As expected, Apple has begun pushing iOS 10.2.1 beta 2 to public testers one day after it was released to developers.
iOS 10.2.1 Public Beta 2 can be downloaded if you’re enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. If that’s you, grab your enrolled device and go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Also rolling out today is the first beta of watchOS 3.1.3. This update is available to registered iOS developers, who can go into the Watch app on their iPhone and then select General > Software Update to grab watchOS 3.1.3.
There’s no word yet on when Apple will release iOS 10.2.1 or watchOS 3.1.3 to the public.
Paying an extra $5 to $11 per month for month-to-month phone insurance might sound tempting -- especially now that the big wireless carriers have ditched contracts and subsidized phones, and you're paying upfront for a new iPhone 7.
But it's not that simple. First of all, month-to-month phone insurance isn't the great deal it sounds like -- that relatively low monthly fee is only part of the cost you'll pay if your phone is damaged, lost or stolen. For each claim you file, you'll pay a deductible of $50 to $199 (unless it's an old-school flip phone, assume that price is going to be $199), and most insurance companies only let you file up to two claims per year. Also, if you tend to drop your phone and break the screen -- but nothing else -- insurance may not be worth it because screens can be surprisingly cheap to replace.
So, should you get month-to-month phone insurance? Probably not, but let's take a look at the available plans before we answer that question in more detail.
The plans
There are two ways to get month-to-month phone insurance: You can purchase it from your wireless carrier, in which case you'll simply pay the premium as an add-on to your wireless bill, or you can purchase it directly from a third-party insurance company such as SquareTrade.
The main difference between the two is that carrier-provided insurance usually covers device malfunction, damage, loss and theft, while SquareTrade covers only malfunction and damage. Many carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, offer plans through the third-party insurance company Asurion.
Verizon offers four protection tiers. The top tier, called Total Mobile Protection (TMP), costs $11 per month for one phone or $33 per month for three devices on one account. It protects against device malfunction, damage, loss and theft; and carries a $49 - $199 deductible depending on the device. Verizon's deductibles tend to be a little lower -- most high-end Android phones won't hit the $199 deductible. TMP offers the same protection as the second-highest tier, Total Equipment Coverage (TEC), but TMP includes a tech coach feature, which basically means you can chat __with Verizon about your device. You don't need this.
TEC costs $9 per device per month for phones and combines the two lower tiers: Asurion Wireless Phone Protection, which costs $7.15 per month for phones and protects against everything except device malfunction, and Verizon's Wireless Extended Warranty, which costs $3 per month for phones, protects against device malfunction.
AT&T offers two tiers of protection -- the top tier, which costs $10.99 per month per enrolled number (or $29.99 per month for up to three devices), protects against device malfunction, loss, theft and damage. It offers some extra features such as "as soon as next-day replacement," tech support and 50GB of "secure content storage." The lower tier, which costs $7.99 per month per enrolled number, offers the protection without the fancy features (no next-day replacement, tech support or 50GB of storage for you). Both plans carry a $50, $125 or $199 deductible, depending on the device. Unlike Verizon, however, AT&T rewards you for not filing claims -- you get a deductible discount of between 25 and 50 percent if you haven't filed a claim in the last six months or 12 months.
Sprint offers a two-tiered insurance plan. Tike Verizon and AT&T's, the top tier ($13 per month) simply includes tech support and device tutorials. Sprint's insurance costs $9 to $11 per month, depending on which deductible tier your device is in. There are four deductible tiers: $50, $100, $150 and $200. Most phones will be in the top two deductible tiers and will therefore cost $11 a month. Like Verizon and AT&T, Sprint uses Asurion -- so its plan covers device malfunction, damage, loss and theft.
T-Mobile's insurance costs $10 per device per month and protects against malfunction, damage, loss and theft. The plan includes a $20 to $175 deductible; most high-end phones will end up costing between $150 and $175 to replace. T-Mobile also offers an enhanced protection package for $12 per month that includes Lookout Mobile Security Premium. If you're already enrolled in T-Mobile's JUMP program ($12 a month), which lets you upgrade your phone once you've paid off 50 percent of its cost, insurance is included.
