These cyborg bacteria take photosynthesis to the next level

Why it matters to you

Improving on nature, photosynthesizing cyborg bacteria may offer an even greener form of alternative energy.

If it wasn’t for photosynthesis, we’d all be dead. Most plants would cease to exist, carbon dioxide would flood the air, and oxygen wouldn’t replenish. Suffice it to say we’d be screwed. And although the vast majority of life on Earth gets its energy from photosynthesis — the process of turning light, water, and CO2 into fuel — chlorophyll, the green pigment that enables the process, is relatively inefficient.

To improve on nature, scientists have now induced bacteria to coat themselves in microscopic, ultra-efficient “solar panels” that turn them into photosynthetic organisms, enabling them to develop important compounds. The research has turned these organisms into “cyborg” bacteria that function far more efficiently than plants.

“My initial motivation was to use these bacteria as biological whole-cell catalysts to reduce CO2 into useful chemicals,” Peidong Yang, a professor in the department of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, told Digital Trends. “Of course, these bacteria are not photosynthetic to start with. The cyborg bacteria become photosynthetic by directly interfacing with semiconductor nanostructures.”

Workings in Yang’s lab, researcher Kelsey Sakimoto, now at Harvard University, flipped through the scientific literature and found that certain bacteria have an innate defense to compounds like cadmium, mercury, and lead, which allows them to convert heavy metals into small crystal semiconductors. By propagating the bacteria in the lab and adding trace amounts of cadmium, the bacteria naturally produce the photosynthetic crystals on their surface.

“These bacteria do not have light-absorbing capability to start with,” Yang said. “However, once they interface with semiconductor nanostructures, these cyborg bacteria become photosynthetic as the semiconductor will absorb the sunlight and generate the electrons, and pass them onto the CO2 reduction pathway inside these bacteria, and as a result value-added chemical can be produced directly from CO2 using sunlight.”

The researchers think their bacteria can offer a better source of alternative energy as they don’t require some of the same electrical hook-ups that more “conventional” green energy methods require. The lab results suggest these bacteria just need tubs of liquid and sunlight, although more research needs to be conducted to refine the process.

“Once covered with these tiny solar panels, the bacteria can synthesize food, fuels, and plastics, all using solar energy,” Sakimoto said in a statement. “These bacteria outperform natural photosynthesis.”

The researchers presented their breakthrough findings this week at the American Chemical Society conference in Washington.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 7: Which hits more right notes?

It’s been roughly a year since reports of exploding batteries forced Samsung to yank the Galaxy Note 7 from shelves, and the South Korean company is gunning for redemption with the Galaxy Note 8. There’s a lot riding on it.

That’s probably why Samsung played it safe with the Galaxy Note 8. The smartphone has the same iris-scanning tech and S Pen stylus as the Note 7, albeit a smaller battery. To be fair, the Note 8 has a larger, higher-resolution screen than the Note 7. It also features Samsung’s Bixby assistant, and it’s the first Samsung phone with dual cameras. While no one is upgrading from a Note 7 due to the recall, are the Note 8’s upgrades enough to justify the asking price? We pit Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 7 to find out.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Size
162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.95 x 0.34 inches)
 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.04 x 2.91 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
6.88 ounces (195 grams)
 5.96 ounces (169 grams)
Screen
6.3-inch Super AMOLED
 5.7-inch Super AMOLED
Resolution
2,960 x 1,440
 2,560 × 1,440
OS
 Android 7.1.1 Nougat
 Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Storage
 64, 128, 256GB
 64. 128, 256GB
SD Card Slot
 Yes
 Yes
NFC support
 Yes
 Yes
Processor
 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Samsung Exynos 8895 (international)
 Qualcomm Snapdragon 820,
Exynos 8890 Octa (international)
RAM
 6GB
 4GB
Connectivity
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
Camera
Dual 12MP rear, 8MP front
 12MP rear, 5MP front
Video
 4K
 4K
Bluetooth
 Yes, version 5.0
 Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
 Yes
 Yes
Other sensors scanner 
Accelerometer, barometer, gyro, geomagnetic, heart rate, proximity, iris, pressure
 Accelerometer, barometer, gyro, geomagnetic, heart rate, proximity, iris, pressure
Water Resistant
 Yes, IP68 rated
 Yes, IP68 rated
Battery
 3,300mAh
 Non-removable Li-Po 3,500mAh battery
Charger
 USB-C
USB-C
Quick Charging
 Yes
 Yes
Wireless Charging
 Yes, Qi and PMA
 Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
 Google Play Store
 Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, gray
 Black, white, gold, silver
Availability
 AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Unlocked
 Recalled
Price
$930
$850
DT Review
Hands-on review
0.5 out of 5 stars

