Apple Makes More iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Stock Available to Upgrade Program Members

Last week, a number of customers enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program were unable to pre-order the specific iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus model they wanted due to limited stock when orders began at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday.

Apple had already warned that demand would outstrip supply as usual, but unlike regular customers, iPhone Upgrade Program members were not given the option to pre-order a new iPhone online for home delivery.

Instead, would-be upgraders were directed to a separate queue that only allowed reserving the iPhone from a local Apple retail store — many of which were sold out. The experience led to frustrations and even a class action lawsuit, prompting Apple to collect information from customers affected in an attempt to make the situation right. Now, the company appears to have delivered on that promise.

Recently, it appears that Apple may have reallocated iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus stock specifically for iPhone Upgrade Program members. Over the past 24 hours or so, several MacRumors readers enrolled in the program have been able to reserve the iPhone model they desired for pickup at a local Apple Store later this week.

MacRumors reader Ryan Lister:

I was one of the people who ran into the shortage on launch day from the iPhone Upgrade Program, but stock must have been recently updated and I was just able to make a reservation on launch day for the black iPhone 7 Plus.

MacRumors reader Nathan Walczak:

I’m not sure why, but I was just able to reserve an upgrade for an iPhone 7 Plus. Pickup this Friday. Yesterday all stores in my area were out of the iPhone 7 Plus models. I currently am enrolled in the Upgrade Program from Apple. Seems Apple is trying to fix the glitch?

While availability is still limited, and varies between stores, it is clear that Apple is working to satisfy as many of its customers as possible. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus officially launch on September 16, including the first pre-order deliveries and the start of in-store purchases split between those who reserved for pickup and walk-in customers on a first come, first served basis.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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Xiaomi is launching the Mi Air Purifier 2 in India on Sep. 21

Xiaomi is all set to launch its first product in the Mi Ecosystem in India. The company has sent out invites to the media for an event on September 21, where we’ll see the Mi Air Purifier 2 make its debut in the country.

Xiaomi launched its Mi Ecosystem sub-brand earlier this year with a $150 rice cooker, following it up with a $250 vacuum cleaner. Earlier products from the manufacturer, like the Mi Air Purifier, and smart lights, are now a part of the Mi Ecosystem as well.

The first Mi Ecosystem product to launch in India will be the Mi Air Purifier 2, which offers a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 388 cubic meters an hour. The device comes with a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter, and makes just 30db of noise when in quiet mode. The air purifier is sold in China for ¥699 ($104), and it is likely the device will cost under ₹10,000 in India.

With the rise in pollution levels — particularly in North India — companies like Philips are seeing an uptick in sales of air purifiers. With its disruptive pricing, Xiaomi has a chance to grab an early foothold in the segment. Unlike standard air purifiers, you’ll be able to control the Mi Air Purifier 2 remotely through the Mi Home app.

We’ll bring you all the details from the ground, so stay tuned to Android Central for more from Xiaomi.

Galaxy S8: Model numbers revealed as analysts predict early launch

Samsung reportedly skipping ‘unlucky’ model number for next flagship, which may launch earlier in 2017 due to the Note 7 recall.

We’ve already heard how the Galaxy S8 might come in two edge-screen models with 4K displays, and now further details on Samsung’s internal designation for the new flagships have come to light. SamMobile, which has a pretty good track record for these things, says the big and small GS8s (Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, perhaps?) are in development under the codename “Dream” and “Dream2.”

The site also reports that the model numbers for the two Galaxy S8 models are SM-G950 and SM-G955, which makes sense considering the GS7s were 930 and 935. The move would have Samsung skipping past 940, which could be attributed to the number four’s status as an unlucky number in some Asian cultures. (SamMobile notes that Samsung has previously skipped past “fours” in its model numbers.)

Meanwhile the Korea Herald quotes one analyst who thinks the Galaxy S8’s release could be brought forward following the fallout from the Galaxy Note 7 global recall.

