Android and chill: Samsung’s nightmare moment

How you handle a product safety issue is important. Samsung handled it right.

Samsung just faced the worst nightmare any type of product design team could have on Friday. They realized that the Note 7 had some sort of flaw, and one that could hurt people, so they’re pulling it off the shelves.

I’m not going to try and hash out all the different theories about why or how many or anything like that. We can either accept what Samsung’s PR tells us and move along or realize that we’ll never know the whole story and move along anyway. Instead, I’m going to talk about reactions.

We’ll start with Samsung. I like to point fingers at Samsung for the stupid things they sometimes do because they are capable of so much better. That can’t be said about the way they handled the Note 7 recall. When numerous reports of Note 7 explosions started creeping in, they could have pointed the finger at someone else or the user, or just ignored them as if they weren’t happening. Instead, it’s obvious that they started looking into the issue right away. And when faced with the horrifying idea that they just sold a couple million products that could hurt people or their property, they acted swiftly and did exactly the right thing — they recalled every single one of them and told everyone they were doing it. I don’t think there’s any better way something like this could be handled.

Not doing the right thing has consequenses. Just ask Toyota.

Of course, part of the reason they acted so quickly is a liability thing. If you or I buy a Note 7 and it goes boom then burns our house down or we lose a finger or something, Samsung will be shelling out the cash to compensate us. If that happens to 10 or 20 or 100 people, it moves from a matter of liability to something that can ruin a company’s image. Remember when we all laughed at Toyota? That’s what can happen when you don’t do the right thing. Samsung did the right thing. GoodGuySamsung,

The flipside is the way the internet of turds tries to turn this into a dick-measuring contest. Thumping your chest and showing everyone that tattoo of your favorite brand of electronics manufacturer because their phones don’t blow up really only makes you look like a jackass. You know who you are. And if this would happen to your favorite smartphone team you should hope they handle it as well as Samsung did. And not just the “other” team is guilty. Stop trying to blame cables or users or Bin Laden’s ghost for the problem and appreciate the way it’s being addressed. Saying it’s the user’s fault is like saying “You’re holding it wrong” and means you’re just as much of an asshole. Just stop, all of you.

Other stuff happened this week, too, because Android stuff happens every week.

• A whole lot of bloggers were in Berlin to look at stuff. IFA is always a crapshoot and you never know how good the stuff is going to look until you see it. This year was no different. We’ll take a closer look at the real jewels, and probably miss one we should have looked it. We’re human. You’ll tell us when we miss one.
• NotNexus happened. Goodbye coolest name for a phone ever. Handling rumors can be hard. We sat on this for ages until we were as sure as we could be, and we are still sitting on a pile of other rumors. In the end, this particular one is fun to talk about, but a name change doesn’t mean much. Especially from Google who isn’t afraid to let go of anything. The other things that could be changing will mean more.
• Acer’s new Chromebook has me interested. The R13 convertible hits a lot of things on my list — touch screen, big enough but not too big, and USB-C 3.1. It has the things it needs to be a good Chromebook that runs Android apps. I’m also interested how the Chrome team deals with Mediatek’s less than stellar track record for security.
• The new Galaxy Gear looks pretty nice. This is going to be one of the best Gear watches that nobody buys. The people who do get one all seem to love them, but nobody has found that one killer feature that makes them necessary. That goes for smartwatches in general. I do hope Samsung keeps trying and finds that feature I didn’t know I couldn’t live without. That’s how the best stuff happens.
• Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 is official. We wrote this off earlier in the year as just an 820 improvement. People are still doing it. Now that we know the details, we’re all wrong. Forget 10% faster and know that the 821 supports the very latest advanced graphics APIs, and we know what happens when a chip doesn’t support them. Because one chip maker essentially controls the smartphone market, we just suck it up and buy new things.
• I found out Dan is a coffee lover. Next get-together calls for a Death Wish dark and RedBull cup of freedom.

More cool stuff will happen next week, too. And we’ll be here to talk about it. Adios amigos!

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.