Misfit Vapor 2 Wear OS watch officially announced for $250

Pricing starts at $249.99.

Misfit has just announced its second Wear OS / Android Wear smartwatch in the form of the Misfit Vapor 2. The Vapor 2 looks a lot like its predecessor but offers a few important upgrades that Misfit skipped out on last year.

Although the body of the Vapor 2 looks a lot like the original Vapor, it now comes in two different sizes (41mm and 46mm) to be more accessible to people of all wrist sizes. The display is a circular OLED panel with a crown on the right side of the frame, and to make sure there’s a version of the watch that matches your style, Misfit’s offering the Vapor in a total of eight colorways.

The two biggest new additions for the Vapor 2 includes built-in GPS and NFC for Google Pay support. You’ll also find a “swim-proof design”, an improved heart-rate sensor, and 4GB of onboard storage for apps and music.

While all of that sounds great, perhaps the biggest letdown with the Vapor 2 is that it’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100. That processor was released over two years ago, and this past August, Qualcomm unveiled the Wear 3100 with improved battery life, better ambient display functionality, and more.

If you’re interested in picking up the Misfit Vapor 2 for yourself, Misfit says it’ll “be available soon” with a starting price of $249.99.

Do you plan on getting the Vapor 2?

Google Wear OS

• The best Wear OS smartwatches
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OnePlus 6T pop-up events will be held all around the globe

OnePlus is going to end 2018 with a bang.

Ever since it was released this past May, the OnePlus 6 has been one of the absolute best values in smartphones we’ve seen in 2018. The phone’s only gotten better thanks to striking new colors and fast software updates, and right around the corner is its incremental successor — the OnePlus 6T.

The 6T likely won’t shake up the OnePlus 6’s formula too much, but even so, it’s already shaping up to be one of the year’s most interesting smartphones.

Without further ado, here’s everything we know about the OnePlus 6T!

The latest OnePlus 6T news

October 23, 2018 — OnePlus 6T pop-up events will be held all around the globe

The OnePlus 6T will be here next Monday, and to help people get excited for the phone, OnePlus is hosting a myriad of pop-up events all around the globe just like it did earlier in the year for the OnePlus 6. The very first one will be held in New York on October 29 (the same day the 6T will be announced) from 6:00 – 11:00 PM. More pop-up events will open all across Europe on October 31, with events in India and the Noridcs to follow on November 2.

In addition to being among the first to purchase the OnePlus 6T, the pop-up events will also be home to free snacks + drinks, other OnePlus gear you can buy, and you’ll be able to chat with members of the OnePlus team.

You can find all the exact details on these events on OnePlus’s website right here.

October 19, 2018 — OnePlus moves its 6T announcement to October 29 due to Apple’s press event

Earlier this month, OnePlus confirmed that it’d be holding an event in New York City on October 30 to unveil its next smartphone — the OnePlus 6T. However, with Apple announcing yesterday that it’s also holding an event in New York City that same day, OnePlus has decided to shift its event a day early to October 29.

In a message on the OnePlus forums, the company said:

As ambitious and passionate as we all are, we have to acknowledge the reality of this situation. There are no winners here. Over the course of almost 5 years, we have been proud to witness the rise of one of the most passionate and powerful communities in all of tech. But, we have to remain realistic. We have only just begun our journey and cannot afford to let one of the most important products in our history be affected by another great product launch. So after deep reflection, we have decided to move the OnePlus 6T Launch Event in New York City to October 29.

OnePlus says that it spoke with its friends in the tech media to gauge what would it happen if it had an event the same day as Apple, and while doing so, came to the conclusion that Apple’s news would take over the 6T unveiling.

Since the change is coming last second, OnePlus notes that it’ll “cover any costs” that the press and its fans might incur as a result of the new date.

The OnePlus 6T event is still scheduled to take place at 11:00 AM EDT, and we’ll have all the official news right here as it breaks.

October 19, 2018 — The OnePlus 6T could work on Verizon Wireless

Every year, one of the biggest complaints about OnePlus phones is that they aren’t compatible with Verizon’s network. No matter how fast they are or how much the cameras have improved, none of this matters for people that rely on Verizon for their cell service.

However, that could be changing this year. According to a report from PCMag, “multiple industry sources” have said that the OnePlus 6T “may” work with Verizon.

Although we won’t see the OnePlus 6T being sold in Verizon stores as we will with T-Mobile, the unlocked variant of the phone is said to support LTE Band 13 for use with Verizon’s LTE network. This means you won’t get any CDMA coverage, but considering how mature Verizon’s LTE service is these days, that really shouldn’t be an issue.

Verizon compatibility is not confirmed at this point, and unless OnePlus or Verizon makes an announcement in the next few days, it won’t be until the 6T’s unveiling on October 30. With that said, even if we don’t see Verizon support this year, it’s still awfully encouraging to hear that OnePlus is even working on this.

October 17, 2018 — OnePlus 6T confirmed to ship with Android 9 Pie

We’re about two weeks away from the OnePlus 6T reveal, and if you’ve been following details on the phone, you’ll know that a lot of its info and features have already been revealed. Now, GizmoChina has confirmed that the OnePlus 6T will ship with Android 9 Pie out of the box.

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed the news on Chinese social network Weibo, and in addition to this, also noted that the Android Pie update for OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 3 devices is being delayed as the company’s engineers need more time to perfect everything.

October 12, 2018 — OnePlus teases new gestures and redesigned UI for OnePlus 6T

Leading up to the OnePlus 6T’s announcement at the end of the month, some of the OnePlus team took the company’s official forums to talk about the improved software experience with OxygenOS on the phone.

Starting first with the UI, OnePlus notes that “a whole new UI” will be present on the phone and that you’ll “have to experience for yourself to really understand.” OnePlus went on to say, “Our goal was to express the OnePlus design language in our UI, making this the most distinct and intuitive version of OxygenOS yet.” Exciting stuff.

Along with that, there’s also confirmation that the 6T will ship with revamped gesture navigation.

