Google is shutting down goo.gl URL shortening service next month

URL shorteners were all the rage back in early 2009 thanks to the rise of social media networks like Twitter and its extremely constrictive 140 character limit. Even social media bios and comment sections has similar constraints and during a time when every character mattered, the internet turned to URL shortening services like Bit.ly and goo.gl as a way to cram (even track) links wherever they could be posted.

After officially launching back in 2009, Google URL Shortener — aka goo.gl — is officially shutting down next month. Google announced the news in a Google Developers blog post, urging devs to switch over to Firebase Dynamic Links and pointing users to services like Bitly and Ow.ly.

Don't worry about existing links you've already shortened. According to Google, they will continue to redirect to their intended location, just don't expect to get all that fun tracking data. Google says goo.gl will officially shut down starting April 13th. Farewell and thanks for memories. 👋

via Google Developers

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We could see the Galaxy Note 9 a bit earlier than expected

The Galaxy S9 lineup has been available for about a month now, but it seems that Samsung is scrambling. There have been reports that sales for the Galaxy S9 have been much lower than anticipated.

This has forced Samsung to move up its scheduled release for the Galaxy Note 9. Originally, the device wasn't expected to arrive until this fall, but a new report claims that we could see a launch as early as July or August.

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This also comes after a Galaxy Note 9 prototype was discovered on Geekbench. The listing didn't have much to share, other than the fact that it has 6GB of RAM and will be running Android 8.1 Oreo.

Reports claim that the display for the Galaxy Note 9 will measure in around 6.38-inches. However, it seems that Samsung still won't have the technology ready in time to introduce its own fingerprint scanner embedded in the display.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Samsung play it safe for one more year. The Galaxy Note 9 could end up with the same design as the Galaxy S9, and I think people would still be happy for the most part.

Let us know what you think about the Galaxy Note 9 in the comments below.

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LG and OnePlus’ Carl Pei delete display notch posts after backlash

Love it or hate it, there's a good chance most every flagship launching this year will feature an iPhone X-like notch on the display. Despite efforts by some OEMs to persuade the public it's actually more of a hardware feature than a feeble attempt at mimicking Apple's design — we're not buying it.

Yesterday we saw OnePlus provide some preemptive damage control by announcing the OnePlus 6's notch "feature" ahead of the phone's formal unveiling. In an exclusive interview with The Verge, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei justified the inclusion of a notch by calling it the natural design progression of a large displayed phone with front facing sensors. Um, sure. Okay.

Shortly after telling his followers to "Learn to love the notch," Pei ended up deleting the tweet, likely due to backlash over the comment. But OnePlus wasn't the only company talking about notches…

Just earlier today, LG took to Reddit asking users how they felt about the notch. You may remember recent leaks of the LG G7 showed off a display notch, so it's not hard to imagine LG was looking to gain a little insight.

We've seen a LOT of comments around "The Notch" over the past few weeks, from people who love the quick access to the menu to those that hate the wasted screen space. We would love to gather some more feedback to share with our R&D team- and this is where you come in. So…what do you think? Love the Notch? Or is it Notch your thing?

Feedback, of course, was less than enthusiastic and after a few short hours of making the rounds across the blogosphere, the post was mysteriously removed.

So what did we learn today? Well, despite consumer's disdain for the notch, manufactures are about to go all-in on display notches this year. Whether or not this is an actual deal breaker depends on you.

Wccftech | The Verge

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The Palm brand is coming back with Android on Verizon

Word of a Palm revival began swirling as far back as 2014 when it was found that a high-ranking TCL officer obtained ownership of the brand. Then, last year they finally let the cat out of the bag that they were planning to launch new Palm-branded smartphones.

But these smartphones won't be running the beloved webOS software that the Palm Pre championed — LG is using that for TVs now. No, these will be Android phones. And they're launching on Verizon, apparently.

A Big Red destination makes sense for the phone seeing as how Verizon and Palm have a long history of partnership. Perhaps it's not as strong now as the DROID push ended up being when Verizon decided to embrace Android phones in 2009, but it's still interesting.

If you're wondering whether TCL can do the series justice, remember that it's the same company behind BlackBerry's latest Android phones. The phones aren't mind-blowing, but they're solid, if not pretty good, and TCL has taken care to keep that BlackBerry feel with the phones, with striking designs, and — in the case of the BlackBerry KEYone — a worthy physical keyboard.

The question is what will TCL do for Palm? Are we going to eventually see something resemble the Palm Pre or Palm Pre 2? Or will they just be same-old-same-old devices with the Palm logo stamped on the back? That's essentially what the BlackBerry DTEK phones were until the KEYone launched, after all.

Unfortunately, those details are not yet known. We just know it's headed to Verizon, and that already gives it a nice chance to succeed as they look to rope in the old Palm faithful with a heaping helping of nostalgia.

via Android Police

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Razer Phone is jumping straight to Android 8.1 next month

When the Razer Phone first arrived last November, like most devices at the time it came out of the box running Android 7.1.1 Nougat. This made sense seeing as how Android Oreo had only just barely became available. That meant we knew it would be a few months before devices like the Razer Phone could update to the latest Android dessert.

A lot of time has passed since then and like so many times in the past, Google has already moved on and release new versions of Android, just as OEMs were still working on pushing out the old one. This time around it's Android 8.1 — the most complete version of Oreo and maybe even the last we'll see before Android P arrives later this year.

With Android 8.0 now officially old news, OEMs are left scrambling to figure out whether they'll release the old version of Oreo, or continue their work and get 8.1 out instead. We saw this with Essential who took a little extra time to simply update the Essential Phone to Android 8.1 (instead of 8.0 as intended) and now Razer is doing something similar.

Razer announced today on Twitter that they'd be skipping Android 8.0 completely and focus on releasing 8.1 for the Razer Phone sometime in mid to late April. They even published a developer preview for the update if you want to get a head start on trying it out while Razer looks for bugs. Just hit up the link below and get to downloading.

Android Oreo Developer Preview for Razer Phone

via Twitter

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Android Oreo finally begins rolling out to the AT&T LG V30

After months of waiting, AT&T has finally started rolling out the update to Android Oreo for owners of the LG V30. This version is "only" Android 8.0, and not the Android 8.1 Oreo, but at least an update is coming.

In addition to bringing the best features of Android Oreo, this update also brings the March 1 security patch. We are also seeing that some folks are receiving 'ThinQ' features with the update, although this can't be verified just yet.

If that is the case, then users will be seeing a slew of new AI-focused features which are set to enhance the camera experience. This comes after LG introduced the new LG V30s ThinQ at MWC 2018 in lieu of a proper flagship release.

If you have received the update, be sure to let us know in the comments below. If not, don't freak out as this is likely a staged rollout so you may not see the update arrive just yet.

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Google Home can now play audio through other Bluetooth speakers in your home

The Google Home Mini is a great way to bring Google Assistant's smarts into your home, the only problem is it's not the greatest for listening to music. It's not awful by any means, but chances are you already have a Bluetooth speaker in your home with far better audio quality.