“Smartphone demands have polarized: advanced and emerging markets, and premium and budget phones,” said Kim Sang-pyo, an analyst at [KB Investment & Securities]. “If Samsung’s flagship smartphone launch is delayed to the end of the first quarter of next year, the profitability of the mobile business division could be worsened next year.”

“Regardless of the sales resumption, an earlier launch of a new quality flagship model seems to be the most realistic solution to dealing with the current recall crisis,” he added.

The Korea Herald notes that this fits with another analyst report from Mirae Asset Securities.

With 70 instances of battery fires reported in the United States alone — and Note 7s now singled out as “dangerous” by most major airlines, which have banned their use in flight — it’s increasingly unlikely the Galaxy Note 7 will be salvageable. In Europe in particular, the Note 7 recall has scuppered Samsung’s chance of having a “phablet”-class phone to compete with the iPhone 7 Plus, as major retailers like the UK’s Carphone Warehouse now quote October shipping dates for new Note 7 purchases. As such, common sense suggests that Samsung might want to move onto its next major flagship sooner rather than later.

Samsung’s usual Galaxy S launch venue of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona begins February 27 next year. If the company is keen to bring forward the Galaxy S8’s launch, perhaps a standalone event in early February might be on the cards.

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!

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China recalls some Galaxy Note 7 handsets, bans use in-flight

No suggestion of a wider Chinese recall yet, as a different battery supplier is said to have been used in the country.

The Chinese authorities have recalled 1,858 Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones partly sold “through an official Samsung website before the Sept. 1 launch, as part of a testing scheme,” according to Reuters.

In the early days of the Note 7 recall, it was believed that a recall wouldn’t be necessary in China, as a different battery supplier was used in the country. (It’d been widely reported, but not confirmed, that Samsung SDI made the batteries in units which have been catching fire.) It’s still possible that’s the case; the “testing scheme” units may have been earlier handsets with a different battery, although we’re speculating here.

It’s also reported that China’s civil aviation authority will ban the use and charging of Galaxy Note 7s in-flight, as well as their carriage in checked luggage. It’s unclear how this changes anything, though. Under existing rules for air travel in China, Li-ion batteries may not be carried in the hold, and Chinese airlines already prohibit the use of any smartphones in-flight, even in airplane mode, while in Chinese airspace.

The move does however bring China in line with most other major aviation authorities and airlines, which have instituted similar rules over fears of Note 7-related fires or explosions.

More: Everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 7 recall

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!

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Morning news briefing: September 14, 2016

Marshmallow is now on 18.7% of Android devices, Galaxy S8 may get an early launch, and is Samsung working on a proprietary audio jack?

In today’s news, Samsung may accelerate its launch window for the Galaxy S8. If you like model numbers as much as me, there’s an interesting story waiting for you regarding the naming convention for the S8. Also, China has started recalling 1,858 Note 7 units that were sent out to customers as part of a “testing scheme” before the official release. In news that makes no sense whatsoever, Samsung is rumored to be working on a proprietary audio jack to replace the 3.5mm port (Hey Samsung, put those engineering resources to work on updates for the Galaxy A5 and A7).

Meanwhile, Marshmallow is steadily gaining ground, and is now on 18.7% of all active Android devices. Xiaomi is finally launching its first Mi Ecosystem product in India on September 21 (our take: Hugo Barra has had enough of India’s pollution), Sony has started rolling out Marshmallow to the mid-range Xperia C4, and we may get to see the Xperia XZ in pink. Here’s the latest Android news from around the web.

