Acer Liquid Z6 Max appears with a 4, 670 mAh battery and a 5.5-inch display

Acer Liquid Z6 Max appears with a 4,670 mAh battery and a 5.5-inch display

Acer has held a ceremony in its home country of Taiwan to celebrate the closing of the 2017 Taiwan Universiade Games. The ceremony was held to honor those who participated in the games where the General Manager of Acer Taiwan presented 380 special-edition Acer Liquid Z6 Max smartphones to those who participated in the presence of Su Liqiong (Secretary of the Taipei Municipal Government) and Li Weibin (Director of Taipei Municipal Govt. Information Bureau). The kicker here is that weve not heard of such a smartphone before. Weve heard of the and the , but the phone pictured below is a variant of the Liquid Z6 with a much larger battery. The Acer Liquid Z6 Maxs leading feature is the large 4,670 mAh battery. Theres also an unmentioned octa-core CPU which we are assuming is a MediaTek model. There are also 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The display is of the commoditized 5.5/1080p variety. Conflicting translations say there is either a 13MP or 16MP main camera with an aperture of f/2.0. There are also capacitive keys and a fingerprint scanner. Acer prices this device at 9,900 yuan (1,499 USD) which is quite high for such a smartphone. This leads us to believe these special edition smartphones might feature real gold parts or accents on the phones body. Again, the post was translated from Mandarin so that part isnt entirely clear. The phone also features the Universiade cartoon bear on the back with the Games logo. ( ) | ( )

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Samsung Galaxy S9 is rumored to debut in January

Samsung Galaxy S9 is rumored to debut in January

These days we're witnessing the proverbial calm before the storm in the mobile world, with the storm in this case being the that Apple will unveil at its . The tenth anniversary iPhone has the potential to once again shake up the space, despite its rumored hefty price tag. And Samsung knows this. As it should, being Apple's No.1 competitor in high-end smartphones (in terms of sales). Now a new report from the company's home of South Korea claims the iPhone 8 is actually influencing Samsung's development schedule for the . The S8 duo was announced in late March, going on sale around three weeks later. But if you expect similar dates to be valid for the S9 next year, you'd apparently be wrong. Instead, Samsung may unveil the S9 as soon as late January, with global sales starting in mid-February. If this pans out, it means the S9 would be on the market more than two months earlier than its predecessor. The reason for this has to do with Samsung creating a strategy to defend its flagship line's sales against the iPhone 8, which is sure to suck all the air out of the mobile world in late 2017 and early 2018. The speculation regarding Samsung's schedule for launching the S9 is based on the fact that Samsung Display will start to ship OLED panels for the phone in November. That's two months earlier than when the same thing happened for the S8, back in January of this year. Display panels are usually shipped before other parts such as camera modules and cases apparently. After the panel shipments, it takes about two to three months for the handset's entire assembly to take place. The S9 should retain the elongated screen form factor of its predecessor, but sport Qualcomm's next-gen high-end chipset (for some markets), which may be called . It could also adopt a dual rear camera setup similar to the one employed by the (as well as the iPhone 8). |

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Honor 9 limited edition in Robin Egg Blue coming to the UK

Honor 9 limited edition in Robin Egg Blue coming to the UK

At IFA, LG and Sony unveiled new flagships, Samsung bolstered its wearable line and Huawei... unveiled a new color option for the . To be fair, it is a pretty color, but its not new in the conventional sense of the word something we havent . The actual news here is that this color option is coming to the UK in mid-September and will retail for 460. Note that this is a special limited edition and supplies will not last forever. The plain Blue and Grey color options currently sell for 400 or so. Anyway, heres the Honor 9 is Robin Egg Blue. A labor of love, the color was custom concocted in a process that took sophisticated toning iterations. The rear glass where the color is showcased as the front is white is built up of 15 layers of glass and has a unique photo etching of a fingerprint-like texture. Since this is all about color, heres a cornucopia of product images. Hope your monitor is calibrated.

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Instagram Stories now available on mobile web

Instagram Stories now available on mobile web

If thought you can escape Facebooks Stories assault by hiding in the mobile web version of Instagram, think again. Instagram has now brought over the Stories feature to the mobile version of its website. Users who, for some reason, dont want to install the app and get the full experience can also now see their friends stories. Alternatively, those who wanted to get away from the noise of Instagram Stories present on the app and were using the web version for that express purpose now have one less place left without Stories. For what its worth, the desktop of the Instagram still does not have Stories. But thats not really of much use since you cant actually upload images from there and has always been very basic. Besides, the Stories feature wouldnt make much sense on the desktop anyway. As for the mobile web, users can for now just view others stories and the option to upload your own will be coming later.

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B&O Beoplay E8 is an AirPods competitor too

B&O Beoplay E8 is an AirPods competitor too

Its raining wireless earphones and Bang and Olufsen just announced one of its own. The Beoplay E8 takes a leaf out of the AirPods and all the other fully wireless earphones that came before it and features a carrying case that house the two individual earpieces. Unlike the Sony WF-1000X that we saw before, the Beoplay E8 doesnt have any special features along the lines of active noise cancelling. Instead, B is hoping its design, sound quality and brand name would be enough for customers to fork out for the $299 price tag, one of the highest we have seen for this style of earphones so far. The Beoplay E8 is one of the better looking models I have seen easily less quirky looking than the AirPods. The flat design means they sit practically flush with your ears when inserted. The earphones have touch sensitive surface on either side and you can use various gestures to control your audio playback. There is also a feature called Transparency mode, which lets some of the ambient sound in through the microphone, although since the E8 arent actively blocking outside noise, this might not be super useful. B claims superior audio quality with E8 with signature Bang and Olufsen sound. The companion app also lets you customize the sound further. The E8 has 4 hours of battery life and the leather lined charging case can charge them twice completely for another 8 hours of use. The Beoplay E8 will be available on October 12 in a choice of Black or Charcoal Sand colors.

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Moto X4 leaks again hours before the official launch

Moto X4 leaks again hours before the official launch

Lenovo is having an event tonight at IFA 2017 at 8 PM local time. The company is expected to unveil the , but it wont come as a surprise since photos and specs of the phone along with price popped up across the internet. The Moto X4 is coming with 5.2 AMOLED screen. The resolution is Full HD, and the display is the space where the function keys are positioned. There is also a fingerprint scanner below. The chipset that runs in the Moto X4 is the Snapdragon 630 with octa-core CPU, four of the cores clocked at 2.2 GHz. There is also Bluetooth 5.0 compliance, although it is up to Lenovo to allow it. The memory combo comes in two versions either 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage or 4 GB RAM + 64 gigs of storage. The back panel has a dual camera setup with a dual-tone LED flash. According to the leaks, the sensors are 12 MP + 8 MP with respectively f/2.0 + f/2.2 aperture. One of the cameras has a wide-angle lens. The front snapper also has a f/2.0 aperture placed in front of 16 MP sensor. The Moto X4 most likely will be IP68-approved and will have wireless charging due to its glass back. You can charge up to 3,090 mAh of battery capacity, and TurboCharge is supported. If the rumor is true, the Android should be the latest Oreo 8.0 The phone is already listed on Amazon by Lenovo with a price tag of 399. More details are going to follow in several hours when the manufacturer officially announces the device at its event. We will be there, so stay tuned.

