Saturday 31 December 2016

What's in my Bag CES 2017!



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VR is fun, but it's not quite "there" yet

Samsung Gear VR

As I get older, I find I can be crotchety about change and adopting new technology sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes. When I started writing for PhoneDog back in 2012 there wasn’t much more than smartphones and some basic accessories to talk about; if you wanted to get really fancy you could talk about Bluetooth headsets and docking stations. Not too long after, though, the winds of change were a-blowin’ in the mobile industry as wearables were just about to become a hot commodity.

I liked the idea of wearables, but I didn’t think I needed one. I mostly admired them from afar. I purchased my first wearable this past fall, a $40 secondhand Pebble (RIP) Time smartwatch. I felt the price was right for a product that I still wasn’t sure I really needed, but I did want to try it out. I’m happy with the purchase. I found the smartwatch to be more useful than I thought it would be, but calling it a “necessity” is a stretch. 3 months later and I still use it on occasion, but not often.

I was able to add to my growing list of experiences with wearables this past week as I received a 2016 Gear VR to use with my Galaxy S7. I can honestly say that the idea of virtual reality hasn’t particularly appealed to me, but I did get a serious kick out of the concept when I used a free cardboard VR contraption a while back. I was amazed by how it worked, but it wasn’t something I ended up using more than two times after I wrote that article.

The Gear VR, however, has proven to be very different from my cardboard VR experience. For one, the assembly was more complicated. You have to hook up and adjust the straps to the headset and adjust the phone area to fit your specific Galaxy variant. It's not super complicated, but it isn't something I would consider hassle-free.

However, that added complication was for a good reason. I had to hold the cardboard viewer up to my face constantly, but the straps and connections with the Gear holds things in place for me. There’s also a very nice cushion mask that makes the large device almost comfortable. Heavy, but comfortable. I find that not holding the headset to my face helps with immersion.

And, oh my God, the immersion of VR is cool. And weird. But cool.

Along with the Gear came a bundle of VR “experiences” and a couple of movies. Some of the experiences included exploring space or the deep sea and relaxing on the beach. There was also a horror experience called AFFECTED – The Manor, and for some reason I decided that would be a good one to dip my toes in.

Honestly, I didn’t think it would do anything for me. I enjoy horror games and movies, but I don’t usually get that scared from playing or watching them. My biggest issue is the threat of being touched, like in haunted house attractions, which obviously isn’t an issue here. I assumed that a VR experience would largely be the same as any other video game, but I was very, very wrong. VR only takes horror games to the next level. Despite the cartoon-ish graphics and mediocre resolution of the game, I’m a little ashamed to admit that I straight up pulled the headset off because I was so startled at one point.

After accepting my new life as a total weenie, I decided to spend the rest of my time with more relaxing VR experiences like exploring the sea with Ocean Rift (which was actually kind of freaky in its own way, especially when you go looking for the great white shark), space exploration with Star Chart, and a visit to the beach. My time spent with these experiences were much more pleasant. Not too long after visiting the beach, I started to feel a little dizzy and decided it was time to take a break.

In the end, here are my thoughts on VR: It’s fun and the technology is remarkable. However, I don’t think that VR will catch on for a while. As much fun as it is, most headsets are still very expensive (the Gear VR itself is pretty cheap, but you need a Galaxy S6, S7, or Note 5 to run it, so it’s actually quite expensive) and they’re just so bulky and heavy. Currently I would say they’re nothing more than a novelty, but overall I would say this experience showed me that VR technology is an amazing feat, and I anxiously await the day that it becomes an all-around excellent experience.



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Best Smartphones of 2016: Moto Z



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Top 10 iOS Apps of 2016!

We've compiled a 'Top 10' list of our favorite iOS apps to hit the App Store in 2016. The apps highlighted in this video include MSQRD, Music Memos, Service, Word Flow Keyboard, Beme, Opera VPN, Gboard, Pokemon Go, Duo and Google Allo. Which app is your favorite?



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OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T receiving Android 7.0 Nougat today

OnePlus 3 rear hands-on

OnePlus previously committed to updating both the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T to Nougat before the end of 2016, and the company is just sliding in under that deadline.

OnePlus today announced OxygenOS 4.0 updates for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. These updates include Android 7.0 Nougat as well as status bar icon options, optimizations, and more. Here’s OnePlus’s changelog for both updates:

Upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat

  • New Notifications Design
  • New Settings Menu Design
  • Multi-Window View
  • Notification Direct Reply
  • Custom DPI Support

Added Status Bar Icon Options
Improved Shelf Customization

These over the air updates will roll out incrementally starting tonight. That means that it might take a few days for the update to hit your device, so don’t fret if your OP3 or OP3T doesn’t get its helping of Nougat tonight.

Strangely, OnePlus also released an OxygenOS Open Beta 1 update for the OnePlus 3T today. The changelog listed for this update is the same as the OxygenOS 4.0 update, complete with Android 7.0, and so it’s kind of weird that this Open Beta 1 is being released on the same day as the full OxygenOS 4.0 update. But if you’ve got an OP3T and want Nougat this very second, you can now sideload the OxygenOS Open Beta 1 release.

OnePlus is definitely cutting it close, but it’s good that the company is keeping its word and releasing Nougat for the OnePlus 3 and 3T before the end of 2016. It can sometimes be tough to make software release deadlines because of unforeseen issues that crop up, and there likely would’ve been some frustrated OP3 and OP3T owners if OnePlus missed this deadline. The good news is that that doesn’t matter, because OnePlus barely made its self-imposed deadline.

Be sure to let us know when your OnePlus 3 or OnePlus 3T gets Nougat!



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Friday 30 December 2016

Best Smartphones of 2016: OnePlus 3T



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What are your hopes for smartphones in 2017?