SquareTrade is one of the most popular third-party insurance providers, and it's cheaper than most carrier-provided options. But it also offers less -- you won't be protected against loss or theft. SquareTrade plans are priced yearly: For a current phone, you can expect to pay $89 per year, $149 for two years or $179 for three years. All claims are subject to a $99 deductible. You can save a little (about $10 per phone) if you get a "family plan" covering multiple devices at once. Because the company only covers damage, it will repair your phone -- not replace it. In the event that your phone is damaged beyond repair, SquareTrade will give you money to replace it __with a refurbished phone.
Should you get phone insurance or not?
This is a difficult question to answer, because it really depends on . If you live in an area where phone theft is rampant, or you're the type of person who's likely to lose your phone, carrier-sanctioned phone insurance could save you hundreds of dollars. But if you're just clumsy, you may not come out ahead. Apple will fix an iPhone 6S screen for $99 if it's still under warranty or covered by Apple Care+ -- that's less than a year's worth of Verizon insurance.
Month-to-month phone insurance comes with low premiums, high deductibles and a limit on claims (Asurion lets you make two claims per year, with a cap of $1,500 per claim). If you make one claim per year, you'll pay between $270 and $330 for a new phone -- and the phone may not even be new. The insurance company has the right to choose whether they want to repair your phone or replace it with one of equal value, which means you're likely to get a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one. If your phone is more than a year old, phone insurance makes no sense because older high-end phones are subject to the same deductibles as newer ones.
French bulldogs = accidental damage.
Device-specific insurance isn't your only option. If you purchased your phone with a credit card, your credit card company may offer an extended warranty that covers device malfunctions once the manufacturer's warranty expires. Also, if you pay your phone bill with a credit card, your credit card company may offer some protection against loss or theft -- my Wells Fargo card offers $600 worth of protection, subject to a $25 deductible, against damage or theft. If you have renter's insurance, your phone is most likely covered in your policy -- though renter's insurance is usually subject to a higher deductible ($500+) per claim.
For most people, month-to-month phone insurance is a bad idea. You're better off extending the manufacturer's warranty or buying Apple Care+.
2016 will go down as one of the most notoriously baffling, surprising and frustrating years to date, and that goes for the world of phones, too.
From flaming batteries and killed-off headphone jacks, to adventures in modularity, phones made major headlines in 2016. We look back at this year's most memorable moments.
Samsung goes kaboom
One exploding phone is bad. But millions of potentially fire-prone phones is catastrophic. That's what made Samsung's massive recall of its otherwise highly-rated Galaxy Note 7 the kind of trainwreck saga that we haven't been able to rip our eyes from since September.
The Note 7 went up in flames.
After reports of the Note 7's combustible battery began popping up worldwide, Samsung promised to replace the device __with new ones. But when those began to explode too, airlines and governments made quick work of banning and recalling the phone, making it as good as dead. (So far, Samsung has retrieved 93 percent of Note 7s in the US, and will work __with most carriers to brick the rest.)
Samsung's nightmare is far from over. The recall has cost the Korean company $3 billion, its high-flying reputation and sales to Apple as well as Google. It's also rumored that Samsung will delay the launch of its Galaxy S8 phone until it can figure out what went wrong with the Note 7. Catch up on what happens next.
Google waves bye to Nexus, hello to Pixel
This year, Google decided to ditch the Nexus line and release a new phone called the Pixel (and its larger counterpart the Pixel XL). Though the handset was assembled by HTC, it was engineered, designed, branded and sold by Google.
Why is this a big deal? Because every "Google phone" since 2010 was a joint venture between phone makers like Samsung, LG and Motorola that resulted in a Nexus phone -- an inexpensive handset running the latest (and skinless) version of Android. Though they had Google goodness inside, Nexus phones were packaged in hardware that was branded (and sometimes sold) by these other companies.
Now, it's a different story. The new Google-branded Pixel is a smashing success. It's a polished-looking phone with a fantastic camera -- all at a much steeper price than any Nexus phone before it. And while nothing has been officially announced, the Pixel signals the likely death of any future Nexus partnerships along with Google's full commitment to joining the mobile hardware game.
With the launch of the Pixel phone, Google unofficially bids adieu to the Nexus line.
RIP, headphone jack
While 2016 saw the widespread adoption of Type-C, our least-favorite trend was about another port, or rather, the lack thereof. The beloved headphone jack, which lets us listen to music and phone calls on our phones, have been a smartphone staple since the beginning. But this year saw companies rip out the port and force us to listen to audio through wireless Bluetooth headphones (which is fine if you already have them) or dongles (which sucks for everyone). (Here are seven ways to get around the jacked jack. Or check out the year's best wireless headphones.)
