AT&T brings fixed 5G trials to three more cities

AT&T is expanding its fixed wireless 5G trials to new cities around the US in a bid to master the technology before its official standards are released. In addition to the previous test city of Austin, the company will roll out trials in Waco, Texas; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana by the end of the year.

In a company blog post, AT&T says that it’s “gained new insights” into 5G since the launch of its first trial — namely around millimeter wave (mmWave) performance and propagation, and how it’s affected by things like foliage, buildings, traffic and weather. It also claims it’s seeing speeds of up to one gigabit per second, and latency rates of under 10 milliseconds, although it’s worth bearing in mind that these figures come from tests on virtually empty networks — real speeds with a commercial service would likely be different.

It’s not clear yet exactly how the new trials will be executed, although AT&T says they may include universities, hospitals, churches, restaurants and other small businesses. It’s working with Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia and Intel on the trials, and hopes to roll out 5G nationwide by late 2018.

Source: AT&T

Here’s What the Status Bar and iPad-Style Dock Could Look Like on ‘iPhone 8’

Earlier today, well-connected Apple reporter Mark Gurman said the so-called “iPhone 8” will have a thin software-based bar along the bottom of the home screen, controlled by gestures, in lieu of a physical home button.

Gurman also said the Dock, which houses up to four commonly used apps, will be redesigned with a new interface similar to the one on the iPad version of iOS 11. Above it, there will still be six rows of apps, with up to 24 apps per page.

The status bar is said to be split into left and right sides, which some Apple employees supposedly call “ears” internally. By default, the left side shows the time, while the right side displays Wi-Fi, signal bars, and battery life.

With those details in mind, graphic designer Olivier Charavel created a mockup of what the Home screen could look like on the iPhone 8.

Charavel also shared a mockup of Apple’s Health app as an example of what apps could look like on the iPhone 8 accordingly.

Gurman said users can drag the gesture bar up to the middle of the screen to unlock the device. When inside an app, a similar gesture starts multitasking, and users can continue to flick upwards to close the app and go back to the home screen.

Guilherme Rambo shared a video that demonstrates how it could look once the Dock has been summoned, based on Apple’s iOS simulator for developers.

This is what the floating dock looks like on an iPhone pic.twitter.com/BbKVIL7yO8

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 30, 2017

More Coverage: iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace “iPhone 8” Home Button Entirely by Tim Hardwick

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Fossil Group reveals barrage of Android Wear watches from Misfit, Diesel, more

Why it matters to you

The Fossil Group’s expanding its Android Wear reach with new collections across brands like Diesel, Michele, and Michael Kors.

A barrage of Android Wear-powered smartwatches are on the way, and Fossil Group is leading the charge. At IFA 2017 in Berlin, the sprawling fashion empire announced a “massive expansion” of its wearables lineup across brands like Diesel, Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Misfit, Relic, Skagen, Michele, and Tory Burch.

“Today our wearables segment is the fastest-growing part of our business,” Greg McKelvey, chief strategy and digital officer at Fossil Group, said in a statement. “Clearly, this distinct combination of the best design and the best tech is winning with fashion-conscious customers who were long neglected by other wearable brands.”

Fossil highlighted the Diesel On Full Guard, a smartwatch collection that’s on pre-sale now, and launches on September 25; and the new Emporio Armani watch, which features 11 interchangeable leather, silicone, and stainless steel straps and goes on sale September 14. The Misfit Vapor, a music-playing, swim-proof (up to 5ATM) wearable with a heart rate monitor, hits store shelves in October, and new Michael Kors Access touchscreen watches ship on September 25.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Fossil’s giving old watches a fresh coat of paint — and making them available more places. The Fossil Q Venture and Fossil Q Explorist, Fossil’s first full-round touchscreen smartwatches, are now available in new styles, and the Michael Kors Access Sofie and Access Grayson touchscreen smartwatches are now on sale in hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores globally.

By the end of 2017, Fossil says it will have launched more than 300 watches across 14 of its brands.

