Samsung rolls out the (burgundy) red carpet for the Galaxy S8’s newest color

The Samsung Galaxy S8 may have been one of the first flagships of the year, and much of Samsung’s attention has likely shifted to the Galaxy Note 8 and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9. It seems, however, as though Samsung hasn’t forgotten about the Galaxy S8 completely — in fact, it just made the phone available in a new color: Burgundy Red.

According to Samsung, the “luxurious hue accentuates the elegance of the Galaxy S8’s ergonomic glass and metal form, creating a seamless and refined aesthetic that will resonate with a wide range of tastes.”

The new color is available in South Korea now, and Samsung says it will roll out to other select markets — though it hasn’t given any specifics as to which markets those will be. It’s a pretty safe bet that we’ll end up seeing the new Burgundy Red Samsung Galaxy S8 in the U.S., but we don’t know for sure just yet. The Galaxy S8 is also available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue, Arctic Silver, and Maple Gold. It’s also available in Rose Pink in some markets.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 was one of the most popular phones of the year, and for good reason. The phone boasts Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chip, the Snapdragon 835, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Perhaps the best thing about it has nothing to do with the specs under the hood — the phone is widely loved for it’s beautiful design and edge-to-edge display.

Still, the Galaxy S9 is well and truly on its way. Already we have started hearing rumors about the upcoming device, and some of those rumors indicate that the new device will be quite a bit different from the currently-available Galaxy S8. How so? Well, leaks suggest that the back of the phone will change quite a bit, which could mean we’ll see a dual-lens sensor on the phone. The back will also likely feature a fingerprint sensor — though some reports note that Samsung is still working on a way to implement the fingerprint sensor into the phone’s display.

The new Burgundy Red Samsung Galaxy S8 is available now in South Korea, and we’ll likely see it in the U.S. in the very near future.

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Motorola tweaking its G and E series of phones for 2018, Moto X5 hinted at

Motorola has a lot of phones up its sleeves for 2018.

Ever since its acquisition by Lenovo, Motorola has been releasing more than a few smartphones each year. Just in 2017 alone, we saw the Moto G5 Plus, Moto G5S Plus, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z2 Force, Moto E4, Moto X4, etc., etc.

Evan Blass recently took to Twitter to talk about some of Motorola’s release plans for 2018, and we could be looking at even more handsets than what we saw this year.

According to Blass, Motorola will be releasing Play variants of the Moto E and G once again. This year we only saw the Moto G5/G5 Plus and E4/E4 Plus, but if this turns out to be true, next year we’ll get the Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus, as well as the Moto E5, E5 Play, and E5 Plus. This is a release pattern that Motorola dabbled with in 2016, and for better or worse, it’ll be rearing its head once more in 2018.

In addition to the above phones, Blass also shared a logo for the Moto X5. There aren’t any specs or images of the phone to go along with it, but if the X5 is anything like this year’s X4, we’ll be looking at another handset that offers a flagship-like experience at a fraction of the cost.

Moto X4 review: A mid-range phone done right

Best Alternatives to Google Pixel Buds

What are the best wireless headphones to get if I don’t want Pixel Buds?

Google’s first stab at wireless headphones is a mixed bag of good ideas and middling execution. There are a lot of things to like about the Pixel Buds, but at $159 they’re relatively expensive, and many elements of the design, from the case to the fit inside the ears, is inconsistent.

Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to the Pixel Buds. But before we get to the specific options, we’re going to talk about the two dominant styles. The first is similar to the Pixel Buds themselves: earbuds tethered by a cord, usually meant to wrap around the back of the neck; then there’s truly wireless, similar to the Samsung IconX and Apple AirPods, where both earbuds are independent.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these designs.

You can use Pixel Buds without a Pixel phone, but should you?

Truly wireless headphones

• Separate wireless earbuds are generally easier to manipulate since there’s no cord getting in the way and, in some cases, weighing down the headphone portion.
• They tend to have shorter battery life, and can be bulky, since all of the “tech” is inside the earbud itself.
• They often have charging cases, which means carrying an extra object around.
• On the flip side, those cases often have an additional battery of their own, giving the headphones extra uptime.

‘Connected’ wireless headphones

• Headphones like the Pixel Buds have a cable that connects the two earbuds together. This prevents individual pieces from getting lost.
• Many of them have batteries built into the cord itself, so they’re charged via a Micro-USB port on the device itself. Nothing extra to carry around.
• Some of them are made of flexible, rubberized, water-resistant material, making them ideal for workouts.
• Others are true neckbuds and have additional technology inside the cord, including active noise cancellation.
• With a cable or cord between the earbuds, there’s often room for a microphone and controls.

