Plantronics’ new wireless cans deliver noise-canceling for $200
Plantronics’ latest wireless headphones double-down on the company’s strengths: sound quality and price. For a relatively low price of $200, the BackBeat Pro 2 packs in decent noise-cancelling and even more thumping bass than its predecessor. But, once again, you certainly won’t mistake them for Beats or Sony cans, with a design that’s even less appealing than before. They won’t do much to change Plantronics’ image, but they might end up being the ideal pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones for less style-conscious buyers.
I was a big fan of the original BackBeat Pro, Plantronic’s first foray into premium noise-cancelling headphones in 2013. They were cheaper than the competition — which typically ranges from $300 to $400 — and they sounded pretty great, to boot. Last year’s BackBeat Pro+ refresh aimed to simplify pairing with the addition of a Bluetooth dongle, but that didn’t justify its higher $300 price. With this new model, Plantronics had to right a few wrongs. And for the most part, it succeeds.
While Plantronics’ previous headphones were large with circular earpieces, the BackBeat Pro 2 is a bit less bulky with oblong ear pad designs. The company claims it’s 15 percent lighter than before, and the overall volume has been reduced by 35 percent. You can certainly feel the weight difference just by picking them up. Not surprisingly, the BackBeat Pro 2 feels a lot more comfortable when you’re wearing them, and they’re also less comically large when they’re actually on your head. As for that earpiece design change, Plantronics says it’ll allow the Pro 2 to fit more comfortably for more people.
You’ll also notice some design changes this time around. The headset is still mostly made up of plastic, but Plantronics added a few flourishes to spice up its previously minimalist design. There’s a pseudo-carbon fiber material around the outside of the ear pads, and the inner circle has a wood-grain plastic finish. I wasn’t expecting much from the company design wise, especially since it was aiming for a lower price, but what we’ve got in the BackBeat Pro 2 is mostly dull. And in certain angles, they simply look ugly. I’m particularly turned off by the huge “L” and “R” on the inside of the ear pieces. Next time, I hope Plantronics puts more thought into aesthetics (though I’m glad they were able to de-bulk the headphones, at least).
Controlling the BackBeat Pro 2 is simpler than with previous models. Instead of having track and volume controls spread across rotating dials on the left and right ear pieces, the Pro 2 simply pushes them all to the left can. Turning the outer ring changes the volume, hitting the center circle plays and pauses the music, and hitting the inner ring lets you change tracks. While it seems confusing at first, I didn’t have any problem differentiating between the buttons while wearing the the Pro 2.
When it comes to wireless sound quality, though, the BackBeat Pro 2 are stellar. They have more of a bass kick than the previous versions, but it’s not overdone to the point of distraction. Most importantly, they sounded great across several genres of music, no matter if I was listening to David Bowie, Janelle Monae or Radiohead. When it comes to orchestral music, especially film scores, they conveyed a surprising amount of nuance for wireless headphones. They also sounded good while taking calls; I had no trouble making out what other people were saying, and the microphone did a good job of picking up my voice while ignoring background noise.
Plantronic’s active noise-canceling (ANC) also did a good job of reducing subway and street noise during my commute between Brooklyn and Manhattan. It’s not a feature I’d use all the time — in quiet environments ANC can make things sound too quiet to the point of being eerie — but it works well when you need it. Without ANC turned on, the BackBeat Pro 2 still sounded solid, while letting in a bit of background noise. For situational awareness, you can also flip on the “open listening” mode, which pipes in external sound into the headphones.
When wired, the BackBeat Pro 2 sounds even better. They’re best used when connected to a headphone amp (not just straight into a PC or phone), but with the proper power driving them they sound almost as good as headphones twice the price. Unfortunately, they don’t work as USB headphones, which is a nice feature I’ve seen on other wireless cans (including cheaper non-noise canceling options from Jabra). That feature you an easy way to connect them to PCs without going through the whole Bluetooth pairing dance.
As before, the BackBeat Pro 2 features sensors that automatically pauses your media when you take them off. That’s particularly useful for things like podcasts and audiobooks where you don’t want to miss out on anything. The BackBeat Pro 2 also automatically paused what I was watching when connected to the Apple TV, which was a lifesaver during recent binge watching sessions. And yes, they sound great for film and TV watching too.
For the quality hounds out there, Plantronics also included support for the AptX Bluetooth codec, which delivers even better sound wirelessly than the typical BT profile. AptX is supported by a handful of Android devices, PCs and Bluetooth accessories, though it’s still missing on the iPhone and iPad. Surprisingly enough, the codec is supported on Mac OS. I noticed slightly more detail when listening to the BackBeat Pro 2 on my MacBook Air compared to the Pro+.
Plantronics claims the BackBeat Pro 2 gets 24 hours of battery life, and while I haven’t clocked it closely, I’m surprised that they’re still on a “medium” battery after using them for music and movies over the past week. The previous BackBeats also delivered solid battery life, so this is an area I know Plantronics has experience with. If you happen to leave them on accidentally, the company claims they’ll last for up to six months in “Deep Hibernation” mode. Basically, they’re ideal if you’re anxious about battery life.
