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For better or worse, gestures are the new Android skin

Andrew Allen
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Longtime Android faithful will surely recall the early days of Android UI and “skins”. Every company had its own take on what Android should look like and did their best to create a custom, signature experience. Moto had MotoBlur while Samsung came out swinging with it’s iOS-inspired TouchWiz, and HTC had Sense.

In these first generations of Android we found the UI to be heavy, in-your-face stuff that devoured system resources. In 2019 these skins are heavily understated, or completely removed, in the latest software offerings from the mobile giants.

As much as the old phones relied on the look, today’s are more about the feel and interaction. A new UI element seems to be taking the place of skins. Now, everyone seems to have a different take on how a gesture-based navigation interface should work.

Stock Android has Changed

Let’s start with the Google mother ship and the vanilla, or stock, experience. The Mountain View giant revealed its take on gestures with Android Pie, marking a stark reset of the traditional geometric navigation buttons Android had for years.

While it’s debatable on how well Google did with its rendition, you’d have thought they’d make it a de facto option of the base OS, but no. Manufacturers have been allowed to spin this in several directions.

Google’s default is a swipe up to launch Overview multi-tasking and persistent “pill” home button. You also have a contextual back button that is present when back is an option within an app. Scrolling through open apps can be accomplished by sliding the pill while in Overview and you can instantly go back to the most recent apps with a quick swipe left on the pill.

Other Players

After Google, the current stable of popular remixes come from Motorola, Samsung, and OnePlus. Each OEM has a unique way they go about gestures. They all fundamentally replace the Back, Home, and Recent buttons of old, but they all are slight variations of Google’s.

The problem is that none of them have adopted the same, consistent way. Much like past days with skins, a user is presented with stark differences on gestures between Android phones. This presents an issue of while the base OS is the same, the final products vastly differ, leaving users confused if they decide to swap brands for their next phone purchase.

That Damn Fragmentation

I know it’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s also another way Android has fragmentation that just seems unnecessary. Now you have OEMs forcing users to conform to a different UX depending on what phone they buy.

I’d love to see the Android ecosystem get to the point where we decide on a standard API and have all the major phone makers use the same style of gestures.

The flip of that same coin, much like Linux on the desktop, is that Android’s ethos revolve around choice. I love that you can tweak so many levels of the UI. From home launchers to widgets to icon packs, Android has always been much more open than iOS. Are gestures just the next evolution of that heritage?

Many would argue the answer is yes. While some, including myself, see it as an unnecessary measure by the OEM, others will debate that it offers choice in the market. You don’t like the way Google does gestures? Great, here’s all the other phones that do it differently.

I started this piece thinking that I wanted Google to provide an iron fist of oversight on gestures and clean this mess up. However, the more I’ve pondered it, the more I see why the situation is what it is. You still truly have multiple options on both software and hardware. While I may prefer one way, that doesn’t mean that someone else will feel the same way.

Gestures are the next Android skin, but I think it’s a good thing. Right?

Sprint to offer Samsung Galaxy S10 5G on June 21

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Sprint on Friday confirmed its second 5G-enabled smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, will be available in the coming days. Indeed, the flagship handset goes on sale starting on June 21.

Priced at $1,300, the top-tier phone is offered in markets where the 5G network is available. In other words, you can look for it in Atalanta, Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City. In the coming weeks it will also be sold in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C..

Sprint will provide a $250 discount to customers who pre-order the Samsung handset, which can be done immediately. Those who opt for the Sprint Flex Lease program (18 months) can get it for $40.28 per month after a $13.89 monthly credit.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G joins the LG V50 ThinQ 5G as the lone phones with support for Sprint’s 5G network. In a related note, customers must sign up for the Unlimited Premium plan to use these devices.

Google ‘leaking’ its Pixel 4 makes sense, here’s why

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Even though there are presumably four months before the Pixel 4 makes its debut, Android enthusiasts already have a good idea how the phone looks. Why?  Because Google has officially shared a render of the device. That’s a big deal.

