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The OnePlus 3T was the closest thing to an iPhone in 2016, not the Pixel

Matt Adams
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The search for the Android equivalent of Apple’s iPhone has been going on for years. Users have been asking for a phone that focuses on not only uncomplicated and beautiful software but a tight hardware experience too.

All we want is the complete package.

Every year hype builds around the phone that will take on the iPhone that year. We hear rumors of an iPhone killer like the HTC One M8 with its aluminum build and amazing speakers. Specs and build materials leak, but it never pans out. This predictably pops up around the time Samsung releases a device or whenever the next Nexus device was expected (when those were still a thing).

But that was allegedly about to change when we first heard about the Pixel.

It was supposed to be Google’s first real phone. Google had always controlled the software experience in its Nexus devices but always left the hardware up to a partner like Samsung, HTC, or Huawei. This time the search giant supposedly controlled not only software but hardware too. How true that is, we don’t really know, but the Pixel was supposed to be the iPhone killer. It was the first Android phone that would really take on Apple and beat its iPhone. But, did it?

Sure, Google blanketed the airwaves just like Apple does. The smart and cool ads focused on not only what was great about the Pixel, but about how it was just as good, or better, than the iPhone. The camera was rated by DxOMark as the best ever and still holds that title to this day. The software was tightly integrated and as smooth as any released on a flagship to this day.

But, as someone who pre-ordered his Pixel XL while the announcement press conference was still taking place, it just didn’t seem to live up to the hype that surrounded it. Sure, it was a really good phone but it wasn’t great like so many other iPhone killers.

The Pixel’s software was one of its biggest selling points to me. It was definitely the smoothest I’ve ever experienced on an Android phone and I saw no lag in the few months I had the Pixel, but nothing really blew me away. There was no wow factor at all.

I generally dislike the skins that phone manufacturers like Samsung and LG (especially) put on devices, so the Pixel should have the ideal software for me, right? Google placed a huge emphasis on Assistant but it never changed the way I used my phone and quickly was forgotten. The unlimited backup of photos and videos at full resolution is wonderful but if you’re anything like me, you’re fine settling for the compressed image in Google Photos.

The area where I feel the Pixel’s hype most overlooked was the physical construction of the device. The blocky corners never felt premium to me and the glass that covers part of the back of the phone scratched far too easily. The Pixel is nothing if not boring to look at due to the complete lack of anything visually interesting about the device.

I’ve owned every iPhone that has ever been released (besides the iPhone 5c) because I love mobile technology. I use an Android phone as my daily driver because I prefer Nougat to iOS. But, people generally dismiss is how big of a role the physical design of a device plays on the overall satisfaction someone will have with a device.

So, if I’m not using a Pixel XL like a good little Android fanboy, what am I using? For a long time, I was using the Moto Z Play due to its excellent software and even better battery, but I’ve finally settled on the OnePlus 3T.

Without taking price into consideration, I feel like the OnePlus 3T was the best phone released in 2016 and the closest thing you can find to an Android-iPhone equivalent.

OnePlus has come a long way in its short existence. It has made some really, really bad choices along the way and the growing pains have been very apparent but I feel like OnePlus is finally on track after the release of the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T in 2016.

Why do I think the OnePlus 3T is the best Android phone out right now? First, you have to start with the build and materials. The aluminum body is curved perfectly to fit into your hand comfortably and mine looks as good today as it did the day I took it out of the box. The phone is extremely thin so a small camera bump sticks out of the back of the phone, but it doesn’t bother me as it used to. Maybe I’m more willing to overlook it since I’m so happy with the rest of the phone.

The iPhone-like camera bands wrap from the rear of the device to the sides. The left side holds a slider that switches your phone between three volume settings, Silent, Do Not Disturb and regular volume. I do miss a scheduled Do Not Disturb at night when I forget to move the slider up one spot, but it is otherwise very convenient. In a world where we’re trying to erase bezels on phones that feel increasingly hard to use I think we might have forgotten we actually need to be able to hold a phone comfortably. The slider is one of those quality-of-life features that OnePlus thought to include in its phones that everyone else has ignored because they think it makes them look too much like an iPhone.