With a new update headed to Google Home, you now have the ability to connect your Home devices to a Bluetooth speaker, pumping out music, audio books, or your favorite podcast. It's actually quite great — we just don't know why Google didn't do this sooner.

The new functionality essentially allows you to re-purpose those old Bluetooth speakers into something with a little more smarts, giving you even more reason to stock up on Google Home Minis throughout your home. Google says you can even add a Bluetooth speaker to a group for multi-room audio.

To get started, simply open the Google Home app on your phone and go into your device settings to begin the pairing procedure.You can download the Google Home app via the Play Store link below.

Download Google Home

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Carl Pei confirms OnePlus 6 will have a notch, tells us to take it or leave it

So, guys, the OnePlus 6 will have a notch. We've seen it in leaks before, but we didn't know whether that would actually come to pass.

Read: OnePlus 6 leaked with wood finish

That is, until company man Carl Pei decided to just confirm the details himself, even going as far as sending The Verge a shot of the phone and its cute little notch.

He also felt the need to defend the thing, noting how it adds more screen real estate where a bezel would have been otherwise. It's a good point, because if that was just going to be a typical thick bezel then why wouldn't you want more room to work with?

Functionally speaking, it's growing on us. (Or, at the least, some of us are going to simply tolerate it.) But we still can't shake the feeling that the notch wouldn't have been so ubiquitous if not for Apple jumping on the board. Call Sharp and Essential the first all you want, but Apple clearly blazed the trail.

For his part, Pei says OnePlus most likely wouldn't have gone this route this fast if not for Apple, but display manufacturers were already shopping these designs out before Apple's went official. It comes off as if OnePlus knew the notch would take off, but they likely didn't. Apple did it, and now so are they.

Oh, and his final take on the matter: learn to love the notch. If not, well, it's time to move on from OnePlus.

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Why every phone should use the Pixel 2 Camera App

Since the launch of the Pixel 2, the device has been regarded as having the best smartphone camera. In side-by-side comparisons, the Pixel 2 has beat out the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, the HTC U11+, the iPhone X and even Samsung's latest Galaxy S9.

The Pixel 2's secret sauce lies in its HDR+ image processing which captures multiple images to produce a single shot that's sharper, brighter and more vivid. On top of that, the Pixel 2 also use AI rather than a second sensor and lens to capture portrait-style photos with a digitally blurred background. And it can do it with both the main and front-facing cameras.

Many people buy new smartphones each year so they can have the best camera experience possible. But if you're happy with the phone you have now, there's a chance that you could get the Pixel 2's camera experience on your phone simply by installing a modified version of its camera app.

All you have to do is download the APK to your device, install it and start taking pictures. You get all of the major features that Pixel 2 users have, including HRD+ and Portrait Mode support with both cameras.

Download the Google Pixel 2 camera apk

The Pixel 2's camera app does not work on all devices. For the most part, the APK is compatible with newer Snapdragon SoCs. If you're using a device with an Exynos, MediaTek, Kirin SoC, you're out of luck.

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To assess the difference in image quality between the stock camera and the Pixel 2's camera, I took the HTC U11+ out and shot side-by-side photos with both apps. The HTC U11+ already captures pretty good photos, but the ones captured with the Pixel 2 camera app typically turned out better. You can see the side-by-side comparisons in the video below.

In my second round of testing, I compared the HTC U11+ with the Pixel 2's camera pp directly against the Pixel 2. Surprisingly, the images captured with HTC's phone matched or beat the Pixel 2 in quite a few instances.

If you haven't yet tested the Pixel 2 camera APK on your non-Google device, there's really no reason not to. Feel free to share your experience in the comment and don't forget to include a few before-and-after shots as well.

Nick Gray is a Phandroid blogger who also runs the High Tech Traveler on YouTube.
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Huawei’s Porsche Design Mate RS packs 512GB of storage and dual-fingerprint scanners

Yesterday, Huawei officially unveiled its latest flagship lineup of devices with the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro. However, the company didn't just stop there, as the Porsche Design Mate RS was also unveiled to the world.

You may remember a rumor that stated that Huawei was working on an unknown device with 512GB of storage. Well, it turns out that the PD Mate RS is that device, as there is a storage option allowing for up to 512GB of onboard storage.

The PD Mate also features a 6-inch OLED display panel, while being powered by the latest Kirin 970 chipset and 6GB of RAM. There are two storage options, 256GB or 512GB, and Huawei has also included a 4,000mAH battery.

In addition to being the first smartphone to feature 512GB of storage, the PD Mate RS is the first in another category. Surprisingly, Huawei has packed a fingerprint scanner into the display of the device, along with featuring a more-standard rear-mounted scanner.

This is rather impressive, as it gives Huawei a leg up on the competition in multiple ways. The downside to the Porsche Design Mate RS is its pricing. The base model with 256GB storage is priced at €1,695 (~$2,109), while the 512GB model goes for €2095 (~$2,607). 

So the next time you want to think about how much the iPhone X or Galaxy Note 8 are priced at, just think about how it could be worse.

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Official: Huawei P20 and P20 Pro specs, pricing, and release date

It was only a few months ago Huawei launched their flagship Mate 10 series around the globe. The launch was stifled a bit after US carriers and some retailers began withdrawing their support (thanks to pressure from the US government) but the Chinese OEM is back with their other flagship line, the now official Huawei P20 and P20 Pro.

We've seen plenty of these devices over the last few weeks thanks a constant influx of leaks and while there aren't too many surprises here, the phones are jam packed with so many features, they're certainly worth your attention.

Design-wise, the P20 screams premium with shiny metal frames sandwiched in between planes of glass. Yes, the phones feature the already tired iPhone X-like notch up top with Huawei making improvements to this design quirk with a slightly more narrow notch.

Oddly enough, there's front facing fingerprint sensors as well and while specs are pretty similar across both devices, the P20 Pro features a few extra benefits like more storage, extra RAM, and a third camera for 3x optical zoom. That 40MP shooter? While you can shoot with all 40, by default the phone will combine the data from four adjacent pixels into one, creating a 10MP image for better low light photos. Here are the rest of the specs:

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Huawei P20 specs

• 5.8-inch, 2244 x 1080 resolution, 18.7:9, IPS display
• Huawei Kirin 970 octa-core + NPU (Mali-G72 MP12 GPU)
• 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
• 128GB storage
• 12 MP RGB f/1.8 + 20 MP monochrome f/1.6 (Phase detection, laser auto focus)
• 24 MP sensor with an f/2.0 (fixed focus)
• 3,400mAh battery Huawei SuperCharge
• IP53 water/dust resistance
• Android 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 8.1

Huawei P20 Pro specs

• 6.1-inch, 2244 x 1080 resolution, 18.7:9, OLED display
• Huawei Kirin 970 octa-core + NPU (Mali-G72 MP12 GPU)
• 6GB LPDDR4 RAM
• 128GB storage
• 40 MP RGB f/1.8 + 20 MP monochrome f/1.6 (Phase detection, laser auto focus) + 8 MP telephoto f/2.4 with OIS
• 24 MP sensor with an f/2.0 (fixed focus)
• 4,000mAh battery Huawei SuperCharge
• IP67 water/dust resistance
• Android 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 8.1

As you can see, the devices are packing some pretty serious hardware yet still only offering only slight upgrades from last year's Mate 10 series. The crown jewel of Huawei's new flagship line is without question the P20 Pro, but they also announced an even flashier variant — the Porsche Design Mate RS, a special P20 variant for those with extra money to burn.

