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Verizon adds Nokia 3 V, LG Stylo 5v to roster

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It’s a busy day in the Verizon world as the carrier kicks off its tenth city with 5G coverage. Additionally, it’s also selling the Galaxy Note 10 family, including one with 5G support.

Not content with these two announcements, Verizon is also adding a pair of smartphones to its roster. Indeed, the Nokia 3 V and LG Stylo 5v are now available, and each is priced at less than $250.

SEE: Where is Verizon 5G available and which phones offer support?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the two phones with key specs and pricing.

Nokia 3 V

  • 6.26-inch display at 720×1440 pixel resolution
  • Android 9 Pie
  • 13-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 processor
  • 16GB storage w/ microSD expansion card slot (up to 128GB)
  • 2GB RAM
  • 4,000mAh battery
  • $168 full retail, $7/mo for 24 months

LG Stylo 5v

  • 6.2-inch display at 2160×1080 pixel resolution
  • Android 9 Pie
  • 13-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor
  • 32GB storage w/ microSD expansion card slot (up to 128GB)
  • 3GB RAM
  • 3,500mAh battery
  • $240 full retail, $10/mo for 24 months

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 now available – here’s where to buy it

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Samsung in early August announced its latest smartphones, the Galaxy Note 10, and its larger and more powerful sibling, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. Both phones are offered in a variety of color options with varying amounts of memory and storage combinations. What’s more, the bigger model has a 5G-capable counterpart.

You won’t have to look hard to find the Galaxy Note 10 phones as they’ll be offered through numerous wireless carriers and retailers. And then there’s always the unlocked model you can get directly from Samsung, too.

Gear Up: The official Samsung Galaxy Note 10 accessories

Nevertheless, plenty of people will wonder what the options are as it pertains to carrier availability.  Here, we help spell out what you can look forward to when it comes to when and where to buy the Galaxy Note 10.

General Availability

If you’re looking to take advantage of some sales or promotions, you’re definitely in luck. Just about anywhere you look you’ll find carriers and retailers offering discounts and deals on the Galaxy Note 10 line.

Carriers

When it comes to color choices, each of the wireless service providers listed here essentially have the same options: Aura Glow, Aura Black, and Aura White. The Galaxy Note10 Plus is also available in a Best Buy exclusive color, Aura Blue

Verizon has exclusive rights to the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, at least for a short period. The other carriers are expected to get their hands on it in the long run.

Verizon

AT&T

T-Mobile

Sprint

US Cellular

Spectrum Mobile

Xfinity Mobile

Retailers

Amazon

Best Buy

Best Buy offers the Galaxy Note 10 phones in a number of options, including those with a carrier and the unlocked model. Here you’ll find Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint versions, including the 5G variant for Verizon.

Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club offers the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 phones for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular.

Target

Consumers can choose from the Galaxy Note 10 Plus through both Verizon and AT&T.

Walmart

Samsung

To no surprise, the official website for Samsung has options for all of the five major carriers as well as unlocked, too. Indeed, there’s also the 5G model which works for Verizon.

Save 25% on Master & Dynamic through limited time promo

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On the hunt for a quality pair of headphones? You may want to check out the current offer from Master & Dynamic who is currently running its own back-to-school sale.

Starting from today, and running through September 3, customers can shop the M&D website and receive a 25% discount on select headphones.

Among the headphones listed under the deal are MW60, MW50+, MH40 and MH30. We’ve reviewed a number of Master & Dynamic headphones over the years and really like the build quality and attention to detail. Moreover, they sound incredible and feel comfortable even after hours of listening.

Master & Dynamic MW65 Review

Master & Dynamic MW50 Review

To take advantage of the promotion, head to the M&D website and use the code FOCUS25 at checkout. Prices for the aforementioned headphones shake out as follows:

  • MW60 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones – $299.25
  • MW50+ 2-In-1 Wireless On-Ear + Over-Ear Headphones – $299.25
  • MH40 Over-Ear Headphones – $186.75
  • MH30 Foldable On-Ear Headphones – $149.25

The limited time promotion is valid until September 4th, 2019, 2:59AM EST.

Motorola discounts phone prices for back-to-school shoppers

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Motorola has dropped the prices of select phones as part of a back-to-school promotion. Effective immediately, you can save anywhere from $20 to $250 on some of its handsets.

The discounted prices run from August 22 through the end of the month, August 31.

Motorola Discount:

The selection is a nice mix of phones, each of which speaks to a different demographic. If you’re in the market for an unlocked device that works with your current carrier, you’d be wise to consider starting with the Motorola discounts listed above.

