OnePlus’ #LickOfLove Valentine’s Day video will definitely make you cringe

OnePlus shows off the “world’s most lickable smartphones.”

OnePlus has a history of making questionable ads. The company’s earlier efforts were downright sexist and understandably caught a lot of flak, following which the brand turned its attention to videos that at least showcased its products.

For Valentine’s Day, OnePlus is bringing back the cringe factor with its #LickOfLove contest, through which you’ll be able to win two customized OnePlus 3Ts. While the contest itself is straightforward, the accompanying video features people licking the OnePlus 3T. Yep, you read that right. People slobbering all over OnePlus’ latest device with suggestive music playing in the background. Enjoy:

As a reward for making it through that video, OnePlus is offering 40% off its “True Love Bundle”, which enables you to pick up a case for the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus V2 Bullets in-ear headphones for $23.94. So, what did you guys think of OnePlus’ latest video?

Why you should look forward to Apple ‘inventing’ wireless charging

Apple is reportedly adding Qi wireless charging to its next iPhone. You may not care, but your next phone may benefit.

You’ll be hearing a lot about wireless charging in the next few weeks, and that’s because Apple just joined the Wireless Power Consortium, a group of like-minded companies with the goal of furthering a single standard for charging devices sans wires.

But Apple has taken its time making overtures towards wireless charging, choosing to forgo the innovative feature until the introduction of the Apple Watch in early 2015. But even that product doesn’t adhere to the Qi standard overseen by the WPC, going against the trend of the rest of the phone industry in the process.

Wireless charging is not new. It’s been around in some form since 2008, and products supporting Qi emerged in 2011. On Android, the first product of note to support it was the Nexus 4, and every Nexus device until the 6P supported it, too. Then the Galaxy S line began supporting it natively in 2015 with the Galaxy S6, and that’s that.

These Android phones support wireless charging

But Google has since dropped wireless charging from its product lineup — the metal-clad Pixel and Pixel XL lack the feature, as did their predecessors, the Nexus 6P and 5X — and despite supporting it in its flagships Samsung doesn’t really emphasize it anymore. So what’s the deal?

At one point, it was supposed to be the ultimate convenience, but now it’s just kind of cool.

At one point, it was supposed to be the ultimate convenience, a natural way to place a device somewhere — usually a puck or stand on a desk — but now, in light of ultra-fast charging standards like Quick Charge 3.0 and VOOC, the convenience of topping up sans wires has been largely upstaged by the mere act of juicing. Add to that fact the proliferation of the much more convenient USB-C standard, and it’s understandable why wireless charging hasn’t taken off the way many thought it would a few years ago.

It also hasn’t helped that, despite its dominance and perceived “victory,” Qi is not the only wireless charging game in town. In 2015, the smaller Power Matters Alliance merged with the even more obscure Alliance for Wireless Power to form AirFuel, of which AT&T, Samsung and Starbucks are members (though the two former are also members of WPC, for what it’s worth), and the newly-formed entity is still trying to convince people that its solution is better. It’s not, though it has been experimenting with resonance-based wireless charging, which opens up devices to the coveted idea of “spatial freedom.”

Ikea added Qi wireless charging to some of its furniture, but the line never took off.

Indeed, wireless charging likely won’t find significant support until solutions are in place to facilitate “long-distance” charging — the idea that someone can place his or her phone anywhere on a surface and have it begin charging, even slowly. Right now, solutions from either WPC or AirFuel are constrained to precise placements.

Today, Samsung is the only game in town when it comes to wireless charging. LG may add it to its upcoming G6 flagship, but it’s the Galaxy S7 series (and the now-deceased Galaxy Note 7) that have maintained demand. One reason for the tech’s limited adoption is its material requirement: specifically, it’s much more difficult to design a phone with wireless charging when its backplate is made of metal, since the material interferes with the magnetic field created by the inductive coils that produce the energy necessary to transfer electricity from the charger to the phone.

Today, Samsung is the only game in town when it comes to wireless charging, but that could soon change.

Samsung has designed around this problem by producing phones with glass backs, which have their own sets of problems, but the real solution to this is to develop wireless charging methods that are material-neutral. WPC and AirFuel have both spent years researching exactly that, but have yet to overcome the extra heat caused by the increased power necessary to overcome the metal’s conductive nature. In 2015, Qualcomm announced a solution that would use AirFuel’s Rezence standard to allow for charging through metal by physically connecting the power source to the phone casing itself, but so far no devices have incorporated it.

