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Meet the world’s first quad-camera phone, the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)

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The world’s first quad-camera phone is now official and it’s called the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018). The new phone is part of the Korean tech giant’s increasing efforts to really put the spotlight on its line of mid-rangers. Although, the Galaxy A9 is more of a hybrid between a flagship and a mid-ranger. Let’s take a look at it and see what it offers.

The Galaxy A9 is a glass/metal sandwich like most premium phones launching today. It sports a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 2220 resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. And there’s no notch in sight, which is good news for those who hate this particular design detail.

The phone also includes a fingerprint scanner on the back, as well as 3.5mm headphone and USB Type-C port.

What’s middle-range about the Galaxy A9 is the processor powering it. It relies on a 2.2GHz Snapdragon 660 chipset, which is backed up by either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. In either case, you also get 128GB of storage, with the possibility to expand up to 512GB. Samsung has also included a nice 3,800 mAh battery to power this puppy.

Samsung Galaxy A9: a feast for photography lovers

And now for the piece de resistance, which is the quad-camera living on the back of the phone. The main camera is a 24MP sensor (f/1.7) which promises detailed shots in Auto mode. Next, we have a 10MP (f/2.4) sensor which is a telephoto lens. This will give the phone 2x optical zoom and the capacity to shoot much more realistic portrait shots.

The third lens is an ultra-wide 8MP camera with a 120-degree wide-angle lens. This enables users to get the action camera look. Last but not least, we have a 5MP depth camera with f/2.2. Its main purpose is to calculate the depth, while the other cameras do the heavy lifting.

Samsung has also embedded a low light mode with the cameras. This acts by grouping pixels in clusters of 4 which results in images with a lower resolution (6MP). Even so, the system will be able to collect more light and add more exposure in low-light situations. On top of that, the A9 also gets the AI photo analyzer of the Galaxy Note 9 which warns you when you’ve snapped a pic of someone who blinked.

Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A9 will become available in November in select markets in Caviar Black, Lemonade Blue and Bubblegum Pink. The latter two are gradient color options. It will ship with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will available for €599 / $700 in Europe. Will the Galaxy A9 make it into the US? We can’t tell you for sure, right now, but chances are pretty slim.

The Razer Phone 2 is now official and all about flagship gaming

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In case you missed it the Razer Phone 2 has been teased in some leaks the past few weeks. However, the wait is now over as Razer took the stage tonight to release the Razer Phone 2.

This is a sequel to their much talked about Razer 1 gaming phone which included stereo front-facing speakers and a unique display with a 120hz refresh rate. This year Razer kept the same great front-facing stereo speakers and QHD LCD screen with a 120hz refresh rate, but made some key improvements.

The display is now 50% brighter reaching 580 nits and the speakers each have their own dedicated amp reaching 103 decibels in volume. The Razer Phone 2 is now also HDR and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound certified by Netflix. Providing you with killer picture and sound quality for all your gaming and video watching.

The design hasn’t changed much, the Razer Phone 2 still has two big speakers on the front and no edge to edge screen. Razer makes no apologies for the design though. Saying that gaming on those edge to edge screens isn’t as comfortable and they are a flagship gaming phone first and foremost. If you want edge to edge screens and notches then look elsewhere.

The biggest change in the design comes from the glass back that now features Chroma lighting in the logo. Similar to their other line of Chroma products you’ll be able to change the color and use wave effects. It even acts as a notification light allowing you to customize what color is used for what app. For example, blue for Facebook, green for Whatsapp, and yellow for Snapchat.

With the glass back the Razer Phone 2 is now rated IP67 waterproof as well. Another new trick it has picked up with the glass back is wireless charging. Of course, Razer has a special Chroma enabled wireless charging stand you can buy to go with your phone.

Specs

  • Display: 5.72-inch QHD LCD w/ 120hz refresh rate
  • Processor: Snapdragon 845
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 64GB + microSD up to 1TB
  • Rear Cameras: 12MP f/1.75 wide-angle camera w/ OIS + 12MP f/2.6 2X telephoto
  • Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0
  • Battery: 4000mAh
  • OS: Android Oreo 8.1

When it comes to a gaming phone you expect performance and the Razer Phone 2 delivers with a 30 percent increase in performance over its predecessor. The charging is fast as well utilizing Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 4+ you can go from 1 to 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless fast charging is also included for those of you who prefer going wireless.

Razer Cortex and Theme Store

Razer is also offering a new Razer Cortex app with several features geared towards gaming.

  • Game organizer
  • 120hz game recommendations
  • Optimizing the Razer Phone 2’s performance for certain games
  • Exclusive skins and virtual items for games

Razer also announced the theme store with several themes designed around games such as Tekken, Vain Glory, and soon PUBG themes. All of which are 100% free.