If you tore open the Galaxy Note 8 and Note 7 and compared their innards, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Perhaps the biggest is the processor. The Note 8 has an octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor (international variants use Samsung’s Exynos 8895). Qualcomm claims it has a 27-percent performance advantage over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 821, and an even bigger advantage over the Note 7’s Snapdragon 820.

The Note 8 has a memory advantage, too. It packs 6GB of RAM instead of the Note 7’s 4GB, which should make it an even better multitasker.

We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on the Note 8 to say for certain, but we’re expecting more of the same great performance we’ve seen on other phones with the Snapdragon 835.

In terms of storage, the Note 8 and Note 7 are a little more comparable. They both have 64GB of internal memory and an SD Card slot that can accommodate extra storage space. Both feature similar sensors, such as an iris scanner and fingerprint scanner to unlock your phone, but the Note 8 has the recently launched Bluetooth 5 standard, which has improved range and data transfer speed.

Winner: Note 8

Design, display, and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Note 8’s design isn’t a radical departure from the Note 7. Instead, it’s more of a refinement.

The Note 8 has slimmer edges on the top and bottom than the Note 7, the sides curve a little more gradually, and the earpiece is flush with the phone’s glass. But the biggest difference between the two is the home button. On the Note 8, the Note 7’s physical button has been replaced with a software button that utilizes a vibrating motor. As a result, the fingerprint sensor, which was embedded in the home button on the Note 7, has been moved to the rear of the Note 8.

The Note 8 features the Infinity Display that’s on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, which means you get more screen real estate is a similar frame. The Note 8’s screen uses the same Super AMOLED Plus technology as the Galaxy Note 7, but at a higher resolution — 2,960 x 1,440 pixels versus 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. Compared to the Note 7, the Note 8 offers a slightly sharper image (518ppi versus 521ppi) and noticeably more real estate (5.7 inches versus 6.3 inches).

In terms of durability, the Note 7 and Note 8 are on par. They are IP68 certified for water resistance, which means they can survive a 30-minute dunk in up to 5 feet of water. But neither are rated to withstand bumps or scratches, which means the Note 8 will probably need a case in order to survive tile floors and sidewalks.

Despite the similarities between the Note 8 and Note 7, we’re handing this round to the Note 8. It might not stand up any better to the elements than its predecessor, but its improved design and screen put it over the top.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Note 7’s ambitious battery design didn’t work out so well. Wisely, Samsung walked things back for the Note 8.

The Note 8 has a 3300mAh battery, as opposed to the Note 7’s 3500mAh battery. That’s not a huge difference, and we’re not predicting a drastic difference in battery life. If the Galaxy S8, which also has a 3300mAh battery, is anything to go by, we’re expecting the Note 8 to last about a day on a single charge.

When it comes to charging, the Note 8 should recharge a little faster than its predecessor. The latter supported Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0, which delivered up to five hours of power from 10 minutes of charging. The Note 8 has Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging technology, which fully charges the battery in about an hour.

Both the Note 8 and Note 7 also both support wireless charging (Qi and PMA).

The Note 7’s battery may have a bigger capacity, but it also wasn’t safe. From everything we know, the Note 8’s battery should recharge faster (and more safely) than its predecessor’s and last just as long.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Note 8 and Note 7 may share some things in common, but the camera isn’t one of them.