The other thing to think about is that, aside from the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, wireless charging has largely been relegated to expensive flagships. Its growth depends on it going mainstream, which means cutting out confusion — a settling of the two standards will help — and getting it into as many mid-range devices as possible.

Circling back to Apple, its joining the Wireless Power Consortium, and potentially releasing an iPhone that supports Qi wireless charging, may have positive implications for the Android industry in general: greater interest in wireless charging from the public at large, which could lead to additional Android devices with it built in and accelerated development of solutions with that aforementioned spatial freedom. It may take credit for pushing the idea into the mainstream, but Android users shouldn’t care: Qi is an open standard, and any “invention” from Apple will be adapted and improved upon by the industry as a whole.

Even AirFuel released a statement to that effect after it was revealed Apple aligned itself with the competition:

We’re encouraged by the news that Apple is looking at wireless charging for their upcoming devices. Consumers not only want wireless charging, they want it to be second-nature, available when and where they need it.

This is one of the many reasons AirFuel Alliance continues to support all wireless charging technologies, from inductive to resonant to RF. Whichever wireless charging technologies Apple ultimately considers incorporating into its next-gen phones, this is great news for consumers and for the industry as a whole. We welcome Apple to the wireless charging table.

For fans of wireless charging, regardless of which side of the platform aisle you stand, this is good news.

Wireless charging explained in plain English

Vernee Apollo 2 with 10-core CPU and 8GB RAM will be unveiled at MWC

Get ready for a phone with a deca-core CPU.

Chinese handset manufacturer Vernee is all set to unveil the first smartphone with a 10-core CPU at MWC. The successor to last year’s Apollo, the Apollo 2 will be powered by MediaTek’s Helio X30 SoC, which offers a tri-cluster CPU design with four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.8GHz, four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2GHz, and two Cortex-A35 cores clocked at 2.0GHz.

The X30 is built on TSMC’s 10nm architecture, and comes with a quad-core PowerVR 7XT GPU, Category 12 LTE with 3x carrier aggregation, and a DSP that can support dual cameras up to 24MP.

You may be interested in our release plan of this year. #VerneeMWC2017 https://t.co/RdYLHURkPD pic.twitter.com/fxbFqXIMkQ

— vernee global (@verneeglobal) February 13, 2017

As noted in the teaser above, the Apollo 2 will be offered in two variants — one with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage and a model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Vernee will also unveil the Mars Pro, which will feature MediaTek’s new Helio P25 SoC. The battery-focused Thor E and Thor Plus — which will offer 5020mAh and 6050mAh batteries respectively — will be showcased at the event as well.

Wireless charging explained: Everything you need to know about powering your phone wire-free

Wireless charging has been around for a good few years now, but it’s fair to say it still hasn’t exactly taken off to sky-high heights. As with any new technology, standards need to be set, technology developed and ultimately pushed out to consumers.

But what exactly is wireless charging, how does it work, does your phone even support it? Allow us to answer all these questions and more.

What is wireless charging?

Wireless charging is pretty self explanatory. It’s the transfer of power from power outlet to device, without the need for a connecting cable. Wireless charging involves a power transmitting pad and a receiver, usually in the form of a case, attached to a mobile device.

How does wireless charging work?

• Inductive charging
• Transmitter and receiver create electromagnetic field

Wireless charging is based on inductive charging, whereby power is created by passing an electrical current through two coils to create an electromagnetic field.

When the receiving magnetic plate on the mobile device comes into contact with the transmitter – or at least within the specified range – the magnetic field generates an electrical current within the device.

This current is then converted into direct current (DC), which in turn charges the built-in battery.

What are the standards for wireless charging?

• Qi and Powermat
• Qi adopted by majority of smartphone manufacturers
• Powermat less recognised

There are a few standards floating around, the main one that you will most likely have heard of is Qi (pronounced “Chee”). Qi is a standard that has been developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) for inductive charging over distances of up to 40mm.

Qi has three separate power specifications, beginning with low power, which can deliver up to 5W and is primarily used for charging mobile devices – the WPC has said this will be tripled to 15W at some point.

