Shazam Update Brings Support for Music Detection Within Messages
Popular music-detecting app Shazam today rolled out an update that adds support for the service within Messages, so users can send new artist and song discoveries directly to friends and family members.
To use Shazam in Messages, make sure the app is updated to version 10.1.0, then open Messages, navigate to the contact you want to send a song to, and tap the App icon to the left of the conversation box. Shazam will now be in your App Drawer, so either tap the four dots on the bottom left corner of the screen, or swipe through each app until you reach it.
The only user interface option within the Messages app for Shazam is “Touch to Shazam,” so whenever a song is playing nearby, allow the app to listen and once it does it’ll create a card to send to the current contact. The created message can be tapped on to jump into Shazam, buy the track on iTunes, or listen to it on Apple Music.
With its new update Shazam is joining a collection of existing apps that introduced support for the Messages App Store following the launch of iOS 10. In a recent Sensor Tower study, download growth for these apps was said to have increased profoundly after rolling out support for truncated, but helpful versions of each app in Messages.
Shazam can be downloaded for free from the iOS App Store [Direct Link]. Those who already have the app should start seeing the update rolling out throughout the day.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
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Posh Optima LTE L530 review: A budget device with a premium feel
Posh Mobile is a relatively new player to the mobile phone scene. Posh released its first devices in 2013 and has grown its portfolio to include over 20 GSM unlocked Android-based phones and tablets. In a crowded market filled with hundreds if not thousands of budget friendly devices, Posh sets out to be different from the crowd with the mission “Elegance for all.”
I have spent the last two weeks using Posh’s Optima LTE L530 as my daily driver on the T-Mobile network. For a budget device, the unboxing experience was a good one. Included with the phone, Posh gives you a case, screen protector, headphones, charger and a sim tool. Posh Mobile was a relatively new name to me when I received the Optima L530. I was aware that the company had made the largest and smallest Android phones available on the market, but this was my first experience using one of its devices.
I know it is said a lot, but cheap phones are continuing to get better. The Posh Optima L530 is a GSM unlocked device that was released in April of 2016. Though I missed my 6P, I found myself missing it less than I would have predicted. The Optima is a very solid selection for those looking for a budget phone with a premium feel, great battery life, and a decent display. While Posh lists the MSRP for the Optima at $229.99, you can buy the phone on Amazon in both black and gold for $169.
Specs
- Display: 5.0″ 720p IPS LCD (~294 PPI)
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Processing Package:
- CPU: Mediatek MT6753 Octa-Core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53
- GPU: Mali-400
- RAM: 2GB
- Battery: 3000 mAh Li-Po non-removable
- Storage: 16GB (Expandable 32GB)
-
Connectivity: Dual Sim
- GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
- LTE Bands: 2 / 4 / 7 / 17
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
- Bluetooth: v4.0
- USB: microUSB v2.0
- Price: $229 $169 (on Amazon)
Build and Design
The Posh Mobile Optima LTE L530 has a very nice balance between metal, glass, and plastic. Glass is used to cover both the front of the device and the rear facing camera. This Glass gives the phone a premium feel while also providing increased durability. A plastic plate covers the back of the phone, but it does not detract from the phone’s premium feel. Joining the front sheet of glass and rear sheet of plastic together is a metal skeleton. In addition to feeling great in hand, the metal band provides a lot of rigidity to the device.
To get this premium feel out of a “budget material” like plastic, Posh used a glossy hard plastic that feels similar to glass. While I’m sure this plastic back allowed them to save a lot of money on production thus keeping the device cheaper for consumers, the back is slippery and scratches extremely easily. A few days of setting the phone on my desk and visible scratches appeared on the rear of the device. Despite the slippery feel and ease of scratching, I’m glad Posh used the materials they did. Between the 5.0″ screen and premium feel, the device is a joy to use and fits well in your hand.
Many budget phones don’t include added features like fingerprint scanners, but Posh decided to add one to the Optima. The fingerprint scanner, if implemented properly, could have been a nice touch for the device at its price point. Unfortunately, I found the fingerprint scanner to be more of a nuisance rather than a useful feature since I could only get the fingerprint scanner to recognize my finger about 50% of the time on the first try. One reason for this lack of functionality could be the fact that the Optima L530 is still running Android 5.1 Lollipop. To get its fingerprint scanner to work, Posh had to develop its software to integrate its fingerprint scanner into Android since Android did not officially support fingerprint sensors until Marshmallow.
Display
The Optima LTE L530 has a 5.0″ IPS LCD with a resolution of 720p. Following the example of many budget phones before it, the Optima uses a lower resolution LCD panel to presumably save money and get the most out of the battery. The display did not seem cheap in the slightest, though, and I enjoyed using it to watch videos and read. The Optima has wide viewing angles and PPI nearing 300 allowing text to be read clearly at nearly any angle.