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Sony RX0 packs a 1 sensor in the body of a rugged action cam

Sony RX0 packs a 1 sensor in the body of a rugged action cam

Besides the Xperias, Sony unveiled a curious new camera meet the RX0. Yes, its part of the RX family and even uses the same 1 sensor as the venerable RX100 V. With a body thats water, shock and crush-proof, youd think that this is the best action camera yet. It measures 59.0 x 40.5 x 29.8 mm, compared to a GoPro Hero 5 Black at 61.7 x 44.4 x 24mm. But Sony has bigger things in mind the RX0 can be used in multi-camera setups to create bullet-time, time-slice and many other effects. Using the FA-WRC1M wireless commander, you can trigger up to 15 cameras simultaneously. If you decide to slum it, you can trigger up to 5 cameras over Wi-Fi (a firmware update coming in January will up that number). The Sony RX0 has a 15.3MP Exmor RS sensor (1 stacked), BIONZ X precessor and a wide-angle Zeiss Tessar T* lens (24mm, f/4.0). It can shoot in RAW or JPEG and deliver up to 16fps burst. The video recording capabilities are particularly impressive. It can record 960fps slow-motion like the XZ Premium, as well as 240fps at 1080p. Theres a microHDMI port for pros who want to use an external recorder. S-Log2 recording and User Bits would also be of interest (the first helps color grading, the second is an advanced time code for syncing multiple cameras). The Sony RX0 is waterproof up to 10m, but if youre serious about underwater shooting, then you can grab the special housing that can dive up to 100m depth. Even on dry land, you dont need to be gentle the camera can handle drops from up to 2m and can withstand a crushing force of 200kg. Theres a 1.5 TFT screen on the back, though youd probably find it easier to control the camera with a smartphone, from a computer (via USB) or with the wireless commander mentioned above (which is a whopping $350!). You knew it was coming, so here it is the RX0 will cost $700/CA$900 when it ships in October.

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LG V30 will cost 900 in Germany, is exclusive to Carphone Warehouse in the UK

LG V30 will cost 900 in Germany, is exclusive to Carphone Warehouse in the UK

Carphone Warehouse is polling the the British retailer has exclusivity in the country, by the way. However, it still keeps the price under wraps, it wont even commit to a launch date. Meanwhile in Germany, the local LG branch has mentioned 900 as the price for the 64GB model. It seems that the 128GB option, aka LG V30+, will not be available. Once again, no hard launch date is given, but things should start happening in mid-September. The Bang headphones will be included though, thats good news. V30s main rival the Galaxy Note8 will sell for 1,000 in mainland Europe and 870 in the UK, so LG is winning the price war.

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Nougat-powered Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime gets WiFi certified

Nougat-powered Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime gets WiFi certified

was back in September last year. It came with Android Marshmallow out of the box. Now, it looks like the Nougat update for the device is on the horizon. The phone with Android 7.0 on board has received WiFi certification. Not one, but several models of the handset have been cleared by the WiFi Alliance (WFA). There's no information on exactly when the roll out will begin. But given that the update has started collecting necessary certifications, that should happen sooner than later. |

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Sony Xperia XA1 Plus mid-ranger is now official

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus mid-ranger is now official

An expected development, for sure, but the is still a welcome sight for prospective buyers. With the and covering the 5-inch and 6-inch mid-ranger bases pretty well, it was mostly a matter of time before Sony saturated the oh-so popular 5.5-inch niche as well. The XA1 Plus measures 155 x 75 x 8.7 mm and weighs in at 198 grams. It sports the familiar Sony three-piece design, with metal sides and a plastic back. In many aspects, the Xperia XA1 Plus doesn't shy away from its family line. It is based on the same Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 chipset, and also appears to borrow its camera setup from the XA1 a 23MP, f/2.4 shooter on the back with hybrid autofocus, and an 8MP selfie snapper. Nothing too fancy. The 1080p screen resolution is a perfectly reasonable offering as well. The same goes for connectivity options NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, with aptX support, a USB Type-C port, VoLTE, Cat.4 or Cat.6 LTE, depending on the region. Speaking of local variants, most markets will get 4GB of RAM on the XA1 Plus, except for South America and the US, which get the 3GB model. Users in the US will likely miss out on the side-mounted fingerprint reader as well. A rather tough detail to swallow, if we consider the step back to a wider side-bezel design for the XA1 Plus, compared to its siblings, which Sony claims is meant to accommodate the bigger power button. The 3,430 mAh battery could potentially serve as some consolation in this case. It represents a notable bump even over the XA1 Ultra with its 2,700 mAh. Charging shouldn't be an issue either, thanks to Qnovo adaptive charging and Pump Express+ 2.0 quick charging support. Power button swap aside, the XA1 Plus fits right into the design language of the existing XA1 line, which is only logical since the older two devices will remain on sale for the foreseeable future. Color options include Black, Blue, Gold and Pink, but the latter might be market dependent as well. The Xperia XA1 Plus is expected to roll out from Autumn 2017.

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Samsung targeting to sell 700, 000 Galaxy Note8 units in South Korea during first month

Samsung targeting to sell 700,000 Galaxy Note8 units in South Korea during first month

According to a new report out of Samsung's home country, the company is aiming to sell a total of 700,000 units in South Korea during the first month of the device's availability. The report notes that the tech giant will start supplying the said number of units by the end of this month. Of the total figure, 60% will be 64GB units, while the remaining 40% will be 256GB models. Talking about 64GB units, those are further divided based on colors 40% Deep Cyan Blue, 30% Midnight Black, and 30% Orchid Gray. Similarly, the 256GB models are divided in the following way: 60% Deep Blue and 40% Midnight Black. The report says the 128GB model and the Maple Gold color variant have been excluded from the launch list. For what it's worth, the 700,000 figure that Samsung is aiming for the Note8 is almost same as what the company achieved with first month sales of in South Korea. The phone will be up for pre-order in South Korea from September 7 to September 14, and will go on sale starting September 15. Recently, the company's mobile chief Koh Dong-jin they are expecting to sell a total of over 11 million units of the Note8 worldwide. |

