Action Launcher beta update brings Pixel Launcher’s app shortcuts

Action Launcher is getting a major update in the coming weeks.

Action Launcher is one of our favorite third-party launches, and the app is slated to pick up a major update shortly. Version 3.13 — which is now available as a beta — introduces the Pixel Launcher’s styling for app shortcuts, ability to pin shortcuts to the home screen, redesigned icon indicators, and much more.

Here’s what’s new in the update, according to the changelog:

• Pixel Launcher’s UI styling for App Shortcuts (previously known as Quickcuts).
• App Shortcuts can be used in combination with Shutters.
• App Shortcuts can be dragged and placed as shortcuts on a home screen.
• New icon indicators for Covers, Shutters and App Shortcuts.
• Add animated caret indicator when opening/close Pixel style All Apps.
• Lots of polish to ensure the app’s look and feel mimics that of Pixel Launcher.

If you’re interested in taking a look at the upcoming changes right now, you’ll need to join the Digital Ashes Beta group, and become a tester for Action Launcher on the Play Store. Updating to the latest version of the app will switch you over to the beta channel. The stable client is expected to pick up the update in the coming weeks.

Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus 3D renders offer clearest look yet at upcoming flagships

3D renders of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus detail Samsung’s design choices for its flagships.

We’ve seen the first live photo of the Galaxy S8 late last month, which pointed to a bezel-less display with an 83% screen-to-body ratio, along with a fingerprint sensor located next to the camera module at the back. Noted leaker OnLeaks has now published detailed 3D renders of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus on GearIndia, revealing additional details regarding the design of Samsung’s 2017 flagships.

The renders — which are based on factory computer-aided designs (CADs) — show off dual curved displays on both variants of the Galaxy S8, with the standard version expected to offer a 5.7- or 5.8-inch QHD display while the larger Galaxy S8 Plus rumored with either a 6.1- or 6.2-inch QHD screen. The leak details a USB-C port at the bottom, next to a 3.5mm jack.

The 3D renders also highlight the lack of a home button at the front, and show off the volume buttons on the left of the device along with a dedicated button for Samsung’s virtual assistant, rumored to be called Bixby. The power button is on the left, and an interesting change is the placement of the fingerprint sensor, which is located at the back of the device next to the camera sensor. Rear-mounted fingerprint sensors aren’t new, but Samsung’s decision to place it to the right of the camera could turn out to be a polarising design choice.

Both phones are said to offer iris scanners, a feature that first made its debut on the short-lived Galaxy Note 7. Other specs include a 12MP camera with dual-pixel phase-detection autofocus and f/1.7 lens, 8MP front shooter, Exynos 8895 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4GB of 6GB of RAM, 64GB storage, microSD slot, 3250mAh battery on the Galaxy S8, and a 3750mAh battery on the S8 Plus.

Samsung

Samsung is a massive South Korea-based multinational company that makes some of the best-selling phones, tablets and mobile accessories, but also spans industries such as televisions, appliances and semiconductors (like memory and processors). Samsung is the largest Android device manufacturer worldwide.

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ZTE’s Axon 7 flagship gets Nougat, Daydream support

The ZTE Axon 7 is set to receive Android 7.0 Nougat, and users of the popular unlocked flagship are in for a Daydream upgrade! 🎉

Nougat is an elusive piece of software for many smartphone owners, including those with the world’s most popular Android phones on earth, the Galaxy S7.

But China’s ZTE, which claims to be the fourth largest manufacturer by sales volume in the U.S., and second in the unlocked space, can now claim that its flagship is among those few beneficiaries of Google’s latest features, including improved notifications, more advanced Doze, and proper multi-window support. The company’s Axon 7 flagship is set to receive Android 7.0 Nougat beginning February 7, bringing Daydream support along with it.

As part of the release, ZTE says that users will see a simplified interface that doesn’t detract from Google’s original intentions, along with numerous bug fixes and performance improvements in its so-called MiFavor interface. The company is also teaming up with Hiya, a platform that helps weed out spam and robocalls before they come through to the user. Available as a third-party app to all Android users, Hiya will be integrated directly into ZTE’s dialler app, a first for both companies.

