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Roundup: Spigen’s lineup for the Pixel XL

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November 17, 2016

The brand new Google Pixel XL is out and the metal and glass build needs to be protected! Spigen is one of the biggest names in cell phone accessories because it makes some great cases for an affordable price. We’ve featured Spigen several times in our accessory guides and fans always tell us that they love them. We’ve teamed up with Spigen for this look at its lineup for the Google Pixel XL. Take a look.

Crystal Shell

The Crystal Shell case is a really nice option if you want to show off the aesthetics of your Pixel. The clear case gives you full view of your phone. Some have dissed the looks of the Pixel XL, but I personally like it a lot so the Crystal Shell scores high marks for me. The corners have extra large bumpers to help shield the phone from falls, but it does add the tiniest bit of bulk. Most people won’t mind it too much, but if you like your phone as sleek as possible, you may want to find another case.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Liquid Crystal

Not to be confused with the Crystal Shell, the Liquid Crystal is one of the lower profile cases in Spigen’s lineup. This one won’t do much for you in case of falls due to its thin construction, but it will protect the back from scratches and dents and added some much-needed slip protection to an otherwise slippery phone. This is the case I keep on my phone most due to the fact that it is clear and it helps me hold onto my phone. I’ve found that I don’t need that much impact protection if I know my phone isn’t going anywhere.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Neo Hybrid

The Neo Hybrid is one of the most popular Spigen cases and it’s easy to see why. The case protects the phone with a soft case and a hard bumper to absorb those falls and looks good doing it. Spigen sent over the case with a blue accent and I think it looks great. One of the really nice things about the Neo Hybrid is that you never have to worry about wiping off smudges or fingerprints. Some small dirt can get stuck in the pattern at the top, but it’s normally pretty easily dealt with.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Rugged Armor

The Rugged Armor is the case I see the most in the wild. People really love the case for its slim design and smooth feel. You still get the added grip that you would expect from a case, but the Rugged Armor feels great in the hand too. Nothing will beat the industrial design of a phone for me, but I do love the looks of the Rugged Armor as much as any case I’ve ever seen. You will get some impact protection from the Rugged Armor, but don’t let the name fool you- if you want serious OtterBox-like construction, you may have to look elsewhere.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Slim Armor

The Slim Armor case is… not that slim. Actually, I think if Spigen had to do it all over again, I think it might switch the name of the Rugged Armor and Slim Armor cases. The Slim Armor is much more of a sturdy case built to take falls from higher distances and hold up well over time. This isn’t a flimsy case that you slip on and off like a fashion accessory. If you’re looking for a step up in protection, the Slim Armor may have what you’re looking for, just be prepared for a little more bulk.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Tough Armor

Now THIS is the bad boy of protection in Spigen’s lineup. This thing eats at the same table as the OtterBox Defender lineup and does it for about half the price. I love how big and bulky this thing is because I know my phone is safe inside. If I were walking around downtown doing touristy things and taking a bunch of pictures and using maps for walking directions, this is the case I’d use. If my phone is going to be in and out of wherever I’m keeping it, I want the protection in case of falls.

The Tough Armor also comes with a kickstand so you can turn your phone to the side and watch media without using any hands to hold it up. Like I said, this thing is big and bulky so if that’s not your thing, pass on this one. But, if you want serious protection, check the Tough Armor out.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Ultra Hybrid

The Ultra Hybrid is a happy medium between the bulky protection of the Crystal Shell and the more flimsy Liquid Crystal. The Ultra Hybrid is another clear case, but this one has a sturdy Polycarbonate back to give it a little more strength while retaining the TPU bumpers that feel a little more pliable. I like the compromise here because my phone feels pretty secure in the case and it adds the grippy sides I like too. The bulk is about the same as the Liquid Crystal so it feels slim and light too.

Product Link: Amazon | Spigen

Save big with these promos and discounts for Sprint

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AndroidGuys

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November 17, 2016

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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 Sprint. 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 Sprint.