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Android 8.0 Oreo is now rolling out to all supported Pixel and Nexus devices across the globe

Android 8.0 Oreo is now rolling out to all supported Pixel and Nexus devices across the globe

last Monday, which is when the final version of it started going out to Pixel and Nexus devices enrolled in the Android Beta program. Yesterday, the same build of Oreo to and units it's sold. In the meantime, the Oreo update has been spotted arriving on many more carriers across the world, for supported Pixel and Nexus devices which are the Pixel and Pixel XL, , , , and . So at this point the rollout is pretty much hitting every device that Google's in charge of, software-wise. The company has also posted the usual factory images and OTA zip files for anyone to download (check out the Source links below). You can install the OTA zip if you're tired of waiting to receive the update through an actual over-the-air rollout. Though if you own a supported device and haven't yet seen a notification regarding the new software, it's best to first try and manually check by going to the relevant Settings menu. The build number is OPR6.170623.011 for Pixels and Pixel XLs on Bell, Telus, Telstra, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, and Rogers/Fido, and OPR6.170623.012 for every other carrier. The Nexus 6P gets the build ending in 013, but Google notes this is not for T-Mobile, US Cellular, or Fi but hasn't yet provided an alternative download. The Nexus 5X's build is 013 also, while the Pixel C gets 010 and the Nexus Player gets nothing at this point hopefully it won't be too long before the console sees its update too. | |

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iPhone 8: Gesture controls fully replace the home button, new report claims

iPhone 8: Gesture controls fully replace the home button, new report claims

The upcoming (or iPhone X, or iPhone Edition) that Apple might unveil at a will completely kill one of the most iconic features of all its predecessors: the home button. This has been a staple ever since the first iPhone launched ten years ago, but according to a new report the iPhone 8 will not have any semblance of such a button not even a software-rendered one. Instead, you'll use gestures to control the device and replace the multiple functions of the physical home button found on the other iPhones. A thin software bar will be found at the bottom of the screen. Dragging this up to the middle will unlock the phone. Inside an app, the same move opens the multitasking view, which has been redesigned to appear like a series of standalone cards that can be swiped through, versus the stack of cards on current iPhones. If you continue the upwards drag motion past the middle of the display, the app you're in will close and you'll be taken back to the home screen. The animation that accompanies this reportedly sucks the app back into its icon. The home screen will show six vertical rows of four apps, for a total of 24 icons on each page. Below these you'll have the dock, a grey bar at the bottom that shows commonly used apps. The interface of the dock is similar to what we've seen in iOS 11 on iPads. The notch area at the top of the screen, which houses the earpiece, front-facing camera, and various sensors, will not be 'hidden' in software by making the adjacent areas of the screen on its left and right black. As this is an OLED panel, using black there would have essentially made the notch disappear. Instead, apps that have non-black backgrounds will use those 'ears', as some Apple employees reportedly call the left and right sides. The status bar will be split into left and right areas, with the former displaying the time while the latter houses the cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity indicators and remaining battery capacity. The status bar will change based on the task at hand. This report confirms for the umpteenth time that the iPhone 8's display is flat and not curved like in Samsung's recent flagships. The handset's frame is said to be made from stainless steel, while the back will be glass just like the front. The steel frame has antenna bands on the corners for better wireless signal reception. The iPhone 8's dimensions are allegedly very similar to those of the , but it sports a screen that's marginally bigger than the one in the thanks to the near-invisible bezels on three sides (left, right, and bottom). The power button living on the right side will be longer than in previous Apple phones, in order to make pressing it easier while holding the device in one hand. |

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Archos unleashes more than half a dozen smartphones at IFA 2017

Archos unleashes more than half a dozen smartphones at IFA 2017

Archos is a French brand with announcements that often go under the radar. The company is at IFA 2017 in Berlin, and we cant miss the massive amount of new devices that the manufacturer is introducing. Archos is unveiling its incredibly cheap smartphone series Access along with just a bit more expensive Archos Core 50. The rugged Sense series welcomes a new smartphone and a new tablet while the star of the show is the Archos Diamond Alpha+ and its 10.1 slate sibling the Archos Diamond Tab. The Archos Access is offered in four different sizes with either 4, 4.5, 5 or 5.5 FWVGA screen. The processor comes with quad-core CPU and is coupled with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage. The pure simplicity brings a low price of 49.99 that goes as high as 79.99 for the 5.5 Access. Archos Core 50 has 5 IPS HD display and quad-core CPU underneath. There are two versions of this phone as well one with 2 GB RAM and 13 MP back/5 MP primary cameras and a cheaper for less than 100 that comes with only 1 GB RAM, 8 MP main snapper, and 2 MP front selfie cam. Since these devices are manufactured for basic users, they at least come with a colorful unibody. The Archos Access comes in black, blue or yellow, while the Archos Core 50 is dressed in either black, gray or red. The Archos Sense 47X comes as a water-, dustand bump-resistant device that goes for 129.99. For that price, you can get a 4.7 IPS HD screen, 1 GB RAM and 3,000 mAh battery. And all the durability, of course. The Archos Sense 101X also flies the affordable flag with a just 199.99 price tag. It has 10.1 screen and 2 GB RAM. The storage is 32 GB, but it is expandable with a microSD card. The battery capacity is 6,000 mAh, and according to Archos, it should withstand bad weather conditions. Archos may showcase plenty of affordable devices, but they also have an update to the flagship Diamond Alpha. Coming with the name Diamond Alpha+, the smartphone has 5.2 Full HD screen. The chipset is Snapdragon 653 (a slight update from the 652 that runs the Diamond Alpha), and there are 6 gigs of RAM inside. Priced at 399, the phone surely looks and feels high-end, but this is not a new device. Archos basically rebranded the that . The Archos Diamond Tab is a 10.1 tablet with impressive specs and a tempting price. There is six-core CPU coupled with Mali-T860 GPU on the Rockchip 3399 chipset. The memory combo is 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. This setup is built around the QHD+ display with 2560 x 1600 resolution for all the movie lovers. The battery of the tablet is 6,600 mAh. Buying this device would set you back just $299.99. All devices are available in Europe from October 2017.