Samsung Galaxy S7 cracked

2016 was kind of a weird year for mobile. We had some great new additions like the Google Pixel; we saw the Galaxy S line go from good to better between the S6 and the S7; the HTC 10 was a remarkable improvement over the HTC One M9; both LG and Lenovo had some creative ideas with their modular G5 and Moto Z, respectively; even Apple had a pretty solid year with the release of the iPhone SE and the iPhone 7. However, we’ve had some blunders as well. The Note 7 is probably the most notable, and recently reports have been surfacing stating that some Google Pixel and Nexus 6P devices have been mysteriously shutting down at 30-40% battery life. There’s also that weird phenomenon where manufacturers seem to think that removing the 3.5mm headphone jack is a good idea, but I would argue that most consumers don’t feel the same way.

Thinking about the things I would like to see happen in 2017, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s really not a whole lot on my list that I’m hoping for. I’m actually quite impressed with how far smartphones have come in such a seemingly short amount of time and feel that I really don’t have much of substance to complain about. Still, nothing is perfect, and there are still a couple of things that I would be happy to see come to fruition in 2017’s smartphone lineup.

Better battery life

I don't think I’ll ever feel like battery life shouldn’t be improved upon. The longer I can go without having to plug in my phone, the better. At this point I’m just happy that I can last an entire day (and often more) without absolutely needing to plug in my phone, but I would love to safely go a few days or longer without having to worry about charging my phone at all.

The 3.5mm headphone jack stays

Although more and more OEMs seem to be hopping on board with the idea – or are at the very least rumored to – I still don’t consider the move beneficial at all. I’m hoping this situation ends up like microSD cards; maybe it is old and outdated technology, but a lot of people still find it convenient and useful.

USB-C for iPhones

I’ve always harbored a resentment towards Apple for their chargers. Apple has always had different chargers even after smartphone manufacturers agreed to streamline their proprietary connectors to one universal connector, micro USB. I saw the usefulness in Apple’s chargers, but as somebody who frequently switched between iOS and Android it was somewhat of an annoyance to have to carry around two sets of chargers, and then later replace an entire collection of 30-pin connector accessories with Lightning.

Fortunately, Apple seems to be embracing the new standard that the rest of the tech world is heading towards using, USB Type-C, as evidenced with its presence in Apple’s MacBook laptops. A Type-C port existing in MacBooks make me think that it’s possible for Apple to ditch Lightning in favor of Type-C in iPhones eventually, although probably not in 2017.

No more glass backs

Aside from aesthetically, I never understood the appeal of designing a phone with glass fronts and backs. It’s bad enough when you drop your phone and it lands face down and you spend a moment or two praying to your deity of choice that the glass didn’t shatter, but it’s kind of dumb when you do the same thing for the back of your phone as well. I didn’t understand it with my old iPhone 4S and I don’t understand it with the Galaxy S7. Glass is breakable, slippery, and a fingerprint magnet. It’s just not a good material to use on the backs of phones.

I’m excited to see what 2017 brings us, but I really hope to see some of these ideas implemented as well – particularly better battery life and keeping the 3.5mm headphone jack around. Readers, what do you want to see from smartphones in 2017? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!



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SanDisk 200GB microSD card on sale for $63

SanDisk 200GB microSD card official

If you’ve got a smartphone with a microSD card slot, you may want to point your browser to Amazon.

Amazon is now selling SanDisk’s 200GB microSD card for $63.14. While that’s not quite the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this card, it’s only a few dollars off that mark.

Also worth noting is that this SanDisk 200GB microSD card ships from and is sold by Amazon, so Prime subscribers can get free two-yea shipping with their order.

While SanDisk’s 200GB microSD card isn’t the largest microSD card around, it still offers a substantial amount of storage space. So if you’re lucky enough to have a microSD slot on your smartphone or tablet, Amazon’s deal is definitely worth a look.



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Top 10 Android Apps of 2016!

We've compiled a 'Top 10' list of our favorite Android apps to hit the Google Play Store in 2016. The apps highlighted in this video include Prisma, Backdrops, Hopper, Boost+, Beme, FX File Explorer, Pokemon Go, Duo, Google Allo and Android Auto. Which app is your favorite?



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Urbanears Plattan II

You’ve no doubt seen people wearing the Urbanears Plattan on your commute without ever realizing what they are, and that’s the point. Urbanears’ styling is a mix of modern design with traditional Bauhaus minimalism that doesn’t stand out, but manages to be iconic nonetheless. 

While the original Plattan headphones were just fine, Urbanears wasn’t satisfied with being mediocre. The company took customer feedback to heart and addressed many complaints about comfort, sound quality and isolation. For the most part, Urbanears succeeded, making the Plattan II a worthy sequel to the company’s most popular headphone.  

Urbanears addressed user complaints about discomfort by revisiting the ear pads. The Plattan II feature thicker, comfier ear pads that also isolate better. We had no problem wearing the Plattan II for extended periods of time. Clamping force is just about perfect, though your mileage may vary. 

Externally, the Plattan II look nearly identical to the original Plattan. It’s not until you look closer that you notice the subtle differences in design. Besides the thicker earpads, the Plattan II features more metal accents, namely on the headband and polished rings around each earcup. As with the original, the only branding can be found on a small fabric flap on the right side of the headband. All said, those who hate obnoxious branding will love the look of the Plattan II. 

One of our favorite parts of the Plattan II’s design is the friction size adjustment. Instead of clicky stepped adjustments, you can simply put the headphones on and slide them in place. The headphones are also easily folded up for transport. The headband can also be bent at severe angles but will always pop back into place, which should help them to withstand abuse. 

The Plattan II are wired headphones but with a couple of tricks up its sleeve. The headphones feature a 3.5mm jack on each earcup, meaning you can attach the removable cable to either side, giving users more flexibility.

