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Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Google Pixel (Smartphone Showdown)

Alexandra Arici
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Google’s next-gen Pixel 2 will be out in a few months and if the rumors are true the phone will probably come equipped with a curved display just like the recently released Galaxy S8.

But while we wait for the Pixel 2 to become reality, we thought we’d show you how the new Samsung flagship stacks up against Google’s current Pixel model.

Design & Display

5.8-inch “Infinity Display” with 2960 x 1440 resolution vs 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution

570ppi vs 441ppi

18:5:9 ratio vs 16:9 ratio

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 is a gorgeous looking phone – however, it is also extremely fragile. The phone is made almost entirely out of glass – aluminum frame aside – and despite the Gorilla Glass protection on the back, Galaxy S8 owners will probably have to opt for a protective cover to go with the device. As for the Pixel, the handset sports a sturdier aluminum unibody with rounded edges and 2.5D curved glass.

Moving on to screens, the Galaxy S8’s new Infinity Display offers increased screen size thanks to the edge-to-edge display and trimmed bezels on top/bottom. The phone also features an atypical 18:5:9 aspect ratio – which hasn’t been broadly accepted yet – but it’s designed to find a compromise between the competing widescreen aspect ratio of television (usually 16:9) and movie theaters (typically 2.20:1). Amazon Video and Netflix have already started shooting new shows using this aspect ratio, but we’re still far from seeing it go mainstream. Yet.

So for the time being, the new ratio is bound to give Galaxy S8 owners some headaches. Because many videos display at 16:9, the phone will just add vertical black bars on the left and right of the files viewed in this format. But don’t worry, things aren’t going to stay like this for ever. Google already gave a shout out to developers, urging them to start optimizing for the new aspect ratio.

As for Google’s own phone, the handset offers a pretty straightforward 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. One can’t help but notice how chunky the Pixel’s bezels are in comparison with the Galaxy S8’s, but this year Google will probably to make use of an edge-to-edge display for its Pixel 2, as well.

Computing power

Snapdragon 835 vs Snapdragon 821

Adreno 540 vs Adreno 530

4GB of RAM vs 4GB of RAM

64GB of internal storage vs 32GB/128GB of internal storage

The Google Pixel takes advantage of last year’s flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 821 just like the LG G6 which was released in February 2017. Despite not donning the Snapdragon 835, the Pixel is still a super-fast phone. But thanks to the 10nm SoC, the Galaxy S8 might benefit from improved battery life and smaller processing footprint. Both devices take advantage of 4GB of RAM, but the Galaxy S8 features a microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 256GB, while the Pixel does not.

Cameras

12MP main camera with f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash vs 12.3MP main camera with f.20, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED flash

8MP selfie camera with f/1.7, autofocus vs 8MP selfie camera with f/2.4

On the imaging front, the Galaxy S8 retains much of the features of the Galaxy S7. The secondary camera has been bumped from 5MP to 8MP and autofocus was added. Better yet, the main camera on the Galaxy S8 features dual-pixel camera technology which allows users to shoot images in poorly lit environments. But the Pixel camera doesn’t fall short of expectation either –  actually it’s one of the best shooters available on the smartphone market (the myriad of reviews seems to attest to that), as it brings forth features such as HDR+ (for improved image quality) and advanced stabilization.

Software

Android 7.1 Nougat vs Android 7.0 Nougat

Google’s Pixel launched with stock Android 7.1 Nougat which albeit not being vastly different from Android 7.0 does come with a host of nice improvements like Google’s stock launcher with Assistant integration and more. Since then the phone has been bumped to Android 7.1.2 and will continue to be among the first in line to get a new update, including Android O.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S8 runs on an optimized version of its TouchWiz interface re-named Samsung Experience. The UI onboard the new device has been cleaned up considerably and the icons and settings have changed too. There’s also a new software home button layout, since unlike its predecessors the Galaxy S8 does not have a physical home button anymore. After the Galaxy Note7, Samsung wanted to make absolutely sure the Galaxy S8 will not be associated with the problems of the past. A new look and a major UI overhaul are the pointers that the Galaxy S8 is an entirely different, new product.