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Huawei Pay might arrive in Europe

Huawei Pay might arrive in Europe

More than a year after the launch of Huawei Pay in China, the service might expand to Europe as well. The manufacturer filed for a trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of the name Huawei Pay and of an accompanying logo. According to a pdf at the EUIPO website that can be found in our Source link, the logo, and the name are referring to computer software and financial services, leading to the conclusion that the service may indeed arrive in Europe, instead of Huawei just securing a patent to protect the name of its in-house wallet. Huawei Pay is a limited service in China and works with a small list of banks but hopefully, this would change once its sets foot in the EU. For now, we can just hope the service is announced along with the . (pdf) | Via

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Moto X4 announcement imminent at IFA 2017

Moto X4 announcement imminent at IFA 2017

The has been in a holding pattern above the rumor mill until it was finally cleared to land on September 2. That was for a Philippines launch, but we may see the new mid-ranger here in Berlin too a Moto X4 booth has been spotted. IFA officially takes place between September 1 and 6, but most announcements are over before August ends. Still, by Saturday, most of the launch buzz would have settled and the X4 would hit the internet front pages without much competition. The phone is set to cost around $350 ($400 if you want more storage) and will be durable (IP68 waterproof) and long-lasting (Snapdragon 630 chipset and 3,000mAh battery). A dual camera on the rear is expected as well.

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Xiaomi confirms September 11 unveiling for Mi Mix 2

Xiaomi confirms September 11 unveiling for Mi Mix 2

The unveiling date for Xiaomi's upcoming smartphone has been officially confirmed. In a teaser image posted on Weibo, the Chinese company has revealed that the Mi Mix successor will be made official on September 11. Nothing else about the phone is officially confirmed at the moment, although rumors/leaks so far the device may come with a dual rear-camera setup. It's likely that bezels will be this time, and the handset is also said to offer . Talking of specs, have revealed details like Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB RAM, and Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The Mi Mix 2 is rumored to sport a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 2540x1440px resolution, and come in 128GB and 256GB storage options. Battery capacity is said to be 4,500mAh.

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Sony G8541 with 6.2-inch display and Android Oreo spotted in benchmarks

Sony G8541 with 6.2-inch display and Android Oreo spotted in benchmarks

A new Sony smartphone has been spotted in benchmarks. Listed as Sony G8541 on GFXBench, the device is powered by a Snapdragon SoC with octa-core, 2.4GHz processor, and sports a 6.2-inch Full HD display. As you'd notice, the listing also reveals a 12.3-inch display with 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution. It's possible that GFXBench messed up while calculating display-related info. If not, then it could be that the device will have a tablet variant as well. Anyway, moving on, RAM is 4GB, while internal memory is 128GB. The camera department is handled by an 18MP rear unit and a 12MP front shooter. The device runs Android 8.0 Oreo. |

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TCL: the BlackBerry Keyone is a runaway success, new device to come in October

TCL: the BlackBerry Keyone is a runaway success, new device to come in October

We attended a TCL briefing today as part of IFA's press days (you know, TCL the company behind BlackBerry) and they shared some interesting tidbits on the and whats to come next. The QWERTY-packing bar allegedly proved to be a runaway success and phones sell as fast as TCL can make them. The maker had to resort to launching on markets sequentally. So far they are at number 35, but with plans for that number to reach 50 by the end of the year. Those sales are split about 50/50 between businesses buying them for their employees and people getting one themselves and using it as a work phone (thanks to the BYOD program). TCL wants to be the #1 alternative to iOS in the enterprise market. As for whats next there will be a new device launching in October and it will be an all-touch device without a physical keyboard. Unfortunately, thats all that we could tease out of the company reps. The rumor mill is surprisingly mum on the subject too.

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EMUI 6.0 will be based on Android Oreo 8.0, a leak suggests

EMUI 6.0 will be based on Android Oreo 8.0, a leak suggests

Huawei is preparing several launches in the forthcoming months. They will introduce the Kirin 970 chipset at IFA 2017, the Mate 10 phablet is being announced in October, and according to a Weibo leak, the new EMUI 6.0 will also come by the end of the year. It would be based on Android Oreo 8.0 that brings PIP mode and better control of the notifications. According to the Change Log, the Emotion UI will come with a new design and the settings will be easier for navigation. The interface would become more friendly for your habit which probably means it would give better suggestions throughout time, depending on how you use the phone. EMUI in all the latest Huawei smartphones, including the subsidiary company Honor. Surely we expect the Mate 10 to arrive with new user interface, but the Chinese manufacturer might decide to surprise everyone and push the v6.0 update to existing devices before October 16. |

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Google Maps app gets public parkings and parking lots info

Google Maps app gets public parkings and parking lots info

After , now Google updated Maps with Find Parking option. In short, it will pull up a list of nearby parking lots and garages and will give you directions to it. There is also an availability of adding the parking in a list. The option is pretty neat and should work seamlessly, but only for Android in the beginning. The first 25 cities/metro areas to get the feature are all in the US and are listed alphabetically: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, DC, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tampa. The Parking Difficulty feature is staying and even unfurling to 25 more cities across the globe for users with iOS or Android device. The lucky places are following in an alphabetical order: Alicante, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Cologne, Darmstadt, Dusseldorf, London, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Milan, Montreal, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Toronto, Valencia, and Vancouver.

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HTC U11 with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage reaches Europe

HTC U11 with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage reaches Europe

Any Europeans that envied the version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage? If you answered yes then we have some good news for you you can pre-order one now! HTC promises that these pre-orders will ship out in early September. This model will set you back 800/700. Note that the 4GB/64GB model goes for around 650 right now so thats quite a price hike (even though HTCs site shows its only 50 more). Another thing to note if you want a dual SIM U11, you need to get the red one. All other color options are singe SIM. The price is the same either way. For comparison, in the US this model not so long ago. (UK) | (Germany)

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Pricing and availability info for Samsung Galaxy J7+ leaks

Pricing and availability info for Samsung Galaxy J7+ leaks

Shortly after its leaked, pricing and availability information for the Samsung Galaxy J7+ has leaked as well. The device is said to carry a tag of THB 12,900 (around $390). As for availability, pre-orders will go live this week (September 1 onwards) and the window will close on September 17. The handset will go on sale September 22 onwards. Those pre-ordering will get free Samsung U Flex wireless headset worth $75. And if you order through Samsung Brand Shop, there's another freebie worth $10. Thailand will be the first country to get the device. There's currently no information on if and when other key markets will be getting the phone.

