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Swappa continues expansion with addition of full gaming section

AndroidGuys
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Swappa, one of our favorite places to buy and sell smartphones, has spread its wings yet again. Following the expansion into wearables, laptops, and VR comes its newest endeavor: gaming. That’s right, you can now buy and sell video games and consoles, too.

Starting today you can visit swappa.com to purchase a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, or games for the respective systems. Additionally, one can also find accessories on the site as well.

After having kicked around in development for a few months, the foray into gaming makes sense for Swappa. The site already has a pretty wide range of electronics; just about everyone we know has an interest in games.

At launch, users will have to decide the asking prices for video games, consoles, and accessories. Swappa plans to add charts and historical data to help more closely align buyers and sellers. As it already does for phones, this information will show recent sales and trends for pricing.

Navigating the gaming section is as to be expected. Click on a game title (EX: Madden NFL 16) and you’ll be presented with a gallery of screen shots, ratings, release details, a full description, and alias titles (EX: Madden NFL Sixteen). Moreover, you can search the website for one of these alternative names. If the game is available for other consoles, you’ll also be given the option to find the one you want. Results can also be pared down by condition or pricing.

Similar to how Swappa handles phones and other devices, its market is based on an honor system. Buyer beware always applies when dealing with online sales, but, thanks to a partnership with PayPal, both sides are protected in a transaction. So, should the video game you expected to be in mint condition show up with a ton of scratches, you can file a dispute.

Although there are plenty of places to buy and sell your old gear, Swappa has consistently shown itself to be a top choice. We’ve long appreciated the simplicity and its policies and have come to trust the ecosystem. The next time you go to get rid of something tech-based check to see what you can get out of it from Swappa. Conversely, if you are looking to buy something as a gift or replacement device, you might be surprised by its offerings.

Motorola launches X4 with dual cameras, Amazon Alexa, and other nifty features

AndroidGuys
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Following closely on the heels of its Z2 Play and Z2 Force, Motorola is back again with another smartphone release. Indeed, today sees the company launching its fourth iteration of the popular X line. Expected to go on sale starting in September, the new Moto X4 will retail for around $480 USD.

If specs are what you’re concerned with, the X4 comes with more than the average mid-range smartphone. Generally speaking, though, the phone skews more toward the high end, thanks to some of its features. Don’t be fooled by the bullet-list of hardware; Motorola bakes in some intriguing details which help justify its cost and placement in the handset space.

Powered by Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the X4 has a 5.2-inch (1980 x 1080) display, a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, and 3,000mAh battery. Memory comes in the form of either 3GB or 4GB while storage is offered up at 32GB and 64GB capacities. External storage can be added up to 2TB via microSD.

In terms of cameras, the X4 has a 16-megapixel front-facing shooter and a dual-camera setup around back. Paired with the “advanced camera software”, the 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras can help create professional portraits and blurred backgrounds. Moreover, there are beta features to help create even more interesting shots. The Dual Autofocus Pixel technology means faster focus in lower light conditions.

The phone itself has an anodized aluminum frame with an IP-68 rated protection against water. So, it will withstand drops of rain just as well as a soda spill or fall into a puddle.

Motorola worked with French startup Tempow to improve the Bluetooth experience for the new phone. While the same 30-foot radius still applies, you can pair up to four audio devices to the phone. This includes combinations of headphones, speakers, stereo systems, and more.

Motorola typically keeps the Android user experience pretty much untouched, opting only to sprinkle in additional features in the name of user delight. That’s the case again as the X4 is the first Motorola phone to bake Amazon Alexa right into the device. Need help reading or adding to your grocery list? Well, you already know how easy that is. Other enhancements include Moto Key, a tool to access password-secured websites with the touch of a finger.

Availability

Pricing and exact launch details are not yet known. As of press time the most Motorola will commit to is “tarting in September in various countries in Europe starting at €399. It will be available in other global markets, including the U.S., later this fall.”

Pokémon Go adds limited time Battle Raids for Entei, Suicune and Raikou

AndroidGuys
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Niantic today announced that the three roaming dogs of the Johto region — Entei, Suicune and Raikou — are now found in Raid Battles around the globe. Starting from August 31 and running for three months, each of the legendary beasts will be battling in various regions.

