Apple will repair defective iPhone 8 logic boards for free

We haven't seen reports of widespread problems with the iPhone 8, but Apple revealed late Friday that it's opening a Logic Board Replacement Program. According to the company "a very small percentage" of phones sold between September 2017 and March 2018 have a manufacturing defect that can lead to restarts, freezes or a failure to start. Of course, when you sell as many phones as Apple does, even a small percentage can add up very quickly, as we've seen with previous iPhone flaws like the "no service" iPhone 7 bug or iPhone 6 Plus "touch disease."

This does not apply to the iPhone 8 Plus or any other model, and owners of devices purchased during that period can hit Apple's website to check if their device is impacted -- if it is, then Apple will replace the phone for free (FYI: physical damage like a cracked screen will need to be fixed first, and that could cost you). If you'd rather wait, then the replacement program will be in force for three years from the first retail sale of a device, and does not extend its warranty.

Via: 9to5Mac, MacRumors

Source: Apple

Apple will repair defective iPhone 8 logic boards for free posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Under Armour's latest wireless buds stay in your ears during workouts

Wireless earbuds are wonderful for the gym... when they stay put. And Under Armour and JBL are keenly aware of that -- they've introduced two sets of Bluetooth earbuds, the over-ear Sport Wireless Pivot (above) and in-ear Sport Wireless React (below), that are designed for stability during workouts. They're lightweight and IPX7 water-resistant, but the chief allures are tip and hook designs that will keep the buds in place. You won't be subjected to the gym's repetitive soundtrack just because a bud fell out mid-burpee.

Source: Under Armour

Under Armour's latest wireless buds stay in your ears during workouts posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Apple announces iPhone 8 logic board replacement program

Apple has revealed a logic board issue with the iPhone 8.

The company today revealed its iPhone 8 logic board replacement program, which offers to repair any iPhone 8 affected by the issue free of charge. Apple explains that a "very small percentage" of iPhone 8 models have logic boards with a manufacturing defect. This defect can cause unexpected restarts, a frozen screen, or a device that won't turn on.

This logic board issue affects iPhone 8 models sold between September 2017 and March 2018 in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and the U.S. It doesn't affect the iPhone 8 Plus. If you believe that your iPhone 8 is affected by this logic board issue, you can go to this webpage to enter your serial number and see if your device qualifies for the program.

The issues caused by this logic board defect sound pretty frustrating, so it's good to hear that Apple has identified the issue and is offering to repair it free for anyone with an affected iPhone 8.

Apple iPhone 8

Apple

Apple announces iPhone 8 logic board replacement program originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Google says no Pixel Watch launching this year

Rumors have suggested that we'll see new Pixel phones, new Pixel earbuds, and a new Pixelbook from Google later this year, but one device that we won't get to meet is a Google smartwatch.

Google has confirmed that it has no plans to launch a Pixel Watch this year. Miles Barr, Google's director of engineering for Wear OS, has told Tom's Guide that Google's focus is on its partners:

“To think of a one-size-fits-all watch, I don’t think we’re there yet. Our focus is on our partners for now.”

This news is surely disappointing to a lot of Android fans who love Google's Pixel line of products. A rumor from earlier this year claimed that Google would launch a Pixel Watch in 2018, so it's possible that the product was in the works but got delayed or canceled. The good news for Wear OS fans is that it looks like Qualcomm will soon introduce a new smartwatch processor, which should bring with it a wave of new watches.

Later in the interview, Barr teased what he thinks a Pixel Watch would look like if Google were to release one. "Our Google Pixel line of phones is the best experience and Google’s take on it, so I imagine we would focus heavily on the [Google] Assistant to integrate AI and machine learning into the device, which is Google’s forte," he explained. What would you like to see in a Pixel Watch?

Google

Google says no Pixel Watch launching this year originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Four Tinder plaintiffs drop out of lawsuit because Match might have quietly changed their contracts

Four Tinder plaintiffs — Rosette Pambakian, Joshua Metz, Jonathan Badeen, and James Kim — are voluntarily withdrawing from their Match Group / IAC lawsuit today, claiming the company covertly tried to enact an arbitration agreement during their employment. All four plaintiffs worked at Tinder, which Match Group owns, up until they filed the lawsuit. At that point, Match / IAC placed them on administrative leave. They all seemingly signed the arbitration agreement.