Having two 3.5mm jacks on the earcups means you can share music with a friend. All you have to do is plug your friend’s wired headphones into the free 3.5mm jack on the Plattan II. If you and your friend have Plattan headphones, you can daisy chain them to share with even more friends. This is a great feature that wireless headphones struggle with, as devices will default to only playing audio through one pair of Bluetooth headphones at a time. 

The one downside is that the Plattan II’s cable features a mic and remote with only one button. This means you can’t change volume via the remote, but that’s probably not a deal breaker for most potential listeners. 

In terms of sound, there’s no getting around the fact that Urbanears has tuned the Plattan II to be bass heavy. However, the bass isn’t so overbearing that it’s difficult to listen to. The added warmth in the low end makes listening to rap, electronic and dance music fun. 

We weren’t impressed with the muddy sound quality of the more expensive Urbanears Zinken headphones, but if the Plattan II are any indication, the company’s other headphones may soon get retuned with better sound.

More critical listeners won’t like the Plattan II for that reason, but they’re not made to please audiophiles, especially at their $50 (£45, about AU$69) price point. For the money, we found the Plattan II’s warm sound signature and slightly muddy bass perfectly acceptable in its class. 

One of the biggest complaints about the original Plattan headphone was its middling sound quality – though, the re-tuned Plattan II fixes this issue. The headphone’s highs are crisp (and a bit lacking resolution). Its bass is fun and impactful, but can be muddy at times. Its soundstage is also quite narrow, but most listeners probably won’t notice nor care. 

Final verdict

While the Plattan II may look nearly identical to the original, subtle tweaks have made the headphone a great value buy at $49, £45 or about AU$70. Not only are they super comfortable, but they can withstand the abuse of your daily commute, too. 

The ability to fold up the headphones into a small package make them easy to transport in your backpack or purse – which we like – and Urbanears’ decision to go with a thicker ear pad means you’ll be able to listen for hours without painful pressure on your head. The thicker pads also increase give the headphones good passive noise isolation for an on-ear headphone. 

The Plattan II’s sound signature is strictly mainstream with a warm bottom-end but that’s not a bad thing. They offer a fun sound signature with impactful bass and sparkling highs, but lack the soundstage width and resolution of more expensive on-ear headphones like the Klipsch Reference On-Ear II. At a quarter of the price, the Urbanears Plattan II are a great value for those looking for a fun sounding pair and stylish pair of headphones that won’t break the bank. 



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Moto X (2017) renders reportedly leak out

Days after images that claim to show the LG G6 leaked out, renders of another upcoming Android device have purportedly leaked. 

New images of what may be the new Moto X (2017) have surfaced. Shared by @OnLeaks and Android Authority, the images depict a device that looks a bit like the Moto Z, complete with a round rear camera housing and front-mounted fingerprint sensor.

This Moto X is said to feature a 5.2-inch display and measurements of 150 x 73.8 x 8.4mm. We can also see what looks to be a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the phone, and it’s said to include a microUSB port rather than USB Type-C.

Moto X 2017 leak rear

One other detail about this Moto X that’s worth noting is that it doesn’t have the pogo pin connectors found on the back of the Moto Z. This suggests that it won’t support the modules available to the Moto Z family of devices.

There’s no word yet on when Lenovo might officially announce the Moto X (2017). Now that the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are on the market, though, the X looks like it could be more of a mid-range device rather than a flagship like previous X devices were. That said, if you’re interested in a new Moto phone without all those swappable modules, this could be a phone to keep an eye out for.

Moto X 2017 leak front

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Google Apps for Work (G Suite) 2016 review

Samsung Galaxy S7 Nougat beta coming to an end, full release expected in January

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge hands-on

Ever since early January, Samsung has been running a beta test of its Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Now that test is wrapping up, and Samsung has revealed when the rest of us might get the S7’s Nougat update.

Samsung is aiming to release the official Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge in January. In a message to beta testers, Samsung said “We would do our best to distribute the official version in January as soon as possible.”

Of course, while Samsung is aiming to release Nougat for the GS7 and GS7 edge in January, that doesn’t mean that all models of those phones will actually get the update in January. That’s especially true of the US carrier versions of the GS7 and GS7 edge models, which could be waiting a bit longer as carriers put the updates through extra testing before releasing them to customers.

Images of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Nougat update previously leaked out, giving us a preview of what to expect. 



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Thursday 29 December 2016

Best Smartphones of 2016: Google Pixel XL



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Android users, are you going to buy Super Mario Run?

Super Mario Run

Way back in September, the legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo took the stage at what would eventually be an iPhone unveiling, and took the wraps off their first real major push into the mobile world. It's not their first app for mobile devices, but it is their first real game. (Miitomo had some mini-games in it, but it's really just a social app with Mii's in it.)

At the time, Apple, and Miyamoto-san, hyped it up as an Apple exclusive, with a release date pegged for some time in December.

All things considered, it was a pretty big deal for not just Nintendo, but also Apple. The Cupertino-based company snagged a huge exclusive, and Super Mario Run brought in a ton of cash for Nintendo in a very short period of time. It's also probably a pretty good indication that, in the future, Apple will be the exclusive launch destination for future Nintendo games.

But, as we've seen today, it doesn't mean that iOS devices will be the soleplatform for Nintendo games. While it's never been a secret that Super Mario Run would find its way to Android eventually, Nintendo has been relatively quiet on a release date. They still are, technically. But, at least we're one step closer to an official launch, as the game now has a landing page in the Google Play Store, and Android users can pre-register to get notified when it becomes available to buy.

There isn't a price tag associated with the game right now, but it stands to reason that it will have a similar launch and price tag as the iOS version. That means it will be free to download and try, but, after the player reaches a set period of play, they will have to fork over $9.99 to unlock the full game.

Pricing for apps and games on our mobile devices continues to be a hot button topic for many people, as finding that sweet spot for a price is still messy. That's one reason why the free-to-play model has done so well. Paying nothing up front, but giving the player options to pay as little, or as much, as they want down the line to unlock what they want works.

