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Here are the five best Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus cases you can buy right now

Matt Adams
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The recently announced Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are truly beautiful devices. But, if experience has taught us anything, phones with glass backs need to be protected! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best cases you can order RIGHT NOW to have on your doorstep by the time your new phone gets there.

Maxboost Perfect Fit series

The Maxboost Perfect Fit series offers super slim cases for your phone. It won’t do a ton if you drop your phone from distance, but focuses more on scratch and bump protection. Sometimes its the smallest drops that can do the most damage, so protect your phone before its too late!

VRS Design Transparent Crystal Thin Cover

If you want a little more protection, check out the Transparent Crystal Thin Cover from VRS Design. We’ve covered VRS Design’s cases in the past and can vouch for their quality. This case offers a nice bit of bulk on the sides of the device without making it feel huge and a lip to protect that gorgeous screen. At under $15, you can’t beat the price.

Caseology Skyfall Series

Caseology is one of the biggest names in device accessories for a reason: they’re awesome. The cases it produces are always high quality and provide a ton of protection. The story is no different here with the Skyfall series. The transparent back and tinted sides look absolutely great while offering some protection against falls and bumps. Caseology’s smart design makes this case a no-brainer.

Spigen Liquid Air

Spigen is my personal favorite case maker and the Liquid Air lineup is my favorite case from the company. In in my option, the case provides the perfect amount of protection without adding too much bulk to a device. I also love the design on the back of the device. While I’d rather not cover up my phone in the first place, at least with a case like this it can still look good while being protected.

i-Blason Rugged Clear series

If you want series coverage without dropping some serious coin, the i-Blason Rugged Clear series might be for you. It covers the entire phone in a two-piece design. The case is enhanced at the corners so dropping the device doesn’t automatically end up in an insurance claim. The case also has a screen protector built in so you can save on purchasing a screen protector too!

Android P developer preview could arrive this month

Dan Bartram
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When Android O was announced last year, Google began what seemed an extremely early rollout of the developer preview. It seems Google was simply changing tactics to give developers even earlier access to the new hardware as recent reports suggest Android P developer preview could be only a few weeks away.

Notorious leaker @evleaks took to Twitter to reveal some juicy gossip to suggest that Google is set to repeat history and we should expect to see the Android P developer preview as early as this month.

Some are speculating that the next version of Android could be lined up for release on March 14th, also known as Pi Day, which could signal the name given to the next version of Android. It does seem too good of an opportunity to miss if the next version is to be called Android Pie.

Either way, according to the tweet, it seems we only have a few weeks to wait until we see Android P developer preview hit devices for developers to adapt their apps.

House of Marley Uplift 2 review: Striking and well-designed, but falls short in performance

Donovan Jeska
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The House of Marley is an audio company that operates under the principles of superior quality, sustainability and a commitment to charitable causes. It uses mindfully sourced wooden accents, recycled plastic and aluminum to make all of its products; House of Marley will plant a tree for every product purchased. With that in mind, we took its Uplift 2 Wireless Headset out for a spin.

The Box

Normally I don’t talk about packaging too terribly much. I prefer to let the product speak for itself rather than focusing on the box it comes in, generally. But the Uplift 2’s packaging has a couple quirks that I think are worth mentioning. First, it’s completely recyclable; once you take it out of its package, you can just dump it into the recycle bin. Second, printed on the right side of the box is a message: “the purchase of this product will help plant one tree.”

While that’s a nice movement and sentiment, I feel it could have been taken a step further. Why not make the box itself plantable? Make the box out of cornstarch or something similar. Embed a small seed packet. Rather than letting us take the word of a manufacturer that they’ll plant a tree, let us plant one ourselves.

The Devil in the Details

Undoubtedly – and perhaps intentionally – the Uplift 2’s strength is in its aestheticism. With an all-aluminum gold chassis (with real wooden accents!) and a soft, braided cabling, Marley’s headset really cuts a striking figure.

And really, it’s the small details that make it pop. A magnetic clasp emblazoned with the Marley logo secures the cabling around your neck, so there’s no risk of it falling off. Each earbud is capped by a wooden accent plate engraved with that same logo.

The connector at each end of the cable is wrapped in soft rubber, reinforcing the connection. And while the “puck” that connects the two buds is plastic (albeit with an aluminum border), it doesn’t feel cheap. The MicroUSB port has a rubber cover, concealing it from view, and the three-button control panel hanging from the left bud is sleek and understated.