Each of the legendary Pokémon will be in their respective region for approximately one month. Here’s how things will shake out at first.

  • Raikou, an Electric-type Legendary Pokémon, can be battled throughout the Americas.
  • Entei, a Fire-type Legendary Pokémon, can be battled throughout Europe and Africa.
  • Suicune, a Water-type Legendary Pokémon, can be battled throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Come September 30, the Pokémon move to a different continent where they’ll battle it out for another month. Then, on October 31, they’ll move to the last regions and finish out their limited run.

The legendary birds of Lugia, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are going away — at least for now. While each of them did have limited one-week Raid Battles, Niantic brought them all back together for a few weeks. It’s not clear if, or when, they’ll be back. Hope you caught the ones you wanted!

EX Raid Battles

 

Formerly known as Exclusive Raid Battles, these will be field-tested over the coming weeks before rolling out globally. Niantic will tweak the system based on previous and ongoing feedback, adjusting requirements, times, locations, and frequency. The first EX Raid Passes will be sent out soon, with those invited able to get started as early as September 6.

WiZ Light bulbs are a new player in the smart lights arena (Review)

AndroidGuys
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WiZ is a new company in the smart lighting market, and they bring a compelling collection of lights to the US market. Featuring a simple set up and easy to use app, as well as a hub-less design that may be appealing to those feeling the smart home hub fatigue.

The WiZ A.E26 bulbs are similar to your standard light bulb and have full 16 million color RGB and 64 thousand shades of white. They function very similarly to the likes of Philips Hue, or Lifx in terms of the app and even the light’s color performance. However, the light bulbs are much easier to set up than Lifx, requiring a simple toggle of power and then about a minute or two of setup in the app. Once you’re in the app, it’s a simple matter of making a room and assigning lights to the room. The app has the usual fare for customization, with a color selector, options for the different shades of white, as well as custom themes and lighting modes to suit your mood. It’s easy to use, but the UI isn’t the most visually striking, I give that to the Lifx app, which has a nicer visual flair overall.

In terms of light performance, white was generally spot on for the WiZ bulbs. The color performance stood up well also, at least compared to the Hue bulbs. Some colors were difficult for WiZ to match the newer Hue bulbs with improved colors, mostly green, and actually outperformed Hue in red. However, both bulbs can’t match the peak brightness and color of the Lifx bulbs, since they have more LED diodes per bulb. They do come close enough that without having the other bulbs to compare, you’d probably never notice the difference. I’d say the WiZ bulbs are definitely up there with the best smart bulbs in terms of overall performance.

WiZ also has a handy remote that lets you control the bulbs without using your phone, and lets you customize the four preset buttons to your favorite themes or settings. The remote requires line of sight but works well even through lampshades. It’s powered by traditional batteries, which is both good and bad for me, but it is also convenient if you just want to turn the light on quickly without your phone or voice.

The WiZ bulbs came ready to play nice with the rest of your smart home as well. They come fully compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as IFTTT to allow you to easily integrate them into your existing smart home infrastructure. Setting them up with my Google Home was very easy, and so far it has worked just as well as my Lifx bulbs at home. Points to WiZ for having a solid smart home integration at launch.

WiZ bulbs are available in select Costco stores now and will be at Amazon and Home Depot starting next week in the US. The A.E26 bulbs will start at $69.95 for the color and $49.95 for the white only version. There are also other lights available on WiZ’s website, WiZ.world, including the most intriguing to me, smart RGB LED recessed lighting.

If you’re in the market for smart lights and are looking for a brand that offers the same level of quality that the more established brands like Philips and Lifx offer at a competitive price with some compelling new features, then be sure to check out WiZ lights.

