Blu VIVO XI+ review: A new direction for the unlocked phone maker

When it comes to smartphones, the term “flagship” is thrown around an awful lot. It seems every 3-6 months you an announcement touting a device as a flagship or flagship killer. And when it comes to Blu, that seems to be the case even more frequently.

In the past Blu would take it rapid fire approach to releasing devices. It would not be uncommon for it to release anywhere from six to eight phones a year. Many of them, sadly, tend to look and sound similar to one another.

As a company who specializes in unlocked devices for GSM phones, Blu tends to focus on the entry-level and mid-range experience. Prices are often a fraction of what you would find in another brand, such as Samsung or LG.

Generally speaking its competitors are usually brands that you’re not too familiar with here in the United States. Sure, its phones can take on the bigger global brands on paper, but in practice it is more akin to “no name” or less recognizable models from overseas.

As a whole, we like the devices that we review from Blu and often find ourselves recommending them for first time users or for customers who need affordable replacements; they make excellent Band-Aid phones, or something to get in a pinch. If you have a young user in your house or are just starting to dabble in smartphones, Blu makes excellent options.

The problem that we run into is that it’s often a what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience from the manufacturer. Software updates are never promised and rarely show up.

As longtime smartphone users, we like to focus on security updates and timely patches, and it’s even here where Blu has a so-so track record. What’s more, it has run into its fair share of vulnerabilities and bad press.

All of this leads to a less-than-stellar experience from the phone maker. Despite its best intentions, Blu struggles to break out of its current mold. Looking ahead, things look to be changing for the company.

Something New?

Today marks the release of Blu’s latest smartphone, the Vivo XI+. Launching with a limited-time price tag of $250, the phone will ultimately stay around $350 when it’s introductory offer expires. It’s not a 24 hour sale but it does have a short time frame.

What can customers expect in the device? You guessed it, another flagship. It arrives on the heels of its predecessor which launched just six months ago, signalling it might not be all that different…

Wait, you’ll want to hear this one out.

What makes the Vivo XI+ so different? For starters there are a number of firsts in this phone. But, before we get into the hardware let’s talk about the new path ahead for Blu.

Slow Things Down

Rather than launching with many devices and flooding the market with confusing and overlapping options, Blu is opting to slow its pace. What’s more, it is taking a strategic approach to software updates and is even making promises. Indeed, this phone comes with the company’s first promised Android update.

One only need look at the recent statement from its CEO to see that Blu understands where it can do better. Assuming things go the way they hope, the horizon looks good for the brand.

VIVO XI+ Impressions

When you look at the hardware on this phone, one finds that it matches up nicely with devices that tend to run a good $700 or more. As we’ve seen from Blu time and again, this unlocked phone works with GSM carriers and features an incredible amount of bang for the buck. Things are no different for the 11th generation of the flagship line.

Key Features

• MediaTek Helio P60 with AI Technology 2.0GHZ Octa Core Processor
• 64GB/128GB internal storage (with microSD slot up to 128GB)
• 6GB RAM
• Android 8.1 Oreo
• 6.2-inch display with 19:9 and 18:9 aspect ratio (1080 x 2246 pixels)
• Dual rear cameras (16-megapixel, 5-megapixel)
• 16-megapixel front-facing camera
• Fingerprint sensor
• 3,050mAh battery
• USB Type C
• Wireless Charging
• 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/7/12/13/17/28/66

That’s quite a bit of heavy hitting hardware to be sure. And, that’s not really painting the whole picture. There’s a few things going on here that aren’t super obvious when reading bullet points.

As indicated above, this phone launches with Android 8.1 Oreo, the most recent version widely available. Very few others offer Android 9 Pie so it’s nice to see Blu keeping pace with the big brands. According to the phone maker, the Vivo XI+ will see its Android 9 update at some point in the first quarter of 2019.

With a window of around six months to work with it’s not too bad. It could definitely be better but we suspect it will still beat other phones with an update.

What’s Included?

The review unit provided to us by Blu looks to be the same as what consumers will purchase. To that end, this does mark the first time one of its phones came shrink-wrapped in the box. We didn’t see anything inside all that different from previous phones, but we did take notice.

Inside we find the standard fare of Blu pieces and parts. In addition to the phone you’ll get a protective carry case (that matches the box), an already applied screen protector, sticker, SIM key, charger and cable, 3.5mm earbuds, and an adapter.

Although there is no headphone jack on the Vivo XI+, Blu throws in the adapter so you can plug into your car stereo or, of course, the included headphones. Otherwise, feel free to pair your Bluetooth earbuds and rock out.

