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Alleged Xiaomi flexible smartphone display smiles for the camera

Alexandra Arici
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The tech industry has been fantasizing about foldable displays for a really long time. LG’s G Flex and G Flex 2 came a step closer to fulfilling this craving, but these handsets are still far from offering true display flexibility.

Lenovo also showcased a bendable design concept during IFA 2016 in Berlin and a few Samsung patents outlining foldable tablets and smartphones have been spotted over the years. So we know that tech giants are indeed interested in the whole flexible phone affair and are experimenting with the concept.

Xiaomi seems to be one of them. A few images that popped up on Baidu recently and were picked up by GizmoChina, appear to showcase a Xiaomi foldable smartphone display running the company’s custom MIUI 8 OS. Judging by the photos, the screen can be bent backwards and forwards, as well as left and right. If you don’t believe the images showcase the real deal, you can also check out a video showing the display in all its splendor.

But before you jump for joy, consider it’s probably still going to be a while until flexible smartphones like Xiaomi’s will become available for purchase on the market.

Manufacturers are bumping into a few problems while these phones are concerned. Even if we put cost problems aside, there are still the issues of lifespan and short wear-and-tear cycles, to be taken into consideration. On top of that, important phone components like batteries and other internals also have to be manufactured to be as flexible as the displays themselves.

Even so, Samsung and LG are pouring funds into the production of OLED flexible display as well as into researching new OLED technology.

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The idea of having a smartphone that can be neatly rolled into your pocket is enticing enough, especially since such a handset would be impossible to break, so hopefully device manufacturers will find workaround these problems.

All in all, it does seem the Xiaomi prototype is a real thing, which is really exciting. Who’s ready for unbreakable phones? We know we are.

Swype keyboard is a slick way to type on your phone (Review)

Dan Bartram
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Overview:

Swype is a keyboard app that has a ton of features and input methods that make it stand out from the crowded keyboard scene.

Developer: Nuance Communications
Cost: $0.99 (Free trial available)

Impressions:

Swype has been around a while now, and has established itself as one of the more popular keyboard apps for Android. It offers a lot of value for it’s asking price and has only improved as the years have gone by. Cloud features for storing your personal dictionary, voice dictation and custom themes are just a few of the features it packs, but how is the typing experience?

The main way Swype expects you to type is by “swiping,” where you drag your finger from letter to letter in a fluid motion to spell out a word. This feature is offered on a lot of keyboards nowadays, and Swype’s version is implemented well. It generally did a good job of telling what word I was going for, and it offers a few suggestions as well in case the word in picked up wasn’t correct. Me being a “hunt and peck” typist on my phone, this feature took a lot of getting used to, as after I swiped out a word, I didn’t always get the result I wanted because I tend to move my finger too quickly over some letters and miss my target. Swiping is certainly fast and fluid when you get the hang of it, however, and I find myself using it a lot more than I thought I would. The standard typing method of Swype was a bit off for me, as I found myself somehow missing letters and mistyping when not using the swipe typing. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t use Swype as my daily driver keyboard even though it is an excellent keyboard overall. It just doesn’t gel with my preferred typing method as much as the Google keyboard.

Swype also has built-in voice dictation from Nuance Communications other product, Dragon. The voice dictation typing works very well, and doesn’t require any voice training to accurately pick up my words as I speak them. As with any speech-to-text system, there were a few missed words or incorrect choices but on the whole it did a great job, and I used it more than I thought I would, especially when my hands were unavailable. Swype’s final unique input method is handwriting recognition, which I could take or leave. It does a fine job most of the time of picking up the letters I wrote with my finger, but the box is very small so writing out a whole word left to right is difficult if you have larger handwriting like I do. I think this feature is a bit unnecessary, and probably underused, but it is a nice option for those that like it and just another feature to add to the long list of things packed into this keyboard.

The biggest selling point of Swype, at least for me, is the custom theme system they have. There are a ton of options to customize your keyboard to fit your phone’s theme, or just to look awesome. My favorites are the Star Trek and color options, but there are a bunch more to get that will truly make your keyboard unique. The themes change the color, background and buttons of the keyboard in different ways, and none of them are really lazy, with some excellent details that remind me of rooted custom keyboards.

