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808 Audio kicks off the new year with a whole range of new products

Scott Webster
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808 Audio, a key player in the audio space, and a brand we’ve reviewed a number of times, is starting off the new year with a bunch of new products. Keeping with its current portfolio of devices, the new stuff spans both speakers and earphones –plus something else unique.

“We continue to improve and expand our collection of Bluetooth speakers and other audio solutions so we can cater to every listener’s needs, no matter the occasion,” says President of 808 Audio, Ian Geise. “We offer consumers an affordable product that features top-shelf audio that can compete with brands that are two and three times the price.”

The new products won’t ship until later this spring, but we’ve got the details for each. Take a look below for a breakdown on all things new from 808 Audio. Which one(s) do you have your eye on?

CANZ GLO and CANZ H2O

808_audio_1Kicking things off, the CANZ GLO ($39.99) builds on its predecessor in the CANZ Bluetooth speaker line. This one features a new glow in the dark design; the speaker is dressed in a metal cabinet with a precision tuned enclosure. The multi-mode LED lighting enhances the sound experience with a visual show. A built-in rechargeable battery provides up to six hours of playback.

A waterproof version of the speaker comes in the form of the CANZ H2O ($49.99). Features include a battery good for eight hours of music as well as an IP67 rating, meaning it is able to withstand water, sand, and dust. The speaker is built with a carry-anywhere lanyard and 1/4” 20-thread universal mount, which allows for excellent portability and mounting.

HEX TLS and HEX TLS H20

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The popular HEX lines of wireless speakers is updated with the addition of a HEX TLS ($59.99) and HEX TLS H20 ($79.99). Packing a battery that allows for eight hours of tunes, the speakers are sleek and come with an anodized aluminum cabinet. The tuned dual-speaker system and bass radiator promise big-time bass and volume. The key difference between the two models is the IP67 waterproof rating of the HEX TLS H20.

XS SPORT 2

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The 808 XS SPORT 2 is a waterproof and dust-proof take on a current model. Priced at $79.99, this rugged little guy is a good companion accessory for a relaxing evening in the study or a personal trip to the pool. To toughen things up, the speaker includes a rubber shock bumper and rubber tabs for the AUX and USB ports. The XS SPORT 2 features bass boost, two stereo speaker drivers with bass radiator, and a built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of sound.

ENCORE and ENCORE XL

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Things get really interesting with the debut of the new ENCORE ($149.99)and ENCORE XL ($399.99)wireless speakers. Designed with enough power to host a full-on raging party, these can play music over Bluetooth or via a SD card or USB drive. Other details include a five band equalizer, microphone w/ multiple mic inputs, and handles for easy carrying. The ENCORE features 50 watts max power with 50 hours of rechargeable battery life while the ENCORE XL boosts 4 x 100 watts max power.

Turntable

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Another newbie in 808 Audio’s arsenal is the wireless streaming Turntable ($149.99). Music can be played though a headphone, receiver, or any connected Bluetooth speaker. Moreover, the 10 LED light modes add a visual flair to the experience. Listeners can select from a variety of light displays: Chill, Dance, Party or Zen.  Supporting three playback speeds (33-1/3, 45 RPM & 78 RPM), the Turntable boasts an anti-resonance silicon platter and a built-in pre-amplifier.

EAR CANZ Sport and EAR CANZ

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Rounding things out are the EAR CANZ Sport ($49.99) and its true wireless counterpart, the EAR CANZ TRU ($79.99). Built to be sweat-proof, these comfortable earbuds have an ergonomic design with hooks that loop around the outside of your ear. Playback is listed at up to nine hours per charge for the CANZ Sport.

The new EAR CANZ TRU comes with three hours of playtime, but the trade-off is a truly wire-free music experience. The pair are comprised of unique, wireless, left and right in-ear units that pair via Bluetooth to deliver a true stereo sound. Moreover, listeners can take calls directly from them as well.