Design

Constructed from a solid metal body with a curved back design, the Vivo XI+ looks and feels like a solid experience. There’s a good amount of heft to the phone, but we would expect that when we’re approaching small tablet-sized displays and these materials. One glance signals to us that the phone is to be taken seriously.

Powered on we see that Blu has opted to go the same route as nearly every other phone maker. Yes, there’s a “notch” on the display. Not to worry, though, you can toggle it on and off with a simple swiping down gesture from the top left. In essence you can go from 19:9 aspect ratio to 18:9.

You have to look closely to see that there is screen up near the top edge. When not in use you get an image that resembles more traditional smartphone designs. It’s really a matter of opinion and personal preference as to whether the notch works or is necessary.

Internally, we here at AndroidGuys are pretty mixed when it comes to the idea and day-to-day usage. To us, at least, it’s fairly easy to get used to both experiences in the Blu Vivo XI+.

The power button and volume rocker are located to the right side of the display, which is typical for most phones. Across to the left side is where one finds the microSD card and dual SIM card trays.

On the bottom edge of the handset we see the USB Type C port flanked by speaker grilles. We’ve seen Blu dabble with this charging port in other models but it has yet to fully commit to it. Here’s hoping the new direction means a standard approach to devices.

The fingerprint reader is found on the back in the upper center of the phone. It’s right about where your finger wants to fall naturally, but we may have liked for to be just a smidge bigger or maybe even a little more of a pronounced edge. We can find it without looking — but it sometimes blends in a bit too well.

There are two cameras, which are stacked on top of each other, on the rear left of the phone. Below them is the LED flash. We like having these away from this fingerprint reader if only because we’d hate to run our finger across it when blindly unlocking.

Software

If you’ve read our reviews on Blu before, you know we like the experience. It’s a nearly unadulterated version of Android and doesn’t have very much in the way of pre-installed apps. There are usually a couple added but they’re not the invasive carrier-branded stuff you get from wireless providers.

The Vivo XI+ is exactly what we expected: lean and mean Android with a touch of custom Blu flourishes and a sprinkling of apps. The model we received came with Opera, NextRadio, Amazon Prime Video, Wish, and Amazon Shopping.

The first two had icons on the home screen and could not be directly uninstalled; the other three could be uninstalled completely. For what it’s worth disabling NextRadio and Opera ultimately results in them being removed from the phone.

There’s also a couple of smaller apps like Blu Help, Compass, and Data Clone (new phone setup), Torch (flashlight), SIM Toolkit, Sound Recorder, Video Player, Music Player, Notes, and File Explorer. Unfortunately, you can’t remove these or disable them. Thankfully, they are lightweight and take up next to zero space. All in all, it sounds worse than it really is and it definitely beats a bunch of games and apps selected by the carrier.

In terms of Google apps, the gang’s all here. Look for Google, Gmail, Maps, Drive, Play Music, Play Movies & TV, Photos, Messages, YouTube, and Duo.

Performance

We’ve had our unit for approximately ten days as we readied our review. In that time we’ve installed nearly all of the software that we use on a daily basis. Given the hardware we felt no reason it couldn’t meet our demands. To that end we loaded up multiple accounts, and a handful of apps, and games.

We tried as much as possible to use the phone as a “daily driver” over the time we had the review unit. There were times where it did stay back for a few hours while we took a different model with us, but we didn’t mind coming back to it at all.

After living with so many different phones over the years we come to appreciate certain things over time. Take wireless charging, for instance. Once you get used to doing it, you tend to not want to go back. In previous Blu models we couldn’t do this; going from a more feature-rich flagship to other Blu devices left us missing the option.

The same goes for USB Type C. Yes, we still have plenty of reasons for microUSB ports and chargers in 2018, but we don’t rely on it for our phones. Those cables have been replaced either outright or with a wireless dock. It’s nice to see Type C if for no other reason than us not having to swap out car chargers and other cables.

The Vivo XI+ also comes with a few other goodies baked in, too. The Real 3D Face ID lets you unlock your phone using your face. Blu indicates that you can’t trick it with photos, masks, or “even wax sculptures”, adding that its IR sensor aids in detection in all light conditions, including total darkness.

Setting this feature up only takes a couple of moments and it really makes for a hassle-free unlocking experience. We found it to be not only fast and accurate, but true to its promise. There were no instances where we couldn’t get it to register, regardless of environmental light.

It didn’t really matter what apps or games we played as the phone handled the duties in stride. Hopping from one app to another didn’t yield any delays and there were no noticeable lags or stutters.