In the box, you also a soft carrying case, a micro-USB cable for charging and a 3.5mm audio cable. There’s also a slightly more expensive “SE” version of the Pro 2 for $250, which includes NFC pairing and a hard case. Given how useless NFC pairing typically is, though, I’d recommend avoiding that model.
Overall, the BackBeat Pro 2 is a solid upgrade for Plantronics, despite its aesthetic missteps. It’s a particularly good deal for people who pride quality and comfort over good looks. But here’s the thing: Design does matter, especially if Plantronics wants to be considered alongside Beats, Bose and Sony. While it can certainly compete when it comes to sound quality, Plantronics would be a force to be reckoned with if it could hone its design chops.
Instagram introduces new suicide prevention tools
If a friend is having a hard time or even in danger of hurting themselves, sometimes the first warning signs appear in social media. Instagram can now help you intervene anonymously with some new support options. If you report a post that worries you, your friend will get a message saying, “someone saw one of your posts and thinks you might be going through a difficult time. If you need support, we’d like to help.” They’ll then get the option to talk to a friend, contact a helpline or receive tips and support.
“We understand friends and family often want to offer support but don’t know how best to reach out,” Instagram COO Marne Levine told Seventeen. “These tools are designed to let you know that you are surrounded by a community that cares about you, at a moment when you might most need that reminder.” Instagram parent Facebook unveiled its own suicide-prevention tools earlier this year, and has a team that reviews reports to flag serious cases and weed out false reports.
These tools are designed to let you know that you are surrounded by a community that cares about you, at a moment when you might most need that reminder.
To craft the feature’s language, Instagram collaborated with folks who’ve experienced eating disorders or self harm issues, and worked with the National Eating Disorders Association and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “We listen to mental health experts when they tell us that outreach from a loved one can make a real difference for those who may be in distress,” Levine said.
However, mental health experts feel that Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social networks cause social pressure that can make users, especially teens, sleepless, anxious and depressed. And while it’s admirable that Facebook, Instagram and others have tools to help troubled users, they still haven’t properly dealt with the bullying and harassment at the root of many problems.
For those in crisis and in need of immediate help, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255. UK users can visit the Samaritans website or call 116 123. You’re not alone.
Via: Refinery 29
Source: Seventeen
Spotify App Not Coming to Apple TV ‘Anytime Soon’
A conversation thread on Github between a few developers and Spotify project leader Samuel Erdtman has confirmed that the streaming music company isn’t looking into developing an app for Apple’s fourth-generation Apple TV “anytime soon” (via AppAdvice).
In the thread, which began as a feature request for the Spotify SDK to support tvOS, Erdtman eventually closed out the comments saying that building support for Spotify on Apple TV has been “down prioritized.” That might not be an official confirmation that Spotify will never arrive on Apple’s set-top box, but Erdtman’s wording hints that it’s far from Spotify’s top priority at the moment.
To support tvOS has been down prioritized, You should not expect a release supporting it any time soon. I’m sorry about that.
Although Spotify users might like to take advantage of a tvOS app for Spotify, it’s not entirely surprising that the two companies may never reach an agreement on how such an experience would work. Over the summer, Spotify and Apple quarreled over the 30 percent cut that Apple now takes from iOS App Store subscriptions, which has caused Spotify to charge $12.99 for subscriptions purchased through the App Store, a $3 premium over subscriptions purchased on the web and $3 more than the price of Apple Music.
Spotify claimed Apple was using such a tactic as a “weapon to harm competitors,” while Apple accused Spotify of “resorting to rumors and half-truths” to gain public opinion in its favor. Apple’s new music royalty proposal for streaming services also adversely affects the free tiers of companies like Spotify and YouTube.
A potential Spotify tvOS app would likely be a free download users could use as a companion app to stream their music, but with so much bad blood between the two companies, it still seems likely that Spotify will simply avoid creating an app for tvOS at all. Amazon is also refraining from launching an Amazon Prime Video app on Apple TV, reportedly until Apple presents it with “acceptable business terms.”
For Spotify users frustrated with the news, Apple’s AirPlay feature can still be used to stream music from Spotify on an iPhone or iPad through a connected Apple TV.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tag: Spotify
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
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Full-Device Skins Causing ‘iPhone’ and Regulatory Labels to Peel Off Back of Jet Black iPhones
While full-device skins can be a good solution for iPhone owners looking for scratch protection without using a full case, those with Jet Black models should exercise caution when applying or removing the plastic wrap.
A small number of iPhone 7 Plus owners with Jet Black models have noticed the text printed on the back of the device, such as “Designed by Apple in California,” becomes transposed onto the skin upon being removed from the device.
MacRumors forum member ksyu found out the hard way when he removed a full-device skin from his iPhone 7 Plus and noticed the letters transferred onto the plastic. Under bright light, all of the rear markings, including “iPhone” and the required regulatory labels, are easily distinguishable.
“I had a normal protector on for about 1 minute and took it off,” he said. “The writing peels right off.”
