBL Moto Mod to your cart, which will then automatically show you the savings. This isn't a coupon or rebate-type deal. Both items should ship together, so you'll be enjoying your boosted tunes on your new phone in a timely manner. Check out our review below if this phone interests you. Motorola Link

Android 8.0 Factory Images and OTA Files are Ready for Nexus and Pixel

Kellen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 07:55:44 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, only a few hours after Verizon told us to expect the Android 8.0 "Oreo" update to reach its Pixel and Pixel XL phones, Google posted factory image and OTA .zip files to the standard factory image page we've all utilized for the past handful of years. Previously, Google only posted Oreo factory images to the Oreo developer page and also only pushed the update to Android Beta users. With this move, we've now got proper build numbers depending on phone or carrier variant. As of this morning, we're seeing Android 8.0.0 builds for the Pixel and Pixel XL (OPR6.170623.011, OPR6.170623.012), Pixel C (OPR6.170623.010), Nexus 6P (OPR6.170623.013), and Nexus 5X (OPR6.170623.013). We do not yet have files at this location for the Nexus Player. Google says that build OPR6.170623.011 for the Pixel and Pixel XL is for Bell, Telus, Telstra, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, and Rogers/Fido, while OPR6.170623.012 is for everyone else. For the Nexus 6P, Google says that build OPR6.170623.013 is not for T-Mobile, US Cellular, or Project Fi, but doesn't list another compatible file. The Nexus 5X and Pixel C builds have no restrictions. As new builds arrive, we'll update this post. You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. Links:

DEAL: This Amazon Alexa-Equipped Smart Speaker is Just $29.70 Today

Kellen — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:40:06 +0000

We haven't seen many to date, though you should expect Amazon's Alexa to be built into a whole bunch of speakers here in the near future. Amazon wants you to be able to control things, yeah, but the end goal is for you to have access to Amazon with your voice no matter which electronics maker you prefer. Enter companies like Eufy (they are a part of Anker) and their Genie smart speaker that are powered by Alexa. That's right, the Eufy Genie has Alexa built-in and isn't made by Amazon. Today, you can grab the Eufy Genie for just $29.70 as a part of Amazon's daily deals. The unit is supposed to retail for around $60, so that's a pretty decent discount. It's also much cheaper than an Amazon Echo Dot ($50 a pop for those) and features a very similar set of tech. You can fire up Eufy Genie with the "Alexa" keyword, control smart home products, play music, pair the Amazon Alexa app and its thousands of skills, and even utilize Alexa's newly-gained messaging and calling feature. Additionally, if you buy a Eufy Genie, Amazon will hand you three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited.

Amazon Link

Misfit Vapor Launch Delayed, Now Set for October

Tim — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:36:56 +0000

It seems that every few days, someone on social media will hit me up and ask about the Misfit Vapor, as if I have some crystal ball that grants me superhuman clairvoyance. Sadly, I do not hold such powers. Thankfully, Misfit is filling folks in on the latest Vapor developments this week, and probably to the surprise of no one, the Android Wear-powered smartwatch has been delayed for reasons unreported. Reported by The Verge, Misfit is pushing the launch of Vapor back to October, which isn't end times when you consider it was originally scheduled for the end of summer. The watch was first showcased at this year's CES in January, but at that time, we didn't even know it ran Android Wear. I've heard many say that Vapor is nothing but vaporware, but still, I am confident that Misfit will see this project through and have a product for us to buy by year's end. Misfit, a reputable company with an established product lineup, has nothing to gain from teasing a smartwatch they don't intend on releasing. This isn't Saygus we're talking about. We'll keep you posted as we learn more. Stay patient and optimistic, Vapor fans. // The Verge

Sonos is Ready to Announce Its First Smart Speaker

Kellen — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:26:56 +0000

Sonos, the Hi-Fi connected speaker company that pioneered the multi-room audio experience, is about to announce its first smart speaker. After having sat mostly idle without a major new product (it's hard to count a speaker that sits under a TV as major, in my opinion) for the past few years and watched as other companies copied their whole-home audio idea at cheaper price points while including more smarts than Sonos had, we have been waiting for the next major release. It's looking now like October 4 will be that day. According to invites being sent out to tech outlets who cover smart speakers (that's not exactly us), the company has major plans for early October in New York City. All watchers of this industry are expecting this next Sonos speaker to not only support Alexa or Google Assistant type smartness, but feature microphones that allow you to talk directly to it. In fact, a new FCC filing for a new Sonos product reveals on-device controls including a microphone button. That should give you the power to either tap and say, "Hey, Sonos" and control things, or maybe this could mean it'll pick up other commands from other assistants, like Google or Amazon. It's all a bit of a mystery, but it's definitely looking like Sonos is transforming from a WiFi connected whole-home audio company into one that has embraced voice-controlled smarts.

As an owner of many Sonos products, this is awesome news. With that said, I'd be much happier if Sonos had enough vision to include microphones in their old units, so that a software update might bring us into this new voice-controlled future as well. Either way, we'll be watching on October 4. // The Verge | Zatz Not Funny!

Finding a Place to Park Sucks, But Google Maps is Making It Better With New "Find Parking" Feature

Tim — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:37:58 +0000

When you're headed to a busy destination, parking can sometimes be a nightmare. Back in January of this year, Google Maps introduced the parking difficulty indicator for select areas, which has been highly beneficial. Today, Google Maps announced a Find Parking feature, which helps you locate parking in congested areas, then provides navigation by foot to your final destination. When you plug a destination into Google Maps, the app will showcase your probability of finding a spot to park. If parking isn't looking too hot, you can select "Find Parking." Google will then highlight a few places it recommends, then you're on your way. At the time of arrival and once your vehicle is parked, Google Maps will then navigate you should you need it. As Google details, "In 25 US cities, people can tap 'find parking' on the directions card to see a list of parking garages and lots near their destination. Once they tap their selected option, it’s automatically added to their trip. And they’ll even get walking directions from their parking spot to their final destination." If you live in a big city, this feature is sure to be clutch. Play Link // Google

Unlimited Plan Comparison: Verizon vs. AT&T vs. T-Mobile vs. Sprint (August Update)

Kellen — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 11:44:12 +0000

Verizon's new unlimited data plans that were introduced last week have replaced the unlimited offering from February that brought Big Red back into the unlimited game and that we thought was a pretty solid deal in this ultra-sneaky US wireless industry. The new plans are OK, but certainly not as good as that original option since they include throttled video and slightly increased prices that all but confirm Verizon's network might not be ready for a world filled with 4K video on-demand. So because Verizon brought us new plans, it's now time to update our US wireless unlimited data plan comparison. The last time we did this was in February just after Verizon brought back unlimited data. Since that day, AT&T has adjusted things, as has T-Mobile and a number of you have requested some clarity on when things are throttled, how much they are throttled, and what other kinds of perks might be involved.

Unlimited Data Plans Comparison

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Whose Unlimited Data Plans Changed?

So what has changed since then? It's pretty straight-forward really. Verizon ditched their Verizon Unlimited plan that only lived for about six months and created two new plans: Go Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited. Go is $5 cheaper than the original, while Beyond is $5 more expensive, at least in terms of a single line charge. The multi-line prices mostly match for Go and the old plan, but the Beyond plan is certainly more expensive on almost all levels. Go subscribers could see throttling at any time when in a congested area, plus they only get 480p video (DVD-quality), and hotspot at 600kbps. With Beyond, it's close to the original unlimited plan, but streams are capped at 720p while hotspot has actually jumped to 15GB from 10GB. For AT&T, their Choice and Plus plans haven't changed much at all, but they are doing bundles now with DirecTV NOW, where you can add-on TV service for next to nothing. If anything, should you want DirecTV NOW and AT&T unlimited, you can walk away with a pretty solid deal. T-Mobile hasn't changed much either, but their Plus pricing has gone down and back up again, now sitting at $10 per month as an add-on. They also upped the per line data limit before they throttle to 32GB (was previously 30GB). They still remain the highest in that department. Sprint hasn't changed a thing from what I can tell, but does still offer up to 1080p video, something Verizon doesn't do on either plan anymore.

Which of the Unlimited Data Plans Should You Choose?

Isn't that the question we all want the answer to? That's a tough call. I think our readers have now mostly split between Verizon and T-Mobile, which says something because Verizon used to dominate this space. That shift is in large part because T-Mobile's network continues to grow, stabilize, and increase its performance output. Verizon may still have the bigger blanket and offer that stability in rural areas, but T-Mobile is trying to get there in a hurry. Meanwhile, Sprint and AT&T don't seem to be making the same kinds of investments in expansion like those two and have fallen behind around here. I bring all of that up because as the US wireless carrier competition battles over price, it all really comes down to network and whether or not your daily life will be covered adequately. In the end, it's up to you to do that bit of testing from each to see if T-Mobile or Sprint or Verizon or AT&T's networks will get the job done.

Sign-up for unlimited service:

Verizon Updating Galaxy S8, S8+, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, and Note 5

Tim — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:51:05 +0000

Updates are rolling out for multiple Samsung Galaxy devices on Verizon. Specifically, updates are available for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy Note 5. For the most part, these updates are for the August, 2017 security patch and not much else. However, for the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Verizon lists enhancements for face recognition, alarm notifications for the Always-On Display, and other fixes. The new software versions are as follows:

Galaxy S8: G950USQU1AQGL
Galaxy S8+: G955USQU1AQGL
Galaxy S6: G920VVRS4DQH1
Galaxy S6 Edge: G925VVRS4DQH1
Galaxy S6 Edge+: G928VVRS3CQH1
Galaxy Note 5: N920VVRS3CQE1

If you own one of these devices, go download and install. // Verizon [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Verizon Says Its Pixel and Pixel XL Units are Getting Android 8.0 Oreo Update Today

Kellen — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:00:28 +0000

Android 8.0 "Oreo" may have gone stable last week for Pixel and Nexus devices, but it sure seems like only those enrolled in the Android Beta program actually received a notice to update to it. That could change here today, according to Verizon. Big Red's software support pages for the Pixel and Pixel XL are telling us that each should see the update to Oreo and it's the almost the same build that began rolling out to beta users last week. Build OPR6.170623.012 is listed on both pages (last week was OPR6.170623.013), along with a list of the big Oreo changes like picture-in-picture mode, notification changes, notification badges and channels, tweaked always-on display, system-level autofill, etc. To find out more about Android 8.0's changes, hit up this post. To check for the update on your Verizon Pixel or Pixel XL, head into Settings>About phone>System updates>Check for update. Let us know if you see it! // Verizon [2]

Are You a Student? OnePlus Offering 10% Off Orders to Students

Tim — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:51:57 +0000

For those here who can confirm they are currently enrolled students, OnePlus is offering 10% off orders through its website, which includes purchases of a OnePlus 5. So long as you can confirm your enrollment via Student Beans (a site that showcases many promos available to student shoppers), OnePlus will give you 10% off a OnePlus 5. At $539 for the 128GB model, then 10% off, your total is brought down to about $486. If you opt for the $479 model, your total will be around $432. If this interests you, and you're a student, have at it! OnePlus Link

YouTube Makes Major UI Changes for Desktop and Mobile Official

Tim — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 08:41:48 +0000

For us who run this Android blog and for those that read it, the following news may not surprise you. In fact, it shouldn't, so long as you kept up on the stories we've been writing for the past few months. This morning, YouTube made many UI changes official for desktop and mobile users, including the usage of Material Design, the Dark Theme, and proper scaling for easily viewing videos shot in portrait. Let's talk mobile first. As you may have noticed, the navigation bar has been moved to the bottom, allowing for videos to take centerstage when you open up the app and its proximity to your thumbs. Library and Account tabs have also been added to this bar. While inside of the video, YouTube has created gestures, such as double taps to fast forward and rewind. These gestures are now available for everyone, along with the ability to select the speed of playback (o.5x, 2.0x, etc.). As YouTube details in its blog post, "We've also been experimenting with new ways to display all videos in the best possible way. Soon, the YouTube player will seamlessly change shape to match the video format you’re watching, such as vertical, square or horizontal. That means you’ll always get the best viewing experience automatically – including vertical videos with no black bars on the sides!" Personal note to anyone here who is still shooting video in portrait: Please, stop! YouTube posted this GIF, showing the changes over the years. For folks on desktop, the biggest change is the introduction of the Dark Theme. For the savvy among us, this has been available for months, but now no hacking inside of the dev console is required to enable it. Simply hit your profile picture in the top right, then select "Dark Theme." Mmm, so hot. Last, but certainly not least, YouTube has a new logo. The "Tube" has been taken out of its red squircle, with the "Play Button" YouTube logo being moved in front of the name, providing a bit more flexibility for those on smaller displays. "When room is limited (say on a smartphone) you can use the brightened up Icon as an abbreviated Logo, which will be seen more easily and read more clearly," YouTube explains. Now go forth and consume all the cat videos! // YouTube

Amazon Echo Devices Gain Multi-Room Audio Functionality

Kellen — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 07:25:52 +0000

Should you happen to own multiple Amazon Echo products (Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show), you can now sync streams of music to all or some of them at the same time, thanks to the introduction of multi-room audio. That means playing the same tunes in your kitchen and bedroom or throughout your entire house with a simple voice command. To get started, you'll need to have the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and be signed-in to it. From within the Alexa app, head into Settings and scroll until you find the "Audio Groups" section. Tap through that to create a new group of Echo devices that you'll want to stream to simultaneously. And be sure to name the group something easy to remember (like "upstairs"), since you'll use the group name to initiate a streaming session. Now that your group is setup, all you have to say is, "Alexa, play Gangstarr on upstairs," and all group Echo members will fire up your favorite Gangstarr tracks. For now, multi-room playback works with Amazon Music, Tunein, iHeartRadio, and Pandora. Amazon says that Spotify and SiriusXM support is "coming soon." On a related note, Amazon announced that it has released new tools to help developers bring multi-room music controls to their own speakers. That likely means that we'll not only see new offerings from companies like Sonos, but smaller, more-affordable outfits too. Either way, Alexa music controls are expanding and you may not need an Echo to take advantage for long. // Amazon

DEAL: Save $10 on a Chromecast Ultra, Down to $59

Tim — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:48:55 +0000

Taking place all over the web, buyers can pick up a Chromecast Ultra for $10 off, bringing the price of the 4K-capable streaming dongle to just $59. Currently, you can find this $10 off deal happening through the Google Store, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Newegg, and Verizon. Don't look for it on Amazon, though, since they aren't big fans of Chromecast devices. Find links to your preferred retailer below. Purchase Links

And seriously, if you have a 4K television and aren't already rocking a Chromecast Ultra, get on it.

Picture-in-Picture Working in Google Maps for Android Oreo Users

Tim — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:13:04 +0000

Inside of version 9.60 for Google Maps, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) support appears to be live for folks running Android 8.0. From what we can tell, the best usage of PiP for Google Maps is when you're already navigating to a destination. Once you're on your way, you should be able to tap on the Home button, which then brings your navigation into a movable window on the home screen. It's not the most useful thing ever, but if you need to multitask something, it's an option. On my Pixel, I couldn't get the feature to work, even though PiP is enabled via my Settings. After looking through Google's forums, I don't seem to be the only one having PiP issues. Provided Oreo is new and PiP is still being worked on, we should all remain patient while developers work on bugs. Anyway, if you're running Oreo on your Nexus or Pixel device and want to test it out, go grab the update via Google Play. Play Link // Android Police

Samsung Teasing August 30 IFA Event, New Wearable Inbound

Tim — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 12:05:57 +0000

Last week, we learned that Samsung was readying a new Gear-branded wearable to launch at this year's IFA. We're pretty sure it's the Gear Fit2 Pro. Well, Samsung went on Twitter this morning and confirmed that a new wearable is indeed coming at IFA and is marketing a new slogan, "Your New Normal." Samsung states, "The invite-only event will showcase products designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life and streamline more facets of our evolving, increasingly connected lifestyles." From the reports we've already seen, the Gear Fit2 Pro could feature 5 ATM support (5 atmospheres) for swimming and offline Spotify playback. The livestream will happen at 6PM (CET) on August 30, which is 10AM PT (1PM ET). We'll share all of the news once it drops! https://twitter.com/SamsungMobile/status/902239355472941056

Verizon Informs Unlimited Customers of New "Upgraded" Plan, Forgets to Mention Video Throttling

Kellen — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:19:03 +0000

Over the weekend, Verizon sent out emails to customers on their now-retired Verizon Unlimited plan that was first introduced back in February, informing them of incoming changes that are a result of Verizon's new Beyond and Go Unlimited offerings. The emails talk a lot about Verizon Up, for some reason, but also the fact that customers are getting a new bonus, specifically more hotspot data. You know what isn't mentioned? The change no one asked for, the one where Verizon throttles all of your video to 720p at all times while on their network. Nope, not mentioned one time even as the emails are pretty excited about the "new upgraded unlimited plan" you'll now have. Here is that email (emphasis theirs):

Dear customer, Thanks for being an Unlimited customer. To show our appreciation, we’d like to tell you about two ways we’re making your plan even better. First, we are introducing a different kind of rewards program called Verizon Up. How is it different? It’s super simple and gives you rewards you’ll actually want. The way it should be. Verizon Up offers rewards that range from everyday treats like music subscriptions to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like VIP passes to exclusive concerts and sporting events. To enroll, just download the My Verizon app. Second, as part of our new Unlimited plan choices, we are introducing Beyond Unlimited. This plan has all the benefits of your current plan, plus an increase to 15GB of Hotspot usage at 4G LTE speeds. So you can do even more with your unlimited data across all your devices. And because you’ve been with us from the beginning, we’re upgrading your plan to include the additional Beyond Unlimited plan benefits at no additional cost. We’ve already updated your plan; there’s nothing you need to do! So, enjoy your new upgraded unlimited plan and Verizon Up rewards on the network that just keeps getting better. RootMetrics, the largest independent study, just ranked Verizon the nation’s #1 network. Now 8 times in a row. Because there’s no such thing as “good enough” in our vocabulary. Thanks again for the opportunity to serve you. Sincerely, Ronan Dunne President, Verizon Wireless

And look, an extra 5GB of 4G LTE hotspot data is a nice add-on. I'm sure someone out there in Nebraska will find Verizon Up useful at some point too. But if we're sending out hype emails over changes you just have to accept, we should probably cover all of the changes that are coming. Only being able to ever see 720p video while on Verizon's network through your QHD or 1080p phone screen is not an insignificant change. It's actually a pretty big one. On Verizon's FAQ for the February-old Verizon Unlimited plan, there are two changes they note, one having to do with the extra hotspot data and the other involving the newly throttled 720p video streams. But only one made that email to customers?

On top of the great features you already enjoy with the new Verizon Plan Unlimited, we've added some more at no extra cost. More features. Same bill. All on America's best 4G LTE network. Here's what's changed:

More 4G LTE data for Mobile Hotspot and Jetpacks: You now have an allowance of 15 GB (previously 10 GB) of 4G LTE data before it's reduced to speeds up to 600 Kpbs.

Unlimited HD video:

720p for smartphones

1080p for tablets

Stay transparent, Verizon. Cheers Brian, Saul, Billy, Kasey, and Joseph!

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 48

Tim — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 10:27:02 +0000

If you're a fan of Android news, and I assume you are since you're reading this, you'll know that right now is an extremely busy time in the Android world. We've got the Essential Phone shipping out (finally!), Galaxy Note 8 up for pre-order, Android Oreo officially rolling out, LG V30 coming soon, and the 2nd-Gen Pixel devices are on the way as well. It's going to be a crazy second half of 2017, to say the least. With all of this new-new coming, we understand if you have questions, and the DL Q&A Sessions are the best time to get those questions answered. You can ask us about Android 8.0, maybe get a recommendation on which phone you should pick up, or even about the upcoming NFL season. Everything is fair game, so have some fun! We'll take as many questions as possible at the end of this week, then have our answers up in a separate post. Ask away!

Fitbit Ionic With NFC and Swim Tracking Announced, Priced at $299

Tim — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 09:47:35 +0000

Fitbit has a new wearable almost ready to roll out to the fitness crowd, the Fitbit Ionic. With worldwide availability kicking off next month, the Ionic is up for pre-order on Fitbit's website today for $299 and all other retailers starting tomorrow. In terms of features, the Ionic packs a ton of stuff in to make it a very intriguing wearable device. The Ionic comes with GPS/GLONASS support, PurePulse heart rate monitoring, a swim exercise mode with water resistance up to 50 meters, SpO2 sensor for estimating blood oxygen levels, enough storage for up to 300+ and Pandora playlists, 4-day battery life, and even NFC that will allow you to make payments at select retailers with Fitbit Pay. If this mobile payments aspect excites you, note that Fitbit states, "Over the coming months you will be able to add eligible American Express cards, as well as Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards from top issuing banks in over 10 markets across the globe, including ANZ, Banco Santander, Bank of America, Capital One, HSBC, KBC Bank Ireland, OCBC Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, UOB and US Bank with more countries and banks planned soon." So, just like Samsung Pay and Android Pay, your bank needs to add support, which could take time if you're a member of a smaller bank. Here's the general overview of the Ionic, provided by Verizon.

Dynamic, on-device workouts that adapt based on your feedback
Built-in GPS lets you see pace, distance and other key stats on display, while also recording elevation climbed, split times & a map of your route
Take your favorite songs anywhere by downloading your personal Pandora stations or popular curated ones directly to Fitbit Ionic
Built-in NFC chip lets you make payments on the go, right from your wrist. Pay for water or a healthy snack while on mid run outside
Smart notifications you need the most like call, text and alerts, as well as notifications from apps on your smartphone
Fitbit App Gallery with Fitbit and partner apps let you customize Ionic to reflect your needs and style

Fitbit is not messing around with availability of the Ionic, with exception to US mobile carriers. Even though the Ionic has no LTE radios, the exclusive wireless carrier of the Ionic will be Verizon. If you don't want to order through Verizon, you can find the device at Best Buy, Target, Dick's, Amazon, Kohl's, Macy's, and REI. Fitbit Link // Verizon | Fitbit

LG V30 has a Hi-Fi Quad DAC That's More Customizable

Kellen — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 08:42:21 +0000

LG's V series of phones has always been about the extra things and stuff that LG hopes will not only grab the attention of everyday smartphone users, but those who want a more advanced experience too. We're talking about steel frames and dual selfie cameras, or removable batteries (RIP) and high-end audio experiences. With the upcoming LG V30, LG is once again bringing back some of those ideas, most notably with the phone's new Hi-Fi Quad DAC. Yep, the Quad DAC is back! LG has teamed up with ESS Technology to deliver a SABRE ES9218P in the V30. This is a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC like we saw in the V20 only now LG is offering up a "more customizable" set of options. That means digital filters and sound presets, so that you can fully tune the sound experience to your taste or let LG help you find the sweet spot without any effort. This Quad DAC also lets you separately control left and right audio signals, has dropped the distortion rate of sound down to 0.0002%, and supports MQA streaming, which LG describes as the "next big trend in mobile music," because MQA delivers high-res audio without the hefty file size. Additionally, LG will include B&O PLAY earphones in the box with the V30. In the past, that has only happened in international markets, rather than in the US, though we're hopeful that'll change this time around. LG didn't mention specific regions in their press release, but did say "global" at least once. The LG V30 will be announced later this week!

// LG

Essential Phones Start Shipping (Finally), but the Phone Still Isn't Certified With Verizon

Kellen — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 07:23:37 +0000

On Friday, after missing another self-imposed deadline, the Essential Phone started shipping to those who pre-ordered. With 2-3 day shipping, it should arrive pretty quickly, though there is an issue if you planned to use the phone on Verizon. According to shipping emails, the Essential Phone is "ready to operate on Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T," but certification with Verizon's network "is not yet complete." Essential says that it should happen soon, but again, this is the company who first said to expect a phone within 30 days, missed that mark by 2 months, then told us our pre-orders would ship within 7 days and couldn't hit that mark either. Timelines aren't exactly a specialty at Essential. What does that mean? It may not mean a whole lot. The phone is equipped with all of the necessary goods to work on Verizon's network. If it's not certified, we could just see a situation where Verizon won't have the phone in systems and will give you a tough time should you walk in with the Essential Phone and try to sign-up for new service. But if you already have service with Big Red, simply slapping your active SIM card in the phone may work just fine. Essential is letting you sign-up to be notified about Verizon certification in case this is something that's worrying you. You can sign-up here. We'll let you know if this situation changes. Feel free to let us know if those pre-orders start arriving!

Weekly Recap: Galaxy Note 8 and Android Oreo Madness

Tim — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:42:26 +0000

As expected, this week was cray. Kellen went off to NYC to go hands-on with the Note 8 and Essential Phone, while I stuck around the DL offices and wrote it all up. It was fun, but now it's time for a relaxing weekend. On top of the Galaxy Note 8 announcement, we learned HTC is considering the sale of its Vive VR business, Google launched Android Oreo(!), we learned the new Pixels may come on October 5, and so much more. Here's everything you don't want to miss!

Have a fun and safe weekend, friends!

DEAL: Grab a Moto G5 Plus 64GB for $249, That's $50 Off

Tim — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:10:11 +0000

The Moto G5 Plus is one of our favorite unlocked and affordable devices, capable of running smoothly on all of the major US carriers, including Verizon. If you're in need of a phone that fits this description, you can grab one through Amazon and Newegg for just $249, down from its usual price of $299. Amazon has the Moto G5 Plus with 64GB storage and 4GB RAM for $249.99, which is a $50 discount. That's just $20 more than the ad-filled Amazon version. Newegg has the same 64GB/4GB model at $249.99 as well. If you need to know more about the Moto G5 Plus, be sure to read our review.

Moto G5 Plus Links:

Amazon: Moto G5 Plus 64GB / 4GB ($249.99)
Newegg: Moto G5 Plus 64GB / 4GB ($249.99)

Please, Describe Your Dream Android Phone

Tim — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:28:28 +0000

I have to admit, I feel as if I no longer have my finger on the pulse of the average Android consumer. When the Galaxy Note 8 was announced this week, I figured everyone would go crazy for it. It has everything and anything you may want. The phone has a massive 6.3" Infinity QHD+ display, Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM, dual rear-facing cameras, headphone jack, IP68 water resistance, 3,300mAh battery, iris scanner, and the list goes on. On paper, this thing sounds like a dream phone for many. Then I read the comments section. Apparently, many seem unhappy with the price associated with the device. At about $950, that's understandable, but what were expecting for an Android device of this caliber? So, here is what I'm asking for. In the comments below, please, describe your dream Android phone, then how much you're willing to pay for it. Be honest with yourself. If you're opposed to anything above $900, you'll need to cut corners in a few areas, but I'm genuinely curious to see what kind of phone you'd create in terms of specs and hardware. For me, I'd create a Pixel/Galaxy S8 hybrid. Give me Samsung's hardware with Google's stock Android experience and that's my dream phone right there. For pricing, I'd expect to pay about $649 to $699 for something like that. Now it's your turn.

Report: BlackBerry to License Secure Android OS to Other OEMs

Tim — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 08:24:18 +0000

According to a report, BlackBerry is working on deals to potentially license its version of Android called BlackBerry Secure to other OEMs. If all goes well, BlackBerry will make all of its secure changes that are present on top of Android available for license to other smartphone makers, meaning more security for these potential Android phone buyers. If you've had a BlackBerry device running Android before, you'll know that the company has been very good about sending out monthly updates in a timely manner, as well as updating its lineup of security enhancements for Android. No specific details about BlackBerry Secure have been made available yet, but this would be a great move for BlackBerry. While BlackBerry's hardware may have a hard time selling in large volumes, it should be much easier to license software as more people become conscious about their phone's security. Who doesn't want a more secure version of Android, am I right? // Economic Times

Renders of Sony Xperia XZ1 Leak, Looks Like an Xperia Phone

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:39:42 +0000

You may know that we don't cover Sony devices too heavily, since they don't have much traction in the US, but given IFA is right around the corner, the latest leak is at least interesting. Posted to Twitter this week, multiple shots of the upcoming Xperia XZ1 show off Sony's usual design, complete with its big ol' top and bottom bezels. Since this Xperia device looks pretty similar to every other Xperia device, we'll leave it to the specs to really differentiate it from everything else Sony has launched. Rumored to be inside of the XZ1 is a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 19MP rear-facing camera, and a 5.2" display. So, yep, there's the 2017 stuff. It's expected that Sony will officially unveil this device next week at IFA in Berlin. I'll admit, this hardware does look nice, but seriously, it's the same thing year after year from Sony. Yawn. https://twitter.com/rquandt/status/900448000639721474

Huawei Throws Shade at Samsung to Hype Mate 10, Mentions #BeyondTheGalaxy

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 14:04:31 +0000

Huawei Australia's Twitter account is hyping up the company's upcoming Huawei Mate 10 smartphone, throwing a bit of shade at Samsung and its recent announcement of the Galaxy Note 8. Now, I'm not here to say whether Huawei is in a position to do this, but if they're feeling frisky and confident in its new hardware, that's fine with me. In the tweeted media, it says, "Welcome to the Dual Camera Family." Basically, Huawei is knocking Samsung for taking so long to introduce a phone with dual cameras. They also show the outline of what we assume is the Mate 10, complete with what should be dual Leica-branded cameras, scheduled to be unveiled on October 16. After reviewing the Mate 9, I came away very impressed with Huawei's offering. The phone is large, great for anyone who enjoys playing games or watching videos, and it also had a massive battery. The software on Huawei devices is getting quite nice, too. The problem is, Huawei still has yet to really establish itself in the US smartphone market. According to a report from earlier this month, Huawei and AT&T have struck a deal for the carrier to sell one of the OEMs upcoming flagships, so that's a step in the right direction. Is anyone here excited for the Mate 10? https://twitter.com/HuaweiMobileAU/status/900534720001220608

BlackBerry KEYone Hits AT&T on September 1

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:32:06 +0000

The BlackBerry KEYone is making its way to AT&T on September 1, no longer a carrier exclusive for Sprint. If you've wanted a KEYone, but didn't want to go through Sprint, the phone has been purchasable through Amazon and Best Buy, too, but this move opens the device up to even more potential buyers. The KEYone for AT&T is the exact phone that's been out for months, the same one we reviewed back in June. It has a 4.5″ FHD display, Snapdragon 625 processor, 12MP rear-facing camera, 3505mAh battery, USB Type-C port, and of course, that physical keyboard attached to the bottom. For pricing, AT&T lists the BlackBerry KEYone on AT&T Next at $16.67/month for 30 months. Also, AT&T will be the exclusive seller of the Space Black color. And here's our review for anyone interested. // AT&T

Report: HTC Considering Sale of Vive VR Business

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 10:56:52 +0000

According to a report from Bloomberg, who cites a source close to the matter, HTC is working with an adviser as it considers multiple options to help boost its financial situation. As reported, there seems to be a few options, include bringing on a strategic investor, selling off its Vive VR business, or selling the company as a whole. As of this moment, there's no indication which way HTC is leaning, but it is reported that a complete sell off does not seem likely. Vive is arguably the most important piece of HTC right now, as its smartphone business has not done well over the past few years. From Bloomberg's report, HTC’s market value has dropped about 75% in the last five years to $1.8 billion, with its smartphone market share going below 2%. Basically, HTC needs money and it is apparently weighing all options in order to make things work. We can't say we blame them, but if HTC loses Vive, that would be disappointing. // Bloomberg

Samsung to Launch New Gear Smartwatch at IFA

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 09:48:02 +0000

Speaking with CNBC, Samsung's DJ Koh confirmed that a new Gear-branded smartwatch is coming at next week's IFA. While no device specifics were mentioned, Koh did speak about how the wearable market hasn't quite exploded like many industry analysts predicted. In Koh's view, "If we can put in place properly a smartwatch that can monitor everything for your health and provide the information, then the market will grow." Semi-related, at this year's Baselworld, Samsung showed off a few Gear-branded concepts, most of which will likely never hit the market. However, they are awesome to look at. Personally, it's not that these watches don't have enough fitness tracking and features like that, but they're expensive. Many smartwatches are $300+, and really, that's not money the average consumer can just toss out for a device. We'll be bringing you plenty of IFA coverage, so stay tuned. // CNBC

Grab Rememory, Peter Dinklage's New Film, for Free on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:46:10 +0000

Set to hit limited theaters on September 8, Rememory, starring Tyrion Lann... excuse me, Peter Dinklage, can be grabbed for free right now on Google Play. If you need a plot, "The film explores the unexplained death of Gordon Dunn, a visionary scientific pioneer whose body is found shortly after the unveiling of his newest work: a device able to extract, record and play a person’s memories." Naturally, it's up to Peter Dinklage to solve this mystery. Check out the trailer below, then feel free to grab it on Google Play. I mean, it's free, so it's not like you have anything to lose, except your precious time. Play Link

Evleaks: 2nd-Gen Pixel Phones to be Unveiled October 5, Run Snapdragon 836 Processors

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:19:28 +0000

A date is reportedly set for the unveiling of the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 from Google. According to evleaks, the date you've all been waiting for is October 5. That's about a month and a half away. Not only did the Evan's tweet discuss when we'll see Google's latest, but it also mentioned the silicon we may see inside of the devices. As stated, the 2nd-generation Pixel phones will feature Snapdragon 836 processors, the first Android phones to do so. And no, this isn't the first time we've heard this. As more information is made available on that, we'll keep you posted. For context, Google announced the original Pixel and Pixel XL on October 4 of last year, so this timing seems about right. After seeing the Galaxy Note 8, are you now more excited for the Pixels? https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/900527086322032640

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Pre-Orders Are Now Live

Tim — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 07:59:28 +0000

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 8 are now live everywhere. As you'd expect from Samsung, you really can find the Note 8 on every carrier in the US pretty much, as well as at quite a few retailers. Technically, if you're looking for the best deal on this very expensive phone, buying it from Samsung's own website may be the best bet ($930 total), unless you have some type of upgrade program available through your carrier. If you owned a Galaxy Note 7, Samsung is offering you up to $425 in savings if you trade-in your current smartphone, and really, that's the best deal you'll probably find. For more info on that, see here. Here are all the links you need to get started on pre-ordering. Pre-Order Links

Verizon
AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
US Cellular
Best Buy
Sam's Club
Samsung

Look here to see about what promotions each carrier is running and for more details on individual carrier pricing. On top of that, don't forget that with each Note 8 purchase, you're eligible for a free Gear 360 camera or 128GB SD card and Fast Wireless Charger. Are you picking one up?

Ex-Galaxy Note 7 Owners, Prepare to Save Up to $425 on a Galaxy Note 8

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:39:28 +0000

So, yeah, the Galaxy Note 8 is really expensive, and from a quick look at the comments section on our Note 8 articles, people aren't really ecstatic about forking over nearly $1K for this phone. I don't blame you at all, that's a lot of cheese. Don't get too hung up on the price, though, as Samsung is providing a few ways to save big money on its latest device. One promotion in particular that has caught our eye is specifically for ex-owners of the Galaxy Note 7. According to Samsung's press release, anyone who owned a Note 7 and would like to get a Galaxy Note 8 can simply trade-in their existing smartphone. Depending on the make, model, and condition, Samsung will provide up to $425 off a brand new Galaxy Note 8. That brings the Note 8 price down to around $500, which isn't bad at all and may be the best deal ever. Here's what Samsung specifically mentions in its press release.

Former Note7 owners are eligible for a special offer on Samsung.com where they will receive an instant trade-in value of up to $425 when they upgrade their current phone for a Galaxy Note8.

So, this could be anyone who had a Note 7, then had to dump it and get a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S8. I know there are a few of you who probably fit this description. This isn't a bad deal at all if you're ready to trade up to a new phone. Ex-Note 7 owners, does this tempt you?

Wednesday Poll: Are You Buying the Galaxy Note 8?

Kellen — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:31:28 +0000

Are you ready to spend almost $1,000 on your next smartphone? If so, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 might just be the one for you. You'll find it for $930 too, but some carriers are quickly approaching the upper $900s depending on how you plan to buy one. That's nuts! But it also makes some sense! This is going to be a tough call. I'm pretty torn on the Note 8. I'm just trying to decide if it offers enough over the Galaxy S8+. And I don't say that as if I were wanting to upgrade from the S8+, I say that because there are so many good deals on the S8+ that you can snag one for a really reasonable price almost every week. Or maybe you jump for the Note 8 because of those dual cameras and the S Pen? Maybe you are one of the Note fans that Samsung couldn't stop talking about during today's Unpacked event? You tell me. Have you decided whether or not you'll be buying the Galaxy Note 8? If so, which color? [poll id="461"]

Samsung's DJ Koh Confirms, a Smart Speaker is Coming

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 12:58:01 +0000

Speaking with CNBC at the Galaxy Note 8 unveiling event, Samsung's Mobile President, DJ Koh, confirmed that the company is indeed working on a smart speaker and that it may be coming soon. This isn't the first we've heard about a potential Bixby-powered smart speaker. In fact, reports of it date back a couple of months, but this might be the first time a Samsung executive confirmed the device outright. While Koh gave no specifics on the device or when we should expect it, he did say the following:

Maybe soon we will announce it. I am already working on it. As I mentioned I wanted to provide a fruitful user experience at home with Samsung devices, and I want to be moving quite heavily on it.

Since Koh has confirmed the device, it should be noted that Samsung's smart speaker will enter a crowded market, dominated by the Amazon Echo and Google Home. And with Apple launching its own HomePod, consumers will have to put a lot of thought into which company's ecosystem they want to invest in. Is a Bixby-powered smart speaker something that interests you? // CNBC

Google, Walmart Partner to Deliver Goods Right to Your Door Via Google Assistant

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 12:40:10 +0000

Announced this week, with rollout starting late next month, users of Google Assistant (on a phone or through Google Home) can use their voice to order items directly from Walmart. On top of that, starting today, shoppers through Google Express (on the app or web) will receive free delivery on orders, so long as the order is above the store's minimum purchase required. The way this will work is pretty simple. Should you already be a Walmart customer, you can choose to link your Walmart account with Google Assistant. Using your previous purchase data, Assistant can recommend products or know exactly what item you'd like to reorder. For example, if you've previously purchased a 6-pack of lemonade Gatorade, Assistant won't accidentally grab grape-flavored Powerade. According to Google's blog, for all Google Express users, "We’re offering free delivery on Google Express as long as your order is above each store’s minimum. There’s no membership required so no matter how you shop—through voice with your Google Assistant or on the website or mobile app—you’ll get free delivery within one to three days." The Google and Walmart pairing kicks off next month, but if you'd like a special offer when it goes live, you can register for it directly through your current Google Express account. // Google | Walmart

Video: Galaxy Note 8 First Look and Tour!

Kellen — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 11:35:59 +0000

Annnnd I'm back from the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 event after spending a good amount of time with the latest do-everything phone. I ran through the software, the S Pen features, felt that premium glass and metal body, and dove into the camera, since this is Samsung's first attempt at a flagship dual camera setup. Is this a $1,000 package of goods? Samsung sure thinks it is! I don't know yet how I feel about the $950-or-so price, but as Tim just said to me, if you want all of this in a phone, you gotta pay for it. And honestly, this phone does have it all and then some. No one checks boxes like Samsung. My initial impressions are that this really is just a slight evolution on the Galaxy S8+ with an S Pen, new dual camera setup, bump in RAM, and downgrade in battery. That's not a bad thing, though! The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are best-in-class phones, so the Note 8 shouldn't feel bad about that. However, as technology seems to be topping out, it's hard for companies to massively upgrade phones within months, which is the release schedule of the S and Note lines. Overall, I think Note fans will love the Note 8. It'll probably go down as Samsung's best phone yet, even if it is insanely expensive and very much like the S8+. Samsung is spoiling us at this point.

No Surprise Here, the Galaxy Note 8 Will Cost You About $1,000

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:57:09 +0000

Pricing is out for the Galaxy Note 8, but prepare yourself - it's not pretty. This phone is easily one of Samsung's most expensive devices to date, starting at around $950. However, for that price, you certainly are getting a nice package. On top of the phone itself, each carrier appears to have their own promotions going on, as well as Samsung offering up their own. Let's see what we have here. Verizon

Installment Price: $40/month for 24 months on device payment plan.
Full retail: $960
Notes: Customers can get the Galaxy Note8 at up to 50% off with an eligible smartphone trade-in. The fine print - "$960 device payment purchase req'd. Less up to $480 trade-in/promo credit applied over 24 months; promo credit ends when balance paid or line terminated; 0% APR. Fully paid-off eligible trade-in must be in good working and cosmetic condition."

Verizon Link AT&T

Installment Price: $31.67 for 30 months on an AT&T Next installment plan.
Full Retail: $949.99
Notes: Receive $500 off a Samsung TV when you buy a Galaxy Note 8 and add DIRECTV, Buy one Galaxy Note 8, get one free when you purchase on AT&T Next and add DIRECTV, Get a Samsung Gear S2 for 99-cents or the Gear S3 for $49.99 on a 2-year agreement when you buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 on AT&T Next, Trade in your eligible smartphone for up to $200 in credits.

AT&T Link Sprint

Installment Price: $39.59/month with Sprint Flex 18-month lease, $33.33/month for 24 months.
Full Retail: $999.99
Notes: Customers switching to Sprint get 50 percent off the lease price and pay just $20.00 per month with $0 down with 18 Sprint Flex payments, Galaxy Forever allows upgrades any time to the latest Galaxy after just 12 Sprint Flex payments, exclusively from Sprint.

Sprint Link T-Mobile

Installment Price: $210 down and $30/month on T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), $0 down and $39/month on JUMP! On Demand.
Full Retail: $930
Notes: No additional notes.

T-Mobile Link Keep in mind, Samsung is running a promotion that gets you a free Gear 360 camera or 128GB microSD card and Fast Wireless Charger for free with any purchase of the Galaxy Note 8, but still, this is a pricey phone. Does the pricing make you second guess your pre-order?

HTC Confirms Android Oreo Update for HTC 10, U11, and U Ultra

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:24:17 +0000

HTC took to Twitter yesterday, confirming that Android Oreo will most definitely hit a few of its devices. Specifically, owners of the HTC 10, U11, and U Ultra will receive the update, but there's no word yet on when these updates will come. We could speculate on when you might see it (maybe by end of 2017?), but that isn't very helpful to anybody. Specified HTC owners, prepare yourself for the sweetness of Oreo. https://twitter.com/HTCUSA/status/900103314150273024

Where and When to Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:40:44 +0000

As you may already know, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has been announced and goes up for pre-order August 24 (tomorrow). If pre-ordering isn't your thing, in-store availability kicks off on September 15, with the Galaxy Note 8 available at all major US carriers, as well as select retail stores. In the US, buyers can choose from Midnight Black and Orchid Gray for both carrier-branded and unlocked models. We still don't have exact pricing, but that will likely come once pre-orders go live tonight at midnight (August 24). As Samsung specifically lists, the Note 8 will be purchasable at AT&T, C Spire, Cricket Wireless, Sprint, Straight Talk Wireless, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, Samsung's website, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. If you didn't catch it, Samsung is also hosting a promotion that gets you a free Gear 360 camera or a 128GB SD card and Fast Wireless Charger. To sum that promo up, the Galaxy Note 8 may be a good phone to pre-order or at least purchase before September 24 (the date the promo ends). Once each retailer and carrier lists the device on their sites for pre-order, and how much it will cost, we will provide links to each one to make ordering easy on you. How much do you think the Note 8 will cost?

Purchase a Galaxy Note 8, Get a Free Gear 360 Camera or 128GB SD Card and Fast Wireless Charger

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:53:14 +0000

Announced alongside the Galaxy Note 8 this morning, for anyone who picks up Samsung's latest flagship phone, you'll be able to pick up some free goodies! We love the goodies. If you purchase the device between August 24 and September 24, you can opt to receive a free Gear 360 camera (value: $229) or a Galaxy Foundation kit, which consists of a 128GB EVO+ memory card and a Fast Wireless Charger (value: $190). To claim this free stuff, simply head to Samsung's promotional website, input your purchase details (receipt, carrier, IMEI, etc.) and shipping details, then you should receive your stuff in a few weeks. If you've ever purchased a Samsung Galaxy device, you're probably quite used to doing this. Again, the purchase period starts tomorrow (August 24), so once that pre-order is placed and your phone comes in, get on it. As long as the purchase was made between Aug. 24 and Sept. 24, you're qualified. Which set of goodies would you get? Personally, that Fast Wireless Charger sounds good to me. Samsung Promotions Site

Specs Comparison: Galaxy S8 and S8+ vs. Galaxy Note 8

Kellen — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:40:47 +0000

Deciding if you should upgrade from your Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ to the newly announced Galaxy Note 8? Maybe this easy-to-follow table will help you with that decision. Below, you'll find the Galaxy S8 specs vs. that of the Galaxy Note 8. You'll notice for one thing, that they really aren't that different. In fact, outside of the upgrade in RAM, dual camera, storage options, and S Pen, you've got nearly similar phones, especially when compared to the S8+. And that's probably because we've come so far in phone tech that it's hard to massively upgrade in only a few months, but it also shows how good the S8 and S8+ already were. Either way, we've got you covered below in our Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy Note 8 comparison.

Galaxy S8/S8+ vs. Galaxy Note 8

[table id=77 responsive=scroll /]

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 With 6.3" Infinity Display Announced, Available Mid-September

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:34:45 +0000

Samsung made the Galaxy Note 8 official this morning in New York City. As you'd expect, this phone is packed with high-end specifications and features, including a first for a Samsung flagship device -- dual rear-facing 12-megapixel cameras with optical image stabilization (OIS). Other changes over last year's model include that crazy-big 6.3" QHD+ Infinity display, updated Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, updated S Pen functionality, as well as enhanced DeX capabilities. And yes, there's a headphone jack! As for when you can purchase your very own Galaxy Note 8, it will be available in-store starting September 15. For those who like to pre-order, you can do so beginning August 24. Of course, the Note 8 will be available on all major US carriers, such as Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Cricket Wireless. You can also find it on Samsung's website, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. For those who purchase a Note 8 between August 24 and September 24, you'll get a choice of a free Gear 360 camera or a Galaxy Foundation kit (128GB EVO+ memory card and Fast Wireless Charger). All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's promotions form right here once you have your new phone's purchase details. So, picking up a Galaxy Note 8? A few specs table has been posted below, in case you missed the official specs post.

Specs

[table id=76 responsive=scroll /]

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Specs (Official)

Tim — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:19:12 +0000

The Galaxy Note 8 by Samsung is now official, meaning we have all of the specs you need to know about. To highlight just a few, because there's a lot to cover, the device has a large 6.3" QHD+ Infinity display, dual rear-facing 12-megapixel cameras with OIS, 3,300mAh battery, Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, IP68, Fast wired and wireless charging, iris scanner, fingerprint reader, and Android 7.1.1 "Nougat." Obviously, this phone is a big deal for Samsung, given last year's events. Do you think the Note 8 will live up to everyone's expectations?

Galaxy Note 8 Specs

[table id=76 responsive=scroll /] // Samsung

WATCH: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Event!

Kellen — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 04:44:12 +0000

Not that there are many surprises left involving the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, but today is indeed the day that it all becomes official. Samsung is hosting an Unpacked event in NYC and we are on-hand for the fun. The event kicks off at 11AM Eastern (8AM Pacific) and can be viewed above. Once the event wraps, keep it locked to DL for hands-on video, full specs, release details, and more!

Even Lamborghini's $2450 Android Phone Knows Where the Fingerprint Reader Belongs

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:34:42 +0000

Let's talk about "luxury" Android devices. Typically, they are overpriced nonsense for the super rich who have nothing better to spend their money on. They sometimes have funky designs, specs that won't knock your socks off, and are basically just a heavily-skinned, super expensive Android device that can't compare in terms of overall usefulness to flagships from Samsung, LG, or HTC. The same may likely be said about the new Lamborghini Alpha-One, but let's get one thing straight -- they clearly know where a fingerprint reader is supposed to go. If that's the one positive thing I can about this phone, that's a good one. The Alpha-One features a 5.5" WQHD display, Snapdragon 820 processor (ouch!), 4GB RAM, 20MP camera, a rear-facing (middle of the back) fingerprint reader, and Android "Nougat." The price of this phone is listed at $2,450. For a SD820, that's, umm, a lot of money. Specs

5.5-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage and up to 128GB of expandable storage
20-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 8-megapixel front-facing camera
3,250mAh battery
Dual SIM card support
Fingerprint scanner
Android 7.0+ "Nougat"

Honestly, the design of the Alpha isn't awful. The phone is draped in Italian black leather, gold trimmings, "liquid metal," as well as a pair of front-facing speakers. You also get that legit Lambo badge on the phone's backside, just so everyone knows you have superb taste in phones and automobiles. If you're somehow interested in purchasing this phone, follow the link below. And while you're at it, can I have some money? Buy // The Verge

Tuesday Poll: Are You Sticking With Verizon?

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:47:46 +0000

Following this morning's news, we have to ask, are you sticking with Verizon? I could sit here and talk about how consumers make their voices heard with their wallets, but I know many here are loyal Verizon customers, so you've probably heard that speech a few times. If you're just now catching up, Verizon announced changes for its unlimited plan lineup this morning, with three offerings available starting tomorrow. To sum up what's happening, everyone on Unlimited is going to have a throttled video experience, because even though Verizon continues to tout its LTE network as the best in the US, it can't help but limit its customers to something less than ideal. For a complete breakdown of what was announced, refer to this post. These announced changes affect legacy plans, too, which is where the below poll comes into place. Do we have legacy customers here who are just over Verizon screwing with their video streams and are ready to give another carrier a chance? If you have switched carriers, let us know where you ended up going and how it treated you. [poll id="460"]

Verizon Introduces New Unlimited Plans, Will Throttle Their Video and Your Old Plan's Too

Kellen — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:44:04 +0000

Guys, Verizon wants you to know that their network has never been stronger. They also want you to know that their network is super fast, that they win awards because of it, and that their unlimited data plan is awesome and certainly would never slow down their network or cause your experience on it to be shitty. With that in mind - because again, their network is stronger than ever and so super duper fast and stable and awesome and would never need help from struggling because, man, there is no struggle here - they are pushing out new unlimited data plans that are throttled to hell and back during video streams. I know a number of you have heard the news already, but Verizon wasn't up for sharing that information with us until a few minutes ago. So yeah, let's talk about the new Verizon Unlimited plans! Starting tomorrow, August 23, Verizon is introducing three unlimited plans: Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited, and Business Unlimited. They'll also still sell a Prepaid Unlimited plan. All of the plans include unlimited 4G LTE data, along with unlimited talk and text. With Go Unlimited, the differences arrives via the price, the fact that all video streaming is throttled to DVD quality (480p), and hotspot data that is always throttled to 600Kbps. With Beyond Unlimited, you get HD quality streaming (720p), 15GB of 4G LTE hotspot, and calling, texting, and data in Mexico and Canada. If you want to know the Business Unlimited details, you'll find those in the image below. UPDATE: OK, I lied, there are some other sneaky things here to be aware of. On Go Unlimited, Verizon is reserving the right to throttle your general data usage at any time, should you run into "times of congestion." For Beyond Unlimited, that type of throttling of general data usage starts at 22GB of use in a billing cycle (or 25GB with a 2-year contract). Go Unlimited costs $75 for 1 line, but you'll see discounts depending on lines you add on. Beyond Unlimited starts at $85 for 1 line and also offers discounts as you add more.

I know what you are probably thinking - are they really throttling all video at all times, even the Beyond Unlimited plan? The answer is: YES. And only at 720p. Your QHD phone will never play a 4K video stream going forward on Verizon's network. It won't even play a 1080p stream. If you have a tablet on Verizon's network and one of these plans, you could get up to 1080p. So much for "just testing," eh Verizon? Here's the other thing - this also affects those of you on legacy unlimited plans. According to Verizon, "moving forward, HD video on all legacy plans will also match Beyond Unlimited's HD quality." If you are on Verizon Unlimited, you'll start seeing throttled 720p video as early as tomorrow. There is no opt-out or buy-up either. If you were looking for one bonus, that'll come via the extra 5GB of hotspot data that your Verizon Unlimited plan now has. Yep, they are bumping you up to 15GB per month of 4G LTE hotspot. But again, Verizon's network is so good that you should never ever worry about your experience. 🤔

UPDATE 8/23: Now that the plans are live, here are some additional notes.

Employer discounts don't apply here either, just like they didn't with the original Verizon Unlimited plan. This is what Verizon's FAQ says on the matter:

Beyond Unlimited is a great value, and even though it's not eligible for your employer discount or corporate plan discount, you can still take advantage of any other benefits your employer's program offers with Verizon Wireless.

As we find more, we'll update this post. // Verizon

Tekken is Coming Soon to Android in the US

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:31:16 +0000

Tekken, the extremely popular fighting game that everyone has played at least once in their life, is headed to Android! The game is listed as coming soon in the US at the moment, but if you're in Canada, there's a soft launch available this week for those on iOS and Android. You lucky, lucky Canadians. This mobile Tekken title will have a few different things going on, hopefully meaning no dull moments while inside the game. There is a standard Story Mode for someone who wants to progress through the game, a Dojo Challenge for players who want to beat up fellow players, plus Live Events that will feature rotating content. Here's a complete breakdown of what Tekken on mobile is bringing.

STORY MODE – In this game mode, players will create a team of 3 fighters helping Kazuya Mishima and Nina against a powerful enemy: the Revenant – a new character created exclusively for the mobile version of TEKKEN. The game will lead players into battle through a map-based campaign featuring unique encounters with specialized and powerful bosses. This mode offers the chance to build specialized teams to take down unique missions and explore dynamic battle maps to collect rewards and glory.
DOJO CHALLENGE – This Online VERSUS battle will let players compete against friends and the community, record and upload their own in-game fighting styles into the AI of their dojo to defend it and prove that they are the best.
LIVE EVENTS – Players will experience new live events that are updated with daily, weekly and monthly rotating content. Players can access special themed events with unique experiences and encounters and Special Events with rare characters and content.
TEKKEN includes an intuitive, deep combat system featuring fighting techniques from all around the world for an incredible on the go experience.

Now, there's no pre-registration on Google Play just yet, but you can register on the Tekken website. As more folks pre-register, in-game content can be unlocked for the game's release. So, if you're excited about this, head to the Tekken website, pre-register, then get rewarded for it! I'll see you there. Pre-Registration Link

Announcement Trailer

Report: Google Readying Smaller Google Home, New Chromebook Pixel

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 10:22:37 +0000

According to a recent report from Android Police, Google has more than just two Pixel phones to announce later this year. Apparently, Google will also unveil a smaller version of Google Home, as well as new Pixel-branded Chromebook. At $129, Google Home is already a compact product, but I suppose it could get smaller. There are no specifics from the report's source on what we should expect, so we can at least share what we hope Google might announce. For example, if Google shrunk down a Google Home that plugs directly into an electrical outlet, like an NVIDIA SPOT, then charged $50-75 for it, that would pretty much make my dreams come true. Again, the report provides no specifics on size or features of this "miniaturized" Google Home, but we'll keep you posted. As for the new Chromebook Pixel, there are no specific details provided for that either, but it's reported it is likely a followup to the Chromebook Pixel from 2015 and may or may not be based on a previously rumored Project Bison that Google was working on. While this may not be the most detailed report ever, the idea that Google has more hardware in store for later this year has us plenty excited. // Android Police

AT&T Galaxy S8, S8+ Updated With August Security Patch and Daydream Support

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 09:32:14 +0000

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on AT&T are receiving updates this week, bringing them up to the August, 2017 Android security patch. In addition to updated security, AT&T lists network performance enhancements, WPS (Wireless Priority Service), UX updates, Bluetooth updates, and Google Daydream support. So, yeah, this seems like a solid update for S8 and S8+ owners. Be on the lookout for this update to hit your device this morning or at some point this week. // AT&T [2]

Unlocked Essential Phone Pre-Orders Open on Best Buy and Essential's Website

Tim — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 08:44:41 +0000

Last week, the Essential Phone for Sprint's network went up pre-order through various retailers, but today, anyone waiting for the Unlocked model can also pre-order it through Best Buy and Essential's website. The unlocked model is priced similarly to the Sprint variant, ringing up at $699. For Essential Extended Care (2 years of coverage for breakdowns and accidental damage), that's an extra $99, and if you want that 360-degree camera, that's still $50 for a limited time. Oh, and it's still only available in Black. Have you ordered yours yet? Essential Phone Links:

Best Buy (Unlocked)
Best Buy (Sprint)
Sprint
Essential.com
Amazon (Unlocked)

Google Assistant-Powered Headphones Might be on the Way

Kellen — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 07:33:58 +0000

Anyone remember the Moto Hint? The Hint was an ambitious accessory from Motorola in 2014 that wanted to be your in-ear assistant at all times. It was a single earbud that was voice activated and could give you directions, check on recent notifications, and play music. It struggled because it was probably years ahead of its time and the software powering it wasn't ready. But even as that product failed, it now seems that Google has decided to take on the idea and it might just work, thanks to Google Assistant integration. According to a code found within the latest Google app (v7.10) by 9to5Google, references to Google Assistant-powered headphones under codename "Bisto" paint the picture of a product that will bring the Google Assistant to your ears. For example, here is the string that specifically mentions the Assistant inside headphones:

”Your headphones have the Google Assistant. Ask it questions. Tell it to do things. It’s your own personal Google, always ready to help.”

