Thinking of buying the Moto G5S Plus? Then this might be the perfect time to do so. You see, the phone – which went on sale in the US last month – is available for purchase with $50 off until the end of the week, October 14 to be more precise.
The Moto G5S Plus is available in two versions and both are included in the promotion as follows:
3GB of RAM + 32GB of storage – $229.99 (down from $279.99)
4GB of RAM + 64GB of storage – $299.99 (down from $349.99)
It’s not the first time Motorola offers a discounted price on the Moto G5S Plus. The previous promo lasted until September 29 and also shaved off $50 the retail price. Now we’re happy to report that the promotion is live again.
For those who don’t know, the Moto G5S Plus is the first smartphone from Motorola’s portfolio to feature a dual-camera setup. The phone ships out with a 5.5-inch display with fullHD resolution, as well as a Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood.
As previously mentioned, the all-metal Moto G5S Plus takes advantage of dual camera setup which pairs two 13-megapixel sensors. It also comes with an 8-megapixel with f/2.0 selfie snapper.
The device relies on a 3,000 mAh battery and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, but Motorola already said the phone will get Android 8.0 Oreo.
LG took to the stage to announce what will be known as its top smartphones for 2017, the LG V30 and the LG V30+ at the end of August. LG’s latest smartphones will be available at Sprint next Friday, but fifth-ranked US Cellular has beaten the fourth-largest carrier to the punch with the launch of the LG V30 in its online and retail stores.
Yes, you read that right: both the LG V30 and LG V30+ are available today at US Cellular. It was assumed that the LG V30+ would be a Sprint exclusive here in the US, but it turns out that US Cellular has also gotten the V30+ in its clutches for its customer base.
Customers who order the V30 or V30+ are eligible to receive $216 worth of free hardware and services, including a free Google Daydream View VR headset, Daydream View content bundle, and enrollment into LG’s Second Year Promise Program.
For those who may not know, the Second Year Promise Program provides two full years of warranty (24 months) for LG devices. The V30 and V30+ are the first two devices to receive this blessing.
The LG V30 and LG V30+ are similar in specs, base storage being the only difference between them: the V30 with 64GB of storage, the V30+ with 128GB of storage (on. Storage aside, both the V30 and V30+ feature 6-inch OLED displays with an 18:9 aspect ratio, Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, and a microSD card slot for an additional 2TB of storage expansion.
The LG V30 and V30+ have been graced with OLED displays this year, a first for LG’s highest-end lineup. IP68 water and dust resistance makes its way to the V series for the first time as well, following the IP water and dust certification trend of high-end Android-powered devices.
A 5MP front camera, 16MP+13MP dual rear camera combo, and a 3,300mAh battery running Android Nougat round out the specs, but we can’t forget to mention the Quad Hi-Fi DAC, B&O audio integration, as well as new videography features Cine Video, Point Zoom, and Cine Log.
For all of this technology the LG V30 and LG V30+ hold in store, expect to shell out $28.32 monthly (LG V30) on a 30-month installment plan or $30.20 monthly for 30 months (LG V30+).
To find out more, visit US Cellular’s home page below. You may want to view our first impressions of the new phones before picking up either one.
One of the biggest distractions when driving is when your phone buzzes with a notification. It may not even be that important but you just can’t help to read it. That distraction is extremely dangerous to both you and other drivers. In fact in the UK it is now illegal to even touch your device while the vehicle is in motion, let alone respond to a notification.
Google shares the sentiment that focus should remain on the road. The Pixel 2 can detect when you are driving and will automatically set your device to do not disturb mode and prevent any notifications from being highlighted on your device.
What is interesting is that there seems to be no indication as to override this if you’re just a passenger in the car. Perhaps it will use Bluetooth that then assumes the driver would be the one whose device would pair with the car to then invoke the do not disturb.
Of course you can turn the feature off entirely but it’s probably a good idea to keep it enabled for your safety and the safety of others.
No doubt we’ll learn more about the feature when the Pixel 2 is available.
In 2017 the concept of an internet radio is not at all new. In fact, it might even be antiquated to some of you. In the age of SONOS, Google Cast, and Wi-Fi speakers, the idea of a device designed strictly with connected radio services in mind makes sense. We love our music and we love having it where we want, and listening when we want.
