Best tips for getting started with the OnePlus 5

So you just got your OnePlus 5. Let us help you get the most out of it right away.

When you unbox your brand new phone, it can be enticing to jump right into setting it up how you’ve been using your previous phone without any consideration of the new features you now have. So after you get through setup and start downloading your apps, we encourage you to take a few minutes and check out some of what the OnePlus 5 has to offer that makes it unique.

These are the first things you need to do with your OnePlus 5.

Choose capacitive or on-screen buttons

The debate on capacitive versus on-screen navigation buttons will rage on, but this isn’t the place for that argument — because the OnePlus 5 lets you choose whichever you prefer. You’ll find the toggle for it in Settings and then Buttons — switch between the two at any time.

If you decide to go with capacitive keys, take the extra few minutes to configure long-press and double-tap actions for the buttons as well. For each of the three buttons, you can have something else happen when you long-press or double-tap them, including actions like opening menus, opening the camera, turning off the screen, pulling down the notification shade and more. It’s a huge point of customization if you want to spend the time on it.

Decide if you want that screen protector

Like many phones, the OnePlus 5 comes out of the box with a pre-installed screen protector. It’s actually a decent protector, but it really detracts from the experience of touching the Gorilla Glass 5 on the front directly.

Just take off that screen protector and touch the glass.

It may be worth keeping the screen protector on there for a day or two if you’re on the fence about the phone and may return it or sell it on to someone else. But if you plan to keep your OnePlus 5, you should bite the bullet and remove that screen protector to really enjoy the phone fully.

If you’re tough on phones and must have a screen protector, we recommend going with one of the purpose-built tempered glass protectors from OnePlus directly.

Actually unbox the charger

If you’re a typical smartphone nerd like us, you have more phone chargers than you know what to do with. But when you get your OnePlus 5, there’s a good reason to actually take the in-box charger out and have it handy. The OnePlus 5 has a proprietary fast charging system called “Dash Charge” that requires both an approved charger and cable to work, and that means you’ll need to use the one in the box or another sold by OnePlus.

Dash Charge is darn useful — unbox the charger.

Dash Charge is a really smart piece of technology because it lets the charger do more of the work than the phone, letting your phone charge up faster without getting warm. It has the benefit of charging super fast, but also letting you retain near-max charging speeds even while playing a game or using hardware-intensive apps like navigating in car mode.

That doesn’t mean your OnePlus 5 won’t charge quickly off of another charging brick you have, but it won’t be anywhere near the charging speed that a proper Dash Charge charger can offer.

More: Essential accessories for the OnePlus 5

Customize your status bar

One of the OnePlus 5’s biggest features is its bevy of unique software customization options that are available without rooting or modifying the phone’s firmware. A perfect example is the option to choose which icons show up in your status bar: go to Settings then Status bar and you’ll see tons of choices.

You can change the battery bar style and add a battery percentage indicator, choose how you want time displayed and even show your active network speed up there. The best part is the “icon manager” that lets you turn off icons you have no interest in showing — like the auto-rotate, Bluetooth, VoLTE or NFC icons that will always be turned on.

Check out Reading Mode

The OnePlus 5 has a new hardware sensor that can better identify ambient lighting, and it leverages that for a new “Reading Mode” to help reduce eye strain when reading on the phone. With Reading Mode on, the screen shifts to a near-greyscale color palette that’s much easier on your eyes. You’ll find it in Settings then Display and Reading Mode.

Reading Mode can help save your eyes during long reading sessions.

The best way to seamlessly use Reading Mode is to select specific apps that will toggle on the mode when you open them. For example it would be a good idea to turn on Reading Mode when you open the Kindle app, the Android Central app, or your favorite news aggregation service.

If you want to use Reading Mode more sparingly in apps, you can also add a toggle for it in your notification quick settings.

Configure gestures

OnePlus has iterated on its idea of screen-off gestures to let you configure exactly what you want to happen when you perform one. The phone supports swiping an O, V, S, M or W on the “off” display to perform actions — for each one, you can choose to do things like open the camera, open the flashlight or launch a specific app you have installed.

In addition to the active on-screen gestures, OnePlus also uses this area to include toggles for flipping the phone to mute incoming calls, swiping with three fingers to screenshot and double tapping the screen to wake it.

Get acquainted with the Alert Slider

Every company handles notifications and Do Not Disturb in different ways. OnePlus has stuck with a three-stage hardware switch to handle the duty — it’s called the “Alert Slider” and it’s found up above the volume rocker on the left edge of the phone.

This may be the biggest change in daily use for most people.

The specific actions can be customized, but the Alert Slider has three basic locations (from bottom to top): “ring,” “do not disturb” and “silent” that are pretty self-explanatory. In the settings, you can slightly tweak how each acts: “ring” can include vibration or not, “do not disturb” can handle various alerts in different ways, and “silent” can completely mute media and vibration if you so choose.

