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  • New Galaxy Watch and What We Know

    New Galaxy Watch and What We Know

    The Samsung Gear was lackluster and not a commercial hit. The adoption in comparison is dismal to the iWatch’s success. Samsung is looking to change that with its next Galaxy Watch. While its name, its OS, and its features are pretty much still in flux, which, at the very least, makes it sound a bit more exciting.

    What We Know

    Very little Im afraid. There have not been alot of details released yet. Lets start with what we know. It will be round for starters, they will not be adapting to Apples square face. Bixby will be a huge and integral part of this watch.Although Bixby has been out for more than a year now, Samsung’s homegrown AI assistant has not descended on any of the current smartwatches. That will change with the Galaxy Watch. Oh yeah,  Presumably we also have a name, ,A registered trademark on “Galaxy Watch” has been leaked.

    Its Safe To Assume

    While we don’t have any confirmation its safe to assume the next line in the Galaxy Watch will be a big upgrade from previous models. For it to compete with the legendary and most popular watch on the planted, the iWatch, it will have to be something special. Look for vast strides in the ai and voice control aspect. Bixby will do things Siri just cant and hasn’t even though of yet. It will be much easier to use and that in turn will give this the commercial appeal all of android is been lacking since the dawn of time, or 2010.

    What Would Be Cool in the Galaxy Watch

    This is the part of these articles I like the most. This is where we get to throw in all the stuff my little heart could desire in a new Galaxy Watch. What do I want, I want battery. Battery Life, I can not stress this enough. A watch I  don’t have to worry about charging for a week. Use that cool Rolex kinetic energy technology they have been using since the beginning of watches to recharge my smartwatch. A big face, 52-54mm. Make is glorious and a true fashion and status statement, like a watch should be. Holograms? ummm yes please. a bit better speaker, just to make taking a phone call on your watch actually viable. Last but not least, lets change Bixby to Sam. Sam, short for Samsung seems like a friendly guy I would like to chat with. The name is also very gender neutral and could easily pair with a nice female voice.  Plus we get the added feeling of being Dick Tracy and talking to Sam back at the station.

    The Final Thought

    Whats left to say? Well plenty. We will have more solid info when these details emerge. My industry sources tell me look for a Note release in late Aug for this new Galaxy Watch.

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Not

    • Way, way too pricey
    • Possibilities of Violent Explosions

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true, if it doesn’t kill you

    Who still remembers the terror Samsung bestowed amongst the world two years ago? Who remembers when the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launched to much fanfare with ravastious acclimates from all. Shouting from the heavens this is sciences gift to man. A short while after the device made it into the worlds hands the batteries violently exploded it was seemed like a coordinated terrorist attack.

    Y’all remember when that happened? At the time, Samsung had initially responded with assurances that it was an isolated problem that it would handle on a case-by-case basis, but eventually realized the issue was beyond control. Eventually, it issued a full recall for all Note 7 devices around the world. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    If this thing doesn’t explode in our face we have a monster here. The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone. It’s the battery though, it’s just too good to be true. Add in their shaky past and it’s something to be weary off.


  • Oppo R15 Pro: Worth the Buy?

    Oppo R15 Pro: Worth the Buy?

    You might have never heard of Chinese smartphone brand Oppo. Odds are good you’ve heard of their sibling company, OnePlus, though. Oppo, ironically, is the bigger brand in China, but OnePlus tends to steal headlines with their bold designs. The newest Oppo phone, the Oppo R15 Pro, is out now. Is it a worthy competitor in the crowded Android market, or is the brand’s obscurity in the US warranted? Let’s find out. 

    Design 

    The R15 Pro is a very clean, modern-looking phone, with a big 6.28-inch display. It sports an iPhone X-style notch, and, in fact, is very much an homage to the iPhone. The Color OS spin on Android OS is pretty much a one-to-one recreation of iOS 11, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. It does make the phone feel unoriginal, but it doesn’t detract from the end user experience. 

    The Oppo R15 Pro has asolid make, too. The phone sports a headphone jack, unlike some newer phones, and has a metal back. That somewhat old-fashioned design decision is underscored by the phone’s charging port, which is micro-USB. The charging port works fine, but it is odd to see such an old port when USB-C is officially the preferred charging method of other android phones. 