Other features

The Galaxy S8 is Samsung’s first phone to come with the virtual assistant Bixby onboard, which at least on paper will allow you to do everything you need to do by virtue of vocal commands. The Pixel phone comes with the Google Assistant onboard, which will be available on the Galaxy S8 too.

The Galaxy S8 comes equipped with an iris scanner and facial recognition. It also has the ability to connect over a special dock called DeX to an external display, keyboard and mouse.

Pixel owners on the other hand, don’t have to worry about misplacing their photos or 4K video, as they benefit from free backup with Google Photos. Google’s flagship is Daydream compatible, while the Galaxy S8 also works with the new Gear VR headset.

It’s also worthy to note here that the Galaxy S8 comes with IP68 rating (can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in 5ft of water). By comparison, the Pixel has a IP53 rating, which means it can survive standing in the rain, but it’s not recommended to take it with you underwater. Also, the Galaxy S8 benefits from the Gorilla Glass 5, while the Pixel only has Gorilla Glass 4.

Battery

The Galaxy S8 includes a 3,000 mAh battery (just like the Galaxy S7), while the Pixel has a 2,770 mAh one. While Samsung hasn’t provided an estimate the Galaxy S8’s battery life, the predictions are grim. Given the power-hungry display onboard, we shouldn’t expect any miracles. Although the Snapdragon 835 does feature four cores devoted to preserving battery life during less-intensive tasks. But that’s just on paper.

As for the Google Pixel, well it can get you through the day without you having to pop in for a refill. From our review of the Pixel XL, so that we can demonstrate Pixel phones have really good battery lives:

“I’ve been more than impressed with the battery life of the Pixel XL. Moreover, the speed at which it charges is incredible. I really appreciate that if I have to plug into a wall charger, it’s not for long. The claims of getting seven hours of usage from a 15-minute charge? I wish I could say.

Because I am able to get to a charger most of the day, I don’t ever find myself with seven-hour gaps. Whether it’s ten minutes on the way home from work, or on the counter while eating dinner, I find my phone is always well above half full. I don’t even bat an eye if I forget to charge at night.“

Pricing

The Galaxy S8 is more expensive than the Google Pixel which starts at $649 for the 32GB storage model, while the 128GB one can take you up to $749. As for the Galaxy S8, it will be available for $720 (in-full) at Verizon, while AT&T and T-Mobile are giving it away for $750.

Verdict

Have money to spend? The Galaxy S8 is a gorgeous phone that brings forth, many-many compelling features. However, if you’re an Android purist who prefers getting his/her updates on time, the Google Pixel is the obvious choice.

Also before jumping onboard with the Galaxy S8, don’t forget to do a bit of research. There are other smartphones out there that boast curved screens (Samsung’s own Galaxy S7 edge which is probably sold with a heavily discounted price at this point), minimal bezels or virtual assistants, that come with more affordable price-tags.

ZTE’s first Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch lands at T-Mobile for an affordable price

Alexandra Arici
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After being rumored quite some time, ZTE finally unveiled its first Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch called the Quartz. Remember how the Chinese company said the wearable will be very affordable, compared to the current slew of Android Wear devices? Well then, you’ll be glad to know that ZTE kept true to its word.

The company partnered up with T-Mobile in order to bring you the Quartz for $199 (or $192 on an accompanying T-Mobile plan). The smartwatch will become available for purchase on-line on April 14. A week later on April 21, the Quartz will also make a debut in select T-Mobile stores across the US.

So what do you get for $199? The Quartz comes with a circular 1.4-inch AMOLED display with 400 x 400 resolution. It also has a Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor under the hood and 4GB of internal storage. It’s also sold with 3G/HSPA connectivity, so even if you don’t have your phone around you’ll still be able to download and use a few apps. On top of that, the wearable has a really big 500 mAh battery in comparison to other smartwatches (the Samsung Gear S3 relies on a 380 mAh one) which should, at least in theory, guarantee a better than average life cycle for the watch.

As for design, the ZTE Quartz is pretty straight forward – it takes advantage of a metal build and users can easily swap out the straps and replace it with different ones. We should also mention the Quartz is IP67 rated and has a GPS built-in tracker. However, there were some concessions ZTE had to make in order to keep the wearable’s price so affordable.

