Senator Reveals FBI Paid $900K for Hacking Tool Used to Open San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone

A year after the public disagreement between Apple and the FBI, which centered on the passcode-locked iPhone 5c of the San Bernardino terrorist, one of the major questions remains how much the United States government and the FBI paid for the tool it used to crack open the iPhone. That question became so focused upon that a trio of news organizations filed a lawsuit to find out the exact amount that the tool cost the FBI.

Speculation in the midst of the Apple-FBI drama placed the price of the tool at upwards of $1.3 million, and then somewhere below $1 million. A recent statement by senator Dianne Feinstein appears to confirm the latter estimation, with Feinstein revealing that the U.S. government paid $900,000 to break into the locked iPhone 5c. The classified information came up during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, where Feinstein was questioning FBI director James Comey (via The Associated Press).

Senators Charles Grassley and Dianne Feinstein

“I was so struck when San Bernardino happened and you made overtures to allow that device to be opened, and then the FBI had to spend $900,000 to hack it open,” said Feinstein, D-Calif. “And as I subsequently learned of some of the reason for it, there were good reasons to get into that device.”

In the ongoing lawsuit filed by the Associated Press, Vice Media, and Gannett, the organizations cite the Freedom of Information Act: “Release of this information goes to the very heart of the Freedom of Information Act’s purpose, allowing the public to assess government activity – here, the decision to pay public funds to an outside entity in possession of a tool that can compromise the digital security of millions of Americans.” The FBI has repeatedly argued that the number should stay classified.

Despite the ongoing legal battles that the Apple-FBI event sparked, last year the FBI reported that it found “nothing of real significance” after it had gained access to the iPhone 5c, providing answers to some questions about the terrorist attack but generating no solid leads. In regards to the third party who was paid the $900,000 for the hacking tool, it’s been widely reported that Israeli firm Cellebrite was the FBI’s source, but a more informal group of professional hackers has also been suggested.

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

Tags: FBI, Apple-FBI
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Huawei Watch 2 Sport review

Research Center:
Huawei Watch 2 Sport

Google’s Android Wear 2.0 update is slowly but surely making its way to existing smartwatches like Fossil’s Q lineup, but you may want to buy a new watch altogether after you’ve seen the Huawei Watch 2 Sport and Classic.

While we’re spoiled with fashionable Android Wear options this year after the Baselworld 2017 watch show, Huawei’s Watch 2 offers payments along with another feature that elevates the smartwatch above the weak competition — 25-day battery life.

Okay, you don’t actually get 25 days out of the Huawei Watch 2 while using Android Wear, but it’s still a killer feature for when you want to just have a watch that works without a nightly charge. The Watch mode feature massages a pain point that affects every smartwatch — short battery life.

The Huawei Watch 2 comes in two models, the Sport and the Classic, which are nearly identical in specs and design. The Sport model has a different band, and its international variant comes with LTE connectivity. We spent some time with the Huawei Watch 2 Sport, and although it’s the best Android Wear Watch to date, it’s clear that Android Wear still lacks a device that can compete with the Apple Watch.

Sporty design and a small screen

The Huawei Watch 2 Sport looks sportier than the LG Watch Sport, the first flagship watch that debuted alongside Android Wear 2.0 in February, but it’s far smaller thanks to its 1.2-inch AMOLED screen.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

After reviewing the behemoth of the LG Watch Sport, Huawei’s lightweight smartwatch is a refreshing change of pace, and it’s incredibly comfortable to wear. I hardly ever felt the need to take it off. It’s still not thin or small like the Apple Watch, but it won’t look strangely out of place on most people’s wrists, unlike LG’s sport model.

The seconds labeled on the large circular bezel of the Huawei Watch 2 do not serve any purpose, and it makes the front look cluttered. It’s partly why the watch looks a lot more like a regular sporty watch rather than a smartwatch. However, we think the original Huawei Watch still takes the cake as one of the best looking Android Wear devices.

