Samsung Gear Fit 2 / Gear IconX: What’s the story so far?

The original Samsung Gear Fit launched in 2014 and at the time, it was a lovely device with a good design, beautiful display in the right conditions and a simple and fluid interface.

Take a look at the Gear Fit two years on however, and you’ll probably see a dated and chunky device. Don’t worry though, because rumour has it Samsung has an update for the Gear Fit up its sleeve, aptly being referred to as the Gear Fit 2, as well as some wireless ear buds.

Here is everything we know so far about the Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX. As usual, we will be updating this feature as more information and leaks appear so keep checking back for the latest.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 / Gear IconX: Release date and price

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 has appeared in a couple of different leaks over the last couple of weeks, accompanied by smart wireless earbuds going by the name of Gear IconX.

VentureBeat first leaked the devices at the end of April and this leak has since been followed by Samsung itself in an accidental leak on its official S Health website.

There has been no word on when we can expect the Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX earbuds to arrive, but we suspect it will be sooner rather than later given the leak on the company’s website. The original Gear Fit was announced on 11 April 2014 so we are over the two-year mark now for the Gear Fit update.

In terms of price, Venture Beat claimed the Gear Fit 2 could be priced similarly to its predecessor, which would make it around $200. The Gear IconX ear buds are also expected to cost around this or more.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 / Gear IconX: Design

The original Gear Fit features a 1.84-inch curved AMOLED display and it sits around 12mm off the wrist. There is a metal rim around the display to provide a premium look and it features a textured rubber strap that is secured with two metal pins.

The Gear Fit 2 is rumoured to be “slightly more curved and ergonomic” than the original model. Leakster Evan Blass recently tweeted three colours which he claims is the Gear Fit 2 comprising black, pink and blue. The pink looks a little more like purple to us though.

A 1.84-inch AMOLED display is expected again, which we are fine with as it worked well on the original model. Based on the leaked images, Samsung appears to have done away with the metal frame surrounding the display, as well as introduced another button to the right-hand side.

Evan Blass

The body of the Gear Fit 2 also appears to be a little slimmer than the previous model, although none of the leaks show a good enough angle to tell for sure. The rubber textured strap appears to remain, as does the pin fastening mechanism but Samsung seems to have added an extra loop for the strap to go through, which should mean it won’t fall off as easy as the Gear Fit did.

In terms of the Gear IconX ear buds, it is rumoured they will be touch-controlled, with the touch aspect working like the Gear Circle Bluetooth headset. Based on the leaks, it looks like the earbuds will come in a charging case, as well as several colours and be Bluetooth-enabled.

Rumours claim the Gear IconX ear buds will be dust and water-resistant, which we would expect the Gear Fit 2 to be as well given its predecessor was.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 / Gear IconX: Hardware and specs

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 is rumoured to come with 4GB of internal memory, a heart-rate monitor and the ability to track various fitness-related things. This wouldn’t make it too different from the original model, especially with smartwatch functionality which we can’t see Samsung missing off the list for the Gear Fit 2.

There have been suggestions of built-in GPS however, which is something the original device doesn’t offer using your Samsung smartphone instead so this would be a step up, putting it in Sony SmartWatch 3 territory.

The Samsung Gear IconX earbuds are also claimed to be a fitness tracker, as well as a standalone digital music player thanks to one of the bud’s having 4GB of internal memory. Details on how they will work on what other features they will offer are still thin on the ground at the moment though.

Samsung Gear Fit 2: Software

The original Gear Fit runs on Samsung’s own wearable platform called Real Time OS (RTOS) so not Android or Tizen as it uses in other devices. It’s a smooth running device and although apps are downloaded slightly differently than the rest of the Gear family, we didn’t face any issues in our time with it.

Whether the Gear Fit 2 will also run on the same wearable platform or switch to Android Wear or Tizen is not yet clear. What we do know is that it will link to S Health again, like the previous device. We wouldn’t be too surprised to see a similar experience to the original.

Even less has been said regarding the Gear IconX earbuds but if the idea of them working as a fitness tracker is true then we suspect they will also link up to S Health, or even have their own app.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 / Gear Icon X: Conclusion

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX have only been leaked a couple of times but they are pretty strong leaks, especially the accidental spill on Samsung’s S Health website.

We suspect the images are a pretty good indication as to what we can expect these two devices to look like so we’d put the salt down for this area.

When they will arrive and the specs they will feature are still a little up in the air though so we’ll keep the salt close by for now, but we don’t expect to be waiting too much long before we find out for sure.

Help! The sun is shining! Why can’t I see my smartphone screen?

The sun is shining, the sunglasses are out. You go to tweet that perfect sunny picture and … wait … you can’t see a thing on your smartphone display!

