2017 June 05 | AIVAnet

5

Jun

HTC U11 hands-on: HTC’s true 2017 flagship

As we near the halfway point of the year, we’re about to enter that lull period in the mobile industry where flagship announcements are few and far between. In previous years, Taiwan-based HTC has been consistent about introducing its flagship phone earlier in the year, usually during Mobile World Congress, but this year they’ve opted to do something different – by announcing a pair of phones shortly after CES, with neither of them being considered as flagships by the company.

HTC 10 revisited: one year later

4 weeks ago

The HTC U Ultra and U Play introduced a totally new design language and user experience to consumers, a radical departure from HTC’s track record in years past. While that history proved popular with reviewers and tech aficionados, it didn’t exactly translate into mass market appeal. Hence the changes HTC introduced this year.

While the U Ultra and U Play don’t yet seem to have made a huge difference to HTC’s mainstream popularity, the question remained: could HTC’s true 2017 flagship turn things around? Now that they’ve seen what the competition has done, HTC is the last of the bunch to take the wraps off its latest hero device, the HTC U11, which as its model number indicates, is the 11th flagship in HTC’s history, but one that contains much of the new U series’ DNA as well.

Expectations are undeniably riding high with this one, especially given what we’ve seen thus far. Can the HTC U11 remain relevant against the best of 2017’s flagship devices? Does it have the necessary wow factor it will need to stand out against the best from Samsung and LG?

Expectations are undeniably riding high with this one, but can the HTC U11 remain relevant?

Looking at the HTC U11, there’s no denying the new direction HTC has planned for its devices, opting to once again leverage the same all-glass construction and unibody aluminum band introduced by the HTC U Ultra and Play. Available in four colors – ice white, amazing silver, brilliant black, and sapphire blue (with a special fire engine red version in select markets) – the HTC U11’s mirror-esque finish adds a nice luster to the phone, but just as before, the glass finish becomes a real magnet for fingerprints.

This “liquid surface” design language replaces the storied tradition of HTC utilizing primarily metal bodies for its flagships. Some might not be pleased about this direction, but it’s nonetheless something new and different to help establish HTC’s new identity. The HTC U11 has symmetrical 3D glass on front and back and if you liked the look of the U Ultra or U Play, you’ll love the U11.

The HTC U11 has an IP67 rating, something that the previous U devices lacked.

If you were a little anxious about just how big this phone would be, you’ll be pleased to know the HTC U11 almost matches the HTC U Play’s overall size, making it far more manageable to hold in one hand than the U Ultra.

In addition to that, the HTC U11’s construction has an IP67 rating, something that the previous “U” devices lacked, so to that degree, it at least matches some of its main flagship rivals for dust and water resistance.

And after so much flak about all the dead space in the HTC U Ultra, the HTC U11 also forgoes the 3.5mm headphone jack – choosing instead to rely on the USB Type-C connection and the new HTC USonic earbuds that’ll come bundled with the phone. Sure, it’s a small consolation, but this new version features active noise cancellation courtesy of the HTC U11’s audio processing and an additional mic in the ear buds. There’s also one touch calibration for fine-tuning your audio profile.

The HTC U11 also forgoes the 3.5 mm headphone jack…

Other audio-centric features of the HTC U11 include 3D audio recording with its four “omni-directional, high sensitivity” microphones. The U11 comes with HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi edition speakers, which leverage both the speaker on the bottom edge of the phone as well as the earpiece.

The U11’s speakers channel audio through the whole phone, turning the entire thing into a speaker. Impressively enough, you can cover either speaker without the typical drop in volume. There’s also a USB-Type C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter in the box and a “performance grade” DAC to keep audiophiles happy.

When it comes to all-glass constructions, this “liquid” glass design language is still a step up over the LG G6, even more so thanks to the way its curved edges and tapers make it more comfortable to grasp. But we wouldn’t go so far as to proclaim that the HTC U11 is better looking than the Galaxy S8.

Some changes are positive – the camera lens is now more flush to the surface and the HTC U11 certainly has the kind of looks that attract curious eyes – but the question remains of how much substance lies beneath the surface. For example, the Galaxy S8 looks just as good, if not better than the U11, and arguably offers a lot more.

Let’s get back to the hardware for a minute. Part of the reason for the HTC U11’s more manageable size is because of its screen: an “in-betweener” 5.5-inch Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) Super LCD 5 display with Gorilla Glass 5. We can’t complain about the resolution and size, given then it’s more than ample for VR purposes with a pixel density count of 539 ppi.

Saturation and contrast look good, but we’ll have to put the screen through our display testing in the full review before we make any definitive judgments. Super LCD technology has always been superior with outdoor visibility under direct sunlight though, so it’s reassuring that the same is found here with the HTC U11.

Slapped with the flagship moniker, the HTC U11 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, the latest and greatest from the chip maker. That’s certainly a sigh of relief and effectively ensures its flagship status, but the US variant of the phone will only be available with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC ensures the U11’s flagship status, but the US will only get 4 GB of RAM.

