Facebook’s ‘Star Trek’ reactions show it doesn’t know jack about Spock
Today is Star Trek’s 50th anniversary, marking half a century since the show first aired on September 8th 1966. Here at Engadget, we’re celebrating with an ancient Trekkie tradition: Nitpicking. Today, Facebook announced that it’s temporarily replacing its “Like” buttons with a set of Trek-inspired reactions — a laughing Captain Kirk, a sad, crying Geordi Laforge and an adorably angry Klingon. They’re all perfect …except for Spock. Facebook chose Star Trek’s most emotionless character to represent its most emotive reaction: “Wow.”
To be fair, it’s hard to imagine a Facebook reaction that appropriately fits our favorite Vulcan. Mr. Spock’s trademark placidity would have been equally ill-suited to anger, joy or sadness — and it’s pretty hard to celebrate Star Trek without Spock. With that requisite nerdery out of the way, however, there’s lots to love about Facebook’s Star Trek tribute. In addition to the new reaction buttons, Facebook users will be able to set a temporary profile image with a number of Trek-themed frames.
Even that’s not the best part of the company’s tribute, however — that distinction goes to gorgeous papercraft Enterprise the social network constructed to use in the profile frame invitation. Facebook’s Lindsey Shepard documented the process on Medium, explaining that an internal design team built the iconic starship by hand. It looks great. Now if only there was an characteristically appropriate Spock emoji we could use to express how impressive it is. Maybe something with a cautiously raised eyebrow? No? Oh well.
Via: Verge
Source: Medium
Playboy’s legal victory could change your freedom to link
A European legal battle may have just set precedent for when you can and cannot link to material without permission. Playboy’s Dutch publisher Sanoma sued commercial media site GeenStijl to take down links to their photos of a TV celebrity, claiming it earned them unfair profits. Back in April, the EU court of justice’s Advocate General opined that the decision would likely favor the defendant’s press freedom. He was wrong. The top EU court just decided in favor of Playboy, stating that posting hyperlinks to unowned content provides tangible profits, which is grounds enough for copyright infringement.
Previous EU court decisions have acquitted news outlets for directing readers to material so long as they don’t profit from it and the material is publicly available. But the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) found GeenStijl at fault for posting hyperlinks to material posted without permission from the content creator. While the site pulled down its first links to a file-sharing URL where users could download the photos, they later posted directions to the same content on other public sources. No matter, the court said in a statement: Once they decided Geenstijl would profit from it, any published links to material still constitutes a “communication to the public” that requires clearance from a copyright holder.
As Fortune points out, this is a victory for content copyright holders wishing to annihilate links to pirated versions of their material. But for newsgatherers, this is a worrisome precedent. Linking to material for context is part of journalistic practice, and putting the onus on publications to ensure referenced items have been uploaded legally opens them up to semantic interpretations of permission and profit. Plus, it could inhibit reporting on sensitive goods leaked in the public interest. The court case argued over copyrighted vanity photos of a celebrity, not government-shaming documents, but the legal basis for taking down links to material now stands.
Source: Reuters
Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro reveal was a confident step forward
It’s been a good year so far for Sony Interactive Entertainment. Yesterday’s PlayStation Meeting continued the momentum from E3 and showed us the next step in its plan for home console domination: the PlayStation 4 Pro. The company’s strategy was simple: show, rather than tell. The big news, if you own a fancy UHD display, is that Pro will play nicely with all those extra pixels and show off your screen’s HDR capabilities.
Unlike with the Xbox One S, Sony also spelled out the benefits of buying a Pro, even if you don’t own a 4K TV. The new, beefier machine will make existing games look and perform better on the 1080p TV that’s sitting in your living room right now, and it can also give PlayStation VR games a facelift, too. All for $399 this November 10th. Sony’s always had the edge on Microsoft with this generation, but a strong finish to 2016 feels like the gap could be widening.
Over at Microsoft HQ, the company is banking on you either buying an Xbox One S right now or waiting for its high-powered console, code-named Project Scorpio, next fall based on little more than blind faith. Faith that its scant offering of (sight unseen) HDR games will drive you to buy a One S. Faith that Microsoft still knows enough about high-spec hardware, faith that it can get developers to support the Project Scorpio and faith that your investment in its experiment won’t go to waste. That was the pitch during its E3 keynote earlier this summer, at least — all without a price, release date or Scorpio hardware to actually show off.
Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man looks particularly awesome on the PS4 Pro hardware.
In terms of HDR gaming on Xbox, Forza Horizon 3 will launch September 27th and there hasn’t been a single demonstration of what impact the increased color gamut will have. Gears of War 4 comes out in October and barring a handful of theater presentations on the industry-only E3 show floor, it’s been kept away from the public gaze. You can’t even download HDR-enabled trailers for either from the Xbox Marketplace to get an idea of what the console’s biggest game-related feature will look like. Microsoft will have the bragging rights of being first with HDR, sure, but at some point you need to reveal your longer-term hand.
And that’s precisely what the competition did. Sony delighted in showing off exactly what benefits HDR has for its gaming system. Even watching the event stream at home, the benefits were pretty obvious: games that are typically very dark (like Infamous: First Light) showed extremely bright pops of color and much more detail. In person, it’ll look dramatically better.
Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us look stellar in HDR. Higher-res is cool too, but man… those sunsets in HDR… 😎 #PS4Pro
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) September 7, 2016
Demos for Days Gone, Infamous: First Light and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided all graced the stage of the PlayStation Theater. There were also announcements that this year’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered will support HDR as well, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and The Last of Us: Remastered will be upgraded to HDR via a patch. An internal source at Epic Games told Engadget that Paragon will also receive a patch that adds the feature, too. All this to say, there’s going to be something running in HDR for pretty much any gaming taste. And Sony’s not been shy about showing it off.
Microsoft’s other promise is that Project Scorpio’s raw horsepower is going to be enough to win you over next year, with no evidence of what it can do or how much it will cost. “We know it’s important to deliver an experience that demonstrates the power gap between [the PS4 Pro and Scorpio] at a price that makes sense to console gamers,” Microsoft’s Albert Pennello told Polygon. “The performance delta will be obvious.” Of course, that’s pretty easy to boast about when so little is known about Scorpio and specs are likely to change from one day to the next.
Again, Sony’s tactic was to let the games speak for themselves, rather than show off a motherboard and blather on about specs and buzzwords. Next year’s Horizon: Zero Dawn looked incredible, as did Rise of the Tomb Raider, Uncharted 4, Spider-Man, Watch Dogs 2 and pretty much everything else from the sizzle reels and live demos shown onstage. Sony was keen to explain the benefits of the Pro for folks without 4K TVs as well: more detailed imagery and overall better performance for the games you already own (or will own). People’s memories aren’t reliable, and things like the Scorpio’s 6.2 teraflops of power mean close to nothing next to the sight of a tough ginger lady riding a pin-sharp robotic brachiosaur.
Sony also extended its lead on virtual reality. On certain PS VR titles, the Pro’s hardware can double the pixel count resulting in better looks all around. Sony used clear examples to illustrate the Pro’s value proposition rather than pie in the sky platitudes. That hardware is basically ready, and the PS4 Pro will put headsets on, well, heads by the holidays. This clarity is the same basic strategy that’s put 40 million-plus PlayStation 4s in homes since 2013. Exactly what Microsoft’s VR plans are for Project Scorpio, however are still largely a mystery.
If Microsoft has one joker to play it’s the fact that Sony’s consoles don’t have a UHD Blu-ray player stuffed inside them.
There is, however, a common problem that affects both Microsoft and Sony: Each company is making a bet that, for the first time ever, we don’t need exclusive software to persuade us to buy a console. Sony has been adamant that the Pro is not replacing the standard PS4 (that’s the PS4 Slim’s job). Instead, the Pro exists for folks who want a little extra power from a machine or have a new display to connect it to. Microsoft’s company line isn’t much different. Aside from VR titles (which we still know nothing about), all Xbox One games will supposedly play on any version of the hardware, be it Scorpio, the One S or the Xbox platform on PC, yet despite similar approaches, Microsoft can’t seem to keep up with Sony’s onward march.
If Microsoft has one joker to play it’s the fact that Sony’s consoles don’t have a UHD Blu-ray player stuffed inside them. The Xbox One S does, and Project Scorpio seems certain to. The $399 1TB One S includes the next-gen physical media format because internally, the console is barely different from its predecessor in terms of power. Sony doesn’t have that advantage with the Pro. The UHD Blu-ray drive was likely a sacrifice Sony made to hit $399 while still dramatically bumping specs everywhere else.