Why you shouldn’t (or should) buy the Pixel Buds

Here’s the thing: the Pixel Buds aren’t bad, but in my opinion, they consist of a bunch of really good ideas executed poorly. From the oddly-shaped earbuds themselves that make it difficult to get a good placement (nevermind a seal, which is intentionally not possible) to the finicky gesture system that is far too sensitive to the bulky case that’s hard to fit in a pocket, the Pixel Buds just aren’t ready for prime time.

The Pixel Buds aren’t bad, but you can do better with your $160.

In my time with the headphones, I enjoyed the fact that they read notifications, and can be easily used to access Google Assistant. I think the famed translation feature is, while a great idea, executed poorly, and doesn’t add anything to the experience of using Google Translate. And while they can sound good, I was forced to crank the volume while walking outside because so much ambient sound leaks in.

My takeaway from the Pixel Buds is that they add instead of remove friction from one’s life. I spent so much time getting them to merely sit properly in my ears, or cursing at the too-sensitive gesture area, that I rarely just got to enjoy the headphones themselves.

That said, I think the Pixel Buds look pretty good, and they are an exciting addition to the growing category of wireless “smart” headphones. If you’re interested in buying them, go right ahead: they cost $159 and you could certainly do worse.

See at Google

If you don’t want the Pixel Buds, here are our favorite alternatives.

Truly wireless headphones

Samsung Gear IconX 2018

It took Samsung over two years to release an update to its first truly wireless earbud, but we’re glad they did. While they don’t sound much better than they did two years ago (which is just OK but not as good as the ones below), everything else about the standalone earbuds has been improved. Battery life, in particular, has been boosted to around five hours, and the included charging case triples that amount. The best part? Unlike any other case on this list, the IconX charges with USB-C.

At $199 these aren’t cheap, and the included fitness features may not be enough to entice someone over the cheaper and better-sounding Jaybirds. Still, Samsung has released a homerun update here, and at its current $50 discount these are a must-buy.

See at Amazon

Zolo Liberty & Liberty+

Anker’s home and portable entertainment brand, Zolo, has only been around for a short time, but the company’s off to a great start with the Liberty and Liberty+ wireless earbuds. Available for $100 and $150 respectively, there’s only a slight difference in the sound quality of the more expensive buds. The rest of the price gaps comes in the form of Bluetooth 5.0 support in the Plus (Liberty supports Bluetooth 4.2) and a larger battery, offering 48-hours in the case compared to 24-hours in the cheaper model.

While we haven’t tried the Liberty+, we’ve been impressed with the sound coming out of the Liberty, with clear mids, deep bass, and smooth highs. They’re also quite comfortable to wear for long periods and are IPX5 sweat-proof, which is perfect for workouts. There’s also a microphone embedded in the right earpiece, with support for smart assistants like Google Assistant.

See at Amazon

Apple AirPods

Yes, they’re meant for iPhones and all that, but the AirPods are among the best truly wireless headphones available today — as long as their shape fits in your ears.

Even without the easy pairing of the W1 chip, AirPods work with every Android phone out there today, and they sound pretty good, though they lack the kind of thumping bass you would get from larger drivers or more specialized in-ear monitors.

After nearly a year with the AirPods, I can safely say that their best feature is their comfort: you can wear them for hours without even realizing they’re there. And when it’s time for charging, they slip into the white dental floss-looking case you’ll either love or hate.

At $159, not everyone will see their value, but if you’ve got an iPhone-wielding friend with a pair of AirPods, give them a try before dismissing them.

See at Apple

Jaybird RUN

Aimed primarily at runners and other athletes, Jaybird’s entry into the truly wireless headphone category hasn’t been smooth — early software was extremely buggy and dropped connections — but after an update, these buds are good to go. With some of the best sound in the category, Jaybird RUN earbuds are meant to be big and bulky, but somehow they fit in my ear perfectly.

Like all Jaybird products, the RUN comes with a number of ear tips and wings to ensure the perfect fit, and like their X3 counterparts, they are fully water- and sweatproof. There are also controls on the right earbud to answer calls and initiate Google Assistant.

At $180, these are pricey, but they haven’t fallen out of my ears on a run yet, and they sound great.

