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Best phones you can pick up from Verizon right now

Alexandra Arici
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We recently shared with you some of the best Android phones that are waiting for you at AT&T to pick them up. But if for some reason you don’t want to do business with the carrier, we suggest you take a look at its biggest competitor, Verizon. Big Red also has a pretty extensive portfolio of Android phones, ranging from premium to middle-range and really affordable options. There’s something for everyone, so don’t hesitate take a sneak peek and get informed before you make a purchase.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

One reason why customers want to buy from Verizon is that Big Red is Google’s exclusive carrier partner when it comes to the Pixel phones. Google’s 2016 flagships are extraordinary phones with capable specs and a strong design (by HTC). Here at AndroidGuys we really love the phones and we consider them some of the best models of 2016. You can pick up the Pixel for $0 down (for qualified customers) and $27/month on a 24-month contract or for $649 outright. The Pixel XL is a bit more expensive. You can acquire it for $32/month with a 2-year contract or starting at $769.

Check out their specs:

Pixel

google-pixel-in-the-wild

  • 5.0-inch AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (no microSD card)
  • 12.3MP/8MP camera combo
  • 2,700mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 7.1 Nougat

Pixel XL

pixel_xl_silver_google

  • 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/128GB of on-board storage (no microSD card)
  • 12.3MP/8MP camera combo
  • 3,450mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 7.1 Nougat

Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Until the Galaxy S8 arrives, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge remain Samsung’s current flagships. The phones are scheduled to receive the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update which is bound to make them even better. The devices are the best looking phones Samsung has produced to date and come with apt sets of specifications.

Verizon offers the phones with a 2-year complementary plan, which means you’ll have to pay a bit more a month than you would at AT&T’s. The Galaxy S7 can be yours for $28/month for 24 months or for $672 outright, while the Galaxy S7 edge costs $33/month or $792 in full. This is what you can expect from handsets, spec-wise:

Galaxy S7

galaxy-s7_shortcut_taskedge_l

  • 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,000mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat soon)

Galaxy S7 edge

Galaxy S7 Edge Camera Bump 2

  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • 3,600mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (getting Android 7.1.1 Nougat soon)

LG G5

The ill-fated LG G5 with its modular approach at smartphoning is available from Verizon. The device hasn’t impressed a lot of customers, even if it comes with a powerful set of specs. Yeah, the G5’s attempt at modularity has been considered a bit awkward, but if you’re willing to look at it as an experiment you might find the G5 isn’t so bad.

Big Red sells it for $26/month with the customary 2-month plan or for $624 in full if you got the money. This is what you’ll be getting:

LG G5

LG G5 1

  • 5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/8MP selfie camera
  • 2,800 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

LG V20

Here we have another of LG’s attempt to capture the hearts of phone lovers. Despite LG claiming the phone is selling very well, a new report revealed the now discontinued Galaxy Note7 is still more used than the LG V20. LG is hoping its next-gen G6 will be received better, but until the phone goes official, the V20 can be purchased off Verizon right now.

We included the phone in our list of Galaxy Note7 alternatives because it features really cool specs. However, the secondary display might be considered a gimmick by most. The V20 is available from Verizon for $28/month for 24 months or for $672 in full. If you want the phone we suggest you get it from Verizon, because AT&T sells it for a whopping $829 outright.

LG V20

LG V20

  • 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
  • Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD screen with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 16MP+8MP dual camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,200mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 7.0 Nougat

Moto Z Force Droid and Moto Z Play Droid

While customers didn’t really take to the LG G5, they did love the Moto Z family with its Moto Mods snap-on modules (like the 10x optical zoom camera module from Hasselblad).

The two phones bring top-of-the-line specs and can be purchased solely from Verizon. The Moto Z Force Droid can be yours for $30/month for the next 24-months or for $720 outright. As for the Moto Z Play Droid you can get it for $408 or free of charge if you are a customer with a line in good standing. Here’s what the two phones can bring in your life.