Asus announces the high-end Chromebook Flip 2

Donovan Jeska
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Asus announced a successor to the surprisingly awesome Chromebook Flip today – and it looks every bit as great as its predecessor. Asus has made a name for itself recently by churning out high-quality products at competitive prices across the board, and the Flip 2 is no exception; with an aluminum casing, signature 360 degree, multi-position hinge, between 4 and 8gb RAM, Intel M processors, between 32 and 128gb solid-state internal drives, and two Type-C USB ports, it’s no slouch.

Dem chiclets tho.
Dem chiclets tho.

According to Asus itself:

The slim, light and incredibly stylish Chromebook Flip C302 combines the simplicity of Chromebook with powerful components and an amazing 360° hinge that lets you flip instantly between a high-performance Chromebook, a handy Chromebook tablet, or anything in between! This versatile touchscreen device frees you to work or play anywhere, anytime with its 10-hour battery life, backlit keyboard with super-large touchpad, and future-proof USB-C port. Chromebook Flip C302 gives access to thousands of amazing productivity apps available at Chrome Web Store and Google Play.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the Flip 2 – and, indeed, most incoming Chromebooks – is that it supports Android Apps in addition to Chrome Apps. I currently own one of the older model Asus chromebooks, so I can’t access the Play Store, but it will definitely be a selling point when I inevitably look to replace this little guy. Android apps simply add a new dimension to Chromebooks – when people ask you “What’s the point of a Chromebook?” you’ll finally have an answer; “It’s a laptop that runs Android stuff, dummy.”

The Flip's 360 degree hinge (note: it's not actually 360 degrees - its like 355, tops) lets you convert it into tablet form.
The Flip’s 360 degree hinge (note: it’s not actually 360 degrees – its like 355, tops) lets you convert it into tablet form.

Altec Lansing’s new SmartStream speakers are an affordable Sonos alternative

Alexandra Arici
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While Sonos might be the first option that comes to mind when thinking of buying a multi-room audio system, you shouldn’t skip over Altec Lansing’s new alternate which just got unveiled at CES 2017.

The new Altec Lansing SmartStream series is made out of three speakers, the SmartStream being the smallest of the bunch. Then there’s the SmartStream X and the SmartStream XL. All three can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and allow users to play songs from their smartphone, tablet or laptop PC.

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What’s cool is that the speakers are also compatible with popular music services like Google Cast, Google Home, Spotify Connect, Internet Radio and Altec Lansing’s own Playlist app.

The SmartStream comes equipped with dual 2-inch drivers that offer an output of 5W each. There’s a built-in microphone, so you can take use it to answer calls if you want. Naturally, a disadvantage would be that other people in the room would also hear your calls. The speaker is waterproof, shockproof and dustproof. It will cost users $100 a pop.

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Moving along, the SmartStream X features 2.1 sound with each channel delivering 10W. It also has a mic, but its only waterproof and costs $200.

As for the SmartStream XL, this speaker has dual 3-inch drivers with a 5-inch subwoofer that delivers improved sound. It has a mic and is waterproof and will ship for $300.

The Bluetooth speaker trio has a wireless range of 100ft and can last up to 16 hours without needing to pop in for charging.

The speakers are expected to go on sale in Q2 or Q3 2017. We’ll keep an eye out for you.

ASUS announces ZenFone 3 Zoom and ZenFone AR, the first phone with 8GB of RAM

Alexandra Arici
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As anticipated ASUS has taken center stage at CES 2017 during its Zennovation event. The company’s CEO Jerry Shen said 2016 has been a tremendous year for ASUS, but we should expect a lot of exciting things to come out of the company in 2017.

Today ASUS has unveiled two new smartphones which bring some equally impressive features to the table. Introducing the ZenFone 3 Zoom and ZenFone AR. Let’s take them each and see what they have to offer.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom

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Let’s start out with ZenFone 3 Zoom which is, as you might have guessed already is a camera-centric phone. It comes to replace the ZenFone Zoom, but interestingly tones down the zoom capabilities of its predecessor.