You can say that an octa-core 2.0Ghz processor doesn’t stack up on paper and be right. But, in practice, you have to run benchmark tests and really look for the differences. Coupled with 6GB RAM, there’s enough horsepower in the Blu Vivo XI+ to qualify the phone as more than capable for demanding users.

There are a handful of gestures and settings that help you really tailor the experience around your personal preferences. It’s not unlike what Motorola offers in that it’s helpful stuff if you want to use it. There’s nothing that is vital to set up; however, playing with stuff like navigation settings, display notch, camera options, and Face ID can make the phone feel like “yours”.

Camera

The  phone boasts a dual camera setup on the back, which is “powered by AI technology” for smarter and better pictures. With a 16-megapixel main camera, it has an F/2.0 aperture, 1/3 inch sensor and 5P lens. The 5-megapixel secondary shooter is what captures your depth of field and is what’s responsible for the blurred backgrounds in portrait shots.

The Vivo XI+ focuses on its subject quickly thanks to the Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) with Laser Focus. Pictures, even those in taken with filters or additional settings, are captured quickly and accurately.

To be perfectly honest, one of the main reasons we would leave the phone at home in favor of the daily driver (Pixel 2) is because we know what we’re getting in the camera. After having spent most of a year with that one we didn’t want to take a chance on missing out on key moments with a goofy camera app or experience.

Over the last two weeks, though, our anxiety over this has eased. Each time we pick it up and play with the camera we like it more and more. We’re more confident now that we can take it out and capture candid moments and look forward to really using it over the next few weeks.

Click here to see some sample pics taken from the Blu Vivo XI+ in a growing library

With that said, the pictures we’ve taken so far have been solid. The color is accurate and they’re crisp and vibrant. Playing with the different shooting modes is pretty intuitive, giving us pretty much what we could hope for in the end results.

We expected the phone to struggle more in lower lighting if only because of price and previous experience. Blu did well here, providing sensors that capture more light than in its predecessors. It will be fun to figure out where the line is on the Vivo XI+ and learning where its capabilities end.

Conclusion

If you’re on T-Mobile, AT&T, or one of their respective prepaid networks and don’t care about whether your phone has a major brand name, this is an excellent place to start. As an unlocked phone, the Vivo XI+ is compatible with GSM networks [4G LTE (1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/28/66), 3G (850/900/1800/1900), and HSPA (850/900/1700/1900/2100) ]. Like other Blu models, this one comes with support for two SIM cards so feel free to mix and match, especially if you travel.

There may be more exotic or sexier models out there, but you could pay double for that experience. Moreover, we tend to protect our phones with cases, often hiding a glamorous finish or fancy flourishes. When that happens, it’s pretty much a level playing field on the front.

Unfortunately it’s all to easy to look at devices for what they don’t have as opposed to what they do have. After nearly two weeks with the Vivo XI+ we’ve come to like it quite a bit, finding it more in line what we want from a phone.

The things we didn’t love in its predecessor are pretty much addressed and it falls within about $50 of its price. If it’s a case of fixing the little stuff that bothered us, Blu did very well.

We often recommend that anyone considering a first Android phone start with something in the middle of the pack. This way you can figure out whether they want, or need, more later on. Luckily for today’s buyers, the mid-range is more than strong enough to handle daily needs.

You’re going to have a tough time beating this phone’s specs at this price, at least from a brand you’ve heard of before. If you’re looking for a phone for T-Mobile or AT&T in the US, start here and work your way out. Likewise for those overseas considering something new for Orange Vodafone, O2, or other GSM carriers.

It’s a fantastic phone at $350 and an even better buy if you’re an early adopter.

We’re optimistic about the future of Blu, especially if it delivers on its new promises. If it can meet the self-imposed deadline for Android 9, and slow down on the sibling releases, then it will be doing well for itself.

Throwing stuff at the wall so many times a year likely has a negative effect. If it wants us to think its phones are special, it needs to take a more measured approach. There’s nothing wrong with a couple of annual releases but they ought to be spread out across various lines. Here’s hoping that’s what is in store for us.

Availability

The Blu Vivo XI+ is available from Amazon at launch with an introductory, limited time price of $250. This is a $100 off the standard retail cost and is subject to available stock. After the short window Blu will set the price to its everyday sticker of $350. Sold in Midnight Black and Chrome Silver, it comes with free shipping, too.

Even those with (slightly) smaller wrists can wear Casio’s new Pro Trek watch

Casio continues to refine its Pro Trek smartwatch, which is made for those who like nothing more than spending their weekends lost on top of mountains. The company just unveiled the third version — the Pro Trek WSD-F30. For the new model, it has made the case slightly smaller, made the display even more versatile, and added a convenient new feature to its extended battery mode.