People aren't afraid to pay for digital content -- it's that initial price tag that seems to hold them up, though.

But a $9.99 price tag for Super Mario Run makes sense, because this is Nintendo we're talking about. And if the iOS release is any indicator, Android is just another opportunity for Nintendo to make buckets of money.

Will it work out that way, though? Android users actually have a bit of a break here, because there are actual reviews of Super Mario Run out there to check out, and see if the game is any good before they buy it. iOS users, while reviews started to trickle in ahead of launch (and Apple held demos of the game at retail stores) basically had to go in blind.

If you're an Android user, do you plan on buying Super Mario Run when it launches? Or is the $9.99 price tag keeping you away from the game? Let me know!



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Sprint LG V20 sale cuts price in half

LG V20 hands-on

Got some holiday cash burning a hole in your pocket? If so, Sprint’s got a smartphone deal for you.

Sprint is now offering the LG V20 for 50 percent off. That means that Sprint’s V20 is available for $0 down and 24 monthly payments of $16.50 each,  or $396.

To take advantage of this deal, you’ll need to activate a new line or have an eligible upgrade. Sprint’s LG V20 offer will run from December 29 through December 31.

The LG V20 is one of the newer flagship smartphones on the block, having launched at Sprint in October with Android 7.0 Nougat in tow. It’s got a high-end feature set that includes a 5.7-inch 2560x1440 display with secondary display above it for notifications, recent apps, and more; dual rear cameras with 16-megapixel standard and 8-megapixel wide angle sensors; and a Hi-Fi Quad DAC for premium audio.

Other highlights of the V20 include a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, microSD slot, 64GB of built-in storage, and a removable 3,200mAh battery.

To see the LG V20 in action before pulling the trigger on it, you can check out our unboxing and hands-on video right here.



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ZTE Blade V8 leaks out with dual rear cameras, Android 7.0

ZTE Blade V8 rear leak

There’s sure to be a several new phones announced at CES next month, and it looks like ZTE will be responsible for at least one of them.

A new ZTE phone named the Blade V8 has leaked out. An official announcement for the device briefly appeared on ZTE’s own website before being pulled down, but because this is the internet, a cached version is still available.

ZTE’s announcement confirms that the Blade V8 offers dual rear cameras, with one 13-megapixel shooter and a second 2-megapixel camera for capturing depth information. This will help you to add bokeh effects to your images, and ZTE touts that the Blade V8 can also capture 3D photos that can be viewed through 3D glasses.

Other confirmed features of the ZTE Blade V8 include a 5.2-inch 1920x1080 display with 2.5D glass and a fingerprint sensor below that display. Inside the Blade V8’s 7.7mm-thick metallic body lives an octa-core Snapdragon 435 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and NFC.

ZTE Blade V8 front leak

On the software side, the Blade V8 runs Android 7.0 Nougat below ZTE’s customer MiFavor 4.0 user interface.

At the same time that ZTE leaked its own device, Russian site Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru posted hands-on photos of the device. The images give us a better look at the Blade V8’s metallic body, include the 3.5mm headphone jack up top, and what appears to be a 13-megapixel front-facing camera.

We’ll have to wait until CES 2017 kicks off until the ZTE Blade V8 is officially official, but so far it looks like an interesting device. While it may not have the most high-end specs, it does offer premium features like a metallic body, fingerprint reader, and dual rear cameras, and so the Blade V8 could be a good option for folks that want higher-end features at an affordable price.



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Best Budget Smartphones of 2016!

Narrowing down the best budget smartphones of 2016 was no easy task. In this video, we highlight the smartphones that give us the most bang-for-our-buck. The devices mentioned in this video include the OnePlus 3T, Huawei Honor 8, iPhone SE, ZTE Axon 7, Moto G4 Plus, LeEco Le Pro3 and Alcatel Idol 4s. Which budget smartphone is your favorite?



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DirecTV Now introductory offer of 100 channels for $35 will end January 9

DirecTV Now logo

Remember when AT&T launched DirecTV Now and touted its limited time deal that offered the $60 per month package for $35? At the time, AT&T didn’t say when that deal would expire, but now we know.

AT&T has revealed that its introductory DirecTV Now deal will end on January 9, 2017. The deal will get you the “Go Big” package with 100 channels for $35 per month, down from its regular price of $60 per month.

AT&T has said that customers that sign up for this introductory deal can keep it for as long as they keep the service.

DirecTV Now introductory deal end date

If you’re looking for a new television streaming service, this DirecTV Now deal certainly seems like it’s worth a look. Not only are you getting 100 channels to watch, but you’re getting them for nearly half their normal price. It’s also worth noting that DirecTV Now is currently offering a seven-day free trial to new users, so you can give the service a try for one week before committing and still have time to sign up for this deal.

Have you tried DirecTV Now? If not, does this deal have you thinking about giving it a shot?



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Maybe it's time for Samsung to use that S Pen case patent

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 fiasco will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest smartphone blunders in history. The ill-fated incident, along with its arguably more unfortunate resolution, left many disappointed as proper Note alternatives in the industry are limited. Whether we will see a new Note emerge in late 2017 or not is a question that only time will tell, but consumers may not have to wait until next fall to experience a “new” Galaxy Note experience. According to a new rumor from SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S8 may support the S Pen as an external accessory.

As an “external accessory”, the S Pen allegedly wouldn’t have a dedicated pen slot like it does on the Note series. This, of course, sounds like a recipe for disaster as the pen slot has always been handy for keeping styluses from getting lost. However, dragging up a patent from early 2016, we know that Samsung placed a patent on an S Pen case for non-Galaxy Note devices. While I don’t think this is quite the reason Samsung had in mind to implement such a thing (assuming they ever planned to use it in the first place) the idea might just come in handy now that people are itching for a Note replacement.