The 20mm band is made of a silicone-like rubbery material, and while it’s comfortable on the wrist, the band feels cheap. Thankfully, the bands are easy to remove via a snapping mechanism, so you can swap it out for any band you choose.

Huawei’s lightweight smartwatch is incredibly comfortable to wear.

Our primary issue with the Huawei Watch 2’s design is tied to the physical buttons and the small screen. Android Wear 2.0 supports the use of a digital crown — a button you can rotate to scroll through the interface of the OS. It’s utilized in the LG Watch Style and Sport, but not on any of the Huawei Watch 2’s two buttons. That’s unfortunate, because my thumb encompasses nearly the entire screen and it’s often hard to see what I’m swiping through.

The screen is just too small. Huawei should have minimized the bezel to keep the same frame and then increased the screen-to-body ratio. A slightly bigger screen would offer more information from notifications at a glance and typing on the keyboard or scribbling letters wouldn’t be as tricky.

At least the vibrant screen as well as the 390 x 390-pixel resolution of the Huawei Watch 2 looks gorgeous. Colors are vivid, and the screen offers deep blacks. It’s also easily visible in direct sunlight.

Long load times, but Android Wear 2.0 runs well

Android Wear offers a unified OS that smartwatch makers can’t tinker with, apart from adding

their own apps. On the Huawei Watch 2, the experience is polished, and it runs well enough, thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip and the 768MB of RAM.

Android Wear 2.0, a major revamp that overhauled the design of the OS, is a joy to use. Swipe down to access quick settings, and swipe up to move through your notifications.

You can respond better to notifications through tools like Smart Reply, which uses on-device machine learning to offer up contextual, short responses. Smart Replies have been useful, but voice-to-text and the keyboard (with swipe functionality) have been our go-to choices for responding to messages. You also get the option of an emoji or letter scribbler.

Flick your watch away from you to pull notification cards up, and flick it towards you to go back and even pull your settings down. These gestures are our favorite way of interacting with a smartwatch because it doesn’t require use of your other hand.

Watch Complications, which mimic subdials on a traditional watch, are also proving to be critically important in offering up information at a quick glance. You can program them to show details like the time to your next calendar event, how active you’ve been this week, and more. Third-party apps can add their own complications as well.

Android Wear 2.0 offers more control over the color scheme of a watch face and layout of the complications (you can also have none). The best part: If you have more than one favorite style, you can customize as many as you want and just swipe left or right to switch quickly.

For example, if I’m heading to a fancy dinner I’ll swap to a minimal, traditional-looking face with no complications. When I’m out and about, I’ll swap to one that more readily gives me important information. This is my favorite feature in Android Wear 2.0 — watch faces are important, and Google has done a great job in keeping the process of switching and customizing them incredibly simple.

Unfortunately, we’re still having a tough time of finding a lot of good watch faces that make use of complications other than the ones pre-installed on the watch. There’s still not a great deal of app support for version 2.0 yet, but we imagine things will look up as older devices get the update.

The stand-alone Google Play Store removes the need to download watch apps onto your phone; and the Google Assistant, which works by pressing and holding the top button, lets you ask it just about anything — from setting a reminder or navigating home to asking about the weather.

Huawei Watch 2 Sport Compared To

Huawei Fit

LG Watch Sport

Apple Watch Series 2

Motorola Moto 360 (2015)

Martian Passport MP100WSB

Garmin fenix 2

LG G Watch R

Netatmo June

Neptune Pine

Motorola Moto 360

Martian Notifier Watch

Samsung Gear 2

Phosphor Touch Time

Samsung Gear Fit

Basis B1

While the OS seems polished, everything seems to still take a few seconds to open and process. Google Assistant, for example, isn’t as fast and responsive as we’d like, and the Play Store also has somewhat long loading times. We think this is a connectivity issue, as we had similar issues on the LG Watch Sport.