Visually the Quartz looks pretty rudimentary, but putting aesthetics aside, the smartwatch comes without NFC (no NFC, no Android Pay) or a heart rate sensor. On top of that, the wearable only features 3G connectivity and not 4G LTE, a detail that might put some customers off.

But all in all, the Quartz seems to be a decent product, especially for first time buyers who are just getting into the whole smartwatch idea. What do you think?

Nokia 9 tipped to have as much RAM as the OnePlus 3T

Alexandra Arici
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Nokia’s upcoming flagship has been popping in the rumor mill on a regular basis for the past few months. Despite hopes of seeing Nokia unveil a premium smartphone at MWC 2017, the company had other plans and pulled the wraps off a lineup of affordable Android handsets.

When queried about the possibility of launching a new Nokia flagship, company officials were skittish to reveal any details, but talk that a high-end Nokia smartphone is coming this year just won’t die. Speaking of which, the latest leak centering the Nokia 9 – one of the many names under which the company’s purported flagship has appeared online – leaves nothing to the imagination, at least in terms of specs.

Nokia 9 concept

According to a tip received by NokiaPowerUser, the Nokia 9 will take advantage of a 5.5-inch OLED display with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) and a Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 neatly tucked under the bonnet. The phone will feature 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. In the photo department, the flagship will allegedly come equipped with a Carl Zeiss-branded dual-lens main camera with at least one sensor being of 22MP variety. As for selfies, future owners of the Nokia 9 will be able to take self-portraits using a 12MP snapper.

Previously leaked image of an alleged Nokia flagship prototype

We’re also told the phone will not only have a finger-print scanner, but also an iris scanner – just like the Samsung Galaxy S8. As previous rumors would have us believe, the Nokia 9 will benefit from Nokia OZO Audio enhancements (Nokia OZO brand is connected to the company’s VR’s ventures. The company describes OZO Audio as follows:

“An advanced spatial audio technology with 3D capture and playback capabilities. Relive your memories as if you were actually there with immersive high fidelity 360-degree sound captured with your smartphone or 2D and 360-degree camera.”

The Nokia 9 could also arrive with IP68 certification, 3,800 mAh battery and Android 7.1.2 Nougat out of the box.

It appears that slowly, but surely the Nokia 9 is starting to get a clear contour. However, since none of this information has actually been confirmed, we urge you to take it with a grain of salt.

Google Pixel 2 could have a curved display à la Galaxy S8

Alexandra Arici
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In a few months Google is going to unveil follow-ups of its super popular Pixel and Pixel XL phones. And if recent reports are true, the Pixel 2 might arrive with a curved display just like the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Korean industry sources revealed the Mountain View-based company has announced its willingness to invest at least $880 million in LG Display Co. in order to secure a supply of flexible OLED displays for its next flagship.

With many Pixel fans requesting a design overhaul, Google is now looking towards curved displays in a bid to comply with popular request. However, it’s unclear whether the search giant will manage to pull it off in the end and have LG deliver the flexible OLED display shipment.

LG Display has received an order from Apple for 160 million curved OLED displays meant for Cupertino’s next-gen iPhone. Apple also reportedly ordered 70 million OLED panels from rival Samsung, so if LG declines Google’s request, the search giant might not have a lot of options left. Especially since Japan Display is expected to start producing curved OLED units next year.

Regardless, the Pixel 2 is indeed coming. In recent weeks, the codenames of the two upcoming Pixel 2 phones leaked out – they are supposedly called “walleye” (the smaller variant) and “muskie” (the larger model). Previous rumors also said the phones will most likely be waterproof and run on a Snapdragon 835 platform just like the Galaxy S8. Are you looking forward to the Google Pixel 2?

Nvidia Shield is the ultimate Android TV device (Review)

AndroidGuys
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Nvidia is known for their desktop GPUs but they also have their line of Shield-branded Android devices such as the Shield Tablet and the Shield portable gaming device. One device, the Shield TV set-top box, was recently added to the roster as an Android TV device that you can stream your media on as well as do some light gaming. The latest Nvidia Shield TV is a new model for 2017. It’s similar to the older model, but refined and enhanced for 4K and gaming in the living room with cloud-based streaming and more powerful internals.The new Nvidia Shield TV features an excellent redesigned controller as well, which is a dream to use for all game types.

