If you got excited for an HTC Android Wear smartwatch after the Halfbeak leak that surfaced last weekend, well, you may want to begin looking for another watch to put on your wrist.
HTC has confirmed that it won’t release an Android Wear smartwatch. HTC exec Chialin Chang told Tbreak that HTC is “not going to have an Android watch.” HTC then confirmed to Android Police that that quote is accurate.
Focusing specifically on that HTC Halfbeak leak, a source speaking to AP says that that device is an old prototype and not something that’s currently being developed.
HTC was named as a partner when Google originally announced Android Wear in 2014, and since then, rumors about an HTC smartwatch have popped up every few months or so. Now doesn’t sound like an HTC Android Wear watch will happen any time soon, if ever. There’s no word on why that decision was made, but it could be because Android Wear (and smartwatches in general) haven’t yet gained real traction __with consumers and because HTC has been working to shrink its product portfolio.
The good news for Android Wear fans is that rumors have suggested that there will be some high-profile devices launched in the near future, including a new Huawei Watch and a pair of new watches from LG and Google.
We got a small taste of the BlackBerry Mercury at CES earlier this month, and now it looks like the full meal will be served at MWC in February.
BlackBerry today confirmed that it’ll be holding an MWC 2017 event on February 25. The BlackBerry Mercury is prominent featured in the teaser, suggesting that we’ll learn all about the new device at this event.
As a refresher, the BlackBerry Mercury (that’s a codename, by the way) is a new Android 7.0 Nougat smartphone __with a physical QWERTY keyboard that's being made by TCL, the company that also makes Alcatel phones. The Mercury's candy bar form factor makes it a bit different than the Priv, BlackBerry’s other QWERTY-clad Android smartphone, and the Mercury also offers a USB Type-C port. Most of the Mercury’s spec details are still a mystery, but that ought to change once February 25 rolls around.
While we wait for this BlackBerry Mercury event to roll around, you can check out our hands-on video of the device right here. Are you looking forward to the Mercury?
Vertu today took the wraps off of its latest luxury Android smartphone.
The new Constellation features a 5.5-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED display and is covered by sapphire crystal to help protect it from scratches. Around back lives a 12-megapixel camera __with 1.55 micro pixels and support for 4K video, panoramas, and more.
Also included __with the Constellation are dual SIM slots, making it the first Vertu to include that feature. To help make it even more of a traveller-friendly phone, Vertu has thrown global Wi-Fi access to the iPass network, too.
On the audio side of things, Vertu’s Constellation features dual front-facing speakers at the top and bottom of the device, as well as Dolby Digital Plus virtual surround sound processing. Calls will benefit from uplink noise cancelling and HD Voice support, and Silent Circle is securing the Constellation’s communications.
Other features of the new Vertu Constellation include a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a microSD card slot, NFC, 3220mAh battery, USB Type-C, and wireless charging. On the software side, the Constellation runs a customized version of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
As with many other Vertu smartphones, the Constellation also includes some luxury touches. Those include a leather case and a key cut from ruby that’ll give you quick access to Vertu’s Concierge and Lifestyle services.
The Vertu Constellation will launch in mid-February. There’s no word on pricing yet, but Vertu’s phones typically cost thousands of dollars, so don’t be surprised if the Constellation’s price tag is similar.
The Constellation looks like a pretty solid device from Vertu. It’s got many of the features that you’d expect from a flagship smartphone in early 2017, like a large Quad HD display, 4GB of RAM, and USB Type-C, though the inclusion of Marshmallow rather than Nougat is a little disappointing. If you’ve currently got a Vertu as your daily driver and you’re looking to upgrade, though, the Constellation looks like a good way to do that.
After weeks of rumors and leaks, the smartwatches being developed by Google and LG may have just been revealed.
Images that claim to show the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style have made their way online. The renders show one larger watch and one smaller, and while both have a digital crown on their side like previous rumors have suggested, the LG Watch Sport has two extra buttons on either side of that crown.
Previous reports have said that the LG Watch Sport will be the higher-end of these two watches, packing features like a 1.38-inch 480x480 display, 768MB of RAM, 430mAh battery, 4G LTE connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance, GPS, and NFC. Meanwhile, the LG Watch Style is rumored to include a 1.2-inch 360x360 screen, 512MB of RAM, 240mAh battery, and IP67 water and dust resistance.
It’s expected that Google will debut these LG-made Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches on February 9, the same day that Android Wear 2.0 will begin rolling out to other devices, and that they’ll go on sale the next day.