What’s interesting, though, is that an additional version for the international market will offer 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. We didn’t see any hiccups with the 4 GB model in our short time checking it out, but again, we’ll need to put it through its paces in the full review to see how it stacks up against the best devices of 2017.

Of course, the headline feature for the HTC U11 is what the company is calling Edge Sense. Expanding upon its new HTC Sense Companion experience and HTC Sense on top of Android 7.1 Nougat, HTC Edge Sense offers quick access to certain functions….by merely squeezing on the sides of the phone with your hand.

The headline feature for the HTC U11 is what the company is calling Edge Sense, or squeezable shortcuts.

Yes, you read that correctly! Essentially, the HTC U11 is capable of analyzing two kinds of squeezes, short and long, which are fully programmable and allow for things such as turning on the flash, launching the camera, taking a selfie, and much more.

It’s ultimately just a new form of shortcutting, which is something we’ve seen countless times before (think BlackBerry’s convenience key, Android Nougat’s launcher shortcuts or double pressing the power button to launch the camera). But Edge Sense is a familiar idea implemented in a very novel way.

While it’s easy to pass off as a gimmick, there’s still some practicality in it. Take the example of trying to take a photo underwater: touch screens don’t work underwater, but on the HTC U11 you can launch the camera with a single squeeze and then shoot a photo with a long squeeze. Or perhaps you want to turn on the flashlight in the frigid winter when it’s too cold to pull your gloves off.

HTC U Ultra review

March 24, 2017

The best part is that it’s fully customizable and entirely optional, so you can tweak it exactly the way you like or completely ignore it, the choice is yours. Sense Companion, Google Assistant (and eventually Amazon Alexa) are programmable and you can add two shortcuts to any app: this is definitely cool. We were even told additional functionality might be added at a later date. There are definitely some solid use cases for Edge Sense, but we wouldn’t say it’s a game changer in any capacity.

Moving onto the cameras, there’s a 12 MP “UltraPixel” camera in the rear, which features 1.4μm pixels, “UltraSpeed” auto focus, OIS, dual-LED flash, and an f/1.7 aperture lens. Even though it’s difficult to gauge its performance and quality right now, HTC assures us that it’s going to be near or at the top of many benchmark tests. Complementing that is a beefy 16 MP front-facing camera with a BSI sensor, f/2.0 aperture and HDR Boost mode (which is essentially always-on instant HDR with no lag).

Knowing what HTC has brought to the table, is it enough to compete against the current lineup of flagships? Being the last to announce its first-half flagship, HTC had ample time to organize and develop its flagship phone to make it a formidable one. At the current moment, it’s honestly going to hinge on one key factor; pricing.

At launch, it looks like Sprint will be the only US carrier to sell the HTC U11, which has a price of roughly $700 attached to it. That’s right there with the rest of the pack, but HTC is sweetening the deal by giving away two Amazon Echo Dots if you pre order right now from Sprint. Unlocked versions of the phone will be available through HTC and Amazon’s web sites.

The pricing is more justified than the HTC U Ultra, but it still has some stiff competition. If it proves to be superior in key areas like battery life, performance, and camera, it can absolutely bring HTC back into the spotlight.

Read next: HTC U11 specs, features, and availability details

5

Jun

Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged.

Ruler

This virtual ruler measures five meters long. Put your finger on the screen and slide your phone with the other hand, then pull the arrow down to reel off.

Available on:

iOS

Yoga Studio

This Ultimate Yoga app allows you to play, create, customize, and schedule easy-to-follow HD video yoga classes. It features 80-plus ready-made yoga and meditation classes with HD video.

Available on:

iOS

Weather Now

These beautiful 3D images of our planet might just draw your attention for a period long enough to make you forget this app has other useful features that allow you to easily access precise, global weather information.

Available on:

iOS

Instaflash

Instaflash is your go-to photo app with all the tools you need to perfect your photos instantly. Transform dark and dull shots into vibrant photos and amaze your friends and family.

Available on:

iOS

Smart PDF Scanner

Just snap a photo of your document, and get a PDF file you can instantly send to your colleagues, all from your iPhone or iPad.

Available on:

iOS

TunePlayer

Choose your songs from your iTunes library and experience the fluidity of an easy-to-use media player that takes up less space than the competition.

Available on:

iOS

5

Jun

Bring out your dead: What to do with your old iPhone

Update: Added a section on how to use an old iPhone as a security camera or baby monitor, and revised copy throught to account for new devices.

Does the iPhone 7 make older iPhone models obsolete? Maybe, maybe not. The answer varies from person to person and what they expect (and need) from their smartphones. One thing is for sure, however: A ton of people who rushed out to buy the iPhone 7 have an older iPhone, such as an iPhone 5 or 6S, suddenly sitting idle.

But an old iPhone doesn’t have to be a techno-albatross hanging over your shoulders. There are plenty of great ways to put an older iPhone to use even if it’s not your carry-everywhere device anymore. And if you truly don’t need or want it around, there are solid options for putting it in good hands — or getting some cold hard cash for your device. Read on to find out more.