Why tho.
The most noteworthy company to do this was Apple with its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. It also released a wireless version of its earbuds, AirPods. Some consider this move a deal breaker, while others see it as an inevitability that we'll all have to get used to. Motorola (now owned by Lenovo) and LeEco also released phones without a headphone port recently, and Samsung is rumored to follow suit. Ugh.
Modular is in! Out! Who knows
This year was a roller coaster ride for modular phones. The concept of swapping in and out hardware parts from your phone (like the camera lens or a battery pack) has been an industry dream for some time. A modular phone gives you the flexibility to customize the phone how you want, and many companies have attempted, in their owns ways, to achieve this.
LG's flagship, the G5, debuted with a swappable bottom chin that you can use to attach a camera grip or a digital-to-analog high-definition audio converter. Lenovo's Motorola took the modular concept a step further with its Z-series of handsets, which included magnetic pins you can connect accessories to like a video projector, audio speaker and even a different camera.
All year, we had waited for Google's first real Project Ara phone, an initiative the company took on after acquiring Motorola, who first announced Project Ara in 2013. An Ara phone would let you swap core components, like the camera, in and out of a frame. It was going to be available to developers by the end of the year and consumer-ready by 2017.
Modular phones are here to stay? (Or maybe not.)
But then in September, Google put Project Ara on hold indefinitely and LG's G5 didn't sell very well. (Lenovo recently reported good earnings on the Moto Z, however.)
Despite the unpredictable results, this doesn't mean everyone's giving up on modular phones (Moto is still committing to mounds of Mods, LG said it's sticking to its guns and Facebook might take up the Ara baton from Google). Still, it feels that the dream got further away just when we were all getting closer.
Attack of the '$400' phone
A few years ago, buying a mid-range phone meant you got a ho-hum device with a lot of compromises (laggy performance, mediocre camera, cheap-feeling design). If you wanted something better, you'd usually have to cough up $600 or more (or about £600 and AU$1,100).
OnePlus' 3T (left) and 3 are premium phones without the premium price.
But 2016 cemented the already rising trend of reliable, fast and fantastically designed phones that cost about $400 (around £350 and AU$550). OnePlus, which kicked things off a couple of years ago with its first cheap flagship, continued the momentum with the OnePlus 3 and its quick followup, the 3T.
Others joined in too, with newcomer LeEco's LePro 3. The Alcatel Idol 4S, Motorola Moto Z Play and ZTE Axon 7 are also ace phones that hit the same price range.
As these cheap-but-good as well as better-than-midrange models get more common, don't be surprised if the appeal of pricier phones diminish. Then we may all come to expect midprice phones to hit almost as many home runs as the iPhone flagships of the world.
Looking ahead
As we continue our way towards 2017, we're going to see these trends continue. But expect some other surprises as well, like phones with more sensors or flexible phones perhaps. CES 2017, which kicks off at the beginning of the year, will be a pivotal show for phone trends. Of course, CNET will be on the ground reporting, so check back and stay tuned for what's coming ahead.
Don't hold your breath for high-end phones like these.
One of the world's largest stages for new gadgets and devices will be in the spotlight next week -- so you would expect to see a flood of innovative and high-powered phones there, right? Wrong.
Phones are still coming to CES 2017, but not a laundry list of outstanding smartphones. Instead we're expecting:
Midrange devices rather than top-shelf products
Phones that have been recently announced globally that we're seeing for the first time
Although they may not have the allure of a snappy Google Pixel or magnetically modded Moto Z, these could still be quality devices whose worth hangs on budget prices or a new feature.
CES is mobile limbo land
While CES was once a launching pad for groundbreaking phones like the Palm Pre back in 2009, very few big phones have launched at the Las Vegas event in the past several years. These days, you tend to see major releases in the spring and fall, though there are some summer stragglers as well. CES is after the holiday crush and before MWC, or Mobile World Congress, the phone world's Super Bowl, which takes place in late February every year.
MWC is where we typically meet the next blockbusters from Samsung, LG and the like, so we expect these companies to hold back their best at CES. (For the record, Samsung's Galaxy S8 could come later than usual, possibly this March or April.)
HTC is saving its big plans for after CES.