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal in the works, leaked document suggests

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Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 8 just days ago, and already, we’re starting to see deals emerge. First, Samsung decided to give trade-in values for current and veteran smartphones. Next, Verizon and Sprint have already provided discount deals for the Galaxy Note 8, with both carriers offering up to 50% off the new Galaxy Note 8 with device trade-ins. AT&T has multiple deals, such as a $200 bill credit, a Gear S2 smartwatch for 99 cents or a Gear S3 for $49.99 with a two-year phone agreement, or $500 off a Samsung TV when you buy a Galaxy Note 8 and add DIRECTV.

A rumored T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal on the way could give Magenta a place among the current carrier deals, if a new leaked document means anything. The leaked document was shared with TmoNews, giving Galaxy Note 8 buyers who purchase one Galaxy Note 8 a second device for free – a promo deal effective beginning September 1st.

The customer must be enrolled in a T-Mobile One or Simple Choice Unlimited Plan, purchase the first Galaxy Note 8 via EIP, then add a second Galaxy Note 8 and line. What this means is that you’ll have to buy two Galaxy Note 8s, then head to T-Mobile’s promo website and add a code to receive the price of the second Galaxy Note 8 back. Once you do, you’ll receive a prepaid Visa MasterCard with the pre-loaded money for the second Galaxy Note 8.

Ultimately, you will have to purchase a second line each month (so there’s an added expense), but the price of the line over 24 months will be less than what you’d have to pay for a second Galaxy Note 8 (currently retailing for around $930-$960 at carriers, $930 at Samsung’s own website). Of course, Verizon and Sprint promo customers need only purchase the device and trade another in without adding a second line, so there’s that. For Galaxy Note 8 customers who’ve already pre-ordered, do not worry: you qualify for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal, retroactively.

The Galaxy Note 8 is Samsung’s highest of its high-end, Android-powered devices for 2017, featuring a 6.3-inch, Quad HD+ (2,960 x 1,440p screen resolution) display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, and Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC. 64GB of internal storage with the 256GB-capable microSD card slot, along with IP68 water and dust resistance, USB Type-C charging, fast charging, wireless charging, and fast wireless charging carry over from the Galaxy Note 7 to this next-generation device. Samsung has enhanced the S Pen of the Galaxy Note 8, providing new pen features such as full sentence translation, currency conversion, and Live Message, all while bringing back old Galaxy Note 7 features such as Glance and Magnify.

Dual rear cameras appear on the Galaxy Note 8 for the first time in the series’ history, with two 12MP rear cameras with f/1.7 apertures, optical image stabilization (OIS), and Dual Pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF). Samsung has added Dual OIS on both rear cameras, a first in the industry, along with features such as Live Focus and Dual Capture. And Samsung’s Bixby AI arrives in the Galaxy Note series with new Quick Commands that consist of a spoken word. Samsung has partnered with Hiya to bring Hiya Business Profiles and Hiya’s Smart Call service to the Galaxy Note 8 to contact businesses within Samsung’s phone app and highlight spam callers.

The Galaxy Note 8 is currently available for pre-order and is set for worldwide release on September 15th. T-Mobile customers, what do you think about the rumored Galaxy Note 8 BOGO deal? Pre-ordered already, or glad you waited until now?

24 hours with the LG V30 (first impressions)

Matt Adams
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LG is having a killer year. After the disaster that was the LG G5, in the past 12 months, LG has released two of the best phones on the market today, the V20 and G6. Now, we’re getting our first hands on to the LG V30, the third phone in a row to blow us away.

Just a disclaimer here, we haven’t had the device for very long (just about 24 hours) and this isn’t a final review unit. LG was gracious enough to send over a preview unit. Our full review will be conducted with a retail unit so that we’re working on the exact same hardware and software that you may walk into a carrier store and pick up.

Hardware

While it isn’t using all the same premium materials that the Samsung Galaxy S8 is using, it still feels amazing in the hand. The back of our preview unit is running non-final hardware so we don’t get that premium Gorilla Glass 5 backing that retail units will have, but to be honest, it still feels pretty damn good. I’m interested to see how the LG V30’s retail unit incorporates the glass back because this is already a really nice phone without it.