I feel like the S Pen as an external accessory would actually be a good idea if it ends up being true. It may be more of a hassle than a built-in pen slot, but at least it would be an option. I assume that such a case would only be for the larger S8 variant as well, particularly since it’s rumored to have up to a 6-inch display, but I think it would be double rad if Samsung could make such an accessory available to the smaller Galaxy S variant as well. I still prefer smaller phones, which are falling more out of fashion by the year. I don't really consider the 5-inch display of the Galaxy S7 "small" except by comparison. I think the S Pen would still be useful in the smaller Galaxy S variant.

To be quite honest, I wouldn’t mind seeing Samsung merge Galaxy S and Galaxy Note completely. At this point, their differences are so minimal that there’s not much need to keep the two completely separate. The larger Galaxy S variant could adopt the S Pen with pen slot, and the smaller variant could support the active digitizer that allows the S Pen to work, but sell it as an external accessory with a case.

I wouldn't mind it, but I don’t think that will be the case. I think that this would simply be a compromise; those who were interested in the Note 7 could get a new flagship with Note-like features, and Galaxy users would have the option of turning their Galaxy S into a Note if they really wanted to. If it flops, Samsung could brush it off as a temporary solution until the next Note. If it succeeds, who knows? At the end of the day, it just seems like Samsung doesn’t have much to lose by making it an option at this point.

Readers, what are your thoughts on this rumor? Do you hope that the S8 comes with an external S Pen accessory, or would you rather just wait for a new, proper Note? Let us know in the comments below!



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Wileyfox to offer 'enhanced' Android experience after moving away from Cyanogen

Wileyfox Swift 2

With the end of Cyanogen, the companies that've released smartphones running Cyanogen OS must now find another way to support their devices. Today Wileyfox has revealed its plans.

Wileyfox says that it plans to release a “purer” and “enhanced” Android experience to its devices that are currently running Cyanogen OS. This software will be released via an over the air update to all Wileyfox devices.

No other details of Wileyfox’s software plans have been revealed, but the company says that it plans to begin updating all of its devices to Android 7.0 Nougat by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

This is all good news for anyone that’s already got a Wileyfox phone or has been thinking about picking one up. It’s no surprise that Wileyfox is planning to move away from Cyanogen, but it’s good to get some concrete information from the company itself, especially with the news that Android 7.0 Nougat updates are right around the corner.

Now we just have to wait for Wileyfox’s “purer” and “enhanced” version of Android to begin rolling out so that we can learn exactly what it entails.



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Super Mario Run for Android pre-registration goes live

Super Mario Run official

Super Mario Run is coming to Android, and today it took one step closer to launch.

The official Super Mario Run page is live in the Google Play Store. Because the game isn’t yet available, you can only pre-register to be notified when the game does launch on Android.

We’ve known for a while now that Super Mario Run is coming to Android, but it’s still good to see the app’s page officially launch in the Play Store. It’s also a smart move by Nintendo, as it could help to cut down on the number of people downloading all of the fake Super Mario Run apps that’ve popped up lately.

Are you looking forward to playing Super Mario Run on Android?



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Did you upgrade to the OnePlus 3T?

OnePlus 3T

It's been over a month since OnePlus released their latest flagship, the OnePlus 3T. It's a device that shares quite a few similarities with its, technically speaking, predecessor, the OnePlus 3, but makes a few key changes to warrant its existence. The question for many owners of the OnePlus 3, however, was maybe if waiting, on either side of the spectrum, would have been a better idea for the company.

Back in June, OnePlus made a big deal about the OnePlus 3, this year's flagship handset. At least that's what most people expected to be the company's flagship. It has all the right specifications, of course, and the OnePlus price point to make it worth a second look, even if it doesn't have the big brand name as other devices do.

And then, just a few months later, OnePlus hyped up something new -- but not nearly to the same extent it did with the original handset. The OnePlus 3T was teased almost as much by Qualcomm, the company that had its Snapdragon 821 processor featured inside the upcoming device.

The question of whether or not OnePlus should have simply waited, either waiting to just launch the OnePlus 3T this year, or waited to launch the OnePlus 3T (with a different name and other tweaks to the specs) until early next year are all valid. OnePlus opted not to wait, though, and the OnePlus 3T launched less than six months after the first of the company's flagships arrived on the scene.

The main draw of the OnePlus 3T is the aforementioned Snapdragon 821 processor, which not only bumps up performance, but it also makes it compatible with Google's Daydream virtual reality platform. Which is a good thing! A little more future proof. But is there any real hurry there? Daydream isn't going anywhere, probably, so launching an entirely different phone, only a few months after your previous flagship, seems hasty. (There is a change to the front-facing camera, too, and a bigger battery, just for the record.)

Especially considering the company simply removed the OnePlus 3 from its stores, replacing it with the OnePlus 3T.

The question I have at this point, has to do with resetting the OnePlus launch timeline. Is that the case from this point on? Is OnePlus going to focus on launching its flagship device later in the year from this point on? Or will we see the OnePlus 4 (or whatever it's called) launch in June of next year? Just seven months after the OnePlus 3T's launch?

What I'm really curious to find out, though, is whether or not the OnePlus 3 owners out there actually forked over even more cash to get their hands on the OnePlus 3T. Did you upgrade to OnePlus's newest flagship, after already purchasing their first 2016 flagship? Or did you simply hang onto the OnePlus 3? Let me know!



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LG announces a Bluetooth speaker that you wear around your neck

LG Tone Free wearing

In addition to making smartphones and tablets, LG sells mobile accessories like Bluetooth headphones. Today the company introduced its latest Bluetooth wares, and they’re a pretty interesting pair of products.

The LG Tone Studio is a Bluetooth speaker that you wear around your neck. The unit has four speakers, two full range on the top and two vibrating speakers on the bottom, that LG touts will “give a personal surround sound experience.”

