Apple Seeds Second watchOS 2.2.1 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2.1 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the first watchOS 2.2.1 beta and a month after releasing watchOS 2.2, a significant watchOS 2 update that introduced new features like multi-watch support for iPhones and Maps improvements.

The second watchOS 2.2.1 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone by going to General –> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

It’s not yet clear what is included in watchOS 2.2.1, information provided by Apple in the first beta suggests it focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements, likely to address issues discovered since the release of watchOS 2.2. No obvious outward-facing changes were found in the first watchOS 2.2.1 beta, but we’ll update this post should any new features be found in the second beta.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2
Tag: watchOS 2.2.1
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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​Snapchat’s emoji pins are crazy fun. Here’s how to use them – CNET

Snapchat sensed you might be getting bored with swapping faces, so you can now stick emojis on moving objects in your Snapchat videos instead.

You’ve always been able to add emojis to your photo or video snaps, but now those emojis can move along with whatever face — or thing — you tie it to.

The end result makes something like this possible:

Fun, right? As you can see with the taco emojis (below), the emoji pins don’t have to cover the selected object — they can move around it too.

How to use Snapchat’s emoji pin feature

To pin an emoji in Snapchat, record a video, ideally one that focuses on a moving object. It could be someone dancing or a dog running around (see above). Once you’re happy with the video, tap the emoji icon at the top of the preview screen and select the one you want to use.

Twitter user @NoPattern used the new feature to fill his world with emoji tacos.

Twitter user @NoPattern.

I suggest re-sizing the emoji at this point. Once you pin it, it’s harder to re-size it without having to re-pin. Next, long press on the emoji until the video pauses. Drag the emoji to the item you want it to follow. Snapchat will reload the video, and the emoji should follow along.

In testing, it’s taken me a few tries to get Snapchat’s tracking feature to work properly. I captured another video which started with my dog further away, but Snapchat couldn’t track him until he got much closer. The new feature is easiest to use on videos that feature objects moving closer to the camera.

While you’re learning new Snapchat features, read about the five hidden features that every Snapchat user needs to try.

Enclave Audio Cinehome HD 5.1 review – CNET

The Good The Enclave CineHome HD is an easy-to-install “wireless” 5.1 surround speaker system that sounds better than most sound bars. The rear bi-poles are a nice touch. The subwoofer is large and provides the sound with real guts.

The Bad Performance and build quality don’t come close to wired systems. We wish the Enclave CineHome HD had tone controls, and adjusting the volume of the subwoofer isn’t straightforward.

The Bottom Line The Enclave CineHome HD may not look or feel like a $1,000 home-theater system, but the sound, at least by wireless standards, is pretty good.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

The future may be wireless, but today’s home AV systems still require a rats’ nest of wires.

Plenty of wireless audio and video schemes have appeared in recent years, but none have come close to dethroning the mighty copper strand. They include the “line-of-sight” dependent Wireless HD, which was supposed to take over from HDMI, but unsurprisingly, didn’t. Bluetooth was more successful, but it has its drawbacks, too. The latest is promising technology called WiSA, which stands for Wireless Speaker and Audio.

The Enclave is the second system based on WiSA we’ve seen in recent weeks, and unlike the too-expensive Klipsch Reference Premiere, it keeps the price relatively low while still managing to get rid of the speaker wires. Aesthetically it’s pretty ugly, and some of the functions are hard to find — turning down the sub is difficult for example. However, it’s a likable system and sounds decent for the money.

Design and features

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Rather than some far-future wireless tech tour de force, the CineHome looks like your standard, boxy collection of compact 5.1-channel speakers. It’s finished in matte-black.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The remarkable part is that the system is wireless and controlled by the “Smart Center” speaker, using the WiSA standard. Each of the speakers plugs into a standard AC power outlet and communicates over the 5GHz band to the Smart Center. The top of the Smart Center features a small control panel (finished in piano black), and the remote control is also finished in gloss.

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The Center houses three HDMI inputs for your gear, and one output for your TV, as well as an optical port and 3.5mm stereo input.

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The mains are less compact at a foot tall and feature dual drivers and a soft-dome tweeters. The rears are bipoles, which are designed to give a more diffuse sound. The system is completed with the addition of the 8-inch wireless sub.

Like the Klipsch WiSA system, the Enclave doesn’t support DTS:HD or Dolby TrueHD, but it will read PCM soundtracks (as well as standard Dolby and DTS). While we thought the lack of HD sound processing was an oversight on the $5k Klipsch system, it’s a little more forgivable here.

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If you’re looking to stream music from your phone the Enclave includes a Bluetooth connection. The company also offers an Enclave smartphone app designed to emulate controllers from the likes of Sonos and Sony. While it compiles several streaming apps into the one place, it’s no substitute for a real Wi-Fi solution like Sonos or even Chromecast Audio.