Cameras

The upgraded cameras in the Razer Phone 2 are said to be flagship worthy cameras this year. The dual camera setup on the back includes two 12MP shooters, with one being a wide-angle with OIS and the other being a 2X telephoto lens. The front-facing camera is an 8MP shooter with beauty modes and can live stream in 1080p.

Pricing and Availability

The Razer Phone 2 will come in two different versions, a mirror version and satin finish which will be a Razerstore exclusive. Pre-orders will begin at 12:01 AM PST time on October 11 for the mirror version with a price of $799. The satin version is expected to come later before the holidays.

Pre-order Now

Essential Phone 2 could be real, Xiaomi releases Mi Box S, and more news you need to know

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Welcome to In Brief, the AndroidGuys tech briefing. Today is Wednesday, October 10th, and we’re taking a look at all the tech news you need to know. In this post, we want you to learn about the news the way you want to learn. We’ve embedded a podcast version of all this news below. If you don’t want to listen, you can read just like you normally would.

In today’s edition, we learn more about a possible successor to the Essential Phone along with getting a new Android TV box from Xiaomi. We also learn a bit more about some upcoming Samsung devices.

We’d love feedback on this post, so please let us know what you think in the comments. If we can improve in some way, we’d love to know!

Essential Phone 2 could be solely focused on AI

Essential Phone PH-1

A few months ago, a report surfaced which claimed that Andy Rubin’s Essential company was accepting offers. The company also seemingly canceled its current phone projects, leaving PH-1 fans wondering where to go next.

If a new report from Bloomberg is to be believed, all of that has changed. The report suggests that the Essential Phone 2 is, indeed, in the works and could make its appearance at CES 2019 in January.

As for what we should expect, there’s not much to go off of. Instead, the report claims that the Essential Phone 2 will have a “small screen, which is primarily controlled by voice commands”. Then, the built-in A.I. would attempt to mimic the behaviors of the user when notifications arrive.

Xiaomi Mi Box S now available for pre-order for $59

Lost in the Pixel 3 news, Xiaomi unveiled a new piece of hardware with the Mi Box S. This an updated version of the Mi Box and is powered by Android TV.

The software is based on Android Oreo, while offering a brand-new navigation interface. The Mi Box S also provides 4K HDR playback, and can be controlled with the simplistic remote which sports a dedicated Google Assistant button.

Pre-orders for the Mi Box S are now live, but you can only pick one up from Walmart. The price comes in at $59.99, and this new Android TV will become available in “early November”.

Samsung Galaxy A9 Star leak reveals four rear cameras

Now that LG has released a handset with three rear-mounted cameras, Samsung is already looking to up the ante. The Galaxy A9 Star, has leaked courtesy of Evan Blass.

The leaked image reveals that the A9 Star will sport a total of four rear camera sensors. As for what these sensors are capable of, there is a main 24MP sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens, a 5MP depth camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view.

Rumored specs for the device include the Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. All of this will be packaged beneath a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a FULL HD+ resolution.

Samsung could finally remove the headphone jack with the Note 10

While it seems that just about every manufacturer is removing the headphone jack, Samsung and LG have remained steadfast. Both companies have been bucking this trend that has been taking place the past few years.

It seems that Samsung is considering joining the parade with the release of either the Galaxy Note 10 or S11. The report claims that Samsung is considering to make the changes and leave customers to use a headphone dongle.

We expect that the Galaxy S10’s design has already been solidified, and it seems that the headphone jack is safe for that release. However, the report does not provide a reason other than Samsung’s desire to save space within the device.

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The Pixel 3 camera app is already available for download

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Google announced their brand new Pixel 3 phones only yesterday and within 24 hours the camera app is now available for download. The new camera app brings a UI refresh ditching the dedicated video record button and the hamburger menu. It now adopts a sliding mechanism to switch camera modes and to access more settings.

One of the biggest changes in the app settings is built-in RAW support for the very first time. Google introduced RAW support into Android years ago and it always left me confused as to why they didn’t include that in their own camera app. RAW support has been included by other manufacturers for years now and it’s about time Google jumped on board.

Panorama mode is another area where the UI has been tweaked as well. It now gives you arrows on either side instead of the old dot interface. Portrait mode also received some big tweaks, such as more options for face retouching under portrait mode. Instead of only having an on/off toggle you can now pick between Natural or Soft.

Unfortunately, it’s not all good news because you’re going to need an older Pixel in order to install it at this time. It is also missing some of the new features Google showed off.