That makes the question of which console to buy this fall a little tougher: Do you want to play games, and watch higher-resolution Blu-rays? Sony’s console offers gamers a distinct choice. Whether you’re going to upgrade your TV or not, the Pro has clear advantages over the PS4 of today. That’s something I couldn’t say when I reviewed the Xbox One S. Your move, Microsoft.
Reuters: White House to appoint first federal cyber security chief today
According to Reuters, the White House will appoint Retired Air Force Brigadier General Gregory Touhill as the nation’s first federal cyber security chief, a position tasked with dictating cybersecurity policy for the entire federal government. It’s an announcement that’s been a long time coming. After watching US networks suffer a series of embarrassing attacks last year, President Obama pledged to shore up federal cybersecruity efforts, creating a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and announcing a Cybersecurity National Action Plan. The latter promised to create a Federal Chief Information Security Officer to help protect US systems from future threats. General Touhill, it seems, is our man.
Turns out, the retired airman is a pretty solid choice: Touhill’s resume is a laundry list of information technology and cybersecurity management positions. Not only does Touhill have a history of holding high-profile IT roles in the Air Force, but as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, he had a hand in steering the presidential Action Plan that created his new position. He also led the response to the OPM data breach last year that leaked personal information on over 20 million federal employees.
The White House hasn’t made the official announcement just yet, but Reuter’s sources say that Touhill is scheduled to take on the new role later this month. If he does his job well, we’ll hopefully have less to report about our major political parties being compromised in the future.
Source: Reuters
A10 Fusion Chip in iPhone 7 Plus Outperforms iPad Pro’s A9X in Benchmark Tests
What appears to be a legitimate benchmark of an iPhone 7 Plus with an A10 Fusion processor has been spotted on Geekbench, and its performance scores are impressive. The A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7 Plus outperforms all existing iOS devices equipped with A9 and A9X processors, including the iPhone 6s, the iPhone SE, and the 9.7 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.
The iPhone 7 Plus received a single-core score of 3233 and a multi-core score of 5363. Comparatively, the iPhone 6s Plus averages a single-core score of 2407 and a multi-core score of 4046, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which has the highest-clocked A9X chip, has an average single-core score of 3009 and an average multi-core score of 4881.
The iPhone 7 Plus is approximately 33 percent faster than the iPhone 6s when it comes to both single and multi-core scores, and approximately 7 percent faster than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro on single-core tests and nearly 10 percent faster on multi-core tests.
Apple’s A10 chip is running at 2.23 GHz, which is potentially under-clocked because rumors suggested it would be capable of running at 2.4 to 2.45GHz. The A9X in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro runs at 2.2GHz, while the A9 in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus runs at 1.8GHz.
In marketing materials, Apple says the A10 Fusion chip is the most powerful chip ever in a smartphone, running two times faster than the iPhone 6 with graphics performance that’s up to three times faster. In Geekbench tests, the iPhone 7 Plus did indeed double the performance of the iPhone 6 Plus on both multi and single-core tests.
The A10 Fusion built into the iPhone 7 is a four-core processor with two high-power cores for handling system intensive tasks and two high-efficiency cores that kick in for less intensive processes to save battery life. Apple says that the iPhone 7 should offer approximately two hours more battery life than the iPhone 6s on average and the iPhone 7 Plus should offer approximately one hour of additional battery life compared to the iPhone 6s Plus.
Related Roundups: iPad Pro, iPhone 7
Tags: Geekbench, benchmarks, A10 Fusion
Buyer’s Guide: 12.9″ iPad Pro (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Watch Series 2 Impressions: Iterative Design, but Ceramic Impresses and Fitness Shows Promise
Alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the Apple Watch Series 2 was a major hardware announcement at Apple’s media event in San Francisco yesterday. The company pivoted slightly from the Apple Watch’s original, fashion-focused unveiling, this time focusing on the internals of Series 2, and what it can do to push Apple forward in the fitness tracking category.
As journalists got hands-on time with Apple Watch Series 2 after yesterday’s event, a handful of impressions have surfaced online surrounding the new wearable device. Since most of its features are activity-focused (swimming, running, etc.), opinions on how the new Apple Watch functions under these conditions were left to speculation, but otherwise the resounding takeaway appeared to be that Apple has successfully innovated in areas where Series 1 lacked, despite the fact that extended battery and a slight design change would have been welcome.
