Nexus 6P

iPad Pro

PrivateVPN

Most VPNs have no clients of their own, and some manage one or two, but PrivateVPN stands out from the crowd with four: Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. This isn't always a good thing – some third-party clients are garbage – but they tend to simplify the setup process, and also show that a company has some substance and depth.

The core service looks capable, too. There are 40 locations in 21 countries, including Russia, Australia and Singapore. You get OpenVPN, L2TP, L2TP/IPsec, IPsec, PPTP, IVEv2 support, and this is a torrent-friendly service which allows for six simultaneous connections, port forwarding, and there are no sneaky limits on bandwidth or anything else.

• Want to try PrivateVPN? Check out the website here

Even better, if you can't get the system working on Windows, Linux or Mac, PrivateVPN offers a free TeamViewer-based remote setup service to get you started.

Despite all this functionality, pricing is a typical $8.95 (£7.10, AU$11.85) for a single month, $5.95 equivalent (£4.70, AU$7.85) if you opt for a full year. Although the firm doesn’t really advertise it, you can get a free 24-hour trial if you email and ask (see the FAQ on the website), and there's a ‘risk-free 7-day guarantee’ for extra protection.

Privacy

Does PrivateVPN keep any logs? The FAQ is emphatic: "No, we NEVER produce logs of any data traffic. The only things we store are your email address."

That doesn't rule out logging session traffic, of course: connection times, bandwidth, maybe IPs. As PrivateVPN imposes a six-device limit it presumably maintains a list of user sessions, but we could find nothing about that on the site. That's a pity, but it's not unusual, and as PrivateVPN is based in privacy-conscious Sweden we suspect any details will be relatively safe.

The rest of the privacy-related small-print is much like most other VPNs. PrivateVPN only holds your email address, it uses cookies on the website and might use third-party analytics, but there's no sign of data sharing or other dubious activities.

PrivateVPN's terms of service is a plus, being clearly written and far more readable than efforts we've seen elsewhere. There's no lengthy list of things you can't do, for instance – just the requirement not to cause harm to others or break the law. Works for us.

Performance

We emailed PrivateVPN, asked for a trial code and had a reply in under 10 minutes. You may not see that kind of speed if you ask a tricky technical question, but it's good to know someone is listening.

This made for a very straightforward signup as there was no need to enter payment details. We just handed over our email address, entered the trial code we'd just been given, and were directed to the support website. By default this displayed setup details related to us (Windows client download, manual setup guides), but there were also sections for macOS, iOS, Android, routers and Linux.

We took a look at the Windows client. This opened simply, with the usual ‘choose a server and click Connect’ setup. There's also an Advanced mode which allows selecting a protocol (we previously mentioned the options, which are various), and defining any apps you'd like to be forcibly closed if the VPN drops. We'd like more configuration options, and ping times to be included in the server list, but otherwise the package is marginally above average. (And if you need more power, there's always the regular OpenVPN software.)

In our tests*, real-life performance was a little above average overall. Short-hop UK-UK download speeds peaked at 30Mbps, and the closest European servers – France, Netherlands, Spain – managed similar rates. UK-US downloads were an acceptable 20-25Mbps in New York, and maybe averaging 20Mbps in Los Angeles, though with a lot of variation.

Our testing ended on a positive note as we ran the usual privacy checks, and found our PrivateVPN connection passed them all: no DNS leaks, no WebRTC issues, every visible IP always correctly tied to our chosen location.

Final verdict

PrivateVPN doesn't make any major mistakes, but it doesn't excel in any of the core areas, either – it's not quite fast enough, or powerful enough, or cheap enough to win us over. If you must have a service with native clients and six connection support, it might be interesting; otherwise, look elsewhere.

• Here are the best VPN services and VPN deals of 2017

*Our testing included evaluating general performance (browsing, streaming video). We also used speedtest.net to measure latency, upload and download speeds, and then tested immediately again with the VPN turned off, to check for any difference (over several rounds of testing). We then compared these results to other VPN services we've reviewed. Of course, do note that VPN performance is difficult to measure as there are so many variables.

from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/2kKd4t7

Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 won't get Android 7.1.2 updates

Earlier today, Google officially unveiled Android 7.1.2 for several Pixel and Nexus devices. The company also confirmed two devices that won’t be getting the update.

The Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will not receive an update to Android 7.1.2. Google hinted at this when it omitted the N6 and N9 from its list of devices that will receive the final 7.1.2 update, then the company straight-up confirmed that neither device will be updated to Android 7.1.2.

While the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will not get Android 7.1.2, they will continue to receive security patches through at least October 2017.

Google has said that the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 were no longer guaranteed Android version updates after October 2016, so lately it’s been more of a “when” and not an “if” today’s news would come. It’s disappointing that the N6 and N9 won’t receive the next Android version update, but the good news is that they did receive Android 7.1.1, so they got the improvements and features included with those updates, like app shortcuts.

Do you have a Nexus 6 or Nexus 9? Does today’s news have you thinking about upgrading to a new phone or tablet?

Google Nexus 6

Google Nexus 9

Google

from PhoneDog.com - Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts http://ift.tt/2kMGXfk
via IFTTT

Nextbit acquired by Razer, sales of Robin ceased

Nextbit, makers of the crowdfunded Robin, has officially been acquired.

Nextbit announced today that it has been acquired by Razer, maker of gaming computers and accessories. Nextbit says that it’ll operate as an independent division inside of Razer with a focus on “mobile design and experiences.”