The Porsche Design Mate RS features a higher-res 2880 x 1440 display, in-display fingerprint sensor coupled with a second sensor on the back, and comes in either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Before you get too excited, it's worth noting that neither the P20 nor the P20 will be available in the US. The regular P20 is available for purchase now at $840, while the P20 will arrive in Europe and Asia on April 6th for $1,115. That Porsche Design Mate RS? Well, that will set you back a whopping €2,095 when it becomes officially available on April 12th.

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Samsung has to answer in court for Android update policy

A couple of years ago, a Dutch consumer advocacy group put the screws to Samsung by suing them over the company's update practices. Samsung's goal is to deliver major updates for 2 years of a device's life, though that's not really a hard requirement of theirs — there have been instances where updates have ceased before hitting that mark, as well as instances where updates have continued well beyond.

The group's argument is that Samsung should not only be legally bound to this 2-year mark, but it should also apply from the date a consumer purchases their device, not the day the device was made available for sale.

A Dutch court has actually decided to hear the case out. Samsung will effectively have to defend their stance on software updates. We're not sure if anything damning will come out of the process, as Samsung is likely to argue that they've only ever mentioned their 2-year update mark as a guideline and not as a hard rule. Then there's the matter of whether the Netherlands will actually enforce something like this.

One of the hiccups we can see right away is determining when an appropriate cut-off point is. If someone buys a Galaxy S9 on eBay 4 years from now, Samsung surely can't be bothered to update that one person's phone for another two years beyond that.

The move, then, would be to limit the effective window for as long as Samsung continues producing and selling new devices, whether that's through carriers, retailers, or their own stores.

Even that will be tricky for the company to work out, as they'd potentially have to pool resources to updating the handset that they would have otherwise used on newer goods, and all of that will have been for one relatively small market out of hundreds of them. The good thing about that scenario is that Samsung would likely extend any extra love to other regions in order to get their money's worth.

But again, this all depends on how the court decides to rule on this one, and whether there's any argument here at all. The court proceedings should see to it that we figure it out one way or the other.

via TelecomPaper

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OnePlus 6 leaked with wood(?) finish and headphone jack

With the OnePlus 5T now officially discontinued, fans of premium, high-end Android phones that wont break the bank turn their sights to the OnePlus 6.

We've seen a few leaks tipping off its design — it's even said the recently announced Oppo R15 could launch elsewhere as the OnePlus 6 — but we never had as clear of a look at the phone as we're getting right now.

The leak comes to us courtesy of @evleaks who posted the image of the OnePlus 6 onto Twitter. The phone is laying face down, so there's no way to confirm the notch (don't worry, it's probably there) but shows the phone with a unique pattern on the back.

It's not clear whether this means the phone will come in something other than glass, or if this is a pattern underneath glass, but one things for certain: THERE'S A HEADPHONE JACK. Praise the smartphone gods.

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via Twitter

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Xiaomi unveils the Mi Mix 2S with its improved camera system

Xiaomi has been producing top-notch (no pun intended) devices for the last few years. However, the company has struggled when it comes to providing a truly great camera to take on the likes of Samsung and Apple.

Well, it seems those are days of the past, as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S has a new-found focus on the camera and more. Starting things off, we have 5.99-inch IPS LCD display, with a resolution of 2160 x 1080.

Powering the Mi Mix 2S is the Snapdragon 845 chipset, which has been coupled with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Additionally, Xiaomi has included storage options of 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB, depending upon your preferred configuration.

Moving to the cameras, there is a standard 5MP camera mounted on the front. However, this has been placed in the bottom right-hand corner, which is a unique choice in today's market of slimming bezels.

On the rear, Xiaomi has featured a dual-camera system with two 12MP sensors. One of these provides a wide-angle shot, while the other offers telephoto capabilities.

In a rather surprising move, Xiaomi and DxOMark revealed the "score" received by the upcoming Mi Mix 2S. The device scored 101 in the Photo department, which is right up there with other flagship models on the market.

In addition to a gorgeous design and bezel-less display, Xiaomi has also included Qi wireless charging. As expected, the Mi Mix 2S is packed with different AI features to help enhance your camera and overall experience.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will launch in China on April 3rd for RMB 3299 (~$525). From there, Xiaomi will be launching in "select" markets around the globe.

Let us know what you think about the Mi Mix 2S and if you would consider picking one up for yourself.

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7 reasons why I went back to the OnePlus 5T after using the Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 XL is easily one of, if not the best, Android device to launch last year. This is simple truth has carried over into 2018 as new Android devices begin to pop up around the globe. Both the camera and software support on the Pixel 2 are unrivaled and for many enthusiasts, it's the only choice for those looking for the most "stock" Android experience possible.

These were just a few of the benefits that wooed me away from my beloved OnePlus 5T. The Pixel 2 XL, although much more costly, seemed like a no-brainer, especially if I wanted to stay on top of the latest Android updates. So I pulled the trigger, bought the white "panda" Pixel 2 XL and my OnePlus 5T was laid to rest inside a desk drawer to be forgotten… Or so I thought.

Turns out the grass wasn't as green as I thought it would be over at #TeamPixel. I ended up missing my OnePlus 5T and after a few long months, I finally switched back. I've been using the 5T as my daily driver ever since if you're curious about the exact reasons why I returned, here are a few of the reasons I much prefer the OnePlus 5T over the Pixel 2 XL. Enjoy.

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What I love

Speed, speed, SPEED 🐇

The OnePlus 5T is one of the few Android phones I've owned that has absolutely no trouble keeping up with the Pixel 2/2 XL. And not just when it comes to opening apps, but the overall smoothness and fluidity of the UI as well.

Those with a careful eye may notice a few dropped frames when opening apps but when it comes to scrolling through menus or feeds, it's right up there with Pixel 2 XL. Even touch screen lag is virtually non-existent with the UI always following closely behind your finger. It makes the speed and responsiveness of the OnePlus 5T some of the best you'll find on an Android device to date.

When comparing the 5T against devices with the exact same Snapdragon 835 processor, they simply can"t keep up. The Essential Phone had choppy UI and awful touch screen lag, while the Galaxy S8 stuttered and hanged when opening apps or navigating the UI. Although the Pixel 2 matches most of the speed, smoothness, and responsiveness of the OnePlus 5T, it fell short in another key area…

More RAM = better Android experience

The OnePlus 5T comes in two different RAM configurations: a ton, and so-much-it's-stupid. I prefer the latter, found on the 128GB model. With a whopping 8GB of RAM, it's absolutely unheard of and something you probably wont even see on 2018 flagships coming around the bend. To say that OnePlus is ahead of the curve here is an understatement.

So what's the big deal? Well, RAM matters a lot on Android devices. For me, it's absolutely essential to the user experience and plays a big part in the "speed" you feel on a device. Keeping apps open in the background means you can return to them instantly and not have to wait for them to reload. The more RAM you have, the more apps you can have waiting for you to return.