    Cameras 

    The cameras on this phone are quite solid. It has two back-facing cameras for portrait mode, and pictures taken in it look fine, if a little washed out. The back cameras are both 20-megapixel, while the front one is 16. Pictures taken normally look pretty good, considering this phone has a mid-range price! It even sports automatic HDR that looks really great.  

    Oppo R15 Pro Performance 

    While design and camera quality are important, the actual phone performance is the big deal. The R15 doesn’t disappoint, but it’s certainly no powerhouse. Sporting a 2.3GHz octa-core Kirin 970 processor, the phone does okay in most tasks. Gaming and other processor-intensive tasks are a little less snappy than on higher-end phones, but it’s usually fine.  

    The battery life is rather excellent, only a fraction worse than the OnePlus 6, which is still impressive. You’ll likely finish the day with a good chunk of battery left, which is great.  

    Bottom Line 

    The final word on the R15 Pro? It’s an excellent phone for its mid-level price. Coming in around $515, this phone has no glaring drawbacks and works reasonably well in most tasks. If you like the look of iOS but want to stick with an affordable Android, consider getting an R15 Pro. You’ll also get a ton of odd looks from people who have no idea what phone you have, which is cool!  

    Feature Image Credit: Android Authority 

  • Google Maps and Uber Fall Out

    Google Maps and Uber Fall Out

    Uber and Google Maps have been integrated since January of 2017. However, in the newest Android update, that integration has been rescinded. Previously, users were able to see prices and hail Ubers directly through the Google Maps app. Uber was the only service that offered direct integration through the Maps app. While several other services, like Lyft, are visible through Google Maps, only Uber could be paid for directly through the app.  

    Why are Google and Uber Done? 

    It’s unclear why this split took place. Perhaps the ride-sharing giant would rather customers open their app and use it. Maybe Google tired of supporting just Uber through their Map app and didn’t have plans to integrate other ride-sharing apps. In any event, users can still see ride sharing details in Google Maps. Now, however, they will be moved to the ride-sharing service’s app when they want to actually hail a ride and pay for it.  

    Continued Troubles for Uber

    Uber has been in a good deal of hot water lately. For one, they’ve been under fire for classifying their employees as contractors, thus avoiding paying for insurance for them. Additionally, the company faced allegations of turning a blind eye to sexual misconduct last year. Other issues last year, like fines from many states at localities, lack of diversity in hiring and leaks of medical information led to the demotion of then-CEO Travis Kalanick.  

    Since then, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to hold itself to a higher standard. The ethical issues of its impact on the gig economy, however, are unresolved. Between pressuring traditional taxi services and warping the economy of transportation, the company has had a substantial impact. Despite being worth billions of dollars, they own very little in the way of cars or employees. They are still able to classify their drivers as contractors and use the property of others to fund their own profits.  

    These issues likely had little to do with the app’s de-coupling from Google Maps, but who knows? Perhaps Google is trying to send a message on how they feel about companies like Uber. Or, more likely, Google simply decided it didn’t want to be so closely identified with a company that has a record as rough as Uber’s. 

    Feature Image Credit: USA Today

  • Tablet Talk: The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2

    Tablet Talk: The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2

     

    Samsung announced a new version of its Samsung Chromebook Plus , titled the Chromebook Plus (V2) with an Intel Celeron processor and front and rear facing cameras. It will be available only from Best Buy and goes on sale June 24 starting at $499.99. Samsungs press release says “For those who use Chrome OS to do more on the go, the new light and thin Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2) sets the standard with front and rear cameras, built-in pen, and a more powerful processor”

     

    The Standard, Really Just Standard

    It looks like one thing Samsung got right for sure is the use of the word standard. This 2 in one is definitely that, standard. The 2-in-1 convertible is designed to help people get the most out of Chrome OS. Samsung has listed some highlight from the announcments..