In a comment to The Verge, Pambakian said:

“Just months after cheating Tinder employees out of billions of dollars, IAC / Match tried changing its policies in an attempt to force all current employees out of a public courtroom before a jury and into secret arbitration. IAC /...

Continue reading…

Four Tinder plaintiffs drop out of lawsuit because Match might have quietly changed their contracts appeared first on http://www.theverge.com

Mophie's new battery packs can charge phones wirelessly

This week, Mophie announced four new wireless charging products. These include the Charge Stream Vent Mount, the Charge Stream Desk Stand, the Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless and the Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless XL, which function as both wireless charging pads and power banks.

Mophie's new battery packs can charge phones wirelessly posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Google posts latest Android platform distribution stats, Oreo usage continues to grow

On the final day of August, Google has dropped its Android platform distribution numbers for the month.

Google determines its Android distribution stats by collecting data about which devices access the Play Store during a 7-day period. This month, Android Oreo was on 14.6 percent of devices, up from 12.1 percent last month. Overall usage of Android Nougat usage held steady at 30.8 percent, but usage of Nougat version 7.0 actually fell a bit while usage of version 7.1 grew.

Usage of Android Marshmallow slipped a bit this month, too, finishing at 22.7 percent while usage of Android Lollipop dropped to 19.2 percent. Android KitKat fell to 8.6 percent, usage of Android Jelly Bean slipped slightly to 3.5 percent, and Android Ice Cream Sandwich stayed at 0.3 percent. Interestingly, usage of Android Gingerbread, which came out in 2010, grew 0.1 percent from last month to finish at 0.3 percent.

There's no Android Pie to be found on Google's chart this month, but that should change the next time that Google releases these stats. Just don't expect Pie to start out with a huge slice of the, erm, pie, because it's only available on a small number of devices right now, like Google's Pixel phones and the Essential Phone.

Which version of Android are you currently running?

Google

Google posts latest Android platform distribution stats, Oreo usage continues to grow originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Twitter is testing threaded replies and status indicators

Sara Haider, Twitter’s director of product management, tweeted a couple screenshots today showing off changes the platform is considering to make things more “conversational.”

Their solution? Threaded conversations and status indicators. They make the app look a lot more like Facebook comment threads.

hey Twitter. we've been playing with some rough features to make it feel more conversational here. presence and reply threading. still early and iterating on these ideas. thoughts? pic.twitter.com/3U3NvpHWPy

— Sara Haider (@pandemona) August 31, 2018

The threading seems fine and like it could make following a conversation easier, just like threading within a user’s own tweets did when that feature launched back in December of last year....

Continue reading…

Twitter is testing threaded replies and status indicators appeared first on http://www.theverge.com

Sprint launching Unlimited Premium plan with 50GB hotspot, Amazon Prime, and more

Sprint currently offers Unlimited Basic and Unlimited Plus plans, and today the yellow carrier announced that it's expanding its offerings with a third rate plan.

Unlimited Premium is launching today. Sprint describes it as "a VIP platinum-style wireless plan tailored for the customer who wants it all." In addition to unlimited talk, text, and data, the Unlimited Premium plan includes 50GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot, full HD video streaming quality, global roaming in more than 185 countries, and unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data in Mexico and Canada. Sprint says that you may experience data deprioritization during times of network congestion.

Customers who sign up for Unlimited Premium will also receive Tidal Premium music streaming, a Hulu Limited Commercials subscription, and Amazon Prime. Sprint is tossing in Lookout Premium Plus, too, which is a mobile security plan that'll get you Breach Report, Identity Theft Insurance and Restoration, and Identity Protection. And for a limited time, customers who sign up for the Unlimited Premium plan will get two $10 off codes for Uber each month.

The Unlimited Premium plan starts at $90 per month. If you bring your own device or buy a new one at full price, you can get a $10 per line discount each month.

