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10 glamorous apps for the fashion enthusiast

Alexandra Arici
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Fashion is a staple of someone personality and sometimes you can tell quite a lot of things about a person just by looking at how they are dressed. Traditionally you’d expect ladies to be the big fashionistas of the world, but today a lot of gentlemen are interested in following fashion trends too and the percentage of men who know how to dress properly has grown considerably.

Since we live in an era of technology, it is now super easy to be the first among your friends to know about the latest trends and even replicate some of the hottest celebrity outfits. All you need is to download a few apps on your phone. There are plenty of Android apps in the Google Play Store which aim to make life less complicated for fashionistas. The trouble is there’s lots and lots of them, so you might not know what to choose. Luckily we have done the work for you and cherry picked out some of the best apps for the fashion enthusiasts – male and female alike.

Lookbook

01 LookbookMillennials will absolutely adore this app. Don’t know what to wear anymore? This app provides a rich database of urban chic outfits, so you can easily get the needed inspiration. Lookbook also provides info on where to get a specific item of clothing, so if you really like a blouse or a dress you can actually go out and get it. You can either sign-up or just browse anonymously, but you won’t be able to like or comment on user profiles.

Sylect

02 StylectYour love of shoes is bigger than Carrie Bradshaws’? Well then the Sylect app is for you. It’s basically a Tinder affair for shoes. See something you like? Swipe right. Something you don’t? Swipe left. The app will showcase shoes from well-known retailers and brands such as ASOS, Boohoo, Zara, H&M, Misguided, River and more. Discover new and amazing shoe designs, as well as super discounts and deals. All folded neatly into one app.

The Hunt

03 The HuntNo, the app doesn’t have anyting to do with Thomas Vinterberg’s masterpiece starring Mads Mikkelsen. You should totally watch the film by the way. Anyway going back to the app, let’s image you are at a party and you see someone wearing the skirt of your dreams, but you’re too shy to ask where she got it from.

Instead you can snap a quick photo of the outfit and post it in The Hunt app. Community members will help you identify the item, so you can go ahead and purchase one for yourself. Or they can suggest alternatives. Say goodbye to envy! The app will also allow to do a bit of shopping, by suggesting you pick up some of the trending products.

Chic Sketch

04 Chic SketchIf you have ever fantasized of becoming a fashion designer, this app will bring you closer to your dream. Chic Sketch is a special application among fashion apps because it brings something extra to the table. Basically this piece of software can covert personal photos into custom fashion illustrations.

The app has quite a few bad reviews on Google Play but that’s because you’ll need to pay to have the sketch forwarded to you. The app is free for download but to receive the photo conversion you’ll need to pay $9.99. So keep that in mind if you want to try out the app and only download it if you’re willing to pay for the service.

The app works like this – a user uploads a photo which is then sent to a team of illustrators who turn the picture into a fashion sketch. Be advised that it might take a while before you receive your drawing, depending on how many people are ahead of you in the virtual queue.

Gilt

05 GantLove a good flash sale? Gilt is the place to go when you’re trying to find designer clothing items at affordable prices. The app displays amazing deals on shoes, clothing, outwear and accessories – some of them designed by popular fashion houses like Gucci, Prada and more.

Poshmark

06 PoshmarkIf you’re facing a situation where your closet is filled with clothes you no longer wear, Poshmark is the app to go to for support. Fashionistas can sell old outfits and make room in their wardrobe for new stuff by listing the items they want to sell for free.

But that’s not the only thing you can do with Poshmark. Users can also shop over 5,000 brands in every size. Gets your hands on designer clothes from Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Nike and more at up to 70% off.

Etsy

07 EtsyMaybe you want to stand out of the crowd and wear a clothing item that hasn’t been produced in series. Then the Etsy app should be your destination. The app is home of some great handmade artists and independent designers who offer their unique designs at affordable prices. Actually one of my favorite indie designers NOCTEX has a shop on Etsy, don’t hesitate to check her out.

Vogue Paris

08 Vogue ParisAnyone with a love for couture has certainly heard of Vogue, a magazine which has been at the forefront of fashion ever since its inception in 1892. Now you can get to read the magazine right on your Android phone or tablet. Thanks to the Vogue Paris app (in English) you can take advantage of all the wonderful articles covering fashion, beauty, jewelry and culture.

Snupps

09 SnuppsNot particularly good at organizing your stuff? Snupps is here to help. All you need to get started is snap/upload images of your items and start organizing them on your virtual shelves. How about in real life, you might want to ask? Well hopefully figuring out a plan of how to sort things virtually will inspire you to put it into practice, as well.

The app has a very Instagram-like feel, so if you like that don’t hesitate to download it.

