Strap the Huawei Watch 2 Sport smartwatch to your wrist for $190

Track all the things.

The Huawei 4GB Leo-B09 Watch 2 Sport smartwatch is down to $189.99 at Woot. The same watch goes for $229 on Amazon and hasn’t dropped anywhere near this price since last year. We have seen deals on the Watch 2 Classic, but it’s currently sitting close to $250.

Sold by Woot, it comes with a 90-day Woot warranty and a free U.S. adapter since these watches were originally meant for Europe. You’ll also need to use your Amazon Prime membership if you don’t want to pay the $5 flat shipping fee.

This smartwatch has built-in GPS, a continuous heart-rate monitor, and a workout route tracker. You don’t even need to pair it with your phone or an app to see those features. The watch uses Huawei TruSleep to track your cycles while sleeping and make sure you’re getting the REM you want. It works with Google Assistant and NFC for both payments and a built-in voice assistant. Plus, you can use Google Play Music to download and listen to your favorite tunes. The watch has 4.1 stars based on 1,538 reviews.

See at Woot

Sony unveils two new PlayStation VR bundles just in time for the holidays

Who’s surprised?

Earlier today, Sony tore the wrapping off two new PlayStation VR bundles which will be arriving in stores within just a few weeks — just in time for the holiday season, of course. Starting at $299.99, these bundles both include two games along with the PS VR Headset and PS Camera. Though the price is comparable with previous PS VR bundles, these options include two games whereas many of the previous bundles for this hardware at these prices only included one.

Sony kicked off its announcement with the Creed: Rise to Glory and Superhot VR Bundle. Not only will it include both of those exciting VR games, but you’ll also receive the PS VR Headset, PS Camera, and two PlayStation Move controllers with its purchase. It’s worth noting however that Superhot will only be included as a digital download. The bundle will become available to buy beginning September 25 at an MSRP of $349.99 and is currently available for pre-order via Amazon.

If those games don’t seem right for you, or if the price is just a bit steep, the PS VR Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Moss Bundle is also releasing soon at an MSRP of $299.99. Both Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Moss will come with the bundle, though Moss will be included as a digital download. Unlike the bundle above, this option won’t include any PlayStation Move controllers, though it will be available for purchase just a few days later on October 2.

You’ll also receive the PS VR Demo Disc 2.0 with either purchase which offers demos of 13 great VR games.

See at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs. Samsung Gear Sport

While Android phones are our main passion, we’re also enthralled with all things wearable tech. From smartwatches to fitness bands and more, we live and breath this stuff to help you find the gadgets that are right for you.

Galaxy Watch

Latest and greatest

$329 – $349 at Amazon

Pros

• Available in two sizes
• Much larger battery
• Optional LTE model
• Faster + more efficient processor

Cons

• Expensive

The Galaxy Watch is Samsung’s latest flagship smartwatch. It comes in two sizes, promises days of battery life on a single charge, and has a faster processor. The problem? It’s far from cheap.

Gear Sport

Budget pick

$247 at Amazon

Pros

• Looks and feels great
• Has 90% of the Galaxy Watch’s features
• More affordable

Cons

• Only available in one size
• No LTE support

2017’s Gear Sport is still a great gadget. It shares many of the Galaxy Watch’s features, including built-in GPS, waterproofing, and Samsung Pay. If you need LTE or maximum battery life, however, it may not be for you.

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch is the smartwatch to get if you want the very latest the company has to offer, but if you’re okay sacrificing about 10% of the experience, the Gear Sport has many of the same features for a lot less money.

Which watch is for you?

While there are a few things that distinctly separate the Galaxy Watch from the Gear Sport, the watches have more in common than you might think.

From a software perspective, you’ll be met with the same general experience. The Galaxy Watch is running a slightly newer version at Tizen 4.0 compared to Tizen 3.0 on the Gear Sport, but the overall look and feel is pretty much the same. You’ve got access to the same apps, watch faces, and user interface. The Galaxy Watch does have some software tricks that the Gear Sport doesn’t have, such as Bixby Voice, but Samsung’s proven to do a good job in the past with updating its older wearable tech to newer software that’s come out following its release.

