Best Waterproof Phone
The best phones are ones you can take out in the rain or drop into a sink. The best of the best is the Galaxy S7.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S7
See at AT&T
See at Sprint
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
We’ve touted many aspects of the Galaxy S7 since its release: its design, its screen, its camera, and its software. But one thing is often overlooked in the Android ecosystem: waterproofing. With an IP68 rating that should be good up to one metre for 30 minutes, the Galaxy S7 can withstand the odd plunge into a pool or epic rainstorm.
Elsewhere, the phone hits all the right marks. Powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor, it is wildly fast, and should get more so with an upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat. Better, its 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage primes it for the next couple of years, while its camera is still best-in-class months after its release. Not only is the Galaxy S7 attractive, with a nicely-curving rear glass back that connects to polished aluminum bezels, but its 5.1-inch form factor fits nicely in the hand.
Bottom line: The Galaxy S7 is an all-around great phone that is a no-brainer if you’re looking for the ultimate in waterproofing.
One more thing: If you want something a bit more robust, check out the AT&T exclusive Galaxy S7 Active. It may not be quite as beautiful, but it’s a bit more drop-resistant, if that’s your thing. And if you want something a bit more accessible, the Galaxy S7 edge is slightly larger but just as water resistant.
Why the Galaxy S7 is the best
There’s something nice about being caught in the rain.
It’s truly reassuring to know that your phone can withstand inclement weather — whatever form that may take. The Galaxy S7 not only withstands wind, rain, snow and other torrents, but it doesn’t have to cover anything to do so; its Micro-USB port, speaker and headphone jack are fully exposed and don’t need any silly covers.
Waterproofing is just one aspect of the Galaxy S7’s dominance, and differentiates it from our favorite Android phone at the moment, the Google Pixel. That phone is barely water resistant, and Samsung adds a considerable amount of value to the Android ecosystem giving its flagship products (RIP Note 7) waterproofing. The Galaxy S7 is also more competitive with the new iPhone 7 as a result of this ingress protection — its IP68 is somewhat more substantial than the iPhone’s IP67 (though there are arguments to be made that they are more or less the same).
Having a waterproof phone also allows for some cool underwater experiences: the Galaxy S7 can take photos and shoot videos below the meniscus, which saves you an expensive case and a bunch of anxiety.
Best alternative
Sony Xperia XZ
See at Amazon
The Xperia XZ is Sony’s latest flagship, and it’s a pretty great phone, accessible through Amazon in the U.S. Sony has a great pedigree of waterproof phones going all the way back to the early Xperia Z lineup, and the XZ is the company’s best example yet. A 5.2-inch 1080p display may not seem sufficient in today’s market, but it’s a great panel, with vivid colors and excellent viewing angles. Similarly, Sony has taken its 23MP camera to the next level with the addition (finally!) of optical image stabilization.
Ultimately, though, the Xperia XZ encompasses Sony’s philosophy of iterative but progressively better hardware and software, with experiences that mirror Google’s own Android versions.
Bottom line: If you’re not taken with Samsung’s design or software, or want something a bit bigger and more substantial — or unlocked and cheaper — the Sony Xperia XZ is a great option.
One more thing: Looking for something a bit smaller from Sony with water resistance? The Xperia X Performance costs a bit less, has a more diminutive 5-inch form factor, and is just as fast.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S7, or its larger Galaxy S7 edge, are equally good phones for different users, but they both boast incredible specs, amazing screens, and waterproofing. It’s that last note we’re highlighting here because, for many people, it’s the difference between a usable phone and a call to warranty.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S7
See at AT&T
See at Sprint
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
We’ve touted many aspects of the Galaxy S7 since its release: its design, its screen, its camera, and its software. But one thing is often overlooked in the Android ecosystem: waterproofing. With an IP68 rating that should be good up to one metre for 30 minutes, the Galaxy S7 can withstand the odd plunge into a pool or epic rainstorm.
Elsewhere, the phone hits all the right marks. Powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor, it is wildly fast, and should get more so with an upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat. Better, its 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage primes it for the next couple of years, while its camera is still best-in-class months after its release. Not only is the Galaxy S7 attractive, with a nicely-curving rear glass back that connects to polished aluminum bezels, but its 5.1-inch form factor fits nicely in the hand.