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

Oodles: A solid e-book reader, if you can ignore its looks (Review)

App & Game Reviews

Gerson Noboa

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November 17, 2016

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It’s amusing to know that, even with the rise of e-books, tablets, and Amazon’s Kindle services and devices, recent studies show that Americans are reading less than in previous years. The media probably blames millennials, as they always do, but what are you going to do? I figure people can’t stop scrolling through their Facebook timelines in search of memes.

Books are easier to get and read than ever, thanks to improved channels of distribution and the ubiquity of connected devices. For those who want to read but are on a budget, there are several free alternatives in the Play Store ready for your reading pleasure. One of these options is Oodles, which offers quality e-books and audiobooks for the always-welcome price of zero. Nada!

Developer: Oodles
Price: Free

Setup

Oodles Main Screen — The main screen gives you quick access to the available e-books and audiobooks, while also allowing you to access your library.

When you first open the app, it asks you to create an account. Fortunately, for those of us who don’t like to create accounts, especially when the only account creation methods are Google and Facebook, there’s a “Sign-in later” option. It makes you wonder why the app asks you to create an account so early in the first place, especially if it isn’t required at all for the app to work properly. After this, you’re ready to use the app.

Overview

The main screen of Oodles shows two carousel-style sections: one for free e-books and another one for free audiobooks. Clicking on either will yield a grid (or list, it depends on the screen) with the available options. You’ll also have the option to swipe between different views, such as Categories, Top Books, and Top Authors. Think of the way the Play Store is organized and you’ll get an idea of what you will find here. Everything looks neat and works quickly enough.

When you choose a specific book, you’ll be directed to the book’s detail page. This will show the cover at the top, along with detailed information about the book and the option to download it. There’s also suggestions at the bottom, based on the book you chose. Since the available books here are probably not well-known, this is a crucial option and it’s nice that the developer decided to add it.

You can also browse your library of e-books and audiobooks, all neatly organized and with a percentage bar that shows you your current progress on that specific book. You can also import books you already own but are stored in your SD card or internal memory.

E-books

There’s a lot to say about this part of the app, so much that it merits a section of its own. When you finally download your books and are ready to consume them, you are treated with the reading screen.

I have mixed feelings regarding this specific activity, since some things work so well but, on the other hand, it looks outdated and out of place in a world where Android apps have gotten much more beautiful than they were just a couple of years ago.

Oodles Reading Screen — Gingerbread called. It wanted its interface back.

The screen has a top and a bottom bar, each one with different controls and options. The problem is that these icons look like they were brought in a time machine right from the days of Gingerbread.

Some buttons even have a gradient color, something that is frowned upon in today’s design. Actually making things worse is the fact that not all of them are gradients. There’s no consistency between design languages here.

Anyways, regarding the functionality of the buttons themselves, they all work more or less like you would expect. At the top, you’ll find a list button which will let you browse the chapters of your book and jump to any of them directly. There’s also a button to save bookmarks (actual bookmarks, you know, not the browser-related ones).

Next to it you’ll find a search function that works rather well. There’s also an overflow menu for getting to the app’s settings (I will come back to this later), book information, and increase/decrease font size (even though there’s a dedicated button for that at the bottom).

At the bottom you’ll find more useful stuff, such as brightness control, toggle between day and night modes (awesome), rotation lock, and the aforementioned font size changer. There’s also a slider to move between pages, and a button to return to the page you were reading before acting on this slider.

The book part is invisibly divided in three columns. Hitting the center part will toggle the top and bottom bars, leaving more screen state for reading your book. Touching the right side will take you to the next page, while the left region will take you to the previous page. Swiping will also move you through the pages. These gestures and tap recognitions work swiftly enough, although swiping too fast generates a wonky animation.

Oodles Interface — Specific book information is available in one click. There’s also the option of browsing similar books.

Just as a Lannister always pays his debts, I am fulfilling my promise of coming back to the settings section. The options available here are actually richer than the options for the app itself. There’s options for changing appearance, margins, page turning, dictionary, colors, text, etc. Possibly every aspect that can be configured has some kind of entry. That’s really cool, but what’s with the design? If the icons weren’t Gingerbread enough, this settings app looks completely out of date.

The whole reading screen looks (and probably is) a library written by other developer and integrated to this app. There’s nothing wrong with that, but at least some additional work could have been made in order to avoid such an inconsistent experience.

