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Verizon Visible, A new unlimited service plan

AndroidGuys
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Verizon is regarded as the most expensive (or the second-most) carrier of the US’ big four carriers. It also usually has excellent service and coverage to pair with the high bill price. For the past few weeks though, Verizon has had a pseudo-secret service, Visible, available that only cost $40 and grants you unlimited everything. Of course, there are caveats.

So for $40 on Visible, you get unlimited calls, text, and data using Verizon’s LTE network. Now even though you’re on Verizon’s network, you won’t be utilizing it to it’s fullest. There’s no cap on data usage, but there’s a cap on speed.

Visible caps data speeds at 5mbps. What this affects mainly is video streaming, seeing that most audio streaming and website won’t require any higher of speeds. While on data, you can expect videos to stream at 480p, typically. If you’re one to stay on Wi-Fi mostly, data speed is mostly negligible.

The other MAJOR downside is that Visible is currently an invite-only service for iPhone only. The iPhone reach is broad though, with support for iPhone 6 through X. So if you have an iPhone form the past 4 years, you’ll still need an invite code. Thanks to CNET, we have one here: CFF48. Supposedly Android support is coming soon, but we have no hard date for that yet.

From there, the service is all handled within an app. You download the Visible app, enter the code, and complete sign-up. Then you’re mailed a SIM card, overnight, and can begin service shortly. This prepaid service also takes payment from not only credit cards but also PayPal and Venmo.

 

While Visible seems like an excellent way for Verizon to cover the next wave of consumers (especially Generation Z), there are many alternatives out there. If you want to stick with the big four carriers, they each have subsidiaries and official prepaid plans. AT&T has cricket, T-Mobile has MetroPCS, and Sprint has Boost.

I’m sure most of our readers won’t be getting Visible just yet, considering the iPhone buy-in, but what about the service itself. Do you like the idea of the more straightforward prepaid plan? Are you looking to try out Visible when it comes over to Android? Let us know in the comments.

Visible Sign-Up Link

 

Hot Take: OnePlus 6 (Episode 5)

Matt Adams
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Welcome to Hot Take, our podcast that focuses on one big news item. Today, we’re talking about the recently launched OnePlus 6.

It’s our goal to keep these podcasts short but there’s a reason we call it the 15-minute podcast that’s never 15 minutes. We hope you enjoy the show!

Heads up!

We’re currently beta testing this podcast and doing it in the real world. We’ll iterate and improve and be on track with the formal numbering convention in no time!

Subscribe to the AndroidGuys Audio Experience!

You can download or subscribe to the podcasts wherever you normally find your favorite shows. For your convenience, you can also click the links below.

Google Play Music | Simplecast | iTunes | Spotify* | Stitcher | Pocket Cast

For questions, concerns, or general feedback about the podcast feel free to contact us at podcast [at] androidguys.com.

*Coming Soon

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WhatsApp introduces new features for Groups

AndroidGuys
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For one of the most significant communication apps for mobile, WhatsApp has always had a keen eye on its groups’ features. Families can come together to stay in touch. People with similar interest can talk to one another, without personally knowing each other. City official can even share news throughout groups. Now, WhatsApp is enhancing their groups even further with the announcement of new features.

Now every group can have a description to inform what that particular group is about. The description allows the admin to set the purpose, guides, or topics for that particular group. Admins can also prohibit who can change the group description along with subject and icon.

Speaking of admins, they now have other new features. They can remove admin and other permissions from group participants. The group creators can also no longer be removed from a group they’ve started.

A few more new features include the ability to find any participant in a group thanks to new search features. If you’ve been away from a group, you can catch up on any mentions or replies with the ‘@‘ symbol at the bottom right of the chat. Lastly, there’s a new protection feature that prohibits people from repeatedly joining groups they’ve left.

These features have already started rolling out to both iOS and Android apps. Do you use groups on WhatsApp? What about WhatsApp in general? Let us know how you like these new features.

WhatsApp Play Store Link

OnePlus 6 vs OnePlus 5T: What changed?

Alexandra Arici
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Critics greeted the iPhone X’s notch with overwhelming criticism, and yet, a growing number of rival smartphone makers are replicating it. Already, the likes of ASUS, Nokia, Huawei and Honor have launched phones with iPhone X-style notch display. And the latest company to do the same is OnePlus which during an event today in London unveiled its latest flagship, the OnePlus 6.