Amazon Echo and Echo Dot launching in the UK + Germany

Pre-orders go live today for the smart speaker. Echo will arrive September 28, Echo Dot will follow on October 20. Both will benefit from Amazon’s conversational Alexa AI, and a wide range of supported services, including British favorites like Just Eat and Sky Sports. More

Samsung Galaxy S8 might launch sooner than expected

A new report from SamMobile points to model numbers SM-G950 and SM-G955 for the two GS8s, both of which are rumored to have curved screens. The Korean firm is purportedly skipping past “940,” as the number four is considered unlucky in some Asian cultures. Meanwhile the Korea Herald quotes one local analyst who believes the fallout from the Note 7 recall will result in Samsung moving the GS8’s release forward. More

China recalls some Note 7s, bans use in-flight

1,858 Galaxy Note 7s sold through a Samsung website “as part of a testing scheme” before September 1 have been recalled by China’s quality watchdog, reports Reuters. There’s no suggestion of a broader recall of Note 7s in China, where a different battery supplier was used, and thus phones are reportedly not affected by the battery issue that’s making some Notes catch fire. The Chinese civil aviation authority will also ban the use and charging of Note 7s onboard flights, as well as its carriage in checked baggage. More

Xiaomi is launching the Mi Air Purifier 2 in India on Sep. 21

Xiaomi is finally launching its Mi Ecosystem products in India. The first product to debut in the country is the Mi Air Purifier 2, a smart air purifier that costs just $104. More

Crazy rumor says Samsung could ditch 3.5mm jack for a proprietary port

With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus leading a jack-free existence, Samsung may be considering a similar move. Citing supply chain sources Digital Music News says that Samsung is mulling a shift to a proprietary jack that the company will license to other Android phone makers.

Samsung’s proprietary jack would be designed with all Android manufacturers in mind, with easy and cost-free (or extremely low-cost) licensing to encourage adoption. […] Using the numbers game, Samsung and its army of Android allies hope that headphone manufacturers will prioritize their proprietary jack first, leaving Apple deprived of newer, more interesting models.

It doesn’t make much sense for Samsung to waste engineering resources in designing an all-new proprietary format. For this one, we’ll believe it when we see it.

Marshmallow is now installed on 18.7% of all Android devices

The latest Android distribution numbers are out, and they show Marshmallow occupying an 18.7% share of the Android market. That number is up from 15.2% in August, and 13.3% in July. Android 4.4 KitKat is still in the lead with a 27.7% install base, with Android 5.1 Lollipop coming in second at 21.9%. We’ll likely see Nougat make its debut in next month’s numbers.

Leak suggests LeEco Pro 3 will have 8GB RAM, 256GB storage

A leak out of China suggests LeEco will offer 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage in its upcoming Pro 3. Other details include a 5.7-inch QHD screen, Snapdragon 821 SoC, 13MP dual camera and a 16MP front shooter. We’ll know more on September 21.

As a refresher, LeEco was the first manufacturer to eschew the 3.5mm audio jack in favor of USB-C audio on the Le Max 2. Some say LeEco orchestrated the move so it could say “FIRST!”.

Marshmallow finally hitting the Sony Xperia C4

Sony has started rolling out the Marshmallow update to the Xperia C4 (E5303, E5306) and C4 Dual (E5333, E5343). The updated firmware version is 27.3.A.0.122 for the former and 27.3.B.0.122 for the latter. Xperia Blog notes that the E5353 and E5363 variants of the phone will pick up the update shortly.

Pink Xperia XZ incoming

The Xperia XZ is available in three color variants — Mineral Black, Platinum, and Forest Blue — and it looks like Sony is mulling a pink color option. As has been the case in the past, the pink color variant will be sold in limited territories. Read our Xperia XZ review for more on the handset.

OnePlus 2 is getting VoLTE support in India

OnePlus has announced that it will roll out VoLTE to the OnePlus 2 via an upcoming OTA update next quarter. The OnePlus 3 has VoLTE out of the box, and the update will make last year’s phone compatible with Reliance Jio. The company has also confirmed that the OnePlus One and OnePlus X will not pick up VoLTE support, and is directing users to install the Jio4GVoice app.