Of Wireless Standards and USB Ports

Most American-sold smartphones these days, especially flagship phones, use a USB-C port for charging. Almost none of them still use microUSB. As such, making accessories that still use the old standard comes across as cheap and out of touch. In the same vein, a Bluetooth accessory that ships with Bluetooth 4.1, three versions behind the new Bluetooth 5, comes across as very much outdated.

While the visual and tactile design of the Uplift 2 is fantastic, the design language is not. It looks great and feels great, but falls short under the hood.

Performance

Powering on the Uplift 2 is an easy affair, once you know how to do it. It took me an embarrassing amount of time for me to figure out that I needed to press the center button on the control panel to turn the thing on.

You’re welcomed by a cheerful little jingle, unlike many cold, robotic beeps you get from similar products. Oddly though, when you receive a call you get that exact robotic beeping. The headset immediately jumps into pairing mode, characterized by red and blue LEDs on the “puck.” Discovery and pairing was seamless and effortless, and reconnected with ease on subsequent uses.

The clarity of sound and levels of the Uplift 2 are quite impressive. Sound is immersive and complex, without the muddied feeling you get from many headsets. While the bass is disappointing, as it often is with Bluetooth headsets, the depth and richness of sound is a delight. Sound quality in a call is perfectly adequate, and the mic built-in to the control panel is acceptable, though not wonderful.

With a ten hour battery life, the Uplift 2 will almost always provide you with a full day’s use. It takes two hours to recharge from 0%, so if you’re a heavy user you’re probably best off charging it between uses. It’s not a small battery, per se, but it’s small enough to be aware of it.

Value

At $79.99, House of Marley’s Uplift 2 is not quite a budget headset. With its aluminum chassis, wooden accents and braided cables, it has a premium build. And, with its antiquated connection standards and disappointing bass, it struggles to be a truly high-end Bluetooth headset. As such, it’s hard to justify that price based on performance. If you highly value aesthetics and a good-looking device, though, it might be for you.

The Uplift 2 is available from a number of retailers, including directly from House of Marley and Amazon.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Android Oreo MIUI Beta now available

Dan Bartram
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It seems Xiaomi is ready to roll out Android Oreo six months after it was unveiled by Google. An official beta was started for the Xiaomi Mi 6 back in December and the first stable Android Oreo-based MIUI 9 ROM for the Mi 6 was released this week. Now it seems is the turn of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 with a global beta ROM being made available for the device.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 was the first device released by Xiaomi to get global LTE bands in October 2016. It had relatively high-end specifications for the period as well sporting a Snapdragon 821 SoC, 4GB or 6GB of RAM, a 5.7-inch AMOLED display, and a 22.5-Megapixel rear camera, all powered by a 4070mAh battery.

Much like Samsung has the TouchWiz layer it places on top of the base Android O/S, Xiaomi has what is called MIUI. The Mi Note 2 launched with MIUI 8, which was based on Android Marshmallow. The update sees MIUI 9 brought to the device that is built on top of Android Oreo.

The Global Beta ROM can be flashed via Fastboot with an unlocked bootloader, as the update has been suspended, but the download files still work. It can also be flashed via TWRP, for which you’ll need an unlocked bootloader. The ROM has a version number of MIUI 9 Global Beta 8.2.1, based on Android Oreo, and must be reemphasised that it is a beta release.

Head over to XDA to get the download files if you’re interested in grabbing the latest beta release for your Xiamoi Mi Note 2.

Udacity: Tools to help you be the change you wish to see in Android

AndroidGuys
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Are you an armchair technology critic, leaving passive criticism in the comments section of new apps and devices? It’s easy to imagine as the consumer that every product should be flawless. And to be upset when that perfect image is not met. It’s much harder to educate ourselves and invest in solutions, instead of echoing negativity. As they say, nothing worth doing is easy. Luckily, Udacity is making it easier to contribute to the solution by becoming an Android developer.

The problem with technology

The greatest threat to humanity is technology.

Unfortunately, in an era of instant gratification, consumer reviews of any app or device can get ugly, and downright nasty. Take the latest version of the Firefox mobile app, for example. Firefox is an open source browser that is maintained by volunteers for the nonprofit organization Mozilla. Here is a recent Google Play review for the release:

Forgotten are the human developers behind the new release, who spent months of their life and expertise developing an app that was meant to be entertaining or helpful to the public. Nobody sets out to create a horrible product on purpose. Nobody intentionally set out to ruin our day. We do that to ourselves.