In a world where we’re trying to erase bezels on phones that feel increasingly hard to use I think we might have forgotten we actually need to be able to hold a phone comfortably. The slider is one of those quality-of-life features that OnePlus thought to include in its phones that everyone else has ignored because they think it makes them look too much like an iPhone.

The bottom of the phone houses a USB type-C port and speaker and… yes, a headphone jack. This phone is immediately better than the iPhone for that reason alone.

But, where OnePlus has come the furthest is its software. Most will remember that its first phone, the OnePlus One, shipped with CyanogenMod on board. For someone like me who loved pouring hours into almost bricking then fixing my phone while flashing a bunch of random ROMs, this was amazing. Now, I’m in a different phase of my life where I just want stable software that doesn’t stutter. My phone isn’t even rooted.

The universal dark theme is one of my favorite features of Oxygen OS

I really love what OnePlus has done since dropping CM. Oxygen OS has matured into a stable operating system that offers just enough in the way of tweaks and improvements over stock-Android that keeps me happy.

A lot of it is common sense.

Reordering quick tiles is a no brainer. Picking what double presses and long presses do changes the way I use my phone. It’s the little stuff like this that move this phone from a great one to the best on the market.

This article is entirely subjective. That’s why it’s placed under the Editorials and Opinions section of the site, but I truly think that if you’re switching from an iPhone to an Android device you’ll be happier with a OnePlus 3T than a Pixel.

So where do the Samsungs, LGs, and Sonys of the world go from here in their fight against Apple’s market share? I don’t think it’s any secret that Samsung and LG are going to continue to do their own thing. The leaks of the S8 and G6 look interesting but it’s very obvious that they both feel like they can fight off Apple by being different.

Other manufacturers may (hopefully) follow the lead of Lenovo and Motorola and release phones with innovative hardware and software that resembles stock-Android with some quality of life tweaks on top of the OS.

Or some are going to follow OnePlus’ lead and fight Apple on its own turf. The OnePlus 3T is everything that is good about an iPhone and more and I encourage all of my friends to check it out when they’re looking for a new phone. I encourage you to do the same.

How-To: Connecting your phone to a Bluetooth device

AndroidGuys
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1

If you didn’t already know, Bluetooth is a type of wireless connection that will easily transmit audio channels and is a popular connection method for today’s wireless devices. So popular in fact, some developers have decided to do away with the 3.5mm audio jack on their devices. Let’s jump in and get you connected to that device you just purchased.

Prerequisites:

Prerequisites are few and should be pretty easy to come by if you are reading this article.

  1. You must have a mobile device
  2. You must have a Bluetooth device to connect your device to

Making a Connection:

  1. Launch your app drawer and find the settings icon (gear), tap it
  2. Under the connections section, find and tap the Bluetooth option
  3. Tap the slider or button to enable your Bluetooth radio
  4. Set your Bluetooth device into connection mode (see the manual from your device to see how to accomplish this)
  5. Tap the scan button to discover your Bluetooth device
  6. When you see your device in the list, tap on your device to make a connection
    1. When you make the connection, some devices may require you to type in a number password, this should be explained in your devices owners manual.


Look at that. Your device is now connected to a new speaker or headset (or whatever you bought). Fire up the music or make that hands free phone call.

What is your favorite Bluetooth device? Got any favorite Bluetooth apps?  Leave us some comments below and let us know your thoughts.

Android accessories you need to become a superior gamer (PROMOTED)

AndroidGuys
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Given that you’re on on AndroidGuys, we’ll go ahead and assume you’re more than likely a fan or lover of Android. We can’t blame you; we love the flexibility of the platform, its options for apps and games, and wearables. And, although we might collectively be more casual gamers, Android has no shortage of high-end hardware and devices to play more involved games.

If you’re among those who like to compete with more robust hardware and peripherals, there are a few special options for you, too. However, for those who aren’t yet, and are looking to get more, you’re likely wondering what you need to be a superior Android gamer. Here are five things that will help give you a leg up, or at least a better experience.