Coming seven months after the OnePlus 5T, the OnePlus 6 offers small but important improvements in key areas. So what changed and does it justify the price bump of this year’s model? Continue reading to form an idea.

On the outside

The OnePlus 6 features one of the largest displays ever seen on a OnePlus handset. It’s 6.28-inch in size with a 19:9 aspect ratio and of course, has the notch living on top. However, the screen cutout here is much less wide than on Apple’s iPhone X, thus leaving more room for information on either side of the camera and earpiece unit.

What’s more, if you really hate the notch, you’ll be able to hide it by coloring the bars to its left and right in black. Just like you can on the LG G7 ThinQ and Huawei P20. The option will be made available via a future update.

Notch aside, the OnePlus 6 looks extremely similar to the 5T. We have the same rounded edges and subtle curvatures, which are further highlighted on the Mirror Black edition. As a bonus, this version has a very convincing ceramic look. This was achieved by employing five-layer coating technique on the Gorilla Glass 5 back panel and applying extra polishing of the metallic frame.

The drawback here is that it’s going to be a fingerprint print magnet. So if you can’t stand those, you might want to consider the Midnight Black or Silk White versions. They come with a matte finish. And boy, you’re going to love those. Because OnePlus has added some visual tricks to spice things up.

The Midnight Black model rocks an S-shaped line along the back if viewed from a certain angle. The Silk White version is even more exciting, as it has pearl powder sprinkled on the back which gives it a gorgeous shimmering effect.

OnePlus hasn’t upgraded the screen resolution to QHD+ as some were hoping, keeping it at a more standard 2,280 x 1080, but it’s still plenty to go around.

Just like its predecessor, the OnePlus 6 uses an AMOLED panel which offers bright and punchy colors. Although the 5T features a smaller 6.01-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio.

A major difference between the two phones is that the OnePlus 6 has adopted the glass-on-metal design that we often see in today’s flagships. Gorilla Glass 5 covers front and back, while a metal frame surrounds the handsets. In contrast, the OnePlus 5T has a metal body.

Buttons on the sides of the OnePlus 6 have been re-arranged too. The OnePlus 5T had the power button living on the right side, while the alert slider and volume rocker were placed on the left.  On the OnePlus 6 the alert slider has been moved on the left, above the power button.

The back of the OnePlus 6 is also quite different from its predecessor. The dual-camera arrangement has been moved centrally with the sensors sitting vertically, one below the other. Previously the two cameras resided in the top left corner and were positioned horizontally.

Furthermore, the fingerprint sensor is now candy bar-shaped instead of circular and resides under the cameras. The arrangement is quite similar to what we see on the Galaxy S9 Plus.

Performance

The OnePlus 6 is powered by the latest Snapdragon 845 and comes with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. This year there’s a new 256GB storage variant. Just like with the OnePlus 5T, there’s no microSD card slot.

No upgrades were made in the battery department. You still get the same 3,300 mAh battery and the company’s well-known Dash fast-charging technology on board. And no, there’s no wireless charging under the glass back. In case you were wondering.

For the first time on a OnePlus phone, we have water resistance, although the company did not share the exact IP rating during the presentation.

Cameras

On top of moving the sensors’ position, the new camera configuration is now comprised of 16-megapixel and 20-megapixel cameras with f/1.7.

This might sound very similar to the OnePlus 5T, but the less obvious upgrade is the 16-megapixel f/1.7 main camera which now includes slightly larger pixels for better low-light photography. This is a very welcome addition since the OnePlus 5T struggled to produce high-quality photos in dark scenarios. On top of that, the OnePlus 6 also gets optical image stabilization which should help taking shoot more stable photos and smoother videos.

OnePlus also throws in a new slow-motion video mode that offer 720p at 480fps and 1080p at 240fps video capture. Last but not least, users can shoot in 4K at 60fps.

The front-facing camera is 16-megapixel, the same as on the 5T. However, the OnePlus 6 will offer a selfie portrait mode. It will become available via a software update after launch.

Software

The OnePlus 6 will ship with OxygenOS based on Android 8.1. But given that the new flagship is also part of the Android P Beta program, you won’t have to wait long to get it once Google officially starts rolling it out.