The Pro Trek was one of the first Wear OS smartwatches to extend the battery life of the device by turning off the operating system, so it could function simply as a watch. Known as Timepiece Mode on previous Pro Trek smartwatches, the WSD-F30 introduces Multi Timepiece Mode, which adds complication-style features to the monochrome-only time display. For example, it will show altitude and atmospheric pressure alongside the time, on a power-sipping monochrome display, to help hikers. With Multi Timepiece Mode active, the battery life stretches out to a month.

This isn’t the only interesting battery-saving feature. A new Extend Mode fits somewhere in-between Multi Timepiece Mode and the full Wear OS experience, showing the time, altitude, and atmospheric data, plus a color map can be called up with a button tap. The map shows on the F30’s main OLED screen, which also shows Google’s Wear OS operating system, however for Extend Mode Wear OS is put to sleep to conserve energy, resulting in three days battery use while still viewing offline maps. Cleverly, Extend Mode can be scheduled based on your plans for trips away.

Smaller, but only slightly

How much smaller is the F30 compared to the F20 and F10? This is still a Pro Trek watch, so it’s never going to be small and subtle, but Casio has still shaved 3.9mm off the width and 0.4mm off the thickness. This means the Pro Trek F30 still measures 60mm wide, 53mm tall, and 14.9mm thick. Small it’s not, but it is potentially more manageable than before. The case is made from resin with a special metal-like coating, and the strap has been revised too, adding more holes for an improved fit. The whole thing meets MIL-STD-810G standards for toughness.

The dual-layer color OLED, which has a 390 x 390 pixel resolution, and monochrome LCD display measures 1.2-inches. The F30 has GPS, and enough storage for five different offline versions, along with sensors for air pressure and altitude, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. The battery doesn’t have fast charging like we’ve seen on some new Wear OS smartwatches this year, so it will take around three hours to charge, and should return around a day-and-a-half of use, according to Casio.

Casio has several app partnerships suited to those with active lifestyles, and will also introduce a new watch face called Frontier on the WSD-F30. These apps include ViewRanger for mapping, Hole19 that maps 42,000 golf course around the world, the surfing app Glassy, fishing forecast app Fishbrain, MySwimPro for personalised swim training and analytics, equestrian app Equilab, Exercise Timer, Ski Tracks, and fun fitness game Zombies, Run!.

Several will add custom features to the WSD-F30. Glassy adds voice commands and custom feature options for the hardware buttons, ideal for when surfers have wet hands. Fishbrain will add voice commands to see nearby waters and the fish that swim there. Zombies, Run! will allow control of the app on the watch, and Ski Tracks will also operate independently on the Pro Trek WSD-F30.

Three models will be available, in orange, blue, and black. At its launch event, Casio did not reveal the release date or the price. The WSD-F20 costs $500, so we don’t expect the F30 to be much cheaper.

Editors’ Recommendations

• We’re giving away a $500 Casio Pro Trek smartwatch in a flash giveaway
• Win a $500 Casio Pro Trek smartwatch for your next adventure
• Less glitz, more tech for Michael Kors and its new Access Runway smartwatch
• Skagen’s new Falster 2 smartwatch comes with built-in GPS, heart-rate tracking
• Techy and trendy? That’s the new Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch

Forget version 2.0: Diesel’s new smartwatch is so advanced, it’s version 2.5

Diesel has made some of the most distinctive fashion watches out there. If you wear the Mr. Daddy 2.0 watch, with its 57mm case, it’s obvious you’re not afraid to make a statement. We love the brand for this wrist-based madness, and were pleased some of it permeated into the design of the On Full Guard smartwatch, released in 2017. Now, Diesel’s back with the On Full Guard 2.5, its second full-touch smartwatch with Google’s Wear OS, and this time it’s more than just a pretty face.

Technical jump

We know what you’re thinking, did you miss the On Full Guard 2.0? Why is this called the On Full Guard 2.5? In an email to Digital Trends, Andrea Rosso, Diesel’s head of licensing, said it’s “because we made an incredible update on it, taking it to the next level, and we wanted to make it clear starting from the name.”

Bold words. Can it live up to a statement like that? Let’s look at the specification. The 1.39-inch screen has a 454 x 454 pixel resolution, displaying Google’s Wear OS operating system, and powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage. This is the same as the first On Full Guard, and the alterations come with the addition of a heart rate sensor, on-board GPS, NFC, and a high degree of water resistance. The battery also has a one-hour quick charge feature, and is expected to last for a day. Two of these features are standouts for Rosso.

