Google’s Chromecast Preview Program has been officially announced and is now available. This new program is similar to Google’s Android Beta program and will allow users to test unreleased software and features. While this news may not shock many since Android Police reported about the possibility of the program back in May, it is still exciting to see the program live and in the hands of consumers.
For the adventurous few wanting to try new features and who are not afraid of software bugs, enrolling in the program is simple. You will find the Preview Program tab under the Device Settings menu. Once you are successfully enrolled, you will receive an email from Google confirming your registration and filling you in on the details of the program.
Chromecast Preview Program
This program will not be for everyone. Bugs found in betas and early releases can often be a nuisance. In rare cases, these bugs can even inhibit the daily functionality of the device. Googles attempt to thoroughly test its software with beta programs like the Chromecast Preview Programs is great for consumers. Bugs found and reported by users in the program will often be corrected for the mainstream release thus improving the experience for everyone else. If you are eager to get started using new features, enroll today, and you receive a notification when new firmware rolls out.
One of the beautiful things about smartwatches is the ability to change watch faces to your heart’s content. You can have a feature-packed watch face with information from edge to edge, a clutter-free watch face with only the time displayed, or any watch face in between. Today, we’re taking a look at five stark watch faces that are as beautiful as they are minimal. Most of the watch faces we feature will be free; however, there will be a few paid options here and there for the millionaires among us.
Spotlight Watch Face
First on our list is one of the most simple and unique watch faces I have come across. Spotlight, from developer Maize, does away with the majority of a standard analog clock by focusing on a single part – the hour hand. The entire watch face is zoomed in on an hour hand that moves around an analog watch face.
Since there is no minute or second hand, it is difficult to tell the exact time with this watch face; however, I found I could estimate the time within a couple of minutes anyway. If you need precise time on your smartwatch, there are better watch faces in this list, but if you are looking for a cool and unique watch face, I cannot think of many better than Spotlight.
Orbits Watchface
The concept of the Orbits watch face, from developer Zuhanden, is something that I have seen a few times before. The hour and minute hands of the watch are replaced by gradient bars that wrap around the inside. However, I was particularly drawn to Orbits due to just how stark it was. There is no date, no second hand, no digital readout of the time – just those two bars.
The background is off-white and the bars are different colors of blue. One of my main complaints with Orbits is the complete lack of customization. I would have loved the option to change the bar colors or at least the background color. That being said, it is a free watch face so tons of features shouldn’t be expected.
Watch Face Holo
Watch Face Holo, from developer RichFace, is a horrible name for such a simple watch face. This face more closely resembles a traditional analog clock than any other watch face on this list. With an hour hand and a minute hand, you can quickly gauge the time at a glance, and the numberless tick marks add to the overall simplicity of the design. Again, there are no customization options available for the Watch Face Holo, which means you are stuck with the red minute hand and dark background. That being said, it is free to download, too.
Just A Minute Watch FaceJust A Minute is from developer Sparkistic and might be the most robust watch face on this entire list. Why? Because it features a date readout. GASP! As the name would imply, Just A Minute focuses more on the minute than the hour and has the minute displayed boldly in the middle of the watch face. The current hour is highlighted white to contrast against the other blue numbers. If you would like to change anything on the watch face, you’re out of luck because there are, of course, no customization options for this watch face. Thankfully, I think the face is beautiful on its own and would definitely look great on any smartwatch.
Tymometer Watch Face
We’re ending this list with a paid watch face. Tymometer, from developer The Design Cycle, is my favorite watch face from the list and also the one currently chilling on my Moto 360. Tymometer has a simple and minimal design with a colored bar in the background that moves to the right as the hour passes with the exact time displayed digitally. There is even a dot that goes around the entire face as a second hand.
There is no need to worry about notifications covering up the minute portion because it will move to the top of the watch face when a notification arrives. What I love most about Tymometer is how quickly you can get information from it. By just looking at the colored bar, you can tell how much of the hour has passed making it easy to check with a quick glance.
Also, this watch face does come with customization options. You can choose between eight presets with different colors for the bar and background along with the option to use 24-hour time. However, all of this luxury is going to cost you $0.99 right away. While paying for a watch face might not be your thing, I think Tymometer is worth it thanks to the unique and simple design.