Obviously, there are some improvements over the OnePlus 5T in the software department. For starters, users can replace the on-screen navigation buttons with gestures, thus freeing up extra screen space.

OnePlus has also added a few useful features for gamers including a new Gaming Mode which prioritizes modem bandwidth for multiplayer games over background apps. A Gaming Battery Save option will also be available to lighten the resource load for games that use the Unity game engine.

Should you get OnePlus newest flagship?

The OnePlus 6 is going to be the most expensive OnePlus phone yet, hitting retail shelves for $529 and up. Comparatively, the OnePlus 5T started at $499.

Despite now being the previous-gen flagship, the OnePlus 5T remains a stellar device, although it’s no longer widely available. So if you’re looking to buy a new phone, the OnePlus 6 seems like a great choice right now.

However, if you’re coming from a OnePlus 5T, there’s little to justify the purchase of a new OnePlus 6. Unless you are a huge fan of the notch, then, by all means, mark the May 22 date in your calendar. That’s when the OnePlus 6 will go on sale in North America.

BlitzWolf Wireless Charger; Modern aesthetic, standard specs (Promoted)

Donovan Jeska
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Let’s be honest here. Wireless chargers are a dime a dozen. They really fall into two categories – Crap, and Does Its Job. So when I first unpacked the BlitzWolf wireless charger, you can understand my initial ho-hummery – but as I took a closer look at it, I came realize that this wasn’t your run-of-the mill Qi charger.

Build

At first glance, the BlitzWolf Wireless Charger seems like pretty standard affair. But picking it up reveals a more carefully designed product.

An aluminum chassis immediately sets it apart from other wireless chargers, which tend to be plastic. The glass ceramic face feels especially nice, though the silvery BlitzWolf branding is a little jarring compared to the elegance of the rest of the device. The bottom of the charger is home to four rubber casters, which combined with the weight of the charger make for a very stable platform.

The Blue LED on the front of the device is a nice departure from the standard – and bright – lime green LED we normally see. This makes it a solid choice for a nightstand, so you can see at-a-glance that your phone is charging without blinding yourself. As you’d expect, there’s not much else to the gizmo. Like most wireless chargers, it has a singular purpose and no bells and/or whistles.

Performance

In practice, the BlitzWolf Wireless Charger isn’t quite as wonderful as its design might indicate. It performs about as well as can be expected from any wireless charger, but doesn’t bring anything to the table you haven’t seen before.

At 5V, 1A, the BlitzWolf Wireless Charger outputs the same as any Qi-standard charger. Which is, to say, about as fast as standard MicroUSB charging, without any kind of Quick Charge. As such, it makes sense that the device makes use of a MicroUSB port on the back, and only supports up to 5V, 1.5A input.

Like I said – it’s a fairly standard affair. One thing I was impressed with, though, is its ability to charge even through the thick TPU/PolyCarbonate material of a Spigen case on my V30. Many wireless chargers I’ve used in the past haven’t been able to charge through a thick case, but this one did the trick – albeit with a little careful positioning.

Value

At $16.99, the BlitzWolf Wireless Charger is about on par with other devices of its kind. And that’s a good thing, given how well-made and effective the device is. It feels a lot more expensive than it is, and it performs as well as any wireless charger on the market, at the moment. While I’d love to see a higher output or a Type-C USB input, BlitzWolf put out a perfectly adequate wireless charger with a modern, gorgeous aesthetic.

Buy BlitzWolf’s Wireless Charger from Amazon

OnePlus 6 Specs & Pricing

Andrew Myrick
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The OnePlus 6 has finally been announced and the company has revealed the full spec sheet.

READ MORE: OnePlus 6 Announced

The handset sports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The display measures in at 6.28-inches and features an aspect ratio of 19:9, including the notch at the top.

OnePlus 6 Specs
OnePlus 6 Specs

Here is the full list of specs:

  • Display: 6.28-inches, 19:9 Full Optic Screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
  • RAM: 6GB/8GB
  • Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
  • Front Camera: 16MP
  • Rear Cameras: 20MP + 16MP, Sony IMX 519/376K, OIS + EIS
  • Battery: 3,300mAh w/ Fast Charge (5V 4A)
  • Software: OxygenOS 5.1 (based on Android 8.1 Oreo)
  • Extras: 0.4s Face Unlock, 0.2s Fingerprint, Daily Water Resistance
  • Connectivity: 40 Global Bands, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, 4 x 4 MIMO Cat. 16/13 4CA

Pricing & Colors

The OnePlus 6 will go on sale starting May 22nd and will come in three color variants:

  • Mirror Black
  • Midnight Black
  • Silk White (limited edition)

Pricing for the 6GB/64GB model begins at $529 and the 8GB/128GB model is priced at $579. If you want even more storage, there is an 8GB/256GB model which is priced at just $629.