DressingRoom by Gap

10 GapThis last up isn’t out yet but was announced during CES 2017, but it is scheduled to launch later this month. Know you will need a Google Tango-enabled device like the ASUS ZenFone AR to be able to run it.

Basically the app will allow users to try on clothes in an AR experience without them having to exit their homes. Shoppers will be able to select their Gap style, choose their body type and a digital mannequin you can even shape to make it look more like you will model the garment for you. DressingRoom by Gap will also allow users to purchase the item they have tried on.

PRICE DROP: Motorola Z Droid, Z Force Droid discounted by 50% until February 20

Scott Webster
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Verizon and Motorola have dropped the price of the Moto Z Droid and Z Force Droid as part of a Valentine’s Day promotion. Starting immediately, and running through February 20, customers can purchase the two phones for half of their normal costs.

The Moto Z Droid shakes out to $13 per month over 24 months while the Z Force Droid comes in at $15 per month over the same time frame. Total costs break out to $312 and $360, respectively. The Moto Z Play Droid is also getting a discount right now which puts the total cost of the phone at $120.

moto_z_verizon

Customers are required to pay the normal cost of the phones over two years; a credit is applied each month, ultimately bringing the price down in the process. Cancel service with Verizon and you’ll be on the hook for the remaining, original balance.

The Z Droid line of phones are the latest from Motorola and Verizon, each having its own unique selling points. All three, though, are equipped to support the MotoMods from Motorola and its partners. If you’re looking for devices with extra flexibility and long-term viability, the Z Droid models should definitely be considered.

daydream_closed

Daydream View VR

Additionally, the Z Droid and Z Force Droid are officially compatible with Google’s Daydream View VR. As an added incentive from Verizon, the virtual reality wearable is also getting a hefty price cut. For a limited time, the Daydream View is available at $50, a discount of $30. All three colors are offered as part of the promotion: Slate, Crimson, and Snow

Google details its malware squashing strategy

Alexandra Arici
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You might not know this but Android has an embedded security feature called “Verify apps” which routinely scans newly installed apps to see if they are secure or not. However, there are certain instances when Verify apps is rendered useless.

Some users, for example choose to disable this feature. Therefore, Google has had to get creative in order to continue to hunt for bugs, so it devised an intelligent workaround to this problem.

Devices with disable Verify apps are dubbed Dead of Insecure (DOI) by Google’s security team. There are other reasons why a device could be classified as DOI. For example, the phone or tablet might not be in use anymore or it houses malware which prevents Verify apps from continuing its vigil.

Google Malwear StrategyGoogle classifies devices which have seen installs for unknown sources but continue to check back in with the security system as “Retained”. The search giant then uses the percentage of retained and DOI devices after an app installation to calculate the probability of it being a malicious one.

Google says this algorithm has helped identify more than 25,000 apps as pertaining to different malware families including Ghost Push, Gooligan and Hummingbad.

Sick Android is SickOnce a potentially harmful app has been identified, Google will switch Verify apps on and instruct it to clean up the mess.

Now, if you stick to downloading apps and games from the Google Play Store, you have nothing to worry about, since Verify apps is there doing its job. However, if you decide to venture out of the Play Store ecosystem, things get a little trickier, but Google is hard at work figuring out ways to keep your device malware free.

Is your Samsung device getting Android 7.0 Nougat? Check here to see

Alexandra Arici
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We’re in the middle of January, so naturally the news that Samsung had finally stared to roll out the Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge (in select markets) was pretty exciting.

Well now that Samsung has taken care of its premium device duo, it’s time for the Korean tech giant to focus on some of its other products, which are also awaiting the update.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Gets NougatToday Samsung has officially announced the list of devices which are scheduled to get the Android 7.0 Nougat update before the first half of 2017. Here’s the list:

  • Galaxy S6
  • Galaxy S6 edge
  • Galaxy S6 edge Plus
  • Galaxy Note 5
  • Galaxy Tab A with S Pen
  • Galaxy Tab S2 (LTE unlocked)
  • Galaxy A3
  • Galaxy A8

Samsung also listed some of the new features users of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge (and hopefully the other devices too) will be able to take advantage of once they upgraded to Nougat. The company says that Quick Panel is now cleaner. Titles have been removed from the icons in the panel’s first depth, while the icons in the second depth are now clustered in groups of nine.

Notifications got an upgrade too, as they are now grouped to display info more clearly and come with support for Direct Reply.

Galaxy-S7-EdgeMulti Window on Nougat supports two apps in split-screen view plus five more separate windows via the new pop-up window function. There’s a newly added Performance Mode which allows users to choose between four different modes including Optimized mode, Game Mode, Entertainment Mode or High Performance depending on the task running onboard of the device.