Android Pay works well enough — just open the app and hold it up to the payment terminal. It still looks weird and draws unwanted attention, as people are still getting used to the fact that you can pay with something that’s not an iPhone.

Fitness features

The Huawei Watch 2 differentiates itself from the LG Watch Sport with more robust daily fitness statistics, and there’s a Workout app that launches tracking for select activities like indoor and outdoor cycling, running, and more. The tracking features seem to be on par with what Google Fit offers.

You can see data like your heart rate over the past six hours via a neat graph, your estimated VO2 capacity, and the app offers steady, useful reminders when you have been inactive for more than an hour. The one downside is that Huawei’s apps offer no automatic tracking features we’ve come to expect in a lot of fitness trackers. Google Fit does, though, and it’s strange to have two different fitness apps that offer similar but different features.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There are also training guides available for certain workouts, but you need to download Huawei Wear and Huawei Health to make it work. Huawei Wear was easy to find and install, but we had trouble pairing with the app from a smartphone — it doesn’t look like support for the Huawei Watch 2 has been added. We had trouble finding Huawei Health on the Play Store. The company said it still has to finalize some of the software, so we’ll take another look and update this review when the watch is officially released.

The heart rate sensor and GPS seem to be fairly accurate in our testing. The good thing is if Huawei’s fitness apps or Google Fit isn’t doing it for you, you can always head to the Play Store to download an app of your choice, like Strava, and still make use of these sensors.

The watch is IP68-rated by the way, meaning you can take it underwater up to 1.5 meters for about 30 minutes. It’s not meant for swimming, unlike the Apple Watch Series 2, which is capable of tracking your laps in the pool. There’s also an array of other sensors you can make use of, like the barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass.

Battery life and Watch Mode

The Huawei Watch 2 Sport has a 420mAh battery that can more or less get you through a full day with light to medium use. I typically came home with about 30 percent or higher battery life using the watch, but that’s without using any fitness-tracking features, and leaving the GPS on.

Huawei’s watch offers another feature that elevates it above the weak competition — 25-day battery life.

While two-day battery life would be great in its own right, Huawei does offer an app called Watch Mode. Similar to Casio’s Android smartwatch, this essentially turns off Android Wear functionality and leaves you with an analog watch face, as well as your step tracking data. It’s the perfect way to “turn off” your smartwatch when you don’t need to use it, such as when you’re at your desk and your smartphone and desktop are readily accessible.

In Watch Mode, you can’t do anything other than check the time and your step count. Unfortunately, to bring back Android Wear functionality, you have to restart the watch, but we much prefer the ability to extend our watch’s battery life by 25 days than having to deal with dead smartwatch. We configured the bottom right button to trigger Watch Mode.

Huawei seems to have gone with a charger similar to the one for the original Huawei Watch. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s not good. There’s a specific way to place the watch on the charger, and it reminds us of non-reversible MicroUSB days. Docks, like what the LG Watch Sport uses, are more user-friendly and allow you to simply plop down your watch.

Warranty information, price and availability

In the U.S., Huawei is only selling the Watch 2 Sport. It’s priced at $300 and available from Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, B&H Photo Video, Jet, Kohls, Target, and Walmart. It comes in three colors: Black, titanium gray, and concrete gray. The LTE version is not available in the United States, but it is sold in the U.K., where the Watch 2 goes on sale in May 2017.

The Sport with 4G, which comes carbon black, costs 380 British pounds, or 330 British pounds without the 4G option. Go for the Classic, in titanium gray, and it’s 410 British pounds. All models will be sold through selected retail stores from May 17, while Amazon has the Watch 2 from May 3.

Huawei’s warranty covers your device for manufacturing defects one year from the date of purchase.

Our Take

Huawei’s Watch 2 Sport is the best Android Wear watch so far. It offers everything you may need from a smartwatch, such as actionable notifications, 4GB of storage for offline music playback, GPS, NFC for Android Pay, Google Assistant, and direct access to the Google Play Store.

