Home Blog Page 937

What did Samsung miss with the Galaxy S8?

Alexandra Arici
-
1

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ a few weeks ago and while they are both spectacular devices, there are a few things that Samsung could have done to make the phones a lot better (at least in our opinion). In this article we explore what could have been, had Samsung made a few different choices. So what did Samsung miss with the Galaxy S8?

No standard variant

This is an obvious one, but this year both Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ come with curved displays – take it or leave it! But what about the people who for some reason or another, prefer the good-old flat display? They will probably have to skip Samsung flagships this year and instead take up a Galaxy S7 or maybe the Galaxy A7 (2017). Sorry, folks!

No RAM capacity bump

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge came bundling 4GB of RAM, and a year later the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ arrived with the same amount of RAM onboard. Yeah, Samsung does offer a 6GB of RAM version in China, because the market there is highly competitive, and maybe just maybe if there’s enough demand the model will launch in other markets, but it would have been nice to see the Galaxy S8 launch with 6GB of RAM by default.

No dual cameras – on the front or back

Maybe Samsung hasn’t been paying attention, but dual cameras are the trend in 2017. But the company didn’t really focus on the photography aspect when it comes to this year’s flagships. It slightly improved the main shooter and upgraded the selfie camera from 5MP to 8MP while also throwing in autofocus. According to rumors, Samsung’s first dual camera device is going to be the Galaxy Note8 which is expected to arrive towards the end of the year.

No stereo speakers

Since Samsung acquired audio product giant, Harman many assumed that the Galaxy S8 is going to take advantage of advanced audio technology. Stereo speakers would have really complemented the Galaxy S8’s beautiful HDR Super AMOLED display, but who knows maybe the Galaxy Note8 is going to make this dream reality.

No 4K display

While the Galaxy S8 does feature the advanced 2960 x 1440 resolution, Samsung could have taken the flagship to the next level by adding a 4K display – which would have better accommodated the implementation of VR. Once again, the rumor mill speculates the Galaxy Note8 will be the first Samsung device to launch with a 4K screen. So maybe you’ll want to save your money for the Note8, huh?

No bigger battery

Last but least, we can skip over the fact that the battery inside the Galaxy S8 remains the same as the Galaxy S7’s – of 3,000 mAh capacity. The phone features a demanding QHD+ display and despite the power efficient 10nm processor inside, the battery won’t be achieving any miracles. Customers will be lucky if they get through the day without plugging the device in for a charge – especially on active usage.

Moto C leaks in colors, will be priced under $80

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Earlier today we told you the specs of the upcoming Motorola Moto E4 leaked online, revealing the phone might come with the same amount of RAM as the Samsung Galaxy S8. Well it appears the Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus aren’t the only low-end models Motorola will launch in the near future.

According to picture which surfaced on the Chinese social network Weibo, the Moto C also appears to be in the pipeline in Black, Gold and Red color variants. Motorola’s super affordable device was revealed a few weeks ago (albeit in a white version that’s not visible in the latest image), when Motorola gave us a sneak peek during a video released to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the first mobile call. While we didn’t get to take a very good look at it back then, the Moto C surfaced today in all of its glory.

By the looks of it, the Moto C will be the most affordable device in the Motorola lineup this year. The company already released the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus and in the upcoming weeks we expect the Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus to launch as well. Motorola reportedly has also plans for a Moto X (2017) and of course, the Moto Z2 flagship.

According to previous leaks, the Moto C will come equipped with a 5-inch F2VGA display with 854 x 480 resolution. A MediaTeK MT6737m processor will breathe life into the device from underneath, aided by 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. In the photography department, the Moto C will benefit from a basic 5MP/2MP camera combo.

When launched, the Moto C will probably be the most affordable Android 7.0 Nougat on the market. According to sources in the know, the phone should come with a price tag ranging from $50 to $80.

At this point, we don’t know the Moto C’s launch date, but as soon as we find out we’ll let you know.

Norton releases new security device for home WiFi

AndroidGuys
-
0

Keeping data safe on our computers and smartphones is a worry that concerns millions of people in the 21st century. There is a major fear that many of our technological devices are easily hackable, and that a cybercriminal could gain access to our precious information, seemingly at any time.

However, there are ways to protect ourselves. Along with learning about ethical hacking, security software companies are constantly releasing countermeasures to malware, viruses, and cybercriminals, and it turns out that Norton, in particular, has created an interesting solution.

Norton’s brand new product is called the Core, which is essentially a WiFi router that can protect any device in the home with an internet connection. The router is also said to receive regular updates so as to stay on top of any new cyber dangers. Whilst the Core itself may well be an unusual looking item, the importance of adding an extra step to preventing hackers taking control of our devices is definitely a necessary move for online security in the home.