MacRumors reader Keith experienced a similar situation when removing a Slickwraps from his iPhone 7 Plus:
The writing actually came off onto the clear Slickwraps just like pulling silly putty off of a newspaper comic strip. If you’re one of the people hoping to keep their phone in brand new out of the box condition this might cause a problem for you. I don’t know if the writing came off because the wrap is sticky or because it was a wet install meaning getting your phone wet then drying the phone could lead to the writing rubbing off.
The fine print does not completely come off the iPhone, but it does become faded. This type of issue has not affected previous iPhone models, nor does it appear to affect Black, Gold, Rose Gold, or Silver colors.
Apple says the high-gloss Jet Black finish is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process, but it remains unclear why the letters are rubbing off for some users. Fortunately, the problem does not appear to be widespread, but full-skin aficionados should be extra careful.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
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4 ways to enjoy iced coffee from home – CNET
If you prefer your coffee cold, you have likely noticed that it’s often priced significantly higher than its piping hot counterpart. The reason for this varies by shop, but typically comes down to increased labor, longer preparation times, a higher coffee concentration or a combination of the three.
If you don’t mind putting in a little time, you can replicate cold coffee at home while saving money in the process. Below are four different ways you can prepare your own iced coffee at home.
Slow chilled
The most popular way to brew iced coffee is by brewing it hot and chilling it overnight. This is the way iced coffee is typically made in coffee shops.
Chris Monroe/CNET
This process gives you the same strong flavor and full acidity of hot coffee without the burned tongue. It also means the prep time is anywhere from 6 to 10 hours, not mere minutes.
To brew this coffee at home, brew your coffee as you normally would — in an automatic brewer, pour over, French press and so on. But consider upping the dose of ground coffee by 30 to 50 percent to adjust for dilution from melting ice. Alternatively, you can freeze some of the coffee in an ice cube tray and add those instead of regular ice to avoid diluting your coffee.
Once the brew process is finished, move the coffee to a pitcher or carafe and place in the refrigerator, covered, until cool.
If you prefer your coffee sweetened, it’s best to add sugar before chilling.
After it has cooled, you can serve it black over ice, with cream and sugar or, my favorite, over ice cream.
Flash chilled
If you don’t have time to wait, you can make iced coffee in the same amount of time it would normally take to brew a cup or pot.
To do this, you brew a higher concentration coffee, replacing some of the water you would normally use to brew with ice.
Taylor Martin/CNET
In other words, I typically brew with a 1:15 ratio, meaning for every 1 gram of coffee, I use 15 grams of water. For iced pour overs, I replace 1/3 of the water with ice. So if I were brewing with 30 grams of coffee, I would use 450 grams of water. For an iced pour over, however, I would use 300 grams of water and 150 grams of ice.
There are several variations of this style of brewing, which is often referred to as Japanese-style iced coffee. And while it provides the best results with the pour over method of brewing, it works with other brew methods, as well, such as the AeroPress, Clever Dripper or automatic brewers.
The result with the Japanese-style iced coffee is generally a much brighter cup of coffee which could be mistaken for being weak. If done correctly, it should produce a cup of coffee which is comparable in intensity and acidity to one that is slow chilled, but with much brighter tasting notes. This flash chilled style of brewing works best with medium to light roasts, as it tends to highlight floral- and fruity-tasting notes, and sometimes drinks more like a tea than a coffee.
Cold brew
While it’s been around for decades, the ease of the brew process and much lower acidity is making cold brew an increasingly popular choice for those who drink their coffee cold. It’s also among one of the more expensive menu items at coffee shops around the world, not only due to the long preparation times, but because it’s often brewed at much higher concentrations.
A hot-brewed coffee might be made at a 1:15 to 1:25 coffee to water ratio. Cold brew is often brewed at a 1:4 to 1:8 ratio. Even after cutting the concentrate with water, it’s a very strong coffee that’s costly to make.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Unlike other brew methods, cold brew coffee requires room temperature water. As the name suggests, the coffee is never heated during the brew process. Instead, coarse coffee grounds are added to water and steeped at room temperature or in the refrigerator for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. (If you steep in the refrigerator, the lower temperature will require a longer steep time.)
CNET’s own Brian Bennett explains that you don’t need any special equipment to make cold brew at home. As long as you have a way to filter the grounds from the coffee after brewing, you can make it in any pitcher or even a mason jar. That said, the filtering process and cleanup is much easier if you use one of the dedicated brewers, such as the Takeya Cold Brew pitchers or a Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker.
Cold brew coffee usually tastes more nutty and chocolaty than cold coffee brewed with the other methods. It’s also more forgiving when it comes to the beans used, and it’s one of the easiest ways to make lots of coffee in one, large batch. You could make one batch on Sunday and have coffee to drink all week, versus having to brew coffee daily.
Blended
While not a brew method in and of itself, if you’re more of the blended-ice coffee drink kind of person, you can use one of the above brew methods to add coffee to your morning smoothie. Iced coffee pairs very nicely with tons of flavors and ingredients: berries, citrus, caramel, nuts, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon and, of course, pumpkin.
Not only will this add a jolt to your daily pick-me-up, it can also save you a costly trip to the coffee shop on your way to work.
