Galaxy Note 5 and Edge Plus will have an optional keyboard accessory
While most of us have adjusted just fine to a virtual touchscreen keyboard, not everyone has wanted to make this jump. In fact, the number one reason why any Blackberry phones are still sold is largely owed to the fact that the company has an exceptional physical keyboard layout.
For those missing the physical keyboard but content with being part of camp Android, Samsung has a new solution. The Korean giant has revealed a new snap-on physical keyboard for the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus which will be sold separately for a currently undisclosed price. The new keyboard is aptly named the Samsung Keyboard cover.
The snap-on keyboard doesn’t use batteries or Bluetooth to make the magic happen, and instead utilizes the touchscreen underneath. Upon attachment, the phone recognizes the accessory and adjusts its virtual keyboard to the layout of the physical keyboard. When you hit a physical key, it will then press a virtual key on the blocked half of the screen underneath. Not using it? You can also push it around onto the back side for storage.
This is certainly not the first physical keyboard attachment we’ve seen over the years, though it is a novel concept for Samsung and the first time they’ve ever done something like this for a flagship.
What do you think, anyone interested in picking this one up if and when they purchase a Note 5 or Edge Plus? How much would you be willing to pay for such an accessory?
A-Great set of bluetooth headphones: A-Audio Icon review
I love music, but I generally have issues with headphones. I have 3 kids at home and they have broken almost every pair of headphones that I have ever had. The problem with most headphones is that they are made with cheap plastic and my kids are not gentle with anything, let alone a pair of headphones. A-Audio’s Icon headphones do a great job relaxing my concerns.
Icon overview
When I received my Icon headphones in the mail, the first thing I noticed was the packaging. The box that they came in had a magnetic clasp that kept the box closed, but it still opened easily. Inside the box was a carbon fiber case with the A-Audio logo on top. At this point, I am simply amazed at all the tiny details that they put into the packaging itself. My expectations for the headphones are sky high at this point.
The Icon did not disappoint. As I opened the carbon fiber case I continue to be amazed at the quality. The frame is made of steel and the hinges of zinc. I can tell that these headphones can take a beating. With my kids, they’ll need to.
Not only are the hinges and frame made of metal, but the ultra soft leather and memory foam ear pads give it a very luxurious feel. So at this point I’m practically drooling over these headphones and I’m really hoping that they sound as good as they look and feel.
Unfortunately, I would have to wait a few hours before I could test them out. The quick start card that comes in the box tells me to charge them fully before using them. So, I begin looking through the pouch inside the case and find the charger, two 3.5mm audio cables, a micro USB cable, and a small external battery pack. Of course, I plug in the headphones and battery pack and get things charged. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge.
After they are fully charged, I pair them with my phone and immediately begin listening to music. The music coming from the headphones is extremely crisp and clear, and I can’t hear a thing other than the music. It’s now late at night and I can only spend 30-40 minutes listening to music, but luckily the following day is Saturday and I have all day to listen to them.
And listen to them all day is exactly what I do. One of the things that impressed me was the battery life. The Icon headphones went all day from 7 am to about 11 pm on a single charge. Even when I took them off, I left the music playing to properly test them.
Icon setup
The headphones were very easy to setup. The longest part was charging it first, but once charged the pairing process was very simple. Within 1 minute, I was up and running.
Icon usage
I’ve already gushed on the build quality, now let me gush on the sound quality. It is superb. There are songs that I gained a new appreciation for listening to them on these headphones.
Now I don’t recommend that you turn them up full blast, unless your intention is to kill your eardrums, but I can tell you that you that even at full blast, the headphone’s sound remained crisp and clear with no distortion. Not only can it handle the highs, but it can handle the bass as well. I purposefully searched for bass-centric music on Google Play Music and again even at full volume, there was no distortion of any kind.
The headphones also feature a built-in microphone. When I asked, callers reported to me that they could hear me loud and clear.
One of the things that I liked is the ability to listen wired or wireless. In fact, the wired sounds even better in my opinion, especially of your using a service like Tidal with lossless HiFi audio. Unfortunately the controls one the wire do not work with Android.
