ICYMI: Virgin Galactic ‘feathers’ and neural network animations

Today on In Case You Missed It: Virgin Galactic’s Unity spaceplane took to the skies once again following its earlier crash to perform its first successful “feather” maneuver. That’s when the tail flaps flip up and the plane falls to Earth like a conventional crew capsule rather than, you know, a plane.

We also take a look at a crazy piece of animation software developed at the University of Edinburgh which leverages machine learning neural networks to generate stunningly lifelike movements for video game characters. The science behind it is pretty tricky but the results speak for themselves.

As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @Terrortola.

Amazon FreeTime comes to Android to distract more kids

Amazon FreeTime is bound to entertain a lot more kids than it used to now that it’s available on Android phones and tablets. The subscription service for kids and tweens could only be accessed through Kindles, Fire tablets and Fire TVs before this. Now that it’s out on Google Play, you can hand your children any Android device so they can watch curated videos and read age-appropriate books. Take note the the app itself is free and comes with parental controls, as well as a selection of 40,000 YouTube videos and websites that the FreeTime team hand picked. However, the FreeTime Unlimited service that gives kids access to over 10,000 books, games and apps will set you back $3 per month.

In addition to parental controls that lets you set time restrictions for each kind of available content — say, 30 minutes for videos and two hours for books — it also has a bunch of other filters you can toggle. There’s an age filter to make sure your kid doesn’t have access to anything meant for tweens and even an education filter that hides entertainment content until your kid has read enough educational materials.

The Android app will also get the discussion cards Amazon launched in April, which contain info on the show or book your kid watched or read. That way, you can have a meaningful discussion without having to read or watch Dora or Splat the Cat yourself. You can check out all the service’s features on Google Play and get one month of FreeTime Unlimited for $0 if you’re trying it out for the first time.

Source: Google Play

‘Hulu With Live TV’ Appears on App Store, Includes FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, and More

Hulu’s anticipated live television service, which was rumored in the past few weeks to launch in early May, has quietly appeared on the iOS App Store [Direct Link], although the app doesn’t appear ready yet to begin streaming live content. At the time of writing, Hulu with Live TV only supports on-demand content, but the live services could presumably be turned on as early as later today.

Officially named “Hulu with Live TV,” the company said that this version of the app comes with Cloud DVR and the ability to stream more than 50 live and on-demand television channels, including sports-related content.

User interface changes include a new onboarding experience, a new home screen, and “My Stuff,” so subscribers can manage their shows, movies, networks, and more. A multitasking feature called “Fliptray” will let users watch a show and browse Hulu with Live TV simultaneously.

You’ll enjoy features that help you customize how you watch TV:
– Create up to 6 personalized profiles for the whole household. Enjoy your own collection of shows, movies, networks, and more.
– Track your favorites with My Stuff. Add shows, networks, and movies for quick access across your devices.
– The more you watch, the better it gets. Enjoy a reimagined TV experience that adjusts to your tastes every time you use Hulu.
– Browse while you watch with Fliptray to quickly find what else is on, change the channel, or get recommendations of what to watch next.

At launch, Hulu with Live TV has the following channels that subscribers will be able to watch live once the service is turned on: FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, FX, NBCSN, FS1, History Channel, and TNT. Additionally, sports coverage for pro, college, and regional teams will be on the service, along with national news and local feeds in some cities, kids shows, big events, and on-demand shows and movies from most of the supported channels.

One slight uncertainty is exact pricing for the service, which isn’t mentioned anywhere on the app’s page or during the user profile set-up process. It’s been rumored to cost users around $40 over the past few months, with features like Cloud DVR potentially priced as a $20 add-on.

Those interested can download Hulu with Live TV now from the iOS App Store in the United States [Direct Link]. The app mentions support for the fourth-generation Apple TV as well, but at the time of writing that version hasn’t appeared yet on Apple’s set-top box. It’s clear that the app was added onto the App Store ahead of an official announcement, so we’ll update this post once more information becomes available.

Tag: Hulu
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OnePlus 4/OnePlus 5: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

OnePlus has a history of launching stellar phones at reasonable prices and it seems likely that its next offering will be no different.

It seems like it was only yesterday that OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone maker with a dedicated following, released the latest flagship in its eponymous series: The OnePlus 3T. But rumor has it that a brand-new model is on the horizon. It might be called the OnePlus 4, or even the OnePlus 5.

Here’s everything we know about it so far.

Pricing and availability

When will the next OnePlus phone arrive? The company hasn’t stuck to a traditional annual release schedule, updating the OnePlus 3 to the OnePlus 3T after around six months, meaning its current phone isn’t really out-of-date. However, until the OnePlus 3T’s arrival in November 2016, OnePlus launched phones in April 2014, July 2015, and June 2016. This suggests a launch may happen during the summer of 2017, although no announcements have been made.

At the beginning of May, OnePlus made a post on its official Weibo account saying the team didn’t take time off over the Chinese holiday period at the start of the month, because it’s working on a, “big surprise.” The message was also posted by OnePlus CEO Pete Lau on his own Weibo account. Nothing was specifically mentioned regarding a new phone, but there’s a better than average chance it may be the unnamed surprise.

Assuming the OnePlus 4’s pricing is in line with its predecessors, it will retail between $400 and $500. The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T launched at $400 and $440, respectively.