Also included with the Tone Studio is a Hi-Fi DAC (digital to analog converter) that LG says will help to more accurately recreate audio content, as well as a Dual Play feature that’ll link up two LG Tone Studios so that you can share your music with a buddy.

LG Tone Free official

Announced today alongside the LG Tone Studio is the LG Tone Free. This device includes two totally wireless earbuds as well as a neckband that can give you a place to store the ‘buds when not in use. The neckband can charge the earbuds, too, and give you vibration alerts for incoming calls and texts.

LG isn’t saying when the Tone Studio or Tone Free will be released or how much they’ll cost when they do. The two devices will be at CES next month, though, so perhaps we’ll learn more about their availability then.

The LG Tone Free isn’t a huge surprise from LG, as the company has made wired earbuds that connect with a neckband before. What’s interesting about today’s announcement is the LG Tone Studio. Sure, it could make for a nice personal listening experience without requiring you to cover up your ears, but using the Tone Studio in public seems like it could become a nuisance to those around you. Maybe if the volume is low enough, it wouldn’t bother the people nearby? We’ll just have to wait and see.



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Wednesday 28 December 2016

Gionee M2017 packs 5.7-inch Quad HD display, 7,000mAh battery

Gionee M2017 black

If battery size is an important feature when you’re shopping for a new smartphone, you may want to turn your attention to the Gionee M2017.

Gionee’s new M2017 includes two 3,500mAh batteries that combine to give you a whopping 7,000mAh capacity. The good news is that Quick Charge 3.0 is included, too, which will help you recharge those 3,500mAh batteries in a hurry.

The batteries aren’t the only “dual” feature that the M2017 has on offer. Also included is a 5.7-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED display with dual curved edges, dual 12-megapixel and 13-megapixel rear cameras, and dual SIM slots.

Also included with the M2017 is 6GB of RAM, 128/256GB of storage, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for all of your selfie needs, a fingerprint reader, and a USB Type-C port that doubles as your headphone jack since there’s no 3.5mm jack to be found here. Gionee has chosen to include an octa-core Snapdragon 653 processor with the M2017, too.

Gionee M2017 gold

The M2017 is powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow and runs Gionee’s custom Amigo 3.5 UI. 

Gionee will sell the M2017 in China at a starting price of ¥6999, or $1006 USD, for the 128GB model. There will also be a step-up model with 256GB of storage and an alligator leather back that’ll sell for ¥16,999, or $2,444 USD.

The Gionee M2017 offers a pretty impressive spec list that, save for that Snapdragon 653 processor, checks most of the boxes for a new Android flagship in late 2016. That 7,000mAh battery is one of the most interesting features, though, as battery life is something that can always be better, and that large battery would presumably give you some solid battery life.

The downside is that, at least for now, it looks like the M2017 will only be available in China. Would you pick one up if it were available in your country?



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Best Smartphones of 2016: S7 & S7 Edge



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Periscope launches live 360-degree video streaming

Periscope Live 360 degree video

Three hundred and sixty degree video is still a fairly new technology, but Twitter and Periscope have decided to embrace them.

Persicope today announced support for live 360-degree videos. Just as you’d expect, this feature lets you view 360-degree videos as they’re being live streamed.

Live 360-degree videos are launching today on Periscope and Twitter, and they’re marked with a special “LIVE 360” badge. When you’re viewing a 360-degree live stream, you can move your phone or tap and scroll around the screen to change your point of view.

At launch, 360-degree videos are only available to select partners, with more users getting added in the coming weeks.

Live Periscope streams are a good way to show people what’s happening around you, but live 360-degree videos take that a step further by letting the viewers see everything around you. While we wait for the feature to be rolled out to more Periscope users, you can check a replay of the first 360-degree Periscope in the tweet above.



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LeEco Le S3 Unboxing and First Impressions

For $250 off-contract, the LeEco Le S3 features a 5.5-inch 1080p LCD screen, octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor with 3GB RAM, 16MP rear and 8MP front cameras, 3,000mAh battery, IR blaster, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. How do you think it stacks up against the competition?



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More LG G6 renders leak out, no module support to be found

Days after we got what may be our first peek at the LG G6, more renders of the upcoming Android flagship have leaked out.

Several renders that claim to show the LG G6 have been shared by @OnLeaks and GearIndia. The device in these images look similar to the render that appeared earlier this week, though these new renders also give us a peek at the G6’s front.

The renders suggest that the LG G6 will look similar to the G5, but with less-rounded corners. There are dual rear cameras with a fingerprint reader below them, just like on the G5, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack up top and what looks to be a USB Type-C port on the bottom.

LG G6 render leak rear

One of the most notable tweaks with the LG G6 is its lack of modularity. There appears to be no pop-off piece on the bottom of the G6 like there was on the G5, which supports the rumors that the LG G6 won’t support the swappable modules found on the G5.

Other rumored features of the LG G6 include a 5.3-inch 2560x1440 display, dual rear cameras with different focal lengths, dual LED flash, and glossy and matte finishes.

It’s rumored that LG could introduce the G6 earlier in the year than previous models, with a launch happening as soon as the end of February. We’ll have to wait until then to find out exactly what LG has in store for the G6, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the device abandon the modularity of the G5. Those modules just never really seemed to gain traction with consumers, and LG has only released a couple of them to date.

What do you think of this alleged LG G6 design?

LG G6 render leak front

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Tuesday 27 December 2016

Best Smartphones of 2016: iPhone 7 & 7 Plus



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Google Pixel XL Review: Two Months Later

The Google Pixel XL is a smartphone that features incredible software, but subpar hardware. The question is whether or not the software experience makes up for the lack of hardware related features.