Images via The Verge
Starting off with the most expensive Ceramic Apple Watch Edition, which runs for $1249 (38mm) and $1299 (42mm), Wareable noted that the ceramic finish “felt smooth and light to the touch” and was “more attractive in real life.” The case was also reflective of more light in comparison to aluminum and stainless steel, but given Series 2’s ultra-bright display, it doesn’t seem to be an issue. Ultimately, Wareable sees Series 2 as Apple’s next step “to be taken seriously in the fitness sphere.”
I strapped on the new Edition, which starts at a casual $1249. Apple claims ceramic is one of the toughest materials in the world, and it felt smooth and light to the touch. It’s more light-reflective than I expected, and looks more attractive in real life than from the presentation’s images, if you’re a fan of the gently rounded cube display and chunky straps.
While Series 2 doesn’t offer much for those longing for new designs, the under-the-hood changes are clear indications of Apple’s desire to be taken as seriously in the fitness sphere as Garmin and Polar, while retaining its minimalist design.
The Verge compared the thickness of Series 1 with Series 2, noting that Series 2 is about one millimeter thicker than Series 1, “though you really have to look closely.” The site also commented on the similar battery life of each Series — 18 hours, according to Apple — but retained any in-depth opinions on the new Apple Watch for a future review.
TechRadar gave one of the most detailed opinions on Series 2, commenting on the “simplicity” of the fitness-focused features in the device, which might also be its “greatest drawback.” The site gives an example of the Apple Watch miscalculating the user’s stroke during a swimming workout, and not being able to alter the data because the bare-bones workout app doesn’t offer such a feature. TechRadar feared that “if you can’t trust what you’re seeing, then you’ll come to disregard it as a training tool.”
The big question is whether these changes are enough – sure, the fitness credentials are good, and a solid upgrade, but these are the things we were hoping to see last time around, rather than having to wait two years for.
But then again, the smartwatch market is incredibly turbulent, and while Apple never disclosed sales figures of its first Watch, it was certainly the best-selling device of its kind by an absolute street. The Apple Watch Series 2 builds on that success, comes with water resistance and fitness smarts and a brighter, more useful screen – but it’s iterative again.
Focusing on one of the cheaper collections, SlashGear took a dive into the Apple Watch Nike+ Edition, which won’t launch until sometime in late October. The site called the Nike-branded Apple Watch “extremely similar” to the rest of the Sport collections, noting that “it’s relatively light on the wrist.” Still, given the short time in the Apple event showroom, the site is unsure whether or not the Nike branding, exclusive watch faces, and Siri commands will all be enough to pick this edition over other models.
Image via TechRadar
This version of the Apple Watch feels extremely similar to that of the rest of the series – especially since it’s nearly identical save the Nike branding on its back and the new set of straps. It’s relatively light on the wrist and the strap seems to fit well for a wide variety of wrists.
Whether or not this particular version of the watch will be worth buying over the standard Apple Watch, we can’t quite yet tell. We’ll have to give the whole lot a try before we can give any definitive answers.
As the September 16 launch date for Apple Watch Series 2 gets closer, we should begin seeing more detailed reviews and impressions of the device, particularly how Apple’s claims of a truly swimproof smartwatch hold up in daily use. In the meantime, check out even more initial impressions of Series 2 from the sites below:
– The Next Web
– ZDNet
– Wired
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums
Benchmark Suggests iPhone 7 Plus Has 3GB RAM
Based on what seems to be a legitimate Geekbench benchmark of the iPhone 7 Plus, it appears Apple’s larger-screened smartphone features 3GB RAM, as was rumored. In the list of details about the device, memory is listed as 2998MB, meaning it has 3GB RAM instead of 2GB RAM like the iPhone 6s Plus.
Prior to the announcement of the iPhone 7 Plus, rumors suggested it would have 3GB RAM because of the increased resource demands of the dual-camera system. The iPhone 7 features two 12-megapixel cameras, one that’s the same as the wide-angle camera on the iPhone 7 and one telephoto camera.
iPhone 7 Plus benchmark
When capturing a photo, images from both cameras are merged together via software so users can zoom in further, which is likely a system intensive process. Apple is also developing a depth-of-field effect that uses software and advanced machine learning techniques to highlight a person in a photograph while blurring the background, another process that’s likely to require additional RAM.
