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LeEco and Coolpad team up for Cool S1 with Snapdragon 821, 6GB of RAM

Alexandra Arici
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LeEco is one of those Chinese device makers that are trying to break into the US market. The company, which is known for its galloping expansion has launch a few “disruptive”  smartphones in the States, hoping to provide an affordable alternative to top phones.

Well, LeEco is also busy unveiling phones in its home country, China. This time the company did so in collaboration with Coolpad – a smaller device maker which is in charge of assembling the LeEco’s products, as well as its own.

coolpad-s1-launches-in-china

So LeEco and Coolpad have joined forces once again to unveil the next-gen “Cool” smartphone, the third in the lineup after the Cool1 Dual and Cool Charger 1C.

Introducing, the Cool S1 – a flagship phone featuring a metal body and a fingerprint sensor located on the back.

coolpad-cool-s1-back-view

The device arrives with a 5.5-inch display with FHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and takes advantage of a Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.35GHz. Customers can choose between two storage versions, either the 4GB of RAM plus 64GB of storage or the heftier 6GB of RAM plus 128GB storage.

In the photography department, the Cool S1 boasts the advanced power of 16MP main camera with PDAF (Phase detection auto focus), 4K recording and dual-LED flash. For selfies there’s an 8MP front-facing one.

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Another highlight are the two front-facing speakers with Harman’s Clari-Fi audio enhancing technology.

The Cool S1 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and who knows maybe an Android 7.0 Nougat update will come at some point. Connectivity options include 4G, dual SIM support, Bluetooth, OTG and USB Type-C.

Everything is powered by a pretty hefty 4,070 mAh battery which should ensure the phone is capable of delivering quite a decent battery life.

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LeEco and Coolpad are selling the Cool S1 in three configurations. The first one with 4GB of RAM + 64GB of internal storage is priced at approx. $359, the 6GB of RAM + 64GB of internal storage features a $388 price-tag, while the 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage can be yours for $460.

For the time being the Cool S1 is available only in China and we don’t know whether the phone will launch on the global market as well.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs. Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Showdown)

Donovan Jeska
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This is going to be a painful one, Android Guys (hopefully just for me – I’d rather you enjoy it). In one corner, we have Samsung – money-grubbing, hardware-peddling, literally-trying-to-kill-us-with-IED-phones Samsung. In the other, we have Apple – price-hiking, non-standard-using, walled-and-locked-gardening Apple.

Now, I’m no fan of either company – if you couldn’t tell – but for the sake of comparing the baddest (read: good-est) phones from the two biggest heavyweights around, let’s see who walks away with the belt.

Build

Aluminum Body

5.54oz vs. 6.63oz

IP68 vs. IP67

I’m gonna be honest here, I did not expect Samsung to beat the iPhone’s IP rating. Apparently the Edge is very well protected against both dust and water – even to the extent that it can be submerged more than a meter underwater and suffer no ill effects. By comparison, the iPhone is only rated up to 1m. Both phones are completely and utterly dust proof, however, receiving the highest mark possible in that category. Edge comes in at more than an ounce lighter, as well as being narrower and shorter (with the same size screen), but the iPhone still manages to be thinner.

Screen

5.5” Curved AMOLED vs. 5.5” IPS LCD (3D Touch)

534PPI vs. 401PPI

Gorilla Glass vs. …iPhone Glass

In my opinion, Samsung has a pretty clear advantage here. That gorgeous AMOLED screen combined with the curved display and Edge functionality (I still think this is a gimmick, for the record) really put Apple’s LCD on blast (Fun Fact – Apple’s LCD is actually made by Samsung – so they could easily throw an AMOLED screen on an iPhone…But that might result in our first mainstream $1000 phone). Samsung’s Gorilla Glass also helps it stay shatter resistant, while Apple…well. that horse has been thoroughly beaten.

Internals

Exynos 8 (2.3GHz) vs. A10 Fusion (2.34GHz)

4GB vs. 3GB RAM

32GB vs. 256GB Internal

Micro-SD Slot vs. Non-Expandable

Samsung has exactly one advantage here – expandable memory. While the Edge only comes stock with 32GB internally, the ability to add more storage (or swap data easily) is a great benefit. Clock speed and RAM are basically a wash (remember, iPhones are notoriously RAM efficient), with iPhone having a slight edge in processing speed while Edge adds an extra gig of RAM.

