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Google’s Pixel phones are having issues with LTE band 4 connectivity

Alexandra Arici
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0

Google’s Pixel phone duo hasn’t been out long, but select users are already experiencing some troubles when using their devices. Some Pixel owners in North and South America are complaining about unexpected connectivity issues on the LTE band 4.

The issue seems only to affect select regions and operators. For example, the folks at Android Police have discovered that T-Mobile users aren’t faced with this problem. However, users in some areas of North or South America who only rely on LTE band 4 for connectivity are finding they are unable to connect.

the-pixel-xl-out-and-aboutAnnoyed users have taken to the Google Product Forums to complain about their troubles. International users from across the globe have joined in to share their negative LTE connectivity experiences, albeit on other bands. The LTE band 4 seems to be the most common source of the complaint.

For the time being, the problem causing these issues remains unknown. However, a user who apparently contacted a Support representative to complain, claims he was told Google is aware of the issue and is working on a software update to fix everything.

Check out these 10 awesome cases and screen protectors for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL

The information should be taken with a grain of salt, given that Google hasn’t made any official statements on the matter, just yet.

It’s not the first issue to be plaguing the Pixels we’ve heard of recently. Remember a lot of folks have been complaining about the phone’s camera creating a halo effect when snapping photographs.

Google is also said to be hard at work on a software fix, meant to put the mind of photo enthusiasts at ease.

Are you seeing any LTE band 4 connectivity problems on your Pixel or Pixel XL?

OnePlus 3T with Snapdragon 821, Android 7.0 Nougat coming November 15

Alexandra Arici
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1

The OnePlus 3T has been rumored for quite some time now. The device is expected to be the answer to OnePlus’ AMOLED shortage problems because it uses a LCD display instead.

Qualcomm already confirmed a Snapdragon 821-fueld OnePlus device was incoming and this week OnePlus itself teased fans on Twitter by saying the “Snapdragon 821 is coming your way. Find out more on November 15.” Which pretty much means we’re going to see the phone make an official debut on the said date.

The company doesn’t say anything else about the upcoming smartphone, but it is pretty evident that the handset isn’t far from being released.

Word on the street has it the new OnePlus 3T will make a debut into the wild with a 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution, pretty much like the current OnePlus 3. But a Snapdragon 821 clocked at 2.35GHz will be doing the heavy lifting under the hood, not the Snapdragon 820. Apart from providing extra computing power, the presence of the new chipset will help deliver improved battery life.

never-settle-logo OnePlus will also be throwing in 6G of RAM in combination with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. A better 16MP camera with Sony IMX389 sensor should also make it onboard. Android 7.0 Nougat will be the operating system du-jour.

All these improvements are expected to add an extra $80 to the price tag. The OnePlus 3 is currently available for $400.

As we expect to see the OnePlus 3T arrive, let us remind you the OnePlus 4 has also made an appearance in the rumor mill as of late. The device is tipped to arrive with a next-gen Snapdragon 830 sometime in June or July.

HTC offers big discounts on its smartphones including HTC 10, ahead of Black Friday

Alexandra Arici
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3

Have you been mulling over a HTC gadget for quite a while? Well November is the perfect month to acquire that shiny new gadget you’ve been dreaming of for quite a while. In anticipation of shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, HTC is already tempting customers with a sweet set of deals.

Before we give you the whole scoop on the discounts, it’s important to note that you’ll need to sign up to be a part of Team HTC in order to access the promotions. Team HTC is the company’s own reward program that allows users to earn “perks” by sharing HTC-related stuff on social media, buying things from the HTC website or by convincing friends to buy from HTC too.

htc-10-in-real-lifeJoining Team HTC is free of charge. Being a part of it would normally get you things like Google Play Store credit or gift cards, but this month HTC is offering you the chance to get some serious discounts on a series of select products.