Setup

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True “wireless” is still a pipe dream for most home cinema systems, including the Enclave

Sarah Tew/CNET

CineHome HD’s hookup is straightforward. Plug each of the five speakers into a wall outlet, connect your sources — Blu-ray player, satellite/cable box, games, etc. to the center channel speaker — and you’re ready to go.

Helpfully each speaker is labelled (left, right, etc.) so there is no configuration step. You just have to make sure each speaker is placed properly.

LG G5 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

The dust hasn’t quite settled and two of the best smartphones of the year are still going face to face in this harsh mobile race. We are talking about the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Today we are giving you a thorough comparison of these two, so keep reading if you are still wondering which phone to buy next.

Recommended reading: 

• LG G5 review
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review
• LG G5 and Galaxy S7 in 20 seconds

This year LG decided to go in a completely different direction with its new flagship. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge takes a familiar design approach we saw introduced with last year’s Galaxy S6, refining it to fit the needs of 2016.

Design & hardware

Let’s start with the G5, which was redesigned completely from the ground up. For starters, the device is wrapped with an aluminum body and features a chamfered edge that runs all around the back of the phone. It may not feel like metal, though. LG has coated the phone in a primer and paint through a process they call microdizing, which is supposed to make the phone look more seamless, but as a consequence it feels less premium.

We can talk about the body all day long, but what really matters here is what you will find once you pull on the bottom part of the phone. The bottom chin is completely removable, and it’s an essential design factor in this case, because it makes the phone modular. You can swap in different modules like the camera grip or the HiFi DAC from Bang & Olufsen.

This is something completely different, not only for LG, but for the whole industry. It’s nice to see a company take bold moves like this one, but the feature certainly needs some refinement.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is made of the same glass and metal materials we saw last year. This makes for a mighty gorgeous smartphone, but also for a fingerprint magnet and a slippery body. It’s also bigger and a bit thicker than what we are used to, but the curved back and frame have been rounded off to make for a more comfortable grip.

As far as one-handed usability goes, LG definitely has the upper hand. It’s a much smaller phone. But it is also true that the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge feels a lot nicer, despite being bigger. And if size is really what matters, you could always go for the smaller Galaxy S7.

Specs-wise, the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are nearly identical. Both are powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 GPU and 4 GB of RAM. These phones are both super fast and powerful; we are sure you won’t notice much of a difference in real world use.

Also similar is the addition of a fingerprint reader in both handsets. The only difference is placement. The LG G5 has it on the back, while Samsung has decided to integrate it to the home button, on the front of the device. Which one you prefer is  matter of preference, as both are fast and accurate.

I will say I like LG’s more, though, as their fingerprint reader can be set up faster and doesn’t require you to actually press a button to turn on the screen.

Where the Galaxy S7 Edge does have a leg up is with construction. This phone is both water and dust-resistant. It may not seem like it at first glance, as there are no protective flaps. This is because all the sealing is done from the inside of the phone. Regardless, if what you want is more peace of mind, the Galaxy S7 Edge is the obvious winner.

Battery

Both phones support Quick Charge 3.0, thanks to that Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, but only the Galaxy S7 Edge users will be able to enjoy wireless charging. The LG G5 does keep the removable battery, though, which is an important factor in keeping your phone alive: once you run out of juice it’s possible to swap batteries in a second.

And while we are on the battery subject, let’s talk about the actual units running the show here. The LG G5 carries a 2800 mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge’s is a little bigger at 3600 mAh. The Galaxy S7 does have a smaller 3000mAh unit and while the Samsung units are larger than the Galaxy S6 family, the LG G5 is actually slightly smaller than the 3000mAh unit inside the LG G4.

Both will last you all day, as far as my experience goes. I have enjoyed both devices and neither has failed me to stay alive until I go to sleep. But if you value screen-on times, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will win by a significant margin. On average, the LG G5 achieves between 3 and 4 hours screen on time, while the Galaxy S7 Edge is much higher, ranging anywhere from 7 to 10 hours.

Display

Taking a look at the displays, the LG G5 is the smallest of the two with a 5.3-inch IPS LCD panel, sporting a 2560×1440 resolution. It truly has everything you would want in a high-end smartphone display. IPS LCD screens are known for their accurate colors and great viewing angles. And QHD resolution makes it super sharp, at 554 pixels per inch, compared to 534 ppi for the Galaxy S7 Edge.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has the same 2560×1440 resolution, but on a larger 5.5-inch screen. The panel technology is also different. In usual Samsung fashion, this phone sports a Super AMOLED display. This means blacks will be amazingly deep and colors much more vibrant. Let me tell you this phone has one of the best screens in the market, if not the best.

The S7 Edge also features that curved glass that spills over the sides (hence the “Edge” moniker), so when you’re looking at videos or playing games, it creates an awesome looking waterfall effect that you don’t get with any other smartphone currently on the market.