What do you think of our list? Are you going to check out any of the watch faces we recommended? Did we miss one of your favorite minimal faces? Let us know in the comments!
I’ve been on a binge lately of reviewing accessories from brands you probably haven’t heard of outside of Amazon. It’s been a goal of mine to get more information out to you readers on products that are more affordable. Keep in mind, I love the expensive stuff as much as the next person, and if I was worried about reviewing everything I liked, it might not make the most sense for our audience. Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to spend and extra $100-200 just for a little extra that will be hard to notice over time.
Technology is not timeless. Unlike a Rolex, almost all tech gadgets have a limited lifespan and it’s not always necessary to drop the most money you can afford, especially on accessories. I’ve been using the Vtin 20W waterproof outdoor speaker and am happy to tell you there’s another great option for your wireless music under $40.
Vtin 20W Waterproof outdoor speaker – Build
The Vtin 20W wireless speaker is a rectangular and rugged device that’s built to withstand the elements. It is a metal framed seven inch speaker that’s a great size for portability with its rubberized exterior. There are two front facing drivers with a rear facing subwoofer which is usually found on higher end speakers such as the Bose SoundLink Mini II.
The drivers and subwoofer are protected by metal grilles that are very sturdy and provide excellent protection. Controls are found on the top of the speaker and are protected by the rubberized coating. The controls are the basic + for volume up (hold for 1s) and fast forwarding songs with a click. The – control is for turning the volume down and rewinding to the previous song with a single click as well. There’s also a power button and a call answer/end button on the top as well.
On the side of the speaker is a port for a microUSB charger, as well as a 3.5mm AUX input protected by a rubber flap. On the opposite short end of the speaker is a loop for attaching the included carabiner so you can hook it to a backpack or tent when outdoors.
The exterior protection is rated to withstand splashes and drops with an IPX4 rating. Overall the Vtin wireless speaker is very well built and is definitely built to withstand the elements.
Sound
The Vtin 20W wireless speaker manages to find a great amount of clarity and balance in the mids and highs. It’s actually quite detailed on the highs which is great for outdoor listening, as highs tend to travel better over distance than lows and mids. Rugged speakers that don’t sound good indoors are a no-go for me, but the Vtin sounds just as good sitting next to me on my nightstand as it does when I’m at the park.
Even though the Vtin wireless speaker has a relatively large subwoofer on the back, it doesn’t manage to drive the deeper lows that you’d want with rap or hip hop. The speaker would probably perform better in with the low frequency range if it had a bass port to move more air, but that would probably sacrifice the IPX4 rating. Nonetheless, the lows are present enough to make music enjoyable.
The Vtin 20W speaker also gets loud enough to enjoy outdoors on hikes with its compact size. It’s also loud enough to entertain a group at a standard sized campsite, while not being loud enough to disturb the whole campsite. Also with its lack of emphasis on bass, it definitely won’t be bothering next door neighbors and that’s a good thing.
I love audio products and have ever since I got my first tape deck as a kid. I’ve listened to a wide range of speakers in all price categories, and have massive floor standing towers in my office with a 15″ sub. I’ve also owned and listened to earbuds and headphones in the $1000+ price range, and while it’s fun to be very analytical, what matters most is if I actually enjoy the speaker/headphones I am listening to at the moment.
The Vtin won’t meet many audiophile’s needs, but for someone who has listened to a wide range of audio products, I find myself singing along with the Vtin just like my other high-end products. That’s they key to loving audio products, is enjoying your music and I definitely get that with the Vtin wireless speaker. Once you’ve “been there and done that” you realize that price is most important factor at the end of the day.
With that being said, I’m not a huge fan of the included microphone for taking calls. It picks up a little too much background noise and the person on the other end of the line struggles to hear me at times.
Battery Life
The Vtin wireless speaker’s biggest accomplishment is its outstanding battery life. The manufacturer states 25 hour battery life at 70% volume, and I can attest to it. It has a 4400mAh battery and I got through several cycles of 20+ hours of usage. That’s pretty insane for a portable speaker that manages to not feel heavy.
20+ hour battery life makes sense for being an outdoor speaker since many people might not have access to a charger for a couple of days. It’s also double or triple the battery life of competing speakers in the rugged category.
Overall
I’m impressed with the Vtin 20W waterproof outdoor speaker. The list price for the Vtin wireless speaker is $39.99 at Amazon and is well worth the price.