The two watches also both have built-in GPS for tracking your runs/walks without needing to carry your phone, NFC chips for Samsung Pay, waterproofing, heart-rate sensors, and rotating-bezels around the display that can be used for navigating the various menus and apps.

If so much is similar between the two, what does the Galaxy Watch do to justify its higher price?

For starters, the battery life is much better. The 472 mAh battery inside the 46mm Galaxy Watch is rated for 4+ days of use on a single charge. The battery inside the 42mm Galaxy Watch is actually smaller than the Gear Sport’s, but the newer processor should still offer similar, if not better, endurance.

Also, if you want to be able to receive notifications and make calls on your smartwatch without having to always be connected to your phone, only the Galaxy Watch has an LTE model.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Latest and greatest

$329 – $349 at Amazon

The very best smartwatch Samsung offers.

With a huge battery and support for LTE, the Galaxy Watch is the most powerful wearable in Samsung’s lineup. It’s expensive, yes, but you do get what you pay for.

Samsung Gear Sport

Budget pick

A fully-featured watch that costs a lot less.

$247 at Amazon

If you don’t mind charging your watch every night and can live without LTE, the Gear Sport is a great pick. It has almost every feature the Galaxy Watch does but costs a lot less.

The new Snapchat Spectacles are here, and they look like normal sunglasses

Time to go on a Snapstreak.

Snapchat Spectacles have always been neat, but they’re about to get a whole lot cooler. Snap just rolled out two new styles of Snapchat Spectacles, called Veronica and Nico.

These feature the same things as the Spectacles 2 did. They basically record 10-second clips of video, which you can upload to your Snapchat account. You can also capture a photo with ’em. They’re great for recording events, adventures, vlogs, or just your day-to-day life. There’s a light to indicate when they’re recording so you’re not a super-creep, and there are a few different effects the lenses can lend to your photos and videos. They’re water-resistant, and they sync wirelessly with Snapchat when your phone is nearby.

The one drawback with Snapchat Spectacles has always been the design. They weren’t exactly fashionable, they were heavy, and they were very obviously Snapchat Specs. The new styles look like traditional sunglasses, and the lenses are polarized too. Even the charging case is more nondescript. Veronica and Nico sell for $199.99. You can get them at some Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus stores or order them online via Snapchat.

See at Snapchat

Honor 8X and 8X Max announced, coming first to China

Both phones are officially launching on September 11.

Honor’s been absolutely dominating the mid-range smartphone space this year, and after announcing the Magic 2 as its flagship phone for 2018, the company’s going back to its bread and butter with the newly announced Honor 8X and 8X Max.

Starting first with the Honor 8X, the phone features a glass and metal construction with a 6.5-inch FullView display that offers a 91% screen-to-body ratio. The 19.5:9 form factor is common with today’s flagships, there’s a resolution of 1080 x 2340, and because this is 2018, there’s a notch at the top.

Inside the 8X you’ll find the HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor, 4 or 6GB RAM, 64 or 128GB of internal storage, and a large 3,750 mAh battery. There are two rear cameras (20MP + 2MP) and a 16MP selfie camera. Android 8.1 Oreo is present out of the box and has EMUI 8.2 running on top of it.

As the name implies, the Honor 8X Max is a larger version of the 8X. The design is mostly the same, but the notch in the 7.12-inch 1080 x 2244 display is much smaller and adopts the “waterdrop” style we’re expecting for the OnePlus 6T.

The Kirin 710 has been replaced by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, and while the available RAM and storage remain the same, the battery is considerably bigger at 5,000 mAh. A Snapdragon 660 model has also been announced, but it won’t go on sale until October.

As for pricing, here’s what we’re currently looking at:

Honor 8X

• 4GB RAM + 64GB storage — ¥1399
• 6GB RAM + 64GB storage — ¥1599
• 6GB RAM + 128GB storage — ¥1899

Honor 8X Max

• 4GB RAM + 64GB storage — ¥1499
• 4GB RAM + 128GB storage — ¥1799

Both phones are launching in China on September 11 and will expand to “overseas markets” in October.