Keeping your old iPhone

For many people, keeping an old iPhone around makes plenty of sense. After all, every iPhone beginning with the iPhone 5 can run Apple’s latest iteration of iOS 10, so the devices aren’t exactly useless.

Use it as a backup phone

Keeping an old iPhone as a backup device can be helpful if you’re the sort of person who tends to leave their smartphone at work, in the car, or on that table next to the door where there’s no way you could possibly miss it on your way out in the morning. This option is particularly helpful for frequent travelers. Often, it makes sense to use an entirely different phone when you’re overseas to avoid ghastly roaming charges.

Once an iPhone is off contact, the most common approach is to unlock the device and purchase a new SIM card that works with another carrier. To unlock an iPhone, we suggest that you follow our guide on how to unlock any iPhone from your wireless carrier. Of course, you can also keep an iPhone on contract with shared voice and data plans with many carriers, and just keep using it as you always have.

Where can you take an unlocked iPhone?

Well, this depends on the iPhone model you have. You have to keep in mind that AT&T, T-Mobile, and most carriers around the world use the GSM standard. Verizon and Sprint are different because they use CDMA. If your iPhone is a GSM phone, this means it will not work on Verizon or Sprint. Many phones, such as the iPhone, have the capability to work with both standards.

Smartphones like the iPhone 7 have two different versions. If you bought your iPhone 7 from Verizon or Sprint, then your iPhone will also work with GSM carriers such as AT&T or T-Mobile. However, if you bought your iPhone 7 from AT&T and T-Mobile, then these phones are only GSM phones, so you can’t use them on Verizon or Sprint. We suggest you look into your particular model if you plan to take the older phone to another carrier.

Outside the United States, the process is similar, only more common. GSM networks are the standard, and most operators will be happy to sell folks a SIM card to use on their network. When you come back to the states, there’s no need to keep paying for service — just reactivate it when (and if) you return to that country.

Use it like an iPod touch

An iPhone without phone service is essentially a spiffy iPod touch — and plenty of people find an iPod touch is all the iOS experience they need. Your old iPhone can get good use as a standalone camera, and when you’re near Wi-Fi, you can publish images to your iCloud Camera Roll and have them automatically synced across all your iOS and MacOS devices. Need an alternative? Pop your aging device into a speaker dock — or an audio system with an iPod option — and turn it into a home stereo. With iTunes Sharing, you can stream your iTunes library wirelessly to your stereo. Similarly, services such as Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, and TunedIn will provide you with a steady supply of new music.

iOS Cameras

Use it as a security camera or baby monitor

One of the most popular uses of an old iPhone is to keep it as a security camera or baby monitor. The reason why we talk about these together is that they both work the same way. Download the app to your old iPhone, pair the old iPhone with the new iPhone, and voila! You have a security camera. You can find many apps in the App Store by just searching for “baby monitor” or “security camera.” You can try an app like Presence if your looking for a security solution, or something like Cloud Baby Monitor, which is also compatible with the Apple Watch.

We suggest that you read through our guide on how to turn your old iPhone into a smart home gadget for a more in-depth look at different apps.

5

Jun

Conductive ‘Electro Dough’ is a must-have toy for any young engineer

Why it matters to you

Dough Universe by startup Tech Will Save Us is a fun, easy way to introduce science and engineering concepts to the young inventor in your life.

What is your earliest memory of technology? What did you play? What did you make? And what did it inspire you to do next?

No doubt, your answer is likely very different depending on how old you are. Kids today have more opportunities than their parents ever did to explore technology — and they’re doing it at younger and younger ages.

Tech Will Save Us is a startup that encourages kids to learn the fundamentals of science, math, and engineering through creative play. On Monday, the company has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Dough Universe, a collection of several different kits aimed to show kids ages 4 to 6 how the magic of electricity can make their wildest ideas possible.

At the core of the whole thing is Electro Dough — modeling clay that looks a lot like Play-Doh, but is conductive. There is also a battery-powered controller that allows kids to interact with their dough creations in unique ways.

Dough Universe retails in three kits that can be purchased separately or together, and are each based on a different electronic concept. They’re called Bright Creatures, Squishy Sounds, and Electro Machines. Tech Will Save Us is also releasing a companion app for iOS and Android that will provide kids with stories and challenges to guide them as they play.

The Bright Creatures kit teaches children how circuits work, through the use of LEDs. Kids can attach strands of dough to the controller, which will feed electricity through their creations to activate lights. Squishy Sounds uses the controller’s speaker to make noise whenever a wired key strikes the dough. And Electro Machines adds motorized movement to the equation, opening up the possibilities even further.

There are already tech-focused toys on the market to teach kids basic engineering principles, like LittleBits’ recently released Code Kit. However, many are positioned at children entering middle school or older. Dough Universe, on the other hand, is intended for a much younger audience. Because the technology is so simple, there’s not much of a learning curve — and kids can jump in and start experimenting right away.

The Kickstarter campaign begins today and runs for a month. Early bird backers can claim a kit for themselves for $40 each, or grab all three for $100. When Dough Universe starts retailing during the holiday season, each kit will run $50.