More often than not, major phone releases from Samsung, Google, and Apple are spoiled weeks or months in advance. It seems that multiple times a year we could term a handset’s launch as “the worst kept secret in mobile.” People love to leak devices and the masses eat it up.

The Pixel 3 was perhaps the worst of them all as last year’s flagship phone saw a whole array of leaks, releases, early unboxings, and more. Things got so bad that even Google had to poke fun at it upon its debut. The situation for its low-cost sibling, the Pixel 3a, was nearly as bad in the run-up to its May launch.

The problem with flagships

One of the more common statements or complaints around Google’s phones is that they appear to copy Apple’s design language. This would definitely be the case for 2019 as the corner with multiple cameras is strikingly similar to what Apple has in store. Putting the Pixel 4 out there ahead of time can help massage that mentality a bit.

Perhaps the worst part about a phone that spends months being leaked is that the actual announcement is somewhat of a letdown. More often than not, the formal debut of a handset leaves us wishing there was just one little thing we didn’t know about. Sometimes, the bigger the device, the more muted its launch.

Why did Google do this?

As to why Google decided to leak and/or confirm its next phone isn’t clear just yet. Maybe it’s to steal the thunder away from the non-sanction renders and the outlets racking up page views from them.

On the other hand, maybe Google is genuinely excited about its phone and what it “can do”. We might be reading the tea leaves a bit too much here, but that sounds as if there’s more here than just high-end specifications.

A Project Soli chip makes the most sense as it could usher in a whole new way of interacting with our devices. Using gestures for media playback controls and other tasks sounds really cool, especially if it’s supported by hardware. If the radar tech is half as cool as the one used for its cameras, Google could really up the ante in the Pixel 4.

Why this makes sense

We all know that phone makers are aware of the chatter online and in social media circles. By confirming the existence of the Pixel 4, Google is able to get out in front of the conversation, and even shape it to a degree. If the leaks start to center around a particular topic or detail, Google can jump in, move things along, or even change the subject.

Google can now slow drip things into the ether, teasing the phone and building hype around it. We’ve seen LG and OnePlus adopt a similar strategy for its handsets, trickling features and specs in the build up to launch.

Another benefit of taking this reactive/proactive approach to leaks, Google can hope to avoid being perceived as a brand that cannot keep a lid on its products. While that might actually be the case, Google may instead appear as being so excited about its next phone that it can’t keep quiet.

What’s next for the Pixel 4?

At this stage it’s nearly impossible to forecast what happens next.

Maybe, just maybe, Google has started a campaign to tease out its new phone and its features. This could be the first step in a concerted effort to build hype. It might also be that Google plans to drop the Pixel 4 earlier than normal.

We suspect we’ll go through the usual steps of more leaks, different angles of the phone in the wild, and stuff from phone case manufacturers. The specs, pricing, and features will spill out in the coming months and we’ll get the Pixel 4 in early October. That is, of course, if the last few years are any indicator.

It’s hard to say for sure, but we’re anxious either way.

Google confirms Pixel 4 design months ahead of announcement

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A new image hitting the internet this week confirms the design of the upcoming Google Pixel 4 smartphone. And it’s not conjecture, either. The source of this Pixel 4 leak? Well, that would be none other than Google.

Landing online roughly one day after a few other leaked images, Google took to Twitter to join the conversation. The now-official photo is black on black and not all that easy to make out, but it does show us what is in store for the Pixel 4.

The image confirms that the phone will have a square camera bump in the top left corner of the back. Reports of multiple lenses have surfaced over the last few weeks and this photo corroborates that with what appears to be two cameras.

In what would be a first in the Pixel line, there’s no sign of a fingerprint reader on the back. Rumors indicate the Pixel 4 will have an in-display sensor for authentication. Another report that’s been gathering steam as of late is that the handset will employ a “Project Soli” chip for hands-free gestures.

