Why specs matter more when purchasing phones for business

Why do specs matter when buying a phone for business?

There are people who upgrade their phones every year because they can. There are others who choose to hold out until their screens are shattered and power buttons frayed, safe in the knowledge that they can update to any new phone at any time. Those are the people we call consumers.

Many businesses that issue phones and their employees don’t have such luxuries. Sure, we’re getting more comfortable with the notion of BYOD — bring your own device — but most business phone users are limited in the phones they can use and, perhaps more importantly, when they can upgrade. Which is why making the right decision at the beginning is so important.

The specs race

Regardless of whether you’re bringing your own phone or working with an IT manager on a company-issued smartphone, in more cases than not specs are tantamount to happiness with a business smartphone. Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, but having a device with ample processing power and gobs of memory will keep it from chugging along later in life, especially as you inevitably fill it with content.

Of course, just getting the phone with the right specs isn’t enough. Hardware ages quickly, especially when the software it runs is poorly coded and neglected. Buyers of Android devices must be especially careful about this, since companies have a tendency to preference consumers by cutting off updates within 24 months and oftentimes sooner, in order to drum up demand for their next big thing.

The companies that have the best track records for software updates are not necessarily the ones with the best hardware itself, so a compromise must be reached. Your phone may not immediately get the next big Android update, but could be on a track to receive monthly or semi-annual security patches, which are arguably more important for businesses.

The carrier question

Most businesses have existing relationships with carriers, from whom they purchase hundreds or often thousands of devices over the course of a year. That leaves the user — the person who ends up with the phone — in a situation where they often have to deal with pre-installed carrier apps (AKA bloatware) and myriad other corporate-mandated apps as part of their MDM policy.

In a situation like this, you want a phone that isn’t going to slow down from too many background tasks, and that isn’t going to feel like, despite your customizations, it isn’t truly yours. Some carriers, like Verizon, tend to pre-load upwards of 20 apps on a phone, but how many often depends on the phone itself. For example, the Google Pixel on Verizon has three pieces of bloatware, but all can be uninstalled. The LG V20, likely to meet a lower outright cost, has many more.

The right compromise

Business customers are looking for the same thing as their consumer counterparts: consistently good performance that doesn’t bog down over time. In our opinion, any phone from Motorola, like the Moto Z or Moto Z Play, will perform better over time due to a combination of a light Android skin, fewer pre-installed apps, and high-end specs. Google’s Pixel is another example.

Samsung has also been taking lessons from Google in this regard, and outfits its phones with a lighter skin than ever before. The Galaxy S7 receives near-monthly security updates, too, which is more than can be said for Motorola devices despite the lighter skin.

Finally, BlackBerry’s devices — even though they’re not available at many U.S. carriers — are some of the most secure and up-to-date Android products on the market. The DTEK60 in particular is a good example of high-end specs meeting a lightweight skin and a commitment to consistent software updates.

A good case

Phones these days are often metal-and-glass and little else. They break easily as a result. If you’re buying a Galaxy S7, a Google Pixel or a Moto Z, you’ll need a great case or screen protector to keep those bits and bobs inside working just fine.

• The best cases for Galaxy S7
• The best cases for Google Pixel
• The best cases for Moto Z

Your turn

Specs are incredibly important when buying a business phone because you need it to last a long time.

Apple could introduce truly wireless charging with iPhone 8

Apple is expected to skip the ‘S’ generation for next year’s iPhone release and go straight for 8. Because it will be 10 years of the iPhone, it’s hoped the tech giant will make some huge changes to the ubiquitous device rather than just incremental updates.

• Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: What’s the story so far?

One of those could be the introduction of truly wireless charging. We’ve already reported that Foxconn, the manufacturer of the iPhone, is working on wireless charging modules but they’ll only see the light of the day if they can be mass produced and be of good quality.

But now there’s a new report that suggests Apple could implement wireless charging that would let the iPhone be charged from a distance up to 15ft, with a transmitter plugged into a wall socket and a receiver embedded in the iPhone.

The technology is being developed by Energous and there’s several signs that suggest it’s working with Apple. Energous has previously said it’s working with a “tier 1” smartphone manufacturer, the only other large manufacturer would be Samsung.