Internal Features

Bluetooth 4.2

802.11AC WiFi Standard

Micro-USB vs. Lightning

Wireless Charging vs. Wired Charging

Just a couple points of note here, otherwise standard stuff. Lightning is a reversible, more efficient standard than is MicroUSB; it’s also more expensive. Edge is also wireless charging compatible, using the Qi standard. Sidenote: I can’t wait to see Bluetooth 5 show up on phones.

Battery

3600mAh vs. 2900mAh

27hrs vs. 21hrs Talk Time

Pretty straightforward – Edge’s battery is 700mAh larger, and so you get more talk time out of it. I’m surprised that it gets so much more, though – Edge’s screen is a bit more dense and it runs higher RAM, and I’d have expected it to be a bit closer – guess not. I feel it should be noted that Samsung, Google, LG and Moto have all gotten used to the idea that most people want a big battery over thin-ness, while Apple still resists putting a 3000mAh+ battery on its phones. That’s gonna need to change soon.

Camera

12mp Main Shooter

1.4 μm vs. 1.2μm

F1.7 vs F1.8/2.8

HDR Support

5mp vs. 7mp Selfie

iphone-camera
Note the dual lenses – this is gonna be a pattern in the coming days.

While the Edge has a respectable pair of cameras – complete with HDR Support on the back shooter – the iPhone simply outclasses it in every way. Its dual lenses (with aperture sizes of 1.8 and 2.8) are both stronger than the Edge’s single, and with smaller pixel size its images will be clearer even at zoom. If the Edge lags behind in any one area, it’s photography – to be fair, though, the Edge also came out more than six months earlier than did the 7 Plus.

Value

$590 vs. $919

Going into this, I fully expected to be recommending the iPhone 7 Plus over the Galaxy S7 Edge. After reviewing the facts for both, and seeing the current going prices, I’m going to have to reverse that recommendation – at nearly half the price and competitive specs in all major technical areas, the S7 Edge is a much, much better value than is the iPhone 7 Plus.

This week’s best deals on phones and accessories at Verizon

AndroidGuys
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Time to purchase a new smartphone? Is this an upgrade from an existing device? We want to help you out either way.

To save you money, we’ve gathered up all of the promotions we could find from Verizon. Regardless of where you’re thinking of going for service, or what phone you are looking to pick up, you owe it to yourself to check below.

What follows is a mix of phone, rate plan, and accessory promotions worth checking out. It might not be an exhaustive list, but it’s a good collection of what’s currently offered through Verizon.

Although we’ve listed known expiration dates, we have no idea how long some of these other deals will last.

Verizon Deals

Verizon Gift Guide

Prepaid

Accessories

GBoard is finally official via the Google Play Store

AndroidGuys
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The wait is over. GBoard is now available as an update to Google Keyboard on the Google Play Store. Google has long had a keyboard on offer for iOS devices, GBoard, which has some cool tricks and features that were embedded in the keyboard itself. Android users were curious when this keyboard would finally make its official debut on Android devices, and that day has come.

An update has been pushed to Google Keyboard app on Android devices already using it, and GBoard is now available for download from the Play Store. GBoard offers some neat embedded features, like the ability to search Google right on the keyboard, in any app, and share the results just like you would doing a search on the web. It works for searching and sharing videos and .gifs as well. GBoard features swipe-typing, emoji search and multi-language support in addition to the search function. You can even customize the theme and size of the keyboard so it fits your personal style.

Google Keyboard was already a very solid pick for Android users, and the addition of GBoard features makes it even better. GBoard saves you from swapping apps just to search or share some basic info, and the fact that it works in most any app is just icing on the cake. It takes some adjusting, but once you’re used to the new features you’ll wonder how you got on without them. If you’re looking for a new keyboard for your device, or just wanna give it a try, get it from the link below.

Download GBoard from the Google Play Store

Check out these quirky tech gift ideas for the fashion obsessed

Alexandra Arici
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Have a fashion obsessed friend or loved one in your life and you have no idea what to get them this Christmas? If you’re not really great at picking out clothes or shoes, so why not consider another strategy this year?

We’re all hooked to electronics these days, so why not find a gift that’s geeky but also boasts a fashionable component? We can help. And we’ve already zeroed in a few elegant tech gift ideas that will appeal to the inner aesthetic sense of every fashion lover.

Michael Kors Access Bradshaw Smartwatch

michael-kors-access-bradshaw-smartwatch

In Google’s recent Magic Minute Project, model/photographer/creative director Zanita Whittington is creating a host of fashionable looks while rocking a Michael Kors Access Bradshaw smartwatch.

