Chinese Android OEM Huawei announced the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro just a few weeks ago, but sources say that the pomp and circumstance for the two new smartphones is not over yet.
Huawei has been flexible in adopting trends in order to stay atop the smartphone world (it’s currently the third-largest global smartphone manufacturer), with the company using Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels long before Apple considered them for the iPhone X and, like Samsung, aiming for the foldable phone next. Now, the OEM is planning to push ahead with its own accessories for its Mate 10 lineup.
According to GizChina, Huawei could announce a “Made for Huawei” accessories program for its Mate 10 lineup to pattern what Google has done with its “Made for Google” accessories program with the Pixel 2 series. On the list of first accessories is a rumored USB Type-C-to-HDMI adapter to connect the Mate 10 or Mate 10 Pro and a desktop.
Of course, while the source does credit Google with a tailor-made accessories program, Android giant Samsung has been making accessories for its Galaxy smartphones for years (cases, battery packs, wireless charging pads, wireless charging stands, headphones, earbuds, etc.) and Huawei’s rumored adapter sounds similar in theory to what Samsung has done with the release of its DeX Station for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.
Huawei could always choose to name the accessories program “Made for Huawei” or “Made for Mate” (“Mate” being the smartphone series) and partner with third-party manufacturers to design cases and accessories specifically for the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro. A tailor-made accessories program could benefit Huawei in the long run, as its smartphones would have accessories available for smartphone buyers.
Little else is known about the “Made for Huawei” accessories program at this point, but with the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro being new kids on the smartphone block, we have no doubt that more information will pop up soon. It always does.
The new photo, courtesy of 24/7 Techie, shows the OnePlus 5T matching the press render while revealing the full body of the device (minus the top and bottom, mind you). From the photo, it appears as though the OnePlus 5T will maintain the dual camera trend it started in the OnePlus 5. The 5T will also feature its trademark alert slider and the volume rocker, but will remove the capacitive buttons and trade in the front-mounted, fingerprint sensor embedded home button for a back-mounted option.
The home button is completely absent here, in no small part due to OnePlus’s decision to go with a taller display (and hence, more space) on the front of the device. We don’t know if the fingerprint sensor will have a home/power button embedded in it, but with the power button on the far right of the device, it looks unlikely.
From the sheer look of the photo, the OnePlus 5T will have some height its direct predecessor did not, but we also presume the height of the device could feature a 6-inch screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio that has become the trend for nearly bezel-less smartphones. Other specs for the upcoming OnePlus 5T include 6GB/8GB RAM configurations, Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC, 64GB/128GB of storage, improved dual rear cameras, and Android Oreo.
Many Chinese companies right now are advertising a number of deals in celebration of 11/11, the only day of the year that has… four ones in it, I suppose. It’s celebrated as Singles Day, and has quietly become one the biggest online shopping days of the year thanks to heavy support from the Chinese youth. Using the magic of online sales, though, anyone in the world can reap the benefits of Singles Day – and UHANS is here to help.
Both the UHANS Max 2 and MX will be on sale for Singles Day – and both of them have some pretty nice features for their respective price points.
5.2″ 720p bezel-less display | MT6580 Quad-Core processor | Android 7.0 | 2/16GB RAM/ROM (expandable) | 8MP rear camera | 5MP front camera | 3000mAh battery | Front-mounted fingerprint sensor
The best part about these phones, though, is the price – just $136.11 for the MAX 2, or $69.99 for the MX. Both of these promotional prices end on November 11th, though – so if you intend to buy one, do it sooner rather than later.
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Back at the Pixel 2 event, the new smartphones weren’t all that were shown off as we got new accessories and more. One of these new products was the Google Home Mini, which is Google’s response to the budget-friendly Amazon Echo Dot.
The best part, at least for those who bought the Pixel 2, was that Google announced it would be giving away a free Google Home Mini to everyone who bought either the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. The weird thing here is that instead of just throwing a code in the box, Google decided that it would send codes to users a few weeks after the devices arrived.
