FOSPower BlackOnyx: cheap wired headphones that truly impress

Wired headphones aren’t going anywhere — especially with great deals like this.

With headphone jacks disappearing, and more people moving towards Bluetooth, is there a still place for wired headphones in today’s world? Well, FOSPower is proving that there is, and that you don’t have to spend a lot to get great sound and a comfortable fit.

There are enough gadgets and electronics that I have laying around that I need to remember to charge, and the last thing I want is for my headphones to not power up when I want to use them. That, plus the lower cost and lighter weight, make wired headphones preferable for the foreseeable future.

So, what makes the FOSPower BlackOnyx headphones stand out?

Sound Quality

When you think of a $13 pair of headphones, sound quality may not be the first thing that comes to mind. When I first put these headphones in, I was not expecting much, but as soon as the music started I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone has different expectations when it comes to sound quality, and the type of music that you are listening to will also dictate what you think of the headphones.

While listening to musical choices like Top 40, hip-hop, country, and others, the headphones performed well. There is a decent range, good (but not overpowering) bass, and an overal enjoyable sound that comes out of them. Will they outperform a $100 set of headphones? Probably not, but they aren’t aiming to. When thinking of them as a spare set of headphones, ones that you can just keep laying around, they are an excellent value and provide an awesome quality of sound for what they are.

Comfort

When it comes to headphones, everyone will have a different experience. What is comfortable to one person’s ear will not be comfortable to the next. Luckily, FOSPower includes three different size rubber earbud replacements in the package. The size that is on the headphones out of the box may not be ideal, so be sure to play around with them and see which provides the best fit for you.

The actual earbud itself is a bit heavier than others, but I found that was a pretty good thing. The extra weight helped keep the headphones in place once I got them comfortable and started moving around. Many other sets of headphones would jiggle loose or fall back out, but these held in place well.

In terms of comfort, I found that using them for an hour or two was no issue, but if you are looking at having them in for 8 hours a day you may find otherwise.

Build Quality

Since my headphones are generally just balled up and placed in my bag or a drawer, I need them to be durable. They need to be able to withstand some abuse, and the connector needs to be strong enough not to fray from plugging it in and unplugging it. FOSPower has nailed all of these areas for me. The thin, flat cable is durable and reinforced around the 3.5mm jack so I have no worries about breaking the plug when removing them from my phone.

FOSPower nailed sound, comfort, and build quality.

The earbuds themselves are also made of high-quality materials and don’t feel cheap at all. They have a bit of weight to them, which I found helped in keeping them in place while moving.

While the overall build quality is fantastic, the microphone cover is made of a cheap plastic that I worry may not withstand abuse very well. After seeing the quality of the rest of the components in these headphones it is a bit surprising that the company didn’t opt for something a bit stronger.

Should you buy them?

For around $13, you really can’t go wrong with these headphones. If you are looking for an extra set to keep in the car, or a cheap set to carry around in your bag, you will want to pick these up. The headphones look and feel high quality, and don’t set you back a fortune so you don’t have to be super careful with them. The sound quality is better than one would expect for the price, and they are quite comfortable to wear regularly.

For a limited time FOSPower is offering Android Central readers an exclusive discount on these headphones. Use coupon code FOSPWR03 at Amazon to get them for just $10.

See at Amazon

Do wired headphones still have a place in your world? Let us know what you think in the comments!

BlackBerry officially announces the DTEK50, pre-orders now open for $299

BlackBerry has officially announced the keyboardless DTEK50, the second Android offering from the company. Being touted as the world’s most secure Android smartphone, it features a 5.2-inch scratch resistant display, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, a convenience key which you can map to your favorite app and much more. As you’d imagine, BlackBerry has hardened the OS on the DTEK50, added a secure boot process and much more to ensure that it is the most secure it can be.

More: BlackBerry DTEK50 specs

You’ll be able to place a pre-order for the DTEK50 on ShopBlackBerry.com in the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. It will be priced at $299 and will make its way to other retail partners in the coming weeks.

See at BlackBerry

Press release:

BLACKBERRY ANNOUNCES THE WORLD’S MOST SECURE ANDROID SMARTPHONE– DTEK50

DTEK50 delivers BlackBerry’s unmatched security, privacy and productivity to price-conscious consumers and businesses

Waterloo, ON – July 26, 2016 – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, announced today that DTEK50TM, the world’s most secure Android smartphone, is now available for pre-orders at ShopBlackBerry.com. DTEK50 is BlackBerry’s second smartphone powered by Android, following the PRIV.
Fully equipped with Android Marshmallow 6.0, DTEK50 combines BlackBerry’s unique security, privacy and productivity with the full Android experience in an all-touch design, at a price point that’s accessible for consumers and ideal for enterprise fleet deployment.