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ZTE V0721 gets TENAA certified with octa-core CPU, could be a V7 Lite successor

ZTE V0721 gets TENAA certified with octa-core CPU, could be a V7 Lite successor

A new ZTE smartphone has been certified by China's TENAA. Listed as V0721, the device is powered by an SoC with octa-core, 1.3GHz processor, and sports a 5.2-inch Full HD display. RAM is 3GB, while internal memory is 32GB. The camera department features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. There's a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as well. The phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and packs in a 2,540mAh battery. Size-wise, the phone measures 146.1 x 72.6 x 8.25mm and weighs in at 138g. Color options include silver gray and gold. It's worth mentioning that from last year was V0720, so the V0721 could well be a successor to that device. |

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Essential phone to finally reach customers' hands on August 31

Essential phone to finally reach customers' hands on August 31

Last week, it was officially that shipments for have begun. While it was certainly good news, those who pre-ordered the phone were put off see that the tracking info the company shared didn't provide any estimate on delivery. That's, however, changing now, as those with tracking info are now able to see a final delivery date, which is August 31 (or this Thursday). Though it's less likely that there will be any further delay this time around, given what all has been happening ever since the phone was announced, we'd advise you against getting your hopes too high. Meanwhile, you can take a look at for the PH-1. |

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Xiaomi opened 16 stores in China this weekend

Xiaomi opened 16 stores in China this weekend

Xiaomi is expanding its physical presence in China. The company has been opening its own Mi Home stores where it showcases and sells the smart home products that it sells from mobile accessories and home wireless to smartphones and power banks. During a conference last month, CEO Lei Jun announced that the company has set very ambitious goals for expanding its presence in the form of physical locations in major cities all over China. Lei Jun said that 200 stores are planned to be opened this year with the ultimate goal of reaching 1,000 stores in three years. Over the weekend, Xiaomi has simultaneously opened 16 retail locations of its Mi Home stores in China and opened 79 stores in the past three months. Xiaomis aggressive expansion of retail stores indicates that it isnt letting OPPO or vivo get too far ahead of Xiaomi. Both vivo and OPPO already have a lot of Chinese market share and Xiaomi hopes to change that. We just hope that Xiaomi does not spread itself too thin with all the stores it is opening. Thanks for the tip! ( ) |

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Fitbit unveils its first smartwatch - the Ionic - which runs a custom OS

Fitbit unveils its first smartwatch - the Ionic - which runs a custom OS

Fitbit is known for its fitness trackers, but now the company has decided to dive into the smartwatch deal. To do so, it developed its own custom OS so this isnt Android Wear, Tizen or anything you know so far. No, the Fitbit Ionic watch runs the Ionic OS. That has its advantages like multi-day battery life, more than four days on a charge. And if your exercise routine requires a lot of GPS tracking (GLONASS too), the watch is good for up to 10 hours of operation. Speaking of exercise, the usual training modes are available as well as swimming. The Ionic smartwatch is water resistant up to 50m and has a swimming mode. It also has a built-in optical heart rate tracker. It will show real-time heart rate zones during training but also track your resting heart rate 24/7. is also tracked. The watch will gain Audio Coaching next year. Lets talk about Ionic OS for a bit. You cant use Android Wear apps, but you still get rich notifications from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and others. The watch can run apps as well, Strava, Pandora and AccuWeather are already working on theirs. Speaking of, theres 2.5GB of available storage for 300+ songs to listen to offline (over Bluetooth). You can sync with the Pandora app, but you need a subscription (Plus or Premium) and is US ony. Mobile payments are supported as well, Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards from the top banks in over 10 markets can be used. The Ionic Watch will sell for $300 starting in October. In North America, it will be available through major retailers like Amazon and BestBuy, as well as carrier like Verizon. Exchangeable bands will be available ranging from leather to breathable sport bands. PS. The OS could be a derivative of the Pebble IP that Fitbit acquired late last year. The official info doesn't mention it though, so it's not clear if Pebble apps will be supported (it would be a great way to pre-stock the app store).

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Samsung Galaxy J7+ leaks in live images

Samsung Galaxy J7+ leaks in live images

We already know that a version of the with dual camera is incoming and it will be called Galaxy J7+. We also know that it'll be made official soon, with Thailand becoming the first market to get it. And now, some live images of the handset have leaked, giving us a clear view of the device's back. The design revealed by the leak is inline with what we've already seen. Here are a couple more: Head to the link below for more photos. Some of the phone's key specs include octa-core CPU, 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution, 4GB/32GB memory, and a 3,000mAh battery. Camera configuration is 13MP+5MP on the back, and 16MP on the front. The Galaxy J7+ will also feature a dedicated Bixby button on the left. No information on the handset's pricing yet. |

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Hands-on with the Essential PH-1

Hands-on with the Essential PH-1

Essential is a smartphone company still in its infancy, backed by influential people in the mobile tech industry. At Essential's event, President and COO of the company Niccolo De Masi emphasized that Essential was created to give consumers more choice among today's smartphone duopoly. We have to give Essential credit where it deserves: the company was first established 18 months ago and to be hitting North America with carrier deals is a huge feat in itself. The has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. There's also a decently sized 3,040 mAh battery. With these specs, Essential is hoping that the PH-1 will last more than a standard yearly cycle. Essential knows what it's getting into: the US market is a very difficult one to succeed in. Will Essential be able to elbow its way through as the smartphone brand for consumer choice, or will Essential subtly blend into the background? Only time will tell how the company (and, more importantly, the PH-1) will age. We wish Essential the best of luck in its inaugural year! With that said, let's dive into Essential's hardware: that of the PH-1. Let's start off with the design choices that Essential made with the PH-1. The phone is made of a titanium chassis that is reinforced with plastic. The Titanium is then grinded and polished all the way around, which also shaves the plastic parts down to their antenna inserts around the frame. Titanium is harder than both stainless steel and aluminum: the go-to materials when it comes to smartphone manufacturers. In fact, commercial grade titanium carries a hardness of about 9 on Moh's scale of hardness, which is just as hard as sapphire glass. As a reference, Gorilla Glass 5 has a hardness between 6 and 7 while diamond has a hardness of 10 on Moh's scale. In addition to the Titanium body, the phone's backside is made of a sheet of ceramic. We saw a rep take the ceramic piece and flex it far past where any sheet of glass would have before shattering. In combination with the Titanium body, this means (should you drop the Essential phone) you won't be stuck with a shattered back glass or a scuffed corner on the device. This ceramic back piece is also much less susceptible to casually scratching when placed on a surface. Essential is a smaller start-up smartphone company, which the company attributes to its ability to use titanium and ceramic in its manufacturing processes. These are not materials that are massively produced, so it's easier to source and process for this lower volume company. Considering that both ceramic and titanium are noticeably heftier than their cheaper and lighter counterparts, you'll definitely feel the heft upon picking up the PH-1. In addition to feeling the heft, the phone did not feel fragile in my hand, the added heft made the phone feel like it could certainly take a beating. There's an overall boxy theme to the phone's design: every side is flat (This gave us vibes). The back ceramic sheet is fitted into the frame, which gently curves up toward the edges of the phone. This gives a soft edge all the way around the phone which helps make it easier to hold. The only physical buttons present on the PH-1 are the power and volume keys, which are all on the right edge of the phone. The left and top sides of the phone are blank while the bottom edge is home to the loudspeaker, single USB-C port (no headphone jack) SIM and microSD card tray, and an in-call mic. The backside definitely looks different than the other smartphone out there. In addition to the absence of any carrier or manufacturer branding, the back camera, fingerprint scanner, noise-cancelling mic, and pogo pins (for the 360 camera accessory) are all arranged symmetrically and thought went into every component's placement. The front of the phone is what separates it from the competition, although, you'll only be able to tell once the screen has been fired up. The PH-1 has a near-edge-to-edge 5.71-inch display (25601312px) with an unusual 19:10 aspect ratio. The corners of the display are rounded like the Galaxy S8 and the LG G6, but Essential notched a front-facing camera and earpiece right into the display. Software-wise, there was nothing that let the phone stand out. Other than having stock-vanilla Android and no more than a total of 20 pre-installed apps, there isn't anything more in the software that takes advantage of the larger screen. Sure, stock Android already has multi-window covered, but we feel that software should take advantage of Essential's unique form-factor. Maybe Essential plans for this in a future update. The 360 camera accessory piggybacks right onto the Essential PH-1 which connects to those pogo pins we saw on the back of the phone. The pogo pins supply power while the PH-1 communicates with the accessory via some form of USB-wireless, which adds a natural lag when docking the accessory, or looking through the 360 viewfinder. We briefly got to play with the 360 camera attachment and it was not a cohesive experience, but given that the products are just now in the process of making it to market, we'll give Essential time to improve on this. The camera attachment will also work with Essential's , which the company is yet to release. We really enjoy the form factor that Essential has concocted. The phone feels different enough to stand out while its aesthetic choices of titanium and ceramic are more durable than conventional smartphone materials. We applaud Essential for the hardware and design of the PH-1. We are really interested in seeing how Essential's first smartphone will age and what the future holds for the company as a whole. Essential isn't only making smartphones, by the way. The company announced its Home hub device alongside the PH-1, so we hope to see some interesting Home integration in Essential's phone as well. We are also hoping to get a great camera out of this guy. Essential has ' tuning and we are excited to test the camera more extensively in our review. When it comes to software, we sort of wish there was something more than a blank canvas. Then again, Essential is out to rub shoulders with smartphones that use bare-bones software like the or the . Stick around for our full review where you'll find out if you should consider the PH-1 to be your next smartphone.