Increasingly, phone makers like Apple, Google and Motorola launch products at their own events rather than at big trade shows, so we'll see those announcements throughout 2017.
HTC gave us a perfect example of those standalone unveilings when it sent out invitations for an HTC announcement "for U" scheduled on January 12, just after CES. We're not sure if this is a new phone, VR experience or other venture, so we'll have to wait a few weeks more to find out.
Not big phones, but...
While you may not see scads of new phones until MWC, there's a lot that happens at CES that affects phone owners everywhere.
We'll get news on:
Advances in 5G networks that make data faster
Tons of phone cases and accessories
Technologies we'll soon see in phones, like sensors
Devices that use the phone as a remote control, such as smart-home gadgets and appliances
Check in __with us from January 3 through January 8 for all the news from CES 2017.
Jumbo phones like Apple's iPhone 7 Plus continue to gain in popularity, according to new data.
Apple had nearly twice as many phone activations this holiday season as its rival Samsung, according to new research released Tuesday.
About 44 percent of new phone activations during the holidays were Apple's iPhones, compared __with Samsung's 21 percent, said mobile-app analytics firm Flurry. While the iPhone continues to be the gift of choice, Flurry noted Samsung is "slowly growing in popularity throughout the holiday season, up 1 percent from last year."
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Rounding out the list of top manufacturers by activation were Huawei __with 3 percent and LG, Amazon, Oppo, Xiaomi and Motorola with 2 percent each. The wide gap between the top two and the rest of the field underscores the long-standing domination Apple and Samsung have had over the global phone market.
Medium-size phones, such as Apple's iPhone 7 and Samsung's Galaxy S7, continue to be the most popular mobile type, but their popularity waned from 54 percent last year to 45 percent this holiday season, Flurry found.
Some of that decline was due to phablets -- those oversized handsets like Apple's new iPhone 7 Plus -- which continue to eat away at sales of medium-size phones. During the holidays, phablets accounted for 37 percent of device activations compared with 27 percent during the 2015 holiday season, Flurry reported.
The data, derived from examining app activations throughout the week leading up to Christmas day and the start of Chanukah, comes amid an industrywide "phone fatigue." Consumers in mature markets, like the US and China, have been turned off by a lack of exciting features in new phones, causing more of them to stick with their current smartphones.
Another legal battle between mobile giants is now getting underway.
Nokia has announced that it’s suing Apple in the US and Germany for allegedly infringing on Nokia patents. Nokia is suing over 32 patents in total, which cover tech related to the display, user interface, software, antenna, chipsets, and video coding.
"Through our sustained investment in research and development, Nokia has created or contributed to many of the fundamental technologies used in today's mobile devices, including Apple products,” said Ilkka Rahnasto, Nokia’s head of Patent Business. “After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apple's use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights.”
Meanwhile, Apple has filed a complaint against Nokia. Apple says that after Nokia failed at making mobile devices, it changed its stance on FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) licensing for its standard-essential patents. Nokia then worked __with other patent assertion entities (PAEs) to make royalty demands and infringement lawsuits __with the goal of getting around its FRAND licensing terms.
While Nokia isn’t quite the major force in mobile that it was once, it’s still a notable company with patents to its name. And now it’s going after Apple, who is one of the biggest companies in tech right. It remains to be seen how this whole situation will play out, but this Nokia v. Apple battle will be worth keeping an eye on.
Less than one week after launching on iOS, Super Mario Run is gaining a new mode.
Friendly Run has been added to Super Mario Run. Think of it as a friendly version of the Toad Rally, letting you challenge a friend in a battle to collect coins and Toads without spending any Rally Tickets.
Because this is a friendly matchup, though, the enemies you defeat, coins you collect, and Toads you earn won’t actually count toward your totals.
Another detail worth noting about Friendly Run is that it can only be played a limited number of times each day. If you haven’t cleared World 1, you can only do one Friendly Run per day. Clearing World 1 will let you play Friendly Run three times per day, and clearing World 2 will let you play five times per day.
This Friendly Mode could be useful for practicing your runs or just for fun challenges __with your friends when you don’t feel like spending your hard-earned Rally Tickets. It’s kind of disappointing that you can only play a handful of times each day, but you can still perform runs in Toad Rally if you’ve got enough Rally Tickets.
In other Super Mario Run news, Nintendo confirmed today that the app reached 40 million downloads in just four days.