See at Jaybird

Bose Sound Sport Free

For $240, you get a lot of sound with Bose’s truly wireless version of its popular Sound Sport Free earbuds. The advantage here is that, like the Jaybirds, they’re meant for exercise, and are equipped with sweat-proofing and a rugged design. But they sound better than any of the other earbuds on this list thanks to incredibly comfortable tips (a Bose specialty) and large drivers to push that sound.

Also like then Jaybirds, there’s a separate charging case with two additional charges totaling 24-hours of uptime, and Bose promises software updates to fix intermittent sync issues.

See at Amazon

B&O Beoplay E8

The cream of the crop in this category, B&O’s entry into the truly wireless category is all about luxury — and you’ll pay for it. For $299 you get buttery smooth sound, an amazingly comfortable fit in the ear, and a leather charging case.

Touch controls make pausing songs and accepting calls easy, and a quick gesture turns on the monitor feature, using the onboard microphones to temporarily let in the outside world for a quick conversation or to catch an announcement.

Because the E8s are slightly smaller than others on this list, making for a more comfortable, lightweight feel in the ear, battery life of four hours doesn’t quite top the competition, but the charging case adds an additional eight hours. These are the earbuds for true wireless audiophiles — if that’s a real thing yet.

See at Amazon

‘Connected’ wireless headphones

Jaybird X3

Jaybird finds its way twice onto this list for good reason: it makes great sport headphones. That said, the X3s sound so good that they don’t need to be used while sweating up a storm. In fact, if you spend the time to find a great fit for them (like the RUN earbuds, they come with a multitude of tips and wings), they can sound incredible. And there’s a set of buttons and a microphone on the cord for easy controls.

At just over $125, they’re affordable and easy to set up. The included snap-on charger is an improvement over the previous generation, and they last around eight hours before needing to be topped up. Owned by Logitech, Jaybird also has one of the best customer support reputations in the game, so if anything goes wrong with these waterproof headphones, they’ll be easily replaced.

See at Amazon

Fitbit Flyer

Fitbit’s entry into the wireless headphone space is pretty much flawless: incredible sound quality, excellent battery life, and plenty of plug and wing options to find the perfect fit.

Like the company’s Ionic smartwatch, the design will not be to everyone’s tastes — the jewel-like outer shell takes some getting used to — but there’s a consistency to Fitbit’s products that’s rewarding if you invest in them.

The Flyer has slightly shorter battery life than the Jaybirds, but they’re easily charged via Micro-USB, and there are no additional dongles needed — a port opens up to reveal the port. At $130, these are a great alternative to the X3s and the Pixel Buds alike, even if exercise isn’t a huge part of the equation.

See at Amazon

Bose Sound Sport Wireless

The OG neckbud success story, Bose is in the game for good reason. At $150 (and occasionally on sale for less), the Sound Sport Wireless sound better than the truly wireless equivalents, have a narrower form factor and a longer-lasting battery.

Like all other Bose products, an easy-going sound profile is key here, and the included tips are very, very comfortable for longer listening periods. Along with Bluetooth, there’s NFC pairing here, too, if your Android phone supports it, along with in-line controls and sweat resistance during workouts.

See at Amazon

Shure SE215

Shure has a fantastic reputation for noise-isolating headphones (well, headphones in general, actually) and the SE215s, at $150, are a great combination of wireless convenience and Shure’s superb sound quality.

What sets these apart is the design: not only does the cord go around the back of the neck, but the earbud cord is designed to wrap around the back of the ear to prevent gravity from doing its thing. That means less adjusting and more listening — for up to eight hours.

While the SE215s don’t have active noise cancellation, they’re designed to get a tight fit inside the ear, ensuring passive isolation to facilitate concentration and focus. Among the interesting features here, too, are the ability to connect to up to four devices at once and dynamic source switching depending on proximity.

See at Amazon

Sennheiser CX 7.00BT

Sennheiser’s latest addition to its wireless headphone lineup is a pair of outstanding-sounding neckbuds. These aren’t the type of neckbuds that merely wrap a piece of fabric around one’s neck, but a true set with necklace hardware that sits on the base of the neck with retractable cords extending outwards to the ears.

Like all Sennheiser products, these sound amazing and thanks to the additional room in the base, affords up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge. At $150, these are an affordable way to get excellent audio and easy to reach controls with all-day comfort, since the earbuds can just float.

See at Amazon

Your picks?