Because all sound is handled by the Alert Slider, that means that you can’t set automatic rules for Do Not Disturb — it’s likely a change from what you’re used to, but it also feels like a better way to handle things for most people.

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• OnePlus 5 specs
• Which OnePlus 5 model should you buy?
• Camera comparison: OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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Ad-subsidized Nokia 6 goes up on Amazon for $179 along with $99 Moto E4

Amazon’s lineup of ad-subsidized phones now include the Nokia 6 and Motorola’s latest entry-level phone.

Ahead of its availability in early July, the Nokia 6 is now up for pre-order on Amazon for just $179. Like the Moto G5 Plus, Amazon is offering a Prime Exclusive edition of the Nokia 6 with lock screen ads, knocking $50 off the retail price of the device. Amazon is also kicking off sales of an ad-subsidized version of the Moto E4 — which will retail for just $99 — along with the Alcatel Idol 5S, A50, and A30 Plus.

The Nokia 6 is the first Nokia device to be sold in the U.S. following HMD Global’s acquisition of the brand name, with the phone featuring a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 1.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 430 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 16MP f/2.0 camera, 8MP front shooter, 3000mAh battery, and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. The phone will be compatible on AT&T and T-Mobile, and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.

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Meanwhile, the Moto E4 comes with a 5.0-inch 720p display, 1.4GHz Snapdragon 425, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, fingerprint sensor at the front, 2800mAh battery, and Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. Amazon is knocking $30 off the retail price for the Prime Exclusive version, and the phone itself will work on all four major carriers in the U.S. — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.

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Amazon is adding three new Alcatel phones to its lineup — the Idol 5S, the A50, and the A30 Plus. The Idol 5S is the most interesting of the lot, offering a Snapdragon 625 and a 5.2-inch Full HD display for $199 if you’re willing to put up with lock screen ads — or $80 off the retail price of the standard variant. The A50 is available for $99, and the A30 Plus is listed for $79.

The Moto E4 will start shipping out on June 30, and the rest of the phones in the lineup will be heading out to customers starting July 10. Interested in taking a look at all the new additions? Head to the link below to explore Amazon’s Prime Exclusive collection.

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Amazon Expands Lineup of Best-Selling Prime Exclusive Phones with New Unlocked Devices including Nokia, Alcatel, and Motorola

SEATTLE—June 27, 2017—(NASDAQ: AMZN)— Amazon today announced five new additions to its best-selling Prime Exclusive Phones lineup, offering Prime members incredible prices on the latest unlocked phones. The new Nokia 6, the debut Android device in the U.S. from HMD Global, initially available only on Amazon and the first Nokia phone in the Prime Exclusive Phones lineup, will be available for only $179.99—saving Prime members $50 off the full retail price. Alcatel is also expanding its lineup in the program with three new devices: the Alcatel IDOL 5S for only $199.99 for Prime members ($80 off the full retail price—the largest discount ever offered for a Prime Exclusive Phone), the Alcatel A50 for only $99.99 for Prime members ($50 off the full retail price), and the Alcatel A30 PLUS, available for only $79.99 for Prime members (also $50 off the full retail price). Motorola’s recently announced Moto E4 will be offered at $99.99 for Prime members ($30 off the full retail price). These Prime Exclusive Phones are available for pre-order starting today at http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones.

Since launching last summer, Prime Exclusive Phones have been consistently featured in the top 5 best-selling unlocked phones list on Amazon and are among the top rated unlocked smartphones available on Amazon.com. Additionally, the Prime exclusive Moto G5+ has been featured in the top 3 new releases for unlocked Android phones since it launched in March.

“One year ago, we introduced Prime Exclusive Phones as a way to bring the freedom of unlocked Android devices to our Prime members—at incredible prices,” said Charlotte Maines, General Manager, Prime Exclusive Phones. “What began with two phones, the BLU R1 HD and Moto G4, has now grown to 10 smartphones in our Prime Exclusive lineup—many of which are among the best-selling and top-rated unlocked phones available on Amazon. We’re delighted by the reaction we’ve seen from Prime members and are excited to add even more options for our customers with these brand new phones from Alcatel and Motorola, and our newest addition to the program—Nokia phones.”

Introducing Nokia 6

The Nokia 6, the newest unlocked Android device in the U.S. from HMD Global, features a polished aluminum design with diamond cut edges available in Matte Black or Copper and a beautiful 5.5″ Full HD IPS laminated display. It offers a 16MP phase detection autofocus rear-facing camera and 8MP autofocus front-facing camera, Android 7.1 Nougat, a fingerprint sensor, powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. Nokia 6 comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with support for up to 128 GB more via microSD card, and is available for only $179.99 for Prime members (regularly $229.99) compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. Learn more about the Nokia 6 here.

“Pairing the superior craftsmanship and distinctive design of the Nokia 6 with the ease and reliability of Amazon, makes this the perfect match,” said Maurizio Angelone, Vice President, Americas, HMD Global. “We are thrilled to bring the quality and detail of a high-end phone experience to a new generation of Nokia fans, while offering existing fans the same unparalleled quality they have come to love.”