There is a medium power spec which can deliver up to 120W and is used for monitors and laptops, and a high spec that can deliver up to 1kW and has been used to power things such as kitchen utensils.

Qi wireless charging has been adopted by many of the major smartphone manufacturers: Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG, HTC, Huawei, Nokia, Motorola and Blackberry.

The other standard that has the potential to steal the limelight from Qi is PMA, or Powermat. It too works on inductive charging, but in 2014, PMA signed a deal with another wireless charging consortium, the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), which works on magnetic resonance charging instead. The deal means the two companies can exchange technologies and patents, to help evolve wireless charging at a much faster rate.

What phones support wireless charging?

The majority of phones only support Qi wireless charging, however the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, along with the Blackberry Priv, support both Qi and PMA standards. They both have the technologies built into their chassis too.

Other phones that have built-in support for Qi charging include:

• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• Google Nexus 4
• Google Nexus 5
• Google Nexus 6
• Google Nexus 7
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
• Microsoft Lumia 950

• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

Can I get a wireless charging adapter for my phone?

• Cases and adapters available for the majority of phones

You’ll notice that not many phones actually have the technology built-in, most of them require an adapter or case to be attached in order to support Qi charging.

Just some of the phones that support a wireless charging adapter include:

• Samsung Galaxy S5 – an internal adapter that is fitted inside the phone, behind the battery cover.
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Galaxy S3
• Sony Xperia Z3
• Sony Xperia Z2
• Sony Xperia Z

There are now products on the market that plug into the charging port of your phone – Micro USB, Mini USB, USB Type-C and Lightning are all supported – and a thin plate slips between the back of your phone and a regular case. This plate receives a current from Qi charging pads to wirelessly charge your phone.

Does Apple support wireless charging?

• Support available via cases and adapters
• iPhone 8 could come with the technology built-in

Apple is rumoured to be working on supporting wireless charging with the upcoming iPhone 8, especially since it’s recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium. Apple issued an official statement to 9to5Mac.com, saying: 

“Apple is an active member of many standards development organisations, as both a leader and contributor. Apple is joining the Wireless Power Consortium to be able to participate and contribute ideas to the open, collaborative development of future wireless charging standards. We look forward to working together with the WPC and its members.” 

Will Apple help develop Qi wireless charging and eventually implement that in the iPhone, or will it push for an entirely new standard? With Apple, anything could be possible, so for now we’ll have to wait and see.

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

In the meantime, you can bring wireless charging to some iPhone models with a Qi charging with an adapter. They include:

• Apple iPhone 5s
• Apple iPhone 6
• Apple iPhone 6 Plus
• Apple iPhone 6s
• Apple iPhone 6s Plus
• Apple iPhone 7
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus

However, Apple does already support wireless inductive charging with the Apple Watch, it’s just not the Qi standard. Charging an Apple Watch requires a MagSafe charging cable, which attaches itself to the rear side of the watch face.

Can I get wireless charging in my car?

• A handful of car brands have begun to adopt wireless charging
• Qi used over Powermat

Car manufacturers have recently started to build wireless charging into some models, however, charging your phone wirelessly means you won’t be able to take advantage of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto because they require a wired connection – although BMW has been the first car maker to introduce wireless CarPlay in its 5 series.

Audi has a Qi wireless charger built into its Phone Box system. If your phone has built-in Qi charging capabilities you can simply place it on the pad, however all other phones will require a Qi-enabled case. Audi even has an official Qi case for the iPhone which can be used with any Qi wireless charging pad.

• Audi A5 (2017): Sporty looks, refined drive

BMW has a similar system in its cars. In the 7 Series you can get it with the wireless charging option, or in all other BMW models with a snap-in wireless charging adapter. Like Audi, BMW makes an official Qi wireless charging case that can be used with any Qi charging pad.

• See all our BMW reviews

The Lexus NX series can be fitted with an optional wireless charger too. Like the other cars, it’s Qi-based and you’ll need a Qi case for phones that aren’t immediately compatible. 

• Lexus NX300h Luxury Nav review: Hitting the luxury SUV mark?

Toyota also offers Qi wireless charging in select models as an optional extra.

Where else can I wirelessly charge my phone?