Camera and battery

The phone reportedly won’t disappoint in the camera department and we now have some proof to back up that claim. Images were recently leaked that were reportedly taken by the OnePlus 5, or a device with the model number OnePlus A5000. The images do not show all that much, but the EXIF data for the images shows that they were taken in Shenzen, China, which makes sense considering OnePlus is based there. Of course, it is possible to fake EXIF data. The images were leaked by True Tech and you can see two of them below.

It’s expected to sport a 23-megapixel main camera (up from 16-megapixels on the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 3) with an LED flash and 16-megapixel front camera for selfies. This isn’t certain, and a Chinese rumor report mentions a dual-lens camera mounted vertically on the back of the phone, again with 23-megapixels.

A 3,000mAh or 4,000mAh battery may be used to power the phone.It’s highly likely to support the company’s Dash Charge technology, which can charge the battery to 60 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The base OnePlus 4 or OnePlus 5 will reportedly pack 64GB of storage and have a USB Type-C port.

Design

The OnePlus 4’s design officially remains a mystery, but reports suggest it will adopt an all-glass, curved aesthetic in the style of the Samsung’s Galaxy S8’s dual-edge panel. Our first possible look at the phone came in late April, when a render was published by India Today, based on eyewitness reports from those who claim to have seen the device. At this stage it’s impossible to judge its accuracy, and the accompanying report does say the final design hasn’t been settled on yet, so it may change before release.

India Today

Although the shape of the phone doesn’t give much away, there’s a definite curve to the sides, and the antenna bands are fully hidden in this render. However, the most striking change to previous models is the addition of a dual-lens camera setup. This has been rumored before, and it is one of the hottest smartphone trends around, so adding it to the OnePlus phone wouldn’t a huge surprise. The render shows a black device, which has appeared on a list of options for the phone in a previous rumor. It was joined by white, gold, blue, and a ceramic finish.

Despite the rumored glass design, GizBot reports that the OnePlus 4 will be more durable than its predecessor. It’s said to be IP68 rated against water and dust exposure, or safe in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes.

Specs and screen

The next OnePlus phone is shaping up to be a veritable heavyweight. A report from China says the phone will use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, which has been introduced initially in the Samsung Galaxy S8, and will become more widely available over the next few months. This follows another rumor, from Android Headlines, also indicating the phone will use Qualcomm’s cutting-edge chip.

The same report states the next OnePlus phone will use an AMOLED screen with a curved edge, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Some reports suggest it’ll measure 5.5-inches and have a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. Rumors originating from China agree, and also mention a bezel-less screen, much like the new Galaxy S8. The fingerprint sensor may be relocated to the back of the phone too.

One rumor pegs the OnePlus 3T sequel as having a whopping 8GB of RAM, besting the previous 6GB found inside the OnePlus 3. It’s not out of the question — the Asus ZenFone AR packs 8GB of RAM, and Samsung unveiled a 10nm 8GB LPDDR4 module in October.

Name

OnePlus might skip the “4” for “5.” India Today reports that the next OnePlus flagship will be called the OnePlus 5 rather than the OnePlus 4, because the number 4 is considered unlucky in Chinese culture.

Article originally published in April 2017. Updated on 05-03-2017 by Andy Boxall: Added talk of a big surprise being worked on by OnePlus.

Logitech’s iPad keyboard case will last four years on a single battery charge

Why it matters to you

If you like the idea of hardly ever having to charge or change the batteries of your iPad keyboard, then Logitech’s latest offering may be for you.

There are keyboard cases aplenty for iPad users looking for a more tactile experience when it comes to tapping out an email or typing up a document.

Logitech has been knocking out such accessories ever since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iteration of Apple’s tablet back in 2010, and the company’s latest model is designed specifically for the fifth-generation iPad released earlier this year.

The 1.54-pound, $99 Slim Folio keyboard offers an eye-catching design that brings to the table one particular standout feature that for some could be a deal maker: A whopping four years of battery life.

That’s right, thanks to Logitech’s decision to power it with coin cell batteries instead of a lithium-ion alternative, you won’t have to replace the batteries in this particular Bluetooth-enabled device for up to 1,460 days based on daily usage of about two hours. Just think how many iPads you might go through on a single charge of the Slim Folio.

The new keyboard boasts a “slim, light design” with “large, well-spaced keys stretched edge-to-edge” for easy typing, and includes a handy row of iOS shortcut keys that put a slew of iPad controls at your fingertips.

As you’d expect with a tablet keyboard like this, you can lock your iPad at an angle (the Slim Folio offers two) that suits you, while Logitech promises the case’s exterior prevents annoying slips on any surface.

When you close it, the device automatically switches off your iPad, while the case offers Apple’s tablet decent protection against knocks and scrapes when you’re carrying it around.

We can’t exactly recommend Logitech’s latest iPad keyboard without getting our maulers on it first, something we hope to do soon. In the meantime, if you’re interested in checking out the competition, take a look at Digital Trends’ recently updated pick of 20 other great keyboards for all iPads, from the Mini to the Pro.

Samsung Gear 360 (2017) review

Research Center:
Samsung Gear 360 (2017)

If you first don’t succeed, try, try again. Thankfully, Samsung’s Gear 360 didn’t need a third try. The second-generation of the company’s 360-degree camera improves on its predecessor in numerous ways: it has a new design that’s easier to use, broader support for smartphones, live broadcasting to YouTube and Facebook, and faster connectivity. In many ways, the first Gear 360 felt like an experiment – Samsung dipping its toes into the water. With this new camera, Samsung is taking a bath, but hardware limitations and nascent software and platforms for viewing, keep it from making a splash. Still, it’s one of the more fun 360-degree cameras we’ve used.