The OnePlus 5T delivers here in spades, allowing you to pick up right where you left off. I know this doesn't sound very exciting but coming from the Pixel 2 XL where apps were closing much more quick, reloads were just a normal part of life. In fact, there were times where I'd leave an app/game, respond to a message, and quickly switch back to the original app only to have it reload from scratch.

After returning to the OnePlus 5T, I was almost floored to find even games like Pokémon GO — known for its god-awful slow startup time — would remain in the background nearly all day, even after hours of checking messages, web browsing, watching videos, or visiting social media. I could fire up the game in an instant after a full day of work, picking up where I left off. It was borderline absurd.

Now before you dismiss RAM as just another unessential hardware feature, just imagine having a desktop computer that closed applications the moment you left, forcing you to lose your progress and waiting for them to load up again from scratch. That's no way to live. So why should your Android device be any different?

Fastest fingerprint and face unlock — hands down 🤳

Quickly unlocking your phone is one of the most highly underrated smartphone features out there. Today, we're pretty much spoiled with fingerprint sensors — even face unlock — being available on even lower-end Androids. It's just standard now, so why is it so great?

Well, the OnePlus 5T gives you the choice of using your fingerprint or face to unlock your device and while you'll find face unlock on devices like the Galaxy S9 or iPhone X, they in no way match the speed of the OnePlus 5T. It's literally instantaneous. Just press the power button and if your face is anywhere near the phone, it will recognize it and unlock.

What's that? You don't like less secure face unlock and prefer using your fingerprint? Well, the fingerprint sensor on the 5T is the best I've tested in both speedy and accuracy. Not only does it read your fingerprint in an instant, but it turns on the display and takes you to your home screen faster than any device out there — even the Pixel 2.

I know, we're only talking milliseconds here but it's yet another handful of reasons why the 5T delivers the fastest smartphone experience out there. After awhile, everything else just feels needlessly slow.

Less downtime with Dash Charge 🔋

I've already talked in depth about the battery life I've received on my Pixel 2 XL (great at first, but now pretty average). In that post, I also talked about charging times. They weren't good. Awful in fact. I'm not sure what was up with my Pixel 2 XL, but the phone charges slower than molasses. It seems to be a weird bug that affects a handful of users, myself included.

Of course moving back to the OnePlus 5T was like a breath of fresh air, with the phone going from 0-100% quicker than most any other flagship device to date. Having to constantly worry about keeping your phone plugged in at all times wasn't fun.

With the 5T, I don't have to stress when it comes to charging because I know it's going to be hella quick. Just prepare a sandwich, drop the kids off at the pool and by the time you're done, the phone is topped off.

A more reasonably sized phone 🤚

When I'm not raving about the speed of the OnePlus 5T, I'm enjoying the size of the device. This is arguably the most subjective area of this post, but that's okay.

For many, the Pixel 2 XL is simply too big. The OnePlus 5T on the other hand isn't too tall, fits perfectly in my palm so I can easily use the device with one hand. It's not too big, not too small but juuuuuust right.

The Pixel 2 XL just feels clunky in comparison and while I'd still much prefer smaller-sized devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9, the OnePlus 5T is the perfect compromise.

It looks freaking great 😎

It's not easy to find high-end phones that aren't fully covered in glass, let alone those in a matte white finish. Go ahead and look. I'll wait. You back? Cool.

When it comes to premium, the only Android devices to come in matte white are the Pixel 2/2XL and the OnePlus 5T. That's about it. Even though the OnePlus 5T is technically no longer available in eggshell white, I was able to find one for a great price on Swappa and wasted no time in picking it up. I can now die happy.

The best value in Android 🤑

After all is said and done, the OnePlus 5T is the only premium, high-end Android smartphone that actually respects your wallet. It's a great phone at an honest price and simply put, you wont find a better value in Android — hands down.

So while you bust your ass at your 9-to-5, ask yourself why you're paying nearly double for a smartphone that still doesn't match the raw speed or performance of the OnePlus 5T. After forking over $950 for the Pixel 2 XL — the most I've ever spent on a brand new smartphone — this is something I had to come to terms with.

In the end, I just couldn't justify Google's high asking price, not with the OnePlus 5T staring me in the face. It just wasn't worth it to me, no matter how quick those Android updates rolled out.

For now, it seems the OnePlus 5T has officially been discontinued, so your only chance to find one now is Craigslist, Swappa, or sites like eBay. If you're looking for a great deal on one of the best Android devices around, it's a not a bad idea.

Buy the OnePlus 5T on Swappa

What I miss

Google's magical HDR+ 📸

Of course, the Pixel 2's biggest selling point is that wonderful camera. Not so much the hardware (it's pretty similar to everything else on the market) but Google's own in-house HDR+ software backing it up. It's the best quality shooter you'll find on just about any Android device. It really does live up to the hype, leaving the OnePlus 5T and its stock camera app in the dust.

Out of the box, there is no HDR+ on the OnePlus 5T — as this is an exclusive Google device specific feature — but there are workarounds. Installing a hacked version of the PIxel's app onto the 5T brings some of those HDR+ benefits and while it helps a lot with low light photography, it's far from ideal. The app is all around unstable, glitchy, and a little hard to setup.

Even on a good day with everything working properly, you still lose out on the Pixel 2's OIS — something that's sorely missing from OnePlus 5T — and it's painfully obvious when attempting to shoot video inside 3rd party apps like Instagram.

Motion photos 🕺

Motion photos are a new development, something that was introduced on the Pixel 2/2 XL. It's a great feature, one I've been using since the iPhone 6S and even Android devices like the Galaxy S8. Motion photos allow you to record short video clips while snapping photos with your camera, giving you the option to view either inside your gallery.

These can later be shared as video clips or GIFs and are a fun way to get an almost "behind the scenes" look at what happened before/after snapping a photo. This feature sadly doesn't exist on the OnePlus 5T for no other reason than OnePlus doesn't seem to think anybody really wants it. It's a damn shame really.

Front facing speakers 🔊

Front facing speakers is one of those things you don't really realize you'll miss until it's gone. Not every device has them, but even those that don't put some effort into simulating the effect by blasting media through the earpiece as well as the primary speaker (the iPhone X or Galaxy S9 for instance). The OnePlus 5T only features a single, bottom firing speaker that forces you to cup your hand over it like an animal in order to watching YouTube videos in louder environments. Thanks, OnePlus.

Water resistance for shower watching 🛀

Apparently I'm the only weirdo that incorporates cartoon watching in their daily shower routine but hey, that's okay. It's something I've enjoyed ever since water resistant phones starting becoming more commonplace and miss this morning ritual with my Pixel 2 XL.

The OnePlus 5T, unfortunately, isn't one of these new water resistant devices and because of that, shower-time is now a much more lonely experience.

Always-on Display 🕐

The Pixel 2's Ambient display — aka "Always-on Display" — is one of the best features to come to Android in a quite some time. When enabled, the feature constantly shows you the time and notification icons, even while your phone is sleeping. To help prevent burn-in, the dimly lit clock will slightly change position around the screen and has a minimal impact on battery life thanks to the phone's AMOLED display panel.