Most notably night sight which allows you to take more detailed and better photos in low light. However, Google says this feature is coming next month. Top shot is another missing feature where the camera grabs photos before and after you’ve taken the shot and allows you to pick the best one.

Some other missing features are live lens which allows you to use Google Lens without snapping a photo and live motion tracking.

If you’re itching to get the new Google Camera app on your Pixel then hit the button below and grab it from APK Mirror. For the rest of us without Pixels, we’ll just have to wait for as some talented developer works on porting it over, as they often do.

Google Camera APK

LG Tone Platinum SE review

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LG recently dropped the LG Tone Platinum SE, the most recent addition to its excellent Tone Bluetooth earbuds lineup. The Tone line is known for its behind-the-neck design, great sound, and a premium price tag.

This is my first pair of Tone’s and I was pretty excited to get my hands on them. I’ve used other pairs of Bluetooth earbuds that emulate the design, but I’ve never had the chance to listen to the real deal.

When a huge company like LG produces a product like this, you wonder if they’re really doing it better than the thousands of other smaller companies around. You can jump on Amazon and find tens of thousands of Bluetooth earbuds. Many emulating the same functionality and design of the Tone Platinum SE. So, are you just paying for the LG name or are these really better?

Hardware

I know that the trend recently is to create truly wireless earbuds. Apple may not have been the first, but they have been the most successful with the AirPods. This spawned a huge lineup from companies like Jaybird, YEVO, and Optoma. But, just because they’re trendy does not mean they’re better.

I love the neckband here. I know some people think it looks dumb or dorky, but I don’t mind the looks at all. The subtle curve to conform to your neck and chest is a great touch. The hard plastic isn’t my favorite material in the world, but there are some advantages to using it here. I’ve never felt that I’ve come close to losing or breaking these in the month that I’ve been using them due to the design and materials.

I really enjoy that these can bend easily and regain their shape when putting them around my neck or taking them off. I’ve used more rigid neck-style earbuds and they’re truly a pain.

The earbuds are connected to retractable cables. This is a fantastic design because it means you don’t have anything dangling. One of my bigger issues with the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless was that they earbuds hang down so low that they get caught on things and can pull the whole unit down. It’s a pain. LG doesn’t have that problem here.

Inside the neckband, you’ll find a softer, stylized plastic that feels fine against the skin and the power switch. Again, this is another design choice I really like. Sure, turning on earbuds by holding down a button for a few seconds is fine, but actually having an on/off switch is a lot more satisfying. Not only that, but it’s a lot easier to tell if these are on or off just by looking at them.

The outside of the neckband is where all your controls and the charging port is. On the left side, you have a track selector, a micro USB charging port, and the Assistant button. I’m not really sure why LG decided to go with micro USB here, but it’s disappointing to say the least.

The track selector is just as you might expect. It lets you skip back or forward on your tracks. A nice little feature here is that instead of it being a button or two, it’s actually a slider that you push forward to skip tracks and slide back to skip back. It’s easy to slide, but I did notice the neckband moving along with it when I used it.

The Assistant button is where the magic is. A simple press launches Google Assistant, as long as you’re connected to an Android device. You can use voice controls to do pretty much anything you’d do if you picked up your phone and launched Google Assistant. It’s a great feature I really enjoy using.

The right side of the device houses the volume up and down slider that acts just like the track skip slider, and an answer and hangup button for phone calls.

All of the buttons on the LG Tone Platinum SE feel really solid and work well even after repeated used. I love the sliding button functionality, but LG may want to think about going to buttons for future releases so this thing isn’t sliding all around your neck when you’re trying to turn the volume up.

Sound

Let me preface the audio section by saying, I’m not an audiophile. I love quality audio hardware, but I can’t distinguish the audio differences in those ultra-premium $50,000 headphones from my Sennheiser HD 598 Cs. I’m just a normal guy.

That being said, I was very pleased with what I heard out of the LG Tone Platinum SE. You shouldn’t expect to come in and get brain-rattling bass or the biggest soundstage, but you do get a nice sounding pair of earbuds here.

These aren’t the most accurate earbuds in the world. The mids sound really good, but the highs and bass are pretty aggressive. I do enjoy the added bass while listening to EDM and rap, but it can get a bit overwhelming while watching movies with lots of explosions.

The story is much the same for the highs. They sound very good, but you can definitely tell there’s some emphasis on them. I never heard anything painful or screeching out of these which is nice, but some of those pop princesses will sound a bit… off. Not bad, just different.

One area where the Tone Platinum SE’s really shines is in clarity. Sure, some instruments can sound a bit overpowered from time to time, but for what you’re paying, I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to pick out instruments in almost all the music I listened to, even when powerful voices came in.