Ever since it launched in August, Instagram’s Stories feature has been gaining new features to help it better compete against existing services. Those additions have included live video and support for links, and now Stories is getting another new feature.
Instagram has added Stickers to Stories. They work just like you’d expect, letting you place a sticker on your photo or video. There are customizable stickers for the weather, time, and location, and you can move the stickers around and resize them as well.
To celebrate this Stickers launch and the holiday season, Instagram is offering special holiday stickers for the next few weeks. These include mistletoe, gingerbread men, snowmen, a dreidel, candy canes, and more.
Other new features rolling out to Instagram today include a Hands-Free option that’ll let you record video without holding the shutter button down, support for adding as much text to a photo as you’d like, and on iOS, users can save their entire story from the past 24 hours as one video.
To get these new features, you can update to version 10.3 of the Instagram apps on iPhone and Android.
AT&T today announced a new feature to help you avoid unwanted calls.
AT&T Call Protect is a new service that’ll enable AT&T customers to avoid fraud and spam calls. The network-based service is available to AT&T postpaid customers __with an Android or iOS smartphone that’s compatible __with AT&T HD Voice. AT&T Call Protect is free.
You can add AT&T Call Protect through myAT&T or the AT&T Call Protect apps for Android and iOS. When enabled, calls that are known to be fraudulent will be automatically blocked. Calls that are suspected to be spam will pop up an alert on the incoming call screen to let you decide if you want to answer the call or not.
Fraud and spam calls can be really annoying, especially if you’re expecting a call and instead you get someone trying to scam you. Now AT&T customers can more easily avoid these nuisance calls, so long as they’ve got an Android or iOS smartphone with HD Voice support. A list of all the devices that support HD Voice on AT&T can be found here.
NVIDIA is one of the handful of companies __with an Android TV box out there, and according to a new leak, it’s got another Android TV device coming soon.
Images that claim to show a new NVIDIA Shield Android TV have leaked. Shared by Android Police, the Android TV box and remote look fairly similar to the current model.
The new NVIDIA Shield Android TV’s gamepad appears to be an overhauled version of the current unit, sporting a geometric look. The silver touchpad at the bottom of the current controller is no longer present on the upcoming version.
Finally, another set of images has leaked that appears to show another Shield Android TV that’s smaller than the upcoming version. However, it’s unclear what about it is different other than the size.
Unfortunately, the only details about these upcoming devices that are currently available are the ones that we can glean from these images. It’s unknown what their specs might be, when they might be released, how much they’ll cost, or anything else about them. The existing Shield Android TV is a nice device for folks __with an interest in Android TV, though, and so those folks should be on the lookout for this refresh. Perhaps we’ll hear more at CES next month.
A new Samsung Galaxy is reportedly on its way to Sprint and its prepaid subsidiaries.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 Emerge is expected to launch on Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Virgin Mobile on January 6. The J3 Emerge will reportedly feature a 5-inch 1280x720 display, 5-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Inside of the Galaxy J3 Emerge will be an octa-core Snapdragon 430 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Powering the phone will be a 2600mAh battery.
There’s no word yet on pricing for the Galaxy J3 Emerge, but considering its spec list, it shouldn’t be too hard on buyers’ wallets. If the device is indeed launching on January 6, we should hear more about the J3 Emerge and its pricing soon, so stay tuned.
Days after getting an all-new camera, Facebook Messenger is being beefed up __with another new feature.
Facebook Messenger now supports group video chat on Android and iOS, as well as on the desktop. __with group video chat, you can video chat with up to six people at once, and you can add more people who can chat with voice. Up to 50 people are supported at once.
To get started, everyone in the group will need the newest version of Facebook Messenger. You’ll then start a group conversation or join an existing one, tap the video icon in the upper right corner of the screen, and everyone will be notified of the video chat. Each person can join with one tap.
The timing of this group video chat launch is important, because a lot of people video chat with one another over the holidays if they can’t visit in person. Group video chat enables several people to communicate at once, making it easier and more fun to stay in touch with multiple people.
The rumor mill is again hinting that Samsung’s Galaxy S8 may debut later in the year than recent Galaxy S releases.
Samsung is reportedly aiming to debut the Galaxy S8 at an event in New York in April. The alleged reason for the later release is so that Samsung can work __with external agencies to regain consumer trust and confidence before the company releases a new flagship device.