Now, those discount codes are arriving in email inboxes everywhere, making it possible for you to get your free Google Home Mini. It’s important to remember that there’s a chance that the email from Google landed in your Spam folder, so you’ll want to check that if you haven’t received anything yet.
From there, you will be directed to the Google Store where you can redeem the discount code on any of the three color options. You can pay for extra shipping, if you choose, but if you don’t mind waiting a bit, the Google Home Mini will be absolutely free.
So if you’ve already purchased the Google Home Mini, be sure to check your emails and get your freebie for buying Google’s 2017 flagship. Be sure to let us know which color you chose.
The ZTE Axon 7 was released last year and quickly became a big hit with Android fans. With a great list of specifications and more than fair price tag, the Axon 7 was a strong candidate for the title of “best affordable flagship of 2016”.
And obviously, many customers were hoping for a successor to the Axon 7 this year, but until now details on the matter have been scarce. Well, this week the Chinese company finally confirmed on Twitter that it will indeed launch a successor of the “incredibly successful” Axon 7.
Hi, Andrew. There will certainly be a follow on to the incredibly successful Axon 7.
No exact time frame was provided for the release, so fans were left pondering another dilemma: will the next-gen Axon (we’ll call it Axon 8, although the phone might end up being released under a totally different name) launch this year or in 2018?
We tend to believe ZTE won’t launch a second flagship in 2017. The company recently released the experimental Axon M foldable smartphone, so ZTE will probably focus on promoting this device for the time being.
But while we’re waiting for the Axon 8 to make an appearance in the wild, we can play a little guessing game and try to imagine how the Axon 7 successor will be like when it arrives:
New design?
The current Axon 7
Last year’s Axon 7 already features a great design. Like its predecessors, the Axon 7 comes featuring a full metal unibody construction with dual front-facing speakers on the front, housed under a distinctive grill pattern.
And even if it was built before the whole bezel-less frenzy started, the Axon 7 packs ultra-thin side bezels and relatively thin speaker grills above and below it.
Even so, in 2018, ZTE could quite possible adhere to the new smartphone design trend like most Android OEMs are doing these days and give the Axon 8 the “truly” bezel-less + 18:9 aspect ratio makeover. But that would mean the speakers on top would have to be eliminated.
Alleged Axon 8 front
According to a recent listing coming out of TENAA, this scenario seems quite unlikely. Judging by the documents, the Axon 8 (spotted as model number A2018) will look very much like the Axon 7 does. The front at least appears to be virtually unchanged, complete a 5.5-inch OLED panel with WQHD (2560 x 1440 resolution), stereo speakers and three on-screen touch-sensitive navigation buttons. However, the upcoming phone appears to be slightly thinner (151.7 x 75 x 7.7mm) and lighter (170 grams) than its predecessor, but not by a lot. the Axon 7’s measurements are 151.7 x 75 x 7.9 mm / 175 grams.
New processor?
The Axon M released this year includes a Snapdragon 821 processor, while the Axon 7 took advantage of a Snapdragon 820. So obviously, we expect the Axon 8 to make the transition to the next class of high-end Qualcomm processors and include a Snapdragon 835 chipset.
On top of that, ZTE might throw in extra RAM and storage versions next year. The Chinese device maker sold the phone in the US in two configurations – the standard with 4GB of RAM + 64GB storage and a limited edition one with 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage. So in 2018, ZTE could offer the next-gen Axon 7 with a new 8GB of RAM + 256GB storage configuration, as well as make the 6GB of RAM + 128GB storage variant more widely available.
Dual cameras?
Alleged Axon 8 back
Obviously, we expect ZTE’s upcoming flagship to include dual-camera setup, like most premium devices launching today. This speculation is confirmed by the TENAA listing which reveals the Axon 8 could come boasting a dual camera setup comprised of a 20-megapixel sensor + a secondary 12-megapixel one. In contrast, the ZTE Axon 7 relied on a single 20-megapixel sensor.
Improved audio experience?