It should be noted that these are described as headphones, rather than an earbud assistant like we saw with the Moto Hint. A specific line suggests there will be a physical Google Assistant button "on the left earcup" that can be pressed to activate it for your commands. Additionally, these headphones will be able to receive software updates to get better over time. We don't yet know much else about these headphones, but these strings do suggest that they'll be on-ear or over-ear headphones, with physical buttons for launching Assistant, that can also receive software updates. Who knows how they'll sound, how big they'll be, how much they'll cost, or what they'll look like. With these strings showing up in the Google app now, you have to wonder if these headphones are coming soon, though I'd imagine Google would want to hold a product like this until its big Pixel 2 reveal. Interesting or nah? // 9to5Google

Samsung's Bixby Voice Now Available in Over 200 Countries

Kellen — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 05:28:23 +0000

Samsung's Bixby Voice feature for its personal assistant app is now available in over 200 countries around the world on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. After first launching in Korea and then the US, this expansion is a good sign that Bixby Voice is starting to mature some. Bixby Voice is still only available in Korean and US English, though, so this really is an availability push without new languages or features. Still, if you live in places like the UK, Australia, Canada or South Africa, you'll be able to access voice functionality by pressing and holding the Bixby button or saying, "Hi, Bixby. To learn more about Bixby Voice's capabilities, hit up that video below. // Samsung

LastPass Launches Public Beta for Android Oreo Users to Test Autofill

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 15:28:27 +0000

Oreo is the gift that keeps giving today. Announced this afternoon, LastPass has launched a public beta for its Android app, allowing anyone running the latest build of Android to test out the awesome new Autofill feature. You see, Oreo offers native support for Autofill, which means when you dive into an app that requires your login credentials (or credit card info, address, etc.), those details will auto populate if you use a service such as LastPass. With this app beta, and Oreo running on your phone, you can now Autofill all the things. Now, LastPass does note that since this is a beta, there are a few limitations. I'll let them explain.

Please keep in mind that this is the first release, so there will be some limitations. In particular, Chrome does not yet support the new Autofill API, and some apps that were fillable with our accessibility-based autofill are not yet fillable using the new API. We’re working with Google to iron out the issues as quickly as possible, and will be updating the beta release on a regular basis.

As long as you can live without Autofill inside of Chrome for a bit, go check it out! Are you running that Oreo sweetness yet? Join the Beta // LastPass

Falcon Pro 3 Updated With AMP Support, Improved Video Player, and Much More

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 15:09:54 +0000

An update is rolling out to Falcon Pro 3, one that brings multi photo layouts, an improved video player, and oh so much more. To clarify, the big update is labeled as version 1.6, then an update quickly followed labeled as version 1.6.1 (small fixes). Other things listed for version 1.6 are improved in-app link previews thanks to support for Google's AMP, expanded view via scrolling, and the replacement of favorites for "hearts and likes." Below is the complete changelog for the update. What's New Version 1.6.1:

Improved Quote tweet loading
Brought back multi column support
Fix status bar gap on MIUI devices
Fix crash on tweets that have more than 4 medias

Version 1.6:

Improved in-app link preview with AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) support
Scrolling expands the view for comfortable reading
Multi photo layout, shows up to 4 photos in-line
Revamped video player
Replaced favs with hearts and likes
Double tap anywhere to like a tweet (changeable in settings)

Go grab that update, Falcon users! https://twitter.com/falcon_android/status/898965933057822721

Android "Oreo" Statue Now Posted Up on Google's Lawn

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 13:33:51 +0000

It wouldn't be a proper Android unveiling without a new statue, and just like clockwork, the new Android "Oreo" statue is now residing on the lawn at Google HQ. This year, Oreo is represented by a Bugdroid superhero, decked out in Oreo armor (I'm assuming it's armor). The little green dude has Oreo cookies all around him, making it quite the tasty looking statue.

Welcome to the party, Oreo! Note: If you planned on looking over the photos, maybe trying to catch a glimpse of the Pixel 2, don't bother, I already did. We'll keep looking, though! // @takoloco

When is Android Oreo Coming to Your Phone?

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:59:43 +0000

Don't own a Pixel or Nexus and want to know when your phone is getting Android Oreo? According to Google, it could be before the end of 2017. During the Android Oreo announcement, Google listed out a handful of companies that they have worked with in order to get Android Oreo ready for dispatch as soon as possible.

When is your phone getting the Android Oreo update?

The blog post from Google states that "by the end of this year," hardware makers including Essential, Nokia (HMD), Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony are all "scheduled" to launch devices running Android Oreo or upgrade them to it. In other words, if I just listed the maker of your phone, there is a good chance that that company's next phone arriving this year will launch with Android Oreo (LG V30, Galaxy Note 8 come to mind), but that there is also a chance your phone will see the update before 2017 is over. As we get more specific dates from these guys, especially for phones like the Galaxy S8, G6, Moto Z2, or U11, we'll be sure to let you know. // Google

Android 8.0 "Oreo" is Here to Bring the Sweetness

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:37:33 +0000

The wait is over - Android 8.0 is Oreo. With the naming ceremony out of the way, let's dive back into what makes this build different from the rest, then recap when you can expect it on your device. As Google highlights, there are many changes in Android 8.0, all of which should benefit users regardless of whether you're using a Pixel, Galaxy, or any other Android device. As long as it's running Oreo, it should be pretty sweet. The bigs changes are Picture-in-Picture, Notification Channels, Notification Dots, native support for Autofill, new emoji, Google Play Protect, 2x faster boot speeds (as measured on Pixel phones), downloadable fonts, and much more. Seriously, it's a long list of additions, and if you missed it, we've highlighted each one already back during the Developer Previews.

As for when you will see it on your device, that depends heavily on which device you own. For those with a Pixel or Nexus that are enrolled in the Android Beta, that appears to be rolling out right now. According to Google, "We're pushing the sources to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for everyone to access today. Pixel and Nexus 5X/6P builds have entered carrier testing, and we expect to start rolling out in phases soon, alongside Pixel C and Nexus Player." On top of that, Google details that it is working with OEM partners (Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony) to get Android 8.0 out to devices quickly. // Google [2]

DOWNLOAD: Android Oreo "OPR6" Update for Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, More (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:24:25 +0000

OK, then! Moments after posting up news that Google wasn't quite ready to push out Android Oreo updates to the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C, and Nexus Player, they went ahead and not only posted up factory images for each, they are pushing out an over-the-air (OTA) update too. I'm not even kidding - I just got it on my Pixel XL, as did Tim. The new Android Oreo build is listed as "OPR6" and is indeed available right now to all expected devices. ~~We're just trying to figure out if this is stable, another preview build, or something else. Either way, it's there for you to grab right now.~~ Edit: It looks like this is the stable build that has now gone live at AOSP as build OPR6.170623.013. The update, at least on my Pixel XL, is 50MB in size. If you aren't seeing the update push through, you can grab factory image files right here. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. UPDATE: "Installation problem" for everyone or has anyone been able to install over-the-air? UPDATE 2: The update keeps coming and going for me, almost as if Google has pulled it. With that said, even if it does show up, it dies. We'll update this post when it returns and is installable. UPDATE 3: Google Tweets that the update is rolling out in phases to your Pixel and Nexus phones. If it's not working at the moment, try to be patient. 😜 https://twitter.com/Android/status/899723392965910528 UPDATE 4: The update should be available and working.

Android Oreo Hits AOSP Today, Pixel and Nexus Devices "Soon" (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:07:27 +0000

Android O is officially Android Oreo, which is fun and all, but we really all just want to know when it's coming to our Nexus and Pixel phones, right? We've got news on that front! According to Google, it's coming soon. I know, I know, that's not what you were looking for. With that said, Google did say that Android Oreo (Android 8.0) will hit AOSP today. For Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, and Nexus Player, it's coming "soon." Again, that's not specific enough, I get it! How about this - Google says that Android Oreo builds for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P are all in the carrier testing phase, so it actually shouldn't be long. That "soon" could very well turn into, "a few weeks" for all we know. I wish we had more specific info, but Google isn't quite ready to give up that.

UPDATE: Actually, Google is already rolling out OPR6 builds to the devices listed above. You can update to Android Oreo right now. Head to this post to get started.

// Google

Android 8.0 is Oreo! (Updated)

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 11:51:50 +0000

It's official, Android 8.0 is Oreo. After many rumors and teases, Google made the name official this morning, following the solar eclipse excitement. We don't know about availability quite yet, but we will post up all of that information once it's available. Are you happy about this name? We are! UPDATE: We've got release details right here! UPDATE 2: Nevermind, you can download the Android Oreo update right now! Grab it here. UDPATE 3: Google also told us when we can expect Android Oreo updates on phones from Samsung, LG, Essential, HTC, Huawei, Sony, and more.

DEAL: Amazon Echo is $80 Off Today, Echo Dot $5 Off

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 10:45:34 +0000

Amazon is hosting another mega-sale on many of their Echo devices today, an event that seems to happen at least once a month at this point. You can grab an Amazon Echo for $99.99 ($80 off), Amazon Echo Dot for $44.99 ($5 off), or the Amazon Tap for $99.99 ($30 off). If you aren't in need of an Echo product, Amazon is also running discounts on their Fire tablets (up to $30 off) and Kindle readers (up to $20 off). I don't need to recap the Echo devices do I? You guys understand them at this point. Amazon Deal Links:

Watch the Android O Livestream Right Here at 11:40AM Pacific

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 09:28:07 +0000

Sure, the Great American Eclipse is happening as we speak, but maybe you're also equally concerned about what Android O's name will be. I don't blame you. Taking place just minutes after the eclipse, Google will launch Android O and we will have our name. For exact timing, the stream will begin at 11:40AM Pacific (2:40PM Eastern), mere minutes after the eclipse has ended. So, once you're done burning your eyes out (because I know many of you procrastinated and couldn't find glasses last night at your local 7/11), you can learn all about the public launch of Android O. And don't worry, if you miss this stream, we'll have all of the details for you once everything is made official by Google. Get hyped!

Verizon and Qualcomm Hit 1Gb Download Mark in Latest Lab Speedtest

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 09:10:51 +0000

Verizon, Qualcomm, and Ericsson are back at it again with a new speedtest they hope will help pave the way toward a future filled with 1Gb+ speeds on your smartphone. After touching down at 953Mbps through a "real-world" test a few weeks back, the three say they have now eclipsed the 1Gbps mark, though this time in a lab setting. The exact download speed was 1.07Gbps and was performed with commercial silicon, a first for the industry. While this wasn't in your local neighborhood with a Galaxy S8 attached to an already-built tower, this is a big step towards that reality. The test hardware included a Snapdragon X20 LTE modem, which supports Cat 18 LTE speeds. The specific test utilized 12 simultaneously LTE streams to achieve a "20 percent increase in peak data rates and capacity." The make-up there is 3 cell carrier aggregation, 4x4 MIMO per carrier, and 256 QAM, which delivers "more bits of data in each transmission, significantly enhancing data speeds." We're still a ways out from 5G launching, but these types of LTE tests and innovations will certainly help get us there. What would you do with 1Gb speeds? // Qualcomm

Render of Possible Nest Lite Hits the Web

Tim — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 08:40:58 +0000

Back in March, a report stated that Nest was working on a sub-$200 smart thermostat. Since then, we haven't heard a peep. Last Friday, though, as we were all closing up shop, @evleaks posted what appears to be a render of Nest's upcoming thermostat, one that looks much different from what's already available from the Google-owned company. Could this be the new, less expensive thermostat we've been waiting for? While this image doesn't give us much to work with, we can deduce a few things. The UI could be comprised of a pre-positioned LED array under a plastic cover, the wheel that rotates around the body could either be a light metal or heavy plastic, and while the body may be much different from the $250 units currently available, this one will likely do all of the same things. As we wait on Nest to make something official, let's hear from you. Is this the Nest you've been waiting for? // @evleaks

DEAL: Save $70 Off a Google WiFi 3-Pack + Google Home Bundle

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:47:08 +0000

Two of Google's non-Android connected products that I personally have become a big fan of are heavily discounted right now when bundled at a variety of retailers. I'm talking about Google WiFi and Google Home, together with a $70 discount should you buy them right now. The deal is actually for a Google WiFi 3-pack that'll cover your whole house and then some, non-mansion owners, along with a Google Home unit that now makes calls to friends, family, and businesses. I call them two of my favorites because, for one, Google WiFi fits the mesh WiFi trend that has swept the home router market, only Google's option sports a better app than almost all of them (that includes Eero, the system I use every day). It's fast from point to point, receives updates to continuously get better, and fits so nicely into the rest of your Google ecosystem. And Google Home, while it still can't do reminders (Wtf, Google?), can now make calls, connect over Bluetooth, let you in on early releases through its preview program, and has really stepped up in trying to match Amazon's Alexa. The total bundle isn't cheap at $358, but again, is $70 off at the moment. Google WiFi + Google Home Links:

Best Buy
Target
Google

Cheers Tony!

Moto X4 and Its Shiny Self Gets a Hands-on Preview

Kellen — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:30:30 +0000

The Moto X4, a phone thought to be a Q4 release to fill a void I'm not sure needed filling, found its way into the hands of a tester with an itchy camera finger. It posed for two pictures that give us the cleanest live shots of the mid-range-but-not-quite-mid-range Moto device. These new photos aren't necessarily telling us anything new from the previous 2 or 3 leaks, but this could be a first look at the blue version that'll arrive alongside the black version later this year. The display looks very much edge-to-edge on the sides, and man, this thing is shiny as all hell. Also, the guy who posted this (can anyone figure out what his name is? /s) is under the impression that Motorola used an LCD display in the phone. That's disappointing to say the least, especially since Motorola has been a big fan of AMOLED displays in recent years. I also say that because LCDs struggle to get dark enough in dark settings, don't show blacks deeply, and certainly seem to be a step behind the advancements that AMOLED has seen lately. For a phone supposedly teetering toward the mid-to-high-end, this seems like a downgrade. Finally - and this is pure opinion on my part - that camera hump, puck thing on the back, needs to go. It's time for a new design schtick, Moto. This phone almost looks sexy, but then that wannabe-Rolex-bezeled dual camera thingy almost melts your eye like a total solar eclipse with faux glasses sold to you by that legit vendor with the no-window cream-colored van in the back alley of Denny's. Yikes. Thoughts?

// +Jerry Yin Cheers Lucas!

Weekly Recap: Next Week is Gonna be Awesome

Tim — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 15:42:43 +0000

There's a lot in store for next week. We've got a solar eclipse on Monday, with Google ready to deliver Android O's official name following that event, then it's Samsung on Wednesday who will unveil the Galaxy Note 8. Yup, next week is going to be fun. This week was no slouch, though. We had the Pixel 2 go through the FCC, the Essential Phone finally went up for pre-order, and we got our first good look at the LG V30. This week was solid. If you missed any of the action, look below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 149 [Subscribe]
Swag: We now have DL shirts for sale.
Android O: Android O arrives August 21!
Pixel 2: HTC-made Pixel 2 hits the FCC.
The LG V30 is hot.
UX 6.0+ confirmed for the LG V30.
The Essential Phone is now up for pre-order.
Google Home Phone: Phone calling comes to Google Home in the US and Canada.
Here's how to connect to Google Home via Bluetooth.
2017 has the best looking lineup of Android devices to date.
YouTube TV: YouTube TV grows by 14 markets!
No more swiping away cards in Google Now and folks are pissed.
Maybe the Misfit Vapor won't be as cool as we originally thought.
Is it just me or did Google Chrome Beta just get super ugly?
Allo: Allo for the web is now ready for nobody to use.
Saygus says the V2 just went through the FCC, be we aren't quite sure.

Catch you next week, folks!

Google is Going to Show You Video Previews Now in Search Results

Kellen — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 15:29:51 +0000

I don't know that video previews were something I was ever looking for when performing Google searches, but they are coming and they could be cool. Google announced this afternoon that alongside the short text snippets you see for results, you may also find GIF-style previews of videos that autoplay and show you a bit of the fun before you tap through. To see this in action, check out the animated GIF below. If you've used YouTube at all recently then you'll know how this works. Basically, as you flip through optional video results, as you stop on each one, a brief preview will play. It helps you decide if this is the video you want or if you should jump off to the next

Google says that the change starts rolling out today, but won't reach most until next week. At that time, you'll find this experience in the Google App and Chrome on Android. The previews are set to autoplay when you are on WiFi, though you can enable them on mobile networks too if that's your style. // Google

Let's Get Device Season Started

Kellen — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 12:10:53 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we're counting down the minutes until the next wave of Android phones is announced and in our hands for review. The list of upcoming devices includes the Galaxy Note 8 (unveiling next week), LG V30 (days later), and Google's Pixel 2 phones (shortly thereafter). The hype surrounding each has been a bit much, but this is what we live for, right? We've also got the release of the Essential phone today, Android O confirmed for arrival on Monday (with the solar eclipse), Google Home calling, and more! It should be a good show to get us ready for next week's fun. We’ll be live at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern)! If you miss us live, you can always subscribe through the variety of links below.

How to: Connect to Google Home Over Bluetooth

Kellen — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 12:00:55 +0000

Back at Google I/O, Google announced that Bluetooth pairing was on the way to Google Home, leading way to more flexible music control. Rather than needing Google's built-in Chromecast support or for your favorite apps to get onboard, you could instead just pair your phone to Home over Bluetooth and play as you would with any other Bluetooth device. It's a feature that probably should have been there from day 1. That argument aside, Bluetooth pairing is now available on Google Home. Because the setup for Google Home Bluetooth connections isn't the most straight forward thing at the moment (we can't find a voice command to get this going), we thought we'd walk you through the somewhat tedious process. It involves the Google Home app, finding a semi-hidden setting, putting your Home in pairing mode, and then connecting through your phone's Bluetooth settings.

Instructions - Pair Bluetooth to Google Home

1. Open the Google Home app (install it if you don't have it). 2. Tap the Devices button in the top right corner of the app's main screen. 3. Find the Google Home you want to pair over Bluetooth. 4. Tap its menu button and choose "Settings."

5. Under "Device info" choose "Paired Bluetooth devices." 6. Tap "Enable Pairing Mode" in the bottom right corner.

7. After that, you'll go into your phone's Bluetooth settings and look for your Google Home device. It should be there available as a Bluetooth connection option. 8. Tap on it to connect and allow whichever permissions it asks that you are comfortable with.

9. And that's it! You are connected over Bluetooth. 10. To remove a connected device, you'll head back into Google Home "Paired Bluetooth devices" and tap the "X" next to devices you want unpaired.

11. Going forward, as you disconnect and want to reconnect, just look for your Google Home in your Bluetooth settings. It should always be there for connection once you have previously connected. Here's to hoping a voice command to take the place of this arrives soon.

Trello App Update Brings Support for Launcher Shortcuts and Android O's Notification Channels

Tim — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 11:51:18 +0000

Following the announcement of Android O's official launch date this morning (August 21), Trello has updated its app to support Android O and a few of its features. As noted in the app's changelog, users will now have access to Android O's Notification Channels, which grants better control of notifications. The update also includes support for the various icon layouts users can select from in Android O. If you missed it, app icon masking is native to Android now, so if you set your device to have circle or even squircle icons, Trello's app icon will look right at home. We've covered all of the changes in Android O, so if you're interested to learn more, click this. Lastly, the app now supports Launcher Shortcuts (pictured above). This grants quick access to specific boards inside of your Trello account.

We've been hard at work getting things ready for Android O.

You'll notice a new icon that supports any shape your Obattu phone's launcher throws at us.

There's support for the new notification channels so you have better control of notifications when running Android Oatmeal Cookie.

Ô mai, I almost forgot, we've added launcher shortcuts to help you add cards and get to your recent boards as quickly as you can.

As you can see, Trello jests with a few O-named desserts in this changelog, but don't go putting money on Oatmeal Cookie or Obattu. We're thinking it's Oreo! If your line of works requires usage of Trello, go grab that update and get excited for the upcoming arrival of Android O! Play Link

Buy an LG G6 or V20 on an EIP at T-Mobile and Add a Line, Get One Free

Tim — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:03:53 +0000

For a limited time at T-Mobile, if you purchase an LG G6 or V20 on an Equipment Installment Plan (EIP) and add a line to your plan, you'll receive a G6 or V20 for free via a rebate. This promo is an easy way to grab a new phone and save up to $500 when doing so. Now, be aware that this rebate is a prepaid MasterCard that you have to sign up for. Once you have your new devices in-hand, you'll head to the T-Mobile Promotions Hub, input your purchase info, then await the arrival of your rebate card. That card can then be used to pay off the second device or be put towards whatever else you may want. For pricing, the G6 is available for $20 down and $20/month ($500 full retail). The V20 is priced at $0 down and $20/month ($480 full retail). Keep in mind, the LG V30 is right around the corner (announcement set for August 31), and it probably won't take too long for BOGO deals or something along those lines to pop up, if you don't mind waiting a bit. Links: LG G6 | LG V20 // T-Mobile

Android O is Coming August 21, Minutes After the Solar Eclipse (Updated: Oreo?)

Kellen — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 08:39:33 +0000

It's official: Android O will be released on (or at least named) on August 21, the same day as the big total solar eclipse! To get us hyped, Google has opened up a special landing page over at the Android site with a countdown to the unveiling, which will go down at 2:40PM Eastern (11:40AM Pacific). For those who haven't been following the eclipse saga and are confused by the timing, the solar eclipse expected to end at around 11:37AM, so 3 minutes later, we'll get Android O. The special Android eclipse page will feature live video streams from NASA and also the reveal by Google in NYC. You can catch all of that action at this link on August 21. UPDATE: Here's something funny. The video below was also posted to Google+ and the person who uploaded it named the video file "GoogleOreo_Teaser_0817_noDroids%2B%25281%2529.mp4." See anything in there? Yeah, it says "GoogleOreo_Teaser" as plain as day. Is that a confirmation that Android O is Oreo? Well, no. Google likes messing with us, but they did immediately delete that G+ post (it was here) after that bit was spotted and replaced it with another post and new video titled "OctopusTeaser.mp4." You tell me - Oreo or nah? https://twitter.com/Android/status/898568214564753408 // reddit

If Only LG Put the Time Spent on Wallpaper Videos Into Their Android Skin...

Kellen — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 08:21:18 +0000

LG's Android skin, currently known as UX 6.0+, is by no means my favorite. It's not that attractive to look at, it's bloated with stuff and things, and more than likely is the reason I keep finding myself setting most LG phones aside after polishing off a review. And that's too bad, because LG's hardware is getting really good, I like what they are doing with dual cameras over other implementations, and the V30 is poised to be their best phone yet, maybe by a mile. But you know what LG is doing with their time and money instead of revamping that Android skin into something that could be a selling point? Creating professionally made videos on how they spent an enormous amount of energy putting together a wallpaper. Yes, a wallpaper. The LG V30 will have a wallpaper created from a vision of "realistic light movement and mysticism" that utilized angles, colors, contrast, and "dispersion of light" because wallpapers need a "mysterious atmosphere" to be great. I'm not making this up. LG - and this isn't the first time - created both a blog post and 1-minute long video to talk about the phone's stock wallpaper. I just can't. Happy Friday! // LG

Opinion: 2017 is the Best Looking Lineup of Android Devices to Date

Tim — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 14:37:10 +0000

It doesn't seem like long ago when Android devices had faux leather backs with plastic faux stitching, but thankfully, we've come a long way since then. A few years back, if you were looking for a truly attractive Android phone, you didn't have many options. Sure, while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think we can speak generally that most Android devices just weren't all that hot. As we've seen so far, 2017 has changed the landscape of device hardware drastically. Android OEMs are using less bezels, ultra high resolution displays, and are sticking to their guns when it comes to creating a device that will not only appeal to Android nerds, but the smartphone-buying public as a whole. I'd like to recap what 2017 has brought us so far, followed by what's up next. By the end, I think you'll agree with me in saying that 2017's lineup of Android devices is easily the best looking we've had to choose from to date. Galaxy S8 / Galaxy S8+ This is my opinion piece, so I'll just say it right now: The Galaxy S8 is Samsung's best designed phone ever. Yes, I do think the fingerprint placement is completely terrible, and I've talked about that before, but I can look past that when I have this device in-hand. It's gorgeous. With that Infinity QHD display and Samsung's implementation of on-screen buttons (finally!), Samsung knocked it out of the park with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. This year, Samsung and LG kicked off this whole less-is-more movement in the bezel department, so let me send a quick shoutout to both of them for making this trend happen. Samsung has had its Edge series of devices for a couple of years now, so slimming down bezels isn't entirely new for them, but with the ditching of the home button and stretching of the display, there isn't a much better viewing experience on a smartphone than on a Galaxy S8 and S8+. Let it be known, I'm not here to critique the complete package that is the Galaxy S8, like its software and battery life (we have reviews for that), but let's reflect on the beauty that is this design. Essential Phone After waiting patiently for a couple of months, the Essential Phone is now up for pre-order, with general availability happening later this month. Now, I will admit that this phone's design is somewhat polarizing with its front-facing camera that cuts into the display, but we can all admit that the Essential Phone is rather intriguing, right? Essential Phone is another device with extremely thin bezels and rounded display corners, leading to what should be a very immersive viewing experience. While we haven't had a chance to play with this device in-hand yet, we can only assume from the published press renders that it will look just as good in person as it does when looking at it through a computer monitor. One super positive design note we should mention, which makes it just as if not more sexy than the Galaxy S8, check out that fingerprint location. That's how you do it, Samsung. HTC U11 Now, this post isn't just about good looking front sides. We like the backside, too! I'll be the first to say that I'm not exactly taken away by the beauty of the HTC U11's front, but its backside... now that's something else entirely. For the back, HTC utilizes a super reflective "liquid glass" surface. The phone launched with Silver, Blue, and Black options, but when the company announced and released the above pictured Solar Red option, my desire for this phone spiked. It's so hot we even dedicated an entire post to just pictures of the phone. Whether you're a fan of squeezy bezels or not, you have to admit that the U11 is one of the best looking phones HTC has produced. LG V30 LG has not yet officially unveiled the V30, but thanks to a recent leak from @evleaks, we're pretty sure that what you see above is what LG will deliver at its August 31 event. If that's the case, oh boy, the V30 is smokin' and easily the company's best looking device to date. First off, it appears the company has ditched the ticker display (boo-yah!), and from what we already know officially thanks to LG's hypebeasting, the phone will have a 6" FullVision POLED display. And yup, that fingerprint reader placement is looking good. So, not only does the front look great, but the backside, with its dual rear-facing camera setup, also looks good. We're excited about this entry into the V series, so stay tuned for plenty of coverage about it. Pixel XL 2 Here's another phone that has yet to be unveiled, but given how many renders and leaks we've seen, we're quite confident that the above render is what we should roughly expect. Because the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are reported to be somewhat different, we're gonna stick to saying the Pixel XL 2 will be a bit more appealing with its minimal frontside bezels. If this is indeed the Pixel XL 2's design, then we've got another great looking phone for 2017. There's a large and immersive display, handsome looking backside with well-place fingerprint reader, that glassy ode to last year's Pixel design, and what appears to be a massive camera sensor on the backside To say we're excited for the Pixel XL 2 is an understatement, because we're very pumped for it. Another attractive aspect of the upcoming Pixel phones is that they will run Android O out of the box, something none of these other phones can say. If you think software is sexy, as well as software updates, then Pixel phones should be at the top of your list. We still aren't sure when Google will announce this device, but we're thinking October-ish, since that's when last year's Pixel devices were launched. Galaxy Note 8 Based on the above render, we can safely say that the Galaxy Note 8 could just be a larger Galaxy S8+, only with an S Pen and dual rear-facing camera (first for a Samsung flagship). Yes, the fingerprint reader placement isn't ideal, but hey, not much we can do about that. What we can focus on is a large Infinity display, premium glass and metal build materials, and that nice contrast between the black camera portion and Gold body. It's actually pretty nice looking. Samsung's Unpacked event is scheduled for August 23, and if you've been paying attention, you'll know this launch is a massive deal for Samsung since last year's Galaxy Note 7 ended in disaster. We have high hopes for this phone and my biggest hope is that fire jokes will die soon after its launch. People just can't seem to shy away from an easy joke at Samsung's expense.

With this post, I wanted to highlight that Android phones are getting incredibly attractive, and 2017's lineup attests to that. Look at these phones. We're getting gorgeous displays, premium build materials from nearly all OEMs, and even mobile camera technology is improving so much so that almost every flagship device has a shooter worth writing home about. Needless to say, it's a good time to be an Android fan and we're only half way through 2017 with plenty more hotness on the horizon!

Thursday Poll: Do You Have a Home Phone?

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:50:32 +0000

A little over a year ago, we tried to find out how many of you still own a home phone and subscribe to home phone service. At the time, 35% of you still did! We asked because Google had just announced its new Fiber Phone, which seemed silly even if it was a modernized take on the home phone. This week, though, Google is back with an even more modern version of the home phone - Google Home. That's right, for those who missed the news, you can now place calls with your Google Home (more details) for free to businesses and your personal contacts using your voice. No additional hardware is required, you just need to have the latest software update that is rolling out now. While you can't take inbound calls yet, Google has essentially setup their smart home speaker as the future of home phones. So we thought we'd ask again as the topic is relevant once more. Do you still have a home phone? If so, I'd love to know why. [poll id="459"]

Google Now Feed Loses Card-Swiping and Nerds are Losing Their Minds

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 11:46:13 +0000

Google has been making numerous adjustments to the Google App and its Feed (formerly Google Now) for most of 2017. We've seen things like new panels emerge with a separation of your interests and daily schedule, shortcuts to popular Google Search tools, and even a transparent UI. All of these tweaks haven't been a big deal, but you can tell that Google is trying to find a good mix for its original assistant idea that displays your favorite things while helping you manage the day's tasks. The latest change, which includes that semi-transparent UI on some devices, has started to rollout more widely today and nerds are throwing some pretty solid fits about it. We're seeing it on v7.9.18.21, though it's not necessarily tied to version since this initially showed up months ago and has been trickling out. What is this change? It includes a semi-transparent Google panel off to the side of home screens for phones like the Pixel. But what has people up in arms is the fact that Google killed off the ability to swipe away some cards when in the feed on the Google App. You see, from the beginning, if Google showed you a card in the Feed, you could swipe it left or right to dismiss it as if you were done with its contents. With this latest change, you have to tap the menu of each card before telling Google that you are "Done with this story," that you aren't interested in its contents or source, that you want to share it or it may be a topic to follow going forward, etc.

It's actually pretty inconvenient! I'll even admit that it was a poor move by Google. Swiping cards away has become a natural move to dismiss items in the Google App's Feed. Now, you have to tap a small menu button before finding the action you want to take. What's up with that Google? Well, according to a Googler, it was done on purpose.

Great. Thanks, Google! With that said, is it worth responses to Google like this?

Look at Google helping Samsung with Bixby adoption! I should also point out that the Google Feed experience is starting to become a bit of a mess. Not only is swiping gone, but with devices like the Pixel, you have two Feed experiences. You have the semi-transparent version I showed you above with the upper-right shortcut to your "Upcoming" box - this version is the Pixel Launcher side panel - and then you also have the Google App standard version that launches when tap on that "Upcoming" button. Look at these two.

One (on the left) is the home screen panel from the Pixel Launcher and the other (on the right) is what you get when you tap on "Upcoming" or open the Google App directly. They are similar, but not the same, like they used to be. To make matters even weirder , in the "Upcoming" panel, you can still swipe items away. I'm not kidding. You can't swipe topic items, but you can swipe away your upcoming items. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You can read more hilarious, over-the-top angry nerd reactions at Google's Product Forums and post your own.

ASUS Announces Four Devices in the ZenFone 4 Family, No Word Yet on US Availability

Tim — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:30:22 +0000

At a launch event in Taiwan, ASUS announced four devices in the ZenFone 4 family. To get it out of the way to spare you any confusion, there's the ZenFone 4, ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4 Selfie, and ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro. That's not confusing, right? The big dog of the family is the ZenFone 4 Pro. Specs for this device include a Snapdragon 835 processor, dual rear-facing cameras, 3,600mAh battery, NFC, 5.5" AMOLED FHD display, and it's available in White and Black. The regular ZenFone 4 has a Snapdragon 660 processor, up to 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3,300mAh battery, and 5.5" FHD display. On the back, you'll find a 12MP camera with OIS and an aperture of f/1.8. For those who are obsessed with awesome selfies, there is the ZenFone 4 Selfie and Selfie Pro. The Selfie Pro is capable of 24-megapixel selfies, thanks to a Sony-made 12MP IMX362 sensor. Other specs include a Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB RAM, and AMOLED FHD display. If you want the non-Pro variant, you'll get a dual 20-megapixel front camera, but a decrease in other specs to help make the phone more affordable. For example, the ZenFone 4 Selfie comes with an unnamed Qualcomm processor, so ASUS probably won't be marketing this one too heavily. As of right now, we have no info for US launch. If we hear something, we'll let you know. // ASUS [2] [3]

YouTube TV Adds Another 14 Markets Including Boston and Seattle (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 10:24:33 +0000

Google added another 14 markets to its YouTube TV line-up today, growing the total from 15 to 29. This is the second big expansion in just under a month and also since the service first launched. The full list of new markets is:

Baltimore
Boston
Cincinnati
Columbus
Jacksonville
Las Vegas
Louisville
Memphis
Nashville
Pittsburgh
San Antonio
Seattle
Tampa
West Palm Beach

After initially launching in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago, YouTube TV and its $35 per month price tag sure has branched out. Not only that, but the channel line-up is growing as well. You can sign-up for YouTube TV here. UPDATE: Google appears to have sent CNET a lengthy list of upcoming markets that are scheduled to arrive in the "coming weeks." Those markets are:

Austin
Birmingham
Cleveland-Akron
Denver
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek
Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem
Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York
Hartford-New Haven
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Milwaukee
Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News
Oklahoma City
Raleigh-Durham
Salt Lake City
San Diego
St. Louis

// YouTube TV Help

Latest Chrome Beta Update Drops the Address Bar to the Bottom by Default

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 09:01:42 +0000

The moving of the address bar in Chrome has now passed from Dev to Beta, thanks to the latest Chrome Beta update on Android. This change first showed up a couple of months back in Chrome Dev, but the thing with Dev builds is you never know if Dev changes will survive onto the next, more stable version. This bottom situated address bar, also known as Chrome Home, appears to be sticking around for a while. Confused at the change I'm talking about? Take a look at the screenshots below of the latest Chrome Beta (v61.0.3163.51). As you'll notice, the address bar is now located at the bottom of the screen. The layout of it hasn't changed, only the location.

Additionally, you can now do a half-swipe up on the new address bar to access your website shortcuts, or go full-wipe to bring up a full-screen page with stories you may be interested in. Either swipe will also show you a bottom menu for Home, Downloads, Bookmarks, and History. For those curious, the new "New Tab" page is the half-swipe screen below on the left. You'll find shots of the new incognito and tab preview pages too.

OK, so what if you want no part of this new default setting of the Chrome Home and its bottom address bar? You can opt-out, for now! To turn it off and bring your life back to normalcy, head into chrome://flags. You'll then want to search for "Chrome Home," where you'll be able to switch it from "Default" to "Disabled." That should do the trick. Everyone seeing this change yet? I know Tim hasn't quite experienced this...whatever it is. Google Play Link Cheers Ari!

The V30 is LG's Best Looking Device Ever

Tim — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 08:57:58 +0000

If you've been following LG's hardware evolution over the years, you'll know that things seemingly got worse before they got better. We had to get through the G4 and its incredibly cheap leather before arriving at the intriguing G5 and then premium G6. And interestingly, it's not only LG that went through this type of hardware design pain. Samsung had speed bumps to maneuver, too (cough Galaxy S5 cough). Point being, in 2017, both companies are proving that they can make what we'd label as sexy devices. Without further ado, this is the LG V30. Published by @evleaks, this leak shows off the backside, frontside, and siding of the upcoming V30, and if I'm being honest with you, this is LG's best looking hardware to date. You can see the subtle curve of the display, minimal bezel, fingerprint reader right where I want it, and no ridiculous secondary ticker display. Somewhat obviously, if you were going to compare it to another Android device on the market, you'd go with the Galaxy S8 and S8+. While some may complain about that, I don't necessarily see an issue. I mean, at least the fingerprint reader isn't directly next to the camera, am I right? For confirmed specs, the V30 will have a 6" POLED FullVision display and cameras with an aperture of f/1.6 (a first for smartphones). That info comes directly from LG. Other reported specs include 4GB RAM, Snapdragon 835, as well as all of the other specs you assume to find on a high-end 2017 flagship. If you're curious about the software we'll see on it, LG has also teased UX 6.0+, too. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is the first V series device I am truly excited for. The V30 is scheduled to be unveiled on August 31. // @evleaks

Essential Phone Will Get Major OS Updates for 2 Years, Monthly Security Patches for 3

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 08:18:04 +0000

Because Andy Rubin made the Essential Phone, being the father of Android and all, we sort of assumed that the phone would receive timely updates for a long time to come. Rubin and his team haven't said much officially about updates so far, but today he did address the situation in a blog post announcing the phone's availability. According to Rubin, they plan to issue a guaranteed 2 years worth of Android OS updates, along with monthly security patches for 3 years. That matches Google's Nexus and Pixel timeline for software support. I'll let you decide if you think that's long enough. Unfortunately, he didn't say anything about how quickly they plan to update the Essential Phone. Will they push updates within weeks of a new release or will it take as long (months) as some of the other phone manufacturers? We just don't know. One would hope that they'll come quickly, especially with Essential's approach to a simple, minimal software experience and the fact that Rubin is behind it all. Anyone pre-order? // Essential

Essential Phone Now Available for Pre-Order at Sprint, Other Retailers Today

Kellen — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 06:39:14 +0000

Today appears to be Essential Phone launch day! Both Essential and Sprint just dropped announcements, saying that you can buy (or pre-order) the phone this morning. If you want the unlocked version, you'll want to head directly to Essential's site or to Best Buy. If you are a Sprint customer and need to go the Sprint purchase route, you'll find Sprint-specific variants at Sprint's site as well as Best Buy. As a reminder, the Essential Phone costs $699 and will work on every major US carrier. Sprint is hosting a launch discount, though, and it drops 50% off the price, making it $14.58 per month with Sprint's lease program. Best Buy has the same deal. As of right now, I'm only finding a pre-order link at Sprint with no word on a ship date. Essential's site and Best Buy are still on "Coming soon!" or "Reserve!" settings. We'll update this post once those flip. Finally, Sprint only has the Black Moon color option available, which makes sense since we already know that Essential is only letting early reservations buy the Black Moon too, not the Pure White model. Sprint specifically states that Pure White will be available "at a later date." I'd imagine that's going to be the case once all these links go live. Essential Phone Links:

Best Buy (Unlocked)
Best Buy (Sprint)
Sprint
Essential.com

// Sprint | Essential

DEAL: Because Headphone Jacks are Dying - AUKEY's Wireless Earbuds are Just $16.99

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 15:53:31 +0000

The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 likely won't have headphone jacks. That's going to make a whole bunch of people mad, but it also means that while being mad, you'll still need some headphones to listen to as you sulk through your latest Dashboard Confessional playlist. Because you may not want to enter the wireless headphone world by emptying your bank account, you should entertain some cheaper options, like AUKEY's newest wireless headphones that are just $16.99 right now ($8 off). These headphones are water and sweat-resistant (IPX4) for you workout-types, connect over Bluetooth 4.1, magnetically clip together for easy storage, and should last up to 10 hours on a single charge (That's not bad!). Plus, they are a simple black color with various tips to help you get the right fit and will even let you take calls or control playback. Oh yeah, and $16.99. Use code "IZJM7G4Q" at checkout to see the discount apply.

Amazon Link

DEAL: LG Watch Style is Just $108 Right Now ($142 Off)

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 15:27:55 +0000

I don't know how long this deal with last, but you can get the LG Watch Style over at eBay for $107.99 at the moment. That $142 discount comes via coupon code that eBay is running on all sorts stuff. Yes, you read that right, this is a $250 Android Wear watch that has a $142 discount on it. Go get one. We reviewed the LG Watch Style back in February and weren't loving it at that time, but that was mostly because of the $250 price tag. At just over $100, I'd say it's now 100% worth a look. LG created this watch in partnership with Google to launch Android Wear 2.0. It's built well, has a minimal styling that you could wear with anything on the daily, solid battery life, and a rotating crown that few watches have. Again, it's pretty nice anyway, but at $108, I'm not sure how you can pass on this if you were at all considering a smartwatch. Hit that link below and use code "PSCHOOL20" at checkout to see the discount apply.

eBay Link

Nokia 8, a Flagship Phone Made by HMD, is Official for Europe With ZEISS Optics

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 14:14:04 +0000

HMD announced its latest Nokia-branded phone today, the Nokia 8. This phone is without a doubt a flagship level phone that is headed for Europe in September. It may never come to the US, but should it, you'll know about it, thanks to this post. The Nokia 8 features a 5.3-inch QHD LCD display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3090mAh battery, Nokia OZO Audio, and dual rear 13MP cameras with ZEISS optics. It's packed, see? Outside of the specs, HMD says that the Nokia 8 has the "most advanced aluminium unibody design to date." The process for creating this phone starts wit ha single block of 6000 series aluminium and is then refined over 40 stages that includes machining, anodizing, and polishing. Some models take over 20 hours to complete. That seems a bit much and also kind of cool. Like, I'd brag about that sh*t to my nerd friends all day, every day. The phone also includes a Dual-Sight feature that uses both front and rear cameras to help you live stream to the world. HMD is referring to this as #Bothie, which is embarrassing on a number of levels. What's not embarrassing is the audio experience you should get with the OZO Audio I mentioned above. This 3-mic setup allows for spatial surround sound capture that'll make your 4K videos melt the hearts of ears. Finally, HMD reminds us in today's announcements that they ship pure Android on Nokia phones and the Nokia 8 is no different. With monthly security updates and regular additional updates, Nokia phones might be the non-Pixel choice for Android purists. Again, the Nokia 8 is not headed to the US as far as we know, but should rollout in Europe throughout September.

Nokia 8 Specs

[table id=75 responsive=scroll /] // Nokia | HMD

Q&A, FAQ Section Rolling Out to Google Maps Listings

Tim — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:17:06 +0000

There's likely been a time when you've had a question concerning a place you were thinking about going to. For example, maybe you're curious about outside seating at a local eatery or want to know about parking at a particular business. Well, Google Maps has a new feature this week, allowing you to ask these important questions with knowledgable users fielding them. The way it works is pretty simple. Simply find the place you have a question about inside of Google Maps, scroll down a bit until you see the new Q&A section, then ask your question. This question is then routed to the business owner or someone (a Local Guide) who can answer your questions. From the business owner's perspective, they can setup a FAQ on their Google Maps listing to field questions that are asked frequently. If you think you're a knowledgeable local, you can be proactive about answering other people's questions. To do so, find a local business's listing, head to the Q&A section, then get to answering. All answers are tied to your account, and if the answer is thumbed up, it'll remain near the top so everyone can know how helpful you are. Good job, you. This feature is rolling out right now worldwide, and from what I can tell, it's already there on many business listings. // Google

Google Home Calling: Everything You Need to Know

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 12:04:08 +0000

You now know that Google Home calling is starting to rollout and should be on your units within a week if it isn't already. As fun as that sounds, blasting out Google Home calls to friends, family, and random businesses after an evening full of drinking, I'm sure you have some questions too. In this post, we'll try to answer as many as we can with a little help from Google.

When is Google Home calling arriving?

Again, it started rolling out today! Google expects that to continue "over the coming week," so you should have calling on your Google Home within a few days if it hasn't already arrived.

How to place a call on Google Home

1. With a Google Home in house and connected to WiFi, just say, "Hey Google, call ." If calling is live on your devices, it should fire right up and walk you through any additional steps needed. If it's not available yet, you'll be told so. 2. You can specify businesses by name to have them called, be more vague and suggest something like "Call nearest liquor store," call individual people on your contacts list, ask Home to "redial," or spell out a full phone number. 3. If you call someone who has multiple numbers listed, Google will read out the numbers and ask which you'd like to call. 4. To end a call you can tap on the top of Google Home or say, "Hey Google, hang up/stop/end call." 5. That's seriously it. If your Home is updated with the feature, you just make calls by asking it to call people or businesses.

Use Google Assistant while on Google Home calls

While in call, you can place people on hold and ask the Google Assistant info. You do this by either pressing and holding the top of Google Home (the touch sensitive part) or by asking for help with the "Hey, Google" command. During that Assistant session, the other person on the line can't hear the Assistant nor can you hear the person on the other end. It's very much a private Assistant session that ends once Google gets you your requested information. Also, you can't use all Google Assistant features on a call. Here is the list of stuff that won't work while on a Google Home call:

Listen to music, news, or podcasts
Listen to My Day
Use Apps for the Assistant
Make another phone call
Play games

Using Google Contacts with Google Home calls

Google Home uses your Google Contacts list to help it place calls to individuals. In order to get that synced up properly, you'll need to head into the Google Home app, make sure you are on the same WiFi network as your Google Home units, then run through Menu>More Settings>Devices and choose the device you want to have access to your Google Contacts. For each device you want to give access, you'll then toggle the "Personal results" option on.

Additionally, to sync contacts everywhere, make sure you head into the Google app on your phone and follow through Settings>Accounts and Privacy>Google activity controls>Device information. Turn that on if it isn't.

Caller ID for recipients

When you place Google Home calls, they'll show up as “unknown” or “No Caller ID” on the other end to the recipient. Google says that they will allow you to show your mobile number later on this year, but not right away as the option isn't ready for prime time. However, if you are a Google Voice or Project Fi user, you can have your number show up from day 1. To set that up, head into the Google Home app, slide out the side Menu>More settings>Calls. Once in there, you'll see the screen below and can choose your Google Voice or Project Fi number. If you'd rather your Home calls remain unknown, there is an "Unlisted" option too. My guess is that when the option to show your mobile number arrives, it'll be found in this exact spot.

Google Home calling multi-user access

Since Google Home supports multiple users by voice, Google Home calling does as well. Google will use each person's own contacts list when placing calls to individuals. This, of course, only works properly if you've setup multiple users.

Can you call 911?

Nope! At this time, 911 is not supported.

Can you accept incoming calls?

Nope! Google says that this option isn't currently possible nor do they have details to share at this time. This also means you can't block people, which makes sense since...they...can't...call you anyway.

Does Google record your calls?

Nope! Google records the "OK Google" or "Hey Google" command each time it is said, but then stops recording once that has finished. So should you ask Google Home to call someone, it won't continue recording as you talk - it'll stop the minute you finish the "Hey Google, call Bob" line. For more info on Google Home calling, head over to Google Support.

Buy Google Home: Best Buy | Walmart | Target

Google Home Gets Free Calling in the US and Canada

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 11:14:26 +0000

After first introducing phone call capabilities to Google Home back at Google I/O, Google says that the feature has now arrived and will rollout to Home units starting today and continuing over the coming week. That means you'll be able to yell out, "Hey, Google, call Mom" and Google Home will do just that, for free. The calling portion is actually a Google Assistant feature that is now baked into Google Home, in case you were wondering. It works like it does on your phone, only now you have access to the option through your home speaker assistant. Google says that you'll be able to make free calls to your personal contacts list (might want to update that) and "millions" of businesses across the US and Canada. The calls will display as "unknown" or "No Caller ID" when they show up on the other end. By the end of the year, Google says they'll make it possible to show your mobile number. For Google Voice and Project Fi users, you can have your number shown right away.

UPDATE: We've put together a Google Home calling guide for you right here.

To learn more about setting up calling on Google Home, head over to Google Support. // Google

Google Improves Collab Tools in Sheets, Slides, and Docs

Tim — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:57:15 +0000

Google is rolling out many improvements for collaborative users of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Moving forward, users should find it much easier to finish up documents and forms that require multiple people. Specifically for Docs, individual users inside of a collaboration can name versions of a document, preview "clean versions" of documents, and also accept or reject all edit suggestions at the same time in a document. What's New in Google Docs

Name versions of a Doc, Sheet or Slide
Preview “clean versions” of Docs
Accept or reject all edit suggestions at once in your Doc
Suggest changes in a Doc from an Android, iPhone or iPad device

On top of that, Google is also introducing new templates with built-in add-ons, plus the ability to create your own. For example, one of the templates is a standard NDA form that can collect signatures using the DocuSign add-on for Google Docs. As you can see, these changes are geared towards G Suite users who work with others, so if this describes you, have at it. // G Suite [2]

Google Now Provides Pollen Forecasts in Search

Tim — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:02:58 +0000

For all you folks suffering from pollen allergies, Google is now providing pollen forecasts via Google Search. To fire up the forecast, simply say, "Pollen forecast" into Google, then get all of the info delivered right to you. The forecast shows five days, what type of allergen is likely to bug you (example: Grass), and tells you whether folks with allergies may experience symptoms that day. According to Google, this info is pulled directly from Weather.com, so you can rest assured that the info is as accurate as possible. Additionally, if pollen gets high in your area, you can receive reminders inside of the Google app to help make you aware before it's too late. Dang you, killer pollen! // Google

Misfit Vapor Will Have 'Connected GPS,' Not Standalone as Previously Thought

Tim — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 08:46:15 +0000

We're learning new information about the Misfit Vapor this morning, that snazzy looking Android Wear-powered $199 smartwatch that was first shown off back at CES, then later detailed in March. According to a post on Misfit's Instagram account, the Vapor will not have standalone GPS as previously thought, but instead, connected GPS. For those of you who take your wearables for runs, you'll already know there's a big difference there. Standalone GPS means the device can pinpoint your location without the need of being connected to a smartphone. This allows you to track your runs and location data, all without needing to take your smartphone with you. With connected GPS, the device specifically needs your smartphone for that GPS information, making it a not-so-great choice for your next half marathon. Here's what Misfit said in reply to the questions regarding GPS.

The Vapor will now offer connected GPS - you can view your distance, steps, and calories burned on your wrist when you go for a run. Additionally, you can track your route, view step-by-step directions on a map, and collect data when your phone is paired and near you.

If you read Misfit's press release from March, then you'll see why there was confusion. In that release, nowhere does it say "connected GPS," just simply, "GPS." There's a big difference between the two, and for those who were thinking this would be a great fitness tracker at just $199, this does change things a bit. While it's still a good looking smartwatch, the lack of standalone GPS and NFC may be a deal breaker. Are you still excited for Vapor or are you tired of waiting for it? // Misfit | Android Police

T-Mobile Lights Up First 600MHz Network Sites to Quickly Expand LTE Coverage

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 08:31:15 +0000

T-Mobile promised to start lighting up their newly acquired "super-premium low-band spectrum" well before the end of 2017. Today, they delivered on that promise by firing up their first 600MHz LTE network sites in Wyoming. To recap, T-Mobile picked up billions worth of 600MHz low-band spectrum at a recent FCC auction to try and bring their network to the next level, cover millions more customers in new locations, and offer a more stable, far-reaching network experience to all customers. This is the type of spectrum that reaches better through buildings, while also adding distance in range from a tower. It was a potentially game-changing spectrum haul for the Uncarrier as it tries to fully challenge the likes of Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile has said from day 1 that it plans to light up a bunch of this spectrum before the end of the year and that the first sites should go live during August. Again, that's exactly what happened today. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, T-Mobile says they launched the "first in the world" 600MHz LTE network sites and plan to fire up more at a "record-shattering pace." The rollout for this 600MHz LTE network will continue on this year in Wyoming, Northwest Oregon, West Texas, Southwest Kansas, the Oklahoma panhandle, Western North Dakota, Maine, Coastal North Carolina, Central Pennsylvania, Central Virginia and Eastern Washington. With those areas lit up, T-Mobile's LTE coverage should jump from 315 million people to 321 million. Just remember that you'll need a phone that can connect to this 600MHz LTE network and there aren't currently any that do. So while T-Mobile is building out this new network and bragging up the joint, none of you can do anything with it. LG and Samsung will have phones that are capable of connecting before the end of the year, though. 2018 should be fun for T-Mobile customers. // T-Mobile

Essential Phone is Ready for Purchase, But Only in Black Moon Color

Kellen — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 05:42:39 +0000

Last night, just as we were passing out here on the west coast, Essential started emailing those who made a reservation for the device, letting them know that they could now place an order and receive their phone within 7 days. A bunch of our readers confirmed that they received the emails, with a few even dropping the $699 immediately to ensure their order was one of the first. This is what the email looked like and also the order confirmation screen:

Unfortunately for some of us, those emails came later and with a different kind of note. You see, the only version of the Essential Phone that is ready for order right now is the Black Moon color, not the Pure White. If you reserved Black Moon, you really should have seen an email already with instructions on how to purchase. If you went for Pure White, then you also should have seen an email, only it looks like this and tells you that Black Moon is the only version shipping within 7 days. The Pure White model won't be ready for "a couple of weeks."

Finally, as you may have already figured out, the only people who are allowed to buy the phone at the moment are those who reserved one. If you are just now jumping on the Essential bandwagon, you are likely out of luck at the moment. Essential hasn't opened up general orders by any means - this is a reservation ordering period only. To put it simply, if you want Black Moon and reserved the Essential Phone, you can buy one right now. Go check your inbox. If you wanted Pure White, that's just not ready yet. If you don't want to wait for it to become available and instead will be satisfied with Black Moon, you can email Essential at the address listed above to have your order changed. If you failed to get in on the early reservations, well, you've got more time to wait. Mind you, this is all happening without Essential actually announcing anything. At this point, I'm assuming they'll make some form of announcement today, though it's impossible to tell with these guys. But yeah, you can buy the Essential Phone! Well, some of you can. Cheers Billy, Brian, and everyone else!

DEAL: Save $31 on a Samsung Chromebook Plus, Brings it Down to $419

Tim — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:40:03 +0000

For a limited time, you can grab a Samsung-made Chromebook Plus on Amazon, priced at $419. That's $31 off the typical $449, the price it's currently listed at on the official Google Store. While $400+ may seem like a lot for a Chromebook, know that these are Samsung's flagship Chrome OS laptops (this and the Chromebook Pro), full of features that make up for the price. The device features a 12.3" IPS touchscreen (2400 x 1600), hexa-core processor (Dual ARM Cortex-A72, Quad Cortex-A53 big.LITTLE configuration), 4GB RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, up to 9 hours of battery life, dual USB Type-C ports, microSD support, and a headphone jack. And yes, it supports Android apps and comes with an S Pen. If this Chromebook is the one you've been eyeing, now's a good time to check it out. Amazon Link

Instagram Comments Get Threaded for Easier Communication

Tim — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:59:19 +0000

Moving forward, comments on Instagram will be placed in threads, making the whole commenting situation on the photo and video-sharing service so much more lovely. For example, if you're commenting a friend on Kim K's latest post, all of your comments will be threaded together, allowing for the full context of your conversation to be previewed. If you know how the current comment system is, which is where each comment is posted as a new comment to the bottom of the single thread, this new implementation is greatly appreciated. Here's how comment threads will look moving forward. Thank you, Instagram, this is a welcomed change. // Instagram

UE BOOM 2 and MEGABOOM Update Makes Them Portable Alexa-Powered Speakers

Tim — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:28:48 +0000

A firmware update rolling out to the Ultimate Ears (UE) BOOM 2 and MEGABOOM speakers brings Amazon Alexa to the devices, allowing owners to take Alexa wherever they go. Once the speaker is updated and the Android app that pairs your phone and speaker is updated, users need only press the Bluetooth button on the speaker, then speak their commands. All of Alexa's Skills are available, as well as access to all of your music via Amazon's library. Basically, if your Echo can do something, these UE speakers should be able to do the same, thanks to this update. Interestingly, UE specifically mentions that users of a Pixel device, OnePlus device, or Huawei Mate 9 will not have access to this feature. Whether it's a Bluetooth thing, always-listening Google Assistant thing, or something else completely, who knows. If you have a different phone and one of these speakers, though, get on it. Grab the Android app update by following the links below. If you don't have one of these speakers, but are interested, we've got Amazon links, too. And yup, they're on sale with Amazon Prime. BOOM App Link | MEGABOOK App Link Amazon Links:

BOOM 2 ($146+)
MEGABOOM ($235)

Google Pixel 2 Hit the FCC Today and Revealed a Ton About the Phone

Kellen — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:14:20 +0000

On August 15 of last year, the HTC-made Google Pixel and Pixel XL arrived at the FCC (Fun fact: They were still "Nexus" phones then), confirming reports of HTC making the phones while also revealing some specs. Today, being August 15, HTC has once again returned to show off their latest creation, a phone we believe to be the Google Pixel 2. How do we know this is the next Google Pixel phone? We have some nice clues. First of all, look at this set of imagery that walks us through where to find the e-label for the FCC. Anything in particular here standout? Click to zoom if you need to.