Last but not least, Android Nougat for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will add Samsung Pass – the feat which allows users to install a master key for website login on Samsung Internet.

Verizon to intro new 5GB for $55 data plan on January 24

Alexandra Arici
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Verizon performed a bit of market research and recently came to the conclusion that most customers don’t use more than 5GB of data per month. According to Big Red, 4 out of 5 of its subscribers take advantage of less than 5GB, so the company has come up with a new plan to cater to the needs of this particular segment.

Starting January 24, customers are invited to get onboard the $55 for 5GB plan which also offers Unlimited Talk and Text. But there’s a small catch here you need to take into consideration before jumping onboard with Verizon for this one. Only those who pay bills using the carrier’s own Auto Pay payment program will be charged $55 for the plan. The rest of subscribers will have to take out $60 out of their pockets if they want the new plan.

Verizon Data PlansVerizon also offers a 4GB of data plan for $50 and an 8GB +2GB per line plan for $70, but if you don’t fall under any of these two categories, the new 5GB of data bundle might be exactly what you need. You don’t have to make a decision now, as there’s plenty of time left until Monday for you to think about it.

If you decide that the new Verizon plan is for you, you should now it will be available in store or over the phone, but not online.

Verizon StoreVerizon is marketing this particular bundle as “The Plan you’ve been waiting for” that’s “Just for you”. We should also note that the new plan is flagged as a “promo” – which means Verizon is only experimenting with the 5GB bundle idea to see how it is received by customers. We have no idea how long it will last, though.

News Republic app update adds “Made for Samsung” features for Galaxy devices

Alexandra Arici
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0

If you ever owned a HTC device you are probably familiar with the News Republic app, which is the official partner of HTC BlinkFeed. The app’s mission is to offer access to full articles from thousands of news sources in different languages, to users who are always on the go.

Well this week the company behind News Republic, Cheetah Mobile announced the latest version of the app which brings a new “Made for Samsung” component to the table.

News Republic App for Samsung 3The new version will add a few feats for Samsung product owners who like to be kept up to date with various topics. For starters, the update brings text-to-speech support, so if you’re on the metro, going home after a long day at work and feel too exhausted to read, you can tap the “speaker icon” on the article page and have the news piece read out to you.

On top of that Samsung users can also take advantage of a long-press feature to uncover more information (via Wikipedia) on a certain topic without closing the article.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge owners are treated with a surprise in the latest News Republic update. Now users can simply open the Edge Panel app in order to view a list of Breaking News that can be opened via a single tap.

Happen to own a Gear S3 smartwatch? Even better! Now the app is capable of delivering Top Stories to the wearable’s circular display, so users can read them directly from their wrist.

16145622_1455972574435822_659388769_oLast but not least, News Republic has been improved as to allow users to select individual news outlets they want to follow from within the app. Recommendations will be delivered in the article’s list page.

So if you too own a Samsung device, go on to the Samsung Galaxy Apps store and download the News Republic for Samsung to get your batch of daily news.

Adding Home and Work addresses to Google Maps [How-To]

AndroidGuys
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Google Maps provides users the ability to add addresses and save them. Having your home and work addresses on Google Maps makes it easy to get commute estimates, traffic alerts, weather updates and even see pictures and information about places nearby.

Adding a Home address

Let’s begin by adding a “Home” address.

  1. In Google Maps, click on Menu, located in the upper-left hand corner of your screen. See Figure 1.

    google-maps-address-1
    Fig. 1
  2. Once the menu opens, click on “Your Places.” See Figure 2.

    google-maps-address-2
    Fig. 2
  3. You now have the option to enter your Home and Work addresses. Click on “Home” and enter your address. See Figure 3.

    google-maps-address-3
    Fig. 3
  4. Click on Save.

Proceed to follow the same directions to enter a Work address.

Updating a saved address

If either the Home or Work address need to be changed, proceed by performing the following:

  1. From Google Maps, click on Menu > Your Places.
  2. Click on the “X” to the right of the address that needs to be changed. In our example, we will be updating the “Home” address. See Figure 4.

    google-maps-address-4
    Fig. 4
  3. Once the address is removed, proceed to add the new address and click on Save.

Once your addresses are saved, you can request commute updates from your phone or other Google connected devices.

SpeakTribe: A great way of learning the beautiful Spanish language (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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Learning languages is, in my opinion, one of the most fulfilling things you can do. This is especially true when you are in a country where they speak a different language than yours. The feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction you get after slowly starting to get what it is written on the streets or finally being able of going to the grocery shop without pulling your phone to use Google Translate is extremely rewarding.

