The iPad Pro’s chip is not a big deal
The iPad Pro is here, and it comes with a lot of promises. The most-repeated is that its A9X chip is a desktop-class processor that fits inside a tablet. Initial benchmark results confirm that this is by far the most powerful chip Apple has ever put inside an iPad, leading some to suggest that Apple’s A9X is now at the same level as Intel’s laptop chips. This could change the PC and laptop industry forever, apparently, with popular Apple commentators suggesting that “the future belongs to ARM, and Apple’s A-series SoC’s are leading the way.” To put it lightly, that’s a bit premature.
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – November 14, 2015
Following a busy month of Nexus, Droid and Sony reviews, this week has been relatively calm when it comes to Android-related videos. Even so, we’ve still managed to bring you a bunch of interesting video content, including our full reviews of the LG V10 and the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser, as well as our impressions on the first 48 hours with the affordable OnePlus X. We’ve also linked some great news-focused videos at the bottom of the post as well, relating to recent claims that Google is talking internally about building its own smartphone.
So without any further ado, here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week!
Reviews
LG V10 review
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If you were a fan of the LG G4 but thought it missed the mark in a few key areas, you should probably check out the latest offering from the company. Don’t miss Lanh’s full review of the LG V10.
ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser review
ASUS already knocked it out of the park with the super affordable ZenFone 2. But does the company’s latest affordable device make any notable improvements? Find out in Bailey’s full review of the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser.
Hands-on and initial impressions
OnePlus X – the first 48 hours
The new OnePlus X is super affordable and might actually be the most compelling handset the company has ever produced. We haven’t had it long enough to release our full review, so we thought we’d release a quick video detailing our experiences with it for the first 48 hours. Don’t miss Josh’s first impressions on the OnePlus X.
Android Apps Weekly
Apple’s second app, Activision buys King and Fallout Pip-Boy – you don’t want to miss Joe’s latest episode of Android Apps Weekly!
Is Google planning to build its own smartphone?
Why would Google produce its own phone? Standardization.
According to a few recent reports, Google is talking internally, yet again, about building its own phone. This is no Nexus phone, but a Google-manufactured handset through and through. But why? Be sure to check out Jayce’s video above and Bogdan’s full post attached below for our speculation.
Watch people play ‘Desert Bus’ for days in the name of charity
Penn & Teller’s Desert Bus mini game is legendary for its tongue-in-cheek monotony (you drive 8 hours to score a single point), but it’s also a force for good: the Desert Bus for Hope campaign has raised $2.4 million for the Child’s Play hospital charity over the years. Well, the volunteer group is at it again with the just-launched Desert Bus 9… and this may be one of its most ambitious fundraising efforts yet. The team is planning to stream live gameplay from the notorious Sega Genesis title for as long as donations allow, which could be quite a while when last year’s effort lasted for 158 hours — that’s nearly a full week. If you like the idea of an epic video game endurance test helping a noble cause, tune in below and consider sending some cash to Desert Bus for Hope at the source link.
Source: Desertbus.org
Pope Francis wants families to talk, not text, at the (dinner) table
Many have called Pope Francis a “Pope of the People” or “The People’s Pope”, due in no small part to his way of doing things. and he recently took the opportunity during a November 11th sermon at St. Peter’s Square to share his thoughts on tech at the table:
“A family that almost never eats together, or that never speaks at the table but looks at the television or the smartphone, is hardly a family.”
He then added that,
“When children at the table are attached to the computer or the phone and don’t listen to each other, this is not a family, this is a pensioner!”
The comments came during his preaching on the subject of togetherness, of which he stressed the dinner table is a critical part of the family structure:
“Sitting at table for the family dinner, sharing our meal and the experiences of our day, is a fundamental image of togetherness and solidarity…in the family, if something is wrong, or if there’s some hidden wound, at the table you see it right away.”
The “new” television
While people are free to have their own opinions as to the comments raised above, at the very least there is a point that can be made about technology at the dinner table serving as a distraction. Television, once viewed as an “end” to families due to its distracting influence and the creation of a “TV dinner” society, has seemingly been supplanted by mobile technology.
The situation was also the underscore of a recent South Park episode that sought to point out how kids in the 21st century are now spending copious amounts of time on their computers or mobiles as opposed to even the television.
On a personal level, tech-at-the-table can be seen every time I go to a family restaurant (diner) here in Tokyo. Inevitably there will be at least one instance of either a parent and child who aren’t talking – usually because the child is on a 3DS or mobile phone game, or else an entire table of kids, none of whom are talking because they’re all playing Monster Hunter or another online game via Ad-Hoc.