Audiobooks

You can download your audiobooks in different parts (as opposed to a single big file) to make it lighter for your internet connection. The player for audiobooks works exactly as expected, with the book cover front and center, and then your regular buttons to play, pause, rewind, and similar events that you expect. There’s very little to say about it other than it works and audio quality is decent enough for an audiobook.

Ads

Being a free app by an independent developer, ads are expected. These come in two different flavors: a banner at the bottom of the screen, and a full-screen ad when you leave the reader screen.

I never hide my hate for full-screen ads, and I won’t start today. It’s really unfortunate that user experience has to be interrupted in such an abrupt manner in order to get the revenue to pay the bills. That’s the way the current market is, however, and there’s nothing in the near future that will change this. At least I haven’t seen a full-screen video ad yet.

Options

Touching the gear button at the top of the main screen will take you to the app’s settings screen. Even though it seems full, it’s probably the settings screen with the least amount of options I’ve ever seen.

You can change your language, although it’s limited to English and another language that I can’t understand (sorry for the ignorance).

A kind of cool feature comes in the form of reminders. You can ask the app to remind you at a specific time that you need to stop being lazy and read those books you downloaded. These can be configured for any time of the day, any day of the week.

There’s also the option to remove ads (thankfully) and share the app with your friends. Other than that, there’s no noteworthy aspects to analyze further.

Conclusion

Oodles does a good job in categorizing and providing a nice one-stop place to download e-books and audiobooks. The problems start to show up when you’re reading the books themselves, with a really outdated library to handle the situation.

If you can ignore the fact that the reading interface looks like the apps you used on your Samsung Galaxy S2 back in 2011, then you can use Oodles to satisfy your reading needs.

Download Oodles from the Google Play Store.

Chinese phones start getting a taste of Android Nougat, but what about major flagships?

News

Alexandra Arici

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November 17, 2016

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Earlier this month Google noted on its Android Developer page that Android 7.0 Nougat has been installed on a mere 0.3% of all Android devices. The new mobile OS has been with us for several months now, but OEM seem to be taking longer than expected to start delivering it to their devices.

Interestingly Chinese OEMs appear to be more pro-active than a lot of the smartphone giants out there. Most of you aren’t probably familiar with Elephone, an affordable handset maker that produces impressive looking devices like S7.

Well guess what, the company’s P9000 model already has an Android 7.0 Nougat beta program available for it. Users can help test the build and report any bugs they find, so that the stable version gets released as soon as possible.

elephone-p9000 The P9000 is an affordable phone (around $255) which comes with a 5.5-inc IPS display with 1080p resolution plus a Helio P10 processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Other specs include a 13MP/8MP camera couple, 3,000 mAh battery and a microSD card.

Now the question that comes to mind is, how come an obscure Chinese device maker is ahead in the game, instead of big shot companies like HTC, Motorola and Huawei? And Elephone is not the only one.

Chinese device maker OnePlus also announced its current OnePlus 3 and newly released OnePlus 3T will also get Nougat by the end of 2016. But there’s a caveat here – most of us were hoping that the OnePlus 3T would launch with Nougat out of the box, but that didn’t happen.

Xiaomi recently announced it is looking for alpha testers of MIUI 8 based on Android 7.0 for Mi5, so we know the device maker is actively working to bring the new built onboard of its flagships.

xioami-mi5 As for iconic Android OEMs, here’s what we know. Samsung has also kick started an Android 7.0 Nougat beta testing program for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. But what about the rest of its devices (older phones and mid-range models, tablets too)? We don’t know when Nougat will arrive.

samsung-galaxy-s7 LG is one of the few major OEM that has actually started offering the update. As we told you a few weeks ago, the company rolled out the Android 7.0 Nougat update for the LG G5 in South Korea. That means it should take several weeks before the new build reaches other territories as well. LG is also offering the V20 handset which comes with Android 7.0 Nougat pre-installed.

lg-g5 Moving on to HTC, it has been revealed in recent days (via a Twitter leakster) that the HTC 10 and One M9 are expected to be hit by Nougat in late November or early December…in Europe. That means US users will have some more to wait.

htc-10 If you don’t want to wait, HTC has recently unveiled the HTC Bolt bound for Sprint, a phone that offers Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. However the device takes advantage of last year’s Snapdragon 810.