Being a native Spanish speaker, I’ve had the luck of learning English, German and Estonian, so I know how hard can it be to learn a new language (especially Estonian, which is very different from Spanish). Thanks to technology and our mobile-centric world, things are a bit easier now, and services such as Duolingo and Babbel have gained popularity, while companies like Rosetta Stone have had to adapt in order to also offer mobile solutions. Developer Edushire doesn’t want to get behind, and has released SpeakTribe, an app which will help you to get started on the beautiful world of the Spanish language.

Developer: Edushire

Price: Free

Setup

The app asks for some basic info and then dives right into the content.
The app asks for some basic info and then dives right into the content.

The app lets you select between five different levels to begin your journey. Even though it is my native tongue, I chose the beginner level in order to experience the app right from the start, and because there is a chance that most people who are adventuring into the language will choose this level as well.

After that, and some other background information questions, the exercises start right away. There’s no waiting, no choosing, no scrolling, nothing. You are immediately thrown into the exercises. I like this very direct approach: makes things uncomplicated and to the point.

Overview

Through the use of both written and spoken exercises, SpeakTribe aims at slowly introducing you to words and small sentence constructs.

When you speak in your native language, you tend to just take things for granted, but now that I’ve seen how a non-native speaker has to learn the language, I can say that SpeakTribe does a good job in explaining small nuances that Spanish has.

For example, if you want to say “I am Ecuadorian” in Spanish, you would need to say “Soy ecuatoriano.” However, if you would like to say “I am busy,” then it would be “Estoy ocupado” and not “Soy ocupado” as logic would dictate. Even Estonian would say “Ma olen equadorlane” and “Ma olen hõivatud.” God knows why we don’t. And let’s not get started with other aspects, such as age, in which we literally say “I have 25 years” (Tengo 25 años) instead of “I am 25 years old.” It’s a mess.

Interface could be a bit nicer but it gets the job done.
Interface could be a bit nicer but it gets the job done.

This kind of stuff is well explained throughout your exercises, although I’m pretty sure that it would take a bit of practice to get a grasp on it. Unfortunately, there’s no way of going through all of these tips after seeing them on your exercises, so if you can’t remember it, then tough luck. This is a really bad aspect of the app and one that should be addressed immediately.

Normally, exercises consist of sentences in Spanish accompanied with a highlighted phrase and choices in English. Your job is to choose the correct translation. Sometimes the app will give you hints, sometimes you’re on your own.

Each correct task will give you points, which will all add up in order to unlock the following labels. In between levels, you will have tasks that deal with having to infer stuff after reading a text. These texts normally have a vague investigation aspect to them. They normally use a lot of new words and are an interesting way of practicing the language in a different way than the regular exercises.

Voice

The app will speak to you in Spanish in whichever speed you like.
The app will speak to you in Spanish in whichever speed you like.

A big part of SpeakTribe, and a huge part of learning a new language, is speaking and listening. For this, SpeakTribe has added support through Google Text-to-speech engine. It is responsible for talking to you in a nice Spanish from Spain, not from Latin America. For the most part, it works fine.

I haven’t had instances in which the engine didn’t recognize what I said (although that might have something to do with my proficiency with Spanish, but I deliberately pronounced stuff in a weird way and it worked as well). Also, it does a good job in reading stuff on the screen for you, so you can hear how things should come out of your mouth.

In my opinion, the voice tends to pronounce the last syllabes in a weirdly long way. For example, some exercises talk about a friend of yours coming from India, and it emphasizes the “a” a lot. Like “Indiaaaa.” This is not a problem with the app but with Google’s engine, but it is unfortunate since people learning could think that this is the way of pronouncing stuff.

If you think the voice is talking too fast for you, then in each section where there is a possibility of hearing a phrase, there is also a slider which you can move left or right in order to adjust the speed of the voice. I’m sure that this will be an extremely convenient option for a lot of people.

Price

Prices range from $11 to $22.
Prices range from $11 to $22.

Normally price is not a category on its own, but it is something to pay close attention to in this case. SpeakTribe is free until a certain level (four, to be precise). After that, you will have to pay. There’s a total of 25 levels you can buy, divided into intermediate levels ($11.00) and advanced levels ($18.26). You can also buy them together at a discount ($22.86).

Now, that is expensive for your usual in-app purchase, but actually it is not that much if you consider how much private lessons cost, but then, it is like comparing manzanas to naranjas. If you compare it to Rosetta Stone, then it is also cheaper, but Rosetta Stone includes stuff such as sessions with other students, phone calls with native speakers and much more content. Then if you compare it with Duolingo, which has a lot more content, gamification and better interface, SpeakTribe doesn’t fare well. Babbel has a similar system, but SpeakTribe’s one-time fee vs Babbel’s recurring subscription gives SpeakTribe a little edge, at least price-wise.