Moto Z Force Droid

Motorola Moto Z Force Droid back

  • 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 21MP rear camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,400 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

Moto Z Play Droid

moto_z_play_droid_04

  • 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 13MP rear camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 2,600 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

HTC 10

We consider the HTC 10 one of the best Android smartphones of 2016, up there with the Google Pixel. And now you can pick it up from Verizon. Surely you might want to wait a bit, as HTC is rumored to launch a new flagship phone on January 12, maybe the elusive HTC Ocean Note that we’ve been hearing of. But if you want a phone right now, the HTC 10 could be exactly what you’re looking for.

The device sells for $27/month for 24 months or for $648 outright. Here’s what you can expect from it.

HTC 10

Spigen_HTC_10_thin_fit_gunmetal_3

  • 5.2-inch Super LCD5 display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 565 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32GB/64GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 200GB)
  • 12P rear camera/5MP selfie camera
  • 3,000 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)

Samsung J3 V

Are you on a budget after all the holiday shopping you’ve been doing this season? No problem, Verizon also has a few cost-effective devices in its portfolio. Like the Samsung J3 V which can be yours for only $168 a pop. Here’s what you’ll get:

Samsung J3 V

Samsung J3

  • 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 294 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor
  • 1.5GB of RAM
  • 16GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 128GB)
  • 5MP rear camera/2MP selfie camera
  • 2,600 mAh battery (removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

BlackBerry PRIV

BlackBerry is no longer the smartphone giant it used to be, but the company continues to strive to remain present. The BlackBerry PRIV is actually a pretty decent Android device. At Verizon customers can get it for $17/month for 2-years or $408 outright, which makes it a pretty affordable middle-range device. Here are its specs:

BlackBerry PRIV

BlackBerry_Priv_6

  • 5.4-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 540 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of on-board storage (microSD card allows expansion up to 256GB)
  • 18MP rear camera/2MP selfie camera
  • 3,410 mAh battery (non-removable)
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Making your house WiFi enabled with Alexa and WeMo [How-To]

AndroidGuys
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1

In the last How-To we discussed how to use Google Home to Control your thermostat hands free. Today we continue the same “age of technology” workshops by showing you a simple way to make your lights, fans and other electronic devices WiFi enabled and able to communicate with your Alexa home assistant.

WeMo devices are simple things like light switches and outlet plugs that enable the connected devices to be controlled via wireless, and by extension controlled by Alexa. These are a simple and cost effective way to turn your home into a “smart home” without having to replace those perfectly good appliances.

Prerequisites:

As usual, there are a few things that must be completed before we can get started.

  1. You will need an Amazon Echo device
  2. You will need to install the Alexa App
  3. Must have at least one WeMo device installed in your house

Setup:

We will be breaking this down into two parts for simplicity

  1. Linking your WeMo network with Amazon Echo
  2. Adding your WeMo devices to the Alexa App

Linking your WeMo network with Amazon Echo

  1. With the Alexa App open, tap the menu button to reveal your options. then tap the “Skills” option.
  2. Search for WeMo in the search bar. Select the WeMo by Belkin skill and enable it.
  3. Tap on the Ready to Verify option in the WeMo skill. This will give you two minutes to toggle a WeMo enabled device and let Alexa figure out what the change was.
  4. Once Alexa knows what you did, it will ask you to veirfy that it got the change right.
  5. If this step completes you will see the success screen on the Alexa app.

Add your WeMo devices to the  Alexa App

  1. With the Alexa App open, tap the menu button and select the “Smart Home” option.
  2. Select the “Discover devices” option in the middle of the screen.
  3. Alexa will search your WeMo network for all of your devices. (This could take up to 20 seconds).
  4. You are now able to control your WeMo devices with your voice. Here is a list of commands you can give Alexa for your connected devices.

What are your Smart Home solutions? What kind of devices would you like to see tutorials done on? Hit us up in the comments below.

Take a look at ZTE’s upcoming sleek dual-camera phone, the Blade V8

Alexandra Arici
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0

In a recent piece, we predicted that dual cameras will become the norm in 2017 smartphones. And today we bring you a piece of news to show you this will indeed be the case.