SEE: Motorola intros Moto G7 family of phones

In addition to these sale prices, students can benefit from another 15% off as part of a Student Discount. For instant access to this discount, students can register and verify their status with UNiDAYS.

Android Q to be formally known as Android 10

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Android Q will be known as Android 10 when it makes its official debut in the coming weeks, says Google in a new blog post. Moreover, the official logo will undergo some changes, too.

The previous naming convention for Android saw Google going with internal code names for each version, often basing them on sweets, treats, and desserts. That changes with the Android Q release which will be simply known as Android 10.

Why the change? A number of reasons, really. In some areas of the world it is difficult to distinguish an L from an R. Moreover, newer users might now know that Lollipop comes after KitKat.

By switching to version numbers it will be easier to identify how current a release is and/or whether it’s newer than another build.

In addition to the naming change, Google is also refreshing the logo for Android. Today sees the logo undergoing a more modern and accessible design. The familiar robot is now included as part of the logo. Additionally, the name itself switches from green to black.

The updated logo will show up in the coming weeks as Android 10 makes its official debut.

Verizon 5G goes live in Phoenix with arrival of Galaxy Note 10

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Verizon on Thursday confirmed that Phoenix, Arizona is the tenth city to offer its 5G wireless data. The next-gen, ultra-fast network goes live on August 23.

August 23 is a notable day not just for the growing 5G network, but it also marks the arrival of the Galaxy Note 10. Indeed, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5+ goes on sale in the markets which offer 5G speeds.

Initially, Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service will be concentrated in Downtown Phoenix around several well-known landmarks, including: Phoenix Convention Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, The Orpheum Theatre, CityScape, and Chase Field. It will also be available in Tempe, on the Arizona State University campus.

Phoenix joins Washington D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Providence and St. Paul as the US markets with access to Verizon 5G. Verizon plans to blanket 30 cities across the country by the end of 2019.

As part of its growing network, Verizon is working with Boingo to help provide 5G Ultra Wideband indoors and at public places like stadiums, arenas, airports, and hotels. This will be helpful as the 5G service is not widely available in cities and tends to struggle indoors.

Opinion: Lenovo is slowly killing the Moto I love

Andrew Allen
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I’ve long been a fan of Motorola. My love of Android has grown with most of the phones I’ve owned wielding the Moto logo. Other than my beloved Palm, it may be the brand I’ve held the most affinity for over the years.

Unfortunately, I think the company’s overlord, Lenovo, is slowly stripping away the Moto I love.

Where are the software updates?

Prior to Lenovo, one thing that the old had become king of was the software update. Much like Essential in recent years, Moto pushed out updates blazingly fast. Sometimes they even beat Google on the Nexus phones with the Moto X. Within a week of availability you often had the latest and greatest Android version on Motorola phones.

Since the Lenovo takeover this has become one of my biggest complaints concerning Moto phones. Lenovo seems content with only offering updates of new OS versions to its latest generations, and sometimes, the previous year models.

If you are a G5 user in a G7 world, then you can all but forget about seeing the newest software.

SEE ALSO: Motorola needs a true flagship

Not having updates with the more middle of the road G-series is somewhat understandable, yet still unfortunate. Then there is the sheer denial for Moto Z2 Force owners as it relates to the Android Pie update this year.

The Moto Z2 Force is a “flagship” from less than two years ago and it’s being skipped over a major OS release that is only two updates removed. Moto has to do its consumers better than this.

You should at least provide two full years of updates on most of your devices from the mid-grade to high-end. If you can support Moto Mods for an unexpected 4th generation, you can push more updates. Maybe Moto just doesn’t know where that mark lies anymore.

No flagship in sight

That brings us to the next problem: Moto isn’t committed to its flagship devices because it honestly doesn’t have one.

I get that the Moto Z4 exists, but have you compared its spec sheet to anything else from 2019? It’s a far cry from the acceptable top tier from any other OEM.

You counter with the notion that Motorola doesn’t command the same price point for its Moto “flagship” as others. Head to oneplus.com to find out what a true bargain flagship really looks like. These two companies couldn’t be a bigger flip side of the coin at this point.

OnePlus offers a very premium device for hundreds less than the Samsung and Google flagships of the world. You find 8GB RAM, ample storage, and a modern Qualcomm chipset on board.

OnePlus also has a stellar track record of OS updates over the past few years. Contrast that with Moto’s middling 600-series chipset, 4GB RAM, and waning Moto Mod system.

Why are there so many phones?