This is a loaded plan, but if you're interested in getting Amazon Prime along with music and streaming services, or if you're already signed up for them, this could be a nice way to save some cash each month by bundling it all into your wireless plan.

Sprint

Sprint launching Unlimited Premium plan with 50GB hotspot, Amazon Prime, and more originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Lawmakers demand answers after Verizon throttled firefighter data

Lawmakers have asked Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai to investigate after Verizon throttled the data of firefighters who were tackling wildfires in California. The company was criticized this month for throttling Santa Clara County Fire's unlimited data plan to the point that it made the service essentially useless, hampering the department's response to the Mendocino Complex Fire. Verizon later removed speed caps for first responders on the West Coast and in Hawaii.

Source: Sen. Ed Markey

Lawmakers demand answers after Verizon throttled firefighter data posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL stop by the FCC

One day after we got our first good look at the Google Pixel 3, both it and its larger sibling appear to have passed through the FCC.

New Google products have shown up in the FCC's database with the model numbers A4RG013A and A4RG013C. There aren't any photos or any documents that say, "Hey, this the Pixel 3" or anything like that, but both products are listed as being smartphones, so it seems likely that these are the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Digging further into the documents, there's not much in the way of spec details, but here are some tidbits to be found. Support for GSM and CDMA networks is included here, along with LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 30, 38, 41, 66, and 71. There's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth included, as well, along with NFC.

There's not a ton of suprising info to be found here, as Google's Pixel phones have worked with all four major carriers in the past, but it's still nice to see confirmation of these phones' LTE support. Google has kept most of these FCC filings confidential, so we'll have to wait until the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL's rumored October 9th announcement — or for the steady stream of recent leaks to continue — to get more info on these upcoming flagships.

Google

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL stop by the FCC originally posted at http://phonedog.com

New lawsuit shows your phone is unsafe at American borders

A recent case filed in federal court, where an American woman had her iPhone sized and cracked by Customs and Border Protection in a New Jersey airport, puts a whole new spin on the things we now need to worry about when leaving the country. It appears that now everyone's phones, despite country of origin or cause, are subject to non consensual seizure and search -- even if we refuse to give up our passwords.

If you're not caught up on the story, news hit this week that a Staten Island mom coming home from a February trip with her 9-year-old daughter from Switzerland had her iPhone snatched, kept for months, and accessed for no given reason. Apple did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

New lawsuit shows your phone is unsafe at American borders posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Huawei Mate 20 Lite features 6.3-inch display and four cameras

Along with announcing new colors for its P20 Pro, Huawei today took the wraps off of an entirely new handset.

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite is the new, mid-range entry in Huawei's Mate 20 lineup. It's packing a 6.3-inch display with a resolution of 2340x1080 and a notch. There's a dual front camera setup in that notch with a 24MP main sensor and 2MP secondary sensor to help give your selfies that trendy, bokeh look, and there's also an AI that'll optimize your settings based on eight scene categories.

There's another dual camera setup on the back of the Huawei Mate 20 Lite that packs 20MP and 2MP sensors. These two sensors combine to give photos taken with your rear cameras bokeh, too, and there's also an f/1.8 aperture here and an AI that can choose from 22 categories of object and scene recognition to optimize your photos.

Other notable features of the Huawei Mate 20 Lite include an octa-core Kirin 710 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, and a microSD card slot. There's a rear fingerprint reader included, too, as well as a 3750mAh battery, USB-C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite will launch in the U.K. in October for £379 ($491 USD). There are no other details on when or if Huawei will bring its device to other markets.

Huawei

Huawei Mate 20 Lite features 6.3-inch display and four cameras originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Top 10 iOS apps of August 2018!

We've compiled a top 10 list of our favorite iOS apps to hit the App Store in August 2018. The apps highlighted in this video include Animatix, Karma, Bloons Adventure Time TD, EVO Planner, Cinder, Make Colors, Accelerator: Speed Reader, MellowMe, Trill Project, and Rope Heroes. Which app is your favorite?

