Apple Receives FCC Approval for iPhone X Ahead of October 27 Pre-Orders

Apple today received approval from the United States Federal Communications Commission for its upcoming iPhone X models, meaning the devices have passed all of the requisite tests and are cleared for sale.

Since the iPhone X was introduced, Apple’s iPhone X product pages have included the following footnote noting that FCC approval had yet to be obtained:

iPhone X has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

The FCC must approve all radio-transmitting devices before they are able to be legally sold in the United States, including all iPhones. The FCC’s program is designed to ensure that RF devices in the United States “operate effectively,” do not cause harmful interference, meet human RF exposure limits, and comply with other FCC rules.

Three iPhone X models have been approved for sale by the FCC, so Apple will now be able to remove that wording from the iPhone X site. FCC approval for the iPhone X comes just over three weeks ahead of when Apple will accept pre-orders for the device.

iPhone X pre-orders will start on Friday, October 27 ahead of an official launch date on November 3.

Supplies of the iPhone X are expected to be heavily constrained due to production issues with the TrueDepth camera used for facial recognition, so the device is likely to be hard to come by for the remainder of 2017 and into the early months of 2018.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
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Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL vs. Google Pixel and Pixel XL: Specs comparison

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are here, but how do Google’s latest handsets compare to last year’s models?

After weeks upon weeks of leaks of rumors, and the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are finally here. Google’s latest flagship handsets are the best we’ve seen from the company to-date, but last year’s original Pixel and Pixel XL weren’t anything to scoff at all. In fact, they’re still two of the best Android phones (albeit outdated at this point) that you can get. So, just how do the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL truly stack up to their older brothers?

Pixel vs. Pixel 2 specs

Pixel XL vs Pixel XL 2

As expected, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are more powerful in virtually all areas compared to their predecessors. These are some of the best specs you’ll find in a phone that’s released this year, and considering how smitten we were with the original Pixels this time last fall, we can’t wait to see how both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL put their respective spec sheets to the test in the real world.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Google Pixel 2 + Pixel 2 XL are official
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Our 2016 Pixel reviews
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Where to buy the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Google’s new phones are available for pre-order now.

The second-generation Google Pixel phones are now available to pre-order from the Google Store, and carrier deals won’t be far behind. The bottom line is that the new two Pixels largely mirror the pricing of their predecessors, starting at $649 in the United States for the mini Pixel, or $849 for the Pixel 2 XL. Carrier partners include Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and EE in the UK.

Google Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL

In the U.S., a 64GB Pixel 2 will set you back $649 outright, or $27 monthly through Project Fi. That raises to $749 for a 128GB model ($34 per month on Fi) if you want 128GB of storage. The Pixel 2 XL starts at $849 with 64GB of storage ($34/month on Fi), or $949 for 128GB ($40/month on Fi).

In the UK, pricing breaks down to £629 for the base model 64GB Pixel 2, or £799 for the XL. Add an extra £100 for the 128GB model.

The Pixel 2 is available in “just black” and “clearly white” versions at present. For the XL, you can choose between “black and white” and “just black.” Buy through Project Fi, and your order will ship with a free Google Home Mini.

See at Google

In the UK, EE has confirmed that it’ll carry Google’s new phones, but there’s no pre-order page live just yet.

Similarly, Verizon is also confirmed as a carrier partner in the United States, but the operator has yet to push a pre-order page live.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Google Pixel 2 + Pixel 2 XL are official
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Our 2016 Pixel reviews
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Google’s Pixel Buds are $159 wireless headphones with real-time translation

Google has announced its own pair of wireless earbuds, with Google Translate built-in.

At today’s Pixel hardware event, Google has combined its translation know-how with its love of good audio to create the Google Pixel Buds, it’s first retail pair of headphones.

The headphones themselves are like any standard wireless (though not truly wireless) pair of earbuds. Instead of having the controls somewhere on the wire, the right earbud has a gesture pad to control volume and playback. The Google Buds will be available in the same three colors as this year’s Pixel phone, and will feature a five-hour battery built in. They also include a carrying case that can charge the earbuds, for a total of 24 hours of playback. The Pixel Buds also have Google Assistant built-in, as you would expect.