Bottom line: The Galaxy S7 is an all-around great phone that is a no-brainer if you’re looking for the ultimate in waterproofing.
One more thing: If you want something a bit more robust, check out the AT&T exclusive Galaxy S7 Active. It may not be quite as beautiful, but it’s a bit more drop-resistant, if that’s your thing. And if you want something a bit more accessible, the Galaxy S7 edge is slightly larger but just as water resistant.
Best Black Friday UK games deals: Amazing PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo deals
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost upon us again and that’s great news for gamers. Not only can you snag many a bargain when it comes to the best games, you can also get yourself a shiny new console for a song.
That’s why we’ve put together the best gaming deals around, with links of where to get them.
We’ll also update this feature as more discounts emerge.
- Best Black Friday UK phone deals: Apple, Samsung, Android phone deals galore
Xbox One deals
Microsoft dropped a pre-Black Friday stunner in the form of huge reductions for the original Xbox One – among which is the Xbox Elite bundle with the amazing (and normally hugely expensive) Xbox One Elite controller.
Microsoft Store deals
You can get several original Xbox One deals directly from Microsoft, by heading to the Microsoft Store. They start at a penny short of £180 and all include a game or more. Plus, while stocks last, you also get a free copy of Forza Horizon 3 or Gears of War 4 with almost every console sold, regardless of the other bundled games. Here are the best:
- Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle – you can get a 500GB Xbox One, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Forza Horizon 3 for £179.99 – click here to view this deal
- Xbox One Name Your Game Bundle – get a 500GB Xbox One, Forza Horizon 3 plus another game choice from Forza Motorsport 6, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition or Rare Replay for £179.99 – click here to view this deal
- Xbox One Elite Bundle – a staggering 1TB solid state hybrid Xbox One and the amazing Xbox One Elite controller for just £199.99 – click here to view this deal
- Xbox One with Kinect Bundle – if you want voice control, Microsoft is offering a matte black 500GB Xbox One, Kinect sensor, Dance Central, Kinect Sports Rivals and Zoo Tycoon, all for £199.99 – click here to view this deal
- Click here to view all of Microsoft’s Xbox One deals
Game.co.uk deals
UK high street retailer Game is also getting in on the act, selling similar bundles and offering other cheeky original Xbox One deals.
- Get a 500GB Xbox One with Forza Horizon 3 for just £179.99 – click here to view this deal
- Or you can get a 500GB Xbox One with Forza Horizon 3 and a Turtle Beach 50X gaming headset for £199.99 – click here to view this deal
- A 1TB Xbox One with Tom Clancy’s The Division and Gears of War 4 is also available at £199.99 – click here to view this deal
- You can also get a copy of Fallout 4 with an Xbox One Elite Console, which includes the game, a 1TB solid state hybrid Xbox One and an Xbox One Elite controller for £209.99 – click here to view this deal
- Click here to view all of Game.co.uk’s Xbox One deals
PS4 deals
We fully expect a whole raft of PlayStation 4 deals on the build up to Black Friday, especially including the older standard model. These are the deals we’ve found so far.
Amazon.co.uk deals
Amazon will undoubtedly have some incredible deals throughout its Black Friday Lightning Sales promotion, starting on 14 November, but already has several great PlayStation 4 game bundles you can nab right now.
- Sony PS4 Slim with 500GB HDD and exclusive steelbook edition Battlefield 1 for £249.99 – click here to view this deal
- Sony PS4 Slim with 500GB HDD and Titanfall 2 for £227.99 – click here to view this deal
- Click here to view all of Amazon.co.uk’s PS4 deals
Nintendo deals
With the Nintendo Switch coming next year and the Wii U rumoured to be winding down, we are bound to see plenty of console deals during the Black Friday period. We’ll also see Nintendo 3DS and 2DS deals too, especially with Pokemon Sun and Moon available soon.
Nintendo Store deals
Nintendo itself will more than likely have several console deals on its online store in the coming days and weeks. In the US there are some amazing deals on 3DS handhelds, for example, so we hope they will make it across the pond. Here are the deals we’ve spotted so far.