“I am particularly happy of our NFC payment technology, and also of our swim-proof technology that allows you to shower, swim, and dive up to 3 ATM, [while wearing the watch.]”

The first On Full Guard, like most fashion-inspired smartwatches of its time, was relatively light on technology. Adding new features to the sequel, Rosso intimated, was essential.

“In general, I’m proud that now our wearable technology and features match our bold design, and make us competitive in the wearables market.”

Diesel design

The On Full Guard 2.5 is a typical Diesel watch, in that the case is large at 45.5mm and just over 11mm thick. The design is not drastically different from the first On Full Guard — check out the oversize buttons and crown, the big horns, and the chiseled looks — and crucially takes plenty of inspiration from traditional Diesel watches.

“The sculptured shape is one of our key features, something from a traditional watch that we have applied to the new smartwatch as well,” Rosso said.

Interestingly, little was fundamentally changed from a traditional watch to create a smartwatch, as Rosso said the team just “adapted the dimensions to fit the circular touchscreen, and reduced weight to compensate” for the heavy digital parts. While the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 is made from the same basic materials as the first, including leather, metal, and rubber, Rosso revealed Diesel is “exploring new materials for upcoming watches.”

One size fits all

When you see the On Full Guard 2.5, it’s impossible to ignore its size, and how it’s likely unsuitable for those with small wrists. We asked Rosso if there was interest or discussion in making smaller watches, particularly for women. His answer was surprising, and gave us an insight into how the watch industry differs around the world.

“We’re constantly talking to our customers to make sure our products align with their needs,” Rosso said. “We found out that many female customers, especially in the Asian market, wear bigger watches [even the aforementioned 56mm Mr. Daddy watch, apparently], despite having smaller wrists.”

The decision to not make a specifically female-friendly smartwatch, at least not yet, seems to be because the brand’s signature style appeals across the board.

“When designing our Diesel watches, we design them for the Diesel customer, whether that’s male or female,” Rosso continued. “In fact, some watch designs that would traditionally be considered for men, have female design elements into them, and vice versa.”

Personalization

One design aspect we loved on the first On Full Guard were the iridescent watch faces. What can we expect from the On Full Guard 2.5? Rosso said the most exciting new watch face is the neon Flicker dial, “which changes color automatically throughout the day,” as well as the interactive heart rate dial, “which creates a rippling water effect with the tap of a finger.”

The new On Full Guard 2.5 smartwatch will come in four styles, a matte steel with black leather strap, a gunmetal case with a brown strap, a matte black steel case with a black silicone strap, and finally a gunmetal steel case with a three-link gunmetal bracelet. All On Full Guard 2.5 watches cost $325, apart from the gunmetal version with the metal link bracelet, which costs $350. You’ll be able to buy the new Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 from October.

While the On Full Guard 2.5 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Wear 2100 processor, there are rumors Qualcomm will finally unveil a new successor to the processor that should provide much improved battery life and other features, and we’ll likely learn more at Qualcomm’s September 10 event.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Techy and trendy? That’s the new Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch
• Let Google’s A.I. make a mini version of you with Minis for Gboard
• The latest version of MacOS now supports storing your messages in Apple’s cloud
• Microsoft Office’s new redesign puts web and desktop versions on equal footing
• Less glitz, more tech for Michael Kors and its new Access Runway smartwatch

Skagen’s new Falster 2 smartwatch comes with built-in GPS, heart-rate tracking

Back in January, Skagen debuted its first-ever touchscreen smartwatch, the Skagen Falster. Only one day ahead of IFA 2018 in Berlin, the company announced the launch of a new smartwatch to add to its lineup, and it’s called the Falster 2 — complete with even more features.

In terms of design, the second-generation smartwatch features a fully round touchscreen display and stainless steel case. But this time around, the company has added two additional pushers to allow for more customization when accessing specific apps. The case is also swim-proof, giving users the ability to track laps in the pool and also hop in the shower without ruining the watch.

While not much has changed aesthetically, the Falster 2 brings far more functionality than its predecessor. With a built-in heart rate sensor powered by Google’s Wear OS, it will automatically track your heart rate throughout workouts. And NFC is now integrated into the device, allowing users to make hands-free payments.

For those who like to leave their smartphones at home during their workout, the Falster 2 also includes built-in GPS. You’ll be bale to leave your phone at home during runs, bike rides, or walks, and still have the ability to track your route without having to stay tethered to your phone.

