The new Mobvoi TicWatch C2 watch is powered by Wear OS
Dear Santa…
Today the Mobvoi TicWatch C2 was unveiled. Available on December 6th, this shiny new smartwatch ships running Wear OS. It features NFC for Google Pay compatibility, too. You can pre-order it now in black and platinum, as well as in a slightly thinner rose gold version.
The TicWatch 2 was originally launched on Kickstarter, and it ran on its own Android-based OS. The new version, aside from using the Wear operating system, features a two-day battery life and an IP68 waterproof rating. It’s also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, and features built-in GPS as well as dynamic heart rate monitoring. The stainless steel front and leather strap construction add to the timeless aesthetic. The faces and straps are customizable, too.
In addition, the Mobvoi TicPods Free are also up for grabs online. The headphones are compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri, and they come in white, blue, and red. Similar to Apple’s Airpods, these headphones respond to touch controls to change music or pick up phone calls.
See at Mobvoi
The Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 bundle is back in stock at Amazon!
Rhyming? Alliteration? This game’s got it all.
Update: This pre-order is back in stock!
The Red Dead Redemption 2 PlayStation 4 Bundle is available for pre-order at both Amazon and Best Buy. It is set to ship at the end of October and it’ll run you $399.99, which essentially means you’re getting the game for free.
The bundle includes a jet black PS4 Pro 1TB console, a Dualshock 4 wireless controller, and a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is set in America in 1899. An excerpt from Amazon’s description reads: After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
Of course, if you already have a console and don’t plan on upgrading, it’d be a better use of your time and money to just pre-order the game. However, if you had plans to purchase or upgrade your console anyway, this bundle saves you $60 compared to buying the two separately.
See at Amazon
Your next Android phone should actually receive regular software updates
One of the biggest reasons to buy a Google Pixel (or even an iPhone) is because of the frequent software updates. Not just major platform updates, either; just as important are the regular security updates that keep your phone from being vulnerable to exploits and tidy up minor bugs. While there are exceptions, most other Android phones don’t receive those updates nearly as often as a Pixel.
According to confidential documents obtained by The Verge, though, that may be about to change. Google is requiring Android manufacturers to provide regular software updates for “popular devices” — meaning devices activated by at least 100,000 users — for at least two years, applying to any devices released after January 31st of this year.
More specifically, Google is demanding at least four security updates within a phone’s first year of life, and manufacturers must patch any vulnerabilities identified at least 90 days ago by the end of each month. Google plans to begin strictly enforcing this rule starting January 31st of 2019.
The incentive? Any manufacturer who doesn’t follow these guidelines with its popular devices may not receive approval from Google for any consequent devices — this could push back the launch of important phones for a manufacturer, giving plenty of motivation to keep up with these regular updates.
While this won’t necessarily improve the major platform upgrade situation with various manufacturers — say, the upgrade from Android 8.1 to Android 9, for example — but having strict regulations requiring regular security updates should be a big win for the consumer, and prevent major vulnerabilities in popular Android phones in the future.
Google Pixel Stand review
One of the most noteworthy additions to the Pixel line of phones for 2018 is the option for wireless charging. Available in many other flagship phones of the day, it’s been sorely lacking from Google’s seat at the table.
Not only did the Pixel 3 arrive with wireless charging, but it showed up with a new charger, too. Available now, the Pixel Stand delivers a fast, wireless charge to the Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, and other Qi-capable phones.
The Pixel Stand runs $79.99 and comes in one color – white. It’s a simple design that looks very much in line with other Google products. In other words, it’s soft to touch, easy on the eyes, minimal, and modern. If Material Design were to make the leap to physical products, this would be a shining example.
As a single piece of hardware, the Pixel Stand looks a tad unorthodox. A circular disc forms the bottom base while a pill-shaped platter creates the stand. A small, bumpy ledge on the base ensures your phone doesn’t slide around. The whole unit is soft and smooth and comes across more like rubber than plastic.
The Pixel Stand isn’t designed to fold and go; it’s the type of charger that requires a more permanent placement. You cannot disassemble or fold it to pack up for travel so don’t look to this one for your on-the-go needs.
Read More
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There’s almost no physical setup required to get going with the Pixel Stand. Simply plug in the included USB Type-C cable underneath and flip it upright.
