iPhone 7 Plus Low-Light Photo Capabilities Shown Off at U.S. Open

After sharing a collection of photographs taken with the iPhone 7 Plus at the Titans-Vikings game yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook this morning tweeted out another group of photos captured with Apple’s new 5.5-inch iPhone, now providing a few examples of low-light photography.

The new set of photos were taken by ESPN photographer Landon Nordeman during the U.S. Open. According to the publication, “the autofocus and exposure performed exceedingly well in various lighting conditions — so that even with one hand, he could get the shot.”

Better low-light photography was emphasized by Apple in the new ad for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The improved conditions in low-light situations, as well as crisper and brighter photos, come at the hands of the iPhone 7’s 28mm 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, a wider f/1.8 aperture 6-element lens, wide color capture, and a new Apple image signaling processor.

The iPhone 7 Plus has all of these features, with the addition of a second 12-megapixel 56mm telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture, enabling a new and highly-detailed 2x optical zoom ability. Nordeman’s style — described as “surprising moments from unique perspectives, using color and composition without distracting his subjects” — was enhanced thanks to the portability of the iPhone 7 Plus, which provides various DSLR-quality features without needing a cumbersome camera system.

Yesterday, an enterprising Redditor used EXIF data from the photos shared by Sports Illustrated to derive the sizes of the main and secondary camera sensors on the iPhone 7 Plus, also using information known about the sensor on the iPhone 6s. According to the user, the main lenses on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are nearly identical in size to the one on the iPhone 6s.

The actual focal length of the main camera is 3.99mm, derived from one of the photos EXIF data. A 1/3in sensor has a crop factor of 7.21, and the iPhone 6S’ sensor is 1/3in. The math is below:

iPhone 6S (1/3in sensor) = 4.15mm x 7.21 = 29.92mm for a 35mm equivalent lens.
iPhone 7 Plus main sensor = 3.99mm x (7.21?) = 28.7679mm, very close to Apple’s claimed 28mm.
iPhone 7 Plus telephoto sensor = 6.6mm x (8.6?) = 56.8mm, very close to the claimed 56mm as well. For a 1/3.6in sensor, the crop factor is 8.6.

Edit: For context, a larger sensor size allows for shallower depth of field, or the use of bigger and/or more pixels. Generally, the smaller the sensor, the worse it performs; however, we all know Apple pushes out some quality components so this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. Example: The 6S cramming 4million more pixels, and its pixel size being reduced from 1.5microns to 1.22microns to retain the same 1/3in sensor size, yet, they kept image noise performance still similar to the 6, basically having more detail at almost no cost.

The first iPhone 7 pre-order customers have already begun receiving shipment notifications regarding their incoming orders, which are preparing to arrive this Friday, September 16. Also launching this Friday is the Apple Watch Series 2, which the company announced alongside the iPhone 7 last week in San Francisco.

Check out the full collection of photos taken with the iPhone 7 Plus at the US Open here.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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Move over Apple Watch, Pokemon Go also coming to Android Wear

Hot on the heels of Apple’s announcement that Pokemon Go will be available as an app for the Apple Watch, it’s been confirmed that Android Wear smartwatches will soon have the same support.

Pokemon Go Hub has delved into the code of the latest Pokemon Go Android app and found several clues that confirm an Android Wear app is coming.

Within the Android app the website found a new “pokemongoplus” project which makes reference to Pokemon Go being made available on Android Wear. The really good news is that the code is marked as complete and ready for release, so expect to see some updates soon.

And if you have an Android Wear smartwatch but use an iPhone, you’ll be able to use the new Pokemon Go app as well.

• Pokemon Go for Apple Watch: How to play and when can you get it?
• Best Pokemon gadgets and gifts for Pokemon Go fans: Pokemon Go Plus, sneakers, watches and more
• Pokemon Go: What is it and why is everybody talking about it?

The new app is said to work in the background and will be able to track and capture Pokemon. You will also receive notifications if you run out of Pokeballs or your bag is full of potions, incense and lures.