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T-Mobile Galaxy Note 7 begins receiving update to disable device

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Blue Coral hands-on

Samsung confirmed earlier this month that it would kill the remaining Galaxy Note 7 phones in the US, and today that process officially begins.

T-Mobile has started rolling out an update to its version of the Galaxy Note 7 that disables the phone’s ability to charge. The update also includes a notification about Samsung’s Note 7 recall and info on how to return the recalled handset.

This update is version N930TUVU2APL2 and is 113.75MB in size.

Samsung has made quite a bit of progress in reclaiming all of the Note 7s in the US, having collecting 93 percent of devices to date. Some folks are still clinging to their Note 7s despite the recall and possibility of the phones catching fire, and while the Note 7 is a good phone, all of the devices need to be turned in for the safety of the owners and everyone around them. Today’s update will help with that.

The other three major US carriers will release updates to kill their Note 7s in January. AT&T and Verizon will both push it starting on January 5, while Sprint will follow on January 7.



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Nexus 6 will get Android 7.1.1 update in early January

Nexus 6 hands-on

Earlier this month, Google officially began pushing Android 7.1.1 to Nexus and Pixel devices. Nexus 6 owners still haven’t gotten the update, though, and now we know why.

Google says that it found a “last minute bug” with the Nexus 6’s update to Android 7.1.1 that required fixing before the rollout could begin. The good news is that the bug has indeed been fixed, and Google is planning to push Android 7.1.1 to the Nexus 6 in early January.

The update to Android 7.1.1 includes a few notable features, like app shortcuts when you long-press on an app icon and image keyboard support.

The Nexus 6 is getting pretty long in the tooth, having launched in October 2014. It’s still getting support from Google thanks to its status as a Nexus phone, though, and it’s exciting to hear that it’ll soon get the latest version of Android that its Pixel brethren are running. 



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How would you change Apple's AirPods?

Apple AirPods

Last week, Apple's first-generation AirPods went on sale. It's the company's first go at truly wireless earphones, and, as is par for the course, the company is releasing its product while there are a variety of different options out there to choose from. From small startups to bigger entities, truly wireless earphones are now readily available, covering a wide price range as well.

For a lot of people, AirPods are going to be their first foray into the market.

Whether or not they stay there, of course, will depend on their time with the wireless earphones, and how that experience pans out. Each person's mileage will vary, as is the case with any piece of technology, and it will come down to many different aspects.

The design of the AirPods themselves seems to be a sticking point for many. I read quite a few reviews that pointed out the AirPods fall out of their ears with any kind of movement, and that's similar to what I've heard in the past with Apple's wired EarPods. Obviously if the AirPods don't fit, they aren't the right choice -- especially at $159.

Sound quality is another area of potential concern, but that aforementioned price tag should be a pretty clear indicator of where that level will be set. The AirPods aren't going to be the best-sounding earphones you own, but that expectation shouldn't even be set.

Features are probably the biggest area where folks might raise their eyebrows.

The only input method for the AirPods is a double-tap on either stem of the earphones, which will either Play/Stop media playback, or activate Siri. That's it. There are no options for skipping a track, or controlling the volume -- pretty important things when you're listening to media.

You can ask Siri to play/pause your media, or turn up your volume, or skip a track, but you'll be talking to the digital personal assistant quite a bit out in public if you go that route. And, as many have pointed out, that can be a task, because Siri's efficacy is hit-or-miss.

In my time with the AirPods, I've deactivated Siri's access altogether and just opt for the Play/Stop mechanic, which means I'm still connected to my phone because I have to pull it out to change a song, or change the volume. But making Siri work on a regular basis, or even talking to the digital personal assistant in public, isn't something I want to take on on a regular basis.

The lack of physical music controls has left me wanting more, but the truth is, in the end, I'm happy with the AirPods. They connect super easily, they sound good enough, they fit very well (they don't fall out of my ears), and I'll take the drawbacks for these positives.

I want physical media playback controls in the next iteration of the AirPods. That's all that I would change about them right now. But what about you? If you've picked up a pair of the truly wireless earphones, what would you change? Or if you skipped them, why'd you decide against Apple's first attempt? Let me know!



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Monday 26 December 2016

Should LG release the G6 early?

LG G5

Speculations, rumors, and leaks are the center of attention at the tail end of the year as we anxiously await to see what 2017 has in store for us. The start of the new year is particularly exciting for mobile enthusiasts as Consumer Electronics Show happens in early January with Mobile World Congress following soon after in late February. Despite the fact that CES is just a couple of short weeks away, we still tend to hold ourselves over with the comfort (and sometimes discomfort) of the ever-churning rumor mill.

According to an article over at XDA Developers, a new rumor suggests that underdog LG may be revealing its G6 flagship a month earlier than anticipated in order to beat the competition to the punch and maximize sales. For reference, the modular LG G5 was announced during MWC 2016, which was also when the Galaxy S7 was announced, so the G6 may appear sometime in January.

Overall, I would say it’s a bold but smart strategy. The G6 so far is a complete mystery. It may continue the G5’s modular legacy, but the design was also underwhelming and LG has given very little clue as to what the G6 will actually be like. Not only are we captivated by its uncertainty, but when you also factor in the rumor that Samsung may be unveiling the S8 later than usual, LG may very well give its new flagship a 1 or 2-month window before other flagships start showing up (unless, of course, HTC is attempting to do something similar with its equally mysterious “HTC U” event).

Still, the G5’s modular design and nearly coinciding release date with the Galaxy S7 last year aren’t the only things that have held LG back. “Bootloop” is a phrase that frequently accompanies any mention of LG, with the infamous issue starting with the LG G4 back in 2015. Other reports have surfaced claiming that other LG devices, such as the V10 and Nexus 5X, suffer from the same issue, but LG has only acknowledged and offered repair for the G4 thus far. It is, of course, impossible to tell whether the G6 will also suffer from bootloop issues, but here’s hoping that it doesn’t. I wouldn’t blame people for remaining skeptical given how widespread this issue appears to be on multiple LG devices, and although it’s not as dangerous as a phone exploding, the bootloop issue does render the phone useless and is, therefore, cause for legitimate concern.