In addition to the general public, Norton has recently been assisting small businesses with a software subscription that can cover multiple devices, which means your smartphone and PC can have equally strong protection from any online threats. The software is also said to alert Android users about suspicious mobile apps before installation; bogus apps are one of the most prevalent ways for malware to get into a smartphone.

Although it should be noted that Norton isn’t the only way to protect your devices from harm, as there are many other methods to employ. Most of these simply involve using your common sense, understanding that particular WiFi networks aren’t reliable, and trusting your phone’s own security warnings when they pop up.

Finally, the topic of data hacking doesn’t always have to be doom and gloom, as Norton apparently took a break from making security software and hardware, and made an amusing Christmas-themed commercial showing dear old Santa struggling with a computer virus. Watch the video below.

Keep your gadgets safe and charged with the ClickPack Pro backpack

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Do you usually carry around a lot of gadgets? Do you need to have your laptop, tablet, laptop, memory cards and such around at all times? Then you’ll probably be very interested in the ClickPack Pro backpack. This is a unique gadget storage solution which has been designed to keep thieves at bay.

The backpack is made of slash resistant fabric, so not even a sharp knife will be able to damage this container. On top of that, the ClickPack Pro’s zippers have a built-in lock which means thieves won’t be able to access its contents without you being aware of it. If that’s not enough for you, the retractable metal wire lock will allow you to tether the backpack to your seat or a stand, so you can make absolutely sure your backpack isn’t going anywhere.

But the ClickPack Pro is not meant only to carry your gadgets. You can fold in a lot of other stuff too like clothes or food items – with designated compartments being clearly labeled, so you know exactly where your items are. The ClickPack Pro can also securely store your credit cards. The bag features a RFID magnetic strip in order to keep your card information safe and private.

What’s more, let’s say you get lost on a hike trying to get up the mountain and shoot the spectacular view, the backpack’s built-in reflectors will allow rescuers to see you from up 100 feet ahead. The ClickPack Pro also takes advantage of double layer rain protection, so it doesn’t matter whether you get caught in the rain – your gadgets will remain unharmed.

Your phone ran out of power? No problem, with the ClickPack Pro you can charge your electronic devices anytime, anywhere. Just pull out your changing cable.

The product is currently gathering funds on Kickstarter and with 30 days still to go, it has already fulfilled its goal. You can currently place an order for a ClickPack Pro for just $99 (retail price will be $198). Estimated delivery date is July 2017.

Low-end Motorola Moto E4 will have a 4GB of RAM version

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Lots of new Motorola handsets are expected to make an appearance in the upcoming months. First off, we’re probably going to see the Moto Z2 launch this summer and then at some point or another the Moto X (2017) should also make an appearance.

While the Moto Z2 is a premium phone and the Moto X (2017) is expected to launch as an affordable dual camera phone, Motorola also appears to have plans to fill even the really low-end niche with a couple of new phones. The Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus have already popped up at the FCC, but the listings didn’t reveal much about the phones’ insides.

Soon to be previous-gen, Moto E3

Well this week this week the Moto E4 showed up on the Indonesian regulatory agency P3DN’s website, thus revealing its full specs in the process.

According to the information at hand, we can tell you the Moto E4 will arrive with a 5-inch FWVGA display with 845 x 480 resolution. Under the hood, doing the heavy lifting is a MediaTek MT6737m processor working in concert with 1GB/2GB/4GB/4GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

White Motorola Moto E3

It’s quite interesting that the low-end Moto E4 will get a version with 4GB of RAM – the same amount of RAM that powers the Samsung Galaxy S8 monster. Anyway, moving along the phone should also accommodate a 5MP primary camera and a 2MP selfie snapper.

The phone comes bundling a 2,300 mAh battery, while previous leaks have revealed the Moto E4 Plus will rely on a huge 5,000 mAh power source. Coming back to the Moto E4, the phone is showed to run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

We’re still waiting on the full spec list of the Moto E4 Plus, but the phones are probably going to go official in a few weeks. And then we’ll know the whole story.

Mpow portable wireless Bluetooth speaker review

AndroidGuys
-
0

The Mpow Portable Wireless Dual 10W Drivers Bluetooth Speaker is sleek in design and boasts a 33-foot range. The 7.4V/2600 mAh Li-on battery gives up to 8 hours of playback time. It is ultra-portable and can easily be hidden away in a corner.