Options

The most important option available is the enabling or disabling of daily words. This feature sends you a notification with a new word in Spanish every day. I think it is worth it to keep it on, since you will learn a new word every day without you lifting a finger.

You are also able to backup your data to the server through your Google account. That way, you can progress through the course on different devices.

Other options available are not as noteworthy, such as toggling sound and vibration and speech recognition strictness.

Conclusion

Overall, I think that you could end up catching some words and understanding some structures with this app. Mastering a language is hard, and you will probably need some kind of interaction with someone else.

The interface is a little on the bland side (especially after using Duolingo), but it gets the work done. The word of the day notification is very useful to create a habit of practicing every day. If you are serious into learning Spanish, then you could definitely start with SpeakTribe. If it works for you, then $22 is not that expensive to continue your lessons. Just don’t expect to understand everything Alejandro Sanz sings in his melodies.

Download and install SpeakTribe from the Google Play Store.

What we know so far: Samsung Galaxy S8 edition

Alexandra Arici
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With MWC 2017 behind us, the biggest launch in terms of mobile phones this spring will come from Samsung. The highly anticipated Galaxy S8 is expected to make a debut on March 29.

And with less than a month to go, leaks surrounding the Galaxy S8 have been flowing in from all sides. Some of these tidbits have been confirmed, some have not but if you want to be up to date with what the rumor mill is saying about the Galaxy S8, we’ve made a compilation of everything that (we think) we know about Samsung’s upcoming „hero” product – the phone that will make everybody forget about the Galaxy Note7 fiasco.

Design

  • no physical home button
  • multiple variants, all with curved screen
  • edge-to-edge display

Galaxy S8 Render 3For the past few years, Samsung released a standard Galaxy S flagship alongside an Edge model. Well this year, the Korean tech giant is expected to do things a little bit differently. According to word on the street, both models of the Galaxy S8 will feature a double curved screen in the vein of the Galaxy S7 edge.

On top of that, Samsung is expected to slim down the side bezels in order to give the appearance of an edge-to-edge display. Bezeless screens are the trend this year and products such as the Xiaomi Mi MIX are already in circulation.

According to recent renders, we also know the Galaxy S8 duo will be a bit smaller than its predecessor. The Galaxy S8 will measure 140.14 x 72.20 x 7.3mm which is a bit shorter, thinner and wider than the current Galaxy S7 which stands at 150.9 X 72.6 X 7.7 mm. As for the second variant, dubbed the Galaxy S8 Plus – it should measure 152.38 x 78.51 x 7.94mm. Compared to the current Galaxy S7 edge (150.9 X 72.6 X 7.7 mm), the S8 Plus will be taller and wider.

Galaxy S7 vs S8 sizeGalaxy S8 Plus vs S7 EdgeWith the Galaxy S8, Samsung is expected to ditch its iconic home button for the first time. As for the fingerprint display, it will be embedded into the display itself this time around.

Galaxy S8 an S8 Plus Front PanelsUpdate 01/19/2017:  The alleged front panels of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus have leaked today. As you can see, the image confirms earlier information claiming there won’t be a flat Galaxy S8 version this year. On top of that we remark the very thin side bezels.

Update 01/27/2017: Want to take a look at the Galaxy S8 in real-life? Check the image below. According to Venture Beat this is indeed the Galaxy S8 in the flesh. We can spot a fingerprint scanner located on the back right next to the camera. An 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port and water-resistance have also been confirmed.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Leak

02/01/2017 Update: A new Galaxy S8 schematics popped up showing fingerprint sensor and home button on the back of the device, on screen buttons for navigation (soft keys) and 3.5mm headphone jack and USB Type-C port.

The drawing makes reference to 5.7-inch and 6.1-inch screen sizes, although it is widely believed the larger Galaxy S8 Plus will come boasting a 6.2-inch display.

Galaxy S8 Drawing

02/07/2017 Update: Checkout the latest Galaxy S8 renders based on CAD designs + video below:

02/22/2017 Update : A photo showing the Galaxy S8’s on-screen Home button have surfaced.

