Galaxy Note 7 ordering: Everything you need to know is in the forums
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be available — as in, sitting on a shelf where you can go trade money for one — in the U.S. on August 19. That’s right around the corner. But many a smartphone enthusiast, as well as people who just want or need a new phone, aren’t about to wait until then to start the buying process.
Pre-orders have started across the country (folks in Europe have to wait another week) and different places are offering different reasons and incentives to buy from them. Should you order your Note 7 direct from your carrier? What about a big-box store? Or a pseudo-warehouse? If you have questions, the AC forums has the answers.
- Ordering the Note 7 from AT&T
- Ordering the Note 7 from Sprint
- Ordering the Note 7 from T-Mobile
- Ordering the Note 7 from Verizon
- Ordering the Note 7 from Best Buy
- Ordering the Note 7 from Sam’s Club
- Ordering the Note 7 from Target
Of course, there are more discussions to be had about the Note 7, and you’ll find the forums filled with them. You owe it to yourself to have a look!
An intro, a recap, and some changes
There are some big changes coming, and we’re so excited to share them with you!
Hi, I’m Daniel.
Though I’ve been here for a while, and you may have seen my byline here and there, I wanted to formally introduce myself, since I’m going to be around a lot more consistently, as Managing Editor. I’m going to be working with Andrew, Alex, Jerry and the rest of the AC team to make sure we don’t miss a beat — even as Phil heads off to create his “Next Big Thing”. We’re even going to take turns, as the need arises, with the weekly Editor’s Desk column. I’ll kick things off, sharing what I’ve been busy working on for AC — our Next Big Thing.
These are only the first of many positive changes coming to Android Central.
Android Central is an amazing place because it has always adapted so well to the changing tides of the mobile space. Over the past eight or so years, we’ve seen Android evolve from a platform popularized by early adopters and tweakers into the world’s most popular operating system used by more than a billion people. Android is a living thing, constantly evolving, but it is also expanding, reinforcing our new motto, Android for everyone.
To that end, we are making some changes to Android Central that will better position us for the future of the platform, and you for a better experience. As has been obvious by our recent inundation of Pokemon content, Android has moved well beyond a core audience merely looking for information on the latest smartphones; it is a vibrant, diverse ecosystem with millions of users looking to improve the experience of using their Android phone, tablet, smartwatch, Chromebook or, increasingly, VR headset — and we’re here to answer the call.
Android is a living thing, constantly evolving, but it is also expanding, reinforcing our new motto, Android for everyone
But that does not mean we are going to let up on what we do best: writing fantastic content, and creating great video, about the latest devices and the ecosystem developed around them.
To accomplish that, we’re going to be changing the way we approach news. As of today, we will be posting fewer individual news posts — only the ones that truly deserve the analysis and insight will be written — and are moving instead to a dedicated, constantly-updated news ticker. To make sure you don’t miss anything, bookmark that page and return to it once, twice, or ten times a day. We’ll make sure to keep it updated with all the little bits of news, from our key markets, you need to stay informed.
We’re going to be changing the way we approach news, with a dedicated news ticker, along with fewer, but higher-quality, individual posts.
Consolidating the majority of our news coverage does two things: it cleans up our home page so we can put the focus on our best content; and it frees up our incredible writers and editors to create the world-class content you love to read.
Andrew Martonik, our U.S. Executive Editor, is going to continue leading the industry with his reviews and analysis of the American market. Alex Dobie, our Global Executive Editor, will, in addition to his astute essays and reviews, maintain his position as the go-to analyst for the European market. And, of course, Jerry Hildenbrand will continue to be his incredible self, writing about topics important to the core Android audience, as well as expounding on Chromebooks. And being Canadian, I will be writing about, well, Android in Canada. We also have Harish Jonnalagadda in India focusing on that vibrant, growing market, and Marc Lagace offering his insight on the bright world of Android apps and games.
These are only the first of many positive changes coming to Android Central in the coming weeks and months. We will continue to evolve and grow so we can better serve the people who make this place so essential: you.
Thanks again for following along, and we’ll talk again soon.
Daniel Bader, Managing Editor
Mobile Nations Weekly: Seven One Ten
Samsung’s new Note and Microsoft’s new Xbox: head-to-head.
It’s time. Time for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. It’s both a huge release for Samsung and something of an iteration at the same time. It retains a lot of the design language of the latest Note and S lines with a refined aesthetic, and is practically the same phone inside as the S7, but goes all-in on the big (and curved) display, S Pen stylus, and even USB-C. That new-fangled USB port necessitated an updated Gear VR headset, which Samsung used as an opportunity to make a few notable improvements to the phone-driven VR experience.