Editors’ note: As of this writing, the camera isn’t for sale yet (Samsung initially said May 2017, but B&H Photo shows a mid-June release; it’s available for preorder, at $230), and Samsung could update the firmware between now and the release. We will update this review accordingly.

Features, design, specs

The Gear 360 retains the design spirit of the old Gear 360: an eyeball-shaped unit with two wide-angle lenses on either side. It is permanently attached to a slim body that serves as a handle. Like its predecessor, it still looks funky, but the body handle is much easier to hold than the removable mini tripod that doubles as an uncomfortable grip.

It’s also smaller and lighter than the old model. The Gear 360 measures approximately 4 x 2 x 1.8 inches, and weighs 4.6 ounces. It’s solidly built, and can withstand dust and splashes.

It still looks funky, but it is much easier to hold than the previous Gear 360.

On one side you’ll find Power/Back button and Connection/Settings button, while on the other side there are the MicroSD card tray (up to 256GB) and USB Type-C port (USB 2.0) for data transfer and charging. On the front are the shutter/record button and a small display that shows battery level, mode, and space or time left on the card. On the bottom is a tripod mount, as well as a place to attach the included strap. The strap is interesting: There is a rubber ring that you can sit the camera on top, providing a seat so that it doesn’t topple over when placed on a surface.

As for the camera, the Gear 360 uses two 8.4-megapixel CMOS sensors and two wide-angle (195 degrees), f/2.2 lenses – total output is equivalent to 15 megapixels. But the old Gear 360 uses two 15-megapixel sensors, allowing you capture higher resolution specs. However, with small sensor novelty cameras like this, it is a moot point whether it’s 8.4MP or 15MP (if using in single-lens mode, resolution is even lower, at 3MP) – nobody is going to print the images on large paper – because it’s all about the 360-degree effect than amazing images – for now, at least. However, the images will look better than fine when viewed on a smartphone or in smaller sizes.

Video resolution has increased. Samsung is officially marketing the new Gear 360 as 4K (4,096 x 2,048 at 24 frames per second), although you shouldn’t expect the same image quality as a 4K TV. The resolution also applies to the 360-degree video; single-lens resolution is Full HD, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 60 fps.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

As for power, the Gear 360 uses an internal 1,160mAh battery. Samsung says the camera can record 130 minutes at 2,560 x 1,280 at 30 fps. It will be less at 4K: Shooting 21 minutes of video, the battery was down 40 percent, so expect a little under an hour of charge for about an hour of 4K footage. Just for comparison, the battery in the new Galaxy S8 is rated 3,000mAh.

Can the camera be continuously powered? Samsung’s user manual gives conflicting information. While it mentions that the camera can be used while charging, it also says it cannot charge while it’s recording a video. During a Facebook Live session, it did seem the camera was powered and charging (as much as we are aware). However, the camera stopped recording after 23 minutes, and refused to record immediately afterward –an issue with overheating.

Improved connectivity, greater (but still limited) support

The camera can function independently, but to share content in real-time, broadcast live, adjust settings, or see a live image, the Gear 360 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth v4.1 for wireless connectivity to a smartphone.

And, it is here where Samsung has made the biggest improvement. Unlike the previous Gear 360, the new model pairs seamlessly with the phone and Gear 360 app. The app has also been enhanced: Not only is navigation easy, but also faster – much more responsive than the previous app (note: you have to download/update the new version of the app, which supports both versions of the Gear 360).

With the same Galaxy S7 Edge we used to test the original Gear 360, the new one works seamlessly. Turn the camera on, launch the app, and the two devices connect with no effort. We never encountered lags or crashes. Ideally this is how all cameras’ Wi-Fi pairing connections should work.

Another plus is greater support for devices. The original model only worked with a very limited number of Samsung Galaxy devices. The new Gear 360 supports the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus; S7 and S7 Edge; Note 5; S6, S6 Edge, and S6 Edge Plus; and A5 and A7 – all running Android 5.0 or later. The big news is that it will support iPhone too: 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE, as long as they’re running iOS 10.0 or later.

We didn’t have issues pairing the camera with an iPhone 6S, but it takes more work. You have to manually connect to the camera’s Wi-Fi access point, which means you will need to disconnect from a Wi-Fi network. But once this is set, the app recognizes the camera, and you can control the camera and view content as you would with the Android app.

There are still limitations. The Gear 360 Android app only supports the aforementioned Samsung phones. We tried using the camera with an LG G6 without success. And, at press time, live broadcasting is not available for iOS users or anything less than Android 7 (Nougat).

But iOS compatibility is a good move on Samsung’s part. It opens up the Gear 360 to more users – particularly the creative set. With greater support for 360 content from Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitter, there are now also more places to view them, which has been a complaint of ours in the past.

Samsung will also have software for MacOS and Windows to view the content. The Windows version will also allow for some editing. As of press time, the software was not available to try.