Device maker ZTE is one of the most promising Chinese OEMs to make it to the US in recent years. The company offers very well specced devices like the Axon 7 at really affordable prices. ZTE also likes to experiment, so at CES 2017 we’re probably going to see its unique self-adhesive, eye-tracking smartphone make a debut.

zte-blade-v8-in-hand

But like many other Android OEM’s, ZTE is also a follower of trends. So it’s no surprise the company is prepping new a handset equipped with a dual-camera (the company ZTE Axon from 2015 already has a dual-camera). The phone – called the ZTE Blade V8 should arrive with a pretty sweet spec sheet.

zte-blade-v8-top-view-copy

The ZTE Blade V8 promo materials already leaked in the wild, so you can take a look at the phone yourself and contemplate its hardware specifications too.

zte-blade-v8-promo

zte-blade-v8-promo-3-copy

According the product’s promo materials, the ZTE Blade V8 will be an upper middle ranger coming equipped with a 5.2-inch display with 1080 x 1920-pixel resolution and 420ppi. ZTE also throws in a Snapdragon 435 clocked at 1.4GHz that works in combination with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

zte-blade-v8-power-button

In the photography front, the main dual camera is a 13MP+2MP affair while the selfie snapper is also of 13MP variety. The promo materials reveal some info about what users will be able to do with the dual camera.

zte-blade-v8-selfie-camera

For instance, they will be able to refocus a shot after the picture has been taken. Also, the ZTE Blade V8 will be able to take 3D photos to be viewed in VR. Maybe the device will even ship with a VR headset.

zte-blade-v8-promo-2-copy

zte-blade-v8-promo-4

Last but not least the ZTE Blade V8 will launch with Android 7.0 Nougat onboard with MiFlavor UI skin on top. The home button also houses a fingerprint scanner. The phone will be made available in Gray or Pink (and maybe other variations as well).

zte-blade-v8-home-button-copy

The ZTE Blade V8 is the successor of the ZTE Blade V7 which only sold in Europe, some parts of Africa and South America. Hopefully the Blade V8 will make it into the States, but we can’t guarantee that at this point.

Given that ZTE already has setup a dedicated page for the Blade V8, we can speculate the phone might make a debut at CES 2017. We’ll keep an eye out for it.

Select Google Pixels affected by battery drainage bug, here’s a reason why

Alexandra Arici
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2

There’s been a lot of commotion and fuss revolving around certain Nexus 6P devices that have been shutting down unexpectedly at 25 to 35% battery, lately. The issue seems to be quite widespread and more and more Nexus 6P owners are reporting they too are afflicted by the problem.

Now it seems the issue is no longer restricted to the Nexus 6P. Some users on Reddit are bringing to our attention the fact that their Pixels are also affected by the same battery drainage woes with some devices shutting down at around 30% battery.

pixel_xl_camera_silver

With the Nexus 6P, Huawei first concluded the Android 7.0 Nougat update must have been to blame, but those who downgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow were still affected. So Huawei was forced to investigate even further, alongside Google. The companies haven’t released a verdict yet, but the same issues seem to be manifesting itself in the Pixels as well.

While we wait for the official explanation and hopefully some sort of fix, Reddit user bal00 already provided what appears to be an apt reason for the battery drainage issues experienced by the Nexus 6P and Pixels.

pixel_xl_software

To understand better, imagine that your phone’s battery is a water tank volume. The tank has a certain volume (capacity), but also a certain pressure dependent on the water level inside (voltage). Depending on the valve, the tank will deliver a certain amount of flow (current).

water-tank

Now since the valve restricts the flow a bit, the pressure will drop across the valve. But the higher the flow rate, the more the valve acts like a bottle neck. This will happen more as the battery ages – the valve restricts the flow a lot more.

aging-water-tank

Image you are taking a hot shower, but someone else in the house turns the water tap somewhere. What is going to happen? You’re going to experience a pressure drop. The same happens with batteries.

“If you’ve got a battery with a high internal resistance and a power-hungry load like the camera demanding a lot of current, other devices like the processor will see their supply voltage drop, and if it drops low enough, the phone will shut off. That’s what’s going on when a phone turns off with 40% battery left. There’s plenty of water in the tank, but all the build-up inside the valve restricts the flow so much that the pressure takes a nosedive.“

Bal00 also claims temperature has a major impact on the internal resistance of the battery. Since the battery is an electrochemical energy storage device, low temperatures can affect the chemical processes happening inside it. So that’s probably why users are experiencing battery drainage issues during winter.