Part of the reason for not recognizing a true flagship model from Moto is that Lenovo has flooded the market with too many phones. Many of these models overlap in specs, and often in price, too.

The G, X, and Z series of devices each have the same basic RAM and chipsets. All three of these phones have roughly 4GB RAM, running a Snapdragon 630 series processor.

From an aesthetic standpoint they all have the same basic design. Generally speaking, you’d be hard to tell the G, X, and Z models apart. If sitting face down, you’d be even harder matched to tell the difference in the X4 and the G7.

Simply not compelling enough

Moto needs a true flagship device. I love the idea of the Moto Z, but it hasn’t been all that compelling beyond its first generation or so.

Mods are a great proof of concept, but the market has shown that they simply aren’t wanted by most consumers. I want Moto to come out with a modern Snapdragon 855 chipset, above-average camera module, and killer design.

Many of the cool Pixel features are similar to what Moto was doing years ago. The company needs to harken back to that heyday.

Give me an intriguing slab with updated Moto Gestures to wake and interact with the phone. Allow me to show my notifications with a snap of my finger or something. Get back to the creative core that pioneered the mobile handset.

Lastly, take the most popular Mods and make them an integrated part of this new phone. By far, the top-selling add-ons for the Z have been battery packs and wireless charging. Usually in the same Mods.

Moto flirted with this on the G7 Power, but I want to see this at the top-tier of its lineup. No Mod. Just a phone. With a huge 5000mAh battery and wireless charging.

Lenovo. I beg you

This is the last plea for Lenovo to alter the course for Moto phones. I don’t hate the devices they currently offer and I still think the Moto G is a great value for casual users. I still love the proof of concept behind the Z-series as well. I’m just asking you sharpen and hone the lineup.

Create a true line between the models. Make a true flagship we can be proud to recommend to the masses. I’ll give you a hint… it’s the Moto X. Just make it really damn good!

As it currently sits, it’s increasingly harder for me to continue to recommend Motorola as my favorite Android brand.

JBL Tune 120TWS review

Jason England
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With truly wireless headphones slowly becoming the norm, I finally decided to take the plunge and check out the JBL Tune 120TWS headphones. Below you’ll find my impressions after using them for a few weeks.

Design

Similar to many other truly wireless headphones on the market, the JBL Tune 120TWS are lightweight and compact in size, and include a carrying case for charging.

The buds and case come in two main colors, black and white, with a range of accent colors to choose from. For my review unit, JBL provided me with the black version with blue accents. This is one of my favorite color combinations, and it looks great on the headphones.

The color accent does more than just make the buds and branding stand out, it is also where the physical buttons reside on the headphones. These buttons allow you to play/pause, skip tracks, activate Google Assistant or Siri, and answer calls. Unfortunately, there is no way to control volume, which can be a little tedious if you need to frequently adjust the volume levels.

The case is a hard plastic shell which feels rather hefty due to the battery that it houses. The lid on the case flips open with ease, but remains held in place by a magnet once closed.

Speaking of magnets, your earbuds are also magnetic and that helps secure them for charging, as well as making it easier to insert them into the case properly.

My one complaint about the case would be that it using a micro USB charging port. It’s 2019, and we’re still waiting for everyone to get on the same page and switch over to USB-C. I find this quite frustrating because it requires me to keep around these annoying micro USB cables.

Comfort

The JBL Tune 120TWS include three different sized ear tips in the box, but to my disappointment, the smallest size is not small enough for my ears. To be fair, I have small ear canals and this has always made earbuds a challenge for me.

There were also no ear wings like you generally see with wired Bluetooth earbuds, meaning the Tune 120TWS would often fall out of my ears. For that reason, if you have smaller ears, you could find these a little frustrating to wear.

I also wouldn’t recommend them for working out because without ear wings to secure the fit, I’m afraid they would fall out from movement.

When I was able to get the buds to stay in, they were lightweight and comfortable until around a little over an hour where ear fatigue began to set in. This could be in part to me jamming them in trying to prevent them from falling out though.

Sound Quality

The JBL Tune 120TWS really surprised me with the sound quality. The marketing materials tout a “pure bass sound”, and without a doubt, they provide a satisfying full bass sound. If you’re a fan of bass, like myself, then you’ll be happy with the kick you get from these buds.

Just because JBL puts a focus on the bass, doesn’t mean that is all you will hear. The Tune 120TWS still provide a nice balance between the thumping bass and highs to provide plenty of detail when listening to your favorite songs. Overall, I was very satisfied with the sound, and they are fantastic for many genres, such as pop, rap, and electronic.