Once at the forefront of update delivery, Motorola hasn’t done to well when it comes to Android 7.0. The company has singled out the Moto G, Moto X, and Moto Z series and Droid Turbo as phones which will probably get the update first, but so far Moto owners have been out of luck. Hopefully at least one or two of these phones will get updated before 2017, but we don’t have a concrete date.

Huawei has never been great with updates and this year is no exception. Although a leaked video showcasing the new build on the Mate 8 has leaked online, indicating the phone will be updated. When? Your guess is as good as ours. At least the company’s latest Huawei Mate 9 flagship comes with Nougat out of the box.

huawei-mate-8 It seems that in 2016 Chinese companies are more committed towards updating their products. As for the iconic smartphone makers, they are taking their sweet time as always and some are even slowing down compared to past years.

Qualcomm announces next-gen top-tier Snapdragon 835 based on 10nm FinFET

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Alexandra Arici

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November 17, 2016

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After releasing the somehow problematic Snapdragon 810 in 2015, Qualcomm had a relatively quiet year so far. Its current-gen top of the line, Snapdragon 820 and Snapdragon 821 haven’t inherited the overheating problems of the Snapdragon 810 and lots of OEMs have trusted Qualcomm to bring power to their flagships.

Well today the chip making giant has announced the successor of the Snapdragon 820&821 duo, the Snapdragon 835. It seems like Qualcomm will be skipping over the Snapdragon 830 name, at least for now.

The high-end chip will be making its way into phones in 2017, so we still have a bit of waiting to do. While we wait, Qualcomm tells us it has partnered with Samsung once again in order to use the Korean tech giant’s 10 nanometer FinFET process.

the-snapdragon-is-alive-again Last month we told you Samsung was first to start mass production of its System-on-Chip (SoC) based on the 10nm FinFET technology. But TSMC is following at close distance, with its own 10nm tech that will be found in MediaTek’s upcoming Helio X30.

Anyway after the Snapdragon 820/821, Qualcomm and Samsung have again joined forces for the Snapdragon 835. As expected, the new silicone piece will bring several benefits to the table. In its press release Qualcomm compares the new comer to its 14nm FinFet predecessors, saying that the new 10nm technology allows the 835 to be 30% smaller, offer 27% higher performance and be 40% more energy-efficient.

This means, battery life should get a bump and there’s going to be more space for other components in future smartphones. OEMs could also choose to incorporate things like a larger battery, thus appeasing users’ never ending thirst for longer lasting devices.

The Snapdragon 835 will also take advantage of Qualcomm’s next-gen Quick Charge 4.0 technology, which is expected to deliver 20% faster charging compared to the previous Quick Charge 3.0.

qualcomm-quick-charge-4 Qualcomm says Quick Charge 4.0 is fully compliant with USB Type-C protocols and Google’s new specifications for Type-C charging, unlike the Quick Charge 3.0. It also features protection against overcharging.

The chipset will also be carrying the new X16 LTE Modem, the first modem to be capable of Gigabit download speeds. In theory this could allow for 1Gbps downloads on smartphones and tablets.

Qualcomm said the Snapdragon 835 will start shipping in the first half of 2017, so expect most flagships next year including the Samsung Galaxy S8/Note8, LG G6 or HTC 11 to launch with it onboard.

LG V10 vs. V20 (Smartphone Showdown)

Reviews

Donovan Jeska

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November 17, 2016

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Welcome back, AndroidGuys. This time around I’m presenting a breakdown of LG’s latest-and-greatest, the V20, with its previous latest-and-greatest, the V10. As you might come to expect when it comes to annual upgrades, the upgrades are largely incremental.

Note: Since the V10 is going to be getting Android 7.0 in the coming months, I’m going to focus largely on hardware, not software.