Whereas some of us had gotten into products like the Logitech Squeezebox some years back, others are just beginning to understand how cool it is to have a connected radio. Not just Bluetooth speakers that pair to your phone, but something that stands alone.
The Mondo+ is one such device. Designed by Grace Digital, it’s a small, even portable (optional $40 battery) radio that offers up AM/FM radio, internet radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and more. Not only that, but it’s created to work with other units with multi-room music and 2-way speaker conversations. Further, it includes Chromecast capability and even works with Google Assistant.
Similar to the aforementioned Squeezebox Radio, the Mondo+ includes an LCD screen (3.5-inches) with shortcut buttons and and a rubber scroll wheel. The housing is made of a glossy plastic but it doesn’t come across as solidly built as the Squeezebox.
Ports include USB and 3.5mm input as well as RCA stereo out. An Ethernet port is not standard but you can buy one from Grace Digital for $20. If you have music on a flash drive, plug it into the back and listen to files in MP3, AAC, AAC +, FLAC, LPCM,ALAC,WMA,WMA9,Ogg Vorbis format. Other supported protocols include SHOUTcast, WMA streaming, HTTPS, and RTSP/SDP.
If you plan to connect to your network and other speakers like Google Home, you’ll want to spring for the Ethernet accessory. We ran into the occasional dropped connection when using a 2.4GHz connection in an office suite. A 5GHz connection was much better, but the wired route is always a safe bet.
As a bedroom unit the Mondo+ works exceedingly well. Put next to the bed, we appreciate the clock, 7-day alarm clock, and USB port. We rarely listen to music all that loud at night so the speaker worked great for catching up on a book or down-tempo playlist.
We also found the Mondo+ to be a solid companion to have in an office environment. Whether it was listening to local radio stations or using it as a loudspeaker for videos, it sounds good and fills small rooms.
Get into a larger environment or where you want music to be your main focus and the Mondo+ falls short. At loud volumes it sounds distorted, especially when you have thumping bass or music with a lot of layers.
The equalizer is nice to have, particularly if you spend a lot of time in one type of audio setting. We like a lot of podcasts and audiobooks so we’re partial to the “flat” option. Other settings include vocal, classic, jazz, and rock.
The Mondo+ comes with built-in support for a variety of radio sources but that’s just the beginning. If your preferred streaming service isn’t included, you can always tap into the Chromecast feature and leverage myriad apps, websites, and services.
The 3.5-inch display is a nice touch, and it’s certainly something we appreciate having. Too often we hear a song playing on a speaker and have to scramble for the phone to figure out what it’s called or to identify the artist. It’s nice to look over and see the details we want without much effort.
Navigation is a touch wonky, if not slow, using the dial and press button. To that end, the remote control helps get you set up and moving about. However, entering text is a nuisance when setting up a wireless network or searching for a radio station. Our advice: stick to the app as much as possible.
If you don’t own a Google Home or one of the growing line of smart speakers, this is an excellent way to get started. We’ve come to enjoy having the ability to tap into the next-level Google smarts with this speaker.
When compared to other speakers like the SONOS PLAY:1, the Mondo+ wins hands down, if on paper. As it comes to overall sound, total home integration, and app functionality, it skews more in favor of the other, established brand. That’s not for a lack of trying, though, as Grace Digital has put together one hell of a package.
If you haven’t already purchased a connected speaker system, we can recommend the Mondo+ just as easily as any other models. It’s not perfect, and there are some quirks here and there, but we’re on board.
At $200 we found the Mondo+ to be a great unit to add to your house. Students with limited space or those who want to punch up their home office should give this one a look. Toss in the optional battery and you’ll like having this on the porch or back deck.
We’re asked on a regular basis to help determine which phone is the best one available. We get it as a team here at AndroidGuys, but we also field it on an individual level, too. To help address that, we’ve put together a list of the top models you can currently buy at the carrier in question.
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone from AT&T, this is where you’ll want to start. Note that while this is called the “best Android phones” you can purchase this month, it’s worth noting there are plenty of other models to choose from.
Best is not a universal term to apply to all consumers. Some of you might have a limited budget; some of you may only have very modest needs. To that end, we suggest digging around a little bit and checking with the service provider.