Microsoft joined the huge launches part with their own Xbox One S, an updated Xbox One that’s a little faster, a lot sleeker, and 100% more 4K. Along with that came the Xbox One Summer Update with Cortana and Xbox apps. Oh, and a big release on the Windows side as well: the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
There’s a bit of a shake-up going on in Apple’s secretive car project, with Apple hardware veteran Bob Mansfield returning to take over. Apple also did something we’ve never seen them do before — or fathomed they would consider: they’re offering a bounty to hackers to break into the iPhone’s most secure chip (all in the interests of finding and securing any vulnerability discovered).
All of that and much much more in this edition of Mobile Nations Weekly/
Android Central — Galaxy Note 7 cometh
This was bound to be the week of the Galaxy Note 7, whether you liked it or not. You can check out our complete hands-on preview, see the specs, look at the latest features and put down a pre-order if you’re convinced it’ll be your next phone.
We’ve already started to look at potential upgrades, from the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+ and particularly the Galaxy Note 4. Of course, we had to compare the latest Note to the iPhone 6s Plus as well.
In other news, Android 7.0 Nougat is right on the horizon. And in an interesting turn of events, the upcoming LG V20 is poised to be the first phone with the new operating system … with Nexuses expected to launch later. We don’t know exactly how the Nexus phones will differ in software from others, but we expect some changes to be introduced. As we reach the launch, Marshmallow has surpassed 15% market share.
- Galaxy Note 7: The 7 new features you need to know about!
- What color Galaxy Note 7 should you get?
- The Galaxy Note 7 launches with Marshmallow — but maybe that’s not a big deal
- A parent’s guide to Pokémon Go
- First comparison: Galaxy Note 7 vs. Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Oppo F1s review
- Samsung admits it ‘disappointed Note fans’ skipping Note 5 release in Europe
- In pictures: Samsung Galaxy Note 7
CrackBerry — The Hub
If you’re a Priv owner or using some other Android smartphone, it was a pretty solid week for BlackBerry news, as incredibly odd as that may sound. This week, BlackBerry announced a ton of enhancements to their Android apps such as the BlackBerry Hub, BlackBerry Camera and more including bringing over some long-awaited features from BlackBerry 10 such as ‘pinch to filter unread’.
Not a Priv owner but still running an Android phone? BlackBerry has now brought their Hub and other apps to more Android phones with the release of their Hub+ Suite. Finally, keeping in line with the monthly security updates, BlackBerry has also released the August 5 Android security patch.
- BlackBerry brings its Hub and other apps to more Android phones with Hub+ suite
- BlackBerry pushes new features and enhancements to its Hub, Camera and other apps
- BlackBerry now rolling out August 5 Android security patch for Priv
iMore — The times, they are a-changin’
Bob Mansfield is taking over Apple’s car project, the company is offering a security bounty for anyone who can break into the iPhone’s Secure Enclave, and new iOS and macOS betas have arrived. It’s been a busy week for Apple — and for iMore, too!
In case you may have missed it, we’re making a few changes to the way you may view our site: We’re going to be reorganizing the home page to collect the information you care about in the right places, focusing more on analysis and less on regurgitating news, and writing more great how-to and recommendation pieces than ever before. Stay tuned over the next two months as we roll out the new iMore — and please let us know if you have questions or feedback as we build this new site for you.
As part of the iMore part deux rollout, we’re also starting some new columns for the best new music, games and apps, and movies and TV shows.
- Putting the “more” in iMore, part deux
- How to set up and use the new Apple TV remote
- Hey Siri! Here’s a mostly-comprehensive list of Siri commands
VR Heads — Adr1ft and at peace with the new Gear VR
Everyone knew a USB-C port on a Samsung phone was going to come eventually, and that meant there needed to be a new Gear VR to match. Surprise, that time is right now! The Galaxy Note 7 is here, and the matte black Gear VR you can buy for it offers some small but important updates over the original.
In the world of not mobile VR, we took a deeper look at the terrifying space sim Adr1ft and floated away mostly intact. Check it out!
- This is the new Samsung Gear VR
- Adr1ft: a beautiful, haunting experience that leaves you gasping for air
- You can now buy HTC Vive headsets from the Microsoft Store!
Windows Central — One to the power of 10
Microsoft had a big week for releases. First up, the new Xbox One S – a slimmer, slightly more powerful 4K-capable Xbox One – went on sale and we gave it a full review. Speaking of the Xbox both the One and One S received the new Summer Update with new features and apps from Windows 10, which we also reviewed. Finally, over 350 million PCs became eligible for the big Windows 10 Anniversary Update. While not all computers are getting it day one, we showed you how to trigger it now.