 Going live

Imagine tuning in to a live event and being able to control the point of view. With Facebook and YouTube, you can conduct a live 360-degree broadcast with the Gear 360. From the app’s home screen, the live broadcast takes you to either Facebook or YouTube, and you can do a live-stream as you would with your phone – except, it’s spherical. Activating live streaming requires the app; it can’t be done from the camera. You’ll also need to have YouTube or Facebook installed.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It works well, and it’s easy to do – a few taps and, before you know it, you’re on air. Due to bandwidth and compression, you can’t broadcast at 4K and picture quality will look so-so, even if there’s plenty of light. It’s not the fault of the camera – limitations of current network infrastructure – but the ability to pan around the video is neat. We wouldn’t want to watch a 360 live feed of someone sitting on the couch, but a concert, interesting landmark during travels, or the interior of a house for sale? Sure.

As mentioned, we ran into issues with power after 23 minutes of Facebook Live. The limited battery life is a concern, since the camera will be drawing more power than normal. Unlike a camera like the Mevo, which is designed for live broadcasting, the Gear 360, right now, may be better suited for shorter live clips.

Samsung Gear 360 (2017) Compared To

Canon EOS M6

Canon EOS Rebel T7i

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Fujifilm X-T20

Pentax K-1

Allie 360

Canon EOS M5

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-T2

Samsung Gear 360

Canon EOS Rebel T6i

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS

Canon Digital Rebel XT

Performance and use

The original Gear 360 wasn’t painful to use, but it didn’t evoke fun either. The redesigned handle of the new Gear 360 makes it easier to hold and control. As with the first camera, your fingers will appear in the picture when it’s handheld. A better solution is to put it on a compact tripod (we used the PolarPro Trippler, a pole that converts into a tripod and includes a useful adjustable ball head).

Changing modes requires pushing the Mode button and pressing the record button to select – easy. We like using it with a phone not only for live view, but also to change settings that aren’t available on the camera itself. Again, the connection between phone and camera was always smooth, and we never experienced any delays in performance.

It pairs seamlessly with a Samsung phone, and the app runs faster.

Despite the big-number specs, you should lower your expectations when it comes to picture quality. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t great. In most cases, the camera in your phone can do better. When viewed on a phone screen or in small sizes on a monitor, the images and videos look good, but when you expand it you’ll notice the roughness – colors could be more vivid, edges could be sharper, and there’s a bit of noise. Single-lens shots do look better, but you get less resolution and it defeats the purpose of a 360 camera.

It also doesn’t help that Facebook and YouTube apply additional compression. The 360 content we uploaded to Facebook looks the worse. YouTube is better, and it will support up to 2,160 (what YouTube considers 4K), but it needs a display that can handle that resolution – otherwise the video looks choppy.

But, again, this isn’t a camera for great image quality (there are better cameras for that) – it’s for capturing 360-degree content. Add the ability to handle live broadcasting, ease of use, and a satisfying app experience, and we can overlook some of the quality shortcomings – it’s still nascent technology. We wouldn’t want to view everything in 360, but for some things it can be a lot of fun.

Our Take

Overall, the new Gear 360 is a big improvement over its predecessor – it’s refined to the point that we actually want to use it. But, this is a market that nobody yet owns, and every 360-degree camera has its quirks. The Gear 360 is no exception.

Is there a better alternative?

For now, the Gear 360 is a great little 360-degree camera that just works – provided you own one of the supported phones. Otherwise, you should look into something else if you want to be a 360-degree early adopter.

On the consumer end, no camera offers superior image quality, and while the Gear 360’s is no exception, it’s better than most. Samsung made a well-built product, and the enhancements it made to the app and adding live broadcasting sweeten the deal. Few 360-degree cameras we’ve used achieve this, including Samsung’s first attempt.

The DT Accessory Pack

Fugetek FT-568 selfie-stick

$20

SanDisk 32GB microSDHC memory card

$13.50

Roxant Pro video camera stabilizer

$65

The Gear 360, however, isn’t the easiest to use. Cameras such as the Giroptic iO and Insta360 Air connect directly to a phone, and don’t require any pairing – just plug the camera into the phone’s Lightning or USB port, and it’s ready to go. Both cameras also support live broadcasting. If ease of use is your prime concern, these two might be better options.

But, this is a growing sector and we don’t think lesser image quality will continue to get a pass in the future. Ricoh, which got into the 360-degree game a while ago, is working on a 4K version of its Theta, to be announced later this year. The Theta S, which took very good photos, was one of the better 360-degree cameras we’ve used. Video was its Achilles’ heel, but having demonstrated a 4K prototype at the NAB Show and a live-streaming version at CES 2017, we think video will be a primary focus, especially if virtual reality headsets are still on track to take off. We also expect to see new models from Kodak Pixpro, Acer, GoPro, etc., as well as Samsung, we would guess.

How long will it last?

Samsung is generally good at making solid, quality products, and the Gear 360 is no exception. It’s well built – better than the LG 360, construction wise. Its weird design doesn’t impede its usefulness.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want to a fun little toy for uploading 360-degree content to share with friends on Facebook or YouTube. But we say this with hesitation: 360-degree content creation for consumers is still in its infancy – a fad, even if Facebook and YouTube are expanding support – and you should know what you’re getting into. While the Gear 360 is enjoyable and passable for what’s available today, it could be a different story next year, as hardware and software continue to improve. Treat the Gear 360 as an accessory for creative content, not as a primary camera, and focus on the fun aspects of 360-degree content and worry less about the image quality or whether it will be obsolete next year.