This is the second time in as many months that rumors have suggested that the Galaxy S8 announcement will happen in April.
In recent years, Samsung’s Galaxy S flagships have debuted in February and March, so an April Galaxy S8 announcement would be later than some folks are probably expecting. The whole overheating Galaxy Note 7 fiasco has been a big hit for Samsung, so it would make sense that the company would like to take its time testing the Galaxy S8 and working to regain consumer trust before launching another major product.
What do you want to see from the Samsung Galaxy S8?
Looking for a gift for yourself and your phone this holiday season? If so, the Google Store has a deal for you.
The Google Store is now offering $15 off Live Cases using the promo code HOLIDAYLIVECASE. Google announced the promotion on Twitter, and while the tweet says the promo code will get you a 15 percent discount, it’s actually a $15 savings.
Also worth noting is that while Google specifically calls out the Holiday Sweater Live Case in its announcement, this HOLIDAYLIVECASE promo code appears to work on many other Live Cases. I couldn’t get it to apply to the Photo, Places, Earth, or Trends Live Cases, but it did work __with other cases, like the Jeremy Scott and Artworks Live Cases.
Live Cases are pretty nifty accessories for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P. Not only are you getting some protection for your expensive smartphone, but Live Cases also get you a special live wallpaper and a programmable shortcut button.
There’s no word on how long this promo will last, so if you’re interested in getting a discounted Live Case for your Nexus or Pixel, you may want to act soon.
Google appears to be testing a few new features for its Google Search app on Android.
First up, a “Recent” tab is showing up for some users in the slide-out menu. This feature will let you see your recent searches, making it easy to pull up a previous search and check the results again. Searches in which you browsed multiple consequent pages are grouped together __with a blue button that indicates how many pages are included.
Another new Google Search feature in testing is offline search. Some users are seeing a “Manage searches” tab in their Google Search app’s menu that lets you see all of your searches that haven’t been performed yet, like if you did them when you had no internet connection.
There’s also an “Offline search” section in the Google Search app’s settings that’ll let you toggle the option to retry failed searches and get alerted when your searches are ready. You can view your pending searches in this section, too.
The third new Google Search feature in testing is “Lite mode”. __with this feature, Google will show you stripped down pages when your connection is slow or weak.
This “Lite mode” setting in the slide-out menu lets you switch between On, Off, and Automatic, with Automatic activating the feature only when the app detects that you’re on a slow connection.
As is regularly the case when Google tests new features in its apps, these three Google Search features appear to be toggled server-side. That means that there’s nothing you can do to make them appear on your device. They sound like they’d make nifty additions to the Google Search app, though, like offline search letting you search for something even if you don’t have an internet connection, that way you don’t forget what you were searching for when you regain your connection.
Are you seeing any of these new Google Search features?
AT&T today announced a buy one, get one deal for anyone looking to get some new smartphones for the holidays.
Consumers can buy one flagship smartphone and get one free from AT&T. To qualify, you’ll need to buy both phones on AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year and add a new line. You’ll then get up to $695 in monthly bill credits to cover the cost of the second phone.
The smartphones eligible for this offer include the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7, and LG G5.
AT&T also notes that if you switch from another carrier, you can get up to $650 in bill credits per line to cover the cost of switching.
This offer is good starting today through December 24.
Earlier this week, Apple began taking online orders for its new AirPods. If you didn’t place an order right away, though, you’ll probably have to wait weeks for your AirPods to be delivered. If you don’t feel like waiting that long, you could try hitting up an Apple Store next week.
Apple will begin selling AirPods in its retail stores the morning of next Monday, December 19. That’s according to a retail source speaking to MacRumors.
Apple previously said that it’ll begin selling AirPods in Apple Stores, Apple Authorized Retailers, and select carriers next week, but there’s been no official announcement about which day the AirPods will hit stores.
AirPods cost $159 for a pair. The totally wireless earbuds can quickly and easily pair __with an iOS device, but because they work over Bluetooth, they can also be used __with non-Apple devices, they’ll just be without the fancy Siri integration and quick connections.
These sunglasses __with an incorporated video camera are a whole lot of fun, as long as you're a Snapchat user. This is what they're like to use and how they work.
by Lexy Savvides
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Whether you braved the cold in New York at the Spectacles store, or were lucky enough to have a Snap Bot pop up nearby, it's too easy to put Snap's Spectacles on and just start recording. There's actually a lot more than to these fun sunglasses than you would expect, here are 11 tips to help you get the most out of the wearable camera.