The Ambient display gives you quick information at a glance (without having to full activate the display) and it's just one of those modern day conveniences I miss having on my phone. It's a small but important feature, one I'm disappointed doesn't have an equivalent on the OnePlus 5T.

Always listening to music 🎵

The Pixel 2 has a very helpful feature called "Now Playing." This is an always-listening feature that scans for music playing in your surroundings, displaying the artist/song title right on your lockscreen. It's a lot like Shazam except you don't have to think about it — it's always working, always listening.

I honestly didn't think I'd get much use out of this feature but 3rd party apps, allowing you to keep a history of the tagged music, made this feature into something truly useful and something I really miss on my 5T.

Streaming Netflix in full HD 🍿

This is more of gripe with the OnePlus 5T than anything. The phone can't take full advantage of its HD+ display while streaming Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. It's a weird DRM issue that prevents full HD video on these services, one that requires sending the phone back to OnePlus for a fix.

Not very many people have time for that and probably even less of them know there's even the issue in the first place. Still, this is a uniquely OnePlus 5/5T problem. The Pixel 2 on the other hand has no problem streaming everything in its native display resolution. You know, like any other phone on the market.

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We could be just days away from the launch of the Moto G6

While Samsung has been dominating headlines over the last month, we are gearing up to see more and more devices launched. One such company that has been relatively quiet has been Motorola.

Outside of a series of major leaks that were published a few months ago, Motorola and Lenovo have been pretty quiet regarding when the next flagships are coming. That has all changed, as Motorola made a few intriguing and surprising announcements today.

First, the company announced that Sergio Buniac would become the new chairman and president. Buniac supplants Aymar de Lencquesaing as the new head of Motorola, who took over after Rick Osterloh left back in 2016 for Google.

In addition to this rather large change, Lenovo confirmed that new products would be released in April.

We're excited for what 2018 (and beyond!) is going to bring us and look forward to sharing our first products of the year with you next month!

Of course, this could just mean that Motorola and Lenovo will be unveiling some new budget devices (i.e. the Moto E lineup). However, I'm going to cross my fingers that we get a look at the Moto G6 lineup.

The Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play were leaked in great detail back in January. All three are expected to take on the design of the Moto X4, with slick metal frames, curved backplates, and a shiny, metallic finish.

Nonetheless, we could be just days away from a major device announcement from Motorola. In the meantime, let us know what you think could be on the way and if you're interested to see what's to come from the company.

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The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 is the first tablet powered by Chrome OS

It's no secret that Android tablets have died off over the last few years. We have been expecting to see the eventual move from Android to Chrome OS on tablets, and the initiative has gotten underway.

Google has announced the new Chromebook Tab 10 from Acer, which is powered by Chrome OS. The announcement comes a day before Apple's Spring event, where a new budget-minded iPad is expected to be unveiled.

The Chromebook Tab 10 features a 9.7-inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This has been coupled with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a built-in stylus.

On the processor side of things, Acer has included the same OP1 chipset that Samsung included in the Chromebook Plus. This is an ARM-based processor, but should still be quite serviceable for your new Chrome OS tablet.

As for pricing, the Chromebook Tab 10 will be priced at $329 when it launches in North America next month. And the nice thing is that while Acer is gearing this tablet towards education, this tablet will go on sale for everyone.

The downside here is that there is no keyboard attachment, which may push some folks away who are looking for a productivity workhorse. In that case, you may want to take a look at cheaper Chromebook options that are already available.

Hopefully, the Tab 10 will start a "revolution" of sorts, where we see more and more Chrome OS-powered tablets released. Let us know what you think about this new tablet in the comments below and if you would like to see more options released.

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The OnePlus 5T is discontinued, here are a few alternatives until the OnePlus 6 is released

We knew that it was going to happen eventually, but the OnePlus 5T has officially been discontinued. The company confirmed the move over the weekend, which leaves us looking towards the OnePlus 6.

As for what's next for OnePlus, we already have some idea of what to expect. The OP6 is likely to be arriving within the next month or two, provided that the company sticks to its scheduling from the last few device releases.

For example, when the OnePlus 5 was discontinued, there was about a month before we saw the OnePlus 5T released. The 5T has been around since November, which is only about a 4-month window.

Now that the OnePlus 5T is officially gone, you won't be able to purchase a new version from the company. Instead, you'll be left going to either Swappa or eBay if you really want to pick up this device.

On the other hand, if you want to see what other options are out on the market, you're in luck. We have compiled a list of the best alternatives to consider.

Huawei Mate 10

 

The Huawei Mate 10 lineup was unveiled back in November of last year (around the same time as the OnePlus 5T). However, the Mate 10 Pro has been the device seeing much of the accolade and excitement.

The problem with the Mate 10 Pro is that it falls outside of the budget constraints for some folks. The standard Mate 10, however, is priced at just $570 on Amazon with free Prime shipping.

Specs

• 5.9-inch IPS LCD Display
• Kirin 970 SoC
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB Storage (expandable)
• 8MP Front Camera
• 12MP + 20MP Rear Cameras
• 4,000mAh Battery

Buy the Huawei Mate 10

Essential Phone

Essential has seen its ups and downs ever since the PH-1 launched last year. However, it seems that the camera issues that plagued the device early on have been resolved. Now, the PH-1 is turning into a fan favorite, in part due to the fact that this is one of the first devices to see Android 8.1 Oreo.

Essential has been running a few different promotions for the PH-1. The most recent knocks $50 off of the price, while giving you a set of the Earphones|HD USB C headphones for free.

Specs

• 5.7-inch QHD Display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB Storage
• 8MP Front Camera
• Dual-13MP Rear Cameras
• 3,040mAh Battery

Buy the Essential Phone

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

We are on the cusp of seeing the release of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, but the Mi Mix 2 is hanging around and is a beautiful device. The device sports a gorgeous bezel-less display, along with a ceramic body.

On the bright side, thanks to the length of time that the Mix Mix 2 has been available, you can now purchase it from Amazon.

Specs

• 5.99-inch IPS LCD Display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC
• 6GB RAM
• 64GB Storage
• 5MP Front Camera
• 12MP Rear Camera
• 3,400mAh Battery

Buy the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

Honor View 10

The Honor View 10 is one of the most intriguing devices that has recently been released. Honor released the device earlier this week, and it comes with many of the same specs that can be found in the Mate 10 lineup.

The difference here is that the View 10 is priced at just $499, versus spending upwards of $700 for the Mate 10 Pro.

Specs

• 5.99-inch Display
• Kirin 970 SoC
• 6GB RAM
• 128GB Storage
• 13MP Front Camera
• 16MP + 20MP Rear Cameras
• 3,750mAh Battery

Buy the Honor View 10

Samsung Galaxy S8 (Refurb)

Just because a device is a year old, that doesn't mean that it isn't completely irrelevant. The Galaxy S8 falls into this category, as the Galaxy S9 is already available.

However, thanks to the power of Amazon, we are seeing listings for refurbished options being made available. You can pick up a refurbished version of the S8 for around $500 for a limited time.