Swype has a laundry list of other neat features as well, including cloud backup for your personal dictionary so you can take it from device to device easily, a gesture-based “cut, copy, paste” that functions similarly to a PC keyboard shortcut, and a bunch of accessibility features for those who need them like talk-back and bilingual support.

Conclusion:

Swype is really overflowing with content for a cheap keyboard app. It packs in multiple input methods that all work well, along with a bevy of customization and usability features that really add some value. The Swype keyboard is certainly not perfect, and there are of course other options out there that offer similar features, but Swype is definitely a excellent keyboard that anyone could find something to love in. A solid recommendation for anyone looking to replace Fan stock keyboard, or spice up their phone theme with even more customization.

Download Swype in the Google Play Store

Google tipped to unveil two Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches in Q1 2017

Alexandra Arici
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Rumors about Google working on its own Android Wear smartwatches have been flying around for a while now. The wearables are expected to pack Google’s next-gen Android Wear 2.0 software and come equipped with the company’s recently announced virtual assistant.

Well, it seems that we’re a step closer from seeing Google unveil these two new gadgets. A recent Tweet posted by professional leakster @evleaks reaffirms Google has two devices in the pipeline, reportedly headed for a Q1 release.  Renders showcasing the purported wearables showed up online a few months ago.

A second report coming out of Android Police, reveals the two smartwatches are codenamed Angelfish and Swordfish and are anticipated to complement the brand new Pixel and Pixel XL duo.

Angelfish is the larger of the two models and when it launches it should be a standalone product enjoying the perks of LTE connectivity, GPS, in combination with a heart-rate sensor.

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As for Swordfish, this wearable is going to be the budget alternative. Coming in with a smaller form factor and devoid of LTE and GPS functions, the smartwatch will probably be targeted at those who don’t plan to spend a fortune on a wearable.

Both versions are going to come equipped with Google’s virtual assistant, which is said to be more fun to be around and work with than Siri or Alexa.

At this point, there’s no word on how Google plans to brand these devices. We could assume they will be released under the Nexus banner, but given that this year the search giant dropped the name and moved on to the next chapter, it seems quite unlikely.

On top of that, the smartwatches are said to be companions to the Pixel and Pixel XL, so in all possibility, they will bear the same name.

It doesn’t seem like device manufacturers are flocking to release Android Wear smartwatches like in the old days, so Google might have felt it needed to take matters into its own hands in order to keep its wearable OS alive and kicking.

Earlier this week, a few photos of HTC’s rumored Halfbeak made their way online, indicating that at least one of Google’s partners is still onboard of the Android Wear bandwagon.

Android Wear 2.0 was discussed at the I/O conference back in May and three developer preview versions have been released so far.

Samsung Electronics apologizes for Note 7 fiasco

AndroidGuys
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Korean news site, THE INVESTOR, is reporting that Samsung Electronics mobile chief has issued a public apology for the multitude of issues regarding the company’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone. Samsung has been under the microscope since the Note 7 issues were first reported. Since those initial reports, the mobile chief, Koh Dong-Jin, pledged that he would find the exact cause of the faulty Galaxy Note 7.

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Koh Dong-jin bows to show humility for the worldwide Note 7 issues

Koh Dong-jin has admitted that he and others at Samsung are frustrated with the Note 7 crisis. He asked that investors remain patient and expressed gratitude to the Samsung board members for their support. Other employees of Samsung Electronics have posted support for the president of the company on online message boards.

Theoretically, Samsung Group could remove Koh Dong-Jin from his position to show its disapproval for the entire humiliating incident, henceforth placing blame on the mobile chief. Now that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been officially discontinued, it will be interesting to see if the Note line will continue on or go the way of the dodo.

Use Chromecast to watch Facebook videos

Andrew Orr
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Facebook is pushing video – not only for users but for advertisers as well. With the newest update, Facebook will work with your other devices to watch videos on your TV.