A few Posh devices have had issues with the overall brightness of their displays being very low; this is not the case with the Optima L530. I found that I had to turn the auto-brightness feature off to prevent the device from cooking my eyeballs indoors. I leave the brightness at around 35% at almost all times both indoors and out. The only time I adjust the brightness is in bed at night when I’m reading. Even with the phone’s ability to deep fry your corneas, its lowest light setting is still shockingly low and allows for a good experience reading at night.
Software and Performance
The software experience across the Posh lineup varies significantly. Some devices like the Volt L540 come with a heavily skinned version of Android. The Optima L530 does not. Posh has added some “enhancements” to its version of Android, such as functionality for the fingerprint scanner, but I was excited that the phone still feels distinctly like stock Android Lollipop.
When you get the device, you will need to do a bit of downloading. The phone comes with almost nothing installed. No bloatware, no extras, nothing except the mandatory Google apps and a handful of Posh apps like “Posh Apps” (Which doesn’t load), Inbox (Not to be confused with Googles Inbox), an FM radio tuner, and a basic sound recorder. This is a nice change from the bloatware riddled devices I am used to. I was able to choose what I wanted to install, and I didn’t have to navigate around other “mandated” software. This experience was a bit freeing for me. Despite all this freedom, though, I am still having issues changing my default messaging app. 
I now have two apps that receive texts and have those lovely notification flags. The messenger bug and fingerprint software aside, I have had no software issues with the phone that would prevent me from using the device in my day to day.
As with many budget friendly devices, Posh had to make sacrifices somewhere to lower the price of the Optima and the performance of the device saw some of the corner cutting. For the first week using the device, I used completely stock settings. While the Optima was usable, I did find it to be a bit slow, and it would stutter through animations occasionally. I decided to try and speed up the phone by enabling developer options and decreasing the animation scale by half. Not only did this speed up the transition between screens, I saw a huge reduction in the stutter between animations as well.
Battery
The battery in the Posh Optima LTE L530 is something to write home about. Posh managed to cram a 3000 mAh battery into the Optima L530. This combined with a power-efficient processor, and a smaller screen with a lower resolution allows the device to go for days at a time. I have come to expect 4 hours of screen on time on any given day from the Optima. Unfortunately, there is a small catch to the great battery life. Once you drain the big battery, you will be tied to the wall for 2+ hours to get back to 100%. To include a quick charge feature on the device, while nice, would have raised the price of the Optima. I think excluding it was a smart move on the part of Posh.
Camera
The Optima LTE L530 has two 13MP sensors with a 2.2 aperture. The rear of the device has a dual-tone LED flash, while the front only has a single tone LED flash. The Optima can record 1080p video at 30fps, has autofocus on both the front and rear sensors, and HDR capabilities. While these specs are far from the worst out there, they do not produce good pictures. Even with perfect lighting conditions and a steady hand, pictures will be blown out, foggy, and have a soft focus. You will not want to use this camera for more than picture messages, and social media.
Conclusion
One major criticism I have with the device is the decision to go with Android Lollipop over Android Marshmallow. The L530 was released six or more months after the announcement and release of Android 6.0, and yet it is still running Lollipop. I feel the inclusion of Marshmallow would have improved my experience on the Optima. The fingerprint scanner would have had built-in software support, the great battery life would have gotten even better with Doze, and general functionality of the phone would have improved and gotten smoother. I’m holding out hope that Posh will release a 6.0 update (or jump straight to 7.1), but regardless of what “could have been,” the Optima LTE L530 it is still a good device.
When Posh Mobile sent me the Optima LTE L530, I was expecting to get a “chunk” of plastic with a cell radio inside of it. Instead, I got the pleasure of using a well-designed phone. Posh has built a well-rounded device in the Optima L530. Many budget friendly devices make enormous sacrifices to make one feature on the phone excel, but Posh went a different route with the L530. The phone does well in many categories with a focus on the display, battery and build quality. This winning combination, combined with the $169 price tag on Amazon makes the Posh Mobile LTE L530 a phone well worth your money.
Lensbaby Trio 28 review – CNET
The Good The Trio 28 is an efficient way to carry three Lensbaby lenses, and they’re fun to use.
The Bad The exposure changes from lens to lens, which can get annoying.
The Bottom Line For the price of a single Lensbaby, the Trio 28 is a nice, compact solution for adding three lenses to a mirrorless camera.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Lensbaby expands its arsenal of special-effects lenses with one that’s almost as odd as the effects it produces. The Trio 28 consists of a single mount with three 28mm lenses that you rotate into place: a Sweet, a Velvet and a Twist.
Like their full-size counterparts, the Trio 28’s Twist lens surrounds the central area with swirly bokeh; the Velvet looks soft and glowy; and Sweet renders increasing blur from the center out. On Micro Four Thirds cameras, the Trio 28 lenses have about the equivalent angle of view of a 56mm lens, while APS-C Sony E mount and Fujifilm X mount versions deliver 42mm.