Still, it can happen to the best of us. We underestimate the work involved in developing the technology we take for granted every day. Frustration overwhelms us, and eclipses our better judgement. Unpredictable reactions stem from a deep seeded fear of the unknown. Not knowing how to fix something we rely on so heavily can be scary, whether we admit it to ourselves or not. Thankfully, there are solutions that exist beyond the anonymous confines of the comments section.

How you can be a part of the solution

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” – Henry Ford

If you constantly look at apps and say to yourself, “I could do better than that,” maybe it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. One way to do that is with an education. There many affordable online educational outlets. Like Udacity, for example.Udacity android developer info

With the Udacity Android Developer Nanodegree program, you’ll learn everything you need to know to become and Android developer. Learn best practices for mobile development, build a portfolio of apps, publish your own app to Google Play. Then you can begin to view life from the other side of the comments section.

Udacity course programs

How you can benefit from teamwork

Technology can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Of course, there are other educational bundles that are cheap or free for the lone-wolf Android developers out there. However, Udacity offers the unique benefit of peer review. Udacity provides a community of students learning the same thing at the same time. Students use message boards and workspaces like Slack to mentor each other, form think tanks, and improve the quality of their output, together.

Teamwork is a major component in any career field. Especially today, as more jobs are done remotely. Learning to work as part of a development team is critical to landing your dream job. Each Nanodegree program also comes with job placement assistance once you’ve completed the course. Udacity works with a group of hiring partners to provide a unique opportunity to be fast-tracked in the hiring process.

You can’t afford not to keep up

The world is changing fast, and you must understanding it to thrive in it.

If cost is a concern, Udacity has rolling scholarship offers available by program type and global geographical location. The optional monthly tuition structure can also cut the cost of tuition for quick learners, or those who have extra time to devote to their studies. There are also a number of beginner courses available for free.

Udacity prices

Most nanodegree programs estimate completion within 2-6 months based on an estimated 10 hours of study per week. The self-paced schedule is ideal for those with full-time jobs or kids, and a financial advantage to anyone who can commit extra time to complete the courses early.

Get started

Every Android developer knew as much (or as little) as you at one point.

If you’re not quite ready to become an Android developer, Udacity also offers a nanodegree in Android Basics, in which you’ll learn basic programming skills. And, for those aspiring lone-wolf Android developers, you’ll leave with enough skills to unlock the full potential of the Android devices you already own. Tools that will allow you utilize some of Android’s open source projects, and knowledge to implement fixes to the issues you find with confidence, rather than empty complaints.

While some Nanodegree programs do have pre-requisite Udacity courses, the Android Basics beginner course requires no previous experience or skills. To find other courses with no prerequisites, visit the course catalogue and search by “beginner”. You may also filter by estimated course length and type.

Udacity course catalogue

What are you waiting for?

The world isn’t going to change itself.

If you’re content to leave the doing to someone else while seated comfortably in the peanut gallery, then thank you for taking the time to read this article. You may now return to your regularly scheduled critiquing. Don’t mind the world as it keeps on spinning. When you decide you’re ready to leave the security of that armchair, consider one of Udacity’s many relevant programs. Learn how to be the change you wish to see in your Android.

Have you taken any courses with Udacity, or any other online courses for Android developers? What did you like about them, and what improvements would you like to see? Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Be honest, and please be kind (they’re not mutually exclusive!)

Video and voice calling could be coming to the Instagram app

Dan Bartram
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Instagram is one of the most popular apps on the Google Play Store, which many use to share photos across the social network to their followers. The purpose of Instagram could about to expand into voice and video calling according to some hidden code.

Inside the APK for the app, there are some files that have been discovered called “call” and “video_call” suggesting that soon you’ll be able to make voice and video calls directly within the app, similar to WhatsApp.

Instagram declined to comment on the existence of the file references suggesting that these probably shouldn’t have been uncovered.

Introducing voice and video calling would certainly expand the purpose of the app as a service and ensure people spend more time on the app. After all, Snapchat has had video calling for some time, and Facebook’s Messenger app boasts around 400 million users of its audio and video calling.

The references to these files were built into the APK so it could be the company is looking to launch these imminently.

Drop us a comment below – would you use Instagram for voice and video calling, or do you have enough of those already?

BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition now available in the US unlocked

Alexandra Arici
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Previously available exlusively on the Indian market, the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition is now on sale in the US.

As the name indicates, the Black Edition doesn’t have the subtle silver accents of the “standard” KEYone, so it’s all black. The phone looks exactly the same as the BlackBerry KEYone in Space Black which landed at AT&T on September 1.

So what’s the difference between the Space Black model and the Black Edition, you might be wondering at this point? Well, the latter comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, as opposed to only the 3GB of RAM and 32GB built-in storage of the former.

Fans of all-black smartphones, rejoice!

And now you pick up the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition in the US. Best Buy is selling it for $549.99 (after a $50 price drop), while at Amazon is available for $549.99 and up.

Apart from the superior RAM and memory configuration, the Black Edition’s specs are the same as the standard model’s. So you’ll get a 4.5-inch display with 1080 x 1620 resolution and a QWERTY keyboard living under the display.

The phone is powered by a middle-range Snapdragon 625 and includes a non-removable 3,505 mAh battery under the hood.

As for photography, the device takes advantage of a 12-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0, phase detection autofocus and dual-LED dual-tone flash. On the front sits an 8-megapixel selfie snapper with f/2.2.

The phone ships with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, and according to the company will get the Android 8.0 Oreo update at some point. The question is when?

Anyway, the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition sold on Amazon and Best Buy is unlocked and compatible with GSM carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile.

BlackBerry also sells the Motion in the States. The phone is available for $449 and comes without the iconic BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard.  It’s offered with a Snapdragon 625 under the hood and 4GB of RAM + 32GB of internal storage.

Buy the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition from Amazon

Buy the the BlackBerry KEYone Black Edition from BestBuy

Fitbit introduces the Ionic Adidas Edition smartwatch, priced at $330

Alexandra Arici
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Present at MWC this year, Fitbit announced today a new version of its Ionic smartwatch which was created in partnership with Adidas.

The new Fitbit Ionic Adidas Edition comes pre-installed with the Adidas Train app that offers a unique coaching experience via six on-screen workouts.

The Adidas app includes step-by-step instructions in order to ensure users are performing the exercises correctly.

The six workouts include:

  • Dynamic Warm Up – gets owners ready for the workout session by raising their overall core temperature (5 minutes)
  • Power Pace – a training that helps users become more elastic and efficient (10 minutes)
  • Metabolic – a workout designed to speed and boost the metabolism, perfect for those who are trying to lose weight (15 minutes)
  • Run Activation – improves hip, core and shoulder stability (5 minutes)
  • Strong Strides – builds running endurance (10 min)
  • Post Run Stretch – helps users end your daily workout with a cool-down stretch (5 min)

We should also note that the standard Fitbit Ionic already comes with three workout routines.

In addition to the Adidas-curated workout modes, the new Ionic smartwatch takes advantage of a two-toned breathable swim-ready sports band. The band offers a combination of Ink Blue and Ice Gray, while the watch case is Silver. The good news is that older accessories are also compatible with the new Adidas Edition smartwatch.

What’s more, Fitbit bundled the watch with an exclusive clock face in four colors, but the company hasn’t offered the exact details.

Other than that, the Adidas Edition does not differ from the standard edition. The watch still comes boasting a tri-wavelength heart sensor, GPS, NFC and four+ days of battery life. On top of that, the product is water resistant up to 50 meters and includes a full-color display.

The Fitbit Ionic Adidas Edition will go up for pre-order on March 19 via Fitbit’s official layer for $329.95. Customers will also be able to purchase the wearable through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s and Nordstrom.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 cash grab

Matt Adams
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Samsung recently took the wraps off the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The long-rumored devices are far from revolutionary upgrades but represent a smart iterative update to a great smartphone lineup. The new mechanical aperture camera system sounds extremely interesting and Samsung somehow found a way to stick massive screens in an even smaller body. Last year’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus were two of the best phones of the year, so a small update is probably pretty smart.

One of the biggest points of contention before the devices were launched was the asking price. There were some reports that the larger of the devices could fetch up to $1,000. While annoying, it wasn’t too far out of the realm of possibility as the Galaxy Note 8 had asked for the same price late last year.

But, a funny thing happened when Samsung gave us all the details. They were priced… sanely? The Galaxy S8 comes in at $720, where the Plus is another $120 higher at $840. This is still a ton of money, but in terms of cell phone prices, it’s far, far away from the rumored $1,000 asking price.