The wearable has recently landed in the Google Store and can be yours for $350 a pop. The watch features a stylish gold case and bracelet and it can easily pass off as a piece of jewelry. It features a circular AMOLED display with 360 x 360 resolution and a 400 mAh battery.

Kate Spade Activity Tracker

kate-spade-activity-tracker

What if your loved one is very much into fitness? Kate Spade’s new line of chic activity trackers are all you need for a perfect gift.

There’s an entire lineup of Kate Spade fashion trackers, so you will have plenty to choose from. Each wearable pairs with the Kate Spade app in order to collect and deliver all physical activity stats and sleeping data, pretty much like Fitbit does.

You can pick up one of these beauties for $98 right now!

STIL Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Fashion Cases

stil-samsung-galaxy-s7-cases

For Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners, the STIL luxury case series is great way to bring designer fashion to their smartphones. STIL’s designers have created these accessories blending luxury fashion and industrial design.

STIL offers two lines that take a different approach. The PAVIS cases have minimalist design inspired by nature and accented by geometric motifs, while Targa models boast an avant-garde design featuring strongly defined geometry and metallic accents.

The phone cases sell for prices starting at $69.

Tinsel Dipper

tinsel-dipper-earbuds-fashion

Fashion meets function with the Tinsel Dipper, which at first glance can be mistaken for a necklace. You’ll be quite surprise to know this gorgeous piece of jewelry hides a pair of earbuds.

The chevron-shaped pendant is offered in combination with stainless-steel chains that are plated in gold or gunmetal-gray finish.

The Tinsel Gunner proved quite popular with fashion lovers around the world, so if you want to acquire one you’ll need to Reserve your unit. The Tinsel website says “new units are shipping” and if you order yours by December 16 (it’s today!) you’ll be able to get it by Christmas.

Oh, the earbuds slash necklace can be yours for $199.

Ringly

ringly

Yes, wearables have been losing their momentum this year, but when it comes to fashion loving people we bet you can still pleasantly surprise them if you gift them with a wearable that can easily pass off as jewelry.

Ringly is and atypical one. You won’t wear it on your wrist like smartwatches or fitness trackers, but on your …finger.

Yes Ringly is exactly that. A stunning looing ring that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth (Android/iOS) in order to let you receive notifications via vibrations and a sublet color-coded light.

You can get Ringly in various colors with prices set at $195.

Michael Kors x Fuji Film InstaX

michael-kors-x-fuji-film-instax

We have another Michael Kors entry because, let’s face it all fashionistas love the creative power of Michael Kors. This mini camera is shaped to look like a handbag and you can easily carry it around like one, as it can be pair with a stylish Leather Camera bag.

The Fuji Film InstaX is a film camera and if you buy it you’ll the Instax Mini Film pack (10 photos) included in the bundle as well. The camera features Michael Kors’ logo and can be acquired for $150 a pop. If you want the camera bag you’ll need to pay an additional $198 or $348 if you want the medium version.

Sofia Cashmere Basketweave Trim Tech Gloves

sofia-cashmere-basketweave-trim-tech-gloves

Is your loved one always texting? Then this winter a pair of tech gloves which will allow him/her to text while still keeping warm, sounds like a very good gift idea.

The gloves are made of soft cashmere to create a comfortable but luxurious feel. Sofia Cashmere works with long fibers that resist pilling, which results in a long product life. The gloves can be yours for $89.

BeoPlay S3 by Bang & Olufsen

beoplay-s3-by-bang-olufsen

If the person you’re buying the gift for has also a passion for music, this beautiful Bluetooth speaker is what you need. Its clean design makes it perfect for any interior and the fact that it embeds Bang & Olufsen technology makes it even better.

Detailed oriented people will be happy to know that you can change the speaker covers easily and make the S3 match your style and personality.

Get one for $119 a pop.

Mezzi Mini Cosmia

mezzi-mini-cosmia

The Mini Cosmia might look like your average hand bag, but we assure you it’s not. The Suede & Adria leather bag hides a few secrets. The purse comes with an in-bag light and embeds a 4,000 mAh phone and tablet charger and a Bluetooth speaker. The bag can also deliver call and messages notifications. It’s available in a multitude of colors for $325 a pop.

Kate Spade Selfie Button

kate-spade-selfie-button

People into fashion love snapping pictures of themselves showing off their new outfits. So the Kate Spade selfie button is a must have.