Like most big software updates, the ZTE Axon 7 will take a few weeks to complete its full rollout. Let us know if you’ve received it on your device!

LG G6 invite teases bezel-less ‘Full Vision’ display

Get ready for a Full Vision display.

LG has been teasing the launch of the LG G6 by revealing details of the device ahead of its unveil at Mobile World Congress on February 26. In the press invite for the launch event, LG is touting the bezel-less nature of the 5.7-inch display with the tagline, “Big Screen That Fits.”

The LG G6 will feature a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2880 x 1440 and an 18:9 screen ratio that LG calls Full Vision. The wireframe image of the device on the right shows that the display will fill up the entire front of the phone, which should make it easy to use the phone one-handed.

LG is also adding water resistance to the G6, and while the phone isn’t going to run the latest Qualcomm SoC, it will retain the dual camera setup. We’ll know more about the LG G6 later this month in Barcelona, so stay tuned for all the details.

Samsung Gear 360 is down to $225 for Amazon Prime subscribers

Samsung’s 360-degree camera is available for $125 off for Prime subscribers.

If you’re looking to get into the world of 360-degree photography, Samsung’s Gear 360 is a good place to start. The camera made its debut last year for $349, but you’ll be able to pick one up on Amazon for $225 as long as you’re a Prime subscriber. The Gear 360 features two 15MP wide-angle lenses that stitch images together to create a 360-degree photo. The 1350mAh battery allows you to take images for two hours on a full charge, and as there’s no internal storage, you’ll need a microSD card to save images.

More: Samsung Gear 360 review

The Gear 360 can also take videos at a maximum resolution of 3840 x 1920, and you can control the device wirelessly from the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, and the Galaxy Note 5. If you’re interested, head to Amazon from the link below to pick up the Gear 360. As noted previously, the deal is limited to Prime subscribers in the U.S.

See at Amazon

ASUS launches ZenFone 3s Max in India with 5000mAh battery

The ZenFone 3s Max doubles up as a power bank.

ASUS launched the ZenFone 3 Max in India last November, and is now rolling out an updated variant dubbed the ZenFone 3s Max (ZC521TL) with a larger 5000mAh battery and Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. The phone retails for ₹14,999 ($220), and will be available online and offline stores starting today in Black and Sand Gold color options.

The ZenFone 3s Max offers a 5.2-inch 720p display, MediaTek MT6750 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, 13MP camera at the back, 8MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, and 4G connectivity. The phone’s main selling point is the 5000mAh battery, which can be used to charge up other devices should the need arise. Nougat is also a welcome addition, but the phone loses out to the likes of the Redmi Note 4 and Honor 6X when it comes to value for money.

See at Flipkart

Mobile World Congress 2017: The Android Central preview

The biggest phone show of the year is about to kick off in Barcelona. Here’s what to expect…

Mobile World Congress, held each February (or sometimes early March) in Barcelona, Spain, is usually the event which kicks off flagship phone launch season. For the past two years, Samsung has unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S phone ahead of MWC, and although we’ll need to wait a few more months for this year’s Galaxy S8, there’s still a ton of Android goodness to look forward to.

The show itself takes place at the purpose-built Fira Barcelona in the south of the city, however this is preceded by a couple of days of action-packed launch events around Barcelona. This year the Android Central, Windows Central and CrackBerry teams will be on the ground from Thursday, February 23. Most of the big press events take place on February 25 and 26. And the show officially kicks off on February 27, running until March 2.

In addition to tapas, cervezas and some unmatched scenery, we can predict the following for Mobile World Congress 2017…

Samsung — Galaxy Tab S3 and probably not much else

Samsung’s holding a press conference on the evening of February 26, where we’re expecting tablet-shaped announcements. According to the rumors, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 should give the company’s high-end Android tablet line a much-needed upgrade, with current internals and a familiar slim frame.