Like all Lensbabys, they’re manual-focus only, and in this case they also have a fixed f3.5 aperture. It only adds about 4.1 ounces/116 g to the weight of the camera, so it won’t weigh you down at all. There’s a 46mm thread across the front for filters, and you might want to spring for a neutral density filter for shooting in bright light.
Lensbaby Trio 28 photo samples
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The lens is slated to ship in the US on October 26 for $280, essentially three lenses for the price of one. I don’t have other pricing or availability yet, but that directly converts to about £216 and AU$365.
Wacom MobileStudio Pro Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Darren Higgins/Wacom
I never reviewed the Wacom Cintiq Companion, the company’s pressure-sensitive Windows tablet that doubles as a second computer display, because it seemed too clunky and underpowered for the price when it launched three years ago. Now, thanks to the popularity of more pen-friendly operating systems and applications plus vastly improved tablet hardware, it seems like a much better time for a product like the Cintiq Companion. Wacom has really upped its game for the rebranding and expansion of its line of tablets for creatives, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro — also a much better name — though they’re still pretty expensive.
Expected to ship by the end of November, the MobileStudio will have six configurations, four 13.3-inch and two 15.6-inch models. All run Windows 10 and use a new stylus, the Pro Pen 2, which has improved precision, less lag and 8,192 levels of sensitivity. (I think– the company says “4x” the previous model. Even 4,096 would be great, though.) Wacom’s MobileStudio Pro tablets look more like their desktop Intuos equivalents than competitors like the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, with the same controls.
The MobileStudio 13 models have IPS (in-plane switching), 2.5K displays with gamuts rated at 96 percent of Adobe RGB. Prices vary with storage capacity: $1,500 for a 64GB SSD, $1,800 for 128GB, $2,000 for 256GB and $2,500 for 512GB. (I don’t have any UK or AU pricing, but directly converted those are about £1,180, £1,415, £1,570, £1,965 and AU$1,970, AU$2,360, AU$2,625, AU$3,280.)
The MobileStudio 16 models use a 4K (UHD resolution) display rated at 94 percent Adobe RGB. The cheaper $2,400 model incorporates an Nvidia Quadro M600M processor with 2GB of video RAM and a 256GB SSD, while the $3,000 model has an Nvidia Quadro M1000M with 4GB of video RAM and a 512GB SSD. (Directly converted, £1,885, £2,360 and AU$3,150, AU$3,935. ) The MobileStudio 16 and the most expensive MobileStudio 13 models include an Intel RealSense 3D camera.
Obviously, there are still ton of details and specifications we need to know before really understanding what Wacom’s got here — I mean, how much does that 15.6-inch model weigh? I do know that you’ll still be able to use the old $50 (£45 and AU$50) Bluetooth-connecting Cintiq Companion keyboard, so you’ll be able to get your non-artsy work done, too.
Sony PlayStation VR review – CNET
The Good The PlayStation VR is the most accessible, affordable and user-friendly full VR option on the market. Sony has promised support from a long list of developers down the track but the immediate launch games are pretty solid as well.
The Bad Its single-camera tracking system occasionally feels lacking and you may have trouble when you turn around. The PSVR’s graphical fidelity is occasionally noticeably lower than what’s possible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
The Bottom Line While the motion tracking trails its PC VR counterparts, Sony’s PlayStation VR otherwise crams a solid and satisfying virtual reality experience into an existing PS4 game console.
2016 has lived up to its billing as the “year of virtual reality,” with products at the high end (HTC Vive and Oculus Rift) and in the mobile arena (Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream) offering VR options across the spectrum.
Now a new contender appears, with an established brand and a gigantic install base. The PlayStation VR, available October 13, represents the most accessible path to VR if only because every one of the roughly 45 million PlayStation 4 owners already has half the required hardware.
It’s also the only “full” VR system — that is, one with spatial and motion tracking — that’ll get you up and running from scratch for under $700, £630 or AU$1,050. By itself, if you already have a PS4, it’s $399, £349 or AU$550. The combined cost (PC plus headset) for Oculus and Vive currently sits north of $1,200.
To be sure, this is an expensive toy and certainly not for everyone. In fact, Sony says it’s not designed for kids 12 years and under. But considering its price and the fact that you may already have half the hardware sitting in your living room, the PSVR presents a very compelling proposition.
Combine that with PlayStation’s well-established distribution platform, close relationship to the developers crafting these VR experiences and quality control, and the PSVR is a more worry-free answer to the potentially confusing world of PC-based VR.
View full gallery The first time setting up PSVR took 10 minutes. Sarah Tew/CNET
Setup
Setting up either of the two existing PC-connected VR rigs isn’t pretty. The same goes with the PSVR. It’s not an overly complicated process, but the interconnected wired web that results isn’t necessarily something you can tuck away out of sight.