Every watch in Fossil’s late 2017/early 2018 collection will run Google’s Android Wear 2.0, the company said, which is fully compatible with both Android and iOS phones. As with other Android Wear watches on the market, you can download apps from the Google Play Store and swap digital dial designs, color combinations, and watch faces.

Michael Kors

Fossil credits its success to close collaboration with Google.

“Our partnership with Fossil Group has been a driving force for the growth of Android Wear’s device portfolio, which has allowed us to offer users choices and diversity,” David Singleton, vice president of Android engineering at Google, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to continue the partnership into 2018 and implement new ways to connect fashion and technology, leveraging the flexibility of Android Wear and the design capabilities of Fossil Group and its brands.”

Fossil says its connected devices division doubled in size the last 12 months alone, and that its watches are now active in 50 countries and 20 languages.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5: Time for an upgrade?

The Note series surprised everyone, including Samsung, when it caught the public imagination and began to sell in large numbers. What was once thought of as comically big, has since become normal — the original Note, released in 2011, only had a 5.3-inch screen. We’ve come a long way since then and Samsung’s latest Note is a monster by comparison. We doubt there are many people using the original Note now, but the Note 5 is still going strong and so today we’re going to pit Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5 to see if it’s time for an upgrade.

Most people start to look for a new phone after around two years and that’s how long it has been since the Note 5 hit stores. Samsung skipped number 6 in the series, and the less said about the Note 7 the better, so the obvious choice to replace the Note 5 is the Note 8. Read more in our Galaxy Note 8 hands-on review.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Size
162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.95 x 0.34 inches)
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches)
Weight
6.88 ounces (195 grams)
 6.03 ounces (171 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 5.1 Lollipop (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)
Storage
 64GB (U.S.) 128, 256GB (International)
 32, 64GB
SD Card Slot
 Yes
 No
NFC support
 Yes
 Yes
Processor
 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Samsung Exynos 8895 (international)
 Exynos 7420 Octa
RAM
 6GB
 4GB
Connectivity
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
 GSM, HSPA, LTE
Camera
Dual 12MP rear (both with optical image stabilization), 8MP front
 16MP 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, heart rate, proximity
Water Resistant
 Yes, IP68 rated
 No
Battery
 3,300mAh
 3,000mAh
Charger
 USB-C
Micro USB
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
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile
Price
$930
$720
DT Review
Hands-on review
4 out of 5 stars

The Note 5 has an octa-core Samsung Exynos 7420 processor inside it, backed up by 4GB of RAM. It’s a slick, fast phone that still runs the latest games and apps without complaint. It launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop, but it has since been updated to Android 7.0 Nougat and it has the latest flavour of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

There’s absolutely no doubt that the Note 8, which packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, or Samsung’s updated Exynos 8895 in international markets, is more powerful. The Note 8 also has 6GB of RAM, which will serve you well for multitasking, especially if you like to jump in and out of a lot of apps.

Two years is a long time when it comes to processor performance, but a more noticeable upgrade for the average user comes in the shape of additional storage. The Note 5 comes with 32GB, and the lack of a MicroSD card slot can be a real pain. The base model of the Note 8 has 64GB and there is room to expand via MicroSD.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Design, display, and durability

You’ll immediately notice that the Note 8 is significantly taller than the Note 5, it’s also a touch thicker and heavier, but it isn’t quite as wide. Both feature curved glass on the back and a metal frame, but the front view of these phones is very different. With the Note 8, Samsung has ditched the home button and moved the fingerprint sensor onto the back, next to the dual camera. It’s an annoying placement and if you’re used to the fingerprint sensor on the front, we don’t think you’ll like it.

The trade-off is that the front of the Note 8 is virtually all display, with curved edges that you won’t find on the Note 5. This new design enabled Samsung to pack a 6.3-inch display into the Note 8 with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The Note 5 still has an excellent 5.7-inch, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel screen with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. They both have vibrant Super AMOLED screens, but you’re obviously getting a little more screen real estate in the Note 8, as well as those gorgeous curved edges.