Rumors suggest the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 continues to feature 2GB RAM, and an iPhone 7 benchmark from earlier this week offers potential confirmation.
iPhone 7 benchmark
The processor data on the iPhone 7 benchmark was off, which initially called into question its legitimacy, but Geekbench doesn’t yet accommodate the lower-power high-efficiency scores of the A10 Fusion chip, and Geekbench’s John Poole believes it’s possible there was a problem when calculating processor speed. If representative of an actual iPhone 7 device, the benchmark indicates 2GB RAM.
While the iPhone 7 also features an upgraded camera system, it does not require software processes for merging multiple images together, so higher amounts of RAM may not be necessary for optimal performance.
We won’t have concrete confirmation on the amount of RAM in the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus until launch day, when multiple sites are likely to begin teardowns to see just what’s inside.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Discuss this article in our forums
Belkin’s $40 Lightning Adapter Lets You Listen to Music and Charge Your iPhone 7 at the Same Time
Belkin today announced the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, an accessory that will allow iPhone 7 users to charge their iPhones and listen to music at the same time.
According to Belkin, the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar was developed “closely” with Apple, and it does indeed resemble Apple’s own iOS adapter accessories. The Lightning connector on the end of the RockStar plugs into the iPhone for passthrough charging (up to 12W), while additional Lightning ports on the device accommodate either the Lightning-based EarPods or headphones with a 3.5mm jack using Apple’s 3.5mm to Lightning adapter (included with the iPhone 7).
“We’re excited to offer the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar to our customers, extending our family of RockStar multi-port products and creating an easy way for people to charge and listen on the go,” says Steve Malony, VP, GM Belkin.
Belkin’s Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar doesn’t seem to be a perfect solution to the charging while listening issue. The Lightning end needs to be plugged into the iPhone, while a Lighting cable needs to be plugged into one port for charging and Lightning headphones (or headphones with an adapter) need to be plugged into the other port, resulting in a mess of cables. Adding in the 3.5mm to Lightning adapter makes the situation even worse, with a total of two adapters and a Lightning cord plugged into the iPhone.
The Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar supports 48 kHz 24-bit audio output and it’s able to work with a variety of cases, including the iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case. It is Made for iPhone certified.
Belkin plans to start selling the Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar on October 10 for $39.95. It will be available from the Belkin website, the Apple online store, and Apple retail stores.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: Belkin
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple’s Phil Schiller Recommends Lightning Dock for Charging an iPhone 7 While Listening to Music
Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus ship without a headphone jack, requiring customers to use either Bluetooth or Lightning-equipped headphones. Many customers who routinely charge their iPhones while also listening to music have been questioning whether that usage scenario will possible sans headphone jack, and as it turns out, Apple has a solution.
In an email to a customer, Apple SVP of marketing Phil Schiller says that while he prefers to use the wireless AirPods to listen to music, customers who want to listen to wired headphones while charging an iPhone 7 can use the Apple Lightning Dock, which has a built-in headphone jack.
Priced at $49 and available in colors to match each of the iPhones, the Lightning dock has both a USB input and a 3.5mm headphone jack built in, making it perfect for customers who want to charge and listen to music at the same time. Unfortunately, it’s an expensive solution compared to former method of using 3.5mm EarPods and a Lightning cable, which came free with the iPhone. Belkin also just announced a $40 Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter designed to let users listen to Lightning headphones while charging, but it’s both bulky and pricy.
To ease the transition away from the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple is providing customers with both a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter and a set of EarPods with a Lightning connector. Of course, when using these accessories, charging is not possible at the same time.
Apple’s ultimate goal seems to be to transition customers to wireless headphones like its recently announced AirPods. While on stage at yesterday’s event, Schiller explained that one of the reasons why Apple moved away from the headphone jack was to push wireless technology forward. The AirPods, which have been in development since the Apple Watch was conceived, feature a proprietary wireless W1 chip and up to 24 hours of battery life implemented through a charging case.
AirPods, priced at $159 and similar in design to EarPods, are entirely wireless with no cord connecting the two earpieces and feature technology like gesture recognition, voice isolation, and more. AirPods have been receiving largely favorable reviews, but $159 is a lot to pay for the ideal iPhone 7 music experience.
Apple executives have explained that the removal of the headphone jack took a lot of “courage,” but was necessary to free up valuable space and improve technology in the iPhone 7 and future iPhones.
(Thanks, Zaheen!)