But Energous has allegedly recently received a $10 million investment from Dialog Semiconductor, a company whose top customer is Apple, accounting for nearly 70 percent of Dialog’s sales.

Nothing has been confirmed by any party for now, so this should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even if Apple is working on wireless charging, it may not feature in the iPhone 8 but in a future release instead.

The iPhone 8 is also expected to feature an OLED display for the first time on an iPhone and will lose the home button in favour of an embedded sensor, which will make the screen larger than before while keeping the same size dimensions as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

American Airlines upgrading 500 jets to faster satellite WiFi

If you want faster WiFi when you fly and don’t mind paying for it, American Airlines is upgrading its WiFi systems on over 500 domestic aircraft, according to Bloomberg. To get those speeds the carrier is dumping GoGo’s terrestrial Ku-band internet service in favor of ViaSat. That company’s satellite technology allows for faster surfing and streaming of services like Netflix and YouTube, something that’s currently verboten with GoGo. The upgrades will start in 2017 and take up to two years to complete.

The move isn’t a huge surprise, as American recently sued GoGo over its slow speeds. It later dropped the claim, however, and the company still plans to equip 130 aircraft with GoGo’s much faster 2Ku satellite service. GoGo called the report “old news,” saying it already warned investors that it would be dropped from up to 550 domestic flights in favor of ViaSat. American, meanwhile, told Bloomberg that “Gogo remains a valued partner,” but said earlier that it reserves the right to drop it if the 2Ku service isn’t up to snuff.

American is equipping another 100 new domestic aircraft with ViaSat, and also uses Panasonic’s system on 60 international routes. Engadget judged ViaSat’s 12Mbps service to be the best you can currently get in the air, even though it can drop out from time to time. Inflight WiFi is clearly becoming a tidy profit center for airlines. While Amazon Prime members can stream ViaSat for free on JetBlue, American charges $16 a day on domestic flights, and $19 on an international flights.

Source: Bloomberg

Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls For Unity in Memo to Staff Following Trump Victory

Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a memo to all U.S. Apple employees on Wednesday reassuring them that the company would “move forward together” following Donald Trump’s surprise election win this week.

In the memo, obtained by BuzzFeed, Cook did not name Trump, but pushed back against some of his more divisive rhetoric uttered during the campaign by re-affirming Apple’s commitment to diversity.

Team,

I’ve heard from many of you today about the presidential election. In a political contest where the candidates were so different and each received a similar number of popular votes, it’s inevitable that the aftermath leaves many of you with strong feelings.

We have a very diverse team of employees, including supporters of each of the candidates. Regardless of which candidate each of us supported as individuals, the only way to move forward is to move forward together. I recall something Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said 50 years ago: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” This advice is timeless, and a reminder that we only do great work and improve the world by moving forward.

While there is discussion today about uncertainties ahead, you can be confident that Apple’s North Star hasn’t changed. Our products connect people everywhere, and they provide the tools for our customers to do great things to improve their lives and the world at large. Our company is open to all, and we celebrate the diversity of our team here in the United States and around the world — regardless of what they look like, where they come from, how they worship or who they love.

I’ve always looked at Apple as one big family and I encourage you to reach out to your co-workers if they are feeling anxious.

Let’s move forward — together!

Best, Tim

Trump singled out Apple for criticism more than once during the bitterly fought election campaign, and at one point called for a boycott of the company’s products if it didn’t comply with the FBI’s request to build a back door into its iPhone software so that authorities could unlock a phone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook.

On another occasion, Trump promised to make Apple build its “damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries”, without explaining how he would go about it.

Apple withdrew its support of the Republican National Convention because of Trump’s controversial remarks, particularly regarding minorities, women, and immigrants, and Cook held a separate fundraising event for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other Republicans instead.

Back in March, Tim Cook and other tech leaders attended the American Enterprise Institute’s annual World Forum along with top Republican officials partly to discuss concerns regarding Trump’s political emergence and candidacy.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Best Black Friday UK phone deals: Apple, Samsung, Android phone deals galore

Black Friday will hit us on 25 November and we’re expecting a range of deals on smartphones, meaning you can swoop in and save yourself a wodge of cash on the latest and greatest phones. 

