Home Blog Page 849

Looking for a cheap unlocked phone? The Coolpad Splatter with Alexa launches for $140

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Coolpad – a maker of affordable smartphones – recently launched its second unlocked phone in the US called the Coolpad Splatter. The handset is available via Amazon for the price of $139.99.

Obviously, you shouldn’t expect any mind-blowing specs, but even so the Coolpad Splatter is more than capable of handling basic tasks like browsing the web or checking emails.

The phone features a 5.5-inch IPS display with 1280 x 720 pixels and bundles a Snapdragon 425 processor under the hood. It ships out with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage (expandable up to 32GB), an 8-megapixel / 5-megapixel camera combo and a 2,500 mAh battery. It runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and is compatible with GMS/LTE carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Cricket Wireless.

In the official announcement post, Coolpad says the phone is also equipped with Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant – which is definitely a remarkable feature for a budget phone such as this one. However, it’s unclear whether Alexa is available out of the box, or if Coolpad will push an update later on. The Amazon page makes no mention of Alexa at all, which is a bit odd.

What do you think? Would you consider buying the Coolpad Splatter?

BlackBerry KEYone in Space Black lands at AT&T on September 1st

Alexandra Arici
-
0

TCL and BlackBerry unveiled an all-black BlackBerry KEYone version in India earlier this month.

While customers in the US could so far purchase only the black/silver version of the KEYone, the good news is that the all-black version will soon be available for purchase in the country.

The all-black BlackBerry will be an AT&T exclusive and will start selling in come September 1 (a week from now). Dubbed Space Black, the new color variant can be yours for $16.67/month for 30 months. This amounts to a total of approximately $500.

This a bit less expensive the black/silver BlackBerry KEYone at Sprint which sells it for a full retail price of $528.

BlackBerry KEYone Limited Edition Black becomes Space Black at AT&T

Apart from the new paint job, the all-black BlackBerry KEYone remains the same, spec-wise. That means it will ship out to customers with a 4.5-inch display with 1080 x 1620 resolution and the iconic physical QWERTY keyboard sitting below the display.

The phone also includes a middle-range Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood, and we assume 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage like the Sprint version, although AT&T didn’t specify this aspect in the press release.

The all-black KEYone version launched in India with upgraded specs including 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, so who knows maybe US customers will be able to get the better-specced model from AT&T. We’ll know more when the phone launches on September 1st.

Gear Sport 2017 leaks with replaceable watch bands

AndroidGuys
-
0

Samsung’s Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic have both made positive waves among Android users, since Samsung gave the Gear S2 Android compatibility back in 2015 and continued this commitment last year. And, for all its success, we’ve not yet seen a Gear S4 in the works. What we have seen so far is the Gear Fit2 Pro leak on Samsung’s website after having received FCC certification with the full specifications. The Gear Sport has received FCC approval, too, though we’ve seen a diagram of the Gear Sport with the name “Gear Sport” on the wearable’s back – little else.

Gear Sport. Credit: FCC

Now, the Gear Sport 2017 has leaked with a photo that not only shows its continuity with the Gear S2 and Gear S3 but also replaceable watch bands. The leaked photo shows the name “Sport” with model number SM-R600 and the choice of black or blue watch bands. Of course, these two watches with different-colored watch bands could refer to consumer choice of wristband color; however, we know that the current Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic have interchangeable wristbands, and keeping this customization with the Gear Sport 2017 isn’t out of the question.

Samsung briefly teased the Gear Sport at the Galaxy Note 8 announcement in New York City on Wednesday, August 23rd, with the new wrist wearable headed for IFA 2017 in Berlin, Germany on August 30th. Perhaps Samsung will give the Gear Sport Samsung Pay support for on-wrist purchases as it has done for the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic.

According to what we know, the Gear Sport is said to be thinner and lighter than the current Gear S3 Frontier and Classic, a new design move that would make the Gear Sport 2017 a hybrid fitness tracker/smartwatch device. No information on an update to the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic has surfaced, though IFA 2017 will tell all.

Check out the official accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 8 yesterday and a bunch of accessories for the new phablet were also revealed alongside it.

Being made mostly out of glass, the Galaxy Note 8 is a pretty fragile device, one which should probably be used with a protective cover or case. Samsung is providing this option to Galaxy Note 8 customers, as well as throwing in some additional accessories. Check them out below:

Galaxy Note 8 Protective Cover
Price: $19.99

The Protective Cover it’s a straightforward clear protective case that’s only 1mm thick. It costs $19.99 and the best part is that it allows the phone’s sleek paint job to be visible. On the negative side of things, it might get overly greasy with prolonged use.