03/08/2017 Update: More pics of the Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+ have surfaced on Twitter:

03/13/2017 Update : Check out the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ side by side:

03/20/2017 Update: Check out the LG G6 vs Galaxy S8+ vs Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S7 edge frames:

03/21/2017 Update: See a live video of the Galaxy S8 below:

03/28/2017 Update: See how the Galaxy S8 compares to the Galaxy S7 edge:

Display

  • WQHD+ display
  • Larger screen sizes

Samsung's New AMOLED TechWith the Galaxy S8, Samsung is obviously trying to make up for the Galaxy Note7 fiasco. So this year, the company is migrating its S8 flagship into phablet territory. As the renders showed, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will come with 5.7-inch and 6.2-inch displays. Older rumors would have us believe the S8 Plus variant might take advantage of a 6-inch display instead. Whichever variant turns out to be true the Galaxy S8 is going to be the largest S flagship to date.

It is also believed at least one of the two phones will feature a 4K resolution, which will certainly come in handy for VR viewing. The standard S8 model might feature a QHD panel just like the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge.

3D Galaxy S8 RenderOther reports claim the Galaxy S8 duo will stick to 1440p displays instead, while the Galaxy Note8 will be getting the 4K treatment.

Samsung recently teased one of its newest Super AMOLED display which features really slim bezels, in a few videos. So naturally the current speculation is that it will land in the upcoming Galaxy S8.

Update 01/25/2017: According to the latest The Guardian report, the Galaxy S8 will feature an edge-to-edge “infinity” display and an iris scanner. The two versions of the phone are codenamed “Dream 1” and “Dream 2” – the former being the Galaxy S8 while the latter is the Galaxy S8 Plus.

The “infinity” display will cover most of the front of the device, with extremely skinny top and bottom bezels. Sources familiar with the matter say we’re not going to see the Samsung logo on the front of the devices this year.

Update 02/07/2017: Could this be a real-life image of the Galaxy S8? We can see the bottom of the phone houses a 3.5mm earphone jack, Type-C USB port and a speaker grille.

03/13/2017 Update: Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts (emphasis on predicts) the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch display respectively with feature a WQHD+ (2,960 x 2,400-pixel resolution).

03/20/2017 Update: More live images of the Galaxy S8 probably with screen protectors on board.

03/28/2017 Update: More Galaxy S8 press renders leak into the wild:

Internals

  • Exynos 8895 or Snapdragon 835
  • Up to 8GB of RAM  6GB of RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB or 256GB storage options
  • microSD card slot (allowing memory expansion up to 256GB)

Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge RenderLike it’s customary, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S8 duo with a choice between two processors, depending on the market. Some Galaxy S8 units will run on Samsung’s in-house Exynos 8895 chipset with Mali-G71 GPU, while others will feature the new Snapdragon 835 beast with Adreno 540 GPU.

The Exynos 8895 is expected to deliver up to 1.8 times more computing power than the S7 on top of optimizations for 4K and VR. As for the Snapdragon 835, you can check out a detailed view of the chipset by following this link.

Galaxy S8 Concept
Just another Galaxy S8 render

ASUS just unveiled the 3.world’s first 8GB of RAM smartphone at CES 2017, so we expect Samsung to follow suit. The standard Galaxy S8 should feature 6GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S8 Plus will get the 8GB of RAM treatment. As for storage options, we see Samsung offering the devices with either 128GB or 256GB on board.

Like last year, Samsung might bundle the phones with a dual SIM hybrid setup which would allow customers to use two SIM cards at once or a SIM card and a microSD card slot.

Update 01/25/2017: Looks like the Galaxy S8 will also have a 64GB storage option.

Update 02/23/2017:  The full spec lists of the Galaxy S8+ has leaked in all of its glory:

Update 03/06/2017: Crystal clear images showcasing the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S+ have appeared online. Give them a go:

Update 03/17/2017: The Galaxy S8 will have a 6GB of RAM variant that will go on sale only in China.

Update 03/28/2017: The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ showed up in AnTuTu revealing 64GB storage option.

Cameras

  • dual main camera
  • selfie snapper with autofocus

allegged-galaxy-s8With dual cameras becoming the norm even for middle-range smartphones, it’s no wonder Samsung is expected to join the trend in 2017 as well. If we are to listen to the rumor mill, the Korean tech giant might opt for a setup consisting of a 16MP RGB sensor plus an 8MP monochrome sensor.

Other reports indicate a main single sensor 30MP camera, but this is pretty unlikely if you ask us.

As for the selfie snapper, we expect to see an 8MP self-portrait companion with autofocus capabilities.

Galaxy BumpsUpdate 01/23/2017: We’re all familiar with the camera bumps on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7, but according to the latest leak that comes to us via Weibo the Galaxy S8 might arrive without one. However, when we checked the numbers in the image we realized the leak got the numbers wrong. The camera bump on the Galaxy S6 is actually 1.7mm and not 1.3mm, while the one on the Galaxy S7 is 0.7mm. So be sure to take this info with a grain of salt, although its sure would be nice to have a Galaxy S8 with a smooth back.