Amazon Echo + Echo Dot are coming to the UK and Germany

Pre-orders go live today ahead of September 28 availability for Echo, Echo Dot will launch October 20.

Amazon is bringing its Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers to the UK and Germany, two years on from the gadget’s U.S. launch. The speakers, equipped with Amazon’s “Alexa” assistant AI, will go up for pre-order later today ahead of the September 28 launch date for the Echo. The Echo Dot will arrive October 20, and both speakers will be available in a new white color option.

Both Echo models allow you to interact with Alexa using your voice, and connect to a wide number of supported devices and services. The new European Echo benefits from many of the partnerships Amazon has struck up over the past two years, including integration with Uber, Philips Hue, WeMo and SkyScanner. When it comes to the UK it’ll also support popular British services like Just Eat and Sky Sports. If Alexa’s U.S. presence is any indicator, there’ll be more to come in the future. And that’s all in addition to basic functionality like music playback, news and weather updates.

More: Amazon Echo review

The Echo’s arrival in Europe this month could be significant — we’re expecting Google Home to be officially launched within weeks, and Amazon will be looking to get out ahead of Google’s Assistant-powered competitor. Check the links below for the UK listings of Amazon Echo.

• Pre-order the Amazon Echo – £149.99
• Pre-order the Amazon Echo Dot – £49.99

I stand by my Galaxy Note 7 review

I haven’t changed a word in my Note 7 review, and I won’t.

Samsung’s global recall of the Note 7 is easily the biggest recall of a single phone model, and one with a serious amount of danger behind it. In the past two weeks we’ve seen this story progress from theoretical small possibilities of failing batteries up to legitimate damage being done to people and property in dozens of cases around the world.

And as the news surrounding the Note 7 recall escalated, so have the calls for Android Central (among other sites) to revisit our review of the Note 7 in light of the new information. In short, I completely stand by every single word I wrote in my Note 7 review — the only change that has been made to it since the recall began was a notice at the top pointing potential owners and buyers to the recall information.

Every other part of the review is the same as it was the day I published it, and that’s for a multitude of reasons — most pertinent among them being I still agree with my original assessment of the Note 7, even today. Even after the recall.

There are so many reasons why the Note 7 recall is a horrendous situation. It’s bad for Note 7 sales going forward. It’s bad for Samsung’s reputation as a phone maker. Worst, it’s bad for those who want to be using a Note 7 but can’t for a couple weeks while they wait for new phones to be available. It’s also bad for myself, because I don’t get to use my own Note 7 until I get a replacement — I still want to use this phone, and I’ll be using it again once a new one arrives.

This recall is horrendous for Samsung, but that doesn’t change my review

But the one thing this Note 7 recall isn’t bad for is my original review. That review was based on my initial time with the phone prior to launch and the review period clearly communicated in the “About this review” section we put in every review here on AC. We put that information in our reviews to clearly communicate the circumstances under which the review was written — in this case, a bit over a week using a Note 7, with no knowledge or expectation that a month later it’d be the subject of a global recall.

I can’t tell you how to feel about Samsung’s current ability to make phones or its quality control and safety standards going forward — at some point that’s a personal decision. We’ve already had many open discussions about what the recall may or may not do to Samsung’s market position and reputation. But none of what this recall means for the public perception of Samsung will change my mind about the Note 7 review that I wrote and published on August 16.

My Note 7 review stands today as it did when it was first published.

There’s no caveat to be added to the Note 7 (or any other phone) review based on the recall situation, nor will I be second-guessing my conclusions therein or feel as though I was duped or swindled by Samsung. I won’t be adjusting the rate at which I was recommending the Note 7 to friends, family and AC readers who asked me which phone they should consider buying.

The reason is pretty simple. Not only did we have no indication ahead of time that a manufacturing issue would be present or a recall of any size would be required for the Note 7, we had absolutely zero reason to be hesitant that such a situation would arise in the future. Past experience of reviewing hundreds of phones, many of them from Samsung, had led us to consider at the time of the Note 7 review tempering our expectations of the phone for fear of a global recall due to a component issue.