While a release date is yet to be confirmed, going by the information Pokemon Go Hub has discovered, it shouldn’t be too long a wait. You’ll soon be able to catch them all on your wrist.

TiVo combines its biggest, fastest DVRs to make the Bolt+

As soon as TiVo unveiled its Bolt Unified Entertainment System last year, the company’s biggest DVR fans started asking “what about us?” That’s because despite its new design, 4K streaming and updated features, there was no option with enough tuners and storage to match the top of the line Roamio Pro DVR. Now TiVo is filling that hole with the $499 (plus service fee) Bolt+, which takes the styling and power of the Bolt then adds the ability to record up to 6 channels at once onto a built-in 3TB hard drive.

Yes, that “gentle curve” is sticking around, and while the Bolt+ has an easier-to-hide glossy black chassis it might not fit in your AV rack. There are 4K Netflix and YouTube apps, plus the SkipMode commercial skipping and QuickMode fast-forward viewing that I liked first on the Bolt, and later on the Roamio as well. Like the original Bolt, the Bolt+ also improves on the Roamio Pro with gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, MoCA 2.0 plus a faster processor and three times as much memory to make everything (especially those streaming apps) run more smoothly. One area where it’s not as good is its ability to stream, which is down to 1-2 from the Roamio’s four.

We’re expecting to see HDR capability come to the Bolt in an update, but it’s not mentioned in this announcement, and neither is that new UI TiVo just revealed. The other thing that hasn’t changed is the pricing. Similar to my review of the Bolt, this box can get pricey quickly thanks to the $149 annual, $14.99 monthly (with 1-year commitment) or $549 “All-in” (but not Lifetime) service plan needed to keep it working after a year. It’s also a bit disappointing that there aren’t any other 4K apps yet, although most Ultra HD TVs on sale now will come with those streaming services built-in.

The price of a 500GB or 1TB Bolt has dropped by $100 since I reviewed it last year, meaning adding two extra tuners and 2TB of built-in storage (there is an eSATA port for external drives) comes at a $200 premium. Still, if that’s what you need in a DVR to keep the entire household happy, the Bolt+ is the upgraded, faster TiVo you’ve been waiting for. Those who can live with four tuners can opt for the existing Bolt, while cord-cutters may want to wait around until next year for TiVo’s next box, codenamed Mantis.

TiVo says it will go on sale Thursday, September 15th via TiVo.com, Amazon and Best Buy’s Magnolia stores.

Source: TiVo

Who do I contact when I need help with my phone?

Finding out who to talk to and how to reach them can be tricky. We filled out all the forms and clicked all the buttons to find the phone numbers so you don’t have to.

We get a lot of questions about Android and the phones that use it. People can (and should) Tweet us, or email us, or shout to us on Facebook and we will do our best to answer, even if we don’t have time to get to all of them. One thing we see a lot of is that people are confused about exactly who they should talk to — and how to contact them — when they need some assistance with their Android.

That’s understandable. There are countless combinations of different models from different companies sold through different channels and unlike an iPhone or a BlackBerry (or a Toyota or a Kenmore), there is no one company who takes care of them all. And that can be frustrating — when you need help the last thing you want to hear is someone saying that you need to talk to someone else. Especially after you’ve filled out web forms, signed up for an account or jumped through other hoops just to find the phone number you called. If you’re not really sure about who you need to call or how to get in touch with them when problems arise, or you have a question about how things work, you can always come to us. But talking to the people who are there to help with the phone you have in your hands is always a great idea. Let’s tally them up!

Your carrier

If you ever have a problem with the network “stuff” — data cutting in and out, calls dropping, poor signal or anything of the sort, the company you get your phone service from are the first people you should call or email. They would know about any network changes that could be affecting you, and if a problem crops up that affects a lot of their customers, they will be the ones to look into it.

Issues with your phone itself or questions about it can be a bit more complicated. Generally, if you bought your phone from your carrier’s store or an authorized third party, the carrier is the company that will need to help you. Most times, a visit in-person is a quick way to resolve issues. If you would rather talk to support another way, here are the various contact details for the major U.S. companies.