The Shield TV is an Android TV set-top box, running the latest version of the OS. Nvidia touts this Shield TV as the “Ultimate Streamer for Gamers” and the most powerful streaming device available. The specs certainly support that claim, with the powerful Tegra X1 chip, the same that powers the Nintendo Switch. Does the day-to-day experience prove this claim to be true?

Setup

Setup for the Shield TV is easy, just plug it in, set it up with your internet and log into your Google Account when prompted. The controller and remote come pre-paired out of the box, so once you’re all logged in and set up with the internet, just enjoy.

Design and Specs

The specs for the Sheild TV are pretty robust for a set-top streaming box:

Specs:

  • Nvidia Tegra X1 Processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 16 GB storage (expandable)
  • Ports: 2 USB, HDMI 2.0b, Gigabit Ethernet, proprietary power
  • Connectivity: 2×2 802.11 AC MU-MIMO Wifi, Bluetooth 4.1, IR blaster
  • OS: Android TV 7.0

Nvidia has made this new Shield TV smaller by a significant margin, reducing the size closer to a Roku or Apple TV. They also added the remote and redesigned controller to the bundle. The controller itself now feels much better in the hand and isn’t as awkward to use for long gaming sessions.

The remote and controller both feature voice search functionality, and the Shield is compatible with smart home devices like Samsung SmartThings as well. Notable hardware additions include an IR emitter for control over your TV and home theater. The Shield only has 16GB of internal storage but supports USB external storage and can connect to your NAS as well. The biggest new hardware features are 4K and HDR support, Dolby Atmos support, as well as the 4K compatible Chromecast built in.

Features and Performance

The Shield TV runs Android TV out of the box, which is either good or bad depending on who you talk to. It’s a perfectly functional set-top box software and has some excellent features like Google Assistant built in, and support for Amazon Video out of the box, a first for Android TV devices. Navigation on Android TV can be a bit wonky, and there is a limited selection of apps. The big players are all available, however, such as Netflix, Sling, YouTube, Hulu, and Plex.

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a 4K HDR screen at home yet, so I wasn’t able to test out the feature at home. I did, however, get to experience the 4K capabilities during the playtest at GDC I participated in and I found them to be excellent.

Streaming movies and TV aren’t the only things that the Shield can do, however, and if you’re buying this to only use it for that you may want to consider another device. The Shield TV is made by Nvidia, the makers of the most powerful PC GPU on the planet, so of course the Shield is going to be a powerful gaming machine as well. With the Tegra X1 processor powering the Shield it can handle even the most demanding Android games with ease, even better than your phone or tablet. Graphically demanding ported games like Resident Evil 5 on Android run well, but not as well as on dedicated gaming hardware of course.

The killer feature of the Shield is the inclusion of Nvidia GameStream and GeForce Now. GeForce Now is a monthly subscription service similar to the one offered on the Shield Tablet. Essentially a streaming game platform, GeForce Now lets you stream games from the cloud in high quality since the rendering is done by the cloud computing system. You get access to a select number of games for free, and other games are available for purchase as well. There are a ton of great new AAA titles like TitanFall 2 available as well as classics from years ago like Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The library for GeForce now is always expanding, and it allows you to play games as if you had a high-end gaming PC without needing to spend the money. Nvidia GameStream allows you to stream from your local PC with a Nvidia GPU inside to the Shield for couch gaming of your PC library up to 4K if your TV supports it. It works extremely well and supports a large library of games from all genres. The Shield is advertised as the ultimate streaming box for gamers, and it’s clear that they achieved that claim with these gamer-centric features.

Conclusion

Despite all of the niggles with Android TV as an OS, there is very little I had complaints about with the Shield TV. It is small, quiet and powerful with all the features and more that I look for in a set-top box.