Windows 10 Mobile missed the August 2 date for its Anniversary Update, but we have word that it is arriving this week on August 9. Mobile users can also look forward to the HP Elite x3 going on sale in the US starting September 5.
If that wasn’t enough for updates Microsoft confirmed what we knew for a while: Windows 10 and Mobile will get two significant updates in 2017 for new features and functions. Development of ‘Redstone 2’ has already begun.
- Windows 10 Anniversary Update common problems and how to fix them
- Xbox One S review: Smaller and better than ever
- Windows Maps is now live on Xbox One Preview, here’s how it works!
- ASUS ROG GL552VX review: Proof that cheap gaming laptops are worth it
Amazon will stream show pilots on Twitch for 24 hours
Amazon is no stranger to showing you series pilots to gauge your interest, but it’s trying a different strategy this year. The internet retailer will stream its version of The Tick and two other pilots on Twitch for 24 hours on August 31st, roughly two weeks after their Amazon premiere on August 19th. That may sound like an odd move when Amazon-owned Twitch is still primarily known for gaming, but it makes sense considering the service’s broadening horizons. There are plenty of people watching content on Twitch besides games, and it could attract viewers who otherwise wouldn’t bother to visit Amazon to watch.
The question, as you might suspect, is whether or not the Twitch audience will play a big role in deciding the fate of these pilots. Is this a major factor in the decision, or a sideshow? If it does play a significant part, though, you can expect Twitch streams to become a regular part of show selection.
Source: Deadline, Mike Malone (Twitter)
JBL Boost TV review – CNET
The Good The JBL Boost TV offers simple set-up and better sound than almost any television. The unit is compact and includes the most-used connections. The speaker sounds better than many portable Bluetooth speakers at the same price.
The Bad The Boost can sound shouty at high volume or with bright music. There’s little stereo separation. You can buy a full soundbar and subwoofer system with streaming features for the same money.
The Bottom Line The JBL Boost TV offers a simple, effective upgrade to your existing television sound with the option of Bluetooth streaming thrown in.
As TV screens have gotten thinner, their speakers have shrunken accordingly. That often makes for audio that can sound less robust than some of the old tube TVs of yore. But there is something you can do about it. While home theater in a box systems and soundbars have been offering affordable alternatives for many years, we’re now entering a realm of “mini sound-bars.” Zvox has its upcoming 17-inch wide Accuvoice TV speaker. And Sony’s SRS-ZR7 is a supercharged wireless speaker with an HDMI input for doubling as a TV speaker. Now along comes a third option: the JBL Boost TV.
This is a foot-or-so long speaker which offers Bluetooth and TV connectivity all tied up in a tidy design. While it’s not perfect — it can sound a little harsh at volume or with the wrong music — the JBL does what it says it will: It amps up your TV’s volume.
The JBL Boost TV retails for $200 or £170 in the UK, putting it under the price of most good full soundbar systems, but in line with many of the top-notch Bluetooth wireless speakers you can buy. (It doesn’t appear to be available in Australia, but the price translates to about AU$262.)
Design and Features
View full gallery
The JBL Boost TV is a compact speaker which offers Bluetooth connectivity is addition to an optical input
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Boost TV is shaped like a football and features two large bass ports at either end. The unit is smaller than most soundbars at 14.8-inches long and 3.3-inches high.
The speaker features two 50mm “transducers” which appear to wrap around inside the top and front of the unit. This arrangement was presumably designed so you could wall-mount the speaker, though it lacks any way to actually mount it.
View full gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
Connections include digital optical and 3.5mm analog, plus the aforementioned wireless Bluetooth, so you can play audio from nearly any smartphone, tablet or computer source. Bluetooth also allows “multi-room” connectivity via the JBL Connect feature. As a soundbar, the JBL does offer Dolby Digital decoding, though not anything greater than CD resolution. In other words, the best possible Blu-ray and hi-res music options are out.
The JBL has a Harman Display Surround feature but it’s a phasey-sounding wide mode. I don’t suggest you use it.
Large Hadron Collider’s new ‘particle’ was just a fluke
Sorry, folks: CERN didn’t mean to get your hopes up. Researchers have determined that Large Hadron Collider data suggesting a possible new particle was really just a “statistical fluctuation.” Additional data collected over the course of the past several months reduced the unusual diphoton “bump” to a significance of 2 sigma, or well below the 5 sigma needed for a discovery to be considered authentic. It’s just unusual that scientists saw a blip like this at both the ATLAS and CMS experiments, ATLAS’ Dave Charlton explains to Scientific American.