What you need to is join Team HTC by November 13. Deals are available today (November 8) and will be offered until November 14. Now that we got your attention, let’s talk about the deals you can get:

  • HTC 10 – $500 ($50 off)
  • HTC One M9 – $300 ($50 off)
  • HTC One A9 – $275 ($34 off)
  • UA Band – $79 ($41 off)
  • HTC One M8 and HTC One M9 cases – $10
  • HTC Re Camera – $75 ($125 off)

The biggest discount applies to the HTC 10. Normally the phone would retail for $699 a pop, but the Taiwanese device maker is already shaving $150 off its price for anyone looking to buy it (regardless of whether they are on Team HTC or not). With the extra $50 discount applied, the handset now costs only $500.

If you too are HTC fan, hurry up and go sign up for Team HTC. Note that it might take up to 24h to receive the coupon codes for these deals. Don’t forget to check your email.

In case you don’t remember here’s what you can expect to find onboard of the discounted phones:

HTC 10

  • htc-102-inch display with 1,440 x 2,560 resolution
  • Snapdragon 820
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 32/64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD to 256GB)
  • 12MP/5MP camera combo
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box (planned update to Android 7.0 Nougat)

HTC One M9

  • htc-one-m95-inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
  • Snapdragon 810
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card slot)
  • 20MP/4MP camera combo
  • 2,840 mAh battery
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, upgradable to Marshmallow (planned update to Android 7.0 Nougat)

 HTC One A9

  • htc-one-a95-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
  • Snapdragon 617
  • 2GB/3GB of RAM
  • 16GB/32GB of internal storage
  • 13MP/4MP camera combo
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • 2,150 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box (planned update to Android 7.0 Nougat)

Stay on top of the best deals this Black Friday with the BlackFriday.fm Android app

Derrick Miyao
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1

November is the most exciting month of the year to shop for deals. Retails fight harder for your money than at anytime of the year and it’s when consumers take advantage of the ridiculous sales. The only downside to Black Friday month, is the overwhelming amount of advertisements you have to sort through just to find the right deals.

Fortunately www.blackfriday.fm has all of your needs covered with its website and Android app. It has all of the most popular ads in one spot which simplifies deal searching and leaves you with a ton more time to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner.

blackfriday-fm

The Android app can be found at the Google Play Store and is free to download and use. Just like the website, it consolidates all of the ads into one easy to browse location.

screener_2016110816-25-23

Popular stores such as Best Buy, Overstock, Tagett, Gamestop, kmart, and Walmart are all listed. It’s super easy to look through each store’s ad, and you can even see leaked Black Friday ads as soon as they come out. The app separates doorbusters from regular sales too.

To make things easy for you when Black Friday arrives on November 25th, you can create a shopping list by saving your favorite products. If you happen to only want to shop for a specific type of product such as cellphones, there’s even an area to browse through specific categories.

screener_2016110816-38-56There’s nothing tricky to using the app and best of all there are no in-app purchases. It’s one of the highest rated Black Friday deals apps and can even be found in the Apple iOS App Store for free as well.

Since this is a tech website, I’ve pulled out five categories you might be interested in most.

Make your life easier this holiday season and check out www.blackfriday.fm, or download the iOS or Android app.

Kenu’s ‘Stance’ creates a portable tripod for USB-C phones (review)

AndroidGuys
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USB Type-C is really awesome stuff and it’s one of those technologies we wish would have been here sooner. Further, we hope that other device makers embrace the standard as soon as possible. Not only is it nice to have quicker charging, but there’s something just too convenient about not worrying about which direction you plug your cable in.

Another, albeit, lesser feature of Type-C that bears mentioning is that it provides for flexible accessories. Not just cables and chargers, but things like the Stance, a tripod designed by Kenu. We’ve had one of these in our possession for a few weeks now and are ready to offer up our takeaway.

kenu_stance_2

First and foremost, this unit is compact and very portable. We’re talking key-chain accessory size. In fact, it comes with a small ring just for the very sake of adding to your keys. And, once you use it for some time, you’ll be glad to have it with you at pretty much all times.