You’ll be able to stream videos to your TV with devices like Chromecast and Apple TV. You can already do this on iOS or in your web browser, but Facebook is finally bringing this feature to Android.

To watch Facebook videos on TV:

  • Find a video you want to watch on your phone or desktop and press the TV symbol in the top right corner.
  • Select the device you want the video to stream to.
  • Enjoy the video right from your TV.

At the same time you’re watching a video, you can still scroll through your News Feed on your Android device. Watch videos from your feed or in your saved videos.

If you stream a Facebook Live video to your TV, you’ll be able to see all of the real-time reactions and comments. Personally, I find this annoying on a small smartphone, as it takes up half of the screen. But on a bigger screen like a TV, you’ll be able to watch a bigger video.

Facebook’s press release didn’t mention other devices like Roku or Fire TV, so people with those devices might have to test it to see if it works.

Google Photos updated with four new features

Andrew Orr
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Google Photos is getting four big updates today: three ways to relive memories, and one quick way to fix certain photos.

The first update lets you “rediscover old memories”. If you have a huge photo library filled with thousands of photos, sometimes Google’s intelligent search might not be enough. Rediscovering memories gives you a pleasant surprise when you remember the places you’ve been and the people you’ve seen.

google photos memories

Next, the second update provides highlights of your photos. For example, if you take a bunch of photos of your cat (and I know you do), Google will send you a card-collage with the best ones from the previous month.

The third update has to do with animations. You already get certain animations from your photos, like a gif. Now you can get one from your videos too. But Google specifically looks for videos with action – like diving off a cliff, or even a smile.

Finally, the last update searches your collection for photos that are sideways, and automatically lets you tap on a photo to fix the rotation.

Each of these features are part of Google’s machine learning, so they happen automatically. All you have to do is keep snapping those photos. Every one of these features are available cross-platform on Android, iOS and the web. Look for these cards in the Assistant section of the Google Photos app.

Samsung offers Note7 owners $100 credit towards the purchase of another Galaxy phone

Alexandra Arici
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Earlier this week Samsung urged all Galaxy Note7 owners to power off their devices and stop using them immediately. The Korean tech giant also invited affected parties to take advantage of the remedies available, like requesting a full refund.

Interestingly enough, US customers aren’t flocking to return the faulty phablet, so Samsung has come up with a plan to persuade users to renounce their devices.

While the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has just made the second Galaxy Note7 recall official, this time including the replacement units, Samsung is attempting to do a bit of damage control. In the hopes of keeping Note7 former owners from waltzing off to other brands, the Korean tech giant is now offering $100 credit to those willing to exchange their Galaxy Note7 for another Samsung phone like the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 S Pen ejected

Samsung posted an official statement on their US website saying:

“As a sign of our appreciation for your patience and loyalty, we are offering up to a $100 bill credit from select carrier or retail outlets if you exchange your Galaxy Note 7 for another Samsung smartphone, less any incentive credits already received.”

However, if you’re done with Samsung for the time being and want to move to another brand, you’ll be awarded $25. If you have already returned your phones and taken the $25 credit offered at the time, you will be able to claim an additional $75 from your carrier or retailer. The US Note7 Refund and Exchange Program kicks off at 3:00 pm ET on October 13.

One more thing: with the Galaxy Note7 now being gone, the phablet’s accessories aren’t really of any use anymore. We’re talking case, wireless charging docks and such. Luckily Amazon comes to the aid of those who have purchased Note7 accessories.

Users on Reddit are reporting the e-commerce giant is refunding these products, even those whose 30-day return window has expired. The Verge confirmed that in most cases its Note7 refund policy include accessories, so if you are holding on to any Note7 accessories you know what to do.

It will be interesting to see whether the $100 incentive will be enough to make mourning Galaxy Note7 want to remain in the Samsung camp. Some have been using Samsung products for as long as they can remember, so the force of habit might end up playing a big role in the decision.