For that reason not only does the Galaxy Note 7 review read the same today as it did when it was first published, today I still completely agree with everything I wrote.

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!

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Pokemon Go buddy: How to use the new buddy system

Pokemon Go publisher Niantic Labs has always promised that there would be updates to Pokemon Go to add new features as the game moves forward. 

Although many will have seen the peak in Pokemon Go gameplay, the most recent update to the app on Android and iPhone adds a really interesting and useful element, and that’s buddies.

What is a Pokemon Go buddy?

If you’ve seen Pokemon on TV, you’ll know that Ash spends most of his time walking around with a Pokemon, the famous Pikachu. Pikachu not only doesn’t like going in Poke Balls, but also then becomes a buddy, rarely leaving Ash’s side.

In Pokemon Go, the buddy system is very much the same, giving you the option of choosing a Pokemon to take with you on your adventures, rather than just in your collection.

What does a Pokemon Go buddy do?

Aside from appearing with your trainer, your buddy serves another purpose and that’s finding candy. 

Once you’ve selected your buddy, you’ll have to walk a particular distance to earn a candy of that character’s type. So, for example, if you select Pikachu, you’ll be able to earn Pikachu candy as you walk.

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What is Pokemon Go candy for?

Pokemon Go candy is the currency of evolution of your Pokemon. To power up a character you need candy of its type and Stardust. To evolve a Pokemon, you need a large amount of candy.

This is really where the buddy system comes into play: if you’re lacking candy for a particular Pokemon type, you can select them as your buddy and get walking, earning that vital candy to develop your character, without having to find and capture more of that Pokemon.

Pokemon Go buddy candy: How far do you have to walk?

This depends on the Pokemon you choose as a buddy, for example, Caterpie only asks you to walk 1km to earn a candy; Mr Mime will have you walking 5km. 

The breakdown basically relates to the overall potency of that character. The common Pokemon types like Rattata, Pidgy and MagiKarp are all 1km candy buddies – and that applies to evolved forms too, as they all use the same candy.

The majority of Pokemon need you to walk 3km. This includes chaps like Shellder, Slowpoke, Drowzee, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Poliwag and so on.

The top level of 5km is preserved for those big hitters. Sadly Eevee falls into this section, so if you’re still trying to get your Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon evolves, you’ll have a lot of walking to do. 

The 5km group also includes the likes of Snorlax, Onix, Dragonite and Lapras.

A full list can be found here if you want to know more.

• Pokemon Go for Apple Watch: How to play and when can you get it?
• Pokemon Go: Best Pokemon with highest CP
• Pokemon Go: How to raise your XP level, power up and evolve your Pokemon
• Pokemon Go top tips: Master the Pokemon mayhem

Where can I find my Pokemon Go buddy?

To find your buddy and make a selection, click on your trainer avatar in the bottom left-hand corner of the app, punch the menu button and you’ll see “buddy” in there.

This will take you through to the buddy selection page for you to tap your companion.

You can change buddy whenever you like, but it’s worth noting that you’ll lose any distance you’ve gained, so it’s best to change after you’ve received the candy for that character.

How do I check the distance I need to walk with my Pokemon Go buddy?

This is pretty simple. Again, tap your character avatar, and you’ll see yourself with your buddy. 

Tap on that picture and you’ll move through to the buddy page, with the distance you’ve walked and the distance you need to go to get that candy.

Apple Watch Series 2 review: Fitness first

As the Apple Watch continues to polarise opinion, Apple has released a new version of the smartwatch which hopes to address many of the concerns of the first outing. It’s called the Apple Watch Series 2.

The new watch features a much greater focus on fitness; it’s a device that tries to bridge the void between a basic fitness tracker, like products from Fitbit, and a full-blown dedicated sportswatch, such as those from Garmin.