You’ll need an extra outlet to power the PSVR’s processor unit and you’ll also need to devote one of the PS4’s two USB slots so that it can talk to the console. The unit is about the size of three CD jewel cases stacked on top of each other — this of course needs a place to live as well.
The whole thing took me about 10 minutes to connect my first time. When it’s all done and dusted, what you’re left with feels inelegant and messy, but part of VR is being tethered to a long wire. That’s just where the tech is right now. Compared to the Rift and Vive, the PSVR is no better or worse in that department.
Buying the standard $399 PSVR kit assumes you already own a PlayStation Camera and two Move controllers. You absolutely need the camera to use the PSVR and two Move controllers are all but required. If you don’t possess these items you’ll need to purchase them separately. But don’t do that. For $499, Sony sells a bundle that includes everything you need — save for a PS4 — and packs-in the mini-game collection VR Worlds as a bonus. It’s a good deal if you’re missing some of the prerequisites.
With everything connected and the headset on, I was surprised that booting up the PS4 didn’t force me to start any kind of in-depth setup. A few quick adjustments and I was mostly ready to go. When you press the headset’s inline power button, the console switches into VR mode which shifts the menu screen to the headset and mirrors a lower res version of what you’re seeing onto the TV.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Intuitive icons explain that you can recenter the home screen if you need to at any time (which is probably something I do at least twice a session). Instead of a general initial setup, most software will activate a number of calibration check marks so that you get the best optimal performance for that specific experience. Long story short, at the very least you’ll probably be doing some kind of minimal adjustment to your VR play area each time you play. The more I played, the more I learned which games needed more finessing than others.
In the manual, Sony says you need approximately a 10 by 6 foot area (about 3 by 2 meters) needed for play, but I was able to get it working fine in a space only about 7 by 4 foot (about 2 by 1.5 meters). The PSVR seems relaxed about how much space you need, and even a few square feet of floor space could end up working for a handful of games.
Included with our review kit was a PowerA $50 stand — think mannequin head — to hold and organize all of the PSVR accessories. It’s actually something worth checking out because there’s not a really good place to store all of these items when you’re not using them. The stand also charges two Move controllers and a DualShock4 PlayStation controller simultaneously. It has a spot to hang the headset too, but it tends to droop down too much.
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The PowerA charging stand ($50).
Sarah Tew/CNET
Lastly, if you’re at all concerned about HDR compatibility, the PSVR’s processing unit will not pass an HDR signal through. You’ll need to use a direct HDMI connection for HDR to work whether you’re using a PS4 or PS4 Pro.
What is experiencing PSVR really like?
The question I get asked most about PSVR is, “Does it work?” Make no mistake: I let out an audible gasp the first time I tried Batman Arkham VR. It felt similar to the first time I demoed the HTC Vive Portal: Aperture Robot Repair demo. That feeling of shocking immersion is certainly ever-present. The PSVR lets you escape the world you currently occupy and warp into a fully 3D artificial existence. It works.
But, it can also make you dizzy. If the camera isn’t tracking you well, the artificial floor can start to drift while playing. That’s a weird feeling! It feels like you’re drunk and can’t hold yourself up.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Judging from my limited time with Oculus Rift but hours with the HTC Vive, I found the overall experience to be in the same ballpark as the other “full VR” hardware out there. I say this as it relates to the VR immersion — not necessarily the visual fidelity. The Rift and Vive offer slightly higher screen resolutions and variable performance depending on PC specs. The PSVR, on the other hand, is locked into the same performance across the board because it’s powered by a PS4.
Solid headset, controllers are just OK
The best part of the PSVR is its headset. Out of all the VR headsets I’ve worn I think this is the most comfortable, but certainly not the lightest. The headset has a slightly plasticky feel to it, but I wouldn’t call it cheap. It seems to be able to adjust to most head sizes (note: I have what some call an enormous head and it fits fine) and I like its retractable band adjuster and sliding viewfinder. That said, I can’t wear it — or any other VR headset — for more than 30 to 45 minutes tops, without getting the overwhelming sense that I need to take a break.
It’s easy to muck up the lenses in the headset. Whether it was my eyelashes or just accidental smudges from adjusting it for comfort, I found myself cleaning the two lenses a lot. There’s an included shammy for doing just that.
And then there’s the sweating. Am I a person who sweats a lot normally? Yes. But everyone I’ve let try this thing ends up with a nice moist patch above their eyebrows. That’s just the way it is. Is it a deal breaker? Not at all. Just don’t spend an hour with the PSVR immediately before you need to look somewhat presentable.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
I do like that the headset has inline buttons to control volume. This is also where you plug in the included earbuds (you can also bring your own, but you won’t get the PSVR’s 3D audio). It’s easy to tangle yourself up in the wires from the buds too, which can be frustrating if you accidentally rip them out.