The charging stand employs the Qi standard for charging so it will work with other phones that allow for wireless recharge. Our suggestion, though, is that you might want to consider other chargers as they’re going to be less expensive and possible have different features.
In fact, it’s reported that Google only provides the full 10W worth of power to the Pixel 3 phones. Other models with Qi wireless charging capabilities are getting 5W speed. For that alone we suggest looking elsewhere for a wireless dock for non-Pixel models.
The Pixel Stand is primarily designed for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
What’s so special about those phones that they pair so well with this particular charger? It’s the Google Assistant smarts and other features that unlock when you connect to charge.
Place your Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL on the Pixel Stand for the first time and you’ll be prompted to set up a few additional options. Instead of simply charging, the stand can turn your phone display into something that is actionable and powered by Google Assistant.
Using the ambient display of the phone, you can glance over for weather, time, date, notifications, and Google Assistant on standby. You’ll also see a small button that says “Good Morning” or another message based on the time of day. Tap it and you’ll get the same stuff you might hear when asking Google Assistant how your day looks.
The visible snapshot of your day (weather, traffic conditions, schedule, reminders) is a welcome addition to the charging experience. Having something to glance at often helps us to recall things later in the day.
You can set things up to show upcoming appointments, or tap the Google Feed to display headlines, trending topics, and other suggested actions. It’s great to have a visual companion to Google Assistant and essentially turns your phone into a small Google Home Hub of sorts.
It’s also possible to customize the phone to show your Google Photos as a screensaver or changing wallpaper. Choose from a particular album or two or let it automatically display recent highlights. It’s always random and sometimes stacks two photos on top of each other or next to one another.
If there’s a minor gripe about the photos, it’s that they are displayed at full brightness. So, depending on where you have the Pixel Stand, you might find yourself distracted every time a new image (or two) pops up.
Another situation where we found ourselves somewhat flustered is when we’d use the Pixel Stand in the same room as a Google Home or Google Home Mini. Specifically, there was no way to tell either device which we’d like to set as default.
For instance, we would prompt our Pixel 3 with a query which would normally pull up a video and the Google Home would pick up the command. The speaker wouldn’t know how to handle the request and the phone wouldn’t respond to it.
This didn’t happen often, but enough that we noticed the inconvenience. We’ve slowly started to add smart speakers and devices to our house and office and this issue could be worsened if not addressed soon. We would like to see some sort of setting in the Google Home app which lets us configure a “room” or “group” with default, or primary devices.
Use the Pixel Stand in your bedroom as an alarm clock and you’ll get another cool feature. Set the time to wake you up and your Pixel 3 will slowly increase the brightness with a yellow sun-like color that helps to pull you from sleep in a more gentle manner.
If charging is all you care about, and you really don’t want to be bothered, you can configure the Pixel Stand to take you off the grid, so to speak. It’s really simple to set up the “do not disturb” mode which silences everything and doesn’t bother you with notifications.
Given this is a charger, we should tell you about that aspect, right? Here it goes: it’s fast. Really fast.
The Pixel Stand comes with an 18W wall plug and USB Type-C cable. With up to 10W of wireless charging power for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, it tops off the phones quicker than most wireless platters.
We found the Pixel Stand would charge our Pixel 3 XL at a rate of around 20%-25% after about 20 minutes on the charger. Given the size of the battery this was really impressive. This is one of those experiences that makes other chargers feel slow by comparison. We get the feeling that we’ll want this speed as often as possible, or at least in as many places as possible.
The Pixel Stand doesn’t come cheaply with its $80 price tag. If you’re just looking for a wireless charger, start elsewhere. But, if you have a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, you owe it to yourself to grab this one. The Google Assistant features, and other fun smarts, make it worth the extra money and further enhance that really awesome phone.
The Samsung Galaxy A8s could be the first phone with a truly edge-to-edge display
While the likes of Apple, Google, OnePlus, and others have all adopted the concept of the notch for their latest and greatest flagship phones, Samsung has so far steered clear of the trend. That, however, doesn’t mean Samsung doesn’t want to build phones with an edge-to-edge display. In fact, it does. But how can it do that without using a notch? Well, turns out it could build a phone with a hole in the display instead.
At a launch event for the Galaxy A9s and A6s, Samsung teased a device called the Galaxy A8s, and it’s expected that this will be the first phone from Samsung with a truly edge-to-edge display. According to known Samsung leaker Ice Universe, the Galaxy A8s will have a hole drilled into the display through which a front-facing camera will be able to see.