Whenever you swipe up in an app, the application window will follow your finger, making for a more natural experience. It’s also faster in two ways: with a quick flick from the bottom of the screen towards the right of your screen, you can change between 2 recently used apps.

Add that together with promised behind-the-scenes improvements to the camera and further focus on making OxygenOS as fast and fluid as possible, and the 6T’s software experience is shaping up to be something special.

October 9, 2018 — The OnePlus 6T will launch on November 6

According to The Verge, the OnePlus 6 will launch a week after its October 30 announcement: November 6. The company will hold a launch event in New York City on October 30 starting at 11am ET.

We still don’t know pricing, which is the last remaining elusive piece of information we need. What do you think? $549? $599?

October 9, 2018 — OnePlus 6T will feature a 3700mAh battery, pre-bookings now live on Amazon India

OnePlus has confirmed that the 6T will feature a 3700mAh battery, 10% larger than the one in the OnePlus 6. The increased battery capacity was leaked a few weeks ago, and OnePlus is now confirming the same. The phone will also offer the company’s Dash Charge fast charging tech.

OnePlus has also opened up pre-bookings for the OnePlus 6T on Amazon India. Customers pre-booking the device will get a pair of OnePlus’ Type-C Bullets earphones for free, along with a ₹500 ($6.75) Amazon gift card. The phone itself will be going up for sale in India on November 2.

See at Amazon India

October 8, 2018 — The OnePlus 6T is launching on October 30

The #OnePlus6T is coming. Unlock The Speed on October 30. https://t.co/LuPoTr8ZyF pic.twitter.com/s8OfmZuXdX

— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 8, 2018

OnePlus has confirmed that it will unveil the OnePlus 6T on October 30. The phone will be making its debut at an event in New York, and OnePlus is set to kick off pre-orders on the same day.

The company will also hold a satellite event in India — its largest market — on October 30, and fans will be able to purchase tickets for the same starting 10:00am IST on October 17.

October 7, 2018 — OnePlus teases Monday announcement on Twitter

Check back in 24 hours for an exciting announcement. #OnePlus6T pic.twitter.com/mIeveZ0n6H

— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 7, 2018

The OnePlus 6T is expected to be announced to the world any time now, but we might not have to wait much longer — at least, for an event date. OnePlus tweeted out a tease for fans, telling them to come back in 24 hours for an “exciting announcement”.

While we expect said announcement to be an event date for the official unveiling of the OnePlus 6T, there is also a chance that the official announcement of the device. OnePlus has had a busy week of teases, leaks, and the official confirmation that the 6T will lack both a headphone jack and wireless charging, and OnePlus might be ready to show the world one of the most anticipated phones of the year.

Tomorrow is also the day before the Google Pixel 3 event — and the beginning of Pixel 3 pre-orders — so whatever OnePlus announces tomorrow may very well end up being an appetizer before the October 9 feast of new Google products.

October 2, 2018 — OnePlus 6T confirmed to not have wireless charging, better water-resistance

CNET recently sat down for an exclusive interview with OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, and during it, a few interesting tidbits were revealed.

Perhaps most importantly, the interview confirms that the OnePlus 6T will not support wireless charging. According to Lau:

We’re working hard on this. When we get to the day that the wireless charging can get up to speed of [Dash Charge] without the implication of heat that we expect, then I believe we can integrate the technology.

Lau also commented on the 6T’s water resistance, saying that it’s the most water-resistant phone the company’s made yet. However, in an attempt to save money, you won’t find an official IP rating.

Last but not least, Lau confirmed that one of the main reasons the 3.5mm headphone jack was removed was to make room for the in-display fingerprint sensor. He also said that it was “one of the most difficult decisions for us [OnePlus] to make.”

Read the full interview here

October 1, 2018 — Here are renders of the OnePlus 6T in Midnight Black and Mirror Black

Midnight Black

Need more OnePlus 6T renders in your life? Lucky for you, WinFuture recently got their hands on just that.

A few new images of the phone show its front and back in both Midnight Black and Mirror Black finishes — two colors that are also available for the OnePlus 6.

Mirror Black

Although the 6T’s design has already been confirmed in other leaks, these renderes once again show off the waterdrop style notch, the absence of the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and dual rear cameras.

September 28, 2018 — OnePlus begins teasing the 6T

We already know that the OnePlus 6T is coming, but now thanks to a teaser clip on its official Twitter page, OnePlus is ready to start hyping up the phone ahead of its announcement.

OnePlus 6T. It’s coming. pic.twitter.com/Wrdt9sCdIs

— OnePlus (@oneplus) September 28, 2018

The short clip is just 5 seconds long and features the tagline “Unlock the Future” along with the OnePlus 6T logo.

There’s not much else to see, but with the hype train starting, an official reveal should be coming soon.

September 26, 2018 — OnePlus 6T appears in a bunch of new renders

Earlier this month, we got our first render of the OnePlus 6T showing off the top rear portion of the phone. Now, thanks to @OnLeaks and MySmartPrice, we have full device renders of the 6T that shows what it’ll look like from every angle imaginable.

As expected, the 6T’s body shares a lot of similarities with the Oppo R17. There’s a large 6.4-inch display around front with a tiny waterdrop style notch at the very top. Around back is a dual camera system, glass construction, and no fingerprint sensor. This time around, OnePlus is hiding it underneath the display.

The 6T is said to be a bit thicker and wider than the 6, coming in at 157.5 x 75.7 x 8.2mm compared to 155.7 x 75.4 x 7.8mm.

Are you liking what you’re seeing?

September 19, 2018 — OnePlus 6T teaser video airs in India, shows off dual rear cameras

OnePlus has started airing a OnePlus 6T teaser video in India that shows off the back of the upcoming phone. A render from earlier today revealed that the device will have dual rear cameras — and not three like previously rumored — and the video further reinforces that. The commercial features OnePlus’ India ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, and also references the in-display fingerprint sensor.

Amazon India is also building up interest for the device by opening up a “Notify Me” page for the OnePlus 6T ahead of the rumored October 17 launch.