The LG G6 is expected to make its official debut at MWC next month, but as is usually the case __with flagship smartphones, images of the G6 have started leaking out before then.
A new image of the LG G6 has made its way online. Shared by The Verge, the render shows the upper half or so of the LG flagship, showing us its front camera, earpiece, volume buttons, and its glass-and-metal body.
Perhaps most interesting about this LG G6 leak is the display. The corners of the screen appear to be rounded, which is different than the squared corners that we see on most smartphones. One recent device that did feature rounded corners is Xiaomi’s Mi Mix.
LG Display has confirmed that the G6’s display will feature a unique 18:9 aspect ratio, making it taller than most smartphone displays, and a resolution of 2880x1440. It’s looking like the screen will be a major feature of the LG G6, replacing the modules that were present on the LG G5. The G6 is also rumored to include a dual rear camera setup, which is a popular feature in flagship Android phones nowadays.
ZTE recently began a Kickstarter campaign for the Hawkeye, a smartphone __with features voted on by the community of ZTE users. However, ZTE has admitted that its device hasn’t met the expectations of many of those users.
ZTE has said that it made a “mistake” __with the Hawkeye. Specifically, ZTE made the device a mid-range smartphone, while many in the community were clamoring for a device with flagship-tier specs.
Unfortunately for ZTE, it can’t change the $199 price that it’s asking for the Hawkeye on Kickstarter, which means that it can’t dramatically change the device without losing money on it. Now ZTE has started a community poll to ask what ZTE should focus on to make the Hawkeye better.
As of this writing, there have been 109 votes in ZTE’s poll, and the leader is “Swap the Qualcomm 625 for the 835” with 50 votes. Putting Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 835 processor in the Hawkeye would certainly make it higher-end, but it’d make the phone costlier, too. Other suggestions for improving the Hawkeye include beefing up the 3000mAh battery to 3500mAh, using stock Android with added eye tracking software, adding more RAM, and more.
It’s unclear where ZTE will go from here. The Hawkeye’s Kickstarter campaign is “All or nothing,” which means that it won’t be completed if it doesn’t reach its funding goal. Right now it’s got $35,249 of the $500,000 goal with 26 days, making it unlikely that the goal will be reached. Will ZTE go back and improve the Hawkeye’s specs after the campaign ends? Or will we see this Hawkeye released in its current state, as the affordable Android phone with eye-tracking and an adhesive case? We’ll have to wait and see.
After a handful of beta releases, iOS 10.2.1 is now ready for public consumption.
Apple today released iOS 10.2.1 to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. If you’ve got an iOS device running iOS 10, you can download this update by going into Settings > General > Software Update, or by plugging your device into your computer and launching iTunes.
As for what’s included, this update is focused on squashing bugs. Apple says that iOS 10.2.1 “includes bug fixes and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad.”
The update to iOS 10.2.1 may not be the most exciting one that Apple users have ever seen, but bug fixes and security updates are important. After all, many folks store personal info on their smartphones and use them to stay connected to the outside world, and so it’s important that these devices run well and stay secure.
Apple today also released watchOS 3.1.3 to the Apple Watch, which “includes improvements and bug fixes.
When LG launched the V20 last year, it touted the phone as being the first phone preloaded __with Android 7.0 and Google’s In Apps feature. Now a new report says that LG will have another special Google feature for the G6’s launch.
The LG G6 will include the Google Assistant, according to sources speaking to Business Korea. The only smartphones that currently offer Google’s Assistant are the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
Assistant is Google’s new and improved AI assistant, offering features like the ability to answer your questions, set reminders, make reservations, and more.
While the LG G6 won’t have the modular feature found on the G5, it’s shaping up to have some special features of its own. LG has already confirmed that the G6 will have a display __with an 18:9 aspect ratio, which would make it a bit taller than most smartphone displays that are 16:9, and now it’s rumored that the G6 could include Google Assistant, too. While that may not be enough to sell the G6 on its own, it would be a pretty nice addition to the G6’s feature set.
Another legal battle between two mobile companies is starting to heat up.
Apple today said that it’s suing Qualcomm for $1 billion. The Cupertino company claims that Qualcomm has used its position as a maker of important cellphone chips to ask for “onerous, unreasonable and costly” patent licensing terms.
Here’s Apple’s statement on its lawsuit __with Qualcomm:
“We are extremely disappointed in the way Qualcomm is conducting its business __with us and unfortunately after years of disagreement over what constitutes a fair and reasonable royalty we have no choice left but to turn to the courts.”