So what does this mean for Robin, Nextbit’s Android smartphone? Nextbit has stopped sales of the Robin and its accessories, but folks that’ve already bought one aren’t being left out in the cold. Warranties will continue to be fulfilled for the next six months, and Nextbit plans to continue releasing software updates and security patches through February 2018.

The Nextbit Robin was a big deal when it was first announced in September 2015, as the team behind it was made up of veterans from Google and HTC. The Robin was successful on Kickstarter, and while the Robin didn’t necessarily gain massive commercial success, it seemed to do well enough as an attractive, affordable Android device.

Now we wait to see what’s next for Nextbit inside of Razer. Does this mean that we could see Razer enter the mobile market through Nextbit by releasing a new Android phone? It’s certainly possible, and given the Robin’s unique design, I know I wouldn’t mind seeing another piece of hardware from the folks at Nextbit.

Nextbit Robin

from PhoneDog.com - Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts http://ift.tt/2kaAIPz
via IFTTT

Android 7.1.2 announced by Google, now available to beta testers

Surprise! Google today announced Android 7.1.2 and revealed that the update is now rolling out to public beta testers.

As you might expect from an x.x.1 update, Android 7.1.2 is primarily focused on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements. Google says that the update includes “a number of bugfixes and optimizations, along with a small number of enhancements for carriers and users.”

While Android 7.1.2 may not sound like the most thrilling update ever, it’s still worth getting exciting about. Not only do bug fixes and optimizations help to make your smartphone run more smoothly, but it’s good to see another Nougat update so soon after Android 7.1.1.

If you’re a member of the Android Beta Program and you’ve got a Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, or Nexus Player, you should see Android 7.1.2 on your device in the next few days. Google says that an Android 7.1.2 beta for the Nexus 6P will be released “soon.”

If you’re not in the Android Beta Program, you can enroll your Nexus or Pixel device now.

Google plans to launch Android 7.1.2 to the public in a couple of months. It’ll be available to the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and Pixel C.

Google

from PhoneDog.com - Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts http://ift.tt/2jOYZd3
via IFTTT

ZTE weighing options for crowdsourced Hawkeye smartphone, may cancel device entirely

Things with ZTE’s Project CSX crowdsourced smartphone haven't been going well lately, with the phone having launched on Kickstarter earlier this month and currently only at $36,000 of its $500,000 goal, and then ZTE saying that it made a “mistake” with the device. Now ZTE has revealed what’s next for the device.

Jeff Yee, VP of Technology Partnerships and Planning for ZTE North America, has said that his company is “rethinking” how it will sell the Project CSX/Hawkeye phone. “Kickstarter just wasn’t the right place to sell this phone,” Yee explained to Android Central.

As for what happens to the Hawkeye now, ZTE hasn’t yet decided. The company is still weighing its options, but Yee has said that it’s possible that the phone will be cancelled entirely. ZTE does want to use the Hawkeye’s eye-tracking and adhesive case features, though, so they may be added to a future Axon flagship phone.

"This whole process has been a learning experience for us and because it is an industry first, we've learned so much from the program,” Yee said. “If we choose to do it again, we now know how to break it down and learn from our past — and learn from our mistakes."

The premise of Project CSX/Hawkeye was an interesting one, letting consumers name features that they’d like to see in a phone and then picking the best and actually building that device. It didn’t turn out so well in practice, though, as the consumers that participated wanted a high-end flagship smartphone but ZTE wanted a mass market product that’d appeal to (and be affordable for) lots of people. 

At this point, it’s looking unlikely that the ZTE Hawkeye will meet its crowdfunding goal. We’ll have to wait to see if ZTE adds in other features that people want, like a high-end Snapdragon 835 processor that would also make the phone more expensive, or if ZTE just scraps the project altogether and opts to build the eye-tracking and adhesive case features into a future Axon phone.

ZTE

from PhoneDog.com - Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts http://ift.tt/2kI2bYA
via IFTTT

Starbucks adds voice ordering to iPhone app, coming soon to Android

Voice controls are big in mobile right now, with services like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa all helping you get things done using only your voice. Today Starbucks is getting in on the trend.

Starbucks is now rolling out voice ordering in the Starbucks app for iOS and. The feature, which is currently available to select customers, is called My Starbucks Barista and lets you place your Starbucks order using only your voice.

Using a messaging interface, you tell My Starbucks Barista your order, and it’ll then display it back to you to ensure that it got everything right. You can also type out your order if you’d like. Your order can be as complicated as you want, as Starbucks showed a demo of a customer ordering a “double upside down macchiato half decals with room and a splash of cream in a grande cup” and the app understanding the order correctly.

My Starbucks Barista is now available to one thousand customers as part of a beta test, and it’ll continue a phased rollout through summer 2017. An Android version will come later in this year.

Meanwhile, Starbucks is adding the Starbucks Reorder Skill to the Amazon Alexa platform. You can use this skill to set your “usual” Starbucks order and then say “Alexa, order my Starbucks” to get your regular order from your store.

Android users aren’t being totally left out in the cold today, as an update to the Starbucks for Android app is now rolling out. It brings with it a new Favorites feature that’ll let you save custom food and drink orders so that you can quickly order them again later. This feature should come in especially handy for folks with very specific orders, saving them the trouble of having to check all of their boxes when ordering a drink.

from PhoneDog.com - Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts http://ift.tt/2kkP4yD
via IFTTT