We’ll be keeping track of all the smartphone deals in the UK you should be looking out for, so that you don’t have to. We’ll be updating this feature right through the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period, so keep this tab open.

Amazon.co.uk phone deals

Amazon is perhaps the online store most associated with Black Friday, running a range of deals across all categories. Amazon, of course, also sells a lot of phones and other devices. Amazon is already making preparations and have Black Friday page, with the option to sign-up to the newsletter right here.

We’re expecting big things from Amazon Black Friday 2016.

Carphone Warehouse phone deals

We’re expecting Carphone Warehouse to offer a range of deals on phones and other devices. There’s currently no specific deals listed for Black Friday, but they are offering some great deals already. 

• Free VR headset with all Android pay monthly phones – click here to view this deal 
• Best iPhone 7 deals – click here to view this deal

HTC.com phone deals

If you’re looking for a bargain on a new HTC handset, then HTC is promising a range of deals through its website at htc.com. Although the details haven’t been fully revealed – will it be the HTC 10 or not? – you can sign up for emails, right here, right now.

Mobiles.co.uk phone deals

Mobiles.co.uk tends to be more aggressive with pricing, meaning it’s more likely to serve you up a great deal. It’s also preparing itself for an onslaught of Black Friday deals. We’re yet to discover exactly what they will be – perhaps the iPhone 7 at a great price – but you can already head over to the Mobiles.co.uk Black Friday page right now and sign-up for the deals newsletter, we well as bag yourself a voucher code.

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: What’s the rumoured difference?

OnePlus is rumoured to be launching a faster and more efficient OnePlus 3, which is thought to be called the OnePlus 3T.

Aside from the processor, many of the other specs are claimed to be similar to the OnePlus 3, ensuring another flagship killer is on the horizon.

Here is how the OnePlus 3T compares to the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, based on the speculation.

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Design

• The S7 edge has a dual-edge design and is waterproof
• The OnePlus 3T should be slimmer
• The S7 edge is lighter and smaller

The OnePlus 3T is rumoured to offer the same design as the OnePlus 3, which will mean a solid aluminium build measuring 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm with a weight of 158g.

Assuming the rumours are true, we can expect USB Type-C, along with a front fingerprint sensor. The OnePlus 3 offered a fantastic build quality so the same will be expected for the OnePlus 3T.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge also offers a solid, premium build, but it opts for a dual-edge design and a combination of aluminium and tempered glass. It is a little smaller than the proported OnePlus 3T measuring 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm and ever so slightly lighter at 157g.

It is IP68 water resistant, uses Micro-USB for charging and it has a fingerprint sensor that sits within the main button on the front of the device.

• OnePlus 3T: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Display

• Curved display on the S7 edge
• Both 5.5-inch displays
• S7 edge has Quad HD, OnePlus 3T said to have Full HD

The OnePlus 3T is expected to be coming with the same display and resolution as the OnePlus 3, though there have also been rumours to suggest we might see a Quad HD LCD display.

If the screen is the same as the OnePlus 3, the 3T should arrive with a 5.5-inch Full HD Optic AMOLED display, along with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. This would result in a pixel density of 401ppi.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge has a 5.5-inch display too, but it opts for a curved screen as we mentioned, and a Quad HD resolution is also on board, making for a pixel density of 534ppi. It too features AMOLED technology, meaning inky blacks and vibrant, punchy colours like the OnePlus 3T should also offer.

• OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: What’s the rumoured difference?

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Camera

• OnePlus 3T thought to have higher resolution front and rear cameras
• S7 edge has wider aperture
• Both devices should have OIS

According to the rumours, the OnePlus 3T will have the same camera as the OnePlus 3. This means it should come with a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation, phase detection autofocus and an aperture of f/2.0.