September 19, 2018 — OnePlus 6T render confirms dual rear cameras, logo also teased

Thanks to the folks over at WinFuture, we now have our very first render of the upcoming OnePlus 6T. The render admittedly doesn’t reveal a lot of the phone, but even so, it does manage to confirm a couple of key details.

First of all, it would appear that OnePlus will be sticking with two rear cameras on the back. On that same note, the cameras are also in the exact same position as they are on the OnePlus 6.

Along with this, we can also see that there’s no longer a fingerprint sensor below the camera lens. OnePlus already confirmed that the 6T will be its first phone to use an in-display sensor, so we’re now seeing how all of that will come together.

Last but not least, WinFuture also shared the 6T’s official logo. There’s nothing particularly exciting about it, but here it is for your vieiwng pleasure.

September 13, 2018 — The OnePlus 6T will not have a headphone jack

Yep, you read that correctly. As confirmed by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei in an interview with TechRadar, the 6T will not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Having a headphone jack on its phones is something OnePlus has adamantly bragged about for the last few years, so why is the company now deciding to remove it? First of all, Pei notes that by removing the headphone jack, more features can be crammed into the 6T.

Some of that space is likely going to the in-display fingerprint sensor that was already confirmed by the company, and along with that, Pei says battery life is being improved, too. We don’t have raw numbers, but it’s said that the improvement will be “substantial enough for users to realize.”

Another reason for the jack’s removal is timing. Per a survey that OnePlus conducted earlier this year, 59% of its users already have some sort of wireless earbuds. Furthermore, Pei expects that number to now be higher following the release of the Bullets Wireless.

OnePlus expects some backlash from its community, and like we’ve seen from Apple, Google, and others, a 3.5mm-to-USB-C dongle will be included in the box so you can continue to use your old wired headphones.

What do you think about the 6T not having a headphone jack?

September 10, 2018 — OnePlus confirms in-display fingerprint sensor for OnePlus 6T

Less than a week since the OnePlus 6T retail box leaked, OnePlus has confirmed to CNET that one of the main features shown there — specifically the in-display fingerprint sensor — will be present on the phone at launch.

In an email sent to the publication, OnePlus said:

We unlock our phones multiple times a day, and Screen Unlock reduces the number of steps to complete the action. By adding this feature as an addition to other display unlocking options such as Face Unlock, users will have options to unlock the display in a way that is most efficient for them.

OnePlus also shared a screenshot of the 6T’s lock screen, and as you can see, an icon near the bottom of the display will show users where to put their finger to unlock the phone. Similar to devices like the Vivo X20 Plus UD and Vivo Nex, the 6T uses an optical scanner under its screen that views your print, matches it with one that’s been set up, and unlocks your phone.

In-display sensors have typically been slower than traditional ones on the front or back of a device, and if that’s the case with the 6T, at least we’ll also have Face Unlock as an unlocking option, too.

September 4, 2018 — Retail box reveals an in-display fingerprint sensor and “waterdrop” notch

Our first big OnePlus 6T leak has finally arrived!

A retail box for the phone recently appeared in a few photos online, and while the phone itself isn’t anywhere to be seen, the packaging actually confirms a couple key details about it.

Thanks to an outline of the 6T inside the box, we can see that it adopts a very similar design compared to the Oppo R17 that was announced in mid-August. As such, we’ve got a phone with very slim bezels, a tiny chin at the bottom, and a waterdrop style notch at the top.

This outline also shows a fingerprint near the bottom center of the display — suggesting that the 6T will be the first OnePlus phone to adopt an in-display fingerprint sensor.

August 17, 2018 — OnePlus 6T to launch on T-Mobile in the U.S. in October

A new report from CNET surfaced today, and if you’ve been waiting for more juicy details on the OnePlus 6T, there’s plenty for you here.

OnePlus phones in the U.S. have always been sold exclusively as unlocked handsets through OnePlus’s website, but with the 6T, OnePlus will be launching the phone on its first carrier partner in the States — T-Mobile. The T-Mobile version of the OnePlus 6T is said to be “optimized for T-Mobile’s network” and will work beautifully with the Un-Carrier’s 600Mhz band.

Pricing for the OnePlus 6T is said to be about $550 (a slight increase from the $529 OnePlus 6) and it’ll launch at some point in October.

August 14, 2018 — The new Oppo R17 is likely the phone the OnePlus 6T will be modeled after

If you’ve been following OnePlus for a while, chances are you know that its parent company is Oppo. OnePlus typically uses Oppo phones as references for its own hardware, and this year, the reference device for the OnePlus 6T will likely be the all-new Oppo R17.

While the 6T won’t be identical to the R17, the phone’s biggest features will likely carry over — including the waterdrop notch at the top of the display and all-glass back.

The R17’s notch is one of the smallest we’ve ever seen, and should this make its way to the 6T, it’ll be a big win for the phone’s design. The display below that measures in at 6.4-inches, and to not much surprise, retains a resolution of 1080 x 2280 Full HD.

Where will I be able to buy the OnePlus 6T?

Like previous OnePlus phones, we’re certain that the OnePlus 6T will be sold unlocked on OnePlus’s website.

However, new this year in the U.S., OnePlus has apparently secured its first carrier partner.

In addition to selling the phone unlocked, OnePlus will also sell the 6T via T-Mobile. The unlocked variant will work just fine on TMO, but by having the phone sold directly through the carrier and available to purchase via monthly financing, this should hopefully get the 6T in more people’s hands than previous OnePlus devices.

When will the phone be released?

According to a report from CNET, the OnePlus 6T will launch this fall — sometime in October, to be exact.

Seeing as how the OnePlus 5T went on sale November 21 and sales for the 3T opened up November 28, we have no reason not to believe OnePlus will shoot for an October launch. It’s not uncommon for OEMs to move up launch dates by a month or so compared to previous releases, and seeing as how the next-gen iPhones will be announced on September 12 and the Pixel 3 will be unveiled on October 9, OnePlus appears to be slotting itself in nicely with those big-name launches.

How much will the 6T cost?

Per that same report, the OnePlus 6T will cost $550.