In its complaint against Qualcomm, Apple also says that Qualcomm recently began withholding rebates owed to Apple. A deal between the companies required Apple to give Qualcomm a part of the average selling price of the iPhone and to exclusively use Qualcomm chips from 2011 to 2016. Apple would then get a quarterly rebate from Qualcomm.
However, Apple claims that Qualcomm began withholding those rebates in 2016 after Apple met with the Korea Fair Trade Commission. The Korean regulators recently announced that it was fining Qualcomm $853 million for alleged anticompetitive patent licensing practices. Apple says that Qualcomm withheld $1 billion in rebates for meeting with the Korean agency and that Qualcomm tried to get Apple to change its responses and give false info in exchange for those rebates.
Apple’s lawsuit comes just days after the US Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm for allegedly using unlawful tactics to retain a monopoly in the supply of a semiconductor used in cellphones.
If you’re looking for a deal on a new smartphone, Verizon’s got three of ‘em for you.
Verizon is now offering 50 percent off the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid when you buy on a device payment plan. After that discount, the Moto Z Droid will cost $13.00 per month for 24 months, while the Moto Z Force Droid will be priced at $15 per month for 24 months.
The Moto Z Play Droid can be had for even less. __with this deal, you can get a Moto Z Play Droid for just $5 per month for 24 months.
With these deals, you’ll receive a bill credit each month to bring the monthly cost of the phone down to the advertised price. These bill credits will appear within 2-3 months of your purchase and will continue until the balance on the phone is paid.
These are pretty good deals for the Moto Z family of phones. The Moto Z Play Droid is a mid-range offering __with a 5.5-inch 1920x1080 display and 3GB of RAM, and at $5 per month, it’s a decent option for anyone looking for a low-cost device. Then there are the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid, which are higher-end devices that also support Google’s Daydream VR platform thanks to their recent updates to Android 7.0 Nougat.
Also of note is that Verizon is still offering $30 off the Daydream View headset, so you can also get into VR on the cheap if you decide to grab a Moto Z Droid or Moto Z Force Droid.
Samsung recently began pushing Android 7.0 to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, and today the company shared some more details about its Nougat update plans.
Here are the devices that Samsung plans to update to Android 7.0 in the first half of 2017:
Samsung does say that these devices will be updated within the first half of 2017, so we could see more Nougat updates in the latter portion of the year. If you have one of the devices listed above, though, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll get a taste of Nougat by the end of June.
UPDATE: The source of these photos has clarified that they're screen protectors, not actual front panels for a smartphone. However, Android Police reaffirms that the Galaxy S8 display will have rounded corners like the ones shown in these photos.
ORIGINAL: The Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the sure to be one of the hottest smartphones of 2017, and it’s expected to debut in a couple of months. Today we may be getting our first look at the design of Samsung’s next big thing.
A photo that shows the front panel of two unmarked phones was recently posted to Twitter by the account @dfordesign. The parts allegedly belong to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S8 and its larger sibling (Galaxy S8 Plus?), and so they may give us an idea of what the fronts of the GS8 and its larger sibling might look like.
Według mojego dostawcy szkieł S8 nie będzie miał wersji flat O.o Ma być S8 i S8 Plus. Do tej pory się nie mylił… pic.twitter.com/sExMoISPY4
— DforDesign (@dfordesign) January 16, 2017
There are a couple of things worth noting about these panels. First up, both the corners of the display window are rounded, suggesting that the screen itself will have rounded corners, a feature that an Android Police source has said will be included.
Also worth mentioning is the lack of a physical home button. That feature has been present on most Samsung flagships to date, but it appears to be missing from these front panels, corroborating a report from December 2016 that claimed that the Galaxy S8 would have an “all-screen design”.
W tym lepiej widać zagięcie. Lekkie zaokrąglenie jest też na gorze i u dolu #GalaxyS8 pic.twitter.com/KXKfn6t9GO
— DforDesign (@dfordesign) January 18, 2017
We’ll have to wait until the official debut of the Galaxy S8, which is expected in April, before we know if these front panels do indeed belong to Samsung’s next flagship. Today’s leak seems to be the most credible GS8 leak that we’ve seen to date, though. Not only do the features of these panels line up __with previous leaks, but as AP points out, the sensor cutouts at the top of the panel is similar to those found on the Galaxy Note 7.