Google Pixel XL: Hands on, early impressions, and camera samples
Announced at a San Francisco event on October 4th, the Pixel and Pixel XL are the two new smartphones from Google for 2016. The pair of phones are the first to offer the Google Assistant software technology and look to head further down the path already started by the nexus line.
What makes this year’s effort different from those in the past? As it turns out, plenty. Not only is the Pixel line smarter and more capable than all other phones, but it also packs a world-class camera experience, too. Indeed, the Pixel offers up a rear camera that bests all previous smartphone shooters.
Digging into the hardware, the Pixel boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, among the first smartphones to do so. Clocking in at 2.15GHz (four cores) and 1.6GHz (four cores), the handset also benefits from having an Adreno 530 GPU. Toss in 4GB of memory and you’ve got the making of one of the most well-rounded phones of all time.
Storage comes in the form of 32GB and 128GB options but you won’t find a microSD expansion card slot. This might push some away as some of us have come to rely on external storage for housing our media. But, before you get out the pitchforks, know that the Pixel and Pixel XL give customers unlimited lifetime storage of photos and videos at full, original resolution. Yes, that also means the 1080p and 4K videos you’re starting to see emerge.
Available in three distinct colors, the Pixel line can be had in Very Silver, Quite Black, and Really Blue. Prices start at $650 for the Pixel and $770 for the Pixel XL with availability through a number of online retailers. At start, Verizon Wireless will be the exclusive service provider to offer the phone. Don’t let that scare you off, though, as the unlocked models will work with other carriers, too.
Pixel versus Pixel XL
What’s the difference between the Pixel and Pixel XL? In short, it’s a larger display; 5.5-inches at 2560 x 1440 pixels instead of 5.0-inches at 1920 x 1080 pixels, and a bigger battery. The Pixel packs a 2,770mAh power source while the Pixel XL gets a 3450mAh unit.
A Qualifying Statement
We’ve spent the last few days with the Pixel XL and are ready to offer up some initial impressions. While we wish this was a full-on review, there’s simply no way to get that much feel for a device after only four days, two of which span a weekend.
Design
The phone takes a very minimalistic approach which starts at the box itself. With very little printed on the outside of the box, it feels somewhat like how Apple might package the device. Gone are the days of flashy boxes with all sorts of specifications and photos; this one is as bare bones as it gets.
Sliding the box out of its shell and opening it up we are greeted with the phone on the left and power supply and cable on the right. Underneath we find the additional cable and an OTG USB adapter for transferring files from another device It’s worth noting that we did not receive any headphones with this device so we cannot attest to whether this is the norm. Our box did not have any Verizon branding on it but we did receive a Verizon sim card to use for testing purposes. There was no extra space for headphones; they are not listed as included in the box on Google’s website.
Looking the phone over it definitely has a quiet and simplistic design. It is altogether very basic and boring yet still a little bit refined and unique. The bottom black is more than pictures suggest and the top is a little shinier in person. Both materials, however, are soft and slippery to the touch.
I’ll be honest, I would prefer the Silver version over the Back or Blue. In my time with the demos at Google’s press event, I found it to be in line with my preferred style and generally more stylish. But, given that I will ultimately protect this black one with one of Google’s Live Cases at some point, that color becomes a non-issue.
At a distance of a few feet, the black Pixel XL looks like a very utilitarian an almost uninspired slab phone. Pick it up, though, and you can feel the design choices in the material. The glass feels strong and secure and not prone to pick up fingerprints. The back, smooth and premium, also comes across as well-intentioned and thought out. But, were it not for the shiny upper third, the phone might be construed as generally boring – in black at least. Again, the Silver and Blue models felt “new” where this color is just “meh”.
The power button is located to the right of the display with the volume rocker sitting almost halfway up on the same side. Up top we find the 3.5mm headphone jack while below the screen is the USB Type-C port and speakers. Well… one speaker; more on that below.
Display
Whereas the screen does have a slight bezel to both the left and right of the display there is a much more pronounced one above and below the screen. I am not certain as to why there is so much going on below the screen as there are no soft buttons or physical buttons to be found. To be sure, it does feel like a lot of wasted space. My gut tells me it has something to do with having a uniform or mirror approach where the top reflects the bottom.
Staying with the topic of the display, the ever-so-subtly curved edge around the screen is quite nice. And, when you factor in the Gorilla Glass 4 and protective, oleophobic coating that keeps it from getting smudges and fingerprints, we can surmise that this display will take a decent beating and still look sharp in the process.
As far as the picture quality goes, the 2560 x 1440 pixels image is sharp and vibrant. We’d expect nothing less in a flagship phone with a 5.5-inch screen, especially in late 2016. Given that, it’s easy on the eyes with a well-balanced color.
Around back we locate the fingerprint reader which is about one-third of the way down from the top. It is essentially in the same spot as the Nexus 6P and feels very natural when reaching for it. Above and to the left of the fingerprint reader is the rear camera and its flash and Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) and Laser Detection Autofocus (LDAF).