While it doesn’t constitute a notch, a hole in the display might basically be considered the same thing. It will be noticeable when you’re viewing full-screen content, and it will make the title of fully edge-to-edge display debatable considering the fact that part of the area isn’t actually display. Still, the fact is that the smaller the cutout on the display, the less noticeable it will be — and the closer we get to an edge-to-edge reality.
The release is particularly exciting considering the fact that it’s seen as something of a stepping stone to the Samsung Galaxy S10, which may feature a fully edge-to-edge display with a range of new technologies designed to hide things like front-facing speakers, cameras, and fingerprint sensors under the display. It’s currently unclear if Samsung will adopt all of these technologies for the S10, or if it’s working on them to incorporate in another future model.
It’s also possible some of this new tech could show up in the Galaxy A8s. For example, Samsung is working on a way to incorporate a front-facing speaker by vibrating the entirety of the display. It could also include an in-display fingerprint sensor into the phone.
When it comes to other specs, the Galaxy A range is generally midrange. The newly announced Galaxy A9s features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It’s likely that similar specs will end up in the Galaxy A8s.
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Google is giving you more control of your search history and privacy
Google has long faced criticism for the way that it collects data, but the search engine is now adding in more ways for controlling for what is shared online. A blog post on Wednesday, October 24, announced consumers now have more ways to control Google search history and privacy options across desktop and mobile web.
As part of the first change, Google is tweaking the search history experience so that removing searches no longer requires a visit to the main account page. Now new are options to delete or review search histories directly by heading to the bottom of the Your Search activity section in the Your Data section of the search page.
Searches can be deleted from the last hour, and any search activity can also be removed. A full list of any given search is also available on the page, and there are even links to find out more on how sharing activity data can make the Google experience better.
“Now, we’re bringing these controls to you — from directly within Search, you can review or delete your Search activity and quickly get back to finding what you were searching for,” Google said.
The second half of the changes involve making it easier to tweak Google account privacy controls which may relate to Search. This includes options for saving activity on Google, sites, apps, services, and associated information like location. Also included are options for disabling the saving a recording of voice and audio input, and ad personalization.
“For example, to control the ads you see when you search, we give you access to your Ad Settings. Additionally, you can access your Activity Controls to decide what information Google saves to your account and uses to make Search and other Google services faster, smarter and more useful,” explains Google.
Currently, these improvements are limited to Google on desktop and mobile web. An update is also coming for the Google app on iOS and Android in the coming weeks which should introduce the privacy changes. Google also is planning on expanding privacy features to Maps, and its many other products, noting that it is “continuously working to build privacy that works for everyone.”
Editors’ Recommendations
- Google tracks your location — even when you deny it permission
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Google is giving you more control of your search history and privacy
Google has long faced criticism for the way that it collects data, but the search engine is now adding in more ways for controlling for what is shared online. A blog post on Wednesday, October 24, announced consumers now have more ways to control Google search history and privacy options across desktop and mobile web.
As part of the first change, Google is tweaking the search history experience so that removing searches no longer requires a visit to the main account page. Now new are options to delete or review search histories directly by heading to the bottom of the Your Search activity section in the Your Data section of the search page.
Searches can be deleted from the last hour, and any search activity can also be removed. A full list of any given search is also available on the page, and there are even links to find out more on how sharing activity data can make the Google experience better.
“Now, we’re bringing these controls to you — from directly within Search, you can review or delete your Search activity and quickly get back to finding what you were searching for,” Google said.
The second half of the changes involve making it easier to tweak Google account privacy controls which may relate to Search. This includes options for saving activity on Google, sites, apps, services, and associated information like location. Also included are options for disabling the saving a recording of voice and audio input, and ad personalization.
“For example, to control the ads you see when you search, we give you access to your Ad Settings. Additionally, you can access your Activity Controls to decide what information Google saves to your account and uses to make Search and other Google services faster, smarter and more useful,” explains Google.
Currently, these improvements are limited to Google on desktop and mobile web. An update is also coming for the Google app on iOS and Android in the coming weeks which should introduce the privacy changes. Google also is planning on expanding privacy features to Maps, and its many other products, noting that it is “continuously working to build privacy that works for everyone.”