The Bluetooth controls were very discrete and I liked them except for one thing. What bothered me was, why they would integrate a double and triple click system to move the songs back and forward when you have two perfectly good nubs to the left and right of the A-Audio logo. In fact, it makes more sense to me that they would do it my way when I consider that the two nubs above and below the logo also double as volume buttons.
Another feature that I wish they would have added is the ability to initiate a voice call from the headphones. To me, this is Bluetooth 101. In fact, my 1st generation LG Tones have that ability for 8/10th the price. Of course, my LG’s sound nowhere near as good as the A-Audio Icon headphones, but that’s not the point. The point is that these cheap little headphones have a feature not found on these high dollar headphones.
What we liked
- Superb build quality
- Amazing sound reproduction
- Packaging / carbon fiber case
What could be better
- Bluetooth controls
- Voice command integration
- Price
Summary
In the end, I found that these headphones are amazing. They are not perfect by any means, but if you’re looking for great sounding and long lasting headphones and a $379 price tag does not deter you, then look no further than the A-Audio Icon Bluetooth headphones.
Until the end of the month, you can use promo code androidguys25 for an additional 25% off at checkout on A-Audio’s website. That would effectively reduce the price by almost $95.
The post A-Great set of bluetooth headphones: A-Audio Icon review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Check out the official announcement videos for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
Samsung has just taken the wraps off the new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus at its Unpacked event just hours ago. Both devices feature big 5.7-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD displays, a mostly-glass design and many other notable enhancements that will likely be welcomed by consumers.
Samsung has just published the official introduction videos for both handsets, showing off some of their unique features. The first intro video walks through the Note 5’s new and improved S Pen and note taking features, curved back plate for a more comfortable in-hand feel, and some of the new multitasking software features. The second introduction video gives us a good look at the S6 Edge Plus’ new features that take advantage of the larger edge display.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Want to learn more about these two new smartphones? We’ve got you covered! Head to the links below to get a closer look, and be sure to tell us what you think about the handsets in the comments below.
Apple’s Marc Newson Believes Automotive Design is Lacking Progress
The Wall Street Journal has published an in-depth profile of industrial designer Marc Newson, a longtime friend of Apple design chief Jonathan Ive who joined the Cupertino-based company in September 2014. The interview touches upon a number of topics, ranging from Newson’s creative process and design philosophies to his favorite artists and fashion designers.
Apple designers Marc Newson (left) and Jonathan Ive (right) via Vanity Fair
Just months after reports claimed Apple is actively researching and developing an electric and possibly self-driving vehicle, Newson added fuel to those rumors by referring to the automotive industry as one of his design pet-peeves. The designer said that while cars used to encapsulate “everything that was good about progress,” the industry is now “at the bottom of a trough.”
My design pet-peeve is: the automotive industry. There were moments when cars somehow encapsulated everything that was good about progress. But right now we’re at the bottom of a trough.
Newson’s comments certainly do not imply that Apple is working on a vehicle, but it is clear that multiple executives at the Cupertino-based company are car enthusiasts. Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue joined Ferrari’s Board of Directors in November 2012, while Ive has owned several luxury vehicles ranging from Aston Martins and Fiats to Bentleys and Land Rovers.
Jonathan Ive’s previous Aston Martin DB9 supercar
The New Yorker also reflected on how Newson and Ive are “car guys” in February:
He and Newson are car guys, and they feel disappointed with most modern cars; each summer, they attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where vintage sports cars are exhibited and raced in the South of England. “There are some shocking cars on the road,” Ive said. “One person’s car is another person’s scenery.” To his right was a silver sedan with a jutting lower lip. Ive said, quietly, “For example.” As the disgraced car fell behind, I asked Ive to critique its design: “It is baffling, isn’t it? It’s just nothing, isn’t it? It’s just insipid.” He declined to name the model, muttering, “I don’t know, I don’t want to offend.” (Toyota Echo.)
It was reported in February that Apple has hundreds of employees, including former Tesla, Ford and GM engineers, working on an electric vehicle at a top-secret research lab possibly located in the Sunnyvale area. The much-rumored initiative, known internally as “Project Titan,” likely remains in the early stages of research and development, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple hopes to begin production in 2020.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ can have apps pinned to its curve
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is finally official, and with that comes tailor-made features for its curved design. One of those is Apps Edge, which lets users create up to five shortcuts for frequently used apps, offering quick access to them directly from the edge of the screen. It’s worth noting that a Samsung patent for Apps Edge was spotted last month; a similar feature was also found on the Galaxy Note Edge, though the same can’t be said for the newer Galaxy S6 Edge. At the moment, this appears to only be for the S6 Edge+, but we reached out to Samsung to find out if S6 Edge owners can expect to get it as well.