The selfie button allows users to frame their shot from a distance and take the best pictures possible. It also doubles as a key chain and you can grab it for $21.

5 Minute Android Makeovers: Firewatch

AndroidGuys
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How about we switch your home screen up on your Android to something that shows your love for the game Firewatch? Not familiar with the game? You’re totally missing out as it’s an excellent first-person mystery adventure for consoles. Nevertheless, you can still edit your layout to something completely fresh and eye-catching.

For less than the cost of your next lunch you could have an incredible design that breathes fresh air into your phone. If it has been some time since you changed things up, you owe it to yourself to try something new.

Why pay for some of these apps?

You might put in a few bucks to get things rolling but you’ll be glad you did in the long run. The sheer level of configuration and customization behind a few of these titles means endless designs. If you’ve been doing the custom home screen stuff for a while, you may have already purchased some of these apps already. With that said, you’ve got some incredibly flexible stuff here, so have fun with it!

What You’ll Need

Between the icon pack alone you’ll have thousands of icons to choose from with more than a dozen color options. And, when you look at the wallpapers captured and shared on Google+, there’s something inviting in just about any palette. Throw in an extremely robust widget app in KWGT and you’ve got ingredients for all sorts of beautiful layouts.

Where to Go

We learned of this look by checking out Reddit; here’s the thread where the creator shared his original ideas. Be sure to bookmark the page and come back for more dialog around the custom design.

DOOGEE Shoot 1 launches for $99 with Android 6, 5.5-inch display, 3000mAh battery

AndroidGuys
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We find ourselves saying this every so often, but it’s always true; this is a great time to buy an unlocked phone. The prices continue to drop and the selection continues to get better.

As we wind down 2016 we’re talking about brands and devices from makers many readers likely have not heard of before. The fact is that while many of us are conditioned to trust and buy from bigger names like Samsung, LG, and Motorola, there are other companies fighting equally hard for your attention.

doogee_shoot1_2

Like it or not, you’re going to hear from a bunch of brands in 2017. Some might be more quiet in their approach, going about things slowly but surely. Others, may be more aggressive and hit you in the face with an ad campaign. Either way, there’s much more choice out there for customers than they’d think.

DOOGEE, a brand we’ve covered a few times over the last year, has a new device on the market. Aimed at the entry-level buyer, this unlocked phone, the Shoot 1, carries a $99 price tag. It might not be a prime candidate for our US audience given its supported network bands, but a large section of our readers come from outside of the country.

Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the handset offers up a 5.5-inch display at full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). Running the show is a quad-core 1.5Ghz processor from MediaTek with 2GB RAM; internal storage is listed at 16GB with microSD support for up to 256GB of space.

doogee_shoot1_3

In terms of cameras, the DOOGEE Shoot 1 provides a rear dual-camera configuration with a 13.0-megapixel Samsung and 8-megapixel setup. Around front you’ll find another 8-megapixel shooter. Moreover, the main cameras provide phase detection autofocus and work well in low light and nighttime environments.

Rounding things out, a 3,300mAh battery should be enough for most users to get through a day or two’s worth of tasks without having to charge back up.

The DOOGEE Shoot 1 launches with a $99 pre-order price tag and can be purchased from outlets such as Geekbuying. Pick one up in Silver, Gold, and Gray color options. Shipping is expected to begin just after Christmas.

An extra note to our US readers: This isn’t one of those unlocked GSM phones which will work on AT&T or T-Mobile. Take a look at the carrier bands supported by the DOOGEE Shoot 1 and you’ll see it’s not compatible.

  • 2G:GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  • 3G:WCDMA 900/2100MHz
  • 4G:FDD-LTE 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz

As is the case with any unlocked handset, check with your wireless service provider to ensure it will work with them before spending the money.

Huawei unveils gorgeous Honor Magic phone with AI capabilities

Alexandra Arici
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Concept phones seem to be the rising trend this year. After Xiaomi’s Mi MIX edge-to-edge phone, now it’s time for Huawei to unveil its own concept – the Honor Magic.

The phone was teased last week and back then we told you the phone might prove to be Huawei’s first attempt at making a modular phone. Turns out, we were wrong. But that doesn’t mean the Honor Magic isn’t a special phone.

huawei-honor-magic-everything

First off, the phone does look stunning. The Honor Magic boasts a fondness for smooth curves that makes it quite appealing to the eyes.