Surely the aging battery scenario doesn’t apply to the Pixels, which are only a few months old, but the low temperature explanation does make sense.

Are you experiencing battery drainage with your Pixel? Let us know, if that’s the case.

Would you be interested in a HTC Galaxy Note7 alternative?

Alexandra Arici
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2

Not so long ago HTC has sent us invites to its mysterious “For U” event. Apparently, the company doesn’t want to share the spotlight with any other device maker, so it has scheduled this press event after CES 2017, on January 12.

We speculated the company might want to unveil the HTC Ocean flagships (that will probably make it into the world as the HTC 11) or the middle-ranger HTC X10 or maybe a smartwatch product.

However, a new leak coming out of Asia suggests an alternative theory we’d really like to see become reality. You see, a few months ago we heard that HTC is gearing up to introduce not one Ocean phone but three: the Ocean Master, Ocean Note and Ocean Smart.

htc-ocean-concept

The most recent leak says that Taiwanese company plans to launch three phones in the first three months of Q1. But whether they are all going to be from the Ocean family or not, it remains to be seen.

The Galaxy Note7 death left a real void in the phablet. So it’s quite possible HTC realized there’s a big opportunity here and the Ocean Note will be launched to appease Galaxy Note7 fans. Given the real lack of phablets with styluses on the market today, it would be a really smart move if HTC were to launch a truly worthy Galaxy Note7 alternative.

htc-ocean-concept-2

Speaking of which, if HTC doesn’t pull out of the bag a Note7 variation there’s still hope for stylus-equipped phablet fans. You see, a recent rumor would have us believe Samsung is entertaining the idea of launching a Galaxy S8 Plus model with a 6-inch display and an external S Pen accessory.

Keep in mind, that all we’ve told you so far is just speculation. None of the tidbits above have been confirmed, so it will remain to be seen whether the HTC Ocean Note proves to be a real product or not. We’ll see on January 12, 2017 so stay tuned to find out!

10 apps to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions

Alexandra Arici
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2

2017 is just around the corner and naturally you already have a full list of resolutions for next year. However, we all know how easy it is to let resolutions fall by the wayside. Luckily we live in the age of technology, so there are a few apps you could employ to help you keep your New Year resolutions. Now all you need to do is think really hard about what you want to achieve next year and check the app list we have put together for you below. Shall we get started?

Eat healthier

01-eat-healthier Yummily is probably the best Android app for foodies who want to learn new recipes. The application features an extensive database or recipes ranging from healthy, gluten-free or Paleo to savory, fried or Mexican. It’s all in there if you’re looking to diversify your meals and assimilate a few cooking secrets.

Yummily lets you create a personal food experience suited to your particular lifestyle. The app pulls new recipes from top cooking websites and food blogs such as Chow, Serious Eats and Steamy Kitchen, so you are in extremely good hands.

Yummily is free for download from the Google Play Store.

Be more productive

02-be-more-productive

Sometimes we’re so immersed in our hectic lives we forget about the important things on our mental check list. The Any.do app allows users to create reminders, events, to-do lists, notes and much more. The app is extremely rich and features and you won’t need to pay a dime to download and install it.

With Any.do you can seamlessly sync across devices and there’s also an extension available for Chrome users, so you can manage your tasks via the Chrome browser. On top of that, the app wants to help you remember great ideas that might go through your head throughout the day. To that end it offers a built-in-speech recognition software that lets you type less and do more with your time. Users can also store images, videos, audio recordings and uploaded files.

Get in shape

03-get-in-shape

Getting in shape can start at home. You don’t have to run to the nearest gym and sign up with a 2-month pass you don’t know if you’re going to end up using. Instead download the 7 Minute Workout app for Android and start training from the comfort of your own home.

The 7 Minute Workout app delivers a series of 12 exercises to be done for 30 seconds with 10 second break intermissions between them. You don’t need any fancy gym equipment, only a wall and a chair. It’s the perfect alternative for busy bees who still want to lose weight, get a flat tummy and strengthen those abdominal muscles.