- Wii U Premium Pack with Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon for just £259.99 – click here to view this deal
There will be plenty more deals across all categories throughout the next couple of weeks, on consoles, games and accessories. Check back often to see the best.
ICYMI: Screaming down a magnetic levitation tube
Today on In Case You Missed It: Hyperloop One is a concept design to put a high-speed transit line between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, cutting the commute time from two hours to 12 minutes. If the 760MPH speed frightens you, perhaps you’d be more interested in Zero Motorcycles’ new lineup, which increased range to 200 miles in one charge.
If you’re interested in Simple Habit the meditation app, that’s here, and a news story from Canada on its immigration website crash is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Nikon’s D5600 is a minor update with a focus on connectivity
If you’re holding out for a replacement for Nikon’s mid-range D5500 DSLR, you may be disappointed with the latest model. The D5600 is a very minor refresh that is obviously intended to act as a stop-gap until an all-new version comes along. Nikon added new wireless capability via NFC and Bluetooth, which gives you a constant connection to your smartphone via the not-very-beloved SnapBridge app. It’s also got new options for the 3.2-inch touchscreen, including cropping and a frame-advance bar.
Nikon also added the time-lapse movie functions available on pricier models, but otherwise, the D5600 is exactly the same as the D5500. That means you’ll get a 24.2-megapixel sensor with no optical low-pass filter, up to 25,600 ISO, an Expeed 4 image processor, WiFi and a 5 fps maximum shooting speed. For video, never Nikon’s strong point, it can do up to 1080p at 60fps. Nikon didn’t reveal the price, but the D5500 was $900 when it launched last year. The company said it will reveal US availability at a later date.
Source: Nikon
Buy Snapchat’s Spectacles at this weirdo vending machine
Spectacles, Snapchat’s odd but intriguing move into wearable hardware, is starting to make its way into the wild. The company just announced how you’ll be able to purchase Spectacles, and it’s about as weird as you’d expect. The glasses will only be available at custom vending machines called Snapbots — the first one arrived in Los Angeles, near Snapchat’s headquarters, earlier today.
That’s about all we know so far. You can purchase the $129 Spectacles at one of these vending machines, but there’s no word on where they’ll be or how long they’ll stay there. Snapchat specifically said that the Snapbots won’t stay in one place for very long, so if you’re in LA and want to get a pair, don’t hesitate.
pic.twitter.com/ECQhbYZBPa
— Spectacles (@Spectacles) November 10, 2016
We’ll hand it to Snapchat — this is a hell of a lot more fun than going to pick up a pair in Best Buy, and it fits in with the company’s plan to do this launch slowly and with the company’s signature goofy flair. If you’re itching to get a pair of Spectacles for yourself, your best bet is probably to keep an eye on the Spectacles Twitter page. It announced the first Snapbot drop and will probably reveal future locations as time goes on. Or, just visit the Spectacles home page and click the “find a bot” button — it brings up a Google map with the one current location. We’re sure there will be more soon.
Via: Mashable
Source: Snapchat
Yahoo admits some staff knew of 2014 hack
As Yahoo attempts to piece together how a hacker accessed 500 million user accounts back in 2014, the company has now admitted that some employees knew of a security breach when it happened. In a filing with the SEC, Yahoo said that while it only disclosed news of the attack in August, a “state-sponsored actor” had accessed its network two years ago but it didn’t quite know the extent of the damage at the time.
“The Company had identified that a state-sponsored actor had access to the Company’s network in late 2014,” Yahoo said in its filing. “An Independent Committee of the Board, advised by independent counsel and a forensic expert, is investigating, among other things, the scope of knowledge within the Company in 2014 and thereafter regarding this access, the Security Incident, the extent to which certain users’ account information had been accessed.”
In the same statement, Yahoo said it is looking into whether the same hacker was able to create cookies that would allow them to access user account data without the need for a password. Since the disclosure, law enforcement agencies have also shared data provided by an attacker. Yahoo is now assessing whether user details are from the 2014 hack or from a separate intrusion.
Account information stolen in the attack is thought to include email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (the vast majority of which were encrypted) and possibly security questions and answers too. The hack has already cost Yahoo $1 million, but it may run into the billions if Verizon pushes for money off its latest acquisition.