Here are all the places that support Apple Pay

Apple Pay is Apple’s contactless payment service, and it’s available to the iPhone 6/6S, 6/6S Plus, iPhone SE, and the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The service, like Android Pay, requires stores to have NFC terminals at checkout so that you can simply tap your phone to make a payment.

While Apple was hardly the first with contactless payments, the company’s solution has banks, stores, and companies jumping on the bandwagon and pledging their support for Apple Pay. It seems as if new partners are joining every day, so we’ve put together this handy list of all the major partners, which we’ll update as more are added. Here are all the brands and countries that support Apple Pay.

More and more banks support Apple Pay

Apple inked deals with the four major U.S. credit and debit card providers early on: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Apple also has the support of more than 1,500 banks and credit unions in the U.S. as of December 2016. Users can even send money transfers from Apple Pay at Western Union locations.

In May 2017, Apple added 23 banks and credit unions in the United States, including Chevron Federal Credit Union and Manasquan Bank. The company typically expands support to smaller institutions in North America on a regular basis every few weeks; back in October 2016, it added Canadian Desjardins customers to the fold. The full list of United States and Canadian locations is available on Apple’s website.

In November 2016, Apple updated its list of supported Apple Pay banks to include nine newcomers in China, four in Russia, and more than 30 in Australia. Shortly after, in February 2017, Apple Pay in Russia and Switzerland picked up support for B&N Bank and boon. by Wirecard, respectively.

In October 2016, Apple Pay was made available to The Co-operative Bank and Metro Bank in the U.K. Taiwan looks to be up next for Apple Pay domination, as the four largest financial institutions in the nation appear to be preparing for the contactless payment service.

In February 2015 at the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection, CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple Pay will support government employees’ credit cards, federal benefit cards for veterans, and social security benefit cards. According to Bloomberg, the government’s deal with Apple Pay includes the Direct Express payment network and government cards from GSA SmartPay.

“We can imagine a day the not-so-distant future when your wallet becomes a remnant of the past.”

At the summit, Cook also hinted that Apple Pay will replace every card in your wallet one day — even drivers’ licenses.

“We can imagine a day the not-so-distant future when your wallet becomes a remnant of the past,” he said. “Your passport, your driver’s license, and other important documents can be digitally stored in a way that’s safe, secure, and easy to access.”

Non-traditional banking and payment companies are also pledging support for the system. Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Square, told CBC that Square will support Apple Pay and Bitcoin payments on its newest registers. Square’s registers are widely used by artists, small indie shops, and other stores, especially in large cities. Alternative registers from First Data’s Clover and others like Poynt, already support Apple Pay.

When is your phone getting Android 7.0 Nougat? We asked every major manufacturer

Android 7.1.1 Nougat has been out for some time, but manufacturers and carriers are still lagging behind in pushing updates to devices. Now we’re on 7.1.2, but it’s still in beta and only offers bug fixes and optimizations.

The Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices, as well as the General Mobile 4G, an Android One smartphone, should have the 7.1.1 update. The beta for 7.1.2 is gradually rolling out to the following enrolled devices: Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. Android 7.1.1 will be the last version update for the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9, but the devices will continue receiving security updates.

Most manufacturers and carriers are still only rolling out Android 7.0, so don’t expect to see 7.1.1 or 7.1.2 any time soon. Android is notorious for its fragmentation — even if Google pushes an update, manufacturers and carriers test and roll it out separately, and the process usually takes months. It’s why several handsets, including BlackBerry’s Priv and the OnePlus 2, received the Android Marshmallow update more than 6 months after Marshmallow launched.

So we put the question directly to the phone makers: “What’s your schedule for updates?” A lot of smartphone manufacturers declined to explicitly name a date or time range for Nougat updates, and only a few mentioned specific devices that will certainly be getting it. If a device has received Android 7.0 Nougat, it’s unlikely your carrier has pushed the update through.

We learned which devices are expected to get Android 7.0 Nougat, as well as when to expect to see the update arrive. We will continue to update this article as we learn more.

Honor devices

Following a beta test, the public launch of Android 7.0 Nougat for the Honor 6X commenced in May, with all devices set to be updated by the end of the month. It adds in several new features with the EMUI user interface, smoother performance, and more security. It joins the Honor 8 as existing Honor phones receiving an Android 7.0 update.

Honor devices with Nougat:

• Honor 8
• Honor 6X

An Honor spokesperson told Digital Trends at the start of the Honor 8’s update with Android 7.0 and the new user interface, “Overall, EMUI 5.0 is the delivery on the promise to co-create our products with U.S. consumers.”

Huawei Customer Acquisition Manager Taylor Wimberly said the company is making a commitment to provide its Honor customers access to new features “at least once every 3 months during the first 12 months” for up to 24 months after a product’s launch.

“We will keep providing access to security and software updates to fix bugs and enhance user experience in a timely manner,” Wimberly said. “Beyond this period we will continue to provide updates in response to any threats to user safety and security. Our goal is to ensure customers have the best and safest possible experience on their Honor device.”

Samsung devices

At long last, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon are pushing out version 7.0 to Samsung’s Galaxy S6 series and Note 5. The update touts a fresh user interface, easier multitasking, a new Performance Mode, keyboard enhancements, and more. Keep in mind that this is just 7.0 — and given that these devices are now 2 years old, Samsung has not confirmed whether they will see newer versions of Nougat. There is no word on availability for T-Mobile devices at this time.