S-View Flip Cover
Price: $59.99

For those who plan to use the Galaxy Note 8 primary as a media consumption device, the S-View Flip Cover is a must-have accessory. It’s a bit more expensive coming with a price tag of $59.99, but it will allow you to watch all the Netflix series you want comfortably.

The Cover comes with an interface of its own to enables users to check notifications or take calls without flipping open the cover.

Rugged Protective Cover
Price: $39.99

If the S-View Flip Cover is too expensive for you, the Rugged Protective Cover is also an option. It allows you to prop your device in landscape mode so you can watch videos but also provides grade A protection from drops and bumps (it’s MIL-STD-810G-516 compliant). Sounds like a pretty good deal.

Alcantara Cover
Price: $49.99

Made of suede-like Alcantara material, this Cover promises to provide protection against scratches and stains. If you prefer soft to hard and have an extra $50 to shed then Alcantara Cover is for you.

LED Wallet Cover
Price: $59.99

This cool case makes use of LEDs to display time/date, as well as show notifications and other alerts. It’s a pretty awesome concept, unfortunately, the LED Wallet Cover is a bit expensive.

Keyboard Cover
Price: ???

Want to feel like a BlackBerry user? The Keyboard Cover allows Galaxy Note 8 users to add a QWERTY keyboard at the bottom of the display. Owners simply have to snap it on the front of their phone to start typing.

2Piece Cover
Price: ???

An atypical but fun cover which provides protection for the corners of your phone. It’s made out of matte plastic and can be easily attached thanks to the micro suction pads.

Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible
Price: $89.99

Another pretty expensive Galaxy Note 8 accessory, the Fast Charge Wireless Charging Convertible acts as both a wireless charger and stand for propping the Note 8. Worth buying? You tell us.

Fast Charging Portable Battery Pack
Price: $59.99

Boasting a smallish 3,300 mAh battery, your Galaxy Note 8 might need the helping hand of a portable battery pack. Samsung conscientiously offers buyers one that packs an additional 5,100 mAh. It also features 15W Fast Charging and USB Type-C connector.

What’s the difference: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8+

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Yesterday was a big day for Samsung who finally unveiled the often leaked Galaxy Note 8 phablet – the successor of last year’s ill-fated Galaxy Note7.

This year, the Galaxy Note 8 looks and feels quite similar to the Galaxy S8+ – one of the best Android phones of this year. But the obvious question is: what’s the difference between the two models? If you too are thinking of purchasing a Samsung flagship at this moment which one should you pick? Read below to get a preliminary idea.

Design and Display

At first glance, the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8+ are extremely similar devices. But look closer and you’ll definitely notice some subtle differences.

The tall and narrow InfinityDisplay with 18:5:9 ratio and slimmed down bezels is present on both the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy S8+, however, the Note is a bit larger accommodating a 6.3-inch panel, while the Galaxy S8+ features a 6.2-inch one.

What’s more, the Galaxy Note 8 boasts squarer corners – a characteristic of the Galaxy Note family – as opposed to the really rounded ones on the Galaxy S8+. Yet, both models benefit from the same premium glass/metal construction that makes them such gorgeous devices to look at.

Obviously, the Note 8 is a bit heavier at 195g than the Galaxy S8+ which weighs only 173g. The new phablet is also a bit thicker boasting an 8.6mm frame, compared to the 8.1mm profile of the Galaxy S8+.

Both devices arrive with IP68 certification, a 3.5mm headphone jack and support for Samsung’s Pay service.

Hardware and Battery

As far as hardware goes the two handsets are pretty similar. They both feature a Snapdragon 835 processor on the inside, but the Galaxy Note 8 offers 6GB of RAM, as opposed to the 4GB of RAM included with the Galaxy S8+.

There are also more storage variants for the Note 8 which launches with 64GB/128GB and 256GB options. The Galaxy S8+ is only available with 64GB of built-in storage in Western markets, even though a 128GB version was briefly offered in China. Both phones include a microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 256GB.

When it comes to battery, the Galaxy Note 8 features a smaller one – as Samsung had to make room for the S Pen slot. The Galaxy S8+ includes a 3,500 mAh juice pack, while the Note 8 relies on a 3,300 mAh one instead. Since the two product relies on similar hardware, we expect the Note 8 to offer slightly less in terms of battery life.