Also, keep in mind that you can purchase your own phone from another outlet which can work with AT&T. Because it is a GSM service provider, there are plenty of unlocked devices around which are compatible with its network. Just make sure you double check the phone’s bands with all the ones AT&T uses to make sure you’ll fully utilizing the network.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best phones you can purchase this month from AT&T.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
This year’s Note device has been the hardest wait because of the Note 7’s crazy fiery outcome last year. Early in the year with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, Samsung proved that delivering excellent hardware could effectively silence the woes. The Note 8 continues that successful formula – maybe a bit too closely with the S8 Plus, where most of the specs are equivalent.
So front and center is 6.3″ of that visually stunning, curved Infinity Display with shrunken bezels at a 18.5:9 and brilliant S-AMOLED panel at a QHD+ resolution (2960×1440 pixels). But we must warn to tread carefully if you’re weary about large phones; this is a 0.1″ increase from the already sizable S8 Plus. Under the hood is still the octa-core Snapdragon 835 (but with 6GB of RAM now), 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, mono bottom-placed speaker, fast-capable wireless charging, and yes, the infamous button to toggle Samsung’s own Bixby virtual assistant. It’s all protected by a IP68 waterproof casing.
The Note 8 in Orchid Gray.
The main differences that the Note 8 brings to the table are a secondary, telephoto sensor and the excellent S Pen stylus. The primary 12MP f/1.7 sensor with quick Dual Pixel focus is still present, but the additional 12MP sensor allows for optical 2x zoom and a new Live Focus mode that can create Portrait-effect captures like on the iPhone. The S Pen hardware and experience is very similar to the Note 7, but we can now send glow-y written animated messages.
Samsung hasn’t yet been able to incorporate the fingerprint scanner under the display, so we again have that unfortunate placement next to the rear cameras. And the Note 8’s colossal size makes the scanner even less feasible than on the S8+. At least there’s alternatives for security like face unlock or the IRIS retinal scanner. Another downer is that battery capacity had to take a hit to make way for the stylus, down to 3,300mAh from 3,500mAh on the S8+. Samsung is of course being exceedingly cautious to play on the safe side with the battery after the Note 7 fiasco.
The Note 8’s software is driven by Android Nougat 7.1.1 and the latest Samsung Experience interface. Bixby, the company’s software assistant, is also fully incorporated and its voice commands are growing in capability. You’ll find the Note 8 in two color in the US: Midnight Black or Orchid Gray. A point of contention for many will be the price tag, which now inches close to the $1k mark. On AT&T, the Note 8 retails for $950, or you can opt for $31/month financing for 30 months.
Although the Note 8 is technically newer, the Galaxy S8 variants are still relevant. The feature set is almost identical, and being a few months old, you could save a couple hundred in comparison. And with AT&T, you have the option of the extra durable S8 Active.
To recap, the only things the Note 8 really has on the Galaxy S8 series is a secondary, 2x telephoto sensor, 2GB more of RAM, the S Pen stylus. The rest of the core specs are the same: octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset, 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, Dual Pixel 12MP f/1.7 primary sensor, fast-capable wireless charging, and IP68 rated waterproofing.
The S8 and S8 Plus are what started Samsung’s beautiful curved Infinity Display, with elongated 18.5:9 ratio’d panel with tiny bezels and QHD+, HDR-capable S-AMOLED tech. But with the S8 and S8 Plus, you’ll get more manageable sizes, at 5.8″ and 6.2″, respectively. Even, the S8 Plus’ battery is 200mAh more than the Note 8, at 3,500mAh vs. 3,300mAh.
Speaking of the S8 Active, AT&T has exclusivity on the strengthened Galaxy S8 variant. It is constructed of a military-grade casing and shatter resistant display. It maintains the features of the normal S8 (sans the curved Infinity Display) but with a significantly heftier 4,000mAh battery.
The Galaxy S8 Active, exclusive to AT&T.
On AT&T, you can find the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, or Arctic Silver flavors. The standard Galaxy S8 retails for $750 or $25/month for 30 months, while the larger S8 Plus goes for $850 or $28/month. The S8 Active is offered in Meteor Gray or Titanium Gold colors at costs $850 or $28/month.
LG’s V-series Fall releases have been stealing the flagship show as of late, and this year is no exception. The V30 one-ups the G6 in many ways, where we’re used to seeing only minimal improvements in brotherly variants.
The LG V30 in Cloud Silver color.