In typical OnePlus fashion, that’s a minor price hike compared to its past releases. Here’s how the $550 OnePlus 6T will compare to previous OnePlus phones:

• OnePlus 6 — $529
• OnePlus 5T — $499
• OnePlus 5 — $479
• OnePlus 3T — $439
• OnePlus 3 — $399

OnePlus 6 review: The matter is settled

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Save 20% on all sizes of Casper’s new three-layer foam Essential mattress

Comfort for less.

As part of its daily deals, Amazon has the Casper Sleep Essential mattress on sale for 20% off, dropping the prices to as low as $280. All of the sizes are available in this sale, so you’ll want to make sure to check it out before the day is over. The Essential mattress has a 3-layer hybrid foam to offer great support, breathability, and comfort. It sleeps cool thanks to the open cell foam top layer and offers minimal motion transfer so you won’t wake your sleeping partner as you toss and turn all night.

If you’ve been eyeing a Casper mattress but had a hard time justifying the price in the past, this deal makes it hard to resist. All of the sizes are 20% off, making the prices:

• Twin Mattress – $280 (Was $350)
• Twin XL Mattress – $320 (Was $400)
• Full Mattress – $400 (Was $500)
• Queen Mattress – $480 (Was $600)
• King Mattress – $580 (Was $725)
• California King Mattress – $580 (Was $725)

Make sure to pick up a bed frame and box spring foundation to complete your new mattress setup. Casper does offer a 100-night risk-free sleep trial, so if you end up not liking it you can always return it at no cost to you. It’s backed by a 10-year warranty.

The same 20% off deal is also available at Amazon Canada.

Early Pixel 3 Night Sight photos are beyond impressive

From specs, pricing, features, and more, here’s the latest on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

Following months of leak after leak, Google’s officially taken the wraps off its Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones. The two handsets look exactly like what we saw in all the early photos and renders, and while the element of surprise may be gone, we’ve still got two impressive Android handsets to talk about.

Without further ado, this is everything you need to know about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL!

The latest Pixel 3 news

October 23, 2018 — Early Pixel 3 Night Sight photos are beyond impressive

The Google Pixel 3’s camera is one of the best you’ll find on a smartphone, but one of its most impressive features — Night Sight — won’t actually arrive until sometime in November.

However, a user on the XDA Developer forums modified the latest version of the Google Camera app and has enabled the feature ahead of its official release. XDA then put Night Sight to the test on the Pixel 3, 3 XL, and 2 XL, and the end results are simply amazing.

As you can see in the example above, the first photo without Night Sight turned on is barely visible at all. The second shot with Night Sight enabled looks like a completely different photograph. The amount of detail and light Google’s able to pull in with this new mode is literally jaw-dropping, and it’ll be even more exciting to see how it evolves and improves over time.

If you want to try out Night Sight early for yourself, download this APK to your Pixel phone. After you open it, tap More -> Night, and you should be good to go.

October 18, 2018 — The regular Pixel 3 uses an LG OLED display

Earlier this week, a teardown of the Pixel 3 XL revealed that it’s using an OLED display made by Samsung. The folks at iFixIt recently put the smaller Pixel 3 through that same treatment, and while doing so, discovered that its OLED panel is sourced from not Samsung, but LG.

If you remember the Pixel 2 series, this is a total flip-flop of what was going on last year in which the Pixel 2 had a Samsung panel and the Pixel 2 XL had an LG one.

In that situation, the Pixel 2 XL’s screen was noticeably worse with greater burn-in potential, color shifting, and more. That’s not the case for the LG panel on this year’s Pixel 3, and in fact, both displays have been tuned to look nearly identical to one another. Even so, it is interesting to see that Google’s still not relying on just one supplier when it comes to its smartphone displays.

October 17, 2018 — Google explains how the Pixel 3’s Titan M security chip works

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have a lot of tech packed inside them, and while it’s easy to get excited about their new OLED displays and improved cameras, one of the most important features is the new Titan M security chip.

Titan M is an all-new chip that’s designed with the single goal of keep the Pixel 3 secure, and in a post on the Android Developers Blog, Google recently dived into further detail about just how Titan M works.

The chip is a security module that was made by Google itself, and it works to protect the Pixel 3 + 3 XL against all sorts of potential threats. Since Titan M is a physical piece of tech, it’ll help protect against hardware-specific exploits such as Spectre, Meltdown, and Rowhammer much more efficiently than phones without it. On the technical side of things, Google explains the following:

Titan M’s CPU is an ARM Cortex-M3 microprocessor specially hardened against side-channel attacks and augmented with defensive features to detect and respond to abnormal conditions. The Titan M CPU core also exposes several control registers, which can be used to taper access to chip configuration settings and peripherals. Once powered on, Titan M verifies the signature of its flash-based firmware using a public key built into the chip’s silicon. If the signature is valid, the flash is locked so it can’t be modified, and then the firmware begins executing.

With the chip, Google notes that it hopes to achieve “transparency and building a platform for future innovation.”

Custom hardware allows us to provide new features, capabilities, and performance not readily available in off-the-shelf components. These changes allow higher assurance use cases like two-factor authentication, medical device control, P2P payments, and others that we will help develop down the road.

October 16, 2018 — The Pixel 3 XL uses a Samsung OLED display

While last year’s Pixel 2 XL had one of the worst displays for a phone in its price range, that’s an issue that’s been completely squashed with the Pixel 3 XL.

The screen on this year’s larger Pixel is brighter, colorful, and has less blue shift + burn-in potential compared to the 2 XL. The reason for this? A Samsung OLED panel.

Google opted for an LG-made OLED display with the Pixel 2 XL, but thanks to a recent iFixIt teardown, we now have confirmation that the Pixel 3 XL is using a Samsung one.

October 16, 2018 — Google explains how the Pixel 3’s Super Res Zoom feature works

The Pixel 3 comes chock-full of neat camera tricks, but perhaps one of the coolest is Super Res Zoom. This is the name of Google’s process for improving the clarity of digital zoom by collecting data from your hands shaking as you hold the phone in preparation to snap a photo.