Editors’ Recommendations
- Google tracks your location — even when you deny it permission
- Chrome 69 logs you in without consent, but Google says it’s for your own good
- Firefox Quantum review
- Secret deal with MasterCard let Google track what you buy
- Google tells lawmakers it allows other apps access to your Gmail
AMD’s next-generation Navi cards show promise in early lab testing
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Amidst swirling rumors of an AMD Polaris refresh card in the form of an RX 590, AMD is reportedly pushing ahead with plans for a 2019 release of its next-generation Navi graphics cards and early testing results are said to be positive. Hard details about the new graphics technology remain elusive, but we do know it will be built on a 7nm process and is planned for release at some point next year.
Following the lukewarm response to AMD’s high-end Vega graphics cards, its roadmap suggests that technology will be shrunk down to 7nm for enterprise users before the end of the year. The next big thing in consumer graphics from AMD, though, is Navi. Long-rumored to be planned as a mid-range release before a high-end solution is debuted in 2020, Navi may not initially provide great competition for Nvidia’s RTX series cards, but could prove hotly competitive among mid-range cards, where AMD has traditionally performed far more favorably.
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The latest rumor about Navi suggests that it has been tested internally at AMD facilities and that the results have been positive. Originally reported on by Fudzilla, the news from a number of anonymous sources suggests that performance has exceeded expectations. Earlier rumors suggested we may see Vega-like performance for around $250, per HotHardware. That would make Navi an intriguing product in a market that though characterized by top-tier performance, is dominated by sales of mid-range cards like Nvidia’s GTX 1060, which has itself just undergone a refresh.
Navi has been rumored to be the last iteration of AMD’s long-running Graphics Core Next architecture which debuted in 2012 with the AMD 7000-series GPUs. That is why some fans are more intrigued by Navi’s successor, said to be code-named Arcturus.
All of this should be taken with a sizeable grain of salt as there has been little in the way of corroborating evidence to suggest Navi testing is underway. It does back up earlier rumors of a planned year of 7nm die shrinks for AMD, though. Not only will its graphics cards supposedly be built on the new process size, but its CPUs will be, too. The third-generation of AMD’s Ryzen CPUs will be built on the Zen 2 architecture, a major feature of which is a die shrink to 7nm.
Editors’ Recommendations
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Mobvoi TicWatch C2 hands-on review
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Mobvoi TicWatch C2
Stop looking at your phone, you do it too much. While you’re at it, don’t go and buy another phone to stop yourself from looking at your phone, either. Instead, if you’re really committed to reducing screen time on a daily basis, Mobvoi wants you to consider its new smartwatch, the TicWatch C2 — and in essence we’re in agreement with them.
Why? It makes sense. Your phone stays in your bag, or in your pocket, and key alerts are sent to your watch. A quick glance at your wrist will tell you instantly if it’s worth further investigation on your phone, or that you don’t need to worry about it until later. This isn’t a new notion, it’s why smartwatches were designed.
It has the potential to be effective because disconnecting from your phone leads to a fear of exactly that: Being disconnected. A smartwatch helps you overcome that fear, which may — if you’ve got the willpower — eventually help you stop looking at your phone so often.
Well designed for all wrist sizes
That’s what Mobvoi wants you to think about the TicWatch C2, but it’s irrelevant if the watch itself isn’t worth buying. We spent a short time with the watch ahead of its launch, and we were impressed, primarily because it looks and feels like it’ll cost more than its actual $200 price tag. The body is comprised of two parts, a metal top section and bezel, along with a plastic case. There are three different models, and we liked the stainless steel and grey combination most.
However, we were also pleased to see Mobvoi make the rose gold model, which is slightly thinner by an almost imperceptible 1mm or so, and has a less masculine bezel and shape. The top button on the side has a different design too. It’s not a ladies version, but more a model for those with smaller wrists, Mobvoi said, and it has an 18mm strap rather than the 20mm strap on the black and stainless steel model. Made from leather, the straps were pliable and comfortable, and none of the watches looked large or too small on our wrist.
There are three different models, and we liked the stainless steel and grey combination most.
The 1.3-inch AMOLED screen shows the newest version of Google’s Wear OS, but the watch was in demo mode for our hands-on, so we cannot comment on performance. It flicked through the menus speedily enough though. The C2 also has a heart rate sensor, GPS, and NFC for Google Pay, but we couldn’t test these at the time either. There are two buttons on the side, one for calling up the menu, and the other to activate assigned features. Not many smartwatches do away with the traditional single crown and get away with it. The Skagen Falster 2 manages it, and we like the look on the TicWatch C2 as well.