Build

In an absolutely shocking turn of events, both of these phones look like a modern smartphone – which is to say, a candy bar form factor. The V20 has a pretty significant advantage in form and quality, being 0.04″ thinner, a full half an ounce lighter, and rocking a full aluminum body compared to the V10’s aluminum “accents.” Both are described as being “shock resistant,” but let’s be honest; smartphones, with very few exceptions, are not shock resistant.

Screen

I’m gonna be frank with you here; the primary screens on the V10 and V20 are identical. Both are 5.7″ IPS LCD displays running at 1440 x 2560 resolution. The secondary displays are both 2.1″ LCDs running at 1040 x 160. The only difference you’re going to see here is that the screen takes up more real estate on the V20, having a larger screen-to-body ratio. Other than that…zero upgrade in the display department.

Internals

Snapdragon 808 (1800Mhz) vs 820 (2150Mhz)

Adreno 418 vs 530 GPU

MicroSD, 4gb RAM, 64gb storage

Anyone who’s read a smartphone article written by me knows I love specs; they’re generally my go-to when comparing the overall price difference between two phones, and this is an excellent example of an incremental upgrade. The only difference between the V10 and V20 – internally – lies in the CPU (and, by extension, GPU). The V10 runs a respectable Snapdragon 808 (which tops out at 2GHz), while the V20 runs an 820 (topping out at 2.2GHz). A year’s time between the two phones, and the only difference on the motherboard is, essentially, 200MHz. I remain unimpressed.

Internal Features

MicroUSB vs Type-C USB

Bluetooth 4.1 vs 4.2

802.11AC WiFi, Fingerprint Sensor

In my honest opinion, this category holds the single largest difference between the LG V10 and V20; the charging cable.

Let that sink in for a second – I’ll wait.

The biggest difference between these two phones isn’t processing power, or the display, or some new fancy hardware gimmick; it’s the fact that one uses the venerable MicroUSB, and the other uses a shiny new Type-C USB port.

Incremental upgrade, indeed. But hey, you also get a newer version of Bluetooth, which increases the download speed of the protocol.

Battery Life

3000mAh vs 3200mAh

I’m not sure how to say this diplomatically; according to PhoneArena, the V20 has crummier battery life than the V10, which wasn’t exactly a marathon runner to begin with. While V10’s 3000mAh battery gives it 10hrs of talk time, V20’s 3200mAh battery only manages to pull 8hrs. Bigger battery. 20% less life. Ugh.

Camera

This is going to be where the V20 really separates itself from the V10. In terms of specifications, the two cameras are nearly identical – so I won’t bother. The main departure from the V10 in the V20 lies in its ability to capture better quality sound using 3 separate microphones on the chassis, as well as having a better field of view than its predecessor, at 135-degrees – nearly the same as the human eye. At it’s core, the V20 took the V10’s 13mp shooter and decided to add a second, 8mp sensor with a wider field of view. The V10 already had a pretty formidable camera on-board, especially when it comes to video, but the V20’s is a step above that. If you’re the type to immortalize every moment in video, or send roughly a billion Snaps a day, it may be worth an upgrade for you.

Value

$297 vs $649

I’m hoping that after reading this, I really don’t need to convince you any more. The above links are real-world pricing for these two phones, today and off-contract. $350 cheaper for a phone that’s a year older, but is every bit as powerful as the newer model.

Verdict

IF you love video, it MAY be worth an upgrade.

If you don’t, then don’t. Let’s recap: for double the price, you’re getting a newer processor (with 350mhz more power), two hours less talk time (despite a bigger battery!), a Type-C USB port, an improved camera, and a few months of Nougat-y goodness while the V10 waits for an upgrade.

Dono’s humble opinion? Not worth the cash.

Should you skip the Galaxy S7 edge and go for this Vivo clone instead?

News

Alexandra Arici

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November 17, 2016

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Have you been mulling over the Galaxy S7 edge, but you’re not sure you want to do business with Samsung ever again? Luckily there are a lot of Chinese device makers who have been busy copying the Galaxy S7 edge’s looks.