In terms of durability, the Note 8 wins again with an IP68 rating which means it can withstand a dunk in water. The Note 5 will not survive submersion.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Battery life and charging

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

The 3,000mAh battery in the Note 5 is enough to get through an average day, but we’ve noticed its performance waning in recent months. That’s often the case as batteries age. The Note 8 has a slightly bigger 3,300mAh battery and, even though it has a slightly larger screen, the improved power efficiency in the latest processors should translate into better battery life.

Both phones support wireless charging and fast charging, but the Note 8 should charge a bit faster, thanks to the latest version of Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Camera

We love the 16-megapixel camera in the Note 5 and it still takes great shots, but camera technology is marching on and the Note 8 has jumped on the dual camera bandwagon. It sports two 12-megapixel sensors on the back. One of them is a telephoto lens with an f/1.7 aperture, and the other is a wide-angle lens with an f/2.4 aperture. Both have optical image stabilization. Combined, they should enable some amazing, detailed photos, and a striking bokeh effect, where the background is blurred, can be applied before or after you snap a shot.

The 5-megapixel front-facing camera in the Note 5 has also been improved upon with an 8-megapixel selfie cam in the Note 8.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Software

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

The Note 8 has a slightly newer version of Android and it’s likely to keep getting updates for longer than the Note 5. Both have Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface on top, which provides some handy extras. They also both have the S Pen stylus with a bunch of apps and software tweaks to take advantage of it. The S Pen itself has changed, with improved pressure sensitivity, and there are a couple of new tricks that you’ll only see on the Note 8, like easy GIF creation and Live Messages.

You also get Samsung’s Bixby AI assistant with the Note 8, though we’re not sure it’s a major selling point right now. If you like the idea of using your smartphone as a desktop, the Dex Station might interest you. It’s another extra you won’t find with the Note 5.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 started at $720 on release and it was available on all the major carriers. It has largely been discontinued now, though if you were to buy one unlocked, you could probably get it for around half that initial asking price.

The brand spanking new Note 8 is one of the most eye-wateringly expensive phones we’ve ever seen with a starting price of $930. You can get it on contract with all the major carriers, but you’re looking at paying around $36 per month for two years.

Winner: Galaxy Note 5

Overall winner: Galaxy Note 8

No surprise that the newer Note 8 is a better device than the two-year-old Note 5, but you’re going to pay a major premium for it. There are small to medium improvements throughout, and if you’re determined to stick with Samsung, we think it will feel like a major upgrade overall. Some people feel that Samsung played it too safe with the Note 8. It’s certainly worth remembering that Samsung isn’t the only game in town. There are some exciting devices on the market and the horizon, many of which cost less than the Note 8, so if your Note 5 is showing signs of age and you can live without the S Pen, you might want to look beyond Samsung’s wares for your next phone.

PC version of ‘Sonic Mania’ uses Denuvo, can only be played online

Why it matters to you

While it appears that a fix will be coming soon, this is just another example of Denuvo causing issues with PC games.

Sonic Mania is currently the talk of the town simply because it’s the first good Sonic the Hedgehog game to release in nearly six years, but all is not right for the PC version of the game. Players have discovered that it can only be played online due to copy-protection software.

The program in question is Denuvo, as Ars Technica’s Sam Machkovech discovered on Tuesday, August 29. Designed to stop piracy, it doesn’t allow Sonic Mania players to play the game if their internet goes down, even if they have booted up Steam in its offline mode. This doesn’t appear to be the intended function of the software, as the game’s Steam page posted an update stating that “Sonic Mania is intended to be played offline” and the developers were looking into the issue.

These problems aside, Sonic Mania has received a rave reception from longtime fans looking for a more traditional platforming experience. Combining stages from the original games with brand-new creations, it’s the closest thing players have seen to a retro Sonic title since Sonic & Knuckles, and it gives us some cautious optimism for the series’ future. The next game in the series, Sonic Forces, blends elements of 2D and 3D action together in a similar manner to Sonic Generations. It also allows fans to live out their DeviantArt fantasies and create their own custom Sonic characters. Just don’t create Coldsteel the Hedgehog, as your game console will immediately explode in a fit of rage.