Specs

• 5.8-inch Super AMOLED Display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB Storage (expandable)
• 8MP Front Camera
• 12MP Rear Camera
• 3,000mAh Battery

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S8

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Android Oreo is coming to all US Galaxy Note 8 variants within 2-3 weeks

Samsung has been working tirelessly to get all the folks with a Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo on all US carriers. That goal alone took a while to achieve, so many thought the wait for the Galaxy Note 8's treat would be unbearable.

Thankfully, it seems Samsung doesn't want there to be a big gap. The company is promising Oreo to Galaxy Note 8 owners on all US carriers within 2-3 weeks.

Samsung also says unlocked owners of the Galaxy Note 8 will get it in that same time frame, a sour note for those still waiting on the update for the unlocked Galaxy S8 models here in the US.

In a rare communicative effort, Samsung revealed the reasoning why their unlocked US models take so long to get updated:

We understand that many of you have Unlocked Galaxy S8/+ and Note 8 devices and may be wondering why those with Carrier models are seeing the updates first. The reason for this is that Unlocked devices must go through more rigorous testing than Carrier-specific devices because we need to make sure there is proper network functionality across ALL supported networks. (Ex. Carrier-specific devices are made to handle that one network. Unlocked devices need to be able to handle ANY / ALL compatible networks. Thus, they require some more preparation.)

Take that for what you will. A vocal, sizable group of pissed off consumers aren't buying it, but that's where we are right now. Anyway, Note 8 owners should sit tight, while those with an unlocked Galaxy S8 should keep pestering Samsung on Twitter and other channels until you get what you want.

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Instagram is kinda, sorta going back to a chronological feed

Instagram seems to have finally gotten the memo that their god-awful algorithmic feed — introduced nearly 2 years ago — wasn't the biggest hit with its users. Up until now they've pretty much been ignoring the haters (like the Change.org petition that amassed over 26,000 signatures) probably because the algorithmic feed better served advertisers than its actual user base. That's fine. It's a free service and Instagram has to do whatever they can to keep the lights on. We get it.

Throwing users a bone, Instagram announced yesterday that they've finally heard your cries and will tweaking their feed to show you posts in a more chronological manner. Now before you get too excited, Instagram says posts made recently are more likely to show up at the top of your feed — there's still no guarantee. Simply put, this is NOT the return of the chronological feed.

One of the worst parts about the algorithmic feed was the app's weird habit of auto refreshing the entire feed anytime you left. For instance, you could be scrolling through the feed, jump into a messaging app, and when you return, the entire feed automatically refreshes, causing you to lose your spot. Because the feed is different based on what you've already seen, you may never be able to find whichever post you were looking at ever again. It's beyond frustrating but apparently it was by design.

To help solve this issue, Instagram will be adding a "refresh" button so you can manually refresh the feed whenever you like and shuffle in new posts to feast on. Why they couldn't also add a "chronological feed" button as well is beyond me, but again — Instagram is all about throwing its users bones, not really giving them what they want.

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Samsung looking into issues plaguing Galaxy S9 touchscreens

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus have been available for a couple of weeks, and there are already some issues. More and more users have taken to the Samsung support forums stating that there are "dead spots" in the touchscreen.

We aren't on the brink of a "display-gate" type of issue, however, as this issue seems to be fairly limited at this time. It is a bit unsettling to see these issues arise so soon after Samsung's latest devices were released.

Of course, this can simply be chalked up to a few devices not properly passing Samsung's Quality Control. On the bright side of things, Samsung has already issued a response to these claims. The company provided the following statement to Engadget:

At Samsung, customer satisfaction is core to our business and we aim to deliver the best possible experience. We are looking into a limited number of reports of Galaxy S9/S9+ touchscreen responsiveness issues. We are working with affected customers and investigating.

We encourage any customer with questions to contact us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG.

Let us know if you have run into any similar issues with your new Galaxy S9. If so, we urge you to contact either your carrier or Samsung directly to get your device replaced.

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The Vivo V9 is a mid-ranger with a 24MP selfie camera

Vivo has been making headlines in 2018 due to its unique innovation. First, we saw the company unveil the first smartphone with an embedded fingerprint scanner in the display. Then, the Vivo Apex was shown off, revealing no bezels on all four sides, along with an embedded fingerprint scanner and a pop-up camera.

Well, taking a step back a bit, Vivo has just announced a new device with the Vivo V9. The device seems to be another take on the notch, with a near-bezel-less display, save for the notch at the top.

On the spec sheet, we have a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. Powering the Vivo V9 is the Snapdragon 626 chipset, which has been coupled with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and Android 8.1 Oreo.

The selfie camera, housed in the notch, features a 24MP sensor. Meanwhile, the rear-mounted camera system features a primary 16MP lens and a secondary 5MP sensor.

Some special features of the Vivo V9 include "AI Face Access", which is nothing more than an upgraded version of Android's Face Recognition. Vivo has also included Attention Sensing which monitors whether you're looking at the display or not.

Unfortunately, Vivo stopped short of revealing pricing and availability information for this device.Which means that'll we'll just have to wait and see what Vivo is coming up with next.

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Huawei could release the first device with 512GB of storage

While Huawei continues to see struggles with devices here in the US, that hasn't stopped the company from attempting to innovate. According to a listing on TENAA (via PhoneRadar), a new Huawei device has passed certifications with a whopping 512GB of storage.

It's already rare-enough to see a device released with 256GB of storage, but this would be a first for a smartphone. The device, with a model number of NEO-AL00, passed through TENAA with a combination of 6GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

IN ARTICLE AD

Unfortunately, the listing did not share any more details about the upcoming device. This leaves us with little to really go off of as to when it will be released or what other features it may have.

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what Huawei has up its sleeves in the next few months. First, the company will be making a pit stop in Paris to unveil the new Huawei P20 lineup. The big-hitting feature here is a triple camera setup, with a primary 40MP sensor.

Let us know what you think about this move and if you would like to see more devices launched with more than just 64GB of base storage. On the bright side, at least we can put the days of 16GB devices in our rear-view mirror.

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Google Chrome will finally block annoying autoplay videos

Not many people ask me why I use an ad blocker because, well, chances are everyone's using an ad blocker. But if someone were to ask me why I use an ad blocker, I'd only need to make them visit the first major news website that comes to mind.

I don't know what it is about CNet and Fox and the like, but no matter how loud users scream they continue to plague their front pages with automatic playback ads at unnerving volumes.

Chrome has given us a way to ease the pain over the years with a handy mute tab option, but it's a reactive one that still won't save your ears from the pain unless you've been to that site before. Thankfully, an upcoming update changes that.

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Chrome 66 will add an algorithm for detecting and muting tabs that are about to automatically play videos with sound. Some autoplay ads will still get through if they don't start with sound, but this is mostly a non-issue — the sound is what really gets our gears in a jam. If you actually want those ads back, you'll be able to click on them. That's what we call a classic win-win, folks.

via Chromium

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Best Buy will stop selling Huawei products over the next few weeks

The hits just keep on coming for Huawei. 2018 was supposed to be one of the biggest years for the company as it planned to make a concerted effort to enter the US market.