Let me emphasize, the Vtin holds its own against speakers double and triple the price in the sound department with its clear and detailed sound. It puts out sound thats enjoyable, loud and sing-along worthy.
The battery life is the star of this speaker and there are very few that can compete no matter the price range.
Also at $39.99 you won’t worry about getting it wet or dirty when you bring it along on your outdoor adventures. It’s an all around great speaker for the price that won’t make statements with a fancy exterior, but the substance is all there.
From now until October 31, Vtin has given you AndroidGuys readers an exclusive discount code (88GD8B7V) to save $5 to bring the price down to $34.99 at Amazon with free Prime shipping.
HTC took to Twitter earlier today to remind us of an announcement the company has scheduled for September 20th at 12:00 am Pacific. At this event, we expect to see the debut of a new device. While many are excited for the HTC made Pixel and Pixel XL, they will have to wait for Google’s rumored event on October 4th, as this event will most likely only feature the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle and Desire 10 Pro.Â
GSM Arena is reporting that we will probably see a modest Desire 10 Lifestyle and a higher-end Desire 10 Pro released by HTC next Tuesday. The Desire 10 Pro is featured heavily in the company’s promotional videos which seem to focus on the addition of a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, the device’s camera, and the device’s chamfer. The chamfer combined with the tagline “#BeEdgier” leads us to believe the Desire Pro will likely have a “premium feel” at a midrange price.
As the midrange smartphone market continues to get more competitive both in price and specifications, OEMs prove themselves by innovating within the price point. HTC is not new to this market, and after the failure of the A9 and boring A9s, HTC needs to offer a compelling package with its Desire 10 lineup. HTC is streaming the announcement of its new devices on 9.20.16 at 3:00 am EST (Midnight PST).
The Android tablet market is terrible. Apple’s iPad dominates the landscape in the shrinking overall tablet space and it seems that no-one really cares about putting out new tablets besides Samsung. But, there are those of us who still believe in tablets. There are those of us who want a bigger device for media viewing than the 5.7″ one we keep in our pocket. So, where are we to turn for a cost effective alternative to Samsung’s heavily skinned options and the iPad? Turns out that China is the answer.
Gearbest.com wanted to team up on a review and I was instantly attracted to its tablet lineup. Not only do they have a nice lineup of Android tablets, but it also has some interesting options that run both Android and Windows. I selected the Teclast X98 Plus II (pure Android version) to review for its good looks, screen size (9.7″) and nice price (~$130 at the time of writing).
My expectations weren’t high before receiving the device. I have always had this expectation when ordering a no-name (in the west) brand for a cheap price that I’m going to get something not worth even the discount price I’m paying. But, I have to say I was pretty surprised once I put the device through its paces.
Hardware
Let’s begin with internals. The X98 Plus II has an Intel Cherry Trail Z8300 quad-core 1.4GHz processor. The processor is designed to be a power efficient chip used specifically in tablets so it won’t put out too much heat or burn through your battery too quickly. The chip in this specific tablet is clocked at the low end of its capabilities and you should expect performance somewhere in the range of a Snapdragon 801 processor.
2GB of RAM and 32GB (25GB usable) of storage come standard in the tablet, which seems to be about the base requirements these days for smooth performance. Luckily there is also a microSD card slot for expandable storage (up to 128GB). Don’t waste your money on a card any higher than 128GB. Sometimes you can get devices to read cards at a higher advertised capacity, but the Teclast X98 Plus II would not read my Samsung 256GB micro SD card, but had no issues with my SanDisk 32GB card.
In addition to the microSD card port, you also get a headphone jack, micro HDMI port, micro USB port, and DV (5V) inputs. No DV charger came in the box so you’ll be charging up the 8000mAh battery via the micro USB port unless you source your own.
Cameras dot the front and rear of the device but they should not be used for any more than a skype conversation. They’re pretty standard low-end cameras that will make you wish you grabbed your phone out of your pocket to snap a picture rather than using the tablet already in your hands.
The display doesn’t have the highest max brightness in the world but it’s more than good enough for watching YouTube or Netflix on the couch. Viewing angles on the 2048×1536 (260 DPI) panel are fine with almost no color shifting, but where the X98 Plus II is let down is the construction of the display.
