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Samsung rolling out software update to fix Galaxy S8 reddish hue issues

Alexandra Arici
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Following reports from Asia that claims select Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ displays were affected by a red hue, Samsung confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that it is issuing an update that will bring a resolution to the problem.

However, Samsung is sticking to its initial response that the reddish hue is not a quality problem. A few weeks ago, the Korean tech giant instructed affected Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+ owners to simply change their display’s color configuration from Settings. Nevertheless, some owners claimed the reddish hue couldn’t be corrected from the color display settings.

Now Samsung is making sure Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners will be able to do that with an update that adds an enhanced ability to adjust the color settings to their liking. The update will also bundle fixes for a few Wi-Fi reception issues.

But for its part, Samsung continued to minimize the issue, as it can be observed in the company’s statement to the Korean Herald:

“We will upgrade the software because of some dissatisfied customers although there is no problem in the phone itself.”

Industry insiders noted that although Samsung appears to be reluctant to admit mea culpa, the reddish hue, which made a lot of customers uncomfortable, might have been the result of a software glitch.

Nevertheless, we’re glad Samsung moved relatively quick. Users can expect the update to start rolling out, as soon as next week. With the Galaxy Note7 disaster barely behind it, Samsung wanted to squash any potential Galaxy S8-issues while in their infancy.

Would you buy a Moto device if it had ZUK’s ZUI on top?

Alexandra Arici
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Lenovo’s sub-brand, ZUK ships out its smartphones with its own custom user interface dubbed ZUI. But what if the UI made it onboard of Motorola’s upcoming devices? Would you still buy a new Moto device?

The information comes to us via Lenovo’s Vice President, Alex Chen Yu who posted this info on his Weibo account a few days ago. But since then the blog post has been deleted. Still, it’s not the first time we’re hearing Lenovo is considering porting ZUK’s ZUI onboard of a select host of Motorola devices. An older rumor claimed Lenovo was beta testing ZUI on the Moto Z and now it seems ZUK’s custom firmware might make an appearance on some of Motorola’s new products.

Still don’t get alarmed. As a user on Reddit pointed out, the since-deleted Weibo post contained a character which means “in the country”. Luckily for Motorola fans who love the nearly stock Android experience Moto devices bring to the table, it’s quite possible Lenovo’s VP meant to say the ZUK ZUI-equipped devices will only be marketed in China. Which makes sense, since the Chinese market is very welcoming to customized Android skins like the ZUI. Only to name a few, there’s Xiaomi’s MIUI, Meizu’s Flyme UI or Huawei’s EMUI.

Motorola is expected to launch a full host of new Moto devices in the upcoming months including the low-end Moto C and Moto C Plus, the slightly better-specced Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus, the resurrected Moto X (2017) and naturally the flagship Moto Z2 and related products, like the recently leaked Moto Z2 Play. At this point, we don’t have any info related to which new Moto devices will get ZUK ZUI treatment in China.

Sennheiser’s 3D audio earbuds will soon be compatible with Samsung’s phones

Alexandra Arici
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Renown German high-end audio product maker, Sennheiser announced it was partnering up with mobile phone giant, Samsung in order to develop an immersive sound program for Android-powered devices.

While the IFA 2017 tradeshow is still a few months away, organizers have already been teasing the latest in terms of tech trends during the IFA Global Press Conference which took place in Lisbon, Portugal over the weekend. Present at the event, Sennheiser CEO, Andreas Sennheiser told The Korean Herald that his company is currently working to Samsung to make the AMBEO smart headset available for Samsung devices.

Sennheiser CEO, Andreas Sennheiser

Introduced back at CES 2017, the AMBEO smart headset is designed to record three-dimensional (3D) audio, the kind that so far, would require the help of a really strange looking ear-shaped audio-piece. But Sennheiser has taken the creepiness out of the equation, so the AMBEO headset features only a set of pretty normal earbuds that wrap around the ears. Previously only available for iOS, the German audio specialist wants to extend the availability of the headset by partnering up with one of the largest Android OEMs in the world – Samsung.

Samsung also works with Harman to bundle AKG earbuds for Galaxy S8 packages, so it might seem a bit strange that the Korean conglomerate is pursuing another headphones partnership.

However, AMBEO’s 3D audio option represents a distinctive feature which might help Samsung differentiate its smartphones from the competition’s even further. And given that the AMBEO headphones can be paired with a 360-degree camera and the AMBEO VR Mic, the partnership could also help Samsung gain more traction in the up-and-coming VR market.

FYI: Bixby’s Amazon shopping feature not available for Verizon Galaxy S8 users

Alexandra Arici
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We already told you that Bixby isn’t fully operational on the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ just yet. Despite promising a virtual assistant that allows users to do anything they’re doing on the phone by using voice commands, for the time being, Samsung delivered a pretty restricted Bixby.