“We take our customers’ privacy seriously. That’s why we’re proud to have all the security and privacy functionality that’s built in our newest Android smartphone. DTEK50 merges the unique security and connectivity features BlackBerry is known for with the rich Android ecosystem,” said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Devices, BlackBerry. “DTEK50 adds to BlackBerry’s lineup of secure smartphones, providing choices to our customers with different price points on both BlackBerry 10 and Android platforms.”

Android Security at the Forefront

In a recent survey1 of Android smartphone users, BlackBerry found that 50 percent believe their smartphone is only somewhat secure, and what’s more, despite data security fears, one in six Android users don’t know about Android security patches.

“With an increase in cybercrime on smartphones, people need to recognize that the private details of their lives – where they live, their bank info, pictures of their kids – are at risk on their personal device. You wouldn’t leave the doors of your house unlocked at night. Having a smartphone that doesn’t take your privacy seriously is the equivalent,” said David Kleidermacher, Chief Security Officer, BlackBerry. “It’s equally important for businesses to protect their sensitive data from cyberattacks at all points of their mobile environment – from the device to the network and servers.”

DTEK50 was designed to address the security and privacy needs of today’s uncompromising Android users. Smartphones are increasingly being targeted for cyberattacks through tactics like malicious apps, scareware notifications and insecure Wi-Fi connections. BlackBerry’s Android smartphones, including DTEK50 and PRIV, have unique built-in hardware security.

DTEK50 encrypts all users’ information, including business critical data and personal data such as pictures, videos and contacts. Malware protection is also built-in along with back-up, wipe and restore capabilities. Additional software provides users with visibility and control over which apps get access to personal info or device features such as the microphone or camera. BlackBerry also delivers security patches on the same day that Google publicly releases information about them, while many popular Android smartphones put the users’ private information at risk of being hacked due to slow security updates.

Features that make DTEK50 the most secure Android smartphone, include:

• Rapid Security Patching: BlackBerry has a record of being the quickest to deliver security patches, setting the bar in incident response and patch management to protect your device from malicious threats.
• DTEK™ by BlackBerry App: Enables users to automatically monitor their OS and apps to know when their privacy could be at risk and to take action to improve it. The DTEK app also tracks applications and notifies you when someone is: taking pictures or videos without your knowledge, turning your microphone on, sending a text message, or accessing your contacts or location.
• Hardware Root of Trust: BlackBerry’s manufacturing process uses a proprietary technique that adds security from the start, allowing for the tracking, verification and provisioning of DTEK50.
• Secure Boot Process: Starting with the root of trust, each stage of DTEK50’s secure boot chain must first verify that the next component is fully intact before proceeding, ensuring your device has not been tampered with since the last restart.
• Android OS hardening: BlackBerry provides additional security patches, improved random number, address space generation and certificate pinning to make it more difficult for attackers to target a device by scrambling application/system memory.
• FIPS 140-2 Compliant Full Disk Encryption: Protects your private information, like pictures or bank information, from being stolen if you were to lose your phone.

Ready to Work

DTEK50 combines the world’s most secure smartphone with BlackBerry’s enterprise management solutions to produce a powerful device capable of powering any work day. Key features include:

• Android™ for Work and Google Play™ for Work: Allows for fast, simple and secure integration with an enterprise environment as well as easy access to numerous rich business and IT-managed apps.
• Full Enterprise Mobility Management Support: DTEK50 supports BlackBerry’s powerful suite of EMM applications and secure productivity solutions, including: WatchDox by BlackBerry for secure file-sharing, Good Work for business-class email and collaboration tools, Strong Authentication by BlackBerry as a VPN solution, SecuSUITE for Enterprise for secure voice and instant messaging communication, BBM Protected for encrypted messaging and – BES12 for secure cross-platform management.