Explain the light circle
Your friends are bound to be confused by the blinking circle each time you press record. It's a good idea to explain to those around you what it means, if nothing more than as a courtesy.
Teach your Snapchat friends
Arguably the most important thing to do when sharing videos from your Spectacles is teach your friends what to expect, and how to get the most from the videos you share.
You could try using Spectacles to record yourself, rotating your phone while watching a Spectacles video and explaining to your friends they, too, can rotate your videos.
Cut recording short
Spectacles will record 10-second videos by default. You can cut the recording time short, however, __with a press-and-hold of the button before the time is up.
Keep recording
Instead of cutting a video short, you can record up to 30 seconds by pressing the button to extend the time to 20, then 30 seconds. You don't have to wait until the end of the video, you can triple-press the button at the start to record a 30-second clip.
Why is the light blinking on the inside?
You'll notice a light on the inside of the Spectacles when you're recording. It starts off solid, then blinks when there are two seconds of recording time left, giving you a chance to extend the recording.
Get HD video
If you have an iPhone, it'll take a couple of extra steps to get the HD versions of videos. When viewing your Specs recordings in the Snapchat app, tap Get HD near the top. When prompted, leave Snapchat and open the Settings app. Go to Wi-Fi and tap the Spectacles Wi-Fi network, then return to the Snapchat app.
Android users don't have to take these extra steps -- Snapchat will import HD videos by default.
Don't forget about Settings
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From Snapchat's main screen, swipe down and tap the Settings icon, then select Spectacles. On this screen you can clear stored videos, view battery status, change the name, restart or reset your Spectacles.
Check battery life
At any time you can lightly double-tap the left side of Spectacles, just below the recording button. The circle will light up, indicating how much juice is left.
Share with a friend
According to Snapchat, you can share your Spectacles with a friend without exposing your videos, and vice-versa, after your friend is done.
Before handing them over, make sure all videos are synced to your phone. Once that's done, your friend can pair Spectacles with his or her phone and Snapchat account.
When it's time to reclaim your Spectacles, you can pair them with your phone again.
I tested this and found I couldn't see the other user's videos, and she couldn't see mine. Impressive, if you ask me.
Export to share outside of Snapchat
Put a kettle sour in my @ssbrewtech bucket today. It'll go in that barrel in about 10 days, I'm guessing. Currently in the barrel is a double IPA.
A video posted by Jason Cipriani (@mrcippy) on
When viewing a video, tap on the share button to save it to your Photos app or camera roll. Keep in mind, videos shared outside of Snapchat won't look or work in the same manner -- they will look like the video above (see it here if it doesn't appear).
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Excellent news, everybody: Smartphones are so good these days, it's hard to make a truly terrible choice. But whether you plan to hold onto it for years or switch it when the next hotness comes along, you still want to make sure you're getting the right phone for you -- whether that's a budget buy or a high-end handset.
Here are our favorite phones right now:
High-end ($600, £500, AU$800 or more): Google Pixel, XL; iPhone 7, 7 Plus; Samsung Galaxy S7/Edge
Midrange (around $400, £300, or AU$550): OnePlus 3/3T
Entry-level (around $250, £200 or AU$330): Motorola Moto G4 and Huawei Honor 5X
Looking for more options? Check out our current picks for best phones here.
Top tips:
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Water-resistant phones are all the rage.
Know what you care about most: Is it screen size, camera quality, battery life? This will help narrow down your choice.
Don't discount the midrange:You can still get a great phone that does almost everything that a premium phone can do, for a fraction of the price.
Try to hold the phone in a store first: You may love or hate the way it looks and feels in person.
Shop for sales: Look for deep discounts around major holidays. And find out your grace period in case you need a quick return or exchange.
If you buy a global phone, make sure it works __with your carrier bands first.
Have you already bought a lot of iPhone apps and iTunes movies? Stick __with iPhone if you still want access to them. Likewise, if you've invested in any Android-only software, you'll want to stay on that side of the fence.
Buy a case and glass screen protector: You'll protect your phone from costly damage, and will increase the phone's resale or trade-in value for when you're ready to move on.
Learn how to recycle your phone for cash.
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What's most important to you: Size, price, OS or something else?