• Starbucks, McDonalds, Ikea furniture
• Qi and Powermat both used

Pocket-lint

You’re not just reserved to wirelessly charging your phone at home or in the car, as food and coffee chains McDonalds and Starbucks have begun rolling out charging pads in some of its stores. Starbucks offers Powermat wireless charging, and you don’t need to worry about getting a case if you don’t want to, as the chain has different charging ‘rings’ available to borrow or buy. They’re available with the various connectors to support a wide range of phones. 

McDonalds on the other hand offers Qi wireless charging. However, unlike Starbucks, you will need to have a Qi-enabled phone or a Qi-enabled case to be able to use it. 

Swedish flat-pack furniture extraordinaire Ikea has a number of pieces of furniture, mainly side tables and lamps, that have Qi wireless charging points built in to them. The furniture chain sells standalone wireless charging pads too, as well as a range of cases for different phones. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wireless charging?

So you’ve learnt about what wireless charging is, what standards there are, and what devices are supported. But is it actually any good? Like most things, there are pros and cons to the technology, and they’ll hopefully help you decide whether wireless charging is the way to go for you?

Advantages:

• Safer way to transfer power to your phone.
• Simple to just drop your phone on the charging pad.
• Puts less strain on the charging port of your phone.
• Qi wireless charging pads being installed in various places around the world, if you run out of juice and don’t have a cable you can still charge your phone.

Disadvantages:

• Only supplies up to 5 Watts of power, same as that from a 1 Amp plug. So a 2 Amp plug would charge your device quicker. Phones with Quick Charge technology wouldn’t benefit from wireless charging either, as plugging into a wall outlet will be much quicker.
• If you’ve got your phone charging via a cable, you can still hold it and use it as normal. If you take your phone off a wireless charging pad to use it, it stops charging.
• Adapters and cases are expensive because the technology is expensive to produce.
• Can’t be used with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the car.

UKTV Play app for iOS and Android revamps, extends free box sets line-up

UKTV Play has matched the big terrestrial catch-up services for some time, with an amazing line-up of content available for free across a wide range of platforms.

However, it has now dramatically improved its iOS and Android apps to match them in style and ease of use too.

The new version of the on demand app for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices has a new landing page, with a faster, more intuitive interface. It puts the broadcaster’s shows front and centre, making them more easy to find.

In addition, new genre listings add hubs where you can find programming you most like, alongside similar content.

There is also a stack of new box sets that have been added to watch. Entire series of shows from UKTV channels Dave, Really, Yesterday and Drama are available to view on demand, including Red Dwarf, Dara O’Briain’s Go 8 Bit and Taskmaster.

“The new, streamlined interface has been designed so viewers can find something great to watch in seconds,” said Oliver Davies, UKTV’s head of digital products.

“The desktop site update has been brilliantly received by our users, helping to drive a significant increase in views, so we’re delighted to be rolling it out onto our iOS and Android mobile apps. The new-look app has a premium feel that mirrors the quality of our content.”

Huawei P10 video render shows more rounded edges and front-mounted home button

Huawei has sent out official media invites for an event on the 26 February, the Sunday before Mobile World Congress officially kicks off. We’re expecting to see the new P10 flagship, but while we may need to wait a few weeks until the real deal, Twitter tipster @OnLeaks has taken all the rumours and leaks so far, and, in collaboration with 91mobiles, has created a detailed render of what the P10 could look like.

• Huawei P10 and P10 Plus: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

And how does it look? Very good if you ask us. The edges are much more rounded than on the P9, which, in our opinion, help to give the P10 a more premium look than before.

The renders also show a front-mounted home button which is also thought to double up as a fingerprint scanner, something the P9 didn’t have. While smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung as expected to ditch the home button in favour or screen size, it could be seen as a little unusual for Huawei to go from no home button, to fitting one.

Elsewhere there’s a USB Type-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone port, cementing the fact that Huawei, along with Samsung and many other smartphone brands, believe there’s life in the analogue audio port yet.

• Mobile World Congress 2017: Nokia, Sony, Huawei smartphones and more

The video created by OnLeaks is just of the P10 – there’s no mention of the P10 Plus – which could with either a 5.2in or a 5.5in 2560 x 1440 Quad HD display. It should also retain the dual camera setup from the P9, and this is something that appears in the rendered video.