For one, those are the Pixel navigation buttons that are an exclusive to Pixel phones. Also, HTC only uses capacitive buttons still, so we know this more than likely isn't some new HTC phone that has managed to steal Google's Pixel navigation style. Second, this Settings menu sure looks a heck of a lot like stock Android's and not HTC's Sense skin. Finally, this phone is running Android 8.0.1, which is something exciting since Android 8.0.1 doesn't exist yet. Can you imagine that HTC would create a phone and get it tested at the FCC while running an unreleased version of Android before Google? Nah, didn't think so. But this specific set of screenshots shows us more. Look in the center screenshot under the "Languages" section - see anything fun there? That's right, we have a confirmation on the Pixel 2 having an "Active Edge" that allows you to "squeeze for your Assistant." Yep, the rumors of the Pixel 2 having a squeezable edge were correct. We're not done, though! This phone in particular has 64GB storage. Notice the "21% used" storage amount with 50.66GB free? A little math gets us to the 64GB, which has to have you wondering if 64GB storage is the base storage amount for the next Pixel line. The original Pixel and Pixel XL shipped with either 32GB or 128GB - no 64GB model of either existed. The FCC is calling this a "Production unit." Next up, you'll notice the baseband showing "mw8998," which should be a reference to the Qualcomm chipset the phone is running. For example, the Pixel shows a baseband with number "8996" attached and the Pixel happens to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 or MSM8996. There are rumors suggesting the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 run the Snapdragon 835 (or 836?), which happens to be the MSM8998. Just keep in mind that the Snapdragon 820 and 821 both fall under the MSM8996 range, but are somewhat different. So we know that the Pixel 2 runs at least a Snapdragon 835. Since this is an FCC listing, here are all of the supported bands for all of the major US carriers:

Finally, here is what the phone's label looks like, just for fun. You'll see the FCC ID is NM8G011A. Last year, the Pixel and Pixel XL were NM8G-2PW2100 and NM8G-2PW4100, respectively. The break down here is "NM8" is HTC's FCC grantee code, leaving us with G011A as the possible model number of the Pixel 2. "G" here meaning Google, of course.

We looked for a listing from LG for the Pixel XL 2, but have not yet found one. Either way, HTC just brought some serious info. Thank you for that. // FCC | reddit

Google Home Preview Program Lets You Test That Pre-Release Feature Goodness

Kellen — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:24:59 +0000

Google Home owners, you should consider signing up for the newly launched Google Home Preview Program. I'm still not sure that Google has officially announced this, but it's open already for those who own a Home or two. With the Google Home Preview Program, you'll get "exclusive early access to the newest firmware" and updates, along with new features, device enhancements, and product fixes before your friends who are holding out on joining the program. Google also says that you should expect emails whenever new preview firmware is available, so you'll also know when to start digging around in settings, looking for that fresh feature goodness. So you know, Google doesn't consider this a beta program and instead makes it clear that these updates are of the "same quality as production version updates." All the program does is give you early access to new stuff, not janky broken beta things. To sign-up your devices, you'll head into the Google Home app and tap on the Devices button in the top right corner. From there, you'll look for your Google Home units, tap on the top-right-corner menu button for each, then to Settings, and then look for "Preview Program." (See below)

And here is the welcome email you'll receive after signing up.

After this, just sit back and wait for the next update. To learn more about the Google Home Preview Program, hit up this Google Support link. // Android Police

Droid Life Shirts Now Available + Launch Discount!

Kellen — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:16:15 +0000

UPDATE 12/17/18: DL shirts and hoodies are now sold here.

Apologies for the delay on these since the launch of the new site, but you can now buy Droid Life shirts! We've actually been getting requests for these for years, so for those who have been asking, today is your day.

The new Droid Life Shop can be found right here.

To start this thing off, we're going small, as you can imagine. We've got four shirt options for you: the new DL bubble by itself, the new logo in full white and pink color, plus two minimal logos in either all-white or all-pink. We tried to give you just the right amount of choice without overdoing it or overwhelming anyone. All are printed on a deep navy tee, since that rounds out our white-pink-dark-blue color scheme. We may introduce additional shirt colors at some point, along with hoodies or other swag, but this is where we wanted to start. All of our shirts are printed on Bella-Canvas 100% cotton tees. They are 4.2oz weight, so they're a really nice, light summer cotton.

LAUNCH PROMO

To kick off the launch of this small selection of DL shirts, we're running a promo for the next week that drops $3 off the price of each shirt you order. When not on sale, you'll find these for $20 a pop, but from right now (8/15) until next Friday (8/25), each shirt runs just $17 (plus shipping). Plug-in code "DATSHIRTTHO" at checkout and the discount will be applied. Thanks for all of your support over the years!

Buy the new Droid Life Shirts

Note: At this time, our shirts are created on-demand through a third party. That means they take a day or two to process before shipping out. Just be aware that it'll be a week before your shirts arrive. We'll obviously do what we can to speed up this turn-around time in the future, but this is where we have to start.

Amazon's New Instant Pickup Gets You the Goods in 2 Minutes or Less

Tim — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 09:11:44 +0000

Amazon announced Amazon Instant Pickup today, an exclusive service to Prime and Prime Student members that arrives this week in five cities. While Amazon states this feature will roll out to more cities in the coming months, you'll only find it in LA, Atlanta, Berkeley, CA, Columbus, OH, and College Park for the time being. So, what is Instant Pickup? It's a shop-able list of curated items that folks would typically need very quickly. Users will find what they need on the Amazon app, place their order, then the items are ready for pickup within 2 minutes or less at an Amazon-staffed Instant Pickup location. That's very fast. As for the items available, Amazon says you can find "need-it-now" items like food, cold drinks, personal care items, technology essentials and Amazon devices like the Echo, Echo Dot, Fire TV and a selection of Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers. The lucky cities:

Los Angeles
Atlanta
Berkeley, Calif.
Columbus, Ohio
College Park, Md.

This is cool. // Amazon

How to: Setup Google Allo on Web

Kellen — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:49:19 +0000

Need the quick and easy instructions on how to setup Google Allo for Web on your Android phone and Chrome browser? It's super simple and I'm sure you can do this on your own, but for those who need some visual aides, we've got them. Let's walk you through it!

Setup Allo for Web:

1. Install Google Allo on your Android phone (iOS pairing not yet supported).

Google Play Link

2. Setup the app by confirming your phone number, adding a profile picture and your name, choosing a Google account for backups, etc.

3. Once done, slide out the side menu in Allo to find the "Allo for Web" option 4. Tap that and you'll then be asked to open allo.google.com/web on your desktop Chrome browser. 5. You'll also be asked to scan a QR code on that page with your Allo app.

6. Once scanned, you should immediately see Allo sign-in on Chrome and be ready to chat with your synced conversations from the Android app. It'll look like this.

7. And yep, Google Assistant is there! You can bring it into conversations or you just have your own individual help session with the Assistant. 8. Additionally, you'll see options within chats for emoji, stickers (and downloadable sticker packs), and attachments. Allo, like in the app, will show you quick response recommendations too. 9. You have access to some settings, which you'll find by clicking on your profile picture on the web.

10. You'll get desktop notifications too, along with sounds and message previews if you allow them.

11. Keyboard shortcuts!

12. Need to remove your Chrome connection? Easy, just go back into the Allo Android app, swipe out the navigation menu, tap again on "Allo for Web," and you'll see all of the instances that you've signed in. Tap the trash can next to each one individually to sever that connection. Or you can "Sign out of all computers."

13. And that's all for now! // Google Support

Allo for Web Launch Sure Seems Imminent (UPDATED: LIVE!)

Kellen — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:04:53 +0000

You probably don't have Google Allo installed on your phone because even as fun of a messaging app as it may be, it still lacks the feature set for most of us to even consider using it for more than a few minutes. With that said, something like a web client and multi-device syncing could make for a difference in getting you and I to take it for a serious spin after this year since it launched. And one of those things may be happening very soon - the web client could be ready. After being teased off and on since February, the last we had heard was a "few weeks" out timeline from back in July. Well, we're a few weeks from that and would you look at that - "Allo for Web" is now showing (see above) for just about everyone in either v15 or v16 of the Allo Android app. All you have to do is install the app, login with your phone number, and slide out the side menu to see the option. Of course, tapping it on at the moment tells you that you'll need to scan a QR code at allo.google.com/web which isn't yet active. On a related note (and since I started typing this post out), the "Use Google Allo on your computer" support site is now live and walks you through the steps of setting this all up. You can view that here. This is new too:

We should be really close. If it goes live (and I'm thinking it might any minute now), we'll update this post. UPDATE: IT'S LIVE! GO HERE. UPDATE 2: Here's a quick and easy guide for getting Allo for Web all setup. Google Play Link

Check Out the Google Calendar Desktop Redesign With Material Design

Tim — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:23:53 +0000

Google's lack of consistency in how its apps look on different platforms should be no surprise to anyone. However, if the screenshots posted to reddit this week are legit, then we're in for a big Material Design overhaul for Google Calendar. Posted to the Google subreddit, a special someone received the redesigned look for Calendar on desktop, bringing a more refined and Material aesthetic. Everything from the monthly view to creating new events has been given a facelift, one which Google Calendar has been in desperate need of for what seems like years. While this is all very exciting for anyone who uses Google Calendar on a desktop (me: slowly raises hand), we aren't exactly sure on when everyone will see this UI. Thanks to the posting of the G Suite roadmap back in March, we do know that it is penciled in for late 2017. And with testing taking place, I suppose Google is on track for that. As soon as more people start seeing this, we'll let you know. To check out the full gallery of screenshots, follow the link below to see the original post on reddit. // reddit

Google's Camera App With Working HDR+ Gets Ported to Galaxy S8, Others

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:08:19 +0000

The camera in the Google Pixel and Pixel XL is often referenced as being one of the best in all of smartphones. Part of that is because of the hardware that Google uses, but a good chunk of the excellence comes from the Google Camera app and its HDR+ capabilities. You see, a number of phones use the same camera module that the Pixel phones have (like the Blackberry KEYone), but it's Google's extra software butter than bring out the magic. Up until now, the Google Camera app hasn't been openly available for download. However, at the end of last week a developer managed to get the app working on almost any device running a Snapdragon 820, 821, and 835. Yep, the Google Camera is here for you to sideload onto your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, LG G6, OnePlus 5, etc. The version available is Google Camera v4.4.012 and it does indeed install on my Galaxy S8. I haven't tried it on other phones, but XDA says it should work and so we'll take their word for it. With this installed, you can take advantage of the Google Pixel camera experience (with HDR+) on your phone of choice. Want to give it a look? You can grab it at the link below. Feel free to let us know how it goes. So far, it's running a bit slow on my Galaxy S8. Google Camera v4.4 Download Link // XDA

Best Verizon Android Phone (August 2017)

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 14:48:31 +0000

When you are ready to buy your next smartphone, the first thing you might Google is, "What's the best Verizon Android phone?" Because that type of search is often my move when searching for my next big purchase, we thought we'd make you a simple guide with our current recommendations for the best Android phone at Verizon. We'll update it regularly as the list changes, but just know that it'll always have our top pick at the top of list. How do we choose the best Verizon Android phone? We review all of the big phones, from the Galaxy S8 and Pixel to the Moto Z2 and LG G6, so you know we've used them all for lengthy periods of time. We take those reviews, have internal conversations to help narrow the list, and then eventually settle on the Verizon Android phone we are the most likely to recommend. It's not science, but we have been doing this for a cool 7+ years now and think we know our Android phones. Shop All Android Phones at Verizon

Best Verizon Android Phone Today: Samsung Galaxy S8 / Galaxy S8+

Samsung has done too much right here to be ignored. While the software experience may not satisfy all of the Android purists of the world, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are phones that almost everyone else can enjoy every single day of the week because they have it all. You'll see in our Galaxy S8 review that this is the phone we currently recommend and we do so for a number of reasons. For one, the 12MP f/1.7 Dual Pixel camera here is about the best you'll find in any phone, even over Apple's iPhones. Then you've got the most beautiful display ever utilized in a mobile phone that weighs in at either 5.8-inches or 6.2-inches and with a Quad HD resolution. This is Samsung's best Super AMOLED display to date. Topping those two things is the combination of the design mix of glass and metal, 4GB RAM and ample storage, water resistance (IP68), fast wired and wireless charging, USB Type-C port, and headphone jack. Samsung also pushes regular (almost monthly) security patches to their phones, so you'll always be up-to-date in that department. Which should you buy, the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+? I'll leave that for you to decide, but you can't go wrong either way. Just keep in mind that because of their Infinity Displays, they aren't nearly as big as those display sizes suggest. You'll be able to use either phone in a single hand on most occasions. As of today, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best Verizon Android phone you can buy.

Verizon Links: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+

Option 2: Google Pixel or Pixel XL

At this point, we're approaching the 1-year mark that the Google Pixel and Pixel XL have been around, which as an eternity in smartphone time. Still, both phones sit on our list as the second best option at Verizon behind the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ because they are that good. If you haven't be sure to read our Google Pixel review. Not only has Google fine-tuned either the best or second best smartphone camera experiences on the planet, they've also given us premium metal and glass designs, choices over size, and the best software of all Android phones. Thanks to updates (monthly security patches + other releases) that arrive close to the minute Google publishes them and often times months and months before anyone else sees them, you always have the newest Android features first when you own a Pixel phone. Just keep in mind that the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 could be here in a couple of months, so don't think twice about hesitating to pull the trigger here. If the Galaxy S8 isn't for you, yet you don't want an almost-year-old phone from Google, give it a few weeks.

Verizon Links: Pixel | Pixel XL

Option 3 (Budget Buy): Moto Z2 Play

Not everyone has the budget to buy a Galaxy S8 or Google Pixel phone, so that's where option 3 on our best Verizon Android phone list goes - to the budget-minded. And the current crown of this category is Motorola's Moto Z2 Play. It's new, offers access to Moto Mods, and really is a heck of a buy. With the Moto Z2 Play, you not only get a phone that costs a few bucks per month, you get one that runs a clean version of Android, performs with the best of them (including devices like the S8 and Pixel), comes close to topping the battery life charts, and can take a decent picture when you need it to. As I mentioned, it also works with Moto Mods, so you have access to battery packs, camera add-ons, wireless chargers, speakers, and more. We break all of this down in our Moto Z2 Play review. Again, if you've got a budget and are on Verizon, consider the Moto Z2 Play.

Verizon Links: Moto Z2 Play

UPDATED: AUGUST 2017

Report: Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro Coming August 23, Features 5 ATM for Swimming Support

Tim — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:05:10 +0000

According to a report out of VentureBeat, the Galaxy Note 8 won't be the only thing Samsung shows off at its upcoming August 23 event in New York City. Besides the new flagship device, we'll also get a new wearable, detailed to be the Gear Fit2 Pro, as well as a backward-compatible Gear VR headset. Speaking purely about the reported Gear Fit2 Pro, this wearable is a followup to the Gear Fit 2, bringing a few new features to those who rely on fitness trackers. The big change is said to be 5 ATM support (5 atmospheres), meaning water resistance at up to a depth of roughly 150 feet. With this, folks can take their Gear Fit2 Pro for a swim, tracking all of their breast and backstrokes. The Gear Fit 2, from last year, featured IP68, not quite designed for swimming activities. On top of 5 ATM support, the Gear Fit2 Pro is reported to offer offline playback for Spotify. That means you can head out for a run with connected Bluetooth earbuds, and still rock out to your favorite Spotify playlist. Kellen will be in NYC to cover all of the August 23 excitement, so we'll make sure he grabs all the info he can on Samsung's upcoming goodies. // VentureBeat

Nanoleaf's Aurora Lighting System is Awesome and It Works With Google Home and Amazon Echo

Tim — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:12:56 +0000

d d d d

Guys, the Saygus V2 Supposedly "Passed the FCC"

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:20:17 +0000

It has been 8 months since we last checked in on smartphone crowdfunder Saygus and their V2 phone, but that changes today because over the weekend, huge news arrived. Also, yes, the Saygus V2 is still apparently in the works after over two years of ~~lies and partying at conferences~~ delays and still being run by components built for 2014. The big news is that the phone supposedly "passed the FCC," as in, one of who knows how many regulatory hurdles has possibly, though we have zero proof yet, been checked off the list. What's funny here is the fact that even though they claim to have "passed the FCC," they still have work to do with LTE bands. Umm, what? https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/896148913702322177 On a related note, here's a now-hilarious Tweet from Saygus in September 2015, where they said they still needed to complete CE and FCC certifications before shipping and that they had no idea how long that might take. As far as we know, it took almost two years for FCC certification and we still aren't sure if the CE approval process has started or not. https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/642141393159254016 Also, check out how many times over the past two years that Saygus told us the phone was about to ship. Here are a few of them. https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/815264653156618240 https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/705174862210281472 https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/594292333736144896 But this is probably the best Tweet of them all. https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/605732520663990272 Alright, that's all I've got the energy for, but I will say to those hanging on to a 2.5 year old pre-order: who is ready for that fresh ass ZenUI? Huh? Eh? Anyone? https://twitter.com/Saygus/status/866743976853872640 Good day.

HTC U11 is Ready for Bluetooth 5.0 When Android O Gets Here

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 09:51:23 +0000

On Friday, HTC announced that the U11 does indeed support Bluetooth 5.0 and that it has out of the box, in a way. In order to utilize those 5.0 powers, though, we're waiting for the U11 to receive the update to Android O. Confused by that? Just know that all of the hardware required to take advantage of Bluetooth 5.0 is in the HTC U11, but Google's new Android O brings the software support needed to take full advantage of it. That means Google will release Android O (maybe within the next week) and then HTC will get to work preparing the update to it for the U11. Once that update is pushed, then - BAM! - Bluetooth 5.0 support. Once Bluetooth 5.0. and Android O are partying together on the U11, you'll see faster data connection speeds between devices using Bluetooth and the U11, along with better data sharing. That's good news, since Bluetooth has always been pretty spotty on Android. // HTC

$129 ZTE Blade Z Max Now Up for Pre-Order at MetroPCS

Tim — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 08:53:02 +0000

MetroPCS has a new phone up for pre-order, the ZTE Blade Z Max. Priced at just $129, this is ZTE's followup to last year's ZMAX Pro. The phone comes with a solid list of specifications, relative to its $129 price. You'll get a 6" FHD display, rear-facing fingerprint reader, Snapdragon 435 processor, 2GB RAM, dual-camera system on the back, support for expandable storage, and a massive 4,080mAh battery. Again, for under $150, that's pretty solid. Specs

6" FHD display
Snapdragon 435 processor
2GB RAM
32GB storage (MicroSD support up to 128GB)
16MP + 2MP rear-facing dual camera
8MP front-facing camera
Dolby Surround audio
Rear-facing fingerprint reader
4,080mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0
Android 7.1.1

According to ZTE, the Blade Z Max is up for pre-order right now on MetroPCS, but the carrier's website isn't listing it quite yet. As soon as it's live, we'll update this post with a direct link to the pre-order page. The phone launches August 28. // ZTE

Google's Gboard Now Lets You Voice Dictate in Emoji - "Fire Emoji" All Day

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 07:32:10 +0000

Google's Gboard is receiving an update today that brings voice typing to 30 languages from around the world. These 30 languages mean Gboard supports speech recognition in 119 language varieties, covering more than a billion people. On a related note, you can now voice dictate in emoji. Oh yeah. Google says that speech recognition supports ancient languages that date back to the 10th century and that they worked with native speakers to collect samples to help their learning models understand both sounds and words. This all, of course, should help with accuracy. Here is the full list of supported languages, according to Google:

Amharic (Ethiopia)
Armenian (Armenia)
Azerbaijani (Azerbaijani)
Bengali (Bangladesh, India)
English (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania)
Georgian (Georgia)
Gujarati (India)
Javanese (Indonesia)
Kannada (India)
Khmer (Cambodian)
Lao (Laos)
Latvian (Latvia)
Malayalam (India)
Marathi (India)
Nepali (Nepal)
Sinhala (Sri Lanka)
Sundanese (Indonesia)
Swahili (Tanzania, Kenya)
Tamil (India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia)
Telugu (India)
Urdu (Pakistan, India)

As for the emoji stuff, you really can open Gboard, tap the microphone button and say, "fire emoji" rather than hunting for it through the hundreds of available emoji in the keyboard. Yay. Google Play Link // Google

LG Shows Off the V30's New UX 6.0+ Features, Including a Floating Bar and Graphy Camera

Kellen — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 06:32:05 +0000

The LG V30 will sport a refreshed UX 6.0 software skin that LG says "has been optimized to work even better with the immersive 18:9 OLED FullVision display" that was announced for the phone within the past two weeks. This is not a brand new UX from LG, but rather an upgraded version from the UX 6.0 we saw on the LG G6. This UX 6.0+ will come equipped with a new camera app powered by Graphy, a manual mode feature that allows you to mimic the style of professional shots through presets over white balance, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. It'll also include better organization over shooting modes, GIF creation, and a more powerful gallery. Additionally, LG confirms that they did indeed ditch the secondary ticker display from the LG V10 and V20 with a software version called the Floating Bar. You've seen apps that do this for years, but the Floating Bar is available on the side of the V30's display at all times and can be accessed with a swipe out. The bar will host frequently used actions or apps. You can see how it will look in the image above. Finally, the phone's always-on display has been upgraded to not only show clocks, but display quick tools, the music player, and personal photography too. As for the overall look of LG's UX 6.0, I don't get the feeling that that will change much. If you didn't like the G6's software, I can't imagine the V30's is going to win you over. The stuff highlighted here is add-on level stuff, not an entire overhaul.

// LG

Weekly Recap: Pixels, Headphone Jacks, and Leaks

Tim — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:45:20 +0000

Another week in the books at DL, one filled with talk of Pixels, headphone jacks, and a large amount of leaks. This week, we saw what we think are actual pictures of the Pixel 2, complete with what appear to be dual front-facing speakers. It's also believed that the Pixel 2 won't have a headphone jack, which has a few people up in arms. Beyond that, we also got looks at the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30, thanks to separate leaks. Basically, if there's an upcoming phone you're interested in, it's been leaked. Here's the stuff you don't want to miss.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Or You Could Just Buy the Galaxy Note 8 and Forget the Rest...

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:13:20 +0000

As hard as I tried to sell the world yesterday on the idea that waiting for Google to unveil the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 before buying their next phone is the right move, I can't help but think, "Yeah, that's cool and all, but we all know the Galaxy Note 8 is going to stomp on everyone." That's not an overstatement either. Last year's Galaxy Note 7 was the best phone of 2016, we just stopped talking about it because of its unfortunate situation(s). With the Galaxy Note 8, I'd be a fool not to admit that this phone is about to bring it and potentially lap the competition. Also, remember those pundits who thought the Galaxy Note line should die after the Note 7 debacle? 😂

Galaxy Note 8 will have everything and then some

With the Galaxy Note 8, I'd fully expect Samsung to bring even more firepower (sans exploding battery) than last year to make an even bigger statement about the importance of the Note line. According to the dozens of leaks, that's exactly what they appear to be doing. We're getting a slightly bigger QHD AMOLED Infinity Display (6.3-inch) than we saw on the Galaxy S8+. But just because it's slightly bigger, won't mean that much bigger of a body. In fact, all you need to do is pick up an S8+ and you'll know exactly how the Note 8 will feel, if you can also imagine a less round body. The Note line has always been somewhat squared off and leaks show just that with the Note 8. So not only are we getting another best-in-class AMOLED display from Samsung, we'll also get the latest Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm (likely the 835), 6GB RAM, 64GB storage with a microSD slot, 3300mAh battery, IP68 water and dust resistance, fingerprint reader, fast wired and wireless charging, S Pen, Iris Scanner, USB Type-C port, 8MP f/1.7 front camera, and dual 12MP rear cameras, a first for Samsung's Galaxy line. I'm not sure this phone is missing anything because all of that will be housed in a premium metal and glass body too. Compare that list to the rumored Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 specs and Google's can't really match-up. Only one of Google's will have on-par design, but we don't know how good that first LG POLED display will be, plus there won't be an SD slot, wireless charging, dual cameras, or the S Pen. We also don't know how water resistant the Pixels will be (if at all). The LG V30 should come close to matching the Note 8 in terms of specs and features, but without an S Pen or wireless charging, it still doesn't quite get there. Also, I'd argue with anyone that Samsung's software is better than LG's at this point, plus Samsung pushes monthly security patches while LG isn't as on top of things.

Samsung's first dual camera!

I still don't know that I care about dual cameras on phones, but the Note 8 will be Samsung's first attempt at it in the Galaxy S or Note range and that's kind of a big deal. Samsung has killed it in the photography department for as far back as I can remember, so their implementation of two cameras has me at least somewhat excited. According to rumors, we're getting dual 12MP shooters, one that's a Dual Pixel sensor at f/1.7 and a second that offers 2X optical zoom and f/2.4. It's a lot like Apple and OnePlus' implementation rather than the wide-angle switch that LG does. I'm sure Samsung will let you take not only zoomy-zoom pics, but also use that second sensor to create depth and better portrait photos. I'll let you decide if that sounds interesting or not.

Software that's getting better

I mentioned yesterday in my Pixel 2 write-up that one of the biggest factors in considering the new Pixels over the Galaxy Note 8 relates to software. You know Google's new phones will get the newest versions of Android first, without any extra fluff or bloatware or skinning. But Samsung has at least gotten better at offering up monthly updates that include the latest security patches. While security isn't new software features, I honestly wonder how much Samsung really cares about the upfront Android innovations like they might have in the early years. What I mean is that Samsung has its own software suite on top of Android where they innovate. For example, multi window is old news to them. They tend to focus on big features like that and push them before Google does. They also try to innovate with their Edge panel and its software, along with the S Pen and its entire ecosystem. Samsung offers full skinning of their OS, so things like adaptive icons aren't necessarily going to be a big deal. Android O's notification channels might be, but the theming of notifications isn't something that Samsung ever mimics Google on. In a way, you have to look at Samsung as really utilizing Android as a base that just runs their own focused software where they don't follow Google's lead. This is not me discounting Samsung's slowness when it comes to big updates. You should wonder just how long it'll be before the Note 8 gets Android O. For a phone that could cost $1,000, waiting 6 to 7 or 8 months for a big update is embarrassing. In the end, this is really just part of the story and obviously a number of you are OK with that.

Seriously, remember the Note 7?

No, I don't mean remember the bomb! I mean, remember how amazing of a phone the Note 7 was? It was 2016's phone of the year until it starting catching fire on the regular. Assuming Samsung is continuing to improve from that phone, as they have with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, I mean come on, how can you not just settle into it and forget the rest. It's tempting.

Android O Will be the Last Android Version Update for the OnePlus 3 and 3T

Tim — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:43:52 +0000

Confirmed via the OnePlus forums, the last Android version update the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T will receive is Android O. Considering the OnePlus 3 was released in June of last year, this is pretty weak. Technically, Android O will count as the second major software update for the device (it launched with Android 6.0+ Marshmallow), but in terms of time, this equals to about only a year and a half of updates. For the OnePlus 3T, which launched in November of last year, that means it is only getting about a year of updates. Here's what OnePlus said in the forums.

Android O is going to be the last Android version update we’ll release for OP3/3T. We’ll continue to release security patch updates for the foreseeable future, and offer support for individual application updates. After the OP3/3T have been updated to Android O, we’ll start moving the Open Beta Program from OP3/3T to OP5.

OnePlus does specifically mention that security updates will continue for the "foreseeable future" (whatever that means), but still, buyers of this phone probably would have liked to have a solid two years of Android version updates. OnePlus 3 and 3T owners, how do you feel about this? // OnePlus

Leaky McLeaker

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 12:30:07 +0000

On this new episode of the Droid Life Show, we're running through another week of leaks and rumors surrounding the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, and the Essential Phone. We're in one of those holding periods as we await the arrival of so much goodness and that means non-stop leakage. Outside of those mega-phones, we'll talk about the newly surfaced Moto X4, Android updates over the years, headphone jacks disappearing and whether or not we care, and more! We’ll be live at 1PM Pacific (4PM Eastern)! If you miss us live, you can always subscribe through the variety of links below.

This Icon Pack is Hot (And Free for Limited Time): Pixel Infinity

Tim — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 12:10:40 +0000

We typically wouldn't feature so many icon packs in a short period of time, but when you come across a nice icon pack that usually costs money, and is marked as free for a limited time, we just can't wait. The icon pack I'm declaring to be "hot" today is called Pixel Infinity. It's a set of round icons, with somewhat toned down colors. For anyone who owns a Pixel, it's a great option because not only will you keep your beloved circle icons, but the images themselves change up a bit from the standard look. I quite like the customized illustrations. Not all, but some of the icons also feature little protrusions, adding just hint of flavor from a all-circular pack. Beyond the pretty icons, the app comes with a handful of cloud-based wallpapers, an option to request your own icons, as well as support for 26+ launchers. Speaking of launchers, ensure you have a 3rd-party launcher installed, as that's how you'll set these icons as your default look. If you need help choosing one, we tend to stick with Nova Launcher, but Action Launcher is a great choice, too! As I stated, this icon pack is free for a limited time, down from a usual price of $1.00. Go grab it! Play Link If you wanna see a few more "hot" icon packs, check out our growing list.

Essential is Hosting a "First Look" Event on August 25 to Show Off Their Phone

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:06:52 +0000

We're supposed to hear a launch date for the Essential Phone as early as next week, and that would be good because Essential started inviting people to come see the phone August 25. According to an invite sent to one of our readers, Essential and Andy Rubin are hosting a "First Look Event" in West Hollywood. The invite doesn't say much other than, "Join us for a First Look at the Essential Phone and 360 Camera," and arrived through a special Essential "events" address. We didn't receive an invite and the RSVP list didn't like my name, so this could be a pretty limited gathering to those in the Los Angeles area. Anyone receive an invite and plan to attend? If so, you'll be one of the few on the planet to have actually touched the damn phone.

Cheers M!

DEAL: Get a Google Home for Just $84 at Lowe's With Coupon Code

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 10:08:20 +0000

Lowe's is currently hosting a big ass storewide sale on a whole bunch of stuff. You'll find deals on almost everything they sell (up to 30% off), but one deal in particular is worthy of finding the front page of DL - Google Home for just $84. This might be the best Google Home deal of the year. You see, Google Home is already discounted at Lowe's to $109, but a special coupon code will get you an extra $25 off any $100 purchase. So, that means $109 minus $25 drops us to $84. Shipping appears to be free too. Use code "470000000074228" at checkout and you should see $25 drop off the already discounted price. Go! Oh, be sure to read our Google Home review if you haven't already. Lowe's Google Home Link

Sprint: LTE+ Speeds Have Increased 28% in Seven Months

Tim — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 09:50:08 +0000

According to Sprint, its LTE+ speeds have increased dramatically over the past seven months, to the tune of 28%. In select markets, 15 to be exact, it holds the fastest download speeds available, according to recent Ookla data. As for which cities those are, they are said to include Atlanta, Denver, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. As shown in recent studies, Sprint's overall download speeds are reported to be nearly that of AT&T's, with speeds of both AT&T and Verizon said to be slowing, thanks to the reintroduction of unlimited data plans. This isn't the first time we've heard this, with T-Mobile saying the same thing very recently. According to Dr. John Saw, Sprint's CTO, "We’ve been offering unlimited data for nearly 10 years and we have a long history managing customer demand which is why our speeds are improving while others have slowed. Sprint also has far more spectrum capacity than any other U.S. carrier and our data performance and speeds continue to improve as we deploy more of our 2.5 GHz spectrum." In a recent post, we asked our readers to share their own carrier speeds. For the most part, everyone seems to be pulling fast data, so long as they are in a decent location. There are plenty of factors when it comes to a speedtest, but when you step back and do the research, you can find the best carrier for you. Anyone on Sprint been noticing better download speeds when not on WiFi? // Sprint

Moto Z2 Force on Verizon Grabs First Update

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 09:39:13 +0000

If you picked up the Verizon Moto Z2 Force already, then jump into settings to look for an update. Verizon is already pushing the phone's first update. The update is small and is listed as being a security patch only, so don't expect new features or a bunch of bug fixes. Well, there could be bug fixes, Verizon just hasn't listed any in particular. It'll drop onto your device as software version NDX26.122-58-8. Go get it! // Verizon

Daydream Summer Sale Has VR Titles on Sale for Up to 60% Off

Tim — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 08:31:25 +0000

Do you enjoy virtual reality? Or, maybe, your Galaxy S8 just received Daydream support and you're ready to give it a try? Well, now would be a good time. Launched today, Google is hosting a "Daydream Summer Sale," marking a few VR titles up to 60% off. As for the titles on sale, a few of these you may recognize, if you pay any attention to mobile gaming. The super highlight to notice is Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes. It's a fun game, with the player racing to solve puzzles before the briefcase bomb explodes. Other titles on sale include Wands, Battle Planet, and Lola and the Giant. They're all on sale, so feel free to use your hoarded Google Opinions credit. Play Links

Lola and the Giant ($4.99)
Along Together ($4.99)
Mekorama VR ($1.99)
Claro ($1.99)
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes ($4.99)
Battle Planet ($5.99)
Wands ($2.99)
Toy Clash ($1.99)
SculptrVR ($1.99)

Discounts on VR titles? Sweet! // Google

OK, Yeah, the Moto X4 Looks Pretty Hot

Kellen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 08:08:52 +0000

Yesterday, I shared some not-so-friendly thoughts about the yet-to-be-announced Moto X4. My approach there was two-fold, really: 1) The Moto X line has always been about customization, not shiny glass coating with limited choices; and 2) It seems unnecessary for Motorola to have 15 different phone lines available at the same time. I still stand by both of those arguments. Those thoughts were kickstarted from a leak that showed the all-black version of the phone passing through an overseas regulatory body. The phone looked nice with its sleek, all-black self, even in a dark setting. Today, though, we've got what may be an actual press render of the phone and I must admit, it looks really clean. The image (see above) shows the Moto X4 in Super Black and Sterling Blue, but more than that, it shows a refinement in design from previous Motorola releases this year. Sure, the top and bottom bezels are still very much on the thicker side when compared to some others. However, that display is now running edge-to-edge, plus we've got some really nice curves going from back to front that should let this phone sit oh-so-nicely in hand. Couple that level of design with the 5.2-inch display we expect to slide in there and you could be looking at one of the better-sized phones of 2017. Today's leak from Android Authority also includes additional word on specs. We're looking at a 5.2-inch FHD (1080p) display, Snapdragon 630 processor (Adreno 508 GPU), 16MP front camera, dual rear camera setup (12MP primary camera + 8MP wide-angle shooter), 3000mAh battery, fingerprint reader, and 3GB RAM with 32GB storage here in the US. Overseas, the RAM and storage should jump up to 4GB and 64GB, respectively. This should also be one of Motorola's first ever IP68 water and dust resistant phones. Few leaks have any idea when this phone will arrive, but an earlier report suggested a Q4 arrival. We're only mid-Q3 at this point, so it could be a bit before you'll even be able to consider this phone. In the mean time, we should see the Essential Phone, Galaxy Note 8, and LG V30 arrive with the Pixel 2 line just behind them. Motorola might want to hurry unless this phone isn't supposed to compete with any of those and will instead fall somewhere around the $400 range. And finally, as hot as this phone is, it still shouldn't be an X member in my opinion. Also, enough with the 18 phone release in a year, Moto. This is just silly. // Android Authority

Moto X4 Leaks and I Don't Get It

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:30:37 +0000

Ready to see some pictures of the yet-to-be-announced Moto X4? Cool, here you go.

Now someone explain to me why this phone exists? Anyone? Because we already have the super low-end Moto E4 line, the mid-tier Moto G5 line (with S models on the way), and the Moto Z2 line, so I'm just not sure how this phone fits in to anything that Motorola is trying to accomplish. Are we just throwing every single idea we have at the wall and seeing what sticks? It kind of seems that way. Let's compare this phone and its rumored specs to the Moto G5 Plus, just to get started. The Moto X4 is rumored to have a 5.2-inch FHD display, Snapdragon 630 processor, up to 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, dual rear cameras of 8MP and 12MP, front 16MP shooter, 3000mAh battery, and IP68 water and dust resistance. It has a fingerprint reader too, as well as a USB Type-C port and headphone jack. The Moto G5 Plus has a 5.2-inch FHD display, up to 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, 3000mAh battery, rear 12MP camera, fingerprint reader, and Snapdragon 625 processor. It does not have NFC, full water resistance, dual cameras, or a USB Type-C port. But it also only costs around $230. Maybe that's the point of the Moto X4, to fill a very narrow price point? The Moto E is here to fill the $100-$150 range of phones and the Moto G is for the $180-$250 range, while the Moto Z2 Play runs anywhere from $400-$500 and the Moto Z2 Force tops them all at over $700. Which price point does the Moto X4 fill, though? Are we talking a sub-$400 price or a $500+ price? If you look at the comparison I just made of it to a $230 Moto G5 Plus, would you really want to pay an extra $200-$300 for one? What about only $100 more? Hmmm. On a somewhat related note, this thing is no Moto X. The Moto X started out as a line built from customers' minds, where you got to choose colors, finishes, etc. I know that died a bit with the Moto X Pure Edition, but not entirely. This phone, as far as we know, has no customizations and will be billed as a premium metal and glass phone, though the processor doesn't exactly match that thought. I know this is me being, "Back in the old days!" crusty grandpa, but this phone should be named something else unless it can match that personalized glory from the original Moto X releases. Yeah, it looks somewhat sleek with this all-black paint job, but again, what's the point? Who is this for? Why do we need 4 or 5 phone lines from a single manufacturer? UPDATE: Want to see a really pretty press render of the Moto X4? Here you go. // tudocelular | Anatel (03982-17-00330)

Did You Get YouTube's New Sharing/Messaging Feature?

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:56:39 +0000

On Monday, YouTube announced its new sharing feature for at least the third time (that's not an exaggeration), suggesting that it was finally rolling out to everyone. I still didn't get access until Tim invited me yesterday, but it is readily available now to everyone even if you need a bit of help. We thought we'd just check in to make sure you all knew that this week is the week for it and to be sure you got it. What is the new sharing feature in YouTube all about? It's about sharing, silly. You now have a dedicated panel for sharing videos in conversations with friends and family. I know, I know, "LOLzerpants at Google having another messaging platform!" But really, though, it's kind of cool and useful. Instead of having to share YouTube videos outside of YouTube in whichever messaging app you use through a link or other means, you can just spend all of your time in YouTube sending off the latest floating chicken balloon clip to your bro pack. Then you guys can chat about how funny it is, watch related clips, and then move on to the next. The sharing feature pulls from your contacts to help you get into conversations, lets you include 1 or more people in a thread, provides recent history for quick sharing, and other messaging features you are likely familiar with. Again, the feature is rolling out as I type this. If you aren't seeing it, ask a friend to send you an invite link. Google Play Link // YouTube Blog

SEGA Classic Ristar Now Available for Android

Tim — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:33:01 +0000

All the way from 1995, SEGA's Ristar is now available for Android and iOS devices. While I may have only been 5 years old in '95, I understand the importance of this character, as it was based off an original idea that would later become Sonic the Hedgehog. Both characters are separate, but essentially share the same DNA. If you aren't familiar with Ristar, the game is a platformer, quite similar to Sonic. You play as a star with stretchable arms who visits different planets, climbing around different obstacles and baddies in order to defeat Greedy, an evildoer who has taken control of the Valdi galaxy. The launch of this game is a part of SEGA Forever, one of the best things to ever happen for classic gamers on mobile. With SEGA Forever, many great titles are made available for free with the helps of ads, but a one-time purchase can be placed inside each game to remove ads. If you missed it, the original Sonic the Hedgehog is available, Altered Beast, Comix Zone, and more. Go download Ristar and think back about how the world seemed much more claim in 1995. Play Link

Why Aren't You Just Waiting for the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2?

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:00:28 +0000

I don't ask that question because I have anything against the soon-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or LG V30 or iPhone 8. I ask it because after experiencing last year's Google Pixel and Pixel XL for months, taking a break to review other flagship releases here and there, and then returning to Pixel, I can't imagine not at least holding out to see what Google truly has in store for the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 before making a purchase decision. Of course, I'm fully aware of the flaws in last year's Pixel phones. The lack of water resistance, the high-price tag, and the uninspired design weren't for everyone and certainly gave me pause throughout the year. But look, all signs point to Google dealing with at least two of those issues (the price isn't going to be lowered), while throwing in some added bonuses. Seriously, don't you think you should maybe wait until Google's new Pixel 2 phones arrive before pulling the trigger on a new phone?

The True Google Pixel Hardware Vision

Google slipped up a bit last year when it told Wired that they skipped things like water resistance in the original Pixel and Pixel XL because they ran out of time. In a way, that was an admission that they were rushed after their fallout with Huawei, who was originally pegged for Pixel building, but also that the follow-up device may be the one to get really excited about. And from early leaks and rumors, I'd say Google isn't going to let us down. You've all seen the Pixel XL 2 render, right? That's the one we believe is built by LG and will feature the same 6-inch POLED FullVision display as the LG V30. It looks gorgeous. Not only that, but it'll have a premium metal and glass body, along with its own identity that it lacked last year. Let's also not forget that LG is fully-versed in the water resistance department at this point, so I can't imagine this phone won't have some level of water resistance. Outside of that, Google will bring the goods, including whatever the latest Snapdragon processor is come October, enough RAM, enough storage, and what we can only assume will be one of the best camera a smartphone has seen. Oh, but you might want the smaller HTC-made Pixel 2? It's going to be equally as good even with the lack of a FullVision style display. You'll get the same camera as the larger XL, as well as the same premium build, and same processor and RAM and storage, but HTC is reportedly also making sure they pack in front-facing stereo speakers for Google. Also, HTC recently got into the water resistance game too, so you know where that should lead. Both phones are thought to have squeezable sides as well, a move that should produce something similar to the HTC U11's Edge Sense, where you can squeeze the phone to open apps or the Google Assistant, take pictures, etc. This could be just one of the new areas that Google tries to set these new Pixels apart from the pack. Let's not forget about fresh colorways either. Everything we have seen or read at this point paints a picture of Google's new Pixel 2 phones fulfilling the vision they set out when they decided to ditch Nexus and create the premium Pixel line. Because they don't seem to be rushed this year, we aren't just getting some leftover mid-range phone shells from HTC, stuffed with high-end internals and a glass plate on the back. This time, we're getting Google.

But disappearing headphone jacks

Yeah, I think you all know how I feel about Google reportedly ditching the headphone jack for the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2. If not, read this and then come back to us.

Software, software, software

You are probably going to get sick of me saying this so often, but after looking at the last 5 years worth of Android distribution numbers, it's on my mind and something you should care about. You know the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will have the newest, cleanest, most secure version of Android at all times. That's what happens when the company making the phone happens to make the software. You won't get that experience with anything else except Apple's iPhone. Maybe you don't care. Maybe you are fine being at least one full version of Android behind because companies like Samsung are at least giving you monthly security patches. That's fair. That's just not what I'd expect from a phone that could cost upwards of $1,000. If I'm spending that kind of cash - and I doubt the Pixel XL 2 is going to cost $1,000 - I better not be waiting until March to get software that came out in August. To give you an example, let's look at the Galaxy S8, which is still on Android 7.0 even though Android 7.1 went stable to Nexus phones in December 2016. That's 100% unacceptable in any industry, let alone one that is constantly changes and evolving. When the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 arrive (likely in October), they'll run not only Android 8.0, but there is always the chance that they run Android 8.1 and include a special set of features not even available to Nexus phones. Google's Sundar Pichai talked about this over a year ago, when he said that they were "investing more effort" into Nexus (at the time) by being more opinionated on design, but also on the software feature set that they could ship on top of stock Android. The original Pixel was only step one in that vision - Google has now had another year to invest further in those ideas.

Why aren't you waiting, again?

Maybe you already virtually slapped me and told me to shut my mouth because you plan on buying the Galaxy Note 8 or LG V30 (or maybe the Essential Phone). I actually can understand why you might do that. The Galaxy Note 8 will have it all: big, beautiful display, dual cameras, S Pen, all the storage and RAM, decent-sized battery, water resistance, fast wired and wireless charging, and a headphone jack. The LG V30 will be right there as well with its big ol' 6-inch POLED display, dual camera setup (one at f/1.6!), premium build, focus on media creation and consumption, and more than likely a DAC of some kind to bring you them quality beats. But as I just mentioned, their software won't be there. Samsung has gotten somewhat better with their skin, but I don't know that LG has just yet. And again, when you are forking out close to $1,000, do you want average, not-up-to-date software? Maybe you do! But maybe this is the year that you stay patient and give Google's vision for Android a try after being in Samsung or LG's ecosystem for so long. I'm telling you, just as I told you back in December 2016, this could get awesome.

You waiting for the Pixel 2 or are you ready to pull the trigger on something else?

NOTE: The counter argument for the Galaxy Note 8 is now up here.

#TBT: The Funkiest Designed Android Phones in Recent Memory

Tim — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:30:28 +0000

During last week's The Droid Life Show, I was reminded of the Samsung Continuum. You know, the phone from 2010 that had a ticker display below the capacitive buttons? Either way, it got me thinking, let's highlight a few of the Android devices that we would label as funky for this week's #TBT. Are we calling them bad or completely ugly phones? Absolutely not, we just think they're funky lookin'. Let's get to it!

Samsung DROID Charge Samsung's first and only attempt at a DROID-branded device for Verizon. Bask in its glory. For a bit of backstory, this phone was called a few things back in the day, including the Samsung Stealth, Samsung Inspiration, and Galaxy S Aviator. It launched 2011, labeled as the first DROID device with LTE. Needless to say, it was a big deal, so we reviewed it. The funkiest part of this phone would be the physical buttons on the bottom frontside. They are placed directly on the bottom chin, leading to sometimes awkward holding positions. Coming from Samsung, who was known for well-designed phones, the DROID Charge and this button setup was a bit of an oddball. I'd love to share just a few lines with you from our review.

"There is no denying that the 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen on the DROID Charge is a thing of beauty. As the first device in the U.S. to sport one, you at least have that to brag to your friends about."
"Well, it’s not the greatest battery on the planet, but when we compare it to the Thunderbolt, it’s a winner."
"Someone tell Motorola to kang whatever Sammie is doing with their cameras, because it’s nothing but right."
"This may sound like a simple little “Good”, but I love the fact that TouchWiz puts your toggles into the notification bar."

RIP, DROID Charge, according to Kellen's review, you were a pretty good phone back in the day.

Motorola FlipOut Ah, the FlipOut. Many of you may have missed the existence of this phone completely, as I don't recall it being marketed very heavily, but it was pretty funky. Launched in 2010, the phone had a 2.8" (320 x 240) display, somehow capable of playing Angry Birds. It also had a TI OMAP 3410 processor, 512MB RAM, and a 3MP camera. While I appreciate the approach to offering something different, you have to admit, this phone is incredibly funky. Motorola, instead of going with a standard slide out or clamshell design, opted for this flip-spin mechanic. Indeed, it was very interesting. Please, watch the below video, which details the flip and the amazingness of Motoblur. Did you own this phone? I have to hear from you! Was it awesome?

Samsung Continuum So, yeah, the Samsung Continuum. This phone was obviously way ahead of its time, thanks to that secondary ticker display. Unlike the recent LG V10 and V20, this phone's ticker was complete separated, placed underneath the frontside's capacitive buttons. It could show you notifications and little tidbits of info. Again, it was way ahead of its time, but still funky. To recap for those who didn't own this piece of work, specs included a 3.4" (480 x 800) Super AMOLED display, 5MP camera, Hummingbird processor (same as Nexus S), 336MB RAM, and Android 2.1. Ugh, good times back in 2010. As an added bonus, I already wrote up how I feel about the Galaxy S5, which I'd say is Tier 1 funky. Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below!

DEAL: Moto G5 Plus is Just $179.99 Today at Amazon ($50 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:05:41 +0000

The Moto G5 Plus (our review) is a budget-friendly phone that performs closer to a high-end phone. It's a good phone first, but when you factor in the reasonable price, it becomes a steal and a phone anyone without $700 to blow on a phone should consider. And then days like today happen, where Amazon drops the price by $50 to give us the best Moto G5 Plus deal we've seen. At $50 off, you'll pay just $179.99 for the Moto G5 Plus with 32GB storage an 2GB RAM. Keep in mind that this is the clean version, not the Amazon ad-filled version. Also, at $179.99, it's $5 cheaper than the same model with Amazon ads. To recap, the Moto G5 Plus at this price point features a 5.2-inch FHD display, 32GB storage (with SD slot), 2GB RAM, 3000mAh battery, 12MP f/1.7 rear camera, 5MP front camera, 2GHz Snapdragon 625 processor (the king!), fingerprint reader, water repellent coating, and 4G LTE access on all major US carriers, including Verizon. It does not have an NFC chip, though, so Android Pay is a no go. We aren't sure how long this deal will last. Prime shipping is included. Amazon Link Cheers Craig!

Samsung Internet Browser Beta Arrives for All Lollipop+ Phones

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 09:25:02 +0000

The Samsung Internet Browser's latest beta build to v6.2 not only introduces some fun new features, it also opens up the app to all Android phones running Lollipop+. Instead of being an exclusive to Samsung and Google phones, your LG or HTC or Huawei or whichever phone, can now be a part of Samsung's Internet world. Why would you want to be a part of that life? Well, the browser isn't half bad. It's pretty fast for one, but it also includes features like a night mode, extension support (ad blockers, y'all), Samsung Cloud sync, experimental feature testing (internet://flags), and a floating shortcut button to get you into new tabs or sharing. For the most part, it's a fully-featured browser that may be a solid alternative for those looking to get out of Chrome.

To give it a shot, hit up the Google Play link below. If you aren't seeing it available just yet, give it a day as the full rollout is still ongoing. Google Play Link // Samsung Internet Developers

Moto Z2 Force, 360 Camera Moto Mod Now Available in US

Tim — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:29:52 +0000

The Moto Z2 Force is officially here, purchasable on basically any major US carrier. You can find it on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, at Best Buy, or grab it on Motorola's website. This is a major accomplishment for Motorola, so props to them. If you missed our official review, here's a recap of what you're getting. The Z2 Force has a 5.5" QHD ShatterShield display, Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM, expandable storage, 2,730mAh battery, dual rear-facing 12MP cameras, USB Type-C (no headphone hack), water repellent nano coating, and Android 7.1.1+ "Nougat." On top of the new phone, there are also new Moto Mods to get excited for. There's the 360 Camera, new JBL SoundBoost 2, and GamePad. Availability of these differ just a little bit, with the GamePad Moto Mod shipping August 25, purchasable exclusively through Verizon. The same goes for the Red-colored SoundBoost 2 speaker, but it's available and shipping today. Should you not be on Verizon, but still want to buy a GamePad Moto Mod, follow this link. For anyone who does pick up a new Z2 Force, you'll be eligible for a free Moto Insta-Share Projector Mod by mail. Those things were like $300 last year, so that's pretty sweet. Purchase Links

Verizon ($31.50/month, $756 full retail)
AT&T ($27/month, $809.99 full retail)
Sprint ($33/month, $792 full retail)
T-Mobile ($30/month, $750 full retail)
US Cellular ($26.12/month, $730 full retail)
Best Buy (Prices vary)
Motorola ($30/month, $720 full retail)

Picking one up?

LG and NextRadio Partner to Bring FM Radio to Your Next Phone

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:24:58 +0000

LG and NextRadio announced this morning that going forward, LG will enable an FM chip inside its smartphones, allowing for access to your local FM radio broadcasts in the US and Canada. Neither company said which LG phones would have the chip (maybe the LG V30?), but I'd imagine it'll be most of them. They certainly didn't suggest this would be a limited rollout. Not only will LG phone owners be able to listen to local sports, music, and talk programs, they'll also gain access to audio emergency alerts when cellular coverage is poor or unavailable. This direct FM connection also means less battery usage than a streaming app you might be using today. Finally, NextRadio says that much of this is "subject to agreements with wireless carriers," but they may preload the NextRadio app on some models. // PRnewswire

IKEA

Kellen — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:18:52 +0000

d //

LG V30 to Feature F/1.6 Camera, Crystal Clear Lens (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 18:16:20 +0000

LG announced tonight that its upcoming flagship phone, the LG V30, will feature a first for a smartphone camera. That breakthrough comes via its f/1.6 aperture, the largest we have seen thus far if memory serves me correctly. Not only that, but LG thinks an accompanying special Crystal Clear lens will bring more "vivid images than ever before." This dual camera setup with an f/1.6 aperture can deliver "25% more light to the sensor" compared to an f/1.8 camera. Additionally, the Crystal Clear glass has supposed "greater light-collecting ability" than those with plastic lenses, allowing for better color reproduction. Finally, LG says that this V30 camera reduces edge distortion by a third when compared to last year's V20, while also dropping in size by 30%. The camera will feature laser detect autofocus (AF), optical image stabilization (OIS), and electronic image stabilization. UPDATE: LG's social blog shared some additional details not in the press release from last night, revealing the megapixel count for the dual camera setup. According to a post, the LG V30 will sport a 16MP standard shooter along with a 13MP wide-angle camera. Sounds nice.

// LG

Android O is Almost Here, so Here's Android Distribution Charted for the Past 5 Years

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:55:48 +0000

Yesterday's Android distribution numbers should be the final numbers released before Android O goes stable and starts rolling out to Nexus and Pixel devices, as well as manufacturers who want to get updates ready for their own phones. We included a small chart in that post that showed the past year of data from Google, but decided to come back today with all of it dating back to June 2012 (We went back to June 2012 because that's as far back as Google began sharing this information.). That's right, we've got a couple of small charts below that shows you Android distribution (the percentage of specific Android builds at any given time) for the past 5 years. What's the point? Well, really just to show you a visual representation of how Android versions have been adopted over the years. Because again, these distribution numbers show the "relative number of devices that share a certain characteristic, such as Android version," according to Google. In other words, it's a good way to tell which versions of Android are on the most devices each month, how quickly the newest versions are being adopted to new devices, etc. The first chart we've got here is a simple line graph from June 2012 to August 2017.

(Click for larger version)

The second is the same, only with more color in case those lines are bugging your eyes.

(Click for larger version)

UPDATE: Some of you asked for the stacked version, so here you go.

(Click for larger version)

A couple of things standout to me right away. First, you can see that the extra time that Jelly Bean was around (released July 2012; KitKat didn't arrive until October 2013) allowed for it to be adopted by more manufacturers. It peaked at just over 60% of the Android pie and was around 48% when KitKat was released. Since then, though, adoption of new versions hasn't kept up and appears to be declining each year, especially as Android has switched to a yearly major release cycle. KitKat topped out at just over 40% adoption and was at 30% when Lollipop was released the next year. But Lollipop didn't ever get to 40% and sat at 23% as Marshmallow arrived. With Nougat, the numbers are even lower across the board. Should Android O drop later this month, Nougat won't even be on 20% of Android devices. Now, Google did say that Android O has Project Treble built in and could lead to quicker updates in the feature. It allows for Android updates to flow from Google to device manufacturer to you without necessarily having to stop and worry about additional readiness steps from Qualcomm and other chipset makers. In a way, it eliminated an entire step of the update process. Will it solve all of the Android update issues? No, because there are still manufacturers and carriers involved, though things should speed up some. You also have to remember that this new Android architecture starts with Android O and pushes forward, so older devices won't be able to take advantage of this slimmer update process. We may not see the benefit of Project Treble for a couple of years. So what's the takeway then? These charts show you what we've known about Android for a long time - that there are enough players in this game making it impossible for everyone to keep up. Call it fragmentation or understand that this is just how Android is built and distributed. It's not a single entity controlling everything from top to bottom except with Google's own phones, like Nexus or Pixel. There is almost no way for these numbers to look much different without some massive changes to the way Google makes Android and its updates available. What we'll have to watch going forward is whether or not tweaks like Project Treble make a difference. What will this chart look like in two or three years? Will we ever see another version of Android hit 60% or more, or will the adoption rate continue to slide? // Android Developers

MetroPCS Intros $50/Month Unlimited Plan, $25 for Additional Lines

Tim — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 13:09:07 +0000

Beginning today, MetroPCS has a new unlimited offering for its customers. For $50/month (that's with taxes and fees included), you can have an unlimited plan, followed by just $25/month for additional lines. That means you can have two unlimited lines for just $75/month. For an additional $10/month, you can get 8GB of LTE hotspot data per line – up to 5 lines. On top of this new unlimited plan, the carrier is also offering a promotion for those who make the switch to MetroPCS. For each line you switch, up to five lines, you'll receive up to a $100 instant rebate. These rebates can be applied to any device MetroPCS sells, which could be very beneficial if you're looking to switch and in need of a new phone. As for the fine print, there isn't much for this promotion. In general, MetroPCS details that the top 3% of data users (>32GB/mo.) may notice reduced speeds until the next payment cycle due to data prioritization. Also, folks without a line add-on are not eligible for tethering. That means you need to be paying at least $75/month to get tethering, too. // MetroPCS

And Now Pictures of the Essential Phone in "Full Mass Production"

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 12:38:07 +0000

Now that we know to pencil in next week as the time to expect an Essential Phone release date reveal, company boss Andy Rubin has even more to share. According to Rubin, the Essential Phone is in "full mass production" as they ramp up to deliver one to you. The mention of production, of course, means hot manufacturing pictures like this one to go along with the news.