It’s not necessarily the phone that’s a fault, but how it behaves with your expensive polarising sunglasses.

Polarising lenses on glasses are popular because they reduce the glare, or reflected light, coming off surfaces. They are particularly useful for skiers or drivers for reducing eyestrain, and pretty common on good quality sunglasses.

However, LCD displays also contain polarising filters and it’s the alignment of display and glasses that can cause the problem. At a particular orientation, the display will be extinguished, leaving you looking at a black surface, as all the light is filtered out.

Or, in some cases, you’ll find everything dims and looks very purple.

Of course, this varies from device to device, and you can easily experiment with your own device – be that smartphone, tablet, or even your laptop – just by holding your polarised glasses out in front and rotating them. At some point, it will just black out.

The MacBook Air, for example, extinguishes at 45 degrees, an angle that’s unlikely to be problematic when using a laptop.

Your giant TV extinguishes when viewed in a portrait orientation, again, not likely to be a problem unless you’re lying down watching in sunglasses.

For smartphones it’s a bigger problem, because they are designed to be used in both orientations, landscape and portrait.

HTC phones unfortunately tend to dim drastically in landscape when viewed through polarised glasses – exactly at the angle you might want it for taking photos. You can cock your head, or hold it at and angle to get round that, but it’s hardly convenient. The Sony Xperia range usually also extinguishes entirely when in landscape.

The Samsung Galaxy S7, however, does a better job, as does the iPhone 6S. Both remain visible in both orientations. You might sometimes see a shimmer, but nothing like the blackout you get elsewhere.

Be aware that it’s not only polarisation that causes problems on a sunny day: the display has to have the power to remain visible in brighter conditions, so always remember to try turning the brightness up before you start swearing.

The moral of the story is this: if you have a penchant for polarised sunglasses, be warned, your favourite phone might not like them so much.

And before you ask, most Ray-Ban glasses aren’t polarised, unless you’ve specifically bought polarised lenses. Pair your Ray-Ban aviators with your iPhone and you’ll likely be fine.

Pair your Oakleys with your HTC, you probably won’t.

One-rotor drone is equal parts awkward-looking and adorable

Who says that drones need to be hugely complicated, multi-rotor jobs? Regardless, they never told that to the folks behind the Monospinner, a one-rotor drone that’s been entered into the ETH Zurich Flying Machine Arena. Unlike, say, a quadrocopter, this one can’t fly by itself and needs some help getting into the air. It hits an “unconventional equilibrium” in part by counterbalancing the rotor spins with the torque of the motor itself. The resulting movement almost reminds me a little of Zui Quan (drunk-style martial arts): awkard-looking on the surface, but really impressive in practice. Take a peek for yourself in the video below and you’ll see what I mean.

Via: Popular Mechanics

Source: Robohub

EE’s Power Bar chargers aren’t coming back

A little more than a year ago EE decided to give its customers free portable battery packs in the UK. The idea was solid enough — everyone gets a “Power Bar” for free, and can swap them for a new, fully charged replacement in any EE store. Except, they were soon deemed a fire risk after one exploded while charging, leaving a medical student with a nasty burn. All of the Power Bars were eventually recalled and we were left wondering whether the scheme was gone for good. Turns out, it is.

An EE spokesperson told Mobile News:

“Our EE Power Bar promotion had a hugely positive response from our customers, however after careful consideration we’ve decided not to bring it back. We still sell a wide range of chargers and power packs to keep our customer connected. We’ll share news shortly about ways to stay connected at Glastonbury and the summer festival season, as well as some exciting new loyalty offers throughout the summer.”

So there you have it. If you haven’t already, t’s time to stock up on some personal battery chargers of your own.

Source: Mobile News

HTC 10 now available in the UK: Here’s everything you need to know

HTC’s 2016 flagship hits British store shelves from today, and we’ve got all the details.

Today marks the first day of official availability for the HTC 10. The Taiwanese company’s new flagship phone has been described as a “return to form” for the manufacturer, with a premium metal design, serious audio credentials and a camera to rival the Galaxy S7. If you’re thinking of dropping some cash on an HTC 10 today, we’ve got all the information you need down below.

Where to buy

The HTC 10 goes on sale today (May 6) at Carphone Warehouse, meanwhile carrier partners Three and EE still have the device up for pre-order. (The same applies to Carphone’s online-only arm, BuyMobiles.) Carphone has the phone in silver, gray and gold, with the gold option being exclusive to the retailer.