While the ZenFone Zoom featured a 3X optical zoom, the new ZenFone 3 Zoom takes advantage of only 2.3X magnification on one of the two lenses that make up the dual-camera setup. The other lens is a 12MP main camera with f/1.7-aperture. ASUS also offers an impressive 13MP selfie camera which should be able to snap great self-portraits. ASUS boasts the lens duo can work together to deliver the greatly sought after bokeh effect.

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The ZenFone 3 Zoom adds support for 4K video shooting, a feature that wasn’t available with the original model.

As for specifications, the new ZenFone 3 Zoom comes with a 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution and bundles a Snapdragon 625 under the hood. Things like RAM and internal memory options haven’t been disclosed yet, but ASUS says it’s going to reveal these details at a later date.

ASUS claims the ZenFone 3 is the thinnest and lightest 5.5-incher available, but no exact numbers were shared with us. One of the phone’s best features is the hefty, updated 5,000 mAh battery which should ensure a long battery life.

The phone is bound to make it out on the market in February for a yet to be disclosed price tag.

ASUS ZenFone AR

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The ASUS ZenFone AR is the product we were pretty curious about. The device is the second Tango-enhanced smartphone after the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. Unlike the Lenovo device, the ZenFone AR also supports Google’s mobile augmented reality platform, the Daydream VR.

ASUS says the phone is built to see like your eyes do. Using a triCAM system the device is capable of motion tracking, area learning and depth perception.

In terms of specs, the ZenFone AR features a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560-pixel resolution and a Snapdragon 821 processor under the hood – optimized to work with Tango. The phone is also the first one to arrive with 8GB of RAM onboard.

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The phone supports Tango’s AR flavor via a 23MP main camera plus a motion tracking camera and depth sensing camera all nestled up together on the back. The camera setup is capable of shooting 4-axis OIS photos and 3-axis EIS video stabilization plus 4K video recording.

ASUS invited Google’s Jonny Lee to demo two new upcoming apps which will take advantage of the phones VR’s capabilities, the Dressing Room by GAP and Hot Wheels by Mattel.

daydream-vr

With the GAP app users can try out outfits in a virtual dressing room, so they can get an idea whether the clothes fit them or match their personal style. The app should become available in the Google Play Store by the end of the month.

Tango and Daydream are platforms of great potential and more and more manufactures are signaling an interest for VR and AR. In 2017 we expect to see lots of phones offer such capabilities are ASUS is leading the way.

The ASUS ZenFone AR is expected to become available in Q2 2017, but pricing specifications will be announced at a later date.

Nuvyyo launches and Android-based software DVR for NVIDIA Shield

Scott Webster
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Nuvyyo, the maker behind the Tablo Over-the-Air (OTA) DVR, today announced a handful of new hardware, software, and services for potential cord-cutters. Moreover, its solutions should appeal to those who want to get more from their existing platforms. If you own an NVIDIA Shield, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to today’s announcement.

So, what’s new today? For starters, the Tablo DROID Android-Based Software DVR. Designed as software that can be installed on the NVIDIA Shield, it essentially gives consumers an HDMI-based DVR. And, when connected to a USB OTA tuner and an antenna, the Shield can let users discover, watch and record live HDTV. Indeed, it turns your gaming and entertainment center into a set-top box.

“Since 2013, Nuvyyo has been focused on making Tablo the defacto app for live TV on the widest variety of internet-connected screens,” said Grant Hall, CEO at Nuvyyo, the makers of Tablo. “Today’s announcements strengthen that commitment and provide consumers with even more choice in how they watch and record Over-the-Air HDTV.”

The Tablo DROID can save recordings directly to the NVIDIA Shield’s hard drive or to a separate, USB-connected drive. It’s also compatible with Tablo TUNER, a new dual-tuner USB dongle (due in Q2 ’17), or the Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD USB tuner stick.