Banish stress

04-be-more-relaxed

Stress is an inevitable by-product of our extremely busy and complicated lives. That’s why Headspace wants to help you get rid of the tension by teaching you to practice meditation and mindfulness. The app will get you started with a 10 minute basics in meditation crash course and then advances you guided or unguided meditation sessions.

Headspace comes equipped with a personalized progress page, so users can track their progress across time. Frequent users are also awarded rewards for participating in regular meditation sessions. In case you have forgotten to do your daily meditation session, the app will push reminders to keep you on the right path.

Dress better

05-dress-better

The Lookbook app for Android is the number #1 source for fashion inspiration. Browse through the thousands of profiles and find the looks that appeal to you and learn where to buy the particular clothing items you like.

If inspiration strikes you can also make your own profile and start interacting with other users on the website in order to exchange fashion tips and tricks. Immerse yourself into the wonderful world of fashion and start planning your New Year outfit already with Lookbook.

Learn something new everyday

06-learn-something-new

Experiencing art is said to help to decrease levels of stress and activates parts of the brain associated with pleasure and contemplation. Daily Art delivers your daily dose of art, while also providing you with some back history in the process.

Do you know why van Gogh cut his ear or who is the women often depicted in some of Dali’s most popular paintings? The app will tell you that, while letting you relax. Daily Art offers a perfect combo, excellent for busy knowledge seekers.

Travel more

07-travel-more

Travel enriches life, so in 2017 travel to a country you never been before, experience its culture and learn about its traditions. But in order to do that you’ll need to find a cheap flight to get you to your next travel destination.

That’s where Hopper comes in handy. The app will look out for when flights to a specific destination become available and push a notification to let you know. It will also notify you of instant price drops and rises.

Hopper can predict the best times to fly and buy, so you know when the cheapest flights become available, so you can purchase immediately. Hoping to go to Berlin next year? Open up Hopper and let the app know of your plans.

Be more organized

08-be-more-organized

Time is one of the most precious resources we have at our disposal, so spend it wisely. For example, why spend hours hopping between websites trying to find the latest stories and articles? Download Feedly for Android and get everything organized. The mobile app allows users to merge different interfaces into a scrollable news feed that delivers the latest information right on your mobile phone.

You can sign up for topical updates from a variety of blogs and websites or add custom RSS subscriptions too. Get all your news from one place and save time with Feedly.

Sleep better

09-sleep-better

Insomnia is an affliction plaguing a lot of people. Luckily, apps like Pzizz use new developments in technology to help sleep deprived individuals get a good night sleep. Pzizz has been praised even by popular fantasy author J.K Rowling, so if you’re intrigued we invite you to try it out in 2017.

Pzizz uses the science of psychoacoustics to deliver a sleep-optimized mix of music, voiceover and sound effects, designed to calm your mind and assist you in the process of falling asleep. Sleep modules vary between 10 minutes and 12 hours and there’s also a built-in alarm embedded into the app.

Train your brain

10-train-your-brain

Keep your brain active by playing small but complex games on a daily basis in order to optimize its function. Lumosity is one of the best apps that deliver daily brain workouts to your mobile. The app is equipped with 25+ brain games designed to train 5 core cognitive abilities.

Based on your performance, Lumosity also delivers a detailed analysis of your game play in order to shed light on your strengths and weaknesses and suggest ways for improvement.

These LG G6 renders show LG isn’t afraid of changing it up

Alexandra Arici
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0

Albeit betting a lot on modularity, the LG G5 didn’t prove to be too popular with consumers. By contrast the Moto Z and its Moto Mods were a lot better received than the LG G5 which failed to add more than a gimmick via its modular body, while compromising a lot in other areas. That’s probably why in 2017 LG will be moving away from its dreams of producing a truly modular phone and will be going back to the classic smartphone approach.

lg-g6-top-side-view

The latest LG G6 renders based on factory CAD images prove this without leaving much room for interpretation. When LG is going to unveil the G6 in a few months, it will come featuring the same candybar design characteristic of most devices these days.

lg-g6-front

The LG G6 showcased in the images looks premium and sleek, exactly what one would expect from a 2017 flagship. Now in terms of specs, the phone should come boasting a 5.3-inch display with 1,440 x 2,560 pixel resolution and Qualcomm’s new-gen Snapdragon 835 chipset nestled under the bonnet.