Honor 10 review: Iridescent, incredible, imperfect

Get the 2019 Complete Computer Science Bundle for just $39

“Computer programming is the industry of the future.” If you have heard someone say that, it’s time to look at a calendar and realize that the future is here. Computer Science is a growing industry that is constantly involving and because of that, computer programmers always have to learn new things. If you’re looking to get a start in the industry, or you’re even looking to just switch jobs, you may notice a lot of employers asking for qualified coders in multiple languages meaning you have a lot of learning to do.

Learn how to code and land a new job in 2019! Learn more

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Normally this bundle would cost over $1000, but if you buy right now through Android Central Offers you will receive the entire bundle for only $39!

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Which LIFX bulb should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe and work from our homes. Many of us have an affinity for smart light bulbs, and test as many as we can to help you pick the right ones.

Out of LIFX’s selection of smart light bulbs, the LIFX Plus is the best option for those looking to buy. It not only provides smart controls and a wide range of colors but it has infrared to aid in night vision for any security cameras you might have.

Our Pick

LIFX Plus

• $60 at Amazon

The best bulb in town

$60 is a lot to spend on a light bulb, but the LIFX Plus is bright enough to fully light a room at 1100 lumens, and even illuminates night vision security cameras by emitting infrared light that’s invisible to the naked eye.

Who should buy this bulb?

The biggest difference between the LIFX Plus and the Color 1000 is the Plus’s infrared emission, which invisibly illuminates dark areas for infrared-detecting security cameras — perfect for distant spots in a camera’s field of view, like the outer perimeter of your yard. If you don’t have security cameras, you probably don’t need the LIFX Plus and are better off buying the cheaper Color 1000.

Is it a good time to buy this phone?

Yes! While LIFX regularly adds new products to its lineup, like the Tile and Z LED Strip, it rarely refreshes or replaces its existing selection. Now’s just as good a time as ever to buy the LIFX Plus.

Reasons to buy

• Doesn’t require a hub
• Infrared helps security cameras see in the dark
• 16 million possible colors
• LED rated for 22 years

Reasons not to buy

• Expensive
• Doesn’t work with dimmer switches

The best smart bulb money can buy

Smart bulbs are one of the easiest ways to get into home automation, since they’re relatively affordable and fit into any standard E26 light socket, making for an easy conversion from traditional bulbs. The LIFX Plus is the most feature-packed bulb in LIFX’s lineup, and moreover, it’s the best smart bulb on the market.

Unlike similar options from competitors like Phillips, LIFX bulbs don’t require a hub to control.

The LIFX Plus gets extra bright at 1100 lumens — easily enough to light up even larger rooms with a single bulb, though if need be, you can buy additional bulbs and assign them to a room to easily control multiple LIFX lights at once. You can choose from any of 16 million colors, both through the LIFX app and by using your voice, since the LIFX Plus integrates with Google Assistant, Alexa, and HomeKit, and even Cortana.

You can choose between two form factors for the LIFX Plus: the A19, and the BR30, which each direct light differently. To be clear, these aren’t different versions of the bulb — they’re the same price and have the exact same features and specs — but the BR30 with its wider shape and reflector is better suited for use outdoors or in ceiling lights. For floor lamps and most other fixtures, the A19 is a better fit for most people.

While $60 sounds like a lot to spend on a bulb (and don’t get me wrong, it definitely is), the LIFX Plus is rated with a 22.8-year lifespan, and includes a 2-year warranty in case anything goes wrong early on.

Alternatives to the LIFX Plus

The LIFX Plus is may be the best bulb around, but the infrared capabilities that give it the Plus moniker are wasted if you don’t also have a security camera. There’s no reason to spend more to get a feature you won’t be able to use, especially if you plan on buying more than one bulb, so one of LIFX’s cheaper options may be a better fit for you.

Runner-up

LIFX Color 1000

Essentially the LIFX Plus without infrared.

$50 at Amazon

The standard LIFX bulb, otherwise known as the Color 1000, is completely identical to the LIFX Plus save for a lack of infrared light. If you don’t own a night-vision security camera, this is the smarter purchase.

Just like the LIFX Plus, the Color 1000 is available in either A19 or BR30, and can even be purchased in a four-pack if you’re ready to outfit more than one room with smart bulbs.

Value Pick

LIFX Mini

A smaller, cheaper bulb that fits better in lamps.

$35 at Amazon

An even cheaper option, the LIFX Mini doesn’t get quite as bright as the other bulbs at 800 lumens, but its 250-degree beam angle spreads light around more of the surrounding room.