Mmmmm, yes, Essential phones on racks. Such metal. Very titanium. And this fire. 🔥

Thanks, Andy, we needed that. // @Arubin

T-Mobile Makes REVVL Phone, Smartpicks for JUMP! On Demand Official

Tim — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 11:58:35 +0000

Thanks to a tweet from yesterday, we already know availability specifics of T-Mobile's new REVVL smartphone. Now, thanks to an official announcement, we're not only learning more about REVVL and its features, but also a new Smartpicks lineup of devices for JIUMP! On Demand. In case you missed this info, REVVL is T-Mobile's own smartphone, an option for folks who are looking for a good phone, but not looking to spend a ton of money. A few of the specs worth highlighting are a 5.5" HD display, 2GB RAM, expandable storage, 13MP rear-facing camera, 3,000mAh battery, fingerprint reader, and Android 7.0+ "Nougat." For the price of $0 down and $5/month through JUMP! On Demand, that's not bad at all. Alongside the announcement of REVVL, T-Mobile is also introducing Smartpicks. Smartpicks is basically a selection of phones that T-Mobile feels bring a lot to the table in terms of features and specs, but won't be breaking the bank. For example, the Galaxy J3 Prime is a "Smartpick," while the same goes for the LG Aristo and ZTE-made ZMAX Pro. Every smartphone on this list will only cost you $7/month or $8/month, with absolutely $0 down. Just note, the same 18 month agreement applies to Smartpicks, regardless of whether you select an affordable phone or the next flagship device from any manufacturer. If you missed it, T-Mobile also changed JUMP! On Demand to allow for upgrading your phone up to once every 30 days, instead of just 3 times a year. Smartpick Compatible Smartphones

T-Mobile REVVL ($0 down and $5 a month)
Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime ($0 down and $7 a month)
LG K20 Plus ($0 down and $8 a month)
LG Aristo ($0 down and $7 a month)
ZTE ZMAX Pro ($0 down and $8 a month)

The REVVL arrives in-store tomorrow, August 10. // T-Mobile

Here is Lenovo's First Stock Android Phone

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:33:33 +0000

A few days ago, we reported on Lenovo's plans to ditch their whatever-it-was-called UI and replace it with a stock Android experience going forward. The first phone to do just that is now official as the Lenovo K8 Note. My guess is that you'll never see this phone in the US, but we still wanted to share the company's first attempt at stock Android. The Lenovo K8 Note features a 5.5-inch FHD display, 4000mAh battery, dual rear cameras (13MP standard + 5MP depth sensor), 13MP selfie camera, fingerprint reader, Mediatek Helio X23 processor, and beautiful, stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The phone is described by Lenovo as being "Killer" in a number of departments, including the design, performance, cameras, multimedia, connectivity, and experience. The experience portion is all about the "fluidity of stock Android" and the "lighter and baggage free" performance you get from not having a terrible skin on top of it. Mmmm yes, that is exactly how we'd describe most phones that run stock Android these days (OnePlus 5, Moto Z2, and Pixels). Anyways, you won't buy this unless you live in India. We still thought it should be noted for Lenovo's brave move into stock life. Good job, Lenovo.

// Lenovo

Disney is Leaving Netflix to Start Its Own Streaming Service

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:56:01 +0000

Yesterday, Disney announced that it had acquired a majority ownership of BAMTech, a company that specializes in streaming sports video, because their goal is launch an ESPN-branded video streaming service early next year. That's not all, though. In addition to the ESPN streaming service, Disney plans to launch its own Disney-branded direct-to-consumer service at some point in 2019. You should care about that because it means they will be leaving Netflix. Disney said that the new streaming service will be the "exclusive home in the US for subscription-video-on-demand viewing of the newest live action and animated movies from Disney and Pixar," which means movies like Toy Story 4 and the next Frozen flick when they arrive, as well as other "highly anticipated movies." Disney also plans to invest in other movies, TV shows, and short-form content for the service. As for the Netflix piece to this, Disney announced that it will end its distribution agreement beginning in 2019, so you do still have some time to consume Disney content on Netflix. If none of that matters to you and you care more about the ESPN side of things, Disney said that the ESPN streaming service will "offer a robust array of sports programming, featuring approximately 10,000 live regional, national, and international games and events a year," from many of your favorite leagues, including MLB, NHL, MLS, and tennis. This new ESPN service will be available through an updated version of the ESPN app. I can't help but share some frustration over this move. As someone who has ditched a traditional cable TV subscription for streaming service (we use Playstation Vue, Netflix, and HBO NOW), I don't exactly want to have to sign-up for another service. The point of ditching cable to was to cut some cost, but if everyone pulls out and runs their own separate service, then I'm wondering if it's going to be cheaper to just sign back up for cable. Ugh. // Walt Disney Company

Essential Phone Will be Sold Through Amazon and Best Buy, Release Date Coming in a Week

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:30:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, Andy Rubin told us that the Essential Phone would be here in a "few weeks." Today, the company's president, Nicoolo De Masi, told the Wall Street Journal that it'll be another "few weeks." However, De Masi did say that he'll have an exact launch date for us "in a week." So, maybe we'll know something next week? During a brief chat with the WSJ, De Masi also confirmed that the Essential phone will be sold through not only Best Buy, but Amazon as well. Having those two retailers on your side is essential these days, if you want to reach the widest audience possible. Now, that doesn't mean they'll sell the million they hope to sell in the first year, but it'll help the cause. And that's really all he provided, outside of talking about the fresh $300 million Essential took in from companies like Tencent and Amazon. // Wall Street Journal

T-Mobile Says Its REVVL Smartphone Arrives Tomorrow for $125

Kellen — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:00:50 +0000

T-Mobile will release its own smartphone tomorrow, according to T-Mobile's own Twitter help account. The phone will be called the T-Mobile REVVL and it'll cost just $125. What is the T-Mobile REVVL? It's a lower-tier phone, that's for sure, but if you need something from T-Mobile that won't break the bank, it could be an option for some. It features a 5.5-inch HD display, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage (with SD support), 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, fingerprint reader, 3000mAh battery, and a quad-core 1.5GHz Mediatek (MT6738) processor. Additionally, should you not want to buy it outright, the T-Mobile REVVL price will cost $5 down followed by $5 per month on an equipment installment plan or $0 down and $5 per month with JUMP! On Demand. Interested? https://twitter.com/TMobileHelp/status/895008485938614273 // @evleaks | T-Mobile Support

PSA: Galaxy S8 Active Not Compatible With Gear VR

Tim — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:29:42 +0000

In case you were curious, I'm writing this to inform all of you potential Galaxy S8 Active owners that the device is not compatible with Gear VR. Yup, that's a bummer, but understandable given the size difference between the S8 Active, Galaxy S8, and S8+. The confirmation of this info reminds me of a post on SamMobile I saw a bit back, stating that folks would really like a Galaxy S Active device that not only supported Gear VR, but was also available on carriers in the US other than AT&T. Sadly, we, the people, don't make those decisions. d Sorry, potential S8 Active buyers. Cheers Scott!

Android Distribution Updated for August 2017: Nougat Brings Fire and Fury

Kellen — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:28:39 +0000

It's Android distribution update day! Google updated the numbers for the month of August, showing Nougat and Marshmallow still on the rise, while most of the rest of the Android versions dropped. Nougat is now up to 13.5% of the Android pie and Marshmallow jumped to 32.3%. Those that declined from one month to the next include Lollipop (29.2%), KitKat (16.0%), and Jelly Bean (7.6%). Ice Cream Sandwich (0.7%) and Gingerbread (0.7%) seem OK just existing. Of course, this may be one of the last months before Android O arrives and really messes with Nougat's progress. Damn you, Android. UPDATE: Because our good friend @davekover asked for it, here is the past year in a chart, so you can visually see where each version of Android is headed.

Last month's numbers can be found right here. // Android Developers

Buy an HTC U11, Receive 3 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for Free

Tim — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:13:22 +0000

For a limited time, HTC is offering three months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited with the purchase of a U11 smartphone. If you aren't already using Amazon Music Unlimited, you know, because there are plenty of other fine music subscription services, this is Amazon's service that allows subscribers to listen to any piece of music on Amazon's servers. We're talking a library of around 10 million songs. For Prime members, a subscription to Music Unlimited costs $7.99/month, but for non-Prime folk, it's priced at $9.99/month. This promotion naturally highlights Amazon Alexa support on the U11, as well as the phone's built-in BoomSound speakers. If you're interested, this promotion runs until the end of September, with the price of a U11 still sitting at $649.99. HTC Link

LG Confirms V30 Name and Display, Teases Camera

Kellen — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:37:03 +0000

LG confirmed the name of their "next major smartphone" this morning through a post to their Korean social blog, announcing that it is indeed the V30. That is not a surprise, but hey, who doesn't love a good early confirmation? Along with the name drop, LG made sure we knew that the V30 is the phone they revealed last week, the one that has the 6-inch POLED FullVision display with an 18:9 ratio and curved edges. It looks like this, in case you missed that leak. Additionally, LG said in today's blog post that the V30 is "equipped with high-performance image capture," a hint that this phone should be a serious camera champ contender. The invite for the August 31 unveiling of the V30 - pictured above - also shows a camera lens with the words "Lights. Camera. Action." inside. LG V phones have always been big on media and that appears be the case once again with the V30. // LG

Download: Galaxy Note 8 Wallpapers

Tim — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:02:33 +0000

Should you want a small piece of the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 on your device today, it appears that the stock wallpapers for the device have already hit the web. Can we confirm 100% that these are the actual wallpapers? No, but at the end of the day, they're still nice wallpapers in QHD resolution. They're nice. There are 13 wallpapers in total, ranging in looks. There's a few that are very similar to what we have on the Galaxy S8, with a few landscape-centric options, too. Below is just a small, resized sample of what you'll find inside of the linked zip folder. Simply download it, unzip, then enjoy. Download Here // reddit

Foursquare's Swarm Updates to V5.0 to Bring Your Lifelog to Life (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 10:06:19 +0000

Swarm, the social check-in app that was once the fun part of Foursquare and has managed to live on its own successfully, is receiving a big update to version 5.0. This update pushes the idea of lifelogging, since most people use it for just that purpose rather than to be social as they check-in while frolicking around the world to new places. I'm not kidding either, that's the focus of the latest update. The new update is getting a big UX overhaul that simplifies while also bringing you a new map view and stats dashboard. While I don't have the update yet (Android version arrives in a couple of weeks), the images Swarm posted with the announcement show a user-focused UI, rather than one that includes your friends at all times. From the announcement, that's not surprising since the Swarm stats supposedly show that people use Swarm to mark points in time throughout their life (hence the lifelogging) rather than as a social app to hangout with friends. In fact, Swarm said that most people only have 6 friends on Swarm. As a frequent user of Swarm, this sounds like a pretty big change that may take some getting used to. Then again, I do really use it for the lifelogging portion and frequently search for former places I've been while on travels to either recall memories or recommend say, restaurants or bars to friends who are traveling. I also like the leaderboard and the mayorships too, though. Don't screw this up, Swarm. UPDATE: The big 5.0 Swarm update is now available on Android. Google Play Link // Foursquare

T-Mobile Quietly Changes JUMP! On Demand to Allow Device Changes Every 30 Days

Tim — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 09:52:55 +0000

T-Mobile has recently rolled out changes to JUMP! On Demand (JOD), making it much more intriguing for folks who always want to have the latest and greatest available. Before these changes, anyone a part of JOD could upgrade their phone up to 3 times in a year. Now, anyone on JOD can upgrade up to once every 30 days. Essentially, you can be just like an Android blogger, switching phones all of the time, should you be interested. If you are a T-Mobile customer, but not enrolled in JOD, the way it works is rather simple. Essentially, each phone you have is just a lease, always owned by T-Mobile, unless you decide to purchase the device. After signing an 18-month agreement, the pricing structure is based on your credit, the device you choose, and the plan you opt for. Each is an important factor in determining your payment. Currently, there isn't a formal list of devices that are eligible for JOD, as the list continues to change. However, if you're eyeing a new phone, such as the Moto Z2 Force, Galaxy S8, or LG G6, you'll find it on there. With a lot of great Android devices on the horizon, now may be a good time to look into JOD. Are you a JUMP! On Demand customer? What are your thoughts on this change? If you're not on JOD, but this change makes it sound really cool to try out, dial 611 on your T-Mobile device and ask the customer service representative to start the enrollment process. // reddit | TmoNews | T-Mobile

DEAL: Galaxy S8 and S8+ are Still Up to $300 Off ($150 Discount + $150 Trade)

Kellen — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 08:45:18 +0000

Just over two weeks ago, Samsung kicked off its latest mega-discount-promo on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ that gets you up to an instant $300 off. I'm happy to report that the deal is still live, though I'd be surprised if it lasts much longer. The deal works pretty simply. Samsung is handing out a $150 discount just because, but then will take off another instant $150 if you trade-in a particular device. That trade-in discount does indeed happen upfront, rather than later down the road. In order to make sure it stays off, you'll send in your trade with a return label included in the box with your new Galaxy S8 as it arrives. It's about the best instant discount deal we've seen in recent years and Samsung is showing no signs of slowing down on these types of offers. Right now, if you take advantage, you could get into an unlocked Galaxy S8 for as little as $425 or the Galaxy S8+ for $525. There are carrier models available too, but if the unlocked versions are cheaper, I'd recommend them. Remember, Samsung is actually updating them properly this year (so far) and they work on all US carriers. The list of acceptable trades includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, S6, or S7, the iPhone SE, 5, 6, 6s or 7 Plus, LG's G4, G5, or G6, and the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. I'd imagine there is a good chance that most of you have one of these. Samsung $300 Off Promo Link

Here's a Fun Take: I Don't Give a Sh*t About Disappearing Headphone Jacks

Kellen — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 07:07:23 +0000

Include one, don't include one. I don't care. I don't care because it's just not that big of a deal. Like really, you are going to end a relationship with a company over a little 3.5mm port that they were probably putting in the wrong place to begin with (#bottomjacksonly)? You may skip what could be the best phone of the year because you ain't about that dongle life? Because twice a year you need to charge your phone and wire in headphones at the same time? 🙄 And I consider myself somewhat of a music guy. I sit at a desk all day playing music through my office speakers or through the headphones attached to my computer. But even on those days I'm not in my office, well, my laptop also has a headphone jack, so there's that I can use. Oh, and then when I'm walking around or traveling and dive into some tunes through my phone, yeah, my phone probably has one because most phones still do. If it doesn't I'll use the damn dongle that came with it to play music through whatever janky port is there. If not, I'll just use the included earbuds that work with said janky port. Or hell, I'll buy some Bluetooth earbuds or those silly ass AirPod things or whatever. There are countless ways to go about this music and headphone situation. The removal of a headphone jack, to me at least, is not worth complaining about for the next five years or passing on the best phones. If I'm an Apple guy, I'd complain about the low-res screen I've been stuck with or the slowness of advanced software feature adoptions when compared to Android. If I'm an HTC U11 bro, I'd complain about the fingerprint magnet mirror coating or lack of availability or 2007-ish design. If I'm considering becoming a future Pixel 2 dude, I'd hope for perfectly-working Bluetooth (finally), a non-flawed camera lens without excessive lens flare, and water resistance. But Jesus, never-ending headphone jack complaints? These phones still play music just fine over headphones. You may not know that listening to the never-ending media crying over the missing port because it must be a slow news year. But yeah, your headphones, in some way or another, still work with phones without headphone jacks. Crazy, right? "But removing them is so user hostile, Kellen!" Yes, that kind of is! That really is, actually. Up front, it seems like a sh*tty move by phone manufacturers since we all already own headphones and a 3.5mm port doesn't really take up that much space. But again, there are how many different ways to get around this? Dongle. Included buds. Bluetooth buds. Fancy wireless ones. Oh, you lost a dongle? Here's a 2-pack for $10. Technology changes, industries move in different ways, and things sometimes suck for a while as that all happens because we all hate change. Is the death of the headphone jack a move that will provide additional benefits down the line? That's a good question and the answer is probably, "No!" There actually isn't much of a reason right now that any of us can tell for companies to be removing the headphone jack. Is that inconvenient af? Yep! Am I going to pass on a phone because of that? Nope! The Google Pixel phones will likely be the best Android phones of the year and it'll have nothing to do with their headphone jack situation. They'll be that good because they'll have industry-topping cameras, the best software experience of any Android phone, they'll get security patches each month, and they'll see new Android features before anyone else. I'd imagine that iPhone users, while they'd prefer to have a 3.5mm headphone jack, aren't about to skip the iPhone 8 just like they didn't skip the iPhone 7 over having to use a dongle. And that's because the iPhone does all of the other things they want it to do the way they need it to. Disappearing headphone jacks - I don't give a sh*t.

Verizon's Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Play, and Moto Z2 Play All Grab Updates

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 14:24:09 +0000

Verizon and Motorola are pushing updates to their Moto Z line of phones to kick off the week. In fact, all of their current Moto Z phones are grabbing new software versions today, including the new Moto Z2 Play. The Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID are updating to software version NCL26.118-23, while the Moto Z Play DROID is getting NDN26.118-23. I'm told those updates are to Android 7.1.1 as well (Edit: confirmed below, plus July security patch), but I can't confirm as I don't have any of those phones in house at the moment. Let us know in the comments! As for the Moto Z2 Play (our review), it's getting software version NDS26.118-23. All of the updates are listed as being security patches. // Verizon [2] [3] Cheers Kyle!

Fossil's New Q Venture and Q Explorist, With Full Circle Displays, Up for Pre-Order

Tim — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 12:47:39 +0000

Fossil announced two new Android Wear devices this morning, both featuring the company's first usage of full circle displays. Up to this point, you may have noticed that everything in Fossil's Q lineup had the "flat tire" appearance, which is where their ambient light sensors are placed. On the new Q Venture and Q Explorist, that has been removed. The specs for both devices are pretty similar to other Android Wear watches on the market. The Q Explorist (featured right in the image above) features a case size of 44mm with 12mm of thickness, complete with 4GB of onboard storage and 512MB of RAM. The Q Venture (featured left), which is the smaller model, has a case size of 42mm and 12mm of thickness. Both come with a IP67 rating, estimated battery life of "all day," Snapdragon Wear 2100 processors, and Bluetooth 4.1. Do note, though, neither has NFC, so no mobile payments. If you are interested in either of these pieces, you'll be happy to learn that each comes in a variety of looks. The Explorist is available in Silver, Rose Gold, or Smoke, while the Venture comes in Silver, Rose Gold, or Rose Gold with crystals. The Q Explorist and Q Venture are up for pre-order through Fossil's website, starting at $255. Fossil Links: Q Venture | Q Explorist

LG V30 Outed in HITRECORD Promo Videos

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 11:50:39 +0000

For those who didn't know, LG and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are good buddies. With each new LG flagship phone release over the past couple of years, they tend to partner with the actor/filmmaker and his HITRECORD organization to get creative types to use LG devices to make fun videos. That's the basics of it, though I'm sure there are additional details you can find out about HITRECORD at the source link below. We're not here to talk about that stuff, no, we're here to talk about the fact that the latest partnership with HITRECORD has given us a nice series of leaks of the upcoming LG V30 phone. Thanks to a series of submissions that went live today for a contest that is currently running with Gordon-Levitt, we get a handful of clean looks at the unreleased LG V30 phone. You can see one above for starters, along with another below, both of which match up to CAD renders of the V30 released a few weeks back. The videos aren't in HD, so these aren't high-res pictures, but they do show a shiny metallic V30 backside with a dual camera setup up top, follow by fingerprint reader and "V" branding just below it. On the front, the FullVision display with rounded corners stands out, as do the minimal bezels with subtle rounding at their edges. And remember, we know this is a 6-inch POLED FullVision display.

Overall, I'd say the V30 is quite the looker. Not only does it shine with its premium materials, it just looks much more polished than any LG phone in recent memory. It's also not enormous in the hand, thanks to the FullVision implementation. Thoughts? // HITRECORD Cheers Gtrc11!

Oh Boy: Google's Pixel 2 Strikes Pose for the Camera in New Pictures

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 11:24:28 +0000

After Friday's leak that gave us a first look at the HTC-made Google Pixel 2, we've now got two new photos to add to the story. These photos of the Pixel 2 appear very much to be of the prototype variety, but you can certainly recognize the device. Below, you'll find both images that come courtesy of GSMArena. Their source suggest that the phone will feel better that the original Pixel in hand because it's more "sleek and elegant." They also said that the units they snapped photos of here did not have headphone jacks. Other than those details, we're left looking for additional clues in the pictures and we aren't finding much. You've got cameras, flashes, and fingerprint readers all in the places we expect them to be. We're seeing those dual front-facing stereo speakers up front again too. This looks like the phone from last week, yet not quite as modern as the LG-made Pixel XL 2. Let us know if you spot anything else. To catch up on all of the previous Pixel 2 rumors and speculation, hit up this link.

// GSMArena

LinkedIn's Content and Contacts Get Injected Into Samsung Bixby

Tim — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 10:52:56 +0000

Samsung's Bixby is getting a new set of features this week, thanks to integration with LinkedIn. Moving forward, Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners who utilize Bixby Home can setup LinkedIn's calendar and contact features through the UI. If you're a busy businessman with much business to attend to, you can utilize the contact feature to see who exactly you are meeting with. It won't solely be their name, but their complete profile with the click of their profile photo (shown below). If there are certain news stories from LinkedIn's feed you may have interest in, that has also been integrated as an option for Bixby Home. As you scroll through, you'll see various news stories populate based on interests and folks you are connected to. As LinkedIn puts it, "With just a swipe to the right, on Bixby home, you can prep for upcoming meetings and tackle the day ahead, with details such as who you’re meeting with and top news of the day." If you want to integrate your Bixby with LinkedIn, be sure to link your Samsung and LinkedIn accounts through your device.

// LinkedIn

OnePlus 5 Now Comes in Gold for $479

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 10:41:34 +0000

The OnePlus 5 now comes in Soft Gold. This is a limited time and quantity thing (supposedly), so if gold is your thing, you'll have to act fast before supplies run out. The Soft Gold version of the OnePlus features 6GB and 64GB storage. It'll cost you $479, the same as the 6GB/64GB Slate Gray model. There are no differences in terms of specs from that model - it's just now painted in gold on the back with a white face up front. Additionally, OnePlus will begin selling the Slate Gray model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage in the coming weeks for $539. Not sure if the OnePlus 5 in any color is the phone for you? We've got a OnePlus 5 written review here along with a video review below. Either one should help you make that decision. The Soft Gold OP5 is shipping immediately. Buy OnePlus 5

BLU Phones Reinstated on Amazon After Privacy Concerns

Tim — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:50:44 +0000

After being taken down across Amazon's website due to privacy concerns, BLU devices have now been relisted. If you missed the drama, security firm Kryptowire recently released findings suggesting that select BLU devices could collect sensitive user data, then transmit that data to servers based in China. This system is part of what BLU was using for over-the-air updates, something other companies do as well, according to BLU. However, until Amazon could ensure the privacy of its buyers, BLU phones were taken down. Over the weekend, BLU phones re-emerged, with the company calling it a "false alarm" on its Twitter account.

Hey BLU fans! After a false alarm, BLU devices are now back up for sale on Amazon. https://t.co/XKqFyEiBI0 #BLU #BoldLikeUs #Amazon
— BLU Products (@BLU_Products) August 4, 2017

Throughout this fiasco, BLU maintained that this was a misunderstanding. Moving forward, it ensures that it will be using Google's OTA system on future devices to make sure everyone remains confident in their privacy. // Engadget

August’s Android Security Update Goes Live With Factory Images for Nexus, Pixel

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:43:20 +0000

Google just posted the Android security update for August 2017 and the files are already live for a number of devices. So far, we are seeing 7.1.2 files for Pixel and Pixel XL (NHG47Q, NJH47F, NKG47S, NZH54D), Pixel C (N2G48C), Nexus 6P (N2G48C), Nexus 5X (N2G48C), and Nexus Player (N2G48C). We’ve also got new 7.1.1 files for Nexus 6 (N6F27I, N8I11B) and Nexus 9 (N4F27K, N9F27H). The notes here for each Pixel update indicate that NHG47Q is for Verizon models, NZH54D is for Deutsche Telekom, NKG47S is for T-Mobile, Project Fi, and Rogers users, while NJH47F is the generic build for everyone else. You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. As more files arrive, we’ll update this post. Links:

Hey, Here's the Galaxy Note 8

Tim — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 08:45:15 +0000

We're quickly creeping up to August 23, the scheduled date of the Galaxy Note 8's unveiling, but at the rate of which leaked info and photos are coming out, there may not be much left for Samsung to showcase. If you're the kind of person who gets a thrill from checking out devices before they're announced, let us bask in the latest pictures, detailing a real Galaxy Note 8 -- not some fancy CAD render or the phone inside of a case. This appears to be the real deal. In the below image, we see the device's frontside, complete with reported 6.3" Infinity display. As we've stated before, it does resemble a Galaxy S8+, just a tad bigger and a bit more squared. We can also see that the Always On Display feature is functioning just fine. In the next image, we have the Note 8's backside. We can clearly see the dual rear-facing camera system, with LED flash and badly-placed fingerprint reader. Below that is a Samsung logo, followed by a lot of blur where specific device information (IMEI, etc.) is likely shown. Again, can't help but state the obvious -- this phone looks like a Galaxy S8+, but with an S Pen slot. Look over the images, then prep yourself for August 23. We'll be on-hand at Samsung's event in NYC and will be bringing you all of the action! // reddit

Old People, T-Mobile has a Good Deal for You on Unlimited Data

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 08:24:08 +0000

Starting August 9, if you are age 55 and over, T-Mobile wants to hand you a special T-Mobile ONE unlimited deal that us young pups can't touch. For just $60, under a special T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+ plan, you can get two lines of unlimited data, including taxes and fees. Yeah, that's actually a pretty solid deal. The standard T-Mobile ONE costs $70 for a single line or $100 for two lines. At $60 for two lines with this 55+ plan, you get unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data not only in the US, but in Mexico and Canada too. You also get free in-flight GoGo texting and data while traveling and unlimited 3G tethering. In order to get the $60 price, you do need to sign-up for autopay. Also, if you are a current T-Mobile customer, you won't be automatically enrolled once you hit 55. Instead, you'll need to contact T-Mobile and make the switch. What's the difference between this T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+ plan and the regular T-Mobile ONE plan? As far as I can tell, there isn't a difference at the moment outside of price. If we see something, we'll update this post. Again, the T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+ plan launches August 9. You can sign-up at the link below. Sign-up for T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+ Plan // T-Mobile

Official: Samsung's Galaxy S8 Active Arrives Exclusively at AT&T This Week

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 07:03:36 +0000

Samsung and AT&T announced the Galaxy S8 Active this morning, a phone that isn't much of a mystery, though that shouldn't take away from what is being presented here. Like Active phones from the past, the Galaxy S8 Active is an alternative to Samsung's current flagship offerings, only in a rugged form factor that can take a beating. We're still waiting on that full list of specs, but from what AT&T and Samsung have given us, this is very much like Active phones from the past. You've got a shatter resistant 5.8-inch QHD Super AMOLED Display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, 4000mAh battery (with wireless charging), 12MP f/1.7 Dual Pixel rear camera, 8MP f/1.7 front camera, Bixby, and an outer shell made of military-grade materials that is shatter, dust, and water resistant (MIL-STD-810G). Outside of specs, since this phone was made specifically for AT&T, you get access to all of AT&T's services including 5G Evolution (where available), NymberSync, WiFi, HD, and video calling, and their advanced messaging. The Galaxy S8 Active goes up for pre-order starting tomorrow before hitting stores on August 11. You'll be able to buy the S8 Active in Titanium Gold or Meteor Gray for as low as $28.34 per month for 30 months. Want to pre-order? AT&T is hosting a bunch of promos to sweeten the deal if you do. They are as follows:

Get a Galaxy S8 FREE when you add a new line on AT&T Next® and add DIRECTV
Get $500 towards a Samsung TV purchased online when you buy an eligible smartphone on AT&T Next and add DIRECTV
Get a Samsung Gear S2 for 99-cents or the Gear S3 for $49.99 on a 2-year agreement when you purchase the smartphone on AT&T Next
Get up to $200 in credits when you buy the eligible smartphone on AT&T Next and trade in an eligible smartphone.

I should point out that while the S8 Active is launching exclusively with AT&T, they are only saying that the exclusivity lasts for a "limited time." While we have yet to see evidence of this phone arriving at other carriers, availability will be something to continue to pay attention to. Pre-order Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

// Samsung | AT&T

Google Store Hosting All Sorts of Back to School Deals

Kellen — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 06:43:26 +0000

The big story from the weekend was Google's sharp discount on its Pixel and Pixel XL phones by up to $200. The discounts there are the best we have seen on the Pixels to date, but they aren't the only discounts running right now through the Google Store. If you need anything sold through the Google Store, there is a good chance you'll find it on sale at the moment. So far, Google has dropped the price of Pixel cases, LG Watch Sport, both OnHub routers, Google Home, the Pixel C Keyboard, and the Nest Cam Indoor. Additionally, if you pick-up a 3-pack of Google WiFi, they'll toss in a free Chromecast Audio. Get after it! Google Store Links:

Pixel and Pixel XL (up to $200 off)
Pixel Google Earth Live Case ($25, $25 off)
Pixel Google Trends Live Case ($25, $25 off)
Pixel Clear Case ($15, $15 off)
Pixel Silicone Case ($17.50, $17.50 off)
Pixel XL Clear Case ($15, $15 off)
Pixel XL Silicon Case ($17.50, $17.50 off)
Google Home ($109, $20 off)
Google WiFi (Buy 3-pack get free Chromecast Audio)
Nest Cam Indoor ($169, $30 off)
ASUS OnHub Router ($99, $129 off)
TP-LINK OnHub Router ($99, $46 off)
LG Watch Style ($199, $50 off)
Pixel C Keyboard ($99, $50 off)

DEAL: Google Drops Pixel and Pixel XL by Up to $200, Includes Free Daydream View

Kellen — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 07:11:43 +0000

Google just launched a mega-sale on its Pixel and Pixel XL devices. But not only that, they are including a free Daydream View with purchase ($79 value). At the moment, you can grab a Pixel or Pixel XL through the Google Store for up to $200 off. It appears that all models (both storage options and color choices) are in-stock too. For starters, that means a regular Pixel with 32GB storage for $524. If you need 128GB storage, add another $100 to that price. Should you opt for the Pixel XL, we're talking about a starting price with 32GB storage for $569. Yes, you are only paying $45 more at the moment for the XL over the regular Pixel. The 128GB upgrade is again, another $100. To get the free Daydream View, you just add it to cart with the phone and the price drop happens at checkout. This is the best deal we've seen on the Pixel and Pixel XL. Google Store Links:

UPDATE: If you need cases to go with your Pixel or Pixel XL, or any other Google products, most are on sale right now. Full list of products here. Cheers Paul!

Weekly Recap: The Essential Note 8 XL 2 V30 is Coming

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:00:45 +0000

Just when I thought we'd never get out of the early summer slow period of Android news, a wave crashes into the site and we almost can't keep up. Not only did we review the Moto Z2 Force this week and hammer out a new DL Show, but we learned almost all there is to know about the Galaxy Note 8, found out about the LG V30's big ol' display, and think we might soon be able to buy the Essential Phone. Oh, and the Pixel 2 emerged! This sh*ts getting fun again. Be sure to catch up through our handy list of stories below because yeah, it's only going to get more packed.

Avoid Portland this weekend unless breathing pure death smog smoke is your thing.

This Icon Pack is Hot: CandyCons

Tim — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 15:00:40 +0000

As many of you may know, we tend to share "hot" icon packs that we stumble upon in Google Play. I was browsing through a few this week, finally settling on a free pack anyone can use, called CandyCons. I love candy, it's free, so why not check it out? Inside, there are over 1,000+, differing variants for select icons (such as Chrome), and 20+ cloud-based wallpapers that look awesome. Speaking real quickly just about wallpapers, I want to send a shoutout to all of the developers who include wallpapers with their icon packs. It's a great move, one that I, as a user, appreciate. The icons themselves are pretty playful, not exactly appearing like pieces of candy, but simply lighthearted twists on what many may already have on their device. On top of candy color-styled Material icons, the developer notes dynamic Google Calendar support, support for Muzei, and support for the CyanogenMod Theme Engine. As I said, this icon pack is free to download and use, so if you use a launcher that supports custom icon packs, definitely check it out. Play Link

Verizon's Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Note Edge All Pick-Up Updates

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:52:50 +0000

Verizon pushed a batch of updates to some of its older Samsung devices as we ride off into the weekend. The Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Note Edge are all receiving new builds that welcome in security patches. For new software versions, you'll see G900VVRU2DQF2 on the Galaxy S5, N910VVRS2CQE1 on the Galaxy Note 4, and N915VVRU2CQF2 on the Galaxy Note Edge. And the changelog for each says the following:

Android® security patches and bug fixes.
Resolved a ring-back tone issue on calls to non-Verizon phones.
Fixed an issue where some users reported difficulty making calls to non-Verizon customers.

// Verizon [2] [3]

New Pixel Render Heat, Z2 Force Review Complete

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:15:33 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we return from a 2-week summer break to dive into fresh new Google Pixel 2 images and reported features, our Moto Z2 Force review, the various Galaxy Note 8 leaks and rumors, plus the latest on the Essential Phone and LG V30. Man, there is a lot to talk about with all of those phones on the horizon. We also want to chat about the Android O Developer Preview 4, RED's phone, why Vic Gundotra hates Android now, Daydream for the Galaxy S8, and more. We'll be live at 11AM Pacific (2PM Eastern)! If you miss us live, you can always subscribe through the variety of links below.

Hooray: Lenovo Ditches Custom UI, Switches to Stock Android

Tim — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:59:32 +0000

Announced this week, Lenovo is ditching its Vibe Pure UI in favor of stock Android. Righteous. According to Lenovo, the company listened to its customers and decided that removing its custom skin was for the best. If you want to see how Lenovo does with this move, the first phone launching with the stock Android experience will be the K8 Note, but here in the US, don't expect to find it in your local carrier store. Not only will this clear up the user experience, but updates for the device may roll out more steadily. As mentioned by Lenovo's Anuj Sharma to Gadgets 360, each device in the K lineup will indeed receive the Android O update, but timing will differ depending on which processor the phone runs.

What we have done in the last 11 months is we looked at what we had in terms of software perspective. We have been close to the consumers and we saw what they were asking for. There was a certain trend and we have now decided to cut the Vibe Pure UI off from our phones. So you will now get the stock Android which consumers have been asking for.

Bye bye, Vibe Pure UI! // Gadgets 360

Google's Pixel 2 Emerges With Stereo Speakers, Large Bezels, No Headphone Jack

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:31:06 +0000

Alright, so we've seen purported renders of Google's new Pixel XL 2, the one we are expecting to be made by LG. It looks incredible, with its FullVision-esque display, matte black finish, and minimal yet premium design. But what about the HTC-made Pixel 2, the smaller of the new Pixel line-up? We have heard for months that it may end up looking very much like last year's HTC-made Pixel design, only we haven't had the image proof to confirm that. Thanks to an image shared in a report today by Venturebeat, we may be looking at it below. According to this report, this is the HTC-manufactured Pixel 2 for Google. And yes, it does indeed look very much like last year's Pixel, only with a couple of design tweaks, a feature addition or two, and a feature subtraction. As you can see from the image, those subtle design tweaks are the shrinking of the back glass plate to above the fingerprint reader, rather than engulfing it as it did last year. We can also see an extra-large camera lens, similar to the one first spotted in the Pixel XL 2 imagery. Other than that, the fingerprint reader is in a familiar spot, as is the Google "G" logo. Even the Quite Black colorway isn't new.

As for the front, this is where things do change slightly. The front-facing camera remains in an identical spot, but the top speaker grill has been lengthened and is joined by a second front-facing speaker in the phone's chin. Yes, folks, that should mean stereo front speakers! Additionally, Venturebeat reports that the phone will include the squeezy side feature of the HTC U11. Finally, the headphone jack is said to have been removed from both Pixel 2 phones. Dying for those thoughts. // Venturebeat

Report: AT&T Expected to Carry a Huawei Flagship in 2018

Tim — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:06:13 +0000

According to a report from The Information, AT&T is expected to carry a Huawei flagship in the first half of 2018. Why is this a big deal? Well, because Huawei hasn't yet had one of its top-tier devices on a US carrier, making this a pretty big step for a company that longs to be competitive in the US market. Previously reported back in March, AT&T and Huawei were in early talks to begin testing the Kirin processor on AT&T's network. We must assume that all went well, given the latest development. As it stands, Huawei is ranked #3 in terms of global smartphone marketshare, not far behind Apple and its #2 position. Both trail Samsung at #1. With AT&T potentially allowing Huawei to finally break through into the US market, that could be big business for the China-based smartphone maker. If you'll recall, not much attention was paid to Huawei in the US, that is until Google decided to partner with them to create the Nexus 6P. Following that, Huawei looks to have gained many fans in the US, and from the comments I read quite often, folks who own a Mate 9 sure do seem to love it. Now, there are no specifics on which flagship this 2018 phone could be, but given the reported timing, it seems a good guess-timation that it might be the Mate 10 or even the P11. Reports and info are already flying around for the Mate 10, such as details on its EntireView display. Or, maybe, Huawei will have something entirely new by then? Huawei on AT&T. Are you digging the possibilities? // The Information [Subscription]

DEAL: Amazon Echo Drops to $90 Today ($90 Off), Echo Dot to $35

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 08:35:22 +0000

Oh boy, if you have been wanting an Amazon Echo or need an additional unit for another room in your house, today is your day. Best Buy is hosting a 1-day sale on Amazon products that dropped the Amazon Echo to just $89.99. That's a $90 discount and matches the lowest price ever from Prime Day. In other words, this is your second chance at the best Amazon Echo deal in history. If you don't want the regular Amazon Echo, Best Buy also has the Echo Dot with a $15 discount to $34.99. You could shoot for the Amazon Tap too, which is just $79.99 today ($50 off). There are other Amazon products discounted today too at Best Buy, including Fire tablets and Kindle products. We've got links for you below. Best Buy Links:

Amazon Echo ($89.99, $90 off)
Amazon Echo Dot ($34.99, $15 off)
Amazon Tap ($79.99, $50 off)
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet ($29.99, $20 off)
All Amazon 1-day discounts at Best Buy

Essential Phone Shows Up at Best Buy in Unlocked and Sprint Models

Kellen — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 07:56:51 +0000

When Andy Rubin showed off the Essential Phone back at the end of May and opened up reservations for the device, he said that he wouldn't have done so if he didn't plan to ship the phone within 30 days or so. As you all know, that 30-day window has long since passed and we are now about 60 days out. We don't know what the hold up is - it already stopped off at the FCC - but a couple of weeks ago he and his execs said that its arrival is both imminent and/or a "few weeks" out. The phone still isn't available for purchase, but it did show up at Best Buy this morning. I should clarify that it showed up in Best Buy listings, not in an actual store. Still, this is a good sign! Best Buy has both the Sprint and Unlocked models in black or white listed as "Coming soon" with the option to be notified about the unlocked unit. The unlocked unit will cost the $699 that Essential listed on their own site weeks ago, while the Sprint model is carrying a $749 price tag for some reason. If anything, Essential has had a solid month or two in attracting distribution partners since unveiling the phone. They started out with only a reservation system of their own and no partners, but now have both Sprint and Best Buy on board. Best Buy Links:

Unlocked Essential Phone (PH-1)
Sprint Essential Phone (PH-1)

// Android Police

2017 Wireless Carrier Speed Test Battle Time: Let's See Those Screenshots!

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 16:03:29 +0000

With so much talk these days about wireless network speeds and companies like Verizon trying to hit those 1Gb downloads, it seemed like a nice time to open up a speed test battle. I don't think we've done one of these in a good 3 or 4 years for some reason (since Verizon launched XLTE), and maybe that's because everyone's network started catching up to each other. But now that there seems to be a new focus on who the fastest wireless carrier is, this could be fun. So, like we used to do, all you need to do is jump off WiFi, attach to your wireless network and run a speed test with Ookla's Speedtest.net app. Once done, screenshot it and head into the comments to attach it to a comment. Be sure to tell us which carrier you are on as well. What good is a speed test battle if we don't know which carrier only gave you 2Mbps down on? We need to know who to point the finger at while laughing. For those curious, the three phones above are attached to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (in that order). I just ran those tests simultaneously moments ago. I really do live in the Verizon Black Hole of Signal Death. Go easy on them. Ready? Go!

Moto Z2 Force Review

Tim — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:47:17 +0000

Last year, Motorola introduced us to the Moto Z lineup of devices, along with its Moto Mods system. It's year two now, and instead of a followup to the Moto Z, we're getting a sequel to the Moto Z Force, which is appropriately named the Moto Z2 Force. While the phone looks very similar to last year's, Motorola has made a couple of changes, such as the inclusion of a dual camera system, as well as the chopping of the battery from 3,500mAh last year to just 2,730mAh this year. As you'd imagine, folks are skeptical of this decision, so let's dive right into our findings and see how this year's Z2 Force stacks up against the rest of 2017's offerings. This is our Moto Z2 Force review.

Moto Z2 Force Review

The Good

Software and Performance I remember back in the day when Motorola included their custom Motoblur skin atop Android. Boy, that skin was bad. Over the past few years, Motorola has taken a more vanilla approach to its software, which is something I've greatly appreciated. The Moto Z2 Force doesn't stray from that whatsoever, meaning its easy to pick up and start using, without a ton of features hidden deep inside the Settings menu. Instead of including a ton of its own apps and junkware, Motorola essentially only includes its Moto application, which controls the phone's gestures, Moto Display, Moto Voice, and all of that. It's a very simplistic and straightforward way of controlling the phone's custom features, making it easy for anyone to master. Speaking about one of Moto's new software tweaks in particular, One Button Nav axes the typical on-screen buttons and then outfits the fingerprint reader with all of those actions. For example, when this is enabled, you long press on the fingerprint reader to access Google Asssitant, swipe on it to view recent apps, or swipe the other way to go back. It makes your viewing area a bit larger and does speed up your navigation through the phone quite a bit. It's a solid little feature. There are still the classics baked in, too, such as "Chop Twice" to enable the flashlight and "Twist for Quick Capture" that launches the camera. If there's one thing I can bet on when it comes to Motorola devices these days, it's the software. If you're a fan of old Nexus devices and the new Pixel phones, then there's no reason you wouldn't appreciate the experience on a Motorola device. The only big difference you'll notice is that your updates won't be as quick, but if you're looking for other forms of hardware, or maybe want to try Moto Mods, then you can at least rest assured that your software will be fine. Coupled with the Snapdragon 835 and 4GB RAM, there was never a moment of jank or any performance issues, either. All around a great software and performance experience. Battery Life Now I know that many will be looking for this section specifically, so I'm happy to report that battery life belongs in this spot in "The Good" section. While Motorola may have hurt a few feelings by dropping the size from last year's Moto Z Force of 3,500mAh to this year's 2,730mAh, this phone still has great battery life. And believe me, I'm the first one to be shocked. No doubt, it could have been even better if they had stuffed a bigger battery in a larger body, but considering how thin this device is and whatever optimizations they did to make it last all day long, it's solid battery life. On an average day, I was going from 7AM to 11PM or so just fine, without needing to find a charger throughout the day. And if you haven't been following my phone usage lately, you need to know that I've been playing a ton of mobile games, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes specifically, and that game is a pure battery killer. Even with me grinding on that game for a long time each day, the phone still has juice. If your usage is even harder than mine, you'll still benefit from the inclusion of Motorola's Turbo Charging, which can have your phone charged for a day's usage in about 30-40 minutes. Camera In this year's Z2 Force, Motorola included a dual camera system, consisting of two 12MP shooters with f/2.0 and 1.25um. On the front there's a 5MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2. While I won't say it's the best camera in a smartphone ever, it's actually quite good, especially if I think back to how bad Moto cameras have been in previous devices. On the software side, Motorola baked in a few tricks, such as a Professional Mode, True B&W, Depth enabling (to use that dual system), and Panorama mode. Personally, I stuck to the standard shooting mode, but I do appreciate the addition of these modes, specifically the Pro mode. With it, you can manually adjust settings such as ISO, exposure, shutter speed, and more. If you take your mobile photography seriously, then these are good things to have control over at times. When playing with the B&W mode, I wasn't necessarily blown away, thinking how easy it is to simply use a filter to turn any color photo into B&W. There's actually many filters like that on Instagram or even in the Google Photos application. While it's cool to have a dedicated mode to finely tune contrast and lighting for you, I wouldn't label it as a marquee feature. Potential buyers should also note that no OIS or EIS is labeled as being equipped, so hopefully you have steady hands when you're shooting your 4K videos at 30fps. Here's a few camera samples from my time with the device. Availability Unlike prior years, Motorola basically shocked the world by making this phone available on all major carriers. Seriously, it's a big step for a company that may want to reclaim a piece of the US market. Unfortunately, a single Moto Z2 Force won't work on all carriers, as it's not carrier-agnostic, but you can find a variant for your specific carrier with relative ease. Having a single SKU that can be taken between AT&T and Verizon would have been swell, though just the idea that anyone on any carrier can get this phone in the first place is a solid win. Typically, availability would be coupled with the price and our thoughts on that, but I have to save that section for a little later on in this review. I love being ominous.

Somewhere in the Middle

Specs The Z2 Force comes equipped with all of the high-end specifications you'd expect, yet as a phone that is marketed as a top-tier device and priced like one, I can't help but think this phone is missing something. I suppose what really rubs me wrongly is that markets out of the US may see a somewhat better version (on paper) than what we have here in the US. While we don't have specifics yet, it is reported that markets out of the US will get 6GB RAM in their Z2 Force, instead of the 4GB we have. Additionally, it is reported that China will have a 128GB storage model, while we are maxed at 64GB. This isn't a terrible thing and I'm sure moves like these are made to keep costs lower, but the phone is marked at $756 at full retail on Verizon. That's a crazy high price for a phone that really doesn't exude luxury or premium-ness. I'll dive more into that below in the hardware section. For specs, the Z2 Force as it is offered in the US has a 5.5" Quad HD POLED with ShatterShield, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB built-in storage, microSD slot with support up to 2TB, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, fingerprint reader, dual rear-facing 12MP cameras, USB Type-C, water repellent nano coating, Moto Mods support, and Android 7.1.1 "Nougat." This list does seem fine for a 2017 flagship, but nothing about it really jumps out and sets itself apart from what else is out there. And this isn't me trying to be a hater. If Motorola had opted to provide a larger battery instead of pushing new Moto Mods, then this may be a different conversation, but as it stands, for the price of almost two OnePlus 5 64GB units, you just expect more. Display The Z2 Force comes with a 5.5" QHD POLED display, with ShatterShield technology on top. Now, I have seen other reviewers talk about the ruggedness of this display, saying it scratches easily, but I haven't had those issues. I've been using the phone for a solid week now and don't have any major damage to report, thankfully. I will say, though, there is a minor issue I have when pressing down on the display near the fingerprint reader. When doing this, I hear a slight clicking noise, as if the display isn't completely attached to the glass. Is it a deal breaker? No, but it is sorta annoying, and goes along with my belief that this phone isn't necessary worth almost $800. While I'm all for displays that won't shatter if you drop them, there's something about ShatterShield that doesn't feel very smooth or premium to my fingers. Coming from a OnePlus 5 and Galaxy S8+ that have real glass screens, it certainly is a bit different. As a user of last year's Moto Z Force, I will say that this phone's screen feels better than that one, which always felt very cheap to me. As for the display itself, it seems fine, especially when we don't have to worry about squinting to see pixels. Its colors are vibrant, there's no noticeable light bleed, and it gets insanely bright when the brightness setting is jacked up. Believe me, you shouldn't have any problems viewing this in direct sunlight when you're out and about. Moto Mods I remember when modules for smartphones were something I was very excited about, but with the latest lineup of Moto Mods, my feelings are beginning to change. Allow me to explain. Last year there was a few cool ones, such as the JBL speaker and that projector mod, all of which had a their own level of usefulness and continue to work on the latest Moto Z devices. They were these add-on accessories that made your already cool phone cooler. That's great and continues to be so. However, with the Z2 Force, Motorola did something not many expected, which was to strip away a big chunk of the device's battery. In doing so, it's as if Motorola is forcefully nudging you into purchasing a Mod to get that battery life back. I mean, who doesn't want the most battery they can get, right? I understand the move, but it seems hostile towards the customer to me, as if Motorola hired an Apple executive for a weekend and this is what he came up with. At the board meeting he says, "Hey, I know, let's decrease the phone's battery size, still charge a premium price, then sell folks a separate battery pack that they'd be silly not to buy." You see what I'm getting at? Other Moto Mods besides the battery packs are totally cool and I'm, fine with what they deliver, such as the JBL 2 speaker, Incipio Vehicle Dock, 360 Camera, and the Moto GamePad. In fact, that GamePad looks really awesome for anyone who wants to do a ton of mobile gaming. The point is, some mods seem like they actually increase the usefulness of the phone, while others give me the sense that Motorola purposefully limited the device, only to push sales of the Mods. Thankfully, as I previously mentioned, the battery life on the Z2 Force has been fine, so you won't see me out in the streets with pitchforks, but it may be time to admit that modules for phones might not be that awesome. I always saw them as potential upgrades for the phone, such as the concept of swapping RAM and camera configurations, and maybe one day we'll be there, but we clearly aren't there quite yet. Hardware / Design Lenovo has publicly committed to supporting last year's Moto Mods for three years. In smartphone years, that might as well be eternity. Because of this move, we can expect nearly an identical looking phone for years in a row, and with hardware innovation beginning to take off with bezel-less displays and all of that, saying that you're going to release the same phone a few years in a row is a tough way to get people excited about your hardware. Frankly, this design was interesting last year when it was first introduced, but now it seems kind of boring, and it has been implemented throughout Motorola's entire lineup. They're all plain looking smartphones with giant circles on the back for the camera. I don't know how many more of the same Motorola devices I can look at before thinking they are absolutely crazy for committing support for that long. Props for making sure yours customers don't feel screwed after they spent their money on the phone and subsequent Moto Mods, but man, way to work yourself into a hardware design corner. While the Z Force from last year and this year's Z2 Force are nearly identical, Motorola did toss in the dual camera on the backside which at least helps differentiate a bit. But what will it do next year? I'll tell you. They will probably announce a phone that looks just like the Z2 Force, because when you only give yourself so much to work with. you aren't met with many choices. We may see slightly smaller bezels, but unless ShatterShield can start being curved, we're probably going to end up with the same phone 3 years in a row. And again, that's boring. Forgetting that Motorola released this same looking device last year and focusing purely on the Z2 Force hardware, I can say it is nice. Thanks to the smaller battery, it feels good in-hand and the aluminum on the backside is nice and cool to the touch. I'll be the first to say, I think it's a handsome phone, but as someone who covers Android phones for a living, I'll be happy when Motorola can break away from this design and try something new.

The Not-so-Good

Price The Moto Z2 Force is not cheap, not by any means. Through Motorola's website, the phone can be found for $720. On Verizon, it's $756 off contract. On AT&T, it's $809. Oh, sorry, did you just spit your drink out all over your keyboard and monitor while reading that? My bad. Now, forgive me, but there's no way this phone is actually worth that much. Let's compare it to others on the market, which helps to put pricing into perspective. At launch, a Galaxy S8 would have cost you about $750 off contract. Now you can find a US unlocked model for $575 when it's on sale (and it's constantly on sale). That's the latest flagship from Samsung and you know it's packed with the best specs you can find anywhere. It has a killer display, camera, the same processor as the Z2 Force, but it also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, IP68 rating, and fast wireless charging. That's the high-end of the Android smartphone spectrum. How about the OnePlus 5? Arguably one of the best phones for the money right now, you get a dual camera system, 3.5mm headphone jack, 6GB RAM, and very nice hardware for just $479. To me, Motorola cannot command the same pricing as Samsung with this phone, it's as simple as that. When you buy this phone, you'll be tempted to buy a few Moto Mods, and I'd even recommend picking up a nice set of Bluetooth headphones, only because the idea of carrying around a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter is just silly to me. With all of that, off contract, you're dropping about $1,000, which, if I dare say, is ridiculous. Please, don't get me wrong, this phone is fine, but maybe at $600 or $650 max, not $750+. Here are links to where you can order the Z2 Force, if you're interested.

Verizon ($15/month, $756 retail)
Sprint (BOGO or $33/month, $792 retail)
AT&T ($27/month, $809.99 retail)
T-Mobile (BOGO or $30/month, $750 retail)
US Cellular ($26.12/month, $729.99 retail)
Best Buy
Motorola ($30/month, $720 retail)

Other

Girlfriend Impressions: "I don't like how the camera isn't flush on the back, phone is very light, but feels durable. Not a fan of the super rounded edges, but I do like the size of the phone. It doesn't feel too big. It's very finger printy."
No Headphone Jack: Yup, no headphone jack on the Z2 Force. Is it the worst thing ever? No, but as someone who has a treasure trove of wired headphones, it does kinda suck. Motorola includes an adapter for Type-C to 3.5mm, but dang, I already deal with enough dongles on my new MacBook Pro. I'm tired of dongle life.
Speaker: There's a single external speaker on the Z2 Force that it is loud with plenty of low end. With its position on top of the frontside, watching videos and playing games is plenty of fun, with no fingers getting in the way of the tunes. Sure, I wish it was a dual stereo setup, but hey, you can always buy a JBL Moto Mod!
Water Repellent: Why isn't this phone rated at IP67 or 68? The design of the phone would lend itself well to water resistance, but instead, we get a "water repellent nano coating." If that doesn't make you uncomfortable, as in you have no idea what it means, then I don't know what to say. On Moto's website, they make it very clear, "Not designed to be submersed in water, or exposed to pressurized water, or other liquids; not waterproof." So, yeah, don't take it around water, even though plenty of other phones these days, around the same price, all offer water resistance.

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First 10 Things to Do

The Verdict

I must say, it's rather hard to sum up my feelings on this device in a short, easily digestible sentence. While I want to say I like this phone very much, the Z2 Force's price simply doesn't allow me to do that. That price, along with what feels like a boring, hindered hardware experience at times, leaves me wanting to go back to other devices quite quickly. For example, if I have the S8 or OnePlus 5 on a desk next to the Z2 Force, I'm grabbing those devices over the Z2 every day of the week. If I wasn't constantly reminded that a Moto Mod could potentially better my experience, maybe I wouldn't feel this way, but at $720+, followed by even more money for Moto Mods, this is a tough pill to swallow, especially since this phone feels like last year's Z Force with dual cameras. I mean, they have officially committed to supporting the existing catalogue of Moto Mods, meaning they can't drastically change up the hardware at all. That's not an ideal situation when LG, HTC, and Samsung are able to change things up as they see fit from year to year. As the competitors evolve, Motorola is seemingly stuck with this. If you really want to win me over, Motorola, since you are stuck with this design, you've got to give it all. Give me a Z phone with everything here, including the Moto Mods, but I also need IP68, a headphone jack, thinner bezels, and dual front-facing speakers. I'm sure you can manage that while not ditching your Moto Mod strategy. It may be necessary, too, or you run the risk of falling into obscurity yet again.