Filed under:
Samsung
Tags: Samsung, SamsungUnpacked, samsungunpacked2015, Unpacked, Unpacked2015
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 gets a keyboard cover
Those rumors that Samsung would launch an oddball keyboard add-on? They’re true. The Korean tech firm has unveiled a Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy Note 5 that, as the name suggests, gives you both a case and a hardware keyboard for those times when you need to punch out long messages. Samsung is shy on details, but it looks like the screen adapts to the keyboard. There are conventional navigation buttons to replace the capacitive ones you’ve lost, as well. We can’t imagine too many Note 5 owners picking this up (part of the point is that big screen), but it could hit the spot if you’re jonesing for a BlackBerry-like experience on an Android phone.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: accessories, android, galaxynote5, keyboard, keyboardcover, mobilepostcross, peripherals, samsung, samsungunpacked2015, smartphone
Samsung teases round Gear S2 smartwatch
Samsung has dropped a surprise at its Unpacked 2015 event by showing off a new Gear S2 smartwatch. The model appears to be a far cry from the original Gear S, however. Samsung has upped the style quotient considerably with a round watch face, metal body and new user interface. Given the naming convention (it lacks the “Galaxy” moniker that generally denotes Android), it likely runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS rather than Android Wear, like the original Gear S. Slideshow-312495
Another clear sign that this is not an Android Wear devices is the new UI design, which consists of a circle of apps arranged around the face. Samsung actually teased a round watch back in February, but that device did appear to be an Android Wear model. All we saw today was a quick glimpse of the hardware and watch face, but Samsung promised the Gear S2 would get a full reveal at IFA next month in Berlin.
Filed under:
Wearables, Samsung
Tags: Galaxy Gear S2, samsung, SamsungUnpacked2015, smartwatch, Smartwatches
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 isn’t coming to the UK
At Samsung’s big Unpacked event today, the company unveiled two new flagship phones: the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. But, as we’ve learned, only one of them is headed to the UK. The S6 Edge+ — a super-sized version of Samsung’s curved-screen beauty — will be up for preorder on August 18th, before its official launch on September 4th. No pricing information is available just yet, but one way or another, all the major carriers have effectively confirmed they’ll be ranging it, so no great surprises there. What is pretty surprising, though, is Samsung’s decision not to release the new Note 5 over here. In fact, S Pen diehards across Europe will be saddened to hear the Note 5 is only slated to launch in the US and Asia — at least for now, anyway. Samsung told us that it hasn’t ruled out a European release entirely, but it certainly isn’t happening this year. As to the reason? Samsung hasn’t volunteered one yet, but we’ll let you know if/when we manage to track one down.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: galaxynote5, galaxys6edgeplus, mobilepostcross, samsung
Drone reports by airplane pilots nearly triple over 2014
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have loosened up its drone rules, but it’ll come down hard on any pilots caught operating them near manned aircraft. The agency said that drone sightings by commercial and private pilots are up nearly triple so far this year from all of 2014, with 275 sightings in June and July alone. One of the more notorious incidents involved a drone operating over a forest fire, forcing water-bomber pilots to the ground. That in turn caused the fire to spread to a freeway, burning several vehicles.
Earlier this year, the FAA made it easier to get commercial drone permits for things like filming, and models like DJI’s Phantom 3 are some of the hottest commodities out there. The agency is educating pilots of those craft with its “Know Before You Fly” campaign, and is promoting the National Interagency Fire Center’s similar “If You Fly, We Can’t” drive.
If you think it’s nearly impossible to catch a drone pilot, there’s another drone for that.
The FAA brought out a stick, however. It said it’s “working closely with the law enforcement community to identify and investigate unauthorized unmanned operations,” adding it has “dozens of open enforcement cases.” Meanwhile, California’s fire service is offering a $75,000 reward for the drone pilots who stymied forest fire-fighting operations. And if you think it’s nearly impossible to catch a drone pilot, there’s another drone for that.