The first thing to note is the design advancement. The bezels on the V30 are noticeably smaller than the G6 just a few months ago, and the glass on the sides of the display have a premium curve (similar to the current Galaxy phones). Also, LG has finally dropped old LCD technology and embraced OLED – a 6.0″ QHD P-OLED panel to be exact. Other key hardware includes the commonly used Snapdragon 835 chipset with 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, 3,300mAh battery (no longer removable), and wireless charging. This is all in an IP68 waterproof rated casing.
As for cameras, the LG V30 continues with a 16MP rear unit, but now with the largest lens aperture found on a phone, f/1.6. The secondary, 13MP wide-angle camera also gets a low-light improvement with a f/1.9 aperture. On the front is a 5MP selfie shooter with f/2.2 aperture.
One of the V-series’ standout features is HiFi-capable output from the headphone jack, and LG and ESS Technology have partnered once again for the best mobile dedicated sound processor, aka Quad DAC, you can find on a smartphone. It now comes with a handful of meticulously-tuned EQ profiles meant to suit a wide range of audiophiles.
The software on the V30 is driven by the latest Android Nougat build (v7.1.2) and LG’s latest UX interface, which brings some lofty updates like a Floating Bar for shortcuts, ability to lock the camera zoom on an object, more Always-On display options, and voice recognition to unlock the phone. AT&T has Aurora Black and Cloud Silver color options and prices the V30 at $810 retail or $27/month for 30 months.
Motorola’s second generation Z Force arrived in the middle of 2017 with quite a powerful spec sheet. Powered by the newest version of Android on the market, 7.1.1 Nougat, the Z2 Force will be offered across a variety of carriers. This is somewhat of a departure for Motorola who had been heading toward a direct-to-consumer only route.
Interestingly enough, Motorola has opted for a smaller battery capacity for the Z2 Force. But, don’t let that discourage you from buying as it does have feature the TurboPower Charge capability and Android is ever more optimal for battery life. There’s also the expanding portfolio of Moto Mods. New this year is a external battery TurboPower shell, Moto 360 camera, JBL SoundBoost 2 speaker, and a sweet GamePad mod with physical gaming controls.
Currently, the Moto Z2 Force is available in a few color variants with pricing that hovers around $800.
We’re asked on a regular basis to help determine which phone is the best one available. We get it as a team here at AndroidGuys, but we also field it on an individual level, too. To help address that, we’ve put together a list of the top models you can currently buy at the carrier in question.
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone from Verizon, this is where you’ll want to start. Note that while this is called the “best Android phones” you can purchase this month, it’s worth noting there are plenty of other models to choose from.
Best is not a universal term to apply to all consumers. Some of you might have a limited budget; some of you may only have very modest needs. To that end, we suggest digging around a little bit and checking with the service provider.
Also, keep in mind that you can purchase your own phone from another outlet which can work with Verizon. Take, for instance, the Google Pixel, which can be bought at a variety of outlets. The unlocked handset can be paired with pretty much any major carrier. That said, you’ll need to make sure that the phone in question has Verizon-compatible cellular bands, or you won’t be getting all of the coverage that you’re paying for.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at Verizon’s best phones this month.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
This year’s Note device has been the hardest wait because of the Note 7’s crazy fiery outcome last year. Early in the year with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, Samsung proved that delivering excellent hardware could effectively silence the woes. The Note 8 continues that successful formula – maybe a bit too closely with the S8 Plus, where most of the specs are equivalent.
So front and center is 6.3″ of that visually stunning, curved Infinity Display with shrunken bezels at a 18.5:9 and brilliant S-AMOLED panel at a QHD+ resolution (2960×1440 pixels). But we must warn to tread carefully if you’re weary about large phones; this is a 0.1″ increase from the already sizable S8 Plus. Under the hood is still the octa-core Snapdragon 835 (but with 6GB of RAM now), 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, mono bottom-placed speaker, fast-capable wireless charging, and yes, the infamous button to toggle Samsung’s own Bixby virtual assistant. It’s all protected by a IP68 waterproof casing.
The Note 8 in Orchid Gray.
The main differences that the Note 8 brings to the table are a secondary, telephoto sensor and the excellent S Pen stylus. The primary 12MP f/1.7 sensor with quick Dual Pixel focus is still present, but the additional 12MP sensor allows for optical 2x zoom and a new Live Focus mode that can create Portrait-effect captures like on the iPhone. The S Pen hardware and experience is very similar to the Note 7, but we can now send glow-y written animated messages.