Update 01/27/2017: Venture Beat claims the main camera on the Galaxy S8 will be of 12MP variety with f/1.7 focal ratios.

Update 03/13/2017 : Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts (emphasis on predicts) the Galaxy S8 will feature a single-lens 12MP camera on the back plus an 8MP selfie snapper up in front.

Update 03/16/2017: A Korean source revealed that while the Galaxy S8 will come with 12MP, it will be able to shoot 1000fps videos just like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

Update 03/28/2017: Tipster reveals that the Galaxy S8 might come bundling a camera sensor Sony is yet to introduce – the Sony IMX333.

Other features

  • virtual assistant Bixby
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack (maybe)
  • Qi charging
  • S Pen
  • Water resistance (IP68 certification)
  • DeX extension
  • facial recognition+iris scanner+fingerprint sensor
  • available in at least seven colors at launch

Galaxy S8 RenderApple has Siri on its iPhones, Google offers up its Assistant on the Pixels and Microsoft has Cortana. Samsung might be arriving late to the virtual assistant table, but better late than never right?

The Galaxy S8 duo will mark another first – they will bundle Samsung’s new virtual assistant called Bixby. The AI-driven companion will be more powerful than the schematic S Voice and is expected to integrate with most native Samsung apps.

Moving along, it has long been speculated that the Galaxy S8 will drop the 3.5mm headphone jack. Well not according to the latest leaked images which seem to suggest the phone will keep the jack onboard after all.

s8 s pen leak 2On top of that, it seems that Samsung will be opting for Qi charging as the standard charging method for the two phones. This means no microUSB or USB Type-C port, which honestly seems a bit bizarre.

The images also show the phone will apparently come with an S Pen accessory just like the Note7. If that the case, it will be interesting to see how Samsung plans to differentiate the Galaxy S8 from the Note8 this year.

Update 01/27/2017: Samsung plans a new range of accessories for the Galaxy S8. The most intriguing one seems to be the DeX. In a Continuum-like move, Samsung will allow users to connect their smartphone to a monitor, keyboard and other peripherals in order to turn it into an Android desktop computer.

On a different note, a new video showcasing two purported Galaxy S8 cases compares them to the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 egde and a Galaxy Note7 dummy to outline the differences. Check it out below.

Update 01/27/2017: Venture Beat leak confirms presence of 3.5 mm headphone jack. Great news!

Update 03/10/2017: Due to limits of iris scanning such as speed and accuracy, Samsung has opted for face recognition to go inside the Galaxy S8. According to a report from The Investor, it takes less than 0.01 seconds to unlock the phone. Thus the company is adding an extra layer of biometric security.

Update 03/13/2017: The Galaxy S8 will be available in at least seven colors at launch including gold, silver, bright black, matte black, blue, orchid and pink.

Update 03/13/2017: Popular custom skin maker, dbrand has unveiled two collection of vinyl skins for the Galaxy S8. Check them out below.

03/14/2017 Update: Here’s the Galaxy S8 in gold color. Also it seems like an Amethyst version will also be available.

03/16/2017 Update: Here’s the Galaxy S8 in Black. Also Samsung confirms the name of the Galaxy S8 virtual assistant – Bixby.

03/17/2017 Update: Turns out the Galaxy S8 will have an iris scanner, and facial recognition tech and a fingerprint scanner. What’s more , according to Bloomberg the facial recognition tech will be used to authenticate mobile payments via Samsung Pay.

03/20/2017 Update: Check out the new pretty colors on the Galaxy S8:

03/20/2017 Update: Earbuds for the Galaxy S8 leak:

03/20/2017 Update: A report from Korea media claims the Galaxy S8 will have a Bixby button without Bixby AI functionality at launch. This will be added later via a software update.

03/22/2017 Update: The DeX desktop dock specifications and pricing info make an appearance. Also check out the Galaxy S8’s power bank:

03/27/2017 Update: Samsung’s official Galaxy S8 accessories have leaked, complete with pricing information.

  • Samsung Clearview Standing Cover – $65.18
  • Samsung LED View Cover – $65.18
  • Samsung Keyboard Cover – $65.18
  • Samsung Alcantara Cover – $48.88
  • Samsung Silicone Cover – $32.58
  • Samsung Clear Cover – $21.72
  • Samsung 2-Pieces Cover – $21.72
  • Samsung Screen Protector – $14.11
  • Samsung Wireless Charger Convertible – $86.91
  • Samsung DeX Station – $157.53
  • Samsung Battery Pack (Fast Charging) – $76.04

OS

  • Android 7.1.1 Nougat
  • Grace UX.