MOGA Pro Power Controller

Android smartphones and tablets are excellent pocket-sized gateways into gaming on the go, but a touchscreen can only do so much in terms. Driving, for instance, can sometimes get your fingers positioned in awkward places on the screen, leading to obscured views of the action at hand.

Thankfully, Power A have designed a gamepad for your Android needs that somewhat resembles an Xbox controller. Additionally, this one offers a smartphone mount and a built-in charger, helping to extend your gaming sessions.

SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism

When you’re totally immersed in the game, the last thing you want is lousy sound to ruin the experience. Even if you’re playing online slots, you need great audio to make it a perfect gaming session. Who knows what little nuances a developer might code into a game to add to the overall effect?

Enter the Siberia Elite Prism headset. These aren’t just noise cancelling headphones, these are noise eliminating headphones. You won’t hear anything you don’t want to with these cans on.

They don’t come cheap with their $80+ price tag but you shouldn’t expect that from a 7.1 channel sound experience. And, not only do they sound amazing, but they look cool too with the custom illuminated ear cups colors and lighting effects.

Nvidia Shield Tablet Cover

Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or something else, you need to protect your investment. Nothing gives the uncomfortable feeling of having scratches and scuffs on a device that runs hundreds of dollar.


As one of the most powerful devices of its kind, the NVIDIA Shield tablet and its K1 processor are built for games. It’s got everything you need to plow through first person shooters, racing games, and more. Just be sure to keep it covered up with an insurance policy. Grab a cover and make sure your beauty sleeps well at night.

NVIDIA Remote

For those of you who want an all-night gaming marathon there’s nothing like the Shield TV. Not only does it have everything you need for incredibly fun games direct from the unit, it can also stream them from NVIDIA, too. The hardware is a beast no matter which way you go, and software makes it get better all the time.

One of our favorite reasons for owning a Shield TV is that it doubles as a great entertainment and media device. So, when we’re not playing games, we’re watching video; the new model allows for 4K. Sure, you can use the game controller to navigate around the menus, but we suggest snagging the remote. It’s not necessarily going to improve your gaming experience, but it can improve the overall Shield setup.

Samsung Gear VR

Surely you expected to see this one on the list. The Samsung Gear VR has been around for a couple of generations now and is starting to hit its stride. If you own a Samsung smartphone, then this is the first accessory you’ll want to check out.

For a fraction of the price of the Oculus Rift, Samsung has created a highly accessible VR headset that speaks to the every man. Thanks to a growing library of content and games, we’re finally at the point to where we’re actually endorsing wearables like these.

Your Moto Mods will live a long, healthy life

Alexandra Arici
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One of the main reason people love the Moto Z is because the phone can be paired with a number of Moto Mods – modular accessories to be snapped onto the handset and deliver extra functionality.

But even if people love Moto Mods, some users have raised concerns regarding the Mods’ compatibility with future devices. No one likes a scenario where you buy the phone and a bunch of mods only to find they become irrelevant once new phone models become available?

Luckily Motorola and Lenovo have put the minds of such skeptics at ease. According to a recent interview, Lenovo’s General Manager for Middle East Smartphones, Sharay Shams confirmed that 12 new Moto Mods will become available this year, which “will remain compatible with the phones to be introduced by the company over the next three years.”

So if you buy today a certain Moto Mod, you can be sure you’ll be able to use it with your next Moto Z smartphone when you decide to upgrade 2 years later.

As for the new Moto Mods, the Lenovo Manager did not provide any additional information regarding them. Still, it’s quite possible they will be delivered by some of the winners of Motorola’s “Transform the Smartphone Challenge” which are currently gathering funds on Indiegogo to make their projects become a reality.