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Original Samsung Galaxy J7 running Nougat again spotted on WFA's website

Original Samsung Galaxy J7 running Nougat again spotted on WFA's website

It was June this year, when the first-gen with Android Nougat on board was on the website of WiFi Alliance. Over a couple of months have passed, and the update is yet to roll out. Now, the device has once again appeared on the agency's website, with the listing revealing Android 7.0 this time as well. It's clear that Android 7.0 for the phone is being tested. However, what's not clear is exactly when the update will be pushed out. Getting WiFi certification doesn't necessarily mean roll out is imminent, but it does indicate the update is in pipeline at-least. |

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Three year old Samsung Galaxy S5 and several other devices getting August patch

Three year old Samsung Galaxy S5 and several other devices getting August patch

Samsung has started pushing out a new update to its smartphone. Arriving as version G900FXXS1CQH1 and weighing in at around 75MB, the update is currently hitting units in Europe. As for changes, it brings along Android security fixes for the month of August. Moving on, series smartphones on AT are also getting the latest patch, arriving as version G890AUCS6DQH1 for , and G920AUCS6EQH1, G925AUCS6EQH1 and G928AUCS4EQH1 for the S6, and , respectively. And finally, units on AT are also receiving the August security update, which arrives as version N6F27I.

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Sony Xperia XZ again drops to under $400 in US, free memory card included as well

Sony Xperia XZ again drops to under $400 in US, free memory card included as well

has received a new price cut in the US. A quick look at the device's Amazon listings reveal you can grab a unit for as low as $399.99. While this the phone has dropped to this level, the deal includes a free 64GB microSD card as well. The price cut + SD card deal is available on black, blue, and silver color options. Respective listings suggest only few units are remaining, so those planning to avail the deal may have to act fast. For what it's worth, the device was launched back in 2016 carrying a whopping |

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Xbox One X pre-orders are fastest selling ever for a Microsoft console

Xbox One X pre-orders are fastest selling ever for a Microsoft console

is the most powerful gaming console ever created. It was initially unveiled in June, and it went on pre-order worldwide last Sunday night. It's only been five days since that moment, but the company is already announcing a milestone. As of now, the One X pre-orders are the fastest selling in Xbox console history. As a consequence, the console is unfortunately sold out in many countries around the world at the moment. For some retailers, it was actually the fastest Xbox to sell out ever. Microsoft plans another wave of pre-orders for next month, so those places where it's currently sold out will get new batches to offer. The console will become available on November 7. Developers have committed to enhancing more than 100 new and existing games for the Xbox One X. |

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BlackBerry now wants to license out its security-focused version of Android

BlackBerry now wants to license out its security-focused version of Android

In the past few years, BlackBerry has transformed itself from a company that made and sold smartphones running its own operating system to one that licenses its name to smartphone makers who want to take advantage of its brand recognition. It also develops what it says is a more secure version of Android than the pure thing that emanates from Google. However, partnering with the likes of TCL, Optiemus, and BB Merah Putih for smartphone production was just the first phase of BlackBerry's licensing strategy as it turns out. Phase two involves licensing out its security-focused version of Android to companies willing to ship non-BlackBerry branded handsets that run BlackBerry Secure which is the name it's given the OS that results after it modifies stock Android. BlackBerry says it's already working on a number of different contracts regarding such licensing, some of those due to be announced soon. The information comes from Alex Thurber, BlackBerry Senior Vice President and General Manager for Mobility Solutions. Any device running BlackBerry Secure will be indistinguishable, software-wise, from a BlackBerry branded phone. BlackBerry wants to eventually provide its Android interpretation to companies in other fields too medical devices and TVs, for example. This is because more and more things are starting to run Android, and all connected things can be hacked and used for cyber attacks. So the company feels its security expertise could come in handy, at some point at least. |

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Vivo announces Y69 with 5.5-inch HD display and MediaTek processor

Vivo announces Y69 with 5.5-inch HD display and MediaTek processor

Vivo has launched the Y69 smartphone in India. It is priced at INR 14,990 ($234) and will be available across online and offline retail outlets starting September 1. The Y69 has a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720, rather low for this price range. Even more disappointingly, it is powered by a MediaTek MT6570 processor. You do get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage that can be expanded with microSD. On the back of the phone is a 13 megapixel camera but the front gets a 16 megapixel sensor with Vivo's Moonlight Selfie camera flash that provides a soft glow. Powering the whole thing is a 3000mAh battery and Funtouch OS 3.2 software on top of Android 7.0 Nougat. The Y69 will be available in Champagne Gold and Matte Black.