Samsung’s debuted an alternative to TouchWiz on the now defunct Galaxy Note7 and called it Grace UX. Since the new software is in the process of making its way to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge via the new Nougat update, we can speculate the new S8 and S8 Plus will also take advantage of it.

The new UI features a much cleaner interface and overall design, slick background blur when viewing folders and widgets, new swipe features and more.

03/14/2017 Update: Here’s the first look at the Galaxy S8’s Samsung Experience UI, as provided by Sam Mobile:

03/27/2017 Update:  Mexican Galaxy S8+ leaked showcasing more software details:

Battery

Battery is a very tricky subject for Samsung after the Galaxy Note7 debacle. Next week we’re waiting to hear the results of Samsung’s investigation into what caused the fires, but according to sources we expect the blame to fall on the batteries.

We hope and pray the Galaxy S8 won’t be plagued by the same issues, especially since rumors revealed the phone might come with Samsung SDI batteries, the same that were initially held responsible for the Galaxy Note7 debacle.

03/13/2017: Leaked Galaxy S8+ battery shows 3,500 mAh capacity

As for battery capacity, some rumors say the Galaxy S8’s battery is going to be the same as on last year’s phone. Meaning we might see a 3,000 power house inside the S8 and a 3,600 mAh one under the hood of the S8 Plus. Which doesn’t really make sense, since we expect the panels on this year’s models to be larger.

Other whispers claim the Galaxy S8 will be kept alive by a chunkier 4,200 mAh batter with fast charging. We hope this will be indeed the case.

01/31/2017 Update: A report coming out of South Korea indicates that the Galaxy S8 will feature a 3,250 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S8 Plus will be powered by a 3,750 mAh one. The soon to be previous-gen Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge have a 3,000 mAh and 3,600 mAh one consecutively.

03/10/2017 Update: Since we are on the topic of battery, here’s how’s the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Note7 compare against each other.

When will I be able to get it and for how much?

Samsung is yet to confirm any Galaxy S8 launching plans, but word on the street has it the company will unveil the phone a day prior to MWC 2017 kicking off.

Another rumor says that due to extensive testing, the Galaxy S8 might be unveiled sometimes in late March with an April release date attached to it. As for pricing, we’ve heard customers might have to take around $850 out of their pockets to purchase the phone. Better start saving now!

Update 01/23/2017: Chief of Samsung Mobile Koh Dong-jin claimed the Galaxy S8 won’t be unveiled at MWC 2017, although he did not provide an alternative date.

Update 01/27/2017: A report by Venture Beat claims the phone will be unveiled on March 29. The phone should become available for purchase on April 21.

Update 03/07/2017: New information coming from Venture Beat indicates that the Galaxy S8’s availability is going to be delayed with one week. So instead of hitting the market on April 21, the phone will make it out on April 28.

Update 03/13/2017: Worried that LG G6 is getting more prime-time than anticipated, Samsung ran an early Galaxy S8 TV ad in South Korean, to remind customers the flagship will be upon us soon:

Update 03/21/2017: Samsung Galaxy S8 print teaser surfaces:

Also, according to a report coming out of The Investor the Galaxy S8 pre-orders might arrive earlier than in-store units. The phone is scheduled to go on pre-sale on April 7 in South Korea and now it seems those initial orders will start shipping to customers on April 18. Store units are expected to drop or April 28.

Update 03/22/2017:  The supposed package box of the Galaxy S8+ bound for Verizon just leaked:

Google Android app new feat will help you search even on a spotty connection

Alexandra Arici
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It happened to all of us at some point – trying to Google something but unable to retrieve the results due to a spotty connection or no Wi-Fi at all. It’s very annoying right?

Today the search giant has announced an update for the Google app which to help users overcome that frustration. Starting this week you can start a new search even when there’s no connection available, because the app is now capable of queuing your searches.

What happens is that results are saved as soon as they are retrieved, which enables your query to be immediately displayed after you get back online. While the update doesn’t allow users to perform searches in offline mode, it’s still a step in the right direction.

Google SearchLost your connection? Google invites you to put the phone down and go back to your day. In the meanwhile the Google app will monitor the background scanning for proper network connection. When it finds one it will deliver a notification alerting you the search results are in.

Worried that apps running in the background might put a toll on battery life? Google says don’t be as the update won’t drain your battery.

Google Search App IconTo take advantage of the new feature, make sure you have the latest version of the Google app installed on your device.

Google’s search app is not the only migrating towards offline functionality. Google Translate and Google Maps both offer this option.

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