While its small screen and lack of a rotating crown may be our least favorite qualities, it redeems itself with Watch Mode, which helps elongate the smartwatch’s battery life up to 25 days.

Is there a better alternative?

Currently, no. The LG Watch Sport is comparable, but it has abysmal battery life and it’s far too bulky and uncomfortable to really recommend.

The DT Accessory Pack

Tusita Huawei watch charger

$9.54

DuraGadget 3-in-1 multi-purpose smartwatch cleaning kit

$13

Honor Huawei Honor 6X smartphone

$250

However, more Android Wear smartwatches are still being announced, and a lot of them come from fashion brands, so the design should be much nicer. Movado, Tag Heuer, Swarovski, and many more watchmakers are showing off new smartwatches at Baselworld 2017, an annual watch and jewelry trade show this month alone. We recommend you wait to buy the Huawei Watch 2 after you’ve seen what comes out of Baselworld.

How long will it last?

As with most smartwatches, don’t expect to continue using the Huawei Watch 2 Sport for more than two to three years. It may last longer, but you likely won’t see software updates after the two-year mark. Not to mention battery life is likely to get shorter.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you’re interested in Android Wear and smartwatches in general, the Huawei Watch 2 Sport won’t disappoint. If you own an iPhone, though, you’ll want to buy the Apple Watch Series 2 instead. That being said, you may want to wait a few weeks or even months to look at the upcoming alternatives, because there’s a good chance something better is on the way.

Originally published in March 2017. Updated in 05-08-2017 by Andy Boxall: Added U.K. prices and availability.

Huawei Watch 2 Sport vs. Huawei Watch 2 Classic: Which one is right for you?

Huawei has finally taken the wraps off of the Huawei Watch 2. Unlike the first time around, however, there are actually two devices with the Huawei Watch 2 name: The Huawei Watch 2 Sport and the Huawei Watch 2 Classic. While you might assume the only differences are aesthetic, the truth is that there are also a few changes under the hood.

So which one is right for you? Turns out, the devices have some very specific use cases, which is why we’ve put together this guide.

Specs

Huawei Watch 2 Sport

Huawei Watch 2 Classic

Size
48.9 x 45 x 12.6 mm (1.93 x 1.77 x 0.50-inches)
48.9 x 45 x 12.6 mm (1.93 x 1.77 x 0.50-inches)
Weight
57g (2.01oz)
60.5g (2.15oz)
Screen
1.2-inch AMOLED
1.2-inch AMOLED
Resolution
390 x 390 pixels
390 x 390 pixels
Operating System
Android Wear 2.0
Android Wear 2.0
Storage
4GB
4GB
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100
Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100
RAM
768MB
768MB
LTE Support
Yes (optional)
No
Connectivity
GSM/HSPA/LTE/Wi-Fi b/g/n
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Bluetooth
Yes, version 4.1
Yes, version 4.1
GPS
Yes
Yes
Battery
420mAh
420mAh
Water Resistance
IP68
IP68
Sensors
Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate, barometer, compass
Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate, barometer, compass
Colors
Orange, Black, Gray
Titanium
DT Review
Review
Hands-On

When it comes to specs, the two watches are almost identical. Both devices come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, which is built specifically for wearables. On top of that, they both feature 4GB of storage and 768MB of RAM, so they should be able to handle most wearable-related things you can throw at them.

The amount of storage, RAM, and the processor in these Android Wear watches are among the best you can get at the moment. Because the two watches have the same specs, this one is a tie.

Winner: Tie

Design and display

Perhaps the biggest difference between these two devices is their design. One of the watches is sports-focused, while the other is geared toward general use.

While you might assume that the Huawei Watch 2 Sport is the bulkier of the two watches, they’re actually the same dimensions. So if you’re looking for something a little less chunky, neither device is better than the other. Still, the Classic certainly looks a tad more appropriate for a dinner party due to its leather strap.