Design Meets Function

DTEK50, BlackBerry’s thinnest device ever, represents the best of BlackBerry with Android to make users more productive and responsive, pairing security with intelligent design. Key features include:

• BlackBerry Intelligent Keyboard: DTEK50 has a smart keyboard designed to learn from users and increase typing accuracy and speed. It provides word suggestions as you type and includes up to three languages, letting you flick them into place for faster conversations.
• BlackBerry Hub: This unified inbox is an irreplaceable tool for consolidating all of your messages in one place – whether it’s email, calendar, social or phone calls.
• Customizable BlackBerry Convenience Key: With the press of a button, the Convenience Key provides quick access to your most used applications and more.
• Stunning Screen: DTEK50 has a 5.2″ full HD display, capable of displaying 16 million colors. The screen is made of scratch-resistant glass and features a specialized oleophobic coating to protect against smudges and fingerprints.
• Expandable Memory: With support for micro SD cards up to two TB, DTEK50 provides the flexibility to add affordable and hot-swappable memory to download, install, capture and share as your needs evolve.
• Dazzling Camera: DTEK50 is engineered to deliver professional-looking photos with an 8MP front facing camera and a 13MP auto-focus rear camera. Plus, features like Phase Detection Auto Focus and a dual-tone LED flash are designed to help the camera focus instantly and accurately for a blur-free, realistic looking photos, even in low light.

Availability and Pricing

Starting today, DTEK50 is available to pre-order from ShopBlackBerry.com in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands for $299 USD. DTEK50 will be available in a number of channels around the world, including more than 40 partners from electronics stores, carriers, VARs and distributors. This includes Rogers, Bell, TELUS, WIND, Videotron and SaskTel among others in Canada. In the U.S., DTEK50 will initially be available in Best Buy, B&H and Amazon. Availability of DTEK50 in additional global channels and countries will be announced in the coming weeks.

For a limited time, customers who pre-order a DTEK50 on ShopBlackBerry.com only will receive a complimentary BlackBerry Mobile Power Pack, a high-capacity portable charger worth $59.99 USD ($69.99 CDN, €59.99 and £54.99) that powers all your compatible mobile devices to maximize your productivity and play time. This offer expires on August 8th at 11:59 pm PST.

Huawei sees strong growth in first half of 2016

Huawei has announced its financial results for the first half of 2016. The company saw a sales revenue increase of 41.% over the same period last year, with ¥77.4 billion ($11.6 billion), with smartphone shipments up 25% to 60.56 million units.

With this progress, Huawei has captured 11.4% of the global smartphone market. The company has also apparently taken 10% of the market for phones between $500 and $600. It’s marketshare in China hit 18.6%, while the company also strong growth in developing markets Latin America and Central Asia.

Press release:

Huawei Consumer Business Group

First Half Results for 2016
Outperforming the industry with strong overseas growth

July 26 2016, Shenzhen, China – Huawei Consumer Business Group announced today its 2016 half year financial results: Sales revenue in the first half of 2016 increased by 41% year-on-year to CNY¥ 77.4 billion. Smartphone shipments stood at 60.56 million, a year-on-year increase of 25%. According to IDC, global smartphone shipments in the first half of 2016 increased by just 3.1%, indicating that Huawei’s growth has significantly outperformed the market.

Huawei Consumer Business Group Chief Executive Officer Richard Yu said, “We saw particularly fast growth in traditionally high-end smartphone markets such as Europe and emerging markets including North Africa, Central Asia & Latin America.”

“We have continued to maintain healthy growth within the highly competitive smartphone market, which is testament to Huawei’s long-term commitment to innovation, anticipation of consumer trend and dual strategy of focusing on both domestic and international markets. Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our industry partners to offer consumers excellent levels of service and develop innovative new products that combine technology, quality and style.”

Optimized revenue structure sees overseas growth surpassing domestic growth

In the first half of 2016, Huawei Consumer Business Group further optimized its revenue structure, resulting that the growth in overseas markets is 1.6 times faster than that of in mainland China. According to GFK, by the end of May 2016, Huawei’s share of the global smartphone market reached 11.4%[1]. Among the USD 500-600 smartphone market, Huawei’s share has increased by 10%.[2].

Particularly strong results were recorded in European smartphone markets and breakthrough in high end market has been made. According to GFK, Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 15% in some European countries. In the traditionally high end market, such as UK, Germany and France, Huawei has achieved breakthrough in high end market as well.

In key countries from North Africa and South Pacific, Huawei have gained some breakthroughs on market share. In Egypt, Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 20% and in New Zealand, Huawei’s share has reached over 15%[3].

Strong sales growth was also achieved in emerging markets in Latin America and Central Asia. In some countries, Huawei’s year-on-year smartphone sales has doubled.

In China, Huawei continued to be the industry leader with a market share of 18.6%, according to GFK report in June.

Huawei is focusing on meaningful innovation
Having consistently demonstrated significant sales growth, Huawei Consumer Business Group continues to show a deep commitment to innovation in research and development from its R&D centers around the world, alongside repeated breakthroughs with its products, channels and brands.