Apple

Apple iPhone X

Top 10 iOS apps of August 2018! originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Apple requires a privacy policy for everything in the App Store

Starting on October 3rd, apps for Apple's devices are going to be more transparent about what they do with your personal information. That shift toward greater openness stems from a notice the company provided to developers on its App Store Connect portal last night — in it, Apple mandated that all new apps and app updates must have a privacy policy that explains (among other things) what kind of data the software collects, how that data is used, and how a user can delete that data.

Via: The Verge

Source: 9to5Mac

Apple requires a privacy policy for everything in the App Store posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Huawei's new P20 Pro color options add some sophistication

The P20 Pro is arguably the best camera phone out there. However, the main color option you'll find in (non-US) stores and websites is the divisive purple-blue-pink oil-slick effect. Eye-catching? Yes. For everyone? Less so. Alongside all the news of high-end mobile chips and far too familiar-looking smart speakers, the company revealed a selection of new options. We think the leather-backed black and brown P20 Pro models are pretty darn slick, upgrading the phone from anonymous big smartphone to classy hardware.

Huawei's new P20 Pro color options add some sophistication posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Huawei P20 Pro gets four new color options, including two models with leather

The Huawei P20 Pro made its debut earlier this year with several color options, and now it's getting a few more.

Huawei today introduced four new color options for the P20 Pro. The first two are Morpho Aurora and Pearl White, which are fun color-changing finishes. The Morpho Aurora will shift from blue to purple to black, while the Pearl White will show colors of pink, green, yellow, blue, and white.

And then there are the Elegant Black and Golden Brown colors. These version of the Huawei P20 Pro actually have leather backs, which should help to give them a more premium feel, as well as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage. The Elegant Black version comes with black metal around its outer edge, too, while the Golden Brown comes with a bronze outer edge.

These new Huawei P20 Pro models look pretty nice. The Morpho Aurora and Pearl White are fun, color-changing options for folks that want something a bit different, while the Elegant Black and Golden Brown are premium devices that could also offer a bit more grip than their non-leather counterparts.

Do any of these new Huawei P20 Pro color options interest you?

Huawei

Huawei P20 Pro gets four new color options, including two models with leather originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Motorola launches two notched Android One phones

Motorola has officially launched the One and the One Power, two new phones created for Google's Android One program. While that doesn't mean they're created specifically for emerging markets -- Android One initially focused on entry-level devices but evolved into a series of phones that gets updates from Google quickly and consistently -- they're not quite flagship material either. Inside One Power, you'll find last year's Snapdragon 636 1.8GHz octa-core processor and 64GB of built-in storage, which is thankfully expandable and double that of LG's recently unveiled G7 One. The device also has a 6.2-inch full HD display and, like previous leaks showed, an iPhone X-like notch and a vertical dual rear camera.

Source: Motorola

Motorola launches two notched Android One phones posted first on https://www.engadget.com

iOS 12 beta 12 update now available to fix notification bug

Apple started this week with a new iOS 12 beta, and now it's ending the week with another new beta.

iOS 12 beta 12 is now available to registered developers. You can grab it by going into Settings > General > Software Update on your device, or by accessing Apple's Developer Center on the web. Meanwhile, public testers can get iOS 12 Public Beta 10 by going into Settings > General > Software Update on their iPhone or iPad.

This update likely addresses an annoying iOS 12 bug that testers have encountered recently. Those people were getting an alert that said "A new iOS update is now available. Please update from the iOS 12 beta" every time that they unlocked their device or dismissed the Notification Center.

The update to iOS 12 includes lots of new features, including four new Animoji, the ability to create your own Animoji using  Memoji, improvements to Do Not Disturb, and grouped notifications to help declutter your lock screen. There's also Siri Shortcuts, which will let you perform actions in third-party apps using Siri and shortcuts that you set up.

iOS 12 will launch to the public this fall.