Recently, the Google AI team took to their official blog to detail how exactly this works.

The Super Res Zoom technology in Pixel 3 is different and better than any previous digital zoom technique based on upscaling a crop of a single image, because we merge many frames directly onto a higher resolution picture. This results in greatly improved detail that is roughly competitive with the 2x optical zoom lenses on many other smartphones. Super Res Zoom means that if you pinch-zoom before pressing the shutter, you’ll get a lot more details in your picture than if you crop afterwards.

If Super Res Zoom detects that the camera isn’t shaking (e.g. the Pixel 3 is on a tripod or propped up on a table), it’ll actually start moving around on its own to simulate natural hand movement.

The post goes on to dive into of color filter arrays, multi-frame super-resolution, and a bunch of other nitty-gritty details. If that sounds like something you want to dig into, you can check it out here.

All the big details

Check out our full review!

Here it is, folks — the full Android Central review of the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL!

These are easily two of the best Android phones you can buy right now, and no matter if you opt for the regular or XL model, you’ll be getting a fantastic display, an excellent software experience, and some of the best cameras on a smartphone in 2018.

They may not look like much on the outside, but these are two really special phones.

Google Pixel 3 review: Fewer features make incredible phones

Here are the specs!

If you’ve got a Pixel 2, a lot of the specs for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will look very similar. There’s still 4GB of RAM and a starting storage amount of 64GB, but the Snapdragon 835 processor from last year has been replaced by the newer 845.

For a full rundown on both phones, check out the link below. 👇

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL specifications

The displays are a lot better

Shortly after its release, one of the biggest controversies that popped up for the larger Pixel 2 XL was its poor display. We have an LG-made OLED panel once again, but the year-over-year difference is huge.

Google’s touting 400+ nits of brightness for both phones, 2X less burn-in potential, and less color shifting.

There are still three different color profiles to choose from so you can fine-tune your experience, and out of the box, both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL have been optimized so that their displays look identical next to one another.

For an extremely detailed analysis of the Pixel 3 XL’s display, check out DisplayMate’s full in-depth review in which it received a top A+ rating.

The Google Pixel 3 addresses our biggest complaint with the Pixel 2: its display

There are three colors

Google’s probably the best when it comes to naming its device colors, and this year we have Just Black and Very White. New this year is a pink hue that’s been aptly named “Not Pink.”

All three colors are available for both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL no matter where you decide to buy them.

An all-glass back brings wireless charging support

For the past two years, Google’s used a mixture of aluminum and glass on the back of its phones. This year, the Pixel 3 shakes things up by adopting an all-glass construction.

There’s still an etched section near the top that adds a nice matte finish that allows for more grip and fewer fingerprints. Google’s also integrated Qi wireless charging support and selling a new Pixel Stand wireless charging accessory that’ll charge the Pixel 3 + 3 XL and put them into a new “dashboard” UI that shows a slideshow of pictures on Google Photos and various Assistant info.

The Pixel Stand is a $79 wireless charger for Pixel 3 that unlocks special display modes

Google’s made a ton of camera improvements

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have some of the best cameras we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, and with the Pixel 3, Google’s making the camera experience even better.

Perhaps the biggest change includes the addition of a second front-facing camera. You now have access to a regular and wide-angle lens for all of your selfies and portrait mode works no matter which one you use. Google’s also integrated an algorithm to remove any distortion caused by the wider lens.

Other changes include:

• 40% faster HDR+ processing
• Improved detail retention while zooming
• Night Sight mode improves low-light shots
• Top Shot mode captures multiple frames before and after your picture and then recommends an alternative shot compared to what you actually captured

Along with all this, Google Lens is also built right into the Pixel 3’s camera app and works automatically when it detects something.

Android 9 Pie is available out of the box

As you’d expect, Android 9 Pie is running on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL from day one. This is the same Android Pie we’ve been using on the Pixel 2 phones, including the new navigation gestures, quick settings panel, etc.

The Pixel 3 does bring a handful of new software goodies, including the full release of Digital Wellbeing outside of its beta state and a slightly updated UI for the camera app.

There’s also a new call screening feature that’ll allow you to send your caller to a system that asks them to provide information about who they are and why they’re calling. What they say comes through in real-time and you can choose to hang up or pick up at any point.

There are already a ton of accessories

The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are great phones, but you can make them even better with a good collection of accessories.

Whether you’re in the market for a heavy duty case, screen protectors, or something else entirely, here are a few helpful links to get you started with outfitting your new phone.

• Best Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Accessories
• Best Cases for Google Pixel 3
• Best Cases for Google Pixel 3 XL
• These Are The Official Cases for the Google Pixel 3 lineup
• Best Screen Protectors for Google Pixel 3 XL

Here’s when and where you can buy it

If you want to pick up the Pixel 3 for yourself, pre-orders are open right now. The Pixel 3 costs $799 for the 64GB model and goes up to $899 if you get the 128GB variant. For those same storage configurations on the Pixel 3 XL, you’ll pay $899 and $999, respectively.

The Pixel 3 series will be sold at Verizon, Best Buy, the Google Store, and Project Fi.

See at Google Store

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL review
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 3 vs. Pixel 3 XL: Which should you buy?
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL specifications
• Join our Pixel 3 forums

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

UK Daily Deals: Netgear Nighthawk routers, high-capacity storage, and more

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today on Netgear Nighthawk smart routers, high-capacity portable storage, Xbox Live Gold membership, Andrew James kitchen appliances, and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter UK team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK and follow the team on Twitter for the most up-to-the-minute coverage.

Wicked Audio Hum 900 review: Wireless headphones that never say die

Perfectly comfortable with battery life suited for marathon listening sessions.

When it comes to buying full-size headphones, I’ve always found myself settling into the mid-range. You know the brands, the sort of headphones you’d see for sale at your university bookstore or a Black Friday door crasher special. The sort of comfortable headphones that can put up with my daily use and abuse without breaking down — or breaking my bank account.