Verizon, Qualcomm, and Ericsson Almost Hit 1 Gig Speeds in a "Real-World" Test

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 13:27:42 +0000

While AT&T has already launched its 5G Evolution technology in select markets and is pushing 400Mbps connections, Verizon has a little of its own speed bragging to do this week. Big Red got together with Ericsson and Qualcomm to perform a "dynamic, real-world environment" speed test on their network that clocked just under 1Gbps speeds (953Mbps to be exact). The three companies used "all commercially available" equipment to achieve those ridiculous speeds, including a radio system from Ericsson that leveraged Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) technology. LAA, as far as I understand it, uses unlicensed spectrum along with Verizon's own licensed spectrum to create those speeds. It's carrier aggregation on steroids in a way, also known as four carrier aggregation. They also used a test device from Qualcomm that featured a Snapdragon 835 and their Gigabit-ready Snapdragon X16 LTE modem. Now, these speeds aren't coming to you any time soon from what I can tell. This was one of those test scenarios that Verizon can use to talk about a moment in time while they continue upgrades in order to one day get us these speeds. We may not get there until 5G arrives, but Verizon did point out in their announcement that there are "multiple" devices already on the market that support gigabit speeds. Cool stuff, though. // Verizon

DEAL: AUKEY Discounted a Bunch of Quick Charge Products Up to 55% With Code

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:29:17 +0000

The guys over at AUKEY sent us a bunch of coupon codes to share with you all for some of their quick charging products that drop the prices up to 55%. They've got a dual-port car charger with USB Type-C port and Quick Charge 3.0 port for just $9 after code. They've also got a Quick Charge 2.0 20,000mAh power bank for $23 with code, along with a 5-port USB (with Type-C) charging station for $16 with code. The sale lasts until 8/7. All products are Prime eligible. Amazon Links:

AUKEY Dual-Port Car Charger w/ USB C & QC 3.0 (Code: AUKSALE1)
AUKEY QC 2.0 20000mAh Power Bank (Code: AUKSALE2)
AUKEY Amp 5-Port USB Charging Station (Code: AUKSALE3)

Report: Galaxy Note 8 Arrives September 15

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:27:08 +0000

We know that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23, but when will we be able to buy it? According to a report out of Korea, that should happen by mid-September. News outlet etnews spoke with a wireless network representative who said that September 15 is the date for launch in South Korea. Samsung has not yet confirmed the date. OK, so what about in the US? I'd say the 15th is likely for here as well. Samsung has been doing big Friday launches for some time now and September 15 is on a Friday. It's also just over 3 weeks out from the phone's unveiling and matches up exactly to the timeline used to start selling the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Samsung announced the S8 line on March 29 (a Wednesday) and then released it 3 weeks later on April 21 (a Friday). To recap, the Galaxy Note 8 is thought to feature a 6.3-inch QHD Super AMOLED Infinity display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage with microSD slot, 3300mAh battery, IP68 water and dust resistance, dual 12MP rear cameras, 8MP front camera, fingerprint reader, and a new S Pen. It should be a beast, just like last year's Note 7. Again, the Galaxy Note 8 release date is likely set at September 15. // etnews

US Unlocked ASUS ZenFone AR Also Now Available, Starts at $599

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:06:17 +0000

Because not everyone in the US is a customer of Verizon, ASUS went ahead and released an unlocked model of the ZenFone AR this morning. The unlocked unit can be found at Amazon for now and it starts at $599. This version of the phone is a dual SIM model that features the same QHD display, 3-camera setup, 3300mAh battery, and Snapdragon 821 processor. Yes, it also works with Google's Tango and Daydream. It is not a CDMA phone, though, so you'll only get connectivity on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. At $599, you'll get the ZenFone AR with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. If you need more RAM and storage, you can jump up to the $699 model that has 8GB and 128GB, respectively. Amazon Link

LastPass Premium Doubles in Price to $24 Per Year

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:38:37 +0000

LastPass, one of the most popular password lockers, announced this morning that its personal lineup pricing is changing. I probably don't need to say this, but that almost always means an increase in what you'll pay. And yes, an increase is on the way. Going forward, the Premium LastPass tier is jumping up from $12 per year to $24 per year. LastPass also introduced a price to its new Families plan, which will cost $48 per year and offer up to 6 users access to your password locker. There is still a free tier as well. Why the price increase? LastPass doesn't just come outright and say it, but the announcement today reminds us all that they just polished off a new and improved user experience, while almost simultaneously announcing that new Families plan. Shiny new things are expensive to create and people need to pay for these shiny new things. That's my takeaway here. Outside of the price increase, is anything changing? Yep, we have changes! In the free tier, unlimited sharing and emergency access have be taken away and moved to the Premium tier. If you were a free user with an emergency contact selected, you will still have access to that going forward. New users, though, sorry. In the Premium tier, the shared family folder is going away for new Premium tier users. LastPass did say today that existing Premium customers will "maintain all previous sharing capabilities via their one shared folder." So for current Premium folks, nothing is really changing other than the doubling of the price you pay. Should you now ditch LastPass and find another password solution? Eh, it's still cheaper than both DashLane and 1Password's premium tiers with this price increase. You should probably do a comparison of their feature lists to help you make that decision. I'm a LastPass user who recently gave DashLane a week or so trial. I think I prefer LastPass because I'm used to the way it works, but DashLane certainly has a better desktop app experience and some other positives. (DashLane, 1Password) // LastPass

This LG V30 Mock-Up is Pretty Hot

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:03:55 +0000

It only took a few hours for device render creators to work with last night's announcement from LG and put together really clean mock-ups of the V30. What we have here are two that show a device we might all be drooling over should it look anywhere near this in final form. The images were posted by @UniverseIce and show the phone by itself, but also next to the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8+. Again, these are not official renders, though they do appear to be based off the bottom image that LG posted last night while talking about the phone's 6-inch POLED FullVision display. You can see the flatness of the G6's FullVision display next to the slightly curved edges we expect on the V30. It's really a nice combo of the G6 and the Galaxy S8's more prominent curved edges. Also, the sizing here could be about right, since LG said that the V30 would be smaller than the V20, even with a 6-inch display. The G6 sports a 5.7-inch display and is not at all an oversized phone. Adding that 0.3-inches may not be that big of a difference maker. Couple these (potential) looks with the expectation that we'll get a Quad DAC, power user tools in the camera and elsewhere, and a whole bunch of "stuff and things" that always accompany the V line, and the V30 is going to give the Note 8 and Pixel XL 2 some good competition.

LG G6 vs. LG V30 vs. Samsung Galaxy S8+

// @UnverseIce

Moto E4 Plus Now Available, Verizon Model Already Discounted to $130

Kellen — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 08:18:30 +0000

Motorola's new Moto E4 Plus is now available in the US at a variety of electronics dealers. You've got the standard unlocked model with 16GB of storage for $179.99 through places like Best Buy and the Amazon ad-filled version for $139.99, but Verizon appears to have the best price. You can grab the E4 Plus for just $129.99 right now at Big Red, and you won't get Amazon ads on this one. If you need 32GB internal storage, jump the price up a tad. To recap, the Moto E4 Plus is a budget phone by all means. You do get a 5.5-inch HD (720p) display, though, along with a Snapdragon 427 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB storage (with microSD slot), fingerprint reader, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, and a massive 5000mAh battery. The E4 Plus also runs a clean Android 7.1 with some Moto enhancements on top. To see the full list of specs, head over to this post. If you have a tight budget, but need a phone that will satisfy in the software and performance departments, you should give the Moto E4 Plus a look. NOTE: The Moto E4 Plus at Amazon and Best Buy is currently a pre-order. Those models will be available August 11. The Verizon model is available right now, though. Moto E4 Plus Links:

Verizon ($129.99)
Amazon (starting at $139.99)
Best Buy (starting at $179.99)

LG V30 is Getting a Big Ol' 6-Inch, Curved-Edge POLED FullVision Display

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 20:39:27 +0000

LG announced this evening that its "next major smartphone" is going to rock one of its new next-generation FullVision POLED displays. They are talking about the LG V30, of course, which should be announced at the end of August at an event during IFA. In the press release, LG said that the display will weigh in at 6-inches and a QHD resolution, but the body of this "next major smartphone" will actually end up smaller than last year's V20 because of the trimmed bezels. The V20 had a 5.7-inch QHD with secondary ticker, so that means we are getting a bigger display in a smaller, more manageable body. When compared to the V20, LG shrunk the top bezel by 20% and the lower bezel by 50%. Additionally, LG said that the POLED material will allow them to curve the edges of the display and make for a better feeling, more ergonomic design. Because the P in POLED stands for plastic, we'll also get a more durable display that LG decided to further strengthen by covering it with Gorilla Glass 5. This is the first POLED display that LG has used since 2015's G Flex 2, a phone that had promise, but felt a bit cheap and performed pretty poorly, leading to one of our harshest reviews ever. That was over two years ago, though, and LG has now really fine-tuned the performance of its flagships while incorporating premium materials. The LG V30 will not be another G Flex - it should be a good one. I should also point out that this will more than likely be the display used in the LG-made Pixel XL 2. We know that because Google supposedly made (or at least attempted to make) a substantial investment in LG's OLED production. That investment along with the rumored decision to dump HTC for this year's XL and go with LG leaves little doubt that we'll see a POLED in a Google phone this year. How exciting, right?

// LG

Verizon Now Selling ASUS ZenFone AR at $27 Per Month (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:06:37 +0000

The ASUS ZenFone AR, a Google Tango-supported phone that was first introduced back in January at CES, has finally arrived in the US as a Verizon exclusive. We knew the phone was coming exclusively to Verizon because Google and ASUS told us as much back at Google I/O, but we thought it would happen sooner than this. Either way, we're here! UPDATE: It's now live and available for purchase without pre-order. Go ahead and buy this AR/VR beast if you want. ~~The device isn't officially for sale on Verizon's main site just yet - you can pre-order it, though~~. All you have to do is hit up that link below and the ZenFone AR can be yours for $27/month on a device payment plan or $648 full retail. That's not a bad price for the capabilities here. As a recap, the ZenFone AR sports a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 821 processor, 6GB RAM (original model had 8GB - Verizon says theirs is 6GB), 128GB storage (with SD slot), 3300mAh battery, and all the damn cameras in the world. Remember, this is the first phone that supports both Google's Tango and Daydream. It could be the ultimate AR and VR machine you've been looking for. The ZenFone AR has 3 cameras on the back, one for motion tracking, another for depth sensing, and a third that's a high-res 23MP shooter. Wondering when the phone will ship if this is a pre-order? We could see the phone up for sale at Verizon's site as early as tomorrow, according to a tipster. If you are worried about it, just give it a few hours. Verizon might post this bad boy live by midnight. Verizon Link

DEAL: Grab a Moto G5 Plus 32GB for $30 Off, 64GB for $50 Off

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:47:10 +0000

For a limited time, you can grab a Moto G5 Plus on B&H Photo at a discounted price, both the 32GB and 64GB models. If you need less storage, the 32GB model is on sale for $30 off, bringing it to just $199. If you need more gigs, the 64GB model is listed at $50 off for $249. To get one of the best budget-friendly devices on the market in your pocket, this deal ain't bad. If you missed it, we reviewed the Moto G5 Plus earlier this year, coming away very impressed with the offering. The battery life is stellar, the performance and software is actually quite nice, and the camera is fine for a device of this price. All around, it's a great phone from Motorola. Follow the links below to take advantage. B&H Photo Links: 32GB | 64GB

Samsung is Actually Updating the Unlocked Galaxy S8 and S8+ Pretty Quickly

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:21:41 +0000

Back in March, two days before Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, I shared my frustrations over the lack of updates to the US unlocked models of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The mild rage was triggered by a security patch that rolled out that day that still wasn't Nougat and was the first in months. I was annoyed enough at the time that I specifically said that we wouldn't be recommending the US unlocked Galaxy S8 or S8+ should Samsung offer them. I couldn't trust that Samsung would offer timely unlocked Galaxy S8 updates because they had never given us any indication that they would. Fast forward to today and I'm pretty close to telling you to skip the carrier models and consider the unlocked versions. For one, they work on all carriers, just like last year's unlocked models do. You can even get them in Coral Blue, which is pretty 🔥. They are also constantly discounted (right now by $150). But in the update department, Samsung has been pretty good so far. Granted, we are only two months into the life of an unlocked Galaxy S8 (they shipped end of May), but we have already seen updates the past two months. We saw June's security patch early in June at the same time as Verizon and AT&T's S8s, and then July's a week ago (again at the same time as Verizon and AT&T). The July update brought the latest security patch, as well as software improvements (hiding navigation bar button) and Daydream support. The unlocked units are as up-to-date as the carrier variants, is what I'm trying to tell you. Will Samsung keep this up? That's anyone's guess, but they are off to the start we wanted to see as fans of unlocked phones who were incredibly frustrated with the unlocked S7 experience. Remember, the AT&T S7 and S7 Edge picked up Nougat updates back in February, yet the unlocked models didn't until May. If Samsung has indeed taken a different approach to the unlocked S8 units, Android O will probably be the big tell. How close to the carrier variants will it get Google's new Android build? Should they keep up with the monthly schedule like they have, I'd say we're on track for a positive ending there. So yeah, you should probably start considering one of these unlocked Galaxy S8 deals if you were previously hesitant and worried about updates. Samsung gets thumbs up for now. Buy unlocked Galaxy S8 / S8+:

Best Buy
Samsung
Amazon

Skype Adds PayPal Integration, Lets You Make Payments While Chatting

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:08:41 +0000

Skype and PayPal announced today that they have teamed up to allow easy, in-the-moment payments between Skype users. Should you be on a Skype call or in a chat and need to send over some cash, you can now do that using your PayPal account without ever leaving Skype. Skype says that you'll simply swipe right and then tap "Send Money" to go through the process. Of course, you'll need to attach your PayPal account, but that should be simple do and may only require a quick sign-in. You can see the payment action in the GIF below, for those still confused. The rollout for Skype-PayPal integration starts today for users in United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. You'll need the newest version of Skype in order to get going. Be on the lookout for that fresh, fresh update. On a related note, I can't help but applaud PayPal for all of their recent announcements surrounding mobile payments and integrations with other apps. As one of the internet's pioneers in this area, they sure took a long time jumping onto platforms like Android Pay and Samsung Pay. But here we are with not only those supported, but Skype as well. Google Play Link

// Skype | PayPal

Verizon is Retiring Smart Rewards in Favor of Verizon Up, Which You Should Probably Avoid

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 13:37:34 +0000

Verizon's long-running rewards program called Smart Rewards is being retired on November 1. In its place is a new program called Verizon Up that went live yesterday and should be simpler to use, while potentially offering better returns for the credits you earn. Unfortunately, I'd suggest you avoid it, since Verizon Up's sign-up process forces you to sign-up for Verizon Selects, another of their programs that isn't exactly going to win any awards in the privacy department. First noticed by The Verge, the requirement from Verizon Up to sign-up for Verizon Selects is a pretty sh*tty one. You see, Verizon Selects has been around for years and we've hated it from day one. We haven't been a fan because it wants you to give Verizon permission to track almost everything you do from your Verizon phone in order to serve you better ads. Honestly, who wakes up in the morning asking, "Man, why can't anyone show me cooler ads?" I think you know the answer to that. Verizon Selects tracks "information about your wireless device and how you use it - including web addresses of the sites you visit, similar information about apps and features you use, as well as device and advertising identifiers." Yes, you are reading that correctly - it tracks your web and app usage, along with the features you use. Great! Additionally, you'll be sharing the information that Selects tracks with Oath, the company that was formed from Verizon's acquisitions of Yahoo and AOL. Nice! I should point out that the previous Smart Rewards program wanted you to sign-up for Verizon Selects as well, but there wasn't the hard requirement that Verizon Up has. If you take a look at the Smart Rewards FAQ from a few days ago, it says that it "may require enrollment in Verizon Selects." May is not a "You have to!" It's my understanding that you could opt-out of it if you wanted to and remain in the rewards program. With Verizon Up, that doesn't appear to be the case. OK, so what if you don't care about Verizon tracking your every move and just want free stuff? Then feel free to sign on up. You'll need the My Verizon app installed on your phone. If you have it, open it up and you should see a message telling you about Verizon Up and how to get started. It only takes a couple of taps and you are in and earning credits (You earn them by paying your bill and buying Verizon stuff, I believe.). I'll have to leave you from there to find out how it all works, since I haven't and won't be signing up. For Smart Rewards users, know that your balance of rewards points are safe for the moment. You do have to use them up Before November 1, though. Important Links:

Here's the Full List of Galaxy Note 8 Specs, According to Latest Report

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:58:42 +0000

August 23 is the official date that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 8, and since we're getting so close, it's no surprise that unofficial specifications are beginning to the hit the web. According to the latest roundup by VentureBeat, we have a pretty solid picture of what the Galaxy Note 8 will be, with the above header image certainly helping with the visualization. While you can check out the full list below, let's go over some highlights. This report says the Note 8 will have a 6.3" Infinity display, which is just slightly larger than the Galaxy S8+. Another important note, and a first for a Samsung flagship device, is the dual rear-facing cameras. According to the source of this information, both will be 12-megapixel, with one featuring f/1.7 aperture and the other allowing for 2X optical zoom. Check out the full spec list below.

Display: 6.3" Super AMOLED QHD (18.5:9 aspect ratio) display
Processor: Snapdragon 835 (US), Exynos 8895 (Global)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB, microSD
Battery: 3,300mAh with USB Type-C or Wireless Fast Charging
Resistance: IP68
Rear Camera: Dual 12MP system (Dual Pixel, f/1.7, 2X optical zoom)
Front Camera: 8MP with f/1.7
Dimensions: 162.5mm x 74.6mm x 8.5mm
Colors: Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue
Other: Fingerprint reader, S Pen
Availability: September, 2017

Well, does this sound pleasing to you? // VentureBeat

Amazon Stops Selling BLU Devices Over Privacy Concerns, BLU Cries Fake News (Update: They're Back)

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:43:19 +0000

In a press release published two days ago, BLU responded to recent findings that its smartphones are putting sensitive customer data at risk. Demonstrated by security firm Kryptowire, select BLU handsets have been collecting user data and then transmitting that data to servers based in China without notifying the phone owner. In its response to these findings, BLU claims, "There is absolutely no spyware or malware or secret software on BLU devices, these are inaccurate and false reports." While BLU says it will begin working with several outlets to correct these reports, Amazon has ceased sales of BLU devices on its website, which is a mighty blow to the Florida-based smartphone maker. In a statement provided to CNET, Amazon says, "Because security and privacy of our customers is of the utmost importance, all Blu phone models have been made unavailable for purchase on Amazon.com until the issue is resolved." If you don't recall, this same exact issue for BLU dates back to last year, when it was discovered that thousands of BLU devices were affected by a security breach. Within a function that is supposed to update the device's software, user information was collected, then potentially sent and housed on servers based in China. In the months since, BLU has been utilizing Google's own OTA system to update devices, although, that is only being utilized on new devices. Detailed by BLU in the same press release from this week, "BLU decided to switch the Adups OTA application on future devices with Google's GOTA. Even though it is BLU's policy to only use GOTA moving forward, some older devices still use ADUPS OTA." Interestingly enough, BLU seems to think there is a bit of hypocrisy in what's taking place. According to them, "BLU management takes issue with the statement that any server in China is prone to risk while several other multibillion dollar companies and other mobile manufactures such as Huawei and ZTE use them." BLU goes on in its press release to confirm that there has been no breach or issue of any kind with any of its devices. Update: After only a few days, BLU devices are back on Amazon. BLU says this was a "false alarm" with Amazon now reinstating the devices. // BLU | The Verge | CNET

Case Makers Think This is the Pixel 2 and That It Won't Have a Headphone Jack

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:02:32 +0000

The Pixel 2 case maker dance has begun. You know the move, where all the case makers on the planet want to show you what the next hot phone is by placing questionable or partially accurate renders they've created in-house into a case of theirs to get their cases on your mind. It's a good trick! We all fall for it. Spigen did it a lot back in the day, but now they all do it. Today, we've got Pixel 2 cases and renders from a company called Olixar. They may be accurate and they may be complete sh*t. Either way, this is what they tell us. Nothing. Ok, that's not entirely true. They do tell us that the phone won't have a headphone jack. I say that only because case makers do get schematics or dimensions for phones in advance in order to make cases that fit properly on phones once they arrive. If a phone doesn't have a headphone jack, a case maker is going to need to know that, so that they get cutouts proper. These cases don't have headphone jack cutouts. They also show us cutouts for camera positions, fingerprint reader positions, and how far they'll come up around the front glass. These pieces of info should be correct, assuming this case maker has correct info to make cases ahead of time. That said, these renders kind of just look like some original Pixel mock-ups with less back glass and an LG G6 front. That could be what we get! We've heard that the HTC-made Pixel 2 will look just like the original Pixel for the most part. They don't necessarily look all that similar to the renders of the LG-made Pixel XL 2 from a few weeks back, though. I will say that if this is the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, I'd be pretty happy with it. I still like the back design of the original Pixel, but this would modernize the phone with a new-school all-screen display up front. One of our biggest complaints of last year's Pixel was the huge top and bottom bezel situations and this would seem to eliminate that. Your thoughts are?

// Mobilefun

MKBHD Goes Hands-On With RED Hydrogen Prototypes

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:49:21 +0000

If you have plenty of dough in the bank and take your YouTube videos seriously, the Hydrogen smartphone from boutique-priced camera maker RED probably has you excited. We at DL shoot on Sony cameras, so while RED is a little out of our budget, it's still an interesting concept that RED intends to release a smartphone. And while we're still quite some time from launch, even with RED already taking pre-orders, MKBHD was able to go hands-on recently with the Hydrogen at a closed-door event. In the video, Marques explains that there were three prototypes at the meeting. There was a finalized materials unit (hardware, design, ugly grips, etc.), a working Hydrogen Holographic display unit, and then a prototype of a module that will be sold separately from Hydrogen that attaches to the device. For the most part, all we get to see is the finalized materials unit, as the working display unit was not able to be videoed. We do see Marques' reaction to the working display, which is more awkward than telling of its appearances. Still neat, though. Check out his video and then share your thoughts below.

Plex Live TV and DVR Support Comes to Android Phones

Tim — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:54:59 +0000

Mobile users of Plex can now use their Android device to control the service's Live TV and DVR feature. Additionally, noted specifically for mobile folk, Plex has improved the sign in and signup screens, as well as the password resetting experience. If you haven't yet begun to utilize Plex's Live TV and DVR, you'll need the necessary hardware and Plex Pass, but once setup, you'll be controlling TV from anywhere you are, all courtesy of your cloud-based Plex account. Here's the full changelog. What's New

Support for timeshifting Live TV programs (requires PMS 1.8+).
Include Afrikaans translations.
[Mobile] Support for DVR and Live TV.
[Mobile] Improve sign in/sign up screens.
[Mobile] Send reset password instructions from the app.
App was failing to persist library filters selection after being closed.
Don't switch to 'Open Video File' section when Local Server selected if synced content exists.

Play Link Side note: We love the usage of capacitive buttons and on-screen buttons in that above header. Classic. // Plex

OpenSignal Mobile Networks Report is Out and T-Mobile Cleaned House

Kellen — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:29:45 +0000

You are probably going to hear a lot from T-Mobile today, thanks to good news out of the latest OpenSignal "State of the Mobile Networks" report for August 2017. The Uncarrier managed to sweep the awards that are handed out for categories like download speed over 4G, 4G latency, and 4G availability. The report talks a lot about T-Mobile's growth, but also the slowdown that Verizon and AT&T have seen since launching unlimited plans in recent months. OpenSignal's report measured over 5 billion data points from 170K+ devices (OpenSignal users) from the end of March to the end of June. They took all of that data to measure some of those items I mentioned above, but also broke it down to the city level, aka the 32 largest US markets to see how carriers faired there as well. Again, T-Mobile pretty much cleaned house in those areas as well. Surprised? Let's look at some of the big takeaways.

For one, the re-introduction of unlimited data by AT&T and Verizon certainly helped T-Mobile get to this point. As T-Mobile has suggested for months, those other networks may not be built for excessive load of a bunch of customers with unlimited data. OpenSignal's data shows that since their last report, Verizon's 4G and overall speeds dropped by 12%. AT&T dropped less than that, but still dropped. T-Mobile and Sprint both saw increases during that time, and keep in mind that T-Mobile is constantly adding customers while that increase is happening. One of the better stats I saw was the 4G availability metric, which OpenSignal says "measures the proportion of time a user can connect to a particular network." So they are saying that T-Mobile customers were able to connect to 4G more than any other carrier (90% of the time). Verizon was right behind it at 89.8%. Do understand that they aren't saying that in rural Montana you are going to be connecting to T-Mobile 4G more than you would be Verizon. They are saying that T-Mobile customers, who are in T-Mobile covered areas, were connecting to 4G more often. That make sense? Still, that's good news for T-Mobile. And finally, in the city-by-city analysis, OpenSignal says that it's a 2-way battle between Verizon and T-Mobile. Their numbers show that these two essentially match each other for performance (both 4G download speed and availability) in the biggest markets. In the 32 markets they examined, T-Mobile or Verizon either ranked highest or tied for first place. Poor Sprint and AT&T. So what should you take away? Well, T-Mobile, as we talked about just a few weeks ago, has an ever-improving network that should be grabbing your attention at this point. It's faster than the others, performs better in cities, and should only get stronger as T-Mobile lights up all that new spectrum over the next couple of years. Let's just hope they stay the Uncarrier and don't take these successes only to become another carrier. // OpenSignal | T-Mobile

Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8+ vs. Galaxy S8: Image Comparison

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:10:38 +0000

Thanks to leaked press images of the Galaxy Note 8, we get to do a simple side-by-side comparison of it to the Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy S8 before the phone is ever announced. Now, I should point out that these images are by no means to scale and are simply resized to fit nicely together to give us a feel for the differences. Still, they tell us a good bit of the story that will be revealed on August 23 in NYC. As we noted yesterday, the Galaxy Note 8 is very similar in styling to the Galaxy S8 line if not a bit more squarish. If we look at the front (above), the top and bottom are much flatter with less rounding at the corners and that includes the lack of extreme rounding in the display corners that we first saw on the S8 and S8+. The Note 8 still has that rounding, it's just not as pronounced. The top and bottom bezels are certainly thin as well, plus they each have the same censor and camera layout, which should mean the iris scanner will return. As for the backside (below), this is where we see additional differences. Obviously, the Note 8 will sport that dual camera setup with the lenses shifting out of the center-upper of the phone. Those, along with a fingerprint reader, will sandwich the flash and heartrate monitor in a single black box, rather than separate cutouts like on the S8. I'd point out that the flatness to the Note 8 when compared to the S8 line is very noticeable from the back. On the sides, you can see where the buttons match-up, and yes, that includes a Bixby button just below the volume rocker. Finally, if you head towards the bottom, that's where you'll see the bump for the S Pen on the Note 8 (bottom left) followed by the Type-C port and headphone jack. I'm guessing the speaker sits in between the S Pen and Type-C port like it did on the Note 7. If not, I'm not sure where else it would go. Previous specs rumors suggested the Galaxy Note 8 will sport a 6.3-inch display (S8+ has a 6.2-inch), Snapdragon 835 processor, 3300mAh battery, and 6GB RAM. Thoughts on that design?

Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8+ vs Galaxy S8

Google Image Search Gets Badges to Help You Tap to the Right Place

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:29:51 +0000

Google pushed out an update to Google Image Search today on the Google App and mobile search that should help you jump into the right places as you tap around results. Now, you'll see badges in the bottom left corners of image results that could say things like "Recipe" or they could show a play button with time to indicate that a video is behind the image. I wish I had other badge examples outside of recipes and videos, but I'm not seeing the badges just yet in my Google App even with today's update. So, I'll leave it to you to discover the beauty of badges in Google Image Search and report back in those comments. Google Play Link

// Google

Verizon LG G6 and G5 Grabbed Updates Today

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 13:54:58 +0000

Verizon's LG G6 and G5 both picked up new updates today. I wish I could tell you that they include Android O and winning lottery numbers, but they are security patches only. The LG G6 on Big Red is seeing software version VS98812B, while the G5 is getting VS98729A. At least one reader already pinged us with news of the G6 update, so feel free to jump into Settings>System updates to check. They could be live! If you get it, let us know in those comments which month's security patch is included. // Verizon [2]

Effective Today, Support for the Nextbit Robin is Finished (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:24:51 +0000

After being released in mid-February of 2016, support for the Nextbit Robin has officially ceased as of today. Announced on Twitter this morning, Nextbit states it has shut down support for the device, bringing a swift death to the cloud-centric Android smartphone. In January of this year, Nextbit joined Razer, acting as an independent mobile division. While nothing has been made of the coupling yet, it has been reported that Razer is working on a smartphone built specifically for "hardcore gamers." It should be noted, when Nextbit joined Razer, the company assured owners that support for the device would not be going away. Specifically, "We will continue to fulfill warranties for 6 more months. And as promised, we will continue to provide software updates and security patches through February 2018." Interestingly enough, the post on Nextbit's community forum where that was stated has since been taken down and redirects to the Razer forums, but don't worry, we have the Wayback Machine. Now, I'll have to look at a calendar and consult a few scientists to confirm, but I'm pretty sure August, 2017 and February, 2018 are not the same thing. With the company announcing a cease in support as of today, this is a major disappointment for anyone who currently owns this device. Nextbit does say that if you need help with your device, feel free to check out the Razer Insider forums where you can find help from fellow Robin owners. Update: Nextbit has clarified its ending of customer support in a new tweet. While customers won't be able to receive support, the company will continue to push software updates until the aforementioned February, 2018 date. This is good news!

To clear up some confusion: although we're ending customer support, we will continue software updates until Feb '18 as planned
— Nextbit (@nextbitsys) August 1, 2017

RIP, Robin.

Effective August 1st 2017, we’ve shut down support for Robin. You can still refer to our online self-help: https://t.co/ZwXZGM04sJ
— Nextbit (@nextbitsys) August 1, 2017

Alexa Voice Control Over Fire TV Goes Live

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:16:56 +0000

Amazon's Fire TV can now be controlled by voice and a compatible Amazon Echo device, thanks to a software update that began rolling out today. The new voice-control feature was mistakenly posted to Amazon's site a couple of weeks back and never went live, but it's definitely official today. With voice control over your Fire TV devices, you'll be able to tell Alexa (through an Amazon Echo) to pull up your favorite show, launch apps, and control playback without having to reach for a remote. Not only that, but Amazon plans to give you control over your smart home cameras too. That means you'll be able to pull up camera feeds on your TV, just by asking Alexa. For now, though, you'll be able to say things like, "Alexa, show me action movies," or "Alexa, open Hulu." If you happen to own a Fire TV Edition smart TV (like this one), you'll have an additional set of controls over TV channels and volume or HDMI port switching. Amazon is calling this far-field control of Fire TV and it's coming to all Fire TV devices, including the Fire TV Stick. It'll also go back as far as the 1st generation models, so if you own a Fire TV from any year, it should work. Once the smart home camera support arrives, that will only work on Fire TV devices and 2nd generation Fire TV Sticks. To check for the update on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, head into Settings>Device>About and "Check for System Update." You'll find additional details on the software versions and instructions for each device here. Amazon Links:

Fire TV devices
Amazon Echo devices

// Amazon

OnePlus 5 Updated With New Font, EIS for 4K Recording, Bug Fixes

Tim — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 10:14:56 +0000

An update is beginning to roll out to owners of the OnePlus 5, one that brings the July security patch, updated Slate font, and so much more. Listed in the changelog, OnePlus has added EIS (electronic image stabilization) for 4K video recording, updated to the latest GMS package, improved WiFi connections, enhanced standby battery life, and fixed occasional sound leaks from the speaker when you're using a headset. Changelog ho! New additions:

Introducing the all new OnePlus Slate font
Added EIS for 4k video recording

Updates:

Updated Android security patch level to 1st July 2017
Updated to latest GMS package

Optimizations:

Wi-Fi connectivity improvements
Standby battery enhancements

Bug Fixes:

Fixed occasional sound leaks in the speakers when using earphones
Fixed camera shutter sound bug in silent mode for Indian region
Fixed missing sound channels when recording videos

Be on the lookout, mateys. // OnePlus

Moto E4 Plus Arrives in US on August 3 for $179

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:13:55 +0000

The recently announced Moto E4 Plus now has a launch date: August 3. Well, pre-orders open that day, with general availability happening around August 11. The Moto E4 Plus starts at $179.99. To recap, the Moto E4 Plus is indeed a budget phone with its 5.5-inch HD (720p) display, 1.4GHz Snapdragon 427 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB storage, 13MP rear camera, and fingerprint reader. It'll work on all the major US carriers, including Verizon. It stands out, though, because it has a freakin' massive 5000mAh battery. While I haven't tested this phone, I'd be shocked if it didn't last a full two days without breaking a sweat. You'll find the Moto E4 Plus at Verizon, Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Fry's, Motorola's site, and Newegg on August 3. After that, the phone will arrive at Sprint, Ting, and other retailers on August 11. Republic Wireless gets it on August 14. There will also be an Amazon Prime Exclusive version with ads that should be priced lower than $179.99. Once we have that price, we'll let you know. Moto E4 Plus Links:

Motorola Store
Amazon
Best Buy

Here's the Galaxy Note 8 From Almost Every Angle

Tim — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 08:27:05 +0000

Last night, we were treated to the front side of the upcoming Galaxy Note 8, then shortly after, the entirety of the device was published online via @evleaks. In these images, which show us every angle of the device basically, we get a real good look at the dual rear-facing camera setup, poorly placed fingerprint reader, and S Pen. The only thing we still can't see is the top and bottom of the device, but if I was to guess, there's probably a speaker on the bottom, USB Type-C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack. On the top, there's a SIM and SD card slot. While I'm still no fan of the fingerprint reader location, I must say, this is one attractive device. If there was a White model with the black camera portion, I'd be going crazy. Since I don't expect there to be a White model, the Midnight Black will have to do. August 23, hurry up and get here.

UPDATE: Here is a comparison of the Note 8 to the Galaxy S8+ and S8.

// @evleaks

Moto Introduces Special Edition Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus

Kellen — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 08:19:50 +0000

Motorola announced special editions of its already-solid Moto G5 line today. The new phones are the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus. Both will eventually arrive in the US (this Fall), but are targeted internationally at the moment. So how do these "special" versions compare to the originals? Well, they have been given subtle upgrades throughout. The regular Moto G5S now has a 5.2-inch FHD display, 3000mAh battery, 3GB RAM, and 16MP rear camera. It still runs the Snapdragon 430 with fingerprint reader, and comes in grey or gold. The Moto G5S Plus jumps up to a 5.5-inch FHD display and now has dual 13MP cameras. Outside of that, the 3000mAh battery is still there, as is the Snapdragon 625, and fingerprint reader. And that's sort of it. They both still have aluminum bodies, a familiar design, and what should be a reasonable price. US pricing wasn't handed out today, unfortunately. Be sure to read our Moto G5 Plus review to get a feel for these new phones.

Moto G5S Plus Specs

[table id=74 responsive=scroll /] Buy Moto G5S Plus: Motorola Store // Motorola

Want to See the Galaxy Note 8? (Updated: More Pics!)

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:26:09 +0000

Here it is.

The image, as you probably guessed, comes courtesy of @evleaks who calls this the "Midnight Black" model. This more than likely is the Galaxy Note 8 (No, I'm not calling it Note8 just like we didn't call previous models Note7 or Note5. There should be a damn space, Samsung.) The phone is very much like the Note version of the Galaxy S8 in that it's much more squared off from the S line. It's still very much an Infinity Display, though. You can also catch a slight view of the S Pen (bottom right), along with power button (right side) and combo situation with the volume and Bixby button on the left. Thoughts?

UPDATE: And now we have even more Galaxy Note 8 pictures, this time showing all angles and the S Pen.

UPDATE 2: And now a comparison of the Note 8 to the S8+ and S8!

// @evleaks

Moto Z2 Force: First 10 Things to Do!

Tim — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:16:19 +0000

Pre-orders for the Moto Z2 Force have been up since last week, so if you're expecting yours to arrive shortly, the below video should put you on the right track. Motorola has implemented only a few things on top of the already feature-packed Nougat OS (Android 7.1.1+), but as the saying goes, less is more. Most of the customization for this device takes place inside of the Moto application, so we'll go over all of that, talk about adding fingerprints, Do Not Disturb settings, gestures, plus a whole lot more.

Moto Z2 Force First 10 Things to Do

Buy Moto Z2 Force:

Verizon
Sprint
AT&T
T-Mobile
US Cellular
Best Buy
Motorola

Google's Daydream is Now Available for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:04:41 +0000

Google announced back at Google I/O that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ would soon be Daydream-supported phones. Over the past few weeks, we've seen Samsung's new flagships receive updates with changelogs that hinted at that happening any moment, including just last week with Verizon. Still, no official word has creeped out from Google or Samsung on timing, but this afternoon, all of the needed Daydream apps on Google Play went live for the S8 and S8+. I started paying attention to the change this morning when Google moved the Galaxy S8 and S8+ up from the "Coming soon" section on the Daydream site to the section that shows those that are already supported. And as I just mentioned, within the last hour, the apps all went live, including the Daydream app and Daydream Keyboard. Over the weekend, I also saw an update for Google VR Services. Unfortunately, Google still must need to press "Go!" on the back end, because the Galaxy S8 Daydream experience still returns an "Incompatible phone" pop-up as you walk through setup. This is a similar situation to where we were as the updates began rolling out with callouts to Daydream support, only you had to sideload the Daydream apps, since they weren't available on Google Play. I'd imagine they'll be ready any minute now, right Google? We'll update this post when that happens. UPDATE: Google confirms. https://twitter.com/googlevr/status/892143854656159745 Google Play Links:

Daydream
Daydream Keyboard
Google VR Services

Bluetooth Battery Indicator API Hitting AOSP

Tim — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:42:28 +0000

According to information dug up on AOSP by XDA, Google is working to bring default retrieval of battery information from connected Bluetooth devices. For instance, if you use an Android device that doesn't already have this feature built in, you'll be able to check the connected Bluetooth device's battery levels directly from your smartphone, such as your headphones and any other Bluetooth accessory. Currently, there are a few devices that already have this, like those from Samsung, OnePlus, and LG. However, many others do not, so seeing this pop up in AOSP, meaning it should be standard on all Android devices, is exciting. Considering this is the first we're hearing of it, and the final developer preview for Android 8.0 has already been released, it's reasonable to say that this new API won't be ready in time for Android O's public release. It could see launch in the next version of Android, though, or even in a subsequent update to 8.0. We don't have those details yet and Google hasn't openly spoken about this development. We'll keep you posted. // XDA

DEAL: Google Daydream View VR Headset Drops to $59 ($20 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 13:38:05 +0000

Google's Daydream View VR headset is currently discounted by $20 at Best Buy, leaving the price at just $59.00. While the device works with only a few devices at the moment, it'll soon work the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, opening it up to a whole bunch of users. Before Samsung made its latest Gear VR unit with a controller, Google was first out of the gate with a little pointer remote that allowed you to find a more immersive VR experience from your phone. This particular Daydream View headset is also one of the most comfortable of any and has seen new titles arrive regularly. $59 is a good price. Be sure to read our Daydream View review if you haven't already. Daydream View Links: Best Buy | Amazon | Best Buy

Vic Gundotra Hates Android Phone Cameras

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 12:49:50 +0000

Vic Gundotra, former Google+ mastermind and one-time crafty trash talker to Apple, now likely won't be caught dead using an Android phone. I say that because Vic took to Facebook this weekend to share a photo of his kids that he recently snapped with his iPhone 7. In that post, Vic talked about how the "end of the DSLR" is pretty much here because phones like the iPhone 7 are so damn good at what they do. But he wasn't talking about phones in general, he was talking only about the iPhone that Apple makes. In fact, he commented specifically that he "would never use an Android phone for photos!" Alright then. Those are somewhat shocking comments coming from a guy who spent years with Google, was around when they created really cool features like Auto Awesome for your photos, and was so into photography that he promised incredible camera experiences on Nexus phones (and never delivered them). Gundotra explained that the problem with Android cameras is Android. His logic involves something around Android being open source and that it has to be neutral to all parties, which leaves you with Samsung's "confused and bewildering array of photo options," like the choice between the Samsung camera and the stock Android camera or Samsung's Gallery and Google Photos. He then tries to explain that there are issues where API improvements take years to push out to various apps causing innovation to slow. He even suggests that Google was "crushing" these departments a few years ago (when he was there, of course), but has now fallen back. He finishes by saying that if "you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone." Here is the exchange on his Facebook page:

OK, so ummm, this all seems like a load of sh*t. Samsung and Google have pushed out cameras in recent years that rank up there, if not higher than Apple's cameras. They've both had Apple's depth effect for some time and seem to innovate just fine in these departments. Also, there isn't confusion over things like the Samsung Camera app and that of Google, because I can't tell you the last time I fired up a phone and it had more than a single camera app on it. In fact, I'm not sure that's ever happened. You get the camera app that the manufacturer shipped and optimized - that's it. If you want another one, you can go find one, but most people likely don't. As for the confusion over Samsung's Gallery and Google Photos, yeah that's kind of annoying, but that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the photo you just took other than how you access it. So it seems Vic's only real complaint is a suggestion that Android's cameras suck because maybe Samsung or Google or HTC innovate through hardware which means an API then needs to be pushed to say, Instagram or another camera app or to another phone manufacturer in order for those advantages to be seen. I get that! That's certainly something of a minor worry. But good lord, Vic, I honestly don't know that I've experienced this type of situation in recent years (it was an issue with Instagram at one point with lower quality images on Android, but that was an Instagram issue). Are we really going full-iPhone fanman because Apple pushed a portrait mode? Like, that's what you want to base your iPhone camera vs. Android camera argument on? Yikes. // Vic Gundotra (Facebook)

ASUS ZenFone 4 Unveiling Set for August 19

Tim — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:38:12 +0000

The next ZenFone's unveiling date has been set by ASUS. On August 19, we'll be introduced to the ZenFone 4. ASUS says this event will take place at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay, Phillippines. According to the material posted alongside the date, we should expect to see dual cameras, plus the ability to zoom rather well. Nothing is confirmed, but the imagery points to something along those lines. August 19, mark your calendars.

Android's Nearby Connections 2.0 is Ready to Proximity the Hell Out of Your Life

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 10:57:04 +0000

One of the cooler, lesser-known features of Android has been Nearby. With Nearby, you've been able to - at least in theory - jump into games with friends, see restaurant info like a menu, or setup a new device, all because your phone is detecting your proximity to the things around it. Today, Google is releasing Nearby Connections 2.0 (the API) to take nearby powers up another notch. Google's vision for Nearby 2.0 is a world where you walk into a room the TV automatically suggests you continue binge watching your favorite show or your contacts are shared with your wife, so as to never ask for your mother-in-law's phone number again. It's those connections that could get you almost-instant access to information just because you are near it. The Nearby 2.0 API is now available for developers who want to start building this stuff into their products. It uses WiFi, Bluetooth LE, and Bluetooth to make these "fully offline, high bandwidth peer to peer device" communications and connections. Companies like the Weather Channel are already using Nearby 2.0 to create mesh networks in data-deficient areas that can send out urgent weather notices. Google says its Android TV platform has also created a remote control app to simplify setup. Fun stuff. You can learn more here. // Android Developers Blog

Q&A Sessions: Volume 47 Answers

Tim — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 10:49:07 +0000

Our answers for Volume 47 are a tad late, but we have a good excuse: Kellen was on vacation. We're sorry, but hey, they're here now and that's all that matters. We have gathered your questions, which range in subject, and have placed our answers below. We were asked about superheroes, a possible expansion of topics covered on the site, how long we use our daily drivers, and more. Let's get to it! Reminder: K is Kellen and T is Tim.

Any interest in expanding the scope of this site? I'd love to read your takes on Chromebooks, and technology in general.

K: These are things we think about often, but in the end, the site is very much stuff that we find interesting. Not that Chromebooks aren't interesting, because they are, it's just that computer reviews aren't something we've ever really had interest in, if that makes sense. General tech is definitely something I like talking about, though, from smart cameras and smart home stuff. I'm just not sure an Android specific site is the place to do it. But look, we're always looking for new angles or topics that we can slide in. T: There's a lot of tech out there, so it's hard to cover it all, but we attempt to keep a general eye on everything that falls under the Google umbrella. That includes Chomebooks, Chrome OS, Google Home, Google WiFi, etc. Because of this, you'll see us talk about mesh WiFi systems, home automation systems, as well as AI-powered speakers. As of right now, I've been looking to do more Google Assistant compatible accessories, such as lighting systems. I'd also like to check out more smart home security systems. To answer your question, though, yes, there's always interest in expanding what we cover.

What's your favorite brewery right now?

K: Block 15 in Corvallis, OR or Great Notion in north Portland. T: My favorite brewery never changes. It will always be Lost Coast Brewery in Humboldt County, CA. They're the makers of my favorite summer time beer, Great White. They also have a white IPA called Sharkinator that is also quite tasty.

With so many phones opting for no headphone jack (Pixel 2 rumored to remove it), when will start seeing more options for USB Type-C headphones?

K: I'm actually wondering if we'll ever, to be honest. Apple doesn't use USB Type-C yet, and Samsung still has a headphone jack. Google and HTC aren't big enough players in the phone game to get companies to make the switch. But should Apple go Type-C or Samsung ditch a jack, that could change. T: I figured the market would start being flooded with Type-C headphones, but it seems Bluetooth is still being pushed as the true solution for companies removing the headphone jack. Sure, you can find Type-C headphones here and there, but wireless earbuds and earphones are plentiful all over the place. I can see why some folks shy from Bluetooth, but as someone who isn't extremely concerned with studio-like audio 24/7, I just deal with it. Sure, I hate having to set Bluetooth up every time I get a new phone, but what else can you do? If you want the 3.5mm jack, stop buying phones without it. Let your money speak for you.

In your opinion, will battery life get incredibly better in the next 5 years?

K: No. I have no way of knowing for sure, but it's been so long since we've seen any advancement there and no one seems to be talking about being on the verge of a breakthrough. Maybe Tesla will give us the goods. Maybe? T: The following is a conspiracy theory: Big Battery makes way too much in battery accessories (power banks, quick charging technology, etc.) to ever want to fix the issue. You're telling me that we can send people to the moon and I'm still stuck in 2017 with one day battery life? Meanwhile, Big Battery is rolling around in a pool of gold coins similar to Scrooge McDuck, but keep in mind, a pool of gold coins would be a solid, not a liquid. If you jump into that, be prepared to break bones. On a serious note, you would hope we'd see some type of critical development into the engineering of battery cells, but who knows when it'll happen. We'll need Elon Musk to start making phones for anything meaningful to take place, maybe.

What is the best smartphone camera to take pictures of kids?

K: I always feel like speed is the most important aspect with kids. Since most smartphone cameras are pretty damn good, speed is the difference maker, plus kids are fast as hell and you need to keep up. The Galaxy S8 currently seems to be the fastest to me. The OnePlus 5 is also incredibly fast, but image quality on that phone just isn't there. T: I don't have kiddies, but I do have dog kiddies. I find that the faster the shutter speed, the better your chances of having a usable image. For fast shutter speed, I like the Pixel, Galaxy S8, and G6. All are fine phones for shooting dog kiddies.

Do you ever do another review on a phone once it gets an update?

K: We have two guys doing reviews, so it's pretty tough to jump back on a phone and re-review it. From time to time, we'll look back at phones during a down period (like we did with the Pixel this year), it just doesn't happen with all phones. Don't be surprised if it happens again for the S8 this year or the Pixel 2. T: Once we do a review, we don't typically do a re-review unless something major changed. I think we've done that once or twice in the history of the site. It's not a common occurrence. To me, all you need to know is, if the phone got an update, it probably got a little better. It's not as if the hardware is changing, just software stuff, so our overall feelings on a phone probably aren't changing much.

Marvel vs DC films: Who is your favorite character from both? Who do you think would win in a fight between your favorite characters?

K: Been a Batman guy my whole life, so it's a bit frustrating to see how terrible DC movies are. I was never a huge Marvel fan, but do enjoy some of the movies (Ironman and Captain America mostly). Batman with no super powers, though, means anyone would probably whoop his ass if it really came down to it. Sad, I know. T: This is tough. For Marvel, any character that is basically God-tier is cool to me. We're talking Thanos, Galactus, etc. For DC, meh, I guess Batman? And it would be silly to debate who would win in a match between Thanos and Batman. Batman would get so pwned.

How long do you keep your daily driver/main phone for?

K: I hardly ever feel like I have one. We go from phone to phone all year and rarely get to settle into one. I'd say, we often get to use the same phone for a max of like 3 months off and on in a year. Like, last year and into this year I spent quite a bit of time on the Pixel and S7. But yeah, probably 3-4 months total and that may be generous. Sometimes I wish I could settle into something for a year straight, just to see what it feels like one last time. T: I'll keep a phone as long as I like, if I truly enjoy it. I always find myself going back to the Pixel to try new Android O features or the S8+ for its camera. Typically, I'll use the phone I really like until something new comes along and I have to ditch it for a review period. At the longest, I'll use the same phone for a few months to half a year.

Check out all of the past Q&A Sessions here.

Google Clock App Just Went Dark

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 09:12:36 +0000

The Google Clock app just received a sweet little update. The new version (5.1) includes a new dark theme that appears to be always on and Android O support, along with screen saver controls from within the app. The dark theme is just that - very dark. The dark, almost black background replaces the purplish color that has been in the app for years. The access is now a purple or blue instead of red. As for the screensaver controls, you'll find them within the Settings portion of the app at the very bottom. Previously, you had to access these settings by heading into system settings at Settings>Display>Screensaver. The update is live now at the link below. Google Play Link

New vs. Old

Galaxy Note 8 Hits the FCC!

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:43:10 +0000

The Galaxy Note 8 stopped off at the FCC over the weekend with model number SM-N950U attached and revealing the Galaxy Note 8 LTE bands we hoped to see. How do we know that's the Galaxy Note 8? Because the previous note devices all were numbered similarly. For example, here are previous Galaxy Note model numbers:

Galaxy Note (GT-N7000)
Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100)
Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900)
Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910)
Galaxy Note Edge (SM-N915)
Galaxy Note 5 (SM-N920)
Galaxy Note 7 (SM-N930)
Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950)

Why the jump to SM-N950 and not follow-up the Note 7 with SM-N940? My guess is that Samsung wants to align it with the model number scheme of the Galaxy S series as well. Remember, they skipped the Note 6 and went to Note 7 to match up to the S7 an S7 Edge last year. It only makes sense to get the numbering scheme there as well. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ this year fall under model numbers SM-G950 and SM-G955, so SM-N950 lands nicely in line. The FCC docs don't provide much these days, but do confirm the SM-950U model, much like the Galaxy S8 and S8+ that also had G950U and G955U versions. That U is in a way an identifier of an unlocked model or at the very least, signifies that we should see a single variant of the Note 8 like we did the S8s. The FCC docs show that, since all major US carrier LTE bands were tested on this single device. Yep, I'd expect an unlocked Note 8 just like we got with the S8 and S8+. We're also seeing that MST is on board, so Samsung Pay is still a go.

Galaxy Note 8 LTE Bands

As a reminder, the Galaxy Note 8 will be announced on August 23. We're getting there! // FCC | Phonescoop

This Screenshot Shows Just How Thick the Status Bar on the Essential Phone Is

Kellen — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 06:56:13 +0000

The Essential Phone is still apparently a real thing, and we know that thanks to Jason Mackenzie (former HTC, current head of sales at Essential), who shared a screenshot we can only assume is from an actual, live device. That screenshot, shared to Twitter, shows umm, an interesting implementation of the Android status bar that is likely an adjustment to the phone's front-facing camera situation. It's thick af, to put it plainly. Because the screen wraps around the front-facing camera, I'd imagine that Essential needed the status bar to match the width of it (or expand beyond it?) in order to not block content when you have apps open. Of course, that makes for an awkwardly wide bar that will potentially just show a thick black area depending on the app, rather than the full-screen experience seen from the main home page. It's obviously meant to color match apps or show transparent here and there (see image), it's just that it stands out when you see it with a dark background. Of course, it might not be all that bad in real world use, but that extra width appears to have created an unnecessary amount of unused space that could take away from the viewing experience. We'd know if the phone was available. Or here it is next to the Galaxy S8.

Essential Phone vs. Galaxy S8

// @JasonBMac24

DEAL: Woot has 128GB Google Pixel (Refurbished) for Just $429.99 Today ($300+ Off)

Kellen — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 09:43:48 +0000

You better hurry on this one, folks! Woot is currently hosting a deal on the Google Pixel (the smaller one) in Quite Black with 128GB storage for just $429.99. The device is in refurbished condition, but that's still a $320 or so discount off the regular retail price of a brand new one. Translation: That's a steal. This device is listed as working on both CDMA and GSM networks, so it should be the US model we're looking at. Actually, Woot does list the model as G-2PW4100-022-A, which is technically the Verizon US version that works on all carriers. In other words, it'll work on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and almost all of the US prepaid carriers. Go! Go! Go! UPDATE: Sold out. Woot Link Cheers David and CapnShiner!

Weekly Recap: People Want Bigger Batteries in Their Phone

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:19:01 +0000

It was a fun week at DL, one that had us traveling to New York City for Motorola's Moto Z2 Force event! While we cook up our coverage and review for that device, while not ignoring your cries about its tiny battery, there was plenty of other news taking place to keep us busy. A report surfaced that says Samsung is trying to bring Samsung Pay to competitor devices, Essential's Head of UX took off for Google, OnePlus detailed why the 911 reboot bug took place on the OnePlus 5, and we learned more about the upcoming Galaxy S8 Active. All the good stuff you won't want to miss is below.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Huge Action Launcher Update Includes Google Now Integration, Notification Dot Support, More

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:45:16 +0000

Following last month's relaunch, another big time update for Action Launcher has just been published. Inside, users will find full Google Now integration (swipe to the right), full notification dot support, Android O-like long-pressing for individual app notifications, Android O-styled app shortcut panel, unread count support for all apps, and more. Seriously, it's a big update. Here's the complete changelog for Version 26. Hold onto your butts, it's a doozy. What's New:

Google Now integration for all! Requires installation of the Action Launcher Google Plugin application.
Full Notification Dots support!
Long-pressing an shortcut will display a preview of app's notifications and allow notifications to be dismissed ala Android O. Available when using either Notification Dots or Unread Count.
Unread Count support extended to all apps that have a current notification.
Android O style App Shortcuts panel.
Allow granular control as to which apps display Notification Dots/Unread Count.
Android O style widget picker, which displays all relevant widgets for a given shortcut.
Directly engage Action Launcher's Quickedit panel via a shortcut's long-press popup UI.
Dedicated "Icons & App Shortcuts" settings page, which is home to all icon related settings.
When Google Pill widget is on the left screen edge and Google Now integration is enabled, display a tinted edge background as per Pixel Launcher.
Option to adjust the scale of icon indicators.
Revamped interface for selecting the apps that are hidden from app drawers.

Follow the below link to download the update. Play Link // Action Launcher [2]

Report: Samsung in Talks to Bring Samsung Pay to the Competition

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:11:42 +0000

According to a recent report, Samsung has been hosting internal talks with other OEMs to bring its Samsung Pay service to devices other than its own. Currently, the only way to access Samsung Pay is by owning a Samsung phone, but if a deal is ever struck, that would change. As you might already know, Samsung Pay utilizes MST instead of NFC, which is the biggest difference between Samsung's mobile payment service and the competition. In order for Samsung Pay to work on other OEM devices, a chip designated for MST transmission would need to be included, meaning this is much more than just opening up compatibility for the Samsung Pay app. In addition to the possibility of Samsung Pay headed to rival devices, the report also mentions Samsung wants to bring Samsung Pay to its entire lineup of devices, not just the high-end. Personally, this would be awesome, but my bank still doesn't support Samsung Pay. Weak sauce. If your non-Samsung device had Samsung Pay, would you use it? // Gadgets 360

DEAL: US Unlocked Galaxy S8, S8+ Listed at $150 Off on Amazon

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:03:08 +0000

For a limited time, anyone looking to grab a US unlocked Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, which just so happened to get updated this week, can do so for $150 over on Amazon. At $150 off, the Galaxy S8 price drops to $575 and the S8+ price drops to $675. While it's always tempting to hold out and wait to see what's around the corner, if you've been on the fence about the S8 or S8+, just go for it. You won't be unhappy. With a gorgeous display, excellent camera, and a much improved TouchWiz experience, the S8 and S8+ are easy contenders for phone of the year. Don't get me wrong, there are challengers, but Galaxy S8's package is tough to beat. If you missed our review of these excellent devices, you can look below. Amazon Links: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+

Noodlecake Flash Sale Has realMyst, Riven, and Wayward Souls Down to Just $1

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:49:35 +0000

Noodlecake is hosting a flash sale on a few of its titles on Google Play. For a limited time, you can grab realMyst, Riven, or even Last Horizon for $1 a pop. Considering realMyst is typically $7 and Riven is $4, this is a sweet deal. Here's the full list of games that are on sale for $1, with their usual pricing shown.

Wayward Souls– Regular Price $6.99
Last Horizon – Regular Price $2.99
Lumino City – Regular Price $4.99
realMyst – Regular Price $6.99
Riven – Regular Price $3.99

If you're hoarding a stash of Google Play credit, now is a decent time to use it. // Noodlecake

US Unlocked Galaxy S8, S8+ Get July Security Update

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 08:44:55 +0000

The US unlocked Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are receiving updates this morning, bringing them up to the July security patch. The builds are listed as G950U1UEU1AQG2 for the S8 and G955U1UEU1AQG2 for the S8+. In addition to the bump in security patch level, Samsung also details the ability to hide the on-screen navigation bar, as well as changes to the colors available for it. Following the update, the navigation bar will be set to the default color. This is the same change carrier units saw earlier this week. US unlocked owners, go grab that update.

// Samsung [2] Cheers Justin!

Galaxy S8 Active Specs Detailed in Leaked Slides

Tim — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 08:29:47 +0000

The above header image of the Galaxy S8 Active made its way online earlier this week, and now, we also have a reported full set of specs and features to share alongside the image. According to a post on Weibo, which lays out the entire list of features and specifications, the Galaxy S8 Active is packing a whole lot of goodies. As shown in slides that were apparently photographed and then uploaded to the social network, the S8 Active will feature a 5.8" Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, microSD support, 4,000mAh battery(!), IP68 + MIL-STD-810G (military standard), 12MP dual-pixel rear camera, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, Fast Wireless Charging, and a fingerprint reader in the same awful place. For a phone that's built to last, it sounds pretty nice.

As we already knew thanks to the device rolling through the WPC, the display is where things change quite a bit. Instead of a curvy design, the phone has a flat display, adding to its potential toughness. And of course, the body has been reinforced and you won't find glass along its backside. We're still waiting on release dates from Samsung or its carrier partners, but once that happens, we'll be sure to update you.

// Weibo | CNET

Google Wants You to be a Google+ Beta Tester

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:21:29 +0000

Google+ is scouting potential beta testers, not just for the Android app, but for the platform itself. If you become a beta tester, Google says you'll be testing out new features, chatting with the G+ product team, and providing many details about how you use the service. Here is what Google+ is looking for in a potential beta tester.

Active poster on Google+
Motivated to learn more about Google+ and contribute to product discussion
Eagerness to provide high level feedback on our product

Well, that rules me out. Honestly, I have to admit, I'm surprised by this. I've been anticipating a closure of Google+ for a while now, but I suppose there are still people who enjoy Google's social network. If you're interested, follow the link below and fill out the survey. Apply Here // Google+

Essential's Head of UX Heads to Google

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:13:03 +0000

Essential's head of UX, Liron Damir, is headed to Google to fill the same role on the Google Home team. Before Essential, Damir led the webOS design team at HP and then Pebble. In a post published to Damir's LinkedIn profile, he states he is, "super excited and proud to be joining Google today to lead the design of Google Home products." The departure of Damir probably isn't exciting news for Essential, as the company is still working to launch the phone it announced back in May. Last we heard, the phone should be launching in a couple of weeks. For Google, the hire makes complete sense. At Google I/O this year, the company showcased how Google Home will be improving over the coming months, including the ability to push info directly to a Chromecast-connected television. For this visual experience, a head of UX sounds like a solid plan, especially one with as much experience as Damir. More importantly, come on, Essential, where's that phone? // Variety | LinkedIn

LG References "Weaker Than Expected" G6 Sales in Q2 Earnings Report

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 12:56:46 +0000

After a painful 2016, the G6 was a breath of fresh air for LG. The company ditched its poorly executed module system, releasing a more premium, water resistant flagship device. The G6 has a good camera system, nice display with minimal bezel, and is a great phone overall. However, according to the latest earnings report from the company, expectations were still not met. While its home appliance, home entertainment, and vehicle component businesses are doing well, its mobile division continues to struggle. Numbers wise, LG's mobile business had revenues of $2.39 billion with an operating loss of $117.27 million, which the company states is nearly unchanged from the same period in 2016. That's the problem, though. LG does not want its mobile business to be stagnant, and with seemingly no change from Q2 of last year, the company was hoping to see growth with the launch of the G6.