AT&T

• General customer service: 800 331 0500 (7 am to 10 pm your local time).
• To ask about new service or service upgrades: 888 333 6651 (Mon. – Fri. 7 am to 11 pm, weekends 7 am to 10 pm Central time).
• To check the status of an order: 877 782 8870 (24-hour service).
• Support when you’re outside the U.S.: 1 916 843 4685 (24-hour service and this is a free call from your phone).
• Support for folks with disabilities: 866 241 6568 (Voice), 866 241 6567 (TTY). These are both 24-hour numbers.
• Support via Twitter: @attcares.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/ATT.

You can also chat with an AT&T representative using the AT&T Wireless support page.

Sprint

• General customer service: 888 211 4727 (postpaid) 855 639 4644 (prepaid).
• New service or equipment: 866 275 1411.
• Support when you’re outside the U.S.: 888 226 7212 (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), 817 698 4199 (international number).
• Support via Twitter: @sprintcare.

Para compatibilidad con el idioma español.

For online chat options visit the Sprint support pages.

T-Mobile

• All customer service questions and issues: 611 (from your T-Mobile phone), 877 746 0909 (from another phone).
• Support when you’re outside the U.S.: 505 998 3793 (free from a T-Mobile phone).
• TTY service for support issues: 877 296 1018 (3 am to 10 pm Pacific time)
• Support via Twitter: @tmobilehelp.
• Support via Facebook: .facebook.com/TMobile.
• Support via Google+: +T-Mobile

For online chat options visit the T-Mobile support pages.

US Cellular

• All customer service questions and issues: 611 (from your US Cellular phone), 888 944 9400 (from another phone), 866 872 4249 (business customers). These numbers are available from 6 am to 11 pm Central time.
• Support via Twitter: @uscellularcares.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/USCellular.
• Support via Google+: +T-Mobile

To message a support agent online visit the US Cellular support pages.

Verizon

• All customer service questions and issues: 611 (from your Verizon phone), 800 922 0204 (from another phone).
• Support when you’re outside the U.S.: 505 998 3793 (free from a T-Mobile phone).
  : 877 296 1018 (3 am to 10 pm Pacific time).
• Support via Twitter: @vzwsupport.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/verizon.
• Support via Google+: +Verizon.

Para compatibilidad con el idioma español

For support for folks with disabilities, see Verizon’s accessibility services portal.

To chat with an online representative visit the Verizon support portal.

To ask about new service or service upgrades visit the Verizon online help portal.

Who made your phone?

If you’re having a problem and didn’t buy your phone from a carrier store or third-party store or reseller, you’ll need to contact the company who made it for troubleshooting or any warranty issues. Seeing who made your phone is usually obvious, just flip it over and see who’s name is on the back. If you’re using a Google phone, you should talk to Google instead of the actual company who manufactured it. Talking to support in-person is not going to be an option most of the time, Samsung and their Samsung Experience stores being the exception, so here’s how to get in touch if you’re in the U.S.

Google

• Google does things a little differently for Nexus support calls. Instead of having callers stay on hold, you use an online form to queue up and they will call you. Find that form here. Alternatively, you can call support yourself at 855 836 3987.
• For order inquiries from the Google Store: 855 836 3987 (24-hour support).
• For support for Google Play purchases: 855 836 3987 (24-hour support).
• The Nexus Help Center.

HTC

• All customer support inquiries: 866 449 8358.
• HTC Store support: 888 216 4736.
• Support via Twitter: @htcusa.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/htcusa/.
• Support via Google+: +HTC
• Support via online chat: HTC Support.

HTC also has an extensive support website with plenty of options and FAQs for all of their products and apps. You can visit it here.

Huawei

• All customer support inquiries: 888 548 2934 (English and Spanish, Mon. – Fri. 8 am to 9 pm, weekends 10 am to 6 pm Central time).
• Support via Twitter: @huaweimobile.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/huaweimobile.
• Support via Google+: +HuaweiMobile.

Huawei has a dedicated online support web site complete with a contact form. See it here.