Max brightness outside
Due to how its manufactured, the picture looks very far away from the display. Another issue that crops up is that due to the material on top of the screen, you’re going to pick up a ton of marks and scratches. I haven’t tried to be especially gentle or rough with the device in the few weeks that I’ve been using it, but I have a ton of marks and scratches that make viewing the display a real chore if any kind of light is shining on it.
Touch sensitivity is also not up to par with phones and tablets released in the past couple of years. The laggy or missed touches can make for a frustrating time using the tablet.
Software
If you’re into running the newest version of Android, you may want to avoid the Teclast X98 Plus II. But, If you care about just having something to watch media on and browse the web, the included Android 5.1 should do just fine for you. This is a mostly stock build with just a few added applications.
I only count six added applications on top of stock Android here. I’ve disabled Baidu, a Boot Manager, an OTA utility that gives me an error every time I try to use it, and three apps that have Chinese names. Honestly, just ignore or disable them and you basically have a big stock Android 5.1 tablet.
Common sense software additions in the navigation tray
Teclast made the effort to add a couple common sense software additions like adding software buttons in the navigation tray for volume up and down as well as a quick launch for the camera and a menu button. The navigation tray generally has a lot of wasted space in Android tablets so it’s nice to see an OEM adding in nice features like this.
Performance
What kind of real world performance can you expect out of a $130 (at the time of writing) 9.7″ tablet? If you don’t have out of this world expectations, you’re probably going to be happy. I didn’t have high hopes for the X98 Plus II going in, but I came away pleasantly surprised. What you have to remember is that you’re working with hardware that would have been deemed flagship-worthy in 2014.
I used the tablet as a mainly a media consumption device. I was able to stream YouTube at 720p60fps with ease. When I bumped it up to 1080p30fps is when I saw some issues. After every video, YouTube would reload as if it was knocked out of memory while viewing the video. This can be frustrating if you’re going through your subscription list watching multiple videos, but otherwise, it was a pretty good experience.
I did not see much in the way of home screen redraws (which I did expect to happen) but apps were often knocked out of memory and had to reload fresh. I could get some music streaming while looking at facebook or reading Reddit, but nothing much beyond that would stay in memory. This seems par for the course for 2GB of RAM devices in 2016 with the demands apps are putting on the OS and hardware.
If you’re in the market for something that can run huge games, this is not for you. But, if you’re looking for something to play a bunch of media off a microSD card or streamed from YouTube or Netflix, you should be fine.
Conclusion
A premier tablet this is not. What the Teclast X98 Plus II can offer you is some nice performance for the price if you’re willing to make some compromises. We’ve seen the budget phone market explode with cheap, good options and this tablet reminds me of that. It’s not perfect and you’re definitely going to be missing some features of higher end tablets, but this can do a lot of the basics.
The speakers aren’t amazing, but they do get loud enough to listen to your media in your living room. Everyone else on the train will be thankful that it doesn’t get much louder and forces you to use your headphones. I like the build construction and how clicky the buttons are, but the tablet could use some revisions in other places like the durability of the display.
I really have enjoyed my time with the Teclast X98 Plus II because it filled a gap in my device lineup without breaking the bank. Watching and reading on my phone is great for sitting in the passenger seat or in a waiting room, but I do want something a little more substantial when I’m at home on the couch. If you don’t expect top tier performance while looking for something affordable, you could be quite happy with your purchase.
Disclosure:
Gearbest.com provided this tablet for review on AndroidGuys.com without any promise of a positive review. The tablet was used for a period of three weeks between 8/18/2016 until 9/6/2016.Â
A teardown of Google’s latest Project Fi .apk reveals that we may see group sharing coming to the network in the near future. The teardown revealed specific bits of code that all but confirm the presence of several new features that would enable group management. The highlight of what we saw is the “Administrator” abilities, which allows someone to have very specific control over connected accounts.
A perfect example of where this would be used is in your typical family. It may be hard to control what your kids are up to and how much data they consume in some cases. With administrator abilities, one can have almost complete control over connected devices and manage data usage, shut down the connection to a user, and even disconnect the connection at certain scheduled periods.