Apple

iOS 12 beta 12 update now available to fix notification bug originally posted at http://phonedog.com

What to expect from Apple’s 2018 iPhone event

After last year's iPhone X introduction, you'd think anything Apple would unveil at its September 12th "Gather Round" event would be anticlimactic. Not so -- if anything, it could be one of the company's biggest launch events in recent memory. It's likely that Apple will announce three new iPhones, not to mention the first substantial changes to the Apple Watch design since its 2015 debut. And then there's a myriad of potential announcements beyond that, such as an iPhone X-inspired iPad Pro, the long-delayed AirPower mat and new AirPods. It's a lot to take in, but we're here to separate the wheat from the chaff and give you an idea of what Tim Cook and crew will reveal when they take the stage.

What to expect from Apple’s 2018 iPhone event posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Motorola One and One Power are new Android One devices

The notch trend has swept the smartphone market in 2018, and it continues to do so this week as Motorola has announced two new phones with notches.

The Motorola One and Motorola One Power are now official. Both are Android One phones, meaning that they come only with "the essential Android OS and moto experiences". They'll get two updates to the lateast Android OS, including an update to Android 9 Pie soon after launch, and monthly security patch updates for three years.

Specs for the Motorola One include a 5.9-inch 1520x720 display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. There's a notch at the top of the screen that's home to an 8MP camera, and at the bottom is a chin with a Motorola logo. The rear of the Motorola One is home to a dual camera setup with 13MP and 2MP sensors as well as a fingerprint reader.

Inside the Motorola One is a 2.0GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage, and there's a microSD card slot if you need more storage. Motorola has included a 3000mAh battery to power the One as well as a TurboPower charger that'll get you up to 6 hours of battery life with a 20-minute charge. There's a 3.5mm headphone jack included, too.

The Motorola One Power steps things up in a few regards. It's got a bigger 6.2-inch 2246x1080 display on its face along with a 12MP front-facing camera, and around back there's a dual rear camera setup with 16MP and 5MP sensors as well as a rear fingerprint reader.

Motorola has upgraded the processor in the One Power, too, giving it a 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 636 processor. Also included is 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, a microSD slot, and a 3.5mm headphone hack. Powering the whole package is a 5000mAh battery with TurboPower fast charging support.

The Motorola One will launch "in the coming months" in Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific for €299 ($348 USD). Meanwhile, the Motorola One Power will launch in India in October for an undisclosed price.​

Motorola

Motorola One and One Power are new Android One devices originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Apple will soon require all App Store apps to have a privacy policy

Apple's Pride-themed watch face is blocked in Russia

Russia's not made any secret of its stance on the LGBTQ+ community. It's banned comics, gotten rid of statues and has taken issue with gay emojis, all in the name of its "gay propaganda" law, passed in 2013. Now, companies that want to operate in the country and are otherwise advocates for LGTBQ+ rights are being forced to fall in line. As iOS developer Guilherme Rambo recently discovered, Apple's Pride-themed Apple Watch face has been "hardcoded to not show up if the paired iPhone is using the Russian locale."

Via: The Verge

Source: Guilherme Rambo (Twitter)

Apple's Pride-themed watch face is blocked in Russia posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Line will give users its own cryptocurrency to buy stickers and webtoons

Huawei will unveil the Mate 20 on October 16

After showing off its latest mobile processor and a smart speaker-router hybrid that looks just like the Google Home, Huawei left its IFA audience with one more little nugget to chew upon. CEO Richard Yu announced that its upcoming Mate 20 flagship will be unveiled in London on October 16 and sport the just-unveiled Kirin 980 chipset.

Huawei will unveil the Mate 20 on October 16 posted first on https://www.engadget.com

New iPad Pros - What to Expect

New iPad Pros - What to Expect originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Feast your eyes on the Pixel 3

If the idea of a notch-riddled Pixel 3 XL has you down, rejoice: the smaller Pixel 3 is basically a shrunken down Pixel 2XL. That's if you believe the latest crop of leaked images, anyway. Yesterday, an anonymous Redditor posted a bunch of seemingly legitimate photos that show off the device from every angle. They line up with previous leaks, and are likely authentic. The images reveal a 5.5-inch display with a 2160x1080 resolution and a 2:1 aspect ration. There are small screen bezels on the top and bottom, and Google's iconic matte and shiny dual-finish on the back.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Reddit

Feast your eyes on the Pixel 3 posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Apple's iOS 12 beta is driving everyone crazy

Apple promised a lot of bells and whistles with its iOS 12 update -- better performance, grouped notifications and the coveted Pixar-like Memojis, for example -- but its pre-launch spiel never mentioned the surprise feature everyone on the public beta is talking about today. Thanks to, presumably, a bug, iPhones are showing update notifications every time you unlock your phone, without an option to actually install the update.