Hardware specs:

  • Bluetooth Version: V4.1
  • Bluetooth Profile: A2DP/AVRCP/HFP/HSP
  • Bluetooth Range: 33 feet
  • Input Voltage: DC/5V
  • Battery Capacity: 7.4V/2600mAh
  • Charge Time: 4 Hours
  • Play Time: up to 8 hours

Setup

Pairing and setting up the Mpow to any device is simple; turn it on and navigate to Bluetooth settings in the phone. I did not have to select any random button combination on the speaker to put it in pairing mode as it was already seeking. On the speaker, there are buttons for Power, Play/Pause, and controls for volume, but everything can be handled through the device, so we can set it and forget it.

Whenever I test out a new Bluetooth speaker, I have my own set of parameters: First, can I hear it over the water in the shower? Since this speaker is not water-resistant, I set it on my bathroom counter, which is only a few feet from the shower. It worked as expected, and I could easily hear the spoken words of a podcast.

Next, I put it to the outdoor test: Can I place the speaker on my back patio and hear the music in the background while entertaining company?

Ideally, the music should be loud enough that guests can hear it, and when a song they like comes on, they can easily turn it up. But, it should also be at a point where the neighbors aren’t going to call the police for a noise complaint. This, too, was successful, but I noticed that the music wasn’t as clear as I would have hoped.

When listening to the podcast, everything seems fine, but music sounds a little choppy. The Mpow website states that a phone could be at least 33 feet away and still connect, which I did find to be the case. I could come and go, inside and outside and the music still played. The farther away I got from the device, of course, the worse the sound quality would get.

My last test with Bluetooth speakers is what happens when I get a phone call. Since it was paired to my phone and set as my primary audio source, when I received a phone call, the music stopped. Additionally, I could hear my ringtone through the speakers, and then I took my call with the Mpow’s built-in microphone.

Although I use Bluetooth in my car for my phone calls, and I while can appreciate this function, I typically want to take phone calls privately. It, of course, easy to change the audio output to my phone rather than through the Bluetooth unit, but it would be nice to have a transfer audio button on the device like my car.

It did pass my functionality tests, so with that, I’m happy with the quality of this $60.00 speaker. It was not all rainbows and kittens, though.

The Mpow speaker takes four full hours to charge, and even though that gives about eight solid hours of playback, four hours is a long time to charge a device for that amount of function.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a two-hour charge for eight hours–that is what I expect out of my phone, so I think of speakers in a similar same way, especially at this size. I do like that it will give me eight hours of use, and I could always try to put it near an outlet to alleviate the need to charge, but that ultimately takes away from the portability aspect.

Although the volume can be controlled from either the phone or the speaker, which is handy, there is an audible tone that is emitted when increasing or decreasing the volume. This make the listener lose a second of content, which may not be a big deal. The tone completely overtakes the audio, so in podcasts, I would completely miss the punchline of a great joke simply by adjusting volume.

At the end of the day, I can deal with the downsides. It is an economy speaker with decent quality, just as long as you are in-range. It is not a high-end speaker, but this is apparent when handling it and factoring price. If you keep your phone in your pocket to manage the playlist, don’t stray too far, especially if you are having company over, otherwise it’s not a bad device to pick up.

At the time of this post, the speakers are on sale for $46.99. With the extra $13.00 off, I’d be more convinced to pick one up. And, thanks to a 45-day money back guarantee and 18-month warranty, there really is not reason not to do so.

Fire Emblem Heroes (review)

AndroidGuys
-
0

 

In the past, Nintendo has traditionally released games on its own hardware. When Nintendo decided to jump into the mobile space, it made a conscious decision to create mobile-tailored games to supplement software on its own dedicated gaming systems. One of the first games announced from this mobile venture was a new entry in the Fire Emblem series.

Fire Emblem has a long history dating back to the Famicom (Japanese NES) with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light which came out in 1990. Gamers in the U.S. weren’t introduced to the Fire Emblem series until 2003 when the plainly-titled Fire Emblem came to Game Boy Advance. From that point on Fire Emblem has slowly built up a fanbase across the world with a half-dozen follow up titles.

fire emblem heroes characters
The Fire Emblem series has a large cast of characters in its history–many of which show up in Heroes

With the deep history of the Fire Emblem series, Nintendo has a rich cast of characters to bring to the mobile landscape with Fire Emblem Heroes. The turn-based strategy game relies heavily on character development and an intricately weaving story that plays out differently depending on how you perform on the battlefield and which relationships you choose to develop.