Camera

The dual camera onboard the Galaxy Note 8 is one of the main differentiators from the Galaxy S8+. The Note 8 comes equipped with a 12-megapixel main sensor with f/1.7 paired with a secondary 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x zoom and f/2.4.

It’s also important to note that the new phablet is the first phone to come with optical stabilization on both camera sensors meaning that both the wide angle lens and telephone one take advantage of a system meant to prevent users from taking shaky shots.

The Galaxy S8+ comes with a single 12-megapixel sensor with f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS and LED flash which has been proved to take outstanding shots.
Both handsets include an 8-megapixel selfie snapper with f/1.7 and autofocus.

Other features

The standout feature with the Galaxy Note family is obviously the S Pen companion. As you’d expect Samsung build upon the earlier iteration to provide greater functionality. So now users can take advantage of features such as Smart Select which allows you to use the S Pen to select and share animated GIFs or Magnify that lets Note 8 owners hoover the S Pen to zoom in on something.

Both phones take advantage of the Bixby virtual assistant which by the way, made its global debut a few days before the Note 8 went official.

The Note 8 will also come with a set of premium AKG earphone in the box, tuned by none other than Harman Kardon (a brand now under the Samsung umbrella).

Value

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a $900+ device and one of the most expensive phones coming out of the company to date.

To sweeten the deal, the Korean tech giant will be offering early birds a series of perks. Pre-order the device from Samsung until September from Samsung and you’ll be able to get a free 128GB memory card or fast wireless charger, or a free Gear 360 camera on Samsung.

We should also note that former Galaxy Note7 owners are eligible to receive an instant trade-in value of up to $425 when their upgrade to the Galaxy Note 8.

Check out our When and Where to Buy article to see all the places that offer the Galaxy Note 8 (including carriers).

As for the Galaxy S8+, the phone is a bit less expensive. Samsung is offering the unlocked version for $674.99, but you can get it from other places too. Check them out here.

Samsung to launch a cheaper Galaxy Note 8 with 4GB of RAM?

Alexandra Arici
-
0

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 announcement came and went, but the Korean tech giant remained mum about the rumored 8GB of RAM + 256GB Emperor Edition version of the Note 8.

Instead, the company announced the phone will come carrying 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB of built-in storage.

Packed with high-end specs and productivity features, the Galaxy Note 8 is one of the most expensive phones Samsung ever released to date coming with a price tag of $900+.

Despite its obvious appeal, the ginormous price will probably keep a lot of customers at bay. But what if a more affordable Galaxy Note 8 version existed?

A Galaxy Note 8 model with “just” 4GB of RAM on board made an appearance in TENAA not so long ago, so a version with watered down specs might be on the way. But would it make sense for Samsung to launch a more budget-friendly Galaxy Note 8?

Not really. The Galaxy Note family has always had a premium status and never really competed on price. Could Samsung be trying to change things up? It’s unlikely.

If the Korean tech giant ends up launching a “special” Galaxy Note 8 in China (TENAA is the Chinese telecommunication authority in the country) it would be one with more RAM and storage, not one with less (like the Galaxy S8+ with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage which was exclusively available in China).

Nevertheless, a 4GB of RAM Galaxy Note 8 is not yet completely out of the question and the truth is a lot of customers would welcome a cheaper version.

Sony’s upcoming flagship, the Sony XZ1 leaks in press shots

Alexandra Arici
-
0

The IFA 2017 trade show is just around the corner and like LG, Sony will also be unveiling a brand new flagship during the event called the Xperia XZ1.

It’s Sony’s second flagship this year after the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, which was the first phone to be announced with a Snapdragon 835 processor onboard.

While we wait for the official announcement, leakster Roland Quandt revealed a bunch official looking renders showcasing the phone. The images came from Amazon, which inadvertently listed the device before its time.

As you can see from the pictures, the phone retains the classic Sony OmniBalance design the company has accustomed us to throughout the years. This might not be a bad thing for fans of Sony’s design language, but with phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and S8 or LG G6 and the Essential Phone on the market, which offer a more appealing, modern design, we’re afraid the Xperia XZ1 is at risk of going unnoticed.