 

Huawei Mate 9 leaks out in standard and curved display versions

Alexandra Arici
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Once an obscure smartphone manufacturer from China, Huawei has grown to become a globally recognizable brand and a serious challenge to titans of the industry like Samsung and Apple.

Advancing with the speed of light into the new markets worldwide, Huawei is now the world’s number three smartphone brand. The company is always working on new smartphone models and actually has a very interesting premium phone in the makes.

According to a report coming out of Venture Beat, the Chinese smartphone giant is prepping to release the previously rumored Mate 9 during an event in Munch, Germany on November 3.

Two people familiar with the matter have stepped forward recently and claimed the company will not be showing one phone, but two. It makes sense given that most phone makers today tend to release flagship models in pairs. Just think of Samsung and its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge pair or of Apple and it’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus combo. Most recently Google unveiled the Pixel and Pixel XL phones.

Going back to Huawei, the two Mate 9 versions are reportedly dubbed Manhattan and Long Island internally. Serial leakster @evleaks has worked his magic and is now giving us a glimpse of what to expect.

Apparently, the mirage of the Samsung Galaxy Edge models has contaminated Huawei as well. If the leaked images are any real indication of what’s coming, then Huawei is gearing up to unleash a standard Mate 9 (Manhattan) and one with dual curved displays (Long Island).

Buyer’s Guide: Unlocked Smartphones

Out of the two models, Long Island is going to be the premium one arriving with a QHD display (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) and featuring support for Android Daydream, while Manhattan will be boasting only an FHD screen (1920 x 1080 pixels).

huawei-mate-9-render

Other specifications include a spacious 5.9-inch display, a 64-bit octa-core HiSilicone Kirin 960 SoC and a wide range of memory configurations, the more advanced being 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

As for the photography department, rumor has it that at least Long Island will be taking advantage of a Leica dual-sensor, dual-lens assemblage, in the vein of the Huawei P9 but improved to 20MP at f/2.0.

Other manufacturers have been playing with the idea of releasing a Galaxy Edge inspired phone. For example, back at CES 2015, LG put on display a phone prototype which features a dual-curved display. Similarly, a phone dubbed Xiaomi Mi Edge popped in the rumor mill, only to disappear as fast as it showed up.

It’s quite interesting to see whether Huawei will actually manage to pull this off and release a Galaxy Edge competitor in the wild.

While the Mate 9 event is going to be hosted in Germany, the sources say that Manhattan will see a global release, including the United Stated, while the curved Long Island will probably be marketed in the company’s home base in China.

Verizon solemnly promises timely updates for Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Alexandra Arici
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Android enthusiasts welcomed the Google’s new pair of Pixel phones with open arms, but did not take too well to the news that apart from the unlocked versions, the handsets will be available exclusively under Verizon in the United States.

Big Red doesn’t have a great track record of providing timely updates for its smartphones, so it’s understandable why the announcement didn’t sit well with fans of Google’s device lineup. Nexus models and now the Pixels are special in the Android world because they’re usually the first receive the newest updates.

Buyer’s Guide: Verizon

During the Pixel launch event, Google stated it will deliver monthly security updates, while system updates would be the responsibility of Verizon. This basically means Google will still be in charge of making the updates, with Verizon subsequently rolling it out to its customers afterward.

[graphiq id=”jBvmQBseSLX” title=”Google Pixel” width=”600″ height=”729″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/jBvmQBseSLX” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/6878/Google-Pixel” link_text=”SpecOut | Graphiq” ]

The announcement put off a lot of users who were relying on the Pixel and Pixel XL to be at the forefront of receiving updates from Google. However, it doesn’t seem users have anything to be concerned about, as Verizon has just confirmed customers buying the Pixel will be getting updates at the same time as unlocked users.

In a statement released to ArsTechnica, the carrier is attempting to provide some clarity on the matter:

“First and foremost, all operating system and security updates to the Pixel devices will happen in partnership with Google. In other words, when Google releases an update, Verizon phones will receive the same update at the same time (much like iOS updates). Verizon will not stand in the way of any major updates and users will get all updates at the same time as Google.”