Really, these screens couldn’t be any more different, but they do have a similar always-on feature you will likely enjoy. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has a much more fleshed out version that can be customized to show the time, calendar, notifications and more. It is brighter and “out there”, so to speak. The LG G5’s always-on display is much more subtle and quiet. Regardless, this isn’t exactly a make or break deal for either phone.

Camera

What people really want to learn about is the cameras in these handsets. LG and Samsung (and Apple) are always fighting over who has the best smartphone camera out there. Which one is the winner here?

Assimilating the V10, the LG G5 is rocking a dual-camera setup. The main camera features a 16 MP sensor, OIS, laser auto-focus and an f/1.8 aperture. The secondary camera clocks in with an 8 MP sensor, but it’s a wide-angle lens that will allow for taking awesome photos the Galaxy S7 Edge is simply incapable of achieving.

See also: Best Android smartphone cameras (March 2016)30

This time around Samsung decided to lower the MP count in exchange for better low-light performance (similar to what Google did with the Nexus phones). The pixel size in the sensor has been increased to 1.4 microns, which is why the sensor size has to be reduced to 12 MP. The aperture is also larger at f/1.7, and the main camera is aided by optical image stabilization. The S7 Edge is also utilizing a new dual pixel autofocus system that’s extremely fast – noticeably must faster than the G5’s laser auto-focusing, especially in low light.

LG’s camera software is very simple and intuitive, but at the same time offers a variety of different shooting modes. These include slow motion, time lapse, 4K video, the ability to shoot in RAW and DSLR-like manual controls. The same can pretty much be said about Samsung’s camera software. It’s simple, easy to use and offers a lot of the same features that LG does, like 4K video, shooting in RAW and manual controls with Samsung’s Pro mode. However, Samsung does include some unique features like hyper-lapse and YouTube live streaming.

LG G5 test shots:

Both cameras are magnificent, and really deciding which one is “best” will take more testing. What we can say is that the LG G5 shots tend to stay more towards the warmer side, while Samsung’s photos are more often cooler in tone. Another noticeable difference is how over-sharpened the Galaxy S7 Edge’s images can be. This can sometimes work in Samsung’s favor, but other times it just looks too processed and unnatural.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge test shots:

Even though the Galaxy S7 is supposed to do amazing in low light, somehow the LG G5 manages to beat it. The photos are sharper, more detailed, and there’s significantly less noise reduction in comparison to the S7. The S7 does however handle highlights a lot better than the G5. They’re a lot more blown out on the G5, whereas the S7 is able to keep them in check. Overall, the low light and night time shots generally look much better on the G5.

Software

The LG G5 comes with Android Marshmallow out of the box. The latest version of LG’s UI skin does offer plenty of improvements. It is generally a much cleaner interface and feels more fluid. LG has also dialed back on software features… or at least they managed to hide them more and keep them discrete.

The biggest change you will see in the LG G5 software is obviously the lack of an app drawer. You will either love it or hate it, but this is Android, so it’s super simple to install another launcher or even go to LG’s own Home 4.0 Launcher.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge also comes with Android Marshmallow. I am basically going to be repeating myself, as Samsung also decided to clean up its software. This is probably the best TouchWiz version you have ever seen. It is clean and fluid. Animations are much nicer and the UI no longer feels slow.

With the S7 Edge you’re also getting those Edge specific features, like the apps edge, people edge, tasks edge and the edge panels that let you see a variety of information such as sport scores, stocks and weather.

See also: Best Android phones (April 2016): our picks, plus a giveaway171

Conclusion

The biggest question of them all is: which one should you buy? Obviously, you can’t really go wrong with either one because they both do the typical things that we expect out of a smartphone extremely well. They’re both fast, have great cameras, sport great displays and enjoy from good battery life.

For me, I prefer the S7 Edge because it’s a much more refined smartphone experience, whereas the G5 feels like a first-generation product… and in a lot of ways it is. Surely, LG will have it all figured out in the next version, but if you feel really compelled by the G5’s modularity, then give the phone a shot. If you’d rather play it safe, the S7 or S7 Edge are the safest bet money can buy.

Google brings high-speed public Wi-Fi to nine more train stations in India

Back in January Google rolled out its first wave of high-speed Wi-Fi to train stations in India, and now the company has added nine more stations. With more than 100,000 people already logging into the Wi-Fi each week, Google’s main goal is to make it available to more than 10 million Indians every day.

The new stations that now have high-speed public Wi-Fi thanks to Google include:

• Bhopal
• Bhubaneshwar
• Ernakulam Jn
• Kacheguda
• Pune
• Raipur
• Ranchi
• Vijayawada
• Vishakhapatnam

This year, Google hopes to reach out to 90 more stations, and eventually the full 400 that span all of India.