Wicked Audio is known for offering consumer-grade audio products — you won’t find a pair of headphones or earbuds priced north of $100. Usually, that means that one feature or another is compromised to get the price down, but with the Wireless Hum 900, you get super comfortable wireless headphones that sound great while delivering actual all-day battery life.

Comfortable for both your head and wallet

Wicked Hum 900

$72 at Amazon
$79.99 at Wicked Audio

Perfect grab-and-go headphones

Wicked Audio’s Hum 900 proves you don’t need to spend more than $100 for great wireless over-ear headphones. The battery life here is beyond impressive, offering over 13 hours of wireless audio on a fully charged battery, and they’ll stay comfortable for hours on end, too.

The Good

• Insanely good battery life
• Comfortable to wear for hours
• Balanced sound performance
• Easy to switch between Bluetooth connections
• Optional AUX cable and storage bag included

The Bad

• Micro-USB for charging
• Lacks active noise cancellation
• Rubberized finish attracts fingerprints

Wicked Audio Hum 900 What I like

The first thing that stood out to me right out of the box was the build quality. The ear cuffs are seriously comfy, with a soft-touch synthetic leather finish, and they fit snugly on my head. The rest of the headphone casing features a rubberized finish that looks nice (when it’s not covered in greasy fingerprints) and metallic plastic coverings at the folding joints, which I’m OK with because the joint and slider is sturdy and reinforced with metal.

These are some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used.

All in all, I really appreciate the understated design here — all-black and sleek-looking with that faux-metallic accent, with the Wicked Audio branding relegated to the top of the headband. Track and volume controls are found on the back side of the left ear, while the power switch is found behind the right and I never really had to mess around with any clumsy Bluetooth pairing buttons.

Wicked Audio boasts that the Hum 900 battery life should hover around the 13-hour mark, and in my testing, I actually found these headphones as good or better than that benchmark. I unboxed them on a Wednesday afternoon and used them as my daily work headphones for the rest of the week, and kept testing them throughout the weekend. By Sunday, they were still showing 70% battery life remaining when paired with my Pixel XL, and they finally gave me the low battery warning by mid-afternoon Monday.

I was genuinely blown away by the battery performance given that I had accidentally left them switched on (but unpaired) for the first night, but I was happy to see my error hadn’t drained the battery at all. I was also quite happy to see Wicked Audio include a 3.5mm input and an AUX cable in the box. For the times that I’m recording podcasts or don’t need to be wireless, it’s a great option to have.

In terms of sound quality, these over-ear headphones sound way better than I ever thought an $80 pair of wireless headphones could produce. The low-end is booming without distorting the rest of the track when listening to hip-hop or other bass-heavy genres, and the sound quality come through clear even at the highest volume level.

That balance is evident, too, when listening to a more layered indie track where you’re able to pick out all the subtle instrumentals and really appreciate the sound mixing of your favorite albums. My go-to test album is “Deloused in the Comatorium” by The Mars Volta — a progressive masterpiece that jumps between being quiet and atmospheric to a loud cacophony of rhythm, guitar, and spacey sound effects — and It sounded sublime through the Hum 900s.

More important than almost anything else, these things are really comfortable to wear. The ample cushioning in the ear cups and headband and lightweight design have allowed me to wear them for hours at a time without any issues, and because they’re the over-the-ear style, you’re not stuck with a sore ear canal after extended use. I also live in a colder climate where these types of headphones perform a double duty in the winter as high-tech earmuffs, so I’m encouraged with both the battery performance and comfort once the snow starts flying.

Wicked Audio Hum 900 What I don’t like

There’s really not much to complain about with these headphones, because any missing features like noise-canceling or more premium materials would certainly bump up the end price and that’s a big factor in my recommendation.

There are some premium specs that would have been nice to have, but also would have bumped up the end cost.

For instance, it would have been nice to see the Micro-USB port replaced by USB-C that then could have been used for both high-capacity charging or a USB-C wired connection to a phone, but as someone still using a phone with a headphone jack, I’m more appreciative of the included AUX cable. It only takes two hours to recharge these back to 100% via Micro-USB and you can still wear them wired if the battery dies.

If you’re looking for active noise cancellation, Wicked Audio has you covered with the HUM 1000 headset, but it’s not a make-or-break feature for me and the exclusion here in exchange for a slightly lower price is a compromise I’m willing to accept. Then again, I work from home and am not a frequent flyer or a regular public transit rider, so that’s a feature I can generally do without.

Wicked Audio Hum 900

Affordable and comfortable for all-day wear with fantastic battery life, these are the headphones I would have loved to have owned during my university days.

4
out of 5

They come with charging cable, 3.5mm cable, and a carrying bag, and can be found for just $72 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Lenovo Smart Display updated with multi-room audio, Home View hub, and more

The Echo Show is so 2017.

Ever since the Google Home came out in 2016, Google Assistant-powered smart speakers have been among the most popular smart home gadgets on the market.

We’ve seen these devices come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and now with the Lenovo Smart Display, we’ve got a Google Assistant speaker that comes with its own screen.

The Lenovo Smart Display is one of the most powerful (yet still rather affordable) smart speakers on the market right now, and if you’re already sucked into the Google ecosystem, should make for a great addition to your home.

Here’s everything you need to know!

The latest Lenovo Smart Display news

October 23, 2018 — Lenovo Smart Display updated with multi-room audio, Home View hub, and more

The Lenovo Smart Display is already one of the best smart home products you can buy, but thanks to a new software update that started rolling out on Oct. 22, it’s about to get even better.

This is the first major software update the Lenovo Smart Display has received, and with it comes the long-awaited support for multi-room audio groups with other Google Assistant speakers.

The Home View feature that debuted on the Google Home Hub is also included with the update, allowing you to quickly view and control all of your smart home devices with just one swipe down from the top of the Smart Display.

Other gooides inlcude support for the Nest Hello Doorbell and Live Albums with Google Photos that’ll automatically show your best and latest pictures without you having to manually select them for Ambient Mode.

Lenovo says this update will be available for everyone in “the next few weeks”, so be sure to keep an eye out for it!