Of course, this is just an artist’s interpretation of the rumours that have been suggested so far, and shouldn’t be taken as a representation of the final product. Fortunately, we don’t have long to see the real P10 in the flesh. 

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Fit Up, Look Sharp

Between the Gear S3 Frontier and the Gear IconX smart headphones Samsung already has a healthy collection of wearable tech to hand. The Samsung Gear Fit 2, however, is something different. Not just from what Samsung has on offer, but different from the rest of the market too.

An activity tracker first and foremost, it echoes the likes of the Fitbit Blaze and Garmin Forerunner 35 in pairing a fitness focus with more traditional smartwatch skills. What sets this run-tracking, music-controlling, notification-pushing device apart, however, is its look.

There’s no squares or circles here, instead the Samsung Gear Fit 2 has gone big on the gorgeous display front by wrapping it around your wrist. It’s an impactful, elegant look, that’s for sure. But is it the runner’s choice?

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Design

• Available in black, blue and pink
• Weighs 30g for unobtrusive fit

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 looks like a fitness tracker, albeit a luxury one. It’s a good looking bit of kit, but one that goes heavy on the rubber and plastic – which you can feel.

Pocket-lint

At just 24.5mm wide, the Gear Fit 2 is streamlined and will fit wrists that measure between 155mm and 210mm around. It looks similar to the Fitbit Charge 2 in its shape, although the Samsung option better curves to the natural contour of your wrist. Combine this with a body that’s just 30g in weight, and you’ve got a device that’s comfortable to wear whether you’re walking to the shops or completing a lengthy trail run.

Although comfortable, the Fit 2 doesn’t always offer the most secure fit. A push-through button clasp lets you pick a strap notch that’s right for you. These are overly spaced, however, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself constantly switching between notches that are a little on the loose side or slightly too tight. It’s also too easy to knock the clasp open either while running or sat at a desk.

Fit aside, this is an elegant, uncluttered wearable. The only distraction to its smooth form are the two physical buttons on its right hand edge. The lower down button is the home/power control, while the larger upper one is the back button. Combined with a decent sized, if unusually shaped touchscreen, these make the Gear Fit 2 a joy to navigate and control.

The band is also available in a trio of colours – blue, pink and black – and can be extensively customised to your personal tastes and needs. Although the rubber strap can be removed and changed, the Gear Fit 2 uses its own proprietary clasp, so getting a replacement isn’t easy and the options are severely limited. Instead, the device’s customisation skills come from its software.

Pocket-lint

There are nine different watch faces and designs pre-installed on the device, and dozens more available to download. Each of these faces can be customised with a firm press on the screen – allowing you tweak colours and complications, such as showing the number of steps taken or switching the clock design. These customisation options aren’t quite as advanced and robust as on the Apple Watch 2, but there’s enough there to suit your own personal style.

Overall, while plastic and rubber might not usually fall into the category, the Gear Fit 2 actually looks and feels like a high-end device. That, however, is mostly down to its display.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Screen

• 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display
• 216 x 432 pixel resolution
• Curved panel hugs the arc of your wrist

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 doesn’t have a traditional screen and that, in this instance, is a good thing. There’s no squat square or even circular panel. Instead there’s a 1.5-inch curved, rectangular Super AMOLED display that wows from the off.

This isn’t an aggressive curve, but rather a subtle arc that mimics the shape of your wrist. Unlike curved smartphones we’ve seen in the past, such as the LG G Flex 2, this curve is more than a gimmick. It helps give the device a more comfortable, natural fit without making it too big or bulky. Yes, it looks a bit like the Microsoft Band of old, but it’s far less rigid and uncomfortable.

Pocket-lint

As well as boosting the device’s design, the 1.5-inch display looks great in its own right. Thanks to the 216 x 432 pixel Super AMOLED panel used, the Gear Fit 2’s screen really pops with bright, vibrant colours and deep blacks. There’s not much need for extensive, detail rich graphics on such a small panel, but everything the Gear Fit 2 pushes towards your eyes looks great. It can suffer from some reflections, however, which some simpler devices won’t.