Project Fi coverage map
In fact, here’s the piece of code that reveals the administrator status:
<string name="owner">Owner</string>< string name="owner_details">Can adjust everything</string>< string name="paid_by_x">Paid by %1$s</string>
And here is some that further elaborates on the abilities of an administrator:
<string name="overage_title">Data budget alert</string>< string name="overage_details">%1$s has used %2$s more than budgeted.</string>< string name="self_overage_details">You've used %1$s more than budgeted.</string>
Group members can be added and removed by a manager, although we aren’t quite sure on how many members a single group may have. Specifics like this, and a few other grey areas are likely to only be revealed once Project Fi group sharing gets officially announced.
So you’re all settled into your dorm and find yourself getting into a few routines. Things sure are different now that you’re not at home or school like you were last fall, huh?
Now you find yourself running all over the place, getting into new situations. But, we’re also willing to bet you’re finding that your phone isn’t lasting quite as long as it did last year. Why? You’re probably away from outlets and power sources more often. Not to fear, there are plenty of great companies offering excellent accessories to help keep you juiced up. One such brand we’ve come to love is Belkin.
We’ve recently spent some time checking out a number of products from the current Belkin lineup. Among them are USB Type-C cables, a car adapter, and a power bank. We found that each one of them was designed with care and attention to detail. It’s not hard to screw up a cable or go cheap with quality, but it seems Belkin spent plenty of time on materials. Suffice it to say, we don’t see these fraying or falling apart any time soon.
MIXIT↑ Metallic USB-C to USB-C Charge Cable (Also Known as USB Type C)
USB Type-C is one really cool technology standard. Not only does it allow for super fast transfer speeds, but it can be used across multiple devices for charging, too. And, as if that were not enough, it’s full reversible so you can plug in any way you want.
Belkin’s cable is six feet long so it’s more than enough to get out from behind the outlet tucked under your desk. Moreover, it’s designed with a welded shield to strengthen it; the metallic cable won’t tangle either.
MIXIT↑ 2.0 USB-A to USB-C Charge Cable (Also Known as USB Type-C)
With so many new smartphones moving to USB Type-C as a charging standard, it’s time to start replacing your old microUSB cables. Sorry, they’re just not going to work any more with the hot flagships.
Belkin’s USB-A to USB-C cable, which comes in all sorts of great colors, is the exact cable you want for replacing your old stuff. Don’t throw away the old adapter itself, though, as it’s gonna work with these. Moreover, keep one of these in your backpack so you can plug into a laptop for data transfer.
MIXIT↑ Metallic Power Pack 6600
Whether you walk across campus or drive from course to course, you’re going to find yourself away from a wall charger. Don’t let that time spent in class keep you from charging your phone or tablet. Heck, it has two ports so why not use it to make a new friend this fall?
The Power Pack 6600 offers up enough juice to top off your phone a solid two or three times over. If you’re the kind who only needs to keep things up in the higher percentages, you can use this guy all week long. Plug in every couple of hours and you’re good to go.
Thanks to the four-light LED indicator you’ll always know, within range, how much power is left in the charger. Pick this one up in Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, and Gray options.
USB-C Car Charger + USB-C Cable
Do you have a newer smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or OnePlus 3? What are you doing for a car charger? Did you know there are car chargers with USB-C connections? Yep, and the Belkin model comes with a 4-foot cable to make sure your backseat drivers can charge up their handset.
This 27Watt/3 Amp charger connects to any USB-C device, including smartphones, tablets, and even notebooks. With up to 27 Watts of charging, the unit automatically detects the connected device so it can juice up at the proper speeds; you’re looking at potentially 70% faster charging for smartphones.
The Blu Vivo 5R is the sixth in the Vivo series of smartphones, which is essentially a mid-range line of devices. To be fair, though, the mid-range pretty much only applies to the hardware that powers the experience; the exterior is quite polished and punches above its weight.
We’ve had a Vivo 5R in our possession for a few days now and have come to really like the look and feel of the phone. Designed with aluminum and curved glass, the handset looks like it would cost at least $50-$75 more than it does. Indeed, this $200 experience has all the trappings of a flagship model yet it’s not too much phone for the average user.
Aside from the outward appearance, a few things we’ve already come to appreciate in the Vivo 5R include the fingerprint reader and Android build. The former is new to the Vivo line while the OS is an updated, more secure, and feature-rich platform.