If you want to pick up the OnePlus 6 for yourself, you can do so through the OnePlus website.

The OnePlus 6 has finally, and officially, landed

Andrew Myrick
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After months of leaks and rumors, the OnePlus 6 has finally been announced. OnePlus decided to hold an event in London, England to show off its latest and greatest and it doesn’t disappoint.

OnePlus 6

Thanks to the myriad of teasers from OnePlus, we already knew of many of the features that were coming. The OnePlus 6 sports a 6.28-inch display, with a unique 19:9 aspect ratio, including a notch at the top.

The notch houses a 16MP camera, which is capable of using face unlock and more. This camera sports an aperture of f/2.0, along with automatic HDR and 1080p video recording.

On the rear, OnePlus included a primary 16MP sensor and a secondary 20MP lens. Both lenses sport an aperture of f/1.7 along with phase detection autofocus.

Power

As expected, the Snapdragon 845 SoC is at the heart of the OnePlus 6. This has been coupled with the Adreno 630 GPU to help improve gaming and performance.

There aren’t many surprises when it comes to the RAM and storage combinations. The base model will sport 64GB of storage, along with 6GB of RAM. However, if you want to jump up to 8GB of RAM, you will also get 256GB of storage. There is also a 6GB/128GB combination.

OnePlus 6 Specs
OnePlus 6 Specs

On the battery front, the OnePlus 6 features a 3,300mAh battery. Of course, Dash Charge is back here, aiming to keep you charged up no matter what situation you are in.

A rather surprising move here is the “Daily Water Resistance”. This is the first time that a OnePlus device has ever featured any type of water resistance, although it’s unclear whether it’s an IP67 rating or just “splashproof”.

Software

When it comes to the software, the OnePlus 6 will launch with Android 8.1 Oreo and OxygenOS 5.1. This provides a near-stock experience with a few customization tweaks that OnePlus devices are known for.

READ MORE: Android P Beta Devices

Additionally, the OnePlus 6 will support gesture control, making it possible for you to get rid of the on-screen navigation buttons. This was introduced in beta for the OnePlus 5 and 5T late last year.

You may remember that OnePlus was included in Google’s new Android P beta program. This means that you will be able to join the program and get the latest version of Android on your brand new OnePlus 6.

Pricing & Colors

The OnePlus 6 will come in three different color variants:

  • Mirror Black
  • Midnight Black
  • Silk White (limited edition)

On the pricing front, the handset will cost $529 for the base model and go up to $629 for the 8GB/256GB model. The Mirror Black and Midnight Black variants will go on sale on May 22nd, with the Silk White coming on June 5th.

OnePlus Bullets Wireless

In addition to revealing a brand new flagship killer, OnePlus also had an extra surprise. The company kicked off the event by unveiling the new OnePlus Wireless Bullets.

You may not have known this, but OnePlus headphones have been available for some time. However, these new headphones are the company’s first attempt at a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Admittedly, when these were first shown off, it seemed that OnePlus took a page from Apple with the Beats X. However, the Bullets Wireless is a bit different thanks to some extra features.

Out of the box, these headphones will be compatible with Qualcomm aptX and Google Assistant. Perhaps the most exciting part is that the battery in these headphones.

OnePlus claims that the Bullets Wireless support Fast Charge capabilities. You will be able to get five hours of playback, after just 10 minutes of charging time.

Pricing for the Bullets Wireless starts at $69, which is rather surprising. This comes in at less than half of the cost of the Google Pixel Buds and is very tempting.

How to watch the OnePlus 6 Launch event

Andrew Myrick
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The OnePlus 6 has been in the works for quite some time, and it is ready to be shown off to the world. OnePlus is holding an event in London, England but it’s unlikely that you will be able to attend yourself.