Of course, everyone is going to have their own version of this list, but these are among the best alternatives to the Pixel Buds, and we’ll be updating it regularly with more picks as we try them.

Buy one $5 Dash button, get two free plus $5 credit per button

Press a button, get a product! It’s the future.

With this deal, all you’re spending is $5 on a single Amazon Dash button. You’ll get two extra dash buttons for free, and all Dash buttons give you a $4.99 credit the first time you use them. That’s $25 total coming back to you with $10 in free Dash buttons and $15 in credit after you use each one.

All you have to do to get the Buy 1, Get 2 discount is add three Dash buttons to your cart. You’ll see $10 taken off the price automatically during checkout.

The Dash button is a simple, one button way, to reorder your most-used household items. From pet food to water, ink cartridges and more, you simply purchase the button, set it up with your Amazon account and pick the item that you want it to order, and then press it when you are in need of said item.

I think the key to getting the most out of a Dash button is picking an essential product. Pick laundry detergent or paper towels or printer paper – things you know you’ll need to order again eventually and don’t want to spend time looking up. That makes the investment worth it.

See at Amazon

Aukey’s $4 car mount inserts into your CD player to keep your device steady

Finally get some use out of your car’s CD player.

Is this deal for me?

Aukey’s Magnetic Car Mount is now on sale at Amazon for just $3.99. This saves you over half of what this mount sells for on average.

Slide the end of this phone mount into your CD player to keep your phone in place while traveling. It features a magnetic plate which you can either slip between your phone and its case, or adhere to the back of either so that you can quickly throw it onto (and remove it from) the mount easily. This also allows you to mount practically any phone to this product.

This phone mount is super slim, so there’s little chance of it obstructing your view while driving. It’s also padded with soft rubber so there’s little chance of it scratching your phone as well.

Since you won’t be able to use your CD player while using this car mount, you may want to add some Bluetooth connectivity to your car to keep your music playing. Aukey has a Bluetooth FM transmitter available for $23.99 right now, and buying both with the promo code Z3982QM2 will drop the price of the phone mount down to just $3.19.

If you’re like me and don’t want to give up being able to use your CD player, you could grab this two-pack of Aukey phone mounts which clip into your air vent instead for just $8.09 with promo code AUKCM006. It’s hard to beat $4 apiece.

TL;DR

• What makes this deal worth considering? – This is the lowest price ever for this Aukey phone mount. Since you simply take the magnetic plate and slip it between your device and case, or adhere it to either, you can easily mount practically any phone to this product.
• Things to know before you buy! – This mount inserts into your CD player to keep your phone steady. You won’t be able to use your CD player while using this mount, however you can grab a two-pack of Aukey phone mounts which clip into your air vent instead for $8.09 with promo code AUKCM006.

See at Amazon

Google now lets you donate to nonprofits right within Google Search

Making donations is just a Google Search away.

November 28, 2017, is Giving Tuesday – a day for people all around the world to give back to those in need. It’s a holiday celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and this year, Google is making it easier than ever to make a donation to your favorite non-profit organization.

When searching for a U.S.-based nonprofit in Google Search, you’ll now see special cards for the organization you’re searching for that has a link to its official website, a brief description about its mission, where it’s located, and more.

At the very top of these cards, there’s a “Donate” button that allows you to make a donation of up to $2,000 without having to open another app or website.

Google says that this feature is rolling out to numerous organizations now, and you can access the cards by simply searching for the nonprofit of your choice.

Best Alternatives to Google Pixel Buds

NVIDIA Shield Tablet receives KRACK fix and November 2017 security patch

Available now as part of the Shield Tablet Software Upgrade 5.3.

In October, an NVIDIA employee confirmed via Twitter that neither the Shield Tablet or Shield Tablet K1 would be updated to Android Oreo. This didn’t come as much of a surprise considering the age of each device, but that same employee also noted that another Nougat-based update was in the works.

That update is here today as part of the Shield Tablet Software Upgrade 5.3, and although there’s nothing revolutionary here, there are a couple important security patches that we’re really thankful to see.

Included with this update is not only a fix for the KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability that has the potential to be rather damaging, but there’s also an upgrade to the November 5, 2017, security patch that was just released earlier this month. For hardware that’s over three years old at this point, that’s mighty impressive on NVIDIA’s part.

In addition to those security-focused updates, there’s also a fix for connectivity issues with Zagg Bluetooth keyboards, as well as general stability and other security optimizations.