The front camera should be an 8-megapixel camera with 1.4µm pixels and fixed autofocus, if it’s the same as the OnePlus 3.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge has a 12-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/1.7, phase detection autofocus and optical image stabilisation. The front camera is 5-megapixels with an aperture of f/1.7, auto HDR and 1.34µm pixels.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge review

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Hardware

• OnePlus 3T will have Qualcomm SD821
• S7 edge has microSD and likely to have larger battery
• OnePlus 3T will probably have more RAM

The OnePlus 3T will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, while the other hardware specs are rumoured to be the same as the OnePlus 3. If this is the case, the 3T should feature 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 3000mAh battery.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip or the Exynos 8890 processor, depending on the region. Both variants are supported by 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB and a 3600mAh battery.

Samsung’s device offers Quick Charge for 60 per cent charge in 30 minutes, and no doubt the OnePlus 3T will come with Dash Charge, which is One Plus’s equivalent. As we mentioned previously, the OnePlus 3T should offer USB Type-C, while the S7 edge has Micro-USB.

• OnePlus 3 review

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Software

•  Android Marshmallow platform expected for both

The OnePlus 3T will most likely launch on a customised version of Android Marshmallow called OxygenOS. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge runs on Android Marshmallow too, but with Samsung’s TouchWiz software over the top.

Both devices should eventually see an update to Android 7.1 Nougat, but they will still offer different experiences because of the software overlays.

• When is Android 7.1 Nougat coming to my phone?

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Price

The OnePlus 3T is expected to cost $80 more than the OnePlus 3, which if true, would mean a price tag of $480 (£395).

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge starts at £639, making it quite a bit more expensive than the OnePlus 3T, and with half the internal storage unless you pay more.

OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Conclusion

If all the rumours are accurate, the OnePlus 3T will offer a faster processor than the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, along with higher resolution cameras, more RAM and a much lower price tag.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge probably wins on design though, and it has a sharper, crisper display, along with microSD support and a larger battery capacity. Its camera capability has also proven itself to be fantastic, even if it does have a few less megapixels than other devices.

The device you choose from these two will not only be based on budget, but which design you prefer and which software experience you would rather. Ultimately, the S7 edge is an excellent performer and the OnePlus 3T is likely to be too.

• OnePlus 3 review
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge review

Next Sony Xperia flagship: What’s the story so far?

Sony Mobile has a tendency to launch a new smartphone every six months and it seems it has no intention of slowing down.

No sooner has the Xperia XZ arrived on shelves, than the next Sony flagship is the topic of conversation on the rumour mill. This is everything we know so far.

Next Sony Xperia flagship: What will it be called?

Sony’s naming convention isn’t the easiest to predict in comparison to other manufacturers, well not anymore anyway. The company announced the death of its Z range of smartphones at MWC 2016, the same time it launched the X Series, which it signified as its future.

Sony then announced the Xperia XZ at IFA 2016, which it claimed sat above the XA, XA Ultra, X Compact, X and X Performance models that were seen in Barcelona. The name of the next Xperia is therefore anyone’s guess, but given the X series has a fair few devices under its umbrella, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a move to X2.

For the sake of this feature, we will be using the Sony Xperia X2 but this could change as rumours develop.

Sony Xperia X2: Release date

• CES announcement rumoured 
• MWC launch more likely

Sony tends to announce new smartphones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, or IFA in Berlin. It’s been claimed the new Xperia devices will launch at CES 2017, which takes place in Vegas however.

Sony has used CES to launch smartphones in the past, but it hasn’t launched a flagship at the show since the Xperia Z so we would suspect an MWC launch would be more likely. The Xperia Z1 Compact was the last time Sony announced a smartphone at CES, which was 2014.

MWC 2017, which takes place from 27 February to 1 March, will mark a year since the launch of the Xperia X range meaning an upgrade at the show would be reasonable.

Sony Xperia X2: Design

• OmniBalance design likely to remain
• Metal build expected
• USB Type-C and fingerprint sensor likely

Rumours are few and far between when it comes to the design of the next Xperia flagship, but Sony’s design pattern hasn’t changed as much over recent years as its naming convention has.

All the Xperia flagships feature an OminBalance design, resulting in flat slabbed phones. The Xperia X range saw the move from tempered glass rears to all metal, with most models retaining waterproofing.