The Nvidia Shield is a monster of a streaming device. The 4K HDR support, flexible control options, and powerful processor make it an excellent device for consuming media. Its wheelhouse is definitely gaming and offers great features for even the most demanding gamer appetite. It has done enough for me to replace my Xbox One as my dedicated media machine in the living room. If you’re looking for a robust, powerful streaming box with 4K HDR support and don’t mind the $199 price tag, then definitely have a look at the Shield.

Android app marketing tips (Sponsored)

Guest Blogger
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When it comes to the mobile devices, we find there are many things you can find for free: Wi-Fi for phones, voice and video calls, streaming content, news, amateur radio, dx, and, of course, applications. However, when we talk about the free mobile apps, not many of us realize that the marketing of the same is not free.

There are accessible resources that can be used to promote an Android application, but it is a costly affair because your valuable time is the most important thing on the list; you’ll have to be dedicated at all times.

If you’re currently worried about your first Android application, we have the tips to help you formulate a marketing strategy that will get you closer to success with every attempt you make.

Set up an inviting and user engaging product page

This is the first time, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re making a basic application or an advanced one, you need a product page that adds credibility to your application and gives a good impression to your users.

Use SEO to promote your app

As an app developer, you should learn about apps to execute tips and continually revise your knowledge to increase app downloads. Learn about keywords, format, length you should maintain for the description of your application. At the same time, Google Play Keyword Optimization is important, and you need to work on it.

Many developers make sure that once the application is created by then, it should be compatible with Google Play as well as the Apple App Store. Although this is a good thing to do, avoid it for your first application.

Social media

We are dependent to a great extent on social media, and you cannot deny that fact that till the time people have viewed your application for having learned about it on a particular social networking site, you’ll not be in a position to convince them that your app is worth downloading. It has cost attached to it, but it can get you result faster as compared to any other option we have today.

Forum and blog posting

Forums and blog posting will help you market your application efficiently. Many Android users are visiting various forums and blogs on a regular basis to learn about the new developments taking place in the world of Android. Additionally, they even use them to hunt for new apps developed by developers across the world.

While using this option, make sure that you have adequate knowledge about popular forums and blogs so that you do not invest your energy in ineffective options.

Pulsar Media Player: Sweet music players are made of this (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I am obsessed with music. I’ve made sure that I can listen to music in any situation I’m in, be it driving or working, walking or taking a shower. It is always nice to listen to songs that can transport your mind to different situations, that can make you feel better, that can make you cry because of how good they are.

However, I’ve found that most phones come with a default music player that is completely devoid of features and that is probably an afterthought for phone manufacturers. Why leave one of the most important parts of your life to an app that is not up to the task? Enter Pulsar Media Player, by Rhythm Software, an app that aims to change that by providing a beautiful interface and useful features around your beloved music collection.

Developer: Rhythm Software
Price: Free

Setup

The good thing about Pulsar is that, under the right conditions, there’s no setup required. When you open the app, songs are already there for you, so there’s no manual scanning or folder selection. All of the playable audio format files are already there for your convenience.

The bad thing about this is that if you receive a lot of voice messages, or record voice notes yourself, you need to filter them out. You don’t actually want your voice messages to get played on that awesome party you’re throwing on Friday, right?

Pulsar gives you an option to exclude folders from the library scan, so at least you can leave out your Whatsapp audio files folder, for example. In some other players, I’ve seen options to filter out songs of a certain length. That is not included in Pulsar, though.

But don’t get me wrong, having almost no setup is amazing and it should be the way apps work, so kudos to Pulsar for it.

Overview

Upon opening the app, you will see that the layout is very similar to the Play Store. There are five (configurable) tabs at the top: Albums, Artists, Folders, Genres, and Songs. You can also add Playlists if you want, and reorder them to your liking.

Artists and albums are sorted into a grid view that looks superb, since it incorporates the album art/artist picture in the grid cell. Also, the app analyzes the picture and adjusts the background of the cell accordingly, making the whole grid very colorful. If you prefer, you can change it to list view, but why should you?

There’s a navigation drawer with the same options available on the main screen, so it is kind of redundant. The only useful aspect of it is that you can access the Play Queue quickly. Also, from this menu, you can access the options. I firmly believe that with a little bit of tinkering, the side drawer could be scrapped altogether to avoid redundancy.