While the Galaxy S7 was a refinement to the design of the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S8 looks like it might bring about more changes, most notably the rounded display corners and lack of a physical home button. There aren’t many solid spec details for the GS8 yet, but rumors have suggested that there will be 5.1-inch and 5.7-inch screen sizes and a Snapdragon 835 processor in both models.
Earlier this month, Verizon pushed an update to its version of the Galaxy Note 7 that prevents the phone from charging. The goal was to get all remaining Note 7s returned as part of Samsung’s recall, but some customers are still using their devices, and so now Verizon is ready to step up its efforts.
Verizon has confirmed that “thousands” of its customers are still using the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. These people figured out a way to avoid the update that disabled the Note 7’s ability to charge, and so they’re still walking around __with their potentially dangerous phone.
Now Verizon plans to take things even farther by placing the remaining Note 7 phones in a special category on its network. When this happens, outbound phone calls will only connect to Verizon's customer service, __with the exception of calls made to 911.
Verizon adds that it’s even considering billing the remaining Note 7 owners for the full retail price of the device.
These moves to get recalled Galaxy Note 7 phones back to Samsung are getting extreme, and it’s kind of surprising to hear Verizon taking such a stand after the big red carrier was originally opposed to the Note 7-disabling update. Still, the Note 7s that remain in the wild are potentially dangerous to their owners and those around them, and so they need to be turned in to Samsung.
Bridget Carey finds a sweet way to illustrate Samsung's findings on why the Galaxy Note 7 overheated, and what the company is doing to prevent future battery failures.
by Bridget Carey
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Four months after Samsung first recalled its acclaimed Galaxy Note 7 phone, the electronics giant finally announced what caused Note 7 phones from two separate batches to catch fire in the first place: a design failure in the first battery and a manufacturing defect in the second.
Making the results of Samsung's investigation public signals the end of one drama that Samsung would surely hasten to see in its rearview mirror, while at the same time beginning another phase -- life after the Note 7 saga and what will happen with its future phones.
The one thing we know for sure is that Samsung's phone batteries will undergo much stricter testing procedures going forward, testing for the kind of failures that its pre-Note 7 protocol didn't catch. We also know that Samsung will apply new or enhanced testing standards -- including X-raying each battery in addition to visually inspecting them -- to its 2017 flagships. The company has already publicly committed to the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, and we also expect it to release the S8 Edge, a curve-screen phone, alongside the forthcoming S8.
"When the second... recall happened, that was the exact time that we were starting the design of the battery for the S8," said D.J. Koh, Samsung's mobile chief, in an interview with CNET. "All [new] manufacturing processes are reflected on all 2017 models."
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Inside Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 testing lab
While Samsung promises to rebuild trust with customers, we still aren't exactly sure what that entails. New phone deals? Or just more safety assurances? Read on for a look into exactly why the batteries blew, a recap of the drama, and what to do if you're one of the 4 percent of global holdouts who still hasn't given Samsung back its phone.
Meanwhile, here's how we think Samsung can help its Galaxy S8 rise from the Note 7's ashes.
Why did the batteries explode in the first place?
The short version is that the lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones contain flammable chemicals that are usually separated within the battery structure. And if they touch for any reason? That's when massive overheating and internal fires happen. It turns out, this occurred in both the original and replacement batteries for two totally different reasons.
Battery A: The original Note 7 run
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See those two electrodes? Bad things happen when they meet
The original Note 7 batteries suffered a design that deformed the "negative" electrode within the battery so that it wound up touching the "positive" electrode within the battery pouch -- "pouch" is the name for the container that keeps all the parts together.
According to Samsung US marketing VP Justin Denison, the battery manufacturer "designed the pouch such that it did not have sufficient space around the upper righthand corner to allow for the normal expansion and contraction of the battery that occurs when you go through normal charge and discharge cycles."
So the battery elements were expanding within too-tight confines and the negative electrode wound up bent around the positive electrode. This weakened the separator -- material meant to keep the two tabs apart -- and the electrodes eventually touched.
The problem didn't have anything to do with the battery's size, thinness or placement within the phone, Samsung said, and everything to do with the design flaws that eventually put the negative and positive poles into contact.
Battery B: Replacement Note 7 phones
The problem with batteries in the replacement phones was different. This one came down to issues with welding, as well as a crucial part left out of some handsets.
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Samsung's new battery safety checklist will include a penetration test.