Samsung hasn’t yet been able to incorporate the fingerprint scanner under the display, so we again have that unfortunate placement next to the rear cameras. And the Note 8’s colossal size makes the scanner even less feasible than on the S8+. At least there’s alternatives for security like face unlock or the IRIS retinal scanner. Another downer is that battery capacity had to take a hit to make way for the stylus, down to 3,300mAh from 3,500mAh on the S8+. Samsung is of course being exceedingly cautious to play on the safe side with the battery after the Note 7 fiasco.
The Note 8’s software is driven by Android Nougat 7.1.1 and the latest Samsung Experience interface. Bixby, the company’s software assistant, is also fully incorporated and its voice commands are growing in capability. You’ll find the Note 8 in two color in the US: Midnight Black or Orchid Gray. A point of contention for many will be the price tag, which now inches close to the $1k mark. On Verizon, the Note 8 retails for $960, or you can opt for $40/month financing for 24 months.
Although the Note 8 is technically newer, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are still relevant. The feature set is almost identical, and being a few months old, you could save a couple hundred in comparison.
To recap, the only things the Note 8 really has on the Galaxy S8 duo is a secondary, 2x telephoto sensor, 2GB more of RAM, the S Pen stylus. The rest of the core specs are the same: octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset, 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, Dual Pixel 12MP f/1.7 primary sensor, fast-capable wireless charging, and IP68 rated waterproofing.
The S8 and S8 Plus are what started Samsung’s beautiful curved Infinity Display, with elongated 18.5:9 ratio’d panel with tiny bezels and QHD+, HDR-capable S-AMOLED tech. But with the S8 and S8 Plus, you’ll get more manageable sizes, at 5.8″ and 6.2″, respectively. Even, the S8 Plus’ battery is 200mAh more than the Note 8, at 3,500mAh vs. 3,300mAh.
On Verizon, you can find the Galaxy S8 duo in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, or Arctic Silver flavors. The standard Galaxy S8 retails for $756 or $31.50/month for 24 months, while the larger S8 Plus goes for $840 or $35/month.
LG’s V-series Fall releases have been stealing the flagship show as of late, and this year is no exception. The V30 one-ups the G6 in many ways, where we’re used to seeing only minimal improvements in brotherly variants.
The LG V30 in Cloud Silver color.
The first thing to note is the design advancement. The bezels on the V30 are noticeably smaller than the G6 just a few months ago, and the glass on the sides of the display have a premium curve (similar to the current Galaxy phones). Also, LG has finally dropped old LCD technology and embraced OLED – a 6.0″ QHD P-OLED panel to be exact. Other key hardware includes the commonly used Snapdragon 835 chipset with 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion, 3,300mAh battery (no longer removable), and wireless charging. This is all in an IP68 waterproof rated casing.
As for cameras, the LG V30 continues with a 16MP rear unit, but now with the largest lens aperture found on a phone, f/1.6. The secondary, 13MP wide-angle camera also gets a low-light improvement with a f/1.9 aperture. On the front is a 5MP selfie shooter with f/2.2 aperture.
One of the V-series’ standout features is HiFi-capable output from the headphone jack, and LG and ESS Technology have partnered once again for the best mobile dedicated sound processor, aka Quad DAC, you can find on a smartphone. It now comes with a handful of meticulously-tuned EQ profiles meant to suit a wide range of audiophiles.
The software on the V30 is driven by the latest Android Nougat build (v7.1.2) and LG’s latest UX interface, which brings some lofty updates like a Floating Bar for shortcuts, ability to lock the camera zoom on an object, more Always-On display options, and voice recognition to unlock the phone. Verizon only has the Cloud Silver color (at least right now) and prices the V30 at $840 retail or $35/month for 24 months.
These are only phones offered through Verizon with a “stock” version of Android. The Pixel and Pixel XL are Google’s flagship phones, and you’re in luck if you’re on Verizon, as it is the Pixel’s exclusive carrier. Like last year, there are two flavors of the Pixel 2 – a standard 5.0″ and XL 6.0″ size.
Pixel 2 on the left is available in Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White colors. The Pixel 2 XL on the right gets Just Black and Black and White colors.