[LG's mobile business] saw a challenging second quarter with revenues of KRW 2.70 trillion (USD 2.39 billion) and an operating loss of KRW 132.4 billion (USD 117.27 million), nearly unchanged from the same period a year ago primarily due to weaker than expected premium smartphone sales and increase in component costs.

While LG may not have seen the success it expected, the company does briefly mention what's next. Following the above line, it says that the second half financials should remain strong, thanks to the launch of a new "high-end device in the weeks ahead." That's most likely a reference to the upcoming LG V30, a phone that's expected to be unveiled on August 31. Still, this is better than taking a big loss, which a direct sequel to the G5 (with Friends accessories and all of that) might've been. // LG | Arstechnica

SEGA's The Revenge of Shinobi Now Playable on Android

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 10:09:22 +0000

SEGA's 1989 classic The Revenge of Shinobi is now available on Android, via that awesome SEGA Forever initiative. If you missed it, SEGA is launching a ton of its classic titles for mobile devices under this SEGA Forever umbrella, making them all free to play with the help of ads. If you pay a small fee, though, the ads go away and you can play the game as much as you want. Now, in The Revenge of Shinobi, you're a ninja, tasked with kicking a ton of butt. You'll battle enemies that look eerily similar to other well-known characters (Godzilla, Terminator, Spider-Man, etc.), but please note that SEGA says any likeness is pure coincidence. Wink wink. Should you want to relive this fine title, it's free for download on Google Play. If you don't want any ads, it's a one time purchase of $1.99, then they're gone. Play Link

DEAL: Huawei Mate 9 for $459, Honor 6X for $175 on Amazon

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 09:31:41 +0000

The Huawei-made Mate 9 is already an affordable phone at $499, but for a limited time, you can get it for just $459 on Amazon, which makes this a pretty solid deal. For phablet fans, it doesn't get much sweeter than the Mate 9, with its large 5.9" display and massive 4,000mAh battery. It also comes with Amazon Alexa, dual Leica-branded cameras, and dual SIM support. Sure, there's no water resistance, but at under $500, I'm pretty sure that's the only thing it's missing. If you need something less expensive, the Honor 6X is also discounted, down to a price of $175. That device comes with a 5.5" FHD display, dual cameras, 4GB RAM, 3,340mAh battery, fingerprint reader, and Android 7.0+. For under $200, it's a good option. If you somehow missed it, check out our Mate 9 review below to get a sense of if this device is right for you. If you like big displays, big batteries, and a solid EMUI experience, it's for you. Amazon Links: Huawei Mate 9 | Honor 6X

YouTube Red and Google Play Music to Merge and Form New Service

Tim — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 08:24:18 +0000

Speaking at a panel session for the New Music Seminar conference in New York, YouTube's Lyor Cohen confirmed that we will see a merging of Google Play Music and YouTube Red, but we don't know quite when this will take place. The move shouldn't shock too many, as Google has been offering both services for the price of one for quite some time. This is the first time we're hearing about the two officially becoming a single offering, though. If you aren't familiar, YouTube Red is simply an ad-free version of YouTube that also allows you to save videos for offline playback. There's still YouTube Music, which is available to everyone without a subscription, and that doesn't appear to be changing at all. Here's a statement provided by Google to The Verge:

Music is very important to Google and we’re evaluating how to bring together our music offerings to deliver the best possible product for our users, music partners and artists. Nothing will change for users today and we’ll provide plenty of notice before any changes are made.

Again, folks who pay for either service are already getting the other for free, so it's hard to say exactly what will change when the merge happens. And as Google claims, they will provide plenty of notice before anything changes. // The Verge

You Can Now Enter a Beta for the Google Cast Receiver App

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 15:11:06 +0000

Google has opened up a beta for the Google Cast Receiver app, allowing developers to ensure their apps will always work when a new version is getting pushed. Sure, we aren't developers, but we still want the latest builds out there, so anyone can join if you're interested and own the required hardware. If you download and want to ensure you're on the beta, look for version 1.26.93139, that's the current beta build. With it, you can test anything you want, but again, it's mostly for developers. If you do intend on downloading and then run into issues, feel free to shoot feedback over to chromecast-built-in-feedback@google.com. I'm sure the good folks at Google would love to hear about any issues you encounter. Have at it. Join Here Play Link // +Nazmul Idris

You Can Now Use Waze Right From Android Auto in Your Car

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:27:52 +0000

Even though many would say Google Maps remains superior to Waze, the community-based navigation platform does have its benefits. If you enjoy Waze, and also have a dash unit with Android Auto in your vehicle, you'll be happy to learn that you can now access the service as soon as you plug in your phone. So long as you select Waze to be your default navigation app when you first plug in your device with the latest Waze app update installed, all of the same Google commands will work, including the typical "Ok Google, navigate to Wendy's." and the like. Here's the important stuff to know.

Navigate to all your most frequented destinations as pre-programmed in your Waze app in one tap—we're talking home, work and your Waze favorites.
Start any drive using voice command "OK, Google" to tell Waze your destination and get on the road even quicker.
Receive visual and audio alerts to keep you informed of what's ahead and find the fastest routes. Bonus: you'll enjoy a larger map with bigger views of alerts, hazers and more.
Access your personalized Waze experience from your phone on your car's bigger screen.
Easily view your ETA Panel, which organizes everything you need in one place so you can seamlessly check alternate routes and adjust your sound settings.
Help other Wazers on the road through a visual reporting menu.

Android Auto users, go try it out and report back. Play Link // Waze Cheers Mathew!

OnePlus Pushes Launcher and Weather Apps to Google Play for Easy Updating

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:39:22 +0000

If you're utilizing a OnePlus device, take note that the official OnePlus Launcher and OnePlus Weather applications are now available directly inside of Google Play. As we've seen before, this is done to allow for quick updates, thanks to the removal of these apps from the system itself. As for what's new, the launcher details performance improvements and general bug fixes, while the weather app says it has UI optimizations, 15-day forecasts, and performance improvements. Of course, if you don't have a OnePlus device, don't go looking for these apps. They'll be labeled as incompatible with your phone. Womp womp. Play Links: Launcher | Weather

Wednesday Poll: Are You Going to Buy the Moto Z2 Force?

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:27:45 +0000

If you haven't noticed already, it's just me at the DL offices this week, with Kellen taking a well deserved vacation. With all of the travel and running around, I wasn't able to ask this question yesterday or really share my initial thoughts on the Moto Z2 Force. So, here we go -- Are you going to buy the Moto Z2 Force? From what I can tell you so far, it's much better than last year's Moto Z Force. It's slimmer (which I like, but don't appreciate the big cut in battery size), the performance is smooth, the cameras are pretty great, and the software is straightforward. I also appreciate Moto's big time move to make it available on all carriers, which should be highlighted immensely by everyone who talks about this device. I'll be sharing more info on the device as I spend more time with it, but until then, we want to know how you feel about it. If you missed it, you can see our initial hands-on right here or learn all about the phone's availability. So, will it be your next? Gonna hold on until the Note 8 or Pixel 2 comes around? Let us know! [poll id="458"]

OnePlus Discloses Cause of 911 Reboot Bug on OnePlus 5

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:30:34 +0000

Posted yesterday morning to the company's forum, OnePlus is detailing what caused the 911 reboot bug that had many OnePlus 5 owners worried. As a reminder, this bug has since been fixed via an update that went out last week. According to OnePlus, this issue was related to a modem memory usage issue that triggered the reboots. As stated, it was only an occurrence for some users on a VoLTE network where OTDOA protocol was triggered. OnePlus worked with Qualcomm to resolve the issue globally. Here's the complete rundown provided by OnePlus on its forum.

Last week, we received distressing news regarding an issue related to dialing an emergency number on the OnePlus 5. Late last week an update was released to resolve the issue. We would like to provide additional information on the emergency call issue. The source of this issue was related to a modem memory usage issue that triggered a reboot. This reboot was a random occurrence for some users on VoLTE network where OTDOA protocol was triggered when placing an emergency call. We have worked with our partners at Qualcomm to resolve this issue globally. To clarify, this occurred only on some OnePlus 5 devices, in random instances under the circumstances described above. Starting last Friday, we rolled out a software update that resolved this issue. We took this extremely seriously and want to thank the users who provided device logs to help us quickly resolve it.

All we can say is, we're happy the company worked so quickly to fix it. // OnePlus

Nova Launcher With Sesame Shortcuts is Pretty Sweet

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:50:44 +0000

Nova Launcher is already a fantastic 3rd-party launcher, but with the latest inclusion of support for Sesame Shortcuts, it just got a whole lot sweeter. Sesame Shortcuts, which is a separate app download from Google Play, offers the ability to access various shortcuts throughout your device. With it, you can quickly access different apps, contacts, messaging, Google Search, plus a whole lot more. As an example, if you type "B" into the search box on Nova Launcher, you'll find every app that starts with B, conversations from your messaging apps that include a contact that starts with B, or even Spotify playlists that start with B. Essentially, you'll be diving in and out of apps so fast with Sesame you won't know what hit you.

In total, there are over 100 shortcuts to utilize, and with each use, the feature gets smarter. According to Sesame's developers, "[Sesame] learns from each interaction, updating search rankings based on usage." Now, according to Sesame's own documentation, Sesame is a $2.99 app with an unlimited trial. After 14 days, if you are using the app but haven’t yet paid for it, you’ll see a message each time you use a shortcut. However, users who installed Sesame before July, 2017 will get upgraded for free automatically. It's certainly worth the trial if you think you can benefit from it. If you want to see this in action, check out the video below, but I will warn you, the music is pretty awful so feel free to mute it. Play Links: Nova Launcher | Sesame Shortcuts // Nova Launcher

New Project Fi Referral Program Could Win You Free Google Play Credit or Even a Trip to Mountain View

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:06:34 +0000

Project Fi has launched a huge referral program for customers, one that could have you winning mounds of Google Play credit, Fi swag bags, or even a trip to the Google HQ in Mountain View. The way it all works is pretty easy. On Fi, you get a code and if someone signs up for Fi using that code, you get the referral points. For 2 referrals, you get $20 in Play credit, plus a $40 Fi service credit. That's already pretty great. For 5 referrals, you'll receive a Fi weekender bag, plus $100 of Fi service credit. Again, that's only 5 referrals, easily obtainable if you have a few friends. Now, across the Fi community, there's a referral leaderboard. At the end of this "Race to Google HQ" contest, which is September 25, 2017, the top 3 referrers will receive a paid trip to Google HQ in California, plus up to $2000 in Fi service credit. So, basically, a year or two of free Fi. Here's the breakdown. Contest prizes include:

2 referrals: $20 Google Play credit + standard $40 Fi credit
5 referrals: Fi weekender bag + standard $100 Fi credit
Top 3 referrers: Trip to Google HQ in California + up to $2000 Fi credit

Google's Project Fi team has a big FAQ on its website should you have any questions, but for that Google Play credit alone, I may be signing back up for Fi and throwing out a code here and there. That's easy money. Follow the link below to get started. // Project Fi

Here's Another Pixel 2 Render Video

Tim — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 08:08:03 +0000

While nothing is confirmed or official, we're loving how the latest 3rd-party renders of the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are turning out. Up to this point, we've seen a few 2D renders of the devices and even another sweet little concept video. The following fits into the fancy 3D category, providing a detailed look at what Google might launch here in the coming months. From what we can tell, if these renders pan out to be the real thing, the front side bezels are going get shrunk quite a bit, the backside's glass is also catching a trim, and we've still got that gigantic single camera sensor on the backside of each phone. Anyone else seeing these dual front-facing speakers, too? While I've seen a few say they aren't quite liking this design, I'm a fan of this look. What are your thoughts? // My Smart Price

Google to Have 11 Daydream-Ready Phones by Year's End

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:56:27 +0000

Noted during a recent earnings call, Google's Sundar Pichai declared there will be eleven Daydream-ready Android devices by year's end. Considering there is only a handful of compatible devices now, we'll likely be hearing more about this rather soon. As of today, there's the Pixel, XL, Galaxy S8, S8+, Moto Z, Huawei Mate 9 Pro, ZTE Axon 7, and the Asus Zenfone AR. With this list, we can expect a few more announced soon, and of course, you can count the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 to be there. Gotta say, it's nice to see Daydream rolling out to more folks. It's a solid platform for anyone looking to have a bit of VR fun. // The Verge

Moto Z2 Force Availability: Pre-Orders, Promos, and More

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:05:02 +0000

Unlike last year, where availability was rather limited, the Moto Z2 Force is making its way to all major US carriers, universally available on August 10. However, if you can't wait that long, all carriers and even Best Buy are hosting pre-orders this week, with each highlighting Motorola's offer of a free Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod if you purchase. While the pre-orders look pretty straightforward, there are a couple of carriers who are throwing out BOGO deals, including Sprint and T-Mobile. On T-Mobile, if you buy one then are okay with receiving a rebate, your 2nd unit is free. On Sprint, you can lease two Z2 Force units for the price of one, which is essentially a BOGO if you're fine with the leasing aspect. Below you'll find all of the pre-order links for the various carriers and retailers. Pre-Order Links

Verizon ($15/month, $756 retail)
Sprint (BOGO or $33/month, $792 retail)
AT&T ($27/month, $809.99 retail)
T-Mobile (BOGO or $30/month, $750 retail)
US Cellular ($26.12/month, $729.99 retail)
Best Buy
Motorola ($30/month, $720 retail)

Are you going to buy one?

Video: Moto Z2 Force Hands-on

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:48:26 +0000

As you might already know, Motorola announced the Moto Z2 Force in New York City this morning, and being the Android nerds we are, we hopped on a plane and attended the festivities. We've already written up its specs and discussed where it's available, but the below video will deliver a more detailed look at Moto's latest device and even show off the new Moto 360 Video mod. Should you have anymore questions, feel free to shoot them below and I can attempt to field them. Moto Z2 Force Hands-on and Tour

Moto Z2 Force Specs (Official)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:02:15 +0000

For Moto Z2 Force specs, now that the phone is official after being spoiled early by Verizon, we're looking at a 5.5-inch QHD POLED display with ShatterShield, dual 12MP shooters, Snapdragon 835 processor, 64GB storage, 4GB RAM, and a really small 2730mAh battery. You've also got connectivity on the major US carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, along with a pretty steep $30 per month price and Moto Mods connectivity. This is going to be a really important phone for Motorola. Not only is it the second year for Moto Mods, but they are on all of the major carriers, something they haven't done in years. Can this phone compete? If anything, it needed to get the specs right and they seem to be close, outside of that battery capacity. I guess you'll just have to buy a Moto Mod to fix that problem.

Moto Z2 Force Specs

[table id=72 responsive=scroll /] Buy Moto Z2 Force: Motorola Store

Moto Z2 Force and New Moto Mods Announced, Available on Every US Carrier Starting August 10

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:01:39 +0000

This morning in NYC, Motorola announced the followup to last year's Moto Z Force, the Moto Z2 Force. Unlike last year's Z Force, which was exclusive to Verizon, you'll be able to find the Z2 Force on every major US carrier, as well as Best Buy, in an effort to relaunch Motorola as a major smartphone brand. Specs for the device were already outed this morning by Verizon, but as a recap, we have a 5.5" QHD AMOLED ShatterShield display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, dual rear-facing 12MP cameras, 64GB storage, microSD support, 2,730mAh battery with Turbo Charging, Moto Mods support, and Android 7.0+ "Nougat." If you're looking for difference between this device and last year's, it's the dual cameras, a bit thinner of a body, and a much smaller battery. Alongside the Z2 Force was the announcement of two additional Moto Mods, the Moto 360 Camera and Moto GamePad. As you'd imagine, the 360 camera will attach seamlessly to the Z2 Force (or any other Moto device with the necessary pin array), then allow you to snap 360-degree videos, stills, or even stream the content as you record it. As for the GamePad, it turns your device into a gaming machine, complete with buttons, D-pad, and additional juice built-in. If you missed it, Motorola previously announced other new Moto Mods, too.

The Moto 360 Camera mod will be available the same time as the Moto Z2 Force, priced at $299. If you want that GamePad, it will launch later this year for an unknown price. As soon as we learn more, we'll let you know. [table id=72 responsive=scroll /] Update: The GamePad can be pre-ordered through Verizon today for $79.99. Follow the link below if you're interested in pre-ordering the device or the 360 Moto Mod. Motorola Pre-Order Link

Moto Z2 Force Up for Pre-Order Through Verizon, Specs Confirmed

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 06:01:02 +0000

Jumping the gun just a tad, since the official unveiling event has yet to start (11AM Eastern this morning), Verizon has posted the Moto Z2 Force up for pre-order on its website, including all of the specs for the device, too. As listed, the Moto Z2 Force features a 5.5" QHD display with ShatterShield, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 12MP dual rear-facing cameras, 5MP front-facing camera, microSD support, and 2,730mAh battery. As you might've noticed, the big changes are the dual cameras and the much smaller battery, shrinking from last year's 3,500mAh size. As for pricing, Verizon lists it for $15/month or $756 outright. For colors, you can find it in Black or White/Gold. If you do order this device, Verizon says you can expect it to ship starting August 10. We'll be at Moto's event this morning to bring you the hands-on goodness! Verizon Link Cheers Jimmy!

Verizon Galaxy S8, S8+ Being Updated With Daydream Support

Tim — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 05:30:41 +0000

As listed on Verizon's website this morning, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are receiving updates, both getting support for Google's Daydream VR platform and a few other changes. To utilize the awesomeness that is Daydream, you'll need a Daydream View headset, which is purchasable through the Google Store for $79. You can also find them on eBay, Best Buy, and Fry's. Once you have your phone updated and a View headset, head over to Google Play to download the Daydream app, if the update doesn't automatically include it. In addition to the Daydream support, Verizon notes a new button for the navigation bar, which allows you to hide the bar at anytime. It's a little dot button and pressing it will quickly hide the nav bar should you want it gone. A simple swipe will make it reappear. Enabling and disabling this button is done via the Navigation Bar Settings menu. Be on the lookout for this update to start rolling out shortly if you haven't seen it pop up already. // Verizon [2]

HTC U11 128GB Pre-Order Opens Tonight for $729 or You Can Save Hundreds on a U Ultra and HTC 10

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:57:42 +0000

HTC announced plans to open up pre-orders tonight for the unlocked U11 with 128GB, while also sharing a few deals that will go live on its website. If the U11 with 128GB interests you, pre-orders go up tonight at midnight (Eastern), priced at a hefty $729. If you missed it, check out our U11 review to see if it's worth it. As for the deals, starting tomorrow through August 7, you can get a U Ultra for $499 ($250 savings), a HTC 10 for $399 ($300 savings), $180 off a UA HealthBox, and plenty more. Once tomorrow comes around, check out HTC's website for the full rundown of deals or to pre-order your U11 with 128GB of storage. HTC Store Link

Octopus: Android O Developer Preview 4 Brings New Easter Egg

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:33:13 +0000

There are a few things we know about Android O. The name will start with the letter "O" and it will likely be labeled as Android 8.0. Well, there is at least one creature on this planet that starts with the letter "O" and it even has 8 legs, that being an octopus! Baked inside of the latest developer preview, which went live this morning, an octopus easter egg has taken over for the cat game, and it's accessible to anyone running the latest Android O build. You access it the same way you always do: Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build and voila! You'll see a cute little octopus floating around your screen. Do we think Android O will be named Octopus? Nope, not likely, but it is a neat idea.

@AndroidPolice @droid_life @9to5Google @androidcentral
New Easter Egg in DP4 O Beta pic.twitter.com/f146DUTQ9U
— Thomas Hubert (@_TomHubert) July 24, 2017

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SHIELD TV Units Receiving Updated YouTube App With 360-Degree Video Support

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:11:04 +0000

The updated YouTube app for Android TV is rolling out to SHIELD TV units, as confirmed by NVIDIA. This update not only brings a fresh UI, but access to YouTube 360, which will have you streaming videos in a full 360 degrees straight to your big screen. Beyond the 360 videos, the UI has been spruced up immensely. The biggest change, at least from what I can tell so far, is the cleaning up of the subscription section. Instead of a jumbled list of your subscriptions, there's now sleek icons that sit atop a transparent background. As you scroll through the icons, slides appear, displaying whichever option you’ve highlighted in the menu. What I've highlighted is only the beginning, with lots of other changes and UI tweaks built in. Be on the lookout for your updated YouTube app on SHIELD TV this week! And if you need some ideas on what to stream in 360 degrees, check out the skydiving video below. // NVIDIA

Android O Developer Preview 4 Factory Images Available

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 10:32:45 +0000

For anyone not in the Android Beta Program, and flashing files manually is more your thing, Developer Preview 4 is now available for Android O. If you didn't already know, this is it for the developer previews. The next step is public release! Labeled with prefix OPP4, you can download these files for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, and Nexus Player. Here's what Google is saying:

Developer Preview 4 is a release candidate build of Android O that you can use to complete your development and testing in time for the upcoming official release. It includes the final system behaviors, the latest bug fixes and optimizations, and the final APIs (API level 26) already available since Developer Preview 3. We're releasing the Developer Preview 4 device system images today, together with the stable version of the Android 26.0.0 Support Library. Incremental updates to the SDK, tools, and Android Emulator system images are on the way over the next few days.

For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. We’ll flash ourselves and let you know of any big changes! Links:

Android O Preview 4 Images
Release Notes

DEAL: Save $50 on an Amazon Echo, Priced at $130

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 10:17:09 +0000

Currently over on Amazon, you can grab a brand new Echo for just $129.99, down from its usual price of $179.99. You can pick up a unit in either Black or White, but according to the listing, Amazon won't have units back in stock for a couple of weeks (August 11), but it's best to get it now while this $50 savings is around. No telling how long this deal will be active, so have at it. Amazon Link

Report: Snapdragon 836 to Debut With Pixel 2

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 09:11:37 +0000

According to sources of Fudzilla, the upcoming Pixel 2 will feature a Snapdragon 836, the first phone to do so should this report pan out true. As of right now, Qualcomm has not yet confirmed a release for the Snapdragon 836, but from what this report claims, this bump from the current top-tier Snapdragon 835 would bring about a 10% increase in performance. Beyond that bump in performance, it is also reported that battery usage improvements will also be made, but without specifics from Qualcomm yet, it's hard to share much about specs. Not so shockingly, the SD 836 is reported to not be exclusive to the Pixel 2, but a few other devices will feature it later this year. These reported devices include one from OnePlus and Xiaomi. While no one would complain about the latest from Qualcomm being included with the new Pixel, it's not as if the Snapdragon 835 is old news. // Fudzilla

Verizon LG V20 Updated With July Security Patch

Tim — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 07:38:46 +0000

The LG V20 on Verizon is being updated with the July security patch, carrying the build number VS99515A. Verizon does not specify any other changes in this update, but we do know that the July security patch is full of vulnerability fixes. For a complete detailed look at that, check here. V20 owners, go grab that update. // Verizon

Weekly Recap: Galaxy Note 8 Has an Unveiling Date!

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 15:11:58 +0000

Another week draws to a close, but it wasn't without its share of excitement. This week, we learned the confirmed date for the Galaxy Note 8's unveiling, August 23, but we also posted up our video review of the Moto Z2 Play. Is it the new battery king like last year's model? You'll have to watch the review to find out. Here are the stories you don't want to miss.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Report: Razer Working on Smartphone for Hardcore Gamers

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:56:39 +0000

It was announced in January of this year that Nextbit, makers of the cloud-centric Robin phone, would join Razer as an independent mobile division. In a related report published by Bloomberg on July 12, it is reported that Razer is indeed working to create a smartphone, one designed specifically for "hardcore gamers." Helping fuel this phone project is a reported IPO in Hong Kong, said to be scheduled for October by sources of Bloomberg, with Razer seeking a valuation between $3 billion to $5 billion. With that type of money to play with, it's entirely possible that Razer could use its new friends at Nextbit to design and create a phone made to please the hardcore gamers among us. Of course, being this early in development, we don't yet know about any possible specs or features for the phone. Will it sync via the cloud to your desktop for legit mobile gaming experiences? Come with loads of RAM and a high-end processor to power next-gen titles? We don't know quite yet, but we're excited about it. If Razer makes a phone for gamers, will you be in line to buy one? I probably will be. // Bloomberg

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 Updated With July Security Patch

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:14:32 +0000

The Galaxy Note 5 on T-Mobile is being updated to version N920TUVS4EQG1, equipped with the July security patch. Not only is the security getting upgraded, but system improvements and stability improvements are also listed. The underlying Android build isn't changing, though, with it still listed at 7.0+. And if you were wondering, it doesn't seem likely that the Note 5 will be updated to Android O, but you never know. Still, security patch updates are always welcomed. Note 5 owners on T-Mobile, go get that update. // T-Mobile

Verizon Admits to Throttling Netflix, Says It Was Just Testing Optimizations

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:43:26 +0000

A story that took place earlier this week just blew right open, with Verizon admitting that it has been tampering with video streaming performance of select applications, with the majority of worry being voiced by users of Netflix. As it has played out, users of Netflix were testing their data on Verizon LTE, using Netflix's own speed test app and Ookla's. From what the data showed, Ookla's speeds came back normal at over 80Mbps, while Netflix's data, on the same exact phone at the same exact location, appeared to be capped at 10Mbps. Coincidence? It didn't seem likely, and with this new statement from Verizon, the carrier has essentially admitted to potentially violating Title II. Here's the statement provided to Arstechnica from Verizon.

We've been doing network testing over the past few days to optimize the performance of video applications on our network. The testing should be completed shortly. The customer video experience was not affected.

While Verizon states that video experience was not affected for customers, that's not exactly the point. With Title II still in affect, ISPs are required to treat all data equally, regardless of its origin. If Verizon is purposefully throttling (or placing caps on select applications), that's a no-no. We'll update this post as the story unfolds. // Arstechnica | The Verge

DEAL: Best Buy Hosting Black Friday in July Promo, Save $290 on Pixel Phones and Much More

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:53:23 +0000

Best Buy is hosting a Black Friday in July event, with deals taking place all over its site. For us, the Android nerds, you'll find savings on a Pixel or Pixel XL through Verizon, with the max savings listed at $290. As detailed on Best Buy, you can grab a Pixel on Verizon with unlimited data for just $358 or $478 without unlimited. Here's the lineup of Pixel deals currently at Best Buy.

Google Pixel with Verizon unlimited plan: $358 sale price, $14.92/month for 24 months
Google Pixel without Verizon unlimited plan: $478 sale price, $19.92/month for 24 months
Google Pixel XL with Verizon unlimited plan: $454 sale price, $18.92/month for 24 months
Google Pixel XL without Verizon unlimited plan: $574 sale price, $23.92/month for 24 months

If you are in the mood for something other than a Pixel, you can find a Huawei Watch 2 for $220 ($80 off), Bose SoundSport in-ear headphones for $50 ($50 off) or Bose QuietComfort headphones for $180 ($70 off). That's just the start, though, with savings available on TVs, security systems, sound systems, PlayStation VR, and so much more. Follow the link below to see all of the deals! Black Friday in July Link

New Galaxy Note 8 Renders Provide Detailed Look

Tim — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:42:08 +0000

Samsung made the unveiling date for the Galaxy Note 8 official just yesterday (August 23), so it only seems customary that we get our best look yet at the upcoming device via a 3rd-party. The above renders you are seeing originate from smartphone case maker Ghostek, using dimensions that are supplied directly from the OEM. With those dimensions, designers are able to churn out exactly what a device will look like, and it should be noted, the Galaxy Note 8 looks rather nice. As we've already said, the Note 8 is like a Galaxy S8+, but with an S Pen on its bottom side. Additionally, the backside is showing off that dual camera setup, along with the ill-placed fingerprint reader. Other than that, its design is very similar to the S8 and S8+, which is a good thing in our book. Thumbs up or thumbs down? // BGR

Andy Rubin Says Essential Phone Now Arriving in a "Few Weeks"

Kellen — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:12:43 +0000

It has been quiet on the Essential Phone front in recent weeks, but Andy Rubin just pinged those of us who put our name down for a reservation to tell us that we're getting there. Well, specifically he said that the phone is "now going through certification and testing with multiple US and international carriers," and that it should be here within a "few weeks." That sounds like a lot of work, if I'm being honest. Ask Saygus! OK, that's probably not a fair comparison. This is Andy Rubin and a team of guys who have done stuff like this before, not some random guys out of Utah who have never launched a product in their lives. Also, this news matches up to Essential's COO claiming the launch is "imminent" earlier in the week. Here is the note from Rubin:

I personally wanted to thank you for putting your name down for our first phone. We've been hard at work getting everything ready and the good news is that we’re now going through certification and testing with multiple US and international carriers. You might be getting impatient to get your hands on your new Essential Phone (and I’m also impatient to get it to you!) but rest assured that you will have a device in your hands in a few weeks. In the meantime, give us a shout out using #thisisessential to show the team that sweating the details and working long hours to get this device shipped is worth it. Andy

DEAL: Best Buy and Samsung Hosting $300-Off Galaxy S8 and S8+ Deals to Launch Coral Blue

Kellen — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 00:56:09 +0000

July 21 is here and that means both Best Buy and Samsung are hosting mega discounts on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ to celebrate the launch of the Coral Blue version in the US. Both are offering up at least $150 off, but you'll also find carrier models discounted up to $300 at Best Buy. The deals look like this for now: Samsung is giving everyone $150 off both carrier models and unlocked models. However, if you want up to $300, they'll give you extra cash off upfront if you trade-in a phone. Again, that means an instant discount where you send in the phone upon receiving your new Galaxy S8. The phones they are willing to accept are the Galaxy Note 5, S5, S6, S6 Edge and Edge+, S7, S7 Edge, LG G4, G5, G6, and Google Pixel or Pixel XL. They'll also take an iPhone SE, 5, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, or 7S Plus. Samsung.com only has the Coral Blue in the unlocked version. The other colors are discounted too. If you go the Best Buy route, you can grab Coral Blue in Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and Unlocked models. These discounts are available to all versions, though, not just Coral Blue. Verizon and Sprint models are seeing $300 discounts, while AT&T models are discounted by $200, and the unlocked versions by $150. To see the monthly payments for the carrier models, we've got links for you below. I should point out that Best Buy is claiming that you could get up to $400 off, but I'm not seeing where that discount applies. It could be through a monthly payment plan? If you see that angle, let us know. Good deals!

Samsung Galaxy S8 Links:

Galaxy S8 and S8+ at Samsung.com

Best Buy Galaxy S8 Coral Blue Links:

Verizon ($300 off): Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
AT&T ($200 off): Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
Sprint ($300 off): Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
Unlocked ($150 off): Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+

Moto Z2 Play Review: Return of the Battery King?

Kellen — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 17:41:20 +0000

Alright, alright, alright, it's time for our Moto Z2 Play review, now that I've had a cool couple of weeks to absorb a phone that is the follow-up to the sleeper of the year phone from 2016. You guys know I loved the original Moto Z Play, so this one I've been looking forward to. To recap, the Moto Z2 Play is currently a $408 phone that's exclusive to Verizon, but will show up as an unlocked model later this year for around $500. It features a 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage with SD slot, Snapdragon 626 processor, 3000mAh battery, Moto Mods compatibility, 12MP f/1.7 rear camera, fingerprint reader, and Android 7.1.1. The unlocked model should feature 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. (Full specs) Last year's Moto Z Play was so good because it featured the most insane battery life I've ever experienced in a phone, along with a clean version of Android with Moto's suite of software features on top (Moto Display, Voice, and Actions) and a reasonable price. In a sea of bloated, skinned Android phones, this phone was a breath of fresh air, not only because you couldn't kill it, but because it wasn't trying to be anything extra - it was just simple and good. It even saw a couple of timely updates if I do recall correctly. With the Moto Z2 Play, I was curious to see if Motorola could recreate that magic. They came somewhat close, though that reduction in battery size from 3510mAh to 3000mAh for the sake of thinness was a mistake. The rest is pretty good (and not that the battery life is bad by any means), it just doesn't have that special something to help it standout like it did a year ago.

Moto Z2 Play Review

Buy Moto Z2 Play: Verizon | Motorola

Cricket Wireless Offering 2 Lines With Unlimited Data for $80/Month

Tim — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 14:39:20 +0000

Summer is in full swing, and to celebrate, Cricket Wireless is hosting a few deals to get customers excited. The big marquee promo is the offering of 2 lines of unlimited data, paired together for just $80/month. While that sounds killer, don't forget the small print, which clearly states, "Data speed limited to max 3Mbps; video streaming max of 1.5 Mbps. After 22GB of data usage, Cricket may slow speeds." Is 3Mbps pretty darn slow? Absolutely, but also take into account Cricket's entire LTE network is limited to 8Mbps. This plan is open to upgrading and new customers. On top of that, Cricket Wireless is offering free phones to customers who port their existing number to Cricket. Phones included in the promo are the ZTE Sonata 3, LG Fortune, Samsung Galaxy Amp 2, plus plenty others. Head over to Cricket Wireless to see the latest offerings. // Cricket Wireless

Samsung Hosting Unpacked Event for Galaxy Note 8 on August 23

Tim — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 14:16:25 +0000

After reports were going back and forth about dates, Samsung has made it official. The next Unpacked event, where we'll undoubtedly see the Galaxy Note 8, is set to go down on August 23 in New York City at 11AM EDT (8AM Pacific). In the image provided with the invite, we see a phone that has similar stylings to a Galaxy S8 (which aligns well with previous renders) and an S Pen. So, yeah, safe to say this is the Note 8 event. We'll be there!

Reminder: Last Day for Samsung's Galaxy S8 BOGO With Trade-In Deal

Tim — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:02:38 +0000

Only a few days ago, Samsung kicked off what we feel is the best BOGO deal currently available for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. To sum it up, trade in your used smartphone (so long as it's not bricked or has a cracked display), then receive a free S8 or S8+ when you purchase the same model. What makes the deal super sweet is that the BOGO offer is applied immediately when you purchase the phones, not after you send in your used device. Once the transaction is completed, simply ship your phone off to the provided address (you have up to 15 days to ship the device or you're charged for the 2nd phone), then enjoy your two new Galaxy S8 devices. It's a swell deal for anyone looking to upgrade themselves and a significant other. Eligible trade-in options are the Galaxy Note 5, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge, iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 7 or 7 Plus. Hit the link below to get started. Samsung Link

Report: Moto Z2 Force Won't Have the Big Battery You Expected

Tim — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:59:35 +0000

We'll be in NYC next week to cover the launch of the Moto Z2 Force, but that never stops the internet from sharing all of the juicy details beforehand. Today, VentureBeat published possible specifications concerning the Moto Z2 Force, the same phone we caught a look at earlier this month. From what we've already deciphered, the Moto Z2 Force is much like last year's Z Force, with slim body, support for Moto Mods, no 3.5mm headphone jack, fingerprint reader on its front bottom chin, but with the addition of dual rear-facing cameras. While all of this is fine and dandy, there's now a potential downside for anyone who saw this as a possible upgrade to their existing Moto Z device. According to VentureBeat, the Moto Z2 Force will come with a 2730mAh battery, which is 22% smaller than last year's 3500mAh. That smaller battery will be providing juice to a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM (other markets outside of US get 6GB), 64GB storage (other markets outside of US get 128GB), dual rear-facing cameras, and a 5.5" shatterproof Super AMOLED POLED display. As you can see from the amount of RAM and storage, the US model of the Z2 Force seems somewhat toned down when compared to what other markets will receive. This is likely a move to keep costs low to buyers, but still, that move is pretty weak. But hey, we get dual cameras! /sarcasm As I said, we'll be on-hand in NYC for the phone's launch, so stay tuned for that. // VentureBeat

YouTube TV Expands to 10 New Markets!

Kellen — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 09:49:18 +0000

YouTube TV has expanded to 10 new markets this morning and is now available to a whole bunch of new customers. The new markets include Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Orland-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Phoenix, and Washington DC. Those markets join Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, the original group. If you live in one of those new areas, you can sign-up at tv.youtube.com. // YouTube TV Help

Motion Stills Brings Google Research's Stabilization Hotness to Your Phone

Tim — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 08:44:52 +0000

In June of last year, the Google Research team launched Motion Stills for iOS. Why only iOS? Don't ask me. If you aren't familiar with this app, it allows you to snap Live Photos, then share them as short videos loops and GIFs. With the help of advanced stabilization techniques, the loops tend to look pretty slick, too. Anyway, the big news today is that this app is now available for Android, too! As Google details, there have been some changes for this release, one of them being quite major. I'll let Google do the explaining.

For this release, we redesigned our existing iOS video processing pipeline to use a streaming approach that processes each frame of a video as it is being recorded. By computing intermediate motion metadata, we are able to immediately stabilize the recording while still performing loop optimization over the full sequence. All this leads to instant results after recording — no waiting required to share your new GIF.

The perfect example of this implementation can be seen in the below image. The loop is snapped, then instantly the user is able to preview what they shot. No waiting around for a rendering process.

Additionally, users can fast forward videos before sharing, thanks to the baking in of I-frame spacing. This allows you to speed a clip up to 8x, potentially leading to a few awesome and unique shots. Follow the link below to check it out for yourself. Play Link // Google

OnePlus Pushes Update to OnePlus 5 to Fix 911 Bug

Kellen — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:51:18 +0000

The OnePlus 5 bug we wrote about earlier in the week that was causing the phone to reboot when it dialed emergency numbers, like 911, has been addressed by OnePlus. A software update should be arriving within days to all OnePlus 5 devices in the wild. According to a OnePlus representative, the company reached out to the OnePlus 5 owner who first reported the bug, worked with him to get a software fix on his device, and confirmed then that it fixed the issue. They are now pushing this update out immediately, though timing "may vary by region," they tell us. If anything, you should start going in to Settings>System Updates to check for it. The update should arrive as OxygenOS 4.5.6. More here. Pretty quick work here by OnePlus!

T-Mobile's 600MHz Network Starts Lighting Up in August

Kellen — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:49:47 +0000

T-Mobile released its Q2 2017 earnings report today, revealing that it not only added another 1.3 million customers, it also mentioned that it plans to deploy some of its newly acquired 600MHz spectrum in August. The company previously told us to expect 600MHz testing this summer. As we mentioned yesterday, we'll need phones that can access this frequency, but those phones should be along shortly. We know that LG and Samsung will have some available for sure. T-Mobile added today that they'll have "several compatible devices ready for the 2017 holiday season." T-Mobile mentioned in their press release today that they'll deploy at "least 10MHz covering more than 1.2M square miles" of the 600MHz spectrum by the end of 2017. They'll also use a portion of the 600MHz goodness to bring their nationwide 5G network to you and I in 2019 or 2020. // T-Mobile

Android O Engineering Team Discusses Battery Life, Themes, and Android Wear in Recent AMA

Tim — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 14:15:44 +0000

The engineering team behind Android O at Google held an AMA on reddit today, tackling tons of questions that poured in from the Android community. As they requested, many of the questions revolved around developer stuff, such as API problems and other topics we don't discuss heavily here on DL. However, there were a few interesting tidbits we wanted to share with you all. Below, we'll place the question, followed by the team's answer(s). If you want to see the full AMA, a link to the subreddit can be found below. How do you manage to improve battery life with every new release of Android?

A large group of people who are experts on many aspects of the OS started by looking at all the data we had, and then brainstormed a huge list of opportunities and then started systematically analyzing to see what we could do. All of these features were the result: Play Console Dashboards for Android Vitals, background execution limits, background location limits, Android Studio performance profilers for CPU, memory and network, and more. We still feel like the battery life can get better so we’ll keep working on it.

What is being done to shore up the Bluetooth audio solution?

(Editor's Note: This is a shortened version of the answer.) The Android Bluetooth, audio, and performance teams actually did a lot of work to improve BT audio in O. We flipped the switch internally since the most recent developer preview because we needed a little more time to make sure that things were stable, so you haven’t seen the fruits of that labor quite yet. Our testing shows that BT audio reliability is drastically better vs N because of these changes. We’re happy with how it’s turned out, and we hope you see the same kind of improvements.

Is there a programming obstacle to full theming (a la TouchWiz or MiUI) or is it something the Android team doesn't think is right yet?

TL;DR Theming is not hard. Reliable and consistent theming is hard. There are technical and logistical issues with theming. The technical side is largely solved in O with RRO support (thanks Sony!); however, we still don’t have stable APIs for describing what can be themed or adequate ways to verify that existing applications properly support theming. You might remember a dark theme making brief appearances in previous releases -- since we already had a dark Material theme, we didn’t have to worry about APIs to describe the themeable properties; however, we were unable to convert every existing app (ex. Calendar, Photos, other bundled and core apps -- even Settings was a challenge) to support dark Material theme and verify that it was properly supported. If you had, say, a bright pink “Hello Kitty” theme that’s not a simple brightness inversion, you run into even more complicated cases of ensuring minimum contrast levels for accessibility, picking reasonable secondary and tertiary colors, etc.

Why couldn't you implement Night Light in Nexus 6P?

Night Light requires a different implementation of the HAL used by the window compositor. With focus on newer devices, Nexus 6P did not receive an implementation of the new HAL interface.

Will Android O do anything for Android Wear? With Android Wear 2.0 taking forever to roll out, and once it did, being plagued with issues of slowness, flat-out non-responsiveness, and UI/UX issues that really affect users, it seems like Google was trying to kill AW with that release.

Android O will mostly be a technical upgrade for Android Wear. For example, Wear will get background limits which will help preserve battery with O and users can expect more controls over notifications via notification channels. In addition, we have added new tools for developers to help implement complications and build watch friendly UIs. On Android Wear 2.0, we have made some technical changes so that updates to system components will not always need an OS update. For example, the watch face picker and notification streams have now been decoupled from the OS and can be updated more frequently and independently. We welcome feedback on any issues you might have.

Can we expect a laptop mode for Android with windows, similar to what Samsung launched with S8, in AOSP in a near future?

We don’t have any plans to announce at this point. Window management improvements is an areas we are still very interested in and will continue to work on in the future. The focus for here in O was the new PIP feature.

With Project Treble in Android O means better and easier system update for OEM. My question is how long can we expect the Google Pixel and the future Google smart phone be supported in the future?

Devices launching with Android O will come Treble-enabled out of the box.

How far along are you from completion on the return of Tablet UI?

Honestly, I don’t think tablets is a space where we can meaningfully talk about “completion.” It’s more about figuring out what the next driver of innovation will be for this form factor. We are continuing to invest in productivity use cases (keyboard-driven UI, multiwindow, etc) but also -- along with lots of other folks in the industry -- working on what the next evolution of tablets should be. For Android, there are some interesting overlaps with tablets given the increasing success of Chromebooks and the recent addition of the ability to run Android apps on Chrome OS. We are working to make the Android developer stories for both form factors (tablets, Chromebooks) identical.

Is the white notification shade a glitch? What happened to the theming engine?

For Android O the overall goal was to align the lighter notification surface with quick settings. As a consequence we did switch the default theme of quick settings and made it more consistent. The theming engine is still in Android O and it is up to the device manufacturer to provide different themes.

And there you have it, a few of the good responses in the AMA. If you want to see full and complete answers, plus the entire AMA, follow the link below! // reddit

Google Play Now Offers More Finely Curated App Recommendations

Tim — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 11:21:46 +0000

As of today, Google Play has an officially overhauled Editors' Choice section, featuring a more curated experience. In this section, there are themes that editors handpick applications for, such as RPGs, puzzle games, and road trips. If you're looking for a cool new app today, there are already 14 different themes to go through. For those curious, you can access this new section via desktop or mobile, limited to select markets for the time being (don't worry, the US is covered). Google states that this editorial section will rollout to other markets in the future. One neat theme is the Android Excellence category. Inside here, you'll find Evernote, AliExpress, Skyscanner (cheap flight tracker), Pocket, Drivvo, and many more. Definitely check it out if you love apps. For a full list of what the Google Play editors are recommending, follow the link below. Google Play Link

Samsung Rethinks Bixby-Powered Speaker and That's Probably a Good Thing

Tim — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 09:02:54 +0000

Earlier this month, it was reported that Samsung would launch a Bixby-powered smart speaker, you know, because why not? AI speakers seem to be quite popular these days, but as a company only now reaching the market, it would be nothing but an uphill climb to compete with Amazon Echo and Google Home. Apparently, that competition isn't something Samsung is very enthusiastic about. According to a source of South Korea's The Investor, "Samsung currently does not view Al speakers as marketable, as the global market is already dominated by unbeatable Amazon and the Korean market is too small to make profits." In essence, all that really matters is the acknowledgment that pouring money into a product that may not sell well is never a safe bet. Samsung's AI resources are another matter that weighs against a potential launch, with it reported that most of Samsung's AI team has been working on launching Bixby in English, something that has taken a lot longer than anyone expected. While this speaker with Bixby may not come to the market anytime soon, that isn't stopping Samsung from testing the application in various smart appliances, according to the source. One day, we may see smart fridges and smart washers running Bixby. To anyone who just downloaded Bixby for the US, what are your thoughts? Are you liking it? // The Investor

T-Mobile Galaxy S8 and S8+ Get Updates With July Security Patch

Kellen — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 08:54:49 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ units on T-Mobile are receiving a new update today that includes the July security patch. The update weighs in at roughly 136MB, so it seems like there should be more than that, though it doesn't look like there is. T-Mobile says the new software versions are G950USQU1AQGA (S8) and G955USQU1AQGA (S8+) and that you should also expect a "UMTS 911 update." That's it. The updates are live now. To grab them, head into Settings>System update.

// T-Mobile [2]

Google Makes Your Google Feed Smarter, Gives You More Control Over It Too

Kellen — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 08:42:36 +0000

Should you frequent the Google app to check on your day and hope to see relevant content to your life and interests, you'll love today's news from Google. The feed portion of the Google app is getting improvements that aim to show you more info based on your interests, but also by allowing you to easily fine-tune the topics that show up there. Google says that the feed in the Google app is now a "smart feed" that changes as your interests do. You already see certain cards featuring sports highlights, top news, and stories that fit your Google profile, but going forward that feed "will not only be based on your interactions with Google, but also factor in what's trending in your area and around the world." Google thinks its algorithms are smart enough that they'll even attempt to show you info based on your level of interest in topics. For example, if you like photography and a touch of fitness on the side, you should see that reflected in your feed.

Additionally, adding specific topics to your feed is now easier than ever. All you have to do is search for them in Google and you'll potentially find "Follow" boxes to tap that'll add them. This is a much more fine-tuned experience over the somewhat lengthy in-app topic selection within the Google app. You can see an example of how this works below.

Finally, your Google feed will show you a variety of related stories to those that sit front-and-center, along with fact check info (if available), and shortcut to deeper dive into topics (tap the header of cards). These changes should all be rolling out today in the US. // Google

Galaxy S8 Coral Blue Day is Officially July 21

Kellen — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 06:52:45 +0000

Last week, we told you that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ was arriving exclusively at Best Buy as early as July 13. While Best Buy sure seemed ready for it, the phone only arrived in small batches has yet to go on sale. Our reliable source pinged us yesterday, noting that the date had now officially been set at July 21 and Samsung announced just that today. Yep, July 21 is Coral Blue Galaxy S8 day. As we reported last week, the Coral Blue option of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available at Best Buy from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. The unlocked versions will also get Coral Blue colorways. Samsung's own web store will carry Coral Blue as well. Remember the big discount we mentioned that was to accompany the phone's launch? Samsung gave official details on that today as well. From July 21 to July 29, Best Buy customers can grab up to $400 off the S8 or S8+ "with a qualified purchase or activation." The details of that have not yet been posted, but should be up by the 21st. You can find those here. Additionally, Samsung's unlocked Coral Blue versions will be discounted by $150 at their own store. Coral Blue Links: Best Buy | Samsung.com // Samsung

Bixby Voice is Officially Here for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in the US

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:18:52 +0000

Bixby Voice is now available on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the US after a few month delay and short testing period through an early access program. That means you now have the full Bixby experience that was first revealed during the S8's unveiling. We took it for a good spin a few weeks back - feel free to give that video a look. To get Bixby on your Galaxy S8 or S8+, you'll only need to hit the Bixby button on your phone to open Bixby. Once you have done that, the update process should initiate pretty quickly to bring in the new Voice capabilities. You may have to login to your Samsung account, agree to some terms, and potentially even some new permissions. Of course, that seems necessary since Bixby Voice interacts with every aspect of your phone. Samsung tells us that Bixby Voice is available immediately on the S8 from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and US Cellular. What is Bixby? Here are the bullet point takeaways that Samsung wants you to know:

Bixby hears you. Bixby is designed to assist you in completing tasks no matter how you describe them because Bixby will work with you to understand and find the answer or get the task done. Bixby can learn about you and your routine. Using deep learning, Bixby will also improve over time to recognize the different preferences and ways of speaking of a user.
Bixby helps you. Bixby is fully integrated into native apps and will be integrated into select third-party apps, and makes it easier to find and use their best features. And with Bixby, you can navigate your phone how you like—with voice, touch, or by switching seamlessly between the two.
Bixby handles it for you. Bixby completes multi-app, complex requests—like grouping pictures from your latest vacation, and sending them to your friends. And if Bixby doesn’t understand a step, it will complete as much of the task as possible, rather than not even starting.

Additionally, Samsung has all sorts of Bixby videos to help get you started. Trust me, you'll want to watch all you can since Bixby can be a bit overwhelming at times. It's a powerful voice tool that will take some practice and some getting-used-to. Launch Video Tutorials // Samsung

DEAL: This Anker 10-Foot USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable is Only $10 Right Now

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 15:59:52 +0000

Short cables are no fun. You know the ones I'm talking about too, like those that often accompany your brand new phone in the box. Those are the cables that can barely reach across a desk, let-alone from from behind the couch and on over to your recliner. You can solve those problems, though, thanks to cables like this 10-foot USB-C to USB 3.0 option from Anker. At the moment, this thing is only $10.00. This particular cable can be used to charge any of your Type-C devices, like Pixel phones, Chromebooks, Macbooks, and your OnePlus devices. Need more than a single 10-foot cable? I've dropped some other options below, including a 3-pack of 3-foot USB-C to 3.0 cables, a 2-pack of 6-footers, and some Type-C adapters for your old Micro USB cables. Amazon Links:

Anker 10ft USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable ($10.00)
Anker 3ft USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 3-Pack ($13.99)
Anker 6ft USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 2-Pack ($13.99)
Anker USB-C to Micro USB Adapter 2-Pack ($6.99)

Google Fiber CEO Departs After Five Months

Tim — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 14:07:15 +0000

First reported last night, Google Fiber has lost its CEO. After just five months on the job, Gregory McCray has departed and there's no replacement currently lined up. As I mentioned, McCray wasn't at Fiber for very long, but he took over for Craig Barratt after he exited last year. As Bloomberg reports, McCray's reason for departing isn't exactly clear, but it's said that he made a few statements that apparently offended employees of the company. In his first address, he mentioned he has a fondness for sailing and that his wife refers to his boat as his "mistress." He then went on to say that every man is entitled to a mistress, and given that might be an offensive statement in your first address, multiple reports of this incident went directly to human resources. I'm not here to say whether or not that's offensive, but it doesn't seem very appropriate for your introduction. While this is by no means good news for Fiber, Alphabet's Larry Page continues to say the company is committed to success. In a statement, Page states, "We are committed to the success of Google Fiber. The team is bringing gigabit connections to more and more happy customers. Fiber has a great team and I’m confident we will find an amazing person to lead this important business.” We already know Google Fiber probably won't come to most areas as it was intended to, but this is another sign that hopeful Fiber folk shouldn't get their hopes up for a rollout in their area. Damn. // Bloomberg

Both Samsung and LG Will Have T-Mobile 600MHz-Capable Phones This Year

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 12:42:00 +0000

Before 2017 wraps, T-Mobile is expecting both Samsung and LG to have phones that are capable of connecting to its newly-acquired 600MHz spectrum. The announcement came yesterday from the the company's CTO, Neville Ray, as he was running through some recent network highlights, including their ever-expanding coverage map. Ray didn't specify which phones will see support, but it's pretty easy to guess. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 are both still on the way and are of the flagship variety. If there were going to be any phones to "take advantage" of the new spectrum, these would be it. As a reminder, the 600MHz spectrum that T-Mobile keeps talking about is important because it strengthens their network in buildings, while also helping them expand, thanks to extended range from towers. It's going to be incredibly important as T-Mobile makes a bigger push to challenge AT&T and Verizon. https://twitter.com/NevilleRay/status/886937687789248514

Google's Project Treble Does More Than Just Speed Up Updates

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 11:27:23 +0000

When Google debuted Project Treble back in May, the big focus was on how it could potentially speed up the updates that Android manufacturers push to your phones. Google will attempt to modularize Android (Android O and beyond) in order to do this, but that modularization has also created another benefit - improved security. Google detailed the security improvements in a blog post today that you should probably read because it's all-up in the technicalness. I'll do my best to summarize its parts here, though. As a part of Project Treble, the Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL) - the ones that "provides an interaction between device-agnostic code and device-specific hardware implementations" - are moved into their processes, essentially cutting them off from having access to other HALs, their drivers, and permissions that they don't need access to. Google refers to this as the "principle of least privilege," which is an idea that limits a process to only having access to the info that's necessary for it to function. Google provides an example of this change through Android's system server. With Project Treble, they moved 20 HALs out of system server, like HALs for sensors, GPS, fingerprint, and WiFi, to make the system server less attractive to an attacker. Should someone compromise system server in the old setup, they'd be able to "gain privileged system permissions," but not in Android O with Treble. The bottom line is that Android O and Project Treble have modularized the operating system and the result is a more secure Android with parts that only have access to and talk to the parts they actually need to. // Android Developers Blog

LastPass Families Makes It Easy to Share Passwords for Bill Paying and More

Tim — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 10:23:11 +0000

LastPass, the service that securely manages your vast library of passwords across anything and everything, announced LastPass Families this morning. The name hints pretty well at what it does, with the main concept being that users can place specific passwords in folders that other members of your family can access. As an example, if you and your wife share bill paying duties, passwords for the gas bill, electric bill, and internet bill can be placed in a shared space. This means either of you can securely access it at anytime. On top of that, purely as an example, let's say one of you has a terrible accident and isn't conscious. In a circumstance such as this, your family member may need access to your social security number or bank account info. If this particular person is allowed to access this sensitive info, they can do so in a time of emergency.

There’s no telling what the future holds, and traditional methods of preparing for the unknown no longer cover everything. With LastPass Families, you can combine all valuable information, from online bank accounts to Social Security cards to healthcare details, in one place and give emergency access to a family member so you’re never locked out in unexpected situations.

This Families feature won't be free, sadly. Users can sign-up for early access to Families, though, and as a thank you to Premium customers, you'll receive six free months of Families when you sign-up for early access. LastPass hasn't yet provided official pricing for Families, but we'll keep you posted when that changes. Families Early Access Sign-Up // LastPass

Lightroom for Android Redesigned 'From Ground Up,' Providing More Native Experience

Tim — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 08:53:23 +0000

Adobe announced a big time update for Lightroom this morning, declaring that the photo editing app has been redesigned "from the ground up." With this redesign, the app is said to deliver a more native and natural experience. While those words are fancy, the real changes are inside of the actual editing tools. Both the Selective Editing and Standard Editing modes have been reworked to work better for Android, plus an updated Organize View has been worked in. Essentially, every little piece of the app should look and feel better on Android devices, which is something we're happy about.

The update is free to download, but of course, you'll want an Adobe Cloud account to really take advantage of everything Adobe offers. Have at it. Play Link // Adobe

OnePlus 5 Units are Rebooting When Some Customers Dial 911 (Updated: Fix Incoming!)

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 08:27:31 +0000

Forget jelly effects and average camera experiences for a second, the OnePlus 5 has a potentially dangerous flaw. According to a lengthy thread on reddit, a handful of owners of the phone are seeing reboots as they call emergency numbers, like 911. In the thread, I think I've counted at least a half-dozen OnePlus 5 owners who ran into reboots when calling for emergencies or just to test. There are also those whose calls went through just fine. At this time, we don't know if this is widespread or the problem is limited. Here is a short video of the phone rebooting during a 911 call: OnePlus has been notified and gave a statement to the The Next Web, saying:

We have contacted the customer and are currently looking into the issue. We ask anyone experiencing a similar situation to contact us at support@oneplus.net.

We have seen 911 call issues in the past from other manufacturers and they are incredibly serious. Motorola was the last one that had an issue with the Moto G5 Plus and 911 calls not happening over VoLTE on Verizon. They issued a software fix within 2 days. Will OnePlus act that fast if this is a software bug? We'll find out. We'll update this post as we learn more. UPDATE: OnePlus thinks they found the issue and is pushing an update to fix it. More here. // reddit | The Next Web

Remember Google Glass? It's Back.