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Xiaomi arrives in Thailand with the Mi 6 and the Redmi Note 4

Xiaomi arrives in Thailand with the Mi 6 and the Redmi Note 4

Xiaomi fans in Thailand, rejoice! The Chinese manufacturer announced its official entry in the Asian country through its partner VST ECS. The first two devices that will be officially sold are the flagship Xiaomi Mi 6 and the bestseller Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. At an event in Bangkok Xiaomi announced that VST ECS sellers will take care of the online and offline distribution along with after-sales service products. Xiaomi will also sell its phones through retailers Lazada and IT City. The will be offered in Black and the 6GB RAM + 64 GB storage will go for THB13,790 or around $414, with sales starting immediately. The version with 128 GB storage will arrive on September 1 but pricing was unannounced. The is the more affordable solution. It will be offered in either Gray or Black for the price of THB6,790 which is around $200. Lazada will have the phone in stock right away, but it will reach IT City shelves on August 28. |

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Upcoming Motorola Moto X gets FCC certified

Upcoming Motorola Moto X gets FCC certified

Well, it was expected to be officially unveiled yesterday, but that didn't happen. However, still managed to stay in news as it has come to light that the device has been certified by the FCC in the US. The listing reveals the handset carries a model number of XT-1900-1 and packs in a 2,810mAh battery Interestingly, images shared by an official Motorola distributor recently 3,000mAh battery capacity for the device. Based on what all has been revealed/confirmed so far, other key specs for the phone include Snapdragon 630 SoC, 5.2-inch Full HD display, and 3GB/4GB RAM options. There's a dual rear-camera setup (12MP + 8MP) and a 16MP front shooter. The handset is also said to be IP68-certified for water and dust resistance. Motorola might unveil the Moto X4 during IFA, but there're currently no credible rumors or an official confirmation on this. |

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 back panel leaks along with the launch date

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 back panel leaks along with the launch date

Xiaomi is yet to announce the humongous with a massive display and minuscule bezels. But what is still unknown is how the phone will look on the front. Thanks to a Weibo leak we know how the back panel is looking. The complete package will be revealed on September 12, according to another leak from China. The image reveals a white ceramic back with two circular cutouts in the top part. This can mean the phone will either have a dual camera setup on the back or the fingerprint scanner will be positioned below the primary cam. There are dual stereo speakers on the bottom and a cutout for USB connectivity, hopefully, a USB-C. When the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 comes in September, s than the . It would also support 3D facial recognition, last week.

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Just-in: Meizu Pro 7 Plus hands-on

Just-in: Meizu Pro 7 Plus hands-on

Meizu is a brand that keeps trying new things to stay relevant to its fans. The previous flagship, the Pro 6 Plus, had an innovative 10-LED dual-tone round ring flash. Now the company brings its first dual camera phone with a 2 LCD touchscreen on the back, because why not. Now we present to you the Meizu Pro 7 Plus. Meizu Pro 7 Plus brings plenty of Firsts with it. It is the first Helio X30-powered smartphone; the first smartphone with an AMOLED touchscreen on the back; the first Meizu with dual cameras and the first Meizu with 16 MP front camera. We are fans of selfies, so the first thing we are checking out is how the camera works and is the secondary screen useful at all. The dual 12 MP setup offers lovely images both inside at a regular day-room lighting and outside in the cloudy weather. The second camera is mostly used as an aid to create the faux bokeh and it has yet to impress us. Check out below our quick comparison of Auto mode Selfie vs. Portrait Mode Selfie vs. Front Camera Selfie. The secondary screen is something that has the potential to prove itself valuable for more than shamless selfies. It can readily act as an Always-On display. It gives you basic info like notifications, time and date, and weather. If you are one of those people who don't mind keeping their phone face down, we're sure this AOD functionality will be greatly appreciated. Being incredibly fast with its deca-core CPU and 6 GB RAM, the Meizu Pro 7 Plus can offer some amazing features that the manufacturer shouldve implemented earlier. Now you can unlock the device with a swipe, or you can set up several types of gestures to launch different apps, all while the phone is locked. Well get deeper into all the Flyme OS features in our complete review. And since it is already on its way, here's what you should know so far. Meizu Pro 7 Plus is a fast phone with impressive UI and some innovative features that in an ideal world would skyrocket the Chinese manufacturer to the stars based on its innovation alone. Whether that would happen in the real world, we remain to see.

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Black BlackBerry Keyone lands at AT&T on September 1

Black BlackBerry Keyone lands at AT&T on September 1

The of the smartphone earlier this month, and now it's almost ready to make the trip from there to the United States. AT has just announced that it plans on offering the Keyone in the hue it's calling Space Black. The phone will become available at the carrier on September 1. If you're interested in the all-black Keyone, know that you'll need to part with $16.67 each month for 30 months in order to grab it from AT with an installment plan. That adds up to a grand total of $500.10. The Space Black color of the Keyone is exclusive to AT in the US. Aside from the paint job, it's identical to the model that was initially announced at MWC, the one which also has some silver parts.

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OnePlus 5 to have a soft launch in Australia on August 29

OnePlus 5 to have a soft launch in Australia on August 29

OnePlus is doing a soft launch for the in Australia on August 29, 10:00 AEST. The company will be selling all variants of the OnePlus 5. This includes the 6/64GB model in Slate Gray and Soft Gold and the 8/128GB model in Midnight Black and Slate Gray. They are priced at A$599 and A$699, respectively, and every customer will get a free Sandstone Protective Case for the phone. The soft launch will be a limited run until stocks last. OnePlus also clarifies that the prices and offers at the soft launch are not indicative of the future launches in Australia. You can find more details in the FAQ linked below.

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Last Concept build for Sony Xperia X now live

Last Concept build for Sony Xperia X now live

, Sony has pushed out the last Concept build to participating units. The update brings along Android security fixes May and some functionality changes. The update features improvements to low memory stability. Some fixes are also included, such as faster GPS fix and charging LED bug fix. Currently, those on the the Experimental track are getting the update, but stable track should also get it soon.

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Week 18 in review: OnePlus 5, HTC U 11 leak bit by bit

Week 18 in review: OnePlus 5, HTC U 11 leak bit by bit

Yet another week is behind us and OnePlus 5 was the device to dominate headlines over the past seven days. We saw a screenshot from the upcoming flagship from the Chinese company as well as suggested specs and pricing in an online listing. In more official news, the maker revealed why it will be skipping number 4 and calling it OnePlus 5. Sony caused some excitement as its X Ultra handset leaked, while the XZ Premium got benchmarked. A couple of Samsung mid-rangers also made an appearance the Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2018) should be going official shortly. In the more premium segment HTC is about to deliver its U 11 flagship with a unique pressure-sensitive frame that should allow for some interesting functionality. It will come without a headphones jack though.