Google’s outstanding goal with the Pixel line is the best marriage between hardware and software. AI is the definite focus when it comes to the latest Pixel line, and software tricks are bountiful such as the ability to query things in pictures you’ve taken, automatic music info of what’s playing around you, motion photos capture, and more Google Assistant capabilities. You’ll also be getting the very latest Android build (8.0 Oreo), with the promise of stay up to date for three years.
On the hardware front, the two devices share just about every spec, with exception to the screen and battery sizes. The standard Pixel 2 has a 5″ AMOLED 1080P panel (at the typical 16:9 aspect ratio) and 2,700mAh battery while the 2 XL boasts a 6″ QHD P-OLED (but at the newer 2:1 aspect ratio) and 3,520mAh battery. The common specs are an octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage options, 12.2MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 µm pixel size, 8MP front selfie camera, front-facing stereo speakers, IP67 water resistant rating, and Bluetooth 5.0.
A couple downsides worth mentioning is no microSD card expansion support (Google is against it), no wireless charging, and no 3.5mm headphone jack. It may seem like a disadvantage that the Pixel 2 only has one rear camera in the 2017 dual camera trend, but Google has managed to do a very competitive “Portrait” mode with only the one sensor. It uses Dual Pixel technology which can function two-part to create the effect. The original Pixel’s camera capture was arguably the best in a smartphone, and Google has made plentiful upgrades (such as adding OIS) to maintain its crown. DxOMark has given the Pixel 2 camera a record-setting score of 98.
Google Assistant is of course more capable than ever with Android 8.0, and there’s a new way to summon it on the Pixel 2 phones – by squeezing the sides. Yes, like on the HTC U11, there are pressure sensors on the sides of the frame.
Both phones are up for pre-order right now at Verizon, with a ship date towards the end of the month. The smaller Pixel 2 will get Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White colors options and will go for $650 retail or $27/month financing, while the Pixel 2 XL gets only Just Black and Black and White at $850 retail or $35/month. If you order before 10/18, you can snag a free Google Home Mini smart speaker (retails at $50).
Motorola’s second generation Z Force arrived in the middle of 2017 with quite a powerful spec sheet. As is to be expected, though, it’s one of the flagship models for the unlocked phone maker, and is yet another take on the modular experience.
Powered by the newest version of Android on the market, 7.1.1 Nougat, the Z2 Force will be offered across a variety of carriers. This is somewhat of a departure for Motorola who had been heading toward a direct-to-consumer only route. Unlike last year’s model, there will be no Droid or Verizon-exclusive take on the handset.
Interestingly enough, Motorola has opted for a smaller battery capacity for the Z2 Force. But, don’t let that discourage you from buying as it does have feature the TurboPower Charge capability and Android is ever more optimal for battery life. There’s also the expanding portfolio of Moto Mods. New this year is a external battery TurboPower shell, Moto 360 camera, JBL SoundBoost 2 speaker, and a sweet GamePad mod with physical gaming controls.
Currently, the Moto Z2 Force is available in a few color variants with pricing that hovers around $750.
It was in 2016 that Kotlin was introduced and soon after the plugin of Kotlin was integrated within the third version of Android Studio. During the time it was released, there were many who were skeptical about the plugin and its advantages but gradually several of them decided to try it on some smaller project. Its user-friendly nature seems to be the USP of Kotlin. When you use this programming language called Kotlin, you can distinguish between functionality and business logic with the help of extensions. This too saves you on the developing hours and this is why Kotlin has become their first-priority language for creating Android apps.
Kotlin was initially designed by JetBrains and it runs perfectly on Android Studio and IntelliJ. Once you successfully install it, you can either formulate a new project on Android or add something to an already-existing project. Check out few tips for developing Android apps using Kotlin.
The feature of lazy-load
The feature of Lazy loading is touted to have different benefits including the time it takes to start-up. The variables can load only after they’re accessed and this is where Kotlin will you stay ahead of others. The actual aim of the developers of Android app is to diminish the start-up time so as to help users get faster access to content. This kind of chosen loading of different resources is also considered as memory-efficient.
Design a new project with Kotlin
It is indeed easy to begin a new development in Kotlin as all you need to do is to go to ‘File’ and choose ‘New Project’. Then you have to give a name to the project and choose the installed SDK version of Android. Leave out majority of the options and try to keep them on default by selecting Enter as soon as it comes up.
