With less than a week to go before the grand Galaxy S8 launch, Samsung is making sure to remind fans to stay tuned for the announcement.
Samsung’s Unpacked 2017 app for Android and iOS received an update this week which brings a few Galaxy S8 goodies to the table. For starters, those who are attending the festivities in NYC or London will find the QR code which will open the door for them at the event within the app (provided they have a proper invitation code available).
For the rest of the world, Samsung’s Unpacked app now displays a countdown timer, as well as some of the recent video teasers that Samsung released. The app will also be live streaming the event live on March 29.
Samsung Unpacked 2017 is free to download from the Google Play Store, so if you want to make sure you don’t forget about the Galaxy S8 official launch event, go ahead and download it right now.
In a few days, Samsung will pull the wraps off the highly-anticipated Galaxy S8 flagship. The phone is expected to make it out in two variants – one with a 5.8-inch display and another with a 6.2-inch screen. Both models will have dual curved displays like the Galaxy S7 edge before them.
You can read up on all the rumors related to the Galaxy S8 in our in-depth article, so you’ll know what to expect when the phone goes live.
Want to win a Samsung Galaxy S8? Enter our giveaway here
However, OnePlus is offering everyone another chance to get a OnePlus 3T in a new color. The company announced earlier today that it would be selling the device in Midnight Black via 
There’s nothing different about this Midnight Black variant, other than a black box and the new color. All of the internals will be exactly the same, so there’s no need to cry wolf for 
Setup for Button Mapper is pretty simple, but it does have a long list of permissions needed. The developer is pretty transparent in saying why they are needed (if you make the long press of your home key call home then permission is needed, for example). You are presented with a pretty extensive list of options, however customization beyond a physical home key (if you have one) and volume keys are locked in the free version.
I struggled at first figuring out exactly what I wanted to customize, not because I didn’t like the idea, but because there are just SO MANY options. I started with making double tap of volume up skip to the next track on Spotify, and volume down goes to the previous song. It works really well and lets me jump around my playlist a little while keeping my phone in my pocket. Most headphones are able to do similar, but my headphones are inconsistent with doing this, so I much prefer this way. The only problem with this is that button mapper doesn’t work if the phone screen is off, so I have to tap the phone on first before double tapping. I don’t mind this because it means that I don’t accidentally trigger any shortcuts pulling my phone out. Another of my favorite uses is to press and hold my home button to quickly check messages on my lock screen, then have it turn the screen off when you release it. I have to disable my fingerprint unlock for that one to work (otherwise my phone just unlocks) but its functionality is almost worth it. I haven’t experienced any glitching or failure to launch when using actions or app shortcuts. After using this app for about two weeks not, I can safely say that the level of functionality that it adds to my phone is well worth the price.
As I mentioned before, there are a number of features that are locked behind the Pro version of the app. You won’t be able to adjust your back or recent keys, and there are several other minor options that are locked. Personally, after using it to be able to set my long press “Recent” key to switch back to the last app uses, and long press back to open Spotify, I’m pretty hooked on the Pro settings and would say it’s well worth the $2.99 price tag. The best thing you could do is download it, mess around with the volume keys and home keys and see how you like it. For me, it’s a no-brainer must-buy.
However, you won’t be able to access Alexa from just anywhere on the phone. Intriguingly enough, Amazon and Huawei have built an app paradoxically called Huawei Alexa which brings the virtual assistant forth. Users will need to do is open the app and tap on the large blue button in the middle, which means Alexa is not “always” listening.
This announcement comes in the wake of another report which claims 
Currently the Mate9 is available for purchase in the country via 
With this aggressive marketing strategy Samsung probably wants to show users don’t have to fear another 
However, this might change soon enough, as a new report coming out of The Information reveals that AT&T is exhibiting a willingness to give Huawei a chance.
It’s not like Huawei doesn’t sell ANY phones in the US. It’s high-end 
But despite all of these efforts, the company had to finally accept one cold fact about the US market – most phones are sold through carrier partners. And it’s not like the Chinese company has many options. Only AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks are fully compatible with Huawei’s Kirin chipsets. And Huawei is involved in a legal litigation with T-Mobile. So AT&T is its only hope at cracking the US market.
Unfortunately for many, the answer is one to damper your mood a bit. Despite today marking the launch of the first Android O Developer Preview, we’re not expecting to see an official launch until Q3 2017.