As you can see, the LG G6 will continue the legacy of premium LG phones and should employ the services of dual cameras on the back plus a dual-tone flash.

lg-g6-back

On the back and visible in the images, we also have a fingerprint scanner which will apparently double as a power button.

lg-g6-bottom-view

Unlike other top Android OEMs like HTC and soon Samsung, LG won’t be removing the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the LG G6, which means you’ll be able to use older headphones with the device without needing an additional adapter.

lg-g6-top-view

As you can see the LG G6 is slowly starting to take form. The flagship is said to be due out a bit earlier than expected, sometimes in early March before the Galaxy S8 monster has a chance to hit retail shelves. Naturally LG is afraid the Galaxy S8 will completely overshadow the G6 like the S7 obscured the G5.

lg-g6-dual-camera-view

Samsung Galaxy S8 might come with an S Pen external accessory

Alexandra Arici
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1

The premature death of the Galaxy Note7 upset a lot of customers and obviously Samsung wants to make it up to its loyal fan base. That’s why we expect the next-gen Galaxy S8 flagships to be a pretty massive phone bundling a lot of awesome specs and features.

According to a new report coming out of China it seems Samsung is adamant to offer the Galaxy S8 as an obvious replacement for the Galaxy Note7. If we’re to believe the latest hearsay Samsung will launch the Galaxy S8 with a S Pen external accessory.

the-mighty-s-pen

This means the Pen won’t be integrated within the phone like in the case of the Galaxy Note7, but will be sold separately for an additional price-tag. Previous rumors claim Samsung will launch a Galaxy S8 Plus model with a 6-inch display, so it seems quite evident that Samsung wants to fill the void left by the Note7 with at least one of its upcoming Galaxy S8 models.

If this information makes you a bit concerned about the future of the Note series, don’t be. Samsung already hinted a next-gen Note8 is coming when it announced the Galaxy Upgrade program in South Korea. Customers in the county were invited to trade in their Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge in order to be eligible to get either the Galaxy S8 or Note8 at half the price.

writing-with-the-s-pen

As far as we know, the S Pen Galaxy S8 variant might end up being released only in South Korea. Samsung is still reluctant to push a crippling update for the Note7 in the country like it is doing in the US, since there are many customers still using the phablet who consider switching to a Galaxy S7 a downgrade. But if a Galaxy S8 with S Pen gets released, these users will probably be happy to switch.

Oukitel’s next phone to be the budget-friendly C5 Pro

AndroidGuys
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0

The details for Oukitel’s next handset are coming to light as the phone looks to be nearing its release. Recent reports indicated the device would launch with a full-metal frame and unbreakable display. Today we’ve got pretty much all of the specifications for the handset. Assuming they’re correct, it appears the phone will be a low-cost unlocked experience whenever it debuts.

Our understanding is that the so-called C5 Pro will carry a price tag of around $75 which sounds about right to us. Considering what you can get for around $100-$150 you’d want these hardware specs at a minimum.

Basic Parameters:

  • Color: White, Black, Gold, Silver
  • Dimensions & Weight: 144.6*72*9.3m,165g
  • OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • Chipset: MT6737 Cortex A53 octa-core 1.3GHz
  • Memory: 2GB RAM+16GB ROM, 32GB expandable
  • Display: 2.5D curved
  • Frame：zinc alloy metal
  • Back: texture printed

Display:

  • Size: 5.0 inch, tough screen, 2 points capacity screen
  • Resolution: HD 1280*720 pixels
  • Camera:
    • Primary: 5.0 MP AF/8.0MP(interpolated), flash light
    • Secondary:2.0MP AF/5.0MP (interpolated)
    • Battery: 2000mAh, 5V/1A charger

Connectivity:

  • Network: GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz; WCDMA: 900/2100MHz; FDD: Band 1/3/7/20
    SIM Card: 2 micro SIM+1TF card
  • WLAN: 802.11a/b/g/n/, Support Hotspot, support turbo download(wifi and mobile data works together for downloading large files)
  • Bluetooth: Yes, Bluetooth 4.0
  • GPS: GPS/AGPS/GLONASS
  • NFC: No
  • USB: Micro-USB 5PinEarphone jack: 3.5mm
  • OTG: No
  • OTA: Yes
  • FM Radio: Yes

We’re not exactly sure when the Oukitel C5 Pro will make its debut but with CES and Mobile World Congress coming up, it’s the time of year when many companies introduce their new models.