The V30, much like the G6 and Galaxy lineup is almost entirely display. The 6-inch display retains the 2:1 aspect ratio of the LG G6 but ditches the IPS LCD technology for a new FullVision OLED display. One of the reasons that Samsung has continued its dominance over LG is the display quality and technology. Finally, we see LG jump on board the (far superior) OLED bandwagon. The V30’s display looks amazing in our testing so far, but we’ll definitely need more time with it and side by side the Galaxy S8 to determine if LG’s display stands up to the current champ.

What we do know, however, is that the screen is massive, bright, and gorgeous. The 82% screen to body ratio is among the highest out there and makes the V30 a legitimate contender for one-handed use even though it has a massive 6-inch display.

I was honestly surprised to find out that the G6 had a 6-inch display because the device is much easier to hold and use than the Samsung Galaxy S8, which has a smaller 5.8-inch display. I believe the reason for this the lack of a dual-curved display. This gives you actual sides of the phone to hold onto and makes it a lot easier to handle.

Due to not having final hardware, we can’t comment too much on how thin and light our device is. Realistically though, even with a heavier, thicker panel of glass on the rear of the device, this still going to feel like one of the thinnest and lightest on the market.

One thing that the V30 is definitely lacking, intentionally so, is the ticker display that both the V10 and V20 have had. LG dropped the display for a Floating Bar within the software in lieu of that hardware display. I was never a big fan of the ticker display so I’m perfectly fine with this. I felt it made a huge phone even bigger for almost no benefit. I’m going to have to play with the floating bar a little bit more, but it’s definitely a better solution than the ticker display in my opinion.

The V30 brings back the IP68 rating of the G6 and compliance with the MIL-STD-810G drop standard that the V10 and V20 had. That’s extremely impressive considering that the V30 is more a “glass sandwich” than the rugged bodies of its forefathers. I’ve yet to drop the V30 (and hopefully I don’t anytime soon) but based on how solid the device feels in hand, I have no doubt that it’s a durable device. I do worry about having that much exposed glass, but we’ll have to see how the final retail unit stands up to drop and fall tests to truly know.

Inside the device, you’ll find a Snapdragon 835 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage that can be expanded via a microSD card. The lack of a RAM bump from the G6 feels a bit weird and I feel like it’s going to cost LG as it goes up against the Note 8 that has 6GB of RAM. In my extremely limited time with the device, it has run smoothly almost the entire time I’ve been using it. The only issue I’ve had is the homescreen redrawing once or twice.

Software

The LG V30 comes out of the box with Android Nougat with its skin on top of it. Last year we saw the V20 launch with the newest version of Google’s software so I was hoping that the V30 would shock us and come with Oreo, but alas, it does not. We’ll see how long the software upgrade takes since Oreo has just rolled out to Pixel devices within the last few weeks. Hopefully, we see it by the end of the year.

Not much has changed in the software from the LG G6. It feels pretty familiar and still comes default with a launcher that doesn’t have an app drawer. It’s honestly baffling why LG does this. It includes a version of its launcher with an app drawer so it recognizes that customers want that, but doesn’t enable it by default. I don’t get it. Please cut it out, LG.

As I mentioned before, the second ticker display has been dropped for a software solution that LG is calling the “floating bar”. It comes in the way of a small chip on the right side of the screen that you can tap to display or hold to move around wherever you want. It houses shortcuts to actions like creating a new memo, taking a selfie, capturing the screen to create a gif, controlling your music, or accessing some quick contacts.

Even though I own a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, I’ve never really loved the edge features which is why I’m so surprised that I like the floating bar so much. It doesn’t do anything revolutionary and it only saves me one or two taps, but… I don’t know how to put my finger on it. It’s just really convenient and doesn’t get in the way. I wouldn’t mind seeing quick access to some user-selected apps in there, but that’s my only qualm so far.

Ths Always-On Display makes a comeback with some improved functionality. First off, it lets you put a picture of pizza on there, so yeah, there’s that. But, also you can scroll through some options at the top of the display too to control things like your music selections and some quick toggles. I like how LG went about it but wonder if it’s an easier option than just turning your display on fully or unlocking your device. Kudos for putting it in though.