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Phil Schiller, iPhone Lightning Dock
Discuss this article in our forums
5 things I learned traveling with the Honor 8
Travel lessons from a week with the Honor 8 at IFA.
If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll know that nothing taxes a phone like dragging it halfway across a continent, through airport security bins, onto planes and back again. So whenever I take a phone with me on a trip — as I did with the Galaxy S7 edge earlier this year — it’s fun to reflect on the lessons learned.
This time around my phone of choice was the Huawei-built Honor 8, and the venue was IFA 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Read on to find out how it fared.
1. Dual SIM is pretty neat
The European-spec Honor 8 is a dual-SIM device, using Huawei’s hybrid slot to take either one SIM and an SD card, or two SIMs (but not both at once). So when I took the phone to Berlin for IFA, I kept my regular UK SIM for calls and texts, and used a prepaid German SIM for data. The setup process was easy, and I didn’t notice any significant extra battery drain from using two networks at once.
It’s a handy way to sidestep the usual traveling smartphone nerd dilemma: use a local SIM and miss all your calls and texts, or pay over the odds by roaming on your home operator. The only compromise is that you can’t use an SD card at the same time.
2. Use a case
The Honor 8’s incredibly, ludicrously reflective glass back looks great, but one unfortunate side effect is extra fragility compared to metal phones. After just a couple of weeks of using the Honor 8 without a case, I’ve picked up countless hairline scratches on the back of the thing — even having handled it with care. The front and sides of my unit have so far escaped unscathed.
The other thing to watch out for is the “hockey puck” effect when it’s lying on a flat surface. We’ve seen it before — way back in the days of the Nexus 4, which was eventually modified with rubber nubs to stop it sliding about the place.
The solution to both issues is to use a case — in some markets Honor includes a transparent plastic case in the box; otherwise Amazon is your best bet. (There’s also a good thread on the AC forums with some other options.)
3. Epic battery life, and plenty of power-saving tricks
A little surprising for a phone with a standard-sized 3,000mAh battery — the Honor 8 sips power, sometimes racking up as much as 5 or 6 hours of screen-on time per charge. That’s an impressive achievement made more notable by the phone’s ample supply of battery-saving software tricks.
ROG power saving mode, which I enabled on a couple of longer days, downscales everything on the display to 720p resolution to save power. And you can also change power profiles to affect how the CPU speed ramps up — “Smart” for everyday use, which I stuck to, or “Performance” for gaming.
All these features combined to give me some of the best battery life I’ve seen from an Android phone this year.
4. Huawei’s Quick Charge is weird
The Honor 8 supports 9V/2A quick charging, but it’s not your regular rebadged Qualcomm QuickCharge, as you might be used to from most other Android phone makers. For faster charging speeds you’ll need to use a Huawei Quick Charger like the one bundled in the box. And note that it’s still merely fast-er. The phone doesn’t juice up as quickly as devices using the latest Qualcomm standard, but it’s a nice bump over bog-standard 5V charging.
For what it’s worth, I’ve also noticed that Huawei’s Quick Charger can quick charge QuickCharge 2.0 phones just fine, even though the reverse isn’t true. (Other Qualcomm QuickCharge plugs won’t charge the Honor 8 at faster speeds.) Weird.
5. I can actually use an EMUI phone
EMUI hits a major milestone in terms of usability — and it’s only going to get better.
Huawei’s EMUI software layer has gotten a lot, lot better over the past twelve months. Some issues remain, like the annoying need to whitelist apps to allow them to run when the screen’s off, and its heavily customized notification shade that looks so much — well, like an iPhone’s — to the point where certain apps still have compatibility issues. (Ironically, one of those is none other than Apple Music.)
But using the Honor 8 has been a revelation. Enough of the jarring stuff we used to complain about has gone that I can now use a Huawei phone without hating it. That’s faint praise, but considering how broken things used to be, a significant milestone.
EMUI 5, powered by Android 7.0 Nougat is on the way. A leaked build is doing the rounds for the Huawei P9, and early impressions are promising. Notifications look the way they should. So does the recent apps menu. It feels more like an Android phone.
Until then, I can just about put up with EMUI 4.1’s lingering weirdness.
Honor 8
- Honor 8 review
- Honor 8 specs
- Pre-order the Honor 8
- 5 things to know about the Honor 8 in Europe
- All the Honor 8 news
- Join the discussion in the forums
Amazon
HonorBest BuyNeweggB&H