READ MORE: Here’s everything we know about the OnePlus 6

Thankfully, the company will be live streaming the event, meaning you can follow along as the news breaks. To make life even easier, the live stream will be held on YouTube, so you won’t have to worry about jumping through a bunch of hoops.

If you want to follow along on your computer or smartphone, you can simply use the video embedded above. This page will automatically begin playing the event once it kicks off. Speaking of, the event will get started at 5PM BST, 12PM EST, and 9AM PST today!

What to expect

As for what to expect, a recent leak practically spilled the beans on the design and specs. The handset will sport a 6.28-inch AMOLED display while being powered by the Snapdragon 845 SoC and up to 8GB of RAM.

The device will also sport a notch at the top, resulting in a rather unique 19:9 aspect ratio. However, OnePlus is expected to include the ability to hide the notch if that floats your boat.

There will be a dual-camera system on the rear, with a primary 16MP sensor and a secondary 20MP lens. Additionally, the device will sport a 3,300mAh battery and will run Android 8.1 Oreo.

Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think about the OnePlus 6 and if you’ll be picking one up.

Google’s Pixel Buds gain new gesture controls

Alexandra Arici
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Rocking a pair of Pixel Buds? Then you’ll be glad to know that Google just announced it has added new gestures to your earphones.

The new controls are accessible when you’re using your Pixel Buds in concert with your Pixel phone or any other Android phone that has the Google Assistant on it.

The Pixel Buds get more versatile

Starting this week, Pixel Buds owners can manually turn their earphones on or off by triple tapping on the right earbud. Make sure you remember it’s the right earbud, not the left or the feature won’t work.

Furthermore, Google makes it easier to skip to the next track by double tapping on the right earbud. Until now using this gesture would have allowed you to hear notifications.

The good news is that Google lets you choose what exactly the double tap gesture will do. So if you want to continue using the double tapping action to hear notifications you can. Google allows you to set up your Pixel Buds the way you want it via the settings menu in the Google Assistant app.

On top of the new gestures, Google also announced an easier way to switch your Pixel Buds connection between your phone and computer. Simply select your Pixel Buds from the Bluetooth menu of the desired device. Your earbuds will disconnect from the device you were using and connect to the other one.

The new gestures are currently rolling out and will be available to everyone by early next week.

The updating process is done without you, so you can go on and use your Pixel Buds as you normally do. The new firmware will download in the background, and the next time you place your Buds in their case, the earphones will install the new firmware. Then you’ll receive an alert on your phone that the updated has been installed.

HTC is working on a blockchain phone of its own called Exodus

Alexandra Arici
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Blockchain is all the rage right now, and it appears HTC is targeting this exact niche with its upcoming smartphone product.

According to TheNextWeb, HTC executive, Phil Chen who previously founded HTC’s Vive product line, revealed that the company is working on a blockchain phone codenamed Exodus. It should ship out to consumers by the end of the year.

So what’s a blockchain phone?

According to HTC’s own vision, it’s a phone coming with cryptocurrency support that’s dedicated to decentralized applications and security.

Bearing this in mind, the Exodus should support Bitcoin, Dfinity and Ethereum, among others, thanks to a universal wallet and secure hardware. HTC also revealed plans to create a native blockchain network to enable cryptocurrency trading among Exodus users.

There are some advantages to using blockchain. It’s basically a ledger that records every single transaction chronologically. The ledger is decentralized, which means there’s no corporation or organization that holds all of its info. Instead, the data is stored across all devices.

The technology has been mostly adopted in the cryptocurrency world and has yet to become a mainstream concept. Although adoption by companies such as HTC (and Huawei, it is rumored) could help change that.

While HTC isn’t the only company that is developing a blockchain-dedicated phone, Sirin Labs recently revealed the price for its Finney phone, it’s by far the biggest company of its kind to undertake the effort.

Like Sirin Labs, HTC is also considering allowing buyers to pay with cryptocurrency to get Exodus. However, the price is yet to be decided.

The news about Exodus comes a few weeks ahead of HTC’s latest flagship announcements. On May 23, HTC is expected to pull the wraps off the often leaked U12+ model.

The phone is rumored to come with a 6-inch LCD display with WQHD+ resolution. Like all major premium phones launching today, the U12+ is set to arrive with a Snapdragon 845 processor, backed up by 6GB of RAM and either 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

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