    1. Front and Rear Facing Cameras to Stay Connected – Communicate visually with the 1M front-facing camera and a 13M F1.9 rear-facing camera with autofocus. Simply fold your laptop into tablet mode and capture your view from any angle. The front camera is ideal for video chats with classmates or clients, friends or family. Plus, store photos and videos right on your cloud.
    2. Unleashing Creativity – The Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2) stands out by comingwith a built-in pen. Experience the power and precision of the stylus. It’s always with you when you need it, and it never needs charging. Write a note, sketch out an idea, edit a document, sign a document, or even use the pen to magnify small text and capture carefully cropped screenshots.
    3. Do More, Store More – Tackle anything that comes your way, wherever you are, with more power and more storage. The upgraded Intel® Celeron® processor and long-lasting battery keep you going all day.In addition to users’ personal cloud storage, the Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2) has 32GB of built-in storage, with the option to add up to 400GB with a microSD card (sold separately) – room for favorite photos, documents and music, as well as for storing movies to watch offline on the go.
    4. Premium Design, Premium Experience – designed for comfort and peace of mind, with a curved-cap keyboard built to withstand spills up to 60cc. The device’s rounded edges offer users a comfortable grip whether it’s being used as a notebook or a tablet. The Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2) offers even more functionality to users with multiple connected devices, including easy file sharing between Chromebook and mobile devices. Smart Lock from Google makes it easy to store and use passwords across your devices.

    The laptop will use an Intel Celeron 3965Y processor (a change from the old Plus’ ARM processor, though the Chromebook Pro used an Intel Core M3). The “rear” camera, above the keyboard, for use in tablet mode, is a new addition. The laptop will have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
    The Chromebook Plus (V2) has a 1920 x 1080 display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The previous model had a 3:2 aspect ratio with a 2400 x 1600 resolution. While an unexpected announcement, nothing unexpected here.

    Quick Spec Look of The Samsung Chromebook Plus

    • PROCESSOR Intel® Celeron® Processor 3965Y
    • MEMORY 4GB
    • STORAGE 32GB
    • GRAPHICS Intel® HD Graphics 615
    • POWER 39Wh
    • WEIGHT 2.93 lbs
    • CMF Stealth Silver
    • DIMENSION 11.34 x 8.19 x 0.63-7.0 inches
    • PORTS 2 x USB-C™ [4K display out with optional adapter, Charging] 1 x USB3.0
      MicroSD card reader
      3.5mm headphone jack
    • MATERIAL Aluminum alloy/Glass/Plastic
    • DISPLAY Aspect Ratio: 16:10
      Brightness: 300nit
      Touch Screen
    • CAMERA Dual: 1M (front); 13M (on keyboard deck)
    • SPEAKER Stereo Speakers (1.5W x 2)
    • STYLUS Built-in-pen

    The Final Thought

    This is just another mediocre Samsung device, put out by what is becoming the standard of a mediocre company. Samsung fails to innovate or at least manipulate someone eases innovation yet again. Uninspired, its just the Chromebook on the self if you need a Chromebook and you probably don’t.

  • Vivo Nex: A Phone from the Future

    Vivo Nex: A Phone from the Future

    Vivo has announced their Nex phone, a futuristic and incredible concept. The phone features a massive display, coming in at an astonishing 6.59 inches. The phone also has no notch and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. How cool is that? Let’s get into some of the details. 

    Who’s Nex? 

    The Nex phone has a lot of interesting and innovative technologies in play. The first is the in-screen fingerprint scanner. Vivo has had varying degrees of success with such scanners in the X20 and X21 phones. The scanner in the X20 was superb, but the one in the X21 left something to be desired. The second innovation is the lack of a screen notch. 

    The screen notch seen on phones like the iPhone X is used to house the camera and speaker for phone calls. The Vivo Nex accomplishes this in two unique ways. The first is by using the screen itself as a speaker. This is a very interesting innovation that hasn’t been seen in any mass-production smartphones before. Early reports say that this speaker actually sounds pretty good, despite its unusual position under a phone screen. 

    Odd-Looking Selfie Camera 

    The second innovation allowing for a notch-free screen? That weird looking little nub coming out of the top corner of the phone. It’s the selfie camera! Yeah, it pops up when you activate the selfie feature. It’s about the quaintest thing going on with this complex, high-tech phone. I don’t know if this is a better option than just having a notch, but it’s certainly amusing. 

    Flagship Processor 

    The phone is also packing some serious power. It uses a Snapdragon 845 processor, which is top of the line, and sports 8 GB of RAM. It also sports 256 GB of internal storage and a huge battery, clocking in at 4,000mAh. All-in-all, this is an impressive-looking piece of hardware. 

    When Can We Try the Vivo Nex Hands-On? 

    Sadly, we don’t have a release date or a price for the Chinese smartphone yet. However, when it does launch, expect to import it, as Vivo’s phones are sold almost exclusively in China. 