However, everything went down the drains at CES 2018 when it was reported that both AT&T and Verizon would be pulling out of the deals. Then Huawei's CEO went on an unscripted rant stating how big of a loss these lost deals are for both Huawei and consumers.

Well, it seems that the company just can't catch a break as a report from CNET states that Best Buy will be removing Huawei devices from store shelves. Over the next few weeks, Best Buy will stop selling Huawei products in a rather surprising move.

Best Buy is the only brick-and-mortar retailer here in the states which offer Huawei devices. Removing these devices from availability will do a lot of damage to Huawei. Instead, the company will be left offering devices through online storefronts such as Amazon.

The Mate 10 Pro was expected to be one of the leading flagship devices in 2018. However, with Huawei's reach growing smaller and smaller, we may end up with the only option of being able to import through the likes of GearBest.

It will be interesting to see if Best Buy was subjected to pressure from the US government, as that was the case with both AT&T and Verizon. However, at this time, Best Buy is said to be making the move to end the partnership all on its own.

Let us know what you think about this latest bit of drama and what you think will happen to Huawei in the coming months.

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Today only: Grab the Google Daydream VR headset (2017) for 50%-off at Best Buy

The newest version of the Google Daydream View — Google's soft-touch VR headset — is currently 50%-off at Best Buy. The deal is only good for today and is pretty impressive seeing as how it's still $99 on the Google Store.

The Daydream View saw a slight revision for 2017, with new colors, higher performance lenses, and a wider field of view for a more immersive VR experience. The Daydream View 2017 was $20 more than the original, so this officially makes the device about $30 less than the model that launched in 2016. Not bad.

Again, the deal is only good for today so if you're looking to take advantage of it, hit up the link below to buy it at Best Buy.

Buy the Daydream View at Best Buy

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Google is reportedly buying Lytro for $40M to help bolster their VR efforts

Tech's biggest companies are still investing countless dollars into virtual reality, rushing to gobble up any new technology that shows any sort of promise. Lytro is reportedly the latest startup preparing itself for acquisition, with Google looking to buy the company for somewhere around $40 million.

You may remember Lytro as the imaging startup responsible for creating the strange Light Field Camera back in 2012. More recently, the company launched the Lytro Illum, a full-sized camera that "unlocks the ability to capture the color, intensity and direction of the light rays flowing into the camera." Essentially, you can adjust the focus after the fact using Lytro's custom software to translate that depth data into a photo. It was more a niche product with Lytro later pivoting to VR with Lytro Volume Tracer, a Light Field platform for mixed reality.

Lytro VT is a Light Field solution for pre-rendered CG content for a more immersive playback experience in virtual or augmented reality. Lytro provided a tech demo with a short animation called "One Morning" (video below) created using Lytro VT. It seems to have caught the eye of Google who is now looking to acquire Lytro's assets — which include somewhere around 59 light field and other digital imaging related patents — for a bargain price of no more than $40 million.

During its last round of funding in 2017, Lytro raised a little over $200 million in funding and was valued at around $360 million. A sale for $40 million likely wont make investors happy but for consumers excited about VR, specifically how Google will be using it in next gen VR products, have a lot to be excited about.

via TechCrunch

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DEAL: Save $50 on the Essential Phone and get a free pair of $99 headphones

Back in February, Essential announced a few new color options would be made available. One of these color options, Halo Gray, was being made exclusively available through Amazon with Alexa in-tow.

This week @Amazon is offering Essential Phone – including the new Amazon-exclusive Halo Gray edition – for only $449 and they're also throwing in a free pair of Essential Earphones|HD with every order (offer valid through 3/24). Shop now: https://t.co/lXh0kMY1wY pic.twitter.com/xg3C10TbXw

— Essential (@essential) March 20, 2018

Surprisingly, (or in a way to get more phones off the shelves), Essential is knocking $50 off the price of this Halo Gray edition. This brings the device down to just $449, but Essential is also throwing in a pair of Essential Earphones|HD with each device.

Since the PH-1 does not come equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack, you are left with the USB Type-C port for audio needs. Luckily, the Earphones|HD, connect to your device via USB C, removing the need for an extra dongle.

The best part about this deal is that Essential's headphones are normally priced at $99. Meaning that if you take advantage of this deal, you'll be saving a total of $150 for the whole shebang. If you want to pick up the PH-1, hit the button below and snag this deal before it's gone.

Buy the Essential Phone

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Verizon is throwing in a free Galaxy S9 with each purchase

Verizon just launched a blockbuster BOGO deal for those who were looking for a reason to upgrade a couple of lines. You buy one Galaxy S9 or S9+ and get the other free.

The catch that Verizon tosses in — and which other carriers also use — is that you will receive the "free" phone as monthly credits over a 24 month period. This means you don't see all the savings at once, and you have to stick with that plan for 24 months if you want the full benefit.

Even still, if you don't anticipate switching phones for a couple of years and could do with an extra phone for yourself or a loved one it's probably the nicest offer you're going to get from Verizon.

Shop at Verizon

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Watch the Galaxy S9 struggle with overly aggressive RAM management [VIDEO]

This year's Samsung Galaxy S9 isn't much of an improvement over last year's model. Sure there's a slightly upgraded processor and better fingerprint sensor placement over the Galaxy S8, but much of the phone has remained the same. The 4GB of RAM on the regular sized model is one area we would have like to have seen upgraded, but it seems the RAM boost was exclusive to the larger sized S9+ which now has 6GB of RAM (just like on the Note 8).

It's because of this, we were never expecting much of a performance increase moving to the Galaxy S9 but held out hope that maybe newer versions of Samsung's custom Android software (Software Experience 9) would bring — at the very least — slightly better RAM management. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this is the case.

Highlighting the Galaxy S9's poor RAM management issues is DroidModderX who uploaded a speed test video of the Galaxy S9 to YouTube. In the video, the S9 goes head-to-head against the iPhone X. While there aren't too many phones that can best the iPhone in these types of speed tests, the Galaxy S9 admittedly did a pretty damn good job opening apps from a cold start.

As you can see, it was only during the second round — where RAM management is put to the test — that the Galaxy S9 falls behind. After opening a few games, the phone flushed practically every application from its RAM, causing them to fully reload as if there were never even opened. 4GB of RAM should have been more than enough (especially considering the iPhone X has no trouble with 3GB) keep most of these apps opened but not when it comes to Samsung's software.

I've mentioned this countless times in the past but RAM management plays a huge part in the user experience of a smartphone. Having overly aggressive RAM management kills the performance, with app reloads requiring more effort on the CPU to reload apps from scratch which results in more battery drain and the added frustration of losing your place inside of an app. As someone absolutely spoiled with 8GB of RAM on the OnePlus 5T, the Galaxy S9 isn't looking like much of an upgrade at this point.

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The Huawei P20 Pro’s tri-camera setup will be led by a 40MP sensor

Now that the Galaxy S9 lineup has been unveiled, it may seem that there has been a bit of a lull in the market. This couldn't be further from the truth as we are continuing to learn more information about the Huawei P20 lineup.