Essentially, the manufacturer didn't do a good enough job welding the "positive" tab and left a tiny nodule of material sticking out, large enough to perforate the insulating material separating the positive and negative poles and cause the battery to short circuit. The short circuit in turn created internal temperatures high enough to melt copper elements inside the phone -- and that's what first tipped off the independent investigators Samsung partnered with.
But Samsung and its partners found another problem, too. Not every phone had that insulation tape separating the two volatile elements. Some phones were missing the separator completely -- that's a quality control issue that compounded Samsung's woes.
The failure of the second battery was the real nail in the Note 7's coffin. Because Samsung couldn't replace mistrusted Note 7s with assuredly safe ones, Samsung had to admit total defeat, recalling the entire batch of replacement phones and killing the production of its best-selling phone so far.
Who made the defective batteries?
Samsung won't name names, but a source familiar with the issue told CNET that Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, supplied the batteries that led to the original recall. Amperex Technology created the second set, according to the source.
Samsung has instituted an eight-point battery check to prevent the problems it had with the Galaxy Note 7.
What will Samsung do next?
with Samsung's investigation into the Note 7 fires completed and nearly all the Note 7 phones collected, it's time for Samsung to get back to business. Specifically the business of launching its next phone, the Galaxy S8, as well as prepping for the Note 8, which we should see in August or September.
The Galaxy S8 could help buyers forget Note 7 woes.
Samsung said it's already:
Implemented a new battery testing protocol that should make phones safer
Hired more staff to comply with its new standards
Will give future device designs more space inside for the battery -- even though that wasn't a contributing factor with the Note 7
It's is also looking outward to share its battery review process with other global organizations.
Now for Samsung's tattered reputation. Making its next phone an unquestionable, flame-free smash hit will go a long way to erasing the public's bad memories of the Note 7 mess. A phone that can wow people, like a Galaxy S8 that's all screen and no bezel (that's one rumor), is the exact distraction that Samsung needs to reset buyers' memories, or at least encourage them not to care anymore.
I have a few ideas for what Samsung will have to do for the Galaxy S8 to rise from the Note 7's ashes.
Everything important that's happened with the Note 7 since September
Let's recap the unfolding of events after the Note 7 launched in August to largely rave reviews.
The batteries in some Galaxy Note 7 units caught fire
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This Note 7 got burned. Bad.
Samsung recalled the Note 7 and promised to exchange the phone for a new model with a different battery, or give owners a different Galaxy phone, or get a refund
Some replacement Note 7s burned up, too
Samsung recalled the Note 7, and completely ended production
Everyone stopped selling the phone (legally). CNET gave back all review units
The FCC and airlines banned the Note 7 from all flights, including hand-carry and checked luggage -- even though flight attendants no longer have to point it out at the start of each flight
Samsung collected the phone at airport kiosks, sent millions of text messages to Note 7 screens, pushed software to cap battery charge, and cooperated with local carriers to cut service to Note 7 phones
It also bribed buyers to return the phone
Samsung wrote an open letter apologizing for the incident, backed by full-page apology ads
Samsung's profits suffered; the company estimates that the Note 7 recall will cost $5 billion in all
The company announced the causes of battery burnout on both the initial Note 7 run and also on the replacement phones
Samsung says it recovered 96 percent of its Note 7 phones back from global customers and 97 percent in the US
Back the truck up: What was the Galaxy Note 7 recall about?
Samsung engaged in a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7, which the company first voluntarily recalled in early September when a major battery flaw caused a small number of the phones to spontaneously explode and sometimes burst into flames, damaging property, leaking dangerous chemicals and basically scaring the dickens out of people.
Samsung offered replacement Note 7 devices that had completely different batteries, but it didn't take long before reports surfaced that these were catching fire, too. That's when Samsung and various organizations throughout the world including the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) made it clear that every single Note 7 owner needed to stop using, shut down and return the phones.
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Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 looks awesome in 'Coral Blue'
As of early November, the company said that 85 percent of US customers opted to return their phones, with the "majority" of them exchanging their original Note 7 for a different Galaxy phone.
I'm a holdout. What are my options to return or exchange the Note 7?
With the Note 7 dead, you can exchange it for a different Galaxy phone. If you're taking a break from the Galaxy brand, you can get your money back and buy one of these nine Note 7 alternatives instead.
Exchange programs may differ by region, but the general rule is to take it back to where you bought it, and check your local Samsung website for more details.
Here are some examples so far:
US: Every major US cellular carrier will give you any other phone in exchange for the Galaxy Note 7, or a full refund. When the program began, you could also get a $25 gift card or store credit and possibly $100 more on top of that. If you bought your phone from Samsung.com, call 1-844-365-6197.