The phone features a 5.09-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution (1440 x 2560 pixels) and 577 ppi. Huawei throws in a 2.3GHz Kirin 950 processor under the hood which works in concert with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

huawei-honor-magic-gorgeous

As you probably know, Huawei likes dual camera setups, so the Honor Magic takes advantage of a 12MP dual lens sensor with f/2.2 aperture and an 8MP selfie snapper on the back. The phone is supported by a 2,900 mAh battery and comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

These are hard cold specs, but the Honor Magic does come bundled with a set of unique feats. You see the Magic is an AI driven phone. That being said, the company has bundled a host of functionalities which are exclusive to the phone.

huawei-honor-magic-sleek-face

For example, say hello to the Wise Screen sensor – a piece of technology that taps into the power of a frame sensor and an infrared sensor located in the selfie camera to perform a nifty trick. When the owner of the Honor Magic picks up the phone the Wise Screen setup will be able to recognize the user’s hand and eyes thus unlocking the phone.

An additional FaceCode Intelligent Recognition ensures notifications and messages are shared only with the pre-registered face(s) thus preventing unwanted parties having access to sensitive information.

huawei-honor-magic-view

Huawei has shared some other AI-related features the Honor Magic takes advantage of. Let’s say you are chatting with a friend about movies, the AI powering the device will be able to pick that up and offer its own set of opinions about what you should watch.

The DeepThink option gets activated when users press and hold the home button in order to retrieve multi-faced info based on your search history.

huawei-honor-magic-side-view-2

If you use the Honor Magic to order a cab, you’ll be able to see the car’s license plate under locked screen mode. When you arrive at the theater, the phone will know to display the ticket (booking number) or the tracking number if you’re retrieving a parcel from the post office.

The Honor Magic is supposed to see what you see. So walk into a dark room at night and the phone will automatically launch the flashlight feature. Last but not least, Huawei teases the My Pocket feat which enables users to swipe up from the bottom screen in order to activate a save/share button.

honor-logo

Naturally the phone will be sold under a premium price tag. Customers in China can already place a pre-order for the Honor Magic if they are willing to pay $530. Estimated delivery is scheduled for December 25. Hopefully Huawei will bring this “Magic” phone to the States pretty soon. We already know its current flagship, the Mate9 is bound for the US.

OK Google is now enabled in Android Auto for all

Alexandra Arici
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Remember that earlier this month, we told you some users noticed “OK Google” feature finally became available on Android Auto.

Well today Google officially announced the feature it going live for all, while inviting users to download the latest version from the Google Play Store in the process.

use-android-auto

Google boasts that Android Auto will now work with every car. All users need to do is connect a phone to a compatible car display or just put the phone in a dock and use Android Auto directly from the phone screen. However you’ll need to have a phone with Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher and an active data connection to get Android Auto running.

google-maps-android-auto

Users can now get in the car and utter the magic “OK Google” words to activate the feature. Previously users had to press an on-screen microphone button to be able to start using voice commands, but that’s no longer the case.

directions-android-auto

The feature is bound to make driving a lot safer. By using only voice commands drivers can now dictate a text message, switch songs or check the weather and the calendar without taking their hands off the wheel.

Android Auto is currently available in 31 countries including the United States and UK. However users in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Netherlands are reporting the service does not work in their country, although we do have confirmation it works in Portugal.

Capcom is bringing Mega Man to Android starting January 6

Alexandra Arici
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Are you nostalgic about old school games? Well if that’s the case then you’ll going to love this announcement. Japanese game maker Capcom has just revealed it will be porting the Mega Man series (Mega Man 1 through Mega Man 6) to iOS and Android next year.

Each game will be sold individually, but a set including all six game will be made available. The company will launch the games really soon, on January 6 but only in Japan. However, we’re pretty sure Capcom will make the games available worldwide soon after.

mega-man

The games start robot character Mega Man (or Rock Man) who must first through the levels using variations of the “Mega Buster” – a canon attached to his arm in order to save the world from Dr. Wily’s psychotic robotic threats.

Capcom shared teased gamers with a screenshot of the upcoming mobile title, which seems to suggest Mega Man will continue to take advantage of the 4:3 aspect ratio characteristic of the original series.

capcom-heroes

It’s not the first time Rock Man tries to make it out on mobile. A few years ago Capcom released an emulated version of Mega Man 2 pus a Mega Man X port. However the titles weren’t too well received by the gaming community due to their questionable quality. Hopefully Capcom will get it right this time.

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