Branding
Then, of course, comes the branding of the device. Gone is the “Nexus” that emblazoned the flagship line of phones. Also gone is any mention of the word “Google”, too. In fact, the only thing you’ll find now is the stylized G which represents the brand itself. If you squint, the bottom displays a “phone by Google”, but it’s not outwardly obvious.
Android and UI
Powering on the device we are greeted with a very stripped down approach to Android. Nothing that is startling, mind you but it is quite refreshing to go back to a stock Android experience that is only what Google wants you to have. You won’t find any bloatware of carrier-branded software or services. This is as raw as it gets, and you’d be silly not to want for it.
To us, there’s nothing quite like the default vanilla Android builds. We’ve reviewed plenty of Android phones over the years and one common thread that skews scores more favorably is how the Android OS works. Google’s vision of Android is something we’ve always come to love. The stuff we’ve seen in this version of Nougat is no different. Hell, it’s better than ever.
The Android 7.1 build is very easy to learn navigate. Having tested every version of Android so far this one feels the most intuitive and user-friendly. The round icons are nice and uniform for the most part, however there are a few that stick out such as Allo and Keep. And, once you start to install other applications, that cute uniform user interface doesn’t look so uniform.
A few weeks from now, when we have a bunch our daily driver apps, the app tray won’t look as pretty. Call us silly, but this is where a custom launcher and icon pack can make all the difference in the world.
Setup
Going through the initial setup is a breeze, and Google does an excellent job of walking customers through the process. If you are migrating from one platform to another, Google will hold your hand as you make the jump from iOS to Android. Not only is the software there to support you, but there are cables in the box to assist as well.
If you already have an Android device, this setup makes it easy to get your phone back up to where you want in no time at all. And, if you are brand new to smartphones altogether, the Pixel and Android 7.1 are smart, intuitive, and comprehensible. The best part? You’re getting into an ecosystem (Google) of which you are likely already familiar and not one put forth by a wireless provider with an agenda.
Carried over from previous versions of Android, the launcher brings up all of your relevant news and information with a simple swipe to the left panel. As somebody who is quite fond of Nova Launcher and custom launchers, I am actually not in a hurry to get rid of the default Google setup. There is something very appealing about the way Google designed the interface.
With that said, I like the way in which users can swipe up from the bottom row of the phone to access the app drawer. No longer are you required to tap a specific icon; this is refreshing and comes across as “why didn’t they do this all along?”. The general color scheme, icons, and other Material Design cues work better than ever and come across as cohesive.
Google Assistant
We’ll be honest, it takes a little bit of time to understand what Google Assistant can really do for you. It is much smarter than a simple Google search or using Google Now. While you might be familiar with asking very specific and explicitly defined questions in the past, the Assistant is much smarter and more forgiving.
We like that we can use this from anywhere on the device and get help on just about anything. We even relied on it to help us find certain settings in the software on our phone. If there’s one are we’ve slowly eased yourself into with Google Assistant, it’s being able to talk more normally.
Look up Red Lobster, for instance, and then you can follow with, “how late is it open?” instead of, “how late is Red Lobster open?” Moreover, follow that with, “navigate me there” and you’re handed off to Google Maps.
Other Software Touches
Playing around with the settings, we found the “moves” and gestures to be rather helpful. Users can toggle one of three settings to make the overall experience quicker or more intuitive. One will let you double tap the power button to quick to launch into the camera while the other one lets you flip your wrist to go from rear-facing to front facing camera. It is not unlike what Motorola does to launch into its camera application.
The one we like the most, however, is this swipe for notifications. Users can swipe their finger down the rear fingerprint scanner to slide the notification shade down. Slide up, and they go away. It is very simple to unlock your phone and check for all notifications with just one finger.
Battery
In terms of battery, we think this one is a real winner. The standby time and talk time have been spectacular in these first four days, and we’ve only had to charge the phone twice. This includes using the charge that came out of the box which was roughly ⅔ full.
Plug the Pixel XL into the wall four a half hour and you’ll find you are back up and running with damn near a full day’s worth of juice again. Google claims 15 minutes of charging equates to seven hours of mixed use battery life.
Sound
While it might appear that the bottom of the phone houses stereo speakers, it’s really a case of one speaker and a placeholder cutout to match it. Indeed, the one on the right side is a dummy that doesn’t put out any sound. With that said, the lone speaker does provide a rather loud experience that’s clear and full. Watching a video in portrait will put the sound out in your right hand and, depending on how you hold it, could be muted by your palm.
Camera
Let’s talk about that camera, eh? We’re not experts in the area of photography, but we were seriously blown away by what the Pixel XL delivers. It’s super fast and color accuracy is as good as anything we’ve ever seen in a phone. And Google wasn’t lying when it said that HDR was enabled by default.
Was the camera perfect? No, we still had blurred images, for instance, when trying to capture a moving dog in lower lighting conditions. Moreover, there were traces of noise in night shots, too. But, when zoomed out and stacked up against other phones, the Pixel has already become a favorite still shooter around here. You can take a look at the embedded images below to get a feel for how the camera performs on the Pixel XL.