Denuvo began as a relatively robust digital rights management tool, but it has been less effective recently. Adventure game Rime released earlier this year on PC in addition to consoles, and it took just five days for someone to figure out a way to remove Denuvo from the game. Players also alleged that it was actually affecting loading times in the game. Resident Evil 7 was cracked in a similar amount of time, though Denuvo says that even just this five-day window makes a difference in sales for publishers, as eager players can’t wait to pirate games.

Sonic Mania is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Honor 9: Should you import it if you live in the U.S.?

This sub-$500 device is worth wielding stateside, as long as you don’t mind making a few compromises.

I’m digging the latest trend of sub-$500 smartphones that are worth using. These aren’t just generations-old flagships offered at a discount; they’re marquee devices in their own right.

One particular phone that fits into this category of “worth it for the price” is the Honor 9. It’s the successor to the Honor 8, which saw much fanfare in the U.S. last summer. The Honor 9 didn’t get much press in the States this time around, however, and at one point we didn’t even think the Honor 9 would make it here.

But it’s here. Lately, there’ve been listings popping up for the device on Amazon, so you might want to know if it’s worth considering. And you should: the Honor 9 is a good deal under $500, though there are some compromises you’ll want to know about first.

So beautiful, but so slippery

Smartphones are no longer considered utilitarian slabs of metal-covered circuits. They’re now glass-and-aluminum works of art, and the Honor 9’s 15 layers of glass contribute to an especially unique look you won’t often find at the sub-$500 price.

Just look at those chamfered blue edges, the curved edges of the backside. There’s even a cute little light behind the ear speaker, and the rear-facing dual cameras are flush underneath a layer of Gorilla Glass 3. This phone looks like it costs a lot to make.

This phone looks like it costs a lot to make.

The Honor 9’s other pleasing design choice is its bright 5.1-inch 1080p IPS LCD. Honor knocked out the bezels on either side, so it looks bigger than it is, and it looks good. I felt satisfied watching YouTube TV and playing through Sonic the Hedgehog, and I like that this is a smartphone I can hold.

There is the one little downside to this particular device’s design that you should be prepared for: it slides around, a lot, and often perilously. I can’t tell you how many times in the last few weeks I’ve heard a crash while in another room, only to discover it was the Honor 9 on the floor. Thankfully, there are already clear cases available on Amazon so that you can grab one if you decide you like the phone.

Dual cameras that dull out at night

The Honor 9’s dual 12-megapixel and 20-megapixel cameras are not only fun to play with, but they’re also quite capable where there’s plenty of daylight. The Honor 9’s primary camera offers solid dynamic range, and it’s fast at capturing the scene due in part to its phase detection autofocus. I love how quickly the software starts up, and how convenient it is to switch between the different camera modes at will. The 2x lossless zoom is impressive, as well, because it produces sharper shots than you’d typically get with a camera phone.

The front-facing camera is 8-megapixels, complete with a built-in beauty mode and group selfie mode. But bizarrely, its night time capabilities are better than that of the dual cameras. The Honor 9’s rear lenses are f/2.2, and there’s no optical image stabilization, so night shots require that you stand very still. You can use the aid of one of the Honor 9’s low-light camera modes to help you shoot, but for best results, pair it with a smartphone tripod.

Unlocked and ready for 3G

Part of the reason I like to nab smartphones off Amazon is that they typically come unlocked for use on a variety of compatible carriers. The Honor 9 is unlocked, too, and it’s usable with a variety of frequency bands, including:

• 4G LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20
• 3G UMTS: B1/B2/B5/B8
• GSM/EDGE: B2/B3/B5/B8

The Honor 9 will work with T-Mobile or the AT&T network in the U.S., but mainly on 3G. AT&T does use Band 5 for LTE in pockets of the U.S., but it’s not nearly as widespread as Band 4 or Band 12, which will lead to sporadic drops to 3G. T-Mobile doesn’t use any of the Honor 9’s bands for LTE. The phone doesn’t work with Sprint or Verizon at all.