UK: You can exchange your Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, and you'll either be refunded the price difference between the two (aka, the Note costs more than either other Galaxy phone), or you can opt for the full refund. This Samsung UK page has more specific guidance, or you can call Samsung on 0330-7261000. If you bought your device from a network or other retailer, contact them directly -- all major networks have a return program in place.
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Lithium-ion batteries like this are commonly embedded in phones, which makes them hard to replace.
Australia: Return your phone directly to the store, or call 1300-362-603 if you bought it from Samsung. You can either get a full refund, or exchange your Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge plus a refund of the price difference. Watch this Samsung Australia page for more specific guidance.
Singapore: You can get a full refund or swap your Note 7 for another Samsung device. You can visit the Samsung Customer Service Centre at Westgate (#03-01) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or check out this Samsung Singapore page for more details.
Is it dangerous to keep using my phone? Is it possible that my Note 7 will spontaneously combust?
Yes. If you own a Note 7, you should power it down immediately and seek to exchange or replace the phone.
Really, though, it feels fine.
You really need to return the phone. Turn it off. Now. Have you seen the ridiculous kit Samsung is sending people who need to return this phone?
What should I do if my phone catches fire?
It won't, because you've returned it. But if any electronic device catches fire, try to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher or baking soda. Water will help, too (if the device isn't plugged in). If you don't have those items, try to (safely) move it to a non-flammable surface and let it burn out. Use gloves or other tools, but keep your skin covered.
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The Note 7 debacle has already affected Samsung's bottom line.
What will happen to my Note 7 if I don't return it?
In many regions, Samsung has issued a software update that caps the battery's recharge capacity; your carrier may also brick your Note 7 or route you to customer service. They really don't want you using it.
In the US, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint pushed out updates in late December 2016 and early January 2017 that made the Note 7 unusable. While Verizon didn't participate in the update, it plans to route every call that isn't 911 to a customer service agent.
Is there anything I should do to ready my phone before turning it in?
First you'll want to backup the device. Here's exactly how to back up the Note 7 before returning or exchanging it. Depending where you bought the phone, you can take it to your carrier or retail store for more help saving and transferring the contents to a new device before wiping the Note 7 with a factory reset and retrieving the SIM card. If you bought the phone directly from Samsung.com, you'll need to call into your local Samsung customer service for more specific instructions on mailing and returning the phone.
How long will Samsung give full refunds for the Note 7?
It isn't clear if Samsung and carriers have changed their policy, but back in September, the window seemed infinite. Samsung really, really wants these phones back.
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Large-screen phones are easy to find.
Was the refund and exchange process easy or hard?
In September, the original unit we bought ourselves was easy to return at a T-Mobile store in San Francisco for a full refund (not an exchange). Since Samsung directs you to make returns through your initial retailer, the experience may vary by your location.
Now that I'm getting rid of my Note 7, what should I get instead?
Samsung faces its toughest loyalty test yet. There's always the large-screen Galaxy S7 Edge, which is an excellent phone that's basically the Note 7 minus the stylus, and the S7, a smaller version of that but with a flat screen. Outside of Samsung, I love the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Try the OnePlus 3T for a great, large-screen handset that costs a whole lot less.
Finally, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are both good choices, so long as you're comfortable switching between Android and iOS.
Read more about your large-screen Note 7 alternatives here
Why are bezel-less phones so appealing? Phones __with very little border around their faces mean that their displays run up right to the edges. Functionally, though, a bezel-less phone doesn't necessarily add anything, though it can (and does) on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, for example. An all-phone screen also increases the chances that you'll accidentally touch the display while you're holding the phone.
But even __with mispresses, we can't help but be drawn to these phones. Perhaps because they look like all the futuristic tech we imagined when we were kids, with their superthin, supersleek and superminimalist design. No bezel, or even a barely-there-bezel, just looks damn sexy.
Though the feature hasn't reached mainstream popularity just yet, there have been a handful of phones that have aspired to the look. Fingers crossed we'll be seeing more and more of this design to come. Here's what we've seen so far.
Try hard not to be impressed with the Mi Mix's stunning, 6.4-inch display.
Xiaomi Mi Mix
With its edgeless display, the Mi Mix looks amazing, and gives us the most luxurious glimpse of the all-screen future of phones. Unfortunately, it's only sold in China and it's quite expensive. But fingers cross it'll make its way to more countries soon. Read the full Mi Mix review.