Does the Series 2’s shift towards fitness, with its inclusion of built-in GPS tracking and water-resistance for swimming, pay off? Is there enough new to appeal to those who couldn’t fathom why they should buy the original model in the first place?

Apple Watch Series 2 review: Design

When it comes to looks, the Watch Series 2 is virtually identical to the original. It comes in the same two sizes (38mm and 42mm), features a rectangular display, a digital crown control, and a single button on the side.

The straps available for the first Apple Watch still fit the Series 2 and, if you’re an upgrader, you’ll notice nothing different in terms of the look and feel on your wrist.

We like the square design, and some of the new watch faces being introduced in the latest WatchOS 3 operating system now make much better use of the space available to them compared to some of the first iterations.

For 2016 the Apple Watch range has changed slightly, too, now offering a few more partnerships to appeal to different users.

That ludicrously expensive £10,000 gold Apple Watch has been retired, and in its place a slightly more affordable glossy white ceramic model – which has been buffed for over two hours, of course – sits in the range, costing a mere £1,249-£1,299 instead. Still not exactly a bargain, but it does look nice.

There are also new Hermes models with exclusive straps and watch faces. And pushing the fitness angle even further there’s a dedicated tie-in with Nike, which comes with a very holey, and therefore flexible, strap, along with two bold watch faces that use the Nike design language and iconography. The latter will be available slightly later in the year, in October.

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Aside from the exclusive watch faces and straps, there is no difference in technology between all the different models. An owner of the Hermes edition gets exactly the same on-the-wrist experience as the owner of the Nike Watch+ version. Nike has confirmed that the Nike Watch app will be available to all on release, whichever Watch you buy.

Apple Watch Series 2 review: Upgrades

It might look the same, but virtually everything inside the Series 2 has been upgraded or changed compared to the original.

There is a more capacious battery (that’s why the Series 2 is around 1mm thicker – but you won’t notice), there is a brighter screen, there is a faster processor, and there is GPS.

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The Series 2 is also completely water-resistant down to 50m. And while Apple is clearly not expecting you to dive to Advance Padi levels with the Watch, it is designed to withstand the pressures of swimming.

Faster processor

Apple claims the new S2 Watch processor is 50 per cent faster than the original, too, and that is certainly noticeable in the speed at which apps can load. From a cold start they can still take a few seconds, but if you’ve got them in your “dock” then they load instantly.

Load times are nowhere near as long as they were on the first Apple Watch, and the days of the screen going blank before the app had even loaded are now a thing of the past.

Brighter screen

As the Watch Series 2 is expected to be used under water or on a run, it now sports a much brighter screen – two times brighter, in fact.

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In our testing – in the office, in the pool, while swimming in a lake, running in the midday sun, or chilling out in the pub in the evening – the screen certainly looks a lot brighter. It’s crisp and clear, too.

While such brightness is perfect in the pool it can have a negative and distracting affect at times, certainly in dark environments like a restaurant or the cinema. The Activity Analogue Watch face towards the end of the day for example, glows bright like a heavily decorated Christmas tree. Some greater control based on ambient light surroundings, beyond three options buried in the Settings menu would be useful, even Android Wear offers a Cinema Mode.

GPS

One of our biggest bugbears about the first Apple Watch is that it didn’t have built-in GPS. That meant you still had to carry your iPhone with you when out on a run. While that’s now a force of habit for many people, being able to lose the phone is hugely welcomed from a fitness perspective.

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The simple addition of GPS makes the new Apple Watch a much more capable device. The GPS, which also includes GLONAS support, is fast to pinpoint you the moment you disconnect from the iPhone. It’s able to do that because, and like many other dedicated sportswatches that connect to your phone, the Watch is actually using a number of data sets to track you before you even set off – be it Wi-Fi, a GPS signal, or your iPhone. Gone are the days days of GPS watches without a phone connection and waiting for a signal before you set off.