I used it with MintSIM SIM, which is a T-Mobile MVNO, and it worked splendidly on 3G, though data was a bit slow. I took calls on the device, too, and they sounded clear and crisp. The only problem occurred when the Honor 9 slipped out of my hand because, again, it’s so slippery.

Not-quite-Android version of Android

Despite the relative ease of using this particular smartphone in the U.S., you’ll still have to contend with a different, not-quite-Android version of Android. Huawei, Honor’s parent company, has been lambasted by the community before for its failure to adhere to general Android design standards. EMUI 5.0 gave us some hope of a clearer future, and for the most part, Honor has delivered. The Honor 9 itself runs Android 7.1 and EMUI 5.1.

I plopped the modified Pixel Launcher onto the Honor 9, anyway, and it looks good. If you grab an icon changer like Awesome Icons, you can go even further to eliminate any evidence of Honor’s interface. But the bigger question is whether the Honor 9 will receive the right updates for U.S. users and whether you’ll be patched up monthly with security updates.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a deal on a marquee smartphone that looks good, works great, and doesn’t cost exorbitant flagship prices, the Honor 9 is worth considering if you can find it on Amazon. It’s heavy on the specs like the rest of its competition, not to mention it’s one of the prettiest devices you can buy and it’s equipped with a dual-camera system you won’t typically find in the $400-$500 price range.

You will have to put up with 3G speeds in most of the country unless you come across a pocket of AT&T Band 5, but that’s not a huge deal, especially for a phone this great in other areas.

See at Amazon

Amazon Echo review 2017

The original Echo has held up well over the years, even if it is (erm, or was) a little expensive. Now it’s only going to get better.

Ed. Note: We’ve reviewed the Amazon Echo a couple times now. First in February 2015, not long after it was first released. We took another look at it in November of that year, to see where things stood. Now that we’re expecting an updated Echo later this year, it’s time to take one last look back at the speaker that started it all. Also: We’re re-reviewing the venerable Amazon Echo Dot, as well.

“How long has it been?” That’s what I asked myself before I looked up our original Amazon Echo review. I know that it’s been a while, and the Echo — and Alexa — have been somewhere in my home every day since. But I was honestly surprised to see that it’s been almost two years since the Echo first sprung forth from Amazon.

And it’s probably even more surprising that other companies — Google, Microsoft and Apple, specifically — are only now figuring out smart speakers.

It had to happen eventually, of course. But the original Amazon Echo remains a strong choice — if you can get it at the right price.

See at Amazon

The design of the OG Echo mostly holds up, too, though I’m definitely looking forward to a refresh. It’s not that there’s anything inherently wrong with the 9-inch black cylinder look — but I’ve never been a fan of the plastic that Amazon used. It’s got that sort of matte finish that picks up oil from your fingers any time you happen to touch it. And while I’ve probably moved my Echo around more than most folks, I (like a lot of you out there) also have kids who can’t help my touch it any time you they use it.

It was good enough for what it was at the time, and it definitely says something that the design has held up for this long. But it’s time for something new.

(And before you say “You should have gotten a white one,” remember that you couldn’t get that color until September 2016, some six months and change after my initial review. Time and SEO wait for no one.)

An updated Echo is almost certainly on the horizon, so don’t spend more than $100 on this one if you must.

Interestingly, Amazon has kept with the rotating top section for volume control, eschewing the physical buttons that the Echo Dot switched to. Either one is just fine with me — it’s just interesting to see a divergence. Will the dial live on in the next-generation Echo?

The real story of the original Amazon Echo in 2017 comes down to price. It’s still listed at $179, and has been for a while. But it’s also not been uncommon to see it discounted, most recently to a much more reasonable $99 or so. Sometimes a little more, on rare occasion less.

But that’s really the price point you’d expect to find this sort of speaker at these days. It’s never been the best in terms of audio expectations, but it always was a hard sell at nearly $200. Maybe that was to make room for the Echo Dot (particularly at its $50 price point). But it also meant the only real choice of Echo for anyone who wanted easy music that also sounded good was one that was too expensive.