Reigns : Rule your kingdom with a swipe of your finger (Review)

AndroidGuys
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When it comes to games that give you the role of a ruling king, I’d say that 9 times out of 10 you are in the middle of a deep strategy game, requiring you to know who to barter with, go to war with, and when to adjust the price of wares sold to keep your peasants happy, you rich, and your kingdom thriving. Reigns takes all this, simplifies it dramatically, and turns it into a card-swiping game. Will you raise the price of bread? It will increase your money but will make your people angry. What about a war with the eastern territories to increase your domain? Better yet, how about a nice crusade? It’s all here and more, all in the swipe of a card.

Developer: DevolverDigital
Price: $2.99
Download: Google Play/App Store

Long live the King

Gameplay

The entire game is about Yes or No choices, with some variation. Generally, a swipe to the right will be for “Yes” or a positive response, and a swipe to the left is for “No” or negative. Through this simple, binary response system, the game fleshes out a story where a long time ago a King made a deal with the Devil to have ultimate power but at the loss of his soul. Now cursed to living in an endless cycle of deaths and resurrections, it’s your duty to appease the Devil’s demands or try and trick him.

There are hundreds of cards with more unlocking as you make different achievements through the game. Cards include everything from the army needing more troops, to your miner finding a cave of gold and you deciding to keep it for yourself or share the wealth. You may end up with a bastard son, or you could be a great war hero. This game has incredible variety. All of these choices effect 4 meters at the top of the screen. There is a Religion, People, Army, and Treasury meter. Just about everything you do will either raise or lower the bar for any of these areas, and it’s important to maintain a balance with each of these. If the Chuch gains too much power, they will overthrow the government and you lose, but it they lose all of their power, the pagans overthrow your castle and murder you. No one stat can be maxed or emptied.

En garde!

There are times when you will wander into a dungeon or be challenged to a duel. Swiping right will attack while swiping left will block and charge a special attack. This is a little bit of “rock paper scissors” and a little bit of luck as you aren’t able to choose which specials you throw out, so sometimes you’ll do a dive attack when a sword throw would win the match. It’s fun, but can be frustrating when things don’t go your way and you have no control over it.

There are special situations that will effect these meters as well, romancing a lover will make the people happy and will lock the People meter so that it is unaffected by any choice made. Starting a holy crusade will continuously raise profits and increase the Church’s power over time, but with a steady decrease of the military. There are powerups to save you from famine, mushrooms that let you see the exact increase or decrease of each choice you make, and even a potion to turn all your villagers into rabbits. This game has an incredible amount of variety and even after hours of playing it, there are still a few cards I have not seen yet.

Yeah, sure. Thin the herd.

Graphics

The visuals are all similar to a flat, material design with bright vibrant colors. All the characters are unique and diverse, from the Executioner with his hood hiding his face, to the crazy heretic that released a lion in your village as part of God’s wrath. It’s a simple design, but it’s beautiful and keeps the game moving at just the right pace. You aren’t supposed to be locked into the beauty of the cards, you’re supposed to recognize the character, read what they say, and swipe. The simple graphics compliment the simple gameplay.

Maintain a balance at all times, or the scales will not tip in your favor.

Sounds

The sound is on point, with the low chanting music that one would expect from a medieval game. Every character has their own unique voice and chatter, even if it is something that sounds like it comes out of The Sims. It is a fun way to make the characters seem a little more engaging. Again, there is no over-complication in the sounds, but there are just enough details that prevent if from getting dull.

Longevity

There are hundreds and hundreds of cards available to unlock and the pacing of unlocking them is spot on, with more cards getting unlocked the deeper in the story you get. There are many branching storylines, some dependant on completing other in a single playthrough to unlock. Considering that each life of the King on average only lasts between 5 to 10 minutes, it’s full of quick and achievable goals, but luck plays into getting the cards needed to pull off certain achievements. With the Devil only showing up every 666 years, there’s plenty of time to have fun and explore without having to worry about mandatory story quests, but there’s still plenty of story quests sprinkled throughout. You are able to continue playing after you break free from the Devil’s control to pick up any last achievements that are missing. All in all, the game took me just shy of two weeks of off and on playing to get through the main story.