As of now we should anticipate the Google Pixel 4 in early October. Moreover, we assume it will be the first phone to launch with the Android Q operating system. Then again, now that Google’s already changed things up, anything could happen.

Polk MagniFi MAX SR review

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If you’re like us, you grew up in a house with one, maybe two, televisions. They were big, clunky, and heavy as hell. Today’s modern homes have TVs or screens in nearly every room. What’s more, they’re lighter, cheaper, and smarter than ever.

If you’re like us, you maybe knew one or two people with surround sound stereos and killer systems in the family room. Maybe it was your uncle who had the cabinet setup with an equalizer, dual tape decks, and a CD player. Maybe it was your bachelor buddy who filled out a room with speakers in every corner. Movies and video games are so much better when played loud and clear.

While today’s TVs are better than ever, we could always get better sound. Sometimes the situation calls for a center channel, sub-woofer, and speakers in each corner. For most of us, though, a soundbar setup is a fantastic way to go. Then there’s stuff like the Polk MagniFi MAX SR, which is somewhat of a hybrid experience.

Priced about $600 at the time of this writing, the home theater solution features a sub-woofer, soundbar, and two surround-sound speakers. In addition to the standard fare of audio connectivity, it also supports Bluetooth and features baked-in Chromecast and Google Assistant. We recently had the chance to spend a few weeks with the MagniFi MAX SR and are happy to share our thoughts.

Price

Let’s get it out of the way. The $600 price tag is enough to scare a lot of people away. We get it. Really, we’ve been content with the sound from our televisions for decades and have occasionally dabbled in starter kits and basic surround sound. We’ve really only spent about half of this on our setups over the years. Then again, we’re not audiophiles.

There’s something to be said about “once you try it, you can’t go back” in tech. We see it in phones, particularly around the camera experience and stock Android. We’ve since found that’s the case with watching movies and playing video games, too.

Looking at the selection of home theaters, soundbars, and other kits like this, we find that the Polk solution is right in line with other brands. You can easily get into $1,000 or more for a full-on setup.

If you’ve ever purchased a home theater sound system, you probably won’t bat an eye at the cost. If you’ve not, you’ll need a little bit of convincing. We get that.

In the Box

The MagniFi MAX SR comes with a soundbar, sub-woofer, two surround-sound speakers, remote control, and a handful of audio and power cables. You also get some mounting brackets and templates to help assist should you opt to place yours on the wall.

Setup

It’s really simple to get your Polk system up and running. It takes just a few minutes to unpack and plug in your speakers. The soundbar is the only component that needs to be plugged into the television.

Each speaker needs its own power cable but other than that you don’t have any other wires to worry about. It’s 2019 and that means it’s all about wireless. We really appreciate this aspect as it lets us move the speakers about in the first day or two.

Performance

We were incredibly pleased with the sound and features of the MagniFi MAX SR. Volume levels can get quite loud and there’s a notable boom to the bass. The remote control has a number of settings which let us adjust the surround speakers, bass and voice, and switch inputs.

There are also some quick settings for movies, music, and sports which work like preset equalizers. Night mode is dials down the bass and punches up the voice for watching movies at night.

The Polk remote control can be a tad awkward at times as some of the buttons are concave while others are raised. Along those lines, we would have liked it if we could use the Google Assistant to make the adjustments from one mode to another.

As much as we liked the other Polk system we recently reviewed we would have rather used Google Assistant instead of Amazon Alexa. Our current setup is all Google everywhere so we were glad to add this to the home. Not only can we add this to a party group or cast our music, but we can use it for tasks and other Google Assistant roles. What’s more, you can use the Google Home app to manage volume levels.