Alcatel Adds Three Brand New Phones

The Alcatel IDOL 5S features a sleek metal and 2.5D curved glass design, with a 5.2″ Full HD display and a 12MP rear-facing camera with dual-tone flash and 8MP front-facing camera. It comes with Android 7.1 Nougat, 4G LTE, a fingerprint sensor, 3.6-watt front-facing speakers, plus a VR Launcher. The IDOL 5S features 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with up to 256 GB more via MicroSD card—all for only $199.99 for Prime members (regularly $279.99, an $80 discount). The Alcatel IDOL 5S is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks; Sprint and Verizon network compatibility will be available later this summer via a software update.

The Alcatel A50 has a sleek metallic frame and offers complete customization. It features a sharp 5.2″ HD display and a 13MP rear-facing camera with dual-tone flash for better balance and color rendering, a large f/2.0 aperture, plus a 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash for capturing great selfies. The Alcatel A50 comes with Android 7.0 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage —only $99.99 for Prime members (regularly $149.99) and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks. The Alcatel A50 will also be offered bundled with the LightUp SNAPBAK LED cover that lights up with incoming calls, messages, e-mails and more—available for only $129.99 for Prime members (regularly $199.99).

The Alcatel A30 PLUS features a slim, compact frame with a metallic silver finish and a 5.5″ HD display, and has a 13MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera. It comes with Android 7.0 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory with up to 32 GB more via MicroSD card, and features a long-lasting 3000mAh battery—all for only $79.99 for Prime members (regularly $129.99). The A30 PLUS is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks, and will be compatible with the Verizon network later this summer via a software update. Learn more about the newest Alcatel phones here.

“With Amazon’s increasing lineup of phones available through the Prime Exclusive Phone program, it’s exciting to be launching three new smartphones offering uniquely different experiences for Prime members to enjoy,” said Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager of TCL Communication, NA. “With our successful debut of the A30 earlier this year, we’re thrilled to continue growing with Amazon as they expand their smartphone portfolio of affordable devices.”

Moto E4 Joins Prime Exclusive Lineup

The Moto E4 offers a sleek and compact metal design in black with a 5″ 720p HD display and features an 8MP autofocus rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera with selfie flash. It comes with Android 7.1 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, and a fingerprint sensor, plus 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage with microSD card support for up to 128 GB of additional storage, a fast quad-core processor, and a 2800mAh removable battery. The Moto E4 is available for $99.99 for Prime members (regularly $129.99) unlocked on all major wireless carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Learn more about the Moto E4 here.

Prime Exclusive Phones

Prime Exclusive Phones are available at discounted pricing for Prime members supported by personalized offers and ads, including personalized deals and product recommendations, displayed on the phone’s lock screen. The Prime Exclusive Phone single sign-on experience provides Prime members easy access to their Prime benefits through the most popular Amazon apps, including thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, over two million songs and playlists with Prime Music, photo storage and backup with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, free two-day shipping on millions of items, and more.

Availability

The Nokia 6, Alcatel IDOL 5S, Alcatel A50, Alcatel A30 PLUS, and Moto E4 can be pre-ordered starting today. Moto E4 will begin shipping on June 30 and the Nokia 6, Alcatel IDOL 5S, Alcatel A50, and Alcatel A30 PLUS will begin shipping on July 10. Visit http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones for additional information and details about the Prime exclusive offers. All five devices are also available without offers and ads at Amazon.com to Prime and non-Prime members, at full retail price.

Alcatel Idol 5S unveiled with Snapdragon 625, heads to Amazon for just $199

Save $80 off the retail price of an Alcatel Idol 5S by picking up a variant with lock screen ads.

Alcatel has unveiled its latest budget handset, the Idol 5S. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 625, and will go up for sale on Amazon starting July 10 for $279. If you don’t mind seeing lock screen ads, you can pick up the Prime Exclusive edition right now for just $199, an $80 discount from its retail price. Alcatel is also making the A50 and A30 Plus available on Amazon for $99 and $79 respectively.

The $80 discount is the largest offered for a phone in the Prime Exclusive lineup, which recently added the Nokia 6 and Moto E4.

For $199, there’s plenty to like in the Idol 5S, which has a 5.2-inch Full HD display with 2.5D curved glass, Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera with a flash module, stereo speakers at the front, and 2620mAh battery. The Idol 5S is initially compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile, but a software update that will roll out over the summer will add support for Sprint and Verizon.

The highlight of the A50 is its customizability, with Alcatel offering snap-on cases called Snapbak that bring added functionality. The LightUp Snapbak case, for instance, adds an LED ring around the frame of the device, lighting up for calls, texts, and other notifications. There’s also a speaker accessory called the Sound Snapbak that adds a 2.5W speaker with a built-in kickstand to the back of the A50.