Compared with the similar Fitbit Charge 2, the Gear Fit 2 looks like a completely different breed of device. Despite its relatively narrow form, this rectangular panel is also easy to control, and proves highly responsive to your touch commands, even when running. Thanks to its screen alone, this wearable crosses from core fitness tracker to out-and-out smartwatch challenger.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Features & performance

• Built-in music player
• Wrist-based notifications

Before we get to the Gear Fit 2’s fitness skills, its broader array of smartwatch-inspired features deserve a nod. Although there aren’t thousands of compatible apps waiting to populate this wearable like there is with the Apple Watch or latest Android Wear devices, there’s still plenty this Tizen OS-based fitness tracker offers.

Pairing with your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.2, the Gear Fit 2 can double as a music-controlling, message-relaying smartwatch rival of sorts. It’s call alerts are simple to read, with pre-written text alerts able to be sent with a swipe and a press if you can’t accept the call.

Pocket-lint

Text, email and messaging alerts are similarly elegantly presented, and although you can set your own quick responses, that’s as far as the on-device replies go.

Beyond being a high-tech messenger pigeon, the Gear Fit 2 can also be used to control your music without having to remove your phone from your pocket. It’s not just track selection you can control from your wrist either, with volume controls and track repeat options also being bestowed on the Gear Fit 2. For those who want to leave their phone at home while running, there’s an in-built music player and 4GB of internal storage (only 2GB is actually available to you), letting you store plenty of tracks on your wrist. You’ll need a pair of Bluetooth headphones though as there’s nowhere to physically plug in.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Fitness Tracking

• Built-in GPS for more accurate tracking
• Integrated heart-rate sensor
• Auto activity tracking abilities

As well as being a legitimate smartwatch rival, the Gear Fit 2 is pretty handy at keeping an eye on your regular training sessions. You don’t even need to tell it what you’re up to, as wrist wear will sense what activity you’re up to a trigger a suitable session automatically.

Pocket-lint

If you don’t want to leave things to chance, and do want to add in extra features like GPS tracking, however, you can easily instigate your own running session by scrolling through the touchscreen menus.

Once activated, on-device running metrics are plentiful, but not always the most accessible. Although you can see your current run time, calorie burn, distance covered, pace and heart rate, all of this information is on separate screens. The large touch panel makes swiping between these easy, but you’ll still find your pace slowing slightly as you concentrate at working your way through them. We’d rather have a customisable screen option – even if it did mean smaller text for multiple metrics.

And there’s so much to scroll through as the Gear Fit 2 is rammed full of sensors. Most of these are spot on in terms of performance though, with the heart-rate sensor proving particularly accurate and responsive.

Further bolstering the device’s fitness-friendly skills set, the Fit 2’s built-in GPS abilities are quick to pick up a signal and we suffered no dropouts or lost data during our testing. Running in both built up and open areas, every inch of our runs were perfectly mapped, with accurate distances and even a breakdown of our routes relayed directly on the device’s screen when the session was over.

Pocket-lint

Things aren’t so accurate when simply walking, however. The Gear Fit 2’s accelerometer-based step-counter is a bit on the generous side, regularly upping our step tally by a couple of hundred footfalls per day. You’re going to want to lower your step target slightly to accommodate for this.

There’s another problem, too: the Gear’s barometer, which is used to measure altitude and how many flights of steps you’ve walked up, is lousy. We were repeatedly told we’d hit our floors climbed target while walking along a perfectly flat road. Although stair sets were, for the most part, accurately counted, there’s too much variance elsewhere for this to be classed as a valuable addition.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Software and app

• Tizen operating system
• Android and iOS compatible
• App for fitness metrics breakdown

So many solid activity trackers are let down by an uninspired companion app. Although the Samsung Gear Fit 2 doesn’t succumb to the same pitfall, neither is it backed up by the best, most detailed software.

Pocket-lint

Although now compatible with iOS devices as well as Android handsets – although not as detailed for the former) – the Gear Fit 2 is a wearable best attuned to being paired with a Samsung smartphone and its accompanying Gear Fit and S Health software.

• S Health review: Is Samsung’s smart app in the best shape?

From the app you can see your daily step count mapped out as well as have detailed metrics of each run – from average heart rate to max speed – relayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

Although all your fitness data is presented in a user-friendly and visually appealing way, sadly there’s not much depth to your data, nor guidance on how to build up your fitness levels.

Because of this, the Fit 2 is a fitness tracker that requires you to know what you’re doing. Although you can see your heart rate staying high or your KM split times slowing down, there’s no prompting to take a rest day. Similarly, knocking your step count out of the park on a daily basis fails to trigger a prompt to increase your targets to give yourself a more challenging goal to work towards.