Let’s face it, it’s not as if the Vivo 5 needed to be refreshed already. Given it’s only eight months old, we would not have been surprised if another 2-4 months went by without a successor. Thankfully, Blu decided the time was right to drop a refresh.
Not only do we get more memory and storage in the Vivo 5R, but users also pick up an extra half-inch of display. There’s a slight trade-off in terms of size, of course; it’s taller than its predecessor and a teeny bit bigger on the other edges. It’s barely taller than the OnePlus 3, but it’s every bit as pocketable and one-hand friendly.
One thing we were glad to see in the Vivo 5R was its $200 price tag. This is the same space that the Vivo 5 occupied so it’s essentially like getting a punch up barely one half year after release. We’re not sure what will happen to the cost of the older sibling, but we’re guessing a price drop is soon in order.
We love the rear placement of the fingerprint sensor as it’s right where your finger tends to rest. It’s the same spot as where you’ll find it on a Nexus 6P or where the volume buttons are for the recent LG G models. Thus far it has been snappy all around. Speaking of snappy, we appreciate that it can also be used to activate the shutter of the camera.
The 3150mAh battery carries over from the Vivo 5, which is a big win in our eyes. More than enough to get users through a day or more of typical tasks, it’s bigger than what most lower-cost phones offer. We might have liked the USB Type-C connector, but not everyone is making the jump yet. But, given Blu has included it in a number of recent models, we were surprised to see the microUSB port.
The nearly stock Android build is present, something we’ve come to appreciate in Blu models. There’s a few apps pre-loaded from the handset maker, but it’s not heavy handed. Aside from McAfee Security and Opera, the only other non-Blu touches are apps from Amazon. If you’re new to Android, you’ll get the near-Nexus software, and is almost exactly what Google intends for users. It’s intuitive, friendly, secure, and smart.
When it comes to cameras, we’re yet-again astonished by what we’re getting out of Blu, especially for the price. To us, it’s getting harder and harder to justify spending more than $400 on a phone. When you look at some of the pictures you can take in a $300 phone like the Pure XR, it’s tough to consider pulling more out of the wallet. The same goes for the Vivo 5R; it’s amazing what you get out of the Sony sensor.
Keeping in mind that we’ve only had the Vivo 5R for just over three days, we’re totally digging it. Having just used the Pure XR for a daily driver over the last few weeks, we expected to feel the difference, literally. We figured it would come across as cheaper in texture or build. We were happy to be proven wrong.
In terms of performance, we’ve not put this one through a battery of daily driver tests. We’re just starting out with the stock experience to see how it goes out of box. Another couple of days and we’ll put on the various accounts and apps to get rolling. Â Suffice it to say, even though it has less internal hardware power than the recently released Pure XR, it’s negligible for the most part. Again, a few days from now we might sing a different tune, but the octa-core processor with 3GB RAM is plenty for many users.
Kudos to Blu for throwing in the screen protector and rubber protective case on top of the headphones and power cable. It’s a small gesture that saves a little bit of money, but it’s certainly appreciated.
We’ll be putting together the formal review over the next few days so be sure to check back for more coverage.
If Google is ever going to make the Nexus lineup- or the Pixel lineup as it is rumored to be called now a major player, it has to be now. Google has made it a point for the last six years to release a reference device to give OEMs and developers an idea of the direction it would like to see the industry head. These new devices introduced new hardware standards (Nexus imprint, USB type-C) and saw to it that almost everyone could have a clean install of Stock Android to test whatever they may be working on.
The Nexus lineup hasn’t always been so popular. It has had its ebbs, like the $650 price tag for the monstrous Nexus 6, and its flows like the fabulous Nexus 5, but it has always been a darling among Android enthusiasts. Where the lineup hasn’t shined, however, is with the general public. There are many reasons for that, but we did see a signal of intent this past year with an aggressive marketing campaign from Google for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. It does appear that Google is getting more serious about making the Nexus a major player and if it ever wants it to be, this is the year it has to take it to the next level. Here’s why.
The Apple iPhone 7 will be a disappointment
Now, I know what you’re thinking. A writer from a website with “Android” in the name is bashing the iPhone. How original? But, what you need to understand is that I’m as disappointed in the iPhone as anyone else. I love Apple’s hardware and I really wanted the 7 to be a strong contender. Great iPhones breed great Android phones and vice-versa. Plus, I’ve owned every iPhone since the original alongside my Android devices so I enjoy the devices on a personal level as well.