Source: Twitter [@m4tt]

Apple's iOS 12 beta is driving everyone crazy posted first on https://www.engadget.com

aptX Adaptive Bluetooth audio delivers low latency and high quality

As headphone jacks continue to disappear, wireless options for audio are becoming more important than ever. In 2015, Qualcomm acquired the aptX codec for Bluetooth audio connections, and currently offers technology as a pair of extended flavors: aptX HD for "better-than-CD high definition sound quality" and aptX low latency tech keeps things in sync for video or gaming applications. Today it's announcing aptX Adaptive which takes a "why not both?" approach suitable for the way most of us live now, playing different types of media across multiple devices and environments including VR and mixed reality.

Source: aptX

aptX Adaptive Bluetooth audio delivers low latency and high quality posted first on https://www.engadget.com

ZTE Axon 9 Pro features Snapdragon 845, 6.21-inch AMOLED display

ZTE is the latest Android device maker to adopt the notch.

ZTE today introduced the Axon 9 Pro, and it features a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with 18.7:9 aspect ratio as well as a notch at the top of the screen and a chin at the bottom. Housed in that notch is a 20MP camera sensor. ZTE's Axon 9 Pro also gets in on the dual rear camera trend, offering 12MP and 20MP rear sensors that are stacked vertically.

The ZTE Axon 9 Pro is a flagship-tier device, boasting a Snapdragon 845 processor that's paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. There's a big 4000mAh battery in there, too, and a USB-C port for recharging that battery as well as a rear fingerprint reader for added security. On the software side, the Axon 9 Pro comes with Android 8.1 Oreo preloaded.

Pricing for the ZTE Axon 9 Pro will be set at €649 ($757 USD) when it launches in Europe in September. Unfortunately for those of us stateside, ZTE has confirmed that the Axon 9 Pro will not be making its way to the U.S. That said, ZTE has had a pretty rough 2018 due to that ban that prevented it from buying U.S. components, so it's good to see the company launching some new hardware.

ZTE

ZTE Axon 9 Pro features Snapdragon 845, 6.21-inch AMOLED display originally posted at http://phonedog.com

AT&T will deploy mobile 5G in Indianapolis this year

AT&T today named another city that'll see its mobile 5G coverage this year.

Indianapolis is the 7th city that'll get mobile 5G from AT&T in 2018, joining Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, and Waco. AT&T plans to deploy mobile 5G to a total of 12 cities in 2018, but it's unclear what the other 5 cities might be.

AT&T has previously said that its 5G rollout will be based on 3GPP standards and will utilize millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. It plans to deploy 5G on other spectrum bands in the future.

As for the hardware that you'll use to get onto AT&T's 5G network, the big blue carrier has said that it plans to offer "pucks" that are similar to mobile hotspots initially. 5G-enabled smartphones are expected to begin arriving in early 2019.

AT&T

AT&T will deploy mobile 5G in Indianapolis this year originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Slack quietly adds auto-expiring statuses

Workplace chat and collaboration company Slack has quietly updated its status feature to include an expiration date, so you can set certain statuses like commuting, meetings, and vacation to expire after a distinct amount of time. Restarting Slack on mobile or desktop should pull up the new feature for all users, and it looks like the company updated its help center page for statuses yesterday to include information about the new change.

Now, when you pull up the status screen, you’ll get the same default statuses with pre-filled expiration times, including one hour for “in a meeting,” 30 minutes for “commuting,” and an unspecified length of time for “vacationing,” which is a nice touch. If you’d like more granular control, you can...

Continue reading…

Slack quietly adds auto-expiring statuses appeared first on http://www.theverge.com

Google Pixel 3 poses for some leaked photos

We've gotten some major Apple leaks today, and now it's Google's turn to have an upcoming flagship product leak.