Performance
We’ve only loaded a few of the daily driver applications on this device so we can’t speak to the long-term viability, but we are quite optimistic. Things move about very quickly in all aspects of this device. The screen responds to our touch quickly, the apps load instantly, and Google Assistant never wastes time and getting you the right answers. The same goes for the camera shutter and fingerprint scanner.
Early Conclusion
All things considered, we’re very pleased with the Pixel XL thus far. There’s nothing here that alarms us, but it’s still not a perfect device. We’ll always champion for external storage and a waterproof coating is one of those features which should be standard by now. But, a few quibbles aside, it’s one slick piece of kit.
When you look at how much phone you can get for $400 today, it begs the question of whether the Pixel or Pixel XL are worth the extra money. To us, that comes down to a personal use case. Do you want or expect to take a lot of photos or video? If so, the Google line is one to keep an eye on.
With unlimited cloud-based storage, you’d easily spend money on another service for that kind of hosting. Ask a photographer or media creator how much they’d like to have 4K video service that houses things for them.
How important is it to you to have the Google Assistant? What about the latest release of stock Android? The 7.1 Nougat definitely has its advantages in both departments.
First time smartphone buyers might not necessarily head for the best of the best when it comes to devices. But, should they want to dive in head first, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are worthy contenders. This goes double if you need a helping hand; the built-in 24×7 support is something you won’t get elsewhere.
We’ll spend another few weeks with the phone and circle back to provide you with our full review.
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones from Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, Parrot and others tend to cost at least $350 (about £285 or AU$455). But not everybody wants to pay that much for a headphone, which is where Plantronics’ BackBeat Pro 2 comes in.
Priced at $200, £230 or AU$250, the BackBeat Pro 2 is being positioned as a premium headphone for less. The original BackBeat Pro was, too — and it was a good headphone for the money, despite being pretty bulky and not all that stylish. Nevertheless, it had a strong following among techie types who cared more about how it performed than how it looked.
What you get in the box.
Sarah Tew/CNET
With this new model Plantronics has slimmed the headphone down by about 35 percent, reduced its weight by about 15 percent, and made it more attractive. It also sounds great for a Bluetooth headphone, with relatively clean, dynamic, well-balanced sound that rivals the quality of its higher-priced competitors.
It’s comfortable, too, and has sensors that pause and resume your music when you take the headphones off or put them on. And while the noise-cancelling isn’t as effective as the Bose QuietComfort 35’s, it does a decent job muffling ambient noise without creating an audible hiss.
I’ve been using it in the office for the past few days and haven’t suffered any listening fatigue — from either the sound or the fit. It’s definitely a good work headphone and is ideal for an open-office environment if you want to shut out noisy co-workers. And it also played well outside — in the streets of New York in my case — though it will make your ears steamy on warmer days.
The controls on the left ear cup.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The control buttons, including a ring for adjusting volume levels, are on the left earcup, along with a button that you can switch on to activate an open microphone mode that allows ambient noise into the headphone and lets you hear your surroundings better.
As you might expect from a Plantronics product, the headphone is designed to receive calls. It works very well as headset, with a sidetone feature that lets you hear your voice in the headphone as you talk.
Battery life for music playback is rated at a healthy 24 hours at moderate volume levels. There’s an included cable so you can use this as a wired headphone, and it comes with a nice cloth carrying case. Plantronics also makes a special-edition model that costs $50 more and includes a hard carrying case. It also has NFC tap, so you can pair the headphone with devices that support it.
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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 (pictures)
All in all, this is a significantly improved headphone over the original BackBeat Pro. It’s an excellent alternative for those who don’t want to spend $350 or $400 on full-size noise- cancelling wireless headphones from Bose, Sony or Sennheiser.
I’ll have a full review after testing it for a little longer.
Specs and features
- The headphone can connect to two devices at once
- Battery lasts for 24 hours of continuous listening time and up to 21 days on standby
- It’ll hibernate for up to 6 months if it’s left on by mistake
- 100-meter (328-foot) range if you pair it with a Class 1 Bluetooth device
Google Pixel XL review – CNET
The Good The beautifully designed Google Pixel XL features a superb camera, an expansive display and the robust Google Assistant.
The Bad The XL is Google’s priciest phone yet. The camera Lens Blur feature needs improvement and it’s not as water resistant as its top-tier rivals.
The Bottom Line Get Google’s fantastic Pixel XL if you can cough up the cash and simply want more pure Android goodness on a bigger screen.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
It’s the Google Pixel XL’s time to shine. With Samsung’s $3 billion, exploding Galaxy Note 7 fiasco painfully out of the picture, the 5.5-inch Pixel XL is the premier high-end large-screen phone to get.
Its overall excellent camera and deep integration with Google’s new Assistant software give it an edge over the OnePlus 3. And though we’re waiting on LG to formally release its premium V20, preliminary benchmark tests and battery times on the V20 are already giving the XL a lead.
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge remains an outstanding 5.5-inch phone as well, but the Pixel XL (and smaller, somewhat cheaper Pixel) compels us with that pure, unadulterated Android experience.
I can (and do!) heartily recommend the Pixel XL for large-screen users who want a top-notch camera and pure Android with prompt updates. To save a little cash, opt for the smaller Pixel.