It’s worth noting that the soundbar is incredibly wide at 43-inches. If you’re placing it on a TV stand you might find it extends beyond the edges. The sub-woofer also eats up a fair amount of space. The surround sound speakers, for their part, are compact enough that you can put them on end tables or

Conclusion

The Polk MagniFi MAX SR is a great home theater option for those looking for a well-rounded audio experience. Movies, sports, video games, and Bluetooth audio all sound excellent; there’s plenty of customization at each mode to fine tune each.

We really appreciate having another Google Assistant-based device in the home. As much as we like a Google Home Mini in every room, there’s nothing like a full-on speaker system. Casting is more convenient than pairing via Bluetooth at times, especially when multiple people are in the room, taking turns with the music.

There’s a lot to like about the MagniFi MAX SR, even at its $600 price. Considering you’d put three hundred into a solid standalone Bluetooth/Google Assistant speaker like the Google Home Max, it make sense to go all-in with a system that rounds out an entire room.

Availability

You can learn more about the MagniFi MAX SR at Polk’s website where you can also order it. It’s also available for purchase at Amazon where it’s currently listed at $600.

Google Pixel 4 renders provide possible glimpse at next flagship

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In what may provide our first look at the forthcoming Google Pixel 3 successor, new renders have appeared online. Should they prove accurate we ought to expect a rather noticeable departure from the flagship phone line.

Landing online via OnLeaks and Pricebaba, the photos show the so-called Pixel 4 with a prominent, raised corner that could give way to two or three sensors. Similar to what Apple may have in store for its next-gen iPhone, this would be the first time Google embraces more than one rear camera.

Also worth pointing out, the renders do not show any sort of fingerprint reader. Does that mean an in-display scanner or 3D face unlock is in order? According to hints of code in Android Q Beta, there are multiple references to a face authentication system. So there’s that.

Additional details that can be gleaned from the early images show that Google appears to have dropped the front-facing stereo speakers. While there’s still one above the display, the other figures to have moved to the bottom of the phone.

If the material alluded to in the render is any indicator, the Pixel 4 should have a glossy finish. Whether that’s the glass used in the Pixel 3 remains to be seen; however, we might anticipate that Google hopes to retain the wireless charging feature.

One last thing to note, the 3.5mm headphone jack looks to be sitting this one out. Maybe it will be back in the Google Pixel 4a.

Samsung refreshes Galaxy A series of phones for US launch

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Samsung will offer three of its mid-range A series of phones in the US starting as soon as this week. The Galaxy A50, A20 and A10e will arrive over the coming weeks with prices as low as $180.

Galaxy A50

At the upper end of the A line, the Galaxy A50 packs a triple-camera configuration on the rear as well as a 4,000mAh battery. Boasting a massive 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-U display, the phone comes to Verizon starting June 13.

READ: Samsung shows off the future of smartphone cameras in Galaxy A80

The three-camera array is comprised of a 25-megapixel main sensor, a wide-angle 8-megapixel, 123-degree lens, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor.

Other specifications in the Galaxy A50 include an octa-core processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. A microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 512GB of external media.

As is the case with other Samsung phones, the Galaxy A50 has on-display fingerprint, fast charging, Bixby AI tools, and Samsung Pay.

Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A10e

Less is known about the other two phones, the Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A10E. The former is also large at 6.4-inches while the A10e is slightly smaller at 5.83-inches.

Both have single camera on the rear with the A20 getting a 13-megapixel sensor; the A10e has an 8-megapixel lens.

Similar to the A50, the A20 houses a 4,000mAh battery whereas the A10e includes a 3,000mAh power source. Both phones have 32GB storage capacities.

Pricing

The Galaxy A50 will retail for $350 when it arrives June 13. The Galaxy A20 and A10e will have starting costs of $250 and $180, respectively.

Mophie powerstation line (2019) review

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When it comes to portable power solutions there are few brands, if any, that we admire as much as mophie. The brand consistently releases powerful and efficient portable chargers and seems to embrace and back the right trends.