Pocket-lint

It’s not all top-line doom and gloom though. For those who thrive on a bit of competition, you can see where your average daily step count puts you against all other Gear Fit 2 users and, if you know friends with their own device, can create your own leagues for an added motivating factor.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review: Battery Life

• 200mAh battery
• Decent, compact charging dock

It might not look like a traditional smartwatch, but the Gear Fit 2 has the same underpinning problem – a weak battery life. The device’s battery is supposed to last you three to four days on a single charge, but you’ll struggle to get near these claims.

Go on a short run, keep tabs on your daily step count and enjoy regular wrist-based notifications, and you’ll find yourself struggle to enter a third day without being in the battery danger zone.

Pocket-lint

Although nightly charges aren’t a must – that’s a one-up on the likes of the Apple Watch and Moto 360 Sport at least – you’ll need to connect this tracker to the mains every other evening.

Fortunately that’s a pleasingly simple process, despite the need for yet another bespoke charger. This is one of the better custom charging units out there. There’s no bizarre crocodile clip style attachment like the Garmin Forerunner 35 or pop-out body like the Polar M200, instead, there’s a small pod-like dock that you can place the Gear Fit 2 on.

Magnets help snap the gadget into place, while connection pins on both sides of the charger mean you can drop the tracker on either way up and enjoy instant and speedy recharging. It’s compact and not too ugly, meaning it’ll happily sit on your nightstand.

Verdict

The Samsung Gear Fit 2 is a well-round fitness tracker that’s more than the sum of its parts. Its integrated GPS and heart-rate sensor are both on point, while its sizeable screen is both beautiful and responsive. 

While it offers core tracking skills and relayed data, there’s just not enough depth to its app to make it a must for serious fitness fans. So it depends where you sit on that scale. The battery life is so-so too, especially if you’re often exercising.

Overall the Gear Fit 2 is a great first wearable for many, while the hardened runner might want to look elsewhere.

The alternatives to consider

Fitbit Charge 2

It’s cheaper but not quite as flashy, the Charge 2 will be better for the fitness enthusiast thanks to its deeper app support.

Garmin Forerunner 35

Better fitness tracking with still solid smart notifications comes at the cost of design details. A well-rounded alternative.

The Morning After: Tuesday, February 14 2017

The unlimited data battles of yesteryear are back as T-Mobile and Verizon offer all the data you might need (with fair usage caveats), and silly Nintendo party games are also making a return on the Nintendo Switch.

Big Red vs. MagentaVerizon & T-Mobile do battle over unlimited data

Over the weekend, Verizon revived the “unlimited” tier for mobile customers, promising all the data (potentially throttled after 22GB), calls and texting you can handle for $80 per month. In response, T-Mobile tweaked its One plan to include HD video and 10GB of LTE data for tethering, making for an even better deal. Whichever you choose, it looks like competition is heating up and the offers are getting better.

Get sillyA closer look at Nintendo’s ‘1-2 Switch’ mini-games

The Nintendo Switch’s silliest launch title is closer to a party game than a console title. But will 28 games be enough to keep you playing months later?

Not a good ideaPewDiePie loses Disney deal

YouTube star PewDiePie, aka Felix Kjellberg, decided to publish videos with anti-semitic messages and imagery. As a result, Disney-owned Maker Studios has canceled its joint venture with him.

‘That’s it! I’ve come up with a new recipe!’Kitchen inspiration courtesy of ‘Final Fantasy’

Cooking and food are surprisingly significant in Final Fantasy XV. But can you really cook (and eat) these fictional recipes? And are they any good? Mat Smith gains some cooking experience (points) and tries it out.

Nier, far, wherever you are.How ‘NieR’ was brought back from the dead

Taro Yoko, director of NieR: Automata, might not have much confidence in the story he’s telling in Nier’s latest iteration. It’s a cult favorite that’s being brought back courtesy of PlatinumGames: a Japanese studio that has a reputation for producing high-caliber action games such as Bayonetta, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Nick Summers plays through the latest preview.