We’d expect the OmniBalance to remain for the future flagship, though we would like to see just one sheet of metal on the rear, rather than several elements like the Xperia XZ.

A side power button with built-in fingerprint sensor is also likely, given this has become a signature feature of Sony phones, and as the Xperia XZ has USB Type-C, we’d expect any new phones to offer the same.  

• Sony Xperia XZ review

Sony Xperia X2: Display

• Rumours of 5-inch or 5.2-inch device
• Also reports of 4K 5.5-inch display

Reports suggest the new Sony Xperia devices will come in a 5-inch or 5.2-inch Full HD display and a larger 5.5-inch 4K display.

Unlike its competitors, Sony has notoriously avoided the Quad HD fad, claiming users don’t want to trade battery life for the extra pixels, so the suggestion of Full HD and 4K makes sense.

The Xperia Z5 and more recent Xperia XZ offer a 5.2-inch Full HD display, while the Z5 Premium was the first smartphone to have a 4K display and is due an upgrade.

Sony Xperia X2: Camera

• Next Xperia still likely to continue with a focus on camera

The camera has always been one of Sony’s main focuses when it comes to its smartphones, which isn’t surprising since the company not only makes its own professional cameras but supplies other smartphone manufacturers with camera lenses too.

The Xperia XZ features a 23-megapixel snapper on the rear and a 13-megapixel camera on the front, hitting all the numbers when it comes to the spec sheet.

There haven’t been any rumours as yet regarding what we can expect from the next Sony smartphones, but we would imagine Sony will continue to place a big focus in this area.

Sony Xperia X2: Hardware

• Qualcomm processor likely
• 4GB of RAM rumoured

Sony is one of Qualcomm’s most loyal fans, with all its Xperia flagships featuring the latest and greatest Snapdragon chip at their time of launch. With that in mind we would expect any new Xperia flagships to follow suit.

It will depend on when the device or devices launch, but we’d expect to see either the Snapdragon 821, or the Snapdragon 830 under the hood of the next Xperia. Rumour has it we can also expect 4GB of RAM.

Other hardware specs have yet to be detailed but an educated guess would suggest at least 32GB of internal storage, microSD support and around a 3000mAh battery.

Sony Xperia X2: Software

We’d hope that any devices launching at either CES or MWC would come with Android 7.1 Nougat from the box, though that might not be the case.

Whether Android Marshmallow or Nougat, Sony’s software will no doubt sit over the top, even if we would love to see a vanilla Android experience or less bloatware.

• Android 7.1 Nougat review: Subtle but super-sweet OS update

Sony Xperia X2: Conclusion

The rumours have only just started properly for the next Sony smartphones but expect them to shift into full swing over the next couple of weeks.

Will we see new Sony phones at CES 2017? Who knows. If we don’t, there is a very good chance we will see at least one new Xperia at MWC.

Watch this space as we will be updating this feature as soon as we hear any more rumours.

Samsung Galaxy S7 can try a taste of Nougat with the ‘Galaxy Beta Program’

Samsung has announced a ‘Galaxy Beta Program’ for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge owners in the UK, US, Korea, with customers in China getting access soon. The beta program is available on a first-come first-serve basis and provides an early look at what Android 7.0 Nougat will look and feel like.

• Android 7.0 Nougat: 7 new features to get excited about

The beta is only available for non-carrier locked devices and can’t be installed on the S7 Edge Olympic Games limited edition or the S7 Edge Injustice edition.

Samsung is asking users of the beta for feedback on how Nougat works on their phone so it can make improvements and tweaks before the official version is pushed out to devices.

If you’ve got a compatible device and an active Samsung account you can take part in the beta by downloading the Galaxy Beta Program app through Galaxy apps, or the Samsung Members app which is available on the Google Play Store.

Samsung hasn’t said when it will push out the full official version of Android 7.0 Nougat to S7 and S7 Edge devices, but hopefully it will be before the Galaxy S8 launches in the first half of 2017.

The company has already rolled out an update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge that ushered in some of the notification abilities of the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.