The Note 8’s dual camera has two 12-megapixel sensors: One telephoto with an f/1.7 aperture, and the other a wide-angle lens with an f/2.4 aperture. It’s the first dual smartphone module with optical image stabilization on both cameras.

The Note 7, on the other hand, features a 12-megapixel camera with an f/1.7 aperture.

The Note 8’s software takes full advantage of the extra lens. Live Focus, a new shooting mode, applies a blur effect (bokeh) before or after your take a photo, like the iPhone 7’s Portrait Mode. Dual Capture takes a close-up shot and a wide-angle shot at the same time.

The Galaxy Note 7 has a Selective Focus mode, too, one that essentially mimics the bokeh effect with software, but there’s a limit to what it can do.

On the front, the Galaxy Note 8 has a slightly better selfie camera than the Note 7. It’s a 8-megapixel shooter instead of 5-megapixel, which should result in clearer, sharper snaps. But it’s the same aperture and lets in the same amount of light as the Note 7’s selfie camera, so we’re not expecting dramatically better low-light performance.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Software

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy Note 7 ship with TouchWiz, Samsung’s Android skin. TouchWiz may be similar on both, but the Note 8 comes with Bixby, Samsung’s AI assistant. There’s also the Dex Station docking accessory (sold separately) that transforms the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 Plus into a functional desktop replacement.

All Note phones come with Samsung’s S Pen, of course, and a number of S Pen software features that debuted on the Note 7 are present and accounted for on the Note 8. A few include Screen Off Memo, which lets you sketch and write memos without switching on the Note 8’s display, and Air Command, which provides a list of shortcuts to apps whenever the S Pen’s removed from its slot. There’s a new feature on the Note 8 called Live Messages, and it lets you sketch a message or drawing and share it as a GIF to your friends or to social media.

One new features in the software is called App Pair in the Edge Panel, which lets you pair two apps to start in split-screen view.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Price

The Galaxy Note 7 isn’t for sale, and we don’t recommend buying one. Samsung recalled every unit and distributed a software update that disables its ability to charge. There’s the Galaxy Note FE, a refurbished and safe version of the Note 7, but it’s tough to find in the U.S.

Pre-orders start at midnight on August 24 at AT&T, C Spire, Cricket Wireless, Sprint, Straight Talk Wireless, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, Samsung.com, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. An unlocked version will also be available.

When it was in stores, Samsung priced the 64GB variant of the Note 7 at $850. The Note 8 is a lot more expensive.

Galaxy Note 8
Galaxy Note 7
Verizon
$40 for 24 months ($960)
 $36 for 24 months or ($864)
AT&T
$31.67 for 30 months ($950)
 $36.67 for 24 months or $29.34 for 30 months ($880)
T-Mobile
$39 for 24 months ($930) or $30 per month and $210 down
 $70 down and $32.50 for 24 months or $0 down and $37.50 for 18 months ($850)
Sprint
$40 for an 18-month lease
 $35.42 for 24 months ($850) or $350 on a two-year contract

The Galaxy Note 8 is pricier than the Galaxy Note 7 across the board, as you can see. But to sweeten the pot, Samsung, retailers, and carrier partners are extending freebies and discounts to early buyers.

• Samsung is throwing in a few extras for customers who reserve a Note 8 early. From now until September 24, you get a choice of a free Samsung Gear 360 camera (a $230 value) or a free Galaxy Foundation kit with a 128GB memory card and wireless charging convertible (a $190 value).
• Samsung’s also extending a substantial discount to former Note 7 owners who reserve the Note 8 early. They’re eligible for an instant trade-in rebate of up to $425 when they upgrade their current phone for a Note 8.
• Verizon is offering 50 percent off the Note 8’s retail price to subscribers who trade in their old phones, plus $100 off the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch with a new two-year activation, $50 off the Samsung Power Bundle, which includes a wireless charging stand, portable power pack, and car charger.
• AT&T is throwing in a free Galaxy Note 8 for customers who sign up for DirecTV service.
• U.S. Cellular is giving customers who switch from another carrier up to $300 in credit.