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AT&T offering Galaxy S8/S8+ buyers $200 in trade-in credits

AT&T offering Galaxy S8/S8+ buyers $200 in trade-in credits

If you are in the US and are planning to purchase / , you might want to check out the deal AT is offering: those purchasing the flagship device(s) from the carrier will get $200 in trade-in credits. Yes, $200 is the minimum credit AT is offering on Galaxy S8 purchase when you trade in an smartphone. here means a device which has minimum $20 trade-in value and meets AT Trade-In Program reqmts. Also, the purchase should be made on AT Next installment plan. The promo, which is available online as well as at select locations, ends May 31. For more information, head to the link below. |

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Oppo R11 leaks again

Oppo R11 leaks again

Juts a few days after in a TV commercial, the device has again leaked, this time in renders. Although a bit hazy, the leaked images confirm things we already know: dual rear camera setup, and pink and gold color options. The handset is to be powered by an octa-core 2.2GHz processor and sports a 5.5-inch full HD display. RAM is 4GB, while internal memory is 64GB. The R11 features a dual 16MP main camera, and a 20MP selfie shooter. It runs Android 7.1 out of the box. |

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Deal: Best Buy 50-hour sales event

Deal: Best Buy 50-hour sales event

Best Buy is no stranger to price-slashing events. It is currently hosting a 50-hour long one, which is apparently inspired by the similarly titled shopping spree, the company had . This time, there is no apparent reason for the promotion, other than the reported success of the first installment, but you won't hear us complaining any time soon. The sale kicked off at 8pm PT on Friday, August 18th and will last until until 9:59pm PT on Sunday, August 20. Most deals are available both online and offline as well, until supplies last, that is. Enough stalling then. There's the short promotions list Best Buy put out itself: In more practical terms that translates to $574.99 for a 64GB Samsung Galaxy S8, $674 for a 64GB Galaxy S8+, $479.99 for a 64GB Huawei Mate 9, to name a few. All of these are SIM-free and there are more deals to be had as well. Surprisingly enough, both the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are listed for $419.99, making the latter an especially good deal. If you want savings on an iPhone, Best Buy's Sprint on-contract deals seems to be the best choice. That way, you can save $300 on either the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus with a new line activation or $200 with an upgrade activation. The Essential Phone deal isn't exactly straight-forward either, but still potentially good for the right buyer. To quote the offer, it is: We found the $500 off deals on iMac and MacBook models pretty interesting as well. But you do need to rummage a bit to find a nice value option there. There are up to $300 to be saved on higher end laptops and TV's a well. Last, but not least, Best Buy also has some back to school student deals going on at the moment. These are also worth looking into. |

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T-Mobile launches buy one, get one free-ish deal for LG flagships

T-Mobile launches buy one, get one free-ish deal for LG flagships

You can potentially save up to $500 with T-Mobile's new summer promotion and end up with a pair of LG flagships. Unfortunately, it's a little bit more complicated that just paying for one and getting another free unit to gracefully share with a significant other. To get the deal, you need to sign up for an Equipment Installment Plan, which is basically a 24 month commitment, that guarantees T-Mobile you won't just grab a pair of LG's and then run off to another carrier (Not without salty penalties, that is). After you get the contrast, you can opt for an ($20 down and $20/month, totaling $500) or an ($0 down and $20/month, totaling $480). Then, if you add a second line to said contract, you can get another unit. The cheaper of the two will be free, or in other words, eligible for a rebate through bill credit over the next 24 months. T-Mobile also warns that it might take up to two billing cycles for the bill credit to start hitting your account. Still, the math works out in the end and there is even mention of a prepaid MasterCard on T-Mobile's website, so be sure to hit the carrier up and ask for details if you happen to like to deal. Oh, and naturally, it's a limited time offer.

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Weekly poll results: camera phones get a pass on humps, everything else better be flat

Weekly poll results: camera phones get a pass on humps, everything else better be flat

Most people dont care for humpback phones... unless they are camera phones. on the matter revealed a 2:1 preference for flat phones, but the simple yes or no vote doesnt tell the whole story. Looking through the comments reveals a fairly common sentiment I dont mind a hump, if its for a great camera. Unfortunately, extra-large camera sensors are not the reason behind modern humps, instead they are caused by extra-thin phones. Even those that are okay with the camera want it to flow into the design. Everyone has their favorites, but plenty of examples were given for both ugly and well-executed humps. Theres no bullet-proof recipe for success, but a central hump with sapphire glass is a good start it keeps the phone balanced and is more resistant to scratches (an issue when humps are involved).

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Weekly poll: now that the Nokia 8 is official, is Nokia back?

Weekly poll: now that the Nokia 8 is official, is Nokia back?

Its back! Or is it? The was unveiled this week, marking both the return of camera-focused Nokia flagships and a new option for a high-end pure Android phone. The phone checks some of the boxes for a 2017 flagship, but also misses some. The Nokia 8 has a microSD slot (unlike the Pixel and OnePlus 5), a dual camera (unlike the Galaxy S8, HTC U11, Xperia XZ Premium), a headphone jack (U11 again), a QHD screen (damn it, OnePlus)... not bad when you think about it. It is missing some things, though and sadly bezels aren't among them. There's also no full waterproofing or stereo speakers nor an HDR screen. Not deal-breakers, perhaps, but launching this late in the game, we cant just compare this to the early 2017 flagships. No, in less than a month, the Nokia 8 will have to contend with late 2017 flagships from all the major Android players, plus the anniversary iPhone. At 600, it will be cheaper than any of those. But it is not cheaper than the 6-month old flagships, in fact it is pricier than a couple of those. So is Nokia back? Are bothies and livestreaming enough to convince you? Or did HMD misread the fanbase?

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Android Wear 2.0 update for Motorola Moto 360 Sport seems imminent

Android Wear 2.0 update for Motorola Moto 360 Sport seems imminent

It looks like Motorola will soon start rolling out the Android Wear 2.0 update to its smartwatch (if not already). A support page detailing the update recently popped up on the company's website, suggesting an imminent roll out. The update should arrive as version NXH20Z, and bring along features like on-watch Play Store, material design & app launcher, Google Assistant, Lightweight Doze, Side button functions, and some regular bug fixes. Motorola says roll out will be in phases, so be patient if your wearable is yet to receive it. For more details, head to the link below. |

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