That leaves the Galaxy A3 and A8 as the only phones confirmed to receive 7.0 that have not yet. Reports suggest the update is in testing for Samsung’s A series devices and should begin rolling out in May.

The company has been notorious for its slow Android updates, and nothing seems to have changed. Last year, the Galaxy S6 lineup was updated to 6.0 Marshmallow more than 5 months after Google published it.

Samsung devices with Nougat:

• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy S6
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Will get the update:

• Samsung Galaxy A3
• Samsung Galaxy A8

Samsung initially promised Nougat would arrive to all the devices listed above “within the first half of this year.” Unfortunately, there’s no mention of updates for devices that should clearly still get it, such as the Galaxy S7 Active, Galaxy S6 Active, the J3, A5, A9 and A9 Pro, and more.

Pixel, Nexus, Pixel C, and Android One devices

Google’s Nexus devices are almost always the first smartphones and tablets to receive version updates, and that hasn’t changed with Nougat. There were some delays for certain devices, but the Android 7.1.1 update should already be available to install for most Google devices.

As for 7.1.2, the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 will not receive the update,, a Google spokesperson confirmed to Ars Technica. The devices are past their 2-year version support window, but they will continue to get security updates for at least another year.

Pixel and Nexus devices with Nougat:

• Pixel and Pixel XL
• Google Nexus 6
• Google Nexus 5X
• Google Nexus 6P
• Google Nexus 9
• Google Nexus Player
• Google Pixel C
• General Mobile 4G (Android One)

Just head over to the “About Phone” section in your device’s Settings app. Tap on System updates and then Check for update. You should get a notification saying there’s an update ready to install. Older Nexus devices like the Nexus 5 and the Nexus 7 (2013) are not receiving the Nougat update.

OnePlus devices

The OnePlus 3 and 3T received the official OxygenOS based on 7.0 Nougat in December 2016. When it comes to previous devices, however, things are a little less certain. The OnePlus 2 should get the update soon, as a OnePlus employee said it was in the works during a Reddit Ask Me Anything.

OnePlus devices with Nougat:

• OnePlus 3T
• OnePlus 3

Will get the update:

• OnePlus 2

The OnePlus One runs CyanogenOS, which has now shut down — there are still options for you to get custom ROMs based on Android 7.0 Nougat. It doesn’t look like the OnePlus X will get Nougat either, but there is support for the Android version via CyanogenMod.

LG devices

The LG V20 is the first smartphone that came pre-loaded with Android 7.0 Nougat — a title typically held by Google’s Nexus devices.

LG devices with Nougat:

• LG V20
• LG G5

Will get the update:

• LG V10
• LG G4

There’s no word on when G4 and V10 owners can expect a Nougat update, or if it’s even coming. On the other hand, the company did release a new series of mid- and budget-range devices that run Android 7.0 Nougat.

HTC devices

HTC is one of the only manufacturers that confirmed early on which devices will get Nougat.

HTC phones with Nougat:

• HTC 10
• HTC One A9
• HTC One M9
• HTC Bolt

And the devices have all received the update. HTC continues the trend of being pretty quick with its Android updates — the One M8 received Android 6.0 Marshmallow just two months after the update was released. The company even has a website you can visit to check the status of the Nougat update.

The HTC 10 was one of the first devices to get the update, which came in November. The One M9 received the update in December, and the A9 in January 2017. HTC’s upcoming devices, the U Ultra and the U Play will be running Nougat out of the box.

Motorola devices

Motorola, now owned by Lenovo, has quite the number of devices under its belt that theoretically should be upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat — if you use the 18-month life cycle most manufacturers tend to follow. Most recently, it was announced that the update was rolling out to the Verizon variant of the Moto Z Play.

Motorola has confirmed a list of devices that will get the update.

Moto devices with Nougat:

• Moto Z Droid
• Moto Z Force Droid
• Moto Z Play
• Moto Z (Unlocked)
• Moto G4
• Moto G4 Plus
• Moto G4 Play
• Droid Turbo 2
• Droid Maxx 2

Will get the update:

• Moto X Pure Edition (3rd Gen)
• Moto X Style
• Moto X Play (Droid Maxx 2)
• Moto X Force (Droid Turbo 2)

The Moto Z unlocked and Play variants received Nougat in February and March, respectively. There’s no reason that last year’s models shouldn’t receive the update as well, though.

The Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Force got the update pretty quickly in November, and the Moto G4 lineup began receiving Nougat months ago — but only in select markets. The company rolled out 7.0 to U.S. models in April.

A Motorola spokesperson told Digital Trends the company was evaluating upgrade opportunities, and also said the following:

“Android upgrades are complex, resource-intensive projects, and unfortunately, it isn’t practical for us to bring every upgrade to every device in our portfolio,” a Motorola spokesperson said. “The decision whether to upgrade a device is made on a case-by-case basis with several factors in mind, including carrier approvals, partner support, the capabilities of the device, number of devices in use, where the device is in its life cycle and the overall experience. We will continue to communicate upgrade paths on our software page.”

We don’t expect an update for the 2015 Moto G and Moto E.

Xiaomi devices

Xiaomi’s schedule for updates is typically inconsistent with other manufacturers because of the company’s MIUI skin, which is a significant departure from stock Android. The latest version, MIUI 9, is based off 7.0 Nougat and is expected to launch sometime in the second half of the year, with a beta going live possibly as soon as May or June.