Gameplay

Fire Emblem Heroes follows in the footsteps of its older siblings with similar gameplay, similar art and music, as well as comparable sound effects. The gameplay translates perfectly to the touchscreen nature of mobile devices. Sorting and commanding your troops is very easy to execute by selecting your units with your fingertip and dragging or tapping nearby squares within the game grid. You’ll quickly learn how each unit type can attack and move within the gameplay area and how your turns throughout each battle play out against your enemies. The amount of variety in each battle quickly becomes apparent early in the game.

fire emblem battles
Guide your allies to victory as you master the unique art of the battle

As you command the Emblian Empire against the Askran Kingdom, you’ll be able to summon “Heroes” you encounter throughout the game. Strategically choosing each group of playable characters allows you to command the battlefield to varying degrees. After completing a set amount of story missions you’ll gain access to special timed events, as well as fight against rivals around the world in the arena maps. Items that buff your heroes’ abilities can be obtained in arena battles as you make your way up the leaderboards.

I really have to commend Nintendo on its ability to focus on gameplay first with a lot of the titles its made in the past. Fortunately with Fire Emblem Heroes, the graphical presentation and overall package don’t suffer from this focus on gameplay. The entire package fits together nicely with an emphasis on classic gameplay.

Presentation

The visuals in Fire Emblem Heroes are some of the best in the mobile space–especially when it comes to the fully pre-rendered cutscenes. Each character within the game is drawn with incredible detail and color. It’s easy to differentiate each character from the next because of the amount of detail each character employs. It’s also fairly evident from early on that care was taken in designing the world, the characters, and playing fields in Heroes.

Fire Emblem has always been known for great symphonic music. Fire Emblem Heroes follows suit with a wonderful soundtrack that brought joy to my ears every time I booted up the game. The music has a strong Japanese influence, but also integrates a fair amount of European classical flair to complement the visuals. All in all, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have done a great job composing a strong soundtrack for Fire Emblem Heroes.

The hand-drawn art style is second to none when compared to other games on the Google Play store

The story plays out in a traditional medieval setting. You play as a commander to the heroes that you’ll instruct on the battlefield. The dynamic between the player and the accompanied heroes plays out nicely with an introduction to each new battle. Menu systems are designed well but take a little bit to get used to, as there are a lot of options for the player. Navigating between the battle arenas, your home area and the shop is just a tap away at any moment and each section is labeled at the bottom of the screen.

Mobile ties

Although Fire Emblem Heroes harkens back to the classic and appreciated gameplay of the games before it, it also has some new features that many current mobile games have employed. Among them is a currency system represented by Orbs within the game. Orbs that you collect through gameplay can be used to progress through missions within the game and there’s always an option to purchase more.

nintendo dena
Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership comes together in multiple titles, including Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem Heroes does a great job of tip-toeing between a traditional handheld game and what many mobile phone games have become. It never forces you to pay in order to advance, but instead gives players the option to purchase items that provide benefit in various ways. I honestly prefer this setup over completely unlocking all modes from one larger payment as it gives the choice to really dig into the experience or occasionally hop into a few battles from time to time. In regards to that point, the battling is also streamlined to be much more bite-size in comparison to other dedicated games in the series. This fits nicely with the lifestyle that many mobile gamers have–occasional free-time that allows for a quick match.

There are also bonuses available to those players that choose to link their game to a Nintendo account. The ‘My Nintendo’ account system allows players to receive certain perks and discounts on digital goods that can be applied to Fire Emblem Heroes or other offerings from Nintendo. it’s a nice feature that few mobile games make use of and could be used to promote other Nintendo properties.

Heroes Wrap

Nintendo/Intelligent Systems and DeNA have paired up to offer a wonderful gaming experience that encapsulates what’s great in both mobile and traditional handheld games. The entire experience is tied together nicely in a fairly approachable package that eases even the least seasoned gamer into the basics. This approachability along with a strong presentation and deep gameplay mechanics make Fire Emblem Heroes one of the best turn-based strategy games available on Android.

fire emblem heroes google link

 

 

Google Home multiple user support is just around the corner

Alexandra Arici
-
0

It’s a feature that’s long been overdue – multiple user support in Google Home – and this week we’re seeing evidence that the functionality is headed for the voice activated virtual assistant really soon.

According to the Android Police, some users noticed a new card pop up in their Discover tab on the Google Home app labeled “Multiple users now supported”. It tells users that “others in your home can get a personalized experience from your Assistant on Google Home.” But despite the card being present, as you can see in the attached screenshot, the feature doesn’t seem to be functional just yet.

The functionality will most likely require separate users to switch accounts via the companion mobile app. In a perfect scenario, the Google Assistant inside the Google Home would be able to recognize a user’s individual voice and pull up their email, playlist and schedule automatically. But Google is not there just yet.

The multiple accounts feature will come in super in handy in households accommodating a family whose different tastes, calendars and to-do lists obviously vary. And while Google Home is still waiting for this feature to go live, Amazon’s Echo offered this option by allowing users to add a household member.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Google Pixel (Smartphone Showdown)

Alexandra Arici
-
1

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
-
1

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?

1...936937938...1,316Page 937 of 1,316