Then came the new Echo Show, however, and the original Echo now fits squarely in the middle. Echo Dot, $50. Original Echo, $100. Echo Show, $200+.

The real question is “what’s next.” The answer, of course, will be another Echo. We haven’t had too much in the way of leaks. What we do have comes from Engadget and boils down to this:

The new Echo will be both shorter and slimmer than the original, almost as if it were three or four Echo Dots stacked on top of each other, our source claims. Amazon is also softening its design with rounded edges and a cloth-like covering, rather than the current Echo’s plastic shell and flat ends.

None of that is overly surprising. Better design, better sound. The hardware is important, for sure. But it’s still just one half of what makes the Amazon Echo special. The other half we call Alexa, and it’s fair to ask where she’ll head in the future.

Amazon’s not alone in this space any more. It was first, and arguably the best, and it’s done well to get multiple devices to market at multiple price points, when its competitors are barely out of the gate. Consider:

• Amazon: Echo ($179), Echo Dot ($49), Echo Look ($199) , Echo Show ($229), Amazon Tap ($99).
• Google: Google Home ($129).
• Microsoft: Harman Kardon Invoke (price unknown), coming later this year.
• Apple: HomePod ($349), coming later this year.

That’s four Echo devices from Amazon, plus the Tap (which I argue counts). And that’s not even counting third-party devices, like the UA Boom and Megaboom speakers, or the integration on the HTC U11 phone, or any number of other things out there.

Amazon hit us all extremely early, and extremely well, when it came to the Echo, which has held up remarkably well given its age. And it’s only going to get better with the next one.

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon

5 reasons you should switch away from AT&T

AT&T is a great carrier, but there are reasons to make a change.

Having phone service that’s cheap and good is important to us.

It wasn’t so long ago that you had very few choices when it came to good phone coverage most everywhere you wanted to go. Today, though, you have plenty of other choices when it comes to the company who provides your service. That means you just might be able to get exactly what you need and save some money every month. Everyone loves to save money, right?

There are a lot of folks using smartphones on AT&T. Some because it was the only company who gave the coverage they needed, others because only AT&T had the phone they wanted. Both things have changed and now is a great time to think about switching away. Here are a few reasons why you might want to try another company.

Coverage

Coverage is always the most important thing to consider when you pay for service each month. You need to be able to use what you’re paying for.

AT&T offers great nationwide coverage. But now so do a lot of other companies. Verizon has eclipsed AT&T when it comes to rural coverage, and most every company offers service when you’re in a city or town. T-Mobile, Sprint or any of the numerous alternative carriers (MVNOs) have service as good or better when you don’t stray too far from the beaten path.

For a lot of people, only AT&T offers the coverage you need. If that’s the case, you should stick with what works. But be sure to check other options, because things have changed!

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Price

If the coverage is equal, there is no reason to pay more.

AT&T has one of the most expensive unlimited plans for people who aren’t DirectTV subscribers and also offer a throttled (3 Mbps maximum) plan to keep folks who aren’t into spending over $100 for a single line plan once fees and taxes come into the picture. If you want true high-speed data, you can save money if you find another carrier who offers comparable coverage.

Check your coverage, ask your friends, check the maps, etc. And when you check the prices you’ll like what you see.

AT&T’s unlimited plans: Everything you need to know!

Other devices

AT&T has this in common with all of the Big Four carriers in the U.S.: You can’t use the same plan you have for your phone on another device (except a car in AT&T’s case) without having a phone plan and spending more money.

Data is data, and the carrier providing it shouldn’t care what device you’re using. You’ll find smaller MVNO carriers that don’t care if you swap the SIM card out of your phone and put it into a hotspot or tablet or smartwatch. AT&T offers 10GB of tethering data on its more expensive unlimited plan, but you’ll need to make sure the phone you’re using is compatible. Many are (unlocked phones or AT&T branded phones) but others aren’t.

It’s the little things, like this, that can make a difference.

Saturation

Being the popular choice can sometimes be a bad thing. Ask most anyone who has tried to use AT&T in downtown New York or San Francisco and they will tell you that certain times of the day mean you’ll have no service with AT&T despite having a strong signal.