Xiaomi has not yet made an official announcement as to which of their phones will receive MIUI 9 or Nougat, though various sites have reported the following devices are expected to receive it:

Xiaomi devices expected to get Nougat:

• Xiaomi Mi5s Plus
• Xiaomi Mi5s
• Xiaomi Mi5
• Xiaomi Mi4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
• Xiaomi Redmi 4
• Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
• Xiaomi Redmi 4A
• Xiaomi Redmi 3s
• Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
• Xiaomi Mi Note 2
• Xiaomi Mi Max
• Xiaomi Mi Mix

ZTE devices

While many phones are still getting Android 7.0, ZTE is moving ahead with updates to Android 7.1.1. The company has announced that the Axon 7 is set to get the 7.1.1 update, bringing a number of awesome new features — including Daydream-readiness. T-Mobile customers will also now get Wi-Fi calling, and the phone will get a few new security updates.

ZTE has also announced a Nougat preview program for the ZTE ZMax Pro.

ZTE also has a plethora of other devices that should make the jump to the new Android version, but nothing has been confirmed.

ZTE devices with Nougat:

• ZTE Axon 7

Will get the update:

• ZTE Axon 7 Mini
• ZTE ZMax Pro
• ZTE Axon Elite
• ZTE Axon Pro
• ZTE Axon Max
• ZTE Axon
• ZTE ZMax 2
• ZTE Blade V7

“ZTE has no official announcement being made for other device updates and timelines,” a spokesperson told Digital Trends. Most of the aforementioned devices are hard to buy or available only in select markets, and the only relatively new phones listed on ZTE USA’s website are the Axon 7, the original Axon, Axon Pro, and the ZMax Pro. Still, these devices should receive Nougat considering most are only a little over a year old.

Sony devices

Sony told Digital Trends that several devices will be updated to Android 7.0 Nougat.

Sony devices with Nougat:

• Sony Xperia Z3+
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
• Sony Xperia Z5
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
• Sony Xperia X
• Sony Xperia X Compact
• Sony Xperia X Performance
• Sony Xperia XZ

Will get the update:

• Sony Xperia XA
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra

That’s a solid number of devices that are making the jump to Nougat, but that’s also because the company always produces a slew of devices every year. On December 1, Sony made it official, announcing that their Android 7.0, Nougat rollout had begun for Xperia XZ and Xperia X Performance, along with all the other aforementioned devices. The XA and XA Ultra are slated to receive the update soon.

BlackBerry devices

BlackBerry’s Android phones should get the update.

Will get the update:

• BlackBerry Priv
• BlackBerry DTEK50
• BlackBerry DTEK60

BlackBerry only has three Android smartphones: The Priv received Android 6.0 Marshmallow in April — nearly 6 months after the OS was launched — and the DTEK50 and DTEK60 sport Marshmallow out the box. Both devices should upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat, and the company tells Digital Trends it has Nougat and is working to add “our BlackBerry security.” No timeline was offered.

BlackBerry’s upcoming KeyOne will be running Nougat out of the box.

Alcatel devices

Alcatel is one of those companies that announces an incredible number of devices, and it’s often hard to keep track of what’s actually available. Still, there are three devices that should get the Nougat update, and two of them recently launched with Marshmallow.

Alcatel devices with Nougat:

• Alcatel A3 XL

Will get the update: 

• Alcatel Idol 4S
• Alcatel Idol 4
• Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3

The Idol 4 is only available on Cricket Wireless, so you’ll have to wait and see if Cricket is even interested in issuing an update. We previously asked Alcatel executives when the Idol 4S would receive Nougat and they said an update would come when the company deemed the Nougat release to be stable. The Idol 3 only received Marshmallow in June.

The company’s latest phone, the A3 XL, comes running Nougat out of the box.

Huawei devices

Huawei has confirmed with Digital Trends that apart from the Nexus 6P, which was manufactured by Huawei, the only other device confirmed to get Nougat is the Mate 8. Huawei’s OS — EMUI 5 — will be based on Android 7.0 Nougat. The Huawei Mate 9 and Huawei P10 both have Android 7.0 Nougat installed at launch.

Huawei devices with Nougat:

• Huawei Mate 9
• Huawei Mate 8
• Huawei P9
• Huawei P9 Plus
• Huawei P9 Lite
• Huawei Honor 8

Will get the update:

• Huawei Nova
• Huawei Nova Plus

Most of these devices aren’t available in the U.S.

Asus devices

Several devices from Asus should receive the Nougat update.

Asus devices with Nougat:

• Asus ZenFone AR

Will get the update:

• Asus ZenFone 3 Laser
• Asus ZenFone 3 Max
• Asus ZenFone 3
• Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
• Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe
• Asus ZenFone 3 Ultra
• Asus ZenFone Zoom
• Asus ZenFone 2
• Asus ZenFone 2 Laser
• Asus ZenFone Selfie

Most of these devices are available only in select markets. Most of the aforementioned devices received the Marshmallow update months after it was released, so it may take Asus a while to move to Nougat. The company did not respond to our request to clarify which devices will make the jump to Nougat.

The company just halted the Nougat update for the ZenFone 3 series due to some bugs they still have to fix.

Updated on 05-03-2017 by Andy Boxall: Added news the Honor 6X’s Nougat update has been officially released.

Smartron srt.phone hands-on: A few niggles, but there’s plenty to like here

The srt.phone is an exciting new entrant in the Indian handset market.