The Kenu Stance is a tripod that is built with video, video calls, selfies, and time-lapse photography in mind. Simply plug it into the bottom of your phone and expand the legs and you’re all set. One can adjust and pivot the head to various angles so you get the exact degree you need.

kenu_stance_3

Shooting some time-lapse photos of clouds or the ocean? The Stance lets you set your phone down so it can get the perfect footage, free from bumps and movement.

The tips of the legs have a nice rubber coating on them so your phone and stand don’t slide around on the surface. Moreover, the overall design allows for you to plug your phone in and use the Stance in portrait and landscape modes. The tips work well in any angle.

There’s nothing in the actual head that touches or interferes with your phone so don’t worry about goofing up your connection. And, because it’s Type-C, you can plug it in quickly and without looking.

kenu_stance_4

If you’re looking at the Stance and notice that one of its legs is a little bit different from the rest, that’s by design. Indeed, it is created so that you can use the unit as a bottle opener. Now you have two reasons to carry this guy around.

We’ve enjoyed having this guy around the office as it’s a good way to do video calls on Google Hangouts. Additionally, a quick adjustment lets us turn the phone sideways to take in some YouTube videos. In a related note, this was one of the first items we packed for a recent flight as it let us prop up the phone for Google Play Movies.

If you are wondering whether the Stance works with your existing phone case, the answer is yes. Whatever normally works with your car and home chargers is the same here. There is no reason to take your phone out of the case in order to take advantage of the Stance’s features.

kenu_stance_5

The Stance runs $24.95 and can be purchased directly from Kenu’s website. Should you not have a USB Type-C phone you can also order a micro-USB and iPhone version; both are the same price. Kenu also makes a wide variety of other smartphone accessories so feel free to look around its website. Also, head to Amazon and check out some of the products there, too!

When and where to buy: Samsung Galaxy S7

AndroidGuys
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0

Launched in spring of 2017, the Galaxy S7 is Samsung’s flagship smartphone experience. As one might expect, it improves on the series in more than a few ways.

Key specifications include a 5.1-inch display at 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and 12-megapixel rear camera. Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow with a custom user interface, the Galaxy S7 is IP68 rated. This means it can spend up to 30 minutes in water up to five feet deep.