Honest design, alternative marketing
What we really liked with the TicWatch C2 was its honesty, and the improvements made to the design over the TicWatch E, and the adoption of the more refined style we liked on the TicWatch Pro. We call it honest because it’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to be something it isn’t. The design is minimalist and attractive, the features are comprehensive, and the price is just right. One could easily argue that this is all the smartwatch most people would need, especially if their phone costs $500. You’re looking at strong value, rather than high luxury, and when smartphones can now cost $1,000 or more and smartwatches can also run to the same price, this is good news.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
A value product doesn’t, and really shouldn’t, always mean it feels cheap. The TicWatch E felt cheap (and it is), but no-one wants to strap cheap to their wrist. Not everyone wants to spend $400 on a smartwatch from a fashion brand either, given that a piece of technology has a finite life. The $200 TicWatch C2 sits very nicely in-between these two points, and with a design that edges towards the better looking smartwatches out there, rather than towards the cheaper models.
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What about the TicWatch C2’s ambitions as a device for helping with your, ‘digital wellbeing?’ There are no specific Mobvoi-designed features that drive this aspect, and no tailored apps created to manage notifications in a less intrusive way. It’s a marketing message here, but at least it’s one based on actual fact — a smartwatch used correctly can only lessen the times you look at your phone’s screen. Whether this will lead to reducing your real-world smartphone usage is likely to depend more on your own personal willpower to change things, than buying another connected device.
That aside, as a smartwatch, the TicWatch C2 is well worth your consideration.
Mobvoi TicWatch C2 Compared To
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Garmin Vivoactive 3
Emporio Armani Connected touchscreen…
Apple Watch Series 3
Huawei Watch 2 Sport
Huawei Fit
Apple Watch Series 2
Asus ZenWatch 2
Garmin fenix 2
Put down your phone and put on the $200 TicWatch C2 smartwatch
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Mobvoi, the company we know for producing low-cost, high-quality smartwatches, has launched its latest model — the TicWatch C2, and it’s tying both the watch and a new pair of true wireless headphones into the current trend towards digital wellbeing, and the need to lessen the time we spend on our phones.
The C in TicWatch C2 stands for Classic and fittingly, the watch has a minimalist design that will suit most wrists. To ensure it does, Mobvoi made two slightly different versions of the TicWatch C2 in three finishes. While the face and screen size are the same, the rose gold model has a thinner 12.8mm profile compared to the 13.1mm thickness of the platinum and black versions and also has an 18mm strap rather than a 20mm strap.
All TicWatch C2 watches have a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen with a 360 x 360-pixel resolution and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor. No, the newer Snapdragon 3100 is not available yet, so you’ll have to make do with the older version here. The battery has a 400mAh capacity, and Mobvoi says it will last around a day and a half, but in our experience, only a day of use is likely, unless you’re very careful.
The TicWatch C2 has GPS and a heart rate sensor to increase its fitness tracking ability, along with NFC for Google Pay use, which is great news. The body is made from both plastic and stainless steel, and has an IP68 water resistant rating, while the straps are leather. Google’s Wear OS is installed, making the C2 compatible with both Android and iOS devices. It’s the latest version of Wear OS too, so the software easier to navigate, and has improved notifications.
Mobvoi’s idea is for the smartwatch to become a device that helps us look around, enjoy life as it goes on without staring at our phones, while still remaining connected and aware of incoming notifications. It’s a similar tactic to Palm and its Palm (2018) companion phone. However, the TicWatch C2 costs $200, or 180 pounds, and is available without a contract.
Mobvoi is also releasing a pair of true wireless headphones called TicPods Free. Originally launched on Kickstarter in the summer, where they were successfully funded, these $135 in-ear ‘buds connect with Google Assistant or Siri, and have gesture controls built into the stems.
The design means they isolate the wearer from outside sounds, automatically detect when they are inserted or removed from your ear to pause or play audio and are resistant to sweat and rain. Battery life is quoted as four hours, or 18 hours with recharges from the case, and a 15-minute charge will return 85 minutes of use.
The TicPods Free are available to buy online through Mobvoi’s website now. If the TicWatch C2 looks good to you, it’s also available online for pre-order through Mobvoi’s website and wider availability will come in December.
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