Both watches have a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen with a 390 x 390-pixel resolution, which is good for such a tiny device. They also have two physical buttons on the right side, as well as a dial around the face of the device.

Design largely comes down to personal preference, and both watches serve clear purposes — one for when you’re out running, and the other when you’re at a fancy dinner. Both devices come with easy-to-remove bands, so you can swap them out if you prefer another look.

Winner: Tie

Connectivity

Another major difference between the two devices is LTE connectivity. While you sadly won’t be able to get either of the two watches with LTE connectivity in the U.S., the international version of the Huawei Watch 2 Sport does offer LTE support, so you’ll gain a lot more independence from your phone. That way you can utilize more stand-alone features enabled in Android Wear 2.0.

It makes sense that the sport version would come with LTE support — after all, no one wants to take their phone with them when they go on a run or to the gym. The winner here is the Huawei Watch 2 Sport.

Winner: Huawei Watch 2 Sport

Sensors and tracking

Another assumption you might make about the two devices is that the Huawei Watch 2 Sport features more sensors. Not true. In reality, both watches feature the exact same sensors — an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a heart rate monitor, a barometer, a compass, and NFC for Android Pay. They both also have a built-in GPS, so you’ll be able to track your runs and hikes regardless of which device you choose.

In addition, both smartwatches feature some fitness-tracking software, which is nice for the sporty individual who wants a more comprehensive fitness-tracking device than what Google Fit can offer. That said, you’ll be able to track your steps, calorie burn, and your heart rate during your workout. You’ll even be able to chart your VO2Max, which is the maximum volume of oxygen you can take in during a workout.

This one is, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, a tie.

Winner: Tie

Software

Both watches feature Android Wear 2.0, Google’s latest operating system for wearables. Thanks to the new OS, you’ll be able to download and use standalone apps, while making use of a simplified and easy-to-use interface. Because the software now supports standalone apps, there’s also now a version of the Play Store that you can access directly on the watch. Lastly, Android Wear 2.0 brings with it a number of improved fitness features as well as Google Assistant.

As previously mentioned, both devices include some specialized tracking software, so if you’re looking for something a little more fitness-capable than the LG Watch Sport, Huawei’s two devices have more to offer.

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

Huawei officially launched the Huawei Watch 2 with prices in euros. The Sport will cost 330 euros or 380 euros with 4G, and the Classic will cost 400 euros. In the United States, only the Classic is available and costs $300. The Watch 2 is out in the U.K. on May 17, where the carbon black Sport costs 330 British pounds, the 4G Sport 380 British pounds, and the Classic in titanium gray costs 410 British pounds.

Eventually it will be available in more than 20 countries, including Holland, Thailand, Australia, and a few other select locations.

Winner: Huawei Watch 2 Sport

Winner: Huawei Watch 2 Sport

It’s a little hard to compare these two watches, namely because they’re so similar. Nonetheless, the option to have LTE baked into the watch makes the Sport more featureful and useful than the Classic. The Huawei Watch 2 Classic features a sleeker design, but it’s also a little more expensive than the Sport.

Still, the decision for U.S. buyers largely comes down to personal style. If you’re looking for a device for your day-to-day activities and something you could potentially wear with a suit and tie, the Huawei Watch 2 Classic is the watch for you. If, however, you’re a sports junkie and anticipate using this more for fitness tracking than anything else, the Huawei Watch 2 Sport may be a better option thanks to its silicone-like band. If you live in Europe, the exclusivity of LTE connectivity on the Sport model may make your decision easier.

Article originally published April 2017. Updated on 05-08-2017 by Andy Boxall: Added in price details for the United Kingdom.

Original Huawei Watch finally gets Android Wear 2.0 update

Major update brings Huawei’s first Android wearable in line with latest watches.

Better late than never: Over the weekend, the original Huawei Watch, released in late 2015, finally started to receive its Android Wear 2.0 update. Three months after Wear 2.0 first debuted, the update is rolling out to both developer preview and stable channel Huawei Watch devices. If you were running the previous Wear 2.0 preview build, the final over-the-air update will factory reset your device.