The Alcatel POP 7 LTE tablet makes its debut at T-Mobile for $130

Alcatel has launched its latest Android tablet, the POP 7 LTE, exclusively at T-Mobile. It’s being sold for the budget price of $129.99, or you can get it for $5.42 a month for 24 months.

For that price, you get an Android 6.0 Marshmallow tablet with a 7-inch 1024×600 display. Inside, there is a unnamed Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor running at 1.1GHz, along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage, with a microSD card slot for adding up to 32GB of additional storage. It also has a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. As the name implise, it has 4G LTE wireless support and a 3240mAh battery that offers up to 17.5 days of standby time.

See at T-Mobile

Pick up a pair of Mpow’s newest Bluetooth headphones for just $15 at Amazon with coupon

Mpow is currently offering its newest Bluetooth sports headphones for just $15 at Amazon with coupon code Y3DJBRHH. Designed to be lightweight and long-lasting, these new headphones are great for your sporting adventures and more. They have 8 hours of battery per charge and offer noise cancellation to keep the outside sounds out and help you focus.

Whether you need to replace an existing pair of headphones or want to have an extra for your bag, you won’t want to miss out on this deal. Remember, you need coupon code Y3DJBRHH for the savings.

See at Amazon

Microsoft Translator can now translate text from images

Microsoft has updated its Translator app for Android, adding support for translating words in images. This allows you to get instant translations of signage, menus, and more. Additionally, those with Marshmallow installed on their phones will be able to translate text without leaving their current app.

Here’s everything you’ll get with the latest version of Microsoft Translator:

• Translate words within images – convert from 21 languages or choose automatic language detection
• Select and translate text without leaving your current app! (Android 6.0+ only)
• Download language packages to access translation services without Internet connectivity in 40+ languages including Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean.
• Bug fixes

You’ll find the update rolling out on the Google Play Store right now.

We’ve got an ASUS ZenFone Zoom for one lucky Android Central reader!

The ASUS ZenFone Zoom is a unique looking phone, designed for those who enjoy the control of a DSLR camera but don’t plan on walking around with one every day. It’s a solid, snappy phone with a decent display and some clever camera hardware with matching visual styling to support the experience. Russell did a great review of the ZenFone Zoom, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t already.

We got our hands on an extra ZenFone Zoom, so we’re passing it on to one of you! Everything you need to know to enter is below, so scroll on down and check it out.

How to Enter: Head down to the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. For example, you can participate in the forums for 10 entries, comment on this blog post for an entry, and follow us on various social media channels for even more entries. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning!

The giveaway is open until May 4, and winners will be announced on the blog shortly after the close date.

The Prize: One super lucky Android Central reader will take home the ASUS ZenFone Zoom!

Please note that service is not included with the phone. Also, in the event that the winner resides outside of the United States, the prize maybe be subject to duties and taxes, which are the responsibility of the winner.

Good luck everybody!

We’ve got an ASUS ZenFone Zoom for one lucky Android Central reader!

LeEco beats Apple to headphone jack free phone with 6GB RAM: Le 2, Le 2 Pro and Le Max 2

LeEco, the Chinese brand which launched the first USB-C smartphone and is helping make the first electric Aston Martin, has unveiled a range of new handsets all without headphone jacks.

Apple has been rumoured to ditch the headphone jack for its iPhone 7 but if it is doing so it won’t be first. The three new LeEco smartphones each use USB-C instead of a traditional 3.5mm audio port.

To make sure owners have a way of connecting audio to the devices LeEco has also unveiled its own USB-C headphones. There will be over-ear and in-ear options which will both be certified by LeEco’s Continual Digital Lossless Audio standard.

The three new phones vary in size and specs but each share the same metal build and near bezel-free displays.

LeEco Le Max 2 is the flagship handset with a 5.7-inch QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU and 6GB of RAM. It also features 64GB storage, a 3100mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support plus tri-band 4G connectivity for transfer speeds of up to 375Mbps. It also features 21-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras. This will cost 2499 yuan which is about $390 or £270.

LeEco

LeEco Le 2 and Le 2 Pro each feature 5.5-inch 1080p displays, 32GB storage and 3000mAh batteries. The Le 2 has an X20 10-core MediaTek CPU while the Le 2 Pro goes for the faster X25 variant. Le 2 sports a 16-megapixel rear camera while a 21-megapixel snapper graces the rear of the Le 2 Pro – both have 8-megapixel front-facing selfie cameras. Le 2 features 3GB of RAM while Le 2 Pro sports 4GB.

Le 2 is priced at 1099 yuen which is about $170 or £120 and the Le 2 Pro is 2,099 which is about $325 or £225.

Pre-orders for the new LeEco smartphones begin on 20 April in China.

READ: LeEco has a smart mountain bike, and you’re going to want one