    Feature Image Credit: NDTV Gadgets 

  • SmartPhone Spotlight: LG G7 ThinQ

    SmartPhone Spotlight: LG G7 ThinQ

    LG has released another Flagship smartphone for 2018. The LG G7 ThinQ. The new flagship comes to replace the LG G6 and arrives with a host of improvements which LG hopes will help outshine competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the upcoming OnePlus 6.Lg boasts The LG G7 ThinQ delivers thoughtful intelligence, inside and out. Lets just see

     

    The Great

    • Snapdragon 845
    • IP68 Water resistant
    • Qi Wireless fast charging
    • Revolutionary sound
    • Gorgeous

    The Not

    • So far… none other then its made by LG

    The Conclusion

    Its another high end android with very few but kinda cools differential features that no one else is doing

     

    LG announced the G7 ThinQ about a month ago, and now, the phone is available for purchase in the US for a retail price of around $750. THats a good price for a phone of this caliber, LG has always been know to make very pretty phones, but they have failed to stand out in the past 5 years. This has left consumers only remembering their failures, They could use a win about now. There are a few stand out aspects of the LG G7 Thinq matched with a good desgin and those LG screens we may just have a winner.

    The Design

    Lg didn’t set out to revolutionize their flagship but utilize trends to perfect upon their previous design. First with have a notch, everyone’s doing it so you go to too LG. The display is still flanked by razor-thin bezels, with the presence of the notch LG is maximizing screen size.  The G7 boasts a metal frame, a slightly curved glass back and comes in New Platinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue or Raspberry colors. And like its predecessor, it’s also IP68 certified. The LG G6 has a similar look, with a slightly curved glass back and metal frame.

    We also are getting some display upgrades as well. Lg has always had breath takeing display screen, even in there TVs, now that are taking it a step in the useful direction. LG’s new LCD technology will enable users to clearly view the phone’s screen in direct sunlight. This is possible thanks to a brightness of up to 1,000 nits and a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

    A+ on the desgin

    The Sound

    Audiophiles take a look, The new G7 because the flagship comes with a single mono loudspeaker, as opposed to implementing stereo speakers. This baby booms.

    LG calls it the G7’s Boombox speaker, and as the name suggests it’s bigger and louder than the G6’s. It’s also clever enough to use the inner space inside the device as an echo chamber to amplify the bass. The company says the speaker should be 39% louder than its predecessor.

    LG also cares about the new device’s audio quality, so it has included the 32-bit quad-DAC from the G6. The company says the quad-DAC should provide a clearer sound over wired headphones (yes, 3.5mm jack still on board).

    The phone also offers DTS:X virtual surround sound, which creates a 7.1-channel audio. This is the first time this technology has been incorporated into a phone.

     

    LG G7 ThinQ Quick Speck Look

    • OS Android 8.0 (Oreo), planned upgrade to Android 9.0 (P)
    • Chipset Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845
    • CPU Octa-core (4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4×1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
    • GPU Adreno 630
    • Internal 128 GB, 6 GB RAM or 64 GB, 4 GB RAM
    • CAMERA Primary Dual: 16 MP (f/1.6, OIS, laser&PDAF) + 16 MP (f/1.9), laser & phase detection autofocus, LED flash
    • 3.5mm jack Yes
      – 32-bit/192kHz audio
      – DTS-X sound
      – Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
    • COMMS WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot
    • Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
    • GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
    • NFC Yes
    • FEATURES Sensors Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
    • Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
    • BATTERY Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery

     

    The Final Thought

    the LG G7 ThinQ has got the specs, the looks, and something special. Its a contender and in all seriousness an upgrade over the galaxy S9. As far as carriers go, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and US Cellular will all sell the phone, and it will also be available on Project Fi. For those who want to buy one unlocked, it can be found at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H.

  • Google Removes Eggs from Salad Emoji for Vegan Inclusivity

    Google Removes Eggs from Salad Emoji for Vegan Inclusivity

    Emojis are serious business, guys. If you had any doubts, just check out this news from Google. Google’s salad emoji, which used to contain eggs, is now forgoing them in favor of being more vegan friendly! Uh, alright, cool! That salad looks kind of lame, though. Maybe throw some onions or cucumbers in there? Who’s eating their salad with lettuce, tomatoes and no dressing? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with lettuce and tomatoes, but I wouldn’t just eat a big portion of both and call that lunch. 