This review answers your major Pixel XL questions, but because both Pixel phones are so incredibly similar, you should read my complete Pixel review for all the nitty-gritty details.
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Google’s Pixel XL serves up more pure Android goodness
Wait, what happened to the Nexus?
For the past six years, Google partnered up with other phone makers like Motorola, Samsung, and most recently Huawei and LG, to make its Nexus phones. But Google is ditching that sub-brand and starting over. Now, it’s folding these two phones into its family of in-house designed products, known as Pixel (which already includes a tablet and laptops). And though HTC assembled the Pixel phone and Pixel XL together, Google designed and engineered it.
Goodbye Nexus, hello Pixel.
Josh Miller/CNET
What’s the difference between the Pixel and Pixel XL?
Google’s two new phones are nearly identical. The only hardware differences are the XL’s larger, sharper display (with a higher pixel density) and bigger battery. It’s also pricier, at about $120, £120 and AU$190 more than the Pixel. Everything else, including the processor, camera and design, are the same.
Because there’s so little difference, choosing between the two really comes down to size — if you like a larger phone, get the Pixel XL. Otherwise, the Pixel’s just fine. Unlike the case of the Apple iPhone 7 and dual-camera iPhone 7 Plus, you won’t miss any features by going smaller.
The Pixel (left) and the scaled up Pixel XL (right).
Josh Miller/CNET
Google Pixel vs. Google Pixel XL
| 5-inch; 1,920×1080 pixels | 5.5-inch; 2,560×1,440 pixels |
| 441 ppi | 534 ppi |
| 5.66×2.74×0.34 (at its thickest) | 6.09×2.98×0.34 (at its thickest) |
| 143.84×69.54×8.58 (at its thickest) | 154.72×75.74×8.58 (at its thickest) |
| 5.04 oz; 143g | 5.92 oz; 168g |
| Android 7.1 Nougat | Android 7.1 Nougat |
| 2,770mAh | 3,450mAh |
| $649 (32GB); $749 (128GB) | $769 (32GB); $869 (128GB) |
| £599 (32GB); £699 (128GB) | £719 (32GB); £819 (128GB) |
| AU$1,079 (32GB); AU$1,229 (128GB) | AU$1,269 (32GB); AU$1,419 (128GB) |
What’s so special about Google’s Pixel phones?
Two things. First, it comes with “pure” versions of the Android 7.1 Nougat software out of the box, and will be the first in line for future updates. Second, the Pixels have Google Assistant, an AI bot that uses machine learning and Google’s vast search database to answer all kinds of questions. It can look up facts and places to eat, schedule reminders, translate phrases and more.
Misfit Phase Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
How many fancy fitness watches can the market sustain?
Building the basics of fitness tracking into everyday watches has been happening for several years now. The Withings Activite, Garmin Vivomove, and several of Fossil’s watches already do it, and higher-end watches from others are getting into the same game.
The Misfit Phase and some of its color variations.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Misfit announced the Phase, its latest fitness tracker, and it’s going for the same idea. A roughly 42mm-size round watch with analog hands has automatic step and sleep tracking (no heart rate, though). The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, and uses a replaceable coin battery to last six months. It syncs automatically via Bluetooth to your Android phone or iPhone. The watch straps snap out from the back and can be replaced with any NATO-style 20mm field band.
Sarah Tew/CNET
To check fitness goal status, one of the two buttons on the case makes the hands spin around to show your percentage (on other competing watches, a second, smaller dial is often used). Another button triggers Misfit’s smart-button controls for connected devices, just like its other trackers.
The Phase vibrates, and it also has a notification indicator of sorts: a small cut-out hole that turns various colors. Called a “color window,” it’s not an LED light. It’s literally a mechanical part that swaps out color discs. Odd, yes? Eventually, these will be able to be customized in Misfit’s app to correspond to different sources. If one of three contacts calls, the minute hands will spin to one of three locations, and the color eye will turn a certain color. It’s like something out of a weird ’60s spy movie.
The “color window” is a little hard to see, and it’s not a light.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Phase will cost $175 when it debuts in November. But the problem is, there are already so many watch-like fitness trackers being released lately — including some from Fossil, which acquired Misfit — that unless you’re smitten with a particular design, you’re better off passing. The Phase has a clean design, and a thick but nicely built watch case. But it’s also more expensive than many alternatives like the Withings Activite Steel and Garmin Vivomove. We’ll review one when we get one later this fall.
Google Pixel review – CNET
The Good The Google Pixel has a fantastic camera, especially in low light. It’s elegantly designed. Google Assistant takes one of the most natural, human approaches to answering your voice.
The Bad The phone’s display is dim in outdoor sunlight and its camera’s Lens Blur feature is shoddy. It’s splash-resistant rather than dunkable, and it’s pricey compared to previous Google Nexus devices.
The Bottom Line If you’re wary of Samsung or looking for a worthy iPhone alternative, the Google Pixel is the high-end Android phone to get.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
With the Pixel, Google stepped up to bat, called its shot and knocked it out of the park. And the timing couldn’t be more fortunate with Samsung in the midst of an explosive crisis.