LG’s skin will feel familiar if you’ve used any of its devices in the past few years. I’ve never been a huge fan of its skin, but it does have some nice features like the ability to customize your navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen. I love being able to hit a drop down button to lower the notification shade instead of reaching the top of the display. I like the new floating bar and the rest we can fix with themes and third-party launchers for the most part.

Conclusion

There’s a lot we’ve not been able to cover yet due to the limited amount of time and lack of final hardware and software. But, that doesn’t stop me from being very excited about the V30. I’ve seen some definite steps forward here, even compared to the G6 which came out just six short months ago.

LG is making a massive push on the media front and aims to make the V30 a multimedia powerhouse. It has included a Quad-DAC once again and support for Bluetooth 5.0 and AptX-HD which means no matter how you’re listening to audio from the V30, it’ll sound great. The OLED display looks fantastic when viewing media with the deep blacks and bright colors that it displays.

But, it’s not just consuming media that the V30 does well. It’s creating it too. LG has packed in a brand new f/1.6 lens and an absolute TON of software features into both photo and video editing to make the dream of shooting and editing a movie on your phone closer and closer. I’m really excited to play with these features and we’ll be sure to bring you our thoughts in the full review that we should have up soon.

So, bottom line, what do I think? This is a fast, beautiful, powerhouse of a phone that fixed the few faults of the LG G6. It’s going to be a contender for phone of the year unless Google really blows our socks off with the Pixel 2.

QardioBase2 smart scale and body analyzer debuts for $149.99

Alexandra Arici
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If you’re a health enthusiasts, you’ll probably be interested to know that connected health device company Qardio has just unveiled the second-generation version of its QardioBase smart scale and body analyzer.

A follow-up of the original model which launched in 2015, the new QardioBase 2 comes with a design upgrade and new features.

While the new smart scale continues to flaunt the same characteristic “floating” design, it also improves upon it by offering a much more stable base, even for people with large feet.

The QardioBase 2 includes a new brighter and crisper display, so you can easily see the body measurements. An upgraded haptic engine has been added for improved vibration feedback.

The embedded sensor system has also been enhanced to deliver quicker and better measurements. The smart scale relies on a rechargeable battery that is said to be able to last up to 12 months on a single charge.

Like the original QardioBase, the new model can track weight, body mass index (BMI) and full body composition (% of muscle, fat, water, bone) measurements. The health gadget comes with a motivational goal setting mode, as well as a pregnancy mode (tracks progress throughout each trimester).

Most importantly, the new QardioBase can automatically recognize more than one user, while also keeping individual stats private. Users can pair the smart scale with the Qardio App to track progress better, set goals and more.

QardioBase 2 is already available for purchase for $149.99 a pop for customers in the US, UK, and continental Europe. Get your smart scale in Arctic White or Volcanic Black.

The first phone to launch with Android 8.0 is here, the Sony Xperia XZ1

Alexandra Arici
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A few hours after the LG V30 went official, Sony took center stage at IFA 2017 in Berlin to announce its second flagship for the year. It’s called the Xperia XZ1 and arrives today alongside a smaller XZ1 Compact variant and the middle-range XA1 Plus.

While the Sony Xperia XZ1 doesn’t look as impressive as the LG V30, it did manage to snag some interesting features. Let’s check them out.

But first, let’s talk a bit about the visual aspect. Yeah, the Sony Xperia XZ1 doesn’t flaunt a modern tall and narrow design like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with its bezeless display and 18:5:9 aspect ratio. Instead, Sony has decided to stick with its classical OmniBalance approach. However, unlike earlier Sony devices, the new flagship is made of a single slab of aluminum.

While the new phone features a 5.2-inch fullHD display and visible bezels, it does offer HDR support just like Sony’s previous Xperia XZ Premium. There’s also a pair of stereo speakers living above and below the display, which the Japanese device makers say will deliver 50% higher sound pressure over the previous XZ model.

Deciding to continue with the classical approach also has its perks – for example, you’ll be happy to know the 3.5mm headphone jack is alive and well on the new Sony Xperia XZ1. Of course the device also comes with IP65/IP68 certification.