On the other hand, LG also has a few noteworthy good things going for it as well. LG has a good track record of keeping the microSD card slot on board and is one of the last remaining manufacturers that has also kept the removable battery. I don’t think it would be too far-fetched to assume that they’ll probably keep the 3.5mm headphone jack around as well despite the growing number of companies that have decided to do away with it. On top of all that, LG has made some unique (yet subtle) changes to its smartphone designs that make them worth noticing, such as moving the volume buttons and fingerprint sensor on the back and adding a small, secondary display in the V10 and V20.

I don’t think rushing things is ever a good thing, but I suppose if LG feels confident enough in their phone that they can release it early without issues then it’s probably the best opportunity to do so. Plus, it’s only a month. Even so, it’s not a bad idea to wait until initial reviews to come out before officially deciding to buy the phone – just to make sure.

Readers, what are your thoughts on an early G6 release? Do you think this would help LG, or do you think an early release isn’t necessary the best move? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!



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LG G6 design reportedly leaks as early launch rumors swirl

LG G6 design leak

The LG G6 is one of the flagship smartphones that we’re looking forward to seeing in 2017, but the device’s design may have leaked out before 2016’s end.

Images that claim to show the design of the LG G6 have surfaced. Specifically, they show the rear and back of a device. The images have been posted by Android Authority and journalist Shai Mizrachi, who has leaked other Android devices in the past, including the design of last year’s LG G5.

As for the LG G6, the device doesn’t look too dissimilar from the G5 (shown below). There’s an elongated cutout on its rear that’d presumably be home to a dual camera system, just like the G5, and below that is likely where a rear fingerprint reader would go. Up top there’s a hole for what looks to be a 3.5mm headphone jack.

What’s different here is that this alleged LG G6 appears to have corners that are a bit less round than those on the LG G5. There’s also no separation line near the bottom of this G6, which seemingly supports the rumor that the module system of the LG G5 won’t carry over to the LG G6.

LG G5 hands-on rear

In other LG G6 news, a new report claims that LG will launch its new flagship earlier in the year than the G5, which was released in April. Sources tell ETNews that LG is now aiming to launch the G6 at the end of February or the start of march.

The goal of this earlier release, say sources, is to give the LG G6 a sales boost by getting the device onto shelves before its competitors.

Rumors have suggested that Samsung is planning to launch its Galaxy S8 later than usual, targeting an April debut. Meanwhile, the HTC 10 was announced in April 2016, so it’s possible that we could see its successor in April 2017.

If Samsung and HTC’s new devices do indeed debut in April and launch later in that month, that could give the LG G6 a good month-and-a-half to two months as the latest Android flagship on the market. That doesn’t guarantee that LG will see huge sales of the G6 — that depends on entirely if the G6 is actually a good phone — but being the new device on the block for that time wouldn’t hurt.



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Did you get a wearable for Christmas?

Fitbit Blaze

Well, it's officially the Day After, and many people out there are well away from the destruction left behind from discarded wrapping paper and boxes. By now you've probably already had plenty of time to adopt whatever it is you received for the holidays into your life, whether it be a new smartphone, tablet, wearable, or other piece of gadgetry.

Plans changed last minute for me last night, so instead of a lot of cooking, my family and I went out to eat. It was packed, as I figured it would be, and a lot of people were using the wait time to talk to those around them, showing off what they received as a gift, and talking about what they doled out to family and friends.

A couple of people near me were ecstatic about their new Google Pixel phones, which made me ridiculously happy, too. I wasn't able to glean from their conversation which devices they switched from, but the end result was apparently pretty fantastic.

It wasn't until we were seated, though, that I really saw the impact of getting new devices.

In the table next to me, four people were bunched together: son, daughter, father, and grandmother. Each of them was staring at a device. The daughter had a Nintendo 3DS. The son, easily in his teens, was using a case-less iPhone 7 Plus. The dad and the grandmother were both staring at their wrists as they messed around with the smart wearable wrapped around them.

The grandmother, as near as I could tell, had a Fitbit, and the dad was using an Apple Watch (no idea what Series, mind you). Each person was enamored with the device in front of them, but I was the wearables that really caught my eye.

This is a market that you don't have to look very hard to find folks talking about its demise, especially when it comes to smartwatches. Motorola has made it clear that it doesn't see a reason to make a smartwatch right now -- even as Google has confirmed it has two flagship wearables on the way. And now Pebble has gone the way of many companies before it, acquired by another larger entity -- in this case, Fitbit.

I don't see a lot of smartwatches out there in the wild, but, when I do, it's typically an Apple Watch. I will also add that, even if I saw a Moto 360 or another round smartwatch out there, I might not be able to pick it out without seeing its display activated. So, it's certainly possible that I've seen more smartwatches out there, but just mistook them for a standard watch.

That being said, I do see a lot of wearables, most of which are the "simple" kind, without a huge touchscreen display. The bands and what not, looking more like a standard accessory rather than a piece of technology.

After seeing so many people entranced by their new gadgets, I did a quick search in the iOS App Store to see which apps were at the top of the lists. In the free category? Fitbit. That's still the case, at the time of publication for this piece. It would seem Fitbit's wearables were a hot ticket this year, so that got me wondering.

Did you get a smart wearable this year for the holidays, or gift one to a friend or family member? Was it a fitness-focused device, without a touchscreen, or did you opt for a smartwatch? If so, which device did you get/gift? Let me know!



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Saturday 24 December 2016

Happy Holidays!

Wishing Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you for all the love and support over the past year. We are excited to welcome in 2017 but before that, let's enjoy our time with family and friends!



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AirPods vs Gear IconX



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