The Galaxy S7 Edge squeezes every bit of usefulness into its display.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
As far as bezel-less phones go, the Galaxy S7 Edge kicks it up a notch. Its left and right display actually curve down the sides, and there are navigational and productivity tools you can swipe for extra utility. Though pricey, it's one of the best Android phones available and one of our favorites. Read the full Galaxy S7 Edge review.
The Aquos Crystal lets you go borderless on a budget.
Sharp Aquos Crystal
Sharp's Aquos Crystal may be a couple of years old, but it showed that owning a borderless phone doesn't necessarily mean you have to cough up a lot of money. Sure, it isn't the most powerful device around, but it's one of the most compelling-looking budget phones. Read the full Aquos Crystal review.
The Z11 is one good lookin' phone.
ZTE Nubia Z11
The Z11 is a bit of a tease. First Nubia (a brand owned by ZTE) said the phone will only be available in China. Then it said it'll come to the US as well. But then it changed its mind and it looks like the Z11 won't be available outside of China after all. It's too bad -- beside its stylish looks, it has a powerful Snapdragon 820 processor and a 16-megapixel camera. Read the full Nubia Z11 review.
Series four of the BBC's "Sherlock" opens __with the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, in his usual comfy chair at 221B Baker Street. On his lap is a MacBook Pro and in his hand an iPhone 6S Plus.
This isn't the first time Holmes has used an iPhone or a Mac on the show, but nevertheless, this first scene pulled me out of the story before I could even get into it. Sherlock has an iPhone 6S Plus? Uh-uh, no. There's the great detective Sherlock Holmes would ever own an iPhone.
Would Sherlock Holmes have an iPhone? Really?
What makes Sherlock through every iteration on TV, film and in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original books is his independence from the herd. Sherlock's frenetic and dizzying mind, his insistence on thinking outside of the box and his often antisocial behavior all give him his extraordinary ability to solve crimes.
So why give him an iPhone, one of the most mainstream and recognizable phones you can find? Would a self-described highly functioning sociopath actually use the same phone as almost half of the UK and America?Wouldn't he want something more unique and specialized, or at least some tech as individual as he is?
If it's mere product placement, the show could have been a bit more clever about it. But giving the producers the benefit of the doubt, I thought through some possibilities that would help justify this bizarre ownership.
No screens to be seen: Text messages float above Sherlock's phone.
The mystery of the "cool" iPhone
Let's run __with the idea that Sherlock has on iPhone on purpose. The question is why.
Possibility 1: Maybe Sherlock wants to be cool. Though his intelligence and deductions are infallible, he can be quite vain.
Here's a snippet:
You being all mysterious with your cheekbones and turning your coat collar up so you look cool. I don't do that. Yeah, you do.
Perhaps Sherlock has an iPhone to try to fit in?
Possibility 2: Maybe Sherlock's iPhone came as a free upgrade on a family carrier plan that he shares with his brother Mycroft, or perhaps with Watson and his landlady? Is it possible that Sherlock could ease his usually meticulous analysis in favor of financial convenience?
Possibility 3: A phone is a disposable tool for someone like Sherlock, who uses it for simple communication and research to augment the workings of his enigmatic mind. He can get what he needs done on any phone, and an iPhone is just as good as anything else. Plus it's easy enough to fix at the Apple store if it breaks during any of his hijinks.
(That said, can you imagine Sherlock going to an Apple Store to buy an iPhone? It would be like James Bond filling out paperwork for a rental car -- just ridiculous.)
Watson blogs about Sherlock's adventures from his Microsoft Surface Pro.
Sherlock is a Mac and Watson is a PC
Ok, so that might help explain Sherlock's iPhone in his lap, but what about his Mac laptop? Being loyal to a brand -- Apple or otherwise -- feels extremely out-of-character for the master of deduction.
This is where I think the dynamic between Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, John Watson, could come into play. Holmes and Watson have always had an unequal relationship, with Watson acting the straight-man foil to Holmes' out-there personality. Holmes still sees himself as Watson's superior, but Watson's presence helps ground him.
Don't you get John [Watson]'s texts? No. I delete his texts. I delete any texts that begin "Hi."
This could also tie into their tech. In earlier seasons, Sherlock and Watson had a bit of a Mac-versus-PC quality to their friendship. Watson had a Mac computer and a Nokia phone while Sherlock had a PC and a BlackBerry. But by season four, things flipped. Sherlock now solves crimes from his iPhone and MacBook Pro. Watson documents their adventures on a Microsoft Surface Pro.