What about internals? The flagship includes a Snapdragon 835 processor, as well as 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, the phone embeds a smaller 2,700 mAh battery (the Xperia XZ included a 2,900 mAh). That’s because Sony slimmed down the new phone from 8.1mm of last year’s model to 7.4mm.

What makes the Sony Xperia XZ1 stand out? Well first off, it’s the first smartphone to be announced with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Unveiled on the same day, the LG V30 didn’t manage to offer this feature, but the phone will undoubtedly receive the update at a later time.

Secondly, the Sony Xperia XZ1 includes the same 19-megapixel sensor the Xperia XZ Premium had which has the ability to shoot slow motion video at a mind-blowing 960 fps and do Predictive Capture. There’s a new smile-based trigger for this particular feature and an autofocus burst feat that refocuses between burst shots.

This is great news, but that’s not all, as Sony also slipped an intriguing new feature – it’s called 3D scanning. Basically, you will be able to use your handset to take photos of three-dimensional objects in less than 60 seconds. We don’t know how this will actually work in real life, but we’re obviously interested to find out.

Sony says the Xperia XZ1 will launch on September 19 and we hope the company will keep its promise. It took months before the Sony Xperia XZ Premium which was unveiled in February finally landed on the market, but a lot of customers lost interest in the device in the process.

The handset will be available for pick-up in Warm Silver, Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink and Black for $699 (in the US).

TCL all set to revive Palm, expect new devices in early 2018

Alexandra Arici
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Remember Palm, maker of the iconic Pre smartphone? Well after being on hiatus for the past half-decade, Palm is reportedly going to be making a comeback next year.

Well according to the folks at Android Planet who talked to TCL’s Marketing Manager Stefan Streit, new Palm devices (he did not mention smartphones specifically) are in the pipeline.

TCL – the company that’s currently trying to revive the BlackBerry brand – purchased the Palm brand back in 2011. Six years after, the electronics giant wants to make Palm great again.

But there’s a caveat to take into consideration. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely the new Palm devices will run Palm OS / webOS, although Streit said they will be targeted at users familiar with the old ones.

webOS, the mobile gesture-based operating system which Palm developed for its devices was part of the HP acquisition and later got sold off to LG which is still using it to power some of its smart TV products.

We can assume the new Palm devices will run on Android, just like the latest BlackBerry KEYone, but that’s not a detail we can be 100% sure about at this point.

Streit further detailed TCL’s upcoming mobile strategy by explaining the Alcatel brand will be aimed at “millennials”, BlackBerry at enterprise customers and Palm will be used to lure in older users who still remember how great the brand used to be.

Would you consider buying a new Palm device with Android onboard?

Google has already started working on Android P

AndroidGuys
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It has literally been only a few days since Google has launched the latest version of its Mobile operating system, Android Oreo 8.0. While it has not even officially reached devices other than the Pixel and the Nexus yet, Google has now started working on the next major software version, the Android P.

Some members at XDA have spotted that a new tag called Master-P has been opened up in the Android Open Source project which is presumed to be the upcoming version of Android 9.0. While the name game is still on, it is quite fascinating that Google has already begun the development process of a newer version of Android.

This quick start could also mean that Google is planning to add a lot of new features to the upcoming version of Android or even try to completely change the design language just like it did when upgrading Android from KitKat to Lollipop.

It has been a long time since Google rolled out a software update with a visual overhaul, so we could hope that happens in Android P. However it is too soon to decide on anything until further announcements from Google. Maybe Google will release an incremental update for Android Oreo 8.0 as 8.1 just like it did for Nougat 7.1.1. But only time will tell.

As of now, the only official things that could be derived are that Google is testing an Android version named Android P, in the Pixel and the Pixel XL devices. This was identified by the code name of these devices, Sailfish and Marlin respectively, mentioned in the  version_defaults.mk file.

Another commit which goes by the name, “master is P only, removing old values”, shows that the platform version was updated from 8.0.0 to P. So, it is quite clear that Google is working on something new and has also updated the Platform version.

All we could do now is to wait for a more visual and a less textual confirmation about Android P from Google. Until then, keep waiting for Android Oreo to hit your phone.

You can view the changes made to the AOSP here.

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