To update, head to Settings > System > About > System updates. It’s been reported on Reddit that anyone not seeing the update notification can try disabling Bluetooth on their phone, connecting their watch to Wifi and repeatedly tap the blue check mark until something happens. Alternatively, OTA packages are also available for manual flashing. (Lastly, you could also manually flash the Wear 2.0 developer preview and then take the OTA from there, if you’re not seeing it on your Wear 1.5-running Huawei Watch —
but that’s a more involved process.)

So far the Android Wear 2.0 update appears to be a significant upgrade for the watch, bringing its performance and feature set in line with the Huawei Watch 2 (save for LTE connectivity and Android Pay support, of course). Performance is noticeably smoother throughout the software, and the Wear 2.0 experience is much better suited to a circular display. And there’s also the much-hyped ability to directly install apps on the watch, and directly reply to messages through the built-in keyboard.

More: Android Wear 2.0 review

If you’ve got Wear 2.0 up and running on your Huawei Watch, be sure to let us know how you’re getting on down in the comments!

How to disable Samsung Pay

How do I disable or delete Samsung Pay if I don’t want it anymore?

When it comes to paying conveniently, Samsung Pay makes using your phone as a bank card an easy process. There may come a time when you don’t want to use the app anymore and need to disable Samsung Pay. Thankfully this is a pretty easy process, and we have the details for you here.

How to disable Samsung Pay

To disable Samsung Pay you have two basic options. You can remove all of your bank cards from the Samsung Pay app, so that it can’t pull from your bank account, or you can uninstall the app. Both of these methods are pretty easy to work with, and will ensure that you’re not accidentally using Samsung Pay when you don’t intend to.

If you just want to make sure a specific card doesn’t get used with Samsung Pay, all you need to do is delete that bank card from the app. You just open Samsung Pay and then tap on credit/debit to see your bank cards. From there tap on the card you want to see the details of, then tap the overflow icon in the upper right corner that looks like three vertical dots and tap on delete.

You also have the option of uninstalling the app through your Settings menu.

If you’re really done with Samsung Pay though, and don’t even want to keep it on your phone you can of course uninstall the app. You can do this quickly by pressing and holding onto the Samsung Pay icon from your home screen, and then selecting delete from the pop-up dialog that appears.

You also have the option of uninstalling the app through your Settings menu. Head to your settings, and scroll down and tap on Apps. From there enter the App manager and scroll down until you see Samsung Pay. Tap on the app and then tap Uninstall. Verify that you want to uninstall this app, and it will be gone in just a few seconds.

Remove a card from Samsung Pay

Open Samsung Pay app.
Tap on Credit/debit to see your virtual bank card.

Tap on your bank card to see details.

Tap the overflow icon that looks like three vertical dots in the upper right corner.
Tap delete card to delete your virtual bank card.
Provide a reason to delete your card, and delete at the bottom of your screen.

Uninstall Samsung Pay

Open the Settings menu.
Tap on Apps to open the Apps settings.

Tap on App manager to open it.

Tap on Samsung Pay
Tap on Uninstall
Tap on OK to confirm you are uninstalling this app.

Did you uninstall Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay gives you the option of having an easy way to pay for items, but it certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Thankfully getting rid of it is just as easy as setting it up, making it a painless process when you do the deed. Have you disabled Samsung Pay from your phone? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Moto Z2 Play leak suggests the phone’s battery will be downgraded

Lenovo is decreasing battery size to make the Moto Z2 Play thinner.

We’re due for an update to the Moto Z Play, and a recent leak out of VentureBeat gives us a look at what’s coming with the Moto Z2 Play. The render image shows off a design that is reminiscent of the Moto G5 Plus, with a rounded fingerprint sensor up front and magnetic pins at the back for Moto Mods.