The controllers and room tracking, as they’re currently set up, leave a little to be desired. More often than not, something needs adjusting. The camera seems to have a difficult time tracking movement of the Move wands when you’ve turned around 180 degrees because the lenses physically can’t see them. It feels like the system tries to guestimate where they might be located when out of sight, but we’re not entirely sure what’s going on in these situations.
The Nexus line is dead, says Android chief
The Pixel will be like any other Android phone in one important area.
Google’s Nexus line is dead, says Hiroshi Lockheimer, head of Android engineering at Google.
The Google executive spoke to Bloomberg about the decision this week as it launched its own Pixel phones, saying that “there is no plan right now to do more Nexus devices,” squashing the persistent rumors that the company was working with Huawei to built a Nexus 7 tablet successor.
The move is not surprising for Google, since it has been endeavoring to build more of its own hardware in recent years. From the Chromecast to the Chromebook Pixel and Android-powered Pixel C, the company can count as many successes as it can failures, but the interesting part about this focus on smartphone hardware is that it believes it can coexist peacefully with the likes of Samsung and LG.
Google’s internal hardware team will be treated similarly to any other Android OEM, including rivals Samsung and LG.
“Rick [Osterloh, new head of first-party hardware at Google] and his team will use our platform, but they will also work very closely with Google’s Search team, or the Maps team, or the Assistant team in ways that perhaps other OEMs may not want to,” says Lockheimer. In other words, Google’s hardware team will be treated similarly to any other Android OEM — the way Osterloh used to function when he ran Motorola within Google just a few years ago. Essentially, Google has built a mini Moto within its own battlements.
“Samsung tells us confidential information about their product lineup, their plans,” Lockheimer notes. “We won’t tell LG that, and vice versa. That continues. Everyone is treated the same, including Rick’s team.”
That is perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the move to Pixel. Instead of partnering with OEMs on Nexus products each year, Google has instead built a silo inside the company, separating the hardware division — under Osterloh — from Lockheimer and the Android team.
Most people won’t notice the difference — a non-curious Pixel user will merely understand that he or she is using a phone built by Google running Google software — but the enthusiasts among us have questions. For instance, if Google is treating its hardware division the same as Samsung and LG, what will this mean for updates? Google has already broken tradition by releasing the Pixel features that won’t come to last year’s Nexus devices in their entirety.
While the Nexus 5X and 6P will reportedly be upgraded to Android 7.1 later this year through a developer preview, they are unlikely to get the Assistant built into the core OS, relying on legacy versions of Google Now and Now on Tap, recently renamed “Feed” and “Screen search” respectively, in its place.
While the Nexus 5X and 6P will be updated to Android 7.1 at some point, they probably won’t get the features that Google is using to sell the Pixel phones to consumers.
That Lockheimer claims that Osterloh’s internal hardware division will be “treated the same” as any other Android OEM is interesting, because the Pixel phones are being touted as the successors to the Nexus line in terms of updates. But whether those updates will be freely available on Google’s developer portal for people to sideload, as they can with a Nexus 6P today, remains to be seen. It’s also unclear how the Pixel phones will interface with Google’s own developer community, whether the unlocked versions will function as testing devices for people ravenous for the latest and greatest source code. Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference, may look very different if the Pixel is treated as just any other Android phone, especially given the Android team’s enthusiasm for releasing technical previews well in advance of the final versions’ public release.
Google toed this line two years ago with the development of Android Silver, which was scrapped shortly before launch in favor of continuing the partnership approach — with Motorola. At the time, head of Android engineering, Dave Burke, told ReadWrite that there have always been “two outputs” for Android code.
We’re building a Nexus device and we’re building the open source code. There is no way you can build the open source code without the phone or tablet or whatever you are building. You have to live and breathe the code you are developing.
You can’t build a platform in the abstract, you have to build a device (or devices). So, I don’t think can can or will ever go away. And then, I think Nexus is also interesting in that it is a way of us explaining how we think Android should run. It is a statement, almost a statement of purity in some respects. I don’t see why we would ever turn away from that, it wouldn’t make sense.
It’s clear how the narrative has changed since then, as Google ramped up the design and production of its first smartphone line. The Pixels are less about “a statement of purity” as they are about Google finally being opinionated about how it feels a smartphone should look, feel, and operate.
While Google hasn’t given us any reason to think that the Pixels won’t naturally succeed the Nexus line from an update perspective, many of the restrictions imposed on Osterloh’s team may have unintended consequences, and may put off fans of the Nexus program, who will no longer be able to cling onto their flawed heroes of yesterday.
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
Google Store
Digital Offers: Secure your devices with SaferVPN for just $49
Using publicly available Wi-Fi can be amazingly convenient. But, it’s also fraught with security issues. Connecting to an unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspot makes you vulnerable to hackers who can gain access to all your passwords, banking information, and anything other private information.
If your phone automatically connects to available Wi-Fi networks, your phone might be connecting while in your pocket and opening up your data without you even knowing. Your options are to be way more careful about connecting your devices to open Wi-Fi networks or keep yourself with a layer of VPN protection. Of course, VPN subscriptions can also be quite expensive.