These devices are set to be unveiled on March 27th at a standalone event in Paris. Huawei has already ramped up its teaser campaign, with a triple camera setup being the primary focus of the campaign.

While various leaks have been appearing over the last few months, it seems we finally have all of the details regarding this triple camera setup. Thanks to WinFuture, the Huawei P20 Pro will feature a primary 40MP sensor, 20MP B&W sensor, and an 8MP sensor.

The primary 40MP and tertiary 8MP sensor will be able to combine for a total of 5x magnification. The 8MP sensor by itself is said to be capable of achieving 3X optical zoom by itself. The 20MP sensor will primarily shoot images in black & white, but will also assist in providing bokeh effects.

The final rumor surrounding this tri-camera setup is that the P20 Pro will be capable of shooting video in 960fps at 720p. This immediately puts it in the realm of the Galaxy S9 lineup, which is capable of these feats already.

If you were worried about the rest of the specs, WinFuture delivered here as well. The P20 Pro will have a 6.1-inch OLED display, with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2,240 x 1080. Oh, and there will be a notch for the 24MP selfie camera and other necessary sensors.

Powering the P20 Pro will be Huawei's latest chipset, the Kirin 970. This will be coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. Although it's said that the P20 Pro could see variations including either 64GB or 256GB of storage.

Outside of the tri-camera setup, perhaps the next most impressive feat is the included 4,000mAh battery. While performance may not be the greatest due to the larger display panel, a battery this big will definitely get you through the day, and then some.

Pricing for the P20 Pro is said to start around €899, which falls in line with other recently-launched flagship devices. We'll have to wait until March 27th, but Huawei's latest devices really could be game changers, provided that these cameras exceed expectations in real-world usage. 

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You can get $200 off the Pixel 2 XL when you finance it through the Google Store

If you're in the market for a new Android device, Google has a pretty nice little deal going on for the Google Pixel 2 XL. Their latest promo is taking $200 off the phone when you finance it through the Google Store.

The deal is only valid until March 31st, so you'll need to act quick. With 0% interest, there's little reason to not take advantage of this offer. With the deal, this effectively brings down the price of the Pixel 2 XL to $650 for the 64GB or $750 for the 128GB and you can't beat that deal with a stick.

As an added bonus, Google is even throwing in a free 18W USB C Power Adapter, so you can keep a spare in your bag, bedroom, or whatever. Just add it to your cart and checkout, and you'll see the price dropped to free.

Purchase a Pixel 2 between March 18, 2018 at 12am PT, and March 31, 2018 at 11:59pm PT, and redeem one (1) 18W USB-C power adapter by Google. Available only while supplies last. Both products must be added to your shopping cart to receive the bundle offer, and is not valid on previous orders. Offer cannot be combined with any promotional codes, or bundle offers running at the same time. It's non-transferable, and isn't valid for cash or a cash equivalent. Shipping charges may apply. Void where prohibited.

The $200 appears as a statement credit on your account up to billing period after the promotion ends, so don't freak out if you don't see it right away. You can have only one statement credit per account, so don't bother buying these in bulk.

Buy the Google Pixel 2 Buy 18W USB-C Power Adapter

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HTC launches the Desire 12 and Desire 12+ with 18:9 displays

We are all patiently waiting to see what HTC has up its sleeve for its 2018 flagship. However, while we all wait to see what's to come, HTC is continuing to move forward. Today, the company has announced two of its latest budget-minded options with the Desire 12 and Desire 12 Plus.

There aren't too many differences between the Desire 12 and Desire 12 Plus, starting with the similar overall design. Both devices feature the same "liquid surface" design that was introduced with the HTC U11.

HTC Desire 12

As for the specs, the smaller Desire 12 features a 5.5-inch display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Powering the device is the MediaTek MT6739 chipset, which has been coupled with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of expandable storage.

On the camera side of things, we don't have anything too fancy. HTC has included a 13MP rear-shooter, and a 5MP selfie camera which should do the job in a pinch. Finally, HTC has packed a mediocre 2,730mAh battery into this package, which is a bit less than we could have hoped to see.

HTC Desire 12+

Moving to the Desire 12 Plus, we have a 6-inch display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and the same 1440 x 720 resolution as its little brother. HTC opted to up the ante a bit with the 12 Plus, as we have the Snapdragon 450 chipset on board.

This processor has been coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. On the front, there is a standard 8MP selfie camera, while a dual-camera setup graces the rear. This setup features a primary 13MP sensor, along with a secondary 2MP sensor.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Desire 12 lineup is HTC's decision to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack. It was a far-gone conclusion that HTC would be moving away from keeping this, but the company has seemingly reversed its course.

While HTC has announced these new devices, there has been no information revealed regarding pricing or availability. We'll have to keep our eyes peeled for this information, and we'll be sure to bring it to you once available.

In the meantime, sound off in the comments and let us know what you think about the HTC Desire 12 lineup.

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Uber’s self-driving vehicle causes first known fatality for the industry

We've long been warned about letting AI get on the road for a Sunday drive instead of you getting behind the wheel yourself. Things don't always go right, even if AI has the potential to be more safe and reliable than humans.

But it wasn't a real concern after millions and millions of test miles… until Uber's testing program reached its final mile in Tempe, Arizona after inadvertently striking a pedestrian and causing her death.

The accident is said to have occurred while a human director was behind the wheel. At this time, it's believed the human did not do anything to cause the accident.

Uber's initial response has been to suspend testing in all cities they're currently deployed, including Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto. And to our relief, they're being pretty transparent about the whole thing and playing along quite nicely with city officials who are tasked with figuring this mess out.

It's tough to say what's going to happen from here. Obviously, lawmakers and regulators will look to reevaluate their current stances on autonomous vehicles and whether such technology is fit for the road. There are bound to be those out there keen on treating this like a rabid dog that needs to be put to rest, but let's also not forget that cars were hitting people long before computers made them do it, and far more frequently.

via NYT

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Will T-Mobile be the first US carrier to make bloatware optional?

Anyone who's owned a smartphone over the years knows what bloatware is, even if they aren't familiar with the term. If you don't, well, it's all those useless apps that carriers and manufacturers pre-install on computers and smartphones.

Bloatware can exist for a number of different reasons. On the manufacturers' side, it's usually to add extra features that you may or may not find important. Whether that's bloatware will depend on which side of the fence you're on, we suppose.

But a big driving force is typically money, with them teaming up with developers to include the apps (or games) for a fee. In either case, it sucks, because it typically means the user gets a bunch of useless apps, and they can't even uninstall them.

Change may be on the horizon, though, with German carrier Deutsche Telekom announcing an opt-in system for customers who are tired of seeing the pollution littered throughout their home screens. DT also suggests they'll eventually let manufacturers control software updates, which potentially leads to faster rollout speeds.

All of this becomes more interesting when you consider that T-Mobile is owned by this company, and it sounds like the very kind of move that would sound good as an Un-Carrier feature. Does that mean T-Mobile will ever do it? We can't say for sure, but it certainly couldn't hurt their image and culture of empowering consumers, so we're always going to hold out hope that it's somewhere on the horizon.

via Deutsche Telekom (Translated)

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