The phone itself features a 5.2-inch 720p display, unnamed quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, microSD, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, and a 2800mAh battery. The standard variant of the A50 retails for $149, with the ad-subsidized model available for $99. Amazon is also offering a bundle with a Snapbak LED case for $129, a $70 discount from its retail price of $199.

The A30 Plus has a similar configuration as the A50, with a few notable changes: it has a 5.5-inch 720p screen, and a slightly larger 3000mAh battery. Both the A50 and A30 Plus are compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile, and a software update will allow the A50 to work on Verizon later this year. The Idol 5S runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, whereas the A50 and A30 Plus come with Android 7.0 Nougat.

What do you guys think of Alcatel’s latest phones?

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Amazon Dash Wand with Alexa: Should you buy it?

Alexa is a fridge magnet now? Alright, cool.

Amazon’s Dash Wand, the glossy stick aimed at making shopping on Amazon Fresh a little more convenient, now has Alexa support added. Among other things, this makes the Dash Wand the cheapest Alexa-enabled product you can buy at only $20. Before you go pulling out the wallet, there are a few things you need to know about the features and limitations of this superpowered fridge magnet.

I’ve been using my Dash Wand for a week now, and this is what I’ve found.

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What is a Dash Wand?

Where the rest of Amazon’s Alexa-enabled lineup are things you plug in to a wall, the Dash Wand is built to hang around in your kitchen. The included adhesive hook lets you mount the wand anywhere convenient, or you can use the magnet built into the back of the wand to stick to your fridge or range hood or wherever is convenient. The whole point is for this wand to be within arms reach at all times when you’re in the kitchen, so when you need it you can just reach out and grab it.

The tip of this wand is a familiar glossy white plastic with Amazon branding, but the back half is a rubbery material which gives a nice grip and is easy to wipe down should the occasional grease splatter reach your Dash Wand. The whole back hand is removable, exposing a pair of AAA batteries which power the Dash Wand for months before it needs replenishing.

There are no volume buttons or mute keys on this Dash Wand, just a single large button for its many features. Pressing the button activates the barcode scanner and the Alexa microphone simultaneously, so you can either scan a nearby product or speak your command. The small speaker on the other side of the wand will either chime when you’ve successfully scanned something or when Alexa needs to respond to your command. There really isn’t much more to this little wand, which is a big part of what makes it so handy.

Amazon Fresh is still a cool idea, but not for me

If the product isn’t in Amazon’s database, suggested alternatives can be very hit or miss.

The big feature to the Amazon Dash Wand is the barcode scanner at the end of the wand. The original purpose of this product was to let you scan products in your home as they run out, so the next time you go to Amazon those items are already waiting in your shopping cart. If everything you normally buy for your house is available on Amazon Fresh or normal Amazon, this is a handy little tool to have. It doesn’t buy things for your automatically by scanning things, but they are all in your cart and ready to check out.

If the things you normally buy are not on Amazon or Amazon Fresh, your Amazon cart will list these items with suggestions for alternatives. This is very hit or miss, and winds up being more than a little frustrating to sort through if you have more misses than hits.

For example, Amazon Fresh didn’t have the brand of pastrami we usually keep in the house. Instead of suggesting a different brand of pastrami, Amazon suggested several other meats from the same brand. Each time this happens, the failed scan has to be cleared out and you have to manually search for the thing you want on Amazon Fresh. This isn’t a huge deal if you have a small shopping cart, but for my family of seven grocery day can be upwards of 60 items. When more than half require removal from the cart, it stops being helpful.

Amazon and Amazon Fresh are two separate entities depending on the item scanned, which can get confusing.

There’s also a functional difference between things ordered on Amazon Fresh and things ordered on Amazon. If you scan something that is available on Amazon, it shows up in your Amazon cart. This means those products may not show up with the things you ordered from Amazon Fresh, which offers specific delivery windows to keep your food from spoiling and ensure a secure delivery. For example, the tomatoes I ordered for my spaghetti sauce will arrive at 2:30 today but the grated Parmesan cheese won’t be here until tomorrow unless I adjust my order to have that jar delivered through Amazon Prime Now. This isn’t a big deal for me, but could easily become confusing to someone who isn’t aware of how differently these three different Amazon shopping carts function.

Alexa… more or less

Amazon is keen to put the “Now with Alexa” tag all over the order page for its updated Dash Wand, but it’s not exactly the same Alexa you may be used to. For starters, you can’t use any music streaming services on this Wand, which is fine because the speaker isn’t nearly good enough for that and Amazon says as much way down on the order page. What isn’t mentioned on the order page, or anywhere else I looked, are the other things Alexa will not do through the Dash Wand.

This version of Alexa isn’t that smart, or helpful.

Want to use your Dash Wand to send a quick message through the shiny new Alexa Messages service? Well, you can’t. Obviously that means calling doesn’t work either, and since Alexa is only available when you press the button down you won’t get things like notifications on the light ring or the ability to respond with just your voice when prompted. The big thing that’s missing, especially for an Alexa-enabled accessory built for the kitchen, is timers. You can’t set an alarm, you can’t set a timer, and you can’t ask to be reminded at specific times. All of these things will prompt the “X are not currently supported on this device” message from Alexa.