But that’s why we’re really excited to share this deal from Android Central Digital Offers. You can get a lifetime subscription to SaferVPN for just $49 and not only get a secure VPN connection for all of your devices, but also automatic Wi-Fi security with you wherever you go.
SaferVPN has an application for all your devices, whether they be Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS X, or Chrome, and you’re able to connect two devices simultaneously. Using 400 dedicated servers on over 30 countries worldwide, SaferVPN provides unlimited bandwidth, data and server switching to all its subscribers. Like other VPNs, it works to get around geo-locked content online. But then there’s the advanced Wi-Fi security, which is entirely unique to SaferVPN and automatically activate an encrypted VPN channel whenever your device connects to an unsecured Wi-Fi network. It takes the guesswork and worry out of staying secure when you’re using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
If you were to subscribe to SaferVPN for 30 years, you’d end up spending $1,800! But for a limited time only, you can get your lifetime subscription for just $49 — a 97% discount! So what are you waiting for? Buy now and keep your devices and data secure for life!
See at Android Central Offers
First comparison: Google Pixel XL vs iPhone 7 Plus
Google and Apple are going head to head in a big way.
There can be no doubt that Google’s new Pixel phones are all about competing directly with Apple and its iPhone. After years of letting hardware partners focus on specs and disparate features, Google has a top-of-the-line phone with a set of software features that are guaranteed to stand out in an increasingly crowded market. These are phones promising unlimited free photo backup, a deeply integrated AI, and software updates that are not only timely but install in the background with no effort on the user’s behalf.
This creates a scenario that even diehard Apple fans are forced to sit back and appreciate, and when it comes to hardware we’ve now got a quick look at how the Very Black Pixel XL looks next to the Black iPhone 7 Plus. Take a look!
On the inside
We’ve all seen the renders, and a significant number of you walked away with a single though in your head: “This thing looks like an iPhone.” As is all too often the case, these renders do the real Pixel XL little justice. Picking this phone up reveals a unique overall feel, not quite like any other phone out there right now. The tapers on the edges are less dramatic than the HTC 10, and as a result make the phone feel almost as curvy as a Note 7. The metal body offers a nice grippy texture, and the bezels are thin enough that you can feel confident you’re gripping the phone while using it with one hand.
It’s a significant departure from the iPhone 7 Plus, whose bezels are large enough that reaching across is difficult. Both of these phones rock a 5.5-inch display, but the Pixel XL itself is noticeably more comfortable to hold and use. The glass at the top offers a nice tactile differentiation, and happens to look pretty great, too.
While we know the actual manufacturer of Google’s Pixel XL is HTC, you won’t find their branding anywhere near this device. According to Google, every inch of the Pixel was designed internally. These are Google’s phones inside and out, making them the closest thing to Apple’s setup we’ve seen since the beginning of Android. While we’re not seeing any totally custom chips like Apple’s A10 Fusion, the specs here are plenty impressive.
| Operating System | Android 7.1 with Google UI | iOS 10.2 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 | Apple A10 Fusion |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
| Display | 5.5-inch AMOLED 2560×1440 | 5.5-inch 1920×1080 IPS |
| Rear Camera | 12MP ƒ/2.01.55-micron pixelsPDAF, Laser Autofocus | 12MP wide-angle (ƒ/1.8 aperture) and telephoto (ƒ/2.8 aperture) Optical zoom at 2x, digital zoom up to 10x Optical image stabilization, Quad-LED True Tone flash |
| Front camera | 8MP | 7MP |
| Battery | 3450mAh non-removable | 2900mAh non-removable |
| Charging | Fast charging | Standard charging |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2 | Lightning, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 32GB/128GB | 32GB/128GB/256GB |
| IP rating | IP53 | IP67 |
| Colors | Quite Black, Very Silver, Really Blue | Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black |
| Price | $769 | $769 |
Specs rarely tell you the whole story, and there’s going to be a lot of questions in need of answering when we actually get an extended period of time with the Pixel XL. Apple frequently demonstrates an ability to do more with less when it comes to battery, and while the Pixel’s AMOLED display is very good, Apple’s 1080p display is still one of the nicest LCD panels out there. There’s also the Snapdragon 821 processor, which claims to be 10% faster in most tests than the Snapdragon 820, but it’s likely not as capable overall as Apple’s ridiculous A10 Fusion chip in a straight performance test.
With zero shutter lag and HDR+ enabled by default, that camera comparison is going to be very interesting.