A Tablo DROID app will be free to download from the Google Play store and comes with a free 30-day trial of Tablo’s guide data subscription. Once the trial ends, users can continue to watch live TV and set manual recordings without a subscription. Additionally, they can get a 14 days of guide data and one-click recording functions for $3.99/month.

tablo_live_antennaanywherestick

Also making its debut today is a Tablo LIVE ‘Antenna Anywhere’ Stick. As its name implies, it is a single-tuner WiFi device that turns any OTA antenna into a smart antenna. In other words, it lets cord cutters share OTA HDTV throughout the home, office, or Wi-Fi network.

Tablo LIVE owners can place the antenna anywhere in the home and watch live programming on mobile devices, streaming set-top-boxes, or Tablo apps. The stick will go on sale in the second quarter of this year and will carry a retail price of around $99.

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Looking ahead, Nuvyyo is already working on its next big thing. This week finds them introducing a proof of concept in the form of Tablo CLOUD DVR Storage. Indeed, this would be a cloud-based offering with various storage and subscription options. Designed to work with the Tablo LIVE, it would let users access recordings from pretty much anywhere they have a solid connection.

JAM Audio debuts six new speakers at CES

Scott Webster
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JAM Audio, a leader in the portable speaker space, are at it again with a half dozen new models for CES. As the makers of the top-selling Bluetooth speaker in the US for the last four years, we anticipate these fresh devices will do quite well, too.

JAM Audio offers a variety of of wireless audio products that speak to various users and their needs. Last year saw the company introducing a line of Wi-Fi Home Audio speakers. This year finds them diving deeper into the connected world with speakers that tap into Amazon’s Alexa technology.

Falling under two distinct categories, the six new models range in price and features. Here’s a quick look at what’s new for 2017.

Amazon Alexa Voice-Ready

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JAM Session
In addition to Amazon Alexa Voice Services Technology, this one provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Weighing in at 5.5-pounds, it can play back your music up to eight hours at a time. Its rugged and durable design means it can go outside and take a nap by the pool without fear of getting splashed. The JAM Session will retail for $249.99 and will ship in spring 2017.

jam-note

JAM Note
This one, too, boasts Amazon Alexa Voice Services Technology, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth support. Coming in under three pounds, the plays music and takes orders for up to six hours. Retail price is $119.99 for the JAM Note; shipping starts in spring 2017.

Bluetooth Earbuds and Headphones

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Unleashed
The Unleashed is a set of truly wireless earbuds that pair via Bluetooth with a listening range of up to 30 feet away.  Touted as “big sound in demure package”, the Unleashed delivers up to three hours of music playback and hands-free calling. A charging case is included and provides seven full charges; the USB port lets it double as an external battery back. Retail pricing is $119.99 with shipping to commence in spring 2017.

Transit 2.0
The Transit wireless headphones get a punch-up for 2017; these cans offer active noise cancellation and on-ear omni-rotational ear cups. Additional details include hands-free and an aux-in port for users who prefer a wired connection. The Transit 2.0 retails for $69.99 starts shipping this spring.

jam-contour

 

Contour
The Contour collared earbuds feature a sweat-resistant design with easy-to-use controls and active noise-canceling. Designed with all sorts of of athletic activities in mind, they can play back up to eight hours of music. They will sell for $79.99 when they ship in spring 2017.

Comfort Buds 2.0
These earbuds are said to offer most of the features found in the aforementioned Contour but we’re not certain as to what extent. We do know they will provide up to 10 hours of play time and are expected to retail at $59.99 later this spring.

Head to JAM Audio’s website for more information or to check out the models which are currently available. There you’ll find, among other things, another Amazon Alexa-capable speaker as well as a couple of Wi-Fi speakers.

TCL reveals BlackBerry smartphones are a key component of its future portfolio

Alexandra Arici
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CES is a major event in the tech industry and the scene for some of the biggest new product launches.