However, it looks like Lenovo is trading battery life for a svelte profile. According to the Moto Z2 Play’s marketing materials, the phone will feature a 3000mAh battery, 510mAh less than its predecessor’s 3510mAh battery. The reduction in battery size means that the phone will come in at a thickness of 6mm, nearly a millimeter thinner than the Z Play. The change will also decrease the weight of the device by 20g. One of the main selling points of the Moto Z Play was the excellent battery life, and the decision to reduce battery size to create a thinner device doesn’t make much sense.

In other areas, the specs are in line for an upgrade, with Lenovo switching out the Snapdragon 625 for a Snapdragon 626 SoC with slightly increased clock speeds. The 5.5-inch screen is rumored to retain a resolution of 1080p, and the front camera will similarly be the same at 5MP. The rear camera, however, will use a 12MP imaging sensor with an f/1.7 lens and dual autofocus pixels — similar to that of the Moto G5 Plus. Elsewhere, the memory is slated for an upgrade to 4GB RAM and the storage is set to be increased to 64GB.

The date in the render suggests a launch early next month, so we should be hearing more about the mid-range Z2 Play in the coming weeks. In the meantime, what do you think of Lenovo’s decision to favor a thin profile over battery life?

Our first Galaxy S8 smashed after just five days: How to avoid the same fate

It’s pretty much the worst nightmare of any new phone owner. Just days after you’ve picked up your shiny new, expensive, state-of-the-art handset, it slides/slips/drops/pinwheels/fumbles its way out of your hands, out of your pocket, off some surface and onto the floor. You look on, dismayed, distraught, in disbelief — grief and terror gripping you as you see the telltale spider-leg pattern in the glass.

RIP in peace new phone.

That’s what happened to Windows Central contributor Matt Brown just five days into his Galaxy S8+ ownership experience. Here’s what happened, how it might’ve been avoided, and what your options are should you become as unlucky as Matt. Behold, our first smashed Samsung Galaxy S8, the victim of a drop off a three-foot wall.

• Android Central on YouTube
• Why the GS8 is the best Android phone
• First things to do with your new Galaxy S8 (not including smashing it)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 review

Harman Kardon Invoke speaker has Microsoft Cortana for brains

Harman Kardon, one of the audio brands to fall under the Harman umbrella, has accidentally leaked a product page for the Invoke speaker, which uses Microsoft Cortana. The page has since been pulled down.

• Amazon Echo review: It’s all about Alexa

Harman Kardon teased the existence of the speaker toward the end of 2016, but merely stated a speaker was coming and it would use Cortana. Although it did release a 30-second teaser video. The video shows what appears to be a screen on top that lights up when Cortana is activated. It’s not clear if the screen can be used for anything else.

Now we have the full details. The speaker has a similar design to the Amazon Echo in that it’s cylindrical, but from the images at least, it features a more premium, all-metal build.

Some of the features of the Invoke speaker are revealed on the product page, and include being able to make and receive Skype calls. This makes complete sense, seeing as the speaker uses Microsoft’s smart assistant. Everything pumped out the built-in speakers, whether it be voice calls or music, should sound good thanks to Harman Kardon’s audio knowhow.

With regards to Cortana’s capabilities, Harman Kardon simply says you’ll be able to “get things done”. You’ll be able to control your smart home devices and music using your voice, as you do with Amazon Echo and Google Home, as well as getting answers to questions. The Invoke will likely use the Bing search engine to deliver results. 

• Google Home: A better voice assistant that Amazon Echo?

The product page doesn’t give any further details, such as what services and smart home products are compatible with Cortana, or the price. We’d expect the Invoke speaker to cost around the Amazon Echo’s £150 asking price, although given the more premium build it could be more. Harman Kardon has at least told us the Invoke speaker will arrive in “Fall 2017”, so not too much longer until all is revealed.

Watch Anthony Joshua’s amazing win over Klitschko in virtual reality

Anthony Joshua’s 11th round victory over Wladimir Klitschko was an incredible feat – capping one of the best bouts of boxing we’ve seen in many years. If you managed to catch it on Pay-Per-View you were lucky indeed.