We don’t know exactly what the Tab S3 will look like yet, but the previous generation’s Tab S2 can probably provide some clues. Regardless, the rumor mill has provided a few tantalizing clues about the hardware lurking within:

• LTE and Wi-Fi-only models
• 9.6-inch 2048×1536 display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
• 4GB of RAM
• 12-megapixel camera
• Android 7.0 Nougat
• 5.6mm thickness

Look for a $600 price tag and a March launch date in Samsung’s home market of Korea.

The biggest Samsung announcement might be the announcement of its next announcement.

Of course, the elephant in the room will be the Galaxy S8, rumored for a March 29 announcement in New York City. The Korea Herald claims that the GS8 will be briefly teased on-stage in Barcelona, a move which would be entirely in character for Samsung. The company has previously dropped details of upcoming events and devices at the end of press conferences, and with the GS8 announcement expected just a month later, the timing would be right.

LG — G6, G6, G6

LG’s two new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches should have emerged long before MWC, and so the company’s MWC presence should focus almost singularly on the LG G6. After the flop of the LG G5, the G6 needs to be a resounding success.

Expect fewer gimmicks for LG this year, as it looks to get out ahead of the GS8.

Thanks to a wealth of pre-release leaks, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the G6. The ill-fated modular design of the G5 is (unsurprisingly) going away, to make way for a more attractive metal construction. (Check out the leaked shot above.) The display is set to grow a few millimeters, using a new, taller “18:9” aspect ratio Quad HD+ display that’s supposed cover more of the front face. Water resistance is also confirmed, as is a dual camera setup around the back that’ll let you “capture it all at once” — whatever that might mean.

But one area where LG may be at disadvantage compared to local rival Samsung is in the processor stakes. Reports suggest that the Galaxy S8 will have first dibs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835, with the G6 instead settling for its predecessor, the 821. That’s not a huge deal — the 821 remains a fine chip. But it’s an important psychological (and marketing) advantage for Samsung among enthusiasts.

On the software side, we’d naturally expect Android Nougat — likely version 7.1.1 — to ship on the G6. It’s also rumored to be the first non-Pixel phone with Google Assistant — part of the ongoing trend towards AI in high-end phones.

More: Latest LG G6 leaks

Other possibilities?… LG Rolling Bot 2? We’ll just have to wait and see. LG’s presser takes place on the afternoon of February 26.

Huawei — P10, P10 Plus, maybe Huawei Watch 2?

Huawei is a bit of a wildcard. The Chinese company has only just got its new “phablet” device, the Mate 9, onto store shelves. Yet already it’s looking likely that the Huawei P10, the manufacturer’s next non-massive handset, could break cover in Barcelona. In fact, Huawei promises its “next flagship device” will arrive at a press conference on February 26.

Chinese social media leaks have already give us a glimpse possible Huawei P10 and P10 Plus designs. Essentially, it seems we’re looking at a cross between an iPhone 7 and a Mate 9 Pro in terms of design.

The front-facing fingerprint scanner and capacitive keys make a return, along with a curved screen and a gentle slope to the metal back. P-series design cues make a return, with a glass-backed “visor” housing a re-vamped Leica camera array. The branding behind that glass section points to an f/2.0 lens being used, which would be an upgrade from the Mate 9’s f/2.2 lens. (It’s unknown if there’ll be any more substantial camera changes compared to the Mate 9.)

How will Huawei improve upon the Mate 9 for its next small phone?

On the inside, look for Huawei’s latest Kirin 960 (or possibly Kirin 965, if Huawei bumps up the clock speeds and rebrands), along with various storage + RAM configurations. SKUs ranging from 32GB + 4GB to 128GB + 6GB have been reported, which would allow Huawei to target a variety of price points across different markets.

And hey, just pointing this out. We’re long overdue a successor to the venerable Huawei Watch. With Android Wear 2.0 expected to be out in the wild by MWC, there’s every chance Huawei will showcase new wearables alongside its latest phones.