    Wait, Seriously? This is News? 

    Hey, people take those emojis pretty seriously. Remember when Google’s burger emoji had the cheese under the patty and people freaked out? And a bunch of other people learned that placement of stuff on a burger is important, apparently? If not, I don’t blame you, this is certainly niche news. But people seem to like communicating with each other via pictographs, and the ones representing their food need to be accurate. Or something. 

    Other Food Related Emojis 

    Google is also making their bacon emoji more crisp looking and adding some brown to the edges. See, meat eater, it’s not just vegans getting new stuff! Google probably heard the belly-aching of countless meat eaters at once and headed them off with their favorite thing, bacon. Seriously, you guys are weird with your bacon. Bacon flavored milk shakes? Bacon on double cheeseburgers, as though those didn’t have enough calories already? Bacon on freaking pancakes? I mean, who am I to tell you how to live your life. But you know it’s weird how much you focus on bacon.  

    Does bacon even taste all that good? Is it really worth all the hype? Why am I writing all of this about bacon and salad emojis? Well, anyway, Google’s emoji updates will likely be out in September. Until then you’ll have to live with eggs in your salad and not-so-crispy bacon. 

    Feature Image Credit: Mashable 

  • Android P vs iOS 12: Which Tech Giant is Leading the Future of Smartphones?

    Android P vs iOS 12: Which Tech Giant is Leading the Future of Smartphones?

    Both Apple and Google have announced their upcoming smartphone OS updates. On the Apple side, we have iOS 12, a largely iterative and incremental update. Android P, on the other hand, is an OS playing catch-up. It represents Google’s attempt to replicate Apple-like functionality on their open, developer-first platform. Which of them has the edge from what we’ve seen so far? Let’s break down the proposed features of each and find out! 

    When Are They Launching? 

    Firstly, let’s discuss release. It’s most likely that we’ll see both iOS 12 and Android P in September. Both will likely launch alongside their flagship phones. Android P’s beta is going on now, while iOS 12’s is set to come later this summer. So, neither gets an edge, as the two are coming right around the same time. 

    Voice Assistants 

    Photo Credit: Apple 

    Siri is kind of a joke now, sadly. While Google Duplex is making phone calls for you and taking strings of commands at once, Siri doesn’t recognize her own name. Jokes aside, Apple launched the virtual assistant technology in 2011. They’ve had so much time to perfect the tech, to make it awesome, and they haven’t. Instead they were content with a just-OK assistant and let Amazon and, importantly, Google catch up. Now they’ve thrown their lead and have to play catch-up. 

    Siri Shortcuts, coming in iOS 12, is their latest push for the virtual assistant. It’s something of a low-tech answer to Google Assistant. It puts the hard work on the user, having them program action in response to command words. For instance, saying “Going to work,” could pull up your morning news podcast and navigate you past high-traffic routes. This is somewhat lame, considering Google Assistant has similar functions just programmed in by the developers. Google gets the edge, here. 

    Face Unlock 

    Photo Credit: Android Authority 

    Face unlock tech was popularized by the iPhone X as an alternative biometric to fingerprint scanning. The iPhone X has a 3D front-facing camera, making its Face ID an incredibly secure, trustworthy locking function. Android’s, by comparison, is noted for its “convenience.” As Google can’t guarantee all phones that use Android have powerful, front facing 3D cameras, they can’t promise strong facial recognition. As such, Android P’s face scanner was famously fooled by a printout of someone’s face. 

    The edge easily goes to Apple. Apple’s Face ID seems like a fully-fledged security feature. Google’s Face Unlock seems like a cash-in on a fad.  

    Messaging Apps 

    Photo Credit: Apple 

    Apple’s iMessage wins this one. Google doesn’t even have a proper infrastructure for their messaging app. Google Hangouts is super disappointing when you look at how many things iMessage has going for it. For one, you can FaceTime and do peer-to-peer payments from within the app. You have Animojis and Memojis in iMessage, which are adorable, and you have Wi-Fi messaging to other iPhone users.  

    The edge here easily goes to Apple. Google has some catching up to do with messaging apps. 