There are still plenty of things Alexa can do through the Dash Wand. Almost all of your Alexa Apps work, which means this is a solid way to access Allrecipes for step-by-step tours through new things to cook. Basic measurement conversion still works, searching on Amazon still works, and of course ordering things with your voice still works. Most of Alexa is still here for you to use, but if you’re already familiar with using Alexa in the kitchen you’re likely to run into the limitations of this implementation fairly quickly.

Should you buy it?

If you’re already a fan of Alexa and want something a little more kitchen friendly, it’s hard to go wrong with the $20 Amazon is asking for the Dash Wand. Even though I’m unlikely to ever use it for Amazon Fresh, and I’d really prefer timers work out of the box, it’s an inexpensive way to keep Alexa in the kitchen.

If you’re not already a part of the Alexa ecosystem, and were hoping this ultra-cheap accessory would be a good starting point, I’d still recommend starting with the Echo Dot and maybe passing on this for now. Amazon is on the right track here by making something anyone in the house can use which also doesn’t require the use of my phone in any way, but there are parts of this experience for new Alexa users that can and likely will easily frustrate.

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Valve ‘Knuckles’ controllers — Everything you need to know!

Valve’s newest VR controllers, what are being called Knuckles, are fully-tracked motion controllers with a new design and a few neat tricks. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

Valve’s newest controllers are taking things in an interesting direction; they are immediately familiar but have quite a few new features and a new way to attach to your hands. If you’re wondering what they’re all about, we have everything you need to know.

Read more at VR Heads!

Best Cases for BlackBerry KEYone

What are the best cases for the BlackBerry KeyONE?

The BlackBerry KeyONE is easily the most unique Android phone released in 2017, bringing the physical keyboard back to the mainstream.

If you own a KeyONE, you appreciate that unique design, but you’ll also want to keep that new phone protected. That’s where a case comes in. We’ve rounded up a number of the best case options for the KeyONE, including a few clear case options for those who still want that design to shine through.

BlackBerry Pocket Case

For those who don’t like the idea of covering the KeyONE’s design in a case, BlackBerry offers the elegant pocket sleeve for your phone to keep your phone protected and accessible while you’re on the go.

Always a popular option with the BlackBerry crowds, this pocket case features a matte leather finish for a premium look and feel with a window cut out near the top of the screen so you can see the time, date, and your phone notifications at a glance and keep talking the phone is protected. It also features a built-in card slot for storing your ID, credit card or some emergency cash.

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BlackBerry Flip Case

Made by TCL Communication, the BlackBerry Flip Case is a precise accessory for your KeyONE. The soft TPU cover secures itself via magnets to the back of the rigid shell when open and features a window so you can see the time and date and your notifications.

The power button on the left edge of the phone is covered but still functional through the soft cover material, and the Convenience key and volume controls are left open on the right. It’s an elegant and professional case solution that matches the design of the KeyONE perfectly.

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Incipio DualPro Case

Incipio offers its rugged line of DualPro cases for all the top phones including the KeyONE. This case offers two layers of defence against nasty drops and other wear and tear, with a soft TPU inner core and an outer shell made of rigid polycarbonate.

Available in three color options, this opaque case will cover up the unique metal accents around the body of the phone, but it does preserve the overall design of the phone. The lip around the front offers protection for the screen and keyboard while the camera cutout offers ample protection as well. With a soft touch finish, this case will feel nice in your hand while keeping your KeyONE protected.

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Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear Case

Want to show off the KeyONE’s unique design while also keeping it protected from drops and scuffs? The Ringke Fusion case is the clear winner, offering a precisely designed clear case for the KeyONE.

This case features a dual-layer design with a rugged PC panel on the back and a grippy TPU bumper around the edge. The bumper is available in three options — Crystal Clear, Rose Gold Crystal, and Smoke Black (pictured) — and offers great protection around the corner of your devices and a lip for the screen and keyboard around front. For a slim and sleek case, check out the Ringke Fusion!

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Amzer Slim Protective Case

If you’re looking for a cheap, slim case for basic protection, check out Amzer’s line of cases on Amazon. They offer minimalist case options that are half the price of other KeyONE case options. We’ll feature their clear case option here, which is an ultra-thin TPU case that’s resistant to oil and scratches. Buttons are covered and accessible, and there’s an ample cutout around the camera and flash on the back.

Amzer sells a few other comparable cases for the KeyONE, and offers bundles that include a car charger and cable. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking to pick up a couple different cases or accessories.

What do you prefer?

Which case are you rocking? Got one you love that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments!

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BlackBerry KEYone

• BlackBerry KEYone review
• KEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry keyboards
• BlackBerry KEYone specs
• The latest KEYone news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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Jaguar InControl explored: A deep dive into Jaguar’s infotainment system

Connectivity is one of the biggest considerations when buying a car these days. We’re all used to having everything on demand through our smartphones and the car makers – providers of the biggest gadget you’re likely to buy – are constantly trying to make things as simple as possible.