And Chinese electronics company TCL was expected to reveal a new BlackBerry handset during the event, but so far the device maker just released a press statement which details its future strategy and business model.

blackberry-mercury-future-2017

TCL revealed its portfolio now includes the Alcatel and BlackBerry brands, but also products like the entry-consumer, best-in-class enterprise, connected (IoT) and emerging segments.

TCL has recently acquired the rights to design, manufacture and sell smartphones under the BlackBerry brand. At CES 2017 the company was supposed to announce the BlackBerry Mercury – an Android Nougat handset with a physical keyboard. However, it seems that the product is currently in the final stages of development, so only a prototype was shown during the event.

The company promises the next-gen BlackBerry handset will feature three key components: security, productivity and reliability. TCL boasts the device will feature the “most complete end-to-end smartphone security available on Android”.

Other handsets coming later in 2017 will help TCL answer consumer demands better.

“To meet these growing demands, both carriers and retailers need a more diverse product offering, requiring portfolio efficiencies that were previously unavailable from a single manufacturer – until now.”

Now the BlackBerry Mercury which was teased in an official clip should arrive with a 4.5-inch touchscreen display alongside a QWERTY keyboard. The phone should take advantage of a Snapdragon 625 working in concert with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internals storage. Other specs might consist of a 3,400 mAh battery and Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

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TCL already launched two BlackBerry handsets, the DTEK50 and DTEK60, but the Mercury is said to be the last one to be designed in house by the Canadian company.

Acer’s new rugged Chromebook can survive all sorts of abuse

Alexandra Arici
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Chromebooks are considered great educational accessories. After they offer basic functionalities at affordable prices, which makes them perfect for students of any ages.

Now Acer has come to CES 2017 to launch a few new products like any self-respecting tech companies. So say hello to the rugged Chromebook 11 N7 – a laptop which was designed to withstand accidental damage and other kinds of abuse too.

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According to Acer the laptop is designed according to US Military Standard MIL-STD 810G which means it can endure low and high temperatures alike and won’t be damaged by humidity, all sorts of mechanical shock or drops. Rain, dust and sand don’t have anything against the Acer Chromebook 11 N7 either.

Despite all this ruggedness, the Acer Chromebook is not waterproof. But the good news is the laptop features rubber keys and a spill-resistant (can drain up to 11oz of liquid), drop resistant (from 48-inch) keyboard which means the vital parts won’t get damaged.

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As for specs, the Acer Chromebook 11 N7 offers an 11.6-inch IPS touch display with an unimpressive 1366 x 768-pixel resolution and an Intel Celeron dual-core processor running at 1.6GHz (or 2.4GHz in Turbo Boost).

Other specs include 4GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, a HD webcam, stereo speakers, a 4,090 mAh battery (which should offer up to 12 hours of life). There’s also a lot of ports like a SD card reader, 2 USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and a Kensignton lock slot.

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If you like Acer’s new Chromebook, you should know that the 11 N7 will become available in the US starting next month. The rest of the world will have to wait until February. The 2.98-pound laptop bears a $229 price tag.

myCharge intros new portable charging solutions for 2017

Scott Webster
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Portable power specialists myCharge are back at CES with a host of new and improved products for the new year. Indeed, there are no less than XXXX new models joining its portfolio for 2017, each of which speaks to a different type of user.

Not only does myCharge offer a variety of battery capacities to meet the demands of various user types, it does so across a number of lines. Are you concerned about fashion? You’ll likely opt for something different than a person who care more about whether the portable charger can be used outdoors in tougher elements. Nevertheless, myCharge has something for everyone.

Here’s a quick overview as to what you can expect from myCharge coming out of the new year.

The new Adventure series debuts with a range of capacities (3,350mAh to 13,400mAh) and outputs.

  • Blue Adventure Mini (3350 mAh)
  • Orange Adventure Plus (6700 mAh)
  • Grey Adventure Max (10050 mAh)
  • Green Adventure Extra (13400 mAh)
  • PowerBrick (20100 mAh)
  • Adventure Ultra (45 watt AC output)
  • Adventure Extreme (65 watt AC output)
  • CarHub (Plug it into any 12V auxiliary power outlet in a vehicle for multiple rapid-charging ports with Qualcomm Quick Charge)

 

The PowerGear Tunes case features a rigid shell which opens for easy access and charging of your earbuds. It comes with a built-in batter which can juice up via a USB port.