Unfortunately, the Falster 2 comes with the same 300mAh battery as the Falster — which we experienced really poor battery life with. The addition of heart-rate monitoring and built-in GPS, will only cause the battery to deplete even faster. Skagen says its new smartwatch does include “battery-saving watch dials,” but whether the smartwatch can power through an entire day with all those features packed into it is yet to be seen.

Under the hood, is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset which has been around for almost two years now. Interestingly enough, the Falster 2 is launching on September 12 — around the same time Qualcomm is rumored to be launching its new wearable chipset. For now, there’s no details on what we can expect if the company does launch a new one.

Additional features on the Falster 2 include smartwatch notifications, activity tracking, and customizable watch faces. The magnetic steel-mesh strap is also interchangeable for those who want to switch up their look. As for the price, the Falster 2 will start at $275 and will be available for purchase through Skagen’s website.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Techy and trendy? That’s the new Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch
• Less glitz, more tech for Michael Kors and its new Access Runway smartwatch
• Fitbit Charge 3 hands-on preview
• Forget version 2.0: Diesel’s new smartwatch is so advanced, it’s version 2.5
• Fitbit Charge 3: Everything you need to know

The upcoming Acer Predator Triton 900 laptop has a display that flips

Although it wasn’t included in Acer’s product announcements during the IFA 2018 show in Berlin, the company provided a sneak peek for a gaming laptop called the Predator Triton 900. We don’t know any hardware specifics just yet, only that it sports a unique display frame that enables you to “flip” the screen 180 degrees.

Technically, the Predator Triton 900 isn’t a 2-in-1 device, but rather a laptop with a unique display hinge. For instance, you’re not going to use this device in Tent and Stand modes, and given the laptop’s cooling design, you likely won’t use it in Tablet mode either. If anything, the hinged screen brings the visuals closer to your face, or flip the screen, turn the laptop around and grab a controller for up-close-and-personal action in a Drive-In Theater-like mode.

According to Acer, the CNC-machined hinge will support a G-SYNC display at a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, powered by a discrete GeForce graphics chip and an Intel processor. Given this is a “sneak peek,” we’re going to presume this mobile gaming monster could rely on Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 20 Series although Nvidia has yet to announce its new GPUs for laptops. What’s inside will depend on when Acer actually launches this laptop.

Other tidbits provided in Acer’s tease include a new fourth-generation AeroBlade 3D fan design. The CPU and GPU will reside in the area between the screen and the keyboard underneath an intake vent. A fan will reside on each side of the CPU/GPU pair, pulling in air from the keyboard area rather than through the bottom. Hot air is then jettisoned out the back and sides as usual. This is a great design given that your legs won’t block the air intake, but not ideal for a Tablet mode scenario.

The tease also shows that the Predator Triton 900 will include a low-profile RGB backlit mechanical keyboard, and a switchable trackpad located on the right side of the keyboard. With one touch, it transforms into an LED-illuminated number pad. Meanwhile, dedicated media keys appear above the top-left corner of the keyboard, and there also appears to be a front-facing speaker mounted on each side of the keyboard as well.

Port-wise there appears to be plenty although we currently don’t have a definitive list. You can clearly see USB-C and USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, an SD card reader and more along both edges while a few others reside at the back. A glowing power button seemingly sits on the right edge, possibly including a fingerprint scanner.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get Acer to cough up any additional information. A representative said more details will be specified when each region announces the laptop. That said, all we can do for now is drool and read hands-on views stemming from the IFA 2018 show in Berlin.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Acer crams a Ryzen 7 CPU, discrete RX Vega 56 graphics into a 17-inch laptop
• Acer Aspire E 15 review
• Acer Spin 5 review
• Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs are coming to Alienware and Predator gaming desktops
• HP Spectre x360 13 (Late 2017) Review

Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 64 With Bug Fixes and Feature Improvements

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced over two years ago in March of 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 64 includes bug fixes and feature improvements for Custom Elements, Web API, Media, JavaScript, Storage Access API, Web Inspector, WebDriver, CSS, WebGL, Safari Push Notifications, and Safari Reader.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that’s currently being beta tested by developers.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store (or in System Preferences in Mojave) to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview
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Apple Says Latest macOS Supplemental Update Addresses Audio and Kernel Panic Issues on 2018 MacBook Pro

Apple on Tuesday released a macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Supplemental Update 2, exclusively for 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models, but the release notes only mention improved stability and reliability.

When contacted by MacRumors for clarification, Apple said the Supplemental Update improves system stability and reliability across a number of areas, and addresses several issues, including crackling audio and kernel panics. Apple said it recommends all users install the update on their MacBook Pros.