And -- still assuming the producers thought this through and we aren't just seeing this tech as a result of product placement -- here's where I start to change my mind about iSherlock: What if Sherlock's iPhone choice is a symbol of his character's growing status?
Sherlock solves cases on his iPhone and MacBook Pro.
As his friendship with Watson grows over the course of the show, their roles in that relationship change. By season four, Sherlock has become a full-fledged mainstream celebrity and his use of Apple devices now reflects that shiny conventionality.
Meanwhile, Watson's character is now emotionally strained. He has withdrawn from the societal ideals he has so desperately sought. Maybe Watson no longer wants a "cool," cultish laptop. He has a less flashy (but still powerful) Surface Pro and a somber, black-cased Android phone instead.
This work.
Greater than tech
At the end of the day, I have to fool myself into accepting that Sherlock Holmes uses an iPhone rather than a niche phone with extra layers of security or something he's rooted and customized -- which you can do with Android, but not iOS.
Here's some proof he cares about phone security:
Oh, I sent and deleted a text. You might get a reply, but I doubt it. It's password-protected! Please
The Sherlock Holmes of my head -- whether played by Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller on CBS' "Elementary" (CBS is CNET's parent company, by the way), or Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming third "Sherlock Holmes" movie -- would still sport a phone more unique than an iPhone.
And either way, whichever phone he chose would still just be a tool. Ultimately, Sherlock's character and adventures are bigger than his phone and laptop and all his other tech combined. His brilliance through the ages rests on his most powerful personal computing device of all: the one under that deerstalker cap.
Tech changes over time, and Sherlock Holmes, a character who's been around for 130 years, will change with it. Maybe next season Cumberbatch's Holmes will see the error of his way and put aside that iPhone for good.
Update, 5:11 p.m. PT: Samsung's investigation has revealed that 2 separate battery problems were to blame for the Note 7 failure. Read: Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries
Samsung is ready to tell the world what went wrong __with its flagship Galaxy Note 7.
At a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Samsung will explain what caused some of the Note 7 phones to catch fire, prompting one of largest recalls in tech history. An English-language version of the press conference will be live-streamed on Samsung.com on Sunday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. (That's 10 a.m. in Seoul on Monday, January 23.)
The Note 7 fiasco has caused Samsung embarrassment, depleted consumer trust and, importantly, led to dwindling profits in late 2016. Samsung has apologized to buyers in both an open letter and full-page print ads -- it even referenced the debacle at the beginning of its CES press conference earlier this month.
The company has yet to give any details about the flaw or what will happen next. Recent stories by Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg -- all citing one or more anonymous sources who were "familiar __with the matter" -- said that Samsung had isolated the problem to the Note 7's battery.
Samsung to reveal why Note 7 failed, Meitu pushes back on data-collection criticism
The world will finally hear from Samsung on why the Galaxy Note 7 was prone to catching fire. Also, the trendy anime photo app Meitu defends itself over questionable data-collection coding, and Amazon creates virtual Dash buttons for one-click reordering.
by Bridget Carey
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We don't know exactly how deep Samsung's mea culpa will go, but I expect the announcement to go something like this:
Samsung will probably host a conference call or a live event, which it will also stream online
An executive will apologize for the Note 7 fires and promise that Samsung won't repeat the same mistake
Samsung will explain all the methods it took to recover the units, congratulating itself on its (correct) move to voluntarily recall the device (before it was formally recalled by governments and banned on airlines)
The company will announce that it has recovered almost every existing Note 7 unit worldwide
A different executive will explain details of the investigation, including which organizations took part and how many factories and processes were examined
Finally, Samsung will reveal the issue that lead to the explosions (was it its aggressively thin design like some believe, or something else entirely?)
Samsung will not go into scientific or technical detail about what caused the fire (but it'd be cool if the company did)
It will announce an upgrade program for original Note 7 buyers who traded in their phone for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge
The company will recommit to safe, innovative design and testing procedures (10 points for each use of "innovative")
Now is Samsung's opportunity to embrace something it's rarely known for: complete transparency. It's time for the company to show all its cards, even the bad ones, and forge a path for moving forward to spring's regularly scheduled Galaxy S launch, before revealing a new, absolutely safe, Note 8 by the year's end.
Read next: What it will take for the Samsung Galaxy S8 to rise from the Note 7's ashes