Photos that claim to show the regular Google Pixel 3 have been leaked on Reddit. The phone looks fairly similar to the Pixel 3 XL that we've seen several times now, but rather than have a notch at the top of its display, it's got a regular ol' bezel.

The leaked images also spill some spec details for the Pixel 3. The device is listed as having a 5.5-inch 2160x1080 display, dual 8MP front-facing cameras, and a 2915mAh battery. To compare, the Pixel 2 has a 5-inch 1920x1080 screen, a single 8MP front camera, and a 2700mAh battery.

If this leak holds true, the Pixel 3 could be a nice upgrade over the Pixel 2, and its larger display and lack of notch could make it the device of choice for folks that don't care for the Pixel 3 XL's notch. 

Now that we've gotten a clear look at the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which one do you prefer?

Google

Google Pixel 3 poses for some leaked photos originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Apple Watch Series 4 appears in leaked image with bigger screen

The iPhone XS isn't the only upcoming Apple product that's leaked today.

An image that shows the Apple Watch Series 4 has come out, and it shows some big changes for the new smartwatch. Shared by 9to5Mac, the image depicts an Apple Watch that looks to have the same case, but a bigger screen the previous models thanks to its shrunken bezels.

On that display is a new watch face that's dense with info. There's a timer, the temperature, activity rings, the sunrise and sunset times, UV index, and more, and that's in addition to the time.

Moving to the side of the Apple Watch, the Digital Crown looks a bit different than it does on the Apple Watch Series 3, and there appears to be a new microphone in-between the Digital Crown and the side button. One thing that doesn't appear to have changed is the band, which is exciting news for Apple Watch strap collectors.

The Apple Watch Series 4 will likely make its debut at Apple's September 12th event alongside new iPhones. Info on the new features of the watch are still fairly light, but don't be surprised if we see at least an upgraded processor in the Apple Watch Series 4.

What do you think of this leaked Apple Watch?

Apple

Apple Watch Series 4 appears in leaked image with bigger screen originally posted at http://phonedog.com

iPhone XS leaked image shows off larger display and gold finish

Earlier today, Apple sent out invites for its upcoming event and now 9to5Mac is giving us a peek at what we'll be seeing on September 12th. The site says that the new OLED phone will be called the iPhone XS and will come in two sizes -- 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch. It's also reporting that the models will include a gold finish option.

Source: 9to5Mac (1), (2)

iPhone XS leaked image shows off larger display and gold finish posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Wirecutter's best deals: Save $80 on a Fossil Q Explorist Android smartwatch

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of deals here.

Wirecutter's best deals: Save $80 on a Fossil Q Explorist Android smartwatch posted first on https://www.engadget.com

iPhone XS models shown in leaked image ahead of Apple event

Hot on the heels of Apple's announcement of its September 12th event, which will presumably be used to show off new iPhone models, an image that shows both phones has leaked.

An image that claims to show both the new iPhone X and the larger Plus version has been shared by 9to5Mac. The phones look fairly similar to the current iPhone X, but the outer edges of both phones are gold, a color that's not available on the existing iPhone X.

The image also shows both the 5.8-inch version of the iPhone X and a larger model, which is expected to have a 6.5-inch OLED screen. Today's report claims that these new devices will both be called iPhone XS.

Apple has previously used "S" as a way to name its iPhone models that were between major generations, like the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6s. Considering that these new iPhones are expected to look similar to the iPhone X but have internal upgrades, a name like "iPhone XS" makes sense for them.

What do you think of these new iPhone XS models? Do either of them interest you?

Apple

iPhone XS models shown in leaked image ahead of Apple event originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 teased with slim bezels and pop-up camera

Xiaomi's Mi Mix phones are well-known for offering big screens and super slim bezels, and it looks like that trend will continue with the next model.

Xiaomi today teased the Mi Mix 3. An image shared by Xiaomi co-founder and president Lin Bin as well as Xiaomi global spokesperson Donovan Sung shows a device that has extremely thin bezels all around the display, which also has round corners.