    Shared AR 

    Photo Credit: Engadget 

    Shared augmented reality is coming to both operating systems. However, iOS 12’s version is limited to just other iPhones. Meanwhile, Google’s Cloud Anchors work across platforms for any phone. That’s really awesome! Shared AR has a lot of neat applications, like playing games or learning in a classroom. This is tech to watch. 

    Google’s Cloud Anchors have the edge here for sheer breadth of usability. Good show, Google. 

    Maps 

    Photo Credit: NDTV Gadgets 

    There’s not a whole lot to say here. Google Maps is still the better app. It’s much deeper and more fleshed-out than Apple Maps. Apple’s map app is fine for surface-level navigation and that’s about it. Thankfully you can just download Google Maps on your iPhone.  

    The edge goes to Google for having a deep, highly-detailed map app. 

    Screen Time Management 

    Photo Credit: Apple 

    This is brand new to both Android P and iOS 12. Both operating systems come with ways to manage your time spent using various apps. This is ostensibly to help manage smartphone addiction. The addition of such responsible software is a good sign. However, as both are brand new and neither have been seen, we’ll have to reserve judgment.  

    Neither side gets the edge here, as we haven’t seen enough of either feature. 

    Gesture Navigation 

    Photo Credit: Apple 

    The iPhone X popularized gesture-based navigation, forgoing physical or onscreen buttons. It takes some getting used to, but it’s intuitive and responsive. It’s fairly seamless, so it makes sense that Android P would hop on the bandwagon and try their hand at gestures. However, the operating system still relies on a back button for some navigation. Additionally, Google’s hands-off design philosophy means that app developers are free to use gestures or buttons. This fragmentation is the Achilles Heel of Google’s Android platform as a whole. 

    The edge in this one goes to Apple, for their closed-ended, tightly focused OS. Gesture navigation is so much better when it’s across the whole ecosystem. 

    Android P and iOS 12: Who has the Edge? 

    We do. The competition between Google and Apple keeps heating up, and the two massive companies are deadlocked. They keep one-upping one another, and it’s great for consumers. We keep getting better and better phones and better features. It’s still early, in terms of the new OS’s, to tell who’s winning. Both companies have some heavy-hitting features. Apple has the edge in security with their closed-ended platform. Google has Apple on shared AR and the excellent Google Assistant software.  

    Bottom Line 

    Time will tell who wins this cycle. However, Google and Apple being neck-and-neck with one another is sort of status quo now. Their continuous competition keeps driving them both to new heights, which means we keep getting better and better phones. No matter which side you’re on, you’re in for some cool new features come this September. 

  • Snapdragon 850, Its Not What You Are Expecting

    Snapdragon 850, Its Not What You Are Expecting

    Hey Guess what, Qualcomm announced a new top tier Snapdragon chipset this week, the Snapdragon 850. Well I never saw that coming, but a new Snapdragon chip is hitting the market. Is this going to be the new hot chip setting the android world on fire? Will it be in the Samsung Note 9? Hold up everyone, the answer to your questions is no. A big fat no. We are still a year away before we take the next power up on the mobile side. I mean apple hasn’t even laid out the tech jump yet. Ahem …7nm processor..

    Whats with the Snapdragon 850 Then

    As Qualcomm explains it, the Snapdragon 850 was “designed to support many sought-after smartphone features in the PC,” which means connectivity at all times through LTE or WiFi. This chipset should help in the battery department too, by being extra efficient. Which means it’s not a mobile chip, it’s a Snapdragon chip that was designed for Windows and to make your laptop work a lot like a smartphone in terms of being mobile, power reducing and faster.

    Looking at these two side by side spec wise and compare them to the Snapdragon 845, it actually looks like it is very similar, only formatted to work with PCs that run Windows. You’ve got the same Kryo 385 CPU cores, 84-bit architecture, same RAM support, 10nm (2nd gen) process, same Adreno 630 GPU, same video codec and capture support, etc. Qualcomm did up the CPU speed to 2.96GHz,so we got that going for us.

    The Final Thought

    Don’t be too upset, Qualcomm’s first-generation Snapdragon PC processor struggled with performance issues while providing incredible all-day battery life. Qualcomm has addressed these problems with the new Snapdragon 850, adding 30 percent more performance while extending its already incredible battery life another 20 percent to what it now calls “multi-day” longevity. This will be a good thing, think better 2 in 1s.