With that said, I do think that the iPhone 7 will be a disappointment this year. Apple didn’t innovate that much, it kept the same design and removed a universally accepted port so it could provide better haptic feedback. I don’t think those things add up to a great device and I’m betting the market agrees with me. Interest and sales will be at an all-time low for the iPhone and this gives Google a good opportunity to convert some folks over to Android. Apple is going to come out huge with the Tenth Anniversary edition of the iPhone so if Google is going to do it, it better be now.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle
We’ve all heard about the Galaxy Note 7 exploding. While most of us applaud Samsung for how it’s handled the recall of the devices so far, it will still continue to be a weight around Samsung’s neck across all product lines. Put yourself in the shoes of a person who doesn’t care that much about their phone. They just want something that will work, look nice and not blow up in their hands as a Note 7 has just done to a six-year-old boy. Samsung may have done the right thing by recalling and replacing all Note 7’s, but this will stick in the memory of consumers for years.
Google MUST capitalize on the vacuum at the top. If consumers aren’t inspired by the iPhone 7 and they don’t feel safe with the Note 7, they will look elsewhere or keep their money in their pocket. Releasing a true flagship Nexus with specs and performance to beat everyone else on the market when there are no real alternatives is a recipe for success.
Huawei is coming. Quickly.
If you’ve followed AndroidGuys.com at all over the last year, you have noticed that we put an emphasis on saving our readers money. One of the biggest ways to do that in our scope of coverage is buying an unlocked device. We love the $300-$500 range where you can get amazing devices like the OnePlus 3, Moto Z Play, and ZTE Axon 7. The most impressive device in that price range might be the Huawei Honor 8 which was just released in the United States.
The Honor 8 has build quality that rivals the Samsung Galaxy S7 while costing about 60% of the price. The software will appeal to both iOS and Android fans in a way few other Android devices do. It’s a completely different phone from everything else being sold in the United States right now.
I have no inside knowledge of Huawei’s plans for the US, but I do know there is a gap it can fill right now with little resistance. At the top, you have Samsung and Apple battling it out for supremacy, while companies like LG, HTC, and Sony try to carve out a slice of the pie. Huawei could very easily come in and take a piece of the high-end market and gobble up the part that the also-rans are fighting for.
Huawei has proven that it can make great high-end phones with the Nexus 6P and now its proving it can produce a compelling option in the mid-range too with the Honor 8. Google better get the jump on it too before it even gets out of the gate.
Google knows what it needs to do. To make the Nexus/Pixel lineup the next great line of phones in consumer’s minds, it must strike while the iron is hot. There has never been a better time to make a dent in the market the way that it can this year.
What do you think? Do you think Google will make a major push into the mainstream? Will the be content to be an also-ran? Let us know down in the comments what you think Google’s mobile strategy should be.
Blu on Monday revealed the Vivo 5R as yet another smartphone in it’s quickly growing Android-powered portfolio. Priced at a mere $200, the unlocked handset can be paired with AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM networks.
Whereas its last model, the Pure XR was aimed at the upper end, the Vivo 5R has the middle range in mind. And, more specifically, it’s somewhat of a refresh of the Vivo 5 which launched only some eight months ago around CES.
Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the Vivo 5R offers up a 5.5-inch display at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Key hardware includes an octa-core processor (MediaTek 6753 1.3GHz) with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. Yes, it seems that 3GB is now considered par for the course in the middle of the pack.
In terms of cameras, the Vivo 5R features a 13-megapixel rear sensor and front-facing 8-megapixel shooter. Rounding things out we find a 3,150mAh battery, microSD card slot for external storage, and a fingerprint sensor located on the rear.
Where to Buy
Available in Slate Grey and Lush Gold options, the Vivo 5R is designed with premium materials including aluminum and curved glass. Customers interested in purchasing the phone can go to Amazon or Best Buy; shipping is currently listed as starting from September 21.
Keeping in mind that we’ve only had the Vivo 5R for just over three days, we’re totally digging it. Having just used the Pure XR for a daily driver over the last few weeks, we expected to feel the difference, literally. We figured it would come across as cheaper in texture or build. We were happy to be proven wrong.