For the past few years, Jaguar has been using the InControl system. It has appeared in a number of different guises, evolving to the Touch and Touch Pro systems, but there are also options for smartphone apps, dual view, a digital driver display and a whole lot more. 

Here’s a deep dive into Jaguar’s in-car infotainment technology. 

Jaguar InControl

Called InControl, the system is divided into two distinct models: Touch and Touch Pro. Both operate through a centrally mounted display and as the name suggests, it relies on touchscreen navigation, but operation varies slightly based on what car you choose.

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The standard Touch system delivers an 8-inch display flanked by physical buttons to the left and right for things like home, navigation, cameras, settings and so on. This is the standard option on the XE, XF and F-Pace.

The more advanced Touch Pro is an upgrade on the XE, XF and F-Pace, expanding to a 10.2-inch central display, losing the physical buttons and hosting a run of on-screen buttons across the bottom. It also comes with a digital driver display on these models so Touch Pro is very much the exciting option.

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The price of that upgrade depends on the model you choose and the trim; for the Jaguar XE SE it’s a £1600 step, for the XE Portfolio it’s only a £1090 extra, but it’s also paired with that driver display and an audio system upgrade, so you get a lot for your money. 

The Touch Pro system is standard on the XJ, but doesn’t expand to the 10.2-inches, it’s currently limited to 8-inches in the central dash due to the interior design. Coming as standard also means that the XJ has a digital driver display as standard too, so is well-specced from the start.

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There’s a third system that’s called InControl Touch Plus, which is limited to the Jaguar F-Type. As is often the case, sports cars sometimes need something a little different and here you have most of the options of the Touch Pro, but in an 8-inch system with flanking physical buttons. 

• Jaguar F-Pace review: Outpacing its SUV rivals?

Driver display

One of the things that divides Touch from Touch Pro in most cases is the 12.3-inch digital display. This replaces the traditional dials with a full digital array, but is an upgrade option on all cars except the Jaguar XJ, where it comes as standard.

For the Jaguar XE, XF and F-Pace, the standard display gives you two analogue dials with a 5-inch full colour digital panel in the middle for your driving information and other details. Using the steering wheel controls you can change the information on this central 5-inch panel, as well as change a lot of the car’s options without having to use the main display.

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The real excitement, however, is reserved for the Touch Pro’s Virtual Instrument Display, replacing those dials for a high-resolution 12.3-inch display, meaning a lot more customisation and a more modern and dynamic look – very much along the same lines as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.

In its default state it’s divided into three dials, the centre giving you a speedo, with rev counter to the right and the third dial to the left displaying driving information. This left-hand dial can quickly be switched through to change various car control functions, the sort of thing you’d do on the central panel of the standard analogue drivers’ display.

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Switching to sports mode changes the view, switching the rev counter to the centre. That’s something to watch out for, because if you’re glancing down to check your speed, you can catch the numbers of the rev counter and think that’s MPH, when it isn’t… 

As we said, to get this display you’ll have to opt for the Touch Pro system and the price of that upgrade will depend on the model and trim level of the car you’re buying – and the full digital driver’s display is not an option on the F-Type, where you stick to the sporty dials only.

• Jaguar XF (2018): Sumptuous luxury, now with new engines

Main central display

Jaguar uses touch for all its central displays and as Jaguar is a premium car marque, even the lowest spec model (Jaguar XE SE) gets a fully-featured system, with a full run of upgrade options as we mentioned above. All the displays are fixed in place, there are no covers, flipping, retracting into the dash or anything else. 

In operation the systems are very much the same, with the physical buttons of Touch providing quick access to the major sections of the system – home, music, navigation, telephone and some other features, like parking assistance or the car’s cameras. When moving to Touch Pro these physical buttons are essentially replicated in a digital strip along the bottom of the display.

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Hitting a big physical button to jump to the satnav section is perhaps easier than finding the exact icon across the bottom of the screen which is a lot smaller, but the system isn’t really designed to be used like that, so you could say that it has a belt and braces approach and those buttons duplicate some of the controls unnecessarily. 

In reality, as this is a touch-controlled system, the main approach is to touch the even bigger soft-button sections on the display. It uses a series of pages that you can scroll through, rather like a smartphone, with the display divided into four sections on the main home screen, giving you direct access to music, navigation, phone and climate controls.

Thereafter you can swipe to other sections of the system to access other things, like driving data, a browser, InControl apps, cameras and other bits spread over the next pages. In each case, tapping the big on-screen button then takes you into that section, whereafter you have obvious buttons to press.

You can dive into the eco section to find out how you might be wasting energy and how you could improve your driving style to be more efficient. For those looking for sporty data, for example on the Jaguar XE S, you can track your dynamics, see what G forces you pulled and so on.