Huawei’s flagship products, such as the P9, Mate 8, Honor V8 and MateBook, have been well-received by consumers worldwide. Sales volume of the Mate 8 increased by 65% when compared with sales of the Mate 7 during the same period in 2015. Furthermore, 4.5 million P9 and P9 Plus devices have also been sold, of which the number of devices sold internationally increased by 120% when compared with sales of the P8 during the same period in 2015. MateBook, Huawei’s first 2-in-1 notebook product, has been made available in many countries worldwide, including USA.

Huawei Consumer Business Group continues to uphold its strategic commitments worldwide. As of May 2016, there were 35,000 retail stores around the world offering Huawei products, an increase of 116% on the same period last year. And according to GFK, Huawei global shops coverage has reached about 150 thousand globally.

The brand has endeavored to continue investing marketing resources in sports, lifestyle, fashion and entertainment, amongst other categories, which helps to bring the brand to life and connect with consumers across the globe, increasing awareness and recognition of Huawei worldwide. Huawei also continues to work with many market-leading partners including Leica, Swarovski, Harman Kardon, Audi, Google, Microsoft and Intel, amongst others, to offer consumers advanced industry innovation.

In 2016, Huawei was once again named in the BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands. Huawei’s value of US$18,652 million saw the brand leap from 70th position in 2015 to 50th in 2016.

Huawei is well-positioned to continue its presence in the smartphone, wearable, smart home and cloud markets, becoming itself into an end-to-end solutions and platform service provider, and offering consumers a more convenient and intelligent way to connect their lives.

BlackBerry DTEK50 specs

What’s inside the BlackBerry DTEK50?

Following on the relative success of the Priv, BlackBerry went in a slightly different direction with its second Android phone, the DTEK50. An all-touch more mid-range device, the DTEK50 quite clearly resembles that of the Alcatel Idol 4, and the specs line up as well. Here’s what’s inside.

Twitter for Android brings night mode to all users

After being available on the beta channel for quite some time, Twitter has finally brought the night mode to all Android users. Turning on night mode is pretty simple, with a switch that allows you to easily toggle between the two modes when you want to switch them up. Enabling night mode doesn’t just turn everything black, and instead uses a dark grey that has white text and blue links on it, making it easy on the eyes.

Now on Android! Turn on night mode to Tweet in the dark.https://t.co/XVpmQeHdAk pic.twitter.com/vrIDEM22vO

— Twitter (@twitter) July 26, 2016

All you need to do to get started is tap on your profile icon in the top corner, and then locate the Night mode toggle near the bottom of the list. If it isn’t showing for you, head into Google Play and make sure you have the latest update, and then force close the app and launch it again. What are your thoughts on the darker option? Let us know in the comments!

‘Soft Gold’ OnePlus 3 is now on sale in the U.S. for $399

OnePlus has begun selling the ‘Soft Gold’ color version of its OnePlus 3 smartphone in the U.S. The price for the new version remains the same at $399 and it can be purchased at the company’s website.

OnePlus has already stated the “Soft Gold” version of the OnePlus 3, which joins the previous graphite color, will be available in limited quantities, so if you really want to purchase one, you might want to act quickly. The company will expand the reach of the soft gold version to Europe, Canada and Hong Kong on August 1.

OnePlus 3

• OnePlus 3 review: Finally, all grown up
• OnePlus 3 specs
• OnePlus 3 vs. the flagship competition
• Latest OnePlus 3 news
• Discuss OnePlus 3 in the forums

OnePlus

BlackBerry DTEK50 priced £275 in the UK, launching early August

Retailers confirm SIM-free price and release date for new Android-powered BlackBerry.

BlackBerry’s new Android smartphone is called the DTEK50, because branding is hard, and how else were we going to top “Priv”. Based on Aclatel Idol 4 hardware and named by a cat walking across a keyboard, the security-focused phone is scheduled land in the UK the first week of August.

Unlocked Mobiles has the DTEK50 scheduled to ship from the week commencing Aug. 1, priced at £274.99 in black.

See at Unlocked Mobiles

Meanwhile Clove Technology has an Aug. 5 estimated arrival date, priced a penny dearer at £275, in the same thrilling choice of exactly one color.

See at Clove

We’ve yet to hear anything from any UK mobile operators on plans to offer the DTEK50, and given the fortunes of BlackBerry of late, we we’re not holding our breath.

Best cases for OnePlus 3

What are the best cases for the OnePlus 3?

Your brand new OnePlus 3 has an all-aluminum body that looks great but could use a little protection (and maybe some jazzing up). The ideal case will fit perfectly, keep your phone safe from your daily grind, and look fantastic. We know exactly what you’re looking for.