The Shield Tablet Software Upgrade 5.3 is available for both the Shield Tablet and Shield Tablet K1 now.

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How to use the alert slider in OxygenOS on the OnePlus 5T

How do I use the alert slider on my OnePlus phone?

OnePlus has a knack for leaving the best parts of Android alone while adding small conveniences here and there, and that’s not just true of its software. Ever since the OnePlus 2, a small alert slider has resided above the volume buttons on every OnePlus device, and it’s easily become one of the company’s most unique and useful features.

Similar to the iPhone’s hardware switch, OnePlus’s alert slider allows the user to quickly jump between different audio profiles. There are three positions for the slider, and each can be customized to your liking.

Note: This feature is available on all OnePlus devices, starting with the OnePlus 2.

Why would you want to use the alert slider?

By default, the three positions from top to bottom represent the Silent, Do Not Disturb, and Ring profiles respectively, but the alert slider isn’t just great for changing the behavior of your notifications.

I use the alert slider all the time (seriously, dozens of times a day) to adjust my media volume. Save for Silent, which always defaults to muting media, each audio profile remembers your most recent volume setting for media, making it incredibly easy to quickly jump from max volume to something more fitting for a quiet room.

OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement

How to configure the alert slider

It’s easy to fine-tune each position of the alert slider in the settings.

Open the Settings app.
Tap Alert slider.

Tap one of the three audio profiles to adjust its settings.

The settings for Silent and Ring are pretty straightforward — just a couple of switches for you to toggle vibration and media volume on or off. Do Not Disturb mode has quite a few more in-depth options, however.

Configuring Do Not Disturb mode

Each option in Do Not Disturb mode establishes exceptions for the audio profile, which generally silences ringtones and vibrations from any incoming notifications. For example, sliding the Repeat callers toggle to its on position will cause the phone to override Do Not Disturb mode and ring in the event of a person calling twice within three minutes.

You can also manage favorite contacts, who will always override Do Not Disturb mode, or allow incoming calls and/or messages from anyone in your contacts list.

If calls and texts aren’t your primary concern with Do Not Disturb mode, there’s the option to allow notifications for reminders and events, as well, and you can even decide whether or not you want the notification light to pulse in the event of a notification (this applies to silenced notifications and allowed notifications alike).

That’s it! Once you start using the alert slider throughout your day, you’ll wonder why it isn’t a standard feature on every Android device.

Questions? Comments?

Got any burning questions about the alert slider, or want to share something we might’ve left out? Let us know in the comments below!

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There are now AR headsets made like Google Cardboard

Cardboard AR is clunky but fun.

Augmented Reality is like VR’s fraternal twin, delivering awesome experiences, while not removing you completely from the real world in the process. While Microsoft has busted onto the scene with the top of the line Hololens, and a variety of headsets with Windows Mixed Reality, finding a good headset to get started with AR on can be problematic.

That’s where Aryzon’s awesome Cardboard AR Kit comes in. It delivers a low budget way to check out AR, all with a cardboard headset that runs off of your phone. Whether you’ve never tried AR at all, or you want to see what mobile AR is capable of, this headset is full of surprises. While it is a bit clunky, and not terrible comfortable to wear, it delivers fun games that let you stay aware of the world you’re in while you play.

See at Aryzon

Read more at VRHeads

Google has fixed the infamous cheseburger emoji with Android 8.1

Keep being you, Google.

About a month ago, some Twitter users started to notice something rather peculiar about Android’s cheeseburger emoji – the cheese was placed on the bottom of the bun below the patty.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai was quick to respond to this travesty and announced that his team would “drop everything” to address the issue at hand. We all thought Sundar was simply having some fun with those that were (rightly so) freaking out about the misplacement of the cheese, but it looks like our outrage has resulted in real-world change.

Spotted by the folks at Emojipedia, the current Developer Preview of Android 8.1 Oreo has a tweaked cheeseburger emoji that places the cheese on top of the patty.

In addition to this, the less controversial beer emojis have also been updated so that we no longer have the mind-boggling half-full mug with mysterious froth still sitting at the top, as well as reworked holes on the cheese emoji so that they don’t look like they were painted on around the top edge.

Android 8.1 Oreo was shaping up to be a pretty minor update in the grand scheme of things, but I think we can all agree that it’s now one of the most important software updates Android has ever received.

Google served a hamburger with cheese on the bottom to its employees

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