BlackBerry — Mercury

The BlackBerry Mercury New BlackBerry should be officially unveiled at the BlackBerry Mobile presser on February 25, and we’re in the unusual position of having fondled it at CES, while not knowing a darn thing about what’s powering the device, nor what its final marketing name will be.

According to CrackBerry, benchmarks have uncovered a Snapdragon 625 chip, 3GB of RAM and Android Nougat, along with a 3,400mAh battery. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

Here’s what AC’s Andrew Martonik thought after a brief time with “Mercury” in Las Vegas last month:

The biggest thing that stands out about the Mercury is how decidedly BlackBerry the whole design is. After seeing somewhat simple repurposed hardware designs in the DTEK50 and DTEK60, it’s refreshing to see an altogether fresh — yet entirely familiar to BlackBerry fans — hardware design. The phone has a proper heft to it, the keyboard has a trademark clickiness and when you see it on a table you couldn’t mistake it for a phone from any other company.

More: BlackBerry Mercury hands-on

Lenovorola — Moto G5

Lenovo’s Moto division has a new phone coming in Barcelona, with an event scheduled for — you guessed it, February 26. The phone is rumored to be an updated Moto G model, the Moto G5, which should also come in a higher-end G5 Plus variant.

The Moto G series — or at least the good Moto G phones — have always been defined by their balance of performance, software features and price. Aside from some rumors on RAM and internal storage, there’s not much reliable info out there concerning specs, but we agree with the rumor mill, which says Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 is a good bet. And with competitors like Honor bringing the heat to Moto with rivals like the 6X, it could be time for Moto to adopt more whizbang features into what’s generally been a “meat and potatoes” entry-level series.

As for the non-Moto part of Lenovo, there’s always the possibility of new tablets spicing things up in Barcelona.

Others

• Sony fielded a bunch of decent but entirely forgettable phones in 2016, and according to which rumors you believe it’ll either unveil five new handsets, including a new flagship, or nothing at all. Indeed, with the Snapdragon 835 not arriving outside of the GS8 until later in the spring, we wouldn’t be surprised if Sony held off the big announcements for later in 2017. New mid-range stuff from Sony? Entirely possible, but not particularly exciting.

• Nokia has a press conference scheduled for February 26, where hopefully we’ll here what it’s bringing to the table besides brand recognition and nostalgia. The China-only Nokia 6 should give you some idea of what to expect.

• Niantic will be bringing special Pokemon Go stuff to MWC. We can neither confirm nor deny that we will be attempting to catch them all on La Rambla after dark.

What are you most looking forward to at Mobile World Congress this year? Share your hopes (and fears) down in the comments!

Logitech Brio is the world’s first 4K webcam

We haven’t reviewed an external webcam here at Pocket-lint since 2013, but Logitech believes there’s still a market for them. If you’re someone who does still use one, whether it be for live-streaming videos, vloggers, YouTube or the like, then Logitech’s latest may peak your interest. The Brio is the world’s first 4K external webcam with Logitech’s own RightLight 3 with HDR and 5x digital zoom, and supports Windows Hello facial recognition secure login.

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The HDR capabilities of the Brio allow the camera to adjust itself depending on lighting conditions, whether they be low or bright, to deliver the best possible performance. You can also choose between 65, 78 and 90 degree fields of view to “ensure the camera is focused only on the area you want others to see” – interpret that as you will – and the lens technology inside the camera promises to offer fast autofocus and precise colour balance and detail

With BRIO, our goal was to create an elegantly designed, feature-packed webcam that anyone who is the slightest bit serious about video quality will want,” said Scott Wharton, vice president and general manager of Logitech Video Collaboration. “Logitech BRIO takes webcams to an entirely new level. It’s truly an unparalleled webcam experience, whether you’re using it for business video collaboration, streaming a live event, or recording professional-quality video in 4K.”

The Logitech Brio 4K webcam is available now for £209.