If you need to search, there’s an app-wide button for that. It not only performs the search in the current screen, but in the whole library. Just write a big enough query (read: don’t type “the”) and it will show you artists, albums, and songs that relate to the term.

Artists and Beyond

When selecting an artist, it will take you to the artist page, which shows all of the albums associated with them, as well as the respective album art. It will also show a nice picture of the band through a neat material-esque animation.

It will list all of the songs, and you can even order them by album, name, date added and date released. For your convenience, there’s a shuffle button to start listening to the artists’ songs right away.

Selecting an album will take you to a very similar screen, in which the album’s songs are listed with exactly the same arrangement.

Now Playing

The Now Playing screen has everything you would expect from it. No more, no less. The usual play/pause button, previous and next, shuffle, repeat (none, one, and all), and a seek bar are there for you. Almost all of it is occupied by the album art (which by the way, Pulsar tries to download automatically if it’s not added into your ID3 tags).

When I go to sleep, I never count sheep, I count all the charms about Linda ?

There’s also a button for checking out the playing queue, where you can sort the songs that will be played next, remove them, and go to their corresponding artist/album. On the top, you will see buttons for sharing songs, liking them, or even play then to Google Cast devices.

General Impressions

The first thing I could notice about Pulsar is that it is lightning fast. It seems like performance was high on the list of priorities of the developer, because the app is buttery smooth. There’s no slowing down when dealing with a lot of images, although my library has approximately 1300 songs, so it’s not the biggest out there. As always, your mileage may vary.

The navigation drawer shows the same information available in the tabs.

The attention to detail is very evident in the UI. Being implemented with Material Design in mind (like every app should be by now), the app feels right at home on newer versions of Android. Nice animations are all over the place, and everything just makes sense. It is certainly better than the music player included in my Huawei Honor 7 Lite.

There are absolutely no surprises when listening to music. Transitions from song to song are fast, playback does not skip, and it overall works exactly as you expect it to.

Options and Pro Version

There are some options to choose from, albeit in limited numbers.

There are a few options you can change, but they’re not as extensive as in other music players. Apart from options previously mentioned, you can also toggle options related to artwork, such as controlling if the app will download album art or not, if it should do it with Wi-Fi only or with mobile data as well, and show artwork on the lock screen.

For some people, Last.fm scrobbling is essential for any music player they use, and I’m glad to say that Pulsar does include it as an option. There’s also gapless playback and prevent autoplay when connecting to Bluetooth (a very useful option indeed).

Finally, there are three themes you can choose from. There are 13 more of them available in Pulsar Pro, which is only $2.99 away. This Pro version also includes a 5-band equalizer, 9 equalizer presents, bass booster, and reverb settings. There are no ads in the free version, but I would encourage you to buy it to support the developers.

Conclusion

Pulsar Media Player is a (very) lightweight alternative to the default one included on your device. With a sleek, smooth interface, and no-nonsense approach, it is very easy to recommend if you’re not a power user.

Sure, there’s a EQ available in the Pro version, along with some other useful choices, but if you’re the type of person that cares about stuff like specifying a minimum length for a song to be added to the library, controlling if the app should launch when headphones are connected, or that kind of very specific use cases, then Pulsar might be a little too light on features. However, for the vast majority of users, Pulsar is an alternative you should keep on your radar.

Download Pulsar Media Player from the Google Play Store.

Samsung DeX: What is it and what’s it good for?

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with a host of improvements and new feats, but one of the most interesting is brought about by an accessory called the DeX dock. Much like Microsoft’s Continuum, the dock allows owners of the Galaxy S8 to hook up their Android smartphone to an external monitor in order to get a fully-fledged desktop experience.

But to access all the DeX goodness, you’ll need the dock. The bad news is that it’s sold separately for an additional $150. Given that the Galaxy S8 is already super expensive, some customers might be skittish to pick up the DeX. But those who do decide to invest, will find the accessory can be quite useful.

The DeX comes equipped HDMI port, two USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity. It also keeps the Galaxy S8 all juiced up while in-use, so users won’t have to worry about the battery running out. All you need to get started is to plug in the phone into the station – which connects the phone to a HDMI compatible monitor –  connect any type of Bluetooth, USB or RF-type keyboard and a mouse and voila you get DeX UI.