 

Conclusion

Reigns is a brilliant game. It’s easy gameplay and short bursts of story are perfect for the mobile gamer on the go. The story is engaging, the characters are endearing, and the strategy is easy to pick up but difficult to master. Besides the bit of random luck involved in duels, the game is as flawless as they come. At $2.99, this game knows it’s worth and is worthy of the price tag.

Here’s more proof that Android 8.0 will probably be called Oreo

Alexandra Arici
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If you are the owner of an Android smartphone, you probably know that Google names every major new version of its operating system after a deliciously sweet treat. We had Gingerbread, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and now Nougat.

Google’s naming scheme is also alphabetical, so the next Android will be called something starting with O. What could it, what could it be?

A few days ago, Google’s SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Play, Hiroshi Lockheimer teased the name Android 8.0 Oreo on Twitter. It’s not the first time Lockheimer reveals such information, although he doesn’t always seem to be getting it right. Last year the same Google employee predicted that Android 7.0 will be called Nutella, but that obviously didn’t happen.

Well this week, we get another hint suggesting that Android 8.0 will indeed called Oreo. The company that owns the Oreo brand, Mondelez partnered up with Google to release a silly, little game called Oreo Space Dunk.

The game basically asks users to scan their Oreo cookie, which then gets thrown away into virtual space only to land in a glass of milk on the other side of the world.

But don’t assume the game is a confirmation that Android 8.0 will be called Oreo, far from it. Still I believe it’s a pretty straight-forward indicator that this will be the case.

What other options does Google have? The search giant could end up calling Android 8.0 Ontbijtkoek or Oliebol, Ozark Pudding, Oatmeal Cookie or maybe Orellets. But some of these names are pretty hard to pronounce and Google will probably want to go with a name that’s easy to remember. On top of that, some of these deserts can be found only in certain regions. By contrast almost everyone knows what an Oreo is.

10 apps to help you jumpstart your morning

Alexandra Arici
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If you’re like me, you probably hate having to wake up really early. But let’s face it – the nature of modern life makes it impossible to start our dates at later hours. So it’s essential you’re able to jump start our day as quickly and efficiently as possible, that is – if we want to get everything on the agenda done.

So today we bring you a few applications for Android designed to help you get started on a productive day. It’s all about establishing the right mourning routine and sticking with it. Science says it takes up to 66 days to create a habit and these apps are just the thing you need to push you along the right path.

Walkie

Are you a deep sleeper that lives alone? Check out the Walkie application which is based on a pretty quirky idea. Did you know that in Industrial England you could hire people to wake you up? They were called knocker uppers and citizens would pay them to came to their house and bang at your door (sometimes their windows too). Well Walkie works in a similar fashion, except you don’t have to pay the person who is in charge of waking you up.

All you need to do is create a topic within the app and then get on the phone with the right person. It’s an anonymous free service and the calls are automatically interrupted after one minute, so you don’t have to keep chatting with a total stranger when you’re barely awake. Walkie can be also used for a variety of things. For example, you can request to speak to a native Icelander in order to perfect your language skills.

Sleep Cycle

For those who want to be waken up less brutally, the Sleep Cycle app might be the right choice. The application tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during your light sleep phase. It’s the natural way to wake up and Sleep Cycle guarantees you’ll feel well-rested and relaxed.

Sleep Cycle is also intelligent enough to find the optical time to wake you up during a 30-minute window that ends at your set alarm time.

Coffee cup

The best coffee is the one you make yourself, right? This neat, little app will help you learn new coffee recipes and walk you through all the steps you need to go through to produce a delicious beverage.

Coffee cup features 26 animated recipes, as well as recipe evaluation and history. You can also create your own coffee mix and share your recipes with the community of coffee loving users such as yourself.

SoundCloud

While you savor that delicious cup of coffee, why not listen to some good music? The free version of SoundCloud lets you discover new and trending music based on your tastes. It lets you save music to your collection, so you can easily go back and listen to it again. It’s a great app for setting up a great ambience in the morning.