Final thoughts

I really like these things. I generally move on to another pair of headphones or earbuds after reviews, but I keep coming back to these. In fact, my Sennheiser HD 598 Cs are currently sitting in a drawer because the Tone Platinum SEs are my new daily drivers.

Battery life is a real standout here. I get about 11 hours when listening to music and movies between 50% to 70% volume. That’s fantastic. Even if you go to the gym before work and use them all day during work, you’ll still have enough juice for the commute home. Very impressive.

I also love how light these are. I’ll often times put them around my neck and completely forget they’re there. I do, however, wish that LG could address the hiss in these. It’s not super loud, but when you’re connected to a phone or a computer without anything playing, there’s an audible hiss. It’s annoying.

These also aren’t going to be your go-to audio device if you’re into intense workouts. You’ll want to grab something like the Jabra Elite 65t that have a better fit and focus on workouts. This is also true if you’re a traveler. There’s no noise cancellation here, nor is there a great seal in your ear to keep things out.

Regardless, I love these. They’re the perfect earbuds to get me through an entire workday and have battery left over for the rest of the day’s activities.

If you’re interested in picking up a pair of the LG Tone Platinum SE, you can get them from Verizon.

When and where you can buy the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

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Google took to the stage unveiling their much-leaked Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones today in New York City. Thanks to all of the leaks we were already aware of almost everything there is to know about both of these phones.

A Little About the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

In case you’re in need of a refresher the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are both packing a Snapdragon 845, 4GB of RAM, come with either 64GB or 128GB of storage, include a 12MP rear camera with dual 8MP cameras on the front, and are launching with Android 9 Pie.

Where the two phones differ comes down mostly to the size of the screen and battery. The Pixel 3 offers a 5.5-inch display with stereo front-facing speakers. While the Pixel 3 XL has a larger 6.2-inch display with an obnoxiously large notch but also includes stereo front-facing speakers. Due to the size difference between the screens, it is only natural the Pixel 3 contains a smaller 2915mAh battery and the Pixel 3 XL features a larger 3430mAh battery.

If you’d like to know more about either of these phones have a look at our article on the official launch of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Where to Buy the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Project Fi

Project Fi is one of two carriers that sells the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL directly. The 64 GB Pixel 3 starts at $799 and 64GB Pixel 3 XL starts at $899. You will need to add another $100 to both if you want to jump up to the 128GB model. Both models come in Just Black, Clearly White, and Not Pink. Pre-orders are available starting today.

Promos

With the purchase of a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL from Project Fi and activation of a new line, you will receive a $799 credit.

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Verizon

Pre-order for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are available right now from Verizon. The 64GB Pixel 3 will start at $33.33 per month for 24 months or $799.99 total. While the 128GB Pixel 3 will start at $37.49 per month for 24 months or $899.99 total.

The 64GB Pixel 3 XL starts at $38.74 for 24 months or $929.99 total. While the 128GB Pixel 3 XL starts at $42.91 or 1029.99 total. Both will be available in Just Black, Clearly White, and Not Pink and can be found in stores beginning on October 18.

Promos

For a limited time, Verizon is running a buy one get one deal on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. When you purchase one of the new Pixel 3 phones and add a new line of service you will receive a 64GB Pixel 3 for free or $799 off any other Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL phone.

Verizon is also offering a free Pixel Stand if you purchase through the My Verizon app on October 9.

Pixel 3 Google Pixel 3 XL

Unlocked

Both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL can be bought unlocked directly from Google and will work on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and associated MVNOs. If the full price is a little steep for you then you have the option to finance through Google and you can also trade in an old phone for a discount.

The 64GB Pixel 3 will start at $799 or $33.29 per month with Google Store financing. The 128GB Pixel 3 will set you back $899 or $37.46 per month if financed through the Google Store.

The 64GB Pixel 3 XL starts at $899 or $34.46 per month with Google Store financing. While the 128GB Pixel 3 XL costs $999 or $41.63 per month if financed through the Google Store.

Pre-orders have already begun and you can choose between all three colors including Just Black, Clearly White, and Not Pink.

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Hot Take: Google debuts new Pixels, Google Home Hub

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Join us as we sit down and discuss some of the hot tech topics out there today. The Pixel Slate, Google Home Hub, Pixel Stand, and Pixel 3 and 3 XL were announced at an event in New York today and we explain what exactly the company is doing in today’s market and more.

What we talked about today

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SpamResponse review: A simple way to report spam text messages

Smartphones are a blessing when it comes to keeping in touch with your loved ones, but some calls and texts are definitely not welcome. Mobile SMS spam appears to be on the rise these days, and tracking down the spammers is about as easy as finding a unicorn in the wild.