Kellen — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 07:58:29 +0000

To kickoff 2015, Google decided that after a couple of years worth of mockery it was time to kill the "Explorer Edition" of its smart glasses, known as Google Glass. Now, two years and change later, the headable (?) is back, only this time as an "Enterprise Edition" that won't be sold to you and I. Instead, this is an enterprise or business-focused product that industries can use to potentially improve efficiency on the job. And honestly, this is probably where Glass should have always been positioned, not as the "eye douche" fashion wearable for socially awkward, detached Silicon Valley elites and Android nerds who attend Google I/O (Seriously I/O guy, stop wearing Glass to I/O - we see you). Through a blog post from X, the Glass project lead, Jay Kothari, talks about this latest version of Glass. Kothari notes that this has been in the works for two years as a limited program. They have worked with the likes of GE mechanics and custom software to help them assemble and repair airplane engines using Glass. The headset has allowed them to do so without needing paper instructions on hand, since Glass is able to display a lot of the info they need to do their jobs. Their team has also worked with companies like DHL, Boeing, Sutter Health, Samsung, and Volkswagen in similar capacities. And that's the future of Glass. It's ready for industries who are interested in the head gear to help improve their workflows. Glass is no longer attempting to be a $1,500 talking point on your head as you cruise out on the town on a Friday night. If your company is interested, the Glass team is now taking requests at the Glass site. If you'd like to learn more about the past two years of Glass, hit up that source link below. // Blog X

Monday Poll: Who is Your Current Wireless Carrier?

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:03:15 +0000

It's been a year since we last asked, plus the T-Mobile post from earlier has me curious again, so let's do it today - who is your current wireless carrier? I ask, partly because we just like to see updated numbers, but I'm also interested to see what has shifted since we last asked. In July 2014, 61% of our readers were on Verizon, while 19% were on T-Mobile. Those were the two top vote getters. In June 2015, the numbers looked almost identical with Verizon taking 59% of the vote and T-Mobile jumping up to 20%. But last year, things changed somewhat, with Verizon dropping to 53% and T-Mobile staying at 20%. We aren't sure what happened to that 6% from Verizon, though it appears they shifted into the "Other" category, which I'd imagine includes Project Fi. Let's see what the numbers look like today. [poll id="457"]

Report: Samsung's DJ Koh Confirms August Unveiling for Galaxy Note 8

Tim — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 14:17:56 +0000

An unofficial unveiling date for the Galaxy Note 8 has been bouncing from August to September and then back to August, but according to words attributed to Samsung's own Dongjin Koh, president of mobile communications business, the end of August is for sure when we'll see this device. This August timeframe is welcomed, but sadly, no specific date was provided. If the last report we wrote up proves true, though, the Galaxy Note 8 will be unveiled on August 23 in New York City. This reported confirmation came from Koh during a press conference in Taiwan, but it wasn't just the Galaxy Note 8 the executive discussed. Details on how well the Galaxy S8 has been selling vs. the Galaxy S7 were also shared, with Koh claiming 15% higher sales of this year's flagship after the same amount of time on the market. So, end of August is looking to be the actual timeframe. Pencil it in on your calendars. // DigiTimes

T-Mobile's Coverage Map Sure is Looking a Hell of a Lot Better These Days

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 12:46:26 +0000

T-Mobile is pretty proud of their network these days, and they probably should be! After all, they are investing heavily in it, looking to the future by buying billions of dollars worth of spectrum to help them expand, upgrading it with (or at least activating) new technologies, and caring about your performance on it. They spent an entire blog post today talking about a lot of this stuff, including how fast their LTE is, according to Ookla (lol?), while also shaming Sprint off the charts. It's typical executive cheerleading fluff, but the bit of info that stood out to me and that you probably care about is the ever-expanding T-Mobile coverage map. You can see the evolution of it below over the years in a GIF they shared, starting in 2014. Now, this is important because for years the biggest complaint about T-Mobile has been their lack of coverage outside of major cities. As someone who has been using T-Mobile primarily for the past few years, I can tell you that if Portland and Oregon are any sort of indicator of the improvements, this map isn't lying.

For example, I spent a weekend on the Oregon coast recently and brought three phones with me, all with different SIM cards (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile). When I arrived at my rental house, I needed to access my VRBO listing for the code to get in the house and pulled out both Verizon and AT&T phones, assuming one of these with their large networks would be able to get me that info. Neither could catch a signal in Netarts, OR at the house's location. I then dug into my bag for the phone with the T-Mobile SIM as a last resort, hoping to get lucky, since I had left it off because I figured there was no chance T-Mo would have service over those other two. Long-story short, it was the only phone to get me a decent enough connection to get that code for the house. I'd also point out that when T-Mobile bought all of that spectrum a couple of months ago, they said they'd be expanding into new markets. As someone who grew up in Montana (a state that T-Mobile has avoided forever) and visits regularly, I can tell you that they weren't joking. A friend of mine who has worked in the wireless industry for a good decade in Montana told me last week that T-Mobile is hiring like crazy and preparing to open stores all over the state. I'd imagine that's the case in many places across the US in places T-Mobile had not previously been. https://twitter.com/JonFreier/status/809834008368607232 Sure, T-Mobile's Ookla (😂😂😂) speedtest scores are impressive if you care about such things, but the big takeaway of their cheerleading should always come back to coverage for now. I know that many of you have avoided even testing out T-Mobile because of the stigma over their supposedly lacking network. I can tell you first hand that it's probably time to revisit, not because T-Mobile is the best choice for everyone or the cheapest, but for the fact that they can be added to your list of choices, finally. NOTE: We're running a poll today to see which wireless carriers are all signed up for. You can vote here. // T-Mobile

Got a Question for the Android O Team? They're Hosting an AMA This Week

Tim — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 12:34:57 +0000

The engineering team behind Android O announced they are doing an AMA on reddit this week, set to kick off on Wednesday (July 19) at 12PM PST (3PM EST). Even though the AMA hasn't started yet, the team does confirm that a new developer preview of Android O is coming soon soon and that the public release is still happening "later this summer." While you're allowed to ask anything you want during an AMA, the team seems to only want to focus on the development and engineering aspect of Android O. I mean, they are engineers after all, so that makes sense.

This your chance to ask us technical questions related to the latest features specifically in Android O -- from the APIs and SDK. Please note that we want to keep the conversation focused strictly on the engineering of the platform.

Once the AMA takes place, we'll collect the good stuff and share it with you all. // reddit

Mmmmm, This is a Tasty Pixel XL 2 Concept Video

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:44:20 +0000

After seeing last week's Pixel XL 2 leak that potentially revealed the design of Google's new large Pixel device for 2017, the one made by LG, the concept gods have been busy getting their takes ready. One of the best we've seen so far is from YouTuber Concept Creator, who gives us not only all the hot angles, but opens up our imaginations to color variations. There isn't much to analyze here, since this concept video was based off of that leak and isn't real by any means. Still, check out that blue, that red and black version, all that flatness, and that big ass camera lens. 🔥

Allo Adds Chat Reactions With Cute Little Hearts

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 10:38:12 +0000

https://twitter.com/amitfulay/status/886994504644874240 You still can't send SMS through it or access your messages from the desktop, though. Google Play Link

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 47

Tim — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 10:36:35 +0000

We haven't done a Q&A Session since the week before Google I/O, which means you might have a lot of questions that have been building up inside of your noodle. Since the last time we did one of these, we've learned about Andy Rubin's Essential and the Essential Phone, launched a fancy new Droid Life (hooray!), and are now beginning to learn what might be in store for the 2nd-Generation Pixel devices and the Galaxy Note 8. Needless to say, there's a lot going on, so let's have some fun. The Q&A Sessions are your chance to ask us anything that might be on your mind. If you wanna talk about Android, Game of Thrones, sports, iOS or anything else, shoot your question below in the comments section. On Friday, we'll round up the questions, then answer them in a following post. Have at it!

Report: Amazon Working on Messaging App Called Anytime

Tim — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 09:04:02 +0000

According to a recent report from AFTV News, Amazon is looking to join the 3rd-party messaging landscape, with an app called Anytime in the works. From the information shared, we get the sense that Anytime will be available to anyone who wants it and usable on all platforms -- smartphones, tablets, PCs, smartwatches, etc. While Amazon has not publicly shared any information, screenshots from a survey captured by AFTV News details features that we might see. As listed, there are filters for sharing photos and videos, PvP gaming, chat customization (nicknames and color codes), music listening with Amazon music library integration, food ordering, plus a whole lot more. Here is the screenshot that is circulating regarding the potential features of Anytime. With Amazon not making a peep about what Anytime is, there is more speculation than actual information at this time. However, with this set of features and the possibility of it being available to everyone on nearly any device, it does sound extremely promising. Would you ditch your messenger of choice for an Amazon messaging app? // TechCrunch | AFTV News

DEAL: Samsung Launches BOGO Galaxy S8 Deal With Trade-In

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 08:42:25 +0000

The number of noteworthy Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ deals we've already seen this year is pretty remarkable. From $100 and $200 discounts to trade-in offers that gave you cash for any working smartphone, you have had plenty of reasons to get in on the S8 action. Samsung isn't done though, and announced a new buy one, get one free deal (BOGO) over the weekend. This new deal asks that you buy one Galaxy S8 or S8+ at full retail, then pick a second one for free as long as you trade-in specific smartphones. So there is a bit of work and you do need a trade-in, but it's still a BOGO and the discount is applied immediately, not after you trade-in your old phone. It works like this. You hit up that link below and follow the instructions by selecting the Galaxy S8 phones you want to buy. Because you are using their trade-in promo link, they'll fully discount the second device as you add them to cart. Then, once the phones arrive at your house, you'll have to make sure to send in your eligible trade-in pretty quickly to avoid getting charged for the free phone you received. It worked like this with the last trade-in deal. Eligible trade-in options are the Galaxy Note5, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge, iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 7 or 7 Plus. The deal is a limited time offer, so don't hesitate for too long. Samsung BOGO Link

Essential Phone Launch in US is Imminent

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 07:53:18 +0000

The Essential Phone may have missed its soft June launch timeframe, but the company's COO says we should prepare for imminent arrival in the US, according to Financial Times. Essential COO Niccolo de Masi sat down with FT for a brief chat and revealed that bit about launch and also threw in some international plans. de Masi didn't provide an exact launch date, but knowing the phone has already cleared the FCC, it doesn't seem like we should be far off from it arriving. At this point, you have to wonder if the hold-up could be last minute software bug work or production issues stalling a release. Or maybe it's behind-the-scenes work with distribution that has Essential holding off from pressing, "GO!" Either way, "imminent" sure sounds sooner than the 30-days Rubin promised as he first unveiled the phone. Additionally, de Masi said that they have plans to launch the Essential Phone in the UK, western Europe, and Japan. For the UK, customers will be able to buy the phone from EE, at the very least. Still excited about this phone or are you fully focused on the Note 8 and Pixel 2 at this point? // Financial Times

Samsung Pay Adds PayPal as Payment Option

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 07:13:11 +0000

Samsung announced today that the company has added PayPal as a new payment option in Samsung Pay. With PayPal access, Samsung Pay users will be able to access their PayPal wallets to make payments at any place Samsung Pay is accepted, which means in-app, online, and in-store. PayPal specifically said that the support is "coming soon," so you may not see the option just yet. After looking through both my Samsung Pay and PayPal apps, I'm not finding a way to currently connect the two. I guess we'll wait for an update. For now, PayPal will only work with Samsung Pay in the US, but should expand to other countries in the near future. // Samsung | PayPal

HTC U11 Gains Hands-Free Access to Amazon Alexa, a First for a Phone

Kellen — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 06:53:19 +0000

Amazon Alexa has arrived on its first phone with hands-free access, thanks to the HTC U11. While Alexa started arriving on smartphones this year (Huawei Mate 9), the U11 is the first to allow you to access Alexa using the "Alexa," wake command at any time. The access comes in the form of an app that is now available on Google Play, dubbed HTC Alexa. If you own the U11, you can download it now by searching for that in Google Play or hitting up the direct link we have for you below. It's free, of course. With Alexa on your U11, you'll be able to do just about everything you can on an Amazon Echo device. That means, saying commands like, "Alexa, what's the weather like?" without ever touching a button and getting that info. You can control your smart home, get the latest news, and enable many of the thousands of Alexa Skills that have been available to Echo devices. It's a mostly fully-featured Alexa experience, though it doesn't yet do any of the extra tricks that the Echo Show does, even though the U11 has a screen. I'm talking about commands that allow you to quickly view your smart home cameras, that sort of thing. Oh, it doesn't do reminders yet either. Since this is the HTC U11, not only can you access Alexa by voice, but you can enable access by using Edge Sense and giving your phone a little squeeze. At the moment, on a test device, I have both options enabled, but have found the squeeze to be a bit more speedy. The voice access to Alexa with my phone sitting locked on a desk hasn't been the quickest to respond, but squeezing works every time. Either way, U11 owners, download away and take HTC Alexa for a spin. Google Play Link

Weekly Recap: Wint... Err... 2nd-Gen Pixel Info is Coming!

Tim — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:34:29 +0000

I don't know about you, but I'll be attached to my couch all weekend, rewatching Game of Thrones before the season 7 premiere takes place on Sunday. I'm super pumped! If you're into other stuff, such as Android news, the weekend is a good time catch up on the stuff you missed, and if you're a Pixel fan, then you may've missed some good stuff. We got our first potential look at the Pixel XL 2 this week and also learned about a few possible features of the device. Beside Pixel goodies, we learned LG will unveil what's likely to be the V30 next month, Moto announced plans for an event in NYC on July 25, and much more. If you missed anything, we have all of the important stuff below.

Watch: The Droid Life Show - Episode 146 (Subscribe)
Quick Review: Galaxy S8 Peel cases.
Here are 5 reasons the OnePlus 5 is worth buying.
Pixel XL 2: Our first potential look at the Pixel XL 2.
Here are a few potential features of the Pixel XL 2.
LG: LG V30 unveiling set for August 31.
The LG V30 looks like a big G6.
Vertu, makers of phones for the 1%, are done for.
Note 8: Galaxy Note 8 unveiling reported to be set for August 23.
Google Play Music's New Release radio is now available for all.
Google Home can now stream songs you've added personally.
Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and S8+ are headed to Best Buy.
Bixby Voice update brings even more control over select apps.
AT&T's GoPhone prepaid service is now called AT&T Prepaid.
Android Wear: Louis Vuitton officially enters the Android Wear game.

Have a good weekend, folks!

Bixby Update Brings Voice Control Over Google Play Store, Pandora, and Yelp

Kellen — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:55:53 +0000

Bixby received another update this week that adds voice controls to three additional apps: Google Play, Pandora, and Yelp. With this Bixby Voice and Home update and access to those apps, you can perform new voice tasks like installing apps, finding nearby coffee shops, or playing favorite artists or setting sleep timers. So far, the Google Play support is pretty limited to just searching for apps or downloading them. However, I did ask to to "Open Google Play store and install Spotify Music," and it did just that without the need to touch a button. So that's pretty cool.

As for Yelp and Pandora, the lists of commands are quite extensive. But as I mentioned above, you'll be able to say "Open Yelp," or "Open Pandora," and then related commands. An example for Yelp would be, "Open Yelp and find best Thai restaurant in San Francisco." An option for Pandora would be, "Open Pandora Music and play the Today's Hits station." You get the idea. The Bixby updates are to Bixby Home (v1.9.41.3) and Bixby Voice (v1.0.05.6). By opening up Bixby, you should be prompted to download them, assuming you are in the early access program. If you aren't already in the Bixby Voice early access program, you can find details at this post.

DEAL: Use This Code to Get 20% Off eBay Tech and Audio Goodies

Kellen — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:07:45 +0000

This isn't a specific product deal, but we wanted to point out that eBay is hosting a 20% off code for the weekend that will land you discounts on everything from tech and audio to fashion goods. There is a specific list of sellers that you'll have to go through, but one of them is Anker, who you know makes quality power products like chargers and power banks. There are some other top sellers too, and they've got smartwatches (both Gear and Android Wear options) available, as well as speakers, tablets, headphones, phones, etc. To get the 20% discount, you need to spend at least $25 and then enter code "PBACK2SCHOOL20" at checkout. Pretty simple. The link below is the landing page for the weekend deal and has additional links to participating sellers. eBay 20% Off Link

HTC Desire 555 Now Available Exclusively at Cricket Wireless

Tim — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:07:00 +0000

A new HTC device is available today on Cricket Wireless, the Desire 555. This device is an affordable option on Cricket, priced at just $119 when you switch to Cricket or upgrade devices. For specs, the Desire 555 comes with a 5" TFT HD display, 16GB internal storage, microSD support, LTE connectivity, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 2,200mAh battery, and HTC Sense running on top of Android 7.0+. Not the most exciting list, but for $100, it's not bad. The device is available starting today, so hit up the link below if you're interested. // Cricket Wireless

Pixel 2 Renders Arrive

Kellen — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:51:52 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we've got Pixel 2 news to talk about. The first renders have leaked for the bigger Pixel XL 2 (made by LG), plus we have new feature rumors to drool about. Outside of that news, we have potential announcement dates for the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30, the death of Vertu, a Verizon customer data exposure, Louis Vuitton entering the Android Wear game, and more! We’ll be live at 12:30PM Pacific (3:30PM Eastern) for the fun. If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Get Ready to Say, "Alexa, Turn on the TV" With Logitech Harmony, Sony, and BroadLink Products

Kellen — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 10:17:22 +0000

TV control using your voice and Amazon Alexa is now in beta for supported devices from Sony, BroadLink, and Logitech Harmony. That means you can say, "Alexa, turn on the TV" or, "Alexa, volume down," and have those actions happen, all without ever touching a remote (assuming you have Amazon Echo devices). Amazon announced the new addition to Alexa yesterday and some of the Skills are already available in the Alexa app for enabling (Sony's, for example). Of course, the supported devices piece to this is the key, as you can't just use any old Sony, Logitech, or BroadLink device. Sony will offer support for most 2017 TV models, as well as some 2016 models (full list). For Logitech, it's looking like the Harmony Elite, Ultimate, and Hub, will all get this feature. For BroadLink, Amazon lists a single device, the All-in-One Audio/Video Remote Control or RM Pro. The commands you'll be able to use to control your TV are somewhat extensive. Sony lists out everything from turning your TV on and off, to picking specific channels, adjusting volume, switching HDMI ports, and pausing, fast-forwarding, rewinding, and stopping of content. To see the full list of supported devices, we've got links below. Amazon Links: Echo Devices | Supported Sony, Logitech, BroadLink Devices

Google Maps Now Displaying Traffic Time Graph Inside of Directions

Tim — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 09:07:01 +0000

Google Maps is beginning to display the best time to make those errands, with a time graph being shown directly inside of the directions menu. As an example, let's say you want to head to the mall. Simply plug in the address, then Google Maps will display the best time for you to go. It could be earlier in the morning or right before the lunch rush. Either way, you'll know best, provided this graph is based on accumulated traffic data. Here's a screenshot of what the new feature looks like.

This change appears to be live for all, so head on over to Google Play, make sure you're running the latest version, then be the traffic king. Play Link // Android Police

Sprint Flex is an Upgrade Program That Wants to be Flexible to You

Kellen — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 08:15:44 +0000

Sprint introduced a new upgrade plan today called Sprint Flex. It's a lease program that gives you the option to upgrade yearly or at 18 months if you want, but it also allows you to decide to keep the phone and pay it off in a couple of ways. To begin, Sprint explains it as you choosing a phone with their "lowest cost down today." Then you pay monthly like a lease, since you don't own the phone. From there, you get to decide when to upgrade. If you own specific iPhone or Samsung Galaxy models, there are programs called iPhone Forever and Galaxy Forever that let you upgrade annually at no extra charge. However, if you buy something non-iPhone or non-Galaxy, you can pay $5 per month to be able to upgrade every year. Additionally, at the 18-month mark, no matter your situation, you can trade-in your phone for a new one with no strings attached (from what I can tell). But that's not all. You can also choose to pay the phone off at 18 months and keep it for life or continue paying whatever is left on the phone for an additional six months. All the previous lease payments count towards the purchase price. Keep in mind that there could be activation fees at up to $30 per line. Make sense? You can learn more about Sprint Flex at this link. // Sprint

DEAL: Google Home is Just $89 at Newegg for the Next Few Hours

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 15:36:14 +0000

The best price we've seen to date on Google Home is about to expire over at Newegg. For just $89 (with coupon code), Google's smart speaker can be yours. All you have to do is hit that link below, add the device to your cart, and head to checkout. From within checkout, apply code "17FAN109" and the price will drop from $99 to $89. The discount ends today, July 13, so your time is limited. Newegg Deal Link

This Little Rugged Verizon Basic Phone With 4G LTE is Pretty Bad Ass

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:00:41 +0000

Man, feature phones are starting to get pretty good at Verizon. After first introducing their first 4G LTE-equipped LG flip phone last month, Big Red is back with a new 4G LTE basic phone called the Sonim XP5. It looks bad ass. It's also packed with hardware features we don't typically see in basic phones. Check this thing out. It meets the military standard 810G spec for toughness. It's also water and dust resistant at IP68 and IP69. It has dual front speakers that get extra-loud at up to 104dB. It has a dedicated push-to-talk button, should you know someone else with a Sonim XP5. And it even features a 3-year warranty against accidental damage. It's tough enough, that you may not ever need that, though. On top of that rugged goodness, it runs a Snapdragon 400 processor (a feature phone!) and has 1GB RAM and 4GB storage. It even comes with a damn screwdriver in the box, because that's how you open this bad boy up. Oh, and as a bonus, you get to re-live the Jelly Bean wallpaper out of the box. It's not the cheapest of phones. It will cost you $14 per month for two years or $336 at full retail. That's close to Moto Z2 Play pricing. But would you be a boss with the Z2 Play? Maybe not. UPDATE: Wait a minute, AT&T began selling this thing two years ago? Come on, Verizon, you can't do that. I guess they updated it with the Jelly Bean wallpaper and thought it was new? Move along. Verizon Sonim XP5 Link

Quick Review: Galaxy S8 Peel Cases

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:49:22 +0000

Heard of Peel, the case company? As a four year old company who started out making incredibly thin iPhone cases, they sure seem to be gaining some traction in the Android case game at the moment, or at the very least promoting themselves well. I keep seeing them everywhere, particularly on Instagram with their Pixel cases. Either way, they make stupidly thin cases (0.35mm thin), which is something I appreciate as someone who hates cases. Yesterday, they launched their new Peel Galaxy S8 and S8+ cases and were kind enough to send over some samples for us to take a look at. They cost $24.99 and are available in Orchid Grey, Midnight Black, and Arctic Silver, the same colors as the S8. My first impression of them is that yes, they are incredibly thin and almost leave you feeling like your phone doesn't have a case on. That's the point, so I'd say they nailed that. In fact, I may use this Arctic Silver one for a bit, since it fits so damn nicely and my S8 is already getting scratched to hell after only a few months of use.

These guys wanted to make cases that offer a bit of protection, yet don't take away from the design or feel of your phone like most other cases. Now, the chances of them saving you from a massive drop are probably pretty slim, but they will provide more protection than if you just went straight naked. If anything, they'll protect your phone from daily bumps and scratches, yet you won't notice an extra half-inch of chunky plastic surrounding your phone. These cases slide on and fit like a glove, feature cutouts for all of the big ports, buttons, and even the microphones. They are semi-transparent, so you'll still mostly see the Samsung and Galaxy S8 branding on the backside. They don't cover the front of the device at all, which is both good and bad. The good being the fact that the Infinity Display is left uncovered; the bad being that your phone won't have any lift or protection should you lay it face down. Overall, I'd say that these are certainly some cases I could get behind, but then again, I'm not a case guy. I can't stand cases. I'd basically be using one to prevent further scratching and minor drop protection. If that's something you'd like as well, they may be a good choice, plus the $25 price tag isn't absurd by any means. If you need real protection, you might want to look elsewhere. If interested, you can pickup these cases at the Peel Store. NOTE: Readers pointed us to the MNML cases over at Amazon that are similar (0.35mm thin) and about $10 cheaper. Could be worth a look.

Peel Galaxy S8 Case Review

New Report Says Pixel XL 2 to Feature Always-On OLED Display and Squeezy Features

Tim — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:43:45 +0000

It was only a couple of days ago when we got our first potential look at what to expect from the Pixel XL 2, but the reports keep coming in. In the latest, provided by XDA and its unnamed source, more details about the Pixel XL 2's features are being shared. According to the report, the Pixel XL 2 will feature an OLED display, with the panel measuring in at 5.99". If true, it sounds like Google's hefty investment into LG's mobile display tech paid off. Not only will the display be OLED, but it is reported that an Always-On capability will be baked in, the same thing we've seen from various devices, which allows you to see notifications and other info on a display that is mostly turned off. While anyone can get excited about Always-On and OLED displays, the new report also corroborates an earlier report from Android Police, which stated the Pixel XL 2 will feature squeezey sides, just like on the HTC U11. With this pressure-sensitive siding, users can interact with Google Assistant, toggle other settings, and it's said Google is working on new implementations for the feature.

On top of that, XDA's source claims the new Pixel will feature display profiles (sRGB, Vivid, etc.) under the standard Display settings menu and that the overall theme found on Android O will be darker, not as light as it currently is in the Developer Preview 3. Well, this is all coming together quite nicely, I'd say. // XDA

BlackBerry KEYone Available on Sprint Starting Tomorrow

Tim — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:57:29 +0000

Starting tomorrow, customers on Sprint will find the KEYone from BlackBerry available for purchase online, with in-store availability beginning later this month. The KEYone has been available in the US since May, purchasable via Amazon and Best Buy. Up to this point, there has been no official carrier partners, so Sprint will be the first. As detailed, the device will cost $22/month for 18 months or $528 full retail. If you're still curious about the KEYone, I'd recommend watching our review below. We go over the specs, if that keyboard is really something you want to live with, as well as what it's like to use Android on such a tiny display in 2017. Again, online Sprint availability starts tomorrow, July 14. BlackBerry KEYone Review // BlackBerry

DEAL: US Unlocked Galaxy S8 ($575), S8+ ($675) Both $150 Off Through Groupon

Tim — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:53:04 +0000

As is always the case, should you be patient enough, you can score great deals on the latest flagship devices. Over on Groupon, you can purchase a new US unlocked Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, both listed at $150 off retail pricing. With that discount, the price of the Galaxy S8 drops to just $575 and the S8+ price is at $675. If you're thinking about whether this price is worth it, I'm confident in telling you that it is. Let's compare the Galaxy S8 to the OnePlus 5 model with 8GB RAM. That phone is $539, but comes with a pretty weak camera system and no water resistance. For the extra $40, you're getting IP68 on the S8, an insanely good camera, and hardware design that will make you think everything else is from years ago. To clarify, these are new units, capable of working on CDMA and GSM carriers here in the US. Follow the link below to take advantage. Groupon Link

Google Play Music's New Release Radio Now Open to All

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:20:07 +0000

After a short exclusive access period for Samsung Galaxy S8 owners, Google Play Music's New Release Radio is now open for all to enjoy. The station first launched almost a month ago and provided Galaxy S8 owners a new radio station that played a "personalized mix of newly released songs." It turned out to be a pretty good way to catch new tunes that Google thinks you might enjoy. Google says that the station uses "machine learning to select singles and album releases from the past two weeks based on your listening history and musical preferences." So if you can't stand Taylor Swift and never listen to her, you hopefully won't get her latest in this radio. Previously, you needed a direct link to the station if you didn't own a Galaxy S8 or S8+, but as of today, you'll find the station available no matter your device. To access New Release Radio, hit up this link. // Google

Verizon 3rd Party Vendor Exposes Millions of Customers' Data

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:05:38 +0000

One of Verizon's 3rd party vendors exposed millions of customers' data last month, as first reported by ZDNet. The data, at least according to Verizon, is not extremely sensitive, but does include some personal information, like phone numbers and authentication PINs used to contact call centers. Depending on who you believe, the number of customers affected are anywhere between 6 million and 14 million. Verizon suggests the lower number is accurate. Who exactly is affected by the data breach? Verizon's statement yesterday says specifically that the data was provided to a vendor who was supporting a project aimed to improve a "residential and small business wireline self-service call center portal." We've independently confirmed with Verizon that this is a wireline issue and that it does not directly involve wireless customers. I say "not directly" because a Wireline customer could obviously also be a Wireless customer and their Verizon Wireless number could have been exposed if they have it attached to a Wireline account. The 3rd party vendor who exposed the data was Nice Systems, a company that Verizon and a whole bunch of other Fortune 100 companies work with. Thanks to a "human error" of one of Nice's employees that flipped some sort of security switch on a cloud server making the data public, the data was exposed to anyone with the direct URL of the content. Verizon's says that UpGuard, the researcher who discovered the data, was the only person outside of Verizon or Nice who accessed anything and that there "has been no loss or theft of Verizon or Verizon customer information." But while Verizon says that the information in the data set was limited, UpGuard found customer names, cell phone numbers, account PINs, home addresses, email addresses, current balances on accounts, and daily log files, including references to voice conversations with customers and call center reps. Verizon was first notified of the exposed data on June 13 and closed it off on June 22. You should probably reset any PINs on your account at this point, for sure if you are a Wireline customer, but maybe also as a Wireless customer, just to be safe. // ZDNet | Verizon | CNN

DEAL: Anker's Popular SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker is $26.99 Today ($9 Off)

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 08:52:24 +0000

Today's deal of the day at Amazon features Anker's super popular SoundCore Bluetooth speaker. And when I say "super popular," I'm talking about 7,500+ reviews and a 4.6 star rating. For today only, you can grab the SoundCore in black, blue, or red for just $26.99 ($9 off). This particular speaker sports 24-hour battery life, Bluetooth 4.0, microphone for hands-free calling, and "full-bodied stereo realized through dual high-performance drivers and a unique spiral bass port." All I know is that there are tons of cheap Bluetooth speakers on the planet, but this has always been ranked one of the best overall values. Anker makes good stuff. Amazon Link

EDIT: We removed the $53 off remarks. It appears that the speaker typically costs around $36, not the inflated $80 price Amazon suggests. Apologies for that.

RIP: Vertu, That Crazy-Expensive Phone Brand, is Being Liquidated

Tim — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 08:46:32 +0000

If you have ever strolled through the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas, it's possible you came across a certain smartphone store, went inside, then realized there is no way in hell you are about to drop $25,000 for a smartphone. Well, that store belonged to Vertu, an über-luxurious smartphone brand that is now being liquidated due to a reported accounting deficit of £128M. Considering how expensive Vertu phones are, we have hardly ever talked about them, except for that time they switched from a Nokia OS to Android. That was years ago, but every time I would walk by Vertu in the Wynn hotel (we're in the area for CES each year), I'm always reminded that crazy-rich people need something better to spend their money on. While Vertu devices would be decked out in precious metals and stones, the specifications of the devices would always be severely lacking -- especially at the price point they are sitting at. For example, when Vertu switched to Android, the Vertu Ti cost about $10,000, but only came with a dual-core processor and 1GB RAM. For us Android folk, that might be a little insane, but if you're pulling in Howard Stern or James Harden money, who really cares? Anyway, Vertu is going away and someone willing to drop that much money on a handmade phone with mediocre specs will just have to look somewhere else. // BBC

Google Adds Direct Spa and Salon Reservations to Search and Maps Results

Kellen — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:59:10 +0000

Back in March, Google introduced a new feature that allowed you to book your next yoga class or pilates session directly within Google Search or Maps results. Today, they are expanding on that by allowing you to do the same with salons and spas. To take advantage, just search for the place you typically get your haircut, nails done, etc., and if they are a part of Google's reservation system, you'll see the option to "Book" in the results. Checkout the listing below as an example of a place here in Portland that participates. If you look off to the right, the business listing has a big "BOOK" button that lets you direct book.

As you search from mobile, the experience will look like this: If you aren't finding any good results through Google Search, you can also use this "Reserve with Google" page to see participating fitness and beauty spots near you. // Google

LG Hosting Event on August 31, Likely for the V30

Kellen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 16:01:02 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we heard a rumor suggesting that LG may unveil the V30 as early as late August or September, during IFA, a tech conference in Berlin. Today, the company confirmed that they are indeed hosting an event at IFA and the "Save the Date" has a big "V" across it. I'd say the V30 is coming. What do we know so far about the V30? Not a lot. We saw CAD renders of a supposed LG V30 and it looks quite nice. Well, it looks like an LG G6, only slightly bigger, perhaps. Those renders show a premium-built device with dual cameras, fingerprint reader, and FullVision display. The ticker from the V10 and V20 is gone, though, so that would be a big change for the line. How will the V30 standout then? Tough to say. The LG IFA event will happen on August 31. What do you want to see from the LG V30?

DEALS: Samsung Hosting Deals for DeX ($55 Off), Gear VR ($15 Off), and More

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 15:35:17 +0000

Samsung's accessories section in its online store has a lot of deals happening right now, including money off a new DeX station, Gear VR headset, wireless chargers, cases for phones, and much more. Specifically, if a DeX station does interest you, one can be purchased for $55 off retail, bringing it down to $95. If you're looking for something else, cases start at $10, wireless chargers at $38, Level U Pro headsets for buy one-get one (BOGO), Gear VR with controller at $115, and so much more. Seriously, it's a mega sale going on over there. Here's a little summary list of goodies for you.

Fast Wireless charging pad: ~~$30 off~~
Fast Wireless charging stand: $38.48 ($22 off)
DeX Station: $94.72 ($55 off)
Gear VR with Controller: $115.14 ($15 off)
Level U Pro wireless headphones: BOGO at $60
Galaxy S8+ LED Wallet cover: $37.91 ($22 off)

If you want to see everything, follow this link to Samsung's website.

DEAL: Moto G5 Plus 32GB Drops to $199, 64GB Model to $249 ($30 and $50 Off)

Kellen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:36:47 +0000

With Prime Day 2017 over with, we're still on the hunt for the best deals around and today's happens to be on a budget-friendly phone that is one of the best phone lines in the business. We're talking about the Moto G line and the Moto G5 Plus, specifically. Both Amazon and Newegg have it discounted, so you can get into this already-affordable unlocked device for a solid discount. Amazon has the Moto G5 Plus with 64GB storage and 4GB RAM for $249.99, which is a $50 discount. That's also only $10 more than the ad-filled Amazon version. Newegg has the 64GB/4GB model at $249.99 as well, but their deal includes a discount on the 32GB/2GB model too. Instead of $229.99, Newegg has that version listed at $199.99 at the moment. As a reminder, the Moto G5 Plus is an unlocked phone that works on all major US carriers, including Verizon. If you need to know more about the Moto G5 Plus, be sure to read our review.

Moto G5 Plus Links:

Amazon: Moto G5 Plus 64GB / 4GB ($249.99)
Newegg: Moto G5 Plus 32GB / 2GB ($199.99)
Newegg: Moto G5 Plus 64GB / 4GB ($249.99)

Google Home Can Now Stream the Tunes You've Personally Uploaded to Google Play Music

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:29:29 +0000

Announced today via the company's product forum, Google Home can now play music users have personally uploaded to Google Play Music, as well as music purchased directly from Google Play. As it was, a user of Google Home would be unable to stream specific music if it was only available via their own uploaded library. That is now changing, with any piece of music accessible via a simple voice command directed at Google Home. Google outlines how these changes work with the voice commands (and whether you're using the free service or are subscribed), so take note of this if you plan on jamming out to your own uploaded music.

Free radio service: Uploaded/purchased content will play before the free radio station.
Subscription: Subscription on demand content will play before your purchased/uploaded content unless you ask to play it from your library using “Play X .”, “Play my X”, etc.

Google states these changes are rolling out now to all areas that support Google Home. // Google Product Forums

Google Releases Improved Backup and Sync Desktop Tool for Google Photos and Drive

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 12:28:13 +0000

Google launched its new Backup and Sync tool for desktops today, made specifically for users of Google Photos and Google Drive who are looking to keep their photos and documents in a safe space attached to their Google account. The new tools replace the existing backup tools, so if you already use those, be prepared for the update. The backup tool works for both Windows and MacOS, but as of right now, we're not seeing Linux support. Curse you, science! To get started, simply follow the links below to set yourself up. Downloads: Google Drive | Google Photos // Google

Vizio Suing LeEco to Collect $100M Buyer-Termination Fee

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 11:08:54 +0000

In July of last year, LeEco announced its intention to acquire US-based Vizio for a cool $2 billion. Due to “regulatory headwinds,” the deal fell through in April of this year, but it sounded as if LeEco and Vizio would work together on a joint distribution deal that would be mutually beneficial. As we're now learning, that's not exactly the case. Reported late yesterday, Vizio is now suing LeEco for $100 million, the amount LeEco apparently owes for a buyer-termination fee. As initially reported by TechCrunch, instead of paying Vizio the $100 million fee, LeEco offered to set up the aforementioned joint distribution deal. The deal would have included LeEco paying Vizio $40 million up front, $10 million after the new deal closed, with the remaining $50 million turned into a capital contribution for the joint venture. Vizio alleges that LeEco did not intend on paying the entire $100 million and simply purposed this deal in an effort to reduce its liability to 60%. If that's not shady enough already, Vizio also claims LeEco's holding company "mischaracterized" the company's financials and that LeEco was going to, "use [the] publicly announced intended merger with Vizio to gain or try to obtain access to Vizio's large corporate customers and key decision makers thereat for their own purposes and by means of confidential customer information that had been developed … and provide LeEco with access to VIZIO’s confidential customer information, including contact information, account history, purchasing needs or requirements, contract terms, and the like.” Needless to say, we here in the US probably won't be seeing much of LeEco anymore. // TechCrunch

Best Buy Should Get Exclusive Coral Blue Galaxy S8 and S8+ Tomorrow (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 10:10:51 +0000

The Coral Blue version of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ should launch in the US as early as tomorrow, July 13, according to a reliable source of ours. Best Buy, as has been the case in recent years, nabbed the exclusive on this colorway and will sell both as carrier and unlocked models. Our understanding is that Best Buy will sell Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint versions in this new colorway, plus you'll be able to choose the color in the unlocked variety too. Previously, the unlocked model could only be purchased in Midnight Black in the US. Best Buy hasn't set a specific street date for the phone, but is telling stores to begin selling it upon arrival and that should happen tomorrow. On a related note, we're told that Best Buy may host a promo that slashes up to $250-off of the Galaxy S8 in the 4th week of July. The promo will include a $150-off discount, plus an additional $100 via trade-in or other measure. Should we receive additional details on that deal, we'll let you know. Either way, be on the lookout for the Coral Blue Galaxy S8 tomorrow. The Verizon version will show up at this link. UPDATE 7/14: Tough to say what Best Buy is waiting for other than inventory to arrive. But as of today, the devices still aren't up on their site, which is odd, because they have imagery for each variant ready to go on the backend. Either way, when the device is live, you'll find them at the links below. UPDATE 7/18: We have now been told to expect the device on July 21. UPDATE 7/19: And it's official! July 21 is the day, plus there are big discounts to be had, like $400 off.

Best Buy Galaxy S8 Coral Blue Links:

Verizon: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
AT&T: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
Sprint: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+
Unlocked: Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+

Report: Galaxy Note 8 Unveiling Now Set for August 23

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:26:17 +0000

The above headline is why we try not to hypebeast every single little piece of unconfirmed info. If we did that, these types of reports are all we'd talk about, so we try to only post the stuff we are confident in. The following news is something that aligns with that. Today, according to South Korea's The Investor, who reports that they spoke with a Samsung executive and confirmed at least a part of this story, the unveiling date for the Galaxy Note 8 is set at August 23. This follows previous reports that it would be unveiled on August 20, then another report that mentioned late September. As you can see, this date has been quite fluid, with Samsung yet to provide an official date. As I mentioned, The Investor spoke with an unnamed Samsung executive, who would only confirm that the device would be announced later next month, not provide a specific date. Still, it now looks like an August unveiling, not September. If you haven't been following all of the Note 8 news, we recently got a look at CAD renders, which detailed the S Pen slot and dual rear-facing cameras. To my eye, it looks like a slightly bigger Galaxy S8+ with stylus accessory and an additional camera sensor. No major design changes, but whatever improvements Samsung bakes in, I'm sure people will flock to it like hotcakes. Mmm, hotcakes. If this date changes again, we'll up date you. // The Investor

Google Play Movies & TV Gets HDR Playback

Kellen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:00:10 +0000

Your Google Play Movies & TV viewing experience is ready to be cranked up a notch in the contrast, brightness, and color departments, thanks to High Dynamic Range (HDR) support launching today in the US and Canada. Of course, you'll need an HDR-equipped TV and a movie that can play in both 4K and HDR. Google says that when you purchase 4K Ultra HD (UHD) movies, many will be compatible with HDR playback. If available, and your internet connection is solid, HDR and 4K should stream automatically. This also means that your Chromecast Ultra can now stream HDR content from Google Play Movies & TV as well. You can find out more about HDR in Google Play Movies & TV at Google's support site.

AT&T Rebrands GoPhone Service to AT&T Prepaid, Offers 2 Free Months When You Sign Up

Tim — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:29:59 +0000

After years of usage, the GoPhone name is going away. In its place, a new brand arises, called AT&T Prepaid. It's not that flashy, well, neither was "GoPhone," but it's what we now have. To celebrate this name change, even though absolutely nothing else is changing from what we can tell, AT&T is offering two free months of Prepaid service to anyone who signs up for the service and keeps the account in good standing. As detailed, should you keep the account alive, you'll receive a bill credit on the 3rd month and the 12th month, with each credit equalling enough to give you a free month of usage. This promotion is limited to two tiers: $60/month option ($65/month before AutoPay) and the $40/month option ($45/month before AutoPay). The higher priced option is the Unlimited plan, but note that AT&T may slow your speeds after 22GB of high-speed usage, and as AT&T mentions, "Data speed limited to a max of 3Mbps; video streaming limited to 1.5Mbps at SD quality." The less expensive plan comes with 6GB of data. And that's it. Nothing else changes. Pour one out for GoPhone. // AT&T

AT&T's 5G Evolution Launches in Indianapolis

Kellen — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:12:37 +0000

If you live in Indianapolis and are still depressed about Paul George leaving town, I have some decent news for you today - AT&T has launched their 5G Evolution service in your neck of the woods. While not real 5G, it is like an upgraded 4G LTE that should produce speeds up to twice as fast as you were once seeing. The service has been live in Austin, TX for some time, with AT&T expecting to push forward with 5G Evolution in over 20 metro areas by the end of the year. Up next, though not in this particular order, should be Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and San Francisco. How can you gain access to 5G Evolution from AT&T if you live in Indianapolis? Well, you'll need a Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+. I'm not kidding, those are the only phones that currently work. We'll see additional phones before the end of the year, but that's it for now. With a 5G Evolution connection, you'll get to take advantage of upgraded towers that include LTE Advanced tech like "256 QAM, 4x4 MIMO, 3-way carrier aggregation," according to AT&T. By the end of the year, they hope to build on that with LTE-License Assisted Access and 4-way carrier aggregation. Once that happens, speeds on your mobile phone could reach 750Mbps. Sure, that's not true 5G, but damn, that's still fast. If you live in Indy and own a Galaxy S8 on AT&T, let us know how it's going! Show us some speedtests, dammit. // AT&T

Ads Coming Soon to Facebook Messenger's Home Screen

Tim — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:52:37 +0000

According to a report from VentureBeat, after what must've been a successful beta test in Australia and Thailand, Facebook is to roll out advertisements on the Facebook Messenger home screen, the same kind of targeted ads you currently find on your News Feed. Testing of these ads began in January in a limited beta, but before the end of this year, it appears that all users worldwide will have ads between the various sections of the Messenger home screen. For example, you'll have your first few popular chats on top, then an ad, followed by more chats, which is followed by more ads.

While ads aren't the coolest thing since sliced bread, it's not like there's anything we can do to stop this move. Messenger is Facebook's platform to monetize as they see fit, and with millions of users, there's no reason monetization shouldn't happen of the free service. If this move somehow grinds your gears enough to push you away from Messenger, there's always Google Allo, but good luck convincing many to follow you. // VentureBeat | The Verge

Last Minute Amazon Prime Day Deals!

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:51:44 +0000

Amazon Prime Day 2017 is almost done, but that doesn't mean the deals have stopped. We've still got another few hours left for Amazon to push through an additional set of discounts. We've started compiling some for you below, just know that many are going fast and are limited in supply. For one, the Google WiFi 3-pack deal ($59 off) is almost gone, but there are some good Anker charging solutions that have time. We'll be updating this for next bit.

Last Minute Amazon Prime Day Deals

Limited Time Deals

Google WiFi 3-Pack ($239.99, $59.01 off)
Anker PowerCore 26800 Power Bank ($41.99, $58 off)
Anker QC 3.0 5-Port Wall Charger ($25.59, $59.40 off)
Anker QC 3.0 Type-C and 3-Port Car Charger ($23.99, $56 off)
SanDisk Ultra 128GB microSD Card ($35.99, $9.91 off)
SanDisk Ultra 256GB microSD Card ($104.99, $95 off)

Amazon Bundles

Echo Dot + Sony XB10 Portable Speaker ($67.99, $20 off)
Echo Dot + Philips Hue White Starer Kit ($84.75, $30.23 off)
Echo Show + Arlo 1 Camera Kit ($378.99, $75 off)

Oooh: This Could be Google's 2nd Gen Pixel XL Made by LG

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:52:37 +0000

We might still be three months away from the new Google Pixel phones arriving, but today, we potentially received our first look at one of the devices, the bigger of the two. According to Android Police, the image at the top of this screen is of the 2nd generation Pixel XL that is codenamed "taimen." As you can see from the design, this looks a heck of a lot like the phone that an XDA report described a couple of weeks ago. Not that that means this is for sure what we'll get later this year, but it certainly helps the case. And man, I'm liking what I'm seeing. According to AP sources, this is the phone that LG has made for Google in place of the HTC-made "muskie" that was once thought to be the new XL. They believe it will have a 6-inch LG-made AMOLED display with a 2:1 ratio. They are also under the impression that the phone will sport a squeezy side, just like we have seen on the HTC U11, which will allow you to interact with the phone, primarily when using Google Assistant. As for other things we're picking up from the image, you'll notice that only a single camera is on the back, so it doesn't appear as if Google is throwing its hat into the dual-camera craze just yet. That's fine with me as long as the camera is as-good-if-not-better than last year's Pixel phones. The back of the phone looks very Pixel-esque, with the glass rear-panel moved up and above the rear-mounted fingerprint reader. The obnoxious antenna band also is gone from the bottom of the phone or at least blended in somewhere. On the front, you get a FullVision-like LG experience. It looks curved on the edges, rather than perfectly flat like the display is on the LG G6. In a way, it's kind of a mix of what LG and Samsung did this year with their first flagship phones. Other than that, what do you think? Take your money?

// Android Police

5 Reasons the OnePlus 5 is Worth Buying

Tim — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:34:07 +0000

If you somehow missed our written and video review of the OnePlus 5, allow us to quickly share a few reasons, five to be exact, why the OnePlus 5 might be a good pickup for you. If you're looking for a device that comes packed with high-quality specs, features a great in-hand feel, plus plenty of other good qualities, it's hard to pass up a phone that is priced starting at under $500. Phones such as the OnePlus 5 really make you question the pricing of other devices, too, especially the ones that are creeping towards the $1,000 range. On paper they don't have much more than the OnePlus 5, so it's good to know all of your options before dropping a huge amount of money on something you're only using for a couple of years anyway. Let's get into this. Here are 5 reasons the OnePlus 5 is worth buying.

1. Specs, Specs, and More Specs

For a company that doesn't seem keen on talking about specs, it sure does know how to fully load a device. Inside the OnePlus 5 is all top-tier specs, including a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB or 8GB RAM, dual rear-facing cameras, Dash Charging, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.0. Other specs include a 5.5" FHD Optic AMOLED display, 64GB or 128GB storage, 3,300mAh battery, fingerprint reader, USB Type-C, and 3.5mm headphone jack, all starting at a price of $479. Sure, the prices for OnePlus devices is steadily going up, when specs like this are being packaged inside of handsome hardware, there's little room to complain. If you're someone who directly relates the value of a phone to its specs, you may find it difficult to find a better option. Sure, there's no water resistance, but we're talking about a sub-$500 phone. It basically comes with everything else you may need, and if you opt for the 8GB RAM option, you could be essentially future-proofing your phone should the need for so much RAM become necessary. At the end of the day, it's not easy to find a phone of this caliber, with this kind of spec sheet, for such an obtainable price -- that is, unless you're fine with waiting for other top flagship devices to go on sale.

2. Hardware

While the general look of the OnePlus 5 didn't evolve too much over the OnePlus 3 and 3T, it certainly feels different when you're holding it. The phone is thinner and more slick, really providing that premium feeling that I think many look for. However, if slick isn't something you desire, OnePlus has the amazing sandstone cover that adds grip and protects your phone during day-to-day usage. It's what I used the entire time of reviewing the phone. While some may think this phone resembles others on the market, that doesn't matter much to me, provided there's only so many ways you can make a smartphone look. Point being, the hardware and its design is exceptional on the OnePlus 5, proving to me that OnePlus has matured greatly in these categories. No, OnePlus doesn't have edgeless displays yet, but not everyone enjoys those anyway, so if you were looking for more of a traditional aesthetic, the OnePlus 5 is a solid option. You've got your incredibly fast fingerprint reader on the front side, dual camera setup on back, plus a pretty loud speaker firing from the bottom. Besides the large top and bottom bezels, there isn't an aspect of this phone's design and hardware that I dislike, which is saying quite a lot for me.

3. Battery Life

In Kellen's video review, he likened the OnePlus 5's battery life to that of the Moto Z Play. If you recall that phone, that's the one where he was getting around 2 days of solid battery life with hours of screen-on-time. He absolutely adored it, and for him to say he was pulling similar numbers on the OnePlus 5, well, that's pretty darn impressive. Not to take away from his one words, here's an excerpt from his review where he said, "Not only will this phone get you through an entire day without worry, but OnePlus has once again included Dash Charging, which might be the best fast charging system on the planet. It takes the heat away from the phone while charging, plus it’ll quick charge as you use the device." As you can see, Kellen is a real fan of Dash Charging and the battery life on the OnePlus 5, so there's not much else I can add. However, I can provide a bit more detail in Dash Charging for those who are unfamiliar. With this, you're able to get about a day's worth of charge into your phone in a half hour, according to OnePlus. My results were similar, getting about 65% of juice in 30 minutes of charging. Kellen also mentions the ability to use your phone normally while it charges, too. For me, that's the big point, as other chargers can barely do their job properly if you're continuously using the phone while it charges. For example, if you're about to hop on a flight, need to charge, but still have emails to get through, you can rest assured that the OnePlus will charge just fine while you crank out those messages or play a few games. It also shouldn't overheat, which is another pain point for other fast charging methods on the market. To sum it up, we love Dash Charging.

4. Software and Updates

Always one of my favorite aspects of OnePlus devices is the software, with the OnePlus 5 being no exception. What you have is basically stock Android, but with helpful tweaks made to help customize the look and certain functions. What you don't have is a bunch of bloat nonsense that will make your phone run like crap. The phone runs OxygenOS atop Android 7.1+, with features like themes, gestures, customizable buttons, and status bar tweaks baked in. While I understand where companies like Samsung and LG are coming from with their skins, the OnePlus 5 with its software tweaks are much more of my style, which is straightforward and easy to master. I like to think about a theoretical when it comes to smartphone software. For example, if I gifted this phone to my mother, would she be able to understand it? In the case of the Galaxy S8, that'd be a no go, as there are countless things I'd have to show her (multi-window, informing her that Galaxy phones have their own app store for select applications, etc.). On the OnePlus 5, all of the different settings and options are placed right in the Settings menu, with nothing special hiding. Sure, she may not utilize all of the fancy gestures for turning on the flashlight, but if she wants them, they are easily accessible and programmable. The software just works and that's something I always tell potential phone buyers when they ask me about OnePlus phones. Now, I can't discuss software without bringing up device updates. Will the OnePlus 5 get updates in a timely fashion? Well, it better, as OnePlus has no reason it shouldn't be committed to delivering two solid years of software updates for the phone. OnePlus' development teams have joined to work on OxygenOS, so we have to assume this shouldn't be a problem. Quite recently, the company confirmed that the OnePlus 3 and 3T would receive Android O, so we know that the OnePlus 5 will receive that, and should also receive Android P in 2018. That's two major updates right there. Whether or not it receives Android Q is nowhere close to being known, so I won't act as if I have any knowledge about that, but it's certainly in the realm of possibility, depending completely on the timing of Google's release. Since having the OnePlus 5, I've received three updates, so if that's any indication, I'd say OnePlus 5 owners will be happy in the update department.

5. Price and Availability

Pricing has always been a big factor for OnePlus, as the company always seems to find a price point that can get the Android community excited. And even though the OnePlus 5 is the company's most expensive phone to date (starting at $479), it's still not close to what we see from other companies like LG, Samsung, and Apple. Somehow, OnePlus is able to create great hardware and stuff it full of great specs, then deliver it a price that should be obtainable by most buyers. That's pretty darn impressive, especially when you consider that it is nowhere easy to design, manufacturer, then ship out thousands of phones across the world. As for availability, the OnePlus 5 is sold unlocked, meaning you'll be able to run it on any GSM network in the US, but that also means no Verizon or Sprint. Does that suck? Absolutely, especially when other companies are producing phones that are unlocked and capable of running on any carrier in the US. To me, this problem likely connects to the necessary pricing OnePlus needs to reach in order to keep its base of fans happy. The same goes for some of the design and spec choices the company uses. There's likely no way the company can provide a universally unlocked device with water resistance and no bezels without attaching a higher price tag, so choices are weighed and decisions are made. If you are on Verizon, it's not like you don't have good Android choices, though, so don't take it too badly. Buy OnePlus 5: OnePlus Website

Considering another phone? Feel free to take a look back at 5 reasons to buy other phones, like the Galaxy S8, LG G6, or Pixel in previous installments of this ongoing series.

Ticwatch S & E Hit Kickstarter, Run Android Wear for Around $119

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:12:50 +0000

Kind of a polar opposite type of day for Android Wear, wouldn't you say? This morning, we talked about Louis Vuitton's new ultra-expensive Tambour Horizon smartwatches and are now about to dive into a watch that is best described as ultra-affordable. Mobcoi, the company behind Ticwatch, is back - they apparently made something called the Ticwatch 2 that people liked - with the Ticwatch Sport (S) & Express (E), two Android Wear-powered watches that are sure to fit into anyone's budget. Both watches are now up for backing on Kickstarter and yeah, they are affordable enough that should you be considering a dive into Android Wear, you might want to get the credit card ready. The Ticwatch E can be had right now for $119 (previously $99, but that sold out) and the Ticwatch S can be had for $139 (previously $119, but it sold out too). What are these watches? Well, they run Android Wear, so you get access to Google Play, Google Assistant, and the entire Wear 2.0 experience. They feature round 1.4-inch OLED displays, GPS, IP67 water and dust resistance, and playful designs. You also get MediaTek 2601 dual-core processors, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, 300mAh batteries, WiFi, and heart rate sensors. The Ticwatch S sports a 45mm case that is 13mm thick and weighs 45.5g, while the Ticwatch E sports a 44mm case that is 13.55mm thick and weighs 41.5g. They are very similar, but when it comes to styling, they are quite different. The S is a sportier model built for the fitness guru, while the E features a translucent case and is much more of a fashion item. Either way, you can't argue with these prices up front. Normally, I tell everyone to avoid Kickstarter, but this company has been around and knows what it's doing. When these watches leave Kickstarter, they'll cost $159 (E) and $199 (S). So again, if interested, you should probably jump on them now. Mobvoi hopes to ship by October-November. Ticwatch Kickstarter Page

Best Buy Doing Its Own Prime Day Sales Called "Big Deals Day"

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:41:03 +0000

With Amazon Prime Day in full swing, Best Buy wants in on the action too. To do so, they've kicked off "BIG DEALS DAY." Clever name guys, yeah. There are some good discounts, though, so we've compiled our favorites for you below. You'll find discounts on the Bose SoundLink 2, Eero WiFi System, bundles withe Logitech Harmony Elite and Amazon Echo, Philips Hue products, and more.

Best Buy "Big Deals Day"

All Best Buy "Big Deals Day" Deals

Buy Logitech Harmony Elite, get Amazon Echo free ($349.99)
Eero Whole Home WiFi 3-Pack ($299.99, $100 off)
Linksys Velop Whole Home WiFi 3-Pack ($399.99, $100 off)
Linksys Velop Whole Home WiFi 2-Pack ($279.99, $70 off)
Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Speaker ($129.99, $70 off)
Ring Video Doorbell Pro ($229.99, $20 off)
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit ($149.99, $50 off)
Philips Hue White and Color A19 Light ($39.99, $10 off)
Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus ($67.48, $22.51 off)
Philips Hue GO LED Light ($50.81, $29.18 off)
TP-Link Smart Plug ($19.99, $10 off)

LG Q6 Takes Sexy FullVision Displays to the Mid-Tier

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:05:17 +0000

Last night, LG unveiled the LG Q6 line, a budget-friendly crew of devices that bring a lot of what the G6 had to offer, only at what should be reasonable prices. There are three devices in the line-up: Q6+, Q6, and Q6a. The big feature here is the FullVision display styling from the G6 that has made its way into the mid-tier realm. While none of these Q6 models offers a QHD resolution, they do offer the same experience minimal bezel experience at 5.5-inches and a FHD (1080p) resolution. Depending on the model, they also include up to 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 3000mAh battery, Snapdragon 435 processor, LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 4.2, and Android 7.1.1 Nougat. And that's mostly the story. LG Q6 variants will start shipping as early as next month and could end up in North America at some point. I think the big takeaway, at least for me, is that mid-tier design is making big moves. These are impressive specs and impressive design at what should be affordable prices. This is a sexy mid-tier phone.