Wrap Up
Recently we have seen studies that indicate how addicted people are to their mobiles, and some may have dealt with texting or “Facebook Breaks” during dates. That Pope Francis sees a problem with table texting adds another form of scrutiny on the modern behaviors of the digital denizen. Still, everyone has their own opinion, and thus we’d like to ask for yours! Please feel free to take the quick survey below and then leave your comments.
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Oxygen OS 2.1.2 hitting the OnePlus 2, OnePlus X via OTA update
This year, OnePlus has so far released two devices: a second One, and an X One. Thanks to a new Oxygen OS update (2.1.1) being released OTA, both the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus X are going to get some new features. Specifically:
The OnePlus 2’s update will include the following:
- Improved UX for preview in Camera
- Performance improvements on app install and launch
- Individual icon customization support
- Fixes for RAW format on 3rd party camera apps
- Russian & Turkish language support
- Lockscreen wallpaper support
- Security patches
- Bug fixes to System Update to improve OTA stability
- General bug fixes and performance improvements
The following comment was included with respect to the update:
A note about RAW support if you are a FV-5 camera user. FV-5 will be releasing an update to their app to support RAW on OnePlus 2 devices as soon as we push out this OTA . The new version should carry the version number 2.79.5 and you should get this update within a few days of upgrading to 2.1.2.
OnePlus 2
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The OnePlus X’s update will include the following:
- UX bug fixes in the Camera app
- Improvement to color offset in HDR mode
- Bug fixes to System Update to improve OTA stability
- System optimizations in low battery state
- General bug fixes and performance improvements
The company also offered the following note:
Also, we’ve received feedback that some users have experienced issues with SD storage. Although the improvements are not included in this OTA, please be assured that we are expediting another update to fix those issues so you get a great experience on your new OPX.
OnePlus X
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OnePlus reminds users that, “these are incremental rollouts, so several days may go by before you see the notification pop up on your device.” For those that want to try and speed things up, it’s best to manually check for updates however sometimes time is the only cure to the OTA blues.
Has your OP device received the Oxygen OS 2.1.2 update yet? We want to know! Leave us a comment below and tell us how it has changed things.
EasyAcc Classic 3350mAh Power Bank: Sometimes all you need is one charge (Review)
We regularly review power banks here at Androidguys.com, but typically review larger batteries with at least 6000mAh or more power. The downside to those batteries is that you cannot get away from size. They’re so big that you either make an effort to take them with you, or you simply leave them at home. Leaving your portable battery at home serves no purpose when you’re out consuming power on your mobile device.
The solution: carry an EasyAcc Classic 3350 Power Bank on you at all times.
Design
The EasyAcc Classic 3350mAh battery is designed with portability in mind. It comes with a 3350mAh battery which is just over one full charge for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Moto X Pure(both have a 3000mAh battery), about two full charges for the iPhone 6s(1,715mAh) and over one full charge for the iPhone 6S Plus(2585mAh).
The EasyAcc Classic is a small lipstick styled battery that is easy to carry in a pocket or put in a side pocket of a backpack or purse. It is definitely small and light enough to take with you on a daily basis: if you are the type who needs a recharge throughout the day. It’s nicely made from a solid plastic that does not attract fingerprints and is mostly black except for the orange end caps. The Easy Classic also comes in a gray and black combination if you prefer something a little more muted.
There is one USB output which can charge just about any device that is chargeable by USB, and it also has one micro-USB input for recharging the battery itself.
There’s a power button on top, and when pressed will show four LED’s which will indicate how much power is remaining.
It’s a modest yet functional design.
Usage
The EasyAcc Classic is just an external battery. There isn’t much to it. You simply plug in the charging cable that came with your smartphone, smartwatch, portable game player or action camera, into the USB end into the EasyAcc battery and the other end into your device. It will start recharging your device instantly.
I carried my EasyAcc Classic around in my jeans for a couple of weeks, and after the first day I forgot it was ever there. I have a short USB cable that I left plugged into it, and on some nights I would recharge my phone(still out and about) because I needed the juice at the end of the day. I use my phone a ton for work. There’s always a one or two hour phone call, or a good 5-10 emails that need to be written when I am away from a charger. And then there are my duties to Androidguys.com that are always pulling on my battery, so having the EasyAcc Classic was nice because the phones I have no longer have replaceable batteries like my old Note 4.
Prior to the Classic, the only batteries I owned were of the large 10000mAh or 20000mAh sizes, and I would never take them with me unless I had my backpack. They’re too big to carry in my pocket and definitely too heavy. Most days I only need one recharge, it’s only on work trips or vacations where I need those large battery packs. So having the Classic is definitely something I will be using on a daily basis and for that reason I consider it much more important than any other battery I own.