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There’s a lot being offered, although typically it’s those big main areas of music, telephone and navigation that you’ll want for daily driving. The further options mean you can glance at how efficiently you’ve been driving, or change the dynamic setup of the car, but after a few changes and glances, you’ll probably not dive back into those areas very often.

Each section is rich and graphical and we like the detail that you’re given when customising the car’s dynamics, such as shifting the steering to sport so it gets a little more weight and so on. (Again, this functionality depends on the age and model of your car.) 

Smartphone connectivity: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay absent 

The recent advent of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay has provided another avenue for smartphone users to integrate their phones with their cars. Jaguar doesn’t support either system, instead wanting to use its own system called InControl Apps. 

The idea here is that you use Jaguar’s app on your phone and when you connect to the car, that then provides the bridge to support a number of apps. It’s a little more restricted than CarPlay or Android auto, but does mean that Jaguar stays in control of the apps you’ll be able to use and the visual design of the system.

Jaguar

That also means that the apps you can use are dictated by what works with the Jaguar system, rather than through wider support from the Apple or Android community. Fortunately, Spotify is on the list and as one of the most popular music streaming services, that’s important.   

To use InControl Apps you’ll have to connect your phone physically to the USB port and it works on both Android and iOS. You’ll also have support for regular Bluetooth connections for calling, there’s iPod compatibility as well as a 3.5mm aux input for connecting other hardware.

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Controls for Bluetooth-connected devices also flow into the steering wheel buttons and voice controls, to make it easy to place calls, for example.

Touch and Touch Pro are supported by connectivity systems called Connect and Connect Pro, which will enhance the options available to you if you want to use your phone. 

Connect Pro system takes things furthest, offering support for increased interaction to your car, giving remote access to a range of features. These include being able to remotely pre-condition the interior of your car, remote lock and unlock, as well as being able to plan routes on your phone and have those transferred to your car. 

For those carrying passengers with lots of devices, you can also get a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot on some models – it comes as standard on the XF Prestige and F-Pace Prestige and above – and you’ll have to insert your own SIM card. The advantage this offers over using a smartphone, is that your 4G connection is then routed through the car’s antenna – it’s much simpler for passengers too, as the driver won’t have to turn on a hotspot on a phone.

• Jaguar XE S: New supercharged V6 is pure S EX

Satellite navigation 

Navigation is one of the big things we look for in cars. In the case of Jaguar, the omission of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto isn’t so serious because you get navigation in some form on all models – whereas in some other marques, you can save yourself some cash and use Android Auto with Google Maps, rather than paying for satnav for example.

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There are different grades, however, with the “enhanced” Pro navigation coming with Touch Pro. Of course, as we’ve said, in the majority of cars, once you jump to Touch Pro you also have the digital driver display, with the option of big 3D mapping there, which is a real advantage.

The satnav system is simple enough to use and we’ve found it fairly reliable in operation with turn-by-turn instructions and postcode entry, although it’s the Touch Pro enhanced with Connect Pro that offers a little more, including real time traffic and the ability to arrive at your destination and continue on foot or public transport using the same app.

Arguably, in this case, something like Google Maps would serve you proud, offering this functions and avoiding the need to upgrade. 

Sound, music and television

There are a range of sound systems available across the Jaguar models and these are in part tied to the whether you have the Touch or Touch Pro system. It’s actually a nice move as it feels like you’re getting a lot more for your money than elsewhere where you might be asked to fork out a lot of cash for an audio upgrade.

There are essentially three sound system options:

•       Standard Jaguar audio: 6 speakers, 80W
•       Meridian sound system: 11 speakers and subwoofer, 380W
•       Meridian surround sound system: 17 speakers, 825W 

All cars get the standard Jaguar audio, with options to upgrade to the 380W Meridian system with Touch. Then there’s the option to move to Touch Pro with the 380W Meridian system which is perhaps the sweet spot for a lot of XE, XF, F-Pace buyers, as the 825W surround sound system with Touch Pro then makes quite a step up in price.

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The Jaguar F-Type gets the 380W Meridian system as standard, offering the 825W as an option, so this sports car is already fairly enhanced. 

The Jaguar XJ again has a slightly different arrangement, getting a 250W Jaguar sound system as standard, rather than the 80W standard version, again with options to move up to the Meridian systems. 

Those Meridian sound system are fantastic and we’ve been really impressed by what we’ve heard from them.

For those wanting TV in the car, it’s available in the XF, XJ and F-Pace but you’ll have to have specified Touch Pro and you’ll have to watch it through that front display when the car is standing still. There’s also to option to have split screen at additional cost.  

Summing up

Jaguar’s premium position means that, even at a core level, you have a lot of options. Jaguar bundles a lot up into the big packages, with the major decision being whether to jump in and take the Touch Pro option. This is likely to be the biggest decision for XE, XF or F-Pace buyers.

It’s also the more appealing move, bringing that 12.3-inch digital driver display, wider 10-inch central display and a boost audio offering too, as well as opening the door for a lot more pro features. 