If you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of brightness, the LIFX Mini has most of the same features as its pricier siblings; it’s still rated for nearly 23 years and emits 16 million colors. This is a perfect fit for desk lamps, kitchen lights, and other small fixtures.

Bare minimum

LIFX Mini White

Smart lighting without all the color.

$35 at Amazon

If you just want the convenience of a smart bulb but don’t care about the myriad of colors, the Mini White is the absolute cheapest bulb in LIFX’s catalog.

The LIFX Mini White doesn’t change colors, instead of sitting at a comfortably warm 2700K, but you can still adjust the brightness levels and turn the light on or off through the LIFX app or your voice assistant. This cost-effective, no-frills option makes the most sense for those looking to replace every bulb in the house with LIFX.

Bottom line

The LIFX Plus is the perfect full-featured option for shoppers who already own a night-vision security camera, or at the very least plan on buying one. It may be expensive at $60, but no other smart bulb can match its combination of brightness, wide range of colors, and infrared output.

If you aren’t interested in security cameras, though, the Color 1000 will give you the same experience for $10 less, and the LIFX Mini gets even cheaper — especially if you go for the white-only version.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Hayato Huseman is a recovering trade show addict and associate editor for Android Central based out of Indianapolis. He can mostly be found complaining about the cold and enthusing about prog metal on Twitter at @hayatohuseman. Got a tip or inquiry? Drop him a line at hayato@mobilenations.com.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Tom Westrick is a U.S.-based freelancer. He’s been poking and prodding at Android phones since 2011, and covering various topics for Android Central since 2017. He can often be found with multiple laptops in his backpack and a cup of iced tea in his hand. Follow him on Twitter at @TomWestrick1.

Protect your Note 9 in style with these clear cases

Some people think of clear cases for phones the way they think of vodka: they’re supposed to be colorless, odorless, and all look and act the same. Clear cases are supposed to show off the phone inside and stay out of its way. But just as the impurities and textures of vodka brands can lead to differences in the drink and in the mouth, the details on our favorite clear cases don’t just let your Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s style show through; they make it shine like the jewel it is.

Shining scuff protection

Spigen Liquid Crystal Case for Galaxy Note 9

Spigen’s thin, flexible clear case grips well, hugs every curve of the Note 9’s glass, and isn’t as quick to show smudges and smears as other clear cases. The Glitter versions hide smudges and scuffs even better for $2 more, and the Rose Quartz Glitter’s soft pink shine adds depth and cheer without feeling like a cliche.

$11 at Amazon

Get a handle on your clear case

Ringke Fusion Case for Galaxy Note 9

Ringke’s Fusion cases have been great cases for generations of Galaxy phones, and its well-tinted bumpers can go beyond with a color pop that can contrast or compliment the Note’s original hues. The buffed-up corner bumpers give a little more give to the case for dispersing momentum during a fall, and it comes with a wrist strap so you can keep your Note at arm’s length at all times.

$11 at Amazon

Price-performing protection

MoKo Crystal Clear Case for Galaxy Note 9

This budget-friendly clear case offers big corner cushions and a crystal clear back to showcase your Note’s glass-and-metal glory. There’s a cutout on the bottom corner for a strap like the Ringke, but it doesn’t actually come with a strap, and while the power button is textured, the Bixby and volume buttons are not.

$6 at Amazon

Dainty deco designs

Casetego Printed Clear Case for Galaxy Note 9

Clear cases are supposed to let the Note’s design show through, but adding a little extra flair never hurt anyone. Castetego has five printed case styles available — two floral designs and a darling mandala design in three color gradients — and these marvelous mandala variants add some contrast as well as some style while covering up the IMEI listed on the bottom of the phone’s back.

$10 at Amazon

Metallic hybrid beauty

Caseology Skyfall Series Case for Galaxy Note 9

This clear case marries a clear TPU inner layer with a shiny metallic polycarbonate frame to give you the best of both case worlds. The color-matched bumpers are perfectly matched to the Note 9’s different shades — except for that teddy-bear brown that isn’t available in most markets — just be careful getting the protective film off of the case when it arrives.