One particularly interesting note on this spec sheet, and something we’re all very eager to try, is the camera on the Pixel XL. Despite having the slightly narrower f/2.0 aperture, DXOMark claims this is the best smartphone camera in existence today. Google was quick to trumpet the superiority over the iPhone 7 in their presentation, but the iPhone 7 Plus has an extra trick with the second “zoom” sensor-lens combo on the back. This feature allows for the equivalent of 2x optical zoom, along with a “portrait” mode that is currently in beta, which competes with Google’s artificially-generated Lens Blur feature in its camera app. On thing we can say for sure is most of the time you’ll be able to launch the camera faster on the Pixel XL thanks to a dedicated double-press of the power button from anywhere. Combined with zero shutter lag and HDR+ enabled by default, we can’t wait to see the results.
Google’s Pixel phones also lack any real form of waterproofing, which isn’t great when you consider the price tag and the phones Google is competing with. Both Samsung and Apple stepped up their waterproofing game this year, and in this respect Google lagging behind is noticeable. This isn’t likely to be a big deal to everyone — at least until the phone is dropped in a puddle.
How all of this shakes out for real world testing is uncertain, but in our brief time with both the iPhone 7 and Pixel XL we learned that they look and feel nothing alike in person, and both offer truly compelling hardware packages at premium price tags. Identical price tags, as a matter of fact. It’s almost like that was done on purpose.
On the inside
While arguing iOS vs Android is mostly a waste of time, the Pixel experience promises something very different from your average Android experience. While Google is choosing to compete on some features — it has just realized Duo and Allo to take on Facetime and iMessage, respectively — it seems like there’s a significant cultural difference between going all in with Google versus going all in with Apple.
The two phones have identical price tags — almost like it was done on purpose.
Apple’s big focus right now is on protecting user data by doing most AI-based calculations on the device itself. That means those features exist locally and often don’t communicate with other apps phone; the benefit is that cloud data breaches don’t affect your personal data.
Google, on the other hand, wants you to be constantly connected and aims to improve your experience by offering features that work everywhere — and better, as you feed it more information. Google wants to build a personal experience just for you by sharing parts of your experience with all of the apps you use in the most secure way they can manage. Apple wants to offer you better ways to use Apple products, often at the expense of interoperability.
Is one better than the other? There’s no easy answer to the question, and that answer certainly doesn’t apply to everyone. For now, Google is offering unlimited free full resolution backups for all your photos and video, an AI that learns as you interact with it, and immediate software updates that download in the background and install automatically without any real time or effort from you. To some extent, Apple — even with iCloud Photo Library, Siri, and constant updates — doesn’t offer as mature an experience across all of those categories, and that’s what could really make the Pixel phones enticing to all people, even those with iPhones in their hands.
Has Google made the “iPhone killer” or a clone that is likely to be less interesting? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
Google Store
PlayStation VR review roundup: Here’s what others have to say about PSVR!
The first reviews are in for the anticipated PSVR; things are looking good!
As the console world’s first foray into the virtual world, Sony’s PlayStation VR has a lot riding on its shoulders. Does it live up to the hype? Will it serve as a great introduction to VR? Can it compete with the already-established Oculus Rift and HTC Vive?
We’ve rounded up a collection of written and video reviews to help you form an overall opinion of PSVR.
For more VR news and how-tos, don’t forget to head over to VRHeads.
Destructoid
Like most Sony related accessories, we basically have to hope it doesn’t give up on it too soon. There’s a future where Sony gets a year lead on a dominant VR landscape where even casual consumers are picking up a device, and there’s another (darker?) timeline a year from now where developers have abandoned it, instead relegating the headset to hour-long minigames as side experiences.
Check out Destructoid’s full review
Digital Trends
While PSVR offers limited power and options compared to Rift and Vive, it is still a worthy “full VR” experience, offering the kind of virtual reality that can trick you into thinking you’re somewhere else. You can look over the edge of a cliff, dive at the bottom of the ocean, or even fly.
Check out the full Digital Trends review
DigitalFoundry
engadget
Good on Sony for actually delivering a decent VR headset that comes in much cheaper than the competition. It’s even more impressive that it managed to get a decent amount of developers onboard for the initial push. Nonetheless, the PS VR is hard to recommend for most people. Even if you’re intrigued by virtual reality, it’s worth waiting for prices to go down and for the overall market to settle.
Check out the full engadget review
Game Informer
The first question many have about PlayStation VR is how it stacks up to the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and the quick answer is as expected: PlayStation VR is not as great as its main competitors. If you want to go all-in on virtual reality, money is no object, and you have an extra room in your house, then HTC Vive is the one I would personally recommend. That person is rare, however, and they probably bought a Vive back in April. The PlayStation 4 may lack in some areas such as screen resolution and controller-tracking, but this is modern virtual reality as we’ve come to define it. The headset offers a genuine sense of presence in its worlds and offers experiences unlike anything you’ve ever played before in the console space.
Check out the full Game Informer review
Gamespot
With Playstation VR, Sony has built the device and platform that has the power to bring VR to the forefront. Playstation VR is simple to use, and relatively affordable for millions of people. It’s technically impressive enough to be convincing, and most importantly, it already has really fun games you can play.