Samsung says it has completely redesigned and optimized Android UI to offer a complete experience when in use with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Users will find there’s a button that gives quick access to compatible apps; they will also be able to minimize or maximize individual apps or multi-task.

Speaking of compatible apps, Samsung has partnered up with Microsoft and Adobe to bring Microsoft Office and Adobe mobile apps to the DeX experience. On top of that DeX is also compatible with virtual desktop apps like Citrix, Amazon, Workspace and VMWare, so can get productive. Your usual Android apps also work. However, it’s a bit unclear about how apps that aren’t optimized for a larger display, will work with the DeX. Samsung so far, has detailed only its own host of apps.

Phone functionality continues to work in the background and you can even take hands-free phone calls over the PC or answer texts from the desktop interface.

Samsung also offers contextual menus and a desktop version Web browser. Notifications and the status bar haven’t been removed from the desktop version, as they continue to live at the bottom. There’s also a lock screen and you can even secure your DeX interface with a passcode or facial recognition, to keep prying eyes out.

With all the convenience it brings, DeX is not actually meant to replace your laptop (actually for $150 you could buy a Chromebook). But if you’re a regularly going on a business trips, this accessory might prove quite valuable to you, as it allows you to plug your phone into any office.

The Samsung DeX dock become available sometimes in late April.

Now even Facebook has a virtual assistant – meet M

Alexandra Arici
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0

The speed at which tech companies seem to be popping out virtual assistants these days is mind-boggling. Meet the latest addition to the list – it’s Facebook’s Messenger-bound assistant, M which the social media company has been developing since 2015.

While M is far from being a finalized product, it’s first component is currently available. Using M’s wits, Messenger can now suggest a bunch of things to users.

Like most AI-driven helps out there, M uses machine learning to offer contextual suggestions. When M recognizes a certain theme or phrase during a chat, it will prompt the user to send stickers, pay or request money, do location sharing, make plans, conduct a poll or choose a ride.

Unlike the Google Assistant, you can’t summon M forth, but the assistant will pop into chats “organically” whenever it senses its assistance is needed. It remains to be seen whether M has enough wits to keep its presence under wraps when the conversation doesn’t call for its assistance.

Fortunately, if you don’t really want your chat being monitored by an artificial intelligence, you can go ahead a disable M from the settings panel. Facebook also allows you to configure it to provide only certain suggestions, like stickers or location sharing.

Right now, Facebook is rolling out Suggestions to users located in the US, but the feature will probably become more widely available in other markets, soon enough.

So if Siri, Bixby, Google Assistant, HTC’s Sense Companion, Alexa or Arbo aren’t enough for you, you can go ahead and try M too.

Google rolls out “Fact Check” tag in a bid to combat fake news

Alexandra Arici
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0

Fake news is an annoying byproduct of our increasingly digitized society. Living in the connected era, one will frequently stumble upon an odd paradox – with so many information sources out there, how do we know which one we can trust? Good question, Google says – let’s see what we can do about that.

Acknowledging this modern problem, Google today introduced the new “Fact Check” tool – a label which when present, highlights information that was fast checked by news publishers and fact-checking organizations. Now when you research a claim online, Google will display the usual card containing a snippet of information, alongside info about who made the claim and who checked the legitimacy of the claim – which is shown below.

Google is not actually doing the fact checking itself, but has partnered up with 115 fact-checking organizations that will be in charge of verifying information veracity. Others are invited to join the club, Google has strict rules and will only welcome organizations that are “algorithmically determined to be an authoritative source of information.”

Don’t’ expect fact checking to be available for every piece of information you search for, not at the moment anyway. Google also warns you might stumble upon instances where pages have been checked by different publishers with different conclusions being issued. Nevertheless, the search giant believes that even though different conclusions might be presented, it’s useful for people to have a clear view on how many sources agree with the claim under scrutiny and how many don’t.

Ever since October, Google has been testing the feature in select countries, especially in Google News. Today’s announcement marks the global roll out of the feature in both Google Search and News.

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