Power padApple takes a step towards wireless charging for iPhones

Rumors have suggested the next iPhone revision will support wireless charging, and Apple’s new membership in the Wireless Power Consortium seems appropriately timed to make that happen. This group governs the Qi standard most devices use; however membership isn’t a guarantee the tech will show up, or that if it does, Apple will stick with the standard.

Not exactly NetflixApple TV show trailers for ‘Planet of the Apps’ and ‘Carpool Karaoke’

Apple Music is getting closer to including Apple Television, with some exclusive shows for subscribers. Yesterday we got our first peek at trailers for two original shows, and… well, how much do you like James Corden and Shark Tank/The Voice? They don’t get many points for originality, but the effort is there — expect the first episodes of Planet of the Apps in spring.

But wait, there’s more…

• Nikon cancels DL compacts
• What’s on TV: ‘Planet Earth II,’ ‘Doctor Strange,’ ‘Chef’s Table’ and ‘Halo Wars 2’
• Democratic senators push for details on Trump’s smartphone use
• Latest Razer Blade laptop packs a 4K screen, Kaby Lake CPU
• Watch the latest ‘Ghost In The Shell’ trailer. It has some story this time.

Scientists are making VR displays that match your eyesight

One of the reasons why VR games and experiences cause headache and nausea is because headsets’ displays can’t optimize images for your eyes. A team of Stanford scientists seek to change that by developing VR displays that can adjust how images are shown based on your age and any other existing condition. For example, a lot of older people have a harder time focusing on objects close to them than younger people do. “Every person needs a different optical mode to get the best possible experience in VR,” lead researcher Gordon Wetzstein explained.

The researchers have already begun testing software fixes and two different types of hardware options. Since the main problem with current displays is that they make it difficult for your eyes to focus on one point due to their proximity to your face, the prototypes were designed to solve the issue. One of them uses liquid lenses that can be adjusted by squeezing a dial, while the other works like binoculars and moves the display screen back and forth. Both of them incorporate an eye-tracking technology to figure out where you’re looking.

At the moment, the prototypes can only help you if you are nearsighted, farsighted or presbyopic, but it can’t help you with, say, astigmatism. The researchers say this is only the beginning, though, and they’re hoping their “research findings [can] guide these developments in the industry.”

Source: Stanford University

Apple Exploring Fingerprint Sensing MicroLED Displays Sans Touch ID

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent that describes a display capable of reading a user’s fingerprint without a dedicated Touch ID sensor (via AppleInsider). The patent is interesting given current rumors swirling around the iPhone 8, which is expected to do away with the home button and integrate Touch ID directly into the display, but perhaps more noteworthy is the patent IP’s re-assignment from LuxVue, a little-known company acquired by Apple in 2014 that developed low-power microLED-based displays.

Titled “Interactive display panel with IR diodes”, the patent details a touch display that uses specifically microLED-sensing technology, rather than the traditional active matrix hardware utilized by most consumer smartphones and tablets.

The technology replaces larger capacitive sensors with smaller infrared light emitters and sensors, which sit alongside the RGB LED display substrate or on a microchip mounted to the substrate. These “interactive pixel” formations can then be calibrated to perform any number of functions, including ambient light sensing, proximity detection, and notably complex touch detection, which works by bouncing infrared light off a user’s finger and back to the sensing diodes.

In the latter operation, specific rows – or a whole portion of the display – scan for a user’s finger, which generates a proximate positioning bitmap to inform the system of the target’s location and immediate surround. Bitmaps can include data like the intensity of incoming light, enabling a deeper analysis of the object and its surface curvature – dark and bright spots corresponding to the ridges and grooves of a fingerprint, for example.

The patent describes a couple of embodiments for the technology, including a microLED display with a higher density of interactive pixels in certain areas of the screen, such as where a virtual home button may be located. Alternatively, said pixels may ramify throughout the display in sufficient number as to make fingerprint identification on any portion of the screen a possibility.

Apple has explored other systems for enhancing display fingerprint recognition in the past. As with all patents though, the standard qualification applies: Apple may deem the LuxVue invention surplus to its upcoming product requirements. However, on its own, the system goes to show that reliable fingerprint identification does not necessarily rest on Touch ID alone. With rumors suggesting Apple may incorporate iris scanning into the iPhone 8, the security implications of dropping Touch ID’s focused capacitive drive ring altogether may not be so great after all.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: patent, Touch ID
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