Check out the full Gamespot review
Gizmodo
But here’s the deal. Despite the fact that the headset’s hardware and tracking are less impressive than what’s offered by competitors, Playstation VR still wins because it has the best line up of games on any VR system. Ever.
Check out the full Gizmodo review
IGN
Sony has managed to make its lower-priced PlayStation VR headset competitive where it counts. Despite its relatively low resolution it looks very good in games, and the headset is comfortable to wear and easy to use after you’ve dealt with its many wires. Paired with the Move controllers it provides good but sometimes flakey motion tracking on your hands, but the PlayStation Camera’s limited viewing angle is a weakness, and so is its inability to see behind you.
Check out the full IGN review
PCMag
Polygon
Push Square
Tech Radar
In three short years, Sony has taken PlayStation VR from the ground floor of development to an industry-leading product. PlayStation VR is a wholly new platform that embodies so much of what made the original PlayStation so great – it’s innovative, smart and easy-to-use. It’s affordable and already has one or two must-play titles. It’s a far cry from a complete package – and in some ways fails to live up to the high bar set by the HTC Vive – but, for $200/£150 less than an Oculus Rift, I’m not complaining.
Check out the full Tech Radar review
TechCrunch
The PS VR is a truly transformative piece of consumer hardware. Virtual reality tech has existed for decades but price has always held it back from the real world users. At $399 for the headset and around $800 for the entire package, PlayStation VR finally takes the PC out of the equation and delivers positionally-tracked, high quality VR to real consumers.
Check out the full TechCrunch review
The Verge
Trusted Reviews
PlayStation VR is simply the best virtual reality headset you can buy right now. It’s cheap while not compromising on performance and quality. The headset is simply stunning and incredibly comfortable to wear, and the games already available are some of the best VR experiences I’ve ever played.
Check out the full Trusted Reviews review
VideoGamerTV
Your experience
Have you have a chance to try out PSVR? What was your opinion? Let us know in the comments section below!
If you’d like more intelligent discussion about PSVR, check out the VRHeads forum!
Best Workout Cases for Galaxy Note 7
Whats the best way to work out with your Galaxy Note 7?
Working out in 2016 means you’re going to want your phone with you at all times — whether it’s for music to keep you energized while you run or lift weights, or so you can confirm plans with friends for later in the evening.
The most popular way to carry a smartphone while you work out is with an armband case. If you’ve got a Galaxy Note 7, you’re going to need one that can accommodate phones with 5.7-inch screens. We’ve broken down some of your best options.
- MoKo Sports Running Armband
- TuneBand Go
- Armpocket Mega i-40 Plus
- Belkin Fitness Belt
MoKo Sports Running Armband
Designed to be lightweight and comfortable, the MoKo Sports Running Armband is a great budget option that will hold your Note 7 securely. Made from sweatproof materials and featuring an adjustable velcro band which supports arm girth from 10.8 to 16.5 inches, the MoKo band should fit comfortably on an average sized arm. It also features a slot for a house key, as well as an interior pocket for storing a credit card and/or some folded bills, so you can head out for a run with peace of mind.
See at Amazon
TuneBand Go
This is one we’ve recommended in previous workout band articles, and there’s a lot to like here. The TuneBand Go is a universal workout armband and will accommodate your Note 7 even with a slim case on. In fact, it’s recommended that you use this armband with a case, so that the clips around the corner only make contact with the case and not the phone itself. It comes with two armbands that will fit arms from 8 to 18 inches in diameter. For its wide range of compatibility and smart design, the TuneBand Go may just be the last workout armband you ever need to buy.
See at Amazon
Armpocket Mega i-40 Plus Armband
The Armpocket Mega i-40 Plus was designed to carry everything you’d want on you for your run, with versatility to be used with big phones such as the Note 7 — even if you use a case. Everything is kept secure in the zip-up pouch, which holds your phone tight to the touch-through screen with a silicone strap and also includes space for a key and slots for cards and folded bills. The armband is made of soft moisture-resistant bamboo-rayon mesh fabric and available in three sizes, but you’ll probably want to go to with the largest option just to be safe. It’s machine washable with solid build quality, but at $50 might be a bit pricey for some.
See at Amazon
Belkin Fitness Belt
While armbands are the norm for working out with your phone, you do have other options such as the Belkin Fitness Belt. It’s essentially a more stylish take on the fanny pack, that allows you to carry your phone, keys, energy gel and whatever else you want to put in the stretchable pouch. There are three compartment on the belt to help keep things organized, and with it’s no-slip design you’ll be able to wear it comfortably around your waist (adjustable up to 44 inches) without worrying about it slipping. The one downside about the fitness belt is the lack of a buckle or clasp, meaning you’ll have to step into it or pull it down over your head. If you don’t like the armband look or feel, Belkin’s Fitness Belt might be a better fit.
See at Amazon
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
AIVAnet 