The Witti Beddi – A smart alarm clock worth your dough

Matt Adams
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Everything is getting smart these days. Smart phones, smart appliances, smart… alarm clocks? Yep, alarm clocks too. Because, why not, right? We’re working our way to a smart home right now with the addition of Google Home, a Nest Thermostat, and Phillips Hue and the Witti Beddi fits right in too.

The iOS and Android Apps are really powerful. The app serves as your dashboard and the Beddi is more of a tool to execute what you set up from within the app. Do you want your Nest Thermostat to start heating your house a half hour before your alarm goes off? How about your smart coffee maker started making your coffee for the day so you wake up the wonderful smell of fresh coffee? You can do that with the Beddi.

The front of the Beddi houses a nice fabric grill where the time sits. It’s a bit faint, but that’s a positive since you’ll most often be looking at this when it’s dark in your room. If you have light colored animals, be prepared to keep a vacuum or lint roller nearby because the fabric holds onto hair as you can see below.

witti-beddi-front
Keep a lint roller near. My white dog’s hair shows up noticeably.

On the bottom of the clock are LEDs that are excellent for setting mood lighting. The Beddi doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, so if you want some lighting effects going on as you’re listening to a Monstercat Electronic Mix before bed, you can make that happen very easily.

The rear of the devices houses several important lights and ports. The large window sits in front of a light designed to emulate a sunrise. Ten minutes before your alarm is set to go off the light will gradually rise to wake you up in a more gentle fashion than just a blaring alarm.

witti-beddi-rear

In practice, I’ve found that it didn’t make much difference for how easy I woke up in the morning, but I blame my weird sleeping patterns for that, rather than the Witti Beddi. If it doesn’t help you, you can disable it like I did. In addition to the light are a few USB ports, an aux port, and a power adapter port. Having an extra USB port for a smartwatch or tablet is very convenient, as is the slot that sits on top of the Beddi to securely place your phone.

If you want just a basic alarm clock you can control your phone, the Beddi is great. But, it also offers a lot more if you feel like diving in. Baked into the functionality of the hardware and software is the ability to call an Uber with the press of a button. I don’t use Uber myself, but I don’t think this is really that much more convenient than just opening the app and selecting your options from what friends who use the Uber app tell me.

One of my favorite features of the Beddi is the ability to wake up to your favorite Spotify playlist. I’d love to see Witti extend this functionality to Google Play Music too or even YouTube since I use these more than Spotify. Witti also includes a white noise generator in the app that you can play through the Beddi. I fall asleep faster and sleep deeper when I have either white noise or weather noise going on so I really appreciate this. If you’re not a fan of Spotify or white noise, the FM radio built into the Beddi works just fine too.

To some, $99 for an alarm clock is a tough sell. But honestly, if you’re one of those people you probably don’t have things like a Nest Thermostat or Phillips Hue lights that expand the functionality of the Beddi. I don’t think you necessarily have to have those to justify the price of the Beddi because it’s a damn cool piece of technology on its own. I use it on a daily basis because it makes my life easier. I don’t have to worry about my phone dying or freezing and not being woken up. I can easily turn on my lights or if I had a smart coffee maker, have my coffee ready to go in the morning. Those features are really valuable to me.

I’d like to see Witti to continue to innovate and add more functionality. I can justify the price, but it would be a lot easier if I could tell my Google Home to set an alarm for 7 AM and my Beddi starts going off instead of my phone.

Witti makes excellent products and this doesn’t feel like a first generation product from them, even though it is. Is it perfect? No, but no product out there is perfect. I would spend my own money on it though and if you’ve come into to some Christmas cash, you should definitely give the Witti Beddi a look.

Product Link: Amazon | Witti

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