The 1.3GB update hasn’t been available long enough yet for any conclusive evidence from affected users, with mixed reports across the Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and our own MacRumors discussion forums.

Apple Support Communities user takashiyoshida, for example, claimed his MacBook Pro “no longer outputs the crackling noise” after updating.

“This evening, I set the microphone and speaker’s sampling format to 44100 Hz and began playing back music on iTunes,” he explained. “Before the update, I would normally hear the noise in about an hour. I left my MacBook Pro to play music for about three hours and so far I am not hearing any noises.”

Reddit user onceARMY, however, commented that he was “still getting audio crackling noise while playing YouTube content on Safari.” He did note that there were “no issues with the Spotify app” after installing the update.

As far as kernel panics are concerned, a handful of users have reported experiencing at least one since installing the Supplemental Update.

“Installed today’s update… and then it happened,” wrote MacRumors forum member King724, referring to a kernel panic. He shared a log indicating a system crash related to bridgeOS, the device firmware on the logic board that controls many functions on the 2018 MacBook Pro, including the Apple T2 chip.

Last month, Apple said it was looking into a small number of indirect reports about the kernel panics, but wouldn’t say if the T2 chip was to blame.

Similar reports of kernel panicking began last year with the iMac Pro, which is also equipped with the T2, so it did—or perhaps still does—seem to be a potential issue with the chip, or the bridgeOS firmware that manages it. There was some speculation that the T2 chip was also to blame for the crackling.

For context, the T2 chip integrates several previously separate components, including the system management controller, image signal processor, audio controller, and SSD controller. It also features a Secure Enclave coprocessor for secure boot, encrypted storage, and authenticating Touch ID.

Prior to yesterday’s Supplemental Update, Apple support representatives provided customers with a wide variety of potential solutions to mitigate these issues, ranging from disabling FileVault to turning off Power Nap, but none of the workarounds appeared to permanently fix the problems.

Apple also asked some customers if they would be willing to send in their MacBook Pros so that its engineers can look into the issues. Some customers were apparently told that fixes were in the works, and at least based on what Apple told us, they are included in the Supplemental Update.

This is the second macOS High Sierra Supplemental Update for the 2018 MacBook Pro in as many months, with the first addressing a bug that contributed to excessive throttling of clock speeds under heavy thermal loads.

The Supplemental Update is not available to macOS Mojave users, but the issues could be resolved in future beta versions.

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, macOS High SierraBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Former Mophie Employees Launch New Eco-Friendly Charging Accessory Brand ‘Nimble’

A trio of former Mophie/Zagg employees today launched a new accessory brand called “Nimble,” which is aimed at crafting smartphone and tech accessories that are environmentally friendly (via CNET).

Those behind Nimble include Ross Howe (Nimble CEO), Jon Bradley (creative director), and Kevin Malinowski (brand marketing), who were all originally part of Mophie when the company merged with Zagg in 2016. The creators of Nimble say they didn’t mesh with the company following the Zagg merger, and left in March 2018.

Now, the Nimble brand will sell products that are similar to Mophie’s devices, including wireless charging pads, portable battery packs, and charging cables. All of Nimble’s products will be available on Amazon and its own website, but the company is avoiding retail outlets to reduce prices and compete with budget brands like Aukey and Anker, although they won’t be quite as cheap.

Nimble products won’t be cheaper than Anker’s products but CEO Howe says they’re better. “With this model, we can make more premium accessories with premium features that cost less.” It’s something he wanted to do with Mophie but just couldn’t quite pull off.

Nimble products include a 10,000 mAh Portable Charger at $49.95, 13,000 mAh at $59.95, 20,000 mAh at $69.95, and 26,000 mAh at $99.95. Each of these support fast charging for iPhone with 18W power delivery, can charge multiple devices at once, and include a magnetic cable management system that attaches to the bottom of the charger.

The other main product line is a series of wireless charging pads, including the Wireless Pad for $39.95, Wireless Dual Pad for $49.95, Wireless Stand for $49.95, and Wireless Travel Kit for $59.95. These can wirelessly charge an iPhone at 7.5W, but Nimble gives no mention of official Qi compatibility as of yet.

Other Nimble accessories include a Dual USB Wall Charger for $19.95, USB Wall Charger for $9.95, and USB-C Cable 2-Pack for $12.95-$17.95. On the bottom of every product page, Nimble highlights how much the devices would be if sold at retail in its attempt to be as transparent as possible in regards to its pricing structure.