AccuWeather

Ok, so you’re done with your morning routine and you want to know how the weather is going to be like and what you should wear for the day too. AccuWeather for Android is one of the best apps you can turn to, to get your dose of daily weather information. AccuWeather delivers super-localized weather reports, right-down to your street. With this app installed on your phone you will never walk out of the house unprepared.

Flipboard

Flipboard is one of the most popular news apps out there. So if you like reading the latest stories while on the bus or subway going to work, Flipboard is a great choice. It’s a RSS-style type of app just like Feedly when you can add all your favorite news sources show up in one place.

You can also pick your passions (example: technology and science or travel) and the app will create a Smart Magazine for each and populate it with relevant articles for you.

Users can save stories for later reading and check out the trending article section conveniently located on the front page. It’s pretty useful app to have on your phone, especially if you’re constantly thirsting for new knowledge.

Zombies, Run!

Exercise is good for your mind and soul, but how many of us have running only to give it up at some point? Yeah, fitness can get extremely boring. However, this creative app tries to make working out look less dull.

It creates a narrative around you, the “Runner”. You have to imagine yourself living in a post-apocalyptic, zombie plagued England, where you’ll be given missions to collect supplies, save others and run from the zombies.

Zombies, Run! also offers a musical background to accompany you in the 160+ missions available. There is a free and a paid version of the app.

Workout Trainer

If running isn’t really your think, you can check out the Workout Trainer app. It delivers fun workout ideas to help you get in shape. It offers a multitude of options including cardio, weights core and yoga. You can do it all from the comfort of your home – you won’t even have to go to the gym.

TickTick

Check what’s on today’s agenda, by employing the helping hand of TickTick. The app allows users to create lists on things that need to get done. It also features cloud syncing, so you can keep track of tasks on all of your devices. You can also set priority levels and highlight the most important tasks.

TickTick is quite intuitive to use. For those who want more, there’s a Pro version that adds more advanced features to the table.

Google Maps

Google Maps has recently added some powerful features. The app lets you input your home and work address in order to deliver real-time traffic updates and ETAs to your commutes. You can ask the app to display bus timetables too, in case you want to leave the car at home.

AtomicX V201: All you need is love and these headphones (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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2

There are some people who splurge hundreds of dollars in crazy-expensive headphones because they want the best audio quality. There are people who think that the crappy headphones included with their phone are good enough. Then there are people that are willing to trade off a bit of quality in favor of an affordable set, especially if it brings additional features such as Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancelling.

For this ever-increasing customer segment, iDeaUSA has brought the AtomicX V201 headphones to market. If you want a nice looking, sturdy and wireless set with great battery life and good sound quality, then you’re in for a treat.

Design and Build

When opening the box, you will find a rigid case with a faux carbon fiber design. I didn’t expect a case with these headphones, considering that I’ve bought slightly more expensive headphones and they haven’t come with a case. Now I feel ripped off by them.

Anyways, inside the case you will find the following items:

It was a surprise to see the adapter, since, again, I’ve never had one included in any of the headphones I’ve bought. What I’ve seen included with other headphones, especially with Audio-Technica, is a 3.5 to 6.35mm adapter, and the V201 doesn’t include one. This is not a dealbreaker for 99% of people, and chances are that if you need one, you already have one.

The V201 headphones follow closely the design set by the carrying case, with faux carbon fiber elements on the cups and on the top part of the headband. The rest of the device is made up of plastic.

When you adjust the cups in order to fit your head, you will discover that a metal frame hold the headphones together. There’s also some padding added to the bottom part of the headband and to the inner side of the cups.

On the bottom part of the cups you will find several elements. On the left one, there’s a switch to toggle Active Noise Cancelling. There’s also a microUSB port for charging purposes.

On the right, you will find a power button that doubles as a pause button, plus volume down/previous and volume up/forward buttons. There’s also a 3.5mm plug to connect the included cable. A status red/blue light is also present on both sides.

The carrying case is very nice and has the same faux carbon fiber design.