So do all those promos even the playing field when it comes to pricing? Not really. The fact remains that the Galaxy Note 8 is about $100 more expensive than the Note 7, and that’s not insignificant.

Winner: Galaxy Note 7 

Overall winner: Galaxy Note 8

Has Samsung redeemed itself with the Note 8? Judging by what we’ve seen so far, it appears so.

The Galaxy Note 8 has a better screen, an upgraded processor, and dual cameras. It has a smaller battery, but one that charges more quickly than the Note 7’s. It has a design that’s much more refined.

The Note 8 is likely to be one of the safest smartphones you can buy, because Samsung does not want to make the same mistake twice and has rigorously tested the battery for faults.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

No coding experience needed! MIT’s robot-building software is foolproof

Why it matters to you

MIT’s Interactive Robogami software means that anyone can design and 3D print their own robot. No high-end robotics lab required!

As with many areas of fabrication, 3D printing has been a godsend to researchers wanting to easily prototype, build, and test robots. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) want to open up the technology to more people, however — with the goal of expanding access to robots beyond those fortunate enough to be studying at top universities. With that mission in mind, they developed a new system called “Interactive Robogami,” allowing users to quickly design and 3D print robots.

“Interactive Robogami is a software tool that allows non-expert users to design and build their own custom walking and driving robots,” CSAIL Ph.D. candidate Adriana Schulz, one of the lead authors of the project, told Digital Trends. “The system is end-to-end, meaning it takes care of generating 3D-print files, software, and the electronics wiring: giving the user a complete fabrication plan. Users can focus purely on the high-level, conceptual design.”

A bit like the tools which allow people to design simple video games by piecing together pre-assembled pieces, Interactive Robogami lets users choose from a library of different bodies, wheels, legs and “peripherals” — along with a selection of movement types. The nifty part of the software is that it ensures that all designs will be workable and won’t, for instance, tip over due to being overly top-heavy. The finished product is then 3D printed as a flat kit, ready to be folded into its final shape. From start to finish, robots can be created in just a few hours.

“We hope that this work will be a significant step toward democratizing the design and fabrication of robots,” Schulz said. “We hope that with our tool, people of all skill levels can make robots capable of solving personalized tasks, without having the years of experience robotics historically has required. Our dream is to see this system used by all schools, providing a new way of teaching computational thinking and creating.”

The technology was recently tested on a team of participants who were able to build a number of different robots, ranging from single leg walkers to robots which used a combination of legs and wheels, after just 10 minutes of training.

Sadly, you have to wait a bit longer than that for Interactive Robogami to be made available to the public, though. “Our interest is to eventually distribute the system,” Schulz concluded. “At the moment, we need some additional development to take the research-grade system to a level where others can use it, and we are looking for funding to achieve this.”

A research paper describing the work can be read here.

No coding experience needed! MIT’s robot-building software is foolproof

Why it matters to you

MIT’s Interactive Robogami software means that anyone can design and 3D print their own robot. No high-end robotics lab required!

As with many areas of fabrication, 3D printing has been a godsend to researchers wanting to easily prototype, build, and test robots. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) want to open up the technology to more people, however — with the goal of expanding access to robots beyond those fortunate enough to be studying at top universities. With that mission in mind, they developed a new system called “Interactive Robogami,” allowing users to quickly design and 3D print robots.

“Interactive Robogami is a software tool that allows non-expert users to design and build their own custom walking and driving robots,” CSAIL Ph.D. candidate Adriana Schulz, one of the lead authors of the project, told Digital Trends. “The system is end-to-end, meaning it takes care of generating 3D-print files, software, and the electronics wiring: giving the user a complete fabrication plan. Users can focus purely on the high-level, conceptual design.”