If you're buying an Android phone
Android has the better native maps app and assistant by far (known as Google Now or Google Voice Search). Another Android benefit: it ties into the same Google services many people already use. Major updates are typically announced in May or June and often arrive first with Google's official Nexus or Pixel phone, but this schedule's been less consistent lately.
Look for:
Android 7.0 or higher: This current OS will get you the most recent goodies, including a battery-saving feature called Doze on the Go.
Android 6.x: This version is older, but not a dealbreaker. Some phone manufacturers take longer to upgrade Android. Pricier and more popular phones are more likely to get the update.
If you're buying an iPhone
The iPhone SE is small enough for pockets, but it's hardly future-proof.
iOS updates come right on time for almost every phone. iPhones seem to develop fewer weird ticks over time and they play better with other Apple products, like Macs. Apple usually announces the latest major iOS version in June, and releases it in September.
Keep in mind:
Older iPhones are cheaper, but run the risk of losing out on newer hardware-based features in future phones.
If you can, wait for 2017's 10th anniversary iPhone -- rumors are, it'll be a doozy or die trying.
Big phone or small screen?
If you insist on a phone with a small screen (under 4.5 inches), look at the iPhone SE or Sony Xperia X Compact. Otherwise, get used to anything from 4.7 to 6 inches (or even larger).
For screens 4.7-inches and larger:
Look for a minimum screen resolution of 1,080p.
A 2,560x1,440 resolution is even better, especially for 5.5-inch screens and larger.
If you plan to use a VR headset like Google Daydream, the higher the resolution, the better -- when the phone is inches from your face, pixel count matters.
Camera quality
If you don't follow camera tech, a list of sensor brands and F-stops won't make much sense when trying to determine if your photos will be any good.
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We love the Google Pixel's awesome camera for everyday shots.
Remember that:
Higher megapixels don't always equal higher quality shots. A 12-megapixel camera might take better photos than a 16-megapixel camera.
That said, phones with 8 megapixel rear cameras only appear on budget phones these days. Expect middling quality.
If a phone has two rear cameras, it's there to create an optional depth effect (also known as a background blur) or to give you a wide-angle option.
Optical image stabilization, or OIS, helps prevent blur from shaking hands. This is especially helpful when shooting indoors or in low-light. It won't help with blur caused by a moving subject, though.
Most phone cameras come with HDR, self-timers, beauty mode and plenty of filters and effects.
Battery life and performance
Most phones from the middle price range and up can handle a basic day's worth of phone calls, email, gaming and music needs, though some internal tech is more refined than others. Some mid-price phones even use the same chips as those with nosebleed prices.
In general:
You'll need to charge most phones once a day, so plan accordingly -- stock up on an extra charger for your workplace or your bag.
You'll typically get longer life from a 3,000-mAh battery or above.
Maps and music streaming suck down battery life faster than other activities. So does keeping brightness on full blast.
An octa-core processor isn't always "better" than a quad-core chipset.
For Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors, higher-numbered chips are the most recent. So 821 is newer (and faster) than 617 and 400.
Bonus features
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have wireless charging built in.
Fingerprint scanner -- usually on the back, power button or home button.
Micro-SD storage on some Android phones.
Water resistant, IP67 and higher is best.
Wireless charging, as available on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
Stereo audio speakers or enhanced audio through headphones.
USB-C connector, the new standard for Android phones.
Removable battery -- note that this feature is becoming rare.
What about budget phones?
When a low price is the most important thing about a phone, you're guaranteed to make some compromises. But there are still some great budget phones that give you more for their price than others. Right now, we like the Motorola Moto G4 and Huawei Honor 5X most, but we're looking forward to 2017's refresh. Hold off if you can for the next crop (like the Moto G5 and Honor 6X, both unannounced).
Other questions to ask yourself
If it has a USB-C port, do adapter dongles (for example USB-to-USB-C) come in the box, or will you need to buy one?
Does it have a standard 3.5mm headphone jack or will you need to buy an adapter dongle?
If the phone breaks, what will you have to do to fix it?
Does the phone support Wi-Fi calling?
Is it locked to a carrier or can you add a SIM card for any network? Do you lose any features either way?
Can you travel with it internationally by simply swapping the SIM card?
Is it the same price if you pay in full as you do in installments? (It should be)
Will the warranty cover your needs or will you pay for an extended warranty?