What made the Axon 7 special among smartphones? It’s obvious focus on audio experience. With its dual front-facing speakers with Hi-Fi audio chipsets and Dolby Atmos surround features, the phone offered one of the best audio experience around. And next year, we hope that ZTE will continue on the same path with the Axon 8.
Water resistance?
Adding water resistance to the Axon 8 could help ZTE attract OnePlus fans to its flagship. As you probably known, the OnePlus 5 does not offer IP65/68 certification, but if the Axon 8 would include such a feat, it would certainly boost its appeal.
Until now, customers in the US looking to purchase a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 had only two color options to choose from: the standard Midnight Black and the Orchid Gray version. But that won’t be the case anymore, as Samsung just announced it’s bringing the sleek Deepsea Blue version stateside.
We don’t know about you, but here at Android Guys we love blue phones, so we’re thrilled Samsung will be selling this version – which was previously available only in select markets – in the US.
Interested parties will be able to purchase the new Galaxy Note 8 variant from Best Buy (on Sprint, AT&T or Verizon) or Samsung itself starting November 16. Samsung will sell an unlocked version of the Deepsea Blue phone, compatible with all carriers in the country. Pricing will remain the same as with the Midnight Black and Orchid Gray models.
In related news, Samsung also unveiled a more exotic color variant for the Galaxy S8 which so far is available exclusively for customers in South Korea. Samsung fans in the country will be able to pick up the flagship in a gorgeous Burgundy Red hue. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that this stunning version will make it into the United States, but we can hope, can’t we?
Black Friday is approaching fast and Best Buy’s catalog of discounts for the shopping holiday is already available for your pleasure.
At brick and mortar Best Buy locations, Black Friday begins on Thanksgiving day – Thursday, November 23 at 5 pm. But if you prefer to shop online you can do so all day that day. On Friday, doors open at 8 am. The deals will be available from November 23 to November 25.
Below you’ll find some of the best deals offered by Best Buy on smartphones, smartwatches and smart speakers, but you can check out the full 50-page catalog which includes discounts on other products such as laptops, audio gear, memory cards or drones by following this link:
Smartphones
Samsung Galaxy S8 – save $300 with Verizon/Sprint activation
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus – save $300 with Verizon/Sprint activation
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – save $300 with Verizon/Sprint activation
Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S8 – starting at $574.99 (save $150)
Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus – $679.99 (save $150)
Facebook-owned Instagram is on a roll, pun intended, with its improvements to Stories, one of the company’s most popular app features. Just a few days ago, Instagram added a Live Friend to its Stories, letting users select one friend who would be live at the same time with which to share their time. Now, though, Instagram is back to expand your Story with photos and videos over 24 hours old.
This new feature will let you share pictures and videos from your camera roll even if they’re over a day old, with a context sticker that lets you add details about when the photo or video was captured. You can resize the context sticker, reshape it, or eliminate it if you don’t want viewers to know the content is older than your most recent shared moments.
You can find the new your Story expansion by heading over to Google Play (Instagram link here) and updating the official Android Instagram app to Android version 18 or to the App Store on iOS to update Instagram to version 22. We’d love to hear what you think of the new changes as well as Instagram’s feature releases this year.
Respected provider of high-end wireless networking products, Ubiquiti Labs just unveiled a new home consumer product. Baptized “AmpliFi Teleport”, it makes your home network and its Internet connection available wherever you go.
The AmpliFi Teleport Kit consists of two parts – the AmpliFi HD Router which plugs into the wall for power and creates an encrypted connection of your home network using any Wi-Fi hotspot or Ethernet connection, and the AmpliFi Teleport which is a portable plug-in hardware adagio, with both an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi, which makes the connection available when you’re far away from home.
The advantage of using the AmpliFi Teleport Kit? For example, whenever you’re traveling – to a foreign country or just visiting your parents in a different state – you’ll be able to access your media services (Netflix, Hulu, etc) without getting the dreaded “sorry, this is not available in your area” message. The product also supplies access to smart home devices connected to your home network, including those that don’t offer remote access.