Previous Mi Mix phones have had a chin that housed the phone's front-facing camera, but it looks like that'll change with the Mi Mix 3. Instead of a chin, Xiaomi will use a pop-up mechanism to house the camera, similar to the Oppo Find X, to give the Mi Mix 3 slim bezels on all four sides of its screen.

There are no spec details available for the Mi Mix 3, but Xiaomi says that that the phone is launching in October, so it won't be long before more info is revealed.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 looks like an extremely attractive phone thanks to its super slim bezels that could make it feel like you're simply holding a display. There's still a lot we don't know about the Mi Mix 3, but considering the features of the previous Mi Mix models, don't be surprised if this new model includes high-end specs like a Snapdragon 845 processor. Stay tuned.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 teased with slim bezels and pop-up camera originally posted at http://phonedog.com

Olloclip's new clasp fits fancy lenses to any smartphone

Olloclip first started making special camera lenses for smartphones seven years ago, and an initial kit for the iPhone 4 snowballed into a whole business. Many new lenses and photography accessories have followed, typically in tandem with a new iPhone. But even when Olloclip ventured outside the Apple bubble, its products have always been device-specific. That changes with the newly announced and catchily named "Multi-Device Clip," which on its own is a simple mount you can clasp around any phone, Apple or otherwise. It's into this mount you insert any of the company's "Connect X" lenses, originally developed specifically for the iPhone X.

Source: Olloclip

Olloclip's new clasp fits fancy lenses to any smartphone posted first on https://www.engadget.com

Google Assistant gains ability to understand two languages at once

Google Assistant is becoming bilingual.

Google announced today that you can now speak two languages interchangeably and Google Assistant will respond in kind. This feature works with Google Assistant on phones as well as on smart speakers.

To start, you can speak any pair of languages within English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Google plans to add support for more languages in the coming months.

This bilingual support for Google Assistant is pretty nifty. There are many houses that speak multiple languages, and now they can speak to Assistant in two different languages and have it work. This feature could also come in handy if you're learning a new language and want to practice it. 

Google

Google Assistant gains ability to understand two languages at once originally posted at http://phonedog.com

BlackBerry KEY2 LE cuts the price but keeps the keyboard

As expected, BlackBerry today took the wraps off of a more affordable version of its KEY2 flagship.

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE will begin rolling out globally in September, including in markets like the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, UAE, and Canada. Pricing will start at $399 USD / €399 EUR / £349 GBP / $519 CAD for the 32GB model and go up to $449 USD / €429 EUR / £399 GBP / $579 CAD for the more capacious 64GB model.

In order to achieve that lower price, the BlackBerry KEY2 LE has some tweaked specs compared to the standard KEY2. The KEY2 LE has a Snapdragon 636 processor instead of a Snapdragon 660, 4GB of RAM instead of 6GB, and a 3000mAh battery rather than a 3500mAh battery. The dual rear camera setup has undergone a change, too, with the KEY2 packing dual 12MP sensors and the KEY2 LE offering a 13MP + 5MP setup.

One feature that hasn't changed with the KEY2 LE is the keyboard. It's got a physical QWERTY keyboard with keys that are nearly 10 percent larger than the keyboard on the BlackBerry KEYone. There's also a fingerprint reader inside the space bar and a Speed Key that'll give you access to your programmable keyboard shortcuts without requiring you to go back to the home screen.

Other specs of the BlackBerry KEY2 LE include a 4.5-inch 1620x1080 LCD screen, 8MP front-facing camera, and a microSD card slot for adding more storage. Quick Charge 3.0 support will let you recharge your battery more quickly, and the KEY2 LE will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo. It'll be available in three colors: Atomic (red), Champagne (gold), and Slate (black).

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE definitely has some reduced specs to help it be nearly $300 less than the standard KEY2, but its feature set is still respectable. Plus, it's not like there are a ton of other smartphones on the market with a physical QWERTY keyboard, so if that's what you're after and you're looking for something a bit more affordable than the standard KEY2, then the KEY2 LE will be coming for you next month.

BlackBerry KEY2

BlackBerry

BlackBerry KEY2 LE cuts the price but keeps the keyboard originally posted at http://phonedog.com