The latest to join the party is Vivo with the new Xplay6 handset, which like the Galaxy S7 edge boasts a curved display. And in some areas it might be even better than Samsung’s offering. Let’s compare:

Let’s start off with the new Vivo Xplay 6 which makes a grand debut into the with a 5.46-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution (1440 x 2560 pixel resolution). Comparatively the S7 edge features a tad larger 5.5-inch AMOLED display with the same resolution.

vivo-xplay6-launches Vivo employs the power of a Snapdragon 820 to breathe life into the Xlay 6 in combination with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. As for the Samsung curved phone, the chipset du-jour is still a Snapdragon 820 (or Exynos 8890 in other markets) working hand in hand with 4GB of RAM and either 32GB of 64GB of internal storage.

There aren’t so many 6GB of RAM phones available on the market, but one just launched the other day. We’re talking about the affordable OnePlus 3T.

samsung-galaxy-s7-egde-front Anyway, moving along to the photo department the Galaxy device takes advantage of a 12MP main shooter plus a 5MP selfie snapper. The Vivo Xplay 6 seems more appealing in terms of photo capabilities. The device enjoys the perks of a dual camera setup with a 12MP Sony IMX362 sensor and 5MP secondary unit that captures depth info. The selfie snapper is of a 16MP variety just like in the case of OnePlus 3T.

Both phones run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and while Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge will soon get the Android 7.0 Nougat update, we don’t think the Xplay 6 will ever get a taste of the new software.

vivo-xplay-6-in-hand The Vivo Xplay 6 has a pretty large 4,080 mAh battery at its disposal, while the Galaxy S7 edge benefits from a smaller 3,600 mAh one. Like it’s the case with most high-end phones both come bundling a fingerprint scanner.

Last but not least, let’s compare pricing. The Vivo Xplay 6 will become available for $651 a pop in December. While the phone is mainly aimed at the Chinese market, third-party re-sellers like Gearbest or Oppomart might pick up the phone.

As for the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, customers can get it from places like Amazon starting at around $570 or from carriers like Verizon which offer it for $779.99 outright (32GB version) or with an installment plan.

When and where to buy: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

The Vivo Xplay6 offers more RAM, more storage and a better camera setup plus a larger battery, so if you’re sick of Samsung, the phone might actually prove a great Galaxy S7 alternative. Although Android 7.0 Nougat will probably never make it onboard (but who knows).

Now if you don’t have that kind of money to spend and still want to get a premium-looking phone with glorious specs, we have a couple of other for you. First off, we have the Elephone S7, an obvious attempt to distract Galaxy S7 edge users. The phone features a curved display and other solid specs.

Elephone S7

5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
MediaTek Helio X20 deca-core chipset
2GB/3GB/4GB of RAM
16GB/32GB/64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD)
13MP/5MP camera combo
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
3,000 mAh battery
Metal frame and glass on both sides
Prices start at $139.99

If the looks and internals of the Elephone S7 aren’t enough to satisfy you, we suggest you take a look at the UMi Plus E (although it doesn’t have a curved display).

UMi Plus E

5.5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
MediaTek Helio P20 deca-core chipset
6GB of RAM
64GB of internal storage
13MP/5MP camera combo
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
4,000 mAh battery
Aluminum alloy cover
Prices start at $199.99

OnePlus 3 won’t be sold in the US anymore

News

Alexandra Arici

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November 17, 2016

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OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 3T yesterday which is the company’s latest flagship device. With the new phone out, lots of people have been wondering what will become of the OnePlus 3?

Will the company continue to sell it and market it at a cheaper price? Before the OnePlus 3T launched, the OnePlus 3 went out of stock in the official store, but the company commented on Twitter saying the device will be back in stock, eventually.

new-oneplus-3t However, according to Android Authority which reached out to OnePlus for clarification, the OnePlus 3 will no longer be sold in the US and Europe. The company said it has no plans of bringing it back in these markets.

OnePlus 3 Video Review

Even so, there’s still a chance the OnePlus 3 will be made available again in other markets, so it won’t disappear from the face of the earth. After all the phone is barely 5 months old.

The OnePlus 3T brings light updates over the OnePlus 3, so it seems the Chinese company doesn’t see a point to keeping both models in the store, at least in the US and Europe.