A bit like the tools which allow people to design simple video games by piecing together pre-assembled pieces, Interactive Robogami lets users choose from a library of different bodies, wheels, legs and “peripherals” — along with a selection of movement types. The nifty part of the software is that it ensures that all designs will be workable and won’t, for instance, tip over due to being overly top-heavy. The finished product is then 3D printed as a flat kit, ready to be folded into its final shape. From start to finish, robots can be created in just a few hours.

“We hope that this work will be a significant step toward democratizing the design and fabrication of robots,” Schulz said. “We hope that with our tool, people of all skill levels can make robots capable of solving personalized tasks, without having the years of experience robotics historically has required. Our dream is to see this system used by all schools, providing a new way of teaching computational thinking and creating.”

The technology was recently tested on a team of participants who were able to build a number of different robots, ranging from single leg walkers to robots which used a combination of legs and wheels, after just 10 minutes of training.

Sadly, you have to wait a bit longer than that for Interactive Robogami to be made available to the public, though. “Our interest is to eventually distribute the system,” Schulz concluded. “At the moment, we need some additional development to take the research-grade system to a level where others can use it, and we are looking for funding to achieve this.”

A research paper describing the work can be read here.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacesuit borrows from quite a few pop culture references

Why it matters to you

The unveiling of this functional spacesuit is another step towards Elon Musk’s plan to send humans to the Red Planet.

We’ve known about Elon Musk’s ambitions to send human beings to Mars for quite some time. On Wednesday, Musk’s aerospace transport company made another giant leap toward these goals by revealing the SpaceX spacesuit it hopes to use to transport astronauts to and from outer space.

In 2014, NASA announced it awarded government contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX to ferry American astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX has already proven its ability to launch and land recycled rockets and also the viability of the Dragon Capsule its plans to use to ship astronauts to and from the ISS. However, despite leaked unverified images on Reddit, we had yet to see a fully functional spacesuit — a crucial aspect of any space-faring aims.

Finally, Musk shared an image of the SpaceX spacesuit on Instagram with the caption: “First picture of SpaceX spacesuit. More in days to follow. Worth noting that this actually works (not a mockup). Already tested to double vacuum pressure. Was incredibly hard to balance [a]esthetics and function. Easy to do either separately.”

First picture of SpaceX spacesuit. More in days to follow. Worth noting that this actually works (not a mockup). Already tested to double vacuum pressure. Was incredibly hard to balance esthetics and function. Easy to do either separately.

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Aug 23, 2017 at 12:59am PDT

Hours after the unveiling, the post had garnered more than a quarter of a million likes — and counting. It is important to note that the spacesuit isn’t a mockup. According to Musk, the suit is fully functional and successfully withstood double-vacuum pressure tests. Part Tron: Legacy, part The Rocketeer with just a dash of Power Rangers to taste, the suits are not nearly as utilitarian or cumbersome as other transport suits currently used by other space agencies. These types of spacesuits aren’t intended for extravehicular activity outside of the space station. Instead, these suits will be worn by astronauts during transport just in case the Dragon Capsule depressurizes.

Earlier in 2017, Boeing unveiled its sleek, prototype spacesuits complete with touchscreen-sensitive gloves, integrated helmet, visor, and even incorporated shoes “akin to cross trainers.” The full SpaceX suit weighs about 20 pounds, which is roughly 10 pounds lighter than similar suits currently dawned by astronauts. While Boeing chose to partner with the David Clark Company for its latest iteration, SpaceX — in true Musk fashion — developed its suits in-house to minimize production costs similar to the way the company has fine-tuned its rocketry manufacturing.

While the reveal was a little light on overall specs and even a full-body view, Musk promised more information in the coming days. Whether Musk meets his ambitious goal of sending astronauts to Mars in the next five years is anyone’s guess, but this unveiling is certainly a step in the right direction.

U.S. Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders snag free Gear 360 or SD card + wireless charger

Treat yo self.