Via: Financial Times
Source: Yahoo (SEC)
YouTube’s new VR app lands on Google Daydream first
We’ve known about Google’s plan for a dedicated YouTube VR app since Daydream was first announced back in May. Today, the version of the video hub arrives that’s optimized for virtual reality. There’s a catch: It’s only available on Google’s Daydream platform right now. This means that you’ll need a compatible phone, like the Pixel and the Daydream View headset and controller to start watching.
YouTube has supported VR videos for over a year, but now there’s an app to provide a more immersive viewing experience. The new software makes every video from the site viewable in a virtual reality setting. Of course, 360-degree footage and content that’s designed for VR will offer a more believable feel of “going inside,” but regular videos can be viewed in a new theater mode. Voice search is there to help you find exactly what you’re after and you’ll be able to sign in so any channels you subscribe to and your playlists are easily accessible.
Daydream View launches today, so the new YouTube VR app will be ready for action when your headset arrives. There’s also an NFL VR series that debuts Thanksgiving day on YouTube, so you’ll be able to watch that as well.
Source: YouTube Blog
Apple TV Universal Search Now Includes MUBI, Hopster, and CW Seed
Apple recently expanded the universal search feature on its fourth-generation Apple TV to include MUBI, Hopster, and CW Seed. MUBI’s universal search functionality has been added in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while Hopster has been added in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, only users in the U.S. can take advantage of having CW Seed in universal search.
For those unfamiliar, MUBI is a $5.99 per month service that gives subscribers a new film every day, with up to a month to watch it, “so there will always be 30 extraordinary films” for users to watch each time they open the app. Hopster is also a straight-forward $4.99 per month streaming service, aimed at providing “safe and ad-free” entertainment for kids. The CW Seed app is an offshoot of the main CW network, and is home to shorter digital series, as well as older shows like Pushing Daisies and V, but it doesn’t include currently-running CW series, which are housed in the main app for The CW.
With these apps added, users will now receive content updates from each service within relevant universal search prompts. Universal search lets Apple TV users conduct Siri voice searches or text-based searches to find TV shows and movies across any app supporting the feature. When the Apple TV launched, not many apps were included in universal search, but Apple has slowly been expanding its reach ever since.
The current list of all apps supported in universal search, broken down by countries, can be found here.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
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AirPods Will Launch Next Week Says European Reseller
Last month, Apple delayed the launch of its all-new AirPods beyond the late October timeframe it originally promised, saying it needed “a little more time” before the wireless earphones are ready for customers. Since then, AirPods have remained listed as “currently unavailable” on Apple’s website.
Shortly thereafter, a report citing supply chain sources indicated AirPods will not launch until January 2017, suggesting they will not be available in time for this year’s holiday shopping season. But that timeline would seem awfully late, especially considering some Apple retail stores have already received AirPods demo units.
Lending credence to a launch sooner rather than later, an employee at Apple reseller Conrad has reportedly told a customer it will receive AirPods stock on November 17, and make them available to purchase by November 18-19. Here is the loosely translated quote from German blog Apfelpage.de:
Hello, I have just talked with an employee of the Conrad Online Store, since I am there on 14.10 the AirPods ordered and I wanted to cancel today. According to information from the employee, they have stockpiles from 17.11, I will then have them between November 18-19.
Conrad’s website still says AirPods will be available for delivery in 7 to 8 weeks, so it is entirely possible the employee provided incorrect information, but there now remains at least some hope that customers will be able to purchase AirPods in time for the holidays. Nevertheless, treat the conversation as anecdotal evidence at best.
Tag: AirPods
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Apple Maps Now Provides Traffic Conditions in Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Slovenia
Apple Maps has recently been updated with all-new traffic data in Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Slovenia, providing users with real-time updates about vehicular traffic in three more European countries. As usual, highly congested areas will display orange or red lines along the roads to indicate that drivers may face delays. The traffic feature is also now available in Gibraltar, a small British territory on Spain’s south coast.
Apple Maps traffic data is available in over 40 other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Gibraltar, and select other regions in Europe.
Tags: Apple Maps, Europe
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