The most interesting feature of the Pixel Buds is the instant translator, which will let users understand each other without needing to speak the same language. If this works anywhere nearly as well as the demonstration showed, this could be revolutionary for headphones. Time will tell how well it works in real-world situations.

Are you interested in the Pixel Buds? Let us know down below!

Google Hardware

• Google Wifi review
• Google Home review
• Everything you need to know about the Chromecast Ultra
• Chromecast vs Chromecast Ultra: Which should you buy?

Google Wifi:

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Google Home:

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Chromecast Ultra:

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Google’s new Daydream headset is $99

Last year, Google announced the Daydream View, its first ever mobile VR headset. Not only was it powered by Android, it could also be used with a variety of different Daydream-compatible phones and it was covered in fabric. Today, the company announced the brand new version of the View, and this time, it comes in multiple colors: Charcoal, Fog and Coral. It’s also available for $99, which is $20 more than last year’s iteration.

One of the reasons for the higher price is that it has a wider field of view. There’s also now a slot for the controller, and a removable head strap for better comfort. It measures 6.6 x 4.6 x 3.9 inches and weighs in at 9.2 ounces. Daydream-compatible phones include the newly announced Pixel 2, the older Pixel, the Galaxy S8, the S8+, the Note 8, the Moto Z, and the Moto Z2.

… Developing…

Follow all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 2 event here!

Google’s cleaner Pixel 2 UI puts search front and center

Last year, Google’s first Pixel phone came with a few surprises — including a new proprietary launcher that shifted around icons and the user interface. But it seems the rumors about the Pixel 2’s refreshed UI were true: The Google search box has been moved to the bottom, while the top area has been devoted to widgets showing time, date, weather and the next appointment in your calendar.

The translucent rectangle is gone, giving you an uninterrupted view of your sweet background. Notification dots and PiP are new to Android 8.0 Oreo, but already available on the Pixel 2. In short, Google’s new smartphone only made mostly iterative changes on its UI. But re-extending the former “pill” search tab into a full bar as well as bringing it down to the bottom returns it to the spotlight — like Google wants to re-centralize it in the user experience. Otherwise, killing the bottom grey box and minimizing the top widget bar’s text aligns with Google’s trend toward cutting the cruft away for a simpler, cleaner UI.

Follow all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 2 event here!

Source: Google Pixel Event (YouTube)

Google Clips is $249 AI-powered camera

Final hour leaks suggested Google Clips would be some kind of accessory — but neglected to mention what for, and what it would do. Now we know: it’s a Google-powered Narrative camera accessory that uses the company’s AI know-how to automagically take photos and videos. (Yes, there’s still a shutter button.)

Google says it’ll pair with Android 7.0 or higher, and will take animated Motion photos as well as stills and video. Yes, there’s auto-focus alongside an f/2.4 lens with 130-degree capture angles, Bluetooth LE, USB-C, and we’re promised three hours of “smart capture” — that’s where Google will use its AI skills to discern well-defined, interesting images. Clips will also link directly to your phone, with no need for an internet connection.

Follow all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 2 event here!

Google claims Pixel 2 has the best camera, just like the first Pixel

Google was quick to brag about the original Pixel’s camera prowess last year, and it’s continuing with that confident stance now that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are here. Both phones use the same 12-megapixel rear camera, and have received an unprecedented overall DxOMark test score of 98 — that’s four points higher than the previous leaders, the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. If you ask Google, it’s a combination of the hardware with its computational intelligence.

The key for most is that it pairs Google’s existing software-based stabilization with optical stabilization — that should lead to fewer blur-free shots and less noise in low light. Rival phones tend to only use one stabilization method at a time. You can also expect quick autofocus through dual-pixel phase detection, and a portrait mode that creates DSLR-like soft backgrounds using only one camera (whether it’s the back camera or the front 8-megapixel shooter). You don’t need dual cams or a depth sensor here, folks.