Other hardware details worth noting include a microSD expansion card slot for extra storage and a 3000mAh battery. Moreover, it’s capable of both wireless and fast charging so you can get back out there in no time.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Where to Buy” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23d70060″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]
[vc_cta h2=”Verizon” h2_font_container=”color:%23ef1d1d” h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.verizonwireless.com%2Fsmartphones%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.verizonwireless.com%2Fsmartphones%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]The 32GB version of the phone is available in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum options with a full retail price of $672. Qualified buyers can spread payments out for $28.00 per month over two years.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”AT&T” h2_font_container=”color:%23067ab4″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.att.com%2Fcellphones%2Fsamsung%2Fgalaxy-s7.html%23sku%3Dsku7840239||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.att.com%2Fcellphones%2Fsamsung%2Fgalaxy-s7.html%23sku%3Dsku7840239||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]The 32GB version of the phone is available in Black Onyx and Gold Platinum options with a full retail price of $695. Qualified buyers can spread payments out for as low as $23.17 per month.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”T-Mobile” h2_font_container=”color:%23ff009f” h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fcell-phones%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7.html%23Black-Onyx||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fcell-phones%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7.html%23Black-Onyx||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]The 32GB version of the phone is available in black and gold options with a full retail price of $672. Qualified buyers can spread payments out for $28.00 per month over two years.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Sprint” h2_font_container=”color:%23fee100″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com%2Fshop%2F%3FINTNAV%3DTopNav%3AShop%3ASamsungGalaxy%23!%2Fdevice%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx%3FskuId%3D103800150%26duration%3D24EP%26contractType%3DeasyPay%26lineId%3D1633464481||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com%2Fshop%2F%3FINTNAV%3DTopNav%3AShop%3ASamsungGalaxy%23!%2Fdevice%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx%3FskuId%3D103800150%26duration%3D24EP%26contractType%3DeasyPay%26lineId%3D1633464481||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]The 32GB version of the phone is available in black and gold options with a full retail price of $695. Qualified buyers can spread payments out for $28.96 per month over two years.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Swappa” h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fswappa.com%2Fbuy%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fswappa.com%2Fbuy%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s7||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]If you are looking to buy or sell a used smartphone, Swappa is our favorite destination for doing so. With that said, there are plenty of Galaxy S7’s available today.[/vc_cta]
[vc_cta h2=”Amazon” h2_font_container=”color:%23444444″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2eB0F6p||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2eB0F6p||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]An unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S7 can be had for as low as $530; it is Titanium Silver and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. Alternatively, a White Pearl model currently carries a price of about $590.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”B&H Photo Video” h2_font_container=”color:%23444444″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1225377-REG%2Fsamsung_sm_g930_32gb_blk_galaxy_s7_g930_32gb.html%2FBI%2F20229%2FKBID%2F14505||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1225377-REG%2Fsamsung_sm_g930_32gb_blk_galaxy_s7_g930_32gb.html%2FBI%2F20229%2FKBID%2F14505||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]An unlocked international 32GB Black Onyx model typically carries a price of about $560 but it’s currently on sale for $530. For something that works with both GSM and CDMA, the North American variant is only $669.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Best Buy” h2_font_container=”color:%23444444″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsearchpage.jsp%3Fst%3Dgalaxy%2Bs7%26_dyncharset%3DUTF-8%26id%3Dpcat17071%26type%3Dpage%26sc%3DGlobal%26cp%3D1%26nrp%3D%26sp%3D%26qp%3D%26list%3Dn%26af%3Dtrue%26iht%3Dy%26usc%3DAll%2BCategories%26ks%3D960%26keys%3Dkeys||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fsearchpage.jsp%3Fst%3Dgalaxy%2Bs7%26_dyncharset%3DUTF-8%26id%3Dpcat17071%26type%3Dpage%26sc%3DGlobal%26cp%3D1%26nrp%3D%26sp%3D%26qp%3D%26list%3Dn%26af%3Dtrue%26iht%3Dy%26usc%3DAll%2BCategories%26ks%3D960%26keys%3Dkeys||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]Customers can pick up versions that work with all major carriers but prices are all over the place. As of today it ranges from as low as $650 up to $792, depending on which one you end up. Qualified buyers can spread payments out over 24-month and 30-month options.[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Samsung” h2_font_container=”color:%23444444″ h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” shape=”square” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Shop” btn_shape=”square” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-shopping-basket” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fexplore%2Fgalaxy-s7-features-and-specs%2F||target:%20_blank” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fexplore%2Fgalaxy-s7-features-and-specs%2F||target:%20_blank” btn_add_icon=”true”]Samsung’s official website offers the flagship phone for all of the major carriers with prices ranging from $650 to $695. Alternatively, the unlocked GSM version can be had for $670 and it works with a variety of prepaid and MVNO brands.[/vc_cta]

Samsung’s Seoul offices raided by prosecutors over corruption scandal

Alexandra Arici
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0

In the wake of the Galaxy Note7 fiasco, Samsung continues to be a catalyst for negative attention. According to The Wall Street Journal, South Korean prosecutors have raided the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seoul, as part of a probe in the investigation of President Park Geun-hye’s confidante and friend, Choi Soon-sil.

The corruption charges allege Samsung has secretly funded the extravagant sporting activities of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter. The tech giant is suspected to have transferred a whopping $3.1 million to a company owned by Choi called Widec Sports in Germany. The money was then used to pay for the daughter’s dressage rider training fees.

Samsung has confirmed its offices have been raided, but gave no further explanations. Choi Soon-sil has been arrested on charges of fraud and power abuse and is currently in jail.