Kotlin’s custom ‘getters and setters’ feature
The feature called custom getters and setters which you will find on Kotlin will utilize a model structure. However the behaviors to obtain the fields and set them are all specified. The non-class local variables retrieved and stored in custom way occur when the custom models or some other frameworks are utilized. Values of these will all look obtainable using the access syntax of the model.
Utilization of Lambdas
The total number of code lines in a specific source file can definitely be diminished utilizing lambdas that offer more space for functional programming. These are only feasible with Android as the main configuration of the build remain unchanged. If you use Kotlin, it will assure that you won’t require dealing Retrolambda. If you’re incorporating any one method, Lambda will work wonders for you.
Apply filer to different collections
When you’re creating something with API, you’ve got to deal with different sorts of collections. Often, you will wish to change the content of collection. If you use Kotlin collection filtering, you can easily achieve this and thereby give clarity and neatness to the code and you can also make it concise.
So, as we see, the main benefits of working with Kotlin are the clean and transparent working platform and its sheer simplicity. For instance, SAM conversions or Single Abstract Method can be done on Java classes by using reduced syntax. Though Kotlin development might seem a little bit complex for the beginners, but they can definitely take into account the above listed killer tips to alleviate the stress.
Now that the Pixel 2 announcement is behind us, we can take a moment to take a closer look at it and see how it compares to the original Pixel. The question probably going through your mind at the moment is “Is it worth to upgrade?”
Despite not giving us much more to look at compared to last year’s model, the Pixel 2 does come equipped with a better camera, more powerful chipset, squeezable frame, and other improvements. What else has changed? Keep reading below to find out how the new Pixel 2 (not the Pixel 2 XL) compares against last year’s Pixel.
On the outside
The new Pixel borrows more than a few design cues from the old Pixel, but upon closer inspection, you will quickly notice the differences.
Yes, the Pixel 2 features the same glass-aluminum design with prominent top and bottom bezels, rounded corners and curved edges. Yet the Pixel 2 looks a lot more square-ish than its predecessor and a bit more compact. On the back, the glass inlay is smaller and now the fingerprint scanner has been moved to live on the aluminum body.
Nothing has changed when it comes to the Pixel 2 arrangement of the power button (which on the Kinda Blue version comes in a very cool shade of blue), power button, and USB-C port. Unfortunately, the 3.5mm headphone jack is missing this year. On the bright side of things, the Pixel 2 houses two front-facing speakers in stereo configuration, embedded in the phone’s bezels.
When it comes to displays the two phones are very similar. Both the Pixel and Pixel 2 boast 5-inch P-OLED panels with fullHD resolution, but the newer model gets Gorilla Glass 5 protection instead of Gorilla Glass 4.
The Pixel 2 is also IP67 certified, which means it can survive being submerged in up to 3.5 ft of water for up to 30 minutes. The previous model boasted only a modest IP53 rating, which didn’t guarantee much.
Despite retaining the same weight (143 g), the Pixel 2 is a bit thicker than its predecessor measuring 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm. In contrast, the Pixel measures 143.84 x 69.54 x 7.31mm.
What’s more, the Pixel 2 relies on a slightly smaller battery of 2,700 mAh capacity, compared to its predecessor which housed a 2,770 mAh powerhouse under the hood. Google says the Pixel 2 will last a day on a charge, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things in real life turn out to be.
The Pixel 2 ships with an 18W USB-C PD charger in the box (just like the original Pixel), but if you want your new phone to charge even faster, you should know that according to Googler and USB-C fan, Benson Leung, the new phone supports up to 27W charging with compliant USB-C PD chargers.
On the inside
The new Pixel swaps out last year’s Snapdragon 821 and replaces it with Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 835, a processor clocked up to 2.35GHz. This year, Google is offering slightly healthier storage options. So even if both phones rely on 4GB of RAM, the Pixel 2 will be offered with either 64GB or 128GB storage on board, while the original Pixel is/was available in 32GB/128 GB variants. Neither phones are equipped with a microSD card slot.
Photography
Last year’s the Pixel camera received a lot of praise, so in 2017 Google improved upon it by adding opting for a 12-megapixel sensor, 1.4 μm pixel size, f/1.8, laser + dual pixel phase detection autofocus, electronic and optical image stabilization.