After six years of partnering up with device makers to create its Nexus phones, for the first time Google has stepped out on its own. The Pixel and Pixel XL are the latest additions to its line of in-house products. And while HTC may have put the phones together, it was Google that designed, engineered and branded them.
The gamble paid off. Starting at $649 in the US, £599 in the UK and AU$1,079 in Australia, the Pixel is fast, with an elevated, smooth design. Heavy investments in its camera resulted in a nimble shooter too. Though its special portrait mode is poor, it otherwise takes amazing shots that rival the Apple iPhone 7 Plus.
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Google Pixel: Quite, really and very good looking
It’s also the first phone to have the search giant’s new, thoroughly robust voice and search service, called Google Assistant, built in. It’s the most natural voice assistant I’ve experienced, and comes closest to giving me that Jarvis from “Iron Man” experience all these assistants appear to be chasing.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are still the best overall Android phones, but if you’re wary of Samsung, this is the premium Android phone to get.
Why the Pixel is one of the best Android phones right now
So what’s so great about the Pixel? Aside from the premium hardware, like the camera and processor, it packs new software features that are handy to use day-to-day. Read on to find out more.
The camera is (mostly) awesome
As you can tell from its name, Google makes a big deal about the Pixel’s camera, and it is superb. It takes even better shots than the already stellar iPhone 7 Plus, which I consider to be the reigning champion of camera phones. If you want the full scoop on how these two compare, check out CNET’s feature, Google Pixel vs. iPhone 7 Plus: Which camera is better?
The camera is fast, images are in focus and colors look vibrant. Close-up shots appear especially sharp and refined. Landscape scenes retain an impressive amount of detail and depth, even with objects that are far away.
The phone’s 12.3-megapixel shooter.
Josh Miller/CNET
Photos taken in dim lighting understandably weren’t as sharp and had more digital artifacts. But the camera did a good job at capturing available light and brightening up scenes. The flash made skin tones looked natural as well, and if it hadn’t been for a few reflections in eyes, it would’ve been hard to tell in the photos that it was even used.
The front-facing camera is excellent too. It has a wide enough lens to fit a lot of content (read: faces) in each frame, and it softened skintones enough to look appealing without appearing too airbrushed. To see the images I captured, check out the slideshow below.
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Just how good is the Google Pixel’s camera?
The camera can shoot 4K video and though it doesn’t have optical image stabilization, it uses a combination of the gyroscope and software to steady your videos all the same. This feature works well and it’s useful when you’re moving while recording footage. But it does give your videos a sort of surreal, almost drone-like quality.
Google Assistant helps organize your day
The Pixel is deeply integrated with Google’s search services and it’s the first hardware device to have Google Assistant baked in. Assistant is an AI bot that uses machine learning and Google’s vast search database to answer all kinds of questions you throw its way. It can schedule reminders, look up facts and places to eat, set alarms, give directions, translate phrases and more. And the more you use it, the more it’s supposed to learn about you and become more personalized.
Unlike Google Now (the company’s previous iteration of a digital assistant), Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana, Assistant is genuinely conversational. You can use your voice to speak to it in a natural, back-and-forth way, and it has a chat-like interface. After every interaction, there are suggested follow-up queries you can tap on to keep the conversation going.
Firing up Google Assistant (left) and asking Assistant where to find Japanese tapas nearby (right).
Lynn La/CNET
Like with most voice assistants, you forget that they’re there. But when you do remember, Assistant can be useful. It doesn’t hear every question correctly every time, but when it does, it works relatively fast. Compared to Siri, which sort of checks out after it finishes each task, Assistant builds upon my previous queries, so it made me interact with it longer.
Android Nougat packs some sweetness:
- The device runs a pure version of Android 7.1 Nougat. It’s the first to have Google’s messaging service Allo and its video calling app Duo preloaded (you can uninstall them if you want).
- Launcher shortcuts, aka Google’s take on Apple’s 3D Touch, lets you long-press on some apps to call up additional menu options.
- You can send gifs inside Google Keyboard, for all your giffy delights.
- To reduce eye strain from viewing a bright, bluish display at night, there’s a Night Light setting that tints the screen yellow. (Other Android phones and the iPhone already do this.)
- On the back is a fingerprint reader for added user security and services such as Android Pay. It works quickly, and as a bonus you can use it to slide down notifications on the screen.
It looks and feels great
The Pixel and Pixel XL are nearly identical, but the latter has a bigger, sharper display and a bumped up battery. Other than that, they’re the same. Both are polished and well crafted, and their sleek, one-piece aluminum design make them more elegant than previous Nexus devices.
The Pixel is one sleek piece of tech.
Josh Miller/CNET
Granted, the Pixel does sort of look like the iPhone, but it has chamfered edges and it’s wedge-shaped, which likely keeps the camera flush and avoid an unsightly bump. I also have to agree with what CNET’s Stephen Shankland wrote about the Pixel earlier: it hits a Goldilocks area of weight and heft. While the Nexus 6P was too heavy and the 5X felt too hollow, the Pixel feels just right.
AIVAnet 