• OnePlus 3 Protective Case
• OtterBox case
• OnePlus 3 Flip Covers
• Tudia Ultra Slim LITE case
• Orzly Grip-Pro case
• Love Ying Soft Skin case
• My Best Cover antique genuine leather sleeve

OnePlus 3 Protective Case

The protective cases by OnePlus are more than just interchangeable backings for your OnePlus 3; they really do offer excellent protection that wraps around the corners of the phone and keeps your hardware safe. You can only buy them directly from OnePlus.

The cases are light, thin, and don’t add any unnecessary bulk or weight to your OnePlus 3. They’re available in Sandstone (the iconic look from previous generations of the OnePlus), Karbon, Black Apricot, Bamboo, and Rosewood (pictured here). All the cases are made from the actual material they’re named for, as well as PC or kevlar for additional strength and durability.

For a case that’s got a unique look and feel and is crafted exclusively for the OnePlus 3, the Protective Case in all its variations is the one for you.

See at OnePlus

OtterBox case

OtterBox, the go-to name in phone protection and style, is available for the OnePlus 3 exclusively via the OnePlus website. The hard outer layer and shock-absorbing inner layer of silicone keep your phone just like new, no matter what your day throws your way.

The newer versions of OtterBox cases are slimmer and lighter, so you won’t have significant size and weight added to your OnePlus 3. The textured back surface and sides make for secure handling, and the cases come in Saharan White, Dark Matter, and Cardinal Red (pictured here).

For trusted protection of your OnePlus 3 from a brand that’s made its name synonymous with durability and damage protection, check out the OtterBox case.

See at OnePlus

OnePlus 3 Flip Covers

Offering style and protection in one great-looking case, the OnePlus 3 flip covers are made of soft, supple PU leather that’s made to last. There’s even room for a credit card or even a few folded bills on the inside of the front cover.

The flip cover will automatically put your display to sleep when you close it, which is great for battery conservation. The slim design won’t take up loads of space, and the front cover protects your screen. The color selection is simple, elegant, and a perfect complement to your OnePlus 3; choose from black, gray, or the sand tone pictured here.

If you want the look of a wallet case without unnecessary bulk or compartments, pick up one of the Flip Covers made just for your OnePlus 3.

See at OnePlus

Tudia Ultra Slim LITE case

Cases from Tudia are building a strong following, and there’s good reason for that; its cases for the OnePlus 3 have a snug, secure fit and the soft, flexible shell offers just that little extra bit of grip you need to have on your phone.

The TPU case fits well over a screen protector, like the one included with your OnePlus 3, and it also features raised edges to keep the screen away from hard surfaces like desks or tables. You’ll have access to every button and port, thanks to the precise covers and cutouts, so charge away or plug in your headphones without fidgeting with an ill-fitting cover.

Take your pick from cases in black, vibrant teal, or the clear case (pictured here) to show off the original aluminum hardware of the OnePlus 3.

See at Amazon

Orzly Grip-Pro case

An alternative to the OtterBox style and price comes from Orzly in the form of the Grip-Pro case for the OnePlus 3, which offers a two-year warranty and is becoming a popular choice for many people.

The shock-proof internal skin and hard, rubberized exterior protect against bumps and drops, and it maintains a slim profile with cutouts for speakers, buttons, as well as a raised edge around the camera to keep the lens safe.

Grab one (or two, ’cause you can never have too many colors to choose from) in black, blue, pink, silver, or the red version pictured here.

See at Amazon

Love Ying Soft Skin case

For one of the slimmest case profiles you can get, check out the Soft Skin from Love Ying. Minimal bulk, minimal extra weight, and a great fit for your OnePlus 3.

The flexible TPU offers excellent shock and bump protection in spite of its minimalist design. A little bit of extra material around the screen edges keeps it up and away from surfaces, which is helpful if you’re someone who’s in the habit of placing your OnePlus 3 face-down.

Get your Love Ying Soft Skin case in mint, pink, purple, or the clear version pictured here.

See at Amazon

My Best Cover antique genuine leather sleeve

Treat yourself to a totally customizable leather sleeve for your shiny new OnePlus 3. The good people at My Best Cover make hand-stained, handmade genuine leather sleeves that cradle your OnePlus 3 in style.

The interior of the case is fleecy to keep the phone’s screen or aluminum hardware from being scratched or dinged up. A handy front pocket holds a card or two and a little cash for when you’re on the go. The sleeve is a snug, secure fit that looks fantastic; get ready for some compliments.

See at Etsy

A case for everyone

Are you using one of our favorite cases for your OnePlus 3? Tell us how you like it in the comments below!