Samsung is rolling out another wonderful promotion to coincide with pre-orders of a new device, offering up free gifts just for pre-ordering the Galaxy Note 8 in the three weeks from announcement to launch. When you place a pre-order for the phone in the U.S., no matter where that may be, you’ll have the choice of two different gifts: a Gear 360 camera ($229 value), or a “Galaxy Foundation kit” of a 128GB SD card and Fast Wireless Charger (combined $190 value).

Unless you have a particular affinity for getting into 360-degree photography, we’d say the combination of a big SD card and a Samsung wireless charger is the better value, despite technically having a lower combined price if bought separately. If you buy through a carrier or a big retailer they’ll walk you through the process of receiving your gift, but you can also check out the details over on Samsung’s promotions page.

In the UK and many European countries, Samsung is running a similar promotion but with no choice — you get a DeX Station with your pre-order. In Canada, you just get the SD card and wireless charger with no Gear 360 option.

More: Where to buy the Galaxy Note 8

The promotion technically runs “while supplies last,” but if previous promotions during pre-orders are any indication there shouldn’t be any supply shortage of either deal within the three weeks its running.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 hands-on preview
• CompleteGalaxy Note 8 specs
• All Galaxy Note 8 news
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

The Essential Galaxy Note 8 podcast

Daniel Bader, Andrew Martonik, and Michael Fisher sequester in a New York City hotel to talk about the newly released Essential Phone—and after months of rumors, leaks, and speculation, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is here!

Sit back and relax for this one — it’s a little long, a little rough, and a little drunk. And a lot good.

Show Notes and Links:

• Essential Phone review
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 hands-on preview is official
• MrMobile’s Galaxy Note 8 hands-on video

Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral349.mp3

What color Galaxy Note 8 should you buy: Black, grey, gold or blue?

So you’re going to get a Galaxy Note 8 — but what color do you choose?

It’s the question so many people will be asking themselves as the Galaxy Note 8 hits store shelves. Which of the available colors is “best” for me? Well we can’t make up your mind for you, but we can offer looks at each of the four colors of the Galaxy Note 8, all side-by-side, and talk about a few of each one’s characteristics.

Hopefully with that extra info and some pretty pictures, you’ll have the knowledge you need to make a call on which one is the right color for you.

Galaxy Note 8 in Midnight Black

You can never go wrong releasing a black phone. Just like the Galaxy S8 and S8+, the “Midnight Black” Note 8 is black on black from the screen bezels to the metal surround to the back glass. It’s glossy all around, and at a glance it’s actually tough to differentiate between the high gloss metal and the glass on either side.

Who is it for?

If you’re not sure about what color you want to get, black is always a safe choice. It’s sleek, simple and understated, without being boring thanks to its shiny exterior. It’s also best equipped to handle the daily scratches and scuffs it’s likely to pick up as you use it, so this would be a great choice for those who may not use a case.

Galaxy Note 8 in Orchid Grey

You’d be forgiven for thinking that an “Orchid Grey” Galaxy Note 8 would be the same color as an “Orchid Grey” Galaxy S8 … but actually, they’re different. The Note 8’s take on the color is considerably lighter, and far more on the spectrum of blue rather than purple. It’s so different we’re kind of surprised Samsung uses the same name.

It’s still very attractive, for sure, and without being as reflective and outright shiny as the Maple Gold color.

Who is it for?

Orchid Grey is the lightest color available for the Note 8, and offers a light color option for people who don’t want to go with gold or would have previously gone with a white phone when Samsung was making that color available.

Galaxy Note 8 in Maple Gold

Samsung has been doing some sort of gold/champagne/silver color for a few years now, and Maple Gold on the Galaxy Note 8 is a slight tweak on the historical norm. It’s a bit deeper in color than previous versions, and it’s accented by a super-shiny gold metal band around the sides. When the light catches it just right, the metal lights up — and at the same time the back glass can shift to a softer champagne or silver color.

Who is it for?

If you want to flashy, Maple Gold is the color for you. The bright gold frame really stands out from the other three colors, and will do the same in the company of phones from other companies as well.

