Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest tech endorsement is a ZTE phone
Sources say CR7 fell over when he saw the Nubia Z11. Absolutely no one was shocked. That’s what happens when you have a reputation for being the best diver on the pitch.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Here’s how the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual cameras could work
Apple’s 2016 iPhone launch event may be just days away, but that isn’t stemming the tide of leaks and rumors. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who is frequently, though not always, on the mark with Apple launches) has published a last-minute report claiming very detailed knowledge of Apple’s handset plans, including a few tidbits that have remained unclear. He now says he understands how the larger 5.5-inch model’s (for sake of reference, the iPhone 7 Plus) long-reported dual rear cameras would work. The two 12-megapixel sensors would reportedly be used for both zoom and “light field camera applications” — typically, that means after-shot refocusing. This would be at least somewhat similar to the dual-camera setup on the Huawei P9, where you can play with focal points and simulate different apertures. Huawei doesn’t offer an enhanced zoom, though.
On top of that, Apple would purportedly include higher-quality lenses (with more elements) and extra LED flashes to produce more natural color in low-light photos.
If the report is accurate, you also wouldn’t have to worry quite so much about Apple ditching the headphone jack. Much like Motorola, Apple is supposedly bundling a headphone adapter (in this case, Lightning to 3.5mm) in every iPhone 7 and 7 Plus box on top of native Lightning earbuds. It still wouldn’t be as elegant as a native 3.5mm port (you’d likely have to go wireless to listen to music while you charge), but you wouldn’t have to buy a dongle to keep using your pricey wired headphones.
There’s more. Kuo also hears that the A10 chip powering the new iPhones will run at a much higher 2.4GHz clock speed (the A9 in the iPhone 6s and SE tops out at 1.85GHz). And if you’re the sort who has to get a new color to prove that you have the latest iPhone, it might be your lucky day. The analyst elaborates on a previous rumor by claiming that Apple will replace its seemingly ubiquitous space gray color with “dark black,” and there would even be a glossy “piano black” if you’re feeling ostentatious. Oh, and the purported second speaker grille? That would hold a new sensor to improve Force Touch, though it’s not certain how that would work.
To top it all off, the report also supports a few existing stories. The new iPhones would indeed be water-resistant, surviving depths of 3.3 feet for 30 minutes. And Apple would not only double the base storage, but the mid-tier’s storage as well. You’d be shopping between 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models, much like you do with the iPad Pro. The display resolution won’t be going up, Kuo says (boo!), but you would get the smaller iPad Pro’s wider color range. All told, Apple would be counting on a ton of iterative improvements to get you to upgrade. Even if this isn’t the big redesign you’d hope for, it’d be more than just a modest tune-up.
Source: 9to5Mac
Best cheap phone to buy while you wait for a Note 7 replacement
What is the best cheap phone to hold me over until the Note 7 replacements come in?
You’re looking at your Galaxy Note 7 wondering how long it will take for Samsung and your carrier to get new stock in after the recall takes place. In the meantime, you may be without a phone — or at least a phone you want to use — for a while. In that case, why not buy a cheap(ish) Android phone to tide you over? One that, when you get your beloved Note 7 back you’d be happy to give to a family member or friend.
Moto G4 w/ Amazon Lockscreen offers
OK, don’t dismiss this outright. Amazon and Motorola have teamed up to provide a discounted Moto G4 — my favorite low-cost Android phone right now — by inserting some ads on its lock screen, just like its Special Offers Kindles.
Once you unlock the phone, though, this is the same Moto G4 you will know and love, including the unblemished Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software, speedy internals, great camera, and superb Moto Display implementation. If you’re looking to tide yourself over until your Note 7 replacement arrives, this unlocked phone, which will work on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, is a great choice.
See at Amazon
Nexus 5X
We know, the new NotNexus phones are coming pretty soon, but the Nexus 5X running Android 7.0 Nougat is one of the best Android phones you can buy. Our own Jerry Hildenbrand told me on episode 302 of the AC Podcast that the Nexus 5X with the latest software runs better than the more-expensive Nexus 6P, and while I wouldn’t go that far, it’s still a huge endorsement. And you can find the Nexus 5X on eBay and many other places for under $200!
See at Amazon
More: Best phones to buy if you’re returning your Galaxy Note 7
Samsung Galaxy S5
I know, I know, the Galaxy S5 is over two years-old. But here’s the thing: the phone is still really great, with an awesome screen, a removable battery, a microSD slot, water resistance, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. And it’s pretty easy to find for under $200 on Amazon, which means that once your Note 7 gets delivered into your greedy hands after this whole debacle is over, you can gift it to your son, daughter, husband, wife, friend, or enemy, and they’ll be really happy with it. My brother, who I call Clumsy Ricky, still uses a Galaxy S5, and he’s thrown this thing around for two straight years and it’s still going strong.
See at Amazon
Your suggestion?
What other great, low-cost devices are out there as you’re waiting for the Note 7 recall to pan out?
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Best phone to buy if you’re returning a Galaxy Note 7
What should I get if I’m returning a Galaxy Note 7?