Ok, initial buyers won’t be able to take advantage of Bixby Voice, but there’s more to the story. According to CNET, customers buying the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ from Verizon won’t be able to take advantage of another Bixby feature – namely the ability to identify an object or text and link them to product pages from the Amazon store.

The feat is part of Bixby Vision, which should also enable users to use the S8 camera to identify objects with the help of Pinterest or translate foreign languages under Google’s guidance.

The information according to which Verizon Galaxy S8 customers won’t be able to take advantage of the new Amazon shopping experience has been confirmed by Big Red itself. The carrier also assured users, it is working with Amazon to ensure the feature will be added to its Galaxy S8 phones soon. However, Verizon did not specify an exact timeline.

As a workaround, Verizon says that in the meantime, customers can use the existing Amazon app on their handsets and get “the same photo and shopping experience”.

At this moment, it seems the problem has to do with either Verizon or Amazon, as the same feature on AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile devices is currently operational. Hopefully Big Red and the shopping giant will be able to fix this problem soon.

Top 7 features to look for in a new phone

AndroidGuys
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With a seemingly limitless number of phones available on the market, it can be hard to choose the right one for you. To help you along, here is a complete cell phone buying guide with the top seven features to look for in a new phone.

Ideal Screen Size

It’s totally up to you to choose which size of screen you want for your phone, but you’ll want a screen that is comfortable to use and hold while also fitting easily into your pocket. A screen of four to five inches is a convenient size for most people.

Clear Screen Resolution

It’s very important to have a clear and high quality screen resolution because the screen is what you look at when you use your phone and therefore directly impacts your overall user experience. Avoid purchasing any smart phone that has a display resolution of less than 720p.

Long Battery Life

The primary concept to having a cell phone in the first place is that you can carry it with you while you’re away from home or a charging station. For this reason, your phone has to have a long battery life and should last you for at least a full day before it needs to be charged again. If your phone doesn’t have a good battery, it simply won’t be very convenient for you to use.

See Also:

Quality Camera

Virtually all smartphones released these days come installed with a photo and video camera, but not all phone cameras are created equal. Choose a phone that comes with both a front and rear facing HD camera and with at least eight megapixels.

Plenty Of Storage Space

We use our phones for storing contacts, music, photos and video, and so on. This is why having a large memory space is a highly desirable feature. Avoid any smartphone with a memory space of less than 16GB. If you plan on using your phone extensively, doubling that to 32GB may be necessary.

Compatible With Nationwide Carriers

Only go with a smartphone that is compatible with the big nationwide carriers such as Verizon or T-Mobile, and not just regional carriers. Conduct research on which specific carriers have the strongest coverage in your particular location, and then narrow your selection of phones down to models that are available with that particular carrier.

Cost

Last but not least, the cost of a phone is something that must be taken into account as well. While some smartphones can cost over eight hundred dollars, others can be had for less than half that amount. You don’t want to spend more than you can afford, so set a budget and search for the best phone possible within that budget.

Finding The Perfect Phone For You

Now that you know exactly what you need to look for in a smartphone, you’ll be able to more efficiently narrow your options to select the perfect one for you.

Nokia touts the Withings Steel HR Special Edition as an excellent Mother’s Day gift

Alexandra Arici
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Mother’s Day is coming up on May 7, so just in time for the occasion Nokia unveiled the new Withings Steel HR Special Edition. Remember that at MWC 2017, French maker of stylish wearables, Withings announced that all the company’s products will be re-branded under the Nokia brand?

Well the new Withings Steel HR Special Edition is among the new wave of products which come under the Nokia umbrella. The Steel HR Special Edition is a stylish hybrid smartwatch  that can be turned into a great day-to-day companion – much like the standard edition.

But those acquiring the new Steel HR Special Edition won’t have to worry about packaging their gift, as Withings makes sure to ship out the watch with a beautiful gift box which includes the wearable per-se, an Italian hazelnut leather and a silicone wristband (perfect for sporting activities, swimming or rainy weather) and a charger.

Like most smartwatches out there, the Withings Steel HR Special Edition can be used to relay notifications from text messages, calls and events. But the wearable also offers a host of fitness-centric features, as well. With a built-in heart rate monitor onboard, it can be fully synchronized with the accompanying Android or iOS app called Health Mate to display personal trends, offers insights and unlock various milestones and rewards.

The stylish wearable can also be used to track activities like walking, running or swimming, number of calories burned, distance traveled (for walking or running activities) and sleep cycle.

Nokia promises an extensive battery life of up to 25 days plus 20 days on a power reserve mode. The Special Edition is available for $229 from the official Withings website.