Galaxy Note 8 in Deep Sea Blue

Deep Sea Blue instantly became a favorite of the Android Central team because of its deep, luscious hue of a navy-like blue with just a bit of a turquoise tinge depending on how the light hits it. It actually looks quite similar to the deep blue color offered in the Galaxy Note 5, though with more depth to it. The frame is the same kind of blue, and it’s more on the dull side than the other colors.

Who is it for?

If you want a deep, strong color to your phone but don’t want the flare and shine of the maple gold or orchid grey colors, this is going to be for you. It stands out from a crowd, but can just as simply blend in if you toss a case on it.

Regional differences matter

Don’t get too attached to a specific color before you figure out which colors will actually be available where you live. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll only have midnight black and orchid grey to choose from, unfortunately. In Canada, the color choices are midnight black and deep sea blue. Internationally, with some potential variations by market, you’ll have access to all four colors.

That means if you’re in the U.S. and particularly fond of maple gold or deep sea blue, you’ll need to import an international version. Unfortunately this annoying precedent for Samsung phones remains.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 hands-on preview
• CompleteGalaxy Note 8 specs
• All Galaxy Note 8 news
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

Here’s what the Galaxy Note 8 means for your VR experience

A new Galaxy Note means more power for VR users, but it also means a tiny sacrifice.

Samsung has made the Galaxy Note 8 officially official, and that means there are at least a couple of folks out there wondering what upgrading to this new phone means for your existing experiences. If you have a Galaxy S7, is this the big upgrade you’ve been hoping for? Our friends at Android Central have been breaking down all of the reasons to consider an upgrade from a smartphone perspective, but if you’re passionate about the Gear VR or Daydream experiences that your current phone is capable of there’s a few things you need to know about this new Note.

Read more at VRHeads!

Android Oreo’s mascot is a woman

But you’d have no idea unless you read the marketing material behind the superhero cookie.

There is plenty of other Android news we could be talking about this week. I was initially going to write about Allo on the desktop, and how it’s effectively changed the way I communicate with my friends. But it hasn’t changed anything; my parents are stuck on using WhatsApp, everyone else is an iPhone-using iMessage-lover, and I’m still the Green Bubble in their lives.

Did you know that Android Oreo’s superhero mascot is a woman?

And then I got a message from my All About Android co-host, Jason Howell, on Allo. Did you know that Android Oreo’s new superhero mascot is actually a woman? I had no idea — I didn’t see the Oreo halo surrounding her face as a head of hair. I thought it was a shield! Look at the way the artists depict her arms and legs, too; she’s kind of wearing Sailor Scout gear, a la Sailor Moon, and the Sailor Senshi.

None of the Android Oreo announcements I’d read made any mention of her gender. She’s officially female, though, and an article on AdAge goes as far as to suggest that the gender is a significant part of the mascot’s message:

Coming hand-in-hand with the Android Oreo release is a female superhero (think: green Android mascot with a belly made from an Oreo), which the brands say is meant to mix the “playfulness” of Oreo and the “intelligence” of Android.

When AdAge refers to “the brands,” it means Google and Oreo. Both companies have incredible brand power behind them, so it’s natural that they’d be doing the press circuit around marketing trade publications in an effort to drum up further interest in Oreo cookies and Android Oreo. It’s the same strategy Google implemented for Android 4.4 KitKat.

I hope to know more about her story in the coming weeks.

I think it’s neat that Google’s new mascot is a lady, and I hope to know more about her story in the coming weeks. How did she become a superhero? What led her to become Android’s protective agent? And what kind of power does Oreo hair actually give you? Google’s already been heavily pushing the concern-for-safety narrative over the past three years, so I refuse to believe that she’s merely a symbol of the Android’s team’s devotion to security.

Anyway, I leave you with this one little tidbit from the AdAge article, which gives me some hope for the marketing that will come out of this seemingly unorthodox partnership:

Oreo is spending on plans to support the partnership over the next several months. One activation being discussed is mounting a drone with nine hologram projectors to make it seem like the Android Oreo superhero is flying in the air.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Android’s Oreo-powered Super Woman!