It’s a tough question, but one a lot of people are asking themselves right now. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall is coupled with some particularly violent photos of phones in various stages of burning and melting, which is the last thing you want with a brand new version of that phone in your pocket. Samsung has identified 35 cases of phone explosion across the over a million that have been sold so far, but most folks who bought a Note 7 are still well within their return window. If you decide to return your Note 7 instead of waiting for an recall exchange from Samsung, here’s a few suggestions for what your next phone should be!
Galaxy S7 edge
If you like the Galaxy experience, and you are ok with a Note 7-sized phone without the pen, consider the Galaxy S7 edge. This phone offers a lot of the same fantastic features found in the Galaxy Note 7, will cost you slightly less, and is available everywhere the Note 7 is sold. Not only have no Galaxy S7 edge versions exploded, but it’s the next best thing if you’re looking for one of the best smartphone experiences available to you today.
See at AT&T
See at Sprint
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
HTC 10
For those returning a Galaxy Note 7 with no interest in another Samsung phone, consider the HTC 10. This phone offers an aluminum unibody design with killer speakers and a camera that easily competes with the Note 7 in most situations. As HTC’s top phone this year, it offers the same level of performance as the Galaxy Note 7, and comes in several striking colors. There’s a lot to like here, especially if you’re into a great music and gaming experience on your phone.
See at Amazon
See at Sprint
See at Verizon
OnePlus 3
Deciding to return a big expensive phone like the Note 7 may have you rethinking how much you’re willing to spend on a smartphone in the first place. If that’s the case, you might want to take a look at OnePlus. This is a company that has made quite a name for itself in the smartphone world by offering phones that are dangerously close to being considered some of the best experiences available today for half the cost. The OnePlus 3 is a fantastic example of this, and if well worth considering if you’re not sure what to grab next.
See at OnePlus
Grab something cheap and wait
There’s always something new and exciting right around the corner, but you’ve got to have a phone now. It could be the answer is to wait for something like Google’s Pixel phones to be officially released, or maybe you want to wait for some holiday sales to kick in and save yourself a little money in the process.
Whatever the reason, you may decide the best option is grabbing a cheap phone and waiting for something better to come along. If that’s where you are, we’ve got a great list of cheap phones to tide you over until the next great phone arrives!
Show me the cheap phones!
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
- Here are all four Note 7 colors
- Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
How an argument led to the creation of a safer ‘hoverboard’
German electronics firm Hama had been looking at self-balancing skateboards, better known as Hoverboards or Swagways, for about half a year. It wanted to get into the market and so bought every single device currently available to see how they worked. As the company’s Thomas Bobinger described it, these low-cost devices “didn’t fit with Hama’s brand,” probably because of how unsafe they were. The firm promptly washed its hands of the idea and moved on to other projects, until fate decided to intervene.
It was a few months later, at the Hamburg toy fair, when Bobinger and colleagues heard a massive argument a few booths over. The culprits were a German startup producing homegrown “hoverboards” called WheelHeels and an irate hall monitor. The official was concerned at staff members zooming around the event on the devices and wanted to shut them down. Hama staffers were sufficiently intrigued to invite the startup’s founders to a meeting.
Hama found that while the electronics weren’t great, the algorithmic secret sauce and engineering principles were sound. The pair went into partnership, Hama revamping the electrical systems to ensure that they were safe enough to be the equal of its trusted, reputable brand. It designed a whole new battery system that, it claims, will be significantly less likely to overheat and catch fire.
The cells themselves are made by Panasonic and while those are made in Japan, the rest of the battery is manufactured in Germany. In order to reduce heat transfer, Hama built a basket that holds each cell individually, allowing cold air to pass between each cell and keep them cool. In addition, engineers built a new power-management system that should keep the cells well-balanced and cutting out should it detect overheating.
Hama’s engineers also decided to add regenerative braking to the devices, returning power to the batteries if you coast downhill. In perfect conditions, the firm was able to squeeze 22km of travel out of a single charge, although that did require friction-free roads and plenty of downhill slopes. In the real world, the company believes that you’ll get 18km out of the larger model and 15km out of its slightly smaller sibling.
The two models are almost exactly the same, with matching internals as well as the same battery and software. The only real difference is that one, the X Cruiser, comes with 10-inch air-inflated tires, while the S-Cruiser packs 6.5-inch solid wheels. The X is designed to be more of a long-distance model, while the S variant is more maneuverable for powered sports, acrobatics and general messing around. The former will retail for €599, while the latter is priced at €579, and both will be available in Europe towards the end of September. As for the US? Hama has no distribution network in the States, so it’ll be up to plucky import fiends who want to test out the safety claims.
Given the popularity of self-balancing skateboards and their subsequent banning due to safety regulations, its possible that the first safe model could corner the market. Then again, now that the devices have a reputation for being a fire risk, it may be hard to win over cynical buyers — wary parents who have heard the stories and don’t want to burn their own homes down. It’s a concern for Bobinger, who knows he has a lot of negative stereotypes to overcome if this product is going to be a success. He hopes, however, that as a German-made product, the trust that people put in BMW and Audi will trickle down to Hama as well.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
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