With the aim of getting their new product into consumers’ hands faster, Ubiquiti Labs has taken to Kickstarter to seek funding for the new device. For a limited time (from November 6 to November 23), customers will be able to grab a AmpliFi Teleport Kit (AmpliFi Router + Teleport) for only $199. Only 200 units are available at this price. The estimated delivery date is set for December 2017.
If you’re like us, then you’re probably anxiously waiting for the season 8 of Game of Thrones. Unfortunately it’s going to be a year or two before the fantasy series will be hitting the TV screen once again. Until then, you can use this time to get up to date with your Game of Thrones knowledge, start reading the books or re-watch the previous seasons to make sure you haven’t missed a detail.
And you can do all these things if you have an Android phone and a few apps installed. Below you’ll find a selection of some of the best apps that can quench your thirst for Game of Thrones until the new season arrives.
A Game of Thrones Guide
The Game of Thrones universe is extremely vast, so you can easily get lost in it. Not sure which character belongs to which house? Confused about where cities like Volantis or Astapor are located?
Find out the answers to your questions and more by downloading the A Game of Thrones Guide app on your device. The application is basically a library of GoT knowledge. Discover more about characters, houses, towns, regions or castles and browse maps too. Note that some of the content has been created by the creators of one of the most popular Game of Thrones website, Westeros.org.
But you may want to note that even as the app is free for download, you will have to pay to unlock certain sections.
Map of Game of Thrones
A free app which offers an in-depth map of the world, as depicted in Game of Thrones. Users are encouraged to click on the icons on the map in order to see specific characters and locations. On top of that, you can get access to additional information about characters, settlements or areas and even read episode recaps. Map of Game of Thrones is a pretty useful app to have if you can’t remember what happened two seasons ago or if you want to visualize Martin’s fantasy world.
Guess the Thrones Characters
The Game of Thrones universe is populated with a wide range of characters. Do you think you can tell them apart by name? Then Guess the Thrones Characters will certainly be to your liking. Check out the minimalist artworks and try to guess the characters’ names. As you advance, the difficulty of the levels also increases, making the game very challenging. Do you think you have what it takes?
Artworks for Game of Thrones
Your love for Game of Thrones stretches beyond the universe? Then you would most enjoy having a sleek GoT wallpaper greet you every time you turn your phone on. If that’s the case, then the Artworks for Game of Thrones is just what you need. The app is home to a collection of unique HD wallpapers inspired by the adventures in GoT and will really speak to your inner artist. You can set wallpapers directly from the app.
Game of Thrones: Conquest
Influence the faith of Westeros, by living out your fantasy and joining the war. In this strategy game, GoT fans are invited to build their own house, raise their army and gain political influence. Based on the award-winning books and TV shows, Game of Thrones: Conquest lets you forge your own strategy for conquering the Seven Kingdoms. Be the hero Ned Stark couldn’t be!
HODOR: Game of Thrones
Miss Hodor? Then why not install this fun little app and get your daily fix of Hodor. Tap on the logo on the main screen and you’ll hear one of the 100+ “Hodor” sound samples. What’s more, Hodoring on a regular basis will earn you one of the 25 trophies that are available to unlock. It’s fun and simple. Bring Hodor back into your life right now!
Winter is Coming – GoT News
Be up to date with the latest news and entertaining stories related to Game of Thrones with the Winter is Coming app. Read the latest interviews with the cast and be the first to find out the latest developments related to season 8.
White Walkers
Fan of the bad boys? Get the White Walkers on your phone with this app. Get a White Walkers themed lock screen, as well as icy icon packs to decorate your home screen. Live HD wallpapers are also available for your freezing pleasure.
HBO Go
Re-watch all seven seasons of Game of Thrones by installing the HBO GO app on your Android phone. Feel that you were in a hurry the last time you watched season 4? Now it’s your chance to revisit the adventures of your favorite heroes. But you’ll need to have an HBO subscription to do that.
Bonus
Game of Throne Books
If you haven’t read the books, we highly recommend you do. They are extremely well-written and at times, their storyline diverges from that of the TV show’s. You can get download them from the Google Play Store – for a price, of course.