All the big details

It comes in two sizes

Unlike most other Smart Displays that have been announced, the Lenovo Smart Display is not a one-size-fits-all product. Instead, there are two different versions you can choose between.

The base model is the most affordable and comes with an 8-inch touchscreen and white plastic back. If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you can pick up the 10-inch model that also swaps out the plastic back for a gorgeous bamboo one.

Aside from the difference in screen size and back material, however, there’s no functional difference between the two models.

All of your regular “Hey, Google” and “Ok, Google” commands work like you’d expect

Although the Lenovo Smart Display might look a lot different compared to the Google Home and Home Mini, all of the “Hey, Google” and “Ok, Google” commands you’re familiar with work just like you’d expect.

You can ask the Smart Display for the weather, call your mom, get directions to work, play music on Spotify, control your smart bulbs, and so much more.

Thanks to the inclusion of the display, however, almost all of these commands now come with an extra visual element to take your experience a step further. For example, asking for the weather shows a forecast and setting a timer will keep that timer on the screen so you can look over at any time and see how much of it is remaining.

The display is a touchscreen

On top of those glanceable elements that provide more info with just a look, both versions of the Smart Display also come with touchscreens so you can manually control some elements without using your voice.

You’ll still need to talk to the Smart Display for the majority of your interactions, but you can tap on the screen to skip a song on Spotify, adjust a slider to get the perfect temperature for your thermostat, scroll through your pictures on Google Photos, etc.

The touchscreen interactions are meant to supplement your voice commands rather than replace them, and while that might sound like a bit much at first, it’s a really natural experience after using the Smart Display for just a few minutes.

It’s the perfect kitchen TV

Being able to see the weather and your commute to work on the Lenovo Smart Display is incredibly helpful, but where this gadget’s screen really shines is with video content.

Although this won’t be replacing your home theater setup anytime soon, the Smart Display is a great supplementary TV for the kitchen or office.

More video sources should be coming in the future, but for the time being, you can watch YouTube, YouTube TV, and HBO Now.

How to watch YouTube videos on the Lenovo Smart Display

How’s it compare to the Amazon Echo Show?

The Lenovo Smart Display may be the first of its kind for Google Assistant speakers, but it’s certainly not the first smart speaker in the world to come equipped with a display.

Amazon beat Lenovo to the punch by an entire year, but that’s not to say Lenovo’s a year behind the Echo Show in regards to functionality and polish. In fact, the end result just might surprise you!

Lenovo Smart Display vs. Amazon Echo Show: Which should you buy?

There are still a few kinks here and there

While the Lenovo Smart Display does get a lot of things right, there are a few areas that would benefit from a software update or two.

Almost all of the day-to-day interactions work just fine, but there are some bugs that can make the experience a tad frustrating at times. To get a better idea of what I mean, check out the link below to see what 4 things we think would make the Smart Display even better.

4 things that’d make the Lenovo Smart Display even better

Pricing starts at $199

If you’re interested, you can pick up the 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display for just $199.99. If you’ve got more cash to spend and want the larger screen, you can step up to the 10-inch version for $249.99.

The Lenovo Smart Display is available in the United States at Best Buy, B&H, Walmart, Lenovo’s official website, and more.

See at Best Buy

Should I buy the Echo Plus + Echo Sub bundle?

Best answer: Yes, if you’re a music lover. If you’re using an Amazon Echo as a connected speaker for streaming music, then buying the Echo Plus + Echo Sub bundle makes a good thing a lot better.

Amazon: Echo Sub Bundle with 2 Echo Plus (2nd Gen) Devices ($330)

Great sound on a budget

Most people who listen to streaming music are doing it through a single, stand-alone speaker that plays back all the sound. It’s easy and with new products like the Google Home series of speakers and Smart Displays or 2018’s improved Amazon Echo devices, it sounds pretty good, too. However, there are better ways to fill a room with sound if that’s what you’re after, and they involve splitting the music into higher and lower tones then routing it through the “right” speaker — one of which is a subwoofer.

Adding a subwoofer can dramatically improve the sound of any stereo system.

The problem is that streaming audio through a 2.1 (that’d be two standard speakers and one subwoofer) system means spending a lot of money. The options are to buy a stand-alone device like a Chromecast Audio and connect it to a stereo receiver or to spend the money on a Sonos system. Both options make for some beautiful music and there are some people who appreciate crystal-clear mid-range and high tones through a good set of speakers with deep booming bass played on a hidden subwoofer. You can “feel” the music as well as hear it. You could also feel your wallet get lighter as nothing here is what you would call cheap.

Amazon thinks more people would enjoy a 2.1 system if they didn’t have to spend upwards of $1,000 or more to have one, so it introduced the Echo Sub. Paired with a set of 2018 Echo Plus devices, I think the company provided exactly what it wanted to make and exactly what a lot of people were waiting for.

Make no mistake — this three-piece setup doesn’t sound as good as any Sonos product or a good stereo system with a Chromecast Audio, but it does sound good enough to justify the $300 or so it costs. The new Echo Plus sounds a lot better than the previous model — I was taken aback when I first tried them paired is a stereo group — and the addition of a subwoofer pulled the deepest bass away from the music and let me feel it through my feet from an Echo Sub hidden out of the way.

The Echo Sub’s build quality was surprisingly good considering its low price.

The Echo Sub is extremely well built as are most of Amazon’s hardware offerings. It’s heavy, has an ample downward firing ported enclosure (there is no option for a rear port if that’s what you’re after) and an attractive design in case you don’t want to hide it behind the couch or under an end table. Setup is easy: Simply open the Alexa app on your phone and select Create a Speaker Group to choose your two Echo Plus devices and your Echo Sub. Do note that the Echo Sub only works with the newer 2018 models of Echo and Echo Plus. Once set up, all you need to do is ask Alexa to play some music and you’ll instantly notice the difference.