Moto Z2 Play leaks: come take a look at Motorola’s next-gen battery champ

Alexandra Arici
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The Motorola Moto Z Play was one of our favorite phones last year. The phone came equipped with a fantastic battery life, a relatively affordable price-tag attached it and pretty nifty specs.

Given that next-gen Moto Z2 family is obviously in the pipeline, we can expect a Moto Z2 Play to launch alongside the standard Moto Z2 and the Moto Z2 Force – which was already spotted online a while back.

If you’re curious how the Moto Z2 Play will end up looking like this year, then you’ll be glad to know folks at Techno Buffalo have already obtained a press render which shows the upcoming device in its full glory.

Bye bye square physical home button!

This year Motorola will continue to use with the same Moto G5-esque design language, when it comes to its flagship lineup, as well. As you can see, the Moto Z2 Play shown in the image, ditches the strange home square button for a candy bar-shaped one which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

Not much is known about the upcoming phone’s specs, but according to the leaked image the Moto Z2 Play will feature a dual-tone flash in front – an upgrade compared to last year’s model. As expected, the back of the phone houses the Moto Mods pin connection system.

Last year’s Moto Z Play

According to sources familiar with the matter, this year’s model won’t be all that different from the one launched in 2016. In case you don’t remember the Moto Z Play comes equipped with a 5.5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution and a Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood. The phone also has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for memory expansion.

On the imaging front, the device takes advantage of a 16-megapixel main camera with f/2.0, phase detection autofocus and dual-LED flash and a 5-megapixel selfie camera.

At the moment, we can’t tell you when exactly to expect the Moto Z2 Play, but if you look closely at the render, you’ll notice the displays shows the June 8 date. This could be a very good indicator that the Moto Z2 Play will be launched 3 months from now.

Coolicool flash sale drops Ulefone Future price to $169.99

AndroidGuys
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Online retailer Coolicool is having a flash deal which puts 200 units of the bezel-less Ulefone Future on sale for the crazy low price of USD $169.99. Moreover, it also comes with a TPU bumper case and Type-C adapter as gifts, too. Normally the phone sells for $269.99 so you could save quite a bit!

At a mid-range price, the Ulefone Future actually ranks quite highly for the phone maker, scoring better reviews than for all other models. Housed in a CNC metal unibody, the Future features a bezel-less 5.5-inch FHD display, a Helio P10 1.95GHz processor with 4GB RAM, and 32GB storage.

 

With a 16-megapixel Samsung camera on the back, the phone also houses a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3,000mAh battery, and gyro sensor. For charging, it comes with a 18W fast charger.

This is a flash deal which means it’s limited to a quantity of 200 units. Once they are sold, the price goes back up. So, if you’re looking to save $100 on the Ulefone Future, you will need to act fast!

Note: North American buyers may want to double check to ensure that the Future is compatible with their respective service provider. While it might work for phone purposes, the data speeds may be less than expected.

Bands:

  • GSM 850/900/1800MHz
  • WCDMA 900/2100MHz
  • FDD-LTE B1/B3/B7/B20

iClever 15,000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter review

AndroidGuys
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We’ve long been fans of having a portable power bank on hand in case your phone runs low on juice. It seems that no matter how big our batteries are that we find ourselves looking around for a charger every so often. It’s definitely not as bad as it was a few years back, especially with Quick Charge technology. A few minutes here and there is all we need to keep afloat.

Once in a while we find ourselves in a dire situation where a more important battery has been completely depleted. We’re talking, of course, about a car battery. Should one of those die or get drained on you, it could spell trouble. If anything, it’s an inconvenience.

The iClever 15,000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter can be used to help charge up both your phone and your car battery. Indeed, it packs enough juice to charge your typical smartphone up some 4-5 times over, but it also has a connector to hook directly up to your lawnmower, boat, or vehicle.

The iClever unit comes bundled together in a carrying pouch that zips up; elastic straps ensure none of the pieces and parts are tossed about or lost in transit. The design is convenient in that you only have to pull out what you need. Just plugging in a phone or two? Grab the main component. Gonna hook up to the car? Pull out the jumper cables and plug in!

The iClever portable charger comes with two USB ports for plugging in your various devices. The pair include Quick Charge Output: (DC 5V-2.4A; 9V-2A; 12V-1.5A) so you’re not stuck carrying around a charger for very long.

With peak current 600A(3s) or 700A(0.3s), this Car Jumper has a ablity to emergency restart your vehicle (up to 6.0L(T) petrol or 4.0L(T) diesel engine or 12V 10A lawnmower) for nearly 30 times. Especially for adventure, outdoor, daily, travel, high and low temperature (-20°c to 60°c), etc.