Specs
- 3350mAh
- 101 x 24 x 24 mm
- 2A input
Summary
For only $10 this is one heck of a value. Internal batteries for phones with swappable batteries cost up to five times this amount. If you have never used a portable power bank, consider getting one like this as it will probably be the most useful. Or if you only have a large power bank in your tech inventory, consider getting the EasyAcc Classic 3350mAh battery for its portability will make it much more useful to you since you will most likely be carrying it on yourself at all times. I highly recommend the EasyAcc Classic.
If you would like to learn more or make a purchase check out EasyAcc.com.
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Major firms show support after Friday’s attacks in Paris
Shortly after news broke of the attacks in Paris on Friday, major technology companies stepped up to show support.
https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js
Google acted quickly in supplying free calls to France using Hangouts. Through the rest of the weekend, anyone can use Hangouts in order to contact friends and family currently located in the country. The company will likely extend this for a few more days.
Immediately, Facebook activated the Safety Check feature to allow users nearby the attacks the ensure others that they are safe.
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, commented:
“My thoughts are with everyone in Paris tonight. Violence like this has no place in any city or country around the world. We’ve activated Safety Check, so if you’re in Paris you can mark yourself safe or check on your friends and family.”
Facebook is also offering a special filter for profile pictures to show their support. Users can place the country’s flag over their own profile pictures temporarily or permanently. Facebook allowed the same thing earlier this year when the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the ban on gay marriage.
Amazon
Amazon quietly modified its homepage to show the flag of France raised above the French word for “solidarity.” The site also shows the Eiffel Tower next to the word on its banner, visible on every page.
While Twitter did not explicitly make a move, its users took on a huge social responsibility, offering care for those in the city of Paris. The hashtag #PorteOuverte, which means “open door,” was used by Twitter users throughout the city in an effort to provide shelter for those loose on the streets and unable to get to a safe location.
Twitter’s Moments feature, in addition to the straightforward timeline, became a way for people around the world to follow the sights and sounds of what went on in Paris on Friday. Moments is still updating as news follows the aftermath.
As stated last night, the thoughts of everyone at Talk Android are with the people of Paris.
Come comment on this article: Major firms show support after Friday’s attacks in Paris
Broadband for the people, built by the people
Competition is good, especially when it comes to internet service providers. Unfortunately, it’s also rare. According to the White House’s community-based broadband report released earlier this year (PDF), 75 percent of customers looking for internet speeds of 25Mbps or higher had a choice between one provider or no service at all. It’s especially bad for rural communities, where there’s little incentive for major telecommunication networks to bother running lines.
Fortunately, people across the world are beginning to take matters into their own hands, investing in municipally-owned companies to build out necessary services. The results often provide faster connections at lower prices than large ISPs would have offered and they frequently turn a profit. Although the FCC has voted to support net neutrality and preempted a few state laws that limit public expansion, lobbyists for large networks are trying to stifle development and 19 states still have restrictive laws in place. The struggle is real, but adequate broadband is essential in modern times. This week we’ve sampled a few community initiatives that’ve succeeded in taking control of their own connective destinies in the face of corporate lethargy.
Slideshow-339574
HTC One X9 specs and shots revealed by China’s TENAA
In the past week or two, the One X9 has seemingly taken over all news related to the HTC. Rumors and leaks have been flowing freely, and now we finally have some more concrete details, courtesy of China’s TENAA. The telecommunications agency has not only photographed the glorious gadget in a series of proper poses, but also revealed some of the specs:
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The device looks to be retaining the flatter back side as seen in the HTC A9, as well as a return to BoomSound speakers. Perhaps more importantly however, the smartphone is also moving the company’s oft-criticized front branding to the top of the device. Onlookers will be perhaps disappointed, however, to note that the face of the phone has capacitive buttons, something that is more noteworthy for the fact that unlike the A9, no fingerprint sensor is present.
Specs reveal that the device has a Full HD 5.5-inch display, an unknown 2.2GHz Quad Core SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera, and microSD support. The device is detailed as being 153.2mm X 75.9mm, 7.99mm thick, and weighs 174 grams.
The “other” part
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For better or worse, these pictures will only serve to further the blossoming discourse that has begun, asserting that HTC has “copied” the Huawei Nexus 6P, or even the Lenovo PHAB Plus. While that may ultimately be for the individual to decide, the Taiwnese company has made a point to remind people that it actually started the whole metal casing trend.
Wrap Up
Please note that, despite the fact the source is an official agency, regional variations and/or changes may still be possible to the device. Likewise, HTC itself has yet to officially announce anything yet, thus any concrete information regarding pricing and availability will need to wait until said PR event occurs.