Follow all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 2 event here!

Google Unveils Pixel 2 Smartphone, Pixelbook, and Two New Google Home Speakers

Google this morning held an event in San Francisco, California, where the company unveiled several new hardware products, including the Pixel 2, the Google Pixelbook, and two new versions of the Google Home smart speaker.

The Pixel 2 comes in 5 and 6-inch screen sizes, with the XL model featuring slimmer bezels. It features what Google says is a bolder look with an aluminum body with a soft sculpted back and premium coating, a glass top, and buttons with a pop of color. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back of the device, no headphone jack, and IP67 water resistance.

Active Edge lets users squeeze the side of the Pixel 2 to activate Google Assistant and do things like silence phone calls, and the OLED display is always-on to display notifications and the time (the 6-inch version uses a P-OLED display). A fast charging feature allows for 7 hours of charge in 15 minutes. The Pixel 2 supports the Google Lens feature, which lets the Pixel camera identify objects in the world, and it includes AR stickers.

There are camera improvements, including support for Portrait Mode, a feature similar to the Portrait Mode in the latest iPhones. Portrait Mode on Pixel 2 requires just one camera and is available for both the front and rear cameras. Google says DxO has given the camera a score of 98. For comparison, the iPhone 8 Plus received a 94.

Pricing on the Pixel 2 starts at $649 for 64GB storage. The Pixel 2 XL starts at $849 for 64GB of storage. Pre-orders are available starting today. Google is releasing new wireless Google Pixel Buds alongside the Pixel 2. While these connect to Pixel 2 over Bluetooth, they have a wire between the left and right earbuds, unlike the AirPods. Pixel Buds feature real time language translation and are priced at $159.

Google Home Mini features a sleek, smooth design. It’s small enough that it fits anywhere in the home. The enclosure is made of a special fabric created by Google to let through light and sound. It comes in three colors: coral, chalk, and charcoal, aka a red, a gray, and a black color.

Four LED lights under the fabric let users know that the Google Home Mini is listening, and it responds to touch. The circular shape of the device projects 360 degree sound, for sound that Google says is “amazing.” The speaker costs $49 and can be pre-ordered starting today ahead of an October 19 launch date.

Google Home Max is the “biggest and best sounding” Google Home ever, and Google says it’s 20 times more powerful than the existing Google Home. The speaker features dual 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers, 0.7-inch tweeters, and an “acoustically transparent fabric” that comes in chalk and charcoal.

Like Apple’s upcoming HomePod, Max features Smart Sound that’s able to adapt to the ambient environment in the home, adjusting the sound to its location. It costs $399 and will be available in December. The price point includes 12 months of free YouTube Red service.

Google also announced Broadcast, a feature that lets a message from one Google Home be sent to other Google Home speakers, and new learning experiences for children.

As for laptops, Google introduced the high-end Google Pixelbook, its thinnest and lightest laptop yet. Pixelbook is 10mm thick and weighs a kilogram, and it can convert from a laptop to a tablet. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Core i5/Corei7 chips, 16GB RAM, up to 512GB storage, built-in Google Assistant, and 10 hours of battery life.

It supports a new Pixelbook Pen for writing on the touchscreen and interacting with Google Assistant. Pixelbook is priced starting at $999, while the pen is priced at $99. Both are available for pre-order starting today ahead of an October 31 launch.

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Sonos will add AirPlay 2 support for direct control in 2018

If you watched in envy as your Spotify-loving friends controlled their Sonos systems from within the music streaming app, hoping Tidal and AirPlay 2 would follow, there’s reason to celebrate. The audio firm has announced support for those services as well as Pandora. AirPlay 2 won’t be out until next year, but Pandora and Tidal will be available before the end of 2017. Meaning, you’ll be able to control a multi-speaker system via your streaming app of choice rather than Sonos’ own kludgy application. It’s the latest step Sonos is taking to provide a platform-agnostic experience, where almost everything works with its hardware regardless of who’s providing the music.

Source: Sonos