On the back side of the charger you’ll fine four light indicators to help understand how much battery life is available. With each representing roughly 25% of battery, you can quickly identify whether it’s time to charge the whole iClever device up.

As you’ll sometimes find with other portable power chargers, this one comes with a built-in emergency flashlight. The 100 Lumen LED light offers three different modes: standard, emergency strobe, and SOS.

One of the features we like most about some of iClever’s products is the warranty. This one is no exception in that it comes with an 18 month replacement warranty. Moreover, it has a 30 day money back guarantee and lifetime support.

While iClever does have its own website, you’ll not always find its products there. Rather, sometimes you’ll have to go to outlets such as Amazon if you’d like to purchase. That’s the case with the iClever 15000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter. Currently, you can find it on Amazon for $63.99, which is shown to be down some 36%, so look for a standard retail price of around $100.

We found the kit to be convenient and practical with the entire thing being designed well. Nothing felt cheap or as if there were corners cut and as a standalone portable charger, it works great. Whereas we never had a reason to test the car jumping function, we did note the standby battery was incredible. We couldn’t imagine charging the iClever unit up more than once a quarter.

Three Android apps to help you manage your life like a boss

AndroidGuys
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The 21st century’s penchant for multitasking takes the idea of having one’s finger in too many pies to staggering new levels. We’ve become Android app-hopping machines that keep a window open on the Cardinals game as we input figures into our spreadsheet, all the while answering colleagues’ emails and responding to Android group chat with that perfectly chosen gif. With our attention spread so thin, it can be hard to keep up with everything we have going on in our lives — on and off our Androids.

Overwhelmed and scatterbrained — and missing more due dates than hitting targets — it’s time to accept defeat: multitasking might not be your forte. Our brains just aren’t hardwired to handle so many things at once, so you can blame you noggin for forgetting to pick up milk on the way home or for having a whopping $78 fine on your library card.

Luckily, a fine-free future where you actually do what you meant to do on time is in your future. Your Android can help you stay on top of tasks by streamlining your calendar and to-do lists into one convenient app. Here are just a few of the best task-management apps for Android that will help you take control of your busy life.

Wunderlist

By far the most popular to-do list, it’s available for Android, iOS, and, since it was recently bought out by Microsoft, Windows Phone. Its popularity is due to its beautiful and simple interface that makes it easy to use for any skill level.

Wunderlist makes it possible to plan for all sorts of activities, events, and tasks whether it’s your grocery list for the night’s dinner or a super important presentation due in a month’s time. It has its own calendar system, so you can set deadlines and receive reminders of impending due dates. You can even use Wunderlist to collaborate with family, friends, and co-workers, as the app makes it possible to update lists, message users, and share calendars with important people.

This basic version is available for free, but for $50 a year you can unlock certain premium features, including delegation of tasks and uploading large files to your lists. It can also help you customize the look of your app with cosmetic backgrounds.

Any.do

If it weren’t for Wunderlist, Any.do would place first. Available for both Android and iOS, you can use this app on the latest Pixel or beat-up Moto G. It’s similar to Wunderlist in that it’s able to organize your tasks in one convenient place on your phone, mixing messaging and scheduling with the ability to create lists and assign tasks. It wins points for offering an accessible hands-free feature that allows you to create new entries by voice command.

The basic version is free, and the upgrade to premium is just $27 a year. By taking the leap, you can unlock limitations on features available in the free version, including sharing to-dos, setting recurring tasks, and customizing its design.

Since there’s a minor difference in cost from Wunderlist to Any.do, you could use the leftovers to invest in a skin for your Android. Though inexpensive, the Android decals coming out of the dbrand warehouse offer fun ways to personalize and protect your phone. When you check out the latest skins from dbrand you can find a decal that matches the cosmetic settings you unleash in the premium app, so that your newfound concentration on task management comes in color-coordinated perfection.

Google Keep

How could we make a list about task management and not say the G word? Like most of its apps, Google’s to-do list application — available for Android and iOS systems — is in the top running.

While both Wunderlist and Any.do take a minimalist approach towards its design interface, Google Keep embraces a colorful nod to your analogue post-its that once littered your desk and wall calendar. In this way it mimics Evernote, as it offers a way to store important documents in addition to tasks. Like your now neglected collection of post-it notes, you can assign certain colors and labels depending on the task, so you can tell just by a quick look at your phone what kind of duties (work or otherwise) are in your immediate future.

It doesn’t matter whether you load another Google app onto your Moto or opt for Wunderlist on your Pixel. The important part is that you find a management app that works with your lifestyle. Check out what each of these top 3 apps has to offer, and see if they mesh with your routine. And if they don’t, don’t worry! There are tons more like them waiting for you at the Play Store.

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