Filed under:
Robots, Transportation
Source:
FAA
Tags: airplanes, drones, FAA, near-miss, pilots, sightings
Best email clients [2015]
Among the most common tasks done with a phone or tablet is sending and receiving emails. Items are going to and from your email account throughout the day, so managing them can be difficult depending upon the email client used. We’re all Google fans around here, but let’s face it, sometimes the Gmail app pre-installed on our devices doesn’t meet all of our needs.
Some options found in the Play Store aim to make your email smarter and more efficient, while others take a more organized and administrative approach, including neat tools like a built-in calendar or file browser. Whatever your needs might be, Android has an email client for you.
Mailbox
Mailbox by Dropbox aims to make email “light, fast, and mobile-friendly.” It has a lot of the same functions as Inbox by Gmail; however, it’s unique in that it organizes your individual emails in an instant messenger-like format. Not only that, but Mailbox is smart. It will try and learn your swipes and snoozes and try to automate some of those actions. Surprisingly, it works really well.
Mailbox’s entire goal is to make sure your inbox stays clean, and it does so better than most competitors. Besides functionality, it has a gorgeous user interface that slides around smoother than anything else you’ll find. The only real downside is that Mailbox isn’t very user-friendly as it’ll take a brand new user a few minutes to figure out how everything works.
Yahoo Mail
Yahoo hasn’t offered the best mail client in the past but things have gotten much better since Marissa Mayer took over as CEO. It sets out to be quick and easy to use by getting rid of clutter and putting your emails at the forefront. Yahoo does this by hiding most of the app’s functions until you actually select an email and want to get rid of it or put it somewhere else.
The email client remains unique by having a built-in web browser and a personalized news feed. While it doesn’t add any value to your email, it’s neat functionality especially if you’re trying to quickly grab a link for a friend without being forced to leave the app.
Inbox by Gmail
Inbox by Gmail is another email client created by Google, tasked with keeping things more organized and efficient, something that Gmail hasn’t been able to accomplish very well through its topic-based organization system. Inbox takes Gmail’s topic-based organization and improves on it tenfold by adding in new categories like Finance and Purchases.
It also lets you quickly and easily archive messages or set reminders to read certain emails at a later time. All in all, Inbox by Gmail aims to make your inbox more efficient and seamless than it has been in the past. And it does that very well with stunning design.
Gmail
Gmail is the application that usually comes preloaded on most Android devices. It’s another great email client, however, it’s not the best option for keeping multiple accounts separated and well organized. It features Google’s new Material Design guidelines, making it one of the more elegant offerings out there.
Like other solutions, Gmail lets you connect up to a Google or Google Apps accounts, Yahoo, Outlook, IMAP, POP, and more. That said, you can virtually use any email service with Gmail, and it’s quite easy to setup. Unfortunately, Gmail doesn’t have a built-in calendar or file manager; you have to use a few separate applications for that. In that way, it doesn’t function well as an all-in-one service, but it is fantastic for just your personal email.
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft has put together a phenomenal mobile all-in-one email client with Outlook. Not only does it prioritize all of your important emails, but it also features a built-calendar, file browser, and all of your contacts for better organization. You have access to everything you might ever need to send just about any email, whether that be scheduling an event or meeting, sending off an important PDF email to your team, and so on.
Outlook offers a surprisingly seamless and efficient system for managing email. One of the best things about it is how well it keeps your personal email separated from other business-related email accounts you might manage. It also connects with just about any service you’ve signed up for, whether that be Google, Yahoo, iCloud, Exchange, and more.
Boxer
Boxer works much the same as any other email client out there. You have your standard email features — integration with most email services, basic organization abilities with snooze, archive, delete options, and so on.
What makes Boxer unique is its instant auto response feature. You can add emails to a to-do list for better organization, and you can even “like” emails so the sender sees you’ve acknowledged it but either aren’t going to send a response or will send one later. Boxer has a lot of capabilities including integration with cloud services and even the popular note-taking application Evernote.
Wrap Up
There are a lot of different options out there as far as email clients go. There’s something for everyone out there, whether you’re the everyday user or managing multiple email accounts for business.
Most of the options listed are free and can be tested out to see if it’s something you really want to switch over to.
Come comment on this article: Best email clients [2015]
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