The State Visit Of The President Of The Republic of Korea

Soon-sil is the daughter of deceased Shamanistic cult leader and long-time president mentor, Choi Tae-min. In a position of power, Choi Soon-sil is accused to have used her personal relationship with the President to force conglomerates into paying exorbitant donations to her many foundations and used the money for personal gain. She is also accused of exerting her influence to interfere with governmental affairs.

A huge political scandal has erupted following the accusations with President Park being the center of it all. Tens of thousands of protesters in Seoul have been demanding Park’s resignation, while the president’s approval ratings plummeted to record lows.

In a bid to appease the crisis engulfing her presidency, Park announced she will withdraw her nominee for prime minister. She also revealed her wiliness to give the new premier control of the cabinet. It’s an important political concession, given that the prime minister position in South Korea is mostly symbolic, with power being concentrated around the Presidential office. Park also admitted to her close relationship with Choi and apologized publicly.

The investigation is currently ongoing, so it will be a while until we find out the real role Samsung played in all of this.

Google announces WebVR is coming to Android in January

Alexandra Arici
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0

Virtual reality has yet to descent into the mainstream, but important players in the industry like Google strongly believe in its untapped potential. So during the W3C’s Workshop on Web & Virtual Reality, Google’s WebVR Product Manager, Megan Lindsay announced the company plans to add WebVR support to its Chrome internet browser for Android.

For those unfamiliar with WebVR – this is a technology developed to provide access to Virtual Reality devices like Google’s new Daydream View headset or Samsung Gear VR in your browser, rather than through native apps.

To give you an example, at the moment you can watch 360 videos on YouTube with a Daydream headset by using the official app, but when WebVR becomes integrated into Chrome for Android, users will be able to view the videos through the browser instead.

The search giant is looking to launch the beta program in December, with a stable release being scheduled for January. Which means that starting the first month of 2017, WebVR will be available in the Chrome browser app every Android fan can download from the Google Play Store.

webvr-logo

This is as good as place as any, to remind you that Google’s new Daydream View headset is expected to start shipping out to customers November 10. The headset is compatible with the Pixel and Pixel XL, but a software update will also make the ZTE Axon 7 compatible.

Beyond WebVR, Google is working on a version of Chrome nicknamed “VR Shell” that can support browsing in VR for regular 2D websites. Expect to see this in the first half of 2017 on the Android version of Chrome and then later on for desktops.

The competition also made an appearance during the W3C’s Workshop on Web & Virtual Reality. Microsoft revealed there are working to integrate WebVR in their Edge browser too and Oculus reminded those present it is working on its very own browser dubbed Carmel for Oculus Rift and Gear VR.

webvr-for-mozilla

The WebVR API is currently available for Firefox Nightly builds, in the experimental builds of Chromium and in the Samsung Internet Browser for Gear VR.

LG G5 getting Android 7.0 Nougat update in South Korea

Alexandra Arici
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0

Holding on to a LG G5? Well if that’s the case, then you’ll be happy to hear that LG has announced it has started the roll out of the Android 7.0 Nougat for the LG G5 in South Korea. It’s quite a big deal for LG, who managed to be the first device maker to update a non-Nexus handset to the latest available OS.

Android 7.0 Nougat has been released over two month ago, but currently the mobile OS is running on very few devices. According to the latest Google numbers, Android 7.0 Nougat is now installed on 0.3% of all Android devices in use at the moment. Basically only the LG20, Nexus devices and Pixel C are currently benefiting from the presence of Android 7.0. As for Android 7.1, it can be found only onboard of the Pixel and Pixel XL.

LG G5 feature

Going back to the LG G5, we expect to see the update hit the US, Asia and other markets within the next several weeks. LG says that announcements about the exact timing of these updates hitting will be made locally, so keep checking back with us for more information on the matter.

LG G5 Review: modular marvel or bold blunder?