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Refreshes and Revisions

The myCharge AmpMax-C is a variation of the AmpMax that picks up a USB-C charging port. Details include 6700mAh capacity with a maximum output of up to 18 watts for ultra fast charging.

The HubPlus-C is a take on the popular HubPlus only with built-in USB Type-C cable and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 capabilities. With a battery capacity of 6700 mAh and an aluminum body, the HubPlus-C also features a built in micro-USB cable. The fold-out wall prongs on the back of the device let you plug directly into the wall for easy charging.

For 2017, the PowerBase collection includes six different configurations. Each PowerBase features the same number of USB-A ports as indicated in the product name. Output increases as the number of ports increase from the 2.1A PowerBase1 to the 5.0A PowerBase4. Each PowerBase unit has built in wall prongs and a specialty PowerBase2 pack is available with included Lightning and Micro-USB cables. The collection is rounded out with by the PowerBase4-C. Three USB-A ports are complemented by one USB-C Quick Charge 3.0 port and the unit has a max output of 30 watts.

The PowerExtend (3 USB-A ports, 4.0A output) is similar to the PowerBase series, but instead of wall prongs, this device has an AC cord so it can be set on a bedside or entry table to create a charging headquarters.

  • Home&Go (4000 mAh, 1.0A output)
  • Home&GoPlus (8000 mAh, 2.4A output)

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The RazorPlatinum and RazorUltra USB-C feature Quick Charge technologies and are the first chargers of their kind to combine the fastest industry standard for charging with USB-C and can deliver up to 18 watts of power.

  • RazorPlatinum with Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery (13400 mAh) features both USB-C input (36 watt PD) and output (36 watt PD) ports as well as a USB-A port with QC 3.0.
  • RazorUltra USB-C with Quick Charge 3.0 (12000 mAh)

The Razor line also gains a 9000 mAh version in the form of the RazorXtra. Available in olive green, it’s good for up to 5x more battery power for most smartphones and tablets.

 

Controversial Samsung SDI batteries might power the Galaxy S8

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung has reportedly concluded its investigation into what caused the Galaxy Note7 to explode and will reveal the results sometime in the near future. Now a new report coming of South Korea reveals something unexpected – the batteries inside the Galaxy Note7 might not have been to blame for the huge fiasco.

According to the information, Samsung wants to use Samsung SDI batteries inside its upcoming next-gen Galaxy S8 flagship. Which means the batteries couldn’t have been the culprit of the Galaxy Note7 explosions.

samsung-galaxy-s8-render

Samsung’s initial Note7 investigation found the batteries produced by Samsung SDI were to blame for the overheating issues. However, the replacement Galaxy Note7 units using the batteries supplied Amperex were plagued by the same problem.

Now we’re told the upcoming 5.7-inch Galaxy S8 and the 6-inch Galaxy S8 Plus will both be powered by Samsung SDI batteries. Given that Samsung’s hopes to make up for the Galaxy Note7 debacle by launching a spectacular Galaxy S8, we don’t think the Korean tech giant would be so stupid as to use potentially dangerous batteries again.

samsung-galaxy-note7-burns

The report says the issue with the Galaxy Note7 was a “strategic defect” but we aren’t given any more details about what exactly that means.

So when Samsung announces the results of the Galaxy Note7 investigation, we’re fairly sure they won’t have anything to do with batteries. Samsung wouldn’t risk botching the Galaxy S8 as well. Such a disaster would practically spell the end of Samsung’s mobile division. Or so we believe.

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Despite the Galaxy Note7 debacle, lots of Samsung users remain loyal to the company and say they are looking forward towards the Galaxy S8. How about you?

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