Whether it’s creating a protective phone case with a built-in battery or a big brick of a power supply, or something in between, the mophie product line always scores well in our eyes. The trend continues in mid-2019 we take a look at the new powerstation models.

Available in four versions, each of the refreshed powerstation line features multiple charging ports, including a USB-C port. Conveniently, that port allows for both input and output.

Whereas previous generations of mophie products tend to stick to a black (more of a charcoal or dark grey), the 2019 stuff comes in a variety of colors. Indeed, each does come in black, but the four have different options.

mophie powerstation

  • powerstation mini: 5,000mAh – $40 (Black, Gray, Navy, Hot Pink, and Light Blue)
  • powerstation: 10,000mAh – $50 (Black, Gray, Navy, and Pink)
  • powerstation XL: 15,000mAh – $60 (Black and Gray)
  • powerstation XXL: 20,000mAh – $70 (Black)

We appreciate the simplicity of choosing from the powerstation line as it’s a case of picking the capacity needed. As most of the higher end of phones of today are under 3,000mAh, even the powerstation mini is more than sufficient to double the life of a handset. For ten bucks more (powerstation) you can double things.

One thing we’ve really come to appreciate in portable chargers is that they’ve gotten more compact over the last few years, yet battery has increased. That’s not exclusive to mophie, but it does a great job of making things feel as svelte as possible.

The powerstation mini takes up about as much space as a typical handset. As you move up the line, the sizes are not commensurate with capacities. To be more clear, the 10,000mAh unit is not twice the size nor does the 20,000mAh battery four times the size. It’s not like you’d be toting around four extra phones worth of bulk.

Both the powerstation and powerstation mini provide a USB C and USB port; however, the powerstation XL and powerstation XXL pick up a second USB port. This is ideal for scenarios where one might buy a portable charger to replenish a family of devices at the same time.

Spouses sitting down at dinner, a couple of people out for a hike, or a family staying charged up during a Pokemon Go Community Day are just a few examples that come to mind.

As often is the case with its chargers, these have four LED indicator lights. This makes it easy to quickly understand how much power is left. Moreover, it provides a glimpse into where things are when replenishing the batteries.

We really dig the colors mophie chose for its new models. They’re charming and work well with the durable fabric that wraps a lot of the brand’s batteries. Moreover, they’re easy to identify if you’re looking for one as you might head out the door. If anything, though, they are more muted and closer to a pastel than what we see online.

Each of the chargers come with a short USB-A to USB-C cable that’s maybe four inches long. It’s a perfect length if you’re plugging in a phone that you’d like to operate at the same time as charging.

One of the best things about mophie products is that they come with two year warranties. We’ve never had to file a claim or exchange a device, but that second year of peace of mind. It’s also nice to have a company willing to put its neck on the line longer than most competitors.

Availability

You can purchase the powerstation models directly from mophie’s website using the following links. Each has it own respective color options.

T-Mobile offers customers $25 tickets to Live Nation concerts

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T-Mobile will give its customers $25 concert tickets to top concerts this summer as part of its latest T-Mobile Tuesdays promotion. Starting June 11, subscribers can purchase up to four seats to popular touring acts.

The discounted seats will be available throughout the summer as part of a deal between T-Mobile and Live Nation. Each customer can purchase up to four tickets with each T-Mobile Tuesday code.

Among the tours and shows available to T-Mobile Tuesday customers at the start of the promotion.

  • 311 & Dirty Heads
  • Alice Cooper
  • Blink 182 & Lil Wayne
  • Breaking Benjamin
  • Brad Paisley
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Bryan Adams / Billy Idol
  • Bush & +Live+
  • Chris Young
  • Heart
  • Kidz Bop
  • KORN x Alice In Chains
  • Mary J Blige & NAS
  • Nelly / TLC / Flo Rida
  • Papa Roach
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Shinedown
  • Slipknot
  • Smashing Pumpkins
  • Stone Temple Pilots & Rival Sons
  • Third Eye Blind
  • Train & Goo Goo Dolls
  • UB40 / Shaggy
  • Wiz Khalifa

According to T-Mobile, new codes will be added every week during the summer season as will new shows. What’s more, customers can receive on-site perks like dedicated concession express lanes, fast lane entry, and branded lawn chair rentals.