On its “Why We’re Different” webpage, Nimble mentions working only with “thoughtful suppliers” who share its values on workers’ rights and sustainable materials. The company also says it supports eco-friendly packaging, better materials to reduce its carbon footprint, and a “one-for-one” tech recovery project. In regards to that project, Nimble sends a pre-paid return envelope with every device you buy, allowing you to send old or obsolete electronics directly to its e-waste recycling partner.

Nimble’s website supports Apple Pay during the checkout process and offers free shipping and returns to customers in the United States.

Tags: Mophie, Nimble
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PlayStation Vue Expands Local Broadcast Stations With 200 New Additions Across the U.S.

Following DirecTV Now’s addition of numerous local stations for its customers, Sony this week announced the addition of around 200 new local network affiliates for PlayStation Vue users in cities across the United States. These include affiliate partners with ABC, FOX, and NBC in cities like Buffalo, Honolulu, Memphis, Austin, and many more.

ABC affiliates on PS Vue now include Cincinnati, Ohio (9 On Your Side); Columbia, South Carolina (ABC Columbia); Corpus Christi, Texas (KIII-TV 3); Lafayette, Louisiana (KATC TV 3); and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (WBRZ 2). A few Fox affiliates include Bangor, Maine (FOX 22); Denver, Colorado (FOX 31); Eureka, California (FOX 28); and Jackson, Mississippi (FOX 40). Lastly, some NBC affiliates include Alexandria, Louisiana (KALB); Anchorage, Alaska (KTUU); Fargo, North Dakota (KVLY); and Lima, Ohio (WLIO). Check out PS Vue’s FAQ page for the entire list of new local stations.

PS Vue head Dwayne Benefield made the announcement on the PlayStation Blog:

I am excited to announce that PS Vue users in select markets will gain access to local broadcast stations at no extra cost, starting today. With this expansion, PS Vue now offers more than 450 local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations, in cities all over the US – from Buffalo, NY, to Honolulu, HI.

As we gear up for football season and Fall TV premieres, now over 97% of the US population has access to at least one major broadcast station from ABC, CBS, FOX, and/ or NBC.

Unfortunately, there are many local stations that are restricted from recording shows through PS Vue’s cloud DVR, including every station listed above and what appears to be every station added onto the service this week. The company says this restriction is “due to streaming rights,” and it also extends to certain on demand channels, HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax.

With the expansion, Sony says PS Vue now supports “more than 450 local stations” from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Like other OTT services, PS Vue lets users stream live television through apps available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, and PlayStation consoles, starting at $44.99/month. Features include being able to stream on up to five devices at once, a cloud DVR, on demand content, and more.

PlayStation Vue is one of the major live TV streaming services along with DirecTV Now, Hulu With Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.

Tags: Sony, PlayStation, PS Vue
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Sonos Launches New Sonos Amp and Partners With Sonance for New Architectural Speakers

Sonos today announced the launch of the Sonos Amp, a new audio hub that’s designed to replace the existing Connect:Amp. The Sonos Amp is able to connect to traditional home audio speakers and integrate them into a Sonos home sound system.

According to Sonos, its new Sonos Amp is twice as powerful as the Connect:Amp with the ability to power four speakers with 125 watts per channel, up from two. It supports AirPlay 2 and more than 100 streaming services, in addition to including an HDMI Arc port to connect to TVs and line-in ports to connect devices like turntables, CD changers and other audio components.

Two Amps can be paired together for surround sound, and using the aforementioned HDMI Arc port, it can be used to add stereo sound to a TV or wireless rears to a home-theater setup.

Sonos is pricing the Amp at $599, $100 more than the previous Connect:Amp product. It will be available to professional installers in the U.S. and Canada starting in December, with global availability coming in February 2019.

The Amp is part of a new three-prong approach to better integrating Sonos into smart homes, which also includes speakers created in partnership with Sonance and new platform APIs.

Sonos is partnering with Sonance for three new architectural speakers, including in-wall, in-ceiling, and outdoor, which will be able to be paired with the new Sonos Amp. The three new speakers will be marketed and sold by Sonos and will launch in early 2019.

Starting in September, Sonos plans to open up its developer platform to all potential partners, and it will introduce a new set of Control APIs that will make it easier to integrate Sonos products into smart homes run by systems like Control4 or Crestron.

The new Control APIs will include support for line-in switching to allow line-in components to be selected within a third-party control interface, volume pass-through for easier volume control, the ability to add Sonos playlists using a third-party interface, and as a preview option, capabilities to provide notifications and alerts from third-party devices like doorbells through Sonos speakers.

Tag: Sonos
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