Only a certain number of devices can connect to a cell tower at once, and when that number is exceeded it’s not pretty. AT&T doesn’t seem to have the backhaul or network infrastructure to handle all their customers when everyone is trying to use their phones.

This is why you see the big trailers with AT&T and Verizon logos at sporting events; COWs (Cell On Wheels) are designed to handle those kinds of load. But AT&T can’t drop off a COW every day at lunch time on 3rd Avenue. You’ll find other carriers are less crowded and offer better service when AT&T is oversaturated.

Better prepaid plans

If you don’t want or need to pay for an unlimited data plan, grabbing a prepaid SIM card and using the phone you already have is a great idea. You can shop around and find a plan that offers just what you need without paying for any extras you don’t.

AT&T has a decent prepaid system. Formerly GoPhone, AT&T prepaid has several plans between 1 and 10 GB per month as well as an unlimited plan. But your data speeds are capped at 3 Mbps on all of them. There are plenty of other options that aren’t purposefully throttled and might even save some money.

There are dozens of great prepaid MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Providers) companies and at least one of them will have exactly what you’re looking for.

AT&T does offer good nationwide phone service. But it is no longer the only game in town and if you think it’s time to make a switch here are a few extra reasons to think about.

5 reasons you should switch away from Verizon

Alternative carriers (MVNOS)

• What is an alternative mobile carrier?
• What are the advantages of going with an alternative carrier?
• How to make sure your phone works on a prepaid alternative carrier
• 8 Important Considerations When Switching To An MVNO
• These are the cheapest data plans you can buy in the U.S.
• Mint SIM vs. Cricket Wireless: Which is better for you?

Grab an LG V20 with both of its displays for just $350 at B&H

The folks at Thrifter are back again, this time with a sweet deal on LG’s popular V20 smartphone!

The LG V20 is one of the last flagship smartphones that allows you to remove its battery and swap in a new one. This is a feature that some people absolutely need in a phone, and if that happens to be you, you’ll be happy to see that B&H Photo is offering a great discount on one. Right now you can pick up the unlocked 64GB LG V20 for just $349.99, which is a savings of $100 from its regular price.

Being unlocked, you’ll be able to use this model (US996) on both CDMA and GSM carriers. It comes equipped with 64GB of internal storage, so you don’t have to worry about filling it up too easily taking pictures with its awesome dual-camera setup. The V20 also has a 5.7-inch main display, as well a secondary display above it that shows some useful information.

If you want to save a little more, and don’t mind picking up a refurbished phone, Daily Steals has you covered. Right now you can pick up an unlocked Verizon version (US995) for just $249.99 with coupon code LGV20UNLOCKED.

See at B&H Photo

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For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Essential customers are being targeted in a phishing attack

If you’ve received an email from Essential asking for additional information, do not reply to it.

The Essential Phone is finally going out to customers after lenghty delays, but the company isn’t done with its share of controversy yet. An email that’s going out to customers from an Essential support account (customercare@essential.com) is soliciting additional information in the form of a photo ID to process shipments. While the address itself is legitimate, it looks like the company’s customers have been targeted by a phishing attack.

Judging by the responses to the Reddit thread, the hacker found a way into the company’s mailserver. Here’s the email in its entirety:

Hi,

Our order review team requires additional verifying information to complete the processing of your recent order. 

This verification is performed to protect against unauthorized use of your payment information and similar to what is conducted for in-person purchases. 

Please provide an alternative email and phone number to confirm this purchase..

We would like to request a picture of a photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, state ID, passport) clearly showing your photo, signature and address. NOTE: the address on the ID should match the billing address listed on your recent order.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.  Once verified, we look forward to shipping your order.

Thanks!

Essential Products Customer Care

For its part, Essential has mentioned that it has taken steps to “mitigate the issue:”

We’re aware of & looking into a recent e-mail received by some customers. We’ve taken steps to mitigate & will update with more info soon.

— Essential (@essential) August 30, 2017

Did you receive an email from Essential requesting verifying information?