Tickets are available in a first-served basis and T-Mobile subscribers can check once every two weeks for a new code.

Movo Smartphone Video Kit review

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We live in an era where anyone can be a star. Just about everywhere you turn there’s a new upstart YouTube or Twitter personality garnering lots of attention. Today’s smartphones make it easier than ever to create fun, interesting, and compelling content. And, thanks to high-speed 4G LTE, we can even broadcast direct to YouTube and other platforms.

If you’ve ever considered dabbling in video content, you want to make sure you have the right tools. Sure, you can go it with the out-of-the-box stuff that comes with your phone and keep it simple. It works, but you’re just a half-step away from a much better audiovisual experience.

The Movo Smartphone Video Kit V7 is an inexpensive bundle that lets you dial up your video production quality. Not in a massive undertaking sort of way, but one that doesn’t require any education. It’s just the right amount of tech to punch up audio and video without breaking the bank.

Priced just $120 at the time of this review, the Video Kit is comprised of four key pieces and a carrying case.

The smartphone rig features a rubberized grip handle, wrist strap, accessory shoe, and shoe extender. It is designed to fit phones from 2.2-inches wide up to 3.6-inches wide. This means nearly all major handsets including bigger ones like the Galaxy Note.

 

There’s also a tripod thread at the bottom which means you can add it to your tripod for a standalone setup. And, to make sure you have the proper orientation you can check out the built-in bubble level.

The microphone comes with a foam and furry windscreen which can be added on the fly to help eliminate wind whistling and blowing from sneaking into your audio.

The video light features 30 LEDs and allows for three brightness levels. The remote can be paired to your Android or iPhone and makes it easy to take selfies or group shots from a distance.

Setup

Setting up the kit is really whatever you make of it. If you’d like to use all components, feel free to do so. Even then, there’s really not much effort required. Simply unpack the case and insert your phone and any accessories.

It doesn’t sound like much but using a rig alone can lead to steadier shots or more balanced pictures and video. Things feel more natural when you’re holding a pole than having your hands trying to grip a phone. That, and having the bubble level makes sure you have things lined up to the horizon.

Adding on the light can go a long way to bringing out more detail in your portrait shots and videos. Even though there are subtle differences between them we appreciate that there were three brightness settings. And, even at its brightest, it’s still soft and doesn’t wash out the subject. We like that we can recharge it via microUSB and we’ve tossed a small portable charger in the carrying case.

The microphone is considerably more important, and the reason we like this kit so much. If you’re shooting video and expect to have a subject that’s more than a couple of feet away from the phone, you need a quality microphone. To that end, the one that’s included in the Movo Smartphone Video Kit V7 is an excellent way to improve the audio without breaking the bank.

With or without the windscreens, the microphone does a fantastic job of picking up, semi-isolated and directional sound. There’s nothing to think about; it basically does it just by being pointed at the subject. What’s more, it helps to alleviate background and ambient sound. The shock mount ensures you don’t hear any sudden thumps or bumps in your video.

Other Thoughts

When it comes to assembling and disassembling the kit, things don’t get much easier. All it takes is a simple twist for the shoes to tighten or loosen. We can break it down and put it into the carrying case in a matter of moments.

Speaking of the case, there’s enough room to add in a dedicated phone and/or small portable power supply. It’s perfect if you’ve got an older handset that you’d like to use just for videos.

Availability

Head to the Movo website to learn more about the Movo Smartphone Video Kit V7 and other products. It’s also there where you can purchase the bundle for $120.

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