The Morning After: Tuesday, February 7th, 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Did you watch the Super Bowl on a Vizio TV? There’s a chance it may have been watching you too, while LG drops some more G6 hints and Google keeps tweaking Maps.

If you have a Vizio TV, it’s probably snitching on what you watchFTC fines Vizio for not telling customers it’s tracking what they watch

About a year and a half ago, Vizio revealed the existence of Inscape, a program that uses technology embedded in its TVs to monitors what’s on screen and phone home the data. It sold the data to third parties, who could use the owner’s IP address to track activity across devices and gather other personal details.

Now, the FTC is fining the company $2.2 million because it didn’t explain to customers that the tech was in their new TVs, and pushed it to older sets without properly informing their owners either. If you have a Vizio TV, go into its settings and make sure “smart interactivity” is disabled so that you’re opted out of its scheme.

More tidbitsLG promises a ‘Big Screen’ for its upcoming G6

Next month we’ll meet LG’s new flagship phone. With the Samsung Galaxy S8 delayed, maybe the G6 has more of an opportunity to take off. The invite to its event does even more to hint at an extreme lack of bezels, but we’ll find out everything February 26th.

There’s always something newNew Google Maps tabs flip between driving directions, restaurant info and bus stops

The latest tweak for Google Maps brings shortcuts for some common activities. Just hit the correct icon at the bottom and it’s ready to help you deal with traffic, catch a bus or find somewhere to eat. That pretty much covers it, right?

Hurry, before the copyright police arriveAn entire ‘Pokemon’ game is playable inside ‘Minecraft’

This Minecraft add-on recreates the Pokémon experience with incredible detail. It apparently took 31 months to build, and the effort looks like it was worth it. Even if you’re not a Minecraft player, there’s a video so you can see how much is possible.

S-1What Snap’s IPO tells us about Spectacles’ future

Filing to go public can reveal a lot about a company (see Vizio above). In the case of Snap Inc., it reveals that those slick Spectacles are a long way from becoming a profitable product. That’s not a surprise, given their limited availability, but if you’re thinking about investing (with a stock purchase or by putting a couple of hundred bucks into an accessory), then it’s important to check out the details.

But wait, there’s more…

• Lenovo’s Yoga A12 runs Android, starts at $299 and could replace your laptop
• Lenovo’s new pro laptops include one built for VR
• Super Bowl LI tech commercials
• Japan’s space junk collection experiment ends in failure
• Scientists may have discovered a lost continent
• Appliance giant Electrolux buys out sous vide cooking startup Anova

Man’s pacemaker data leads to arson and insurance fraud charges

Authorities from Ohio arrested a man named Ross Compton and charged him with arson and insurance fraud based on his pacemaker data. Compton told the police that when he saw his house burning on September 19th last year, he packed his suitcases, threw them out his bedroom window and carried them to his car. However, since has a serious heart condition and other medical issues that would have made it extremely difficult for him to do all those, the cops were able to secure a search warrant for his pacemaker data.

According to court documents, a cardiologist who reviewed his heart rate, pacer demand and cardiac rhythms before, during and after the fire said:

“…it is highly improbable Mr. Compton would have been able to collect, pack and remove the number of items from the house, exit his bedroom window and carry numerous large and heavy items to the front of his residence during the short period of time he has indicated due to his medical conditions.”

That data became a key piece of evidence that allowed law enforcement to indict the accused, though they also detected gasoline on his shoes and clothing. The fire ended up causing $400,000 in damages. Whether or not Compton is truly guilty, Electronic Frontier Foundation staff lawyer Stephanie Lacambra told SC Magazine that cases like this “could be the canary in the coal mine concerning the larger privacy implications of using a person’s medical data.”

She explained:

“Americans shouldn’t have to make a choice between health and privacy. We as a society value our rights to maintain privacy over personal and medical information, and compelling citizens to turn over protected health data to law enforcement erodes those rights.”

Source: AP News, Journal-News, SC Magazine