Fortunately, the Android app ecosystem provides numerous apps that come to the rescue in such situations. One example is SpamResponse, a simple app for reporting unwanted messages.

Tired of receiving junk texts? Use SpamResponse

SpamResponse is super easy to use. Just install it on your phone and launch it to start using it. You’ll get a view of your SMS inbox. From there find the Spam message you want to report and long-press it. Then tap on the red Report Spam button that shows up in the top right of the display. Another way to do it is to simple swipe right and tap to undo the action.

The cool thing about this app is that it filters out your contact’s messages so that you don’t accidentally report from friends and family. However, we should note that reporting spam does not remove the message from your device. So you’ll still be able to view them when accessing your messaging apps.

Once you report a message, the team behind SpamResponse will investigate the message, and if a threat is identified, they will work with their network of digital service providers to disable consumer access to the threat.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll stop receiving Spam texts altogether. SpamRepsonse is part of an industry-wide effort to combat Spam messages, therefore the more you participate the more you help improve the service.

The app is quite minimalist, so apart from letting you report spam messages, it doesn’t come with a lot of features. You also get the option to view the messages your reported by going to Settings>Report History.

SpamResponse is free to download and use. Also, it’s not plagued by any annoying adds.

Download SpamReponse from the Play Store

Google Home Hub is Google’s first smart display

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Google is ready to jump feet first into the smart display market with the Google Home Hub. It includes a 7-inch display, 2 far-field microphones, Bluetooth 5, ambient EQ light sensor, and comes in 4 colors.

The 7-inch display features some rather large bezels and is held up by the stand which also houses the speakers. The round corners and use of fabric give the Home Hub a modern home-friendly design.

Google made the decision to not include a camera on the Google Home Hub, most likely to put any privacy concerns to rest. However, they could have just as easily included one with a privacy switch similar to the JBL Link View. Without a camera, you’ll be unable to make any video calls in the future. Which could be a big concern if you’re thinking about buying one of these.

The ambient EQ sensor featured in the Home Hub should adjust not only the brightness but the color temperature of the display, always making your photos and videos look their best. That will come in handy as the Home Hub makes a great digital photo frame.

Google has just made it even better with live albums. With live albums, Home Hub will show off your best photos automatically skipping blurry shots, and avoiding duplicates. You’ll also be able to share your live albums with others.

Google Assistant supports over 10,000 different smart home devices from over 1,000 brands. Home Hub helps bring them together with one dashboard called home view. Simply swipe down or say Hey Google show my home view to access the dashboard. From there you can control your thermostat, view your Nest camera, change the brightness and color of your lights in any room, and more.

The Google Home Hub is available for pre-order now in Aqua, Black, Chalk, and Sand for $149. When you order Home Hub you’ll also get 6 months free of YouTube Music which also includes commercial-free YouTube videos. It will also be available in store beginning October 22 at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and other retailers.

Google unveils its own Chrome OS tablet, the Pixel Slate

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Google still thinks tablets are in, so today the search giant unveiled the Pixel Slate.  A Chrome OS tablet, the new device comes with a detachable keyboard cover that can turn it into a laptop substitute.

The product starts at $599 and will be available later this year. Google will be offering it in a variety of configuration, the most expensive one being quite high-end with an 8th gen Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. A Core i3 and Core i5 version will also become available.

The slate sports a 12.3-inch display with 3000 x 2000 resolution and 293ppi that is among the sharpest in its class, according to Google. This was made possible due the energy-efficient LCD technology called Low Temperature PolySilicone (LTPS) which allowed the company to squeeze in more pixels without sacrificing size or battery. Google is calling it a “Molecular Display”.

The Pixel Slate is designed for productivity and life on the go

The package also includes front-firing stereo speakers and two 8MP cameras, one on the back and one on the front. Speaking of the rear, the Pixel Slate is a solid piece of metal with the G logo in the corner. Two USB-C ports live on the left and right side, but there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack.

Furthermore, Google has included the Google Camera app on the Pixel Slate, so the product can be used for photography too. Users will be able to take advantage of the sought-after bokeh effect, and the front-facing camera has been optimized for video chatting with a wide-angle lens and larger pixels.

While the tablet will be sold on its own, Google will also offer some additional accessories including the Pixel Slate Keyboard we mentioned above (no pairing needed). The accessory features rounded, backlit keys and will be available $199. The tablet is also compatible with a smart pen which will also cost you an additional $99.

Join the waitlist to be notified when the Pixel Slate will go on sale