Although the phone’s specs will probably satisfy most customers out there. The device is said to make a debut with a 5.2-inch display with FullHD display (not QHD or QHD+ like other flagships out there) and a Snapdragon 835 processor under the hood.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 might borrow some capabilities from the Xperia XZ Premium in the camera department. Rumor has it the new flagship will include a singular 19-megapixel sensor on the back, which might be capable of capturing 4K video in slow motion at a whopping 960fps.As for selfies, the new flagship is poised to carry a 12-megapixel selfie snapper.

Other rumored specs include 4GB of RAM, a 3,000 mAh battery, IP68 certification, dual front-facing speakers and a fingerprint scanner located on the side of the phone.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium arrived on the US market with a pretty steep $799 price tag, so don’t expect the Xperia XZ1 to be too affordable either although given the lack of 4K display on board it’s bound to be cheaper than that.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL tipped to launch on October 5 with Snapdragon 836 onboard

Alexandra Arici
-
0

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launch behind us, what are Android fans left to look forward to? Well the LG V30 is expected to land soon on August 31 and Google’s next-gen Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL aren’t too far either.

Speaking of which, last year Google pulled the wraps off the Pixel in October, so the speculation was the Pixel 2 will be unveiled during the same month. Now it appears the theory was correct.

According to reliable leakster @evleaks Google will introduce the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL during an event scheduled for October 5. We’re also told the new phones will arrive with a Snapdragon 836 onboard – which is a revised version of the Snapdragon 835. It’s not the first time this detail pops-up, so we guess it’s really happening.

If you’ve been following the news you probably know that the Pixel 2 will be manufactured by HTC and will arrive with a 5-inch display. As for the larger Pixel 2 XL, it will be made by LG this year and will boast a 6-inch screen.

Unlike last year, the two Pixels are expected to be pretty different when it comes to looks. The Pixel XL 2 will allegedly get the modern design with really slim bezels all around, while the small Pixel 2 will offer a more standard feel with prominent bezels.

Recently an FCC listing confirmed yet another piece of information – the HTC-made Pixel 2 will feature a pressure-sensitive display dubbed “Active Edge” in the vein of the Edge Sense that can be found on the HTC U11.

We previously heard that only the Pixel 2 XL will be the one t take advantage of the squeezable display, but by the looks of it, it’s the smaller Pixel 2 that’s going to inherit the feature from the U11 – HTC’s most recent flagship.

Hiya Business Profiles are available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Caller ID and call block specialist, Hiya just announced it has partnered up with Samsung once again in order to bring its Business Profiles on board the newly unveiled Galaxy Note 8 phablet.

Previously available in 28 countries for users of the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, all A-series, and J-series, the Hiya Business Profiles are now available in Samsung Places – a reinvention of the dialer – on the Galaxy Note 8.

Hiya Business Profiles provides an alternative way of finding and contacting business without having to exit the phone dialer. A tab called Places is now available when you open the phone app and from there, users can quickly find and call local business including Restaurants, Shops, Travel Agencies, Public Offices and more.

Granted, you can easily find and call local businesses from within the Google Maps app which comes pre-installed on most Samsung devices, but we guess many users would find it more convenient not having to leave the phone app when searching for a particular location.

Hiya also announced today the Hiya-powered Smart Call service by Samsung now comes integrated on the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, A-series and J-series in 35 countries.

The service taps into Hiya Caller Profile’s proprietary database which includes over 1.5 billion unique numbers, as well as more than 3.5 billion calls and texts monthly in order to highlight spam callers.

Samsung is working on a Bixby-powered smart speaker

Dan Bartram
-
0

It wasn’t just the Galaxy Note 8 that was on show today at Samsung’s Unpacked event, Samsung’s president DJ Koh also confirmed the company is working on a Bixby powered speaker.

We’ve heard rumors of this before that were quickly dismissed given Bixby wasn’t even in a fit state to be on a smartphone let alone rival something like the Amazon Echo. However, Bixby has launched globally and it has been confirmed at the Unpacked event that Samsung are in fact working on a smart speaker powered by the personal assistant.

CNBC reports the device is under active development, with DJ Koh stating, “Maybe soon we will announce it. I am already working on it.”

Samsung will look to try and claim some of the market that is already dominated by the likes of Google Home and the Amazon Echo. The speaker is said to work with all Samsung products, including TV’s, Tizen-based products, and probably its refrigerators too.

Would you purchase a Bixby powered smart speaker over an Amazon Echo or Google Home? Let us know in the comments below.

1...848849850...1,316Page 849 of 1,316