In contrast, the original Pixel includes a primary 12.3-megapixel sensor, 1.55 μm pixel size, f/2.0 aperture, laser + phase detection autofocus. Both flagships also feature a secondary 8-megapixel, 1.4 μm pixel size and f/2.4 aperture
This year, Google widened the camera aperture from f/2.0 to f/1.8 to which allows more light to be let in. It also stuck to a single-lens camera, despite the industry fully embracing the dual camera trend. According to Google, single-lens is still the way to go. To prove it, the company has added a new Portrait Mode feature (renamed after last year’s Lens Blur) which works just as well with one lens as other phones that use two. What’s more, you can take bokeh images with the front-facing camera too.
A new feature called Motion Photos has been added which lets users record a video for 1.5 seconds before and after a single shot, which will be included when you share the photo.
Oh yeah and here we should also mention the Pixel 2 is the first phone to take advantage of Google Lens – an AI photo analyzer that can tell you what you are looking at. Just point your phone to a landmark and Google Lens will immediately tell you the name of the building or statue. Pretty neat, huh?
Software and other features
The Pixel 2 comes with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, which is also available for the first-gen Pixel. However, there are some software tweaks which aren’t available for the original Pixel (not for the time being, anyway).
For example, the Pixel 2 boasts an upgraded Pixel Launcher which features the Google search bar at the bottom for easier reach. What’s more, Google added a widget on top of the screen which shows quick info like current weather, temperature, and upcoming events.
The Pixel 2 takes advantage of other neat features: the low-power Always on Display shows a monochrome clock and notifications every time you take a glance at the phone, even if it’s off. While the Now Playing feature uses the phone’s three-microphone array to identify the songs playing nearby.
Last but not least, the Pixel 2 comes with a pressure-sensitive frame just like the HTC U11, which means users will be able to squeeze the phone to trigger an action like conjuring up the Google Assistant or launching an app.
Pricing
Google pleasantly surprises its fan-base this years by keeping Pixel 2 prices the same as with last year’s model.
The Pixel 2 is available in Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue and can be yours for $649 (64GB version) or $749 (128GB version). The original Pixel launched with the same pricing options.
You can pick up the Pixel 2 from the Google Store, Verizon or Best Buy which is currently offering it with $100 off (if you jump on board with a Verizon 2-year plan).
Also FYI, the original Pixel is currently available with $100 off in the Google Store.
I don’t know about you but I always forget my phone on Silent. It’s not a big deal most of the times, but if I end up misplacing it then all hell breaks loose, as my phone could end up staying hidden for days until I unwittingly stumble upon.
If you’ve been through this more than once, you’ll probably glad to know that Google knows the struggle is real. So it has added a feature that will help users find their phone ASAP even if their device is on silent. But and there’s a big but here. You’ll need a Google Home (or Google Home Mini or Google Home Max) to make that happen.
All you need to say is “OK Google, find my phone” and you’ll device will start ringing, even if you forgot it on Silent or DND.
For those who own more than one handset, the Assistant will start naming each of your devices until it gets to the one you want to find (warning: it won’t work on tablets). Yeah, the “Find my phone” on Google Home feature is limited only to smartphones, but not only Android handsets. You can use it to find your iPhone too.
The feat is live now, so you can go ahead and try it if you want.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users in the US have taken to the forums to complain about experiencing an issue with missing or delayed texts on their devices. It seems this is quite a pretty wide-spread problem plaguing Galaxy S8 owners across all major carriers in the US including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
A quick overview of the mega-thread on Reddit dedicated to this topic reveals the issue isn’t limited to a specific messaging app, since Galaxy S8 or S8+ users are seeing delayed or missing text messages regardless of whether they’re using Samsung’s default Messaging app, Android Messages or Textra.
For the time being, the reason for why this is happening is a complete mystery, as Samsung has yet to issue a statement on the matter. At the moment, it unclear whether the Korean tech giant has been made aware of the issue or not. So a fix might take a few days/weeks to arrive.
Some users have suggested disabling Wi-Fi and Advanced Messages as an attempt to remedy the issue, but this workaround failed to provide satisfying results for everyone.
In the meanwhile, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users shouldn’t freak out if they fail to receive their texts. It’s not just you who is not getting the messages.
Have you experienced anything similar on your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+? Let us know in the comment section below.
The new Pixel borrows more than a few design cues from the old Pixel, but upon closer inspection, you will quickly notice the differences.