In use and the GPS works just as expected. On our runs the route has been virtually spot on (there is some variation due to tree cover), but certainly within the expected parameters. Interestingly when on an open water swim the GPS is only able to work while out of the water, meaning you’ll have to swim freestyle rather than, say, breast stroke with your arms always submerged in order for it to work at its best. But the software does its best to fill in the gaps between those registered signals to create a full map of your swim.

Water resistance

The original Apple Watch wasn’t in any way water friendly, which meant the first sign of rain, sea, or a pool, would send most wearers into a mild sweat.

That issue has now disappeared with the addition of water-resistance. You can run in the rain or go swimming, take a shower or jump in a fountain. It opens up a whole new avenue of training options.

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Included in the Workout app are two dedicated swimming workouts: Pool Swim and Open Water Swim.

The Pool Swim workout allows you to set a pool length distance before starting so you can track your lengths. The distance is tracked by your stroke movement with the Watch using the in-built accelerometer to determine when you’ve made a turn. Very clever. Swim 1,500m and you don’t have to remember whether the last pool length was 55 or 57 strokes. We like that a lot.

The accelerometer is also used to automatically determine your stroke and then determine the calories you’ve burned based on the type of strokes you use. It sounds bonkers, but it works. The Watch has been able to determine if we’ve swam mixed, freestyle, butterfly, breast stroke, and back stroke without us telling it.

On an Open Water Swim you lose the length guidance, but then gain GPS support – as long as you swim freestyle, as the GPS tracking won’t work underwater. Knowing you swam 500m at a certain pace and still have another 500m to go is very handy.

The only caveat to using the Apple Watch in the water is that you can’t use your fingers on the screen as the water confuses things. To solve that issue you can lock the screen so it doesn’t go crazy.

And once you’re done in the water the unlocking process goes as far to use the speaker to play a sound to eject the water that’s inside its chamber. You don’t see any of this mind you (you might hear a sound), but it is a cool fact to bore your mates with.

Battery

Battery life is also better than in the first-generation watch. Apple claims you’ll be able to do a slow marathon (5.5-hours) on a single charge, or more likely the case, a decent run and still get to the end of the day.

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In our experience so far, a 1,500m pool swim and a 1km open water swim uses roughly 15 per cent of the battery. Or we’ve found the battery is good enough to cope with a 10km run and a full day of notifications. That wasn’t possible with the first-gen Apple Watch.

You will still need to recharge every night though. The Apple Watch Series 2, just like the original, is very much a one day per charge smartwatch.

Apple Watch Series 2 review: WatchOS 3

Like the iPhone, the Apple Watch also gets a complete software revamp with a lot of changes being made for the better. WatchOS 3 brings huge performance boosts and enhancements.

Dock

Press the side button on the Watch and instead of the on-screen wheel designated for only your friends who’ve also got a Watch, you now have a “dock” that allows you to scroll left to right through your favourite apps. And having the apps accessible from there means you can load them instantly. The main cluster design is still accessed by tapping the digital crown, but we’ve found we hardly bothered with it once we picked out our favourites.

Activity Sharing

Fitness apps from Runkeeper to Strava allow you to gee your friends into action by sharing your activity with them, and now you can do the same with the Apple Watch. Here though, it is not just about workouts, it is all about your daily activity, be it a friend or a fitness instructor.

Pocket-lint

Those you are sharing with get told when you’ve hit your goals or completed a workout and, likewise, you can see what they are up to too – making it really easy to send motivational messages (or otherwise) their way.

We aren’t sure how long the excitement will last, but we’ve already found ourselves making sure we hit our targets, just to say we are fitter than those we are sharing with. Which, at the moment, is only one other person – we might get even more competitive when more friends update to OS 3.

Breathe

The irony of the Breathe app is that it tries to make you take a minute out of your life to just focus on your breathing. Doing so calms you down. Of course you wouldn’t perhaps be so stressed if messages weren’t coming at you from all angles – like, say, on your Mac, your iPad, your iPhone, your Apple TV, and your Apple Watch.