I mentioned the sound wasn’t the same quality you’d find from more expensive products, and if you’ve tried those you’ll notice that, too. Plenty of low frequency sounds still get routed through the Echo Plus pairing and the Echo Sub only handles the lowest of the lows. Depending on your hearing, you might not hear much coming from the subwoofer itself but you’ll definitely feel it in the floor as the 6-inch (100 watt RMS) speaker thumps. My only issue is that the adaptive low-pass filter doesn’t seem to work as I expected and plenty of the audio in the 200 Hz range still seems to come through the Echo Plus speakers themselves.

I’m happy with the Echo Plus and Echo Sub bundle and think it makes for a great second system for the master bedroom.

As somewhat of an audiophile, I have an elaborate vintage Yamaha stereo receiver with stand-alone speakers and a subwoofer that cost about triple the price of the Echo Plus and Echo Sub bundle. I have a Chromecast Audio connected for my streaming needs and can be a little picky when it comes to audio quality. The Echo Plus + Echo Sub bundle doesn’t sound as good as my stereo, and I didn’t expect it to. However, it sounds good enough to make me happy with the purchase at $330 and it makes for a great system for my master bedroom. I’d heartily recommend it for anyone who wants a true wireless 2.1 system without spending a lot of money on it.

Our pick

Echo Sub Bundle with 2 Echo Plus (2nd Gen) Devices

$330 at Amazon

3-piece audio on a budget

Streaming audio through a 2.1 system with a subwoofer sounds great but has always been a bit expensive to accomplish. the Echo Sub paired with two second-generation Echo Plus devices changes that and this bundle makes for a fine solution for anyone looking for great sound without spending a lot of money.

HTC’s blockchain-telefoon ‘Exodus 1’ vanaf december verkrijgbaar

HTC’s verwachte block-telefoon is aangekondigd. De Exodus 1 bevat diverse blockchain-technologie en zal vanaf december geleverd worden en is vanaf nu te pre-orderen. Betalen kan alleen in Bitcoin (BTC) of Ethereum (ETH).

Je moet het HTC wel nageven; ze hebben een neusje voor dingen die uiteindelijk niets worden. Toen de eerste geruchten over een HTC blockchain-telefoon opdoken stond de Bitcoin-koers nog op een all time high. Iedereen stapte in bang de boot te missen. Ook bedrijven gingen in die hype mee waaronder nu dus HTC. Inmiddels is de rust in cryptocurrency-land weder gekeerd, winsten zijn verdampt en de lofzangen uitgedoofd als een stille kaars. De techniek die onze levens ging veranderen bleek een oplossing voor een niet bestaand probleem. En net nu we weer met beide benen op de grond staan kondigt HTC de mosterd-na-de-maaltijd Exodus 1 aan.

De HTC Exodus 1

En toch, zoals wel vaker bij HTC, brengen ze wel iets interessants. Zo bevat de HTC Exodus 1 een veilige enclave, volledig afgezonderd van het besturingssysteem. Hier kun je de sleutels tot je gegevens opslaan. Dat kunnen bitcoins zijn maar ook documenten. Om toch een decentrale blockchain te hebben kun je contacten aanwijzen waarmee je samen de informatie via een geheim algoritme deelt. Daarmee kun je ook je sleutels weer terughalen mocht je je telefoon kwijtraken. Briljant concept of een ‘disaster waiting to happen’? Om dit geheime algoritme en de potentie van HTC’s blockchain-techniek te onderwerpen aan testen vraagt HTC de hulp van de crypto-gemeenschap.

Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Exodus 1 verkrijgbaar is

E-mail

Afrekenen in Bitcoin

Naast een blockchain-telefoon is de HTC Exodus 1 een toestel met groot 6 inch Quad HD+ scherm, Snapdragon 845-processor, 6 GB aan RAM-werkgeheugen, 16 + 12 megapixel hoofdcamera, dubbele 8 megapixel selfiecam en 3500 mAh batterij. De Android-versie is O met nog geen woord over mogelijke updates. De behuizing is IP68 water- en stofbestendig met een transparante achterkant. Qua specs is het daarmee een kopie van de U12+. Op https://www.htcexodus.com is nu al een exemplaar te bestellen voor de prijs van 0,15 BTC of 4,78 ETH, omgerekend naar de huidige koers is dat ongeveer 840 euro. Dat is op dit moment 200 euro duurder dan de op het oog gelijkwaardige HTC U12+.

“Samsung werkt aan gamingtelefoon met eigen GPU”

We zien de laatste tijd steeds vaker gamingtelefoons opduiken. Bewijs dat daarvoor een markt is. Iets wat ook Samsung is opgevallen zo lijkt. De Zuid-Koreanen zijn naar verluidt druk bezig met een dergelijke telefoon geheel voorzien van eigen grafische processor (GPU).

Momenteel maakt Samsung in haar Exynos-chipset gebruik van de Mali GPU van ARM. Echter behaalt Apple momenteel erg goede resultaten met een eigen grafische chip. Reden voor Samsung ook die mogelijkheid af te wegen en naar verluidt zijn ze al een tijdje bezig met een geheel eigen grafische processor, een zogenaamde GPU. Een krachtige grafische chip is noodzakelijk om zware grafische toepassingen te kunnen draaien zoals games. Een eigen GPU zou Samsung een voordeel opleveren ten opzichte van andere gaming-fabrikanten zoals Razer die net de Razer Phone 2 uitbrachten.

Binnenkort een Exynos met eigen GPU?

Een eigen GPU is niet alleen handig voor een eigen gaming-telefoon, Samsung zou deze ook in haar overige Galaxy-telefoons kunnen toepassen. En doordat ze niet meer bij ARM hoeven in te kopen kunnen ze zelfs kosten besparen al zal de besparing die dat oplevert wel enkele jaren kosten. Testen van een zogenaamde S-GPU zijn nog niet opgedoken, we weten dus nog niet hoe een eigen GPU zich verhoudt ten opzichte van de GPU in Apple’s A12 Bionic. Meer kracht betekent ook meer warmte. Er is dus betere koeling nodig. Daarvoor zou Samsung haar oog hebben laten vallen op dezelfde koeling als in de Note9; Water Carbon Cooling.

(via)