All of these elements add up to a weight of 210 grams. I haven’t found myself wishing that they were neither lighter nor heavier. They are light enough so that long sessions don’t turn into hell, and they are heavy enough to convey a sense of quality.

Contrary to what some companies are doing, iDeaUSA opted to offer the V201 in black only. Thank you very much, iDeaUSA. Even though I prefer bright colors for some stuff, such as cellphone cases, I would hate to have a bright green thing on top of my head. This device won’t turn heads, that’s for sure, but, in my opinion, that’s how headphones should work.

I’ve been using these headphones basically non-stop for a week and the first day I felt some discomfort on my ears, but the next day it went away. Probably it was just me getting used again to over-ear headphones, which I haven’t used in months. The padding makes a good job here, and the weight means that the discomfort is kept to a minimum.

The whole set just feels very sturdy and strong. I feel like these headphones will serve me well for several years, thanks to a well-designed build and durable materials.

Sound Quality

Normally, Bluetooth headphones are not renowned for their audio quality, unless it is a very expensive piece. Also, when headphones add ANC, audio quality tends to suffer in favor of a more pleasant experience through the reduction of ambient noise.

As I previously said, I have some experience with headphones but I am in no way an expert. I use a pair of Apple EarPods for my daily walk to the university, and I am fine with them, even though I know they are not good.

Sound quality could be improved but it is acceptable.

However, it is easy to notice the difference between a pair of crappy earbuds and the V201. I noticed some sounds in Delain’s Here Comes the Vultures that I have never heard in the (probably) 200 times I’ve listened to that song. This happened with several songs, proving that the sound it produces can be refined and detailed.

In case you were wondering, these headphones can get extraordinarily loud. This will obviously make the sound bleed (and annoy people around you in the process), but listening to The Game by Dragonforce on full volume was almost a concert-like experience.

The padding makes sure that the device fits as comfortably as possible.

I like when headphones have a pronounced bass, and unfortunately the V201 isn’t the best at this.

I heard several songs through the V201 and my EarPods and there were some cases, such as in Shine by Tolmachevy Sisters (don’t judge, a series of weird events led me there), where I could hear the bass drum more clearly through my EarPods.

Also, in some songs, such as Epica’s Edge of the Blade, which is filled with very prominent hi-hat and crash cymbal sounds, some mild distortion could be heard in these high sounds, especially when I increased the volume.

The situation improved when I turned on Active Noise Cancelling. Then, the perceived sound had more punch to it, with richer bass sound and a more dynamic range. This alleviated slightly my complaints about the sound, so I will keep it on.

Talking about ANC, I must say that it is hit or miss. It reduced the clicking sound of my keyboard and this weird sound that the heater in my room does (or maybe it is the normal sound, it’s just that I’m not used to having heaters in my room, but rather fans), but it couldn’t filter rain, for example. It obviously didn’t do a good job in reducing my flatmates’ voices, but it did reduce them a little.

Connectivity

There are several accessories included with the headphones.

The V201 headphones support the latest Bluetooth 4.1 standard. Unlike several Bluetooth devices I’ve used, there is no hissing sound, something that is specially noticeable when nothing is playing.

I did experience a couple of interruptions while playing music, but they lasted a couple of tenths of a second.

Pairing the phones to a Huawei Honor 7 Lite (known as Huawei Honor 5C in other markets), a Nomu S10 and a Windows laptop was extremely easy. Just hold the power button for five seconds and the headphones will change to pairing mode. Choose it from the list of Bluetooth devices and you are done.

If you like, you can use the included 3.5 to 3.5mm cable to listen to your favorite tunes. This works exactly as expected, and the sound quality wasn’t either benefitted nor affected by the change of output.

As a bonus, the headphones include a mic, so you can answer calls through them. You accept a call by pressing the power button. This built-in mic gets the job done. Obviously, it is much better to answer your call through your phone, but the mic is there for when you need it.

Battery Life

The headset features a 500mAh battery that can be charged through the included microUSB cable. There’s no charger included, but come on, it is 2017, everyone has one already.

The charging port is under the left cup, and the device can be charged and used at the same time.