Indian startup Smartron has unveiled its second smartphone earlier today, the srt.phone. The local manufacturer counts Sachin Tendulkar — one of India’s biggest sports stars — as an investor as well as a brand ambassador, and the brief with the srt.phone was to deliver a budget device without any compromises. We’ve seen that time and again from Chinese manufacturers, and Smartron is now looking to mount a challenge with the srt.phone.

Powered by the Snapdragon 652 and running Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box, there’s certainly a lot going for the srt.phone, including its highly competitive ₹12,999 price tag. Before we get started, here’s a look at the specs on offer:

Operating System	Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display	5.5-inch 1080p (1920×1080) IPS LCD panel Gorilla Glass 3 401ppi pixel density
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 Four Cortex A72 cores at 1.8GHzFour Cortex A53 cores at 1.44GHz 28nm
GPU	Adreno 510
RAM	4GB
Storage	32GB/64GB
Rear camera	13MP with f/2.0 lens PDAF, LED flash 1080p video recording
Front shooter	5MP with wide-angle lens
Connectivity	LTE with VoLTE Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, AGPS, GLONASS USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
Battery	3000mAh battery Quick Charge 2.0
Fingerprint	Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	153x77x8.9mm
Weight	155g
Colors	Titanium Grey

This year, we’ve seen manufacturers shift to the 14nm Snapdragon 625 to prioritize efficiency. Smartron is opting to stick with the older 28nm Snapdragon 652, which has faster Cortex A72 cores. As for efficiency, the company is relying on optimizing the software to eke out the most out of the 3000mAh battery.

The phone itself doesn’t particularly stand out in terms of its design. The only flair you’ll find is at the back, where Smartron is counting on removable back covers as a way of personalization. An odd design choice is to put the power button at the top of the handset, which makes it harder to reach when using the phone one-handed.

Then there’s the back cover, which flexes if you put too much pressure on it. Furthermore, the volume and power buttons don’t have great tactile feedback. These are common problems for nascent hardware companies, and it is likely Smartron will work out the niggles in later production runs.

One area where Smartron differs from other Indian manufacturers is its focus on software updates. The company is committing to two platform updates, and is aiming to deliver quarterly security patches. Most companies in the country are lackadaisical when it comes to rolling out updates, and it remains to be seen if Smartron can deliver on its promises. For now, the company is offering a pure Android experience devoid of any customizations (à la Motorola), a welcome move.

The srt.phone comes with a pure Android skin that’s devoid of any customizations.

Smartron recently signed a patent license with Qualcomm to sell WCDMA, CDMA2000, and 4G LTE devices; and collaborate with the chip maker on “early technology access and advancements in RF, camera testing and tuning.” The latter is certainly going to come in handy, as Smartron’s camera has a long way to go before it can challenge the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, and others in this segment.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Smartron srt.phone. The phone offers great hardware and combines it with unencumbered software, leading to a user experience that’s significantly better than what you’d find from a majority of phones in this category.

The srt.phone is sold in two configurations: a variant with 32GB internal memory for ₹12,999, and a model with 64GB storage for ₹13,999. Considering the minor difference in cost, it makes more sense to pick up the 64GB edition.

See at Flipkart

How to turn off screen overlay on Samsung Galaxy S8

It’s an odd warning message, but it’s fixable.

There’s an interesting issue that crops up now and then on Samsung Galaxy phones pertaining to “screen overlay” settings preventing you from using some apps. It’s an issue most people aren’t used to seeing all that often, and to be fair the settings for screen overlay are deep and not explained very well.

The issue has been mitigated some in the last year, it seems, but the settings remain in the Galaxy S8 in case you’re running into issues running some apps and seeing this screen overlay error message. Here’s how you can fix it.

To provide a bit of background, “screen overlay” is the system by which an app can overlay elements on top of other apps. The most popular example would be Facebook Messenger’s “Chat Heads” feature that lets little bubbles persist as you change apps, but other apps can use the feature in many ways. These apps need your permission to run screen overlays for security reasons — for example, an unwanted app could put a button on top of another button, unbeknownst to you, getting you to select something you didn’t mean to.

You may run into situations in which you’ll have to head into your settings to enable screen overlay so an app like Facebook Messenger can provide a feature, but more likely to happen seemingly randomly is the requirement to disable screen overlay so the foreground app can work properly. In either case, here’s how you can manage screen overlay on an app-by-app basis so everything works.

How to turn on or off screen overlay

Launch Settings from your home screen.
Scroll down and tap on Apps.
Tap the overflow menu button in the top-right corner and tap Special access.
Tap on Apps that can appear on top.

• See how this is confusing? “Screen overlay” wording isn’t used consistently.

Find the app you expect to be causing issues, and tap the toggle to turn it off.

• Or, to keep screen overlay enabled, tap the toggle to turn it back on again.

Now in the case of needing to enable screen overlay for an app, you’ll have a good idea of which app to toggle on. But in the case of needing to disable screen overlay to use a different app, you may have to play the guessing game a bit. Toggle off apps one by one as you go back to the primary app you’re trying to use, and you’ll eventually find the culprit.

Unfortunately due to the security concerns highlighted above, there’s no full-on “fix” for the issue of screen overlays blocking the use of other apps. If the app you’re using doesn’t permit the use of screen overlay while running, you’ll just have to use these toggles more frequently.

Questions?

Let us know in the comments below if you continue to have these problems on your own Galaxy S8.

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