With that said, any takers?
Check out these unlocked Android smartphones from CellPhoneAGE
Looking for a new cell phone? Tired of paying $700 for a smartphone that may only last a year or two?
CellPhoneAGE has a fantastic selection of Android devices from up and coming manufacturers you may or may not have heard of. Just two years ago, almost no one in the U.S. knew of Huawei and they recently exploded onto the market with the Google branded Nexus 6P, P for “premium.” The Nexus 6P is almost universally regarded as one of the best phones of 2015 and was made by Huawei. So don’t let unfamiliarity with a brand keep you from checking out these great unlocked phones from CellPhoneAge.
These unlocked devices are designed to be used on GSM/HSDPA networks so check your carrier’s frequencies before you make a purchase.
ASUS ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL) – $265.98 – LINK
Asus is a brand you’re probably already familiar with as they made the Nexus 7 and also make a whole host of Chromebooks. The octa-core ASUS ZenFone Selfie is perfect for those of you who love to snap pictures of yourself as it offers dual 13MP cameras on the front and back of the phone. There’s also dual flash LEDs as well which means ASUS understands the importance of the front facing camera for the selfie lovers. There are very few phones on the market today with a front facing camera with an LED flash and a 13MP camera.
- DISPLAY: 5.5 inches (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio)
- CPU: Quad-core Cortex-A53 & Quad-core Cortex-A53
- GPU: Adreno 405
- OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
- CAMERA: Primary 13 MP, 4128 x 3096 pixels, laser autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. Secondary 13 MP, 1080p, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
- MEMORY 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
ASUS ZenFone Go (ZC500TG) – $159.98 – LINK
For those of you who don’t care about cameras, CellPhoneAGE has the ASUS Zenfone Go on sale. This is a stunning budget device with dual sim capabilities which is perfect for international travellers who don’t want to pay a ton for overseas coverage. The ZenFone GO also comes with 100GB of free cloud storage on Google drive for two full years. Perfect for the budget conscious customers who expects premium performance.
- DISPLAY: 5 inches, 720 x 1280p 294ppi
- OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- CPU: Quad Core Mediatek MT6580
- CAMERA: 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
- MEMORY: 8GB internal(expandable up to 64GB via microSD), 2GB RAM
Huawei P8 Lite – $202.37 – LINK
The Huawei P8 Lite was released before the Nexus 6P and is proof Huawei was a real player before Google validated them. The Huawei P8 Lite comes with a powerful octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor which is perfect for multitasking. It is an incredibly designed phone and definitely looks like the precursor to the Nexus 6P. The P8 maybe should have been named the pre-Nexus 6P phone.
- DISPLAY: 5 inches, 720 x 1280p 294ppi
- OS: Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
- CAMERA: 13 MP, 4160 x 3120 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash
- MEMORY: 16GB(expandable via microSD up to 128GB), 2 GB RAM
Huawei Honor 7 -$396.19 – LINK
My personal favorite of the bunch, the Huawei Honor 7 which was just released this past July. At about $400, this device falls into the mid-range category of unlocked devices, but it comes loaded as a flagship. The Honor 7 comes with the super powerful Kirin 935, which is a 2.2Ghz octa-core processor, and can holds its own against the best. The display is top grade at full 1080p and 424ppi for a super clear display. This device is absolutely gorgeous as it comes in an all metal body that looks better than most of the phones you can get from major carriers.
- DISPLAY: 5.2 inches, 1080p 424ppi
- OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop
- CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 935
- CAMERA: 20 MP, 4992 х 3744 pixels, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
- MEMORY: 16/64 GB (microSD, up to 128 GB), 3 GB RAM, 2 GB RAM
ZTE Blade S6 – $219.80 – LINK
ZTE is definitely one of the lesser known manufacturers to average US consumers but still makes incredible devices. Abroad, however, this is a brand that is growing at a breakneck pace. The ZTE Blade S6 is proof as it comes in a metal unibody design and is absolutely gorgeous. The days of poorly designed budget friendly phones are over. The Blade S76 is so named because it comes in at a svelt 7mm thick.
- DISPLAY: 5 inches, 720 x 1280p 294ppi
- OS: Android 5.0.1 Lollipop
- CPU: Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615
- CAMERA: 13 MP, 4128 x 3096 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
- MEMORY: 16 GB, 2 GB RAM
Prices on these devices fluctuate from time to time, so don’t yell at us if the links show a different price than what we have listed above. CellphoneAge.com offers free shipping with every purchase and a 45-day money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase for any reason. This phone roundup is just a small fraction of what CellphoneAge has to offer. Look for more roundups in the future.
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