LG

• All customer support inquiries: 800 243 0000.
• Make an appointment to talk with customer support here.
• Support via online chat: LG Support.
• Support via Twitter: @lgus.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/LGUSA.
• Support via Google+: +LGUSA.

LG has an extensive online portal filled with support options for phones and their software. See it here.

Motorola

• All customer support inquiries: 800 734 5870 (Mon. – Fri. 7 am to 10 pm, weekends 9 am to 6 pm, Central time).
• Use the online troubleshooter here.
• Support via online chat: Direct link.
• Support via Twitter: @Moto_USA.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/motorola.
• Support via Google+: +Motorola.

See Motorola’s online support web pages and community here.

Samsung

• All customer support inquiries: 800 SAMSUNG.
• Samsung remote support: Samsung Smart Tutor.
• In-store support information: Samsung Customer Service centers.
• Support via Twitter: @SamsungUS.
• Support via Facebook: facebook.com/SamsungUS.
• Support via Google+: +SamsungUSA.

See Samsung’s extensive online support portal with live chat and email options here. Help with an existing order requires a login.

As always, we’re here and can try to help with any Android problems you might be having, or answer any questions you may have. Our contact information is below.

• Contact us through the website here.
• Connect with us through Twitter: @androidcentral.
• Connect with us through Facebook: facebook.com/androidcentral.
• Connect with us through Google+: +androidcentral.

Another great way to find help for many common problems is through the forums. You’ll find the specific forum for your device here or you can ask a general question without signing up here. You’ll find plenty of people who know just about everything there is to know about Android and your phone and it’s a wonderful resource.

The Xperia XZ gives me hope that Sony can turn things around in the U.S.

Quickly after the disappointing Xperia X series, the Xperia XZ gives a glimmer of positivity for the future.

Just a couple of months ago, I received a Sony Xperia X Performance for review. It was the first Sony phone I’ve used in well over a year, and I was excited to give it a try. Just a few days in, I was pained to write about it — it was a frustrating experience I hadn’t endured in years. Our own Daniel Bader wrote a great review that encapsulated my thoughts perfectly. Sony’s decisions throughout the phone didn’t make sense, and the price made it irresponsible to justify.

Only a few months later, we have the new Sony Xperia XZ. It is legitimately a great phone — a flagship that outdoes Sony’s phones that aren’t even six months old — despite still having a couple head-scratching issues. And though that situation is annoying in myriad ways, the reality is that Sony has made something that actually has me excited about its phones again.

Using the Sony Xperia XZ

Hey, it turns out Sony can make a good phone! I’ve been using the Xperia XZ for roughly a week since I received it at IFA in Berlin, and unlike the Xperia X Performance it hasn’t urged me to throw it into the ocean. Going a step further, it’s even quite nice to use.

The coated metal body is sleek and understated, and in typical Sony fashion is perfectly manufactured. It’s a little slippery and a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but that’s something I can look past — the important part, the feel of the phone, is on point here. And even though it’s a bit blockier and larger than the Galaxy S7 I appreciate the design elements that help it stand out from other phones out there. Sony still has its unique design sense. It also seems to be pretty tough — while writing this I dropped the XZ from chest height onto a solid wood chair, continuing down onto a concrete floor, and it looked no worse for it.

The Xperia XZ feels like any other flagship Android out there … with a couple odd changes

When you’re using it, the Xperia XZ feels like any other flagship Android out there. Performance is good and the software is quick and relatively unencumbered by manufacturer customizations. You still get a good number of useless bloatware apps, but interface-wise there’s nothing extra to configure here if you’re happy with a basic Android experience like I am. Longevity is just average from the 2900 mAh battery inside, but I made it through a typical day with a little to spare — though Stamina Mode helped near the end of some heavier days. The display is also really good; I don’t care that it’s “just” 1080p. It also has water resistance, USB-C, Quick Charge 3.0 and stereo speakers (though they’re a bit on the quiet side).