I was pretty happy. That is until I saw what carrier pricing was.

As I wrote up our article on pricing and availability for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, it became quickly apparent to me that almost no-one was going to pay these prices. Here’s how the pricing at US carriers breakdown:

  • T-Mobile: Galaxy S9- $720, Galaxy S9 Plus- $840
  • AT&T: Galaxy S9- $790, Galaxy S9 Plus- $915
  • Sprint: Galaxy S9- $792, Galaxy S9 Plus- $912
  • Verizon: Galaxy S9- $800, Galaxy S9 Plus- $930

We can take a couple of things away from these prices. First off, thank you T-Mobile for not price gouging your customers on these beautiful new devices. Whatever you think of T-Mobile, it’s generally pretty good about keeping prices pretty close to MSRP for devices.

Secondly, it looks like the other three carriers had generally the same idea about what they wanted to charge for Samsung’s new device. It’s not good enough that these carriers make boatloads of money off your monthly subscriber and overage fees, they also apparently need to overcharge you for a new device too. Maybe they were hoping that while they charge you a smaller monthly fee while you finance the device (which is a de-facto contract), you won’t mind paying almost $100 more for your device. That’s crap.

For the last couple of years, Samsung has sold its best devices unlocked. Normally, you’d have to wait several months after the carrier stores to pick one up and pay full price, but that’s not the case this year. Not only will a device directly from Samsung be cheaper, but it’ll come carrier unlocked out of the box and without the bloatware apps and restrictions carriers place on the phones they sell. And oh yeah, you can finance your device through Samsung too.

Samsung is also offering a trade-in program too that can net you a pretty penny. Select devices will get you up to $350 off your brand new Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus that will bring the prices down to $369.99 and $489.99 respectively. You can find all the available devices and their trade in values here.

Read more: What’s different: Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Samsung Galaxy S8

Pre-ordering for the new flagships starts tomorrow, March 2. If you can’t go through Samsung and you don’t want to donate your money to the carriers, Best Buy will offer $100 off on both models for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon variants. (Seriously, can we please get T-Mobile devices in Best Buy stores at some point?!). That deal is for customers who want to pay the price up front or finance, so no restrictions there.

It’s ridiculous that carriers are jacking up the price on the best phone on the market. They don’t need the extra money and they’re already trapping you in a de-facto 24-month contract. Don’t think that’s true? Just pay off all four devices at once when you want to switch carriers.

Samsung should be applauded for keeping prices low, but the carriers deserve all the crap being dished out to them on social media right now. If you can, I’d suggest picking up your new device directly from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S9 links: Samsung | AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | Sprint | Best Buy | Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus links: Samsung | AT&T | Verizon | T-Mobile | Sprint | Best Buy | Amazon

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The Janam XT100 is a rugged smartphone with barcode scanner

Alexandra Arici
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Janam, an American company known for its rugged mobile computers that can scan barcodes, today announced its latest rugged smartphone, the XT100.

Marketed as an industrial rugged mobile computer, the XT100 is actually a rough Android 6.0.01 Marshmallow-running smartphone designed for users working in demanding environments. It ships with apps such Google Play Store, Maps and Chrome on board.

Janam boasts that the phone withstands repeated drops on concrete from up to 4ft / 1.2 meters. The product is also IP65 rated against water, dust and extreme temperatures, so it can continue to function even in the most harsh conditions.

Specs are not that impressive, which is customary when it comes to these type of smartphones. The phone features a portable 4.3-inch display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and wide-viewing angle.

The Janam XT100 also has a removable 3,000 mAh battery

The product includes a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, backed up by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

Janam has integrated Honeywell N6603 2D barcode scanning technology inside the XT100, as well as NFC and RFID reading capabilities. The mobile computer also offers the services of a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Other specifications include 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and a removable and rechargeable 3,000 mAh battery. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack on board and a speaker.

For the time being, pricing specifications for the device are unknown, but Janam says the XT100 has a price advantage over its competitors. We’ll just have to see about that.

Speaking about the competition, Cat Phones recently unveiled the Cat S61, a rugged smartphone coming with a thermal imaging camera.

The phone is expected to go on sale for a whopping $999. Even so, the Cat S61 is way better specced and even runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

Going back to the Janam XT100, the rugged smartphone will go on sale in the States and globally. It will come with a 2-year warranty.

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