Some might argue that the omission of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto sort of pushes you toward making this bigger jump, as those smartphone-native systems would provide a lot of functionality that could sit over Jaguar’s standard Touch offering. As it is, InControl provides plenty of tech to get excited about.

We will update as more features become available across more cars.

Google Home recognises who speaks to it: How to add multiple users

Google Home can now recognise each person in your household by their voice and smartly switch to their account and preferences.

Those of you with a husband or kids or a roommate will appreciate Google Home’s latest update. If you’ve ever said to the speaker “OK Google, good morning”, you know it will tell you the time, weather, schedule, and news. But if you didn’t set up Google Home with your Google account (maybe it’s set up under your son’s account), then you won’t hear results that are meant for you.

You’ll get someone else’s schedule, news, and music preferences.

However, starting 20 April 2017, that’s no longer an issue. Google Home now lets up to six people connect their account to one Google Home speaker. So, when you ask Google Assistant for help going forward, it’ll be able to distinguish your voice from your son’s or husband’s or daughter’s or roommate’s and switch to the right account. You’ll get your own playlists, schedule, and more.

Here’s everything you need to know.

• Google Home review: Better than Amazon Echo?
• What is Google Assistant and how does it work?
• 7 best Google Home compatible devices you can buy today

Google Home: How to add multiple users

First, make sure you’re using the latest version of the Google Home app on your mobile device.

Getting started

When you open the app, look for a card that says ”multi-user is available”.
If you don’t see a card, click on the icon in the top right to see all of your connected devices.
Once you see your Google Home listed, select “Link your account.”

Voice training

The app will prompt you to teach Google Assistant your voice so that it can understand and recognize you when you speak.
It will ask you to say the phrases “Ok Google” and “Hey Google” two times each. Google said those phrases are analyzed by a neural network that can detect certain characteristics of a person’s voice in a matter of milliseconds.

Preferences

You’ll also need to set up your preferences within the Google Home app (such as personalized music and commutes). You can learn more about how to adjust your preferences from Google’s Help hub.

Google: How does multiuser support work?

Google said Google Assistant on Google Home should recognise you going forward and be personalised to you – from music to news. It’ll be ready to switch accounts and answer your questions, as well as anyone else in your household who has been added as a user. You can see an example of how support for multiuser support works here:

Google Home: Where is multiuser support available?

This feature rolled out for Google Home owners in the US earlier this year. It is now available for Google Home owners in the UK, too. 

• What is Google Home, how does it work, and when can you buy it?
• Google Home UK release date and price revealed 
• Google Assistant tips and tricks: Master your Android assistant

Best US contract deals available today for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

Here we round up the best handset deals available to you in the US for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. 

With many phones looking like clones, or brands nonchalantly pushing out the same old design year-on-year, Samsung is in that favourable position of offering something exciting in the Galaxy S8. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 review here.

Samsung Galaxy S8 with at least 2GB data

Samsung Galaxy S8 with unlimited data

Samsung has broken the mould with its Galaxy S8 handsets, producing two devices that are the same spec, apart from screen size and battery capacity. If you want this phone, just pick the size that fits you with no compromises or additional considerations. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review here.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with at least 2GB data

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with unlimited data

iPhone 8 will be in limited supply come launch day, OLED supply issues to blame

Getting a new iPhone on launch day can always be a hard task, as millions of customers look to upgrade their old phone or invest in their first iPhone. 

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

This year will likely be no different, although if you’re hoping to get the iPhone 8 with OLED display, you’ll want to have your finger poised on that pre-order button.

That’s because Apple is said to be facing supply issues with the OLED panels, at least, that’s according to a report from Digitimes.

Digitimes’ report says Apple may only have 3 – 4 million if he OLED-toting iPhones available to ship before the year is out. The premium iPhone is expected to be unveiled in September, but may not even officially launch until October or November because of the supply constraint. 

Apple’s smartphone rival Samsung is responsible for producing the displays, but seems to be struggling to manufacture the 5.8-inch panel on a mass scale. It’s still possible that an embedded fingerprint sensor in the display is the cause of the yield rate and delay. 

Rumours have been flying around suggesting Apple will in fact embed the Touch ID scanner into the display, something Samsung was thought to be doing with the Galaxy S8, or at least the Galaxy Note 8. The S8’s fingerprint reader had to be placed on the rear of the phone, and the same is expected for the Note 8 following recent render leaks.

The iPhone 8 is thought to be using a new optical-based fingerprint scanning technology that would allow it to place the sensor in the display, but as with most rumours, nobody knows for sure until the official reveal date.

• The iPhone 8 is back to having an embedded Touch ID sensor according to report
• Apple iPhone 8 in pictures: Renders and leaked photos
• These amazing leaked photos show the iPhone 8 in all its glory
• Apple staff Black Out Days reveal iPhone 8 launch date

It’s widely regarded that the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus modes, with LCD displays will be unaffected. But with the iPhone 8 expected to introduce a whole new design for Apple’s ubiquitous smartphone, demand will no doubt be high.