The LG G5 was released in April 2016 with Android 6.01. Marshmallow onboard. The phone offers a 5.3-inch display with 1,440 x 2,560 pixel resolution. A Snapdragon 820 works to keep things running onboard, hand in hand with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (expandable).

LG G5 cameras

Albeit offering a nice combo of specs, the LG G5 has been seriously overlooked by users. However with Android 7.0 Nougat onboard, the phone will be gaining a new strong point. Will it be enough to attract new customers to buy the phone? We’ll just have to wait and see.

In other Nougat news, we should remind you Samsung is kick starting its Android 7.0 beta testing program for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge on November 9. The beta program will extend until mid-December, so there’s not much chance to see the official version roll out before the New Year.

Lumsing 15000mAh Glory P1 Plus: The perfect traveling companion (review)

AndroidGuys
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0

It seems like every recent smartphone has a beautiful display. These high resolution displays come at a cost to your battery life. The average consumer spends a considerable amount of time on their cell phones and manufacturers do not seem to be focusing on improving battery life. I don’t know how many times I’ve sat in an airport, only to see every single outlet being occupied. The culprit is usually one person charging all five of their electronic devices.

This is where power banks come in. Let me introduce you to the Lumsing 15000mAh Glory P1 Plus.

Build

  • Battery: Li-Polymer
  • Capacity: 15,000mAh
  • Input: 5V, 1.8A
  • Output: 0 ~ 3.2A, three
    USB ports
  • Size: 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.7 inches
  • Weight 331 g
  • Warranty: 12 months

The great thing about Lumsing is that it focuses on simplicity. This device is built for function, rather than aesthetic appeal. There are two color options. White with orange trim, and black with orange trim. There are three USB ports, which provides the option of charging three devices at the same time. One of the three USB ports offers more room for bulkier cables.

dsc05749

dsc05743

The portable bank is idiot-proof and requires no directions to operate. Simply turn the power bank on (it has only one button), connect your charging cable and plug it into your phone.

There are four blue LED lights that indicate the battery life. Each LED light represents 25% battery. A fully charged portable bank will have all four LED lights on.

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Usage

This power bank is a beast. Lumsing claims that it can fully charge a Galaxy S6 around five and a half times. I wanted to test how long I could go without using a wall charger and replaced it with this portable battery instead. I ended up going a full five days without having to use a wall charger. I normally let my battery drain from 100% to 20% battery before charging my phone. This easily charged my phone to 100% at least five times. I also tried charging my Nvidia Shield K1 tablet, iPhone 6s, and Huawei GX8 smartphone at the same time. The Lumsing Glory P1 Plus had no problem handling all those devices at once. The portable battery does not have pass through charging, which means that you cannot charge the portable battery and connected devices at the same time.

The portable power bank itself takes around nine hours to fully charge. I plugged it in right before going to bed and had a full battery when I woke up.

This portable battery is long and quite heavy. It is slightly bigger and much thicker than the LG G5. This is not the portable charger that you want to carry around in your pocket. The smaller Lumsing 8000mAh would be better suited for that role.

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This power bank is better suited for things like camping or traveling where one can expect to be without an outlet for an extended amount of time. This portable bank will ensure that you never have to sit on the dirty floor, next to an outlet ever again. It is a great option for daily use as well. I carry a backpack to work everyday and have no problem storing this power bank in one of the pockets.

Summary

The Lumsing 15000mAh Glory P1 Plus is not the device to buy if you plan on carrying it around in your pocket. The portable bank is on the heavier side, but it’s a small price to pay for the usefulness of being able to charge your phone up to five or six times depending on the phone. You also have the capability of charging multiple devices at the same time.

Anyone who is going to be traveling for an extended period of time is going to really appreciate this portable battery. I’ve been on far too many road trips where my phone dies halfway through the car ride. Even if you aren’t traveling, it won’t hurt to keep this portable battery in your car or backpack just in case. The Lumsing Glory P1 Plus can be found on Amazon for only $19.99 with free shipping.

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