MORE: Where to buy the HTC 10 in the UK

Our HTC 10 review

The HTC 10 is HTC’s best phone in years, but it launches into a market packed with strong competitors, including Samsung’s Galaxy S7, LG’s G5 and the competitively priced Huawei P9. Nevertheless, HTC’s latest handset ticks a lot of boxes, with a premium metal design, clean, fast software and one of the best cameras on an Android phone.

For the full story, be sure to check out our HTC 10 review

MORE: The HTC 10 Android Central review

Watch our HTC 10 video review

Got a few minutes to spare? You’ll want to check out our extensive HTC 10 video review, where Android Central editor-in-chief Phil Nickinson goes over the broad strokes of this year’s HTC flagship from New York City.

MORE: Watch the HTC 10 video review

Check out our comparisons

The HTC 10’s biggest rival in the Android space is the Samsung Galaxy S7, a phone which has already won high praise from AC, other outlets and fans. And it’s also going up against the likes of the iPhone 6s and LG’s new G5.

• Spec showdown: HTC 10 versus Galaxy S7, LG G5 and Nexus 6P
• HTC 10 versus Galaxy S7
• HTC 10 versus Galaxy S7 edge
• HTC 10 versus iPhone 6s

Hit the HTC 10 forums!

There’s lots of great discussion over on the Android Central HTC 10 forums, as buyers around the world are starting to get their hands on the phone. Whether you’ve already got yours, or you’re simply weighing up your options, the forums are a great place to start.

MORE: Join the discussion!

Updated camera impressions

Unlocked European HTC 10s should already have the latest 1.30 firmware update, which includes several camera-related improvements. We’ve taken the updated HTC 10 camera for a spin, and you’ll find our updated impressions and sample photos linked below.

MORE: HTC 10 camera update and sample photos

Will you be picking up an HTC 10 today? Be sure to hit the comments and let us know!

HTC 10

• HTC 10 review
• HTC 10 specs
• These are the HTC 10 colors
• Our first photo and video samples
• Meet the Ice View case
• Join our HTC 10 forums

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Galaxy S7 Active breaks cover with AT&T branding

Samsung’s Level app hinted at a Galaxy S7 Active variant last month, and we’re now getting a first look at the upcoming handset in the form of leaked images. Based on the photos, the phone eschews the metal and glass finish of the Galaxy S7, instead featuring a rugged exterior made up of polycarbonate and rubber.

From Samsung Viet:

Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 Active will feature physical home, back, and recent buttons. The frame offers rubber padding around the corners, giving an adder layer of protection from tumbles. It is likely the phone will retain the military-spec MIL-STD-810 rating, making it resistant to extreme weather conditions.

The Galaxy S6 Active was exclusive to AT&T, and based on the branding in the leaked image, it looks like that will be the case this year as well. What’s your take on the phone from the leaked images?

You can now roam across Europe with Vodafone for free

Vodafone has followed in the footsteps of both Three and Tesco Mobile to offer inclusive roaming in select plans. Bundled with the UK mobile network’s Red and Red Value packages, the addition of included roaming allows phone users to text, call and access online services without incurring extra charges. There’s one slight downside to this addition, however, and that’s the limiting of data, which will vary by plan.

As noted by Engadget, should you be rocking a 12GB Red Value plan you’ll be able to use 4GB abroad at no cost while the 8GB Red Value plan will bag you 2GB of data. 4GB appears to be the most you can use abroad too, so there doesn’t look to be any way to overcome this limit. What is exciting about Vodafone’s new roaming across Europe is just how many countries are supported — 40 in total.

EU roaming charges are still set to be scrapped altogether in 2017, so this move by carriers simply makes it more convenient for customers in the meantime.

Supported countries by Vodafone’s European roaming include Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Channel Islands (Jersey & Guernsey), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France (including Corsica), French Territories, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy (including Vatican City), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (including Azores & Madeira), Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

Huawei P9 is now available from Vodafone for just £300

The Huawei P9 is readily available from Vodafone. The UK mobile operator has the smartphone listed on a variety of plans, starting at £28 per month (£10 upfront fee) with 1GB of data. Alternatively, you can purchase the handset outright for £300. Should you be dead set on getting a plan too, you’ll want to look at the more expensive bundles for more data, like the Vodafone Red Value 5GB plan for £38 a month.

Forking out nearly £40 per month will also enable 6 months access to Sky Sports Mobile TV, Spotify Premium or a NOW TV Entertainment Pass. Vodafone holds exclusivity over the Quartz Grey variant until the end of June, which can be pre-ordered online or over the phone. This particular version of the Huawei P9 will be available on Vodafone on May 23.

See at Vodafone

Huawei P9 and P9 Plus

• Huawei unveils the P9!
• Huawei P9 and P9 Plus hands-on
• Huawei P9 specs
• Huawei P9 unboxing
• Join the discussion in the forums

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