$14 at Amazon

Crystal-clear durability

Spigen Ultra Hybrid S Case for Galaxy Note 9

Looking to split the difference between the thin style of the Liquid Crystal and the firm functional protection of the Neo Hybrid? Try the Ultra Hybrid S, which has a polycarbonate back and a flexible bumper that makes it easier to slide the phone in and out as needed. This S version of this case is higher-rated than the normal Ultra Hybrid and sports a kickstand.

$15 at Amazon

It’s hard to argue with the style and slim substance of the Spigen Liquid Crystal — especially that Rose Quartz Glitter version I’ve been loving to pieces on my Galaxy S9+ this last summer — but the Casetego’s patterned poise shakes things up in a fun way while still showing off the Note’s inner beauty.

Apple’s AirPort Utility App Finally Gains Support for iPhone X Display

Just ahead of when Apple plans to release new 2018 iPhones, the company has quietly updated its AirPort Utility app to introduce support for the longer display of the iPhone X.

AirPort Utility is one of the last remaining Apple apps that have gone for months without an iPhone X update.

For those unfamiliar with the app, it is designed to allow AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule owners to manage their devices.

Apple has discontinued development on all of these products, but has pledged to continue to support them for the next several years. Today’s app update follows a major firmware update for the AirPort Express that introduced support for AirPlay 2.
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Vimeo Pivoting From Video Hosting to Selling Software Tools, Referencing ‘Saturated’ Video Viewing Market

Video platform Vimeo will pivot its business away from being a place for users to browse for and watch videos, to focus on selling software tools to content creators. Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud confirmed the move to Axios today, explaining that the company saw “so much organic growth” from software tools it already sells that the pivot “became a no-brainer.”

Currently, Vimeo calls itself “the high quality home for video hosting and watching,” with many videos like short films, documentaries, and more residing on the service. Vimeo found a niche for smaller content creators to host their videos on its site, since they could sell their content to interested viewers and take 90 percent of the revenue each video earned after fees.

Now, as more tech companies enter the already “saturated” video viewing market, and are willing to invest billions in original content, Vimeo decided to simply refrain from competing.

The pivot allows Vimeo to go after a less competitive social “SaaS” (software as a service) market that focuses on stock images and video, as opposed to the saturated video viewing market, which is dominated by massive tech companies investing billions in original content to win eyeballs.

“Today 100% of our business model is software as a service, like a Dropbox or a Slack … We just saw so much organic growth from the software tools side among the creators that it became a no-brainer that this is what we should focus on.”

Although Apple is not directly mentioned, the company has set aside a “$1 billion war chest” in planning its upcoming streaming television service. Ahead of the 2019 launch, Apple has hired executives from Sony Pictures and Amazon Studios, prepared a lineup of over a dozen original shows, and is said to be “completely all in” on original content, according to iTunes chief Eddy Cue.

Vimeo does have a small collection of original series, but its Vimeo Originals platform never took off in comparison to rival video services. Ahead of the pivot, over the past year Vimeo has been “trying to pull back” from being a video viewing platform by “no longer investing in original content.” Instead, Vimeo will now present itself as an “agnostic and independent home” full of tools and services that let creators edit their work, to then be shared on other platforms like YouTube or Facebook Watch.

“Most large video-viewing destinations, like YouTube and Facebook, are ad supported, and are focused on keeping content and eyeballs on their platform. But if you’re a creator, you need an agnostic and independent home to create and distribute your work and there really are no other creator platforms that do that at scale.”

These tools will be called “Vimeo Stock,” allowing creators to optimize and upload content across numerous social media platforms. Creators will be able to gain access to additional features, including advanced analytics and privacy settings, at an additional cost. For all of this, Vimeo says it will offer creators a “higher revenue share” than its competitors, as much as 60-70 percent of revenue generated from their content.

As part of its quiet year-long move away from focusing on video watching, Vimeo in April launched a dedicated macOS app aimed at Final Cut Pro users. The app gives these users “more control over file formats and video codecs,” and integrates Vimeo with Final Cut Pro to export ProRes videos, manage uploads, share videos for team reviews, and more features that are exclusively focused on content creation and editing.

For Apple devices, Vimeo is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, but the company did not give any word regarding how these apps will change following the pivot.

Tag: Vimeo
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