The OnePlus 3 is $40 cheaper than the OnePlus 3T, but the differences between them aren’t ground shaking. If you haven’t seen the news yet, the OnePlus 3T arrives with the same 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution, but now packs a newer Snapdragon 821 processor, an advanced selfie snapper of 16MP variety and a chunkier battery.

oneplus-3t-back Check out our complete comparison between the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T to learn about all the differences.

OnePlus 3 vs. OnePlus 3T (Should you upgrade?)

As we told you yesterday, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense to upgrade to the OnePlus 3T if you already own an OnePlus 3.

But those looking to jump onboard with OnePlus for the first time, will most likely go for the OnePlus 3T directly, although the phone is a $40 more expensive. So OnePlus probably doesn’t see a point in keeping both models in stock. Especially since the company is plagued by AMOLED display supply issues.

Google Play Newsstand gets new face and features

News

Alexandra Arici

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November 17, 2016

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Google has been quite active for the past few weeks, delivering updates to some of its services including Google Translate and Google Play Music. Well now the search giant has announced a complete overhaul of its Newsstand app and an additional desktop extension.

Like in the case of Google Music, the update for the Newsstand app focuses on delivering a more personalized experience, especially tailored for the user. Like in the case of the music-centric app, Newsstand takes advantage of machine learning in order to deliver personalized and contextual recommendations.

google-newsstand-mobile When opening the Newsstand app now users will be greeted with a personalized message and a relevant collection of articles. All these go under “Briefing” – basically the central deck of the app. Here users will be able to see all the top stories of the day or important headlines on topics of interest.

How does the app know what you like to read? Well it taps into your web history, so it can learn which topics you’re most likely to read. On top of that, the app can even send you a morning notification featuring an overview of the most important news of the day.

The Newsstand app now includes other tabs like “For Your”, “Library” (previously “My Library”), “Explore” or “Read Later”. All your magazines are stored in a new tab called “Topics & Sources”.

The search bar is now capable of offering a bunch of new options. For example, you’ll receive suggestions on possible, relevant search queries, but also landing pages for trending topics and news.

google-newsstand-web-version Google also says that Newsstand is now streaming improved multimedia content, meaning higher resolution images and autoplay videos.

The app comes equipped with a so-called Data Saver mode, which allows users to monitor the data and the bandwidth gobbled up by the app.

The update is currently rolling out, but if you fail to see it for the time being, don’t worry it will arrive soon enough (it’s a matter of days).

Google also launched a web version of the Newsstand which rocks all the new features we have outlined above, so users can read on their computer as well.

Put an end to dead spots and slow internet in your home with the AmpliFi HD mesh network (review)

Accessory Reviews

Derrick Miyao

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November 17, 2016

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There’s a battle going on for control of your home. It’s not just for control of smart devices like the Google Home or Amazon Echo. It’s for everything in your home that’s related to technology.

Arguably the most important battle is over your Wi-Fi network. While wireless routers have stayed relatively unchanged for the past decade, we are quickly seeing rapid development in mesh network technology. Google even entered the mix this year but still has people waiting on its waitlist for the next generation networking hardware.

It makes a whole lot of sense to fight for our networks. We rely more now on our Wi-Fi than ever. We watch videos on Netflix, Youtube, Hulu. We stream endless hours of music to our computers, tablets, smartphones and wireless speakers. Smart home products like the Nest, Google Home, Amazon Echo, and security cameras all rely on a powerful Wi-Fi signal.

When using the internet at home, there’s nothing worse than a dead spot, or laggy speeds when you move further away from your router.

Wi-Fi problems are more noticeable now because of our heavy dependence on the internet. Decade-old technology just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Walls, electrical signals, competing networks, microwaves, and a wide variety of things can slow your internet down. Consumers have attempted to solve their networking problems with extenders or repeaters, but most have found those to be nothing short of inadequate.

That’s where AmpliFi aims to solve your Wi-Fi problems.

How does AmpliFi work?

AmpliFi uses enterprise networking technology for the home. It uses multiple radios and access points to amplify your wireless signal.

amplifi_static_image_diagram_02 Basically, plug in the AmpliFi wireless router into your existing modem, and then connect mesh points around your home to create a network as large as you like.