If not, you can always relive the fight as Sky has created a 12-minute film documenting Joshua’s win. What’s more, it’s presented in virtual reality.

Developed and put together by Sky VR Studios, the film was made using a custom-built rig including eight 360-degree cameras. It follows the fighters from their preparations, walk to the ring through the 90,000-strong crowd at Wembley and as they trade punches. You certainly get a unique perspective.

“There’s no doubt that this was one of the all-time great heavyweight fights, and it was an incredible to be given such unprecedented access to the action. The resulting film takes viewers closer to the action than ever before – closer than Arnie’s ringside seat,” said Neil Graham, executive producer of Sky VR Studios.

• Best VR headsets to buy in 2017, whatever your budget

You can watch the VR film on an iOS or Android device, through the dedicated Sky VR app on Google Play or Apple’s App Store. You can use any mobile headset that is compatible with Android phones or the iPhone.

Alternatively, you can also watch it on Samsung Gear VR, Daydream and Oculus Rift.

Those without a headset can also view it in 2D and swipe their fingers on the screen for a 360-degree view.

Other Sky VR productions are in development, including a virtual tour of London’s Natural History Museum with Sir David Attenborough as a virtual guide.

The Morning After: Monday, May 8th 2017

Hey, good morning!

Monday’s back. But before dealing with that, read about how Facebook may be planning its own TV-like shows, how Android Pay might use your your face, and NASA’s plans of where to go next in the Solar System.

The ridiculously sharp picture is just one reason.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ team explains why it used Red’s 8K camera

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the first movie shot with Red’s 8K Weapon camera, but why? The camera maker has posted a behind-the-scenes look at the movie that, to no one’s surprise, talks a lot about why the Vol. 2 team shot with such relatively exotic gear. As director of photography Henry Braham summarizes: the Weapon is a “large format” camera that’s simultaneously “tiny.” That let the crew shoot very detailed imagery regardless of the shot — important for a CG-heavy movie, since it maintains a consistently sharp look. It meant they could use the same cameras for handheld close-ups or unusual rigs, such as a spider rig that flies along a wire.

The mission it chooses will launch in 2024.
NASA is reviewing candidates for its next Solar System mission

The Space Agency might be focusing on Mars recently, but it hasn’t forgotten the rest of the Solar System. NASA has begun reviewing the 12 proposals it received for the New Frontiers program, the same one that gave rise to New Horizons, Juno and other notable unmanned missions. All the proposals will go through scientific and technical probing with the next seven months, with one or a few moving on to the next phase of the selection process. It will choose the best mission to develop in 2019 and will spend up to $1 billion to make it a reality.

It’s also pushing an Autopilot update that catches up with the original.
Tesla collects videos from cars to improve its self-driving tech

Tesla has pushed an Autopilot update that, in addition to bringing newer vehicles up to snuff , includes a new data policy that mentions collecting “short video clips” from external cameras in the name of autonomous driving upgrades. The footage will help Tesla’s systems learn how to recognize lanes, signs and other visual cues that cars need to get around. The Autopilot update itself is big news, at least if you own a recent (October 2016 or later) Model S or Model X. In many ways, these newer vehicles finally have Autopilot limits on par with earlier cars.

Finding something to play is tricky, too.

The Nintendo PlayStation can finally play CD games

Ah, the fabled Nintendo PlayStation: a very cool prototype of what might have been, but with a CD drive that couldn’t actually play games. Until now.Professional tinkerer Ben Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck) has managed to get the CD drive working, including games. The solution, as he explains, involved replacing some “questionable” capacitors and “jiggling some things around” — he was caught off-guard when things started working.

But wait, there’s more…

• Self-repairing roads could also charge your electric car
• The TV industry just edged closer to a giant merger
• Google explains how it’s preventing future email phishing scams
• San Francisco train service plans to run solely on clean energy