Google itself confirmed all of the above. The news probably comes as a relief for a lot of Pixel fans who were considering purchasing the new flagship under Verizon. So even if the handset will arrive with a locked bootloader, which is almost always the case with carrier subsidized phones, customers should be getting the same experience.

[graphiq id=”37uEF5D7aBL” title=”Google Pixel XL” width=”600″ height=”729″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/37uEF5D7aBL” link=”http://smartphones.specout.com/l/6877/Google-Pixel-XL” link_text=”SpecOut | Graphiq” ]

By partnering up with Verizon, Google is trying to get its new Pixel duo out into stores and in the face of the average buyer and that’s probably a good strategy for increasing their popularity. However, at this point, we see no reason why you shouldn’t be purchasing from Google itself.

First off, all Verizon is notorious for beefing up its phones with bloatware. Sure, the Pixel phones will be spared a bit, meaning they will only be carrying three apps: Verizon Messages, Go90, and My Verizon. But just knowing these phones ship with a set of pre-loaded apps is enough to put some of us off.

The Google Store sells the Pixel and Google Pixel XL at the same price, free shipping included. All configurations are available and even the 24-month interest-free financing plan is offered. Google also offers Device Protection for its phones. For $99 it covers drops, spills, and general malfunctions for two years. This is $99 option is much cheaper than paying upwards of $10 a month for insurance through Verizon. Google is also selling the phones through its own carrier – Project Fi.

Despite Verizon promising timely updates for the new Google phones, there’s no real guarantee the carrier won’t change its mind later or something will go wrong. So why risk it?

A smart and simple 3-port charger from UNITEK is a great value at just $8

Derrick Miyao
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I use quite a few mobile gadgets. From the latest and most current smartphones, to Android Wear devices, through wireless headphones and speakers, my dependence on portable power is embarrassingly high. I review quite a few chargers mainly because there are quite a few differences between them all. Some of those differences are subtle, but others can mean the difference between charging your phone in an hour and four hours.

Quick Charge, Fast Charge, and countless other charging methods have all made themselves known in recent years for mobile devices. All of the different terminology is confusing, which is why we try our best to sort out the best for you. There’s a good chance you own multiple products that rely on mobile power too.

I’ve been using UNITEK’s 24W 3-Port USB Wall/Travel Charger from Amazon (with discount code 26FO38S4) and think it’s worthy of your $8. 

Design and Build

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UINTEK’s 3-port wall charger is made from plastic and metal, but is compact measuring in at just 2.7″L x 1.1″H x 2″W. It’s made with a foldable plug that makes it perfect for traveling or being the charger that you bring along on your study trips to coffee shops, or business trips across the country. The size is not much larger than some OEM chargers, but rather than only offering one USB port, it has three ports so you can charge as many devices at the same time.

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There’s one smart Quick Charge 2.0 port that can charge compatible devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge from 0-50% in about thirty minutes. Most people only own one smartphone, and rather than give you three ports with QC 2.0, UNITEK opted to save you money and put in 2.4A USB ports for the remaining two slots.

2.4A is enough power to charge most devices at full speed, including the latest iOS devices which don’t use fast charging methods. Apple’s OEM charger costs double what this option from UNITEK does and only offers on third of the USB ports.

The QC 2.0 port is identifiable by the green colored USB slot and the QC 2.0 indicator. It’s the one on top and is the one you want to use with your compatible QC devices. You don’t need to worry about plugging in devices without QC, as the charger will automatically detect the power requirements and adjust accordingly.

Summary

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Moving your one USB charger around the house to charge your smartphone or mobile accessories is a tired practice. So is bringing multiple chargers along on vacation or business trips. It’s easy to misplace your chargers that way or beat up on the cables. Multi-port charging blocks are extremely affordable and reliable. The latest 3-port QC 2.0 travel charger from UNITEK is reliable, well-built and affordable at just $7.99 with discount code 26FO38S4 at Amazon.com.

UNITEK 60W 6-Port USB Smart Charging Station (review)

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