You no longer need to be an IT expert in home networking with next-generation Wi-Fi technology. AmpliFi has an app in the Apple App Store for iOS devices and an Android app in the Google Play Store.

It walks you through the entire setup. Novices can set up this network in no more than five minutes. That’s if they’re slow. I’m a novice and it literally took me three minutes.

Once the main router is setup, you simply plug in the two-piece boosters into any standard wall outlets. Depending on how many you purchase will determine the size of your mesh network. The three piece system I have is designed to work on home up to 20000 square feet. My home isn’t that big even in my dreams!

What’s nice about the boosters is the two-piece magnetic construction. You can point them in any direction based on your plug.

It creates on heck of a reliable and fast network

I used the AmpliFI HD (high-density) system for over a month and absolutely loved it. Admittedly it was a bit of overkill for my 1500 square foot townhome, but every single room had 100mbps download which is what I would get if I sat within 10 feet of the original modem. My place has cement walls which really make my wireless a challenge to use in places like my bedroom which is the furthest room from the base station.

screenshot_20161116-200845 I would frequently get Netflix buffering or skipping and dropping on my Wi-Fi speakers in my office and bedroom in the past. The AmpliFi HD home system fixed all of those problems.

I also take my dog outside several times a day and can walk up to 50 yards away while still maintaing a usable Wi-Fi signal. Normally without the AmpliFi HD, I could walk maybe one tenth of that distance and lose signal.

It’s ridiculously easy to use

The days of needing to know your IP address or crazy password provided by your internet company are over with next generation systems. Through the app is where you set up your password, monitor the mesh points, and even control the devices that are connected. You can pause the internet on your entire home. It shows every single device connected to your network so you can keep track of your internet security. The last thing you want is a rogue device that is attempting to break into your personal files.

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You can create a separate network for guests too. That way you can limit what they have access to in your home. Turning the guest network on and off literally takes seconds. You also have the ability to set the guest network to shut off after a predetermined time.

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I have an embarrassing amount of devices connected to my network at peak times. I have an Android TV, several laptops, five Wi-Fi high-definition speakers, three Google Homes, three Amazon Dots and one Echo, too many smartphones to count, and several tablets. With AmpliFi I never once experienced slow internet except for the time that Time Warner went down.

I opened the AmpliFi app and it showed I had no internet connection. To verify there wasn’t a problem with my home network, I called Time Warner and they confirmed that a switch went down a block away from me.

Once it was back on, my network came right back on.

The AmpliFi next-generation Wi-Fi solution also updates itself with new firmware and software. It’s a great solution for those who are looking to get the most out of their internet.

It’s a great investment

The AmpliFi HD system I tested is designed for homes over 20000 square feet. You certainly don’t need that much horsepower if you live in a home as small as mine. If you ever plan on moving or expanding your home, you can rest easy knowing that the AmpliFi starter system can be expanded at anytime and it is listed at $149.99. All you need to purchase is an additional router to expand your mesh network.

The wireless router even has a gorgeous look to it that will fit anywhere in your home. It has a touch screen that offers real-time status, and even offers a clock.

The HD system isn’t cheap at $349.99 but it is an investment in your home, but it’s one of the best you can make. Wireless internet is almost as essential as electricity these days.

You can order the AmpliFi HD at Amazon for $349.99 or at www.amplifi.com.

Product description:

Wi-Fi Mesh Technology for Complete Home Coverage
Plug and Play High-Density Mesh Points to Eliminate Dead Spots
Dual-Band 802.11ac Wi-Fi System Delivers Up to 5.25 Gbps Aggregate Speed
Convenient Smart-Touch Display for Real-Time Status
Easy Setup and Powerful Wi-Fi Management using the AmpliFi App
Secure WPA2-PSK AES/TKIP Wi-Fi Encryption; (5) Gigabit Ethernet Ports (1 WAN and 4 LAN)
System Includes: AmpliFi Router HD, (2) AmpliFi Mesh Points HD, Ethernet Cable, Power Adapter, Quick Start Guide

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How does AmpliFi work?

It creates on heck of a reliable and fast network

It’s ridiculously easy to use

It’s a great investment

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