Saturday, November 11, 2017

Weekly poll results: the Razer Phone is a clear fan favorite

Weekly poll results: the Razer Phone is a clear fan favorite


Heres some good news for the fledgling smartphone maker the people love the . People were surprisingly excited about the audio features of the phone like the stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos even though one would think its the 120Hz screen thats the star of the show. The lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack was a common complaint, but the THX-certified audio dongle goes a long way. Plus HTC, Motorola, Google and Huawei also skipped the analog jack. The 120Hz screen did get some love too, though most commenters dont consider the Razer a purely gaming phone (and we agree). While wed love to see more game developers support the 120Hz screen, regular apps benefit too zooming through the interface feels oh-so-smooth.


Google Pixel 2 issue makes Assistant unavailable with Bluetooth headphones

Google Pixel 2 issue makes Assistant unavailable with Bluetooth headphones


Of the two new Google handsets this year, the has certainly had the more troubled launch with new display issues appearing every other day. Yet today its the smaller that gets in the spotlight for the wrong reason. The smartphone is experiencing issues when you try to operate the Google Assistant via Bluetooth headphones. The handset seemingly mutes its microphone after the Assistant is invoked meaning you are unable to use the functionality at all. Given how important its AI helper is to the Pixel experience this is a pretty big deal and unsurprisingly the issue has been widely reported on the Google support forums. Yet, the company is yet to issue a fix, despite pushing a firmware update to the Pixel 2 earlier this week. This means the wait for the patch will take at least a few more weeks long as Google is unlikely to deliver a firmware specifically for it and will likely include it in the next larger update. |


Some Apple iPhone X OLED screens plagued by green lines

Some Apple iPhone X OLED screens plagued by green lines


Apple is still dealing with the , but it may have another problem on its hands. Apparently some units are developing an issue with a green line going vertically across the display. All the affected units were reportedly working fine when taken out of the box, but after some time the line pictured below appears. By the looks of it the issue is either caused by an issue with the display controller or by the ribbon cable connecting the screen, but its hard to specify without having seen a defective device in person. Apple is yet to comment on the matter, but users who have experienced the issue on their phones say that they got their phones replaced under warranty. So if your iPhone X happens to develop such an issue take it straight to the companys local office to get your replacement. Given that the issue takes some time to develop, its hard to estimate how wide-spread it is. Apple choose a really unique screen for the iPhone X, not to mention that its the first time they went with OLED on a phone, so at least some issues were to be expected. Hopefully it doesnt end up inconveniencing too many users. |


KGI: iPhone 8 demand lower than expected, but iPhone X going strong

KGI: iPhone 8 demand lower than expected, but iPhone X going strong


Often reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI has released another note to investors today, attempting to predict the performance of Apples new smartphone trio during the key holiday quarter and at the start of 2018. Kuo estimates that the will sell between 22 and 24 million units in the last quarter of the year and will maintain its strong performance in the early months of 2018. The flagships production is expected to grow 35% to 45% over the next quarter as supply shortages finally ease off. Meanwhile, people will allegedly come to realize that their concerns about the major UI overhaul caused by the dropping of the home button were unfounded. Something we arent completely sure about, having completed . As for the other two new iPhones the demand is expected to remain lower than expectations and Apple will reduce its production by more than half in Q1 of 2018. The , on the other hand, slightly exceeds predictions, as it remains the solitary option for those wanting a . Still, Kuo predicts that Apple and its manufacturing partner Hon Hai will switch some of the iPhone 8 Plus manufacturing lines to produce iPhone X to help boost production. That should enable 25 to 27 million units of the anniversary iPhone to reach the market before the end of the year.