Even though the battery is small, iDeaUSA claims 20 hours of battery life with ANC turned on and 25 turned off. I had ANC turned off almost all the time and I can attest to this fact. I’ve used these headphones on average 8 hours per day and I’ve had to charge them twice in one week.

Charging is another matter, though, and even though iDeaUSA claims two hours battery charging time, I’ve never been able to replicate this. Both times, the battery was charged after a 2.5-hour period. If I manage to get a better time, I will update the article accordingly, but don’t hold your breath.

Conclusion

The AtomicX V201 headphones feature a nice build, responsive controls and good battery life in a nice packaging and a welcoming price. You can use them through the state-of-the-art Bluetooth 4.1 standard or by regular 3.5mm cable. Sound quality could be better, and Active Noise Cancelling can be hit or miss, but the overall experience provided by these headphones is very good.

Considering that you can get them for less than $100 (exactly $89.99 at the time of writing), you get a lot of value for your hard-earned cash. You probably can’t do much better, and definitely can do much worse.

You can get more information about the iDeaUSA AtomicX V201 headphones or buy them from Amazon.

Nokia 3310 (2017 edition) details leak, here’s what to expect

Alexandra Arici
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Earlier this month, we told you that Nokia might be looking to introduce a Nokia 3310 homage, alongside a few middle-range smartphones and (probably) wearables at MWC 2017.

While the previous report didn’t disclose much about the new Nokia 3310, today we’re able to bring you more info about the device.

If you were hoping the Nokia 3310 will get a smartphone makeover, we’re sorry but we have to burst your bubble. According to info coming out of China, the Nokia 3310 (2017 Edition) will remain a feature phone. So no Android onboard, folks!

Nope

On the aesthetic front, we’re told the device will look very similar to the original model. The only notable changes come in the weight and thickness department. So the new Nokia 3310 should be more svelte and portable than its predecessor – which isn’t really unexpected.

But while the 2000 version arrived with an 84 x 84 monochrome display, the 2017 edition will take advantage of a larger color one. We’re not provided with the exact dimensions, but hopefully the new arrival will be as good as it predecessor – battery life wise.

Nokia wants the feature phone to bring a dash of color in your life, so it will be releasing with vivid paint jobs including red, green and yellow. The original Nokia 3310 allowed users to swap the cover out and replace it with models from third party manufacturers. We don’t know if this will be the case with the 2017 model or not, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Soon you’ll be able to place your finger anywhere on your smartphone display to unlock it

Alexandra Arici
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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 are two highly anticipated flagships that will launch in the first half of the year. Both will come with fingerprint scanners meant to live in the back. But your next-next gen flagship might be entirely different.

Most phones these days either put the fingerprint scanner on the back like Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG G6 or make it live in the home button. But according to a recent report coming out of The Investor – all that is about to change.

The publication reveals that smartphones with fingerprint scanners embedded into the display are on their way. South Korean fingerprint module manufacturer, CrucialTec is expected to launch its on-screen fingerprint scanning solution sometime this year. Which in theory means we can expect smartphones (and also wearables) that allow you to unlock them by placing your finger on the screen, to make an appearance this year.

The technology – named Display Fingerprint Solution (DFS), has been getting a lot of positive reviews from people charged with testing it. How will this work? The module will be embedded under the smartphone display and will be capable of detecting touches as light as a single hair. It can also extract high-res fingerprints at 500 dots per inch.

CrucialTec’s under the screen fingerprint scanner is also said to be a lot safer than currently available solutions. What’s more it can recognize multiple fingerprints – all at once. And the South Korean company is already working on a next-gen solution which will allow users to place their finger basically anywhere on the screen and get the device unlocked.

Obviously, rear-mounted scanners have their disadvantages. Look at the upcoming Galaxy S8. If leaks are correct, the phone will have a pretty awkward fingerprint scanner placement – right next to the camera, on the right –  which could make trying to unlock the phone a bit more complicated than it needs to be. But the new technology should allow users to choose where the fingerprint module is placed.

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