Not that CERN sees the LHC’s post-reboot operations as a waste. Its teams have collected roughly five times more data in 2016 than they obtained last year, and have spotted the elusive Higgs boson with higher certainty than they had the first time around. Moreover, the LHC is exceeding its hoped-for specs. It’s surpassing its intended luminosity (collisions per second), which should help it spot even the rarest physics events at extremely high energy levels. While it may take a long time for results to emerge, the collider could be well on its way to making new discoveries that hold up under scrutiny.
Via: Scientific American, Wired
Source: CERN
Latest Android news
All the latest Android news, updated throughout the day.
Hi there! Welcome to the new way to keep track of all the latest Android news here on Android Central. Throughout the day we’ll update this running feed everything happening in the world of Android, from the smaller bite-sized nuggets to more important game-changing developments.
Where a story deserves detailed reporting, that’s exactly what we’ll do — and you’ll find our in-depth coverage and analysis linked right here. At the same time, this news feed will make it easier to keep track of the torrent of smaller stories — like minor software updates and phone releases — without swamping you with individual articles.
You’ll find this news page linked on the AC homepage — or simply hit up the shortcut at phon.es/acnews. Thanks for reading, and let’s get ready for some news!
Alex Dobie
Executive Editor
Refresh this page
August 7, 2016
News: Android Central’s new news page went live, and there was much rejoicing!
Rumor: Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka @onleaks) posts CAD images of the “Sony Xperia XR”. It looks a lot like the phone leaked in the flesh a few weeks back. But the dimensions make this look closer to a 5-inch handset, not the larger model we were hoping for. Release date unclear, but Sony has a press conference coming up at IFA on Sept. 1.
Rumor: Evan Blass (@evleaks) says Verizon is currently testing this year’s (purportedly HTC-built) Nexus smartphones. Blass implies that the phones may not be Nexus-branded after all.
News: Pokémon Go expands to 15 new Asian countries, including Taiwan and Singapore. Read More
News: Verizon Wireless is now taking pre-orders for the HTC Desire 530 ahead of the budget phone’s availability on Aug. 11. Read More
‘No Man’s Sky’ day one patch changes large parts of the game
Many gamers are all too familiar with day one patches that fix bugs or add features that didn’t quite make it in time for certification or shipping. However, the first-day No Man’s Sky patch will be… more substantial. Hello Games has revealed that the 1.03 update arriving on NMS’ August 9th launch will make fundamental changes to how the game plays. Most notably, there are now three “paths” to follow in the game — choices you make early on will determine what you see later. There’s also a deeper trading system, new combat mechanics (such as a revamped on-the-ground aiming method and critical hit systems in space fights) and even new universe and planet generation criteria. If you’re one of the few to have scored a copy pre-launch, you may be in for a shock.
Notably, the upgrade also makes it easier to discover other players. You can scan other star systems players have discovered on the galactic map, increasing the chances that you’ll run into someone. Many have argued that NMS is really a single-player game given the sheer unlikelihood of two people finding the same celestial bodies (there are 18.4 quintillion unique planets), but those odds just went up.
This is merely the “first of many” free updates to the space exploration title, Hello Games adds. The next upgrade will let you build bases, own “giant space freighters” and marvel at graphical upgrades like new cloud rendering and temporal anti-aliasing. In other words, the developers see the title as a constantly evolving project. You might get a very different experience if you hop in a few months later, let alone over the long term.
Source: Hello Games
GoPro’s Hero5 camera could pack GPS
GoPro most definitely has a future planned beyond drones and virtual reality rigs. Both an FCC filing and an apparent video leak suggest that the upcoming Hero5 action camera will give you a couple of good reasons to ditch your Hero4. To start, the FCC entry makes clear references to built-in GPS. It’s not certain how you’d use it, but it’s easy to see the technology used for geolocating your videos or tracking performance. That same filing also hints at a thinner, lighter body.
There are also hints that the interface is getting a makeover. Reddit user Konrad-iturbe has posted what’s purported to be a Hero5 instruction video, and the device would have a significantly redesigned (and likely easier to use) touch control scheme. There’s also mention of a “GoPro Sniper” option, although it’s not certain what that is. An attachment? You won’t have to wait long to get the full scoop when GoPro has promised that the Hero5 will launch this year, but this is a nice hint of what you can expect.
Via: Zatz Not Funny
Source: FCC, Reddit
The After Math: Sentimental Sunday
It was a top notch week in terms of longing for the simpler times of yesteryear. The action was capped off with a ringing endorsement from none other than Clint Eastwood himself. But while that angry old man busied himself with yelling at clouds, Sony put the Kibosh on its helpless superhero series. The US announced it will let a private company land on the moon. Archive.org posted a gaggle of old Nintendo Power issues. And Apple stayed insanely rich. Numbers, because how else are you going to know how long it’s been since you could get away with being openly racist?
AIVAnet 