Still, it’s a great way to slow you down if things get a little heated, and it’s very much like counting to 10 to cool down a situation. A minute gives you seven breaths, while five minutes (the maximum) gives you 35. Peaceful.

Unlocking your Mac

If you’ve got a MacBook you now have the ability to unlock it with your Apple Watch – as long as you are on the same network.

The process takes a couple of seconds, about the same time as it does to type in a password, but is very cool. We wish Apple would offer this for the iPad too (mobile computing and all that).

Don’t panic, if colleagues access your computer while you’re in the kitchen making a cuppa, you’ll get a notification on the Watch. Gotcha! And the communication distance between Watch and laptop is limited, too, so it won’t work if you’re more than a number of metres away.

Apple Watch Series 2 review: Glanceability

There are still some niggles, however. Apple still hasn’t fixed what we call the “glanceability” of the Apple Watch.

There is no “always on” or off option for the main display, or a secondary display as found in Android Wear watches. If you like sneaking a peek mid-meeting out of the corner of your eye, you’ll still be disappointed that you can’t do that. 

The screen does feel like it jolts into action a lot quicker on the S2 model, so we haven’t had to do a strange flick-of-the-wrist as in the first-generation smartwatch, but you do still have to move.

Verdict

Apple’s shift from pure fashion accessory with some smarts to a device that supports a range of different sports and activities in the Apple Watch Series 2 is a welcome advance.

With built-in GPS, a better battery (although it’s still very much one day per charge), water-resistance and a much greater focus on fitness, the Apple Watch finally works at workouts.

That’s a massive gain over the first-generation device and one that is likely to appeal to those wanting more than a Fitbit, but who are scared by an all-powerful, athlete-focused watch from Garmin or Polar. However, for those who take their sport very seriously, we still can’t see the Watch 2 replacing a dedicated sportswatch just yet. It’s really for those looking for a do-it-all device that could easily go with a suit or some Lyrca.

Over the last two years the Apple Watch improved to offer plenty – and the Series 2 is the current pinnacle of that. From notifications and Apple Pay, to heart-rate monitoring and fitness tracking; it can also act as a remote to control your HomeKit smarthome devices, or even quickly unlock your Mac.

The Apple Watch Series 2 is so much more than just a pretty smartwatch. It’s now a smartwatch with a purpose.

Amazon Echo comes to Europe, UK customers can finally use Alexa

Amazon has announced that its voice-controlled, cloud-connected speaker is coming to the UK in the form of Amazon Echo.

Having been released in the United States mid-2015, the system is finally ready for a wider roll-out.

It connects a user to Amazon’s cloud voice and information engine Alexa. The speaker is a 360-degree tube, with multiple drivers and several microphones that switch on when the user barks “Alexa”. It can then be commanded to find weather, web details, football results and much more, which it draws from the internet and speaks aloud through text to speech technology.

It can even read entire books to you or your children. And in a British accent to boot, as it is localised for specific audiences.

What’s more, Sky News and other UK services are integrated.

• Amazon Echo review: Ace assistant, average speaker
• Amazon Echo vs Amazon Tap vs Echo Dot: What’s the difference?
• Alexa, the brains behind Amazon Echo, wants to take over all your connected devices

For those worried about privacy, the Amazon Echo can be muted, which means it does not listen for a wake word and even switches the microphone on. This is signified by a red light that switches on at the top of the device. It addition, whenever it is switched on and listening, the blue LED lights up and you know it is definitely listening.

Pocket-lint

The European version of the Amazon Echo is now available to pre-order in the UK and will be available on an invite programme in Germany. It’ll ship in the autumn. It’ll be available in both black and white colour schemes for £149.99 and €179.99 respectively. Prime customers will be able to get £50/€50 off for a limited period.