Bluetooth Connection

I must admit, I had my concerns about the connection quality of a truly wireless pair of headphones. However, that concern was completely unfounded. Not once did the JBL Tune 120TWS drop connection in my time with them over the past few weeks. Even when I got up to 50 feet away from my phone, the connection stayed steady.

Battery Life

The battery life on the JBL Tune 120TWS is rated for four hours on the buds themselves and there’s an additional 12 hours with the case, for a total of 16 hours. This means you’ll only be able to get four hours of uninterrupted music playback before you’ll have to charge the buds in the case.

Thankfully, I rarely ever listen to music for longer than a couple of hours without having to take a break. With that said, I never ran into an issue of the buds being dead when I reached for them. Plus, you’ll get an hours worth of playback time from just 15 minutes of charging.

For most people, this should be sufficient, but if you’re someone who requires longer than four hours of continuous playback, wireless buds may not be for you.

Final Thoughts

JBL has created a stylish and fun sounding pair of truly wireless headphones that won’t break the bank at $100. The range of colors allows you to get something to match your individual style, and the battery life should be able to satisfy most music fans out there.

The only downside I find with these don’t play nicely with smaller than average ear canals. Well, that and the price.

There are cheaper sets of truly wireless headphones out there; however, I’ve not used any of those and cannot vouch for their sound quality. The JBL Tune 120TWS appear to offer better battery life than most of the cheaper pairs.

Buy from Amazon Buy from JBL

Nokia returns to Verizon with Nokia 3 V

Andrew Allen
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It’s been years since Nokia has properly graced the shelves of a Verizon store. Things changed in early 2019 when HMD Global, the parent company behind the “new” Nokia, announced a prepaid version of the Nokia 2 V in January for Verizon.

Despite this toe in the water, Nokia and Verizon haven’t done business in the post-paid space for a long time. With the 3 V, however, it marks the first phone HMD has ever offered through Verizon’s proper channels.

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The Nokia 3 V delivers a large-screened smartphone with two-day battery life. The 3 V also runs Android 9 with the same Android One initiative Nokia offers with all of its devices. The specs aren’t top-tier, but it’s a nice entry-level device for HMD for Big Red

Nokia 3 V Features

  • 6.26″ HD+ display with teardrop design
  • Two-day battery life
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage
  • Qualcomm 429 processor
  • Face unlock
  • Dedicated Google Assistant button
  • Android One running Android 9 release

The final spec is arguably the most compelling for the Nokia 3 V. Android One is a huge deal for this sector of the market. Moto has all but cornered it but fails users in the area of proper updates. Nokia intends to change that.

Since returning to the US, Nokia has a history of excellent support for devices in any price category via Android One. The guarantee 18 months of security patches and 2 full OS updates for the Nokia 3 V.

SEE ALSO: What’s the difference between Android Go and Android One?

The Nokia 3 V will be available starting August 23 in Verizon stores and through Verizon’s website. The phone will be offered in blue for $168 (full retail) or for 0% financing at $7 per month.

Nokia and Verizon have a long history that pre-dates Android and even smartphones. It’s a nice gesture to see the companies back together. It’s also a valuable move for HMD to have new handset available on the largest carrier in the United States.

Casio debuts PRO TREK with heart rate monitor

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Casio America this week introduced a new member of its PRO TREK line of wearables aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. The WSD-F21HR arrives in September with a $499 price point and marks the first in this line to offer a heart rate monitor.

The WSD-F21HR can help wears with pace management during activities such as running, cycling, and generally trekking. Moreover, it comes with an enhanced Activity App which provides running and trail running menus to measure data such as heart rate, pace, and distance.

Designed for the active outdoorsman, the WSD-F21HR boasts water resistance up to 50 meters and environmental durability built to military specifications. It features a bold, durable front bezel and a soft urethane band with a double pin buckle to ensure a comfortable fit, as well as Casio’s signature dual-layer display.

The WSD-F21HR runs Wear OS and can access Google App services, tying directly into things like STRAVA, BIKEMAP, ViewRanger, and other sports apps.

The watch also packs GPS technology, offline maps capability, and can import GPS log data. On the other hand, data measured by the watch’s app are automatically saved to Google Driver and paired to Google Calendar for historical view.

SEE ALSO: Google ruined Wear OS

Additional hardware features include a compass, barometer, and altimeter. Compliant with MIL-STD-810G ratings, it is resistant to low temperatures, water, and other elements.

The watch will be offered in black and red at select jewelry and watch retailers across the country starting in September. Exact timing has not been disclosed.

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