Perhaps most importantly of all, Sony actually finally did something substantial with its camera setup. Yes, we’re still looking at a 23MP sensor that we’ve seen before, but it has brand new five-axis stabilization that seriously improves low-light performance. Indeed, the camera takes much better photos in low light, and daylight photos are quite good — whether you shoot in full 23MP or downsampled 8MP (by default). The important thing to note here is that the camera isn’t a weakness anymore — it’s good, even though it’s just a couple steps short of “great.”

The real issue left in the camera is speed and in some ways software. It’s just slower to open and capture each photo than the competition. The “Superior Auto” is more like just “auto” nowadays, as it really doesn’t seem to do anything great — perfect example being that you have to switch into “Manual” mode just to get HDR. But, at least the end product is there.

Bringing it back to earth a bit, there are still a few puzzling things about the Xperia XZ.

Chief among them is the lack of a fingerprint sensor in the U.S. There is just no way to justify selling a phone of this stature without one, and you can’t explain it away. Phones as inexpensive as the Moto G4 Plus and Honor 5X have great one-touch fingerprint sensors — and heck, the Xperia XZ has it in other markets. Give it to us in the U.S., Sony. Don’t keep doing this.

Then you have little annoyances like the NFC antenna being located on the (completely nonstandard) front of the phone, thanks to the metal back, making Android Pay a little awkward to use. And the seemingly random decision to put the volume rocker in a super unfriendly place low on the right side of the phone. A handful of little things that are just curious decisions — you’d love to be a fly on the wall in those design meetings.

Sony’s future, a little brighter

It’s a good sign that the worst parts of the Xperia XZ are some of the “easy” (in the grand scheme of building a complex smartphone) things to fix. A little better battery life, a fingerprint sensor, more attractive pricing — these things don’t require landslide changes to the phone or design process. They’re a few key points and features that, if improved, will let potential buyers stop focusing on the small issues that turn into deal breakers and instead actually consider buying a Sony phone again.

If Sony can pull together a few small remaining parts of its smartphone experience, and combine them with its recent propensity to sell phones direct to consumers unlocked through various popular retailers, all of the components are here for a mini resurgence in the U.S. The hard parts are done — now it’s time to bring the whole thing together with a few small tweaks, and Sony will start to win back some mind share, if not market share.

CBeebies Playtime Island now available for free for iOS, Android and Amazon Fire tablets

After huge success with its last collection of games for pre-schoolers, the BBC has launched a second CBeebies Playtime app for iOS, Android and Amazon Fire tablets with all-new games and experiences to keep young kids amused.

Like the original, CBeebies Playtime Island features games based on characters from the the channel’s TV shows. To begin with, children can play Peter Rabbit: Hop to it, The Furchester Food Game, Topsy and Tim: At The Farm, and Andy’s Prehistoric Park.

The games and style have been chosen by parents and their children during the development phase.

More games will be added in time, as will new features and surprises. A Christmas theme will appear in December and Children will be able to build their own Playtime Island, adding specific games they want to play, in a future update.

A game library and downloads will be added.

“CBeebies Playtime Island is an exciting environment for our games that can evolve based on the interests and needs of our youngest audiences – it can develop and grow with them,” said Kay Benbow, controller of the channel.

“It also gives them a greater range of choice and control all within one safe and beautifully designed landscape. And it’s not only designed for little ones but with them too, as the wonderfully creative buildings and vehicles came directly from them.”

CBeebies Playtime Island is a free download and available now.

SoundCloud Go promo gives you 3 months of music for 99 cents

SoundCloud’s Go streaming service is barely half a year old, but the company is already determined to attract hesitant listeners. It’s launching a week-long promo that will give you 3 months of unlimited, ad-free music for 99 cents (or 99 pence in the UK) if you subscribe by September 19th. That’s similar to offers we’ve seen from the likes of Google and Spotify, of course. However, it’s more important here. While there’s a real chance that you have at least a passing acquaintance with Google Play Music or Spotify, SoundCloud Go is relatively new and untested — this is your chance to give it an extended try without dropping $30/£30. And when SoundCloud hasn’t had much success getting customers to bite, a good deal like this could go a long way toward improving the company’s bottom line.

Source: SoundCloud