LG Q6 Specs

Chipset: Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 435 Mobile Platform
Display: 5.5-inch 18:9 FHD+ FullVision Display (2160 x 1080 / 442ppi)
Memory: Q6+: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM Q6: 3GB RAM / 32GB ROM Q6α: 2GB RAM / 16GB ROM
Camera: Rear 13MP Standard Angle / Front 5MP Wide Angle
Battery: 3,000mAh (embedded)
Operating System: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Size: 142.5 x 69.3 x 8.1mm
Weight: 149g
Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / USB Type-B 2.0
Colors: Q6+: Astro Black / Ice Platinum / Marine Blue Q6: Astro Black / Ice Platinum / Mystic White / Terra Gold Q6α: Astro Black / Ice Platinum / Terra Gold
Other: Face Recognition / Google Assistant / Square Camera / Steady Record / FM Radio
^*Specifications may vary depending on the particular market.

// LG

Yup, the LG V30 is a Big G6

Tim — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 08:32:23 +0000

As we approach the reported unveiling timeframe for the LG V30, CAD renders, the kind that are based on measurements sent to accessory makers directly from the OEM, are making their way online. With these CAD renders, we pretty much see what the V30 is all about, and from what we can tell, we're liking it. The biggest change is the apparent lack of a secondary ticker display on the front. To compare its overall design, it looks like a larger LG G6, which is fine, because the G6 is a pretty well-designed device. On the backside we have dual cameras, along with the fingerprint reader (possibly doubles as power button). On the bottom we have USB Type-C with a speaker port on the right, then a noise-canceling mic on the left. According to the source of these images, we're looking at about a 6" display from corner to corner, but not much else is confirmed. We aren't 100% sure on the processor, amount of RAM, or camera sensor sizes, but all of that will be coming soon in the form of an official unveiling that is reported to happen during IFA in September. Please, V series fans, share your thoughts below. // My Smart Price

Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon is Powered by Android Wear and Starts at $2,450

Kellen — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 07:41:09 +0000

Louis Vuitton is now in the Android Wear and smartwatch game with the introduction of the Tambour Horizon watch. The move shouldn't be surprising, knowing that the brand falls under LVMH, which also houses TAG Heuer, another luxury goods maker who has seen some recent success in smartwatches. This Tambour Horizon watch is as you might expect, also very expensive. There are steel options of the Tambour Horizon that start at $2,450, along with a black PVD version that costs $2,900. In the specs department, you are looking at stainless steel brushed cases, stainless polished cases, or a stainless polished case with a black PVD coating. The watch is 42mm wide (nice!) and 12.55mm thick. It features sapphire glass on top of a 390x390 round AMOLED panel, 30m water resistance, Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi, and 22 hour battery life. Louis Vuitton is also introducing a swappable strap line-up with their patented system. You can inquire about the watch now at LV's site below. Louis Vuitton Links: Tambour Horizon (Black) | Tambour Horizon (Steel) // Louis Vuitton | New York Times

Amazon Prime Day 2017 Spotlight Deals! (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:11:51 +0000

Amazon Prime Day 2017 is in full swing already! In fact, a number of big deals have already sold through, so I hope you jumped into our early list of steals and scored. Tonight, to keep the ball rollin', we wanted to toss out the deals that Amazon has spotlighted this first evening. These are the big headliner deals that may not be around until tomorrow morning. In this batch, you'll find all of the Amazon products (like the Echo for $90 off), along with Chromebooks at big discounts (Chromebook R11 at $80 off), Fossil's Android Wear lineup at up to 40% off, some good Sony Android TV discounts, and Philips Hue kit price drops. Hurry! UPDATE: Deals updated at 7AM.

Amazon Prime Day 2017 Spotlight Deals

All Amazon Prime Day Deals

Amazon Products

Amazon Echo ($89.99, $90 off)
Amazon Echo Dot ($34.99, $15 off)
Amazon Tap ($79.99, $50 off)
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet ($29.99, $20 off)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet ($49.99, $30 off)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition ($89.99, $40 off)
Amazon Kindle ($30 off)
Amazon Kindle Voyage ($50 off)
Amazon Dash Buttons ($0.99, $4 off)

Phones

Samsung Galaxy S8 (US Unlocked) + 2017 Gear VR with Controller + Fast Wireless Charger ($624.99)
Moto G5 Plus Prime Exclusive w/ ads ($179.99, $60 off)
Honor 8 64GB ($299.99, $150 off)
Huawei Mate 9 ($449.99, $150 off)

Chromebooks / Tablets

Acer Chromebook R11 Convertible ($219.99, $80 off)
Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible ($299.00)
Acer Chromebook CB3-131-C3SZ 11.6 ($129.99, $50 off)
ASUS C201PA-DS02 11.6 Chromebook ($149.00, $40.99 off)
Huawei + Harman Kardon MediaPad M3 8.0 ($299.00)
Huawei + Harman Kardon MediaPad M2 10.0 ($236.50, $112.50 off)

Smartwatches

Huawei Watch 2 ($209.99, $90 off)
Huawei Fit Smart ($69.99, $60 off)
Fossil Q Wander Gen 2 ($255.00 or $275.00)
Fossil Q Marshal Gen 2 ($255.00, $275.00, or $325.00)
Fossil Q Founder Gen 2 ($255.00 or $275.00)

TVs

Sony XBR55X700D 55-inch 4K LED with Android TV ($499.99, $298 off)
Sony XBR55X900E 55-inch 4K LED with Android TV ($1,298.00, $401.99 off)
Sony XBR65X900E 65-inch 4K LED with Android TV ($1998.00, $501.99 off)
NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB ($179.99, $20 off)

Smart Home

TP-Link Deco M5 Whole Home WiFi ($199.99, $100 off)
Philips 464479 Hue White and Color Ambiant A19 Starter Kit ($139.98)
Philips 464503 Hue White and Color A19 Bulb ($39.99, $10 off)
Philips Hue White Start Kit + Dimmer Switch ($69.99)
LIFX A19 WiFi LED Light Bulb (Extra 25% off)
August Smart Lock ($144.99)
TP-Link Smart Plug ($19.99, $20 off)
Schlage Connect CAM 619 Deadbolt (Extra 20% off)
Wink Hub 2 (Extra 20% off)
Wink Relay Control Panel ($69.99, $29 off)
Canary All-in-One Home Security Device (Extra 20% off)

Accessories

Sony XB9501B1 Extra Bass Wireless Headphones ($98.00, $100 off)
Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Bluetooth Speaker ($129.00, $50 off)
Bragi - The Dash Wireless Earbuds (Refurbished) ($99.99, $65 off)

5 Android Apps to Try: July 2017

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 15:44:47 +0000

Need some new Android apps to kick off July with? We've got 5 of them for you below. You'll find a good range of apps too, from weather and wallpapers, to internet security and calorie counting. Everything should be free to use, but some may include in-app purchases to remove ads.

Today Weather

Today Weather has been out for a handful of months now, but it's definitely worth giving a shot even though there are dozens upon dozens of weather apps to choose from. It's free and features a truly beautiful, dark-themed yet minimal UI. It does have ads here and there, but you can pay to have them removed. You'll find forecasts, photos that correspond to the weather and the day, air quality and UV indexes, sunrise and sunset info, what's currently going on with the moon, and severe weather alerts. Of course, you can follow the weather of multiple locations, choose your weather source, and pick from a long list of widgets. It does a lot more than that, but those are a few of the info bits you'll find. Google Play Link

PureEarth Wallpapers

You guys know how much I love a good satellite image of this beautiful Earth, so it's no surprise that I'm a big fan of PureEarth Wallpapers. This app is constantly refreshing its wallpaper options, plus it's free and there are no ads. When viewing a wallpaper, you'll see who captured the image, as well as controls over color, the amount of blur you'd like to see, and download and share options. PureEarth also lets you submit your own satellite images, if contributing sounds like something you'd be interested in, it keeps a history of the wallpapers you've chosen, and will select random photos for you to keep that home screen as fresh as ever. Oh, it even has Muzei support. Google Play Link

Bitesnap

It's going to take some solid testing to see if Bitesnap can be the next great calorie tracking app, but I sure like the approach. With Bitesnap, you pull out your phone and take a picture of the meal you are about to eat. The app then tries to use "advanced image recognition" to pull out the different food items to hopefully let you quickly add items to your daily log. The whole idea here is to keep you from having to type out each item, because that can be hell throughout a day. Food loggers know what I'm talking about. This app uses your food images to track calories, help you stay on target to reach weight goals, and even has barcode scanning in case you don't fully trust its food image recognition skills. And everything is displayed in a well-designed app. Google Play Link

Changes

Apps like Changes aren't necessarily new, but I certainly find them useful from time to time. The purpose is to help you keep track of the changes to your apps as they update. Since most developers are terrible at updating the "What's New" section of their apps, you may have stopped looking long ago. This app will let you know should something actually change. The app is designed well, now has a dark theme option, lets you search through your apps, and allows for apps to be ignored. This is technically an "unreleased" app that could be unstable, but the developer does seem to be actively working on it. Google Play Link

Firefox Focus

We actually wrote up Firefox Focus a couple of weeks ago, but I think it's worth sharing again. In a time where privacy is so important, especially as you browse the internet, these types of browsers will only become more popular. With Firefox Focus, you get a browser that is fully private, free, and "always on your side," according to its makers. It does its best to block web trackers, it erases your browsing history when done, and should allow for a faster web experience since it blocks ads. Google Play Link

Twitter Reworks Notifications to Save You From the Spam

Tim — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 14:48:46 +0000

Spam and abuse take place on pretty much all social networks, so there will never be a cease to the work these companies put in to save you from it all. Announced today, Twitter is reworking its notification system, highlighting the ability to mute accounts that don't follow you and new accounts. To check out all of the new notification settings that can save you from seeing crappy spam and all that, head into your Notifications, tap on the little gear button, then tap on Advanced Filters. Inside this space, you'll be able to toggle options for muting new accounts, accounts with default profile photos, accounts with no confirmed email address, and plenty more. Twitter has all of the notification greatness detailed on its website, which you can find by following the link below. Death to spam!

Now you have even more control over your notifications. Mute accounts that don't follow you, new accounts, and more. https://t.co/UapP6DtTtY pic.twitter.com/RcBQGx219k
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) July 10, 2017

// Twitter

Samsung and ESPN Pair Up to Stream X Games in VR

Tim — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:18:52 +0000

Samsung announced a new VR experience for Gear VR owners this morning, thanks to a partnership with ESPN. Starting this Thursday through Saturday, select events at this year's X Games will be streamed in virtual reality. With this, you'll be able to watch the Skateboard Vert competition, the BMX Street competition, and another amateur skateboard competition via your Gear VR, all in virtual reality. If you're wondering about exactly which events you can watch in VR, and when to view them, check the info below.

Thursday, July 13, 6:45 p.m. ET – Skateboard Vert
Friday, July 14, 6:00 p.m. ET – BMX Street
Saturday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. ET – Skateboard Street Amateurs

To get in on the action, you'll need the Samsung VR app, which can be found by following the Google Play link below. Play Link

Here is the HTC U11 in Solar Red, Because It's Hot

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:37:45 +0000

There is no denying the beauty that emanates from the backside of the HTC U11. Sure, it might need a good wiping after 10 seconds of use without gloves, but it's still very pretty, with its liquid metallic mirror finish. There are few phones that show this well when clean. We happen to have the HTC U11 in Solar Red hanging out in the office for the next week or so and wanted to share some pictures of it. No, we don't have another review or second opinion coming up (our review is right here), we just wanted to show off this truly unique colorway. You see, it's certainly red, but as you twist the phone around and light reflects off of it, it actually turns from red to orange and yellow. It's a pretty cool trick. It reminds me of how the "silver" version often looks light blue instead of a true silver. Anyways, enjoy the HTC U11 Solar Red pictures. We'll have more on the U11 in the near future. Buy HTC U11 in Solar Red: Amazon | HTC.com

Video: OnePlus 5 Review

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:58:02 +0000

On Friday, we posted our OnePlus 5 review both in written and video form. If you haven't yet, be sure to read through Tim's write-up on all of the dirty OnePlus 5 details. It should give you everything you need in order to decide if the OnePlus 5 should be your next phone. If you don't think you have time for that, we've also got an 8-minute video review that'll get you in and out even quicker. That video is featured at the top of this post. Should you buy the OnePlus 5? That all depends on your needs. If performance, software, and battery life are the most important aspects to a phone for you, then yeah, I'd go for it. If you also need an incredible camera to go along with those things, well, you may not be that satisfied at this time, unless OnePlus can push out some major improvements through software updates.

Amazon Echo Devices Now Notify You When Orders are Out for Delivery

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:33:16 +0000

Back in May, Amazon told us that they were going to allow services to start sending notifications to your Amazon Echo devices that were equipped with Alexa. That means Accuweather could update you on changing weather conditions or the Washington Post could ping you with breaking news. But before we get there, the first notifications features comes from Amazon and it includes all of the stuff you order from them. The next time you order something via voice through an Echo device, Amazon should let you know that it now has the ability to notify you of the item's delivery status. You can also enable those notifications in the Alexa app by heading into Settings>Notifications>Shopping Notifications. With this option enabled, you'll get a glowing yellow ring when a notification is there, just like you see as you send messages or receive them on Alexa-equipped devices. With Shopping Notifications turned on, those messages should be Amazon letting you know that items are out for delivery and that you should be on the lookout for them. PlayLink

Buy Amazon Echo:

Amazon Prime Day 2017: Best Deals and Biggest Discounts (Updating!)

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:04:52 +0000

Amazon Prime Day 2017 kicks off in a few hours (at 6PM Pacific, 9PM Eastern) and Amazon is already teasing their biggest discounts. We're talking Amazon Prime Day deals like 50% off the Amazon Echo (just $89.99), $15 off the Echo Dot, $30 off the Kindle Paperwhite, and $40 off the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. Amazon isn't just stopping with discounts on its own products, though. We'll also see a $50 discount on the August Smart Lock, up to 50% off on video games and consoles, headphone and audio discounts, accessory price drops, and sizable discounts on TVs, including the new Element 55-inch 4K Ultra HD TV with Amazon's Fire TV built-in for $399.99. Yes, that would be a $400 4K LED TV with Amazon Fire TV. Additionally, you have the Alexa exclusive deals, where you simply ask Alexa "What are your Prime Day deals?" which lets you order things by voice. Of course, you need an Amazon Prime membership in order to participate. You can sign-up for Amazon Prime here. We'll do our best to update this post throughout the next day or so with the best Amazon Prime Day deals as they pop-up! Also, keep in mind that Amazon is letting you "Watch" deals this year, so if you jump through some of the links below, you should be notified as they go live.

Amazon Prime Day Deals 2017

Amazon Prime Day Link (All deals)

Amazon Alexa exclusive voice deals (start at 4PM Pacific)
Prime Day TV Deals

UPDATE: Here are the Prime Day 2017 Spotlight Deals!

UPDATE 2: Your last minute Prime Day deals list is here!

Amazon Products:

Tech Deals:

Element 55-inch 4K Ultra HD LED - Amazon Fire TV Edition ($399.99)
Anker Quick Charge 3.0 Wall Charger
Anker Quick Charge 3.0 4-Port Wall Charger
Anker Quick Charge 3.0 6-Port Wall Charger
Anker PowerCore+ QC3.0 100050 Power Bank
Aukey 2-Port Car Charger ($6.29)
Aukey Ora Clip-on Phone Lenses ($19.99)
Aukey Bluetooth Wireless Headphones ($19.99)
Aukey SoundTank Bluetooth Speaker ($30.99)
Aukey 20,000mAh Power Bank ($16.79)
Tronsmart 4-Port Car Charger (50% off, CODE: MO6QR22B)
Tronsmart Type-C 5V/3A Car Charger (50% off, CODE: 2TNZQWTX)
Tronsmart Chocolate Wireless Charger (35% off, CODE: 8W3YZNUV)
Tronsmart 2-Port QC 3.0 Wall Charger (30% off, CODE: 379Y2XCY)
ZeroLemon ToughJuice 30,000mAh Power Bank
August Smart Lock ($50 off)
Arlo Security System - 5 Camera Set
Yale Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt
NVIDIA SHIELD TV 16GB ($20 off)
NVIDIA SHIELD TV 500GB ($20 off)

Categories:

Other Good Deals (possibly non-Prime Day):

Occulus Rift + Occulus Touch Bundle ($200 off)
Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch ($150 off)

Spotify Testing an Auto Mode to Make the App Safer to Use While Driving

Tim — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 08:58:10 +0000

According to at least one user on reddit, Spotify is currently testing an Auto Mode internally. This mode makes the app safer to use while driving, but it doesn't appear to be quite ready for widespread rollout yet. With this mode enabled, the buttons for playback are made very large (for easy pressing), while the existence of other buttons seem to vanish. It's basically a trimmed down version of the UI, perfect for those who find themselves distracted when it matters most. Additionally, a voice-powered feature will let you speak commands to the app, but the feature isn't yet working. This test does not seem to be made for the public, as a Google Doc leading to feedback asks for a @spotify email address, meaning it's purely for internal use. These apps do find themselves leaking online from time to time, though, so instead of going to look for it, just know that Auto Mode may be something the music service is working on to make public sometime in the future. Personally, Google Play Music > Spotify. // reddit

Google Allo's Web Client is a "Few More Weeks" Out

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 07:39:02 +0000

Where is the Google Allo web client? According to Amit Fulay, the head of product for Google's Allo and Duo, it should be here in a "few more weeks." That's the latest update after we learned in May that we were still a "month or two" away from it arriving. For those not familiar, the web client for Allo will be a version that is accessible from a Chrome tab or whichever browser you use on your home or work computer. It'll give you access to your Allo conversations outside of the app on your phone, something that isn't currently available. It's a pretty big deal for a messaging app to have a desktop experience. We saw a brief preview of what it might look like back in February. Will the Google Allo web client make the app more appealing to those of us still hanging on to Google Hangouts? Maybe! I think for me, I need it to be even more like Hangouts, though, which would mean access across multiple devices. If that could happen, then yeah, I think I'd give it a shot. What about you - is the Allo web client something that could get you to give it a shot? https://twitter.com/amitfulay/status/883711364409114625

T-Mobile Galaxy S8 Update Brings June Security Patch, Tweaks Nav Bar (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:57:37 +0000

On Friday night, T-Mobile and Samsung pushed out an update to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The update isn't necessarily major, but does weigh in at 280+MB and brings with it some additional tweaks. For one, the update (G950USQU1AQFJ, G955USQU1AQFJ) brings June's Android security match. Yes, we're already 10 days into July, so this isn't exactly the most positive moment in Samsung's relatively decent security update history. The update also brings a tweak or two to the navigation bar, including the ability to hide it with a little dot off to its left (see image below), along with a really limited set of color options for it. Additionally, the guys at Android Police are under the impression that this update may also break may of the Bixby remapper apps that had been previously working. That seems quite user hostile, no? I seem to recall a certain Samsung employee suggesting that the initial kill-job was fine because Android users always find another way. So much for that. To grab the update, head into Settings>Software update. UPDATE: T-Mobile says that the update provides the following--

"DIGITS update, Qualcomm update for microphone fix, Bixby enhancements, Google Daydream capable, Various system improvements"

UPDATE 2: T-Mobile has adjusted the wording after "Google Daydream capable" to include "with Google availability." In other words, the phone is ready for Daydream, we're just waiting on Google to press the green button.

// T-Mobile

DEAL: Google Home + Chromecast Bundle for Just $99.99 ($64 Off)

Kellen — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 05:52:44 +0000

We've got more deals to tell you about here shortly, but the best of the best today is over at eBay where Google is selling a Google Home and Chromecast bundle for just $99.99. That's a $64 discount. It actually seems like Google is tossing in a free Chromecast on top of a $30 discount to Google Home since Home is basically everywhere to $99. The deal is through Google's official eBay store. If you aren't interested in a bundle like that (or because Google might sell out on their eBay store), you can also grab the Google Home everywhere for the $30 discount by itself. You can also save $10 on Chromecast or Chromecast Audio everywhere. I don't think I need to sell you on this bundle do I? You know what Google Home is (our review). You know what a Chromecast is. Deal Links:

Google Home + Chromecast Bundle at eBay ($99.99)

Google Home Discounts
- Best Buy ($99.00)
- Target ($99.00)
- Walmart ($99.00)
- Staples ($99.00)
- Verizon ($99.99)
- Google ($99.00)
Chromecast & Chromecast Audio Discounts
- Best Buy ($25)
- Target ($25)
- Walmart ($25)
- Staples ($25)
- Google ($25)

Weekly Recap: OnePlus 5 Reviews Are Live!

Tim — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 16:00:30 +0000

The work week has come to a close, but we certainly made good use of this short week. Both our written and video reviews of the OnePlus 5 are now live, and in them, we go over everything you need to know if you've been eyeing the latest from OnePlus. On top of the reviews, we went over the latest developments for Samsung's Bixby Voice, learned that Motorola is hosting an unveiling event on July 25 in NYC, and also relayed news that pricing for PlayStation Vue is about to increase (boo!). Here's the good stuff if you missed any of it.

WATCH: The Droid Life Show - Episode 145 (Subscribe)
Review: OnePlus 5 written and video.
We're hosting an awesome cord-cutting giveaway with Plex!
Bixby Voice gets a new feature for those in testing program.
Chrome OS getting a sweet touch-friendly launcher.
Moto: Motorola hosting event on July 25.
Android distribution numbers have been updated for July.
Everything you need to know about the PlayStation Vue price increase.
RED unveils the Hydrogen, launches next year and starts at $1200.
OnePlus 5 scores pretty well in the camera department, according to DxO.

Have a fun and safe weekend, everybody!

DEAL: Quick Charge 3.0 Products From Aukey and Anker Get Big Discounts

Kellen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:18:12 +0000

It's the weekend, so you are probably making plans and might need to consider whether or not you'll be able to keep your phone charged the entire time. Should you not yet own a quick charger or portable power bank, we've got a couple of options for you below from both Aukey and Anker. You'll find a 16000mAh Quick Charge 3.0 power bank and 10-port QC 3.0 dock from Aukey, both of which have been discounted through coupon codes that you use at checkout. Additionally, Anker is hosting a bunch of no-coupon-necessary discounts on both QC 3.0 chargers and a USB Type-C charger with Power Delivery. Go get 'em! Amazon Links:

Aukey 16000mAh Quick Charge 3.0 Portable Charger ($23.09, CODE: AUPRIME2)
Aukey 10-Port Quick Charge 3.0 USB Dock ($25.19, CODE: AUPRIME1)
Anker 4-Port Quick Charge 3.0 Charger ($22.49)
Anker USB Type-C with Power Delivery Charger ($19.99)

Let's Talk About This OnePlus 5 Review!

Kellen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:33:21 +0000

On this episode of the Droid Life Show, we're first and foremost sharing some final thoughts on the OnePlus 5. Our written and video reviews are out, and this is an important one knowing that we called the OnePlus 3 the 2016 phone of the year. Is the 5? Let's talk about it. Other topics will include some early thoughts on the Moto Z2 Play, Motorola's upcoming launch event, RED's ridiculous new phone, Bixby Voice delays and updates, and more. We’ll be live at 1:00PM Pacific (4:00PM Eastern) for the fun. If you miss us live, feel free to subscribe to us by following one of the links below. We have a video embed as well and will be chatting it up over at the YouTube page for the show. You can find it here.

Bixby Voice Gets Update With Open Q&A Feature to Help You Get Answers

Kellen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:18:09 +0000

Bixby Voice, for those a part of the early access program, is receiving an update today that introduces a new "Open Q&A" feature. As the name of the feature suggests, this is Samsung taking on Google in a way, by offering up a way for you to ask Bixby for answers to general or specific questions. Samsung is selling this new Open Q&A feature as a way to ask Bixby "general questions about people, places or things." All you have to do is ask Bixby to "Open Q&A session" and then you can start to ask it for information. In testing, I think you can also just ask Bixby questions now without the need to "Open Q&A," but the Q&A thing makes it more official or something. Wait, could you not do this before? Like, just get typical answers to things like, "How old is Lebron James?" If not, glad it's here now! If you are a part of the Bixby early access, head into Bixby and you should receive an update from there. Also, jump into the top-right menu of Bixby to see the notices that talk about the new Q&A feature.

Chrome OS is Getting a Sweet Touch-Friendly Launcher

Kellen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:15:48 +0000

Because Chrome OS is now running on computers that fit the traditional model (keyboard + screen) and those that are more hybrid-like (with touchscreens!), it makes sense that the operating system evolves. One area that appears to be a current focus is Chrome OS' launcher. Through the Canary channel (the earliest of early builds where Google tests new goodies), the Chrome OS team has released a new touch-friendly approach that is part Pixel Launcher and also a nice use of desktop space. You can see the new launcher in action in the video below that was shared by Francois Beaufort, who I believe is still a Chrome and Chromium evangelist. In the short clip, Beaufort shows that a touch on the launcher button (or the search button) reveals a new launcher with a Google search bar front and center, along with a couple of suggested apps. From there, a swipe-up reveals all of the apps available on your Chrome OS device. The real magic might be in the Google bar that is readily available for searching by voice or keyboard once the launcher has been activated. You can type out queries and get direct responses, which include both Google search results and apps, or you can search by voice. Selecting an option then opens a Chrome tab, as you would expect. Anyone running Canary on their Chrome OS device want to give it a shot? If so, head into chrome://flags/#enable-fullscreen-app-list and restart Chrome. Should this pass through to beta and then stable, it might change dramatically. What I'm saying is don't get too excited just yet. Ahh the hell with it, this is cool - get excited. // Engadget

OnePlus 5 Review

Tim — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 09:38:25 +0000

In 2016, we declared the OnePlus 3T as the Phone of the Year. To us, it was a complete package, coupled with a price that isn't too extreme for most smartphone buyers. Sure, it had its drawbacks, but there was plenty to love, too. Now, in 2017, OnePlus has taken feedback as it always does, focused on a few points in particular, and has released the OnePlus 5. Does it live up to the hype? Is this the year we see a back-to-back Phone of the Year awarded? That's what we're here to find out, so let's get to it. This is our OnePlus 5 review.

OnePlus 5 Review

The Good

Specs For a company that comes out and says specs don't make a phone great, they sure do pack in the heat in an attempt to get people excited. On paper, this thing is a beast, featuring an optional 8GB RAM + 128GB storage (or 6GB + 64GB), dual rear-facing cameras (20MP + 16MP), 5.5" FHD Optic AMOLED display (1080p, 401ppi, 16:9), NFC, fingerprint reader, USB Type C, Snapdragon 835 processor, and plenty of other stuff to get us Android nerds pumped up. If you want the full list of specs, we got that info right here. On the downside for specs, this phone is missing something that many other flagships have in 2017, that being water resistance. I mean, pretty much every phone has this now; even HTC devices. I understand that OnePlus can't put everything into this phone because they need to keep the price down, but even slight water resistance would have been appreciated. Heck, I'd pay an extra $50-75 for that, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Beyond that, you can't complain about too much in terms of specs. This phone pretty much has it all. Hardware At a quick glance, especially if you use a cover, the OnePlus 5 looks identical to last year's OnePlus 3T. If you shed the cover, though, you will see minor changes to the design -- changes that I very much like. The phone is slim, resting well in the hand, but its cool metallic feeling is smooth and refined. The backside has a subtle curve to it, bringing the word "elegant" to my head. This hardware and build is impressive from a still young manufacturer, but its not very surprising from OnePlus; they've always taken design seriously. While I think the phone is gorgeous, it does seem rather plain when you look at the iteration from last year's phone to this. It's really only a slight change to the overall feel and look (dual cameras this year), but the frontside is as identical as you can get. Not to say the front is bad, but it just seems that OnePlus didn't want to fix something that wasn't broken. We have phones with extremely thin bezels in 2017, so I would have looked to see more effort made to introduce an overhauled front. We've heard OnePlus discuss this, so my guess would be that we can expect a radical change in 2018. One hardware piece on this device that you won't find on any other Android device is the Alert Slider. I said it years ago and I'll say it again, EVERY phone needs this. Being able to quickly toggle through notification settings is genius, so I'm shocked no one else has jumped on this. I mean, iPhone devices have had it forever, so you'd think Android OEMs would take the hint -- people like the slider. Software One of the aspects I've always enjoyed about OnePlus' software is the the less is more approach. OxygenOS (on top of Android Nougat) is basically what you'd find on a Nexus or Pixel device, but with a few tweakable things baked in. For example, you can switch between on-screen or physical buttons, changeup the battery status icon, or change up the theme of the device. It's small stuff, but I'd rather have these few options and essentially what is stock Android than TouchWiz and all of the bloat that is associated with it. Like past OnePlus devices, gestures are also baked in, such as the "V" to turn on the flashlight, "O" to open the camera, and three-finger swipes to take a screenshot. Users can display their network speed in the status bar, access an icon manager, and the OnePlus launcher has even been updated to reflect that of the Pixel devices. It's pretty sweet. When OnePlus announced this phone, they mentioned the amount of RAM and other tweaks they made to make the software smooth. For the most part, it certainly feels that they did a good job in this category. I can switch through apps pretty quick, and memory management doesn't seem too strict when it comes to auto-closing apps. I'm still hesitant to say all phones need 8GB RAM, but I suppose if all phones would be smooth like the OnePlus 5, it's something to consider.

Somewhere in the Middle

Display This year's display is the same 5.5" FHD Optic AMOLED we've had in previous generations, but with Gorilla Glass 5 protecting it from scratches and scrapes. There's certainly nothing wrong with FHD, but at what point will OnePlus decide to make the jump to QHD? If the company wants to add VR functionality (I hear Daydream and VR is all the rage these days), a higher resolution will be necessary. Then there's also that Snapdragon 835 basically going to waste on a 1080p panel. That chipset is capable of pushing a lot of pixel power, and with prices continuing to go up and up year after year, there's really no reason not to source QHD panels from another company and include them. Oh, speaking of which, this would be a good time for a prediction. Next year, 2018, the OnePlus 6 will cost $599 (starting) and come with QHD. You heard it here first, folks. Again, that's just a prediction. Battery If you've already watched Kellen's video review, you'll notice this is an area we differ a bit. While he says he got crazy good life with, like, 6+ hours of screen on time, my experience was average to sometimes below average. Unlike him, I used AT&T for the majority of my use, simply because I was traveling to an area that T-Mobile does not support. On AT&T, I was running out of juice around 8-9PM, sometimes later. It depended heavily on how much I was gaming, which I've been doing quite a bit of. Five of the days I was using the device, my usage was very sporadic, and I didn't have the phone on me much. That led to better battery life, but didn't quite help me determine just how good the battery is. At least from what I can tell, if you have the choice, opt to have the best cell signal you can, which will help greaten your battery life. On the upside, Dash Charge seems to only get better with each iteration. I love it. You plug the phone in and 15 minutes later you're at 50%+ of juice. It's incredibly clutch, especially if you're a gamer like me.

Availability and Price As you'd expect, just like every other device from this company, don't expect to find it at your local carrier store. If you want the OnePlus 5, you'll have to go through the company's online shop, starting at $479. That's the 6GB model. For $539, you can get the 8GB model, but I'm under the impression that 8GB is just overkill these days. Maybe in a year or two we'll need 8GB, but right now? Seems unnecessary, but that's just me. While you won't find it in a store, there is one good thing happening at this moment -- you can actually buy the phone. In past years, the phones from OnePlus would be sold out and no one would have any good clue when they'd be available, but with the OnePlus 5, that seems to have changed. Good job, OnePlus. This would also be a good time to discuss the pricing scheme OnePlus has going on. The first OnePlus phone cost $299 and had a lot of excitement surrounding it, partly thanks to that amazing prize. OnePlus was able to deliver solidly built hardware at a very competitive price, but that model seems to be going away. This is OnePlus' most expensive phone yet, and I don't see this trend stopping soon. As the years goes on, buyers want more and more, and OnePlus simply can't offer everything under the sun in a sub-$450 package. We'd have to ditch the dual cameras, next-gen processors, stupid amounts of RAM, and think twice about the materials we're using. That just doesn't seem like the OnePlus way. This company wants to make premium handsets, the kind that can compete with Google, HTC, and Samsung. For this, we mustn't hate on OnePlus, we need to look in the mirror. We continuously ask for more and more, but then expect a cheap price tag. I am guilty of this, too, but as I stated, I'm willing to pay a premium price for premium specs and hardware. To wrap up my thoughts on the pricing, I'm fine with the increases, so long as what's being added is worthy of it. This year we have 8GB RAM and a dual camera. Do those make the price bump worth it to you?

The Not-so-Good

Camera For how long OnePlus has hyped up the dual rear-facing cameras on the backside, let's just say that I expected so much more. I at least expected usable photos, but sadly, that's not what I got. The OnePlus 5 has a 20MP sensor (Sony IMX350, f/2.6, 1.0um, PDAF) alongside a 16MP sensor (Sony IMX398, f/1.7, 1.12um, EIS, DCAF), which should be able to create solid images and video. While I enjoyed how fast I could snap shots off, I had a very rough time with the final product. Pictures come out blurry, poorly processed, and there's noise even in daytime shots. If you compare these shooters to what you find on the Galaxy S8, G6, or even Pixel, my assumption is those phones would blow this away. I can hope that OnePlus could simply send out an update to address the quality of shooting, but it has already done that, so I don't quite know what to tell you. Maybe more work can be done, but at what point were they using this phone and said, "Oh yeah, this is super good, let's roll with it!" The company even claims it worked closely with Sony to develop a custom sensor, but you'd never be able to tell. Speaking purely about the camera software, I like it. There are all the tools you might want (filters, Pro mode, Time-lapse, Slow motion, and even a "Shot on OnePlus Watermark," plus that Portrait mode is just a swipe away. Is the Portrait mode even cool, though? Gonna have to lean towards "No" again. Whenever I used it, there's way too much halo effect on my subjects with grainy blur in the background, and I couldn't even get a usable shot of a human subject, so I've placed one below that features my dog. Insert frustrated emoji here. I will admit, as smartphone people, we're all spoiled with the effort many companies are putting into cameras, so I applaud OnePlus' effort to bring us something new. It just doesn't seem to have worked out this time around, but like I said, maybe an update can help improve the quality of shots.

Portrait of Loki

Other Notes

Fingerprint reader - The fingerprint reader experience is pretty much identical to what is on the OnePlus 3T. It's fast and can be used to unlock the phone without turning on the screen.
3.5mm headphone jack - OnePlus joked on stage that it removed the headphone jack on the OnePlus 5. I didn't think it was funny, but hey, it's got one!
Updates - We can't assume OnePlus is going to bring 2 years of major updates and 3 years of security updates. We can certainly hope for that, but this company has a bit to prove, especially with news going out recently that the OnePlus 2 is very much dead in terms of support. OnePlus has had its issues with development teams and merging, so with OxygenOS now all under one roof, let's hope things go smoothly for OnePlus 5 owners. So far, it's been fine, with the OP5 already receiving a couple of updates.
Girlfriend impressions - "This feels like my OnePlus 3 and it's really slippery. I need a case just to grip it."
Night Mode - A tweak that all Android OEMs seem to be baking in these days, and for that, I'm grateful. It's very helpful when it's close to bedtime and you're trying to save your eyes from burning up.

Videos

Unboxing First 10 Things to Do 20+ Tips and Tricks

Gallery

OnePlus 5 Review: Should you buy one?

So, do we have ourselves a back-to-back Phone of the Year? Sadly, nope, not even close. While I don't think the OnePlus 5 is a step back by any means, the camera is enough to make me give this phone a hard pass. OnePlus has done a great job with hardware, software, and Dash Charge, but man, this camera kills the entire experience for me. It's a real shame, considering how much time they spent on stage to hype it up. Now, if OnePlus comes out with a magical update to fix the camera issues, I could easily find myself jumping back onboard. The phone is great in hand, has sweet software, and should (hopefully) receive timely updates. There's a lot to like, especially at a starting price of $479. If you're someone who needs me to provide a definitive answer, then I will say "No." Wait to see what Google has later this year, Samsung has the Galaxy Note 8 coming, and LG will have its followup to the V20. It'll be a good second half for 2017, so if you aren't completely sold on the OnePlus 5, just hang in there. If you already own the OnePlus 3 or 3T, I could see you upgrading, but don't expect any night and day differences. The phones are incredibly similar, so again, I would recommend just holding out for a little later this year. Buy OnePlus 5: OnePlus Store

Android Distribution Updated for July 2017: Nougat Gone Double Digit Wild

Kellen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 08:10:28 +0000

We've got new Android distribution numbers to start the month of July and they show Nougat jumping into double digits for the first time, now sitting at 11.5% of the Android pie. Man, we made it. Good job, everyone. This was a team effort that involved buying Google's phones to avoid an 8-month donut, while waiting patiently for the rest of the world to act like they care about supporting the devices they sell to other humans. As for other numbers, we've got Marshmallow now at 31.8% (up from 31.2%), while everyone else mostly dropped. Lollipop has settled in at 30.1%, KitKat at 17.1%, Jelly Bean at 8.1%, Ice Cream Sandwich at 0.7%, and Gingerbread at 0.7%. Last month's numbers can be found here. // Android Developers

Playstation Vue Eliminates Slim Packages, Price Increases Incoming

Kellen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 18:32:34 +0000

Playstation Vue, one of the many streaming TV options available, and one that I personally have subscribed to for months, announced updates today to the service's package lineup. Going forward, Playstation Vue has eliminated the Slim package lineup in favor of a more standardized nationwide line. That, unfortunately, means a price increase for customers thinking of signing up for a Slim package or who currently subscribe to one. The Slim packages used to be available to those in markets where Vue didn't have access to live local channels (like Portland!). The packages were $10 cheaper, which made sense, since they lacked channel options of the non-Slim packages. But going forward from today, Playstation Vue is doing away with the $10 discount and the Slim lineup. That means all new customers will pay an increased price, even if they don't get live local networks. It also means that current customers on Slim packages, will see an increase in 3 billing cycles. Yeah, that pretty much sucks. And that sucks not just because price increases suck when you aren't getting anything new, but Playstation Vue just ditched all the BeIN channels (goodbye, Soccer) and phased out the Viacom networks months ago. What I'm getting at is the fact that Vue isn't getting better, yet the prices are going up. Cool. The non-Slim prices are not increasing and will be the only options nationwide. If you are on a non-Slim plan, you can continue on paying your current monthly price. The new pricing can be found below.

Effective 7/6/2017 for new customers, PlayStation™Vue plans will have the same nationwide pricing, as follows:

Access: $39.99/mo*

Core: $44.99/mo*

Elite: $54.99/mo*

Ultra: $74.99/mo*

If you are already subscribing at one of the prices above, your price will not change. If you have Access Slim, Core Slim, Elite Slim, or Ultra Slim pricing, you will keep your current price for three billing cycles after the July 6 pricing change announcement. At the conclusion of this period, your monthly subscription will change (on your subscription renewal date) to the pricing above, based on the plan you have. If you upgrade, downgrade, or re-subscribe during this special pricing period, currently available pricing will apply.

YouTube TV in Portland yet? // Playstation Vue

Giveaway: Win a Cord-Cutting Prize Bundle From Droid Life and Plex (Update: Winner Selected!)

Tim — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 14:34:57 +0000

In early June, Plex announced Plex Live TV and DVR. To help celebrate this, we've partnered with Plex to offer up a cord-cutting prize bundle, complete with HDHomeRun tuner, Mohu Leaf antenna, and a lifetime pass for Plex. If you are about to join the cord-cutting revolution, this is the bundle you want. To fill you in if you missed the announcement, Plex Live TV and DVR allows users to watch their favorite TV shows as they happen, but also record them, thanks to DVR support. With this cord-cutting prize bundle, the winner can watch all of their local OTA channels via the Mohu Leaf 50 antenna and HDHomeRun tuner, record all that action with the DVR functionality on Plex, then access all of that goodness via Plex's servers with your lifetime pass. For an overview of Plex Live TV and DVR, check out the video below. If you already own a SHIELD TV (the perfect accessory for hardcore Plex users), you'll basically be a cord-cutting deity and all others will have to bow down. We'll make entering for this giveaway extremely easy, sticking with our handy dandy Rafflecopter widget. We will also add a few options you can choose to gain a few more entires. Let's do this!

Update: We have our winner! Congrats, Evan!

Giveaway

Prizes: Lifetime Plex Pass ($150 value), HDHomeRun Connect Tuner ($99 value), and Mohu Leaf 50 Antenna ($49 value). How to Enter a Rafflecopter giveaway Winner: We will select our winner on Monday, July 10 at 10AM Pacific.

Cheers to Plex for offering up the prizes!

Motorola Hosting Event in NYC on July 25

Tim — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:17:34 +0000

Invites are rolling out for a Motorola event that is to take place on July 25 in New York City. While the invite doesn't provide specifics, the tagline "#HelloMotoWorld" likely indicates the incoming of new smartphones. If you've been following, we've seen various leaks and reports happening, centered on the Moto X4 and Moto Z2 Force. To sum up what's possible, the Z2 Force should look very similar to the original (because Moto Mods), and the X4 is reported to be a mid-range device with Snapdragon 630, 4GB, as well as IP68 water and dust resistance. Mark your calendars, Moto fans.

Hulu Offering HBO Add-On for $15, Cinemax for $10

Tim — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 11:53:10 +0000

Announced this morning, Hulu is partnering with HBO to offer a new add-on for any tier of Hulu's plans. Right in time for the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, the add-on will cost you $15/month, the same price it would be if you went through HBO GO. The only difference is that you can access all of HBO's content via Hulu. Not only can you add on HBO, but Hulu is also offering a Cinemax add-on, priced at $10/month. As a recap, Hulu has three tiers, each of which can access the HBO and Cinemax add-ons. There's the $8/month tier (limited commercials), $12/month (no commercials), and the Hulu with Live TV option for $40/month. The add-ons are available right now, so have at it. // Hulu

RED Announces Hydrogen Smartphone, $1200+ for 'Holographic' Display With 2018 Delivery

Tim — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:58:05 +0000

RED, the makers of fine photography equipment that will set you back the price of a new car, have introduced its own smartphone -- Hydrogen. Currently, there's a lot we don't know about the device, but from what RED is hyping, it's a pretty futuristic piece of hardware. According to RED's website where the announcement was made, the Hydrogen comes with a 5.7" "Hydrogen Holographic" display, featuring "nanotechnology that seamlessly switches between traditional 2D content, holographic multi-view content, 3D content, and interactive games." Essentially, if you need a phone capable of viewing H4V (RED Hydrogen 4-view) content, AR, VR, and 3D media, this phone might be calling your name. Beyond the fancy display, RED details that the Hydrogen is modular, probably thanks to the array of pins pictured on the phone's backside. We aren't yet sure about what types of modules will be available, but I can tell you one thing, they probably won't be cheap. Other details we can make out with the photo provided is that it comes with what appears to be USB Type-C, a headphone jack, and a super creative hardware styling (notice the weird grips on the siding). The phone does come with the Android OS, but beyond that, not much is known. We aren't yet sure about the processor, camera, RAM, or other specifications. RED does state that it is a unlocked multi-band phone, though, meaning it's capable of running on various networks. Now, given this is RED we're talking about, the phone is not cheap. There are two versions, the Titanium, priced at $1,595, and the Aluminum, priced at $1,195. Not only do you have to shell that money out upfront, but your patience will be tested since the phone isn't expected to ship until Q1 of 2018. While I always welcome newcomers into the smartphone market, and I do believe RED has what it takes to actually launch the product, I wouldn't be surprised if RED comes into unforeseen issues along the line. There could even be delays, just like any other crowdfunded or pre-order device that comes from a company with little experience in the phone launching field. With that said, there's a ton of details we don't yet know, so if you're on the fence about dropping $1,200+ on a phone that you won't have until next year, it's best to wait. RED says that these prices may not last, but I'm sorry if folks are hesitant after we've seen the likes of Comet and Saygus. If you want to pre-order or see more details, head over to RED's website. RED Hydrogen

Instagram Brings Photo, Video Replies to Stories

Tim — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:48:13 +0000

Instagram is rolling out the ability to send video and photo replies to Stories this week, making the experience of Stories a bit more than just a one way street. For example, if you're watching a friend's Story and want to reply to something in particular, you can tap the camera button, shoot a reply, then get back to finishing the Story. When you're making your reply, you can make a photo, video or Boomerang, then access all of the same editing tools as you're used to. It's a complete and fully editable replying option. If you're the one who sent the Story and someone replied to it, you can find the messages inside of the Direct Inbox from the main screen in the app. Here's the rundown straight from Instagram.

To reply to a story, simply tap the camera button while watching a story.
Capture a photo, video, or boomerang and add any creative tools you'd like. Once you hit “Send” you can continue watching stories.
Replies to your story appear in your Direct inbox as always. Photo and video replies are highlighted in blue and disappear once you view them.

Play Link // Instagram

And the OnePlus 5 DxOMark Score is...

Kellen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:40:55 +0000

An 87. Not bad! That puts the OnePlus 5 just behind the HTC U11, Google Pixel, HTC 10, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S7. In my testing, I'd have to agree that the camera setup on the OnePlus 5 is not as good as the cameras on any of those phones. I'll have more on that in my review that should be ready within the next day. DxOMark dives deep into why the OnePlus 5 DxOMark score is an 87, and if you care that deeply about a score from them, be sure to jump through that source link below. The highlights were that the camera is fast and smooth to autofocus, captures good details in bright light conditions, and has accurate white balance. On the negative side, you get "occasional strong loss of details in outdoor conditions," fine detail loss in low-light conditions, and a ghosting effect outdoors. I would agree with all of that. Typically, we wouldn't pay much attention to a phone's DxOMark score, but OnePlus announced a partnership with the camera testing group before the OnePlus 5 launched, then went silent without a mention of them once the phone became official. We asked both companies to provide us additional details on the team-up shortly after the OnePlus 5 was announced and received little info back, so we're glad that the score is out and we can all move on. An 87! // DxOMark

Nokia Partners With Zeiss Once Again for Smartphone Imaging

Kellen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:07:38 +0000

Zeiss and Nokia are back, people! Today, the two announced an exclusive joint partnership that "aims to set new imaging standards" for the smartphones you carry around each day. Well, assuming they are Nokia, then yeah, you'll have some standard-setting goodness. Specifically, the agreement is between HMD Global and Zeiss, with HMD being the company behind Nokia phones at the moment. But the partnership is one that reignites a relationship that kicked off more than a decade ago and could return fresh camera experiences. Today's announcement doesn't specify which phones will feature Zeiss imaging experiences, but I'd imagine we'll get news on that before long. Either way, Zeiss is back in the game and that's a good thing. // PRnewswire

Question of the Day: 3 Favorite Things About Your Phone?

Kellen — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:54:21 +0000

No matter what phone I'm testing at the moment, there are undoubtedly going to be things about it that I don't like. Whether its poor performance, awful software tweaks, a slippery exterior, or subpar camera experience, I have yet to find a phone that is perfect. But that doesn't mean that there aren't a whole bunch of good things that can outweigh even the biggest flaws. For example, Samsung is still pretty bad at software and performance, yet the Galaxy S8 is easily a top 3 phone to be considered and will probably sell in record amounts. And it'll do so because of its design, display, and camera, three of the most important aspects to any phone that Samsung has absolutely nailed. You've also got phones like the OnePlus 5 with subpar cameras and uninspired designs, yet this one in particular is still a worthwhile phone because of its decent price, awesome software experience, and incredible battery life. So rather than dwell on the bad stuff, I'm just curious about the things you love about your phone. What makes your phone the phone for you? What are 3 things about your phone that keep it in your pocket or made you buy it in the first place?

Price of T-Mobile ONE Plus Increasing From $5 to $10/Month Starting Tomorrow

Tim — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:07:21 +0000

As it currently stands, the "PLUS" add-on to a T-Mobile ONE plan (the one that comes with all taxes and fees included in your monthly price) will run you just $5, thanks to a promo that has been live since February. That price drop was from the original $15 it cost, but it still provided unlimited LTE device data, 10GB of LTE tethering, unlimited HD streaming, and Gogo inflight unlimited access. To sum up that move, it was T-Mobile reacting to Verizon's reintroduction of unlimited data. Anyway, the pricing is changing yet again, as TmoNews has confirmed that the price of the Plus add-on is about to double. Starting tomorrow on July 6, any new customer will have to pay $10/month for Plus, instead of $5. According to a user on reddit, nothing about the plan itself changes, with exception to the price. Anyone signing up will still get access to the free DIGITS Talk and Text line, as well as the Gogo inflight access and 10GB of high-speed tethering. Moral of the story is, if you were thinking about grabbing a ONE Plus line, you may want to do it before these changes take place, which is coming up pretty soon. We'll let you know when T-Mobile makes this move completely official. // reddit | TmoNews

DEAL: Save $30 on Google WiFi Through Amazon, 3-Pack Priced at $270

Tim — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 11:52:06 +0000

Over on Amazon, anyone can grab a 3-pack of Google WiFi for about $30 off the usual retail price, with the system listed at $269.99. If you only need a single WiFi point, though, that is also on sale for $114 ($15 off). If you haven't yet upgraded your home to a mesh WiFi network, I must say, it's pretty awesome. In the few months I have been using Google WiFi, I have had zero problems, and the hand-off between the points located in various spaces of my home has been lovely. If you have a multi-level home with a few rooms, I highly recommend checking it out. The below link will take you straight to the 3-pack on Amazon, but if you only need a single point, you can select that option. You can always add more points in the future if need be. Amazon Link

Samsung is Making a Bixby-Powered Smart Speaker, Because of Course

Kellen — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 11:03:28 +0000

Samsung is working on a Bixby-powered smart speaker. That should shock no one, even if it is the first time we are hearing this news, because if you are in tech and have your own assistant, putting that assistant into things is the hot trend of the moment. Amazon started us off with the Echo a few years back, then Google came with Home, and now Apple has the HomePod on the way. All of these products offer audio experiences along with an assistant of sorts. According to a report out of the Wall Street Journal, Samsung's Bixby smart speaker is still very much in the development stage and timing for a release hasn't been settled on. Also, Bixby is struggling with English still, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to be rushing out smart speakers with a voice tech that isn't even ready for most smartphones. Today's report does suggest that this project has been in the works for more than a year and is codenamed "Vega." That's really all we know. We have no idea how much this thing will cost, what it'll look like, and if there is a guarantee that it'll even launch. Are you smart speaker'd-out yet? // Wall Street Journal

July's Android Security Update Goes Live With Factory Images for Nexus, Pixel

Kellen — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 10:13:49 +0000

Google just posted the Android security update for July 2017 and the files are already live for a number of devices. So far, we are seeing 7.1.2 files for Pixel and Pixel XL (NHG47O, NJH47D, NKG47M, NZH54B), Pixel C (N2G48B), Nexus 6P (N2G48B), Nexus 5X (N2G47Z), and Nexus Player (N2G48B). We've also got new 7.1.1 files for Nexus 6 (N6F27H) and Nexus 9 (N4F27I, N9F27F). The notes here for each Pixel update indicate that NHG47O is for Verizon models, NZH54B is for Deutsche Telekom, NKG47M is for T-Mobile and Fi users, while NJH47D is the generic build for everyone else. You can grab each image or OTA file at the links below. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go. As more files arrive, we’ll update this post. Links:

Report: Bixby Voice for US Delayed Because Samsung Has a 'Big Data Issue'

Tim — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 08:48:38 +0000

The beta version of Bixby Voice for US users has been available since June, but a widespread rollout is still pending, due to a "big data issue" Samsung is having, according to the latest report from South Korea. In order for Bixby Voice to properly take a user's question or request, then turn it into something useful more times than not, Samsung needs big data. Big data, in this case, would be large data sets that can be gone over computationally to reveal patterns and trends. When you think big data, you think Google, Amazon, and Apple, but Samsung is reported to be working hard in this field now as well, all to get Bixby Voice working properly for Galaxy users around the world. According to one source close to the project, one of the issues stems from the separation of the engineers in the US and South Korea. Speaking anonymously to The Korea Herald, "Many engineers in the US are making full efforts to develop the English version. But, (due to geographical and language barriers) their frequent reports to and communication with the management located in Korea makes the progress much slower than developing the Korean version here." While Samsung and Bixby Voice for the US is still having problems, that hasn't stopped analytic firms from predicting how popular the service will be in a few years. According to the firm Ovum, it predicts Bixby will be the second largest voice assistant service by 2021, right after Google Assistant. If their numbers hold true, we could see more digital assistant installs than people currently living, which is pegged to be around 7.5 billion. Here's a question for the folks using the Bixby Voice beta -- How are you liking it? // Korea Herald

Droid Life

Googler Gives Actual Explanation Why Bose's Google Assistant Headphones are Super Useful

DxOMark Ranks iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Cameras Highest for Smartphones

Report: HTC 'Ocean Master' Coming This Year, Features 6" Edge-to-Edge Display

Specs

Moto G5S Plus Arrives in US for $230 on September 29

Instagram Intros Face Filters for Live Videos

SHIELD TV 16GB With SHIELD Remote Bundle Price Cut to $179

OnePlus Moves Launcher, Weather, Gallery Apps to Google Play for Quicker Updates

Google and Bose Announce Google Assistant Powered QuietComfort 35 II Headphones

Google Pays HTC $1.1 Billion to Acquire the Pixel Team, Not Own Their Smartphone Business

Google Home Mini May Have Just Stopped at the FCC

Global Citizen Festival to be Streamed in VR This Weekend, Courtesy of NextVR

Huawei Mate 10 Lite Details, Images Posted Online Ahead of Unveiling

Nexus Player Android 8.0 Factory Image and OTA With September Patch Now Available

Nest Announces $499 Alarm System, Video Doorbell, and Cam IQ Outdoor

Google Assistant for Nest Cam IQ Indoor

Android One Moto X4 Announced for Project Fi, Priced at $399

Google Launches Project Fi Device Trade-In Program, Will Likely do the Same for Google Store (Updated)

HTC Halts Trading, Could Announce Google Takeover in Major Announcement

LG V30 Goes on Sale in Korea, No Word Yet on US Launch

Google Pixelbook is Google's New Chromebook With Pixelbook Pen, Starting at $1,199

Related:

Here is the Pixel 2 in "Kinda Blue," White, and Black - Starting at $649

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

Related:

And Here is the Pixel 2 XL in Black and White, Starting at $849

RELATED: Pixel 2 also revealed with colors, pricing, and storage!

Here is the New Google Daydream View, It'll Cost $99

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

RELATED: Pixel 2 also just got revealed with pricing, colors, and storage.

Old vs. New

Here is the Google Home Mini, the Smaller $49 Google Home

READ NOW: We just revealed the Pixel 2 XL, along with pricing, colors, and storage.

RELATED: Pixel 2 also just got revealed with pricing, colors, and storage.

Report: T-Mobile, Sprint in Active Talks Regarding Merger

Video: Galaxy Note 8 Review!

Amazon Intros Fire HD 10 Tablet With Alexa, Pre-Order Available for $150

Specs

T-Mobile Raising Throttling Limit to 50GB (Updated: Yep)

DEAL: Buy a Google Home for $129, Get a Free Chromecast

This Icon Pack is Hot and Free: Graby Spin

Google Announces Tez Mobile Payments App Specifically for India

Tez Features

Report: Samsung Has Developed a Camera Sensor Capable of 1,000FPS

Motorola Gets Raked for Not Updating Moto G4 Plus to Oreo as Promised, Says It Now Will

Action Launcher Now Also Offers Adaptive Icon Support Via New $5 AdaptivePack App

Action Launcher v28 Changelog

Samsung Gives the World All It Ever Asked for: Option to Disable Bixby Button

How to turn off Bixby

Disable Bixby alternate

Don't forget the home panel

Not a full disable

Essential Phone Now Certified for Use on Verizon's Network

Weekly Recap: Galaxy Note 8 Review is Live and October 4 is Pixel 2 Day!

DEAL: Amazon Echo (Cert Refurbished) is Just $80 Right now

Amazon Deal Link

Galaxy Note 8, Essential Phone Reviews

Galaxy Note 8 Review

The Good

Somewhere in the Middle

The Not-so-Good

Other Notes

Availability and Price

Video

Gallery

The Verdict

Verizon Galaxy Note 8 Receives Day One Update, Patches Blueborne and Improves GPS (Updated)

It's Galaxy Note 8 Day! Who has the Best Deal?

Which seller has the best Galaxy Note 8 deal today?

Samsung's own Galaxy Note 8 deal: $300 Off with trade

Samsung Deal Link

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 deal: Buy one, get one free

T-Mobile Deal Link

Verizon Galaxy Note 8 deal: Up to 50% off with trade

Verizon Deal Link

AT&T Galaxy Note 8 deal: $300 off trade or Semi-BOGO

AT&T Deal Link

Sprint Galaxy Note 8 deal: 50% off lease

Sprint Deal Link